Ask many fans today about Robert Pattinson’s legacy as an actor, and they would probably refer to some of his acting works like The Lighthouse (2019) or The Batman (2022). These referrals are usually meant to indicate he has transformed from the teen heartthrob who strutted out as Edward Cullen in the Twilight movie series into an actor who knows his stuff. However, the reality is that one of Robert Pattinson’s best performances is hiding in this 2017 underseen crime gem from the Safdie Brothers titled Good Time. This movie didn’t exactly uproot trees at the box office, but it was the movie that truly changed the game for Pattinson as an actor.
While the average movie enthusiast paid tiny heed to Good Time in 2017, those who actually saw it at its first release recognized its value. The Safdie Brothers crafted a movie that depicted raw survival instincts, and at the center of it all, the actor who merged that chaos was Pattinson. Far removed from his usual pristine appearance, Pattinson’s portrayal of his character in that movie told audiences that he was ready to abandon his safe teen heartthrob legacy for something far riskier.
What Makes ‘Good Time’ Stand Out?
Good Time stands out as a hidden gem for two major reasons: the frantic pace and the overall vibes it creates. In a nutshell, Good Time unveils the story of a man trying, and failing, to clean up the spectacular mess he and his brother made. Connie Nikas (Robert Pattinson) is portrayed as a very desperate and resourceful man who will do whatever it takes, including lie through his teeth, to achieve his goals. At the beginning of the movie, viewers see Connie and his mentally challenged brother Nick (played by co-director Benny Safdie) try and fail to rob a bank. Nick’s capture forces Connie on a chaotic journey across New York City in a bid to free his brother. Compared to several other crime thrillers, Good Time doesn’t depict New York as this cozy, glossy tourist location. The Safdie brothers dropped viewers right in the middle of the chaos by representing New York as a grimy, neon-streaked maze of stress. Adding Daniel Lopatin‘s hypnotic soundtrack (Oneohtrix Point Never) further made the viewing experience that much more stimulating.
For all its brilliance and positive critical reviews, Good Time was not a blockbuster hit when it was released. Made on a shoestring budget of around $5 million, it failed to generate even the amount of money that was spent to make it, recouping only about $3.5 million worldwide. However, those who mattered recognized the brilliance. The evidence of this is the widespread praise it received for its refusal to compromise its vision, as well as the six-minute standing ovation it received when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Further evidence was its Soundtrack Award win at the festival. However, it’s essential to note that Good Time would not be considered a game-changing visual experience without Pattinson’s input and mastery. He brought a fully committed performance that anchored the chaos and gave more weight to the film. Were it not for Pattinson’s portrayal of Connie Nikas as a tragically human scumbag, audiences would simply consider the character a petty criminal. And that is why this role remains the key that unlocked the rest of his career.
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Robert Pattinson’s Career-Defining Performance in ‘Good Time’
Before 2017, and his portrayal of Connie in Good Time, Robert Pattinson struggled under the weight of his role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight movie series. While it was the role that made him a superstar, it also boxed him into a stereotype. Critics and audiences easily dismissed him as a franchise actor with only one mood: broody. In attempts to shake off the ‘vampire guy’ label, he took on the risk of starring in smaller Indies like Cosmopolitan and The Rover, to no avail. Ultimately, Pattinson’s portrayal of Connie Nikas in Good Time torched that perception. His ability to vanish into the character made audiences forget the actor playing the role. All they could see was greasy hair, jittery body language, a thick Queens accent – which Pattinson worked on with a dialect coach — and a desperate low-street hustler. In fact, every trace of Edward Cullen’s brooding glamour was gone, leaving behind a struggling man whose life kept slipping out of control.
What makes Pattinson’s performance more remarkable is the way he makes audiences root for a guy who was objectively the worst. He’s a liar, a user, and someone who would push another person in front of traffic to save himself. And yet he finds these flashes of vulnerability that help viewers understand his messed-up logic. Pattinson’s ability to find that balance between repulsion and empathy is what makes this role career-defining. Unsurprisingly, after Good Time, the trajectory of Robert Pattinson’s career as an actor changed. He sought and embraced projects that took him out of his comfort zone. The ensuing years brought rewards as he went toe-to-toe with Willem Dafoe in the psychologically intense 2019 mind-bender, The Lighthouse. In 2020, he brought effortless charm to Tenet, Christopher Nolan‘s blockbuster spy thriller. In The Batman (2022), Pattinson delivered a gritty and grounded performance as one of pop culture’s most iconic characters. A performance that won over what was left of his doubters.
Robert Pattinson’s fans can easily point to his portrayal of Connie Nikas and say, “That’s where it all changed’ for him as an actor.” Good Time was his audition tape for being taken seriously as a legit, fearless actor, and he absolutely aced it. For the Safdie Brothers, it was their ticket to the big leagues, leading directly to the 2019 Adam Sandler anxiety-fest that was Uncut Gems.
Don’t just take our word for it — go see for yourself why this performance is the stuff of legend, Good Time is available to stream on Prime Video.
