Charlie Kaufman is one of the best and innovative writer in Hollywood for the past 2 decades with landmark films Adaptation, Being John Malkovich, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Original Screenplay Award-wining Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. He wrote and directed interesting Synecdoche, New York which is a bizarre, artistic, and heartfelt look at the theatre and acting world. He co-directed animated feature Anomalisa with mixed results. His writing is always transformative and inspiring, yet his directing capabilities like many writers turned director sometimes falls short in the subtleties, especially with visual and musical cohesion. Here Kaufman ups his game and creates one of the year's most evocative piece of cinema. His storytelling choices are excellent as a writer but even more so in his directing choices. From the aspect ratio choice to the visuals in the car in the snowstorm, the contrasting conflicted narrator voiceover, the dance sequence, to the use of the surreal, homey and creepy multilevel house as focal point, Kaufman finds many cues and hues to make cinematic gold.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things is an art film and makes no comprise about that. This explains the lack of enthusiasm from mainstream audience and I would not personally recommend this film to everyone. It has extensive dialogue about art (literature, cinema, etc), a spoken word poetry and asks the audience to be active and aware which sadly is not something most moviegoers are able or willing to do. There is no easy spoon-feeding here. I am thinking of some of David Lynch films like Lost Highway and Mulholland Dr. or Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut as references which all have many layers of understanding, meaning, intrigue and transcendence and are prime for repeat viewing.
You can find many things in I'm Thinking of Ending Things if you look for them. The eerie ice cream stop in the snowstorm is so simple yet incredibly atmospheric. The perception of time, disease and death viewed through the metamorphose of the parents' conditions, the janitor perception of the world and an acceptance speech that may be an acceptance of life and the human condition. What Kaufman did here is go way beyond the writing and create an innerving, self-reflective prism of one's fears and dreams through a collage of exquisite scenes and a buildup of tension, focus and anticipation. Some dark humour is also found, as well as some philosophical, sociological and artistic questioning. There are already varied, insightful interpretations of the true meaning behind the surface viewing of this far-fetched yet simple tale. I believe it will remain a true and rare gem for those who can appreciate this kind of brilliant and troublesome endeavours that will stay with you long after the credit rolls and fade to black.
Go enjoy this "Thinking" film. I highly recommend Thinking of Ending Things for these reasons if you are willing to dig in with an open (spotless) mind.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things is an art film and makes no comprise about that. This explains the lack of enthusiasm from mainstream audience and I would not personally recommend this film to everyone. It has extensive dialogue about art (literature, cinema, etc), a spoken word poetry and asks the audience to be active and aware which sadly is not something most moviegoers are able or willing to do. There is no easy spoon-feeding here. I am thinking of some of David Lynch films like Lost Highway and Mulholland Dr. or Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut as references which all have many layers of understanding, meaning, intrigue and transcendence and are prime for repeat viewing.
You can find many things in I'm Thinking of Ending Things if you look for them. The eerie ice cream stop in the snowstorm is so simple yet incredibly atmospheric. The perception of time, disease and death viewed through the metamorphose of the parents' conditions, the janitor perception of the world and an acceptance speech that may be an acceptance of life and the human condition. What Kaufman did here is go way beyond the writing and create an innerving, self-reflective prism of one's fears and dreams through a collage of exquisite scenes and a buildup of tension, focus and anticipation. Some dark humour is also found, as well as some philosophical, sociological and artistic questioning. There are already varied, insightful interpretations of the true meaning behind the surface viewing of this far-fetched yet simple tale. I believe it will remain a true and rare gem for those who can appreciate this kind of brilliant and troublesome endeavours that will stay with you long after the credit rolls and fade to black.
Go enjoy this "Thinking" film. I highly recommend Thinking of Ending Things for these reasons if you are willing to dig in with an open (spotless) mind.