Brad Pitt Praises 'Heart of the Beast' Dog Co-Star — SkimNews
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- Brad Pitt praised his German Shepherd co-star 'Uber' in 'Heart of the Beast' at a San Sebastian press conference Wednesday, calling it a 'really moving experience' and noting the dog improvised moments 'not in the script' that made the final cut
- The arrival of Uber would change the energy on set, Pitt said — 'people just got a little happier, a little bit excited'
- Shot in New Zealand with no trailers and 12-hour days in cold, wet conditions, 'Heart of the Beast' follows a Special Forces veteran stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with his traumatized military combat dog
- The star, who also produces through Plan B, called the current indie cinema landscape 'conducive' and said it 'feels even as strong as in the '90s'
- He highlighted YouTube and the internet as new pipelines for filmmaker discovery, saying he believes in 'the ascent' of that space as online talent gains mainstream attention
- Directed by David Ayer with J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe, the film drew a Variety review comparing it in spirit to 'an old Disney movie' and praising both Pitt's and the canine actor's performances
Why it matters: Pitt's role as both star and Plan B producer gives him direct stake in the indie resurgence he endorsed, and his validation of YouTube and internet pipelines marks an A-list stamp on non-traditional talent scouting. The film drew warm Variety praise alongside IndieWire's 'predictably pro-military survival thriller' framing — suggesting emotional hooks (the dog) carry where political critiques do not.
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