Maps to the Stars, 2014.
Directed by David Cronenberg.
Starring Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson, John Cusack, Olivia Williams, Sarah Gadon and Evan Bird.
SYNOPSIS:
A twisted tale about the inner workings of a Hollywood family and the tragic past that they can’t escape.
For the first time in his career David Cronenberg has made a movie in America and what a film it is. Maps to the Stars is a deliciously satirical take on Hollywood which examines the twisted culture that so many love.
We’re firstly introduced to the burnt and scarred Agatha (superbly played by go-to Indie girl Mia Wasikowska) as she arrives in the brilliant sunshine of LA. Through a series of meetings and a cameo from Carrie Fisher, she starts work as a personal assistant to washed up actress Havana Segrand (Moore). Havana is one of those characters that you love to hate. She’s selfish, heartless and cruel, yet Moore plays her with such gusto that you can’t help but love every scene she’s in. Along for the ride we also have Evan Bird as a Bieber-esque figure called Benji and his awful parents Stafford Weiss (Cusack) and Christina (Williams). The twisted tale unveils the connection between Agatha and Benji and the inner monster that lurks within Hollywood.
Some could argue that Cronenberg’s new take is a step too far and not believable, but it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine a has been celebrity like Havana Segrand doing the unspeakable things that she does throughout this film. Moore’s performance is the crux of this film and she delivers the many layers of her role with such gusto that her award at Cannes was well deserved. Determined to star in a remake of dead mother’s (Gadon) most famous film, Havana becomes more unhinged throughout the film and her easy access to prescription drugs is all too familiar. But there is a dark humour within this film that makes it so interesting to watch. A scene with Havana and her agent discussing the death of a fellow actress’s son is so spot on and filled with dark comedy that it’s unsettling to watch.
Backing up Moore is a phenomenal cast. Wasikowska delivers yet another terrific performance, adding to her already burgeoning body of work. The other stand out is Evan Bird who has come a long way from The Killing. His character Benji is despicable but oddly human and his descent into madness is intriguing to watch. We’re introduced to Benji as he meets a young girl with a terminal illness, he sits there discussing box office figures and offers the girl an IPad without ever breaking his Hollywood persona. When he finds out that she doesn’t have HIV, he’s enraged at the thought that he wasted his time on her. His character is one that we see on every tabloid cover in this day and age, and Bird is definitely a talent to watch.
The rest of the cast offer solid support. John Cusack’s self-help guru Stafford is a despicable human being but he’s electrifying to watch. Robert Pattinson swaps to the driver’s seat of the limo after Cosmopolis and delivers a good performance as limo driver Jerome. However, is character is never fleshed out which leaves the audience wondering about him. Still he is successfully distancing himself from the Twilight franchise and is proving himself to be a promising actor. The least successful is Olivia Williams who feels slightly out of her depth as the Hollywood mum Christina. Her story feels almost thrown in and her over the top performance doesn’t quite fit with the tone of the film.
Visually, Maps to the Stars isn’t as enticing as some of Cronenberg’s other work, but this film is about looking at the raw nature of Hollywood so it makes sense as to why it’s stripped back and not visually dazzling. One self-immolation scene has the worst use of CGI that I’ve seen in years which is a shame considering the strength of the film as a whole.
Maps to the Stars isn’t a perfect film, some of the storylines don’t quite make sense and its pacing is slightly off. However, the mark of a good film to me is one that you keep thinking about days after you watch it and this is definitely one that will stick in your mind.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie ★ ★ ★ ★
Helen Murdoch
Originally published October 4, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
