British rocker Pete Doherty's debut role on the big screen has divided critics at the Cannes Film Festival.
The musician plays Octave in director Sylvie Verheyde's version of the Alfred de Musset classic Confession of a Child of the Century, which was unveiled at the festival in France on Sunday (20May12).
But The Libertines star's acting skills in his first movie outing have drawn a mixed reaction from critics.
A reviewer for the Bbc insisted Doherty's "personality or charm" has been "sucked out of him" by the director, adding, "It is difficult to recall a less charismatic lead performance in any other film. However, to suggest it is completely Doherty's fault would do him a disservice."
A Screen Daily critic branded Doherty's role a "calamitous miscasting", blasted his "mumbled lines" and "wooden performance", and said the rocker wears a "permanently bored expression" and "looks like he'd rather be somewhere else" for much of the movie.
And a review on Cine-Vue.com concludes, "Doherty, like a sixth former (student) who hasn't learnt his lines for drama class, fidgets throughout Confession of a Child of the Century and seems constantly surprised when it is his cue."
However, The Independent writer Geoffrey MACnab insists Doherty was "perfectly cast" and "projects an air of decadence and debauchery". He adds that the Brit is "playing a 19th century version of himself" and praises his performances as "understated, sardonic (but with) a vulnerability that stops him from seeming (too) obnoxious."
A reviewer for Britain's Evening Standard adds, "He tries hard, and there are moments which work."