Life - Um Retrato de James Dean

...is diverting as a portrait of the nascent celebrity industry, with fine performances from Dane DeHaan and Robert Pattinson.

Plaudits to Pattinson for once again taking the tougher route, downplaying his own matinee-idol charms for something less attractive but more adventurous.

Pattinson is, as it happens, very good at playing needy, and he succeeds beautifully in making his character sympathetic without being particularly likable.

Corbijn’s reserved, removed approach gives his stars the space to develop a real chemistry, which makes their characters pleasant company...