Mixed in among the sacred cows of college cinema, you’ll probably find at least one film by Charlie Kaufman.

If the name doesn’t ring any bells, it should, because the man has only written some of your favorite films of the past decade.

The screen-writing genius behind hits such as “Being John Malkovich” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Synecdoche, New York” marks Kaufman’s directorial debut.

His inexperience as a director shows at times, but the growing pains hardly hold the film back.

With “Synecdoche,” Kaufman fearlessly attempted to create a movie of almost maddening detail and imagery, a sort of hybrid film that walks the line between metaphysical dread and deadpan comedy.

The story centers around Caden, a down-on-his-luck playwright who is planning to mount a new play.

He claims the play will be “big and true and brutally honest.” To achieve this, Caden hires hundreds of actors and buys a huge warehouse in New York City only to construct a slightly smaller version of the city within the warehouse.

Caden then instructs each actor to act out events from his own life. He even goes so far as to hire an actor to play himself directing the play.

In typical Kaufman fashion, the viewer must suspend his or her disbelief. But what makes this film different from his past efforts is that the conceit in “Synecdoche” does nothing to tie the film together.

There is no memory-erasing drug like in “Eternal Sunshine.” There is no time portal or dream sequence to ensure or comfort the audience in any way.

Like Caden’s play, “Synecdoche” is brutally honest and true. It wouldn’t be too far off to call “Synecdoche” a horror film.

It is a horror film that shows how scary everyday life can be. Through Caden, Kaufman explores the horror of loneliness, of living life with regret, of growing old, of having guilt and shame, of all the menial things each of us ponders everyday.

Needless to say, it’s a very uncomfortable movie to watch as everything and everyone around Caden disintegrates.

If the point hasn’t been made clear enough, “Synecdoche” is a bleak, but necessary film to watch.

It’s necessary because in a time where MTV and VH1 are trying their best to convince you real life is better on TV, “Synecdoche, New York” reminds you why real life is worth living and not watching.

Grade: A-
Verdict: If you thought losing to Georgia Tech was depressing, just wait until you watch this.