Friday Night Flicks: Synecdoche, New York
Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman were approached to make a horror film. Synecdoche, New York is the result. But it’s not what you think. Nothing ever is with these two. It ended up being about things that scared Jonze and Kaufman, which if you watch, are yeah, pretty scary. But it’s not the horror movie you might be looking for.
Charlie Kaufman is one of the most talented screenwriters of all time. His films challenge your perceptions at every turn. Things are never as they seem yet somehow they totally are. He is a master of the elusive art of being fascinatingly clever without ever looking like you’re trying to be clever. Nothing worse than trying to be clever.
Synecdoche, New York is Kaufman’s directorial debut after being a screenwriter and producer of iconic films like Being John Malcovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Human Nature.
The film stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman being an acting genius (per usual). It’s one of the scariest films I’ve ever seen while being hilarious, thought provoking and altogether fascinating and challenging at once. It’s a film that way too scary to ever finish. Which is why I’ve still yet to see the end but it’s one of my favorite films of all-time. Watch it and you’ll know what I mean. It’s horrifying.—Travis Ferré
