Tom Cruise currently stars in Lions for Lambs, a movie based on the Iraq war.
But the actor takes on an even more controversial topic in his next film, Valkyrie. It's based on the true story of the German officers' plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944. An eyepatch-wearing Cruise plays a Nazi German, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg.
Here are a couple photos from the shoot:
Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti and others in the Fred Claus cast recently sat down with Movie Web to discuss their movie. Here's a sampling:
Q: Vince, do you feel like you've ever had to be weary of some sort of backlash? Like people are going to get sick of seeing you do the same character?
Vince Vaughn: I never even think of that. I just don't approach it that way. I never have. I just am fortunate that I try to find stories that I think are going to be fun. Like from a child place, to go work on. Boy, it's easy when you've got David Dobkin directing a movie, this, Wedding Crashers, Clay Pigeons...
And look at the actors I have the fortune of working with. Everyone's been nominated or won but me. I sort of get a complex on the set after a while. Spacey would look at me like, "Well, that's a choice. You could do that. That's nice. You're making a nice turn in the movie."
But no, we had such an unbelievable cast of actors. It really elevated everything. Jessie came up with such a great story. I think it was a bedtime story she was telling her daughter. Then David's so good both at shooting and then finding the story in the editing room.
I just think that what really worked most in this film was the unique thing about, "Are there naughty kids or not?" It's a thing that's been done so many times. I think Jessie was able to stumble on a different way of looking at the Christmas holiday movie.
Q: Paul, what sort of mindset did you have to get into to play Santa Claus?
Paul Giamatti: I did a lot of deep back-story. Part of the nice thing about it is that it's such an archetype. You know a lot of the stuff you're supposed to do. I had to work up a good, "Ho-Ho-Ho."
Click here to read the full interview.
There's a thick veil of secrecy around the plot of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. But British actor Ray Winstone did give us a hint into his character at least:
He plays a sidekick to Harrison Ford's iconic hero.
"It's alright, I like it," Winstone said of the second-banana role. "I've enjoyed working with [Ford]; it's fun."
As far as the film itself goes, the star says fans should get ready for a mixture if action, heartfelt moments and comedy.
"They wouldn't last forever if they just had action," he said. "If it all works to plan, which I'm sure it will, it [will have that mix]; it starts off with a gallop, and [the script] just gets quicker and quicker and quicker. It's one hell of a story, actually."
Lastly, the actor expressed enthusiasm for the work of franchise newcomer Shia LaBeouf, who he said has brought the Indy world a welcomed sense of improv.
"Shia's a great kid. He's got his feet on the ground, and he's a born actor, this boy," Winstone said. "I like him a lot."
Since this interview, of course, LaBeouf has been arrested for public intoxication. But we'll assume Winstone still likes him.
Don't ask Kim Cattrall if Carrie and Big get married at the end of Sex and the City: The Movie. She probably hasn't finished the script.
As this actress told Reveal magazine, all she cared about in making the film was the payday.
"It will be nice to step into Samantha's skin again but I'm only doing the film for the money. Samantha is very dear to me and I have such a wonderful time playing her, but I can't say more for the experience than wanting financial security."
That's lame, Kim. Even if you think that way, why say it?
Get ready to see a lot more of comedian Zach Galifianakis.
The funny man's career is about to hit the big time it seems, with a pair of roles on the big screen. First, he'll be starring in Jerry Bruckheimer's family film G-Force, followed by the raunchy comedy What Happens in Vegas...
In G-Force, Galifianakis will play a government scientist in charge of a guinea pig commando program, helping to send the furry but highly trained elite agents on a dangerous mission. Yes, you read all that correctly.
In Vegas, meanwhile, Galifianakis plays Ashton Kutcher's best friend, who is totally opposed to marriage. When Kutcher drunkenly marries Cameron Diaz during a wild night out in Sin City, Galifianakis' character flips out, in a funny way.
Some parents may let their kids see Beowulf when it come out next week. But Angelina Jolie isn't one of them.
"I think it's too much. I don't think they should see their mom that way. I don't wear nightgowns like that in the house. I've got boys in my house. You don't do that as a mom," Jolie, 32, told People magazine at the premiere of Beowulf, in which she plays a temptress killer lizard and is painted gold but animated without clothes.
We've already shown you the U.S. movie trailer for Iron Man.
Now, here's the international preview for what's probably the most anticipated film of 2008. It features Gwyneth Paltrow more than the one currently playing in the States...
Kristin Gore, the daughter of Nobel Prize-winning, former Vice Presdident Al Gore, is hard at work on her own political project: writing an offbeat movie about an immoral congressman and a sex-crazed lobbyist.
The film, a satire called Nailed, is set to star Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel in the lead roles, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Reportedly Biel's character accidentally has a nail shot into her head, which elicits bizarre sexual urges. Traveling to D.C. to lobby for the weirdly injured, she meets Gyllenhaal's character, who takes advantage of her.
Kristin, the second daughter of Gore, is co-writing the movie with David O. Russell, who will direct it.
Katie Holmes and Mad Money co-stars Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton will appear on a California Lottery Scratcher ticket starting in late November to promote the new movie.
According to Access Hollywood, "Mad Money Scratchers will not only offer players the chance to win cash prizes ranging from $10 to $1,000, but will also offer a slew of exciting second chance prizes.
These prizes include: a trip for two to the Los Angeles premiere of Mad Money, a walk-on role in a movie, Mad Money DVDs, and autographed Mad Money posters."
Mad Money opens in theaters nationwide on Jan. 18, 2008.
Syvlvester Stallone is in talks to remake Death Wish, the classic movie from 1974 by Michael Winner and Charles Bronson.
Stallone will reportedly direct and star in the film, with the script being written by Michael Ferris and John Brancato. MGM will distribute, with Paramount also holding some rights to the title.
The original Bronson movie was centered around an an ordinary man who goes vigilante after his wife and daughter are attacked.