Julianne Moore in 'The English Teacher' (Photo: Cinedigm)

"I could have been an English teacher," Oscar nominee Julianne Moore, 52, told Yahoo! Movies while discussing "The English Teacher," which opens Friday. She plays a repressed high school instructor whose career unravels when she encounters a former student- turned- playwright (Kristen Stewart ex Michael Angarano).

"I really related to my character," said Moore. "I was that kind of kid who loved to read, who was happier in a book than outside with other kids.

"I would win the summer library reading contest," Moore confessed. "I started acting after school because I wasn't athletic. It was an extension of reading. If I hadn't had my high school English teacher saying I could be an actress, I may not have the career I do."

Asked about her favorite book, the face of L'Oreal and mother of two paused for a moment and said, "'Little Women,' probably. It's a book that I read over and over and over again. So much of that book is about self-determination. Rich family life, a lot of tragedy, and

Must-See Movies Beyond the Blockbusters

Sarah Polley (Photo: Roadside Attractions)

Watching "Stories We Tell" feels like sharing a comfy couch beside a close friend -- who happens to be an amazing storyteller with a show-stopping secret. In her third film as a writer-director ("Away From Her," "Take This Waltz"), the Canadian actress Sarah Polley, 34, uses nonfiction to unknot her shocking family history. Because her parents, Michael and Diane Polley, were theater people, the revelations also played out on a public stage.

Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'The Great Gatsby' (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

When Baz Luhrmann announced that he would helm "The Great Gatsby," with Leonardo DiCaprio playing the title character, it was a buckle-your-seat-belt moment in movie history. Could the Australian director of "Moulin Rouge" finally pull off the literary adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic about the American dream, a vision that has eluded so many before him?

Well, after much delay, fanfare, and cross-promotion, it appears that Luhrmann's $104.5 million 3-D adaptation is in serious trouble. Here are the 10 reasons why we think "The Great Gatsby" may be the summer's first great disappointment.

We have a feeling you'll be hearing lots more about Ty Simpkins after "Iron Man 3."

Starring as Harley Keener, the 11-year-old fifth-grader serves as the pint-sized straight man for Tony Stark's best one-liners while helping the fallen hero repair his badly damaged suit.

Despite Simpkins's epic Hollywood résumé -- "Insidious," "Revolutionary Road," "War of the Worlds" -- he still attends public school. We caught up with him after school and got the lowdown on his key role in the summer's first blockbuster.

Penn Badgley in 'Greetings From Tim Buckley' {Photo: Tribeca Film/Focus World)

The serious and soulful side of Penn Badgley, 26, emerges in "Greetings from Tim Buckley." He plays singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeff Buckley, the son of Tim in the movie's title, which opens in limited release today.

Badgley's lead performance as a musician living in the shadow of the famous father he barely knew, shows a depth, range, and vibrancy to the actor, who also sings and strums all by himself. Badgley has fond memories of the experience he gained playing heartthrob Dan Humphrey on "Gossip Girl," the show that boosted him to stardom and a regular spot on the tabloid stage. Now, he's ready to blaze new paths and escape the comfort zone of series television. During the Tribeca Film Festival, Badgley discussed how becoming Jeff transformed Penn.

Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images

Ty Simpkins shares more screen time with Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man 3" than Gwyneth Paltrow. The eleven-year-old Hollywood vet ("Revolutionary Road," "Insidious") plays Harley Keener, the kid who helps Tony Stark pull his suit together after the superhero falls to earth one snowy night in rural Tennessee. Simpkins told Yahoo! Movies his five favorite films, and it's no surprise that "Iron Man" tops the list: