Unbroken, but Updated...

Yesterday, I mentioned that I had lunch with my friend, horror Hall of Fame writer-director Mick Garris (whose father-in-law Louis Zamerini is the subject of the best-selling book and upcoming movie, Unbroken) -- though we were supposed to have gotten together the following day, but something came up at the last minute and he had to switch.

What I left out was the reason he had to cancel.  Indeed, as so often happens in Hollywood, he had something better on his dance card (though to his credit, he moved our lunch up one day).  But in this case, his other plans were fully understandable.  He had lunch with Louie and the director of the film, Angelina Jolie.  As far as excuses go, that's a good one.

The movie has wrapped production, and now they're in the post-production.  It's been a great experience all around, and Mick has said that Jolie not only is overwhelmingly passionate about the project (which is how she got the prestigious job), but that she's been a joy, and she and Louie adore each other.

Mick thinks the world of her, too, how well she's handled everything with his 97-year-old father-in-law.  In fact, here's what he said to me in private, without a camera or microphone in sight.  I asked him for permission to post it here, and he said fine.  "Every time spent with Angie thus far has been fantastic.. To meet her is to love her. She couldn't be more generous or enthusiastic or inclusive. A very special woman."  And added, "We love this amazing woman."

As I mentioned, Mick said that NBC is scheduled to run a featurette on Louie this Sunday, because he was an Olympic runner in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.