Angelina Jolie has starred in many notable endeavors. The actress has embodied some of the most nuanced characters on-screen. One of her most memorable portrayals comes from a Doug Liman-directed romantic action film, where she stars alongside ex-husband Brad Pitt. We are, of course, talking about 2005’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
While the cinematic pursuit proved to be a commercial success, amassing $487.3 million at the worldwide box office, certain behind-the-scene anecdotes pointed to strained interactions between director Doug Liman and the leading actress during the film’s production. Talking to The Times, the 58-year-old filmmaker shed light on a disagreement he had on-set with Jolie, that led him to compare the Girl, Interrupted talent with legendary Hollywood sensation Tom Cruise.
Angelina Jolie’s On-set Behavior Made Her Difficult To Work With
What happened was that during the filming of a particular sequence for the 2005 film, director Doug Liman envisioned it playing out differently than what the now 48-year-old actress suggested. They engaged in a disagreement over their respective creative inputs. However, the clash almost spiraled into an argument between the two, which frustrated the filmmaker. At this point, Liman made an offer to have the scene filmed both ways rather than wasting precious time over a petty fight. Following was his statement with The Times:
“When I was shooting a scene on Mr. & Mrs. Smith and I had one idea of how the scene should play out . . . Angelina Jolie had a different idea. I said, OK, we could sit here and argue, but we’re wasting time. Let’s just shoot it both ways.”
The issue was far from being resolved. This is where Angelina Jolie objected to Liman’s recommendation. Liman recalls the Maleficent talent telling him, “But, then you’ll just use your way, in the editing room.” To this, the filmmaker affirmed that as the director of the endeavor, he may opt for the sequence he ideated. He, however, intended to select whichever idea was more appropriate for the movie and subsequently, better equipped to accommodate the overarching narrative.
Here’s how he summed it up:
“She [Angelina Jolie] was like, ‘But, then you’ll just use your way, in the editing room.’ And I was like, well, I am the director. I might. But I’m going to use the way that’s actually best for the movie. I have no ego in this”
Drawing a direct comparison to this on-set wrangle, Doug Liman referenced Hollywood veteran Tom Cruise, who the filmmaker felt would never behave in the manner Jolie chose to. The director-actor duo has worked together for 2014’s Edge of Tomorrow and 2017’s American Made. Therefore, Liman knows a thing or two about the action hero’s incredible, flexible, and meticulous work ethic.
Doug Lima Commended Tom Cruise Over Angelina Jolie
In an industry where ego clashes become the norm among its dominant and influential stalwarts, Tom Cruise is someone who is constantly praised for his flexible and accommodative approach. Having worked with the actor, Doug Liman knows the exact manner in which the Edge of Tomorrow star undertakes his strenuous and challenging endeavors. In the same interview, the director stated:
“That conversation would never happen with Tom. Tom would be just like, ‘You want it upside down? Right side up? I’ll give it to you every possible way for the editing room. I want you to have as many choices as possible so you can make the best movie possible that you can make.'”
This is not the first instance where Cruise’s colleagues and co-actors have honored the Top Gun alum with endless praises for his excellent work ethic. Many have time and again attested to the brilliance that is Tom Cruise. Much recently, Mission Impossible 7 star Hayley Atwell stated, about the leading actor of the Christopher McQuarrie-helmed movie, “It’s deeply inspiring to find someone who is so committed to something, whose work ethic extends to so many different departments.”
Doug Liman, who seemed to have echoed the above sentiment, concluded the matter by stating that what he is the most frightened of is not the power exuded by movie stars or the coercion they may exhibit to influence the direction of a particular film. Instead, what plagues him is the worry that the project could turn out to be a lukewarm attempt or simply a “bad movie” if he’s not careful enough. “I’m just trying to make the moment as great as it can be,” affirmed the director.
At the end of the day, Angelina Jolie’s on-set behavior during Mr. & Mrs. Smith was an instance that highlights a predominant attitude that often infests the minds of many Hollywood talents. Constant conflicts between creatives have often led to the downfall of many cinematic narratives. Thankfully, the 2005 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie starrer managed to retain a story that at least entertained the audiences.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is available on Prime Video via renting/buying.
Source: Express
