Proving this country loves nothing if not its dogs, Marley & Me held tight to its position at the top of the box office this weekend, adding $24.1 million, for a two-week total of $106.5. Impressive, yes? Indeed. Even for a dog film. According to Box Office Mojo, it's "the third-highest grossing dog movie on record," a coveted position, as we all know. It falls behind only Scooby-Doo (really? That movie?) and 101 Dalmatians, and is fast approaching the top of that list.

In a move that everybody who witnessed how well Beverly Hills Chihuahua did saw coming, the latest cutesy dog picture to come out of Hollywood, Marley & Me, came in at number one at the box office, with $37 million for the weekend, and a whopping $51.6 million since Christmas. Sure, sympathetic tabloid fodder Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson may have helped those numbers, but never underestimate the power of puppies (or puppy-dog eyes).

Keanu Reeves doesn't exactly have a spotless track record where period films are concerned. How does the joke go? His performance as Jonathan Harker in Bram Stoker's Dracula was so wooden you could have staked a vampire through the heart with it. Not that many of his performances in films with modern settings have gotten a better reception, but things do tend to stick out more in a period piece. It's like that one guy who shows up at your party not realizing it's a costume party and then stands around looking awkward for two hours. But give the guy credit for persevering: Variety reports that he's just signed on to star in 47 Ronin for Universal Pictures, where he'll play an 18th century samurai swordsman. Wait -- it gets better. Or worse, depending on your perspective.

Which canceled TV series would you most expect to be getting theatrical movie buzz? (Other than Arrested Development, obviously.) Buffy, maybe? Or Angel? How about Veronica Mars? Nope, nope and nope. Um, Firefly again? Not even close. Friends? Try harder.

The International Press Academy announced its award nominees on Sunday, and no one bothered to notice. See, the few of you who thought I was talking about the Golden Globes would be wrong (that's the Hollywood Foreign Press, and they'll announce their nominees on Dec. 11. No, the International Press Academy gives out the Satellite Awards (and has for 12 years). If you haven't heard of them, there's a reason: Their awards show isn't televised, and if there's anything I've learned in life, it's that if it's not on TV, it didn't happen.

Australia starts out every bit as magical and powerful and lovely as any movie epic should be -- more so, even, since it's directed by that master of capturing magic on film, Baz Luhrmann (who already has breathed fresh life into Shakespeare and musicals). And for about half of its 2-hour-and-45-minute run time (!), it maintains that magic. But then it sort of falls flat. It rebounds some, with some lovely moments, breathtaking scenery, and terrific acting. But it can't ever regain what was lost in that first half.

As I was making my way around the internets a few days after the election, reading all the articles on the historic vote, I came across one in the Washington Post about an African-American man by the name of Eugene Allen, who had worked as a butler in the White House for 35 years, starting his job in 1952. At the time, he wasn't even allowed to use the public restrooms in his native Virginia because of the color of his skin, and he and his now-86-year-old wife had talked about how amazing it was that America was on the brink of electing a black man as President. The article, a superbly written piece which ended with the devastating news that Eugene had cast his ballot alone on November 4th, as his wife had died a day before the election, was just picked up by Columbia pictures and will be made into a movie that will tell Eugene's life story.

Gus Van Sant has never been my favorite director, but I respect him as a filmmaker and a humanitarian. Case in point: Last Friday, I attended a charity screening in Portland, Oregon (where Van Sant and I both live) of his latest movie, Milk. Tickets ranged from around $30 to $75. The print was donated, though, so all of the money went to Outside In, which helps homeless youths and others in Portland. According to the organization's director, who helped introduce the film, this is the fourth premiere Van Sant has donated to the organization. Pretty generous, and a great cause. This time, not only did Van Sant speak, but he also got James Franco to miss his classes at NYU to attend and speak at the function. It was a very cool event, and well worth the admission price. (Photographic evidence.) But I know what everyone is wondering: How was the movie?

No matter what your political leanings are, you can't deny that filmmaker Michael Moore generally always picks timely subjects on which to base his documentaries. His next film is no different, this time focusing on the global financial crises and the U.S. economy. Moore had originally been focusing on U.S. foreign policy in what was to be a follow-up to Fahrenheit 9/11, but switched tacks when Wall Street went and had themselves a meltdown. The movie is untitled, and according to those familiar with the project, will contain an end-of-the-empire tone, which is kind of scary when you think about it, particularly to a girl who just found out her inheritance is pretty much gone. Looks like I'll have to watch the movie to find out who to thank.

Barack Obama has just been elected the first Black President... and I'm here to talk to you about entertainment news. Oh joy. I feel like the guy who goes into the cathouse bedroom after Long Dong Silver. Nothing I say is going to have one damn bit of effect today, and it shouldn't. History has been made! Why are you even here? Get! Go celebrate or mourn, depending on your political affiliation. Sober up or get drunk! Poke your finger into Joe the Plumber's buttcrack as he fixes your sink. Whatever! Just do a Marvin K. Mooney imitation and PLEASE GO NOW! You're still here? I guess that means I have to write something. (I'm never going to sober up now.) Let's cast the upcoming Election of 2008 movie!