“I don’t know why I make it so complicated.”
“It’s what you do.”
These lines from writer Charlie Kaufman’s much anticipated directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York, seem to speak as much to the man as to his movie.
If your brain boggled through Kaufman’s Adaptation, or you’ve tried Being John Malkovich, and perhaps questioned your own Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind then chances are you’re almost prepared to head to Synecdoche, New York.
Almost.
Word is, Kaufman has pretty much gone to plaid with his tale of theatre director Caden Cotard and what could be an absurdly literal interpretation of Shakespeare’s, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players”. Indeed critics are falling over themselves to describe the existential brilliance (perhaps with a side of narcissistic pretentiousness) of Kaufman’s latest journey into the dark heart of creativity.
My question is, do you really want to go there? Or, having heard how convoluted, complex and intense the film is, do you just think you should?
If you’ll allow me to digress …
As an undergrad, I was always fascinated by the first film tutorial of the semester, when we’d go around the room and break the ice by revealing our favourite films. The answers always featured such cinematic gems as Raging Bull, Breathless, The Bicycle Thief, Persona. Then it’d be my turn and straight-faced I’d say Pretty Woman*. Everyone would gasp (I’d committed cinematic sacrilege!), then laugh, then titles like Top Gun, Princess Bride and Empire Records would suddenly surface.
Now I’m not criticising the first list of films (unquestionable masterpieces that they are), just the rather try-hard play for cinematic cred. In the world of cinema, I feel like there are those films that you should like, then there are those that you cue up while nursing a slight hangover on a Sunday afternoon. Granted these lists are by no means mutually exclusive, but somehow I don’t think you should attempt Synecdoche, New York hungover.
So despite the critical adulation, I’m fully prepared to admit that I may not appreciate or even understand Kaufman’s latest self-reflexive creation. But enticed by the trailer and buoyed by my love for Pretty Woman, I’m still looking forward to venturing into Synecdoche, New York.
Australian Release Date: 7 May 2009
*Sure, I’d mostly say it for the shock value, but also because I can still pretty much quote the film from woe to go.
