The Bus

Saw this last night. I thought it was magnificent, but a bit flawed. The flaws don't take away from the movie though.

I saw it with my girlfriend and she said it was the first movie she'd ever seen where she felt as if she was going insane, as the movie progressed. She loved it.

I thought it was maybe 10-15 minutes too long but otherwise it was very, very good.

jarofclay73

Adaptation made a lot more sense to me after someone explained to me what happened?

Anyone care to enlighten me about what I just saw in "Synecdoche, New York?"

Makes "Adaptation" and "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" look like obvious narratives.

Supermallet

A friend of mine saw this at a screening with Charlie Kaufman doing a Q&A, and everyone kept asking what specific images meant. Finally he got fed up and said, "Look, I'm not going to tell you what this movie means. Everything in it means something to me. Hopefully it means something to you, too. But I'm not telling you what it should mean to you, because you have to figure that out for yourself."

I only saw it once, but I took it as an unfolding of a subconscious thought process on screen, and loved it for that. I hope I see new things each time I watch it.

Giles

beats the shit out of me, I'm still digesting this... I liked it, but I wouldn't quality it as one of the best of the year.

The Bus

The whole house-for-sale gag may be the strangest and funniest bit I've seen in any movie this year.

jarofclay73

This scene is the one that really sent me on a tailspin. It seemed like a realistic film up until Hazel buys a house that's continually on fire. Perhaps the dream-like (or nightmare-like) quality of the scene prepares us for the absurd events that follow.

I feel better now that many people do not really know what everything means. Even my friend who was with me, and who did not get any satisfaction from the movie, admitted that the performances were stellar.

wendersfan

If I'm not generally a fan of Kaufman's "work", I probably wouldn't like this, correct?

Supermallet

Only if the reason you didn't like his previous films was because you thought they were too conventional.

JPRaup

So I saw this tonight and I still don't know what to think. There is something genius in there, I just have to find it. I feel like I missed so much, even though I paid thorough attention throughout the film. There were some great parts and I really need to see it again. I suggest everyone go see the film, just for the experience.

tylergfoster

I thought it was closest to what Suprmallet said: It's almost like every neuroses and horrible thought that PSH has after he gets hit with the sink knob is brought to life.

Arpeggi

The best film of the year so far for me.

whotony

when does it wide?

jarofclay73

I did think that perhaps the turning point in the film was when he had that accident in the bathroom and maybe the rest of the film was just a dream (or nightmare) but I couldn't back that up with anything. Posting those quotes does help this theory. I was thinking that maybe he died after hitting his head but that would be so much like "The Sixth Sense."

The Bus

It's less loony, more depressing, and probably has more meaning.

Kaufman's movies (at least Malkovich, Adaptation and Synecdoche) are ones where I need to see them, but only once.

chris_sc77

SO I saw this today. Glad I was able to see this in theaters. I really liked it and as of now will probably make the top 10 of the year for me. I have no idea what the film was about or what it was trying to say. However I was never bored and was often very emotionally moved. Even a few times to tears. I dont know if there is a way to "figure out what this movie means" or if it makes much sense as a story. However as a film that made an impact on me emotionally and maybe even on a deep human level I think this film succeeded .

CloverClover

Saw it today, hated it... this has done many times before and better... it had nothing profound to say, no energy, totally up its own ass, and it knows it... and hates itself for it. The whole thing is just an essay about itself. The layers don't make it review proof, or a masterwork. Toward the end, I felt scammed. 2 stars out of 5, for making me angry

tylergfoster

2 stars for something you hated?

Dr Mabuse

I guess to get a 1 star out of 5 rating the film maker would have to literally attack that guy with a bat or something.

CloverClover

Yeah, I hated it, I wanted to forget it as soon as I saw it... no movie I can remember effected me like this, it made me feel angry and scammed, so to be able to have that effect I gave it an extra star. Still I am willing to review my visceral response, especially since looking back on it, I remember something like an eternal mushroom trip. It winds tighter and tighter, but expands further and further, and of course ends with



of course the movie encompasses and anticipates my kind of response, and cries about that too, like negative and positive reviews are saying the same thing. I don't think that is genius though, I think it is cowardly, folding back enough layers, despite spitting in its own face, the film thinks very highly of itself, that's when I rejected it and found it sadistic.

hdtv00

HOLY SHIT. Wow. Anyone who hates this movie , hates Art. I'm not sure how great it is but jesus that was one hell of a ride. I think I haven't loved a movie this much since Fight Club. Blown away, is all I can say really, just wow.

LickTheABCs

^ or they just hate films that are, ya'know, pretentious.

iamiam

Wanted to love this movie but was disappointed. Having an unlikeable protagonist didn't help.

taa455

The basic premise is really mind-blowing, but I couldn't enjoy the depressing mood of the whole film. I was just a bit confused at the end. Whose voice was coming through the earpiece and why was she giving instructions to Caden?

And another thing I'm not clear on..

BambooLounge

As to your spoiler question...the MacArthur Grant was the source of the funding for his project.

I believe the voice in his ear by the end was the woman he originally hired to play the maid, but who he then wound up switching roles with.

BravesMG

I just watched this last night and I'm not sure what the hell I think of it.I think. It's hard to say absolutely anything with any certainty about anything in this film.

I think I liked it, but it certainly didn't work as a rental given how many more times I'd like to watch bits and pieces. My main issue with the film is that