When colons attack

Currently on the big screen are "August: Osage County," "Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones" and "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." The new year will bring (big breath) "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "300: Rise of an Empire," "X-Men: Days of Future Past," "Transformers: Age of Extinction," "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For," "Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?," "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" and "The Hobbit: There and Back Again." Whew. Where's a "Nebraska" or a "Philomena" when you need it?

The final reel

Steven Spielberg is eying the epic "Montezuma," with Javier Bardem playing the conquistador Cortés. … Scarlett Johansson is an alien seductress in the thriller "Under the Skin."… Oscar winner Mo'Nique finally returns to the screen in the indie drama "Blackbird." … Jane Campion, the only female director to win the Palme d'Or (for 1993's "The Piano"), will head the Cannes jury in May. … William Hurt will play Gregg Allman in a new biopic; Tyson Ritter of the band the All-American Rejects will play the rocker as a young man and Wyatt Russell, son of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, will portray brother Duane.

CYNTHIA DICKISON