Cosmopolis is a David Cronenberg film but more specifically a Cronenberg interpretation of a Don DeLillo novel. The world comes to billionaire and currency speculator Eric Packer (American actor Robert Pattinson) as he and his limo slowly make their way across Manhattan in his search for a haircut.
There are a few hindrances in the way: presidential motorcade, a rap star's funeral, and anarchist riots with protesters holding fake rats.
Packer occasionally leaves the limo to spend time with his wife Elise (Sarah Gadon) and then Eric is back in the limo. He gets various visitors, including finance chief Jane Melman (Emily Hampshire), head of technology and cyber security Shiner (Jay Baruchel), art consultant Didi Fancher (French actor Juliette Binoche), and Dr. Ingram (Bob Bainborough) who gives Eric a physical exam every day. Eric's security chief Torval (Kevin Durand) checks in with Eric outside the limo stuck in traffic.
As much fun as a film set in a limousine could be, eventually the film does leave the limo and go off in a direction.
The world for Eric crumbles thanks to the currency speculation gone wrong.
The indictment of capitalism and the struggle for symmetry are intriguing themes throughout the film but the tale doesn't give incentive to the filmgoers to stick with the story. Character development is non existent, even for Eric. The dialogue feels forced like actors reading lines instead of speaking like the characters believe their dialogue.
Cronenberg wrote the screenplay based from the novel and directed the film.
Pattinson's known acting range limitations suit the limo scenes just fine. When Eric has to step out of the limo and become the character of interest, the film becomes more difficult to watch.
Each Don DeLillo novel is different. Perhaps the comparison is unfair but Noah Baumbach's take on White Noise (2022) was a more interesting and suspenseful production.
The best thing to say about the film is that the story is faithful to the novel.
CanadianCrossing.com film reviews
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
Cosmopolis made the TIFF list of Canada's Top Ten feature films of 2012. The film is available on Freevee in the United States.
video credit: Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon
photo credit: Cosmopolis
Comments