Oscar Best Pictures - Why???

Keep in mind that I think that all 4 are great films. I think that S, NY is one of the most dense films because of its constant surrealist tendencies. Not only does every scene have layered meaning and constant resonance, but it's also one of the most immediately, and deeply moving films I've watched, it's incredibly brutal, but brutal because it's true. I definitely think that Adaptation. is better than Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine, the last two flip-flop for me. Adaptation. has tons to say about the creative process, Hollywood's flaws, depression, cliches, and tons more. What's also astonishing is that Kaufman and the script are literally one in this film. As soon as he's told that voice-over is lazy, the script tosses it. And the entire third act is a joy, and one of the most hysterical endings I've seen, especially when you see it with people who don't get it.

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Mubi

That's fitting, considering its main character was detached from real life.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotard_delusion

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#31 on SC's Top 100 Mofos list!!

Ohh. One director did these four films? Now that I think of it, it makes sense. I have watched these four films but I didn't know they were done by the same director. A rate them as follows:

Malkovich
Sunshine
Adaptation
Synedocke New York

They are pretty much on the same level. I agree Synedocke New York is amazing, just not among my favorites because it is not my style. My sister loved it though.

Not the same director. The same screenwriter. Of those, Kaufman only directed Synecdoche, New York.

Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. were directed by Spike Jonze, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was directed by Michel Gondry.

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Kaufman is a clear exception to classical auteur theory, his films are all easily distinguishable as usually directly from his mind, or, more correctly, exist within it. Also, just a pet peeve, Adaptation. is meant to be spelled with a period.

That's exactly how I rank them.

I enjoyed Confessions. It's not close to being in the same league as Synecdoche, but very enjoyable nonetheless.

I'd rank them in the exact opposite order: Synecdoche, New York being his "weakest" effort (still like it a lot), then Adaptation., Being John Malkovich and finally Eternal Sunshine. SNY is very dense with crazy ideas and themes; I enjoyed it for the mystery and Kaufman's patently unique style of storytelling, but I would need to see it at least once more to try and really make some sense out of it.