I really don't see why I should bother seeing Synecdoche again. It wasn't good the first time for me in a way that a second viewing is HIGHLY unlikely to remedy. What's "controversial" about it? I really think people are just hesitant to say Kaufman did a bad job because they are afraid of being shown up as philistines. You know what? Just because an industry darling does a slow 2.5 hour movie with Philip Seymour Hoffman and identity confusion and a Jon Brion soundtrack does not mean that we need to give said person or movie the benefit of the doubt.

Let the Right One In was the best of the admittedly few movies I've seen this year. Was Paranoid Park 2008? I also enjoyed that a lot. And it occurs to me that in contrast to the grandiosity (pomposity?) of Synecdoche, both are very modest in scope, honest and beautifully executed.

Yeah, I agree with you, although I have to admit I've enjoyed trying to puzzle out post-facto the extent of the "identity confusion" aspect of the film, as it was something that wasn't entirely clear until nearly the end. So while I expect a second viewing might be better because 1) I'll know what to look for; and 2) I'll know approximately how much pain is left, it's not exactly near the top of my to-do list.

Paranoid Park is 2007, but I really want to see Milk. I didn't know what Let the Right One In is until just now.

I never see enough movies. I have a great desire to see Milk, Frost/Nixon, and Man on Wire.

The more I think about it the more it I love it. Call me pretentious, but it was one of my favorite films this year. It reminded me of a bit of Godard's stuff. Sure, at times it was difficult to sit through, but I think Kaufman was making an experimental film. It is rare that a film like this is released to a large audience. Check out the trailer to My Winnipeg, another highly experimental film that Ebert liked.

As a Canadian (and Cdn studies major) who goes above and beyond to support *anything* Canadian, I remember thinking I did not want to see My Winnipeg. I get frostbite just thinking about that city. Nice people, though.

the driver checks the mirror seven minutes late
crowded riders' restlessness enunciates
the guess who suck, the jets were lousy anyway
the same mood every day
and in the turning lane
someone's stalled again
he's talking to himself
and hears the price of gas repeat his phrase
i hate winnipeg

Ah yes, the Weakerthans; I believe Tegan and Sarah are also from there...were those on a Cdn tape I made years ago?! :) Also, one of my favourite French Cdn authors, Gabrielle Roy, is from the Red River settlement there...I'll stop with the Winnipeg trivia there. While our attention is on the Canadian Prairies though, I have to mention a show that I think is really worth some time: Little Mosque on the Prairies, the all-time most successful CBC show in its 4th season. It's sort of like what Gilmour Girls is to Connecticut, except with a diversity of Muslims, which will make more sense when you watch it. I'd start with Season one, can't vouch past season 2, but it's interesting from many angles.