New Releases: 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol,' 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,' 'The Adventures of Tintin,' 'We Bought a Zoo,' 'War Horse,' 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close'

Hopefully you want to spend at least some part of your Christmas holiday at the movie theater. A whopping six films open in wide release between now and Dec. 25, with another two arriving in limited-run availability. Toss in expansions for both 'The Artist' and 'My Week With Marilyn,' and you've got a checklist of movies that nearly everyone in your family can enjoy. Your Weekend Movie Preview is here. NATIONWIDE RELEASES 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' What's the story: Based on the international best seller by Stieg Larsson, 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' follows the unlikely friendship formed between a disgraced journalist (Daniel Craig) and a damaged computer hacker (Rooney Mara) as they try to solve a decades-old murder on a secluded Swedish island. Christopher Plummer, Robin Wright and Stellan Skarsgard co-star in this adult thriller from director David Fincher. Box office projection: The buzz on 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' has reached deafening levels, and with pretty good reason: the film is an expert bit of adult entertainment, that would feel like slumming for David Fincher if he didn't infuse so much of his immense talent into the airplane-read storyline. The property and Daniel Craig are international draws, while here in the U.S., it was assumed that women would come out in force to see Lisbeth Salander onscreen, like they did in print. That doesn't appear to be the case based on initial tracking, but despite its R-rating, you can assume 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' will clean up this week and right on through Christmas. Three-day weekend total: $25 million [Showtimes & Tickets] 'The Adventures of Tintin' What's the story: Based on the famed comic strip by Belgian artist Herge, 'The Adventures of Tintin' follows the adventures of Tintin, a young reporter who -- with his trusty dog, Snowy -- tries to solve a mystery involving a decades old ship and a lost treasure. Steven Spielberg directs with help from producer Peter Jackson. Box office prediction: Thanks to almost $250 million in international grosses so far, 'The Adventures of Tintin' is performing well at the box office already -- and it hasn't even debuted stateside. Which is probably a good thing. Most Americans don't actually know Tintin from Snowy or Herge from Adam, but if 'Tintin' can catch on with families expect it to have long legs through the winter. Three-day weekend total: $12 million [Showtimes & Tickets] 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' What's the story: Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, Impossible Mission Force extraordinaire who must team with a band of fellow agents (Simon Pegg, Paula Patton) and an analyst (Jeremy Renner) to stop a crazed bit of Eurotrash (Michael Nyqvist) from destroying the world. Box office prediction: Buoyed by huge IMAX grosses last weekend, 'Mission: Impossible 4' is already the belle of the winter box-office ball. With a healthy international outlook and little competition from four-quadrant seeking ticket buyers, 'Ghost Protocol' could be the biggest hit of the holiday season. In Tom Cruise Hollywood trusts? Three-day weekend total: $38 million [Showtimes & Tickets] 'We Bought a Zoo' What's the story: Matt Damon stars as Benjamin Mee, a journalist who buys a zoo for his family after his wife dies. Scarlett Johansson and Thomas Haden Church co-star in this new film from Cameron Crowe. Box office prediction: Could 'We Bought a Zoo' be the family film choice of the season? Perhaps. Twentieth Century Fox has done a fine job of building homestead buzz for the Crowe-directed film (the studio rank sneak previews over Thanksgiving weekend and again in early December), and 'Zoo' has the broad appeal that made 'Marley & Me' a hit during Christmas season in 2008. Also of note? Matt Damon, who is still a draw in the right material. Whether that's 'Zoo' remains to be seen, but don't sleep on what could become a leggy hit. Three-day weekend total: $14 million [Showtimes & Tickets] 'War Horse' What's the story: Because you don't have enough movie options over Christmas -- nor enough movie options directed by Steven Spielberg -- here comes 'War Horse,' a touching tale of a boy and his horse set against the backdrop of World War I. Expect many Oscar nominations. Box office prediction: While the idea of spending almost two-and-a-half hours watch a horse that doesn't talk might not seem like the best way to spend Christmas day, 'War Horse' could be the exception. The drama is one of 2011's best films, rife with beautiful imagery, fantastic performances and an overall message that could only be described as earnest hope. Whether that connects with audiences on Christmas day remains to be seen, but figure 'War Horse' to linger in theaters well past the 2012 Academy Awards. Three-day weekend total: $4 million [Showtimes & Tickets] 'The Darkest Hour' What's the story: When aliens attack. Russia. By using the power grid. Box office prediction: Despite arriving in over 2000 screens on Christmas Day, little is expected from 'The Darkest Hour.' The film isn't screening for critics and audiences don't seem all that interested in watching Emile Hirsch fight aliens. Sorry, folks. Three-day weekend total: $1 million [Showtimes & Tickets] LIMITED RELEASES Out in six theaters before expanding wide in January is 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,' the much-debated 9/11 drama starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. Elsewhere, Angelina Jolie's directorial debut, 'In the Land of Blood and Honey,' arrives. [Photo: Paramount] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Kaira Bird on Not Killing Tom Cruise While Making 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol'

Director Kaira Bird constitutes a tremendous leap from animation (some little movies you might have heard about like 'The Incredibles') to reside-action with 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.' It's almost as large like a leap as his leading guy, Tom Cruise, makes within the film -- a part of a breath-preventing swing around the world's highest building because he attempts to return to safety having a rope that's way too short. Thinking about which was Cruise doing their own stunts, it was all being shot in IMAX, with helis, while a large number of vacationers looked on may have given a seasoned professional cardiac arrest, but Bird told Moviefone he really pressed Cruise to visit faster. For the first live-action movie, you made the decision to shoot it in IMAX, film in locations around the globe and also have dying-repel stunts. So, somewhat movie. [Laughs] It really wasn't that pre-thought-out. I had been really focusing on another film known as '1906,' also is large and complex, and also the story is simply very difficult to pull together. And so the chance came about to leap onto this. I'd known J.J. [Abrams] for any very long time and that i met Tom immediately after 'The Incredibles.' One element which i distributed to each of individuals men isn't just a significant respect for his or her talent as well as their work, but all of us love the medium of film. Whenever we talk, we are able to discuss it until our eyes are double glazed over. We love it a lot that an opportunity to use each of them on a single project really was fun. Had you been worried whatsoever about killing your leading guy within the showpiece stunt around the Burj Khalifa? The succession that people shot around the Burj Khalifa ... the amount of pieces to that particular puzzle were staggering. Tom is hanging from the helicopter that may only stay up in mid-air for 30 minutes and also the IMAX cameras are only able to shoot for a few minutes and when they exhaust film, there is no room to reload, so they need to fly to base. And there is decking about midway up and also the vacationers there lookup plus they see Tom Cruise hanging around the building above them and they are shooting video and saying "Oh, hi, Tom," and Tom's just pushing and each muscle in the is quaking and he's beginning to get rid of bloodstream in the legs. Tom's on the wire and that he needs to run aside from the building after which he needs to hang on even though these were doing the work, the helicopter drifted and that i saw a much better position for that second area of the shot. And So I stated, "Wait another! Return to that position you had been in!" And Tom's like holding along the side of your building and he's like, "Shall we be ready?" and he's just pushing his muscles. And also the stunt men are just like, "Hold on another longer, Tom, we are just altering your camera position." And meanwhile, Tom's hanging to the building and also the vacationers are filming and it is madness, absolute madness, but It led to quite a awesome sequence. It is a very awesome sequence. Which means you got no complaints from Tom about being pressed towards the limit? The shot where he runs lower along side it from the Burj, he made it happen plus they were as being a little conservative and that i stated, "Are you able to go just a little faster," and Tom's like, "Yeah, let us go just a little faster," I stated, "OK, I believe we first got it." But Tom could listen to it during my voice which i had not become things i wanted, so he was like, "What exactly is it?Inch So, I requested [meekly], "Are you able to go just a little faster?" And that he stated, "You wager." Therefore we made it happen and that is the main one that's within the film -- he's racing lower along side it from the building. Which individuals was pushing harder to become more extreme, you or Tom? We equally like things pressed, and surely if you wish to push it, Tom is the guy. Made it happen ever hit you that Tom could easily plummet to his dying if something went wrong? Everyone is at the mindset of just concentrating on doing their job the very best they might. Nevertheless, after i returned towards the hotel that evening and we'd become a few of these amazing shots, at about 3 each morning, my eyes clicked open and that i sitting up and went "Hooh!" I recognized contrary transpires with Tom, we have got no movie. However in as soon as, the adrenaline was flowing... Ok last one. I had been just set on obtaining the camera in to the right place and this is not on losing bloodstream flow to Tom's legs. [Laughs] Was the aim for that 4th film to really make it larger than the others? Yeah, I believe i was all drawn to the thought of these set pieces. However the strange factor is ... this is actually the greatest 'Mission: Impossible,' however i really was inspired through the last 'Mission: Impossible,' which got more emotional and also got into more compact moments. And So I would say, hopefully, it's a few of the greatest 'Mission: Impossible' moments but additionally a few of the littlest 'Mission: Impossible' moments when it comes to character stuff. Hopefully there's everything on the planet. Producer Bryan Burk stated you'd thought we would "punch up" the humor on that one. I wouldn't say I'd "made the decision." I felt like ... a film which i love is 'Raiders from the Lost Ark' and also to me, there is a wonderful balance between humor and genuine suspense and action. And also the humor does not cut the genuine adrenaline the relaxation from the movie has. I personally don't like movies where they type of wink to you. There's a few exceptions, 'Airplane' being one of these, in which the whole movie is a large wink. I believe you need to invest yourself within the moment. The humor inside a movie like 'Raiders' arrives of real situations also it arrives of character which, in my experience, is the greatest possible mixture of individuals things. If you are going to possess a popcorn movie, you cannot inflict much better than 'Raiders.' A number of individuals famous lines, Harrison Ford notoriously improvised. Had you been available to letting your stars lick like this? Why can you have individuals men, like Simon Pegg, should you were not? Many moments within the film, people just sprang by helping cover their [a line] around the place. Everybody was excellent about doing that which was written, they also understood which i was up for diversions. Sometimes I requested things, or I'd change a line around the place. Sometimes they'd say something automatically. One thing people request me is "What are the differences between live action and animation?" and spontaneity that may take place in an active-action film but it is very hard otherwise impossible in animation. The entire medium is all about pre-planning. To ensure that was fun for me personally, absolutely. I loved that. So nothing they did ever put you? No, no. I required classes in acting to higher learn how to speak with stars. Before? Years back, before Used to do my animated films. I understand what that type of stuff is. As well as in my animated film, I improv'd with soundtracks. Usually, I'll write things around the place or simply say, "Oh, let's say we change this?" Renner emerged with many different lines that really would up within the film. [Photo: Vital] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Chatter splatter

Our senior film experts opine about blown embargoes, dodgy ethics and just how journos and galleries need it both waysJustin Chang: Among the unfortunate truisms in our job as trade experts is the fact that we frequently cut back time thinking and quarrelling concerning the movies than we all do thinking and quarrelling about once the galleries will let's see and review their movies. I am conscious of the self-entitlement inherit in this complaint, and that i hasten to include that people appreciate every courtesy -- and advance press tests are simply that, an expert courtesy -- that allows us to complete our responsibility in due time. But it is the problem of timeliness that appears to result in the majority of our logistical head aches nowadays.Peter Debruge: As trade experts, we're within the very fortunate -- and precarious -- position of writing the very first reviews from the gate of all films, frequently days or days before movies open. This is a tradition that dates back decades (because of Variety's role in assisting participants choose which films to program), back before our reviews were cited and disseminated by blogs and aggregator sites like Rotten Tomato plants. Meanwhile, the customer press is anticipated to keep opinions until opening day. But that appears to become altering recently for a variety of reasons, almost all of them tracing to studios' tries to lead with reviews they be prepared to stay positive, and that is in which the head aches you allude to start.JC: It appeared to achieve a fevered pitch this month, when media viewers were treated towards the curious spectacle of NYer film critic David Denby facing the collective wrath of Scott Rudin and Sony's publicity department in reaction to Denby's 12 ,. 5 overview of "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo," breaking an agreed-upon 12 ,. 13 embargo.PD: Knowing with a private email exchange between Rudin and Denby that made an appearance around the Playlist blog, producer was upset the NYer review's publication would trigger other experts to follow along with suit -- a really real concern inside a consumer marketplace in which the thrill from the scoop appears to trump the standard service of running reviews when they're on most use towards the readers.JC: It's worth observing that Denby saw the film in a special November. 28 screening scheduled to support people from the NY Film Experts Circle due to the group's decision to maneuver up its honours-voting date. The incident shows the amount of competing focal points experts and galleries are juggling at this time around of the year. And thus, a studio will happily accept praise as honours, embargo-free, but an earlier review, even an optimistic one, is really a no-no.PD: That can bring me towards the most troubling part of the "Dragon Tattoo" situation, that is Denby's argument that since the review was positive, his decision to move to fast was justified.JC: I really like Rudin's response: "The truth that the review is nice is immaterial." Exactly.PD: Deadline's Nikke Finke found Denby's defense, quarrelling that "embargoes are dumbass" and "doing exactly what the galleries want is really a slippery slope," but what is more jeopardized than protecting an embargo break by insisting it consists of nothing the studio might resist? Though Variety doesn't offer "feedback" to publicists on which our reviews will say, a number of other shops do, and nowadays, it isn't uncommon for galleries to provide permission to experts itchiness to write a rave permission to operate their review first -- basically rewarding individuals prepared to be shills for his or her product having a scoop. And it's not only the wild, wild Web that's doing the work either. Recently, we have seen this practice happen among such estimable shops as Time magazine ("Munich" involves mind) and Moving Stone (in which the ever-obliging Peter Travers is routinely treated to lengthy-lead access).JC: How Finke can reason that watching an embargo comprises some kind of ethical lapse is beyond me. A primary reason we adhere to embargoes to start with is the fact that Variety includes a strict policy of not letting publicists be aware of content of their reviews before they run. This is an eminently reasonable agreement between two sides that has to function civilly to be able to do their particular jobs -- writing a genuine review, within our situation, and safeguarding the film's interest, in their own.PD: And recently, safeguarding their interests has came to bending the guidelines to favor positive responses. When the web was youthful, galleries might fly Harry Knowles towards the NY premiere of the film like "Godzilla" and get a juicy rave in reaction. Or they flatter authors who're known champions of the given filmmaker by inviting these to the initial tests, the way in which Robert Altman did to Pauline Kael with "Nashville" in older days (which still happens with Clint Eastwood along with other company directors now). The most recent wrinkle continues to be an upswing of special therapy for Oscar writers -- an embargo-bending practice that Rudin themself started this past year, when he demonstrated both "The Social Networking" and "True Grit" to honours-season commentators first, inviting these to run their (predictably positive) responses before showing the flicks to print experts. The practice continues this season, with honours columnists given express permission to gush about "Youthful Adult," "Hugo," and "The Iron Lady" before experts are permitted to weigh in.JC: When the galleries and also the Oscar writers have made the decision it's for their mutual help to drum up breathless honours speculation and refer to it as critique, there's little you or I -- or, for your matter, other people who sees movies weight loss than trophy bins -- can definitely do about this. I'll finish by saying I've found it altogether sad that "War Equine," to pick out an example, has not opened up or been formally examined within the U.S., but it's already had its honours prospects dissected to dying by writers as well as their commenters. Their conclusions happen to be startling: It's whether guaranteed contender or perhaps an also-went. For the greater interesting questions -- could it be worthwhile? Could it be a sentimental tearjerker, or perhaps a thing of beauty? What exactly are its politics? -- well, I'd love to get involved with it, but sorry, I can not. The embargo still holds. For the time being.Justin Chang and Peter Debruge are Variety's senior film experts.EYE Around The Academy awards: CRIX PICKS Chatter splatter Regional experts flex muscles in Oscar race Reviews migrate from TV to Web Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

'Day' tripping

Hilary Swank and Mariska Hargitay flank Harry Connick Junior. Kerry O'Malley and producer John Gore David Turner with Michael MayerIt seems like it's been a very long time since director Michael Mayer first had the idea to carry out a major gay narrative overhaul of "Around the Apparent Day You Will See Forever," the 1965 tuner about past lives and reincarnation.It absolutely was 15 years back, he reminisced within the Plaza, where the show's opening-evening party happened Sunday. The idea found him, at one time, in 1997 while he was concentrating on "Side Guy" for NY Stage and Film. "I used to be walking within the Vassar College campus singing the score, plus it struck me like lots of bricks," he mentioned.It needed of a decade to get the right book author in Peter Parnell -- nevertheless it certainly wasn't the scribe's abiding belief in reincarnation that acquired him the gig. "I fall pretty firmly however,Inch Parnell recognized. "My husband can be a mental health expert.Inch

Grimm Gets a Thursday Night Tryout; Plus Scoop on Upcoming Episodes

David Giuntoli, Grimm Is it a riff on the old Pied Piper story...or Glee gone bad? On a special Thursday episode (10/9c) of NBC's fairy-tale-inspired crime series Grimm, a teacher at a performing-arts school will die gruesomely, leaving many of the students on the suspect list Nick (David Giuntoli) must investigate. "It's a very ambitious episode with really cool techno music and a buttload of rats," says exec producer David Greenwalt. "It is not for the faint of heart." That's followed tomorrow night - in the show's normal Friday-at-9/8c timeslot - by an hour of revenge featuring pigs and the wolves who've hunted them for centuries. Drop Dead Diva's Jaime Ray Newman guest stars as a hot 'n' hairy number who shares a stormy past with Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell). "She is a real wild ass," Greenwalt notes. "And by that I don't mean donkey. On our show, you have to clarify that! Wait till you see Jaime wolfing out. It's really amazing." Then, on December 16 comes a story of a feral teenager who hides in the woods and hasn't been to a hairdresser in years. "It's a very cool telling of the Rapunzel story," says exec producer Jim Kouf. "She doesn't just use that long braid of hers to climb up and down stuff. She uses it with violent intent." Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Comedy Central Development Slate: New Shows from Shaun Ross, 'Daily Show's Wyatt Cenac (Exclusive)

NY - Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia founder Martha Stewart designed a surprise appearance in the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference here Wednesday throughout a trader presentation and Q&A featuring leader and COO Lisa Gersh who recommended the organization's outlook.our editor recommendsMartha Stewart revisit Board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Martha Stewart Living Boss Lisa Gersh to begin Confirming to Board on Sept. 15 At the time of her six-month anniversary with the organization, Gersh told the Wall Street crowd "I'd a really busy six several weeks" and vowed to carry on to operate hard, therefore the top quality lifestyle company can "go back to profitability and obtain the most from our brands." She stated: "This can be a company that needs to be lucrative and growing," and all sorts of models should come to create a profit over in the future. MSLO "hasn't carried out at acceptable levels," Gersh stressed. "Among the finest to express hi," Stewart stated after she walked in to the room in the finish from the session and was requested if she'd any ideas. Highlighting this was her very first time back around the business side of the organization since she lately rejoined the organization's board, she stated she desired to congratulate Gersh and her team on doing "an amazing job" and being aggressive inside a nice way, which she stated was "very pleasing" to her. Requested through the Hollywood Reporter following the UBS session if she could become chairman from the MSLO board again, she stated which was "TBD." The looks came after MSLO earlier within the day had revealed a proper alliance with J.C. Penney which will begin to see the store have a 16.6 % stake within the lifestyle media company. Emphasizing that MSLO thinks in personas and brands, Gersh stated that corporate expenses connected with individuals factors must participate the firm's cost structure. But she stated that her team may take out some cost in support functions, facilities and T&E. Gersh stated that MSLO is constantly on the see its Hallmark Funnel programming block like a five-hour block of "valuable propertyInch that can help the organization "further popularize our brands." And not mention any sort of plans, she also stated that Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse "can certainly attract great audiences on broadcast" - an indication that MSLO, following a finish from the run of Stewart's syndicated Television show and also the Hallmark deal, might be thinking of getting broadcast possibilities. Stewart later told THR that they and MSLO were "pleased with the development that's occurring at Hallmark" which MSLO's block was "doing ok." She also stated the firm is dealing with Hallmark "to complete new and various things." She didn't elaborate. Stewart's unaided awareness is 53 percent when individuals are requested the title of an individual who provides lifestyle and home ideas, Gersh stated in stating data. The nearest competitor with 6 % is Rachael Ray, she stated. She also contended that Lagasse along with other company talent continues to be "under-used." Gersh in her own presentation also stated that MSLO would save $5.5 million in the finish of the studio lease that it's exiting the coming year. And she or he stated that the organization could bring TV production in-house, but she didn't share further particulars. MSLO presently has two photo galleries, based on a speaker. Gersh further told the UBS crowd that MSLO includes a "tremendous library" you can use electronically which digital advertising is really a key chance. While digital requires investment, MSLO is going to be prudent, she stated. Meanwhile, retailing may be the quickest-growing and many lucrative a part of the organization's business, she outlined. Better terms for retailing deals ought to be available available on the market, she added. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia UBS

Talker Shaun Probst Boosts Station Count

CBS Television Distribution has offered its syndicated first-run Shaun Probst to stations in additional than 70% of the nation in front of its fall 2012 launch. The brand new one-hour talk show starring the Survivor host has become in 22 from the top 25 marketplaces.New sales include to station groups CBS, Dispatch Broadcast Group, Grey Television, Raycom Media, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Hearst Television.