Brad Pitt (Part 3)

In 2004, Pitt took on two major film roles, starring as Achilles in "Troy" and reprising his role as Rusty Ryan in the sequel "Ocean's Twelve." For "Troy," Pitt underwent extensive sword training for six months in preparation for his portrayal of Achilles, based on the epic poem "The Iliad." However, production was temporarily delayed due to an on-set injury to Pitt's Achilles tendon, adding a layer of irony to his performance. Despite this setback, critics such as Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post praised Pitt's dedication to the demanding role, noting his excellence in portraying the legendary Greek hero.


"Troy" marked the first film produced by Plan B Entertainment, a production company co-founded by Pitt with Jennifer Aniston and Brad Grey, the CEO of Paramount Pictures. Meanwhile, "Ocean's Twelve," the sequel to the successful heist film "Ocean's Eleven," reunited Pitt with co-star George Clooney. The film's international box office success further solidified Pitt and Clooney's on-screen chemistry, with CNN's Paul Clinton comparing their dynamic to that of iconic duo Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
In 2005, Pitt starred opposite Angelina Jolie in the action comedy "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," directed by Doug Liman. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was praised for the electric chemistry between Pitt and Jolie, who played a married couple unaware of each other's secret lives as assassins. Despite mixed critical reception, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" became one of the highest-grossing films of 2005, earning $478 million worldwide.


In 2006, Pitt starred opposite Cate Blanchett in Alejandro González Iñárritu's multi-narrative drama "Babel." His performance received critical acclaim, with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer praising his credibility and contribution to the film's visibility. Pitt himself regarded his decision to take on the role as one of the best in his career. "Babel" was screened at special presentations during the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. The film garnered numerous award nominations, including seven Academy and Golden Globe nominations, with Pitt receiving a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes.


Additionally, in 2006, Pitt's production company, Plan B Entertainment, produced "The Departed," which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Although Pitt was credited as a producer on-screen, only Graham King was eligible for the Oscar win.
Reprising his role as Rusty Ryan, Pitt starred in 2007's "Ocean's Thirteen." While not as financially successful as its predecessors, the film still earned $311 million globally. Pitt's next notable role was as American outlaw Jesse James in the 2007 Western drama "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." Directed by Andrew Dominik and produced by Plan B Entertainment, the film premiered at the 2007 Venice Film Festival, where Pitt's portrayal earned him the Volpi Cup award for Best Actor.


Following these successes, Pitt appeared in the 2008 black comedy "Burn After Reading," his first collaboration with the Coen brothers, which was well-received by critics. He then took on the lead role in David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008), based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Pitt's sensitive portrayal of the protagonist garnered him critical acclaim, earning him nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe, and his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The film itself received thirteen Academy Award nominations and grossed $329 million worldwide.


In 2009, Pitt starred in Quentin Tarantino's war film "Inglourious Basterds," where he portrayed Lieutenant Aldo Raine, an American resistance fighter battling Nazis in German-occupied France. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was both a commercial success, grossing $311 million worldwide, and a critical favorite. "Inglourious Basterds" received numerous award nominations, including eight Academy Award nominations and seven MTV Movie Award nominations. Pitt's performance earned him acclaim, and he was nominated for Best Male Performance at the MTV Movie Awards.


In 2010, Pitt voiced the character Metro Man in the animated feature "Megamind" and produced and appeared in Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life," which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His portrayal of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane in the drama "Moneyball," based on Michael Lewis's book, also received widespread praise. "Moneyball" garnered six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Pitt.


In 2012, Pitt portrayed mob hitman Jackie Cogan in Andrew Dominik's "Killing Them Softly," based on George V. Higgins's novel "Cogan's Trade." The following year, he starred in and produced the thriller "World War Z," based on Max Brooks's novel about a zombie apocalypse. The film became Pitt's highest-grossing picture, earning $540 million worldwide. Additionally, Pitt produced and had a small role in the critically acclaimed historical drama "12 Years a Slave," which won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
In 2013, Pitt also had a supporting role in Ridley Scott's "The Counselor." Furthermore, his production company, Plan B Entertainment, ventured into television with the sci-fi/fantasy drama series "Resurrection," which aired on ABC.


Brad Pitt's career has been marked by a diverse range of roles across various genres, showcasing his versatility as an actor. In recent years, he has continued to deliver acclaimed performances while also expanding his involvement in the entertainment industry beyond acting.
In 2014, Pitt starred in the World War II film "Fury," directed by David Ayer, which was both a commercial success and received praise from critics. The following year, he collaborated with his wife, Angelina Jolie, in her directorial effort "By the Sea," and starred in the biographical comedy-drama "The Big Short," which he also produced. "The Big Short" was a critical and commercial success, earning Pitt his third Academy Award nomination as a producer.
In 2016, Pitt starred in Robert Zemeckis's romantic thriller "Allied," followed by his role in the Netflix satirical war comedy "War Machine" in 2017, which he also produced. He also made appearances on television, including a recurring role as a weatherman on "The Jim Jefferies Show."


Pitt's collaboration with Quentin Tarantino in the 2019 film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" earned him widespread acclaim and numerous awards, including his first Academy Award for acting. He also starred in James Gray's "Ad Astra," receiving praise for his performance as a space engineer.
Beyond acting, Pitt ventured into the recording business in 2021 by creating Miraval Studios in France with record producer Damien Quintard. In 2022, he starred in the action film "Bullet Train" directed by David Leitch, reunited with Margot Robbie in "Babylon" directed by Damien Chazelle, and signed on to star in and produce a racing film on Formula One.
Throughout his career, Pitt has demonstrated his commitment to exploring diverse roles and projects, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood's most influential and versatile talents.

References

1.  Tom Junod (May 20, 2013). "Brad Pitt: A Life So Large". Esquire. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
2. ^ "Brad Pitt on Oscars". MTV UK. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
3. ^ Nudd, Tim (January 22, 2007). "Brad Pitt: 'Strippers Changed My Life'". People. Archived from the original on October 30, 2008. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
4. ^ "No Way Out". MovieClips. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
5. ^ "Brad Pitt on Another World" Archived February 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , The Another World Home Page. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
6. ^ Leszczak, Bob (May 16, 2016). Single Season Sitcoms of the 1980s: A Complete Guide. McFarland. ISBN 9781476623849. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
7. ^ Irvin, Richard (2016). "Forgotten Laughs: An Episode Guide to 150 TV Sitcoms You Probably Never Saw". Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2020.