Anomalisa - Official Movie Review

Anomalisa starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, David Thewlis, and Tom Noonan is reviewed by Ben Mankiewicz (Turner Classic Movies), Alonso Duralde (TheWrap and Linoleum Knife podcast) and Christy Lemire (www.ChristyLemire.com).
Read what other critics had to say: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anoma...
A man struggles with his inability to connect with other people. -Rotten Tomatoes
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[@oldmoviemusic]

*I love how humble Ben is*... he has so much humility to not go along with the crowd and just admit that he didn't get something - he didn't try and make an argument for why said thing is 'bad', like most people would do to hide their confusion, but he just straight up admitted he didn't get it, and I think that is very admirable for someone who is a professional film critic, considering how many people who aren't professionals feel the need to put on far more pretenses than Ben does. *I find it very impressive how in numerous videos Ben isn't afraid to be really vulnerable*, explaining why a movie got to him more than to the other reviewers in a way that does away with any sense of vanity in regards to how intelligent he sounds when he describes it, *going instead for a sense of realness, an appeal to the sense of humanity in the film* that made it so powerful for him. In the end, I just think that someone who can keep themselves stripped of pretense, vulnerable to expressing his emotions, as well as open to changing his mind and admitting he isn't always the most clever person in the room, is someone who possesses a unique perspective on the world, and someone with a great deal of humility combined with a deep understanding of his own humanity.

[@jeffbrown-hill7739]

Totally. I couldn't agree more.

[@00HoODBoy]

Wow.great comment

[@tiberius4678]

This is the funniest thing I read all day!

[@classactionsteve]

Sounds like you're using your obsession of Ben as a proxy for your own feelings about the movie. I also didn't get it, but I don't care for what Ben thinks. Just looking for reaffirmation or explanation here.

[@rickdeckard5719]

But why male models?

[@csjcsj2906]

Imagine an Inside Out version of Anomalisa, where the movie explores Michael Stone's emotions.

[@Wawagirl17]

WHOA.

[@theonewhoknocks96]

Ben needs to watch YMS's analyzed review of synecdoche ny

[@worldprez6655]

+Mark Angelini Jr. I'm with Ben it's just not really that great

[@overgme]

While I've really dug the YMS series, I think it probably works best for those who already appreciate the movie, or at least those willing to invest several hours trying to work their way through it. That doesn't strike me as Ben. On the other hand, I think Ebert's reviews provide a good entry point for anyone completely lost by the film, but interested in giving it at least one more try. www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/the-best-films-of-the-decade www.rogerebert.com/reviews/synecdoche-new-york-2008 I found his parable a particularly astute way of conveying a lot of the message of the movie. YMS' analysis is great, but it's really an "advanced study for those already interested."

[@kmecameron]

I don't know, I hated Synecdoche New York when I first saw it and YMS's series gave me a newfound appreciation for it. Still haven't gotten around to rewatching it, but I will.

[@Phi1618033]

"I'm a dumb person."--Ben Mankiewicz

[@MariOwnsZombies]

This movie was so thought provoking and haunting. It was very psychological as well. It was so unique and beautifully made. But it is definitely a movie I would only watch once.

[@jeremy29tunage]

I like how the trailer makes this seem like an uplifting film when its really a disturbing existential meltdown

[@aliforoughi92]

No one mentioned that he crowd-funded this. No one was willing to finance his film, which is really really sad.

[@JAContes]

This is going to be yet another Charlie Kaufman movie where you have to say you liked it or else you will be labeled a moron for not "getting it".

[@soumyajitmandal9868]

+J.A. Contes So basically just like a Christopher Nolan movie

[@mrjibran421]

+J.A. Contes I don't think you have to like it. Whether you enjoy his films or not, you cant deny the fact that they're very original in ideas and always leave you with an impending thought of Life

[@upsidetown6256]

This movie is bullshit , and very selfish . The idea of similar voices is sick , this person simply does want to hurt him self or suicide , cause he didnt get the meaning of life so either go find the meaning of life or dont waste our time by your selfish desires such a complicately sick person the director as to imagine a person with a rediculous dump character , are people really been dump enough to proudly like this , if your grandfathers saw this movie they will whip there asses using it carelessly

[@brettjohnson536]

+Upsidetown You're basically just doing the the exact same thing as the original comment on reverse by claiming everyone who likes the film is an idiot. Personally I loved the film, but I'm interested to hear more about why you didn't.

[@upsidetown6256]

Anthony I'd like to be honest with you I watched this movie three weeks ago and I remeber zero shit about it , cause it's basically a bluff , you seem to be a quiet respectfull gentle men , and I never said my point if view is always right , but probably you can feel some evidence of not liking the movie on three weeks when you dont want to have any shity memories about it

[@KingCuzco]

This movie was weird as hell especially the sex scene and the ending I felt really uncomfortable lol

[@rayorbison4699]

I really only want to see the puppets screwing. Could give less a shit about the movie trying to change the world, or whatever.

[@KingCuzco]

+Ray Orbison Nahh bro you must be really horny to even dare to watch disturbing dolls having sex

[@KingCuzco]

+Da Vinz god damn it Charlie Kaufman you're a genius

[@f.u.allthosecriticallystup9099]

James Vasquez but it got 93% on rotten tomatoes and all critics like the movie cause they say it has more heart than a live action movies..

[@curbyour____9506]

@@Vincent_Luciano_Simpson Hi, I'm late and just finished this movie an hour ago, but I really cant understand why that deserves the praise. Yay we've made the audience uncomfortable! Yes it shows raw humanity in its flaws but what can you take away from that? The movie's unentertaining (well before meeting lisa it was quite good) and shows an unfortunate encounter which doesn't demand any thought from the viewer after the movie.

[@zeroeffects88]

Saw this film and I'm still trying to decide if I loved or hated it. It's that kind of movie.

[@iansmart4158]

SO glad u guys reviewed this. i really wanna c it! Upstream Color, Synechdoche New York, Her, Moonrise Kingdom, and Annie Hall are some of the most beautiful films that use absurdest humor and situations to get across themes that are far beyond what most ppl (and even I) pick up. I hope this film is on the same level as those, and I think it actually could be.

[@henrychinaski5938]

Charlie Kauffman, makes the strangest movies .

[@Cuchito50]

I didn't "get it" until after it was over. I went outside and noticed everybody looking pretty much the same, all saying the same monotonous catch-phrases and all relating their lives to things provided by mass marketers: iphones, vehicles, clothing, the race for president, fast food, beverages, movies, etc... and there we all were...

[@daisytown]

I'm not saying I didn't like the movie, but it made me feel really weird and uncomfortable. I liked 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' much better, though.

[@musicmann1967]

I saw it and I'm actually glad that I knew a little bit about it before seeing it. I think that there are some references that would be lost on most people (myself included obviously) that help in understanding the basics of the movie, and would maybe help with getting on board with it quicker. I have one suggestion, but I'm afraid that people will think it's a spoiler,so I'll leave it alone. Good movie. There's a lot to like. David Thewliss and Jennifer Jason Leigh did a great job as the voices of the two main characters. Tom Noonan, however, had the most work, voicing everyone else in the whole movie. And there are a lot of other voices too!! I didn't love it as much as Chrsity and Alsonso, but it's so unique, and so Charlie Kaufman, you've gotta see it!

[@IanB1969]

I missed the first part of Ben Mankiewicz's comments as I was playing Candy Crush on my iPhone. I didn't know he was going to start reviewing a movie when I hit the play button. Did he say anything important this time?

[@Nick-dt1ip]

agreed synecdoche ny is the best film of the last decade. nothing kicked me in the existential soul more than kaufman's writing in that film

[@batterfly49]

cough! cough! the dark knight, return of the king

[@binaryg]

Is Ben an apprentice reviewer? Why is he allowed onset?

[@jackdraper8558]

No other film "critic" fans reviewed this besides you guys. You guys are the best. Jeremy jahns Chris stuckmann The schmoes (I think) really enjoyed this movie

[@AllMediaReviewsPodcast]

Who is this Alonso guy, and why have I never heard of him before?? I, like him, regard Synecdoche, NY as a masterpiece that bears repeated viewings. I just saw Anomalisa tonight, and I did like it, although I may have to give it more viewings, as I did enjoy it, but can't say it has resonated with me yet, like most of Kaufman's other work.

[@zhayes01]

I can't wait. Probably be my favorite film of the year or at least animated. I love all his films. Even his last one.

[@KainErrow]

Honestly always respect David Thewlis in whatever movie he involves himself in, there's some hint of ... Gary Oldman (took me a sec) beyond just being British. I still cannot recall the first movie I saw him in, but I'm a little afraid to say it might have been _Dragonheart_

[@worldprez6655]

When Alonso said "Synecdoche, New York" was his favorite movie of whatever I heard it as Escape from New York. I wish he had actually said Escape from New York which is a better movie than Synecdoche, New York

[@justinstark5732]

WorldPrez Umm, personal taste is good and all but no rational person can claim the Escape from New York accomplished anything close to what Synecdoche New York did

[@user-dw6mm7jg2z]

WorldPrez ummm excuse me?!

[@vespertinnee]

Why the .8 on every score? Is it significant?

[@Nvrloptimism]

+strk yeah kind of odd. I know Mike Bibbiani gives 9.8 because he "doesn't believe in 10's" but Alonso has given 10's in movies before so :\

[@sLePpInG]

I want to have a version of this channel where ben face is blurred and his voice is distorted beyond recognition. It's not even different movie tastes, even in movies that we both dislike/like his arguments are the worst. Love the movie, everyone else says it takes a little time to sink in and I feel like I'm going to love it even more.

[@kladams707]

They're not puppets. They're stop-motion models.

[@101jelle]

I took Lisa's letter not to be a reflection of her happiness and lack of Fregoli disease, but of the disease making Michael romanticize his past that he had with his ex-girlfriend he initially met at the bar. He was imagining her as the Japanese goddess. Interestingly, from the behind the scenes footage on youtube you can see that Jennifer Jason Leigh sings the Japanese song. I think the image of Michael staring at a robot mannequin at a party filled with people who all the look the same is a great, horrible Twilight Zone end for the character. Outside of Fregoli disease, he is obsessing over an ideal, and that ideal is pathetic, an old automaton with semen leaking out of it. A sex doll. Remember when Michael's wife makes a remark about "semen" in the doll, it would only make sense that Michael had sex with the doll fairly recently. He can't form human relationships, can only romanticize the past or the future. He is trapped in his job and family. I think this is a very common state.

[@donalkennedy6393]

Just got back from this... Seriously disturbing, haunting and charming film.

[@GiantSandles]

It's probably my least favourite Charlie Kaufman film that I've seen (the others being Eternal Sunshine, Adaptation and Synecdoche NY) but it was still really good, probably like an 8.5-9

[@di380]

I had it all wrong just found it was puppets. I enjoyed the facial animations but why would anybody on this day and age go trough the trouble of doing hand animation when they can achieve the same with computer animation.

[@timothymorrise2081]

to Ben, I think there's a place for you even in conversation about monolythic, intracate pieces like Synechdoche. These kinds of movies don't have to be scary. Even if your end is "I don't understand it (yet)," that is valuable and worthy of inclusion.

[@JozieLeePro]

We love claymation. THis looks great.

[@CarlosFlores-xb3gx]

It's okay Ben Mankiewicz (Classic Turner Movies), because it also took me awhile to understand the movie.

[@douglasharris4295]

Welcome back, Mr. Kaufman.

[@Krusiv]

I would see this if it was playing anywhere near me. I've even searched the local film clubs and independent theaters; nothing!

[@upsidetown6256]

Its sh

[@a_real_one2000]

Who knew the most realistic sex scene would be in a movie with puppets. This film is awesome. It is a joyful, heartbreaking uplifting tale. Check it out if you can in theaters.

[@zolibako4816]

The review itself is telling that the only thing that was interesting about this movie is the way it was made. There was nothing interesting about the characters or the story.

[@sunbather9425]

This movie just felt too short and un-complete to me for some reason

[@juliettedemaso7588]

This film won’t get out of my head.

[@anthonythompson403]

Anyone notice that BEN is hilarious lol

[@foriegnuniter]

Ben drives me nuts!!!!!!!! The problem with most of the movies that he reviews is that he is reviewing them!

[@Advent3546]

YMS- 10

[@rooster3300]

why does ben have to be so cynical about every movie?

[@jamiefrostick4059]

I understand why Kaufman creates movies like this when so many of the general public berate his work for being too weird or up it's own arse. As for Inside out its quite overated to me. It's OK for a kids film but you can't compare it to Anomalisa. Inside Out is really just built on the idea of the beano's comic strip "The Numskulls". Anomalisa might seem depressing or dreary to some but at least it has a spark of originality about it.

[@ferelpuma]

Yeah, but BOYHOOD took TWELVE YEARS TO MAKE!!! Ohhhh Myyyyyyyyy Gaaaaaaaawd!!!!!

[@KainErrow]

+KeyManThan I heard they actually had the stage, the set, a kick ass animal handler with the most well trained bear, but at the end of things they said, "Screw it," and tossed Dicaprio into a natural preserve with a baby bear cub on one side and an angry momma bear on the other. And she had a wicked bear dildo. Mmhmm. True stuff.

[@csjcsj2906]

+Jpstudmuffin93 Did you also hear Birdman was made to look like a one-take (well, almost)?

[@omarsalkamusic]

Ben nailed this movie. I went and saw it. It was a bizarre flick. Overall very boring. I wanted to walk out.

[@LivinNexus]

This film was way too far up its own ass for its own good... The animation and performances were great, but I felt like it took its audience completely for granted. Almost walked out. Eternal Sunshine is the only Kaufman film I'm a fan of, but I think the cast elevated the material to greater heights

[@richfictionfighter]

Commander FemShep Have you seen Being John Malkovich?

[@Zennofobic]

I was instantly attracted to the title of the movie because it made me think of porno which probably means I've watched too much porno

[@mutesparrow]

The thing I didn't get why did every person have the same voice ? his kids his wife the cab driver all had a mans voice, the only 2 with diff voice is the main guy and the girl he likes that's it....what the.....

[@jakeconner5666]

24 Karrots It's basically to show the connection he feels towards Lisa. It's why her voice changes back towards the end, as he loses his connection with her. It begs the question: Is the human connection just an illusion?

[@mutesparrow]

Jake Conner oh, thanks for the revelation.

[@DihStyle69]

Jake Conner exactly. for a while, he felt like she was different from everybody else. that's why she had a girly voice and the others didn't. they didn't mean shit to him, they were all one and the same. unlike her! however, as soon as he started to notice her little flaws, he also noticed that she was, too, just like the others. a human being featuring and the little flaws that we have as such. ultimately, she wasn't that special, as he previously thought, or maybe she is but he's the one who can't see a lasting beauty in what is around him. he can't connect with the world. to be honest, that's how many people perceive the world, at least during a phase of their lifes.

[@surgeland9084]

Jake Conner To me it was to show how Michael sees the world. He finds that everyone looks the same and acts the same, until he meets Lisa. She is different from everyone else, and she has been scrutinized for it. Michael, another different person, sees her as exceptional and not strange.

[@THECacklingCrow]

Yes! I'm gonna come back here and watch some disinterested movie reviewer playing on his iPhone... Sign me up!! It's ironic he complains about "getting to the point."

[@JamJim]

real life Barbie

[@someoneelse9680]

The dude with the glasses really shouldn't be reviewing films when you utter the sentence I hated A movie cause I'm too dumb to understand it but I love simple minded things yet I'll complain nobody's making anything new but when they do I don't get it . I hate critics like this

[@awkwardgrapefruit]

Oh come oooon guys. Better than Inside Out? I know it's a mega million dollar Pixar movie and not a deep, indie poem of a movie, but reaaaallly?

[@awkwardgrapefruit]

+Evan Jones Saw em both, Inside Out wins.

[@gunners4hire]

+Evan Jones Id like to agree with you, but Inside Out is the better film simply because of its originality, Kaufman's film recycles too many themes that have been done to death in world cinema (loneliness,mundanity of everyday life,alienation), watch any film by Antonioni and you'll know what I'm talking about, which keeps the movie from ever being profound. I found it ironic that by Kaufmann trying to make a unique picture he ended up with something so familiar. Still a great film though

[@MedhaavMahesh]

+awkwardgrapefruit how? Does inside out ask intellectual questions about humanity? No. Does it have as much layered characters? No. Does it even have anything original? No. I can clearly see you haven't seen anomalisa. Anomalisa is an art film so I don't expect you to understand it but it is still a far better film since it is an art film more complex, original and deep than that unoriginal crap for kids.

[@MedhaavMahesh]

+gunners4hire lol you jackass you copied that of an IMDb forum. Inside out is far less original than anomalisa. Anomalisa has unoriginal themes in world cinema(exclude Hollywood) while inside out has themes that is used in Hollywood and has the same premise as every Pixar movie ever made while the execution in anomalisa is original and inventive. I know you haven't seen the film and you are just copying and pasting shot from IMDb

[@MedhaavMahesh]

+awkwardgrapefruit also probably you like inside out better because it made you cry, lol.

[@elenaspagna1689]

If inside out wins the Oscar over anomalisa I swear, people have weird thing going through their stupid movie guru minds.

[@upsidetown6256]

This movie being on theatre not as toilet paper is an enough proof for it

[@aaadesktop]

Okay...remove the bells and whistles (Kauffman directing it, puppets, etc) and see this flick as it is, and WOW this is beyond boring. It makes no sense that it showed puppets literally having oral sex and walking into a sex shop either. WTF?? It ends with him complaining about the government, our daily lives, etc., but never dives any deeper about who or what Stone wants to do to better himself. There's no life lesson really learned here, not that I want the movie to go that direction, but it's just so pointless and leaves you saying "is that it??" Lisa is the one he's been looking for, and I gotta admit, it really did look like they fell in love---the sex scene could have been made shorter and left to our imagination (geez, seriously!!) but not even that makes Stone appreciate her and starts bossing her around during breakfast. I didn't care for this main character...I enjoyed Lisa a lot, and the movie does have original ideas, especially that all the voices sound the same except for her. But that just wasn't enough for me to praise this movie like the orgy of praise it's getting by these airheaded critics. C minus .

[@albyron8875]

It was a character study. Basically, the main character is kind of despicable but he lives a mundane life of a man who gets paid to tell people what proper manners and rules are for hotels and leaves women he "fell in love with" behind due to his declining interest in them over time. He sees people as being all the same with the same faces and voices and meets Lisa who has a different voice and face. Her strangeness gives him an interested in her but once he starts being controlling(telling her to stop clanking a fork against her teeth, don't talk while eating ect.), she tries to please him and suddenly her voice starts to become the same old, same old. He realizes how self destructive he is and if he leaves his wife, he's just doomed to repeat the same process over and over. That's the point.

[@101jelle]

I took Lisa's letter not to be a reflection of her happiness and lack of Fregoli disease, but of the disease making Michael romanticize his past that he had with his ex-girlfriend he initially met at the bar. He was imagining her as the Japanese goddess. Interestingly, from the behind the scenes footage on youtube you can see that Jennifer Jason Leigh sings the Japanese song. I think the image of Michael staring at a robot mannequin at a party filled with people who all the look the same is a great, horrible Twilight Zone end for the character. Outside of Fregoli disease, he is obsessing over an ideal, and that ideal is pathetic, an old automaton with semen leaking out of it. A sex doll. Remember when Michael's wife makes a remark about "semen" in the doll, it would only make sense that Michael had sex with the doll fairly recently. He can't form human relationships, can only romanticize the past or the future. He is trapped in his job and family. I think this is a very common state.

[@sdbo7102]

+alby ron thanks, i get it now... well... some of it. what about his face falling off?

[@justinstark5732]

I'd disagree that there's no life lesson. Michael is spending his time chasing a fantasy while he's surrounded by people who care about him. But from his perspective they all lack individuality or anything worth his time which is the source of his loneliness. Everyone has the same voice and face because we are seeing things from Michaels perspective. But the one shot that's from another characters perspective (the ending shot) we see this isn't actually the case. Michael is responsible for his own loneliness not the world. If he wants happiness he'll have to learn how to connect with other better instead of the fantasy he has of Lisa Tl;Dr the moral of the story is to appreciate what you have and too value true connection over fantasy one

[@jimbones1916]

I also hated Synecdoche. I couldn't even finish it.

[@zachchessehead7757]

Maybe transformers is more your speed

[@jimbones1916]

+Zach Chessehead One will give you cancer the other is about cancer. Both MIND NUMBINGLY DEPRESSING!

[@radiolocke]

+Zach Chessehead someone didn't like an Arthouse film. Let's be condescending to them and suggest they watch a 'dumb' mainstream film. We're obviously smarter than they are. Let's pat ourselves on the back.

[@PurushaDesa]

Yeah, sorry. Bad news, Ben. Films take a little more than "glasses and Jew".

[@AndresFnt]

This movie is trash. A Scanner Darkly and Punch Drunk Love did this theme already and do it WAY better. This is just a fail. I had every reason to like it and still didn't!

[@ac14cmpunk25]

not on a level with inside out which is far better

[@upsidetown6256]

Or the little prince ! Cant imagine how this shit been nominated for the oscar

[@attckonutube]

God you guys don't like thinking do you?

[@classactionsteve]

Ben is not impressed ahaehahah. This movie was garbage.

[@cjver4868]

movie is terrible..

[@brombones3110]

I have to admit that I didn't like it either. All the previous Kaufman movies are my favourites but this one... not so much. For start I just didn't like the protagonist and in general the whole premise just seemed a little thin. The way the movie is presented i found it lacking in content. The so called falling out was way too sudden to feel that there really was any connection in the first place. I mean....like..the next morning after they had sex he percieves a couple of flaws in this woman and it's suddenly all over. The plot is easily the weakest writing I've ever seen from Kaufman. There's really not anything that special here in my opinion. Also I didn't find it in any sense emotionally compelling and I mainly felt awkward watching the movie.

[@justinstark5732]

Brom Bones The reason he leaves her after seeing a couple of flaws is because he was never in love with her to begin with. He was in love with the fantasy he had about her and when he started seeing imperfections it fell apart. He's a narcissistic sex addict which is part of the reason why he has a hard time relating with other people