‘Cold Souls’: Paul Giamatti plays Paul Giamatti in quirky film at Burton Theatre
Jan. 20-24, Various
Soul removal is a quick and easy new stress-reducing medical procedure that lets you live the life you want. That, at least, is the pitch a persuasive doctor (marvelously played by David Strathairn) delivers to lovably moody New York actor Paul Giamatti. The nervous thespian’s spouse (Emily Watson) soon notices the change, yet reversing the process is complicated by illicit global trafficking, since second-hand Russian souls are cheap but used American models are worth a fortune. Brilliant.
This is a dry, existential comedy in which Paul Giamatti is brilliantly cast as Paul Giamatti, buckling under the weight of his heavy soul. Cold Souls is a deadpan comedy worth the price of admission for Giamatti’s tour-de-force performance alone.
Screening this week at the Burton Theatre, 3420 Cass Avenue, in Detroit’s Midtown. Showtimes are: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 9 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22, 10 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 24, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
