Bel Ami (2012)

A chronicle of a young man's rise to power in Paris via his manipulation of the city's most influential and wealthy women.

Directors:

Declan Donnellan, Nick Ormerod

Writers:

Guy de Maupassant (novel), Rachel Bennette (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Pattinson	...	Georges Duroy
Uma Thurman	...	Madeleine Forestier
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Virginie Rousset
Christina Ricci	...	Clotilde de Marelle
Colm Meaney	...	Monsieur Rousset
Philip Glenister	...	Charles Forestier
Holliday Grainger	...	Suzanne Rousset
Natalia Tena	...	Rachel the Prostitute
James Lance	...	François Laroche
Anthony Higgins	...	Comte de Vaudrec
Timothy Walker	...	Solicitor
Pip Torrens	...	Paul the Butler
Christopher Fulford	...	Police Commisioner
Amy Marston	...	Nanny
Frank Dunne	...	Bishop

Storyline

Georges Duroy is a penniless soldier returning from war. He travels to Paris in a search for ways to improve his social and financial status. He uses his wit and powers of seduction to charm wealthy women.

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Plot Keywords:

adultery | 1890s | prostitute | bare chested male | male rear nudity | 

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Taglines:

Possessed by love. Consumed by desire.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong sexuality, nudity and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

Bel Ami, historia de un seductor

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$38,018 (USA) (8 June 2012)

Gross:

$119,919 (USA) (27 July 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Redwave Films, 19 Entertainment, Protagonist Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Holliday Grainger and Robert Pattinson also starred together in the made for TV movie The Bad Mother's Handbook.

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Quotes

[from trailer]
Georges Duroy: [seducing Virginie] Does your husband tell you you're beautiful?

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Movie Beatdown: Review of 2012 (2013)

User Reviews

a mediocre caspule!!

Bel ami is a huge disappointment for those who are familiar with Guy de Maupassant's novel of the same name, or for those who have seen George Duroy in movies or in TV! Acceptable the fact that the whole novel might not fit into the cinematic body, nonetheless the caspuled version falls flat, and for me, this turns out to be the worst adapted screenplays of all time!

To start with, the casting went terribly wrong, Robert Pattinson never came close to portraying George - still in colored shades of Cedric Gregory and the vampire boy. The screenplay like i mentioned added to the misery, overemphasizing on certain aspects which did mar the intensity of the plot, and then underplaying the characters and the drama as if we were getting to see knitted episodes from a TV series. The saving grace comes in form of the background score which was brilliant - how i wished to see an appeasing drama for the music!!

To sum it up, this was a real disappointment for me, i wouldn't have minded watching a 3 hour drama (the movie really had the stuff to be that long)but this was just a capsuled dose of what i craved for - the ensemble cast and the build up to the release had sedated me, it just blows :( 4/10