When I heard the news that Robert Pattinson is going to star in Bel Ami, I was shocked! I thought he's doing porno! You see, 'Bel Ami' when you do a google search will not show you the book by Guy de Maupassant - a popular author in my High School - but a gay porno film production company located in the Czech Republic. Don't bother looking at their site, you need to register and become a member to see the nude pics! Let me leave it at that! (Gozde: LMAO! Priceless...)
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Bel Ami, George Duroy and Playing with Women: Seriously, playing the role of George Duroy, the main character might be one of his most challenging (and most rewarding) yet. While I do think he took a risk playing Salvador Dali, this new role would only give him nothing but good buzz.
Why is that? Let me quote someone who read the book:
On the surface, the moral of the book is simple: be a complete bastard, treat all the women you meet like dirt and exploit them as much as possible, and you'll be a stunning success. The author stays deadpan thoughout; it's impossible to tell for sure whether he's being ironic, though one strongly suspects he is. Fans of the Flashman series will probably enjoy this too.
Isaiah's comment highlighted for me why the book is so fascinating. Most people don't want to admit to themselves how important the connection is between sex and power, but Maupassant puts it center stage. Another work that does the same thing is the musical Evita. I was reminded of the chorus from "Goodnight and thank you", a duet between Eva and Ché:
There is no one, no one at all
Never has been, and never will be a lover
Male or female
Who hasn't an eye on
In fact they rely on
Tricks they can try on
Their partner
They're hoping their lover will help them or keep them
Support them, promote them, don't blame them
You're the same
Why is Rob chosen to play the role? Is he similar in looks with George Duroy? Let me quote the book itself:
Tall, well-built, fair, with blue eyes, a curled mustache, hair naturally wavy and parted in the middle, he recalled the hero of the popular romances. (Gozde: Oh NO! Not another mustache!)
Seems like Rob is perfect for the role IMO. Just the mention of 'hero of popular romances' would have me convinced it's more than enough to bring in the goodies.
tMF's Take:
(1.) A really meaty, substantive role for Rob to sink his teeth into. Comments SharedVisions.com:
The second Maupassant's novel was "Bel-Ami", disclosing the society of that time. It can be said that if "Une vie" asks - what is the reason of all the sorrows and misfortunes, then "Bel-Ami" answers - the society.
The society is represented by Georges Duroy, he can be called the main face and representative of the society of that time. Though, I suppose, there are two sides of his character - positive and negative. Of course, the positive side is expressed not so much as the negative one. Positive is that he is purposeful, strong man, he knows his job and knows how to get what he wants. But also we can enumerate all the mistakes of the society in common as his negative features of a character - dishonesty, barbarity, ambition, impudence, greed and etc. This register is endless.
George Duroy is a careerist, he's ready for everything, his goal is to get what he needs. He changes women like gloves, he uses his attraction.
(2.) Bel Ami is to be directed by the award-winning theater director and writer Declan Donnellan, a 4-time Laurence Olivier awardee. Says Variety:
Uberto Pasolini is producing through his shingle Redwave Films. Pic is skedded to shoot in Paris next year with London legit director Declan Donnellan set to make his film debut.
Donnellan is quite an artist himself, and this will be his first movie as director. However, he has extensive experience in theater and he also writes. He has more than 25 theater productions, among which include Great Expectations, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth and The Tempest. He has won the Laurence Olivier award 4 times, one of the most prestigious given to Theater directors and actors. While being a theater director is not an assurance that his film feature will be an award-winner or even break box office records, the fact that he's already much awarded, is certainly a good thing.
The Negative: Historical dramas are not big box office winners, but have made great impressions on members of the Academy (there are exceptions, of course: Gone with the Wind, Chariots of Fire, Atonement, Pride and Prejudice), so if Rob aims for critical success, this might be it. Anyway, the Twilight sequels are more than enough to put him in good stead with producers.
Unknown factor: Rob's leading lady will certainly be of much interest. As of now, no names have been mentioned. I do hope they get some French actresses to play the leading female roles. The book is written by a French anyway, and the story is based in Paris.
I'm not saying they do another Stephen Frears-Christopher Hampton take-over and let the British rule once again (i.e. Cheri and Dangerous Liaisons), I just think they ought to be more loyal to the book than to anything else.
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Remember Me, Emily de Ravin, A Modern-day Romance: When I heard he's no longer interested in Parts Per Billion, I was disappointed and blame his overly ambitious agent (that's just me, of course!). If he's really busy, why is it that he agreed to be attached to other movies like Unbound Captives? Anyway, the casting news on Remember Me, made me forget about PPB.
Once again, here's Variety:
"Remember Me," which Summit Intl. is selling at Cannes, is set to begin lensing in four or five weeks, although the female lead is yet to be cast. "The girl needs to be literally inspirational," said Pattinson of a catalytical element of the film. To be directed by Allen Coulter, film was scripted by Jenny Lumet. "I have no qualms saying that she's a genius," Pattinson laughed, adding that the script really connected with him when he first read it -- even some of the dialogue sounded "the way I speak."
Of course, it will be Emilie de ravin who will join Rob and be his leading lady. de Ravin is one of today's hottest young actress, with such an impressive record on television. She was also quite good in a number of movies, especially in Brick. (Gozde: If you haven't seen Brick, check it out. It's a really good movie.)
tMF Take:
Rob's getting into Joe Levitt-Jake Gyllenhaal territory and can he make it? I think he's going to give them quite a competition. The guy can be quite charming and to play a romantic character might be another box office winner for Mr. Patinson. His off-screen "personal relationship" with Ms. de Ravin is driving fans wild, which might be both good and bad for the movie itself.
Allen Coulter, the movie's director, is known more for his work on television and has made only one feature film. But the diversity of his TV work is quite awesome - Sex in the City, The Sopranos, Rome, Damages...
I don't think this movie will be bound for the Oscars ( I maybe wrong here of course!), but certainly fans and ordinary moviegoers will have something to look forward to. I also think both Rob and Emilie's roles are going to be quite awesome, to say the least! Plus, what a cast!
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Unbound Captives, Acting Competition and Rivalry (?), Madeleine Stowe: This is going to be Madeleine Stowe's directorial debut from a script she has written herself. Some good actresses can be good directors too, but sometimes it's the other way around. But Ms. Stowe has enough theoretical background in cinema and journalism, having studied both at the University of Southern California. So, I'm quite positive, she'll make a good impact as director.
The Story: A widowed woman is rescued by a frontiersman and the two search for her kidnapped children.
I remember something quite similar, with Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee-Jones playing the leads, called The Missing. I don't know if there is similarity at all, but the story sounds similar. lol
Anyway, here's the background from Variety:
The busy thesp is also excited about "Unbound Captives," which Madeleine Stowe directs from her script set in the American frontier of the mid-1800s. Pattinson likes a challenge, and "the script is almost entirely in Comanche," he said.
tMF's Take:
With Rachel Weisz and Hugh Jackman playing the lead roles, I'm not sure this is going to provide the acclaim Rob is aiming for. Although I'm not saying a supporting part is not important, I think it depends on how significant and meaty his role is going to be.
New Moon and Return to the Twilight FrenzyFans who worried that the next installment of "Twilight," "New Moon," won't feature as much Edward as the first film since the book does not, can rest assured: The actor will log screen time as Bella's "hallucinations," according to Pattinson.
That's more than enough to keep me at "peace". I mean, Rob is the main reason why Twilight is a big success. While I'm not discrediting Kristen and the other stars, I just think we need to give credit to where credit is due.
In New Moon, the romance between Edward Cullen and Bella Swan takes a new turn, with the introduction of another character into the scene (courtesy of Taylor Lautner) as Jacob Black. More from IMDb:
At Bella's 18th birthday party at the Cullens' house, she gets a paper cut, and Jasper attempts to attack her. The Cullens decide it would be better for Bella's safety if they left, so they get away from Forks, leaving Bella heartbroken. She finds solace in family friend Jacob Black, who incidentally is a werewolf. But before Edward left, he made Bella promise she wouldn't do anything reckless or stupid but, as he'd already broken his promise to 'be there for as long as she wanted him', she decides to break her promise. She goes cliff-diving, which makes Edward think she has killed herself, although it was purely for recreational purposes. So Edward travels to Italy, to provoke the Volturi so they will kill him. Alice finds Bella, and they begin a race to the Italian city of Volterra to stop him.
tMF's Take:
Definitely another box office hit. I think this is going to be better than Twilight - a new director, a more resourceful and richer film producer and a more rewarded cast. The fact that the Twilight fandom is getting bigger and bigger by the minute is already an assurance that this is going to be huge.
Thanks to Anna and that.could for sending us the link :)
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