*WhatCulture!’s Countdown to Cannes 2012: Cosmopolis
Cast Interview David Cronenberg Director Interview Robert Pattinson
Simon Gallagher of WhatCulture! has written a profile on Cosmopolis as part of a Countdown to Cannes series. We’ve posted it in its entirely here, but give a hit to the site at whatculture.com
You could never accuseDavid Cronenberg of abandoning his artistic agenda: he is arguably one of thefew so purely locked in auteurs of this generation. Yes A Dangerous Methodmight not have been one for the Cronenberg die-hards, but Cosmospolis promisesto return the strange with full force.
Here’s the officialsynopsis: New York is in turmoil,the age of capitalism is drawing to a close end. Eric Packer, a high financegolden boy, dives into a white limousine. While a visit from the President ofthe United States paralyses Manhattan, Eric Packer has one obsession: getting ahaircut at his barber’s at the other end of the city. As the day goes by, chaossets in, and he watches helplessly as his empire collapses. Also he is surethat someone is going to assassinate him. When? Where? He is about to live themost decisive 24 hours of his life. It might not be theeasiest watch we’ll get on the Croisette this year, but it is bound to be anexperience…
Reasons To be Excited
It’s Cronenberg
The man has pedigree, andthat is some kind of understatement, while the odd-sounding concept should alsoappease those hardcore fans who were turned off by the director’s most recent,safer project choices. Hopefully we will be treated to bona-fide premium brandCronenberg and not a watered down commercially dark version, because we needit.
The Source
Typically for aCronenberg project, Cosmopolis looks bonkers, but it comes from the Don DeLillonovel of the same name, and one thing DeLillo guarantees is quality. Cosmopolisis ironically probably DeLillo’s least heralded novel, but it offers justenough intrigue to prick up the ears of those Cronenberg fans who are only everlooking for the next Videodrome.
Robert Pattinson…
Another unfortunatelypigeon-holed actor – along with Shia LaBeouf and Zac Efron – looking to launcha wholly new direction in his career with a bold new project. Cosmopolis hasthe potential to do for Pattinson what Taxi Driver did for De Niro,establishing him as a dark, edgy talent and opening a world of new roles forhim going forward. He certainly has ability, as he has proved in flashes, andhopefully the film will take away some of the Twilight stigma for mainstreamaudiences.
…And The Rest of the Cast
While it ostensibly lookslike a one man show, and presumably Pattinson fans will only have eyes for theirfavourite quarry, the rest of the cast fits this year’s festival’spreoccupation with heavy-hitting talents. Alongside Pattinson, we have theexcellent Kevin Durand, Jay Baruchel, Juliette Binoche, Mathieu Amalric,Samantha Morton and the always watchable Paul Giamatti rounding out what lookslike a very impressive, character-actor led cast.
...Thinking of Rob
Spunk Ransom
Robert Pattinson U.S.
...Let Me Sign
...Robert Pattinson Profile
Official Cosmopolis Site
Alfama Films
Cosmopolis at IMDb 
Simon&Schuster
Cosmopolis Film.com
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