House Of Paradox Reviews Cosmopolis
I really enjoyed reading this review by Naomi at House Of Paradox. Â Particularly the comments she made about the audience reaction which echo what Maria was talking about in her earlier post. Love what Naomi says here which I have highlighted.
Robert Pattinson plays Eric Packer, an uber wealthy, intuitive man of the world, who spends his days doing business in a limousine, drifting through city streets while staff, lovers and a doctor come and go as ordered. His day quickly spirals out of control when he loses massive sums of money and his life is threatened by an unknown source.
Director David Cronenberg has chosen a high profile cast for COSMOPOLIS, although it’s a surprising mix, especially the choice of women Packer has sex with.
There are plenty of close-ups of Robert Pattinson and he’s in every scene, his character is tough, cold hearted and calculating – kind of a passive aggressive, financial vampire and he plays it extremely well. Pattinson is clearly trying to round out the scripts he chooses and building a nice portfolio of work.
The script is overflowing with intriguing dialogue, taken directly from the book it’s based on. You could get caught up contemplating a particular line and miss several others if you don’t pay attention.
I found spending time in the limo created a growing sense of claustrophobia, only broken by the coming and going of odd characters speaking fabulous dialogue, it also added a feeling of freedom to the moments Packer did venture out into the real world. The sound outside of Packer’s immediate vicinity was muffled creating a bizarre distancing and enhanced the idea he lived in a world of his own.
As I settled in to the unusual style of the film, I was reminded of books that I read 20 years ago, in the way it layered questions about how we will live in the future and what makes us tick. By the time the movie meandered it’s way to the finish I was enthralled – and disappointed that it had to end. After which, the audience didn’t rush from the room, but talked about the movie and continued chatting in the elevator.   (“Disappointed that it had to end”  Me too.  Every time I had the pleasure of watching I thought, I love this so much, I don’t want it to end- Michelle)
Some critics have bagged the performances, mostly by the women and thought it was slow – but I liked the pace once I’d settled into it, there were plenty of turning points and surprising outcomes and I found the quirky performances represented odd characters, which I enjoy – plenty of odd characters colour my life.
Robert Pattinson, Kevin Durand, Sarah Gadon and the amazing Paul Giamatti, were my particular fav performances, probably because of the dialogue, as that’s the key here.
COSMOPOLIS is a surprising film, perfect if you’re looking for something different and are willing to go with it. For days I continued to wonder about the end of our world as we know it.
13 comments on “House Of Paradox Reviews Cosmopolis”
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Silvie
What a lovely review. I wish I could articulate those those myself because it was exactly how I felt. It is true though once you settle down and let it be without trying to understand it, the movie has a way of hypnotising you or maybe it’s Rob. Thank you for posting.
The other thing is that it’s not a movie to walk away from and forget, it’s encourages discussion….how good is that!
Vertigo
hahaha Silvie – I had to watch a few times to determine if it was from seeing ALL Rob all the time, or was it in fact the movie. Turns out it was the whole package!
It really is wonderful the amount of quality discussion and thought process that carries on days after viewing this film.
Was a good read – Thanks for posting Michelle.
Carmel
@Silvie – Exactly! It isn’t a piece of fluff. Cosmo has real substance and ideas that generate discussion and thought. Seeing the actors breathe life into that amazing dialogue was inspirational for me. It was like Shakespeare. It was like an epiphany. It may sound like I am exaggerating, but truly, I am not. I love this movie
Sue
Thanks Michelle. I absolutely LOVED the dialogue in this movie, perhaps above everything else. I’ll even admit to closing my eyes a couple of times in my 3rd viewing, just to listen to the words without distraction, which I don’t think I’ve ever done before (certainly NEVER when Rob’s been on the screen LOL!). Reminds me in a way of one of my favourite books, The Catcher in the Rye …… I have no desire to EVER see this book made into a movie, but I would KILL to have Rob do an audio book with him as Holden Caulfield, the narrator. Sorry, I’m getting off topic …….
Bee Kaye
@ Silvie, @ Vertigo, thanks so much for your insights – my turn Wednesday and so looking forward to seeing Rob as Eric in this film. Thanks Michelle for posting this review and your comments.
Cindy
What a brilliant review Thanks Michelle ox I am still playing this fantastic movie over in my head hoping and praying will get to see it on the big screen again before it closes.
Jules
Loved this review, thanks Michelle.
Fingers crossed for you Cindy!
@Sue great point. An audiobook would be a beautiful thing. 🙂 I have to say I loved his accent as Eric….just loved it. (Shocker, I know!) 😉
Sare
Great review! My turn on Sunday and I CAN NOT WAIT!! Will probablt only get to see it once in cinema though. Thanks Michelle
silvie
Again, I have to say how much I love this movie. I hope that many more people go to see it even if it’s just once. I should be working but I wanted to read the review again..it’s so lovely. So many favourite lines in the movie.
Maria
LOL at the evidence of what I said in my Box Office post. See – I told you people weren’t rushing out. You need all the time in the world to absorb the experience of this film.
Love.
Thanks Michelle.
Val
Lovely review – and ITA @Silvie. Other people do better at the words than me, suffice to say I am still reeling. 4 walkouts out of about 12 in the mid-morning session we went to. Clearly their motivation for movie-going is different from mine (and I was glad they walked out as they were becoming extremely annoying and I was tempted to violence, myself). What an extraordinarily powerful film. Rob was mesmerising, but so was everyone else involved in this amazing piece of art. Just beautiful.
Silvie
This walking out is beyond my comprehension Val. And worse when people make nuisances of themselves. I’m looking forward to seeing it again….honestly how can you go wrong…a brilliant director, a brilliant actor, a brilliant script.
Val
Yep Silvie, I’m really not sure why people don’t seem to know what movie they’ve just parted their hard-earned pensioner cash (in that couple’s case, talk about gasps) for….. ? I literally can’t afford to willy nilly see any old movie, I pick& choose carefully, but I’m for damned sure going back to see Rob as Eric again if I can (given the 2 cinemas in this state screening it are some distance away). All the brilliant (and award-winning) movies that I can think of are challenging in at least some scenes.