"A Mighty Heart" trailer

email this story
read comments (64)
post a comment

Only a few days before its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, and therefore time to consider the trailer for Michael Winterbottom's A Mighty Heart (Paramount Vantage, 6.22).

I'm intrigued by Angelina Jolie's skin pigmentation and black tendril-like curls, and I presume she gives a decent performance as the widowed Mariane Pearl, but right away you can tell that Dan Futterman (i.e., the '90s indie actor whose Capote screenplay was nominated for a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar last year) gives the more interesting performance as the kidnapped-and-murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

Here's hoping that Winterbottom and his Mighty Heart screenwriters, John Orloff and Laurence Coriat, gave Futterman a bit more dialogue and screen time than Costa-Gavras gave John Shea in Missing.

Goldstein and the kids<< previous | next >>Year's Best & Worst So Far

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 12, 2007 at 7:42 PM

comment #1

EOTW says ...

Come on, you're intrigued by a white actress in blackface? Please. Are they really saying there was NO black woman on this planet who could've done this role? This movie is going to make NO MONEY anyway, why not go with a black actress, even if it is someone unknown?

Posted by EOTW at May 12, 2007 8:06 PM

comment #2

EDouglas says ...

Actually, Jeff, Capote didn't win screenplay...just nominated.

Posted by EDouglas at May 12, 2007 8:12 PM

comment #3

EOTW says ...

You know, I've read other people on other sites make the same mistake when they say this guy won the Oscar. Who did win for it that year? I can't remember (and don't care!) who won year to year.

Posted by EOTW at May 12, 2007 8:15 PM

comment #4

alynch says ...

I'm pretty sure it was the Brokeback Mountain crew that won the adapted screenplay oscar that year, but I ain't certain.

Regarding the blackface, I'd have preferred that she just changed her to a white woman, rather than have Angelina play black. Kind of like Jennifer Connelly in A Beautiful Mind.

Posted by alynch at May 12, 2007 8:29 PM

comment #5

Movie fan09 says ...

why didn't they just get thandie newton?

Posted by Movie fan09 at May 12, 2007 8:31 PM

comment #6

MattM says ...

Because Thandie Newton doesn't have the pull to get this film made, as she has ZERO box office clout.

Posted by MattM at May 12, 2007 8:56 PM

comment #7

Balthazar says ...

I am aggressively disinterested in this film. ...

Posted by Balthazar at May 12, 2007 9:06 PM

comment #8

lazespud says ...

Jeez EOTW, I think you're being unduly harsh and are perhaps a bit guilty of the same syndrome you are apparently bemoaning.

If I'm not mistaken Jolie's mom is Iroqois (either part or all). Mariane Pearl's background is (according to that font of accuracy Wikipedia) "Afro-Cuban" and "Dutch". It seems that both of them don't fall into clearly defined race categories and both clearly have what in the old days were referred to as "exotic" features (which meant they looked mostly "white" but had other races or ethnicities apparent in their looks). If you look at any photo of Mariane Pearl; you see a woman with facial structure that is mostly "caucasian" but with darker skin. At the risk of going even further down a horrible rabbit hole; you could argue that Jolie's larger lips are more akin to what we would traditionally describe as African American. So should we disqualify this multi-ethnic woman from playing another multi-ethnic woman because her skin color isn't quite dark enough? Or should we go in the other direction and disqualify her because her lips are too big? Do we really need to even think about this in this day and age?

I think she's more than qualified enough as an actress and as a multi-hyphenate-racially identified person to tackle the role.

I agree with you though that it probably won't make much money. Thank God money isn't always the driving force in making films.

Posted by lazespud at May 12, 2007 9:10 PM

comment #9

JD says ...

If you think this is a blackface performance, you don't understand what the term blackface really means/implies. Seriously, find something else to be offended by.

Posted by JD at May 12, 2007 9:11 PM

comment #10

Matthew Lucas says ...

"Brokeback" did indeed win the Best Adapted Screenplay award that year, not "Capote."

Posted by Matthew Lucas at May 12, 2007 9:40 PM

comment #11

D.Z. says ...

EOTW: "Are they really saying there was NO black woman on this planet who could've done this role?"

Halle Berry would've worked, but she wasn't a home-wrecker, so she was considered less marketable.

alfred: "why didn't they just get thandie newton?"

I like Newton, too. Maybe the producers were worried that audiences would like her more than Futterman the way they preferred her over Xenu Jr. in MI2.

laze: "So should we disqualify this multi-ethnic woman from playing another multi-ethnic woman because her skin color isn't quite dark enough?"

Nah, I'd disqualify her because of Tomb Raider and
Sky Captain.

Posted by D.Z. at May 12, 2007 10:29 PM

comment #12

Scott Feinberg says ...

I think Jolie's transformation from the blood-vial-carrying Billy Bob days to the humanitarian, thoughtful actress/activist of today really is amazing, and I've never totally understood how it came about. Regardless, I think the stories she has been championing are generally very worthy of attention, and would not receive anywhere near as much of it were she not shining some of her starlight on it. Incidentally, I just posted a piece on the remarkable docu she and Brad have supported (and he exec produced) about the lost boys of Sudan, "God Grew Tired of Us," which you can read at AndTheWinnerIs.blog.com

Posted by Scott Feinberg at May 13, 2007 1:17 AM

comment #13

D.Z. says ...

Scott: "I think Jolie's transformation from the blood-vial-carrying Billy Bob days to the humanitarian, thoughtful actress/activist of today really is amazing,"

She's just doing it for her image. The only difference between then and now is Pitt is the one who's whipped instead of Thornton.

"Regardless, I think the stories she has been championing are generally very worthy of attention, and would not receive anywhere near as much of it were she not shining some of her starlight on it."

Clooney cares about Darfur, too; and he doesn't have to filter the issue through tabloid rags to get the American public's attention.

Posted by D.Z. at May 13, 2007 1:33 AM

comment #14

raj says ...

Angelina Jolie always strikes me as having such limited range. And she's terrible at accents. It's a good thing Winterbottom makes a film every year. That way he can always chalk up the experience as a chance to shoot in India.

And I know someone said it before, but how is that really the poster for the movie? I'm all for alternative appraoches, but that is some poor graphic design.

Posted by raj at May 13, 2007 4:35 AM

comment #15

Chicago48 says ...

In a couple of weeks we will all know if she is worthy. I'm reserving my opinion until the movie, but, the blackface comment? Uncalled for. Looks like she has a deep tan to me, and she could very easily pass for Pearl who is interracial.

Posted by Chicago48 at May 13, 2007 5:08 AM

comment #16

le corbeau says ...

"Because Thandie Newton doesn't have the pull to get this film made, as she has ZERO box office clout."

Where Angelina Jolie... has been in a string of starring flops?

Posted by le corbeau at May 13, 2007 6:14 AM

comment #17

MattM says ...

Angelina Jolie at least gets you media coverage, which, for an indie/smaller movie, is the first step in the battle.

Also, Jolie's last movie where she was a lead did 100M+ ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith").

Posted by MattM at May 13, 2007 7:09 AM

comment #18

alero says ...

I like Dan Futterman on Judging Amy so I also hope this is a good part for him. He seems to have this relax charm about him.

I don't care if Jolie image is being help when she travels for the UN or other organizations. I care that she is shining a light on images and stories that some in the US and other countries don't get to see or read enough about. We can no longer plead ignorance.

Posted by alero at May 13, 2007 7:39 AM

comment #19

EOTW says ...

This movie still won't make a dime in any country. I'm not offended by a white actress doing blackface for a role, I just think there has to be a great, decent even acceptable black actress who could play a black woman. OK, so Angie ain't totally white. Whatever.

DZ, you crack me up. She's far from a humanitarian. You didn't hear this from me, but I have a friend who works in the entertainment industry and a few years ago, he was at a dinner party held by his boss and part of the reason for the party was to smooth some film that Angie was going to be doing. Anyway, my friend arrives at this party a little bit late and finds a few people sitting around the table, chief among them was Billy Bob himself. There was some small chat going on but Billy Bob was really kind of out of it. Then, out of nowhere, Angie crawls out from under the table and the two of them get up and leave. True? Maybe, maybe not, but the guy who repeated this to me is one of the few people trustworthy people I've ever known. The woman is far from being some great mother/humanitarian. A great cocksucker, maybe.

Posted by EOTW at May 13, 2007 7:39 AM

comment #20

le corbeau says ...

"The woman is far from being some great mother/humanitarian. A great cocksucker, maybe."

I'm having a hard time seeing why those are all mutually exclusive...

Posted by le corbeau at May 13, 2007 7:53 AM

comment #21

corey3rd says ...

they gave the Oscar last year for an actor that was darkened up.

Some blackface entertainers were black performers.

Posted by corey3rd at May 13, 2007 8:13 AM

comment #22

nola says ...

this issue of casting was debated before. Jennifer aniston was attached to play the role, so thank we dodged that bullet. Halle could not have pulled off a French accent and their is nothing about Halle or Jen that says non-american or even maternal for that matter.

Re: thandie I like her but when I tried to attach her to a project we had at the studio, it was a very strong no go. I'm not sure what happened with thandie's career. Mabye a combo of being difficult, not the strongest actress and no box office really.

I am a black american woman and I don't considered Jolie being in this movie as "blackface". I suggest people rent BAMBOOZLED to find out what blackface means. I've met Ms. Pearl. She is not african-american. Let's not put all our racial B.S. on her. She is a french/dutch woman with Cuban heritage. I have no idea what her Cuban relatives look like. The majority of my family lives overseas, France, Holland and the Caribbean. I am amazed how little they care about the things we seem to be obsessed with here. Some of my relatives are lighter than Angelina and hell my lips are thinner than hers (since we are breaking down "black traits") and other relatives are Taye Diggs' complexion. They are all considered black and would not say Jolie is in black face. end of fucking story.

anyway back on topic. It could be because it's Mother's day or seeing their son when I was in NYC but the trailer made me sad.

That said, not sure why this isn't being released in the fall.

Posted by nola at May 13, 2007 8:20 AM

comment #23

Higgy Hackford says ...

Interesting discussion. On the race thing, I'm black and I think it's a non issue. I never thought of Mariane Pearl as black. While I never looked into her background, I always wondered about her heritage every time I saw her on television. But I did the same thing every time I saw Jolie, too...until I finally just forgot to notice. I think she's a good choice, not only for box office reasons and because I think this is more than "just a movie" for her, but because I think she looks like Pearl.

As for the box office aspects, I'd be curious to see how this movie does. On YourDailySmackdown.com, I raise the question of whether it's got a chance of getting the audiences and Academy recognition that the previous 9/11-related movies didn't get. I think it will do pretty well.

Posted by Higgy Hackford at May 13, 2007 9:49 AM

comment #24

drbob says ...

On the issue of skin pigmentation enhancement, did anyone else notice that Forest Whitaker appeared distinctly darker in Last King of Scotland than he does in real life? I haven't seen the film, so I am basing this opinion purely on trailers.

Posted by drbob at May 13, 2007 10:16 AM

comment #25

VedaPierce says ...

"The woman is far from being some great mother/humanitarian. A great cocksucker, maybe."

And I suppose if George Clooney didn't devote so much time getting his sucked, Darfur might've been saved by now.

Posted by VedaPierce at May 13, 2007 10:30 AM

comment #26

Deege says ...

Marianne Pearl will never be mistaken for white, and Angelina Jolie will never be mistaken for black. Another actress of the same or similar racial heritage could and should have been chosen to play Pearl. I get so sick of people pretending that race no longer matters in America when it clearly DOES. If Thandie Newton were cast as Cindy Sheehan, the collective response would be "What the fuck?". I call bullshit on this.

Posted by Deege at May 13, 2007 11:36 AM

comment #27

Arran says ...

Since Pearl herself was apparently delighted Jolie was playing her, isn't this argument moot?

The person who has the most right to be offended doesn't care. So I don't see why we should.

Posted by Arran at May 13, 2007 12:12 PM

comment #28

jbf81 says ...

Clooney cares about Darfur, too; and he doesn't have to filter the issue through tabloid rags to get the American public's attention.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Clooney HIMSELF said that he became aware about the Darfur debate thanks to Brad and Angelina.

Posted by jbf81 at May 13, 2007 2:39 PM

comment #29

cleopatrajones says ...

Mariane Pearl does not define herself as black nor African American so stop putting your labels on her. Like Arran said, Mariane wanted
Angelina to portray her and even began a friendship with Angelina before Brad and Angelina became Brangelina.

And funny how a man can fuck and discard women like toilet paper (I'm talking to you Clooney) and his actions don't taint his humanitarian efforts (efforts he has publicly said were inspired by his friends Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) but for women we're either saint or sinner. Fuck that shit! I give Jolie credit where credit is due. A woman who has been a UNHCR ambassador since 2000, has been to over 20 war torn/disaster zones as ambassador and have given 1/3rd of her income to charity and has lobbied on behalf of Johanna's law to increase funding for cancer research. I say we need more "cocksuckers" like her. Bring on A Mighty Heart. I'll be there opening night.

Posted by cleopatrajones at May 13, 2007 2:41 PM

comment #30

funkyfeet says ...

For the love of God read up on the history of blackface before throwing the term around, you might just learn something.

Thank you juligen and cleo, Clooney is out there on the Darfur stump because of Brad & Angelina and he had no problem stating just that on the morning talk show circuit. Let's not forget Angelina's influence on Ryan Gosling. He credits meeting her with getting involved in raising awareness about the genocide in Darfur or the praise given by Drew Barrymore who also credits Jolie with jump starting her own efforts to end world hunger. Also Natalie Portman was recently quoted as being inspired by Angelina Jolie. For someone who's accused of "doing it for her image" she sure as hell has inspired a lot of people to get off their asses.

Interview with Mariane Pearl and Angelina Jolie for A Mighty Heart:

http://www.glamour.com/news/articles/2007/05/joliepearl

Posted by funkyfeet at May 13, 2007 3:17 PM

comment #31

D.Z. says ...

Mgmax: "Where Angelina Jolie... has been in a string of starring flops?"

Her ruining Aniston's marriage suddenly makes her more "marketable" to the public. =p

Matt: "Angelina Jolie at least gets you media coverage, which, for an indie/smaller movie, is the first step in the battle."

If it's the kind of coverage Lohan got for Georgia Rule, why would you want it?

"Also, Jolie's last movie where she was a lead did 100M+ ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith")."

But not because of her.

alero: "I don't care if Jolie image is being help when she travels for the UN or other organizations. I care that she is shining a light on images and stories that some in the US and other countries don't get to see or read enough about."

The problem is the importance of those images and stories are being diminished by her being an attention-whore.

EOTW: "This movie still won't make a dime in any country. I'm not offended by a white actress doing blackface for a role,"

Someone told me that after he played a Cuban and a Jew, they'd pay to see Pacino do blackface.

nola: "Halle could not have pulled off a French accent"

I bought her pseudo-Caribbean accent in Tomorrow Never Dies. She's just being black-listed for Catwoman, while Jolie's being rewarded for being a slut.

"and their is nothing about Halle or Jen that says non-american or even maternal for that matter."

There's nothing which suggests that Jolie's a good mother, either. She's just buying and bearing children for photo ops like Madonna.

Veda: "And I suppose if George Clooney didn't devote so much time getting his sucked, Darfur might've been saved by now."

What you really mean is if Republiscum didn't devote so much time to Clinton's cock being sucked, Darfur would have been saved by now.

juligen: "Clooney HIMSELF said that he became aware about the Darfur debate thanks to Brad and Angelina."

Unlike Pitt and Jolie, Clooney still doesn't make an ass out of himself talking about Darfur.

cleopatra: "And funny how a man can fuck and discard women like toilet paper (I'm talking to you Clooney) and his actions don't taint his humanitarian efforts...but for women we're either saint or sinner."

The difference is Clooney didn't wreck anyone else's marriage. And he fucks people who are outside the family.

"A woman who has been a UNHCR ambassador since 2000, has been to over 20 war torn/disaster zones as ambassador and have given 1/3rd of her income to charity and has lobbied on behalf of Johanna's law to increase funding for cancer research."

She's still exploiting a tragedy to boost her career.

Posted by D.Z. at May 13, 2007 3:20 PM

comment #32

funkyfeet says ...

DZ, I'm laughing my ass off at you. You sound bitter as hell. Good luck with that.

Posted by funkyfeet at May 13, 2007 3:38 PM

comment #33

Rob says ...

Once again, the Hollywood Elsewhere comment squad wastes no time degenerating into misogyny.

Posted by Rob at May 13, 2007 3:40 PM

comment #34

cleopatrajones says ...

Posted by D.Z. at May 13, 2007 03:20 PM

Jennifer Aniston, is that you?

Posted by cleopatrajones at May 13, 2007 3:48 PM

comment #35

D.Z. says ...

Correction. Die Another Day. I guess I'm suffering from that title problem with series, too. http://www.somethingawful.com/index.php?a=3942

Posted by D.Z. at May 13, 2007 3:51 PM

comment #36

cinefan says ...

So, D.Z., since you seem so critical of Ms. Jolie, how many third-world children have you adopted and how much money have you contributed to third-world charities? It's pretty safe to assume that it's less than Ms. Jolie on both counts. My feeling is, who the hell cares what her motives are, as long as she's doing good and noble things. At least she, unlike our current president, is making a positive contribution to the world community...

Posted by cinefan at May 13, 2007 4:31 PM

comment #37

Arran says ...

I don't recall Halle having any accent in DAD other than her own. Then again, I try not to recall anything about that flick.

Posted by Arran at May 13, 2007 4:32 PM

comment #38

D.Z. says ...

cinefan: "So, D.Z., since you seem so critical of Ms. Jolie, how many third-world children have you adopted and how much money have you contributed to third-world charities?"

Please. We have plenty of third-world children living here in New Orleans and on Indian reservations.

"It's pretty safe to assume that it's less than Ms. Jolie on both counts."

How would a third world-child benefit from being raised by an out-of-work college graduate still living at home anymore than a New Age gold-digger?
And my "charity" to the rest of the world is speaking out against the continued occupation of Iraq.

"My feeling is, who the hell cares what her motives are, as long as she's doing good and noble things."

Because the good and noble things seem fake, and the people she's trying to reach(the American public, not fellow celebrities) aren't being convinced otherwise.

Posted by D.Z. at May 13, 2007 6:20 PM

comment #39

cinefan says ...

To D.Z., It might actually help if you could provide some actual evidence that "the good and noble things seem fake and that people she's trying to reach (the American public, not fellow celebrities) aren't being convinced otherwise." Or do you just assume the American public believes everything that you do?

Posted by cinefan at May 13, 2007 7:16 PM

comment #40

Arran says ...

DZ: 'And my "charity" to the rest of the world is speaking out against the continued occupation of Iraq.'

Genius. Sheer fucking genius. That's comedy.

Posted by Arran at May 13, 2007 7:18 PM

comment #41

nola says ...

deege you do know that halle has been cast several times in roles that were written white. so has will smith, denzel, forest and don. Like cleo and others have said I don't know why you are making such a big deal out of it. Of course race matters in America. The movie is not set in America. Ms. Pearl is not american and she's fine with the casting.

D.Z. you are very bitter. Were you dating Brad Pitt at some point?

p.s. Yes Higgy Forest was made darker for Last King, so he would look more like Idi Amin.

Posted by nola at May 13, 2007 7:48 PM

comment #42

D.Z. says ...

cinefan: "To D.Z., It might actually help if you could provide some actual evidence that "the good and noble things seem fake"

The fact that people care more about Anna Nicole Smith shows how little impact she's made on the American consciousness. Live Aid was more successful than her.

Arran: "Genius. Sheer fucking genius. That's comedy."

The Iraq war is diverting resources which could help those countries, as well as our own, so it's not as stupid as you think.

nola: "D.Z. you are very bitter. Were you dating Brad Pitt at some point?"

Nope. I just don't see what Jolie has done to deserve such an important role.

Posted by D.Z. at May 13, 2007 8:10 PM

comment #43

heun says ...

Yes, she's a slut and home-wrecker but why the double standard? Pitt followed his cock and ended his marriage.

Posted by heun at May 13, 2007 8:47 PM

comment #44

le corbeau says ...

"I don't recall Halle having any accent in DAD other than her own. Then again, I try not to recall anything about that flick."

Halle Berry, orange bikini... she coulda had Mickey Rooney's accent in Breakfast at Tiffany's for all I noticed!

But D.Z., if we invaded the Sudan to fix things it would automatically become evil because it would be us doing it, for the Noam tells me so, so what are we supposed to do?

Posted by le corbeau at May 13, 2007 8:58 PM

comment #45

D.Z. says ...

heun: "Yes, she's a slut and home-wrecker but why the double standard? Pitt followed his cock and ended his marriage."

He's a slut, too, but at least he's not trying to act smug about it.

"But D.Z., if we invaded the Sudan to fix things it would automatically become evil because it would be us doing it,"

It'd be the lesser of two evils, just like our bombings in Bosnia.

Posted by D.Z. at May 13, 2007 9:08 PM

comment #46

Deege says ...

The fact that this post has generated so many comments is evidence that the casting choice is, at the very least, controversial.

Nola, the difference is that in this role Ms. Jolie will be playing a real person, not a fictional character who could arguably be played by a person of any race. I was not commenting on the setting of the movie, I was commenting on perceptions about race in America. The filmmakers, actors, producers, and studio are American, so comments about American racial attitudes are appropriate.

I'm really not interested in whether Ms. Pearl accepts the fact that she is black, or whether she is happy with the choice of actress. Many black people are in denial about their racial identity, but their denial doesn't change the fact that they are, indeed, black.

The bottom line is that having a white woman don blackface (darken her skin and wear a wig to approximate "kinky" hair)is insulting.

Posted by Deege at May 13, 2007 9:38 PM

comment #47

alero says ...

D.Z.-The fact that people care more about Anna Nicole Smith shows how little impact she's made on the American consciousness. Live Aid was more successful than her.
~~
Based on your first sentence Bono, The Gates, Oprah etc have very little impact. The last sentence is just plain stupid so I want even comment.

Posted by alero at May 13, 2007 10:29 PM

comment #48

D.Z. says ...

alero: "Based on your first sentence Bono, The Gates, Oprah etc have very little impact."

Yep. And? I like what Oprah and Bono done for charity, but Americans don't care about black people, unless they wear fat suits. Of course, Oprah and Bono don't have to exploit their personal lives for photo ops to draw people's attention to issues.

And the only thing Bill Gates has done is bitch about our students being uneducated after he made his fortune by dropping out of Harvard and stealing and reverse-engineering Steve Jobs' software while monopolizing the market.

Posted by D.Z. at May 13, 2007 11:16 PM

comment #49

jeffmcm says ...

DZ, SHUT UP! You don't care about black people either. You are the height of liberal elitist phoniness - and I'm a liberal and an elitist. You are the scum of humanity.

Posted by jeffmcm at May 13, 2007 11:56 PM

comment #50

le corbeau says ...

So what would have been the lesser of two evils in Iraq?

You know what? I don't "care about" black people either. I care about people, many of whom are black, and I work with black people, my kids play with interracial kids who may or may not be black depending on your definition of the term, and I care about the health of our society as a whole which includes the lingering effects of racism and overcoming them (it doesn't help, of course, when influential types like Barack "Harvard Law Review" Obama attend a church that scorns "middleclassness" as something for authentic black people to scorn), but black people as a special class of needy, incompetent-to-help-themselves folks who need my sensitive, patronizing white self "caring" for them in the form of perpetual government aid-- no, I don't care for them that way.

Posted by le corbeau at May 14, 2007 6:48 AM

comment #51

tinkero says ...

DEEGE--

Let me follow your logic... If Mariane Pearl were blonde, and Angelina Jolie wore a blonde wig, that would be an insult to all blonde women? And I am SURE you'd STILL be angry-- right????? But of course you wouldn't.

You are quite right... Miss Jolie is NOT black... (but suddenly we must have a discussion of what "black" is-- apparently your definition is extremely specific-- I would guess Miss Pearl doesn't define herself in such a narrow prism as you define her).

Ever see Bridget Jones? Renee Zellwiger is NOT English. So?

Kenneth Branaugh played FDR on HBO... did you get all huffy about THAT? An Englishman playing an AMERICAN!!! Shocking...

It's called ACTING my dear, and actors use make-up and wigs daily. That's what actors DO.

Ever see The Queen-- guess what, Helen Mirren is neither as old as the Queen, nor gray-haired, nor does she wear those ridiculous glasses... Did you post about that? "How dare they cast a woman who DOESN'T need glasses, is clearly MUCH younger than the Queen, and doesn't have gray hair! How insulting to older, gray-haired, bad-glasses wearing women!!"

Truly, where do you feel comfortable about the craft of acting?

Perhaps if this were the Coretta Scott King story and they hired Reese Witherspoon, I would understand your point... A film about racism about an Icon in the Civil Rights movement played by a "America's blonde-blue-eyed Sweetheart". but really... Think it through.

Your argument seems to come from your own issues with your own identity, not Mrs. Pearl's identity with herself. But perhaps because Mrs. Pearl sees herself as multi-cultural and multi-racial. (my understanding is her African heritage is 1/4 or less-- so if a "black" woman portrayed her, should white people be angry that their 3/4 aren't being represented in the actor???).

This is RIDICULOUS.

I am saddened you are more upset by make-up than by the fact that this woman's husband was brutally murdered, leaving her child father-less... and perhaps BECAUSE Jolie said yes to the movie, and is p[owerful enough to get it made, her story of heroism has the chance to be told.

Perspective-- this isn't about you, it's about HER.

Posted by tinkero at May 14, 2007 7:59 AM

comment #52

nola says ...

thanks tinkero. again this a very american obessesion. who are we to tell Mrs. Pearl she has identity issues?

deege the director is not American. film is a global medium.

Posted by nola at May 14, 2007 8:17 AM

comment #53

nemo says ...

Good grief, why hasn't anyone pointed out the obvious -- Angelina Jolie's skin isn't any darker than Dan Futterman's in either that photo or in the preview.

Obviously she's wearing some kind of makeup, since she ordinarily looks much more light-skinned. But in that photo her skin color is in a range that is common both in people designated "black" in the US and in people designated "white" in the US.

Depending on the lighting and other conditions, photographs can make a person's skin vary tremendously in darkness. Cary Grant, who had quite dark skin for a "white" person, looked positively "black" under the dark moody lighting in some of his glamour photos from the 1940s.

Posted by nemo at May 14, 2007 8:20 AM

comment #54

Bocephus says ...

Maybe Brad left Jennifer Aniston because she is an over-rated, boring sitcom actress and Angelina is an exotic, talented, facinating, slightly crazy firecracker? Jolie is no home wrecker, Brad was just tired of his lame wife and got the upgrade as soon as he could.

Posted by Bocephus at May 14, 2007 9:03 AM

comment #55

nemo says ...

Well, I can't find any online links to any of the "black" George Hurrell 1940s photos of Cary Grant I had in mind. But here is a publicity still from "The Philadelphia Story" with Grant looking at least as "black" as Angelina Jolie:

http://www.hurrellphotos.com/default.asp?ID=4&action=largeimage&imgid=414

Posted by nemo at May 14, 2007 9:50 AM

comment #56

insidah says ...

Weird. Couldn't Halle Berry have played this part? Bad judgement on someone's part. I'll skip it, thank you.

Posted by insidah at May 14, 2007 9:54 AM

comment #57

christian says ...

halle berry could if she could actually act.

i'm still waiting for that JINX franchise...

Posted by christian at May 14, 2007 11:07 AM

comment #58

nola says ...

insidah, uhm no. like ms. berry but can't see her playing a french journalist at all. i would say thandie or sophie okenedo before casting berry.

Posted by nola at May 14, 2007 11:49 AM

comment #59

D.Z. says ...

Mgmax: "So what would have been the lesser of two evils in Iraq?"

Letting Iran win. Now we're forced to do it anyway.

"but black people as a special class of needy, incompetent-to-help-themselves folks who need my sensitive, patronizing white self "caring" for them in the form of perpetual government aid-- no, I don't care for them that way."

I'll take them over greedy CEOs.

Posted by D.Z. at May 14, 2007 12:33 PM

comment #60

mdc says ...

"The difference is that in this role Ms. Jolie will be playing a real person, not a fictional character who could arguably be played by a person of any race."

Halle Berry is now making "Class Act", playing Tierney Cahill, the schoolteacher who ran for Congress. Cahill is a real, live, honest-to-goodness white person. Since Halle is only half white, does this mean according to Deege's rules of racial purity, she can't play the part? Ms. Cahill herself said she was delighted with Berry, but I assume Deege thinks her opinion, like Ms. Pearl's, is irrelevant.

The theatre is way ahead here. Race-blind casting happens all the time, especially in the classical theatre. Even more so in the UK and Europe. You never even think about it. You just watch the play.

Posted by mdc at May 14, 2007 1:16 PM

comment #61

le corbeau says ...

"Letting Iran win. Now we're forced to do it anyway."

Shades of the Oxford Union in 1933.

Posted by le corbeau at May 14, 2007 2:55 PM

comment #62

Craig Kennedy says ...

My two favorite comments in this thread (I had to skip half of them because they were either by DZ or referring to DZ):

Nola: "hell my lips are thinner than hers"

Mgmax: "Halle Berry, orange bikini... she coulda had Mickey Rooney's accent in Breakfast at Tiffany's for all I noticed!"

It doesn't sound like the real Mariane Pearl has an issue with casting so this is an even bigger non-issue than Richard Gere being too old to be Clifford Irving. I didn't have the energy to read the complaint about Cage as Capone.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at May 14, 2007 6:57 PM

comment #63

elizlaw86 says ...

Actually, I can't think of a better person to play Mariane Pearl than Angelina Jolie. Both women have an international flavor to them. They are both keenly aware, interested and involved in world events. They are good friends apparently, so Angelina probably has an understanding of Mariane which made the woman feel comfortable having a friend portray her in a film which, no doubt, is a very emotional experience for her to have let get made. Further, I am perplexed at this "blackface" reference. Number one: Mariane isn't black - is she? Wikipedia says she is "Afro-Cuban and Dutch." Number 2 - she has spoken publicly about her appreciation and admiration of Angelina's playing her. It's about capturing the essence of the person, not looking exactly like them or being the same "color" as them. Number 3 - Angelina doesn't look black in the trailer. She just has black hair. Why all the fuss?

Posted by elizlaw86 at May 19, 2007 12:56 PM

comment #64