Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

While alien invasion action horror movie fans are being scared to pieces by his "The Darkest Hour" 3-D thriller that opens on Christmas Day, Max Minghella will be enjoying a quiet Christmas in New York with his girlfriend, Kate Mara. Then the dazzling young couple of stars on the rise will head to Capri, Italy, for New Year's — "a fun little getaway to look forward to," as Minghella puts it.

That's especially after the toil of getting "The Darkest Hour" made and launched. The 26-year-old English actor of "The Social Network" and "The Ides of March" spent nearly five months in Moscow on location for "The Darkest Hour," a movie about an unseen alien force that takes over Earth via our electrical systems and feeds on energy.

Minghella stars along with Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Rachael Taylor and Joel Kinnaman as vacationers who meet in a Moscow nightclub — and then suddenly find themselves in the midst of an apocalyptic nightmare.

"It wasn't the easiest shoot," Minghella says, "but we're lucky to have the jobs we have, and I got to work with a lot of people I really admire." Part of his and Emile's preparation: "We both hired trainers for this, something I in particular needed to do. I've stayed in shape since we finished filming, so that's another positive thing I've taken with me."

Minghella had never been to Russa before, but, he says, "I certainly got a good dose of it on this. It was an amazing place to be. Moscow doesn't look like anywhere else, and it gave the film more character. This idea of wanting to get home to die becomes a theme of the whole film." As far as the language barrier, he admits, "Emile got a Rosetta Stone language guide for Russian that he'd play in his trailer. I didn't learn any more than a few basic things."

Minghella grew up visiting the film sets of his father, the late, Academy Award-winning director Anthony Minghella ("The English Patient"), but he says the experience didn't show him what to expect in his own career. "I wish it did. His point of view as a director, and mine as an actor, would be very different — your daily schedule, your work lifestyle, the way you relate to the studio structure. But I certainly loved the culture of it. That's probably ingrained in my permanent memory."

As for memories of what his famous father looked for in his actors and whether the younger Minghella has adopted those characteristics? "I think all directors love actors who are professional and well-behaved," Minghella says. "And he placed a lot of emphasis on kindness. I remember his working with actors who were very kind.

He tended to employ very nice people. Everyone in general behaved themselves very well, and especially the lead actors, who set a standard. It's an example I try to remember."

Minghella says he isn't sure what work will be next for him, but genre isn't an issue. "I always just want to work with people whose work I like; I think that's sort of the safest bet. That always comes first for me: who is making it, and then if I respond to the script and think I can be useful."

'TIS THE SEASON: Peter Krause, Lauren Graham and super-producer Mark Burnett were among the luminaries on hand at the warm and beautiful holiday soiree the other night at the exquisite Hancock Park Tudor manse of NBC chieftain Robert Greenblatt. The stars schmoozed to the sexy sounds of a sax-led combo and feasted on holiday fare, from roast turkey and veggies to an array of desserts including candy-coated cream puffs made into a tree.

Standing next to Jay Leno at one of the buffets, we couldn't help but see that the "Tonight Show" host had a plate piled high — noticeably high — with prime rib. Alison Sweeney looked gorgeous with her new bangs; she was wearing a shimmery, dark-blue mini-dress and leggings. Jason Isaacs made the scene — his risky "Awake" dual reality drama is among the NBC midseason shows getting early buzz. The Broadway behind-the-scenes "Smash" is another.

As you may know, Greenblatt, formerly of Showtime, is in the midst of working to get the peacock network back on a proud course. We'll see if he feels like celebrating a year from now.

Over at the Paramount Studios lot in Hollywood, it was Jerry Lewis and friends partying up the Encore original documentary, "Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis," which premieres Dec. 17. On hand for the comedy-lovers' fete were Starz President & CEO Chris Albrecht and the film's director/producer Gregg Barson, along with Woody Harrelson, Richard Lewis, Dane Cook, John Landis, John Henson, Rip Taylor, Jill Jacobson, Renee Taylor, Norm Crosby, Carl Reiner, Garrett Morris, Robbie Williams and others.

Jeff Goldblum and his band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, serenaded the filled room during the after-party. But we hear from sources on the scene that it was the 94-years-young Phyllis Diller who was one of the last to leave. She was enjoying herself, taking pictures with fans.

HITCHING BY A STAR: Speaking of senior seniors, Ernest Borgnine got an extra job while in the midst of shooting his upcoming feature, "The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez." The soon-to-be 95-year-old actor tells us that filmmaker Elia Petridis followed him to his dressing room one day and, Borgnine says, "asked me, 'Will you marry me?' I said, 'Sir, I've already been taken.'

"'Well,' he said, 'my girl and I would like to get married and we'd like you to marry us.' The state of Washington allows this kind of ceremony, so, so help me Hanna, that's what happened. It was wonderful."

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2011 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM