Vampire movies are all the rage these days, or so we have been told by the tweens who won't leave us alone. So Metromix TV is getting in on the action by giving you exclusive, limited edition T's from the new movie Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. Pretty cool we know. All you need to do is enter here and tell us why you want to win.

For the effort we'll toss in a copy of the book as well. It's a win, win for all you aspiring vampires. We're only picking six winners, so enter now and make sure to check out the movie when it opens nationwide on Friday.

Check the trailer after the jump.

With the release and almost "cult" like success of Paranormal Activity, we thought it would be fitting to dig through the archives for a little horror. We came up with WGN Reporter and former Metromix TV personality Marcus Leshock's story on the scariest movies ever... Enjoy.

UPDATE: Check out Marcus Leshock's Coverage of last nights screening.

We bumped into WGN TV's Marcus Leshock today and he was giddy. When we asked him why he couldn't stop talking about the new horror film "Paranormal Activity". According to the trailer some are saying it's the scariest movie ever made. Right. They didn't see "Major League III: Back to the Minors".

The reason we're blogging about it is you aren't going to be able to see it anywhere unless you request Paramount to put it in your city. There's a select group of cities getting the privilege, including one screening tonight @ the Music Box. Good luck and happy nightmares.

Fans of Blaxploitation flicks need to line-up Thursday for "Black Dynamite." The film is a spoof of the movies that made 70's cinema so great. It premiered at Sundance and the response was so awesome that Sony Pictures snatched it up for distribution. Watch the trailer after the jump.

The film is in town for Black Harvest Film Fest @ the Siskel Center. The fest focuses on Black cinema both locally and internationally and is really worth checking out.

That's right Jeremy Piven is in town tonight for his newest movie "The Goods." He'll be walking the red carpet tonight @ 6:00 at the AMC River East in Chicago.

Do you have any questions for Ari? Let us know, we'll ask him and then put it on T.V.

So get to thinking.

Director / writer Harold Ramis was in town last week to premiere his new flick "Year One" at the Music Box. We had to ask him about the Ghostbusters 3 movie tentatively scheduled for a 2012 release.

Tonight, Universal Pictures is holding a screening of the new Dillinger pic Public Enemies - which was shot right here in our own backyard last year. The event is at AMC River East theater. And while us lowly, non-celebs aren't invited to watch the movie, we can show up and hoot and holler for the films stars: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard. The red carpet rolls out at 6 p.m and will probably be more interesting that the Crosstown Classic.

The film opens on Wednesday July 1.

The laughs aren't as big as they could have been - but I actually enjoyed the Upright Citizen Brigade's version of "Twilight" better than the original. Plus, the Whopper Jr. fits into the Kristen Stewart role quite nicely.

On second thought, I'm not sure it's a Whopper Jr., although it does have the poppyseed bun. Any thoughts?

Thank you all for entering. If you are a winner, you're passes to an advanced screening of "X:Men Origins: Wolverine" are already in the mail!

Bea Arthur, star of the hit TV series "The Golden Girls," died today after a battle with cancer. Bea was always my favorite Golden Girl, probably the easiest character for a man to relate to. She had this quick wit and deep voice, always calling out the other characters' shenanigans. The AP has a career encompassing obit here. Bea was 86 years old.

Seth Rogan can do no wrong when it comes to comedy. Or can he? Marcus lets you know.

Looks like everyone wanted a final spin on those gas-guzzling sports cars before the government takes them away. According to box office guru Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily, "Fast & Furious" is set to have the biggest April opener ever. The "new model, original parts" team delivered a ridiculous $30 million on Friday alone! Just for some perspective, the biggest movie to ever open in April before this was the Adam Sandler / Jack Nicholson comedy "Anger Management," which a measely $42 million. If DHD's estimates hold up, "F&F" will collect nearly $70 million this weekend.

You know what this means, look for less originality with your big studio blockbusters, and more retreads of all your old favorites (assuming you thought there was much originality left to begin with). A new "Beverly Hills Cop" is already in the works. The same goes for "Footloose" (although Zac Efron has apparently dropped out). Maybe we'll see another "Lethal Weapon?" If they reboot the "Back to the Future" franchise, I'm moving to Canada.

Your new Hollywood motto - from the Walmart bargain bin....to the big screen. Minus the everyday low prices, of course.

Hey there everybody. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to see "Fast and Furious," but I did catch the new Greg Mottola dramedy "Adventureland." There was just too much teen angst flowing in me to pass this one up. My review ran on CLTV News this morning, and I thought I'd share it with you here. Enjoy!

First off, this is NOT SAFE FOR WORK. It's probably not safe for anyone under the age of 18. But what I can say - I am incredibly excited to see this thing, Sacha Baron Cohen's follow up to "Borat." The trailer speaks for itself. Enjoy:

Happy weekend everyone, or in case you plan on seeing "Last House On The Left" - Horrible, grief-stricken bloodlusty weekend everyone! Wes Craven's original 1972 film was shocking, appalling, mind-blowing, and just all kinds of blowing - why in the world would someone attempt to remake it? And could they succeed? My Leshock Value review.....

I was very excited to read about this on Deadline Hollywood Daily. "The Orphanage" director Juan Antonio Bayona has been tapped to helm the third installment of the "Twilight" series. I don't know how crazy I am about the books, but Bayona is a phenomenal talent. "The Orphange" was one of my favorite flicks of 2007, about a mother searching for her missing son in a creepy old orphanage.

In case you haven't heard by now, director Michael Mann was in Chicagoland last summer filming his latest epic - a period piece about John Dillinger starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale.

The film opens this summer and the trailer has hit the internet.

I spotted the Great Hall at Union Station. Also the lobby at the Auditorium Theatre. Anybody else see any landmarks of note in the trailer?

Watchmen is opening to huge crowds this weekend, which spurred a little discussion within the "metromix on CLTV" offices. What is the best superhero film of all time? I was up to the challenge. While it's too early to say if Watchmen can fit into my list, I have put together my pre-Watchmen Top 10 of the Best Superhero Movies of all time. We start with #10, after the jump......

Hey everybody, by now many of you have already bought your tickets to see Watchmen tonight at midnight. But for those of you who are still on the fence, check out my LeShock Value review!

I'm sure this guy was FURIOUS The Dark Knight wasn't nominated for Best Picture. But at least we got this fun interactive dance-off game featuring the scar-faced Joker and Gotham's Dark Knight. Enjoy Batman VS. The Joker - BBOY style!

Check out the director's cut of Nick Digilio and I's Oscar Night 2009 Recap! I know it's a day late, but as Homer Simpson once said, "It's still good! It's still good!" Enjoy:

This was one of the funnier moments in a night devoid of comedy. Natalie Portman presented the award for Best Cinematography alongside Ben Stiller, who showed up with a snarly beard to poke fun at Joaquin Phoenix's bizarre appearance on The Late Show. But given that this was the cinematography award, wouldn't a jab at Christian Bale's DOP rant been more fitting?

Anytime you give someone like Sean Penn an open forum to speak his mind, you never know what might happen. Last night was no dissapoint, starting with his greeting of the crowd - "You commie, homo-loving sons of guns."

At least he didn't sign off with - "Goodnight, Utah!"

The Oscar curtain has gone down & Mickey Rourke's career is officially still not validated. So what right...Here's our cliff notes version of the awards and everything everyone will be talking about around the water cooler Monday morning.

7 O'Clock Hour:
7:30 - Show opens to a pretty slick looking set...
7:32 - Hugh Jackman makes first recession joke, everyone in New Zealand is enraged.
7:34 - Opening number proves Jackman can dance & sing. We're happy with the choice.
7:38 - We find out Mickey Rourke stole Mike Tyson's front tooth.
7:43 - Best supporting actress winners come out to introduce nominees.. we find out Goldie Hawn is still alive.
7:47 - Penelope Cruz wins for best supporting actress... No surprise there.

The rest of the grueling 3 hour show after the jump...

Yesterday I was a guest on WGN-TV's Oscar special "The Envelope, Please." In case you missed it, they've posted the entire show online, and we have the video for you! Here is Part 1...

Watch the rest of the show after the jump!

Once again, I will be a guest on WGN Radio's Nick Digilio Show immediately following the Academy Awards! I'll be filming all of our Oscar talk and your phone calls, and airing the highlights on CLTV Monday night! So if you want your voice to be seen, tune into WGN Radio 720 AM following the big show!

This small behind-the-scenes clip shows Hugh Jackman rehearsing for the biggest night of his career. In case you're new, he's hosting the 81st Annual Academy Awards this Sunday night, and if his performance at the Tony's means anything, he should be great!

A clip from Hugh at the 2004 Tony's awards is after the jump.....

Want to win that Oscar office pool? That's what Marcus is here for. Check out his no fail picks to win Sunday night... Or he'll go all Roberto Benini on you.

OK it's no secret some people love to hate Star Wars creator / filmmaker George Lucas. Whether it be his revolutionizing of the movie marketing indusrty or Episode I: The Phantom Menace, George has taken his fair share of criticism over the years.

Enter the latest documentary The People Vs. George Lucas, the trailer tells us what the movie is all about, so watch and enjoy.

We have to show love to (and sometimes laugh at) our fellow Tribune family members, and boy have I done some crazy things in my career. Behold WGN Entertainment Guru Dean Richards channeling his inner-Slumdog.

And this Saturday night at 6 p.m. on WGN-TV, I will be a guest on "Creepy Uncle" Dean's Academy Awards special "The Envelope, Please." The one-hour show will feature a panel debating who will win at this Sunday's Oscars. The panel consists of Marcus Leshock (metromix on CLTV), Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune), and Bonnie DeShong (Chicago Crusader). Don't forget to tune in!

MLB spring training is officially here. While I was listening to the reports of my Chicago Cubs reporting to camp, I realized how much I really missed baseball - although I'm still having a hard time with last October. But besides 101 tough years for Cubs fans....baseball has also given us some of the best films ever made. Last year, I put together a list of my favorite baseball films of all time, ranked them, and I was ready to share 'em with the world! So in case you missed it, here it is again - complete with video clips!

Wow. Just wow. Seeing him in photographs was one thing, but after seeing his "Late Show" appearance, Joaquin Phoenix has officially gone off the deep end. David Letterman did everything possible to have some fun with this guy (his beard, rapping, etc.) but Joaquin was having none of it. He seemed to get more and more angry with each laugh of the audience. I started to actually get a little scared for Dave at one point.

Here's a serious question. After what happened to Heath Ledger last year, why do we laugh at someone who might really be going through serious issues? How bad would those audiences members feel if something happened to him? Or maybe he's just a complete toolbag? I hope so.

Check and mate. As stated before, upon a first viewing of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," I found it a good film. Trying to watch it a second time was, well, painful. The similarities to "Forrest Gump" are obvious throughout the film, but they weren't as glaring to me - until I saw this trailer produced by the guys at Talkshow with Spike Feresten:

Marcus reviews 'He's Just Not That Into You.'

Let's hope that "Terminator" DP doesn't end up taking a trip to the video store anytime soon!

After all of this "Christian Bale" freakout stuff broke this week, I remembered the one time I got to speak with him. He was in town shooting "The Dark Knight" and we had a harmless interview about "3:10 to Yuma." He was a great sport when I made that reference to "American Psycho," but there was one strange exchange when I first walked in the room.

Hey all, Marcus Leshock here. The trailer to the first Rod Blagojevich (spoof) film "Keep Love In Your Heart" was such a big success, I couldn't resist creating a follow up. And since our former Governor seems to be so fond of old cowboy movies, I figured the guy should have something go his way. So here it is, the online premiere of Govnor-ROD-o: The Rod Blagojevich Western!

In case you missed "Keep Love In Your Heart," the original Blagojevich film, the trailer is right after the jump!

The Academy Award nominations were announced this morning and "Benjamin Button's" Taraji P. Henson was among them. Marcus talked with her in December about her role and the possibility of an Oscar.

More Oscar interviews and some MARCUS feedback after the jump!

Now that the studio court battle is over, "Watchmen" is stepping up their viral marketing campaign. This fake news report just hit YouTube today and gives you the back story on who Dr. Manhattan really is. Well done DC Comics, well done.

So you caught "Notorious" this weekend, loved it, and now you want to know more. I have a confession, I'm actually a junkie when it comes to both Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. I've read dozens of books, tried to see all the movies, and I'm still fascinated by how complex and intriguing both of these characters are. So if you're new to the game, I have four great options for you to check out in your spare time, starting with this fantastic documentary.....

Marcus caught up with Kevin James and talked about their shared love for malls.

Marcus reviews the new biopic "Notorious."

Daniel Craig takes off the Bond tux for a WWII epic. Marcus let's you know if it's worth your time.

Hey there everyone! Highlights from my night on Nick Digilio's show are airing on CLTV News this evening, but if you just can't wait or want to hear more, you can download my ENTIRE performance from WGN Radio 720 AM! Just click here and download the four mp3's I'm featured in! The Globes were fun, can't wait till Oscar time!

Video Courtesy: NBC

Chicago Filmmakers are honoring Obama's upcoming inauguration with a screening of the documentary "Senator Obama Goes to Africa." The screening is this Saturday, January 17th (just four days before Obama is sworn in) at 8 p.m. at 5243 N. Clark St., on the 2nd Floor. The film chronicles Sen. Obama's trip to Africa in 2006.

Part personal odyssey and part chronicle of diplomacy in action, this timely documentary follows Senator Barack Obama as he travels to the land of his ancestry in 2006. From South Africa to Kenya to a Darfur refugee camp in Chad, Obama explores the vast continent that is gaining increasing importance in this age of globalization. The heart of the film is Obama's emotional homecoming to Kisumu, Kenya - his father's former home - where thousands of people turn out to greet him.

Marcus reviews Clint Eastwood's new drama "Gran Torino."

Well it's only a matter of time before all the corruption, intrigue and hairstyles of the Blagojevich Scandal comes to the big screen. Or maybe just to Lifetime or Law & Order. But as long as we're dreaming big, we're going to cast the Blagojevich arrest and subsequent fall out like we're Steven Spielberg - no one turns him down, not even the dead or those made of felt and cloth.

Part 1: The Illinois First Family.
We figure John Travolta has the jaw line and hair mass that could be styled into Rod's recognizable 'do. And we're bringing back Alley Sheedy - particularly her bangs-in-the-face hairstyle, to play Patti.

Since it's one of the most watched movie trailers in sometime we thought we would give you the chance to watch it in all of its glory, X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Marcus counts down his top ten movies of the year. Did your favorite make the cut?

2008 was the Year of the Dog; from the White House with the Obama's future pooch, to the bookshelf where Edgar Sawtell and his dogs ruled the best seller list, to the box office where Marley romps our way on Wednesday. So in honor of his debut, we're giving you our Top 10 Movie Dogs of all time.

10) Beethoven - Beethoven (1992)
He was adorable as a puppy, but then lost his charm as he grew up... and made seven sequels. He ruined the house and Charles Grodin's career in one go. Still, he's huge dog comedy at it's purest.

The Chicago Film Critics announced their annual awards on WGN-TV this morning, naming Disney-Pixar's WALL-E the Best Picture of 2008. The movie tore up the awards, becoming the first animated film to take home Best Picture, kind of a surprise considering it didn't have the most nominations. It won for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Animated Film. WALL-E could pull off the upset and land an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, but it's still a long shot.

Find out how everyone else did, including Danny Boyle's SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT, after the jump....

This morning the CFCA announced their nominees in all categories. The big winners with 6 nominations are "The Dark Knight," no surprise considering the critical outpouring for the film all year, and Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire," a recent indie coming on strong. CFCA President and Daily Herald Film Critic Dann Gire, the Sun-Times' Richard Roeper, and WGN's Dean Richards will announce the winners of this year's awards on Thursday, December 18, on WGN-TV. They'll announce in three chunks, at 6:50 a.m., 7:50 a.m., and 8:50 a.m.

To see the full list of nominees, head to the Chicago Film Critics Association website.

I will be announcing my TOP 10 this Friday, so keep your eyes peeled here for that!

Marcus reviews Keanu Reeves new remake of a sci-fi classic.

Yes, it's well known in the industry that studios and agencies lobby their butts off to land these Golden Globe nominations. But they happen to be a major award show that lots of people watch, so let's break down this morning's announcement just a little bit.

The 5 films earning the most nominations include "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (5), "Doubt" (5), "Frost/Nixon" (5), "The Reader" (4), "Revolutionary Road" (4). A little surprised that "Slumdog Millionaire" didn't get more noms, but as stated earlier, it's an indie film, which makes it harder to get a Globe nomination.

I find it hilarious that Kate Winslett is considered a "Supporting Actress" for her work in "The Reader." She's obviously the female LEAD and carries the film. They clearly didn't want her competing with her own tremendous LEAD performance in "Revolutionary Road." The marketing clearly has paid off.

The big surprise comes in the Supporting Actor category. Heath Ledger should win for "The Dark Knight," but how about Robert Downey Jr. AND Tom Cruise both landing noms for their work in "Tropic Thunder?" Wow!

All of the other, more predictable nominations can be found after the jump. Make sure to tune into WGN-TV next Thursday (Dec. 18). Dean Richards will be announcing the winners of the Chicago Film Critics Awards. For the first time, I am a voting member. Should be exciting!

You read that right. Crushpad, a west coast winery, is offering a new wine - the price of which fluctuates with the stock market! Here's their hilarious trailer:

Just like you, the folks over at Crushpad have watched as their 401K's have been getting hammered over the past few months. So they decided to offer a Bailout Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for just $39....but it could be even cheaper than that. Keep reading for more details.....

The snow is falling. It's colder than, well, you know. You're getting back into the holiday mood. Time to break out the ol' DVDs and dust off some Christmas classics. I've compiled my list of the Top 10 Christmas movies of all time. Some are traditional, some are for kids, and there's at least one you would NEVER air in front of a child. Let the debate begin as we start with number 10 on my list - AFTER THE JUMP!

Here is my review of the new film "Nobel Son"

I was on the air with Sean Lewis tonight, breaking down all of the Oscar movies that will be opening this month. In case you missed a few dates, below you'll find a brief rundown of what we talked about.

There were a few things I knew about Edward Cullen.

2. I was madly in love with him.

It doesn't take much for "Twilight's" Bella to make that leap. You know, the one where she finds out the love of her life sucks the blood out of living creatures - and decides to spend alone-time with him anyway? And despite being face to face with the vile nature of vampirism, she comes to the conclusion that it might be the way to go. Oh, the humanity!

Now I know what it was like to introduce Elvis. Or maybe The Beatles make a better analogy. Last night I had the pleasure in "moderating" a question and answer session with "Twilight" star Rob Pattinson at the Orland Square Mall. Hundreds of screaming/crying fans packed the mall to get an in-person look at the actor. The Chicago Tribune took some amazing photos. See them here.

Before leaving for the mall, there was a lively discussion in our office about who this guy was, and why people are so crazed about him. After speaking with the fans, it's clear that it has as much to do with the character as it does with the actor. "Twilight's" Edward has become a mythical figure for teenage girls. He's a supermodel with superpowers, ready to fight off the bad guys, while still being a little bad himself (he's a vampire, in case you're new to the party).

Here is my review of the new film "Frost/Nixon."

Marcus takes a look at the Indie hit "Slumdog Millionaire."

Tonight I'll be moderating a Q&A with the star of the upcoming movie "Twilight," Robert Pattinson! We'll be at the Orland Square Mall tonight between 6-8 p.m. He'll be signing autographs from 6-7:30 p.m. Then, you'll get chance to ask Rob anything you want.

Hundreds of fans stormed the mall late last night trying to get tickets for the autograph session. Those are SOLD OUT. But you can still see Rob at the Q&A, which I will try my best to moderate in an orderly fashion.

I'm excited and terrified at the same time.

Come out and say hello. I'll see you in Orland Park at 6!

That's the question the film "Breakfast with Scot" explores (Peep the trailer below). The film kicks off the Reeling 2008: 27th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, which starts today and runs through Nov. 16th. The fest will show 70 different films throughout its 11 day run.

For more information including ticket info and a list of screenings and events, log on to ReelingFilmFestival.org.

Marcus reviews Angelina's latest "Changeling."

The Chicago International Film Festival held a "surprise screening" at the Music Box tonight. No hints were given as to what the movie would be - you just buy a ticket, and you're stuck with what starts playing. So, fun-loving moviegoers purchased their seats, hoping to see one of the year's most anticipated new films. And the surprise movie WAS......

Guy Ritchie's "RockNRolla?" Ugh. Let me add to the collective groan echoing throughout the theater. As I was sitting there awaiting the movie's start, people around me were speculating as to what they were about to see.

One man was crossing his fingers for J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek." Another was hoping the next "Harry Potter" film would be getting another Chicago test screening. Heck, one guy even hoped that it would be one of the two previews we saw before the main title (Vince Vaughn's "Four Christmases" and the "Watchmen" graphic novel flick). But nope, we got "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels 3." If I could understand half of the dialogue in the movie, I'd tell you how much I liked it.

OK, so maybe the movie wasn't THAT bad, but it definitely wasn't what I was looking forward to seeing. I do hope that the CIFF continues this practice, however. It was good fun until the curtain opened!

I met Jennifer Hudson in 2006. She held a press junket in Chicago to promote her upcoming film "Dreamgirls," where she would hopefully make a big enough splash to jumpstart an acting career. After screening the film, I was pretty much sold that she would win every major award out there, and that her life would change forever.

Who knew that just two years later, now an Academy Award winning actress and full blown pop star celebrating her debut album, her life would change again. Last Friday when we got the news that Jennifer's mother had been killed in an apparent domestic shooting, we were shocked. But to hear that she also lost her brother, and now possibly her nephew? Well, we are left speechless.

These are tough times in Chicago. As the news broke over the weekend, popular news websites like The Drudge Report had headlines calling Chicago the "murder capital of the U.S." It's hard to argue, right now we're beating both New York and Los Angeles in homicide numbers. We have to remember that however tragic the blow to Jennifer Hudson may be, there are many others in our city who are mourning as well. Let's hope that something good can happen here. Maybe the conversation will create such demand, that we will finally figure out some way to stop this. We have to stop killing each other, and we have to do it now.

After the jump you'll find my story with Jennifer Hudson before "Dreamgirls" opened in 2006. She is one of Hollywood's best success stories, and despite these recent events, she still remains the symbol that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Halloween is always a good time to break out the ol' horror films. Last year we hit the streets to find out your favorites. I posted the video on YouTube - nearly 50,000 people have watched it, and more than 220 viewers left text comments with their picks. The demand was there, so I hit the streets and made a sequel. What is the best scary movie of all time - PART 2!!!!!....

In case you missed last year's segment, you can find it right after the jump....

The organizer's of the Chicago International Film Festival are getting a jump on Halloween - tricking their audience and then treating them to the debut of a major film. The 'Surprise Film' will be held at the Music Box Theater on Monday night, but no one in the crowd will know what film they're seeing until the opening credits roll.
And like any good surprise, the fest has released several hints about several different big movies - just enough to drive you completely nuts. Read their press release below - your guess is as good as ours.

On this weeks show we counted down the best presidential movies of all time. The countdown is as follows, if you think we are crazy you need to tell us why.

#4. My Fellow Americans

More after the jump...

Rapper-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg and Rapper-turned-actor-but-still-rapper-too Ludacris chat with Marcus about their upcoming film, Max Payne - which hits theaters Friday. Who knew Luda was from Chicago?

Here is my review of the new film "The Express."

Here is my review of the new IMAX film "Dolphins and Whales 3D"

Here is my review of the new film "Body of Lies."

Jackie sat down with the stars of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Michael Cera and Kat Dennings.

Dennis Quaid was in town promoting his new film 'The Express.' Marcus sat down with the actor and discussed football, Ditka and raising twins.

The phone rings at Rosebud Prime Steakhouse in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. The manager answers. On the line is a man asking if he can bring his own bottle of wine to the restaurant. The manager insists Rosebud has its own fine wine list, bringing your own won't be necessary. The man describes his wine and the vintage year and the manager's eyes open wide. That's a great bottle of wine - see you soon.

In walks Mr. Paul Newman. Rosebud manager David Flom told me this story when we went to Rosebud to feature it in our Best Chicago Steakhouse segment. Apparently Paul Newman loved to travel and sample America's best burgers. After reading about Rosebud in the paper, in he walked, ate, thanked, and left.

Check out the trailer for the Biggie Smalls biopic "Notorious." We were kinda digging it until we saw the supporting cast. The guy actor playing Tupac looks nothing like him.

What do you think?

So by now you've probably heard about the curse of 'Soul Men.' Within the past months, stars Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes have passed away. Now the trailer is out featuring the voice-over work of the legendary Don LaFontaine - who ALSO died recently. If I were Sam Jackson I'd be a little worried right now. But something tells me he's not too concerned. I mean, have you seen the guy's wallet? It's the one that says.....

For those of you losing your faith in the box office - which is a lot of you judging by last weekend's abysmal numbers - hold on. The Fall Movie Season is just around the corner. Marcus and metromix.com's Matt Pais have a preview.

In case you missed tonight's show, or just wanted to see my take on celebrity news one more time, here is this week's Hollywood Jolt! Who knew that a Republican convention could be so much fun, my friends!

"The Rocker" opens this week & Marcus had the chance to sit down with Rainn Wilson a while back to talk about his musical career, the movie and The Office.

Check it out.

It's the 14th year for the event, now going on at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. This weekend on CLTV News you'll get a sneak peak of some interviews I conducted with two up-and-coming Chicago filmmakers - David Muhammed and Christopher Nolen. No, not "The Dark Knight" Christopher Nolan. A strange coincidence of the name, but this Nolen doesn't mind the comparison one bit.

David's film "The Opposite of Life" tells the story of two pregnant women contemplating abortion. You can see it Sunday August 17th at 5 p.m., and Tuesday August 19th at 6:15 p.m. Click here for more information and tickets.

Christopher's film "Subtle Seduction" is showing Friday August 15th at 8:15 p.m. and Tuesday August 19th at 8:30 p.m. Click here for more information and tickets.

So if you wanted to make the ultimate double feature, head out on August 19th and watch both films back to back. These guys worked their hearts out on these projects, so be sure to head out and show your support! "The Dark Knight's" made enough money already, give the other Chris Nolen some love!

Those of you excited to see "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" this Thanksgiving are going to have to be patient. Warner Bros. announced they will push back the movie's release date - to July 17, 2009. The full press release from the studio is pasted at the bottom of this post.

"Harry" would have been a killer for Warners this fall, but pushing the movie back to the now dubbed "Dark Knight" slot might be the smartest thing for the studio to do. That gives them a guaranteed tentpole release next summer, with the two-part climax "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" to follow down the road. A good strategy, but not good news for excited fans. The trailer is after the jump.....

Marcus looks at the new comedy "Tropic Thunder."

You read that right. Bill Murray is taking his act to another level this weekend. It might be old news, but the comedian with close ties to Chicago will jump out of an airplane at the Air and Water Show on August 15th, with hopes of landing on North Avenue Beach. Castaways better have a table with a great seat ready for him, because if he pulls this off, it'll bring down the house. The Brady Bunch's Florence Henderson is scheduled to sing the national anthem, and Gary Sinise's band will play afterwards. All of the hoopla should begin around 3 p.m.

Bill has a new movie coming out. Watch the trailer for it after the jump!

Comedian and Chicago-native Bernie Mac passed away this morning at the young age of 50, from complications due to pneumonia. Bernie was an unbelievable comic talent. This morning I thought about his television sitcom, "The Bernie Mac Show." Bernie had this uncanny way of making discipline funny. There's something inherently humorous about watching a 6'3", bulking mass of a man shiver when dealing with yelling rugrats. It was such a joy to watch.

Also, Bernie was the quintessential Chicago guy. He managed to take his Chicago attitude to a global scale, never selling out his city, and never becoming a sausage-eating cartoon character. In so many ways, Bernie Mac was Chicago. Just a regular guy with a lot to say, and never afraid to say it. He recently performed a standup act at a Barack Obama appearance, and in typical Bernie fashion, organizers had to apologize for the content in his act. He wasn't going to dumb down or clean up for anybody. Why? Because he was Bernie Mac - a funny guy from a tough neighborhood. He didn't back down from anybody.

And he certainly didn't back down from me. We had a brief discussion at the Chicago premiere for "Ocean's 13." When I asked him a tongue-in-cheek question about keeping Chicago a secret, mostly to keep people like George Clooney and Matt Damon out of here, he responded with a smile.

"We've got four seasons," Bernie answered. "The winter will run them people out."

Classic Bernie - you will be missed my friend. Here's the clip:

A few years back, Ewan McGregor (he of Star Wars and Moulin Rouge fame) and his best friend Charley (he of being Ewan's friend fame) set off on two BMW motorcycles and traveled from England to New York - the long way. The resulting TV series and accompanying book (aptly titled 'The Long Way 'Round) chronicled the pals as they made the 20,000 mile trek and tested the limits of their bikes, morale and friendship - plus you could watch Ewan's bear grow to Obi Wan-ic proportions.
Well the boys are back - this time on a new continent - and coming to Chicago (er, so to speak).

Someone edited Star Wars together with audio from Rush Hour.
It's pretty funny, waste some time watching it.

Here's the first look at Oliver Stone's much anticipated film about our Commander in Chief, George W. Bush. We see the President taking part in a beer bong, being escorted to a prison cell, and a lanky James Cromwell lecturing his son - "You're a Bush. Act like one!" I know it's too early to judge, but you'd think Cromwell would try harder to sound less like Cromwell, and more like Bush Sr.

The big question remains - with "change" filling the political airwaves these days, do people really want to see a film about a man they've been watching for the past 8 years?

This is the Hollywood Jolt, a weekly mashup of all the best celebrity news, with a little bit of humor. Because my producers think two minutes of this nonsense is quite enough, I've included an entire EXTRA MINUTE, just for my friends on the internets! Love you guys! Enjoy!

I hope you all liked my new celebrity/entertainment news segment 'The Jolt,' which debuted this weekend! As usual on this program, there was just too much Jolt-y goodness to squeeze into one episode, so I put together a director's cut for ya. Enjoy!

Happy Saturday morning, everyone. I hope you enjoyed your 'Dark Knight' screenings yesterday. But while we're talking movies, this weekend on the show WGN Radio's Nick Digilio and I are breaking down the lineup at the Chicago Outdoor Film Fest, and having some fun during the process. Here's the Director's Cut of our conversation, with some extras that couldn't make the show! For more on Nick, click here. And for the full Grant Park Outdoor Film Fest lineup, click here.

And that somebody is WGN Radio 720AM host Nick Digilio. We chatted about it during my recent stop into the studio last Sunday night. Here's what Nick has to say about the movie that EVERYONE is gushing about. Leave Nick a comment and tell him how you feel!

Here it is, folks. My review of 'The Dark Knight.' Deadline Hollywood Daily is now reporting that Warner Bros. execs are speculating the film could top $160 million this weekend. Unreal. Here's my review. Now, can I tell you how I got my scars?

Hundreds of fans lined up at Navy Pier tonight to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars at The Dark Knight red carpet event. While waiting in anticipation fans chanted “Batman” and names such as Michael Caine. Once the stars arrived, Marcus got up close and personal with the actors and creators of the movie. The line up included Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Charles Roven, and Christopher Nolan. All seemed thrilled to be in Chicago once again where they filmed much of The Dark Knight. While this screening and after party for The Dark Knight was a private event that included a hefty price tag, Oldman and Nolan, the honoree of then night, didn’t mind stopping by the crowd of fans to sign a few autographs before the screening. To see what these stars and brains behind The Dark Knight had to say tune into Metromix this Friday at 7, 8, and 9pm to see Marcus’s exclusive interviews.
And that’s just the beginning of The Dark Knight excitement on this episode of Metromix. First up, Marcus stopped by some of the famous filming spots for The Dark Knight in Chicago. Then Marcus tells us what he thought about the movie during his review segment, The Leshock Value. Tune in to find out if it’s worth the hype!?
Click on for more Pics!

Here is my review of the new film "The Dark Knight."

Chicago filmmaker Jerry Vasilatos is a huge fan of the Batman series. Like many of you out there, he's super pumped about 'The Dark Knight,' which opens this Friday. And today, Jerry is premiering his new short film to the world. 'The Dark Knight Project' was filmed over a long weekend here in Chicago, and it's meant to bridge the gap between 'Batman Begins' and the upcoming 'The Dark Knight.' The film premiered online today and you can watch it here. Enjoy!

Hello all! Just giving a heads up that I will be a guest on the Nick Digilio Show this Sunday night. Nick's on from 10p.m. - 2 a.m. We'll break down the Outdoor Film Festival lineup in Grant Park, which begins this Tuesday. I'm sure many other fun entertainment topics will arise while I'm in studio. Then, stay tuned to the cltv.com/metromix blog and next Friday's "metromix" for video highlights!

Wow. So I’ve seen it. Seen it in IMAX. It’s been a few days now and it’s starting to sink in. ‘The Dark Knight’ is a good movie. No, it’s a GREAT movie. For days leading up to the film I read countless reviews that picked apart the movies final half-hour.

‘It’s too long.’

‘The movie went places it shouldn’t have gone.’

Those statements are probably correct, but there was one factor that washed away all of the film’s imperfections. It’s Heath Ledger’s Joker. Keep reading for more details…

How naughty, yet true. I actually liked the latest installment of Dr. Jones, but the more and more I think about it, it was a pretty dumb movie. One of the more ridiculous scenes, the now-infamous Tarzan sequence, no doubt influenced our friends over at Black20.com when they were putting this video together. We'll leave the debate as to whether Indy has finally "Nuked the Fridge" to another blog post. But for now, enjoy the Swingin' Lifestyle of everyone's favorite junior!

So it doesn't COMPLETELY reveal Two Face, but it's pretty darn close. In case you don't want to watch and be totally suprised, the clip shows a scene where a man in a bar is approached by a now disfigured Harvey Dent. You only see Dent from behind, but his face is clearly mangled. 'The Dark Knight' opens in 17 days.

Two-Face Clip From The Dark Knight! from TELL on Vimeo.

I know I do. And I will probably claw your eyes out to get one at the toy store this Christmas to get one. Apologies in advance.

By the way, 'Wall-E' is the best film of the year thus far.

Here it is. We've been speculating for some time, but the first reactions to "The Dark Knight" are streaming out onto the internet. This morning I woke up to a blog entry from KTLA's Sam Rubin, who screened the flick last night, and he says of Ledger....

"His work, as The Joker, will absolutely be nominated for an Oscar, and at this point in the year, Ledger is also a hands-down favorite to win it posthumously."

So it looks like the glimpses we've gotten from the trailer are indicative of what will play out during the film. Rubin also calls "The Dark Knight" one of the best superhero movies ever. Rolling Stone gives the movie 3 1/2 out of 4 Stars. Early fan reviews are pouring out all over the place, raving about how the movie absolutely lives up to the hype. So let me just throw this out there. Could we actually be seeing a little robot named Wall-E battling with Batman for Best Picture? And imagine Jack Nicholson's reaction when Ledger wins the Oscar? He'd have to be up there presenting it, right?

Anyhow, I see the film on July 8th in IMAX, and I couldn't be more stoked. If any of you have seen it, I'd love to hear your reaction as well. Let the madness begin! Read Rubin's blog post about the film here.

Here is my review of the new film "Get Smart."

Here is my review of the new film "The Happening." Hide the plants.

Wow, this is sad news. A new report coming from the AP quotes a close friend of Paul Newman, saying the legendary actor has been battling cancer for the past 18 months. It doesn't say what kind of cancer Newman is suffering from, but cites writer A.E. Hotchner, who helped start Newman's Own salad dressing company in the 1980's. You can read the entire story here, but we're really hoping Paul pulls through and ends up back in the theatre soon.

The second-longest running cast member of SNL. Hard to believe, right? Tim Meadows spent nearly 10 years on the show before leaving to do a multitude of things. Some of my favorite Meadows moments have been his small cameos in movies, like his role as the drummer in "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story." Yes, I'm a bit obsessed with this movie, and I'll stop blogging about it. But for now here's a little bit of Tim reminiscing on what it was like telling Dewey Cox that he didn't want any of this s#%*!

More of my interview with Tim on tonight's "metromix!" Check it out!

Marcus Leshock here. If you're looking for something to do last minute tonight, check out the Annoyance Theatre's free video night! They showcase (mostly) funny shorts by filmmakers all over the city, and yes, it's free of charge. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. And as a special bonus tonight, my good friends over at Hombre Films will be premiering their new comedy short film "Wheelchair Werewolf." You might remember a while back on "metromix," we premiered their last short "Time Gun." Here's the video....

More Hombre can be found at their website here. And check out the Annoyance Theatre's site for info on all of their events here.

Starring director Wes Anderson and actor Jason Schwartzman. Please don't ask me for the secrets of my patented researching process. Instead, sit back and enjoy this viral video I made....

The new trailer for "Batman: The Dark Knight" has just mesmerized me with its awesomeness. It's got more than enough Heath Ledger to get you fired up for July 18th. Just look at some of the little touches he's adding to the Joker, particularly that freakish tongue smacking around his scarred lips. They're not kidding when they say this guy was into the role. Wow. Watch the full trailer in fantastic HD video.....here.

Marcus Leshock here! Summer movie season is officially here, the most exciting time of year for movie fans everywhere! Instead of doing your traditional Summer Movie Preview 2008, I've decided to actually rank the top 8 movies of the summer without seeing one of them! This way we can all sit down in September and have a good laugh at how wrong I was. So keep reading after the jump for my Top 8 movies on summer 2008, complete with each of their trailers!

Ever wonder what it's like on a "metromix on CLTV" on location shoot? You never know what's going to happen. But the one thing I've learned? Just roll with it. Here's a little clip of a man who approached us when we were putting together last fall's movie special. Since then nearly 8,000 people have viewed this clip on YouTube. So Kokomo Joe, wherever you are, you're a star in cyberspace!

No, baby! Saw this one on AintItCoolNews. Apparently Mike Myers and director Jay Roach have OK'd a script for yet another Austin Powers sequel. I thought this franchise tired out at 2, let alone 3 movies. But a 4th film? Let's hope they don't recycle the same old jokes - for the 4th time!

An article on boston.com is reporting that both Myers and Roach will soon meet with the potential new Powers-Girl soon. Keep reading after the jump to see who it could be....

"Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" drops on DVD tomorrow. If you haven't seen it, I thought it was one of the funnier films of 2007. It's definitely worth a look. I was given a few minutes to sit down and sit with the legend himself, Mr. John C. Reilly, before his concert appearance at the Cubby Bear in Wrigleyville. Here's the uncut interview:

Marcus Leshock here. I'll be an honorary judge at this year's Reality Bytes Student Documentary Film Festival, put on by my alma mater - the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University. The fest features 17 films, all under 30 minutes in length, free of charge! Topics include everything from the homeless in DeKalb county, to Roller Derby leagues, and the photographers at the Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans who photographed the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A full list of all the movies, including dates and times of screenings, after the jump....

abcnews.com received an early copy of Oliver Stone's script for his Bush biopic now in production. The article on their site (which can be found here) offers plenty of spoilers, but if you want to be suprised, expect to see a W with a LOT of Daddy issues. As expected, the movie is pretty critical of Bush's rush to war with Iraq, and his days as a heavy-drinking party guy. It's slated for release in 2009 but could be rushed in time for this election season.

As big as March Madness is, there are still many people who aren't caught up in NCAA Tournament pools. But if you're feeling left out of all the "bracket" talk, The Chicago Tribune set up a different kind of tournament. It's a competition to determine the best Chicago movie.

Here is my review of the new comedy "Drillbit Taylor."

Supporters for Gotham's famed District Attorney candidate Harvey Dent (a.k.a. 2 Face) hit Chicago to try and win over some of the city's finest. Some people showed up with signage they printed from home and others just stopped by to see why Cee-Lo from Gnarles Barkley was yelling into a megaphone.

More pics after the jump...

The much hyped Incredible Hulk trailer debuted yesterday on MTV. Of the forthcoming super-hero movies this trailer is by far the worst behind The Dark Knight & Iron Man. Don't know if that means much.

See for yourself after the cut.

Thats right kiddies the Dark Knight rolls back through Chicago on Thursday.
The P.R. juggernaut behind the new Batman will revisit the Windy City tomorrow in the form of the Dent Mobile.

More details if you keep reading...

Two new Speed Racer trailers are out this week. All we gather from them is Speed is angry, wants revenge and will race his green screen heart out until he's satisfied.
Watch what we're talking about after the jump...
UPDATE: The trailers have been yanked from the tube. So I guess you'll have to super sleuth them out.

We knew they'd make a movie about her life, but it looks like the Anna Nicole bio-pic is almost done. Complete with a possible ressurection of Willa Ford's career.

Watch it after the cut...

Yep, the Weinstein Company sent out a press release today announcing their latest venture, a movie about the life of Bob Marley. It will be called "No Woman, No Cry," based on the book by Rita Marley, his widow. Rudy Langlais (“The Hurricane”) is set to produce the film from a script written by Lizzie Borden (“Working Girls”). More details will be announced soon...maybe who will play him? You see my pick above - Mos Def. He's got the look, the skill, and the musical talent. We'll wait and see who the Weinstein's go with...but if I hear Will Smith....I'm officially sitting this one out. You can read the full press release after the jump....

Hey all, Marcus Leshock here. I know I posted the hilarious, kinda anti-Hillary "Election" video a few weeks back. In fairness, this morning I ran across this new ad on YouTube using many of Jack Nicholson's famous characters to make the pitch for Hillary. As you may know, he is one of her supporters. Thought I'd post it up...find it right after the jump.....

That's right, not only is Six Flags Great America in Gurnee getting a new roller coaster, but it's going to themed after Batman: The Dark Knight. Not sure if this will replace the current Batman coaster. Here's a quick description from the Six Flags website:

Venture through demented hallways of twists, turns and hallucinatory images, while being tormented by The Joker himself......You can only guess at what awaits as you speed through six 180-degree hairpin turns, climb unseen hills, plunge into pitch darkness and dip into unforeseen danger. As you attempt to escape the terror, your only hope is that Gotham's Silent Guardian — Batman — can save you!

You can read the full descrip here. Aint It Cool News has some leaked design art for the ride that hasn't been released yet. See that here. Looks awesome!

This could be one of the summer's funniest movies. It better be, with two of the funniest guys on the planet playing (step)brothers.

Look for this one in theaters July 25th.

We had highlights from my interview with Will Ferrell on "metromix" tonight! He's got "Semi-Pro" opening this weekend, but above you see the poster for another movie he's got opening this year - "Step Brothers" with John C. Reilly! Check back into the blog tomorrow for my uncut interview with Will. After the jump, you'll find video from my past interviews with the funny guy, who is absolutely one of the nicest, and most humble people in Hollywood. Keep reading.....

Johnny Depp will be in town next month filming his new movie "Public Enemies" with Christian Bale & Marion Cotillard. Right now the studio is looking for extras and some vintage automobiles to be in Michael Mann's new flick.

So here's what you do: check out http://www.joanphilocasting.com/ for all the details and you could see Johnny & Christian up close!

To make everyone happy, simply send us pictures from the behind the scenes action and all is square.

That's right. The star of "There Will Be Blood" called into the Nick Digilio Show on WGN Radio 720AM while I was a guest to celebrate his Best Actor Oscar. Hilarity ensued.

Star Wars according to a three year old. She should write any future sequels:

I was really pumped "Once" won the Best Original Song Oscar last night. We had Glen and Marketa on "metromix" when "Once" opens in theatres. If you still haven't seen it, shame on you! But here's the clip of Glen, Marketa, and director John Carney talking about the movie, and stumming a Van Morrison tune for us on Michigan Avenue:

Marcus Leshock here! As soon as the Oscars are wrapped up...tune into WGN Radio 720AM to hear Nick Digilio and I break the show down. Then, tune into "metromix" on Monday night for highlights. We'll talk winners and losers....the drama that unfolded during the show....and probably some of the ridiculous fashion that was on full display to the world! In case you missed my appearance on the Nick D. Show after the Golden Globes, I've posted the highlights after the jump, so check it out....

If you saw Matt Pais and I break down this year's Oscars, you're probably asking one of two questions. 1. What's wrong with those guys OR 2. Where can I see their full list of predictions? Well, you can read Matt's predictions here. But if you want the REAL winners (a.k.a. MINE), continue reading after the jump....

Video Artist / Music Video Pioneer / Film Director / Magician. Yes, I admire Michel Gondry and won't deny it. My objectivity was thrown out the window when I interviewed him recently. Here's a quick clip that gives you an insight into this man's mind. And tune into "metromix" on Monday for the full story:

We know your losing sleep at night in anticipation for the new Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Trailer. Well wait no more here it is in all of its Lucas glory.

Politics seem to be on everybody's mind these days, young and old. In light of another round of huge victories for Barack Obama in last night's Potomac primaries, this little piece of satire made me laugh out loud. If you haven't seen the movie "Election" this might not mean much to you. But if you have....behold Hillary Clinton's "Inner Tracy Flick."

What is going on these days? Actor Roy Scheider, famous for his role as Chief Brody in Steven Spielberg's "Jaws," died yesterday at the young age of 75. No cause of death yet, but it was reported that Roy was being treated for "multiple myeloma." We actually had Roy on "metromix" a few summers ago when he was in town for the CIFF's tribute to Steven Spielberg. Until we meet again on that big Orca in the sky.....