Review of The Congress (2013) by Leslie B — 26 Aug 2014

Robin Wright is a has-been. A wash-out. She's blown every opportunity and instead of being the megastar she seemed destined to be she's been raising her children and coasting along in a string of flops that have led her to a career dead end.

But movie mogul Jeff Green (Danny Huston - deliciously slimy)offers her a last shot at greatness - he will scan her, her expressions, movements, feelings, emotions to be used as the studio sees fit. Once she signs the contract she'll get money and the freedom to look after her ailing son, but she'll never be able to act again.

And that's the normal bit. After a 'real-world' stabiliser, "The Congress" launches into full-blown acid-sci-fi, as it jumps 20 years into the future as Robin attends a future congress where everyone has to be animated and one's imagination defines one's experiences.

Part "The Matrix", part "Yellow Submarine", it's wilfully surreal and obtuse, and trying to work out what's going on as Robin's preoccupations, fears and hopes take hold can be frustrating.

But it's also a beautiful, engrossing and touching experience, ostensibly an attack on Hollywood's by-the-numbers soullessness and humanity's blind acceptance of it, but then a heartfelt meditation on love, loss and the stories that define us.

Robin Wright is absolutely superb in a role that's brave and strange, and gets strong support from Harvey Keitel as her old-school agent, Paul Giamatti as her son's caring doctor, as well as the always-excellent Huston.

It's a challenge to try and précis film that is self-consciously challenging, bordering on pretentious - the mega-meta concept would make even Derrida scratch his noggin. But it's enormously rewarding too, and certainly one of the most unique films you will (might) see this year.