You may recognize Judy Greer from a multitude of movies and or TV shows. For one, she’s known as that crazy secretary on Arrested Development (we’ll get to that later). You may also recognize her voice as the gossipy Cheryl Tunt on the adults-only cartoon Archer. She also got to creepily whisper the tagline to M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village (fast forward to the end of the trailer to hear for yourself). More recently she has been appearing on the newly revamped Two and a Half Men.

As entertaining as those are, Judy has switched things up in The Descendants, an Alexander Payne vehicle starring George Clooney. She plays Julie Speer, the wife Brian (Matthew Lillard — the man who had an affair with George Clooney’s character’s comatose wife (before she got comatose, of course).

Sounds heavy, huh?

Nonetheless, Judy finds the change of pace refreshing — especially since this movie has been pinned as Oscar bait.

“Promoting this movie is totally different because I’ve never been in an Academy considered movie before,” says Judy. “It’s a different part of business I’ve never experienced before…and I get to wear a lot of different outfits.”

I got the chance to talk with Judy Greer in a roundtable discussion about her work in The Descendants, shooting in Hawaii, the joy of working with Alexander Payne, always playing a supporting character, and being a Bourne-again action star!

What attracted you to the character of Julie Speer?

I would of played any character in an Alexander Payne movie. I was happy that (Julie) was a good one. For the short amount of screen time, I got to do so much and it was so well-rounded. She had a great journey which is so rare and I should know that because I play a lot of supporting characters — well — I play ALL supporting characters (laughs). It’s hard to have a role that size to be so compelling.

What about this movie will surprise audiences?

The movie as whole, I think people will enjoy seeing George (Clooney) play this role. His fans will connect with him in a way they haven’t connected with him before because they’ve never seen him play a father and a struggling man who has been cheated on. He plays these strong, cool, sexy characters all the time. This is a very vulnerable role for him. I do a lot of Q&As with audiences after screenings and what’s awesome is that people are crying and laughing at something and they don’t know how that’s possible.

How was it like shooting in Hawaii?

I was shooting Jeff Who Lives at home in New Orleans at the same time as The Descendants so I didn’t get to enjoy Hawaii as much as everyone else did. I was on a plane from New Orleans to Hawaii a lot. I did have some free time in Kauai where I shot my first two scenes. They put us in this hotel that was amazing but it was a honeymoon/babymoon hotel. Everyone there was either pregnant with their first baby or on their honeymoon. I was always going to New Orleans and coming back to Hawaii. It was cool — everything works out the way it was supposed to when you’re shooting a movie. I wasn’t really there with everyone all the time so it added to the sense of separation of what was happening in the movie.

Judy Greer and Matthew Lillard in 'The Descendants'.

In the movie you have little screen time, but your role is very important. You do have some big emotional scenes with George Clooney’s character. You even say you’re always a supporting actor in many of roles — but they are very important. Like in Arrested Development, you could threaten to expose the Bluths and in Adaptation, you’re a part of Charlie Kaufman’s “sexual awakening”. How did you make sure in that limited time frame that you asserted your character?

A lot of my roles are incredibly well-written and well-directed. I think it’s not really my job to stand out. My job is to be a part of the story that I am telling. I was lucky enough to work with Spike Jonze on Adaptation and Lance Acord, who shot that movie, painted such a beautiful picture. I’m just lucky to be in something like that. With Arrested Development, that was a one scene role that I did before the show was on the air but they just kept on bringing me back. I literally went to work one day and I had my bags packed because I was going to Pennsylvania for three months to shoot The Village. They wanted me to shoot (the episode of Arrested Development) and then make it out by 5 p.m. to go to the East Coast. I went and did this weird scene with my glasses on and hair up; went to the airport and never thought about it again. Then called and said they wanted me to do that character again. And I was like, “Oh. OK!” But yeah — I was lucky to have great material to work with. It was more the material than me. I don’t go into a job thinking, “How could I stand out?!” because when you do that or when you try to still focus you don’t. You end up looking like an asshole. (laughs)

Speaking of The Village, you also did another horror movie, Cursed. Are there any other horror movies you would like to do? Is there anything that draws you into that kind of genre?

Wes Craven was a draw. M. Night Shyamalan was a draw. Sigorney Weaver in The Village was a draw. I really thought, “If you’re an actress you HAVE to be in a horror movie!” and you’re going to do a horror movie you HAVE to do it with Wes Craven. That’s why I wanted to do Cursed. It ended up being crazy and a really intense experience. I would like to do another one. There’s some directors in other movies that are making some really creepy shit that would be fun — especially if it’s shot in another country. But I really want to be in an action movie!

What kind of action movie?

I would like to be Matt Damon’s love interest in a Jason Bourne movie!

(laughter from the table)

…but I don’t think he’s doing the next Bourne (but when) I saw Julia Stiles in the Bourne Supremacy, I thought, “Oooh! I can do that!”

The Descendants opens in select theaters on November 18.

So, today is the day: The Ides of March opens in theaters. Are you excited?

Well good for you.

In any matter, Ides (directed by George Clooney mind you) is somewhat of a “soft open” to the Oscar season. It’s been already getting critical acclaim via pull quotes from critics like “UTTERLY CAPTIVATING” and “A PULSE-RACING THRILLER” and “GRIPPING AND PROVOCATIVE”. That combined with a menacing trailer that includes fast, vague cuts to tense scenes and flashing the question “HOW WOULD YOU GO FOR THE TRUTH?” makes it a good movie, right? Let’s watch the trailer shall we?

CHILLS!

Long story short: Ryan Gosling plays a brilliant, yet young, presidential staffer to Clooney’s character. Then the opposing side (Giamatti) wants him to work for them…and he obviously sleeps with Evan Rachel Wood‘s character.

That said, these were my thoughts after watching the movie:

1.) The idea of a political thriller: What exactly is a “political thriller”? The phrase is an oxymoron if you ask me.

2.) Swag showdown: We all know Gosling is still going strong on his tour of swag. There are two things that pose a threat to his swagger: 1.) if he does a celebratory cabbage patch on national TV and 2.) George Clooney. Gosling’s swag is a zygote compared to that of Clooney’s, but it is gestating at a rapid pace. Clooney has a smirk that has Rat Pack charisma while Gosling’s has a smile that is literally a frown turned upside down. Furthermore, he drips swagu — remember? This movie is the clash of the swag titans. I think the creepy two-face poster says it all:

Maybe I should just look at this union as a good thing. They should just join forces and build the ultimate swagbot…like Voltron SWAGTRON.

3.) The dynamic duo of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti: After seeing these two hard-hitting thespians in action, I think it’s about time we see the two of them in a buddy comedy. Let’s make it happen folks.

4.) Marisa Tomei as a journalist: A hot political journalist. Yet another oxymoron.

5.) Evan Rachel Wood and her arched back: For some reason, I couldn’t help but think that Miss E.R.W. was arching her back throughout the entire film…to enhance her bust of course.

6.) Believe the hype (kind of): Yeah, everything you are hearing about the movie is true — but is it shit-in-your-pants good? Not really. But it is pretty darn good.

Yesterday, I saw a screening of political thriller, The Ides of March (stay tuned for a review later this week) and realized that, in addition to Gosling swag, this movie is stuffed with so much thespian wattage that it is destined for an Academy Award nomination or two. For instance, Ryan Gosling has received an Oscar nod for Half Nelson and Golden Globe noms for Blue Valentine as well as Lars and the Real Girl — I’m pretty sure he’ll be getting a little somethin’ for this. To add to that, Jeffrey Wright is an actor who’s mere presence (even though his screentime is limited) elevates the quality of a film — and his Golden Globe-winning performance in HBO’s Angels in America and in the Oscar-winning Syriana is testimony to that.

With that in mind, I thought I would tabulate the cinematic accolades (focusing on Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Emmys) of some of the other main actors in the film…and create some obnoxious pictures from stills from the movie:

Evan Rachel Wood: She snagged a Golden Globe nom early in her career for the gritty teen drama, Thirteen. More recently, she was bestowed with an Emmy nod for her portrayal of Veda, the best and brattiest man-stealing daughter a woman can have.

Paul Giamatti: Got an Oscar nom for Cinderella Man and won a Golden Globe for both Barney’s Version and John Adams — he was nominated for Sideways, but he didn’t win.

George Clooney: He received Oscar noms for Up in the Air and Michael Clayton — and he won for Syriana. Behind the camera he was nominated for directing AND original screenplay (along with Grant Heslov) for Good Night and Good Luck. On the Golden Globe front, he won for O Brother Where Art Thou. He does double duty on Idesas director and actor — so he doubles his chances for wins. Even so, he’ll always be a plastic factory manager in Lanford.

Marisa Tomei: Two Oscar nods: The Wrestler and In the Bedroom; One win: My Cousin Vinny. Her work in A Different World? Underrated.

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Oh Lord. P.S.H. is a movie awards monster. In terms of Oscars AND Golden Globes, he’s been nominated for his work in Doubt and Charlie Wilson’s War. He scored an Oscar AND a Golden Globe win for Capote. He scares me like my elementary school principal scared me.

Max Minghella: He’s the son of Academy Award-winning director Anthony Minghella and was in last year’s Oscar darling The Social Network. He’s like the actor equivalent of Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket.

The Ides of March opens in theaters Friday, October 7.

Jon Hamm and his beard (left) and Jennifer Westfeldt arrive at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Did all the men of Hollywood caucus and decide that they were all going to grow beards for awards season? It’s almost like the Lifetime’s The Pregnancy Pact but with beards (Damn! I forgot to DVR that maternal made-for-TV masterpiece!).

I took the liberty to make a slideshow of some of the wonderful beards we saw tonight at SAG.

Before we know it, there will be a beard pandemic.

Enjoy.

P.S. Doesn’t Brad (as in Pitt) have one too? He wasn’t at the SAG Awards so I couldn’t fold him into the group. Maybe he couldn’t go because he shaved his off.

There seems to be all this Academy Award hoopla surrounding Up in the Air. It’s been said that it’s the best movie of the year (mainly by the National Board of Review) and that it’s brilliant, fantastic, enjoyable and all those other buzzwords you see floating in quotation marks in movie trailers.

Well, it’s safe to say that you can believe the hype.

Directed and co-written by Jason Reitman and based on the novel by Walter Kirn, Up in the Air is, in essence, a story about Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a man who is going through somewhat of a mid-life crisis. He works for a company that sends him all over the country to fire people. He racks up frequent flyer miles and wants to reach legendary status by getting an induction to some club that confirms that he flew over gazillion miles.

A wrench is thrown into his master plan when the ambitious, go-getter, borderline annoying Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) presents the company with a way to fire people via webcam. To prevent damage control and to preserve his elite status with numerous hotels and airlines, Ryan shows Natalie the benefit of firing people in person.

In a series of events, things start to pile up for Ryan. Considering he is traveling 322 days of the year, he never sees his family and besides his occasional rendezvous with his love interest Alex (Vera Farmiga), he is alone and isolated from the rest of the world. To top things off, the biggest goal in his life is to rack up frequent flyer miles and become a star member at as many rental car places as possible.

Put that all into perspective and it is kind of depressing.

I’ll spare you the movie’s blatant portrayal of our “tough economic times.” That is nearly a backdrop to the movie’s quirky tone that only Reitman (and co-writer Sheldon Turner) can accomplish. The film has the tendency to steer you in the direction of Depression-ville, but there is a glimmer of hope that matches the sparkle in Clooney’s eye. It’s a piece of life affirming fruit that wasn’t picked from Tony Robbins’s over-ripened motivational garden. It’s cooler. It’s clever. Most of all, it doesn’t talk down to you. Instead, it gives you self-reflection and re-evaluation with a bag of airline peanuts and a miniature bottle of vodka.

Clooney’s magnetic charisma and swoon-worthy voice is always a sell in movie. For a while, he made me even think that I liked Men Who Stare At Goats. He does a stellar job navigating this movie and Farmiga gives off a naughty, yet tasteful performance of his love interest, Alex (who is basically Ryan’s female equivalent). But it is definitely Anna Kendrick (of Twilight fame) who adds the third dimension to the lead cast. Her character’s type A personality injects a freshness that keeps up with the charming beast that is Mr. Clooney.

The movie articulates itself in a way that connects with the audience, yet it is still contemporary and has a healthy dose of feistiness. There’s an emotional weight to the movie that is tolerable and a bittersweet flavor that goes down with ease.

Up in the Air is all the things a movie should be: funny, thoughtful, witty and has a bit of romance. Most of all, it’s first-class (pun intended). Grade: A-

The foxy characters of ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’

In Anderson’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children book, George Clooney provides the voice of Mr. Fox, a sly character that gives up his days as a poultry farm hunter in order to please his wife, Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep). Fast forward 12 fox years (two years for humans) and Mr. Fox is now a newspaper columnist and living with the missus and their cynical son Ash (Jason Schwartzman), who is “different” and wants nothing but to prove himself to his father.

To mix things up, Mr. Fox plans a three phase heist (a la Ocean’s 11) from his neighboring farmer big wigs: Boggis, Bunce and Bean. He succeeds only to find that the three are not happy. Once they find out that Mr. Fox has been stealing their loot, they are out for blood. Mr. Fox’s blood. In turn, Fox, his family and the entire community of badgers, opossums and beavers are put in danger; digging through holes for escape, making battle plans and avoiding all the Wile E. Coyote antics from the trio of angry farmers (one of them wears Mr. Fox’s tail as a tie – a fashion trend that could catch on).

The movie is as charming as Mr. Fox’s wheat sprig pocket square and trademark double-click of the tongue/winking gesture. Not having read the book, I had no clue about the story. I never even saw a trailer for this movie and rarely saw one-sheets plastered all over movie theaters. All I know is that there was a Fox involved and – well – that’s about it.

Perhaps my naiveté about Mr. Fox was a good thing. I had no preconceived notion in about these rascally creatures. Watching the film was refreshing from the enjoyably diluted cinema I have been indulging as of late (ahem, New Moon). It was smart. It was fun. It pulls you out of reality and throws you into a world of craft-store sets and puppet-like characters and it made you believe. Most of all, it had Anderson’s capricious mark all over it.

I never thought that stop-motion could have such personality. Then again, you can’t deny the magnetic charm of Clooney. His voice alone can give a box of hair personality (in this case, it was a woodland furball, so it was kind of close). The same goes with Streep, Schwartzman and Bill Murray (who plays Badger). The story is based on a children’s tale, but the dialogue and comedic timing (courtesy of a witty script by Anderson and Noah Baumbach) and was executed in a way that was unexpectedly expected, thoughtful and appealingly dry – something Anderson tends to feed us in delicious, clever morsels.

Watching intense close-ups of talking taxidermy that deliver irreverent overtures was quite surreal, but the film was pleasantly deep-rooted in classic, American story telling.

Grade: A-

Kendrick makes it hot on the red carpet in a glitterfied confetti one-shouldered gown by Talbot Runhof at the ‘New Moon’ premiere on Nov. 16

As Jessica in Twilight and New Moon (and again in the 2010′s third installment Eclipse), she is Bella’s high school gal pal who isn’t a vampire or werewolf. She’s ditzy and as effervescent as three tablets of Alka-Seltzer. She’s the long lost cousin of Elle Woods except a lot less tolerable – and I love it. She’s the only one in the first movie that made me laugh out loud. (case in point: check out the scene where she tries on prom dresses or the dreamy-eyed look of vacant pleasure when she’s around Edward).

Her bubbly personality balances all the emo lovelorn malarkey in the franchise. Her subtle comedic timing and ponytail swinging smile is refreshing. She carries all of the responsibility as the resident high school gal who overuses OMG and emoticons – and she does it well. Really well. So well that she snagged a role in the upcoming George Clooney vehicle, Up in the Air AND she is getting Oscar buzz for her performance in that movie (reference Entertainment Weekly’s Nov. 13 issue to see for yourself). Check out the trailer:

Screw Team Jacob and Team Edward. I’m Team Jessica.

For more of my ‘New Moon’ coverage click here