Samantha Morton

Film Review: Robert Pattinson Takes Interesting Ride Through David Cronenberg’s ‘Cosmopolis’

BrianTT — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:13:00 -0400

CHICAGO – One of our best living filmmakers, one of our best working authors, and a teen heartthrob who has largely been known for looks over skill get into a slow-moving limousine in David Cronenberg’s adaptation of Don DeLillo’s “Cosmopolis” starring Robert Pattinson in almost exclusively one-on-one scenes with some great supporting actors and actresses. The result is a purposefully disjointed, pretentious, philosophical, and deeply stylized journey through an exaggerated commentary on the haves, the have-nots, and those stuck in the middle. There is a lot to admire here even if the sum of this movie’s many parts isn’t quite as interesting as its individual moments.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

“ You acquire information and turn it into something stupendous and awful.” Eric Packer (Pattinson) is a super-wealthy, paranoid, elitist, apathetic, nonchalant prick. DeLillo’s 2003 book was a stunningly prescient examination of the gap between the 1% and the masses as Packer journeyed across New York in his souped-up limousine (complete with soundproofing so as not to hear the unwashed outside) just to get a haircut. The people in Packer’s life meet him in his limo/office to discuss his business, his sex life, and the asymmetric nature of his prostate (which he gets examined right there in the limo while talking dirty to a female friend). If it sounds to you like the kind of material that’s right in the wheelhouse of a man who has made some of his best work on the subject of technology, business, science and what these pursuits of advancement of each do to mankind (in films like “Videodrome,” “The Fly,” “eXistenZ,” and more) then you know your Cronenberg.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Cosmopolis” in our reviews section.

So what exactly “happens” in “Cosmopolis”? That’s hard to say. Some scenes play like broad dark satire, such as when a woman (Samantha Morton) says to Packer, “I deal in theory” as a person lights himself on fire during a protest outside of the limo. DeLillo and Cronenberg present a world and the king of that world that is so distant from what goes on outside of it. As Packer keeps hearing of threats against his safety (usually from a security officer played by Kevin Durand), he is seemingly oblivious to any actual danger. It’s as if his detachment from humanity has drained him of his soul. He has a doctor that reports to him daily to check his entire system, including the aforementioned prostate exam and it first seems like he likely does so to make sure he’s not going to die when in actuality it’s probably the only thing that reminds him that he’s alive.

With a protagonist as distant and relatively loathsome as this, it’s easy to see how “Cosmopolis” could come off as philosophical more than visceral. It takes place in the playgrounds of a man like Eric Packer – limos, wine bars, a fancy hotel – and it’s purposefully distant. It may seem like the individual scenes of deeply philosophical conversations with co-stars like Juliette Binoche, Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, and Paul Giamatti aren’t fully interconnected but that’s part of the point. “Cosmopolis” is purposefully distant. What I expect that many (especially those who want to see their favorite “Twilight” star and don’t know what they’re getting) will be disappointed by the cold, cerebral nature of the film but I also think that’s inherent in the material. It’s the only way to approach DeLillo’s book.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Cosmopolis” review.

“Cosmopolis” stars Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Sarah Gadon, Mathieu Amalric, Jay Baruchel, Kevin Durand, Emily Hampshire, Samantha Morton, and Paul Giamatti. It was written and directed by David Cronenberg from the book by Don DeLillo. It opens in Chicago on August 24, 2012.

Cosmopolis
Photo credit: eOne

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Free Guaranteed Tickets, Soundtracks to ‘Cosmopolis’ With Robert Pattinson

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:26:22 -0400

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 5 pairs of guaranteed movie tickets plus 2 free soundtracks up for grabs for new thriller “Cosmopolis” starring Robert Pattinson from David Cronenberg!

“Cosmopolis,” which opens on Aug. 24, 2012 at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago, also stars Paul Giamatti, Juliette Binoche, Samantha Morton, Jay Baruchel, Sarah Gadon, Mathieu Amalric, Kevin Durand, K’Naan, Emily Hampshire and Philip Nozuka from writer and director David Cronenberg (“Eastern Promises”) based on the novel by Don DeLillo. The film is rated “R”.

To win your free “Cosmopolis” prizes – a pair of tickets for any showing of the film during opening weekend at Chicago’s Landmark Century Centre Cinema or a soundtrack – courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! The more social actions you complete below, the higher yours odds of winning!

Before entering, make sure you allow pop-ups.
If viewing this on your phone, click “Go to Full Site” at the bottom of the page to enter.
Deadline: Entries can continue being submitted through Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012
at 5 p.m. CST. These Hookup winners will be awarded via e-mail that night.
If necessary: To see your entry count on a repeat visit, submit your name and e-mail again.
Note: You must enter your mailing address and be 17+.

Here is the synopsis for “Cosmopolis”:

From director David Cronenberg (“A History of Violence, “Dead Ringers,” “The Fly,” “Eastern Promises”) and based on the prophetic novel by Don DeLillo, “Cosmopolis” is a contemporary thriller that turns into a wild, hypnotic odyssey through our new millennium’s obsessions with power, money, control, information, technology, violence, sex, mortality, revolution, destruction and ultimately redemption.

Unfolding in a single cataclysmic day, the story follows Eric Packer (Robert Pattinson) – a 28-year-old financial whiz kid and billionaire asset manager – as he heads out in his tricked-out stretch limo to get a haircut from his father’s old barber. All the while, he’s remotely wagering his company’s massive fortune on a bet against the Chinese Yuan.

Packer’s luxe trip across the city quickly becomes dizzyingly hellish as he encounters explosive city riots, a parade of provocative visitors and is thrust into a myriad of intimate encounters. Having started the day with everything and believing he is the future, Packer’s perfectly ordered, doubt-free world is about to implode.

The “Cosmopolis” movie poster starring Robert Pattinson from director David Cronenberg.
Image credit: Entertainment One

The movie trailer for “Cosmopolis” can be watched now below.

This Hookup is simple! Just get interactive in our unique Hookup technology above. We will award 5 free pairs of guaranteed movie passes plus 2 free soundtracks to 7 winners in total based on social entry numbers and/or randomly for our “Cosmopolis” Hookup. Winners will be notified via e-mail on Aug. 22, 2012 and will receive their prizes in the mail shortly thereafter. You must submit your mailing address in our Hookup technology above. Good luck!

Disclaimer
HollywoodChicago.com LLC is a promotional partner with the studio and its partners and doesn’t assume any liability for this giveaway. Note: Comments are closed in this Hookup.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Review: ‘John Carter’ is Poor Man’s ‘Star Wars’ With Kitschy Taylor Kitsch, Soft-Porn Lynn Collins

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 06:32:18 -0500

CHICAGO – Usually it’s critics critically flogging a film when we say it weakly lacks originality and borrows too heavily from others. Disney’s “John Carter” attacks that classic grumble by promotionally comparing itself to “Star Wars” and “Avatar” before critics even had a chance to deduct points for it.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

But while being proactive in its contrasts, the film also attempts to sell moviegoers on one unknown fact: The basis for Pixar writer and director Andrew Stanton’s (“WALL-E,” “Finding Nemo,” “Toy Story”) story actually originates before its George Lucas and James Cameron predecessors.

Stanton’s current creation is based on the classic stories of a 19th-century Earth man who gets accidentally transplanted to Mars. And it’s been more than 100 years since “Tarzan” creator Edgar Rice Burroughs crafted the character John Carter: the hero of his science-fiction “Barsoom” (Mars) book series.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “John Carter”.

Prior to his acceptance, Stanton’s hot seat was dropped like flies by many others. Robert Rodriguez was signed as the film’s director in 2004 when it was known as “A Princess of Mars”. Then Kerry Conran (“Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”) took over. And then it fell into the directorial hands of Jon Favreau of “Iron Man” fame. Focusing on “Star Trek” instead, the film’s rights transferred from Paramount to Disney in 2007.

Through all the flipping and flopping, there’s no surer-fire way for a film to ink its own $250-million obituary than by contrasting itself to two of Hollywood’s most titanic films when it only has half the heart, soul and story of either one.

“John Carter” stars Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton, Thomas Haden Church, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, Dominic West, Bryan Cranston, James Purefoy, Polly Walker and Daryl Sabara from writer and director Andrew Stanton. The film, which has a running time of 132 minutes and is rated “PG-13” for intense sequences of violence and action, opened on March 9, 2012.

Continue for Adam Fendelman’s full “John Carter” review.

Taylor Kitsch stars as the title character in “John Carter”.
Image credit: Frank Connor, Disney

Continue for Adam Fendelman’s full “John Carter” review.

Slideshow: 21 Official Photos From Disney’s ‘John Carter’ With Taylor Kitsch

PatrickMcD — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:00:29 -0500

CHICAGO – Coming on March 9th is one of the more anticipated action films of 2012. Walt Disney presents “John Carter,” featuring Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church, Samantha Morton, Clarán Hinds and Bryan Cranston. The story is based on a 100 year old series of novels by “Tarzan” creator Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Carter1: Taylor Kitsch (John Carter) and Lynn Collins (Dejah Thoris) in ‘John Carter’
Carter2: James Purefoy is Kantos Kan in ‘John Carter’
Carter3: Another View of James Purefoy as Kantos Kan
Carter4: Lynn Collins is Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium in ‘John Carter’
Carter5: Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins Share a Moment in ‘John Carter’
Carter6: Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins in ‘John Carter’
Carter7: Epic Shot of Taylor Kitsch as John Carter
Carter8: Taylor Kitsch with Facial Hair in ‘John Carter’
Carter9: Taylor Kitsch in Full Warror Mode in ‘John Carter’
Carter10: Clarán Hinds (Tardos Mors) and Lynn Collins in ‘John Carter’
Carter11: Lynn Collins is Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium in ‘John Carter’
Carter12: Taylor Kitsch is the Title Character in ‘John Carter’
Carter13: Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins Explore in ‘John Carter’
Carter14: Another View of Taylor Kitsch as John Carter
Carter15: Daryl Sabara is a Young Edgar Rice Burroughs in ‘John Carter’
Carter16: Don Stark (Dix) in ‘John Carter’
Carter17: Taylor Kitsch is John Carter
Carter18: James Purefoy as Kantos Kan in ‘John Carter’
Carter19: Lynn Collins and her Court as Princess of Helium in ‘John Carter’
Carter20: Lynn Collins is Ready for her Close-up in ‘John Carter’
Carter21: Taylor Kitsch and Director Andrew Stanton on the Set of ‘John Carter’

”John Carter” opens everywhere March 9th. Featuring Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church, Samantha Morton, Dominic West, Clarán Hinds and Bryan Cranston. Screenplay adapted by Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews and Michael Chabon. Directed by Andrew Stanton. Rated “PG-13”

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Honest, Human Drama of Excellent ‘The Messenger’

BrianTT — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:08:25 -0400

CHICAGO – Just before the Oscar nominations for 2009 were to be announced, a few pundits went out on a limb and predicted that not only would Oren Moverman’s “The Messenger” be nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson) and Best Original Screenplay but that it would also find its way into several more categories, including even Best Picture. If more people had seen the film, I believe it would have made the Academy’s top ten. It’s a spectacular drama, one that gets richer and more impressive on repeat viewing. And its recently-released Blu-ray edition treats this spectacular film with the respect it deserves.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

The two-disc special edition of this expertly-made and performed drama includes both Blu-ray and DVD versions of the film along with excellent bonus material and even packaging that stands apart from the traditional release. It reminds me of a Criterion release, complete with an essay on the case by Anthony Swofford, the author of “Jarhead”. So many studios, especially independent ones who may be strapped for cash, unceremoniously release their smaller films on bare-bones, lackluster DVDs. Oscilloscope deserves an amazing amount of praise for treating a small film with the respect it deserves.

The Messenger was released on Blu-ray and DVD on May 18th, 2010
Photo credit: Oscilloscope

With a shocking lack of manipulation, melodrama, or easy lessons, “The Messenger” says more about honest, relatable humanity than most dramas of the last few years. It deals with the unpopular issue of not just the cost of war but how common it is for people to refuse to address universal issues like loss and grief. But it does so merely by staying true to its characters, some of the most well-rounded and believable of the year. It’s one of those rare films where it feels like every character in it existed before the first scene and after the last. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it’s required viewing.

The Messenger was released on Blu-ray and DVD on May 18th, 2010
Photo credit: Oscilloscope

Giving the best performance of his already-promising career, Ben Foster stars as Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery, a troubled soldier who has just returned home from his tour due to injury but has a few months left to serve. He is assigned to the Casualty Notification Office - the men and women who knock on the door of the next of kin when their loved one has been killed in the line of duty.

Will is partnered with the more-experienced and tough Captain Tony Stone (Oscar nominees Woody Harrelson, reminding all of us how incredible an actor he can be with the right material). Stone and Montgomery do have something of a traditional arc in that they start off noticing their differences and end up noticing their similarities, but the development of their dynamic never feels false. The genuine relationship at the core of “The Messenger” can be at least partially credited to perfect chemistry between two great actors.

Debut director Oren Moverman constantly made the right decision as a director when options were placed in front of him. Working collaboratively with his cast - most of the casualty notifications were unscripted - and largely with unbroken takes, he has crafted a film where the viewer often feels like they’re a third member of the CNO, learning how to deal with grief along with Will and Tony.

The Messenger was released on Blu-ray and DVD on May 18th, 2010
Photo credit: Oscilloscope

Oscilloscope knows this is the most important film of their short existence and have treated it as such, releasing a combo disc set that unfolds like a Criterion release for an acknowledged classic. And the technical elements of the Blu-ray transfer are flawless. The HD picture doesn’t look overly polished with just the right levels of color and line detail. It’s not “Avatar,” but it’s a great transfer.

The special features are similarly above par including one in particular that works as an amazing companion piece to the film called “Notification”. In the research process for the film, a documentarian went along with Moverman as he was allowed to actually experience the world of the CNO. It’s a tough piece to watch but it illustrates the depth of the research for this film and how seriously Moverman and his team took their sensitive subject matter.

Other great special features include an audio commentary by Moverman, Producer Lawrence Inglee, Ben Foster, and Woody Harrelson; “Going Home: Reflections From the Set;” Variety Screening Series Q & A with Moverman, Harrelson, Co-writer Alessandro Camon, Inglee, and Director of Photography Bobby Bukowski. All of the special features feel like they enhance the experience of the film instead of merely serving as filler.

“The Messenger” was one of the best films of 2009 but that doesn’t always translate to the world of DVD and Blu-ray. I wish I could personally thank the team at Oscilloscope for this release, easily one of the best Blu-rays of the year to date.

‘The Messenger’ is released by Oscilloscope and stars Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Jena Malone, and Steve Buscemi. It was written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman and directed by Moverman. It was released on May 18th, 2010 and is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Interview: Ben Foster Brings Humanity to ‘The Messenger’

BrianTT — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:40:46 -0500

CHICAGO – Ben Foster has stolen scenes in works as diverse as “Six Feet Under,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “3:10 to Yuma,” and “Alpha Dog,” but he truly shines in the spotlight of the lead role in “The Messenger,” giving the best performance of his career to date. The young actor was in town for the Chicago International Film Festival and took some time to speak to us about his research for the film, how one leaves such a dramatic work behind, and his love for co-star Woody Harrelson.

Foster stars in “The Messenger” as Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery, a young man returned home from his tour but with a few months of service left. To fill out his time, Will is assigned to the Casualty Notification Office (and partnered with Woody Harrelson’s Captain Tony Stone), the men who inform “NOK” (next of kin) when their loved one has been killed in the line of duty.

Ben Foster on the red carpet for the Chicago International Film Festival premiere of The Messenger.
Photo credit: Joe Arce/HollywoodChicago.com

Will finds himself drawn to a widow played by Samantha Morton, but the film is much more than a typical love story. “The Messenger” is a moving, dramatic examination of loss and how we deal with grief. Naturally, diving into that kind of a part can be tough for someone to leave behind. Foster admits, “I don’t know if I’ve totally shaken it. What’s nice about asking these kind of questions in the form of a film is that it demands a personal rigor to ask yourself these questions. How do we deal with grief? How do we deal with loss? How do we find ways to connect and celebrate what we do have? If that’s hard to shake, that’s fine with me. I like those questions rattling around.”

The Messenger
Photo credit: Oscilloscope Pictures

To help him shake off the ghosts of “The Messenger,” Foster dove right into another project, the poorly-received “Pandorum,” which was released earlier this year. Three weeks after wrapping something as realistic as Oren Moverman’s debut film, Foster was in Berlin, planning to “go to museums and play hard and run around a f**king spaceship. It was a naive concept.”

Foster somewhat talks around the subject of why it was naive but does admit that “…it wasn’t what was presented to me at the time. I think I probably should have taken time off. I’m not saying I shouldn’t have done it, but…You don’t want to start a project if you don’t have anything to give.”

“The Messenger” may be about a very specific job and the character feel three-dimensional but, for Foster, it’s about the universal experience of loss. He explains, “We’ve received those phone calls and we’ve made them. Someday, people will receive them on our behalf. We’re in a culture where we really duck it. We hide it. And, on some level, I believe it’s an unhealthy approach to the inevitable. It’s not morbid if someone is able to feel what they’re feeling - even if it’s scary and hard and recognize the delicacy and the gift that we have of just existing right now.”

The Messenger
Photo credit: Oscilloscope Pictures

To prepare for such a complex role, Foster and the team behind “The Messenger” had the head of CNO on-set every day. Even the extras were actual men and women who had just returned from their tour of duty. Ben, Woody, and Oren spent time at Walter Reade - “We hung out with those kids…missing pieces. It was very sobering. The way that Oren directed us - his strategy was to serve the piece and not ourselves. He set an example and created an environment where we had to listen to each other and honor these men and women. There was no rehearsal for any scene. We never met those we had to notify until we were actually knocking on the door. He would work the camera in a single move and those that would be notified separately. So, when Woody and I would walk up, we were raw nerves. It created this space where we had to really listen to each other. We didn’t know what would happen.”

Even before they got on-set, Ben Foster went to New York two months early to speak to Oren, talk to soldiers, and watch documentaries. Foster says, “We built a shorthand where, by the time we were on-set, his direction, although incredibly insightful, was very simple and subtle. We just built trust. He’s one of those guys - when you meet him…you can smell a liar. You just know that he’s a true humanist.”

A large part of the success of “The Messenger” is due to the interplay between Foster and Harrelson. “I had already been a huge fan of Woody’s for years,” says Foster. “When I heard that he was coming on, I was so excited. Of course, they say never meet your heroes. But it’s one of those rare love affairs. I’m so…I don’t want to say proud…it’s not the right word…blown away to work with him as he’s working on such a deep level. He hasn’t made the choice to do this kind of work often but when he does, he really swings. He’s my brother. I would do anything for Woody.”

The Messenger
Photo credit: Oscilloscope Pictures

Ben Foster has made a wide variety of films in his short career, but is often seen as “an intense actor”. When asked if he wants to do a comedy someday, he jokingly says that he’s called up the Apatow guys looking to do anything - “I really like to laugh. Help me out here. I’ll hold a f**king light.”

As to what draws him to certain projects, Foster says, “I choose each film for a different reason. I’d like to say there’s some grand scheme but it’s really about what shows up and when and where you’re at. I imagine…just thinking of this out loud for the first time…as a writer, if you’re good at what you do, you’re probably only going to be asking one or two different questions. They’re going to be variations on a theme. You’ll have a question that is important to you and you work through the films or the current project to get closer to some kind of answer. I like to be challenged in different ways, but it depends on who I’m working with. I like all kinds of movies. I’m not a movie snob. I like all sorts of genres. Shaking it up and playing with different environments…”

To close out our interview, Foster once again immodestly speaks of his co-stars and director more than himself as to what he learned on the set of “The Messenger” - “There’s such a humility from Samantha Morton and Woody Harrelson to Jena Malone and Steve Buscemi - it’s so impressive to work with people on such a high level. You see that it’s about sacrifice. I suppose it’s not a new thing to learn but it’s something important to keep after - it’s not about YOU, it’s about IT. That kind of commitment and selflessness for something that could be perceived as selfish is inspiring.”

‘The Messenger’ stars Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Steve Buscemi, and Jena Malone. It was written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman and directed by Oren Moverman. It opens in Chicago on November 20th, 2009. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ensemble Make Trip to ‘Synecdoche, New York’ Worthwhile

BrianTT — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:41:13 -0400

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – With one of the most ambitious screenplays of 2008 and one of the most talented ensembles in years, “Synecdoche, New York,” now on Blu-Ray, is a must-see for fans of Charlie Kaufman’s earlier screenwriting work (“Adaptation,” “Being John Malkovich,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) and the incredible ensemble, including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, and Michelle Williams.

The brilliant Kaufman’s directorial debut produces, believe it or not, his least easy-to-define film, a movie that turns in on itself repeatedly until it somewhat loses its way. I was told that I needed to see it twice to really “get it,” but a Blu-Ray viewing after seeing it in theaters didn’t really change my opinion of this ambitious, well-performed, but deeply flawed motion picture.

Synecdoche, New York was released on Blu-Ray on March 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video

The concept of “Synecdoche, New York” is so original and the cast is pitch-perfect (they won an ensemble award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards last month), but I think Kaufman’s writing requires truly masterful direction to truly come to life. “Synecdoche” is a film so overflowing with ideas about age, art, and identity that the weight of its concepts cause it to sink more than it would under someone else’s direction.

Synecdoche, New York was released on Blu-Ray on March 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video

It’s clever, but not nearly as much fun as it should be. Kaufman and his talented team have crafted a great mental workout, but don’t be surprised if it gives you a headache.

Philip Seymour Hoffman shines as Caden Cotard, a theatre director with increasingly troubling health problems and a distant marriage to wife Adele (Catherine Keener). Caden feels uninspired in every way, both professionally and personally. After Adele takes his daughter and moves to Berlin to become a celebrated painter, Caden gets the MacArthur grant and stages a play about (and this is my interpretation, you could have a different one) the futility of trying to recreate reality through theater.

Caden rents a warehouse, builds what becomes a city, and casts people to go about their lives, with director’s notes, of course. The director tries to find love again with Hazel (Samantha Morton) and then Claire (Michelle Williams). He tries therapy but the shrink (Hope Davis) is more obsessed with her own writing than Caden’s work and he hates the influence that Adele’s friend Maria (Jennifer Jason Leigh) has on his growing daughter.

Of course, all of this makes it into the “play,” with Caden eventually having to cast someone to play himself (Tom Noonan) and even Hazel (Emily Watson). The line between theater and reality dissolves and you start to wonder if Caden isn’t experiencing a dream sequence or perhaps you are.

Synecdoche, New York was released on Blu-Ray on March 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home Video

The only way to enjoy “Synecdoche, New York” is to give in to the fact that it’s not meant to be traditionally understood. I think if you try to figure out how it all fits together or if it does at all, then you’ll merely be frustrated. “Synecdoche” is poetry, not prose. Take in the ideas and the themes and make of them what you will.

The Blu-Ray release of “Synecdoche, New York” is presented in 1080p High Definition with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and an English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. Sony rarely fails to deliver with Blu-Ray and “Synecdoche” is no exception. It’s crystal clear, a great transfer.

“Synecdoche, New York” is one of those rare films where I think special features almost hurt more than help. No one can explain this piece in simple terms like you would find on a commentary track, so why bother? The conversation with Philip Seymour Hoffman in “The Story of Caden Cotard” certainly doesn’t illuminate anything. Other special features include “In and Around Synecdoche, New York,” “Infectious Diseases in Cattle: Bloggers’ Roundtable,” Screen Animations and “NFTS/Script Factory Masterclass with Charlie Kaufman”.

‘Synecdoche, New York’ is released by Sony Pictures Home Video and stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hope Davis, and Tom Noonan. It was written and directed by Charlie Kaufman. It was released on March 10th, 2009. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Actors Awkwardly Impersonate Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin in ‘Mister Lonely’

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:51:38 -0400

CHICAGO – The wonder of a filmmaker’s art and perspective is the ability to challenge and reflect the absurdity of our own nature back to us. Few filmmakers have done more to add provocation to that sensibility than Harmony Korine.

In his first full-length feature film since “Julien Donkey-Boy,” Korine explores the hope of miracles and the sorrow of celebrity impersonation in “Mister Lonely”.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Mister Lonely” in our reviews section.

View our full “Mister Lonely” image gallery.

Diego Luna portrays Michael Jackson as an impersonator in Paris. While performing his act, he meets a Marilyn Monroe impersonator (Samantha Morton).

Monroe convinces Jackson to join her commune of other celebrity impersonators including the pope, Madonna, Queen Elizabeth, The Three Stooges, Sammy Davis Jr., Abraham Lincoln, James Dean and Charlie Chaplin (Monroe’s husband).

In a separate story, a priest is bringing food to nearby villagers via airplane. While tossing out rice bags, a nun accidentally falls out of the fuselage. She plummets several thousand feet to Earth and lands unscathed. This causes a stir in the nun’s order and soon her fellow sisters are free falling for the lord.

Samantha Morton as Marilyn Monroe in “Mister Lonely,” which is directed by Harmony Korine.
Photo credit: O’South

Diego Luna as Michael Jackson in “Mister Lonely,” which is directed by Harmony Korine.
Photo credit: O’South

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “Mister Lonely” review.