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linkedinhollywood.com 
Hi everyone!
I will not be here for the discussion but am looking forward to catching up! 🙂 I have not been able to see the film yet, for obvious reasons (hi three theaters!) but am anticipating it making it here.
For those of you that have seen the film, I have some questions:
1) How did reading the book and discussing different aspects of the book help or hinder the movie?
2) Did DC stay true to the theme of the book?
3) What did you think of Robert Pattinson’s performance? Was he able to capture the true essence of a Eric?
4) How was the rest of the cast?
5) How did the score fit into the film/storyline?
6) As you ponder what you have seen, what do you find yourself thinking about most?
7) How do you think most audiences will view this film and do you think it will go wide release or straight to DVD?
8) Were there things deleted from the book that you would have liked to have seen played out onscreen?
9) Were there any scenes added that were not included in the book and did they help the storyline?
10) What was your favorite moment in the film, whether it be a specific line from an actor, an actor’s performance, or the overall product?
I think LB has asked all the questions I wanted to ask too, lol! Hopefully I can think of more as we go along.
“1) How did reading the book and discussing different aspects of the book help or hinder the movie?”
This will probably sound terrible but I loved reading the book and yet the film was a very different experience. Glad I did it but Cronenberg’s excellent pacing wasn’t something you could predict reading the book.
CR,
Can you explain DC’s pacing?
Evil and poor pacing from the gangster film classic “Get Carter”:
LB,
I general when I mean excellent pacing I means how long the Director as story-teller allocates for the telling of the tale. This could include the time between verbal interactions, the time within scenes, the amount of time it takes to arrive at climaxes (should they exist) etc. Most films today are considered atrocious if they take the kind of time it took Carter to eliminate the antagonist in this operatic yet mundane scene illustrated above.
Cronenberg’s sense of time is completely in line with other contemporary filmic presentations of time therefore the audience has very little time to get bored or restless. In fact, given the layered and pregnant dialogue of the film, Cronenberg’s sense of time is actually more claustrophobic than most film presentations of time.
To be honest this is a personal problem in that if I read a book before a movie I’m likely to see it as a blue print that I can often return and read it in MY notion of the pacing. In other words the book can be a kind of treasure map, how –to manual, hanging tapestry, etc. something that might just as well be a static piece of art.
I forget that aided by actors, the director may eventually speed things up considerably. Cut scenes and dialogue to create a moment or series of moments that never appeared as suggested within the book.
I will eventually get over this problem. Until then I can’t help but admit what an able editor Cronenberg is.
Great questions LB.
“How did reading the book and discussing different aspects of the book help or hinder the movie?”
It helped, I like what DC chose to include in the movie. I really felt it had a good pacing.
Welcome regulars and new readers to LIH’s new live movie hot seat featuring Cosmopolis! Feel free to jump in whenever you like! 🙂
Hi Ozzie!
I saw the film. Let me read and get caught up!
Hi OB! How are you? Take your time! 🙂
Hi Ozzie!
Thanks great questions. I’m trying to process everything. LOL!! However, I must say. Mr. Pattinson owned this character. I’m a little speechless. Hahahaha! Can u believe that?
WOW! I’m so pleased to hear that! I wish I could see it. Hurry up October!
“3) What did you think of Robert Pattinson’s performance? Was he able to capture the true essence of a Eric?”
This is the absolute best I’ve ever seen him. I don’t know how he did it but his acting skills seemed to have quadrupled over night.
He really seemed to be acting from within a persona especially prepared for Eric, not purely reacting or performing. He really had a posture different than I’ve seen before. Unlike past characters, Eric was a dominator yet sly and crafty.
I could go much further, yet fans will see him do a lot of tricky stuff like appearing inhabit a moment yet also be out side of it. He would embrace a perspective yet speak beside it. It was really great.
I’m so excited now, lol! Plus frustrated. Only 43 days to go… Yes, I looked up to see how many days were left till the DVD release! I may even go as far as hours and mintues if I get really bored, lol!
Well I hope we haven’t spoiled it for u too much. But it’s well worth the wait. I hate to overhype films because everyone does have their own reactions and experiences to a film. But I think there are so many layers and great performances I feel very confident in recommending this film. I’m still thinking of the music u are really in for a treat Ozzie!
You haven’t ruined it! I’m finishing the second read of it. So much better in book form! Maybe I had a busted kindle version of it before!
I thought of one! How did the rest of the audience react to the movie?
I saw the film around 11pm? Anyway, the audience actually was mostly men. A few women. The theater was about a quarter full.
Sorry! I did not really answer this question. The audience seemed to enjoy the film. No one walked out. Actually, there were a few laughs during some of the scenes toward the end between Benno & Eric. Also, everyone pretty much gasped when Eric shot Torvol.
Brilliant! Good to hear it’s reaching a diverse audience.
Another one! I heard A Dangerous Method did not do as well as Cronenberg’s other films. Was Cosmopolis a return to his usual form?
“2) Did DC stay true to the theme of the book?”
Absolutely. I think he’s entered a new phase to his recent directing.
I think Cosmo really is different then DC’s other films. I don’t think u can really compare other than to say, it does have sex and violence. But his earlier films like Crash was much more graphic then Cosmo. Plus Cosmo was about the dialogue. OMG!! Rob really became one with the dialogue. It was so natural. I’m still speechless. Sorry!!!
This films kept me captivated from beginning to end. I was never bored nor did my brain wonder. I really thought the entire cast was great.
Go David! I’m glad to hear it’s getting good reviews.
Would you go see it again and/or buy the DVD?
Absolutely!!!!!
Most Definitely!!
Hi Everyone!
Sorry I’m late.
Hi Ozzie & OB,
Sorry for being late please let me get caught up.
Hi CR!
Hi OB.
Hi CR! Hope you are well too. 🙂
I am. Thank you.
I’m really sorry I have to go. If I can come back later I will. But I would definitely recommend the film. DC and RP were fantastic.
Night CR!
LB Said:
“What was your favorite moment in the film, whether it be a specific line from an actor, an actor’s performance, or the overall product?”
Me: I really love, love, love, the scene with Eric and Benno. I mean P.G. & R.P. had a great exchange very suspenseful each played off of the other one really well. I was really on the edge of my seat laughing while being horrified as they tossed around guns and recited this wonderful dialogue and banter. Both Eric and Benno equally unstable nut cases trying to justify their behavior. It was hilarious!!
That’s the scene I want to see the most but I also don’t want to see it! It’s hard to describe, lol. I think it’s down to two things. One, it means the movie is nearly finished and I probably won’t want it to end there. And two, it may fail my expectations, which I know is unlikey but it’s a fear. Oh and three, any gore. Hand… Gun… Blood. Eww!
I was fearful about the gun shot to his hand but it was actually funny. I mean Eric gets help bandaging his hand from his stalker? It’s so ironic!!!
LMAO!
“As you ponder what you have seen, what do you find yourself thinking about most?”
Well I really loved the cinematography. DC often shot with the camera looking up at Eric which made him an even more intimidating animal. Then toward the end when he’s at the Barber the camera is looking down on him making u empathize with Eric despite knowing he just killed his chief of security. I mean Rob was amazing he never gave away anything. U never knew what was coming. I mean he goes from crying over this rap artist then just shoots his security. What the hell? Hahahaha! I’m scared of Rob! JK!! No seriously, the cinematography really enhanced scenes and manipulated audiences emotions really, really well.
It sounds really good! I was a bit nervous before but any worries I had have been put to rest.
Ozzie!
I have to go but I thanks for moderating the discussion tonight. I can’t wait for u to see the film.
No problem! Just made me more excited for it! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Have a good night!
LB & Paris
I can’t wait to hear your reviews.
Goodnight everyone!!
Well, that ends our live discussion, thanks all for coming! LB and Paris, I’m looking forward to hearing you reviews too! Have a good night everyone! 🙂
Hi Everyone!
Sorry I missed the discussion! It hasn’t come here yet. Its playing near me but I’m low on cash so I hope it opens near me soon.
OB and CR,
Did the movie end just like the book or are you left kind of in the air as to is he or isn’t he?????
LB,
It did not begin or end just like the book yet it finishes with you recognizing Eric’s many problems have become too big for him to manage. Many many scenes just did not make it into the film yet I believe most will accept that Cronenberg’s since of economy is no threat to DeLillo’s story.
I don’t know what you thought; yet an audience really has to hear the confrontation between Beeno and Eric at the end of the movie. Two men from two different sides of this story challenge each other to be real about their positions as winners and losers in this drama. Decomposing Beeno is insane. Unraveling Eric has already conceded that suicide will be in his fate yet he still holds on to some notion of the truth as he experienced it. Both men lie, shamelessly confuse their greed selfishness with nature and occasionally sling barbs that are every bit as true as the rest of film.
An indication of Eric’s inability to sustain the simplest of associative norms, Pattinson is frequently scary when able to (with ease) inhabit one person’s apparent rational contradictions in real time. Really cool tricks I can’t wait to see more. Part Yoda, the Gollum and Michael Moore, of course this isn’t Giamatti’s first time to the acting winner’s circle; we fear him and fear for him. But how lucky we are that he joined this crew in telling this story.
Can’t wait to see this movie again.
Sorry I’m not sure what the general public will say. I thought the movie was a thrill ride that provided more than its share of provocative adult moments. The originality wasn’t a turnoff for me.
I did not identify with Eric but I did think he was a plausible character who had a invaluable contemporary voice in this narrative.
Hi to all, sorry for being late as usual! (I don’t know why wordpress doesn’t allow to change my name to Sony…)
To answer one of your questions, LB, would I watch this movie again: YES, a resounding yes; I’ve seen it 4 times and I’ve pre-ordered the DVD on amazon.co.uk (no need to wait for the German release date because I wont’t watch this movie in German ever, I hate Robert’s German voice).
And Rob was terrific, no other word for his performance. I loved his scene with Binoche, it was both funny and hot. I loved Rob’s line about the Rhotko chapel, that when he will have bought it “it is mine!” Like a child fighting against a sibling who wants his new toy.
The most hilarious scene IMO was when he had the discussion with his chief of theory while the riot in the street around them is at its height and they both don’t give a f*** about it although the car is rocking so hard that they have to take care to not spill their drinks.
When I read that the famous bottle-f***-line was not included in the movie I was disappointed but now I’d say that it was not necessary, it might have been too much because the scene was intense like hell without it.
And then there is the final scene, described in the Nexpresso article where Rob closes his eyes and Cronenberg yelled “cut” only after he opened them again – it was even better than I expected. I had goose bumps afterwards! I am so glad that DC decided to end the film the way he did.
Now a few things I disliked: I was a bit disappointed with the music in general; the only piece I remember was the one during the rave scene, everything else I’ve forgotten; the final song, played during the credits was just a godawful howling.
I found the scene where Rob gets the pie in his face to be ridiculous and it looked „staged“. I couldn’t wait until the stupid ramblings of the guy were over.
I hated that DC changed the role of Elise, I vaguely remember that it was mentioned in an interview why Cronenberg did it but I couldn’t believe it. This decision leeds to a total different kind of relationship between EP and his wife. Sarah Gadon plays her part too cold IMO, I liked Elise more in the book where she eludes her husband to a certain degree but is not that icy towards him; in the book she is caught up in her own mind but in the end she does show her feelings for EP, during their sex scene in the alley they also finally connect in a spiritual way – it’s a pity that this part of the book was changed because I would have loved to see how Cronenberg would have scripted and filmed that. Nevertheless, I would call Cosmopolis one of DC’s masterpieces and I am sure it will become a „classic“.
Hi Sony!!
Nice to see u…..Let me see if I can change your name. Hold on!!! I will be right back.
Great review Sony. I changed your name for u. I don’t know if it will stay Sony when u comment again but we’ll see.
ITA about Elise and Eric relationship it was too cold. I liked the books version better. In the book Elise was more human and self aware then Eric.
Thanks a lot and hi, OB!
No problem. U said the prostate exam was really intense and did not need the bottle**** line. So true, I think that would have been overkill. I really liked DC did the sex scene with Eric and Nina facing each other and seeing her on top. One reason its rare to see DC do a sex scene with the actors facing each other and talking during sex. It added to the scenes intensity and layer to Eric’s character because it really externalize Eric’s vulnerability and recklessness within.
LB-
“Did the movie end just like the book or are you left kind of in the air as to is he or isn’t he?????”
Good question. The book’s ending was completely different then the films ending but similar in that it leaves the audience in limbo because they don’t see Benno pull the trigger on Eric. In the book Eric moves in and out of consciousness and imagines his funeral, what people will say and do etc…. Then he wakes up and realizes he’s not dead and Benno is just pointing the gun at him. In the film we don’t see Eric dream funeral we only see Benno pointing the gun at him. Anyway, both versions left me feeling frustrated and on edge, which I believe was the point given how much power and control Eric had over people throughout the story etc…DeLillo gave audiences relief knowing Eric could not control his own death. Eric lost all hope in himself that he needed Benno to kill him because he felt he would botch that up. Like I said the ending was ironic, funny and rewarding for audiences.
Sony,
After seeing it the 4th time did u find yourself more critical after the 4th viewing or more impressed? If impressed or critical what were u most critical or impressed by?
OB, I was definitely more impressed after the 4th viewing because every time I detected some little snippets I hadn’t seen before, for example that EP had taken the sandwich he had ordered in the diner (and couldn’t eat there) with him in a lunchbox and was munching away in the car later when his chief of theory was there. I don’t know why but I found it funny.
And I admit that the third and fourth time my eyes were glued to Robert only, not deigning a look to anybody else. I really loved that his facial expressions were subtle and minimalistic, a little smirk here, some nose crinkling there and often he had a kind of “reptilian look” as one German critic phrased it.