Angelina Jolie Watch

First let me apologize for the lateness of this post but I had a big charity event this weekend that helped raise money to fight domestic violence. Thank you for understanding.

On to the pics. Angelina Jolie and Maddox left the country last week for the Middle East. We have photos of them arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport and LAX this past Friday. (She wearing gray at Heathrow and black at LAX.)

Angelina visited Iraq and called attention to the plight of their internal refugees.

“I want to come back and find you in a better place and in a different situation. We hope that UNHCR and the government will support you in getting a piece of land. You need help not because you are poor, but because you are the future of Iraq,” she told a family who fled their home because of violence

“The picture in this camp is a rough one but there are also some people that were able to return home to other safer areas,” Jolie said later. “There are some changes. There are returns of displaced people, not a big number but there is progress.”

Angelina also visited soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division and Multi-National Division-Baghdad at Iraq’s Camp Liberty during her day trip.

“I visited Walter Reed [Army Medical Center] and I was inspired and reminded of all the bravery of all the men and women,” Angie said. “I’m always just honored to spend time with everyone in the military. I was allowed to come, and I’m privileged to be here.”

And Finally, the family grabbed Happy Meals on Sunday for the kids. Fun!

Maddox Jolie-Pitt is much cooler that you and he knows it. Check this guy out. Wearing one wrist band and sunglasses Maddox and mom Angelina caught a departing flight earlier today. Not sure where Angie is headed but word on street is that she’d just started already started her fittings for the Salt press tour when he publicist’s house was broken into. Last Thursday Angelina’s longtime stylist Jennifer Rade had three boxes of dresses stolen from her home.

“Angelina was just starting the fitting process for pieces to wear when she begins promoting Salt. Every designer who was sending pieces was trying to send their best stuff,” a source told the NY Post.

Gosh didn’t Angie just finish wrapping up Salt. Is it time to think about the press junket already?

Angelina practiced landing and take-offs  last Thursday in Burbank. Angie wore black pants and tank top to meet her flight instructor for the lesson.

“She seemed like she was in a good mood,” a witness told US magazine. “When she got off the plane, she hopped off. She seemed pretty energetic. She had a spring in her step.”

Angie flew a Cirrus SR-22 single engine plane. I don’t know if this is Angie’s plane. She did buy a single-engine Cirrus SR22 in 2005 for about $340,000.

The next day Angelina took a private plane from “Bob Hope Airport and flew for 24 minutes before landing at Big BearCity, about 100 miles east of Burbank” with Shiloh and Zahara. The trio stay in the resort town for about two hours.

I’m not sure if Angelina was flying this time or not.

Angelina, and perhaps Brad, has traveled from the West Coast to the East Cost over the past few days.  Brad and Angie were spotted at the uber trendy Katsuya restaurant Sunday night.  One paparazzi asked Brad and Angie if they are trying to compete with Nadya Suleman aka OctoMom. Brad responded with a cheeky, “Yeah we sure we are.” This was the second trip for the couple who also had dinner their Friday.

Today Angelina was spotted apartment shopping in New York. The family will settle there while Angelina films the spy thriller Edwin A. Salt. They’ve already secured a Lloyd Neck estate. Angie’s probably trying to find something in the heart the city for when she has long shoots.

Angelina’s Salt character is a CIA agent who’s been accused of spying for the Russians.  She escapes capture and tries to prove her innocence.  Salt features at least one scene where Angelina goes undercover as a man in order to sneak into a the White House.   An “insider” talked with Life & Style about the coming transformation, “I’m sure she’ll give Brad [Pitt], who aged in reverse in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a run for his money in the makeup department.”

Though the film is very close to starting not everyone has been cast.  In fact, Liev Schreiber(Naom Watt’s baby daddy) is in talks to join the cast.  Phillip Noyce who last worked with Angelina in The Bone Collector will direct.  It’ll be nice to see Angelina do a bit of action.  Sounds they’ve got a strong team in the works.

Angelina and Brad are making the most of their time in California. Angelina showed her support at Clint Eastwood’s Gran Tornino premier last night. Clint Eastwood directs and plays the lead character Walt Kowoski. Walt seeks to reform his young Hmong teenager after the youth tries to steal his 1972 Gran Torino.

Clint recently talked a little about the frenzy surrounding Angelina:

AP: You’ve seen firsthand the paparazzi that surrounds Angelina Jolie. If you were coming up in this time, would you have gone into acting?

Eastwood: I suppose. I like doing the process. Of course when you get to the franticness that she (Angelina) is at, at this present time, it is out there. It wasn’t that way when I got in. … It has always been a little different for guys than it is for girls. Girls get in the glamour aspect of it. They get more attention. Sometimes people get attention who haven’t even done anything. Click on photos to enlarge. Enlarge.

Wow.  This is just lovely.  Angie on the red carpet gushing about his Benjamin Button performance on the red carpet with Brad’s mom and dad.

Benjamin Button is getting rave reviews. In fact, the film leads today’s Critic’s Choice nominations including a Best Actor nod for Brad, a Best Actress nomination for Cate Blanchett along with a Best Picture and Best Acting Ensemble nomination for the cast. This could mean another Oscar nod for Brad. This is going to be very interesting because our Angelina was also nominated for Best Actress for her work in Changeling and Changeling itself garnered a Best Picture nomination.

Looks like it was a family night all around. Brad parents attended the premier along with Angelina’s god mother Jacqueline Bisset. I wonder how much longer the family will be in the United States.  More great photos below.

For a complete list of Critics Choice Nominations click below.

(more…)

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt wowed the crowd at tonight’s Benjamin Button Premier in LA.  Brad wore a Tom Ford(one of favorites these days) tuxedo and Angelina donned a strapless Versace gown and and earrings from the Ralph Lauren Vintage Collection.  More pics below.

In a new interview with LA Times’ The Envelope, Angelina talked the Changeling and her kids.  The interview took place just before she helped honor Clint Eastwood at the “Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala. Here’s a bit of what she had to say:

About her nomad lifestyle:
“I don’t dislike it here[LA]. I just really do love to travel. I love other cultures. And I love raising my kids in the world. I’m so fortunate that I get to do that.”

Why she took on the role of Christine Collins in the Changeling:
“Christine fought so hard under such incredible circumstance for the rights of other women. It was a real story that I thought sent a positive message about what you can accomplish. About democracy in action.”

On working with Clint Eastwood:
“You feel you can absolutely break yourself. You can drain every bit of energy you’ve got. He’s not going to waste your time.”

On choosing more mom-centric roles:
“I don’t think it’s a choice of mine as much as it is something women deal with when we get older. A woman in her 30s is more likely to have roles that in some way relate to family.”

As we know her kids are her everything:
“The center of my life is my kids.”

The article also says that Angelina had her “manager, publicist and two burly security guards” with her. That’s a surprise to me. Angelina has always had an aversion to someone speaking for her. Perhaps all the media attention has made her reconsider.

Cuteness. Find out what Angelina’s favorite candy is.

Angelina looked stunning at the DVD release of Kung Fu Panda and the premiere of the companion adventure story, Secrets of the Furious Five earlier today in Hollywood.

Angie talked about  4-month-old Vivienne and Knox and their blossoming personalities.  “They’re great. They’re still so little, but they do [have their own personalities], she the mom of six said.   She added that the twins are getting very “smiley” and their personalities are starting to “shine.”

The rest of the kids are proud of the film.  “I think it’s a great film, and it’s brought a lot of joy to children – and to my children, absolutely,” Jolie told People magazine. “My kids love it. They’re very very proud, they’ve got mom  dolls.”

While Brad has expressed his support for Barack Obama and attended his acceptance speech in Chicago, Angie still isn’t letting own who she voted for.   “I was pleased to see how excited so many people were,” she said at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre event.

Angelina, Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman were on hand were present when DreamWorks’ Jeffrey Katzenberg “presented a check for $1 million to the Conservation International in support of their efforts for the preservation of pandas in their natural habitat.”

Angelina was pleased that proceeds from the movie could do some good. “We are so privileged in everything we get to do in this business, and the amount of money this film has made. To be able to share that and do some good always feels good.”

I’m impressed at how the family has been able to stay underwraps while in the US.  Click below to enlarge photos.

According to Star magazine, the Jolie-Pitt kids were able to dress up and trick or treat just like regular kids. The family went door to door near their home in Malibu.  Zahara dressed as the Jolly Green Giant, Maddox donned a a marine outfit with a helmet, Pax wore a bat costume and Shiloh dressed as a sheriff. Shiloh was heard whining, “I want more candy, mom.” Angelina soothed, “You’ll get more, there are more houses.”

Shiloh didn’t want to walk so Brad scooped her up.  Witnesses report that Brad really got into his Leprechaun costume by taking on a funny Irish accent.  I’m glad the family got a chance to enjoy a holiday somewhat normally.  Good for them.   I wonder when Brad’s due back in Germany for filming.

Photo Source

Angie was spotted yesterday looking lovely in yellow outside of Marino Ristorante in Beverly Hills. I do love her in bright colors. According to TMZ, she spent five hours in the restaurant. Either she was extremely hungry or it was a business meeting. See the video below

PS Angelina’s dress is Catherine Malandrino and her bag is Cooper from Anya Hindmarch’s collection.

Photo Source: Just Jared

According to TMZ, Pax’s adoption is official. The couple appeared before an L.A. County Children’s Court in Monterey Park, Calif yesterday and finalized Pax’s adoption. I’m not sure how exactly this works.

We know that Angie had to adopt Pax from Vietnam alone because she and Brad aren’t married. Vietnam doesn’t allow domestic partners to adopt. I don’t remember if they frown on single men adopting alone or totally forbid.

The adoption had to first be approved in Vietnam and then cleared in the United States. Angie and Brad’s people only say that the adoption is final. I don’t know what that means exactly.

I’m just not sure where Brad is in the process. Did he officially adopt Pax yesterday? Anyone know?

Whatever the case, Congratulations to Pax and the entire Jolie-Pitt family.

The family is really enjoying themselves these days. Angelina took big boy Maddox to see the Spiderwick Chronicles at the Arclight Theatre on Sunset Boulevard yesterday.

The movie “follows the adventures of Simon, Mallory, and Jared Grace as they discover a field guide to faeiries and battle goblins and other magical creatures.” The film stars Freddie Highmore, Nick Nolte, Martin Short and Seth Rogen and is based on a series of children’s books by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi.

Maddox’s shirt comes from Wes and Willy. According to Celebrity Baby Blog, the style is no longer available. I wonder how long it will take to reissue the design now that Maddox is sporting it. Can’t wait to see where the family turns up next. Anywhere care to take a guess?

Photo Source