Cosmopolis Teaser Seismically Shifts Critics Perception of Robert Pattinson
I swear to God that Page McKinley and I are NOT the same person – although I could have written this article myself. Cindy sent me Page’s article for MovieVine and I have to say I read it before I saw who wrote it and had already decided I was going to post. Some very valid points made as usual by Page. I’m glad she did the research about how many times critics have gotten it wrong in the past – not that I ever doubted that.
Here’s some of what Page had to say:
“Revolutions are usually bloody affairs. Sweaty, shouty, violent things that leave a grim taste in the mouth . But sometimes, just sometimes, they’re golden. March 22 was such a day. That was the day, of course, that the online release of David Cronenberg’s first Cosmopolis teaser 180’d the majority critical perception of Robert Pattinson. Critics, film outlets, and a multitude of industry commentators previously queueing up to disparage Pattinson’s acting abilities are now saying just the opposite. In fact, they’re openly rapturous.
Unwilling – or perhaps unable – to see past Summit Entertainment’s YA-geared marketing of Pattinson, as the sensitive vampire rejuvenated by his love for a human teenager, most critics recoiled as Pattinson’s public persona became inextricably entwined with that of the fictional “super boy-friend†Edward Cullen. As The Twilight Saga franchise’s star rose – and that of its young leads – so did the derision.
While some of the reasons for that can be laid at the door of promotional saturation by Summit, some of the past snark aimed at Pattinson was undeniably an allergic reaction to the massive commercial success of the Twilight Saga movies. $ 2.5 billion box office and counting – a figure that doesn’t even include DVD/Blu-ray,VOD and merch sales – the resulting popular ascension of Pattinson was viewed by many critics as a kind of manufactured consent.
Witness the endless references to “Twi-hards†and fan “swooning†that inevitably accompanies any write-ups about Pattinson, even for his non-Twilight roles, in itself a mistaken generalization about a multi-generational audience demographic, and often simply a sexist dismissal of its mostly female component. 2010’s Remember Me, 2011’s Water For Elephants were considered too close to the “romantic†mould of the glittering one, and the recently released Bel Ami – actually shot more than two years ago – did little to change industry perceptions, despite the mitigating factors of a reductive screenplay and clumsy staging.
But now, remarkably, everything has changed. To quote an apt phrase; What a difference a day makes. 30 seconds of eye-popping imagery, scenes of Pattinson evidently well out of his comfort zone, have kicked off a chorus of delighted shock and optimism about Cosmopolis, the return of “old school†Cronenberg, and his rebooted and re-loaded leading man.
But should critics, being the ‘experts’, have been able to hold off on premature assessments about a still growing young actor who readily admits he is learning as he goes? Quick answer: Yes. Obviously no-one should be forced to like something if they don’t, but it’s also true that as subsequent Twilight Saga installments moved away from Catherine Hardwicke’s first “indie-toned†vision, the critical mauling of Pattinson (and his co-stars) began. A curious position to take for what was – ultimately – a studio decision.
The reality is, critics can, and often do, get things very wrong. Who can forget the reactionaryism that greeted “Fight Club’s†release in 1999; Pauline Kael’s review of The Graduate (1967) – “The Graduate only wants to succeed and that’s fundamentally what’s the matter with itâ€; Russell Maloney’s slam of The Wizard of Oz in 1939, James Agate’s famous line about Citizen Kane (1941), being “nothing to write to Moscow aboutâ€; Richard Hatch’s description of the Bette Davis scorcher All About Eve as hiding, “an unenterprising plot and some preposterous human behavior;†and John Simon’s astonishing rant in 1977 – “With Annie Hall, Woody Allen has truly underreached himself … it is a film so shapeless, sprawling, repetitious, and aimless as to seem to beg for oblivion.â€
Thankfully that oblivion never came. For the sake of space this lamentable list has been shortened, but trust me there are countless more examples. But since “I told you so’s†are boring and hideously smug, a snapshot of the new mood about Pattinson, and some encouragement of the recent consensus to look forward rather than backwards, would perhaps be time better spent.
Twitter, that lightning barometer of opinion, was the one of the first to flood with effusive responses to the teaser. From just some of them [Italics added]: Evrim Ersoy of Rotten Tomatoes tweeted, “34 seconds of ‘COSMOPOLIS†has excited more than 4 minutes of ‘PROMETHEUS’ ever could … neon-washed madness, here we come.†Bill Arceneaux of Movie Boozer and Nola Film Events wrote, “ Can’t take the edge away from Cronenberg.†while Cinevue enthused, “Now THIS is a teaser!†Stuart Barr from Screenjabber said, “Oh wow, Cosmopolis looks like its going to be R’Patz’s American Psycho from the first teaser,†and film lecturer and short filmmaker, Ben Mallaby, tweeted,“David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis looks incredible! I might actually go and see a Robert Pattinson movie.
…
So, as we approach April 19, when definitive word from Cannes Festival organizers will confirm whether (or not) Cosmopolis will show, and of course, the film’s actual release (present dates, May 23, France and May 31, Portugal) – what have we learnt? Simply this: If you want to see the best from someone, whether actor, director, friend or stranger, put hasty judgement to one side and they might just show you. As the dust of March 22 settles, this much is clear: Robert Pattinson can act.
Go on. Say it. Out loud.”
Page we’ve been saying it LOUD & PROUD for years. Click on link above to read full article.
PS. Thanks Jules for the cap and Cindy for sending me the article!
14 comments on “Cosmopolis Teaser Seismically Shifts Critics Perception of Robert Pattinson”
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Michelle
I am grinning from ear to ear after reading this. Great article Page – thank you.
YES Robert Pattinson CAN act – finally people are catching up & admitting to what we have known ALL ALONG, what we have known & said ever since we first saw him. FINALLY Rob is receiving the praise & recognition that he DESERVES. I’m so happy for him -I have tears of joy. This is only the beginning too. All the people that have blindly written him off in the past will be eating their words. Cannot express in words how happy it makes me. As I always say, no one in the world deserves it more than Rob, nobody.
Thanks so much Maria & Cindy. Oh & roll on August 30!!!
Cindy
Paige you took the words right out of my mouth. And yes Maria I did you you wrote it till I read Paige’s name at the bottom no word of a lie.
Carolyn
“Robert Pattinson can act.” I am actually crying. Actual real tears of joy. I actually fist pumped the air. What a way to start a Sunday morning. In fact, that last few days have been so exciting. I truly have lost track of how many times I have watched that Cosmopolis teaser….at normal speed, at a slower speed, by pausing and playing, pausing and playing, the screencaps. The next 157 days can not go fast enough!
Maria
Me too @Carolyn not to mention I cannot get Audiomachine out of my head
Michelle
157 days – I so wish we could fast forward to August 30th. If only it was possible!!
Cannot stop watching the trailer. Audiomachine has been running through my head on loop & of course – Rob’s dialogue.
Carmel
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME
They were blind, but now they see
Page does sound like you Maria (that is a compliment to both of you)
oceanpebble
AT LAST! It’s happening! They’re not blind! SO,SO,SO PROUD OF ROB.
Crying all the time, yet with a bitter feeling. Although we should feel preveledged that we were the first ones to see ROB’S UNIQUE TALENT, I can’t help thinking how stressful it must have been for him to be so brutally criticized, up to now.
Well I bow once more before him for his gracious, steel character to prove them wrong, as if needed. I’ll agree with you that this is only the beginning, certain of Rob’s future choices.
I’m sorry that Greece will be one of the last countries to have this great film released, although I keep my fingers crossed for the opposite. Wait, is all I can do, NOT EASY AT ALL!!!
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL WORK OF YOURS KEEPING ME COMPANY FROM THE OTHER CORNER OF THE PLANET! I LOVE YOU.
Michelle
I know @oceanpebble. I HATE that Rob had to deal with such cruel & untrue criticism being thrown at him. It makes me so terribly sad & MAD. He is the last person in the world that deserves any sort of negativity. He will have the last laugh though, not the vile people that treated him badly. I loathe them
Sue
So great to read this. Agree with everything said above ~ I’m so happy for Rob ~ hopefully all the negative stuff of the past makes the positive stuff of the future just that much sweeter for him.
Thanks for posting, Ladies!
Vicky
What a brilliant article. We have know it for a long time now so it’s nice to see others finally catching up!!!! Pride, joy and yes, I admit to some tears as well!!! Thanks Cindy and Maria!!
Vertigo
It’s about bloody time!
lids
So, so well said…yes we knew it all along and we waited patiently for this day
lids
So, so well said…we knew all along Rob can act, and we waited patiently for this day…and what a day it is
Can’t wait for this movie
adream
A-MEN!