#SNL: SEE JONAH HILL’S “HER” PARODY SKETCH ON “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”

Perhaps the funniest thing we’ve seen all year? Oscar Nominee Jonah Hill did a bang-up job hosting Saturday Night Live last night and in addition to one of his new BFFs and The Wolf of Wall Street Co-Star Leonardo DiCaprio stealing the Show with a Titanic Re-enactment in the Intro, everyone is talking about Hill‘s Parody Sketch of Spike Jonze‘s HER.

The Video Sketch sees Hill falling in love with a CPU customized to be just like him and before he knows it, he finds himself falling in love himself. Superbad Co-Star and Buddy Michael Cera pops-up also, playing a Surrogate version of himself, making for a much happier ending than the one we see in the Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson-starring Drama in which this Parody is based.

Watch the Sketch below:

Canadians can watch Clips from last on Global Television‘s Website later today here.

(Photo/video credit: NBC)

#BOXOFFICE: “RIDE ALONG” SETS BOX OFFICE RECORD FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING WEEKEND

Exceeding  expectations of many this weekend is Ride Along, getting a timely Martin Luther King Day weekend release from Universal Pictures, raking-in a record-setting $47.8 million for the Holiday in its debut! The Action-Comedy starring Ice Cube and Funnyman Kevin Hart brought-on the laughs from its Audience with an A CinemaScore, although Critics agreed it wasn’t as stellar with a 16% rating on the Tomatometer.

After a huge debut last weekend, Lone Survivor slips to second spot for Universal Pictures/eOne Films with $23 million from 2,989 theatres.  In just two weeks, the Film has grossed $55 million, undoubtedly boosted earlier this week by its wins at the Critics Choice Awards, including Best Action Film.

The Nut Job opens this weekend with a solid $20 million for Open Road Films/eOne Films.  Made for $45 million, the Canadian/South Korean/American Animated-Feature starring Will Arnett didn’t get much love critically, but Audiences reacted well giving it a B CinemaScore.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit opens in fourth spot with $16.5 million for Paramount Pictures, the fifth Film in the Franchise of Tom Clancy Adaptations starring Chris Pine.  Reviews have been decent for the Film, tallying-in at 61% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a B CinemaScore.

American Hustle sees a nice boost this weekend with $10 million grossed from 2,204 theatres for Sony Pictures/eOne Films – good enough for sixth spot –  undoubtedly from all its exposure last week winning three Golden Globe Awards where it won Motion Picture – Comedy.

Devil’s Due debuts in seventh spot with $8.4 million from 2,544 theatres for 20th Century Fox, the Horror Film garnering 19% on the Tomatometer and an equally unforgiving D+ CinemaScore.

Spike Jonze’s Her rounds-out the Top Ten for Warner Bros. with $4 million from 1,729 theatres in its fifth week of release.

#OSCARS: 2014 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

And the Countdown officially begins!  The Nominees for the 86th annual Academy Awards were unveiled this morning at Samuel Goldwyn Theatre with expecting-Father Chris Hemsworth and Academy President Cheryl Isaac Boone on-hand to make the announcements.  Leading the way each with ten nominations are Gravity and  American Hustle. 12 Years a Slave certainly wasn’t far behind with nine nominations.  American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave are seen as being in close contention after each winning a Golden Globe Award this past weekend for Best Motion Picture Comedy and Drama respectively.

There was little dispute that this year’s Nominees for Best Picture this year aren’t a deserving bunch, that eclectic List including: 12 Years a Slave,  American Hustle, Her, Dallas Buyers Club, Philomena, The Wolf of Wall Street, Captain Phillips, Nebraska and Gravity.  Some are surprised the highly-buzzed Inside Llewyn Davis and Saving Mr. Banks lacked recognition from the Academy.  Canada received a Nod with Director Jean-Marc Vallée responsible for Dallas Buyers Club.

Even more heated a battle is the Category of Actor in a Leading Role, where again there are no major surprises, but the question now exactly is who will be victorious.  Up for the Oscar are: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club), Bruce Dern (Nebraska) and Christian Bale (American Hustle).

Actress in a Leading Role also again presents few surprises, although Fans of the well-receieved Saving Mr. Banks might make a case that its Star Emma Thompson was snubbed.  Nominated this year are: Amy Adams (American Hustle), Judi Dench (Philomena), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Sandra Bullock (Gravity) and Meryl Streep (August: Osage County).  Indeed a tough  Category with the exception of Adams is filled by previous Winners, with Blanchett regarded as a Favourite to take it all despite her Film being released far in advance of Awards Season.

For Actor in a Supporting Role, we see repeat Nominees Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street), Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)  up against a trio of first-time Nominees in Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave), Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) and definitive Choice Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club).

The Actress in a Supporting Role Category also is an immensely-talented Group including a Newcomer in Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), in addition to Screen Veteran June Squibb (Nebraska) and previous Golden Globe Winner  Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine) being recognized. Previous Winners Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) and Julia Roberts (August: Osage County) add mega-watt Starpower to the Race.  Much controversy came of Nyong’o‘s loss to Lawrence in the same Category at last weekend’s Golden Globes and this outcome will be highly-watched by Award Pundits and Fans.

Up for Directing this year are first-time Nominee Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), two-time Nominee Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity), three-time Alexander Payne (Nebraska), five-time Nominee David O. Russell (American Hustle) and eight-time Nominee/one-time Winner Martin Scorcese (The Wolf of Wall Street).

Watch the Nominations below courtesy of The Telegraph:

Click here to view a complete List of Nominees.

CBS airs the 86th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 7:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit:  The Telegraph)

#TFCA: “INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS” AMONG TOP WINNERS AT 2013 TORONTO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS

The Critics have spoken!  The Toronto Film Critics Association last night gathered to determine Winners of their annual Awards, one of the earlier Pre-Cursors to the thick of Awards Season.  Winning top honours this year is The Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, set deep within New York City’s Folk Music Scene during the early ’60s.  Its Star Oscar Isaac also nabbed Best Actor  and although he was set to walk the Red Carpet at the Film’s Canadian Premiere here in Toronto last week, alas his scheduling didn’t permit the visit.  The Brothers in 2007 had won Best Picture at the Awards also with No Country for Old Men, before going-on to sweep the Academy Awards. Inside Llewyn Davis is released by Mongrel Media in Canada, in theatres Friday.

Taking Best Actress is a well-deserving Cate Blanchett for her mesmerizing performance in Woody Allen‘s Blue Jasmine, playing a former Socialite on a downward spiral.

Warner Bros.’ Her also received warm recognition, garnering Runner-Up in the Best Picture category and ultimately winning Best Screenplay for Director/Writer Spike Jonze.  The Film opens in Toronto this weekend.

Despite being expected to be a Favourite this Awards Season, Fox Searchlight‘s 12 Years a Slave which won People’s Choice Award at TIFF ’13,  performed respectably with Runner-Up placings for Best Picture, Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Best Supporting Actor (Michael Fassbender) and Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o).

The actual Awards Gala will be held at The Carlu in Toronto on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, where the Winner of the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award will be announced, receiving a $100k Cash Prize.

Winners as follows:

BEST PICTURE
Inside Llewyn Davis (Mongrel Media)

     Runners-up
     Her (Warner Bros.)
     12 Years a Slave (Fox Searchlight)

 

BEST ACTOR
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis

     Runners-up
     Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
     Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

 

BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

     Runners-up
     Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
     Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

     Runners-up
     Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
     James Franco, Spring Breakers

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle

     Runners-up
     Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
     June Squibb, Nebraska

 

BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

     Runners-up
 Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis
     Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave

 

BEST SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED OR ORIGINAL
Spike Jonze, Her

     Runners-up
 Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
     Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis

 

BEST FIRST FEATURE
Neighboring Sounds, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho

     Runners-up
Fruitvale Station, directed by Ryan Coogler
In a World …, directed by Lake Bell

 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Wind Rises (Touchstone Pictures)

     Runners-up
     The Croods (20th Century Fox)
     Frozen (Walt Disney Pictures)

 

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
A Touch of Sin (Films We Like)

     Runners-up
     Blue Is the Warmest Color (Mongrel Media)
     The Hunt (Mongrel Media)

 

BMO ALLAN KING DOCUMENTARY AWARD
The Act of Killing (Films We Like)

     Runners-up
     Leviathan (Films We Like)
     Tim’s Vermeer (Mongrel Media)

 

ROGERS BEST CANADIAN FILM AWARD FINALISTS
The Dirties (Phase 4 Films)
Gabrielle (Entertainment One)
Watermark (Mongrel Media)

 

(Photo credit: Mongrel Media)

#FIRSTLOOK: SPIKE JONZE’S “HER” STARRING JOAQUIN PHOENIX & SCARLETT JOHANSSON

You can just sense how bittersweet this is going to be. Spike Jonze writes and directs HER, a Rom-Com starring Joaquin Phoenix, about about a Man who falls in love with an Operating System designed to cater to his every need. Rooney Mara, Amy Adams, Chris Pratt, Portia Doubleday and Scarlett Johansson also star, the latter who voices the Operating System, Samantha.  I’ve heard of people loving their Computers, but this is beyond.

Watch the cute and charming Trailer below:

Warner Bros. releases HER on November 20, 2013. 

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)