Synchedoche, New York...I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THAT FILM! But the script has been leaked out (I didn't read it because I like to obide by the law) and it's being called horrible.
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Reading Charlie Kaufman's Next Project
Eternally expanding his art, the writer's "Synecdoche, New York" is personally epic.
By Jay A. Fernandez, Special to The Times
September 13, 2006
Scriptland, launching today, is a new weekly feature on the work and professional lives of screenwriters.
I have the new Charlie Kaufman screenplay on my desk.
I've read it — no, lived it. I've been moved and astounded by it. And I'm tortured by the dilemma of what I should or should not say about it here. I feel a bit like Frodo palming the One Ring.
The last two weeks have been a grueling cacophony of real and imagined voices — other journalists, producers, publicists, Kaufman, myself — trying to convince me either of my righteousness as a journalist or of my complicity in possibly hurting one of the greatest screenwriters in history, a man with a craving for privacy as singular and passionate as his creative vision.
Kaufman is widely and justifiably considered the most inventive screenwriter in Hollywood. He was nominated for an Oscar for both "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation," and finally won one (along with Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth) for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."
On a personal and professional level, I thought reading his latest script would bring me great joy. Charlie Kaufman is that rare artist who expands the possibilities of his art form. His work is designed to be experienced more than read or seen. His filmed screenplays become beautifully melancholy windows into some of life's most indescribable (and unavoidable) emotions.
But many people, beginning with Kaufman, do not want me to have the script, do not want me to read the script, and without question do not want me to write anything about the script. Words like "super-sensitive," "invasive" and "freaked" have been cautiously leveled at me as I've reached out to those involved with the project to get their thoughts on it.
And what a project. Ambitious doesn't even begin to describe the sublime and scary head-trip that is "Synecdoche, New York." For one thing, the marketers are going to have to borrow from the P.T. Anderson "Magnolia" poster campaign, in which the title was broken out syllabically, just to get people to pronounce the film properly. (It's sin-neck-duh-key, emphasis on the neck.)
For all those who aren't AP English professors, a "synecdoche," other than a clever play on Schenectady, where some of the film takes place, is a figure of speech in which a part is used to describe the whole or the whole is used to describe a part (think "threads" for clothes, or "the law" for a police officer). It's representative shorthand.
Yes, I had to look it up. Several times. And this is far from the only reference or play on words in Kaufman's story that rewards a closer look.
"Synecdoche" nominally concerns a theater director who thinks he's dying, and how that shapes his interactions with the world, his art and the women in his life. But it is really a wrenching, searching, metaphysical epic that somehow manages to be universal in an extremely personal way. It's about death and sex and the vomit-, poop-, urine- and blood-smeared mess that life becomes physiologically, emotionally and spiritually (Page 1 features a 4-year-old girl having her butt wiped). It reliably contains Kaufman's wondrous visual inventions, complicated characters, idiosyncratic conversations and delightful plot designs, but its collective impact will kick the wind out of you.
Spike Jonze, who directed Kaufman's scripts for "Malkovich" and "Adaptation," was once destined to helm this new project, but eventually opted for the Dave Eggers co-scripted "Where the Wild Things Are," now shooting in Melbourne, Australia. This left Kaufman, who's always been deeply involved with the making of his screenplays, to direct it himself. He's currently finalizing casting deals with an eye toward filming next spring.
If this film gets made in any way that resembles what's on the page — and with the writer himself directing, it will likely gain even more color and potency in the translation — it will be some kind of miracle. "Synecdoche" will make "Adaptation" and "Eternal Sunshine" look like instructional industrial films. No one has ever written a screenplay like this. It's questionable whether cinema is even capable of handling the thematic, tonal and narrative weight of a story this ambitious.
But, as one character says, "People starve for something of worth." Well, moviegoers will surely be gorging on the power and depth of this film for a long time.
Meanwhile, I feel terribly sick to my stomach.
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Hmm. Well the people on IMDb who read it said it sucked, but I sincerely hope that the review you posted is more accurate in the end. I adore Charlie Kaufman.
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Well yeah, but there were over 50 people that read the screenplay on IMDb. All of them except for one or two said it sucked. And the review you posted wasn't from a professional, it was from a reader of the paper. It has as much credibility as one of the people on IMDb. While you can't trust everyone on IMDb and some of them may be fake accounts, the fact that one person dislikes it is as important as if one person that did like it. And "specialized concept" doesn't make any sense, but if you're saying what I think you are--which is that people don't judge movies as well as critics do--then you are truly naive.
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Well what you post reflects who you are, to an extent. If you say that critcs' opinions about movies are always more valid than those of fans, then you've said a naive thing, thus making you naive.
Wow, this has gone on too long.
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CHARLIE WILSON`S WAR
Great cast+oscar material+mike nichols (overdue)
THE KITE RUNNER
buzz is fading quickly...
RESERVATION ROAD
It seems like the most serious contender this year, plus overdue and faded actors starring it. The Academy owes it to Focus since BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.
SWEENEY TODD
By far, the most buzzed film of the year, BURTON+DEPP has always been a powerful combination. if it doesnt get a BP nod it will get one in any other category, but it won`t be overlooked.
THERE WILL BE BLOOD
3 words: Daniel Day Lewis
He is the most talented and versatile actor in the business, plus, academy loves oscar winners coming back...and it lokks like a very solid project
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1) Charlie Wilson's War
2) Atonement
3) There Will Be Blood
4) Reservation Road
5) The Golden Age
I believe Sweeney Todd could replace the Golden Age, but there's the Tim Burton factor. And Once should be the little Indy flick that could and make it to the top 5 by replacing the Golden Age. I'm very doubtful-- I think it will pull in Oscar noms in the Best Orig. Song category and win Best Foreign Film, though.
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Atonement
Charlie Wilson's War
Reservation Road
Sweeny Todd
There Will Be Blood
On the Kite Runner: having seen a leaked copy of this film I have to say that while it is a good film with fantastic direction under Marc Forester and an amazing preformance by Khalid Abdallah, I doubt it will make many waves come oscar time. Both Reservation Road, No Country For Old Men and American Gangster were better. I hope it at least grabs a Greengrass like directors nod for an overdue Forster.
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American Gangster
No Country for Old Men
Reservation Road
Atonement
Charlie Wilson's War (this is my underdog because we have no real information on it and no reviews)
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American Gangster (Universal Pictures)
Atonement (Focus Features)
In the Valley of Elah (Warner Independent)
No Country for Old Men (Miramax Films)
Sweeney Todd (Dreamworks SKG)
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good list, but i'd seriously conider margot at the wedding and the kite runner as major contenders. the list needs a decent indie semi-comedy and the kite runner is baity as hell
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Atonement
Charlie Wilson's War
The Golden Compass
Juno
No Country for Old Men
Reasoning:
Before people go crazy and say that I am stupid let me explain. Atonement has all the buzz right now. The film has a strong cast and strong source material so the film could either end up being The English Patient or Cold Mountain. I'll lean toward the former. Charlie Wilson's War has an all star cast and has had buzz build all this year but leaked sneak preview reviews have been very favorable so expect it to be strong. The Oscars have struggled in recent years to establish ratings for the ceremony so I could see The Golden Compass earning a nomination especially if it is well-reviewed, commercially successful in order to draw a stronger audience similar to the Lord of the Rings plus the SciFi trilogy idea helped the first installment of both Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings earn nominations. No Country for Old Men has earned great reviews so far this year and AMPAS has a soft spot for the Coen brothers when they are at their best. Finally, comedies have done well in recent years with Little Miss Sunshine and Sideways coming close to victory, so I think Juno is the dark horse nominee this year.
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American Gangster (Universal Pictures)
Atonement (Focus Features)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Thinkfilm)
In the Valley of Elah (Warner Independent)
No Country for Old Men (Miramax Films)
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Well, add another to the casualty list. That brings the total to:
Charlie Wilson's War
The Golden Age
Rendition
Reservation Road
First 5 (In Order):
**Atonement**
There Will Be Blood
Kite Runner
No Country for Old Men
Juno
Other Films I think that have a shot:
Michael Clayton
American Gangster
Into the Wild
In the Valley of Elah
Films I hope are good/gain buzz:
Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Gone Baby Gone
Lions for Lambs (It will either be one of the best of the year or one of the worst)
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Atonement
Charlie Wilson's War
American Gangster
There Will Be Blood
Juno
AMPAAS seems to love Brits these recent years, so Atonement is a shoe-in for a nod, possibly a win.CWW was looking so solid for some reason, I'm hoping the comedic trailer is misleading. American Gangster can not win here, sorry. There Will Be Blood looks amazing, I think P.T. Anderson's writing and Daniel Day-Lewis' performance will bring it into this category. As for Juno, there's always a spot reserved for a well received, indie dramedy and Margot at the Wedding doesn't seem to be so hot, so Juno is likely to take the reservation, especially if Ellen Page maintains a lead in the Best Actress race, and if the writing and directing get precursor attention.
ALTERNATES
No Country for Old Men
I don't see it for some weird reason, but it could very easily happen.
Sweeney Todd
It's chances are looking worse and worse. It has the same problems as The Kite Runner.
The Kite Runner
It's going through censorship hell right now, is it going to hamper the film's chance?
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you might be right about Sweeney Todd, but it's still not getting into this category. also, i think that we might be looking at another shameless Oscar bait-bitch slap in the face of the studio. im talking about Charlie Wilson's War. like Dreamgirls and Cold Mountain before it, this movie has not only a pedigree cast and crew, but an all Oscar winning cast and crew, which makes it instantly suspicious. i think it will fall off all the major categories, and will lose out on a Best Pic nod bcus the Academy like to punish Oscar greedy studios. but Philip Seymour Hoffman's chances wont be hurt (think Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Renee Zellwegger)
so for me, its looking like this
Atonement
There Will Be Blood
Juno
American Gangster
The Kite Runner
Advantage is still for Atonement, but for some reason I can feel There Will Be Blood becoming a serious contender.
ALTERNATES
Sweeney Todd
I guess we will see, and maybe i'll be eating my words but i still don't see it
No Country for Old Men
I love the Coens and i'm sure this film belongs to be in this category, still i have a feeling it wont be here.
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
I love Julian Schnabel and also his previous work, which he was ignored for. he has a better in the director category i think.
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I completely agree with you on Charlie Wilson's War. The only nod I see right now is Hoffman for Best Supporting Actor.
I'm not sure yet about There Will Be Blood, but the few early reviews are stellar. Also, somewhere I read that it's already being compared to Citizen Kane!
That's really something.
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thanks for the feedback, it's basically just history repeating itself. also, i think you're right about There Will Be Blood, it's hard to tell right now but i still think it could come out winning here
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This is my current predictions along with some I think can be pushed up.
Frontrunners:
1) Atonement
2) Sweeney Todd
3) No Country For Old Men
4) Charlie Wilson's War
5) American Gangster
Dark Horses:
6) The Kite Runner
7) Into the Wild
8) There Will Be Blood
9) Juno
10) Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Longshots (but don't count them out yet):
11) Michael Clayton
12) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
13) Hairspray
14) Gone Baby Gone
15) Eastern Promises
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1. No Country For Old Men- Lock for nomination; favorite for win
2. Into The Wild- Lock for nomination; Unlikely for win
3. Michael Clayon- Likely nominee; in the running for win
4. Sweeney Todd- Contender for nomination; Unlikely for win
5. Juno- Contender for nomination; outside chance at win
Possilbilities for spots 3-5:
1. Atonement-Contender; They probably will give it this category despite so-so campaign
2. There Will Be Blood- Outside contender; If they throw a curveball but it will most likely be snubbed
3. The Diving Bell and Butterfly- If they want a suprise; Will probably be honored in Best Director category instead
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American Gangster
Atonement
Into the Wild
Juno
No Country for Old Men
This is the craziest oscar year in history but I think it is safe to say that No Country for Old Men is a lock for a nomination. I think the website's predictions are right but ultimately who will be nominated is going to depend on the PGA, WGA, and DGA. I think that American Gangster and Juno's box office success will help them to score PGA nominations which ultimately lead them to oscar nominations.
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No Country for Old Men
I don't think there's any debate about this one.
There Will Be Blood
The right amount of acclaim from major precursers, and the film now just catching on, suggests that it can make the shortlist.
Into the Wild
The acclaim for Penn and Hirsch should be enough power to push it over the edge.
Michael Clayton
I'm a bit uneasy about this prediction, but I have a feeling this will get called. With sure nominations for Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, and a possible screenplay nomination, it just seems like another film they'd embrace on the Best Picture status. It's my feeling.
Juno
Something tells me that it's not going to happen, but the signs seem to point to this contender. I'm not satisfied with predicting it, but I can't think of anyone else.
Possible Upset:
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The buzz and love for this movie is growing faster than people realize. It's Best Director nomination is a sure bet, but the signs of this as a Best Picture contender are becoming too large to ignore. I would not be surprised if voters picked this over films like Juno or even Michael Clayton.
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