Having become Hollywood’s most instantly recognizable screenwriting voices, Charlie Kaufman has finally gotten enough cachet to make his own directorial debut (no word on whether Donald was involved). When it was announced that Kaufman would be directing one of his scripts himself, many wondered what a pure unadulterated Charlie Kaufman vision would look like. I’d say this trailer gives one a pretty good idea. Like his other work, the characters here are outsiders who are forever trying to find a center for their scruffy little lives. Which makes it something of a surprise that it’s taken so long for Philip Seymour Hoffman to cast as the lead in one of his films, as he fits the profile to a T. Word from Cannes and Toronto was decidedly mixed, with even those who’ve supported Kaufman in the past finding this something of a disappointment in light of his previous work. Yet the trailer gives me hope, not least for the awesome supporting cast, which finds eight gifted actresses billed alongside Hoffman. Might not break through with most of the general public, but what the hell- I’ll be there opening weekend.
