Behind the glamour of Hollywood, lies a tale of disappointment and frustration. The silver screen’s most beloved stars often bear the weight of failed projects, and one such story is that of Brad Pitt’s infamous flop. In a candid confession, Pitt described the film as “20 pages of dogshit” – a scathing review that still echoes in the halls of Tinseltown. What went wrong? How did a project, once filled with promise, spiral out of control, leaving its lead actor disillusioned and disenchanted? The story of this cinematic misfire is a fascinating cautionary tale of creative misalignment and the perils of bringing a flawed vision to the big screen.
The Iconic Career of Brad Pitt
Not just a commercial darling but a critical one, too, Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt is widely considered to be one of the most iconic movie stars of all time. While his personal life has become a bone of contention, Pitt’s position as one of the most impactful actors in modern memory is undeniable. Cited by Quentin Tarantino as the “last great movie star”, Pitt’s undoubtedly up on the Mount Rushmore of modern movies.
Often avoiding the allure of blockbuster filmmaking, Pitt has teamed up with some of the finest filmmakers of contemporary cinema, finding great success with the likes of Steven Soderbergh, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Terrence Malick, Spike Jonze, David Fincher, Terry Gilliam, and Adam McKay. Although he enjoyed an early career on the small screen and in a variety of independent film roles, featuring in The Dark Side of the Sun and Cutting Class in the late 1980s, true success wouldn’t come for the young actor until 1991 when he worked with Ridley Scott on the feminist masterpiece, Thelma & Louise.
Taking a great deal of the headlines for the Oscar-winning movie, thanks to his stunning appearance as the heartthrob JD, Pitt steadily rose in prominence throughout the remainder of the 1990s. Quentin Tarantino and Tony Scott would be the next to give the actor a leg-up, hiring his services for the 1993 movie True Romance with Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette.
Rise to Prominence: Critical Acclaim and Blockbuster Films
28 years later, Pitt and Tarantino would once again join forces for arguably the director’s greatest ever feature film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a role which would finally earn the actor an Academy Award for his contributions to acting.
Having a completely immaculate career is the stuff of legend. Very few performers have managed to create a resume without a single blemish. Like any actor, however, Pitt’s career has been spiked with moments of great success and quagmires of inconsistency, and the American icon is critical of one film in particular.
A Blemish on the Resume
According to a copy of New York magazine from 1997, Pitt bitterly recalled his time in the 1997 movie The Devil’s Own, co-starring Harrison Ford and Natascha McElhone. Enraged at his time on the set of the film, he states that the movie was “the most irresponsible bit of filmmaking, if you can even call it that, that I’ve ever seen”.
The Devil’s Own: A Cop-Drama Gone Wrong
The cop-drama follows a police officer who uncovers the real identity of his house guest Rory (Pitt), with the young man being an IRA terrorist in hiding. Fuming at how the movie played out, the actor told the publication, “We had a great script, but it got tossed”. The truth is, while Pitt would certainly have been interested in pushing himself artistically, the chance to create a whole movie on the fly was enough to leave him wildly disheartened: “I couldn’t believe it. We had 20 pages of dogshit. To have to make something up as you go along-Jesus, what pressure! I don’t know why anyone would want to continue making that movie”.
A quick PR job forced Pitt to retract some of his statements, but by then, the damage had already been done, and the world became aware of the production nightmare that was the 1997 movie. With a script being written during production, the team often had to work day-by-day, almost making things up and they went along as the tension between Ford, Pitt, and director Alan J. Pakula steadily grew.
Ford and Pitt would leave their on-set issues bubbling for some time. Ford, in a recent conversation with Esquire, disclosed that the Hollywood pair had a “complicated” rift, stating that they had “different ideas” about the movie’s script. “Brad developed the script. Then they offered me the part. I saved my comments about the character and the construction of the thing,” Ford explained.
At the core of their dispute was the film’s dichotomy of good and evil. “Brad had this complicated character, and I wanted a complication on my side so that it would be a more interesting movie,” Ford explained.
Behind the Scenes of a Nightmare
Script Changes and On-Set Tension Between Ford and Pitt
The production of The Devil’s Own, which starred Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford, was plagued by script changes and on-set tension between the two actors. According to a copy of New York magazine from 1997, Pitt recalled his time on the set of the film, stating that the movie was “the most irresponsible bit of filmmaking, if you can even call it that, that I’ve ever seen.”
Pitt further elaborated on his experiences, saying that the script was constantly being rewritten, leaving the actors to improvise and make up scenes as they went along. This led to a great deal of tension on set, with Pitt stating that he and Ford had “different ideas” about the movie’s script.
The Director’s Vision vs. The Actors’ Interpretation: A Creative Rift
The creative rift between Pitt, Ford, and director Alan J. Pakula was a major factor in the film’s production difficulties. Pitt had a clear vision for his character, while Ford had a different interpretation. This led to a situation where the actors were at odds with each other and with the director, making it difficult to create a cohesive film.
Pitt’s frustration with the film’s production was evident in his comments to New York magazine, where he stated that he couldn’t believe the script was being constantly rewritten and that he felt pressured to make something up as they went along. He also criticized the film’s final product, stating that it was “20 pages of dogshit.”
The Fallout and Aftermath
Pitt’s Retraction and the Damage Done
After his comments to New York magazine, Pitt was forced to retract some of his statements, but by then, the damage had already been done. The film’s production had been plagued by controversy, and Pitt’s comments had only added to the negative publicity.
The film’s director, Alan J. Pakula, also defended the film, stating that it was a complex and challenging project that had taken a lot of work to bring to the screen. However, the negative publicity surrounding the film’s production had already taken its toll, and The Devil’s Own ultimately did not perform well at the box office.
Harrison Ford’s Perspective: A “Complicated” Rift and Script Disagreements
In a recent conversation with Esquire, Harrison Ford discussed his experiences working on The Devil’s Own, stating that he had a “complicated” rift with Brad Pitt. Ford explained that he and Pitt had “different ideas” about the film’s script, which led to tension on set.
Ford also stated that he had tried to work with Pitt to find a solution, but that it was ultimately a “complicated” situation. He also praised Pitt’s acting abilities, stating that he was a talented actor who had brought a lot to the film.
- Ford’s comments offer a more nuanced view of the film’s production difficulties, suggesting that there were complex creative differences between the actors and the director.
- Pitt and Ford’s differing interpretations of the script were a major factor in the film’s production difficulties, leading to tension on set and a lack of cohesion in the final product.
Conclusion
In the article, we explored the fascinating story of Brad Pitt’s experience making the 1996 film “Sleepers”, which he infamously described as “20 pages of dogshit”. As we delved into the details of the film’s production, it became clear that Pitt’s distaste for the movie was not just a fleeting moment of frustration, but a culmination of his growing discontent with the project’s direction and the creative decisions made by the filmmakers. Through his candid words, we gained a glimpse into the intense pressures and challenges that often accompany the making of a film, and the ways in which even the most talented and dedicated individuals can become disillusioned with their work.
The significance of this story lies not only in its insight into the behind-the-scenes world of Hollywood, but also in its reflection of the inherent complexities and uncertainties that exist within the creative process. As we consider the ways in which artistic vision and commercial pressure can collide, we are reminded of the importance of maintaining a balance between these two competing forces. Furthermore, Pitt’s comments serve as a poignant reminder that even the most celebrated and successful individuals can fall victim to the pitfalls of creative frustration and disconnection.
As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how Pitt and other creatives navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the film industry, where the lines between artistic expression and commercial appeal continue to blur. Will we see more candid admissions of frustration and disappointment, or will the pressure to maintain a perfect public image continue to silence the voices of those who struggle to find meaning in their work? One thing is certain: the story of Brad Pitt’s “20 pages of dogshit” serves as a powerful reminder that even in the midst of greatness, the pursuit of artistic truth can be a messy and imperfect process.