FYC: Robert Pattinson for Best Actor & Supporting Actor
Monday, December 16, 2019 at 10:38AM 
Margot Robbie isn't the only actor with more than one performance in buzzy productions. 2019 has been a year full of actors with sterling bodies of work. There's also Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Adam Driver, among many others. I'd like to shed light on the excellence of a star whose work is quite far from Oscar's presumed radar. I'm talking about a former heart-throb turned character actor who spent the year getting drunk with Willem Dafoe, facing the challenges of single-parenthood in outer space and casting aspersions at Timothée Chalamet's disproportionate genitalia.
That's right, we're here to sing the praises of the one and only Robert Pattinson. First, we have his adventures with a fuckbox, a mad scientist and a baby…
HIGH LIFE (Claire Denis)
The true star of High Life is, without a doubt, its director, her reinvention of the space odyssey and the exploration of loneliness at the cosmic level. That said, Denis' reveries need to be anchored by some humanity or they'd drift away like corpses floating in the void. While his castmates choose to become primordial forces of unhinged hunger or lust, Robert Pattinson remains stubbornly recognizable as a real person facing unimaginable tasks. In this lamentation for the lonely and untethered, Pattinson's chemistry with his onscreen daughter is of particular wonder, cutting through the more alienating aspects of this experiment with needed warmth, while never crossing into maudlin sentimentality.
THE KING (David Michôd)
I confess myself disappointed with David Michod's interpretation of the Shakesperean mythos of noble kings and portentous History. There's a lot dirt and blood, there's sweat and anachronistic costumes, and self-seriousness abounds. Thankfully, in the middle of the grim tale, there are some specks of light. Robert Pattinson's indolent dauphin is one of them, exploding into the scene with a preposterous French accent and the kind of outward arrogance one never expects to find outside a cartoon. It's overacting but it's also exactly what the film needs. He's a storm of loud contradictions fighting the surrounding mediocrity instead of being swallowed by it. Pattinson is usually a generous co-star, but here he wisely steals the spotlight and never surrenders it.
THE LIGHTHOUSE (Robert Eggers)
Robert Eggers's black-and-white nightmare is a pas-de-deux between a force of nature and the man ravaged by its madness. In such a dance of fetid fluids and drunken masturbation, each dancer is as important as their partner. Despite this, Willem Dafoe has been getting all the awards buzz which is just unjust. There's a precious balance at play and the deterioration of Pattinson's haunted lighthouse keeper is as crucial to the film as the flatulent spectacle of his older colleague. It's a performance inherently reactive and physically grotesque, awe-inspiring in its dauntless ugliness. If The Lighthouse is Persona's cum stained evil twin, Dafoe is Liv Ullmann and Robert Pattinson is Bibi Andersson recounting past crimes and leaving the realm of sanity altogether. He's the Prometheus to Dafoe's angry divinity. He's Oscar-worthy, that's what he is.
Are you a fan of Robert Pattinson's work in this tryptic of cinematic oddities? Do you think he should be in contention for the Oscars?
Reader Comments (25)
It's amazing that both he and Kristen Stewart have become indie darlings with actual cred in global cinema.
She, at least, should be an Oscar winner by now. I admit that I've missed a lot of Pattinson projects because they've seemed a bit obscure.
Still, good for both of them!
I saw the two theatrical releases theatrically.
Good on him for making some interesting and daring films within the past five years. With that being said, none of these three performances are skillful work. Good Time and the Lost City of Z are only times he's truly delivered an accomplished performance. His willingness to challenge himself is admirable though. He could become a great actor by the next decade.
I can't believe there's still not an article about Anna Karina's death but we get one for this overrated, self-obsessed "actor".
Robert Pattinson >>>>>>>>>Kristen Stewart
She has the same expression, always ! She can' t act.
Hey, Mk, Patterson is at least as good an actor as Anna Karina was. (Put her in a movie with Bibi Andersson or Carmen Maura and see which major European auteur had the better muse.) Besides, for all we know, this article was all-but-finished before news of Karina's death hit. Get over yourself.
Yes. I would love to see Robert Pattinson nominated.
I would also like to see the revered and celebrated director Claire Denis nominated for Best Director. But the argument goes that Best Directors have to be chosen on “merit”, which means men. Apparently being a directing legend is not enough “merit” for a woman to qualify.
I get a thrill of delighted amusement when I consider Robert Pattinson’s acting roles. He is so hard working, adventurous, and determined to become a better artist. He has such respect for the people he works with, and for his craft.
One rare quality Pattinson has that sets him apart from other actors of his age group is that he is not limited to being a contemporary actor. Look at this year’s series: set in the 1500s, the 1800s, the future.
Pattinson has the ability to ground himself in another place and time. He can let go of contemporary norms and attach himself to qualities displayed in other times, but dormant or missing in ours. This requires imagination, research, and commitment.
When we are with Pattinson in this other time, we experience it, along with him, as the present. This shared experience opens our imagination a bit too.
It hurts me so much that Willem Dafoe is most likely going to be omitted from best supporting actor ... ugh.
His performance in The Lighthouse is skillful work.
Can anyone imagine if Kristen Stewart reads these comments ,
Kinda sad that people can talk trash when they dont even know her
To well,
Shes an amazing actress, Robert Partinson should be happy she chooses him to portray Edward Cullen In Twilight, it was her choosing, yet, yet he lied just to get the part of Cedric Diggory ...for Harry Potter...
His work in The Lighthouse is more impressive than Driver in Marriage Story. I don't get the lack of accolades. He's revelatory in that film.
It does not hurt me because he's in the wrong category, Fake Peggy.
Huge Pattinson fan - probably most of all because of his performances in Cosmopolis, The Rover, and his small but key part in The Childhood of a Leader, but he's usually doing something special. His performance in The King - it's great fun and I'd be happy to see him nominated. But his work in High Life (I haven't seen The Lighthouse yet) now that is something. I did not like the film, but his work in the film - couldn't take my eyes off him. Excellent.
By the way, I'm pleased to see you all doing posts like these. It's dull to talk about the same 3-5 performances in every category over and over again.
How ridiculous to even think Pattinson can be mentioned in the same breath as Karina. Only a twilight fan could.
I am in awe of the fact that two of the leads in a popular but polarizing film franchise have managed to make great decisions and show their growth as actors. Kudos to Pattinson and Stewart for showing what they can do.
Whatever happened to that one guy who likes to take off his shirt and show off those ugly pearly whites? Someone kicked his ass? And if so, I'd like to buy that person a drink.
I have enjoyed watching Robert Pattinson work his way to becoming one of today’s Best Actors. He has carefully chosen movie projects that would challenge him, and he has learned these experiences and really grown as an actor. Robert has worked hard to achieve the accolades and success that are finally coming his way so I see him being Nominated for Best Acting Awards over the coming year. He deserves this.
Hey Mk, I didn't even see the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Twilight movie (I was dragged to the first one), but I HAVE seen most of Godard's stuff--including the off-the-cliff work he did with the Groupe Dzega Vertov--and honestly, if you think Karina is anything more than an attractive woman who got lucky by dating Godard at his peak you're the one being ridiculous. Vivre sa Vie, okay. Some good moments, but Karina was no Giulietta Masina or Jeanne Moreau. She barely holds her own in a comparison with Monica Vitti. I, frankly prefer Anne Wiazemsky. Quit acting pretentiously. Pattenson is growing as an actor and has superb taste in the projects he takes. He's going to be around a while. May end up with an Oscar before all is said and done.
The best thing Anna Karina did was inspire a really good song. Not individual post obituary worthy though Mk. We all have faves that didn't catch on or remain as beloved as you evidently feel about Karina.
I've seen most of his movies (except Twilight 2, 3, or is there more?). In awe of his talent and pick of projects.
I remember reading an article after the second TWILIGHT film came out opining that they only actor of the core trio who was likely to have a post-franchise career was Taylor Lautner.. So much for film biz prognosticating.
Isn't it unfair to consider Karina not worthy of an obituary ? The reaction to her death, especially from younger people, which is quite surprising, is astoundingly big and moving. She seems to have "catched on" Billie.
Karina is an icon, that's for sure, but to act like she was some sort of great talent and Patterson is just a pretty face who can't act is just hipster posturing. Not to mention kind of an ironic statement. If anything, Karina was a pretty face who couldn't really act.
They don't really watch European cinema in this site (and in America, really), hence the Karina omission.
Daniella
You definitely underestimate her talent and uniqueness. Her acting always seemed like being, which is prevalent today. Also, she played a variety of roles that showcased her subtle transformational work. For great dramatic turns look at "The Nun" and "Bread and Chocolate". Her Godard roles, although they may seem alike, stretched her in many ways. She went from ingénue to musical star to femme fatale and alien creature in his films.
Mk, I will admit I've not seen "The Nun" or "Bread and Chocolate." Thanks for the recommendations. I've been meaning to watch them, especially the Rivette, for a while now.