Videogum Home - designed by Guilherme Rosa

 

September 18, 2008

Synecdoche, New York Trailer, You Guys

Finally, a trailer for Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York, you guys:

Charlie Kaufman is a great screenwriter who's worked hard to create his own universe of alternate realities (no duh). He is to ideas what Wes Anderson is to interior design. And the idea for this movie, a down-on-his-luck theater director with a terminal illness who stages a play in a nearly lifesize simulacrum of New York City housed in a giant warehouse in New York City is painstakingly crafted with the loving oddness of a Sophie Calle installation. Also Philip Seymour Hoffman! Also Catherine Keener! So let's all give this first time director the benefit of the doubt and ignore the seemingly endless stream of "it's life, jump into life" style statements that make up the majority of this trailer.

"Death comes faster than you think."
"Everyone's disappointed if you know them long enough."
"There are millions of people in the wold, and none of those people is an extra. They're all leads in their own stories."

OK, Charlie Kaufman, your movie is full of mildly trite statements of deep import, as if a movie about SIGNIFIERS and THE CHARADE OF LIFE wasn't already making those statements. Now can we please get back to the genre-bending moebius narrative filled with darkly funny moments strung together by the common thread of existential absurdity? Please?

Posted by Gabe at 9:16 AM in
Tags:  |  |  |  |  |  |




4 Comments

I'm the one person who gets the Sophie Calle reference, and even I'm like: what? You're name checking Sophie Calle? OK...

Posted by: Dropsy at 09/18/08 6:21 PM | Reply
Score = -1 Vote up Vote down

You really think that you would be the only one to get a Sophie Calle reference? OK....

Posted by: burntfilm at 09/19/08 3:27 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Ok, I'm not trying to sound like a dick when I say that I read an early draft of this script, and it's amazing...I don't think this trailer does it justice...the whole "life affirming" angle is way more downplayed and the stuff with the play is really really interesting and clever...give it a shot if you like his other stuff, even if you don't think it looks great in the trailer

Posted by: cole at 09/19/08 4:01 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I know it's been said already, but namedropping Sophie Calle on videogum sort of makes you sound ridiculous.

Posted by: David at 09/19/08 3:36 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Leave a comment


Staff

  • Founder/Editor-In-Chief: Scott Lapatine
  • Senior Editor: Gabe Delahaye
  • Executive Editor: Amrit Singh

Info

Contact

You Can Make It Up logo
Gabe loves fan fiction. You Can Make It Up features his own personal alternate adventures starring some of our favorite characters.

You Can Make It Up: People Tell Carrie Prejean What An Asshole She Is

Carrie Prejean turned the video camera off, put on some clothes, and stepped out of her house. It was a beautiful day outside. The air smelled like apples, and the late morning light hit the world in just such a...

MORE »

The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time logo
After watching Death Sentence, a terrible movie starring Kevin Bacon as a father in search of vigilante justice directed by Saw's James Wan, Gabe embarked on The Hunt For The Worst Movie of All Time. This is his sad journey.

The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time: In The Land Of The Women

If you are a sassy and sarcastic young man in an American sitcom who represents the sitcom writer's desire that a nerdy Jewish teenager can somehow be the desirable romantic hero in this world, then eventually you will get a...

MORE »

Monsters' Ball logo
This week's five highest rated comments as voted on by you, the lowest rated comment as voted on by you, and the editor's choice.

Monsters' Ball: The Week's Best Comments

I shouldn't even be here right now. I SHOULD BE GETTING INTO MY COSTUME! If I don't hurry, my facepaint won't be dry before I get to the MOONVIE theater, and everyone will be like "hahah, you look like you're...

MORE »

Double Dog logo
Blogging about TV and movies isn't all fun and videogames. Every week, Lindsay or Gabe will be presented with a physical or mental challenge that tests their bravery,patience, and taste.

Double Dog: I Took A TV Bus Tour Alone In A "Just Jack" Tshirt

The Challenge: I had to go on a 3.5 hour bus tour of totally random TV and film locations in New York City. Alone, and wearing a specific ridiculous tshirt. And I had to find someone to take my picture...

MORE »

Videogum Movie Club logo
Let's all go to the movies, and let's all see the same movie, and let's discuss it here.

The Videogum Movie Club: 2012

Uh. OK. Well, first let's address what this movie did well, like the disappointed parents we are (or at least that I am), recognizing that the negative feedback won't be useful or constructive if it isn't preceded by something positive....

MORE »