Angelina Jolie made her directorial debut last year, with the barely-seen In the Land of Blood and Honey. Though the film never got a wide release (and I still haven’t seen it), Angelina was nominated for a Golden Globe (for Best Foreign Film) and she won the Stanley Kramer Award at the Producers Guild Awards, and the conventional wisdom is that Angelina’s work was largely a mitzvah – she employed many authentic regional actors, she tried to deal with issues connected to the Bosnian War with diplomacy, etc. But still… barely anyone saw the film. So why is a studio giving Angelina an opportunity to direct something else, especially when she’s also supposed to star in about a half-dozen films over the next few years?
Angelina Jolie is ready to spend more time behind the camera. The Oscar winner is planning to direct the feature-film adaptation of the Laura Hillenbrand best-seller Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption, a true story about Louis Zamperini, a competitor at the 1936 Olympics who, as a U.S. Army Air Forces bombardier during World War II, survived a plane crash and then spent the rest of the war in a Japanese prison camp.
Now that’s a story just made for the big screen—and Jolie knew it, too.
“I read Laura Hillenbrand’s brilliant book, and I was so moved by Louie Zamperini’s heroic story, I immediately began to fight for the opportunity to make this film,” Jolie said in a statement. “Louie is a true hero and a man of immense humanity, faith and courage. I am deeply honored to have the chance to tell his inspiring story.”
Added Universal Pictures cochairs Adam Fogelson and Donna Langley: “In her life and in her work, Angelina has embraced stories and causes involving great struggle and triumph over tremendous odds and the basic human condition. She has a real ability to illustrate the strength in human spirit which will be essential in telling Lou’s story of survival and great heroism.” (E! and Universal Pictures are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Jolie, who seemingly spends as much time (if not more) on humanitarian missions in war-torn countries these days as she does acting on movie sets, made her feature directorial debut with the Bosnian war drama In the Land of Blood and Honey.
Hillenbrand, meanwhile, is two for two: Unbroken is only her second novel after Seabiscuit: An American Legend, which also got the Hollywood treatment.
So, it’s another period piece, and a WWII film to boot. WWII films are… hit or miss, I think. I might be the only person in the world who thinks Saving Private Ryan is overrated as a film, but then again… Judgment At Nuremberg is one of the best post-WWII films ever. But I guess the story won’t really be about battles or even the European theater… it will be about the Pacific theater, and I’m guessing that Angelina really wants to do this film because she wants to film on location in Southeast Asia and employ a lot of local actors. Don’t get me wrong… this sounds like a good project (and a depressing story), and my only real qualm is that Angelina is going to be directing a project without any strong female characters.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I saw Land of Blood and Honey. It was well made and a technically good film, but very one sided and inaccurate in places (during the invasion there was at least an inch of snow even though it actually took place in summer).
My Dad served in Bosnia and Serbia during the conflict and he came out of the film with pursed lips.
I’m a little on the fence about WWII films, I don’t think it’s easy to do such an event justice, but I think there’s a TV Christmas special about a WWII spy coming up though… Now that, I’ll watch.
I haven’t seen the film but from what I’ve heard, it was the usual demonisation of Serbs, with them being blamed for all the atrocities. Seemed like a very ill-chosen subject for a directoral debut.
Yeah & her new film better not demonize those Nazis.
Since the new film will be about an American serviceman in a Japanese prison, it’s not immediately obvious how the Nazis would come into it at all.
Jean,to you Nazis and Serbs are the same? Why do you comment about something you obviously know nothing about?
Christina:
Bwahahahaha!
Well said.
The book was fabulous and such a statement about the endurance of the soul.
@Sorry… I don’t think Serbian people are evil but yes, the Serbian army and the Nazis are the same to me. It’s a little touchy because they don’t have a name to differentiate themselves (like Nazis vs Germans) but I didn’t mean Serbian people. I just meant the soldiers that raped women and killed innocent civilians. I didn’t learn this from that movie, I do know what I’m talking about.
”@Sorry… I don’t think Serbian people are evil but yes, the Serbian army and the Nazis are the same to me.”
A few points:
Firstly, there was no such thing as the ‘Serbian army’ during the Bosnian war, as Serbia did not then exist as a nation state.
Secondly, guess which Balkan people collaborated with the Nazis in WWll? Yes, that’s right, the Croats – those same Croats who like to portray themselves as only victims – even installing a puppet pro-Nazi government. The Serbs, by contrast, fought the Nazis, at great loss to themselves.
Finally, if you believe the role played by the Serbs in the Balkan wars was analogous to that played by the Nazis in WWll, then, I’m sorry, but you DON’T know what you’re talking about.
I could go on, but since this is a gossip site, it’s maybe best to leave it at that.
@Christina-ok maybe it wasn’t technically “the Serbian army” but it was a bunch of Serbian guys in army gear going around raping and killing people. That’s great that they fought the Nazis in WW2, that doesn’t excuse them from the genocide they inflicted later on. Obviously the circumstances aren’t going to be exactly the same as the Nazis but the ethnic cleansing and mass graves is reminiscent of that. I’m sorry if I’m offending you but if you think they were innocent and righteous then YOU don’t know what you’re talking about.
Oh, believe me, Jean, you’re not offending me at all! You’ve said nothing that hasn’t been said a million times before by those who buy into the ‘evil Serbs’ propaganda. And I certainly don’t think the Serbs were ‘innocent and righteous’. I believe – in fact I know – that atrocities were committed on all sides – Serb, Croat and Bosnian – in what was a very brutal civil war. In fact, the biggest single act of ethnic cleansing in that war was committed not by the Serbs but by the Croats – with a bit of help from Clinton and NATO.
Anyway, if you want to persist in your belief that only the Serbs were evil, and that all other parties to the war were pure victims, I’ll leave you to your simplistic delusions.
“I believe – in fact I know – that atrocities were committed on all sides – Serb, Croat and Bosnian – in what was a very brutal civil war.”
THIS.
@Christina- I know there was evil on both sides, that’s how most stories go. I don’t have delusions about that, lol. I have more negative feelings towards the Serbs because they initiated it. I’m just glad you’re not one of those people who claim that they were justified because it was in retaliation to something that happened in the 1400’s.
Jean,believe me I lived through that war.Christina is right. It was a civil war, there where three sides, and everybody did the killing, not just one side. Serbs are just bad guys in your media, movies… the truth is something entirely different, it is very complicated to explain and this is a gossip site. Christina, thank you!
They have a law for internet arguements and the amount of time it takes one person to mention ‘nazi’ in any given discussion doesn’t matter what the topic is about or what forum it takes place on. It’s called “Godwin’s Law” and it’s actually quite interesting how nazi is the standard of which all evil is measured when there were horrible ideas about racial cleansing in so many socities and history before they even came along and continue to exist after them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
Yes, the poor poor serbs, they were just like innocent lambs. i know, this is how the mladics and karadzics want to see themselfs today. now 18 years later they try to relavate everything and change history. WE WONT FORGET AND YOU CANT CHANGE IT! serbs lie to themself.
And your DAD Amelia, knows it better he just wont tell you. You know that Mladics daughter killed herself because her dad is a monster!!
Bosnia DID NOT ATTACK SERBIA! Serbia wanted a BIG SERBIA velika cista srpska . we all remember that!
Greetings from SARAJEVO!!!!
Christina is obviously a Serb, Lucija is a Croat, and Srebrenica a Muslim. Their positions/biases are obvious to all.
According to the Canadian General, Lewis Mackenzie (whom the Muslim accused of raping Muslim girls for propaganda purposes…notice a pattern?), all sides committed atrocities. He did also say that the Croats were more prone to lying to his face, though.
As for Serbs “starting it”…The Croats killed a bunch of Serbs in Vukovar first and wanted to name streets after their WWII “heroes” (Croats were NAZIS). The Muslims in Sarajevo killed a bunch of Serbs in a wedding party FIRST. They also bombed a bus full of young army recruits in Tuzla before the war had begun in earnest.
So, “Lucija” and “Srebrenica”, you keep pushing your fantasy that “Serbs started it” and you and your Mujahedeen friends (who raped little girls and cut off Serb heads) are innocent little victims. Srebrenica, whose soldiers were wiping out surrounding Serb villages like Kravice on Christmas eve under the leadership of Naser Oric. An irrefutable fact in the whole fall-of-Srebrenica situation is that women and children were bussed out to Tuzla. Not a very effective “genocide”.
Serbs didn’t vote to break up a multi-ethnic country to create a “Greater Serbia”. You former Nazis, however, did. So when you wanted your little independent states, shades of WWII came dancing in our heads and we weren’t to jazzed about our chances.
Anyone who claims to have a brain needs to look deeper into the role of propaganda in this war. Look up Ruder Finn (Muslim and Croats’ PR firm) and their comments on their media success. Also, look into the role of lobby groups in the United States and how foreign lobby groups buy politicians. I’d say the Muslims and Croats got their money worth with Clinton, Gore, and the rest.
Yes, “Get A Clue”, you are obviously not biased. You did not just deny the attrocities commited in Srebrenica? You wouldn’t dare to do that? Serbs were the first killed in Vukovar?!?!? God, I wish the peple in Serbia wont be denied the truth anymore, so we won’t have people saying such horrible things in the future.
P.S. And I would like to know which Serbs fought the Nazis. The Chetnicks collaborated with them, and the partizans were Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Slovenians, etc. So, which Serbs?
I saw the film and I didn’t see it as one-sided at all. Of course, the thrust of the movie was the anguished love affair between a Serb and his captured “could have been girlfriend.” But it never acted like the Serbs were innocent. She used various characters to tell of atrocity on both sides.
It was a well-made and moving picture, though very hard to watch. I think Angelina did an outstanding job. I was shocked at how well she handled a difficult subject. She certainly earned another chance to try her hand again.
I haven’t seen The Land of blood and honey, but I have to respond to the alligations that the movie was one sided. If it was one-sided it is because the war was one-sided. Only one side was the agressor, and no matter what you say, that can not be changed. The Serbs were the ones that attacked both Croatia nad Bosnia. They were responsible for Srebrenica, the biggest massacre in Europe after WW2, and for Vukovar, Škabrnja and many others. Not a single bomb fell on Serbian ground.Were there also crimes commited against Serbs? Yes. Does that make all sides equally guilty? No. Many innocent Germans were killed during WW2, but does that make Germany less guilty? No. And, yes, the Croats were on the wrong side in WW2, but it was not a choice of the people, the NDH was a dictatorship. And many partizans who fought against the Nazis were Croatian, including Josip Broz Tito. Which Serbs were against the Nazis? Chetnicks? Yeah, right.
I have many Serbian friends, and I hope we can put the past behind us, but trying to equalize the guilt is not the right way.
Sorry for the long post and my bad English, I am not a native speaker 🙂
…”not a single bomb fell on Serbian ground…”
You must be joking.
Google the bombing of Belgrade Street, 1st of May, 1999.
I think your comment is absolutely one sided view of things, historically incorrect,delusional and full of manipulated facts, but you have a right to your opinion. I think the history is going to judge us all. This is not the place for the debate about this subject, it is a site for fun.
Lucija, thank you, Amelia can learn a lot from you. everything she knows, she knows from serbian propaganda media like vesti or her “Dad” who is definetly hiding everything from her.
See Amelia, everything you say is just simple propanganda andjust half the truth, you sound 100 % like the serbian defending media. we read that too, we know what your media trys to teach you but the facts will always get you back to earth my dear. I have good serbian friends who ar very good educated, they know the truth and they say that serbia needs 15 more years or more to come to the truth, but till now, they are brainwashed who cant and dont want to believe what realy happend.
Amelia you dont need to watch Angelinas film, but just for you to know, this movie shows the war how it realy was, you dont like it and you dont want to believe it but how will YOU know, where have you been at that time? Have you been there? No? well guess what, i have been there.
The bombing of Belgrade streets was a missile attack which occurred on 1 May 1999 during the NATO bombing..
NATO, not Croatia nor Bosnia, and not during the Croatian or Bosnian war of Independence.
…”not a single bomb fell on Serbian ground…”
You must be joking.
Belgrade was bombed near constantly for three months in ’99. (Which, granted, was then ‘Yugoslavia’.
The problem with ‘Blood and Honey is that it displays the Serbs as evil caricatures. Every war criminal was a Serb, and every civilian victim was either Bosnian or Croat. Now, I’m not denying that Slobodan Milosevic was a monster who should never have invaded, but it’s ridiculous to portray that sort of image on film to people who are unlikely to be up to speed on what happened; Serb women were systematically raped by Bosnian and Croat perpetrators in prison camps *as well* as Bosnian women (which is what Jolie’s film focuses on).
She ignored the Serb victims and those women deserve a voice just the same as the Bosnians and Croats and the film does nothing to exempt Serb victims from generalized blame that seems to be so common.
When you compare the film to the factualised data (it was a bloody and brutal war instigated by Milosevic with victims on all sides) it’s not even biased. It’s one dimensional.
Now, I actually like Jolie, I think she’s a decent person who has a kind heart, but her film did nothing to dismiss the stereotype that the Serbs were all evil and suffered no losses.
What’s slightly more concerning is the closing scene. The Serb Daniel repeats the words ‘I’m war criminal’. Which is the consensus a lot of people unfortunately hold when they think of the Serbian’s part in the war.
Crap, did I double post?
“Bosnian and Croat perpetrators in prison camps”
What prison camps? Where?
As, I said, there were Serbian victims, but that does not make us equaly guilty. And the number of Serbian victims ( of course, there shouldn’t have been any) is smaller than Bosnian or Croatian ones
Again, the parallel with Germany. They admitted their crimes and did not try to deminish their guilt by bringing up, for an example, Dresden. Serbia should do the same.
“The Serb Daniel repeats the words ‘I’m war criminal’. Which is the consensus a lot of people unfortunately hold when they think of the Serbian’s part in the war.”
That is the right consensus.
To name but one, there was Lapušnik prison camp.
See, these are the facts people are unaware of and are usually omitted in film. So these events and their victims pass by un-noticed.
Lapušnik was in Kosovo, not Croatia nor Bosnia, so they were Albanian perpetrators, not Croatian nor Bosnian.
poor poor belgrade, bombings of 3 MOnths OMGF GOD , how dare they!!
SARAJEVO WAS BOMEBED FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS but hey, you dont care right? It was the longest attack on a City IN HISTORY AMELIA!!!!
They will always do that, there’s nothing you can do, Srebrenica.And you are right, the historically incorrect facts come from their media. Biggest ethnical cleaning was done by the Croats?!?! Say what?!?!
My friend’s father was in Vukovar, he survived but has severe PTSP and he will never live normally.
But, luckily, the world is finaly seing the truth. Just look at the Hague Tribune finaly freeing Gotovina and Markac. Sooner or later, Serbia will have to accept their crimes and stop making us all seem equaly guilty because we simply WERE NOT.
The funny thing is that when Serbs start to defend their acts in the 90-s war, they star calling Croats Nazis which has nothing to do with this war, and Bosniaks mudjahedins which has also nothing to do with this war. It is quite sad.
And yes, let us stop with this discussion, this is a site for fun. Good night to everybody from the beautiful Croatia 🙂
Thank you Amelia, Christina, Get A Clue and Sorry for my english.
Lucija and Srebrenica, why so nervous, girls? Can’t wash the Serbian blood off your hands, eh? Does your conscience bother you? Probably because you know there simply is no argument to justify your crimes and soon the whole world will realise what monstrosities croatian nazis and bosnian muslims have done!
Sweety, I was a child when the war ended. There is no blood on my hands. There is also no shame on my country. Can’t say the same for Serbia, can we? But, as you said, time will tell. It is telling already. Hopefully, monsters like Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić will be sentenced before they die like Milošević did.
I have no problems with this and will probably end up seeing the film when it’s done..
This comment is funny. I am glad everyone has your permission so.
I think Marie was just sharing her personal opinion and whether she would watch, not that she’s saying everyone else can or should watch.
that’s exactly what I was saying Buckwild thanks, no idea where she’s coming from..
The fact that this sentence had to be qualified at all depresses me.
I always admire your calm demeanor, marie. It can’t always be easy 😉
well thank you OKitt (insert smiley face, cause I always forget how to do it)
Maybe people confuse the term “Celebitchy” to mean that we are supposed to be bitchy to each other – it does not. It’s just a witty blog – not a place where the readers go to attack each other over every little thing – jeez.
BTW – I am NOT referring to the above conversation about war crimes. IMHO that’s a conversation worthy of having (even if it got heated) unlike this silly heckling of Marie.
I am glad that she is directing. So few actresses turn to directing. You’ve got Clooney, Affleck, Costner, Eastwood on one side, and only Jodie Foster on the girls’ team.
My thoughts, too. But don’t forget Kathryn Bigelow on the girls team. Others, too, but for sure the scale is heavily weighted with men.
Bigelow was not an actress, she is a director.
I stand corrected, sorry. I missed the part about actors-turned-directors. Moving too fast as usual!
Bigelow’s imdb page says she had 3 acting roles so I bet she could pick it up again. Or maybe just enjoys directing so much more now she’d never go back.
Even though it was ages ago lets not forget Penny Marshall started as an actress and went on to direct A League of Their Own, Big, The Preachers Wife and Awakening. Also I never saw it but Drew Barrymore starred in and directed Whip It. Didn’t Madonna direct a couple of films but I guess they were so bad that’s why I can’t remember.
I wish Angie nothing but luck, I think she will do well as a director.
I think Barbra Streisand and Julie Delphy have directed also. But definitely are fewer women than men who went from acting to directing.
Bryce Dallas Howard wants to direct. It will be difficult for her because of the inevitable comparisons to her father.
Adrienne Shelley. I loved “Waitress.” May she rest in peace.
@Andy, who wrote: “Bryce Dallas Howard wants to direct. It will be difficult for her because of the inevitable comparisons to her father.”
I had no idea she was Ron Howard’s daughter until a couple of weeks ago. she is one of my favorite young actresses out today … along with Emma Stone, who was SO good with Ryan Gosling in “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”
Speaking of Clint, I’ll be she consults with him on this project. He’s made two films in the recent past about the Japanese side of WWII.
Yes we have just Jodie Foster on the women’s side. She praised Angelina’s film In the Land of Blood and Honey. Angelina should look up to Jodie for being a success playing strong women without doing romantic comedies and diving into directing and producing. Why doesn’t Angelina ever give props to women who paved the way?
How do you know she *hasn’t* given props to people like Jodie Foster? In fact, she has given props to the women that went before her, many times. Just because you haven’t read those interviews doesn’t give you the right to make false claims that she hasn’t.
Well men direct films without strong female characters every single year. And just because she is a woman doesn’t mean that her focus has to be on directing women. She didn’t write the script. The film is about this MAN so that kind of dictates the focus on the male.
Really excited for her and her next directing endeavor. I love how nobody knew anything about this until it was a done deal.
Not sure what half dozen films she is suppose to be staring in. She has Maleficent and everything else is a rumor or in pre-production. She has not “committed” to anything, which makes this all the more interesting to me. Nobody knows what she or Brad are doing next. Everything is speculation until they say it as far as I’m concerned.
So happy for her.
“The Hurt Locker” managed without a female lead.
Such an interesting woman instead of trying to remain a sexpot and perpetually 17 she’s doing something worthwhile . She may have gotten mixed reviews on her first project but she seems really passionate about directing. Good for her.
+1. I agree, and great comment mln.
Well, if she’s in the running, got to hand it to her; it’s quite a triumph for her.
On the other hand, not sure if it’s much of a triumph for the profession.
Can’t take that much to direct a HW film if they’re seriously considering putting her at the helm.
Why not? The two heads of Universal have said they chose her because she has the ability to really reveal the humanity (or lack of) in these situations.
Plus if you ignore the overtly Jolie hating critics or those critics who think her ITLOBAH was propaganda crap, the general consensus was good (not great or anything special) and she shows promise in directing.
Before the Hurt Locker, nobody thought much of Kathryn Bigelow. Her reviews for her other films prior to that were also the same – potential but nothing special.
Very, very few people start out amazing at a new thing…but how can they improve if they aren’t handed opportunities?
A mitzvah. Translation – a huge waste of money.
Well she and Brad put up reportedly Six million of the budget.As for acting she has stated many times she prefers directing to acting.Salt 2 needs a script Cleopatra needs a director .
well that was uncalled for…
well now my comment looks dumb…it was in response to someone else being rude to another commenter. i’m not crazy i swear.
Lol Lem, you crazy girl! 😉
So much for her working less. But this is an important American story and hopefully Louie Z will live to see the result. I read that his story has been in development in Hollywood for over FIFTY years.
Now the fun part, casting. People are speculating on Jake G, Ryan G, Joseph G-L and even Franco as potential leads.
Oh please not Franco. Then we’d have to put up with a press tour full of Aahhhrrrt related crap.
I actually quite like Jake G, he always reminds me of a little lost puppy.
Her working less is in reference to before getting together with Brad
She averages a film every 1.5 years when you include directing…that to me is working very little for an actress who is sent many scripts by big studio heads like Amy Pascal.
Spot on Emma
How many movies have we seen Angie in over the last few years compared to actresses who are in at least two or three films a year. She is working less.
This book was amazing. Hope whoever ends up making the movie does it justice.
+1
Indeed!
Finally – a couple of people familiar with this amazing story and huge bestseller!
Louie Zamperini’s story is unforgettable but a huge part of its impact relies on how he comes to terms with the events in Japan. I’m afraid Angelina might “art-house” movie it up, or water down the ending in some way. I hope she does Louie and the POWs who suffered in Japanese camps justice.
I read it back in 2010. Then, I gave to my friend because her husband is into war stories and I said that one is great.
Agreed! There was so much to that book. Going to be tough to it justice.
We need more female directors and fine, in the hand of blood and honey wasn’t 100% hitorically accurate but you know what else wasn’t? JFK by oliver stone or most other movies based on true stories made by hollywood….Because it’s a MOVIE, not a DOCUMENTARY.
If people like her didn’t attach themselves to these projects, they would never, ever, get made and we would be stuck watching shit like JACK REACHER for the rest of our lives. PUKE.
…and yes I like her so I’m bias. (yadda yadda yadda)
What else is she working on? Nothing .She has done one project a year for the last three years.The Tourist in 2010,Blood and Honey in 2011,Disney film in 2012.
I read this book – the story is amazing and not just about WW2. The main character was an Olympic athlete and book covers also his life before and after the War. He is still alive – he is 96 now!
Yep. She has body to play prisoner of Konzentrationslager. You go girl!
She’s directing the film, not starring in it silly. 🙂
They give her this deal BECAUSE she is going to star in a couple big movies. It’s part of the package.
“For Jolie, this will mark her second film as director after she made her debut on In The Land Of Blood And Honey. This will be her first directing outing on a major studio film. It’s easy to imagine that the world’s biggest female star gets whatever she wants, but I’m told that she campaigned hard for the film against a number of other directors. Universal execs were very impressed with her sophisticated treatment of difficult subject matter. Her detailed take on Zamperini won her this job.” MIKE FLEMING JR. /deadline
By the way, interesting to note, Brad Pitt’s movie production company was involved in this film last year…wondering if he’s still on board and that’s part of the reason they chose Angelina? Brad was involved with a Mighty Heart as well.
Also, this movie was apparently stuck in production hell for 50 or so years…so if they do actually make it with Jolie, it shows just how much weight she has in the HW game. Disney was iffy on making Maleficent until she stepped on board.
It was not stuck in a production hell for 50 years – the story of the man (Zamperini) was revisited by many over the 50 years, but they were all different takes on the story. Laura Hillenbrand’s book is a new book (published 2 years ago), the screenplay is based on that book, so it’s a new story.
Hi ana,
What I meant was that they’ve been somewhat seriously considering making a movie about this subject for 50 years, with many scripts and directors having been attached and then subsequently left/dropped…but with Jolie now there’s a good possibility of it happening for once.
Sure Emma, no problem, I just said that it’s a new take on the subject.
I’m happy for her. We do need more female directors. Universal must have been impressed with her efforts to consider her for this film. Way to go, Angie!
I loved the book! The story is incredible and touching! Finally, someone has decided to make a movie, :). Good luck, AJ!
Oh please spare me, the only reason she’s getting this opportunity is because of her celebrity, she’s not even a real actress, her winning that Oscar was a joke, her public profile has always been known more for her personal life. There are so many talented female directors and film makers out there who deserve to get their films made more then her, this film is just going to be another pull on the heart strings movie,
Thanks for making her more powerful,Missy
@Missy …
You DO know Angelina Jolie has won ‘other’ industry awards for acting other than an Oscar (and for other film projects besides “Girl Interrupted”), don’t you?
If not then here’s a hint … it’s called Google. It wouldn’t hurt to try doing it ‘before’ posting about a celebrity.
Oh please spare the board of your pathetic ignorance and jealousy missy. You’re the joke.
i’m excited with the thought of this book being made into film, and possibly a discussion of WWII from the other side of the theater (well, i sort of enjoyed the discussions sprouted by Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwojima.
and even when her first film is not exactly 100% correct, it did lead to some discussions (in my family at least) about what happened. and thanks to google, we actually can research and learn a lot more, and in relation to the role of my own country in that. it turned up so many interesting info i didn’t know about people i actually knew.
i guess, that’s the good thing about AJ picking up stories like this. she may not be the greatest film maker ever, but she sure can get people talking about the subject and hopefully get more people making stuff on that subject to keep the ball rolling.
speaking of WWII films, i’ve just finished watching “Conspiracy” with Kenneth Brannagh and Stanley Tucci. i am appalled at myself that i didn’t know this film existed until my best friend loaned it to me this week. chills. 10 years later.
I wonder if she’ll finish the script in 2 days again.
I find it interesting that she’s directing, though. Glad to see another influential woman behind the camera.
The story is amazing. Louie is a remarkable human being. The book left me in awe of him and the courage and strength of the other men as well. What happened in those camps was truly horrific. I am curious as to how they will handle it on film. Some of the events were very difficult to read about, let alone see it on the big screen.
If you have bothered to see In the Land of Blood and Honey you would know that there were 3 VERY strong female characters in it, and several other minor female characters that were inspiring. Angie not only directed that movie, she wrote it. Between ITLOBAH and all the strong female characters she has portrayed on screen, Angelina has 100 times the “girl power” cred of a Clooney, much less these actresses who play in these terrible got-to-get-a-boyfriend movies. It is ridiculous to attack her for not having a strong female lead in a movie she didn’t even write herself- what is she supposed to do change history and make Zamperini a woman?!
If you have bothered to see In the Land of Blood and Honey you would know that there were 3 VERY strong female characters in it, and several other minor female characters that were inspiring. Angelina not only directed that movie, she wrote it. Between ITLOBAH and all the strong female characters she has portrayed on screen, Angelina has 100 times the “girl power” cred of a Clooney, much less these actresses who play in these terrible got-to-get-a-boyfriend movies. It is ridiculous to attack her for not having a strong female lead in a movie she didn’t even write herself- what is she supposed to do change history and make Zamperini a woman?!
She gets it for just any reason. Even when they don’t make any sense.
Can we start speculating who should play Zamperini? 🙂
Not really a fan of her acting except for Girl Interrupted, and I haven’t seen the first movie she directed, but I am always glad to see women making progress in a male dominated field.
The story sounds interesting, I’ll have to check out the book sometime.
You said exactly what I was thinking.
Not a huge fan of her acting and I’m not a stan by any means but I’m miffed by some of the comments on here.
Why aren’t we supporting her for being brave enough to go behind the camera? Directing is not easy at all and I give her a lot of props for wanting to diversify her career and trying something new that she’s passionate about.
Awesome awesome awesome awesome!
I loved that book. I hope she does it justice.
Well said sweet17 🙂
I wasn’t fond of In The Land of Blood and Honey but this project sounds very good.
I liked in the Land of Blood and Honey and I’m sure this will be interesting as well. Oh Saint Angie, always trying to bring ‘awareness’ to tragedy.
Kaiser, I 1000% agree with you about Judgement at Núremberg, it is one of the greatest film I have even sat down and watched. Little fact , Maximillan Schell is Angie’s Godfather. Back to Angie, I really want her to do a comedy. Anything. Light fare. Anything.
That will never happen. She is far too cool. I would probably like her a little if she did a comedy because right now I just think she has her head so far up her own a$$. The world needs comedies right now not more depressing dramas.
The world is full of trashy slapstick yanky ‘comedies’. Comedies are trash and rots your brains. The world needs more movies that make people THINK. Not mindless bullshit. Angelina is very down-to-earth and has the ability to do a serious ADULT (as opposed to comedies which are for kids) themed movies like drama and documentaries. Too much cartoons and comedies. All rubbish. The world needs less trashy ‘comedies’ and more tasteful, mature things that mature adults watch.
I haven’t seen The Land of blood and honey, but I have to respond to the alligations that the movie was one sided. If it was one-sided it is because the war was one-sided. Only one side was the agressor, and no matter what you say, that can not be changed. The Serbs were the ones that attaked both Croatia nad Bosnia. They were responsible for Srebrenica, the biggest massacre in Europe after WW2, and for Vukovar, Škabrnja and many others. Not a single bomb fell on Serbian ground.Were there also crimes commited against Serbs? Yes. Does that make all sides equally guilty? No. Many innocent Germans were killed during WW2, but does that make Germany less guilty? No. And, yes, the Croats were on the wrong side in WW2, but it was not a choice of the people, the NDH was a dictatorship. And many partizans who fought against the Nazis were Croatian, including Josip Broz Tito. Which Serbs were against the Nazis? Chetnicks? Yeah, right.
I have many Serbian friends, and I hope we can put the past behind us, but trying to equalize the guilt is not the right way.
Sorry for the long post and my bad English, I am not a native speaker 🙂
Unbroken is one of the most amazing life stories I’ve ever read. I was hoping to see it get made into a movie, but was hoping someone with more experience would do it. Let’s hope she does Mr. Zamperini’s story justice.
I actually really liked Land of Blood and Honey. It was very well done and by the end, I was crying. Deeply emotional and gut-wrenching and I would highly recommend it, though it certainly is NOT easy to watch.
I have warmed to Angelina and have grown to respect her as a humanitarian role-model. Still can’t stand Brad Pitt though.
This. I can’t stand Brad’s pretentious interviews or his try hard “acting”. I like Angelina though, she’s an interesting woman with the will to make things happen for herself.
What red carpet event was she at in that red dress? She looks fabulous!!!
I think she was in Russia promoting SALT..
and yes she looked amazing.
So happy she didnt wait til her 40`s to
start having kids…..
OMG Angelina- Leave. The. Nose. Alone. If that thing gets any smaller she is going to resemble an anime character more than a human being.
I think Angelina’s objective is to raise awareness of man’s inhumanity to man, something she hears about and sees on a daily basis with her UNHCR work. She is not perfect but I admire her for her efforts.
I don’t know what this site has against Angelina Jolie. ITLOBAH was the first time she directed. It’s really unfair to attack her for not making a blockbuster. Besides is wasn’t supposed to be. Reviews were mixed but even the bad ones didn’t think it was that bad of a movie. The claim she’s making 6 movies for the next couple of years is ridiculous. Angelina is only attached to two films – Cleopatra and Salt 2. Neither have a script, cast, or anything. Filming isn’t starting anytime soon. It’s really bizarre that people claim that Angelina is constantly working when she probably makes the least amount of films for an A-lister.
Sorry but I just don’t think she is a story teller. I don’t think she has the talent, depth or intellect for it. Is she an actor? Absolutely, with the right part she can be quite good. But…director, writer? No. She is a bit too full of herself; as are many actors.
Not addressing either side of ITLOBAH, but the film making was fantastic. Small budget played like a big budget. The look and feel was great. See it for yourself. Not trailers or other opinions, but watch the film. She did well.
LZ’s story will also be well made. Her sensitivity will insure that. The book is said to be great. Her take is said to be great.
Proud of her and Universal for going forward with this. With all the crap dropped in theaters weekly, this should not draw any complaints. Oh yeah, it involves Angie. There’s that.
I think it is awesome that she is doing this – she is going to kick ass.
The problem is not that ‘stars’ are given the chance to direct. Instead, the problem is PRACTICALLY THE ONLY FEMALE DIRECTORS WHO CAN GET HIRED ARE FAMOUS ACTRESSES BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED PROVEN BOX OFFICE. There is tremendous discrimination against women directors in Hollywood and please don’t trot out Bigelow to say this isn’t true. Bigelow is one woman out of the hundreds of men who have directed a movie this year and she has only a few female colleagues. Women have to stop always feeling like they have ‘to be positive’ and say ‘but things are changing’. Spike Lee never says “things are getting better for African Americans in Hollywood” and no one says he’s being a victim or whining. The statistics for women directors would make your jaw drop. Very few women directors can get a project greenlit (unless they are a famous movie star) – the numbers haven’t changed very much in several decades. As women, we shouldn’t be afraid to say Bigelow’s success is not enough – we can demand more.
It LOOKS like more women are directing than actually are because so many famous actresses do it – but they are really the only ones- minus a few exceptions. We can change this by supporting movies at the box office that are made by and are about women.
Nobody watched it because it sucked. It received enough exposure anyways that movie was all people talked about for months.
It’s all for her ego. She wants this to be the next phase of her career so she can be known as this grand actress/director. Obviously she thought too much of her talents if she thought she could pull off what she didn’t for In the Land of Blood and Honey. A big failure with audiences and critics. She takes herself too seriously and just wants acclaim.
Um, she was ASKED to direct it. You make it sound like Angelina went looking to Direct. The fact that the Producer of this movie HEAD-HUNTED *her*, not the other way around, negates your entire point.
I saw her movie. In all honesty, and I really think I can say this objectively even though I’m a huge fan of hers, it was a laudable piece of work. I disagree with those who say the Serbs were blamed for everything in the film. First, the Serbs *did* commit atrocities, that’s a simple fact. Second, I actually thought she did balance the film quite well, given its ending (no spoilers here ;)… I felt like she really did try to portray the emotional complexities of such complicated demographics and the shit that is unleashed on former neighbors in a civil war. I thought it was a very serious, well-thought-out piece of film; I was impressed with her.
And yeah, it’s a dark, serious movie about a dark, serious subject. Not generally box-office blockbuster material given the crap most people like to see, so I don’t think it’s reasonable to dis the flick since “nobody saw it.” I figure more people saw it than would have otherwise given that she’s the one who made it, which is actually a good thing, again given its hardcore subject matter. It was a small film from the beginning.