RSS Add-Me
Some thoughts on RPattz
I've found the whole RPattz thing to be so interesting, from every angle - the crazy [really - lunatic] fans, the originally manufactured but now organically growing hype, the media coverage, even Robsten, which I am not too sold on as a fact but think is pretty romantic as a fiction.
It's been ages (if ever) since I've had a celebrity crush, but for some reason RP is the perfect storm for me, and I've tried to break down the appeal into isolated characteristics so as to better understand. Obviously, he is gorgeous - you could cook dinner over his photo - but his oft default scruffy look doesn't really appeal to me, so it's not that. At least not entirely.
The voice has to be given its own credit, though. Tenor and accent - Plus, plus.
I actually only wanted to see Twilight originally because of youtube videos I'd seen. For me Pattinson's interview persona is much more interesting than the perfect Edward, and I think a large part of that is the combination of his shyness/introversion and his seeming generosity with people. The Twilight craze is kind of ruining the moment for him, the fame is exhausting and each photo taken is kind of stolen goods, but he's not getting all Hugh Grant curmudgeonly about it. He rolls with the punches, smiles for the fans, and makes self-deprecating jokes about it, and for that you - I - feel rather protective about him. Back off, everyone, and let the man breathe. Enough, already.
I think lots of people with an online presence are introverted, but most of Hollywood is probably extroverted, so you may enjoy these people, but you can't relate to them, and many of them are a bit intimidating in their manner or bearing, or just arrogant. I, for instance, would never want to have a conversation with Brad Pitt because it would be so imbalanced, or at least I would feel like it is. He is the Big Man on Campus in every way, and I am the girl in the back of English class scribbling her notebook. What is the point in talking...there is nothing to say.
Rob is, however, so incredibly nonthreatening. He gives off a gentle, nonjudgmental air. He hasn't yet begin to believe his own hype. He seems real, unaffected and unwilling to change stuff he thinks is unnecessary. And because he doesn't care, he can get away with wearing the same 3 t-shirts and 2 pairs of jeans and carrying a Dadcase and everyone squees over his choices and thinks they are the coolest ever when, in fact, they are not. He is the coolest. Because he's decided what's important to him and he remains unwavering to those things.
I have no idea how much talent he has - I think that's yet to be revealed - but he is magnetic on the screen. You can't take your eyes off him, and you wouldn't want to if you could. That could take him far, if he decides after all this he still wants to go there.
Honestly, I think there's a real chance he could bail, esp. if the criticism gets too mean and personal. He's not in it for the fame or, seemingly, the money, and other stuff might be just as enjoyable and allow for less spotlight and scrutiny. I would love to see him work his screen mojo in some interesting projects and would be sad if Hollywood puts him through the mill and churns out pulp, but what concerns me most is the chance of all this High Profile crap turning him into a self-righteous, humorless, arrogant prick who just wants to bang supermodels and blather on about politics. Because that would ruin all of his appeal for me. The lack of all that in his public persona is what makes him seem like a good old fashioned movie star.
Addendum (6/9/09): Here's a rundown on why smart girls love Robert Pattinson . Interesting summation.