Hoffman 'was confused by Synecdoche'

Philip Seymour Hoffman has admitted to being both impressed and confused when he first read the screenplay for Synecdoche, New York.

The Charlie Kaufman-penned and directed movie stars Hoffman as a theatre director who stages a life-spanning play in a replica of New York City.

Hoffman told ShortList: "I remember being very impressed by its scope and ambition. And very moved but confused by it. Thrilled by it.

"What I found so profound about the script when I read it was how he kind of succeeded in showing how odd life is through the actual eyes of someone, or the mind of someone."

He added that he was not concerned that Kaufman had not directed a film before and was encouraged by the writer's past work with Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry.