Cold Souls

Name: Cold Souls
Item: Cold Souls
Rating: 3
Author: Renee Schonfeld

Movie review by

Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 15+

(i)

Fanciful tale is fun for grownups; won't appeal to kids.

PG-13
2009
101 minutes

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Kids say

age 15+

Based on 1 review

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

The movie's main take-away is that it's more important to want what you have rather than to have what you want. That said, the folks behind the soul-transplant business (which represents any "cool" cutting-edge new technology) go about their work with little understanding of its potential impact and danger.

Positive Role Models & Representations

The hero is portrayed as honest, loyal, and smart, though somewhat overly self-involved. One businessman is shown to be corrupt, while another is shown to be naive and corruptible. One soul-trafficking character evolves from an unconscious self-promoter to someone who sees the error of her ways and takes responsibility for her actions.

Violence

A dog bares its teeth at the main character.

Sex

A Life Drawing class features nude female models in artistic poses; there's also a brief glance at a female nude poster. Mild cuddling between husband and wife in bed.

Language

Intermittent cursing includes "for Christ's sake," "for God's sake," "schmuck," "hell," "crap," and one "what the f--k?"

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Some characters smoke (particularly during scenes set in Russia). The main character also pours himself one stiff drink.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that although this indie comedy about the soul transplant business is imaginative, it probably won't have much appeal for kids or young teens. It's grown-up material, and the humor comes from taking our culture's incessant soul-searching and self-involvement to a new level of absurdity. Expect some swearing (mostly mild, though there's one "what the f--k?") and smoking. There are also two scenes with brief female nudity (models in a drawing class and a poster designed to elicit a humorous response).

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Teen, 14 years old Written byleahxo August 15, 2011

age 15+

A Little Bland.

Great concept, great main actor, very slow movie.

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What's the story?

Actor Paul Giamatti (Paul Giamatti) is suffering greatly as he rehearses for a Chekhov play -- he can't separate himself from the unhappy character he's playing. So when he reads a magazine article about the innovative process of safe "soul removal and storage," he's intrigued. Friendly Dr. Flintstein (David Strathairn) and his beaming assistant (Lauren Ambrose) facilitate the transplant with ease. Paul is initially elated and relieved -- but it isn't long before he realizes that both his acting and his marriage to Claire (Emily Watson) are less than stellar without an intact soul. Unfortunately, his soul is no longer in Flintstein's vault: It's been stolen by a Russian black marketeer. Soon, hapless Russian "soul mule" (Dina Korzun) becomes Paul's ally in the quest for his soul's return.

Is it any good?

The clever script and smooth direction by first-time writer/director Sophie Barthes keep this surreal comedy grounded in reality. So do the terrific performances, especially by Giamatti in a role that feels like it was tailor-made for his Everyman look and quirky personality. There's not a moment of tongue-in-cheek behavior or campy, "knowing" dialogue.

It's a stretch to imagine that souls can be removed, transplanted, or stored -- and an even bigger stretch to make the premise funny and last for nearly two hours. Barthes is mostly successful. She spends just enough time with the newly soulless Giamatti -- and then with Giamatti owning the interim soul of someone even more depressed than he was -- to keep the film from exhausting the narrative possibilities. The rest of the movie is spent in a farcical adventure in St. Petersburg, Russia, during which Giamatti learns a lesson that the audience knew from the beginning.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about what it means to "suspend your disbelief." How do the filmmakers make the idea of transplanting souls seem not only possible but ordinary? Did having Paul Giamatti go by his real name make it more believable?
What is the movie saying about "technology for technology's sake"? Can you think of any real-life technologies that seem as far-fetched as the soul-transplant business?
Why is the visual of a soul as a chickpea or garbanzo bean funny? Since the "soul" is usually considered to have enormous importance, do you think the fact that it was so tiny underlined the movie's ironic tone?