Michael Shannon

Michael Shannon stands 6 feet, 3 inches. Big guy. Carries a big, George Costanza-size wallet too, which he plops on the table at the RH Restaurant at West Hollywood's Andaz Hotel with sincere apologies. "It's ridiculous," he says. "My whole life is in here. " A glimmer of Shannon's life can also be seen on screen in "Take Shelter," the critically praised drama in which the 37-year-old actor plays a father worried about losing his family as well as his mind. We talked to Shannon about the film, being a dad and taking on the role of the evil Gen. Zod in Zack Snyder's upcoming "Superman" reboot.

UNDERRATED 'Borgen' on LinkTV : Viewers drawn into AMC's "The Killing" (adapted from the taut Danish import, "Forbrydelsen") should seek out the similar aesthetics of this political drama, a Denmark-born twist on "The West Wing" covering European politics, the media and a cunning prime minister, played by Sidse Babett Knudsen. Plus, with NBC reportedly working on an adaptation, you can get onboard before the series (with English subtitles) shoots itself in the foot in the States.

Michael Shannon has made it. After studying in Los Angeles, Toronto, Budapest and Moscow, the 19-year-old American has become a soloist at the Bolshoi Ballet. A June graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Shannon had hoped to be hired by the parent company. But that was far from certain, for foreign dancers are rare at the Bolshoi, a Russian institution for more than 200 years, and Americans are unprecedented.

Michael Shannon stands 6 feet, 3 inches. Big guy. Carries a big, George Costanza-size wallet too, which he plops on the table at the RH Restaurant at West Hollywood's Andaz Hotel with sincere apologies. "It's ridiculous," he says. "My whole life is in here. " A glimmer of Shannon's life can also be seen on screen in "Take Shelter," the critically praised drama in which the 37-year-old actor plays a father worried about losing his family as well as his mind. We talked to Shannon about the film, being a dad and taking on the role of the evil Gen. Zod in Zack Snyder's upcoming "Superman" reboot.

Michael Shannon stands up as Vladimir Malakhov enters his hotel room in the heart of Hollywood. They smile deeply at each other--like friends sharing a pact in the presence of strangers. A few casual words, Russian words, are quietly exchanged between them. Shannon draws a pack of Camels from his black leather waist purse, handing a cigarette to Malakhov, who then exits. An outsider not knowing either of them would assume they were Soviets.

What films or performances have stayed with you recently? "I loved Kate Winslet in 'The Reader.' Her physicality, what she did vocally, how the character unfolded. Her sensuality incorporated into this -- Nazi. You don't think of those two things together normally." -- supporting actress nominee Marisa Tomei -- "I'm so happy for Richard Jenkins to get nominated. His performance in 'The Visitor' was the one thing I saw this year that flabbergasted me."

An Angeleno With the Bolshoi: Michael Shannon, the 20-year-old Angeleno who was accepted in the fall as a member of the Bolshoi Ballet, will be on the Bolshoi's seven-city American tour beginning July 10. Shannon is expected to appear in many productions as a member of the corps, and company insiders say that he may be given some bigger opportunities in the company's "Highlights" program.

Shannon to Dance in Moscow: Michael Shannon, the 20-year-old Angeleno who was accepted in the fall as a soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet, will dance Albrecht in the company's production of "Giselle" on June 1 in Bolshoi Theatre. His Moscow debut in a leading role comes after a dozen tryout performances in tour sites such as Tblisi and Tashkent, and perhaps will determine whether the company will bring him--among the youngest dancers to be given a leading role--to Shrine Auditorium in August.

UNDERRATED 'Borgen' on LinkTV : Viewers drawn into AMC's "The Killing" (adapted from the taut Danish import, "Forbrydelsen") should seek out the similar aesthetics of this political drama, a Denmark-born twist on "The West Wing" covering European politics, the media and a cunning prime minister, played by Sidse Babett Knudsen. Plus, with NBC reportedly working on an adaptation, you can get onboard before the series (with English subtitles) shoots itself in the foot in the States.

Michael Shannon does not seem to belong in a conference room. Comfy gray Old Globe sweat shirt, hair that's either mad-scientist wild or Romantic-poet chic, squinting to find the words, speaking softly, calmly, articulately. Maybe he's the expert they bring in to explain why a company's imploding and there will be no survivors.

What films or performances have stayed with you recently? "I loved Kate Winslet in 'The Reader.' Her physicality, what she did vocally, how the character unfolded. Her sensuality incorporated into this -- Nazi. You don't think of those two things together normally." -- supporting actress nominee Marisa Tomei -- "I'm so happy for Richard Jenkins to get nominated. His performance in 'The Visitor' was the one thing I saw this year that flabbergasted me."

Michael Shannon is a big, imposing guy (whose head may weigh a whopping 15 pounds if one is to believe Internet biographies) who has played a lot of intense, imposing characters in such films as "Bug," "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" and "Shotgun Stories." In "Revolutionary Road," Sam Mendes' film about 1950s angst, Shannon cranks up the intensity to almost uncomfortable levels.

Michael Shannon does not seem to belong in a conference room. Comfy gray Old Globe sweat shirt, hair that's either mad-scientist wild or Romantic-poet chic, squinting to find the words, speaking softly, calmly, articulately. Maybe he's the expert they bring in to explain why a company's imploding and there will be no survivors.

An Angeleno With the Bolshoi: Michael Shannon, the 20-year-old Angeleno who was accepted in the fall as a member of the Bolshoi Ballet, will be on the Bolshoi's seven-city American tour beginning July 10. Shannon is expected to appear in many productions as a member of the corps, and company insiders say that he may be given some bigger opportunities in the company's "Highlights" program.

Shannon to Dance in Moscow: Michael Shannon, the 20-year-old Angeleno who was accepted in the fall as a soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet, will dance Albrecht in the company's production of "Giselle" on June 1 in Bolshoi Theatre. His Moscow debut in a leading role comes after a dozen tryout performances in tour sites such as Tblisi and Tashkent, and perhaps will determine whether the company will bring him--among the youngest dancers to be given a leading role--to Shrine Auditorium in August.

Michael Shannon has made it. After studying in Los Angeles, Toronto, Budapest and Moscow, the 19-year-old American has become a soloist at the Bolshoi Ballet. A June graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Shannon had hoped to be hired by the parent company. But that was far from certain, for foreign dancers are rare at the Bolshoi, a Russian institution for more than 200 years, and Americans are unprecedented.

The products: At a time when heavy metals are showing up in tuna steaks and toy cabooses, it's only natural to worry about the metals in our bodies. The good news: Americans have much less lead in their blood than they did a couple of decades ago, back in the days of leaded house paint and gasoline. And though mercury levels seem to be slowly climbing, cases of acute poisoning severe enough to cause symptoms (such as upset stomach and breathing troubles) are still very rare.

Michael Shannon is a big, imposing guy (whose head may weigh a whopping 15 pounds if one is to believe Internet biographies) who has played a lot of intense, imposing characters in such films as "Bug," "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" and "Shotgun Stories." In "Revolutionary Road," Sam Mendes' film about 1950s angst, Shannon cranks up the intensity to almost uncomfortable levels.

Michael Shannon stands up as Vladimir Malakhov enters his hotel room in the heart of Hollywood. They smile deeply at each other--like friends sharing a pact in the presence of strangers. A few casual words, Russian words, are quietly exchanged between them. Shannon draws a pack of Camels from his black leather waist purse, handing a cigarette to Malakhov, who then exits. An outsider not knowing either of them would assume they were Soviets.