Right after making a splash at TIFF ’13, ENOUGH SAID gets a theatrical release later this month. FOX SEARCHLIGHT CANADA and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers a chance to see it first! The Romantic-Comedy also features one of the late James Gandolfini‘s final performances.

Official Synopsis:

A divorced and single parent, Eva (Julia Louis Dreyfus) spends her days enjoying work as a masseuse but dreading her daughter’s impending departure for college. She meets Albert (James Gandolfini) – a sweet, funny and like-minded man also facing an empty nest. As their romance quickly blossoms, Eva befriends Marianne (Catherine Keener), her new massage client. Marianne is a beautiful poet who seems “almost perfect” except for one prominent quality: she rags on her ex-husband way too much. Suddenly, Eva finds herself doubting her own relationship with Albert as she learns the truth about Marianne‘s Ex. ENOUGH SAID is a sharp, insightful comedy that humorously explores the mess that often comes with getting involved again.

Directed and written by Nicole Holofcener (Friends with Money, Please Give), ENOUGH SAID also stars Toni Collette, Ben Falcone, Eve Hewson and Tavi Gevinson.

Watch the official Trailer here.

Screenings take place the week of September 23rd in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Double your chances by sharing this Post with your Facebook Friends or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/enoughsaid @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes in #Calgary, #Vancouver and #Toronto to see #ENOUGHSAID.  In theatres 9/27!

Good luck.

FOX SEARCHLIGHT CANADA releases ENOUGH SAID on Friday, September 27, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searclight)

It’s Britney again, B*tch. One of favourite Pop Princesses, Britney Spears has just released her Dancefloor-geared new Single Work Bitch. Heavy on the speaking and sparse on the Melody, she has one mandate here and that is for you to Work, Bitch!  The Production on the will.i.am co-written Track certainly is epic and it is a grand affair but we’re curious to see how the mainstream responds to this, perhaps Spears’ least commercial-sounding Single ever.  You?

Listen below:

Download Work Bitch on iTunes!

(Photo/audio credit: Sony Music)

He’s Dantastic!  Reigning Horse of the Year, Wise Dan, made a triumphant return to Woodbine Racetrack yesterday for the $1-million Woodbine Mile.  Despite deterring the Competition from a shot at the lucrative purse, the Race still drew five other brave Entrants and once again the six-year-old Gelding owned/bred by Morton Fink and trained by Charles LoPresti would not disappoint, going off as the prohibitive 1-5 (only a $.50 proft from a $2 bet) Favourite.   And not only did the handsome Chestnut win rather effortlessly by three-and-half lengths, he broke the Course Record for the distance/surface, clocking-in a blistering time of 1:31.7!

Fans cheered with delight as he paraded before them before entering the Winner’s Circle for some Photos with his Connections.  Jockey John Velazquez, who appeared earlier in the day at the Venue drawing a huge Line-up for Autographs, once again guided Wise Dan to victory.  This latest success pushes his earnings past the $5-million mark and tallies-in as his ninth consecutive score.  He is being pointed towards the Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile on November 2nd at Santa Anita Park on Horse Racing’s Championship Day.

Za Approval coming-in off a second-place finish at Hollywood Park late June certainly was not shamed in second, and British Invader Trade Storm finished third with a now out-of-retirement Hall of Famer, Gary Stevens aboard.

On the Undercard, French Filly Minakshi  under local Rider Luis Contreras won the Canadian Stakes, seen as a stepping stone to next month’s prestigious E.P. Taylor Stakes.  Sam-Son Farms’ three-year-old Colt His Race to Win may have been outshone by his Stablemate Up with the Birds this year, but yesterday was his moment, winning the Ontario Derby under Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Missed the action?  Woodbine Racetrack hosts the $1-million Pattison Canadian International on Sunday, October 27, 2013 where some of the World’s top Racehorses and Jockeys are set to do battle.  Mark your calendars!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/M. Paler)

With great sadness, we must say farewell to another TIFF.  And with fatigue, a limp in my right foot and great pain in my neck today after a gruelling run these past 11 days, I look back at the happy times, the regrets and what TIFF ’14 might hold.  Despite all these mixed emotions, I know it won’t be long before I’m begging for more!  I live for the Toronto International Film Festival – the greatest in Film Festival the World – and wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.

Here’s a look back at some of the Highlights for me of the Festival in Compiled Lists:

MR. WILL’S MOST GRACIOUS 10

Anyone who encountered these Stars up-close and personal during TIFF ’13 can vouch that they deserve a warm round of applause for the respect, appreciation and courtesy they’ve shown our City. Whether it be Jessica Chastain‘s consistent grace and humility towards her Fans, Brad Pitt‘s surprise Red Carpet appearance in which he took several Photos with Fans at the 12 Years a Slave Premiere, Hugh Jackman stopping in the rain outside the Press Conference for Prisoners to meet and great all his Supporters individually – these Stars understand exactly what the Festival is all about for us Fans!

1. Jessica Chastain
2. Sandra Bullock
3. Tom Hiddleston
4. Daniel Radcliffe
5.. Brad Pitt
6. Josh Brolin
7. Hugh Jackman
8. Jennifer Aniston
9. Nicolas Cage
10. Emma Thompson

MR. WILL’S  SUCCESSFUL 6

These six Films gained a great amount of buzz and momentum coming out of TIFF ’13 in advance of their forthcoming Awards Season Best Picture Campaigns.  Sadly, August: Osage Country didn’t wind up getting critical love universally (I enjoyed it much!) hoped for, but it still remains a major Contender in the Acting categories – especially for a heartbreakingly-absent Queen Meryl Streep.

1. 12 Years a Slave
2. Labor Day
3. Dallas Buyers Club
4. Prisoners
5. Gravity
6. Rush

MR. WILL’S EMERGING 5

These five up-and coming Stars caused quite a stir wherever they spotted around TIFF ’13.  This time next year, expect to know them pretty much on a first name-basis.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch
2. Emilia Clarke
3. Daniel Brühl
4. Jai Courtney
5. Taylor Schilling

MR. WILL’S NAUGHTY LIST

Although we try to keep things positive here, we remain hopeful that next time these Stars visit our City, they show us a bit more Fan Appreciation – not just only when the Cameras are on – than they showed this year.  Little things like picking-up a  Sharpie or taking time to pose for Photos with Fans, or maybe not distancing themselves a 15 feet from the Barricades where their Fans had queued for hours to see them, would be a first step.  In all fairness, some had hyper-assertive Handlers or lateness to blame.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch
2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
3. Scarlett Johansson
4. Mila Kunis
5. Emilia Clarke

MR. WILL’S FASHIONABLE 5

These Stars certainly made a Statement whether it be out and about in our City or on the Red Carpet. I still cannot get over Kitsch‘s gray-on-gray Suit he wore at the Premiere of The Grand Seduction and certainly was a bit obsessed with Toni Collette‘s new Bangs. Julia Roberts was a Vision in her Dolce & Gabbana Dress at the Premiere of August: Osage County too, but my favourite look was Sandra Bullock at the Gravity Premiere in Narciso Rodriguez!

1. Sandra Bullock
2. Julia Roberts
3. Taylor Kitsch
4. Toni Collette
5. Jessica Chastain

And who exactly did Mr. Will got a Photo-with at TIFF ’13?

Ben Cotton, Dane Cook, Jason Reitman, Josh Brolin, Nicole Kidman, Anika Noni Rose, Bill Condon, Donnie Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg, Jack Huston, Tom Arnold, John Torturro, Lauren Lee Smith, Sami Gayle, Mary Walsh, Saoirse Ronan, Michael C. Hall, Tye Sheridan, Katie Boland, Aaron Abrams, Kelly Rowan, Daniel Radcliffe, Taylor Schilling, Effie Exarchopoulos, Dan Stevens, Daniel Brühl, Alicia Vikander, Tom Hiddleston, deadmau5, Carice Van Houten, Tom Welling, Vanessa Paradis, Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper, Taylor Kitsch, Toni Collette, Dakota Fanning, Jai Courtney, Ciaran Hinds, Jessica Chastain, Emilia Clarke, Jared Harris, Adelaide Kane, James Lafferty, Jennifer Morrison, David Arquette, Alfre Woodard, Ryan Kwanten, Catherine O’Hara, Mark Boone Junior, Will Forte, Emma Thompson, Cara Gee, Demian Bichir, Jude Law, Tom Wilkinson, Alfonso Cuaron, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Thompson (again!), Lea Seydoux, Robert Baker, Amanda Walsh, Adam Driver, Keanu Reeves and Nicolas Cage.

To re-visit some of the amazing names that I snapped in the City over the Festival, click here.

To read some of my Reviews of the Films that premiered at TIFF ’13, click here.  More Reviews to come over the next day or two as I play catch-up after all the madness.

…until next year, Wongsters!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

*Photos taken on Samsung Galaxy S4 and Olympus E-PL5

With mixed emotions, we arrive at the end of TIFF ’13 and I thank you all for visiting on the daily, making Mr. Will Wong your Scoop for the Festival! Although the curtains are closing on TIFF for the year, there certainly was no shortage of Star Power here today as Jennifer Aniston drew a huge crowd for the Premiere of her latest, Life of Crime at Roy Thomson Hall tonight and also the Press Conference for the Film earlier in the day, effectively ending the festivities on a high note for all of us even with the absence of Stars John Hawkes and Isla Fisher.

Tim Robbins was awesome and generous in stopping for Fans in a City which has in recent years brought him here for his own Music Side Project, Tim Robbins & The Rogue Gallery Band. He plays the role of Frank Dawson, wealthy Property Developer and Husband of Jennifer Aniston‘s Mickey.

Saturday Night Live Alumni and MacGruber himself, Will Forte, walked the entire Fan Line at his Press Conference today, signing Autographs and taking Photos with Fans, after arriving earliest of all – a great Sport. I even asked him for a Photo which jokingly he interpreted as him taking a Photo of us Fans!

Fans of Sons of Anarchy will recognize Mark Boone Junior, in which he stars as Bobby Munson and the Actor actually was spotted a couple hours before his Press Conference today walking along King Street, where he posed for Fans when out looking for Breakfast.

If there ever was any doubt that Jennifer Aniston was amazing, let that be dismissed as the A-List Star generously signed Autographs for Fans who queued at least six hours in advance to catch a glimpse of her. She last visited Toronto in 2008 for the Comedy, Management and was seen before her Premiere dining at Hudson Kitchen with her Fiancé, Justin Theroux.

As TIFF ’13 Festivities are nearing an end, I had the incredible honour of being invited to what is regarded as the most sought-after Gifting Lounge of the entire Festival, George Stromboulopoulous’ Made in Canada Lounge. Now in its fifth year, the Lounge situated in the CBC Building this year decidedly has taken-on an all-Canadian theme. Not only was I floored by the Goodies in store, attending Celebrities loved them some of these locally-made products. As I was guided through the Lounge, my jaw was in an endless state of dropped as name after name was rattled-off to me, processing what these Stars took a liking to.

Celebrity Guests this year at the Made in Canada Lounge included the likes of Ryan Kwanten, Taylor Schilling, Idris Elba, Tom Wilkinson, Taylor Kitsch, Paul Dano, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoe Kazan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Joel Edgerton, Alan Cumming and many others. Several even partook in signing their Autographs on Hockey Sticks, proudly placed on display and later to generate funds for Charity.

Among the biggest Winners at the Lounge this year were: AWAKE‘s delicious and super-caffeinated Chocolates, the uber-refreshing Limonana Beverage, Neals Brothers Foods‘ Bacon Maple Chips (which I am consuming at a rapid rate as I type this post), OMG’s (like Clodhoppers, if not more scintillating), the Montreal Canadiens‘ (Stromboulopoulous‘ favourite NHL Team) exclusive “TIFF“-inscribed Jersey, Smells Like Canada‘s Saskatoon Wheat-scented Candle, Sweets from the Earth‘s Cashew Cookies (personal favourite), Pehr‘s Tea Towels, Leaves of Trees’ super-moisturizing Argan Oil, Cococo Chocolatiers’ Habanero Rosemary Infusion Chocolate Bar (meant to be paired with Dinner), Oliberte Shoes, Daneson’s Toothpicks and several, several, more.

It also is said that “STROMBO” T-Shirts by Lancaster are becoming a bit of a Celebrity-obsession south of the Border also with Game of Thrones Star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau recently being papped in one.

I went, I visited and I didn’t want to leave.

For a complete list of the Canadian Businesses which were featured at George Stromboulopoulos’ Made in Canada Lounge, click here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Both having had their starts on The X Factor – although on different continents – British Pop Sensation Cher Lloyd and emerging American Girl Group Fifth Harmony drew a near-capacity crowd at The Phoenix Concert Hall tonight in Toronto.

The Show opened with a solid Set by Fifth Harmony, which consists of: Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Dinah Jane Hansen, Lauren Jauregui and Normani Kordei. After forming just last year, the Quintet are on the verge of releasing their debut Disc, the Better Together EP.  Their Set saw them perform a mix of Covers including Lorde‘s Royals and originals like Miss Movin’ On and Me & My Girls.  All solid.  Their harmonic blendings live are just as good as it sounds on recording.  It is rare that in a Girl Group, each of the Vocalists are as strong as the other. At one point they even invited Fans on-stage to dance with them!

Upon exiting the Venue back to their buses, there was a mass chaos of their young Female Fans forgoing their ability to re-enter the Venue, all crowding about to get a chance to meet their Idols and some were lucky to get their Snaps with them!   Fifth Harmony‘s Better Together EP gets a releases on October 22, 2013 via Sony Music Canada.  Check-out Me & My Girls right here.

Cher Lloyd, known best in North America for her Hits Want U Back and Oath, is set to release her new Single I Wish ft. T.I.  Although a bit mixed with some of her newer material headed a darker, edgier direction, Fans rejoiced when Lloyd delivered some of her more familiar Tracks. Before long, she had the entire Audience throwing their arms in the air.

As an Artist she has improved vastly vocally in a short amount of time, although one thing she suffers from is a lack of coherency in her Style as it varies from Rap, to tender Ballads and Dance-Pop.  No one however can deny that talent, magnetic stage presence and voice, however.

Lloyd‘s new Disc is slated for an October release via Sony Music Canada. In the meantime, check-out her new Single I Wish right here.

See her perform a superb Cover of La Roux‘s In for the Kill below:

See some additional Snaps below, including some I got with Ally and Camila of Fifth Harmony below!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Mr. Will Wong & Fox Searchlight Canada are thrilled to give Toronto Readers a chance to see the hilarious Romantic-Comedy BAGGAGE CLAIM first!  The Screening takes place on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas, 7:00 PM.

Official Synopsis:

Determined to get engaged before her youngest sister’s wedding, flight attendant Montana Moore (Paula Patton) finds herself with only 30 days to find Mr. Right. Using her airline connections to “accidentally” meet up with eligible ex-boyfriends and scour for potential candidates, she racks up more than 30,000 miles and countless comedic encounters, all the while searching for the perfect Guy.

The stellar Cast includes: Paula Patton, Derek Luke, Taye Diggs, Jill Scott, Boris Kodjoe, Tremaine Neverson, Adam Brody, Jenifer Lewis, Ned Beatty, Lauren London, Tia Mowry, La La Anthony, Christina Milian, Affion Crockett, Terrence J, Rickey Smiley, Thomas Miles and Djimon Hounsou.

Watch the Trailer below:

To enter to win a Double Pass, please click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. You can double your chances simply by sharing this Post with your Friends or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/baggageclaim @MRWILLW wants us to #win a Double Pass to see the hilarious #BAGGAGECLAIM starring #PAULAPATTON in Toronto.

Good luck.

Fox Searchlight Canada releases BAGGAGE CLAIM in Toronto on Friday, September 27, 2013.

(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight)

This part of the TIFF always is a bit of a Downer as two days’ time all the Starpower will have exited the City and then comes the agonizing year-long wait till it all returns. Day Eight of TIFF ‘13 was generally subdued with several confirmed Talent cancelling their Toronto visits including the likes of Ed Harris, Rebecca Hall, Alan Rickman and Richard Madden.

Still, we managed to capture some of the brightest of Stars still remaining in our City including.

Annette Bening at the World Premiere of Romantic-Drama, The Face of Love, at VISA Screening Room. Bening was gracious to sign some Autographs upon arrival and exit and one lucky Fan was able to get a Photo with her even! The multiple Academy Award Nominee had to brave her Press Day alone as her Co-Star Ed Harris wasn’t able to attend today.

True Blood Star Ryan Kwanten stars in The Right Kind of Wrong, which sees him falling in love with a Bride-to-Be to another Man. The Film received the Gala treatment tonight at Roy Thomson Hall and the Aussie was spotted tonight at Blowfish following the Premiere of the Film.

SCTV Alumni Catherine O’Hara was in great spirits following the celebrations for her Film The Right Kind of Wrong, channelling Coco Chanel with her latest look. Despite zipping past the Press Line at her Premiere, O’Hara was certainly not shy with Fans, generously taking time with them upon returning to her Hotel.

After a week’s stay in the City, Rising Star Daniel Brühl flew out of Toronto earlier today after aggressively promoting Oscar Contenders Rush and The Fifth Estate during his TIFF ’13 visit. The Actor after a bit of nudging from Fans was nice enough to greet them upon exiting his Hotel.

It’s always a delight seeing Emma Thompson and we couldn’t resist another Photo with her all glammed-up tonight. The Oscar Winner was spotted chugging some Grey Goose Vodka straight from the bottle with her The Love Punch Co-Star Pierce Brosnan on the Red Carpet at Roy Thomson Hall!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

*All Photos taken on the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Olympus E-PL5

With the pace of TIFF ’13 slowing down now to just a brisk walk, I admit I’ve slacked a little today on the Celeb Front and enjoyed catching-up on rest on my own personal matters – primarily sleep.  That being said, I could not miss Taylor Schilling.  The Actress, best known for her work on hit Netflix Original Series, Orange is the New Black, is in town for the Drama Stay in which she stars as a Woman who is in hiding with her Lover (played by Aidan Quinn) after he experiences a personal tragedy.  She then discovers that she is pregnant.

Schilling is everything I thought she would be – personable, sweet and kind to her Fans, taking her time to greet everyone who waited in the impending Thunderstorm, over at Isabel Bader Theatre. eOne Films releases Stay in Canada.

See a Snap below: