Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

David Mills

Detective David Mills is our protagonist, a hero. Just look at that face. Brad Pitt has to be the hero.

Okay, all superficiality aside, Mills is the protagonist because he wants to be. Somerset tells him at one point, "You got to be a hero. You want to be a champion." And he's right. Mills wants to change things. He wants to solve this serial murder case and save people. Wouldn't you, if you were a cop and this was going on?

Somerset isn't going to build a statue of Mills any time soon, though. And, if he's to be believed, no one else ever will, either. He continues, "People don't want a champion. They want to eat cheeseburgers, play the lotto, and watch television." As much as we love cheeseburgers, we want to believe this isn't true. What do you think? Do you want to step up or for someone else to step up to save the day? Or, is the world too far gone for any day to be saved?