Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 16 May 2017
Brad Pitt on hubris, ‘War Machine’ and having ‘no secrets’

JAKE COYLE and the damage done.
AP Film Writer “Hubris is a trap and it’s the
NEW YORK (AP) — Brad Pitt trap of every great nation
and Gen. Stanley McChrys- that has been number one
tal — the inspiration to Pitt’s for too long. You start be-
four-star Afghanistan com- lieving your own stink,” Pitt
mander in the upcoming says. “Anytime I’ve gotten
Netflix war satire “War Ma- in trouble, it’s because of
chine “— would seem to my own hubris.”
be worlds apart. One, an Pitt, at the moment, may
affable member of Hol- be particularly empathetic
lywood’s elite; the other to such a drastic swing as
a hard-charging lifetime the one that sank McChrys-
military man. But Pitt found tal via an infamous Rolling
one connection with his Stone profile . Pitt is now, for
character: a swollen ego, the first time since Angelina

In this Nov. 21, 2016 file photo, Brad Pitt appears at the premiere of “Allied” in London.
Associated Press
Jolie Pitt filed for divorce laughing. “There’s still much lives are forever changed
from him last September, beauty in the world and a and so are their families. It
stepping back into the lime- lot of love. And a lot of love just really made me ques-
light. He hasn’t been timid. to be given. It’s all right. It’s tion who is spending this
In his first post-separation just life.” currency of dedication.
interview, to GQ , Pitt was Pitt was most keen to dis- Who’s writing the check?
unusually candid, speaking cuss “War Machine” and Who’s making the order?”
frankly about his struggles the strong passions behind Particularly galling to Pitt
with alcohol and the pains it. The film, written and di- was the request last week
of dividing their family. Pitt rected by the Australian by advisers to President
was similarly forthright in a filmmaker David Michod Donald Trump and military
wide-ranging interview last (“Animal Kingdom”), is officials for several thou-
week with The Associated based on Michael Hast- sand more American troops
Press. He called directly — ings’ 2012 book “The Op- in Afghanistan, a war that
“Hey man, it’s Brad” — and erators,” which chronicled has already spanned more
over the course of half an McChrystal’s tumultuous than 15 years. It’s time to
hour, discussed his present and short-lived stewardship rethink what “winning”
state of mind, his current of the war in Afghanistan. means, he says.
attitude about acting and “War Machine,” which “Nothing that we’ve ever
his alarm at the possibility debuts on Netflix May 26, done has said that more
of expanding the war in Af- takes a slightly fictional- troops are going to do any-
ghanistan. Why the open- ized approach. Pitt’s char- thing but cause any more
ness? acter is named Gen. Glen damage, more loss of life
“I’ve got no secrets. I’ve McMahon, but the events and limb,” said Pitt. “We
got nothing to hide,” said and personalities covered talk a lot about supporting
Pitt. “We’re human and I correspond accurately our troops but I think sup-
find the human condition with McChrystal’s downfall. porting our troops is much
very interesting. If we’re not The switch, made after the more than giving them
talking about it, then we’re project was announced, money and a pat on the
not getting better.” saved the film from some back. I think it’s being re-
It’s undoubtedly a fraught potentially thorny legal is- sponsible to how we use
period of transition for the sues. that ultimate dedication.”
53-year-old actor. He said “We had no interest in im- Trump’s top advisers have
he’s spending his time now pugning General McChrys- said the president has not
“keeping the ship afloat” tal or any of his guys,” said made any final decision
and “figuring out the new Pitt. “For me, the problem is about adding more troops
configuration of our fam- more systematic.” in Afghanistan.
ily.” ‘’Kids are everything,” “The impetus for me was In “War Machine,” Michod
he said, of their six children. a visit to Walter Reed,” summons some of the
“Kids are your life. They’re added Pitt, who visited the spirit of war comedies like
taking all the focus, as they military medical center in “Catch 22” and “M-A-S-H.”
should anyway.” 2014 . “Those young men The film captures an Ameri-
He’s getting through it, he and women — who are can military driven by poli-
assured. “I’m not suicidal absolutely heroic in a very tics, illusions and personal
or something,” Pitt said, harrowing situation — their aspirations. q