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The guy who plays Batman is also playing the guy behind "To Catch a Predator"? Makes sense on some level.
As "Dateline NBC" journalist Chris Hansen in "Primetime," though, Robert Pattinson has one of his juiciest and most bonkers roles as he digs into reality TV escapades that helped define our viewing habits for years to come. That's definitely worth a watch this weekend, though if you're looking for something both heartwarming and white-knuckle, Brad Pitt pairs up with a canine costar for the survival drama "Heart of the Beast." And those looking for star vehicles will get a kick
out of "Brothers," a new Apple TV comedy that features Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as themselves.
Now on to the good stuff:
See Robert Pattinson go gonzo as TV host Chris Hansen in 'Primetime'
If you were watching TV in the mid-2000s, you likely remember "To Catch a Predator," Chris Hansen's reality show that confronted would-be pedophiles and their ilk, exposing them on camera with dramatic flair. The movie "Primetime" (in theaters now) dramatizes one of the show's most infamous cases and lets Robert Pattinson go wild as an anxiety-ridden, ambitious and slightly haunted version of Hansen in a stylized fever dream. (Peep my ★★★ review.)
My bud Patrick Ryan talked with Pattinson about how he listened to Hansen's podcast nonstop to get the voice right. It's "such an integral part of his persona," the actor says. "But you can really tell when you’re doing it wrong or right.” Patrick also chatted with his up-and-coming costar Skyler Gisondo, who plays one of Hansen's "decoys" in the movie, and even tracked down the actual Hansen, who hasn't been the movie's biggest cheerleader. "It seems a little exploitive, as Hollywood often is," the TV host says in an exclusive interview.
Root for Brad Pitt and a dog in wilderness thriller 'Heart of the Beast'
Tom Hanks had a dog movie. Harrison Ford also had a dog movie. Channing Tatum, too. (In a movie literally called "Dog.") So why not Brad Pitt? He stars in the survival thriller "Heart of the Beast" (in theaters now) as a former special forces soldier who crash-lands in the Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog. The pair then braves the elements and hazardous obstacles on a long trek to safety.
My pal Ralphie Aversa interviewed Pitt about the perils of filming "Beast" as well as how quickly he bonded with his German Shepherd costar. "It's because of what my dogs have given me and how important they've been in my life," Pitt says. "In any of the loneliest of times, your dogs are just this beacon of joy and unconditional love."
Stream Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson's new show 'Brothers'
The urban legend of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson actually being related has given rise to the Apple TV streaming comedy "Brothers," which features the actors playing fictionalized versions of themselves. As far as that actual rumor of a brotherly linkage, "I think it's BS," McConaughey tells my LA colleague Bryan Alexander. Harrelson begs to differ: "He wants to think it's BS, but he doesn't think it's BS. His mom and my dad did the horizontal bebop and they created this specimen right here." Bryan also talked with the pair about their Emmys stage mishap, while TV critic Kelly Lawler isn't a fan of their new show.
If you're itching to stream a movie instead, there's a bunch of fresh fare out this week – and high-profile stuff to boot! – including "Toy Story 5," horror hit "Backrooms," the final "Jackass" movie and rom-com "The Love Hypothesis." (And if you want to plan, here's a look at the fall streaming movies you'll want to mark on your calendar.)
Even more goodness to check out!
- When I first saw Tom Bateman on screen, I thought he'd make a good Joker one day. Or a Bond villain. Apparently, instead he's now BookTok's newest rom-com crush.
- Are your kids bugging you to see "Forgotten Island"? Here's a parent's guide to the animated fantasy adventure.
- Jaclyn Smith weighs on 50 years of "Charlie's Angels" and that white bikini. (Yeah, you know the one.)
- Netflix rebooted "A Different World." We catch you up on what happened back in the day on the OG '80s and '90s hit sitcom. Plus: It's pretty good!
- And if you've seen "Resident Evil," director Zach Cregger and star Austin Abrams break down that "sad and beautiful" ending. (Spoilers ahoy!)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Robert Pattinson is more than ready for 'Primetime' role
