Robert Pattinson lacked 'guts' to play my husband in 'Life': Susan Richards

Robert Pattinson “seemed confused and inarticulate” while playing the role of photographer Dennis Stock in his new film, “Life,” Stock's widow Susan Richards has said.

Richards slammed the British actor's performance in the film saying he failed to bring out the true character of her husband; who is famous for taking pictures of film star James Dean for Life magazine in the 1950s. She tells The Guardian that Pattinson's portrayal lacked “the guts, energy and imagination needed to capture such a ferocious and remarkable man.”

Richards is fourth wife of Stock and married him in 2006, four years before his death. She said the movie did not do justice to his magnanimous personality. “Pattinson portrayed a man who was very insecure, very low on confidence. He wasn’t very bright, he wasn’t talkative. He seemed confused, inarticulate,” Richards said.

She further criticised the “Twilight” actor's work saying that he looked like a “lost soul,” who lacked “confidence, humour, charm or intelligence” of her late husband, which attracted others to him. “That wasn’t the man I knew.”

The publication also asked Richards why she thinks Pattinson did not do justice to Stock's portrayal and she blamed it on his “fear of overacting.” “I don’t think Robert Pattinson had the guts to try and interpret someone as complex and powerful as Dennis. He just withdrew.”

However, Anton Corbijn, director of “Life” thinks that he made a right choice by hiring Pattinson for the role but also admitted that he took “some liberties in the dramatisation of the film,” as not many people who knew Stock at that time are alive today.

Corbijn also praised Pattinson saying he is one actor who does not sign any film for money. “He is a guy who wants to prove himself as an actor, playing a photographer who wants to prove himself as a photographer.”

“Life” released in Australia on Sept. 10 and in U.K. on Sept. 25. It will hit theaters on Dec. 4 in the U.S.

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