You might recognize Charlie Kaufman as the screenwriter of some of the strangest films in the last decade: Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Adaptation., Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. Now the Academy Award-winning writer makes his directorial debut with Synecdoche, New York.
Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a theater director named Caden, who ambitiously attempts to put on a play by creating a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse after finding out something is wrong with him on a trip to the dentist. The city model inside the warehouse gets bigger and bigger, as Hoffman’s character continued to age and with a mysterious disease that shuts down his autonomic functions one by one.
Catherine Keener, Michelle Williams, Samantha Morton and Tilda Swinton co-star. The project was originally written for long time collaborator Spike Jonze. More information on the film can be read in our earlier post.
Synecdoche, New York is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this month.
source: Anne Thompson
April 28th, 2008 at 8:06 am
No love yet for Charlie Kaufman? His work is the best in the biz. When he and Spike get together, it’s like peanut butter and chocolate. Nothing really better. So, this is me giving love to CK, and my usual excitement for his next project.
Although, I feel like sometimes I want Phillip Seymour Hoffman to be a supporting cast member and not so much lead man. He’s a fine actor, I’m just all Phillip Seymour Hoffman’ed out.
Anyway, excited about CK though. One of the few true geniuses in Hollywood right now. Adaptation is a writing masterpiece.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:57 am
This looks amazing. Judging by his writing, I would say Kaufman could turn out to be a very creative director. My kind of film for sure.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Kaufman, Hoffman and Keener? Say no more, I’m there.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Kaufman is an absolute genius. No writers even come close to his inventiveness and twisted narratives. What a wonderful mind!
Although I love his teaming with Jonze, I’m certainly going to check out his directorial debut.