STARLETS GRACE RED CARPET AT 2012 MET BALL

Hilary Swank, Dakota Fanning, Amy Adams, Emma Stone & Ginnifer Goodwin at 2012 Met Ball

The Schiaparellli and Prada: Impossibly Conversations Costume Institute Gala was held tonight in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's bringing together Fashion, Art and Starlets on the Red Carpet. Unlike many other Red Carpets throughout the year, this Evening lauds Fashion risks. It's not only about being glamorous, it's about making a statement and being bold.

After perusing some of the beautiful choices made tonight, I must say I am most in-love with Amy Adams in Giambattista Valli Couture. Pure, classic elegance.  Emma Stone never disappoints and looked super-cute in a short Lanvin Number - a proud display of red. Ginnifer Goodwin has hit her best stride at last, rocking her Pixie Cut and a tangerine Monique Lhuillier Gown.  Hilary Swank looked absolutely stunning in  a red Michael Kors Piece, showing us an even softer side of her than ever before; classic Hollywood.  Dakota Fanning also not only looked perfect, but age-appropriate in Louis Vuitton.  Amaze.

Tonight's Gala was chaired by Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, Actress Carey Mulligan and Designer Miuccia Prada.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

ENTER TO WIN A "NEW YEAR'S EVE" MOVIE PRIZE PACK

New Year's Eve Official Artwork

Sofia Vergara. Ashton Kutcher. Michelle Pfeiffer. Lea Michele. Jessica Biel. Hilary Swank. Sarah Jessica Parker. Josh Duhamel. Katherine Heigl. Abigail Breslin. Zac Efron. Jon Bon Jovi. Robert De Niro. Alyssa Milano. What do all these Stars have in common?

Well, they all star in the Holiday Opus known as New Year's Eve from Director Garry Marshall.  The mega-Romantic Comedy, which tells the heartwarming stories of various Couples in New York City, opens in theatres December 9, 2011. Warner Bros. & Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven want to give you a chance to win a New Year's Eve Prize Pack, which includes the following:

2 Champagne Flutes

2 Party Favours

1 New Year's Recovery Kit

1 Ice Bag

2 Tins of Breath Mints

1 Jumbo Tote Bag

1 Pair of Run-of-Engagement Passes to see New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve Prize Pack

To qualify for the win, click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook or Retweet the following: RT @MRWILLW wants me to win a "NEW YEAR'S EVE" Movie Prize Pack.  http://tinyurl.com/7sc5zuc #MRWILLNYE  

Your deadline is December 8, 2011.  Toronto area Readers only, please.  Winners are responsible for pick-up.

Watch the Trailer for New Year's Eve:

INTERVIEW: ABIGAIL BRESLIN ON "NEW YEAR'S EVE"

Abigail Breslin

Director Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries) won over Moviegoers at the Box Office with 2009's megastar Opus Rom-Com Valentine's Day and is now ready to unleash his latest effort, New Year's Eve. The Movie intertwines the Love Stories of various New Yorkers, all leading up to the annual Ball Drop at Times Square. What defines this Film ultimately is its stellar Cast including headlining names like Hilary Swank, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry, Ashton Kutcher, John Lithgow, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel and its youngest Star, Abigail Breslin. The now-15 year-old Actress at the age of seven became the fourth youngest Actress ever to be nominated for the prestigious Oscar with her Breakout Role as Olive in Little Miss Sunshine.

Breslin, flying into Toronto from her hometown of New York City, sat down to chat with a small group of Journalists about her role as the rebellious Hailey in New Year's Eve.  This counts as her third collaboration with Marshall whom she likens to being "like a Grandpa" to her. Hailey's Storyline is about a 15 year-old Girl who sneaks-out on New Year's Eve to be with a Boy named Seth (Jake T. Austin) against the wishes of her watchful Mother Kate (Sarah Jessica Parker).

I asked Breslin what it was like bonding with iconic Sex and the City Star Parker to create a believable Mother-Daughter relationship. Believe it or not, Reality Television brought them together. She tells me, "It was a cold one-week April shoot, but we talked a lot about American Idol during filming and the whole 'who got voted off' thing.  It was fun!".  

Hailey at the price of rebellion gets her heart broken and I asked in real life how Breslin would handle seeing a Boy she likes kissing another Girl.  After pondering it, she says  "It's a tricky situation, so in real life I get where she's coming from.".  Demonstrating true holiday spirit in forgiveness, Breslin says "Seth is a good Guy in the Movie so I'd cut him a little slack in real life.".

Many wonder how Breslin can balance her thriving Acting Career and also just being a 15 year-old Girl.  The Actress currently is enrolled in Online High School, admitting at heart she's a "ten year-old boy", multitasking her affection for Computer Games (Oyunlar 1 is her favourite website) and Studies.  When she is with her Friends she states, "We never really talk about my Career. We mostly talk about Clothes and Guys and stuff like that.".  Breslin also credits her Mother Kim - her Manager - for helping her stay grounded clearly and organized, traveling with her when she films and Press Tours. "Once I get home from filming, I do regular things like clean my room and take the dogs out".

NEW TRAILER FOR "NEW YEAR'S EVE"

 "There's nothing like New Year's Eve in New York City.".

While we're waiting on the official Artwork for Warner Bros.' New Year's Eve from Director Garry Marshall, let us feast our eyes on this just-released Trailer for the All-star Cast Rom-Com.  Following the same formula as last year's Box Office hit Valentine's Day also from the same Studio, this forthcoming release follows the intertwined stories of various New Yorkers leading up to that one big night in the year where we let go of the unhappy and ring in new hopes and aspirations.

The Cast of New Year's Eve is extraordinary: Zac Efron, Sarah Jessica Parker, Yeardley Smith, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank, Lea Michele, Ashton Kutcher, Josh Duhamel, Jessica Biel, Katherine Heigl, Robert De Niro, Sofia Vergara, Abigail Breslin, Halle Berry, Alyssa Milano, Ludacris, Sienna Miller, Ryan Seacrest, Seth Meyers, Ludacris, Russell Peters and Jon Bon Jovi are some of the names seen.  Kutcher to clarify, does not play the same character he did in Valentine's Day.

New Year's Eve opens in theatres December 8, 2011.  Although I didn't particularly enjoy Valentine's Day for the same reason I don't usually enjoy movies with All-star Casts, as their stories often are written too thinly, I'd be willing to walk in with a clean slate on this one!

Watch the Trailer in full below:

INTERVIEW: COLIN EGGLESFIELD ON "SOMETHING BORROWED"

Colin Egglesfield

Colin Egglesfield might be familiar to many of you for his Television work on series like ABC's All My Children or The CW Network's Melrose Place, but he also is a burgeoning Film Star.  Sitting down to chat with me at his Yorkville Hotel on the Toronto stop-off of his Press Tour for Rom-Com Something Borrowed, the first thing he noticed when walking in the room was the temperature. "Wow, it's freezing in here", prompting his Publicist to adjust the temperature on the Thermostat of the Kitchen-equipped Suite.  Dressed in a gray Blazer and a Black Button-down (collar undone), his piercing blue eyes instantly ring of a strange familiarity.  A younger Tom Cruise, perhaps?  You bet.

One might wonder how it is that an Actor relatively unknown to Moviegoers had caught the attention of Executive Producers Molly Smith (P.S. I Love You) and Oscar-winning Hilary Swank, together looking to adapt Emily Giffin's New York Times Best Selling Novel.  Egglesfield revealed that Casting for the Luke Greenfield (The Girl Next Door) project was a one-month process. Despite Studio Executives being reluctant initially to give the Leading Role of the $40 million Film to an Actor unfamiliar, it partly was Swank's insistence which got him the coveted role of Dex over seven other Actors in-contention.  "Who is this guy?", Swank demanded to know after seeing Egglesfield's initial Casting Tape. The role of Dex has the Actor playing a Man torn between his love for soon-to-be Wife Darcy (Kate Hudson) and her Best Friend Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin).

Egglesfield tells me about his experience working with A-listers Hudson and Goodwin and how their approaches vary somewhat.  After getting to know each other during initial Chemistry Tests, both he and Goodwin had one week to get to know each other over Dinners prior to Filming. "There was a lot of relationship talk between us and I think we had a good  understanding of one another as our personalities are quite similar", he says.  Hudson he recalls, "just showed up and asked 'So what are we doing?'.  She is lots of fun and spontaneous. For her I had to wear my Improv Hat in order to make our scenes as real as possible.".

NATALIE PORTMAN WINS AT SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS

Hilary Swank & Natalie Portman at 17th Annual SAG Awards

Yes!  Two of my favourites together at last.  Natalie Portman and Hilary Swank exchange greetings on the Red Carpet at tonight's Screen Actor's Guild Awards in Los Angeles.  Portman dressed in Azzaro and over $2 million in jewels from Tiffany & Co. showed off that growing Baby Bump loud and proud.  Swank opted for Versace in a colour she really should be seen in more often.

Of course, Portman won Best Actress for Black Swan in her first-ever SAG nomination in the category, beating out previous Winner Swank for Conviction.  The top honour of Best Ensemble Cast Award went to Tom Hooper's The King's Speech, including Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter.  The Film has displayed a stunning late kick this Awards season, possibly overthrowing The Social Network as the favourite for Best Picture at the Oscars late February.

 For a complete list of Winners, click here.  Check out more Photos from tonight's Red Carpet over at Zimbio (Tip: you must see Mila Kunis' Alexander McQueen number).

(Photo credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

17TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Still from The Fighter

Nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards have just been announced and perhaps this is a better indication of what's to come for the Oscars than the randomness of Monday's Golden Globe nominees.  Honouring the v. best performances in Television and Film, the SAGs will air Sunday, January 30, 2011 on TBS.

The Fighter ties The King's Speech in leading all nominees with four nods each. Surprisingly, The Social Network only earned two nominations this time - Oustanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture and Oustanding Performance by an Actor in Leading Role in a Motion Picture.

Both Robert Duvall for Get Low and Jeff Bridges for True Grit finally get some recognition this Awards season in the category of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role alongside favourites Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network, Colin Firth for The King's Speech and James Franco for 127 Hours.

HILARY SWANK AT PREMIERE OF CONVICTION IN BEVERLY HILLS

Hilary Swank at Premiere of Conviction

Check out Hilary Swank rockin' the Chanel at the Bevery Hills premiere of Tony Goldwyn's Conviction, not coincidentally held at Samuel Goldwyn Theatre.

Although I'm no Make-up Expert, I must say that the green glittery eye make-up isn't photographing well - it probably looked much better in-person. Loving her fashion sense though as she is taking more risks since winning that second Oscar for Million Dollar Baby and becoming single.

I saw the film at TIFF last month and loved it. If you haven't checked out my review and pics from the Toronto Premiere, by clicking here. Conviction gets released (pardon the pun) October 15, 2010.

MR. WILL-W.'S TIFF 2010 BEST-OF LISTS

Nicole Kidman for Rabbit
Hole at TIFF

TIFF 2010 has been wonderful and the last day of the Festival is always bittersweet for me.  After ten days of sheer madness, the normalcy once again is always welcome and for one, I'm sure my dog Billy will appreciate seeing me home more.  And I'm sure my waistline will appreciate it again too as all I've been eating on the go are Hot Dogs (you've never had a Hot Dog until you've had a Toronto Hot Dog), Pastries, Order-at-the-counter Chinese and Starbucks.

Reflecting on my favourite highlights is always a challenge, but this year in particular is difficult to extract from as the first few days of the Festival were extraordinarily concentrated with action, that  surely amidst the madness I might have missed the buzz on some amazing films (i.e. Clint Eastwood's Hereafter) and actors in town.  But if I were to make a few selections, I would narrow it down as follows:





MR. WILL-W.'S TOP FILMS OF TIFF 2010

1. Rabbit  Hole 

2. Black Swan

3. Blue Valentine

4. The Debt

5. 127 Hours

James Franco for 127 Hours

MR. WILL-W.'S GREATEST GUYS OF TIFF 2010

1. James Franco

2. Sam Worthington

3. Ryan Reynolds

4. Ryan Gosling

5. Michael Sheen

INSTYLE MAGAZINE CONVICTION TIFF PARTY

Below are just a few of the faces seen tonight at the InStyle Magazine Party for Tony Goldwyn's Conviction. Just after midnight Betty Ann Waters, whom the movie is based upon, could be seen stumbling onto the street inebriated completely, before she and her friends were loaded onto an SUV to head off to Queen Street hotspot Sweaty Betty's for drinks. How fitting.

Aaron Eckhart

Jon Hamm, Jennifer Westfeldt

Justin Long

A separate SUV came prior to load what would be a star-studded ride including Hilary Swank, Justin Long, Juliette Lewis, Sam Rockwell and Tony Goldwyn.  As always, Lewis was out-of-it.  But hey, it's a party!  Hopefully she'll be coherent for her 9 AM Press Conference for the film.  

And of course Aaron Eckhart was a complete surprise as were Mad Men star Jon Hamm and his partner Jennifer Westfeldt.  Hamm is one of those people who I just seem to have no Photo-luck with, first accidentally deleting a perfectly lovely shot of him from Friday at The Town's Press Conference and now after taking a perfect photo together, it turned out that our photo was blurry!  Help!  I need a Photoshop Doctor.  This is an emergency!!  

HILARY SWANK CONVICTION TIFF Q&A VIDEO

As posted yesterday, I had attended the world premiere of Tony Goldwyn's Conviction and here's a clip of the Q&A I recorded where the Director discusses his casting choices.  You can also see how amazing Hilary Swank looked also!

HILARY SWANK AT TIFF PREMIERE OF CONVICTION (REVIEW & PICS)

Hilary Swank & Mr. Will-W.

One of the films I looked forward to seeing most at TIFF 2010 is Tony Goldwyn's Conviction, formerly know as Betty Ann Waters. Let's face it though - its parallels to Erin Brokovich are undeniable: unlikely woman hero defeats the legal system with hard work, love in her heart and undying.... conviction.  The film received its world premiere earlier today at the VISA Screening Room.

The film stars double-Oscar winner Hilary Swank as a single mother with a waitressing job who put herself through Law School to have her innocent older brother Kenneth (Sam Rockwell) released from prison. He was serving a life sentence for a murder he did not commit. It sounds unbelievable, but it really happened.

Although the film doesn't quite soar to the same tearily emotional you-can-do-it heights The Blind Side did, it is a satisfying journey and an eye-opening portrait of how many changes have been made in  the Legal system and the impact DNA identification has had on it.

Swank rarely disappoints despite having taken a few missteps lately like Black Dahlia and Amelia, but she is back in familiar territory again here as a tortured soul with a fighting spirit. She is my co-favourite Actress alongside Kate Winslet and it was an extreme honour to have been one of the few who got to meet her and believe me, many were trying to get to her, a vision of gorgeousness in a back-revealing blue number.

Supporting performances from Clea Duvall, Ari Graynor, Melissa Leo and Juliette Lewis also are stellar across the board, with Lewis somehow managing to steal the show in one scene and a mouth full of rotting teeth.  She plays an ex-girlfriend of Kenneth's who winds up testifying against him in court.  Minnie Driver plays Abra Rice, Betty's best friend who also studies to be a Lawyer and the chemistry between her and Swank is wonderful. Rockwell is endearing in this endless emotional rollercoaster and one cannot help but fall in love with his vulnerability.

VIDEO: NEW CONVICTION TRAILER

Check out this latest trailer for Fox Searchlight's Conviction (formerly Betty-Anne Waters). Seriously, I cried like a baby at the theatre when it played during the Pre-Show and it so did one of my BFFs Habeyah. Doesn't this look epic?  Grab a Kleenex.  You've been warned.

HILARY SWANK IN BETTY ANNE WATERS - AN EARLY LOOK

This looks absolutely amazing.  Betty Anne Waters is what Oscars are all about and I am extremely excited to see it.  The film is based on a true story of a woman, Betty Anne Waters (Swank), who dropped out of high school and never gave up on her belief that her brother Kenneth (Sam Rockwell) had been framed; he was convicted of roberry/murder.  She financed her way through law school in order to represent him and eventually he was freed.  Wow.

It sounds somewhat like Million Dollar Baby, for which Swank won her second Oscar, but instead with books instead of boxing.  Swank truly has a knack for playing these challenging roles and I have no doubt that she will be brilliant in this one.  

The film will be released independently this November via Omega Entertainment and is directed by Tony Goldwyn, grandson of mega-producer Samuel Goldwyn.  You might also remember him from Ghost where he played the villain.

Betty Anne Waters features a super-talented cast of Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo, Minnie Driver and Ari Graynor. Crossing fingers this will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival this September as the timing looks about right.  A test screening held this past December fared very, very well if that's any indication.

REVIEW: AMELIA

I just attended an advanced screening of director Mira Nair's Amelia, a biopic about legendary female pilot Amelia Earhart. The film begins from the point Earhart meets eventual husband George P. Putnam (Richard Gere), who helps guide her into becoming America's premiere heroine during The Depression. The film ends at the point of her disappearance, after almost completing an ambitious flight around the world.

The amazing thing about this film is the effervescent Hilary Swank, who remains one of my favourite actresses of all time. Her Oscar-winning turns in Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby both left a deep impression on me and sometimes in life when I reflect on what it is I want and how far I am willing to go to achieve it, Swank's deeply-affecting performances come to mind. Her convincing portrayal of Earhart is pretty much the only remarkable thing about the film, above the fantastic costumes and cinematography. Unfortunately, Nair fails to bring out the best from the quality cast and this in effect hinders Swank's chances in the Oscar race for Best Lead Actress, which appears to be what Fox Searchlight Pictures is gunning for.