Director David Cronenberg’s adaptation of the critically acclaimed Don DeLillo novel invites us on an icy, claustrophobic journey together with a young billionaire (Robert Pattinson) who’s about to lose everything as riots shake Manhattan. Largely set inside his luxurious stretch limo, it’s a very talky, incongruous experience that takes on increasingly absurd overtones. Worth a look because of Pattinson’s best performance to date, but as a comment on the Great Recession the film is little more than a curiosity.
2012-Canada-France. 109 min. Color. Written and directed by David Cronenberg. Novel: Don DeLillo. Music: Howard Shore. Cast: Robert Pattinson (Eric Packer), Juliette Binoche (Didi Fancher), Sarah Gadon (Elise Shifrin), Mathieu Amalric, Jay Baruchel, Kevin Durand… Samantha Morton, Paul Giamatti.
Trivia: Colin Farrell was first cast in the lead role; Marion Cotillard was allegedly considered for a part.