Brad Pitt: Seven, Legends of the Fall, Snatch… Here is the list of his 10 best films

On the poster for the film “Babylon”, which is scheduled for release in French theaters on January 18, Brad Pitt has a particularly extensive filmography at the dawn of his 60th birthday. Here is the list of his 10 best films, according to the editorial staff.

Troy (2004)

In 2004, Brad Pitt officially became an on-screen demigod by playing the character of Achilles in “Troy”, the film adaptation of Homer’s great epic directed by Wolfgang Petersen, with Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, or even Brian Cox in the credits.

If his performance as an actor did not make a lasting impression, this feature film sees Brad Pitt appear in the best physical shape of his career, with bulging muscles and long blond hair. But it is still Brian Cox (Succession), who embodied the character of Agamemnon, who speaks of it best. “Brad arrived on set, and my jaw dropped at her exceptional beauty. I’m heterosexual, but I was like, ‘My god! This guy is gorgeous. Who can have the slightest chance by sharing the screen with this absolutely divine man?’”, he launched in January 2022 on the YouTube channel of Vanity Fair.

Ad Astra (2019)

Visually memorable, “Ad Astra”, directed by James Gray, did not meet with the expected success with the public. Critics, on the other hand, adored Brad Pitt in the role of this astronaut forced to travel to the ends of the universe in the hope of unraveling the mystery of the disappearance of his father and his crew. And save our planet. The actor demonstrates the extent of his talent as an interpreter, with this moving story about father/son relations, and with an existential reflection on the place of humanity in the immensity of space and time.

Once upon a time… in Hollywood (2019)

Age has no hold on Brad Pitt, still so magnetic in this Quentin Tarantino film in which he plays stuntman Cliff Booth, stunt double for actor Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) when Hollywood is on the way to undergo a major revolution, and threatens to make the latter fail in the rank of ‘has-been’. If “Once upon a time… in Hollywood” is clearly not the director’s best film, it will at least have had the merit of allowing Brad Pitt to win the Oscar for best actor in a supporting role in 2020. Which is not nothing in the career of an actor.

Legends of Autumn (1994)

Two years after the excellent “And in the middle runs a river”, Brad Pitt confirmed his status as a must-see star in Hollywood with the role of Tristan (whom Johnny Depp had refused) in “Legends of the Fall”, where he stole the show to Anthony Hopkins with disconcerting ease. We only see him on screen, in the guise of a character haunted by the death of his little brother during the First World War, then harassed by an older brother gnawed by jealousy when he realizes, after having married, that the heart of the woman he loves beats for Tristan. A film of rare beauty directed by Edward Zwick, and magnificently carried by the music composed by the late James Horner (Titanic).

Seven (1995)

One of director David Fincher’s best films. Brand Pitt is simply perfect as young detective David Mills, who finds himself partnered with Inspector Somerset, a disillusioned cop nearing retirement brilliantly played by Morgan Freeman. Together, they find themselves working on a sordid case that will quickly turn into a breathtaking race against time to identify and incapacitate a serial killer inspired by the 7 deadly sins. The actor’s emotional palette is impressive, especially at the moment of the film’s absolutely shocking conclusion.

The Tree of Life (2011)

A deeply philosophical film by Terrence Malik, “The Tree of Life” delves into Jack’s childhood (played as an adult by Sean Penn) with his father and mother, then with his brothers. Brad Pitt plays the patriarch, an engineer who dreamed of becoming a pianist, imposing an authoritarian education on his children. And who dictates his law within the home. The actor shares the screen with Jessica Chastain, absolutely phenomenal in the role of his wife. A film that definitely stands out in the actor’s filmography.

Inglorious Basterds (2009)

One of Quentin Tarantino’s best movies ever. Brad Pitt plays the role of Lieutenant Aldo Raine, nicknamed Aldo the Apache, who will set up a commando of Jewish-Americans whose mission is to massacre as many German soldiers as possible… and scalp them. The actor delights with dialogues that highlight his incredible ‘swag’. You can feel his delight in every line he articulates with a sharp Tennessee accent. A masterful performance, period.

Snatch (2000)

On the third step of the podium, we come to deposit “Snatch: you point or you raques”, small jewel signed by the British director Guy Ritchie, with Jason Statham and Stephen Graham in the main roles. And yet. It’s Brad Pitt, an indestructible gypsy boxer called Mickey, of whom it is almost impossible to understand a traitorous word when he speaks, who comes to steal the show hands down. When the film ends, and even years later, it is his character who remains (-ra) engraved in your memory. And not another.

Army of the 12 Monkeys (1995)

Is Brad Pitt the king of supporting roles? The question arises when quoting Terry Gilliam’s film, “The Army of the 12 Monkeys”. The actor gives the answer to Bruce Willis in this science fiction film in which he plays Jeffrey Goines, the son of a scientist interned in a psychiatric hospital, and a fervent supporter of anti-consumerism. In this film, Brad Pitt voluntarily breaks his image of Apollo to inhabit this character whose presence is essential to the film. A role that requires an obvious artistic approach from him. He had also received an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

Fight Club (1999)

A film largely shunned when it was released in theaters, “Fight Club”, by David Fincher, has since become a cult object for millions of fans. Brad Pitt is, again, at the top of his physical form. The actor puts all of his talent and his image at the service of a film whose discourse – in particular on the consumer society and the loss of bearings that this entails – is eminently current. He turns out to be charming, disgusting, sexy, terrifying at the same time in the skin of Tyler Durden, an über-masculinist and non-conformist character, fruit of the imagination of a man adrift. Whether we love or hate this film – in which we also find Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter – “Fight Club” represents the perfect synthesis of what Brad Pitt brought to the 7th Art, from its beginnings to today.