Robert Pattinson On GMA: 'Pretty Much Everything That Comes Out Of My Mouth Is Irrelevant'
Whether or not Robert Pattinson carries Cosmopolis to box-office glory this coming weekend, I hope he's around the movie business for a long time.
Unlike Kristen Stewart, who, I'm convinced, is Oscar material, Pattinson has yet to blow me away as an actor, but I do think he should win an award for the cheeky way in which he keeps showing us that contemporary celebrity journalism is a joke.
Pattinson's hysterical media tour for Cosmopolis has been underway since Monday when Jon Stewart — Mr. I-Schooled-Jim-Cramer-and-President-Obama-on-national-TV — served the actor melted ice cream and a bunch of runnier questions on The Daily Show.
And then on Wednesday, things got even sillier.
Pattinson appeared on Good Morning America, where host George Stephanopoulos informed the actor that the show's staff had done some research and come up with Pattinson's favorite breakfast food: Cinnamon Toast Crunch. (Good to see the ABC News budget going to good use.)
The interview that followed was a lot like that cereal: sickly sweet and full of empty calories, although the winning and witty Pattinson never went soggy in the milk bath of Stephanopoulos' aimless questioning.
I couldn't help but admire the actor's response when Stephanopoulos, attempting to get the "elephant in the room out of the way" asked Pattinson "How are you doing? And what do you want your fans to know about what's going on in your personal life?"
Behind the two men, a small horde of those fans stared hungrily at their Twilight idol through the glass walls of GMA's Times Square studio.
If Pattinson, who we keep being told has no publicist, was going to play the game, that was the moment where he was supposed to drop some morsel about his supposed relationship drama with Kristen Stewart. Instead, he used GMA's cereal shtick to his advantage.
"I'd like my fans to know that Cinnamon Toast Crunch has 30 calories per bowl," Pattinson said with a vampy grin, reducing the idiocy of contemporary celebrity journalism to a single line. Make that two: "Pretty much everything that comes out of my mouth is irrelevant," he added.
Nice.
"I take it that you don't want to talk too much about it," replied Stephanopoulos, which made me spit my breakfast back into my bowl. Really?
"Is that the way you handle all of this craziness?" the former Clinton Administration adviser continued.
"You get into to it to do movies," said Pattinson. "I've never been interested in trying to sell my personal life. And that's really the only reason people try to bring it up. The reason why you go on TV is to promote movies."
The thing is, even though GMA showed a clip and Pattinson talked about the role, I don't think the TV audience left with a better idea of whether they would want to see Cosmopolis, or why Pattinson wanted to appear in it. If director David Cronenberg — whose films provoke and inspire even when they don't work as conventional entertainment — was discussed at all during the interview, I don't recall a single significant thing that was said.
Instead the interview became more about Pattinson's celebrity. Fortunately, he is capable of being introspective. "If you start getting used to it, it means you're going crazy," the actor told Stephanopoulos, adding: "It's like being on the craziest theme-park ride. It's exciting, but, eventually, at some point, you've got to have a break."
Pattinson, who plays an increasingly unhinged billionaire in Cosmopolis, even suggested a way that henpecked celebrities like him could get a break from the paparazzi: "If you put the lives of people who control billions on the front page of every single paper, the world would be a better place," he said. (Except Rob, that many of those billionaires also control much of the media.)
To those same ends, the actor without a publicist had a few choice words to say about "spin culture" that, I suspect, raised some hackles at the high-powered publicity firms that represent celebrity's finest. "If you took away publicists" and those who relied on them "spoke for themselves, then they'd have to be responsible for their words." the actor said.
I think that's what I like best about Pattinson. He knows he's part of the problem, but he sounds like he'd prefer to be part of the solution.
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Comments
Well done Robert! It must be such a strange and disorientating experience to have to everyone you meet look at you like they already know a huge amount about your personal life, but he seems to keeping his head and dealing with it admirably.
I agree with you Peter, it is nice to see that he is not trying to sell his angst too much, although Cronenburg must be loving this little burst of added publicity!
A thoroughly delightful and thought provoking article. Watching that young man come into his own is very satisfying. He's a class act, and consummate professional.
**cough, cough** KS Oscar material??? Are you serious!
Robert's comments are dead on! A class act through and through and a very gifted actor.
Actually, I have to agree with the man about Stewart. She has Academy Award Winner...or at least Nominee, written all over her. The thing is, Pattinson does too. People constantly underestimate both of them, and I find it sad and amusing at the same time.
I suspect that with Pattinson, he may just not have found the right movie to showcase his chops yet. But I like that he's taking chances. That's what he should be doing at this tender age.
Yep I knew that would be a reply! If she ever gets a nomination, people like you will say it's a sympathy vote after all the sensationalism (like Sandra Bullock for Blind Side). Rob Pattinson is really smart and charming & has made the TV media look foolish during these interviews. The web/print media are still not catching on though.
@Falstaff, I agree with you. My previous comment was directed at "Maryk".
You can see why the kid is a movie star. Aside from his looks, he has charm and charisma. He's entertaining. People want to root for someone they like. And Pattinson is very likeable. He's still young and fairly raw as an actor, but if he can pull off some good performances, he could have quite the future. Have heard he's quite good in Cosmopolis, and just landed some interesting new projects, so he may indeed be one to watch.
lol. stewart will probably win an oscar this yr. with all the "leave her alone" nonsense going on.
Robert Pattinson emerges with new girlfriend. http://hollywoodandswine.com/robert-pattinson-gets-revenge-on-kristen-stewart-for-affair-with-older-director-by-seducing-nancy-meyers/
That's his agent Stephanie Ritz. This is possibly the 4th or 5th time he's been reported "dating" her. (shakes head)
Mr. D. - In the last paragraph, you say RP knows he's part of the problem. Could you explain why you think that? I saw the GMA intvu, and I've read or listed to most of RP's intvus for several years. I've never had the impression that he thinks he's part of the so-called PR/spin/celebrity problem. Hoping to hear from you 😉
He's a celebrity. By virtue of his fame, he is part of the problem.
steward = Oscar material..wth are you smoking, that woman cannot even crack a smile when riding on Rupert's junk. This is an insult to all the good actresses out there. And now after she let the whole world see that she is anything than a cool, rebellious chick , but nothing more than a fake Hollywood product, I'm sure she will no longer be a big attraction for many , women fear other women who go after their partners, I do. And which Directors wife will ever be comfortable with steward around, first she befriends them and then she screws them...not good
Ah, a hater fruit-loop. I didn't think one of you would have the point-blank guts to show up around here. What with the article and resulting discussion being well about your comprehension. (smirks) Let me just say this about that. I'll be thinking about your ilk when she collects that little gold statue and I'll be rolling with laughter. For both of them. Ciao.