Brad Pitt doubles his donations along with Angelina Jolie

You just have to be impressed with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Pitt especially. The man is like a slot machine. A slot machine that pays out millions, but for causes that benefit thousands or more.

Not a few days ago I was speaking about how Brad Pitt, along with his siblings, just donated $1 million to create the Jane Pitt Pediatric Center to take care of kids with pediatric cancer in Missouri. It was a generous celebrity donation.

And here he goes again, with his wife Jolie. together they just donated $1 million to aid refugees. This was done via the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, and the money went to UN High Commisioner for Refugees. This will help the 2 million people that are trying to escape violence and fighting in Pakistan this year alone.

Jolie has been to Pakistan 3x, and Pitt went with her on one trip as well. Can we say that Jolie has definitely lived up to her position as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN.

I continue to be surprised by the donations and support some celebrities provide good causes. there aren't many that do this so selflessly. I mean there is the money Madonna donated, but that was more of a bribe to adopt a kid that the local laws said she couldn't adopt. No I like the celebrities that just do it because they believe in what they are doing.

Pitt has helped rebuild homes in New Orleans, Jolie has been active in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Don Cheadle is constantly active about Darfur, george Clooney has a host of activies in Africa along with Matt Damon. the list goes on.

It just makes you feel good to know that sometimes, all that money being made in Hollywood, goes to a worthwhile place.

Brad Pitt donates to pediatric center in Missouri

I love it when a celebrity and/or entertainer uses their fame or money to help the public. This is even better when the action they take benefits children. Such is the case with Brad Pitt and his family.

Brad Pitt and his siblings have joined together and donated $1 million to open a pediatric cancer center at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Mo. This center will be on of 6 St. Jude's affiliates, and will be the only hospital in the Southwest Missouri that has a child cancer and blood specialist.

The center will be named after the mother of Brad and his siblins. The Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center will open this summer. Obviously Mrs. Jane Pitt instilled a great sense of civic purpose in her children. Which is a great thing.

Brad Pitt has always been a standout among most entertainers. He has helped raise money for those in need in Darfur. He has helped to rebuild homes for families that suffered from Hurricane Katrina in Louisianna. There are multiple donations and organizations that he has given money, time and support to that help children in this nation and across the globe. Even if he was ot a solid actor, I would count him among my favorites just because of what he does.

I wish more celebrities and entertainers could be as thoughtful and generous as Pitt is.

Movie Preview: Inglorious Basterds

Going in a totally different direction I saw the trailer for Inglorious Basterds. This is the latest film from director Quentin Tarantino. So be prepared to have your ears assaulted by profanity and your eyes by violence.

Now don’t get me wrong, I like the movies of Quentin Tarantino. I love Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. I think Tarantino has a unique ability to display a film that will grip an audience. He provides a sense of reality and honesty most directors shun from. That makes his films powerful and hard to look away from.

I also love the way that Tarantino weaves into his movies insights about human nature, and deep philosophical nuggets. Most might just blur past these comments, but for those that pay attention he makes it intense. I mean the Superman solo by David Carradine in Kill Bill 2 is masterful.

But can this work when applied to World War II? Especially when styled as a spaghetti-western?



Brad Pitt makes an interesting choice of lead for this motley group of Dirty Dozen rejects. He’s not dark enough of an actor to me. I don’t see him as akin to Lee Marvin, who would be ideal for this kind of role. So that takes something off the film for me. But the movie may fill that gap.

And have no illusions, this movie looks to be a Guns of Navarone or Dirty Dozen inspiration. It may be more violent, and thus a bit repellant at points, but it is an homage.

And it has nothing to do with Inglorious Bastards starring Fred Williamson. Entirely different films. No connection whatsoever. And Tarantino’s film does not have any African Americans in it (well except for the narration by Samuel Jackson), which makes sense considering the plot – centered in Europe behind enemy lines.

This film has been talked about and rumored for years. It’s been through multiple rewrites and revisions. It is claimed that this will be similar in ways to a spaghetti western, though set in WWII. Ultimately though the question is if it will be good.

The trailer really doesn’t give us a clue yet. I’m still mixed in my thoughts. But it won’t be out till the summer, so expect to hear a lot more about it soon.

Not On Our Watch, Cheadle and Clooney, donate $500,000 - 3.13.2008.1

Unlike the major news media, or the Government of the U.S., I have spoken about Darfur and what is happening there. For years there has been little said about the genocide, and even less done in Congress. An example of that inaction is HR 180 IH.

But there are individuals that have done a great deal. One of the most notable and famous is entertainer Don Cheadle. Mr. Cheadle, along with George Clooney, producer Jerry Weintraub, entertainers Brad Pitt and Matt Damon created Not On Our Watch. Through this non-profit organization attention and aid has been given to Darfur and the 200,000 African that have been murdered and the 2.5 million men, women, and children that no longer have homes.

It is Not On Our Watch that again did something our nation seems incapable, or unwilling, to do. Today they gave $500,000 to the World Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations. The WFP has been providing food and support people in Darfur for years, in fact 70% of it’s aid goes to this area alone.

As much as half-a-million dollars is, it does not compare to the $77 million needed in 2008 alone.

Don Cheadle, George Clooney and the others in Not On Our Watch need to be commended on their actions and support to date. Congress, including Presidential candidates Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama, and President Bush need to be admonished for their failures to address this issue.

America has not take a stance against what is happening in Darfur. When Apartheid needed to be stopped, America stood up and refused to do business with the nation. We placed pressure on that government and helped to improve the lives of millions of South Africans including former political prisoner and now leader Nelson Mandela. [For those that weren’t alive in the 1980’s, Apartheid was the rule of the White minority in South Africa over the African majority. Think of it as a couple of steps above slavery and segregation on crack.]

If America as a government is unwilling to end the support of the Sudan, which Darfur is within, perhaps the people of America are willing to step up. Already the entertainers mentioned above have done so, and no one would consider entertainers political leaders. Yet they have done more to lead this cause than all of the politicians in America so far, in my opinion.

Darfur may be in Africa, and Africans are not as important to America as other parts of the world. That is apparently factual based on what our nation has done, or failed to do, over the last 5 years. But I see no difference in the lives of children in Darfur than in Iraq. If there can be such huge support for helping Iraq (whether through leaving the area or staying and winning the fight against Iran and terrorists) I cannot see how we cannot want to support those in Darfur.

If you agree with me, and Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and so many other regular everyday Americans you have never heard of then please go to Not On Our Watch and make a donation. Today this organization sent $500,000 because of what they believe and the families and children they wish to help, and amount few of us have. But I have to believe that we normal Americans can afford $1 or $5.

I will even make it easier if you can’t afford that. Every dollar and cent donated to any of my blogs or sites, as recorded in my donation widget above, since the beginning of this year until my birthday on April 6th will be donated to this organization. In addition I will make a donation on that day beyond the funds collected.

So if you can only afford .50 cents, or $1.50, or even .05 cents, I will send it along with ever other donation I receive.

One person probably won’t be able to come up with $77 million or a solution. But all of us together can easily do so.

Ocean's 13 is worth the bet - 6.11.2007.1

Well what can be said about Ocean’s 13? It was far better than the second movie in the series. But in saying that I take away from the fun and action that takes place. The pace may not be as fast, nor the plot as slick, but it’s a movie that redeems the series. The interaction among the actors is quite good as well.


The various actors that were not as well known in the first Ocean’s movie get a lot more time in this going. They are good in their roles but the roles are not as in-depth as you might wish. Mr. Casey Affleck’s Spanish is excellent, the characters understanding of Mandarin Chinese is equally good. Mr. Don Cheadle’s American accent (as opposed to his character’s Eastender norm) is quite entertaining. But that brings up a point,

Most of the characters expand their abilities. Virtually all the team expands to take on aspects of the con that others previously did. The twins handle explosives, the computer geek takes on an inside man position as does the gymnast and Basher. Not too extreme, but different.

Another new aspect is the very direct introduction of political themes. From Oprah giving a family a house, to Mexicans working for $3.50 a week, to a children’s camp. The political themes are right in your face, but thankfully not detracting or interrupting the story, much. The last minute of the film let’s you walk away with a smile. But there is more thought and discussion left in your mind than most movies compel. At least for me.

Did I enjoy it? Yes. Do I get that companies doing business in Mexico take extreme advantage of the weak labor laws and cheap costs? Abundantly. Is Mr. Eric Idle wasted in his role? Without question. Though Mr. David Paymer’s brief appearances just hit the right mark.

I saw the movie with a friend that has never seen the first 2 movies, don’t ask why not. Talking about it afterwards, she enjoyed the movie but didn’t get a bunch of the nuances. I didn’t realize it right away but, there are a bunch of little easter eggs for everyone who has seen the prior movies and pays attention. Like Bruiser.

Well suffice to say, it’s a good movie. Seeing it in a theater is fun, especially if you saw it with friends who saw the first 2 movies. Even if you haven’t seen them, you will enjoy it. But I think it will be just as good on DVD. You can make your choice on that though.

This is what I think, what do you think?