Starring: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan
Anomalisa
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Rating: 4.5/5
2016 looks like it is going to be another fantastic year for the animation genre and Anomalisa is already being called one of the standout films so far.
Anomalisa marks the return of Charlie Kaufman to the director's chair for only the second feature film of his career; this project sees him team up with Duke Johnson. As well as being in the director's chair, Kaufman has penned film's screenplay, which is based on his own play.
Michael Stone (Thewlis) is a successful motivational speaker with fans across the country, but inside him sits a knot of anxiety that renders much of his daily life meaningless. Everything and everyone just seems the same to him. But then Michael meets Lisa (Leigh) on a speaking tour stop in Cincinnati. Lisa is an anomaly.
Michael and Lisa begin with prickly, cautious conversations and then move towards love. But, unlike in a conventional Hollywood romance, that romantic arc is neither simple nor obvious. The love scene at the heart of Anomalisa should instantly rocket up the list of cinema's greatest. It's intimate, awkward, heartbreaking and deeply erotic despite the fact that the lovers are made of felt.
Anomalisa is a movie that has been met with acclaim since it started playing on the festival circuit last year. It is not hard to see why this movie has been winning over critics and audiences as it is a thought-provoking and touching film that reminds you just how powerful the animation genre can be.
I imagine that the slow pace will not be to the taste of everyone, but there is something so normal, everyday, and ordinary about this story of loneliness - it really is a tale that will pull at the heartstrings.
Kaufman has penned some wonderful screenplays over the years and you are never quite sure what to expect when you sit down to watch a movie that he written or directed. I have to admit, I was not expecting to experience so human and truthful - believe me, when I say, this is a story that stays with you long after you have left the cinema.
I am a huge fan of stop-motion animation and it is a shame that we don't see more of hit on the big screen. Kaufman has used it to beautiful effect and it is one of the most unique looking films that we will see all year.
We are so used to seeing CGI-driven animation movies that are just as exciting and action-packed as live-action films, that we almost forget that the animation genre can be arresting, powerful, and incredibly insightful; Kaufman delivers all of these with Anomalisa.
However, there is quite a dark side to the story - something which I thoroughly enjoyed - as Kaufman explores the depths of loneliness and the impact that it can have on an individual and their life. It really is a wonderful and somewhat unexpected exploration of this subject. In fact, it deals with this topic better than most live-action film; and that all comes down to Kaufman's wonderful script.
Anomalisa was in the Oscar mix last month when it was nominated for Best Animated Feature, losing out to the juggernaut that was Inside Out.
We won't see another animation film like Anomalisa on the big screen this year as Kaufman has delivered another film that is unique and is packed with interesting characters and a wonderfully human story. This really is an animation that cannot be missed if you are a fan of this genre.
Anomalisa is out now.