The 73rd annual GOLDEN GLOBE Awards took place tonight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.  After a strong performance at the Box Office this weekend in North America, partly Canadian-made (Calgary, British Columbia) THE REVENANT would dominate the Awards, winning Motion Picture Drama.  It also received recognition with victories for Director, Motion Picture by Alejandro González Iñárritu and also its star Leonardo DiCaprio taking Actor, Motion Picture Drama.

THE MARTIAN, which had a Premiere at TIFF ’15 this past September in Toronto, also was a big winner tonight. In addition to a win for Motion Picture Comedy (which had many baffled about its categorization), also saw its star Matt Damon win for Actor, Motion Picture Comedy.  The Star soon will be in Toronto to film Downsizing this spring.

MR. ROBOT was awarded two Golden Globes tonight for TV Series Drama and Supporting Actor – TV Series, a well-deserved win for veteran Christian Slater.  

MOZART IN THE JUNGLE likewise would win TV Series Comedy and Star Gael Garcia Bernal, Actor – TV Series Comedy.

Jennifer Lawrence won her third (in the past four years) Golden Globe tonight for Actress, Motion Picture Comedy, for her portrayal of Miracle Mop creator Joy Mangano in JOY.  In the Drama category, Brie Larson would win Actress, Motion Picture Drama for her work in Toronto-made ROOM.

Kate Winslet won her fourth Golden Globe tonight in the Supporting Actress, Motion Picture category for her work in STEVE JOBS.  Film industry icon Sylvester Stallone also would receive a long-overdue Golden Globe for his work in CREED, the latest in the storied Rocky franchise.  The star-studded audience would give him a standing ovation after a career which has spanned over 45 years.

Lady Gaga gave a big shock winning Best Actress in a Limited TV Series or Movie for AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL.  “I wanted to be an actress before a singer, but music came to me first”, she told the audience, comparing the feeling of winning to being Cher in Moonstruck.

Taraji P. Henson caused quite a stir after winning Actress in a TV Series Drama, EMPIRE.  Her outspoken character Cookie Lyons came out a bit as she was rushed along to finish her acceptance speech quickly.  “I’ve waited 20 years for this – you gonna have to wait”, she replied.  After arriving on-stage, she also told someone to step off the train on her dress.

Receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award was Denzel Washington, who appeared on-stage with his family and despite needing his reading glasses, refused them.

Classic Hollywood looks would prevail on the Red Carpet tonight, with Actresses opting for elegance.  Favourite looks included a custom gold Calvin Klein dress on Brie Larson, Jennifer Lawrence in a hip and back-revealing red Dior piece, Amy Adams in a blood-orange Versace number and Lady Gaga channeling Marilyn Monroe in a black Versace dress also.  Cate Blanchett and Co-Star Rooney Mara delivered a bit more edge with tassels and lace in Givenchy and Alexander McQueen respectively.

As for the gents, Ryan Gosling would reign king in a sharp white Ralph Lauren tuxedo outshining his ultra-famous The Big Short Co-Star Brad Pitt.  Rami Malek, star of Mr. Robot also looked perfect in a Dior suit.

 Click here to see the complete list of Winners!

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Despite not yet being released, ’50s-set Drama CAROL leads the way at the 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards, with nominations taking place earlier this morning with Actors Angela Bassett, Chloë Moretz, Randy Quaid and America Ferrera revealing nominees. The Film, directed by Todd Haynes centers on a romance between two women and stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Nominees are decided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, with the ceremony to take place Sunday, January 10, 2016 and air on NBC at 8:00 PM EST.

In the Motion Picture categories, there is a three-way tie for second with four nominations apiece between The Big Short, The Revenant and Steve Jobs – with only the latter having seen a release thus far.

Two Toronto-made Films in ROOM and SPOTLIGHT, both which premiered here at TIFF ’15 in September to rousing reception, received three nominations each alongside THE HATEFUL EIGHT, THE DANISH GIRL and THE MARTIAN.

The Television categories didn’t have as definitive a leader with AMERICAN CRIME, FARGO, MR. ROBOT, WOLF HALL, TRANSPARENT and OUTLANDER each getting three nominations.

Among some of the biggest snubs this year are Canadian child actor Jacob Tremblay who just received a Screen Actors Guild nomination earlier this week for his work in ROOM, Michael B. Jordan who won acclaim for his performance in latest ROCKY installment CREED and Johnny Depp, thought to be a major contender for Best Actor in a Drama for his portrayal of gangster Whitey Bulger, failed to make the cut here also.

Many also are baffled that Fox Musical Series EMPIRE is in the running for Drama Series versus Musical or Comedy Series and there is some debate about Sir Ridley Scott‘s Sci-Fi Box Office champ THE MARTIAN being classified a Comedy.

Click here for a complete list of Nominees.

Ricky Gervais hosts this year’s Golden Globes. Visit the official site here.

(Photo credit: NBC)

After a victory at the Golden Globes this past weekend, a Video for Common and John Legend‘s Glory finally sees a release. The Track is featured in the widely-acclaimed SELMA.

If you haven’t heard the Track yet, check it out below in full:

After a successful campaign by African-American Business Leaders, Students across America have been granted the opportunity to see Selma for free as part of the #SELMAFORSTUDENTS Initiative. How amazing is that?

Learn more about the SELMA Soundtrack, now in stores here.

Paramount Pictures release SELMA, now in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

The 72nd qnnual GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS took place tonight at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles and taking top honours on an evening where multiple Films shared the spotlight, was Boyhood.  The Richard Linklater Movie filmed over 12 years, won for Motion Picture Drama, Best Director and also Best Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette).

The Grand Budapest Hotel was victorious  for Motion Picture Comedy/Musical and Director/Writer Wes Anderson for the former drew big laughs from the Audience individually thanking members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

After leading the way with seven nominations coming in, BIRDMAN also would perform strongly. Mexican Visionary Alejandro González Iñárritu would accept the Award for Best Screenplay, apologizing humbly repeatedly for his English.  Meanwhile, Michael Keaton would make one of the biggest Comebacks witnessed in Hollywood after a reaching great success in the early ’90s with the Batman Franchise, going-on to win Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for his performance as troubled Actor Riggan Thomson.

Billy Bob Thorton who won for Best Actor in a TV Mini-Series or Movie for FARGO, and would go on to make the loudest statement tonight accepting this Golden Globe with a simply “Thank You!”, noting that he wanted to stay out of trouble after arriving on-stage stating he didn’t even get a chance to celebrate. Remember that time he opened his mouth here in Toronto and got in major trouble?  Let’s take a walk down Memory Lane here.

Kevin Spacey also was acting naughty, making reference to his Frank Underwood on Netflix‘s House of Cards’ initials during a pre-broadcast Red Carpet Special and while accepting his Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Series Drama, he once again dropped an “F Bomb” which fortunately was censored in-time.

Newcomer Gina Rodriguez certainly has stamped her place among Hollywood’s Elite winning Best Actress in a Comedy, TV Series for her work on adapted Telenovela, Jane the Virgin.  The Series airs on The CW in the U.S. and streams in Canada on Shomi.

Don Cheadle and Julianna Margulies were assigned the task of presenting the Cecil B. DeMille Award this year to recently-wed George Clooney. Show-stealing on the Red Carpet with his Wife Amal in Dior, he took a moment to thank his one true love on the Podium.  “I’ve had a pretty good year”, he reflects. “It’s a humbling thing when you find someone to love – even better if you’ve been waiting your whole life – when your life has been 53 years. Amal whatever alchemy it was that brought us together, I couldn’t be more proud to be your Husband.”.

Among tonight’s winning looks on the Red Carpet were an über-glam Jessica Chastain, who won high scores for her low-plunging, lamé Versace Dress – perhaps a taste of the looks to come as she portrays Marilyn Monroe in long-developing Biopic, Blonde.  Jennifer Lopez turned heads in a Zuhair Murad Dress Dress reminiscent of her famous Versace Grammy number with its low plunge also which drew an awkward moment as she was presenting with Jeremy Renner who pointed-out her “golden globes”.  Taylor Schilling, star of Netflix‘s Orange is the New Black also stunned in a red Ralph Lauren Dress – classic and understated.  Amy Adams also was a vision in purple, going-on eventually to win Best Actress in Comedy or Musical for Big Eyes. Julianne Moore despite getting some mixed reaction, wins big points from us for her sparkly Givenchy number, dazzling on-stage as she accepted Best Actress in a Drama for Still Alice.

Hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey –  reuniting for a third time and claiming this would be their last – once again were sophisticated and witty, their jokes ranging from side-by-side comparisons between Filmmakers and Actors they’d rather bed to Nominee Emma Stone being compared to a “creepy” Margaret Keane painting.  Even Meryl Streep sent her compliments as she presented the Award for Best Drama.

For a complete list of Winners click here.
To see more Photos from tonight’s Red Carpet, check-out ZIMBIO here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

And the Countdown officially begins!  The Nominees for the 86th annual Academy Awards were unveiled this morning at Samuel Goldwyn Theatre with expecting-Father Chris Hemsworth and Academy President Cheryl Isaac Boone on-hand to make the announcements.  Leading the way each with ten nominations are Gravity and  American Hustle. 12 Years a Slave certainly wasn’t far behind with nine nominations.  American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave are seen as being in close contention after each winning a Golden Globe Award this past weekend for Best Motion Picture Comedy and Drama respectively.

There was little dispute that this year’s Nominees for Best Picture this year aren’t a deserving bunch, that eclectic List including: 12 Years a Slave,  American Hustle, Her, Dallas Buyers Club, Philomena, The Wolf of Wall Street, Captain Phillips, Nebraska and Gravity.  Some are surprised the highly-buzzed Inside Llewyn Davis and Saving Mr. Banks lacked recognition from the Academy.  Canada received a Nod with Director Jean-Marc Vallée responsible for Dallas Buyers Club.

Even more heated a battle is the Category of Actor in a Leading Role, where again there are no major surprises, but the question now exactly is who will be victorious.  Up for the Oscar are: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club), Bruce Dern (Nebraska) and Christian Bale (American Hustle).

Actress in a Leading Role also again presents few surprises, although Fans of the well-receieved Saving Mr. Banks might make a case that its Star Emma Thompson was snubbed.  Nominated this year are: Amy Adams (American Hustle), Judi Dench (Philomena), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Sandra Bullock (Gravity) and Meryl Streep (August: Osage County).  Indeed a tough  Category with the exception of Adams is filled by previous Winners, with Blanchett regarded as a Favourite to take it all despite her Film being released far in advance of Awards Season.

For Actor in a Supporting Role, we see repeat Nominees Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street), Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)  up against a trio of first-time Nominees in Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave), Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) and definitive Choice Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club).

The Actress in a Supporting Role Category also is an immensely-talented Group including a Newcomer in Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), in addition to Screen Veteran June Squibb (Nebraska) and previous Golden Globe Winner  Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine) being recognized. Previous Winners Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) and Julia Roberts (August: Osage County) add mega-watt Starpower to the Race.  Much controversy came of Nyong’o‘s loss to Lawrence in the same Category at last weekend’s Golden Globes and this outcome will be highly-watched by Award Pundits and Fans.

Up for Directing this year are first-time Nominee Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), two-time Nominee Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity), three-time Alexander Payne (Nebraska), five-time Nominee David O. Russell (American Hustle) and eight-time Nominee/one-time Winner Martin Scorcese (The Wolf of Wall Street).

Watch the Nominations below courtesy of The Telegraph:

Click here to view a complete List of Nominees.

CBS airs the 86th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 7:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit:  The Telegraph)

Taking place at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre, the Stars electrified the Red Carpet tonight at the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards.  Honouring the year’s best in Film and Television, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association selected their most deserving, unveiled at the Ceremony, seen by many as a Precursor to the Oscars.

Hosted by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey a second time, the Funnywomen brought-out big laughs from the Celebrity-filled Audience including pokes at George Clooney on his habit of dating younger Women to Matt Damon jokingly being called a “Garbage Man” amidst the high caliber Talent which filled the room.  An aloof Julia Louis-Dreyfus, nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy,  played-up her new-found Movie Star status, donning sunglasses as the Camera panned her with Reese Witherspoon playfully trying to take a Selfie with her. Poehler after several nominations, finally won her first Golden Globe  tonight for Best Lead Actress in a TV Series Comedy with Parks and Recreation.

American Hustle walked away the big Winner tonight winning three Awards, including Best Motion Picture Comedy, Best Lead Actress in  Motion Picture Comedy (Amy Adams) and Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Jennifer Lawrence). The ’70s-set Dramedy directed by David O. Russell, who received a Nomination in the same Category last year with Silver Linings Playbook, is garnering commercial success in addition to acclaim, exceeding the $100-million mark in North America.

12 Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen, regarded as a Frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars next month, was awarded one single win for Best Motion Picture Drama.  The Film which received the coveted People’s Choice Award at TIFF ’13 in September.

Breaking Bad, Behind the Candelabra and Brooklyn Nine-Nine in the Television Categories each took home two Golden Globes apiece, winning Best Actor with Bryan Cranston, Michael Douglas and Andy Samberg respectively. Each Series also won Best Series in each Category: Best Television Series Drama, Best Television Mini-Series or Movie and Best Television Series Comedy.

Auteur Filmmaker Woody Allen was given lifetime achievement distinction with a Cecil B. DeMille Award despite being in absentia.  Accepting on his behalf was his Annie Hall Muse Diane Keaton whose heartfelt Speech was highlighted by song and laughter.

Red was a highlight on the Red Carpet tonight with some of the Evening’s best looks coming from eventual Winner Amy Adams in a two-toned red Valentino Number and Country-Pop Sensation Taylor Swift stunning in a cherry-red and black Dress by Carolina Herrera.  Also, Newcomer Lupita Nyong’o of 12 Years a Slave dazzled in a red caped Piece by Ralph Lauren.  Another Fresh Face, The Wolf of Wall Street Star Margot Robbie wowed in a white Gucci dress and surprisingly was overlooked for her work in the acclaimed Martin Scorcese Film.

Toronto’s Tatiana Maslany despite being nominated for Best Lead Actress in a TV Series Drama with Orphan Black, still represented our City proudly despite losing-out to a deserving Robin Wright of Netflix‘s House of Cards.  Fans avidly supported Maslany online with the Hashtag #TATIANAPOCALYPSE.

Complete List of Winners below:

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
“12 Years a Slave”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“American Hustle”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Amy Poehler, “Parks & Recreation”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
“Frozen”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Michael Douglas, “Behind the Candelabra”

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“The Great Beauty”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Andy Samberg, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Spike Jonze, “Her”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Robin Wright, “House Of Cards”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Amy Adams, “American Hustle”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan”

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“Ordinary Love,” “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Music by: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., Brian Burton

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
Alex Ebert, “All Is Lost”

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
“Breaking Bad”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Elisabeth Moss, “Top of the Lake”

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
“Behind The Candelabra”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jacqueline Bisset, “Dancing on the Edge”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Jennifer Lawrence “American Hustle”

Mr. Will and some of the 2014 Golden Globe Winners:

The Academy Awards air on CBS Sunday, March 2, 2014.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Mr. Will Wong)

“For those of us climbing at the top of the Food Chain there can be no mercy. And the butchery begins.”.

Hot on the heels of its four Golden Globe nominations yesterday, Netflix‘s ground-breaking Series HOUSE OF CARDS finally gets a proper Teaser Trailer. In addition to Robin Wright, Kevin Spacey and Corey Stoll each garnering nominations in each of their respective categories, the Series itself is nominated for Best Mini-Series or TV Movie.

Combined with snippets from Season One, some never-seen-before clips are seen here and if this is any indicator, expect this upcoming Season to be outright ferocious. People get scared. Lamps are tossed. Glasses are smashed. Slaps are thrown. Rings are buried. Oh my!

Watch the Teaser Trailer:

Netflix releases House of Cards Season 2 on Valentine’s Day.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Awards Season officially is here with the 71st annual Golden Globe Award nominations being announced earlier this morning by Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde and Aziz Ansari  out of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

No real surprises this year as American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave each lead the way in the Film categories with seven nominations apiece, the former up for Best Comedy or Musical and the latter up for Best Drama.  Although both Films are touted as Favourites to win in their respective categories, both likely will vie each other for Best Picture at the Oscars.  The Stars of each Film, Christian Bale (American Hustle), Amy Adams (American Hustle)  and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) are all up for Best Actor and Best Actress for their respective Comedy and Drama categories. Nebraska starring Bruce Dern and Will Forte follows closely behind with five nominations, with the former up for Best Actor, and the Film itself also being up for Best Comedy.

HBO‘s Behind the Candelabra ties with with Netflix‘s House of Cards in the Television Categories, each garnering four nominations each, although they will not be in direct competition with one another with the former up for Best Mini-Series or TV Movie and the latter in the running for Best Television Series – Drama.  Candelabra stars Michael Douglas and Matt Damon however are both vying for Best Lead Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie.

A now-concluded Breaking Bad received three nods for AMC and it will receive stiff competition from House of Cards in its Series and Best Actor categories especially – the latter soon to be in its second season through ground-breaking Internet-based service Netflix.

Surprising omissions this year from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who determine the Nominees, are the lack of a Best Drama acknowledgement for Dallas Buyers Club despite its Stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto getting nods; it is thought to be in the Oscar race. Also, the excellent Saving Mr. Banks, shockingly only received one nomination for Emma Thompson as Mary Poppins Author P.L. Travers.  Many also are scratching their heads at the classifying of August: Osage Country, an emotionally-heavy Film which deals with death, addiction and mental illness within a Family, as a Comedy or Musical.  Its Stars Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts are up for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical and also Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

The 71st annual Golden Globe Awards will be televised on NBC Sunday, January 12, 2014  at 8:00 PM EST.

 Complete List of Nominees here.

(Photo credit: eOne Films)

After seven epic seasons including six Golden Globe wins and ten Primetime EMMY Awards, NBC‘s 30 Rock said farewell tonight in an hour-long Finale.  Despite  a continual slip in ratings, acclaim never stopped pouring-in for the Series-within-a-Series Sitcom which debuted in October 2006.

Despite the laughs tonight, there was an underlying current of emotion beneath the Humour.  We  saw an often-quiet Lutz (John Lutz) finally have a Blow-up over what the Crew would have for their final Lunch (he insisted on Blimpies), Jenna (Jane Krakowski) capping everything off with a stirring rendition of the Theme Song to a fictitious Legal-Thriller she starred in prior, named The Rural Juror and of course Liz tying-up loose ends with both Tracy (Tracy Morgan) and Jack (Alec Baldwin).  “I love you too, Jack“, says Liz to Jack after he fumbles to say so in a long-winded Speech aboard a Boat, before having a Eureka! moment in which we learn his next big idea – See-Thru Dishwashers.  They even flash-forward and we see Page Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) running the ship as Liz‘s mixed-race Great Granddaughter pitches a Series to him, while Spaceships fly outside the windows of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Over the years I had the pleasure of meeting many of the Cast Members of 30 Rock as they came to Toronto for various reasons. Some came to promote their Books, some came for Stand-Up Comedy, some came to film, some came to sing – a perfect Snapshot of just how diversely-talented this Cast was. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of meeting Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey, but one can always hope!

Farewell, 30 Rock. Thanks for the laughing fits.

xMr. Will

(Photo credit: NBC/Mr. Will Wong)

Already onto its fourth Season,  FOX’s Glee still is kickin’ it and one character we absolutely love is Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison). Morrison was nice enough to sign an 8×10 for one of my Readers as it looked like he had a bit of a break over the Holidays and perhaps a Reader out there might like it?

Just last week, his Co-Stars Lea Michele and Chris Colfer nabbed two People’s Choice Awards for the Series!

Simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before February 1, 2013.

Good luck. All are welcome to enter!

From one Mr. Will to another, to another…

Glee returns Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 9:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)