Back in November of 2008, RottenTomatoes.com interviewed Robert Pattinson to find out what his 5 favorite movies were. It doesn't surprise me at all how diversified his selections were. His eclectic tastes in movies, books, music, etc. is one of the many things I really like about him.
1. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
From Rob:
"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."
2. The Exorcist
From Rob:
"The Exorcist, because I love Linda Blair. [Laughs] She's my ideal woman."
3. Prenom Carmen (First Name: Carmen)
From Rob:
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.
4. Corky Romano
From Rob:
"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."
5. ivans xtc
From Rob:
"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..."
