(CBS News) Oscar nominee Brad Pitt made his first TV appearance in an episode of the hit show “Dallas.” Now, 25 years later, he’s a household name for his work in movies — and for his relationship and life with Angelina Jolie.

Charlie Rose recently sat down with the start to discuss why he says his life in the past year is as good as it gets and why he worked so hard to make the acclaimed movie “Moneyball.” The transcript of the interview follows.

Charlie Rose: This is a story of obsession for you…what was it?

Brad Pitt: It was a story of an obsessive character and I was obsessive about getting it to the screen. It was this idea of value and our self worth and how it is often tabulated by a failure. And you look at the Billy Bean character, he had been completely devalued by his sport. He was playing for a small market team and had to rethink the game. And had to question why we had been doing the things we do for so long. And in doing so, found this whole other talent pool of other people who had been devalued, and they started winning games. They got a second chance, and they started winning games. I thought it was a story we’re telling now about success and failure.

Charlie Rose: You felt a kinship with him.

Brad Pitt: Yes, definitely. He was emotional about the games. He couldn’t even watch the games. He didn’t want to cloud his thinking. I understand that to some degree – there were just attributes about him and this push and this need to make things fair, to find a level playing field. If we’re gonna compete, let’s make it fair. And I’m a bit of a justice nut.

Charlie Rose: We’re now in our fourth or fifth week on this show and we showed this movie to our staff at the beginning just to say here’s someone going against the odds and against expectations.

Brad Pitt: And that you can actually win in unconventional ways…

Charlie Rose: And it didn’t go so well for him in the beginning…

Brad Pitt: No, he was labeled a heretic, a fool…until they started turning it around and started winning.

Charlie Rose: When Billy Bean saw this that you had won an Academy Award, was he pleased?

Brad Pitt: A nomination…

Charlie Rose: Right, yes, a nomination. I’m getting ahead of myself here. What was his reaction, did he think you got it?

Brad Pitt: I think he’s quite pleased. He knows it’s a film and we’re trying to capture the essence of this time and I think he’s proud — it’s given him a chance to reflect on that time. And I think it feels nice.

Charlie Rose: Does the kinship you had make the performance better?

Brad Pitt: Yes, because you feel familiar with it. So you can put a lot of yourself into it.

Charlie Rose: What has a family added to your career?

Brad Pitt: Family has added everything to it. In a strange way, if I look at the work, the work has gotten better because I worry less about it – I mean it’s not as important as family. Family becomes the nucleus, the source of joy and the source of worry. And it takes any pressure of self-absorption you’ve — we can have in our business, and it just evaporates. So it makes it freer.

Charlie Rose: And it also makes the performance more intense because you have less time.

Brad Pitt: That’s right. (Charlie talks over him) Yeah, we gotta get going I gotta get the kids back. We’re gonna get it right and we’re gonna get it right now and let the chips fall where they may.

Charlie Rose: If you hadn’t adopted, it would’ve been a far different life…

Brad Pitt: It certainly would’ve been (Charlie: for you and for them). Yes, absolutely. I mean, absolutely. I don’t know that they would (in one case might not have lived). I hate to say it but may not even be here. And I think of the joy that we have in our family because we are together and I just couldn’t imagine.

Charlie Rose: There is that kind of attitude.

Brad Pitt: She’s still a bad girl. (Charlie: Still a bad girl?) Yeah, delightfully so. Well, it’s not for public consumption.

Charlie Rose: And she’s still a risk taker — being a director, producer, there’s still this shared attitude about life.

Brad Pitt: Sure. We get one shot at this thing, as far as I know. …I don’t wanna have any regrets when we get to, you know, when the time’s up. We try new things, and the same for our family. She’s such an amazing mother. She’s so inventive at home with them. And I’m just so happy that they have her.

Charlie Rose: I’m so struck by this relationship you both have with your careers, when you’re filming she’s with you, when she’s filming you’re with her (Brad: And they’re with us). Is that easy or difficult?

Brad Pitt: Well they’re quite used to a little jet-lag and moving to a different location and as long as we’re together — you know the home is always intact. (Charlie: Do they take their own blankets with them?) They have their own bags and they’re responsible if they leave their chargers behind and so on and so forth.

Charlie Rose: Tell me about your learning experience, how has the sense of craft changed for you?

Brad Pitt: I feel…by…through experience I can jump into any role I have some connection with and do a decent job, where before it was much more erratic hit and miss because…and you’re still perfecting your craft but it’s much more interesting now and it’s become much more personal. I feel like I have something to contribute.

Charlie Rose: And you’re as proud of your lesser known films as your blockbuster ones?

Brad Pitt: Sure. Sure. Absolutely, and yet I like Jonah Hill’s “Superbad.” I’d put them at the same level.

Charlie Rose: How are your efforts to help victims of Katrina going?

Brad Pitt: I keep saying this — it keeps exceeding my expectations. We got in there as a justice issue at a rage…people were put in a dangerous situation living behind inadequately built walls and told they could live there and build on a slab and people were killed because of it. And we felt a need to make that right – to just do it right. Do it right the first time so we won’t suffer from these kinds of catastrophes – and by the way it’s a lot cheaper. So we got into low income housing and saw a great injustice in there — toxic materials and shotty appliances that ran up a utility bill. So we wanted to address this was well with a sustainable kind of home of dignity. And now what we see, there will be millions of these families that’ll want to return. The neighborhood’s vibrant again. But these families who once experienced $300 utility bills are now $30, $7, a processing fee to tell them they owe nothing. And it’s amazing what it’s freed up for their family to invest in (Charlie: So it’s restored confidence about living) Absolutely, but there’s something bigger that’s happening there now, it’s that we’re building these homes at a competitive price for any substandard home. So, there’s no reason to build any differently. So now we’re at a point where we’re launching another fundraiser to complete New Orleans – or at least our initial commitment, and to expand this and take this into other areas. And we’re looking — we have a project in Newark now, and looking at other places in the United States.

Charlie Rose: The project is to redefine low income housing in a way that does what?

Brad Pitt: That it’s built sustainably and at a competitive price. I mean you talk about a game changer — I think that’s a game changer. And it’s time for us to – we’ve learned so much on this project to build other nucleuses around — I mean this is where we gotta go.

Charlie Rose: But you’ve had this passion for architecture before Katrina. I’ve heard stories.

Brad Pitt: Yeah, I’m a bit of a fanboy…especially with Frank.

Charlie Rose: But what about architecture has made it fascinating to you?

Brad Pitt: It’s a sculpture at a scale that we can actually be on the outside of it and the inside of it. It defines how we live and move through a city or move through our homes, how our lives function. There’s a great science behind it, and – which is why I was able to call on all these great architects to come down to New Orleans and address the real problems of the area, from the climate to housing conditions. And it’s been a great success.

Charlie Rose: When you called, were they responsive?

Brad Pitt: Yes, and you know it’s part of I think the architects quest — not just to build amazing iconic things for rich people, but to answer the needs of anyone and everyone is the true call of architecture.

Charlie Rose: You’ve been to the White House. You know the President. You support the President.

Brad Pitt: I wouldn’t say I know him. I’ve been able to meet him (Charlie: You’ve had a conversation). Yes, I am absolutely a supporter.

Charlie Rose: Is there a role for the federal government here?

Brad Pitt: Well, you know, HUD helped us out a lot. HUD is doing some great uh…uh…things in this direction, but I think it’s gotta be the national program. Let’s just make the shift. Why are we still paying – you know, exporting so much of our GDP, half a trillion dollars to support this dependency on oil? Why are we still fighting it with our military? Why are we still polluting the environment? It just makes no sense anymore.

Charlie Rose: Do you have those kinds of conversations with politicians as well as friends?

Brad Pitt: Yes, I had a great conversation a couple weeks ago about it with the vice president actually.

Charlie Rose: And he’s responsive to the idea?

Brad Pitt: Very much so.

Charlie Rose: You’ve mentioned in the next few years experimenting with other art forms.

Brad Pitt: Yes, maybe architecture is one of them if they let me in. But yes, I’m looking…you know I’ve – my nature is to try different things, and I’m happy with that exploration. I’m happiest. There’s just some other things I wanna dabble in.

Charlie Rose: But you’re also a guy that doesn’t like five-year plans…

Brad Pitt: Oh yeah, it’s not specific. (Charlie talks over him) Not at all. Not at all.

Charlie Rose: If someone said tomorrow you’ve got to give up acting that would be a hard day for you?

Brad Pitt: Yes it would, because I’m on the producorial side now. I’m developing stories that I think resonate with our time in some way and I feel like I’m now more than ever clear about what I can add to this great art of storytelling that I get to participate in.

Charlie Rose: Explore that a little bit with me.

Brad Pitt: Well, you start learning vernaculars – a film’s tone, language of film, and what stories are personal to me. And if they’re personal to me I know they’re going to be personal to someone else out there. I don’t know how many people, but I have more to offer now than ever. So I wouldn’t wanna jump out (Charlie: And this is why “Moneyball” spoke to you?) Yes, yes Michael Louis’ book.

Charlie Rose: How did you decide to get off the couch and be different?

Brad Pitt: You get so sick of yourself. You see the beauty and opportunity out there. You see — witness the hardships and the suffering of people, and that we gotta participate.

Charlie Rose: Was there ever a point when you thought people were admiring you as much for the craft as the way you looked?

Brad Pitt: Oh I don’t know. I never really dissected that one that much. I never really thought about it.

Charlie Rose: Is it easier for men to age than it is for women in Hollywood?

Brad Pitt: Career opportunity wise, I think there’s a longer shelf life for majority of men than women. I think it’s — I think they have struggles that we don’t. But then you look at Meryl and she’s (Charlie: Unbelievable) as great a work as any man or woman out there. And she’s doing it now.

Charlie Rose: Do you have a role model — Paul Newman for example?

Brad Pitt: Yeah, I think we can learn a lot from his example. And if I get anywhere near that I’d be pretty satisfied.

Source: CBSNews.com

The “Moneyball” star, up for best actor at this year’s Academy Awards, impresses Jon Stewart with his unconventional idea to beat rival nominees George Clooney, Jean Dujardin, Gary Oldman and Demian Bichir.

In Moneyball, Brad Pitt’s character challenged the old way of doing things in professional baseball.
OUR EDITOR RECOMMENDS

Brad Pitt Not Credited With Producing ‘The Tree of Life’ By Motion Picture Academy
For this year’s Oscars, the actor would like to subvert the old system of voting for a winner — and transform the awards show into a Survivor-like endurance contest.
“You know what I think they should do? I think we should just put a trophy on the table and like one of those card contests, and we should all just put our hands on it and see who can hold it the longest,” he joked during an appearance on Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.

The Comedy Central host loved the concept, saying: “That is the most awesome idea I’ve ever heard!”
Pitt is a best-actor nominee for his understated role as Billy Beane in the sports drama, and he’s got some tough competition: Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Gary Goldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Demian Bichir (A Better Life), and, last but not least, his close friend George Clooney, who’s nominated for the The Descendants.
“Why don’t they go negative on other movies? The Oscar race is always ‘For Your Consideration — Moneyball,’” said Stewart, affecting a stuffy accent. “But why not like, ‘The Artist — Go F–k Yourself!’ Why not go negative on this guy?”

Pitt seemed game to try Stewart’s approach to advancing in the 2012 Academy Awards Campaign.
“I thought about it,” he said. “Clooney took Iowa, New Hampshire. Jean took South Carolina. Florida will probably go to Oldman. I’m gonna be hanging out with Ron Paul so I gotta get in there and mix it up a bit I think.”

Source

Brad Pitt’s baseball film “Moneyball” is up for multiple Academy Awards – vindication for an actor who has gone to bat for the movie at every turn. Lee Cowan has our Sunday Profile:

He’s arguably one of the most famous men on the planet. Together with actress Angelina Jolie, they define “power couple.”

But if you think Brad Pitt always gets the star treatment, think again.

Turns out when it came to the movie “Moneyball,” a lot of people said NO to Brad Pitt: “Our production was like, you know, the red-headed stepchild on the lot.

“This movie died on the vine, or almost died on the vine several times. Actually DID die, and we had to resuscitate it!”

He plays Billy Beane, in the true story of the general manager of the Oakland A’s – a maverick who turned baseball on its head by building a team relying not on star power, but on statistics instead.

The movie is based on the bestseller by Michael Lewis.

“The book deals with, you know, economics, stats, saber metrics . . . nail-biting stuff in the movie theater!” exclaimed Pitt.

It’s a BASEBALL movie – that’s about a lot MORE than baseball. It’s about redefining success.

“This idea of value, what we are worth, what are we worth to ourselves, how do we place value on others. The value of that, our Billy Beane in the film finds, is a very quiet victory. It’s his own personal value.”

The real Billy Beane – watched it all unfold. When asked what it was like to be played by Brad Pitt, Beane replied, “A dream, wasn’t it? You know, it was a little surreal, but there were worse choices.”

Beane wasn’t wild about a feature film. “I spent about 6 months probably, holding onto the release,” he said. “Michael Lewis said, ‘Aw, they’ll never make the movie, just go ahead and sign it anyway.’”

The math turned out pretty well: “Moneyball” racked up 6 Oscar nominations, including Best Actor, and Best Picture, with Pitt as producer.

But the Academy didn’t stop there.

Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” (left) – the OTHER film Pitt produced and starred in this year – also got a Best Picture nomination.

At 48, he’s hard to pin down after more than 40 films. He seems as much a character actor as a leading man.

A supporting role as a mental patient in “12 Monkeys” earned him his first Oscar nod in 1995; and he carried “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – an aging-backwards performance that earned him a Best Actor nomination.

“You like mixing it up? You don’t like doing something that you’ve done before

“Yeah, I have this reflex that for better or for worse, makes me want to do the opposite of what I’m supposed to do!” he laughed. “Sometimes it served me well, sometimes it hasn’t.”

Born in Oklahoma and raised in Missouri, Pitt first thought his calling might be journalism, so he headed off to college. But then, he didn’t graduate (though he got really close).

“Here’s what happened,” Pitt said. “I was two weeks from graduation, and all of my friends had jobs lined up, and it kind of wigged me out that I wasn’t ready . . . I didn’t have one lined up, nor did I even think to line one up. I just didn’t! I just wasn’t ready to do that thing.”

So he loaded up his car and left the Plains for Hollywood.

And oddly, it was the role of a Midwestern drifter in “Thelma and Louise” that launched Pitt into super-stardom.

He became an instant heartthrob, known as much for his smile as his blonde locks.

“Do you feel like you have to fight your looks though, at times?” Cowan asked.

“Listen, I mean, we all deal with the cards we’ve been dealt. And I’ve been dealt some pretty – a pretty good hand. Pretty good cards!”

His high-profile romances were like catnip for the tabloids – his engagement to Gwyneth Paltrow, and then his marriage (and very public divorce) from Jennifer Anniston – took on a life of their own.

But even they paled in comparison to Angelina Jolie, so famous the couple has a single nickname: Branjolina.

They’ve been together now for seven years, and have six children – three of them biological, the other three overseas adoptions.

“I couldn’t imagine life without any one of them,” Pitt said. “There’s just something that happens.”

They go everywhere their parent’s work takes them.

“Listen, I admit there’s times like, ‘We gotta get up. Get up! Here’s your shoes. Here’s your shoes. Drink this Coke. Drink this Coca Cola. Drink it all. Right now! Drink it! Drink it! Drink it! Just so we could get ‘em up and going,” Pitt said.

And travel-weary or not, they seem very aware their parents aren’t married – yet.
“We’re getting a lot of pressure from the kids,” Pitt noted. “Yeah, it means something to them and they’re, you know, they have questions when their friends’ parents are married and why is that?”

“So what do you tell them?” Cowan asked.

“We will someday, we will: ‘That’s a great idea! Get mommy a ring! Okay, I will, I will.’”

“Do they have a sense of you and Angelina are as famous as you are? I mean, do they get that?”

“They know that mommy and daddy work in films and stories,” said Pitt.

But of the paparazzi? “Well, you know, they think everyone has to deal with that. Four of mine aren’t bothered by it, two of them are. They just don’t like it. Don’t like it.”

“How do you deal with that, though?” asked Cowan. “I mean, really deal with it because you deal with it on a scale that other people can’t even imagine.”

“When it first hit, it was very discombobulating and I would, would repel from it. And now I see it as, as something that can be used for good things.”

One of those good things is his non-profit work in New Orleans, where he’s helping rebuild the Lower 9th Ward in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

“What made me so angry was this idea that ‘It was an act of God,’” he said. “That if you lived on the coast, ‘That’s what happens.’ And it wasn’t. It was a failure of man. And a lot of people died. And for me there’s a responsibility to make it right.”

His Make It Right Foundation has replaced some homes that were lost, with solar-powered alternatives that create more energy that the occupants use, redefining low income housing.

His good friend George Clooney used the Golden Globes to highlight Pitt’s good deeds – and there are plenty more of those red carpet award shows to go, which has Pitt busier than ever.

“It is fun for you?” Cowan asked.

“It IS fun, it’s, it’s …”

The word Pitt’s looking for is: long.

“I would prefer if we could do it on one weekend, instead of three months or two months, whatever it is,” Pitt replied. “I think it should be, like the 24-hour Le Mans. Like we just run ‘em all back-to-back, go into the broadcasts, Golden Globes, SAG, and 24 hours later at the end, have the Oscars, and last man standing takes it all!”

Source: CBS News

If he were to star the movie would be something of a departure for Pitt, who hasn’t really appeared in out-and-out Science Fiction, though he has circled several projects, including Aronofsky’s The Fountain (which was eventually made without him) and a sci-fi version of Homer’s Odyssey. Pitt of course had a memorable turn in Terry Gilliam’s wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey movie Twelve Monkeys as a batshit insane dude, though it’s unlikely a videogame will feature a central character that interesting. You know it’s true.

With more and more videogames headed to the big screen chances are that one will eventually be good, could it be Dark Void? The fact that it was optioned before the game is even out says they’re confident about the concept at least…And the trailer is pure awesome:

Source

ET has a candid look at Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as they joined their celebrity peers at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s (MOCA) 30th Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles, Calif. on Saturday night.

The couple had some laughs as they followed their tour guide through the museum.

“It’s going to be an amazing night to look at the art,” actor Neil Patrick Harris said prior to the event. “And Lady Gaga is dancing with ballet people so that will be kind of crazy.”

Watch the video for more inside glimpses into Brad and Angie’s date night and for more artsy moments from the other stars who attended, including James Franco and Eva Mendes.

Source

TMZ reports that Pitt was trying to negotiate between a car stopped at a light (on his left) and a parked car on his right, when his handlebars clipped the parked car. He lost control of the bike and it skidded out from under him (see video).

He wasn’t injured, nor did he seem upset. Charming as ever, he stood around and shot the breeze with fans while he waited for his bike to be towed, according to a Radar Online report..

The next day he was seen sporting a new Camaro. (His dedication to skin care products obviously doesn’t stop him from being a manly man.)

Here’s the accident video:

Source

Below is the entire clip that was too hot to air during primetime TV! Inglorious Basterds stars Brad Pitt and Diane Kruger and will hit theatres on Friday, August 21.

For future updates on the movie, visit InglouriousBasterds-Movie.com.