- The romantic action caper is a genre that can seem almost decadent in its clockwork jauntiness its frantic, overstuffed eagerness to please.

“The Tourist,” starring Angelina Jolie as a hip-swiveling British agent fatale and Johnny Depp as the innocent American math teacher she ropes into posing as her underworld lover, is an attempt to take the stuffing out of the genre. Whenever they appear in public, a crowd gathers — a big one — which is news to no one, except perhaps director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who found himself trying to film a scene with them at a Venice train station before an audience of hundreds, maybe thousands, of spectators. The star wattage, in theory, could hardly get much hotter. This time, however, the director is Germany’s Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, doing his first Hollywood production after the art-house smash “The Lives of Others” (2007), his lacerating tale of political oppression in East Germany.

Henckel von Donnersmarck sets “The Tourist” in the ornate decaying maze of Venice, where he plays down the ultraviolence and mission-improbable stunt work.

It felt like being at a rock concert.” The two stars of The Tourist , opening today, are among only a handful of actors who count these days as global figures. It sidesteps the aggressive, wham-bam tone of cheeky-violent romps from “The Mexican” to “Knight and Day.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t come up with a whole lot to replace that energy. As the film’s producer Graham King ( The Departed ) says, they connect with people “whether it’s Venice, Calif., or Venice, Italy.” “To be successful in this business, you’ve got to have chemistry with the audience,” King says. You go into a movie like “The Tourist” hoping for a feast of personality from the stars. Part of the reason may be their wandering personalities — a nomadic tendency that may lend each of them a cross-cultural familiarity.

She’s a great image, but in “The Tourist” she never seems to be a real person. “(As actors) they have the ability to make that spirit visible.” USA TODAY talked with both Depp and Jolie about wanderlust, war zones and going incognito. JOHNNY DEPP: The observer has now become the observed. ”Why do you know how to do that?” That’s about as roused as he gets. It’s clear that Henckel von Donnersmarck adores his film’s popcorn tropes for the clichés they are. It sort of puts a damper on me being the observer.” When he visits a place, he says, “I still get the opportunity to at least soak up as much of the place and culture as possible and hang about and learn about it.” Mostly that involves trying to go unnoticed. I live wherever the location for the film demands. “It’s been a real nomadic ride this year.” The circus-like existence is “something I’ve always loved,” he adds. There was a huge revolution. Corazon Aquino had taken office, there were tanks in the streets, insurgents, bombs. And for a kid of 22 or something, it was like, ‘ What? And then of course, Oliver had us all driven into the jungle, where we dug our own holes and lived for like three weeks.” Part of Depp’s personality is being able to find the exotic in places that might seem anything but. “You just do what you can to blend in to not bring attention to yourself.” ANGELINA JOLIE : Family reflects world tourist’s passion.

I was always fascinated with Asia and Africa, and the deserts, the Sahara. … I’ve always felt at home out in the world somewhere,” she says, sitting in her trailer on the outskirts of Budapest on the set of a war drama she has written and is directing. Jolie and actor Brad Pitt , partners since they met on the set of 2005′s Mr. & Mrs. Smith , have six children. He’s not out to transcend the tropes he wants to get out of their way. But a filmmaker as gifted as he is should figure out soon that there’s a big difference in Hollywood between playing to crowds and pleasing them.

PARIS – He’s a long way from flashy, gold-toothed Captain Jack Sparrow. The challenge was to portray the ordinary, everyday man. ‘And to see this guy who has no particular highs or no particular lows in his life, he just kind of moves on like any pedestrian, and then to put him in a series of situations that are so radically outside of his hemisphere was great fun.” That’s because, Depp said, “Those people who are considered normal I find the most fascinating because they’re always really weird. ANGELINA JOLIE is calling for a new law to protect celebrities and their families from unscrupulous photographers who get too close to stars’ kids. Angelina Jolie has insisted that she likes having her kids on film sets with her. They have these routines teetering on like obsessive compulsive tics that I find fascinating.” To get into the role, Depp drew inspiration from two men he once knew. When it comes to choosing where to spend Christmas, even the most well-travelled people can find themselves with a dilemma – and this year, that’s certainly the case for Angelina Jolie. She told MTV News: ‘It’s always fun to have family on set. “Oh, of course,” Jolie told MTV News in Paris while promoting “The Tourist.” “I think every actor would be open to that. Because I think at some point it’s going to be clearer that it’s emotionally not healthy.

“If you think about it, Depp’s most successful roles have always had him playing oddballs.” In a caustic review, The Hollywood Reporter film critic Todd McCarthy opined: “Depp never has registered less effectively in his entire film career.” As for Jolie, her most recent outing came in July with the action thriller Salt, a $118 million domestic grosser. That someone turns out to be Frank, a community college math teacher from Madison, Wis., played with as much frumpiness as Johnny Depp can muster. We have our map books out and we’re looking for a country to go to. And they like to pack their bags and have new adventures.’ But the highlight for Jolie on her latest film was having the opportunity to play a ‘real lady’ in the form of English character Elsie Ward. Elise sits opposite him and bowls Frank over. Sony secured cover stories in USA Weekend, Entertainment Weekly, Vogue and Vanity Fair, helping to spread awareness of the film among prospective patrons. It’s hard to know when that script will be ready. ‘We’ve no plans at the moment,’ the actress said. I’d love to work with her.

That would be a good one.” Who do you think should star in Tim Burton’s “Maleficent”? And she discussed how the little ones cope with attention from the paparazzi. The holiday season generally produces a sleeper hit or two.

Frank, in the best Hitchcock tradition, is just another dopey American. She’s very down to earth. Also she’s a great mommy.”

Following Weinstein’s plea, MPAA officials voted 14 to 0 to give “Valentine” an R. An NC-17 rating bars admission to those under 17, killing the box office. No NC-17 film has ever won a major prize at the Oscars. This will greatly improve the film’s theatrical prospects, and the added publicity from the rating dustup over a sex scene can only increase the must-see factor. Could it be his arm candy? It’s a way you communicate things that you can’t articulate verbally. You have to show somebody how you feel.” The film initially received an NC-17 rating for the emotionally raw sex scenes, but Variety reported Wednesday the MPAA changed it back to R, after an appeal from the film’s distributors, the Weinstein Company . An NC-17 rating would have prohibited those under 17 from attending and could have been a kiss of death for the film, as that rating is equated with pornography in many theater owners’ and movie-goers’ minds. She was in Paris for her new campaign for Chanel, but flew back to New York to be with him for the premiere. Said one Oscar insider, “The reason they gave the rating will not change. A certain group of people found it odious and distasteful and those feelings may remain. “There were times when they would be sitting down and he would kind of lay his hand on her knee.

A source said, “They weren’t obviously all over each other, but it seemed like they were together. Granted, a nomination for such a restricted film hasn’t happened since “Midnight Cowboy” earned seven nominations in 1970, but on the whole, the academy is less prudish than the general public.  If the movie, which bows in limited release on Dec. 31, does well at the box office, that could influence academy voters to a degree, but probably not enough to change its Oscar chances one way or another. “It gets interesting as you get older. They then went for dinner to the Standard Grill with friends and dined on oysters.” Lively’s rep didn’t get back to us. Bid on Kirsten Dunst’s Louis Vuitton bag worth over $5,000 to benefit charity

After denying they were on a date earlier this year, the two were spotted together at the screening for Ryan’s film ” Blue Valentine ” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on December 7, E! After the screening, Blake and Ryan were seen at the afterparty at the Standard Hotel where they seemingly enjoyed each other’s companion. How did Williams feel about the nude scenes?

We believed in presenting relationships and sexuality with an honesty and truthfulness often lacking in the grand tradition of Hollywood sensationalism,” stated Derek Cianfrance. “I am thankful the MPAA saw the light and were humble enough to reverse their decision, and I am also thankful for all the support from the industry and fans of Blue Valentine. What does this mean for the film? This is a victory for free speech and artistic integrity.” “I am so appreciative that the MPAA was gracious enough to reconsider their rating of the film,” offered star Ryan Gosling. “I can’t express how grateful I am to those in the media who stood up for the film and put their reputations on the line in using their voices to support something they believed in. RELATED: Indie Spirit nominations shockers: Only Michelle Williams from ‘Blue Valentine?’ Oscar poll: Who’ll win lead actress? They were smiling, laughing, they looked happy!” They, however, didn’t leave together, the source adds.

While the blonde beauty’s representative denied they had a special relationship, she announced her separation from boyfriend Penn Badgley , who is also her ” Gossip Girl ” co-star, two weeks later.

Ryan Gosling was extremely upset that his film, Blue Valentine , was given an NC-17 rating for a graphic sex scene when Black Swan , which features a similar scene was given an R rating. Well, his complaint’s have been heard and now the NC-17 rating has been overturned! In what should be a surprise to no one, the Weinstein Co. has successfully appealed the NC-17 rating of Blue Valentine as it will now be rated R. Both films will now be released in theaters with slightly less offensive ratings according to Deadline , who said the final vote to change the original decision was unanimous. The drama initially drew the NC-17 rating for a “scene of explicit sexual content.” The film now carries an R rating for “strong graphic sexual content, language, and a beating.” An NC-17 rating would have prohibited those under 17 from attending and could have been a kiss of death for the film, as that rating is equated with pornography in many theater owners’ and movie-goers’ minds. Actress looked super cute in her short dress which was paired with black clutch and black heels. 30-year-old actress Michelle Williams blonde short haircut was styled perfectly with her dress. “What NC-17 really means is that it can’t play in regular theaters and you can’t even show an ad for it on television. The scene in question featured “a drunken attempt at sex between the married couple after they head off for a night in a hotel in an attempt to repair their relationship.” As for The King’s Speech , the language was more of a turn off to the board than any sexual content. This is hardly a serious question when the answer is quite obvious, though I won’t go into it here, but it is nice to see the ratings board has come to their senses. There were a few too many curse words used for their taste. The new rating reason, for those keeping track is rated R for strong graphic sexual content, language, and a beating. So, what’s your take on Michelle Williams’s embellished dress ?

If the decision was unanimous they must have realized how over the top their original ruling was. Play our celebrity hair game now!

The film hits theaters Dec. 31, just in time to qualify for the Academy Awards.

Williams and Gosling, both past Oscar nominees, have awards buzz for their roles as a couple in a crumbling marriage.

What do you think of the MPAA’s change of heart?

Yesterday we had the chance to speak to Cianfrance, who’s been working on the film for twelve years. The positive thing is that people have come out to support the film because of it. This is a movie about relationships. And in any relationship sex is a dialogue. It’s a little insulting. We weren’t sensationalizing it. What does this mean for the film? Let Ryan, who’s been very outspoken on his anger towards the NC-17 it initially received, explain. “A lot of people think, ‘What’s the big deal if it’s NC-17, the kids under 17 can’t see it,’ but that’s not true,” Ryan recently explained . “What it really means is it can’t play in a major theater chain and you can’t have ads for the film on television.” But now with an R rating, none of that is a problem and more of his fans can see the film!

It was closed for four days last year while the scene was filmed. Now, for one night only on 10 December, visitors can walk through its dark corridors. Merseytravel donated a £20,000 payment from Warner Brothers to charity Claire House hospice after filming. It’s the unofficial beginning of Oscar season, after all. Well, that will never happen. After last weekend’s huge opening 18.3 million pounds ($28.45 million), it took another 8.34 million, according to Screen International Tuesday.

With a worldwide total approaching 90 million US dollars (£57,646,302), there is no doubt that the family-friendly film will continue to do well with international audiences as it expands into more territories in the coming weeks. Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley and Ray Winstone came in at three with gangster movie “London Boulevard,” while pregnancy-themed road movie “Due Date” slipped two spots to four. Cher and Christina Aguilera will certainly be in contention with the second weekend of Sony’s “Burlesque,” which has performed well midweek and should maintain a solid footing with a gross in the $7 million to $10 million range. “The American,” with George Clooney as an assassin hiding out in Italy for one last hit, made its debut at five. The musical diva-fest “Burlesque” lagged behind the kid-friendly blockbusters, coming in third place. PopWatchers, will you be catching up on movies you missed during Thanksgiving? Family movie “Despicable Me” fell three places to sixth, just above the third part of Stieg Larsson’s trilogy of crime novels, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest” which could only manage seventh place on its opening week. The movie’s total estimated tally currently stands at $22.9 million. Anna Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal’s nudity-filled romantic drama “Love and Other Drugs” came in fourth place. Screenwriter Steve Kloves, an Oscar nominee for “Wonder Boys,” has adapted all but one of the books, a feat unprecedented in the annals of the Writers Guild, and he’s never been nominated for them.

The only wide release debuting this weekend will be Relativity Media’s action-fantasy “The Warrior’s Way,” featuring international superstar Dong-gun Jang. “Unstoppable” continues to cling to a top-five slot at the box office. All of these performers are, or have been, brilliant in roles that so easily could be over-played or phoned in or made ridiculous. As well as being able to walk out on to the roadway where the scenes were shot, visitors will be able to get a glimpse of the workings of the two-mile tunnel, through which 35,000 vehicles travel a day. It was released in cinemas last month and broke five UK box office records, according to Warner Bros.

New York The mansion and four-acre estate featured in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 film “The Godfather” is up for sale for a whopping $2.9 million. Owner Jim Norton said he put the eight-bedroom, five-bathroom Staten Island home on the market after his father recently passed away. NEW YORK Make them an offer they can’t refuse. Brando played fictional character Vito Corleone, the head of an organized crime family who transfers power to his reluctant son. Its grounds were used for the 1972 movie’s famous wedding scene, and interior shots of the crime dynasty eating meals and holding family meetings were filmed inside the property. His mother collected behind-the-scenes mementos from the film, including pictures and autographs from cast and crew members, he said. The Nortons’ brush with fame unfolded after the movie’s producers took some advice from one of its stars about where to house the fictional mob family. It even has a bar in the basement.

Owner James Norton says his mother kept many artifacts from the movie, including Brando’s cue cards. Owners of the eight-bedroom, four-bathroom property on Staten Island, New York are asking $2.9 million . “We went, and producer Al Ruddy fell in love with it,” Russo said. Realtor Connie Profaci says it needs some work, but the family is betting on the house’s history as a selling point. The realtor says the house needs some work, but the family is betting on the house’s history as a selling point. “The Godfather” went on to win three Oscars, including one for Brando which he notoriously refused, and is considered among the greatest American films of all time. When his father answered the door, “They told him they were from Paramount and they wanted to film a movie,” Norton, 56, recalled to Fox 5 last year. So she jumped up and ran out the door and said, ‘Wait, wait, come back!’ ” Mary Norton was so excited about the film, all she demanded in return was a slate roof. “His family lived near the home and was familiar with the English Tudor enclave connecting Todt Hill and Emerson Hill,” Profaci said. “Paramount producer Al Ruddy agreed and the rest was history.”

She told, “She sings incessantly. She has a repertoire of about 30 songs.” Keith added, “Sunday is a wonderful singer. NEW YORK, N.Y. To bring David Lindsay-Abaire’s Tony Award-winning play “Rabbit Hole” to the big screen, stars Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart were forced to go to some very dark places – a challenge which both actors loved. “The first time I met Nicole I went up to her and I said, ‘I can do anything to you. The document has moved here . At the premiere of Rabbit Hole , a film about two parents dealing with the death of their young son, Nicole Kidman spoke to MTV News about how hard the role hit her. => At the time she was pregnant with her daughter, Kidman began developing the film adaption of Rabbit Hole . The experience of bringing a life into the world while simultaneously shepherding a project about a life lost was an intensely affecting one for the actress, as she explained on Thursday at the film’s red-carpet premiere.

Without that it just turns into melodrama and it turns into something that’s been done before,” the actor continued. “I think that we were able to achieve some sort of reality with grief and loss and also hope.” Nicole said she welcomed her co-star’s intense approach to playing a couple whose life is thrown into chaos after the death of their son. “He can do anything!” Nicole told Access . “I so wanted him to do this and we got lucky because, you know, you rarely get your first choice for a film… I so wanted him to play my husband. When production on “Rabbit Hole” began, daughter Sunday Rose was a year old, and Kidman found it difficult to let go of the characters at the end of each day. Sometimes we get given things that are comedies and sometimes we get dramas and we tell all different stories, that’s our job,” she added. “Rabbit Hole” hits theaters on December 17. “There were times when I woke in the middle of the night and I was having nightmares and I was really shaken by it. And that’s when I know when something’s really seeped into my subconscious and is disturbing me.” Aaron Eckhart plays Kidman’s husband in the film, and although he doesn’t have children, he says the film made him reflect on parenthood and grief. Case in point: Right before that night’s event, the starlet-in-training put on a “pre-premiere show.”? “Keith was actually playing the piano just before we left,” Kidman, 43, tells PEOPLE, “and Sunday Rose was dancing around the living room.” But can she belt out ballads like her famous Daddy? “She loves makeup,” Kidman told Us , adding that she often helps her prep for premieres. However, Director John Cameron Mitchell says the film may be intense, but not depressing. “This is an entertaining film despite its heaviness and it does end up with a lot of hope,” said Mitchell.

“It made me reflect on parenthood,” he explained. “She sings incessantly,” Kidman says. “She’s not allowed to wear it out of the house, obviously, but she pops on a little blush and some lip gloss!” Get more Us! Maybe someday I will be. “It isn’t depressing,” he said.

The drama, that has won critical praise, grabs four awards from the organization, being named the Best Film in addition to leading Jesse Eisenberg to win Best Actor.

NBR President Annie Schulhof says she expects “Social Network” will “stand up over time and appeal to many generations.” She adds, “With ‘The Social Network’ you had very strong elements that were very much appreciated: the direction, the writing, the acting, its great storytelling. The NBR lavished a total of four awards on the film, naming David Fincher best director, Aaron Sorkin’s script best adapted screenplay and Jesse Eisenberg best actor. Eisenberg plays Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg in the film, which has won critical praise and earned more than $180 million worldwide at the box office. Its robust backing of “The Social Network” will only add to the movie’s reputation as an awards front-runner. Russell’s “The Fighter.” Jacki Weaver won best supporting actress for her role as the matriarch of a blue-collar crime family in the Australian drama “Animal Kingdom.” Ben Affleck’s Boston crime drama “The Town” — which features Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner and Jon Hamm — was chosen for best ensemble cast. Their choice of the Ten Best films traditionally kicks off the year-end announcements of films critics’ picks. Last year, the NBR picked “Up in the Air” as Best Film. Best documentary went to the “Waiting for ‘Superman,’” which details the U.S. education system and puts hope in charter schools. Freedom of Expression Award: “Fair Game” “Conviction” “Howl” One of the group’s most surprising choices was picking Chris Sparling’s “Buried” script for best original screenplay. The film, an exercise in minimalism, stars Ryan Reynolds as a contract worker in Iraq taken hostage and buried alive in a coffin — the cramped setting of the entire movie. Sofia Coppola was chosen for a special filmmaking achievement award for writing, directing and producing “Somewhere,” her lyrical depiction of a Hollywood actor (Stephen Dorff) questioning his lifestyle during a visit from his young daughter (Elle Fanning). The NBR also sought to highlight a number of newcomers, citing Jennifer Lawrence of “Winter’s Bone” for breakthrough performance and “Restrepo” co-directors Sebastian Junger and Tim Hethington as debut directors.

Additionally, this year’s NBR Awards honors Sofia Coppola with Special Filmmaking Achievement Award for her work on ” Somewhere “. Everson Film History Award: Leonard Maltin NBR Freedom of Expression: ” Fair Game “, ” Conviction “, ” Howl ” Production Design Award: Dante Ferretti, ” Shutter Island “

Only Sundance could bring them all together. The pre-eminent independent film festival announced its competition lineup Wednesday, and these were among the subjects featured in the dozens of films that will be vying for attention Jan. 20-30 in Park City , Utah . In January, the nation’s most prominent movie gathering could establish them in a new light – as directors. Among the films we’d stand in the cold to see: “Higher Ground,” the directorial debut of “Up in the Air” star Vera Farmiga; “Like Crazy,” basically an indie version of “Going the Distance” with “Star Trek” cutie Anton Yelchin; “Beats, Rhymes and Life,” a documentary on legendary rap group A Tribe Called Quest; and “BEING ELMO: A Puppeteer’s Journey,” a documentary about our favorite ticklish Muppet and the man behind him. “Another Earth” » A woman’s fate intertwines with the discovery of a parallel universe in this science-fiction film. “Religion and faith came up a lot in movies we have this year,” says Sundance director John Cooper, noting several others that are featured in the premieres section of the festival, which will be announced Thursday afternoon. “Winters Bone,” about a girl’s search for her father in the backwoods of Arkansas, won the Sundance jury prize for best drama in 2010, and is now a key film in Hollywood’s Oscar race. Frankly, we’d be a little more excited about “BEING FOZZIE,” but we’ll take what we can get. Lesbian comedy “The Kids Are All Right,” starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, was another Sundance favorite of 2010 that has gone on to critical and box office success. The documentary slate was equally focused on new directors, with the festival creating a new, non-competitive, documentary premiere section to accommodate and showcase better-known nonfiction storytellers. Photo: Director-actress Vera Farmiga arrives at a premiere of the feature film “Henry’s Crime” during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010.

Simmons really does a great job expressing initial disconnect and then trying to break down barriers. ” Ellen Barkin is leading the charge as the mother of the family, and Ellen Burstyn is the grandmother,” says Cooper.

Cooper said the 2011 schedule would again forgo the once-traditional glitzy opening-night gala in Park City, Utah, and instead launch the festival’s competitions the minute Sundance starts on the evening of Jan. 20 (the 27th annual festival concludes 10 days later). “Troubadours” looks at the lives of singer/songwriters James Taylor and Carole King, and “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey” introduces the man behind the lovable muppet Elmo, who appears on children’s TV show, “Sesame Street.” Several Sundance competition entries and high-profile non-competition premieres to be announced Thursday deal with religious extremism, including Sean Durkin’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” about a woman trying to reconnect with family after she flees a cult. Among the 16 films in the U.S. documentary competition are Constance Marks’ “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey,” a look at the man behind the beloved “Sesame Street” character; Peter D. Richardson’s “How to Die in Oregon,” examining the state’s legalization of doctor-assisted suicide; Susanne Rostock’s “Sing Your Song,” a portrait of singer Harry Belafonte’s role in the civil-rights movement; Morgan Neville’s “Troubadours,” tracing the careers of singers James Taylor and Carole King; and Andrew Rossi’s “Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times.” Festival organizers also announced 16 films each in Sundance’s world-cinema dramatic and documentary competitions. Farmiga says the 2004 Sundance premiere of “Down to the Bone,” in which she starred as a mother wrestling with drug addiction, “was where my career was born. Though Elmo was a character on Sesame Street before he got hold of it, nothing really struck until he took over and it caught fire.” For animal lovers, there is Buck, a documentary about horse trainer Buck Brannaman, who came from an abusive home and has vowed never to use pain to tame and teach the animals he works with. “He doesn’t want to beat the horses, so he finds other ways of using psychology and trust to work with them,” Groth says.

The 2011 Sundance Film Festival, which will run from Jan. 20 to 30, 2011 in and around Park City, Utah, announced its dramatic and documentary in-competition line-up today. In a break with tradition, there will be no opening night film; instead one narrative and documentary film from the U.S. and World competitions will each screen on the first night. Another batch of burgeoning filmmakers and future Oscar movies will make their debuts in the snowy frenzy of 2011 Sundance Film Festival, which announced its latest competitive lineup today. Among the films we’d stand in the cold to see: “Higher Ground,” the directorial debut of “Up in the Air” star Vera Farmiga; “Like Crazy,” basically an indie version of “Going the Distance” with “Star Trek” cutie Anton Yelchin; “Beats, Rhymes and Life,” a documentary on legendary rap group A Tribe Called Quest; and “BEING ELMO: A Puppeteer’s Journey,” a documentary about our favorite ticklish Muppet and the man behind him. “Winters Bone,” about a girl’s search for her father in the backwoods of Arkansas, won the Sundance jury prize for best drama in 2010, and is now a key film in Hollywood’s Oscar race. Frankly, we’d be a little more excited about “BEING FOZZIE,” but we’ll take what we can get.

Lesbian comedy “The Kids Are All Right,” starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, was another Sundance favorite of 2010 that has gone on to critical and box office success. Any of these films on your radar, Brand Xers? David Greenwald.

“The whole idea of religion and faith in films is sort of shocking this year for me, both with the films in the festival and even in films that we didn’t pick. Organizers received 10,279 films, including 3,812 fictional features and 1,637 documentaries. “Troubadours” looks at the lives of singer/songwriters James Taylor and Carole King, and “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey” introduces the man behind the lovable muppet Elmo, who appears on children’s TV show, “Sesame Street.” ‘Exciting, fun, crazy, engaging’ Meanwhile, the U.S. documentary competition includes 16 titles, including examinations into the rise of hip hop band A Tribe Called Quest ( Beats, Rhymes and Life ), the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco ( We Were Here ) and the behind-the-scenes portrait of the New York Times newsroom ( Page One: A year inside the New York Times ) Organizers also announced that instead of screening just one opening night film to kick off the 2011 edition, they would instead show one narrative film and one documentary from both the U.S. and world cinema programs, as well as an offering from the shorts categories. “The festival is a challenge to narrowly define. Highlights from the 16 films in the U.S. dramatic competition, culled from 1,102 submissions, include: Higher Ground — The directorial debut of Oscar-nominated actress Vera Farmiga ( Up in the Air ), about a mother who joins a fundamentalist community, and starring Farmiga, Joshua Leonard ( Humpday ), and John Hawkes ( Winter’s Bone ). You can read a full breakdown of all the films in both the U.S. and Global competitions at the Sundance Festival website here .

Natalie Portman stars as 28-year-old ballerina Nina, who appears to have had no life outside of dance. Her mother (Barbara Hershey) gave up a similar career to raise her and has an ambiguous mixture of stage mother emotions — maternal pride, genuine love, and more than a little jealousy. Thanks to 28 years of utter suppression of everything but dance, her id and libido have fermented and festered; she’s already about to blow even before the new gig cranks up the pressure. “Black Swan” is an art-house horror film — 10% “The Red Shoes,” 20% “Pi,” and 70% Polanski’s “Repulsion.” Aronofsky adopts much of the technique, the perspective, and the concept of the latter, which makes a great model. “Repulsion” has the advantage of a bit more ambiguity at the end, but there’s plenty enough here to keep things intriguing. A side note: “Showgirls” might have been a serious contender, but it appeared last week among the five most irresistible guilty-pleasure movies.

“The preparation was, get as skinny as you possibly can as fast as you can and then learn to get en pointe while doing it,” she said. It is tempting to find a reason to talk about “Showgirls” every week, though… — “Mulholland Dr.” (2001): The first intimate encounter between Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring is soft and sweet … but because this is a David Lynch movie, naturally the relationship between these two women becomes darker and more complicated.

“I didn’t really cut anything out, I just ate a lot less than I would normally.” Kunis dropped her already petite frame to 95 pounds for her role. Watts, as aspiring starlet Betty Elms (at this point in the film, at least), gets tangled up with Harring’s gorgeous amnesiac Rita. I’m not very competitive, which is not to say I’m not driven because I am. As the two embark on an adventure, playing girl-detective to solve the mystery of Rita’s past, their fear and loneliness lead to a kiss which leads to one of the loveliest lesbian scenes ever filmed. I went in there, started working with her for seven days a week, five hours a day and was put on a 1,200-calorie diet for a total of five or six months,” Kunis explained. She told Entertainment Tonight: ‘To do something that’s really physically challenging for yourself and also have to act at the same time was hard because sometimes you have conflicting needs. I like to work because it’s selfishly fulfilling for me. “It was at the airport (at JFK),” she said.

“I did get one day off, and that was my birthday; Alexandra made me a root beer float.” The feisty 27-year-old added that her regimen didn’t stop for scheduling conflicts, even the Emmys. She said: ‘It was definitely awkward. I’m proud of what I do and I push myself and challenge myself. Play our celebrity hair game now! You can’t just pretend you know what you’re doing. I couldn’t even walk straight.”   In bed with Natalie. “We knew it was going to attract attention. We were just hoping that people would walk away after seeing the movie not just isolating in their memory that scene when we have sex. I think it’s important to the story. I think we were like, ‘Let’s just get this over with.’ It’s uncomfortable doing a sex scene. Luckily, we were friends, so we were able to get through it.” Warning to her dad: More heavy breathing to come. “Next is Friends with Benefits , which we wrapped two months ago. Justin and I have quite a few unclothed moments. Since we are locked into Nina’s POV, Hershey and Cassel can only hint at who they may really be, unfiltered through Nina’s growing lunacy; Kunis even manages to redeem herself after her dreadful work in “The Book of Eli.” But mostly, Portman is “Black Swan.” Outside of the Star Wars films, she has never given a bad performance, but the material here gives her the chance to break through to another level. It is inconceivable that she won’t win the Oscar for Best Actress. (On the other hand, it was inconceivable that Naomi Watts wouldn’t win for her similar role in “Mulholland Dr.”…and she wasn’t even nominated.) Andy Klein.

When MTV News caught up with Kunis, we asked her to give us the “CliffsNotes” version of her laborious undertaking for the flick, which opens Friday. “The preparation was, get as skinny as you possibly can as fast as you can and then learn to get en pointe while doing it,” she said. “I got the part, let’s say on a Wednesday. And that’s exactly what happened with her latest film, “Black Swan,” which opens Friday. In an off-the-shoulder black gown and bold red lipstick, the actress felt the love on the red carpet, telling ET, “The most exciting thing is just to have people respond to the movie so enthusiastically and the audiences leave so entertained and thrilled.” In the film, Natalie plays a ballerina who slowly goes mad, and director Darren Aronofsky told ET of her preparation, “Natalie Portman trained for 365 days a year, eight hours a day to do this performance and I think it shows. She was about to go to London to film a TV version of Agatha Christie ‘s “Murder on the Orient Express” when she learned she’d landed the role of Erica, the suffocating mother of Nina ( Natalie Portman ), a mentally fragile prima ballerina in a Darren Aronofsky film that blends elements of dance, horror and psychological thriller. I think she really kicked ass.” Another actress who trained hard in ballet for the film was Natalie’s co-star Mila Kunis . Portman, who plays a prima ballerina, looked a picture of elegance in a black, off-the-shoulder floor-length gown while Kunis was equally stunning in a long cream dress with a slashed skirt.

He follows the most controlled member of a ballet troop and then lets us watch what happens when she attempts to let go in the service of what could be her greatest role. “I trained seven days a week, five hours a day for five months and was on a 1,200 calorie diet, so I lost 20 pounds in about four months,” Mila said of the grueling regimen. “We’re talking all day, every day,” she said of her training schedule.

Shes been a member of the same ballet company for years, and though no one works harder, shes never really gotten her big break. Ryder recently opened up about her role in the film, and how she apologised to Portman after filming wrapped for the ‘horrible’ lines she had to deliver as her on-screen rival. And she felt terrible for the cruel jibes she made towards Portman’s character. ‘I wrote (to) Natalie and I got her something when I had finished filming, saying, “I’m so sorry I had to say all those horrible things”,’said Ryder. “We both had these little earrings and necklaces,” she explains. ‘Doing the character was really cool in a way because I’m a bit older and the whole idea (is) there’s these young new actresses coming up. Portman will stun audiences with her ability to convincingly pull off some of the most beautiful and haunting dance sequences ever seen on screen, but what really makes Black Swan work is the fragility she conveys as Nina. “I made my eyebrows similar to hers as much as possible. The whole movie is about reflection, perceptions and mirrors.” The Hollywood native began acting at 17 in the 1965-66 ABC comedy “Gidget,” which starred Sally Field , and got her own series, the western “The Monroes,” on the network the following year.

Her career, though, stagnated for the most part in the 1970s. “She never gave me a break. She was 20 and she kicked my ass.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Black Swan.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .

Either way, it is sure to be a frequent nominee in the coming awards season, partly because Portman immersed herself so thoroughly in the role of Nina Sayers. All the way down to her first onscreen lesbian makeout session. “It was a very big part of her life, so I was always curious about it,” the filmmaker said.

In her new film, she plays a more deeply damaged bird, one who has the guts to leap off a cliff, if she must, to set herself free. “But I was a normal boy. They remain unconfirmed. “I hope they did. “Usually when you say to someone, ‘I want to make a movie about your world,’ all the doors open and you can say anything you want. “All you saw was bone. “But the ballet world really wasn’t at all interested in us hanging out.

It was a year’s worth or more of preparation, six months intensively, and then the time that we were on the set. “It was a Eureka moment,” said Mr. Aronofsky as he recalled the night that his new film, “Black Swan,” which opens next Friday, was born. “The characters were so well drawn. Kunis says she’s back to a healthy weight, “It took me five months to lose 20 pounds, but it took me just five days days to gain it all back.” The actress trained for three months prior to the filming the movie to learn ballet for the role and called ballet “the most excruciating sports that I’ve ever been a part of.” “I say sports because they train constantly, every single day. One was dark and passionate and sexual and a woman. Yes, it was “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits.” The apartment she was living in had a ballet studio in the basement and that’s where we were training.

So, for three months, I had to constantly stand up straight,” she tells Collider . We really wanted to bring that tonality to the film—that contrast of horror and the beauty of ballet. And the feet are different because of the ballet shoes. So with Natalie we said, six months out we’re going to go to five hours a day, six days a week. Aside from the physical challenges, though, the role paid huge creative dividends. “We took the fairy tale of Swan Lake and the ballet and basically turned all the characters Rothbart, the Prince, the Queen and translated them into characters in our movie reality. “Lots of directors love the sound of their own voice,” said Ms. Kunis, who was cast during an iChat conversation, on Ms. Portman’s recommendation. “Anytime you do any intimate scene on film, it’s going to be a little uncomfortable, whether it’s the same sex or the opposite sex,” Kunis tells Collider. So it’s really just a retelling of Swan Lake, but it definitely shows the challenges and darkness and the reality of what it takes to be a ballet dancer. We would be on the set all day dancing, and still doing extra training to make sure that she was warm enough and that she was staying really sculpted. But it also shows the beauty of the art and the transcendence that’s possible with that art.” Co-writer Andres Heinz says Black Swan began with a screening of Roman Polanski’s Repulsion. We didn’t really discuss it very much.

And there was lots of soreness. We had become good friends. They got through it, and it was funny at the time. We were giggling and laughing. But she had the base for it, the movement quality and a real love for dancing, too. The physical discipline really helped with the emotional side of the character, because you get a sense of the monastic side. When she was dancing, I was there helping her. So much of Nina’s character is portrayed through dance that, although Portman had a body double, the actress believed she needed to do much of the dancing herself to convincingly play the role. “It’s incredibly challenging, trying to pick ballet up at 28. Even if you’ve taken dance lessons before, you just don’t realize how much goes into it at the elite level,” Portman says. “Every small gesture has to be so specific and so full of lightness and grace.”

Now Bowers runs a fitness program called Ballet Beautiful — when she’s not keeping actresses en pointe. How much training did Portman have to do to get ready for the film? That was the film in which she played a wounded sparrow-of-a-girl, who abruptly walks off into a kind of breezy, unconvincing independence at the end. Ten years ago, or even two (when Portman quietly made her directorial debut with the short film “Eve’’), we might not have believed she could do it. So the plan in the beginning was to get her strong and ready and improve her technique so that she would be able to go into rehearsals and do the choreography. We would start in the mornings, early at 5:30 or 6 a.m., or in the evening when she came back from the set.

And training got even more intense? To play a professional ballerina, you’re going to have to train like one, and professional dancers, we dance for 10 or 12 hours a day, six days a week. So with Natalie we said, six months out we’re going to go to five hours a day, six days a week. We had these little boxes that we used to carry with our tap and ballet shoes. What did you do on the set? Once we started filming, I would be watching the monitors to make sure that everything she was doing was translating onto the screen. And offering little tricks of the trade like propping your feet up anytime you sit down to keep the swelling down and have your calves be more flexible.

That was the film in which she played a wounded sparrow-of-a-girl, who abruptly walks off into a kind of breezy, unconvincing independence at the end. In her new film, she plays a more deeply damaged bird, one who has the guts to leap off a cliff, if she must, to set herself free. Natalie Portman goes through a lot of changes in “Black Swan,” the psychological thriller ballet film in which she plays Nina, a young dancer who doesn’t know what she’s getting into when she vies for the lead in a production of “Swan Lake.” She’s also gone through some related real-life changes. “I studied ballet from when I was 4 until I was 12,” said the petite Portman at the Toronto International Film Festival. “But I stopped when I started acting seriously, then started again for this film when I was 27. “He’d say, ‘Oh, Mila is doing really well on her stuff. “It was a very big part of her life, so I was always curious about it,” the filmmaker said. “…at 95 pounds, I would literally look at myself in the mirror and I was like, ‘Oh my God’,” she said according to E! She’s so much better than you,’” the 29-year-old actress said, referring to her costar, Mila Kunis . “But I was a normal boy. I didn’t really connect with it.” Niko Tavernise Director Darren Aronofsky, left, with Vincent Cassel on the set of ‘Black Swan,’ which opens next Friday.

“All you saw was bone. I was like, This looks gross.” The actress says she can see why the entertainment industry is warped in terms of actress’ ideal body size. It took a long time to get the info and put it together,” he says of the project, which has been brewing for a decade. (Aronofsky first approached Portman about the role in 2002.) “Over the years, Natalie would say, ‘I’m getting too old to play a dancer, you’d better hurry up.” The American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet turned him down flat. “In real life, it looked disgusting, but in photographs and on film, it looked amazing,” she said. “The characters were so well drawn. It’s an insular world, but also a very public-relations conscious one. It’s also a look at the harshness of stiff competition and how the body and mind can react to it. And Aronofsky’s dark impulses, complete with dancers who cut themselves, and his willingness to equate the themes in Black Swan (in theatres Friday) with those of last year’s The Wrestler probably didn’t sit well with the higher-minded types in the ballet world.

But Portman was most amazed at how the art of dancing actually made her a better actress. “Making this was absolutely an enormous lesson in acting,” she said. “Film is a very visual medium. So, for three months, I had to constantly stand up straight,” she tells Collider . “The connections between the two films didn’t escape us,” Aronofsky said when Black Swan debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, “ballet being the highest art and wrestling being the lowest. “And he way that they hold their arms, because they’re always moving their fingers while they’re dancing, also changes the way that they talk in real life. Ten years ago, or even two (when Portman quietly made her directorial debut with the short film “Eve’’), we might not have believed she could do it. Now, though, there’s a visibly matured confidence that, along with the patented vulnerability, lets her swan take flight.

It’s dark and brooding like a gray, November day, but in a satisfying way for the lovers of all things J.K. Rowling who has made over $1.28 Billion according to website wikipedia, has topped all other movie series know to humanity and is one of the greatest movies of the decade.             The story of a boy merely coming of age in the wizarding world we knew in the first film, has continued to the next adventure of destroying the Dark Lord once and for all.  The exciting trio work their way from the ministry of magic to Godric’s Hollow to find and destroy the horcruxes of Voldemort himself.  Although some may argue that the movie is rather boring or tiresome in parts, such as the many camping scenes, one cannot deny the intriguing special effects, spells, and the overall grandeur of the film as a whole. I have been to a few midnight showings, but none was more exhilarating than Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 . The last film to achieve such phenomenal success was the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace , which held the previous record for the biggest three day opening of any film, making £15, 384, 917. Or you can just hang onto your portkeys for a magical, adrenalin-fused ride, from the British ‘burbs, to the bleak countryside, through downtown London and into a snowy, Dickens-ish village. Keep the younger ones at home. (It’s PG-13.) This one is full of too much scary stuff that jumps out at you. Entertainment UK, Josh Berger , has since stated: “The opening of this film has become an extraordinary worldwide event,” “These remarkable box office numbers are a testament to the talents of the filmmakers, cast and to the vision of J.K. There’s no cosy Hogwarts, no cutesy school classes or Quidditch games. The final flick in the series, Deathly Hallows – Part 2 will hit cinemas on 15th July 2011, marking the end of the hugely successful film series. Their mission is to destroy the rest of seven symbolic objects horcruxes.

This seventh is largely a set up for the final climax. If you read the books, you get it.

It was tough to locate two seats next to each other for my friend and myself. If you didn’t, you’ll still enjoy the ride. Thinking we should have left earlier in my head, we settled for the row second from the screen. It is one half of the final book after all. For a few seconds, it brings to mind Peter Pan flying the Darling children to Neverland. But Harry, unlike Peter, is unselfish. However, there is plenty of good to cling to. He doesn’t want his loved ones sacrificed for him. Hermione’s telling of a wizarding fairy tale is performed in an excellent shadow play animation.

There’s no better expert out there than Melissa to take a step back and reflect on the series that has changed so many lives, so now we’ll turn it over to her: This summer, when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II debuts in theaters, it will be about four years – almost to the day – that we first cracked the spine of the book. I and about 2500 of my fellows will be in Florida at LeakyCon 2011, the conference we’re throwing in celebration, watching and hugging and crying together as we experience yet another ending in the roller coaster experience that calls itself the Harry Potter phenomenon. They don’t happen the way you expect them to, and sometimes don’t happen at all. “These books carry great power in them,” said Andrew Slack, executive director and co-founder of the Alliance.

With little time for preparation and no clue what to do next, Harry, Ron and Hermione are forced into hiding. To start off, calling the Harry Potter series the most financially successful franchise isn’t entirely accurate; its cumulative gross was not adjusted for inflation. (When you do adjust, Star Wars comes out on top.) And money isn’t everything-—many would argue that a film’s critical reception is equally important to its financial success. And lots of other fine qualities. What are the best reviewed franchises in history? It’s hard to overestimate how impossible this question is to answer. The Alliance hosted “Lumos” parties around the world for the film’s release. But it suffers, as does every Harry Potter film to come after “Prisoner of Azkaban” from filmmaker arrogance and perhaps ignorance. When I am not in class I am working on videos or just being ridiculously geeky. There are certain issues with this film that are so wrong that they must issue from screenwriter Steven Kloves and director David Yates either thinking they are smarter than the books’ author, J.K. Clearly, determining The Greatest franchise of all time isn’t as simple as it may first appear. But first, a few gold stars on their foreheads: Many of the visuals are stunning and impressively created.

“The Harry Potter Alliance is sort of bringing a new kind of activism into the world,” said Paul DeGeorge, a co-founder of the group and one half of the punk rock band, Harry & the Potters.

We then found the average for each franchise’s films . Then we ordered the series from highest to lowest average gross, then best to worst critics score, and averaged the two rankings. Imelda Staunton, as Dolores Umbridge, has a scene in this where she is completely hateful no humor about it, as seen in “The Order of the Phoenix.” Helena Bonham Carter is beautiful but completely nuts and scary as Bellatrix Lestrange. It is real horror that underlines, again, that this is no story for little children.

Release one and it clones itself into several, and they are hilarious. We’ve learned that what we built from the mid-1990s to now is far too strong not to outlast the thrashing of time. So, as the next “ending” comes for Harry Potter fans, we who know better will view it as it should be seen: a time for us to be grateful at what we have shared, grateful we have each other, and celebratory of what The Boy Who Lived has given to all of our lives.

The document has moved here . ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part I’ opens this weekend and Ann Hornaday reviewed the highly anticipated film : As the first part of the last movie in a 10-year franchise that has taken on almost theological meaning for a generation of readers and filmgoers, it’s meant to leave audiences wanting more. The seventh film in the boy-wizard franchise, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1″ conjured up $24 million domestically from early Friday morning (November 19) screenings, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com . In that sense, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is good. Quite good, in fact, possibly even great. While “Deathly Hallows – Part 1″ didn’t exactly suck the life out of its vampire competition in the midnight-screenings department, the film is well on its way to a magical box-office run. We’re not sure, but we think it’s a documentary about watching “The Next Three Days.” “Heartless”: Jim Sturgess leads the cast of the U.K.-made psychological thriller. Most were waiting to get tickets for shows later that day rather than hoping to get into the first showing at 12:30 p.m.

Other analysts are estimating that it could earn as much as $130 million, solidifying it a spot in the top-five opening weekends in history. What movie will you see this weekend? customer surveys David Greenwald.

The newest Potter film can be viewed at 12:30, 1:30, 3:35, 4:35, 6:40, 8 and 9:45 p.m. Photo: The latest “Potter” poster. An hour before the scheduled release, fans were seated in eight of the 16 theaters, and additional showings were scheduled for 3:15 a.m. Getting in the way only gets you trampled, for no apparent gain. He was getting tickets for the 12:30 show for himself and his girlfriend because he had a class at 3 and worked later. “We’ve seen all the movies, and I’ve read some of the books,” Little said. “My girlfriend read all of them. The group said they have read all the Harry Potter books, and attending the midnight release was a must-do. “We bought our tickets in October,” said Denson. “We were really looking forward to it.” Laura Rudolph, 17, along with a group of friends from Naperville Central High School, arrived at 9:30 p.m. for their journey back to Hogwarts. This film, the seventh and penultimate in the series, wisely focuses on the original power trio that comprises the strength of the franchise.

Watson, whose character in the Harry Potter movies made it cool to be a studious teacher’s pet, says she’s “addicted to knowledge” and motivated to keep learning while doing other film projects. Unlike many of her young Potter co-stars, she chose to continue her education after graduating from high school.