"Robert Pattinson"

4 September 2013

1 min 45s

Whole Lotta Style

It's not often we get to say this, but here's a fragrance advert that's rather gorgeous. However, on seeing the director's name we'd have been surprised if it were otherwise - because it's by Romain Gavras, who specialises in effortless cool. Great use of Whole Lotta Love, too - adds the perfect amount of grit required to make this pearl.

Robert Pattinson and his Kate Moss-alike girl liberate themselves from stuffy surroundings to drive through surf on the beach, snog underwater, and generally swing between bouncy joy and brooding moodiness.

It sounds terribly cheesy, but - staggeringly - it's not. Gavras knows how to balance the mood... so to counteract a glimpse of the girl coquettishly skipping through a restaurant nicking nibbles, there's a wonderfully-composed snap of two pubescent boys watching with impassive curiosity. He has an eye for texture too, contrasting the motion of bubbling water with the stillness of sheets; the fine tracery of lines of a waiter's face with splashy bunches of out-of-focus flowers.

It's a joy to watch, and it has to be said that in his hands, Pattinson is the perfect choice to ensure the aftershave's popularity. Gavras comes up roses again.

UK

After Shave