Baby, it’s cold outside. It’s even colder inside when you don’t have your soul. Imagine if you could separate yourself from the “weight” of your soul. Take away the core part of you that may be holding you back from making a decision or moving forward. This is the premise behind Sophie Barthes dark, thought-provoking film Cold Souls.In this film, Paul Giamatti, playing himself, struggles with getting into character. He feels burdened by his soul. So he does what any logical person would do if the opportunity arose … he undergoes a surgical procedure to temporarily remove his soul. When he doesn’t like the way it feels, he experiments with having a Russian poet’s soul instead. Chaos ensues when he decides to have the procedure reversed and finds that his soul has been stolen and sold on the Russian black market.
Cold Souls is an insightful and creative film.
Writer/Director Sophie Barthes has created a stunning and imaginative story and Giamatti’s performance equals that of Malkovich in Being John Malkovich. David Strathairn's (Good Night and Good Luck) portrayal of Dr. Flinstein as a blundering genius is Oscar worthy. His comedic satire is spot-on and he steals every scene he in the movie. The film’s comedic beginning soon ventures into darker, chilling territory. Viewers will be surprised and challenged by the film’s direction. Barthes’ dark humor and satire will not sit well with everyone and viewer’s may be surprised by the film’s content. This soulful story packed with philosophical questions and great performances will fill your quota for an intellectual evening out.
Grade A-
Posted 8/27/09
