"Cosmopolis" Review

"Cosmopolis"

Directed by David Cronenberg

Starring Robert Pattinson, Paul Giamatti, Jay Baruchel, Sarah Gadon, Samantha Morton

 

RATING

7/10

You know movies that kill your brain cells from being too dumb? Well, "Cosmopolis" kills your brain cells from being too smart. Watching this film is somewhat of a really funny experience. It wasn't until 45 minutes into the movie did I realise I had the same goofy, dumbstruck expression since the opening credits. You know, that of a cross between a drunk Irishman and a stoner...

 

The film stars Robert Pattinson as Eric Packer, a young billionaire playboy who one day decides he needs a haircut. Ironically, it's also the busiest day of the year as the president is crossing the city in a cluster of limos and police officers. The city becomes congested with angry anarchists who hope to pull an assassination, so tension is at an all-time high. Packer hops in his limo anyway and begins a journey across the city that wants to tear his world apart.

 

David Cronenberg adapts and directs the ambitious novel by Don DeLillo. For nearly three decades, Cronenberg has pushed out films that are strange beyond comprehension. "Cosmopolis" is no exception. I've read a lot of polarizing reviews for this film. Some liked it, most hated it. I'm in the former. It's rare to see a film with such intellectualism and philosophy crafted so meticulously that it leaves you on the edge of your seat even though you have no f***in' idea what's going on. The film is marketed as a thriller or sorts, but this is no different from a fantasy. Packer encounters a string of characters in this single day that all have purpose in his life or he personally knows them. It's not exactly within the realms of plausibility.

 

Cronenberg's direction is flawless. This may be one of the most stunningly directed films of the entire year. Every frame is gorgeously rendered and captures interesting and powerful shots that you won't soon forget, especially with such a claustrophobic space as the limo.  The sci-fi-esque atmosphere is a big plus, too.The cast all deliver solid performances, especially from Robert Pattinson, who exudes the confidence and sharp charisma of his character brilliantly. In fact, he may be the only actor in the entire "Twilight" cast with a promising future, and I look forward to seeing him in more mature roles as these. Paul Giamatti is also great, even though his role is a bit small and fleeting. The rest of cast consists of random cameos and appearances, but all are very devoted. Make no mistake, "Cosmopolis" is an entirely dialogue-driven film. Even if there are moments of action or suspense, it's rather short. What either captures you from the first sentence (Packer saying, "I need a haircut") or loses you entirely is the brilliance of this film's tightrope script. The film has no central focus or subject matter, and characters randomly discuss topics such as existentialism, philosophy, politics, business, media, and mortality. Basically an outrospective of a modern Utopia gone wrong. As Packer progresses down this rabbit hole of twisted mindsets and shock culture, he slowly begins to lose his grip on sanity and the world around him which prompts him to commit actions more or less against his will. However, this is where the film takes a bit of a steep dip in terms of character development.

 

Packer needs little to no motivation to do things that ultimately have an enormous impact on his life. It's almost as if he becomes a mindless yuppie who acts on instinct rather than the calculated billionaire prodigy he was supposed to be. His internal conflict is never fully captured or explained for audiences to fully grasp the weight of the situation, so when it does happen, it's basically like watching an escaped mental asylum patient. Also, as invested as you may get on many of the conversations, some heavy-handed topics will undoubtedly leave you dumbstruck and confused. I'm not even sure Cronenberg understood it either. That's where the film will pull you out for a few moments, and it's difficult to adjust back to the following dialogue.

 

Apart from that, I really enjoyed a majority of "Cosmopolis". It's a fascinating, absorbing headtrip that will leave a muddled but provocative image in your mind. Thanks to Cronenberg's clockwork direction and solid performances, it's one of the best-looking and well-acted films of the entire year. Although the dialogue is a hit-and-miss at times, it's ultimately very thought-provoking and interesting. If you're up for a film to kick your ass intellectually, this is worth your time. Just bring a dictionary.