enjoying splendid near-isolation. After FOUR NIGHTS WITH ANNA, I toyed with the idea of making another small film set in the forests around my house in Poland. And suddenly this big secret CIA operation landed just around the corner. It naturally has lent itself to a dramatic fantasy that became ESSENTIAL KILLING.

Russell Crowe stars in "The Next Three Days," written and directed by Paul Haggis. The film, which also stars Elizabeth Banks and Liam Neeson, is being released by Lionsgate on November 19.

Says Crowe, "Every week or so somebody new comes along and I get to do a scene with somebody who I respect and whose work I enjoy.  (Those) days on the set were particularly fun.”

Julie Taymor is the director of "The Tempest," the screen adaptation of the play of the same name. The film, which stars Helen Mirren, Djimon Hounsou, and Russell Brand, is being released Touchstone Pictures on December 10.

Emma Watson reprises the role of Hermoine in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," starring Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. The film, which is the second to last in the Harry Potter series, is being released by Warner Bros. on November 19.

"Harry, Hermione and Ron don't have a home anymore," notes Watson. "They are always on the move and, worse, they are being hunted, so they don't know who to trust. But the stakes are high, so they have to be brave."

David Yates is the director of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The film, which is the second to last in the Harry Potter series, is being released by Warner Bros. on November 19.

"We're away from the magical environment of Hogwarts, which felt very safe even when the characters were in utter jeopardy. Suddenly Harry, Ron and Hermione are trying to survive out in the big, bad world, and it's a dangerous place. They feel isolated and alone and very vulnerable. It makes the adventure much edgier and more grownup, which really appealed to me, and to Dan, Rupert and Emma as well."