"THE VOW" DEBUTS #1 AT BOX OFFICE: RECORD-BREAKING WEEKEND HEADLINED BY CANADIANS

Still from The Vow

Lovers and Movie Lovers alike united at the Box Office this weekend, with not one - but four - films opening to huge numbers. This marks the first time four opening releases have opened with numbers exceeding the $20 million mark. Overall, receipts for the Top Ten are expected to tally in-excess of $169 million, which is a 25% increase over last year's numbers according to Deadline. What makes it even more special is that the Top Three Films all have strong Canadian connections.

Debuting at the top of the pack though is Sony Pictures' Romantic-Drama The Vow starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, with an impressive $41 million from 2,958 theatres. Of McAdams' last five Films, three have now debuted at the top including her work in the Sherlock Holmes Franchise. She filmed this latest chart-topper in Toronto, where she still currently resides.

Following closely in second is Safe House, starring Denzel Washington and Canada's Ryan Reynolds with great $39 million opening for Universal Pictures, opening in 3,119 theatres, just ahead of yet another Film with Canadian connections, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3-D from Warner Bros.  The Adventure/Fantasy was directed by Brad Peyton of Gander, Newfoundland and earns a stellar $27 million domestically. Overseas, it already has made $41.5 million.

Star Wars Fans showed their support for the 3-D re-release of Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, taking-in $23 million for 20th Century Fox - enough to land it in fourth spot. While another release from the Company, Chronicle slips to fifth after opening in the number one spot last weekend with $12 million.

The Woman in Black in its second week, slips to sixth spot with $10.4 million, although it has yet to open overseas where it should perform well.   Meanwhile, The Descendants is still going strong in ninth spot with $3.4 million for Fox Searchlight - now in its 13th week of release.  Former champ, Underworld: Awakening 3-D rounds out the Top Ten with $2.5 million.

"THE VOW": IN THEATRES THIS WEEKEND!

Mr. Will-W.  with Rachel McAdams, Scott Speedman & Channing Tatum

With Box Office forecasts expecting it to open upwards of $30 million this Valentine's Weekend in North America for Sony Pictures, Toronto-filmed The Vow likely will be taking top spot at the Box Office in its debut.  The Romantic-Drama starring Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum and Scott Speedman is expected to attract a Female-heavy audience and with that, it is expected there may be a reluctant Boyfriend/Husband or two tagging along, either voluntarily or involuntarily. More the latter.

Will you be going to see it?  I definitely will be dragging a few Friends out! Rather excited about it, actually.  Any Film which can use Meatloaf's I Would Do Anything for Love and make a car accident out of it, has already won a major victory in my books.

Let's watch the Trailer for The Vow again and cry together:

And in case you need a reminder why Moviegoers won't be able to resist Rachel McAdams this weekend, watch her superb Audition with Ryan Gosling for The Notebook below:

GENA ROWLANDS AT TORONTO'S TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX

Gena Rowlands

Two-time Academy Award nominee and Screen Legend Gena Rowlands is currently in Toronto partaking in the TIFF Bell Lightbox In Conversation With ... series.  The venue currently is hosting a Retrospective in honour of her late Husband, Director John Cassavetes, which sees her both introducing A Woman Under the Influence for which she received an Academy Award nomination in 1975, and also Friday evening for Faces.

Rowlands arrived dressed in a bright Fuschia jacket over a black top and pants, looking absolutely vivacious at a young 81 years of age. One audience member @tatianna tells me that Rowlands revealed she originally was not cast in the 1980 film Gloria, for which she went on to receive an Academy Award nomination.  It was not until Rowlands was asked to play the Lead Actress role by Columbia Pictures that her Husband John was then given the opportunity to direct the Film.

MICHAEL SHEEN AT "HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2" PREMIERE IN TORONTO

Michael Sheen in Toronto - July 2011

The talented Michael Sheen definitely needs to introduction to Toronto, having spent last Summer  here filming Julia Roberts production Jesus Henry Christ. Although we're still waiting to hear whether or not the Film will premiere at TIFF this September, Sheen has been in the City for the past few weeks visiting Girlfriend Rachel McAdams.

It was Family first tonight as those attending the Toronto Premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 were surprised to see him arrive together with Ex-Partner of nine years Kate Beckinsale and their daughter Lily, who was dressed festively for the occasion.  Beckinsale as we all know, is here filming Husband Len Wiseman's Total Recall Reboot and the stars aligned perfectly in their schedules tonight. Despite no longer being together, the former Couple are said to remain close Friends.  McAdams it is confirmed, was not present this evening.

FIRST TRAILER FOR "THE VOW" STARRING RACHEL MCADAMS & CHANNING TATUM

Still from The Vow

If this doesn't melt your heart, I don't know what will. Shot in Toronto last Summer, The Vow by Director Michael Sucsy now has a release date set for February 14, 2012 via Sony Pictures and it actually looks great!

Watch the just-released Trailer below:

PRAISE FOR "SLEEPING BEAUTY" AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Still from Sleeping Beauty

Andrew O’Hehir at Salon is one of the first to review Julia Leigh’s Sleeping Beauty which is getting a tremendous amount of buzz at the Cannes Film Festival. In the Review, he calls the Australian Film “a strikingly impressive debut”. 

The Toronto International Film Festival’s Cameron Bailey who would is on the look-out to being titles over to Toronto this September, noted on Twitter that “Realized I watched SLEEPING BEAUTY through feminist film theory goggles, but others didn't.” – meaning he “got” it, despite mixed reactions. I’m expecting this one to get a Premiere at TIFF, seeing that Producer Jane Campion has a good relationship with the Festival and that TIFF is never shy of avoiding controversial titles.

"MIDNIGHT IN PARIS" WINS RAVES AT CANNES

Still from Midnight in Paris

They love it! Woody Allen's new Film Midnight in Paris with an all-star Cast of Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Marion Cotillard and more, just premiered as the opening night Gala at the Cannes Film Festival.

Thus far, reactions seem to be positive. Todd McCarthy at The Hollywood Reporter calls the Film "as beguiling as a stroll around Paris on a warm spring evening" and Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere states that it is a "relatively minor piece that works very well by way of charm and humour". Lookin' good! 

Yes, this is the Film responsible for McAdams and Sheen meeting and falling in love!

Midnight in Paris opens in theatres through Sony Pictures Classics May 20, 2011.

See Photos from its Press Conference held earlier today right here at Zimbio.

(Photo credit: Sony Pictures Classics)

RACHEL MCADAMS AND MICHAEL SHEEN DATING?

It was reported that during TIFF a couple weeks ago that McAdams was at the premiere of Shawn Ku's Beautiful Boy starring Sheen, which already struck me as odd.  But my Tipsters are dropping a line to tell me now that both McAdams and Sheen were seen together last night at the Bell Lightbox as part of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche festivities. Sheen I can reassure you, is not in-town filming anything right now, so unless they are v. good friends who really just like flying back and forth to see each other, I think there might be some validity to the rumour.

Now if it were true, this would be amazingly positive news and I'm sure nobody would have the slightest objection.  Two truly wonderful people who are a perfect match... as lovers...  or just friends!

You can follow me on Twitter here.

RACHEL MCADAMS AND CHANNING TATUM ON THE SET OF THE VOW IN TORONTO

Rachel McAdams & Mr. Will-W.

Canada's sweetheart Rachel McAdams, as many of you are aware, is back in her hometown of Toronto shooting Michael Sucsy's The Vow. Although we've seen plenty of her handsome co-star Channing Tatum around town, McAdams has been pretty low-key. There have been only been a few Twitter reports of McAdams these past couple weeks riding her Bike through Yorkville, or going out for a stroll in Kensington Market.

I went by this evening to visit the set of The Vow in the city's Financial District, where they were taking advantage of the reduced traffic with it being Labour Day. McAdams looked absolutely gorgeous sporting a red-haired wig and a navy blue dress, heading back and forth between her Trailer and the Set. And thanks to a wonderful sweetheart on the Crew, I was lucky enough to chat with the talented actress and snap a photo together before she headed out for the day. 

Upon being escorted under an Umbrella, she was all smiles coming over to greet a few young ladies also who were waiting earlier in the day and myself.  I gave McAdams a big hug and told her how proud I was of her and how much she's accomplished; graciously she accepted the compliment appearing genuinely touched and appreciative.   I did express my excitement to see her next projects: Morning Glory (opposite Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford) and Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. The latter just wrapped-up a couple weeks ago and it seems she didn't get much of a breather between films. And of course, we both giggled about how much we love Allen, but she did whisper to me that unfortunately he'll only be here for a few hours this Sunday for his TIFF Gala for You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. Could this possibly be a hint that we'll see McAdams there too?  

CHANNING TATUM ARRIVES IN TORONTO TO TAKE "THE VOW"

Temperatures sure have been dipping in Toronto of late, but things just suddenly got a little lot hotter.  Alabama-born Channing Tatum arrived in Toronto last night to prepare for his role in Michael Sucsy's next film The Vow, in which he stars alongside Canada's sweetheart Rachel McAdams.  The film, which centers around a couple who get into a serious car accident, with one of them then losing their memory, was originally slated to begin filming at the beginning of August.  McAdams however, has been busy in France filming Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, pushing production back to the end of the month.

Tatum was all smiles, coming over to say "hi" and pose for a few photos, before heading off to a work-related meeting. He was engaged in a conversation on his Bluetooth Headpiece, but had the courtesy of ending the conversation before coming over, telling his friend that he'd catch up later.  He even asked a small group of fans to make sure their photos turned out before heading off.  Aww.

The former Model and self-admitted Exotic Dancer, was seen out having drinks last night in Yorkville at Hemingway's where Seth Rogen was also seen at a couple weeks ago.  No sign though of Tatum's lovely wife, actress Jenna Dewan.  The Vow is scheduled to film in and around the city until October 22, 2010.   Clearly, timed in celebration of my birthday!

Check out some photos I got of the strapping Tatum below:

RACHEL MCADAMS FILMING IN PARIS

Canada's Sweetheart Rachel McAdams is currently in Paris filming Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris and she is seen here reuniting with missing-in-action Owen Wilson after last being seen together in the 2005 hit The Wedding Crashers.  The film with an all-star cast including Michael Sheen (!), Kathy Bates, Marion Cotillard (!) and many more, is about a young American couple who travel to Paris and realize that the grass might actually be greener on the other side of the Atlantic.

Allen, Cotillard and McAdams are all scheduled to be in the city this September during TIFF. Perhaps we might see them out and about partying with one another?

Well, one thing's for sure - McAdams better hurry back as she's scheduled to start filming in Toronto next week alongside Hunk-of-the-Masses Channing Tatum, for upcoming project The Vow!  The Sony Screen Gems drama is about a young couple who get into a tragic car accident, with one of them experiencing severe memory loss.  Expect a "sighting" here soon.

(Photo credit: Fame Pictures/Pacific Coast News Online)

REVIEW: SHERLOCK HOLMES

Director Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes is tons of fun.  And that  means a lot considering I'm not big on action-type films.  The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adaptation centers around fast-acting, quick-thinking Detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) in pursuit of Black Magic-practicing serial killer Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong).  Holmes is aided by sidekick Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) and love interest Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) who is caught between her personal and professional interests as she is hired to destroy Holmes.  After thinking that he has aided in Blackwood's capture and subsequent punishment by execution, we learn that he isn't dead really.  The second time around isn't nearly as easy for Holmes as Blackwood pulls out all the stops in his conquest to create a new world order.

Ritchie, together with screenwriters Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg effectively take a classic and transform it into a big-budget contemporary context.  Downey Jr.'s Holmes is not the same Sherlock Holmes I would have envisioned based on what I've read.  In this film, he is a sexy superhero who is all-knowing, but faltering into a bumbling fool when it comes to love and Downey Jr. plays this to perfection.  He can fight as well physically as he can with reason and logic.

The playful brotherly chemistry between him and Law is electric, making what should otherwise be a dark story, comical in all the right spots.  McAdams unfortunately is miscast as the American temptress and never really quite hits her best stride. And I appreciate the closed loops in storytelling as subplots like Watson's romance with governess Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly) are given just the right amount of detail.  And let's not forget Philippe Rousselot's breathtaking cinematography, especially in the film's final action scene between Holmes and Blackwood over the Thames River.