Syn-a-whattie?

I went to see "Synecdoche, New York" last night down at the Fleur Cinema in Des Moines. For those of you who may not know, it is the directorial debut of acclaimed writer Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine, Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) and it couldn't have been stranger. Many would argue that Kaufman has completely fallen into self obsession with this latest effort, a rambling portrayal of a struggling playwright's final fifty years of life (yes, fifty. The movie takes place over a time span anywhere between 35-50 years). While it's hard to negate that argument, it is also hard to deny the legitimacy of the film itself, even if it is complicated in the way it establishes it's point. While it's hardly Kaufman's best work, fans of indie movies (and Phillip Seymour Hoffman) should check this one out while it's still in theaters, if nothing else than for the purpose of arguing about it's ambiguous meaning. I personally give it a B-, but most critic's have liked it a bit more than I.

much respect,

josh