If there was ever a movie that broke the ‘Twilight’ mould, it was ‘Good Time.’
The hedonistic drama about a young man (Robert Pattinson) who travels Europe in a haze of drugs, drinking, and party-going quickly became a cult classic, and its portrayal of Europeans partying and making the most of life won over British audiences in particular.
What followed was a run of almost universally praised performances from Pattinson, and plenty of high profile cameos. So much so that the British actor is now arguably better known for playing debauched characters than for his solo outings. We take a look at the best movies inspired by or featuring Robert Pattinson, from ‘Good Time’ right up to the most recent films ‘When We Were Young’ and ‘Beautiful Creatures.’
Good Time
If there was ever a movie that broke the ‘Twilight’ mould, it was ‘Good Time.’ The hedonistic drama about a young man (Robert Pattinson) who travels Europe in a haze of drugs, drinking, and party-going quickly became a cult classic, and its portrayal of Europeans partying and making the most of life won over British audiences in particular.
The film marked a big departure for Pattinson, who had mostly been cast in leading-man roles in films focused on his burgeoning career. Instead he gets to showcase his range in supporting parts as the protagonist of director Richard Stanley’s (‘Peaky Blinders,’ ‘Red Lights’) drama about a hedonistic London youth who travels to Europe on a whim, and is inevitably swept up in a bigger picture encompassing political and social upheaval. Stanley also wrote the script, so you know this is going to be different.
Pattinson perfectly inhabits his role as Johnny, a popular and wild party-goer who lives life with reckless abandon. It was not only the character of Johnny but Pattinson’s performance in general that made ‘Good Time’ such a success. One critic called him “one of the greatest actors of our time,” while another hailed his “extraordinary ability.”
The film also garnered praise for its portrayal of the English character. One reviewer said it did “a brilliant job of bringing the English characters to life.” Another added that it was “brilliant in its portrayal of English life.”
While ‘Twilight’ had centered around a love triangle and a battle of the sexes, ‘Good Time’ presented audiences with a vision of hedonism and extravagance that left little to the imagination.
The Lost City of Z
‘The Lost City of Z’ is one of the more obscure movies on this list, and that’s a major compliment. Director James Marsh’s (‘Wildlife,’ ‘The Unmarried Woman’) historical epic about Scottish explorer Robert Falcon Scott (Ralph Fiennes) and his adventures in the Antarctic draws its inspiration from a real-life episode that occurred in 1912, when Scott traveled south with five companions – only one of whom, Scott himself, survived the ordeal. The filmmaker’s intention was probably to make a fairly fact-based adventure film, but he did not reckon with the fact that audiences had other ideas in mind when they hit theaters in June 2015.
Set in present day as well, the movie follows Scott (Ralph Fiennes) as he journeys to Antarctica in 1911 to search for the remains of his friend and expedition leader Dr. Wilson (Jake Gyllenhaal). While there he stumbles upon a primitive tribe that worships the snow and unearths a lost city buried under the ice, discovering a technologically advanced society that has mysteriously disappeared from the planet. Visually ‘The Lost City of Z’ is a feast for the eyes, utilizing a variety of stunning cinematography tricks (including IMAX!) to ensure that viewers are enveloped in the icy wonders of the Antarctic.
Eclipse
‘Eclipse,’ the adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling young adult novel, centers around a rebellious teenage girl (Alice Englert) who falls in love with a vampire (Thomas Dekker) during a total solar eclipse. The choice of location for the main event – a stunning piece of cinematography shot in the British countryside – is deliberately meant to evoke Dracula, the most famous vampire of all time. While the first in a series of ‘Twilight’ prequels, ‘Eclipse’ is in its own right a memorable and essential part of the vampire saga, as well as being a beautiful piece of filmmaking.
The film’s visual style – heightened by the use of IMAX – is a throwback to old school horror movie moments, with a dash of Italian giallo thrown in for good measure.
The Age of Consent
Another prequel to the ‘Twilight’ saga, this time focusing on the early years of human civilization, ‘The Age of Consent’ marks the feature directorial debut of Bill Morrison. Like much of the other work on this list, this is another morally ambiguous picture that asks the audience to decide whose side they are on in a struggle between good and evil. In this case, the protagonist is a young woman (Saoirse Ronan) who, after an initiation ceremony, is integrated into a powerful and wealthy family whose generations of men have protected the rights of women. Once she has assumed the responsibilities of her new status, she must fight to free herself from the oppression of her conservative society.
For much of the film, Saoirse Ronan’s performance as the young and idealistic Flora is grounded in reality. The actress, who won the Independent Film Award for Best Actress for her role, demonstrates an emotional intelligence that gives the performance heft and makes you invest in her character’s cause. Even those viewers who have already seen how the story ends should find themselves captivated by her performance, and be prepared to question the choices she makes in the name of gender equality. While there is no disputing that Flora is a strong and independent character, Morrison’s direction emphasizes her vulnerabilities and how she can only rely on herself.
This is easily the most ‘Twilight’ inspired movie on this list, with Saoirse Ronan turning in a performance that is at once commanding and compelling. Even diehard ‘Twilight’ fans should find more than a few aspects of Flora’s story to enjoy, as well as maybe learn a thing or two about gender equality. Most importantly, viewers will find themselves transported away from the mundane world for a while and into an imaginative and elegiac tale that leaves you feeling both inspired and heartbroken.
The Birth of Venus
‘The Birth of Venus’ follows the life and work of the Italian Renaissance master Paolo Uccello (Federico Fellini), whose intricate visual tapestries still adorn the homes of wealthy families around the world. This is one of the most significant and influential stories ever presented on film, and like so many of the other entries on this list it defies easy categorization. What is certain is that it is the cinematic equivalent of seeing one of Uccello’s works of art up close and personal.
Shot in vivid and glorious High Dynamic Range (HDR) imagery, ‘The Birth of Venus’ presents a sumptuous feast for the eyes that will transport you back to the golden age of art.
Fellini’s film evokes the painter’s life and times, and his work, with its vivid color palettes and sumptuous costumes, serves as a glorious backdrop to this Renaissance story. Indeed, ‘The Birth of Venus’ is a movie not just about art but about humanity and the pursuit of beauty.
Fellini’s film celebrates life and color, and there is a surfeit of both to behold. From the florid hues of Renaissance costumes and settings to the exuberant colors of the Italian sky, this is a glorious display of a culture’s artistry and optimism. It is also a celebration of the human body, with sumptuous close-ups of faces and figures in motion, and plenty of belly dancing to prove it.
The film culminates in a dazzling display of fireworks that brings an end to one of the most spectacular evenings in the history of art. In the end, all we can do is sit back and celebrate one of the greatest movies ever made.