Wes Anderson’s new ASTEROID CITY is a self-aware film about making art from a director of exacting control, which put us in mind of Charlie Kaufman’s 2008 directorial debut, SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK, a self-aware film about making art from a director of exacting chaos. Kaufman is one of our most-discussed filmmakers on this podcast, as both a writer and a director, but that doesn’t make parsing the immersive, shapeless, bleak SYNECDOCHE any easier. But we do our best to track Kaufman’s various obsessions through the film’s unconventional structure, and even attempt to unearth some moments of (arguable) levity along the way. Then the meta hijinks continue in Feedback, when a special guest calls in to put our hosts on the spot when it comes to their position on Charlie Kaufman, director.
Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK, ASTEROID CITY, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#426: Playing the Hits, Pt. 2 — The Fall Guy
#425: Playing the Hits, Pt. 1 — The Stunt Man
#424: Mixed Doubles, Pt. 2 — Challengers
#423: Mixed Doubles, Pt. 1 — Y Tu Mamá También
#422: Alex Garland's Catastrophic Visions, Pt. 2 — Civil War
#421: Alex Garland's Catastrophic Visions, Pt. 1 — 28 Days Later
#420: Final Cuts, Pt. 2 — Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World
#419: Final Cuts, Pt. 1 — The Player
#418: Crimes of Passion, Pt. 2 — Love Lies Bleeding
#417: Crimes of Passion, Pt. 1 — Bound
#416: Ethan Coen Co-Capers, Pt. 2 — Drive-Away Dolls
#415: Ethan Coen Co-Capers, Pt. 1 — Raising Arizona
#414: Beach Bummers, Pt. 2 — How to Have Sex
#413: Beach Bummers, Pt. 1 — Where the Boys Are (1960)
#412: Road Trip Trios, Pt. 1 — The Holdovers
#411: Road Trip Trios, Pt. 1 — The Last Detail
#410: Hunting Games, Pt. 2 — Self Reliance
#409: Hunting Games, Pt. 1 — The 10th Victim
#408: Succession, Pt. 2 — The Iron Claw
#407: Succession, Pt. 1 — The Godfather
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Best Song Podcast
Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*
From Beneath the Hollywood Sign
Talking Simpsons
Too Much Information