Great Actors Often Get Confused for Celebrities

     Here's a little word association, what's your first thought when you hear the words "Brad Pitt".  For most people it's probably either "Angelina Jolie" or "Jennifer Aniston's ex".  I'm sure some of the others would be "adopted father of many foreign children", "Activist", "Former Stoner" or "Wine Drinker".  Some more opinionated readers might say something much more bitter.  Sadly, too few would answer with "actor", since Pitt hasn't won an Oscar yet.  Yes, Mr. Pitt's acting career hasn't yet reached George Clooney status, where his acting work is more known by the public than his high-profile personal life.  However, when you look at his work, it's clear that his work as actor deserves more attention.
     What would  Fight Club be if it where anyone other than Pitt listing off those famous rules of The Fight Club?  How many other actors could bring the emotional impact he did to Moneyball?  And how many times in last couple of years have you heard a friend reciting the "killin' Nat Zis" monologue by the immortal Lt. Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds?  The deeper you dive into his resume, the harder it is to discredit him as an actor.  You can say what you want about the Ocean's sequels and the Mr. and Mrs. Smith remake, but as a whole, Brad Pitt's acting career is about as close as you can get to perfect.
      Even more unfortunately,  he's not on the list by himself.  If every person that bought a tabloid with Kristen Stewart's face on it watched her in The Runaways, she would have been nominated for an Oscar last year.  Instead, E! Network "reporters" ramble on to the masses about how terrible it is that she doesn't smile for the paparazzi.  Ben Affleck is another example.  He's directed two consecutive great films, and has done great work with everyone from Kevin Smith to Gus Van Sant.  Despite all of his great work, every comedy show on TV makes it like the only movie he ever acted in was Gili.
      I'm not stupid enough to say that we should feel bad for these people, especially in this economy.  I don't even consider myself above celebrity gossip.  I especially don't attack the criticism of people like Lindsay Lohan, who have the ability to be great actors and waste it.  I just think that the personal lives of the actors should not get in the way of great performances.  If we put celebrity gossip above art, we'll get to a point where we'll destroy the art and we'll all be stuck with the Kardashians.