Bel Ami [DVD]

Having read the book and really loved it I was keen to compare it with the film. I found it kept pretty well to the story. Robert Pattinson did a good job and showed that he has more to him than being a teen idol. The only reason I didn't give the film 5 stars was the fact that I thought they rushed through the story a wee bit, there could have been more detailed character development. It is not a long film, under 2 hrs and so I thought they could have afforded a bit more time to do the book justice. Basically it's a story of a untalented young man, who feels he is entitled to more from life using his social connections to climb from poverty to power in fin de siecle Paris. None of the main charcaters have many, if any, redeeming features. For once bad behaviour is not punished and the protagonist (Pattinson) does not get his come-uppance, which makes a difference from Hollywood where the usual fair is "badness is punished and goodness is rewarded", with some homely morality thrown in! Overall I really enjoyed the movie. Good performances from all the leads. If you are already a Robert Pattinson fan then I expect you'll love it, and if you are not then you maybe converted.

Having read Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant, I looked forward to seeing Georges Duroy brought to life on the big screen. I wasn't disappointed. This isn't your usual "same old, same old" Hollywood tripe, this is a classy period drama with lots of twists and turns and yes it is erotic too. The cast are fabulous, Christina Ricci excels in the role of Clotilde, Georges long term mistress and really the only one he actually has genuine love for. Kristen Scott Thomas manages to pull off the role of Virginie, a pious 50 something married high society woman who falls hook, line and sinker for a younger man, Georges. Robert Pattinson gives an impressive performance away from his Twilight persona, showing he has some real acting chops, he is captivating onscreen. Georges is not an easy character to play, he's shallow, empty and heartless and will stop at nothing to get what he wants and he doesn't care who he hurts along the way and Pattinson does a great job of portraying his callousness yet gives the character a certain amount of warmth, enough to have you understand why this man is the way he is. A highly enjoyable film from directors Declan Donnellan & Nick Ormerod. The costumes and sets are pretty special given the low budget for the film. Definitely worth watching.

Robert Pattinson is mesmerising

Not bad

I was unfamiliar with the book so I only had film publicity to guide me as to content. I think that knowing the book would have helped me have a better sense of the time span of the story and the motivations of some of the characters. It is a beautiful film to look at with excellent costumes and settings and a good sense of period, and all of the actors gave excellent performances but the script didn't give me a complete understanding of the story. It is for this reason that I have given it four stars. I need to read the book . . .

Beautiful photography, design and location. Little character development. The film mechanically proceeds through the stages of Georges Duroy's ascendancy with no suspense or surprise. The worst offender is Kristin Scott Thomas as Virginie Walter, the pious matriarch who in the original novel struggles vainly against the desire which has been ignited by Duroy so that he can use her to achieve his goal. We see neither the rapacious cynicism of the Duroy character nor the struggle of Walter's. Events are simply presented as bland faits-accomplis. A complete waste of a sumptously designed production. Weak.

I enjoyed this movie. R patz was great. As were the three lead actresses. I am not a massive fan of twilight either so wanted to see if he could actually act. I liked it. It is what it is. Going to give cosmopolis a go tonight lol. Once you get pattinson out of that twilight bollocks he's actually quite a good actor!

Nice to see R P in a more grown up part .Book much better than film ,looks like it was made on a shoestring ,the ending was so rushed it would have been difficult to comprehend without a re run if you hadn't read it.As always R.P acting up to par and his chemistry with Christina Ricci sizzled.Should have had more promotion here as only shown in limited cinemas and not for long.but really enjoyed it ,the book is a French Clssic.