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Rob's Favorite Films
>> 2010/09/11
From rottentomatoes.com
Nov. 18 2008
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) IMDb
The films that I like aren't necessarily because they're good films in themselves -- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a good film -- but that one specifically meant a lot to me. Not because I was in a mental home or anything, but that character influenced me so much when I was 15 or 16, and bits of it stuck with me. A lot of that kind of "putting your middle finger up to the world" attitude -- not that I really have that, but...I used to be so timid, and that was one of those films that [helped me break out], by pretending to be [Jack Nicholson's character] Randle.
The Exorcist (1973) IMDb
The Exorcist, because I love Linda Blair. [Laughs] She's my ideal woman.
Prenom Carmen (First Name: Carmen) (1983) IMDb
What else do I like? A Godard film called Prenom Carmen, which sounds like I'm just saying that to be cool, but it's actually one of my favorite films. I think it's the best Godard film. It's like his version of Carmen the opera, one of his films from the eighties. In terms of just pure filmmaking and manipulating an audience, it kind of starts out as a farce, as a complete, stupid farce, with this bank robbery; but it's really, really...Godardian, with kind of a stupid humor that's so random. Only he could make it, mixed up with these kinds of philosophical elements.
It starts out with one of these bank robbers, these students, and she starts to sleep with one of the guards; she's having sex with him in the bank, and he pretends to arrest her and they run away together. And he wants to be part of her gang. It's all so completely ridiculous. And then suddenly, halfway through, it turns into the most heartbreaking, serious thing that you've ever seen -- out of nowhere! -- and you're suddenly so attached to these characters, which you weren't before, because it seemed like a stupid student film. They have this secondary story where they have a string quartet playing the soundtrack which runs in the other story, but they film them during rehearsal, just doing really close up things with them playing cello and stuff, and it's about the relationship with the conductor and this girl, the cellist -- and it's completely random to the film, but it's incredible.
Continuing on the subject of Godard...
I love the last line of Breathless -- it's literally one of the best [representations] of the relationship between women and men. He was also very aware of how people viewed his films, and that film in particular. Everyone was thinking, oh, I'm cool, because I like this, and it's like, "What does 'bitch' mean?" [Laughs] That's kind of the conflict. I love that.
Breathless is definitely what got me into Godard. You can't really be influenced by Jean-Paul Belmondo though, because he's too cool -- so there's no point in me trying to be like him! Randle McMurphy, you can kind of wear his clothes. [Laughs] It's quite easy to find them. But if you wore Belmondo's clothes, you'd look like an idiot.
But even he's trying to be someone else -- he's trying to be Bogart.
He's not really -- he's cooler than Bogart! [Pattinson imitates Belmondo's signature move, brushing his thumb over his lips.] That's like the coolest thing! Another film, Pierrot le Fou -- I did everything from those movies. These stupid, random things, like when he says, "Can I get two beers?" And she's like, "Why?" "I want to have one when I finish the other one." I was like, that's so cool! I have to do that all the time! There's this stupid thing from Arizona Dream, with Vincent Gallo and Johnny Depp, where Vincent Gallo does this thing, [in Gallo's American accent] "Two shots, two beers." So every time I buy drinks, I go "Two shots, two beers!" I love that film so much.
Corky Romano (2001) IMDb
Corky Romano. I love that film. Literally, that's one of the only films I've pissed my pants at. Like, I actually pissed my pants. The first time I was in L.A. I was watching it on TV. The scene where he's on coke...was literally the only thing that they advertised, it was like the only point of the whole movie! I love that character. I love how Chris Kattan just stripped his whole career in one movie. The only guy off Saturday Night Live who just messed it up! It's like, what happened? The only guy. That's why I think it's so great.
I also love the behind-the-scenes stuff on the DVD where none of the crew are laughing; the director's [hiding] and he's telling Chris Kattan, "Just do something funny, just make Chris Penn laugh," and none of the crew think it's funny at all. And you can tell Chris Kattan is just freaking out. Also, he had that vein, which I have [Pattinson points to his forehead] which pops out of his head. I can really relate to him.
ivan's xtc. (2002) IMDb
A film called ivan's xtc. It's a Danny Huston film. That's what I've been watching obsessively recently. It's amazing; Danny Huston should have gotten nominated for an Oscar for it. It's about an agent in Hollywood, and it's kind of a dumb movie before Huston comes in, and then literally is the best example of one performance elevating a movie. It was shot on digital video; it's all improvised. Just having him there, he's literally this -- I don't know, I can't even describe it. I've never seen a performance like it. He's flawless. And if you've ever met an agent, ever...
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From slashfilm.com
Nov. 21 2008
/Film: What’s the movie that you’ve seen the most, do you think, in your lifetime?
Robert Pattinson: I go through periods where I just watch the same thing again and again and again. I’ve been watching this movie called Ivansxtc. It’s a Danny Huston movie. I watched it like 50 times this year.
/Film: Why were you so attracted to that film?
Robert Pattinson: If you watched it, you’d understand. It starts off kind of stupid, but it ends up being Danny Huston. It’s kind of transcendent. He lifts the whole movie. It’s like when you just see an actor and they’ve got the part of their career, and the scene and they’re not messing up. It’s an amazing, amazing movie. I don’t even think you can buy it in America.
/Film: I haven’t even heard of this one.
Robert Pattinson: I know. It’s like they don’t sell it anywhere. They sell it in England everywhere, but I can’t get it anywhere in America.
Robert Pattinson: I grew up watching lots of different Jack Nicholson movies. So, I was like kind of really into Jack Nicholson. Five Easy Pieces - I guess I’ve watched that a lot. IMDb
/Film: Why Jack Nicholson?
Robert Pattinson: I think he is literally the only actor who I can guarantee if I see a Jack Nicholson movie which I haven’t seen, even though I’ve seen them all now, but it’s like the same Jack Nicholson on a DVD box or whatever. It’s like seal of approval. So, you know that there’s something going to be worth watching about the movie. Every single thing he’s done, It’s bizarre.
/Film: You’ve never been disappointed by a Jack Nicholson film?
Robert Pattinson: Sometimes a little bit by the movie, but like there’s always something. There’s a few other actors who have quite a good track like him; maybe 90%, but like he has 100%.
Robert Pattinson: I mean I guess like a lot of guys just think like he’s cool or whatever, but.. What else? There’s a French actor called Romain Duris, The Beat That My Heart Skipped. IMDb
It’s probably the best modern movie I’ve seen in a long time. I’ve also seen a couple of his other things. He did another thing called Russian Dolls, which is like the polar opposite. He’s like this tough gangster guy in The Beat That My Heart Skipped and then he’s literally a Hugh Grant in the other one. It’s the most bizarre experience. He’s an amazing actor. I mean like hilarious in Russian Dolls and The Beat That My Heart Skipped there’s like three scenes which are some of the greatest– There’s this scene where he sees his father dead and like that’s in so many movies where the guy goes, “Ah” or whatever and it’s like literally you’re watching it and just completely mesmerized. It’s like one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. And, what else?
/Film: I’ve done this with a lot of actors and directors. Directors usually focus on filmmakers and then actors usually tend to keep with certain stars or actors.
Robert Pattinson: Well, in terms of directing, one of my favorite films is Prenom Carmen, the Godard film, which I just found out is on the Internet now, which is strange for him. I love the way Godard directs. I think in the same way Nicholson has an acting track record, I think every single Godard movie bar maybe two, they’re worth watching for one reason or another, like everything. The Prenom Carmen is the best Godard movie. It’s amazing. I mean in terms of shock composition, in terms of like performances and just in terms of originality. The whole soundtrack of the movie is recorded. I forgot what piece. I think it’s a Beethoven string quartet piece, but they filmed the string quartet and it has a separate story on it when they’re rehearsing, when they had rehearsal. The soundtrack is this string quartet rehearsing this piece and it fits perfectly with the other half of the story. He has really clever little ideas and it’s amazing.
Robert Pattinson: The Exorcist is like my other one. It’s a flawless movie. It’s completely flawless. You can watch it again and again and again and again. You’ll never ever, ever get bored with it. I’ve never got bored with it. Like every single about it is perfect and it shows why like the CGI should have never have been invented. Read more...
