Brad Pitt Balances Marriage, a Large Family, and a New Film

by siAn edwArds (theinterviewfeed)

he nuptials between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie serve as the ultimate realization of Pitts lifelong dream of fathering a large family even if shuttling six children between homes in London, Los Angeles, New York, and southern France can, at times, resemble a covert military operation. Pitt, however, has no qualms about logistics. He lives for his kids. When asked what life as a movie star father was like, he responded, I still have to get up at 6 a.m. and make breakfast for six kids. I dont see my daily life as being that remarkable, except for the fact that Ive struck the lottery when it comes to my work and the opportunities its given me. Being a parent of several children is exhausting no matter what, Pitt continued. Im lucky that Angie has so much energy and [she] never gets down or complains. The only time Ive ever seen her really tired was after the twins were born. That proved very demanding and made it dicult for her to spend as much time with the other children as she did before. But now that the twins are older, its becoming a lot easier for all of us. I mean, when you have a big family, you learn to develop good logistical training and then its just like a machine that keeps moving forward, he laughed. I carry on a running conversation with myself about how Im raising our children, the kind of education Im giving them and how they seem to be evolving. I want to help them grow up to be independent and aware individuals. The kids are a huge part of my world and

I love being an active and engaged father and family man, Pitt stated. Meanwhile, his other job has Pitt playing a mob hit man in Killing Them Softly. The ambitious gangster saga draws parallels between organized crime and the Darwinian imperative of modern corporate culture. Pitts character, Jackie Cogan, is sent in to clean up the mess that results from the robbery of a mob-sanctioned poker game. The theft disrupts the local crime business and in the course of his mission to restore gangland equilibrium, Cogan delivers the lms dening message Americas not a country, its a business. So pay me, motherfucker! The story is basically a metaphor about business and how business can be very Darwinian and cut-throat. Theres a danger in society becoming too focused on ruthless competition and losing all sense of community and hope. The nancial crisis has made us more cynical about our future and the killings that take place in the lm are symptomatic of that, Pitt explained. Behind this stark maxim sits an allegorical premise that the current economic recession has led to a growing political embrace of the rule of the free market, which comes at the expense of defending those members of society who are unable to defend themselves. Pitt believes that this is a perversion of the American Dreams more noble ideals. Its a myth he embraces, albeit rather cynically.
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Pitt Continued

When asked if the lms parallel to the 2008 nancial consuming as it used to be because my family is my crisis and the recession was an intentional one, Pitt priority and Id rather spend more time with my kids. He continued, I discovered early on how very replied, Director Andrew Dominik and I started working on the idea while the mortgage and nancial crisis fullling it was to be at home and have time where I was picking up speed in 2008. Thats why we thought didnt have to focus on anything except being a father. the story could, in some way, mirror the harsh reality of Im very proud of Angie and how she has made this how society has become a victim of nancial deregula- family work. I love the fact that we have this incredible tion and the kind of greed we saw [concerning] how the mix of cultures and how theyre growing up together banks and the hedge funds and other nancial institu- and feel part of one crazy, happy family. Its a bit of a tions operated[it] brought us to the abyss. Whats madhouse at times, but you kind of love it. Pitt continued, Angie and I do everything we can frightening and disappointing is that they escaped virtually unscathed from the mess that they helped create to carve out some semblance of normalcy for our children. and nothing has really changed Its not unusual for the kids to when it comes to the rules as to be covered in paint, Pitt shares how the nancial system continues Angie and I know when asked how he and Angelina to function. We have to decide nd a balance between work and whether we want responsible capitheres a bounty on family. He continues, We have talism or brutal, unregulated capitalmud ghts. Its chaos from mornism... Thats where government has our heads for photos. ing until the lights go out and a role to play in preserving the kinds sometimes after that I love playof democratic ideals that go far being around at night with the older yond the law of the marketplace. Were hunted for ones or sitting down and reading The decision to lm Killing books with Mad. Its the most satThem Softly in New Orleans was a that reason. isfying feeling in the world. personal one, Pitt explained, stat~BRAD PITT Pitt fondly remembers when he ing, In a way, it was a very tting decided to leave the university he setting for a city suering from economic hardship. I have a special connection to New Or- attended and drive to L.A. You never forget that kind leans and Ive been trying to play my part in helping of a moment in your life where you decide to change direbuild the city and bringing a little hope to the people rections and follow your instincts. I was thinking that who live there. I love New Orleans and the people there the life I thought I wanted for myself was all wrong. I and I thought it would be a great idea to shoot there, didnt want to look for a job at some newspaper or nd pump several million dollars into the local economy and something just to pass the time. I had about two weeks hire as many crew members and technicians as we pos- left to go before graduation and I knew I had to get out and do something dierent with my life. I had this idea sibly could. When asked if acting was still as meaningful today as to go to try acting and see where that would take me. it was in the beginning of his career, Pitt responded, It was something I had to try... So I loaded up the car Its dierent. Im very happy with the projects Ive and headed for Los Angeles. I had $300 to get me there been involved with lately. I still have a great passion for and somehow get started. It was just something I storytelling that has been part of my life ever since I was needed to do for myself. a kid when my parents would take us to drive-in movies. As an actor, I love being able to explore all the complex Killing Them Softly, based on the 1974 George V. aspects of human nature and how were constantly in Higgins novel Cogan's Trade, is now playing in various stages of conict with each other. But its not as theatres.

Promised Land a new contemporary drama directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk). Matt Damon plays Steve Butler, an ace corporate salesman who is sent along with his partner, Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), to close a key rural town in his company's expansion plans. With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders see the local citizens as likely to accept their company's oer, for drilling rights to their properties, as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job for the duo becomes complicated by the objection of a respected schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook) with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (John Krasinski), as well as the interest of a local woman (Rosemarie DeWitt). Promised Land explores America at the crossroads where big business and the strength of small-town community converge.

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