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Cold Souls

Cold Souls

2009
Comedy, Drama
1h 41m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 46.19% from 399 total ratings

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(399)
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Rated 26 Dec 2010
60
50th
Messy film with a cool premise. The funny close-ups of Giamatti, great as always, just about keep it afloat.
Rated 23 Sep 2009
70
22nd
A great concept but I felt they didn't explore a lot of the more interesting aspects the idea of soul removal brings about.
Rated 11 Nov 2009
0
12th
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.
Rated 02 Aug 2010
58
13th
For a film about "soul searching", it's incredibly shallow. Waste of a concept.
Rated 19 Jan 2010
60
65th
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.
Rated 29 Jan 2010
60
49th
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.
Rated 04 Mar 2010
87
93rd
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.
Rated 04 Mar 2010
60
40th
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.
Rated 03 Aug 2010
40
19th
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.
Rated 02 Dec 2010
76
31st
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.
Rated 08 Dec 2010
65
61st
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.
Rated 03 Feb 2011
5
17th
Giamatti's performance is the only thing this film has going for it. Very disappointed overall.
Rated 14 Mar 2011
40
15th
It feels like a high-schooler trying to make a Charlie Kaufman movie.
Rated 16 Dec 2011
81
44th
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.
Rated 04 Feb 2015
60
43rd
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.
Rated 14 Aug 2009
80
80th
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.
Rated 06 Feb 2010
55
22nd
05 subat 10 & sadece bir fikirden ibaret bir film ve bir fikir de ancak bu kadar hoyratca harcanp, kotu islenmis bir senaryoya kurban gidebilir
Rated 06 Feb 2010
80
81st
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.
Rated 29 Apr 2010
82
87th
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.
Rated 31 Jul 2010
80
87th
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.
Rated 02 Dec 2010
20
41st
"Cold Souls is a skillfully shot, well-acted, thoroughly unconvincing, and unaffecting put-on." - Nick Schager
Rated 12 Sep 2011
70
14th
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!)
Rated 01 Jan 2012
35
14th
Fine premise but not half as smart as it wants to be. Giamatti is good (of course).
Rated 17 Jan 2012
79
58th
Nearly brilliant. Giamatti was perfect.
Rated 10 Mar 2012
84
88th
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.
Rated 16 Oct 2013
6
44th
Interesting, witty and thought provoking.
Rated 27 Jul 2014
45
13th
Sub-Kaufman-esque metaphysical drama/comedy. Great concept, poorly executed. Giamatti makes it bearable though.
Rated 09 Sep 2014
50
10th
Has an interesting idea and then does absolutely nothing with it.
Rated 09 Aug 2015
5
4th
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.
Rated 20 Aug 2016
58
49th
It's like a bad version of Being John Malkovich. Worth to watch of course; interesting idea and great performance by Paul Giamatti.

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