posted by Automatik

How can you not even mention True Romance? Because he only wrote it? It's one of my all time favs.

I don't know if I'd put a single movie on that list in front of True Romance. I remember loving Reservoir Dogs and thought TR blew it out of the water and then, when I saw Pulp, my opinion was that it was really good, but not up to that standard.

posted by Commander of Awesome

He didn't direct it, just wrote it.Side note, just learned that when he wrote True Romance, he had never even been on a date before. Pretty crazy.

So, basically, Christian Slater's character was him if he'd gotten rich by killing dudes and stealing from the mob, instead of being a successful writer/director (and his first date was Patricia Arquette at peak hotness)? I didn't know that and now am in a state of "Whoa, man...just, whoa..."

posted by bigdaddy2003

Mentioning any of the names of the big time actors with DDL's is silly. Bale is the closest in talent. I've always thought certain big time actors were overrated. If you basically play the same person in almost every movie, you aren't that great of an actor. I know that seems like common sense, but apparently it's not. Some of the big name actors are likeable and their filmography definitely means something but it doesn't necessarily mean they belong in the discussion for best actor. 

This is a controversial take for sure, but I’ll take Brad Pitt over anyone going right now. That’s eliminating the older actors past their prime, but are still active. But in terms of anyone basically under 60, give me him.

Ed Norton also has fantastic range. Just wish he didn’t choose the villain 95% of the time.

posted by Commander of Awesome

 

I fully expected this haha. My Hanks take is definitely hot, and most disagree. He’s a fine actor, I just think he chooses boring films and is often upstaged when another solid co-star is with him.

Ill take my Pacino thoughts to the highest hill. 

I was a little harsh on the Departed. I just hated some of the awful accents (mostly Jack) and some incredible plot holes that made no sense. Leo and Damon saved that film and made it.

Hey don't judge me.  But I'm watching Shawshank for the 100th plus time.

posted by Laley23

Pitt is one of the best character actors ever. His looks actually hurt the roles he would be pitched, unfortunately. I’d say he is about on par with Bridges, who is incredibly underrated historically.

I entirely disagree.  I think he's terribly overrated.  I'd put Tom Cruise ahead of Pitt, and I think Tom Cruise is vastly overrated.

I honestly can't think of a memorable role Pitt has played.  Inglorious Bastards was probably his best, but that's kitsch.  My favorite of his is probably Meet Joe Black, which was critically panned.

I never cared for Dicapprio in Titanic, but he's turned out to be our generation's DeNiro/Pacino/Nicholson.  I'm not sure there's another superstar with the same acting chops.  DDL is great, but his filmography is a little lacking to be put in that group.  Not sure where we'd put Hackman or Denzel, and Robin Williams was incredible.

And I forgot Johnny Depp.  Hands down best character actor of our time.

posted by bigdaddy2003

Mentioning any of the names of the big time actors with DDL's is silly. Bale is the closest in talent. I've always thought certain big time actors were overrated.

Bale is a great, underrated actor.  Also, Sean Penn has been brilliant in at least a couple of films.

For pure character acting, though, I think Steve Buscemi is hard to beat.  Who else has his legit stardom and had to overcome worse looks?

posted by gut

I entirely disagree.  I think he's terribly overrated.  I'd put Tom Cruise ahead of Pitt, and I think Tom Cruise is vastly overrated.

I honestly can't think of a memorable role Pitt has played.  Inglorious Bastards was probably his best, but that's kitsch.  My favorite of his is probably Meet Joe Black, which was critically panned.

Oceans 11? Legends of the Fall? Sleepers? Seven? A River Runs Through It? Burn After Reading? True Romance? Moneyball? Twelve Monkeys? 12 Years A Slave? Fight Club?

Most of those are more of his less “movie star” roles. I think Cruise could’ve played, maybe, 2 of them. There are not many out there who could’ve done them all. It’s tough for him to be a character actor when he is such a big star, but when he is, he’s great. 

posted by Laley23

Oceans 11? Legends of the Fall? Sleepers? Seven? A River Runs Through It? Burn After Reading? True Romance? Moneyball? Twelve Monkeys? 12 Years A Slave? Fight Club?

Most of those are more of his less “movie star” roles. I think Cruise could’ve played, maybe, 2 of them. There are not many out there who could’ve done them all. It’s tough for him to be a character actor when he is such a big star, but when he is, he’s great. 

There's a couple of great movies in there, mostly with Pitt as an ensemble cast member. The rest, like Pitt, are not particularly memorable.  I think you're letting your mancrush get in the way of an objective evaluation.  Brad Pitt is not a great actor, and even the overrated award shows would seem to confirm that.

posted by gut

There's a couple of great movies in there, mostly with Pitt as an ensemble cast member. The rest, like Pitt, are not particularly memorable.  I think you're letting your mancrush get in the way of an objective evaluation.  Brad Pitt is not a great actor, and even the overrated award shows would seem to confirm that.

Yeah, I've gotta disagree with that.  I don't have any huge connection or bromance with Pitt, but I do think he's a damn good actor.  I thought he stole a lot of Clooney's thunder in Ocean's Eleven, and the jobs he did in Fight Club and Se7en were excellent.

I do recall liking him in Meet Joe Black, but I can't even think about that movie without laughing because of the touching scene that turns into vehicular homicide.  I laugh every time.

posted by O-Trap

Yeah, I've gotta disagree with that.  I don't have any huge connection or bromance with Pitt, but I do think he's a damn good actor.  I thought he stole a lot of Clooney's thunder in Ocean's Eleven, and the jobs he did in Fight Club and Se7en were excellent.

I do recall liking him in Meet Joe Black, but I can't even think about that movie without laughing because of the touching scene that turns into vehicular homicide.  I laugh every time.

My brother and I used to rewind that scene 15 times in a row just to laugh at it.

I love him in Legends of the Fall, even though that movie is beyond depressing. I make people watch it and when it's over they're like why tf did we do that?? Because it's good, duh!

posted by Fab4Runner

My brother and I used to rewind that scene 15 times in a row just to laugh at it.

My brother and I did the same after the first time we saw it on television.  "This is kinda dumb. Why are we even watch- HOLY CRAP! HAHAHAHA! WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED???"

posted by gut

There's a couple of great movies in there, mostly with Pitt as an ensemble cast member. The rest, like Pitt, are not particularly memorable.  I think you're letting your mancrush get in the way of an objective evaluation.  Brad Pitt is not a great actor, and even the overrated award shows would seem to confirm that.

This just doesn’t even make sense. He’s the star of 6 of those movies. Played a minor role/character actor in 3 of them (which is what spawned this conversation) and stole the show from everyone in Oceans.

Sleepers would be ensemble where he didn’t outshine everyone...

Also shows his range. Those roles are  it plug and play. They are pretty much all very different from the last.

I just remembered Snatch, as well.  LOVED him as Mickey in Snatch.  He was spectacular (and a Brit I know says he actually did really well with the piker accent, which isn't easy).

 

Gut gonna Gut

posted by Laley23

Oceans 11? Legends of the Fall? Sleepers? Seven? A River Runs Through It? Burn After Reading? True Romance? Moneyball? Twelve Monkeys? 12 Years A Slave? Fight Club?

Most of those are more of his less “movie star” roles. I think Cruise could’ve played, maybe, 2 of them. There are not many out there who could’ve done them all. It’s tough for him to be a character actor when he is such a big star, but when he is, he’s great. 

You forgot:

Killing Them Softly

Inglourious Basterds

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Snatch

Tree of Life

posted by Laley23

This just doesn’t even make sense. He’s the star of 6 of those movies. Played a minor role/character actor in 3 of them (which is what spawned this conversation) and stole the show from everyone in Oceans.

Sleepers would be ensemble where he didn’t outshine everyone...

Also shows his range. Those roles are  it plug and play. They are pretty much all very different from the last.

Or, since a couple of us brought it up before, True Romance. Where he showed he was BORN to play a couch-living stoner.

posted by Heretic

Or, since a couple of us brought it up before, True Romance. Where he showed he was BORN to play a couch-living stoner.

That was how I felt about Gabriel Macht when I saw him in Middle Men.  I was like, "Damn. He might be a better stoner than he is a hardass lawyer."

posted by Commander of Awesome

You forgot:

Killing Them Softly

Inglourious Basterds

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Snatch

Tree of Life

I forgot Snatch for sure. Already touched on Basterds. And agree, he’s great in those others. But I was going for his more unique roles. I basically wish he got more out there roles, because he usually nails them. I really think his looks pigeon holed him for about a decade. And now he is starting to get some better stuff again.

posted by Heretic

Or, since a couple of us brought it up before, True Romance. Where he showed he was BORN to play a couch-living stoner.

Oh, I brought it up. He’s amazing lol. Not sure what Brad Pitt does drugs is best; that or Once Upn a Time. Both are amazing.

Once Upon a Time 8.5/10

Not Tarantino's finest, but a very good film.  Pitt was very good and I though Leonardo was superb.  I also like Margot Robbie's performance.  

Nothing in Tarantino's body of work has quite matched the reaction from seeing Pulp Fiction in the theater right when it was released.  People were blown away by it like none of his other films since.  

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

Nothing in Tarantino's body of work has quite matched the reaction from seeing Pulp Fiction in the theater right when it was released.  People were blown away by it like none of his other films since.  

 

 

I'm not saying Pulp Fiction wasn't great, because it was, but I think it might be overrated because it was the first QT movie everyone saw.  At least it is for me. I still rate it his best movie ever and I'm not sure it is better than some of his others. 

posted by FatHobbit

I still rate it his best movie ever and I'm not sure it is better than some of his others. 

posted by FatHobbit

I'm not saying Pulp Fiction wasn't great, because it was, but I think it might be overrated because it was the first QT movie everyone saw.  At least it is for me. I still rate it his best movie ever and I'm not sure it is better than some of his others. 

It’s great, but I still have it 3rd

I also think Winston is underestimating my generations (25-35) reaction to Inglourious Basterds. Everyone in high school saw it in theaters and then bought it. When I got to college everyone owned it. People had seen Pulp Fiction, but not at its release based on our age. Basterds has that reaction, imo. Plus it’s just better lol.

posted by Laley23

It’s great, but I still have it 3rd

I also think Winston is underestimating my generations (25-35) reaction to Inglourious Basterds. Everyone in high school saw it in theaters and then bought it. When I got to college everyone owned it. People had seen Pulp Fiction, but not at its release based on our age. Basterds has that reaction, imo. Plus it’s just better lol.

My point wasn't that Pulp Fiction was necessarily his best.  But it was the first time most people were exposed to his style.  I also like Inglorious Basterds better.  But when that movie came out Tarantino was a well-known director.  His unusual style wasn't shocking the way it was when Pulp Fiction first hit theaters.