Although it was a competitive year, there would be no stopping Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s BIRDMAN from winning coveted BEST PICTURE at the 87th Academy Awards tonight! This latest victory caps-off a Campaign for the Dramedy beginning with a release last October. Since then, among others, it has nabbed several important Best Picture Awards including yesterday’s Independent Spirit Awards, the Golden Globe Awards and several more. Mexican Filmmaker Iñárritu was awarded Best Director for BIRDMAN, his second nomination after getting a nod for 2007’s Babel.
Winning Best Actor, first-time Nominee at the age of 33 was English Star Eddie Redmayne, recognized for his phenomenal work as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. He took a moment to dedicate his win to ALS awareness.
After four previous nominations, a tearful Julianne Moore at long last gets a Best Actress trophy for her turn in STILL ALICE, in which she plays a Professor suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. The Actress stunned in a unique Chanel number, never before seen on a runway. She thanked her Family and took a moment to direct attention to finding a cure for Alzheimers, and also Richard Glatzer, Director/Writer of Still Alice, whom is suffering from ALS.
As expected, J.K. Simmons as expected took Best Supporting Actor for a stirring performance as a psychotic Conductor in WHIPLASH. Patricia Arquette likewise would go on to take Best Supporting Actress for her performance in BOYHOOD, getting cheers from the likes of Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez after making a call to the Industry for equal rights and equal pay for Women.
See it again here:
Why Meryl Streep and J.Lo. freaked out over Patricia Arquette’s Oscar speech. http://t.co/v9IxK6xt8r pic.twitter.com/QbmGr1LSeY
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 23, 2015
Stars shined bright on the rainy Red Carpet tonight and turning many heads were Rising Star Margot Robbie in Van Cleef and Arpels in a sheer long-sleeve black gown with a deep plunging ‘V’. Seen widely prior as an Oscar Contender for her fantastic performance in CAKE, Jennifer Aniston donned her signature hair, stunning in a shiny Versace number, fitting her perfect. Reese Witherspoon seen for the first time in Tom Ford this Awards Season, looked stunning with an off-the-shoulder dress just days after being spotted at the Designer’s Show. As for the Gentlemen, Performer Adam Levine and Presenter Josh Hutcherson displayed bespoke tailoring and impeccable grooming, both in Armani!
Star of Stage and Screen Neil Patrick Harris, hosted delivering the laughs with a spirited opening number where he was joined by Anna Kendrick and Jack Black, referring to Motion Pictures as “moving pictures”. He even stripped down to his skivvies for the sake of entertainment!
See his Intro here:
Megastar Lady Gaga warmed the heart of Julie Andrews with a flawless Medley Tribute to the Sound of Music, easily one of the evening’s biggest Highlights!
And for a Canadian connection, Craig Mann, whom I am proud to say I went to High School with at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering – we both took Musical Keyboarding – won Best Sound Mixing for WHIPLASH!
For a complete list of Winners, click here.
(Photo/video credit: Getty Images)
Mr. Will and eOne Films want to give Readers a chance to win Passes to see BEGIN AGAIN, which premiered at TIFF ’13 to phenomenal response! The Musical-Drama stars Maroon 5‘s Adam Levine, Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Hailee Steinfeld! Screenings take place Wednesday, July 9, 2014 in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Halifax!
Official Synopsis:
Gretta and her long-time boyfriend Dave are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own. Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan, a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges a portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City.
Watch the Trailer below:
See some Snaps of Adam Levine at TIFF ’13 for BEGIN AGAIN here.
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook! Re-Tweet the below or share this Post on Facebook with Friends to increase your chances!
http://mrwillwong.com/beginagain @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #BEGINAGAIN! In theatres 7/11!
eOne Films release BEGIN AGAIN on Friday, July 11, 2014.
(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)
A bit of a slower day today on the Photo front, Wongsters! It rained and rained and rained and finally after subsiding a bit I think we’re good to go again. We did spot some pretty exciting names though today, thus far!
Kate Winslet is just too perfect. Love her and it tears me apart that my first time seeing her today was under less than ideal circumstances. The Academy Award Winner arrived at her Press Conference for Labor Day (premiering tonight at Ryerson Theatre), throwing over a quick wave to Fans before being rushed in. On her way out she rolled down her window quickly and threw a hand wave. Mesmerized.
Josh Brolin, who stars opposite Winslet in Labor Day under more ideal circumstances would’ve given more to Fans, but I managed to get this Snap of him waving goodbye through a sea of Umbrellas to Fans after completing a Press Conference for the Oscar-buzzed Drama by Director Jason Reitman.
By total chance, I crossed paths with the lovely Jennifer Garner as she was downtown doing a bit of shopping. Mrs. Ben Affleck was seen without the Mr. and it is said she enjoyed a Salad for lunch today in advance of her Red Carpet Premiere for HIV-Drama Dallas Buyers Club in which she stars opposite Matthew McConaughey.
Although not here for TIFF ’13 specifically, they sure timed it well. Brothers Donnie and Paul Wahlberg arrived in Toronto today to promote their upcoming upscale Burger Restaurant, WAHLBURGERS, meeting Fans at the Soho-Metropolitan Hotel today. After running out of Burgers quickly, the rest of the Fans were given Gift Cards for future purchase of a Burger when the first Canadian location opens in 2014!
Funnyman Tom Arnold made a surprise appearance at the Roy Thomson Hall Premiere of Mike Myers‘ Documentary, Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon today and he was spotted out and about partying this evening, much to my surprise. The former Husband of Roseanne Barr was even awesome enough to stop to pose for Pics!
Jack Huston is definitely an emerging Talent to come into TIFF ’13 with a significant amount of buzz. The Nephew of Danny Huston and Anjelica Huston stars in Kill Your Darlings, which premieres tomorrow night at Roy Thomson Hall. He has been seen most recently on HBO‘s Boardwalk Empire.
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises we’ve seen at TIFF was ’90s Megastar Crooner Michael Bolton out partying tonight with his Buddy, Toronto Director Paul Haggis (second below), who presents his latest work Third Person, a Romantic-Drama starring Olivia Wilde and Liam Neeson Monday night at VISA Screening Room! Both Bolton and Haggis were extremely gracious to stop and pose for Fans.
Maroon 5 Frontman debuted his first Feature Film, Can a Song Save Your Life tonight at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The handsome Singer was spotted at the uber-trendy Patria following his Premiere before calling it an early night. He soon will begin mentoring duties on the fourth Season of NBC‘s The Voice, premiering late September.
Still going strong, Director-Actress Couple Eli Roth and Lorenza Izzo are back at TIFF again this year with Green Inferno, premiering at the Festival’s Midnight Madness Program tonight. The two were spotted heading together to their Premiere. They certainly are not Strangers to Toronto having filmed Netflix‘s Hemlock Grove here last year.
Dane DeHaan‘s star is rising rather fast and in addition to starring in Kill Your Darlings alongside Daniel Radcliffe, he stars this time as Harry …Osborn in Amazing Spider-Man 2. The Actor was here last TIFF with The Place Beyond the Pines.
The stunning Freida Pinto is in Toronto partaking in the TIFF ’13 festivities and word is, she is raising awareness for an Indian Film Festival in development in the City. Definitely one of the few Actresses I know who can pull-off orange so effortlessly.
Actor/Director John Turturro and French Actress/Singer Vanessa Paradis (formerly Partner of Johnny Depp) were seen partying together in support of their TIFF ’13 Film, Fading Gigolo. Both were awesome to stop and interact with Fans tonight.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
*Photos taken on Samsung Galaxy S4 and Olympus E-PL5.
At long last the TIFF ’13 Guest List has been announced and among the Marquee names we can expect to see in Toronto in two weeks are phenomenal! Although speak of Brad Pitt and George Clooney making appearances here didn’t amount to much more than rumour, this year the Female Contingent shines brightest with several of Hollywood’s A-List set to present their latest Oscar Vehicles here.
Among the Celebrities expected this year are:
Emilia Clarke, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Tom Felton, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey, Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Sarah Gadon, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Mike Myers, Emma Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Amy Poehler, Keanu Reeves, Kate Winslet, Adam Driver, Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Owen Wilson, Ralph Fiennes, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Gyllenhaal, JudeLaw, Jessica Chastain, Jai Courtney, Mila Kunis, Pierce Brosnan, Sandra Bullock, Jason Bateman, Zac Efron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Colin Firth, Idris Elba, Ed Harris, Michael C. Hall, Annette Benning, James McAvoy, Liam Neeson, Steven Soderbergh, Ben Foster, Anton Yelchin, Maria Bello, Jennifer Garner, Nicolas Cage, Daniel Brühl, Tom Hiddleston, Jack Huston, Hugh Jackman, Jessica Lange, Melissa Leo, Adam Levine, Catherine O’Hara, Kurt Russell, Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Berenger, Tom Wilkinson, Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Clive Owen, Zach Galifianakis, Emily Watson, John Hawkes, Alan Rickman, Toni Collette, Josh Brolin, Alice Cooper, Tiger Chen, Rebecca Hall, Will Forte, Kevin Zegers, Taylor Kitsch, Juliette Binoche, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Thandie Newton, Terrence Howard, James Hetfield, Thomas Haden Church, Tim Robbins, Glenn Close, Dakota Fanning, Philip Glass and several more!
Keep checking back here as the Toronto International Film Festival makes additions as we get closer to Thursday, September 5, 2013 when TIFF ’13 kicks-off! The Festival runs till Sunday, September 15, 2013.
The official Schedule has been announced and you can now start planning your Festival right here. Download the Official Schedule right here!
Single Tickets go on sale on Sunday, September 1, 2013 on TIFF‘s Website here.
Things are about to get real exciting around here! Happy TIFF, indeed!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Clevver News gets an exclusive first look at the second season of American Horror Story: Asylum, with Jenna Dewan and Adam Levine playing a young Couple looking to spice-up their love life in a former Tuberculosis Ward. There’s only five minutes shown here and I’m already hooked!
Creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have the uncanny ability of combining suspense, sexuality and horror and although I absolutely loved the first Season of the FX Series, I’m expecting big things here. Well this much is certain – it seems their attentions and inspiration are being poured here versus another Musical Comedy Series which I used to love on FOX.
Watch the Preview below:
American Horror Story: Asylum premieres tomorrow night, Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 10:00 PM on FX.
(Photo/video credit: FX)
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