YouTube

Doesn't it kinda seem like Michelle Williams has always been famous? After all, despite the fact that she's only 32, Williams -- whose latest film is the big-budget prequel "Oz the Great and Powerful" -- has been appearing in movies and on television for nearly 20 years, earning three Oscar nominations for films like "My Week with Marilyn" and "Brokeback Mountain." She is, as they say, big time.

But hard as it is to remember, there was a point before she was famous — and we've got the goofy sitcom clip to prove it.

Here's the deal: Back in 1995, "Home Improvement," which starred Tim Allen as a fix-it guru with his own TV show about repairing houses, was one of the most popular sitcoms in America, in part because of its family friendly storylines involving teen heartthrobs Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Zachery Ty Bryan.

Also Check Out: Q&A: Michelle Williams Doesn't Want You to Settle

And since every teenage boy in a sitcom needs a cute love interest, enter Williams as Jessica, a modern girl with stylish bangs, a hip sweater vest and an open mind about dudes who wear makeup. Hey, the '90s! Needless to say, Williams has blocked most of it out.

"The only thing that I remember was being backstage before," Williams recently told us."Because when you do a sitcom, you come out and you do a curtain call, and the only thing that I remember was seeing the behind-the-scenes, like how the house was built, you know, that it’s not a real house. It’s plywood back there, and people scrawl things on the plywood, and it’s all kind of a construction zone. I remember the behind-the-scenes more than I remember what happened in front of the scenes."

Don't worry, Michelle, we're happy to refresh your memory! Here it is, courtesy of YouTube:

Michelle Williams isn't human, right? She can't be — no real person above the age of five is that adorable. Part fairy, maybe?

Whatever she is, she's as tragically lovely now (in "Take This Waltz," "Blue Valentine," "My Week With Marilyn," etc.) as she was the first time we saw her (as a bona fide teenager in "Dawson's Creek," way back in '98). Check out these pixie pics of the cutest actress in Hollywood ... and the rest of the mortal realm.

Getty Images

Fans of Michelle Williams, the ones who've followed her career from the over-articulate rants of "Dawson's Creek" to her Oscar-nominated performance in "My Week With Marilyn," want to believe the actress is like so many of the roles she chooses: intelligent, thoughtful, soft-spoken and sensitive.

Rest easy, everyone. She is.

It helps that she's clearly in love with her new movie "Take This Waltz;" when we met to discuss the astute relationship drama co-starring Seth Rogen, Williams had plenty to say about growing up, settling down and learning that "nice guys" aren't always the prize they're supposed to be.

A lot of women are going to recognize themselves in "Take This Waltz." We've all been raised on the premise that men want sex all the time and it's up to us to decide when — and your character, Margot, isn't the only 20-something woman to realize that's not always true in long-term relationships. It's a reality that doesn't show up in movies very often.
I think, in the beginning, [writer/director] Sarah [Polley] was going to set it up in the more conventional way and then talked to a bunch of her friends. The information that she kept getting back was the opposite.

Magnolia

Did you realize you were making a movie about something more than one woman's story?
I did.  I felt like I passed Margot on the street 20 times a day. I saw her everywhere. I saw her in her 20s, in her 40s, in our costume designer, I kind of thought that was sort of what Margot was gonna be like when she grows up. I saw a lot of Margots ... That's not an offensive thing to say about our costume designer — I mean it in a good way.

That's the point, right, to be a relatable character?
I think so, yeah.

I like coming to cities because I like the multiple storylines there. I like that look on everybody's face that they're sort of in the middle of something. I'm always so much more interested by the people that I see on the street or in the subway than by any kind of person of, like, elevated stature, you know, some sort of celebrity or something.

I was in that transitional phase, too. Realizing that you are crossing some kind of threshold that people told you was going to be great, and you'll feel settled and confident and comfortable, and you're going to know yourself more, but you can't really imagine it. So you feel like a mess, and you're still very unsure of the decisions that you're making. But you feel like you're making big decisions that are going to affect the rest of your life and you're going to have to stick by for the rest of your life. When I looked around my circle of friends, that's what I saw, this moment of big decisions and a lot of indecision.

I was interested in that moment. I think 28, 29 feels very different from 30, 31. I feel like a decision that I make today, I could probably stand behind.

You used the word settled — there's an interesting dichotomy in the movie between the concepts of being settled and settling.  Margot heads down a path in her marriage while addressing that dichotomy; do you think we're meant to feel one way or the other about her choices?
Not at all. I feel, I hope, I don't think that the movie paints anyone as a villain or as a victor. I hope that you can see both sides for every person that's involved. Something that I find really interesting about it that I heard with this movie and that I heard with "Blue Valentine" — actually maybe more from women than from men, "What is the matter with your character? Why is she leaving such a good guy?"

Weinstein

There's this idea that good or nice is all you should hope for, that that's kind of enough. And if you get that, hang onto it. That sounds to me like settling versus settled. If you're going to pick a person to spend the rest of your life with, you should be allowed to pinpoint ... finer qualities you would hope for. When you pick somebody to be a partner with, you're going to grow into them, and they're going to grow into you, and they're going to influence the person you become. I don't know where along the line nice and good got to be so exceptional in a man.

It should be base line, right?
It should be base line, yeah.

You gravitate toward drama in your career, and the aspects of life that are interesting in a drama are often pretty dark. You spend much longer immersed in the experience of your movies than we do, as the audience. Does that ever color your ability to be optimistic? 
I feel like it actually might boomerang me into a direction of being more optimistic. My tendencies or my interests in that more complicated or certainly darker view of things, it gets purged through my work. It's really expressed, and then I'm left with this profusion of optimism and joy and goofiness, so I feel like it actually… it's a nice place to go and put that stuff.

It's been a long time since you've done a comedy. Would you ever do it again?
Yeah, I really enjoy it, but I also recognize that it's an art and not something that I spent my life studying or thinking about in the way that other people have. I don't know. So I am interested. The last movie that I did, "Oz," is very light, and I certainly hope I have the elements of comedy.

Also, you don't read a lot of comedies that approach women like you might want to be approached. To not be diminished or stereotyped or something, so … so …

That's why you should do more, so you can be a female in comedy who's not diminished! It's kind of de rigeur these days for actors to do a sweeping fantasy movie. What made "Oz: The Great and Powerful" the one for you?
I really wanted to make something that my daughter could see and to be involved in the process of it. It would be fun for both of us and would mix my work and my life better than other things I've done recently. And something that she could see, something she could get excited about, something that she could understand where I was going, and a happy place for her to come visit on set.

And Sam Raimi, the last living gentleman. He is such a dear. He's collaborative when he talks, when he gives direction. First of all, he asks for anybody's opinion, no matter how high or low you think you might be on the totem pole. He wants to know what you think of something. He values everybody's role in bringing this movie to life.

Also check out this interview with director Sarah Polley on Film.com.

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Magnolia Pictures

It's Year 11 for the Tribeca Film Festival, and it looks like the fest created by Robert De Niro is hitting its stride.

The 11-day event, which takes place April 18-29, has always been known for its flashy red- carpet premieres (this year's fest is bookended with the comedy "The Five-Year Engagement" and Marvel's latest “The Avengers”) and fun family fare (free Drive In screenings of "Jaws" and "The Goonies"). Tribeca is also branching out into the online world: For its second year, the festival will screen a handful of titles from this year's Tribeca Online Film Festival as well as stream some of its panels.

But if you like to watch your movies the old-fashioned way (in the theater), here are 15 titles from this year's fest that we think you should check out.

1. '2 Days in New York'

In Julie Delpy's sequel to her 2007 directorial debut "2 Days in Paris," she casts Chris Rock as her love interest for another dramedy filled with family and misunderstandings. Living the good life in New York with their children, Marion (Delpy) and Mingus (Rock) are in for an interesting two days when Marion's family shows up unannounced. Playing Marion’s father once more is Delpy's real-life dad, and if you saw "2 Days in Paris" you know where Julie got her screen presence (he's quite a hoot). Look for the film in theaters later this year.

2. 'Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey'

Already an established star in the Philippines, singer Arnel Pineda become a YouTube sensation in the States in 2007 for his rendition of songs by Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Journey. He was so impressive that Journey signed him to be their new frontman that year. His rags-to-riches story is highlighted in this moving documentary that follows Pineda and the group on their world tour.

Doug Chamberlain

3. 'Francophrenia (or: Don’t Kill Me, I Know Where the Baby Is)'

In 2009 James Franco signed on to act on the soap opera "General Hospital." He was filmed behind the scenes for most of his time there, and the footage has been used to build a mind-bending experimental thriller in which Franco portrays himself and a fictional character (voiced by Ian Olds, who directed the film with Franco). Filled with multiple-screen images, animation and reverse action, this one will surprise most Franco fans who know his work in Hollywood.

4. 'Hysteria'

In this funny period piece, Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhaal play a pair of rebels who, while fighting the Victorian establishment in 19th-century London, stumble upon the invention of the electro-mechanical vibrator. Rounding out the cast are Felicity Jones, Rupert Everett and Jonathan Pryce. Look for the film in theaters May 18.

5. 'Journey to Planet X'

Florida scientists Eric Swain and Troy Bernier have a dirty little secret: When they punch out from their desk jobs they turn to their other profession, making low-budget sci-fi films. Having enjoyed using green screens and amateur talent to bring their dreams into reality, Troy is now ready to make "Planet X," their greatest film yet. Can Eric and Troy's low-fi capabilities be enough to accomplish their huge ambition? Filmmaker Myles Kane and Josh Koury tag along to find out in this entertaining look at two DIY mavericks.

6. 'Knuckleball!'

With its ESPN Sports Film Festival sidebar, Tribeca has spotlighted some of the best sports-themed documentaries currently being made. This year is no exception as famed doc filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg ("Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work") will delve into the art of the knuckleball. With its slow, dancing movement, the pitch has baffled major league baseball batters for over 100 years, and the directors follow two modern-day pitchers who use it: recently retired Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield and the Mets' R.A. Dickey.

Fox Searchlight

7. 'Let Fury Have the Hour'

Author and visual artist Antonino D'Ambrosio's directorial debut gives a social history of the evolution of the political statement known as the "creative response." It was born in the Reagan-era '80s, when artists and activists channeled their displeasure in the reactionary politics that defined the country. Some of the influential figures highlighted in D'Ambrosio's film include Chuck D, Tom Morello, Lewis Black and John Sayles.

8. 'Lola Versus'

In the latest in Greta Gerwig's evolution, she plays Lola, a New Yorker who is suddenly thrust back into the dating pool when she's abruptly dumped weeks before her wedding. But the dating scene isn't how she left it eight years ago, leading to comical heartbreak. Look for the film in theaters June 8.

9. 'Mansome'

For Morgan Spurlock's latest documentary, he tries to uncover the true meaning of "mansome." From rocking the muttonchops to manscaping at your local spa, the way men groom themselves varies widely. Spurlock goes to barbershops and questions famous friends like Zach Galifianakis, Judd Apatow and the film’s executive producers Will Arnett and Jason Bateman to find answers.

One Mind Productions

10. 'The Playroom'

Coming off being part of a Best Ensemble win at Sundance for his performance in the stirring drama "The Surrogate," indie's go-to guy John Hawkes comes to Tribeca with a ... well, stirring drama. In "Playroom" he's the patriarch of a '70s family that on the outside looks like the blueprint of an all-American family; but as we see over the span of one night (and some booze), not everything is what it seems.

11. 'Searching For Sugar Man'

A big hit at this year's Sundance, where it premiered and walked away with the World Cinema Audience Award, this beautiful documentary delves into the legend of '70s folk singer Rodriguez, who, despite having microscopic record sales in the U.S., became a huge star in South Africa after word spread of his supposed horrific death on stage. Malik Bendjelloul's film explores what happened to Rodriguez and the uplifting power of music.

12. 'Side by Side'

This engaging documentary produced by Keanu Reeves examines the drastic changes that have occurred in filmmaking over the last several years, from the way we watch movies to how they are made. Reeves talks to the likes of James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan and Andy and Lana Wachowski to get their insights on the ever-changing business of moviemaking.

13. 'Sleepless Night'

Pegged as "Die Hard" meets "24," this action-packed thriller by French filmmaker Frédéric Jardin has fans of genre filmmaking excited. The film follows Vincent, a well-respected cop whose dirty side is hidden until he's caught stealing cocaine from a drug lord. Over the course of one night in a club, Vincent races against time to return the drugs in order to save his son’s life.

Magnolia Pictures

14. 'Take This Waltz'

In the long-awaited third directorial effort from actress Sarah Polley, she casts Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams as married couple Margot and Lou, who suddenly find themselves in a rut when Margot falls in love with her neighbor. It also features an impressive supporting role by Sarah Silverman.

15. 'Your Sister’s Sister'

Having already gained high marks at Toronto and Sundance, Lynn Shelton follows up her 2009 festival hit "Humpday" with this intimate look at the lives of thirtysomethings trying to understand their place in the world. This time we follow Jack (Mark Duplass), who, while mourning the death of his brother, accepts his best friend Iris (Emily Blunt)'s invitation to stay at their family's holiday house only to find that Iris' sister Hanna (Rosemarie DeWitt) is also there. And that's when things get good. Look for the film in theaters later this year.

Magnolia Pictures

Michelle Williams is just totally amazeballs.

Seriously, after watching her performances in films like "My Week with Marilyn" (Oscar nomination), "Blue Valentine" (Oscar nomination) or "Brokeback Mountain" (Oscar... you get the drift), we'll pretty much follow her anywhere at this point. Which is just one reason we're so happy to see the trailer for her newest indie film.

"Take This Waltz?" Don't mind if we do, Michelle.

Of course, Williams isn't the only reason we're excited about this one. The film also stars Seth Rogen in a rare serious role (well, serious-ish), as well as Sarah Silverman and up-and-comer Luke Kirby. And the story of a married lady (that's Williams) who finds herself enticed by a new man (that's Kirby) is also directed by Sarah Polley, who previously earned raves for her first film, the Oscar-nominated hit "Away From Her."

All of which adds up to this sweet new trailer from YouTube. but really, they had us at Michelle Williams. And here's just one more reason why.

TIFF

It's that time of the year again. With summer officially over and awards season brewing, the Toronto International Film Festival launches its assault on the moviegoing masses of the world.

And what an assault it's going to be. From Ryan Gosling putting the pedal to the medal in "Drive" to George Clooney breaking hearts in "The Descendants," to both of them starring in the political drama "The Ides of March," this year's edition promises to be a doozy with a little bit of something for everyone.

Find out what's playing this year by checking out our rundown of the 15 films we're most looking forward to seeing at the festival.

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

'50/50'

Summit

This must have been a tough pitch to the studios: a comedy about a 27-year-old guy dealing with cancer. But judging by the promising trailer and top-notch cast (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Seth Rogen, Anjelica Huston and Anna Kendrick), this risky project has the odds to work wonderfully. Gordon-Levitt plays the unfortunate soul, while Rogen brings the funny as his wisecracking best friend who helps him deal with the tough journey ahead.

'The Artist'

TIFF

Black-and-white films are uncommon nowadays, but they still get made ("Good Night and Good Luck," "Schindler's List"). Silent ones? Not so much. Enter "The Artist," a silent, black-and-white nod back to Hollywood's Golden Age. Whether filmgoers will be up for sitting through a love story about a silent movie star (Jean Dujardin) who strikes up a romance with a young dancer on the cusp of stardom, all without dialogue, remains to be seen. Cannes critics went for the romance and awarded Dujardin their Best Actor award. We can't wait to take a trip to the past.

'Butter'

TIFF

This all-star comedy is sure to ruffle some feathers. In "Butter," Jennifer Garner stars as Laura, a determined spitfire of a woman who decides to take up competitive butter carving when her husband unexpectedly retires. In her mind, butter glory can serve as a stepping stone to the presidency. Her path to winning gets derailed when she comes up against an African-American orphan new to the art. To top things off, Olivia Wilde pops up as a stripper/prostitute who seduces Laura's teenage daughter. We're curious to see how this high-concept comedy plays out. Did we mention that it also stars Hugh Jackman, Ty Burell and Alicia Silverstone?

'A Dangerous Method'

TIFF

Anything new from director David Cronenberg ("Eastern Promises," "A History of Violence") is bound to get us excited. His latest, "A Dangerous Method," finds the Canadian master exploring the relationship between psychologist Dr. Jung (Michael Fassbender) and his mentor, Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). Keira Knightley is rumored to give her most daring performance to date as a Russian patient with daddy issues who comes between the two men and their conflicting ideals. You'll be hearing a lot more about his drama as awards season nears.

'The Descendants'

Fox Searchlight

It's been a whopping seven years since Alexander Payne's last film, the Oscar-winning crowdpleaser "Sideways." The American auteur of such acclaimed films as "About Schmidt" and "Election" is finally back with "The Descendants," a drama with a lot of Oscar buzz going for it. No wonder. This time, Payne has teamed up with George Clooney to tell the story of a man (Clooney) who tries to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife slips into a coma following a boating accident. Things get complicated when the father discovers that his wife was having an affair prior to the mishap. The drama drew glowing reviews at the Venice Film Festival where it just had its world premiere, and we doubt we'll disagree.

'Drive'

TIFF

Ryan Gosling looks like an action hero, so it's high time he acted like one. In "Drive," the first flick in which he throws the punches, he plays a Hollywood stunt performer moonlighting as wheel-man for hire, who gets involved in some deadly business when he tries to help out a single mother (Carey Mulligan). The film earned high marks from the tough critics at Cannes earlier this year, walking off with the Best Director award for Nicolas Winding Refn ("Valhalla Rising"). We can't wait to see what got France all riled up. Bring it!

'Friends With Kids'

TIFF

"Bridesmaids" with kids? That's what this romantic comedy sure sounds like. A bevy of stars from the summer hit (including Kristen Wiig, Jon Hamm and Maya Rudolph) star in this surefire crowd pleaser from Hamm's wife, Jennifer Westfeldt, who starred in and cowrote the indie sleeper hit "Kissing Jessica Stein." In "Friends with Kids" (her directorial debut), Westfeldt stars as a gal who decides to have a kid with her male best friend. Predictably, things don't quite go as smoothly as planned once love gets in the way.

'Hysteria'

TIFF

Ever been curious about how the first vibrator was invented? That's what the British period comedy "Hysteria" sets out to answer. Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhall front the cast in this film, which stars Dancy as a doctor in Victorian-era England who enlists the help of his best friend (Rupert Everett) to come up with an electrical device to calm women's nerves. Judging by some advance footage, "Hysteria" looks like a rollicking good time with a fun cast. Who knew the Brits were so naughty?

'The Ides of March'

Columbia Pictures

George Clooney steps back into the director's chair for this political thriller. Based on the positive buzz out of Venice, where the film had its world premiere, "The Ides of March" has more in common with his Oscar-winning "Good Night, and Good Luck," than with his disappointing follow-up, "Leatherheads." The film takes place during the final days of an Ohio presidential primary, during which Ryan Gosling, as an ambitious press secretary, goes too far in trying to get his candidate (Clooney) to the top. Clooney's assembled a top-notch cast (including Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood and Philip Seymour Hoffman) for this nail-biter, but according to advance word, this is Gosling's show.

'Like Crazy'

Paramount Vantage

Sundance had a great run this year; "Martha Marcy May Marlene," "Another Earth," "Pariah" and "Take Shelter" were among some of the buzzed-about flicks that had critics raving and audiences applauding. "Like Crazy" was the one that beat them all, winning not one, but two awards at the festival: the Grand Jury Prize and Best Actress for newcomer Felicity Jones. If this victory lap isn't enough to get you excited, we don't know what is.  The film follows two lovebirds who are forced to play the long-distance game when one of them gets deported back to England. We're dying to see what all the hype is about. That, and we love to get our hearts broken sometimes... only in the movies.

'Machine Gun Preacher'

TIFF

Gerard Butler's had it rough of late. Since breaking out in a big way with his chest-baring turn in "300," the Scottish hunk's starred in some pretty middling stuff ("The Bounty Hunter," "The Ugly Truth") that hasn't let him flesh out that rough machismo only he can muster. From the looks of it, his turn in "Machine Gun Preacher" will nix any memories of sub-par romantic comedies. In the Marc Forster ("Monster's Ball")-directed true story, Butler plays Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing biker who finds God and makes it his life mission to fight for Sudanese children who've been forced to become soldiers. Michelle Monaghan ("Source Code") and Michael Shannon ("Take Shelter") round out the stellar cast.

'Moneyball'

Columbia Pictures

Attention, Brad Pitt fans: If you found "The Tree of Life" too confounding, then you'll probably looking forward to seeing Pitt play a real-life figure in the baseball drama "Moneyball." In this film directed by Bennett Miller ("Capote"), Pitt stars as Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics, who fights hard to create a competitive baseball team despite some tough finances. This is a real passion project for Pitt, who serves as a producer on the film. Originally intended for Steven Soderbergh to direct, "Moneyball" has gone through rewrite after rewrite before making its way to the screen. We're hoping Pitt's dedication paid off.

'Pearl Jam Twenty '

TIFF

Cameron Crowe, we've missed you! The auteur behind such great films as "Jerry Maguire" and "Almost Famous" hasn't released a film since 2005's "Elizabethtown." He's back in full force this year with three projects: the Oscar hopeful "We Bought a Zoo," the Elton John documentary "The Union" and "Pearl Jam Twenty," a documentary chronicling the band's formation and rise to fame.  If anyone's fit for the task of paying homage to the beloved band, Crowe is the guy. Just go by the soundtracks to all his films -- they're killer.

'Take Shelter'

TIFF

This year's hot newcomer Jessica Chastain ("The Help," "The Tree of Life") is rumored to give her best performance to date in "Take Shelter," an oddball drama that drew tons of critical acclaim at Sundance in February. In a supporting turn, she plays wife to a man (Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon) tormented by a series of apocalyptic visions. It's the end of the world as we know it for this guy, and he has Chastain spooked. From the looks of it, "Take Shelter" promises to be a tense and dramatic affair, boasting two of this year's best performances.

'Take This Waltz'

TIFF

Canadian actress Sarah Polley wowed us with her directing skills in her acclaimed filmmaking debut, "Away From Her." She's finally back behind the camera in "Take This Waltz," a romantic drama starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman. We couldn't be more psyched to see what Polley has in store for us.  Williams and Rogen play a married couple whose relationship hits a rough patch when Williams' character starts falling for another man. Sounds like a whole lot of heartbreak, something Polley navigated so well in "Away From Her."