I don’t think there’s any question that Robert Pattinson is one of, if not the most, influential modern day actors. He’s managed to stay relevant and in demand for more than a decade now, and it’s been a while since we last saw him in a film. The last time we saw him in a major motion picture was back in 2012, with the release of his film, The Light Between Oceans. Since then, he’s spent most of his time working on his own projects, taking a step back from acting and instead focusing on his music. But now, with the recent premiere of The Lighthouse, we’re getting a glimpse of what might be happening behind the scenes of Pattinson’s life during this time off.
Based on the award-winning novel by Don DeLillo, The Lighthouse charts the story of a young man named Arne Gerstrom, played by our favorite English actor, Robert Pattinson. Arne is an aspiring writer who is stuck in a dead-end relationship with a woman named Daphne (Academy Award nominee Bella Heathcote), and spends most of his time playing music in hopes of inspiring himself. In between his shifts playing music for the wealthy citizens of London, he works as a lighthouse keeper, in a place called Priestmarsh, which is located off the coast of England. The isolation seems to have granted Arne the time he needs to write his masterpiece, Les Fleurs, a novel that will bring him both fame and fortune. But the isolation has also caused him to slowly go mad… which is exactly what happens to the main character in The Shining, Jack Torrance.
While Jack’s madness was brought on by his association with the legendary writer, Angus B. McKinnon, and his connection to the Overlook Hotel, in The Lighthouse, it is caused by a pretty simple premise: Arne is slowly losing his mind, and it isn’t long before he begins acting erratically. This, of course, is brought on by his isolation and boredom, which is clearly demonstrated when he attempts to rob a store in order to get money to purchase some cocaine, which he eventually does, and which leads to his eventual arrest. This, however, is only the beginning of his downward spiral. While in prison, he is forced to take a variety of medications, which have varying effects on him. Some cause him to become hyperactive, while others cause him to become sluggish, disoriented, or even comatose. After six months, he manages to weasel his way out of prison and into a mental institution, where he will remain for the rest of his life. There, his condition becomes progressively worse, and he is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This disease will eventually claim his life, and only two years after his initial arrest, he is dead. But while Arne isn’t a real person, his story is entirely based on a true event that occurred in the early 20th century.
While there’s a grim ending to this story, The Lighthouse is ultimately a hopeful one, as it shows that, even though there’s no cure for mental illness, there are ways to treat it and manage the symptoms. This, of course, was the message that the late author, Don DeLillo, was trying to get across in his book. With that being said, The Lighthouse is one of the best movies of the year so far, and it’s definitely worth seeing for any fan of Robert Pattinson. It also marks the first time in a long while that we’ve seen the actor in anything more than a cameo, and it’s about time he got some leading man cred.
The Making of ‘The Lighthouse’
There are a few reasons why The Lighthouse turned out to be one of the best movies of the year so far. For one, it marks the first project for screenwriter, Joe Barden, who has written a number of acclaimed scripts that haven’t been made into movies yet, including The Little Stranger, The Favourite, and Sister Ruth. He manages to weave a beautiful story that perfectly captures the melancholy mood that accompanies a long British winter. Another reason why it turned out so good is that it was shot in one of the most recognizable locations in the world: St. Barts. There’s something about watching the waves crash against the coastline that feels both calming and inspiring at the same time.
But it was Robert Pattinson’s performance as Arne Gerstrom that truly stole the show, and it’s easy to see why. Not only does he give a superb performance, but he also seems to have genuinely immersed himself in the role, wearing a variety of eccentric clothes and sporting an unkempt beard that reflects his character’s mental state. It’s clear that, even though it was more than 10 years since he last acted in a feature film, he hasn’t lost a step and continues to be passionate about his craft. It’s also worth noting that he doesn’t rely on any of the standard acting techniques in order to convey his character’s mindset, he instead creates an entire environment for the character to exist in, which is something that is often lacking in today’s Hollywood.
What’s Next for Robert Pattinson?
We don’t have any details about what Robert Pattinson is going to do after The Lighthouse, but given his status as one of the most prominent actors of his generation, it’s safe to assume that he’ll continue to work quite a bit. It’s also worth noting that, in an interview with The Guardian, Pattinson hinted that he might take time off at some point in the future, so this could be the last we see of him for a while. In the meantime, it’s wonderful to see that, even though he hasn’t been in a feature film in a long time, he hasn’t forgotten how to act. And who knows? With all the success that he’s had in the past few years, perhaps he’ll decide to take on a bigger role. But until then, we can enjoy his latest cinematic offering and wait for his next project, which, given his busy schedule, might not be for several years.