Saturday, June 9, 2012

Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012)
Cosmopolis (2012)
Genre: Drama
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Sarah Gadon, Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti
Language: English
Duration: 108 min.
Rating: 7.9
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.
Cosmopolis is a film directed by David Cronenberg, based on the novel of the same name by Don DeLillo. It premiered in competition at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

Not exactly the mass appeal pulse quickening, slick, erotic or violent thriller advertised by the trailer, but still every bit as tantalizing for the few who enjoy a dark minimalistic tale filled with eccentric characters spouting stylized literary dialogue. David Cronenberg's latest effort is a surreal look at one man's extreme downward spiral over the course of a single day.

Cosmopolis (2012)

The man is Eric Packer (Robert Pattinson), a young billionaire finance manager riding across Manhattan in his custom high-tech stretch limousine, in order to visit his childhood barber for a trim. Along the way he encounters a revolving door cast of characters, and makes several unscheduled stops to try and connect with his equally wealthy socialite wife Elise (Sarah Gadon). All the while gradually losing his fortune on a wild foreign exchange gamble, as the perfect storm of the President's motorcade, a celebrity funeral, and a group of rioting protesters combine to halt Midtown traffic.

It plays out almost entirely inside the confines of Packer's cork-lined soundproof limo, a vast state of the art vehicle with every feature you could ask for and then some. It's a cocoon isolated from the real world, and right from the first interior shot, there is a certain cinematic feeling, a lack of ambient sound and a heightened contrast of lighting between the sealed cabin and that of the real world beyond the tinted glass that makes us see everything from the distorted point of view of the main character. Real but not quite real is the result, whether that be the case of stylistic choice or simple budget constraints; and once this tone is established, Cronenberg's adapted screenplay remains as consistently detached and unemotional as Packer is, right until the very last frame.

Cosmopolis (2012)

This was my first time seeing Pattinson act, and he is pretty good here. Not award winning by any means, but he is a good fit, with just the right set of expressions for the role. Of the supporting cast only a few of them are actually around long enough to make an impression, but the lovely Gadon makes a strong one as the icy wife who may as well be a stranger, hopefully we get to see her in a more significant role soon; Kevin Durand comes across something like the bastard son of Christopher Walken in a memorable role as Torval, Packer's chief of security; and the always great Paul Giamatti is called on to play a sort of Bizarro World mirror copy of Packer, in a lengthy but outstanding cinematic duet that ends the film.

It's not a film for everyone, many will be turned off by the challenging dialogue, and those going to see it for the wrong reasons will absolutely hate it; there were a fair amount from that demographic who walked out at my screening. It's cold, clinical, dialogue heavy, and slight on action, but it's still undeniably all Cronenberg, all the way. Intelligently crafted, immensely detailed for the watchful eye, and seasoned with trademark moments of unconventional sex, violence, and absurdity. Perhaps not quite the fierce visceral spectacle that we've come to expect from the master, but it's a sharply controlled and assuredly confident one that I look forward to watching again.
Bonjour Tristesse
Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012)

Cosmopolis (2012)

32 comments:

SteveeTaylor said...

"That demographic" - I can only assume you mean the people who like Robert Pattinson (a.k.a the Twi-hards?) Haha.


I'm really excited to see this. I don't know why, but it just looks and sounds so interesting. And...different. Can't wait until whenever it hits cinemas here!

Jason Hemming said...

This looks really good. It shows that RObert Patterson wants to be taken as a serious actor by appearing in films like this. He doesn't want to be just another pretty face on screen. Although many of his will hate on him for doing these pictures.

Jessica said...

Looking forward to see this one. After the disappointment of A Dangerous Method it can't be anything but much better.

Pete Turner said...

Sounds great. I love so many films where they use a limited number of locations and this just sounds intriguing, even if not as dazzling as the trailer suggests. Also love Durand's face. He terrifies me.

Lesya said...

I'm looking forward to it and glad that you liked it. I respect David Cronenberg and out of his films that I've seen none disappointed me. I'm glad that you also favorably comment on Pattinson's work. I'm not the fan but I think many people write him off for no reason.

Steven Flores said...

I so want to see this...

Margaret said...

Great review! I really want to see it and I'm glad you gave it such a high score.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Haha, precisely :)

Thanks for the comment Stevee, I hope you get the chance to see it soon.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yep I was pleased with it, and Pattinson does impress, I also heard rumors that they are planning to work together again soon. Will be interesting to see what comes of that.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah, although ADM was a personal project for him, this film is much more in line with what I expect from Cronenberg. The strange dialogue and limited locations do make it resemble a stage play at times, which I know you are not too fond of. But I think there is enough variation and detail to keep it cinematic.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah Durand has a very strong menacing (Evil Terminator) presence. I'll be keeping an eye on his career.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Lesya. I'm still not entirely convinced of his talent, this character was mostly robotic and didn't require a great deal of range, but he's off to a good start.

365 moviesandsongs365 said...

That review and rating has peaked my curiosity! On my most anticipated of 2012 list. Very surprised to read so much of the story takes place in a limo...

Inspired Ground said...

Wow, seems like something to see. Pattinson got all the hate for Twilight (and Bel Ami, I think). Would be nice seeing him in Cosmopolis. I only have seen Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method which I thought a bit odd, I'll give this one a chance. Great review, BT

FrontRoomCinema said...

This one caught my eye when the first trailer and poster arrived... although I was completely lost as to what it was about!! Thanks for the review matey

Diana said...

I am very interested in seeing this movie, Cronenberg is the type of director who takes changes and crosses the line and I like that, I will definitely see it this week when it hits UK screens! Thanks!

Jack Deth said...

Hi, Bonjour and company:

If Robert Pattinson wants to break away from the curse of type casting attached to 'Twilight'. Any David Cronenberg projects would be one of first to seek out and sign onto to.

Especially one with such a shadowy, other worldly 'American Psycho', 'Strange Days' look and feel!

'Cosmopolis' had my attention from its first trailer.

ruth said...

I thought Pattinson was ok outside of Twilight, but still I was surprised to see him cast by Cronenberg! Sounds like he lives up to what the director had in mind for him though, he does have that cold, slightly deranged look to him that makes him fit the role.

ruth said...

'didn't require a great deal of range' I figure as much, though he's still far more expressive than his girlfriend Kristen Stewart! Now I'm baffled as to why she continues to get high profile roles.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Can't comment on that as I'm not familiar with her work either. I do plan on watching On the Road though.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Have they announced a release date for you yet?

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Margaret, I wanted to like it more, but it was slightly too restrained at times to really give it the full impact and for me to give it an 8

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I look forward to reading your thoughts on it. It is an odd primary location to use for a feature, and it could have easily been too limited and claustrophobic, but actually quite a lot happens outside of the limo that we can see through its windows.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah ADM wasn't his best work nor was it truly representative of his style, but this one falls much more in line. I hope you get to see it soon. Thanks Andina.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah that trailer as they all seem to be these days, is very misleading.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Cool, looking forward to your review Diana.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

You're right JD, taking a Cronenberg role is a guaranteed way to break the mold.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I think we were all a bit surprised when that was announced. Luckily it turned out pretty good.

stevens1 said...

i'm looking forward to seeing this but something tells me it is not going to be as good as I hope...

Michaël Parent said...

I read some divisive reviews about this one but I am looking forward to it very much!

Lisa Thatcher said...

I just got out of this film and raced to re-read your review. I finished the book 10 minutes before I walked in, and I have to say, I loved the film when seen on top of the novel. Dialogue like that doesn't need to be messed with and Cronenberg did a wonderful job leaving it alone. For me it was a film made by the two greats - De Lillo and Cronenberg are in a dance here.
I have to say, I thought RP was pretty good too - especially at the end when acting against Giamatti. That worked very well for me.
Thanks for a great recommendation.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Whenever the book is still fresh in my mind I find myself constantly trying to compare the two instead of just watching. A dance is good way to put it though, the dialogue is really quite elegant, doing the leading while the action and images follow. I saw Cosmopolis and Moonrise Kingdom on the same day, and it's this one that I keep thinking about, and wanting to see again. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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