Robert Pattinson is known for his quirky and charming nature, as well as his remarkable acting talent. Although he hasn’t been in the spotlight very much in recent years, the singer/songwriter, who was previously married to actress and dancer Emma Watson, has continued to find success. The English actor has starred in numerous Hollywood blockbusters, including Good Will Hunting, Tristan + Isolde, and The Rover. He is currently filming the highly-anticipated new adaptation of Dune, in which he will play the character of Paul Maclay. The film will be released in 2020. Let’s take a look back at some of Robert Pattinson’s best work and the films that made him famous!
Good Will Hunting
One of the most memorable roles of Robert Pattinson’s career was that of Sean McDonough in Good Will Hunting. Based on the play by Ben Ames Williams, the film follows Will Hunting (Pattinson), a troubled but brilliant young man, as he forms a bond with Sean, a depressed janitor who has a knack for finding things. As their friendship blossoms, Will helps Sean stop taking antidepressants, which makes him grumpy.
Although the film wasn’t a commercial success when it was released in 1997, it has since become something of a cult classic, inspiring numerous parodies and homages. The film currently has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus “Good Will Hunting is a comic genius satire that still delivers a fresh message years later.”
Bring It On
One of the more recent blockbusters that featured Robert Pattinson was Bring It On. The film was released in 2008 and starred the actor alongside a slew of rising popular female actresses. Based on the 2003 hit British TV show of the same name, Bring It On follows a group of female fighters as they train in preparation for an upcoming tournament. While the majority of the film is presented in a light-hearted and entertaining manner, it did contain a few controversial moments. The most notable being a lesbian kiss between two of the main characters, which was only briefly shown on screen and ultimately caused a minor controversy.
Despite the controversial nature of the scene, Bring It On was a huge hit both critically and financially, with the latter credited to its female audiences. The film currently has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus “Bring It On remains as fresh as ever thanks to its sharp writing and snappy humor, as well as the chemistry between its leads.”
Tristan + Isolde
Another of Robert Pattinson’s recent high-profile projects was Tristan + Isolde. The film, which is set for release in 2020, is based on the celebrated novel Tristan + Isolde by Thomas Mann and follows the titular characters, Tristan and Isolde, as they navigate their complicated love affair. The story interweaves several literary and artistic elements, including myths, legends, folktales, ballads, novels, and poems. While most of the film takes place in the medieval era, Tristan + Isolde also contains scenes set in contemporary times.
When asked about his approach to the role of Tristan, the 29-year-old English actor said that he approached it “from a really unique perspective, which is probably the best way to play it. I think that we are often denied as actors the opportunity to play our characters inside out, to play characters that we are not normally associated with. This was an opportunity to explore something different.”
Tristan + Isolde, which was co-produced by the Weinstein Company and StudioCanal, has been met with widespread acclaim, with critics praising the film’s direction, acting, and music. The film currently has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus “Tristan + Isolde is an artistic triumph that fuses fantasy with reality to haunting effect.”
The Rover
Another film that featured Robert Pattinson is The Rover. The upcoming release features the English actor in an American tale of revenge, set in the post-Civil War era. Based on the 1953 novel by American author L. Nelson Cole, the film follows Will, a recently freed slave who seeks revenge on the men who held him in captivity. Following his escape from slavery, Will becomes a bounty hunter, tracking down and exacting revenge on former Confederate Army soldiers and plantation owners. The story is rife with violence and sexual themes and has been described as a “revenge epic for the 21st century.”
While most of the reviews for The Rover have been positive, it has received some criticism for being “too violent” and “gratuitous in its use of violence.” On the other hand, the film is already a big seller at the American box office, reportedly making over $20 million domestically, and is expected to make even more in foreign territories. The film currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus “The Rover offers a unique perspective on the American Civil War and its lasting impact on society.”
Dune
Last but not least, let’s not forget about Dune, the upcoming adaptation of the iconic sci-fi/fantasy novel by Frank Herbert. The film will be directed by David Lynch and star Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Jessica Henwick, and Stellan Skarsgård. Lynch, who also wrote the screenplay, previously said that he sees Dune as a “spiritual sequel” to his 1991 film Twin Peaks, explaining that the character of Paul Maclave is loosely based on his own life.
The film marks the return of many of Lynch’s key collaborators from his previous projects, including composer Angelo Badalamenti and production designer Robert Anglesey, who both worked on the director’s earlier films, as well as Peter Quanz, who worked with Lynch on Lost Highway (1997) and Mulholland Drive (2001). Lynch has also stated that he sees the film as a “grand finale” to his career.
Although Dune is still in production, we know so far that it will be an epic tale of rebellion and war set thousands of years in the future. No release date has been set yet.