Fans of HBO‘s GIRLS have a lot to look forward to as Season Four of the beloved Lena Dunham-created Series premieres this Sunday, January 11, 2015! I’ve had a chance to preview a few episodes of the new Season thus far and can say that this by far is my fave. The Series which has taken a turn to the darker in the previous two Seasons focuses back on the Stories and the individual journeys each of our four Heroines face. They certainly don’t hold back, going to some uncomfortable places emotionally, starting with Hannah‘s (Dunham) scholastic journey to Iowa where she struggles desperately to fit in. Is it already too late for her to patch things up with Adam (Adam Driver)? It also is interesting to see the charismatic Shoshaanna (Zosia Mamet) have to face humility as she begins her job search. And of course, we love Marnie (Allison Williams) deeply and love that we get more of her and her longing for love and her carving her own musical niche.
As the Poster indicates, there’s nowhere to grow but up:
Sunday not only marks the return of GIRLS, but also another personal Fave in LOOKING, the Dramedy which follows right after. As you know, we wholeheartedly loved the first Season of the Series set in San Francisco, centering on the complex love lives of three gay Men. You cannot help but fall in love with these Characters. Their mistakes, their wisdoms. Read me gushing about the Series here.
Seasons Three of GIRLS and Season One of LOOKING now are in stores on Blu-ray and DVD.
Fans of HBO‘s BOARDWALK EMPIRE might be sad that the acclaimed Series has concluded, but you can re-live its greatness with its fifth and final Season being released on Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD next Tuesday, January 13, 2015.
Official Synopsis:
Concluding a powerful and groundbreaking run, Season 5 jumps forward six full years to 1931. In stark contrast with the Roaring ‘20s, the country is in the throes of the Great Depression, and with the end of Prohibition in sight, Nucky (Steve Buscemi) is looking to legitimize himself by forging alliances with liquor producers. Featuring four audio commentaries and eight “Scouting the Boardwalk” location pieces that take fans behind-the-scenes of the final Season.
Official Artwork:
Pre-order here.
(Photo/video credit: HBO)
It is no mystery how much I adore HBO Series GIRLS and after being down about missing Creator and Star Lena Dunham‘s Just for Laughs Festival appearance in September last month, fate would give me a second shot at meeting her. In Toronto promoting her new Book NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL, the 28-year-old Screenwriter, Director, Actress, Producer and now Author, had a busy day of Press which concluded with her speaking at the Toronto Reference Library‘s Bram & Bluma Appel Salon.
Reading excerpts form the Book of Essays, Dunham connected with close to a thousand Fans tonight, followed by an Autograph Signing which saw Fans gushing in delight as they left just how sweet she is. Her Father, Painter Carroll Dunham even accompanied the Golden Globe-winning Star on this trip.
Although promising to stop for Photos upon arrival, a newly-green-haired Dunham quickly was rushed out of the Venue after her appearance. We caught up with her later in the night and she was an absolute delight, stopping for Photos, while signing copies of her Book with personalizations.
After a bit of a cliffhanger of a third Season, we greatly anticipate the upcoming fourth season of GIRLS, to premiere early 2015!
Doubleday Canada release NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL, now in stores. More here.
Lena Dunham + Mr. Will:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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)
A brand new Teaser Trailer has just been released for the upcoming third season of HBO‘s Girls. Told through a series of Instagram Photos and Robert ToTeras’ Track Break Out The Boom Boom, we see lots of smiles and happy times on the Beach among the Cast. Is that Hannah‘s (Lena Dunham) scorned Ex-Roommate Elijah (Andrew Rannells) we see making a return? Love that.
Watch the Trailer below:
Season Three of Girls is set to air January 2014.
(Photo/video credit: HBO)
After making a splash at TIFF 2012, Director/Writer Noah Baumbach‘s latest effort, FRANCES HA hits theatres at long last. Now Mongrel Media and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Toronto and Vancouver Readers a chance to see this delightful Comedy/Drama!
Official Synopsis:
Best Friends since their Vassar days, Frances (Gerwig) and Sophie (Mickey Sumner, Sting’s daughter) live together in a Brooklyn apartment. Whether discussing Boyfriends or just hanging out, the Women are so comfortable with each other, Frances jokes “we are like a Lesbian Couple that doesn’t have sex anymore.” But Frances’s world is toppled when Sophie decides to move with a Friend to Tribeca.
Baumbach likens Frances to Charlie Brown without the “good grief.”
She can’t afford the $3.00 charge on an ATM Machine, let alone an apartment in Tribeca. She’s an Apprentice with a Dance Company that may never hire her. She’s still considers Sophie her Best Friend, but they aren’t really speaking anymore. She’s still living in New York, but she doesn’t have a place of her own. While others move on with their lives, Frances bounces from apartment to apartment, maybe crashing with a friend or often making rash decisions, like taking a weekend trip to Paris.
The cast includes Grace Gummer (Meryl Streep’s Daughter) and Adam Driver (TV Hit Girls) with Cameos by Josh Hamilton (Star of Baumbach’s Kicking and Screaming) and Gerwig’s parents (who play Frances’s Parents).
The Advance Screening takes place at Fifth Avenue Cinemas (Vancouver) and Varsity Cinemas (Toronto) next Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 7:00 PM.
Watch the Trailer in full below:
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before Wednesday, June 13, 2013. Share on Facebook or Re-Tweet the info below and double your chances. Good luck!
http://www.mrwillwong.com/francesha @MRWILLW wants us to attend an Advance Screening of #FRANCESHA in #Toronto and #Vancouver! #win
Mongrel Media releases FRANCES HA on Friday, June 21, 2013 in Toronto and Vancouver, followed by Montreal on Wednesday, June 28, 2013.
I had the pleasure of seeing FRANCES HA last Fall at TIFF and loved it! Read my Review here.
(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)
Giving just a taste of what’s to come at the Oscars next month, the 70th annual Golden Globe Awards took place tonight at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. As originally thought, the Race to next month’s Oscars is just as wide-open as ever based on tonight’s results. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association awarded top Honours to Argo for Motion Picture – Drama, when many thought Zero Dark Thirty or Lincoln would be victorious. To further illustrate the drastic differences between the HFPA‘s tastes and that of the Academy, Ben Affleck shocked many in failing to garner a mention for Best Director when Oscar Nominees were unveiled this past Thursday. To put this into context, Affleck‘s win tonight for Motion Picture – Director had him defeating previous Oscar Winners Kathryn Bigelow and even past Cecil B. DeMille Award Winner, Steven Spielberg. Nonetheless, with Argo nabbing two key Awards, in addition to Django Unchained winning Original Screenplay and Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Christoph Waltz) and Les Misérables also winning an impressive three Awards: Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Actor in a Musical or Comedy (Hugh Jackman) and Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy (Anne Hathaway), these three Best Picture Nominees definitely cannot be ruled-out.
Jodie Foster, a six-time Golden Globe Nominee herself, was honoured with the Cecil B. DeMille Award this year, raising quite a few eyebrows with her v. candid Speech which for the first time publicly had her addressing her Sexuality. “I’m just gonna put it out there loud and proud, so I’m gonna need your support on this. I am single. Yes I am”, she said with a bit of nervousness. “I already did my coming-out a thousand years ago in the Stone Age in those very quaint days when a fragile young Girl would open-up to Family and Friends”. On her longevity as an Actress Foster says, “There are a few secrets to keeping your Psyche intact over such a long career – love people and stay beside them.”.
As predicted, Jessica Chastain and Daniel Day-Lewis won respectively for Best Actress and Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. This is the second time Chastain has been nominated, her first Nomination coming with 2011’s The Help. Also this is the sixth time the reclusive Day-Lewis has been nominated and his second time winning the prestigious Award. He won in 2008 for There Will Be Blood.
Meanwhile, Hugh Jackman earned his first-ever Golden Globe for Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, with Les Misérables; he received his first nomination back in 2002 for Kate & Leopold. Jackman edged-out Bradley Cooper, a first-time Nominee for his work on Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Winner Silver Linings Playbook. Both Actors will vie with Day-Lewis at next month’s Oscars for the coveted Best Actor Award.
The Hunger Games Star Jennifer Lawrence, won her first Golden Globe for Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her work in Silver Linings Playbook. “What can I say? I beat Meryl!”, she joked upon accepting her Award from hilarious Anchorman 2 Duo, Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell. “JLaw” as she likes to be called, received her first Golden Globe in 2010 for Breakthrough Role in Winter’s Bone.
Three-time Golden Globe Nominee Anne Hathaway was seen widely as a heavy Favourite to win for Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture and did not disappoint for her work in Les Misérables. Defeating an exceptionally-talented Group including Helen Hunt, Nicole Kidman, Amy Adams and Sally Field, Hathaway likely will take home Best Supporting Actress next month also. The New York Native’s Acceptance Speech was full of compliments, giving nods to Co-Host Tina Fey, using a word she made famous, “Blarg!” and also praising Field for her Oscar-winning work in Norma Rae.
Despite some heavy competition, two-time Golden Globe Nominee and now two-time Winner Waltz rose above all to win Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for his spirited turn in Django Unchained. With the exception of Co-Star Leonardo DiCaprio, he will be up against Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tommy Lee Jones and Alan Arkin again next month at the Oscars in the same Category.
In the Television categories, HBO‘s Sarah Palin-inspired Game Change and Showtime Drama Series Homeland walked away the big Winners. The former won for Mini-Series or Motion Picture for Television, in addition to Stars Julianne Moore and Ed Harris each winning Actress and Supporting Actor respectively. The latter garnered four nominations this year, including Television Series – Drama. New Mom Claire Danes, who won last year for Actress in a Television Series – Drama repeated the feat again this year, while Co-Star Damian Lewis won the Award for Actor. HBO‘s Breakout Hit Girls despite falling short at the Primetime Emmy Awards late last year, would not be refused tonight winning Television Series – Comedy and also its Writer and Star Lena Dunham winning Actress in a Television Series – Comedy. Coincidentally or not, Season Two of the Series premiered tonight.
As always, Fashion is a huge part of the Festivities and especially stunning on the Red Carpet tonight were Hathaway donning an elegant white Chanel Dress. Chastain rarely disappoints and tonight she chose Calvin Klein as her Clothier of choice, looking Classic Hollywood and Katharine Hepburn-esque. Lawrence also drew a lot of attention for her red Dior Couture Dress cinched with a thematically-appropriate gold belt, as did Foster in a navy Armani Number. Lucy Liu who currently stars in TV Series Elementary, may have drawn some mixed responses for her floral Carolina Herrera Dress, but she gets big points here for the inspired Look. Also, hilariously snappy Co-Hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler graced the Carpet in Wife and Husband Outfits, Fey looking particularly amazing in L’wren Scott. Of the Gentleman, no one can deny that Leonardo DiCaprio was King of the Ball in Tom Ford!
For a complete list of Winners, click here.
(Photo credit: @GoldenGlobes)
“Of the Cast, I think she’s most likely to have a long, lasting Film Career”, The National Post‘s Shinan Govani whispers into my ear. The “she” whom he is referring to of course is Allison Williams, Star of HBO‘s hotly-buzzed Series Girls, which sees a DVD/Blu-ray release next week – getting a bit of Promo here in Toronto. Govani hosted an intimate In-Conversation-With in the east-end of the City tonight with the stunning Actress, who happens to be the Daughter of NBC Anchor Brian Williams and also a Graduate of Yale herself.
Williams who arrived fashionably late understandably after a jam-packed day of Press which had her visit CBC, Corus and also MuchMusic for an appearance on New.Music.Live, looked nothing short of breathtaking. Every eye in the room was glued to the Beauty, who plays the role of Marnie on the Emmy-nominated Series, penned/produced/acted by It-Girl Lena Dunham.
Fame had to wait for Williams, whose Parents insisted that she completed her Studies before entering Show Business, telling us “College delayed my attempts at the Industry. I’m lucky and grateful.”. On her new-found Fame, she admits that she is still grappling with that. “No matter what age you are, it’s really tough”, says Williams. “What happens is this twist where people refer to me by my Character name – which is weird, but really isn’t considering the nature of my work”. As well, she is flattered by the Sex and the City comparisons which Girls receives much criticism for – a matter which Govani pointed-out right away as being the “Elephant in the Room”.
She reveals that she feels an instant connection to Fans who tell her they too are a “Marnie“, because she understands truly what that means. Williams however, wouldn’t give-away too many details about whether or not Marnie and Dunham‘s Hannah will reconcile their Friendship in the forthcoming second season of the Series. “I will say though that love is never lost”, she hints with tact as HBO Executives watched carefully.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Williams quickly, answering the one single question on everyone’s mind. And yes, she confirms to me that her stunning Red Dress is in fact by Oscar de la Renta. Truly down-to-earth and well-spoken, we chatted about the amazing selection of Music heard on Girls and she tells me, “Oh, Lena normally has say over that, but I might have helped get songs by Robyn and Ellie Goulding in”.
Season One of HBO‘s Girls is in-stores on DVD/Blu-ray on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. Season Two of the Series premieres on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 9:00 PM.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
With just four days till the 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, I’m finally catching-up on HBO‘s Girls after having stock-piled Episodes on my PVR. The Dramedy Series is nominated for an impressive five Awards already in its first Season, already winning Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series. With my post-TIFF Cold, finally I had reason enough to sit-down lie-down and discipline myself to watch all of its first Season. One part Sex & the City, one part balls-out Judd Apatow-esque funny, the Series is a startlingly funny take on what it means to be a mid-twentysomething surviving in the City.
Touching upon group dynamics in friendships, sexual awakening, financial struggle and self-realization; the messages are universal. Teenagers and Adults alike can find something to connect with here. I wish a Series like this existed when I was in grade 12, to get a real sneak peek at what life would’ve been like seven years later.
Although they completely were overlooked in the Emmy Nominations, Girls is filled with brilliant performances from its Supporting Cast including the sex-obsessed Adam Driver, the adorable Zosia Mamet, sassy Brit-accented Jemima Kirke and the lovely improv-trained Allison Williams. The charming Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids) appears late in the first Season as a delightful surprise.
As much as Girls is about the brilliant Script, Acting and Directing, it also is about the Music. The cute and kitschy (Britney, Demi, JLo, Feist, MGMT and more) Song Selection is superb and it will be interesting which Tracks make the cut for its December 11, 2012 DVD/Blu-ray release.
Plump-cheeked and porcelain 26-year-old Executive Producer Lena Dunham who also wears Actress, Creator and Writer caps, is a true National Treasure.
Although it appears v. much a Dark Horse at the Emmys this Sunday, my bets are set on HBO‘s Girls to take it all.
(Photo credit: HBO)
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com