We don’t know about you, but we absolutely can’t wait for BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. To get us into the spirit, NTD Apparel Inc. + Mr. Will want to hook you up with some of the Superhero Swag. We’re giving away these official licensed T-Shirts which will be available exclusively at Walmart late March!

Synopsis:
When some begin to fear Superman (Henry Cavill) because of his great power, Gotham City’s vigilante, Batman (Ben Affleck), decides to take on Metropolis’s superhero. However, the infighting leaves the word exposed to a new threat that puts mankind in greater danger than anyone could have possibly imagined.

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Diane Lane, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne and Jason Momoa.

See the Shirts:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook! Indicate in the comments if you’re Team Superman or Team Batman! Also state your size request. Canadian Readers only please.

You Team #Batman or Team #Superman? Check out these awesome Twitter emojis that pop up when you use either Hashtag! #BatmanvSuperman 3.24.16

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong ⛄ (@mrwillwong) on Jan 24, 2016 at 11:46am PST

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE on Friday, March 25,

2016.

(Photo credit: NTD Apparel Inc./Mr. Will Wong/Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

Growing up in the ’90s, it was impossible to avoid the influence of Megastar Will Smith. Few back then would guess the Actor and Rapper known best for his starring role in Sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air would have a Career which would see multiple Golden Globe, Oscar and Grammy nominations.  He proved Naysayers wrong time and again with one foot firmly planted on each side of the Entertainment World in Acting and Music.

Smith has been balancing time in Toronto with his Family and Friends, with Wife Jada and Son Jaden coming to visit him, and also a starring Role in Supervillain Opus, Suicide Squad, which films here through late August. Just this past weekend, Smith paid back his current Trainer for the Film, Anya Ells, a favour attending a Party she organized for Fitness Model, Michelle Lewin at Maison Mercer.

Playing the Role of Deadshot, who is an Enemy of Batman, we saw Ben Affleck and Smith arrive quietly on-set tonight in the wee hours of the morning  situated around Financial District.  Affleck was covered completely in a cape to avoid the leak of a Storyline and it is said that he already has finished his work on the Film.   Despite being covered, the silhouette of his mask could be seen under the fabric in some Paparazzi-taken Photos.

After a nine-hour wait, we were rewarded with a moment with Smith, who was driven over to Fans waiting on-location, getting out of his SUV to greet them.  We gave Smith a quick handshake telling him what a pleasure it was meeting him and after pointing-out that we shared the same name, he called me “Big Willie Style” – the name of his debut 1997 Disc.

Some Video below:

Our Snap:

Big Willy Stylez! #WillSmith + me, on the set of #SuicideSquad. #Deadshot

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Apr 30, 2015 at 3:02am PDT

Suicide Squad films through August and we can’t wait to see what new Cast Additions are forthcoming!  This City hasn’t seen this much excitement in quite some time…

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We really are at a struggle here. Just exactly whom are we supposed to root for?  Director Zack Snyder unveiled via Twitter two brand new Posters from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and although in popularity you’d think they were a more even match, as of this morning, Batman‘s  (Ben Affleck) Poster appears to have a definitive edge with 10.1k ReTweets and Superman (Henry Cavill) getting 8.4k ReTweets.

More will come after Fans attend a Series of IMAX Events tonight!

See the Posters:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release BATMAN v. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE on Friday, March 25, 2016.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

Not sure what yet to make of it, but Warner Bros. surprised all of us with the first ever Trailer for BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE!   Although many have their reservations about Ben Affleck, we think he looks great here, but it’s just the way the Trailer is cut – we’re not quite sure it pumps us up quite enough.

Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Diane Lane, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne and Jason Momoa star.

See the Trailer:

Does this excite you?  Or meh?

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE is in theaters March 25, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

“I did not kill my Wife. I am not a Murderer.”

 The first official Teaser Trailer for David Fincher‘s GONE GIRL at long last has surfaced and if this doesn’t say Awards Season, then I don’t know what does! Set to Elvis Costello‘s She (covered by Richard Butler of The Psychadelic Furs), this intriguing Trailer leaves much to the imagination, capturing perfectly the chaos surrounding the speculation that Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) has murdered his Wife of five years (Rosamund Pike).

Based on Gillian Flynn‘s Best-selling Thriller, GONE GIRL  stars both Ben Affleck, Neil Patrick Harris and Rosamund Pike.

Watch the Trailer:

20th Century Fox release GONE GIRL on Friday, October 3, 2014. TIFF Punters would say this is angled perfectly for a TIFF ’14 Premiere. What do you say?

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox)

Based on Gillian Flynn‘s Best-Seller, David Fincher‘s GONE GIRL is set to rivet Audiences this Fall and we’re hoping with fingers crossed it gets a Toronto Premiere at TIFF ’14!  The Thriller centers on a Woman disappearing mysteriously on the day of her Wedding Anniversary, boasting a Cast which includes Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Missi Pyle, Scoot McNairy, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Fugit and Tyler Perry.

The above Still featuring a v. intense-looking Affleck raising awareness about his missing Wife (Pike) was just released to build a bit of anticipation for the Film, which hits theatres Friday, October 3, 2014 via 20th Century Fox.

(Photo credit: 20th Century Fox)

After making a splash at TIFF ’13, eOne Films releases Our Man in Tehran in theatres.  The Documentary co-directed by the Toronto Duo  Larry Weinstein and Drew Taylor, reveals via first-hand Interviews with those involved, new information about the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979 – which we’ve all come to know about a bit better in 2013 Academy Award Best Picture, Argo.

I had the pleasure of catching-up with Taylor, who as an aside has a Ph.D. and also the distinction formerly of playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, during the Film Festival. Would you believe that Ben Affleck himself had e-mailed offering to narrate the Documentary? “That totally would’ve defeated the purpose of what we were trying to accomplish”, he tells me about the Film which promises a more accurate Snapshot of the events that took place leading-up to the rescue of six Hostages with the help of then-Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor in what would go on to be known as the “Canadian Caper“.

Perhaps we’ll hear from our new Batman in the DVD release?

Watch the Trailer in full below:

Our Man in Tehran is now playing at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films/Mr. Will Wong)

HUGE NEWS!  After much speculation whom would win the coveted role of Bruce Wayne in Zack Synder‘s upcoming Superman-Batman Mashup Film speculated to film in Toronto early 2014, Warner Bros. has confirmed that Ben Affleck is set to star opposite Henry Cavill!

Synder said in a Statement: “(Affleck) has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a Man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned Crime Fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne,” said Snyder. “I can’t wait to work with him.”.

This upcoming Blockbuster builds upon a fantastic working relationship Warner Bros. has developed with Affleck, him having directed and starred in critical and commercial successes The Town and Argo, the latter which earlier this year won Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

More to come and we couldn’t agree more with this choice!   Remember that time we met him at TIFF ’12?

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Hollywood united once again for the biggest night in Film, the 85th annual Academy Awards, held at newly-coined Dolby Theatre (formerly Kodak Theatre) in Los Angeles.  Hosted (and Nominee) by Funnyman Seth McFarlane, there were several moments of biting humour where he  drew “ooh”s, followed by “hahahaha”s, including everything from  jokes about Chris Brown and Rihanna to nine-year-old Nominee Quvenzhané Wallis, whom he said “in 15 years will be of age to date George Clooney“.  The highlight of his Opening Speech  included dancing by Charlize Theron and Channing Tatum and a cynical William Shatner, where we saw a hilarious Sock Puppet Re-enactment of Best Picture Nominee Flight. In addition, the sometimes Crooner showed-off  his singing chops including an inappropriate Duet with Kristin Chenoweth as the credits rolled, poking fun at the Losers.

Winning top honours tonight was Ben Affleck-directed Argo, which solidified its place in the race for Best Picture with a gain in momentum of late, with wins at major Oscars pre-cursor ceremonies including  the Critics’ Choice Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Directors Guide Awards. The Film also won Editing and Adapted Screenplay earlier in the evening and despite noticeably being left-out  in the Directing race this year, a fast-talking Affleck sorta addressed his snubbing by saying, “You can’t hold grudges and it doesn’t matter how you get knocked down in life as all that matters is that you  get up.”. The Drama had the distinction of debuting here at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September, when we were lucky enough to see Affleck and the Cast here in the City.

It should come as no surprise to many that Daniel Day-Lewis went on to win his third  Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in Best Picture Contender, Lincoln.  The private British-Irish Actor in 1989 won for My Left Foot and also in 2007 for There Will Be Blood.  In his Acceptance Speech, he showed his funny side, joking “Steven (Spielberg) originally wanted to cast Meryl (Streep) in the role of Lincoln“, accepting his Award from a fellow three-time Winner in Streep, acknowledging what a versatile Actress she is.

Winning Best Actress was 22-year-old Jennifer Lawrence, who looked stunning in her Dress designed by Dior Haute Couture, winning for her work in Rom-Com, Silver Linings Playbook.  Tripping up the stairs while accepting her Award, she humbly said “You’re all standing just because you felt bad I fell down”.  Lawrence became the second youngest Actress ever to win the Award, behind only a then 21-year-old Marlee Matlin in Children of a Lesser God.  The Category was seen as a hotly-contested battle between her and Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty.

Christoph Waltz repeated his 2010 feat, winning Best Supporting Actor once again for his second collaboration with Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained.  The Austrian Actor  has solidified his standing  in North America as a Star with a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live just last week, completing his Awards Season sweep which also included wins at the Golden Globe Awards and also the BAFTAs.

Anne Hathaway, being the odds-on favourite to win Best Supporting Actress also was absolutely no surprise winning  her respective Category on the strength of her heartbreaking performance as Fantine in Tom Hooper‘s Les Misérables. Dressed in Prada – a decision she only made three hours prior to walking the Red Carpet which was met with mixed reviews – the New York Native has won an astonishing  43 wins  this Awards Season, with handful more to go still.

Taiwan-born Director Ang Lee became a two-time winner in the  Directing Category with his Life of Pi, after winning in 2005 with Brokeback Mountain.  Quentin Tarantino also won his second Oscar – his first being in1995 with Pulp Fiction – for his Screenplay, Django Unchained, although he  noticeably was omitted from consideration in the Directing Category.

After much buzz surrounding her appearance tonight which prevented her from appearing at the BRIT Awards the other night, International Singing Sensation Adele performed a stirring rendition of  Skyfall, co-written by her and Paul Epworth, which went on to win her an Oscar tonight for Best Original Song.   Adele among others, beat-out Host MacFarlane‘s co-written Everybody Needs a Best Friend, sung by Norah Jones, from Ted.

 See some of the stunning Fashion from the Oscars tonight, including my fave look – Amanda Seyfried in Alexander McQueen!

For a full list of Winners, click here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Some of you might recall that my dear Friend Jonathan Godfrey, a fellow Film Aficionado has pitched-in a few Reviews here of late.  He thought of the brilliant idea of us combining our perspectives together for you all to read right in time for the 85th annual Academy Awards.  As it turns out, we have rather different opinions on how we feel the Oscars will unfold. We both live for Oscars Day and these would be our choices if we were given Ballots by the Academy…

SUPPORTING ACTRESS & ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Jonathan Godfrey: Ladies first, I am a Gentleman after all. And when it comes to the fairer sex I must admit my fondness for Anne Hathaway, however when it comes to this year’s Best Supporting Actress, she is not my Flagbearer. Helen Hunt is, and the sexuality she exudes in The Sessions makes her so.

Mr. Will: Although I would agree that the brazen and physically-correct Helen Hunt  was superb in  The Sessions,  it was Hathaway who devastated me most as Fantine in Les Misérables.  In fact her performance was so good that if the Academy would allow it, she could well have won Actress in a  Leading Role this year.  The last two-thirds of Les Misérables never could match that level of intensity it had when she was on-screen.  Mark my words, it will be a Hathaway Sweep this Awards season, completed by an Oscar win here.  Anne, I’m still on for Soy Lattes and Salon Day some time.  Text me, A-Hath!

Jonathan Godfrey: As for Actress in a Leading Role, my choice is far more mainstream. Jennifer Lawrence is unforgettable in Silver Linings Playbook, and such an impression should be adequately awarded.

Mr. Will: Inasmuch as I love J-Law – and I really do – I really just don’t think she’s earned it yet.  When you measure her performance here against recent Winners like Natalie Portman in Black Swan, Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby/Boys Don’t Cry, Charlize Theron in Monster or Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady, her Silver Linings Playbook work just doesn’t stack-up to that caliber. I’m so sorry to say it – don’t Katniss me with a Crossbow! I also would hate to see her peak this early in her career as I think her best work is still ahead of her.  The Oscars Curse can be detrimental,  ask Mira Sorvino.  Therefore, my vote goes to the effervescent Jessica Chastain.  Her stone-cold performance as Maya in Zero Dark Thirty in my opinion, dug that extra layer deeper and left an impression with me long after I left the theatre. Kudos also to a then six-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis who wowed me in Beasts of the Southern Wild, a born natural.  Naomi Watts I adore, starting off so strong in The Impossible, but alas it is her role which didn’t give her as much to work with after she fell ill for most of the Film.

SUPPORTING ACTOR & ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Jonathan Godrey: My choices here are for the  pair of Chaps who star opposite each other in The Master. Yes, I was one of those Oddballs impressed by that haunting theological treatise. And so I believe Philip Seymour Hoffman to be Supporting Actor, and Joaquin Phoenix the Actor in a Leading Role. Color me crazy (a suitable shade), for that Film drove me to madness (its own indelible mark).

Mr. Will: Odd, indeed! The Master was this year’s Tree of Life for me.  Although sartorially exquisite, it went completely over my head.  I appreciate Phoenix‘s daringness  and Hoffman‘s conviction here, but it is Christoph Waltz who lit-up the Screen for me in Django Unchained, giving us a performance equally  brilliant  to the one he gave us in 2009’s Inglourious Basterds.  This Man fascinates me: his range, his ability to command a scene and his working chemistry with Quentin Tarantino is just explosive. And can I  say what an injustice it is that Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t get recognized?

As for Actor in a Leading Role I begrudgingly have to say the incomparable Daniel Day-Lewis is the odds-on choice.  And I  say “begrudgingly” because I know how Hugh Jackman gave it his all in Les Misérables, finally getting that long-overdue Academy acknowledgment.  In any other year it could’ve been him.

COSTUME DESIGN, PRODUCTION DESIGN & ORIGINAL SCORE

Jonathan Godfrey: Though I do not believe I am qualified to comment on every Technical category, I do wish to talk about a few. It may be Paul Delgado’s first nomination, but he is deserving of the gold for Costume Design nonetheless. The Wardrobe he stitched for Les Misérables is inspiring, so is Sarah Greenwood & Katie Spencer’s work on Anna Karenina. To them the aesthetic award of Best Production Design is given easily. They made the stage a character of its own, a truth too often overlooked. Lastly, may Mychael Danna take the Oscar for Original Score in Life of Pi. We Torontonians must stick together.

Mr. Will: I tend to agree with you Jonathan, despite our v. different opinions in the Acting categories. In any given year there are several Nominees in categories such as Short Film – Animated or Short Film – Live Action which we unfortunately don’t get an opportunity to evaluate.  In terms of Costume Design, Colleen Atwood has built her own legacy and her work for Snow White and The Huntsman cannot be overlooked as a possible Dark Horse,  but yes, the Costumes in Anna Karenina were stunning –  a Film defined by its Fashion. I do think though that Les Misérables has more fuel in its tank at this point in Awards Season.  I’d give the upper hand to  Delgado here for his work in the Musical.

As for Production Design, I’m inclined to say that the Duo of Eve Stewart  & Anna Lynch-Robinson for Les Misérables also will be awarded.  Hard to believe they made us believe we were amidst the June Rebellion in France all within the confines of a few Soundstages. As for Original Score, I love John Williams as does the Academy making him the choice, although Thomas Newman for Skyfall might give him a run for his money.

I also would like to commend the phenomenal Makeup and Hairstyling in the under-appreciated Hitchcock.  You go, Howard Berger, Peter Montagna & Martin Samuel!  Anyone who can turn Sir Anthony Hopkins so believably into such a widely-recognizable Icon deserves a round of applause in my books.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY & DIRECTING

Jonathan Godfrey:  Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin cannot go unmentioned for Adapted Screenplay. Theirs is a story of life, its beauty and opposing struggle. Beasts of the Southern Wild is absolutely brilliant and so is Amour. Thus, for Original Screenplay the statue goes to Michael Haneke. However, as much as I am torn in denying Haneke the Award for Directing, it nevertheless goes to a worthy Opponent. Benh Zeitlin took home the honours at Sundance for Beasts, and here he shall have them again. His Film reminds the World that life is in the living.

Mr. Will: Argo was my fave Film of 2012, so I am pretty much rooting for Chris Terrio to be awarded Adapted Screenplay for his enthralling, humanistic and detailed work.  For Original Screenplay, my heart is with Tarantino for Django Unchained; an unparalleled Storyteller, in a league of his own.

As for Directing, it still to this day does not sit well with me that Ben Affleck so cruelly was overlooked for Argo.  The Golden Globes, BAFTAs, DGAs and Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards got it right. The Academy, not so much.  That being said, the legendary Steven Spielberg is as deserving as he’s ever been for Lincoln, drawing  phenomenal performances all around from his superior-caliber Cast, paying a fitting tribute to a Man who changed our World.

BEST PICTURE

Jonathan Godfrey:  Beasts of the Southern Wild is my selection for Best Picture. All of the Nominees are deserving of the honour this year, and I believe Les Misérables and Amour to be especially so. That said, Beasts remains my choice, one I have been debating for weeks on-end. In time, I shall see if the Academy agrees with me, and I do not worry if they don’t. I’m happy to have seen all of the nominated Films, and to have enjoyed them in turn. I hope those interested do the same, and come to their own honest conclusions.

Mr. Will:  Although I walked away from Zero Dark Thirty thinking for sure it was this year’s Best Picture, I’ve seen both Silver Linings Playbook and Argo gain a huge amount of momentum over the past few weeks, particularly the latter.  To be honest, I think Argo is peaking at the right moment to take it all, especially with Affleck‘s snubbing reminding the Academy how badly they’ve messed-up failing to recognize his work as a Director.  Argo, it is.

And thank you so much Jonathan for generously sharing your thoughts with us.  You definitely have a unique perspective and offer a refreshing take!  I do think you’re terribly wrong about  Hathaway though and you know it!

ABC airs the 85th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 7:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)