Three

I finished Synecdoche, New York. First off. It's a good film. Let's say that. It's not simple. Let's also say that too. Let's also say that this film didn't have any mega- super stars, not the one who begin to smell because of overexposure. You know, you're Brad Pitt, smile smile smile. Wave. etc. You may not smell it, but adjust your nose and rest assured, people do start to emanate a foul smell when you see them all the time, but that's for another conversation. What it did have is fine actors, mmmm, excellent actors who faces aren't a machine. In the film are Philip Seymore Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Samantha Jane Morton, Hope Davis, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, and Tom Noonan.

Synecdoche, New York throws you. The title. Or it threw me, because I'm like all people an idiot, and slow (face it, even if you're a genius, you're not that smart). Synecdoche comes from the Greek word, synekdoche (συνεκδοχή) which is a compound συν meaning simultaneous, or together and εκδοχή meaning understanding or receiving. Schenectady is the real name of the actual county located in New York State about a hundred miles north of NYC. It's a Mohican name that means "the other side of the pine." When the Dutch settled there, the kept the name and it was I assume, transliterated. I for one, got the title mixed up. If you're a city rat, you have no problem picking up a plane ticket and going to California, Florida, Texas, etc. but you sure as hell don't go upstate. It's weird there. Stupid thinking of course, but there you have it.

I'll try not to completely ruin the movie for you. Synecdoche, New York hosts Caden Cotard, a playwright and director, married, wins a MacArther grant, which is a grant given by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to anyone from nearly any field that's doing creative work. It enables someone to use 500,000$ no strings attached over the course of five years to do whatever it is they're doing better. Caden decides to use the money to make his magnum opus.
After that it becomes more and more bizarre and weird and smart and funny and Kauffmanesque. After an hour of saying what the fuck is going on, you finally let go of your brain and become a sponge, soaking in till the end when you're... well, I won't say what you'll be, but I like it.