Pattinson introduces Primetime at London Film Festival, says it's 'not an indictment' of Hansen
Robert Pattinson, Lance Oppenheim, Ajon Singh and Merritt Wever presented Primetime at the BFI Imax on Sunday. Pattinson plays To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen, who has criticised the film.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1Robert Pattinson introduced his film Primetime to an audience at the BFI Imax on Sunday 11 October as part of the London Film Festival. VarietyLC “Robert Pattinson delighted London Film Festival on Sunday night as he introduced his latest film, “Primetime,” to an eager audience at BFI Imax.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Pattinson, 40, plays former To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen and also produced the psychological thriller, which Lance Oppenheim directed from a screenplay by Ajon Singh; Oppenheim, Singh and co-star Merritt Wever joined him on stage. VarietyLC “He was joined on stage by director Lance Oppenheim, writer Ajon Singh and co-star Merritt Wever.” Read at Variety ↗ Evening StandardN “The British actor, 40, stars in the psychological thriller directed by Lance Oppenheim from a screenplay by Ajon Singh.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Left · 1Pattinson said Singh's script felt like "a grenade" and that he called Singh the day after reading it; Oppenheim was brought on within a week and the project was moving within two weeks. VarietyLC ““Ajon had written this script when, as soon as you read it, it felt like it was a grenade,””“And then we got Lance on in less than a week, and I think within two weeks it was already happening.”” Read at Variety ↗
Centre · 1Speaking to the Press Association, Pattinson said the film is "a portrait, and it's not an indictment of Chris as a person at all", and that he had initially planned only to produce it. Evening StandardN ““It’s a portrait, and it’s not an indictment of Chris as a person at all and was never supposed to be like ‘oh this is who he is’,” he said.”“Although Pattinson was initially planning on just producing the film, he explained why he eventually jumped at the chance to play Hansen.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2The film dramatises the making of To Catch a Predator, the NBC series that aired from 2004 to 2007 and was cancelled in 2008, and draws on the 2007 Esquire article "Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die"; the show ended after a 2006 sting in which Texas assistant district attorney Bill Conradt shot himself. Evening StandardN “The film dramatises the production of the American reality television series To Catch A Predator, which aired between 2004 and 2007.”“who shot himself after officers and film crew reportedly entered his home. The episode did not air.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ VarietyLC “Loosely based on the 2007 “Esquire” article “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die,”” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Variety says the filmmakers have said it is a stylised retelling rather than a biopic, while Singh told the Press Association he and Oppenheim "never set out to moralise" and wanted to ask what it says about society that audiences enjoyed watching such shows. VarietyLC “The filmmakers have been open that the film was not meant as a biopic, but rather a stylized retelling.” Read at Variety ↗ Evening StandardN “Singh said he and Oppenheim “never set out to moralise on the subject”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2Hansen has criticised the film: he told Variety it is a "complete work of fiction" and not flattering, and the Evening Standard reports he said it sets out to "demonise" him, though he has also urged people to see it and judge for themselves, which Singh said he was delighted by. VarietyLC “telling Variety after he’d seen the movie that it is a “complete work of fiction.”” Read at Variety ↗ Evening StandardN “Although Hansen has publicly decried the film, claiming it sets out to “demonise” him”“I’ve been surprised that he keeps telling people to go watch it and make up their own minds” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Left · 1Asked at the Venice press conference about Hansen, Pattinson said he hoped Hansen likes the movie. VarietyLC ““Obviously, I hope he likes the movie,” Pattinson said.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1Variety reports that the A24 film premiered at Venice last month to a seven-minute standing ovation, opened in US theatres on 25 September, has grossed $38 million against a $14.5 million budget, and is due in UK cinemas on 30 October. VarietyLC ““Primetime” hit U.S. theaters on Sept. 25, becoming a breakout box office hit by grossing $38 million so far against a $14.5 million budget, and is set to release in the U.K. on Oct. 30.” Read at Variety ↗
Centre · 1Oppenheim, best known for documentaries, said this is his first feature and he wanted to turn a Hollywood drama into a "fever dream"; the cast also includes Skyler Gisondo and Phoebe Bridgers. Evening StandardN “I wanted to take a Hollywood drama and turn it into a fever dream.”“Primetime also stars Unbelievable actress Merritt Wever, Focker-In-Law’s Skyler Gisondo and singer Phoebe Bridgers.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Festival-night report led by Pattinson's charm and the script's appeal, with box-office success and Hansen's objections as context.
- Emphasis
- Pattinson's quotes about the script, the Venice ovation, the $38 million gross and Hansen's 'complete work of fiction' remark.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on Singh's or Oppenheim's views of the film's ethics or on the Conradt case.
- Charged language
- “grenade”“breakout box office hit”
- For example
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“becoming a breakout box office hit by grossing $38 million so far against a $14.5 million budget” — Variety
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Frames the story around Pattinson's statement that the film is not an indictment of Hansen, then gives the filmmakers' views on vigilante justice and public shaming.
- Emphasis
- Background on the show and the Conradt case, and the screenwriter's and director's comments.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits box-office figures, the Venice reception and the UK release date.
- Charged language
- “vigilante justice”“fever dream”
- For example
-
“Although the film explores how To Catch A Predator pursued vigilante justice and public shaming” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Pattinson plays Chris Hansen in Primetime, directed by Lance Oppenheim from Ajon Singh's script.
- The film is drawn from a 2007 Esquire article and dramatises To Catch a Predator.
- Hansen has publicly criticised the film.
Robert Pattinson person
Says the film is a portrait, not an indictment of Hansen, and that the script was surprising and original; hopes Hansen likes it.
““It’s a portrait, and it’s not an indictment of Chris as a person at all” — Evening Standard
““Obviously, I hope he likes the movie,” Pattinson said.” — Variety
Chris Hansen person
Calls the film a 'complete work of fiction' and unflattering, and is reported to say it seeks to 'demonise' him, while telling people to watch it and decide for themselves.
“it is a “complete work of fiction.”” — Variety
“claiming it sets out to “demonise” him” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
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Celebratory Upbeat premiere report highlighting Pattinson's charm and the film's commercial success.
Centre2 articles
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Robert Pattinson says new film is ‘not an indictment’ of TV host Chris Hansen
Neutral Interview-driven account focused on the film's treatment of Hansen and the ethics of the original show.
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Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 11 Oct 18:53 First VarietyLC Robert Pattinson Recalls ‘Primetime’ Script Feeling Like a ‘Grenade’ as A24 Thriller Premieres in London: It Was ‘Original and Funny… and a Little Dangerous’
- 11 Oct 21:39 +2h 46m Evening StandardN Robert Pattinson says new film is ‘not an indictment’ of TV host Chris Hansen
- 11 Oct 23:01 +4h 7m DeadlineN Robert Pattinson Approached Chris Hansen Portrayal In ‘Primetime’ As “A Fan”: “I Was Trying To Make Him Cool”
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.