Opening in 4,253 theatres this weekend, IRON MAN 3 is anything but a disappointment earning a stellar $170 million in its North American debut.  Already worldwide, this latest Installment in the wildly-popular Marvel Franchise, has earned $456 million.  Audiences responded extremely well, giving the Film starring Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce and Gwyneth Paltrow, an A CinemaScore. Although perhaps not the best reviews, Critics responded favourably with a 79% score at Rotten Tomatoes.  By comparison, The Avengers which opened exactly a year ago today, debuted with $207 million in 4,349 theatres.

Read both mine and Contributor Jon Godfrey‘s Reviews here!

I had the pleasure of interviewing IRON MAN 3 Star Don Cheadle last week. More on that here.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

An Indie-Pop Group named Kingsfoil rolled into Toronto yesterday and after making several appearances in support of their latest Disc A Beating Heart is a Bleeding Heart and if you look carefully you might notice that their Drummer looks awful familiar.  Yup, that’s Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated Actor Frankie Muniz, Star of popular FOX Series, Malcolm in the Middle and the Hit Agent Cody Banks Films.

Having formed 2002 in Pennsylvania, Muniz joined the Band only mid-2012 as Drummer, later in the year suffering a Mini-Stroke.  Appearing all well now, Muniz now lives in Arizona when not busy acting, writing or touring with his Band.  Following their intimate Show tonight just west of Kensington Market at the Hard Luck Bar, the Band was kind enough to stick around after and meet their Fans and Lead Vocalist Jordan Davis certainly was a hit with the Ladies, gaining many new Fans locally.

The Band heads next to Rochester on their Veins Tour.

Check-out their v. good Track American Veins below:

See our Snaps below:

Download Kingsfoil‘s A Beating Heart is a Bleeding Heart right here.

(Photo/video credit: Holiday Heart Records)

Pretty steamy!  Haagen-Dazs has enlisted to services of Academy Award Nominee Bradley Cooper in their latest Ad Campaign and the results will make you melt.  The TV Spot sees Cooper and Model Jana Perez exchanging glances, striking an instant connection. Just as they’re about to get to it, alas it is the unmistakable power of Ice Cream which prevails.  Women will love this, but not so sure it’ll be effective in gaining sales from their Male Demographic. LOL

Really well done, yes?

Watch the TV Spot below:

As if Lily Collins’ Career couldn’t be getting any hotter, news has just surfaced that she’s close to sealing the deal to star in Pride, Prejudice and Zombies. The Horror-Drama-Romance is based on Seth Grahame Smith’s Mash-up of the Literary Classic by Jane Austen.  This of course has long been in-the-works with Natalie Portman once being attached to star, but after several delays Variety reports Burr Steers will direct.

Collins first will need to pass her first major test of Box Office bankability in this Summer’s The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.  If this sizzling new Trailer is any indication how massive it will be, then the Hollywood’s A-List better click that “enter” key a few times to make some room quick for a new name.

Watch the Trailer:

eOne Films releases The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones on Friday, August 23, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

The Post Positions are drawn for America’s most popular Horse Race, the $2-million 139th Kentucky Derby (also known as “The Run for the Roses”)!  The expected Choice this year is Orb at 7/2 ($9 payouy on a $2 bet) coming in off a sharp win March 30th in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. He certainly looks every bit a Winner with red-hot Rider Joel Rosario aboard, now winning four races in-a-row.  Orb has a record of four wins in seven starts for Owners Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable.

Verrazano (pronounced “Vair-a-zon-o”) certainly will not make it easy for Orb, listed as the second choice at 4/1 ($10 payout on a $2 bet). Some may even dispute that he is the deserving Favourite, touting a perfect four-for-four record for the Partnership of Let’s Go Stable (Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan), Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith.  Although he barely held-on in his last race to win the important Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct in New York April 6th, Jockey John Velazquez  (whom also has ridden Orb prior) has given the hard-fighting Colt his vote of confidence.  After all, he has won his first four races by a combined 27 lengths.

Revolutionary certainly isn’t to be discounted.  Although he’s faced easier competition than the two top choices, he comes into the  Derby with three consecutive wins, including the Louisiana Derby on March 30th, fighting gamely to win.  He appears to be peaking at just the right moment and Calvin Borel, who has the distinction of riding one of the most celebrated Fillies of our time, Rachel Alexandra and setting a record winning three out of four consecutive Derbys; he gets the job for Winstar Farm. He is listed at 10/1 ($22 payout on a $2 bet).

Like Hip-Hop Music, the Kentucky Derby often is an East Coast/West Coast Rivalry and California often brings its A-Game and they do so this year with Goldencents, Winner of the Santa Anita Derby on April 6th in Arcadia, California.  He happens to be trained by Doug F. O’Neill who won this same race last year with ill-fated Champion I’ll Have Another.  Goldencents is listed at 5/1 ($12 payout on a $2 bet) and runs for W.C. Racing, Dave Kenney & RAP Racing.

Although the 10-furlong distance may be a challenge, Itsmyluckyday looks to be a decent price for Bettors at 15/1 ($32 payout on a $2 bet).  He stamped himself as one to watch after defeating last year’s two-year-old Champion Male Shanghai Bobby on January 26th in the Holy Bull Stakes with alarming speed.  He came back only to lose ever so narrowly to Orb as the Favourite in the Florida Derby.

Rich in history, the Kentucky Derby has several traditions associated with it.  The Fashion as always is a blast as Racing Fans come out in an extravagant display of hats.  The Mint Julep is the Beverage of Choice and rightfully so.  Think a Mojito, but made with Bourbon, less tangy, but just as refreshing.

Some Celebrities expected to partake in the Festivities this year include:

Gladys Knight

Jennifer Tilly

Jo Dee Messina

Luke Bryan

Martina McBride

Mallory Hagan, Miss America 2013

Angela Bassett

Christian Siriano

Jennifer Hudson

Max Alder

Shaquille O’Neal

DJ Pauly D

Taboo from Black Eyed Peas

Brandy

Justin Timberlake, Elizabeth Banks and Jerry O’Connell also are huge Horse Racing Fans and even if not attending surely this is a day they look forward to!

18 Competitors go forward Saturday.  Who will be your Pick?  See all the Contenders here on the Kentucky Derby‘s Official Website!

 NBC airs the Derby Saturday, May 4, 2013 between 4-7 PM EST.

(Photo credit: Kentucky Derby.com)

You children of the ’80s and early ’90s will absolutely love this. My Good Friend Raj Rudolph, Creator of popular Music Blog Electroqueer officially has branched into Artist Management over in the UK and this Collaboration Silent Morning merges the talents of his Artists Parralox and Ryan Adamés. Recalling that fun Freestyle Sound of the late, there is something familiar and highly-likeable about the Track which recalls sorta where Danish Pop Sensations Alphabeat were sorta heading a few years back.  Love.

Listen to the Track in full below:

Even Martin Kierszenbaum (Cherry Cherry Boom Boom), President of Cherrytree Records, who’s produced for Lady Gaga, Far East Movement, Alexandra Burke and several more, was so inspired  by the Track that he decided to remix it too!  Hear it here.

Download Silent Morning here.

(Photo/video credit: EQ Music)

We were teased with these super-cute Character Posters a few weeks back, but here are the official Posters for the long-awaited fourth season of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, poking fun at its extended Hiatus:  “Now a Story of  Family that could not be contained”.

See the Posters below:

Netflix releases Arrested Development Season Four in its entirety on Sunday, May 26, 2013.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

54 Feature Films. 116 Short Films. 31 Countries. Two World Premieres. Five International Premieres. 27 Canadian Premieres. 27 Canadian Premieres. Four Toronto Premieres. These are the key numbers for the 23rd annual Inside Out Festival, Toronto’s official LGBT Film Festival.

It was just announced that Steven Soderbergh‘s eagerly-awaited Behind the Candelabra will receive a Special Presentation at the Festival, premiering simultaneously with HBO Canada‘s live broadcast of the Film.  The Drama, based on the relationship of Entertainer Liberace (Michael Douglas) and his younger Lover Scott Thorson (Matt Damon), competes in-competition at the  Cannes Film Festival this May also.  The free Screening takes place Sunday, May 26, 2013, 9:00 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

James Franco‘s presence even will be felt with his and Travis Matthew‘s Film Interior. Leather Bar. getting a Premiere here.  The Film re-imagines 40 minutes of cut footage from the 1980 William Friedkin Film CRUISING (starring Al Pacino), done to  avoid an X rating back then.

C.O.G. based on a semi-autobiographical Essay by David Sedaris, stars Broadway and Glee Star Jonathan Groff as a Yale University Graduate traveling across America on the road to Self-Discovery.

Closing the Festival is Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth, which is about legendary Writer Alice Walker featuring Interviews with Sapphire, Sonia Sanchez, Gloria Steinem, Yoko Ono, Steven Spielberg and Danny Glover.

Inside Out runs Thursday, May 23 through Sunday, June 2, 2013.

Click here for a full Schedule and Film Descriptions.

(Photo credit: HBO)

He certainly loves Toronto.  After having filmed Box Office Hit Red in Toronto back in 2010 and later having performed at Luminato shortly after with The Infernal Comedy, John Malkovich returns to the City early June for a string of performances in the Play, The Giacomo Variations.  Taking place at the Elgin Theatre, based on the life of Italian Womanizer/Writer and Adventurer, Giacomo Casanova.

Details below:

It also has just announced that Malkovich will be appearing at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on Sunday, June 9, 2013 for their In Conversation With… Series (presumably during the day). Stay tuned for more details!

We had the pleasure of meeting Malkovich a couple years back.  Click here for more on that.

The Giacomo Variations plays from Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9, 2013.  Get your Tickets here.

(Photo credit: FLIP Publicity & Promotions/Mr. Will Wong)

The Slipper fits!  With news of a Live-Action version of the timeless tale being announced recently, Disney  has confirmed that British Actress Lily James gets the coveted Titular Role of Cinderella, the Film to be helmed by Thespian Sir Kenneth Branagh.  A release date for the Film is forthcoming, but so far Cate Blanchett is attached to play the Evil Stepmother, Lady Tremaine.

Although many know her for her work as Lady Rose MacClare in iTV‘s Downton Abbey, James also created an impression on controversial and superb Secret Diary of a Call Girl, playing the role of Poppy for that same Network.  If that doesn’t say range, I don’t know what does.

More news to come soon!

(Photo credit: Marcia Rosengard)