Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Bel Ami

Play trailer Poster for Bel Ami R Released Jun 8, 2012 1h 42m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
28% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 29% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A morally bankrupt schemer (Robert Pattinson) rises to the upper echelons of Parisian society by seducing a series of powerful and wealthy mistresses.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Bel Ami

Bel Ami

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Bel Ami contains some soapy pleasures but it overall rushes through the narrative and suffers from a vague central performance by Robert Pattinson.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (93) Critics Reviews
Deborah Ross The Spectator It's neither seductive nor absorbing, and although I hate to point the finger... I would say the lead actor, Robert Pattinson, means well and tries hard, bless, but just doesn't have the chops. Aug 31, 2018 Full Review Brian Tallerico HollywoodChicago.com Pattinson doesn't work as the manipulative cad that this story demands. Rated: 2.0/5.0 Jun 22, 2012 Full Review Ben Sachs Chicago Reader The supposedly cunning protagonist registers as a cipher, and the directors' tendency to shoot dialogue scenes in close-up blunts any understanding of the social milieu he's trying to conquer. Jun 21, 2012 Full Review PJ Nabarro Patrick Nabarro This transparent Robert Pattinson vehicle is little more than a nineteenth century Parisian episode of Gossip Girl. Rated: 2/5 Jun 3, 2020 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens [Robert] Pattison does step beyond Twilight and give us a bit more depth, not to mention some nice ass, er, ass work. Nov 26, 2019 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Guy De Maupassant, an expert craftsman of the short story, known for his brilliant flashes of naturalism and realism, here lies butchered on the silver screen in one bloated, unnatural, unrealistic adaptation of his work. Jul 25, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (402) audience reviews
Georgan G Story of greed, immorality & jealousy. The main character is "bad", but the rest of the characters who are supposedly of higher morals are just as bad. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/21/24 Full Review Mercedes/Glenn E This is a much better film than the critic/audience scores might suggest. Admittedly, the protagonist was mis-cast - he needed to be more charming to make his seductions and manipulations of the influential and intelligent society women more credible, but he got other aspects of the scoundrel character right. I am reminded of an opera I attended in Seattle where the audience heartily booed the bass because he was the “bad guy,” instead of applauding him for his excellent singing. The film, for the most part, is faithful to the novel and like the novel does not preach or moralize. This can make us somewhat uncomfortable, particularly in view of the ending, but the idea that scoundrels can attain great wealth and power, while leading what seems to be happy yet loveless lives, being at heart, misogynists, although set in 19th century France is not entirely irrelevant to 21st century America. The film is not great, has some limitations that underlying the novel it is based on, but it has pretensions to being a serious art film. It is a period piece, and the costumes, cinematography, and acting are all very good… and art should make us uncomfortable at times. Forget the critics, read the novel, see the film, and form your own opinion. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/08/24 Full Review John A Criminally and thoughtlessly ejected. Pattinson and his female co-leads fit their respective roles like gloves. The story is obviously doubling as a rapturous character study. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/25/24 Full Review Steve D Trash. Unless you are really attracted to its lead you won't get it at all. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/24 Full Review Audience Member You never believe for one micro second, that any of these beautiful, upper echelons Parisian society wives, would soiled their reputations... with the jamoke portrayed in the movie. Robert Pattinson character is overly awkward, unsympathetic, empty of charm, with zero charisma, (his perpetual facial expressions, are as if he is smelling something stinky... perhaps his acting). Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm sure there's a deep character study in the books....here in this adaptation, not the case. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bel Ami

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Bel Ami

View more videos
The Immigrant 85% 60% The Immigrant Watchlist Hyde Park on Hudson 38% 31% Hyde Park on Hudson Watchlist An American Affair 17% 41% An American Affair Watchlist For Greater Glory 21% 78% For Greater Glory Watchlist Goya's Ghosts 30% 57% Goya's Ghosts Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A morally bankrupt schemer (Robert Pattinson) rises to the upper echelons of Parisian society by seducing a series of powerful and wealthy mistresses.
Director
Declan Donnellan, Nick Ormerod
Producer
Uberto Pasolini
Screenwriter
Rachel Bennette
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Redwave Films, RAI Cinema, 19 Entertainment
Rating
R (Nudity|Brief Language|Some Strong Sexuality)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 8, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$119.9K
Runtime
1h 42m
Most Popular at Home Now