George Clooney is the ambassador to everything; Bette Midler has been cast in the role she was born to play; Jack Reacher will be back in theatres; and the World's End gang wants to remind you that it's the most wonderful time for a beer.

  • Despite the fact that he forgot the golden rule of filming iPhone videos horizontally, George Clooney, ambassador to everything, has a message for the protesters in Ukraine. [YouTube]
  • In the most perfect casting of all time, the inimitable Bette Midler will be playing the almost inimitable Mae West in an HBO biopic of the latter's life. The film will be produced by Jerry Weintraub, who was behind HBO's lesson in opulence, Behind The Candelabra. [Deadline]
  • Even though no one asked, Tom Cruise and Paramount are teaming up to make another Jack Reacher movie—based on the 18th installment of the novel series. [THR]
  • The gang from the Cornetto Trilogy remind us what's important this holiday season: beer. Always beer. [Deadline]

Breakdowns is a daily roundup of all the news that wasn't interesting enough to deserve two paragraphs.