Anomalisa Movie Review

Anomalisa (2015)

Rent Anomalisa on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Charlie Kaufman, Charlie Kaufman (play as Francis Fregoli)
Directed by: Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman
Starring: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
A man leading a painfully ordinary life experiences something extraordinary when he meets Lisa.

Verdict
The skill and craft displayed in the animation is truly amazing. The story is deceptively simple, but this feels like it should have been a short film instead of feature length.
It depends.

Review
This is the first R-rated animated movie to be nominated for the best animated feature Oscar category. The movie is stop motion animated felt puppets, and the attention to detail and product is stunning. It's surprisingly realistic looking.

Kaufman has a distinct style, creating dense stories. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) is his most mainstream movie while Synecdoche, New York (2008) is almost frustratingly deep.

Michael Stone is a customer service expert on a book tour. His tips of how to connect to customers propel clients to success, but despite his knowledge of customer support he is tired of having to interact with people. He's alienated from the world. Michael stays at Hotel Fregoli. The Fregoli Illusion is a disorder where the patient thinks everyone they encounter is one person disguised as many. This is reinforced by Tom Noonan voicing all other characters except for Michael and Lisa.

Anomalisa's style is bizarre and uncanny due to realistic looking puppets, but the story is almost banal, tapping into base human emotions. Michael longs to find somebody in the sea of boring people. To Michael people are not beautiful and unique snowflakes. They are so boring, everyone even sounds alike. It's difficult to depict the monotony of Michael's life without becoming mundane.

Kaufman creates another unique experience.

When Michael hears a female voice, distinct from any voice we or he has hear in the movie, he has to find her. Lisa is self conscious and lacks confidence, but Michael is drawn to her.

Michael's life has become a mindless repetition and Lisa is that something different he is desperate to find. Even his attraction to her doesn't last.