Iffy for 16+
Intense, brilliant, and complex, but not for Twilight fans.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Cosmopolis, based on a novel by Don DeLillo, is the latest from offbeat director David Cronenberg. It's intense and complex and definitely intended for adults rather than star Robert Pattinson's Twilight-loving tween/younger teen fans, though mature teens may be interested in the film's timely themes. Sex is the biggest issue: The main character is married and sleeps with two other women over the course of one day. The sex scenes are graphic, and one features full-frontal female nudity. (Sex talk and sexual tension are pervasive throughout the film as well.) There are three sudden, shocking violent incidents involving guns, knives, and blood. Language is very infrequent but includes single uses of strong words like "f--k." And Pattinson's character drinks what appears to be vodka and brandy in two scenes, but not to drunkenness.
- Families can talk about Cosmopolis' sexual content. How does it portray sexual relationships? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
- What is the movie trying to say? What is its theme? What makes it timely?
- Is the main character a respectable, responsible person? Is he someone to be admired or emulated?
- Why does the main character resort to violence? Why would someone want to use violence against him?
The good stuff
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Messages: Cosmopolis is a dense movie with many different but timely ideas about the differences between the wealthy and the lower classes. The wealthy main character has enough money to try to buy perfection, but he finds he can't have it and still longs for something -- even if it's pain. His journey isn't very clear, but it appears that he's beginning to ponder the "beauty of the lopsided." Either way, the movie is likely to inspire discussion.
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Role models: No role models; these wealthy characters are unhappy and selfish, with little regard for humanity or others' feelings.
What to watch for
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Violence: For the most part, violence is kept to a minimum, but there are three sudden, violent, intense moments involving stabbing and/or gunshots and blood. Also, after getting hit by a pie, the main character kicks a man in the crotch.
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Sex: The main character is married and has graphic sex with two other women during the course of a day. One sex act has no nudity, but the other features full-frontal female nudity (and very nearly full-frontal male nudity, but not quite). Also strong sexual tension and talk about sex throughout.
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Language: Language is very infrequent but includes one or two uses of strong words like "f--k," "t-ts," and the "N" word.
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Consumerism: Some scenes appear to take place in or around Times Square. Some billboard advertising can be glimpsed in the corners out of the limo windows, but it's not overt.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: The main character drinks what appears to be vodka and, later, brandy, in his limo. Cigarettes are mentioned but never produced.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Easily a Solid "Go" by NassaDane
Really enjoyed it. It is dialogue heavy but it?s wonderful for it. It isn't a Blockbuster and that is the best part about it. For this year it is pretty fresh. It isn't a "Black Swan" level movie but it is at least closer than most movies so far this year. I?ll most likely see it again.
5
Rob? Edward? Nowhere in sight... by Lulwa
Robert Pattinson is so good in the role of Eric Packer it almost makes my teeth hurt. There is no hint of any other character he ever played, no repetitive mannerism and nothing identifiable from any of his public appearances. Paul Giamatti's Benno is sad and scary-memorable.The film itself is genius, Cronenbergian but amzingly restrained. Many of the lines are lough-out-loud funny, in a warped kind of way. I especially loved the riff on rats as money. What does it mean? Argue and discuss among yourselves for weeks and months and you'll never decide on one. And you'll either love this film extravagantly or hate it or just go "Huh?"
5
"Cosmopolis" by fuzzymitten
I really enjoyed this strange and funny journey. Robert Pattinson was great and the scenes with him and Paul Giamatti were brilliant. The supporting cast did a great job and it was very faithful to the book.
2
What story line??? by Ga-Ga for golden eyes
Robert did a great job acting but the story made no sense, the dialog was hard to follow. Speak in plain terms already! Sorry. Not even worth a redbox rental.
5
Cronenberg's Best by Carson Dyle
Though not for people who must be spoon fed a narrative, Cosmopolis is beautiful, ugly, terrifying, silent, noisy, extremely funny and a very timely condemnation of the isolation and lack of empathy that great wealth brings to those who embrace it. Ideas come so thick and fast that repeated viewings are highly recommended. A great cast makes the most of DeLillo's musical dialogue, and a mesmerizing turn by Robert Pattinson confirms the arrival of a formidable new talent. You don't need to understand everything in Cosmopolis to be glad it exists.
4
Strangely seductive by pedsarq
This movie is about control. There's the control of others through money, sex, and, most importantly, information. The flow of information is constant and it's never completely transparent, even to someone with the means to have it all. Those who believe they can wield it, get drawn in, lose site of their lives and strive to control it at all costs. Well, I didn't much care for some portions of the premise of this movie, but it sure does play well from scene to scene. It is funny and mesmerizing. Pattinson is excellent, though somewhat miscast. I think this character would have been better for an older edgier actor. Still, it's a good movie for those who like social commentary and the wicked word of high finance.
1
DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE - HORRIBLE! by TopBull1
We saw this while in Paris this summer - absolutely horrible movie even if you like Rob Pattinson. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME, YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED. We see all types of weird, artsy, obtuse movies, and this one is just not a good movie.
3
People walked out of the movie theater. by sergioquiros
Saturday evening was movies night. It was my turn to pick the movie, and we didn't really care for much of what's playing right now that we hadn't already watched, so I chose Cosmopolis over 10 Years (the messy dilemma you find yourself into when responsible for choosing between two bad movies.) First of all, Robert Pattinson's acting is quite mediocre. The dialogue is too complex (there's "good complex ?a la Matrix? and then "bad complex" ?like this movie), and then forcefully abstract just for the sake of being abstract in hopes of coming across as precise, calculated, cold, and stoically elegant ?it fails at all of them. I can't recall the last time that I saw so many people walk out of a movie theater before half of the movie was through.
5
Cosmopolis is weird but awesome! by sweethartjen
I'll be honest - this movie has some violent scenes and nudity but overall it's really good! The book it's based on was a bit weird so it's not surprising that the movie is, too. It was really great to see Robert Pattinson in a role totally different from anything else he's done!! Can't wait to see more like this from him!