Wednesday 25 January 2012

Best Actor 2011: Brad Pitt in Moneyball

Brad Pitt received his third Oscar nomination for portraying Billy Beane in Moneyball.

Moneyball is a descent enough film which depicts Billy Beane general manager of the Oakland A's attempt to use only statistics to create a winning baseball team.

Brad Pitt portrays Billy Beane the general manager who use to be a baseball player himself who never reached what many seemed to be his potential. Pitt portrays his the part in a fairly standard approach. He does not seek to make Billy Beane any sort of genius, or incredible man, just pretty much a normal guy trying to make his under financed team compete with the rich teams. Pitt's performance really for the most part is a standard leading man performance, he never really tries for anything more than that, which is technically fine since Billy Beane is not suppose to be anyone overly special.

Pitt though does have a sort of commanding presence in the film as Beane who wants to bring his team up using completely unorthodox methods. Pitt does have just the right dynamic between domination and relaxation actually, since after all Beane is doing these business maneuvers in baseball not something bigger. Pitt always displays a certain seriousness in Beane, in that he does take his business seriously enough, but he never goes that far with showing that Beane also is indeed aware of what kind of business he is in which makes him naturally a more relaxed fellow.

Pitt finds the right sort of determination, and passion within the part to be convincing as Billy Beane. He does not present his new ideas as something that is because he is some sort courageous visionary, but in many ways as just a man desperate for a new way or answer. Pitt creates just the right amount of desperation within Beane's whole sage. It not a self pitying desperation though Pitt portrays rather as something that is actually a motivating factor for Beane rather than a restrictive aspect of him.

Pitt is quite good and charismatic in the role. I do wish though that there was perhaps a little more time granted to Pitt actually reflection on Beane past. There are a few moments and Pitt is fine in showing some degree of regret, but these scenes a very very short, and never long enough or fully written enough for Pitt to turn them into anything especially amazing. Which is a shame since I do think Pitt shows promise in his short moments, but there is just not enough there.

I won't say this is a perfect performance by Pitt simply because there are a couple of scenes where his line readings have a little bit of a rehearsed quality to them, nor will I say this is the most complex performance Pitt has ever given, but I will say this is a good performance. It is a solid leading man turn from Pitt that realizes most of the potential of a part, giving a charming and entertaining performance, which allows the audience easily to follow Beane through his exploits.

10 comments:

RatedRStar said...

Thanks Louis xxxxx =), im happy u liked him, I do like him as a person, im just a bit cautious with Pitt as an actor though

Anonymous said...

I agree but I liked it less than you did, it's probably a 3 for me.

Anonymous said...

I thought he was terrific - combine that with The Tree of Life this year and he had a fantastic year.

Anonymous said...

SOOOO Glad you liked him. It's easily my choice in this category, and I'm hoping he's not completely out of it come SAG. You never know.

dshultz said...

See, proof that Pitt can act! I did enjoy this performance very much, and Sage, you'r totally right, he was stupendous in "The Tree of Life".

Still vying for Oldman or Dujardin.

Anonymous said...

Pitt is almost always great, dshultz. Assassination of Jesse James is proof that he can act.

dinasztie said...

Haven't seen this but his performance in The Tree of Life was nothing short of amazing.

I hope he wins the Oscar. Or Dujardin.

mrripley said...

I too hope he wins the oscar anyone but gc he is now a 20 yr hollywood veteran,this is 1 of those rare simple well played lead perfs,i think we have become so use to fireworks,mimicry etc that we cannot see simple acting.

Anonymous said...

Louis have you see a movie called Hoosiers with Gene Hackman? Its not quite the same as Moneyball, yet the characters are quite similar seeking redemption. I thought Hackman was more Oscar worthy in that than Pitt in this

Louis Morgan said...

Yes I have seen Hoosiers and as usual Hackman is good. I did not think that film was all that similar to this one though.