At 53, Brad Pitt is more candid about his personal life than ever. In a new interview with the Associated Press, the actor reveals intimate details about the process of playing General McMahon, a fictional character based on the real-life General Stanley McChrystal. Pitt's forthcoming Netflix original movie, War Machine, is based on an original 2010 Rolling Stone story by the late journalist Michael Hastings. 
 
 
 
 The normally reclusive actor and newly single father of six also elaborates on his the flawed similarities he has the lifelong military man less than a month after revealing to GQ his struggles with alcoholism and depression. It appears that for Pitt, this role and the last year have been emotionally fraught for the actor (his split from Angelina Jolie made global headlines) as he approaches veteran status in Hollywood. Here are some things we learned about the conflicted actor and his highly-anticipated role in War Machine. 
 
 
 
 1. Pitt is aware of his God complex – and when it's out of control. 
 
 "Hubris is a trap and it's the trap of every great nation that has been number one for too long," Pitt says, inferring that military and political leaders can be reckless when making decisions from the safe distance of their own success. "You start believing your own stink," Pitt says. "Anytime I've gotten in trouble, it's because of my own hubris." 
 
 
 
 2. Pitt empathizes with General McChrystal. 
 
 "I feel for him," Pitt said. "He's a product of us. He [is] us." McChrystal, a four-star commander, retired from the U.S. Army shortly after resigning command. "We had no interest in impugning General McChrystal or any of his guys," said Pitt. "For me, the problem is more systematic ... [War Machine is] after something and we don't know where we’re going to end up. It's a delicate tightrope to walk." 
 
 3. Pitt is drawn to films that depict the complexities of power. 
 
 In 2014, Pitt visited the military medical center, Walter Reed and it inspired him to work on War Machine. "Those young men and women — who are absolutely heroic in a very harrowing situation — their lives are forever changed and so are their families. It just really made me question who is spending this currency of dedication. Who's writing the check? Who's making the order?" 
 
 
 
 4. Pitt's kids take his mind off of depression. 
 
 "I'm not suicidal or something," he said lightheartedly. "There's still much beauty in the world and a lot of love. And a lot of love to be given. It's all right. It's just life ... Kids are everything. Kids are your life," Pitt said of the children he shares with ex Jolie. "They're taking all the focus, as they should anyway." 
 
 
 
 5. Pitt is passionate about supporting U.S. troops. 
 
 "It's time to rethink what 'winning,' means," Pitt said in reference to President Trump's proposed initiative to send at least one thousands more American troops to Afghanistan. "Nothing that we've ever done has said that more troops are going to do anything but cause any more damage, more loss of life and limb ... supporting our troops is much more than giving them money and a pat on the back ... it's being responsible to how we use that ultimate dedication." ||||| FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2016 file photo, Brad Pitt arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Allied." Pitt stars in the new film, “War Machine,” in which he plays a slightly fictionalized version of Gen.... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2016 file photo, Brad Pitt arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Allied." Pitt stars in the new film, “War Machine,” in which he plays a slightly fictionalized version of Gen.... (Associated Press) 
 
 In a recent interview, Brad Pitt spoke to The Associated Press about his new film, "War Machine," in which he plays a slightly fictionalized version of Gen. Stanley McChrystal; stepping back into the limelight for the first time since Angelina Jolie Pitt filed for divorce from him; and his future in movies. Here are excepted highlights: 
 
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 ON ACKNOWLEDGING A DRINKING PROBLEM 
 
 I've got no secrets. I've got nothing to hide. We're human and I find the human condition very interesting. If we're not talking about it, then we're not getting better. 
 
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 ON WHY HIS CHARACTER ISN'T NAMED GEN. STANLEY McCHRYSTAL 
 
 We had no interest in impugning General McChrystal or any of his guys. For me, the problem is more systematic. And the impetus for me was a visit to Walter Reed. Although those young men and women who are absolutely heroic in a very harrowing situation, their lives are forever changed and so are their families. I just really made me question who is spending this currency of dedication. Who's writing the check? Who's making the order? 
 
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 ON SENDING MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN 
 
 Nothing that we've ever done has said that more troops are going to do anything but cause any more damage, more loss of life and limb. So why are we not questioning this? It seems time for some kind of hearing. I don't trust a governmental I hearing. It needs to come from the people. We talk a lot about supporting our troops but I think supporting our troops is much more than giving them money and a pat on the back. I think it's being responsible to how we use that ultimate dedication. I guess it's this idea of American exceptionalism that I question the definition of. We are exceptional is so many ways. But it doesn't mean we can just throw might at any problem. We're sending them into a culture that we don't understand. 
 
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 ON NETFLIX AND 'WAR MACHINE' 
 
 It wouldn't have gotten made without Netflix. The reality for the studios is it just doesn't make sense for them on paper. They can take the gamble up to $35 million on a risky film. And then otherwise they focus on big tent-poles which seem to be safer and make the big payoffs. It's not their fault in any way. The numbers just don't run for them. Now with Netflix and other entities like Netflix, it becomes a whole new delivery system for these kinds of films I prefer to gamble on. For us, it's opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I'll stick work with studios, I'll always do that, at least I think so, as long as they're around. Because they are still films that deserve to have the big-screen, cultural experience. 
 
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 ON BEST-PICTURE WINNER 'MOONLIGHT' 
 
 That's what I'm most proud of. That's Barry Jenkins' — and the cast and crew —that's their vision, but to be able to help get it over the hill — a difficult movie, a challenging film like that, that feels good. That feels really good. I like that job.
– In a new interview with the AP, Brad Pitt acknowledges he's been in some dark places lately—of his drinking problem, he says, "I've got no secrets. I've got nothing to hide"—but he insists things aren't that dark. "I'm not suicidal or something," he says, per Rolling Stone. "There's still much beauty in the world and a lot of love. And a lot of love to be given. It's all right. It's just life." He adds that his children help to keep depression at bay: "Kids are everything. Kids are your life. They're taking all the focus, as they should anyway."