Map to the Stars

Overview

Julianne Moore picked up the Best Actress award at Cannes for her role in Maps to the Stars but given the subject matter it's unlikely an Oscar will follow. Director David Cronenberg and writer Bruce Wagner team up here to produce a wickedly satirical view of the vanities and excesses of Hollywood life.

Moore plays Havana Segrand, an ageing movie actress who's desperate to be cast in a remake of a classic film starring her late mother. Agatha (played by Mia Wasikowska) is a newcomer to Hollywood who befriends limo driver Jerome Fontana (Robert Pattinson) and eventually manages to wrangle a job as Havana's PA.

Meanwhile Havana’s self-help guru (John Cusack) helps her recover memories of abuse at the hands of her mother. His own 13-year-old son Benjie (Evan Bird) is the lead actor in a massively successful teen-movie series called Bad Babysitter. Fresh out of rehab, Benjie out-does Justin Bieber in his hilariously bratty teen star behaviour.

Click here to see more of our picks at the NZ International Film Festival 2014.