Kaufman builds new New York

It has always been difficult to describe the unique style of filmmaker Charlie Kaufman. Smart? Clever? Just plain weird? From Being John Malkovich to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Kaufman has written completely brilliant films that don’t really seem to make any sense at first glance.
His new film, Synecdoche, New York, marks his directorial debut; and what a debut it is.
Synecdoche, New York doesn’t make understanding Kaufman’s obscure mind any easier. The film follows playwright Caden Cotar (Philip Seymour Hoffman) as he dives into a new production and slowly allows it to control his life. He builds a small-scale replica of New York City in an enormous warehouse and directs an even larger cast in what he calls “a work of brutal honesty.”
Caden’s life falls apart as his artist wife (Catherine Keener) becomes famous after moving to Berlin with their daughter Olive, who transforms into a tattooed, sideshow showgirl at a young age. He falls madly in love with Hazel (Samantha Morton), but finds it nearly impossible to act upon his urges, with his hands tied to his play and devoted to the fictional versions he’s casted for Hazel and himself. For Caden, any real-life relationship would have a detrimental effect on his fictional narrative.
Despite this Caden marries again, and allows his work to destroy the marriage almost immediately. He becomes paranoid that he’s dying and ultimately collapses, along with his set and actors, because of his twisted immersion in the play.
While brilliant, the movie remains understandable only in its feverish state onscreen. It’s so frantic that this entire newspaper would be needed to provide an accurate synopsis of the film.
The obscurity really takes charge as the viewer has to decipher between what is real and what is taking place in a theatrical setting. Real life and fantasy intertwine and what is what no longer really matters
It’s truly amazing how Kaufman could muster a plotline dealing with a tremendous amount of death, sickness, rejection and lost love while still permitting the viewer to chuckle and sometimes smile.
In all, things seem to fall into place, although the logic behind it is lost within the film. The acting is magnificent and the writing overrules every other aspect of the film. Synecdoche, New York will chew you up and spit you out before knowing what actually happened.
This film makes you think, providing more than enough material to discuss for hours after seeing it. It’s real proof that imaginative, original screenplays aren’t a dying breed. Any Charlie Kaufman fan will fall in love with this film’s absurd beauty and any newcomer to this filmmaker’s work can either love it very easily or not understand a single word.