Review of Cosmopolis (2012) by Manny C — 05 Sep 2012

I always knew Robert Pattinson was a capable actor. Here's the proof. Once you get past the surrealism and psychological subtext running through this film (adapted from the 2003 novel by the great Don DeLillo) and tabloid bile surrounding its star, you can see David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis for what it is: a mesmerizing and mind-bending piece of dark timeliness.

Pattinson stars as Eric Packer, a Wall Street master of the universe at just 28, but it's all beginning to crumble all around him, even as he appears protected in his stretch limo he's cruising around through the streets of Manhattan.

He has one goal for the day: a haircut. That's it. But a lot happened in that one day, in DeLillo's novel and in this film. Cronenberg, a filmmaking wizard hearkening back to his surreal films Naked Lunch and eXistenZ, adapts the novel himself and does so quite brilliantly, with a keen ear attuned to the words and language of the source material.

Inside the limo Eric can observe the Occupy Wall Street-type protests with a smirk on his face, consult with his tech chief (Jay Baruchel), have his heart and prostate examined, have a quickie with his mistress (Juliette Binoche), talk with his financial guru (Emily Hampshire) and chief adviser (Samantha Morton), and have weird, borderline disturbing meetings with his wife (Sarah Gadon), as well as an explosive encounter with a former employee (Paul Giamatti).

Along with the great cinematographer Peter Suchitzky, Cronenberg uses Eric and his limo as a microcosm of a world in free-fall. And Pattinson meets the challenge head-on in this hypnotic fever dream of a movie.

Pattinson is just terrific, and shines best in his gun scene with Giamatti. Cosmopolis is something of a chore to get through but it rewards attention. Take the ride.