Reviews of Bel Ami from JDIFF. Possible spoilers so the majority is posted after the jump.
I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised by Bel Ami, the first film from theatrical veterans Declan Donnellan & Nick Ormerod. It’s a classy little period drama that doesn’t necessarily redefine the genre, but instead stands as a worth addition to the canon. In a way, it seems like a more lavish BBC adaptation, which is quite a compliment when it comes to period drama. I don’t know if actor Robert Pattinson will necessarily find life after Twilight, but I imagine he will find a niche if he chooses his next couple of roles as carefully as he chose this one.
In many ways, Pattinson’s casting here reminds me of Daniel Radcliffe’s work on Woman in Black. Both men are currently trying to escape the shadow of monumental movie franchises, yet still trying to find roles that play to their strengths. Radcliffe’s transition from Harry Potter to Hammer House of Horror was a deft move, playing to many of the same strengths and yet distinguishing him from those family-friendly films. Pattinson does something similar here, playing to the same core archetype in a more mature setting.
Thinking of Rob 