RIO - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from RIO

The Creator of Ice Age, Carlos Saldanha, has done it again - this time in 3-D with his latest Animated Feature, RIO. Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rare Macaw Bird, who has been domesticated by his Owner Linda (Leslie Mann) in Minneapolis after she had found him in a box rolled-off a truck. Upon having it brought to her attention by Ornithologist Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) that Blu's species is in danger of becoming extinct, he and Linda make their way to Rio de Janero, where he is to mate with beautiful and free-spirited Jewel (Anne Hathaway).

Before long, both Blu and Jewel are kidnapped by a team of greedy Poachers. They are terrorized by tyrannous Watch Bird Nigel (Jemaine Clement), but manage to escape. One catch though - Blu does not know how to fly and after having been captured, both he and Jewel are bound together by chains. Together they find themselves on the wildest adventure of their lives with the help of their Friends Rafael (George Lopez), Nico (Jamie Foxx) and Pedro (will.i.am) who protect them from the Poachers and Nigel. Will Blu and Jewel manage to stay free of their Captors? Will Linda and Blu ever unite again? And above all, will this species of Blue Macaw birds become extinct forever?

On the rare occasion, I take the time to review an Animated Feature as admittedly it isn't a favourite genre of mine. RIO however, truly exceeded my expectations through and through.  Visually, it is a spectacle with enough vivacity, depth and detailing to make any Brazilian proud to call this Film their own - even with all the Urban North American-isms found throughout its Script.  RIO's multi-layered story line is told clearly and the heart it possesses underneath it all is palpable. Its ambition to educate our Children on the dangers of Extinction is expressed and understood, while packaged in the universality of a Love Story between a Bird and his Owner, and also that Bird and another.

If there was any doubt of Blu's visceral appeal as a Hero, a Child attending my Screening in tears had cried out "Blu!!!!!" as the Macaw had to fight his biggest challenge yet against his Captors.  My general rule of thumb is that Children rarely lie and perhaps that Child's sentiments also could be felt throughout the Theatre, although suppressed by the inhibitions that come with Age.

WIN A "RIO" PRIZE PACK

From the creators of Ice Age comes an animated 3-D Musical about two almost-extinct Macaw Birds, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway). The two are brought together in Rio de Janero but kidnapped soon after. After managing to escape from a pair of greedy Poachers who are looking to sell them off, the two Birds find themselves on the wildest adventure of their lives!

RIO features the voices of George Lopez, Leslie Mann, Jamie Foxx, Wanda Sykes, Tracy Morgan and Bebel Gilberto. Released through Fox, you won't want to miss RIO when it hits Theatres on April 15, 2011!

VANITY FAIR MARCH 2011 HOLLYWOOD ISSUE COVER

March 2011 Cover of Vanity Fair

Could this Photo get any hotter?  Norman Jean Roy shot this year's eagerly-anticipated Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue Cover and is it ever a sight to see.  Roy managed to bring together: Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, James Franco, Jennifer Lawrence, Anthony Mackie, Olivia Wilde, Jesse Eisenberg, Mila Kunis, Robert Duvall, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Andrew Garfield, Rashida Jones, Garrett Hedlund and Noomi Rapace together in this Keeper of a Cover.

Click here to read more about the Behind-the-Scenes details of this Shoot.

The March issue of Vanity Fair hits newsstands later this month.  Must grab.

(Photo credit: Norman Jean Roy/Vanity Fair)

MARK ZUCKERBERG AND JESSE EISENBERG UNITE ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE"

Mark Zuckerberg, Jesse Eisenberg & Andy Samberg on SNL

It happened!  Facebook Co-founder Mark Zuckerberg did make an appearance on tonight's episode of Saturday Night Live after all as rumoured.  Jesse Eisenberg played Host after only last week garnering his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Zuckerberg in David Fincher's The Social Network.  

Apparently Eisenberg and Zuckerberg have never met, but they were united on-stage for the first time along with cast member Andy Samberg who was dressed also as Zuckerberg.  Yes, count 'em - three Zuckerbergs.  Eisenberg played up the awkwardness of the moment after Zuckerberg revealed he has indeed seen the Best Picture candidate.

"W" MAGAZINE'S BEST PERFORMANCES OF THE YEAR PORTRAITS

Natalie Portman in W Magazine

I quite literally screamed when I saw these Photos.  Lynn Hirschenberg sits down with  the major Oscar contenders of 2011 in the February issue of W Magazine with stunning Photography by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.  The Photos are astounding.  

Interestingly we learn that my new favourite Natalie Portman is a huge fan of Dirty Dancing admitting, "I always loved Penny, probably because I was really like Baby. I was a Jewish girl from a Jewish family, so of course I liked the tall, skinny blond girl.”

Jeff Bridges reveals shockingly that he is a huge fan of the quirky Gay-themed Comedy Chuck & Buck, telling Hirschenberg, "I thought the best performance of the last decade was Mike White in Chuck & Buck.  I dug that performance."

STARS ARRIVE AT "THE SOCIAL NETWORK" DVD LAUNCH

Jesse Eisenberg and Aaron Sorkin

In-stores on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, David Fincher's The Social Network held a DVD Launch Party in Beverly Hills yesterday. Most of the principal cast members including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Brenda Song, Armie Hammer and Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin showed-up to promote the Movie which will be available in Standard Two-Disc and Blu-Ray editions.

Seen above being.... social are Sorkin and Eisenberg, both up for Oscars consideration for their respective categories.

Zimbio has lots of great Photos from the event here.

(Photo credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

"THE SOCIAL NETWORK" SET FOR JANUARY 11, 2011 RELEASE

The Social Network DVD

Mark your calendars!  Timed perfectly for the Oscars voting period, David Fincher's The Social Network will see a DVD release here in North America on January 11, 2011 via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  The current frontrunner in the race for Best Picture follows a strategy similar to that of Paul Haggis' Crash, which was released theatrically ahead of Awards season and timed also with a DVD release right around the crucial voting period.  The Film went on to win Best Picture in 2006 over favoured Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee).

The Social Network's release mid-January would be beneficial in numerous ways in that all the buzz it is getting right now will be great of Sales and Rentals of the Film.  At the same time, the frequent advertising and mentioning of its release would aid in its cause for staying visible in the 6,000+ Academy Voters' collective consciousness.

Crafty/sneaky or whatever you like to call it - I'm so up for owning this one on DVD.  Can't wait to watch the abundance of Featurettes on the Two-Disc edition of the DVD, including a full-length Documentary about the making of the The Social Network, its Scoring and Commentary with Fincher & Cast.

THE NEW YORK TIMES' ACTORS WHO DEFINED CINEMA IN 2010

Vincent Cassel in The New York Times

I look forward to this every year! The New York Times has just published their annual Photos of The Actors Who Defined Cinema in 2010 and as expected, the Black & White Portraits are stunning.

Among those photographed by The New York Times' Solve Sundsbo this year are the likes of James Franco, Natalie Portman, Jesse Eisenberg, Vincent Cassel, Annette Bening, Javier Bardem, Matt Damon and more.  My favourite is the above Gene Kelly-like shot of Cassel.

Click here to see the complete series of Portraits or purchase Sunday's edition of The New York Times which includes a free Magazine with these photos.  Portman will be gracing its Cover in case you needed that extra incentive.

I know I don't own these Photos, but I can't help posting a couple more of my favourites because I love them so much!

CAST OF "THE SOCIAL NETWORK" HONOURED AT HOLLYWOOD AWARDS GALA

The Social Network's Rashida Jones, Josh Pence, Jesse Eisenberg,
,Justin Timberlake, Max Minghella and Andrew Garfield

Congratulations to the cast of David Fincher's The Social Network who were honoured at the Beverly Hilton last night for the 14th annual Hollywood Awards Gala.  And Awards season still hasn't begun yet! The Actors won the  Ensemble Acting Award and my guess is that they're likely to win the Screen Actor's Guild Award for Best Ensemble Cast on Sunday, January 30, 2011 too.

Other Actors honoured last night include:

JESSE EISENBERG & OLIVIA WILDE AT TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Our dear friend MiT is having a blast at the Tokyo International Film Festival this weekend and she managed to get some exclusive photos of Jesse Eisenberg, star of The Social Network and Olivia Wilde, star of TRON: Legacy 3-D at their Press Conferences. Amazing work, MiT!  More photos to follow.  Send her some positive vibes in her Starhunting!  Enjoy below:

 (Photo credit: Mr. Will-W. via MiT)

THE SOCIAL NETWORK REVIEW

Although I was a bit devastated that David Fincher's (Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) The Social Network didn't do the rounds at TIFF this year, it was just as rewarding attending an advanced screening of it and I can say that it very much lives up to the hype surrounding it.  

The story criss-crosses different stages of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's hands-on and meticulous involvement in the crafting of the world's favourite social networking website up to his  documented legal battles over the legitimacy of his title as its Founder. Turning Facebook into the $25 billion empire that it is today did not come without its share of Drama.  The limits of true friendship and loyalty are put to the most rigorous test when fortune divides best friends Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield).  Zuckerberg's integrity also is challenged further with  wealthy twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (Armie Hammer and Josh Pence) fighting for an entitlement to the fortune in having commissioned him to assist in the creation of a project which wound up spiraling and veering off into the opus of Facebook as we know it. 

VIDEO: THE SOCIAL NETWORK (AKA THE FACEBOOK MOVIE) TRAILER

"You don't get to 500 million friends.... without making a few enemies first."

Although I had my hesitations about The Social Network, buzzed originally as The Facebook Movie, this trailer was brought to my attention by my friend Yen and it looks intriguing, yes?

The David Fincher film recounts the whole creative process that went into creating the world's favourite social utility site, but it definitely didn't come to fruition without its share of Drama it appears. The film will be released via Sony/Columbia Pictures on October 1, 2010. Crossing fingers this one gets a screening at TIFF too.  Love lead actor Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland, The Squid and The Whale)!!!