This might be the first time I’ve agreed whole-heartedly with Richard Corliss. Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut Synecdoche, New York is indeed a miracle movie.
That does not mean that it is always good, or that the narrative structure is anything close to perfect. But Kaufman has crafted a film of such such scope, ambition and depth of feeling that I couldn’t help but be impressed. I was also highly amused; this movie has some wildly, cruelly funny moments. If you’re like me, you might be the only one laughing. In fact, you might be the only one in the theatre. Leaving the screening this morning I despaired a bit when I thought about Synecdoche‘s chances at the box office. But I think the right people will discover this movie, and a core group is going to love it intensely. In the same way that the Bad Brains and Black Flag reportedly caused new bands to spring up wherever they played, I think this movie will inspire new filmmakers.
This new poster reflects the difficulty that Sony Classics expects in marketing the film. It’s a beautiful image, and one that is reflected in the movie, but one that represents only one aspect of the overall character of the film. The sense of wonder in this image is the unseen backdrop of the movie, but it continually eludes the man who has build the city seen below. And that, as they say, is tragedy.
