The domination continues!  American Hustle continues to solidify itself as a major threat to its Competitors to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards in March with a win at tonight’s Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles.  The Dramedy from acclaimed Writer/Director David O. Russell won Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture. Although there is no actual Award for Best Picture at the Ceremony, with Actors recognizing exclusively the work of their Peers, the Cast of Argo last year also won the same Honour before going-on to win at the Oscars last year.  The Ensemble Cast of American Hustle includes: Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.

Also getting recognized tonight in Film Categories were: Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club (Outstanding Male Actor), Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine (Outstanding Female Actor), Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave (Outstanding Supporting Female Actor) and Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club (Outstanding Supporting Male Actor).

Winning tonight in the Television Categories were: Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad (Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama), Maggie Smith for Downton Abbey (Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama), Ty Burrell for Modern Family (Outstanding Male Actor in a Comedy) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Veep (Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy).

The Oscars air Sunday, March 2, 2014 on CBS.

In Canada, you can watch the Screen Actors Guild Awards at 8:00 PM EST on Global Television Sunday, January 19, 2014.

Photos at Zimbio.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

eOne Films and Mr. Will Wong want to take Readers to the Toronto Advance Screening of I, FRANKENSTEIN! This is your chance before everybody else to see the Adaptation of Kevin Grevioux‘s beloved Graphic Novel!

Official Synopsis:

Two hundred years after his shocking creation, Dr. Frankenstein‘s creature, Adam (Aaron Eckhart), still walks the Earth. But when he finds himself in a modern day world in the middle of a war over the fate of humanity, Adam discovers he holds the key that could destroy humankind.

As a host of frightening supernatural creatures are looking to rise up and take over, Adam uses his unhuman strength to fight against them.

I, Frankenstein stars Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Socratis Otto, Jai Courtney and Kevin Grevioux.

Trailer below:

Official Artwork:

The Screening takes place Thursday, January 23, 2014 at Scotiabank Theatre, 7:00 PM in Toronto.

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.  Under this Post, tell me, if you could have one unhuman strength, what would it be?

Those who Re-Tweet the below can double their chances of winning:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/ifrankenstein2 @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to the #Toronto Advance Screening of #IFRANKENSTEIN. In theatres 1/24!

Good luck.

eOne Films release I, FRANKENSTEIN on Friday, January 24, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Stunning.  Just absolutely stunning!  Jenna Talackova made headlines around the World in 2012 fighting for her right to compete in the Miss Universe Canada Pagaent.  Donald Trump tried to stop her on the grounds of not being a “naturally-born Woman”, but she took got the Lawyer involved and made it happen, before advancing to the Competition’s Top 12 and winning Miss Congeniality.

Vancouver-born Talackova completed her Gender-Reassignment Surgery in 2010 and has not looked back ever since, now set to star in E! Reality Series Brave New Girls, which documents her journey from the West Coast to Toronto as she embarks on a Modelling Career.

The eight-episode Series documents the Beauty’s Adventures with her Family and Friends and even touches upon her dating life and the challenges she faces when she reveals to Suitors that she was born male.  Is it that big an issue though?  “It’s not really that big a deal”, she reveals to the Hosts of CTV‘s The Social earlier this week. “It’s more just me – I’m picky.”.

Out and about promoting her new Series, Talackova stopped-off at Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition).  Actually a lot taller than I’d imagined, she and her Entourage were so kind to stop to take a Photo. The Model was super-sweet, telling me she loved me back, commenting how cute Billy is!  They were then seen walking over for Coffee at Crema on Bloor Street, where I’m sure many heads were turned!  Calm down, Boys!

Brave New Girls premieres on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at 10:00 PM EST on E!.

See our Snap:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/E!)

He’s back! Is it safe to say that Robert Pattinson by now call Toronto a second home, filming his third Movie here in just three years?  I mean, he’s practically Canadian now!

LIFE is set to begin production in Toronto on February 18, 2014, wrapping about one month later. The Film from Control Director Anton Corbijn centers on a Photograph for LIFE Magazine, Dennis Stock, assigned to shoot James Dean. The two went-on to become great Friends.

Starring in the role of Stock will be Pattinson, while Up-and-Comer Dane DeHaan – just in Toronto at TIFF ’13 for Kill Your Darlings –  has been cast as Dean. Stock shot the iconic Photos of Dean which went on to become synonymous with the Star’s iconic brand of coolness.

News of the $15-million Production broke last September via The Hollywood Reporter, but within the blink of an eye, the time soon is before us. Also beginning production simultaneously next month is Guillermo del Toro‘s Crimson Peak, as announced previously. More details here.

  Give yourself a Patt on the back, Toronto!  We’ve waited long for some real Starpower in this City!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

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)