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 Charlie Kaufman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams and Catherine Keener arrive for the premiere of the film "Synecdoche, New York" during the 61st International film festival in Cannes on Friday, May 23, 2008. (AP photo) |
CANNES -- Charlie Kaufman is acclaimed for writing the screenplays for Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. He earned three Oscar nominations doing it, winning once for Eternal Sunshine.
Kaufman now says he is not a character in any of his movies, even though many people assume he is. That applies to the new film, Synedoche, New York, which appears to contain multiple versions of characters who seem to be channelling the filmmaker and his unique, personalized vision.
"I am not ever writing a movie full of Charlie Kaufmans," Kaufman said in response to a Sun Media question. "It is not my intention and never has been, even in a movie in which there is a character named Charlie Kaufman."
He was referring to Adaptation, in which Nicolas Cage played a serious-minded screenwriter named Charlie Kaufman, as well as his fictitious twin brother Donald, who turned out to be a successful hack who makes Charlie jealous. In one of many Kaufmanesque flourishes, the screenplay for Spike Jonze's movie is officially credited to Charlie and Donald Kaufman, both of whom were Oscar-nominated.
"It's not me, you know. It's a character," Kaufman said. "And that is very serious and important to me. In this case (Synedoche, New York), I am not ever directing anybody to be like me, or talk like me, or think like me."
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