Synecdoche, New York is Charlie Kaufman's next movie. From what i've read about the first draft, it's going to be a pretty gritty and raw movie and with Charlie himself directing i doubt it will change. In the past directors have disected his scripts cutting out this and that, and even changing the whole ending. Charlie sits in the throne now.

According to http://www.beingcharliekaufman.com/ the plot is:

Synecdoche introduces us to playwright Caden, whose marriage to Adele is faltering, and who is suffering from a mysterious unnamed illness with symptoms that become increasingly severe and alarming. No wonder Caden is completely obsessed with his own inevitable mortality and the fear that he will not have achieved anything of significance once the time comes for him to kick the bucket. So consumed by these issues is Caden - particularly the issue of his mortality - that we're subjected to little else for the first 30 pages or so. Early on, I began to think this would be a script about a hypochondriac. It's a relentless procession of downbeatness, anxiety, imminent doom and much examining of bodily waste for signs that Caden (and his equally waste-aware daughter Olive - never let it be said that your behaviour doesn't influence your kid) is getting sicker.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Michelle Williams are set to star in it so far.

Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with Michelle Williams. She is up and coming in a major way and sooner or later she is gonna deliver a performance that will blow us all away. Perhaps this is the film to do it.

As far as I'm concerned, the matching of Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Charlie Kaufman is absolutely genius. He's one of the best writers working today and he is one of the best actors working today. Even if the movie sucks, which I highly doubt it will, we're gonna get something very interesting out of their pairing.

The story sounds very, very good, as all Kaufman stuff does. The script is getting some very good reviews. Someone said that if Kaufman can pull it off it will be one of the greatest achievements in cinematic history and I think that might be over stating it just a little bit, but then again, who knows. I'm eagerly anticipating this movie. It may not be my most want-to-watch of '07, but I'll certainly be spending eight bucks for a ticket on this one.


Cheers, Chismeister.

Update on cast:

Quoted Text The Cast of Kaufman's Synecdoche Source: The Hollywood Reporter January 11, 2007 Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Michelle Williams, Samantha Morton and Tilda Swinton are in talks to star in Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York, says The Hollywood Reporter. Indie production companies Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Anthony Bregman's Likely Story will produce the project based on Kaufman's original screenplay. Kaufman and Spike Jonze also will serve as producers. Kimmel's William Horberg will executive produce. Producers are anticipating a spring shoot in New York. Hoffman will play a theater director who ambitiously attempts to put on a play by creating a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse. Keener is set to play his first wife, Williams will play his second wife, Morton will appear as his sometime lover, and Swinton will portray Keener's best friend and the dubious mentor to the daughter of Hoffman and Keener's characters.

Jonze producing is a great idea. And i'm liking Tilda Swinton being in this, she seems to always be in good things. Vanilla Sky, The Beach, Adaption! . Also Catherine Keener in yet another Kaufman masterpeice!

I loved Catherine Keener in The 40 Year Old Virgin. She was fantastic.

As for this, I thought the cast was already confirmed, but it's done now. And they're shooting soonish, which is good. Get it in the cinemas quicker.


Cheers, Chismeister.