Movoto

They don't call it the "Information Superhighway" for nothing, you know.

Where would we be without Infographics? Sometimes you just can't grasp the general concept, fine details and/or basic facts of something unless you have a visual aid with pictures and charts and numbers and stuff. An Infographic is like a really cool PowerPoint presentation that someone else had to make and that you don't have to be in a conference room to look at.

We learned a lot in 2012, about Batman and "Twilight" and bootlegging and Nicolas Cage and all kinds of things. Below you'll find some of our favorite lessons.

10. Batman By the Numbers: The Dark Knight's Expenses

Holy Tax Write-Offs, Batman! It's a good thing Bruce Wayne is rich, 'cause he couldn't afford to be the Caped Crusader otherwise. All those "wonderful toys," as Jack Nicholson's Joker once called them, come with a formidable price tag.

9. 'Lawless' Moonshine Facts

Did you know that "Mountain Dew" used to refer to a very different kind of beverage entirely? It sounds better than "Popskull" and "Rotgut," anyway. Drink deep of the history of moonshine with this "Lawless" infographic, courtesy of the bootleggers at Crave Online.

8. Best Picture Nominees Explained

Some of the Oscar noms for Best Picture this year had us scratching our heads, though it all became a bit more clear-ish after someone put together infographics to help explain these critics' darlings. These visual aids courtesy of Vulture proved as informative as they are inspired.

7. The 'Life of Pi' Chart

Despite the desolate solitude that weaves through most of "Life of Pi," our stranded hero finds a surprising number of ways to spend his time. Check out the pie (Pi!) chart below for a breakdown of his seafaring activities.

6. The Cost of Being the Ultimate 'Twilight' Fan

Well, thank gooness it's all over, because who knows what further damage the whole "Twilight" saga would've done to your wallet. Click on the image below to see what a true Twihard may have spent over the last few years and seriously consider whether your budget can handle another obsession.

5. 'Looper' Infographic Explains It All

With all the different timelines and time travel and matters of life and death, "Looper" was enough to have anyone’s head spinning. We knew someone would be able to explain the plot in a visual way so simple, we’d feel almost foolish for not getting it the first time. Click on the image below to get the full-blown goings-on.

4. Batman’s Crib: The Real World Value of Wayne Manor

The housing market may still be down, but Bruce Wayne's mansion would still be worth more than a pretty penny if it existed in the real world. Movoto Real Estate took an in-depth look at the value of Wayne Manor and determined that Batman's home would be worth an estimated $32,100,000. Click on the image below to see the entire floorplan.

3. Crazy Nicolas Cage 101

It wouldn't be a Best of 2012 list without Nicolas Cage, would it? With a slew of wackadoo performances and an even loopier personal life, Academy Award-winner/ dinosaur bones owner Nicolas Cage's legacy as a world class eccentric is pretty secure ... but every once in a while you need to be reminded of just how awesomely loony he is. Thanks to MTV Clutch for putting the madness in at-a-glance perspective.

2. An Infographic Guide to This Summer’s Movies

Oh yeah ... "Battleship." Well, as with any summer movie season, some films were more memorable than others, but earlier this spring they were all equal on our pop culture radar. Vulture broke down what might be in store with each one ... and it's somewhat eerie how spot-on accurate some of these predictions ended up being.

1. The Nymphographic: James Bond Does It Everywhere (and a Lot)

How many times has James Bond done the deed? Here's a scintillatingly sinful infographic which charts how many times 007 has conquered the beast with two backs over his 50-year film career. Oh, and add, what, three more for "Skyfall"? The image below is just a tease; click on it to see the complete conquest.

Get more Best of 2012 here.

Columbia Pictures

This week: Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones return as Agents J and K, respectively, in "Men in Black 3." In this long-awaited time-traveling sequel we meet a young Agent K, played to perfection by Josh Brolin.

Also new this week is the Prohibition drama "Lawless," Whitney Houston's last performance in "Sparkle," the spooky stop-motion animated feature "ParaNorman," and the modern-dance showcase "Step Up Revolution."

'Men in Black 3'

Sony

Box Office: $179 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 69% Fresh
Storyline: Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back as the titular sharp-dressed men regulating alien activity on Earth, but this time J must travel back in time to the '60s and help a young K (Josh Brolin) prevent a future cataclysm for his partner and the planet.
Extras! The Blu-ray has fun exclusives like the "Spot the Alien Game" and "The Evolution of Cool: 'MIB' 1960s vs. Today." The Blu-ray 3D has even more bonus features, like "The Case of Boris the Animal: the 3D Models of 'MIB 3'" and a featurette on how the movie was converted to 3D.
We Say: After the uneven tone of 2002's "Men in Black II," which went too far in the comedy direction, Brolin's spot-on impersonation of a young Jones breathes new life into the sci-fi series. No one will hand out awards for a movie like this, but Brolin is that good and his on-screen chemistry with Smith makes this time-traveling sequel a trippy treat.

'Lawless'

The Weinstein Company

Box Office: $37 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 67% Fresh
Storyline: The latest collaboration between director John Hillcoat and screenwriter-composer Nick Cave is based on the true story of the Bondurant boys (Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Jason Clarke) who operated a bootlegging operation in Franklin County, Virginia toward the end of Prohibition. Complicating matters for the popular outlaws are a deadly gangster (Gary Oldman) and a corrupt special deputy (Guy Pearce) who wants to squash them and their moonshine business.
Extras! The best extras on the DVD and Blu-ray are the ones that give you some background information on the real story, including "The True Story of the Wettest County in the World," "Franklin County, VA: Then and Now," and "The Story of the Bondurant Family."
We Say: This gritty, violent drama about outlaws who became heroes features some outstanding performances, particularly Pearce with his severely parted hair that speaks volumes about his character's mental state. Hardy, per usual, still speaks as if he has a mouthful of marbles and peanut butter, but that actually works in his favor for playing a mountain-dwelling moonshiner. It's also refreshing to see a post-Michael Bay LaBeouf fight adversaries that aren't giant robots from outer space.

'Sparkle'

Sony

Box Office: $24 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 58% Rotten
Storyline: This musical drama is a love letter to old Motown and stars Jordin Sparks as the titular singer who is struggling to become a star while trying to overcome issues that are tearing her family apart. Whitney Houston stars as Sparkle's mother, Derek Luke plays Sparkle's music manager/love interest and Carmen Ejogo and Tika Sumpter play Sparkle's sisters who try to become a Supremes-like sensation of the Motown era.
Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain "A Tribute to Whitney Houston"; the Blu-ray adds exclusives like the music video "Celebrate" with Houston and Sparks and an extended performance of "Hooked on Your Love."
We Say: "Sparkle" is notable for featuring the last performance of Houston before her untimely death but, aside from that, it's an underwhelming, cliché-littered offering that steals bit and pieces from better movies like "Dreamgirls," "What's Love Got to Do with It" and others.

'ParaNorman'

Focus Features

Box Office: $56 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% Fresh
Storyline: This stop-motion animated feature from the makers of "Coraline" tells the story of Norman, a shunned little boy with the ability to see and speak with the dead who must use his talents to save his town from being destroyed by a centuries-old curse. Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Man, Jeff Garlin and John Goodman provide voices for the colorful characters.
Extras! Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D, "ParaNorman" includes such bonus features as seven making-of featurettes, preliminary animatic sequences, and a behind-the-scenes look at the stop-motion magic.
We Say: Although it's not as weirdly wonderful as "Coraline," this imaginative PG-rated spook show tests the limits of scariness for children's movies and has enough references to the ghosts of pop culture past to keep adults interested.

'Step Up Revolution'

Summit

Box Office: $35 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 43% Rotten
Storyline: The latest "Step Up" sequel moves the cutting-edge flash-dancing "Mob" to Miami where a local businessman threatens to develop the Mob's historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people. An aspiring professional dancer (Kathryn McCormick) and a dance-crew leader (Ryan Guzman) team up to turn their performance art into protest art.
Extras! Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D, "Step Up Revolution" has choreography featurettes, dance sequences, deleted scenes and music videos from artists like J. Lo and Timbaland.
We Say: The two leads are an MMA fighter and a "So You Think You Can Dance" survivor, so dispense any thoughts of this having a chance to be a compelling drama with nuanced performances. If all you're looking for is some kinetic modern-dance numbers, put on your 3D glasses and let the Mob shimmy right out of your TV screen.

Also New This Week:

"The Apparition"
"6 Degrees of Hell"
"The Day"

The Weinstein Company

Looking to get something for nothing without all the hassle of, well, stealing it?

With our "Lawless" giveaway, you can get the loot whilst still remaining a law-abiding citizen. One lucky winner will receive a "Lawless" DVD, the "Lawless" soundtrack CD (by Nick Cave) and the original "Lawless" novel by Matt Bondurant.

"Lawless" tells the tale of Jack (Shia LaBeouf), Forrest (Tom Hardy) and Howard Bondurant (Jason Clarke), Virginia bootleggers trying to make a buck by getting people drunk during the Great Depression. Their livelihood — and their lives — are soon threatened when their endeavors get the attention of a half-mad federal agent (Guy Pearce, pulling out all the stops).

Really, where else are you going to see Bane, Sam Witwicky, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman's in it, too), the evil kid from "Chronicle" (Dane DeHaan) and the no short term memory guy from "Memento" all wearing suspenders, driving vintage cars and shooting Tommy guns at each other as the women folk (Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain) shake their heads in disapproval?

To enter, just shoot us an email at NextMovie@MTV.com and include your name, address, birthdate and be sure to copy and paste the following statement:

"By sending this email, I accept and agree to: (1) the Official Rules of the 'Lawless' DVD Giveaway and (2) MTV Networks’, a division of Viacom International Inc., Nextmovie.com Terms of Use and Privacy Policy."

The contest runs from now until 12 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 30, 2012. Entrants must be at least 13 years old and reside in the U.S. Click here for complete rules and further details.

As an added bonus, all entrants will be signed up for our fun and useful newsletter. As a subscriber, you'll receive weekly updates on the hottest releases, events, merch and giveaways from the world of movies.

Getty Images

Tom Hardy sure has a knack for adventure. The versatile thesp, who's fresh off killer performances in both "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Lawless," is now in talks to take on (possibly) his biggest role yet—the lead in Doug Liman's next epic, "Everest." As reported by Deadline, if the deal goes through, Hardy will play George Mallory, the determined British climber who made not one, but three attempts to reach the summit of the world's tallest mountain back in the 1920s.

While the '20s were roaring stateside, WWI had left Great Britain pretty much decimated, and Mallory yearned to be the hero his country craved. He made his first two attempts without the help of oxygen (maybe he thought oxygen was for sissies?) but he had to turn back before reaching his goal. On the third trip, he softened a bit, and he and his climbing partner were using oxygen as they made their final push toward the top—too bad no one saw whether they actually got there. Talk about a bummer.

However, Mallory did take a photo of his wife with him, which he vowed to place atop the mountain, and when he and his companion were finally found in 1999, he didn't have the photo with him anymore. Something tells us Liman's going to milk that possibility for all it's worth, and, if Hardy's on-screen, we'll love every minute of it.

View Gallery »

If anyone could convince us to embark on a life of "Lawless"-ness, it's Tom Hardy.

The British star has been making quite an impression over the past few years, whether in costume (he works those perfectly tailored suits in "Inception" like the former male model he is) or out (his naked cagefighting in "Bronson" is quite... memorable). Tom's even sexy with three-quarters of his face covered in "The Dark Knight Rises" (it's those piercing eyes) and with a questionable '70s 'do in "Tinker Tailor Solder Spy."

You'll need a long, cool, Prohibition-era drink after checking out our collection of Tom Hardy pics, which is overflowing with hotness that should be illegal. Knock him back.

Weinstein Co.

"The Dark Knight Rises" star Tom Hardy is going from Gotham City to Franklin County, Va., to get his moonshine on in the Prohibition-era thriller "Lawless," and he's bringing Shia LaBeouf in on the action.

The two superstars play 1920s brothers and partners in crime amidst this backwater berg, but, when the local authorities want a taste of their bootlegging spoils, it turns into all-out country-fried warfare.

1. Another patented Tom Hardy pep talk.

2. Gives new meaning to the expression, "Fill 'er up!"

3. "Memento" star Guy Pearce finally remembers what tea he wants... and who he wants to kill.

4. Now we know who the bane of Forrest Bondurant's existence is: redheads.

5. To quote Homer Simpson, "To alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems."

Getty Images

In many ways, Dane DeHaan is the emotional center of the gritty "Lawless," a Depression-era crime drama about the Virginia bootlegging operation of three brothers, played by Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf and Jason Clarke. DeHaan plays Cricket, a gentle soul who becomes a moonshine maker to assist his best friend Jack Bondurant (LaBeouf) and is later caught up in the extreme violence that occurs toward the end of Prohibition. The John Hillcoat-directed movie written by Nick Cave is based on a true story and opens in theaters on August 29.

Prior to "Lawless," DeHaan played a teen with extraordinary telekinetic powers in the found-footage film "Chronicle" and made an impression on TV shows like "True Blood" and "In Treatment." The 25-year-old up-and-comer chatted us up about the pain involved in playing Cricket in "Lawless" and his upcoming roles in two prestigious films.

The Weinstein Company

Whose idea was it for you to be fitted with special shoes to mimic Cricket's disability due to rickets in "Lawless"?
It was my idea to meet with a doctor and talk about rickets. He just informed me on what it was. I started to look at pictures and, stereotypically, people think of bowlegged people when they think of rickets. When you look at the pictures, it can be more complicated than that. There were pictures of people's legs that were bent in the same direction. I couldn't do that without walking on the sides of my feet, so I talked to the costume department about building shoes with a slant in them so I could walk on the sides of my feet but still give the appearance that my feet were flat on the ground.  

Were you in a lot of the pain every day at the end of the shoot from walking that way?
Yes, truthfully it did. It left me in a lot of pain.

Guy Pearce is really intense and scary in "Lawless" as Special Agent Charlie Rakes, with whom you have an unforgettable scene. Did he stay in character between scenes?
Guy switches it on and off. It's kind of amazing how he can go into it and, when the scene is done, he'll turn to you and say, "What did you think of that one?" He's a very collaborative artist and always in conversation, not like, "I'm going to stay in character and no one can bother me."

Tell us about your role in "The Place Beyond the Pines."
"The Place Beyond the Pines" is going to be at the Toronto Film Festival. I am really excited for the world to see that movie. I have never been more proud to be a part of anything in my life. Derek [Cianfrance, the director] has been really careful — he doesn't want anyone to know too much about it before it's shown in Toronto. It's a generational movie, and I play the son of Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes. That doesn't make sense when I say it, but it will make a whole lot of sense when people see the movie.

It was a very, very fulfilling artistic experience and a challenge to me that left me wholly satisfied. When I saw the final product, I was blown away. It's a great film. It doesn't have distribution yet, but we'll find out really soon if it's coming out this year or next year.

20th Century Fox

"Chronicle" is one of the best found-footage films ever. If you could come back, would you appear in a sequel? Is there any talk?
My understanding is that there is talk of a sequel. It's not in my hands, so I don't spend much time thinking about it. But I would love the opportunity to honor the first one with the second one. I'm really proud of the end result of the original, and we did create something really special. I hope that if there is a second one that it continues to honor what we did. If I had an opportunity to do that, it would be a fun challenge to make a sequel.

What can you tell us about the biographical drama "Kill Your Darlings"?
Daniel Radcliffe plays a young Allen Ginsberg. He goes to Colombia University and meets up with this guy that I play, Lucien Carr, who wasn't a writer himself but is responsible for introducing Ginsberg, Burroughs and Kerouac to each other. Carr inspires Ginsberg to be who people know Ginsberg as today. Also, at this time, Carr had an overbearing relationship with an older man, and he actually ended up murdering that man. So the film is really about Ginsberg becoming Ginsberg through the catalyst of Lucien Carr at the time of these murders.

What would you be doing if you weren't acting?
I've always said that if I could do anything in the world, I would be a professional golfer. I love golf. I'm just not good enough, so I'm an actor.

What was your first acting gig?
Right out of school, I was a part of the Eugene O'Neill Music Theater festival … a musical, actually. It was like a two-week workshop.

Who is your acting inspiration?
I always wanted to be an actor, but my top three favorite actors of all time are Al Pacino, James Dean and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

What music are you listening to, and would any music by your "Lawless" screenwriter Nick Cave be on your iPod?
I do have Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on my iPhone. I really like the Avett Brothers and the National. They are kind of who I listen to the most now.

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New York or L.A.?
New York.

"Harry Potter," "Twilight" or "The Hunger Games"?
"Harry Potter."

Rock or rap?
Rock.

Beer or wine?
Well, that just depends on the occasion.

Twitter or Facebook?
Twitter.

Vampires, zombies or werewolves?
Oh wow. Zombies.

Lady Gaga or Madonna?
[Long pause] Lady Gaga.

UFC or WWE?
UFC.

Getty Images

"Lawless" producer Cassian Elwes has more going for him than just a really cool name, as The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the former talent agent used his Hollywood schmoozing skills to subdue an unstable airline passenger on a cross country flight over the weekend.

"It was fine," Elwes said of the ordeal. "I’ve dealt with nuttier personalities in Hollywood."

Of course, the other passengers on the Jet Blue flight probably had a different outlook, particularly after the unruly man, "a Marine and former heroin addict named Marco," groped a pregnant woman and began growling at passengers. Before the situation could escalate, though, Elwes jumped in and used his Hollywood powers to defuse the situation.

"I went into my agent mode," Elwes said. "It was like talking to a crazy actor who wants to walk off a movie set, someone who isn't listening to logic. It’s about playing into their ego and anger."

In fact, it worked so well that by the end of the flight, the unruly Marco was pitching Elwes on a project about a kamikaze pilot. That pitch ended when authorities arrested Marco and hauled him off to jail, but hey: That's hardly the worst response a budding screenwriter has gotten from Hollywood producers.

Good job, Cassian!

Shia LaBeouf is becoming quite the exhibitionist. First he let it all hang out this past June in Sigur Rós' music video for "Fjögur Piano". Now the "Lawless" star has confirmed exclusively to MTV that he will indeed star in Lars von Trier's upcoming drama "The Nymphomaniac."

For his once-rumored new role, LaBeouf says he's prepared to do anything, and judging by the title of the movie, we've got a few guesses as to what it might entail.

"There's a disclaimer at the top of the script that basically says 'We're doing it for real.' Everything that is illegal, we'll shoot in blurred images, but other than that, everything is happening," LaBeouf tells MTV's Josh Horowitz.

LaBeouf is certainly making a name for himself as an edgy Hollywood actor (but we secretly hope he one day reprises his role as Louis Stevens in the Disney Channel original series, "Even Stevens"). Head over to MTV to check out the full video and start letting your imagination run wild.

The Weinstein Company

Have you heard the one about the bootlegging Bondurant Brothers?

Based on a true-crime story, "Lawless" (formerly "The Wettest County," which actually sounded cooler, but ah well) stars Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy as Jack and Forrest Bondurant, sibling criminals who make a run for the American Dream by smuggling alcohol in Prohibition-era Virginia, an activity that brings the criminal organization run by Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman) to the attention of FBI Special Agent Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce). Threats, fisticuffs and Tommy gun shoot-outs ensue.

The latest moody thriller from director John Hillcoat ("The Proposition," "The Road") looks like the perfect way to send off Summer 2012 in a hail of bullets. Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman bring their effortless brand of Brit cool to their third collaboration (following "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "The Dark Knight Rises") while Shia LaBeouf looks like he's all sorts of happy to be out of the "Transformers" franchise. And we have to admit that we didn't recognize Hillcoat veteran Guy Pearce at first — though that's unmistakably Jessica Chastain in her 74th movie appearance in the past year.

Take a piece of the action with the trailer below, courtesy of Yahoo! Movies. "Lawless" opens Aug. 31.

Columbia Pictures / Warner Bros.

'Tis the season for massive explosions and people running from them.

Summer movies are coming, and iconic superheroes will dominate as "Dark Knight Rises," "Avengers," and "The Amazing Spider-Man" duke it out for box office supremacy, while the sci-fi derby includes fresh takes on the "Alien" saga ("Prometheus") and Philip K. Dick ("Total Recall"), plus a return visit to MIB headquarters.

Of course, it's not all grenades and gunshots. Just see a shirtless Tom Cruise in "Rock of Ages" and everythingless Channing Tatum in "Magic Mike" representing for the ladies this summer.

We count down the biggest and best blockbusters for beating the summer heat.

30. 'Battleship'

Universal

Release Date: May 18
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Rihanna
The Scoop: "John Carter" sank, but this feature version of the perennial Hasbro board game may be just the ticket to keep Taylor Kitsch's career afloat. The decision to go sci-fi with invading aliens as the heavies is clearly the filmmakers' attempt to capitalize on the success of "Transformers," but with costars Liam Neeson and singer Rihanna in tow, this could be one unsinkable "Battleship." | Watch the trailer

29. 'Bel Ami'

Magnolia Pictures

Release Date: June 8
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci
The Scoop: R.Pattz is a beautiful friend indeed to the many lovely ladies in this 19th-century romp. The "Twilight" superstar plays Georges Duroy, a French libertine using his cunning and sexuality to broker his way from one powerful woman's bed to another. Based on the novel by Guy de Maupassant, this one's sure to get the more literary-minded audience's home fires burning. | Watch the trailer

28. 'Sparkle'

TriStar

Release Date: Aug 17
Starring: Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks, Derek Luke, Cee Lo Green
The Scoop: Whitney Houston's swan song is a remake of the 1970s cult classic, which she adored as a child. The late singer was set for a big-time comeback, including a soundtrack produced by R. Kelly, before her tragic death in February. Houston and "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks are "Giving Him Something He Can Feel," and audiences will be floored. | Watch the trailer

27. 'The Expendables 2'

Lionsgate

Release Date: Aug 17
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Scoop: A second helping of brawny, gun-totin' geezers was inevitable after the mighty $275 million haul their pyrotechnics brought in two years ago. Stallone has ceded the director's chair to Simon West ("Tomb Raider," "Con Air") but returns as writer and star, playing mercenary Barney Ross, who leads his team into a trap in which one of them gets whacked. They recruit new members Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan) to get some of that sweet, tasty revenge we like so much. | Watch the trailer

26. 'What to Expect When You’re Expecting'

Liongate

Release Date: May 18
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick, Brooklyn Decker
The Scoop: The go-to chick flick of the summer is based on the classic baby manual and follows five couples as they navigate the ups, downs and hormones of pregnancy. Oh, and don't worry, guys, because Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Thomas Lennon, Rob Huebel and Matthew Morrison will be on hand for some much-needed bro time. | Watch the trailer

25. 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'

Paramount

Release Date: June 29
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, Adrianne Palicki
The Scoop: Because one just wasn't enough. The Joes are back, but this time those Cobra scumbags have hatched a scheme to get their kung fu grip on the White House and eliminate America's last line of defense. Tatum returns as Duke, but it's Johnson as Roadblock and Willis as the original "Joe" who are running the show this time around. Did we mention ninjas swordfighting off a cliff face? POW! | Watch the trailer

24. 'People Like Us'

DreamWorks

Release Date: June 29
Starring: Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeiffer, Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Jon Favreau
The Scoop: You might know the name Alex Kurtzman as one of the kings of franchise screenwriting with "Transformers," "Mission: Impossible" and "Star Trek" under his belt. Instead of making a splashy debut as a director, he wrote this grounded drama (along with partner Roberto Orci) about a man named Sam (Pine) who has to deliver $150,000 to a 30-year-old alcoholic sister he's never met. He encounters her troubled 12-year-old son and probably learns something about himself, too.

23. 'Katy Perry: Part of Me'

Getty Images

Release Date: July 5
Starring: Katy Perry
The Scoop: This concert documentary chronicles the life of the world's biggest female pop star, from her humble beginnings as a gospel singer to when she kissed a girl and liked it. If you really want to have fun, try hopping back and forth between the theater showing this film and another one showing ex-hubby Russell Brand's "Rock of Ages." | Watch the trailer

22. 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World'

Focus Features

Release Date: June 22
Starring: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Adam Brody, Derek Luke, Connie Britton
The Scoop: Here's a perfect 2012 comedy for the Mayan-minded. With an impending asteroid about to smush the Earth into a pancake, a man teams up with a neighbor to road-trip across an apocalyptic U.S. and reunite with his childhood sweetheart. We'd never have thought to cast Carell opposite Knightley, but that unlikely chemistry might just prove magical, especially given the unconventional nature of the script. | Watch the trailer

21. 'ParaNorman'

Focus Features

Release Date: Aug 17
Starring: (voices) Casey Affleck, Jeff Garlin, John Goodman, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
The Scoop: From the 3-D stop-motion geniuses at Laika -- the very patient animators who brought us "Coraline" -- comes this slab of spooky fun revolving around an outcast kid named Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who communicates with the dead to protect his sleepy New England town from a horde of ghosts, witches and zombies. The trailers are awesome, with some incredible puppet animation and a hilarious "Monster House" vibe to the story.

Also Check Out: Summer Movie Polls

20. 'Men in Black 3'

Columbia Pictures

Release Date: May 21
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Emma Thompson, Alice Eve
The Scoop: Call it cautious optimism, but despite some clunky-looking effects and tales of production woes (delays, unfinished scripts), we're still amped to see Will and Tommy back in black. With Josh Brolin doing a so-dead-on-it's-scary Tommy Lee Jones impersonation as a '60s-era Agent K, this will indeed be like walking into a time machine. | Watch the trailer

19. 'To Rome With Love'

Sony Pictures Classics

Release Date: June 22
Starring: Woody Allen, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penélope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Page
The Scoop: Woody Allen made box office magic with last summer's "Midnight in Paris," so let's see if he can strike gold twice in a row. The Woodman continues his globetrotting (London, Barcelona, France) with this trip to the boot of Europe as famous Italians (Benigni) mix with American tourists (Baldwin, Eisenberg, Page) in four interconnected comedic vignettes. Throw in an Academy Award-winning Spaniard (Cruz) and Allen himself, and you've got yourself a heaping plate of laughs al dente.

18. 'Magic Mike'

Warner Bros.

Release Date: June 29
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer
The Scoop: Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody ("Juno") remarked on an episode of "WTF with Marc Maron" that when she released her stripping memoir, it resulted in criticism and controversy, and she wondered if this film -- based on Channing Tatum's teen experiences takin' it all off in Tampa, Florida -- would bring the "21 Jump Street" star equal scorn. Only one way to find out, as Steven Soderbergh directs a beefcake wonderland eager to please. Tatum is, to put this tastefully, the Jedi stripping master, while Pettyfer is his Padawan disciple, and the ladies should look forward to some red-hot "lightsabers." | Watch the trailer

17. 'Moonrise Kingdom'

Focus Features

Release Date: May 25
Starring: Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman
The Scoop: With Ed Norton as a cigarette-smoking Boy Scout troop leader, Bruce Willis as a sheriff with translucent glasses and Bill Murray as a disenchanted father, this couldn't be anything but a standard-issue Wes Anderson affair. The director of "The Royal Tenenbaums" always has something delightfully eccentric up his corduroy sleeves, and his tale of two young kids in a runaway romance will not disappoint. | Watch the trailer

16. 'Rock of Ages'

Warner Bros.

Release Date: June 15
Starring: Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Mary J. Blige, Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise
The Scoop: Tom Cruise likes his old-time rock 'n' roll Bon Jovi-style as he belts out "Wanted Dead Or Alive." Word on the street is Cruise brings down the house, but for backup you've got pros Russell Brand and Mary J. Blige waiting in the wings to make sure this Broadway musical takes it to the next level. Adam Shankman ("Hairspray") directs. | Watch the trailer

Keep Reading: Top 30 Must-See Summer Movies of 2012 (15 - 1) >>

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The prestigious Cannes Film Festival announced its 65th anniversary lineup today — and everything's coming up "Twilight." Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart each have a new film competing for the coveted Palme d'Or award.

Bella vs. Edward? Oh, it's totally on, France.

Founded in 1946, the Festival de Cannes, which is held in Cannes, France, has long been considered the most important international film festival in the world.

But rarely has it showcased so many mainstream Hollywood stars, with Pattinson (who headlines David Cronenberg's adaptation of the Don DeLillo novel "Cosmopolis") and Stewart (who co-stars in the adaptation of Jack Kerouac's classic beat novel "On the Road") being just the tip of the iceberg.

Here are some of the other films screening in competition at this year's Cannes that film fans will want to keep an eye out for:

• "Lawless" stars Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf as a couple of Depression-era moonshiners who run afoul of the long arm of the law — and arm that is attached to the body of Golden Globe nominee Guy Pearce. Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowksa also star.
• "The Paperboy" features John Cusack as an inmate on death row who strikes up a long distance romance with Nicole Kidman. Or, you know, her character. She believes he should be freed, so she enlists the aid of Matthw McConaughey's crusading journalist. Bonus: Zac Efron co-stars as well.
• "Mud" also stars McConaughey, this time opposite Reese Witherspoon in a film that surprisingly is not a romcom but rather about a fugitive on the run from justice. Oscar nominee Michael Shannon co-stars ins a film by his "Take Shelter" director, Jeff Nichols.
• "Killing Them Softly" stars Brad Pitt as a gun for hire investigating a heist that took place during a mob-run poker game. The return of the ass-kicking Pitt! Alright.
• "Moonlight Kingdom" kicks off the festival; Wes Anderson's latest quirky effort stars Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel and Edward Norton (among others) in a story of young love gone awry in the early 60's.

The Cannes Film Festival is set to run from May 16-27. A full list of films appearing at the festival can be found on the official Cannes website.

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Actress-turned-mother Natalie Portman is returning to work for the first time since nabbing the Best Actress Oscar for "Black Swan" and going on maternity leave. The brunette beauty has officially signed on to join not one, but two upcoming films by writer/ director/ savant Terrence Malick.

The first, a drama entitled "Knight of the Cups," begins shooting this summer and also stars Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Isabel Lucas, Deadline reports.

After that comes "Lawless," a musical drama (we're not sure what that means either) whose cast includes Rooney Mara, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Haley Bennett and Cate Blanchett (one of Malick's favorites, clearly). This second feature is slated to shoot this fall, immediately following "Knight of the Cups."

This marks not only Portman's return to the big screen after spending many months chillin' with little Aleph, but also her first time working with the Palme d'Or winner and current double-Oscar-nominee Malick. If the Academy has any gauge of true talent — and we're pretty sure it does — then a pairing of these two favorites should be nothing short of spectacular.

We only hope Mr. Portman Millepied can hold down the fort at home while Portman gets back into the swing of being an international movie star.

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It didn't take long for Rooney Mara to go from acting in student films at NYU to giving an on-screen Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) a much-needed reality check in "The Social Network." Being handpicked by David Fincher for the lead in "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" is taking Mara to the next level. Plenty of high-profile actresses were vying for the role of Lisbeth Salander, a character beloved by fans of the Stieg Larsson books and original Swedish film trilogy. All eyes are on her as the protagonist of one of the most anticipated films of the season.

Age: 26

Hometown: Bedford, NY

What She's Done: Besides being one of the only female characters in "The Social Network," Mara costarred in the remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" with Jackie Earle Haley and in the underseen teen comedy "Youth in Revolt" with Michael Cera. You can also catch her in the teen boarding school drama "Tanner Hall" with Brie Larson and, uh, Chris Kattan.

What She's Doing Now: Lisbeth Salander, the computer hacker who teams up with Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) to investigate a long-dormant crime, is all about revenge on The Man -- or the men, in some cases. With a strict moral code all her own, Salander's become a feminist heroine of sorts, as well as an accidental fashion icon.

Reminds Us of: Mara worked hard to transform herself into the spiky, body-modded heroine (yeah, those piercings are real), and her dangerous elf vibe definitely brings to mind the original Lisbeth, Noomi Rapace. Those impish dimples resemble those of fellow Lisbeth contender Carey Mulligan, and her big blue eyes remind us of Emily Blunt.

Fun Facts: In envisioning the character of Salander, Fincher took some visual cues from spitfire rapper Yo-Landi Vi$$er of Die Antwoord -- hence the funky bowl haircut and blonde eyebrows.

Quotable: Mara said, "Because of all the tattoos and the makeup and the piercings, and the physical transformations my body has to go through, it would always feel sort of like I was in costume, even if I was naked. It just felt like a good one to get -- a necessary one to get." In this instance, she's referring to her nipple piercing, but she also got her facial piercings done for really real, all in one go.

Shout Out: Mara is the great-granddaughter of both Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr. and New York Giants founder Tim Mara, yet the actress takes little for granted. The notoriously hard-to-please Fincher told W magazine, "I wanted her from the beginning ... Rooney may be a trust-fund baby from football royalty, but 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."

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What's Next: Mara's racking up the big-name directors; she's currently filming "Lawless," the next film by Terrence Malick, which stars Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett. According to Deadline, she has the option to be in second and third films in the Salander series, "The Girl Who Played With Fire" and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," although there are currently no details on when or if they'll film. Her name's also been bounced around for the remake of "Oldboy" and Kathryn Bigelow's film about Osama bin Laden.