Sometimes a film can really surprise you. It can bring you back to a time – or present – when you felt really passionate about something, or someone. It can also make you laugh; bring you joy. That’s exactly what happened to me when I saw On the Road. I didn’t see the film coming, and it left me feeling really emotional. Of course, as with any other viewing, there were lots of pros and cons – but I’ll tell you more about that later. Here are the best and worst moments of Robert Pattinson’s career so far.
Robert Pattinson’s Best Moments
There are so many great moments in Robert Pattinson’s career – but it might be hard for someone who hasn’t followed his whole journey to know what they are. He’s been acting for years, and has appeared in films like Cosmo Warrior and The Rover. In 2012 he had a breakout year, appearing in huge movies like The Twilight Saga – New Moon and Eclipse – as well as smaller films like Midnight in Paris. He also became known for his starring role in the television series Breaking Bad. It was during this time that he really started to develop a following among film and TV fans, and he eventually secured the role of Edmond Dantès in the highly anticipated film adaptation of The Dark Knight. This is the culmination of everything up until now. Up until recently, Robert Pattinson had mostly stayed clear of the limelight, content to let his acting do the talking. Now that he’s finally reached a certain level of fame, he’s acting with boldness and confidence. Here are some of his best moments so far.
From Twilight To Dark Knight
There are several reasons why On the Road is one of Robert Pattinson’s best movies. For one thing, it’s directed by Walter Salles, who has previously worked with the biggest names in Hollywood. Salles brought his experience to bear on this film, as it features a number of well-known faces. It’s also the final film of the Twilight Saga. What more could you ask for? It’s been a long time since the Twilight movies came out, and they created something of a cultural phenomenon. With each installment, the franchise grew in popularity, and established itself as a guilty pleasure. People still talk about them – especially Breaking Bad, which earned itself a devoted following despite being set in the future. That, and the fact that it was the last film of the trilogy, probably helped sell millions of copies worldwide. It’s also available on Netflix, so if you haven’t seen it you can finally enjoy it – and many others did. Since its premiere in 2013, it’s become one of the most popular movies on Netflix, and it’s currently the second most popular movie on the service after Titanic. For those who saw it at the time of its premiere, the atmosphere in the theater was electric. It was a packed house, and the entire theater seemed to be roaring at the same time. This was especially true of the scenes featuring Paul Newman, who plays a hugely important role in the life of an alcoholic writer named Jack London – the inspiration for the film. The film also marked the comeback of an actor many had written off – Robert Pattinson. He hadn’t appeared in a film in over three years, and had seemingly disappeared from Hollywood. His life was turned upside down when Twilight fans, and then Breaking Bad fans, started showing up at his house – seeking an encounter with the actor. In the end, it was the combination of these two factors that helped make On the Road one of Robert Pattinson’s best moments. It was the culmination of everything. In Walter Salles’ words: “He had to make a choice between what he wanted to do, and what he thought was important.” While he could have continued acting – especially with so many fanfare-grabbing Twilight installments still to come – he instead chose to direct. If anything, Twilight was responsible for putting him back in the public eye. As for Breaking Bad, it turned out to be a life-changing experience for him – one that ultimately led to this moment.
Another Huge Film Debut
Another reason why On the Road is one of Robert Pattinson’s best movies is that it’s his debut feature. Though he’d been acting for years, this was his professional breakthrough. As previously mentioned, one of the reasons why the film is so successful is that it features so many famous faces. Even the trailer for the film is packed with famous names. One of the most interesting aspects of the movie is how it manages to pack so much talent into a single narrative. Salles handles the story fairly well, weaving a number of intertwined narratives. He manages to keep the viewer interested, even when the subject matter is somewhat dry. The movie also marks the film debut of actors Carey Mulligan and Kirsten Dunst. They’ve both gone on to have illustrious careers, but this was their first major role. As Mulligan’s character says, in a rather famous line: “Sometimes you just want to crawl under a rock and die.” This is something of a mantra for Carey Mulligan’s character, who has just finished working on a suicide pact with her lover. That’s a rather dark turn of events, and it’s what led to On the Road being named one of the best films of the year. It’s quite an interesting moment, and it comes off quite differently from anything else Mulligan has ever done. It’s not a conventional road movie, but then again, neither is Mulligan – and that’s what makes it so interesting. She hasn’t always been known for playing happy, trusting characters. This is quite a departure, and it’s something that viewers should keep in mind. Though it was a less-than-inspiring debut, it still managed to find an audience and gain praise from critics. It was only a matter of time before his second feature – a collaboration with Wes Anderson – landed on Netflix. It was the beginning of something brilliant. (1)
A Film With A Purpose
Before On the Road, Robert Pattinson hadn’t really done much that was overtly political. He’d been in a couple of documentaries about famous artists. One of them, Don’t Be Bad, follows the rise of British rock band Oasis. Though it’s ostensibly about the making of the band’s third album, Be Here Now, there are actually a lot more going on here. The film is actually about an increase in positivity in society. It’s a celebration of British youth and of the band itself. While there are definitely some funny and poignant scenes – especially when the members of Oasis are interviewed about their storied past – it’s mainly a celebration of what makes the group so special. It’s a hymn to the power of music. It’s actually the polar opposite of the kind of movie that Robert Pattinson usually makes. Though it’s far from perfect – and there are plenty of scenes that could have been removed without affecting the film’s overall narrative – it still manages to celebrate British culture and its musical legacy. It’s not often that we get a chance to celebrate something so grandiose as the music of Oasis. It’s something that definitely deserves a round of applause. It’s also one of the more interesting documentaries about an artist’s career, largely because it touches on so many different aspects of the band’s existence. Oasis is a classic example of a band that managed to maintain – if not increase – its popularity throughout their career. Of course, this was largely down to luck. They were at the right place and time, with the right songs, and they had two very distinctive guitar players. If they hadn’t been signed to a major record label, there’s no telling how successful they might have become.
The Biggest Surprise Of The Year
The biggest surprise of the year was easily Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Though it was nominated for several awards, including Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, it was actually an attempt at a broad, humorous satire that underperformed at the box office. The documentary focuses on Fred Rogers, and the legacy he left behind. It’s a rather remarkable legacy, considering he spent his entire life trying to create an environment where neighbors could get to know each other. To that end, he founded the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood TV show. It originally aired in Pittsburgh from 1968 to 2001, and it now airs on PBS in a number of markets. Though it was met with mostly negative reviews, it still managed to find a small audience. While it’s not often that we’re given the opportunity to laugh at a documentary about someone’s life – especially one who was as modest and self-effacing as Rogers was – this was one of those rare occasions. The biggest surprise of the year was that someone actually made a documentary about Fred Rogers. Most people had either never heard of him or had never given him much thought. It was rather like Thomas Edison – who, like Fred Rogers, is another hero of mine – never got the recognition he deserved in his lifetime.