Anomalisa Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A customer service guru has a mental breakdown in Cincinnati, hooks up with a fan, then remembers he hates everyone, including her.

🍿 Anomalisa: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Arrival in Cincinnati

Michael Stone, a customer service expert and author, arrives in Cincinnati for a conference. He’s deeply unhappy and perceives everyone around him as being identical, voiced by the same actor. This reflects his inability to connect with people on a meaningful level. The city and its inhabitants seem dull and lifeless to him.

Meeting Lisa

At the hotel, Michael encounters Lisa, a woman attending his conference. Uniquely, she has a different voice, sparking his interest and hope. Lisa is insecure and self-conscious about a scar on her face, but Michael finds her genuine and refreshing. He sees her as an anomaly in his otherwise monotonous world.

A Fleeting Connection

Michael and Lisa spend the evening together, connecting on a deeper level than Michael has experienced in years. They share intimate moments, including a surprisingly realistic sex scene. For a brief time, Michael believes Lisa can cure his alienation and bring meaning back into his life.

The Illusion Shatters

The next morning, the illusion shatters. Michael starts noticing flaws in Lisa, and her voice gradually merges with the others, once again becoming indistinguishable. He reverts to his previous state of disconnection, realizing his initial infatuation was temporary. The realization leads to a breakdown.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Michael Stone (David Thewlis): A customer service expert and author experiencing a mid-life crisis and struggling with his perception of others as being the same.
• Lisa Hesselman (Jennifer Jason Leigh): An insecure and awkward woman who attends Michael’s conference and becomes a temporary anomaly in his monotonous life.
• Everyone Else (Tom Noonan): The singular voice representing Michael’s distorted perception of the world, where everyone else is the same undifferentiated person.
• Bella Amarossi (Tom Noonan): Michael’s old flame he attempts to reconnect with during his trip to Cincinnati.
• Donna (Tom Noonan): Michael’s wife, part of the undifferentiated mass of people he struggles to connect with.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Michael Stone: “Every single person is a real, living person. With a family, with a history. If you just took a moment, you could talk to them.” – Part of Michael’s speech about customer service, highlighting the irony of his inability to connect with people.
• Lisa Hesselman: “I don’t know, it just seems weird that you wanna kiss me there.” – Lisa’s awkward response when Michael wants to kiss her scar, showing her insecurity.
• Michael Stone: “You’re different from anyone I’ve ever met.” – Michael expresses his initial fascination with Lisa, highlighting her uniqueness in his eyes.
• Lisa Hesselman: “I’m Anomalisa.” – Lisa accepts Michael’s nickname for her, embracing the idea that she is an anomaly, different from everyone else.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $8,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $3,759,286
• Worldwide Gross: $5,659,286

💥 Anomalisa Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, Anomalisa messed me up, but in a good way. The first time I watched it, I didn’t know what to expect. I felt like I was right there in that hotel with Michael, experiencing his isolation and the surreal feeling that everyone was the same. When Lisa showed up, it was such a relief! But then, the way that connection faded… heartbreaking. This film really got under my skin and made me think about how we relate to each other. It’s a film that will stay with you for a while. Kaufman truly is a genius.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Charlie Kaufman’s other films (Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)”
  • “Viewers interested in existential dramas and character studies”
  • “Those who appreciate unique and artistic animation”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Graphic sex scene”
  • “Depiction of depression and mental health issues”

Professional Reviews

• Indiewire: “Kaufman’s masterpiece of existential dread is both hilarious and profoundly sad, exploring loneliness and the search for connection in a world that feels increasingly homogenized. The stop-motion animation only amplifies the film’s unsettling beauty.
• The Guardian: “A unique, deeply moving film. Kaufman uses stop-motion animation to explore themes of isolation and identity with startling honesty and emotional depth, creating a truly unforgettable cinematic experience.
• The New York Times: “Anomalisa is a film that challenges and rewards in equal measure. Its exploration of the human condition, through the lens of stop-motion animation, is both innovative and deeply affecting, solidifying Kaufman’s status as a visionary filmmaker.

Audience Reactions

The animation is incredibly detailed and adds a layer of surrealism.: Viewers appreciate the film’s unique approach to exploring themes of loneliness and identity.

Jennifer Jason Leigh’s voice acting as Lisa is especially praised.: The voice acting performances are great and bring the characters to life.

Overall Consensus: Anomalisa is a critically acclaimed, thought-provoking film that explores themes of loneliness and identity through innovative stop-motion animation. However, some find its slow pace and bleak outlook off-putting.

Awards

1. Grand Jury Prize (Venice Film Festival)- 2015

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Anomalisa was initially conceived as a stage play for live performance, before being adapted into a stop-motion animated film.”
• “The film was crowdfunded through Kickstarter, demonstrating the audience’s interest in Kaufman’s unique storytelling approach.”
• “To emphasize Michael Stone’s sense of alienation, almost all characters in the film are voiced by the same actor, Tom Noonan.”

🖥️ How to Watch Anomalisa?

Anomalisa is available for streaming and purchase on various platforms. You can find it on services like Paramount+, Prime Video, and Apple TV, where it can be rented or purchased. Check your preferred digital retailer for current availability and pricing. It’s also sometimes available on DVD and Blu-ray from online retailers like Amazon.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Anomalisa, you might like these similar films:

• Being John Malkovich (1999): Explores similar themes of identity, perception, and existential crisis through a surreal narrative.
• Synecdoche, New York (2008): Another Charlie Kaufman film that delves into the complexities of the human condition, mental health, and the search for meaning.
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): Deals with memory, relationships, and the impact of loss, using a non-linear narrative and surreal elements.
• I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020): Modern film that captures a sense of unease, existential dread, and the unraveling of reality, similar to the psychological themes in Anomalisa.

🛒 Anomalisa Related Products

• Being John Malkovich (Blu-ray): Another surreal masterpiece written by Charlie Kaufman. Delve into the mind of John Malkovich with this mind-bending film. Explores similar themes of identity and existence.
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Blu-ray): This film, written by Charlie Kaufman, delves into the complexities of memory and relationships. It’s a poignant exploration of love and loss, similar to the themes in Anomalisa.
• Customer Service Excellence: How to Win and Keep Customers: Though Michael Stone specializes in customer service, ‘Anomalisa’ is also about that. Expand your customer service skills with his handbook and find real connection with customers! Written by Michael Stone.
• Stop Motion Animation Kit: Create your own stop-motion animated films with this comprehensive kit. Includes clay, armature wire, and animation software. Perfect for aspiring animators inspired by Anomalisa.

🎧 Soundtrack

Anomalisa features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – performed by Cyndi Lauper (cover by Jennifer Jason Leigh)
• “None other than Carter Burwell original musical compositions from the movie” – performed by Carter Burwell

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Quickie: Anomalisa (TIFF review)

Want to know what a popular film critic thinks of Anomalisa? YMS gives his quick thoughts on the movie in this review. I personally think he makes some really interesting points!

“Anomalisa” (2015) Explained

Confused about what *Anomalisa* is really about? This video breaks down the movie’s themes and hidden meanings. Honestly, I learned so much and it completely changed how I viewed the film!

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