Another great new interview with Robert Pattinson for Life promo. Slightly similar questions (& answers) to some of the others we've seen but still a few new parts too.
Enjoy!
From Exberliner:
James Dean was an icon of a generation. And the story of that young actor who starred in Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden before dying tragically in a car crash at the age of 24 makes for an intriguing if sad tale, one that has been endlessly documented and retold in both film and written form. But in the film Life, directed by Berlin-based director Anton Corbijn, the obvious story of James Dean is turned on its head. Rather than the life and death of Dean, it’s the ambitions of a young photographer hoping to to document James Dean’s rising profile that Life takes as its subject matter.
In Life James Dean is still a largely unknown actor who is on the cusp of fame, with the two films that made him famous on the verge of coming out. Photographer Dennis Stock (played by Robert Pattinson), senses James Dean’s (Dane DeHaan) rising star and seeing the opportunity for his own photography career, is determined to pin down the rebellious, and press-shy Dean for a photo-shoot. While Dean agrees in principle, actually pinning him down for a shoot proves anything but straightforward. Based on the true story behind the LIFE Magazine photos of James Dean which would cement the young actor’s reputation as an icon, and become some of the most celebrated photos of the last century, Life explores the tension between photographer and subject, fame and authenticity, and what it means to be an artist.
Before taking on this role, did James Dean mean anything to you personally?
I certainly went through a period where I was really into him. I'd watch all of his old interviews and stuff. I remember when I first started acting, I'd really look at a lot of his body language on camera, and I remember being really into him then. Even if you don't appreciate him as an actor, it's astonishing especially given it was 1955, how ahead of his time he was in terms of camera technique and style.
Given your fascination with him, were you tempted at all to play the James Dean character in this movie?
No, not really. It's just not who I am at all. I always related more to being kind of someone who’s getting in his own way all the time, which is very much like Dennis Stock. His battle is only with himself, and that's something I can understand.