'Every Day'review: Richard Levine fails only when it veers away from reality

Family drama about a Queens couple pulled apart by increasing responsibilities. WithLiev Schreiber,Helen Hunt,Brian Dennehy. Director:Richard Levine(1:33). R: Language, sexuality, drugs. At the Beekman.

It's the details that make Richard Levine's perceptive debut stand out: a burnt dinner, a demoralizing meeting at work, the stressful rush to school in the morning.

Alas, Levine -- formerly a writer and executive producer on"Nip/Tuck" -- is not yet confident enough to trust in those minor notes alone.

But he should be:"Every Day"is duly titled, and fails only when it trades recognizable realities for movie-ready fantasy.

Most adults will find something familiar in the daily frustrations faced by middle-class Queens residents Ned (Liev Schreiber) and Jeannie (Helen Hunt). He spends his time writing scripts for a demanding and ungrateful boss (Eddie Izzard) at a"Nip/Tuck"-like cable drama. She spends hers caring for a demanding and ungrateful father (Brian Dennehy) in their home.

Though the deep connection between Ned and Jeannie remains evident to us, the demands of work, illness and child care pile up so high neither spouse can see the other.

As their responsibilities become increasingly exhausting, each tries to find a life raft to cling to. Jeannie focuses on her sons, inquisitive preteen Ethan (Skyler Fortgang) and Jonah (Ezra Miller), a gay high school senior. Meanwhile, Ned gets drawn into the flirtations of a sexy co-worker (Carla Gugino) who's got her own complicated secrets.

Levine displays a sensitive directorial touch and draws warmly genuine performances from all his actors. But as with so many first-time filmmakers, he lacks the perspective to assess his own screenplay.

There are too many overwritten moments designed solely to make the movie more interesting -- when, in fact, they undercut the low-key relatability that serves as its strongest asset.

Izzard feels particularly out of place, as a blithely amoral producer who pushes Ned to include more incest and cannibalism in his scripts.

The film's carefully timed conclusion is also regrettable. Real life isn't choreographed for maximum impact, it's messy and unpredictable. At its best, so is"Every Day." 

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Susannah York,'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'star, dies of cancer at age 72 in London

British actressSusannah York, one of the leading stars of British and Hollywood films in the late 1960s and early 1970s, has died inLondonat the age of 72.

York received anOscar nominationin 1970 for her role in"They Shoot Horses, Don't They?"and also appeared in the classic"A Man For All Seasons"before going on to playChristopher Reeve's biological mother in the Superman series of movies.

She died of cancer Saturday at theRoyal Marsden Hospitalin London. Her son, the actorOrlando Wells, said York was an incredibly brave woman who did not complain about her illness and a"truly wonderful mother."He said she went into the hospital on Jan. 6 after experiencing shoulder pain.

York had a long, distinguished career on film, television and on stage, but she is best remembered for her early roles, when she had an immediate impact that started with her 1963 role asAlbert Finney's love interest in the memorable period piece romp"Tom Jones."

With its tongue-in-cheek sensuality and gentle sendup of the British aristocracy, the film is remembered as an early landmark in '60s cinema, and York's unmistakable presence added to its appeal. Her long blond hair, stunning blue eyes and quick-witted repartee brought her a string of excellent roles.

York acted with major stars likeSean Connery,Elizabeth Taylor,Marlon Brando,George C. Scottand many others, stirring some controversy with her daring portrayal of a lesbian in the 1968 drama"The Killing of Sister George."

In 1972 York won the Best Actress award at theCannes Film Festival. Her film work tailed off as London's"Swinging Sixties"era faded into cultural history, but she returned to play Superman's mother.

She moved on to television and stage work, earning a number of accolades and awards throughout her long career. She made appearances in several successful TV shows including"The Love Boat"in theU.S.and"Holby City"inBritain.

Her stage work continued for much of her career and included several one-woman shows.

Wells said his mother was incredibly versatile throughout her working life.

"There was the glamorous Hollywood aspect - she has worked with everyone fromJohn HustontoSydney Pollack- as well as the big commercial films like Superman,"he said.

Wells said his mother also had a passion for writing.

"She wrote two children's books, which is great for her grandchildren and something we will pass on to them,"said Wells.

York was born in London and studied at the storiedRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art, which has tutored many of Britain's top actors throughout the years.

York had two children - sonOrlandoand daughter Sasha - with her husband,Michael Wells, before they divorced. She is survived by her children and several grandchildren.

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Seth Rogen in'The Green Hornet'reaches top of the box office, beats out'The Dilemma'

"TheGreen Hornet"buzzed to the top of the box office with the second-best opening ever for aMartin Luther King Jr.holiday weekend, according to studio estimates.

The tongue-in-cheek superhero film starringSeth Rogenearned $34 million. It drew stinging reviews, but exit polls indicated the film clicked with the mostly male audience."Cloverfield"earned $46 million the same weekend in 2008.

"I think audiences are absolutely the best critics,"saidRory BruerofSony Pictures.

Ron Howard's comedy"TheDilemma,"starringVince VaughnandKevin James, took second place with $17.4 million.

TheCoen brothers'"True Grit"slipped to No. 3 with an estimated $11.1.

"The King's Speech,"with widely acclaimed performances byColin FirthandGeoffrey Rush, grossed $9.1 million to take fourth.

"Black Swan"was in fifth with $8.1 million.

with News Wire Services

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'Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn's'first official photo shows Edward and Bella in bed on wedding night

Robert PattinsonandKristen Stewartmay still not have come out as a couple, but they have no trouble appearing naked in bed together for"Twilight: Breaking Dawn."

The first official photo from the final installment in the teen vampire series features the film's most-anticipated scene, Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) on their sex-filled wedding night.

"You want to live up to people's expectations,"directorBill CondontoldEntertainment Weekly, who first revealed the photo.

"People take {the movie and characters} personally. When you are interpreting something you have a certain vision of how it will be. Sometimes it is a liberal interpretation, but you hope you get to the essence of something."

This is the third photo to be released from the set of the fourth"Twilight"film. The first set photo, tweeted by Condon onThanksgiving, also appeared to tease the long-awaited love scene between Bella and Edward.

"Happy Thanksgiving and a crazyBlack Fridayto all of you and yours,"Condon tweeted, with a photo of a hand clutching feathers.

Bill Condon tweeted this photo, the first, from the set of the final installment in the teen vampire franchise on Thanksgiving. (Twitter)

InStephenie Meyer's book, the newly married couple makes love so violently during their honeymoon that they destroy the bed and pillows on top of it. Though the author opts out of describing the duo's wild romp, she cuts to the morning after where pillows are found destroyed and Bella is left bruised.

But rumored real-life Stewart and Pattinson have reportedly been pushing for"extremely sexually charged nudity"in the big screen adaptation of the final novel in the popular blood-sucking series.

"They're demanding that their big sex scenes will really push the envelope,"a source told okmagazine.com.

"Breaking Dawn"will be released in two parts in 2011 and 2012.

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BAFTA nominations lead by'King's Speech'with 14 nods, including best picture

Made-in-Englandfavorite"The King's Speech"leads the race for theBritish Academy Film Awards,Britain's equivalent ofthe Oscars, with 14 nominations announced Tuesday, including best picture.

Colin Firthis the best-actor front-runner for his performance as stuttering monarchKing George VI, withGeoffrey Rushnominated for best supporting actor as the unconventional speech therapist who treated him.Helena Bonham Carteris up for best supporting actress for playing the king's wife, the Queen Mother Elizabeth.

The film faces strong competition from psychosexual ballet thriller"Black Swan,"which has 12 nominations, and mind-bending saga"Inception,"with nine. Endurance story"127 Hours"andCoen brothersWestern"True Grit"have eight nominations each.

"The King's Speech,"which shows the monarch struggling to find his voice as his nation faces its greatest test during World War II, has struck a popular chord with its humanizing depiction of the British royal family, drawing ovations from audiences at some screenings.

The modestly budgeted production, which has already earned more than $50 million at the box office in theU.S.and Britain, was partly funded by theU.K. Film Council, a government body that has been abolished byPrime Minister David Cameron's Conservative-led coalition.

Firth, 50, won a best-actor trophy at Sunday'sGolden GlobesinLos Angeles, and the latest nomination gives him extra momentum going into the Oscars. A win would be Firth's secondBAFTAin a row - he took the acting prize last year for"A Single Man."

"The Social Network,"the story of the founding ofFacebook, has six nominations including best picture;Aaron Sorkin's screenplay; andDavid Fincher's direction.Jesse Eisenbergreceived a best actor nomination for his turn as Facebook's college-student founderMark Zuckerberg.

As well as"The King's Speech"and"The Social Network,"the best-picture nominees are"Black Swan,""Inception"and"True Grit."

The separate category of best British film pits"The King's Speech"against"127 Hours,""Another Year,""Four Lions"and"Made in Dagenham."

The best-actor contenders are Firth, Eisenberg,James Francofor"127 Hours,"Javier Bardemfor"Biutiful"andJeff Bridgesfor"True Grit."

Annette BeningandJulianne Mooreare both best-actress nominees for"The Kids Are All Right,"along withNatalie Portmanfor"Black Swan,"Noomi Rapacefor"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"andHailee Steinfeldfor"True Grit."

Best-director nominees are Fincher for"The Social Network,"Tom Hooperfor"The King's Speech,"Danny Boylefor"127 Hours,"Darren Aronofskyfor"Black Swan"andChristopher Nolanfor"Inception."

Elusive graffitiartist Banksyis nominated for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer for directing the faux documentary"Exit Through The Gift Shop."

Pete Postlethwaite, who died earlier this month, is nominated posthumously in the best supporting actor category for his role as an Irish-American gangster in"The Town."

The British awards, known as BAFTAs, will be handed out atLondon'sRoyal Opera Houseon Feb. 13, two weeks before the Academy Awards in Hollywood, and are considered an important indicator of likely Oscar success.

Last year,Iraqwar drama"The Hurt Locker"won six BAFTAs, including best picture - then repeated the feat at the Oscars.

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'Blue Valentine'sex'felt real,'which is why we were'penalized'with NC-17 rating: Ryan Gosling

Ryan Goslingdoesn't think he should have been penalized for"doing a good job"on"Blue Valentine's"sex scene.

The 30-year-old actor said that the reason the film's oral sex scene got slapped with an NC-17 rating -- which was later reversed to a more award-friendly R -- was not because it was graphic, but because it was authentic.

"The sex felt real -- it wasn't sexy or 'a sex scene', and that's why we got into trouble,"he told London'sGuardian.

Gosling said the film felt so real that he and co-starMichelle Williams, with whom he performed the oral sex scene, had trouble letting go of their relationship when the movie wrapped.

"Michelle and I found it hard to take off our wedding bands when it was over," he told the British newspaper. "We'd built this castle and then had to tear it down."

Meanwhile, Williams recently told Reuters that she was"proud"of the"Blue Valentine"sex scene despite the controversy surrounding it.

"As the woman in the situation that was in question, I found absolutely nothing scandalous, tawdry or disgusting about it,"she said.

The 30-year-old actress even joked that her"hot sex"scenes with Gosling were genuine.

"We had a really good time,"she told usatoday.com."We rehearsed it. A lot. We really wanted to get it right. It was a really hard day at work."

"Blue Valentine"is in theaters now.

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Bond 23 is back on track! Daniel Craig to return as agent 007, James Bond, in 2012: MGM

It's hard to keep a good man down, even after bankruptcy.

British secret agentJames Bond, 007, is set to return to movie theaters for a 23rd version of the long-running and lucrative film franchise, its makers atEON ProductionsandMetro-Goldwyn-Mayerfilm studio said on Tuesday.

The announcement follows MGM's emergence from bankruptcy in December, which had forestalled putting a new Bond movie into production.

MGM and EON saidDaniel Craigwill return in the role of the suave spy when Bond blasts back into theaters in November, 2012 -- 50 years after 1962's original"Dr. No."

Production is set to begin in late 2011 withOscar-winningdirector,Sam Mendes("American Beauty") behind the camera. A title of the movie and details of the story were not unveiled.

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Rooney Mara'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'transformation in W Magazine sexualizes Lisbeth Salander

Rooney Mara's"Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"transformation has shocked Hollywood, but if the photos in W are any indication, it pales in comparison to the original big screen Lisbeth Salander, Swedish actress Noomi Rapace.

In recently released photos fromW Magazine'sFebruary issue -- an exclusive first look from the set -- the U.S. version of Lisbeth Salander appears as haute couture's answer to a punk-rock hacker with virtually none of the grit of Swedish cinema's feminist take on the heroine from Stieg Larsson's best-selling novel.

While Mara is decked out with perfectly bleached skin, stylized hair, flawless black eye makeup and Burberry and Balenciaga threads, Rapace's Lisbeth  always appeared as though she subverted her beauty with smeared eyeliner and a DIY mohawk.

Sweden's Lisbeth hid her feminine curves beneath masculine leather duds while Hollywood's Lisbeth debuts on the cover of W pulling open her leather jacket to reveal her cleavage, with artfully applied blood on her fingers.

Within the pages of the magazine, Hollywood Lisbeth's sexiness is ramped up further. One photo shows a shirtless Mara looking off into the distance, her hands covering her chest; another image has her leaning over a bike -- al-la Megan Fox in"Transformers"-- to get her a rear end tattooed as a cigarette dangles from her mouth.

Though author Stieg Larsson has been criticized for fetishising the abuse his heroine undergoes, Rapace made up for it on screen by creating a Lisbeth who takes no prisoners, sleeps with whoever she wants and never allows herself to be objectified.

It's a far cry from the tutu-wearing Agent Provocateur-underwear flashing sex bot that appears in W's February issue.

Hollywood should realize that it takes more than bleaching eyebrows, chopping hair and piercing various body parts to catch the spirit of Salander. Though Rapace's wish has apparently come true as she told Deadline in November that she hoped"Girl with the Dragon Tattoo's"U.S. director David Fincher would"do something far away from our films."

Fincher told the magazine he made Lisbeth more aggressive for the American version of story, but that doesn't quite mesh with his rather precious description of the character as a"goth Pippi."

Hopefully the Hollywood version of the Swedish thriller will not turn out to be another"Point of No Return,"in which Bridget Fonda transformed Luc Besson's French butt-kicking "La Femme Nikita" into a flimsy clothes horse.

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Anne Hathaway to play Catwoman, Selina Kyle, in'Dark Knight Rises'; Tom Hardy cast as Bane

Anne Hathawayis pawing her way to the top of the Hollywood food chain, first as the host ofthe Oscars, now as Catwoman in"The Dark Knight Rises."

Director Christopher Nolanhas cast the 28-year-old actress asSelina Kylein his third and final Batman film.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Anne Hathaway, who will be a fantastic addition to our ensemble as we complete our story,"Nolan said in an official statement released byWarner Bros.

Hathaway will joinChristian Bale, who returns as Batman, and British actorTom Hardy, who Nolan announced is set to play"the man who broke the Bat,"Bane.

According todeadline.com, Hathaway has been vying for the Selina role since November. She was reportedly up againstNatalie Portman,Keira Knightley,Rachel Weisz,Naiomi WattsandBlake Lively.

Catwoman previously brought to life on the big screen byMichelle Pfeiffer(in 1992's"Batman Returns) and, more infamously,Halle Berry(in"Catwoman"in 2004).

"Dark Knight Rises"is set for release on July 20, 2012.

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Annette Bening, Golden Globes winner, thanks husband Warren Beatty, who won in 1962

Annette Beningtook a time warp to 1962 during herGolden Globesacceptance speech Sunday night.

The"Kids Are All Right"star, who won the award for best actress in a comedy, gave a shout out to her husband,Warren Beatty, who rose to fame in the swinging 60s.

"To the 1962 winner of the Golden Globe for most promising actor, my husband, Warren Beatty,"she said after thanking her various co-stars, motioning to the 73-year-old actor, to whom she has been married since 1992.

Beatty, who laughed, had won the Globe for best actor in 1962 for his star-making turn in"Splendor in the Grass,"before going on to headline his most famous film,"Bonnie and Clyde."

According to TheLos Angeles Times, Bening recycled much of herNew York Film Critics Circlespeech last week when thanking co-starJulianne Moore, who was nominated in the same category.

"My partner Julianne Moore I have to thank first,"she told the crowd."She asked me to do the picture with her; she made it possible to shoot the picture where and when we did."

She also thanked co-starMark Ruffalo--"our awesome sperm donor"-- and directorLisa Cholodenko.

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Short reviews:'Barney's Version,''A Somewhat Gentle Man,''Plastic Planet'

Barney's Version****
A TV producer continually messes up his life. WithPaul Giamatti,Dustin Hoffman,Rosamund Pike. At Lincoln Plaza andUnion Square(2:13). R: Language, sexuality.

Director Richard J. Lewis' adaptation ofMordecai Richler's 1997 source novel -- which opened briefly in December for awards consideration -- recalls the luxurious literary adaptations of the 1970s and '80s, rife with comic and tragic set pieces.

Barney Panofsky(Paul Giamatti), first glimpsed late in life, is burdened by stresses of his past: He's haunted by the death of his best friend (Scott Speedman) three decades earlier, is still in love with one of his ex-wives and wishes he could escape his memories, good and bad. By the time Barney gets one final, heartbreaking chance to screw things up, this rich, satisfying film has you hooked.

Giamatti has never been better, and Dustin Hoffman (in a sweet, poignant turn as Barney's gruff policeman dad),Minnie Driver(as Barney's vulgarian second wife) and a luminous Rosamund Pike (as Miriam, the love of Barney's life) provide memorable support. Don't let this one get away.Joe Neumaier

A Somewhat Gentle Man  ***
Black comedy about a reformed killer. At the IFC (1:43). NR: Sex, nudity. In Norwegian with subtitles.

Hans Petter Moland's dry Scandinavian wit is just amusing enough to keep us interested in this dramedy. The same is true forStellan Skarsgard's turn as Ulrik, the world's most inert assassin.

Just out of jail, Ulrik wants nothing more than a relationship with his estranged son, a decent job and maybe a nice girlfriend. Life seems to have other plans.

Skarsgard can do much more than is required -- or even allowed -- in this limited template. But by the time Ulrik's modest adventures wind down, you'll realize that it takes a strong actor to play such a passive man.Elizabeth Weitzman

Plastic Planet ***
Documentary on toxic effects of plastic. At Cinema Village (1:35). NR. In English, German, Italian and Dutch with subtitles.

Look around you, right now. How many plastic items are sitting in arm's reach? Chances are the answer is higher than you think, and after watchingWerner Boote's alarming documentary, higher than you'll want.

Boote's ambitious goals include finding out how plastics are made and how they're messing with our bodies and
our planet. Some of his globetrotting feels ill-defined, and his research is unnerving, to say the least. But you might want to hear him out before grabbing another water bottle. E.W.

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New on DVD:'Social Network,''Piranha,''The Freebie,''Heartbreaker,''Hot in Cleveland'

Awards season is in full swing, so if you haven't caught the leading candidate for Best Picture, you'd better get moving. Well, not technically: in fact, you don't even have to leave the couch now that"The Social Network"(PG-13, $28.96) is out on DVD.David Fincher's account ofFacebook's founding has a host of memorable performances, butJesse Eisenberg's turn asMark Zuckerbergis arguably the best of the year.

From top-tier to bottom feeders, this is also your week to watch 2010's most memorable B-movie,"Piranha"(R, $28.95). Winking direction and a jokey script—not to mention the barely-clad cast—should make this one popular in frat houses across the land. And it would make a great double-bill with"TheFreebie"(R, $29.99), in whichDax Shepardplays a guy whose wife gives him one night off, to do absolutely anything he wants.

Then again, the more mature among you may prefer the French comedy"Heartbreaker"(NR, $24.98), about the romance between an undercover agent and an engaged heiress (Vanessa Paradis, still best known here asJohnny Depp's better half).

Or you could reach into the vaults, for the 20th anniversary extended edition of"Dances With Wolves"(PG-13, $29.99), or a newly remastered director's cut ofSergio Leone's gangster epic"Once Upon aTimeinAmerica"( R, $19.98).

Also worth seeking out is the"Raging Bull: 30th Anniversary Edition"(R, $29.99), a Blu-ray/DVD combo that includes shot-by-shot comparisons of actorRobert De Niroand boxerJake LaMotta. And the"Green Hornet"75th anniversary serials set (NR, $29.99) is timed to coincide with today's release of theSeth Rogenupdate. (Let's just say you'll find some differences.)

Small-screen choices also run the gamut, from the"Comedy CentralRoast ofDavid Hasselhoff"(NR, $16.99) to the fifth season of theHistory Channel's thought-provoking series,"The Universe"(NR, $29.95).

The newBetty Whitesitcom"Hot in Cleveland"(NR, $26.98) is worth watching, and this week also brings"Greek: Chapter Five-The Complete Third Season"(NR, $44.99), and the fourth year of"Rules of Engagement"(NR, $29.95).

Finally, anyone excited aboutMTV's new remake"Skins"may want to check out the original first. The fourth volume of the ultra-controversialBBCseries by the same name (NR, $39.98) is available now, just in time to stoke interest in America's edition.

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Golden Globes 2011 predictions: Daily News critics cast votes for Natalie Portman, Colin Firth

The Golden Globes race, like any sporting event, has had oddsmakers furiously working since the field was announced last month.

Like the Academy Awards (nominations Jan. 25), the Globes have front-runners, favorites and potential surprises. And long shots, who of course are honored just to be included.

As you settle in to watch the stars enjoy the open bar on NBC tonight at 8, here's how we see the races, measured against the odds set by Benjamin Lee Eckstein's Las Vegas-based America's Line.

BEST PICTURE
Drama

"The Social Network"1-2
"The King's Speech"3-2
"The Fighter"12-1
"Inception"15-1
"Black Swan"18-1

Joe Neumaier:The odds favor the still-electrifying"The Social Network,"but I'd bet on"The King's Speech."Not just a viable contender, the British royalty drama is, crucially, a more traditional Globes winner. Nonetheless,"Social Network"is my choice for what should win, despite the multilayered emotionalism of"The King's Speech"and"The Fighter."

Elizabeth Weitzman:There's a reason this one's easy money:"The Social Network"was the movie of the year in more ways than one. For sheer entertainment, few others had it beat. The artistry involved was also impressive, both in front of and behind the camera. But David Fincher's Facebook bio will win because no other film so caustically assessed our era, and insightfully reflected it back to us.

BEST PICTURE
Comedy or Musical

"The Kids Are All Right"1-5
"Alice in Wonderland"4-1
"The Tourist"15-1
"Burlesque"20-1
"Red"25-1

J.N.:Lisa Cholodenko's"Kids"— she ought to have been a Best Director nominee, by the way — is the odds-on favorite, after seven months of great reviews and word-of-mouth praise. It will and should win because, let's face it,"Alice"is a nightmare masquerading as a dream,"Red"is overblown cable fare,"The Tourist"is Vogue-meets-Travel+Leisure and the Cher/Xtina movie is best seen projected onto a casino floor in Vegas.

E.W.:Really, Hollywood Foreign Press Association?"Burlesque"was one of the best movies you saw all year? What about"Easy A"?"Get Low"? Heck,"Jackass 3D"would have made more sense than"The Tourist."Fortunately, the beautifully perceptive"The Kids Are All Right"deserves to be the night's surest thing.

Jesse Eisenberg (l.) and Annette Bening are in the running for actor and actress awards, respectively. (Columbia Pictures; Focus Features)

BEST ACTOR
Drama

Colin Firth
"The King's Speech"1-4
James Franco
"127 Hours"5-1
Jesse Eisenberg
"The Social Network"8-1
Mark Wahlberg
"The Fighter"15-1
Ryan Gosling
"Blue Valentine"20-1

J.N.:Firth, the reigning awards-season champ, comes in the odds-on favorite and deservedly so; to bet against him would be as ill-advised as trying to march into Buckingham Palace. Still, great as Firth is as King George VI, Gosling should win for"Blue Valentine"— a tough performance that was as nervy, sweet and nuanced as any in recent memory.

E.W.:There's a lot of talent in this category, one of the few with no superfluous nominees. (Can we just go back and reconsider the presence of"Burlesque"in the Best Picture arena one more time?) Still, among four solid efforts, none offered the range, depth and extraordinary degree of subtlety that made Jesse Eisenberg's portrait of Mark Zuckerberg so fascinating.

BEST ACTRESS
Drama

Natalie Portman
"Black Swan"1-5
Nicole Kidman
"Rabbit Hole"4-1
Jennifer Lawrence
"Winter's Bone"5-1
Michelle Williams
"Blue Valentine"15-1
Halle Berry
"Frankie& Alice"20-1

J.N.:Newly pregnant Portman will surely give a full-bloom, tears-welling-up acceptance speech. She's as good as a lock for tonight. But if there were justice, Williams would win for"Blue Valentine"— her pas de deux with Ryan Gosling as working-class characters dancing around the strains of everyday life and marriage was achingly sad and beautiful.

E.W.:If you're going to bet on a risk, do it here. Newcomer and critical darling Jennifer Lawrence— who played a tough-as-nails Ozark teen — could pull off an upset. But Hollywood has been waiting years for Portman to achieve her potential, and after all the effort she put into portraying"Black Swan's"tortured ballerina, this is her moment to glow.

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'Spider-Man'first-look photo: Andrew Garfield shines in costume

Web-surfers got their first look at the new web-slinger Thursday.

Sonyreleased the first photo ofAndrew Garfieldin costume from the upcoming film,"Spider-Man"--  the reboot of the studio's hugely successful super hero franchise.

In the new image, a beleaguered Garfield sports a torn costume and has a scratch across his face that makes him look like he just escaped from the musical,"Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."

Garfield, who has won rave reviews from critics for his supporting turn in"The Social Network,"takes over the mantle ofPeter Parkerand his super hero alter ego fromTobey Maguire, who starred into the first three"Spider-Man"movies.

Hitting theaters on July 3, 2012, directorMarc Webb's ("500 Days of Summer") take on the Marvel superhero starts the story over, taking Peter Parker back to high school.

Maguire and previous franchise directorSam Raimi, who made three"Spider-Man"films together, walked away from the project after a series of setbacks, paving the way for a reboot.

Fans were quick to praise the first look at their new hero.

"I love Garfield in the suit,"saidAint It Cool News's Quint."I love that this isn't bulked up Spider-Man. I'm not sure how hot I am on the flame-like tapering off of the gloves, but we'll see how it works in the big picture.

"I'm digging this first look at the new suit."

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Oprah Winfrey:'Beloved'box office failure made me eat 30 pounds of mac and cheese

"Beloved"was the flop that launched Oprah's flab -- or some of it at least.

The 1998 drama's box-office failure prompted the Queen of Daytime to embark on a"massive, depressive, macaroni-and-cheese eating tailspin,"she tellsPiers Morganon the premiere of his new show.

In ateaserfrom the"Tonight"interview with the star,Oprah Winfreysays she turned to comfort food when"Bride of Chucky"beat"Beloved"in its opening weekend.

"I remember... hearing that we got beat by something called 'Chucky,' and I didn't even know what Chucky was,"she says."I asked my chef at the time, 'Make some macaroni and cheese!'"

In Oprah's signature over-the-top style, she didn't stop at just one bowl of the fatty indulgence.

"I ate about 30 lbs. worth,"she tells Morgan."I'm not kidding, I'm not kidding."

After that initial binge, the 56-year-old actress admits that she fell into what she described as a deep depression.

"I recognized, if I don't come out of this, I'm going to have to get some help,"she explains."You feel like you're behind a veil... I prayed my way through it and gave myself a time period."

While"Beloved"may have tanked, the star's latest venture doesn't look likely to cause any comfort food binges any time soon.

Winfrey's television network,OWN, earned 18.4 million viewers in its first week; that's 49% up from the Discovery Health channel, which the network replaced.

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Rooney Mara debuts'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'Lisbeth Salander makeover on W Magazine

WouldMark Zuckerbergever dateLisbeth Salander?Rooney Marashocked thePalm Springs International Film FestivalAwards Gala by showing up alongside her"Social Network"cast members straight off the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"set.

The 25-year-old actress sported a dark, cropped hairdo, bleached eyebrows and dark eyeliner, a far cry from the fresh faced co-ed she played inDavid Fincher'sFacebookmovie.

But it was nothing compared to her appearance on the cover ofW. In the fashion magazine's February issue, Mara appears in full Lisbeth Salander regalia, complete with leather jacket, tattoo and piercings.

In the English-language big screen adaptation ofStieg Larsson's"Millenium"trilogy --Swedenrecently released its own big screen adaptation of the three novels  -- Mara plays the androgynous hacker who helps a journalist (Daniel Craig) search for a woman who has been missing for forty years.

Reuniting with her"Social Network"director, Mara was chosen over more renowned actresses likeNatalie Portman,Scarlett JohanssonandJennifer Lawrencefor the role, despite being a"a trust-fund baby from football royalty."

"I wanted her from the beginning,"Fincher told W."She's levelheaded and hardworking. It's so odd how who people are comes out in auditions. We didn't make it easy for Rooney, and there was no way to dissuade her."

The film has been shooting in Sweden since September and is set for release on Dec. 21, 2011.

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Batman could land Anne Hathaway, Keira Knightley or Jessica Biel for'Dark Knight Rises'

Christopher Nolan is looking at some of Hollywood's leading actresses -- as well as a few emerging talents -- for major female roles in"The Dark Knight Rises,"his next Batman film.

Sources tell THR's"Heat Vision"that Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Biel are due to test for roles in the Warner Bros. superhero tentpole in the next two weeks.

Also testing are relative newcomers Kate Mara and Charlotte Riley. Hot British actress Gemma Arterton was also scheduled to test but, as Heat Vision first reported last week, Arterton just landed the female lead in Paramount's"Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters"and might now have scheduling issues.

"Dark Knight Rises"needs to fill two big female roles, a villain and a love interest. Sources say one character is Talia, the daughter of villain Ra's Al Ghul, who was portrayed by Liam Neeson in Nolan's first Gotham-set crime pic"Batman Begins."In the comic books, Talia is both Batman's lover and antagonist, ultimately siring his alter ego Bruce Wayne's son.

While Knightley, Hathaway and Biel are well-known actresses, the other two are up-and-comers. Mara had brief roles in"127 Hours"and"Iron Man 2"in 2010. Her sister Rooney Mara is currently shooting David Fincher's"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"in the title role.

Riley is a British actress who has done mostly TV work. She is engaged to Tom Hardy, who co-starred in Nolan's summer smash"Inception"and has already booked an unspecified role in"Dark Knight Rises."

The film is looking at a May start, with shooting to take place in London and Los Angeles, according to insiders. Christian Bale is set to return as the Caped Crusader.

Nolan and Warner Bros. decline to comment.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

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Directors Guild of America's 2010 award nominees:'Social Network,'Black Swan,''King's Speech'

Hollywood's Oscar race narrowed further on Monday when a key directors' group picked their top five movies and filmmakers, including David Fincher with his Facebook film"The Social Network."

The Directors Guild of America, which represents men and women who make movies, also put the makers of"Black Swan,""The King's Speech,""The Fighter"and"Inception"on its list of nominees for best directing efforts of 2010.

"Their inspired films radiate the passion and unique vision of each of these filmmakers, who are about to become part of our Guild's rich history. My sincerest congratulations to all five nominees,"DGA president Taylor Hackford said in a statement, noting 2011 marks the group's 75th anniversary.

The DGA honor is important because it is one of the most prestigious honors in the U.S. film industry, and because there is a strong correlation between DGA nominees and directors who will vie for Oscars, the world's top movie honors.

In all but six years since the DGA began giving out awards in 1948, its winner of best director has won the Academy Award, and traditionally the winner of best director has often seen his or her film go on to take best movie from Oscar organizers at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

'True Grit,' starring Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld, was shut out of the Directors Guild of America award nominations for 2010. (Sebastian/AP)

Last year's DGA winner, Kathryn Bigelow with"The Hurt Locker,"for instance, also claimed the best director Oscar and her Iraq war film took home best motion picture.

"The Social Network,"a fast-paced movie that tells of the founding of website Facebook, already has been named best movie by numerous U.S. critics groups and on Saturday, the National Society of Film Critics also named it the No. 1 film.

Numerous other groups have made their choices, and still others like the Hollywood Foreign Press Association with its Golden Globe Awards and the Screen Actors Guild will name their winners later this month. Taken together, the critics and industry groups help narrow pundits' picks for Oscars.

Fincher and his movie face strong competition from drama"Black Swan,"directed by Darren Aronofsky and telling of a woman on a journey of self-discovery through her dancing.

Director Tom Hooper's"The King Speech,"a period drama detailing how Britain's King George VI worked to overcome his stammering, has strong support among Oscar pundits.

Boxing film"The Fighter,"from David O. Russell, also figures prominently in the awards sweepstakes, and the DGA's fifth nominee, Christopher Nolan and thriller"Inception,"has a loyal fan base owing to his mega-hit Batman movies.

The DGA gives out its awards on January 29. Oscar nominees are named on January 25, and their ceremony takes place on February 27.

(Editing by Jackie Frank)

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Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, renovated and expanded, ready for reopening

After the feast of holiday movies, the film world turns towardL.A.'sGolden GlobesandUtah'sSundance Film Festival. Both are in mid-January, and both have history and glitz going for them.

But if you want to get all that history and glitz at the end of a simple subway ride, go toAstoria, Queens.

That's where the renovated and expandedMuseum of the Moving Imageis. And next Saturday, this one-of-a-kind monument to the art and entertainment of movies - three decades old in 2011 - reopens after three years with a slate of screenings, events, symposiums and memorabilia exhibits.

In a busy city full of art, this is something to slow down for.

While awards are being polished and distributed and moviegoers are compiling best-of-the-year lists - whether they're paid to do it or not - going to a movie is still one of New Yorkers' favorite things to do. If a neighborhood theater adds new seats, you love it; when the local multiplex raises popcorn prices, you complain about it, and as the coming weeks bring the inevitable dogs of January,you dread it. More on that in a second.

But at all times,New Yorkis a movie city. The art form was born here, and of course is still made here - at Silvercup Studios in Queens, inBrooklynat the Navy Yard and, chances are, right around from the corner from where you are now. Yes, we watch them on our TVs and computers and ever-shrinking hand-held devices, but they're made to be seen bigger than life, in the dark and surrounded by strangers experiencing them with us.

That can mean the reRun Gastropub Theater inDUMBO, at theStaten IslandorHarlemInternational Film Festivals or atLong Island City's Socrates Park on a hot summer night. And, now, at the Museum of the Moving Image's huge 267-seat theater, debuting Saturday at 4 p.m. with a screening ofStanley Kubrick?a>??s"2001: A Space Odyssey."

Future shows includePaul Newmanin"The Hustler"(Jan. 15 and 16), theJames Cagney-Warner Bros.crime drama"The Mayor of Hell"(Jan. 30), the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical"Follow the Fleet"(Feb. 6) and the classic film noir"Out of the Past"(Feb. 18).

For additional treasures out of the past, the museum has another, 68-seat screening room, as well as more behind-the-scenes glimpses at movie history than you’ll find in a whole night toggling between TCM andeBay.

And like the leap in Kubrick's classic from"The Dawn of Man"to the"Jupiter Mission,"the museum goes from the bygone - toys, photos and equipment from the silent era through 2010 - to the future. There are state-of-the-art 3-D exhibits, animation workshops, an experimental production studio and an interactive video-online-performance mashup called Signal to Noise, starting at 8 p.m. on Saturday).

There's even a new Education Center, which features media labs for students and high-definition cameras for on-the-spot filmmaking.

Now that's the way to stay focused on movies.

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Must-see movies:'The Green Hornet,''Just Go With It,''Rango'start year off right on big screen

As winter storms through the cineplex, New Yorkers can watchNatalie Portmango from"Black Swan"to rom-com and seeStaten Island's ownMethod Manplay a loverman. New versions of"Beauty and the Beast"and LittleRed Riding Hoodarrive, and a heckuva lot of aliens pop up.

JANUARY 14

"TheGreen Hornet"—Seth Rogenis the trenchcoat-clad hero who fights crime with his sidekick Kato and cruises in a car called Black Beauty. This superpowerless detective is in 3-D for extra sting.

"The Heart Specialist"— A romantic drama starring actor/rapper Method Man as one of several medical residents who have their eyes on sexyZoe Saldana("Avatar,""Star Trek").

"Every Day"— Dramedy about aBrooklyn-based TV writer (Liev Schreiber) in the throes of a crisis with his wife (Helen Hunt). So this is where all the material for TV sitcoms comes from: Brooklyn!

"TheDilemma"— From directorRon Howard, a lark about a guy (Vince Vaughn) who can't tell his pal (Kevin James) that his wife is cheating on him.Jennifer ConnellyandWinona Ryderare the women in their lives.

JANUARY 21

"No Strings Attached"— Natalie Portman lightens up with a story about friends with benefits.Ashton Kutcherco-stars.Ivan Reitmandirects.

"The Way Back"—Director Peter Weir("Gallipoli,""The Year of Living Dangerously") tells a real-life World War II tale about prisoners escaping a Siberian gulag. WithColin FarrellandEd Harris.

JANUARY 28

"TheMechanic"— Remake of the 1970sCharles Bronsonaction thriller withJason StathamandBen Foster.

"TheRite"— They needed an old priest and a young priest for this exorcism thriller. Take a guess which oneAnthony Hopkinsplays.

FEBRUARY 4

"Frankie& Alice"—Halle Berrystars in this drama about a woman with multiple-personality disorder, a role that got her aGolden Globenomination.

"Waiting for Forever"— Romance seems to take its time in this L.A.-set romantic comedy. Co-starNikki Blonskywas theGreat Neckgirl tapped to star in the movie version of"Hairspray."

Matt DamonhasEmily Bluntto keep him company in the sci-fi thriller, 'The Adjustment Bureau.'

FEBRUARY 11

"Just Go With It"—Adam SandlerasksJennifer Anistonto pretend to be his wife so he can pick upBrooklyn Decker. So like life. It's a high-concept comedy.

"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"— The moppet's first concert film, portions of which are in 3-D. There could never be another, right? Oh, wait, that title ... and all the fans. Got it.

"Gnomeo and Juliet"— Animated romance about garden gnomes who get allShakespearein their affection. With a mostly British voice cast, except forHulk HoganandDolly Parton. Verily.

FEBRUARY 18

"Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son"— The second sequel to"Big Momma's House"starsMartin Lawrenceas the cop who can't stop dressing like an old lady.

"I Am Number Four"— Alien teens elude deadly enemies by hiding who they really are. Provided they go to the Justin Bieber movie, they'll probably fit in just fine.

"Unknown"—"Twilight Zone"-ish thriller about a man who wakes from a coma to find that his friends have no memory of who his is. WithLiam Neeson,January JonesandFrank Langella.

FEBRUARY 25

"Drive Angry"— Grindhouse-style action-drama about a father (Nicolas Cage) going after the guys who killed his daughter. As long as Cage needs to pay off his tax debt, we'll keep getting movies like this. And it's in 3-D!

"Hall Pass"— TheFarrelly brothers("There's Something About Mary") return with this teen comedy. Brooklyn-bornAlyssa Milanoco-stars.

"Shelter"— Horror-thriller starringJulianne Mooreas a shrink who finds out all of a patient's multiple personalities are murder victims.

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Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann to reunite as husband and wife in Judd Apatow's'Knocked Up'spin-off film

It appears as thoughJudd Apatowis ready to get wifeLeslie Mann"Knocked Up"again.

Mann and former co-starPaul Ruddare signed on to play the same argumentative couple they portrayed in the hit comedy"Knocked Up,"E! Newsreported.

According to Universal Entertainment, the spin-off will be written and directed by Apatow, who produced the original film as well as box-office hits including"Anchorman,""The 40-Year-Old Virgin,""Forgetting Sarah Marshall,"and"Get Him to the Greek."

Will the original film's lead starsSeth RoganandKatherine Heigljoin the sequel? That remains to be seen, but after the war of words that erupted when Heigl called the film"a little sexist"and Rogan responded by calling Heigl"bats--t crazy,"chances are the two won't be joining on this latest venture.

According to Universal, the as-yet unnamed movie will start filming later this year, with an anticipated June 1, 2012 release date.

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Justin Bieber'Never Say Never'family video clip shows development of pop star's drum skills

Justin Biebermay be known as a signer, but it was his talent on the drums that got him noticed first, according to a new video clip from his upcoming sD biopic,"Never Say Never."

The clips shows family footage of the pint-sized pop star pounding on everything he can get his hands on -- a mini conga drum, a chair, a miniature plastic drum kit, and eventually a Pearl drum set.

"I just never thought of it being anything other than for fun,"Pattie Malette, Bieber's mother, says of his drumming abilities.

It was neighbor and family friendNathan McKaywho saw the Canadian kid's future stardom through his drum beats.

"'Where does this talent come from? Does he play drums?'"McKay recalled telling the pop star's mother."'Man, you'd better get that kid a kit.'"

Bieber's precocious percussion skills were enough to inspire a fundraiser to raise enough money to buy him a professional drum kit.

Despite the star's vocals surpassing his skills on the kit, Bieber still takes to the drums during his sold-out shows, which reportedly earn $300,000 each night.

"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,"hits theaters February 11.

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James Franco says'I'm just gay'about playing three homosexual characters

James Francohas long been the subject of rumors that he's"gay"-- and he's milking the gossip for all its worth.

The 32-year-old actor -- who playedHarvey Milk's lover in"Milk"and gay writerAllen Ginsbergin"Howl"-- fueled speculation about his sexual orientation in a recent interview withEntertainment Weekly, in which he claimed he gravitated towards gay characters because they are faced with societal"opposition."

"You know what?"he said, editing his statement,"Maybe I'm just gay."

Franco, who has been dating actressAhna O'Reillysince April 2006, ripped the press for being"black-and-white."

"It's all cut-and-dry identity politics. 'Is he straight or is he gay?' Or, 'This is your third gay movie - come out already!'"he told etonline.com."And all based on... the idea that your object of affection decides your sexuality."

The actor's latest character, homosexual poetHart Crane, in the yet-to-be-released"The Broken Tower"is the third homosexual role for Franco, though he said their sexuality is not the only aspect that interests him.

"There are lots of other reasons to be interested in gay characters than wanting myself to go out and have sex with guys,"Franco said."I've played a gay man who's living in the 60s and 70s, a gay may who we depicted in the 50s, and one being in the 20s. And those were all periods when to be gay, at least being gay in public, was much more dificult."

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Writers Guild of America nominates'Black Swan'and'Social Network'for 2010 best screenplay awards

Huge hits such as"True Grit"and"Inception"will be up against smaller films such as"127 Hours"and"The Kids Are All Right"for screenplay honors from theWriters Guild of America.

"Inception"and"The Kids Are All Right"were among guild nominees Tuesday for best original screenplay, along with"Black Swan,""The Fighter"and"Please Give."

"True Grit"and"127 Hours are in the running for adapted screenplay, along with"I Love You Phillip Morris,""The Social Network"and"The Town."

Some of the year's most acclaimed films, including"The King's Speech,""Winter's Bone"and"Toy Story 3,"were ineligible because they were not made under the guild's contract guidelines.

Guild winners will be announced Feb. 5.

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R2-D2 creator,'Star Wars'visual effects Oscar winner, passes away

The man who helped bring to life the lovable R2-D2 and countless other on-screen characters died earlier this week.

Grant McCune, a special effects artist who won an Oscar for his work on the original"Star Wars"movie, passed away Monday at his home in Hidden Hills,Calif.

McCune, who succumbed to a battle with pancreatic cancer, was 67.

His career in Hollywood - which began with the 1975 hit"Jaws"- skyrocketed after his work under directorGeorge Lucas' 1977 classic. As a member of the visual effects team, McCune– who also appeared in the film as a Death Star gunner – was the chief model maker. He would receive a secondOscar nominationfor his work on 1980’s"Star Trek: The Motion Picture."

McCune’s work was also present in notable films such as"Superman,""Caddyshack,""Die Hard,""Batman Forever,""Spider-Man,""Spaceballs,""Ghostbusters II"and"Speed."

He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and two children.

With News Wire Services

 

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Lydia Hearst-Shaw, Charles Casillo slam Lindsay Lohan movie rumors about'Dogs in Pocketbooks'

Lydia Hearst-Shawhas thrown to the dogs rumors that she will star in aLindsay Lohan-inspired movie.

The heiress and model took toTwitteron Tuesday to slam reports that she was starring in"Dogs in Pocketbooks,"a script byCharles Casillothat he claimed was based on the life of the troubled red-headed star.

"My hair is Red because I am the new face of Schwarzkopf color,"she said."I am a model. I dyed my hair to front the campaign."

The 26-year-old great grandaughter ofWilliam Randolph Hearstlater added that she is currently working onBernard Rose's"Two Jacks"and a movie called"Catwalk."

"Thank you all for your messages of encouragement during my transition into acting,"she tweeted."I truly love and appreciate it. At this time I am Not officially signed onto any other projects. Thank you."

Hearst-Shaw's agent told the Daily News on Tuesday that she was offered the role of a rehab-hopping movie star, but had"no knowledge of the project nor any ties to Lindsay Lohan."

Meanwhile, Casillo toldtmz.comthat the comments about Lohan were"totally blown out of proprtion"and that the"Dogs in Pocketbooks"heroine is in fact a composite of starlets likeParis HiltonandBritney Spearsas well as LiLo.

His comment came on the heelsDina Lohantelling the gossip website that the family was considering suing Casillo for using LiLo's"likeness"without compensating her.

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Sofia Coppola:'Somewhere'director's as elusive as Stephen Dorff's Johnny Marco in Chateau Marmont

Sofia Coppolais somewhere inside the person talking about her new movie, but she's not about to give herself up.

Like the central character she wrote forBill Murrayin"Lost in Translation" -- and even more likeStephen Dorff'sJohnny Marcoin the filmmaker's latest release,"Somewhere" -- she appears disconnected from her surroundings.

Or maybe the daughter of legendary directorFrancis Ford Coppolais simply estranged from the press like Johnny, the Hollywood star who evades questions with a charming smile and a cocked eyebrow before retreating into his hotel room to playGuitar Herowith his daughter.

Johnny seems to be such a product of the Hollywood system -- a hip alcoholic womanizer who drives a sports car and neglects his family -- it's hard to believe he feels empty, as his silences seem designed to suggest. Sometimes silence isn't profound -- it's just silence.

In the end, you have to take the creator's word for it.

Coppola sits quietly in the middle of a large empty room. Known to shun make up, today she wears a little too much blush and lipstick. Her coolness, juxtaposed with the garish make up, recalls the scene in"Lost in Translation"when Bob (Murray) sits in the hotel bar flirting withCharlotte(Scarlett Johansson), oblivious to the hair clips holding his suit in place at the back.

Stephen Dorff andElle Fanningstar in 'Somewhere.' (Franco Biciocchi)

"I like your bag,"I tell Coppola as she rummages through a boxy looking leather satchel.

"Thanks!"she says, appearing genuinely pleased."I designed it."

"Who for?"

"Louis Vuitton."

"Oh,"I say, crestfallen. Those bags turn out to cost more than $3,000.

"I know,"Coppola says apologetically, perhaps pre-empting criticism by criticizing herself first.

It's a surprising stance considering Coppola is such an accomplished filmmaker. The New York-born writer and director was the first American woman to be nominated for anAcademy Awardfor directing in 2003 for"Lost in Translation"and, in September, she became the first American woman to win the Golden Lion at theVenice International Film Festivalfor"Somewhere."

"You're considered superficial and silly if you are interested in fashion, but I think you can be substantial and still be interested in frivolity,"she toldVanity Fairfour years ago.

That frivolity acts now as a sort of punctuation. She carries a bright pink notebook with the gold initialsS.C.embossed on the cover. Her phone rings and she reveals her brother, Roman, is taking her 4-year-old daughter, Romy, to TheRockettesand she's coordinating. She then confesses that she watched"The O.C."while living inParis, where she wrote"Somewhere"following her daughter's birth.

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Natalie Portman's'Other Woman'homewrecker trailer recalls Benjamin Millepied, Isabella Boylston

Natalie Portman's role as a homewrecker in her new movie"The Other Woman"appears to be an instance of art imitating life.

In the newly released trailer forDon Roos'"The Other Woman,"the 29-year-old actress playsEmilia Greenleaf, a woman who cheats with her married boss, Jack (Scott Cohen).

In flashbacks, the film -- formerly known as"Love and Other Impossible Pursuits"-- reveals that Jack divorced Carolyne (Lisa Kudrow) to marry the woman with whom he has been forging an office romance.

In January of this year, reports surfaced that Portman had a little office romance of her own on the set of“Black Swan.”

WhileBenjamin Millepiedwas not married when they started dating, theNew York City Balletprincipal was reportedly living with fellow dancerIsabella Boylstonaround the time he hooked up with Portman.

According toThe New York Observer, the 32-year-old dancer and his girlfriend had an apartment in theEast Villageand vacationed in theCaribbeanandMartha's Vineyardas late as September.

But the happy couple posted their lastFacebookphoto in November,okmagazine.comreports, around the time Millepied started work on"Black Swan."

Fan sitenatalieportman.composted candid photos of Portman and Millepied walking her dog inNew YorkonChristmas Evelast year. The couple was photographed kissing as early as Jan. 12 of this year inManhattan.

Though the actress' rep would not comment on her personal life at the time, Portman recently announced she and Millepied were engaged and that she was expecting her first child.

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'Biutiful'review: Javier Bardem can commune with dead, but film fails to communicate with viewer

A man faces hardship in modern-dayBarcelona. WithJavier Bardem. Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu. (2:28) R: Nudity, violence. At the Sunshine. In Spanish with English subtitles.

Uxbal (Javier Bardem), our guide through Alejandro González Iñárritu's bleak"Biutiful,"is a frazzled man at the end of a hard life.

A denizen of Barcelona's lower depths, he's forced to make ends meet by doing sleazy work for black marketeers and trafficking immigrants for sweatshop owners. Meanwhile, his estranged wife— a streetwalker and addict — can't be trusted with their two young children, whom he loves deeply (the awkward title is how his youngest misspells"Beautiful").

A diagnosis of prostate cancer gives Uxbal months to live, and while his crisis causes guilt and fear, he's prepared, for better or worse. That's because Uxbal can speak to the dead, a talent the movie presents without fuss, as if it were just one more burden poor Uxbal has to shoulder.

That ability to commune with spirits is as hackneyed here as it was earlier this fall whenMatt Damondid it inClint Eastwood's"Hereafter."Luckily,"Biutiful"has more on its mind, though its squalid atmosphere and characters are hard to live with for two and a half hours. Still, its portrait of a man with nothing who must deal with the end of everything while trying to safeguard his children has moments of power and poetry.

The biggest problem is that Iñárritu, whose hardscrabble films ("Amores perros,""21 Grams"and"Babel") have decreased in payoff despite his rich humanity, still packs in all the melodrama he can. At least"Biutiful,"unlike his others, isn't torn between several stories that finally interweave. Here, it's all Bardem, and this great actor's careworn face and sensitive presence counts for a lot. He ultimately can't save the soul of"Biutiful,"but he makes the journey easier.

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'Blue Valentine'review: Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling are heartbreakingly perfect couple

A married couple's relationship is seen in flashback. WithMichelle Williams,Ryan Gosling. Director:Derek Cianfrance(1:52). R: Sexuality, nudity, language. At the Angelika; at Lincoln Plaza starting Friday.

Halfway into"Blue Valentine,"a work so beautifully acted and emotionally honest it is my choice for best movie of the year, there's an amazing flashback scene you hope never ends.

In it, Cindy (Michelle Williams), a student at a community medical college, is on a date with Dean (Ryan Gosling), a blue-collar guy who has just moved toBrooklynfromFlorida.

They ask each other if they have any talents. She can sing every President's name, in order; he can play the ukelele. Then, she dances as he strums and croons off-key— and in a dimly lit doorway of a formalwear shop in the middle of the night, they laugh and goof and fall in love.

But it does end— beginnings have to — and we're back to where this tough-minded yet melancholy film began: in the present, where Cindy and Dean are almost a decade into their marriage. Everyday stresses have worn them down. They're raising a 6-year-old daughter. Cindy is working all the time and frazzled. Deanis dedicated but burnt out from trying to keep them together.

These moments— some of which take place in a blue-tinted motel room they've rented to get away from things — are heavy with the recognition that something's over.

Director Derek Cianfrance, who crafted the film over a 12-year period with co-writersJoey CurtisandCami Delavigne, understands the rhythms of life, of arguments and affection and reconciliation. As we see Cindy and Dean before they meet and during their courtship, we like who they might become, which makes what they are heartbreaking.

Comparable to the films ofJohn Cassavetes— except Cianfrance adds an ethereal musical score by a Brooklyn band called Grizzly Bear —"Blue Valentine"could be seen as the perfect antidote to Hollywood's usual empty-souled, assembly-line romances. But that puts this tender, intense, perceptive film in company that doesn't deserve it.

jneumaier@nydailynews.com

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