Brad Pitt: Good-Ass Actor or Good Ass, Actor?

[so sorry]

Brad Pitt is one of the finest actors of his generation, actually. He's amazing in THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD.

IPAMP!

I swear to Jeebus, I've been monitoring this thread, knowing full well you'd show up!

and you are absolutely correct: Brad Pitt is an excellent actor, that may actual be percieved as less because of his good looks.

Call it the Reverse-Buscemi Effect...

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

Well each to their own. I keep thinking of how many better more convincing actors of Pitt's generation are out there, yet to be discovered or to be more recognised that have far more heavyweight capability than Pitt. If he can get away with it, god knows how many more could too, or do even better.

But anyway, each to their own tastes.

[Nordling]

Have you even seen TAOJJBTCRF?

[so sorry]

We should start a Brad Pitt thread.

A River Runs Through It Winslows...

[Pacino86845]

We should start a Brad Pitt thread.

A River Runs Through It Winslows...

Good call, and in addition to some of the films listed above, he should also get obvious props for Fight Club, and perhaps less obviously, for his bit part in True Romance!!!

I will also throw some props his way for Spy Game, b1tch3s!!!!

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

Have you even seen TAOJJBTCRF?

No not yet. From what I've seen of him thus far though, that gripping, intoxicating and totally mesmerizing effect that a real heavyweight, majestic performance can give me, I've yet to have experienced in Pitt. Yes he's done some excellent stuff, but it's never been on that level of 'serious' emotional aplomb or heavy presence. I've never been really rivetted by him in anything that he's done, wether it be in his stillness or in the way that he'd throw a look or utter a line. He failed all that in Troy.

BUT - I always give the guy the benefit of the doubt and I will with the new Henry Ford movie that he's in. I look forward to him showing me stuff that I've never seen him made out of yet. If there is stuff there that I've not yet experienced of him or if it's a 'revelationary' performance of some kind, well then I'm up for it and I very well likely might be persuaded on him.

Let's see if he changes my mind. I'll let you know!

[Maui]

Let's not forget Thelma and Louise.

[havocSchultz]

Let's not forget Thelma and Louise.

Or Cool World...

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

He was the BOMB in this scene, yo yos!!!

Now watch this drive.

[Pacino86845]

Johnny Suede PWNs t3h suk!!!

[Dee E. Goppstober]

I think Brad Pitt is terrific when he plays a neurotic crazy person, as in Fight Club and 12Monkeys. But kind of beautoxed when has to play the emotional parts. I didn't like him that much in Babel, for instance.

[Maui]

I think Brad Pitt is terrific when he plays a neurotic crazy person, as in Fight Club and 12Monkeys. But kind of beautoxed when has to play the emotional parts. I didn't like him that much in Babel, for instance.

Fight Club I still have to see. I have only seen a tiny bit of it. The scene where Norton's character meet's Pitt's character on the plane. Pitt seemed rather good in just that tiny scene.

Really? I thought he was great in Babel. Again, I didn't think he could pull off the emotional scene(s), but he really did, imo.

I still don't put Pitt in my top 5 actors - but he's not at the bottom of the list with Ali McGraw either.

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

Summed up a lot of my own sentiments there, D.

I mean, when I watch Mr and Mrs Smith with Pitt and Angelina Jolie, it's pretty much obvious who the actual actor is there out of them 2.

[Pacino86845]

I think Brad Pitt is terrific when he plays a neurotic crazy person, as in Fight Club and 12Monkeys. But kind of beautoxed when has to play the emotional parts. I didn't like him that much in Babel, for instance.

Fight Club I still have to see. I have only seen a tiny bit of it. The scene where Norton's character meet's Pitt's character on the plane. Pitt seemed rather good in just that tiny scene.

Really? I thought he was great in Babel. Again, I didn't think he could pull off the emotional scene(s), but he really did, imo.

I still don't put Pitt in my top 5 actors - but he's not at the bottom of the list with Ali McGraw either.

Co-sign... um, Fight Club is awesome, and I hate to say this, but it IS a "guy" movie. As the title implies, there's fighting... and it is of the fist variety. One does, however, get to see Brad shirtless a lot, and his follow-me lines are t3h h0tn3ss!!!

[godzillasushi]

Interview with the Vampire!

[Maui]

Co-sign... um, Fight Club is awesome, and I hate to say this, but it IS a "guy" movie. As the title implies, there's fighting... and it is of the fist variety. One does, however, get to see Brad shirtless a lot, and his follow-me lines are t3h h0tn3ss!!!

Ok, that's enough for me Pacino!

[Pacino86845]

Use this one!!!

so sorry, you're still the boss too!!!

[Peven]

I think he's dreamy

but that is what you say about Kirk, too

[so sorry]

In all seriousness, I really like a lot of what he's done. And like any actor that's been around for a while, he's made some stinkers (Meet Joe Black, I'm looking at you).

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

He's Ok to great. Yet to see real brilliant though.

I think we should backtrack a little here and put some of the Se7en thread split off into this. What say you So Sorry or a Mod? I think it would be great to have our past posts in here to help get it started.

Ah, the new ADMIN takes Kirk advice. Soon he'll be taking.... MY ORDERS!!!!!!!!!






Starting with... A Xenia Onatopp thigh, leg, breast, tongue and venom, plus a bit of Brad Pitt heavyweight champion of the world on the side, please. Can't do the last bit?


Thought not.

[Lord Voldemoo]

He's a good actor. A very good actor, actually, in my opinion. I think most of the guys who slag him do it because the chicks dig him.

He's made interesting choices and has never been scared off by a challenging or different role. He coulda been action/romantic comedy/romantic drama guy his whole career and made kajillions, but he has actually done a wide variety of work (and still made kajillions). I respect that.

[Maui]

Have you even seen TAOJJBTCRF?

There's a hiccup in here. No hiccup - spinoff thread.

[Pacino86845]

Kirk, this IS a split-off from the Se7en thread... so sorry, so sorry.

[Lord Voldemoo]

OMG I'M SO CONFUSED!

[Dee E. Goppstober]

Summed up a lot of my own sentiments there, D.

I mean, when I watch Mr and Mrs Smith with Pitt and Angelina Jolie, it's pretty much obvious who the actual actor is there out of them 2.

I didn't see the Smiths - but I think the problem with Pitt is maybe really just that he can't move his facial muscles. For that matter- can Jolie, really, nowadays?

To me, they're two guppies in the hollywood bowl.


I do like Pitt's energy his 'action'-films though. And he's brilliant in Fight Club- especially together with Norton.



Is this now a Brad Pitt thread?


EDIT: Wow -I'm slow!

[Zarles]

Fight Club I still have to see.

What what WHAT?!

One of the most perfect movies ever. I don't care if it's watered-down from the book. At all. The book's the book, and the movie's the movie. Just finished watching it again while cleaning my nasty-ass house, and yet again I was blown away by how seamless it all is.

[Maui]

Fight Club I still have to see.

What what WHAT?!

Yeah I know. It's in my movie queue.

[godzillasushi]

I think he was great in the Ocean's movies too. The second was probably my favorite as far as his character. He's just so cool!!!

[stereosforgeeks]

Fight Club I still have to see.

What what WHAT?!

Yeah I know. It's in my movie queue.

*le sigh*

[Maui]

I guess my vote would be closer to GOOD then OK.

I have rather enjoyed some of his stuff. I just can't put him in that excellent/exceptional bucket of actors.

He's better than Tom Cruise but he's not as good as Tommy Lee Jones or Anthony Hopkins.

[stereosforgeeks]

I think he was great in the Ocean's movies too. The second was probably my favorite as far as his character. He's just so cool!!!

sushi watches Fight Club for Pitt's follow me lines

[stereosforgeeks]

I guess my vote would be closer to GOOD then OK.

I have rather enjoyed some of his stuff. I just can't put him in that excellent/exceptional bucket of actors.

He's better than Tom Cruise but he's not as good as Tommy Lee Jones or Anthony Hopkins.

Hopkins hasnt really done anything great lately. Hes sort of a been there done that thing now.

[Maui]

I think he was great in the Ocean's movies too. The second was probably my favorite as far as his character. He's just so cool!!!

sushi watches Fight Club for Pitt's follow me lines

I just thought the Ocean movies were a bunch of actor friends playing themselves having a good time, just being cool.

[Maui]

Hopkins hasnt really done anything great lately. Hes sort of a been there done that thing now.

That's not the point. We are talking acting ability - not what they have or haven't done lately.

[Lord Voldemoo]

I think he was great in the Ocean's movies too. The second was probably my favorite as far as his character. He's just so cool!!!

sushi watches Fight Club for Pitt's follow me lines

I just thought the Ocean movies were a bunch of actor friends playing themselves having a good time, just being cool.

The original, even moreso...

EDIT: Speaking of which...http://zone.aintitcool.com/viewtopic.php?p=502264#502264

[stereosforgeeks]

Hopkins hasnt really done anything great lately. Hes sort of a been there done that thing now.

That's not the point. We are talking acting ability - not what they have or haven't done lately.

I know I know.

Pitt can have some really good moments, but a lot of times I just can't help but think of him the person and not him as the character.

[Dee E. Goppstober]

Hopkins hasnt really done anything great lately. Hes sort of a been there done that thing now.

I liked him heaps in Hearts of Atlantis... but I guess that's a while ago now. And there's nothing wrong with his acting in All the King's men either -even though the movie is complete bollocks.

[godzillasushi]

I think he was great in the Ocean's movies too. The second was probably my favorite as far as his character. He's just so cool!!!

sushi watches Fight Club for Pitt's follow me lines

Hehe, well, what can I say!

[stereosforgeeks]

nothing wrong with his acting in All the King's men either

that says it all

[stereosforgeeks]

I think he was great in the Ocean's movies too. The second was probably my favorite as far as his character. He's just so cool!!!

sushi watches Fight Club for Pitt's follow me lines

Hehe, well, what can I say!

what can ya do eh?

[pheadx]

i think brad pitt is a good and lucky actor, but not a great one. similar to tom cruise, has always is the focus of a scene just because of his appearence, but he never felt like a real character.

[godzillasushi]

I think he was great in the Ocean's movies too. The second was probably my favorite as far as his character. He's just so cool!!!

sushi watches Fight Club for Pitt's follow me lines

I just thought the Ocean movies were a bunch of actor friends playing themselves having a good time, just being cool.

But the details are nice. Brad Pitt always eating on the move. The way he talks. They really are friends acting together, but they are still doing little things for their characters to come to life.

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

See? A lot of the positivity I hear about Pitt is among the 'well he's great cos he didn't do this bad thing or didn't do this bad role or become cast in this bad way blah blah...', the whole well he's not THAT bad or unlikeable an actor as he didn't do this or that... and frankly dudes, that ain't enough. That's just credit to him not being crap, that just credits him to a level of...... well not the word 'mediocritry' - but to him being merely 'good' in my point of view. You know, OK, he rose above him being an actor that we could frown upon, but a brilliant an actor that don't make him. Not on it's own anyway.


Which makes me wonder, what are we trying to decide on with this thread? The title and original poll of So Sorry's thread only went as high as rating Pitt as a 'GOOD' or 'great' actor. Does that say something to how we REALLY think of him? Or has someone forgotten to make this thread reach higher? I doubt if Brad Pitt saw this thread, he'd be that much impressed.

Anyway, taking me back, I don't think he's a brilliant actor. He's not one of the current greats, I don't think he's the best actor of his generation by a mile (not meaning to attack or deliberatley disagree with Nordling here, just that it helps me put him in my relative perspective is all), I've seen many other actors, famous, known, or otherwise, wether in their 40s or older or younger, entrap me with their performance more than this guy has.

His turn in Troy was a failure for me. It didn't reach the dramatic heights that we needed for the guy. A lot of the time it LOOKED like he was trying to put on the emotions, too much of a force, not enough effortlessness - and an actor that doesn't look like he's acting or pushing himself shows what a GOOD performance is, let alone a BRILLIANT one. Him fuming and breathing heavy when he shouts out HECTOOORRR is just not genuine enough for me. It shows his method to me. I just get the impression that he's pumped himself up for the scene beforehand or that he's using that 'Breath hard for emotion and anger' technique. Heck I've done that before in some limited acting I've done and I can SEE the method there just as much as me on a bad performance might give, and I ain't just saying all of this 'cos I've got similar experience in such an emotional scene, the 'actingness' of him at the Troy Gates is still on show to me without this.

Again, I'm looking for the natural heaviness, the staggering emotional might of an actor in him, and I just haven't seen it yet. I'm not aiming for some of my favourites here, Anthony Hopkins or Morgan Freeman who rule the Kingdom of such acting here, but I'm looking for more intoxication from Pitt. I've seen this in the likes of Matt Damon who Pitt's been compared to, but I've yet to get it from Brad.

For the record though, he's some roles which I think he's been excellent in, but this only takes up 1/2 the credit that I want from the guy.....


Snatch
12 Monkeys
Fight Club (though Ed Norton doing a lot less than Pitt, still steals my attention to him)
Se7en
Thelma and Louise
True Romans


See? Not enough.

[stereosforgeeks]

see i thought he was believable in Babel, too, and it was some difficult stuff to pull off.

[Dee E. Goppstober]

nothing wrong with his acting in All the King's men either

that says it all

Hm... I haven't seen any other of his more recent ones, so I can't really dispute your theory. But I'll bet he still some has some old-man-juice left in him.


... urgh- old-man-juice.. that sounded icky.

[Maui]

but they are still doing little things for their characters to come to life.

They are?

btw, did you see the Delorean pics in the Photo Album? They were for YOU, u know!!!

[pheadx]

he's like Britney Spears or Madonna. If he's got a good director or producer, he's ace. but when he's all on his own, he doesn't do much

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

If I told you to check out The World's Fastest Indian for top school Anthony Hopkins being fresh and being the CHARACTER himself more than Hopkins has been of late, would it help, D E?

Speaking of which, I watched Meet Joe Black again on Sunday, simply for a bang on sharp, focused and plugged into the mains Anthony Hopkins performance. The rest of the film really challenged me to stay on the film though, and a lot of that is Brad Pitt too.

OK, it's a HARD role to play, there is off direction 'Direction' there, but still, Brad Pitt, whoever's fault it was there, and even though I find it hard to see what he was trying to do, on my best day of seeing through the vagueness of the performance, he still isn't entrapping me there. Again, there's a lot of blandness in his face, good looks and blonde hair or no good looks and blonde hair, but again even though he's giving a murky or even cloudy performance, there's still room to make a viewer rivetted, fascinated, totally sucked in and on the edge of your seat as you sit there trying to work out what's going on in this guy's head. Yes I DO get that here with Pitt - but again, only up to a short extent. Once more, nowhere near enough to the potential of effect that this role could have on a viewer.


EDIT. Thanks for making the poll go higher.

[godzillasushi]

but they are still doing little things for their characters to come to life.

They are?

btw, did you see the Delorean pics in the Photo Album? They were for YOU, u know!!!

No, I can't view pics here at work

I will check when I get home. You're awesome!!!!!!

[Lord Voldemoo]

Kong (anyone remember that joke?)

I do!

Unfortunately.