Wednesday, May 19, 2010

"Knowing that you don't know is the first and the most essential step to knowing, you know?"

21 comments:

JoFo said...

Gah. Can she please be in every movie? Oh Jen. You've come a long way from sunny ol' capeside haven't you.

JoFo said...
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Katie said...

she reminds me of Frances O'Connor in the second frame

Unknown said...

If I don't see Blue Valentine soon, I think I will crumble into nothingness.

NATHANIEL R said...

Shaheema -- the weinsteins would like you to wait until dec 31st or later.

Arkaan said...

Seriously, how does one go from Dawson's Creek to Synecdoche, Wendy and Brokeback, to Haynes and Moodysson? Kudos to Williams for pulling off the most intriguing career shift of recent vintage. And plus, she's just awesome.

verninino said...

This movie was one of two I saw in the theater last year and I can't recall a single scene, plot contrivance or line of dialog.


I'm not sure whether that's ironic or apposite. I can, however, recall a few shots. Alas, not from this week's from Whose the Brunette contest.

I must say, however, that this shot and that dialog really make me curious to try to reacquaint the old misfiring synapses.

Volvagia said...

Nat, are you finally starting to warm to Synecdoche? Good for you if that's true, because, frankly, it may have a nihilistic conclusion, but it earns it one second at a time. Every delivery, every plot twist, every pile-up of shrinking realities, leads to the only natural conclusion for a story of this sort. Eventually it'll be held as the best film of '08.

NATHANIEL R said...

Volvagia -- oh god i hope not. I am so tired of miserabilism for its own sake. I think i could have enjoyed the movie more if it had a bit more of a sense of humor about itself or if it had some visual energy or levity to combat all of PSH's moroseness and that inevitable ending of which you speak. but the whole thing is just key of somber. TO me the movie is just overkill in just about all conceivable ways including the casting of Hoffman.

ugh. i do not like it much.

But that said... it has a few great moments (usually involving Samantha Morton) and definitely some good lines.

verninino said...

Wow, Nat, I'd forgotten you disliked this. I guess I must have lacunar amnesia about any and all things associated with this film.

Such a shameful waste of Michelle's shit-eating grin, among many, many other things.

Since I seem to alternate between adoration and indifference regarding Kaufman's efforts, rather than revisiting this mess I'll continue looking forward to his next film, which if he stays true to his pattern will be a masterpiece.

Thanks for the ... reminder.

notanotherblog said...

Arkaan - In reference to Dawson Creek alum's trajectory, see also: Michael Pitt.

I just recently saw Adaptation and I'm not sure if I love it. The last scenes of Synecdoche are heartbreaking.

cal roth said...

This movie is awful. It doesn't stand a second before Fellini 8 1/2.

verninino said...

The first time I saw Adaptation I had grave reservations: Nic Cage grates on my nerves and this was a double dosage; I really dig Chris Cooper but not as a self-righteous red-neck; cacophonous story lines about flowers, say what!

But it has rewarded many multiple viewings.

NATHANIEL R said...

verninino -- adaptation is my single most fluctuating film. I have felt different about it every time i've seen it.

love. hate. like. annoyed.

i don't know if i'll go for a fifth time because right now i fear the annoyed will turn to boredom.

verninino said...

Well, to me, that's one of the fun things about it.

Every time I put the DVD in I still cringe that Cage is in it. But by the end he's almost as endearing (in an antithetical way) as Jeff Bridges' dude.

And watching Meryl Streep gracefully stumble into addiction-driven mad love with trailer trash melts my heart every time.

I'm really fighting the urge to put Synecdoche in my Netflix cue to see this Williams scene. Heretofore her talents have been wasted on me, but those two stills and that line of dialog have been cracking me up all morning. I can't help wondering what other gems could be in that rubbish bin.

I'm fairly certain I'll regret it. Damn you Nathaniel!

verninino said...
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Volvagia said...

Vernino: Is that, hate Being John Malkovich and Human Nature or hate Being John Malkovich and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind or (gasp) hate Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?

verninino said...

I adore Kaufman's Malcovich, Adaptation, and Spotless Mind but his Human Nature, Confessions and Synchedoche leave me cold.

Notice how smoothly that rolls off the tongue.

George P. said...

I almost thought this was a scene from the "Deception" film I haven't seen yet. Forgot she was in "Synecdoche, NY" but then again, I didn't care for that film.

Anonymous said...

I love her.. but as Marilyn Monroe? Girrl.. I don't know.

Arkaan said...

Synecdoche is one of those films that makes me hate movies. If it was the first film I'd ever seen, I doubt I'd watch a second.