I haven’t read either Guy de Maupassant’s 19th-century novel Bel Ami or Rachel Bennette’s screenplay adaptation, so I don’t know exactly how old Robert Pattinson’s Georges Duroy, social/sexual climber extraordinaire, is supposed to be.But looking at videos and photos of Pattinson in costume as Duroy, the soon-to-be-24-year-old actor surely looks quite a bit older in Bel Ami than in his other film roles (see above).
That’s not a disparaging remark. I much prefer Pattinson looking mature than looking like a “boy.” One of the reasons I — and at least some others, I’m sure — enjoy his interviews is that Pattinson comes across as much more mature than your average (or even above-average) 23-24-year-old. (Admittedly, Pattinson has never looked like a “boy” to me, though I still haven’t seen any of his pre-2008 efforts.)
Anyways, I have high hopes for Bel Ami, chiefly because Pattinson and other real good actors are in it: Kristin Scott Thomas, Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci, and Colm Meaney.
Screenwriter Rachel Bennette and directors Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod are basically all film newcomers in their respective capacities, though Donnellan and Ormerod have both done extensive and quite prestigious stage work. Among the plays they have staged are works by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Pushkin, and Tennessee Williams.
Who knows, perhaps Donnellan’s and Ormerod’s film debut will be as warmly received as those of fellow stage directors Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George) and Rob Marshall (Chicago). If so, that should translate into solid box-office receipts as well.
As an aside, in Albert Lewin’s 1947 film The Private Affairs of Bel Ami, Duroy is played by future Oscar winner George Sanders, who was 40-41 at the time. I’m assuming that was (at least) a little older than de Maupassant’s character was supposed to be. The novel is in my to-read list.
Robert Pattinson will next be seen in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, which opens on June 30.
via {Alt Film Guide}
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