The Five: Brad Pitt

In an effort to get me to update this more often, I’ve decided to start something I like to call “The Five,” which is a list of an actor’s five best roles. I know what you’re thinking, “not anther fucking top whatever list by some douchebag who thinks he knows more than me!” I couldn’t agree with you more. But, alas, these things get hits, inspire debate and will hopefully get some of you to see a few of these films that you haven’t yet.
So why start with Brad Pitt? Surely, out of all the actors that have ever graced the screen, there is someone better to start off with than the guy screwing Angelina Jolie. Yes, there are better out there, but I feel that Mr. Pitt is fairly underrated as an actor. And besides, I’ve seen a shit-ton of his films so I feel that I am able to comment knowledgably about his skills. So without further ado, I present to you the inaugural installment of The Five.

5. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Jesse James)
After a string of safe “paycheck” films (the Oceans series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Troy), it was refreshing to see Mr. Pitt get back to actually acting with roles in Babel and The Assassination of Jesse James. This gets the nod over the former because it was so overlooked. Taking in a paltry four million in US box office receipts (fifteen worldwide), and one could have an argument for why this sat on the shelf for so long. Both are a shame. Pitt brought a quiet intensity to the notorious criminal, making James seem, dare I say it, almost likeable. Credit the script by Andrew Dominik or the scene stealing performance by Casey Affleck, but Brad nails the role of Jesse James, expertly straddling the line between cool and menacing. If you haven’t seen it (don’t lie, you haven’t), you owe it to yourself to do so.

4. Se7en (David Mills)
What’s in the box?” The line that stole the show (well at least the scene) for Mr. Pitt. Detective David Mills was a role that one could probably see another Hollywood “bad boy,” like Colin Farrell, play, but at this point in time, Pitt was big of a draw as the rest of the A-list cast but without overshadowing them. Eventually, due to it’s phenomenal box office performance, Se7en cemented Brad’s place among the Hollywood elite. It may not be his most memorable role, but it’s the one that made him a star.*

* Before everyone starts complaining that Thelma and Louise was his star making, breakout performance, let me explain myself. Thelma is the one that introduced him as the token hottie, soccer mom fantasy material if you will. Se7en was the one that really demonstrated his acting chops for the first time (just look at some of the films that followed, many of which are on this list).

3. Snatch. (Mickey O’Neil)
While not the largest of roles, Brad shines here because of his character's vernacular. Sure, you can’t understand the Irish/gypsy accent half the time (and neither could the characters in the film), but that’s what makes Mickey so memorable. In a film full of quirky characters, this one stands out due to his combination of toughness, humor and that fucking accent of his.

2. Twelve Monkeys (Jeffrey Goines)
Early in his career, Brad seemed to take more challenging roles, and playing Jeffrey Goines, an off the wall asylum inmate, was definitely one of them. His nervous, twitchy acting definitely set him apart from the rather calm and collected Bruce Willis, something that was greatly needed for the narrative to be believable. Brad is hilarious at times, adding a level of downright creepiness to the role. This would have been his crowning performance if t wasn’t for…

1. Fight Club (Tyler Durden)
This is it. Hands down, his best role. I would place good money that he never tops the role of Mr. Tyler Durden. Hell, Brad IS Tyler, whenever I see him in a film I always compare his role to this. He is the alpha male. Cool, collected, provocative, charming (in his twisted way). Tyler is everything that we want to be but are too afraid (or, in some cases, not stupid enough) to be. It was a tough assignment, but he nailed it. And as much credit as he gets for his performance, the same has to be given to Edward Norton. The two compeiment each other perfectly. We see what we are in Norton and what we want to be in Pitt. It’s an iconic role, one that, dare I say it, defines the new age Hollywood alpha male for a lot of men. When he’s long gone, this is the role that Brad Pitt will be remembered for and for good reason.