"Jack Reacher" Teaser Trailer

Tom Cruise has had a tough run of the past week or so. After "Rock of Ages" landed to a sadly tepid response with both critics and audiences, Katie Holmes' divorce is just a further beating on a guy who just can't seem to please people enough. Fact of the matter is that he tries, and it comes through in nearly every single one of his performances. I don't recall a single time when he hasn't been convincing and devoted in his role. His next film and performance, "Jack Reacher", pitches to earn him back some favor with thrill seeking audiences. He's the main showcase in the film's first trailer, and though I'm hesitant to trailers that merely build the announcement of a character ("Red Lights" forever be damned), it's Tom Cruise. After all these years, he deserves the buildup.

Darren Aronofsky to Direct "The Wolverine"

Well, it turns out that this news is indeed true. I wasn't ready to believe it when it was originally announced, because it just seemed so particularly boneheaded. However, Darren Aronofsky, director of next month's highly anticipated psychological thriller Black Swan, is now set to the The Wolverine, which focuses on the Marvel character played by Hugh Jackman. As the title suggests, it is not a follow up to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so I assume we're forgetting that ever happened. It is instead going to take place in Japan, with Logan falling in love with a woman who is betrothed to another man. I'm not sure of much beyond that, but it already sounds like a bit of a stretch for Aronofsky. Then again, it is written by Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects), so you never know. We'll just have to hope for the best, I suppose.