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)

With the 87th annual ACADEMY AWARDS set to take place tonight, we asked our resident Experts their opinions on which Film will win coveted BEST PICTURE. Though the Award is widely seen as a two-horse Race between BIRDMAN and BOYHOOD, each has their opinion on that potential Dark Horse that could pull the wool right over our eyes and surprise us tonight!

Come, let’s take a peek…

George Kozera (Twitter: @PartyG)
“My personal pick for Best Picture is BOYHOOD. My Dark Horse is Bradley Cooper for Best Actor. There’s a lotta love there for Sniper.”.

Justin Waldman (Twitter: @JDubs12)
“BIRDMAN! Because the Movie is absolutely astonishing in its ability to be a one take Film with no cuts or breaks.

AMERICAN SNIPER is my Dark Horse pick as there is a bit of a Republican slant in the Academy, I feel…”.

Jonathan Godfrey 
“Richard Linklater is a distinct and continuously impressive Auteur in Cinema, and if accolades are available let them wander his way.

BOYHOOD is worthy of another award on its mantle place. It drives the Audience to feel something, to connect with something transcendent. It’s charming to know it will continue to be celebrated on the World Stage.

I definitely don’t have a Dark Horse.”.

David Baldwin (Twitter: @DonFishies)
“Its going to be BIRDMAN or BOYHOOD. Both terrific Films, wide scopes and amazing performances. Leaning on the former more because I love Michael Keaton, and hope he wins too. Dark Horse is AMERICAN SNIPER — it just may steal the Show!”.

Mr. Will (Twitter: @Mrwillw)

“If this were the Mr. Will Awards, it certainly would be WHIPLASH‘s year, however in all probability we will be seeing the Team behind BOYHOOD at the podium.  What a remarkable feat in Cinema, a real tour-de-force!

Therefore, my Dark Horse pick, WHIPLASH.  Most likely Winner, BOYHOOD.  No shock if the also genius BIRDMAN won, but BOYHOOD gets the slight edge.”.

The 87th annual ACADEMY AWARDS, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, air on ABC at 7 PM EST.

E!’s Live From the Red Carpet starts 5:30 PM EST.

(Photo credit: Mongrel Media/Warner Bros.)

After significant wins at the 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards this past weekend, BIRDMAN and THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL lead the way at the upcoming 87th annual Academy Awards, as announced earlier this morning in Los Angeles by Chris Pine, J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuarón. The two Films received nine nominations each and will be going head-to-head for top honours in Best Picture, Cinematography, Writing (Original Screenplay) and Directing.  The latter received no nominations in the Acting categories.

Following closely with eight nominations is Winner of the People’s Choice Award (on numerous occasions a Pre-cursor to Oscar success)  at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, THE IMITATION GAME. Meanwhile, BOYHOOD which won Best Motion Picture, Drama at the Golden Globes would go-on to garner six nominations today tying with AMERICAN SNIPER, which has had the quietest Awards Campaign thus far as it  proceeds in a gradual roll-out to theatres. All three of these Films are up for Best Picture.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, WHIPLASH and INTERSTELLAR received five nominations apiece also, with the former two up for Best Picture and the latter receiving recognition almost exclusively in technical categories.

The Best Actor category is perhaps the most competitive with Golden Globe Winners Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) up against Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) and Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game).  Many are seeing the omissions of David Oyelowo (Selma) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) as major snubs, after being present much of this Awards Season for their riveting performances respectively. Bradley Cooper now has the distinction of being the first Actor in a decade to receive three consecutive (Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle and now American Sniper) Oscar nominations; the last to do so was his former Partner, Renee Zellweger.

Julianne Moore leads a strong group in the Best Actress category after a win at the Golden Globes for Still Alice.  Her other strong Best Actress performance in Maps to the Stars did not get recognition this morning, but this could well be a blessing in eliminating split votes against herself. Reese Witherspoon (Wild) also is seen as a strong Contender, alongside Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) and Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) – the latter whose Campaign has varied between Supporting Actress and Lead Actress. A surprise was Oscar Winner Marion Cotillard‘s appearance on the list for her work in French Drama Two Days, One Night. Amy Adams, who was awarded Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy for Big Eyes on Sunday unfortunately will not be a Contender.

J.K. Simmons is seen as a definitive choice for Best Supporting Actor with his performance as a sadistic Conductor in Whiplash. Two-time Nominee Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), three-time Nominee Edward Norton (Birdman),  four-time Nominee Ethan Hawke (Boyhood) and Oscar Winner Robert Duvall (The Judge) round-out the Group.

After being quiet this Awards Season, many are thrilled that Lauren Dern gets recognized for her work in Wild for Best Supporting Actress.  She is now a two-time Nominee after getting her first nod in 1992’s Rambling Rose.  Dern will be up against Golden Globe Winner Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game), Emma Stone (Birdman) and three-time Oscar Winner Meryl Streep (Into the Woods).  Some are seeing Jessica Chastain‘s omission in A Most Violent Year also a snub.

For a complete list of Nominees, visit the official Oscars Website.

The  87th annual Academy Awards air on ABC Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 7:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit: ABC)

The 72nd qnnual GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS took place tonight at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles and taking top honours on an evening where multiple Films shared the spotlight, was Boyhood.  The Richard Linklater Movie filmed over 12 years, won for Motion Picture Drama, Best Director and also Best Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette).

The Grand Budapest Hotel was victorious  for Motion Picture Comedy/Musical and Director/Writer Wes Anderson for the former drew big laughs from the Audience individually thanking members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

After leading the way with seven nominations coming in, BIRDMAN also would perform strongly. Mexican Visionary Alejandro González Iñárritu would accept the Award for Best Screenplay, apologizing humbly repeatedly for his English.  Meanwhile, Michael Keaton would make one of the biggest Comebacks witnessed in Hollywood after a reaching great success in the early ’90s with the Batman Franchise, going-on to win Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for his performance as troubled Actor Riggan Thomson.

Billy Bob Thorton who won for Best Actor in a TV Mini-Series or Movie for FARGO, and would go on to make the loudest statement tonight accepting this Golden Globe with a simply “Thank You!”, noting that he wanted to stay out of trouble after arriving on-stage stating he didn’t even get a chance to celebrate. Remember that time he opened his mouth here in Toronto and got in major trouble?  Let’s take a walk down Memory Lane here.

Kevin Spacey also was acting naughty, making reference to his Frank Underwood on Netflix‘s House of Cards’ initials during a pre-broadcast Red Carpet Special and while accepting his Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Series Drama, he once again dropped an “F Bomb” which fortunately was censored in-time.

Newcomer Gina Rodriguez certainly has stamped her place among Hollywood’s Elite winning Best Actress in a Comedy, TV Series for her work on adapted Telenovela, Jane the Virgin.  The Series airs on The CW in the U.S. and streams in Canada on Shomi.

Don Cheadle and Julianna Margulies were assigned the task of presenting the Cecil B. DeMille Award this year to recently-wed George Clooney. Show-stealing on the Red Carpet with his Wife Amal in Dior, he took a moment to thank his one true love on the Podium.  “I’ve had a pretty good year”, he reflects. “It’s a humbling thing when you find someone to love – even better if you’ve been waiting your whole life – when your life has been 53 years. Amal whatever alchemy it was that brought us together, I couldn’t be more proud to be your Husband.”.

Among tonight’s winning looks on the Red Carpet were an über-glam Jessica Chastain, who won high scores for her low-plunging, lamé Versace Dress – perhaps a taste of the looks to come as she portrays Marilyn Monroe in long-developing Biopic, Blonde.  Jennifer Lopez turned heads in a Zuhair Murad Dress Dress reminiscent of her famous Versace Grammy number with its low plunge also which drew an awkward moment as she was presenting with Jeremy Renner who pointed-out her “golden globes”.  Taylor Schilling, star of Netflix‘s Orange is the New Black also stunned in a red Ralph Lauren Dress – classic and understated.  Amy Adams also was a vision in purple, going-on eventually to win Best Actress in Comedy or Musical for Big Eyes. Julianne Moore despite getting some mixed reaction, wins big points from us for her sparkly Givenchy number, dazzling on-stage as she accepted Best Actress in a Drama for Still Alice.

Hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey –  reuniting for a third time and claiming this would be their last – once again were sophisticated and witty, their jokes ranging from side-by-side comparisons between Filmmakers and Actors they’d rather bed to Nominee Emma Stone being compared to a “creepy” Margaret Keane painting.  Even Meryl Streep sent her compliments as she presented the Award for Best Drama.

For a complete list of Winners click here.
To see more Photos from tonight’s Red Carpet, check-out ZIMBIO here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Mongrel Media and Mr. Will want you to bring home the wonder behind history-making Oscar Contender BOYHOOD, recently selected Best Picture of 2014 by the Toronto Film Critics Association!

Official Synopsis:
Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater`s BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason`s parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay`s Yellow to Arcade Fire`s Deep Blue. BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting. It`s impossible to watch Mason and his family without thinking about our own journey.

BOYHOOD also stars Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and Lorelei Linklater.

Watch the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. Share by clicking “like” from there for an extra chance! Canadian Readers only, please.

Mr. Will + The Stars of BOYHOOD:

#BOYHOOD. #Movies #Film #Oscars #AcademyAwards #RichardLinklater #EthanHawke #EllarColtrane

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jan 1, 2015 at 9:03am PST

Mongrel Media release BOYHOOD, now in stores on DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital and On-Demand. Future Shop also as a Limited Edition Steelbook version of this also while quantities last!

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

And it’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles once again atop the Box Office in its second week out! The Action-Fantasy Flick starring Will Arnett and Megan Fox pulls-in $27 million this weekend for Paramount Pictures from 3,980 theatres across North America. In just two weeks, it grosses $116 million.

Guardians of the Galaxy continues to perform well in second spot with $23.7 million for Marvel, now in its third week out.  To date it has earned $221 million.

Comedy Let’s Be Cops debuts in third spot for 20th Century Fox with $17 million from 3,094 theatres.  Earning just 11% on the Tomatometer, the Film starring Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. earns a much better B CinemaScore from Audiences.

The Expendables 3 opens in fourth spot for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films with $16 million from 3,221 theatres.  The star-studded Action Flick penned by and starring Sylvester Stallone gets 35% on the Tomatometer and also a good A- CinemaScore from Audiences, which will help its word of mouth hopefully as this Installment has the lowest opening of its Franchise.  The first Film in 2010 earned $34 million in its debut, by comparison.

Adaptation of popular Novel, The Giver debuts in fifth spot for eOne Films/The Weinstein Co. with $13 million from 3,003 theatres.  Starring Jeff Bridges, Odeya Rush and Brenton Thwaites, the Film receives 30% from Critics on the Tomaometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

Lucy slips to eighth in its fourth week out with $5.2 million, just surpassing the $100 million-mark in North America for Universal Pictures.

Well-reviewed Boyhood expands to 771 theatres for Mongrel Media/IFC Films, rounding-out the Top Ten with $1.9 million. In six weeks it has grossed $13.6 million.

One of the year’s best-reviewed Films is getting up-close and intimate with Toronto this weekend with a series of public screenings.  In a super-rare opportunity, the Star of BOYHOOD, Ellar Coltrane, will be doing a Series of Q&As this weekend following Screenings of the Film.  The Film directed by Richard Linklater documents the life of a Boy named Mason as he grows from age five to eighteen and yes, Coltrane literally grows-up before your eyes as he was filmed over a span of twelve years.

If you’re interested in checking it out, here are the Screenings:

Friday, July 25th at 7:15pm · TIFF Bell Lightbox

Saturday, July 26th at 3:45pm · TIFF Bell Lightbox

Saturday, July 26th at 8:20pm · Cineplex Varsity Cinema

Trailer below:

Have fun and don’t miss your chance to see Rising Star Coltrane in-person and witness the magic of this Movie for yourself!

 Mongrel Media release BOYHOOD, now in select theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)