Among the many Hollywood actresses that have come and gone, Angelina Jolie is one that no one can ever forget. Angelina Jolie, born Angelina Jolie Voight, is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. Furthermore, she is also one of the most famous celebrities in America.
As a testament to her talent as an actor and filmmaker, she has received various awards, including the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, etc. She has also been named Hollywood’s highest-paid actress a number of times. With all these awards and a handsome salary to boost, Angelina Jolie has hugely impacted the pop culture of the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s.
Her acting is not the only impactful thing about her. Angelina Jolie is also known to be a humanitarian who works for many different causes all around the world. She has also received various awards for her humanitarian work, including the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, the honorary Dame Commander of the Order of St. Micheal and St. George, etc.
Jolie’s humanitarian works have taken her worldwide, where she has met many refugees and listened to their stories. She has also undertaken many field missions to war zones and refugee camps in countries such as Tanzania, Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, etc.
Jolie’s acting and filmmaking capabilities have made her an essential part of the film industry. She has created movies that have had a lasting impression on those who watch them. Thus, she has solidified herself as one of the best and most memorable actresses that Hollywood has ever seen.
The Impact of Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie became a public figure as soon as she gained popularity for her roles in films like George Wallace and Girl, Interrupted. With her rise to fame, she has become a robust and influential figure in American Entertainment history and in pop culture.
Due to her influence and beauty, she has been named one of the most beautiful women in the world multiple times by multiple sources. Furthermore, her personal life has been a subject of public curiosity, and discussions have been held at large about who she dates, her children, her marriages, and her divorces.
Films
George Wallace
Angelia Jolie has participated in some of the most influential and popular films throughout her career. One of her firsts was George Wallace, a 1997 biographical two-part mini-series. This mini-series was produced and directed by John Frankenheimer.
The story is based on the 1996 biography called Wallace: The Classic Portrait of Alabama Governor George Wallace. This book was written by Frady, who also wrote the teleplay with Paul Monash.
The cast of this mini-series includes Gary Sinise, Mare Winningham, Joe Don Baker, Terry Kinney, Angelina Jolie, etc. When released, George Wallace was a critical and commercial success. Critics highly praised it, and it also received a lot of awards, including Emmy Awards, Outstanding Lead Actor, etc.
For this film, Angelina Jolie also won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Even though Jolie was not the leading lady in the series, she managed to still wow the audience with her acting and leave behind a legacy.
Girl Interrupted
Jolie never restricted herself to one genre or similar characters; instead, she managed to diversify her acting and took part in films of various different genres. In 1999, Jolie was one of the main characters of Girl, Interrupted, a 1999 American psychological drama film.
The cast of this film included Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg, Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphey, Elizabeth Moss, Vanessa Redgrave, Angela Bettis, etc. The film follows a young woman who spends 18 months at a psychiatric hospital from 1967 to 1968 after a suicide attempt.
Upon its release, Girl Interrupted was not instantly loved. Critics had mixed reviews about it. While some loved it, others were skeptical. However, Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie received widespread critical acclaim for this film.
The general public enjoyed their performance and how well the two actresses could help tell a story through their acting. The movie itself received positive appreciation a few years after its release.
The intense performance of Angelia Jolie is a standout in the film and was one of the few reasons why the movie received plenty of positive reviews. Furthermore, at a time when mental health was stigmatized, there was a confusion of social nonconformity with insanity and forced institutionalization. The movie aimed to shed light on these themes, and Angelina Jolie and her performance allowed them to do so quite accurately.
Jolie’s acting in the movie was so moving that she received multiple awards. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe award for the Best Supporting Actress, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
One of Angelina Jolie’s most famous works includes Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. This film was an action-adventure film based on the top-rated video game series called Tom Raider and featured the character Lara Croft.
The movie was an international co-production between several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany. Simon West directed this film, whose plot revolved around Lara Croft, who was trying to obtain ancient artifacts. To do so, she competed with the Illuminati, who also wanted to get a hold of these artifacts.
Upon its release, Angelina Jolie was highly praised for her performance in bringing the character of Lara Croft to life. Even today, one of Angelina Jolie’s most popular roles remains that of Lara Croft.
Even though the film was not as well received, it marketed the expansion of the Tomb Raider franchise. As the game was so popular and had millions of fans worldwide, it was an essential part of pop culture.
Therefore, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was an attempt by the company to use their most popular character to expand the franchise.
Changeling
Jolie switched up her character again with Changeling, a 2008 mystery crime drama film. Clint Eastwood directed and produced with film while Clint Eastwood produced its score and J. Micheal Straczynski wrote the script.
The film’s story is based on real-life events, specifically the murders in Mira Loma and the 1928 Wineville Chicken Coop. In the movie, Angelina Jolie, the main character, is reunited with a boy who is not her son. When she tries to explain it to the police, the authorities vilify her and label her a delusional and unfit mother.
The movie discusses a lot of important themes, and it was a big hit at the 61st Cannes Film Festival, where it was released. Upon its worldwide release, the critics had mixed reviews. It was generally praised, but some critics made pointed remarks about the lack of nuance in the storyline.
Despite the criticisms, it earned $113 million worldwide and even received three Oscar and eight BAFTA nominations.
Unbroken
Apart from being skilled at acting, Angelina Jolie was also a terrific filmmaker. Unbroken is a 2014 war film produced and directed by Angelina Jolie. The Coen brothers, William Nicholson and Richard LaGravenese, wrote the screenplay.
The movie is based on a 2010 non-fiction book called Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. The film’s cast included Jack O’Connell, Garrett Hedlund, Finn Wittrock, Miyavi, and Domhall Gleeson.
When released, Unbroken was a success. The critic reviews were mixed, but Jolie’s direction was praised heavily, and people enjoyed the movie overall. It was also a financial success, grossing over $163 million worldwide.
Wanted
In 2008, Angelina Jolie appeared in Wanted, a 2008 action thriller movie based on the comic book mini-series written by Mark Miller and J.G. Jones. The film was directed by Timur Bekmambetov and written by Chris Morgan, Derek Haas, and Micheal Brandt.
The movie’s plot centers around Wesley Gibson, who discovers that his father is a professional assassin and decides to join the Fraternity, a secret society in which his father worked. The cast includes James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, etc.
The movie received a favorable response upon its release, and the reviews praised the actors for their performance and the fast pacing of the action scenes. It was also a commercial success and grossed around$342 a million worldwide.
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a well-loved animated martial art comedy film. It was produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. John Stevenson and Mark Osborne directed the film, which was hugely successful upon its release.
The cast included Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogan, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, etc. Upon its release, the film became the third highest grossing film of 2008 and also earned the number one position at the box office.
The film was also nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. However, it did not win any. Due to Kung Fu Panda’s success, the franchise grew and expanded itself with sequels. It also became an integral part of pop culture of the 2000s.
Maleficent
Among the most recent impactful works by Angelina Jolie is the film Maleficient. This is a dark fantasy adventure film released in 2014. Jolie’s performance in the movie was heavily praised, and most critics agreed that no actress could have done a better job at playing the evil witch than Jolie.
Furthermore, Maleficient became a commercial success and even earned an Academy Award nomination. The movie has secured a place in pop culture as it is a spinoff of the popular Disney film Sleeping Beauty.
Humanitarian Work
Besides making her impact through movies, Angelina Jolie is also a humanitarian and dedicated to the cause. She has visited war-torn regions and has done her very best to help better the situation in those areas.
Angelina Jolie has also donated large sums of money to help with emergencies such as the Afghan refugee crisis in Pakistan. She has also conducted field missions and met with refugees in over 30 countries to hear their plight.
Therefore, Angelina’s humanitarian work has also had a significant impact on pop culture and has raised awareness of the situation many around the world are living in. She has also inspired many others to take similar steps and do their part in helping better the situation.
Conclusion
Throughout her career, Angelina Jolie has shown many sides of her to the public and has managed to make a lasting impact using all of them. Over the years, she has demonstrated her great skills as an actress and shown the public that she can be a terrific filmmaker.
Furthermore, Angelina Jolie has used her power, fame, and money for humanitarian causes as well, making her a significant figure in pop culture.