Thomas Haden Church has come a long way since “George of the Jungle.” After doing a few excellent dramatic films including “Sideways” and “Smart People,” Thomas decided to show his funny side in “Imagine That.” He dropped by the Reel Talk studio to chat with Jeffrey about working with Eddie Murphy in the Disney comedy and to talk about some of his upcoming projects like “Easy A” and even a little film called “John Carter of Mars!”

Click here to see the interview and take a look below to see THC’s quiz:

Justin Bartha may not be in much of “The Hangover,” but his character is still the focus of the entire film. Bartha dropped by the Reel Talk set to chat with Jeffrey about the future of the “National Treasure” series, his upcoming film “Holy Rollers” and the film that beat Disney/Pixar’s “Up” for the top spot at the box office, “The Hangover.” Click here to see Jeffrey’s entire interview with Justin and take a look at his quiz below.

You may not know who Duncan Jones is now, but you will soon, and not because he is David Bowie’s son. Duncan directed the film “Moon,” which stars Sam Rockwell as an astronaut working on the moon. He’s fulfilling a three-year contract requiring him to mine Helium 3, the gas that could cure the Earth of its energy crisis. With just two weeks left to go, his daily routine is disturbed and he loses sight of who he is and what he’s supposed to do. I must not have been the only person to love “Moon,” because Duncan has just been recruited to direct another film, “Escape From The Deep.” It’ll be based on Alex Kershaw’s novel about the famous U.S. Navy submarine Tang. It was responsible for sinking more enemy ships and rescuing more men than any other submarine in the Pacific during World War II, but suffered a devastating fate. Duncan is certainly a director to keep an eye on. Be sure to look out for Jeffrey’s interview with Duncan and watch Reel Talk next weekend to see what Jeffrey and Alison think of "Moon." For now, enjoy Duncan's quiz.

Sam Raimi may have strayed from his horror roots to work on the “Spider-Man” films, but he most certainly hasn’t lost his touch. His latest film, “Drag Me to Hell,” has gotten rave reviews, including positive words from Jeffrey and Alison, and has pulled in over $15 million at the box office. Raimi dropped by the Reel Talk set to talk about the movie as well the highly anticipated “Spider-Man 4.” Click here to see the entire interview and take a look at Sam’s quiz below.

Is there anything Allison Janney hasn’t been in? She’s bound to be in at least one of your favorite films. How about “The West Wing,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” “American Beauty,” “Hairspray” or “Juno?” Not only is she currently starring in the Broadway production of “9 to 5,” but she’s busy promoting her newest indie drama “Away We Go.” It’s about a couple played by Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski traveling the country trying to find a place to start a family. You can see Allison in “Away We Go” when it gets a limited release on June 5th, but for now, enjoy her quiz!

Need a good laugh? Check out this video of Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds and Betty White on the set of “The Proposal.” Then, you have to check out the latest episode of “Between Two Ferns” when Zach Galifiankis sits down for a chat with Natalie Portman and her dog, Whiz. Click here for “The Proposal” video and here for “Between Two Ferns” Lastly, you must get a look at what happens when Cam Gigandet runs into some crazy “Twilight” fans. Click here to see that one.

So we received a few emails from some sharp-eyed movie fans who are obviously BIG Sinatra supporters. One of the comments questioned in Jeffrey's post regarding the Martin Scorsese Sinatra film, Casting Ol Blue Eyes, involved the character Johnny Fontane from "The Godfather."
He was in fact, NOT Don Corleone's nephew, only his Godson.

And we should have been more clear in stating that the Fontane character -- and how he gets his big movie role in the film -- is SAID to have been partially inspired by Sinatra and the oft-reported connections he reportedly had with ... 'connected' people.

Ewan McGregor is going from one iconic franchise to the next. He starred as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the recent “Star Wars” trilogy and now he’s joining Tom Hanks in the sequel to “The Da Vinici Code,” “Angels & Demons.” Don’t let his all-star status overshadow the lesser known films he’s been in. “Trainspotting,” “The Pillow Book” and “Velvet Goldmine” are just as worthy of your dollar as these blockbuster smashes. The versatile actor stopped by the Reel Talk studio this week to chat with Alison about his repertoire as well as how he manages being a well-known star. You can watch her entire interview with Ewan by clicking here and be sure to check out his quiz below.

When you have two action figures of yourself, you know you’re doing something right. Not only can you get a figurine of Zachary Quinto as Sylar from “Heroes,” but you can also get one of him as Spock from this weekend’s highly anticipated new release “Star Trek.” Zach stopped by the Reel Talk set to chat toys and Trekkies with Jeffrey. You can check out his interview on this week’s show, but for now, enjoy Zach’s quiz.

Tilda Swinton has proved herself to be one of the most versatile and talented actresses in Hollywood. She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2008 for “Michael Clayton” and has starred in box office hits including “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Burn After Reading.” Swinton expands her repertoire with “The Limits of Control,” which had a limited release last Friday and “Julia,” which Alison and Jeffrey will review on this week’s show. Tilda dropped by the Reel Talk set to chat with Jeffrey about her role in “Julia,” an unpredictable alcoholic who kidnaps a young boy. Click here to see a clip of Tilda talking to Jeffrey about getting into character and here to see what the actress finds funny.

Did you miss any of our red carpet coverage from the Tribeca Film Festival? Here’s a list of all the red carpets Reel Talk attended. To view the video from that event, just click on the name of the film. Enjoy!

I’ve seen a lot of Eric Bana over the past few days. Between his visit to the Reel Talk set, premiere of “Love the Beast” at the Tribeca Film Festival and the immense amount of “Star Trek” press, the guy is all over the place! Even after all of the “Start Trek” and Tribeca hype dies down, Bana will be promoting more of his work. Not only is he in “Funny People,” which hits theaters on July 31st, but the August 14th release “The Time Traveler’s Wife” too. Let the summer of Eric Bana begin.

"Love the Beast" is actor Eric Bana's heartfelt ode to his first love -- his 1974 Ford Falcon GT Coupe, the first car he ever owned. The doc makes its U.S. debut tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film details his decades-long fascination with the car, and the anguish he felt after he totaled it during a road race. Bana, who has the first of three big summer films opening next week - "Star Trek" - told Jeffrey Lyons what advice he would give any car fanatics out there with racing dreams.

It had been over 30 years, but John Hurt was ready to put himself back into Quentin Crisp’s shoes. In 1975 Hurt played Crisp in “The Naked Civil Servant” and plays him again in “An Englishman in New York,” which focuses on the point in the flamboyant writer’s life when he relocates to New York.

The film’s stars walked the red carpet to celebrate its release at the Tribeca Film Festival. Jonathon Tucker was simply thrilled to see so much support for his film, which tells such an important story. Hurt explains his history with his character and Cynthia Nixon, emphasizes the significance of Hurt being able to play this role a second time. Finally, Swoozie Kurtz talks about her reverence for Nixon.

Matthew Broderick is one talented and busy guy. His resume includes hits like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Election” and “WarGames” and now, he’s promoting his latest film, “Wonderful World,” at the Tribeca Film Festival. Matthew dropped by the Reel Talk studio to chat with Jeffrey about the film as well as his Broadway career and even about how Jeffrey interviewed his wife, Sarah Jessica Parker, when she was just a young girl starring in “Annie.” Click here to see the entire interview and take a look at his quiz below.

Jamie Foxx went from “Booty Call” to winning an Oscar for Best Actor in the film “Ray.” Between his acting and music careers, Foxx has one of the most impressive resumes in Hollywood. You can check out Jeffrey’s chat with the star of this week’s new release “The Soloist” by clicking here. Take a look at Jamie’s Reel Talk Quiz below.

Sean Astin and Hilary Duff may have had to rush down the red carpet, but the stars of “Stay Cool” took the time to tell me a little about their plans for the future. Duff talks a bit about staying cool while in the spotlight and then about “The Story of Bonnie and Clyde” and a film she just wrapped called “Provinces of Night.” And, according to a reporter next to me, she has a new album on the way. Astin was disappointed to tell me his ”Lord of the Rings” character, Sam Gamgee, isn’t in “The Hobbit,” but he is still more than willing to offer his creative genius to the film’s director, Guillermo del Toro.

Jamie Foxx's new film "The Soloist" drops in theaters Friday. You've never seen the Oscar-winner in a role like this. It's a complete departure from his previous work. He manages to harness most of his incredible charisma to play a schizophrenic homeless man with a gift for music. Believe me, that's no mean feat.

This guy has personality and charm to spare. He can't help but light up every room he walks into. Whether it was the green room here at 30 Rock our studio on the 7th floor during , Foxx had presence. You can't teach that folks. Gotta be born with it.

He's also incredibly savvy. He told Jeffrey about how his big break as a standup comic came in part because he changed his name to improve his chances of getting a gig. Hit the clip and hear him explain. Catch more of Jeffrey's talk with Jamie Foxx this weekend on RT:

Jeffrey not only had the opportunity to interview Academy Award-nominated actor Rip Torn, but his daughter Angelica too. Both Torns are in the romantic comedy “The Golden Boys,” which hits theaters on April 17th. Click here to see a clip from their talk during which Jeffrey asks Rip and Angelica about what dinner table chat is like with their star-studded family. Also, take a look at the quiz Rip filled out:

Today is a big day for Ben McKenzie and the cast of NBC’s newest drama “Southland.” The cop series makes its big debut tonight in the timeslot previously held by “ER,” 10:00pm on NBC. Ben stopped by the Reel Talk studio today to chat with Jeffrey about the pressure of starring in a highly anticipated show succeeding one of the most iconic dramas in TV history. Check out Ben’s interview here and take a look at his quiz below.

Sir Michael Caine is this week's guest on RT. With an acting resume that includes about 273,000 movies, there is no shortage of material to discuss with the two-time Oscar winner. His newest is the indie drama "Is Anybody There?”. It opens in NY and LA next week.

Of course, we asked him for an update on a follow-up to last year's mega-hit "The Dark Knight." Caine told us its definitely going to happen, and probably sooner than anyone thinks. It just depends on when Christopher Nolan can get to work on a script. Oh, and Sir Michael mentioned he's probably going to do a walk-on role in Nolan's next film, "Inception." Watch the clip to hear more from Michael Caine.

This weekend the comic book world lost one of its most versatile talents when Frank Springer died. According to Newsday, Springer, who was born in Jamaica, Queens in 1929, passed away at the age of 79 in Maine after a long battle with prostate cancer. For many comic fans who came of age during the Bronze Age (that would be the 70s & 80s), Frank Springer's art was part of our daily routine.

Springer's career lasted decades, and he would end up penciling most of the big-name heroes for DC and Marvel. It was with the latter company that he spent the majority of his time, drawing titles as diverse as The Invaders (which featured the exploits of a WWII-era Captain America and his superhero cohorts), She-Hulk, Conan and Dazzler. He also did double-duty on many titles, writing & penciling. He was also a prolific inker. Whereas many artists today have trouble keeping to deadline, Springer was well regarded within the industry for his timeliness and professionalism.

I remember being captivated by his clean, action-packed panels in The Invaders. But it was his work on Dazzler that stayed with me the longest. A minor character in the Marvel Comics canon, the mutant singer has always been a favorite of mine. As the years passed, my fondness for this wonderfully quirky and completely unrealistic title never wavered. I started collecting original comic art, and the very first original art page I ever purchased was a page from Dazzler #18 -- drawn by Frank Springer.

I've since purchased a handful of other examples of Springer's artistry. Unlike many artists, he never let his ego get in the way of telling a good story. It's why his art on comic titles like Transformers remains timeless, and why decades later, I can pick up a comic and know right away if it's a Springer book. And I’m not the only one out there.
But Frank Springer did more than just draw/ink/write superheroes.

A former president of the National Cartoonists Society, Springer began his career assisting on the newspaper strip "Terry and the Pirates." He also drew the adult-oriented "The Adventures of Phoebe Zeit-Geist," a strip Springer was particularly fond of.

"Frank was a character in the industry," fellow cartoonist Adrian Sinnott told Newsday.
Mad Magazine cover artist Mort Drucker, also said Springer will be missed. "He was a handsome guy, he was talented, and he was very social," Drucker said. "A very, very talented artist."

Frank Springer graduated from Syracuse University and then served in the U.S. Army before beginning his comics career. He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 52 years, and five children.

Sir Michael Caine is coming by our set on Reel Talk this week to talk about his tender new movie called "Is Anybody There." Easing into old man roles, at least for this movie, he is one of the most amazing actors I've ever known or interviewed. He was born Maurice Micklewhite, the son of a laborer, and once he decided to try his hand at acting, "The Cockney Cary Grant," as he would soon be known, he was told to change his name … within the hour, as he had an audition coming up. So sitting at a sidewalk cafe, he noticed part of a nearby movie marquee showing "The Caine Mutiny." "If I'd been at another table," he once told me, "my name might've been 'Michael Mutiny!'"

His debut in a featured role came in "Zulu" as an aristocratic officer and the next time you see it, you'll notice his hands clasped behind his back a lot. "I noticed Prince Charles doing that," he explained. "Actors are observers. And rich people are used to having doors opened for them and not having to gesture a lot when they speak to get attention. They're powerful and those around them are interested in what they say." His breakthrough role was "Alfie" as a skirt-chasing lothario, and he was on his way. Only Gene Hackman rivaled him in frequency of starring roles.

This combat veteran of Korea and gourmet didn't learn to drive until he was in his thirties. Caine once went back to the run down neighborhood of his youth in East London where they were tearing down his boyhood home. A few feet away, an elderly man was doing this same: Charlie Chaplain. He forged an unlikely friendship with Harold Lloyd, the silent screen star who made his millions before income taxes. When he saw Caine portraying Harry Palmer in "The Ipcress File," Lloyd was amazed that Caine wore thick, black rimmed glasses. "No star had had a leading role wearing glasses since Lloyd," Caine once told me. They remained friends for the rest of Lloyd's life. One time in the lobby of the Beverly Wilshire hotel, a tourist gushed over him: "Michael Caine! Wow! We're from Iowa, we've been in Hollywood a week, and we're going home today and you're the first movie star we've seen," she said. Then she turned to the man alongside Caine and said, "Isn't that amazing?" "Yes," replied the other man … Cary Grant.

Kirk Douglas, a robust 92, the other day gave several performances in Los Angeles, of his one-man show called "Before I Forget," reminiscing on his long, distinguished career. He's not only one of the oldest working actors - still available for roles, by the way - (Eli Wallach is the oldest), he belies the adage he once told me. "An actor is lucky if he has one, maybe two famous roles," he said when he gave me a life from JFK one time. "I've been lucky." And talented.

When you consider his iconic roles, the list is amazingly-long; roles which by themselves would've cemented him a prominent place in movie history. He was the short-tempered anti-hero boxer in "Champion," the troubled detective in Sidney Kingsley's "Detective Story," a show which was a precursor to today's cop shows. "Spartacus,” which he produced for his company called Bryna Productions (named after his mother), not only ranks among the finest "sword-and-sandal” epics, but also broke the shameful blacklist of Hollywood writers, since Douglas defied it by giving screenwriter Dalton Trumbo screen credit. He also fired the director, Anthony Mann, after filming one scene … the opening scene in the Libyan salt mines … hired a young, up-and-coming director named … Stanley Kubrick! He deserved the Oscar over Yul Brynner for "Lust For Life," as Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most brilliant portrayals in movie history. In "Seven Days in May," he was Col. "Jiggs" Casey, loyal to the President, and not to a treasonous Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Scott, played by his frequent costar and movie star parallel, Burt Lancaster.

"My life is a 'B' movie," he once told me. "No one would believe it." Born in abject poverty in a grimy upstate mill town, Amsterdam, NY, his father, a Russian immigrant, sold rags from a horse drawn cart, until the day came that an anti-Semitic youth gang killed the family horse for spite. But, he persevered, went to St. Lawrence University, became class president, and then, after graduation, headed to New York. About this time, Issur Danielovitch Demsky changed his name to "Kirk Douglas" and after a stint as a beggar on the seedy Bowery district, landed a role as an off-stage echo on Broadway and was on his way. He and his wife have given away much of his fortune to refurbish inner city playgrounds in Los Angles; more than 400 to date, and they attend every opening ceremony. And he's lived to see his eldest son, Michael, win an Oscar and become a star of almost equal stature. Kirk had turned down starring roles in "Stalag 17" for which William Holden won the Academy Award and "Cat Ballou," which made a winner of Lee Marvin.

So here's to you Kirk Douglas, you are a living legend! Jeffrey Lyons

Last night I was fortunate enough to attend the red carpet for the premier of the Broadway revival of “Hair.” For those of you who don’t know much about the show, it was responsible for defining the rock musical genre when it first hit the Broadway stage back in 1968. The story revolves around a group of politically active youths fighting against the Vietnam War in New York City.

The red, or in this case, orange carpet, was packed with star power. I spoke with Melba Moore, who played Dionne in the original Broadway show and Rosie O’Donnell, who told me about an HBO project she’s working on. Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, who are celebrating the one-year anniversary of their show next week, belted out a quick tune and Tim Robbins even helped me do some camerawork while telling me about his experience with the original show. Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel celebrated the announcement that they have a baby on the way with a quick strut down the carpet and Ginnifer Goodwin talked about her expectations for the show as well as what’s up next for her movie career. Check out the video below:

The announcement was made the other day that dazzling actress Anne Hathaway will portray Judy Garland in a stage and screen version called "Get Happy." It's an enormous challenge for the statuesque beauty, who looks nothing like Judy Garland. But Frank Langella won an Oscar nomination as Richard Nixon and you'd never equate the two in appearance. It'll be interesting to see if she lives up to it.

Judy Garland was a complex person who lived a life with great triumph and sadness too. From that day in Chicago's Oriental Theater when the great vaudeville star George Jessel introduced the child singer Frances Gumm. His tongue resisted that clumsy name and he thought of the message he'd just sent the great English actress Judith Anderson, who was opening on Broadway: "Dear Judy," it read, "may this new play add another garland to your Broadway career." So he blurted out the name "Judy Garland" and turned to the young girl in the wings and said: "That's you honey."

She was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and said it was so small, the train would only stop there for laughs. She moved to Lancaster, California, and then began working in Charleston … Charleston, Arkansas, that is. Then Buffalo … Buffalo, Iowa. Cleveland ... Cleveland, Kentucky that is and Manhattan, Kansas. The real tank towns of that era. My father knew her and she once told him: “I was born and raised in the road companies of all the big towns." Her childhood vanished somewhere along the way and despite her multi-marriages, motherhood and advancing years, she remained a child … sad, gleeful, impulsive, and everyone's child. No star could match her for glory or talent. She played the Metropolitan Opera House, but labor rules required a large orchestra and crew so the engagement netted her little money. But when she sang in Washington's Constitution Hall, then-Attorney General Robert Kennedy brought her to the White House and gave a party in her honor. But her press agent failed to inform the press. Barbara Streisand, often compared to Judy Garland, was more fortunate and wiser. She had an expert team of personal managers, press agents and investment counselors making sure she'd never be in need. Judy Garland was the first to receive a million dollar offer and she rejected it. It came from a rich man who wanted her to sing for him alone. "I'd have loved the million,” she explained, "but not at that price, to sing just for him." When she was hospitalized for exhaustion, George Cukor, the great director wired her: "Don't worry. You can't kill an actress." Early on, she worshipped Ronald Coleman, the suave matinee idol of that era. On her birthday, her manager at the time, Carlton Alsop, rang her doorbell. She opened the door and there, on the doorstep, covered in cellophane and with a "Happy Birthday" ribbon, was the actor.

The only music training she ever had came when she chanced to get a job in a synagogue choir. It gave her voice that cantorial throb she used so effectively. After rehearsing her daughter Liza for a TV role in what else? "The Wizard of Oz,” she sighed; "I did everything wrong--just like a stage mother. " Al Jolson, perhaps the greatest all-around performer of his time, said of her: "It's easy to produce a Judy Garland show; just give her a stage, a spotlight, and get out of the way." Yes, it'll be quite a challenge for Ms. Hathaway and I wish her good luck.

Here’s an actor you should definitely take the time to get to know. Not only is Jesse Eisenberg appearing in two of this weekend’s movies, “Adventureland” and “The Education of Charlie Banks,” but he’s also already appeared in “Roger Dodger,” “The Emperor’s Club” and “The Squid and the Whale.” Eisenberg’s career shows no signs of slowing down. His future films include “Holy Rollers” and “Kill Your Darlings” in which he’ll play the iconic poet Allen Ginsberg. Check out what Jesse told Alison about his past, present and future projects on next week’s Reel Talk. For now, enjoy Jesse’s quiz.

Many of us know John Cena as a very successful WWE wrestler, but he’s on his way to becoming known for another talent, his acting ability. John made the move from the ring to the big screen back in 2006 when he starred in “The Marine.” He’s continuing his pursuit of action star status with his latest film, “12 Rounds,” which hits theaters this weekend. John dropped by to talk to Jeffrey about the movie as well as the pressure of making it big as an actor while holding on to his wrestling career. Check back later this week to get a look at the interview, but for now, enjoy John’s quiz:

In case you didn't know, Hugh Laurie, star of Fox's hit show "HOUSE" and one of the main voices in the new "Monsters vs. Aliens" animated outing, is a HUGE Clint Eastwood fan (and really, who isn't?).

During a visit this week to talk up his new project (catch more of the interview on this weekend's show), Laurie told Jeffrey how he's always seen his small-screen alter ego as a sort of lab coat version of Harry Callahan ... minus the .44 Magnum. So has Hugh or anyone else on the show reached out to Clint to make an appearance? Check out the clip...

We all know him as our favorite TV character, Dr. House. But this weekend, Hugh Laurie is taking his doctor status and acting abilities to the big screen as Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. in the animated 3D film “Monsters vs. Aliens.” Hugh dropped by the Reel Talk studio today to talk with Jeffrey about his new film, hit show “House,” as well as his writing career. You can see Jeffrey’s interview with Hugh on Reel Talk this weekend, but until then, check out his quiz below.

My Top Four Sexy Unsexy Men: Men without traditional good looks who nevertheless are wildly attractive.

4. Dustin Hoffman circa "The Graduate". So young, so virginal, so ready to learn.

3. Woody Allen always. He's scrawny, nebbishy and neurotic.. But that sense of humor! And you know he wants nothing more than to give you pleasure ... and he'll work really hard (see "Annie Hall")

2. Jesse Eisenberg. See Woody Allen

1. Seth Rogen. Doughy? Yes ... but have you heard that voice? Barry White velvet.

She’s mainly known for playing Lorelai Gilmore for seven years on the hit show “Gilmore Girls,” but Lauren Graham is actually one of the most versatile actresses out there. She’s conquered television, film and, most recently, Broadway. Lauren stars as Adelaide in the revival of “Guys and Dolls.” She dropped by the Reel Talk set this week to tell Jeffrey a bit about the experience and to become the next member of the Reel Talk quiz collection. Take a look:

He may play a cynical and ruthless character in "Watchmen," but actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan is nothing like the Comedian in real life. Jeffrey and his "Watchmen" co-star Patrick Wilson, hung out with fans at the Apple store in SoHo Thursday night to kick off the film's release. Before the event began, Jeffrey took the time to answer some questions and become the next addition to Reel Talk's quiz collection.

You’d be surprised to know that an actor playing a superhero actually had to gain weight for the role. Well, that’s exactly what Patrick Wilson had to go through in order to get in Night Owl II fighting form. Get to know a little more about this “Watchmen” star by checking out his quiz below and be sure to tune in to Reel Talk this week to catch Alison’s interview with Patrick.

She’s extremely busy working on the hit television show “Desperate Housewives,” but Felicity Huffman can never turn down a good movie role. This week on Reel Talk, Felicity talks to Jeffrey about her newest film “Phoebe in Wonderland” and, of course, a little about life on Wisteria Lane. But for now, enjoy the newest addition to the Reel Talk quiz collection and meet Felicity Huffman.

Talk about a growth spurt; this young actor went from playing minimal parts in small films to having keys roles in two of the biggest films of the year. Anton Yelchin is just 19-years-old, but having a huge impact on the blockbuster world. He plays Pavel Cheko in “Star Trek” and Kyle Reese in “Terminator Salvation.”

It wasn’t always billboards and famous costars for this Russian native. He was born on March 11th, 1989 to Korina and Viktor Yelchin, both famous figure skaters who were forbidden to compete in the 1972 Winter Olympics because of their Jewish heritage. In 1989 Korina and Viktor relocated to the United States as refugees from political and religious oppression.

Anton landed his first role in the independent film “A Man is Mostly Water” when he was nine. From there it was on to “A Time for Dancing,” “House of D” and the mini-series “Taken.” He also got brief roles on the television shows “Curb your Enthusiasm” and “Huff.” It wasn’t until he played Bobby Garfield in “Hearts of Atlantis” that Yelchin was truly recognized for his abilities when he was awarded the Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor award at the 2002 Young Artist Awards.

Then it was on to pop culture. Yelchin starred alongside Justin Timberlake in “Alpha Dog” about the true story of murder victim Nicholas Markowitz. Even though the film focused on such a heart-wrenching occurrence, young movie buffs everywhere were able to enjoy Yelchin’s performance and fall in love with the dynamic actor. These youths could continue to enjoy his acting abilities with the limited release film “Charlie Bartlett.” Yelchin played the quirky title character who uses his charm and endless medicine cabinet to distribute advice and prescription meds to his troubled high school classmates. Despite having seen this film over a year ago, I can still recall particular scenes and get an innocent giggle out of them.

All of his past achievements were notable, but now it’s onto the big stuff. In “Star Trek” Yelchin will star alongside Hollywood heavyweights Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana and Winona Ryder when the film is released May 8th. After he gets his feet back on the ground, Yelchin will travel to the future for the opening of “Terminator Salvation” May 21st. In that picture, he’ll share the screen with Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Bryce Dallas Howard, Moon Bloodgood, Helena Bonham Carter and Common.

I’m curious to see what people think of Anton Yelchin post “Terminator” and “Star Trek.” Hopefully the two films will maintain Yelchin’s image as a young actor who can be molded into any role given to him. In the meantime, see if “Alpha Dog” or “Charlie Bartlett” interest you and check out the trailers below.

There’s “Grease 2,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Happy Gilmore,” “The Perfect Storm,” “Spy Kids 2” and an extensive list of other films on Christopher McDonald’s resume. The unbelievably busy actor stopped by this week to talk with Jeffrey about the latest addition to his list, “Reunion,” in theaters March 6th. Check out the entire interview below and look out for Jeffrey and Alison’s review of “Reunion” on next week’s show.

This week Reel Talk was fortunate enough to have been paid a visit by Shooter McGavin himself! Oh, I mean Christopher McDonald. He may always be remembered by millions as that wacky golfer determined to claim his gold jacket, but McDonald has quite the extensive resume with much more to come in the future. Meet Christopher McDonald:

Here’s the first of a new series of blog entries we’ll be bringing you. Each time we have a guest on the show, we’ll give them a brief quiz just to see what’s on their minds. The questions will change on a weekly basis so feel free to submit some suggestions. Enjoy!

Name: MICKEY ROURKE

Movie for Valentine’s Day: VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE

Favorite Slasher Movie: THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

Best Part of Shooting “The Wrestler:” THE DAY IT ENDED

A Roman emperor, heroic firefighter, Johnny Cash and a rapper? It’s official. It's being reported that Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix is ditching his promising acting career for hip-hop. He’s so serious about his newfound passion, he's even built a recording studio in his home.

It’s hard to take any actor turned musician seriously. Did Phoenix not learn anything from the misadventures of Lindsay Lohan, Peter Gallagher, Eddie Murphy, Patrick Swayze, David Hasselhoff or the many other actors who have attempted to make it in the music business? It’s fairly obvious he didn’t. His debut rap performance aired on YouTube and was nothing short of a disaster.

The sloppy and rather hairy Phoenix stomps on stage and blurts out an inaudible rap and tops it all off by losing his footing and taking a major spill into the crowd. Hopefully, for Joaquin’s sake, this doesn’t set the tone for his new career.

If he is done with movies, at least he's given his fans one last performance. “Two Lovers” opens February 13th, and in it he stars alongside Gwyneth Paltrow as a troubled man torn between the woman his family hopes he’ll marry, and his attraction to a gorgeous but equally troubled neighbor. You can see what Jeffrey and Alison thought of this one on this week’s show.

Although Phoenix recognizes the irrationality in his big move and the harsh comments it is and will continue to generate, he intends to work towards success. "Might I be ridiculous? Might my career in music be laughable? Yeah, that's possible, but that's certainly not my intention … it's going to be a hard transition, and people are going to be lining up just to make fun of me."

It’s always nice to let a young actor know he has potential. You’d think getting the role of Captain Kirk in the much anticipated “Star Trek” reboot would be enough, but no. Chris Pine will also take home the Male Star of Tomorrow award at ShoWest later this Spring.

So, who is Chris Pine anyway? The 28-year-old Los Angeles native comes from a family of actors. His father, Robert Pine, found work on soap operas while his mother, Gwynne Gilford, appeared on a number of television series in the 70’s including “A New Kind of Family.”

After graduating from the University of California at Berkley, Pine landed his first role on the show “ER.” He transitioned into the world of the big box office playing Anne Hathaway’s love interest in 2005’s “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.” In 2006, we saw him opposite Lindsay Lohan in “Just My Luck.” Apparently Lindsey doesn’t turn everything she touches to dirt because Pine went onto bigger films including “Smokin’ Aces” with Ben Affleck, Ray Liotta and Ryan Reynolds. Personally, the name Chris Pine meant nothing until the film “Bottle Shock.” Pine’s ability to bring his character from the ultimate deadbeat to promising wine grower and actually make the transition believable is quite the accomplishment.

But now it’s onto the ultimate test: can he pull off the roll of the young Captain Kirk? Unfortunately for Pine, the greater they are, the harder they fall. If “Star Trek” doesn’t live up to the hype, the disappointment would be so immense that nobody would care for his performance whether or not he does well. We’ll just have to wait and see if the Pine can ride the Enterprise from Male Star of Tomorrow to actual star.

You may have heard the other day that Mickey Rourke, he of the incredible 'back from the theatrical dead' comeback, Oscar nominee for "The Wrestler," was planning on appearing at the WWE's annual Wrestlemania extravaganza. And you may have been, along with many others out there, wondering aloud, "Mickey, what are you doing??!?!?!?!"

Thankfully, Rourke has done an about-face and is no longer going to appear at Wrestlemania. His publicist issued a statement today saying Rourke is focused solely on his acting career.

Talk about a close call. I'm a big pro wrestling fan. Have been since I was a kid. And I've enjoyed the many celebrity cameos in the squared circle over the years, from Mr. T in the first Wrestlemania to Arnold Schwarzenegger. But this is just about the last thing Mickey Rourke needs to do right now.

Keep in mind, the last time he stepped into a ring, it began his downfall as an actor. In the early 90s, he decided to give pro boxing a try. That didn't go well.

I'm not sure why he initially was interested in going the WWE route. I would suspect big $$ had something to do with it. And hey, that's fine. Mickey's had many struggles in recent years and now that he's back on top maybe he feels he needs to capitalize quickly. I can't/won't fault anyone for trying to earn as much cash as they possibly can.

However, when you're thisclose to becoming perhaps the most improbable Best Actor Academy Award winner ever, you shouldn't step into the PR minefield that is pro wrestling. How do you think the news of Rourke calling out WWE star Chris Jericho went over with most of the Academy's older, more conservative voters? You don't think it might influence voters who may be torn between Rourke's superb turn and Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon" or Sean Penn in "Milk"?

Remember a few years ago, when Eddie Murphy was the odds-on favorite to win Best Supporting Actor for "Dreamgirls"? There are an awful lot of people in Hollywood who insist those embarrassing ads and billboards for "Norbit", which opened just before the Oscars that year, cost Murphy the Golden Dude.

Those same voters who didn't like seeing one of their nominees playing a fat woman probably wouldn't be thrilled to hear one of the main contenders in such a prestigious category, doing smack-talk promotion for Vince McMahon.

Winning an Oscar can be a very political process. You also need a lot of luck. Rourke's comeback is one of the best storylines of the past movie year. I'm glad he and his team acted quickly to put an end to the WWE farce before it could potentially harm his chances come Feb. 22.

Because I for one, want to see him win. Not just for his performance (which was GREAT), but because that could be an acceptance speech for the ages. What's the Over/Under on how many of his dogs he thanks by name? Or how many four-letter words accidentally come out??

Frank Miller, is no stranger to the graphic novel world. A comic book legend for redefining Batman and Daredevil and for creating "300", "Sin City" and the "Hard Boiled" series, Miller is making his solo directorial debut with 'The Spirit' starring Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson, Jaime King and Samuel L. Jackson.

During his latest visit to the RT set, Jackson - a regular visitor to our 30 Rock digs - talked to Jeffrey about the movie AND about possibly starring in a western that Miller has in mind for him.

Michelle Williams has endured a lot this year. It began with the tragic death of her former lover Heath Ledger, the father of her daughter Matilda. She's been pursued relentlessly by the paparazzi and questioned endlessly about Ledger's passing and how she's dealing with it.

Amid all that, she's somehow been able to focus on her work. She's worked with DiCaprio and Scorsese on "Shutter Island" and now she's busy promoting the indie drama "Wendy and Lucy", which opens in limited release next Wednesday. There's growing talk she could be Oscar nominated for her performance. She talked to Alison about the film recently, and also confirmed she's taking a break from acting to recharge her batteries and focus on her family.

Check it out here!

Jason Statham stopped by our studio this week to talk about his NEW flick, "Transporter 3!" Check out why the action star signed up for the 3rd installment of the film series!

Kevin Smith, a.k.a. Silent Bob made his way to our studio this week, to talk about his new movie "Zack and Miri Make a Porno." Here in New York, considering we are a "blue state," this title may not seem like a big deal. However, to many other parts of the country, this title may be a little too X-rated for their taste. So, what's going to happen to the marquee in those theaters? Well check this clip out, and see what Smith has to say about it.

Toby Keith must have been thinking about Josh Brolin when he wrote his song "I Should Have Been A Cowboy." After playing a Texan in the White House -- some say George W. Bush brought a gunslinger's mentality to the Oval Office -- in "W.", and having just done the Texas-based "No Country for Old Men", Brolin is now in talks to star in the adaptation of DC Comics' 1970s Western comic "Jonah Hex."

While there are a few i's to be dotted and t's to be crossed, Brolin sounds excited about portraying the scarred gunfighter. He talks to Jeffrey about it here...

Click here to watch!

This week's Top Billing star is R&B phenomenon Alicia Keys. She's starring in the movie based on Sue Monk Kidd's novel, "The Secret Life of Bees".

The Grammy-winning singer turned actress talked to Alison about the movie and her new song "Another Way to Die." (click to watch) Which, as you may know, is the theme song to the new James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace". Watch what she has to say about working on the song with Jack White from the White Stripes right here!

Also...if you want to check out the ENTIRE interview with Ms.Keys, click right here!

One of the greatest actors in history has left us. Paul Newman died Friday at the age of 83 after a long battle with cancer. A spokesperson for the legendary actor and philanthropist confirmed the sad news.

Newman, an Oscar winner for 1987's "The Color of Money" and a 10-time nominee overall, leaves behind a body of work that will never be forgotten. "Hud", "Cool Hand Luke", "The Verdict", "The Sting", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", the list goes on and on. Even his more commercial projects were memorable. I've seen "The Towering Inferno" and "Slap Shots" more times than I care to admit.

Chances are, if you ask 10 random people on the street what their favorite Paul Newman film was, you would get 10 different answers. That's how great he was.

What's even more amazing is how his life wasn't just defined by his acting. He was a race car driver -- and a really good one at that. His racing team finished 5th in Daytona one year, and was runner-up at Le Mans in 1979.

He was also incredibly generous.

His "Newman's Own" line of popcorn, salad dressings and other food products, which started as a lark, turned into a huge business. Instead of keeping the profits, Newman turned over all earnings to charity. So far that's added up to around $175 million in donations.

More important, he was a devoted husband and father. He was married to wife (and fellow Academy Award winner) Joanne Woodward since 1958, the same year they both appeared in "The Long Hot Summer." They would work together on several other occasions, two where Newman directed her, "Rachel, Rachel" and "The Glass Menagerie."

We'll have more on Paul Newman's incredible career in the upcoming days here on the site, and on REEL TALK. You can read more on his incredible life here.

Watch out Elle Woods... it looks like another blonde has caught the attention of the "Legally Blonde" screenwriters! Reel Talk had the chance to go to Cosmo Girl's screening of "The House Bunny" where we got to talk to all of the "Zeta Alpha Zeta" sorority girls! Click on picture of Anna Faris, Emma Stone and Katharine McPhee to watch our interviews with these lovely ladies.

I came back from a brief, 'turn everything off and enjoy myself' trip to Washington, D.C. to learn the horrible news that Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes had died within a day of each other.

Two men who displayed their talents in very different ways, but who had the same impact: They were unforgettable.

Mac, who passed away at 50 Saturday from complications of pneumonia (he had been in the hospital for several days before his death), first made his rep as a standup comic. As one of the four Kings of Comedy (Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley were the others), he turned standup comedy on its ear. The KoC tours were sold-out events, and he parlayed that success into one of the funniest TV shows of the past decade, "The Bernie Mac Show." His observations on life and family were hilarious and dead-on, helped greatly by his exasperated baritone delivery.

In the movies, he excelled in supporting roles in everything from the "Ocean's" franchise to "Transformers." He could carry a film too. "Mr. 3000" was one of the better baseball movies in recent years, thanks largely to Mac's turn as a self-absorbed Barry Bonds-type player who gets his comeuppance. As his "Ocean's" co-star George Clooney said after hearing the sad news, the world isn't as funny now that Bernie Mac is gone.

As for Hayes, who died Sunday after collapsing at his Memphis home, he made his impact in the movie business off-camera at first. Anyone who calls him or herself a film buff knows the beat and the lyrics to Hayes' theme song to the 1971 classic "Shaft" (click to listen.) The Oscar-winning number remains one of the gold standards of movie themes, so much so that when people talk about the film now, the first thing they bring up is the song.

To younger fans, Hayes is of course better known as the voice of 'Chef' from TV's "South Park." But he appeared in a number of other films, including one of my personal favorites, John Carpenter's cult classic "Escape From New York." He was the Duke, baby, A Number 1!! The image of a sunglasses-at-night wearing Hayes running through Manhattan after Kurt Russell with a sequined vest that looked like it was lifted from Cher's closet in the 70s remains engraved in my memory banks.

He also appeared in "I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka" and "Reindeer Games."

In a sad twist, Hayes' last film appearance was to be in the recently completed "Soul Men," with Samuel L. Jackson and...Bernie Mac.

But music is Hayes' legacy. After "Hot Buttered Soul" made him a chrome-domed star in cool sunglasses and lots of gold, Hayes would go on to write hundreds of songs, many of them soul standards, while at the legendary Stax Records label.

Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Coming" were co-written by Hayes.

And his influence helped pave the way for the Disco and Hip-Hop phenomenons that erupted in the mid and late-1970s. Listen to his early 70s albums, with their driving beats, sexy hooks and his rap-like lyricisms, and you'll notice the resemblance.

Hayes, along with the Rick James, are two of the most sampled artists in Hip-Hop, which is about as high a compliment as you can pay someone in Modern Music.

Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes, both gone on the same weekend. They will be missed, but they won't be forgotten. R.I.P. gentlemen.

The "Knocked Up" co-star, Seth Rogen stopped by our studio today over at 30 Rock, to talk a little bit about his new movie 'Pineapple Express' but... that's not all he talked about. From weed to tough guys to his next film 'The Green Hornet' Jeffrey and Seth had plenty to talk about. Check out this clip where Seth talks about why it took SO long to get this movie done.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

The death this past week of Evelyn Keyes marks the passing of one of the last surviving stars of "Gone With The Wind," perhaps the biggest, most beloved movie epic of all time. It was one of the now classic films, which opened in 1939, the greatest year in movie history. She portrayed Suellen O'Hara, sister of Scarlett, the role that made Vivian Leigh a screen immortal. Ms. Keys' passing means that only Olivia de Havilland, who played the star-crossed Melanie in "Gone With the Wind", survives.

Years later her memoir, "Scarlett O'Hara's Younger Sister" was a frank recounting of her many love affairs. Her husbands included director Charles Vidor, director of such great movies as "Gilda," "A Farewell to Arms" and "Hans Christian Anderson." However, when that marriage failed, she then married an even bigger name in movie history, John Huston. She was the girlfriend of Mike Todd, the flamboyant producer and director, whose "Around the World in 80 Days" remains another great film in screen history. But he left her for Elizabeth Taylor, only to die in a plane crash on a flight, his young wife Ms. Taylor decided at the last minute to skip.
However, it gets even more complicated. Next up to the alter for Ms. Keys...here fourth husband, Artie Shaw, the band leader and serial marrier of Ava Gardner and Lana Turner, among others. Anthony Quinn, David Niven and Kirk Douglas were also among her romantic liaisons; great fodder for a book, no?
Ms. Keys' movie resume was impressive for an actress who was never what today we refer to as an "A-lister." "Here Comes Mr. Jordan," and as a character based on the great Ruby Keeler, "The Jolson Story" about Al Jolson, probably the greatest entertainer of his era. Larry Parks, whose career was ruined by the shameful blacklisting, had the title role.
She came from the same town, Port Arthur, Texas, as Janis Joplin, who lived a much shorter, even more turbulent life. Also on her resume, by the way, was "The Seven Year Itch", starring Marilyn Monroe, the movie in which Ms. Monroe's pose over a New York City subway grating became one of the most famous shots in movie history, and which infuriated Monroe's then husband, Joe DiMaggio and began the unraveling of their nine month marriage.

You can’t fault Sir Ben Kingsley for not working hard. With over 70 films on his resume, and at least 5 slated for upcoming release, he is a most prolific artist. However, some have criticized him for taking roles in silly comedies…as if they are beneath his regal status. I say, “Go Sir Ben!” To me, nothing was funnier than seeing him spoof his own precious Gandhi image in “The Love Guru” playing guru Tugginmypudha.

And I loved him as a pot-smoking, confused, middle-aged shrink in “The Wackness.” He was remarkable as an alcoholic hit man in “You Kill Me,” delivering his droll lines with the burnout of a mid-life crisis.
He obviously enjoys his work and doesn’t seem to mind taking very small roles as well as starring ones. He also welcomes working with first time directors. But, for anyone who is missing Sir Ben the serious thespian…then watch out for “Elegy” coming this August, (click here for the trailer!) He should be rewarded with lots of award nominations for his role in this darkly, comic drama from director Isabel Coixet, it’s just the kind of film the academy loves.

The world is substantially less funny - and expletive-filled - today than it was yesterday. Legendary comedian George Carlin passed away Sunday at the age of 71 due to heart failure.

The groundbreaking comic was a multi-media success, thanks in part to roles in comedy films like Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl, Scary Movie 3 and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Carlin leaves behind a unique legacy of tipping the system with his series of riffs on the "Seven Words" and religious hypocrisy, among numerous topics he tackled in his standup act.

According to the Associated Press, Carlin had a history of heart trouble and went into St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pain and died of heart failure later that evening. He had performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

Carlin's resume consisted of 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, 3 books, a few TV shows and several movie appearances. His 1972 arrest in Milwaukee for using one of the seven words led to a Supreme Court ruling upholding his free speech rights. Three years later, he was also the first-ever host of "Saturday Night Live."He also made more than 100 appearances on "The Tonight Show," despite the fact that Johnny Carson at first didn't want him on the show!

He was a comedian who was able to make you laugh no matter what kind of comedy you were interested in, and no matter how offensive you thought he may have been. Carlin's voice still proved to be powerful, and is and will be a staple in Television history. "Nobody was funnier than George Carlin," said Judd Apatow, director of comedies and "Superbad" "I spent half my childhood in my room listening to his records experiencing pure joy. And he was as kind as he was funny."

Goodbye, George. Your millions of fans will f*#$@n miss you!

Check out the interview Jeffrey had with the "When Did You Last See Your Father" star Colin Firth. The English "Love Actually" co-star talked to Jeffrey about his new movie, which we will review this weekend, Mamma Mia, and Madonna... Check it out!

One of the many things Sarah Jessica Parker talked about with Jeffrey during their interview (highlights of which will be on this week's RT) was the influence "Sex and the City" had on the television landscape. Her answer to his question about the crossover appeal of the show proves how savvy she is about the industry.

Watch the entire Kristin Davis interview right here!

There's a new DVD set that was just released this past Tuesday, which will probably make more men laugh than women (just a hunch.) It's "The Three Stooges Collection,” volume 2, 1937-39.

That was the height of their popularity and certainly when their funniest films were made. There are 24 short films, arranged chronologically by release dates and digitally re-mastered and includes films like "Dizzy Doctors," "Saved by the Belle" and "Calling All Curs."

(To watch some of these clips keep reading!)

They hit their stride during their years at Columbia Pictures from 1934-57, but the 116 shots with Curly Howard, from 1933-47 are the best. Born Jerome Lester Horowitz from Brooklyn, his nickname was "babe," and he stood only 5'5" he succeeded his brother "Shemp" but after a series of strokes ended his career, Shemp returned.

He was also the younger brother of "Mo", the leader of the Stooges. Shemp wasn't nearly as funny as Curly, nor was the subsequent stooge "Curly Joe" Besser. Curly accidentally shot himself in the foot as a boy, but his fear of doctors led him to refuse treatment and he had a permanent limp. It was disguised in the movies by his trademark quirky walk. Wearing a suit a few sizes too small, with a shaved head he hated, Curly has become a cult figure for generations of fans. These DVD’s are among the best the group ever made. Just don't let your kids poke each other after watching them!

And as a matter of fact here are a few clips of the quirky trio from their DVD collection as well as clips from their first and second years on air.

If you were asked to name the biggest movie star of the past decade, you might say George Clooney, or Brad Pitt or Tom Hanks, right? Good choices, but wrong.
It's Will Smith, whose movies have made more money on a consistent level than anyone else's. He's returning in early July in "Hancock"(click here what his co-star in the film, Charlize Theron had to say about the movie.) as a homeless man with superhero powers he continually misuses.

Smith's movies open during the big movie times of the year, either summer or Christmas; last year it was "I Am Legend,"for example, which grossed $256 million. Before that there was "The Pursuit of Happyness,” which grossed $162 million. No, not among his biggest grossers, but it did get him a Best Actor Oscar nomination. And it wasn't a huge special effects blockbuster, but a tender true story; typical of Smith's penchant for exploring all sorts of genres.

For example, before that there was the romantic comedy, "Hitch", which brought in $177 million. Looking down the list, there was a sci-fi thriller, "I, Robot" grossing $144 million domestically. And don't forget his sci-fi buddy blockbusters, "Men In Black" and its sequel that grossed, respectively, $250 million, and $190 million. And don't forget the $306 million earned from "Independence Day" 12 years ago, which helped earn Smith the nickname "Mr. Fourth of July." He seeks to reaffirm that title with "Hancock" which debuts July 2nd. With a tip of the hat, therefore, to the aforementioned Clooney, Pitt, Hanks, Ford and others, Will Smith gets my vote for the biggest movie star of our time.

She warmed up the crowd with her smash hit 3-D concert flick back in February, now Miley Cyrus is working on the main event -- the first full-length feature based on her wildly popular "Hannah Montana" tv show.

Production is underway on the Disney movie, which is set to be released Spring 2009. Read the full press release here

I happen to be a big Marilyn Monroe fan, the 1950's sex symbol, that pretty much changed the way America viewed and portrayed sexuality on the silver screen. I have and watched all of her movies like, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," the infamous "The Seven Year Itch," that reportedly ignited the divorce between her and ex-husband Joe Dimaggio, and "How to Marry a Millionaire."

I know that this "Some Like it Hot" blonde was a fan of Marlon Brando and after watching the The Wild One clips Jeffrey has in his post about the Stanley Kramer DVD collection...I CAN SEE WHY!

The motorcycle, leather jacket and that nonchalant attitude, I can see why Brando was such a huge hit amongst the ladies and Hollywood's hottest back in his day.

These clips sparked my interest and now, I can't wait to see some more of his films. But not "The Godfather," the film he's best known for, but his pre-Don Corleone flicks like "A Street Car Named Desire," "On The Waterfront," and "Guys and Dolls." These are definitely going into my Netflix queue.

This got me thinking about how present-day Hollywood feels a little incomplete without a 'Brando' or 'Marilyn' type today. The bad boy look seems to have gone out of style since Travolta last took off his leather T-Bird jacket in "Grease" but maybe its time to bring it back. But who? Am I missing anyone who could possibly be the next Bad Boy or Girl of our day? (And no, Lindsey Lohan doesn't count!)
What do you think?

You just never know what the effect will be of that very next decision you make, and how it will impact the REST OF YOUR LIFE!
When William Shatner stopped by our studio last week to talk to Jeffrey about his new autobiography "Up Till Now" he served up an important example of how ANY minor decision you make could impact your tomorrow. Check out the entire interview!

Look who it is!
Mr. Indiana Jones, himself stopped by our studio today to talk to Jeffrey about his Indiana Jones sequel that will be released TOMORROW! Check out the entire interview right here!

Ladies and gentlemen, here’s a sad and unfortunate fact: William Shatner a.k.a. CAPTAIN KIRK will not be in J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek movie, scheduled for release May 2009! And we agree with Shatner in the disappointment in not getting the call to return to duty onboard the Enterprise. Regardless, we still have our fingers crossed for a cameo. Shatner dropped by recently to talk to Jeffrey about his new autobiography, "Up Till Now: The Autobiography." Here he addresses the Trek movie snub.

With a mega-franchise like 'Narnia' you can expect all sorts of tie-ins, including the obligatory action figures. Prince Caspian himself, Ben Barnes, tells Alison that he expects kids to abuse the action figure (don't call it a doll!) based on his own experience when he used to beat up his old He-Man and Transformer toys.

Tinkering with a beloved book series can be dangerous, but if done well, it can help make the translation from book to theater even better. It worked with the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy ... and so far, so good with "The Chronicles of Narnia" series. Ben Barnes, the new hero in "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" which opens in theaters this weekend...told Alison that some of the romantic tension in the new movie between his character and Susan (Anna Popplewell) -- which was not in C.S. Lewis' book -- was cut out of the final print. However, he hinted that we could see this storyline fleshed out in future films.

There's a new book out about "The Chairman of the Board." No, not Yankee immortal Whitey Ford, but the other "Chairman," "Old Blue Eyes," "The skinny One From Hoboken," Frank Sinatra.

It's called "When Frankie Went to Hollywood,” with author Karen McNally analyzing many of his movies. While she lamentably omitted the original "Manchurian Candidate," and "The Man with the Golden Arm," the movie which won him his supporting Oscar and revived his career, "From Here to Eternity" is among the select group.

Sinatra never had a cozy relationship with the press, one day during WWII, he had a tiff with several reporters. Later, he was walking with his agent, who spotted a headline from the corner of his eye. He rushed over, bought the paper, and breathed a sigh of relief. The headline read: "Allies Pulverize Sumatra."

Sinatra was once invited to a posh reception at the united nations. At the cocktail party, he recognized someone, but couldn't place him. "How ya doin', pal," he said. "Did you catch my act in Vegas?" "Nyet," came the reply -- from Soviet Foreign Minister Andre Gromyko, perhaps the coldest Russian cold warrior of them all.

He was the most popular pop singer of the 20th century, an irreplaceable voice and Oscar winning actor and now the subject of yet another book.

He may have won his Oscar for going all 'Hoo-ah!' in "Scent of a Woman" but when most people think of a classic Al Pacino role, the ones that come to mind usually find Mr. Pacino playing a good guy or a bad guy. Here are the Top Five Pacino Cop movies and his Top Five Criminal flicks. Let us know which role fits him best and which movie you like the most!

PACINO AS COP:

HEAT (1995):
Michael Mann's LA crime saga gets better and better each time I watch it. As super-cop Vincent Hanna, Pacino gives a high-octane performance ('Gimme all you got!!!') as the great detective who can't solve his personal problems. The bank robbery scene is one of the 10 best action pieces EVER, but the coffee shop conversation between Pacino & De Niro (as bad guy Neil McCauley) gives us the chance to eavesdrop on a conversation between two acting icons.

SEA OF LOVE (1989):
Pacino's big comeback role after the flop that was "Revolution," this tense thriller finds him playing a cop on the heels of a serial killer targeting lonely men through newspaper lonely hearts columns. Pacino and Ellen Barkin, playing the main suspect, set off serious sparks, and John Goodman is perfect as Pacino's partner.

SERPICO (1973):
Frank Serpico was Pacino's most iconic role until he hammed it up as Tony Montana a decade later. (You didn't see a poster of Michael Corleone on Tony Manero's wall in "Saturday Night Fever" did you?)

Sidney Lumet's movie -- which I first saw at a much-too young age -- has aged well, especially seeing it again as a New Yorker. It's more than just a cop movie. It's a history lesson about one of the city's most desperate times as well as a deep probe inside one of NY's most indelible communities -- the NYPD.

CRUISING (1980):
His most controversial movie, this one was just released for the first time on DVD last year. Pacino's a cop who goes undercover in NY's seedy S&M society to catch a killer targeting gays. I'm sure Al's reps were happy this movie was buried right after it was finished out of fears it would kill his macho image. But this is a really good, if creepy, thriller. Watching it now makes you miss the Pacino who could do work like this instead of his recent histrionics. Watch for Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen and Ed O'Neill in supporting roles.

INSOMNIA (2002):
Pacino's last great movie, it's woefully underrated. Written/directed by "Batman Begins" genius Christopher Nolan, its chock full of great characterizations. This one well-crafted cop thriller. Trying to solve a murder in an Alaskan town which is in a 24-hour sun cycle, while hiding a terrible secret of his own, Pacino's sleep-deprived, guilt-ridden detective is almost too exhausted to keep up with Robin Williams' slithering bad-guy. Give this one a chance.

PACINO AS CRIMINAL:

THE GODFATHER I & II (1972 &1974):
What can I possibly say about these two movies that hasn't been said or written already? If you haven't seen these two epics, order the dvds, take a sick day and enjoy two of the greatest films EVER and then you can finally understand what the heck Tom Hanks and Greg Kinnear were talking about in "You've Got Mail." Oh, and skip "Godfather, Part III."

DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975):
Once you get past the twisted fact that Michael and Fredo Corleone are playing gay lovers in this based-on-a-true-story drama, what you get is Pacino at his bravest. Playing the not so well-prepared bank robber Sonny, trying to gain enough cash to pay for his lover's sex-change operation, Pacino is funny, touching, angry and best of all, sympathetic. This role marked his 4th consecutive Oscar nomination (3 straight Best Actor Nods). Why it took the Academy so long to honor him is beyond me.

DONNIE BRASCO (1997):
Before "The Sopranos" demystified the whole myth about Mob honor, Pacino shattered the whole romanticized image of gangster life with his portrayal of the pathetic, barely breaking-even thug Lefty in director Mike Newell's riveting drama. Pacino and Johnny Depp (as real-life FBI agent Joe Pistone) are tremendous together in their scenes, including some hilarious exchanges ("A wise guy's always right even when he's wrong, he's right."). Like "Heat," it gets better with every viewing.

SCARFACE (1983):
It's always seemed rather odd to me that the part Pacino is most identified with is his maniacally over-the-top turn as Tony Montana. Before you even think of arguing that point, think of how many times you've heard a drunk friend of yours slur 'Say hello to my lil' friend!' .. or 'The World is Mine' ... or 'Don't get high on your own supply'...it goes on and on. The film's become a mantra to the Hip Hop community, with everyone from P. Diddy to Snoop Dogg declaring their love for Brian De Palma's bloody pic, calling it the ultimate cautionary tale. Sporting one of the worst Cuban accents ever (I'm Cuban. Trust me, he wasn't even close), Pacino nevertheless appears to be having a ball working on a less-dignified -- and infinitely more hammed-up -- take on the 'power corrupts' character arc he did in much more subtle fashion in "The Godfather" movies. Watch it again. The film's full of problems, but the action scenes are brutal and still exciting. And Pacino...well, he's Pacino. Say what you will about the glorification of violence, over-acting...yada yada. Cultural impact has to count for something.

CARLITO'S WAY (1993):
I remember seeing this in theaters when it came out, expecting a complete "Scarface" ripoff. I mean, Pacino as a latino gangster (only Puerto Rican instead of Cuban) in a De Palma movie doesn't exactly scream originality. And it had LOTS of similarities. But this was almost like "Scarface" on prozac, much more subdued, not to mention a much more sympathetic character. You don't have to feel guilty for liking Carlito Brigante, because Pacino humanizes him. This is a guy dying to stick to the straight and narrow, but everyone and everything around him keeps pulling him back in to his old life. I stop to watch this everytime I catch it while channel-surfing, one of the highest compliments I can give a movie. And Sean Penn's coke out, corrupt lawyer with the white-guy 'fro is also a treat to watch.

So what do you think? Cop or Crook? Tell us which Pacino you prefer!

Jason Segel's nude scene in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is already the talk of cyberspace -- and the movie doesn't even open until Friday! Being a family-friendly show that airs in many markets in the morning, Alison had to gently tiptoe around the subject when Jason and uber-producer Judd Apatow dropped by for this week's Top Billing. I still had to edit out part of Jason's explanation because I have a mortgage to pay. Catch more of the interview on this weekend's show, as well as Jeffrey & Alison's review. Now, take a listen to Jason telling Alison how he got ...er, UP, for his big nude scene. Very entertaining.

The last surviving member of Walt Disney's legendary animation crew, the "Nine Old Men", has died. According to Disney Studios, Ollie Johnston passed away of natural causes Monday in Washington state. His death is yet another symbolic benchmark in the disappearance of traditional hand-drawn animated filmmaking.

Johnston worked as an animator and director on many of the most beloved titles of the House of Mouse -- "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Pinocchio," "Bambi," "Fantasia," "Song of the South," "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland" and "101 Dalmatians." (here are clips from the recent DVD re-release of that film).

Nicknamed by Walt Disney himself in a playful homage to FDR's remark about the U.S. Supreme Court justices, the nine-man team Johnston belonged to were each responsible for different parts of each film, including creating individual characters. The stepsisters in "Cinderella," Mr. Smee in "Peter Pan" and Prince John in "Robin Hood" were among the specific characters created by Johnston.

He and Frank Thomas were the last of the group to remain with Disney, both retiring in 1978.

If you're an artist and want to learn about animation or even if you're like me and you can't draw stick figures but you're still a fan of the art form, then you should check out Johnston and Thomas' book, "The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation."

It's filled with tremendous examples of Disney art and offers great insight into how they created their onscreen magic.

As Pixar's digitally-animated productions such as "Toy Story," "Finding Nemo" and "Ratatouille" have become to the modern generation what those classic Disney 'toons were to previous children (and grownups), hand-drawn animation is verging on extinction. It's too expensive and time-consuming. OK fair enough. But you can't tell me that a movie like "Lady and the Tramp" would look any better if it was animated through a computer. Or "Fantasia." Those are WORKS OF ART. Art created by the hands of some ridiculously talented men.

So I was happy to hear during a recent presentation here in NYC that Disney is not completely abandoning hand-drawn animation. Their upcoming November release "Bolt" will feature a mix of computer & traditional animation. And Christmas 2009 will bring a completely hand-drawn, animation-cell production, the musical "The Princess and the Frog." Written and directed by the same guys who did "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," I can't think of a better tribute to Ollie Johnston than seeing the art form he was such an important part of, getting a new lease on life.

We make it a point here at RT to focus on the latter part of 'Show Business' and avoid the tabloid stuff that makes up most of the Hollywood media coverage. Call me crazy, but I figure people who watch our show and come to this website want to hear and read about movies, not find out what coffee drink Britney or Jessica ordered at Starbucks.

HOWEVER, I'm making an exception to send congrats to one of our favorite guests (and a personal fave of mine), Cate Blanchett. The Queen gave birth to her third child - a boy - Sunday back home in Australia. I imagine this means she'll be skipping the big media tour next month for her next movie, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." I'm sure she's terribly broken up about that. We'll catch you the next time, Cate.

Meantime, check out Jeffrey's interview with the best actress working today from her last visit.

The other day, with little fanfare, the 100th birthday of one of the greatest movie stars of them all came and went. And that's a shame. For Bette Davis deserves attention even today, nearly 20 years after her death -- she remains one of the most important figures in screen history.

I remember it was in 1978 when, on a Friday afternoon, my press contact at Paramount called and wondered if he'd like the chance to do a one hour radio interview with Ms. Davis in her hotel room at the plaza. "Would I?" I asked incredulously. "Of course. When? Two weeks from now?"

"On Monday," came the reply. "We didn't know she'd be available." I quickly agreed, even though that weekend, of all weekends, I'd been scheduled to attend a family wedding in Massachusetts. Remember, this was years before the Internet.

So I dutifully rounded all of the books in my movie library which pertained to her and her era in Hollywood -- some forty, as I recall -- packed them into the car, and as soon as we arrived at the home where we were staying, I notified the bride and groom of the situation.

Soon after the ceremony, I found myself in the basement of the home, while the reception was being held outside. Soon the bridesmaids drifted in along with the ushers, and began helping me find this reference or that movie's mention in one of the books. Several hours later, I’d somehow amassed several pages of single spaced notes and questions.

I remember being put at ease in her presence. She'd known my father, Broadway columnist Leonard Lyons, only slightly, since most of her career was spent on the west coast on studio lots, sound stages and trailers. But she was amazing. She knew the demands of a radio interview and gave me short, to-the-point answers; all informative, many frank, and all fascinating. When I mentioned her screen debut in 1931 she said: "Bad sister....Bogie was in it" and began reminiscing about events decades before, as if they'd happened the previous week.

Bette Davis was not conventionally beautiful by any means. But the camera loved her nonetheless. Rivaled in her day only by Joan Crawford, she was one of the first contract players -- Warner Brothers was her studio -- who would refuse to take a role she thought badly written or demeaning or unworthy of a star of her stature. She was suspended by studio boss Jack Warner and faced threats to her career. But she persevered. The result is an astonishing legacy.

When she didn't get the role of Scarlett O'Hara in rival studio MGM's "Gone With The Wind" (in those days stars were occasionally "loaned out" to other studios) she took the title role of "Jezebel" the year before "GWTW", in an antebellum story and won one of her best actress Oscars. She starred in several of what were called "Warner Brothers Weepers," a series on tense melodramas which today look tame, but which often touched on emotions hardly explored back then. The best of the lot for my money is "Now, Voyager" with Paul Henreid and that famous climactic scene in which he puts two cigarettes in his mouth and lights them simultaneously--is there anything more Forties?

"The Little Foxes" and "Watch On The Rhine" are other hits of that year followed soon by "All About Eve" with a young actress named Marilyn Monroe and Anne Baxter, and later, director frank Capra's swan song (as they used to say) I.E. his screen farewell, "Pocketfull Of Miracles." That was a Damon Runyon story about "Apple Annie" what we'd call a homeless person today, whose apples seemed to bring good luck to a gangster with a heart of gold, played by Glenn ford. Anne Margaret, in her movie debut, played Davis' daughter, living in Europe and unaware that her mother was homeless, and who was now coming to New York to meet her mother for the first time in years.

She turned to horror movies like "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" with Olivia de Havilland and “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" with Joan Crawford. Her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex," also with "Gone With The Wind" costar de Havilland and Eroll Flynn remains one of the greatest portrayals of that historical character.

So here's to Bette Davis on the 100th anniversary of her birth in Lowell, Massachusetts. "I'm a Yankee girl," she said: not a baseball reference but a New England reference. She was spunky, didn't suffer fools lightly and will forever be in the pantheon of movie icons.

Eight-time Grammy award winning sweetheart "Norah Jones" stopped by our studio last week to talk to Jeffrey about her latest work – this time in front of the camera. The star of "My Blueberry Nights" tells Reel Talk how nerve wrecking it was to smoke on camera.

Jean Paul Belmondo has just turned 75 this week. One of the great stars of France's post war "New Wave" cinema, he is perhaps France's most famous film star. He's even the favorite action star of both Jackie Chan and Chow Yun-Fat, no strangers to the genre themselves. Virtually all of his movies were made in France, so his stardom here is considerably less. But the dangling cigarette, the cool look of a character steeped in thoughts, the heartbreaker aura which won him millions of female fans all over the French speaking world have made him an international cinema icon.

Throw in a bit of James Dean, and you have his screen persona. Belmondo also evokes, in part, the stoic strength of Bogart for good measure. He starred opposite Sofia Loren in "Two Women," which won her the Best Actress Oscar. American audiences saw him in "Is Paris Burning?" not a great film by any means, but one which opened up new fans to his craft. He was also in the underrated if bizarre original "Casino Royale" which featured several actors portraying James Bond. He worked with Truffault, Goddard, de Broca, Chabrol, Varda; virtually all the new wave directors. He is a living movie icon, even if he's not a household word here. And now he's 75!

This week, a man named Abe Osheroff died at 92. He was one of the few surviving members of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, a group of Americans who went to Spain around 1937 to fight for the Republicans, to preserve the monarchy in a lost cause against Franco's Fascist Falange party, the Nationalists. Nine hundred of their number were killed and today, only a hand full survive.

The Spanish Civil war was one of the bloodiest in history and has been the subject or the backdrop for a few movies. The best is "To Die in Madrid," a documentary narrated by the great Sir John Gielgud. Mr. Osheroff directed and co-wrote "Dreams and Nightmares," in 1974, and it was the setting for Hemingway's classic "For Whom The Bell Tolls." Others on the subject include "Behold a Pale Horse" with Anthony Quinn and Gregory Peck and more recently "Pan's Labyrinth," although that one was set a few years after the war ended. There is an almost mystical aura about that war, with hundreds of stories of courage, savagery, drama and politics of the day inherent in that subject, that screenwriters have a rich field for future screenplays.

As expected, "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe is hopping across the pond to make his Broadway debut this fall with the play "Equus."

In case you don't remember, this is the play where the Teen Wizard went au natural during the London revival last year, and caused a whole big stir since the star of a multi-billion dollar film franchise usually doesn't 'drop trou' onstage. Radcliffe, a regular visitor to RT, talked about the controversy last summer during an interview with Alison:

Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths are both reprising their roles in the show. Griffith, of course, plays Harry Potter's uncle in the hit franchise. "Equus" will run at the Broadhurst Theaterfor 22 weeks, with previews starting Sept. 5th.

I always like it when New York-based actors who are more prominent on the stage take time off to do films; to spread the wealth of their craft to a larger audience. Such an actor is Bayonne, NJ native Frank Langella.

He once told me he got over his regional accent by listening to recordings of Sir John Gielgud -- can't do better than that. He became a huge star on Broadway as "Dracula" in 1977 and was seen last season as Nixon in "Frost/Nixon." On screen he portrayed CBS founder William S. Paley opposite George Clooney in "Good Night and Good Luck."

Last year, Langella starred in a wonderful little movie almost no one saw called "Starting Out in the Evening" intelligently directed by Andrew Wagner, in which he played a nearly-famous author who's the subject of a thesis written by an attractive college student. It's well worth seeing on video. Now comes word he is in final negotiations to star on screen in "All Good Things."

It begins shooting this month here in New York and Connecticut. The story deals with a real estate dynasty's heir, played by Ryan Gosling, having an affair with Kirsten Dunst (I've almost never been a fan of Ms. Dunst, but each movie is a clean slate.) who goes missing.

Let’s just hope ‘good things’ will surface with Langella’s expected new movie.

Ryan Reynolds is coming out in another film where he plays a responsible father and husband. After the refreshing “Definitely, Maybe,” he now stars in “Chaos Theory,” a lesser, but still sweet romantic comedy.

The similarities between the two films however are many. Each film features a flashback to a younger Reynolds, and each film centers around a question of parenthood. In “Chaos Theory,” Reynolds’ over-protective dad tells his future son-in-law about the ups and downs of his own marriage to Emily Mortimer. He’s very funny as an uptight “time management” author who finally gives in to the random, chaotic nature of fate.

I like both of these films and find Reynolds an appealing romantic hero. He’s not coasting on his “sexiest man” moniker and after “The Nines” he has shown that he has range as a dramatic actor as well.

Next up for Reynolds is a comedy “Adventureland” and a drama with Julia Roberts called “Fireflies In The Garden,” both due out later this year.

Bette Davis said that the more famous an actor becomes, the less acting he has to do. That has never been so true as in the case of Al Pacino who is on the way to becoming a self-parody.

I just saw his latest effort “88 Minutes,” a film with an interesting premise but with a terrible script, laughable acting and clumsy direction and which also runs a lengthy 105 minutes. He plays a forensic psychiatrist who receives a phone call saying he has 88 minutes left to live. It’s all part of some ridiculous revenge plot to do with a serial killer that he helped convict 9 years earlier. Of course he’s also psychologically haunted by the murder of his little sister years back, which he feels responsible for.

Al’s hair does more convincing acting in this, although it’s looking surprisingly full and bushy. He also has an admirable tan for someone living in rainy Seattle. There are a couple of typical ‘Al’ moments, where he sprays some spit around in anger, but the rest of it is just funny. How he could commit to such twaddle is a mystery. Leelee Sobieski and Alicia Witt also do some stunningly bad work here. Did I mention that all the murder victims are women? And they are all killed in their underwear? Come on Al, there must be better scripts than this?!

Charlton Heston was one of the last postwar stars to come of age right after the war (as World War II used to be referred to.) He studied acting with the legendary Alvina Krause, the most revered acting teacher of the Midwest, whose students at Northwestern University included Heston, Dick Benjamin and Paula Prentiss, Tony Roberts, the character actor James Olson, Oscar winner Patricia Neal, William Daniels (Dustin Hoffman's father in "The Graduate," playwright and actor George Furth, and many others.

The scene which defines much of Heston's life for me came not in his two most famous roles, the title one in "Ben Hur," the most honored movie of all time, nor as Moses in "The 10 Comandments." No, it came in my favorite Heston movie," The Big Country." It’s the fight scene with Gregory Peck.

Heston played the ramrod, the foreman of the huge ranch, presumably in Texas (it's never named but everything is "big" in that epic western), and he squared off with Peck, the "greenhorn," or "tenderfoot" easterner who'd come to marry the ranch owner's daughter, the object of Heston's affection as well. Director William Wyler filmed it from afar, two men seen in the distance amid an endless sea of grain and grassland. Peck, one of Hollywood's most prominent liberals, was fighting with Heston, whose own politics would turn rightward (as did his friend Ronald Reagan's) later in life.

Politically he was a curiosity -- he marched in the civil rights movements when not many other Hollywood stars had yet taken up the cause. Yet he later campaigned for Jesse Helms, the arch conservative North Carolina senator. Oh and he also campaigned for Strom Thurmond, who'd run for the white house on the 1948 "Dixiecrat" racist platform. Heston was his own man, as witness to his famous (or infamous, depending on your political perspective) speech to his minions of the National Rifle Association.

He was born Charles Cartger on October 4, 1923 in Evanston, a Chicago suburb. It was at Northwestern where he first starred in a student film production of the endless play "Peer Gynt" in 1942, then performed dramas on Chicago radio stations before his professional stage debut in summer stock.

Broadway first saw him billed 15th in "Anthony and Cleopatra" in 1947, as Proculeius, a soldier of “Caesar". More important, he got to work with the great director Guthrie McClintic and Katharine Cornell, then the reigning queen of Broadway. Kirk Douglas had made his stage debut with Ms. Cornell five years earlier. Other Broadway credits were long forgotten "Leaf and Bough," which ran just three performances, followed by "Design for a Stained Glass Window” (there's a title which grabs you!), which ran eight performances in 1950, and then, ten years later, in "The Tumbler," which lasted just six performances. Before heading West, however, he got notices in sweeping TV specials like "Julius Caesar" as Antony, Heathcliff in "Wuithering Heights" and as Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew."

One film historian described Heston as "tall and muscular, with a dominant physical presence and a strong-jawed, patrician facial bone structure suggesting intelligence and dignity," qualities which would soon serve him well.

He didn't lose touch with theater, however, even as Hollywood beckoned. In 1954, for example, he starred with Paul Douglas and Jan Sterling, then husband and wife, in a production of "Born Yesterday," the classic Garson Kanin comedy, in the role made famous in the movie by William Holden, hired by Douglas' blustery character tutor, his dumb blonde wife (Judy Holliday's classic screen role.). The box office quickly sold out, so the producers removed the chairs from the stars' dressing rooms to sell to eager stand by patrons in the aisles. But it was a Moses for director Cecil B. DeMille where he won international fame. One of the early scenes shot was the one in which he carried the tablets down from Mt. Sinai. "I'd better not slip up," he joked.

Just three years later he won his Oscar as Judah Ben Hur, a remake of a silent version, this time for director William Wyler. Wyler was known for doing lots of retakes; something to be avoided in a chariot race, of course. When I interviewed Heston he told me that was the scariest scene he'd ever done, because the use of a double was kept to a minimum. "I was even scared for my double," he said. “Ben Hur” It ranks as one of the greatest action scenes in movie history.

He worked with Orson Welles in "Touch of Evil," a brilliant film noir classic toward the end of the heyday of that genre, "The Wreck of the Mary Deare, Gary Cooper's penultimate film. Soon came "The Big Country" in a supporting role, really, but an unforgettable one with Heston astride in a gorgeous pinto. He played Andrew Jackson in "The Buccaneer" for director Anthony Quinn; the only movie Quinn (coincidentally a former son-in-law of Cecil B. DeMille would direct). After the frivolous "The Pigeon That Took Rome" and "Diamond Head,” he returned to a war epic, in this case the boxer rebellion, in "55 Days At Peking", then another biblical epic "The Greatest Story Ever Told" for director George Stevens, as John the Baptist. (In case you're wondering, the role of Christ went to a young Max von Sydow).

I first met him on the set of "The Agony and the Ecstasy,” in which he portrayed Michelangelo. Not on the set, really. I tagged along to Rome with my father, Broadway columnist Leonard Lyons, in the days when press junkets were really that; the studio sent 50 journalists (and one eager son) to London, then Rome. There in the Sistine Chapel, he gave us an informed tour and detailed explanation of the works of the master artist and sculptor. He found a resurgence to his career in action movies with those "Planet of the Apes" movies, which still have a huge cult about them, gave the role of Anthony another shot in "Anthony and Cleopatra," a still relevant sci-fi drama in "Soylent Green," the screen farewell of Edward G. Robinson, incidentally. He eased into character roles as Cardinal Richelieu in the "Three Musketeer" movies, did another war epic "Midway" and nearly a score of other movies.

One movie was "El Cid," Heston played the legendary medieval spanish hero, with Sophia Loren. If you look closely at the scene when he and Loren ride into Seville, you may spot a stagehand in an alleyway; one of Hollywood's many "goofs."

He did other Westerns like the underrated "Will Penny" and "Major Dundee" and worked with some of Hollywood's greatest directors; Wyler, Stevens, Peckinpah, Franklin J. Schaffner, Rudolph Mate, and William Dieterle, to name a few.

Charlton Heston was one of the few "larger-than-life" postwar stars who left a legacy of great films.

Directing, hitting, and football. Jeffrey and George had a man-to-man talk Thursday morning when Mr. Clooney stopped by our REEL TALK studios to discuss directing and starring in "Leatherheads," which opens Friday.

The death of Richard Widmark on Wednesday at 93 marked the passing of one of the last great postwar movie stars. Only a few remain -- living treasures like Kirk Douglas, Maureen O'Hara, Eli Wallach, Ernest Borgnine, Karl Malden and not many more.

Widmark was amazing; he could convince you he was a cowboy, a sailor or a more conventional type, too. A native of Sunrise, Minnesota, he came to NY in 1938 when radio dramas were at their height; it was the year, after all, that Orson Welles, spooked America with his "war of the worlds" broadcast and scores of radio dramas were the country's main entertainment between movies.

The young actor found work in that medium and on Broadway. He was billed 17th in something called "Kiss and Tell" at the Biltmore Theatre, which is still in use. On march 17, 1943. He was ‘Lieutenant Lenny Archer’ and luckily for him “Kiss and Tell” ran 956 performances. His next job was in November, 1944 when this reporter was just 18 days old, by the way, in a show called "Get Away Old Man" which featured future character star Ed Begley, who would be one of the movies' "12 Angry Men" 13 years later. But it only ran 13 performances and is otherwise forgotten today.

On to three other shows, "Trio, "Kiss Them For Me" and " Dunnigan's Daughter," before his movie career began. It was "Kiss Of Death," his 1947 screen debut, which provided him with his most famous character, the killer with a trademark chilling laugh as he pushed a wheelchair-bound elderly lady down a flight of stairs to her death. He earned an Oscar nomination that year.

Some of his other memorable movies were "Panic In The Street,” “No Way Out," "The Hall of Montezuma," “The Frogmen," “Destination Gobi," "Saint Joan" (miscast, alas, as the dauphin for director Otto Preminger), "Two Rode Together" and "Judgement at Nuremberg" as a prosecutor of Nazi war criminals. I loved his work in "How the West Was Won" in 1963 as a gruff railroad boss, determined to lay track for the transcontinental railroad at a furious pace -- even if it meant encroaching on sacred Indian land. Other films included "Murder On The Orient Express," "Twilight's Last Gleaming," two “National Lampoon Movies," the otherwise-unbearable "The Alamo" for director and costar John Wayne (Widmark played Jim Bowie), and a superb cold war drama called "The Bedford Incident" with Sidney Poitier. He was also, for a few years, the father-in-law of baseball hall-of-famer Sandy Koufax.

Richard Widmark was one of the most dependable and durable Hollywood stars of a bygone era has died.

A decade as part of the classic TV hit "Friends" apparently was more than enough onscreen work for David Schwimmer. Aside from the occasional guest-starring role on shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "30 Rock," Schwimmer told Alison during a recent interview he's focused on behind-the-scenes work, like his feature directorial debut "Run Fatboy Run," which opens March 28.

Here's part of the interview. You can hear more on this week's RT:

David Schwimmer, whose debut as a film director "Run Fatboy Run" hits theaters March 28, told Alison Bailes not to hold your breath waiting for a "Friends" reunion.

Besides concentrating on directing and roles in upcoming films like "Nothing But The Truth," Schwimmer said the way the show ended was perfect -- and why mess with perfection?

Catch more of Alison's chat with David Schwimmer this week on RT. And Alison & Jeffrey review "Run Fatboy Run" as well!

Peter O'Toole breezed through town this week, touting "The Tudors," the new Showtime miniseries in which he portrays Pope Paul III.

He became a star with "Lawrence of Arabia," a part coveted by everyone from Albert Finney to John Hurt. But it wasn't his first film. No, before that breakthrough role, he appeared in "Kidnapped" and "The Day They Robbed England," as well as bit roles on British TV.

O'Toole is one of the last of the post war so-called "Angry Young Man" generation of English actors; Richard Harris, Sir Stanley Baker, and Oliver Reed were others; Richard Burton, too, though he had more stage experience.

O'Toole holds a record which, like some baseball records, will surely never be broken: most Best Actor Oscar nominations with no wins -- an incredible eight. Most recently it was "Venus," and before that, "My Favorite Year," as an inebriated Errol Flynn-type, "The Stunt Man," "The Ruling Class," "Becket, " “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” "The Lion in Winter" and his starring debut in the aforementioned "Lawrence of Arabia." He once told me he loved that role, but hated the camels. "Horrid creatures," he would say.

I first met him on the set of "Lord Jim" in 1965. He is truly a world-renowned movie star, with an honorary Oscar and soon, I hope, a knighthood. Hey Queen Elizabeth (she regularly checks our REEL TALK blogs) what're you waiting for?

The news of the sudden passing of Anthony Minghella, the talented writer/director was shocking. His passing, which was confirmed Tuesday by his agent, ends a magnificent career with top notch films like "The English Patient," "Truly Madly Deeply" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" on his resume. Or more appropriately, as his legacy.

The 54-year-old filmmaker, born in England, was a former professor in the years he formulated his craft as a composer and playwright. He even won the most Promising Playwright award from the London theater critics in 1986 and later he would be appointed a CBE or Commander of the British Empire award from the Queen, one of the stepping stones en route to a knighthood.

Five of his actors went on to earn Oscar nominations; Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Renee Zellweger, Juliette Binoche and Kristin Scott Thomas, with Zellweger and Binoche winning Supporting Actress Oscars. The brother of writers and the father of an actor and actress, he'd completed "The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency," based on the novel, to air on British television. He also had two other films coming. We can only imagine how many more classy, intelligent films he would've made. His passing is a terrible loss.

Our guest on this week's show is Oscar winner Charlize Theron. The South African stunner is the co-star and producer of "Sleepwalking," which opens this weekend in select cities. Watch this clip where the classic movie fan tells Jeffrey about the time she ran into Elizabeth Taylor!

Watch more of Jeffrey's interview with Charlize Theron this weekend on RT, as well our review of "Sleepwalking."

Sprinkled among all the special-effects heavy blockbuster hopefuls due to be released this summer, the most controversial film of the summer season could be a documentary on religion.

Television commentator Bill Maher, no stranger to controversy, has teamed with Larry Charles, the director of "Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," to make "Religulous", a documentary due out in June featuring Maher's POV on the sensitive topic. The two traveled all over the world to research and interview people about God and and faith.

"Comedically, the topic of religion is hitting the side of a barn;" Maher told the industry trade Daily Variety. "It's literally hard to miss. This movie will make you laugh so hard you'll pray for it to stop."

Lionsgate will release "Religulous" June 20th. If early reaction is any indication, the film could touch off heated debate. Religion, like politics, is one of those topics that always invites passionate, sometimes irrational responses. The idea of mixing religion and comedy in general sounds like a potentially volatile mix. Many other comics have been doing it for years, like George Carlin. It will be interesting to see how Maher's take on it comes across.

Interesting article in Sunday's NY Times about Christopher Nolan and his upcoming 'Batman Begins' sequel "The Dark Knight." It looks at how Gotham City will look much different in the sequel, Nolan's hands-on approach to film making, and of course, it also touches on how Heath Ledger's tragic death has impacted the movie.

Read the article and check out the trailer below. "The Dark Knight" opens July 18.

Movie fans know Jason Statham from movies like “Crank” and of course the “Transporter” series, films heavy on action and light on character development. But with his new film “The Bank Job” [check out Jeffrey & Alison’s review] Statham is showing he can do more on screen than just drive fast and beat people up.

Check out Jeffrey’s interview with the British star after the jump.

Christina Ricci’s currently starring in the romantic fable “Penelope.” In this clip from her recent visit to our studios, she talked to Jeffrey about working with The Wachowski Brothers on her next film “Speed Racer.”

Watch more of Jeffrey’s interview with Christina Ricci on this weekend’s RT.

As one of the outspoken teen starlets of the 1990s, Christina Ricci made her mark in Hollywood at the age of nine in "Mermaids," in which she played the daughter of a self obsessed mother -- played by Cher. We've watched her career sky-rocket through the years with films such as "The Ice Storm," "Pumpkin" and "Prozac Nation."

The beautiful Miss Ricci dropped by the RT studios recently to chat with Jeffrey about one common theme in her movies -- masks.

Check out the interview snippet after the jump.

Every time I see a photo of Katherine Heigl or Jessica Simpson or any other dazzling-looking blonde actress (giving Ms. Simpson the benefit of the doubt), I think of Marilyn Monroe, who once again is back in the news.

First, Lindsay Lohan did a photo spread for "New Yorker" magazine inspired by Marilyn. And, the other day a returned Bronx mechanic recently discovered a photo of Marilyn Monroe taken 45 years ago. A Las Vegas retiree worked on a Ford Sunliner convertible at a Bronx gas station in 1962, but the car was never claimed.

Unloading the trunk, the mechanic sorted the items over, it was among those things that the photo was discovered.

Sounds like a plot from a "B" movie, but it's true. She was posing as a hitchhiker in a 1960 photo taken during the shooting of her last movie, "The Misfits."

"Here is a face that burns with more kilowatts than any other" said the great director Billy Wilder after he'd directed "Some Like It Hot." Her drama coach, Constance Collier once said “she possesses that quality which no amount of lessons can give to anyone. She's a born star."

My father knew her and we have photos of them together. My 16th birthday present, in fact, was a congratulatory phone call from her, a few years before she tragically and mysteriously died.

As an unknown she came to New York to promote her first film, "Love Happy" which featured the Marx Brothers. The studio installed her in a huge hotel suite to meet film exhibitors. That night she forgot to cancel room service in the small room to which she'd been moved.

" I didn't care," she said, " I kept ordering caviar. That's what I first remembered about New York; caviar for breakfast."

When she returned from entertaining the troops in Korea, she told her husband Joe, "It was great. They cheered and cheered. You can't imagine what that's like."

"Oh yes, I can," smiled Joe.

There isn't a college dorm which doesn't have her poster up somewhere, lo these many years after her time.

Today's stars, those who can act, and even those who can't, owe her an eternal debt.

It hit me the other day that it feels like two lifetimes ago that Will Ferrell was making a name for himself spoofing Pres. Bush on "Saturday Night Live." Several years and a handful of comedy smashes later, his career is firing on all cylinders.

To think he once had plans to go into sportscasting!

He's back in a new comedy with another sports theme, the retro-basketballer "Semi-Pro" which should be another slam-dunk hit with the 18-24 demo that worships Ferrell.

Alison asked him if it's strange for a 40-year-old father of two to have such a young fan base .. and they also commiserated over the lousy existence of a sports TV intern.

Hear more of Alison's interview with Will Ferrell this weekend on RT.

Since he always seems to be working on a new movie, it was surprising at first to hear Will Ferrell was involved in an online comedy venture, FunnyorDie.com.

Not because I didn't think the comedy genius behind "Anchorman" and "Talladega Nights" couldn't handle transferring his brand of laughs to the 'Net, but where would he find the time??

During a recent visit to our studios to talk with Alison about "Semi-Pro" for this weekend's RT, Ferrell says all it took for him to be able to get involved with FunnyorDie.com was a little sacrifice:

See more of Alison's interview with Will Ferrell this weekend on RT.

Congrats To Lisa! She guessed correctly on Marketa Irglova's quote

Looks like we need to make these harder!

Wow, you guys are fast! Mark R. was the first to send us the answer to the 'Who Said That' game.

Congrats Mark and thanks for playing.

We'll add another quote today -- hopefully a much harder one!

Well whaddaya know? Just this past weekend Matthew McConaughey talked with Jeffrey on Reel Talk about his role in "Fool's Gold", another movie that puts McConaughey's "Statue of David”-like chiseled abs on full display.

Now Dolce and Gabbana are taking advantage of the actor’s famous physique to promote their new men's cologne, "The One."

Check out the commercial after the jump!

I'm interviewing Jessica Lange this week. She has had an incredible career. First, the debacle that was the disastrous 1976 remake of "King Kong." She'd signed a seven year contract with producer Dino DeLaurentis, but after the movie flopped, he lost interest in her and she didn't work for two years.

She quickly redeemed herself with the torrid remake of "The Postman Always Rings Twice" opposite Jack Nicholson, taking up the roles made famous in the forties by Lana Turner and John Garfield. Lange even opted out of her DeLaurentis contract to get the part she knew would make or break her career. Intelligently, she'd spent those two years studying acting in New York, including Method acting (for my money this form of acting is the best training technique of them all. Everyone should study it, even if acting is the last thing on one's mind.)

Her rave reviews solidified her as an actress to be reckoned with. "She's in it for the work, not the fringe benefits," her friend, the great actress Kim Stanley correctly observed.

After an Oscar nominated performance as the title character in 1982s "Frances," Lange moved on to win a supporting Oscar for 1982s "Tootsie," one of the few times an actress has been nominated for two roles in the same year. It's ironic that she'd win an Oscar for "Tootsie," a role with not nearly the depth of "Frances” nor " The Postman Always Rings Twice."

Since then she has continued to distinguish herself, winning another Oscar for "Blue Skies," a movie which had been put on a studio shelf for three years before being released in 1994. Lange has always kept away from the nonsense of Hollywood, returning to her roots in Northern Minnesota, Virginia or previously in New Mexico.

I'm looking forward to the interview with Ms. Lange, whose new movie is "Bonneville." We'll have the interview on an upcoming episode of REEL TALK and also post the full conversation in the interviews section of REELTALKtv.com.

It's either good or bad news, depending on how you look at it, but the Starship Enterprise will have to wait awhile longer before beginning its next voyage. Paramount has pushed back the release date for J.J. Abrams' revival of the Star Trek franchise from Christmas to May 9, 2009.

No official reason for the push back, but according to Variety, studio sources say holding the film until next summer makes sense because it could make more money than during the crowded holiday movie season. Also, the writers strike delayed production on many films, possibly leaving holes in the release calendar that the studio had to fill.

Paramount already has a full 2008 slate, with this weekend's "The Spiderwick Chronicles" plus "Iron Man" and "Indiana Jones 4" in May and the "Madagascar" sequel, Brad Pitt's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and Leo DiCaprio's "Revolutionary Road" due at the end of the year.

Then there's the theory I hope is true -- that writer/director Abrams wasn't thrilled with the script he was going to start shooting with and wanted more time to tweak it. That's fine with me. I'd rather J.J. take his time and get the story just right before starting "Trek XI."

BTW, Eric Bana dropped by last week for an interview to promote his upcoming "The Other Boleyn Girl." It airs this weekend (Feb. 23-24) on REEL TALK. We taped it early because he had to get ready to begin shooting the Trek flick. If you're reading this, then you know Bana's playing the bad guy Nero. Alison asked the former "Hulk" star about doing another iconic pop culture picture.

Could it be that some actors are just made for the small screen? (Or 52 inch plasmas at least?)

Recently, I have been indulging in a Blair Underwood feast. There he is once a week on “In Treatment,” playing an arrogant navy pilot with issues. Quite brilliant.

He also shows a remarkable knack for comic timing on “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” where he plays love interest to Julia Louis-Dreyfus. And once “Dirty Sexy Money” is back up and running, I look forward to seeing him as the counterpoint to Donald Sutherland’s multi-millionaire antagonist on that archly wicked soap opera.

Underwood's resume is packed with television hits, “Sex And The City” (great nude scene with Cynthia Nixon’s character Miranda) and of course “LA Law.” The networks have been trying to make a star out of him for years, with roles in the cancelled “LAX” and “City of Angels.” But where are his defining film roles? Scanning his bio, I only see a few recognizable titles, and few memorable roles.

I remember him in “Posse,” Mario van Peebles’ western effort; “Full Frontal,” in Steven Soderbergh's failed ensemble and “Madea’s Family Reunion,” which I will happily forget. Why isn’t he headlining a romantic comedy or leading an action franchise?

Studio execs should check out “In Treatment” to see what great work he’s capable of.

After he was cast as young Anakin Skywalker in "Star Wars Ep. 2 - Attack of the Clones," Vancouver-born Hayden Christensen wisely avoided taking any roles with a hint of sci-fi in them, since he knew playing the guy who turns into Darth Vader would be a career-defining part.

So three years after he wrapped up his stint on the Dark Side with "Star Wars: Ep. 3 - Revenge of the Sith," why is he starring in the teleporting action pic "Jumper"?

Hayden told Jeffrey during a visit to the Reel Talk studio that once he saw where the film takes place AND that Doug Liman ("Go," "The Bourne Identity") was directing, he knew he had to do it.

Watch more of Jeffrey's interview with Hayden this weekend on RT. "Jumper" opens today (Valentine's Day).

"Fool's Gold" is sitting atop the box office, so I guess the studio execs who thought sparks would fly again between Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson were right.

He told Jeffrey during a recent interview that after "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days" struck a chord with audiences, he had a feeling he'd be working with Goldie Hawn's daughter again.

I was very sad to learn of the passing of Roy Scheider yesterday. I had two special connections with Roy. First, I "portrayed" a reporter in "The French Connection." It's the scene in which the Lincoln Continental is being hoisted up off the ship, and we're crowded around someone doing a mass interview.

Years later, he'd kid me about that appearance, using the old joke of my playing myself resulted in a performance what was "unconvincing." And I faced him in two games at the Artists' and Writers' game in East Hampton; the annual charity game in late August. He was always the starting pitcher for the Artists' team; tanned, looking fit and always smiling. I did get a hit off him, somehow, and he knew what he was doing around the mound. His other baseball connection was "Tiger Town," a 1983 TV movie.

Vince Vaughn is a natural comedian. The 6-5 star of smash comedies like "Dodgeball," "Wedding Crashers" and "Old School" is blessed with the gift to know how to say things to get people to crack up. Much of that comes from his improv background.

Take a listen as Vince talks to Jeffrey about his improv skills and the four young stand-up comics featured in his new documentary "Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - From Hollywood to the Heartland."

Jeffrey's conversations with Vince are alway a treat, so be sure to watch REEL TALK this weekend to hear more from Mr. Vaughn.

In nearby Jersey City at the Landmark Loew's, there was a tribute the earlier this week to Orson Welles, the greatest filmmaker of his generation or any other, for that matter.

They showed "Citizen Kane," arguably the greatest movie of all time, and "The Lady From Shanghai." Also on the bill was "The Magnificent Ambersons," which was nearly ruined by lesser talents who dared tinker with his masterpiece while Welles was on a diplomatic mission to Latin America at the behest of FDR (can you believe that --what audacity!). Add to that list, "Touch of Evil," with Charlton Heston and the late Janet Leigh.

I hope Orson Welles festivals like this spring up all over the country from time to time. It’s a great way for younger generations to learn from and about the genius of the pride of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

"I can't spell out loud," I once heard him say. "I'll write out my new title," he said, writing out "Count Welles Di Girfalco," a title he acquired when he married his last wife, Paola Mori, an actress and Italian Countess. "I just want to be a count long enough to come into a dinner attended by Lord Laurence Olivier and by protocol be accorded a better seat than his, " he said.

He wasn't wrong about many things, but one was the future of TV in Italy. "Italians like to talk more than watch," he'd said. "I miscalculated because they go to cafes to watch TV and talk back to the screen." When he was 15, he was a music critic in Chicago. He gave a singer named Martinelli a bad review. He hadn't seen the show, and got the name of the opera wrong, unaware there'd been a last minute switch.

"If you're a stage actor," you can go on opening night and add whatever you think is needed to perfect your performance; no one can stop you. But be careful. Your performance is also the result of the hard work of the author and director. If you DO change or add anything, the audience will be your judge. You'd better be right." I was lucky to know Orson Wells and I'm glad his memory will never fade.

According to WNBC, The medical examiner has concluded that the actor’s death was an accident. According to the NBC affiliate, Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine.

More details can be found here.

Congrats to Rob G. for submitting a winning question for last week's 'Ask' contest. Rob asked about Eva choosing more Oscar-worthy roles and here's what the actress had to say when host Jeffrey Lyons presented the question:

Have a question you've been dying to ask your favorite actor? Submit your questions whenever our 'Ask' contest is up!

I think its time to officially be concerned about Jessica Alba’s career. Her new film “The Eye” drops this weekend, and I’d love to be able to tell you Alison & Jeffrey thought it was a clever thriller that lives up to the 2002 Hong Kong movie "Jian Gui" it remakes …except it wasn’t screened in advance for critics.

It’s the 2nd consecutive Alba movie (following November’s “Awake”) to not be screened for critics, a classic sign the picture’s a stinker. And like “Awake” it’s expected to miss badly at the box office.

This wraps up a run of five films with the luscious star to open in the last 8 months. With the exception of “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” all have tanked. Jude Law never recovered after his big push for superstardom in 2004, coming out with 6 films that year, flopped.

My question is, why is an actress with such A-list appeal appearing in so many bad movies?

“Good Luck Chuck,” “The Ten,” “Awake” .. and a Hong Kong remake?? Didn’t Alba’s agents get the industry memo that the Asian Movie remake trend was dead?

“GLC” was obviously an attempt to expand her commercial appeal by showing off her comedic chops – ala Cameron Diaz in “There’s Something About Mary.”
But it didn’t click with audiences, even though it had some outrageously funny scenes.

Actually, if you examine her career closely, the only true-blue hits she’s appeared in have been comic/graphic novel adaptations: Sin City & the two Fantastic Four movies. She wasn’t the main star in any of those three films, just part of an ensemble cast. And the fanboys would have turned out for both movies with Alba in the credits or not.

So is her star power overrated? Is she worth the Entertainment Weekly & Rolling Stone covers she’s graced the past couple years? Based on a pure return on performance basis, no. She’s not.

Look, I’m a charter member of The Jessica Alba Fan Club. Been a fan since her bust-out role on TV’s “Dark Angel.” But her fan club may be in need of a membership drive. And she needs better scripts.

If were leading Team Alba, I’d track down a nice romantic comedy that downplays her hotness. Most women I know aren’t fans of Alba’s work, which makes sense. She’s gorgeous and there’s a big difference between gorgeous and the non-threateningly cute/attractive/perky label that makes Reese Witherspoon America’s Sweetheart at the movies. Fewer pantie shots and more bright smiles. Sorry guys, we have to take one for the team here, for Jessica’s greater good.

I’d also find a nice indie ensemble pic that doesn’t cast her as the tart, mistress or homewrecker. She’s about to have a baby, so what better time to give her an image makeover?

Alba’s next film is due in June, the comedy “Love Guru” with Mike Myers. If Austin Powers can’t make her a box-office star, no one can! But my money’s on you, Jessica. Just no more thrillers, OK??

Is it just me, or has Michael Keaton just been criminally under-used the past few years in Hollywood? Aside from the indie "Game Six" and TNT's miniseries "The Company" he just hasn't done much work that audiences can appreciate him in. And BTW, I'm choosing to pretend "Herbie: Fully Loaded" doesn't exist.

This is the guy who made "Night Shift," "Mr. Mom," "Johnny Dangerously," (it's funny, watch it again to see what I mean) "The Dream Team," and "Speechless." Then, to show off the dramatic chops no one thought he had, did "Clean & Sober" "One Good Cop" and "Pacific Heights" (a conflicted hero cop in the former, the absolute neighbor from HELL in the latter). For the sake of Pete's Love, he was Beetlejuice and Batman!! Why isn't he working more?

Good news is, he was out and about at Sundance promoting "The Merry Gentleman," which is looking for distribution. He stars as a despondent hitman in the film and also directs the picture -- a first for him. Alison asks him about double dipping on a movie set and also learns that David Letterman really sparked the directing bug in Keaton. You can hear about that in our 'Spotlight On...' feature on Michael Keaton this weekend on REEL TALK (check local listings).

Meanwhile, here's how Keaton describes his character in the movie:

[Photo Courtesy of Getty Images]

Before she was up to her Stilettos in mayhem & mischief on "Desperate Housewives," Eva Longoria Parker was causing trouble in Genoa City on the daytime soap "The Young & the Restless" (and before that, she popped up on my favorite soap "General Hospital" as a Brenda Barrett look-a-like).

The beautiful Mrs. Longoria Parker dropped by the RT studios to chat with Jeffrey (a "Desperate" fan himself) and told him about the crash course in acting she learned on daytime TV. Watch the interview snippet after the jump.

She stars in the comedy "Over Her Dead Body" which drops in theaters this weekend. Catch more of Jeffrey's interview with Eva this weekend on Reel Talk.

When I heard the news about Sean Young's embarrassing outburst at the Directors Guild of America awards dinner the other night, I was going to write something up and figured I'd take a few playful shots at her.

After all, you don't usually hear about actors heckling their peers at an awards dinner, which is what Young did to "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" director Julian Schnabel. I'm sure a lot of them have wanted to; some of the speeches at those events turn into marathons of monotony. But the traditions of the evening dictate you suck it up and endure all the 'thank you's' to the winner's support team, agent, family, manicurist, sponsor, etc.

Not sticking to tradition is what made Sean Young so interesting as an actress and an interview. She didn't follow protocol. This was the woman who tried to convince Warner Bros. to cast her as Catwoman in "Batman Returns" by putting on a homemade catsuit and walking onto the studio lot with it. She tried (and failed) to crash the Vanity Fair Oscar party a few years ago to try and schmooze her way back into the industry's good graces. That's moxie.

But this wasn't some resort town film festival awards dinner she was thrown out of. It was the DGA awards, for goodness sake! In a room full of people who typically have final say over who gets cast in their films, Sean Young, an actress who says she can't find work in Hollywood, gets thrown out for razzing one of the year's most heralded filmmakers.

Young's career has been dead for some time now. She may pop up every once in a while in a made-for-TV flick or an episode of "ER" but as she told Entertainment Weekly last year,"it's always another actress besides me. I mean, everybody always gets my part.'

And that's a shame, because before her career went down in flames, she was on fire in the 1980s. Look at her resume: "Stripes," "Dune," "No Way Out," "Wall Street" and of course, "Blade Runner." I had a chance to talk with her last year at the San Diego Comic Con when she joined her fellow BR cast mates to promote the new DVD release. She was gorgeous and charming, and even commented on how much she enjoyed being back in the spotlight.

This incident probably put two extra nails in her career coffin. She's gone into rehab for alcohol abuse on the heels of her getting tossed from the DGA dinner. I hope she comes out a happier, healthier person. And I hope someone gives her a second chance to revive what was once such a promising career.

[All photos courtesy of TCM and Getty Images.]

We caught up with the always-busy Maria Bello while at the Sundance Film Festival, where she was promoting not one, not two but THREE indie films (all intense movies about serious subject matters), "Nothing Is Private," "Downloading Nancy" and "The Yellow Handkerchief."

I don't know where she finds the time to read her scripts, let alone fit all the productions into her schedule. Alison caught up with her at the premiere of the last film and asked her about her love of all things indie. Watch it after the jump.

Mrs. Longoria-Parker is coming to the REEL TALK studios, so if you have a question you would like us to ask the star of the upcoming "Over Her Dead Body," send 'em in!

You know the drill, submit your questions in the comment section of this post and if chosen, we’ll post the results.

Hurry, this contest ends Tuesday, January 29 at 11:59 PM.

Good luck!

Diane Lane and Josh Brolin are one of those ridiculously attractive and successful Hollywood couples that you want to hate just out of pure envy -- but you can't because they're not only great actors who make great films, they're also extremely nice people.

So when Diane came in this morning for an interview with Jeffrey to promote "Untraceable" (opens this weekend) the topic of Josh being overlooked by Academy voters for "No Country for Old Men" and "American Gangster" came up. Listen to what she told Jeffrey:

Watch more of Jeffrey's interview with Diane Lane this weekend on REEL TALK.

Actor Heath Ledger, of "Brokeback Mountain," "10 Things I Hate About You," "A Knight's Tale" and the soon to be released "The Dark Knight," was found dead in his lower Manhattan apartment.

UPDATE: 1/23
According to the NY Times, Ledger said in a interview last November that portraying the Joker, a character whom he called a "psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy," caused him to have trouble sleeping.

"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," Ledger said during the fall interview. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going."

He noted that he had been taking Ambien, a prescription only sleep aid, yet his recommended dosage of two pills would only last an hour.

Principal photography on “The Dark Knight” finished in the fall and the film is still set to premiere July 18th. However, it has been rumored that Warner Bros. will change the marketing scheme for "The Dark Knight." Switching the focus from the "Why So Serious" tag line with various "ghoulish" pictures of the Joker, to a second phase campaign with focus on other characters within the movie.

Ledger Coverage:

WNBC - New York | NY Times | LA Times| Variety | 2002 Interview

Congrats to Rob G. and Jen! We sat James down after his interview and asked him your questions!

Rob's question is here and Jen's can be found after the jump. For everyone else, submit your questions when we have the 'Ask' contest up. It's a great way to show your fan appreciation!

Watch REEL TALK this weekend for the full-length in-studio interview (you can also watch the extended interview in our video section).

We’re pleased to have James Marsden as our first guest in the REEL TALK studios for 2008.

To celebrate, we’re offering everyone the opportunity to ask Mr. Corny Collins himself any question to be answered during his during his REEL TALK interview!

Submit your questions in the comment section of this post by 11:59 PM Monday, January 7th and your submission will be added to our drawing.

We’ll pick one or two questions and post the answers exclusively on our site! Check out REEL TALK daily for updates and results. Good luck!

Much is being made of the unflattering photos taken of Jennifer Love Hewitt that have appeared in the celebrity rags recently. Apparently she has ballooned up to a size 2!!! Gosh, how does she possibly shop for clothes? How dare she show herself in public? And how can she even think of putting on a bikini?

It’s so sad that we (myself included) are all so infatuated with actresses’ body weights and size. I was thrilled to see the photos. At last, someone who looks normal! Like a real person. But she is being ridiculed so it’s no wonder that half of Hollywood looks anorexic these days. Keira Knightley and Kate Bosworth are skeletal -- I don’t need to go on and list all the skinny actresses.

But what shocks me the most is the size (not weight) of most of these celebs, men included. It’s well known that Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone aren’t very tall. But in my experience, the majority of actors are petite people. I’m 5’8” and I tower over many of them! Keri Russell is doll-like, the French Marion Cotillard had legs that looked like they might snap at any moment, even Orlando Bloom risked disappearing if he turned sideways!

Is it because the camera supposedly adds 10lbs? Are the women small so the men can look bigger and more hunky? But how does that explain the small men? I’m baffled. And extremely relieved when I sit down next to someone like John C. Reilly or Clive Owen and I don’t look like a giant. I’m struggling to think of a ‘normal’ size actress. If you’re not stick-thin in Hollywood, then you are relegated to ‘fat girl.’ It’s either Lindsay Lohan or Nikki Blonsky. There’s not much in between. What do you think?

Tim Roth is one of those actors that when you look at his resume, you're amazed at how many movies he's made and how different they are from each other. He's worked with everyone from Woody Allen to Tupac Shakur; he's played an ape in Tim Burton's "Planet of the Apes" remake (Gen. Thade), and he's about to portray an Abomination - literally (that's the name of the villain he's playing in next year's "Incredible Hulk" film).

He's as versatile as they come. He proves that again as the lead player in Francis Ford Coppola's "Youth Without Youth." Roth plays a 70-year-old who gets hit by lightning and suddenly finds himself a vigorous, enlightened 35-year-old man.

He talked with Jeffrey about the film and a lot more recently. Here's the entire interview:

You’ve seen him in “Chicago” as Roxy Hart's sweet and simple husband, as Dirk Diggler’s co-worker and sidekick in the film “Boogie Nights,” and soon you’ll be able to see him as Dewey Cox in the parody “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.” John C. Reilly has commanded the attention of fans with his “common man” portrayals and scene-stealing supporting roles. Now here is your chance to ask the star any three questions during his REEL TALK interview.

Submit your questions to us by 11:59 PM Sunday, December 16th 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!

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

It's always fun to see actors taking risks with the roles they pick. Like our guest on this week's Reel Talk, Academy Award winner Dame Helen Mirren. She's best known for her Oscar-winning performance as the title player in "The Queen" and for films of a certain gravitas, like "Gosford Park."

So when we heard she was co-starring in the upcoming "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" we wondered what in the name of the Tower of London was Helen Mirren doing in an action picture? She tells Alison all about that on this weekend's show, so check it out. Now, listen to Her Highness explain why doing the action scenes in NTBoS were harder than playing royalty.

New York's Film Forum will offer a 23 picture retrospective on the works of director Otto Preminger January 2 through January 31.

Though widely remembered as a strict disciplinarian on the sets of his movies, I knew him to be quite charming away from his work. I grew up, in fact, best friends with Erik Lee Preminger, who Otto acknowledged as his son only after the death of Erik's mother, the famed author, TV personality, actress and of course stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. When Gypsy died, Otto adopted Erik, who added his father's name to his own.

Otto’s greatest film was "Laura" in 1944, with Dana Andrews, a forgotten star today, alas, but who performed brilliantly. Other classics he directed included "Bunny Lake is Missing" and "Anatomy of a Murder," usually shown uncut on television and one of the great courtroom dramas of all time.

My favorite, however, is "Daisy Kenyon" from 1947. Not because Henry Fonda, Joan Crawford and the aforementioned Dana Andrews (all of whom I was lucky to have met) starred, but because my father, Leonard Lyons, portrayed himself in a brief scene. ("Unconvincingly," one critic said of his performance!) It was there at the Stork Club, where Walter Winchell, the feared Broadway columnist walked in and muttered a few lines to Andrews. Then in walked my father, Winchell's rival and competitor, and did the same thing.

Whenever the movie is shown on TV, I apprise the portion of the film and immediately call my brothers to alert them, knowing that, if possible, we'll all be watching together, no matter how far apart we are. For a few moments, we're reunited.

Otto Preminger died in 1986,but he remains a revered filmmaker who may have been overlooked a bit by subsequent generations but whose movies are well worth seeing.

The multi-talented John Cusack gets Top Billing this week on RT. He stars in (and produced) "Grace Is Gone" a drama opening in limited release before expanding nationally. Be sure to check it out to hear why Cusack signed on to play a role that's a major departure from his usual work.

Meanwhile, check out this clip [after the jump] where the Chicago native and major Cubs fan tells Jeffrey about how he prepared to play George 'Buck' Weaver in the 1988 baseball movie "Eight Men Out" about the 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal.

Just saw “I Am Legend” with Will smith. It blew me away. I was thinking, oh no, not another rampaging infected maniac movie (after “28 Weeks Later” and “30 Days of Night”). However this is different. It’s about one man’s quest to survive and find a cure for mankind. And for anyone who lives in Manhattan, it will especially hit home, because the production design is extraordinary.

Seems to me that Will Smith should get an Oscar nomination. I know it’s a tough year with Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Frank Langella, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson all gunning for the honor. But if Tom Hanks got nominated for talking to a volleyball for two hours then Smith should be a shoe-in for hanging out with his dog for a lean, tense 100 minutes.

Which got me thinking, if Smith is nominated for “I Am Legend,” Denzel for “American Gangster,” Don Cheadle for “Talk To Me,” and Morgan Freeman for “The Bucket List,” we will see four African Americans on the Best Actor ballot -- surely a first.

What do you think? Is "I Am Legend" Smith's chance for an Oscar win this season? This would be his 3rd nomination.

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!

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:

** 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.”

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.

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."

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.’

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.'

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!

Watch a Reel Talk Sneak Peek of our interview with Jude Law and get details on what keeps him focused amid industry challenges and rumors.

Watch the full interview on Reel Talk this weekend and hear more, including details on Law’s latest film, ‘Sleuth.’

Watch a Reel Talk Sneak Peek of our interview with Steve Carell and hear him discuss details about the production of his latest movie, 'Dan In Real Life.'

Watch the full interview on Reel Talk this weekend and hear which position Carell would like to fill should close friend Stephen Colbert be elected our next president.

Here's exclusive footage of an impromptu Q and A session with Steve Niles, half of the creative force behind the hit graphic novel ’30 Days of Night,’ and also the co-screenwriter of the movie adaptation, which hits theaters this weekend. Niles is also partners with actor Thomas Jane in Raw Entertainment, a company that produces horror comics and films. Niles talks about working with Jane and also explains how Sam Raimi, the director of the blockbuster 'Spider-Man' franchise and producer of '30 Days of Night,' helped get the movie made.

1. Why have you developed a partnership with Thomas Jane?

2. Your relationship with Jane - a one-time thing or can we expect more from your pairing?

3. How instrumental was Sam Raimi in getting '30 Days' made?

Here's Jeffrey & Alison's review of '30 Days of Night'...

Watch a Reel Talk Sneak Peek on Eva Mendes describing how she picks her roles, including how her 'No' reflex almost kept her from starring in 'We Own The Night.'

Watch Reel Talk this weekend to see more of Jeffrey Lyons’ interview with Eva.

Watching Joba Chamberlain, who looks like a young Jonathan Winters, flicking away those "Canadian Soldiers," as those gnats are called by Clevelanders, the other night at Friday's game, I thought of something I asked Richard Chamberlain one time: "Why did you, the first actor to star in Shakespeare in London's West End, star in 'The Swarm,' about flying insects, which looked like raisins?"

"Simple," he replied. "I worked two weeks and now I own a home in Hawaii."

Actors, you see, often do dumb or forgettable movies simply for a fat paycheck and the chance to go do smaller, independent movies.

George Clooney, for example, does those tiresome "Oceans" movies, but then does "Syriana" or "Good Night, and Good Luck” and now "Michael Clayton." Nobody says just because you've won an Oscar, every film you do afterward must be for the Ages.

Of course Cuba Gooding, Jr. has made mostly awful movies since his Oscar turn in "Jerry Maguire." "Daddy Day Camp"? Please. And that was only because Eddie Murphy turned it down to make an even worse film, "Norbit."

So the next time you see a star whose work you respect starring in an inane action yarn or silly comedy, remember: It's all about the money and the chance, hopefully, to do Broadway or make a quality film next time out.

The other day I was in Boston, but alas not at Fenway Park. Just a few blocks up the street is Boston University, where I’d been invited to speak at the celebration of the centennial of the birth of Sir Rex Harrison. My father had known him for years, and I’d interviewed him one time for radio.

Before I was born he and his then-wife Lili Palmer, lived over the fence from us; our terraces were adjoining.

He was primarily a stage actor who did many movies, not the other way around. And he didn't suffer fools lightly. He married six...count 'em six times, three times to actresses...the aforementioned Lili Palmer, then the dying beauty Kay Kendall and later Rachel Roberts. Lady Harrison, his widow, Mercia, was there, and we spent a long time talking about him, my family, those times, George Bernard Shaw (who my parents knew) and how Harrison’s between-the-wars elegance is long gone from the world today.

He was the first non-singing star to perform what came to be known as "sing speak," devised for him by Alan Jay Lerner for "My Fair Lady." Subsequent triumphs on Broadway by other non-singing film stars like Richard Burton and Lauren Bacall owe their musical successes to Harrison, who paved the way.

When the movie version of "My Fair Lady" was released, ironically, Harrison's was the only voice preserved from its live performance; co-star Audrey Hepburn couldn't sing, so Marni Nixon's voice was dubbed in.

Ironically, Julie Andrews, then a rising film star but certainly nowhere near Hepburn’s level of recognition, was passed over for the movie role she'd created on the London stage and in 1956 on Broadway. But she beat out Ms. Hepburn for the Oscar for her own classic role, "Mary Poppins." Jack Warner hadn't wanted Harrison for the role, preferring Cary Grant. Warner, after considering Rock Hudson, believe it or not, came to his senses and convinced Harrison to star.

Harrison went on to play Caesar to Elizabeth Taylor's title player in "Cleopatra", the massively expensive 1963 film. Harrison also played "Dr. Doolittle", and was the pope in "The Agony and the Ecstasy.” Indeed, he gave my father and me a tour of the Sistine chapel during the filming. Seventy years in eight decades. Quite a career.

The other day I saw Kevin Bacon’s new film "Rails and Ties," which is set to open later this fall and I was once again struck by what an incredible actor he has become. I feel that he is still not given enough respect for his work.

Perhaps people just can’t let go of the image of him dancing angrily through "Footloose," but everything he has done recently has been spot-on. No one can convey pain, anguish and conflict in his face as ably as he can.

Even in mediocre fare, such as the recent "Death Sentence," it is his grief that engages us early in the story. His face then registers subtle changes from grief and hopelessness, to steely resolve, as he decides to take fate into his own hands…to robotic killing machine at the end. He has said that he wanted to take that role just to do an action shoot ‘em up flick, but I think his performance delivers more depth than the script can do justice.

"Rails and Ties" is directed by Alison Eastwood, daughter of Clint who directed Bacon in "Mystic River"…one of my favorite Bacon performances of late. Sean Penn may have won the Oscar for his flashier role of the grieving, vengeful father, but it was Bacon’s face again that registered the horror of what they were dealing with. And then there was that ‘look’ at the end of the film that had us all debating the meaning of the last scene.

Why he was not nominated for that role, or for his frighteningly honest portrayal of a pedophile in "The Woodsman" escapes me. Perhaps his acting is too nuanced for the Academy?

This morning we had Jesse Eisenberg, the costar of "The Hunting Party" in for a chat. I’m told he arrived on a bike, which I like. No pretensions. Self-deprecating, almost to a fault, and modest, with mannerisms in the Woody Allen style. He's in an off-Broadway show for a few more days called "scarcity" but is off to do a movie about a run-down amusement park called "Adventureland", shooting in Pittsburgh. For someone about to spend a month in the steel city, he seems ready.