Random Fuzzy
I saw Kon Tiki when it came out and thought it was a skillfully executed sea faring adventure. It won several awards in Europe and was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Oscar. It made sense that Disney would want co-directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg for Pirates. Unfortunately Rønning and Sandberg couldn't save Pirates 5 which continued the franchise's downward spiral in both critical reviews and box office receipts.
Top Critic Peter Ranier wrote:
May 26, 2017
But on the other end, the NYTimes' A. O. Scott wrote:Directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg work up a stormy sea-parting finale that is better than anything in The Ten Commandments. Again, the trick to enjoying this film is to expect nothing.
May 25, 2017Its pleasures are so meager, its delight in its own inventions so forced and false, that it becomes almost the perfect opposite of entertainment.
Unlike Robert Stromberg who had never directed a film before but was handed the reigns to Maleficent on the strength of his 2 Oscars for Art Direction, Rønning and Sandberg have solid directing credentials. They also helmed Max Manus: Man of War, based on the exploits of the WWII Norwegian resistance fighter, which received good reviews. Disney and Angelina are evidently confident in @JoachimRonning's individual skills and his vision for the film to tap him to direct Maleficent 2 on his own. She told Deadline, “We have been working on the script and this is going to be a really strong sequel.” A competent director like Rønning should be able to do the script justice and of course Angelina can help. FTKMF showcased her skill in both intimate drama and large scale action and she succeeded in engaging critics and audiences alike. Warm applause for a good film at the fall festivals is common, but a spontaneous standing ovation that brings the entire theater to its feet is rare. She had standing ovations in both Telluride and Toronto. Telluride in particular is packed with the most passionate and discriminating cinephiles. She could have her pick of directing jobs now if she wished.
Rønning is repped by UTA, Brillstein and Sloane Offer but not handled by the same partners handling Angelina and Brad.
Geyer Kosinski and his Media Talent Group are still listed as Angelina's manager on IMDb despite the fact that she confirmed to THR that she had split from him in 2013.
Jolie's choices are now more than ever her own. She has no publicist ("I had one once, years ago — I didn't like it"), nor does she have a manager (she split with longtime rep Geyer Kosinski last year) or even an agent helping her find acting gigs (Richard Klubeck at UTA represents her for directing). "I like to work very directly with people," she says. "I don't want somebody in the middle. I'd rather speak for myself."
Kosinski issued a statement last year: "Angelina will always do what's in the best interest of taking care of her family." But he may have issued the statement just as a friend. He has not attended any of her public engagements since 2013 including any for FTKMF.
UTA's Rich Klubeck was with Angelina in Telluride and he was also deeply involved in the 2014 Sony email discussions surrounding Cleopatra. Klubeck apparently assists her with her acting work as well a directing.
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She said Maleficent 2 will start production in January in London -- 3 months from now. They would presently be busy in pre-production and casting.
By coincidence, Bride may be in a studio next door since it's scheduled to be filmed in London from February to June.
Ad Astra will reportedly finish filming in L.A. some time between mid-October and early November. They will have a few weeks off before they head to London. A good time for them to go under the radar.
Before that, she said she planned a rocking Halloween party.
-- Fussy
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Thanks Felicity and Pride&Joy
source
Gavin Bond photographed Angelina Jolie, Loung Ung and Rithy Panh for BAFTA at the screening of First They Killed My Father.
