Synecdoche, New York

R

Released Oct 24, 2008

2 hr. 4 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

69%

195 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Life is looking pretty bleak for theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman). His wife and daughter have left him, his therapist is more interested in plugging her new book than helping him with his problems, and a strange disease is causing his body to shut down. Caden leaves his home in Schenectady, N.Y., and heads to New York City, where he gathers a cast of actors and tells them to live their lives within the constructs of a mock-up of the city.

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Critics Consensus

Charlie Kaufman's ambitious directorial debut occasionally strains to connect, but ultimately provides fascinating insight into a writer's mind.

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Steve D

The script is a mess.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

The Great John A

Oof, that's a big set. Synecdoche, New York is a very interesting film for a reason. As it's a quite accurate portrayal of time in the perspective of a person. That's what I like most as you never really see films about how time flies and someone aging considerably. Also it's quite depressing with time, which is even more accurate to a point where nothing matters after decades of work. Acting wise, come on, it's the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman! He's always been such a gifted actor and it's sad he died 10 years ago. Also top supporting cast from all 7 actresses, you can't really knock it in that category. As beautiful as the film is there is one problem; "IT'S SO HARD TO FOLLOW!!!" I know that is the point as time passes really fast for him but it's so quick that one blink and you will miss like 2 scenes!!! Overall it is a really good film, one of the best of the 2000s but you really need to pay attention or there will be a glaring nail jutting out. Then the only way to slam that nail is with a hammer to keep it down then you can enjoy. Grade: A

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/24

Full Review

Jeremy L

I've bought at least two dozen copies of this film to give to friends and colleagues. Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze were hired to "make a horror film". Kaufman's response was to write a transcendent though anxiety-inducing postmodern existential horror film. Phillip Seymour Hoffman shined in this film. Samantha Morton and Michelle Williams were outstanding. "You only see a tenth of what is true. There are a million little strings attached to every choice you make. You can destroy your life every time you choose.". The f-monologue was written on-set by Charlie Kaufman and it is too much, too bright, too powerful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

Full Review

Cem Y

It is definitely original, quite philosophical and mind bending. However, at the end, it seems that you were woven with an extreme amount of unnecessary complexity and you just do not even try to understand, and appreciate it as a surreal work of art.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/23

Full Review

Gareth v

Like most things involving Kaufman, this movie is impossible to predict. At times it can be hard to connect with movie, and while Seymour Hoffman is as captivating as ever, this is one of Kaufman's weaker effort

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

Jerod S

Hoffman (and all the others) are pretty excellent in Synecdoche. He's a troubled writer that has a life going down the tube all the while trying to express and create in the theater. It's a brain bender as far as who is play what role at times, but if you can hang on til the ending - you'll be rewarded.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/18/23

Full Review

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Charlie Kaufman

Director

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Caden Cotard

Samantha Morton

Hazal

Michelle Williams

Claire Keen

Catherine Keener

Adele Lack

Emily Watson

Tammy

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Kaufman, who once dazzled us with his japester's invention, uses those same tools to do something else here. He leaves us reeling.

Rated: 5/5

May 17, 2009

Full Review

Cosmo Landesman

Times (UK)

This is a classic Kaufmanesque work: bold, bizarre and utterly baffling.

Rated: 3/5

May 17, 2009

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Synecdoche, New York aches with sentiments on a life (and indeed all life) not fully lived and overly focused on analysis and reflection, offering rich commentary on remorse and alienation.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 5, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

This takes the notion of life as merely one sprawling play and literalizes it.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 15, 2023

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Episode 43: The New World / Synecdoche, New York / L'Avventura

Rated: 96/100

Oct 4, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Life is looking pretty bleak for theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman). His wife and daughter have left him, his therapist is more interested in plugging her new book than helping him with his problems, and a strange disease is causing his body to shut down. Caden leaves his home in Schenectady, N.Y., and heads to New York City, where he gathers a cast of actors and tells them to live their lives within the constructs of a mock-up of the city.

Director: Charlie Kaufman
Executive Producer: Ray Angelic, William Horberg, Bruce Toll
Screenwriter: Charlie Kaufman
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Projective Testing Service, Likely Story
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content/Nudity|Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 24, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 24, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.1M

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