Just the thought of a summer issue put us in full-on beach mode -- daydreams of far-off places, sandy toes and tropical drinks. To that end, a truckload of black volcanic sand was hauled in, along with a passel of plush beach blankets, chaise lounges and striped umbrellas, for our cover shoot with the incomparable Marion Cotillard, who brought a touch of the French Riviera to Canal Street one day in early May. The Oscar-winning La Vie en Rose star is certainly on a whirlwind journey of her own, as she ascends from respected actress to international movie star.

The rock icon shares the 'Raw Power' of distaste with us.

Dive headfirst into this summer's splashiest designs. Go for the wet look. See full gallery. Photography by Mike Rosenthal. Styling by Johnny Wujek.

Shawn Mortensen with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The infamous NYC nightlife icon and muse shows us her spirits.

Eight nationalities of models showcase eight new pairs of shades. See full gallery. Photography by Angela Hau. Styling by Elizabeth Stauber.

French alt-rockers Phoenix embarked on a whirlwind globetrotting journey, while lead singer Thomas Mars documented for BlackBook their jet-setting tour from their hometown in Versailles to New York City to Germany to their new home base in Paris.

'The Bachelor' singer shows us around Foggy London Town.

The 'Year One' star makes us a mix for the road

Cynic or savant, director Kathryn Bigelow understands what other filmmakers who have tackled the delicate subject matter of the Iraq war have not: action! By now, it’s apparent that American audiences have scant appetite for the heavy-handed approach to combat drama, as exemplified by Kimberly Peirce’s underperforming Stop-Loss. The Hurt Locker, Bigelow’s swift and jittery boots-on-the-ground thriller, bucks the sanctimonious trend for slow-motion explosions. It’s the least politicized film about the war yet.