FIRST LOOK: "DJANGO UNCHAINED"

Still from Django Unchained

Here's your first look at Quentin Tarantino's much-talked-about Django Unchained, with its all-star Cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kerry Washington, Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz and Don Johnson. The Film sees Django (Foxx) sold as a Slave to Dentist Dr. King Schultz (Waltz), only to wind-up at a Plantation, where his Wife Broomhilda (Washington) is, working under the ruthless Calvin Candie (DiCaprio).

Foxx tells Entertainment Weekly recently, "There’s a beautiful way (Tarantino) found for the characters to talk to each other. It’s mindblowing. You’ve never heard it this way. You’ve seen movies deal with slavery — or westerns that never dealt with slavery – do it the safe way. This way is like … wow.".  "All Django wants to do is get his wife,” Foxx says. "He’s not trying to cure or solve Slavery. He just wants to get his life back.". Click here to read more Teasers.

Cannot wait to see what the never-disappointing Tarantino has up his sadistic little sleeves for us. Django Unchained hits theatres Christmas Day 2012!

(Photo credit: The Weinstein Co.)

WHO PARTIED WHERE AFTER THE GOLDEN GLOBES?

Uggie at The Weinstein Company's 2012 Golden Globes After Party

The Weinstein Company's 2012 Golden Globes After Party was the place to be last night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel! Everyone showed up including Winners Meryl Streep (Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama), Michelle Williams (Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Musical/Comedy), Kelsey Grammer (Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Drama), Jean Dujardin (Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Musical/Comedy). Even adorable Jack Russell Terrier Uggie, Star of The Artist arrived in a little Bowtie! OMG.

Alexander Skarsgård, Paris Hilton, Nicki Hilton, Katherine Heigl, Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, Ewan McGregor, Jeremy Irons, Kathy Griffin, Diddy, Gerard Butler, Thomas Jane and many more. The former Actress and Playboy Model known as Lindsay Lohan might even have walked the Red Carpet too...

Our Girl Kathleen Robertson who stars in Golden Globe-nominated Boss, celebrated her Co-star Grammer's Victory looking amaze in white!  We just chatted with her the other day - check it out.

Click here to see the Red Carpet Photos!

That can't possibly be all right?  Tilda Swinton, Charlize Theron, Orlando Bloom, Melissa McCarthy, Miranda Kerr, Emma Stone, Sofia Vergara, Kate Beckinsale, Amy Poehler, Jeremy Irvine, Jon Hamm, Jessica Alba, Heidi Klum, Tina Fey, Matt Leblanc, Jessica Chastain, Zooey Deschanel, Connie Britton, Paul Giamatti, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Viola Davis, Kim Kardashian and more were spotted at the glam InStyle and Warner Bros. 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards After Party.

DIRECTOR BAZ LUHRMAN CRACKS HEAD OPEN: HALTS PRODUCTION ON "THE GREAT GATSBY"

Still from The Great Gatsby

Ouch! Director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) has halted all production on his $125 million 3-D Spectacle The Great Gatsby, due in theatres next Christmas via Warner Bros.  The Aussie apparently had cracked his head on the weights on the end of a camera crane, resulting in Producers calling an early Christmas Holiday for the Cast (including Leonardo DiCaprio, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan) and Crew, whom are based currently in Sydney, Australia.

Read more about the incident in the Sydney Morning Herald.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

"J. EDGAR" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from J. Edgar

Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar gives us a glimpse at the little-known private life of a Public Figure who both was celebrated for his achievements in Law Enforcement and also despised for an ethically  questionable regime in his near-50 year reign as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States.

Leonardo DiCaprio steps-up to the challenge of playing a Man who is tough-as-nails in his all-consuming ambition to establish and protect his own Legacy in America. At the other end of the spectrum however, we see a Paradox. Eastwood portrays Hoover as an Man torn between his relentless drive to please his demanding Mother (Judi Dench), his secret relationship with second-in-line Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer) and his endless desire to be a Public Hero, which he will go at all lengths to become.  Does J. Edgar portray its Hero in a positive light?  No, not necessarily.  What we get here is an attempt to understand the psyche of an incredibly complex Hero who nobody really ever knew -  not his Lover, his trusted Secretary Helen (Naomi Watts) nor Himself for that matter.

We all know Dustin Lance Black's fantastic Screenwriting in 2008's Milk, but even he had his work cut-out for him with the challenge of covering the span of 50 years in the life of someone who in all honesty isn't that likable.   As is the case with any Biopic, everything traditionally culminates in a defining moment and despite hinting repeatedly at that to come, J. Edgar hangs anticlimactically. The frequent crisscrossing of time lines instead of punctuating important moments in Hoover's life, somewhat disrupts a natural flow. One moment we see a young, strapping Hoover as Hollywood Starlets are clawing to bed him; the next we doubt his mental well-being in his old age.  The most telling moment of all is when Hoover's world unravels late and I found myself feeling apathy versus sympathy and this is unfortunate.

EARLY "J. EDGAR" REVIEWS ARE MIXED

Official Artwork for J. Edgar

So you pair together Clint Eastwood, Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench, Armie Hammer and you get what clearly is an Oscar front-runner right?  Well, Critics seem to have their own say on the matter as shockingly Reviews for Eastwood's eye-opening Biopic about American Law Enforcement figure J. Edgar Hoover, disappointingly are mixed ...so far.

Variety wasn't fully impressed saying: "J. Edgar Hoover's mystique lies in the fact that while he kept meticulous files with compromising details on some of America's most powerful figures, nobody knew the man's own secrets. Therefore, any movie in which the longtime FBI honcho features as the central character must supply some insight into what made him tick, or suffer from the reality that the Bureau's exploits were far more interesting than the bureaucrat who ran it -- a dilemma J. Edgar never rises above.".

The Hollywood Reporter appeared to like it, calling the Film: "A surprising collaboration that tackles its trickiest challenges with plausibility and good sense, while s.erving up a simmeringly caustic view of its controversial subject's behavior, public and private."

Although it's still early, you can read some additional Reviews here.

I'll be reviewing J. Edgar mid-week and will be sure to let you know my thoughts...

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

LEONARDO DICAPRIO TOPS FORBES' HIGHEST-EARNING ACTORS LIST

Still from J Edgar

We already know who the Highest-Paid Actresses are according to Forbes, but they've now announced their list of Hollywood's five Highest-Earning Actors for the year ending May 1, 2011. 

 The Top Five are as follows:

BEN AFFLECK ALMOST CONFIRMED FOR "THE GREAT GATSBY 3-D"

Ben Affleck - TIFF 2010

Although I'm not quite sure how it's going to work in 3-D, Director Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is said to have lured its newest Cast member in Ben Affleck. 

The Actor/Director is said to almost be confirmed for the role of Tom Buchanan, Husband of Daisy (Carey Mulligan) in the Story. Also attached to the project so far are Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire.

 

Affleck seems to be thriving right now as a Director hot off the success of The Town, and is still in talks to direct Argo in Iran, which is based on the true story of the Hostage Crisis in Tehran in the late '70s.  Warner Bros. will be releasing both Argo and The Great Gatsby 3-D.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

LEONARDO DiCAPRIO & CLINT EASTWOOD TO TEAM ON J. EDGAR HOOVER BIOPIC

Clyde Tolson & J. Edgar Hoover

An exciting bit of news here. Clint Eastwood and Leonardo DiCaprio are teaming up together for the first time to make a Biopic about J. Edgar Hoover, the first ever Director to the Bureau of Investigation, eventually known as the FBI. Known mostly for his controversial tactics in obtaining evidence and directives, Hoover oversaw the investigation to John F. Kennedy's assassination.  He also was rumoured to have been romantically involved with his second-in-line, Clyde Tolson.

The Film, J. Edgar, is a Warner Bros. production and on that same note, Hoover served also as a consultant to that Company when required for research purposes during the '60s.

J. Edgar will star DiCaprio in the lead role of Hoover, while The Social Network's breakout star Armie Hammer will star as Tolson. Charlize Theron also will star in the project too which will soon begin production.  Dustin Lance Black who penned the amazing Oscar-winning Screenplay for Milk is attached also here.  Oscars Gold.

CAREY MULLIGAN CAST IN BAZ LUHRMANN'S "THE GREAT GATSBY"

Carey Mulligan at TIFF 2010

The kindest, most gracious and beautiful Carey Mulligan just received a bit of great news from Director Baz Luhrmann, who has cast her in the plum role of Daisy Buchanan in his upcoming big budget adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The groundbreaking Novel is a critique of the American Dream and inspired many other important films which also touched upon the topic, like Oscar-winning American Beauty.  It is said that Leonardo DiCaprio will be playing the role of Jay Gatsby.

Moulin Rouge Director Luhrmann also is reportedly in talks with the Creators of Glee to be a Guest Director on an a future episode after having approached Ryan Murphy recently about this; he is a huge fan fo the Show.

Carey Mulligan, A-Lister.  It's official.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

AMANDA SEYFRIED IN "RED RIDING HOOD"

Still from Red Riding Hood

Last night while reviewing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I saw the Official Trailer for Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried and it looks beautiful. Shot pretty much in the same style/tone as Twilight, Director Catherine Hardwicke appears to be applying a thing or two to this one.

The dark adaption of the classic story Rotkäppche by The Brothers Grimm looks sexy and terrifying, also boasting a cast that includes Virginia Madsen and Gary Oldman.  I can foresee this one actually doing rather well and with Leonardo DiCaprio's name listed as Executive Producer, how can this fail? Warner Bros. will be relasing Red Riding Hood, which hits theatres March 11, 2011.

In the meantime, while we're awaiting its release we'll have to settle for this little bite of Red Delicious below:

LEONARDO DICAPRIO ON AUGUST ISSUE OF ROLLING STONE

Leonardo DiCaprio is undisputedly at the head of the pack when it comes to this generation of Leading Men in Hollywood. And if you asked me in High School when I saw him on Growing Pains, whether or not I could ever have seen his longevity and success, I'd likely have raised an eyebrow at you.

DiCaprio sits down with Rolling Stone Magazine on their August issue and gets personal on matters of fame, relationships and reflects on his own career.

And yes, you're totally welcome for that photo. Anytime!  xx

(Photo credit: Mark Seliger/Rolling Stone)

INCEPTION REVIEW

Christopher Nolan's Inception isn't a film I can explain simply in a paragraph or so, but I will try my best to be concise. The concept of Inception involves entering one's dreams and planting thoughts into their mind. Extraction would involve going into one's dreams and taking their ideas. In the world where this film takes place, there is technology to do the latter, however whether or not the former can be done remains to be seen. 

Saito (Ken Watanabe) makes a deal with Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) to accomplish the mission of achieving Inception. That is, if Dom can help Saito destroy the inherited empire of Oil Tycoon Robert Fisher Jr. (Cillian Murphy) in planting distrust against his family, Saito can ensure that Dom is cleared of any charges against him.  Dom stands accused of murdering his wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) and constructs quite literally, a "Dream Team" to accomplish this mission.

The Team consists of Ariadne (Ellen Page), Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Eames (Tom Hardy) and Yusuf (Dileep Rao) who each serve a pivotal role in accomplishing the task of capturing Fisher Jr. and subjecting him to Inception. As the Team delves deeper into the Heir's subconscious via multiple tiers of Dreams, we also delve deeper also in the Dom's psyche too, getting bits and pieces of the mysterious circumstances behind Mal's death. Dom is driven to get back home to his two estranged children, driving him and his Team to complete the mission, but will the dark, suppressed thoughts of his mind divert their focus and lead to their downfall?

NEW INCEPTION POSTERS

I still have no bloody idea what this movie is about.  These just-released images of posters for Warner Bros.' Inception have just surfaced, among others with principal cast members.  I have yet to see one for Ellen Page though.  Fantastic art direction here, fitting in with the dramatic gray/blue hues we've seen earlier.  The title's red font gives an impending sense of urgency and danger.  Intriguing.  Cannot wait for this film.  In case you haven't yet entered, don't forget to e-mail me your entry for my exclusive Inception Poster Giveaway.

GIVEAWAY: INCEPTION MOVIE POSTER

I was invited to attend a Marketing Round Table tonight for Warner Bros.' Inception, which is coming out July 16, 2010 in North America and it was interesting going over possible television ads and additional posters for the film.  In all honesty, I still don't know what the film is about after the hour-long meeting other than Leonardo DiCaprio's character being able to enter people's minds through their dreams.  The general impression I get is that they are at a bit of a loss at how to creatively market this film.   Most of us were pretty much confused after seeing potential television spots as to what the film was about, despite appearing very intense and riveting.  The Agency was looking at the efficacy of social utility networks like Twitter and Facebook and we discussed previous public transit advertising strategies which were successful for films.

REVIEW: SHUTTER ISLAND

Martin Scorcese is simply in a league of his own.  He is a Master of gripping storytelling and once again, he has done it.  This this time with a considerably shorter film in Shutter Island.  The film is not his best work, but still a top-tier caliber achievement. 

Leonardo DiCaprio has very much become Scorcese's muse, starring in a string of four feature films by the director dating back to 2002's Gangs of New York.  DiCaprio plays Marshall Teddy Daniels, who at the beginning of the story is assigned to investigate a missing patient at a mental institution for the criminally insane, The Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital.  His wife Dolores (Michelle Williams) we learn, died in a fire at the hands of the man who is believed to be a patient at the institution.  After being made aware that the missing patient is located, he and his sidekick Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), become suspicious to whether or not they are being framed by the hospital's administration.  They believe they have been trapped in a secret plot which would result in their being used as experimental subjects under the hospital's questionable treatment programs (i.e. inducing of hallucinations through prescription drugs, lobotomies).

Teddy perpetually wanders off in different wards of the hospital, engaging in suspense-laced encounters with patients, adding more fuel to his paranoia.  He also keeps seeing his deceased wife, who speaks to him and urges him to escape the island.  He is obsessed with a lighthouse where the most dangerous patients are housed and lobotomies are performed and keeps gravitating towards it despite being aware of imminent danger.  Ultimately the audience is left with the question, of whether this is real or if this is all in his head.