Angelina Jolie, The Unauthorized biography by Andrew Morton

[DawnCt1]

I finally finished the book and it was interesting. Its not the "gossipy", tabloid book that one would expect but a serious look at a very interesting, polarizing woman. Her description of herself describes her rather well; "I have been crazy, I have been wild, but I have never been a bad person". Being a "good person" seems important to her. Its also an interesting look at how betrayal and divorce can embitter parents. One person who should actually read the book is Angelina herself. She idolized her mother in many ways, but the lengths that Marcheline Bertrand went to alienate her children from Jon Voight is rather sad. She held grudges and created her own reality that often wasn't in tune with the facts. By the time she died, she had alienated a lot of her friends, her family and relationships. James Haven, Angelina's brother was more like his mother. Very willing to believe a lot of the untruths said about his father. While far from perfect, Jon Voight has been a part of childrens' lives since they were babies and over the years, struggled to maintain a place in the family. Its an interesting read, even if you have no idea who Jolie is. Some surprises for me?
She was a habitual heroin user, probably addicted. She smoked it.
She was a cutter and has numerous scars on her thighs.
The movie, Girl Interrupted was actually based on the author's hospitalization at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Ma. It was filmed at an abandoned psychiatric hospital in Pennsylvania and remodeled to resemble McLean. I am tempted to rent it because I used to work at McLean, except in a brand new building.
As angry as she was at her father for his infidelity, she had a state in between single and married. It seemed to be "married but dating". She seems to have a propensity to repeat the sins of her parents, including how she is raising her children.

 

[Holly]

Did I just have deja vu or did you already post a thread about this?





I'm curious about why you say she is repeating the sins of her parents when it comes to raising her children. You stated in your first thread about this book that Morton claims she was abandoned by her mother and raised by nannies. This doesn't seem to be the case with Jolie at all. When she had her older kids in school in NYC she brought them and picked them up every day herself. That doesn't seem like kids being raised by nannies to me.

 

[DawnCt1]

Did I just have deja vu or did you already post a thread about this?





I'm curious about why you say she is repeating the sins of her parents when it comes to raising her children. You stated in your first thread about this book that Morton claims she was abandoned by her mother and raised by nannies. This doesn't seem to be the case with Jolie at all. When she had her older kids in school in NYC she brought them and picked them up every day herself. That doesn't seem like kids being raised by nannies to me.

Actually I did start a thread about this, I just finally finished the book.

The image she wants to present is that she and Brad are raising the children by themselves. They have nannies from the countries that their adopted children are from. How much they depend upon them is unclear. She also does leave to film, to go to countries abroad to do her charity work, etc. She flies her plane a lot. She also doesn't have a lot of "rules" with regard to structure and behavior. The kids can eat pretty much what they want and go to bed when they want. Her childhood memory is that she moved a lot. They didn't. They pretty much grew up in the same place. Her children are not in one home for very long. That doesn't mean that they don't parent their children, pick them up and drop them off. Brad has become Mr. Mom when he isn't filming. There was one part of the book that many women can relate to. She came home from a long day at work. Chaos reigned in the house, the kids were up and Brad was "hanging out". She yelled at him, "I am working all day, at least you can watch the kids". Brad's parents visit often. Jon Voight would like to but in that way, she is like her mother and she froze him out of her life for a while. By the end of the book, tensions seemed to have thawed.

 

[superdiz]

I'm curious to read the book. However, wouldn't you say to take anything in an unauthorized (key word) biograpy with a grain of salt? We don't know how much they parent or what their parenting strategies are. Also, in between the he said/she said lies the truth of what happened between her parents and her and her father. I barely speak to my own father and I'd be pretty upset if someone only listened to his side of the story, or only mine for that matter because that wouldn't be overly fair to him either, you know?

That said - I'm still on team Aniston. I guess the cheating gene (if that allegation on her father is true) doesn't skip a generation!

 

[DawnCt1]

I'm curious to read the book. However, wouldn't you say to take anything in an unauthorized (key word) biograpy with a grain of salt? We don't know how much they parent or what their parenting strategies are. Also, in between the he said/she said lies the truth of what happened between her parents and her and her father. I barely speak to my own father and I'd be pretty upset if someone only listened to his side of the story, or only mine for that matter because that wouldn't be overly fair to him either, you know?

That said - I'm still on team Aniston. I guess the cheating gene (if that allegation on her father is true) doesn't skip a generation!

Morton's book is well documented from Angelina's nannies, to family members, ex relationships, etc. His "side" of the story didn't get told any more than "her" side of the story. Her father freely admits that he was unfaithful and it destroyed the marriage. His apologies fell on deaf years however and Marcheline would not forgive. She lived for years after the separation with Billy Day, but when it suited her to be Mrs. Jon Voight, she would walk the red carpet with him. Because Angie reminded her so much of Jon, She sent the infant Angelina to the all white nursery, known as the Ivory Tower, two floors above their apartment, where she lived for at least two years, visited only by her father, when he was allowed. Long after the divorce he sent her money, bought her a house, always paid child support, although both kids grew up not seeming to know that. In fact, in her will she left the sum of $300K in "unpaid child support" which was never the case. Nor did she mention the $500K he gave her for the house she wanted but didn't buy.
What about Brad's "cheating gene"? It does take two to tango. Morton paints a picture of a woman who is irresistable, so is that Brad's excuse?

 

[Disney Doll]

I have no use for either she or Brad.
I think they are both a couple of kooks.

He is an unethical scum who chose not to keep his marriage vows and she is a homewrecker.

Money doesn't buy class.

 

[happygirl]

I find it funny she was so hard on her father for cheating on her mother. However, it was okay for her to cheat with Brad while he was married

 

[TwinsinCA]

I have no use for either she or Brad.
I think they are both a couple of kooks.

He is an unethical scum who chose not to keep his marriage vows and she is a homewrecker.

Money doesn't buy class.

Ditto.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I have no use for either she or Brad.
I think they are both a couple of kooks.

He is an unethical scum who chose not to keep his marriage vows and she is a homewrecker.

Money doesn't buy class.

How about his wife promising to start a family and going back on her word. Was he supposed to stay in his marriage and deny himself the chance of having a family?

 

[DawnCt1]

How about his wife promising to start a family and going back on her word. Was he supposed to stay in his marriage and deny himself the chance of having a family?

That is interesting, because that is what I always thought. That is the what Brad wanted "out there", however, that didn't seem to be the case. Jennifer Anniston insisted that he include a nursery in the house that they bought together and that he totally renovated, even though it was perfect to begin with.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have no use for either she or Brad.
I think they are both a couple of kooks.

He is an unethical scum who chose not to keep his marriage vows and she is a homewrecker.

Money doesn't buy class.

They are both people who chose not to keep their marriage vows. She existed in the world of "married but dating". Scum? In one year they donated over $6 million to charity. That really seems to be a typical year. That doesn't include the millions of air miles, the time and the hours that Angie spends traveling to refugee camps, rolling up her sleeves and working in countries where the people have no idea who she is. She is very much like her father in that respect. His 'causes' came first and then his acting. She seems to work to support her causes. I think she strives to be the "good girl", to make up for the crazy, wild girl. Like her or hate her, she is a fascinating person.

 

[Disney Doll]

If he wanted out of his marriage he should have gotten out of his marriage BEFORE he started up with another woman.

 

[DawnCt1]

If he wanted out of his marriage he should have gotten out of his marriage BEFORE he started up with another woman.

That was the other image that he wanted to cultivate, that it was over with Jen before he hooked up with Jolie. That wasn't true either. Morton portrayed a woman, who once she set her sights on a particular man, he was hers. Morton describes Anniston as a dependent, anxious and insecure woman who Pitt tired of nurturing. Jolie was confident, accomplished, focused, had a child whom he immediately was drawn to. (the bait?) and was deeply committed to "causes. Vanesa Paradis, Johnny Depp's significant other, was a frequent visitor on the set of The Tourist. It is apparently well known that Angie has had a crush on Depp forever and Vanesa wasn't going to take any chances. I was also surprised to hear that Mick Jagger was absolutely obsessed with Angelina and would have done anything to hook up with her. That would have been her mother's dream come true because she also had a life long attraction to Jagger.

 

[Acklander]

I'm curious to read the book. However, wouldn't you say to take anything in an unauthorized (key word) biograpy with a grain of salt?

T

I'd probably be apt to believe something in an unauthorized biography over an authorized one. The authorized one would probably have edited out a lot of stuff.
I haven't had a chance to read this book yet, I'm hoping to be able to hold out for it in paperback but not sure if I'll be able to as it sounds really fascinating. I have a lot of respect for Angelina, she's made some mistakes, but haven't we all? I'm in awe over what a giving person she is, and how she's always willing to put her money where her mouth is.

 

[DawnCt1]

I'd probably be apt to believe something in an unauthorized biography over an authorized one. The authorized one would probably have edited out a lot of stuff.
I haven't had a chance to read this book yet, I'm hoping to be able to hold out for it in paperback but not sure if I'll be able to as it sounds really fascinating. I have a lot of respect for Angelina, she's made some mistakes, but haven't we all? I'm in awe over what a giving person she is, and how she's always willing to put her money where her mouth is.

The book is interesting enough, even if you had no idea who she is. She really is a giving person, as was her mother and more so, her father. She is more like her father than her mother. What strikes me is how she has lived life in a hurry. The now famous kiss that she gave her brother at the Oscars was felt by some not to be a kiss of endearment but a kiss to destroy any competitive edge he may have ad over her in his career. Whether she intended to or not, that was the effect on him. It didn't affect her. She was willing to walk to edge and jump, grabbing any attention no matter how bizarre. Billy Bob Thornton more or less said that a lot of what she did was attention seeking.

 

[Poohbear123]

I have no use for either she or Brad.
I think they are both a couple of kooks.

He is an unethical scum who chose not to keep his marriage vows and she is a homewrecker.

Money doesn't buy class.

So true, and she has NO CLASS no matter how many kids she adopts, how much money she gives to charities, she is still a Classless........

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

In one year they donated over $6 million to charity. That really seems to be a typical year. That doesn't include the millions of air miles, the time and the hours that Angie spends traveling to refugee camps, rolling up her sleeves and working in countries where the people have no idea who she is. .

I agree, Dawn. Love or hate them, no one can deny that they have used their celebrity for good. Two of the most charitable people in the business. Angelina has been a Goodwill Ambassador for years and Brad is so dedicated to the rebuilding of Katrina. Their personal lives may be a little out there, but I admire them for putting their charity work so high up on their list of priorities.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Jennifer said she wanted children eventually. I know its not fair but she was 36 when they divorce she is talking now about becoming a parent when she is over 40 and it might not be so easy to get pregnant as it would have been when she was younger, it may not be fair that men are more fertile longer but it is just how it is. I have to admit I haven't seen much of any of these actors work but don't understand why people expect someone not to leave and choose another when on this board such an issue would be a deal breaker for many. The state of his relationship I neither know or care but he is the father of six that is what he wanted, Jennifer looks happy as well.

 

[castleview]

I do remember reading an interview where Brad said "Jen wants to be a star and I want to be a Dad." I don't condone cheating and think he handled it wrong, but he seems happy now and I just saw an Angelina interview where she seemed genuinely nice. Maybe it was the acting, I don't know.

On another note, I saw Andrew Morton after his Tom Cruise biography came out. I was expecting to hate him, but I found him quite charming.

 

[DawnCt1]

I do remember reading an interview where Brad said "Jen wants to be a star and I want to be a Dad." I don't condone cheating and think he handled it wrong, but he seems happy now and I just saw an Angelina interview where she seemed genuinely nice. Maybe it was the acting, I don't know.

On another note, I saw Andrew Morton after his Tom Cruise biography came out. I was expecting to hate him, but I found him quite charming.

I expected the book to be a rehash of the tabloids, rumors and gossip. I thought Morton painted a fair picture of Jolie and the entire family. There was something to like about everyone. Apparently Angelina has always been genuinely nice. She has collected funds for the film crew, gives gifts to the crew members on the sets that many actors do not even realize exist. This doesn't seem to be orchestrated to enhance her image. Its seems to be the way she has always done things when she wasn't even significant in the world of Hollywood. I have seen Andrew Morton recently in interviews which prompted me to get the book on Kindle. He does seem charming and likable. He really comes across as having no animosity towards anyone. Did you read the Tom Cruise biography?