“More of this is true than you’d believe” –opening credits for  The Men Who Stare At Goats. Irreverent, sarcastic, and funny as hell, The Men Who Stare At Goats is based on a non-fiction book by Jon Ronson. Ronson is a journalist who stumbled upon a secret military group that was formed in 1979 specifically to harness paranormal and psychic powers to use in warfare. The men in this group were training to become “psychic warriors” who could walk through walls, read thoughts, and kill someone just by staring at them.

Ewan McGregor plays Ronson in the movie. His wife has just left him (for his one-armed boss), and he has no sense of purpose. He goes to interview a man who claims that he used  to be in  a psychic military unit. His story is so crazy that Ronson writes him off as being a kook. He decides to go to the Middle East to cover the Gulf War, partly to impress his ex-wife, and partly because he has nothing to lose.

Upon arrival, he runs into Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) who just happens to be one of the people mentioned by name by the crazy man he just interviewed in the states. Astonished by the coincidence, he starts tagging along with Lyn pleading with him to tell the truth about whether he was in the secret unit. Bit by bit, Lyn tells the story (through flashbacks) of the formation and eventual disintegration of the military unit known as the “New Earth Army” in military circles.  The story finally leads up to what Lyn is doing in the Middle East.

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For those unaware about this film, but intrigued by the title; you’re in luck. The premise is a bit bizarre, and supposedly based on a true story in which reporter Bob Wilton, played by Ewan McGregor, is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental government program that trains psychics.

Originally based on the book by Jon Ronson, the film was adapted for the screen by writer Peter Straughan (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People) and directed by actor-turned-writer-turned-director Grant Heslov, who penned Good Night and Good Luck. The film has the same feel as Clooney’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind or even Burn After Reading in it’s ability to stay quirky and funny. The cast also includes Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, J.K. Simmons, and Robert Patrick.

Check out the trailer after the jump. The Men Who Stare at Goats hits theaters on November 6th.

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Here’s a list of some of the new movie and TV shows coming to DVD and Blu-ray this week that we’re looking forward to seeing. Also, there’s some classic and not-so-classic movies hitting Blu-ray for the first time this week as well.

Of all the new releases, we’re particularly interested in the Criterion version of The Last Days of Disco, Batman: Brave and the Bold and the debut of thirtysomething, Booker and Wiseguy on DVD for the first time.

Check them out.

Movies

Adventureland ~ Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds,(DVD and Blu-ray)

Children of the Corn ~ Peter Horton, Linda Hamilton, R.G. Armstrong (Blu-ray)

Duplicity ~ Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Julia Roberts (DVD and Blu-ray)

Fighting ~ Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard (DVD and Blu-ray)

How Bruce Lee Changed the World ~ Bruce Lee (DVD)

The Informers ~ Kim Basinger, Billy Bob Thorton (DVD and Blu-ray)

The Last Days of Disco (Criterion Collection) ~ Chloë Sevigny, Kate Beckinsale, Chris Eigeman (DVD)

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After a US District Court judge brokered a settlement between the heirs of the Superman creators and DC Comics and Warner Bros., mandating that a new Superman must go into production by 2011, or a new legal battle would ensue, fans everywhere began wondering which Superman Returns cast members would be back for the long awaited sequel. An interview with Kevin Spacey posted on MTV Splashpage helps to shed some light on the future of Lex Luthor.

“They have me,” Spacey explained while promoting Shrink, an indie film about a pot-smoking Hollywood therapist. “We made a several picture deal.”

Sadly the recent court developments haven’t been able to jump-start a dialogue between Spacey and the studio. There isn’t a script and Bryan Singer has not been confirmed as the flick’s director.

Singer’s involvement is key to his reprisal. “If they make the movie and Bryan Singer’s directing the movie, then I will do it,” Spacey says. “If they make the movie and they go in a completely different direction and they decide they want other actors, then obviously that’s their purview.”

Relax, Superman fans, this doesn’t mean that Spacey isn’t looking forward to reprising his roll. “I’d be up for it,” he explains. “I had a great time doing it and it’s one of the great iconic parts.”