FILMSPECIAL
HEARTFELT
Playing the wife of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was no ordinary job for Angelina Jolie, finds Paul Dale
ngelina Jolie. one of Hollywood‘s
favourite tabloid cover girls. cart soon be
seen in the one lilm that may ensure her cinematic legacy. Better known for her public spats with father Jon Voight. her relationship with Brad Pitt (for which they have been awarded the joint moniker ‘Brangelina‘l and her obsessive quest to gather a brood around her that would challenge even Josephine Baker“s 'Rainbow 'l‘ribe‘. than for her. at times. badly advised fihnography (anyone seen Lara Croft:
(‘rur/le of Life. Taking Lives or Alexander
receittly‘.’). Jolie seems to have finally made the decision to appear in a film she genuinely cares about.
That film is A Mighty Heart. Michael Winterbottom’s powerful political thriller based on Mariane Pearl‘s detailed memoir of the search for her husband -- Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl — who was kidnapped in 2002 in Karachi. Pakistan. Pearl had been researching Islamic militancy. and. several weeks alter his kidnap. was murdered by supporters of former al-Qaeda member Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (who. according to the ‘)/| l (‘ommission Report. was ‘the principal architect of the 9/11 attacks‘). A videotape of Pearl‘s murder was released.
Having Mariane (played by Jolie) central to the film. Winterbottom and screenwriter John ()rloff locus not only on her initial unstinting. panicked search for her husband but also on the sometimes cursory efforts made by Department of Justice and Diplomatic Security Service special agents to track down the kidnappers and bring them tojtistice.
It‘s a heartbreaking and vital portrait of post- 9/l l hysteria and realities depicted in the pared
14 THE LIST 1‘.) Jill 2 Aug; 200/
down. neo-realist style we have come to expect
from the prolific Winterbottom. the director of
The ('luim. 24 Hour Party People. In This World. ('mle 46 and The Road to (imilituiiumo. among others.
For her part. Jolie dominates the role of Pearl. who is a practising Buddhist. with a rare passion. Speaking at a press conference in Cannes. she dismissed accusations that this was
simply a vanity project by explaining her
connection with the source.
She said: ‘l‘d read her book. I admired her
‘I'D READ HER BOOK AND CARED VERY MUCH ABOUT HER ST ORY'
from afar and I cared very much about her and her story. Many people forget that Mariane was five-to-seven months pregnant throughout this experience and when we were doing pre— production I was [at the same stage in my pregnancy] and I remember thinking. “I can‘t imagine not having the father with me at this time." and on top of that being concerned about his life.‘
In America. the film has been criticised for the casting of Jolie. a liuropean-American actress. as Mariane Pearl. who is part African. (‘ritics see it as a cynical attempt to cash in on Jolie‘s box office appeal. But the debate will do the lilm little harm.
l‘or Jolie. the point of the film is to tell the remarkable story of an extraordinary family. She says: 'livery different faith was represented in that house [Mariane is a Buddhist. Daniel was Jewish]. It was very interesting to have these people of different faiths coming together with friendship and concern and dialogue and all that that symbolises.‘
A Mighty Heart is at EIFF on 18 8: 19 Aug and on general release from Fri 21 Sep
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HALLAM FOE
Young Adam director David Mackenzie took to the rooftops of Edinburgh last year to shoot this darkly perverted modern fairytale with Jamie Bell as the peeping Tom title character who has strong sexual feelings towards his stepmum. Jamie Sives. Sophia Myles and Ewen Bremner also star in this adaptation of Peter Jinks' tale of teenage rebellion. The soundtrack is dominated by Scottish bands including Franz Ferdinand and Sons and Daughters, and the film features a title sequence animated by David Shrigley. See feature in The List Festival Guide. page 36.
ETA General release from 31 August. Hallam Foe opens this year‘s Edinburgh International Film Festival at Cineworld, Edinburgh. 15 Aug. 9.30pm.
THE BBURNE ULTIMATUM
The Bourne franchise certainly sits at the classier end of the international espionage-and-action genre, and this is due in no small part to Matt Damon's fine performance in the title role. He sustains interest by gesturing subtly toward the many secrets of the character‘s past and it is the gradual revelation of these that constitute the backdrop to The Bourne Ultimatum. There‘s been a shoot-out in Moscow. Bourne is on the move again. and. as in all good thrillers of this ilk, the clock is ticking. The wonderful Paddy Considine also stars.
ETA 17 August
VS SHARK
And so it's time to enjoy a highly bankable film disguised in indie-film clothing. Loren Horsley and Jermaine Clement are Lily and Jarrod. two of the most ill-fitting misfits that ever failed to find a place in society. Naturally. they get together to form a partnership and bond over fast food. rubbish attempts at revenge. and video games. It's a gentle affair — not designed to give your brain a work-out. but the premise is nonetheless attractive.
ETA 17 August
SPARKLE With a name like Sparkle. this is unlikely to be gritty social realism. Lo and behold, Sparkle is a romantic comedy about a chap called Sam who moves to London in order to transfer his skills as a bit of a chancer across to a glamorous public relations career. This is the kind of film that gets bums on seats. and the kind that probably has Bill Hicks spinning in his grave. Still, it has Stockard Charming and Bob Hoskins in it. so it may have some substance after all.
ETA 17 August