So, Robert Pattinson fans, just how devoted are you? Always eager to see him fight for Bella in the "Twilight" franchise, a lot of those same fans seem to disappear when does anything that doesn't involve vampires and werewolves. As long expected, his upcoming literary adaptation "Bel Ami," has been confirmed this morning make its world premiere (out of competition) at the Berlin International Film Festival, and we'll be curious to see if RPatz lovers will tolerate him playing a cad.
Based on the book by Guy de Maupassant and featuring Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci, “Bel Ami” will find Pattinson playing George Duroy, a sexy social climber in turn-of-the-century 1890s Paris, who seduces his way to wealth and fame from a poor beginning. Sony has already given the movie a vote of confidence, picking up the rights last fall, and we suppose the reception in Berlin will determine whether it gets a splashy awards season release or…something else.
Also headed to Germany will be Steven Soderbergh's "Haywire," which also opens in U.S. theaters today. You already know all about this one. It stars MMA fighter Gina Carano who spends about 90 minutes making mincemeat out of her co-stars which include Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender and more. Germans will be getting their first taste of the movie with this out-of-competition premiere.
Also of note: James Marsh's "Shadow Dancer" which is making its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, will head to Berlin right after for its European debut. Based on the novel by Tom Bradby, the film will center on The Troubles in Ireland in the 1960s, and tell the story of a young woman — a former IRA terrorist turned informer for Blighty’s MI5 — whose brothers are both heavily involved with the IRA. When she is arrested over an aborted bombing attempt in London, she is forced to reveal her past if she wishes to see her children again. Clive Owen and Andrea Riseborough star. Meanwhile, Tsui Hark will unveil his 3D "Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate."
List of new additions below:
Further films in the Competition programme:
À moi seule (Coming Home)
France
By Frédéric Videau (Le fils de Jean-Claude Videau, Variéte Francaise)
With Agathe Bonitzer, Reda Kateb
World premiere
Bel Ami
Great Britain
By Declan Donnellan, Nick Ormerod (feature debut)
With Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci
World premiere / out of competition
En kongelig affære (A Royal Affair)
Denmark/Czech Republic/Germany/Sweden
By Nikolaj Arcel (Islands of Lost Souls, Sandheden om mænd, Königspatience – Intrige im Parlament)
With Mads Mikkelsen, Alicia Vikander, Trine Dyrholm, David Dencik, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
World premiere
Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate
Hong Kong, China
By Hark Tsui (Once Upon A Time In China, Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame, Time And Tide)
With Jet Li, Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Kwai Lun Mei
European premiere / out of competition – 3D
Rebelle
Canada
By Kim Nguyen (La citė, Truffe, Le Marais)
With Rachel Mwanza, Alain Bastien, Serge Kanyinda
World premiere
Shadow Dancer
Great Britain/Ireland
By James Marsh (Project Nim, The King, Man On Wire)
With Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson
European premiere / out of competition
Special screening in the Berlinale Palast:
Haywire
USA
By Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies and Videotape, Traffic, Erin Brockovich)
With Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum
German premiere