The Dish

Speaking in tongues If you've already mastered Vulcan and Elvish, here's another challenge for you, courtesy of James Cameron. The detail-obsessed director of "Avatar" hired a linguist to create a language for the giant blue Na'vi. USC Prof. Paul Frommer came up with a 1,000-word vocabulary and grammar structure after Cameron gave him a few dozen words to start with. Dialogue coach Carla Meyer took it from there, training the actors to sound "authentic" -- as if anyone would know what that is.

The final reel It Boy Robert Pattinson (below) will be joined by Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott Thomas in "Bel Ami," an adaptation of a story by Guy de Maupassant. ... Chris Weitz, fresh off the mammoth reception for "New Moon," will direct "The Gardener."

... Hugh Jackman will play a fight promoter in a future where boxers are robots in "Real Steel." ... Mariah Carey was given the Breakthrough Performance Award by the Palm Springs Film Festival for her deglammed role in "Precious." Maybe that should be Breakthrough Good Performance.