'Twilight' heartthrob seduces three women in sneak peek of the June 8 film. By Fallon Prinzivalli
Robert Pattinson in "Bel Ami" Photo: Magnolia Pictures
Just when news on Robert Pattinson's "Bel Ami" seemed few and far between, the American trailer for the film dropped Tuesday (April 3)!
Set in the late 18th century, the period film follows George Duroy (Pattinson), a poor soldier who passionately seduces the wives of France's elite in an attempt to better his circumstances. But like most manipulation, it only gets Duroy so far. Once the most influential men in Paris realize he's betraying them, his attempts are foiled.
Some lucky fans already saw the movie, as "Bel Ami" dropped last month in the U.K. While U.S. fans wait for the release of the film on June 8, take a look at the five must-see scenes from the trailer:
In the Shadows
Our introduction to Duroy happens at a party. The wealthiest families in France are feasting and dancing wearing the most lavish of outfits when we notice him staring in through the window. The look on his face is not one you'd expect from a character on the outside looking in — one that's dejected and sad — but rather angry and jealous.
An Opportune Dinner
At a dinner with some of Paris' most influential couples, the women of the story are introduced to Duroy — they include Kristen Scott Thomas, who plays Virginie Walters, Christina Ricci as Clotilde de Marelle and Uma Thurman, who gives life to Madeleine Forestier. At the dinner table, in reference to Duroy, Walters states, "A handsome, young soldier homesick and alone." De Marelle follows up with the question, "But how could you be lonely?" The next shot shows Duroy with a sly smile on his face, sitting back in his chair as if he already knows the seduction these women will succumb to.
The Seduction Begins
Following the dinner scene, the trailer shows Duroy at another social event. A character voice-over with a line from the movie says, "The most important people in Paris are not the men, but their wives." Duroy talks to de Marelle and asks her what she enjoys, to which she says, "Everything." The next few seconds lead to a beautiful montage of the steamy romances the soldier has with Thomas', Ricci's and Thurman's characters.
Romance: Real or Fake?
Duroy asks de Marelle, "Why do you come back to me?" Her reply ("I don't know") and his statement that follows ("I've been a fool") allude to the thought that maybe he's not faking the romances after all. While there's no doubt that he's manipulating these three women, it's possible that the more time he spends around them, the more his fondness for them grows.
Stepping Into the Light
"There is no next life, and I am going to live," Duroy says as the final shot of the trailer shows him stepping out of a dark building and into the light outside. Maybe there's hope for the womanizer in the end. We're fans of a happy ending, especially when the character we're rooting for is played by one of our favorite "Twilight" actors. We hope this last shot is the director's way of telling us Pattinson's amoral character is redeemed.
