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Okay, everybody is tired of Tom Cruise—Tom Cruise the Matt Lauer player hater, Tom Cruise the cheesy action figure, Tom Cruise the arrogant scientology spokesman. But one benefit of his daughter’s birth a couple weeks ago is he’s had little time to promote Mission: Impossible III which opens this Friday. And given the nation’s current reading of “couldn’t care less” on the Cruise-o-meter, that can only benefit the movie. Funny thing is, with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Michelle Monaghan and Billy Crudup on board, this is probably the best cast of any Mission: Impossible movie thus far. And it can’t be any worse than part two, which, unbelievably, was written by Robert Towne and directed by John Woo. If that’s not evidence that it’s way easier to make a bad movie than a good one, I don’t know what is.

On the other hand, if you (A) have a girlfriend, (B) she insists on staying in and watching a romantic comedy this weekend, and (C, now we’re really cutting down the odds) you’re a movie geek, then rent The Family Stone on DVD. You’ll like the slacker Luke Wilson parts. She’ll like the stressed out Sarah Jessica Parker parts. And there the twain shall meet.

I don’t know when if ever this documentary will screen in Baton Rouge, but The War Tapes, filmed and narrated by five soldiers over the course of their year serving in Iraq is the real deal. From the trailer it looks to be honest, thorough, exhilarating and frightening all at once. The War Tapes opened at the Tribeca Film Festival last week and began a soft rollout in Manhattan yesterday.

Francophiles will enjoy this preview for the new Bond movie Casino Royale because its in French. And Francophiles love things in French. Looks like Daniel Craig can make an excellent teaser trailer in French, but can the blond Bond deliver on a two-hour film with the same gusto he summons to clinch Eva Green for an aquatic make-out session in English? Cuz producers can mess around with 007’s hair color, but I’m pretty sure their firm about Bond being a Brit.

Rumors have it the short list to play The Joker in the Batman Begins sequel includes: Paul Bettany, Johnny Depp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pierce, and ironically enough, Michael Keaton. I’ll give a slight edge to both Weaving and, of course, Depp, who can play anyone. But what do you think? Who on this list would you like to see Christian Bale battle in the next Batman flick? Is there anyone not on the short list you think Director Christopher Nolan should consider?