Review of Cosmopolis (2012) by Michael L — 29 Jun 2013

Bleak and cynical, David Cronenberg's COSMOPOLIS is an uneven effort from this film master but so blazingly brilliant at times that I can't get it out of my head. Wonderfully stylized and artificial, COSMOPOLIS never veers from it's ugly view of the modern capitalistic world.

The performances are all dead on especially lead Robert Pattinson and exceptional work from Samantha Morton. The film tears into your soul as character upon character enters the stifling limo of Pattinson's character.

Unfortunately, Cronenberg all too often leaves that car. None of the scenes "in the world" have the bite or authority of those in the limo. Most sadly, the films last two final scenes, which take place out of Pattinson's vehicle, undermine so much brilliance that occurred earlier.

COSMOPOLIS is uneven, pretentious, even obnoxious, but also daring and frightening.