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Mar 05, 2010 Web Exclusive By Jim Scott

So this is what Charlie Kaufman has wrought. One had to wonder what effects Kaufman’s flights of fancy (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation, etc.) would have on Hollywood. Kaufman is such a singular figure, it seemed like the best outcome would be if the success of his mind-benders inspired more creativity among the major studios. The debut of writer/director Sophie Barthes, however, follows the Kaufman script a bit too closely.

The actor Paul Giamatti plays Paul Giamatti, an actor. His work on the Anton Chekhov play Uncle Vanya has left Giamatti depressed and generally weighed down. He comes to believe through some well-placed advertisements that this weight is due to his soul. The company that has placed the advertisements removes Giamatti’s soul, which, in one of the film’s funnier moments, looks like a chickpea.

Without his soul to burden him, Giamatti’s not a sad person, but he’s not a happy one, either. And he certainly can’t play Vanya. The search to re-obtain his soul takes him to Russia with a mule who transports souls (played rather emptily by Dina Korzun).

The problem here is that while Cold Souls is an interesting film, and a new take on the nature of the artist, the influence of Kaufman is too overwhelming. From the actor playing himself (Being John Malkovich) to the pseudo-science facility led by a blissfully ditzy head scientist (Eternal Sunshine) to the overall color palette (every Kaufman film), Barthes never distinguishes herself or her film. Unlike Kaufman’s work, Cold Souls simply isn’t much fun. (www.coldsoulsthemovie.com)

Author rating: 5/10