SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK (2008) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Charlie Kaufman

Written by - Charlie Kaufman

Starring - Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams

"SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK marks the directorial debut of one of the most fascinating screenwriters of all time, CHARLIE KAUFMAN, whose works and explorations of human intention and psychology often flirts with surrealism in fascinating ways. 

In this film, he tells the story of a death fearing theatre director who, in the attempt to make a larger than life production in which he casts actors as people that populate his everyday life in a play that seems to be made up as it goes along, really builds himself a microcosm in which he slowly becomes the spectator of his own life. But while this particulat synopsys can't help but reveal a little of the interpretation of the writer, this film is one of those that aims to connect with the audience in a subjective way because it seems to be precisely and strongly born and kept together by a very personal vision and ambition, in this case the one of KAUFMAN. 

The stunning visuals of the film owe a lot to the incredible art direction by ADAM STOCKHOUSEN, that is somewhat realistic and eccentric all at once, and serves as a careful and incredibly beautiful extension of the imagination of its filmmaker. 

Likewise, there is reason to praise lead actor PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN in his central performance. With his humanity, not only is he able to fully represent the funny but also incredibly tragic nature of his character, but also rise above the stylish eccentricities and even cover up some of the excesses that surround him. Because after all, it is without a doubt that the film is cathartic and its plotline held together by a thread at all time, and yet even this particular pointis quite fascinating, because after all it is the ultimate reflection of a film and its central character's intentions."

Drama, USA