Paul giamatti plays Paul giamatti in Cold Souls a Kaufman esque comedy drama to do with the actor losing his ways questioning things such as life,it's meaning and all round subjects which are better handed with director/Slash writer Charlie Kaufman.
So when he learns of a new treatment which will lift him out of his pit of misery he jumps on the band waggon and has his soul removed. Once all is done he won't worry, he will fell lighter and more complete and will be able to make love to his wife again but things go wrong when it doesn't work out so brilliantly for him. His soul is then stolen and he then goes on a journey which takes him around the world from Russia to new york where we find that not all is what it seems.
So what is Cold Souls.It's a funny sometimes eye opening and thought provoking account of world which is much like our own which has a problem in finding it's own voice. It goes from being a funny sometimes eye opening account of something which has been hit home in other movies(Like in last years District 9). We have views on the corrupt part of the world of Cold souls, soul trafficking, the consequences of removing your soul etc which like in last years District 9 we had views on a Government which wouldn't take control and the consequences which insue.
There seems to be allot to like in Cold Souls especially for me, a movie(in the Sc-Fi genre) which is original and terrifically funny with some insight into a world which already inhabit. That's a thumbs up for me. So why does Cold souls fell underwhelming and lacking.
If you can remember back to 1999 there once was this thing called originality and to fill that space a man named Charlie Kaufmen came along and wrote Being John Malkovich. This film has that same feel to it. Yes the story's are different but they have the same quirky feel as if they are trying to proof something new. I guess you could call it show boating. But unbelievably Cold Souls is saved by a winning performance from Paul Giamatti who is terrifically cast as the guy who doesn't know whats up and every scene he is in he is Hilarious especially in my personal favourite scene which involves him just holding a rabbit. I won't say anything else but trust me you will laugh.
Also the movie has an ingenious premise which goes along with a genius script. From the world that has been created to the fact that they are talking about trafficking souls. What isn't welcome is the drama.Yes i understand you need the drama or the would be rather little reason to care but the entire film has an uneven spread of drama which takes you away from what makes the film work in the first place Paul Giamatti unpredictable performance. So when it goes down a formulaic and sometimes mainstream route it dampens the experience.
In the end the movie may leave you questioning ideas or it may just leave with a ridiculously big grin on your face. Which ever way you look at it Cold Souls is saved by a terrific idea,which is executed well and by Paul Giamattis unbelievably good performance.This one won't leave you cold.
3.5/5
