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)

Mr. Will Wong and Paramount Pictures want to take you to an Advance Screening to see Jason Reitman‘s LABOR DAY starring Academy Award Nominee Josh Brolin and Academy Award Winner Kate Winslet!  After stirring audiences at TIFF ’13, this Romantic-Thriller soon will be discovered by Movie Lovers and you could be among the first to see it!

Screenings take place:

Toronto
January 29, 2014 @ 7:30pm
Scotiabank Theatre

Ottawa
January 29, 2014 @ 7:30pm
Cineplex Silver City Gloucester

Montreal – English
January 29, 2014 @ 7:30pm
Scotiabank Theatre

Official Synopsis:

“Labor Day” centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler, who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers, a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives.

Watch the fantastic 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  about your most memorable Labor Day! Double your chances byRe-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/laborday @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to the Advance Screening of #LABORDAY starring #KATEWINSLET & #JOSHBROLIN! In theatres 1/31!

See some Snaps of Winslet and Brolin in Toronto at TIFF  ’13 here.

Paramount Pictures release LABOR DAY on January 31, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Vogue’s Nathan Heller this month interviews Lena Dunham, Star and Creator of HBO‘s Girls, which now is in full promotional swing! The Golden Globe-nominated Actress and Writer gets revealing in the Piece which is accompanied by dazzling Photos of her by famed Photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Dunham reveals how in High School she really felt like an Outsider and some of that still trickles to her being in Hollywood. She says, “I went early on to a party at a really famous person’s house. They had a private chef there making pizza, and I remember the dog was wearing a bow tie. Every time I looked around, it would be like, Is that someone I know from camp? No, that’s Ashton Kutcher. It was such a weird scene. I remember thinking, I don’t feel at home here, and no matter how long this is my job, I will never feel at home here. And if I do start to feel at home here.”. “Someone should really worry about me.”.

This actually isn’t the first time Dunham has appeared in the Magazine however. She was featured back in her youth as a trendy Teen, we learn.

She looks sensation if I might say so in some of these Photos. Whomever styled her should definitely be collaborating with her for her Red Carpet looks!

See the Cover:

Read the Interview in full here.

(Photo credit: Vogue)

2014’s first big Breakthrough Act in Pop Music is A Great Big World.  The New York-based Group consisting of Chad Vaccarino and Ian Axel are currently in Toronto, just kicking-off their first Tour in our City in support of their forthcoming Major Label Debut, Is There Anybody Out There?.

After hearing Axel perform as a Solo Act, Vaccarino asked to partner with him as a Duo, then heading to the Studio to collaborate on some Music together.  It was after Megastar Christina Aguilera heard their Song performed on So You Think You Can Dance that things began to take-off  quickly for A Great Big World, adding her gorgeous understated Vocals to the Track.

In addition to achieving Double-Platinum Sales in the U.S., Say Something (Video here) has had performed v. well commercially, peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart and similarly so at number six on the Canadian Hot 100.  The Track received great boosts in exposure as the Duo performed on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and also the American Music Awards.  Not bad, huh?

A Great Big World wowed an intimate Audience last night at the Drake Hotel on Queen West with Fans Tweeting their reactions from “so good” to “amazing”.  Today they are doing the rounds with a mix of Radio and Television Interviews, some which saw Axel performing Say Something live with only his Keyboard, including visits to CTV‘s The Marilyn Denis Show, 104.5 CHUM, 98.1 CHFI and 680 NEWS.

Billy and I had the pleasure of meeting the awful gracious  Vaccarino and Axel on one of their Stopoffs today at 98.1 CHFI‘s The Erin & Mike Morning Show.  It was super-cold out but they were nice enough to stop, sign some Autographs and chat.  This definitely is only the beginning as the Duo’s Album launches next week and they’ll be touring multiple Cities across the U.S. to promote. Check CHFI‘s Media Gallery later for Audio of their Appearance.

See our Snap:

And how about an Autograph, Wongsters?

To enter to win the above Photo signed by A GREAT BIG WORLD, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.

All are welcome to enter!

Good luck.

Sony Music Canada releases A GREAT BIG WORLD‘s Is Anybody Out There? on Tuesday, January 21, 2014. Order it here.

And just because I couldn’t resist….

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Shut-out completely! It is an absolute Travesty that Muppets Most Wanted was shut-out this Awards Season and they have pieced together this heartfelt cry for justice in this Teaser Trailer.

Watch below:

A bloody outrage!

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release Muppets Most Wanted on Friday, March 21, 2014.

“Like” The Muppets on Facebook!

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Mr. Will Wong and Mongrel Media want you to win a copy of BLUE CAPRICE, starring Isaiah Washington, Tequan Richmond, Tim Blake Nelson, Joey Lauren Adams and Al Sapienza.

Official Synopsis:

In Antigua, American John Allen Muhammad (Isaiah Washington Jr.) rescues a boy from drowning. The teen, named Lee (Tequan Richmond), has been abandoned by his mother. John, who has three children of his own, takes Lee in.

John takes Lee back to the United States, where Lee learns that John‘s Wife has a restraining order preventing him from seeing his children. John is not only angry at his Wife, but at the Neighbours who testified against him during the custody hearing.

John teaches Lee how to fire a gun, and after learning that his Children are with their mother in the Washington D.C. area, he buys a blue Caprice Classic. He drills a hole in the rear, large enough to fire a gun through, and heads east.

Based on the real-life Beltway sniper attacks that happened in October 2002.

Watch the Trailer below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Share this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweet the below to double your chances:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/bluecaprice @MRWILLW wants us to #win #BLUECAPRICE on DVD. In stores 1/14!

Good luck. This Giveaway is open to Canadian Readers only.

Mongrel Media releases BLUE CAPRICE, out Tuesday, January 14, 2014 via Video-on-Demand, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download.

Order it here.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

A Who’s-Who in Canadian Film, Television and Digital Media gathered today at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto as Nominees were unveiled for the 2014  Canadian Screen Awards. Selected by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, a bevy of Talent and Media were on-hand to hear Nominations announced by our v. own David Sutcliffe (Cracked) and Katheryn Winnick (Vikings).

Leading the way this year in Television with a whopping 14 Nominations is breakout Hit Orphan Black including Best Dramatic Series, with its Star Tatiana Maslany at the Golden Globes last night in Los Angeles.  Maslany received a Nomination for her work on the Series in the Category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role.

After premiering at TIFF ’13, Xavier Dolan‘s Tom at the Farm leads the Film Category with an impressive eight Nominations.  The young acclaimed Filmmaker in addition to Best Motion Picture, is up for Best Direction and Screeplay also.  eOne Films distributes the French-Canadian Title.

eOne Films’ The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, filmed in Toronto, will be honoured with Cineplex‘s Golden Reel Award for the highest-grossing Canadian Film at the Box Office.  The Distributor last year won with Resident Evil: Retribution.

For a complete list of Nominees, click here.

The 2014 Canadian Screen Awards take place on Sunday, March 9, 2014 at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, airing live on CBC at 8:00 PM EST; Martin Short will be hosting.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Now that’s a proper Comeback!  Colombian Goddess Shakira joins forces with Rihanna for an amazing bit of Pop Perfection in Can’t Remember to Forget You.  Oh Shakira, you salty little Wordsmith, you!  The Track is The Voice Mentor’s first Single since 2010’s Gypsy.

The Rock/Ska-esque Banger boasts a strong Melody and I cannot stress how nice it is hearing Rihanna properly sing versus some of her more recent few-note Melody offerings of late!

Listen to the Track in full below:

Official Artwork:

The Joseph Kahn-directed Video is on its way and Shakira‘s eight Studio Disc is due later this year via Sony Music!

Download the Track here.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music)

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)

VVS Films, Touchwood PR and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a MACHETE KILLS Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack with an ultra-rare Signed Poster from Machete himself, Danny Trejo!

Official Synopsis:
Machete is conscripted into the services of the U.S. Government by the President himself in order to hunt down a madman revolutionary and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer who has hatched a plan to spread war and anarchy across the planet.

The star-studded MACHETE KILLS stars Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Amber Heard, Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, Charlie Sheen, Lady Gaga and Mel Gibson. Yes, you read right. This is Lady Gaga‘s acting debut and her performance cannot be missed!

Official Artwork:

Watch the Trailer below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.  Share with your Friends on Facebook and double your chances!  Contest is open to Readers within Canada only.

Good luck.

VVS Films release MACHETE KILLS on DVD, Blu-ray, Digital Download and Video-on-Demand Tuesday, January 21, 2014.

Official Website: machetekills.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vvsfilms
Twitter Hashtag: #MacheteKills

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)