Variety & Filmoria Review Cosmopolis
I’ve been waiting for Variety’s review and it certainly doesn’t disappoint:
“An eerily precise match of filmmaker and material, “Cosmopolis” probes the soullessness of the 1% with the cinematic equivalent of latex gloves. Applying his icy intelligence to Don DeLillo’s prescient 2003 novel, David Cronenberg turns a young Wall Street titan’s daylong limo ride into a coolly corrosive allegory for an era of technological dependency, financial failure and pervasive paranoia, though the dialogue-heavy manner in which it engages these concepts remains distancing and somewhat impenetrable by design. While commercial reach will be limited to the more adventurous end of the specialty market, Robert Pattinson’s excellent performance reps an indispensable asset.
The first film based on a DeLillo tome, as well as Cronenberg’s first feature-length script since 1999’s “eXistenZ,” “Cosmopolis” is an uncommonly straightforward adaptation by a filmmaker who, in movies like “Naked Lunch” and “Spider,” found an inventive visual syntax for the psychological and intellectual conceits at work. Working here with a spare, episodic narrative and dialogue that teems with heady ideas, Cronenberg adopts a direct, scene-by-scene approach that crucially nails the novel’s tone of archly stylized pessimism. ..
Until the guns come out in the final act, each of Eric’s one-on-one meetings has essentially been a verbal sparring match. The initial discussions of technological and financial vulnerability give way to discussions of more abstract concepts: the primitive nature of sexual desire; the expendability of the masses for the sake of a visionary idea; the dizzying speed of human progress and the inability of language to keep up with it. Yet language is precisely what “Cosmopolis” has in abundance as it confronts the viewer with reams and reams of bluntly articulated, hyper-intellectual discourse.
Cronenberg lets DeLillo’s ideas speak for themselves but accents them visually, particularly in the way the camera plays up Eric’s monstrous callousness and arrogance by emphasizing his physical distance from the hovering crowds. Rarely venturing outside its protagonist’s ivory-tower-on-wheels, the film generates a mood of unsettling intimacy and isolation despite the chaotic swirl of human activity in the streets; it’s mass misery observed through a glass darkly — quite literally in the case of the limo’s tinted windows.
Charges that this study in emptiness and alienation itself feels empty and alienating are at once accurate and a bit beside the point, and perhaps the clearest confirmation that Cronenberg has done justice to his subject. In presenting such a close-up view of Eric’s inner sanctum, the film invites the viewer’s scorn and fascination simultaneously; to that end, the helmer has an ideal collaborator in Pattinson, whose callow yet charismatic features take on a seductively reptilian quality here. It’s the actor’s strongest screen performance and certainly his most substantial.
The other thesps make only fleeting impressions, though Samantha Morton gets some mileage out of her one-scene turn as Eric’s articulate chief of theory, and Mathieu Amalric gets a brief, hilarious appearance as a “pastry assassin” whose antics bring Rupert Murdoch’s 2011 pie-thrower incident to mind. In a role effectively tightened from the book, Paul Giamatti is superb as a sad sack who represents Eric’s antithesis in every particular. …”
Filmoria gives us another great review and the film 5 stars:
For those expecting the explicit, hand-shooting and manic portrait the teaser trailer screened, you may feel a little deflated after watching. But if you open your eyes just a little wider, you’ll quickly realise you are witnessing filmmaking at its highest, most satirical and down-right demented quality. The picture is fuelled by existential imagery, dialogue and tones – the staggeringly slow pace of Packer’s limo is symbolic of his desire for safety, gently cocooning him in plush comfort from the horrors of the outside world, whilst his desire for ‘more from life’ is painted from his eternal boredom and isolation. It’s with these themes that Cosmopolis tremendously succeeds. Never does the audience feel sympathy or empathy with Packer, yet they know such a large amount about him and understand his complex and bizarre mind that it’s impossible not to become involved with him.
…
But the film’s true driving force (excuse the pun) is Pattinson’s utterly fearless, audacious and sizzling performance. … Packer is a multi-layered, cynical, and chillingly captivating character; he’s a gritty brush-stroke of our modern day society, a itching rash that demands attending to. The world in which Packer resides in is one of disgusting wealth and luxury yet crippling doubt, paranoia, and self-loathing. Pattinson’s darkly comic and distressingly real performance here embodies everything Cosmopolis desires to express; he whispers and scuttles but his manners and aura leave a deafening echo hanging in the tainted, dystopian atmosphere.
Cronenberg’s latest will not be for everyone – it’s a slinky, scabby and repressed black dramedy that’s unobliging and unconventional – I’m sure some ‘Twihards’ will enter upon release simply for R-Patz and leave the cinema feeling either bored, bruised or baffled, but for those who enjoy challenging, alternative and uncompromising pictures, Cosmopolis is your drink of choice.”
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10 comments on “Variety & Filmoria Review Cosmopolis”
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Carmel
OMFG! These are BRILLIANT! ‘ But the film’s true driving force is Pattinson’s utterly fearless, audacious and sizzling performance. …’ Can I have this tattooed somewhere?
The happy dance is starting and I don’t intend to stop till I see this movie for myself
Go ROB!!
@Maria – Thank you!!!!
ephie
OMG! This beyond awesome, it has exceeded my expectations. I was hoping for reviews like that and for Rob’s talent to finally be acknowledged.
And can I say I WANT TO SEE IT NOW!!!! TONIGHT PLEASE!!!
I heard that the standing ovation at the end of the screening lasted 10 min!!!
So proud of you Rob. I have no other words. This day is one to be remembered.
I also read a brilliant review by a Greek film critic who said that Pattinson shines in this role and praised Rob’s performance and the movie as a whole.
And Carmel I want the same tattoo… Yes!
ephie
PS. I forgot to say Thank you Maria!!! Have you been up all night??? Thanks for all you do for us here. I’m looking fwd to more reviews.
Maria
@ephie I can’t take credit – I crashed just around midnight and then slept through my 6 am alarm. You have to thank Michelle, Suze, Jules and Tina for their monster efforts. Michelle’s at Georges as I type so I’m home alone and uploading 100 plus more pics from the red carpet … stay tuned.
Maria
@ephie I said this to Jules last night – the standing ovations are always around 10 mins – it seems to be the standard. I’m not taking away from Rob, but it’s what’s been said for almost every single film in competition. I more interested in seeing what the critics and more importantly Cronenberg’s fanboys say. It’s released tomorrow in France and Italy so we shall see …
ephie
Great effort to all the girls. Thank you to all of you from the bottom of my heart.
Well…that’s something I didn’t know about the standing ovations and thanks for pointing it out.
Yes please I too wanna see the DC fanboys’ reactions. Actually i cant wait . But I have a good hunch about it.
Sue
My heart is swelling with happiness for both Rob and Cronenberg right now.
@Carmel, maybe if we ask Jules nicely, we might see the words “utterly fearless, audacious and sizzling performance” feature in an edit sometime soon? (much less painful than a tattoo!)
Thanks Maria, I trust you’ll provide us with the ‘important’ reviews…… and I’ll keep away from the rest….
Michelle
“But the film’s true driving force is Pattinson’s utterly fearless, audacious and sizzling performance.” Oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE that. What wonderful reviews these are – am grinning from ear to ear. Rob receiving the recognition & praise he deserves *fist pump* Makes me SO happy 😀
August 30 cannot get here quick enough. We need a time machine STAT. Cannot wait to meet Eric Packer. As Maria said above, I saw Georges today, two screenings in one day as I’ve travelled to see him (yes I survived hehe) & he was just MAGNIFICENT. Absolutely brilliant. Love love love him as Georges – cannot wait to own the DVD so I can watch him over & over. Oh & to the morons who said he was ‘wooden’ & ‘lacks charm’ go get your heads examined!!
Carmel
@ Sue – Great idea! *smiles sweetly at Jules*
@Michelle – Yay. Wasn’t Rob wonderful! I hope to see it again tomorrow. No matter what you think of the movie or even Rob’s performance, you can not describe it as wooden. He was incredible
Jules
Fantastic reviews Maria, this is just wow. So so thrilled for him. He deserves it. Sfm. Can’t stop smiling.
LOL @Carmel and Sue. Great idea! I’ll see what I can do for future 🙂 thanks!
w00t w00t Michelle you got your time with Georges. twice 🙂 so thrilled you enjoyed him. Knew you would. 🙂