From 1987’sNo Way Outto 2022’sBullet Train,Brad Pitt’s decades-long career catapulted the star to the greatest heights of Hollywood fame, affording him the opportunity to work with many of the greatest writers, directors, and cinematographers in the film industry.
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That said, Brad Pitt’s projects have not received equal praise, and for every brilliant movie that justifiably received critical praise and commercial success, Pitt has an underrated film that failed to garner the respect it deserves. In some of these films, it is the strength of the direction or writing that elevates them, and in others, it’s Pitt’s own performance. Here are some of Brad Pitt’s most underrated films.
7Meet Joe Black
1988’sMeet Joe Blackbrings Brad Pitt together withthe legendary talent of Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins plays an aging businessman who, on the eve of his 65th birthday, is informed by none other than Death himself (Pitt) that his time on earth is coming to an end.
Meet Joe Blackcertainly has its flaws, butit’s a beautiful film that is–most importantly–supported by the phenomenal acting of its two leads.Hopkins and Pitt play off one another to perfection, and watching the cool confidence of Pitt’s character plays off the suddenly-shaken Hopkins is a great viewing experience, regardless of the film’s three-hour run-time and other missteps.
6Kalifornia
Kaliforniais a road movie directed by Dominic Sena and starring Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, David Duchovny, and Michelle Forbes.It’s the story of a journalist and his girlfriend who are traveling across the U.S. as part of their research of serial killers,only to find themselves catapulted into their own research when they meet the psychopathic Early (Pitt) and his girlfriend.
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Despite winning awards at the Montreal World Film Festival,Kaliforniafell to pieces at the box office, fading into obscurity as quickly as it had appeared. Though by no means a perfect film,Kaliforniais as stunning as it is uncomfortable, and Pitt’s performance stands at the center of it all. Though the other lead actors turn in strong performances as well, it is their chemistry with Pitt that makes this thriller shine.
5Fury
There’s a bevy of movies about virtually every historically documented war. Whether moviegoers prefer to see the grit and grime of the trenches, the laser-spewing “what-ifs?” of science fiction, macro strategizing and politicking between heads of state, or modern fire-team tactics, there’sa great war film that answers that desire.
Films featuring planes, ships, and tanks tend to command particular attention, as aficionados of those vehicles are always eager for more, and the WWII tank filmFuryis one of many to answer that call.Furydoesn’t nail the big themes that war films often grapple with, butit does provide a ton of satisfying tank combat,and the trials and tribulations of Pitt and his allies in the European theater should receive more praise than they have.
4Ocean’s Thirteen
TheOcean’sfranchise, beginning withOcean’s Eleven,has always been about its ensemble cast. Yes, it’s also about extremely complicated,multi-stage heists of fortunesby master thieves, but the plots are always just the backdrop for the real treat:watching a dozen or so of the industry’s most talented actors and actresses play off one another.
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ThoughOcean’s Twelvewas widely regarded as a misstep for the franchise thanks to its nonsensical plot, andOcean’s Thirteennever returned to the commercial or critical heights ofOcean’s Eleven,Ocean’s Thirteenis still a terrific heist film and a phenomenal stage to show off Brad Pitt’s ability to act alongside some of the best in the business.
3Mr. And Mrs. Smith
There are movies that touch on the most emotionally difficult and intellectually stimulating parts of life: films that ask the big questions and, if they are exceptionally brave, even attempt to answer them. Then there are films that can be summed up by the phrase"pretty explosion go boom."
Mr. and Mrs. Smithis unabashedly in the latter camp, an action-comedy about a married couple (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) comprised oftwo contract killers, each unaware of their partner’s work and doing their best to hide the truth about their own murderous occupation.It’s light, quippy, and features the dazzling chemistry of Pitt and Jolie, which is more than enough to recommend it.
2Killing Them Softly
What do Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, and Ray Liotta have in common?Killing Them Softly,a black comedy and thriller about an ill-conceived robbery and the mob hitmen who are dispatched to clean up the mess afterward.
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Brad Pitt may be the star and the principal mover of the film, butthe greatness ofKilling Them Softlystands on far more than his acting chops alone.Quality writing, direction, and themes make this Andrew Dominik picture one of the best of Pitt’s unsung films. Simply put, people don’t talk aboutKilling Them Softlyoften enough for how great a film it is.
1Interview With The Vampire
Anne Rice is one of the most influential and prolific voices in vampire fiction and gothic culture, and 1994’sInterview with the Vampire(based upon the Rice novel of the same name) stands as a testament to her emotional insight and literary talent. A film that is simultaneously lush, spooky, and tentative,Interviewdeparts from the original textyet still manages to capture much of what made it great.
Interview with the Vampireis many things: dark romance, a cautionary tale, and supernatural intrigue just being a few.Though the film doesn’t capture every thematic nuance of the book or round every character out the way they should be, it still stands as one of the finest gothic films in existence, and as much of that lies in Brad Pitt’s performance as Louis de Pointe du Lac as it does Neil Jordan’s direction. Though audiences enjoyed it, critics were far harsher, and it remains a point of contention for many Pitt fans.
