Trailer for Angelina Jolie's 'A Mighty Heart' is Up

I'm an editor over at Glamour, we just interviewed Angelina and Mariane Pearl, couldn't resist plugging (Mariane Pearl writes a monthly column for us called Global Diary). Here's the interview: http://www.glamour.com/news/articles/2007/05/joliepearl

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Monica, I understand your concern about the casting, but you have to consider that there aren't too many multi-racial actresses who are stars. Halle Barry is the only one with a marquee name. Who would you suggest to play Mariane Pearl?

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Thandie Newton was my thought. ABZ

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The movie looks good to me. In terms of casting, I'm sure Jolie will do a wonderful job. She has a way of inhabiting the characters she's portraying. To me, it seems as if Marianne Pearl was looking for an actress of substance to play the part, so if not Jolie, I would have opted for the actress who played opposite Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda. More quiet strength to her.

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Peter -- The two above me answered two of them -- Thandie Newton, Sophie Okonedo.. Or Jennifer Beals, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nicole Ari Parker. Of course, Halle Berry is the most recognizable right now, and all of these women have varying amounts of recognition. But the movie has Dan Futterman in it, so it isn't like star power is a top concern.

Are we really going to say that if there isn't a big enough star of a certain ethnicity, that we should let someone fake it? Where should they draw the line?

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In my humble opinion, there is absolutely no way the last four women mentioned above could carry the part. Nothing in their repertoire suggest so. Halle, too weak. Nicole Ari Parker, no way. (Of the three actresses on Soul Food, she was the weakest of all.) Jada, no range whatsoever. Jennifer Beal, nope. And that's the problem. We're stuck on skin tone. I think Kimberly Elise would be great, but would never be given a thought due to the fact she may not be viewed "light enough" -- which brings us to another issue. Noamie Harris and Kerry Washington have range, do well with accents and would do well. Regina King, without a doubt. But if we go by skin tone, then none of the strong black actresses with range still would have been given a shot. Angela Bassett can run circles around Halle, Jada, Nicole,and Jennifer put together, but continues to get nothing. So, if Mariane Pearl is happy with Jolie in the role, so am I.

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The movie is downright racist and blackface. Marianne Pearl is a self loathing black woman that is denying her blackness. I am really disgusted in Angelina Jolie she's a typical Hollywood white liberal yet her racist true colours shining through. This movie is BLACKFACE ALL OVER AGAIN. Hollywood has a history of "blackface" and Angelina Jolie has stolen a role meant for a black actress.

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You do realize Hollywood is very racist against black women and women of colour. Thandie Newton would of been the obvious choice for the role she looks very similar to Pearl. And the reason Hollywood has so few black or biracial actressses as stars is black women aren't given the OPPORTUNITY. Hollywood develops their young white stars like Keira Knightley, Scarlet Johnansson, Anne Hathaway. Yet the reverse is not true. There is only one "black" leading lady and that's Halle Berry and Berry I must point out is half white. Queen Latifah is a comedian and is wasting her talent. Angela Bassett got old and the roles dried up for her. Hollywood indeed is very racist against black women so few get a chance to get good work. Thandie Newton is now stuck in ghetto comedies like Norbit. Thandie Newton should of won the Oscar for Crash but again she's not American and she's black so she's got a double whammy going against her.

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I have just watched the trailer for A Mighty Heart. It is a great movie all should see, and Angelina Jolie is the right one to play Daniel's wife.She always seems to be a great actress in what ever part she plays.

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As a fan of most of the actresses of color mentioned above (most of whom would probably deliver the goods if given the right director) AND Angelina J, this sounds like more of a relationship issue than a race issue. Remember, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's company initally produced this as a vehicle for...Jennifer Aniston. And as a former flame of Mr. Pitt's (co-star Interview with a Vampire), Thandie was likely considered too. However, perhaps the reason Ms. Pearl agreed to allow Angelina to play the part was in part due to her overwhelming relief that the producer's wife, a Greek-American actress, wouldn't be given the opportunity to mess up the story of her life.

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Anyone who can take a look at Angelina's family portrait or her history of charitable giving... and call her a racist...is just plain ignorant. Seems everyone just wants to get upset over anything causing a stir. Oscar Buzz! Now a black actress was cheated... I have also heard Ms. Pearl is part Chinese, so should we start crying for the Chinese actresses who were robbed too? Angelina is not about race, and neither is Mariane. When is this World gonna grow up? Don't get me wrong I am so mixed race myself that people don't know what to call me or which box I should check... and yes I agree that many women of color are cheated of Oscars...screw the Oscars. Support Women Of Talent by going to their films. Make your own statement. Talent comes in all colors and sizes... Angelina...job well done. You should see it...it is a great movie. The story is conveyed beautifully. Blackface? Nah...A very mixed and well cultured woman playing a very mixed and well cultured woman. It is acting. It was well done.

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