Robert Pattinson’s acting career only truly took off once he became famous for his role as the Dark Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. But, before that role, he had already established himself as one of the greatest actors of his generation. What’s more is many of his most memorable roles happened to be in film noir adaptations. While not all of them were made in the same vein as Harry Potter, they were all incredibly memorable performances. Here are some of the most amazing screencaps of Robert Pattinson’s acting career.
Inception
If you’ve never heard of Inception, then you definitely need to. Besides being one of the greatest action blockbuster thrillers of all time, it’s an interesting study of theme and character development. It was no easy task to play the main antagonist of the film, but director Christopher Nolan definitely pulled it off. There are various ways to look at Cobb’s (Pattinson’s) betrayal of his partners, but the actor manages to make it all feel like one big, deep joke. His character is a living embodiment of what Nietzsche would call a “useful idiot.” We watch in horror as Cobb’s naïve attempts to be helpful lead to more and more serious complications.
Dark Shadows
If you’ve never heard of Dark Shadows, then you definitely need to. It’s arguably one of the greatest series of all time, and one that’s gotten highly praised for its accurate recreation of the golden age of Hollywood mystery films. While many contemporary reviews suggest that the films are rather dull and lacking in originality, back in the day, they were highly acclaimed for their atmosphere and storytelling. To this day, there are many who feel that it’s still one of the greatest mystery series ever made. It also marked one of the first times that Pattinson had to play a character that was supposed to be villainous. As with Inception, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes Victor Egan (Dark Shadows) so villainous. There are certainly some despicable things that he does, but at the same time, he does so in an effort to protect those he loves. Even more perplexing is that even though he’s a major antagonist, the hero of the series, Dan Young (Damon Salvatore), develops a somewhat sympathetic relationship with him. There just doesn’t seem to be any good in Victor Egan. What’s more is several of the films were shot in some of the most spectacular locations in and outside of California. One of the most breathtaking settings is the magnificent Carpathian Castle, located in the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest. It was definitely worth the trip for both Damon and the audience. It looks fabulous and serves as the perfect backdrop for some eerie storytelling.
The Rover
The Rover was one of the first films that marked a significant change in the direction that Pattinson’s career took. It was an extremely dark comedy that marked an original approach to the crime genre. It also featured one of the greatest ensemble casts in movie history, including Stanley Kubrick, James Franco, André Benjamin, and Barbara Hershey. When the movie first came out in 2008, it received unanimously positive reviews, and is still considered by many to be one of the greatest comediennes of all time. It also showcased a somewhat surprising comedic talent for Pattinson, who wasn’t exactly known for being funny. In fact, in an interview with The Guardian, when asked about his comedic acting talent, he replied, “I find it quite hard to immerse myself in character. I generally prefer to just stay in my comfort zone, as it were. I’m more of a realist than anything else.” It seems as though he had a change of heart regarding the comedic talent he possessed, which is why he decided to go on the Internet and make some funny faces for the sake of having some fun. If you’re a fan of Kubrick’s other work, then you’ll enjoy The Rover. It’s a great way to pay tribute to one of the greatest directors of all time and witness a change in pace for one of the greatest actors of our time.
Gingerbread Man
This one isn’t necessarily a crime thriller like many of his previous roles, but it’s certainly in the same vein. Gingerbread Man is the story of a burglar who falls in love with a rich woman. After breaking into her home to steal her diamonds, he finds that he likes her more than the diamonds. It’s a heartwarming story with a very romantic twist. In addition to showing off his dramatic side, Pattinson also gives a very comic performance as the thief who steals the wrong woman’s goods. It’s a very funny and charming movie that marks one of the few times that he plays a character who is neither completely good nor evil. In fact, at one point in the story, he even helpfully offers to switch the diamonds with her real gems. It’s a great way to show off his range as an actor. While most people would assume that a role like this would be a no-brainer, in the case of the talented actor, it seems that he had to audition for it several times before finally getting the role. It’s amazing how much he managed to fit into this tiny role. In order to fit into the suit that he would wear for the duration of filming, he had to lose a ton of weight. Aside from that, he had to learn some new tricks to dance, as the original script called for him to dance on his hands to celebrate his birthday. Thankfully, he agreed to do it, otherwise, he’d have had to rewrite the entire script. It’s a small role, but it’s a crucial part of the movie. Without it, the whole thing wouldn’t work.
The Lost City
The Lost City was directed by Thierry Not-So-Despont, and it continues the trend of dark comedy that was set by his last film. It’s basically the story of a wealthy playboy who is hell-bent on keeping his good fortunes. After seducing his way into a friendship with a beautiful socialite, he invites her to join him on his yacht. There, she discovers his secret affinity for the dead, and she uses that to her advantage. It’s not so much a crime thriller as it is a psychological study of a man who wants to save the world, but in the process, he loses his mind. What’s more is it marks one of the earliest roles that Pattinson had to play, a part that didn’t even require him to shed a pound. In fact, the only thing that he had to lose weight for was to play the guitar. While that may not seem like much, it’s a big change from his previous roles. He plays Jim, a struggling musician who joins a band, led by David Hasselhoff (yes, THAT David Hasselhoff). The role required him to play the part of Jim in a punk rock band. While most people would assume that a role like this would be a no-brainer, in the case of the talented actor, it seems that he had to audition for it several times before getting the role. It’s amazing how much he managed to fit into this tiny role. In order to fit into the suit that he would wear for the duration of filming, he had to learn some new tricks to dance, as the original script called for him to dance on his hands to celebrate his birthday. Thankfully, he agreed to do it, otherwise, he’d have had to rewrite the entire script. It’s a small role, but it’s a crucial part of the movie. Without it, the whole thing wouldn’t work.