NZIFF Film Review: "Maps to the Stars" (2014).

"Eventually stars burn out" in Maps to the Stars. This satirical drama film directed by David Cronenberg, adapted by Bruce Wagner, based upon his novel entitled Dead Stars. The Weiss family are making their way in a sun-soaked Southern California rife with money, fame, yearning and relentless hauntings. Sanford Weiss is a famed TV self-help therapist, whose Hour of Personal Power has brought him an A-list celebrity clientele. Meanwhile, Cristina Weiss has her work cut out managing the career of their disaffected child-star son, Benjie, a fresh graduate of rehab at age 13. Yet unbeknownst to any of them, another member of the Weiss family has arrived in town: mysteriously scarred and tormented Agatha, just released from a psych ward and ready to start again.

 For six years, the film had been in development and hit financial difficulties time and time again, with original Viggo Mortensen and Rachel Weisz left due to scheduling difficulties. Ultimately, John Cusack and Julianne Moore replaced them. Cronenberg commented that "It's not a "go" picture. We have a script that I love that Bruce wrote, it's a very difficult film to get made as was 'Cosmopolis' actually. Whether I can get this movie to happen, I tried it five years ago, I couldn't get it made, so I still might not be able to get it made." He also added that "Maps To The Stars is very extreme. It's not obviously a very big commercial movie, and even as an independent film it's difficult. 'Maps To the Stars' is completely different [from 'Cosmopolis'], but it's very acerbic and satirical, it's a hard sell." Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson, Olivia Williams, Sarah Gadon, and Evan Bird ultimately rounded out the film's cast. In early July 2013, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in late August. Filming took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Lost Angeles, California. This marked the first time in his fifty-year career that Cronenberg ever filmed anything in the United States, although most of it was shot, like his other films, in his native country of Canada.

The film stars Moore, Wasikowska, Cusack, Pattinson, Williams, Gadon, and Bird. Terrifically disturbing performances were given by the cast. With each individual characters contributing to the seedy, ugly, perverse and monstrous image of Hollywood.

Though some may find it cold and didactic, Maps to the Stars benefits from Cronenberg's precise direction, resulting in a psychologically complex and satirical adaptation of Wagner's novel. An eerily precise match of filmmaker and material, the film probes the soullessness of Hollywood and its celebrities with the cinematic equivalent of latex gloves. If, like me, you're in-tune with the tone, style and direction of the film then it provides for a fascinating and intellectually nourishing experience. The film is as an exercise in outlandish dialogue and bone-dry humor, a contemporary allegory that is also a sustained riff on the idea of Hollywood. The fact is, Cronenberg made a movie about Hollywood. The insular universe and culture. A movie that reflects, comments on, satirizes and parodies our time.

Simon says Maps to the Stars receives:

Also, see my reviews for Cosmopolis and Boyhood.