Robert Pattinson, Holliday Grainger: Bel Ami wedding scene
Bel Ami directors Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod, both stage veterans and first-time feature filmmakers, chatted with the UK’s STV about their upcoming film, which comes out in Britain on March 9. (A US release date — via Sony Pictures Classics — remains in the air.) In their conversation, they discuss the relevance of Guy de Maupassant’s 19th-century novel to today’s world, working with Twicon Robert Pattinson, and explain that Bel Ami originally was to have been a play.
As to why make a film version of Bel Ami in the early 21st century, Donnellan responded: “We chose it because it’s very much about how we are now. It’s about a young man with very few talents who manages to seduce his way to the top of society. It’s a triumph of mediocrity very much through celebrity culture. It’s also about a corrupt media in league with a government that pretends to invade a Muslim country for the good of the people — but is in fact secretly after their mineral wealth, so clearly it has nothing to do with the current situation at all.”
As for Robert Pattinson, Ormerod said: “Rob came very early on. He read the script and absolutely loved it, and really related to the character. We met him, and that was like a marriage immediately. He has always been wonderfully committed, and is a terrifically serious actor … I think the reason that Rob was attracted to this role is that it’s the complete opposite of everything that he’s played so far.”
Donnellan added: “Very interestingly, he insisted on rehearsing for a whole month in London before we shot one single piece of film, which is very, very unusual for somebody who has as busy a schedule as he has. He was incredibly committed, and couldn’t have been a nicer guy or a more talented guy to work with.”
In addition to Pattinson, the Bel Ami cast includes Kristin Scott Thomas, Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci, Colm Meaney, Natalie Tena, Holliday Grainger, Pip Torrens, James Lance, and Todd Peterson.
As mentioned elsewhere on this site, Robert Pattinson should be seen again later this year in two more movies:
- David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis (possibly at the Cannes Film Festival, as per rumors), which also features Sara Gadon, Kevin Durand, Juliette Binoche, Samantha Morton, Paul Giamatti, Jay Baruchel, and Mathieu Amalric;
- Bill Condon’s The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, the last installment in the Twilight Saga franchise, with Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Dakota Fanning, Jackson Rathbone, Elizabeth Reaser, Peter Facinelli, Nikki Reed, Michael Sheen, Julia Jones, and Booboo Stewart.
Ormerod/Donnellan piece via belami.com
The interviews with Donnellan and Ormerod were very interesting for some reasons:
1. During promo it’s normal that directors praise their actors, but if they’re not really convinced of their talents they can limit their praise and focus on other qualities. What these 2 directors said of Robert Pattinson was pure appreciation. In another interview Declan said that he has worked for over 35 years with the most talented actors and that Rob is really talented. (Cronenber said the same)
2. Rob was very smart: when he had the occasion to work with and learn from 2 of the most acclaimed British directors (for who of course he had a lot of admiration) he took it with both hands and rehearsed with them for a month. Together they ‘formed’ Georges Duroy in the way the directors wanted. There was time enough to correct flaws in performances.
The directors made a satirical movie, with performances that were a bit theatrical which suited the satire.
That all said, I don’t understand the point of view of some critics. Did they expected an older Georges? (he wasn’t older in the book) Or a darker movie? (the book wasn’t dark either)
Or didn’t they read the book? (probably)
(Not)Surprisingly those who are ‘connaiseurs’ of Maupassant’s work loved the movie and the performances.
Rob isn’t chosing the easy path as f.e. Zac Efron and many others do and maybe he has to learn some more strength for certain roles but how long are critics gonna let him bleed for having become too beloved, too famous and too rich in a too short time?