Cold Souls

[elski]

the main film I know Paul Giamatti for is Sideways as I've got the DVD, but he's cropped up in quite a few things I've seen. It was great to see Claire from Six Feet Under as the receptionist and the play director used to be in LA Law!

The film it seemed closest to for me the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I was glad it didn't turn as weird as Synechdote (forgotten how it was spelt!). It was slow paced but needed to be to be able to keep up with what was going on, I did film myself laughing a few times and it was original. I was expecting it to turn more mainstream and suddenly have russian bad guys after them for another half hour at the end and that bit seemed unresolved. But there just seemed to be something lacking (soul? LOL) so I only enjoyed it on a par with Taking Woodstock so shall give it the same. 6.5/10
Thing is it could be a film where you see more detail on rewatching it (or see more plotholes) so it could be one some people that like that type of 'odd' comedy would grow to love.
The cinema was 90% full.

[Beate]

God, the Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue is such a rubbish cinema. They made us wait until 6.32pm, then we were shown in to a rubbish little screen with no proper incline, horribly uncomfy seats and a disgustingly sticky floor. I promptly got bits of loo roll stuck to my shoes when I visited the loo after the film! I hope I can avoid it as much as possible for the foreseeable future, but I am afraid they usually show the Bafta films in February!

The OH hated the film. I laughed a couple of times and wondered how it might end. Unfortunately, the ending was a huge let-down to an already not too engaging film. There were several interesting ideas, but nothing was really made of them. Underwhelming. 4.5/10

[ejwrank]

I know Paul Giamatti from the American TV drama series John Adams (they called it a miniseries but I think it was 10 episodes) which was shown here not long ago but didn't get much publicity. He won an Emmy for it.

I found the film quite amusing at times but also a bit boring at one stage and the ending was poor. The premise was interesting and I'd venture to say some people might have seen lots of added symbolism (what was all that stuff with the baby and mother?) that passed me by. I did laugh when he said he did not want his soul to be put in storage in New Jersey. I'm from NJ and it's a typical New York sentiment. But perhaps it would have been safer if he had!

[bevvy]

and the play director used to be in LA Law

I'm so glad you said that as it was bugging me all through the film where I had seen him before!


I was worried at the beginning that it would turn out to me another Synecdoche, especially at the beginning. I then started to quite enjoy it until it became apparent that it was not really going anywhere and then it just seemed to peter out at the end. Some interesting ideas though, and amusing in places so I'd give it 6/10
I would have given it 7 if the ending had not been so weak

[Ms Thrifty]

Sounds as though I didn't miss much, then, because I was in London today but already going to one film and two plays so couldn't fit this in. Coincidentally, though, I saw the trailer for this film today, before the film I did see. The trailer made it look quirky and interesting, but we know how misleading trailers can be and I certainly didn't like "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind", so will probably give this a miss.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

I always like Paul Giamatti and in this film he pretty much carries the whole movie. Thank god because the film was otherwise too slow, too self pretentious, and had some bewildering symbolisms that makes no sense. Yet I did laugh several times. It is odd ball as we all expected from the synopsis but its very unsatisfying and no where near as good or as enjoyable as Sunset of the Spotless mind which most people here seems to be comparing it too. I'd give it 5/10 purely for Paul Giamatti's role and an initially quirky plot.

Beate, there are better screens in that same cinema but I admit we were treated a bit rotten and shoved into their worst screen!

[rjhempel]

Have to say, that screen was way too small, not nice at all, being in the back row, the floor there was sticky as Beate says.

Wasn't impressed by the movie at all, too odd for my liking and I wouldn't have called it a comedy. Shame as the idea could have spawned a much better outcome I think

[miss_indigo]

I was looking forward to this film very much. The concept was appealing as I love innovative and quirky storylines.

The reality was much different. The film was awash with weak characters, a plot that festered and didn't really captivate me and a lot of pretentiousness. There were a few scenes that made me chuckle but by the end my mind and soul felt as heavy as Paul Giamatti's.

Did anyone else find the seats uncomfortable at the cineworld in the Trocadero? I was very envious of the man who fell asleep next to me.

[bevvy]

Did anyone else find the seats uncomfortable at the cineworld in the Trocadero? I was very envious of the man who fell asleep next to me.

Yes, I couldn't understand how a seat that looked really comfortable could feel so hard

That cinema doesn't have anything going for it at all - apart from free screenings.

[priamia]

There were a few scenes that made me chuckle but by the end my mind and soul felt as heavy as Paul Giamatti's.

Did anyone else find the seats uncomfortable at the cineworld in the Trocadero? I was very envious of the man who fell asleep next to me.

I agree - I felt quite drained after watching it too. The man who fell asleep next to you was probably my bf - had to nudge his a couple of times as he started to snore!!

I left wondering what had happened to Nina's soul... Didn't leave me wondering about 'soul storage' or 'soul mules'....

Very strange. I did not understand how the genre was classed either. The cineworld mag said it was a sci-fi/comedy. I heard a fellow audience member describe it as a tragic comedy, but that term I reserve for Shakespeare - at least his work IS funny!! I stand by my guns, I'm not a Woody Allen fan. If I'd have known before going that this film was based on a dream of Woody's where his soul was a chick pea (source: IMDB), I most likely would not have attended.

Long winded with one or two laughs, an ending which did not give you any closure. 2/10 from me.