Kaufman in Stop Motion

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Anomalisa (2015)

Today we’re gonna talk about what is certainly the least flashy film of the week, but also the one that hits the hardest.

This film is so nihilistic, shocking, transgressive, and at times, incredibly tender, that it begs the question of how they got away with all of it.

Well, that’s what we’re figuring out today.

What Makes It Boring Is What Makes It Powerful

This film is far from exciting.

The first half is so low-key, if it wasn’t animated it’d be mumblecore. The vast majority of the film takes place in a hotel, and much of that is in just one room. The story is very minimalist as well, nothing much happens and yet it still remains completely engaging with its relatable emotions and incredibly observant characterization.

It’s funny to think of how odd Charlie Kaufman movies are when the reason is because he just has such a grasp of day to day interaction. One has to imagine how exhausting it must be to be so aware of others and of self.

And by the way Kaufman likes to portray the world it seems that it takes some sort of toll on him.

The Magic Trick of This Movie

When making this film Kaufman makes the brilliant decision to use stop motion as his style of animation.

It has an oppressive desaturation to it that you can’t get as well in traditional forms of animation, and all the figures' movements are so awkward, helping get across the emotions its characters feel.

But most of all it’s the film's voice cast that heads the charge.

The film features a voice cast of three; Jennifer Jason Leigh, David Thewlis, and Tom Noonan.

Now there are almost 50 speaking parts in the film , so how come the voice cast is so short. Well, Kaufman wants to give off the feeling of monotony and uncanny repetition by having Noonan do all but two rules in the film. We follow Thewlis through a trip while he’s spiraling down the rabbit hole of a midlife crisis and feels like everyone on earth is the same when he finally meets someone who breaks the mold, Jason Leigh’s Lisa.

It is honestly so insane how impressively Kaufman pulls off the feeling of excitement when JJL’s character shows up. She feels like a light because we’ve been lulled into a Noonan drudge for the last twenty minutes. And Noonan does such a smart job affecting different character types without actually altering his voice. It’s so incredibly flawless and meshes the feeling of sameness without ever becoming white noise.

What You Think It's About Vs. What It’s Actually About

[Thematic Spoilers ahead] When you start this film it’s easy to view it as a story of a man who is broken by the universe in its oppression.

As it continues though, we end up seeing a story of pieces being put back together.

We are clued into the fact it’s actually just the opposite.

It's the story of a man who gets past his own destructive tendencies that oppressed the world around him and trapped himself in a world of hurt and disappointment.

It’s really sad.

But it’s also introspective and leaves open the option for a better future for the audience.

And that’s Charlie Kaufman for you.

Today’s Scene