#OSCARS: “NOMADLAND” TAKES TOP PRIZE AT THE 2021 OSCARS

The 93rd annual Academy Awards took place tonight at Union Station in Los Angeles, as Hollywood continues to navigate the Pandemic. The ceremony was preceded by a reduced Red Carpet and attendance was limited and socially-distanced within the venue, a departure from the usual Kodak Theatre, which still was used this year, but for a segment leading to the Humanitarian Award, which was awarded to the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Without a formal host this year, the broadcast also adopted a number of new changes including no interruption of winner’s speeches under Musical Director Questlove. Presenters and winners drew their attention to anti-racism, including Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award recipient Tyler Perry, stating in his speech, “It is my hope that all of us will teach our kids: refuse hate. Don’t hate anybody.”.

The evening’s big winner was NOMADLAND, taking Best Picture. The Film directed by Chloé Zhao, made history as she became the first ever Asian woman to win in the Directing category, following Korean Director Bong Joon-Ho‘s win for Parasite last year. Just last September, the Film had won the People’s Choice Award here in Toronto at TIFF. Frances McDormand went on to win her fourth Oscar, taking Best Actress for her work in the Film.

An absent Sir Anthony Hopkins took home his second Oscar for Best Actor for his work in THE FATHER, which also took Adapted Screenplay earlier in the ceremony. He won previous for 1992’s Silence of the Lambs. Chadwick Boseman who posthumously was sweeping much of Awards Season was seen as the favourite to win, for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

History also was made as MINARI star Youn Yuh-Jung became the first ever South Korean Actress ever to be nominated and win an Oscar. The veteran accepted her Award from MINARI Producer Brad Pitt, starstruck and asking him where he was during production for the Film. Jokingly, she also forgave everyone for mispronouncing her name, questioning whether the Award was simply “American hospitality”.

Some of the evening’s most memorable looks:

Carey Mulligan has arrived. Promising Young Woman star in Valentino. If this isn’t a testament to believing in herself… ✨ pic.twitter.com/4iZpE6te3q

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Maria Bakalova in Louis Vuitton. Best dress so far tonight. Admit it, you’re rooting too for this BORAT star to ‘dark horse’ the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/o5O6bGgRVK

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Minari star Alan Kim in Thom Browne. Such a stylish young man.

Giuliana: Who are you most looking forward to meeting tonight.
Alan: Nobody.

Aww! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/pgdn0d3wRs

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

“That’s hot.” – Paris Hilton

Colman Domingo of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in Versace. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/mTnEvcKd02

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Riz Ahmed in Prada. First time I’ve ever seen a cummerbund on anything but a dress shirt. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/BPf1OXI8if

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Now that’s gorg! Crazy hearing how Amanda Seyfried would do like 200 takes to get it right in MANK for David Fincher. She’s in Armani. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/jlHgfE2gTr

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 25, 2021

Complete list of winners here.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TEASER FOR “WEST SIDE STORY”

In case you missed it tonight during the Oscars broadcast, here’s the brand-new Teaser for Steven Spielberg‘s WEST SIDE STORY!

Synopsis:

Directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Tony Kushner, “West Side Story” tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort (Tony); Rachel Zegler (María); Ariana DeBose (Anita); David Alvarez (Bernardo); Mike Faist (Riff); Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino); Ana Isabelle (Rosalía); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); and Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works). Moreno – one of only three artists to be honored with Academy®, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony® and Peabody Awards – also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.

See the Trailer:

20th Century Studios release WEST SIDE STORY December 10, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Studios)

#COOKING: JALAPEÑO AND RED PEPPER POPPERS RECIPE

Jalapeño and Red Pepper Poppers. These fan-favourite apps are the best and I honestly don’t know why I haven’t made these sooner. They’re super-easy to make! Are these really spicy? The answer is no, but I have a really high tolerance to spice. The richness of the Cream Cheese balances out all the heat in the Jalapeños, but I’ve made a Red Pepper option just in case so that there’s something for everyone. This serves two.

Ingredients:

1 8oz container of Cream Cheese (I prefer Herb & Garlic)
2 Jalapeño Peppers, halved and seeded, I prefer the membrane intact but you can remove
1 Red Pepper, quartered and seeded
1/4 cup Panko
1/3 cup shredded Cheddar/Mozzarella mix
3 tbsps butter, melted
2 stalks green onion, chopped
2 tbsps grated Parmesan
1 tsp garlic powder
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
2. In bowl, combine Cream Cheese, shredded cheese, garlic powder and green onion.
3. In separate dish, combine butter, Parmesan and Panko.
4. Fill sectioned peppers with cheese mixture and place onto baking tray.
5. Top with Panko topping.
6. Bake 20 minutes. Allow to cool 10 minutes before eating.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong)

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#NEWMUSIC: R3HAB FT. JOLIN TSAI – “STARS ALIGN”

Chinese Pop Queen Jolin Tsai has teamed-up with Dutch DJ/Producer R3HAB on the Dance Track STARS ALIGN. Just released was this highly-stylized new Video for the vibey tune, directed by Muh Chen. So thrilled the world finally can get a glimpse of this brilliant Taiwan-born icon.

See the Video here:

If you’re just discovering Jolin Tsai, you must see her phenomenal Video for Track Womxnly. Ensure you turn on the subtitles so you can understand the Track’s powerful message about gender positivity.

Highly-conceptualized and beautifully-executed Videos are nothing new for Tsai. You must see some of the other highly-cinematic Music Videos from her album UGLY BEAUTY which won both Album and Song of the Year with Womxnly in her native Taiwan.

Perhaps my other favourite Track from the Disc, VULNERABILITY which never got a Video treatment.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “ROADRUNNER” – ANTHONY BOURDAIN DOCUMENTARY

This one hits close to home. We love Anthony Bourdain and can’t wait to see this Documentary about his fascinating life.

Synopsis:

A documentary about the uncommon life of the late storyteller, explorer, and chef, Anthony Bourdain. The film will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, June 11, 2021.

The documentary is directed by Academy Award® winner Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?). Focus Features will first release the documentary exclusively in theaters on Friday, July 16, 2021 before the film premieres on television on CNN and streams via HBO Max. CNN Films and HBO Max executive produced the film.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

#FIRSTLOOK: “I AM SYD STONE”

After having screened at the 2020 Inside Out LGBTQ Film Festival, I AM SYD STONE arrives this weekend on OutTV. The six-part Series based on Denis Theriault‘s 2014 Short Film of the same name expands on some ideas seen in the original. The Series is set on its titular character, played by Vancouver’s Travis Nelson, who is films a movie in a small town. This is where he meets a lawyer named Matt (Toronto’s Benjamin Charles Watson) and the two develop a relationship.

Syd has remained in the closet for many years, having to conceal his sexuality for the sake of his career. Falling for Matt puts his career in jeopardy and he must balance finding himself and understanding his sexuality, with the person everyone else seems him as, being a former A-List Actor.

Visually, the Series looks great and Kevin A. Fraser’s stylish Cinematography has a way of taking us inside Syd‘s gray psyche. While we found the chemistry between our two leads lacking a bit of that fire that would have glued this together a bit better, stories like this need to be told and seen. While there isn’t particularly new or compelling being brought to the table here, there is a great need for stories that challenge and question the ideals of masculinity and how this is a struggle that comes with costs. In that regard, the quickly-digestable story told in 10-15 increments, should strike a chord with more than just a community.

I AM SYD STONE airs on OUTtv Thursday, April 22 at 8:30 PM with the first two episodes and one new one each week following. It will be available on OUTtv Go beginning April 21, 2021.

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT” NEW TRAILER

THE CONJURING has propelled itself into the largest Horror franchise in history grossing over $1.8 billion worldwide. The next installment is about to arrive. See the new Canadian Trailer for THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.

Synopsis:

“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.  One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they’d ever seen before, to mark the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense.

THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT opens in theatres and IMAX nationwide on June 4, 2021. 

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Canada)

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE BIG SHOT WITH BETHENNY”

We’ve missed her and now she’s back! Bethenny Frankel is back Reality Series THE BIG SHOT WITH BETHENNY.

Synopsis:

In THE BIG SHOT WITH BETHENNY, the next generation of business moguls will compete for a chance to be second-in-command to business tycoon and Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel, and win a coveted position working on her executive team. In business and in life, Frankel never settles and only accepts excellence. Through a series of real-life tasks and challenges, each aspiring mogul will be tested to see how far they can push their creativity and determination to rise to the top. The first two episodes of the seven-episode series premiere Thursday, April 29 on HBO Max with two episodes launching May 6 and two on May 13. The finale will launch on May 20.

See the Trailer:

THE BIG SHOT WITH BETHENNY, premieres Thursday, April 29, 2021 on HBO Max and Crave.

(Photo/video credit: HBO Max)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “OXYGEN”

Mélanie Laurent stars in Thriller OXYGEN, coming soon to Netflix!

Synopsis: Oxygen is a French survival thriller directed by Alexandre Aja. The film tells the story of a young woman (Mélanie Laurent, 6 Underground, Inglourious Basterds), who wakes up in a cryogenic pod. She doesn’t remember who she is or how she ended up there. As she’s running out of oxygen, she must rebuild her memory to find a way out of her nightmare.

See the Trailer:

OXYGEN arrives on Netflix Friday, May 12, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN VIRTUAL PASSES TO AN ADVANCE SCREENING OF “JUPITER’S LEGACY”

Netflix and Mr. Will would love to give Readers a chance to win Advance Virtual Screening Passes to see the first episode of JUPITER’S LEGACY on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 6PM ET. The Series filmed here in Toronto stars Josh Duhamel. The Screening takes places 12:00pm PT / 2:00pm CT / 3:00pm EST.

Synopsis:

After nearly a century of keeping mankind safe, the world’s first generation of superheroes must look to their children to continue the legacy. But tensions rise as the young superheroes, hungry to prove their worth, struggle to live up to their parents’ legendary public reputations — and exacting personal standards. Based on the graphic novels by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, Jupiter’s Legacy is an epic superhero drama that spans decades and navigates the complex dynamics of family, power, and loyalty.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance!

Enter for a chance to #win Advance Virtual Screening Passes to see the first episode of JUPITER'S LEGACY!

How: https://t.co/s39L9E5voo pic.twitter.com/zg7xmproCZ

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 21, 2021

Rules and regulations here.

JUPITER’S LEGACY arrives on Netflix Friday, May 7, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)