“Good Time” is a film that probably flew under the radar of many movie fans. For those that didn’t get a chance to see the film, you missed out on what is probably actor Robert Pattinson’s greatest role yet. Yes, even better than the “Twilight” films. All joking aside, the movie is a grim and gritty look into the lives of two brothers, who get caught in a whirlwind of trouble when a bank robbery goes sideways. However, according to Pattinson, the film was almost entirely something else.
“Every draft of the script was an entirely different movie,” Pattinson says in an interview with the LA Times. “The first one was me and [actor] Buddy Duress were brothers and I was getting out of prison. He was part of an acting class and I joined the class and there was prosthetics and that’s how we end up robbing banks. It was completely different and much more of a comedy. But even that was great when I first saw it. So, when the second draft came in and there was like a body switch and all this stuff I was like, ‘What?’ It felt entirely different.”
If there’s one word you would never use to describe “Good Time,” it’s comedy. The film is incredibly dark and dour. Definitely not a lighthearted buddy film, featuring two acting buddies turned criminals. It’s interesting to see the evolution of the film, since Pattinson was involved from the very beginning. Duress still managed to say involved with a film, taking a key supporting role.
“Good Time” is written and directed by The Safdie Brothers, specifically for Pattinson. According to multiple interviews, Pattinson saw a still image from the Safdie Brother’s earlier work and decided he needed to work with them. And when a Hollywood A-List actor calls you up, you definitely answer. The Safdie Brothers then dropped everything to develop a brand new idea with Pattinson, and the rest is history.
Without a doubt, “Good Time” is one of the best films of the year, and it’s difficult to even imagine any other take on Connie’s journey. Would the film have lost its edge completely if turned into a buddy comedy? Whatever the path, the end result is well worth the journey.
