2. Madeline Gravis in Synecdoche, New York
Synecdoche, New York is arguably one of Charlie Kaufmans most confusing films. You need a PHD in Jungian psychology to grasp the plot but there are some wonderfully strange moments. In the lead we have Philip Seymour Hoffman as Caden Cotard, a theatre director who is given a grant to create absolutely anything he wants and so he sets out to make a large-scale piece of realism in a Manhattan warehouse. Caden may be talented but he is also tormented by his wife who leaves him and takes their daughter and he suffers from various physical ailments. He seeks the help of a Madeline Gravis, our bad psychologist number nine. Madeline Gravis, played by Hope Davis is much better at promoting her best-seller than she is at counselling Caden. Gravis is a bit of a blonde Barbie doll version of Dr. Phill. She never truly helps Caden as she would much rather pitch her books to him. When Caden confesses that he doesnt really get her self-help book she responds in typical ambiguous Kaufman style: Oh, but its getting
you. Theres also the strange issue of her mangled, blistered toes that according to film geeks across the internet reflect Cadens own medical problems. Others have speculated that her wounded appendages show that she is untrustworthy and has no idea what she is talking about. Her fancy but tightly strapped shoes might suggest shes constrained by social convention. Whether this sort of analysis tickles your pickle or not, theres enough on the surface to suggest shes one lousy doctor.