Classic Review: Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Fresh off of Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things, let’s take a look back into his past filmography. Synecdoche New York received a very divided reaction upon release. However, some film critics including the late great Roger Ebert proclaimed it best film of the 2000’s. Revisiting it now, it was surprising how emotionally wrecking it was. The film develops whole new layers over time. Especially for those going into the art world- the idea of trying to find meaning and satisfaction within one’s own work is something that will always resonate. Kaufman clearly has his own anxieties and fears about the world around him and he certainly captures them in this beautiful film.

Synecdoche New York stars Hoffman as Caden, a brilliant theatre director who is awarded a MacArthur grant for his work on Death of a Salesman, allowing him the freedom to do what he wants. He becomes determined to create a stage play about his whole existence, in the process, trying to find the point of everything. However, the line between his play and real life stars to blur while the process of finding said meaning in Caden’s work and life becomes more complicated. Meanwhile, there are many layers to uncover here. The film is not only visually stunning but the script also has so much weight and wit to it. Not a piece of dialogue is wasted. There’s just a certain euphoria about this film that’s hard to put into words.

At the end of the day, this film is a baffling watch. Despite being a head scratcher, it is always entertaining and enlightening. Synecdoche New York is a film about us. It’s about people as individuals looking for answers. Caden is a successful director who has free control to make the work he wants yet he’s still not satisfied. Will any of us actually ever be entirely satisfied, or is it that suffering we all have that makes the art we make actually matter? The film never gives us simple answers. Many have seen this as a nihilistic film and in several ways it is. There is still hope to be found in nihilism even though it may sound like an oxymoron to some.

In essence, Synecdoche New York is a film about trying to assign meaning to the mundane aspects of the human experience. It’s trying to explain why our relationships don’t work out and why we worry about things. In the end, it’s because we are human. Sometimes there isn’t a grand, overarching answer for everything and sometimes that fact can be a depressing reality. Yet, there should always be hope that yes- all of this suffering that you have to grow was all for a reason and it might not be something you ever discover in this life.

So is the film aimless in a sense? Sure. it’s a dark comedy about existentialism and the breakdown of a psyche going through the worst anxiety but some will surely relate to it, resulting in a cathartic experience. Synecdoche New York works as the most cerebral and introspective therapy session cinema can deliver, excelling at every moment. It’s a film that knows when to breathe and let viewers take it all in. While it’s a small film- the story feels so large in scope and it’s so easy to get lost, wondering what is and isn’t real. This feeling is helped by an incredible score from Jon Brion.

Overall, Synecdoche New York is a film that certainly won’t be for everyone as it will likely leave viewers either distraught or confused. However, it is a masterpiece and one of the most interesting and innovative films of the last fifteen years.

still courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

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Brett Schutt

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