Worst To Best: Brad Pitt

The Tree Of Life (2011)

The Film: Terrence Malick’s triumphant magnum opus, a dreamy, unconventional drama that follows a family living in 1950s Texas.

Rad Brad: Though Malick’s approach means Pitt barely gets to hold a full conversation, he lets his facial expressions do much of the talking – he’s all soulful eyes and tensed jaw.

Burn After Reading (2008)

The Film: Rip-roaring comedy from the Coen brothers, in which two gym employees – including Chad (Pitt) – end up in the possession of top secret discs containing the memoirs of a CIA agent.

Rad Brad:
Completely off-the-wall and with a ‘do that almost rivals Johnny Suede’s, Pitt plays dumb brilliantly – and that shock wardrobe scene’s a killer.

Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind (2002)

The Film: George Clooney directs this slick biographical crime comedy, which follows Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell), a game show host who’s rumoured to also have worked as a hitman.

Rad Brad: Sharing a cameo scene with Matt Damon, Pitt’s on top comedy form – it’s like a mini Ocean’s reunion. Except not.

A River Runs Through It (1992)

The Film: Montana brothers Norman (Craig Sheffer) and Paul (Pitt) share a love of fly fishing but that’s where the similarities end – the former’s studious and sensible, while the latter’s rebellious and passionate.

Rad Brad: Pitt’s turn in this drama is often referred to as his big break; his impressively naturalistic turn helped him net more lead roles. It’s praise well-deserved.

Legends Of The Fall (1994)

The Film: Epic historical drama following three brothers and their father through World War I into the 1930s. Pitt plays one of the brothers, while Anthony Hopkins is the father.

Rad Brad:
Balancing strength with vulnerability, Pitt is a rough charmer as thoughtful as he is prone to wild behaviour. Thrillingly unpredictable.

Thelma & Louise (1991)

The Film: Ridley Scott’s dusty road movie in which the titular twosome (Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon) take to the road after shooting a man.

Rad Brad: Responsible for many a cinema swoon, Pitt flashes those abs during a steamy sex scene with Geena Davis, but also impresses during his scenes in a police station as a loud-mouthed tease.

Sleepers (1996)

The Film: A group of men who were brutalised at a detention centre a decade ago set out to get revenge in Barry Levinson’s crime drama.

Rad Brad: Though it’s a small role, Pitt really shines as Michael Sullivan, not least during a powerful subway scene with Minnie Driver.

Babel (2006)

The Film: Oscar-winning drama from director Alejandro González Iñárritu. An American couple holidaying in Morocco form the crux of a film that follows four storylines all connected by a gun.

Rad Brad: Playing a live-wire who’s frustrated by his wife’s behaviour, Pitt brings the emotion – even if we know almost nothing about the character, this is a tight, taut performance.

Interview With The Vampire (1994)

The Film: Based on Anne Rice’s popular novel, Neil Jordan’s lavish adaptation stars Tom Cruise as vampire Lestat, who creates himself a companion in Louis (Pitt).

Rad Brad: Move over R-Pattz. Pitt gets past the fangs and the funky contacts and brings surprising humanity to his troubled vampire.

Snatch (2000)

The Film: Guy Ritchie follows up Lock, Stock with another London-set crime thriller, in which boxing man Turkish (Jason Statham) gets caught up in the plans of gangster Black Top (Alan Ford).

Rad Brad: Pitt’s back getting his fists out a year after Fight Club , cranking up the charisma as an Irish gypsy with a comedy accent.

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.