There are few directors more in need of a new crowd than Kevin Smith (and some would say he needs a new writer and director, but not me.)

He’s currently at work on two flicks, one really odd horror movie with a baddie modeled on the Rev. Fred Phelps to be called “Red State,” and much more promising, something called “Zack and Miri prepare a Porno.” In what will hopefully turn out just as crude and juvenile as the title promises, it’s about two friends in their 30s who, finding themselves at a crossroads, decide to get into the porn business.

Rosario Dawson has, perhaps understandably, turned her back on that (and joined Shia LaBoeuf and others in DJ Caruso’s “Eagle Eye”), but it seems Mr. Smith may be closing in on his Zack (and, since he wants to wrap up filming by the end of that year, that would probably be a step in the right direction.)

A “reliable source” at Aintitcool who calls himself “Big J” (as whether that doesn’t wipe out any credibility at the outset) wrote in to say that the role would be taken by none other than Michael Bluth himself, Jason Bateman.

I could definitely see that working. Bateman’s Bluth worked so well considering he was constantly trying to play the straight man even though he was just as crazy as anyone in the “Arrested Development” Bluth clan. He would be great as a dude likewise drawn into the tawdry world of Kevin Smith.

Another name I’ve heard out there however, and I’d give credit for that whether I could just remember where I saw it, intrigues me even more. Jay Baruchel. That name probably means nothing to 90 percent of the world, but he’s a member of the Judd Apatow clique who is just one very funny dude.

He earned entry into that somehow-now-elite cadre by starring in the second of Apatow’s one-season-only TV shows, “Undeclared.” Though never nearly as good as the flawless “Freaks and Geeks,” it’s still a very funny look at college life, and Baruchel put up with all kinds of shenanigans as the main star. More recently, he was one of Seth Rogen’s pothead buddies in “Knocked Up.”

Once Mr. Smith finds a Zack, of course, he’ll need a Miri. Knowing him, whether he does indeed land Jason Bateman, he’ll probably try and get sister Justine too just for the novelty of it. Assuming that won’t come to pass, all we really know now is it will have to be a fresh face. Any suggestions?

Demko’s DVD shelf

The lock of the week was an easy pick since “The Lookout” is easily one of my favorite movies of 2007.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (and thankfully not French Stewart!) has found a surprisingly solid acting career after the cesspool that was “Third Rock from the Sun.” Before “Brick,” easily one of the best

movies of 2005, he starred in “Mysterious Skin,” which I rented on the recommendation of several readers of that site and thoroughly enjoyed.

“The Lookout,” while not as good as either of these, is still an entertaining little flick. JGL plays a former star high-school athlete who, after suffering a severe head injury in a car crash, has serious memory problems and now works the overnight shift as the cleaning man at a bank. He’s paired with a blind man played by Jeff Daniels (huzzah!) for living conditions, and the movie’s at its best when they’re playing off each other. JGL’s character gets roped into a plot to rob the bank, becoming the titular “Lookout,” and you even get lovely Isla Fisher in the bargain too, so what’s not to like? Just rent it already.

Best movie I haven’t seen: that one definitely goes to David Lynch’s “Inland Empire,” one of the many movies that are simply too good to ever play in my little corner of the world. I’ll be seeing that very soon.

Two classics get grand treatment: whether you don’t own either Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth” or Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver,” there are “special editions” of each out today. The “Taxi Driver” set in specific seems to be a grand affair, with three documentaries and at least three more featurettes in the two-disc set.

Fun with pictures

As far as I know, that image, courtesy of the great Froggy film site Cinempire.com, is the first still from Tim Burton’s take on Sweeney Todd, coming for Christmas.

It looks brilliant, and set me to thinking: Why do I have such mixed feelings toward Mr. Burton? I think it must be solely based on his remakes, which just suck eggs, considering I’ve liked nearly all of his original movies immensely (if you haven’t seen “Big Fish,” do so immediately.) I’m definitely getting psyched for Sweeney Todd, and that creepy shot of Johnny Depp and Bellatrix LeStrange certainly does nothing to change that.

Another flick I’m definitely jazzed to see later that year is David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises.” Opening Sept. 14, it stars Viggo Mortensen as a unbreakable guy for one of London’s most notorious organized crime families. His life is changed after he meets a midwife, played by Naomi Watts, who finds herself unwittingly in the middle of some kind of sinister scheme involving the family he works for.

Personally, I prefer Mr. Cronenberg when he works more intimately with the human psyche (especially with “Spider,” my favorite flick from both Cronenberg and Ralph Fiennes), but I’ll follow him just about anywhere at that point. that should be a first-rate thriller, so enjoy the rather sinister poster and one pic below. You can find tons more pics here at Comingsoon.net. Peace out.

Original post by Reel Fanatic