Word: pitt
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...first found out that Brad Pitt couldn't carry a movie by himself when his icy reserve barely registered in Seven Years in Tibet. Content to simply smile and run his fingers through his prized golden hair, he became cinematic wallpaper, devoid of character...
...much hyped Meet Joe Black simply confirms our suspicions, giving us more of Pitt's "I-am-beautiful" campaign in an overindulgent $90 million romantic "epic." The film, interestingly enough, is directed by Martin Brest--the same man who in 1992 gave us the charming drama Scent of a Woman. But where Woman had Al Pacino at the helm and young Chris O'Donnell in the eagerbeaver supporting role, Meet Joe Black reverses this buddy-buddy formula. Here, Anthony Hopkins is demoted to a supporting role and Pitt becomes the leading man. This odd conception of the roles proves fatal...
...actual premise of Meet Joe Black, however, is fascinating and wonderfully profound. Pitt first appears as an agreeable, ill-fated newcomer to New York City who hits on medical resident Susan Parrish (Claire Forlani) in a coffee shop. Soon after leaving the shop, he is killed by an out-of-control car (the death is so overwhelmingly violent that you have to laugh). It turns out that Death himself has orchestrated Mr. Pitt's death so he can inhabit the young man's body. He next approaches communications tycoon William Parrish (Anthony Hopkins), Susan's father, and convinces...
Though the script itself is painfully hackneyed, Pitt just seems to have no clue. Death is such an abstract type of role that he can basically do anything; all that is required is a consistent, believable interpretation (like Thandie Newton's remarkable performance in the recent Beloved). Unfortunately, Pitt isn't a natural comedian, he doesn't have much range, and he has problems creating a coherent character. One moment Joe is ridiculously inept; the next an almighty deity. For example, he comes to Earth having no idea what peanut butter is--he literally probes the jar for minutes...
Moreover, Pitt simply doesn't have enough expressions to warrant the number of close-ups he gets. The camera is literally in love with his face--it captures every pore in an effort to prove just how godly he is. Instead of taking advantage of the chance to react to each statement and give us subtle clues to his character's actual thoughts, Pitt prefers being mysterious. His face remains blank for nearly three hours, occasionally flashing the famous smile. "You wanna know what I'm thinking?" he seems to be asking with his random pauses and interminable stares into...