Top Ten Films of 2008

[steedizzie]

The world turns toward spring and my keyboard thaws. What more tremendous testament to my love of film than that the only two times I have been motivated enough to sit and write for the past year and a half have been to share with you my best and worst films of the year? The nice thing about the theaters here in Guadalajara is that they are new,

Comments

[maximumfish]

I was going to post my response plus my list but it got too out of hand to fit in a comment. I just posted it on mine however, here:

http://maximumfish.livejournal.com/110085.html

Re: Schenectady Synecdoche

[steedizzie]

I have seen it actually, earlier last month. I really enjoyed its ambition, but I found most of its early philosophies pretty sophomoric. It had a lot to say about art and finding something true, which I in the end took as Kaufman's big personal joke. The main character obviously wasn't going to find anything, and never matured beyond high school intellectual pursuits until the final few scenes. I suppose though, that was intentional, but the movie succumbs ultimately to the same thing to which the play succumbs. One movie can't possibly be about everything in life. The issues I found the most thought provoking were the connection between his illness and the strange deal he got to never have to worry about money again. My favorite part was that bit at the end that basically says everyone is everyone and we all live the same and die the same. It's possible he died early on, as his psychiatrist accidentally says. Also, it had an interesting way of putting you in the headspace of someone breaking down mentally who had little

Re: ok i really just needed to talk about it with someone who wasn't making stupid jokes about fires

[steedizzie]

All valid points, and yes, I agree that this movie has a place in that grand dialogue of the human condition. And I was perhaps remiss to exclude it from my breakdown after all. I do respect it on that level. But I don't usually count myself intellectual enough these days to really connect with works like that. And yes, I love Kaufman too, I just happen to think this is the wildest and least impressive of his films so far. Perhaps he should stick to letting others direct.

I found the part with the daughter dying quite surprising, but unfortunately a good summery of the relationships many adults have with their parents. And on death...I don't know why but I've come to believe it will feel like waking up from a dream when you want to stay there. That's another reason the end is really my favorite part.