Synecdoche New York - Blu-Ray [Alemania] (Blu-Ray) (Import) Michelle William...

First off, the film is incredible - no complaints there. It is a dense, sometimes alienating, but richly rewarding and personally affecting film. The acting and actors are all good, with the notable exception of Philip Seymour Hoffman... who shines above the rest with (what my now be seen as) a personal performance; almost animalistic in it vulnerability, but deeply human in its complexity. The production design is impressive, the visual effects are subtle, the direction is very solid. But the thing that make Synecdoche, New York a 5 Star film ("the best of the decade" according to Roger Ebert) is the screenplay. What Charlie Kaufman has achieved transcends the limitations of conventional cinema. The screenplay may not be the most romantic, entertaining or thrilling, but it is intricate, dense, and personally rewarding for those who want to delve into Kaufman's mind - surely one the greatest screenplays ever written. I have always thought to myself that if you don't like this film then you can count yourself as lucky, because that means you aren't as troubled, depressed and anxious as the people shown in this film.The Extras on the Blu-ray are mostly substantial, but ultimately unrewarding for the films biggest fans (or skeptics).In and Around Synecdoche, New York - goes into the production of the film, from the design, makeup, and effects.The Story of Caden Cotard - an interview with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman about his character.Infectious Diseases in Cattle - a bunch of "blogger" sit round a table for half-an-hour being discussing the film, flimsily covering there obvious lack of knowledge into the intricacy of the screenplay.Screen AnimationsScript factory masterclass with Charlie Kaufman - a paradoxical lesson about writing from the writer who seems so against the idea of unoriginality in cinema writing.Postage and Packaging is all good, got here (the UK from the US) is a reasonable amount of time, undamaged.But the actual Blu-ray case is thinner than other Blu-rays I have, it is about 9 mm "deep" (I'm not sure if that is the right word, but I hope you get what I am saying), rather than the conventional 15mm "deep". Is this because it is from America, the land where the only things thin seem to be their paychecks and their blu-ray cases?Overall, buy this blu-ray for the film if you are an incredibly troubled individual. If you don't worry about death, love, life, art, purpose or meaning then stay clear of this film.Also I would recommend you watch all other Kaufman films first to get an idea of the themes and ideas at play in Synecdoche New York (Being John Malkovich, about art and existence, Adaptation, about the writing process and purpose, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, about Love, life and the mind).

Charlie Kaufman just gets better and better, and more and more enthralling! If you enjoyed Being John Malkewich, Adaptation, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, etc. then you will really enjoy this film. I hardly need to say more than that. (Others here have put it far more elequently than me!!) It's dark, weird, puzzling, strange, bizarre, totally original and utterly absorbing. I even thought there were shades of Eraserhead every now and then. Particularly when Caden is visiting the various medicos, due to his paranoia about his health, with the ominous hum of machinery ever present in the background! Definitely one to watch again.There seems to have been a real campaign against this film on the basis that there aren't any subtiltes on the DVD! I sympathise with those who are hard of hearing who have been unable to enjoy this film because of the lack of subtitles. But to give it a one star review on that basis is totally misleading. This facility should be used for reviewing the film itself, NOT the way the DVD is produced. As a result, the average star rating has been completely, and negatively, distorted through no fault of the film itself. However, after the main protagonists had mumbled their way through the first few minutes, I, too, tried to put on the subtitles, (because I think if there's dialogue there, it must be worth hearing) only for it not to work. I thought it was the fault of the player, or the remote wasn't working. So I just went back and watched it again and picked up more the second time!My own personal criticism of the dvd producers (as other reviewers here have pointed out) is putting "hilarious" on the cover, and "smash-hit comedy of the year". (And a 4 star review from the News of the World?? Who were they trying to kid? Was it because Emma Watson takes her top off and says "Fancy a ****?" or words to that effect...) Surely they must realise that this just gives the completely wrong impression! Funny peculiar, yes, but not funny hilarious!If I could give this film more than 5 stars, I would!!

Enjoyable, but strange. Not fully sure what to make of it. Doubt I'll ever see anything like it again. Gripping enough to see it through to the end.

This movie is the absolute peak of motivation. It captures the essence of the human experience of time. The way it folds in on itself, the way it obscures itself, the way it just slips away with absolutely no explanation. The way we live in misery in hope of joy simply sprouting out of our own suffering. Every performance is flawless, the use of surrealism is exquisite in its slow gradual yet suffocating build, the attention to detail is astonishing. You could watch this movie 100 times and still find new details and moments to admire.Every moment you spend without having seen this movie is a moment less fulfilled by the understanding of how fleeting, liminal, and yet powerfully wonderful this opportunity to live is.Start living today so you don't look back and realise you never lived at all.