Open Road

This week: Steven Soderbergh's supposedly final film "Side Effects" is a psychological thriller starring Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum and Catherine Zeta-Jones. We tell you why it's a final work worth checking out.

Also new this week is the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger to leading-man status in "The Last Stand," the YA supernatural romance "Beautiful Creatures," Al Pacino and Christopher Walken in "Stand Up Guys" and a 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray of "National Lampoon's Vacation."

'Side Effects'

Open Road

Box Office: $32 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% Fresh
Storyline: This twisty tale from Steven Soderbergh is about a woman named Emily (Rooney Mara) who turns to psychiatrist Dr. Banks (Jude Law) to help her deal with her intense anxiety attacks after her husband (Channing Tatum) is released from jail. After Banks prescribes an experimental drug to Emily, the side effects have deadly consequences and Banks reaches out to Emily's former shrink (Catherine Zeta-Jones) for advice.
Extras!: Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain a spoof of typical behind-the-scenes featurettes filmed by "amateur photographer" Zeta-Jones in which she identifies the rest of the cast as Academy Award losers, a fun mock-up of an actual pharmaceutical website called "The Ablixa Website Experience" and commercials for both Ablixa and the supposed ADHD drug Intenin.
We Say: Soderbergh has said that this is his last theatrical film and, if it is, at least he exits on a high note. You never know who is screwing over whom in this unpredictable thriller that plays like a super high-class version of "Wild Things" with a prescription drug twist (blame the drugs for your deviant behavior!). All four lead actors are on board to mess with your head and you'll be guessing until the end credits which one walks away the least affected by all the scheming.

'The Last Stand'

Lionsgate

Box Office: $12 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 59% Rotten
Storyline: Arnold Schwarzenegger is back as Sheriff Ray Owen, a former LAPD narcotics division officer who now lives an excitement-free existence in a sleepy border town. His semi-retirement is disrupted when he learns that a dangerous cartel boss (Eduardo Noriega) has escaped from a courthouse and is speeding at 200 mph towards the Mexican border, where his only obstacle is Ray and his inexperienced staff. Johnny Knoxville, Forest Whitaker, Luis Guzman and Jaimie Alexander also star in this old-school action flick.
Extras!: Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain deleted and extended scenes, a making-of featurette, a scene breakdown of the cornfield chase, "The Dinkum Firearm and Historic Weaponry Museum Tour" and footage from one morning on the set taken by Knoxville and Alexander.
We Say: This is Schwarzenegger's first on-screen leading role since that whole California Governator gig. We're glad he's back even if he seems a little rusty acting-wise, but at least he has Knoxville and Guzman around for comic relief. This R-rated film directed by Kim Jee-woon is a welcome throwback to the action flicks Ahnuld used to make in his '80s and '90s heyday with tough-guy talk and lots of practical FX. Schwarzenegger didn't blow up the box office with this one like he did in the golden era of action films, but fans who weren't satisfied by his brief appearances in the "Expendables" movies will walk away smiling.

'Beautiful Creatures'

Warner Bros.

Box Office: $19 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 45% Rotten
Storyline: This teen supernatural romance based on the YA novel of the same name by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl centers on Lena Duchannes (Alice Englert), a "caster" (i.e. witch) who moves to the small town of Gatlin, South Carolina and quickly catches the eye of classmate Ethan Wate (Alden Ehrenreich), a boy who has been dreaming about her since before they met. Even if Ethan is OK with the spookier side of Lena's dysfunctional supernatural family, he meets her at a critical time before her 16th birthday when she must undergo the Claiming and decide if she will live her life Light or Dark.
Extras!: Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain deleted scenes, "Book to Screen" and several behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes.
We Say: If the plan for this wannabe franchise was to keep the "Twilight" momentum going by capturing its audience, this supposed saga-starter was an epic fail. Not only did it bomb at the box office but the silly soap opera story elicited embarrassing, hammy performances by seasoned actors like Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson. Between this and the failure of "The Host," the YA spell on moviegoers seems to have been broken ... at least until the next "Hunger Games" arrives in theaters.

'Stand Up Guys'

Lionsgate

Box Office: $3.3 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 37% Rotten
Storyline: This crime comedy has three aging gangsters reuniting for one epic final night when Val (Al Pacino) is released from prison after serving 28 years. Val's old friend Doc (Christopher Walken) has orders to kill Val by 10 a.m. the next day, but the two instead bust their old pal Hirsch (Alan Arkin) out of his retirement home for a night of playing shoot-'em-up. Julianna Margulies co-stars as Hirsch's daughter.
Extras!: The DVD and Blu-ray have featurettes on the making of the stunt-driving sequences, the film itself and the music by Jon Bon Jovi as well as deleted scenes and commentary by director Fisher Stevens.
We Say: This movie works best when everyone else gets out of the way and cinema veterans Walken, Pacino and Arkin are allowed to just play off each other and have a little fun. The tone veers from silly action (rushing Pacino to the hospital to have his Viagra-induced erection drained) to syrupy sentiment (Walken visiting his estranged granddaughter every day at a diner without telling her who he is), which makes this golden-boys reunion wildly uneven.

'National Lampoon's Vacation' 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray

Warner Bros.

Box Office: $61 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Fresh
Storyline: This 1983 road-trip comedy classic follows Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), his wife (Beverly D'Angelo) and their two children (Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron) from their home in Illinois to the theme park Wally World in California. Clark is hell-bent on showing his family a good time, even if it means strapping a dead relative to the roof and continually embarrassing himself with his madcap pursuit of the ultimate family vacation.
Extras!: All of the extras from the previous Blu-ray edition are here, including an audio commentary and a quick introduction by Chase, Randy Quaid and Marty Simmons. New to this Anniversary Edition is an 85-minute "Inside Story" retrospective documentary that includes recent interviews with the cast and crew.
We Say: Since this seminal laugh fest spawned several sequels and a remake currently in the works, it has earned its well-deserved place as one of the funniest comedies of all time. Although this new edition has the exact same picture and sound quality as the previous Blu-ray release, fans will want to double dip for the exhaustive documentary on this version that the original must have left tied to the back of the station wagon.

Also New This Week:

"Parker"
"Howl's Moving Castle" Blu-ray
"The Burning" Blu-ray
"The Town That Dreaded Sundown" Blu-ray
"Vegas Vacation" Blu-ray
"Struck by Lightning"
"The ABCs of Death"

Movies — er, "cinema" — might not matter so much to director Steven Soderbergh these days, but judging by this new trailer for "Behind the Candelabra," a film he's been putting together for years and which will finally debut on HBO next month, he's still quite cozy in the director's chair.

The cable network released a first trailer for the film, which adapts the memoir of Liberace's lover-slash-chauffeur Scott Thorson, "My Life with Liberace," and it's absolutely gorgeous.

Michael Douglas stars as the incomparably flamboyant pianist himself, while Matt Damon portrays his special young friend who got scooped up into the lavish lifestyle of the world's then most popular entertainer.

The real Thorson was just a teenager when Liberace took him under his wing, but after five years of highs (luxe gifts, vacations and even an adoption) and lows (drugs, promiscuity and plastic surgery to make Thorson look like a younger Liberace), he cut ties with the pianist and later filed a $113 million palimony suit, which would eventually be settled for five figures, two cars and two dogs. Despite the cantankerous end to their wild relationship, Thorson did pay Liberace a visit before his AIDS-related death in 1987.

"It was really fun," Soderbergh said to Vulture about making the movie. "The world of it was just bananas. It was great to see Michael and Matt jump off the cliff together. Nobody can accuse them of being shy. They just went for it. It's pretty gay."

Among the film's supporting stars are Dan Aykroyd, who plays Liberace's manager, Debbie Reynolds as his mother and, yep, that was totally Rob Lowe playing the stoner plastic surgeon.

"Behind the Candelabra" hits HBO on Sunday, May 26 at 9 p.m. after an expected debut at Cannes Film Festival.

With a filmography this eclectic, it may be hard to figure out what Steven Soderbergh movie is right for you (if you had to, you know, pick just one). Upon the release of what appears to be his last theatrical film, "Side Effects," we've conjured a handy-dandy flowchart that may help you find that perfect Soderbergh fit.

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Annapurna Pictures

Do you have a case of the winter blahs? Depression got you down? Does the stress of the holiday make you just want to stay in bed, eat chocolates from little brown paper wrappers and read "Fifty Shades of Gray" over and over? Well, if you answered yes to any of these questions — or if you just like cool viral marketing campaigns — then we have the cure for you right here.

Are you ready for Steven Soderbergh's new wonder drug Ablixa?

That's the fictional anti-depressant at the heart of Soderbergh's new film, "Side Effects." Jude Law plays a doctor who treats his patient, Rooney Mara, by giving her some Ablixa. Unfortunately, the side effects include things like adultery, murder and a severe overdose of Channing Tatum. So one out of three ain't bad.

And now to get fans talking about "Side Effects," Soderbergh has launched a cool new viral website for the fake drug Ablixa. Not only does it allows you to get a free interactive diagnosis from Law himself, but you can also check out the absolutely dead on Ablixa TV commercial, which we swear we saw at least three times during Sunday Night Football.

Check it out. And help at least get rid of your movie blues:

Open Road

One of the side effects of being as hot as Channing Tatum is right now is that you start getting offered more film and more interesting films. Once you've proven you're a star, after all, people want to start working with you.

Case in point: The new trailer for "Side Effects," which lets Tatum flex his serious acting muscles as well as his serious muscle muscles.

Of course, Tatum did have a bit of an in with the director, having starred in Steven Soderbergh's surprise blockbuster hit "Magic Mike" earlier this summer. But as this gripping and tense new trailer shows, "Side Effects" is pretty darn far from male stripper hijinx.

And, of course, it boasts an all-star cast that includes Oscar nominee Jude Law, Oscar nominee Rooney Mara and Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones in a gripping story of doctor-patient confidentiality gone horribly awry.

Check it out, courtesy of Yahoo! Trailers. And get ready, because on Feb. 8, you're going to get a prescription level dose of Channing Tatum.

Warner Bros.

This week: Before he became an actor, Channing Tatum worked as a male stripper, which inspired Steven Soderbergh to direct "Magic Mike," a behind-the-scenes look at a troupe of male strippers taking it off nightly at a club in Florida.

Also new this week is the self-explanatory horror thriller "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," the sweet-natured apocalyptic romance "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" and a definitive anniversary edition of "Blade Runner" on Blu-ray.

'Magic Mike'

Warner Bros.

Box Office: $114 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% Fresh
Storyline: Inspired by Channing Tatum's real-life occupation as a male stripper, this Steven Soderbergh-directed drama (that's right — this isn't a fluffy chick flick) stars Tatum as the titular character who takes a young dancer called The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing and teaches the teenager how to shake his moneymaker, pick up women and make gobs of money. Matthew McConaughey stars as the owner of the joint where the guys — including Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello — strip for rowdy female audiences.
Extras! The Fully Extended Edition has a "Backstage on 'Magic Mike'" featurette in which Tatum exposes the finer details of being a male stripper — from manscaping to hip shaking — and the transformation of his co-stars. The Blu-ray also has exclusive extended dance sequences.
We Say: If you just want to see good-looking guys take it all off and gyrate for women's delight, read no further — this movie has the bare butts you require. But surrounding the parade of man meat is a more compelling story about having access to too much while too young and how real dreams are worth pursuing.

'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter'

Fox

Box Office: $38 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 35% Rotten
Storyline: Based on the novel of the same name, this action-horror film imagines the 16th President of the United States as someone who — when he's not worried about emancipating the slaves — moonlights as a vampire hunter after having witnessed his mother being killed by a bloodsucker. Benjamin Walker plays Abe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays his wife, Dominic Cooper plays the president's mentor and Rufus Sewell heads up an order of vampires.
Extras! The five-part making-of feature includes details about the transition from book to screen, choreography, makeup effects and a peek behind the scenes. The full combo pack includes the movie in 3-D (as it was in theaters), although the 3-D effect is not one of the better conversions out there.
We Say: Although the silly premise is at odds with the serious performances by everyone involved, viewers who can get beyond that might find themselves rooting for Honest Abe to rid our country of a fanged scourge.

'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World'

Focus Features

Box Office: $7 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 55% Rotten
Storyline: When news of a world-ending asteroid hurtling towards Earth breaks, Dodge's (Steve Carell) wife ditches him and he decides to seek out his high school sweetheart before the world ends. Accompanying him on his journey is Penny (Keira Knightley), the neighbor he never really knew whose impact on his life will be greater than any space rock.
Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain several behind-the-scenes featurettes, including one in which Carell, Knightley and other stars of the film discuss what songs would make their playlist if the world were to end.
We Say: There are plenty of unexpected romance movies out there, but this one has the pressure of a ticking clock, which makes matters more interesting. Carell and Knightley sell it with their charming banter and easy chemistry.

'Blade Runner' 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray

Warner Bros.

Box Office: $33 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Fresh
Storyline: Ridley Scott's seminal sci-fi masterpiece stars Harrison Ford as Deckard, the titular cop assigned to hunt down several rogue Replicants (synthetic humans with a four-year lifespan) that have escaped from the Off-World colonies and returned to a rain-soaked, neon-lit Los Angeles in 2019 in search of more life from their creator, Dr. Tyrell. Rutger Hauer, Daryl Hannah, Joanna Cassidy and Sean Young appear as the Tyrell Corporation-created "more human than human" beings that force Deckard to reconsider the meaning of life.
Extras! This new Blu-ray edition features all four versions of the film on one seamless-branching disc and Ultraviolet digital copies for the first time. All the previous extras are included on a separate bonus disc, plus this Collector's Edition comes packaged with a new Spinner car and a 72-page art production book with never-before-seen Scott sketches, poster art and photos from the set.
We Say: Although underappreciated during its initial release in 1982, "Blade Runner" has become one of the most influential science-fiction films of all time and Scott's darkly beautiful vision of a futuristic Los Angeles will still take your breath away. The movie has been on a ten-month moratorium from home video, but Warner Bros. has brought it back with an out-of-this-world new package that "you people wouldn't believe."

Also New This Week:

"Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection"
"Secret of the Wings"
"I, Robot" Blu-ray 3D
"Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines"
"Take This Waltz"

Warner Bros.

When the male stripper drama, "Magic Mike," danced into theaters earlier this summer, we're not sure anyone anticipated what a success — both critically and commercially — it would be. (The flick earned a whopping $113 million domestically off a production budget of only $7 million). As to be expected, when Hollywood has a hit on its hands, it gets started on the sequel pretty much right away.

But with Steven Soderbergh insisting (at least for now) that he's taking a hiatus from filmmaking, there's an empty seat where the director should be. Queue music: enter Channing Tatum.

That's right, the heartthrob with the moveshas mentioned that he might direct the sequel himself, possibly in tandem with screenwriter/ producer Reid Carolin, IndieWire reports. Yes, this breakout star has ambitions far beyond acting. Did it just get hot in here?

While directing isn't something you learn overnight, Tatum has worked with Soderbergh on three films now ("Magic Mike," "Haywire" and "The Bitter Pill") so he may have picked up a pointer or two along the way. In any case, we'd be happy to give him the benefit of the doubt on this one, because a little more magic is always a good thing.

So what would the second installment be about? According to Carolin, "You know, we are talking a lot about it. We have a story, and it is really ridiculous and fun. It's a road movie sort of thing, where a bunch of strippers get back together. It's more of a broad comedy. I don't know whether it will happen or not."

Let's just ignore that last sentence and focus on the possibility of a road movie peppered with a bunch of fun-loving strippers. We'll have to wait and see whether this directing gig shakes out for Tatum, but something tells us he's got the skills to make it happen.

Also Check Out: 8 Guys We Wanna See Strip in 'Magic Mike 2'

Warner Bros.

Channing Tatum is cashing in on his younger glory days as a stripper in Florida with the semi-autobiographical film "Magic Mike."

Academy Award-winner Steven Soderbergh ("Traffic," "Ocean's Eleven") directs this scintillating (or is that skintillating?) inside look at the Xquisite strip club where Magic Mike Martingano (Tatum) takes a young rookie called The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing while trying to spread his own wings with The Kid's sister. Matthew McConaughey costars as club owner/impresario Dallas along with a whole stable of purebred beefcake.

1. No cops to stop these horny gals from copping a feel.

2. Tatum talks turkey.

3. There's only one logical explanation for the tube socks, thongs, sailor hat and leg shaving: He's a swimmer.

4. When it comes to stripping, Magic Mike is the Ginuwine article.

5. Damn, when it rains men, it pours removable bow ties.

6. For fifties he'll appear in another "G.I. Joe" movie.

Sorry, everyone — the men of "Magic Mike" didn't wear their costumes (or lack of them) to their big Hollywood premiere.

Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey and other "adult entertainers" kept it all on as they walked the red carpet in celebration of director Steven Soderbergh's modern-day fable about male strippers. While not much skin was shown, there were still plenty of prime photo ops.

Stick a virtual dollar bill into the underpants of our collection of premiere pics, and get down with "Magic Mike" when it opens in theaters on June 29.

Relativity

This week: In the action flick "Haywire," MMA fighter Gina Carano knocks around Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender and Channing Tatum as an assassin on a mission to confront the employer who set her up.

Also new this week is Madonna in the director's seat for the period romance "W.E.," the ensemble rom-com "New Year's Eve," and new Blu-ray editions of "Clueless" and "Men in Black."

'Haywire'

Lionsgate

Box Office: $19 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% Fresh
Storyline: Steven Soderbergh casts MMA fighter Gina Carano as an assassin named Mallory who works for a private firm employed by the U.S. government for covert assignments. Mallory is set up by the firm's director (Ewan McGregor), and she hunts him down to even the score in this action flick costarring Michael Fassbender, Bill Paxton, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas and Michael Douglas.
Extras! The DVD and Blu-ray contain "Gina Carano in Training," which shows the military training Carano went through so she could portray a believable spy.
We Say: Soderbergh said he saw Carano fight and said, "Someone needs to fashion a movie around this girl," which is exactly what he does here with impressive results. The movie has an all-star cast but succeeds mostly because Carano is doing all of her own stunts, selling the belief that Mallory could really beat the hell out of any guy.

'W.E.'

Weinstein Company

Box Office: $567,234
Rotten Tomatoes: 13% Rotten
Storyline: Madonna directs this romantic drama about the lives of two passionate women separated by more than 60 years. In 1998, Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) researches the relationship between King Edward VII (James D'Arcy) and American Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough) and discovers their storybook romance was not as perfect as once thought.
Extras! The only bonus feature is "The Making of 'W.E.,'" which features Madge in full-on directrix mode.
We Say: It might have earned an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Costume Design, but that is the only reason to see this pretentious vanity project directed by a pop singer still desperately seeking validation on the big screen.

'New Year's Eve'

Warner Bros.

Box Office: $55 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 8% Rotten
Storyline: Director Garry Marshall's latest holiday-themed romantic comedy with a large ensemble cast (Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Robert De Niro, Ludacris, Zac Efron, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank and more) depicts the state of several intertwining romances during the titular holiday.
Extras! The huge cast shares their best and worst holiday celebrations, resolutions and memories that impacted their lives in "New Year's Eve Secrets of the Stars" on both the DVD and Blu-ray.
We Say: This characteristically schmaltzy and artificially sentimental rom-com from Marshall earned five Razzie nominations for Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Actress (Parker), Worst Screenplay and Worst Ensemble.

'Clueless' Blu-ray

Paramount

Box Office: $57 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 82% Fresh
Storyline: Loosely based on Jane Austen's "Emma," this 1995 comedy by Amy Heckerling features a breakout performance by Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz, a sweet-natured but superficial ding-a-ling with unresolved feelings for her ex-stepbrother (Paul Rudd). Cher adopts a "tragically un-hip" girl at school (Brittany Murphy) and tries to play matchmaker in between, you know, shopping and avoiding the freeway.
Extras! This Blu-ray debut contains one exclusive feature: the "Clue or False Trivia Game" that pops up challenging questions during the movie.
We Say: You're going to pass this one by? As if! This likable romp also features one of the late Murphy's most memorable performances.

'Men in Black' Blu-ray

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Box Office: $251 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Fresh
Storyline: K (Tommy Lee Jones) recruits J (Will Smith) to be part of a federal agency that investigates and monitors all alien-related activity on Earth in this blockbuster sci-fi comedy. The unlikely duo uncovers an intergalactic plot to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies who happen to reside in New York City.
Extras! Although otherwise identical to the previous "Men in Black" Blu-ray release, this new version has a code for an Ultraviolet copy so you can stream the movie from the cloud service to any compatible portable device.
We Say: The ridiculous-looking extra-terrestrials and terrific chemistry between the dry Jones and hip-hop cop Smith seems even better in high definition, and making us hope this summer's "Men in Black 3" recaptures some of the fun.

Also New This Week:

"Men in Black 2" Blu-ray
"Mimic" 3-Film Set Blu-ray
"Joyful Noise"
"Meet Joe Black" Blu-ray
"Pillow Talk" Blu-ray

Warner Bros.

Yes, Channing Tatum is sporting a policeman's hat in the image to the left, but here he's a different kind of undercover cop than the one he played in "21 Jump Street."

Tatum lets it all hang out as he takes on the title role of "Magic Mike," the tale of a male exotic dancer who's maybe looking to get out of the life of adult entertainment in order to concentrate on his custom design business. The stripper-entrepreneur experiences additional life changes when he takes on a young up-and-comer (Alex Pettyfer) as his stripping protege and starts to fall for a lady who's actually none too impressed by his stage profession (Cody Horn).

Well, here it is, our first look at what many have been simply referring to as "the Channing Tatum stripper movie." We have to say, the movie doesn't look as polished and snazzy as we thought it would (in the realm of Steven Soderbergh movies, we were thinking this would be more "Ocean's Eleven" than, say, the director's previous outing with Tatum, the grungy "Haywire"), but it definitely has the makings of a crowd-pleasing sleeper hit for the summer — especially with Matthew McConaughey as Tatum's boss, who occasionally takes the stage himself.

Check out the trailer below or in HD at iTunes Movie Trailers. "Magic Mike" opens June 29.

Lionsgate

This morning, we were surprised to learn that "The Hunger Games" director Gary Ross might've just made the unfortunate decision to vacate his chair for the first sequel "Catching Fire."

The news is not officially official just yet, but fans across the various districts are already up in arms about it. The hashtag #WeWantGaryRoss made its way into today's trending topics on Twitter as a result of the story.

If it is true, and Ross will not return for the second film, we're left with a very burning question: Who could take his place?

Ross' will be big shoes to fill by whomever steps in, of course, so we thought we'd go ahead and size up some of the potential candidates for the job.

Steven Soderbergh

We've already gotten a taste of what director Steven Soderbergh can bring to the "Hunger Games" fold, as he did second unit work on the first installment and brought forth that nail-biting revolution in District 11 sequence. So, we have little doubt that Soderbergh could ably carry on the tone, message and feel of the franchise. Our friends at Hollywood Crush dig him as the next in line as well. Only problem is, he's got his hands full with "The Side Effects."

Danny Boyle

When it comes to the emotional and social turmoil existent in "Catching Fire," there's almost no one who could triumph like "127 Hours" and "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle. He's a craftsman of human circumstance, one might say. Plus, hey, he's already got ample experience working (successfully) alongside Simon Beaufoy, who's written the script. Boyle could definitely continue the tradition of having credible and thoughtful filmmakers involved with "The Hunger Games."

Peter Jackson

If he could squeeze it into his very busy "The Hobbit" schedule, director Peter Jackson would be an excellent choice for "Catching Fire." Not only is he a proven book-to-film aficionado by way of "The Lord of the Rings" series, but he's also an actor's director and he can seriously grapple with the necessary CGI for the film. However, money was among the issues with Ross, and we can't imagine Jackson wouldn't cost Lionsgate double whatever Ross wanted.

Summit

David Slade

Once considered one of the top three candidates for the job of directing "The Hunger Games," David Slade could be one of the key filmmakers considered for the job of directing "Catching Fire." He's got experience to speak of in stepping into franchise-land, having directed movie three of the "Twilight" series, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse." Plus, when we talked to Slade many moons ago about the possibility of directing "Catching Fire" (long before the news of Ross' departure), he wasn't exactly opposed to the idea. Seeing how "Eclipse" was the most triangle-y installment to the "Twilight Saga," the whole Team Peeta/Team Gale concept would be completely familiar territory for Slade. But is it too familiar?

Rupert Sanders

New British director Rupert Sanders has become the talk of Tinseltown thanks to what is poised to be a massively awesome debut with "Snow White and the Huntsman."It's his first film, but already we can tell Sanders has something special to offer the world of film, particularly where extreme visuals are concerned. And "Catching Fire" will need someone with resonant vision to tackle the extensive tick-tock arena. From what we've seen of "Snow White and the Huntsman" so far, he could certainly fit that mold.

Roadside Attractions

Debra Granik

Perhaps "Winter's Bone" director Debra Granik should be considered in the mix as well. Not only would she bring some lady power to the franchise, but she also helped Jennifer Lawrence nab her first Oscar nomination. She's worked with tough times material before and knows how to present subtle strength in a reluctant heroine. In other words, Granik could put some unique heart into the story of "Catching Fire" and flesh out some of the most delicious personality details of Katniss and the gang.

Christopher Nolan

"The Dark Knight Rises" director Christopher Nolan really knows how to infuse the bigger picture into visually stunning movies. Not to mention, he's got je ne sais quoi with franchise material and he's an accomplished writer as well. He could easily transform the "Catching Fire" script into something large. What's questionable, however, is whether he could echo the sentiment of girl power "The Hunger Games" has.

Ridley Scott

When it comes to gritty action movies, no one can deny the power of director Ridley Scott. And he's already proven his muster in combat-arena-style films with "Gladiator." Scott's one of the busiest filmmakers in Hollywood, though, so the chances of nailing him for "Catching Fire" are probably pretty slim.

Getty Images

David Yates

It'd be a crime against the Capitol to overlook the possibility that "Harry Potter" (sequels five through eight) director David Yates could be considered for the job of directing "Catching Fire."  Yates, like many of these directors, knows a thing or two about stepping into an established franchise and carrying the weight of expectation on through. A major obstacle to his involvement, though, would be the fact that he's got "Your Voice in My Head" on deck for summer production.

Brad Bird

Director Brad Bird really impressed with his killer action sequences in "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" and proved he can and will make a successful transition from the world of animation. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, "Catching Fire" would be a good fit for his next move.

So, tributes, which director would you like to see step up to light up "Catching Fire?" Target your thoughts to the comments below!

Amanda Bell is a young adult book-to-film enthusiast and has made a name for herself as a fan-friendly, informative and dependable source. In addition to being the District 14 columnist for NextMovie, she runs the popular Twilight Examiner column. Keep tabs on her on Twitter.

Lionsgate

Faithful as it was to the source material, "The Hunger Games" still had more than its fair share of on-screen surprises.

The movie hit all the major notes we anticipated, of course, and almost all of our predictions of bits cut from the film (Madge, Avoxes) proved true.

Even so, the following eight moments had our jaws on the floor.

Do be warned: this list is full of delicious spoilers, so if you haven't seen the movie yet, you may want to bookmark this column for later.

Foxface and Katniss Bump into Each Other

We weren't expecting Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and the sneaky Foxface (Jacqueline Emerson) to become, um, acquainted so early in the Games … but we really did like watching the two jointly opt for the flight (as opposed to fight) strategy to survival after colliding into one another. It definitely set them apart from the viciousness underway back at the Cornucopia.

Cato and Glimmer Sittin' Under a Tree

It was a pretty gossip-worthy shocker that Glimmer (Leven Rambin) and Cato (Alexander Ludwig) – who were equally good-looking and arrogant, come to think of it – became a cross-district item during "The Hunger Games." In the books, it seemed like Cato might've had a shine for his own district's Clove (Isabelle Fuhrman), but we can't lie, we kinda dug the movie matching.

Lionsgate

Snow's Perspective on the Games

We knew we'd get to see a little more of President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the film than we'd read about, but what we did not foresee was how thoroughly his position on the Games would be represented. We loved seeing him in his rose garden dishing out knowledge on how to keep the masses in check. It was a great set up for the bigger picture (and, of course, the sequel "Catching Fire").

Revolution Hits District 11

Director Gary Ross did tease that there'd be a peek at the discontent in District 11 in the movie, but we had no idea it'd be so intense! It was almost like an early glimpse at the ruckus of "Mockingjay." And who didn't fist pump when those Capitol grain supplies went down? Well played, Steven Soderbergh.

Caesar Flickerman Running the Show

Having Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) serve as a bizarre pacemaker for the movie was darn effective. For one, those moments where he popped in Capitol TV-style were madly entertaining reminders that this was a show, and they also helped to move the action forward. Everyone knew Tucci would bring pure gold to the role, but we didn't expect him to have so much good screen time to work with.

Haymitch's Star-Crossed Lovers Play

It was well-anticipated that Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) would use the "star-crossed lovers from District 12" bit in his sponsorship efforts, but the movie added a twist by having him put the dual victors concept into motion. Not only was it nice to see how that game change came about, but it was also great to watch Haymitch work it for both of his mentees.

Lionsgate

Cato's Descent into Madness

In the muttation-driven battle between Cato, Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), we loved it when Peeta put his throwing strength to good use and chucked that career tribute right over his shoulders to protect his lady. But what was even better was Cato's final monologue. While he started out tough and eager to bring "honor" to his district, by the end, of it he'd become just crazy enough to realize how senseless the Games were. Those lines added some really interesting complexity to the scene.

Seneca and the Berries

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the moment Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley), having just allowed two out-lying district tributes to out-maneuver him, was locked in a room  to find a bowl of nightlock berries awaiting. Throughout the movie, he was clearly under warning not to disappoint, and we readers of the books knew things wouldn't pan out so well for him. Still, this scene served as a testament to both the gravity of his mistake and Snow's wicked cleverness.

What was the biggest surprise of "The Hunger Games" to you? Shoot away in the comments!

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Amanda Bell is a young adult book-to-film enthusiast and has made a name for herself as a fan-friendly, informative and dependable source. In addition to being the District 14 columnist for NextMovie, she runs the popular Twilight Examiner column. Keep tabs on her on Twitter.

Valentine's Day is upon us, love is in the air, and we are so on it.

Oh, we don't mean candlelit dinners and flower deliveries -- we mean romantic movies, in which every meet-cute and heartbreak has a soundtrack; and hot, sensitive characters say "I love you" better than your significant other ever will.

You know who loves romantic movies, too? Celebrities. From Channing Tatum to Christina Hendricks, these 20 famous folks name their favorites and give us some pretty good ideas for what we might be watching (again) this Valentine's Day.

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Yesterday, Jennifer Lawrence took the podium – tough Katniss on The Capitol interview stage-style - to perform the 2012 Academy Award nominations reading, but that's just a drop in the bucket when it comes to "The Hunger Games" Oscar connections.

In fact, between the cast and filmmakers, we counted more than two dozen Oscar nominations and quite a few wins. Who knew these gamekeepers, so to speak, were so accomplished?!

This list should tell you just what caliber of talent is involved in "The Hunger Games," both on and off-screen.

Jennifer Lawrence: 1

Katniss herself, Jennifer Lawrence, was one of 2010's Best Actress nominees for her work as Ree in "Winter's Bone," and while she didn't win, she sure turned some heads and clenched her spot on the list of must-watch young actresses early in her career thanks to it.

Focus Features

Josh Hutcherson: 0

Okay, so our future Peeta, Josh Hutcherson, didn't actually get any Academy Awards nominations, but we felt his part in last year's Best Picture nominee, "The Kids Are All Right" was worth a mention here nonetheless.

Woody Harrelson: 2

He might be a drunken stumbler on-screen as Haymitch for "The Hunger Games," but Woody Harrelson is no slacker on the job. Woody's been nominated by the Academy twice – once in 1997 for his controversial leading role in "The People vs. Larry Flynt" and again in 2010 as supporting actor for "The Messenger." We think he deserved a three-peat this year for "Rampart," but what can ya do?

Dreamworks

Stanley Tucci: 1

He'll be the one conducting interviews in "The Hunger Games" as Caesar Flickerman, but just two years ago it was Stanley Tucci in the spotlight, chatting about his work in "The Lovely Bones," a film which earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination in 2010.

Gary Ross: 4

One of the most-nominated members of the "Hunger Games" team is director Gary Ross, who's scored a total of four. His screenplay for "Big" earned him a 1989 Best Original Screenplay nomination, as did his script for "Dave" in 1994. He went on to get Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture nominations for "Seabiscuit" in 2004.

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Steven Soderbergh: 3

The second unit director for "The Hunger Games" Steven Soderbergh was nominated in 1990 for Best Original Screenplay for "Sex, Lies, and Videotape," and in 2001 he was nominated for Best Director for both "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic." He ended up winning out against himself and took the prize home on behalf of "Traffic."

T-Bone Burnett: 2

When it comes to the soundtrack and score, "The Hunger Games" is in very capable hands. T-Bone Burnett was nominated for Best Original Song in 2004 for "Scarlet Tide" from "Cold Mountain," and in 2010 he won the Best Original Song prize for "The Weary Kid" from "Crazy Heart." We're sure he’s gonna knock our socks off again this year.

Universal

Judianna Makovsky: 3

Judianna Makovsky has three Oscar noms for Best Costume Design to her name – in 1998 for "Pleasantville," in 2002 for "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," and again in 2004 for Gary Ross' "Seabiscuit." Those are three very different films costume-wise, so Makovsky must have great range!

Lon Bender: 3

Supervising sound editor Lon Bender rounds out the Oscar-heavy crew list, having won himself a golden statuette in 1996 for Best Sound Effects in "Braveheart." He went on to receive another nomination in 2007 for "Blood Diamond." Oh, and did we mention he’s nominated this year for "Drive?"

Disney

Ve Neill: 7

Makeup is of utmost importance to "The Hunger Games," so who better to hire in as the department head and designer than Ve Neill herself, three-time Oscar winner and seven-time nominee? Ve Neill won Best Makeup Oscars in 1989 for "Beetlejuice," in 1994 for "Mrs. Doubtfire," and again in 1995 for "Ed Wood." She was also nominated for the same category in 1991 for "Edward Scissorhands," twice again in 1993 for "Batman Returns" and "Hoffa," then in 2004 for "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," and once more for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End" in 2008. Needless to say, Neill's resume speaks for itself.

Tom Stern: 1

Deeper into the crew is Tom Stern, Director of Photography, who has also been nominated for an Oscar. In 2009, his work in "Changeling" earned him a nod for Best Achievement in Cinematography.

Stephen Mirrione & Juliette Welfling: 3

Editing for "The Hunger Games" rests in the hands of dual Academy Award nominees Stephen Mirrione and Juliette Welfling. Mirrione got his first nod and win in 2001 for his work on Steven Sodebergh's "Traffic." He received a second nomination in 2009 for "Babel." Juliette Welfling, meanwhile, got a 2008 Best Achievement in Film Editing nomination for her work on "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly."

TOTAL NOMINATIONS: 30

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Amanda Bell is a young adult book-to-film enthusiast and has made a name for herself as a fan-friendly, informative and dependable source. In addition to being the District 14 columnist for NextMovie, she runs the popular Twilight Examiner column. Keep tabs on her on Twitter.

Company Films

Will actual film -- you know, the 35mm kind of stuff -- be little more than a novelty by 2015?

That's what they say, which means digital filmmaking may be poised to become the norm in Hollywood, a transition that's already spurning much debate and discussion (not to mention lamentation). Does digital take the "art" out of filmmaking? Is digital making it impossible to discern the real deal from the amateur shooting in his backyard? And what the heck does James Cameron mean with "You can't shoot 3-D on film?"

These questions and many more are explored by Keanu Reeves in "Side by Side," the new documentary set to premiere next month at the Berlin International Film Festival. Reeves, who produced the film (or is that "video?"), has managed to gather a staggering number of A-list directors to discuss this hot button topic with him, including George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, Robert Rodriguez, Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Steven Soderbergh and, of course, James Cameron.

"Side by Side" looks like a fascinating peek behind the curtain of moviemaking during a time when the business and process of a longtime industry is going through remarkable changes at a rapid-fire pace. Check out the trailer below, courtesy of Vimeo, and thanks to The Playlist for the find.

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In an already narrow playing field of female actors who play characters as tough as their male counterparts, Gina Carano is just about the only one who’s tougher than most of them. In Steven Soderbergh's new film "Haywire," the former mixed martial arts star not only holds her own against the acting talents of Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor and Antonio Banderas (among others), but she also convincingly beats them all to a bloody pulp.

Carano plays Mallory Kane, a freelance operative who must fight her way to freedom after she’s betrayed by the people who hired her. Conversely, Carano indicated that the experience of shooting her first film was a great collaborative experience. She recently explained to us how her previous career has helped guide her through a whole new one.

I understand that you have a background in fighting, or something? No, I’m only kidding.
[laughs] I’m like, uh-oh, he’s got a lot to hear right now.

No, I definitely know about your history. But how much, beyond her physicality, did you identify with the character when you agreed to play her? Was she easy to tap into emotionally?
I think it was Aaron Cohen that Steven Soderbergh put me with, who’s an ex-Mossad. I read his book, I spent about three hours a day with him for seven weeks, and I was not only training in boot camp getting yelled at by him, but also hearing his stories and spending time -- and seeing that war changes people. And this is a lifestyle that he is going to be this way for the rest of his life, and so I think it was really a way to get into Mallory Kane’s character.

Relativity Media

Could you relate to her being a strong women in a male-dominated world? Was that relevant to your experiences as an MMA fighter?
Oh yeah, absolutely -- I mean, my whole career has been that. I’ve been called pet projects in my fights, and singled out as a female, and so I definitely found a lot of relatability. And I’ve been around men my whole life, so putting me in a film full of them doesn’t really bother me.

Did you find that your physical capabilities assuaged other people’s concerns about what you were being asked to do, even if it was different from what you’d previously done?
Well, I think that after fighting in front of thousands of people and having a camera on you, representing yourself all of those times, it’s kind of refreshing to play a different character ... You could get into this character not having to represent yourself as Gina Carano, but as Mallory Kane, and also get to do multiple takes, whereas in fighting you just kind of show up and you only get one take for that. So I found that the adrenaline level was the same, and being able to get that high off of doing something amazing and different and unique, that kind of artistic output of acting and stunt acting, was just as exciting as when I got my adrenaline fix in real fighting.

Also Check Out: Gina Carano Trusts No One in Exclusive "Haywire" TV Spot

Was there any physical challenge that even with all of your physical preparation was still really intimidating?
Yeah, I was afraid of heights when I first started this film, and they’ve got me jumping from rooftop to rooftop in Dublin, which was really funny. I remember looking down, and I had to jump from one rooftop to the other, and there was only a board for safety -- there were no wires or anything. I was like, oh my God, this is how Hollywood does this? I’m like, I can’t believe this. And I’m afraid of heights, so what if I trip, or if I make any type of stupid, nervous breakdown moment, I am done for. So I really had to get past that, because my whole reason for getting hired on this was my physicality and doing my own stunts and everything ... But once I walked across it once very slowly, I was walking across it fast, and then I was leaping and then I was doing it on my own, and then I got completely used to it and had some fun with it and got a thrill out of it more than being afraid of it.

Relativity Media

Channing Tatum described Steven Soderbergh as a director who hires people he trusts, and then gets out of their way and lets them do their job on set. How collaborative was he with you on the film, and how much did he let you figure out how to play scenes?
Well, with the action scenes, of course, he gave me full rein ... But when it came to the acting scenes, I felt like he tightened up the reins a little bit and was definitely giving me the right way to experience a film firsthand as a first experience. So there wasn’t a whole lot of play going on there; it was more he told me what he wanted out of my character, and I performed it and gave that to him, and that kept it very simple and kept it very basic and straight to the point. And I think for a first-time acting experience, it’s not too bad, and I think that was probably very smart.

What do you think of Hollywood’s portrayal of the MMA world? Did you see "Warrior," for example? It seemed like the most complimentary portrayal of that world I’ve seen in a movie.
I think it’s really hard for some reason to authentically portray a fight movie on film. I’ve got so many friends who just beat the sh** out each other daily that I’m like, just put them in the damn film and they’ll beat the sh** out of each other -- and it will be real [laughs] ... I was in and out when I was watching "Warrior" -- I had ADD that day, but my guy friend was sitting there the whole time watching it -- and I thought it was really interesting because I thought those actors did a really good job. You could tell that they trained and got in shape for it, and really tried to learn some technique for it, and you’re right, to date that is the best representation of the fight world.

But I also think we can do better. I’d actually love to do a fight movie, and do all of the action stuff for it, I mean, do it all for real. But it was a good story and it’s cool to see the reaction that story actually had on people because it was really touching. I remember I came back in and the guy that was watching it with me was in tears, and I’m like, wow -- this is really having an impact on you! So I need to sit down and watch it again, but as far as I know, it’s a great movie and it touches people.

Relativity Media

What are your thoughts about the way strong women are portrayed in movies now? It seems like there’s a real dichotomy -- they’re either totally invulnerable, or they’re totally feminine.
I think for me, I’m more drawn to, instead of a woman trying to conquer and be a man in a man’s world, I’m more fascinated with a woman being completely female and coming through as a strong female -- and still being completely female. That’s really something I’m kind of drawn to, when I see female action stars.

I heard there’s a rumor you might have a role lined up in the next "Percy Jackson" film.
We haven’t specifically talked about the "Percy Jackson" movie; I know that’s a rumor on the IMDB, but I haven’t heard anything about that, so I think that is just a rumor. But we are starting to get some interesting phone calls and we have some interesting ideas that we’re bringing to the table, so I think a lot of people are waiting for the movie ["Haywire"] to come out on January 20th, and then we'll see the lay of the land on the other side of that and really get a feel for where we’re at after that.

Also Check Out: This Steven Soderbergh Giveaway Is Totally "Haywire"

What has been sort the most intimidating moment in this process? Is it waiting for the film to open, or was it something else like getting on set for the first time?
I think the most nerve-wracking moment was the first day of filming, and realizing, oh my gosh, this is happening, I’m in Dublin, and this movie is going to have to happen. It just got real for a second. There’s no running away from it now; you’re here, and I didn’t even know if I could do it at that point -- I’d never done anything like that before. So I think that once I started getting into my groove and be vulnerable as an actress, and started learning from the actors and directors that I was surrounded with, it really started going. But I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t completely [scared]; I had a real moment of do or die, fight or flight type of [feeling], and so I just really pushed through it. And I know that since I got through this whole experience, and I’m still getting through it, it’s definitely made me a stronger person.

Relativity

Steven Soderbergh's brand new high octane spy thriller "Haywire" is set to arrive in theaters on Jan. 20 and, just in case you've somehow forgotten why you should be totally jazzed for it, we've prepared a helpful reminder for you — and it involves free copies of both "Ocean's Eleven" and "Traffic" on DVD.

Now is that reason enough to go "Haywire," or what?

Here's the quick scoop on "Haywire" for you: Former professional mixed martial arts warrior Gina Carano — yes, a lady MMA superstar — headlines as an ass kicking femme fatale who is suddenly and inexplicably sold out by the government, as personified by the always awesome Ewan McGregor.

So what do you do when Obi-Wan Kenobi stabs you in the back? You go on a quest for both answers and vengeance, of course.

And since that quest is directed by Soderbergh, you know it's not only going to be entertaining, it's going to be stylish as all heck — almost as stylish as, say, the "Haywire" t-shirt, poster and wrist band we're going to throw in along with those "Ocean's Eleven" and "Traffic" DVDs. All you have to do is enter our giveaway ... and be cool.

Soderbergh and "Haywire" wouldn't have it any other way.

One Grand Prize Winner Will Receive:
• "Ocean's Eleven" DVD
• "Traffic" DVD
• "Haywire" T-Shirt
• "Haywire" Rubber Bracelet
• "Haywire" Mini-Poster

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 'Haywire' 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 2 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 23, 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 the fun and useful UpNext newsletter. As an UpNext subscriber, you'll receive daily updates on the hottest releases, events and merch from the world of movies.

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Steven Soderbergh is starting to bear a striking resemblance to the Energizer bunny — this guy just keeps going.

With not one, but two features out in the next six months ("Haywire" on Jan. 20 and "Magic Mike" on June 27), the director du jour is already locking down an all-star cast for his next flick "The Side Effects."

Penned by Soderbergh's frequent collaborator Scott Z. Burns (the scribe behind "The Informant!" and "Contagion"), this psychological thriller will star Blake Lively, Channing Tatum and Jude Law. Umm… is it hot in here or is it us?

According to The Playlist, Lively will play Emily Hawkins, a woman who turns to prescription drugs to self-medicate the anxiety she faces as her husband's release date from prison nears. Tatum, who appears in both of Soderbergh's films out this year, makes it three for three with his role of Lively's (temporarily) incarcerated hubby. Law, who befriended the director as a cast member of "Contagion," will take on the role of Lively's new psychiatrist. Which almost guarantees Lively will be draped across his bed couch at some point.

Though the castings aren’t official just yet, they should be soon, which is a good thing because lensing is set for April to hit a 2013 release. And even though this plot doesn't call for a bunch of beefcakes twirling around a stripper pole, we're excited just the same.

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Would you chose the stripper life over hanging out with Batman?

If you're Adam Rodriguez, apparently you would. The "CSI: Miami" heartthrob, who's about to step strut onto the big screen wearing very little, just revealed that he passed up a role in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" in order to do so.

(Insert "Are you insane?" face here.)

Rodriguez explains, "Unfortunately, I wasn't able to work on 'Dark Knight' because it directly conflicted with the shooting schedule for 'Magic Mike.'  There was no way around it.  I’m sure it would have been an incredible experience, but I know it worked out for the best."

According to Rodriguez, the first thing that drew him to the project "was the fact that Steven Soderbergh was directing," Celebuzz reports. He continues, "Then I read the script and loved the way the premise of a 'male stripper movie' was delivered with style. It has edge without taking itself too seriously and humor without making an ass of itself… I knew it would be something fun."

Speaking of working out — Rodriguez had a serious exercise regimen to get in top form for baring it all. He estimates "60 to 90 minutes of cardio a day — sometimes two. An hour of weight training and a whole lot of dance rehearsals. We have a few group numbers in the movie that we worked really hard on. We definitely went balls out." Literally.

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Warner Bros.

In Steven Soderbergh's "Erin Brokovich," Julia Roberts played one woman trying to fight a corporation poisoning smalltown residents. But what does Soderbergh need to tackle a worldwide pandemic? How about six superstar actors?

In "Contagion," the director employs an all-star cast to deal with the outbreak of one nasty virus that sends a shockwave over the world and stirs massive panic, fear and chaos. Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne and Jude Law have all gotten their flu shots and are trying to survive in this nail-biting new thriller.

Before the movie goes global this Friday, check out these six sick clips.

1. Are You Sick? Watch Matt Damon suppress the urge to slam a piece of paper to the window and yell, "How do you like them apples?"

2. How Are You Feeling Today? Kate Winslet attempts to contain a disease of titanic proportions. (*cough*)

3. It Came From Here. Marion Cotillard warns us not to believe everything we read on the Internet (except NextMovie, of course).

4. I Think I'm Sick. At the end of this clip Laurence Fishburne's all like, "Daaaaaaaamn, where's Neo when I need him? This is a pandemic only carefully choreographed kung fu can cure."

5. Don't Touch Anything. The secret prize in the box of Honeycombs is fast-acting bacteria.

6. I'm A Journalist. Jude Law hounds Elliott Gould for an autograph. Only in the movies.

Also Check Out: Think You Know Movies? Download NextMovie's Trivia Challenge App on iTunes

Lionsgate

Steven Soderbergh has a request for film fans, internet denizens and citizens of the world at large: Take a deep breath.

Last month, we shared the news that the "Ocean's Eleven" director had taken a jog down to North Carolina to pitch in on the filming of "The Hunger Games." Immediately, speculation that something was terribly amiss reached a fever pitch. Did they bring him in because the movie is a mess? Did they need the help of a more trusted hand than director Gary Ross? Was, in fact, the world as we know it coming to an end?

Now Soderbergh reveals the truth: He was just helping out Ross because they're friends. The end.

Okay, not quite the end. Soderbergh has heard all of the nonsense and wanted to make it very clear that no, Ross isn't melting down at all and, yes, "The Hunger Games" is still going to totally kick ass.

"Back in April, Gary -- who is a close friend of mine [and] I've exchanged creative favors with non-stop over the last 15 years -- when he got the boards for the shoot ... called me and said, 'Hey, first week of August, I got these two days of second unit, Is there any way you can come down and help me out? Because I'd rather have you do it than hire somebody who I don't know,' " Soderbergh told Moviefone. "I said, 'Actually, that works out. We'll just be finishing "Contagion" and prepping "Magic Mike," and yeah, it could be fun.'"

Soderbergh added that his job wasn't to go all nuts with his own aesthetic vision (see: the color coded scenes in "Traffic"), but just to "duplicate exactly what Gary and [cinematographer] Tom Stern ... are doing, to mimic as closely as I can to their aesthetic. And that's what I attempted to do. But if I've done my job properly ... by design, you won't be able to tell what I did because it's supposed to cut seamlessly into what they're doing."

So there you have it. The world may still be going to hell in a handbasket, but it won't have anything to do with Soderbergh's involvement with "The Hunger Games."

And we can all rest a little easier now.

All the 'Hunger Games' Photos So Far

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Calm down, folks. Just because the actor behind everyone's favorite tenderhearted werewolf is in talks to join Steven Soderbergh's film about male dancers doesn't mean you can go all crazy like you're at Hunkamania or something.

Stop throwing dollar bills at your computer screen. Joe Manganiello hasn't even made it official that he's trading his lumberjack wardrobe for a banana hammock!

EW reports that Manganiello is in talks to play Big Dick Richie. Yes, you read that right. Big. Dick. Richie. Worst stage name or best stage name? He'd be joining Channing Tatum, whose real-life experience as a male dancer inspired Steven Soderbergh to give up his retirement plan, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, and Matthew McConaughey-hey in this "Saturday Night Fever"-flavored film.

This begs this question -- will we get to the bottom of those rumors about Pettyfer's "Thank You" tattoo? And what else is there to see of Manganiello after "True Blood"? Well, rumor has it that Soderbergh, who gave Sasha Grey her first mainstream acting gig in "The Girlfriend Experience," isn't going to shy away from frontal ween, so perhaps he'll one-up Alan Ball in that department.

"True Blood" fans can rest assured that "Magic Mike" won't interfere with Alcide's future on the show, either. HBO has just ponied up for a fifth season of its bloody, gooey, naughty hit soap opera.

"Magic Mike" is on schedule to open next September, so keep it in your pants until then.

And Channing Tatum, consider yourself off the hook for "She's the Man" and "Dear John."

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Things are definitely getting hotter on the set of "Magic Mike."

Hot on the heels of word that Matthew McConaughey has joined the cast of Steven Soderbergh's new film about the fine art of male stripping comes news that Matt Bomer is now part of the lineup, according to Deadline.

The "White Collar" criminal will be joining Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer as one of the exotic dancers who works at Xquisite, the adult entertainment venue owned by McConaughey's character.

"Magic Mike" is described as a "Saturday Night Fever" type of tale in which a veteran stripper (Tatum) teaches his young protege (Pettyfer) how to hustle both on and off the stage. The film is inspired by Tatum's own experiences as an exotic dancer in Tampa.

Matt Bomer will next be seen in Andrew Niccols' sci-fi thriller, "In Time," in which he plays a wealthy man who gives Justin Timberlake a chance at living a longer life. The film opens Oct. 28.

"Magic Mike" will be Steven Soderbergh's next film, as the stripping will commence and be caught on camera this fall. Meanwhile, the ever-busy filmmaker has "Contagion" opening on Sept. 9 and "Haywire," co-starring (a completely clothed) Channing Tatum, opening Jan. 20, 2012.

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Matthew McConaughey is about to get naked for his art.

Well, he'll at least be watching over people who do, as the "Lincoln Lawyer" star has signed on to play the owner of a strip club in "Magic Mike," according to Variety.

McConaughey will play Dallas, a former exotic dancer who now owns Xquisite, the venue that employs male strippers Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) and his young protege (Alex Pettyfer).

Steven Soderbergh is directing the drama inspired by Tatum's own experiences as a male stripper in Tampa.

Matthew McConaughey has been enjoying quite the career resurgence as an indie actor since his acclaimed performance in this year's "The Lincoln Lawyer." He's currently filming Lee Daniels' thriller "The Paperboy" and recently signed on to play the title role in Jeff Nichols' drama, "Mud."

McConaughey will next be seen in Richard Linklater's "Bernie" and William Friedkin's "Killer Joe," both of which are currently looking to lock down a release date in 2011.

"Magic Mike" begins shooting this fall and will take it all off in theaters sometime in 2012.

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Steven Soderbergh certainly doesn't behave like a guy who's considering retirement.

The director of "Contagion" has added a rather unexpected gig to his inhumanly busy schedule: he's the second unit director of "The Hunger Games," according to The Playlist.

Soderbergh and "Hunger Games" director Gary Ross have been friends since working on "Pleasantville" together way back in 1998 -- apparently, all Ross had to do was ask his old pal to come aboard the "Games" and it was a done deal.

This is just one more move on Soderbergh's part that has us believing he's going to have a hard time saying goodbye to show business, if he is indeed going to go through with his plans for early retirement. The guy is an obsessive workaholic, and a fast-moving one, at that -- on the set of "Contagion," he reportedly ended each shooting day by editing that day's footage.

Besides "Contagion" (opening Sept. 9), other upcoming Soderbergh films include "Haywire" (opening Jan. 20), "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," "Magic Mike" and "Liberace."

Then he'll retire. Maybe. Probably not. We doubt it.

"The Hunger Games" will commence on March 23, 2012.

Relativity

When Steven Soderbergh set out to direct "Haywire" he was a man on a mission, and that mission was to make Jason Bourne look about as dangerous as Strawberry Shortcake.

Mission accomplished? You tell us…

Mere hours after being presented to hoots and hollers from the Comic-Con crowd, you can now see the trailer for Soderbergh's action-thriller courtesy of YouTube. The movie stars real-life MMA fighter Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, a private covert op who's being double-crossed by her own agency and has to take matters into her own hands.

That may sound pretty formula, but once you see what Carano's hands can do you'll no doubt understand the level of brutal realism the filmmakers and their freshman star are bringing to the table.

According to reports from the "Haywire" panel (via ComingSoon), there are no stuntmen, so that's really Michael Fassbender getting his ribs punched by an actress who normally beats people up for a living. As you might expect there were a few "owies" on set, including Fassbender getting hit in the face with a vase.

"I've never done fights like this before. It's gotta be real," said Soderbergh. "The fights are shorter than you're used to seeing because once someone gets the drop on the other, it's over."

The film is written by Lem Dobbs, who also co-wrote Soderbergh's "Kafka" and "The Limey." You can check out the full star-studded trailer below, which includes Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, and Channing Tatum getting a face full of pure, 100 percent Carano.

Warner Bros.

Steven Soderbergh's latest all-star cast isn't feeling too well.

The "Ocean's Eleven" director's new thriller, "Contagion," takes a "Traffic"-like look at the rapid spreading of a deadly and seemingly incurable virus and how it affects several different people from different walks of life.

The trailer reveals a sense of ever-increasing panic as doctors, government officials and regular working stiffs (no pun intended) try to deal with this sudden phenomenon. It also reveals at least one major character's death, which comes as quite a surprise.

Watch as Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow attempt to keep all physical contact with anyone and anything to a bare minimum as Cliff Martinez's latest haunting score brings on the dread. You can also watch the trailer in HD at iTunes Movie Trailers.

"Contagion" begins spreading on Sept. 9.

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Alex Pettyfer as Channing Tatum?

Actually, yes, sort of -- it's all a bit meta, so let's just take it one step at a time...

First of all, the "I Am Number Four" star has been cast as a young male stripper in "Magic Mike," which will be directed by the now-unretired Steven Soderbergh, according to Deadline.

Pettyfer's character is based on Channing Tatum's real-life experiences as an "exotic dancer," so in essence he'll be playing a young Tatum.

However, Tatum himself will be in the movie as well, playing the "Magic Mike" of the title, an older and experienced dancer who shows Pettyfer's young buck the ropes.  So it's almost like Tatum is going to be teaching his younger self how to be like him.

How postmodern! It's definitely a Soderbergh movie.

However you want to look at it, the fact is that we're going to get a movie in which Alex Pettyfer and Channing Tatum play male strippers. This should make many people very happy.

"Magic Mike" doesn't have a start date yet, though we're betting camera will roll sometime in the fall. Meanwhile, Alex Pettyfer will next be seen in "Now" (which has apparently been retitled "In Time"), co-starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, opening Oct. 28.

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Whoa, cancel that retirement cake!

We had a feeling Steven Soderbergh's recent announcement that he'd be retiring from filmmaking sooner rather than later was going to prove to be untrue. He was probably just having a bad day when he said that; we all think about throwing in the towel every now and then.

But someone with Soderbergh's talent -- and knack for making unpredictable creative choices -- can't retire. At least not yet. Hollywood needs him, and we need him.

So who was apparently key in getting Soderbergh's creative juices flowing again? Channing Tatum, of all people. Specifically the 19-year-old Channing Tatum, who worked as a male stripper.

Inspired by Tatum's humble (though certainly hot) beginnings, Soderbergh has signed on to direct the "Dear John" hunk in "Magic Mike," a semiautobiographical film drawing from Tatum's own experiences, according to Deadline.

"Magic Mike" will feature Tatum in the title role, a veteran exotic dancer who teaches a young recruit how to hustle and flow both on and off the stage.

"When Channing talked to me about this, I thought it was one of the best ideas I'd ever heard for a movie," Soderbergh said in a statement. "I said I wanted in immediately. It's sexy, funny and shocking. We're using 'Saturday Night Fever' as our model, so hopefully we're on the right track."

Steven Soderbergh and Channing Tatum working on a movie about male strippers that follows along the path of "Saturday Night Fever?" Yeah, that's a "right track" if we've ever heard of one.

Soderbergh will be taking on "Magic Mike" in-between directing "Liberace," starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," starring George Clooney. Soderbergh's black ops thriller, "Haywire," starring Tatum, Gina Carano and Ewan McGregor, opens in August, and his sci-fi horror film, "Contagion," opens in October.

Now, really, does all that sound like the agenda of a man who plans on retiring any time soon? We think not.

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George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh: Together again?

We're all for it. Those two make movie magic as only true movie magicians can. And now it looks like they're set to work that magic for the first time together since 2007's "Ocean's Thirteen."

It was announced recently that Soderbergh would be directing the big-screen adaptation of the '60s television series, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." Now, The Playlist brings word that Clooney is eyeing the lead role.

U.N.C.L.E. stands for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement, a secret international organization that employs the best super-spies on the planet. Clooney would, of course, play one of those super-spies.

Early word says that Soderbergh and Clooney are approaching this as their "last film together," as the director is planning something of an early retirement (once he gets through all the projects currently on his plate, including the virus thriller "Contagion" and the action film "Haywire").

Previous Clooney-Soderbergh team-ups include the three "Ocean's" movies, "The Good German," "Solaris" and "Out of Sight."