To attempt to summarize Sofie Barthes' first feature — she wrote and directed — is to utterly fail to do it justice. Paul Giamatti plays Paul Giamatti, a New York actor on the point of being consumed by his latest role. The simple solution? A brand new technology allowing for the safe removal and storage of the human soul.. . .
Yes, it sounds crazy, and I was skeptical at first too, but do not let the premise of this film keep you out of the theater.
One of the best movies I've seen in some time, Cold Souls is a triumph all around. Beautifully shot and scouted, simply designed (including a few wonderfully humorous details), the filmmaking wants for nothing. Giamatti delivers a deeply felt performance as he covers a range from Shatner to Uncle Vanya. Barthes' script is superb, at once comical and moving; it is easy to imagine how a story hinged on soul removal might well walk itself off a cliff, but Barthes navigates her self-imposed minefield with grace and wit, never once stumbling as she takes us from New York to Russia and even into the soul itself. Effortlessly combining the ludicrous with the thoroughly real, Cold Souls makes absurdity endearing, and poses questions about who we are.
It's dark, it's lighthearted, and absolutely the best film I saw at SIFF. This picture should satisfy anyone in the mood for a good movie. Go see for yourself. (And trust me, the trailers are not doing this one justice either, so go!)
No comments:
Post a Comment