Anomalisa (2015)

Directed by Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman
Written by Charlie Kaufman
Starring David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tom Noonan

Perhaps one of the more creative examples of the mundanity of every day life, Charlie Kaufman once again proves himself as one of the most unique screenwriters in cinema. In this remarkably crafted stop-motion-animated film, a man crippled by monotony of his life experiences something that causes him to find the joy in life.

The very thing that makes Charlie Kaufman stand out in the crowd of thousands of countless nameless writers is his ability to create a world that is relatable and familiar, yet simultaneously adverse and outlandish. He uses experiences from his own life that most if not all of us share and displays it for us in own dark and humorous ways. "Anomalisa" is no exception.

At first, what seems to be an odd choice of storytelling using puppets and stop motion animation, and an even more bizarre decision to have one actor voice literally all but two characters (in-scene music included), immediately becomes clear as the only way this story could have been told. This decision proves to be brilliant as it completely enforces the idea that no one, in the mind of the protagonist, is unique. Giving all of the secondary characters the same face was also a nice touch.

One of the tag lines written by a critique that the trailer uses perfectly sums up this film to the point that I wish I came up with it.

Matt Patches of ESQUIRE writes:

"The most human movie of the year. And it doesn't star a single human." 

That, to me, is a perfect summary of this film. While the choice of animation does create for some odd situations, the underlying message and emotions that the protagonists feel are 100% universal. Everyone has felt them at some point in their life and it is captured perfectly within the tiny sets and small characters.

It is of my opinion that Charlie Kaufman has outdone himself with this film. And I am curious to see how he follows it up.

My Rating: 9/10

Adaptation (2002)

Directed by Spike Jonze
Written by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman (Fictionally), based on the book "The Orchid Thief" (sort of, kind of, not really) by Susan Orlean
Starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper and Brian Cox

A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt "The Orchid Thief" by Susan Orlean for the screen.

A satire of just how wrong film adaptations of beloved novels can be, Charlie Kaufman took his real-life struggles of adapting Susan Orlean's book and did what any good screenwriter would do when writing an adaptation and made it nothing like it's printed counterpart. Making himself the main character, Kaufman took a story that wasn't even in his own genre and put his imaginative twist on it.

The genius and ingenuity of his writing made for a fun film in which we got to see into his psyche. Or probably not. There really is no telling after this script. Regardless, the journey he takes us on is one that all film lovers will appreciate.

Backed by great writing, the A-list cast gave remarkable performances that earned Chris Cooper an Academy Award (although, I believe it to be a "sorry for snubbing you for 'American Beauty' award). It even earned Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep Academy Award nominations for their roles.

A film that I can't imagine anyone other than Spike Jonze to direct. The quirkiness and ingenuity of Kaufman's writing is complimented by Jonze's style and proves to be a perfect followup to "Being John Malkovich".

I really haven't seen another film like this. It is so different and extraordinarily wild that I really can't compare it to any other work. It's just one of those movies that can't be defined other than by a few meaningless words that don't delve into what it really is. You just have to see it.

My Rating: 8/10