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Anomalisa, 2015
Michael (David Thewlis) is a corporate efficiency author doing a speaking tour that takes him to New York City. Despite his specialty being customer service, Michael experiences a serious lack of connection to those around him, including his wife and child. But one night at his hotel, Michael meets Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and the two experience an intense, one-night romance.
This is a strong little slice-of-life drama that asks questions about what it is that we need from each other as people, and what it means to try and shake ourselves out of unproductive routines.
Lisa is painfully, painfully insecure, and it's hard to tell if Michael is drawn to her because of this trait or in spite of it. Their very first scene together consists of her fangirling about meeting him, while simultaneously insisting that he not look at her because she's taken off her makeup. Both Lisa and Michael are boxed in by their own mental state, but the results of their fling are very different for each of them.
For me, the movie's power comes through mostly in the last act, which takes place the morning after Lisa and Michael meet.
I did like the animation style, which adds to the sense of a world where people are disconnected. Likewise, I really enjoyed the style choice of having every character aside from Michael and Lisa be voiced by a single actor (Tom Noonan). This is particularly fun when Michael watches a clip of My Man Godfrey on the hotel TV. But it also adds some emotional weight as the sound of characters' voices change based on Michael's perception.
A very interesting merging of story and format.
Anomalisa, 2015
Michael (David Thewlis) is a corporate efficiency author doing a speaking tour that takes him to New York City. Despite his specialty being customer service, Michael experiences a serious lack of connection to those around him, including his wife and child. But one night at his hotel, Michael meets Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and the two experience an intense, one-night romance.
This is a strong little slice-of-life drama that asks questions about what it is that we need from each other as people, and what it means to try and shake ourselves out of unproductive routines.
Lisa is painfully, painfully insecure, and it's hard to tell if Michael is drawn to her because of this trait or in spite of it. Their very first scene together consists of her fangirling about meeting him, while simultaneously insisting that he not look at her because she's taken off her makeup. Both Lisa and Michael are boxed in by their own mental state, but the results of their fling are very different for each of them.
For me, the movie's power comes through mostly in the last act, which takes place the morning after Lisa and Michael meet.
WARNING: spoilers below
What we see is that Lisa is still very much drawn to Michael, but for him she has started to become just another body. He starts to tune into her flaws, and seems to intentionally go about souring her for himself. His treatment of her is cruel and unnecessary, and of course she defaults to him being right about all of it.
I did like the animation style, which adds to the sense of a world where people are disconnected. Likewise, I really enjoyed the style choice of having every character aside from Michael and Lisa be voiced by a single actor (Tom Noonan). This is particularly fun when Michael watches a clip of My Man Godfrey on the hotel TV. But it also adds some emotional weight as the sound of characters' voices change based on Michael's perception.
A very interesting merging of story and format.