I sat down with Batman and talked about my tonsils. Sure, movie star Christian Bale is currently filming “The Dark Knight,” the follow-up to “Batman Begins,” and he might have better things to talk about (and don’t worry, we did) but I had just had mine removed four days before the interview took place at the Four Seasons downtown. “Did they give you toast?” he asked is his usual intense manner, albeit sans his English accent. I responded with a no, telling him that was one of the foods they didn’t want me touching.

“That’s what they do in England,” he said. “Because they want it to scar.” Everything he said just sounded tougher, whether he meant it or not.

Bale is currently starring in “3:10 to Yuma,” a western co-starring Russell Crowe

Julie Delpy can’t seem to get enough of running around Europe with men. First she starred in “Before Sunrise” with Ethan Hawke, then years later the sequel, “Before Sunset,” both directed by Richard Linklater. Now she’s directed, wrote, starred, composed and edited the film “2 Days in Paris.” It’s almost the opposite of the “Before” films, instead focusing on the trouble that a relationship can have. Marion (Delpy) and Jack (Adam Goldberg) travel from New York to her parent’s home in Paris, where their bickering hits new heights when they continue to run into Marion’s former boyfriends. I sat down the Delpy, who greeted me in a robe, but that quickly lost its allure when she explained she had the stomach flu. We spoke about going crazy putting a film

Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Christopher Mintz-Plasse don’t know where they had dinner last night. Really, the last few weeks are a blur. For the stars of the movie “Superbad,” the high school comedy about friends, parties and foul language, it’s been a wild ride. They’ve appeared on Letterman, traveled across the country and, in September, they’ll be in Europe promoting the film.

Hill, of “Knocked Up” fame, is the oldest at 23 and definitely seems to be the leader of the three. Mintz-Plasse, who steals the show in “Superbad” as McLovin, is a first-time actor. And Cera is best known as George Michael from “Arrested Development.”

I sat down with the three on a rooftop in Wrigleyville. Three other reporters joined and we talked about everything from Comic-Con to Seth Rogen...

A young man who lives next to a magical land makes a promise to the girl he loves that he’ll retrieve a fallen star … and that star ends up being Claire Daines. Michelle Pfeiffer is a witch and Robert De Niro is an effeminate pirate. Don’t worry, it’ll all make sense when you sit down for “Stardust,” which opens this week. The man who brought this vision to the screen is Matthew Vaughn. I sat down with Vaughn, who wrote the screenplay and directed the film, and spoke about the amazing cast in this film, how he got his start and any wedding advice he might have (Vaughn’s wife is Claudia Schiffer and he was the best man at Guy Ritchie and Madonna’s wedding). He also told me I sounded

Director Michael Winterbottom has a wide variety of genres under his belt, but lately it’s been the war in the Middle East that has captured his attention. First, he directed “The Road to Guantanamo” which was part documentary, part drama. And now he has directed the adaptation, written by Mariane Pearl, “A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of my Husband, Danny Pearl.” This is the real-life story of The Wall Street Journal reporter, Danny Pearl, who was working in Pakistan, and goes missing. The book and now film chronicle the ordeal Mariane (played by Angelina Jolie) went through as Danny went missing, the effort to find him and his eventual murder. This isn’t a typical, light summer movie that is heavy on special effects. It is an intense

Sure, her dad is Eric Roberts (“Heroes”) and her aunt is Julia Roberts, but after June 15, most people are going to think of the teen detective Nancy Drew when they see 16-year-old Emma Roberts. She’s already famous with the Nickelodeon crowd, having starred in “Unfabulous.” And just like other young actresses, she’s got a pop album. In talking with Roberts, we discussed the club scene, her family of actors and, of course, the famous Nancy Drew. Bayer: How do you feel about approaching icon status? From now on, there’s going to be a group that thinks of the character Nancy Drew and sees your face. Roberts: I think it’s really cool. I always wanted to bring someone to life on the big screen. So I think this was perfect. (Nancy Drew)

Bruce Willis. Yes, THE Bruce Willis. The kind of person for whom you can capitalize all the letters of the word “the” because he’s that big of a name. I mean, we’re talking David Addison, Butch Coolidge, James Cole, Harry Stamper, Dr. Malcolm Crowe and, of course, John McClane, the trouble-prone protagonist of the “Die Hard” series. Willis was in Chicago last week promoting the fourth installment, “Live Free or Die Hard.” I can remember going to see “Hudson Hawk” opening weekend, and being one of the few to love it. And it still kills me that “Unbreakable” won’t be a trilogy because it only made $95 million.

When someone this big rolls into town, it’s hard to get a one-on-one. But I did join in on a round table, so instead of our usual format, I’m going to do my best to recreate the vibe of the experience (while leaving the garbage on the cutting room floor). I’m going to assign parts, too. There were radio people there and other print guys. Seven of us total (though some remained silent) with Willis.

The night before I sat down with Steve Austin, there was a screening of his new film, “The Condemned.” After we were all seated, Austin strolled in, looking like a giant. It seems a natural fit for the former WWE wrestler to be the new action-star. “The Condemned” stars Austin and Vinny Jones (“X-Men: The Last Stand”) as two of 10 convicts on death-row who are sent to a deserted island where they fight to the death while the world watches on the Internet.

The next day, I went to shake his hand and actually had a stronger grip then him. In fact, his whole demeanor was laid back. At no point did I fear my body would end up getting slammed. Austin struck me as a man who would rather be

Molly Shannon is a superstar. She’s also been a Catholic school girl, a Joyologist and 50! She gets the chance to do that all over again when she hosts “Saturday Night Live” on May 12. Shannon will become the second female cast member to come back and host (the first being Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Shannon’s new film is a chance to enter into more a more dramatic arena, while still getting some laughs. It’s also Mike White’s directorial debut. “Year of the Dog” stars Shannon with John C. Reilly, Peter Sarsgaard and Laura Dern in a film about a woman who identifies with her dog, Pencil, more than any person.

I sat down with Shannon to talk about the film, her allergies (to dogs) and of course, “Saturday Night Live.”

Bayer: How important is

With a title like “In the Land of Women,” you don’t know what to think. Images of a man trapped on an island only to discover he is surrounded by beautiful native women immediately come to mind ... or maybe that’s just me. But that’s not Jonathan Kasdan’s first film. “In the Land of Women” stars Adam Brody (“The O.C.”) as a young writer escaping Los Angeles for suburban Michigan. While taking care of his ailing grandmother (Olympia Dukakis) he meets the neighbors from across the way. Meg Ryan plays a woman in an unhappy marriage.

I sat down with Brody and Kasdan at the W Hotel and was struck by how new this was for them. Even though Brody has had fame with “The O.C.” and Kasdan comes from a Hollywood

From the makers of “Shaun of the Dead” comes “Hot Fuzz.” This time, instead of a British comedy tangling with zombies, it’s a cop action flick with plenty of laughs. I sat down with Edgar Wright (director, writer), Simon Pegg (actor, writer) and Nick Frost (actor) and managed to get a few questions into the general conversation.

It was late afternoon, and they had spent all day doing press. Food and drink was scattered throughout the hotel suite, but really they couldn’t have been nicer. We talked about if these movies are spoofs, if Frost will always be the sidekick and just how Frost got stuck with the name Butterman.

Wright: Our only request at this time in the afternoon is to go straight to the more random questions. We are getting sick

Billy Bob Thornton has a swagger, there is no doubt about it. At the Pennisula Hotel, Thornton sat down with myself and two other reporters. He started drawing on a little pad of paper, making quick eye contact at best, quiet. Then, a couple minutes later, he revealed what he was drawing, a quick sketch of one of the reporters. Thronton gave a smirk, and that was that.

He's been acting since the mid 80s but really established himself with the 1996 film "Sling Blade" (french fried potaters mm, hmm), in which Thornton wrote, directed and starred. Since then, he's been in blockbusters like "Armageddon," critically acclaimed films such as "Monster's Ball" and more recently, comedies.

So, when Thornton took the lead role in "The Astronaut Farmer," it was a change of

Shia (Shy-a) LaBeouf (La-Buff). You’re going to hear that name a lot this summer. Not only is he starring in “Disturbia,” opening this Friday (April 13), but later, he has a small, independent film called “Transformers” opening up on the Fourth of July weekend (note the sarcasm). Before we sat down at the Peninsula Hotel for the interview, there was a moment we passed each other in the lobby and did the head nod. The moment fit. He’s a completely normal 20-year-old in an extraordinary situation. He’s got that everyman quality and it shows in “Disturbia.” LaBeouf plays a kid under house arrest who begins to study his neighborhood since he’s stuck at home. Not only does he try and win over the girl next door, he begins to think his

When Bernie Mac walks into a room, there is no posse, no bodyguards waiting outside. “They would get in my way,” he says. Mac grew up in Inglewood on the south side of Chicago. And when you listen to him talk, he definitely hasn’t forgotten his upbringing. Or how to talk. But unlike some interviews, where I finish and have a pocketful of unasked questions, this wasn’t the case with Mac. I didn’t get to ask every question I wanted, but everything he said felt genuine, every tangent he took was worth hearing. It’s a rare trait, and perhaps one he learned from “Big Momma.”

Mac is co-starring with Terrence Howard in “Pride.” It’s based on the true story of Jim Ellis, who took a rundown community center and turned it

With two films opening up on the same day, people might start thinking Virginia Madsen’s new lucky number is 23. After all, one of the films is called “The Number 23,” the other being “The Astronaut Farmer.” “I stayed away from that whole enigma,” Madsen says. I’m not superstitious about anything, though I don’t try and tempt the fates.”

“The Astronaut Farmer” is a family drama about Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) attempting to build a rocket and orbit the Earth. “The Number 23” is a thriller starring Jim Carrey about a family man who becomes obsessed with the number 23.

”It’s so bizarre, I’m competing against myself,” she says. “But these are two such different films.”

In both films, she plays a wife and mother, supportive of her husband’s passion/obsession. But the

Whenever Jennifer Hudson hears things like “stole the show” or “owns the movie,” she doesn’t know what to say. Well, she needs to start thinking about it. The Chicago native has one of the breakout performances of the year with her role of Effie White in “Dreamgirls.” Hudson is incredibly humble in person, constantly saying that she is just glad to be a part of a film that stars Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles and Eddie Murphy. “Dreamgirls” is the adaptation of the Broadway show about a trio of black female soul singer in the 1960s.

The audition process wasn’t easy for Hudson.

“They called me and asked me to audition for Effie White,” Hudson said. So she went in and heard things like, “You’re by far the best we’ve seen.” Time passed and

He’s got on a suit, a vest, a tie and nicely framed glasses. Some things in the universe just make sense. Paul Feig looks exactly like the type of guy you would hope create a show as great as “Freaks and Geeks.” It all fits, cool geek. Since “Freaks and Geeks” was canceled, the author and director has kept busy, and that’s the way he wants it. While we sat down together at the Peninsula Hotel, he talked about his drive to constantly be working. He made an independent film, “I am David,” and directed numerous episodes of “Arrested Development” and “The Office.” Now, his first studio film, “Unaccompanied Minors,” just opened. The film is about a group of kids who get stuck at a Chicago airport over the holidays.

Feig talks

“Independence Day,” “Men in Black.” “Enemy of the State.” … Will Smith. He is big-budget blockbuster. Even his first Oscar nomination was portraying a man larger than life — Muhammad Ali. Now he has found a different path, and he brought his son (Jaden Smith) along for the ride. Don’t worry, he’ll be back doing blockbusters such as “I Am Legend.” But now it’s time for “The Pursuit of Happyness” — which opens Dec.15 — the real-life story of Chris Gardener, a father who struggles in poverty while taking care of his son and his attempts to rise above. And yes, if you’re curious, Smith is really that good at the Rubik’s Cube.

The day after he was on “Oprah” in November, I had a chance to join in a round

Darren Aronofsky is not your normal Hollywood director, if there is such a thing. In 1998 he came out with “Pi,” a low-budget film about the over-analyzing of numbers. In 2000 Aronofsky directed Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans and Ellen Burstyn in the dark, disturbing “Requiem for a Dream.” It remains one of the best cinematic showcases of destruction drug addictions. “The Fountain” is Aronofsky’s latest, but it has taken awhile to get the film to theaters. Originally, Brad Pitt was signed on and the budget was much bigger. But now with Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz (Aronofsky’s girlfriend) and a budget of $35 million, “The Fountain” is set to release Wednesday, Nov. 22. The easiest way to describe the film is to say it’s a love story, adventure, drama and

As different as "Fast Food Nation” is from “Dazed and Confused,” “Newton Boys,” “Before Sunset” and “School of Rock” they all have one thing in common -- Richard Linklater. Normally, a director is labeled a comedic director (Todd Phillips) or an action director (Michael Bay) yet Linklater is able to jump from drama to comedy to science-fiction (“A Scanner Darkly”).

In his newest film, which will open in Chicago on Nov. 17, he takes on the fast food industry. But this isn't just about a couple of extra pounds we pack on eating fries. “Fast Food Nation” is based on the non-fiction book from Eric Schlosser and takes a look at working conditions, the food the animals eat, and a kill floor.

Linklater and I sat around an enormous 20-person oval table at