I think the suggestion that Gondry is a better director than Kaufman is quite funny.

Kaufman's directing here is stellar and totally in control of his voice and content. He doesn't need anyone else to take over his scripts. A debut director very rarely has this clear of a voice or POV - his work here is to be cherished.

No good movie is depressing, all bad movies are depressing (thanks, Ebert).

Playing it straight is the key to great comedy.

I have no trouble laughing in that scene. It pushes the sadness and tragedy so far it becomes a joke about the idea of the melodramatic parent-child farewell. I mean, "to have anal sex with my homosexual lover Eric," and then she doesn't forgive him? Hilarious.

Except Caden purposefully casts himself as a Job.

While I'm glad the AV Club and the board members here (mostly) recognize that SNY is a masterpiece, I think they overstate how "depressing" or "crushing" the film is. Watching it this week - because it's PSH's greatest performance - I was struck by how funny, inventive and alive the film is from start to finish. Yes,…

I could see Elizabeth Banks. Maybe Anna Gunn. Amy Adams could probably nail it, too.

I'm sure there will be heavy use of soundtrack. The Master blended score and song very well, as did Magnolia and Boogie Nights.

The Master's score had many different moods. I found it less "heavy" than There Will Be Blood.

I actually thought The Master's score was better. It hit more moods than TwbB.

I have some issues with the "Under the Skin" write-up.

A hilarious line.

Yes…obviously.

You're stealing a line from the movie starring this "tool" as your name. You're a genius.

"most likely siding with a pederast" is the line I meant.

I didn't need to know. Honestly, I rather wish the cause of this news had never happened.

As a journalist, including ghoulish details like that is as far from "good journalism."

"Hero" is not too strong a term if you save someone's life.

Thanks also for Deerhunter!