Cold Souls (2009)

I'm not surprised Cold Souls is getting compared to Being John Malkovich, but that's a little unfair. They are different in style and tone, and Cold Souls isn't as good. Paul Giamatti plays a version of himself currently starring in a stage production of Chekov's Uncle Vanya. He is feeling frustrated with the role, afraid of losing himself in it along with his sense of humor, and so becomes open to the new service of "soul storage", in which a person's soul is removed and stored away so he or she can live a more unburdened and carefree life. Though at first he feels great, Paul finds himself unable to sleep with his wife (Emily Watson) and overthinking his portrayal of Vanya. Unwilling to take back his (perceived as) dark and heavy soul, he accepts the anonymously donated soul of a Russian poet, offered through a disreputable soul-trafficking company operating out of Russia. When he eventually decides to take his own soul back, it's missing from its storage box.

Alongside Paul's story, that of Russian soul trafficker Nina (Dina Korzun) is also told. She carries within herself souls from her country into the United States so that they can be sold to rich Americans. When her boss's soap-opera star girlfriend (Katheryn Winnick) hungers after an American actor's soul, Nina takes on Paul's, only to be completely captivated with the beauty she sees in it.

Cold Souls has an interesting concept that it never deeply explores. Several questions raised about souls and soul removal are brushed away so the next scene can start, making it unfulfilling. I really like Paul Giamatti and he is very good here, elevating the film to a more enjoyable level with his natural comedic timing and knack for making complaining lovable; place another person in his role and I probably would like it less.

The editing is jarringly choppy but there are some nice visuals with the clean and crisp soul storage technology juxtaposed against the bleak Russian warehouse. I liked Nina's story a lot and was disappointed that she didn't get a little more focus- there is mention of the effects her constant soul implantation is having on her due to residue from multiple souls, but it's never really shown. I understand Paul is definitely the main character and he can carry the movie, but it's frustrating to have a character in a strange and unique situation introduced, only to have her pushed into the background, just popping up to help Paul out in the third act.

Cold Souls is funny and has some nice ideas, and for the most part I enjoyed watching it thanks to Paul Giamatti's great performance, but it never really delivers in any special way. It's just not very memorable and didn't go as far as it could have with its premise.

3.5/5