The 89th annual Academy Awards took place tonight at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and in a shock of a finale, MOONLIGHT would win coveted Best Picture. Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway would make a not-soon-to-be-forgotten gaffe of announcing LA LA LAND and Best Picture, which eventually was corrected. Beatty clarified on-stage he had in fact received the envelope for Emma Stone, Best Actress. The acclaimed Barry Jenkins coming of age Film also would win for Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali).
In an era where inclusion and diversity are at the forefront of discussion, Ali becomes known as the first ever Muslim Actor to win an Oscar. Noted this year was an increased presence of talent whether it be Presenters or Nominees, of various ethnicities.
After dominating Awards Season, Damien Chazelle‘s LA LA LAND would sweep in several categories including Production Design, Cinematography, Original Score, Original Song, Directing and Actress (Emma Stone). Chazelle has the distinction of at age 32 being the youngest to ever win Best Directing.
Jimmy Kimmel filled hosting duties this year, delivering his signature brand of biting humour (much directed to a running friendly feud with Matt Damon) which drew big laughs and at once awkward silence when he joked about O.J. Simpson deserving an extra piece of bologna tonight after OJ: MADE IN AMERICA won Best Documentary.
The night reached a comedic high point where Kimmel told the audience that he had planned for a bus full of random tourists to visit Kodak Theatre without their knowing. Much to their surprise, they were greeted by a front row of Hollywood Who’s-Who which included the likes of Emma Stone, Meryl Streep, Ryan Gosling, Denzel Washington, Mahershala Ali and several more!
.@jimmykimmel bringing tourists into the #oscars was pretty Fresh. pic.twitter.com/xetZUSL0pd
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) February 27, 2017
Accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award just earlier this year, three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep stole the show tonight right from the get-go without even speaking with Kimmel poking fun about Donald Trump‘s statement that she was over-rated getting the audience to giver her a standing ovation as the “highly-overrated Meryl Streep“.
‘Highly overrated’ Meryl Streep gets standing ovation at #Oscars after being slammed by Trump https://t.co/K3lOQiFiE5 pic.twitter.com/FTI72LIq5u
— People Magazine (@people) February 27, 2017
The iconic Actress has appeared much in the news of late after Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld claimed to Women’s Wear Daily that Streep refused a dress from Chanel after she was denied monetary compensation for donning the label’s creation. Streep vehemently has denied the accusation, issuing a statement: “I do not take this lightly, and Mr. Lagerfeld’s generic ‘statement’ of regret for this ‘controversy’ was not an apology. He lied, they printed the lie, and I am still waiting.”.
The other acting categories went to heavy favourites. Casey Affleck won Best Actor for MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, Viola Davis won Best Supporting Actress for her work in stage-to-film Adaptation FENCES.
Canada was represented well, with Montreal’s Sylvain Bellemare winning Best Sound Editing for ARRIVAL. The Best Picture-nominated Film also saw our Denis Villeneuve receive a nomination for Directing.
As always the evening’s fashion is a huge part of the spectacle and here are some of the evening’s winning looks!
(Photo/video credit: Oscars/Getty Images)
As anticipated, LA LA LAND leads the 89th Academy Award nominations which were announced at 8:30 AM EST in Los Angeles. The Musical, hot off seven Golden Globe wins garnered a whopping 14 nominations including Best Picture, Actress (Emma Stone), Best Actor (Ryan Gosling), Directing (Chazelle), Writing (Chazelle) and more. It also has two nods for Original Song with Audition and City of Stars. Chazelle in a statement today said, “I am thrilled that the Academy is celebrating the work of Emma and Ryan, who brought these characters to life with such humanity and depth, and also the work of my college roommate Justin who created the beautiful music.”.
Up for Best Picture are:
ARRIVAL
FENCES
HACKSAW RIDGE
HELL OR HIGH WATER
HIDDEN FIGURES
LA LA LAND
LION
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
MOONLIGHT
We had the pleasure of running promotions in 2016 for seven out of nine of these nominations and would like to congratulate our friends at these Canadian companies who distribute these Films: Elevation Pictures (Moonlight, Hacksaw Ridge), 20th Century Fox Canada (Hidden Figures), Paramount Pictures Canada (Arrival, Fences), VVS Films (Hell or High Water), Mongrel Media (Manchester by the Sea) and eOne Films (Lion, La La Land).
MOONLIGHT, seen widely as LA LA LAND‘s biggest threat for Best Picture, garners the second-most nods, tallying-in at a total of eight. The Film directed by up-and-comer and nominee Barry Jenkins has been a major force this Awards Season, a powerful response to an outcry of the prestigious awards lacking diversity.
This year, we see a total six black actors nominated including Viola Davis (Fences), Denzel Washington (Fences), Ruth Negga (Loving), Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Naomie Harris (Moonlight) and Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures). We also see an Actor of English-Indian descent nominated for Supporting Actor, Dev Patel (Lion). FENCES, starring an all-black cast, gets four nominations, while HIDDEN FIGURES, fronted by three black female principal actors, gets three nominations.
Davis, seen widely as the favourite in the Supporting Actress category stated, “Thank you to the Academy for recognizing this extraordinary, important film and my work in it. Thank you Denzel for being at the helm!”.
Although Canada’s submission for Foreign Language Film IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD missed the final shortlist, Canadians have plenty to be proud of with a total eight nominations, according to a congratulatory Press Release from Telefilm Canada:
Howard Barish, co-producer (13th), Documentary (Feature)
Sylvain Bellemare (Arrival), Sound Editing
Bernard Gariépy Strobl and Claude La Haye (Arrival), Sound Mixing
Ryan Gosling (La La Land), Actor in a Leading Role
Shawn Levy, co-producer (Arrival), Best Picture
Theodore Ushev (Blind Vaysha), Short Film (Animated), National Film Board of Canada
Patrice Vermette (Arrival), Production Design
Denis Villeneuve (Arrival), Directing
Some surprises from today’s announcements include a nod for three-time winner Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins) in the Lead Actress category and Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic) getting his second nomination today for Lead Actor. Many are surprised that despite getting recognized for Best Picture, ARRIVAL star Amy Adams did not garner a nod for Actress in a Leading Role with two strong performances this year – the other being NOCTURNAL ANIMALS – being a major force all Awards Season. Newcomer and a soon to be on Broadway Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) finds himself among great company for Supporting Actor.
Streep in a humorous visual statement, had this to say about her recognition:
Hilarious. Meryl Streep’s visual statement from @eOneFilms for her #FlorenceFosterJenkins nomination. pic.twitter.com/FANFWXG5kw
— MR. WILL WONG (@mrwillw) January 24, 2017
The 2017 Academy Awards air on ABC Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 7 PM EST.
(Photo credit: Oscars)
Paramount Pictures Canada + Mr. Will want to take Readers to see FENCES, directed by and starring Denzel Washington. Screenings take place in Toronto and Montreal:
Toronto (Wednesday December 21st) – Scotiabank Theatre @ 7:30PM
Montreal (Monday December 19th) – Cinéma Cineplex Forum @ 7:30PM
Synopsis:
FENCES is directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay by August Wilson, adapted from Wilson‘s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play. The film stars Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Jovan Adepo, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson and Saniyya Sydney.
Trailer:
Artwork:
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Paramount Pictures Canada release FENCES on Christmas Day.
(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)
The internet is all abuzz at the performances from Viola Davis and Denzel Washington in this new Trailer for Awards Season contender, FENCES.
Synopsis:
FENCES is directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay by August Wilson, adapted from Wilson‘s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play. The film stars Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Jovan Adepo, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, and Saniyya Sydney. The film is produced by Denzel Washington, Todd Black and Scott Rudin.
See the Trailer:
Paramount Pictures Canada release FENCES on Christmas Day.
(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)
Few can deny that SUICIDE SQUAD is the highlight of Summer 2016 at the Movies, thus it is only fitting that the Warner Bros. Blockbuster returns to the place where it all began last spring for what could be the highest-grossing Film ever to be made in our City. Primed for a release, the DC Comics adaptation brought in Director David Ayer, along with stars Margot Robbie and Will Smith for an ultra-exclusive Red Carpet bash at the Distillery district’s Fermenting Cellar.
The Trio walked the Red Carpet in celebration of the Film taglined with the catch-phrase “Worst. Heroes. Ever.“, bringing together Super Villains in an operation to protect the safety of the President of the United States and its people. Just last weekend the Cast were at San Diego Comic-Con promoting the release and they were out in Miami earlier this week interacting with Fans!
Robbie looked a vision, Bohameian-chic, while Ayer and Smith kept it cool and casual, keeping in mind this was a party and they are after all… one of us, right? Right?
Mayor John Tory and the Trio did a ribbon-cutting ceremony together with eTalk’s Ben Mulroney, with Tory welcoming them back any time and gifting them with plaques from our City.
SUICIDE SQUAD stars Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, Cara Delevingne and Adam Beach.
For two days only, Wednesday, July 27, 2016 and Thursday, July 28, 2016 1-10 PM EST, the venue will host an awesome Belle Reve Penitentiary Fan Experience. The installation gives Fans a chance to experience:
-Sets and props from the Film including Deadshot Jail Cell, Harley Quinn Baseball Bat, Joker’s Cane and the iconic Belle Reve Mural Wall
-The world’s first Harley Quinn Smash Room, presented by BattleSports Inc. Fans can slip on a safety suit, grab Harley‘s bat and let it all out on glass bottles and vases
Tickets are available for purchase to see the Film in IMAX if you’re worried about getting shut-out at the Box Office opening weekend. Also, many exciting prizes are up for grabs. You in the very least walk away with a collectible poster. Come by, take a Selfie and use the Hashtag: #BelleReveTO.
Admission to the Fan Experience is free.
See some Snaps:
You kinda need a pic with the famous #SuicideSquad mural at #BelleReveTo.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
David Ayer, Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Mayor John Tory at #BelleReveTo. #SuicideSquad #NikonD3300
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Margot + Will. #SuicideSquad #BelleReveTo #MargotRobbie #WillSmith #NikonD3300
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Hot Deadshot. #WillSmith towels down at #BelleReveTo. #SuicideSquad #NikonD3300
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Margot’s smile. #BelleReveTo #SuicideSquad #NikonD3300
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
See our Video of the #BELLEREVETO Fan Experience!
See the latest Comic-Con Remix Trailer for SUICIDE SQUAD:
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release SUICIDE SQUAD Friday, August 5, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros./Mr. Will Wong)
Being the most pivotal Character in DC Comics‘ upcoming mega-watt star-powered SUICIDE SQUAD, it was crucial that casting for the Character of Amanda Waller was spot-on. We hear that Oscar Winners Oprah Winfrey and Octavia Spencer were up for the part, if you want an idea how high the bar was raised. They have however completely nailed it with double Oscar Nominee, TONY Winner and SAG Award-winning Actress Viola Davis, Star of acclaimed Films like Doubt and The Help. She currently can be seen on daring and popular TV Series How To Get Away with Murder in the Lead Role of Annalise Keating.
Seen mostly as an Anti-Hero, Waller sometimes is seen as an Ally to the Superheroes. In the upcoming Film, we see her gathering imprisoned Supervillains whom for exchange for clemency, agree to sign-on to dangerous Black Ops missions.
We absolutely love Davis and her unconventional Career choices – we love her just as much strong as when she is vulnerable, and we appreciate that she generally is low-key, spending much time with her young Daughter while in the City when not at work. It would appear she is dividing her time between here and New York, multitasking Projects.
By chance, we ran into her today and despite being on the phone, she curtailed the call to do a Selfie, which we know is rare. She looked so beautiful even without makeup!! We’ll never forget this and we are on Cloud Nine. Queen Viola!!
Our Snap:
Warner Bros. release SUICIDE SQUAD August 5, 2016 and filming wraps late August.
(Photo credit: ABC/Mr. Will Wong)
Known best for his work in Eastbound and Down, MADtv and more recently Neighbors and The Mindy Project, Funnyman Ike Barinholtz now sets his sights on Film with recent news of his casting in David Ayer‘s Suicide Squad. The Film based on DC Comics’ popular Comic Book Series, sees a group of imprisoned Superheroes tasked with dangerous Black Ops missions in exchange for clemency.
Word is that Ayer (End of Watch, Training Day) will have his Cast go to some deep, dark places as the Film begins filming tomorrow in Toronto.
Barinholtz was spotted out and about earlier today doing a quick grocery run, stopping for a moment to take Photos with Fans, noticeably fitter and almost unrecognizable in his Aviator sunglasses. The Cast this weekend were spotted partying at Sound Academy on Will Smith‘s tab, one last hurrah before they head to work this week.
See Will Smith rap at the Party, video courtesy of Co-Star Jim Parrack. Could this be signs of new material from him on the Soundtrack?
Stars Scott Eastwood and Cara Delevingne appeared to be absent, the former partying at Coachella right now, after an aggressive Promo Tour for The Longest Ride and the latter attending MTV Movie Awards festivities in Los Angeles. Jared Leto was spotted sporting his green Joker hair proudly on the streets earlier this afternoon as well!
Our Snap:
With #IkeBarinholtz of #TheMindyProject, in town filming #SUICIDESQUAD.
A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
SUICIDE SQUAD films in Toronto through August.
Warner Bros. release SUICIDE SQUAD August 2016.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
We all love a good Biopic and GET ON UP is one we’ve been excited about! Godfather of Soul JAMES BROWN is immortalized not only by his legendary Music, but also this upcoming Film about his rise to fame. Universal Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to a July 30th Advance Screening!
Official Synopsis:
In his follow-up to the four-time Academy Award®-nominated blockbuster The Help, Tate Taylor directs 42‘s Chadwick Boseman as James Brown in GET ON UP. Based on the incredible life story of the Godfather of Soul, the Film will give a fearless look inside the music, moves and moods of Brown, taking audiences on the journey from his impoverished childhood to his evolution into one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Boseman is joined in the Drama by a brilliant Supporting Cast: Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Nelsan Ellis, Lennie James, Tika Sumpter, Jill Scott and Dan Aykroyd.
Watch the Trailer:
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http://www.mrwillwong.com/getonup @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #GETONUP! In theatres 8/1/14!
Official Artwork:
Universal Pictures Canada release GET ON UP on Friday, August 1, 2014.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
ALl I have to say is that it’s about time Maria Bello got cast in Movies again! One of the Films entering TIFF ’13 with the most buzz is Thriller, Prisoners, which centers around an investigation in the disappearance of two girls. Hugh Jackman stars as a Boston Man who takes matters into his own hands when he thinks he’s found the Man behind the disappearance of his Daughter and her Best Friend.
Directed by our v. own Denis Villeneuve (Incendies), Prisoners also stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano,Viola Davis and of course, Maria Bello. Phenomenal Cast.
Watch the Trailer below:
Warner Bros. releases Prisoners on September 20, 2013. It debuts at TIFF ’13 on Saturday, September 7. 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)
With less than a month to go till Valentine’s Day, the release of Beautiful Creatures soon will be before us! Check-out this brand new 60-second TV Spot titled Pedigree, available exclusively at E! Online by clicking here.
It isn’t every day that Jeremy Irons dishes praise, hence when he says, “What can the Audience expect to see? A great Film, a great Story”, we are forced to listen.
In addition to Irons, the Fantasy-Drama stars Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, Thomas Mann, Emmy Rossum and Breakout Stars Alice Englert and Alden Ehrenreich. Richard LaGravenese directs this Story about Ethan (Ehrenreich), who falls in love with a mysterious new Girl in Town named Lena (Englert). He learns that Lena comes from a long line of Witches, while at the same time they both discover some dark secrets about both their respective Families, their History and Town. Will all of this get in the way of their Love?
Warner Bros. releases Beautiful Creatures on Valentine’s Day. We have something v. special in-store for Readers. Stay tuned.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)
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