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Cold Souls

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Cold Souls (2009)

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Reviews Counted:105

Fresh:78

Rotten:27

Average Rating:6.4/10

Consensus: Straddling existential drama and surrealist comedy, Sophie Barthes debut feature is beautifully shot and full of inventive quandaries.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for nudity and brief strong language

Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Aug 7, 2009 Limited

Box Office: $700,980

Synopsis: In response to shiny, bigger, better American consumerism comes COLD SOULS, first-time feature director Sophie Barthes' surreal comedy in which souls can be extracted and traded as commodities.... In response to shiny, bigger, better American consumerism comes COLD SOULS, first-time feature director Sophie Barthes' surreal comedy in which souls can be extracted and traded as commodities. Balancing on a tightrope between deadpan humor and pathos, and reality and fantasy, the film presents Paul Giamatti as himself, agonizing over his interpretation of Uncle Vanya. Paralyzed by anxiety, he stumbles upon a solution via a New Yorker article about a high-tech company promising to alleviate suffering by extracting souls. Giamatti enlists their services - only to discover that his soul is the shape and size of a chickpea - intending to reinstate it once he survives the performance. Complications ensue when a mysterious, soul-trafficking “mule” borrows Giamatti's stored soul for a talentless, Russian soap-opera actress. Rendered soulless, Paul is left with no choice but to follow the trail back to St. Petersburg. Funny, charming and wildly imaginative, the film explores the profound moods and inner struggles of a man in search of his essence. Also starring David Strathairn, Emily Watson and Dina Korzun. --© IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films [More]

Starring: Paul Giamatti, David Strathairn, Dina Korzun, Katheryn Winnick

Starring: Paul Giamatti, David Strathairn, Dina Korzun, Katheryn Winnick, Lauren Ambrose, Emily Watson

Director: Sophie Barthes

Director: Sophie Barthes
Screenwriter: Sophie Barthes
Producer: Dan Carey, Elizabeth Giamatti, Paul Mezey, Andrij Parekh, Jeremy Kipp Walker
Composer: Dickon Hinchliffe
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films

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Reviews for Cold Souls

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You'd say that Cold Souls is strange, but strange doesn't begin to describe this darkly humorous, concept film.

Full Review Source: smh.com.au | comment Comment
11/26/09
Giles Hardie
Giles Hardie
smh.com.au

Cold Souls is imitation Kaufman, written and directed by newcomer Sophie Barthes, who makes no effort to hide the source of her inspiration.

Full Review Source: The Age (Australia) | comment Comment
11/26/09
Jake Wilson
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)

The result is a deliciously deadpan piece of absurdism with some unexpectedly poignant touches.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
11/26/09
Sandra Hall
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald

In Cold Souls, it is time for more metaphysical mucking about with an actor playing a pretentiously remixed version of his real self.

Full Review Source: Herald Sun (Australia) | comment Comment
11/26/09
Leigh Paatsch
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)

There's added appeal thanks to Barthes' silly but fun film via the outstanding cinematography by her collaborator, Andrij Parekh, whose arty lighting and careful framing make the film a visual treat.

Full Review Source: Courier Mail (Australia) | comment Comment
11/26/09
Des Partridge
Des Partridge
Courier Mail (Australia)

An uneasy mix of comedy and ideas, which flatters both itself and its audience that it's smarter and wryer than it really is.

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
11/24/09
Mark Demetrius
Mark Demetrius
FILMINK (Australia)

Much of cinema is so predictable these days. Cold Souls isn’t.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment Comment
11/22/09
Margaret Pomeranz
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)

Smart and funny, it's an amusing showcase for a great idea and the terrific Giamatti.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine Australasia | comment Comment
11/22/09
Michael Adams
Michael Adams
Empire Magazine Australasia

I love the bizarreness of the premise about a man who feels so heavy by the weight of his soul he puts it into cold storage, and although Cold Souls doesn't quite gel in the final analysis, there is much about this dream-inspired film that is wonderful

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
11/20/09
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile

Cold Souls is odd and gloomy but the deadpan comedy and introspective musings are engaging and Giamatti’s tour de force is worth the price of admission.

Full Review Source: Daily Express | comment Comment
11/13/09
Allan Hunter
Allan Hunter
Daily Express

Moving from antiseptic clinics to the streets of St. Petersburg, there's something appropriately chilly about "Cold Souls." But if it lacks warmth or a tidy ending, it is very funny, and has plenty of intellect. Much more than a chickpea's worth.

Full Review Source: Capital Times (Madison, WI) | comment Comment
11/13/09
Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

The credible production design impresses, the camerawork offers an exquisite chill and Giamatti is in his pomp.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
11/13/09
Trevor Johnston
Trevor Johnston
Time Out

For those who like Charlie Kaufman on paper but occasionally find themselves a little tested by his self-conscious meanderings in practice, the hilarious Cold Souls is a pleasingly tight and subtle execution of an eye-opening concept.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
11/13/09
Catherine Bray
Catherine Bray
Channel 4 Film

The writer-director Sophie Barthes does her best to keep things moving, but the film runs out of steam about halfway through.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
11/13/09
Toby Young
Toby Young
Times [UK]

The pedantic ­borrowings from Kaufman are ­obvious. Is there any other "–esque" to be ­detected? There's Allen-esque, but that comes with the Kaufman-esque territory. Maybe Huxley-esque? The anxiety of influence hangs heavily here.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
11/13/09
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]

A trippy premise literally dreamed up by director Sophie Barthes, it is pensive and ponderous, offering a nod and wink to the likes of Philip K Dick and Charlie Kaufman. But it’s also peculiarly remote.

Full Review Source: Little White Lies | comment Comment
11/13/09
Josh Winning
Josh Winning
Little White Lies

What might sound on paper like heavy-handed flick that tries to shove clever-clever ideas down your throat is nothing of the sort. Cold Souls is funny, thought-provoking, often witty and always boasts a tremendous lightness of touch.

Full Review Source: Digital Spy | comment Comment
11/13/09
Mayer Nissim
Mayer Nissim
Digital Spy

Competently made but remarkably smug for a film unique only in its paucity of original ideas.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
11/13/09
Elliott Noble
Elliott Noble
Sky Movies

This clever, surreal comedy is closer to the more whimsical work of a young Woody Allen.

Full Review Source: Radio Times | comment Comment
11/13/09
Damon Wise
Damon Wise
Radio Times

Writer-director Sophie Barthes can't decide whether to take the idea seriously or comedically, with the result that it works neither as comedy nor drama.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
11/13/09
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]
 
 
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Latest News for Cold Souls

November 22, 2009: Win Double Passes to Cold Souls
In the tradition of Charlie Kaufman and Woody Allen comes writer-director Sophie Bathes' debut Cold Souls an existential comedy about an actor (Paul Giamatti, playing himself)... More...

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This week at the movies, we got real American heroes (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, starring Dennis Quaid and Sienna Miller); kitchen chronicles (Julie & Julia, starring Meryl... More...

June 21, 2009: Trailer & Poster review Opens in new window
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