The World of Cinema Elite made their way to Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles tonight for the 86th annual Academy Awards.  Praised as both a  strong year for Red Carpet Fashion and Film with a heated battle between American Hustle, 12 Years a Slave and Gravity, among others for Best Picture, ultimately 12 Years a Slave would prevail with top honours tonight.

The Drama based on the Memoir by Solomon Northrup, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September, before going-on to sweep a litany of accolades this Awards Season including victories at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Broadcast Film Critics Association  and the Independent Spirit Awards just yesterday. In addition, to winning coveted Best Picture, it won also for Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Alfonso Cuarón‘s Gravity, which has grossed over $700 million worldwide, also premiering at TIFF this last Fall, won the most Oscars this evening, tallying-in at seven wins, primarily in technical categories including Cinematography, Score and Visual Effects. Cuarón himself went-on to win for Directing.

AIDS Drama Dallas Buyers Club won the important Actor and Supporting Actor Categories with Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto respectively.  Both brought along their Mothers to the Awards, the latter making a heartfelt tribute to his Mother who overcame great odds to provide for both him and his Brother.

As predicted by many, Cate Blanchett now is a two-time Oscar Winner, her first win coming for her work in 2004’s The Aviator. The Australian Actress won for her empathetic portrayal of a Woman coping with mental and addiction issues in Woody Allen‘s Blue Jasmine.

The Fashion on the Red Carpet tonight was a huge draw as several Fans via Social Media sounded-off on the tasteful styles of Kate Hudson in Versace, Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé, Amy Adams in Gucci, Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab and perhaps the most-talked-about was a Princess-like Lupita Nyong’o in what is now being called a “Nairobi Blue” Prada Dress with a Hairband.  The light pastel blue Creation was chosen by the eventual Oscar Winner, who told Ryan Seacrest on the Red Carpet that it reminded the Kenyan Native of Nairobi.

Ellen DeGeneres once again did a bang-up job, making herself right at home with the A-List Audience, poking fun at everything from welcoming Liza Minnelli as a Female Impersonator, to some of this year’s Nominees who didn’t attend College (the Camera panned on Amy Adams nodded her head, admitting she too didn’t attend) to bringing out Pizza to some of the Evening’s famous Guests.  Meryl Streep was one of the first to help herself to a slice.  In addition, DeGeneres was out to set a record for the Most Re-Tweeted Selfie and helping her along were the likes of Bradley Cooper, Channing Tatum, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lawrence, Jared Leto, Meryl Streep, Lupita Nyong’o, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey. Quickly, the Photo received over a million Re-Tweets (overtaking a previous Tweet from President Obama upon his Re-Election) and could’ve received more if it weren’t for reported technical difficulties likely due to the onslaught of traffic.

See it below:

See more Photos here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Ellen DeGeneres)

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)

Mr. Will Wong and Paramount Pictures want to take you to an Advance Screening in Toronto to one of this year’s most hotly-buzzed Films, Martin Scorcese‘s THE WOLF OF WALL STREET starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey!  Screening takes place Thursday, December 19, 2013 at Scotiabank Theatre.

Official Synopsis:

Revered Filmmaker Martin Scorsese directs the story of New York Stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio).   From the American dream to corporate greed, Belfort goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late ’80s.  Excess success and affluence in his early twenties as founder of the Brokerage Firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the Title – The Wolf of Wall Street.

Money.  Power.  Women.  Drugs.  Temptations were for the taking and the threat of authority was irrelevant.  For Jordan and his Wolf Pack, modesty was quickly deemed overrated and more was never enough.

Watch the positively mesmerizing Trailer:

Official Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Also state your City and  tell me your favourite Scorcese Flick and why! Share on Facebook and double your chances or Re-Tweet the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/wolfofwallstreet @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to the Advance Screening of #THEWOLFOFWALLSTREET! In theatres Christmas!

Paramount Pictures release THE WOLF OF WALL STREET on Christmas Day.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Sold! Martin Scorcese and Leonaro DiCaprio team-up again and the results are winning in this brand new Trailer for The Wolf of Wall Street. Based on a true Story and Memoir by Jordan Belfort, the Drama centers on a New York Stockbroker to cooperate in a large Securities Fraud Case involving corruption on Wall Street.  The Ego. There is no one who could pull this off like Leo. Nobody.

Rob Reiner, Spike Jonze, Jean Dujardin, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey and Kyle Chandler star also.

Watch the Trailer below:

Paramount Pictures releases on November 15, 2013. Please, oh please, let this premiere at TIFF 2013!

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Gatsby giving us Goosebumps!  If this doesn’t get you excited for The Great Gatsby, I don’t know what will.  Warner Bros. has just released this 1:34 minute Extended TV Spot for one of this Summer’s most eagerly-awaited Films.  Paired together with Young & Beautiful by Lana Del Rey, which gets prominent placement in the Film, there is something just absolutely resonant and emotional about this.

I’m completely obsessed with the Track and have been repeating it non-stop of late. Such a pity that in what could be her biggest Crossover Hit, Del Rey is busy touring in Europe right now versus present Stateside giving Young & Beautiful the promotion it really deserves.

Watch the TV Spot below:

I arrive extremely early for my One-on-One with Baz Luhrmann, sitting at the Hospitality Suite with plenty of time to spare. You see, Toronto has a horrible issue with Punctuality and I am convinced that I am one of the reasons why. The bottomless Coffee makes me even more anxious than I already am.  I nibble on some v. sharp cheese, but really am not hungry due to nerves. Ever since being invited earlier this week to interview the visionary Filmmaker,  excitement and distraction had preoccupied much of my headspace. The thing is, I legitimately am a huge Fan of Luhrmann and quite literally I  had to touch my neck to see if it still was sore (as has been the case for weeks) in search of evidence that I wasn’t dreaming after receiving the invitation. I’d close the e-mail, open it again repeatedly to ensure it wouldn’t disappear on me like a cruel prank, as if almost expecting  that sobering “XX would like to recall this message”  notification.  It never came, thankfully.

Few Directors consistently have affected me viscerally as Luhrmann.  His Films are a Spectacle – an Escape if you will – taking us away to a place where Love is magical, splendorous and truly romantic. His distinct sense of  Tragic Romance almost has come define him, hence there could be no other as fitting as he to  helm an Adaptation of  F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s bittersweet Classic, The Great Gatsby.

Luhrmann walks into the room as I sit there fidgeting with my pencil – double, triple, quadruple-checking to ensure my questions were of a standard fit for the Man from whom the likes of Claire Danes, Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman and Leonardo DiCaprio have taken direction. He is lovely Man, indeed.  His hair a bit grayer than I’d seen in photos –  not at all as imposing as I’d imagined for someone with such grand, extravagant vision; his demeanour personable. I felt right at ease, feeling rather foolish for all the hoo-ha I’d conjured in my mind. “I’ll just sit right here on the couch and you can direct me”, he says with a smile. Was he kidding me? The Man responsible for Films like Moulin Rouge, Australia and Romeo + Juliet telling me to direct him?

I asked Luhrmann the question on many of our minds after we so cruelly were made to endure a prolonged wait for The Great Gatsby‘s release, originally slated for December.  Some cited Studio Conflict, while some cited Funding issues.  Setting the record straight, he explains “We got rained-out five times – it wasn’t just once or twice. It put us into the following year. We had to shut down just because of the rain.”.  After also being struck in the head by a crane during production, which resulted in stitches, he comes to the realization, “Now if there was no rain, it would’ve been the first time in my life I was on-time because we were very prepared in what we were doing.”.

Two ever-prevalent themes in Luhrmann‘s Films – particularly his Red Curtain Trilogy and  consistently so again in The Great Gatsby – are Romance and Tragedy.   “I keep saying to myself how I end up doing these things.  If you look at any creative person – I suppose I’m old enough now to say ‘I am creative’,    really we all do the same things over and over in different ways and different flavours”, he tells me. “Puccini basically does a lot of Tragic Romances. Shakespeare changes the genres but he always has some idea of Love or Anti-Love… I guess I’m some sort of Romantic. I suppose I have to say ‘yes’ to that  now.”.

One key line in The Great Gatsby has Nick Caraway (Tobey Maguire) telling Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), “The past cannot be repeated”. Reliving the past becomes somewhat of a fixation for  Gatsby in his limitless ambition to win back the love of his life in Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan), who so happens to be married to Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) after he goes off to war, coming back re-incarnated as a wealthy, dashing Playboy. I am curious whether or not repeating the past – a largely successful one I might add – is something  of which Luhrmann is conscious.  “I always think this is it. This is the last Movie I’m making… I may just go into Architecture or Diving”, he says perhaps half-joking. “I think I’ve gone through the Catharsis of Gatsby. I think I’ve gone into this period where I actually am who I am – that I sorta am stuck being this Guy making those Movies.”.  “I want to do it now so that it enriches life and that it’s a Circle –  the give and take is there.”.

Several are excited about DiCaprio‘s Gatsby Reunion with Luhrmann, last having worked together over 17 years ago on Romeo + Juliet, but the name on everybody’s lips is Elizabeth Debicki – an unknown entity in an Ensemble of familiarity, winning the Plum Role of  observant and gossipy Jordan Baker. “This is the first Movie she’s ever done – she was in Drama School.  My Casting Director Ronna Kress and I heard about Elizabeth –  this Girl who’s so tall and gorgeous – she’s a bit like Cate Blanchett meets Nicole (Kidman). I flew her to Los Angeles and she was such a strong choice.”.  As numerical proof to what a role in a Baz Luhrmann Film can do for one’s Career, he notes, “They put a picture of her on the Website the other day… and within an hour there were 150,000 hits. She’s making an impression.”.  On Mulligan, he has nothing but praise for her stating, “She’s just absolutely lovely inside and out!”.

In a Career which already has seen its share of pinnacles, one must wonder just what Luhrmann considers a success. He replies, “That it pays its bill, first of all. People come up to me and they go, ‘I bet you’re sick of hearing this’ – and they can be entirely mature Human Beings – or ‘You probably don’t want to hear this but I just loved blah blah blah‘ and I just go, ‘Are you kidding me?’.”. Luhrmann adds, “My Movies don’t get banged-out once a year. I make them every five or ten years, so if one person goes ‘Gee, that did something for my life, that was beautiful…’, he pauses. “That sorta stuff that will be good enough for me.”.

Enjoy my Interview in full with Baz Luhrmann below:

Fans have every reason to be excited about The Great Gatsby  and after having witnessed its magic in 3D, I eagerly am awaiting another go at it.  Warner Bros. releases on Friday, May 10, 2013.

Luhrmann was amazingly gracious to sign a Photo for my Readers and one of you will be lucky enough to own it!  Simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before June 1, 2013.  Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook with your Friends!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Tell me, who isn’t excited for The Great Gatsby 3-D?  These scintillating new Art Deco-inspired Posters have just been released and as usual, this Baz Luhrmann Film looks to delight visually. 

See the Posters below:

Watch the brand Trailer in full below featuring Music from the Jay-Z-produced Soundtrack:

And yes, that was Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey and Florence + The Machine  you heard.

Tracklisting as follows:

Warner Bros. releases The Great Gatsby 3-D on Friday, May 10, 2013, preceeded by the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on Tuesday, May 7, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

Running from May 15 through 26, 2013, the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival will roll out the Red Carpet to the Who’s Who of Cinema and just announced as the Opening Night Gala being that of long-awaited The Great Gatsby 3D.  The Baz Luhrmann-directed Adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald ‘s Novel stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher and Elizabeth Debricki.  To draw the connection, Luhrmann released a Statement explaining that Fitzgerald actually wrote “some of the most poignant and beautiful passages” in France, not far from Cannes.

Warner Bros. releases The Great Gatsby 3D on May 10, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

He’s never looked better. Check-out this dazzling new Trailer for The Great Gatbsy 3-D which we finally get an update for after a lengthy pause. Leonardo Dicaprio looks amazingly dapper in this gorgeous looking latest effort from Moulin Rouge Director Baz Luhrmann. It’s been ages since we’ve seen a proper Romance and nobody translates love to the Big Screen with such elegance as the Australian Filmmaker.

For those of us who aren’t familiar with the Novel by F. Scott Fitzgerland, The Great Gatsby is about a Midwesterner named Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) who becomes entangled in an unfamiliar and glamorous World of Jay Gatsby (Leonardo Dicaprio) his  after moving to Long Island, drawn-into a world of obsession and tragedy. Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Isla Fisher and Joel Edgerton star also.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

Warner Bros. releases The Great Gatsby 3D on May 10, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

Simply not getting enough of the amazing DJANGO UNCHAINED festivities tonight in Toronto last night, I went back for a double-helping in New York City, scoping-out the World Premiere of this latest Masterpiece from Quentin Tarantino. The Stars came-out in full force in support of the Film at Zeigfeld Theatre, including the likes of Olivia Wilde, John Legend, Zac Efron, 50 Cent, Zach Braff, Darren Aronofsky, Natasha Lyonne, Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler, Jeremy Piven and oh so many more. Cast Members Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Christoph Waltz, Don Johnson and Leonardo Dicaprio joined iconic Filmmaker Tarantino, whom I was lucky enough to meet in Toronto. Stargazers didn’t even know which direction to run first as the Celebrities poured onto the Red Carpet and out of the venue after the three-hour-long Action-Drama-Western-Thriller ended after 11:00 PM.

I was even lucky enough to get to meet Oscar Winners Foxx and Waltz. Also, I was super-stoked to get Snaps with the handsome Stars Wilson and Piven. Leone has never looked better and what a pleasure it was to meet the Man (Aronofsky) who helmed one of my all-time Faves, Black Swan.

Watch some brief Clips I got of Foxx and Dicaprio arriving at the Venue:

I never leave my Readers empty-handed and got you back a little Souvenir from my Trip – a signed Photo from Quentin Tarantino himself! To enter to win it, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before January 12, 2013. All are welcome to enter!

Alliance Films releases DJANGO UNCHAINED in theatres Christmas Day.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)