MovieChat Forums > 12 Years a Slave (2013) Discussion > 2 things: Brad Pitt and Alfre Woodard/Mi...

2 things: Brad Pitt and Alfre Woodard/Mistress Shaw

posted 10 years ago by Jimothy3
9 replies | jump to latest

I'm not saying this was the reason, but did it not come across as a bit self-important that Brad Pitt who happens to be the producer, plays the part of the most anti-slavery white male character in this, in fact the one who helps free Solomon? It feels kind of like when M Night cast himself as the author whose book changes the world in The Lady In The Water. I feel it would have benefited from someone lesser known playing that part, and who may have done it more justice, I might add.

As for Alfre Woodard playing Mistress Shaw, was the accent she used accurate? Because it sounded like it was all over the place wavering from a deep south accent to whatever else there was thrown in there. It was pretty distracting.

[–] heaintloveu 10 years ago

When slaves first arrived from Africa, they weren't exactly taught meticulous, proper English

The accent gets passed down and passed down and passed down, even to the present day

[–] rockethulsey 10 years ago

there was also nothing in her cup and she didn't swallow after drinking

[–] SamoanJoes 10 years ago

I find it surprising that you're bringing up Alfre Wooodard accents when Brad Pitt's was even worse. He definitely phoned it in.

[–] Lady_Cersei 10 years ago

On the Pitt character:
I pondered on that the first time that I saw the film... but he stood out amongst the other white characters because he had nothing to to gain from slavery. We were shown throughout the entire film of Soloman being conned or abused that Pitt's character showing decency is almost too good to be true - but thankfully wasn't.

[–] ameckert2000 9 years ago

I have to admit, my husband and I both laughed and rolled our eyes when Brad Pitt, Golden Boy of Hollywood played the "white savior" role. My husband even said "Of COURSE Brad Pitt plays the hero." It was kind of lame of him, as an actor. Now, he is a good actor and has done some really interesting roles (Fight Club comes to mind) but it would have been interesting for him to play more of an evil role. Or, they should have cast someone else, someone not as super famous. It really took me out of the movie, which is a bad thing.

[–] sweetheart_509 9 years ago

Brad Pitt has a black daughter. Was it really wrong for him to want to play a "good" white character in the film?

[–] !!!deleted!!! (25863049) 9 years ago

I thought the same thing, "Of COURSE it's..."

[–] scuban 8 years ago

Indeed seeing Brad Pitt play that heroic role seems self-serving. However, under the Trivia section of this movie on this site, it states that Brad Pitt could only secure funding for the film if he was in it. Naturally, he did that one.

[–] FrodoPotter 8 years ago

So he should have given himself a less self-important part. I was absolutely disgusted when I saw him in that role.