Cold Souls
Rating = B
I liked this better than the
critics mostly liked it.
The acting is fine. Paul Giamatti is excellent, and Dina Korzun and
David David Strathairn are better yet. [The great] Emily Watson
isn't given anything to do.
In an era where there is undoubtedly illegal traffic in body parts,
having to think about human “mules” carrying souls back and forth
between Russia and the United States is surprisingly relevant. The
idea of borrowing or loaning one's soul — more generally,
commoditizing souls leading eventually to a hedge fund buyout —
also seems awfully topical.
The movie engaged me from beginning to one scene before the end.
The plot is no better than that of “Sleeper” by Woody Allan, who
the director of this movie purportedly had in mind for the lead role
Giamatti plays in “Cold Souls.” It is similarly zany and
ultimately pointless.
[2009-09-14]