Subscribe
Previous Post
If you’d like to do some reading, Newsweek has a fantastic article up about Angelina Jolie, and the making of A Mighty Heart.
The tag line is wonderful:
‘A Mighty Heart’ is the story of Mariane Pearl’s unquenchable spirit. It’s not a bad description of the actress who plays her, either.
How true!
The article talks about some of the difficulties they had in shooting such a highly sensitive movie on location in parts of the world that weren’t all that open to it and the tensions that come with a story like this in our nervous, post-911 world.
They also discuss her work that she does as an activist and the fact that Angelina is still accused of being a “celebrity tourist” who only does this for the publicity.
It’s a charge that irritates those closest to her. “What would she have to do to prove that she’s sincere?” says Pitt’s producing partner, Dede Gardner. “Should she give more money? More time? It’s a black-hole debate. When people judge anyone’s sincerity, I just think, ‘Oh, yeah? What are you doing?’ ”
Still, does Jolie really understand complex global issues, or does she just show up for a photo op wherever the UNHCR sends her? “She’s absolutely serious, absolutely informed,” says former secretary of State Colin Powell. “Her work with refugees is not something to decorate herself. She studies the issues.” Powell has spoken with Jolie several times over the years, and they’ve been honored together at benefits for refugee causes. There is, he says, no sanctimony about her. “For her, it’s not about saving the world, it’s about saving kids,” he says. “She doesn’t need this. This needed her.”
Not everyone doubts her though.
“She has evolved in her understanding of where she can make the biggest impact,” says her philanthropic adviser, Trevor Neilson. “Her strategies have become extremely sophisticated, and it’s clear that she is now a serious player on international issues.”
Newsweek goes on to say that except for Beyond Borders, most of her roles are fantasy roles – movies that are fun but don’t boost her career towards the Oscar path again. It says that A Mighty Heart does.
“It’s probably the most difficult character I’ve ever played,” Jolie says. “The emotion is so raw and so constant. Mariane was calm, focused, organized, but I would have been hysterical, driving the streets of Karachi like a crazy person.”
As always, there was the reminder of the wild child that Angelina used to be. I loved the response to that:
“We all go through enormous changes,” Gardner says. “The truth is, who doesn’t look back at who they were at 20 and say, ‘Who the f— is that?’ “
The article gives us some more insight into the intense and strong friendship between Angelina Jolie and Marianne Pearl and how the two get along.
It was Pitt who introduced Jolie and Pearl. “Being in the room with those two women is great fun,” he says. “It’s like sitting down with Roosevelt and Churchill.” Pause. “Only much better-looking.”
Both Angelina and Marianne were blindsided by the negative comments about whether the right actress was chosen based on skin color.
“I know that people are frustrated at the lack of great roles [for people of color], but I think they’ve picked the wrong example here,” Jolie says. Pearl is more pointed: “This is not about skin color. I wanted her to play me because I trust her.” She sighs. “Aren’t we past this?”
And in the end, it always comes down to the same important thing for Angelina – it always comes down to her family. She was asked about whether it ever gets to her, all the neverending noise of paparazzi, fans, critics.
“People can question your choices, accuse you of things, but your real work and your integrity will [win] out,” she says. “All that matters is if I build a strong family, if I’m able to do my advocacy work and if my children are happy.”
The article is awesome. This is not tabloid material, this is quality reporting. Please go read the entire article right here and let’s discuss it!
(Photo courtesy Newsweek)
(And also, thank you all SO much for the lovely comments about my daughter and asking about her health. The results of the surgery weren’t quite what we had hoped for but the important part is that she is fine, she recovered well, and she’ll be nice and healthy now, so nothing else matters much. A million thanks for all your concern. I love this site because I enjoy sharing news about our favorite celebrity couple and their family, but I also love the interaction with you guys, you’re all the BEST. All those negative sites don’t know what they’re missing!)
Technorati Tags: angelina jolie, newsweek, a mighty heart
reminder: TODAY, 6/21 + FRI..6/22 + INSIDE ACTORS STUDIO
Join NEWSWEEK’s Sean Smith for a Live Talk on Thursday, June 21, at 2:00 , ET, about his interview with Angelina Jolie.
UPDATE: poster said that Angelina will be on one of the morning shows this Friday, June 22 (Today, Good Morning America, Regis, View?).
GO SEE A MIGHTY HEART! OPENING WEEKEND MOST IMPORTANT! (Oscars = performance + box office.)
INSIDE ACTOR’S STUDIO – PREVIOUSLY AIRED IN 2005
Mon. June 25 8:00 PM BRAVO Episode #11.16 #11.16
Sat. June 30 9:00 AM BRAVO Episode #11.16 #11.16
Angelina Jolie commands my respect. She is someone who is passionate and determined in what she does, this quality of her making her remarkable.
jasmine
Jun 18, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Jasmine, you are absolutely right! Angie’s work stand on its own. She makes you respect what she’s doing. Everytime the haters bring up something negative from her past, I tell them that’s why I love her because she is a true example of how a person can turn their life around and touch other people’s lives in a positive way.
As for Brad’s mom visiting Jen, it’s not a big deal. My brother got divorced more than 5 years ago and just remarried in May of this year. My mom is still kind to his ex-wife and they keep in touch, but that has nothing to do with my mom’s feelings for my brother’s new wife. Jane probably called Jen to say hello because she was in town and Jen probably asked her over for lunch. Nothing to be alarmed about…
i bet some rags will create another stupid headlines like: “brad’s mom tries to reunite jen and brad again”. let’s counting down on how many days the hoax will come up! *lol*
Thanks, I will check it in a few days, maybe the link will be posted after the interview. I wonder why Jane Pitt met with JA? Just curious.
Hmmm.. Ro; Yesh, JJ published a photo of Jane Pitt supposedly meeting up with Jen at her house.. I’m sure that there’s nothing much to it and I’m sure that Brangelina knows since she was escorted by the Jolie-Pitt’s security… hmmm.. I guess Jane is still in town since she attended the premiere…
Sorry Irma, I don’t have a VCR or DVR, but I think the Charlie Rose website will have the interview online after it airs so you can check back and see it.
It seems like Jane Pitt is in LA (check JJ), but I don’t know about the rest of the Jolie-Pitt clan. Perhaps they are back and maybe Angie flies out to DC tomorrow for World Refugee Day?
off-topic: i just saw the entry on justjared about brad’s mom visiting jennifer aniston, and read some of the comments. i really find it weird now how some bampzs fans that post on that say that she’s a traitor to angie.
after reading about angie’s comment about how nice brad’s parents to her and madd and z were when they first met, i think that they really have a good relationship, and that photo during the mighty heart premiere is a good proof.
still, why do some fans find it traitorous of her to visit jennifer? we don’t even know why she visited, and even if they’re friends, i don’t think we have any right to blast her. i mean if they had a good friendship going, then why shouldn’t they continue it just because brad and jen have broken up.
i just think it’s sad the way some fans have become so anti-jennifer that they expect everyone around brad and angie to hate her. i’ve know people who have separated and somehow managed to be friends, even good friends at that, with their exes, and even with their exes’ current love. i mean, in hollywood there’s will smith, jada, and trey willis’ mom who has a good relationship.
at least in all interviews of angie that i’ve read and heard, it really comes out that she’s very secure in her relationship with brad. she certainly doesn’t have anything to worry about.
i don’t know if i’m making sense, but i guess i just wish that some of bampzs fans will be more realistic and have less hate in their hearts. we all love brad, angie, and the kids. angie and brad are for tolerance after all.
Ro, we don’t have Charlie Rose here in Florida. maybe you can tape it for me & put it in Sherry’s site.? So the Jolie-Pitt’s family are back in LA? No sight of the famous family yet? I will watch AMH on Saturday.
HEY EVERYONE, ANGIE WILL BE ON CHARLIE ROSE TONIGHT AT 11:30pm (check your local schedule though).
sohphia,
Why do you think then AMH get so many good reviews? 80% of the critics in rotten tomatos said they like it and so many respected critics. cannes gave it up too. I think you are bait.
What I think make the movie not a box office success is it limited realise. I think it is going to be realised only in 1350 theaters nation wide.
1) A Mighty Heart is small budget-independent film. Also, it is drama and will be opened in summer.
2) Unfortunately, not every good movie made a good box-office.
3) Both Brad and Angelina said this is independent film and the aim of this movie is not earning so much money.
4) Of course this hoppola will die because new movies will be opened not because of the possible low box-office results or this movie is a bad movie.
5) Why is the big problem when Marianne and Angie first met?
This movie took so much positive reviews. It is obvious that Pramount push Angelina into Oscar nominatin. I don’t think Pramount, Brad and Angelina and other people in movie business will expect so much box office results from this movie. But I hope the results will be better than their expectations.
Also, I read that Angelina will work Clint Eastwood in October. It is greet for her.
I don’t think Pramount, Brad and Angelina or other people in the movie business will expect so much box-office results from ”A Mighty Heart”. This is independent film not box-office film. Also, Brad and Angelina said that the aim of this movie is not earning money and they will not expect so much audince. Of course, this hoppola will die because new films will be opened not because of the possible low box-office results of this film. Also, unfourtunately not every good films made good in box-office. A Mighty Heart is small budget independent movie and will be opened in summer. Also, I don’t understand why is the big problem when Marianne and Angelina first met? Please give them a space before critisizing them…
Hi Lucy,
Thanks for the heads-up about the tabs. They are so ridiculous! I’m going to a matinee of AMH on Saturday. Also, does anyone know if it’s true that Angie apologized to Fox News? I hope not because she has nothing to apologize for. Here’s what Roeper had to say about AMH:
Angelina Jolie’s Best Performance in Years So said Richard Roeper on Ebert and Roeper yesterday, along with his co-host Robert Wilonsky (from HDNet). Both liked the film and gave it two thumbs up but Wilsonky said it was mainly Jolie’s performance that got him. Roeper said the “O” word.
Watch http://video.msn.com/v/us/fv/fv.htm??g=3121446e-2d82-4207-a7ad-7b9e553ae079&f=alerts&fg=blog
thanks for this sherry and though i don’t post often here, i always make sure to check yout site to see the latest about the JP’s. and i’m also happy to hear that your daughter is doing okay now :)
i LOVE this article and this just gives us fans more insight into the kind of person that Angie really is. and it’s soooooo far from what the tabs and the haters want to portray her.
anything about Angie will always be news. she is a multi-faceted, multi-talented person who has so much going on in her life and who embraces all the things she holds dear in her heart–her family, her advocacies and causes, her dreams for a better world and her love for acting.
there’s just no one like her in today’s overly vain, self-centered and media-hyped showbiz personalities!
indeed, a woman of great beauty, character and substance…
God bless, the lady is just wonderful. I dont know what to say really, she’s doing what she can for the better. GOD BLESS HER FOR SURE.
Angelina has come full circle as being a woman, who knows what she wants out of life. Among the beautiful women in the movie industry, she stands out as she has acquired a deep maturity. And she has found a reason for being alive and how to enjoy life to the fullest. She has joined beautiful women with brains and spirit!!!! More kudos Angelina!!!!
Let us all see this movie this weekend. There are more and more positive news coming from the media. I just saw ET tonight 6/18 about her making peace with her Dad, about Brad’s family caring with all the Jolie-Pitt kids, etc. Of course, the tabs never changed: Yes, I went grocery shopping, just saw headlines though not peak inside. “Brad warns Jen regading her new bf’s past,” “Is Angelina pregnant already?” “Brad and Angie’s secret vacation (actually this is not so bad, they say in France (guessing)? Jen adopting a son like Sheryl Crow and on and on. The Inquirer had ” a Nanny tells all: B and A fighting, Jen’s name coming up, etc. Just want to warn everybody to bypass the grocery counters and don’t go to Perezhilton comments section. Just go see AMH on Friday. It is against Evan the Almighty. Why is it that her movies always coincide with same close words. The Good Shephard opened the same week as The Good German. Coincidence huh.
This movie is a complete dud. I saw it at a free screening in NYC…it’s totally confusing, hectic, and says nothing whatever that the book didn’t say. We learn NOTHING about Daniel Pearl and Mariane. Jolie is good (I think she’s an excellent actress, so no surprises there) but the director almost downgrades her importance and rarely photographs her gorgeous face in closeup.
Couple of other things: there’s a torture scene that isn’t in the book, which is kind of a diss on the “Captain” character, who is portrayed favorably in the book.
Mariane Pearl presents herself as a journalist, but she wrote an article in GLAMOUR mag about how she initiated the relationship w/Jolie via a note, asking her for a playdate. Now Pitt says he introduced them to one another? This undercuts Pearl’s integrity as a journalist.
All the hoopla will die down when the movie makes little at the box office, I predict. Not that every good movie makes big box office but in this case the audience will stay away because the film is (a) a downer and (b) not very good.
Hi Sherry, glad to hear that your daughter is doing well and is healthy.
I agree that there have been quite a few very nice, revealing articles about Angie and this newsweek one, along with esquire’s, are among my favorites. I can visualize Angie and Maddox with their foreheads together. That is so endearing. My son and I do the same when we talk, and it makes our talk all the better.