Cold Souls

2009 sci-fi movie

Rating: 15/20

Plot: Actor Paul Giamatti, played by an actor named Paul Giamatti, is having trouble with a Russian play and decides to have his soul extracted because it's apparently getting in the way of his acting. He regrets the decision. He borrows a Russian poet's soul, but that doesn't help. He then has to deal with some Russians selling souls on the black market in order to get his little chickpea back.

Intriguing little comedy that doesn't really end up saying much about the soul or being all that funny. What makes the whole thing worth watching is a versatile performance by Mr. Giamatti playing himself, a very layered performance. He's great as himself, something that feels weird to type, but he's also really good when doing some fake stage acting--both the good and the completely hilarious. The whole thing feels like the same kind of smart neurotic slapstick that you'd associated with Woody Allen. This thing's compared to Being John Malcovich or Kaufman's other work, but it definitely reminds me more of Woody Allen. There are a pair of relationships that are sweet for very different reasons, and a slightly-indeterminate ending that is as visually beautiful as it is perplexing. My favorite scene was a throwaway one where a woman is listening to a "How to Speak English" tape in a car, and I think I might have given this movie a bonus point because of a ridiculous hat that Paul Giamatti wears in Russia. The movie's a little slow at times, but Giamatti's at the height of his powers, the deadpan humor fits the light sci-fi well (though it's not all that funny), and the premise is just weird enough to keep you interested.

Cool poster, too.