1. Los Angeles police have opened a case surrounding the death of actress Brittany Murphy. [via LAT]
2. How James Cameron‘s Avatar — which pulled in a whopping $232 million worldwide in its opening weekend — is like the iPhone of movies. [via WaPo]
3. Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien says the band will hit the studio in January to work on new material; he has also recommended 10 must-see films (including Harold and Maude) for the holidays. [via TwentyFourBit]
4. Want to star in the Coen Brothers‘ next movie, True Grit? Assuming that you can play a 14-year-old girl, your dream just might come true. [via Reuters]
5. The stolen Auschwitz sign has been located in northern Poland. [via The Daily Beast]

Bonus link: The Best and Worst Identities of 2009