There's almost too much wistful eloquence in this interview between Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins
Where does one even begin with Interview Magazine’s magical new chat between friends and former co-stars Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins? At the beginning, of course, which so perfectly sets the stage for a conversation more comforting than the fragrant steam wafting off a hot cup of tea.
BRAD PITT: Do you believe in fate? And I don’t mean in destiny or greatness. I just mean that things are fated.
ANTHONY HOPKINS: Yes, I do.
PITT: I’ve come to believe this in the last few years. How do you describe it?
HOPKINS: I’ve been dreaming of elephants.
Conversing, we imagine, in the hushest of tones, a fireplace no doubt crackling in the background, the two storied actors speak in the loftiest, most affirming ways about the mysteries of life, aging, and forgiveness. Hopkins talks crying at a Marlon Brando documentary and his empathy for disgraced president Richard Nixon’s “humiliation of having to say goodbye.” Pitt embraces the “sensuous and beautiful” nature of sculpture when he’s not enjoying revelations with architect Frank Gehry. They like Killing Eve and Happy Valley and think “green screen films” are “fun,” even if Hopkins admits he’s “a bit too old for that.”
Both, meanwhile, believe in forgiveness for those who’ve made mistakes, and have no interest in the controversies swarming the industry.
HOPKINS: People ask me questions about present situations in life, and I say, “I don’t know, I’m just an actor. I don’t have any opinions. Actors are pretty stupid. My opinion is not worth anything. There’s no controversy for me, so don’t engage me in it, because I’m not going to participate.”
PITT: I feel the same. I don’t care. I’m glad things are always evolving and changing, and complaining about it won’t do any good. You work with what you have. Like digital, they’re doing amazing things with it, so I don’t lament that film is being used less and less.