I’ve always considered Freddie Stroma, who played Cormac in "Half Blood Prince," to be a much more appealing figure than Robert Pattison ever was; I never understood all the attention given to him as he rose to fame. In this film, which certainly has a visual flair, he portrays a down-and-out man trying to charm his way through life. He lands a job at the local "La Vie Française" newspaper with some inventive assistance from "Mme. Forestiere" (Uma Thurman) and her husband, who runs the publication. His newfound success goes to his head quickly, and he begins having casual encounters with women throughout Parisian society, showing little regard for their feelings—particularly “Mme. Rousset” (who delivers the strongest performance in the film, as portrayed by Dame Kristin Scott Thomas), and "Clothilde" (played by Christina Ricci, who seems genuinely kind and affectionate). As time passes, his reputation begins to limit his options; those around him grow tired of his behavior, and his fortune starts to turn. Will he end up incapacitated somewhere, or does he now possess the cunning needed to persevere—even flourish? It’s somewhat intriguing to see a narrative told from the viewpoint of someone who climbs the social ladder through romantic conquests, but ultimately it feels rather simplistic. Pattison doesn't demonstrate much skill as an actor; his portrayal lacks any real appeal, and there's very little spark between him and the other performers to keep the story moving along. The characters are all quite unlikeable—deceptive people who would betray others without a second thought. Holliday Grainger’s appearance only accelerates the film’s decline, from which it never truly recovers. It’s just disappointing overall.

Source on TMDB