Robert Pattinson's "How To Be" is a heartbreaker

Author: Amanda Bell
Examiner.com

While I had no doubt that Robert Pattinson would bring to the world an interesting and complicated character in How To Be, I simply could not anticipate how clever, awkward, and frustrating the film (and the plight of his wayward and romantically lost character Art) would be.

Beginning with the most insipidly unusual and unforgivingly cold of familial circumstances, Art's hopeless effort at making his place in the small world of those around him is devastating. Nearly deserving tears from your eyes, Art suffers an alienation and endlessness in struggle that leaves one bitter and completely sympathetic.

And Robert Pattinson, star of The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Little Ashes, is the deliverer of that emotion.

While the film itself is surprising, well-oriented between its cherry-picked-with-care sound accompaniments and eclectic visual elements, and well-written, it is Robert Pattinson who makes the day with How To Be.

From his writhing anger to his ceaseless whining, Robert Pattinson portrays Art in the adorably "stuck" fashion that gives meaning and life to the character's circumstances. In the film, there is a scene where Art is so frustrated and upset that he wants to hit something, but because he is so fearful of pain and suffering (sort of a wimp, really), he can't even bring himself to do that. It is clear that even his trepidation with expressing his anger causes him anguish. It is Pattinson's performance, from his squinted hints of confusion and disallusionment to his choking gasps as he sobs furiously, that pulls this character off. What could have been a role that reaches no identifiability in audience becomes someone you want to just reach out and hug.

My favorite scene is where Art is reaching out for a hug from his mother. I think that this five seconds of the film fairly accurately symbolizes the slightly aggravating message being brought to us with How To Be - a boy whose mommy didn't love him and what tragic bereavement he suffers as a consequence.

The rest of the cast (including Rebecca Pidgeon, Michael Irving, Jeremy Hardy, Mike Pearce, Johnny White, Powell Jones, and, of course, leading lady (well, sort of) Alisa Arnah) delivered on their bits too. From the stern and bombastic mother who you can't decide whether to hate or agree with (at times) to the "friend" whose antics and very words you want to reach out, grab, and throw into a garbage disposal, these supporting actors' performances lend credence to the sympathies for Art's dilemma.

And yet, you can't quite put your finger on what Art's dilemma really is. Is he bitter with his parents or in love with them? In other words, is he trying to get away from them or is he trying to make them hold onto him? Is he in love with the girl or just looking for anyone, yes anyone, to be a genuine friend to him? It's all very confusing, really, but that gets to be part of the charm of the film all the same. Just watching this giant (yet miraculously not overplayed) disaster unfold in someone's lap (which already contained a host of other complications in the first place) and seeing that he has no idea what to make of it and is clearly not strong enough to figure it out on his own, it's heartbreaking really.

As the credits roll, and some semblance of peace is brought to the life of Pattinson's character, one still can't be sure whether to feel closure, or to remain sad. The "resolution" that How To Be leaves us with for Art feels more like a semi-climax than an ending, and it is wrought with irony and sarcasm. Yet, it is this very aspect of the film that leaves the viewer thinking (think Sopranos finale, and take it back five or six levels of abrupt) past the ending.

Overall, I was completely taken with How To Be. From start to finish, the rollercoaster ride that is this film is completely entrancing. While it may be deeply frustrating and saddening, and downright affecting, to see the sad-song that is Art go through these toils and tumultuous underpinnings he calls life, the film is still beautiful. In all, great story - worthy of its appraise.