Set against the backdrop of a mountain resort town, MOSAIC follows popular children's book author and illustrator Olivia Lake (Sharon Stone), whose literary success makes her a local celebrity in the tight-knit community. At the annual fundraiser, where she is accompanied by trusted friend and confidante JC (Paul Reubens), she sets her sights on a handsome, young newcomer in town, aspiring graphic artist Joel Hurley (Garrett Hedlund). Encouraged by the doting and flirtatious Olivia, he accepts her offer for a place to stay and work, but the unexpected arrival of Joel's girlfriend, Laura (Maya Kazan), sends Olivia into a jealous tailspin. Olivia subsequently has a chance meeting with charming stranger Eric Neill (Frederick Weller), another new arrival in town, whose duplicitous intentions to sweep her off her feet for financial gain have an unexpected outcome. When Olivia disappears on New Year's Day, leaving behind a blood-soaked studio, MOSAIC becomes an intricate whodunit, and it is up to detective Nate Henry (Devin Ratray) and Eric's sister, Petra (Jennifer Ferrin), to unravel the mystery.
It has a story to tell, it doesn't have a singular hero through which to tell it, and there's no neat ending to wrap it all up. We should all be so lucky to get more shows like this.
Soderbergh... stages the action with an efficiency that is itself frequently beautiful to behold -- he makes a murky murder mystery ring with dramatic clarity.
Soderbergh's talent is devising epics in miniature, perfect little Cornell boxes that tilt inward on themselves with beauty and daring. Mosaic is the director's attempt to break free of that - and it's convincing evidence of why he shouldn't.
Soderbergh suggests a mammoth world that exists beyond his structured narrative, as every textured shot and stray bit of humor hints at the wild humanity existing under the controlled institutions and mannerisms that we collectively call society.
