Synecdoche, New York - Brought to you by James Wormald -

Many art piece films aim to confuse their audience, some simply in an utterly un-creative and therefore pretentious way, expecting to just shit on a rug and call it art. Anyone daring to disagree just ‘doesn’t get it’ and therefore is an idiot. These people and their ‘art’ exists because of other (slightly less but still very annoyingly) pretentious people claiming not only to have found meaning in the shit on the rug, but to have all found the same meaning as each other, at the same time. Whilst not only damn near impossible, this death of one’s individuality of thought shouldn’t be celebrated.

Talented artists however are able to confuse and disorientate, then return to a central crossroads of meaning. What an audience take away at this point is up to them, but whatever it is it’s been inspired by the artist.

My point is that you can’t just let people’s own opinions of your art be the meaning. That’s simply lazy. You may claim that you made me look into what you had done, and in that look into myself for answers, before finding an answer that was (because of the process) a whole lot more personal than one you could have given me. But what’s the point in that? If I want to find the answers myself, what am I paying you for?

The very fact that Synecdoche, New York presents itself with this title goes some way to help the viewer find meaning in the film. I have to think when writer/director Charlie Kaufman (or whoever did) thought of the title, it must have been their intention to confuse the audience.

Where many films of similar style will tie things up nicely at the end, easily giving possible yet not too definitive answers so you can still chat about it afterwards, the main answer to help explain Synecdoche, New York comes after however long it takes you to look up the word ‘Synecdoche’ in the dictionary [If you don’t know the meaning, please do it after seeing the film, it will be better].

Charlie Kaufman is the Oscar winning writer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as well as other weird greats like Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. With a quick look over Kaufman’s filmography, it’s clear he just gets weirder and weirder with time (In probability he has always been this weird, his weirdness simply gained the trust of the Studios). Both Malkovich and Adaptation were directed by Spike Jonze, and with this experienced director leading the helm, the crumpled paper ball of Kaufman’s madness was ironed out, and re-ordered to make sense. When Michel Gondry directed Eternal Sunshine, he gave a little more space to the madness of King Charles, as the paper ball was ironed out and re-touched to look pretty. But largely (I suspect) kept as it was found.

Synecdoche, New York is the first time Kaufman’s lowered himself into the chair with ‘Director’ written on the back. This time the paper ball has not been opened at all, he’s rolled a tank over it, and thrown it onto the screen.

The film itself presents the latter stages of life and health of New York theatre director, Caden Cotard [Philip Seymour Hoffman]. After an accident, his physical and mental health slowly yet significantly deteriorate. He is faced with the stark reminder of death at every juncture of life, and becomes determined to create a great and memorable life’s work of which his seemingly estranged wife and daughter can be proud. The rest of the film gives a strange, weirdly dream like view of his deteriorating mind.

When we talk about ‘heavy’ films, we mean ones that take a lot of work and a lot of concentration to get through. You can’t innocently pop out of the room to make the tea half way through. You have to pay attention, to be on the top of your game. It’s the director’s job to encourage your attention with rewards. A joke, a plot twist, a character development, they all keep you on your seat, convince you it’s worth it. Amazingly, first time director Kaufman manages this brilliantly. Even now I’m trying to write notes, but finding myself too distracted by them, so returning to the film with only half scribbles. It may make for a shit review where it seems I don’t know what I’m talking about, but it’s a great film (if you give it time).