It seems like every other celebrity is falling in love these days, but it’s been particularly hard on Robert Pattinson. The British actor has had to deal with the break-up of his relationship with actress Kristen Stewart, and then he had to watch his longtime best friend, John Paul Getty III, fall in love with her as well. In an effort to move on from his personal pain, he’s chosen to delve into the characters and stories of some of cinema’s greatest romcoms. Here are his picks for the Top 10 best Robert Pattinson movies.
10. Goodbye Christopher Robin
To start off the list, we have a movie that was based on the stories of A.A. Milne, mostly known for his children’s books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Ugly Duckling. In this story, Robin attempts to cheer up his lonely childhood friend Alice after years of being together. Together, the two of them take the town by storm as they try their hand at being famous cartoonists. The movie stars Robert Pattinson, Emily Mortimer, and Jim Cummings, and although it’s almost 80 years old, it’s as modern as can be. Its blend of old-school romance and quirky humor still resonates with audiences today.
9. The King’s Speech
The second-to-last movie on our list is a bit of a departure from our usual fare, as it’s a historical epic that stars Robert Pattinson as the titular King George VI. The film follows the early reigns of this British monarch, who is depicted as a somewhat reluctant leader. After the abdication of his older brother George V in 1936, King George takes the throne of Great Britain and is forced to step into the role of a leader. The film also stars Helena Bonham Carter as his somewhat domineering mother, Queen Marie, and Alan Bates as his father, the Marquess of Birkenhead. Despite the grandiose nature of the story, it still manages to be extremely tender and humanistic, and the combination of all those things makes it one of the greatest achievements in the actor’s career. The cinematography alone deserves a mention, as it’s one of the greatest sights to watch a movie on, and it has a score that will stay with you for days.
8. Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair is one of the greatest costume dramas created, and it’s one of the more famous examples of German expressionism. The story focuses on Edmond Dickering, a journalist who is assigned to write a story about high society. Along the way, he gets to know some of the most prominent members of New York City’s upper classes, and through them, he learns about the political and social upheavals that are rocking the city. The movie is rife with famous faces, from Virginia Woolf to Mary Pickford to Rudolph Valentino, and it is a joy to watch the actors wear such beautiful costumes and make-up. The sets are also incredibly well done, and the costumes and historical setting make it a feast for the eyes.
7. The Age of Innocence
Another unusual take on a classic literary character comes to us from Michael Curtiz, who directed a series of film noir adaptations of American classics. In this dark incarnation, Mark Twain’s famous humorist discovers the city’s dark underbelly as he investigates the murder of a former lover. The movie is a masterclass in cinematic noir, using stark black-and-white photography and moody, evocative music to create a mood of foreboding tension. The story is also told from the point-of-view of the murderer, giving the film an added degree of psychological depth. The movie stars Gary Cooper as Twain and Margaret Sullavan as his lover, along with Mae Marsh as the woman he wrongly accuses of poisoning his ex. It was a great cast and an amazing piece of work, and although it was made in 1946, it feels like it was just released this year.
6. The Light Between Oceans
This is the movie that almost made me fall in love with him. The story follows a man named Mel, who along with his wife, Ethel (played by Cate Blanchett), leaves their home in Australia for a trip to visit his brother in England. Once there, they discover that their brother, Charles (played by Geoffrey Rush), has fallen in love with a Frenchwoman named Irene (Sally Hawkins). When Charles and Irene’s plans to wed go horribly wrong and she is deported, the blame is placed on Mel. As punishment, he is forced to watch his brother and sister-in-law become closer and closer while he is apart from them. Once back in Australia, he sets out to find a way to bring his wife and child back home with him, but it’s not easy. The movie is rich with character development and masterful filmmaking, and it’s the kind of love story that sticks with you long after the credits have rolled.
5. Dark Shadows
The fifth movie on our list is one of the greatest examples of Gothic horror created, and it’s the kind of story that is made for the big screen. Based on the classic 1930s radio play Dark Shadows, it tells the tale of a cursed family. The members of this family are afflicted with a bloodthirsty curse that forces them to kill when they sleep and when they dream. This is a gruesome process that has lasted for hundreds of years, and it continues today. This movie was a great opportunity for British cinema, as it was the first non-paparazzi-related role for Robert Pattinson, and he does a good job filling the boots of a vampire. The movie also stars a then-unknown Sandra Hoop, and it’s one of the more interesting cases where the IMDb rating is considerably higher than the Rotten Tomatoes score. It usually happens when a movie is loved by audiences but not by critics. This is one of those perfect examples.
4. The Lost Prince
The Lost Prince is based on the 1908 novel The Lost Prince by H. Rider Haggard. In this adventure/fantasy movie, an English nobleman named Allan Quist is on a quest to find his missing cousin, Tim (played by Eric Richard), a man he has never met before. Along the way, he stumbles upon a band of gypsies who are performing a pagan ritual. The movie is quite unique among our list, as it is a largely African-American ensemble that includes Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee. It was one of the first American movies to be released in theaters alongside the lights, and it’s a gorgeous example of how filmmaking can transcend time and distance. The sets are jaw-droppingly beautiful, and the costumes are lavish and imaginative. Haggard’s novel was a best-seller when it was published in 1908, and it still is.
3. The Rover Boys
The Rover Boys is one of the great success stories of cinema history, as it was the first sound-on-sound movie made. Dubbed ‘the Granddaddy of Them All’ by director Michael Curtiz, it tells the story of a legendary rodeo cowboy named George Reeves. Reeves and his four brothers (played by John Wayne, Bob, Rory, and Harvey) are under the impression that their father has died, leaving them the majority of his estate. The oldest boy, George, decides to go to town and get some legal assistance, while his brothers travel to Cody, Wyoming to begin their professional rodeo careers. There, they discover that their father is still alive, and they begin to question George’s motives and loyalty. Curtiz’s direction is a thing of beauty, using a handheld camera and deep focus photography to create a sense of realism and authenticity. The whole thing is bathed in golden light, and it’s the kind of movie that people either love or hate, but regardless of what you think of it, it’s undeniably unique. This is a movie that will never get old.
2. Kidnapped
Kidnapped is another historical epic whose reputation has been somewhat tarnished over the years. The movie was actually based on a real-life 1846 incident that took place in Scotland involving a man named John McQueen. While in Scotland, he fell in love with a woman named Jessie Dean. Upon their return to Canada, they were married, but only after enduring a harrowing ordeal that claimed the lives of many of their friends and family. The story takes an almost documentary approach as it follows the events of a single day in the life of the McQueens as they adjust to their new life in the United States. It’s an amazing achievement of cinematic history, and it’s also one of the most important movies in the actor’s career. The story is told from a first-person perspective, which is something that Pattinson had never done before, and although it was made more than 80 years ago, it still feels fresh and modern. This movie will never get old.