Cold Souls

Messy film with a cool premise. The funny close-ups of Giamatti, great as always, just about keep it afloat.

For a film about "soul searching", it's incredibly shallow. Waste of a concept.

i simply adored this movie. giamatti carries himself so well that you can notice the subtle differences in him as he goes though these changes. i enjoyed the plot and thought it a well rounded and extremely entertaining movie.

Off the same wall as Being John Malkovich. Synopsis cannot help but overplay the zaniness. Writer and director Barthes, whether or not burdened by her own soul, likewise lacks the requisite lightness of touch. An oatmeal-gray image, a whisper-quiet sound level, and a drifting plot propulsion combine to immerse any whimsicality into a miasma of angst and anomie, more suited perhaps to an adaptation of a Camus novel.

A great concept but I felt they didn't explore a lot of the more interesting aspects the idea of soul removal brings about.

If our eyes are the windows to our souls than maybe I watched this with something other than my eyes.

It's a fun and cool concept, but the story just doesn't go far enough with it. The idea is absurd, but the film never quite commits to the absurdity. It reminded me very much of Being John Malkovich (1999), except that film actually embraced the ridiculousness of its premise. Giamatti is likable as always though, and there are some great, memorable scenes. However, it's just not more than the sum of its parts.

At a glance this seemed like a delightfully wacky comedy with a fun premise, especially in the hands of Giamatti playing himself. Instead this turned out to be fairly dramatic and, by the end, rather serious. The humor is dark and rare, and Giamatti finds himself more desperate and troubled than humorously annoyed. The film is slow and not particularly noteworthy for its look or style, but that may help it stand out for me. It tells its story boldly, and Giamatti commits fully.

It feels like a high-schooler trying to make a Charlie Kaufman movie.

Giamatti's performance is the only thing this film has going for it. Very disappointed overall.

The first feature by Sophie Barthes provides a huge dose of bleak humour, with tons of a pounding drama. Despite similarities with anything written by Charlie Kauffman, it's got its own spirit.

Kudos to Sophie Barthes for a unique story - we need more of those. Paul Giamatti is, as usual, excellent. His facial expressions alone are more significant than quite a few A list actors.

Boo, disappointed. Paul Giamatti is great, but nobody else brings anything to the table. It's a great idea, why couldn't they do something with it? The movie's not even that visually interesting. Apart from Giamatti's performance, the film is just so empty. So disappointing.

a fun idea but I'm not sure how well it was treated. Giamatti is great as always and I always dig beautiful women, but it's not a great movie overall. Still an ok watch.

Giamatti is wonderful in this somewhat sober but interesting film. The premise has a lot of potential, but more could have been done to explore the concept. Feels like several Kaufman movies combined but with a lighter touch.

Is Paul Giamatti finally a major film star? If not, it shouldn't be too long until he is recognized as one. This film is exactly how I picture him to be in real life, and he does a wonderful job 'acting' in this. The problem with this film is its only so interesting. Not enough story, not enough humor, pretty bland.

A very Kaufman script from Barthes. With enormous potential idea presents she only delves into obvious layers. Still it made me wonder what my soul looks like and how would it be to live with another soul for a day. The aesthetic quality is praiseworthy and within the reach of the script there is nothing lacking about direction. I look forward to her following efforts.

Interesting. Paul Giamatti fits this role perfectly.

It's like a bad version of Being John Malkovich. Worth to watch of course; interesting idea and great performance by Paul Giamatti.

Obnoxious. I was willing to forgive the main conceipt of the movie - that souls exist and have a physical form that can be extracted via MRI scanning. But accepting that premise is pretty much the film. It sets up that idea in the first 20 minutes and then does absolutely nothing with it. Billed as a comedy, and the idea of a man who sells his soul but still has to live his life has comic potential, the film does nothing with the concept.

Has an interesting idea and then does absolutely nothing with it.

Sub-Kaufman-esque metaphysical drama/comedy. Great concept, poorly executed. Giamatti makes it bearable though.

Interesting, witty and thought provoking.

There is something vaguely Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind about this film. While not as good, Cold Souls is still entirely worth the watch. The premise is interesting, and Giamatti does a great job of driving the film. It is at times funny, but also dramatic. An excellent debut by Sophie Barthes and I hope see strives for nothing less in her next film.

Nearly brilliant. Giamatti was perfect.

Fine premise but not half as smart as it wants to be. Giamatti is good (of course).

An interesting idea marred by inappropriately arty direction. Sophie Barthes thinks she's Sofia Coppola, but she's not; besides, her direction totally lacks whimsy, which is exactly what her story needs. (She should have let Ricky Gervais revise the screenplay, and got Michel Gondry to direct instead.) Still, Giamatti is wonderful and makes it almost worthwhile. (The scene where he performs a scene from Uncle Vanya without his soul is very funny!)

"Cold Souls is a skillfully shot, well-acted, thoroughly unconvincing, and unaffecting put-on." - Nick Schager

Giamatti is simply perfect for this part. Not that he is playing his own persona, but the way he suits this movie in its nice and quiet pace, relying deeply on its skewed story and humor. I love how much they gain from making the story so strange to us, but not at all for the characters themselves.

I find Giamatti just so watchable, he can pretty much make any old slop enjoyable. That said here he does not need to. "Cold Souls" is a beautifully judged, understated, well paced comedy drama that makes up for its occasional lack of depth with a great script and expert performances.

05 subat 10 & sadece bir fikirden ibaret bir film ve bir fikir de ancak bu kadar hoyratca harcanp, kotu islenmis bir senaryoya kurban gidebilir

Some would call this a dark comedy, but it may more accurately termed a new or rare genre, philosophical satire. In any case, don't miss it when and if it comes to a cinema near you.