Robert Pattinson in David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis"
With his new film "Cosmopolis", Robert Pattinson ventured into the abyss
before the financial world. Cicero Online spoke with the ex-vampire on
the apathy of his generation, split personalities and pie attack
Mr. Pattinson as Eric Packer is
leaving once his aura, his limo, and now he is attacked with a cake. Was
there a similar moment in your career?
Strangely, I have a similar scene in "Water for Elephants" shot. But
otherwise, no, not that I know of. Maybe in a metaphorical sense ...
No aggressive paparazzi and overzealous fans?
No, that has been trusted no one. Thank God that would have otherwise had a bad injury.
How would you describe your character in the movie?
Eric Packer is a man who looks at the whole world very abstract,
himself, his body, his fellow men. He wears egomaniacal trains and lives
in its deepest interior withdrawn, in a world where there is not the
actual reality. Throughout the film, he finally tries to regain control
of his body, about himself, until he gives up completely at the end.
What will remain of Eric Packer?
It's weird. I had to remember me as much text and I thought these lines
would disappear from my head as soon as each scene is filmed. But the
words are still there, I can still memorize the entire script. It sounds
stupid now, but there are times a day, which I quote passages DeLillo,
error-free. David (Cronenberg) always says: "It's like the Bible! There
is a quote for every occasion! "Somehow DeLillo's words are still with
me arrested. Its importance is more and more aware. Especially in the
scene with Samantha Morton, as we talk about the future, there are
passages that haunt me literally.
Is this due to very strong DeLillo's lyrical, poetic word formations?
Yes. I was unsure at first to accept the movie offer because I thought
it would be extremely boring. Because basically, it goes into
"Cosmopolis" to people who are talking in a car - only. One can easily
miss the boat in the movie. Either you follow DeLillo's words all the
time, or you lose yourself in it, without knowing exactly what happens -
then you are left with only a couple of nice pictures. David
(Cronenberg) had so many strange ideas, things that at first I do not
really understand. But if you in this adventure, you'll see the big
picture! I've seen the film three times now. It was only the second time
I could get involved and really it was just completely overwhelmed.
They say that DeLillo's words haunt you. Did you know the movie about
life, about our time taught that you had not previously aware of?
About some things from the current day political life I have made in
turning any thoughts, such as the Occupy-Wall Street movement . Then we
did the protest scene: 200 extras rattled the limo, climbed onto the
roof and tried with all his might to overturn the car. We sat there and
focused on our dialogue - and it was so easy to ignore all this! You
forget that 200 people are out there, just basically trying to kill you.
That's insane! Every day we pursue similar scenes in the real world,
watching TV. And you have to disable it just suddenly you forget what
just happened out there in the world. Occupy with thousands of people
fighting for a cause, and all their efforts have absolutely no effect on
those against whom the protest. That's kind of scary.
A few years ago I read a book about slavery. It has been described as
the brutal slave owners to their slaves during the day and at night they
were talking then about theology and God. But it shows that life is one
and the same person in two completely different realities can. As I
prepared for my role, I looked at the interview between the serial
killer Jeffrey Dahmer and his father. This is so sad. If you then
Dahmer's actions demonstrates, one wonders how, with such a creature can
ever have pity. In such moments, one's emotional state splits from the
life story of the reality of this person.
Were you inspired by Jeffrey Dahmer for your role?
A little bit. Mainly I was looking for a voice. I looked at Ted Bundy
and Jeffrey Dahmer, and then found this Dorman interview with Father.
And as luck would have it, has at the end of the shoot out that Paul
Giamatti was viewed exactly for his long final monologue of the same
interview.
Engage yourself politically?
Not in public. I form an opinion, but I will be careful not to tell
people what they do. Maybe I just know too little about responsibility
for the actions to take on others.
But it is your Twilight image could still use it to sensitize the
younger generation for the political and economic world events!
I do not know. My generation shares this aggressive apathy, in which no
one goes to the polls and at the same time it irritated that everything
is slowly but surely loses significance. This is ridiculous! People make
their own world! If I for example look at the phenomenon Occupy: Even
if one agrees or not the message itself can not identify with the
content, I think it's great that at least a few more people involved.
Did you ever know of the economy?
No.
What do you do with your money?
I hide under the bed. Probably that's pretty stupid, but I now
understand much of it not time. I just hope that it will be well with
me.
Eric Packer in the film seems very static. Basically, no changes in
his facial expressions, gestures, or even in his own language to
perceive, like a zombie, he moves through New York until he was shot in
the hand at the end. Here comes through a little humanity.
(Laughs) Lay It should not be so, the static on your perception. Eric
Packers development takes place largely within him, very quietly. I
think he is trying to be reborn.
And this slow, quiet development is reflected then also reflected in the tough market and in the funeral ...
Exactly. He is like an iceberg - in the end he begins to break apart until nothing is left.
How critical are you with your own performance?
Very critical. This is the first film I've seen more than once, mainly
because I was forced to. (Laughs) I had him look me in Cannes and was
allowed to leave the room.
Did you go?
For heaven's sake, yes! When I saw the movie for the first time, he was
not quite ready yet. The second time he really liked me. And at Cannes, I
do not really spy really, I watched a lot more to the public. With
every cough, every cough and then I thought: Oh my God, what does this
mean? It is always critical of his work, will you, after all, that
people like what you are doing. That is also the reason to make the next
film.
Mr. Pattinson, thank you for your time!
Interview by Sarah Maria Deckert
via
Berlin (DAPD). Actor Robert Pattinson has previously kept away because of self-doubt ambitious roles. "I have now signed up for many projects that last year I would have thought that I wasn't good enough for them as an actor," said
the "Twilight" actor to DAPD news in Berlin. The turning point was the
drama "Cosmopolis," that recently was in competition at the Cannes
Festival.
