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Post by Vits on Oct 1, 2020 21:09:54 GMT
During the early 2000s, many independent films had offbeat humor (usually involving characters saying everything they were thinking without any filter). Audiences got sick of it by the time SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK (which is about a theatre director who blurs the line between reality and fiction) came out in 2008. A lot of jokes feel forced (the one about the double meaning of the word "stool" made me roll my eyes). Aside from a couple of shots here and there, Fred Elmes' cinematography is very standard. Jon Brion's music score is too intrusive and distracting. This isn't the first project Charlie Kaufman has worked in where the plot revolves around an introverted man with a sad life, but it's the first one where he doesn't handle the concept well. In BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, Craig Schwartz yearned for power, and once he got it, he went too far. In ANOMALISA, Michael Stone was constantly ruining his own happiness while blaming everyone but himself. The audience wasn't meant to like those characters. In ADAPTATION, the fictionalized version of Charlie Kaufman was very neurotic and it was presented through dark comedy. He was jealous of how successful his brother Donald was. Any other movie would've shown him as a better-looking guy (to create a contrast), but the Kaufmans were identical twins. Donald's achievements happened thanks to his talent(?) and his personality, but that didn't stop Charlie from whining about his own appearance. Although he was more likable than the other 2, the audience was meant to laugh at him and wish for him to develop confidence. In ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, Joel Barish made impulsive decisions based on emotions rather than logic, even at the end. It was an exploration of how a person can confuse the thing they want with the thing they need. Even though he was the most likable of the 4, the audience was supposed to question his choices. Here, Caden Cotard doesn't know how to appreciate the good things in his life, but the portrayal doesn't feel negative. His actions are shown as self-sabotage, but in a sympathetic way, especially during the last part. It's a story with a lot of layers, but once you look past the symbolism, you realize that it's a 124-minute pity party for someone who didn't earn it. I don't want to trivialize a project that displays a lot of effort and creativity, but what's the point if it's rotten at its core? 5/10 ------------------------------------- You can read comments of other movies in my blog. |
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Post by london777 on Oct 3, 2020 20:27:52 GMT
I purchased the DVD a couple of years back, having been impressed with Adaptation and Being John Malkovich, but have given up on three attempts to watch it. Main reason is that I cannot comprehend most of what PSH is saying. He spends the opening scenes mumbling to himself, and being interrupted by his noxious family, add to which the score is more than intrusive, it occupies the foreground, while a radio (or was it TV?) is chuntering away in the background. Maybe I just have a faulty DVD? To add insult to injury I accidentally ordered it twice from Amazon. I gave the spare copy to a friend who uses it as a plant-pot coaster.
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Post by Vits on Oct 3, 2020 20:51:32 GMT
I purchased the DVD a couple of years back, having been impressed with Adaptation and Being John Malkovich, but have given up on three attempts to watch it. Main reason is that I cannot comprehend most of what PSH is saying. He spends the opening scenes mumbling to himself, and being interrupted by his noxious family, add to which the score is more than intrusive, it occupies the foreground, while a radio (or was it TV?) is chuntering away in the background. Maybe I just have a faulty DVD? To add insult to injury I accidentally ordered it twice from Amazon. I gave the spare copy to a friend who uses it as a plant-pot coaster. Why don't you use subtitles/closed captions?
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Post by mstreepsucks on Oct 4, 2020 15:38:43 GMT
is this a classic film? sorry, i dunno.
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Post by cynthiagreen on Oct 4, 2020 22:19:22 GMT
5/10 !
I really wanted to like it - I loved MALKOVICH - and for audacity and originality it scores 10 - but I was decidedly underwhelmed... I wanted MALKOVICH 2 in truth and didn't get it - and Keener (my big MALKOVICH discovery - had a far less interesting and substantial role - no Marvelous Maxine 2). So my own expectations set me up I guess. I definitely wouldn't say avoid it - I should probably revisit ....I'm sure it will score big with some (curious as to how it will do in the 2008 poll on I love film - it has made plenty of ballots) 
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Post by cynthiagreen on Oct 4, 2020 22:25:03 GMT
I gave the spare copy to a friend who uses it as a plant-pot coaster. Best laugh from logging on today London Thanks - I needed that. I trust PSH's loved ones take this generous act on your part as a sign of the enormous respect for you hold for his work in the film.
It's barely worth the effort of carrying dvds you don't want to the dvd exchange place any more you get so little back - and the staff are so slack my bile rises from the experience - So now I know what to do with them.
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Post by hi224 on Oct 4, 2020 22:58:04 GMT
i find it very moving 9/10.
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Post by london777 on Oct 5, 2020 1:51:16 GMT
I purchased the DVD a couple of years back, having been impressed with Adaptation and Being John Malkovich, but have given up on three attempts to watch it. Main reason is that I cannot comprehend most of what PSH is saying. Why don't you use subtitles/closed captions? Good question. I will look at it tomorrow to define more exactly what my problem is.
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Post by london777 on Oct 6, 2020 3:37:28 GMT
Why don't you use subtitles/closed captions? Good question. I will look at it tomorrow to define more exactly what my problem is. I did not trust my memory without checking the disc, but it has no subtitles (except on the comments "extra feature"). Made it as far as the ninth minute tonight before giving up. Maybe the soundtrack on my DVD is faulty, or perhaps the whole issue was faulty. My speaker sound is not the best, though I do not have trouble with other movies. I could get away with English, but they are all speaking Murmerican mumblecore.
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