“Takes a bullet better than anyone”: Brad Pitt on Gary Oldman’s acting prowess
Trying to be ‘more like Brad Pitt‘ was, for a time, perhaps the most overused technique in Hollywood for aspiring actors to secure their big break. A movie star in every sense of the phrase, Pitt has risen to the top of the acting pile, and now, a few decades on from his breakout roles propelled by being one of the most desirable faces in the industry, Pitt has become a far more well-rounded performer than many ever expected.
Pitt’s natural charm and ability to hold an audience’s attention was enough in the 1990s and 2000s to make him a mega-watt star. He was handsome, humourous and seemingly had a handle on a variety of different genres.
There was his leading role in Se7en, which proved he could handle the grittier side of filmmaking. Fight Club showed that he could blend that darkness with sharp humour to embody the ultimate anti-hero. Then came Meet Joe Black and Ocean’s Eleven, films that cemented his status as a bankable box office draw with every release. And, of course, there’s his award-winning performance as Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a role that further showcased his versatility and cemented his place among Hollywood’s elite.
It’s safe to say that when Pitt finally does hang up his acting boots, something he has hinted at for a while now, then he will look back on a career that is as fat and happy as a pig with black Nando’s card. But while the actor can be pleased with his work as a performer and likely do so while sitting on a gigantic pile of money, he feels one actor will always top him in a specific area.
The art of dying in a movie is one of the most uniquely paradoxical in the movie industry. Sean Bean, the British actor, is perhaps most notably famed for his continued persistence in dying in almost every production he has ever featured in, from Game of Thrones to Lord of the Rings. His wonderful depictions of death may well have encouraged more and more directors to pick him for roles with a sticky end, thus losing him some screen time in the process. However, being able to convey the most natural thing every human will face should be considered a string in the box of any actor.
Certainly, it is something Brad Pitt is proud of. In an interview he gladly spoke of how well he can kick the bucket in a scene, explaining: “I die really well, by the way. It’s one of my strong points.”
However, Pitt was not ready to let his hubris get in the way of sharing just how much he admires another actor’s performances when meeting their maker: “Gary Oldman is the best,” he confesses.
“I’m pretty good. But, I mean, if you look at what I do, then watch Gary Oldman, you’ll say, ‘Well, he’s not quite as good’ and ‘Yeah, but he’s doing Gary Oldman'”. Not satisfied with the simple praise, he later proclaims: “Gary Oldman takes a bullet better than anyone you have ever seen.”
There are certainly more than a few accolades that can be bestowed upon Gary Oldman. His position as one of Britain’s finest-ever actors is confirmed by his Academy Awards and, most notably, the adoration of his peers. But, considering he has died in True Romance, Léon: The Professional, twice in Harry Potter and a truly marvellous turn in Kung Fu Panda 2, perhaps Pitt is right in also awarding him the figurative golden statue for being Hollywood’s ultimate death merchant.
