When it comes to kid flicks and animals, no one does it better than Disney. Despite mediocre reviews, 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' did very well at the box office, taking in $29 million dollars for first place. With no other family film out there to capture an audience, the box office was prime for the taking and Disney took advantage of it. Who can resist talking dogs?

Coming in second place with $17 million dollars and a total gross of $54 million was 'Eagle Eye'. The film is creeping towards the $100 million plateau, and should add to Shia LaBeouf's star power. Playing in 2,421 theaters and grossing a little above $12 million dollars was Sony Pictures' Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist. That was good enough for third place.

Dropping 45% from last week's total to $7.4 million was 'Nights in Rodanthe'. The Richard Gere - Diane Lane romantic drama has taken in $25 million dollars at the gate so far. After a two-week limited run, the western film, 'Appaloosa' went wider and took in $5 million to round out the top five.

The Christian-themed film 'Fireproof' took in $4 million at the gate, but with a budget of less than a million, it has grossed over $12 million so far. Kirk Cameron of TV's Growing Pains can still pack 'em in, even on the big screen.

Playing in just nine theaters and grossing a solid $303,000 was the Anne Hathaway film, 'Rachel Getting Married'.

Coming in 13th place was Spike Lee's war film, 'Miracle at St. Anna', with $1.7 million. So far, the film has grossed a disappointing $6.5 million dollars.

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Beginning Sunday, Oct. 5 at 10 PM ET, TV One will premiere 'Murder in Black in White,' a groundbreaking series of four, one-hour documentary specials filmed in co-operation with the FBI and designed to examine - and help solve - civil rights murders from the 1940s and '50s. And some of the aging, long-silent witnesses - as well as the perpetrators of these vicious crimes --are still alive. Produced for TV One by acclaimed filmmaker Keith Beauchamp, whose 2005 documentary on Emmett Till helped convince the government to re-open the 1955 murder case, 'Murder in Black and White' is hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton.

'Murder in Black and White' will debut over four consecutive nights - Sunday, October 5 - Wednesday, Oct. 8 - from 10-11 PM ET. The series draws firsthand information from eyewitnesses, FBI case agents as well as the people who knew the victims best - their children, siblings, family members and friends, most of whom have yet to speak publicly. Forensic scientists, local and federal officials, attorneys, civil rights activists and members of Congress assist in the investigations by providing commentary, analysis and insight into these unsolved "cold cases." Archival and family photos and artfully directed re-enactments help tell the stories of the victims' lives and their violent, senseless deaths.

Beauchamp and his Till Freedom Come Productions is working closely with the FBI, which recommended the cases, and the information uncovered during the filmmaking process is being shared with the FBI's Cold Case Unit in an effort to bring to justice murderers who may still be alive and closure for the families of the murder victims.

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There have been plenty of films that highlight a wedding and siblings in separate occasions but never where the 'black sheep' is the center of attention. Anne Hathaway, in shedding her good girl image we have seen in previous films, gives a tour-de-force performance as the sister that comes home and almost ruins a wedding.

If there was an award for 'comeback' or 'return-to-form', director Jonathan Demme would get a nod. His last few films and documentaries, which included the remake of 'The Manchurian Candidate', 'The Truth About Charlie' and 'Beloved' didn't do him justice after the critical acclaim he received for 'Philadelphia' and 'Silence of the Lambs'.

Written by Jenny Lumet, daughter of acclaimed director Sidney Lumet and granddaughter of legendary entertainer Lena Horne, 'Rachel Getting Married' is a poignant and provocative drama that gives insight to hidden emotions within a family.

Coming home with dad (Bill Irwin) and her stepmom (Anna Deavere Smith) from a rehab clinic, the time there has taken the beauty that once shined on Kym, a former model. She's coming in for her older sister Rachel's (Rosemarie DeWitt) wedding and once back inside the house has to deal with that past she can't forget. As Rachel, reluctantly, tolerates Kym's erratic behavior, she gets bullied into dumping her friend from being maid-of-honor in favor of Kym. Not even settled in the house, Kym shacks up with the groom's best man whom she coincidently met earlier at a rehab session.

As dad is nervous about Kym's mood swings, Rachel sees the attention shifting from her and pleads her dad not to dote on Kym and let her be. It is her wedding week and she needs his support with everything. When mom Abby (Debra Winger) comes by and everyone, including the future in-laws are gathered for a rehearsal dinner, it doesn't take long for Kym to tell all about her stint in rehab and the reason behind it. In between the drama that's unfolding within the family, music is played throughout the household by the groom's buddies. By the way, the groom (Tunde Adebimpe) is a black musician from Hawaii. As the wedding nears, Kym feels she needs to get this 'black sheep of the family' label off her back and has it out with those who treat her as such.

This is Hathaway's film all the way, although everyone else gives superb performances. Hathaway's performance is gut-wrenching and bravado. Lumet's screenplay captures a non-existent relationship between siblings that we rarely see in films. Her theme here is that blood is not always thicker than water. In an unforgettable supporting turn, Winger does more with her presence than with actual dialogue. Using a hand-held camera by ace cinematographer Declan Quinn, the film has a close and naturalistic feel as if you were inside observing the whole drama in front of you.

The only drawback maybe the extensive use of the music played in front and back of the camera. While it adds a mix to the wedding and highlights the background of the groom, it tends to shift the focus away from Rachel and Kym. That's where the energy is. A newcomer, by way of screen presence, DeWitt holds her own with Hathaway. By the time the films ends, you leave knowing that a dysfunctional family like this one has a way solving issues and still be at peace amongst themselves.

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These are not my words. This story was put out a couple of days ago, but I'm just getting to it now. The article was brought to my attention from an Australian website,livenews.au

Acclaimed Australian director Rowan Woods had to fight to keep Oscar winner Forest Whitaker in his new film 'Winged Creatures' after a film company executive dismissed the actor as "ugly, black and unbankable."

Despite having "the hottest ensemble cast in town," including Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Jennifer Hudson, Woods said the company who owned the script wouldn't accept Whitaker as a leading man. 'The initial finance fell through when I stuck with Forest Whitaker for the role of Charlie,' Woods said.

"An executive told me straight: `Even if he wins the Oscar he's ugly, he's black and he's unbankable.'"

Speaking at the Australian Directors Guild conference in Sydney this weekend, Woods said the company, which he wouldn't name for legal reasons, eventually let go of the script because of their disagreement over Whitaker.

The budget on 'Winged Creature's dropped from $US11 million to $US4.5 million because Woods wouldn't consider a Michael Douglas or an Al Pacino for Whitaker's role. "The unbankable part of it was nearly right," he said.

"They wanted everyone but Forest Whitaker ... and this is one of the best actors on the planet." By the time we had stacked the cast around Forest the asking price for the movie had more than halved from its initial level."

'Winged Creatures' centers around a random shooting in a Los Angeles diner, and how it affects the lives of those who witness it.

I don't know about anyone else, but to say that Whitaker isn't bankable truly hasn't seen his body of work and what he brings to the table. There are plenty of actors, especially Oscar winners who still can't open a film let alone bring in an audience. 'Winged Creatures' was the first film that Whitaker and Hudson did after winning Oscars in 2007, and it still doesn't have a release date.

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Like it or not, but when your grandmother is a living legend in many facets of the entertainment industry and your father is also a famous director, somewhere along the lines, the itch to be a part of 'the game' becomes intense until you actually get in. Such is the case for Jenny Lumet.

Lumet is the granddaughter of the legendary entertainer, Lena Horne. Her mother is Horne's daughter author/writer Gail Buckley; and her father is acclaimed movie director Sidney Lumet. Her ex-husband is actor Bobby Cannavale.

Besides being a 7th and 8th grade schoolteacher at Manhattan Country School, a progressive Independent School that promotes diversity and social responsibility, Lumet's written several screenplays in the past, but her latest, 'Rachel Getting Married', is the one that took off and will be shown in theaters this Friday. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Debra Winger, and Anna Deavere Smith.

Directed by Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs), 'Rachel Getting Married' is a contemporary drama with an aggressive sense of humor about the return of an estranged daughter to the family home for her sister's wedding. Kym's (Hathaway) reemergence throws a wrench into the family dynamics, forcing long-simmering tensions to surface in ways both hilarious and heartbreaking.

In a recent interview, Ms. Lumet talked about writing the screenplay.

Where did the idea come from?

Jenny Lumet: I had a very specific image in my brain, that was like a stone in my shoe, of a young woman in her bridal gown in her bridal chamber, enjoying herself and the moment and then her sister comes in and destroys the moment. That lived in my brain for a couple of months. Eventually I was listening to what they were saying. That's where the idea started.

Was it a challenge to write a screenplay about one day/event?

JL: It's much easier to write about one family and one household over one weekend I can imagine than writing a sprawling epic that takes places over generations. That would make me nuts.

Where did the cultural mix come from?

JL: That is what it look like in my house. My mom's black, and my dad's white, and I have Asian cousins in California, and I personally think that is what American families look like, and the other stuff in the film is essentially a myth. It's also a myth that is misrepresented in movies, and I wanted it to be a sexy wedding and a sensual wedding with color and things that smelled good and naked Brazilian girls. If you see a wedding with the red and white glass and all the usual stuff, you just want to screw that wedding up. You want that wedding to go to hell. The original title was called 'Untitled by Jenny Lumet'.

How about writing about the sisters?

JL: I think the sister thing is so interesting. We're always seeing brothers in films, and how they connect and talk about anything, but sister relationships are rarely explored; and if it is, it's probably in a way where they are both after the same guy. I wanted to go into some powerful stuff. Siblings in general have much of an impact on each other as parents do. I was going to write a story and what's the worst thing that could happen in a family. The baby dies and whose fault is it? Someone in the family has to be blamed. Sibling stuff is more weird that parent-child. I am a parent and I see a love and forgiveness for my children, and with siblings, you don't necessarily have to. I think it is a choice. Maybe I'm wrong.

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Believe it or not, but one of the few straight-to-DVD franchises that have done well has been the 'Bring It On' films. After the first film, which starred Kristen Dunst and Gabrielle Union, played in theaters back in 2000, it was then followed by three straight-to-video sequels: 2004's 'Bring It On Again,' 2006's 'Bring It On: All or Nothing' and 2007's 'Bring It On: In It to Win It.' Well, get ready for another sequel.

Bille Woodruff, who directed Jessica Alba in 'Honey' and Queen Latifah in 'Beauty Shop' has been set to the direct the fifth installment of the 'Bring It On' franchise with Christian Milian and Nikki Soohoo attached as the leads. The title of the new film has not been finalized as of yet.

Also featured in the film are Holland Roden ("Lost", "Cold Case"), Vanessa Born ("Sky", "CSI: NY"), Nikki SooHoo ("Fields of Muden"), Gabrielle Dennis (co-hosted BET's Teen Summit), Cody Longo ("Dave" as well as being a model for Abercrombie), with new comers Rachele Smith and Meagan Holder.

Production is currently underway.

Upset when her waitress mother marries a millionaire, Lina has to leave her award-winning cheerleading squad in East L.A. and move to her new stepdad's Malibu mansion. A fish out of water in her affluent new surroundings, Lina takes on the seemingly impossible task of transforming her new school's inept, second-string cheerleading squad, the Sea Lions, into a championship caliber team. Lina also finds a new romance with Evan Whitbourne, a wealthy white Malibu boy, but Evan's bitchy sister Avery, a star cheerleader who views Lina as a dangerous upstart, seems determined to break up Lina and her brother and send Lina packing. But despite a series of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Lina and her scrappy fellow cheerleaders may yet prevail at the upcoming Spirit Championships. And in the process, Lina may learn that she has more in common with her new classmates -- and her new stepsister, Sky -- than she had ever anticipated.

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Currently playing in limited theaters in New York before going nationwide later this month is a powerful story of loss and resilience in the American south. One of the most acclaimed American independent films to emerge in recent years, BALLAST was the winner of the Best Director and Best Cinematography prizes at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, and screened in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, as well as the Boston (Grand Jury Prize), San Francisco (FIPRESCI Prize), Buenos Aires (FIPRESCI and Directing Awards), and New Directors/New Films festivals.

In the cold, winter light of the rural Mississippi Delta, Marlee (Tarra Riggs), a single African-American mother, struggles to scratch a living for herself and her 12-year-old son, James (JimMyron Ross), who has begun to stumble under drug and violence pressures. So when the opportunity to seek safe harbor at a new home arises, she grabs it, even though the property is shared by Lawrence (Micheal J. Smith, Sr.), a man with whom she has a long and bitter past. With circumstances thrusting them into proximity, a subtle interdependence and common purpose emerge for Marlee and Lawrence, as they tend to old wounds, test new waters, and tentatively move forward.

Aided by remarkable and excellent performances from local non-actors, writer-director Hammer's gritty first film is an amazing piece of work and I recently spoke with Mr. Hammer on getting this film in theaters.

Where did the idea for this film come from?

Lance Hammer: It came from living in the Mississippi Delta 10 years ago and having a visceral reaction to the place, and a sense of sorrow that I felt. I had a strong desire at that point to make a movie on that feeling. I wanted to make a film about atone and the surroundings from there.

One of the things that gave the film a sense of realism is the use of non-professional actors. Why did you choose this route?

LH: The original goal is to try to convey the sense of place accurate as possible and I wanted people from that place and with their language. I think professional actors would have been intruders to this and the people there would have sensed that they were from the outside.

Was it a challenge to find the right people for the roles?

LH: It was in a way. It took a lot of time, but we weren't in a hurry. It took two months of casting. I went to Baptist churches for assistance. I saw a lot of people from church clubs, to people on the streets. Mike Smith, who plays Lawrence, is the son of Reverend Smith of the New Zion Baptist Church in Yazoo City. I held open casting calls. I was looking for people who I felt were natural for the roles.

Having non-actors can present some challenges when trying to get distribution. Was that the case for you?

LH: Well, when it got to Sundance, I couldn't believe it. It played in competition and we ended up doing very well there. If you do well at Sundance, in which we did, offers would come, and a lot came our way and we felt IFC Films was the best one to go with. Then I learned that no one is offering any money anymore and filmmakers are expected to give their projects away for free and give up ownership. You would also lose creative control; so I decided after many months of trying to work it out with them, not to sign the contract, and with a pool of people set up a distribution entity and put it out myself. That's what I have been working on for the last four months.

Why should anyone see 'Ballast'?

LH: It's an honest American film that brings truth and emotion from the characters.

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Just recently the theme song to 'Quantum pf Solace', 'the 22nd James Bond film, was leaked online with Alicia Keys and Jack White. Their song, Another Way to Die', which was written and produced by White, is the first duet in James Bond soundtrack history. In addition to writing the song, White is also featured as the drummer on this track.

Well, the video is now available online. 'Quantum of Solace' opens on November 14.

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While the 46th New York Film Festival is happening this week, one of the films playing is 'Hunger', which is by British director Steve McQueen.

A pair of bloodied hands immerse themselves in a basin. Contraband packages pass silently, imperceptibly between inmates and their loved ones in the visiting room of Her Majesty's Maze prison. And a young man of principle, delirious from starvation, bravely rallies against the dying of the light.

These are among the strikingly impressionistic images that make up the masterful debut feature of Turner Prize-winning visual artist Steve McQueen and deserving recipient of the Camera d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Though its primary subject is IRA member Bobby Sands and the 1981 hunger strike he waged in an effort to improve conditions for fellow political prisoners, the film is not a biopic but an intensely lyrical reverie on human suffering. The precision of McQueen's visual compositions counterpoints the raw degradation to which his characters are subjected.

'Hunger' is a provocative exploration of the politics of torture and the yearning for spiritual transcendence.

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Deep undercover in a brutal criminal organization, FBI agent Kevin Cole (Cole Hauser) must use extreme methods to prove himself. Ordered by the mysterious crime boss Ziggy to track down stolen millions, Cole gets to work on the mob's accountant (Laurence Fishburne). But as he starts turning the screws, the mind games begin. Now who's controlling who? Enter the ruthless world of organized crime, where you're only as good as your last lie.

It's very rare that Fishburne has a film that goes to the stores instead of theaters, but hey, you can't hit them out of the park all the time. I think he's done enough quality work that this film is worth a look.

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Coming out this Christmas is 'Hurricane Season', an inspirational film directed by Tim Story and starring Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker. Also featured in the film are Isaiah Washington, Taraji P. Henson, Courtney B. Vance, Robbie Jones, Shad Moss aka Bow Wow, Jackie Long, Eric Hill, Jarod Einsohn, Irma Hall, Jared Einsohn, J.B. Smoove, China Anne McClain, and making his film debut, Lil Wayne.

'Hurricane Season' is the exciting true story of an unlikely group of high school basketball champions who - in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - learn the true meaning of survival.

Following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, a New Orleans basketball coach assembles a disparate team of players from those left behind and those who held out against the flood. In this exciting story based on true events, coach Al Collins (Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker) - a devoted husband and father driven by past failures and a consuming desire to win - empowers his team to 'never say die' as they fight their way to the state championship.

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Before 'The Dark Knight' came out and wiped out its competition this summer there was one superhero film that had fans wanting more and that was 'Iron Man'. With a cast that included Robert Downey Jr., Gywneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, and Terrence Howard, the film did very well at the box office, grossing over $300 million dollars. Now, for all those who didn't get to see, the film is now out of DVD.

The 'Iron Man' Ultimate Edition two-disc sets are super-charged with hours of explosive bonus features that take viewers inside the suit of self-made Super Hero Tony Stark and his invincible alter ego. The sets offer the ultimate Iron Man experience with extensive explorations of the origins of the character in a six-part featurette, as well as a seven-part in-depth look at the making of the film, a revealing documentary on the stellar visual effects, Robert Downey Jr.'s original screen test, The Actor's Process (scene rehearsal with cast), Deleted and Extended scenes, a photo gallery of concept art and behind-the-scenes images on the set and more.

Based upon Marvel's iconic Super Hero, 'Iron Man' tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. Upon his return to America, Tony must come to terms with his past. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.

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The trailer to Will Smith's latest film, 'Seven Pounds' is now online. Directed by Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness), the film also features Rosario Dawson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper and Woody Harrelson.

In the film, Smith plays Ben Thomas, a 'guilt-ridden IRS agent who inadvertently falls in love while attempting to kill himself.' Rosario Dawson's playing the love interest who suffers from a serious heart condition. Woody Harrelson will be a motel attendent who becomes intrigued by his suicidal new tenant, while Ealy plays Smith's brother.

'Seven Pounds' opens in theaters on December 19.

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Shia LaBeouf's hot streak at the box office continues to grow as his latest film, 'Eagle Eye', took first place this past weekend with $29.2 million dollars. The film, which also features Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Rosario Dawson, Anthony Mackie, and Michael Chiklis would probably had grossed more money on Friday had the first presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain not taken place. LaBeouf's done well at the box office with hits including 'Disturbia', 'Transformers', and 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'.

Performing poorly at the box office and landing in ninth place was Spike Lee's war film, 'Miracle at St. Anna' with $3.5 million dollars from 1,185 theaters. Playing over 2 1/2 hrs, the film had an average of $2,954 per screen. It didn't help that film was received with mixed reviews.

In second place was the romantic film that stars Richard Gere and Diane Lane, 'Nights in Rodanthe', with $13.6 million dollars. Based on the novel by Nicolas Sparks and directed by George C. Wolfe, the film averaged $5,018 per screen. Dropping 53% from last week's total and sliding to third place with $7 million dollars was 'Lakeview Terrace'. The film, which stars Samuel l. Jackson and Kerry Washington, has taken in $25.7M thus far.

Coming out of nowhere to land in fourth place was the Christian drama, 'Fireproof'. The Samuel Goldwyn release which stars 'Growing Pains' TV star Kirk Cameron made out with $6.5 million dollars from 839 screens. The film is about a firefighter looking for a way to save his marriage. Rounding out the top five was the George Clooney - Brad Pitt film, 'Burn After Reading' with $6.2 million dollars and a total gross of $45 million dollars.

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Lionsgate has released the full to 'The Spirit', which stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Paz Vega, Jaime King, Dan Lauria, Stana Katic, Johnny Simmons, and Louis Lombardi.

Adapted from the legendary comic book series created by Will Eisner, 'The Spirit' is a classic action-adventure-romance written for the screen and directed by genre-twister Frank Miller (creator of '300' and 'Sin City'). It is the story of a former rookie cop who returns mysteriously from the dead as the Spirit (Gabriel Macht) to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His arch-enemy, the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson) has a different mission: he's going to wipe out Spirit's beloved city as he pursues his own version of immortality. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront... all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader.

Surrounding him at every turn are Ellen Dolan (Sarah Paulson), the whip-smart girl-next-door; Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson), a punk secretary and frigid vixen; Plaster of Paris (Paz Vega), a murderous French nightclub dancer; Lorelei (Jaime King), a phantom siren; and Morgenstern (Stana Katic), a sexy young cop. Then of course, there's Sand Saref (Eva Mendes), the jewel thief with dangerous curves. She's the love of his life turned bad. Will he save her or will she kill him? In the vein of 'Batman Begins' and 'Sin City,' 'The Spirit' takes us on a sinister, gut-wrenching ride with a hero who is born, murdered and born again.

The film comes out on December 25, 2008.

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Spike Lee has been waiting to make a war film for the longest time. Having seen few Blacks or none at all in past war films only increased his desire to get it done. There are plenty of stories from black soldiers who fought in World War II that haven't been told and some of these guys were in the front and center of it. With funding coming outside of the studio system, Lee set out on telling a story based on the novel from author/ screenwriter James McBride, 'Miracle at St. Anna'.

The cast includes Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Matteo Sciabordi, John Leguizamo, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Valentina Cervi, Pierfrancesco Favino, Michael K. Williams, and Kerry Washington.

While the film does highlight Blacks and Latinos in the war, specifically the Buffalo Soldiers, the direction that Lee took to make the film was jagged. At the end of this nearly three hour movie, what you have is a noble attempt thwarted by uneven artistic choices.

It's the 1980s and we have an elderly postal clerk (Alonso) watching the John Wayne film, 'The Longest Day', in which he mutters to himself, 'We were there too.' We then see the clerk working in the post office when another elderly man steps in front of his booth looking to buy stamps. Suddenly the clerk pulls out his service revolver and shoots him dead after recognizing him. Taken into police custody without uttering a word for the shooting, a journalist (Gordon-Levitt) is let in to get his side of the story. While the cops are searching his apartment for any evidence, they discover a statue that apparently was stolen from Rome during WWII. The postal clerk then decides to tell his story to the reporter about the statue and how he ended up with it. It all began 40 years ago.

The clerk says he was part of a surviving group of soldiers, specifically four of them, during an ambush by the Nazis that left the rest of his Buffalo Soldiers dead in the bushes and water in Italy while they raced for cover. His name is (Corporal) Hector Negron and with him were 2nd Staff Sergeant Aubrey Stamps (Luke), Sergeant Bishop Cummings (Ealy), and Private First Class Sam Train (Miller). While looking for safety, they ended up in an Italian village filled resistance fighters and families. In the meantime, dim-witted Train had taken a fatherly role to a little orphan boy (Torancelli) he found nearly dead.

With the Germans headed toward their way, the four soldiers go through the motions of mingling with the crowd, discussing the racism that's non-existent there as opposed back home in the states, while waiting for help, and gathering information from a German soldier captured by some fascist resistance fighters. Little do they know that a traitor lurks amongst this crowd and the statue holds a key to survival.

While the premise sounds intriguing and involves a mystery, the problems that exist with the film is that there are too many unnecessary sequences that throw the storyline out of balance. Although Lee presents a strong opening and examines how racism played out with the Blacks in the war, at times, it seems like he tries to force the issue down our throats. The film is half reality and half fantasy. Some things just don't make sense. With a running time of over two hours, it gives the audience plenty of time to either fall in love with what's going on, or start nitpicking at some of the misdirection of the film. There's also the casting of big names is wasteful roles such as John Leguizamo and Kerry Washington. Yes, they love Spike and would do anything for him, but they added no value to being in the film. All of the four actors (Luke, Ealy, Alonso, and Miller) did their best with their roles, but Miller's slow witted character became too much of a distraction. He may get an award somewhere for 'Best Simple Jack' routine. See 'Tropic Thunder' to understand this statement. Instead of telling the audience a story of four heroic men and what they did for the country, Lee chose to tell 'his' story, which brought in a new meaning to 'Miracle'.

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Having done work with Ice Cube on both 'Barbershop' films and having the acclaimed cable series for Showtime, 'Sleeper Cell', for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe to his credit have done wonders for Michael Ealy, but to be in a Spike Lee film is something different. Ealy has won the role of Ealy plays Sergeant Bishop Cummings in 'Miracle at St. Anna' along with Derek Luke, Laz Alonso, and Omar Benson Miller.

Directed by Spike Lee from a screenplay written by James McBride, the author of the acclaimed novel of the same name, the film chronicles the story of four African-American soldiers who are members of the U.S. Army as part of the all-black 92nd Buffalo Soldier Division stationed in Tuscany, Italy, during World War II. They experience the tragedy and triumph of the war as they find themselves trapped behind enemy lines and separated from their unit after one of them risks his life to save an Italian boy.

Later this year, Ealy will be featured in 'Seven Pounds' opposite Will Smith and Rosario Dawson.

I caught up with Ealy recently at the Toronto Film Festival to go over role in the film.

What attracted you to do this project?

Michael Ealy: At first it started with the opportunity to work with Spike because I didn't have a script. I didn't know there was a book. Once I was able to read both the book and the script, then it became about the character.

Were you given an option of which role you wanted to play?

ME: No. I was always up for Bishop.

What separates Bishop from the other three soldiers in the film?

ME: He's a bit slicker than his comrades. He came from the streets so he's a street smart cat, whose survival is important and will basically do anything to survive. He doesn't believe he should be in the war at all.

How much history did you about the Buffalo Soldiers prior to reading the book?

ME: Not very much. I had read a little bit about them and some history books in college and in my African American studies course, but mainstream stuff? Not at all.

What research did you do to familiarize yourself with the time setting?

ME: When you do research for a part, and in particular this film, you look at art from that period. You listen to music from period. You watch movies from that period. You try to put yourself in the time space and think about what people were doing and how racism still existed in the United States, while different in other places.

Did Spike want you to do anything with the character in terms of looks or speech?

ME: All he did was stress the importance of not improvising with any language or anything contemporary.

How was boot camp?

ME: The truth of the matter is that with every war film, everyone goes through boot camp. Boot camp is really not a big deal. All it really does is get you in a military mindset. It gives you a tactical approach to your character. To me, it's never been a big deal to go through that. I think every time you take a role as an actor, you go through a boot camp. It's called research. For every role, you do research. When you are ready to do a movie and you are also physically ready, that's your boot camp.

You also got to work with some Italians on the film? Did you pick up the language while shooting the film?

ME: I didn't learn to speak it and I didn't speak it before. I just learned a couple or words here and there.

Was there any particular scene that stood out for you?

ME: I would probably say the scene between me and Derek Luke's character where we both try to express our political views on the war.

What have you learned from Spike Lee that you didn't get from other directors you have worked with in the past?

ME: Spike has given me more leeway. Spike doesn't chain you down as a director. He doesn't keep you from doing anything. I think if you are still in character, he will let you breathe.

What roles are appealing to you?

ME: I like a role where the character has more going on inside as oppose to outside. On the surface level, you may look at this character here and say he is a bastard, but it's what is going inside him that is interesting. That's where the truth lies for the character. I can't relate to that if I can't find it in the role.

Why should anyone see this film?

ME: It's hard for me to say to folks to go see the movie other than to say that if you want to see all of America's contribution to this war, then you need to see 'Miracle at St. Anna'. There's a contribution made by a certain group of men that was left out and if you see the film, then you will see that contribution.

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Coming out this Friday is 'Eagle Eye' where Shia LaBeouf reteams with 'Disturbia' director D.J. Also featured in the film are Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Chiklis, Anthony Azizi, Anthony Mackie, and Lynn Cohen.

LaBeouf plays young slacker whose overachieving twin brother has died mysteriously. When the young man returns home, both he and a single mother find they have been framed as terrorists. Forced to become members of a cell that has plans to carry out a political assassination, they must work together to extricate themselves.

Both Mackie and Dawson play characters working for the government.

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Get ready for an encore! Variety has stated that Warner Bros. has set in motion a prequel to the Will Smith film 'I Am Legend.'

The plan is for Smith to reprise his role as scientist Robert Neville, with Francis Lawrence returning to direct. Akiva Goldsman and his Weed Road banner will produce with James Lassiter, Smith's partner in Overbrook Entertainment.

The prequel will chronicle the final days of humanity in New York before a man-made virus caused a plague that left Smith's character the lone survivor among a mutated mob in the city.

The studio has set D.B. Weiss to write a script that is based on a detailed outline that was hatched over the past few months by Smith, Goldsman, Lassiter and Lawrence.

Making a prequel was the only way to extend a franchise that grossed $584 million worldwide for Warner Bros. and keep Smith in the lead role. His character was killed in the first film, after extracting a potential cure for the virus for the scattered survivors.

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Lionsgate snuck out the teaser trailer to Tyler Perry's 'Madea Goes To Jail' yesterday.

Based by Perry's play of the same name, 'Goes to Jail' focuses its story on Madea whose trouble-making act puts her behind bars.

Starring Perry as Madea, the film also stars Keshia Knight Pulliam as 'Candy', Vanessa Ferlito, Sofia Vergara, Derek Luke, Keke Palmer, David and Tamela Mann, Viola Davis, Judge Mablean Ephriam. Ion Overman, Ronreaco Lee, and Aisha Hinds.

After a high-speed freeway chase puts Madea in front of the judge, her reprieve is short-lived as anger management issues get the best of her and land her in jail. A gleeful Joe couldn't be happier at Madea's misfortune. But Madea's eccentric family members the Browns rally behind her, lending their special "country" brand of support.

Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway is on the fast track to career success. But Hardaway lands a case too personal to handle - defending young prostitute and former drug addict Candace Washington - and asks his fiance and fellow ADA Linda Holmes to fill in on his behalf. When Candace ends up in jail, Madea befriends the young woman, protecting her in a 'motherly' way as only Madea can.

Lionsgate will release the film in theaters on February 20, 2009

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