#CSA: JACOB TREMBLAY, EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI, EUGENE LEVY, CATHERINE O’HARA, LYRIQ BENT, ADAM BEACH + MORE STARS IN BEVERLY HILLS FOR “AN EVENING WITH CANADA’S STARS”

Now in its third thriving year, AN EVENING WITH CANADA’S STARS was held last night at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.  Leading into the Academy Awards and Canadian Screen Week, the Gala honours Canadian accomplishments in Cinema during Awards Season and if any year, this was the year to celebrate. The Gala is brought to us by Telefilm Canada, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles.

Canada notched over 20 nominations at the Academy Awards this year and one Technical Achievement Award! This also marks the first time ever Canada has had two Films in the running for Best Picture, with Canadian Co-Productions ROOM and BROOKLYN both being nominated.

It was an at-capacity crowd as Canadian talent and notables filled the venue.  Being honoured with the Academy‘s Legacy Award are two iconic Canadian screen veterans, Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy, whom after making us laugh many years on SCTV, still continue to do so on CBC Series, Schitt’s Creek.  Both walked the Carpet tonight with their loved ones before taking the stage to accept their honours.

The fashion was bold and elegant on the Red Carpet with presenter Emmanuelle Chriqui in a gorgeous red and white floral print dress making a subtle Canadian statement.  Amanda Brugel was a vision in wavy white, reminding us again what a triumph she was in ROOM as a quick thinking police officer who helps save the day.  Laura Vandervoort simply never disappoints and chose a fashion-forward pink lace number. Katie Boland was a stunner in a magenta dress, looking classic and chic. Missy Peregrym continues to rock our world with her amazing choices including a dyed pixie cut and short black dress shirt-like number.  Academy Award-nominated Shoreh Aghdashloo was effortlessly chic in simple, flattering red. Stealing the entire show though was dapper Jacob Tremblay, star of ROOM in a perfectly-tailored and patriotic red suit which had us both jealous and in “awww”.  Did we mention his swoon-worthy police detective dad Jason was there too? Effortlessly cool in a non-stagedad way.

Why don’t you be the judge of that?  Let’s gawk at some of that Canadian beauty which the World can’t seem to get enough of:

Presenters Lyriq Bent + Emmanuelle Chriqui

Emmanuelle Chriqui

Lyriq Bent

Legacy Award honourees Catherine O’Hara + Eugene Levy

Catherine O’Hara + Guest

Eugene Levy

Jacob Tremblay + Amanda Brugel

Adam Beach

Missy Peregrym

Amanda Brugel

Toronto Mayor John Tory + Guests

Sarah Blackwood of Walk Off the Earth

David Sutcliffe

Dustin Milligan

George Stroumboulopoulous with Air Canada‘s Bambina Marcello + Robert Trudeau

Katie Boland

Meaghan Rath

Olivia Cheng

Martin Katz, Academy Chair

Aaron Poole

Sophie Tweed-Simmons

Laura Vandervoort

Ben Mulroney

Dan Levy

Stephan Moccio (co-wrote “Earned It” by The Weeknd for Fifty Shades of Grey)

Shoreh Aghdashloo

Co-Presenter  (and Canadian Screen Award Nominee) Lyriq Bent sums-up the spirit of An Evening with Canada’s Stars best by telling the room “We’ve got to show the world what we’re all about because that’s what it takes to be great. We need to understand ourselves before we need others to understand us.”. After he and Chriqui called to stage all Canadian Academy Award Nominees this year, last but not least was the brilliant young star of ROOM himself, Tremblay. “I need you all to understand – this is the future generation. This is why when we see talent, we need to embrace talent, not just tell him how great he is, but to show this young man what it is to be a good man. That’s our responsibility in this industry.”.

Suicide Squad star Adam Beach, who also presented, had a two or thing to say about Tremblay too!

See the Video:

So everybody was trying to crash this Party!

Canadian Screen Week runs Monday, March 7 through Sunday, March 13, 2016, the night of the Canadian Screen Awards.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#BOXOFFICE: “MOCKINGJAY 2” PREVAILS ON TEPID WEEKEND

Despite Moviegoers being busy with the Holidays right now, enough of them went out this tepid weekend to make THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 number one a fourth straight week with $11.1 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films.  In its run domestically, it has grossed $244.3 million.

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA debuts in second spot with $10.5 million for Warner Bros., from 3,103 theatres. Despite a decent B+ CinemaScore from Audiences, the Ron Howard-directed Drama starring Chris Hemsworth, garnered only 43% on the Tomatometer from Critics.

THE GOOD DINOSAUR continues to show great consistency, in third with $10 million this weekend for Disney, from 3,606 theatres in its third week out.  This time next week it will have exceeded the $100-million-mark.

CREED lands in fourth this weekend with $9.6 million for Warner Bros., tallying-in at $78 million in North America in its third week out.

KRAMPUS after a second-place debut, slips to fifth this week with $7.6 million from 2,919 theatres. It has made $27.2 million in two weeks.

SPOTLIGHT is in ninth with $2.3 million for Open Road Films/ eOne Films, earning now $20 million in six weeks of limited release. It plays at an increasing 1,089 theatres.

BROOKLYN rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.9  million for Mongrel Media/Fox Searchlight, bringing its total to $14 million in six weeks out.

 

#BOXOFFICE: “MOCKINGJAY, PART 2” ON-TARGET A THIRD STRAIGHT WEEK

Although fewer visited the theatres this weekend, THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 still reigns supreme at the Box Office in North America for a third consecutive week.  Playing at 4,086 theatres, it pulls-in $18.8 million, a tally of $227.3 for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.

Debuting in second is the Horror KRAMPUS, opening with $15.3 million from 2,902 theatres for Universal Pictures. Starring Adam Scott and Toni Collette, the Film earned a respectable 63% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it a B- CinemaScore.

THE GOOD DINOSAUR is in third in its second week out with $15.1 million for Disney, grossing $75 million thus far domestically.

CREED is in fourth this weekend with $14.6 million in its second week out for Warner Bros., playing at 3,424 theatres.

SPECTRE places fifth with $5.6 million in its fifth week out for Sony Pictures, now having made $184 million in its North American run.

Oscar Contender SPOTLIGHT is in eighth spot for Open Road/eOne Films with $2.9 million. In five weeks it has made $16.6 million, mostly in limited release.

BROOKLYN is in ninth with $2.7 million for Fox Searchlight/Mongrel Media, playing at 906 theatres. It has made $11.4 million thus far in five weeks, also mostly in limited release.

SECRET IN THEIR EYES rounds-out the Top Ten with $2 million in its third week out for STX/eOne Films.

#BOXOFFICE: “MOCKINGJAY, PART 2” DRAWS MOVIEGOERS U.S. THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

It may be Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S., but people certainly are going to the Movies!  THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2 maintains its dominance at the Box Office a second week with $50.3 million from 4,175 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  Domestically in two weeks it has grossed $197.1 million!

THE GOOD DINOSAUR debuts strong for Pixar/Disney with $39.5 million from 3,749 theatres. Audiences gave the Animated Feature an A CinemaScore, while Critics gave it a solid 77% on the Tomatometer.

CREED, the latest installment of the Rocky Franchise opens in third with $28.7 million from 3,404 theatres for Warner Bros.  Very strong reviews at 93% on the Tomatometer for the Boxing Drama starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, and also an A CinemaScore should give it legs to run on in coming weeks.

SPECTRE is in fourth this weekend with $12.7 million for Sony Pictures, from 2,940 theatres.  In four weeks it has made over $176 million in North America.

SPOTLIGHT expands to 897 theatres for eOne Films/Open Road Films and does it successfully with $4.2 million. The Catholic Church Scandal Drama filmed partly in Toronto, is seen widely as a major Oscar contender. In four weeks of limited release mostly, it has made $12 million domestically.

BROOKLYN, also an Oscar contender expands to 824 theatres for Mongrel Media/Fox Searclight with $3.7 million. In four weeks of limited opening, the Film starring Saoirse Ronan  has made $7 million.

THE MARTIAN rounds-out the Top Ten after an extremely successful run for 20th Century Fox, with $3.2 million in its ninth week out.  It is nearing the $220-million-mark domestically.

#TIFF15: “BROOKLYN”

Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

Every now and then I will see a movie so perfect that I want to scream from the rooftop or grab strangers by the lapels and urge them to see it. BROOKLYN is perfection personified!

Set in 1952, it tells the compelling story of Ellis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), who leaves her widowed mother and older sister in Ireland to start a new life in America where she ultimately meets and falls in love with Tony (a blistering, compelling, career-making performance from Emory Cohen). As their relationship progresses, Ellis must return to Ireland briefly for tragic reasons and is reacquainted with Jim (Domhnall Gleeson) and is immediately smitten with him. Torn between 2 lovers and 2 countries, what will Ellis do?

Peppered with outstanding supporting performances by a multinational and outstanding cast that includes Julie Walters, Canada’s own Jessica Pare and Jim Broadbent, BROOKLYN is a brilliant blend of comedy and drama that will have you reaching for the tissues to wipe away copious tears elicited from laughter, sadness and joy. I adore this movie and don’t be surprised if it wins the TIFF People’s Choice Award.

You can see it at TIFF ’15:

Sun Sept.13 6pm Elgin Theatre
Mon Sept.14 11am Elgin Theatre