Anomalisa (2015) (English Language)

Review

90min

Genre:       Animation, Comedy, Drama

Directors:   Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman

Cast:         David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan…more

Writer:      Charlie Kaufman

-Synopsis-

Emotionally disconnected and jaded by life, a middle-aged customer services consultant guru finds a rare human connection with a young woman while on a business trip. But is young Lisa his gateway to a new perspective on life or an anomaly in his otherwise cynical existence?, all is revealed in this uniquely introspective stop-motion animation drama from the singular mind of writer/director Charlie Kaufman.

With films like Being ‘John Malkovich’ and ‘Adaptation.’, Oscar-winning writer Charlie Kaufman has well established his idiosyncratic cinematic take on life and relationships.

In only his second directorial outing; Kaufman teams up with animator Duke Johnson to bring us a funny, tender and stunningly detailed stop-motion animation human drama about the loss of personal connection, the dangerous mundanity of everyday life and the psyche of ageing… all seasoned with Kaufman’s own distinct neuroses.

Despite the lifelike puppets and elaborately designed sets, this is not a family friendly movie; but rather a distinctly adult relationship drama with comedic undertones but strong language, nudity and a remarkable sex scene that’s both graphic and tender without being comical. That’s some achievement considering the only point of reference would be the notorious sex scene in ‘Team America: World Police’.

‘Anomalisa’ features a fascinating narrative and psychological core whereby the main character “Michael Stone”, as voiced by David Thewlis, experiences the rest of humanity in monotonous tones where everyone literally looks and sounds the same, that is until an encounter with “Lisa”, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, threatens to change everything.

But the true star of the show is Tom Noonan, who pulls a heavy overtime shift by voicing every other man, woman and child… and song in the film.

‘Anomalisa’ is a film that will divide opinion; between critics who laud it for its originality and ability to convey seemingly mundane but universal emotional struggles, and audiences who may take issue with the slow pace and a narrative with little action which lacks an emotionally rounded-off conclusion.

Indeed Kaufman’s decision to visually adapt his original sound play into meticulous time-consuming stop-motion animation, places limitations on the narrative and the scope of the story, but that’s kind of the point and it’s what makes ‘Anomalisa’ so unique and refreshing… if a little depressing.

Once you get past your admiration for the incredible technical achievements on show and accept the world as real, your focus will be on this man and his exaggerated but familiar neuroses, and a bittersweet story that captivates without telling you that everything’s gonna be alright.

The Bottom Line…

Adult puppetry without the seediness which that implies, ‘Anomalisa’ is a remarkable technical cinematic achievement which manages to convey a complex humanity without ever descending into melodrama or cliché. A subtle and revealing if somewhat bleak indie labour-of-love that’s so original, it has no mould to break.

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Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

A quirky couple recognize the unique beauty of their relationship only after they break up and attempt a radical procedure to remove each other from their memories, a unique relationship drama from the idiosyncratic minds of director Michel Gondry and writer Charlie Kaufman.

Directed by Michel Gondry and starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet and Kirsten Dunst among others.

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