Anomalisa

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 30, 2015

7.5	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 328 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

jrodfilmsJan 16, 2016

please do not waste your time. two strikes for jennifer Jason leigh. i kept thinking why is this nominated? would be better for a five minute short. im serious. dont.

7 of 11 users found this helpful74

All this user's reviews

PaullyJan 5, 2016

I didn't get it. Sure the animation is neat and well crafted. There is obviously personal struggle being played out through through the heavy use of metaphor and symbolism. But still what a total snooze fest! Boring at worst depressingI didn't get it. Sure the animation is neat and well crafted. There is obviously personal struggle being played out through through the heavy use of metaphor and symbolism. But still what a total snooze fest! Boring at worst depressing at best. Ironically, considering the nature of the content, I'm too old to go the the movies and spend my time getting bummed out by a glorified cartoon. There's plenty of documentaries to do that. Unless you're looking for a little claymation T and A, the funniest part of the movie, spare yourself the torture of reliving the mundane events you get every day for free.… Expand

10 of 18 users found this helpful108

All this user's reviews

GreatMartinJan 16, 2016

I may be in the minority but I didn't find one redeeming feature in this movie unless you like hearing the 'F" word constantly, like watching the jerky motions of the characters, like to see people lighting up cigarettes every 2 minutes andI may be in the minority but I didn't find one redeeming feature in this movie unless you like hearing the 'F" word constantly, like watching the jerky motions of the characters, like to see people lighting up cigarettes every 2 minutes and tell a story that has been done so many times and so much better before.

Granted I do not understand, nor am I attracted to, what is referred to as a ‘stop motion’ made with puppets film but a boring film is a boring film. You might be attracted to seeing anatomicaly correct puppets showing both male and female frontal nudity but you can go to an all night sex shop to see it.

“Anomalisa” is simply a story of a man, Michael Stone, who sees the whole world made up of robots, people who are and act alike, until he meets a woman, Lisa, who is a fan of this motivational speaker book writer, and seems to be a ray of sunshine in his gray world.

Aside from all the characters acting in one note they also speak in the same monotone voice except for Michael voiced by David Thewlis and Lisa voiced by Jennifer Jason Leigh. All the other voices, whether male or female, child or adult, are voiced by one person, Tom Noonan.

Though I feel Anonmalisa” would have been much better with live actors I still don’t think it would have been an interesting enough film to warrant your attention even then. It is different but not in an interesting way!… Expand

6 of 11 users found this helpful65

All this user's reviews

Brent_MarchantJan 9, 2016

A handful of chuckles and the use of moderately clever animation can't save this tediously slow and underdeveloped exercise in pointless pretension. Whatever themes of isolation, connection, conformity and individuality that the director wasA handful of chuckles and the use of moderately clever animation can't save this tediously slow and underdeveloped exercise in pointless pretension. Whatever themes of isolation, connection, conformity and individuality that the director was aiming for get buried under heaping piles of mindless, unfocused dialogue that does little to enlighten us about the characters or effectively move the story forward. And, even at the scant runtime of 1:30, it feels a lot longer as we wait for this meandering, self-indulgent missive to finally burn itself out.… Expand

7 of 14 users found this helpful77

All this user's reviews

wariceJan 2, 2016

The trailer misleads the viewer into thinking there is depth to the movie that would shine a light on human vulnerability and give the viewer another perspective, perhaps some understanding and even empathy not just into the characters butThe trailer misleads the viewer into thinking there is depth to the movie that would shine a light on human vulnerability and give the viewer another perspective, perhaps some understanding and even empathy not just into the characters but life in general.However it massively underdelivers.Not only are there no solutions but many more questions that are raised.The sexual scenes are discomforting and add nothing.This movie simply put was not thought out and I feel robbed of precious time.Im perplexed as to how this movie cost over $10 million and delivered nothing...… Expand

5 of 12 users found this helpful57

All this user's reviews

jsheleyJan 19, 2016

Without a doubt the worst movie I have seen in years, maybe ever. It was PATHETIC. I just do not get what the critics liked. Stupid plot, terrible character development, I could go on and on. Several people got up and left and only wish IWithout a doubt the worst movie I have seen in years, maybe ever. It was PATHETIC. I just do not get what the critics liked. Stupid plot, terrible character development, I could go on and on. Several people got up and left and only wish I had....Save your money on this one.… Expand

8 of 20 users found this helpful812

All this user's reviews

ijaJan 19, 2016

i was confused by this movie. Perplexed. The film poster proclaims a masterpiece, and life changing film... but i feel like i've missed something. really? it seemed mundane and anti climatic. I feel like im the butt of a joke. That i don'ti was confused by this movie. Perplexed. The film poster proclaims a masterpiece, and life changing film... but i feel like i've missed something. really? it seemed mundane and anti climatic. I feel like im the butt of a joke. That i don't understand. That someone made a mock film poster and now they are having a chuckle at people scratching their heads trying to figure out why people like this movie. Maybe it will be like the lobster where it will slowly dawn me why people found this movie compoleing. But it seems strange. Maybe there was something odd going on that i haven't fully realised. Some people have stated that his relationship with lisa was a fantasy and he was making love to the japanese doll, that he gave to his son?!

really a mundane movie, but maybe that is the point... he's living a lost mundane existence and he meets a girl and that changes his life until she too because the same as everyone else.. anyone i'm a bit lost on this movie i am utterly shocked that rolling stone et al have called this a masterpiece..
i feel like i have missed a piece.… Expand

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

All this user's reviews

marco34laDec 31, 2015

The original trailer for this movie was wonderful. It made me want to go see this movie. If you're expecting anything warm and fuzzy or life-affirming or deeply moving... then you should pass. This 'short' is a slice of life and a very slimThe original trailer for this movie was wonderful. It made me want to go see this movie. If you're expecting anything warm and fuzzy or life-affirming or deeply moving... then you should pass. This 'short' is a slice of life and a very slim one at that. It's about a man who's traveling on a business trip to give a lecture and he's obviously having a miserable day/life. All the other characters in this flick have the same faces and the same exact man's voice. Through this monotonous din, he hears a unique voice - lisa. What happens next is brief and unfulfilling in my opinion and was not thrilled with the ending. As a 'psychological' statement on life for some - it's a good one, but that statement is short and we don't need it to be fleshed out into a 90 min flick. I have no idea why NY Times et al, gave this flick such a great review. If it were live action - it would have been panned.… Expand

11 of 29 users found this helpful1118

All this user's reviews

moothemagiccowFeb 2, 2016

In a year fraught with awards bait films that are dull as dishwater, Anomalisa takes the cake. Forget the thrill of freezing to death in Montana, being talked to death in Wyoming, or being the dullest two women in New York - Anomalisa bringsIn a year fraught with awards bait films that are dull as dishwater, Anomalisa takes the cake. Forget the thrill of freezing to death in Montana, being talked to death in Wyoming, or being the dullest two women in New York - Anomalisa brings you - checking into a hotel in Cincinnati. Taking a cab ride in Cincinatti. Listening to a solo rendition of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. In Cincinnati.
Somehow Kaufman wasn't satisfied with making the most dull, pretentious live-action movie of all time, Synecdoche NY - he had to make the dullest stop-motion movie of all time. At least this one was short.… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

All this user's reviews

WEBZPINNERJan 20, 2016

While fantastically animated, the story is incredibly boring, and they spend too much time showing how great they can animate everyday movements by people... we get lengthy animated urinating, an animated shower scene complete with animatedWhile fantastically animated, the story is incredibly boring, and they spend too much time showing how great they can animate everyday movements by people... we get lengthy animated urinating, an animated shower scene complete with animated flaccid penis, and a lengthy stop-motion graphic sex scene. I love independent films, but this thing just didn't work for me.

Story was incredibly lame. I'm certain the writer just animated some softcore porno he caught on Skin-emax. A horny celebrity is desperate for an affair to add spice to his boring life, and some chick he barely met agrees, and they don't address ANY ramifications of the decision, there is no sympathy for the main character. The girl you feel sympathy for, as she is basically doing a Monica Lewinsky.

Skip this crap. Support quality independent films, not this souless, vapid "entertainment".… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

All this user's reviews

IdlehandsDec 30, 2015

Oh pls, middle aged, predatory male is revitalized by presence of young, insecure female with low self esteem. When are men going to wake up and realize that their pathetic fantasies do not interesting plotlines make. Anomalisa is creepy stuff.

9 of 44 users found this helpful935

All this user's reviews

SimmsJul 16, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. We found it slow although at times the animation was technically interesting. It might have been depressing if it weren't so dull and stereotypical. To tell the truth, we quit watching after about half an hour, just after Michael beds Lisa. I felt very uncomfortable watching the portrayal of male fantasies and female insecurity and hero worship. Sexist tropes throughout. What were the critics smoking?… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

MovieHunterJun 23, 2016

Charlie Kaufman is nowhere near as creative and brilliant as he thinks he is. This movie was sooooooo boring and self-indulgent. Reveling in the banality of life does not make for an interesting movie, yet alone a work of art. Neither doesCharlie Kaufman is nowhere near as creative and brilliant as he thinks he is. This movie was sooooooo boring and self-indulgent. Reveling in the banality of life does not make for an interesting movie, yet alone a work of art. Neither does saying **** every five seconds. What a total waste of time. Even at 83 minutes it was about 75 minutes too long. What a major disappointment.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

All this user's reviews

MugeshJun 6, 2017

What actually is so special about this movie? I dont even find a single interesting thing about Anomalisa. I feel that it doesn't even have a story in it. Actually why did they choose the Fregoli Delusion topic for this? It is completelyWhat actually is so special about this movie? I dont even find a single interesting thing about Anomalisa. I feel that it doesn't even have a story in it. Actually why did they choose the Fregoli Delusion topic for this? It is completely meaningless and senseless. I just got excited to watch the movie because of its review, but it was a total waste of time!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

CorregatedFeb 12, 2018

Like spending 40 minutes inside the boring life of my creepy old boss. Turned it off went it went from boring to offensive.

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

All this user's reviews