Synecdoche, New York (2008)

This film is an exercise in tedium. One that I failed miserably. It wasn't for lack of trying. As a fan of existential drama (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, anyone?}, I couldn't wait to see Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the leading role. Synecdoche, New York, directed by Charlie Kaufman, promised to be an existential drama of greatness. I don't think so..

Caden Coutard (Hoffman) is a theatre director who is given a McArthur Fellow grant. With seemingly unlimited resources thanks to the grant, Coutard sets out to write and direct the play of his life--turns out it's quite autobigraphical. In the midst of execution, Coutard must contend with the countless woman (Catherine Keener, Emiy Watson, Michelle Williams, Diane Wiest) who have influenced him.

I was sadly disappointed by the inane pretentiousness that filled the screen. It was ridiculous. Hoffman plays a sad-sack of a man who, we the viewer, meet at 40. As his life and play spiral out of control, so does this film.

Twice over the weekend, I tried to interact with this film. No luck. As I see it, Synecdoche, New York goes down as another of the critic favorites, but not one of mine.