One of the most popular men in the world, Robert Pattinson, has been romantically linked to a host of beauties, but he prefers to watch movies with his girlfriend, Katy Perry. The couple was seen dining at a fancy restaurant in New York City on October 26, 2018 and they were looking cozy together as they enjoyed a shared appetizer and dinner. In the past, the “High School Musical” actor has also been seen dining with his other famous girlfriends, Kristen Stewart and Ruby Rose. It would appear that Pattinson has finally found the woman who will occupy his time while he’s away from home filming projects, as he’s reportedly set to wed Perry on Saturday, November 16, 2018 in a private ceremony in the UK. What is most interesting is that during the last week of October, Pattinson shared on social media that he had just completed the final book of a trilogy by Ian Rankin, titled, The Devil’s Path. In the post, he wrote, “Finished The Devil’s Path last night. Was going to read it now but have to catch up on some sleep first. Thanks for all your support! Looking forward to the next one.”
The Twilight Saga (2006 – 2008)
It seems that the Scottish actor has had a thing for Stephenie Meyers’ books since he was 16 years old, as he played Edward Cullen in the four-part epic film adaptation of “The Twilight Saga.” The films were among the highest-grossing series in history, raking in over $11 billion at the box office globally. The trilogy won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2008 ceremony, with the films also picking up six other awards, including one for Meyers. The films are credited with jump-starting the global young adult vampire fiction genre. It would appear that Pattinson’s love for the series has stuck with him, as he was spotted reading the first book in the series, Twilight (2007) before the premiere of the second installment, New Moon (2009).
Out Of The World
While most gothic romances are set in gloomy forests or dismal dungeons, it is the French director Louis Feuillade who perfected the technique of filmic romance with his infamous serial killer movies. His work was credited with popularizing the ‘woman in red’ image in film, which has been seen in countless films since. One of the best-known Feuillade adaptations is the 1915 film Madame Guillotine. The crime drama is set in Paris, where Georges Garnier (Fritz Lang) is a successful architect who specializes in designing opera houses. One day, as Garnier is walking home from work, he runs into the beautiful Geneviève Vallois (Elsa Martinelli), a fellow architect who happens to be the daughter of a prominent minister. Once they’re together, the lovers plan to spend the rest of their days in Paris, enjoying life’s luxuries and frequenting the city’s many attractions. But they soon discover that living in Paris is no longer safe for them, as the city is now plagued by a spate of murders, committed by a masked man known as Le Grand Léandre (Feuillade).
While Feuillade’s film was a masterpiece and one of the first great ‘serial killer’ movies, it was not the first time that Garnier and Vallois had contemplated an idyllic life in the City of Lights. The year before, they were planning to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon strolling around the streets of Paris, when they came across a notice seeking detectives to solve a double murder. Vallois is the niece of the female detective Agnès Dupris (Pauline Peters), who was on the trail of a killer at the same time as Garnier. It would appear that this is the setup for a classic tale of love and deduction, which inspired Feuillade to make the now-legendary madame blanchimania melodramatic masterpiece.
The Social Network (2010)
The 2010 film adaptation of Mark Zuckerberg’s best-selling book was one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. With a cast that included the likes of Edward Norton and Jesse Eisenberg, the movie chronicled the early years of the Facebook billionaire (Norton). One of the most memorable scenes comes at the end of the movie, when Zuckerberg meets with Eduardo (Eisenberg), his business partner and later lawyer. During the meeting, the men discuss Zuckerberg’s future, and Eisenberg makes a pitch for him to pursue a non-profit organization known as The Foundation, which will allow him to change the world, one child at a time. The dialogue goes something like this: “I want to change the way the world builds schools…” “No, you don’t. That’s a worthy cause. Most people don’t even know how a school works. They don’t know where their child goes after class. I want to give everyone a school…a place they can call their own.” “So you’re interested in empowering everyday people?” “Yes. Exactly.” “How do you plan to do that?” “Through entertainment.” “How?” “I don’t know yet. I’ve been thinking about that. I want to put on a movie about a girl who decides to put her dream of becoming a fashion designer on hold to pursue a career in astrophysics.” “That’s a good idea.” “It’s a romantic comedy,” interrupted Eisenberg. “I think people will love it.” “I’m not sure,” said Zuckerberg. “I’m not sure if that’s the type of movie I want to make.” “But it’s the right type of movie for you,” said Eisenberg, as he stood up and offered his business partner a goodbye hug. The two men parted ways, with Eisenberg going back to his law firm and Zuckerberg heading back to his dorm room. Since the movie’s release, it has become one of the most iconic relationships in movie history, inspiring memes and T-shirts with the line “That’s a worthy cause.”
Madame Bovary (1849)
Emma Bovary, the eponymous heroine of Gustave Flaubert’s 1849 book, is a highly educated, independent young woman who decides to leave her family and pursue a career in Paris. She works her way up the social ladder, while her married lover, Rodolphe (Alphonse Duvauchelle), provides her with an upper-class lifestyle. But Bovary’s ambition leads her down a path of disillusionment and self-destruction. When Rodolphe finds out about her affairs, he leaves her, breaking her heart. After a period of depression, she takes her life, but not before she has impregnated herself with a child who she names Victor. The tragic plot of Flaubert’s novella is largely seen as one of the first depictions of the tensions that exist between men and women in a modern setting. The novel is regarded as a foundational text of 20th-century literature.
No Country For Old Men (2007)
Another crime drama that deals with life in the city, this time from the opposite direction. In Javier Bardem’s mesmerizing 2007 film, an aging ex-cop (Bardem) is partnered with a young, up-and-coming officer (Josh Brolin) to solve a string of gruesome murders in the American Southwest. No Country For Old Men is loosely based on the novel Old Man by Cormac McCarthy and is shot mainly in desolate locations in and around Mexico City. In one of the most haunting scenes, the two detectives investigate the scene of a double murder. After examining the evidence and taking statements from the locals, Brolin and Bardem walk away from the crime scene and head back to the car, where the older officer turns to face his young partner. The camera then follows the two men as they drive in silence, illuminated only by the headlights of their vehicles and the eerie glow of the moon.
The cinematography in the scene is both brilliant and eerie, capturing the disorientation that comes with being in the dark, away from your home. The two detectives’ shadows are also thrown up on the wall, enhancing the tension. The entire scene is imbued with an uncomfortable aura of menace.