There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Hollywood was rocked by the murder of Sharon Tate in 1969 by Charles Manson and his “family.” And over the course of the last 50 years, the city has changed even more. But according to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star Brad Pitt, it wasn’t until recently that the city has seen a seismic shift in the same vein as the Manson murders.
Speaking to The Sunday Times (via THR), Pitt talked about the effect that the Manson Family’s crimes had on Hollywood and why he thinks that disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein has had a similar effect.
“When my parents described [the Manson murders], it was as the end of this idealized revolution,” Pitt said. “My parents are still hippies, but it was the loss of this dream.”
He continued, “As Quentin [Tarantino] describes, you sort of portray this utopia, but there is a mildew around the canvas that brought the darkness of humanity into play and ended a lot of my parents’ hopes for how they could infuse that ‘love and peace’ ideology into the rest of the world. It all sort of crashed and ended so much that some talk of it as a conspiracy. It was the total end of an era — immediately.”
The actor, who plays a stuntman named Cliff Booth in ‘Once Upon a Time,’ was then asked if there’s been a change in Hollywood idealism that has been on par with the Manson murders. He replied with an example of something very recent — #MeToo.
“Harvey Weinstein. Can I say that?” Pitt replied. “It’s more that I think we’re getting recalibrated, but in a good way.”
Part of that recalibration seems to stem from a new idea of masculinity, according to the actor. The idea of being some sort of macho tough guy being the epitome of masculine has given way to this new sort of ideal man.
“What I see now is a new masculinity, especially with people who have gone through Hollywood and its recalibration, a new male who is more vulnerable,” said the actor. “I’m not talking mushiness — I mean a man who owns his own flaws and is aware of them and open about it. And vulnerable, with real feelings, rather than being this macho, trying-to-be-tough guy.”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is in theaters now.