The Plot: While on tour promoting his latest book, lonely self-help guru Michael Stone (voiced by David Thewlis) meets a woman, Lisa Hesselman (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who just might pull him out of his humdrum rut. Why It's Awesome: Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) and Duke Johnson deliver an animated film like nothing else out there, a masterful examination of what it means to be a member of the human race, both good and bad. It's easy to praise Pixar for the adult themes they manage to suffuse into their colourful animations, but Anomalisa is a different beast altogether, probing the toxic power of loneliness and the importance of personal relationships. Yes, there's a puppet sex scene for those interested, but it's decidedly less-funny than you're probably expecting, and in fact one of the more realistic and believable sex scenes of the last year. Thewlis and Leigh meanwhile give fantastic vocal performances, as well as Tom Noonan, who voices every other character in the movie (because Michael can't tell humanity apart). There's not much in the way of catharsis and it's bleakly sad throughout, but absolutely beautiful also.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
