Self Portraits by Angelina Jolie

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First Still of Angelina Jolie as Maleficent

Well... What to say. Original, yes, I'll have to give it that. A unique approach storywise, as well, centered on the antagonist instead of Sleeping Beauty. And, that I have no problem with. Darker the better, you ask me.

Directed by Robert Stromberg, a production designer (Avatar, Alice in Wonderland) and VFX guy (2012, There Will Be Blood, GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra, The Road) in his first turn behind the camera.

Their angle? With India Eisley playing the young Maleficent this would be about childhood trauma that makes you grow up evil. Exxceeelllleennntt!!

And Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora. Loved her in 'Super 8'. She so stole that movie -- wow. How they'll manage to keep focus on Maleficent with Fanning hanging around beats me. Sure, Jolie brings it but you can't compete with little Blondie.

Gotta say, Love the horns.


















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'The Tourist' Featurette

This is looking like a great DVD movie. Something to enjoy at home with a cup of tea.

Sort of a 70s spy movie feel. Reminds me a little of 'Day of the Jackal' (1973) with it's danger mixed with romance. Also kind of 'Bourne', but with longer, more elegant lines.

'The Tourist' Clip

'The Tourist' Featurette, Johnny Depp's Character

With some new footage.

'The Tourist' Clip

'The Tourist' Exclusive Clip

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'The Tourist' Trailer

Another look.

'The Tourist'

Trailer for 'The Tourist'. Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.

'When you upgrade it from room service, it's quite serious'. Nice.

Girly-Tough Ain't Enough

In 'Million Dollar Baby' the grizzled boxing trainer, Frankie Dunn, played by Clint Eastwood, tells the plucky wannabe Maggie, played by Hilary Swank, 'Girly-Tough ain't enough'. I always loved that line. Maggie has a searing desire to become a boxer but her drive is based on emotionality -- a need to become something and find value as a person -- not so much the desire to pound the crap out of the opponent in the ring. Frankie wants less emotionality and more brass tacks true grit.

It may not be good enough for female characters to be emotionally tough anymore. They may have to tough in a fight (with a man) even if that means levelling the playing field in any manner or with any technique they see fit.

Angelina Jolie's Evelyn Salt is tough in a way that's less touchy-feely and more baseline 'fuck with me and I'll burn your ass' and she proves it again and again at the drop of a hat. Most men would not want to tangle with her.

There is a similar vibe from Noomi Rapace in the 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' and possibly more so in 'The Girl Who Played with Fire'. The female protagonist in the 2010 remake of 'I Spit on Your Grave' is a far cry from 'girly-tough'.

These women don't hesitate to fight with a man. This could be the new standard for female action stars.

A couple quotes in Ann Hornaday's Washington Post write-up on the upcoming 'Salt' caught my eye, especially producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura's comparison of Angelina Jolie to Steve McQueen:

"I don't think a hero is male or female. I think it's actually non-gender-specific," says "Salt" producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. "Every action beat [Jolie] takes, every critical decision she makes . . . a guy's going to do the same thing as she does. She's going to bring her own skill set the same way a guy would bring his own skill set.

But fundamentally the actions are the same. I think that's where the breakthrough is -- that we can stop saying 'female action' or 'male action,' we'll just say 'action star.' I think she's really, in a way, gone beyond gender."

Di Bonaventura compares Jolie to Steve McQueen in the way she combines her athleticism and acting ability:

"Steve McQueen wasn't a big guy. She's not a big girl. He wasn't pumped up. She's not pumped up. But you believed Steve McQueen was going to kick whoever's ass it was. And you believe she can kick whoever's ass it is. And that's attitude, not physicality."

I hadn't thought of that. It's true. McQueen wasn't a brawny guy at all but nobody would doubt he could hold his ground in a fight -- he's got that glare. And, Jolie has no problem convincing us she could bash your face in and best any man (she may have invented the glare for women).

I can't think of another female actor who has that kind of energy. I just don't see Linda Hamilton, buffed up though she may have been in 'Terminator', being believable winning an all out fistfight with a man. Sigourney Weaver's character in 'Alien' lost a fight with a man -- although 'he' was a machine. Neither Weaver or Hamilton (or any other female actor I can think of) portrayed an intimidating character then the way Angelina Jolie does now.

We've come a long way since the days when toughness in female characters was mainly reflected by their dialogue. A tough-talking Angie Dickinson comes to mind.

Here's another clip from Hornaday's piece:

When the writers made Salt a woman, Jolie explains, "the instinct would be . . . to make it softer, and instead we decided it had to be meaner. She had to fight dirty and darker because that's what you'd have to do to win against a man who's much bigger than you."

In one of the getaway sequences, Evelyn Salt is portrayed as driving a cop car by shocking the (unconscious) police officer in the driver's seat with a taser -- creating reflex actions that work the pedals, and steering wheel, etc. That kind of thing would be reprehensible for a male character -- definitely hitting below the belt -- but acceptable from Jolie's character for the reasons she cites. A woman would have to fight dirty to overcome the strength difference with a man.

So, Evelyn Salt is grittier both emotionally and physically than, say, Matt Damon's Jason Bourne or Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt.

For me, it's a welcome change. For me, in movies, girly-tough ain't nearly enough.

'Salt' B Roll

Another 'Salt' Getaway

SALT Exclusive Clip: Stunning Escape

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This time in 1:07 and 71 cuts.

'Salt' Getaway

Taking Offense

Glenn Kenny is a bit put off by being referred to as 'ordinary and pathetic' by the character played by James McAvoy in 'Wanted'. Isn't that a bit oversensitive? I mean, really -- this guy, McAvoy's character, goes from being a cubicle schlub to shooting guns, driving fast cars, learning he can curve bullets because of some genetic trait his father passed to him, and, (let's not forget) kissing a character that happens to be played by Angelina Jolie. That ain't bad.

I think the fact is most people feel pretty ordinary and more than a bit pathetic, at least from time to time, driving a desk through decades of their lives. That's why movies like 'Wanted' make tons of money. We love to see someone break out, even if (or especially if), it's in an over-the-top fantasy (allegory) action movie. McAvoy's character sees himself as a total loser in the beginning of the movie. By the end of the movie he has become something, anything, other than a desk-jockey. Why not cut him some slack and allow him to call us ordinary and pathetic. Don't most people refer to themselves, from time to time, in just such a manner? The people I know do. I sure as hell do.

However, I see Kenny's point about Hayden Christensen saying "I wasn't always like this. Once, I was a normal person. A chump, just like you." in the beginning of 'Jumper'. I'm sorry, but Christensen's acting just doesn't give him the right to say that, even in character. But, Wesley Gibson, played by James McAvoy, saying such a thing in 'Wanted' -- I can live with that.

I mean, look at that poor fucker -- before...

...and after. More power to him. (Even if he's just a fictional character in a fantasy [allegory] action movie). I believe most people would take a deal like Wesley's (although it would have to be tailored a bit to fit reality). They'd take such a deal in a second. It ain't allegorical for nothing. I think Wesley has earned the right. What did he call me? 'Ordinary and pathetic'? I can live with that -- if I chose to, that is.

Wanted In Russia

Notice anything? In the Russian trailer it's all about Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) kicking ass, shooting guns, and engaging in some very violent goings on. Angelina Jolie is hardly featured, and when she makes an appearance her face is blocked and she comes off as a sex object.

In the American trailer it's all about Fox (Angelina Jolie) kicking ass and teaching poor Wesley how to be a man. Wesley is very much Fox's boy-toy -- he's timid, unsure, and pretty much has to be led by the hand by a balls-out Jolie.

Tells you a lot about the difference in our cultures.

Jolie

Vanity Fair story about Angelina Jolie. Photos by Patrick Demarchelier.

Anatomy Of A Scene

Angelina Jolie in 'A Mighty Heart', reviewed by Manohla Dargis. A very different sort of movie with a verite, you are there, feel that's hard to get used to because of Jolie's pure glam Hollywood track record. Check out the Anatomy of a Scene (video) with director Michael Winterbottom. The scene selected plays with both the awkwardness of examining the minute details of the crime and the crackling tension of a wife dealing with her husband's kidnapping.