Cannes Film Festival is one of the biggest and most prestigious film festivals in the world. It’s a must-see event for any serious movie fan. And it’s the perfect place to catch a glimpse of Hollywood’s brightest stars.
Robert Pattinson was one of the big Hollywood stars to grace the festival with a presence. The UK’s ‘One Direction’ singer was in town to present his new film ‘Cosmos’ and star in a few of the fest’s glamorous events. There were two big nights dedicated to Robert Pattinson: the first was the official premiere of his new film on May 12th, followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew a day later. And since ‘Cosmos’ was one of the most anticipated movies at Cannes this year, the organisers had plenty of people lining up to meet the actor. We were lucky enough to get our hands on an advanced copy of the film, and we loved it. It’s not often you get to see an actor commit so fully to an adaptation of a beloved work. We were in awe of Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of William Shakespeare and his passion for the words of the English language. It truly was a wonderful performance.
And so, we headed to the Le Café des Pyrénées to meet up with the actor for a quick bite to eat before the Q&A. You can’t help but notice all the paparazzi outside the famous eatery, so we were keen to keep our conversation private. But as soon as we stepped inside, we were immediately besieged by photographers. We were lucky enough to grab a table in the back and ordered our food, before the photographers got too nosy and started trying to peer inside our meal. But we didn’t mind. As long as they leave us alone to eat in peace, we’re happy!
From ‘Twilight Saga’ to ‘Planet Of The Apes’
We started by asking Robert Pattinson about his biggest surprise while working on his latest project. Turns out, it wasn’t any of the scenes he was asked to act in. It was the fact that he had to leave the ‘Twilight Saga’ behind, and commit to some serious acting classes, in order to prepare for his role in ‘Cosmos’. He put in the extra effort and dedicated himself fully to the process. And the results were amazing to behold.
The 37-year-old actor made his acting debut in a 2007 remake of the French classic ‘Martyrs’. Since then, he has appeared in numerous acclaimed films, such as ‘The Lost Children’, ‘Killing Them Softly’, and that little indie sensation that was ‘The Exorcist’, to name a few. We were lucky enough to see a few of these films as they were screened at the Cannes Film Festival in the past. But this year, we got the chance to see the majority of them, thanks to the magic of Netflix. The huge streaming service released all of Pattinson’s films, back-to-back, so we were able to see them all in a row. It was glorious! And it was great to see how much confidence he has in each of his performances. We’re excited to see how far he can go with this newfound freedom.
‘Cosmos’: The Most Anticipated Film of 2020
Well, since ‘Cosmos’ is a William Shakespeare adaptation, it really is only fitting that we discuss the film’s setting and costumes. And boy, are we in for a treat! The new movie is set in London, in the early seventeenth century. When we first spot the theatre troupe performing in the street, we’re transported back to another time. It’s that wonderful mixture of Renaissance drama and modern-day sensibilities that makes it such an interesting adaptation. The costumes are also breathtaking. The film is full of gorgeous period costumes and sets, which perfectly match the setting. We especially loved the outfits the characters wear when performing in front of the Queen.
When asked about the film’s climax, Pattinson said: “The idea of the film is for everything to be about reconciling with the past. For Kate [Boyle], it’s about forgiveness. And for me, it’s about responsibility and accountability. I think we all have things in our past that we feel guilty about, or that we regret. And when you finally do get the chance to make things right, you have to be ready to accept responsibility. Because you’re not going to get a second chance at life. You have to know how to behave, and you have to want to behave better. And that’s what this film is about, ultimately.”
In keeping with the theme of the film, we turned to fashion. Is Kate Middleton’s wedding season approaching? And will she be choosing an outfit from the famous designer’s Spring 2020 collection?
Pattinson smiled and replied: “I would love to be her bridesmaid. And no, I don’t think so. She will be wearing an evening gown, of course. She always does. It’s traditional, I think.”
‘The Lost Children’: How Is the Villain Ruining Everything?
Let’s talk about that villain for a second. In ‘The Lost Children’ we are introduced to the notorious Count Moro. He is an eighteenth century serial killer who torments William Shakespeare and his descendants, the Elsons. While the film is based on one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, it takes a different spin. It focuses on the Elsons, a family that has to deal with the repercussions of their relatives’ brutal deeds. The most intriguing thing about Moro is that we don’t learn much about him. We are never actually told what he looks like. This creates a strange sense of detachment. We get to see a silhouette of a man, scowling and clutching a bag, lurking in the background. But we never see him face-to-face. We never actually see a full body shot of the villain. This is done deliberately, so that we can focus on the reactions of the characters, and how their lives have been affected.
It’s a risky strategy. We always want to be told the villain’s backstory, so that we can understand his motives. And while this might not always be the case, it does add an extra layer to his characterization. We don’t know if this was intentional or not, but either way it makes him more complex. When we meet Moro, the only thing we know for sure is that he’s a very, very bad man. We need to find out more about him, and that’s what makes him so intriguing. We’ve never really had a villain like this before. The closest equivalent would be Hannibal Lecter, but even he has a face! While we might not know exactly what Moro looks like, we can surmise that he’s a tall, slender man with an ascetic appearance. As for his costume, we know that he wears a black top hat, a tailcoat, and dark trousers.
‘What Is A Bitchy Woman’?
This is the second film of the year that we’ll be discussing at length. It’s fair to say that ‘What Is A Bitchy Woman’? is one of the most talked-about films at the moment. It’s an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, ‘Little Women’, and follows the escapades of four young women who move to Boston, where they’ll study to be teachers. They quickly learn that a women can be many things: sweet, fierce, kind, but also a bitch! The question is: which woman will you choose?
The ladies of ‘What Is A Bitchy Woman’? are stunning, and they each represent a different aspect of femininity. They are kind, but they are also assertive. They are protective of the people they love, but they are also unapologetic about wanting satisfaction. It’s complicated. But also wonderful. One of our favourite things about this adaptation is how Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel is brought to life on the big screen.
This year has seen a big rise in the number of movies based on famous novels. And it’s great to see such wonderful adaptations. It shows just how much these novels deserve to be brought to the big screen, and how talented filmmakers are taking the plunge, and creating something special.