Having worked with David Fincher on three films and remained friends since fier working together nearly 30 years ago, Brad Pitt can be considered something of an authority on the director. As such, Pitt has some thoughts about Fincher’s methods, teasing his friend but also offering some insight into his style.
Speaking at the LACMA Art+Film Gala over the weekend, Pitt offered some quotes from the mouth of Fincher. “Here’s some things you will hear on a David Fincher shoot: ‘Let’s shoot this now before we all lose interest in living.’ ‘OK, we have the out-of-focus version. Now let’s try one that’s in focus.’ ‘That was shit through no fault of my own.’ And a personal fave: ‘I want you guys to enjoy yourselves, but that’s what Saturdays and Sundays are for.’” In other words, Fincher knows filmmaking is tough, he’s a perfectionist and sets are for working. But Pitt, of course, had more direct praise for Fincher, adding, “Working with him, you will know what excellence feels like. His films — they’ve always challenged our sense of safety. As he says, ‘If we’re not out there juggling chainsaws, we’re doing ourselves a disservice.’”
But Pitt and Fincher have only juggled chainsaws as it were three times: Seven, Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; that means the two haven’t collaborated in 15 years, which is sort of shocking considering they feel like more frequent collaborators than that. Still, the two did have a number of potential other projects gestating at one point or another, including a World War II picture, a take on Anthony Bourdain’s essential Kitchen Confidential and a sequel to World War Z. Fincher, too, apparently wanted Pitt for an adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea but was turned down by the actor.
While we wait for another offering from Fincher and Pitt, the director has The Killer, starring Michael Fassbender, out now, while the star could reunite with Babylon co-star Margot Robbie in a remake of the classic comedy The Thin Man.
What is your favorite Brad Pitt and David Fincher pairing? How would you rank their three movies together?