I haven’t seen Pattinson Consett in years. Back in my teen years, I remember watching her in romantic comedies, wishing the roles were a little more challenging. As an adult, I still feel that way about some of her roles. But the thing is, even though I haven’t seen her in a while, she never really left my mind. When I heard that she was working on a new movie, I was intrigued, and when I saw the first images, I was floored.
I still remember the moment I saw her face. It was secluded, tucked away somewhere in the wilderness of Wales. She was on a boat trip with her husband and friends, and I thought to myself, “Who is that woman?”. Even though I have never been on a boat trip with my husband, I immediately knew what adventure I would love to be a part of. The image of those strong winds whipping her hair around, and her laughing at the crazy antics of her friends and colleagues, has always been burned into my memory. I don’t know why, but that’s the kind of vacation I would love to be a part of.
So it was with great excitement that I heard about the movie she was making, and even greater excitement that I found out it was going to be released this year. And when I finally got the chance to see it, I was not disappointed. In fact, I was blown away.
Here’s the thing about Pattinson Consett. She’s not a conventional beauty. She doesn’t wear makeup or hair dye, and her costumes are always simple and understated. But that doesn’t mean her looks are plain. Far from it. You would never guess that she doesn’t wear makeup by looking at her. In fact, if it wasn’t for her incredible acting talent, she probably wouldn’t even be considered beautiful. But she is. Even when she’s playing a part that’s very opposite of what she normally does, she manages to pull off incredible looks that make you believe she’s simply altered her appearance for the role.
The movie opens with Pattinson Consett and her friends on a boat trip. It’s a beautiful day, and the water is teal. She’s playing a character who’s on vacation with her family and friends. One of her friends asks about her latest engagement, and she tells them about her plans to propose to her boyfriend Nick. Their trip becomes more than a vacation when an accident leaves one of their friends paralyzed. The tension rises as they try to come to grips with the fact that this could happen at any time. It’s something to look forward to, but it’s not easy to put into words.
I thought the script was brilliant. Not only does it show the complexities of love and relationships in a way that feels real, but it also explores an important issue that’s close to my heart, which is the way society perceives people with disabilities. One of the reasons I love Pattinson Consett so much is that she manages to make such a raw, emotional issue feel relevant and fresh, without losing sight of the fact that this is a comedy. It’s a difficult balance to strike, but she manages it perfectly, and it makes for an incredibly compelling story. And while the issue of whether or not to propose or continue the engagement is an important one, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a comedy. The characters are still finding their way in the world, and it’s still funny.
The Cast Is Phenomenal
When I heard that she was partnering with Walking Dead mastermind and Avengers producer Nichole Blake, I was over the moon. Walking Dead and Game of Thrones are undoubtedly two of my favorite shows, and I’ve always admired Blake’s work, so it was a dream come true to work with her.
The cast is unreal. Not only is it filled with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, but it’s also a beautifully diverse group. Blake and Pattinson Consett obviously knew what they were doing, because not only do they get incredible performances out of their leads, but they’ve also cast an incredibly high-quality supporting cast as well. It’s hard not to compare this movie to Game of Thrones, because both of them are filled to the brim with incredible talent, and I couldn’t choose which one to talk about first. So let’s start with Tarja Halonen. You may know her as the blonde warrior from Game of Thrones, but she has a completely different role in this one. She plays the role of Nick’s mother, and in addition to acting, she also executive produces the film. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must be like, to have your mother play such a prominent role in your career. It must be an incredible feeling.
Then we have Thandie Newton, who plays Pattinson Consett’s best friend. She’s another member of the talented cast alongside Demián Bichir and Benjamin Bratt, who plays Nick. Thandie is also one of the producers of the film, and it’s clear that she’s having a good time playing these various roles in different ways. She told Coming Soon magazine, “It’s so much fun to be able to be different people for a little while. I feel like I can be a different person with each role, and the characters are written in a way that enables me to showcase a part of myself that I’m not usually allowed to show.”
The Producers Did An Exceptional Job
It might not feel like it at first, but this is one of those rare instances where the entire film feels very cohesive and well-executed, even though it’s made up of several different parts. The editing is flawless, and it makes for such a tight, polished product. To find out more about the movie and its producers, check out this week’s edition of The Hollywood Reporter.