George Clooney Congratulates President-Elect Barak Obama

In a statement, George Clooney said "I congratulate President-elect Obama on his historic victory, and now it's time to begin unifying the country so we can take on the extraordinary challenges that this generation faces."

George Clooney United Nations Messenger of Peace

George Clooney, United Nations Messenger of Peace has called on the international community to step up its efforts to resolve the worsening conflict currently engulfing the far east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

"The recent events in Congo are deeply concerning, as is the international community’s failure to engage in sustained, robust diplomacy to address the deadly and deteriorating conflict," Mr. Clooney said in comments October 29th to the wire agency Associated Press. "In the absence of sustained attempts at peacemaking, United Nations peacekeepers have, once again, been thrust into the lead."

The UN peacekeeping operation in the DRC, known as MONUC, has been working to protect civilians caught up in the deadly fighting in recent days between Congolese armed forces (known as the FARDC) and the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), a militia led by a former general.

As many as 250,000 Congolese have been left homeless since August because of the fighting, which is centred on North Kivu province, bordering Rwanda and Uganda.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council have condemned the violence, and MONUC chief Alan Doss has called on the international community to increase its support of the mission, including by providing more capacity on the ground.

While ensuring the safety of civilians is "the number one priority" of MONUC, Mr. Doss told reporters earlier this week, "there are limits to what we can do with what we have."

Mr. Clooney, who since January has been a Messenger of Peace with a special focus on UN peacekeeping, recalled visiting MONUC earlier this year. "We were in Congo and met with the Indian Kivu brigade in January. We saw the incredibly important and tough work they are doing every day."

He added that the DRC "is the site of the deadliest war since the Holocaust. It is time for the world to pay attention."

Source: United Nations News Service

George Clooney in "Burn After Reading" on DVD

Universal has a special gift for George Clooney fans this Christmas, the release of Burn After Reading on DVD and Blu-Ray, December 23rd. This film starring George Clooney has an all-star cast which includes, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and John Malkovich.

The DVD version of Burn After Reading will include extras such as 3 featurettes. The Blu-Ray edition will also include a BD Live feature.

For any of you unfamiliar with Joel and Ethan Coens Burn After Reading here is a brief synopsis of the movie, provided by Universal:

When a disc filled with some of the CIA's most irrelevant secrets gets in the hands of two determined, but dim-witted, gym employees, the duo are intent on exploiting their find. But since blackmail is a trade better left for the experts, events soon spiral out of everyone's and anyone's control, resulting in a non-stop series of hilarious encounters.

Ben Lyons of E! called Burn After Reading, "smart, funny, and original." Be good to yourself this Christmas, pick up a copy and give yourself a present. And, don't forget your friends and family too!

See George Clooney's Film, "Sand and Sorrow" TONIGHT

Here is your opportunity to see the George Clooney executive produced and narrated film Sand and Sorrow, if you are lucky enough to live in or near the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). Tonight the student chapter of STAND (a worldwide student anti-genocide coalition) will be showing the film.

The general public is invited to attend the free screening at 7 PM in the Lumina Theater, Fisher Student Center on the UNCW campus. Which is located at 601 S. College Road. The Peabody Award winning director of the 94 minute documentary is Paul Freedman. The topic is current and one of great importance, the genocide taking place in Darfur.

George Clooney has seen the atrocities occurring in Darfur firsthand. He was shocked by what he has seen and heard there. This contributes to his narration of the documentary. In a June 2007 review of the film by Variety, it stated "As written, Clooney's narration begins a bit portentously, but settles into an appropriately earnest explication of the situation, calibrating disbelief with a controlled sense of emotional indignation."

The DVD of Sand and Sorrow is also available for purchase at hbo.com for the price of $19.98.

"Burn After Reading" Sets Fire to UK Box Office

In it's UK opening weekend, Burn After Reading which stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, etc., and is a Coen Brothers film, shot straight to the Number 1 spot on the UK and Ireland Box Office chart.

It moved over the other two new releases of the week, Eagle Eye and Igor, almost doubling the amount made by it's closest contender Eagle Eye, and moving last weeks Number 1 film, House Bunny to the Number 4 position.

When Burn After Reading opened in the US, it also claimed the Number 1 position on the US Box Office Charts in it's opening weekend (September 12, 2008). The film remained in the Top Ten for the first five weeks of US release. It has now grossed over 57 million dollars in the US.

Here's a look at the Top Ten UK box office:

1. Burn After Reading - £2.04 million

2. Eagle Eye - £1.1 million

3. Igor - £981,750

4. The House Bunny - £664,306

5. Mirrors - £585,350

6. Taken - £530,578

7. How to Lose Friends & Alienate People - £442,051

8. Mamma Mia! - £427,658

9. City of Ember - £284,899

10. Tropic Thunder - £273,070

George Clooney Shirtless in Puerto Rico

George Clooney works on his tan and a script last week in Puerto Rico. The unusual haircut, with receding hairline, helps Clooney's real hair not show from underneath the wig he is wearing while there filming Men Who Stare at Goats. The film is based on Jon Ronson's 2005 book titled "The Men Who Stare at Goats." The author states it is a true story.

For a scarier (just because the thought of it being true is) description of the plot, rather than that above, here is some info on the book. It is about an alleged secret wing of the U.S. military called First Earth Battalion which was created for the purpose of making "Warrior Monks." These soldiers with extra-sensory perception and telepathy are said to be capable of walking through walls, reading minds, becoming invisible, and even killing small animals by staring at them. Worse yet, the book tells us that the unit was activated by George W. Bush at the beginning of the Iraq war.

Of course, first time film director Grant Heslov, is making an anti war satire. Thus, the film may be only loosely based on the book. George Clooney's character in the movie version, Lyn Cassady, is however a U.S. military soldier who uses ancient Chinese mind techniques against the enemy.

George Clooney Stares at Goats

Yes, you read that correctly. Currently, George Clooney is staring at goats in Puerto Rico. Now, let me explain before you start thinking really weird thoughts (or is it too late?). Clooney is at work there, filming a new movie with a working title of Men Who Stare at Goats. It's a catchy title at least. Though I am not sure it properly conveys the movies anti-war satire message.

Stranger still is the premise of this movie. A paranormal unit of the US Army which is reported to have a belief in soldiers using physic powers to do things such as become invisible, pass through walls, and (get ready for this one) kill goats by staring at them. No, I am not kidding!

Working on the Carribean Island along with Clooney are Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, and Kevin Spacey. Clooney's character is US operative, Lyn Cassady.

Clooney will also have a rather unusual look for the film. He is wearing a long brown wig, and a mustache. See photo above. Men Who Stare at Goats is being directed by George Clooney's close pal (and Smoke House partner) Grant Heslov. This will be his first direction of a feature film.