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Movie: Anomalisa

Stop action/animated adult film.

I liked the first hour very much.  Michael Sloane, our main character, is a sales expert traveling to Cincinnati to make a speech. Alienated, lonely, lost. He gets in touch with Bella, an ex-lover (10 years previously). They have a drink, then an argument--he tries to talk her into his room. She leaves in a storm. Next he meets Lisa and her friend.  He does sleep with Lisa. Wonderful for him and her.

But . . . all the characters have the same face and the same voice except for Lisa.  She is the anomaly. (Title). The next morning he fails miserable as a motivational speaker, but desires to escape with Lisa.  They have unique faces; they can save themselves from the sameness of this drab, meaningless world.  He's excited, but then has breakfast with Lisa.  She clangs a fork against her teeth; she talks with food in her mouth. He's repelled.  Then she, too, starts taking on the voice of everyone else.

So, the running off is off. Michael returns to his home where a bunch of people who all look and sound alike meet him.  He doesn't "know" any of them--including his wife and child.  Movie ends with Michael looking at Japanese doll/machine as it sings.

Great moment:  Lisa sings "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."
Weakest moment: Odd dream in which Michael is called to the hotel superintendent's (basement) office where the supt. tells Michael that "I love you."  I love you made no sense--I don't know you, who are you? >\ Something like that would have worked.

Ambitious movie; worth seeing.

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