Guy de Maupassant’s novel, ‘Bel Ami’, about a French ex-soldier who comes to Paris to seduce his way into the upper echelons of society, has been adapted for the screen and stage on numerous occasions since its publication in 1885.
Georges Duroy, played here by Robert Pattinson in a role that trades on the real-life devotion to his boyish charms, first appears in a Dickensian hovel through which a lone cockroach crawls and quickly disappears.
Best known for his portrayal of brooding teen vampire Edward Cullen in the phenomenally succesful Twilight Saga films Robert Pattinson turns serial seducer in his new film Bel Ami. In this adpation of Guy de Maupassant’s classic tale he charms the likes of Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci and Kristin Scott Thomas. Some chaps have all the luck.
Film3Sixty: Your character in Bel Ami, Georges DuRoy, is he an amoral man?
Robert Pattinson: He just doesn’t have a conscience. He’s content to do nothing and thinks everything should just be given to him. But if someone slights him, or directs any insult at him, the most overhelming energy grabs him and he turns into this absolute devil. It’s like in Giant, when (James Dean) builds the entire empire to say ‘F-you’, he’s exactly like that but without any redeeming characteristics. The whole story is these people trying to beat him down into remorse, and just as he’s about to touch it, something good happens to him again.
The film as a whole might feel lopsided, but thankfully the stellar performances keep you entertained.
Social-climbing, villainous backstabbing and a rapacious Robert Pattinson combine in this slow but well-crafted study of a desperate man in desperate times.
The hype…
All eyes are on Robert Pattinson as he tries to break away from his ‘Twilight’ character Edward Cullen. He’s had some success already, but the likes of ‘Remember Me’ and ‘Water for Elephants’ have hardly been classics. This is his darkest role to date, and it’s sure to test his appeal, especially as most of his fans can’t get into a 15-certificate film.
R-Pattz, who plays glittering vampire in the popular ‘Twilight’ series seemed eager to step away from the franchise. When asked why he chose to take the role of Georges in ‘Bel Ami’ he said, “It was something completely different to anything I’d done before” and it “didn’t follow the traditional movie storyline”.
Pattinson clearly relished the chance to play the bad guy giggling as he describes the character as “a bad guy that does bad things to get what he wants”.
‘Bel Ami’ is due to be released nationwide on the 9 March and follows Georges (Pattinson), a young man working his way up the social ladder by seducing the wives of important businessmen.
You worked with R-Patz five years ago. Does that mean you weren’t all googly-eyed over Twilight’s ‘Edward’?
If I hadn’t have known him I might have been slightly intimidated. I hadn’t even seen Twilight but I watched the first film after Bel Ami and I was like: ‘Now I get what all the hype is about.’
Is he the same bloke, except now he’s called R-Patz?
Yeah, I think he’s handled it brilliantly and managed to stay down to earth. When we went to the Bel Ami premiere, he went early so he could go and sign all the fans’ pictures. As much as I’d love to be a successful actor, the thought of being recognised in the street is petrifying.
‘Bel Ami’ directors, Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod, present/talk about the movie at the screening at Institut Français du Royaume-Uni’ in London tonight (March 7)
1. First part of the feature in better quality, and if you don’t want to watch the review. (click 720p HD)
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2. Full video. Review at 2.45. The woman is pretty tough on the script and character, the guy is more complimentary about Rob. (remember, reviews are just personal opinions, go see it and decide for yourself.)
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