Robert Pattinson: Our Sci-Fi Superman? Who knew?

Robert Pattinson: Our Sci-Fi Superman?  Who knew?

After Twilight and other films who would suspect Pattinson had an interest in Sci-Fi? There's nothing "sparkly" about his role.

Editorial Opinion
By Kaboominator - Jul 07, 2014 02:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Sci-Fi
Source: ComicBookMovie.com

David Michôd’s The Rover is fantastic because it so well illustrates what we have been missing from so many other acting performances in the action-adventure genre. 
 
You may have noticed that what we haven’t been getting lately in the Action-Adventure genre. A jolt, a reason for pause, a genuine sense of surprise in character development seems to elude us in so many films. For some reason many actors seem to forget they are: 1) the vehicle for wonder, 2) the translator of exception, 3) the provocateur of awe yet accomplishing any of these endeavors is very difficult.  It’s difficult because the actor has to be willing to break convention, choose against formula, and frequently find rationales in character definition that may not be on the page.  In other words the performance may contradict what we think the original text suggested.  That’s right this performer has to be in large degree a rebel! This kind of artist can’t be a people pleaser, can’t seek to be popular, nor can he or she perform to win acceptance. These described bold attributions require guts, bravery and integrity, things that audiences don’t necessarily attribute to artists yet are apparent in the best performances (yes, even in Action-Adventure). As Rey, Robert Pattinson provides this kind of superb performance.
 
 
You may be taking exception.  The audience may think all of these characteristics are purely the product of the Director’s artistry.  Yes, by his or her authorial position in the dramatic production the director can easily take credit for the actor’s best artistic choices. But the director can’t produce what (for lack of a better description) an “instrument” can’t project.  For instance a violin can’t produce percussion the way a drum can.  So yes the director should get credit for knowing what part of the musical section produces the best effect, yet after that -- the exact “tool” for that effect has to eventually register it’s own unique performance.
 
Instead of “beating around the bush” we will look at the comic book genre in film to illustrate a rebellious exception to ordinary expectation.  In 1979’s Superman the Movie, Julliard trained actor Christopher Reeve was hired to play character Kal-El who in the film played two distinct characters: Superman and Clark Kent.  The example of heinous thespian rebelliousness we’re looking for is apparent in the Clark Kent character.  Contrary to previous performances by T.V. actor George Reeve (no relation) the character Clark is depicted as an upstanding responsible citizen.  Uncharacteristically, Christopher plays the Clark as a buffoon, a wimp, and way too pathetic for audience members to believe he might actually be effective in anything.  Why was that dramatic portrayal useful because the performance highlights how heroic his later performance of Superman will actually appear for audiences?  In other words breaking with previous expectation actually enhanced and improved the audience reception for the character. I could mention other unexpected genius super hero performances such as (Oscar winner) Christian Bail’s wicked gravel voiced Batman in The Dark Knight or (Oscar winner) Robert Downey Jr.’s petulant and self-absorbed Tony Stark in Ironman yet the effective character contradiction should be clear.  Certainly if the actor has any job, character presentation is the biggest responsibility.
 
Trying to avoid any really significant spoilers, let’s look at a far more recent epic performance. Back to The Rover, Robert Pattinson equally plays his character Rey as a bit of buffoon.  Many critics have claimed he is as Guy Pearce’s character Eric sees him: a “half-wit.”  Yet we’ll let you decide for yourself whether you think the character is mentally challenged.  In a scene that is described (yet we don’t actually see it) Rey is shot and left for dead by his brother Henry (played by actor Scoot McNairy). Post traumatic syndrome disorder or PTSD could explain Rey’s odd or pathetic behavior as an effect of being horrified by stressful events.  We only have character Archie’s  (played by actor David) opinion that Rey’s behavior is typically that way to lead us to believe Rey is a dunce.  Yet it’s his brother’s uncharacteristically violent reaction to these statements that make us believe that Archie statements may be entirely wrong.   Many of the film’s depictions are equally this open ended, allowing a thoughtful audience to independently process the brilliance of the narrative.
 
Like the earlier Reeve portrait of a pathetic Clark, Pattinson’s performance helps us better understand how uncharacteristically brave, loyal and devoted he is to his virtual kidnapper Eric.  Apparently separated by decades, bravery and brilliance from one actor demonstrates brilliance in another.
 
Though he has presented many nuanced characters since his most popular performance as Edward in the Twilight series, few roles have demonstrated how expansive Pattinson’s range actually is.  Yes Edward, the character that sold the entire Twilight series has one thing in common with Rey from The Rover; actor Robert Pattinson.
 

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SonOfOdor
SonOfOdor - 7/7/2014, 2:28 PM
...what?
SuperCat
SuperCat - 7/7/2014, 2:28 PM
Gusto said he likes the Twilight movies. No lie.
Gnoxorm
Gnoxorm - 7/7/2014, 2:43 PM
LOL wow what a terrible article. This is seriously a waste. Poorly written that tries to sound sophisticated, on an unrelated topic, from a source WE ALL HATE. This is so stupid. WTF?
McGee
McGee - 7/7/2014, 2:51 PM
F*ck you Bender. Brandon Routh did his best tried.
McGee
McGee - 7/7/2014, 2:53 PM
He's gonna kill it as the Atom on the CW!

And by kill it I mean he might cause the show to be cancelled.
MsDarkPhoenix
MsDarkPhoenix - 7/7/2014, 3:00 PM
Did anyone actually read this?
MsDarkPhoenix
MsDarkPhoenix - 7/7/2014, 3:01 PM
If yes, does it say anything I should care about?
MsDarkPhoenix
MsDarkPhoenix - 7/7/2014, 3:01 PM
@Supercat Does he also like High School Musical? I'm sure he does :P
sKeemAn
sKeemAn - 7/7/2014, 3:02 PM
This article..

batmanvsuperman
batmanvsuperman - 7/7/2014, 3:10 PM
^^^lls
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 7/7/2014, 3:14 PM
Twilight is my guilty pleasure. Really bad movies but they're good when you're hungover, literally don't have to think at all.

It's a shame there's a stigma attached to these actors, a lot of the cast actually have a lot of talent.
Floke
Floke - 7/7/2014, 3:17 PM
Did a drunk and high Robert Pattinson actually wrote this article himself?

@MsDarkPhoenix I read it and.. well.. I dont know it it was because Im Swedish, but I have no idea what I just read. A guy gluing a dildo to his head while singing the themesong from Teletubbies makes more sense than this.
SuperCat
SuperCat - 7/7/2014, 3:26 PM
Lol @ Phoenix

He probably does but won't admit it!
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 7/7/2014, 3:47 PM
Having only seen him in the first Twilight and Goblet of Fire, I can't say much at all for Robert Pattinson. I would say I feel sorry for him because he only did Twilight for Kristen Stewart who went [frick]ing around on him, and he hated the role, but I'm pretty positive he made a decent paycheck.

Still, like CherryBomb said, it sucks that he's forever associated with something he hates, which is genuinely terrible.
McGee
McGee - 7/7/2014, 4:10 PM
Yeah... I didn't read this article either. What's it about?
sKeemAn
sKeemAn - 7/7/2014, 4:11 PM
@tainted

I have a message for Mr Pattinson...

TucksFrom2015
TucksFrom2015 - 7/7/2014, 7:27 PM
why was Robert Pattinson hanging out with Beyonce & the band Death Grips?





Alphadog
Alphadog - 7/8/2014, 12:34 AM
WHAT THE [frick] ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT? You had difficulty understanding this? It's pretty clear what he said. He said that Robert Pattison played a unique character in this movie and proved that he has a lot of range. He explained why the character is great and that it's different from any other character. Simple. Haven't seen the movie so can't comment on that.
Alphadog
Alphadog - 7/8/2014, 12:34 AM
Oh, and the movie he's talking about is The Rover.
Cronnie
Cronnie - 7/8/2014, 6:15 AM
Big Cronenberg fan. First learned of Pattinson when I saw Cosmopolis. This kid is good! So when I read about The Rover, went to see it. (Besides having loved Michod's Animal Kingdom) BLOWN AWAY by both his and Guy Pierce's performances, but especially Pattinson's. Great review, by the way. Totally agree.
justme1
justme1 - 7/8/2014, 9:09 AM
1. haters su**
2. why does Robert pose with his pals? obviously, talented people from the same field usually end up knowing each other. in Rob's case he grew up with some talented actors, singers and song writers, he has become good friends with many since his childhood. tell me who your friends are... you know. BTW he has an amazing voice, plays piano and guitar in case you didn't know. oh, and he is very loyal friend too.
3. the article is great and much appreciated. comments like "what is it about? i didn't even read it", or "i didn't read but i disagree" and "i am here but i don't care about an article" makes me wonder what are you all doing on this thread.
4. i am his big fan, IMHO his acting is mesmerizing, charismatic and standing out. all directors he worked with have had only good things to say about him and not just for self-advertising... they all noticed how humble, intelligent, educated, hard-working, competent and committed he was.
5. not everyone has to like RP, i can understand this...
6. then again, when you like something you will take time to protect it, when you dislike or even hate something/ someone that/who does nothing to do with you, why would you waste your time on it?
BennoLevin
BennoLevin - 7/8/2014, 5:05 PM
Wow! Great article. You inspired me to comment. Please ignore the silly and snarky comments about this article. It's nice to read something of substance for a change. I was really blown away by Pattinson's performance in both "Cosmopolis" & "The Rover." I loved Cosmopolis but if I had to choose "The Rover" would be my favorite. Can't wait to see what this guy does next.
SpeedRacer
SpeedRacer - 7/8/2014, 6:33 PM
Wife drug me to see Cronenberg's film with this guy. I'd seen the slack for the Twilight stuff and was surprised to find out that he could act. When she went all ape sh*# about seeing The Rover, I was along for the ride. Animal Kingdom was a great movie. I wasn't disappointed with The Rover and found I actually liked it even better than Animal Kingdom. Guy Pearce is probably one of the best character actors out there today, and the kid (Robert) even surpassed Guy in this. He can act, and anyone that discredits that based upon a perception does so at the risk of appear idiotic.

Its a shame the movie didn't make the money that some of the trash this summer did.
Keifer
Keifer - 7/8/2014, 7:09 PM
Wow … don't get the insane so-called humor on these comments. This guy did a great job reviewing TheRover. I went with a buddy of mine and we effin loved it . It was really brutal, tense, not idiotic. Guy Pearce, as usual, was superb, Robert Pattinson, was even better . I know - before you make the sparkly jokes, you really should see it . A lot of guys were in the theater when we saw it . A really great movie ! More people should see it !
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