Review of Cosmopolis (2012) by Matt G — 08 Sep 2012

"Cosmopolis" is the portrait of Eric Packer(Robert Pattinson), a 28 year-old business wunderkind who has all the money in the world but cannot control the world around him, except for the interior of his tricked out stretch limousine. The hint of a plot involves more of an emotional, than a physical journey, as he wants to go crosstown to get a haircut. As Torval(Kevin Durand), his head of security, points out, this might be impossible since the President is in town. Which president, asks Eric? As much as some people might have a problem with some of the purple prose, I love the bit where Torval mentions bits of the city disappearing, almost imagining it happening literally. Along the way, Eric stops to eat with his virginal wife Elise(Sarah Gadon) who knows what sex smells like and he first sees in a cab.

A character so lacking individuality like Eric Packer is perhaps the perfect role for a limited actor like Robert Pattinson. Surprisingly, as the movie cruises along with its own idiosyncratic rhythm and pacing, that does not become a liability, as he holds his own even with Samantha Morton coming on board for a while. Sadly, I don't think the movie really knows how to end, before Paul Giamatti shows up and takes control, just pushing Pattinson to the side of his own movie which might be intentional. Or not.