Not sunday afternoon cinema: Little Ashes

There is a great Dali film but this ain't it. I have a small fascination for the Spanish surrealist painter having seen some of his work in galleries and visited Cadaques, Figueres and the home of Gala, his wife, in Catalunya but it wasn't that that made me want to see this film. It was the potential for it to be car crash cinema with Robert Pattinson taking the pre-Twilight lead as Dali.
It follows the painter's early years at art school and his relationship with the poet Frederic Garcia Lorca. It is a relationship Dali denied for years, we are told at the end the film, and if he'd seen this film he's probably wished he'd never opened his mouth.
Pattinson looks uncomfortable with an accent that travels as much as character does during the film. The only thing I can commend him on is the brave choice of role (I wonder if he'll ever attempt anything similar now he's a superstar) but can only assume the casting director had a massive crush on him during his audition. You can almost feel the directors frustration at trying to eek out a half credible performance.
It is a shame because it is an interesting story but the film never really gets under the skin of the relationship despite the best efforts of the rest of the cast. Whoever plays Dali in the future needs to have far more depth and scope in their acting ability.
However, I must just add that there was some great cinematography and it wasn't anywhere near as bad as last years worst film, Incendiary. There was an attempt to do something a little different that just didn't quite come off. Oh and it silenced the many giggling Twilight fans drawn by a chance to see 'Edward' while waiting for New Moon in the Autumn.
Here are some other reviews and a trailer clip:
Telegraph
Variety
Guardian