Robert Pattinson's REMEMBER ME & Critics: Part II
Robert Pattinson himself (above, with director Allen Coulter) has earned mixed reviews for his performance as the rebellious Tyler Hawkins in the romantic melodrama Remember Me, Pattinson's first starring vehicle since he became the idol of millions of tweens — and not so tweens — the world over. Many reviewers compared his Tyler to James Dean's rebels in Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant — though not necessarily in a positive manner. Remember Me was written by Will Fetters.
The Associated Press‘ Jake Coyle says that "the young actor has an unmistakable screen presence. However[,] in Remember Me [] he pours it on thickly and self-consciously. … He quotes Gandhi in voiceover, makes love to Sigur Ros and (understandably) can’t be moved to laughter by American Pie 2. His deepness runneth over."
In Variety, Todd McCarthy remarks upon Pattinson's "very watchable" screen presence, but complains he is "also either incapable of or coy about letting anyone get inside what he’s feeling."
In Entertainment Weekly, Lisa Schwarzbaum says: "As in Twilight, Pattinson evokes the fancy-class man using the combined resources of dark glowers, milky gazes, and fabulously mussed-up hair. … Unfortunately, the film's alienated rich kid is perilously close, in intense disgruntlement and plasma-deficient pallor, to that of alienated vampire Edward Cullen. And the overheated woes dreamed up by first-time screenwriter Will Fetters, directed by HBO veteran Allen Coulter, don't allow the actor room to demonstrate much range as Tyler slouches around on a diet of cigarettes and beer."
Laremy Legel at Film.com: "Robert Pattinson is excellent as the brooding and wounded Tyler Hawkins. At his worst Mr. Pattinson is a James Dean caricature, but as the film progresses he gets more comfortable, and we're left with a realistic guy we can pull for as the culmination sweeps in."
Roger Moore in the Orlando Sentinel: "But Pattinson’s fussy, affected acting, his grab bag of screen mannerisms and a script that has him lurching between moony romantic and wild-eyed psychotic do nothing to suggest dude has a prayer of a fangless career."
Betsy Sharkey in the Los Angeles Times: "Pattinson has definitely figured out how to look the part, wearing 'brooding' like a James Dean leather jacket, and director Allen Coulter truly does bet the bank on it … What the actor hasn't yet found is a way past those soulful eyes into the soul itself. If he does, Pattinson could have the makings of a brilliant career, something more than the hot streak he's got going as the 'it' guy of the moment."
Michael O'Sullivan in the Washington Post: "In attitude, if not aptitude, Robert Pattinson in Remember Me comes across like a latter-day James Dean. Playing Tyler Hawkins — a bohemian child of privilege consumed by Oedipal rage — the Twilight hunk fills the screen with cigarette smoke, stubble and hooded green eyes, but little else."
Manohla Dargis in the New York Times: "The star, as if you didn’t know, is Robert Pattinson, the moody vampire heartthrob from the Twilight series, a conceivably promising, certainly watchable actor in need of an immediate acting intervention."
Stephen Whitty in the New Jersey Star-Ledger: “Remember Me is sensitively directed by Allen Coulter (who last did the under-appreciated Hollywoodland) but it’s really a Pattinson project. (He also helped produce.) A smart one, too, building on his Twilight persona as the sensitive yet dangerous bad boy. It’s not a new movie character, of course — James Dean certainly did okay with it — but Pattinson smartly tweaks his own persona, dropping the Twilight neo-goth in favor of contemporary realism, playing Tyler as both moody and mischievous."
Photos: Remember Me (Myles Aronowitz / Summit Entertainment)
The ending should not have been a surprise. It opened with a murder. It quite soon got us to a graveyard and a family remembering a loved one. A professor in a classroom raised the question regarding terrorists — about the morality of people who committ acts of terror. A little girl innocently is victim to a haircut prank by cruel little girls. In between you have a cop who has lived with a broken heart for many years, Tyler who is in a permanent state of grief and is seriously trying to either find himself, writing letters to a dead brother and has that brother's name tattooed on his chest. Did the critics miss these? they were not red herrings, but led us to the end and made room for a father to move closer to his daughter, Tyler's last contribution to his family, a family fractured and then made partially whole. Caroline has a shot at a life and a life not spent writing letters to a dead Tyler. Did the critics notice that there were other actors in the movie? The cop? Tyler's mother? Tyler's step father had an amazing presence in the film and I think he spoke three lines. i will not forget him carrying a tea tray across a dark backlit room. The house mate who wants to finish college, get married, have a mistress, get divorced, and have erectile dyfunction. My ONLY criticism is that Tyler never opened a book except that raggedy(sic) notebook of letters to his brother and that he was making music in that with one note. over and over. Critics, get some life experience.
Well, as soon as I saw the teacher write 9/11 on the board I was brought to tears. To not know what was coming would be completely impossible. I found the movie very moving, but was expecting a happy ending. Then again those life come with happy endings? The movie was gritty and captured the real world. Robert Pattinson, in my opinion proved to me that he is more then then pretty face that we have come to know as Edward Cullen. I was glad I watched that movie, which I was completely expecting to be one big mushy gushy fail of a movie, but it was the complete opposite. It truly captured my emotions, it made me laugh, it made me cry, and most of all it made me think.
The story line was great and robert pattinson was angry but was not the bad boy. He was angry about his dad. He did not go out and do anything on purpose that is what a bad boy does. I thought he was okay. Some of his words were so british it was hard to understand. think that the cop was the best actor in this movie. The ending of the movie was really the shocker. It is a keeper. I already bought it.
ok I am in loveeeeeeee with rober pattinson , and although i havent watched the movie , i am sure it going to be one hell of a movie . I love u robie and keep up the good work ;)
u know u love me
xoxox
gossip girl
I really liked the movie! The ending was so unexpected!It caught me off guard and left my sister and I crying so hard. Even though some elements weren't explained fully, I thought that it's a movie that really made you think about reality. Great movie!
I have just read the critics reviews. Unbelievable!!! The film, story, acting was superb. I was totally into the story and really shocked at the ending. I can't believe how the the critics have got it in for poor Rob. He is a truly wonderful actor and going from strength to strength. I am certainly going to watch this film again tomorrow with my daughters.
It was an amazing movie that really kept you interested and involved from the get go. Robert is indeed an awesome actor and will contiune to climb the actors ladder of success forever. Real people with real passion loved this movie. The ending was surreal,it took me completly by surprised and the emotions that I felt was so touching. Amazing acting all around for all of them. Good job
I felt exactly like the other movie-goers above. After seeing the negative/mediocre reviews on this movie, I wondered if the critics saw the same movie I did.
The writing seemed a bit choppy in places, but overall the spin of this story was great. The acting was solid. The characters were believable. The movie left you feeling very introspective. It wasn't just fluff and there was no hype. I laughed. I cried. I gasped. I winced. I RELATED. Great movie.
I absolutely loved it! I am definately a Robert Pattinson fan- looking forward to watching him develop his talents and skills through the coming years- he has his own flare to add to roles he plays- sarcasm, humor, wit, integrity and depth. Charming and intriguing young man.
I found the story, and the movie quite good. I knew nothing about the ending, tho. Came away in a bit of SHOCK.
We must always remember those who were just living their little daily lives only to have them robbed by some senseless moronic political message.
Thanks to all to bring the people from that day, back into our conscious memory. It is quite the story to watch. You become so involved in the families' lives, not knowing what will happen.
SPOILERS! DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE.:
I agree with all of you. I truly believed it was an amazing movie, & despite what most critics are saying, I think Rob's acting was phenomenal! He was so believable as the broken and messed up Tyler & I give him so much more respect as an actor. All the other actors were terrific, including the 11 yr. old, who shocked me by how believably good she was. Lastly, although it left me bawling my eyes out, I thought the ending was clever, and it completely came from left field. I am lucky enough to not have known anyone from nine eleven, but this movie shows how one family in particular is effected, which gave it a personal touch. Great Movie!!
As to my previous post. That is
Rent How To Be to see something entirely different from Mr. Pattinson
I quite liked this film. Bit of a tear-jerker but I knew that going in. I think Mr. Pattinson brings a lot to Tyler. I think his choice of projects during this Twilight phase is quite interesting. All of his co stars are first rate here. Especially the charmer who plays his sister. Their scenes together are very real. If Mr. Pattinson keeps up with these kinds of choices, i.e, Bel Ami, then Water for Elephants, he will soon be a force to be reckoned with and some of the naysayers will be eating their words. He does have a presence on the screen and people have to realize their pre-conceived notions are probably not correct. He is quite a lot more than Edward Cullen. Rent How To Be if you want to seem entirely different.
I saw the film and found it refreshing in it's gritiness and filmic qualities. It's time we went beyond the expensive, glossy Hollywood looks and get back to storytelling. I think we have a hard time accepting 9/11 because we were INVADED- why are the critics not offended by the Iraq War being used as the plot? Maybe because we're the INVADERS? No-one likes being weak and vulnerable, and this film portrays that, much to the crtitics' chagrin.
Robert and the rest of the cast did an excellent job. The story was real and felt like people you would actually know. I didn't get any of the so-called James Dean posturing nor can I understand how anyone was offended by the tasteful ending. It was totally in keeping with the realness of the movie. Not a plot device at all but a very real conclusion to a very real life story. It seems that some just want to trash this movie and it's male lead without true cause.
Bottom line: Well acted movie that will cause you to think about what's important in life. Don't let the negativity of others cause you to miss out. This film is now solidly on my favorites list. A+
I can't understand the indignation of the critics that bashed this movie. I like the people who already commented, think perhaps they didn't see the same movies that I did? Or perhaps they just don't want this "golden boy" to succeed? It was very well acted and convincing. Those who were offended by the ending sound like the Crazy PC people who jump at any chance to hunt down anyone who misspeaks. America, what has happened to your sense of imagination and character?
I loved it. I thought Robert Pattinson was very good in the movie. I don't understand why the movie was bashed by critics at all. I hope it does very well in the box office. The critics who were so mean must not have seen the same movie I saw. i give it a 2 thumbs up!
Nice.I believe Robert Pattinson has a lot to show us as he continues acting. In this movie, he makes me laugh, makes me cry and gives me warm fuzzies with his attention and dedication to his little sister. My daughter ask me going in if I could get past "Edward" and watch Robert Pattinson. I said that was Robert's job. To make me see him in a new character role and he did the job well. When I left the theater, I felt I knew "Tyler" and knew those who Tyler had touched were better off for knowing him and knew they would miss him. Well done.
I really was moved by this movie. I knew about the ending and was curious after reading all the seriously offended critics. Everyone in the movie was really well cast. They were believably real characters. As the story unfolds, you forget where you are and become wrapped up in the story. It is not a Hollywood formula movie. It is deeper and you continue to think about it long after you finish watching it. It truly touches on remembering to love, appreciate and forgive each day and love those nearest to you. I really am perplexed by all the ridiculous attacks on this movie. They must not have seen the movie I watched.
I liked the movie – it was gritty and real rather than glamorised and I felt all the main characters, including Pattinson's were very believable and convincing. I sympathised and empathised with them and felt for them on their journey. It left me thinking and the 2 hours of the movie sped by. I thought the ending was sensitively handled and fail to see how it could offend anyone. All in all this is a movie I will be adding to my DVD collection.