Robert Pattinson is in an important turning point for his career. As the Twilight franchise goes away, he really needs to establish himself as a really actor, not just a sparkly pretty face. He is likely going to turn a few heads in David Cronenberg’s next film, and now he will get a chance to in a more mature affair.

The trailer for his new film Bel Ami has just been released, for those who are unfamiliar with the project here is the synopsis:

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 power and celebrity an obsession.

This is exactly the kind of movie Pattinson should be doing right now, it allows him to capitalize on his ‘cinematic hearthrob’ status, but it clearly gives him a lot of character to play with. Plus any film that ends it’s top billed actors list with ‘and Colm Meaney’ immediately becomes worthwhile in my book.

Interestingly, the film is getting a VOD release May 4th, but doesn’t make it to the theaters until June 8th. Check out the trailer after the jump.

It is remarkable to think just how long and varied of a career Woody Allen has had.  His decades long body of work has already earned him the status of a legendary filmmaker, yet that has hardly slowed him down from constantly pushing himself to be a better writer and director.  And recently, we are seeing a freshness in his work that only reaffirms his true talent as a filmmaker.

To be honest, it use to be that Woody Allen was kind of hit-or-miss.  Of course, he has his classic films like Annie Hall and Manhattan, but more recently, for every Match Point or Vicky Christina Barcelona we would find films like Whatever Works which, despite starring Larry David, seemed to fall flat and felt more like an off-Broadway play than a feature film.

Luckily, Allen seems to be on a roll recently.  Midnight in Paris is one of his films that is able to achieve that rare combination of brilliant dialogue and strong performances that we have come to know and love.

It is here that I would normally give a quick plot recap of the film to give context to the review, but I really do think this film is most enjoyable if you go in knowing nothing more than what was given in the trailer.  I know some people don’t like going into films completely blind, but I do suggest that you skip the next paragraph if you want the full experience.