Maps to the Stars

Focus World | Release Date: February 27, 2015

6.0	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 97 Ratings

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csw12Mar 3, 2015

An abysmal failure of a film. Maps to the stars has some of the most unlikable characters in any film this year. Uninteresting, incoherent at times, and one of the worst films this year.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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dierregiFeb 27, 2015

This is the story of a bunch of creeps, Hollywood-style. If you can sympathise with the following characters, you probably will like the movie:

*Benji, ex-junkie teenager TV show star, jealous about child actors; *Cristina and Stafford,This is the story of a bunch of creeps, Hollywood-style. If you can sympathise with the following characters, you probably will like the movie:

*Benji, ex-junkie teenager TV show star, jealous about child actors; *Cristina and Stafford, couple of weirdos parents, exploiting said teenage junkie; *Agatha, homicidal schizophrenic girl stalking her family; *Havana, washed up movie actress consumed by the desire of playing her mother's part in a remake.

On the other hand, if you think that the rich are different from you and I and you find it difficult to feel empathy for a "poor" kid who will earn only 6 million per season instead of 8, you might not get the point of this flaccid tale. Unless that is "even rich people have their problems".

If emotional engagement is not your thing, you might still have problems with the script and editing. The movie contains several overlong scenes that add nothing to story, except underlining how depraved people are in Hollywood. The party scene, with the despicable conversation among teenagers is a very good example.

Then there is a scene with Havana, the Moore character, sitting on the crapper and farting away, while having a conversation with her assistant. This is usually described as "vanity-free" interpretation by the critics. Which means Hollywood stars looking like you and me in the morning, rather than their red-carpet version. In turn, this is interpreted as "mega-stars demeaning their supernatural status, thus deserving an Oscar".

Finally, several "ghost scenes" are scattered liberally in the story. They are among the worst I have ever seen, Havana's ghost mum being the most risible of the bunch.

Eventually bad things happen to bad people and the movie ends not a second too soon, but who cares: this is a movie –as somebody wrote – that you want to forget you saw.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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manofthemoonMar 6, 2015

Cronenberg continues to try and make us care for rich narcissists and again fails. Characters without depth or sympathy in a story that drifts from one genre into vague horror by the end. So much potential wasted. The performances, however,Cronenberg continues to try and make us care for rich narcissists and again fails. Characters without depth or sympathy in a story that drifts from one genre into vague horror by the end. So much potential wasted. The performances, however, are very strong, especially Moore and Cusack. By the end, I just didn't care about Hollywood and its "problems". There are better stories to be told and Cronenberg no longer seems to be the man to tell them.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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hotfromcauldronFeb 27, 2015

Map to the Stars gets lost somewhere between Robert Altman lite and Sofia Coppola cool. Cronenberg' s family affair has more issues than a psych 101 textbook including arson, addiction and abuse. A way too inside edition of "sick degrees ofMap to the Stars gets lost somewhere between Robert Altman lite and Sofia Coppola cool. Cronenberg' s family affair has more issues than a psych 101 textbook including arson, addiction and abuse. A way too inside edition of "sick degrees of separation" that leaves one ecstatic for each character's comeuppance. An Oscar prediction- Julianne Moore would have lost for Still Alice if this film was released three months ago as Eddie Murphy did for Dreamgirls on the heels of Norbit.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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foxgroveMar 8, 2015

David Cronenberg is no stranger to controversial or bizarre material but he probably has more misses than hits in his film canon. His best films have strong narratives and lack ambiguity of which 'Eastern Promises' and 'A History of Violence'David Cronenberg is no stranger to controversial or bizarre material but he probably has more misses than hits in his film canon. His best films have strong narratives and lack ambiguity of which 'Eastern Promises' and 'A History of Violence' are great examples. Both, incidentally, starring Viggo Mortenson.
Maps to the stars is not only ambiguous, it's also a load of pretentious mumbo jumbo. Julianne Moore, herself an advocate for edgy material, won best actress at Cannes for her role. However, anything good in her performance is cancelled out by a lack of clarity and poor direction. Every character comes over as unsympathetic and an unusually varied cast do not gel well. John Cusack in particular seems out of his depth. One is relieved when it ends and further analysis of what has transpired is as pointless as it is unwanted. I had high hopes initially, arriving as it did with critical and festival kudos, but it can join 'The Naked Lunch' as a first class clinker and be written off as another failed experiment from Cronenberg.
The last scene in the film is actually the best although this is not actually a compliment but more of an acknowledgement of something, ANYTHING, actually happening!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Stargirl04May 15, 2016

I usually love David's work but this one was a bit slow for me. It held my interest but it could have been better. Great Cast but a little underwhelming for me.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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