I gotta post some GG Rob!
No, really. Someone please help me with understanding what is going on. As promised last week, I read the first chapter of Cosmopolis and I truly do not understand it. Yay! I love when I am able to keep my promises.
If you haven’t read yet, or don’t plan to read and want to be spoiler free, STOP READING RIGHT NOW! Do not follow the jump. You will be sad cause you will see spoilers.
However, if you are reading or are cool with spoilers, continue on…
Clearly this is one of those day in a life novels, which I already kind of got just from the description. But man, Eric is one weird dude to understand. He obviously has a lot of internal monologue that should be interesting to see put to the big screen. I can’t decide if he’s an asshole, or just misunderstood. I’m leaning toward more a prick then anything.
So the day begins in his ridic apartment, where he gets into his ridic limo to start his ridic day. All cause he wants to get a haircut. But of course, things stand in his way. Like the president being in town. Then running into his wife, who he seems to be acquaintances with, at best. I mean, they haven’t even consummated the marriage. I don’t know if I’m gonna find that believable for the movie. Cause if my hubs looked like Rob, he’d be lucky to ever walk again. That whole conversation was just odd, and then the wife just takes off. Hmmm.
The limo pulls up to a couple of potential hair places, but Eric walks up to an apartment and has sex with a woman. Good news… he seems to know her and this is an ongoing thing. She seems like kind of a tough lady, and she is supposed to be like 40, so there goes the continuing sexiness of seeing Rob with older women.
I think I was making this exact face while reading...
Once he leaves his sexy times, Eric is told a man is down. The man was killed on tv and I am slightly disturbed by how many times it says Eric watches it cause it sounds insanely gruesome. Like I may have to cover my eyes if they get crazy with it in the movie. And to talk about Eric getting turned on by the woman involved (I couldn’t tell if she was killed too) was a bit intense.
Let’s be honest. At this point, I am totally seeing why Rob took it. He couldn’t get any further away from Twilight, or really any movie he’s done so far. It’s def a man movie, not a movie that tweenies will be lining up to see. This movie is meant to build credibility with men, not us. Of course, he already has that from us.
Along the way, Eric picks up Jane, his chief of finance, in the limo. She was jogging when she was called to meet with him, so she appears to be barely dressed and sweaty. It’s her day off and she seems a bit pissed to be called, being a single mom and all that. She basically tells him the yen will fall, which somewhere along the way we know that Eric has big investments in.
Then the limo picks up the doctor, who proceeds to do a full check of Eric with Jane in the limo, which seems really awkward once the exam moves on to the prostate exam aka when the dr puts his finger in deep, dark place we shouldn’t talk about. Can I be honest? I really don’t want to see Rob get a rectal exam. There. I said it.
Jane and Eric continue discussing the yen, but then Eric notices how she grips the water bottle she is holding. He notes the sexual tension it represents. Then there is the whole monologue of Eric talking about Jane, the type of woman she is and sex. All this while the doctor continues the exam. The whole thing ends with the quote “I want to bottle-fuck you slowly with my sunglasses on.” And then, if I read it right, it sounds like they both orgasmed. Um, I read that part like twice cause I couldn’t figure it all out.
Jane leaves, basically telling Eric again to pull back on the investments in the yen. And she leaves with this final quote, which I love, “I am advising you in this matter not only as your chief of finance but as a woman who would still be married to her husbands if they had looked at her the way you have looked at me today.”
Right there, even though I am struggling to picture Rob as Eric, I know, KNOW he can give that look. I’ve seen it a million times. Hell, I saw it last night at the Golden Globes (which I plan to talk about a little bit more tomorrow).
Really, I don’t know how you all are coming along on this, but I am struggling. It’s a difficult book, especially since I mainly read fan fic and young adult lit. I’m really not totally sure what to think about it all. I want to like it, but let’s be honest, it ain’t my cup of tea.
But hey, I’ll push through it. The things I do for Rob.
What do you think? Are you digging it? Or is this as weird for you as it is for me? Are you able to picture Rob easily, or are you struggling?
Discuss below!
UPDATE!
In case you missed it, here is Rob talking about his reasons for joining Cosmopolis. Sounds like he agrees in the whole weird department…
January 17th, 2011 at 12:37 am
Yeah, I am reading it and having a hard time with it too. Eric definitely seems like an asshole. The book kind of reminds me of the book, “Up in the Air” in a way. Jerk in an airplane, jerk in a limo. I did end up liking the movie version of “Up in the Air” though, so hopefully “Cosmopolis” will be the same- plus, Rob’s in it so it can’t be all bad. Actually, I’m sure he be great in it. The rectal exam/orgasm was disturbing. And Eric does that(the exam) every day?! And what’s up with the wife? I hope the book gets better.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:02 am
I actually have seen some books translate better on the screen then they do on paper. So I am hopeful that this is one of those.
January 17th, 2011 at 1:24 am
struggling? hell to the yeah! this is the weirdest thing i’ve ever read and i’ve read Ballad of the Sad Cafe (i thought that was weird). boy was i ever wrong. not only i find eric strange but he seems to be a hypochondriac. seriously, he has a doctor’s exam just about everyday. either that or he likes a finger up his ass while a woman watches.
i’m not sure if eric is an asshole. i think he is bipolar or paraniod at best, but clearly he does have some problem (lack of sleep, an obsession with birds).
the inner monologue is getting on my nerve.
on a personal note, i have to say that ff has definitely ruined me for real books.hahaha i was hoping for a little more sex for the sexy times, but just like a man. wham bam thank ya mam and it was over. the whole bottle fucking thing, i did not get. all around weird.
rob did say that he accepted this roll because of cronenbreg. he also said that playing the roll is gonna be a bit scary for him and it’s an interesting script. so, i for one will stick this out. and the only reason to do it is rob.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:11 am
I added the video where he talks about why he took the role. Can’t blame him. When certain director’s call, you take it. Doesn’t matter because even if the movie doesn’t do great, you earn instant credibility for that director.
January 17th, 2011 at 1:29 am
yeah, i have read and re-read this first chapter and i am still confused, except, yes, he does want a haircut. that is all i can glean from this. still trying. and yes, i can totally picture Rob in this part. ever see the look he gives the paps when he’s had enough. could totally be prick-worthy.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:12 am
I guess I just have issues picturing him as the character in the book. I don’t know why. I’m sure he will change my mind in the film. The only time I got him in my head is when Jane made that comment.
January 17th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Thanks to Rob I have read some weird books too! Unfortunately I haven’t received my copy of the book Cosmopolis yet, so I can’t say much about it only that Rob is good with weird and I trust him and Cronenberg completely. Anyway, even if I don’t like the book an the script, I’ll watch the movie. I’ll do almost anything to support Rob, he deserves it and more……
January 17th, 2011 at 9:08 am
if you’d like email me at shaytwilight@gmail.com and i can send it to you. no need to wait.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:52 am
Thanks, hun, but it must be coming in any day now. We have some bad weather here (I live on Crete) and that’s most probably the reason of the delay. I can wait one or two more days. I’m a fast reader so you’ll be hearing from me soon enough.
Oh, and about the birds, I read somewhere that the birds in the book symbolize freedom and Eric wants to break free from the world he’s living in.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:54 am
Did I miss the birds part? I may have been distracted by the bottle fucking…
January 17th, 2011 at 10:55 am
well eileen, it sounds like you will understand the book better than us. hahahaha i’m not to keen on the symbolizing stuff.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Like I said Rob made me read some other weird books. I like to try to understand them and get to know more about how Rob’s mind works.
I found a small part of the first chapter online and read it. So I know just a little bit. When I read that Eric has difficulties sleeping I thought immediately that something is obviously bothering him for quite some time now. He watches the seagulls from his window and I didn’t understand this part. So I checked reviews on “goodreads” and found the reasonable explanation that the birds symbolize freedom and that Eric wants to break free of his world. Reading more of the first chapter I found out by the way he talks about the security of his car that he’s obviously paranoid and most probably not without a reason. Did he deceive/hurt anyone? Has he been threatened? Does anyone want to take revenge? This I hope to find out later.
It may sound strange, but I think it’s important for the story that Eric has an asymmetrical prostate, which means that one of the lobes of his prostate is enlarged. I believe that he’s very afraid of having/getting cancer, about losing his manhood and thinks about this continuously.That’s most probably the reason why he’s having regular check-ups and he’s so obsessed with sex.
Well, this is all I have read so far and my views on the matter. I don’t know if it makes sense…..
As soon as I received my book you’ll hear more from me. Just maybe my reviews can be helpful to you and we can discuss some things.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Re: Eileen’s comments on Eric’s obsession with sex and the prostate thing-I think you’re right, I’ve only read half of the book but I have a feeling this will be expanded upon. Perhaps sex is a means for Eric to feel alive and connected to another human being, so prostate cancer would definitely be something to fear. Even his marriage, which for most people would be the most intimate relationship in a person’s life, seems to be a marriage in name only-a union for the sake of money and power and not for love.He barely seems to know his wife and apparently hasn’t had sex with her in “a while”. She doesn’t even know his eye color. I think sex, with whomever, makes him feel alive, while most of the time he’s kind of numb to what goes on around him.The limo ride is eye-opening for him, and makes him feel alive in a way he probably hasn’t in a while.
I love reading everyone’s comments-now I’m excited to finish the book!
January 17th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
I didn’t read that much yet so I don’t know if I agree or not with you and come back to that sometime later, if you don’t mind.
I do believe that the prostate thing made him think about his life (and dying), the way it’s going and the changes he wants to make. Most probably the trip to the top has been an exciting one, but being at the top is boring and he doesn’t know anymore what to do. If you have loads of money, you don’t have to do much anymore, because the money works for itself and this doesn’t give him any satisfaction.
January 17th, 2011 at 8:32 am
ummmm, the dog ate my homework??!!
Truth be told, Rob ruined me this week, with all the GG Hype the days before were spent perving over new WFE set pics, then i had a FF i had to catch up on and then of course there were the actuall GG’s and come on, i mean, we all saw him, there was no reading going on, just drooling!!! I will catch up this week i swear – is makeup work allowed??
January 17th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Yep, I’m reading it. Yep, it is def … uhhh, weird. :/
I can see Rob playing Eric, but I just wonder how well this material will translate to film. However, I really. really want to hear Rob say the *cough* “bottle” line. ;P
January 17th, 2011 at 9:14 am
Clearly we need to see him in something R rated. It is going to blow our minds. I’m sure Bel Ami will do that, but Eric seems even more crass. I don’t know how I’ll handle it.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:29 am
yeah, i can’t wait for the “bottle” line and the “new york balls” line too. even though it’s strange i still can’t wait.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:23 am
$10 says the examination scene ends up dif on screen. Surely?
That was a shocker.
I went to the gym yesterday and can no longer look at my water bottle the same way.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:40 am
Maybe. I don’t know. I am positive that they will stay by the head with the camera angles. So you know what’s going on, but you don’t really see it that well. Okay, I’m not positive but I am hoping.
January 17th, 2011 at 10:14 am
Thats true. Hopefully a script will turn up and we can get an idea.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:39 am
It’s definitely a very strange read. Sometimes it’s fairly straightforward, and then it goes off on a stream of consciousness tangent. The dialogue sounds very stilted too, which I guess is intentional.
I don’t think Eric is an asshole or a prick. I think he’s jaded and maybe a bit drunk on the power he has. He watches scenes of violence with boredom and even enjoyment, and doesn’t seem worried about the possibility of losing loads of money.
I think this is a great role for Rob to take, for all the reasons you said.This is no romantic hero role, that’s for sure. I have to admit, I found the prostate exam oddly hot, and no, I don’t think we’ll see Rob getting a full-on rectal exam. Maybe just a bit of tush
. As I read I keep picturing Rob in various scenes and I can so see him pulling this off. I can’t wait to see it.
January 17th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
That’s what’s getting me, the random stringing of thought that seems to make no sense.
And I have mad faith that Rob can do this. MAD FAITH!
January 24th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
I keep picturing Rob as well while reading, and the prostate exam was very “hawt”! I’m interested to see who will play Elise (the woman watching the prostate exam). He’s obviously a man that pays strict attention to detail, and is the serious “alpha” male. His description of NY in the early morning was riveting, I could see it through the pages. I like Torval’s character as well. The book has a lot of potential for the right actors. I could see Colin and Marion playing these roles…but Rob adds another layer, as he and Eric are is both young, ambitious and successful men. The book is funny, witty, sensuous, and very cerebral, the kind of book Rob tends to enjoy. Looking forward to Rob saying “great stand-up tits”…line kills me! ;0
January 17th, 2011 at 11:12 am
OMG I laughed out loud at your blog!!!
I’m a tad confused reading this book. Some of the words that the author puts together don’t even seem to go together. My brain was aching when I was finished with part 1…and ya, I had to go back and re-read some parts just to make sure I fully understood what I was reading…even then I’m not sure I did…LOL.
I think Eric Packer is, as dazzledtodeath says, jaded and I think very much drunk on his power.
All of the weirdness aside, this is a fantastic role for Rob. He can totally pull it off…Cronenberg wouldn’t have asked him if he didn’t think he could do it. He selects his leading men very carefully. He obviously sees the greatness Rob possesses. Can’t wait to see this one.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
I think this chapter is trying to introduce us to Eric’s way of viewing the world and the people in it.
He can’t sleep. He is totally self-conscious. To him, nothing exists outside of him or his understanding on how they exist.
On page 6 it says “He didn’t know what he wanted” on page 7 it says “He didn’t know what he wanted” He seemed, to me, to be relieved when he decided he wanted a haircut. It was like then he had a purpose and a reason to be in the car. It seems he can’t stop. He needs to keep moving…(like a shark?) If he stands still (or sleeps) what would happen???
He is sooo self obsessed. On page 8, out of nowhere while he is going down in the elevator, he says His prostate was asymmettrical – then later he has that exam – which apparently he has every day. And again, he worries about it being a different doctor and then seems almost relieved (like the world is still turning on its axis) when the doctor says he has an assymetrical prostate. It’s like he needs reassurance the the world – the physical world- is as he sees it.
There is a lot going on. Lots of different levels.
I am really glad we have this bookclub. I think this is a great book and I want to understand this guy…
Comments please!
January 17th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
I’ve finished the book. Hang in there and keep reading. What at first seems like a totally ridiculous reason to spend an entire day in his limo (“I want a haircut.”) is not really ridiculous at all. I don’t want to ruin the book for anyone, so I won’t explain that unless you really want it explained. Oh…and about the yen and losing money. It isn’t that he doesn’t care about losing his money. He WANTS to lose it. It’s more than being jaded and drunk on power. It’s being completely disillusioned by all that he has when all that he has is material THINGS and no real connection to another human being…not even his wife. Like I said…keep reading.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
I think it’s true about wanting to lose his money and being disillusioned, but you don’t really get the full sense of that until later in the book. I’m 1/2 way thru and didn’t want to say too much, but I agree. I also think watching that money slip through his fingers is a thrill for him. He feels insulated in his bubble of wealth and power and his limo ride opens his eyes to certain things and makes him more determined to let it all go to hell.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Thank you* im1luckywoman, I’ll try and get focussed again.
getting back to it*
I admit RL has made away with me this past week and although I’m 1/2 way through the book I got caught up with other things (a fic).
Thanks also to Eileen I very much appreciate your insight into these pieces of the story, and agree that there must be more to Eric than we’ve “seen” so far*
Cheers ladies
January 17th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
I dont have the book, but after reading your summary I feel the need to get it so I can join in with you guys. Hopefully I can get it before next week. 2 thumbs up to you Amber….you do great readings….I really enjoyed doing WFE with you guys…..see ya soon.
January 17th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
my email is up there ^^^^^^^ if you want me to send it to you.
January 17th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Shay….are you talking about sending the book or the script?
January 17th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
the book. and i would love to have the script. i’ve never read a script before.
January 17th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
You’ve never read a script, Shay? I don’t have Cosmopolis, but *whispers* I could send you the W4E script if you’d like???
January 17th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
YES, PLEASE!!!!!
January 17th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
just sent.
January 19th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Shay…you haven’t read the Bel Ami script? Oooh….it’s SO much better than the book!!
January 17th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Oops…I think we were posting at the same time. You mean the book. Scratch my question.
January 17th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
I’ve finished reading the entire book. Upon reading the last line, I closed it and asked myself “what the fuck did I just read?”. I found the book very confusing and the writing style to be a little strange. BUT I think it has good bones to make a really stellar movie.
I’m going to give the book another shot and take my time reading it. It was a quick read the first time, taking only a couple hours. So, I may have a better grasp of what the author was trying to portray.
January 19th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
The first thing I did was a quick skim of the book (the couple of hours you mentioned)…THEN I went back and really read it. I found it much easier going as far as the rhythm and style and language during my slower read. I also read some synopses and reviews that I found helpful but, the best thing of all that really helped me get into and understand the book were a series of radio interviews with the author. You can find them on YouTube (there are 7…each 7-8 minutes long.) After that…I LOVED the book!!
January 17th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
Thank God I’m not the only one confused and lost when I’m reading this. I have it on PDF on my eReaders and I worried there was an error in the download. I at least go everything that was mentioned in the summary so that’s good. I’m dreading the next part cause I started it today and I’m totally lost.
Really hope they cut the rectal exam but (no pun intended) they can leave in the sex. I’m all for naked Rob.
I can totally see him playing Eric, it’s different and weird and will stretch him as an actor. I read somewhere that Colin Farrel was supposed to play the role and after reading that I can’t picture anyone but Rob. I hope the rest of the book gets better, but my expectations are low. Glad I found others who are trying to read it… Oh, the things we do for Rob.
January 17th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
I can’t find this book at any of my local bookstores, so it looks like I’m going to have to order it. You’ve got me really intrigued though! Sounds… strange. No doubt he’ll pull it off though
January 17th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
email me. i’m up there^^^^^^^^^.
January 17th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
So as I said I was gonna get started on this, a little late of course but here i am. I’m not very far in, this is definately gonna take some time and concentration. I find myself picking apart every sentence to really take in the meaning. I have to say I feel for him, the same thing some of us are having a hard time getting through, his internal monolog, this is how his brain works and that has got to get tiresome and quite annoying for him which I think can definately drive a person a little mad and make them a touch off. I’m intrigued though and will stick with it.
I do think this is going to be an amazing movie for him and I totally see him pulling of this complex character, he will ROCK this role!
January 17th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
this role IS TOTALLY up his ally. the man LOVES the strange and weird. just look at his woman. hahahaha but all kidding a side, i hope the movie will do rob justice
January 18th, 2011 at 12:05 am
Some comments that I agree with above have been made by JillS, dazzeledtodeath, Im1luckywoman. You have touched on a few of the my views on Chapter 1. Eric seems to DISSECT everything around him. Birds, words, buildings, views, people working for him, images of murder, money, people on the street. The murder is a series of images and not real to him but for the woman who attracts him to feel on some level. He doesn’t know how to dissect himself internally, thus the daily exams, which force him to feel pain but know that he is indeed alive in the midst of his focus on materialism. Asymetrical prostate…he is human and imperfect after all. He wants to hear the word.
And he is out of touch with the realities of life such as his limo driver who he has never looked at before. Eric is only connected to things. Even his marriage is about money & power brought together and multiplied not for love…like an arranged marriage of convenience and profect as in old European ways.
Women in his life: the one in the apartment (Didi) is his art buyer. She has taught him about “the melt of pleasure inside a brush stroke…” She brings emotions into his life thru art, which he wants to own and surround himself with but can’t internalize it’s passions. She is brutally honest with him and he seems to be attracted to her honesty and thus sexually. She brings him back to reality in life with her statements. She tells him that he doesn’t need to own everything. Pg. 26 is the best: “Don’t you see yourself in every picture you love? You feel a radiance wash over you. It’s something you can’t analyze or speak about clearly….and you have a range of being that is deeper and sweeter than you knew.” Later she speaks an about talent and sex…”Not since an element of doubt began to enter your life.” He gets defensive. She has hit on the truth. He is full of doubt about his life and everything it stands for.
Jane in the limo: Again a woman who brings a sense of reality into his life. She has a life. She’s honest with him and sweaty. He is attracted to it. The f*ck you with the bottle scene will be so hot. Again he wants to ‘enter’ a woman’s realness and emotions but it’s only spoken erotically without orgasms but sexual tension, which is his desire to connect with feelings and life that he only has with sex. The anal exam would be hot since it’s closer to his p33n. HA.
Money and power he knows. He dissects it like everything else. He is disillusioned by it as it doesn’t bring him satisfaction. He is full of doubt and is lost in a sea of isolation within his world of money.
It’s be a great role for Rob. It’ll show him as a true actor and not just a pretty face. Not a love story but an intense movie in our era of Bernie Maddoffs and those on Wall Street who have been so focused on money and power with no concern for others. No humanity.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:17 am
[...] course yesterday we started book club, so I didn’t get to talk at all about all the goodies that came out this weekend. And really, [...]
January 18th, 2011 at 6:00 am
I’d love to be a part of this conversation, but my book is still in the mail. For a week now. I hope I catch up before you finish.
January 18th, 2011 at 6:20 am
Thank you French Katie. I needed that!
January 19th, 2011 at 12:16 am
[...] club! We’ll be discussing chapter 2 on Monday. And if you haven’t gotten a chance to contribute to the chapter 1 discussion, go NOW! It’s been [...]
January 19th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
By the way….has anyone wondered why Eric has never just asked the doctor what it means to have an asymmetrical prostate? Instead, he seems to almost relish the idea that some part of him is “off” and not perfect, and yet it worries him as well. It’s almost like he doesn’t really want to know what it means though…or he would ask.
January 24th, 2011 at 12:17 am
[...] Have you just finished the first chapter? Then go here to see our discussion on that. [...]