Sony Pictures ClassicsWe sure love our Hell-Ay train wrecks and tramps—they keep us employed and entertained, god bless 'em—but sometimes we try to take in the finer things H'wood has to offer: namely, actual movies.
It's hard to remember that more than scandals and celebs come out of T-town. Checked out a preview screening of Synecdoche, New York, which opens Oct 24. Latest mind-tripping flick from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich screenwriter Charlie Kaufman—two of my favorite films of all time, without a doubt. Totally not alone there, I'm certain. Was so über-pumped to check out C.K.'s next insane script (which he directed himself), I was way worried the hype in my head couldn't possibly be lived up to.
Sometimes it's sad to be proven right.
The flick starts off fun enough, but there's no clear character to cling to the whole way through—little of the absurdity that's happening is explained, and dream-like scenes seem to pop up as they please. You won't be bored, but you won't have a damn idea what's going on, either. Makes Eternal Sunshine seem like a generic romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson and whatever blah actor H'wood execs think the public wants to do that day.
Still, Philip Seymour Hoffman was all sorts of amazing, like you expected otherwise from this Oscar-winner. Plays a failing theater director (in both his work and his health) at all different ages throughout the man's life. Poor guy's always typecast as a schlump, but he's damn good at it, so why stop?
PSH is rounded out by fantastic supporting females like Samantha Morton, Emily Watson, Hope Davis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Dianne Wiest, Catherine Keener and Michelle Williams. Largest cast of incredibly talented gals we've seen in a long time (and no, we aren't forgetting The Women, tho everyone else sure did).
Williams is great, but way underused, and there are a few uncomfortable funeral scenes she's in that'll prolly, indirectly inspire some cringes. Sorry, M.W., your other Heath half is still lingering in our minds when we see you. Trying hard to separate the sad part of your '08 from the you on screen, but so far, not working.