New 'X-Men: First Class' Images Hit As Crew Rushes to Finish Production

While Bat-mania has been sweeping the Internet all day thanks to theannouncementthatAnne Hathawaywill play Selina Kyle whileTom Hardywill tackle the role of Bane in Christopher Nolan's'The Dark Knight Rises,'that isn't the only comic book movie making news.

On the Marvel front,Matthew Vaughnand company are still hard at work on'X-Men: First Class,'the prequel story set to highlight the origins of Charles Xavier's merry band of super-powered mutants. While maybe not quite as anticipated as a third 'Batman' movie, Fox is betting big bucks that Vaughn will deliver a film guaranteed to bring Marvel's"true believers"into the theater in droves this June 3rd. The only potential snag? The film hasn't finished shooting yet, as highlighted in the emergence of several new set photos.

"I'm at that stage where I feel like a boxer against the ropes,"director Vaughn tells the LA Times''Hero Complex'blog."I'm just throwing punches and taking them as they come and making sure I don't hit the canvas."With a release date looming and a studio breathing down his neck, Vaughn is clearly feeling the strain of making the largest film of his career, but the director isn't cracking despite these conditions being totally alien to him.

"I've never worked under such time pressure. The good thing about the independent world is I never even knew if I was going to get distribution. I'm used to finishing a film and then crossing your fingers that someone is going to like it. This is totally doing it the other way around. We've definitely got a release date and we've got to make it."

Luckily for the filmmaker, he's not tasked with going up against Nolan's juggernaut– but that doesn't make this summer season any less crowded. 'First Class' will square off against three other superhero films for box office supremacy, including'Thor,''The Green Lantern'and'Captain America: The First Avenger.'Vaughn is confident about beating all of them."... look, I will say the following: X-Men as a brand is bigger than Captain America, Thor and the Green Lantern, all put together."

Bold, but arguably true, words if comic sales and box office are to be believed. The three previous 'X-Men' films have earned over a billion dollars combined. However, this is an origin story– with Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsher being played byJames McAvoyandMichael Fassbenderand not Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan. Will fans accept these new actors in the familiar roles? They'll have to if 'First Class' is to succeed at the box office.

Vaughn's film, which is being produced by Bryan Singer, returns to the early days of the X-Men, when Xavier and Lehnsher (who would later become Magneto) are still friends. Singer points out that this bond between the two men and how their differing views in approaching a common cause (the producer compares the character arcs to Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X) eventually leads to a rift will make up the moral center of the film. Oh, and there'll be lots of superheros running around too. The all-star cast of mutants includes Kevin Bacon, January Jones and Lucas Till amongst others. Despite rumors, it appears as though Wolverine will not be appearing in the film.

Hopefully Vaughn can wrap up production on the film soon so that 'X-Men: First Class can make its June release date. In the meantime, enjoy these new photos from the shoot and swing by'Hero Complex'for even more pictures and details about the film. We've also posted the brand new teaser poster below.

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Sundance 2011: Full List of All Distribution Deals

We're tracking all the acquisition news from the2011 Sundance Film Festivalright here, with links to theofficial film guide, distributor information, release dates (if announced), plus links to further information on the deal, either here at Cinematical or elsewhere. Please bookmark this link as we'll be updating it throughout the festival, and if we're missing anything feel free to shoot us an email or comment below. (You'll also be able to find a handy link to this list under our Hot Topics section to the right of your screen.)

Distribution Deals -- Rumored:

'The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.'Documentary. Directed by Morgan Spurlock. Sony Pictures Classics -- Rumor only.

Distribution Deals -- Confirmed:

'Cedar Rapids.'Comedy. With Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Sigourney Weaver. Directed by Miguel Arteta. Fox Searchlight. Theatrical release date: February 11.

'Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel.'Documentary. With Roger Corman, Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese. Directed by Alex Stapleton. A&E IndieFilms (television rights).

'Hobo With a Shotgun.'Action. With Rutger Hauer. Directed by Jason Eisener. Magnet Releasing.

'In a Better World.'Drama. With Mikael Persbrandt, Ulrich Thomsen. Directed by Susanne Bier. Sony Pictures Classics.

'Incendies.'Drama. Directed by Denis Villeneuve. Sony Pictures Classics. Theatrical release date: April 1.

More after the jump ...

'I Saw the Devil.'Thriller. Directed by Kim Jee-won. Magnet Releasing.

'Kaboom.'Comedy/drama. With Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, Juno Temple. Directed by Gregg Araki. IFC Films. Available on demand: January 21. Theatrical release date: January 28.

'Mad Bastards.'Drama. Directed by Brendan Fletcher. Sundance Selects (IFC Films). Available on demand: January 24.

'Meek's Cutoff.'Drama. With Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Paul Dano. Directed by Kelly Reichardt. Oscilloscope.

'The Music Never Stopped.'Drama. With J.K. Simmons, Julia Ormond, Lou Taylor Pucci. Directed by Jim Kohlberg. Roadside Attractions.

'Project Nim.'Documentary. Directed by James Marsh ('Man on Wire'). HBO.

'Septien.'Drama. Directed by Michael Tully. Sundance Selects (IFC Films). Available on demand: January 23.

'Take Shelter.'Drama. With Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain. Directed by Jeff Nichols. Sony Pictures Classics.

'Terri.'Comedy. With John C. Reilly. Directed by Azazel Jacobs. ATO Pictures. Theatrical release date: Late Spring.

'These Amazing Shadows.'Documentary. Directed by Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton. Sundance Selects (IFC Films). Available on demand: January 22.

'The Troll Hunter.'Thriller. Directed by Andre Ovredal. Directed by Magnet Releasing.

'Uncle Kent.'Comedy. With Kent Osborne. Directed by Joe Swanberg. IFC Films. Available on demand: January 21.

'Win Win.'Drama. With Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan. Directed by Tom McCarthy. Fox Searchlight. Release date: March 25.

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Oscar Rankings: The Final Rankings (Before The Nominations)

And it has come down to this. The final week before the Oscar nominations. The major guilds have weighed in. The two most corrupt precursors have handed out their awards in hopes that Oscar will match and therefore increase their relevancy. Those of us at Sundance who care enough will be setting their alarm clocks for 5:30 in the AM to watch the nomination announcement live on Tuesday, Jan. 25. And wouldn't you know it, but the dang Brits have thrown a wrinkle into our final guesstimations.

True it only affects a couple of categories, but who knows what devious devices exist within the heart of a voter looking to defy studio campaigning. And who knows what the final nominations will look like. Perhaps yours truly.

Thanks to BAFTA, the British Film Academy, we must tread carefully around the two actress categories now. For the second time in three years, critic groups have more or less fell in line when the studios have specifically campaigned an actor or actress in a particular category. Despite better judgment over the years, many of them listed Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider), Scarlett Johansson (Lost In Translation) and Kate Winslet (The Reader) as supporting players even though their characters had as much, if not more, screen time than their male counterparts. And Keisha was most certainly the lead character. Just as Mattie Ross is in the Coens' True Grit.

Except once again, Hailee Steinfeld has been getting lauded in the supporting category by over 15 groups, including the Screen Actors Guild. They also nominated Winslet as a supporting actress for The Reader, an award which she won from the guild. But then came BAFTA and she won for the same role in the Lead category, where they have just nominated Steinfeld. (And Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener in 2005 and Jennifer Connelly in 2001 for A Beautiful Mind, when everyone including the Oscars had them in Supporting.) The overseas Academy also ignored the listing of Lesley Manville as a Lead Actress on their screener case for Another Year and nominated her amongst the Supporting players. It can be hard to predict a list of five when it is unclear where a performance is going to end up. Oscar ballots were already due before the Globes, the BFCA or BAFTA announced their winners and nominees, so it's a little late for voters to rethink their choices.

But not for us playing the Oscar game. Despite whatever confident egos we might possess, somewhere inside we are always second-guessing our choices. How did we not see it? Why was I so adamant in sticking with that film. Here are things to pay attention to while the"ooohs"and"aaahs"are coming out of the press rows during the announcement:

- It will begin with one of the first categories. Someone is going to be getting snubbed out of Supporting Actor. Only Bale& Rush are safe at the moment. The numbers suggest that Jeremy Renner& Andrew Garfield should be in. But either of them could be left off to make room for Mark Ruffalo and John Hawkes. As good a time to play a hunch as any.

- Watch the early nominations for 'The Town' and 'Winter's Bone'. Both could have an acting nomination, but pay attention to Adapted Screenplay. Probably only room for one. But is it the token way to honor Affleck and the ladies or the paved path to a Best Picture nomination. Again, probably only room for one.

- '127 Hours' is everyone's favorite gut play for a snub in the weeks leading up to the nominees. Franco's nod is a lock. Danny Boyle is still likely on the outside looking in for Director, but might be closer than some believe. Watch out for that Adapted Screenplay category though. The numbers are very much in its favor. But if it is dropped there, it might make room for both 'The Town' and 'Winter's Bone' there...and Best Picture.



- Watch out for the 'Toy Story 3' snubbing. With competition stiff in both Picture and Adapted Screenplay, do not be too surprised if the Academy decides that 'Up' was enough to satisfy the 'WALL-E' snubbing and that they do not feel the need to give another Animated Feature top billing when they have their own ghettoized category, one which did not exist when the first two films were released. Two films that helped change the quality of animated films as we know it today. If any film is worthy of at least a token nomination for Best Picture it is this one. But I will stop panicking once it is one of the last nominees announced.

- Do not panic if 'The Social Network' does not lead in the nominations. It is up against films that will be tech-heavy. As many as five ('127 Hours', 'Black Swan', 'Inception', 'The King's Speech'& 'True Grit') could tie or out-nominate the Fincher film. Remember, do not panic. It is still the frontrunner. Until Oscar journalists try to drum up fake drama and the backlash campaign begins. And even then, it is still the frontrunner.

After that, what more is there to say. Well, plenty. But let us get to the final predictions.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
If Hailee Steinfeld is nominated for Lead Actress instead, I'm going to go with the longshot and say Lesley Manville finds her way into this category as she did with BAFTA.

1.Melissa Leo ('The Fighter')- Won BFCA& Globes like Bale. Yet snubbed completely by BAFTA. Still the frontrunner, Brits.

2.Amy Adams ('The Fighter')- BAFTA did not snub her. Neither did BFCA, the Globes, Chicago or SAG.
3.Helena Bonham Carter ('The King's Speech')- And like Supporting Actor, BFCA/Globes/Chicago/SAG/BAFTA nominees are 10-0 for an Oscar nomination since 2001. BFCA/Globe/Chicago/SAG nominees 18-0 here since 2002. Your top three here share those latter accolades.
4.Hailee Steinfeld ('True Grit')- Until BFCA& Globes, she actually had more victories than Leo. She will be nominated, whether its Supporting or Lead.

5.Jacki Weaver ('Animal Kingdom')- L.A.& NBR have agreed 8 times since 1982. Five won the Oscar. All were nominated. Marisa Tomei also got snub by Chicago& BAFTA and was nominated for 'In The Bedroom'. Last year, Julianne Moore was not for 'A Single Man'.

ALTERNATE:Mila Kunis ('Black Swan')- BFCA/Globe/SAG nominees to be snubbed by Chicago are 3-0. Two of them were also snubbed by BAFTA.

LONGSHOT:Lesley Manville ('Another Year')- Sony Classics pushing her for Lead. BAFTA has her in supporting.
WISHFUL THINKING:Chloe Moretz'Kick-Ass'

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1.Christian Bale ('The Fighter')- Won BFCA& Globes with great speeches. The Oscar is his to lose.

2.Geoffrey Rush ('The King's Speech')- BFCA/Globes/Chicago/SAG/BAFTA nominees are 10-0 for an Oscar nomination since 2001.
3.Jeremy Renner ('The Town')- BFCA, Globes& SAG nominees here are a perfect 23-0 since 2001. Morgan Freeman (2004)& Matt Damon (2009) nominated without Chicago or BAFTA nods. Of course, 'The Town' isn't an Eastwood flick.

4.Andrew Garfield ('The Social Network')- Of the five groups, only snubbed by SAG. As were nominees Paul Newman (2002) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (2007). Jack Nicholson missed Oscar nod in 2006. BFCA/Globes nominees here 23-for-25 since 2001. The two who missed were also snubbed by SAG. Even with Chicago nom, last SAG snub with other three nominations - Paul Newman in 2002.

5.John Hawkes ('Winter's Bone')- Snubbed by BFCA, Globes& BAFTA. So were Djimon Hounsou (2002), William Hurt (2005), Jackie Earle Haley (2006), and Michael Shannon (2008)

ALTERNATE:Mark Ruffalo ('The Kids Are All Right')- Last six choices from New York were nominated. Globe snub puts him in same boat as Jake Gyllenhaal (2005) and Alfred Molina (2002). One nominated. One not. BFCA/Chicago/SAG nominees with Globe snub are 3-0 since 2003.

LONGSHOT:Michael Douglas ('Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps')- Globe nominee and potential Bale upset on Jan. 16.

BEST ACTRESS
(NOTE: If Hailee Steinfeld is nominated for Lead, then she will likely replace Michelle Williams in the Top 5.)

1.Natalie Portman ('Black Swan')- First the BFCA. Then the Globes. Next SAG. Then the Oscar.

2.Annette Bening ('The Kids Are All Right')- Only other actress to get all five nods from BFCA, Globes, Chicago, SAG and BAFTA. That's a 17-0 stat right there.

3.Jennifer Lawrence ('Winter's Bone')- Got 4 of the 5 above. Only a BAFTA snub. That was OK for five actresses since 2001. Only bad news for Angelina Jolie in 2007 for 'A Mighty Heart', another woman on a search for a dead man. But ignore BAFTA and just get nods from BFCA, Globes, SAG and Chicago, you have a 22-in-23 chance in being nominated.
4.Nicole Kidman ('Rabbit Hole')- BFCA/Globe/SAG nominees are 32-1 overall. 10-0 without mention from Chicago.
5.Michelle Williams ('Blue Valentine')- SAG also snubbed Keira Knightley for 'Pride& Prejudice' in 2005 and she was nominated by Chicago, Globes an the BFCA. Oh, and Oscar.

ALTERNATE:Lesley Manville ('Another Year')- Chicago was first mention since National Board of Review. History gives her a 1-in-6 chance. Lead, supporting or nowhere is anyone's guess now.

ALTERNATE #2:Noomi Rapace ('The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo')- A BFCA& BAFTA bump did not help Saoirse Ronan last year.

UNDERDOG:Julianne Moore ('The Kids Are All Right')- Nods from just Globes and BAFTA were not good news for Meryl Streep (2002), Uma Thurman (2003), Scarlett Johansson (2003 - Girl with a Pearl Earring), Keira Knightley (2007) or Kristin Scott-Thomas (2008)

WISHFUL THINKING:Carey Mulligan('Never Let Me Go')

BEST ACTOR
1.Colin Firth ('The King's Speech')- Has won 17 awards including New York, Chicago, BFCA and the Golden Globe. Don't bet against him.

2.Jesse Eisenberg ('The Social Network')– Nominated by BFCA, Globes, Chicago, SAG and BAFTA.

3.James Franco ('127 Hours')– And with those five, actors are a perfect 20-0 in getting a nomination since 2000. So congrats to Firth, Eisenberg& Franco

4.Jeff Bridges ('True Grit')- Ryan Gosling (2006)& Richard Jenkins (2008) were snubbed by the Globes when BFCA, SAG, and Chicago nominated them. Jeremy Renner (2009), like Bridges also got BAFTA nod. All were Oscar-nominated.

5.Robert Duvall ('Get Low')– If Oscars were in August, he might have won. BFCA/SAG got Sean Penn nominated in 2001. But not 2007's Emile Hirsch (in Penn's 'Into the Wild.')

ALTERNATE:Ryan Gosling ('Blue Valentine')- He has to knockout Duvall to get in. SAG snub gives him 50/50 shot at Oscar. Terrence Howard in '05 - Yes. DiCaprio for 'The Departed' in '06 - No. Will they nominate one without the other?

LONGSHOT:Mark Wahlberg ('The Fighter')- Jude Law& Michael Caine translated a single Globe nod to Oscar since 2001. Six others did not.

WISHFUL THINKING:Leonardo DiCaprio('Shutter Island')

BEST DIRECTOR
1.David Fincher ('The Social Network')- Won New York, Los Angeles& Chicago. Also BFCA, Globes and National Board of Review. Oscar coming soon.

2.Christopher Nolan ('Inception')- 3 DGA nominations from last six films. That is early Spielberg territory.
3.Darren Aronofsky ('Black Swan')- Has won half as many awards as Nolan this season.

4.Tom Hooper ('The King's Speech')- BFCA/Globes/Chicago/DGA/BAFTA nominees are 14-1 for Oscar nod. Last shut out in 2001. Top four qualify.

5.David O. Russell ('The Fighter')- Nods from DGA& Globes may just be enough to make DGA 5-for-5 for a second year in a row.

ALTERNATE:Danny Boyle ('127 Hours')- BFCA/BAFTA Nominee Paul Haggis got in for 'Crash' in 2005.

UNDERDOGS:Joel& Ethan Coen ('True Grit')- Only nominated by the BFCA. Just like Steven Spielberg (2002), Jim Sheridan (2003), Ron Howard (2005) and Sidney Lumet (2007) who were not nominated for Oscars.
WISHFUL THINKING:Martin Scorsese('Shutter Island')

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1.'Inception'– Second most honored script after 'The Social Network'.

2.'The King's Speech'– Won BFCA's Original Award. They were wrong in both categories in 2009, but nomination a lock.
3.'The Kids Are All Right'– BFCA/Globe/Chicago nominees 8-0 since 2001.
4.'Black Swan'– BFCA/Chicago/WGA nominees (Globe or No Globe) are 11-0 since 2001.

5.'The Fighter'– BFCA/WGA/BAFTA nominee. All other contenders only have one mention apiece with aforementioned groups and guilds.

ALTERNATE:'Another Year'– Mike Leigh's last three Oscar nods here were not precluded by a WGA nod. Watch out, Micky Ward.

LONGSHOT:'Blue Valentine'- 'The Messenger''s script got nominated with zero support from any of the groups or guilds.

WISHFUL THINKING:'Four Lions'

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
1.'The Social Network'– Not even Mark Zuckerberg can steal Aaron Sorkin's Oscar at this point.
2.'127 Hours'– BFCA/Globes/WGA/BAFTA nominees are 11-0 since 2001.

3.'True Grit'- WGA nominees hitting 70% here since 2000. BFCA/Chicago/WGA/BAFTA nominee just like 2005's 'Capote'. Only snubbed by Globes too. Probably gave them no shwag.

4.'Toy Story 3'- Five of the last six Pixar scripts received a nomination. BFCA/Chicago/BAFTA nominee just like 'An Education'.

5.'The Town'– Adaptations getting a PGA accompaniment to their WGA nod are 20-for-25 since 2000. Seabiscuit only had BFCA/WGA support and got nominated.

ALTERNATE:'Winter's Bone'- Either this or 'The Town' gets the 'Philip Morris' WGA spot. Feels right they want to honor Affleck somewhere doesn't it?

LONGSHOT:'Rabbit Hole'– Chicago was the only group to acknowledge this potential sleeper nominee. 8-of-14 when standing alone.

WISHFUL THINKING:'Shutter Island'- San Diego nominated it, but no match for The Social Network.

BEST FOREIGN FILM

(NOTE: No rankings here. Just pure guesswork.)

'Biutiful'(Mexico)
'Confessions'(Japan)
'Dogtooth'(Greece)
'In a Better World'(Denmark)

'Incendies'(Canada)

ALTERNATES:'Even The Rain' (Spain), 'Life, above All' (South Africa), 'Outside the Law' (Algeria), 'Simple Simon' (Sweden)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
1.'Toy Story 3'
2.'How to Train Your Dragon'
3.'The Illusionist'

ALTERNATE:'Tangled'

UNDERDOG:'Despicable Me'

BEST PICTURE
1.'The Social Network'- 90 awards total to this point. Previous award leaders were 'The Hurt Locker', 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'No Country For Old Men' (w/98) and 'The Departed'

2.'Black Swan'- Only film other than #1 to be nominated by BFCA/Globes/Chicago/BAFTA as well as PGA/DGA/WGA& SAG Ensemble. Only 11 films since 2001 can claim that. All nominated including 6 of the 9 Best Picture winners.

3.'Inception'- Second most awards of the season with 48. Only missed SAG ensemble nomination from above.

4.'The King's Speech'- 25 awards and 90 nominations. Many still pending. Only missed WGA nod from above and that is because it was disqualified from contention.

5.'The Fighter'- Got nominated by six of the eight groups and guilds. Including PGA/DGA/WGA/SAG which is 23-0 since 2001. 'Almost Famous' last film to get snubbed with that combo.

6.'True Grit'- A film has not won Best Picture without a DGA nomination since 'Driving Miss Daisy'. But the nomination should be a no-brainer.

7.'The Kids Are All Right'- Winner of Globes Best Comedy has not been nominated since 'Sideways' in 2004. Last three though only got a single nomination from above. 'Kids' got four.

8.'Toy Story 3'- If 'Up' got nominated, this has to as well. Right?

9.'127 Hours'- 8 BAFTA nominations including Best Director. BFCA, PGA& WGA nominee. 7th in overall awards for the season. Yet so many think its going to miss because of squeamishness and poor box office.

10.'Winter's Bone'- Last five years a film has been nominated without a PGA& WGA nod. Last four without PGA, WGA OR DGA.

ALTERNATE:'The Town'- PGA has never matched 100% with Oscar. Last year they were 8-for-10. Nine might be best to hope for in 2010.

UNDERDOG:'Another Year'- Lesley Manville and Screenplay chances need to increase for this to move up.
WISHFUL THINKING:'Shutter Island'- Should have been a contender in 2009. Falls behind 'True Grit'& 'The Fighter' on Paramount's 2010 campaign.

And the rest of the feature film categories you will have to go online to find after the live announcement.

BEST DOCUMENTARY

1.'Waiting for"Superman"'
2.'The Tillman Story'
3.'Inside Job'
4.'Exit through the Gift Shop'
5.'Waste Land'

ALTERNATE:'Enemies of the People'

UNDERDOG:'Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould'

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

1.'True Grit'

2.'Black Swan'

3.'Inception'

4.'The King's Speech'

5.'The Social Network'

ALTERNATE:'127 Hours'

UNDERDOG:'Shutter Island'

BEST EDITING

1.'Inception'

2.'Black Swan'

3.'The Social Network'

4.'The King's Speech'

5.'127 Hours'

ALTERNATE:'True Grit'

UNDERDOG:'Shutter Island'

BEST ART DIRECTION

1.'Inception'

2.'The King's Speech'

3.'True Grit'

4.'Alice In Wonderland'

5.'Shutter Island'

ALTERNATE:'Black Swan'

UNDERDOG:'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I'

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

1.'The King's Speech'

2.'Alice In Wonderland'

3.'True Grit'

4.'Black Swan'

5.'Kick-Ass'

ALTERNATE:'Shutter Island'
LONGSHOT:'Robin Hood'

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

(NOTE: 'Black Swan', 'The Fighter', 'The Kids Are All Right', and 'True Grit' have all been disqualified.)

1.'The Social Network'

2.'Inception'

3.'127 Hours'

4.'How To Train Your Dragon'

5.'The King's Speech'

ALTERNATE:'Alice In Wonderland'

LONGSHOT:'Tron: Legacy'

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

1."You Haven't Seen the Last of Me"('Burlesque')

2."I See The Light"('Tangled')

3."If I Rise"('127 Hours')

4."We Belong Together"('Toy Story 3')

5."Shine"('Waiting for"Superman"')

ALTERNATE:"There's a Place For Us"('The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader')

LONGSHOT:"Coming Home"('Country Strong')

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

1.'Inception'
2.'Alice in Wonderland'
3.'Tron: Legacy'

ALTERNATE:'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1'

LONGSHOTS:'Iron Man 2','Scott Pilgrim vs. the World'and'Hereafter'

BEST MAKEUP

1.'Alice in Wonderland'
2.'True Grit'
3.'The Wolfman'

ALTERNATE:'The Way Back'

LONGSHOTS:'Jonah Hex', 'Barney's Version' and 'The Fighter'

BEST SOUND

1.'Inception'
2.'Black Swan'
3.'True Grit'
4.'127 Hours'

5.'Shutter Island'

ALTERNATE:'The Town'

LONGSHOT:'The Fighter'

BEST SOUND EFFECTS EDITING

1.'Inception'
2.'True Grit'
3.'127 Hours'

4.'Black Swan'
5.'How To Train Your Dragon'

ALTERNATE:'Toy Story 3'

LONGSHOT:'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World'

NOMINATION LEADERS (if the above holds true)

11 - The King's Speech

10 - Inception, True Grit

9 - Black Swan

8 - 127 Hours, The Social Network

6 - The Fighter

4 - Alice In Wonderland, Toy Story 3

3 - How To Train Your Dragon, The Kids Are All Right, Winter's Bone

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At Least 13 Hollywood Ads Will Air During the Super Bowl

Super Bowl Sunday is the event of fried foods, new commercials and, oh yeah, football. But this year, for Super Bowl XLV, Hollywood is going trailer crazy. Forget one, two or evententrailers and television spots to dig through. AsVarietyreports, studios are gearing up to promote at least 13 films during the February 6 broadcast (game and pre-show). Just in case you didn't catch that:AT LEAST 13films.

Obviously, this is a record number for the business and one television event, even if it happens to be the most juicy ad night of the year -- a juicy ad night that costs an average of $3 million for 30 seconds of air time, we might add. Included in the cinematic rush are potential summer blockbusters'Transformers: Dark of the Moon,''Super 8,''Thor,''Captain America: The First Avenger,'

...hit the jump while we catch our breath...

'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,''Cowboys and Aliens,''Priest'and'Kung Fu Panda 2.'But it's not just the far-off features getting football love. The February films'The Eagle'and'Just Go With It'are in the mix, as are March's'Battle: Los Angeles,''Limitless'and'Rango.'

This might seem like a steep price to pay for a little trailer love, and Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox agree -- neither are offering up ads during the expensive time slot (which is particularly odd for Fox since they're airing the game and have 'X-Men: First Class' to promo). But wait --that's not all. Bieber Feverites -- because what goes better with the pigskin than Bieber? -- will get to see a trailer for his 3-D concert documentary,'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,'during the post-Bowl editionof 'Glee.''Take Me Home Tonight,'the party flick due out March 4, will also show its wares during the music show.

Will you be tuning in more for the game or the commercials?

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Weekend Movie Preview: 'No Strings Attached,' 'The Company Men'

The very pregnantNatalie Portmanis making the rounds these days to promote her new movie that explores the question of whether there's any such thing as consequence-free sex. Let that sink in for a moment.

New and Noteworthy

'No Strings Attached'(R)

Starring:Natalie Portman,Ashton Kutcher,Cary Elwes,Kevin Kline,Greta Gerwig
Directed by:Ivan Reitman
What's It About?Portman and Kutcher play old friends who decide to have a purely sexual relationship -- no romance allowed. But of course, it's never that easy, at least not in the movies.
Why Should You See It?Portman lets her inner-'Black Swan' loose, offering the kind of raunchy, funny, grown-up performance that past roles have only hinted at. Kutcher remains a pro at light comedy. Veteran comedy director Ivan Reitman, whose work has felt sluggish in recent years, seems invigorated by these youngsters and their fresher, blunter take on romance.
You Might Like It If You Like:'Hotel Chevalier,'the 'Natalie Raps' short from 'Saturday Night Live,''Guess Who'

Showtimes& Tickets|Reviews
Video Interviews:Natalie Portman|Ashton Kutcher

Watch a Scene From the Movie and Mr. Moviefone's Six Second Review

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In Limited Release

'The Company Men'is a timely tale of downsizing by John Wells ('ER'). Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper play white-collar guys forced to cope with sudden unemployment.Showtimes& Tickets|Watch the Trailer

'The Way Back'is an epic adventure from Peter Weir ('Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'), based on the memoir by Slavomir Rawicz, about a group of people who escape from a Siberian gulag during World War II and must walk 4,000 miles to freedom.Ed Harris,Colin Farrell,Jim Sturgess('21') andSaoirse Ronan('The Lovely Bones') star.Showtimes& Tickets|Watch the Trailer

'The Housemaid'is an erotic thriller from South Korea about an au pair who becomes entangled in the treacherous schemes of the family she works for.Showtimes& Tickets|Watch the Trailer

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Still in Theaters, Still Awesome

•'The Green Hornet'-- A bromance disguised as a comic-book masked-hero movie, with visual invention to spare from director Michel Gondry.Showtimes& Tickets|Watch the Trailer

•'The Dilemma'-- A bromance disguised as a sex farce, with surprisingly poignant drama in Vince Vaughn's performance.Showtimes& Tickets|Watch the Trailer

•'Barney's Version'- Surprised byPaul Giamatti'sGolden Globe winfor Best Actor in a Comedy earlier this week? Check out his performance as a much-married man in this adaptation of Mordecai Richler's novel and see what the fuss is about.Showtimes& Tickets|Watch the Trailer

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Staying in This Weekend?

New on DVD:'Buried'takes a premise Edgar Allan Poe would have loved and updates it to the digital age.Ryan Reynoldsplays a man trapped in a coffin, with only a cell phone and a lighter to keep him alive long enough to figure out how he got there and how to get out. If you're claustrophobic or not a Reynolds fan (he's onscreen the entire movie), skip this one. Everyone else, dig in.Buy or rent the DVD|More new DVD releases

Movie Homework:'The Way Back' may be a stirring epic about a true-life escape from a World War II prison camp, but the definitive entry in the genre is still 1963's'The Great Escape.'Also based on a true story (one that doesn't turn out quite the way you think it will -- this is not 'Hogan's Heroes'), it features a full rogue's gallery of Hollywood tough guys, some then-famous (Steve McQueen,James Garner), some soon-to-be-famous (Charles Bronson, James Coburn) teaming up to execute an elaborate jailbreak. If you've seen it, it's worth seeing again just for McQueen's legendary motorcycle jump.Buyorrent the DVD

On Our Netflix Queue:At the Golden Globes this week,Annette Beningreferred to her husband as the winner of the Globe for the most promising newcomer of 1962. She was referring toWarren Beatty'smemorable movie debut in'Splendor in the Grass,'made when his future wife was just three years old. Beatty andNatalie Woodsmoulder as two small-town teens whose romance is thwarted by the hang-ups (sexual repression, class tensions, greed and other hypocrisies) of their virtuous elders. Watch this movie, and you'll see why the Globe voters thought this kid was going places.Buyorrent the DVD

On TV:'Mamma Mia!'isn't exactly a cinematic masterpiece, but on a cold, January night with a bowl of popcorn, this summery, Greek Isles-set musical should make for a fine girl's night in. (And in your living room, no one can see you dancing along to the all-ABBA soundtrack.) Plus, it's full of people we never get tired of, including Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters. You have three chances to see it; it's on TBS at 8PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.Check your local listings

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•Follow Gary Susman on Twitter @garysusman.

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2011 GLAAD Award Nominees Include 'The Kids Are All Right,' 'Easy A' and 'Burlesque'

What do sexy singin' ladies, scarlet letters, warriors against misogyny, sperm donors and a war against evil exes have in commom, especially when they're mixed with howling poetry, prison love, barrio living, mis-placed commas and secret, Peruvian lovers? These are the cinematic contenders for this year's GLAAD awards.

For the 22nd year, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has narrowed down their awards contenders, the creations and characterizations that uphold"fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation."The accolades cover just about every corner of media you can expect -- not only film and television, but also areas like magazines, news segments, threater and comics.

GLADD's film awards are separated into three categories -- wide releases, limited releases and documentaries. If you weren't able to parse the clues above for the feature releases,'Burlesque,''Easy A,''The Girl Who Played with Fire,''The Kids are All Right'and'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World'fill in the wide release spectrum, while'Howl,''I Love You Phillip Morris,''La Mission,''Patrik, 1.5'and'Undertow'fill the limited release options.

In the documentary world, GLAAD dug'Prodigal Sons,'the story of a transgender woman and her adopted brother, who happens to be Orson Welles' grandson,'8: The Mormon Proposition'about how the LDS folks helped promote and pass Prop 8,'Edie& Thea: A Very Long Engagement'about two women who had to wait 42 years to get married,'Sylvester, UnSung'about disco diva Sylvester and'Out: The Glenn Burke Story,'about '70s Dodgers player.

Outside of film, it's no surprise to see 'Glee' front and center for television and as a belated birthday gift, Buffy Summers gets some love under Outstanding Comic Book.

HitThe Hollywood Reporterfor GLADD's full list of nominees. The awards ceremony will take place over three months in three cities: March 19 in New York, April 16 in Los Angeles and May 14 in San Francisco.

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Framed: Road to Perdition

A Depression-era mob enforcer and his son are on the run. The boy witnessed a brutal killing carried out by his father and his partner, and now a hit has been put out on their lives. While the two flee for safety, they simultaneously seek revenge for the slaying of their family and begin to acclimate to the nuances of their own distant relationship.

WatchingSam Mendes'2002 Academy Award-winning film,'Road to Perdition,'on Blu-ray reminds me why this technology was invented. CinematographerConrad L. Hall'scompositions are stunningly brought to life and the movie's Super 35 format translates an authentic filmic grain. Hall's work is technically precise -- loaded with details that are illuminated by the most basic of elements: light, shadow, skin tone, atmosphere.

And what is it about that rain that never seems to end? Next to Hall's muted, minimal palette -- which adds a coldness and sorrowful dimension to the movie -- the rain is unrelenting and violent. Mendeshas statedthat the theme of water speaks to the"uncontrollability of fate"and that"the soul of the movie is expressed in the exteriors."If the soul hangs along the outside, then the mind is revealed in Hall's interior spaces. 'Road to Perdition's' sets were built inside the mammoth Chicago Armory, giving the cinematographer complete control over the elaborately constructed lighting. The correlation between houses -- places of identity -- and the mind is something people often talk about regarding dreams. Given 'Perdition's' mythic leanings and graphic novel origin it seems only fitting to view these spaces in such a light.

{spoilers ahead}

Pictorially, there's another graphic novel element in this week's frame. The composition is broken into multiple other vertical frames, recalling a panel-type layout (some shots were actually pulled directly from the comic). Hall's atmospheric lighting and less is more methodology is at play here, along with a one point depth of field focus that Hall uses throughout the film. All this worked to create what the cinematographer described as"soft noir"-- something that feels intuitive, naturalistic and is nicely balanced with the high contrast, chiaroscuro visuals that are more typical of the time period.

Mendes wanted to carry that naturalistic sensibility throughout the interior spaces, which Hall achieved by something he calls"room tone."He explains,"Room tone is the light that results from light bouncing off of walls, ceilings and floors. It gives a sense of presence to what I don't want to see."What you often don't see are the cliche flourishes of Depression-era style. That sentiment is reserved for the moody internal narrative, while the visuals remain more realistic and less theatrical or stylized. Hall confirmed that sentiment stating,"The thing that makes this picture work so well is a kind of honesty ... There is no blue moonlight, no green vistas, none of that kind of stuff. The film has very carefully crafted compositions, it's meticulously cut, and it's paced very gently and slowly - all of which is good for the story."

Mendes and Hall looked at the paintings of American realist Edward Hopper for reference when constructing their shots, lighting, and to help capture the emotional pitch of a scene (I think there's a lot ofBo Bartlett-- and maybe someAndrew Wyeth-- here too). Camera operatorP. Scott Sakamotoexplains the camera's role in this,"We did a lot of tableau shots, wide shots that let the actors move within the frame, and we didn't move the camera much. Sam lets his actors tell the story within the frame."

Hopper's 'New York Movie'was a particularly big influence on the filmmaker, which guided him when it came to allowing space around the characters, stressing the importance of where your eye travels in a frame, as well as emphasizing what's off camera."In New York Movie, which shows an usherette standing at the side of a cinema, the lighting of the scene is absolutely the source of its poetry,"Mendes said."The fact that her face is partially obscured creates a sense of loneliness and desolation. You begin to invent your own story from the imagination {depicted} in the world of the painting."

This is all felt in our frame, which shows a despondent Michael Sullivan, Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin) waiting for his father (Tom Hanks) to return from murdering his family's killer. In the beginning of the film, Mendes shot Sullivan, Sr. at a distance, fragmented, or through door frames to emphasize a disconnect in the father/son relationship. That role seems reversed here. We're left to fill in the blanks of the boy's thoughts and feelings that are created by this distance. Mendes explains,"Sometimes you know more about emotional states of characters if you can't see their eyes. That's quite a dangerous thing to say when you're dealing with actors who are speaking all the time, but people can underestimate the emotional articulation of a shot that isn't a close-up."

'Road to Perdition' is an impeccable visual feat that demonstrates how color, light and framing can create powerful, emotional imagery. Many of Mendes and Hall's techniques are simple (or made to look so) and quiet, but that doesn't deter from their impact.

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'Black Panther' Movie Back On the Prowl at Marvel

Widely accepted as the mainstream's first black superhero, Black Panther (aka Prince T'Challa) has had a tough time making it to the movie screens, but according toThe Hollywood Reporter, there seems to be some new blood and some fresh progress on the project.

Wesley Snipes was"attached"to theop character for a good, long time but that incarnation of 'Black Panther' now seems to be a distant memory. (Plus Wesley already got his own superhero trilogy; I say give this one to Idris Elba or Chiwetel Ejiofor.) But it's a bit too early to be playing the casting game; Marvel doesn't have a director just yet, although they have hired one Mark Bailey to start working on the screenplay.
As THR points out, Mr. Bailey is known mainly for HBO documentary work, but clearly he pitched something that appealed to the Marvel men (and women) because the Black Panther is definitely stirring again.

More news on Stan Lee's inevitable 'Black Panther' cameo when it becomes available. We know turn you over to our ownJohn Gholson, who will no doubt have at least 700 words to offer about how awesome Black Panther is.

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2011 Romantic Comedies Preview: 10 Couples Who Will Hook Up This Year

The unlikely star pairing ofNatalie PortmanandAshton Kutcherin'No Strings Attached'(which opens today), is just the first of this year's several high-profile onscreen hookups that, whether they sizzle or fizzle, will make for some excellent photo ops.

Before the year is out, we'll see ifJennifer Anistonis funnier oppositeAdam SandlerorPaul Ruddand whetherMila KunisandJustin Timberlakeshould have just stayed friends in'Friends With Benefits.'Not to mention the first look at real-life loversRachel McAdamsandMichael Sheenin Woody Allen's 'Midnight in Paris.'

Which celebrity pairings are you most looking forward to in 2011?

1. Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher in 'No Strings Attached'(Jan. 21)
She's incredibly short; he's ridiculously tall. She's about to get her second Oscar nomination; he's more known for his Twittering than his acting these days. Since she's usually on a different playing field than he is, why can't a serious actress have a little fun now and then? Critics have given the movie a rotten 55 rating atRotten Tomatoes(hey, that's a career high for Kutcher!), but like the pairing."Portman and Kutcher really are sexy together,"says theBoston Globe. Let's just hope he doesn't prove her 'Norbit'-like undoing on Oscar night.

2. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston in'Just Go With It'(Feb. 11)
Surely Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston have starred together as pretend man and wife before? No, it only seems that way because she's supported nearly every other comedian in town. In their first film together, she plays his assistant, who agrees to pretend to be his wife so that he can hook a hottie. It's all very complicated: He lies to women, saying that he's married to avoid commitment, but now his girlfriend wants to meet his imaginary wife. Sounds a lot like'Cactus Flower'to us, where the odd pairing of Walter Matthau and Ingrid Bergman was part of the comedy. Will a Sandiston romcom be a match made in heaven or a forgettable flop?

3.Russell BrandandGreta Gerwigin'Arthur'(Apr. 8)
Either you're horrified that bad boy comedian Russell Brand is taking over Dudley Moore's iconic role, or you're toasting the powers that be for such a spot-on casting. The drunken millionaire is a role that seems tailor-made for the 'Get Him to the Greek' star. He's paired here with the up-and-coming Gerwig (who charmed as the object of Ben Stiller's affection in 'Greenberg') in the kooky Liza Minnelli shoplifter role. Brand being Brand, we also expect him to put some moves on Helen Mirren, who takes over the role of exasperated Arthur-sitter originally played by John Gielgud.

4.Anne HathawayandJim Sturgessin'One Day'(Jul. 8)
An intriguing pairing and an interesting concept: Two college grads spend the night together; we then check in with them that same day over the next several years to see if they're together or apart. If Sturgess and Hathaway have half the amount of chemistry he had in 'Across the Universe' with Evan Rachel Wood, all should be well. The film, incidentally, is from Lone Scherfig, director of 'An Education,' the Oscar-nominated movie that also earned a nod for Carey Mulligan.

5.Kevin JamesandRosario Dawsonin'The Zookeeper'(Jul. 8)
How could a lovable schlub like James ever end up with a hottie like Dawson? Well, he did okay with Amber Valletta in 'Hitch.' (Or so we assume. That's one we missed.) But yes, Dawson here is (very understandably) the girl of zookeeper James's dreams. Since the movies have their own love affair with beauty-and-the-geek-pairings, we expect she'll come around to his charms by the time the credits roll. And hey, there's talking animals!

6. Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake in 'Friends With Benefits'(Jul. 15)
Kunis and Timberlake are each finally getting some filmic respect based on their acclaimed supporting turns in, respectively, Oscar-bait films 'Black Swan' and 'The Social Network.' So why not follow that up with a romantic comedy? Regardless, if this plays out like a rerun of 'No Strings Attached' (or dozens of other similarly plotted flicks), we can't wait to see two of the hottest stars flirting and sparring with each other. (And of course, making out.) Have the real-life romance rumors started already?

7. Rachel McAdams and Michael Sheen in'Midnight in Paris'(Sept. 9)
Speaking of real-life romance, many celeb spotters were astonished to hear that McAdams had moved on from her 'Notebook' costar Ryan Gosling to the much older Sheen. Personally, we weren'tthatsurprised. We found him very charming in 'Frost/Nixon' and 'The Queen' and rather sexy in those 'Underworld' films. And he did used to be with Kate Beckinsale. Given the usual secrecy surrounding Woody Allen's latest, it's not clear if McAdams and Sheen play a couple in the film, but even if they don't, their hook-up is probably the best publicity he could hope for.

8.Anna FarisandChris Evansin'What's Your Number'(Sept. 30)
Chris Evans makes an extremely hot ex-boyfriend, like in the little-seen 'London,' with then-girlfriend Jessica Biel, and as one of Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Seven Evil Exes in 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.' Here, he plays one of Anna Faris's 19 former beaus; since she's set her lifetime limit at 20, she decides to revisit all the guys she's ever known to see who's"The One."Whether or not she ends up with Evans at the fadeout, we're looking forward to her brand of funny with his brand of hot and a little bit of vice versa.

9. Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd in'Wanderlust'(Oct. 7)
Aniston and Rudd have starred together before, but she was pregnant with another man's baby and he was gay, so that didn't exactly work out. In 'Wanderlust,' they finally play a couple, specifically, New Yorkers whose financial straits prompt them to move into a hippie commune. (Cue orgies! Toplessness! And pot!) We can't think of a time when Rudd didn't make us laugh and this Judd Apatow-produced pic could be just the film that'll finally return Aniston to her 'Friends-era stride. Even if it's not the be-all and end-all of romantic comedies, this is one pairing we're excited about. (Then again, we were kind of excited for 'The Switch.')

10.Reese WitherspoonandTom HardyandChris Pinein'This Means War'(Nov. 28)
Torn between 'Inception' hunk Tom Hardy and out-of-this-world hot Chris Pine? What's a girl to do? While Witherspoon isn't exactly the type we'd picture snaring two globe-trotting spies, we're more than willing to pull up a chair and watch as they battle it out for her affections. And we're going to make a bold prediction: She'll end up with Pine. Why? Because A.) he's the bigger star and B.) he's American and Americans usually get the girl in American movies. But don't rule out Hardy:These picsof him and Witherspoon goofing around on set seem to prove they've got great chemistry.

Related Links:
2011 Movies Preview: 75 Films We Can't Wait to See

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Cinematical Seven: How Movies Taught Us to Deal with the Depression

If you utter the words downsizing or restructuring in today's climate, you're bound to send someone around you reeling. Even though our cruddy economy made it harder to green light new films, it actually drove theater sales -- thanks in part to 3D being so expensive. A little escapism to help us forget that times are tough never hurt anyone, however, cinema that actually delves into the anxiety of rough socioeconomic times often has valuable lessons to share. For the six-figure suits who get laid off in'The Company Men'-- which hits theaters this Friday (check outErik's review) -- it's about finding your footing when the private jets and VIP country club memberships go bye-bye, and starting from square one. Other movies have taught us how to deal with the despair, poverty, and strife of the depression (past and present). Find out how they can help you tackle these trying times, after the jump (possible spoilers ahead).

Get mad as hell.

Catharsis!'Network's'Howard Beale (Peter Finch) is a veteran anchor for the UBS Evening News, but the network has struggled with poor ratings and is doomed to go off the air. Beale doesn't take kindly to this. He admits on live television that since the show is the only thing he had going for him, he plans on killing himself in a week's time. Before he can blink, he's immediately fired and then rehired where in lieu of an apology, he makes a rant for the ages about being"mad as hell."When life has taken a dump on your head and you don't know which way to turn, follow Beale's advice and just allow yourself to be angry first.

Michael Douglas' D-FENS did it in 'Falling Down,'when he raged on about a hamburger...

Sing, because that's what everyone else seems to do.

Orphans sing about their struggles in'Annie,'the Soggy Bottom Boys belt it out in'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'and Al Jolson croons about being a tramp in'Hallelujah, I'm a Bum.'These are just a few of the films that have carried a tune about the sorrows of the Depression-era days. Talkin' 'bout being broke, going hungry and living on the streets sounds better when told during a song and dance number. Tell that to your boss before he lays you off.

When life gets complicated, distract yourself with love ... and bank robberies.

Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) and Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) in'Bonnie and Clyde'(duh) may have been living a couple of miserable, small-town lives in the midst of the Great Depression, but love on the run caught on quick. Stickups and crime sprees shifted their relationship into high gear, until the couple were forced to part in a hail of bullets. Before they met their gruesome end, Bonnie wrote a poem about Clyde so people would always remember him. Clyde made sure to let Bonnie know she was"somethin' better than bein' a waitress."That's love.

Have faith that the good guys don't always finish last.

When The Bobs infiltrate the lives of a group of software engineers and start cutting expenses -- and people -- everyone in'Office Space'handles the bad news differently. Peter undergoes hypnotherapy. Michael and Samir hack the accounting system. And then there's Milton. He's consistently forgotten (the man was laid off from his job years ago, but was never actually told), ignored and relegated to second-class citizen status after having his office moved to the basement with the cockroaches. Milton decides to turn things around for himself by burning the office down and makes off with the company's cash to Mexico. Not too shabby for a Swingline stapler weirdo.

Meanwhile in the dystopian depression universe,'RoboCop's'Dick Jones (Ronny Cox) is a total corporate scumbag who gets his comeuppance when the good guy cyborg, otherwise known as RoboCop (Peter Weller), blasts him out the window of the Omni Consumer Products boardroom. When Jones' murderous scheme is uncovered he tries to kill the Old Man who runs OCP, but you can't keep a good robot down.

Dick Is Fired
RoboCopat MOVIECLIPS.com

Consider all your options.

Sometimes you have to be a little ... creative about where your next paycheck is coming from. Chaney (Charles Bronson) in'Hard Times'gets that, and drifts through the Great Depression on a freight train, eventually making some dough as a street fighter. Even though he gets involved with a"manager,"Speed (James Coburn), who gambles his winnings away, Chaney -- the strong, silent type -- knuckles down to make things right before moving on. Chaney's not above beating the daylights out of a guy named Street (Nick Dimitri) to earn a few bucks when the chips are down.

Neither is boxer Jim Braddock (Russell Crowe) in'Cinderella Man'who fights for food and his family during the Depression. He has a bum hand but never gives up -- delivering the blows necessary (in the ring and as a laborer) to fight against the odds and come out a winner.

Hope that Clarence was right.

'It's a Wonderful Life'was released after the Depression, but the sting of failing banks, the anxiety of unemployment and lack of affordable housing was still fresh in the public's mind. You catch a whiff of these problems in Capra's movie. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) is a decent, hard-working man who blunders a bank deposit and tries to kill himself in the aftermath of his screw up. An angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) shows up who turns out to be George's heavenly guardian. He's like God's Jack Handey and reveals to George that his life is worth living by giving him a glimpse of what the world would be like without him in it. In the end, George lives and the town comes to his aid. Clarence leaves him with a few words of wisdom:"Remember no man is a failure who has friends."Fingers crossed, dude.

Go to the movies.

And we're back to square one. Movies are a great escape when the going gets tough. They also won't make your butt spread like a WoW bender or a tub of Ben& Jerry's. It's a chance to sit in the dark for two hours (sometimes longer -- thanks James Cameron!) and forget everything going on in your terrible, horrible world. Cecilia (Mia Farrow) has a serious movie habit in Woody Allen's'The Purple Rose of Cairo.'Her job sucks, her marriage sucks, and she lives in New Jersey during the Great Depression. When a film character (Jeff Daniels) pops out of the screen, Cecilia embarks on a love affair with him while also getting caught up with"real life"actor, Gil (also Jeff Daniels). Cecilia eventually ends up alone (or at least going back to her unhappy marriage), but the film closes with her losing herself in another movie.

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