Tuesday 14 January 2020

Best Supporting Actor 2019: Brad Pitt in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

Brad Pitt won his first acting Oscar from fourth acting Oscar nomination for portraying Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Brad Pitt returns to working with Quentin Tarantino, as one of the co-leads here through the misadventures of fading star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stuntman Cliff Booth in 1969 Hollywood. Quite clearly co-lead in my mind as the film jumps back and forth between, Rick, Cliff and Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) in just about equal measure. The difference between Rick and Cliff to Sharon, is the first two have dialogue. Cliff though is as important to the story, and it is just as much his. This goes to sort of an old rule though where the more servile the character the more supporting they are even when that doesn't make sense. So anyway, he's lead, but with that out of the way, how about Pitt's performance. Well initially I will say I had some concerns regarding Pitt in this role, as despite very much being always positioned as the movie star, Pitt usually has thrived most when working with a complex or flamboyant character. Cliff isn't that complex, not that this is a criticism, and strangely enough is more so the movie star role than what DiCaprio has in Rick Dalton. This is in that in the first two thirds of the film, the character of Cliff is dependent on really Pitt's star presence more than anything, as he's mostly a character built around just the idea of cool, though if you break him down he technically isn't all that. Pitt's performance though takes this approach, which essentially emphasizes the idea that Cliff, unlike the very worrisome Rick, has no major concerns just happy for the ride as Rick's sometime stuntman and more often driver and general handyman.

So Pitt for much of the run time, he needs to coast on his star charisma, mostly, something he really hasn't successfully done before this point. Well this thankfully is a change of pace for that. Well firstly this approach works in creating the sense of Booth's place as just there for the ride, and acts as a straight man for the more emotional Rick. Of course none of this would work, if Pitt didn't deliver on the charisma, which he does this time around. Although DiCaprio is the one filling in literally for Steve McQueen in the film, Pitt is the one evoking that sort of swagger in his approach to Cliff. This approach that works, because well Pitt is cool here. He pulls it off having that ease, but more than anything earning that ease. He's got the swagger down, in being someone who one could easily argue has a massive ego, yet does not hate him for whatever reason. This as there is just this style and manner that Pitt manages to achieve that creates that classic sort of cool with the character. This isn't to say Pitt pulls this off just by acting like he barely cares, although that is definitely part of it, and that in itself isn't some slight thing, that takes some skill. A skill that Pitt was always set up for but did not achieve until this point, I'd say, which is a point for celebration, I suppose. Take his early scenes where we see Pitt project a man who knows exactly who he is and what he does, no matter what others view on that. Pitt is entertaining in realizing this even as he faces down Bruce Lee with a certain disregard for the legend. Pitt so owns this manner, that as he's even being a jerk with even mocking Lee's battle cry, you still like him.

It is technically easier to like him though as we see Cliff go about investigating the Spahn ranch and running afoul with some cultists. Here where Pitt makes you classically root for him in his disregarding delivery towards each of them, and just the assured glances as he remain unimpressed by all of them while trying to figure out what is going on exactly. It is even quite fun as he punches down one of the cultists who pops his tire, through the effortless confidence that Pitt projects when he quietly demands the cultist change the tire for him. Pitt owns the screen quite simply in that way that always seem intended for him, and is wholly realized here, now as that "old looking stuntman". I suppose though an addition reason why it may be so easy to take to Pitt as Cliff, in his major scenes he shares with DiCaprio, which there isn't an overabundance of, but the ones they do have are special. This as the two stars, create an old school star duo here worthy of comparison to say a Newman/Redford. This in part as Pitt plays that straight well in his "don't worry about" expression against Rick's very emotional reaction to just about everything in his career. It helps though also in the real sense of friendship that is granted between the two. This realized in Pitt's always earnest supportive demeanor he brings within Cliff towards Rick. Whether this be just some quick urging about how Italian films aren't that bad, or reminded Rick that he is indeed "Rick fuckin' Dalton" and not to forget this, Pitt brings a real proper support of a true best bud. This just is as this implied concern and warmth, again in his overall ease and chill man that is Cliff Booth.

There isn't a change for Cliff Booth for much of the film, as he keeps that easy going style which again Pitt makes watchable, I mean even his portrayal of preparing dog food and mac and cheese somehow is not nearly as banal as it should be when he's doing it, although having a trusty dog side kick never hurts things. The major shift for Cliff comes only in the last act, only because one he is called upon to inflict a bit more fundamental damage against some violent hippies, where a trusty dog side kick never hurts things. We also get a change simply because he smokes an acid laced cigarette. This gives Pitt a chance show off with what he perhaps best at, a bit of broad comedy. This as Pitt's portrayal of Cliff's reaction to the drug is rather hilarious as he waves in great interest at his own hand, and his chill demeanor is reduced to an even greater level of smiling at the world. This results in perhaps not ideal, or perhaps ideal, circumstances when the murderous hippies come calling, that he had previously run into at Spahn ranch. Pitt is comic gold in its initial befuddled reaction at them, that is wonderful as he combines it with a confusion of both substance use and genuinely at the people. He's great then in the way he so casually, and dismissively recalls "yeah Spahn" ranch noting each in a somewhat demeaning way. This particularly true in his manner towards the male hippie of having earlier met him while was riding a "horsie" and that his name was something a lot dumber than the "devil" as the cultist claims. Pitt's comedic timing is dynamite, and makes the most out of every line, he's a genuine riot before Cliff goes about dispatching of the hippie's with extreme prejudice. The one moment there that needs definite mention in the carnage is Pitt's reaction as Cliff finds himself stabbed with just casual "hmm" that is great. The scene is set for Pitt to run with, and he does. That is the highlight of what here is just a very entertaining performance by Brad Pitt. The character is pretty to the point, and Pitt is to the point in this turn. This in delivering wholly on the promise of Brad Pitt the movie star, though while also bringing out a healthy dose of that comedy that helped to keep him in the good graces of many.

55 comments:

Luke Higham said...

So 2019 will be joint 1st with 2017. :)

Louis: Any rating changes.

Matt Mustin said...

4.5 is probably what I'd give him too.

Calvin Law said...

On re-watch I found even more issues with some of Pitt’s scenes, notably the Bruce Lee sequence, I have to admit now I have come to agree with the views of those who see it as being strange needless mockery that’s not found elsewhere in the film. It’s not his fault that scene’s a bit tone deaf in context, but it did affect my view of the character. I will also say he could’ve brought a bit more to some of the cultist scenes instead of just coasting.

I will concur on the acid laced cigarette sequence being wholly great and one of Pitt’s finest onscreen moments though.

Calvin Law said...

I’m also fine with him winning, to be honest, since his main competitor Pesci could probably care less (have a feeling he might not even turn up).

Mitchell Murray said...

You know what....I might have to reconsider my rating yet again. This is because like Hopkin's review, you again pointed out some additional things I didn't pick up on - or scenes that I didn't give enough credit to - in what I already thought was a very good performance. I perhaps misconstrued the intentions of the role with what I thought would've made it more complex, when honestly, Cliff never really needed to be that layered to begin with.

In any case, its nice to see Pitt get a very positive review because I did really like him here...this is easily his best performance of the whole 2010s decade minus "Tree of Life", and perhaps "Moneyball". If he wins, which he probably will, I can safely say it will be for his most deserved nomination.

Calvin Law said...

Definitely a 4 for me. Everything I liked a little less about his performance in turn made me appreciate DiCaprio’s much more.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I hope he does get a 5 because though he's really good in The Revenant, his performance here is the greater work.

Mitchell Murray said...

Calvin: I'll paraphrase a comment Matt made on Richard Jenkins' "Shape of Water" review - basically, this is a performance that you'll probably react better to, if you also go along with the tone set by the film.

Emi Grant said...

I haven't re-watched OUATIH so I don't know how well Pitt's performance will hold up. I will say I'm perfectly fine with both this rating and Pitt winning.

By the way, someone in some other page pointed out how every person in this category is already an Academy Award winner. Which only hurts more considering Dafoe's snub.

Mitchell Murray said...

Emi: That sort of reminds me of the 2012 supporting actor line up where EVERYONE was a previous winner, and that was a big talking point at the time. At least if Pitt wins he'll complete the set, but I do agree the Dafoe snub is an unfourtunate one.

Guys, its obviously hard to say for certain, but if Dafoe was in this field in place of Pitt, do you think he'd be the front runner?

Matt Mustin said...

Pitt has never won as an actor though.

Luke Higham said...

Mitchell: No, I hardly saw any FYC ads for The Lighthouse, it's underperformance wouldn't have helped against Pacino/Pesci and the film itself doesn't strike me as The Academy's cup of tea.

Mitchell Murray said...

Matt: That's what I meant when I said "he'll complete the set".

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Any more 2019 viewings.

Anonymous said...

Guys, which Lead Actor review are you looking forward to the most.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Phoenix, I've absolutely no idea which side Louis will lean on.

Luke Higham said...

Obviously, I'm really looking forward to Driver but there's no doubt that Louis loves that performance.

Emi Grant said...

Anonymous: Banderas of course. I think he'll just get a 4.5, but just getting to read "Antonio Banderas received his first nomination..." will be enough for me. I'm hyped.

Luke Higham said...

Emi Grant: It's quite amusing that both Zorros got in this year.

Emi Grant said...

Louis: Also, while messing around on some previous award winners, I ended up finding out that Bill Nighy has a Bafta for Best Supporting Actor for Love Actually...

...what are your, uh...thoughts on that?

Emi Grant said...

Luke: Hell yeah. I love it.

Luke Higham said...

Emi Grant: That's the one performance I really enjoyed about that film as well as Rickman's scene at the Jeweller.

Luke Higham said...

I'm sure Louis is quite annoyed that Bettany didn't get the recognition he deserved then.

Louis Morgan said...

Mitchell:

It would've been extremely difficult for Dafoe to win for that film no matter what. It would be hard to say how things would theoretically be since Pesci really doesn't seem to care about winning, not even in a Brando (I'm above this), Rylance (I appreciate it greatly but if it comes it comes if it doesn't it doesn't) or a Scott (I hate this) way, he just seems completely indifferent to it. He'd rather golf and release another terrible album in his everlasting quest, a hopeless one, to seek his dream to be singer, rather than accepting that "terrible" fate of being a great actor.

Emi Grant:

Well it shows the real tail end of BAFTA truly being BAFTA in terms of doing their own, more Brit-centric thing. I'll even say as the demon spawn that is Love Actually, he is most tolerable thing about it. It is also hard to dislike Nighy being appreciated in a certain way, but still that should've been Bettany's win, or even, Finney's, who never won a competitive feature film BAFTA.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

None, it does take some time to re-watch "Hollywood" and "The Irishman" in particular.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Do you find it hard to respect actors who are indifferent to or hate the Oscars/Awards biz? It must be irking to see for some people here.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: your thoughts on the direction of the Charles Manson scene, the Spahn ranch scene and the Bruce Lee scene? Thought I'd ask here since those scenes are in vicinity of Pitt's performance.

Calvin Law said...

And your thoughts on 'Sixteen Hundred Men' from 1917.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Glad that Louis gave him a 4.5. I guess that bodes well for DiCaprio :)
Louis: Your thoughts on the whole home attack sequence in this film? Even though I've seen some people found the alternate path this movie offers to be a rehash of Inglourious Basterds, I myself found it more than entertaining enough by itself.

Calvin Law said...

Hottest of takes: this performance might hit higher heights but overall I prefer Pitt in Basterds to here.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your updated top ten Brad Pitt performances, and his top 20 acting moments for you.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Not at all, if it is genuine. Pesci's attitude I find hilarious and completely respect his attitude. Although I do wish he'd see that acting not singing was his true calling but I digress. Brando's though resulted from his ever growing massive ego, as he clearly cared when he won for On the Waterfront, that infected a lot of what he did after his comeback, so to me that was less genuine to me. This has nothing to do with what he used his win for, but rather his attitude in general. He was used to accolades so he didn't care anymore, since he already felt himself at some impeachable level, which is difficult to get behind, particularly with an awareness of his treatment of Coppola on Apocalypse Now for example.

Calvin:

The Spahn ranch scene and the Charles Manson scene are both great bit of direction from Tarantino, working with someone that isn't frequently the case for him, which is silence. His scene with Manson is great just through the silence, and eeriness he allows to build as he quietly follows Manson trespassing against just Sebring and Tate, relaxing. The same for the Spahn ranch scene which is a brilliant build towards a horror scene, even as the result is that of just a confused old man. The way Tarantino though isolates Cliff, only slowly reveals each off-putting interior, along with the slowly growing crowd of cultists observing that is unnerving. Again in Tarantino just using silence to build the anxiety of the moment.

The Bruce Lee scene, I'll admit was tarnished most for me when Tarantino brought up his logic by bringing up statements that Lee never made, and I'm only guessing he must've read in some gossip rag which he never shook after many years. This as dissing Bruce Lee seems odd to me, since who doesn't like Bruce Lee? I would've had more respect if Tarantino said it was just a goofy scene with a parody of Lee. Anyway completely disregarding that element though, it is a well directed comic scene. This particularly in the fight scene itself, and the reaction to it, even if Zoe Bell's terrible performance does tarnish the results a bit.

Sixteen Hundred Men is an amazing piece in its build of the quiet percussion beat, that definitely sports a strong Zimmer influence, that slowly grows within the melodic moments that slowly build. This creating such a poignant piece that as it grows and grows with this combination in the strings between sort of an intensity of desperation and hope that blend back and forth. This until it the stronger layer of percussion strikes in and the hopeful takes over, and the increase in tempo that is creates such an invigorating and honestly epic feel in its rush to the end.

Tahmeed:

The scene itself is definitely Tarantino living out a juvenile fantasy, of taking his cinematic revenge against the horrible people who ended the 60's in such a dark way. As much as I do have reservations regarding the overall ending, only in terms of the overall intention of the film, as itself it is an entertaining scene in the switch to the sudden, extreme Tarantino violence and the first form of it. With it as this payoff to the Spahn ranch scene, as the cultists are not even the smallest match for Cliff Booth and his trusty dog. It works in its absurdist way, even if drag out of the last killer is a little much, not the flame thrower itself, that's a cherry on top of absurdity, but just how long of injured writhing we get is definitely a little too drawn out.

Calvin Law said...

The thing that annoys me most about the Bruce Lee scene is that it could’ve easily been salvaged had Tarantino responded like the way you had, or even better if instead of a fight it was Lee’s ego and martial arts skills and Booth’s combat savvy resulting in them choreographing and planning out a fight scene, and the both of them getting a bit over-excitable about it. Would’ve been a lot better than making use of the tired old trope of ‘Lee v.s. Ali’ which quite frankly was never a thing since Lee always insisted that he would definitely lose in a fight with the latter. All in all just seemed like a weird direction to take the scene given how big of a fan I’d assumed QT was of Lee (Bride’s costume in Kill Bill and all), and also the fact the only other real-life figures QT really mocks/paints in a negative light in the film are Polanski and Manson/his followers, and for good reason.

Glad we concur on Sixteen Hundred Men, I think that whole buildup to the sequence and its execution is one of my favourite scenes of the year, and a highlight of Deakins, Newman, Mendes and MacKay’s work coalescing together.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the cinematography of The Empire Strikes Back and Dead Ringers.

Bryan L. said...

If you think about it, this is kind of an atypical nominee (and probably eventual win). As in, it's a performance that relies more on an actor's star power & charisma rather than them having to play a historical figure/bare their soul/both.

Pitt does get the chance to show off his comedic skills here, but's in the grand scheme of using his star presence.

Anonymous said...

Luke, your rating predictions for the rest of the nominees and the other saves.

Luke Higham said...

Hanks - 5
Pacino - 5
Pesci - 5

Banderas - 4.5
DiCaprio - 5
Driver - 5
Phoenix - 4.5
Pryce - 4.5

Alternate Supporting
Downey Jr. - 5
Evans - 4.5
Song - 5
Choi Woo-Shik - 5
Hader - 4.5
Forster - 4
Waititi - 4
Rockwell - 4.5
Chalamet (Upgrade to 5)
Brown - 4.5/5
LaBeouf - 4/4.5

Alternate Lead
Egerton - 4.5
Bale - 4.5
Paul - 5
Dafoe/Pattinson - 5
Davis - 5
De Niro - 5
Sandler - 5
MacKay - 5
Schoenaerts - 5
Jupe - 4.5
Harrison Jr. (Luce) - 4.5, (Waves) - 5
Majors - 4.5
Diehl - 5
Kaluuya - 4.5
Mullan - 4.5/5

Luke Higham said...

I predict a 4 for Hedges in Honey Boy.

Calvin Law said...

As a huge fan of Hedges, he’s a 3.5 for me in Honey Boy. He’s good but the structure of the film really limits him. Also Louis’ rating for Diehl I could easily see being either a 4, 4.5 or 5 depending on how much he connects to the film.

Anonymous said...

Damn, near 13 fives for Lead and 8 for Supporting. What a year this could be.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I get the feeling he will. By the way, I've listened to your Score Runner-Up and it is beautiful.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: It’s gorgeous stuff. Although I have to admit, Thomas Newman and 1917 blew me away so much, I hate to deny A Hidden Life/Newton Howard the win but it was a fairly easy choice.

Mitchell Murray said...

Luke: Is Chalamet really a 5 for "Little Women" though? Don't get me wrong, I liked him as Laurie: I thought he was well cast for the character, I thought he was decently charming, I thought he worked well with Ronan and Pugh, and I thought had the right sincerity when needed.

But I don't know...Although I enjoyed his performance, I didn't love it exactly, and I still don't see this overwhelming star power from him. Perhaps I'm just finding it hard to buy him as a naturalistic performer, because for me, he can still appear somewhat "staged" in some of his acting choices....it can almost come across as "I'm going to make this pose" instead of "I'm going to stand and emote like this character would". I kind of felt that even in his strong breakout turn from CMBYN, where even when it wasn't distracting, it was still "there" and kind of took me out of the film at points.

Maybe that's just me, though...maybe I just need more time to warm up to him. Maybe it will be like DiCaprio, actually, where there was an awkwardness in a fair amount of his early work, but he eventually outgrew that with experience.

Mitchell Murray said...

I'll also say this in regards to Chalamet's Laurie: Although he was perhaps better cast than Bale in terms of appearance and style, I did like Bale's version of the "rejection scene" more than Chalamet's.

Bryan L. said...

Mitchell: Well...they’re predictions.

Calvin Law said...

As someone who's not been a huge Chalamet stan thus far, I did not hesitate a single bit on giving him a 5. Heck, he might even be my number 2 the more I think about it (though Pacino is definitely still king for me). Also I have to disagree with you on the 'rejection scene'. Bale does his best and some if it's down to direction, but frankly I thought that 1994 scene verged on being creepy/invasive which kind of sullies the version of Laurie there for me. Much preferred the mess of emotions and retreating back way of dealing with rejection portrayal by Chalamet in that regard.

Mitchell Murray said...

Bryan: I know. I think that was more of me revealing my thoughts on his performance, as I realized I hadn't done so before.

Mitchell Murray said...

Calvin: Let me be more specific; I prefer ALOT of the updates Gerwig made over the 94' version...namely making Amy closer to Jo's age, so that her ending up with Laurie was more believable.

As far as what both actors do in "that" scene, though, I think Bale's delivery and how he choose to express Laurie's eventual pain, was for me, just a hint more effective than Chalamet's. I agree the undertones of the scene we're slightly...umm..."confused"... in the 94' film, but I think Bale did everything right on his end. Also, a character like Laurie isn't in Bale's normal repertoire, so I really appreciated that change of pace, whereas with Chalamet's casting it was more of a given, and therefor less surprising.

Luke Higham said...

Louis & Everyone: Your thoughts on this.

youtube.com/watch?v=_MuxVqB3I7E

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Luke: Deepfake videos creep me out, so I'm not watching that xD.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Just my two cents, but Chalamet is my win and I’d like to see him reviewed.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: love those videos.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

I just finished watching Little Women, and I think it'd be a shame if Chalamet wasn't reviewed. An easy 5 for me, and he's probably my #4 in Supporting Actor this year.

As for the rest of the cast-
Ronan- 5
Pugh- 5
Watson-4
Scanlen- 4
Dern- 4
Streep- 3.5
Cooper- 4/4.5
Odenkirk- 2.5

I loved the film, and it'd probably be my #3 after Parasite and The Irishman.

Mitchell Murray said...

Tahmeed: For myself the ratings would be...

Ronan - 5
Pugh - 5
Chalamet - 4/4.5
Watson - 3.5
Scanlen - 3.5
Dern - 3.5/4 (Again, why couldn't she get nominated for this performance?!)
Streep - 2.5/3
Cooper - 3
Odenkirk - 3

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

1. The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford
2. The Tree of Life
3. Burn After Reading
4. Seven
5. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
6. Killing Them Softly
7. Moneyball
8. Fight Club
9. Ad Astra
10. True Romance

1. The Assassination - The Assassination of Jesse James
2. Ever think of suicide - The Assassination of Jesse James
3. Visiting Ed - The Assassination of Jesse James
4. Reconciliation - Tree of Life
5. "You think that's a Schwinn" - Burn After Reading
6. Tripping and killing - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
7. Train Raid - The Assassination of Jesse James
8. Close shave - The Assassination of Jesse James
9. Smiling demise - Burn After Reading
10. Recalling the shooting - Seven
11. Dinner - Tree of Life
12. Late Night phone call - Burn After Reading
13. Robert's comparisons - The Assassination of Jesse James
14. Violent child interrogation - The Assassination of Jesse James
15. How to fight - Tree of Life
16. Meeting John Doe - Seven
17. Fighting Lee - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
18. Asking Charley a few questions - The Assassination of Jesse James
19. Introduction - The Assassination of Jesse James
20. Driving to the spot - Seven