David Cronenberg: All 21 Films Ranked From Worst To Best

19. Maps To The Stars

It's a shame that Cronenberg's latest film is so low down the list, but the fact is that it just isn't very good. There's no question that it explores some fairly pertinent themes, but it fails to do so in ways that haven't been done in undoubtedly superior films like David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Maps To The Stars is basically a poisoned love letter to Hollywood. It's Cronenberg's satirical take on identity and the mainstream film industry. Your eyes should be rolling already - these aren't new themes. To be fair, Cronenberg is entitled to cover this subject matter. It's just that he doesn't do a very good job, and is severely inhibited by a wooden script by Bruce Wagner. Julianne Moore isn't too bad at the film's core, but only Mia Wasikowska provides a truly moving performance here. With a script as average as this, more actors had to be on their A-games to match up. They just aren't. Arguably the hollowest film in Cronenberg's oeuvre. Here's hoping his next is a step up.