Brad Pitt intros doc 'The House I Live In,' jokes about past drug use

A-list celebrities and cause-related documentaries go together like bread and peanut butter, from Johnny Depp supporting the film West of Memphis at the Toronto International Film Festival to now Brad Pitt throwing his weight behind the newly released documentary The House I Live In, examining the sad complexities of America’s “War on Drugs.”

Pitt made a surprise appearance on Friday night at the Sundance Sunset Cinema in West Hollywood to introduce the film, directed by Eugene Jarecki.

His opening line? A zinger.

“I’m Brad Pitt and I’m a drug addict,” the star jokingly told the audience. “My drug days have long since passed, but I could probably land in any American city and within 24 hours find whatever you want. But we still support this charade called the drug war. We spent a trillion dollars over 40 years and a lot of people have lost their lives over it.”

Pitt has signed on as the documentary’s executive producer; other co-producers include Russell Simmons, John Legend and Danny Glover.

“Drugs are more than just ‘immoral,’ they keep people down. This movie humanizes this ‘war,”’ Pitt said during his intro of the film, which looks at the criminal justice system, from inmates to judges. The House I Live In snagged the documentary grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

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Toronto Film Festival: Johnny Depp just a friend sharing his support, Tater Tots for ‘West of Memphis’