Eric SamulskiBrad Pitt: Underrated?
October 1st 2008 04:27
It doesn’t happen often; when a celebrity is both over-exposed and under-appreciated. It occurs when a celebrity spend so much time in the limelight that their fame begins to work against them. People begin to view them simply through their image and not through their specific talents. For some so-called celebrities, like the Paris Hiltons and Tila Tequila’s of the world, this is what they want: an image that is more important than any talent. But for others, their fame casts a shadow of the attributes that put them in the public eye in the first place. There might not be a better example of this than Brad Pitt.
It seems as though he’s been in every tabloid or every entertainment news show for about ten years running. Every time you open a magazine or turn on a TV you are bound to hear something about Brad Pitt. First it was simply his looks, than his break-up with Jennifer Anniston or Gwyneth Paltrow. People talk about his different hair cuts, and now his ongoing relationship and multiple adoptions with Angelina Jolie. But all the media hoopla has caused everybody to forget a simple fact: Brad Pitt is an exceptionally talented actor.
Now, I will admit that he isn’t on par with a Tom Hanks, or a Denzel Washington, and can’t be counted on to carry a dramatic role as well as those two can, but there aren’t many people that even belong in the same conversation. The beauty of Brad Pitt’s ability as an actor is that he can play so many different types of roles. To each one he brings the carefree, charisma that he seems to have outside of films as well.
He’s played the dimwitted, or drug-addicted comic relief a few times, most notably in True Romance, where he played a couch-dwelling stoner (and the inspiration for Pineapple Express) and in the most recent Coen brothers movie, Burn After Reading as a dull, misinformed gym trainer. He’s also effectively transformed himself into a crafty lunatic in 12 Monkeys. In each of these roles, he was able to create a believable image that was so far removed from his public persona. He became the character he sought to portray, not Brad Pitt trying to be a character actor.
He’s also shown in chops in more serious roles, playing an aggressive, idealistic rookie cop in Seven and a manipulating, troublemaker in Fight Club. He’s shown comedic skills and loads of charisma in the Oceans series and the ability to match an action star in Troy and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. But was perhaps most surprising and unfortunately overlooked is his role as Jesse James in last years, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Because the movie clocked in at over three hours, many people passed on the sweeping tale of Jesse James and his biggest admirer. What they missed out on was an affecting performance by Pitt who was able to convey the divided mind and paranoia that overcame James towards the end of his life with tremendous accuracy and emotional weight. In the movie Pitt relies exclusively on his acting to carry him through. There are no special effects, no glossy Hollywood edits; just the actors creating this secondary world. Yet, for the brilliance of his performance, it seems everybody only talks about how the film was a breakout for Casey Affleck. While it’s not untrue, it’s a shame that the praise is not spread around more.
From the outside looking in, it appears as though Brad Pitt has reached a point in his career where nothing he does on film will ever been given as much attention to what he does when he’s off set. While the American public is happy to see as much of him as possible in papers and TV screens, it’s missing a very strong acting career on the big screen.
It seems as though he’s been in every tabloid or every entertainment news show for about ten years running. Every time you open a magazine or turn on a TV you are bound to hear something about Brad Pitt. First it was simply his looks, than his break-up with Jennifer Anniston or Gwyneth Paltrow. People talk about his different hair cuts, and now his ongoing relationship and multiple adoptions with Angelina Jolie. But all the media hoopla has caused everybody to forget a simple fact: Brad Pitt is an exceptionally talented actor.
Now, I will admit that he isn’t on par with a Tom Hanks, or a Denzel Washington, and can’t be counted on to carry a dramatic role as well as those two can, but there aren’t many people that even belong in the same conversation. The beauty of Brad Pitt’s ability as an actor is that he can play so many different types of roles. To each one he brings the carefree, charisma that he seems to have outside of films as well.
He’s played the dimwitted, or drug-addicted comic relief a few times, most notably in True Romance, where he played a couch-dwelling stoner (and the inspiration for Pineapple Express) and in the most recent Coen brothers movie, Burn After Reading as a dull, misinformed gym trainer. He’s also effectively transformed himself into a crafty lunatic in 12 Monkeys. In each of these roles, he was able to create a believable image that was so far removed from his public persona. He became the character he sought to portray, not Brad Pitt trying to be a character actor.
He’s also shown in chops in more serious roles, playing an aggressive, idealistic rookie cop in Seven and a manipulating, troublemaker in Fight Club. He’s shown comedic skills and loads of charisma in the Oceans series and the ability to match an action star in Troy and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. But was perhaps most surprising and unfortunately overlooked is his role as Jesse James in last years, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Because the movie clocked in at over three hours, many people passed on the sweeping tale of Jesse James and his biggest admirer. What they missed out on was an affecting performance by Pitt who was able to convey the divided mind and paranoia that overcame James towards the end of his life with tremendous accuracy and emotional weight. In the movie Pitt relies exclusively on his acting to carry him through. There are no special effects, no glossy Hollywood edits; just the actors creating this secondary world. Yet, for the brilliance of his performance, it seems everybody only talks about how the film was a breakout for Casey Affleck. While it’s not untrue, it’s a shame that the praise is not spread around more.
From the outside looking in, it appears as though Brad Pitt has reached a point in his career where nothing he does on film will ever been given as much attention to what he does when he’s off set. While the American public is happy to see as much of him as possible in papers and TV screens, it’s missing a very strong acting career on the big screen.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Still give me Pitt over Hanks and Denzel anyday, both of them are reason enough for me to skip a film....they are both so dull and obvious in there techniques I never believe them in the parts. At least Brad goes outside his comfort zone.
Comment by Cass
Filmsi
Brilliant performance. As goes for Seven.
Pitt undoubtedly has talent but an overdose of review/portrayal of him as a sex symbol/good looker and what not has indeed created an alter persona for the world to admire.
Another brilliant (and utterly good looking actor) though has evaded this trappings of fame simply by staying out of the limelight. This actor is Johhny Depp (waay more good looking than Brad Pitt, in my opinion). I wonder why Depp has escaped this pigeon-holing....
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by #1 Tunafan
I tend to agree with most of your points when it comes to Brad Pitt, but you fail to mention how his acting makes you feel. Possibly like lavender in springtime? Just a hunch...