Maps to the Stars - A hard and dark watch

Whether you’re going to enjoy David Cronenberg’s ‘Maps to the Stars’ really depends on what kind of mood you’re in and what sort of film you’re looking for.  It’s not a light and fluffy little number and it’s definitely not a feel-good movie.  It’s a dark and depressing tale of damaged humans who really don’t have many redeeming features.

Normally, a film has a ‘hero,’ or at least someone you root for.  Here, ‘heroes’ are in short supply.  There’s barely a single character who is of noble intent.  Therefore, you’re highly unlikely to find yourself rooting for them, let alone identifying with any of them (in fact... I hope you don’t!).

It’s about a couple of rich, successful families in Hollywood.  In fact, they’re not just rich and successful, but also have varying degrees of celebrity to them.  You’d think with their fame and fortune they’d be happy.  They’re not.  And the two families’ lives get intertwined when a young woman is released for mental incarceration and gets a job with the other.

It’s a pretty sterling cast – John Cusack, Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska are all prominent, but it’s Julianne Moore who steals the show in every scene.  However, as I’ve said, just because the film has a few stars, doesn’t mean you’ll like any of them.  They all lie, cheat and are generally horrible – all completely unable to bury the ghosts of their past and the demons they still live with.

If you decide to watch Maps to the Stars, don’t expect to leave it feeling uplifted and enlightened.  It really does show humanity at its worse, or possibly most tragic and needy.  Either way, if you want ‘feel-good’ watch a Sandra Bullock movie.  But if you’re feeling strong and want to peek into a load of diseased minds, then have a crack at this.

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that