When our own Chris Bumbray reviewed THE WITCH director Robert Eggers' new film THE LIGHTHOUSE (you can read his 8/10 review HERE), he mentioned that stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe turn in "incredible performances". Distributor A24 aims to find out how incredible the Academy thinks their performances are, as they will be submitting "for your consideration" campaigns in hopes of landing Pattinson and Dafoe Oscar nominations for their work in THE LIGHTHOUSE.
While Pattinson and Dafoe are the only actors on screen for the majority of the film, Bumbray noted that "this is Pattinson's show", so it makes sense that A24 is hoping to get him nominated in the lead actor category. They're pushing for Dafoe to get a supporting actor nod.
Written by Robert Eggers and Max Eggers, THE LIGHTHOUSE has a synopsis that doesn't provide much information:
From Robert Eggers, the visionary filmmaker behind modern horror masterpiece The Witch, comes this hypnotic and hallucinatory tale of two lighthouse keepers on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.
Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke shot the film in a 1.19 : 1 aspect ratio, on black and white 35mm film, using equipment from the 1920s and '40s.
The film was produced by Rodrigo Teixeira, Jan Van Hoy, Youree Henley, and Lourenço Sant’ Anna.
Speaking at a recent Q&A, Pattinson revealed that he got involved with THE LIGHTHOUSE because he was a fan of THE WITCH and reached out to Eggers in hopes of working with him on something. They discussed collaborating on a medieval project or on the NOSFERATU remake Eggers is planning to direct, but it was THE LIGHTHOUSE that rose to the top of their "to do" list. Pattinson joked that NOSFERATU would have been "a little bit close to home", given his history with the TWILIGHT franchise.
Pattinson said working with Dafoe was like "doing an one-act play with a genius".
I knew he was going to bring something crazy. I knew he would have so much anarchic energy. I was very intimidated but it’s always helpful when the part calls for you to be intimidated by somebody."
Audiences will have their chance to see Pattinson and Dafoe in action in THE LIGHTHOUSE when the film is released on October 18th.