In celebration of POMPEII‘s release, eOne Films and Mr. Will Wong want to give Readers a chance to win an ultra-rare commemorative Toque! We were among the first to spot  Game of Thrones Star KIT HARINGTON last Winter in Toronto where the Action-Adventure had filmed!

Official Synopsis:
Set in 79 A.D., POMPEII tells the epic story of Milo (Kit Harrington), a Slave turned invincible Gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia (Emily Browning), the beautiful Daughter of a wealthy Merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator.

As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.

Watch the Trailer:

Enter to win by clicking “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Your are encouraged to share this Post with Friends via Social Media!

Mr. Will and the Cast of POMPEII:

eOne Films release POMPEII on Friday, February 21, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films/Mr. Will Wong)

Author, Entrepreneur and Speaker Stedman Graham currently is in Toronto for the second edition of the Toronto Black Film Festival.   Known very much as the Partner of Oprah Winfrey – the Couple have been together since 1986 – Graham will be speaking at TIFF Bell Lightbox tonight for his Nine-Step Plan for Success where the Audience will learn how they can achieve their individual goals and plans.  Learn more here.

Graham utilized his time wisely meeting with local Media yesterday, shedding focus on his latest Book Identity: Your Passport to Success.  Earlier today, he Co-Hosted Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition), speaking with Liza Fromer, Rosey Edeh and Leslie Roberts. He spoke about his humble beginnings, growing-up with an overwhelming sense of shame with two disabled Brothers, also coping with racial identity issues.  “It took me 30 years to realize it isn’t about race”, he says.  “Empower yourself and get beyond labels defining your existence.”.

On his Media Mogul Partner, whom  hopefully he will be spending Valentine’s Day with tomorrow, he states to him she is “perfection, excellence and being the best you can be.”.

I caught-up with Graham who was heading-over to Sunset Grill on Bloor Street for Breakfast following his appearance, taking a quick minute to greet a growing crowd of Fans hoping to get a Photo with him and of course, he was a Gentleman, shaking hands and accepting graciously compliments how inspiring he is.

The Toronto Black Film Festival currently is taking place in the City, running till Sunday, February 16, 2014.  More here.

See our Snap:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Absolutely ridiculous!  Melissa McCarthy in her element yet again.  Teaming-up with her Husband Ben Falcone, who writes and directs the Funnywoman’s next effort, TAMMY, we get a quick glimpse of what could be the Comedy of the Summer in this hilarious Teaser Trailer!

Synopsis:

After losing her job and learning that her Husband has been unfaithful, a Woman hits the road with her profane, hard-drinking Grandmother.

TAMMY also stars Susan Sarandon, Dan Aykroyd, Allison Janney, Kathy Bates and Falcone!

Watch the Teaser Trailer here.

Official Artwork:

Warner Bros. release TAMMY on Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

Crazy for her!  Thousands of Fans lined-up last night at Canada’s only Hard Candy Fitness Location at College Park in Toronto as Gym Boss and Queen of Pop, Madonna, flew-in from New York City to launch the high-end Fitness Centre!

In addition to walking an ultra-exclusive Red Carpet, speaking with a mixture of TV, Radio and Print Media, she waved to her hoards of devout Fans who were ecstatic at the rare opportunity to see the Icon up-close.  A select Group of Contest Winners danced their way to a chance to work-out with Madonna in a once-in-a-lifetime Addicted to Sweat Class.  She later was seen Instagramming herself icing her feet afterwards.

Madonna icing her feet:

As expected, there were no Autographs or Photo Ops with Fans with a “no Photos” policy being enforced for all but Media, but simply seeing her was enough for many!  Some had mixed feelings about the ground-breaking Entertainer’s two-hours-late arrival, but despite the wait few could argue it was worth it.

Longtime Madonna Fan Simon Venekeo and Mr. Will Reader  contributed the Photo up-top.  He tells us, “I would describe it as an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity to see a Pop Culture Icon in such an intimate setting.”.

Madonna revealed plans already are under-way for her new Disc – her 13th – and among the Canadian Artists she’d like to collaborate with are Michael Bublé and Drake as she revealed to the Canadian Press below:

Transcendence  piqued just about everyone’s curiosity when its first Trailer surfaced last year.  Another new Trailer for the Sci-Fi/Thriller starring Johnny Depp and Rebecca Hall just was released, premiering over at Apple Trailers.

Official Synopsis:

Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost Researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him.

However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed—to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his Wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and Best Friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow Researchers, the question is not if they can… but if they should.

Their worst fears are realized as Will’s thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The only thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.

Watch Trailer #2 for TRANSCENDENCE in HD here.

Warner Bros. release TRANSCENDENCE on Thursday, April 17, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

We’ve all been waiting for it!  After blowing our minds last year in teaming-up with Miguel  on #BEAUTIFUL, Megastar and multi-GRAMMY Winner Mariah Carey brings it with new Single You’re Mine (Eternal) right in-time for Valentine’s Day!  The Track freshens-up Mariah‘s sound and slowing things down with a moody bit of Electronica, reminiscent melodically of We Belong Together.

Does it pack that same emotional punch?  Not quite. Some of Mariah’s best Tracks have been tingle-inducing and something feels a bit detached here.  I do always find a way to love Mariah‘s Tracks regardless even though we’re not quite sure she’s going with this Track.  I’m sure this will be the same after you check-in with me in a day!  Carey premiered the Track live at BET Honors, to air Monday, February 24, 2014.

Carey on Monday also confirmed that her 14th Studio Disc, titled tentatively The Art of Letting Go, will hit stores on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 after multiple delays due to Carey‘s self-admission it wasn’t ready, to a shoulder/arm injury last Summer filming a Remix Video to #BEAUTIFUL.

Listen to the Track below:

Official Artwork:

(Photo credit: Universal Music)

I am absolutely unafraid to admit that HBO‘s LOOKING is my newest Guilty Pleasure. As its first Season reached a half-way point this weekend, I look forward with a bit of sadness that there are only a few more weeks till it concludes.  And then comes an excruciating wait for another Season. Hopefully.

The Premise is simple, but there are so many, many rich unafraid-to-go-there layers in this Series from Creator Michael Lannan. Set in San Francisco, we get an honest look at the lives of three Gay Men: Patrick (Jonathan Groff), Agustín (Frankie J. Alvarez) and Dom (Murray Bartlett). If this were Sex and the City, Patrick – a Video Game Developer looking for love – certainly would be our Carrie. Agustín – a coupled Artist amidst a bit of a creative Dry Spell – and Dom – a Waiter aspiring to embark once again as a Restauranteur after a big disappointment – don’t so clearly fit the archetypes of Samantha, Miranda nor Charlotte, but as the Series gets rolling, we get the feeling big changes are about to take place for both of them. We can’t wait to see what happens next and we have a feeling there might be a bit of trouble. The knowing glances we get from our three Leading Men capture so subtly that unique dynamic among Gay Men of perhaps once being potential Lovers before deciding ultimately to be Friends.

Fans of GLEE and FROZEN will feel a sense of familiarity with Groff who has starred in both, the latter still freezing its position near the top of the Box Office, and he is just really, really good here.  He owns it as a picky, fumbling Patrick, constantly reminding us the importance of using a filter when we speak, but we are with him every step of the way watching him redeem himself each time.

In one super-awkward moment in the Series’ third Episode he hits-on  Kevin (Russell Tovey), whom we later learn actually is his soon-to-be Boss. Raúl Castillo plays Richie, whom Patrick meets on the Subway and we become enamoured  at first glance.  Did I mention, the Cast is heartbreakingly-handsome?

If that weren’t enough, the amazing Scott Bakula also stars in the Series as a Floral Shop Owner, Lynn. We meet him in a towel only in a Steam Room with Dom. Yes, I just said Scott Bakula and Steam Room in one sentence.

LOOKING looks and feels like San Francisco, taking us away for 30 minutes to another place every time.  The eclectic Electronic-Pop selections also are just pitch-perfect.  While most eyes are on HBO‘s Runaway Hit TRUE DETECTIVE right now, this new Comedy Series certainly isn’t to be ignored.

Anyhow, I’ll let you Wongsters discover LOOKING on your own. It airs Sunday nights on HBO Canada at 10:30 PM EST.

Some of the more memorable moments thus far:

Patrick (Jonathan Groff) hitting-on eventual Boss Kevin (Russell Tovey)

Patrick (Jonathan Groff) meets Richie (Raúl Castillo)

Official Artwork:

(Photo credit: HBO)

The 86th annual Oscars Luncheon aka took place earlier today in Beverly Hills in advance of the Academy Awards next month. Can we agree the Class of 2014 is an elegant bunch?

Is that Bradley Cooper two over from Tom Hanks? Is that Meryl at the top of the class as expected? What is Julie Delpy staring at? Doesn’t Cate Blanchett look super-thrilled? Where’s Jennifer Lawrence? 🙁  I assure you Amy Adams definitely isn’t wearing Valentino!

The 86th annual Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 2, 2014 and air on ABC.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win the one Documentary which had everyone whispering at TIFF ’13, The Armstrong Lie. If you think you know all about Lance Armstrong, think again.

Official Synopsis:

In 2009, Academy Award® winning Director Alex Gibney was hired to make a Film about Lance Armstrong‘s comeback to cycling.  The Project was shelved when the doping scandal erupted, and re-opened after Armstrong‘s confession. THE ARMSTRONG LIE picks up in 2013 after Armstrong was stripped of his 7 Tour de France Titles, and presents a riveting, insider’s view of the unraveling of the greatest deception in sports history.

The Film is produced by Alex Gibney, Academy Award® Nominee, Frank Marshall (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Seabiscuit, The Sixth Sense, The Color Purple, Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Matt Tolmach (The Amazing Spider-Man). Beth Howard and Brett Banks served as co-producers.

Watch the Trailer below:

Official Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. You are encouraged to share this Post with Friends via Social Media. Additional entries to those who Re-Tweet the below:

http://mrwillwong.com/thearmstronglie @MRWILLW wants us to #win shocking #TheArmstrongLie on #DVD! In stores 2/11.

Good luck! Contest open to Canadian Readers.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment  release THE ARMSTRONG LIE on DVD/Blu-ray on Tuesday, February 11, 2014.

Order THE ARMSTRONG LIE here. 

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

Mr. Will Wong and Mongrel Media want you to win a Copy of  gripping Documentary THE SUMMIT!

Official Synopsis:
Recounting the tragic story of the deaths of 11 Climbers on Mount Godwin-Austen (also known as K2), the second-highest mountain on Earth after Everest, The Summit focuses on one Man in particular: Ger McDonnell.
McDonnell, faced with an impossible decision, makes a choice that would change his life and the lives of the other Climbers forever.

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

http://mrwillwong.com/thesummit @MRWILLW wants us to #win Documentary #THESUMMIT on DVD. Out 2/11/14!

Good luck. Canadian Readers only, please.

Official Artwork:

Watch the Trailer below:

Mongrel Media release THE SUMMIT on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 on DVD, Blu-ray, Video-on-Demand and Digital Download.

Order THE SUMMIT on DVD here!

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)