I used to think Julia Stiles was the next big thing. That was back when she seemed to star in every Shakespeare update around (10 Things I Hate About You; Almereyda's Hamlet; O). Then she somehow became better remembered as "Nicky", the deer-in-headlights character from The Bourne Identity and its sequels. Sure her part increased through the series, but all I can think of is that line, "I can send Nicky to do that, for Chrissakes." Now, I associate her with any role that's so easy even she could do it. Which certainly seems to apply with a movie in which she's just been cast, Cry of the Owl. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Stiles is replacing Sara Polley in the thriller, which makes me wonder if maybe the part is too simple for the now-very-respected Polley. "They can send 'Nicky' to do that, for Chrissakes," the actress must have thought.

Cry of the Owl is based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith (author of The Talented Mr. Ripley, which starred Bourne co-star Matt Damon) and was previously adapted by Claude Chabrol. This version will be helmed by Jamie Thraves, who directed my favorite Radiohead video, "Just", as well as videos for Blur ("Charmless Man") and Coldplay ("Scientist"; "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face"). The movie co-stars Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum) as a new guy in town who Stiles' character falls for. Problem is, he's also stalking her. Scott Speedman (who was probably looking forward to working again with Polley, his My Life Without Me co-star) plays her ex, who plots revenge for being dumped. The movie begins shooting in Toronto next week.

To be fair to Stiles, I have to admit that coming from Highsmith, Cry of the Owl may not be just another stalker thriller. Also, she has been delivering fine performances in little-seen movies like A Little Trip to Heaven and Edmond -- never mind that she also starred in The Omen remake. She's also just made her directorial debut with the short Raving and she's set to star in an adaptation of The Bell Jar. Perhaps one of these days I'll have something new, and more favorable, to associate her with.

With increasing frequency, short films are connecting themselves with women's magazines -- at least, the shorts that cater to fashion, boyfriends and beauty are. Glamour Magazine has been in the game for a bit, grabbing big-name women like Jennifer Aniston and Robin Wright Penn for their Reel Moments series. While it might seem strange at first, it makes sense. Women's magazines love media bites and celebrities, and short films deliver both. In September, Erik Davis brought word that Elle was stepping on the bandwagon with Julia Stiles, who directed a short called Raving.

Now Elle has released a trailer for the short, which will premiere on the Sundance Channel on May 8, at 8:30 PM. Raving is the story of a girl (Zooey Deschanel) who is desperate and searching for money in NYC, and the lonely older man (Bill Irwin) who hires her to clean his home. The man is a widower, and in a bit of poor judgment the girl puts on a dress that belonged to his wife. Instead of getting angry, the man seems to use her to relive the past. This changes the girl's life, because, as Elle's byline for the film states: "Sometimes a dress can change your life." It looks like it is supposed to be a feel-good sort of film, but I don't see how that premise can be anything but creepy. However, it's got Zooey, and she excels at bringing extra quirk and depth to what could be superficial or run-of-the-mill.

It's not often that Variety reports on the production of a short film, but since we're talking Julia Stiles* here, I suppose that means it's important. According to the trade pub, Stiles will write and direct a short called Raving, based on a story featured in Elle magazine's Personal Style issue, due out in October.

The actual story (titled The Dress That Changed My Life) focuses on "the connection between a young woman and a lonely, disassociated older man after a chance encounter on a New York street corner." I assume this young woman will be wearing a special dress that, subsequently, winds up changing her life. Stiles was able to nab Zooey Deschanel and Bill Irwin to play the lead characters in the pic, which is sponsored by Elle and will be produced by Plum Pictures. Currently, there's no word on where we'll be able to catch the short, though I expect Elle will make it available on their website once everything is all wrapped up in a neat little bow.

*Am I the only one who thinks Julia Stiles and Erika Christensen are long-lost sisters?