I’ve been waiting for the anti-Angelina Jolie people to point out the super-obvious conspiracy theory that Angelina clearly only had her ovaries removed because Unbroken is coming out on DVD this week. Totally. Or, you know, she had a legitimate cancer scare and decided to undergo the surgery she had been planning on doing for the past two years. In any case, yes, Unbroken is out on DVD now. To promote the release, Angelina sat down with Elle to talk about the film, directing, Louis Zamperini, and how it’s not enough to just be informed of all of the bad sh-t happening in the world. Some highlights:

She’d rather direct than act: “I prefer directing to acting. There is huge freedom that comes from being behind the camera. It brings a lot of responsibilities as well, but is intensely rewarding. Particularly the chance to help draw out the best in young actors, like Jack O’Connell in Unbroken, who is a remarkable talent.”

Whether she wishes she could redo some scenes: “I tend not to look back and dwell on a project once it is finished. But I do remember how intense the atmosphere was on-set filming some of the tougher scenes [such as] when Louie is being brutalized. It was very moving how always, after those scenes, the actors involved would check [and make sure that] everyone was okay and look out for each other.”

The lessons from Louie’s story: “Like many of the greatest human stories, it is about the capacity of regular men and women to rise above adversity. It reminds us never to give up, and that having the spirit to fight is what really matters. It is powerful because it speaks to the potential inside all of us…I do believe in the old saying ‘What does not kill you makes you stronger.’ Our experiences, good and bad, make us who we are. By overcoming difficulties, we gain strength and maturity.”

If she could redirect the nature of news/gossip: “It is not really the nature of the news, but what we do with the information we have. We know more than ever before in history about conflict and injustice happening across the world, but the will to translate that knowledge into pressure and action at a global level somehow seems to be lacking. Time and again, after massacres and atrocities, the world says, ‘never again.’ But in Syria today, to take just one example, these things are happening with impunity in the full knowledge of the world. We need a greater focus on solutions—not just on information.”

[From Elle Magazine]

Can I just say? I appreciate Angelina so much for never taking a pot-shot even when she’s been handed a golden opportunity. No, Angelina will not trash-talk the mainstream media or the gossip media. No, she will not make some kind of roundabout statement that is ultimately self-serving to her image as a celebrity. She’s not playing that game. Instead, she reminds us all that it’s not just about awareness and knowledge… it’s about gaming out solutions to these complicated problems.

As for the Unbroken DVD… I saw Unbroken in the theater and while I would love to support Angelina, I’m not going to buy the DVD. It was a really sad movie and there were script and editing issues. Save your money for the Selma DVD (God, Selma was such an incredible movie).

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Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and Getty.