Soon after Brangelina’s engagement was announced last Friday, Hollywood Life had a story about Jennifer Aniston being “happy” for Brad and Angelina. Then E! News got into the act late Monday, with sources telling them that Jennifer “doesn’t care” about the engagement, and that she’s “moved on” even though nobody thinks she has “moved on.” And now it’s time for People Magazine’s sources to weigh in. People Mag, the gold standard of celebrity gossip. If People says it happened a certain way, that’s the way it happened (or the way their publicist would have you believe it happened). So what do People’s sources say? Jennifer has “moved on”. Yet again. Jennifer “is not a bitter person” – contrary to all of those bitter interviews, I guess. And she’s “very happy with Justin.” Of course.

Jennifer Aniston has nothing but warm wishes for her ex-husband Brad Pitt and his new fiancée, Angelina Jolie.

“Jen moved on a long time ago, and she is trying to just focus on her own happiness,” a source says of the actress, 43, who will celebrate her 1-year anniversary with boyfriend Justin Theroux in May. Pitt and Jolie announced their engagement last week.

“Jen is not a bitter person and she has always wanted Brad to be happy,” says the source. The couple divorced in 2005 after five years of marriage.

“Jen spent many happy years with Brad and thinks their divorce was meant to be,” adds the source. Now living in L.A. with actor-writer Theroux, 40, “she is very happy with Justin – and that’s what she is focusing on right now.”

[From People]

I said yesterday that I was going to wait until Jennifer said something directly, or until it was clear that her publicist spoke to an outlet. I was holding out for Us Weekly, but I’m going to take this People story as The Official Aniston Version. Right? This is how Aniston wants to put herself out there, so let’s analyze this move. She’s not bitter. She has moved on. She’s focusing on her own happiness. She’s focusing on Justin. She’s always wanted Brad to be happy (but not Angelina). Eh. Sure. This situation makes me sleepy.

What’s more interesting to me is that People Mag drops in the whole “one year anniversary” thing with Justin. Yeah… they didn’t get together last May. They got together months before. They’ve already spent more than a year together. So I’ve got to wonder if, beyond the tabloid BS, Jennifer and Justin are actually engaged or already on the “marriage path”. Because you know what sucks? If Jennifer and Justin announce their engagement at any point in the next six months, everyone will just say they’re copying, or that Aniston is dragging Justin to the altar to one-up her ex-husband. And… that’s not fair to her. She homewrecked her piece, she should get to marry him whenever and however she wants.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Terry’s Diary.

Wow, even more Brangelina news. Shocking! Take that, Kim and Kanye. Personally, I always welcome Brangelina news, but I’m wary of the deluge. It’s coming. Probably tomorrow, when all of the tabloids release their covers – I’m expecting lots of Uncool Bermuda Triangle stuff, and you should too. But for today, in this the halcyon day before the tabloid deluge, we merely have one negative and one positive story to discuss – we already talked about Angelina’s engagement-ring-flaunting photo op this morning too.

Meanwhile, Life & Style has an “exclusive” story about the proposal. I’m hoping that the print edition of People Magazine has a story about the proposal too, but for now, I’ll take L&S’s version:

Angelina Jolie may have only just debuted her gorgeous engagement ring, but Life & Style can exclusively reveal that she and Brad Pitt have been engaged for months!

A source says that Brad proposed to Angelina at Christmas and that the couple decided to keep it a secret until the timing was just right.

“Brad had the ring designed last year and made sure it was ready by Christmas because he wanted a romantic Christmas proposal — and he got it,” a friend of Brad’s tells Life & Style.

“They didn’t announce their engagement sooner because Angie focused so much on promoting her directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey,” says the insider.

Instead, Brad waited until after the December premiere before getting down on one knee.

“She was very busy with the movie and her Oscar campaign. She also worried that the engagement would take over press on her film and detract from that. There was some negative press on Blood and Honey that bothered her a lot, and she didn’t feel the timing was right. So they waited,” reveals the source.

On April 13, after Angelina was spotted wearing the ring at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a rep for jeweler Robert Procop confirmed to Life & Style that Brad and Angelina were engaged, after more than six years as a couple.

Procop — who designed a collection, The Style of Jolie, with Angelina — worked with Brad to make the perfect sparkler.

In a statement to Life & Style, the jeweler’s team said, “Brad had a specific vision for this ring, which he realized over a yearlong collaboration with Robert. He wanted every aspect of it to be perfect, so Robert was able to locate a diamond of the finest quality and cut it to an exact custom size and shape to suit Angelina’s hand.”

[From Life & Style]

A Christmas proposal? Where were they over Christmas? They were maybe in New York City – they were photographed in NYC just before Christmas, and Star Magazine claimed that Brad and Angie were talking/fighting about getting married over Christmas in New York too. I don’t know – they could have been in LA or maybe Missouri too. I want to think Brad made sure that the proposal was super-romantic and fancy, and not some kind of peace offering in the middle of a gigantic fight.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

I like the inside-the-media stories, especially in regards to celebrity/gossip media outlets. I enjoy trying to figure out what is and is not “worthy” of a “special edition” or a “double issue”. What makes it on the cover of any given tabloid? How do they decide? Well, People Magazine’s choices are always fascinating. Last week, their cover story was about that dude William Levy, who is competing on Dancing With the Stars. Levy must have a great publicist, because many outlets are really trying to make this “WHO?” nobody “happen”. I hope that last week’s People issue sold very poorly – and I think it did. Which explains why People’s staff worked throughout the weekend to put together a “special edition” for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s engagement. Like, when was the last time People put out a special edition days before the usual Wednesday release? I suspect the last time involved Prince William’s engagement… or the royal wedding last year. So there’s your comparison – Brad and Angelina are American royalty, at least according to People Magazine, and their engagement is worthy of a special edition.

When the time finally came for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to make a promise for their future, Pitt made sure to do it right.

“Brad had the vision” for the custom-cut engagement ring, Beverly Hills jeweler Procop tells PEOPLE in this week’s engagement special cover story. Check out the stunning sparkler – with diamonds set on a band of yellow gold – in a close-up photo.

An independent expert tells PEOPLE that the ring could weigh in at more than 10 carats total, with a price tag of $1 million.

Jolie, 36, quietly debuted the ring at a private event at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on April 11.

After seven years and six kids together, the couple decided that they were ready to begin their next chapter together. “They’ve reached a stage where their family has jelled,” says a source who has spent time with them.

For much more on Brad and Angelina’s engagement, including wedding dress sketches from top bridal designers and an inside look at the couple’s relationship, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE.

[From People Magazine]

Yes, more photos of Angelina’s ring have come out, and it’s much different than I originally thought. From the side angle, I thought it was just one large emerald-cut diamond with maybe some smaller diamonds at the base. But this is one decent-sized “oblong-shaped” diamond, with smaller diamonds making a “tiered” effect. Procop told People Magazine that the surrounding diamonds are “ribbed” and weigh in at 10 carats – “The side diamonds are specially cut to encircle her finger. Each diamond is of the highest gem quality.” As Procop said before, Brad worked on this ring for a YEAR. Good God. Procop continues, “Brad had a specific vision for this ring, which he realized over a yearlong collaboration. He wanted every aspect of it to be perfect, so I was able to locate a diamond of the finest quality and cut it to an exact custom size and shape to suite Angelina’s hand. Brad was always heavily involved, overseeing every aspect of the creative design evolution. Each diamond is of the highest gem quality.”

And Angelina’s ring costs more than the ring he designed for Jennifer Aniston (hers was reportedly worth $500,000). Although People is now saying Angelina’s ring costs $1 million, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was more than that, judging solely by the quality of diamonds used, plus all of the special effort Brad took in co-designing it. What I’m saying is that if (God forbid) Angelina ever auctioned this ring, it would go for much more than $1 million.

Photos courtesy of People Magazine, WENN.

Instead of going into any further thoughts that I have about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s engagement, I just wanted to tell you my mother’s take. She’s not a Brangeloonie – she likes Brad and Angelina okay, but she thinks they have “issues.” I gave her the low-down on the ring and all of the gossip about the engagement, and her thoughts were: 1) Brad better have given her a huge rock, because she’s already had his babies and the rock should have grown in proportion with each kid; 2) They won’t have any more biological kids because Angelina’s body can’t take any more, but they’ll adopt again after they marry; 3) They’ll definitely get married overseas, probably in France or “…like, Thailand or something…” my mother said vaguely. I love how everyone has an opinion, a theory, an angle – and I don’t think my mom is far off the mark.

So in lieu of actual news about Brad and Angelina’s wedding plans, we get all of the stuff that’s left in the gossip vacuum. Every site is running “Brangelina through the years” pieces, like everyone hasn’t analyzed every piece of their relationship to death already. And of course, people want to know how Jennifer Aniston is reacting to the news, “Seven Years After Brad!” (That will be the People Magazine cover, just you watch!) To Aniston’s credit, she has not issued any public statements, nor has she stepped out for a convenient photo op with Justin this weekend. So Hollywood Life just had to make up a story about her:

No hurt feelings in this engagement! Jennifer Aniston couldn’t be happier for Brad and Angelina, sources tell HollywoodLife.com exclusively.

It sounds like there will finally be a happy ending to what seemed like a neverending Jen, Brad and Angelina love triangle!

Jennifer Aniston, 43, is so happy for her ex-husband’s engagement, a source tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively. In fact, she credits Angelina for her newfound happiness with current boyfriend Justin Theroux.

“Jennifer is happy for Brad and Angelina. She is so in love with Justin, that she is really grateful how things turned out,” a source tells us. “In a strange way if it weren’t for Angelina, Jennifer would not have connected with Justin in a romantic way. Jennifer is in a really wonderful place right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if she even went to their wedding.”

[From Hollywood Life]

I do think Aniston is in a pretty good place right now, and she’s probably the happiest she’s been in years now that she’s all loved-up with Justin Theroux. Justin came to play. Justin joined CAA. Justin is all about having a famous girlfriend who pays for everything. And Justin is fine with being Shane Warne’d like Jennifer’s personal Ken doll. So… God bless. I hope both couples are fine.

One last thing – GLAAD issued a statement about Brad and Angelina’s engagement too. Brad famously said in 2006 that he and Angelina wouldn’t marry until everyone could. Now people are all “OMG, Hypocrisy!” Well, GLAAD’s spokesperson Rich Ferraro says, “We congratulate them on their engagement, and thank them for continuing to speak out about the inequality that so many gay and lesbian couples face today. No loving and committed couple should be denied the happiness, joy and legal protections that come with marriage.”

Photos courtesy of WENN.

No really. For real this time. This story is courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, and was then confirmed by People Magazine, not a tabloid. THR started things off with an exclusive photo – go here to see it – of Angelina wearing a pretty decent-sized diamond-looking ring on her left hand. THR says the ring was designed by Robert Procop, and it’s totally an engagement ring. Totally! Because Brad’s manager Cynthia Pett-Dante just told People Magazine, “Yes, it’s confirmed. It is a promise for the future and their kids are very happy. There’s no date set at this time.”

Who is Robert Procop? He’s about to be a household name, we predict.

The Beverly Hills jeweler and former CEO of Asprey & Garrard, the British jewelry company to the English royal family, confirms to The Hollywood Reporter that he has designed an engagement ring for Angelina Jolie. A rep for the jeweler says, “I can confirm that, yes, Robert Procop did indeed design an engagement ring for Angelina Jolie, designed in collaboration with Brad Pitt.”

Jolie was seen wearing the ring two nights ago, April 11, at a private viewing of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Chinese Galleries. She attended the small gathering with Pitt as well as their son Pax. Neither the ring nor the engagement has been confirmed by Jolie’s representatives, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

Procop tells THR: “Brad had a specific vision for this ring, which he realized over a yearlong collaboration. He wanted every aspect of it to be perfect, so I was able to locate a diamond of the finest quality and cut it to an exact custom size and shape to suite Angelina’s hand. Brad was always heavily involved, overseeing every aspect of the creative design evolution. The side diamonds are specially cut to encircle her finger. Each diamond is of the highest gem quality.”

If Pitt and Jolie truly are engaged — long hinted at by every tabloid and weekly imaginable — it makes sense that Procop would be the designer who would have created the ring with Pitt. Procop’s “The Style of Jolie” jewelry collection on his website was designed with the star, and she’s worn a multitude of his pieces on the red carpet, including to this year’s Producers Guild Awards. The first funds from Procop’s collaboration with Jolie have been dedicated to the Education Partnership for Children in Conflict to build a school in Afghanistan. Procop also created pieces of jewelry for Jolie for The Tourist.

Procop’s had one very good week: When Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan stepped out for the L.A. premiere of The Avengers for the first time since the Feb. 7 birth of their son, Downey told the press he and his wife were wearing amethyst jewelry from Procop in honor of their son’s birthstone. Downey also wore a purple Gucci suit, and the couple joked that they were bringing a little bit of their new son Exton with them.

News of the potential engagement should come as no surprise to readers of The Hollywood Reporter. In January, Pitt told THR that he and Jolie did hope to one day tie the knot for the sake of their children.

“We’d actually like to,” he said of making Jolie his wife, “and it seems to mean more and more to our kids. We made this declaration some time ago that we weren’t going to do it till everyone can. But I don’t think we’ll be able to hold out. It means so much to my kids, and they ask a lot. And it means something to me, too, to make that kind of commitment.”

At the time, Pitt declined to comment on whether he had proposed yet. “I’m not going to go any further,” he said, “But to be in love with someone and be raising a family with someone and want to make that commitment and not be able to is ludicrous, just ludicrous.”

[From The Hollywood Reporter]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

By the way, in case you were all, “Who the eff is Robert Procop again?” He is not just some mangy famewhore jewelry designer – he actually knows Angelina Jolie. They worked together on “The Style of Jolie” jewelry line, remember that? So, is it on? Perhaps. I want a better look at the ring, though. It looks like a gigantic emerald-cut diamond. Nice.

Anyway, I’m very happy for them. Good for them. OMG FLOWER GIRLS!!! Vivienne and Zahara will totally be flower girls. Shiloh will fight it. She’ll want to be a groomsman. EPIC!

(You know this is totally about The Leg. And Michael Fassbender. Of course. And please, people – try not to go overboard talking about She Who Shall Not Be Named.)

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Zahara Jolie-Pitt is a girly-girl. She likes fashion. She likes doing different things to her hair. She likes jewelry. She loves purses. All of it is pretty cute, honestly. Add to all of that the simple fact that Z is already a really beautiful little girl… and many of us are pretty convinced that Z will rule the world someday soon. But until that day, her parents are still going to fight over what’s best for her. Angelina is pro-style, as in, she’s allegedly encouraging Zahara to have fun with her “look” and Angelina likes that she has one kid who is interested in how she gets ready for a red carpet. Brad, on the other hand, is worried that his little girl is growing up too fast.

Brad Pitt is seeing red over his daughter Zahara’s blue hair – and he’s battling Angelina Jolie over their little girl’s sudden desire to become a supermodel!

Zahara got the idea to get bright-blue braided hair extensions after seeing singers Katy Perry and Selena Gomez sporting blue locks in fashion magazines. And that’s just fine with Angelina, who’s thrilled the once-shy little beauty is being more assertive. But dad Brad is dead set against it because he thinks the adopted tyke is too young to be thinking about a modeling career, say insiders.

“Zahara has finally come out from hiding behind Angie’s apron strings and decided she wants to be a cover girl,” a source confirmed. “She loves practicing her runway walk and putting together colorful outfits – and she’s perfected a pout just like Naomi Campbell’s!”

According to the source, Zahara’s fashion sense has been on display on family outings over the past several months. Along with her blue hair extensions, she’s been photographed in stylish dresses, designer knee-high boots and Hello Kitty stick-on nails.

While the other kids couldn’t care less about Angelina’s designer styles, Zahara loves to watch Angie get ready for parties and awards shows.

“Zahara is becoming a mini-fashion diva and Angie couldn’t be prouder,” said the source. “And while Brad isn’t on board with the whole model idea, they do agree on one thing – Zahara has definitely come out of her shell.”

[From The Enquirer, print edition]

Was I interested in fashion magazines and plotting out a model career at the age of 7? Not really. But I did have an interest in some fashion-y, girly things, and I think many girls really start developing those interests around this age. I’m taking the whole “Zahara wants to be a supermodel!” thing as just part of what kids are like, though – isn’t it on course with “I want to be a pony!” and “I want to be a space cowboy!”? Other than that, I just have to debate the whole “Zahara has definitely come out of her shell” thing. She’s never had a shell! She’s always been this awesome.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

As I mentioned in the Michael Fassbender post earlier this week, Angelina Jolie and Fassy might be working together over the summer in Ridley Scott‘s new film, The Counselor. See! Sexual fantasies do come true! If you wish it hard enough, Jolie-Fassbender fan-fiction will come true. It will start with some penetrating looks. La Jolie will smile tenderly, not wanting to lead on The Fassdong. But he is enchanted, hypnotized. They finish a scene, and Michael walks Angelina back to her trailer. Politely, she invites him in so that they can rehearse the next scene. Soon enough… well, the trailer will be ‘a rocking. La Jolie and Fassdong, entwined, entranced, incredible.

Unfortunately, Brad Pitt knows his lover/partner all too well. He’s also worked with Fassy before, so he knows the power of L’Fassdong. Brad knows this is a beautiful, hot, sexy, AMAZING disaster just waiting to happen. So Brad has stepped in as Angelina’s official c-ckblocker. DAMN IT BRAD.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are reportedly headed for a big-screen reunion, and why shouldn’t they be? The last time these two worked on a film, the celeb-sphere was forever changed.

First things first: Director Ridley Scott is assembling a cast for “The Counselor,” about a well-positioned lawyer who gets tangled up in the drug trade. Michael Fassbender will lead the flick, and Angelina was rumored last week to be hovering around the project.

Pitt and actor Javier Bardem are now reportedly in talks to come on board, which would bring Brangelina back together on screen for the first time since 2005′s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (Pitt had a brief cameo in Jolie’s directorial debut, “In the Land of Blood and Honey,” but Angie stayed behind the camera, so it doesn’t count).

As if you needed reminding, in 2005 Pitt was married to actress Jennifer Aniston. Jolie had just split from Billy Bob Thornton and adopted her first son, Maddox. Brad and Jen parted ways after “Smith” wrapped production, and the rest is literally tabloid history.

If Pitt indeed signs on for “Counselor,” it would mark another significant reunion: When he directed 1991′s “Thelma & Louise,” Ridley Scott introduced a young Brad to the world. Thanks, dude.

[From The Los Angeles Times]

I’m guessing that Brad and Angelina are in talks to do glorified cameos. I’ve always wanted Ridley Scott and Brad to work together again, and I’ve always wanted Brad and Angelina to work together again… but throw in Michael Fassbender, and Brad is officially The Wet Blanket.

I can already feel the Brangeloonie wrath turning on me. You ladies know that I’m one of you, right? I’m a Brangeloonie AND a pragmatist. Plus, I’ve always preferred the “Angelina” side of the Brangelina equation anyway. So, basically, I just want what’s best for my girl. And if Angelina and Brad are ever going to deal with some crazy, torrid infidelity, I hope Michael Fassbender is “the other man.”

Here are some more photos of Fassy looking like ass in Paris earlier this week. WTF?!?!?

Photos courtesy of WENN and Fame/Flynet.

Shiloh Jolie-Pitt is a thumbsucker. This isn’t the best photo evidence of Shiloh’s thumb-sucking, but I think that’s what she’s doing in the photos where she’s carrying her white silkie. The silkie is covering it, but she’s got that thumb in her mouth. Shiloh’s about to turn 6 years old in May, which is too old to still be sucking your thumb, according to the experts that The Enquirer found. Of course, some of these “experts” are the same people who pull their hair out because a 5-year-old girl isn’t interested in dresses and barrettes. Anyway, The Enquirer’s sources say that Brad and Angelina are totally concerned about this pressing issue!

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are desperate to break their daughter Shiloh of thumb-sucking because it can cause long-term emotional and physical problems. Shiloh turns 6 in May, and experts say she should have outgrown the habit long ago.

“Beyond the age of 4, thumb-sucking should be discouraged because it causes both physical and emotional damage,” warned psychotherapist Gilda Carle.

Another expert says, “Thumb-sucking can alter the shape of the mouth and affect the alignment of teeth. The end result can be difficulty chewing, speech abnormalities and an unattractive smile.”

If thumb-sucking continues after age 5, “you might want to have the child examined for emotional problems or anxiety disorders,” says periodontist Dr. Peter Rubelman.

Shiloh has recently been photographed sucking her thumb in public, and both Brad and Angelina want it to end, said the source.

“They’re offering her big incentives to quit. Brad told Shiloh that he’d take her on a special daddy-daughter weeklong camping trip if she stops.”

[From The Enquirer, print edition]

I’m really only writing about this because I wanted to tell my own thumbsucker story. My mother was concerned when I started sucking my thumb when I was just a baby. So she put socks on my hands so I couldn’t get at my thumbs. So I just sucked on the socks. To this day, she still occasionally refers to me “The Little Sock-sucker”. Whatever – there are tons of practical and efficient remedies for thumbsucking, especially them the thumbsucker is old enough to be bribed (like Shiloh). Promise her all of the little pixie haircuts her heart desires. Promise her a Montenegro-Style shopping spree. Promise her a dirt bike. She’ll stop sucking her thumb in no time.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

Back in February, OK! Magazine had a story about the uncool Bermuda Triangle. Of course – I mean, all of the tabloids run weekly stories on all of the variations and possible hookups of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston. But this one story was particularly funny because it read like Brangelina fan-fiction written by Michael K. It was all about Brad sitting down with his oldest son (Maddox) and explaining how he (Brad) used to be in love with Jennifer Aniston, and of course Angelina walked in and there was a huge blowout fight, etc. Well, The Enquirer has taken up the cause of “Maddox is interesting in knowing who this Aniston woman is” and they’ve just gone full-out. According to The Enquirer’s sources, Maddox recently watched Marley & Me, and now he’s totally in love with Jennifer Aniston.

Angelina Jolie’s 10-year-old son Maddox has developed a king-sized crush on Jennifer Aniston after he and his nanny recently watched “Marley & Me” say sources. Now, Angelina and Brad’s adopted youngster plans to decorate his bedroom with posters of Aniston – and Angelina is freaking out.

“Maddox has become infatuated with Jennifer, and Angelina is fuming,” a close source told The Enquirer. “Maddox just loved Jennifer’s rapport with the pup in the movie and got hung up on her nice smile.”

Now Jen’s newest fan is begging his parents to get him posters of her to put up in his bedroom. Maddox has no idea about the longtime rivalry between his mom and Brad’s ex-wife – or of Jen’s belief that Angelina stole Brad when they were still married eight years ago.

“Maddox simply likes Jen’s sweet face and look,” said the source.

To make matters even more uncomfortable, Jennifer trumped Angelina in a recent magazine beauty poll for “Hottest Woman of All Time”. Angelina finished in 10th place.

“Jennifer is not only winning the puppy love of Angelina’s son but is also beating her in magazine polls,” said the source. “She is incredibly jealous of Jennifer’s girl-next-door image, and believe me, she won’t be letting Maddox put any posters of her on his walls.”

[From The Enquirer, print edition]

Am I the only one who thinks that Angelina would probably laugh her ass off if one of her kids wanted an Aniston poster? Besides that, from what little I know of Maddox, he probably just wants to deface the poster or throw knives at it (Angelina and Brad let Maddox play with knives). Anyway, sure. Jealousy, discomfort, etc. I’m surprised they didn’t include something about Angelina screaming at Brad (“You told him about that woman! It’s your fault!”) and Brad breaking down in tears whilst smoking a bong.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.

Adam Brody is still a thing. I don’t mean to be cruel about it, but I’m kind of surprised he’s still a thing. He was on The O.C. and then he got some smaller, supporting parts in movies and then… nothing. Actors like Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield stole his career. All of these fast-talking, boyish, late 20s actors, all competing for the same roles… at the end of the day, I would prefer if Adam got the parts ahead of Justin Timberlake, but what are you going to do? But Adam has a new movie called Damsels in Distress, by writer-director Whit Stillman, who did a criminally under-valued film, The Last Days of Disco. Stillman is like a nouveau Woody Allen, all dialogue-heavy and neurotic. Adam Brody should excel in a Whit Stillman film.

So to promote his new movie, Adam did what so many have done before – he name-dropped Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. You see, Adam had a small part in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. So he used that experience as a headline-grabbing punch line, of course. Well played, Adam. Some highlights from Adam’s HuffPo interview:

Working with Whit Stillman: “I just love Whit Stillman, so it was a no brainer for me… I would have murdered people.” Thankfully, homicide wasn’t necessary for Brody to secure the role of Fred Packenstacker, a “playboy operator” who slowly wins over Violet (Greta Gerwig) and her friends at a prestigious East Coast college. “Damsels” is Stillman’s first film since “The Last Days of Disco” in 1998, meaning the man affectionately called the “WASP Woody Allen” has been away from the big screen for 14 years.

Damsels in Distress: “The truth is, it was such low budget movie and we were so under the gun the whole time, that you were kind of left to your own devices a little bit,” he said when asked about Stillman’s style on set. “At that point, I was so flattered that he trusted me. What I liked most was his approval. I just trust his judgment so much that if I did something and he liked it, I was profoundly happy with myself. The wisdom I gleaned from him was actually from the script.”

Being picky, but not really: “I don’t turn down that much,” Brody allowed. “Here’s what I’d say: Personally, I’m incredibly picky. I’m incredibly opinionated and I don’t like much. But, as a professional actor, I’m very pragmatic. I’m definitely willing to do things that I don’t personally like or certainly love. But I understand the benefits, business-wise. And I like to go to work and I don’t always have to be in love with what I’m doing. Those are two different theories, and so I would say as an actor I’m not all that picky. As a consumer, I certainly am.”

Does that mean he’s making movies he wouldn’t want to see? “[I]t’s funny,” he said. “I have been practical, but when I do look at my resume it does reflect my taste. Some I like more than others, but it does, by and large, reflect my taste, more than I think it would. [Especially] given how many things I’ve been willing to do that I don’t personally care for.”

He admits he has to fight for the big parts: “They don’t make a lot of good movies,” he said. “I don’t even think because of any bad formulaic problem or some studio system necessarily. That’s part of it, but it’s very hard to write something good. It truly is. So they’re few and far between, and everyone is smart and wants to do those things. So it’s competitive. You just get lucky and something smart comes along that you’re right for.”

On Mr. and Mrs. Smith: “In terms [Brad and Angelina], I hooked them up,” he deadpanned. “I was like, ‘Brad, you don’t want to do this, man. This Jen thing, I don’t see it.’ And he heeded my advice, and I’m happy for him.”

[From HuffPo]

I know I shilled this as an uncool Bermuda Triangle story, but I ended up much more interested in Adam’s quotes about Hollywood. He seems oddly… Zen about the whole thing. I like the way he reconciles – intellectually – taking any project that he can get, and I like that he’s kind of a snobby bitch about it. So I had to look up his IMDB – he’s been working consistently since The O.C., just not on many big projects. He does a lot of smaller budget stuff, so maybe he’s trying to become, like, the dude version of Chloe Sevigny? Eh, there are worse things.

Photos courtesy of WENN.