Cosmopolis (2012)

Summary:Riding across Manhattan in a stretch limo in order to get a haircut, a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager s day devolves into an odyssey with a cast of characters that start to tear his world apart.

Year: 2012

Australian Cinema Release Date: 2nd August, 2012

Australian DVD Release Date: 19th December, 2012

Country: Canada/France/Portugal/Italy

Director: David Cronenberg

Screenwriter: David Cronenberg, David DeLillo (novel)

Cast: Mathieu Amalric (Andre Petrescu), Abdul Ayoola (Ibrahim Hamadou), Bob Bainborough (Dr. Ingram), Jay Baruchel (Shiner), Juliette Binoche (Didi Fancher), Kevin Durand (Torval), Sarah Gadon (Elise Shifrin), Paul Giamatti (Benno Levin), Gouchy Boy (Kosmo Thomas), Emily Hampshire (Jane Melman), K’Naan (Brutha Fez), Zeljiko Kecojevic (Danko), Patricia McKenzie (Kendra Hays), Samantha Morton (Vija Kinsky), Philip Nozuka (Michael Chin), Robert Pattinson (Eric Packer), David Schaap (Arthur Rapp), George Touliatos (Anthony Abubato)

Runtime: 109 mins

Classification:MA15+

Dave Griffiths’s ‘Cosmopolis’ Review:

Here we all were thinking that director David Cronenberg (A Dangerous Method, Eastern Promises) had got all the alternative filmmaking out of his blood stream. Recently his films have been pretty stock standard, but oh boy does Cronenberg go back to his dark side with Cosmopolis, a film so arty it fails terribly.

Based on a novel by Don DeLillo Cosmopolis is set in downtown New York and follows billionaire businessman, Eric Packer (Robert Pattinson – Bel Ami, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1) who demands to be taken across town for a haircut from his favourite barber despite warnings from his Security Head, Torval (Kevin Durnad – Edwin Boyd, Real Steel) who says the trip will be virtually impossible due to most of the city being closed down for the arrival of The President.

As Eric’s driver, Ibrahim (Abdul Ayoola – Immortals, Look Again) slowly drives Eric’s luxurious limo across town the film documents Eric’s interactions with various people including his new wife (who only seems to be around at meal times), Elise (Sarah Gadon – Antiviral, Dream House), his ex Didi (Juliette Binoche – An Open Heart, Another Woman’s Life), business partner Shiner (Jay Baruchel – Goon, TV’S Being Human) and security detail Nina (Marcia Juan Garcias – newcomer)

Cosmopolis is a slow grind, largely due to the fact that there is very little story there in the beginning. In fact the film really only comes to life in the last twenty minutes during a tense standoff between Eric and Benno (Paul Giamatti – Rock Of Ages, John Dies At The End). This finale is beautifully scripted and both Giamatti and Pattinson rise the challenge,,, unfortunately the rest of the film lets it down.

Cronenberg’s script is just a dead weight. They idea they he could create a new language, in the vein of Shakespeare, was ill thoughout as it really does is alienate the audience from the film even more. The mere fact that the script has very little (almost no) characterization leaves the audience asking even more questions on what they are seeing on the screen… and in the end the film just falls on top of itself.

To his credit Robert Pattinson does put in a good performance, it’s just not convincing that he can actually understand what he is saying at times, but even he is outshone by Giamatti who puts in a brilliant performance that leaves the rest of the cast for dead.

Cosmopolis is just one big black hole. Cronenberg tries to tackle some big issues but makes the film so alternative it is virtually impossible to understand.

Other Subculture Media Reviews of Cosmopolis: http://www.helium.com/items/2355096-movie-reviews-cosmopolis-2012.

Rating: 1.5/5 Stars

IMDB Rating: