The story is simple. Michael Stone, husband, father and respected author of “How May I Help You Help Them?” is unhappy with his mundane life. Everybody sounds the same. On a business trip to Cincinnati where he’s scheduled to speak at a convention of customer service professionals, he meets Lisa who is the only one who sounds different (she is an anomaly) … that is until they have a sexual encounter and profess their mutual admiration for one another.
Had this movie been acted by living, real human actors, it would not have worked. However, stop-motion animation, with people (puppets) who remarkably have very human characteristics and body parts, give this film a compelling charm and sensibility.
I enjoyed watching the lumbering movements, the natural dialog and introspective thought process given the characters.
Although this film may not be appreciated by everyone, I think it was a masterpiece of creativity, detail and artistic execution. “ANOMALISA” is a brilliantly crafted stop-motion animated film which questions the mundane aspects of life and the realization that everyone is basically the same.
Cast:
David Thewlis – Michael Stone
Jennifer Jason Leigh – Lisa
Tom Noonan – Everyone Else
Directors: Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson
Cinematography: Joe Passarelli
Screenplay: Charlie Kaufman
Awards: Grand Jury Prize