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Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Sammy: I've watched you forever, Caden, but you've never really looked at anyone other than yourself. So watch me. Watch my heart break. Watch me jump. Watch me learn that after death there's nothing. There's no more watching. There's no more following. No love. Say goodbye to Hazel for me. And say it to yourself, too. None of us has much time.

RIP to the great Tom Noonan, who gave multiple performances of note across his long and varied career -- Manhunter is one of the few Michael Mann movies I can tolerate and it's thanks to him -- but nevertheless will always be Sammy, sweet sweet Sammy, the man who breaks my heart every single time in Charlie Kaufman's masterpiece. The elliptical way that Kaufman structures the character of Caden's life-long best friend who's always being edged out, always forced to the sidelines, is as brilliant as anything else in the script -- the way Noonan is seen peering out from behind things before Caden's even "met" him, because of course the way a self-centered narcissist would remember his own story would shove someone that isn't himself or one of his temporary love interests into the margins -- is moving in itself. But the way that Noonan plays Sammy, the love and the heartbreak that he channels into that role? It's tremendous, and if anybody had known how to react to Synecdoche in its moment as it demanded and deserved then Noonan would have been, should have been, a Best Supporting Actor contender. It moves me more with every re-watch. Brilliant subtle work. (The way he sort of shrugs as he jumps? My god.)

Tom Noonan should have gotten an Oscar nomination for his performance in Charlie Kaufman’s SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK #ripking

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— Jason Adams (@jamnpp.bsky.social) February 17, 2026 at 11:52 PM