It’s a shame that Chris Weitz may call it quits on directing this early. While he says below that he may not be done yet, there was something sad about him saying directing just isn’t that “fun” for him anymore. As Weitz pointed out, the news of his possible retirement didn’t quite rank up there with all the crying old ladies Steven Soderbergh got when he announced his a few-years-off retirement, but after Twilight: New Moon, could you blame some people for not protesting? Had the news come out after his latest film was released, A Better Life, there would have been much more disappointment to the idea. If anything good came out of us having to sit through New Moon, Weitz got to make a modest character drama that we don’t see too often. After The Golden Compass (a film he’s publicly called a failure multiple times) and New Moon, it seemed like the director had turned to big-budgeted commerce driven projects, rather than continuing in making great dramas, like About a Boy. But, as he says below, unless you don’t carry enough clout from doing films like Twilight, getting a studio drama like this off the ground wouldn’t be easy. Here’s what director Chris Weitz had to say about leaving filmmaking behind, finding emotional authenticity, and whether or not making A Better Life gave him a brighter outlook on directing.

With A Better Life, director Chris Weitz moves away from the big-scale Hollywood fantasy filmmaking of The Golden Compass and Twilight: New Moon to an intimate tale of the relationship between a father and a son in search of a stolen vehicle. Obvious comparisons to Vittorio De Sica’s The Bicycle Thief aside, A Better Life is the type of movie I’m surprised hadn’t been made precisely this way before. Sure, there have been many films about illegal immigration as an issue, but to pare the issue down, without oversimplifying it, to a straightforward tale of human relationships and the difficulties of everyday life seems as natural and familiar a story as it is a brave and risky one. There are certainly bumps along the road of watching A Better Life, but for a premise that easily lends itself to hamfisted didacticism or a superficial, characters-representing-perspectives brand of melodrama (read: Crash), Weitz’s film—while certainly not always subtle—ultimately emerges triumphant and genuinely touching because of its graceful sincerity.

Two-weeks or so after the release of the near-terrible Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, there’s already a list of directors that Disney is keen on to helm the fifth entry in the quality diving franchise. The list of filmmakers Disney is favoring is a bit surprising. There’s their top pick of Tim Burton, the always busy Sam Raimi, critical darling Alfonso Cuarón, Twilight 2 guy Chris Weitz, and the online venom drawer, Shawn Levy. Apparently an offer went out to Rob Marshall to return months ago, although he may be too busy with his Thin Man remake (*eye roll*)… Burton was rumored for the fourth film as well, but after Alice in Wonderland and Planet of the Apes, I don’t think I’ll ever be interested in seeing a big Burton action sequence ever again. And considering he’s currently working on Dark Shadows then Frankenweenie, he may be not have the time. Side note, when will see an original Burton film again?

He’ll be going ahead with his next project, sure, but it looks like comments about quitting the business came in the heat of the moment.

I was always taught that if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right. I also know that fans of popular books deserve movies that honor their favorites, not drag them down. Sadly, Twilight: New Moon isn’t honoring anyone.

Kevin Carr heads out to the movies this week, giving his take on New Moon, Planet 51, The Blind Side and Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire

Director Chris Weitz has made it as far as he can go. After lackluster showings with his first two films, Antz and The Golden Compass, Weitz is hanging up the headphones soon after the release of his next movie, The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

The full theatrical trailer for Twilight: New Moon is here, and it’s forcing us to deal with more action, more big nasty dogs and more crazy-eyed Dakota Fannings than we ever thought possible.

The heat is building for the next Twilight movie, and with shirtless dudes who turn into wolves, I have a feeling that the fanbase is going to be more than pleased with this newly released teaser.

A new gallery of photos from the upcoming Twilight sequel, New Moon, have appeared on our doorstep this morning. We feel the need to subject you to them.

Debate rages on as to which beau is best for Bella Swan. However, whether you’re rooting for fangs or fur, fear not! Jacob Black remains as cute, cuddly and Taylor-y as ever before.

Summit Entertainment is looking for a director to appeal to teenagers and they may have found their man, Chris Weitz, who helped direct American Pie.

Rather than saying, “I wonder if the Magisterium is supposed to represent the modern Catholic church?,” sit on the edge of your seat and say “Wow! Two polar bears beating the shale out of each other. Cool!”

New Line Cinema has released the first five minutes of Chris Weitz’ new film for your viewing pleasure.

Simply put, this is as good-looking of a film as you’ll find this year or any other for that matter and it is accompanied by a music score by Alexandre Desplat (2006′s The Queen) that is more than suitable for the genre.