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)

Captain America: The Winter’s Solider absolutely ran the ship this weekend with a stunning $96.2 million debut from 3,938 theatres across North America for Disney.  By comparison, its 2011 Predecessor garnered $65 million in its debut, a healthy showing for the Franchise.  In Canada, it set an April Box Office record for a Film in the Country.  The Film starring Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans was a hit with Critics, earning 89% on the Tomatometer, in addition to a big A CinemaScore from Audiences.

Last week’s Champ, Noah, slips to second spot this weekend for Paramount Pictures, garnering $17 million, a total of $72 million earned in its two weeks out.

Divergent meanwhile, still shows consistently good numbers, in third this weekend with $13 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, tallying-in at $113 million in its domestic run over three weeks.

The Grand Budapest Hotel continues to do great in a limited number of theatres, with $6.3 million in fifth spot for Fox Searchlight, from only 1,263 theatres. Muppets Most Wanted is in sixth spot with $6.29 million for Disney, as it gets that little bit closer to that $50-million mark. Open Road Films’ Sabotage rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.8 million in its second week out.

After a long wait for it, Darren Aronofsky‘s Noah finally sees a release and paddles right past the competition at the Box Office for Paramount Pictures this weekend with $44 million from 3,567 theatres across North America.  Starring Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Anthony Hopkins and Logan Lerman, the Biblical Drama looks well on its way quickly to recouping its $160 million budget, earning also $51.1 million overseas. Critics gave it a 75% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences on the contrary surprisingly gave it a C CinemaScore.

After a huge debut last weekend, Divergent still is going strong in second with $26.5 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. In its two week run domestically, the Action-Fantasy starring Theo James and Shailene Woodley has made in excess of $95 million.

Muppets Most Wanted in its second week out earns $11.9 million for Disney, just surpassing the $30-million mark and good enough for third spot, while former Champ Mr. Peabody and Sherman still continues to perform well in fourth for 20th Century Fox, earning $9.6 million in its fourth week out.  To date it has grossed $96 million in these parts. Wes Anderson‘s star-studded The Grand Budapest Hotel in fifth with $8.8 million from only 977 theatres in its fourth week out.

Sabotage debuts in seventh with $5.2 million for Open Road Films. The Action Film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger has yet to open in Canada.  Critics gave it a B CinemaScore, although Critics didn’t think much of it with a 22% CinemaScore.

300: Rise of an Empire finds itself in ninth spot with $4.3 million, just surpassing the $100-million mark domestically in its fourth week out.

Non-Stop rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.2 million for Universal Pictures in its fifth week out, nearing-in on the $90-million mark.

There was no stopping Divergent from taking the top of the Box Office this weekend, an easy Winner across North America with $56 million grossed from 3,936 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  The Adaptation of the first Novel in a Series by Veronica Roth, might not have fared well with Critics (44% on the Tomatometer), but Audiences gave it a resounding A CinemaScore.  It will be interesting to see how the Film fares in coming weeks as hardcore Fans of the Books likely all have flocked to the theatres this weekend accounting for much of these numbers.  The production budget for the Action-Fantasy was $85 million, well on its way to recouping this back.

Second best is Muppets Most Wanted, the latest Film in the revived Franchise from Disney.  The star-studded Musical-Comedy brought-in $16.5 million from 3,194 theatres  in its debut, below expectations. Critics gave it a great 75% on the Tomatometer and Audiences were on-par with a B+ CinemaScore.

Former Champ Mr. Peabody and Sherman slips to third spot this weekend with $11.7 million for 20th Century Fox. To date it has earned $80 million in three weeks, just ahead of 300: Rise of an Empire, also a former Number One Film, in fourth with $8.7 million for Warner Bros.

Opening in a surprising fifth is God’s Not Dead starring some of the Cast of Duck Dynasty.  The Dramedy which is showing exclusively in the U.S. right now, opens with $8.6 million from only 780 theatres.

The Grand Budapest Hotel continues to perform tremendously in seventh with $6.8 million for Fox Searchlight. The star-studded Opus from Writer/Director Wes Anderson, has made $12 million in its three-week limited run.

Tyler Perry’s Single Moms Club rounds-out the Top Ten with $3 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, in it second week out.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman in its second week of release takes the top of the Box Office despite some stiff challenges from some new Films.  The Animated Feature earned $21.2 million for 20th Century Fox after opening in second spot last weekend.  To date, it has grossed $63 million.

After debuting at the top last weekend, 300: Rise of an Empire slips to second spot this weekend for Warner Bros. with $19.1 million. In two weeks, the Action-Fantasy has earned an impressive $78 million.

Need for Speed opens in third spot for DreamWorks Pictures with $17.3 million from 3,315 theatres.  Critics gave the Film 24% on the Tomatometer, despite Audiences having praise for the Film starring  Breaking Bad‘s Aaron Paul, giving it an B+ CinemaScore.

Non-Stop continues to perform well in its third week with $10 million for Universal Pictures, placing it in fourth. The Film starring Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore thus far has made $78 million.

Tyler Perry’s The Single Mom’s Club opens in fifth spot for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films with $9 million. Critics gave the Comedy starring Nia Long, Terry Crews, Eddie Cibrian, Amy Smart at more a 22% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a A-CinemaScore.

It was close for the bottom of the Top ten with The Grand Budapest Hotel in its second week of limited release performing exceedingly well for Fox Searchlight, with $2.1 million from only 66 theatres across North America.  Its per-screen average is a record-setting $55k. Critics gave the new Dramedy from Wes Anderson an outstanding 91% on the Tomatometer. Meanwhile, Fan-funded Veronica Mars, handled by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, also grossed $2.0 million from only 291 theatres; Critics gave it a respectable 76% on the Tomatometer. Another Kristen Bell Film, Frozen also brought-in $2 million for Disney in its 17th week of release amazingly.

Mr. Will Wong and Fox Searchlight (Canada) want to give Readers in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary a chance to see Wes Anderson’s latest Masterpiece THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL before everybody else! We’ve seen it and absolutely we were enchanted! Check back soon for our glowing Review.

Screenings take place tentatively:
Toronto: Week of March 10
Vancouver: Week of March 10
Calgary: Week of March 17

Official Synopsis:

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary Concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars; and Zero Moustafa, the Lobby Boy who becomes his most trusted Friend. The Story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting; a raging battle for an enormous Family Fortune; a desperate chase on motorcycles, trains, sleds, and skis; and the sweetest confection of a love affair — all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.

Star-studded THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL stars: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson and Owen Wilson.

See the Trailer below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook and state your City. You are encouraged to share via Social Media and you can increase your chances by Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/thegrandbudapesthotel @MRWILLW wants us to enter to #win Advance Passes to see #THEGRANDBUDAPESTHOTEL in #Calgary #Toronto and #Vancouver!

Fox Searchlight (Canada) release THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL on Friday, March 14, 2014 in Toronto, Friday, March 21, 2014 in Edmonton, Montréal, Québec and Friday, March 28, 2014 in- Calgary, Halifax, Ottawa, Victoria, Kitchener. Mark your calendars!

Mr. Will & The Cast of The Grand Budapest Hotel:

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight/Mr. Will Wong)