In an extremely tepid weekend at the Box Office, End of Watch, an intense Action-Drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena opens on-top with $13.1 million for Open Road (VVS Films in Canada) from 2,730 theatres. The Film earned really positive reviews coming out of TIFF 2012 and also 85% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer. In what originally was deemed at two-way tie, final numbershave End of Watch at number one.
Ottawa-filmed House at the End of the Street decidedly is number two in its debt, just edged-out by a hair with $13 million based almost completely on the Starpower of The Hunger Games Star, Jennifer Lawrence alone. The Horror opened in 3,083 theatres, although receiving widely negative reviews.
Clint Eastwood‘s latest Baseball Drama Trouble with the Curve opens in third for Warner Bros. with $12.7 million from 3,212 theatres. Sadly, the legendary Eastwood earns another negative review here following consecutive disappointments Hereafter and J. Edgar.
The excellent Dredd 3D debuts in fifth behind Finding Nemo 3D, earning $6.3 million, which is unfortunate as had great reviews (78% on the Tomatometer), but ultimately a lack of buzz.
The Master expands to 788 theatres this weekend, earning $5 million for The Weinstein Co. and eOne Films. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive with its trio of stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix all garnering Oscar buzz.
ParaNorman, meanwhile, rounds out the Top Ten in its sixth week with $2.3 million for Focus Features and Alliance Films.
With filming set to wrap in a couple days for Kick-Ass 2, traffic came to a standstill this evening as filming blocked-off one of Toronto’s busiest strips between Eaton Centre and Yonge x Gould. Onlookers gave Canadian Funnyman Jim Carrey a Hero’s Welcome Home as he appeared barely recognizable as Colonel Stars, filming scenes with Co-Star Aaron Johnson who stars as the titular Protagonist. Also on- set tonight were Robert Emms who stars as Insect Man and Oakville’s Lindy Booth as Night Bitch.
Click here to read about my experience with Johnson, who was out and about at TIFF for Anna Karenina with his Wife, Sam Taylor-Wood.
Kick-Ass 2 promises to continue the epic Feud between Kick-Ass and Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) as the latter vows to torture everyone associated with Kick-Ass in this Sequel. Stars John Leguizamo and Chloë Moretz (who has been here all Summer filming Carrie) just wrapped the other day, already having head home.
Watch a couple short Snippets I took of Carrey and Johnson interacting earlier:
Universal Pictures will be releasing Kick-Ass 2 in Canada on August 16, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Fame really can change a person… all the way down to how they sign their name. Two Summers ago, I decided to write Jennifer Lawrence a Fan Letter while she was filming House at the End of the Street (now in theatres) in Ottawa. Within a week or two, she was amazingly sweet to reply back, signing a couple Photos I included with the letter. Incredibly touched by her performance in Winter’s Bone, I had told her I was so excited for her return to Toronto one day and it would appear I got my wish come true for TIFF 2011, seeing her name confirmed as a Guest for the Romantic Drama, Like Crazy. Days into the Festival, I received the devastating news that she no longer would be coming for the Festival. When I saw her name surface on the Guest List for TIFF 2012, a huge smile was drawn on my face.
Although it’s only been two years since I sent that piece of Fanmail to Lawrence, I knew my chances of meeting her at the Festival this year were nil, I am thrilled that her star has risen so quickly with the popularity of The Hunger Games. At the Premiere for Silver Linings Playbook– which I loved – I found myself buried six rows deep among Fans, knowing that I didn’t stand a chance of getting that coveted Photo with her. Perhaps another year.
I was however, able to obtain an Autograph in-person by thrusting forward a Photo to her amidst the clanging of Clipboards and tattered Memorabilia and found it amusing what a huge Crowd and a Handler rushing can do to one’s Autograph. Above we have a proper Jennifer Lawrence Autograph, personalized along with a heartfelt note: “TO WILL – Thank for the sweet letter! Jennifer Lawrence“. Below we have a sample of her 2012 Autograph obtained among a Crowd. I think I see the letter “J” somewhere in there? LOL
Not to be ungrateful, because I appreciate any gesture large or small, but I found great amusement in doing a side-by-side comparison of this!
Although she was unable to make it out to TIFF 2011 for Winnie for which she is said to deliver a strong performance, Oscar and GRAMMY Winner Jennifer Hudson is Toronto-bound at month’s end to spread a bit of goodwill. In addition to a recently-announced appearance at WE Day to help inspire change among Youth on Friday, September 28, 2012 at Air Canada Centre, she also is now slated to appear at the Bliss Ball on Saturday, September 29, 2012 in Fort York, for the SickKids Hospital Patient Amenities Fund.
Suffice it to say, she’s more than making-up for last year’s Toronto snub?
D Films will be releasing Winnie v. soon. Passes possibly to come? Stay tuned.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
With just four days till the 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, I’m finally catching-up on HBO‘s Girls after having stock-piled Episodes on my PVR. The Dramedy Series is nominated for an impressive five Awards already in its first Season, already winning Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series. With my post-TIFF Cold, finally I had reason enough to sit-down lie-down and discipline myself to watch all of its first Season. One part Sex & the City, one part balls-out Judd Apatow-esque funny, the Series is a startlingly funny take on what it means to be a mid-twentysomething surviving in the City.
Touching upon group dynamics in friendships, sexual awakening, financial struggle and self-realization; the messages are universal. Teenagers and Adults alike can find something to connect with here. I wish a Series like this existed when I was in grade 12, to get a real sneak peek at what life would’ve been like seven years later.
Although they completely were overlooked in the Emmy Nominations, Girls is filled with brilliant performances from its Supporting Cast including the sex-obsessed Adam Driver, the adorable Zosia Mamet, sassy Brit-accented Jemima Kirke and the lovely improv-trained Allison Williams. The charming Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids) appears late in the first Season as a delightful surprise.
As much as Girls is about the brilliant Script, Acting and Directing, it also is about the Music. The cute and kitschy (Britney, Demi, JLo, Feist, MGMT and more) Song Selection is superb and it will be interesting which Tracks make the cut for its December 11, 2012 DVD/Blu-ray release.
Plump-cheeked and porcelain 26-year-old Executive Producer Lena Dunham who also wears Actress, Creator and Writer caps, is a true National Treasure.
Although it appears v. much a Dark Horse at the Emmys this Sunday, my bets are set on HBO‘s Girls to take it all.
(Photo credit: HBO)
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada, Media Profile and Mr. Will Wong want to give Readers a chance to win Damsels in Distress. The Comedy which premiered last September at TIFF 2011 is the latest from acclaimed Director, Whit Stillman (The Last Days of Disco).
DAMSELS IN DISTRESS follows a trio of beautiful Girls who set out to revolutionize life at a grungy East Coast College – the dynamic leader Violet Wister (Greta Gerwig), principled Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and sexy Heather (Carrie MacLemore). They welcome Transfer Student Lily (Analeigh Tipton) into their group, which seeks to help severely depressed students with a program of good hygiene and musical dance numbers. The girls become romantically entangled with a series of men — including slick Charlie (Adam Brody), Dreamboat Xavier (Hugo Becker) and the mad Frat Boys Frank (Ryan Metcalf) and Thor (Billy Magnussen)—who threaten the Girls’ friendship and sanity.
Bonus Features Include:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before September 29, 2012. Readers in Canada only please.
See some of the Stars of Damsels in Distress in Toronto last September here.
Damsels in Distress is available on Blu-Ray and DVD on September 25, 2012. Order it here.
(Photo credit: Sony Pictures)
Homeland Star Claire Danes was spotted out and about in Yorkville earlier today doing a quick grocery run at Pusateri’s. Without Sunglasses and dressed in a loose-fitting blue Button-Down, Danes appears to know the area well. In 2007, I ran into the Actress at the Four Seasons Hotel down the road, while she was here promoting Stardust.
The Golden Globe-winning Actress currently is expecting a Child with Husband of three years, Hugh Dancy, and he currently is in-town filming TV Series Hannibal alongside Mads Mikkelsen, who wowed audiences at TIFF 2012 with two Films, A Royal Affair and The Hunt.
With filming expected to wrap for Hannibal in February 2013, will this Danes-Dancy Baby be Toronto-born?
(Photo credit: Showtime)
Big debut for the Resident Evil Franchise this weekend! The latest installment, titled Retribution, in the Video Game Adaptation Series was filmed in Toronto last Winter and takes the top of the Box Office this weekend with $20.5 million in North America from 3,012 theatres. And to think Billy was a part of it all, bringing smiles to Stars Milla Jovovich and Kevin Durand‘s faces on their break!
Disney‘s Finding Nemo 3-D debuts in second with $17.5 million – a far cry from the $70 million it made back when it opened originally in 2003, but in its second run still performs strong.
Meanwhile, former Champion The Possession is a distant third this weekend with $5.7 million, ahead of Western Lawless which in its third week slips to fourth spot with $4.2 million; to-date it has earned $30.3 million. The Words starring Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana, lands in seventh with $2.8 million in its second week of release. The Campaign impressively still is hanging tough in tenth spot with $2.4 million in this its sixth week of release.
Bubbly under, The Master (which just premiered at TIFF), breaks a record for highest per-theatre average with $146k from just 5 theatres. In total, it earned $730k this past weekend; mighty impressive.
The Countdown is on to Sunday’s $1-million Ricoh Woodbine Mile at Woodbine Racetrack! Canada’s Olympic Gold Medal Trampolinist Rosie MacLennan even came out to join-in on the fun, as Post-Positions were drawn for the Race’s nine Competitors. Meet all your Contenders here!
I spent the morning on the Backstretch with some equine Friends, including previous Woodbine Mile Winner and remarkable Champion, Rahy’s Attorney, who soon will begin a second career at Woodbine as a Track Pony. After spending much time at the Farm recovering from a career-ending injury, the eight-year-old looks superb still and I got to watch him do a quick jog before heading back into his stall.
Although they aren’t competing in the Race, I fell in-love with the lovely Ardara, who at three-years-old just began her Career with a decent fourth-place finish this Summer. Her Trainer Carolyn Costigan who is in no rush with her, has high hopes with her Champion’s Pedigree. As you can see above, we hit it off rather well after I gifted her with some Peppermint Candies, getting rewarded back with a big, minty kiss!
I also got to meet Costigan‘s diminutive Star two-year-old Filly, Nancy O (Ire), who after a workout this morning, was all focused on winding down, grazing on some grass. Sweetheart.
I also got to hang with Breeder’s Cup Runner-Up Excaper, who went from bored to excited after a few Peppermints, bobbing his head up and down approvingly. On the way out, I ran into Turf Veteran Musketier (Ger), playing with his giant Teddy Bear in his own little fenced-in VIP Area. If that doesn’t melt your heart, I don’t know what will.
Although all five $25 Gift Cards I had up for grabs in my Party with Mr. Will at Woodbine Contest are all accounted for, I do hope to see you at Woodbine on Sunday for some post-TIFF fun and maybe we can even win a little cash to replenish our wallets!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
As promised earlier, I would be giving away a signed Photo from Clary Fray herself, Lily Collins! The beautiful Actress who recently lit-up the Red Carpet at TIFF 2012 and is in-town filming the destined-to-be-huge The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones!
Instructions are simple. Follow Mr. Will Wong on Twitter and “like” this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before October 12, 2012.
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