Don't watch all of these unsettling movies at once, but if you like puzzles and mind-bending films, you are sure to enjoy these. Cool special effects don't spoil the questioning of identity and reality. I promise not to give anything away in the following synopses:

Synecdoche New York

This is the cream of the crop for the staggering achievement of the set designers for their world with in a world within a world. Phillip Seymour Hoffman stars as an actor who has less grasp on his Self than his stalker does.

The Machinist

Christian Bale (Batman) gets thin again for this tension filled look at a man who is disentegrating with each passing day. It's devastating but excellent.

Vanilla Sky

An American remake starring Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz follows a man who thinks he has lost the love of his life and his life appears to be slipping out of control, thanks to a sinister medical organization.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I think I've mentioned before that this is Jim Carrey's best role. Co-starring Kate Winslet (Titanic) this is a comedic and still troubling adventure of a man who decides to erase his memories of his ex-girlfriend thanks to yet another sinister medical organization.

by Mel