With his latest film, The Lighthouse, Robert Pattinson is back on the big screen. And if the trailer is anything to go by, we’re in for a real treat. The film is set around a famous lighthouse in Cornwall, England, and centres around a love affair that develops between John, played by Pattinson, and Grace, played by Alicia Vikander. The film marks the beginning of a whole new phase in the actor’s career, as he is now firmly established as one of the most in-demand actors of our time.
The trailer shows a number of steamy scenes between the Oscar-winning actor and British model Vikander. It also reveals that, since 2013, Pattinson has been officially listed as one of the most attractive men in the UK.
With over 70 million views on YouTube, the trailer for The Lighthouse has certainly not been overlooked. And while the reaction has mostly been positive, there have been a few dissenting voices. Many fans have complained about the film’s ‘cheap-looking’ quality. But, all things considered, the trailer is more than satisfactory. It’s arguably one of the best in recent memory. And if you agree, then it follows that we can expect more from the film than just a nostalgia trip to the countryside.
More Than Meets The Eye
When it comes to the trailer for The Lighthouse, a lot is immediately noticeable. For starters, the lighting is exceptional. The contrast between the brightly-lit cityscapes and the dark, moonlit beach is breathtaking. It creates a real sense of mystery and foreboding. And, even more impressively, the shots are mostly uninterrupted. Meaning that the viewer never gets bored or distracted by the cuts made to other scenes. We always remain fully engaged in the spectacle that is Pattinson and Vikander, struggling for survival in potentially life-threatening situations.
In the film, Vikander’s character is the polar opposite of the rugged individualism that often characterises Pattinson’s on-screen persona. In real life, the two are close friends, and despite their professional differences – which is mostly covered up by flirtation – they still genuinely care for each other. Their on-screen chemistry is certainly fun to watch, as their intimate scenes are always laugh-out-loud funny. And, even in the most serious situations, you can never take your eyes off the screen. Especially when Pattinson uses his hand to silently caress Vikander’s cheek. Or when he pinches her bum in a suggestive manner, as if to say “don’t trouble yourself, my dear, I know you want me.”
The Mainstreaming Of Pop Culture
While many might argue that the days of the ‘legitimate’ film star are long gone, in terms of on-screen representation they aren’t. For centuries, films had a close connection with theatre. Actors would perform in front of a camera, with film projection being used to show stories and plays that were often satirical or comedic in nature. The major difference is that, in today’s world, films are often shown in multiplexes, in large theatres, while plays are primarily performed in indoor theatres. This opens up a world of possibility for mainstream pop culture. One that didn’t exist before the rise of the internet.
In the past, plays were often staged in the countryside, away from the bustle of the city. It was a way of life that often put performers’ lives at risk. But in today’s world, the opposite is true. If we take a look at The Lighthouse’s production code, we see that it’s in multiplexes, with the film being shown in both 2D and 3D. This is probably a nod to the growing number of people that grew up with access to the internet. Children of the digital age might therefore now be growing up seeing films in the big-budget spectacular that the major studios used to reserve for adults. While theatre, in all its forms, is still referred to as the ‘traditional’. Thank you, video games!
There are also numerous references to pop culture and modern social issues in The Lighthouse. References to David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Prince all appear throughout the film. And it wouldn’t be surprising if a few of the more prominent songs from the 1960s and 1970s were covered in the soundtrack, given that the majority of the film’s action takes place in that decade. And, at one point, Vikander’s character is seen reading a script that’s clearly inspired by the works of Haruki Murakami.
From Bad Boy To Love Story
The trailer for The Lighthouse gives us our first glimpse of Pattinson’s character. We see him as a troubled youth, dealing with the death of his father and a series of bullying incidents at school. He eventually drops out and travels to London, where he becomes involved with a variety of unsavory characters. One of whom, he later realises, was grooming him to be his wife’s pimp. After finally getting his act together, he travels to the countryside and buys a run-down house, which he fixes up and converts into a B&B. It’s a love story of sorts, but it’s not long before he realises that, much like the lonely lighthouse keeper he’s playing, he needs to be on his own. And so he starts looking after his guests, with a smile.
The trailer also briefly shows Pattinson’s character’s relationship with his father. As mentioned, the actor’s father was an abusive alcoholic, and it’s clear that this continues to affect him. He doesn’t mention his father by name, but in one scene, we see him angrily shouting “He was never there for me!” This is something of a throwback to his dad’s addiction, and it’s an issue that continues to plague the actor, to this day. But, for the most part, it’s a fresh start for Pattinson, who decided to leave his troubles behind when he bought the B&B.
The Lighthouse is loosely based on the 1927 play of the same name by Henrik Ibsen. It was first performed in London in 1927 and subsequently went on to become one of the most successful plays in history. After numerous successful stage productions, it was turned into a film in 1957. The trailer for the new adaptation features a number of well-known British actors and models and was primarily filmed in London and the South West of England. In addition to Pattinson and Vikander, the film also stars Holliday Grainger, Michael Gambon and James Purefoy.
In The Lighthouse, Henrik Ibsen’s classic story of a middle-aged man’s descent into self-discovery and redemption is faithfully adapted for the screen. The film is directed by Robert Eggleton and centres around the friendship between an accomplished artist, Herman, (played by Michael Gambon) and a young man, Torvald, (played by Robert Pattinson). Herman has a happy family life with his wife, Anna (played by Holliday Grainger) and their young daughter, Liv. Torvald, on the other hand, is an aspiring writer who is struggling with his sexuality and his place in society.
As mentioned, a number of well-known British models and actors feature in the trailer for The Lighthouse. We see Holliday Grainger as Anna (Herman’s wife), Alicia Vikander as Grace (Torvald’s lover) and Michael Gambon as himself (Herman). In addition, we meet James Purefoy as Mr Langeland, Liv’s tutor, and Danny Sapani as the film’s editor.
The trailer for the film shows us a whole lot more than we see on the surface. The lighting is beautiful and creates an otherworldly atmosphere that is bound to appeal to anyone that loves movies. In addition to this, the soundtrack is bound to please established fans of 70s cinema. Especially as it includes an appearance from Joe Bennett, who also composed the music for the classic film, The Maltese Falcon.
Overall, this is an excellent trailer for The Lighthouse. And, at just under 3 minutes, it’s far from being the longest of its kind. It tells us a lot about the film, its lead characters and the direction in which it is heading. While the reaction to this news has been extremely positive, there have been a few dissenting voices. It might be worth considering whether or not you’ve seen the entire trailer, before launching into a critique.