December is just beginning and it already looks to be a heckuva good final month of a heckuva good year at the movies. The studios are unleashing some heavy hitters in the next few weeks, from Will Smith's "I Am Legend" to Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts' "Charlie Wilson's War" to Daniel-Day Lewis' "There Will Be Blood." But they will be hard pressed to top "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." I caught a press screening of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton's latest collaboration a few nights ago, and it was sensational.

Check out the trailer:

I'll leave the detailed reviews to Jeffrey & Alison when they review it on RT the weekend 'Sweeney' opens, Dec. 21 and just paint a broad picture here.

I can't think of any other actor but Johnny Depp who could have pulled off playing a singing, slaying barber without making it an exercise in camp. His Benjamin Barker AKA 'Sweeney Todd' is angry, embittered and bloodthirsty. And unlike the 'Pirates' franchise, there are no wink-winks to the audience, no wry smiles saying 'yeah, i know. This is all a bit out there.' Uh-uh. Depp plays it straight and it works. He's a commanding presence throughout -- and an ever-present one. He's in much of the movie.

Oh, and any doubt you may have about whether Depp can handle the complicated Stephen Sondheim songs will be gone before the first number is done. Helena Bonham Carter is a real hoot too as pie-maker Mrs. Lovett, who figures out a sick way to cash in on Todd's recipe for revenge. Alan Rickman just oozes badness as the evil judge who is the target of Todd's vengeance. Sacha Baron Cohen provides a brief but memorable supporting turn as a rival barber of Sweeney's.

As with any Burton movie, it's a gorgeous-looking production, from the set designs to the crisp photography. The musical score too, helps drive the film. It's loud and bombastic. I can't compare it to the Broadway production since I've never seen the show. But I thought Burton turned out a wonderfully twisted piece of musical theater.

A word of warning: It's a bloodbath (I mean, it is about a killer barber, after all) so find a babysitter and leave the kids at home for this one. Burton earned his R rating here. He's also created a true theatrical experience. I just wonder if Oscar voters will have the stomach to reward the film for its daring.

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" opens Dec. 21.

SCI FI's three-part mini-series "TIN MAN" debuts this Sunday night. I've seen the first part and it's pretty entertaining. Yes, it is based on Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" but it takes a sharp left turn on the yellow brick road we're used to seeing Dorothy and the fellas travel. Zooey Deschanel finds herself transported (by tornado, of course) to The O.Z. (Outer Zone) and there meets up with her cohorts who try to help figure out a way to get out of the dangerous, magical land and back home.

Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough, Kathleen Robertson (who eats up the scenery as the evil ruler of The O.Z.) and Richard Dreyfuss star.

There are a bunch of in-jokes tied to the 1939 movie; see if you can catch them all. And you remember how creepy the flying monkeys were in the original movie? The Mobat monkey-bats in "TIN MAN" are just as spooky. Check out this clip from the mini-series:

I’ve been a John Cusack fan since "Say Anything." For years I’ve longed for ex-boyfriends to recreate the boom box scene. Even during my recent Thanksgiving trip to Detroit, I begged my transplanted family members to take me to Grosse Pointe so I could relive scenes from one of my favorite movies (I know, I know…).

So it brings me great news to hear that John Cusack has signed on to star in next year’s psychological thriller, “The Factory.” Cusack plays a devoted (or obsessed – depending on what side of the spectrum you’re on) cop who looses all composure after the death of his teenage daughter and sets out to find the man responsible her demise.

Production starts this January with a slated completion date TBA.

Morgan O’Neill, winner of the Aussie “Project Greenlight” co-wrote the script and will direct the feature produced under Dark Castle.

It’s time again for REEL TALK’s “Ask” contest. To mix things up, we’ve conjured a little trivia question for you.

If you can guess the top producer who gave exotic dancers inspiration to audition for ballet school then you, faithful movie buff, should enter your three questions ASAP!

Submit them to us by midnight, December 13th and your questions will be added to our drawing. We’ll pick one from each viewer (for a max of three questions in total) to ask during our interview and post the answers on our site!

Check this site daily for updates and results. Good luck!

Check out a couple of set pix from the much-anticipated "Watchmen" production in Canada. They show the backlot set meant to resemble 1985 New York City in an alternate universe. And where else to pretend you're in a bizarro NYC than Vancouver!! Before you start saying stuff like 'that subway station looks nothing like the one at Grand Central Station ... remember, its an alternate universe version of NYC. So go easy on the gaffe-spotting. They're not really mistakes since it’s not 'our' New York.

Director Zack Snyder signed on for this as his follow-up to last March's smash hit "300." Snyder earned big-time points with fanboys after turning Frank Miller's classic graphic novel into such a crowd-pleaser. But the pressure he felt making that movie is nothing to compared to this. Not only is Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons' 12-issue saga one of the great comic book works in history -- Time Magazine even picked it as one of the 100 top novels since 1923 -- but it also has a checkered theatrical past.

Snyder is the fifth director attached to "Watchmen' and the only one to get past preproduction. Over the past 15 years David Hayter, Darren Aronofsky, and Paul Greengrass have been onboard to try adapting the story to screen, only to be undone by developmental problems. Terry Gilliam reportedly went as far as having sets constructed before the rug was pulled out from under him.
The problem with "Watchmen" lies with the scope of the story. This is an ambitious tale to translate to the big screen. Previous efforts to get this movie off the ground have had budget estimates run as high as $200 million.

In case you're not familiar with the story, it is set against a paranoid Cold War backdrop of 1985. The sun has set on the age of superheroes. They've been forced to retire by a heavy-handed government. But after a retired hero turns up dead, his fellow capes reunite and uncover a plot to eliminate ALL the heroes.
"Watchmen" is considered a groundbreaking and visionary piece of comics literature because it helped usher in the Age of Deconstruction in super heroes. The men in tights in this series grappled with and often failed in crises of conscience and ethics. These folks weren't pure hearted do-gooders like Superman or the Fantastic Four. They were 'real' people with real flaws, real problems. And only one of them really had any 'super powers,' BTW.

If anyone can make this comics-to-cinema adaptation work, it’s Snyder. He's proven he gets and respects the source material and he knows how to balance the desires of the core fan base with the practical needs of the story. Much of "Watchmen" is being shot using the same green-screen technology (meaning a lot of the backdrops will be added in postproduction by computers) he used so well in "300" so I'm expecting a movie that looks like a "Watchmen" movie should.
And I'm really hoping Snyder figures out a way to capture the climactic scene in Manhattan, because if it's anywhere close to what we saw in the comics, it will blow people's minds. Seriously.

"Watchmen" starring Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley and Carla Gugino (among others) opens March 6, 2009. Check out the official website here.

After starring in not one, not two, not three but FOUR movies this year (three of them Oscar contenders), it's no stretch to say this is Josh Brolin's year. After dangling on the edge of stardom for several years now (thanks in part to some stellar TV work on the short-lived "Mr. Sterling" and the Western mini-series "Into The West"), Brolin's patience has paid off. First in "American Gangster" as NYPD Detective Trupo, the sleaziest movie cop since Lt. Eckhardt in 'Batman' ("Sorry Knox. These two slipped on a banana peel."), then as in-over-his-head Llewelyn Moss in "No Country for Old Men," Brolin shows his range with two vastly different but equally compelling roles.

He talks to Jeffrey Lyons about his splendid timing and more on this weekend's REEL TALK.

Take a listen as Josh explains to Jeffrey Lyons how he managed to appear in two films this year with Tommy Lee Jones -- "In the Valley of Elah" and "No Country for Old Men" -- and never share screen time with him:

1. Anton Chigurh (“No Country For Old Men”)
His hair style alone is chilling. But it’s Javier Bardem’s commitment to the ice-cold killer that is most impressive, making him terrifying and oddly engaging at the same time. Also, his weapon of choice is most inventive…a sort of pneumatic cattle-killing device that is mercifully quick and (I imagine) painless.

2. Don Logan ("Sexy Beast")
Sir Ben Kingsley shows how a shaved head can be menacing with his portrait of a sociopath in “Sexy Beast”. His insistence on not taking no for an answer is at once funny and terrifying.

3. Hannibal Lector ("Silence of The Lambs")
What more can be said about a man who can be so chilling even when behind bars? Proof that an intelligent mind is the most frightening thing.

4.Dennis Hopper (“Blue Velvet”)
David Lynch’s films have their share of oddballs but Hopper’s oxygen-huffing, rapist freak is indelibly marked in my head.

5. Cruella de Vil ("101 Dalmatians"). Someone who wants to kill puppies! The worst of the lot!

What do you think? What are your top most memorable movie psychopaths?

With the football season in high gear, Hollywood has, over the years, made wonderful movies with a football theme. Best, for my money is "North Dallas Forty" with Nick Nolte, loosely based on the '70s Dallas Cowboys. The football looks real, which is the litmus test.

"Knute Rockne, All American" is very dated, of course. But it propelled one of its supporting players, years later, to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Pat O'brien's stirring reenactment of Coach Rocke's stirring speech to his players is a classic.

The Marx Brothers and Harold Lloyd made football movies, as did Al Pacino. And the recent movie about the ill-fated Marshall football team was one of the rare movies with Matthew McConaughey in which he keeps his shirt on for a change. Nothing can equal the real thing, of course, but the video store has some excellent football movies to watch during the week when no games are being played.

Include "The Replacements,” also about a gaggle of former players who turn up for tryouts during an NFL players' strike and Keneau Reeves is pretty convincing as the scab quarterback with personal issues. Of course the best of them all was a made for TV show called "Brian's Song," but you knew what already, right?

The Broadway stagehand strike is finally over. The league that represents Broadway’s theater owners and producers along with the the union representing its stagehands announced a settlement ending the 19 day walkout tonight.

Exact details on the reconciliation have not been announced. But earlier in the evening, the executive director of the league, Charlotte St. Martin, staggered out of the negation room and announced: "Performances begin tomorrow night."

Following St. Martin, senior union officials of Local 1 walked out with index fingers hoisted in the air.

“You represented yourselves and your families and your union proud,” James J. Claffey Jr, head of the stagehands' union said to the assembled stagehands.

Looks like The Great White Way is back in business. (Whew! We don't think we could have another holiday weekend without Spring Awakening!)

Check out this trailer from Sylvester Stallone's fourth adventure as super-soldier and man of few words, "Rambo." Like last year's "Rocky Balboa" Sly's gone back to the basics of one of his most beloved characters. In this movie, John Rambo's living a quiet, peaceful life near the Thai-Myanmar border in Northern Thailand. Unfortunately, he soon gets involved in the bloody civil war going on down there while trying to save some missionaries -- and from the looks of this trailer, things gets really messy. Stallone's said in interviews that he wanted to make "Rambo" grittier and much more violent than the first three. He said the idea for this movie came to him after he called up the editors at "Solder of Fortune" magazine and they told him Burma had the worst cases of human abuse happening anywhere on the planet.

"Rambo" arrives in theaters January 25, 2008.

** Spoiler Alert, Proceed With Caution!**

When we reviewed “The Mist” on last week’s show, I raved about this ‘B Movie’ horror flick with the wonderfully brutal ending. My praise extends to the studio execs. Who allowed Frank Darabont to commit so fully to a final scene that deviates from Stephen King’s novella.

But on the show I didn’t have time to comment on how great I thought Toby Jones was in the movie. He’s a British actor who I first became aware of when I saw “Infamous,” the other Truman Capote movie. He was marvelous, but Phillip Seymour Hoffman had just won the Oscar for his portrayal of the writer, so there was no hope for Toby or the film.

Then he popped up in “The Painted Veil” playing a wonderfully deviant ex-pat living in China. His role was brief but memorable. And now as meek supermarket employee Ollie in “The Mist” he brings a breath of fresh air to one of many stock characters that inhabit the store.

He’s a quiet, dweeby guy who we imagine is often downtrodden, but he surprises everyone in the film when we find out that he was a firearms champion with hidden reserves of bravery. Of course, by the rules of horror films, we all know that he will sacrifice himself to save others and won’t make it to the final credit roll. R.I.P Ollie.

Next up for Toby, he plays Swifty Lazar in “Frost/Nixon.”

Our latest recommendation is just perfect for fans of serialized TV shows like "Lost," "The X-Files" and even the new "Pushing Daisies." It's the complete series DVD collection of David Lynch's bewildering early '90s series "Twin Peaks." This definitive gold box set features remastered versions of all 30 episodes of the show.

Most people don't remember but "Twin Peaks" was a pop culture happening when it debuted in 1990, one of the first true water cooler shows of the decade. But it quickly wore out its welcome in Season 2 by simply being too 'out there' (even series creator David Lynch admits as much). This new set gives older viewers a chance to revisit the bizarre storylines and gives new fans a chance to see what what all that chatter was about.

Besides making a star out of Kyle MachLachlan, it also features a pre X-Files David Duchovny as a transsexual federal agent. This is the kind of show the DVD format was made for. The show had so much going on at once it almost demands you pause a few times each episode just to stop and go 'huh?'

This set has all sorts of commentaries and interviews with people connected to the show, and also has both the the original pilot that aired (which has never been available on home video before) and the European version, which has about 15 minutes of footage U.S. viewers never saw. And you also get a dozen postcards. So make a pot of black coffee, cut yourself a slice of Cherry Pie, and enjoy your visit to Twin Peaks, the strangest town you're ever going to come across.

You can purchase Twin Peaks - The Definitive Gold Box Edition at Amazon.com and other entertainment stores.

Jeffrey and I received several email responses to our review last weekend of “This Christmas.” First of all, I would like to say thank you everyone for watching the show, and thank you for feeling passionate enough to write in with your comments, which are always appreciated.

One viewer wrote that she thought we shouldn’t review films with concepts we can’t fully understand. What concepts is she talking about -- a family uniting for the holidays? I think we all have a pretty good handle on that subject.

If ‘concepts we can’t understand’ should be avoided then who would review “Schindler’s List?” Surely the Holocaust is impossible to understand? I can hardly comprehend what it would be like to rule England in the 16th century, yet we reviewed “Elizabeth: The Golden Age.” I know no colonies of bees, yet felt comfortable reviewing “Bee Movie.” And this week, we’re reviewing “Hitman.” I’ve never hung out with assassins nor do I have a conduit into the mind of a killer -- but I think I am able to critique a film about such a subject.

Movie critics can only bring their own experiences and opinions into the screening room. I am not black, and never will be, but does that mean I can’t review a film with black actors in it? Being white and British, does that mean I can only review films with white English people in them? I try to watch films and review them with equanimity, without viewing them through a ‘color lens.” To do so, seems to me to be racist.

What it comes down to is whether I find a film engaging, plausible or instructional in some way. “This Christmas” was filled with characters that seemed unoriginal, in situations that were clearly scripted. I did not feel like I was watching a real family, but rather one that had been ‘constructed’ to fit around a ‘feel-good’ story with moral lessons thrown in.

Of course, what it really comes down to is taste. And no two people will ever have exactly the same taste. So I apologize if our review doesn’t match your own feelings about the film. It would be a sad world if we all felt the same wouldn’t it?

Has anyone else remarked on the coincidence these past few months of seeing two films with naked fight scenes?? Seems too good to be true doesn’t it? First of all we had Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises” buck naked in a steam room being brutally assaulted by two thugs. The scene was deadly serious and Viggo is to be commended for committing whole-heartedly to the nudity -- even as he must have known that with DVD rentals and freeze frame, his modesty would later be revealed to all.

I for one, found it a bit distracting as it was impossible not to wonder whether anything would become visible as the fight wore on. (And I secretly hoped it would.)

And then just two weeks ago, “Beowulf” seemed to steal the very same idea! The warrior Beowulf delights in sleeping in the buff, almost inviting an attack by Grendel. When this thrilling face-off takes place, it becomes almost comic as Beowulf’s nether regions are concealed behind strategically positioned props.

This made me wonder whether the animators don’t have the technology yet to digitally render perfect, an anatomically correct genitalia. But then I remembered Bart’s skateboard escapade in “The Simpsons Movie” and I realized that I was wrong! Perhaps in a movie with blood a-plenty and Angelina Jolie’s nipple-less breasts, a man’s penis (albeit animated) might just be too much for that PG-13 rating!

What do you think? Do you have any favorite/least favorite naked fight scenes?

Disney's "Enchanted" hit all the right notes with audiences this holiday weekend. It earned $35M Fri-Sun. to win the box-office race. The musical, which gently spoofs the Mouse House's legendary animated sing-songs, has earned just over $50M since its debut on Wed. Strong numbers, and good enough to give the box-office experts optimism that Hollywood's 'prestige' season could lure moviegoers back to theaters in droves after a lackluster Fall. Considering the great reviews the movie received, it's not a big surprise the family-friendly "Enchanted" took top honors during the Thanksgiving weekend, one of the biggest movie weeks of the year and one that's traditionally big for families looking to get out of the house.

[Watch Alison & Jeffrey's review after the jump]

"This Christmas" surprised many by finishing No. 2 in the box office race. Made for just $13M, the Screen Gems ensemble holiday movie (starring Delroy Lindo, Regina King and Mekhi Phifer among others) earned $18.6M during the weekend, and $27.1M since Wed. It also had the best per-screen average of any movie in the Top 10, $10,010 per theater.

Last week's top draw "Beowulf" dropped to third place with $16.2M, and a $56M total over two weeks. Only a 41% drop, which is better than usual for a major release so it appears the Robert Zemeckis motion-capture animation epic may stick around for awhile.

The video game adaptation "Hitman" survived a critical drubbing to score a $13M opening weekend, and a $21M haul since Wed. "Bee Movie" keeps attracting steady business, earning $12M in its fourth week to finish in fifth place.

As for the other two big releases, "August Rush" earned $9.4M to land in seventh place. "The Mist" earned $9M to place ninth.

Oh, and "No Country for Old Men" continues its stellar limited release run by earning $8.1M in just 860 theaters. It has now earned $16.6M as strong word-of-mouth keeps attracting more people to the Coen Brothers' latest project.

Check out the latest website tied into next summer's sequel to 'Batman Begins', "The Dark Knight."
The Gotham Times has four pages of news in The Caped Crusader's hometown and includes pictures of some of the castmembers in next summer's Bat-pic.

They include Aaron Eckhart (Assistant DA Harvey Dent, soon to be AKA 'Two-Face') a young gang shooting victim named Gina (not sure how she fits in to the story) and of course, Christian Bale (as Bruce Wayne). [check out Jeffrey's interview with Mr. Bale when he dropped by our studio to discuss "Rescue Dawn." He talks a bit about Batman and about lots of other stuff.]

The articles detail things from ADA Dent's public call for help in fighting police corruption, details of a gang war breaking out in the wake of Gotham's top mob guy Falcone's demise (Tom Wilkinson in BB), and the gossipy outrage over playboy billionaire Wayne's nonstop carousing.

It seems like this site, along with the many other viral web pages that have popped up recently to promote 'TDK', are meant to fill in the blanks for the time between the events at the end of BB (Batman Begins) and TDK (The Dark Knight. I love Acronyms!).

Do yourself a favor and read through all four sections carefully. There are a bunch of fun little extras buried in the text. Keep an eye out for a 'Correction' the paper had to run regarding a personals ad placed by someone with a sick sense of humor.

Oh, and click on the tear on page 1 (left side) which takes you to the Joker's twisted take on today's headlines. Thanks to another film-related website Cinematical.com for showing me what I missed the first time.

And if you want really want to get involved, go to
Why So Serious.com and follow the instructions. This site has been having fans follow directions as part of an online game. Give it a whirl and let us know where it leads and what you get out of it, if anything.

Here are some other Bat-links to peruse:

Harvey Dent Campaign
Gotham Police
Official Site
We Are The Answer
Gotham National Bank
Gotham City Rail
Remembering Gina

I like how Warner Bros. is handling the web marketing for TDK. Its clever and much more interesting than the usual boring 'film synopsis/cast bios' formula most studios do. That's so boring and does nothing to engage the audience in the movie and its mythology. And Gotham is nothing if not mythic.

But all this Bat-talk has me itchin' to see new footage from the movie. Outside of that first, very early trailer that leaked out late summer after the Wizard Comic Convention, there hasn't been much to see in terms of video.

Of course, one of the big things regarding TDK is that director Christopher Nolan is shooting key parts of the movie with IMAX cameras, including the Joker's big reveal (can't wait to see Heath Ledger in this role). Here's a link to an IMAX TDK Featurette that will debut with Will Smith's "I Am Legend" on Dec. 14.

It will reportedly show the first five minutes of the movie, so if you're a Batman fan, hopefully you live near an IMAX theater.

"The Dark Knight" hits theaters July 18, 2008.

Recently I pondered why anyone would bother to shoot a film in ‘motion capture’ technique. Seems like an awful bother when live action looks better – and is more engrossing.

But then I saw “Hitman” and thought to myself: “There’s a film that was made for this format.” Of course “Hitman” is based on a video game franchise but was not shot with this technique.

Director Xavier Gens tries hard in several scenes to imitate a video game. Timothy Olyphant is frequently seen from the back of his head walking down corridors, turning corners and shooting people. It almost looked like a video game (and the script had as much nuance!). So why not marry the content with the format? Perhaps motion capture is too expensive for a schlocky B level film like “Hitman?” Or perhaps the filmmakers were striving for authenticity?

Too funny! What do you think – combine or leave the two techniques separate?

OK, this post really has nothing to do with movies except for the fact that Oprah always likes to point out she's friends with Julia Roberts, John Travolta, Jennifer Aniston and a bunch of other A-listers...oh, and she did give away United Artists' huge 90-film DVD set, so in a roundabout way, there's a Hollywood connection.

But yesterday I happened to catch a true holiday classic, a seasonal staple and a reminder of why this is everyone's favorite time of the year. No, I'm not talking about "Miracle on 34th Street."

I'm talking about OPRAH'S FAVORITE THINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If by some chance you're not familiar with Ms. Winfrey's annual Swag-A-Thon, it's basically a show she holds each year where she gives away a ton of cool (and often high-priced) items to audience members. It's become such a success that tv stations and newspapers actually run stories before the show airs, revealing some of the products Oprah's giving away.

This year, OFT (short for Oprah's Favorite Things for you acronym-challenged readers) took place in Macon, Georgia, where Oprah's show apparently draws enormous ratings. No one in the audience knew what was going on, so the reaction from the crowd when Oprah announced they were the audience for OFT was priceless. It was more fun than seeing the Miser brothers in their sing & dance-off in "The Year Without A Santa Claus."

And just like that famous "Saturday Night Live" skit with Maya Rudolph as Oprah during an OFT episode, it was sheer pandemonium in the studio. People were dancing, cheering, screaming, crying, praying -- PRAYING!! -- and Oprah hadn't given away a single item yet. By the time she got to the biggest item of the day, a pimped-out LG fridge with a built-in TV & DVD player, I thought the paramedics were going to have to be called in for some of the people in the front row.

There's nothing quite like seeing pure unadulterated materialism in action. One of my favorite moments of every OFT is when she reveals one of the so-so gifts in the show -- like a Scrabble set or an autographed book this year -- and the audience gives a half-hearted 'OOOOHH.'

It's like they don't want to seem ungrateful after getting a high-end camcorder and blender but inside they're thinking, 'C'mon Oprah. Break out the good stuff. Where's the Williams-Sonoma freebies??'

At least nobody's head exploded today like in the SNL sketch (at least we don't think so).

Check out the insanity for yourself at Oprah's website and see why watching OFT has replaced the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as the official kickoff to my holiday season.

According to Variety, "Factory Girl" Sienna Miller is the first to enlist with Paramount’s live-action adaptation of the Hasbro soldier action figure, comicbook, and TV series, "G.I. Joe."

Miller is set to play the villainous, sultry Baroness -- lieutenant to Cobra Commander and girlfriend of Destro.

The release date for this film is set for August 2009 and will be directed by "The Mummy's" Stephen Sommers.

The death the other day of Joe Nuxhall, the youngest player in the history of the big leagues -- he was 15 years, 10 months, 11 days old when he nervously strode the mound in a wartime game against the Cardinals in 1944--got me to thinking about actors; specifically child actors. Now a 6'3" teenager like Nuxhall was that day didn't look like your average child actor. But I began to peruse (a good Scrabble word, by the way) the list of actors who made it big as youngsters, but the onslaught of age spelled the end of their careers.

Brandon De Wilde, for example, will forever be remembered as the boy in "Shane" and while he did make other movies when he was older, most notably "Cast a Giant Shadow" as John Wayne's son, he never became the star everyone expected, and died young in a car crash.

Claude Jarman, Jr., was so promising in "The Yearling" when he was 12 -- you know, Gregory Peck and that cute deer -- but his career eventually petered out. A dozen films, most notably in "Rio Grande," led to an otherwise-short career. Three wives and seven children to support may have led him to a more stable profession than occasional supporting film roles.

Recently I talked with Jesse Eisenberg, the young actor seen recently in "The Hunting Party." He's forging a promising career, with three films in the pipeline and a recent appearance on Broadway. His kid sister Hallie, who you probably know best from several Pepsi commercials made in the late ‘90s, played Helen Keller in a needless TV version of "The Miracle Worker" and has a new movie coming.

But she slowed her career of her own volition, Jesse told me, to concentrate on other things she wants to do. While there are many actors, most notably two time Oscar winner Jodie Foster and Brooke Shields, who began as children and have remained stars, many more have fallen by the wayside. It seems to me that the middle road is best, as it is in so many things in life. Those who are lucky to get roles as children, should never let the profession define them. They should take roles as they come, plan for another profession that really interests them, and then see how things develop. It sounds easy, doesn't it?

You can see my interview with Jesse Eisenberg below. Sound off, leave a comment and let me know what you think or visit our forum and start a conversation with other movie buffs.

1. Amy Adams
We’re excited about “Enchanted” opening this weekend. Adams does a surprisingly smashing performance.

2. Avant-garde and artsy films to give us great topics during uncomfortable holiday parties.
“I’m Not There” is the one movie you need to be there to see this Wednesday. This film offers a cast of six actors playing individual aspects Bob Dylan – a truly unique take on filmed biographies.

3. Family Problems
Because you can't exchange, regift, return or e-Bay your family. Watch the trailer for “This Christmas," it has an all star cast.

4. THOMAS JANE and STEVEN KING with FRANK DARABONT – do I really need to say more?
(I’m just happy I’m not the only person who has thought about aliens attacking my town while I’m shopping in the grocery store.) Watch "The Mist" trailer here.

5. Felicity All Grown Up!
“August Rush.” Keri Russell plus Jonathan Rhys Meyers equals the perfect holiday date night movie!

6. Video Game Themed Movies
Anything tied to a video game with a bad-guy-turned-good protagonist should result in high-quality action! Get ready for "Hitman." Watch our December 1st show to see our review of this film.

There are plot spoilers in the top five list below. Please read at your own peril!

Obviously there are many many films that have great endings and below is just a sample of some that came to mind recently. Sometimes a mediocre film can be redeemed by its ending, as is the case with "The Mist." It's also interesting to note, that Frank Darabont, the director of "The Mist" changed the ending from Stephen King's novella which was more ambiguous. A great ending can leave you with a lot to think about as you leave the theater.

1. “The Graduate”
Everyone remembers this as having a happy ending. Watch it again as Dustin Hoffman and Katherine Ross’s faces change as the bus pulls away. Makes you wonder what the characters are thinking.

2. “Planet of the Apes”
When the camera pulls back to reveal what is on the beach, the full impact of what has gone before hits you.

3. “Michael Clayton”
Like “The Graduate,” the ending has Michael Clayton sitting in a taxi with various emotions washing over his face. Has he done the right thing? Does he regret what he did? The camera sits on George Clooney’s face for an uncomfortably long time forcing us to question what has just happened.

4. “The Mist”
All is lost. The characters have given up all hope of survival. The only hope is death -- four bullets, five people. This is perhaps the cruelest non-Hollywood ending to a film that I’ve seen in a long time. Can’t believe that the bean counters at the studio let this one slide by.

5. “Gone Baby Gone”
Casey Affleck’s honest private investigator has stuck to his moral guns and returned the abducted child to her mother. He knows it’s the right thing to do. But when all is said and done, and that camera pulls back for the final shot...his face is aghast as he realizes that he has destined this child to a life of neglect and possible abuse.

"Beowulf" took care of the competition its first weekend out of the chute, earning $28M to just about double what the runner-up, Seinfeld's sturdy "Bee Movie," took in. Not bad, but considering the cost (estimated $150M budget) and buildup (besides the glowing reviews, ads for the movie were EVERYWHERE), Paramount has to be a little bummed about the weekend totals.

It appears the lack of really bankable stars (This was Ray Winstone's first lead role and Angelina Jolie really just makes an extended cameo in the movie) may have hurt more than some people expected.

The folks behind "Beowulf" can only hope their film shows the same legs as the #2 and #3 pictures this week. "Bee Movie" as I mentioned was runner-up after another solid effort its third week out. "American Gangster" earned $13M to clear $100 million for its run so far. Ridley Scott's 70s saga appears well on its way to out-earning last year's "The Departed" (which earned $132M).

Actually, it looks like the holiday movie season is when movies can expect to spend more time in theaters. Unlike the summer season, when the blockbusters do huge business their first 2 weeks then quickly disappear, so far this year we've seen the two big movies enjoying a steady stream of business. That has to be encouraging to the studios and theater owners since we're not even to Thanksgiving and with plenty of big films still waiting to open.

Back to the box-office roundup. Vince Vaughn's "Fred Claus" came in 4th with $12.5M. The holiday family comedy looks like a rare disappointment from Vaughn, who is usually as dependable a comedy star as there is at the box office.

The only other new movie to crack the Top 5 was "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" with a below-par $10M.

"No Country for Old Men" continues its perfectly planned buildup. It earned another $3M from its expansion to 148 theaters (averaging nearly $21K per theater!!). "No Country" is one of the only prestige pictures to open this fall to actually find an audience. The combo of stellar reviews and Miramax's well-handled rollout is paying off big-time. We talked about movies showing staying power. Expect to see this one hanging around theaters for some time.

I don’t understand why anyone would bother to spend the time and money to produce a film with ‘performance capture’ technique. I was distracted initially by the look of “Beowulf” I found it to be like a video game and wished Zemeckis had just made this film with actors on sets. The film “300” was a great blend of live action and computer generated imagery which I think would have worked well here – something Zemeckis should had referred to for inspiration.

So what is to be gained from this method? Obviously it’s easier for the actors who only have to show up and act in a studio -- there’s no hair and makeup or costumes or location shots. Perhaps it’s cheaper? Can’t imagine that it’s cheap to do that much digital work. For “Beowulf” I would have liked to see real actors interacting with digitally created monsters and dragons. Like “Gollum” in “LOTR” -- a perfect example of the best use of motion capture.

But apparently the box office crowd thinks otherwise. What do you think? Are we in a new age of cinema where actors are becoming less needed and animation can create an entire cast?

A little bit of news to report on the entertainment strike front, although whether it's good or bad won't be known for awhile. The Broadway stagehands and producers resumed negotiations today to try come to some sort of agreement to end the strike that has turned the lights off on most of Broadway for a week.

No comment on today's talks from Local 1 or the League of American Theatres and Producers, but its a good sign that both sides are at least talking. There is a great sense of urgency to solving this labor issue because alot of the shows that are dark right now don't have the financial backing to survive if the strike kills the lucrative holiday season. Plays like "The Seafarer" and "Cyrano" (which stars Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner in her Broadway debut) don't have the advance sales that the bigger shows have. Poor Garner. How disappointing is it to go through all those rehearsals and be unable to perform on stage?

BTW, it's not just plays who could be affected. A few long-running musicals like "Rent," who survive on tourists, could be forced to close for good if this goes on much longer. I can't imagine how strange it would feel to walk by the Nederlander Theatre on 41st Street and NOT see the RENT marquee.

Regarding the Hollywood writers strike, both sides in that dispute have agreed to resume talks after Thanksgiving. Waiting that long to resume discussions doesn't really indicate a sense of urgency on either side to end the dispute, which is impacting the TV/Movie industry with increasing force each and every day.

According to DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com, the strike has already forced the postponement of work on "Angels & Demons," the sequel to "The Da Vinci Code." Filming has been pushed back at least a few months until May, maybe later. Other movies whose production is being impacted by not having any writers around to tweak scripts:

"Fantastic Voyage" by "Independence Day" director Roland Emmerich, Michael Bay's "Transformers 2" and "State of Play" starring Brad Pitt.

How's that for an attention-grabbing headline? Its another action-packed show this weekend, featuring 3-D monsters, bickering sisters, former presidents, ex vampire slayers-turned-porn stars and one really strange toy store.

Among the films Jeffrey & Alison are reviewing is the week's biggest release, Robert Zemeckis' take on the oldest poem in the English language, "Beowulf." It’s being released everywhere, in 2-D, 3-D and IMAX 3-D (if there's an IMAX theater in your area, I urge you to see it in this format. It's insanely cool). Here's a clip from the movie:

We also review "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" with Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman, "Margot at the Wedding" with Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jonathan Demme's documentary "Jimmy Carter Man From Plains" (yes, THAT Jimmy Carter) and "
Love in the Time of Cholera" with Javier Bardem and Benjamin Bratt.

Our esteemed critics also check out "Donnie Darko" director Richard Kelly's "Southland Tales," his long-in-the-works, much-debated futuristic saga. You may recall this movie was practically booed off the stage at Cannes, but Kelly went back in to the edit room and re-worked and shortened the pic. And check out the cast, easily one of the year's most eclectic: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Duane 'The Rock' Johnson, Seann William Scott, Mandy Moore, Jon Lovitz and Justin Timberlake!

Jeffrey also has a very entertaining interview with Beowulf himself, Ray Winstone. The Brit actor, best known for supporting work in films like "The Departed" and "Sexy Beast," could be poised for his own stardom if "Beowulf" blows up (and considering the early word, it will). He talks about his work on Zemeckis' B movie, working with Leo in "The Departed" last year ...oh, and about voicing 'Mr. Beaver' in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Give yourself a No-Prize if you knew that was him.

And if you're wondering if Jeffrey was able to get any info out of him about next year's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (he's co-starring in the 4th Indy movie) ... well, tune in and see.

Oh, Jeffrey and Alison also mention a few upcoming movies they're looking forward to in December, when Hollywood unloads their heavy hitters. So if you want a heads up on some of the big holiday movies, check out REEL TALK this weekend. Find out where to watch here.

Our guest this week is Ray Winstone, who's the lead actor/voice in "Beowulf."

Probably best known to mainstream audiences for playing Mr. French, Jack Nicholson's right-hand man in last year's Best Picture Oscar winner "The Departed," Winstone's been flying under the mainstream radar for a few years now. That's about to change, IMHO.

But he's so good and charismatic in "Beowulf," you pretty much forget he's an animated character. The 50-year old diehard West Ham United Football Club fan (just like our own Brit Alison) charmed everyone on our staff when he came in for his interview, arriving early and sharing some hilarious stories (none of which I can share, since this is a family-friendly Website!).

Check out this clip from Jeffrey's interview where Winstone talks about working with director Robert Zemeckis on his cutting-edge re-imagining of "Beowulf."

Of all the movies opening this weekend, "Southland Tales" (which actually opened on Wednesday) has easily had the most colorful journey to the screen. Director Richard Kelly's been working on his apocalyptic eco-satire his for nearly six years, as his follow-up to the confounding cult hit "Donnie Darko" (which I loved, but mostly because it's the ONLY movie that I know of to include the sordid and not-so-Smurfy history behind Smurfette's creation. But that's neither here nor there).

You can find Jeffrey and Alison's review elsewhere on our website. But you can check out another of the extended interviews I snagged at July's Comic Con. Kelly and I commandeered a temporarily vacant meeting room to discuss all sorts of things, including the great ensemble cast he assembled, why science fiction is ideal for satire, and even the "Southland Tales" graphic novels he wrote.

Check out the interview and tell us what you think.

At a press conference Monday for the film, “THE MIST” by Academy Award nominated director Frank Darabont (“The Green Mile,” “The Shawshank Redemption”), Stephen King, whose novella the film is based on, gave his blessing of the film adaptation and sent out a chilling message to anyone who dares to give away the film’s ending.

Per Stephen King: “Frank wrote a new ending that I loved. It is the most shocking ending ever and there should be a law passed stating that anybody who reveals the last 5 minutes of this film should be hung form, their neck until dead.”

Here are snippets from the press conference:

Part one | Part two

And here is the trailer for "The Mist."

When I tell people what I do for a living, I’m met with surprise, interest and envy. Watching films for a job doesn’t seem like hard work to most people and even my father thinks that I have a cushy deal -- that I am living the life of Reilly, sitting in a dark comfy room watching the big screen.

Let me be honest: I do have a dream job and I love it. I am grateful every day for the chance to see the films I see and to work with the creative people I work with.

However, seeing films for a living does take away the joy of seeing them for fun sometimes. And everybody forgets that there are as many bad films as good ones (perhaps more), and they have to be endured with equal aplomb and attention. For instance I will never ever recapture the time I spent watching “Hostel Part 2” or “Bratz”-- complete wastes of time if you ask me.

Another dilemma for me is to have to see films that I would otherwise avoid. Not because they are ‘genre’ flicks, but because they are on subjects that I find hard to sit through. Since having had children, my threshold for emotional stuff is pretty low. At this point, I still have not seen “The Kite Runner” and between you and me, I’m dreading it. I know I will cry from beginning to end. It’s with pleasure that I look forward to some Hollywood pabulum sometimes, at least I know it’s only make-believe!

"Saawariya" Premieres. That's how a web page announced the arrival of the first Bollywood movie produced and released by a major Hollywood studio. But it's a silly romance, which I suspect will not attract a wide audience here. The songs are mundane, the dancing predictable and the actors, unknown here, adhere to a different style of acting which comes across as overly-dramatic.

What's more, actors in Indian movies don't kiss, so what comes off the screen looks like puppy love. It was shot on a back lot somewhere, and the story is superficial; a young nightclub singer and musician falls for a woman who loves another. Original, no, and it runs more than two hours!

So we have no stars, a mundane screenplay and an obvious set for a backdrop. What's more, about 10% of the movie is in English, but those words are also ! flashed on the screen in subtitles. So we're watching someone say "Hello," for example, while reading it! Life is too short to be wasted, wait for "Saawariya" to come out on DVD.

OK, it's no secret NBC's super-hit "Heroes" is going through the Sophomore Slump. It's so obvious, in fact, that series creator Tim Kring even apologized to fans for the lackluster Season Two start and promised to right the ship before the end of the year and wrap up the season's first half with the Dec 3rd episode.

He's already off to a good start by wrapping up Hiro's ill-advised trip back in time to Old Japan. But the reboot of the show may be delayed if the writers strike lasts longer than anyone wants, but still, it's refreshing to get honest appraisal from the guy who runs the show. In the meantime, if you want a reminder of why so many people fell in love with this show, like Peter fell for MJ, check out the graphic novel "Heroes, Volume One" by DC Comics.

Once you finally stop staring at Alex Ross' gorgeous cover, inside you'll find the first 34 chapters of the online graphic novel that was launched at the same time the series was, this is the kind of supplemental material i wish every show I liked had. Its a great way for fans to get fresh content in between episodes and become truly invested in the show. That's how cult series become phenoms -- which is what happened with "Heroes" last year.

And if you're not familiar with the show, this is a great way to jump in and get you prepped for the Season One DVDs. Besides the online serial, it also includes incredible artwork by artist Tim Sale and an introduction by the series' breakout star, Masi Oka (Hiro). Oka's rapidly climbing the charts of fanboy celebrity icons (watch out Kevin Smith!) thanks to his great work on the show AND for being an unapologetic pop culture-lovin' geek too. His essay in this GN sends that message loud and clear.

"Heroes, Volume One" is available now.

Reel Talk would like to thank Rob Grizzly for submitting his three questions to be included in the Keri Russell interview! Watch the responses after the jump.

1. "You had a small role in Mission Impossible 3 but everyone seemed to love it! Will you make more action movies?"

2. "JJ Abrams is known for returning to actors he likes. Would you consider an appearance on LOST?"

3. "...influences as an actress?"

Let us know what you think. Visit ReelTalkTV.com for the full Keri Russell interview and updates on our next ‘Ask' contest.

Is it just me, or does anyone else get Hayden Christensen, Heath Ledger and Ryan Phillippe mixed up? When I see one of them on screen I have to stop and think: ‘Who am I watching again?’

This got me thinking about some recent observations I have made, the old ‘separated at birth’ thing. Here are some of my ‘twins.’ Let me know if you see the resemblances.

Rose McGowan and Susan Sarandon

Brad Pitt and Benicio del Toro


Paris Hilton and Kid Rock


Lisa Kudrow and Lee van Cleef


Roger Federer and Quentin Tarantino

As a mother of two, it’s becoming much more difficult to watch certain films where children are neglected, abandoned, attacked, etc. I’m even a bit hesitant to see this December’s “Kite Runner.” Apparently, one of the young main characters is the victim of a sexual attack.

Perhaps my feelings are just a phase and once my children get older I’ll ease out of this. That’s quite possible, but only time will tell. During my interview today with Keri Russell, who stars in “August Rush,” (in theaters November 21), I was comforted to discover I’m not the only mother out there who just can’t stomach films with child victims. You can watch my interview with Keri next weekend, November 23, on Reel Talk.

"Sophie's Choice" Meryl Streep has to choose to give up one of her children. How can you choose between your children? What logic can you possibly use when you know you are sending one of them to almost certain death?

"A Cry in the Dark" Meryl Streep (again) has to cope with the disappearance of her newborn -- and is then accused of murdering it. Relates to the current story of the English girl who vanished in Portugal.

"Tsotsi" We see a newborn baby in the incapable hands of a murdering hoodlum. Every second I feared for the baby's life and anguished for the mother.

"Gone Baby Gone" A four-year-old vanishes. Worse, the mother is seemingly indifferent.

"Rosemary's Baby" Mia Farrow must decide whether to be a mother to her baby, even though she realizes he is the devil's child!

Am I (and Keri Russell) alone on this? Are there other films new parents would rather avoid? Tell me about them, leave a comment.

I've just returned from Cooperstown, NY, the idyllic town in Central New York, where the National Baseball Hall of Fame has been open since 1939. I was there for the second year in a row to be judge at the 2nd annual Baseball Film Festival.

Our choice for the best film was something called "The Long Road Home" a 50 minute movie about John Malangone, “probably the best baseball player the world has never heard of." He was a Yankee catching prospect and even played some minor league ball. But a childhood tragedy traumatized him so much he lost his focus and never made it to the majors. It is a really touching film I hope you can see sometime, somewhere.

"Rooters: The Birth of the Red Sox Nation" is another of the entries which won an award as well; a film with a subject close to my heart. If you ever get the chance to visit the Hall of Fame, by all means go. To put it mildly!

There is a section of the museum devoted to baseball in the movies with artifacts like Robert Redford's NY Knights uniform from "The Natural," and Gena Davis' uniform from "A League of Their Own." So go. GO!

I don't know what surprised me more when I saw this weekend's box office figures; the fact that the combination of Vince Vaughn and the first family holiday movie of the year didn't deliver "Fred Claus" a Number One finish at the box office, or that "Bee Movie" would show such sturdy legs (for an insect) and jump to the top spot.

It doesn't happen often. Maybe a handful of times in the past few years has a movie not opened at #1, only to win the box office race a week later. Seinfeld's animated comedy had a few obvious advantages:
Family-friendly subject matter and a 90 min. running time that allowed extra screenings during the weekend. I thought those similarities would help "Claus" cash in, but audiences apparently prefer the fast-talking "Swinger" in raunchier fare. Let's see if the movie holds up as people actually start getting the holiday spirit.

"Lions for Lambs" tanked like just about every other war-themed picture lately, earning less than $7M. Not good news for Tom Cruise's just-begun tenure running United Artists or for his career revival.

And how about American Gangster? Lost less than half its audience in week two, a really good sign that the Denzel/Russell face-off is getting good word of mouth. Solid box office returns + mostly positive reviews could = Oscar attention.

One interesting note: "No Country for Old Men" did knockout business in limited release. It earned $1.2M in just 28 screens, more than $42K per theater. Considering the universal raves for the movie (well deserved, even though it has a head-scratcher of a climax IMHO), these early numbers are a good sign that the Coen Brothers' latest could have a nice steady life in theaters.

"No Country" is a classic watercooler movie, the kind that demands a conversation with your spouse, friend or family after you see it. So go see it and start talking. There is lots to discuss.

I suspect that since "No Country For Old Men" isn't getting a huge release at first, that "Fred Claus" will be number one at the box office. Based on absolutely nothing, I'm predicting $15 million as the top box office winner.

On a theatrical note, Broadway's "Young Frankenstein" opened last night, November 8th. It's not as funny as "The Producers," but then, what could be? It'll still knock you across Forty-Second street with its fast pacing, engaging cast, and Mel Brooks at his zaniest. It will be the big musical hit of the season. Watch my review and feel free to leave a comment if you have a different take on the production.

This year, Christmas starts early with Reel Talk -- thanks to 'Fred Claus.'

From now until December 9th, you can enter to win gifts from the holiday movie ‘Fred Claus.’

Lucky winners will receive one of the following prizes:

Pepperidge Farm Gift Basket

Continue Reading to Enter the 'Fred Claus' Giveaway!

About the movie:

Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) has lived his entire life in his brother’s very large shadow. Fred tried, but could hardly live up to the example set by the younger Nicholas (Paul Giamatti), who was just a perfect...well...saint. True to form, Nicholas grew up to be the model of giving, while Fred became the polar opposite: a fast-talking repo man who’s run out of luck and money. Over Mrs. Claus’ objections, Nicholas agrees to help his brother on one condition: that he come to the North Pole and earn the money he needs by working in Santa’s Toy Shop. The trouble is that Fred isn’t exactly elf material and, with Christmas fast approaching, Fred could jeopardize the jolliest holiday of the year.

This film has been rated “PG” by the MPAA for “mild language and some rude humor.”

Official Site | Rules

Fill out the entry form below to enter the 'Fred Claus' Gift Giveaway!

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With the holidays right around the corner what better way to get into the celebratory mood than with a visit to the cinema. If you're in a bind on what to watch, Reel Talk has compiled a list of movie trailers to ease you into this weekend.

"Lions for Lambs," based on a true story.

"Saawariya" the Bollywood-to-Hollywood film based on Dostoevsky's "White Nights."

"War Dance" the moving documentary by husband-wife team Sean Fine and Andrea Nix.

"Fred Claus" with the amiable Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti.

To see more trailers and our reviews, tune in this weekend to Reel Talk.

*Now you can talk about your favorite movies with other movie lovers on our forums!

Sometimes a casting choice is so easy, such an obvious decision to make. Case in point: The recent news that Duane Johnson, still better known as "The Rock" from his WWE glory days, has been cast as Black Adam, the mega-powered villain in the upcoming comic book adaptation "Shazam!"

Look at the pix: The physical resemblance to the comic book character is uncanny. Not that physical resemblance is that important when casting, but it doesn't hurt. Especially when you're dealing with an established character -- and comic book fans are notoriously picky about straying too far from their costumed heroes' roots.

Remember Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton in "Batman Forever?" Terrible decision on many, many levels, not the least of which being ...Bruce Wayne does not have blond hair!! Casting Kilmer was almost as bad a choice as bringing Joel Schumacher onboard the Bat-franchise, or actually paying Seal to come up with "Kiss From A Rose."

Getting back to The Rock and Black Adam ...Mr. Johnson had his choice of either playing the title role in the movie, Capt. Marvel, or the bad guy, Black Adam. He says while at Comic Con in San Diego this past summer, he was convinced to go evil by comic fans who briefed him on the character and told him he was better suited for the part. Who says fans don't have a say in movies??

And in case you're not familiar with the backstory of Shazam, that's not the name of the super hero. Its the name of the wizard who picks a young kid named Billy Batson to be a power for justice. Whenever Billy says the wizard's name ('Shazam!') he gets transformed into the near-invulnerable Captain Marvel.

Created by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker back in 1939, Capt. Marvel still doesn't command much respect outside hardcore comic circles because a lot of people view him as a knockoff of Superman. In fact, Fawcett Publications was forced to stop publishing new Capt. Marvel comics in 1953 after settling a lawsuit by DC Comics.There were no new Capt. Marvel comics until 1972, when DC licensed the character and launched the 'Shazam' comic book. But outside of a short-lived and sublimely cheesy 1970s TV show, the character has never been able to reclaim his former glory.

Keep in mind, 'The World's Mightiest Mortal' was actually the first superhero to be adapted from the printed page to the screen, in a 1941 serial called 'The Adventures of Captain Marvel'. That was during his heyday in the '40s, when he outsold every comic book character, even Superman and Batman.

Can The Rock and his nation of devoted Jabronis help The Big Red Cheese gain some market share in the crowded Pop Culture Universe?

"Shazam!" should begin shooting next summer. Johnson will work with his "Get Smart" director Peter Segal on the project.

Watch a Reel Talk Sneak Peek of our interview with Vince Vaughn and hear how his friendship with writer Jon Favreau helped jump-start his career.

See the full interview on Reel Talk this weekend and hear more, including details on Vaughn's latest film, ‘Fred Claus.’

I was happily surprised "American Gangster" did so well at the box office. I thought "Bee Movie" would trounce it, but didn't count on the appeal of Denzel, Russell and Ridley -- a hat trick that paid off. Still, a two and a half hour R rated dark film! There's hope for adult fare after all.

However this weekend I think the family friendly fare will win out…"Fred Claus" will come in number one. Vince Vaughn will bring in the older kids and adults but the PG rating will open it up to all ages. And now that Thanksgiving is in the air, people are ready to start getting into the holiday spirit.

I was happily surprised "American Gangster" did so well at the box office. I thought "Bee Movie" would trounce it, but didn't count on the appeal of Denzel, Russell and Ridley -- a hat trick that paid off. Still, a two and a half hour R rated dark film! There's hope for adult fare after all.

However this weekend I think the family friendly fare will win out…"Fred Claus" will come in number one. Vince Vaughn will bring in the older kids and adults but the PG rating will open it up to all ages. And now that Thanksgiving is in the air, people are ready to start getting into the holiday spirit.

In case you're not a film buff, the phrase 'film noir' may be something you know only vaguely. It's a genre of movies, made mostly soon after World War II, which had a stable of stars in dark, foreboding dramas, usually involving crime and/or retribution.

Several film noirs are now available on DVD and worth watching. Jack Palance and Joan Crawford star in "Sudden Fear" from 1952, about a playwright who's wooed and marries a younger actor who happens to be a con artist.

The 1943 film "Hangmen Also Die" stars Brian Donlevy, Anna Lee and three-time Oscar winner Walter Brennan, under the direction of the great Fritz Lang. This is not the usual film noir classic, for it's set in Europe, a fictionalized version of the murder of Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich. He was the "hangman" of the title, one of the Nazi regime’s cruelest henchmen whose killing was the excuse for a horrific revenge by Hitler -- the destruction of the Lithuanian village of Iidiche. It also had a screenplay by refugee Bertolt Brecht, one of the great writers of the twentieth century.

More typical of the film noir genre is “Behind Locked Doors” from 1948, starring Richard Carlson about a fugitive judge pursued by a reporter. The Reporter, played by Lucille Bremer, hires a private investigator to go undercover in an asylum to find the fugitive judge.

We'll give you updates of more film noir classics now on DVD periodically.

Catch a glimpse of the first trailer from next Spring's "Wanted" starring Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy as the title player, a clueless loser who finds his true calling when he's recruited to follow in his dad's footsteps -- as an assassin.

I really like the casting choices here. McAvoy, so good in "The Last King of Scotland," seems perfect for this role, Angelina is always good, and Freeman ... well, he's MORGAN FREEMAN.

My only concern is how they're going to maintain the tone of the original comic books, which were written by Mark Millar and drawn by JG Jones. It was a downright anarchic story, full of twisted scenarios and the sick humor that Millar is famous for. I hope the story and the characters don't get too watered down in the translation to film. Because if that happens, hardcore fans of the comics (and the various trade paperback collections) will not be happy. "Wanted" the movie version, opens March 28. Check out the trailer now:

Keri Russell is coming to REEL TALK soon to talk with Alison Bailes about her new movie 'August Rush' and we want to give you a chance to ask her a few questions.

If you’re eager to ask Keri how she was able to resist eating all those pies that were on the set of her indie hit 'Waitress', get details on working with Jeremy Piven in Broadway’s ‘Fat Pig’ or find out if she plans to get back into dancing (she’s an accomplished dancer), here’s your chance!

Submit any three questions to us by midnight, November 11 to have your submission added to our drawing. We’ll pick one question from each viewer (for a max of three questions in total) and post the answers exclusively on our site!

Thanks Rob Grizzly for submitting your questions. Here are Keri's responses!

Watch the trailer for 'August Rush.'

The writers and producers of 'Thelma and Louise' and ‘Fracture’ have penned another female crime movie for early 2008.

'Mad Money' is a comedy about three ordinary women who form an unlikely friendship to complete an extraordinary task -- to rob the Federal Reserve. The film stars Katie Holmes, Queen Latifah, Diane Keaton and Ted Danson. Take a look at the trailer:

If you have been watching today's newscasts - local or national - you know that the Writers Guild of America is on strike. In a nutshell, the writers have gone on strike because they want to negotiate what they feel are more equitable residual payment terms for New Media use of their work. That includes but is not limited to: downloadable, streaming and cell phone editions of the TV shows they work on, who has jurisdiction over New Media versions of their work and how much they should get paid per use on those new, but rapidly-expanding media platforms.

Another key issue was the WGA's initial demand for doubling the payments they receive on the sale of DVDs. But the Guild took that off the table Sunday night as negotiators for both sides tried to avoid (unsuccessfully) a strike.

So basically, this fight has come down to how much money writers feel they are entitled to from the new and seemingly very lucrative New Media Frontier.

How will this affect you, the loyal TV/moviegoer? Let us count the ways.

The first blow of the strike has landed square on the chin of the late-night talk shows. Leno, Letterman, Conan, Kimmel & Craig Ferguson all had to go into reruns because of the strike. The Daily Show & The Colbert Report too.

While those shows are being affected already, if the strike lasts a few months, your favorite TV sitcoms/dramas will start running out of new episodes. No matter how many scripts they've stockpiled, in many cases you're going to see members of other unions (like the teamsters) honor the WGA's picket lines and not show up for work.

If you're a fan of shows like 24 & LOST like I am, then you should be really worried because those shows only have maybe 8-9 episodes written. If the strike drags on, we could be left hanging for weeks between episodes. The networks' contingency plan is to roll out a slew of reality shows (which don't require WGA talent) but does watching endless variations on "Dancing with the Stars" and "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" seem like a decent alternative to you?

It could soon impact movies, too. The easy promotional opportunity the comfy couches on the late-night circuit provide actors plugging their new movies is free advertising for the studios. If those shows aren't taping, then the stars can't drop by. That means Hollywood has to spend extra money on pricy tv ads and other promotional means to get the word out about their product. That raises the bottom line and that could endanger prestige pictures that may be artistically rich but have poor commercial prospects.

Yes, the studios have been hoarding scripts for months in anticipation of a strike, a long shutdown poses lots of problems for Hollywood. But who's going to handle the inevitable rewrites on the big-budget extravaganzas? Someone has to change the dialogue and restructure scenes -- and if the writers are still on strike, then who's going to do it?? Anyone who thinks the quality of movies won't be hurt by this is kidding themselves.

So you see? Everyone gets affected by the strike in one way or another. Lets hope after a day or two of picketing and posturing, both sides get together and work out a solution to split up revenues in a fair manner. Everyone wants their share of a fairly lucrative pie and that's perfectly understandable. Lets hope cooler heads prevail and they realize there is plenty of money to go around.

If not, host Jon Stewart & all the presenters at the Oscars telecast in February will have to come up with their own material. That's right. WGA writers work on the broadcast of Hollywood's biggest night of the year.

As lame as that awards show usually is ...can you imagine how dull it will be without a staff of writers?

We'll keep you posted ...

After a weekend of gangsters and bees creating all the buzz at the box office, moviegoers face quite a different menu of theatrical selections this upcoming weekend. First, you have one of the most talked-about pictures of the year that barely anyone's seen yet, the Coen brothers'' 'No Country for Old Men,' starring Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem and Woody Harrelson.

Yet another politically-flavored movie opens this weekend, "Lions for Lambs." Robert Redford directs and co-stars along with Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. Early word on the film is good but considering the last 3 movies touching on the Middle East have all tanked (In the Valley of Elah, The Kingdom, Rendition), it will be interesting to see if audiences turn out for it.

The odds-on favorite to be the big attraction at the multiplex is the first holiday-themed movie of 2007 -- 'Fred Claus' with Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti. We're reviewing all these movies this weekend on REEL TALK, plus Jeffrey Lyons will chat with Vince Vaughn about playing Santa's jealous (and less famous) older brother. Take a look at the trailer for 'Fred Claus' here:

I can’t believe that “Saw IV” took in over $30 million on its opening weekend. Did anyone see “Saw III”? I suppose they did and it must have left them hungry for more.

As these films are not usually screened for critics, I have gratefully bypassed the whole “Saw” franchise. I suppose I should take some of my free weekend time (Ha! Ha!) And go catch up on these films just for the cinematic pleasure or for the sake of professional thoroughness. But it’s hard to spend two hours watching people being tortured. I liken it to being tortured myself.

When “Hostel: Part II” flopped, there was word that so-called “torture porn” had run its course and people were tired of the genre. Seems like those pundits were wrong. So now we will be treated to “Saw V” and so on…and who knows what other bloody masterpieces. It’s a shame that the people who like these films don’t show up for the current spate of political Iraq films which can be quite gruesome. Take the upcoming “Redacted” from Brian De Palma. It ends with a montage of photos of maimed Iraqis -- much more chilling than anything Eli Roth could ever come up with.

Thomas Jane is one of those actors that really should be a bigger star than he is. Most people recognize him, either from his turn as Mickey Mantle in HBO's "61" , "Deep Blue Sea," his insanely entertaining role in PT Anderson's "Boogie Nights" or from "The Punisher," of course. For some reason -- whether its due to his own career choices or just bad timing, he has yet to break through to that next level of stardom.

This could be the year it happens though. He's got a plum starring role in the Stephen King adaptation "The Mist" (Nov. 21) -- but this guy's busy with a ton of stuff, including writing & directing films, co-starring in his brother-in-law David Arquette's horror project "The Tripper" and trying his hand at publishing horror comics with his own imprint, Raw Studios.

I talked with him at the San Diego Comic Con and he was just nonstop go .. a real maniac (in a good way). Went out of his way to talk to take pictures, sign autographs. He could teach a lot of celebrities how to properly interact with fans. Anyway, check out this Spotlight On ... Thomas Jane:

*Now you can talk about Thomas Jane with other fans on our forums!

Who says movies aimed at grownups don't do good box office? As Jeffrey correctly predicted in his Friday post, "American Gangster" appears to have won the weekend ticket-selling crown. According to Deadlinehollywooddaily.com, the Ridley Scott-directed 70s crime saga did gangbusters business Friday, selling more than $16 million worth of tickets. That's insane business for an R-rated drama with no CGI, no spandexed heroes AND a 158 min. running time. Jerry Seinfeld's much-promoted "Bee Movie." The dream team top billing of Denzel Washington & Russell Crowe was too appealing a matchup for moviegoers to resist.
[Here's Jeffrey's and guest co-host Dave Karger's review of "American Gangster"...]

The buzz (sorry, couldn't help myself) around Seinfeld's animated movie was strong enough to help Bee earn what projects to nearly $39 million in its first weekend -- but given the fact that its only 84 min. long and its aimed squarely at kids who will flood the multiplex matinees this weekend, there's a chance Bee could squeeze out a last-minute victory.
The weekend's other wide release, John Cusack's quirky family film "Martian Child," crashed and burned and is expected to earn around $3.4 million its opening weekend. Cusack's erratic box office performance continues, as this disappointment follows "1408's" surprising $70 million run last summer.
Getting back to AG ... the film's stellar debut shows that this Fall's lackluster returns for many 'prestige' movies -- The Kingdom, Michael Clayton, Rendition, Things We Lost in the Fire -- may be due to the subject matter of these movies.
Its become clear that movie fans right now don't want to drop $11 a ticket to see a story that's ripped from the headlines of the newscasts they watch every night at home for free. But while movies about the war on terror aren't attracting audiences, gangster tales are a different matter. They continue to fascinate movie fans, as the blockbuster, Academy-Award winning performance of "The Departed" proved last year.

And if you have a rags-to-riches story about a real-life criminal played by one of the best and most likable actors around (Denzel) who's being chased by a fellow Oscar-winning superstar (Crowe) -- directed by Sir Ridley Scott no less -- well, then you've hit paydirt. And considering how good AG is, its big debut is well-deserved.

I suspect the Oscar credentials of Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, working together for the first time, will rule the box office roost this weekend. Add the name Ridley Scott, the director, to the mix and you have a winner. Maybe $25 million should do it. The "Bee Movie" should also do well, close behind, given its good reviews -- including those on this week's "REEL TALK."

"Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" should also garner healthy box office returns, given the name of another great director, Sidney Lumet, an honorary Oscar winner, and two Oscar winners in the cast -- Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei. I do wish everyone sees "Darfur Now", however, an excellent documentary on the horrors in Darfur, produced by Don Cheadle who appears in the movie as well, along with George Clooney and others trying to do something about the issues happening in that area.

Not only do I have a newborn baby, but we also just closed on a new house upstate where we plan to spend as many weekends a year as possible. Last weekend was our first time in the house, which sits in the middle of woods near a lake. It’s beautiful, especially when the leaves are changing color and the sky is brilliant blue. However when the sun goes down, I can’t help but think that I am living in prime horror-movie terrain, where the Jasons and Michaels love to visit and inflict fear and death.

Maybe my imagination runs wild. The Catskills are hardly a hotbed of axe-wielding murderers, but without any phones or even a television, I felt like a sitting duck. All the scene-setting needed was a car with a faulty battery…or for me to misplace my keys and frantically search for them behind the visor -- lunatics banging on the car windows as I flee the carnage.

Such are the fevered imaginings of someone who despises horror films and hates to be scared. Yet I can’t get those images out of my head once I’ve sat through the film. The most recent scare-fest was “Them”…a French thriller, set, where else? In a big rambling house in the middle of the woods. A young couple (no children, thank heavens) is traumatized by unseen foes who creep around turning on televisions and banging doors. It doesn’t end well.

I haven’t seen “Halloween” or the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ films in years…and I have no desire to revisit them. For my work, I’m often forced to watch films such as “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” or “Hostel,” but I find the more gore, the less I’m scared. More frightening was the outwardly friendly mien of the helpful stranger in “Wolf Creek”…a superb Australian nightmare that was based on true events! Or Frank Whaley’s creepy motel owner in the genre flick “vacancy”.

So I’m suspicious of the old guy who lives up the road whose wife is “out of town” and who spends a lot of time digging in his garden. Or the crazy couple two houses down who paid us a friendly ‘welcoming’ visit. And let’s not even talk about our basement because I’m sure the slimy, blood-sucking cave dwellers from “descent” are down there, just biding their time until an unsuspecting person comes looking for the fusebox.