Robert Pattinson’s latest dramatic transformation has made a strong first impression with critics. Following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the A24 thriller has received an early wave of praise.
At the time of writing, Primetime has a 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes from 26 reviews. Directed by Lance Oppenheim and written by Ajon Singh, the movie stars Pattinson as a fictional television host inspired by To Catch a Predator presenter Chris Hansen.
Set against the world of mid-2000s television, the thriller portrays the uncomfortable relationship between investigative journalism, entertainment, and the pursuit of ratings.
What are critics saying about Primetime?
Pattinson’s performance has emerged as one of the biggest talking points from the early reviews. He has won over the critics for fully committing to the character’s strange personality.
BBC critic Nicholas Barber awarded the film five stars and called Pattinson’s performance “extraordinary,” describing it as the actor’s best work yet.
“The key could be that Pattinson never asks us to sympathise with the character. In fact, he seems happy for us to loathe him. But it’s a pleasure to watch him, anyway. This is the best performance yet from the most intriguing actor of his generation,” Barber wrote.
Variety critic Jessica Kiang wrote in her review, “Pattinson’s is only one turn within a stellar cast who individually deliver some career-best screen work. In particular Wever, who has never not been good in anything, is absolutely blistering here, as Hansen’s undervalued, gum-snapping, shark-eyed producer — perhaps less of a sociopath than Hansen only because she has less influence.”
Ben Croll of The Wrap described the movie as: “A primal scream set to queasy colors and power chords, “Primetime” will no doubt prove divisive. Railing and wailing against Bush-era hypocrisies with a virtuosic, operatic aggression, it’s the kind of film that either gets you on your feet, howling along, or leaves you flattened and faintly aloof. I’m in that second camp, though I won’t pretend this riff on “To Catch a Predator” and Chris Hansen lacks craft or conviction.”
However, the 100% score is based on the early reviews, so it could change as more critics publish their reactions. Still, the early response puts Primetime on a strong path heading into its theatrical release.
The film will be released in theaters on September 25.
