The 87th annual Academy Awards Luncheon was held earlier today at the Beverly Hilton and in keeping with annual tradition, this year’s Nominees, along with Ceremony  Host Neil Patrick Harris, grouped together for a Class Photo.  Among the Nominees in attendance were the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood, Emma Stone, Rosamund Pike, Julianne Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Eddie Redmayne, Bradley Cooper and several more.

See the Class of 2015 (photo via Rebecca Keegan):

Oprah, Clint and 150 or so fellow Oscar nominees at today’s luncheon

A photo posted by Rebecca Keegan (@that_rebecca) on Feb 2, 2015 at 2:40pm PST

We adore this Photo of this year’s Lead Actress Nominees getting friendly:

Voting for The Academy still is underway with the fate of this year’s Nominees to be unveiled live on ABC Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 7:00 PM EST!

(Photo: Oscars.org/Rebecca Keegan)

We LOLed hard at their time travel antics in 2010 and the Boys are back in HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2! Paramount Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want take you back in time and ahead in time at a special Advance Screening in Toronto or Montreal, of the hilarious Sequel, February 18, 2015!

Official Synopsis:

When Lou (Rob Corddry) finds himself in trouble, Nick (Craig Robinson) and Jacob (Clark Duke) fire up the hot tub time machine in an attempt to get back to the past. But they inadvertently land in the future with Adam Jr. (Adam Scott). Now they have to alter the future in order to save the past… which is really the present, in the sequel from the same team that brought you the original cult hit.

G’luck Willionaire$!

If you aren’t watching for the Football, then lets watch for the amazing Commercials!  Although we arent  Experts on the Sports by any measure, we can say that this by far was the most thrilling Super Bowl Game we’ve seen in quite some time, the New England Patriots squeaking out a victory over returning Champs, the Seattle Seahawks. Thrilling!

Here are some of our fave TV Spots from Super Bowl 48. Lets re-live the magic:

TED 2 

What a surprise it was seeing Tom Brady join-in on the fun with Mark Wahlberg and the lovable foul-mouthed Teddy Bear himself! Yes, you just heard the words “Hand Job” on Primetime!

CLASH OF CLANS

Liam Neeson (or Lai-yam Neeson) slays it here in serious mode, taking competitive gaming to a new level…

TOMORROWLAND

I had the pleasure of seeing a Snippet of TOMORROWLAND before Christmas, starring George Clooney. My heart raced. So happy everyone got to witness a taste of what to expect of it tonight during the Super Bowl. This is going to be huge!

SNICKERS

I love the clever editing in this Snickers TV Spot, spoofing Temper Tantrums from Marsha Brady in the body of Machete (Danny Trejo). The surprise turn from Boardwalk Empire’s Steve Buscemi… brilliant!

COCA COLA

Coke goes straight for our hearts with this uplifting and modern look at how the internationally-adored Beverage continues to bring smiles to the faces of the under-caffeinated around the World.

COCA COLA – MICHAEL SAM

Openly-gay NFL Free Agent Michael Sam courageously steps-out and becomes a national inspiration, sharing his experience on Social Media after coming-out.

DOVE MEN+CARE

Yet again, another Tearjerker. Smiling Children calling-out for their Dads. What’s not to love?

MCDONALD’S

Between February 2-14, 2015 you will be able to pay for some of your McDonald’s purchases with love apparently?

MICROSOFT

Meet Child Amputee Braylon in this touching TV Spot showing how Microsoft technology enabled and empowered him to be able to enjoy an active life as a future Athlete. Take that, Apple!

And still my Fave. Budweiser’s amazing #BESTBUDS TV Spot.  So good, it deserves its own Post here.

Miss Katy Perry‘s incredible HALFTIME SHOW Performance? Watch it here!

(Photo/video credit: Microsoft/McDonald’s/Coca Cola/Dove/Clash Clan/Disney/Snickers/Universal Pictures)

There absolutely is no doubt about Katy Perry’s Pop Domination right now and tonight‘s Halftime Performance at Super Bowl 49 in Phoenix solidified what we’ve known from the start – she is an Icon! The faster you recognize this, the easier your life will be.

Joined by her Idols Lenny Kravitz on the Track I Kissed a Girl and also by Missy Elliott on Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) Remix, the Crowd went absolutely berserk. Perry‘s entrance on a metallic tiger performing ROAR was a sight to be seen – a taste of the energy she brings to her live Shows.  Perry capped it all off literally on an explosive note with – you guessed it – fireworks on her hit Single, FIREWORK!

See Perry‘s Halftime Show:

(Photo/video credit: NBC/Getty Images)

Hot on the heels of its helping pave the way of current Oscar Best Picture Contender, WHIPLASH, the Sundance Film Festival tonight in Park City unveiled its 2015 Award Winners as the Festival approaches an end.  Nabbing the coveted Audience U.S. Dramatic and U.S. Grand Jury Dramatic Awards was Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush‘s ME & EARL & THE DYING GIRL, a Film Adaptation of the Novel by Jesse Andrews starring Thomas Mann and Olivia Cooke, about a Teen Filmmaker who befriends a Classmate with Cancer.  Although there is no release date yet penciled-in for the Drama, we are crossing fingers for a TIFF ’15 Premiere this September.   Other Films to win the U.S. Grand Jury Dramatic Award went-on to sustain power through the following Awards Season including Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), Winter’s Bone (2010), Precious (2009) and Frozen River (2008).

Getting honoured with a Special Jury Award for Acting is Up-and-Comer Jack Reynor, who was in Toronto last Summer to promote TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION.  The Actor stars in GLASSLAND, a Film about Human Trafficking and a young Man’s fight to keep his Mother from addiction.  He stars  next in star-studded THE SECRET SCRIPTURE and JUNGLE BOOK: ORIGINS.

Mr. Will + Jack Reynor:

From #Transformers to #Oscars? Up-and-Comer #JackReynor wins Special Jury Award for Acting at #Sundance for #GLASSLAND. Definitely a name to look out for! Wondering if he will be back for #TIFF? #Film #Movies #Instaselfie #Selfie

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jan 31, 2015 at 7:24pm PST

Another intriguing Award Recipient is JAMES WHITE, a Drama about a New Yorker looking to take control of his self-destructive behaviour amidst some Family challenges.  It stars an Ensemble of relatively-unknowns including Breakthrough Actor Christopher Abbott in the Lead Role.  The Film won the Audience Award – NEXT. Perhaps we’ll be seeing this here in Toronto this Fall?

One Film also getting a considerable amount of buzz is THE STANFORD EXPERIMENT, which centers around the famed 1971 Social Experiment which saw Students take on the roles of Prisoners and Guards, which raised several ethical flags.  The Film’s Writer Tim Talbott won Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award and is directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez.

Complete list of Winners here.

Read our Contributor Jonathan Godfrey‘s Piece on his 2015 Sundance Experience here!

(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight)

For  a third straight week, AMERICAN SNIPER shows absolute domination of the Box Office in North America, bringing-in $31  million from 3,885 theatres for Warner Bros.  In six weeks, this latest effort from Clint Eastwood brings-in $248 million.

PADDINGTON continues to benefit from word-of-mouth for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, rising to second spot with $7.8 million in its third week out. Cumulatively, the Film has made almost $50 million.4

Teen-Time Travel Romp PROJECT ALMANAC debuts in third with $7.7 million for Paramount Pictures.  Critics weren’t sold on it with a 36% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a decent B CinemaScore.

BLACK OR WHITE debuts in fourth for D Films/Relativity Media with $6.2 million from 1,823 theatres.  The TIFF ’14 Selection starring Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, debuts with strong Audience reaction, an A- CinemaScore and a 34% on the Tomatometer.

THE BOY NEXT DOOR lands in fifth this weekend with $5.7 million for Universal Pictures, now in its second week out, a two-week total  of $25 million.

THE IMITATION GAME continues to roll along well for Elevation Pictures/The Weinstein Co.  in its Oscar Trail, in seventh spot this weekend with $5.3 million, a total $68 million grossed in its tenth week out.

THE LOFT debuts in tenth with $2.6 million for Open Road Films. The Danish Adaptation Thriller starring James Marsden and Wentworth Miller has yet to get a Canadian release.

My love for Kelly Clarkson knows no boundaries. Since her days on American Idol, a 19-year-old Texan Girl who won the hearts of this entire Continent, I’ve longed for the day I’d meet the now triple GRAMMY Winner. I waited outside her 2007 Massey Hall Show only to be nudged by my Brother who was content along with my Nieces just having seen her perform her entire Discography live with me. I could have sworn she was about to leave at any moment! GAA! She would walk right by me at the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards, her Sharpie signing my CD quickly before being hustled into her SUV. She would come again for the Awards a couple years later, only to go under everyone’s radar, refusing all Media on the Red Carpet.  I was devastated how incredibly-bad my luck was with the Singer – and believe me, I’ve met some Toughies – whom I was confident was just as nice in-person as on TV. Unlike some other Starlets who only turn it on for the cameras, Clarkson I was sure had been the Real Deal.

Today was my lucky day at long last and I came ready with a cute stuffed Alpaca for Clarkson‘s Baby Daughter River Rose, to show I meant business!  It was face-numbingly cold but after a bit of a wait outside a Radio appearance today, she would come speeding in front of me in a van with her Handlers, getting a bit of help out – she had on some pretty crazy heels.  “This is for River Rose“, I said Alpaca in-hand. “OMG, you are soooo sweet! Let me give you a hug!!”, she gushed. “Was this really happening!?”, I kept thinking! Sure she still had a bit of her babyweight, but she is just lovely and full of charisma! If karma was bracing me for a moment like this – see what I did there? – this totally was worth all those years of agony! What didn’t kill me made me stronger! Pun intended.

Access was totally limited to Clarkson this visit, her remaining at Bell Media Headquarters much of her day, admitting at a taping of CTV‘s The Social she brings her Husband, Brandon Blackstock and River Rose with her everywhere she travels.  No sightings of Baby today unfortunately and we can’t blame her! It is beyond freezing!

We hugged!!! #KELLYCLARKSON + MR.WILL!! So happy finally to get my #Selfie with The Queen!! My one and only #AmericanIdol!!!! #NikonD3300 cc: @kellyclarkson

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jan 30, 2015 at 1:21pm PST

Mr. Will and D Films want to give Readers a chance to win  acclaimed MY OLD LADY on DVD!

Official Synopsis:

My Old Lady tells the story of Mathias Gold (Kevin Kline), a down-and-out New Yorker who travels to Paris to liquidate a huge and valuable apartment he has inherited from his estranged father. When he reaches his apartment in Paris he finds Mathilde Girard (Maggie Smith), a refined old lady living in the apartment with her daughter, Chloe (Kristin Scott Thomas). He then discovers the romantic history between Mathilde and his father, a romance that lasted over half a century.

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.

Watch the Trailer below:

D Films release MY OLD LADY on Home Entertainment Tuesday, February 3, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: D Films)

Words cannot describe how much we adore TED.  The 2012 Teddy Bear Action/Comedy/Fantasy had us in tears for many reasons and we are so happy to see this  brand new Trailer for its Sequel, TED 2!

See the Trailer:

Official Synopsis:

Seth MacFarlane returns as writer, director and voice star of Ted 2, Universal and Media Rights Capital’s follow-up to the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. Joined once again by star Mark Wahlberg and fellow Ted writers Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild, MacFarlane produces the live action/CG-animated comedy alongside Bluegrass Films’ Scott Stuber, as well as John Jacobs and Jason Clark. www.LegalizeTed.com

Universal Pictures Canada release TED 2 on Friday, June 26, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)

BUDWEISER DOES IT AGAIN! With the Super Bowl coming this weekend, we know one thing is for sure every year – Budweiser will unleash an emotional fury that will have us weeping allover our Keyboards. This latest Super Bowl TV Spot features their trademark Clydesdale horses, but focuses on an adorable little Labrador who gets lost and goes on an adventure, when ultimately he encounters a scary wolf in the woods. You simply won’t believe what happens next… The pairing of a softened version of 500 Miles covered by Sleeping At Last... OMG. I can’t continue typing… I am a mess. And you will be too!

Watch it for yourself:

We absolutely can’t wait to see Katy Perry‘s Halftime Performance! Here’s a Teaser:

We were asked recently by Woodbine Entertainment along with fellow members of the Horse Racing World what our Picks.  More on that here.

NBC airs the Super Bowl XLIX at 6:30 PM EST.

(Photo/video credit: Budweiser)