Cosmopolis (2012)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

David Cronenberg (screenplay)
Don DeLillo (novel)

Release Date:

25 May 2012 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Riding across Manhattan in a stretch limo in order to get a haircut, a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager's day devolves into an odyssey with a cast of characters that start to tear his world apart.

Plot Keywords:

Haircut | Billionaire | Woman On Top | Taxi Driver | Anarchist

Awards:

3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Robert Pattinson	...	Eric Packer
Sarah Gadon	...	Elise Shifrin
Paul Giamatti	...	Benno Levin
Kevin Durand	...	Torval
Abdul Ayoola	...	Ibrahim Hamadou
Juliette Binoche	...	Didi Fancher
Emily Hampshire	...	Jane Melman
Bob Bainborough	...	Dr. Ingram
Samantha Morton	...	Vija Kinsky
Zeljko Kecojevic	...	Danko
Jay Baruchel	...	Shiner
Philip Nozuka	...	Michael Chin
Mathieu Amalric	...	André Petrescu
Patricia McKenzie	...	Kendra Hays
Ryan Kelly	...	Rat Man #1
Nadeem Umar-Khitab	...	Rat Man #2
Albert Gomez	...	Counterman (as Alberto Gomez)
Gouchy Boy	...	Kosmo Thomas
David Schaap	...	Arthur Rapp
Warren Chow	...	Arthur's Attacker
George Touliatos	...	Anthony Adubato
Jadyn Wong	...	Cathy Lee
K'Naan	...	Brutha Fez
Inessa Frantowski	...	Woman Holding Rat
Jonathan Seinen	...	Man on Fire
Milton Barnes	...	Videographer #1
John Batkis	...	Photographer #1
Saad Siddiqui	...	Photographer #2
Anna Hardwick	...	Photographer #3 - Jenn
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paulette Sinclair	...	Bag Lady (uncredited)

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits
David Cronenberg		(screenplay)
Don DeLillo		(novel)

Produced by
Joseph Boccia	....	line producer
Paulo Branco	....	producer
Edouard Carmignac	....	executive producer
Walter Gasparovic	....	associate producer
Martin Katz	....	producer
Gregoire Melin	....	executive producer
Renee Tab	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen

Production Design by
Arvinder Grewal

Art Direction by
Joshu de Cartier

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Chris Bridges	....	special makeup effects artist
Stacey Butterworth	....	wigmaker: Paul Giamatti
Stephan Dupuis	....	makeup designer
Paul R.J. Elliot	....	key hair stylist (as Paul Elliot)
Seth Rossman	....	assistant special makeup effects artist
Sondra Treilhard	....	assistant hair stylist
Dorota Zajac	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph Boccia	....	production manager
Frederic Jupin	....	post-production supervisor: Eclair Numérique
Anne Mattatia	....	post-production supervisor
Robin M. Reelis	....	production manager
Lori A. Waters	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Boem	....	second assistant director
Matt Coatsworth	....	trainee assistant director
Tim Cushen	....	trainee assistant director
Jonathan Gajewski	....	assistant director
Justin Gajewski	....	assistant director
Walter Gasparovic	....	first assistant director
Kevin Hennelly	....	third assistant director
Gerrod Shully	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Ron Hewitt	....	property master
Jon Hunter	....	graphic designer
Michael Huschka	....	assistant property master
Marc Kuitenbrouwer	....	construction coordinator
Matthew Lammerich	....	key scenic artist
Patricia Larman	....	set decoration buyer
Jennifer MacDonald	....	assistant art director (as Jennifer C. MacDonald)
Shaun Martens	....	second assistant art director
Matt Middleton	....	set designer
Brad Milburn	....	set designer
Vicki Pui	....	illustrator
Farrah Yip	....	art department apprentice

Sound Department
Jonathan Acbard	....	boom operator
Pierre Bariaud	....	foley editor
Nicolas Becker	....	foley artist
Rob Bertola	....	sound editor
Gavin Coford	....	second boom operator
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Nicolas Fioraso	....	foley artist
Alastair Gray	....	dialogue/adr editor
Vincent Gregorio	....	dubbing editor
Wayne Griffin	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Michel Monier	....	sound consultant: dolby
Jean-Paul Mugel	....	sound mixer
Michael O'Farrell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael O'Farrell	....	supervising sound editor
Julien Perez	....	foley mixer
Brandon Prodger	....	adr mixer
Olivier Roche	....	sound mix technician
Jean-Christophe Sabatier	....	french dubbing recordist
Ric Schnupp	....	adr recordist
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregorio Vincent	....	dubbing editor
Fanny Weinzaepflen	....	sound re-recording mix trainee
Tim West	....	adr mixer

Special Effects by
Warren Appleby	....	special effects coordinator
Sam Hudecki	....	motion graphics
John MacGillivray	....	special effects foreman
Fiona MacPherson	....	special effects shop coordinator
Cameron Patterson	....	shop supervisor
Cameron Patterson	....	special effects shop supervisor
Daniel White	....	special effects key

Visual Effects by
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor
Wilson Cameron	....	visual effects producer
Andy Chan	....	visual effects compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Joseph Cheng Chen	....	tracking and layout
James Cooper	....	lead vxf artist
Devin Dawkins	....	digital artist
Devin Dawkins	....	visual effects
Michael DiCarlo	....	visual effects coordinator: on set
Eddie Englander	....	compositor
David Fix	....	senior systems administrator: Mr. X Inc.
Naomi Foakes	....	visual effects coordinator
Vinay Goenka	....	digital compositor
Oliver Hearsey	....	tracking supervisor: Mr. X Inc.
Anna Joukova	....	digital compositor: Mr.X Inc
Lince K.F.	....	digital artist
Matthew Lajoie	....	visual effects artist
Jesh Murthy	....	visual effects
Kelly Noordermeer	....	visual effects editorial assistant: Mr. X Inc
Anna Pacchioni	....	roto artist
Alessandro Pantanella	....	digital compositor
Rahul Roy	....	compositor
Ian Spriggs	....	senior character modeler
Kamal Kumar Tiwari	....	compositor
Aaron Weintraub	....	visual effects operations: Mr. X Inc.
Matt 'Readyman' Whelan	....	digital lighter: Mr X
Owen Williams	....	digital compositor
Wojciech Zielinski	....	visual effects supervisor
Celine Zoleta	....	production assistant: Mr. X

Stunts
Dustin Brooks	....	stunt safety
Chad Camilleri	....	stunt performer
Brett Chan	....	stunt performer
Lauro Chartrand	....	stunt performer
Colin Decker	....	stunt safety
Flint Eagle	....	stunt performer
Brayden Jones	....	stunt performer
Riley Jones	....	stunt performer
Angelica Lisk-Hann	....	stunt performer (as Angelica Lisk)
Regan Moore	....	stunt performer
Layton Morrison	....	additional stunt coordinator
Layton Morrison	....	stunt coordinator
Layton Morrison	....	stunt performer
Efosa Otuomagie	....	stunt performer (as Efosa Outamagie)
Dan Shea	....	stunt performer
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
John Stoneham Sr.	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Archer	....	daily grip
Barrett Axford	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
David Breeze	....	gaffer
Rocky Brown	....	electrician
Caitlin Cronenberg	....	still photographer
Patrick King	....	crane operator
Jasper Vrakking	....	digital imaging technician
Ian C. Harris	....	rigging best boy electric (uncredited)

Casting Department
Christopher Richards	....	casting associate
Jane Spencer	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patricia Boulden	....	costume supervisor
Christina Cattle	....	set costume supervisor
Jennifer Evans	....	costume buyer
Susan Nycz	....	costume truck supervisor
Anne Peiponen	....	extras costume coordinator (as Ann Peiponen)
Alan St. Germain	....	assistant extras coordinator

Editorial Department
Kevin Downer	....	digital intermediate editor
Karim El Katari	....	color timer: Eclair
Mary Juric	....	assistant editor
Vanessa Lafaille	....	digital image coordinator
Rui Martins	....	digital dailies
Dave Muscat	....	digital intermediate assistant editor
Sandy Pereira	....	first assistant editor
Emma Sanders	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Amy Baer	....	music preparation
Jennifer L. Dunnington	....	music editor
Alan Frey	....	music production coordinator
Metric	....	music performed by
John O'Mahony	....	score mixer
James Sizemore	....	music programmer

Transportation Department
John Ozlins	....	transportation coordinator
Regina Petrik	....	driver
Regina Popp	....	driver
Dave Wilson	....	picture car captain

Other crew
Leor Boshi	....	production assistant
Dillon Bowman	....	production assistant
Laurent Boye-Guérin	....	international festival publicity team: telefilm canada (as Laurent Boye)
Jared Burton	....	location production assistant
Paul Chodirker	....	legal services
Shaun Coughlin	....	assistant accountant
Ken Dhaliwal	....	finance legal
John Gaskin	....	production accountant
Melissa Girotti	....	production supervisor
Daniel L. Goldenberg	....	legal counsel
Lon J. Hall	....	legal counsel
Jeffrey Hawkes	....	assistant to mr. pattinson
Eugene Henry	....	assistant: Mr. Katz
Sara Holmes	....	post production accountant
Richard Hughes	....	location manager
Joe Iacono	....	financial consultant and auditor
Miriam Laurence	....	dialect coach
Chantal Leblanc-Everett	....	production assistant
Lisa Mahal	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg
Eleanor Mendes	....	production coordinator
Tim Monich	....	dialect coach
Trevor Pickett	....	production assistant
John Rakich	....	assistant location manager
Archie Rodrigues	....	travel agent
Dug Rotstein	....	script supervisor
Julita Santos	....	production assistant
Cristiana Sena	....	production assistant
Lisa Shamata	....	unit publicist
Christiane Sommermeier	....	marketing
Justin Stephenson	....	titles design director
Claire Tomasini	....	production assistant
Vanessa Whittaker	....	assistant production coordinator

Production Companies

• Alfama Films
• Prospero Pictures
• Kinology (co-production)
• France 2 Cinéma (co-production)
• Talandracas (co-production)
• Téléfilm Canada (co-production)
• Leopardo Filmes (co-production)
• Canal+ (support)
• Rai Cinema (support)
• Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP) (support)
• Jouror Productions (co-producer)

Distributors

• Distribution Company (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One (2012) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Falcom Media (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2012) (Czech Republic) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Icon Film Distribution (2012) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Miracle Voice (2013) (Japan) (theatrical) (in association with)
• Showgate (2013) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Stone Angels (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2012) (Spain) (theatrical)
• 01 Distribution (2012) (Italy) (all media)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2011) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Aurum Distribution (2012) (Estonia) (all media)
• Aurum Distribution (2012) (Latvia) (all media)
• Belga Home Vidéo (2012) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Leopardo Filmes (2012) (Portugal) (all media)
• Mongkol Major (2012) (Thailand) (all media)
• Stone Angels (2012) (France) (DVD)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bangladesh) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bhutan) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (India) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Nepal) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Pakistan) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Sri Lanka) (all media)
• Vicol Entertainment (2013) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Vicol Entertainment (2013) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Mr. X (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Cohen & Gardner  production legal
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Hall Webber  legal services
• Howe Records  soundtrack
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• Klass Security and Investigations  location security
• Picturecars North  picture vehicle supplier
• Pinewood Toronto Studios  stages
• Studio Line  sound post-production (ISDN/ADR)
• Tattersall Sound  Avid rentals
• Tattersall Sound  post-production facilities
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexual content including graphic nudity, violence and language

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

Canada | France | Portugal | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Portugal:M/16 | Ireland:16 | UK:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Italy:T | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Netherlands:16 | Czech Republic:15 | Germany:12 (f) | Australia:MA15+ (2012) | Hong Kong:III | Brazil:16 | Japan:R15+ | Singapore:M18 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Union Station, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Alfama Films

Trivia:

In one scene you see an electric sign shows, "A SPECTER IS HAUNTING THE WORLD. CAPITALISM." This is a take-off on "A specter is haunting Europe -- the specter of communism." which is the opening line of "The Communist Manifesto."

Quotes:

Eric Packer:For someone your age and your gifts, there's only one thing in the world worth pursuing both professionally and intellectually.
Michael Chin:What is it, Michael?
Eric Packer:The interaction between technology and capital, the inseparability.
Michael Chin:High school was the last true challenge.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Joseph Gordon-Levitt/Mumford & Sons (#38.2)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Mecca

"When he died he would not end. The world would end." (Don DeLillo)

Eric Packer, genial asset manager, sitting in his limo, contemplating about himself and his visions while playing with numbers that represent an immense fortune, behaving almost in an autistic way once he tries to connect with the real world outside. Eric Packer also as the symbol of the small financial elite that rules our planet, arrogant, shameless and above all what's common and human.

What happens when you have all you want? When there's no challenge, no real desire anymore? When the last goal you want to pursue is, like a real Icarus, to fly so close to the sun that you can't but let melt the wax of your wings and fall, very deep?

This is, IMO, the essence of the story in Cosmopolis, with that difference that the protagonist in DeLillo's novel caused his downfall intentionally, while the financial disaster we live in the last few years was caused by the megalomania of the 1%.

When I first read the novel, I felt confused and a bit dumb too. DeLillo tried to send messages that I didn't understand at all. Then happened Occupy Wall Street and the pie into the face of Rupert Murdoch, so I gave the novel a second chance. I got hooked by the very complex character of Eric Packer, cold and emotionless on the outside and in his actions, but so vulnerable and lonely once you got to know him better. He's a very sad example of how far people can go in our society, just for the sake of money. I've read the book 2 times more, just to enjoy the countless, thoughtful quotes and one liners, weaved into stylistic dialogues as only DeLillo can pull off.

So, why have I written about the novel in a review about the film adaptation of this novel? Because I think that David Cronenberg did a fabulous job in trying to bring this book on screen. As a real master he has chosen to stay true to the dialogues, taking the risk that people, just like me when I first read the book, couldn't get the meanings of them.

He took from the novel what could work on screen and left scenes out, that he thought could disturb or change the mood of the movie. In the first part of the movie, he focused more on the little world of Eric into his limo rather than to shift the emphasis also outside the car. Not that I don't feel sorry some scenes didn't make it on screen (the famous street scene at the end) and for me the reality outside, in the streets of New-York, could've gotten more attention, but I can see his POV and I can live with it.

In this daring exploit Cronenberg made sure of the presence of an excellent cast, with remarkable performances of the supporting actors/actresses for the short time they appeared in the movie. The biggest challenge of course was the casting of Eric Packer, the doomed capitalist, who appears in almost every scene. Once again, David took a risk in hiring Robert Pattinson, but he was confident and he was right. Pattinson nailed this character to perfection. Especially when Eric (as his world) starts falling apart, Rob showed how able he is to bring out the psychotic, insane aspects of human being.

This is a movie that makes you think, that can give you an uncomfortable feeling and mirrors what's going on in some levels of our society. I understand that it is a difficult watch for people who haven't read the book, that they are disappointed but never was promised that this movie was going to be easy. The biggest issue IMHO isn't the movie itself but the fact that, in theatre, you haven't a button to pause and rewind so you can hear the dialogues again and again. Once the words are spoken, they're gone and I can imagine people reacting like WTH?? Though the movie stands on its own, it can only improve your experience if you go a bit prepared to the screening. With my review, I've tried to help those who're interested enough to give it a try. For those who didn't understand and by that didn't like the movie: even Cronenberg and Pattinson didn't understand the story quite well, but they went for it and created a masterpiece. There's nothing wrong with not understanding everything. It doesn't make the audience dumb, it doesn't make the movie bad and it doesn't make a brilliant performance less brilliant.

Sorry for mistakes as English isn't my first language.