First Look: Salt

Angelina Jolie began filming her new film SALT, which she won the role over Tom Cruise - shockingly so that they rewrote everything for a female. In the movie, she plays a spy who frequently goes undercover. Here's 2 looks she had today:




LOOKIN GOOD ANGIE!

My 2 Favs

Here's my 2 favorite performers of the year embracing at the Oscars!

The best picture EVER

Who says Angelina is mean? This is the BEST PICTURE EVER!! This is taken from the SAG awards when Meryl Streep won best actress for her work in Doubt, beating Winslet, Jolie, and others. Meryl was very excited .. and look --- so is Angelina! THIS IS WONDERFUL and SOOO CUTE!

Angelina Jolie:Nightlines Oscar Actress

Every year ABC's nightline picks one actor to interview pre-oscar and this year it has chosen Angelina Jolie, nominated for Changeling. Terrific choice I think. You can watch her entire interview at: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/. Here are some of the excerpts:

"It is lovely to have won an Oscar in the past, and a surprise and delight to be nominated. I am more excited for Benjamin Button, I hope that it has a great night. I am really rooting for Brad Pitt to win, and not only because I am married to him."

"When I read the script for Changeling, I honestly couldn't sleep for the next couple of nights. I was haunted."

"At first I didn't want to do the film, because its such heavy material, and my mother had just passed away and I was dealing with that. However when I found out Clint Eastwood was attached the direct, and that he specifically wanted me for the role, I decided I couldn't pass on such an amazing opportunity."

"Overall my priorities in life are: Family, my relationship, charity work, and then acting."

"Its an amazing year for women in film. Just look at my category. Meryl! Kate Winslet, who was just stunning. Anne Hathaway. And Melissa Leo who was one of my favorites."

Coming Soon: Tomb Raider III

After origionating the role of Lara Croft in the 2-movie Tomb Raider series, the 3rd film has been green-lit, however there will be NO ANGELINA in the film. She has turned down the role. I quite enjoyed the first two films (especially the second!) but I am kinda glad Angelina turned it down - more serious roles!! YAAAY! Rumored to take Jolie's spot is Megan Fox from transformers.

Billy Bob and Angelina back together?

Billy Bob Thorton is in the new issue of Interview magazine, and he is saying that he's dying to work with Angelina again on another movie (their last was the comedy Pushing Tin). He had this to say:

Question: Who's an actress you're dying to work with?

Billy Bob Answer: Jessica Biel for one reason and Cate Blanchett for another. I've worked with Cate twice, and I'd say she's probably the best actress out there. I'd like to do another movie with Angie [ex-wife Angelina Jolie], too, one of these days. We talk all the time. She and I keep looking for something to do together; we just have to find the right thing. She is the most vulnerable and fantastic actress out there.

EW makes a BOLD prediction

In a year when it seems every award is either locked or down to 2 contenders, Entertainment Weekly just made a BOLD prediction in the best actress category. They threw caution to the wind and said best actress will be between Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie! Woah. Leaving off Winslet - and even Hathaway, to praise Jolie is a bold and wonderful choice. I have to say, not seeing Winslet yet of course, that Jolie is my favorite contender in the race thus far. She did beat all of the ladies nominated in the Sattelite award, that is it however. Although Oscar loves an upset, and perhaps Jolie may be the one! ITS HEATING UP!

Jolie/Pitt Oscar history?

Some people thought Brad and Angelina made history on Tuesday being the first couple to be nominated for Oscars in same year. Not true. There is a small and elite groupf couple with whom Brad and Angelina can now join. Here's the rest:

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams (2005 : best actor, best supporting actress)

Richard Buton and Elizabeth Taylor (1966 : best actor, best actress)

Rex Harrison and Rachel Roberts (1963 : best supporting actor, best actress)

Charles Laughten and Elsa Lanchaster (1957 : best actor, best supporting actress)

Frank Sinatra and Eva Gardener (1953 : best supporting actor, best supp. actress)

Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontaine (1932 : best actor, best supporting actress)

Angelina on Nomination

Entertainment Tonight talked with La Jolie about her Oscar nomination and she had this to say:

"Being nominated is a privilege beyond any expectation."

"Working with Clint Eastwood was a reward in itself that will last me a lifetime. It has been an exceptional year for acting, and I am honored to be in the company of these talented actors whose performances all deserve this recognition."

"I am also happy that 'Kung Fu Panda' was noticed by the Academy and proud to be a part of a film my entire family loves so much. And 'Wanted' got a couple of nominations too. That was a lot of fun to work on as well. It's been a lucky year for me all around. I am so thankful for everything."

Oscar scenes i LOVE

Trouble for the Hottest Couple

Just a day after Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie BOTH recieved Oscar nominations - the fun was put to a halt, when the news that their former bodyguard, Mickey Brett, is planning to write a tell-all book which will tell all the secrets about the couple. He promises it will be "explosive and revealing". OH GOD! I hate him already. The biggest news he plans to "break": Angelina and Brad started screwing while he was still married to Anniston ..... OLD NEWS!!! And more importantly ... WHO CARES?!?! I hate people who try to make a buck off of their employers.

Most Gorgeous at Critics Choice

No shock or surprise here: Angelina Jolie was the most gorgeous thing at the Critics Choice awards - a tough feat on a night where everyone looked nice. And with the handsome as ever Brad Pitt on her arm, she has made every best dressed list of today, rightfully so:

Brad speaks on the Jenn Mess

Brad Pitt has responded to the "uncool" and "mean" comments from Jennifer Anniston when reguarding Angelina Jolie in the latest W magazine spread he appears in. Here is what he says:

"What people don't understand is that we filmed for a year. We were still filming after Jen and I split up. Even then it doesn't mean that there was some kind of dastardly affair. There wasn't. I'm very proud of the way that it was handled. It was respectful. Listen, man, Jen is a sweetheart. I think she got dragged into that one, and then there's a second round to all that Angie versus Jen. It's so created. We still check in with each other. She was a big part of my life, and me hers. I don't see how there cannot be. That's life, man. That's life."

Good for Brad.

Wanted on DVD

The best movie of the summer action/adventure fare is out on DVD today! That is none other than WANTED. If you havent seen it, do yourself a favor and see it.

Box Offices Biggest Babe

Angelina Jolie has just broken box office records. She is now listed as the best box office draw, and has made more money in one year than any other actress ever, according to box office drawn in from her films released this year. Wanted grossed over 4 million 400 million dollars worldwide, Kung Fu Panda 900 million dollars, and Changeling has been an unexpected box office success at (so far) 54 million dollars. Add it all up ... her films have grossed over 1 billion dollars, thats just these 3. Wowza!

Angelina on BBC

The amazing Angelina Jolie sat down with BBC America and gave an interview about her new film Changeling (which was amazing, check my review) and working with director Clint Eastwood. Watch!

Get Over It!

Jennifer Anniston is using her latest Variety Fair interview to trash Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. I am wondering why else she was featured on the cover, she has nothing coming out as of late. There is a rumor going around that Anniston is throwing out negative Angelina press in hopes of hurting her chances at an Oscar this year for her remarkable performance in 'Changeling'. I don't know if she would stoop that low -- but I have to wonder .. why now? This is 4 year old news. She said: "What Angelina did was so not cool." and said she had no idea that anything was going on during the filming of Mr. and Mrs. Smith (which negates what she said in an interview 3 years ago when she admitted that she was suspicious of their closeness). Before even talking about Jolie she was asked a question reguarding her and told the reporter to cut off the tape recorder. Who knows what was said when the recorder was off. We understand that you're hurt Jennifer .. but let bygones be bygones, and move on!

Movie Review: Changeling

Changeling

Ever since he swept the Oscars with Unforgiven in the 90's, Clint Eastwood has been considered the director to beat by many critics and audiences alike. I loved Mystic River, and wasn't a fan of Million Dollar Baby, however I do have the upmost respect for Clint's directorial skills. Imagine my excitment when I found out about a year ago that his newest project would be directing Angelina Jolie in the starring role in a dramatic thriller. Whew! I have been waiting with anticipation for months for the release of Changeling and now finally it is here. Nicholas and I went downtown for the day to catch a sneak premiere of the movie before it opens wide this weekend.

Changeling is based on a factual true story. Yes, this actually happened. The story alone makes a great film. I don't know how many times I leaned over and whispered to Nicholas: "I cannot believe this happened!" I don't want to give away the entire plot of Changeling (because thankfully the trailer, which seemed to give away a lot, just gives a nice setting of what is a very epic story), however the story revolves around Christine Collins (Jolie) who is a single mother and supervisor at the telephone company. We are introduced to Christine and her only child Water, and then as you know, Walter goes missing. The rest of the film you are slowly dumped into disaster as you find out what truly may have happened to Walter, and as you witness firsthand the corruption of the LAPD. The police department under scrutiny want desperately to have a positive story that makes them look worthwhile. Enter the Collins story. The police tell the devestated mother that they have in fact found her son and will reunite the happy couple. However (as you probably know), the little boy is a stranger to Christine, he is not her son. What follows is a two-part story of how far the cops will go to make themselves look like hero's (even if it means destroying an innocent womans life), and the dark truth behind the dissapearance of Walter.

The movie is a showcase for Jolie, however some fine actors turn in amazing supporting performances. First and foremost is John Malkovitch as Rev. Gustav Briegleb. The reverand has a radio evangelical broadcast which he also uses to shine light on the corruption of the cops, and the Collins case is his shot at bringing them down. Then we have Jeffery Donovan as Deputy JJ Jones, the obvious villan. As he tries to paint Christine as an insane woman you certainly will want a piano to land on his head. Amy Ryan (who is an award winning theatre actress and recieved critical acclaims last year for her role in Gone Baby Gone) is also fantastic as Carol Dexter, another "insane" woman the cops threw into the looney bin. The supporting standout is Jason Butler Harner as Gordon Northcott. To save the film from spoilerism, I will not tell you about his character -- however I will tell you that he nails it. Its a fine cast of amazing actors that Clint has to work with. But the movie lives and breathes with its star, Angelina Jolie.

I have been a Jolie fan from day 1. I first saw her in "Gia", an HBO movie for which she won 1 of her 3 consecutive golden globes 3 years in a row (George Wallace, best supp. actress tv movie, Gia best actress in tv movie, and Girl Interrupted best actress). Of course then she went on to win an Oscar for Girl Interrupted, and now she remains one of the most (if not THE most) famous women in the world. I think a lot of people count out Angelina Jolie. Shall we count the reasons? (a) She married Billy Bob Thornton (b) She wore a vial of blood around her neck (c) She collected knives (d) She kissed her brother on Oscar night (e) She used to date a woman (f) She may have broken Jennifer Annistons heart (g) She has also starred in many "fluff" action films (Tomb Raider Series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Wanted) (h) She is part of the most talked about tabloid couple in history (i) She is constantly described as too pretty or too sexy (j) She has 40 kids .. etc etc. I think all of this is craziness and should have nothing to do with her acting career. I will stand behind my statement that Angelina Jolie is one of the finest actresses of my lifetime. She has had her bumps in the road, just like anyone else (Alexander anyone?), but she shines brighter than most anyone on that big screen I love to visit. Just last year she turned in what may have been her finest performance to date as Marianne Pearl in "A Mighty Heart". Well she has topped that .. in a big way. As Christine Collins, Angelina Jolie has not only turned in her best performance, but perhaps one of the best performances in the last 10 years. As a mother I am sure she could deeply connect to the role, and it shows. She is stoic, silent, strong, calculated, expressive, angry, desperate, and triumphant all with a blink of her eye. I predict we will be hearing her name come Ocsar time, at least for a nomination if not for the win. Yes, she's that good.

Of course the direction is superb, the cinematography and lighting are award worthy, but the film is all Angelina's. And the film is amazing. Do yourself a favor and go see "Changeling" immediately.

***** out of *****

Angelina and Clint succeed

Changeling starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Clint Eastwood is looking to be a HUGE contender for this years awards seasons. It has recieved **** star or perfect ratings from over 40 critics to date - which is pretty impressive. Its set to be released in 2 weeks - dont miss it everyone. Angelina is also being touted as the one to beat this year for best actress.

Angelina triumphs at NY film festival

Angelina Jolie (accompanied by Brad Pitt) arrived at the New York film festival this weekend for the US premiere of her new movie "Changeling" directed by Clint Eastwood. First of all, she looked AMAZING! She seemingly has lost all of her baby weight from her new twins. And she sported new additions to her arm tattoo seen above, which has the coordinated of the birth places of all of her children. More importantly the film ended in a standing ovation and critical acclaim for Jolie's performance. I smell Oscar!!