Maps to the Stars

An incomprehensible abomination, the theme of which could have turned out to be more than intriguing in the hands of other filmmakers (Sam Mendes, David O. Russell). I used to have Cronenberg in my top ten directors and I still love most of his work (including films with mixed reviews like Crash). He’s unique in how comprehensibly and acceptably he manages to portray pathological deviations from “normal” and make them part of a riveting story. With Maps to the Stars, however, he falters, as the film is an indigestible dead weight, a show of characters allegorically so far removed from reality that their definition and the escalation of their interactions dissolve into nothing. I’m giving one star for Julianne Moore, who’d excel even in the role of a cucumber. (11/04/2014)

Cronenberg's critique of capitalism and the hypocritical society of deception is as superficial as Wagner's screenplay and as artificial as the digital barbecue at the end. The show of half-details, which in the case of A Dangerous Method really created the image of the world as an integral mirror, which gradually cracks and turns into something desperately anachronistic and toothless in this postmodern stylization. There is in it some vain preaching and the inability to get to anything sick (beyond the sick endeavor of the screenplay). A freak show full of superficial caricatures and patterns, the innards of which can be seen from the very first moment. There is something wrong with a film in which Robert Pattinson is the most sympathetic and believable character. Master, it's time to film your harvest festival. (10/30/2014)

Maps to the Stars is your typical Cronenberg film – strange and twisted, though it's less captivating and explicit than some of his other works. It starts off almost like a comedy before morphing into a deep psychological drama that explores the perversions of the human soul, especially those living in excess. The plot culminates in a very interesting and shocking conclusion, but the journey there can be a bit dull at times. Despite the excellent cast, I struggled to connect with the characters, so I found myself largely indifferent to their experiences and fates. The film does offer a few intriguing and spicy moments, along with some truly WTF scenes. Regardless, I hope Cronenberg keeps bringing his unique and often twisted ideas to the screen. Not everything he does completely absorbs me, but I'm always excited for his new films, even if this one ranks among the weaker entries in his otherwise stellar filmography. (05/08/2018)

The film is absolutely excellent in terms of acting, and especially Julianne Moore demonstrates her talent and naturalness in essentially every role. However, the whole story, as it unfolds, isn't really about how difficult it is to be a star, but rather about the fact that we're all a bit crazy in our own ways. David Cronenberg continues to delve into the psyche, but this time he simply doesn't have a well-written screenplay to support it. (09/30/2014)

I was expecting a sharp Hollywood satire, but even though it’s a non-Hollywood film about the Hollywood environment, the satire is not as bold as I thought it would be. We get some dialogues here and there mocking the fads and mannerisms of the stars, but it’s mostly a subversive and untraditional movie about relationship with protagonists that are fucked up in a way that not even in Hollywood must be common. Really, such a parade of perverted and self-destructive characters is not something you see every day. Cronenberg is in true form this time, and though fans of his earlier works won’t find much physical nastiness, the inner psychical nastiness is more than enough, to the point that the film won’t be very easy to digest for many viewers, even if it’s told detachedly and with black humour. It’s edgy fun, and it worked superbly for me. 9/10 (09/25/2014)