32 HOLIDAY MOVIE PREVIEW EW’s annual look at the biggest, most hotly anticipated end-of-the-year releases. THE DRAMA Julia Roberts leads a cast of up-and-coming actresses in Mike Newell’s Mona Lisa Smile. THE ACTRESS La-di-da, la-di-da…Diane Keaton returns to romantic comedy, starring opposite Jack Nicholson in Some-thing’s Gotta Give. THE ACTOR Starring in John Woo’s sci-fi thriller Paycheck, Ben Affleck talks about the movie, the price of fame, and where he goes from here. THE FRESH FACES Forget innocent waifs: Evan Rachel Wood, Scarlett Johansson, and Ludivine Sagnier have redefined the Hollywood ingenue. THE DIRECTOR A filmography of the auspicious career of Master and Commander helmer Peter Weir. The Sets Deconstructing the looks of Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, Elf, The Last Samurai, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Haunted Mansion, and Big Fish. THE OSCAR WATCH The race has begun! A look at the leading Academy Award contenders. THE CALENDAR Your at-a-glance guide to planning ahead.

REVIEWS

91 THE MUST LIST Ten great things to see/hear/read.

93 MOVIES Love Actually; also Elf, The Matrix Revolutions, Morning Sun, In My Skin. Plus: Ask the Critic.

101 DVD & VIDEO Three’s Company: Season One; also The F.W. Murnau Collection, Tenacious D, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent.

105 TELEVISION 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter; also The Next Joe Millionaire, Average Joe. Plus: The Office’s Ricky Gervais; What to Watch.

121 MUSIC Pink’s Try This; also Toby Keith, Josh Groban, Ronald Isley, Nick Lachey, Edie Brickell, Books on Tape, No Doubt. Plus: Name That Tune.

129 BOOKS Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s memoir; also Bob Guiney, Margaret McMullan, Nathaniel Philbrick, David Leavitt.

14 MAIL Jack Black; Barbra Streisand.

136 THE POP OF KING Stephen King on whether movies matter.

ON THE COVER Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Julia Roberts photographed for EW by James White in Los Angeles on Oct. 20, 2003

The traditional banners bear images of chrysanthemums, the flower

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The traditional banners bear images of chrysanthemums, the flower of the imperial house.

This shop sign reads ”Money Exchange,” while the freestanding placard on the left is for rickshaw rentals: ”Fast and Safe.”

INSIDE THE IMPERIAL THRONE ROOM

”This set had to be transformed into two other sets,” says Kilvert. So the 100-foot-long structure was built like a giant puzzle, with walls that could be easily moved and reconfigured. The flooring created a different problem: how to remain true to a culture that restricts people from walking on tatami mats in shoes while not wasting screen time showing actors untying laces. ”I found one sentence in a book that said when Westerners came they rolled out carpets,” says Kilvert. ”You don’t want Tom Cruise to come on the set and be taking off his shoes!”

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