If Angelina Jolie had a press person or cared about the press she might not be in so much trouble today. She’s being sued by a Croatian named Josip J. Knezevic who claims Jolie made his book into her directing debut, “In the Land of Blood and Honey.” The complaint, filed by a Chicago law firm, claims that Jolie’s Bosnian producer, Edin Sarkic, had meetings and exchanged text messages with Knezevic establishing a chain that led to the alleged plagiarism.

But a Google search of Knezevic turns up an interesting exchange on You Tune from about four years ago. Knezevic got into a pissing match on the YouTube message board with another filmmaker, Robbie Wright. He claimed that Wright had stolen his work for a video about the Bosnian conflict set to Seal’s record, “Crazy.” But people on the board came to Wright’s defense, and Wright sent Knezevic copies of all his press passes from the Bosnian-Serbian war. He and his followers say all the footage from the video was shot by him.

Here’s the link to that page: http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=mUVJU3uWOuo&page=2

Knezevic has his own YouTube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDSi-sNLvKM

Knezevic’s lawyer tells me he knows about this exchange. “It isn’t material to our case.”

Knezevic has filed his suit under an Americanized name, Joseph J. Braddock, against Jolie, Sarkic, and Graham King’s FilmDistrict.

The lawsuit attempts to establish that contact was made between Braddock and Sarkic, as well as between Sarkic and Brad Pitt’s Make it Right Foundation. Emails and texts could be evidence that Jolie could have been made aware of Braddock’s novel. The suit goes on:

“The similarities between the Subject Work and the Motion Picture are obvious: the Motion Picture copies key plot elements, themes, characters, events, sequences and settings of the Subject Work, including without limitation, the following:
a. The Subject Work illustrates a love story that takes place in war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 1990’s. The Motion Picture also depicts a love story that takes place in war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 1990’s.
b. The Subject Work’s main female character is a Croatian (her mother is a Muslim), living near Sarajevo, who is captured and imprisoned in a Serbian-held concentration camp that was located in a village, which was highly unusual since most camps were located in abandoned industrial or agricultural complexes. The Motion Picture’s main female character is also a Muslim who is captured and imprisoned in a Serbian-held camp that was located in a village, not an abandoned complex.
c. The Subject Work’s main female character is subject to continuous abuse and rape by soldiers and officers in the camp. In addition to being raped continuously by soldiers and officers, she is forced to become a servant at the camp headquarters, a duty assumed by very few of the captives. The Motion Picture’s main female character is also subject to continuous rape by soldiers and officers Case: 1:11-cv-08597 Document #: 1 Filed: 12/02/11 Page 6 of 11 PageID #:6
in the camp and subsequently becomes a servant at camp headquarters.
d. The Subject Work’s main male character is the deputy camp commander. His father is a high-ranking “Greater Serbian” nationalist and important officer of the Yugoslav Peoples Army. The Motion Picture’s main male character is also a camp commander whose father is a high-ranking “Greater Serbian” nationalist and important officer of the Yugoslav Peoples Army.
e. In the Subject Work, the main male character struggles with the polarity of his emotions and his military duty; he loves the main female character but is expected to fulfill his duties as a high-ranking member in the army force. Amidst his struggle, he helps her escape from camp. In the Motion Picture, the main male character also struggles with his love for the main female character and his duties as a high-ranking member of the army force. Like in the Subject Work, the main male character in the Motion Picture helps the main female character escape from the camp.”

What’s interesting about this case: usually people who sue over plagiarism wait until a movie or book has made some money, then swoop in. In this case, the complainant isn’t waiting at all.

Meantime, Jolie’s movie has been mostly ignored in this awards season. Jolie hasn’t helped herself so much by banning press from tonight’s premiere and party–much the same way she had photographers tossed from Namibia years ago, and insisted on reporters signing agreements not to ask her certain questions during the release of “A Mighty Heart.” Oh, Angelina. For a woman who claims to be a diplomat, you’re not very diplomatic.

The Sundance Film Festival has announced 13 premieres for this year’s festival, which begins January 19, 2012. Big stars like Bruce Willis, Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere. Chris Rock, and Spike Lee all figure prominently. Sundance regular Parker Posey, one of our favorite people is starring in a new film. A couple of films I knew were going–and had to sit on the news. “Arbitrage” is high on the must see list, especially because of director Nick Jarecki. And in documentaries, everyone’s excited to see Joe Berlinger‘s “Graceland” anniversary film with Paul Simon. Berlinger, however, is probably not thrilled to see Amy Berg’s Peter Jackson-funded West Memphis 3 film–and I’m surprised Sundance took it, given that Berlinger has already made three excellent films on the subject. But he’s already moved on to new things. Also Rory Kennedy has made a film about her mother, Ethel Kennedy. I’m sure this will be the topic of discussion at tonight’s Robert F. Kennedy Foundation dinner.

PREMIERES

2 Days in New York (France) – Directed by Julie Delpy, written by Delpy and Alexia Landeau. A Gotham-set sequel of sorts to “2 Days in Paris,” starring Delpy, Chris Rock, Albert Delpy, Alexia Landeau and Alex Nahon.

Arbitrage – Directed, written by Nicholas Jarecki. A hedge-fund magnate, desperately trying to unload his financial empire before his fraud is revealed, makes a fatal mistake. With Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling and Laetitia Casta.

Bachelorette – Directed, written by Leslye Headland. A woman becomes engaged to one of New York’s most eligible bachelors and asks three high-school friends to be her bridesmaids, bringing their issues to the surface. Features Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, James Marsden, Adam Scott, Kyle Bornheimer.

California Solo – Directed by Marshall Lewy. A Britpop ex-rocker now living on a farm outside Los Angeles must deal with personal demons. Stars Robert Carlyle, Alexia Rasmussen, Kathleen Wilhoite, A Martinez and Danny Masterson.

Celeste and Jesse Forever – Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. In which the titular high-school sweethearts decide to get divorced at 30 but remain best friends. Stars Jones, Andy Samberg, Ari Graynor, Chris Messina, Elijah Wood and Emma Roberts.

For a Good Time, Call … – Directed by Jamie Travis, written by Katie Anne Naylon and Lauren Anne Miller. Two new roommates embark on a highly unconventional business venture. With Ari Graynor, Lauren Anne Miller, Justin Long, Mark Webber and James Wolk.

Goats – Directed by Christopher Neil, written by Mark Jude Poirier. In which Ellis leaves his unconventional desert home to attend the rigorous Gates Academy, where he reconnects with his estranged father. Stars David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga, Graham Phillips, Justin Kirk and Ty Burrell.

Lay the Favorite – Directed by Stephen Frears, written by D.V. DeVincentis. A young woman gets involved with a group of geeky older men who have figured out how to get rich in Vegas. With Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rebecca Hall.

Liberal Arts – Directed by Josh Radnor. A thirtysomething guy falls for a 19-year-old student at his old alma mater. Stars Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, John Magaro and Elizabeth Reaser.

Price Check – Directed, written by Michael Walker. A happy family man copes with rising debt and a job he hates. Features Parker Posey, Eric Mabius, Annie Parisse, Josh Pais and Cheyenne Jackson.

Red Hook Summer – Directed by Spike Lee, written by James McBride and Lee. A young Atlanta boy spends a summer in Brooklyn with the grandfather he’s never seen before. With Clarke Peters, Jules Brown, Toni Lysaith, James Ransone, Thomas Jefferson Byrd.

Red Lights – Directed by Rodrigo Cortes. A psychologist and her assistant with an interest in paranormal activity find themselves investigating a world-renowned psychic. With Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Olsen and Toby Jones.

Robot and Frank – Directed by Jake Schreier, written by Christopher Ford. An old curmudgeon gets a robot for a caretaker. Stars Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler. Salt Lake City gala.

Shadow Dancer (U.K.) – Directed by James Marsh, written by Tom Bradby. Arrested in an aborted bomb plot, a widow must make hard choices to protect her son. With Andrea Riseborough, Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Gillian Anderson and Clive Owen.

The Words – Directed and written by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal. An aspiring writer claims another man’s literary achievements as his own. Features Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde and Zoe Saldana. Closing-night film.

DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES

The eight world premieres in this section are from the U.S. unless otherwise noted.

About Face – Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. Explores issues of beauty and aging through supermodels’ stories.

Bones Brigade: An Autobiography – Directed by Stacy Peralta. Examines the lives off six teenage boys who formed a skateboarding team in the 1980s.

The D Word: Understanding Dyslexia – Directed by James Redford. Follows a dyslexic high school senior struggling to get into a competitive college.

Ethel – Directed by Rory Kennedy. An intimate portrait of Ethel Kennedy, specifically her years with and later without her husband, Robert F. Kennedy.

A Fierce Green Fire – Directed by Mark Kitchell. Etches a history of the environmental movement from the 1960s to the present.

Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (U.K.) – Directed by Ice-T, co-directed by Andy Baybutt. Traces the roots and history of rap through interviews with some of its most influential practitioners.

Untitled Paul Simon Project – Directed by Joe Berlinger. Follows Simon back to South Africa to explore the musical and political legacy of his “Graceland” album.

West of Memphis – Directed by Amy Berg. Examines judicial, prosecutorial and jury misconduct in the widely publicized West Memphis Three trials.