Unbroken Jolie
Thursday, October 31, 2013 at 11:40PM Did you ever see Angelina Jolie's directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey? I myself missed it, given it's blink and you'll miss it release (there are a handful of movies each year that feel like they didn't come out that, in fact, did.... Oscar qualifying shadiness is usually to blame). It received middling reviews but will she have more success with her follow up Unbroken? I hope so. I'm always wishing her well since she's one of the Earth's greatest celebrities.
The first photos from the set have emerged and in this one, it looks like she's remaking Kon-Tiki the water is so very blue and the man in the raft is so very blonde.
But actually the film is about US airman and former Olympian Louis Zamperini (played by young Brit star Jack O'Connell with whom I am unfamiliar. Anyone?) and his World War II adventures in the Pacific where he crash-landed before eventually doing time as a prisoner of war. The film which could well serve as a breakthrough for its trio of young actors also features Domnhall Gleeson (you know him) and gorgeous soap star Finn Wittrock who will also be in Darren Aronofsky's Noah next year so he's going to be so soggy and pruney in 2014. Acting while wet! The legendary Roger Deakins is behind the camera.
it will also have sharks. Lots and lots of sharks.
Hmmm.
I'd rather watch Angelina punch them than direct them.
more new photos? Here you go...
Reader Comments (12)
At the very least, she can count on a Best Director Golden Globe nomination.
Jack O'Connell is a BRILLIANT young actor. He was the best part of his seasons on the UK series Skins, which also famously gave the world Nicolas Hoult, but I would say that Jack O'Connell is far and away the more accomplished actor. He was in the film Starred Up this year, which was pretty well received at Venice if I recall correctly. Very happy to see Angie pick him up.
I did see In the Land of Blood and Honey. Politically I found it a tad iffy, but aesthetically it was a total abortion. Two hours of miserablism and thudding exposition. Not a trace of insight.
And the artifice really sticks out. If you're at all familiar with the Balkans, you can tell Ms. Jolie isn't really, and you can certainly tell those locations are well north of Belgrade, much less Sarajevo.
I'm hoping this second film is better but based on the synopsis, I'm not optimistic. It doesn't sound like there's much room for moral complexity there to make the characters interesting, and on the basic level of narrative thrust or genre fun, I just don't trust that Jolie can deliver.
Ah well, I'm sure that she, her husband, her horde of children and millions of dollars keep awake at night anxious to prove me wrong.
Jan - Please! We're just getting the first on the set photos and you're already talking awards season? I love the Oscar race as much as any TFE fan here, but that's just insanely soon! Can we just talk about future movies for their potential quality and not for their oscar chances?
Jolie literally gets away with everything. Gets pregnant while Pitt still legally married and doesn't get shit for it...dons blackface for A Mighty Heart doesn't get shit for it...makes a crappy first movie and doesn't get shit for it...
That being said, she will make a good director one day. She just needs to stay focused.
Uh, not excited. This was a fantastic book, and in the hands of a different director, even a newbie like J.C. Chandor, I would be interested in a film adaptation. Jolie's debut did not impress me. Perhaps she could use her cash and earnest goodwill to produce/fund high profile documentaries in areas that need media attention right now (e.g., Syria, Somalia, Texas border w/Mexico, North Korea).
I didn't see her first movie, but the article in Entertainment Weekly that also had these pictures was weird. Could have just been a weird article, but they were talking about how focused to detail and getting things right Jolie was because she wanted the high school track uniforms to be historically accurate. This seemed an unimportant detail in my mind to focus on, and using it as an example of how she is working made me wonder if she is focusing too much on the small things and not enough on the story. We need more women directors though, so if she brings attention to the field more power to her. I will be skipping the movie since I couldn't finish the book, too disturbing.
Nat: Agreed. Shark punching is AWESOME. (See also: Batman: Arkham City.)
Jack O'Connell was one of the stand out actors on Skins, imho. He is hardly an unknown and is much more popular among younger audiences. I predict we'll be seeing him in many features in the future, based on his looks and ability.
TB & AriesMatt -- i was not suggesting Jack was unknown. Just that *I* didn't know him because his fame seems to be British television based. so thanks for detailing!
bensunce -- but that's going around. the article in empire is acting like this is a big Oscar deal. I'm like uh.... isn't that what people thought about her debut just based onher name?
Bensunce -- I thought it was obvious that I was joking. Apparently, not quite obvious enough for some people.
OMG -- that shark looks straight out of Shakrnado. Yikes!