Bel Ami

Name: Bel Ami
Genre: Drama
Released: June 8, 2012
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 42
Cast: Christina Ricci, Kristin Scott Thomas, Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman

2012

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 61 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 61 Ratings

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Bel Ami

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: June 8, 2012 | R

Starring: Christina Ricci, Kristin Scott Thomas, Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman

Summary: Bel Ami is the story of Georges Duroy, who travels through 1890s Paris, from cockroach ridden garrets to opulent salons, using his wits and powers of seduction to rise from poverty to wealth, from a prostitute’s embrace to passionate trysts with wealthy beauties, in a world where politics and media jostle for influence, where sex is powerBel Ami is the story of Georges Duroy, who travels through 1890s Paris, from cockroach ridden garrets to opulent salons, using his wits and powers of seduction to rise from poverty to wealth, from a prostitute’s embrace to passionate trysts with wealthy beauties, in a world where politics and media jostle for influence, where sex is power and celebrity an obsession. (Magnolia Pictures)
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Director: Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

Mick LaSalle

Jun 8, 2012

What distinguishes Pattinson in the role is the sense he conveys of someone roiling and churning beneath a surface that is almost, but not quite, calm. Read full review

Sheri Linden

Jun 7, 2012

Thurman, Meaney and Scott Thomas acquit themselves well, while Ricci's Clotilde is sweet yet posed. Pattinson, who has delivered some strong performances in non-"Twilight" fare, might be exploring the flip side of the Team Edward swoon factor but, finally, his Georges is merely vampiric. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Jun 20, 2012

The surprise for me is Christina Ricci, who I think of as undernourished and nervous, but who flowers here in warm ripeness. Read full review

David Rooney

Jun 4, 2012

A flavorless literary adaptation sunk by a lead actor, screenwriter and co-directors that are all out of their depth. Read full review

Mary Pols

Jun 7, 2012

He's neither a fun villain or a secret good guy; the movie feels like a senseless venture because, even with his pants down on top of Clotilde or manhandling Virginie, he's the dullest scoundrel around. Read full review

Eric Hynes

Jun 5, 2012

Its the ladies who are worth tracking here, from Ricci's understated sensuality to Thomas's fragile angularity. They've supplemented beauty with good old-fashioned acting chops, something their cover-boy co-star would be wise to emulate. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Jun 5, 2012

Pattinson portrays the monotonous Georges Duroy in two equally dry modes: scowls and smirks. Read full review

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User Reviews

tom23holden

Jun 8, 2012

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! It will not be everybodys cup of tea but I love this type of movie! I have read the book and think they did a very solid adaptation. As usual Robert Pattinson has received a lot of undue criticism. He was exactly how I pictured the character in the book. AI thoroughly enjoyed this movie! It will not be everybodys cup of tea but I love this type of movie! I have read the book and think they did a very solid adaptation. As usual Robert Pattinson has received a lot of undue criticism. He was exactly how I pictured the character in the book. A cad who is completely out of his depth in high society where he craves to be. He did a great job. I hope some day critics will get over their aversion to Twilight and just judge a performance without baggage. Honestly I see no other reason for the harsh reviews here.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

MegWhiteley

Jun 9, 2012

Bel Ami, the new movie of the twilight star Robert Pattinson, ok the movie is good, have an amazing trama, and the performances are good, in some moments the trama is boring, but the rest is great. Bel Ami is a good movie.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

billiecold

Jun 8, 2012

I loved it!!!!!! Don't know why it was so harshly judged! Maybe it is not for everybody but it should be judged on achievement and ambition and not on taste!!!

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

martyflowers

Jun 8, 2012

Pattinson was actually very good in this movie!! The only acting down fall that I could see was Uma Therman but it was not enough to take from the story.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

ND45Mines

Jun 8, 2012

Good story and nicely shot. I was convinced by all the actors. They could have perhaps explained certain things a bit more but I still enjoyed it as a movie. I would recommend it.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

dierregi

Jul 23, 2014

Being uninterested in Pattinson as a vampire, teenage heart-throb, I thought myself unbiased and ready to appreciate his acting skills. Unfortunately, this movie did not reveal any such talent.

Pattinson plays Georges Duroy, a penniless ex-NCO, who seduces and manipulates rich womenBeing uninterested in Pattinson as a vampire, teenage heart-throb, I thought myself unbiased and ready to appreciate his acting skills. Unfortunately, this movie did not reveal any such talent.

Pattinson plays Georges Duroy, a penniless ex-NCO, who seduces and manipulates rich women despite a complete lack of wit or endowments. Besides not showing any of the charisma required by the part, Pattinson's rough features add further hindrance.

The role would have suited an actor of refined handsomeness, to make the contrast with Georges personality even more striking. What we get instead is Pattinson's boxer nose, coupled with a flat delivery of his lines. It makes it hard to believe that so many women would find him irresistible.

The story follows Duroy meeting in a brothel Forestier, a former comrade. For reasons impossible to understand, Forestier invites him to dinner and ends up offering Georges a job. During this dinner Georges meets three women willing to be manipulated like puppets, despite the fact that they all seem smarter than Georges.

The first is Clotilde is a rich, dizzy married woman, who just wants to be Georges lover at all costs. For their first sexual encounter, Georges invites her to his squalid abode and Clotilde decides to rent an expensive love nest to continue their relationship.

Madeleine is Forestier's wife, played by Thurman. She is an independent, clever woman who ends up marrying Georges, although she has absolutely no reason whatsoever to do so. Their relation is completely inexplicable.

Mme Rousset, played by Scott Thomas, is a middle aged married woman who loses her head for the completely charm-free Georges. The seduction scene that involves the two of them is cringe-inducing.

Finally, a fourth woman also falls for Georges, making the whole movie a sequel of sexual encounters strangely lacking any passion. Not bad for a boy who would hardly get a second glance, but incredibly tedious as a movie plot… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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