Cosmopolis (Blu-ray) (2012)

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General		Extras
Category	Drama	None
Rating
Year Of Production	2012
Running Time	109:01
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	David Cronenberg
Studio Distributor	Icon Entertainment	Starring	Robert Pattinson Sarah Gadon Paul Giamatti Kevin Durand Abdul Ayoola Juliette Binoche
Case	Amaray-Transparent
RPI	$36.95	Music	Howard Shore

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	Unknown	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.85:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	1.85:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	Yes
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     New York City, not-too-distant-future: Eric Packer, a 28 year-old finance golden boy dreaming of living in a civilization ahead of this one watches a dark shadow cast over the firmament of the Wall Street galaxy, of which he is the uncontested king. As he is chauffeured across midtown Manhattan to get a haircut at his father's old barber, his anxious eyes are glued to the Yuan’s exchange rate: it is mounting against all expectations, destroying Eric's bet against it. Eric Packer is losing his empire with every tick of the clock. Meanwhile, an eruption of wild activity unfolds in the city's streets. Petrified as the threats of the real world infringe upon his cloud of virtual convictions, his paranoia intensifies during the course of his 24-hour cross-town odyssey. Packer starts to piece together clues that lead him to a most terrifying secret: his imminent assassination.

     Cronenberg revisits subjects that fascinate him: how the organic and the psychological are inextricably intertwined, society's anxieties and phobias, and letting repressed impulses and paranoia run wild. Cosmopolis is a culmination of his masterpieces that addresses the alarming global financial crisis of today's world. It is a hauntingly prophetic fable that turns the future into history and suggests that the archaic might be our eerie future.

     The synopsis above, outlined from the official site for Cosmopolis, summarises author Don DeLillo's source novel very well. This is a cold, anaesthetic film which explores the theme of capitalism on modern society through the life of the billionaire Eric Packer (played by Robert Pattinson) and many supporting characters he interacts with during the film.

Video

     Cosmopolis is a dark, artificial-looking film. It was shot with green-screen backgrounds. Films like these tend to be highly stylised in action and plot; think of Zack Snyder's 300 for example, which was similarly shot in studio with green-screen backgrounds.

     The aspect ratio of Cosmopolis is 1:85:1, 16x9 enhanced.

     As most of the film is shot in close-ups and in Eric Packer's limousine, the transfer is sharp overall.

     Colours are slightly saturated to emphasise the artificiality of the locations.

     There are no MPEG Artefacts whatsoever.

     Subtitles are present in English for the hearing impaired with dialogue shown in different colours for different characters.

Video Ratings Summary

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Audio

     Director David Cronenberg has described the screenplay as Pinteresque, a term based on Harold Pinter's plays which the online Oxford Dictionary describes as “typically characterised by implications of threat and strong feeling produced through colloquial language, apparent triviality, and long pauses." Hence, don't expect any significant surround sound or subwoofer effects.

     The audio transfer contains a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in English.

     Dialogue is always audible and synchronised

     There is minimal Surround Channel Usage

     The Subwoofer is not utilised much either.

Audio Ratings Summary

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    There are no extras included whatsoever!

     Unlike the Region B Australian release, the Region B United Kingdom Blu-ray features an 111 minute documentary on the film featuring interviews with most of the principal cast and crew, and the adaptation from the source novel on the production of the film. Apparently, this documentary is outstanding and is not to be missed if you are a fan of David Cronenberg's work. There is also a 27 minute interview feature with Cronenberg, producer Paulo Branco, producer Martin Katz, Robert Pattinson, Sarah Gadon, Kevin Durand, Jay Baruchel, Juliette Binoche, Emily Hampshire, Samantha Morton, K'Naan, Mathieu Almaric, and Paul Giamatti.

     The Region A United States Blu-ray release includes the two extras found on the United Kingdom release and also includes an audio commentary by David Cronenberg where he mentions the claustrophobic feel of the film was inspired by the films Das Boot and Lebanon.

    If you have a Region free Blu-ray player, the Region A US release is the one to go for.

     In my opinion, this is a difficult movie to connect with, with a lot of existential dialogue. The theme of modern-day Capitalism and its effect on the individual is better explored in films such as Fight Club and American Psycho.

     Also, Robert Pattinson does not have the acting range to cover the emotional diversity of the main character. I could imagine Edward Norton or Christian Bale doing a much better job on this film. As it stands, it's not a great film anyway as the source novel isn't that great either and the Australian release on Blu-ray is inexcusable to not include the extras found in other regions.

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