David Cronenberg can best be described as being a 'polarising' director. His films are not for everyone but those who like them really like them and those who hate them really hate them. It's no surprise then that there were was a mixed reception for his latest effort, the jet-black Hollywood satire Maps To The Stars. Many people (inlcudingPeter Bradshaw of The Guardian) hailed it as a masterpiece. Many more called it one of the worst films not only of the year, but of Cronenberg's storied career. Maps To The Stars is, even for a low-budget independent film, quite difficult. It confronts the audience with themes, situations and performances that we do not see too often in the cinema. The film, ostensibly about the crippling effects of fame and fortune, features some truly stunning performances from the principals. John Cusack, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson, Julianne Moore and, especially, Evan Bird all graft for the film with spectacular results. The bluntness of the script (think of a constipated Moore asking her personal assistant to buy her drugs so she can go to the toilet) is, at time, jarring but the film is never less than powerful and captivating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsFnwgUlrxs Maps didn't do great business at the box-office. Not that it was ever likely to, even when considering the cast. It's too weird to have mainstream appeal. Nevertheless, if you missed it in cinemas, go back and check it out.
