MovieChat Forums > Twelve Monkeys (1996) Discussion > Brad Pitt Can't Act

Brad Pitt Can't Act

posted 17 years ago by jjd430
263 replies | jump to latest

I just watched 12 M. for the first time, all the way through. Is the reason that IMDB describes it as a black comedy because Pitt's performance is so clownish and exaggerated? Was he not directed!? I don't think he was at this undeserved exalted place in pop. culture at the time, so why didn't they fire him after the first few dailies? He's just awful and distracting in every scene.
I was never a Brad Pitt hater, but his performance in Seven was bad, too. I also saw him in an earlier obscure flick and he was terrible there as well. 12 M would have been a much better movie, and possibly a cult classic, without him in that key role. Brad must've been a pool boy for some influential producer back in the day. He surely can't act.

[–] peper_39 17 years ago

You are just ridiculing yourself with such a post. Brad Pitt is a good actor, who did a great job in Twelve Monkeys. In spreading such posts nobody will take you serious, so i just wonder are you silly or ingnorant.

[–] jjd430 17 years ago

I'm not a Brad Pitt hater, but after seeing 3 movies where he is a liability to the film, I felt I had to start this thread. The third movie that I couldn't think of in my first post is called "Too Young to Die," from 1990 with Juliette Lewis. It was on one of the cable movie channels recently so look for it. He plays a tough guy in it, and walks around with a permanent Elvis-like scrunched-up look on his face. He's unintentionally goofy and funny.

He seems to do better in ensemble pieces or buddy movies.

[–] worldm765 16 years ago

Dude, what about Fight Club? I have read the book and after seeing the movie, I thought Brad Pitt was perfect for the role of Tyler Durden.

[–] cassbtt 16 years ago

I liked Fight Club. But I always thought he was just playing "Jeffrey Goines as less nuts but with an attitude." And this was in addition to my thinking his "Jeffrey Goines" was just a knockoff of Dennis Hopper's photojournalist in Apocalypse Now. Excellent work though.

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[–] savard18bedard 16 years ago

Most impressive that you also regonized the similarities between Dennis Hopper's photojournalist in Apocalypse Now and "Jeffrey Goines". However I would say that this is more Terry Gilliams direction of 12 monkeys. In that he pays hommage to many of the great movies of the past. With the obviously Hitchcock Vertigo and Birds clips in the movie. And possibly with the teeth pulling incident as that of Marathon Man 1976

[–] bjhawk82 15 years ago

I'm so glad someone else noticed this obvious similarity...

'What the hell kinda way to act is that?'- Royal Tenenbaum

[–] DreTam2000 14 years ago

...funny you should mention this, because I actually thought Hopper's performance as the hippy in Apocalypse Now was sloppily overdone and distracting (well, in the first couple minutes of his character's appearance anyway). So, while I thought Pitt's performance in this film was terrific, I also understand how the OP feels. The way he feels about Pitt in 12 Monkeys is the way I feel about Hopper in AN; it felt phony and improv in a not-done-very-well sort of way.

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[–] unrealban 13 years ago

LOL saying Brad Pitt can't act based on this performance is absolutely ridiculous and a paradox ... he can act .. but in this film he is OVERACTING .. which can be very annoying and distracting .. but it was his character that demanded this ... he handled his lines and exaggerations very well in my opinion and really embodied the craziness of his character ... but yes you are right when you are saying he is annoying and distracting .. i had to turn it down every time he was on screen ... even if you cast another actor in this role he will still have the same annoying effect ... personally I don't know why Pitt accepted this role because overacting can be detrimental to an actor's career .. making a laughingstock out of them. clearly his character is polarizing in this film .. meaning you either hated his performance or loved it ... in my opinion it's the producers/directors faults for including a character so annoying and senseless in this film ...

[–] Grrrr_Yeah 13 years ago

Overacting?? He is playing an insane man. And I think he did it very good. No overacting - he did study insane people to make this character.

Twelve Monkeys are one of few movies I have seen, where the cast are prefect.

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[–] vamp_frost04 13 years ago

You see, you were bothered by his perfomance so much that it made you uncomfortable. Thats how good he is. He played crazy. In seven He played a cop who was a little immature next to morgan freemans seasoned character.

"I was attacked by a coked up whore and a crazy dentist!"

[–] StaunchWoman 13 years ago

I'll have to agree with you. Although I don't think his acting is terrible, I felt Jeffrey Goines was when Tyler Durden finally lost it. It's basically the same character (from Pitt, not on paper) with slight variances.

We've met before, haven't we?

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] eliotno3 11 years ago

and the Oscar Nominee for "MOST OBVIOUS TROLL ON AN IMDB BOARD" goes to jjd430...

[–] BigWhiskers 10 years ago

and the Oscar Nominee for "MOST OBVIOUS TROLL ON AN IMDB BOARD" goes to jjd430...

More like the award for "Most obnoxious thinks they are the IMDB police"
goes to eliotno3. IMDB is already full of Potsies ,try another profession duh

"So, a thought crossed your mind? Must have been a long and lonely journey"

[–] MovieForumReaderGuy 17 years ago

It seemed to me like he was supposed to be stupid/odd....not to be taken seriously as a true mental patient. The entire film is filled w/ silly/dry-ish humor so surely it was on purpose. I enjoyed the comic twist to it rather than have it be overly serious though it'd be good either way.

[–] zdephen 17 years ago

I actually think brad pitt's preformance in 12 monkeys is one of the best... I can't stop smiling when he's on... He's a genius... and guys, he exatuates on purpose. actually a little more wouldn't hurt... some guys in this forum obviously don't get the movie...

[–] donmccullough 16 years ago

zdephen, I'm with you. It's apparent that the OP doesn't "get" the character Pitt was portraying. His silly antics were planned, on purpose, directed that way, scripted. And, personally, I thought they were genius. I consider 12 Monkeys to be Pitt's best role.

[–] minkmankser 16 years ago

zdephen WINS

[–] Sakujo 16 years ago

I'm with you.

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[–] xacebop-1 16 years ago

you obviously know nothing about film making if you think brad pitt's acting in twelve monkeys was horrible. the entire mental institution part of the film was some of the best acting in any movie, the way he had a lazy eye i still cant figure out how that was possible i know he had a contact in but that was just on another level imo.

[–] InvaderPastulio 13 years ago

I thought he was good as well. Not irritating at all. And those eyes, looked a right nutter.

[–] truantone 12 years ago

Exatuates? Meaning... what exactly?

[–] jjd430 17 years ago

I realize he's known for his action movies, but Bruce Willis is an exceptional actor. He must've been furious at Pitt screwing up his movie. Done right, we could have seen sequels to 12 Monkeys, just because the plot was so cool and involved time travel and all. For instance, he could go back in time and kill Red Head. Also, Willis is a master at the funny aside to provided comic relief. Since he doesn't do that at all in this movie, I'm assuming the black comedy label is entirely due to Pitt's horrible character rendering. Did Willis ever work with Pitt again?

[–] keechio 17 years ago

I always credited this movie as "Brad Pitt at his finest". He is a great actor, and in this particular movie he shines brighter than ever.

"He who makes a beast of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man"

[–] Ma_Vader 16 years ago

You took the words right out of my mouth there. Its Brad Pitts best film! He should have won the oscar.

[–] ArrDevFan1408 16 years ago

dont know abut all that but Brad Pitt can really pull off some amazing and unforgettable characters, his character in 12 monkeys is no different imo

[–] af_xander 16 years ago

i'm kinda amazed that you mention sequels. i don't think you got the movie at all. maybe you should have paid attention instead of trying to throw outlandish stuff out there. cause you're kidding right? if not, bud you're just a hater. calm down and stop trying to be a critic, cause you aren't one. none of us are. and i'm sure you're like this to your friends too. they must love you.

[–] eyoak 14 years ago

lol at you and boo too, Bruce being better actor than Pitt, u need to be examined, not gonna waste more words on this. If you want proof, the internet (wt* is the internet --> Jay) will serve you well.

What a relief when one has preached

[–] HarveyManfredinStJohn 14 years ago

he could go back in time and kill Red Head

Did you watch the movie? The past can't be changed.

Philosophers ask why; I ask what.

[–] treeshow2 17 years ago

Hmm strange, i started to like Brad Pitt just after this movie, i think his play is briliant, all the scenes he is in, is true classic imo. Tastes differs.

[–] acexec 17 years ago

Um jjd430, Pitt got an Oscar nomination for this role.

[–] Randomdudeman 16 years ago

Umm...you're kdding right?? Fight Club and Snatch are among the greatest "fun" roles of the last ten years. He was fantastic, by the way, as the lead in Seven...an understated role but maybe his best. I thought he was great as Achilles in Troy (an impossible role for all of you haters--he got as close as possible). His Jesse James was deep and disturbed. For someone whose fame is so staggering-ly in your face, it is surprising that he is STILL able to dissappear into his characters. I look forward to Glorious Bastards.

[–] vito_cor 17 years ago

You're joking right? I'm not a bradd pitt fan but i think he acted well in this. My other bradd pitt fav is snatch

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] sgarry-2 16 years ago

Knowing Stowe worked with Daniel Day-Lewis in Last of Mohicans...

"Stowe says director Terry Gilliam wanted Day-Lewis to play the Brad Pitt role in Twelve Monkeys, but the actor wouldn't return any of his calls. Terry asked me to intervene and get Daniel to read the script, but Daniel explained he wasn't reading anything for at least a year."

From interview Calgary Sun 2001

This is something I didn't know. While I enjoyed Pitt's performance, Day-Lewis would have been interesting as well. Darker hair, darker performance.

Would have worked for me.

[–] Spifflock_Holmes 16 years ago

Heh, I didn't know that either. That would have been different, but I'm sure it would have been good too. Very interesting -- thanks for the information.

----

The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

[–] iscream22 16 years ago

I thought Pitt did a great job. If anything the surrealness and kookyness of Terry Gilliam.

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[–] Chrysanthepop 17 years ago

He sucks most times.

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[–] audiogreefer 17 years ago

did you notice he had his own ridiculous theme music so people would think it was funny?

i think it may have been the point.

[–] noogyburger 17 years ago

Do you mean the theme music for 12 monkeys? That wasn't brad pitt. I happen to really like that theme. Anyway, according to this site, Pitt got an oscar nomination fot his role. I didn't think it was bad the first time I saw it. I enjoyed watching him (or any other actor) act mentally unstable. And I enjoyed the movie, now I'm a Terry Gilliam fan, next to Stanley Kubrick

[–] damagedyersinc 17 years ago

I wonder if all you haters have had the experience of people with the same condition as that character? not saying I have but you cant really say it was overacting if thats how the part was written, and directed. There are some crazy people in the world, so I wouldnt put it past some of them to behave like that.

Anyway, did you like the film? if so then be quiet and go about your day.