Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- cynical
- seductive
- oppressive
- period drama night
- literary adaptation viewing
What critics said
Critics found some soapy pleasures and elegant performances but broadly judged the rushed adaptation and vague central performance unsuccessful.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Georges Duroy repeatedly uses his wit and sexual appeal to advance through Parisian society.
Georges gains entry through the La Vie Française newspaper and exploits its connections to wealthy elites.
The film presents late-19th-century Parisian society through Georges's ruthless pursuit of advancement.
The penniless former soldier turns charm and calculated affairs into professional and financial mobility.
Films like Bel Ami, and why
The Age of Innocence
shared 19th-century social ambition, sexual manipulation, and corrosive class mobility
Dangerous Liaisons
shared period romance, adultery, and socially constrained desire among the wealthy
The Scarlet Letter
shared literary period drama focused on seduction, status, and morally compromised protagonists
Movie Details
- Directors
- Nick Ormerod, Declan Donnellan
- Release Date
- 2012-03-09
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 5.3 / 10 (546)
Cast
- Robert Pattinson
- Uma Thurman
- Christina Ricci
- Kristin Scott Thomas
- Colm Meaney
- Philip Glenister
- Holliday Grainger
- Natalia Tena
- Anthony Higgins
- James Lance
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bel Ami about?
- A penniless former soldier weaponizes charm and affairs to climb the ruthless social ladder of 19th-century Paris.
- What is Bel Ami like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bel Ami as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Bel Ami violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Bel Ami as mild.
- What did critics think of Bel Ami?
- Critics found some soapy pleasures and elegant performances but broadly judged the rushed adaptation and vague central performance unsuccessful.
- Which films are like Bel Ami?
- Films with a similar feel include The Age of Innocence, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Scarlet Letter.
- How long is Bel Ami?
- Bel Ami runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bel Ami?
- In United States, Bel Ami is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
