Working on a project, which means no Sundance. We’re already feeling the pressure of not being there. Sigh. But perhaps next year, we’ll be there with a dual purpose!

It’s that time again! Buzz has begun among my circle of friends about our plans for the world’s greatest film festival: when we’re going; what we hope to accomplish. I just registered for my festival pass and am trying to figure out whether to go the first week, the second week – or both weeks!

A year ago, I had hoped to have something ready to submit this year. Instead, I’m working on something bigger. More on that later.

And I’m still hoping to sell the film rights to my novel, which might make it easier to find an agent to actually read a first-timer’s work. I spent months telling folks I was walking around with Brad Pitt’s Oscar. Now “Moneyball” may have beat me to it. I can’t WAIT to see it today.

Some people (Matt Lauer) think that true movie-lovers won’t appreciate a flick about baseball. Have they even HEARD of baseball? It’s the American pastime and this one – about an underdog leading a revolution – is bound to be outstanding.

But back to Sundance: Making the to-do list of ski clothes, flash drives and business cards.

The Park City countdown begins! January 19-29, 2012!

Is it wrong to say that I haven’t seen the new Harry Potter film “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II?”

I know why I haven’t seen it. My daughter has outgrown him. Yes, I was one of those parents standing in line with a child too young to be reading a book so dark, buying a book so dark and then watching her read it all night.

Publishing phenomenon or not, the entire set of Harry Potter books sits within three feet of me in my library (save “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” which I can’t seem to find anywhere), and I have yet to read any of them.

But I did see the films – glorious fantasy, nicely done films – at least the first four.

So now I want to create and then make a film about a character who forever after will need no introduction other than his or her name: Ferris Bueller, Forrest Gump, Annie Hall, James Bond, Indiana Jones, Holly Golightly, Rocky Balboa – or Harry Potter.

But maybe the problem is: I need to write a book about them first. That not only will make life easier, but I’ll really know them before everyone else does.

I just spent four hours watching “The Bounty Hunter,” the Gerard Butler-Jennifer Aniston film billed as an action rom-com. Sorry, but there wasn’t enough action, romance or comedy and I can’t get that 240 minutes back. No, the movie isn’t that long. I just kept pausing it to do better things, such as open mail, pay bills, play with my dog and sort clothes for laundry duty.

Yes, it was that bad. And suddenly, I remembered why I didn’t see it in theaters months ago.

Just once – and maybe it will happen with “Horrible Bosses” – I would like to see Jennifer Aniston live up the reputation that Hollywood assigns to her. And I’d like Gerard Butler to not star in another comedy. Remember the one with Katherine Heigl? It’s OK. Most other people don’t either.

Films that make it to theaters are supposed to have legs, are supposed to be worth watching at least more than once. I watch “I, Robot” a few dozen times a year. I’d watch Harrison Ford in “Regarding Henry” once a week – if I had the time.

So since most of these $10 million to $100 million films eventually make their way to TV, all I ask is that they be worth watching – without one being distracted by lint or cleaning the bathroom.

… and, of course, Johnny Depp, would step in for the remake. That’s right! Depp, according to Entertainment Weekly, will star in a remake of “The Thin Man,” the  1930s series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy and Nick and Nora Charles, a former detective and his wife who solve murders, usually in between playing with their dog, Asta.

And I thought I was excited about the “Wizard of Oz” prequel that Depp plans to film in Michigan.

Oscar nominee and badass Jeremy Renner has been offered the starring role in “The Bourne Legacy.”

Deadline.com says he would play a new operative from a covert government program (probably one that Matt Damon didn’t destroy.

It’s only one of at least a dozen films that the 40-year old-actor has claimed or been offered since he moved moutains in “The Hurt Locker.”  He got nominated for that film and “The Town,” Ben Afleck’s declaration that he’s more than Matt Damon’s sidekick and Jennifer Lopez’s ex.

After many people, but not me, see Renner in “Thor” next month, most will see him in “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” another film that sets him up to take over a franchise. He’ll be a Bourne and an IMF leader! What?! And, according to deadline.com, he’s going to make “The Avengers” (hopefully remade the right way this time) and “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.”

My question: If he’s not Jason Bourne’s brother, how do they get away with the name for the film? Small matter, since Renner’s an excellent choice.  Can’t wait.

We’ve got it! We put aside the romantic comedy and the action film because we’ve come up with the perfect idea.  Stay tuned!

Evan Agostini / AP Photo

Director Christopher Nolan is getting the Inception crew back together for Dark Knight Rises: He has confirmed that Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard will join the film, as beat cop John Blake and Wayne Enterprises board member Miranda Tate. Tom Hardy, also from Inception, is already signed up to play the villain Bane. Read it at The New York Times

Anticipation isn’t just a Carly Simon song.

There are films you think you might see. You make a mental note of them, and if you’re not busy, you head to the theater.

There are theater events, such as the “Harry Potter”, “Iron Man” and “Twilight” films.

And then there are those movies that, based solely on the actors involved and the story you hope for, are films that you mark on your calendar.

“The Matrix” was one.

“Inception” was one.

Now comes “The Adjustment Bureau.”

First, I love Matt Damon. I don’t mean I admire his acting and think he’s cute. I mean love, the if-he-wasn’t-so-happy-with-his-wife-and-kids, I’d chase him kind of love.

So his movies, most of them are the kind you anticipate. He is slowly and deliberately becoming this generation’s greatest actor, lining up his filmography alongside DeNiro’s and Pacino’s. (If Pacino stops making bad movies and throws his career off balance).

I mean, look at the short list:

His first real role was in 1992′s “School Ties,” making Brendan Fraser’s life miserable. You couldn’t take your eyes off him. Then when he lost a hundred pounds (not really) to play a troubled soldier in 1996′s “Courage Under Fire.” It ‘s the first time I’ve taken my eyes off Denzel Washington in a scene with anybody.

The following year, we got to see the little film that he and his best friend, Ben Affleck wrote called “Good Will Hunting.” We realized he smart he was, that he could carry a movie – and he got an Oscar to boot. For writing.

He was heartbreakingly good in “The Rainmaker,” was great in a few minutes in “Saving Private Ryan (1998) and blew us away in “The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).

By the time he started branching out into wonderful guest spots on “Will and Grace,” he was no longer just a star. He was a big star.

And then came the Bourne movies – (Identity-2002), Supremacy-2004 and Ultimatum-2007): Are you kidding me? Who knew Matt Damon could kick that kind of ass? He retooled his image. He was a buff uber-agent who you wanted on America’s side. Tough. Humorless. No one else could play that role. Ben Affleck couldn’t come behind him and be Jason Bourne. (Ben Affleck shouldn’t have gone behind Alec Baldwin to be Jack Ryan. But we were saved when Harrison Ford took over, and I’d see one more of those.)

Now a super-duper star, it became apparent that Matt Damon could do anything.

And he did, with the silly “Stuck on You” that I forgave him for because it came between the Bournes and between “Oceans 11″ and “Twelve.” Yep didn’t mention those ensemble comic dramas, where his Linus Caldwell gave as good as he got.

The list goes on and on – The Departed (2006), Invictus (2009), and last year’s True Grit with six more films on the way. Can you not WAIT to see him as Liberace? That’s his Oscar calling.

So I said all that to say that “The Adjustment Bureau” opens tomorrow – and I plan to be in line early.

OK. That’s not really true.

I am so in love with Colin Firth right now that I want him to get an Oscar tonight for “The King’s Speech” and a second one for “A Single Man” because he deserved it. The Academy could say it was a tie, and it’s late.

And I’m rooting for Annette Bening to win the Best Actress Oscar because 1) I like defying odds and 2) She’s that good.

But beyond also rooting for “Toy Story 3″ to win Best Picture AND Best Animated Picture, the awards are kind of ho-hum for me tonight.

Spoke with a friend a little while ago who said she was going to a birthday party. On Oscar night! It’s unheard of.

We’re not unaware of great filmmaking this year. We just love the new, the unpredictable. And there’s not much that is unpredictable this year.

There’s not much that is diverse this year.

There’s not much that looks like us.

I told my friend that it wasn’t the Academy’s fault, that there weren’t many great films this year that featured black actors. On Denzel was his usual great in “Unstoppable.” And all the girls got to chew some scenery in “… for colored girls.”

But what was Jeffrey Wright up to? What was Thandie Newton up to? What was Angela Bassett up to? What was Viola Davis up to?

Well, for one thing, Davis – along with Bassett, Jennifer Hudson and the always divine Loretta Devine – were honored last Thursday at the Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon. The bash gives Essence Communications a chance, as president, Michelle Ebanks said, to “the biggest stars of the moment, women who can make the connection with millions of black women — women who can inspire our readers to say, ‘Yes, if they can do that, I can follow my dreams.’”

But here’s the truth:  300 Academy Awards have been distributed since 1939 when Hattie McDaniel was the first black actor to get one (for Best Supporting Actress in Gone with the Wind). Only 47 black actors have been nominated the 62 years since; and only 13 of them have won.

(Take a minute to watch Viola Davis’ interview with thegriot.com about the lack of diversity. You can find it at: http://www.thegrio.com/viola-davis-disappointed-in-lack-of-diversity-at-oscars.php)

If acting dreams in Hollywood mean more than an occasional part, if they mean someday standing on that stage with a little, naked gold man, there is more work to be done.

Hope lived in that room at the Essence lunch, where potential and hopefully future Oscar winners and their supporters raised their glasses.

And hope is on the horizon: Viola Davis and Jeffrey Wright have joined the cast of “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” the new film starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock that is based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel about nine-year-old Oskar Schell, whose father died in the 9/11 terrorist tragedy at the World Trade Center towers.

I can feel next year’s Academy Awards getting a little more exciting already!

But this year, I can crush on Colin Firth all night, and be content – for a while.