NEW TRAILER: "HOPE SPRINGS" STARRING MERYL STREEP, STEVE CARELL & TOMMY LEE JONES

Official Artwork for Hope Springs

Meryl Streep, Goddess of Cinema. Check out this brand new Trailer from her new Romantic Dramedy Hope Springs, in theatres August 10, 2012.

Hope Springs sees Streep and Tommy Lee Jones starring as a married Couple of 30 years, going through an intense weekend of Marriage Counselling with Steve Carell to decide the fate of their Marriage. I think that's Elisabeth Shue there in-the-mix too! Best Cast.

Watch the Trailer below:

TEXTS FROM HILLARY

Texts from Hillary

Confession: I only found out what the heck a Meme is in January!  But now I know better and what better way to celebrate this new-found knowledge than with Texts from Hillary, the "hill"arious viral sensations - some tasteful, some not so much - inspired from Photos by Diana Walker (Time Magazine) and Reuters Photographer Kevin Lamarque of Hillary Clinton texting away on her Cell Phone. 

Imaginary dialogues have been created with several notable Figures including Lady Gaga, Ryan Gosling, Meryl Streep and several more. 

Check them all out at Texts from Hillary!

(Photo credit: Diana Walker/Ginsburg/Spaly Inc.)

"THE ARTIST" SWEEPS THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS

Meryl Streep at the 84th Academy Awards

Winning the coveted Best Picture at the 84th Academy Awards as predicted, was Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist, which after sweeping many major precursor ceremonies leading up to the Oscars, was the favourite to win tonight. To date, the Film has grossed $76 million worldwide since its November 25, 2011 release and it will be interesting to see if it experiences a post-Oscar boost in coming weeks.  It also was victorious for Directing, Costume Design and Score.

Above this, the much-watched Actor in a Leading Role category went to a deserving Jean Dujardin for his unforgettable portrayal of Silent Film Actor, George Valentin in The Artist.  "Woh! I love your Country!", proclaimed the French Actor.

Winning Actress in a Leading Role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, was the legendary Meryl Streep in her third Oscar win ever. Although many believed that Viola Davis would win the Award following her Golden Globe victory for The Help, alas Streep's superb performance would prevail in the category. This Actor/Actress sweep for The Weinstein Co., also is a big score for Canadian Distributor Alliance Films which handled both The Iron Lady and The Artist in these parts.

At 82 years of age, Toronto-born Christopher Plummer would win his first ever Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role as a terminally-ill Gay Man in Beginners. Octavia Spencer like Plummer, repeated her feat of a Golden Globe/Oscar-double for her performance in The Help, winning Actress in a Supporting Role.

Hugo might not have been a massive Box Office success, nor did it win Best Picture, but the gorgeous Martin Scorcese Film but it sure gave The Artist a run for its glory tonight, winning five awards including: Cinematography, Visual Effects, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Art Direction.

For a complete list of Winners, click here.

To see some of the gorgeous Red Carpet Victresses tonight like Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Michelle Williams, Angelina Jolie and Milla Jovovich, visit Zimbio here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

18TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS RECAP

Viola Davis - 18th Annual SAG Awards

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were held at The Shrine in Los Angeles earlier this evening, with Winners being determined by 2,100 Actors voting to honour their Peers for their brilliant work.  Viola Davis was Queen of the Red Carpet in a gorgeous white Marchesa dress, while her The Help Co-star Emma Stone looked stunning also in a black Alexander McQueen number.  Although the Ladies of Bridesmaids won over the audience re-enacting a drinking game on-stage around the word "Scorese", it was the Cast of The Help which was awarded Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Viola Davis was a bit of a surprise winning Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in The Help (defeating Meryl Streep) and Jean Dujardin for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in The Artist. Both wins for further solidify that they too just  might win Best Actress and Actor at next month's Academy Awards.

A recurring theme among tonight's SAG Award Winners was that it's never too late to be recognized.  For one, 82-year-old Christopher Plummer earned his first SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Beginners.  Some also might have been surprised that 90-year-old veteran Actress Betty White won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for Hot in Cleveland, beating-out Julie Bowen, Sofia Vergara, Tina Fey and Edie Falco. Another late to gain recognition is 62-year-old Jessica Lange, honoured for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series with American Horror Story.  

2012 OSCAR NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Jennifer Lawrence announces 2012 Oscar Nominees

The 2012 Oscar nominations were announced bright and early this morning with the help of The Hunger Games Star Jennifer Lawrence and the surprises just wouldn't quit! Martin Scorcese came out on-top with an impressive eleven nominations, including Best Picture. Many also were surprised to see the sudden presence of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, which has been a non-presence much of Awards Season, only to pop-up finally for the coveted prize - a brilliant campaign by Warner Bros. to shape perceptions with as late a release as possible. Nonetheless, The Artist which has swept Best Picture awards coast to coast leading up to this, receives a stellar ten nominations. It is without a question the one to beat, although other Nominees The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, War Horse, Moneyball, The Tree of Life and The Help might have something to say about this.

Everyone is talking about some surprising omissions, namely both Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan for their mesmerizing work in Shame.  Elizabeth Olsen who is astoundingly good in Martha Marcy May Marlene also was nowhere to be found either and some are saying that Fox Searchlight which handled distribution for both Films in the U.S., had tapped-out its resources campaigning for its Prize Horse, The Descendants. Also, The Adventures of Tintin, widely considered a contender for Animated Feature Film at one point was overlooked altogether this year.

There were some real pleasant surprises to be had this morning, especially for Actor in a Supporting Role with Jonah Hill (Moneyball), Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn), Max von Sydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close) and Nick Nolte (Warrior) all popping-up based on their powerful performances, to join category favourite, Christopher Plummer (Beginners).  Despite Warrior failing to garner critical and commercial success, it is thrilling that Nolte gets his due recognition as an alcoholic Father on-the-mend, hoping to repair his relationships with his two Sons.

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.

FEW SURPRISES AT GOLDEN GLOBES: "THE ARTIST" & "THE DESCENDANTS" HEAD-TO-HEAD TO WIN OSCAR

Michelle Williams Backstage at 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards

The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards went down earlier this evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles and there were few surprises to be found with Oscars Frontrunner The Artist winning Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and its closest competitor The Descendants winning Best Motion Picture Drama.

The Artist also won for Best Original Motion Picture Score (Ludovic Bource) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical (Jean Dujardin), while The Descendants won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama (George Clooney). Clooney upon accepting his award told fellow Nominee Michael Fassbender, "Thanks for taking over the frontal nudity clause" - referring to that one's daring performance in Shame. "If you want to go play Golf with your hands behind your back, go right ahead!".

Michelle Williams won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical for her outstanding portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn, while current Oscar favourite for Best Actress, the formidable Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama - her eighth Golden Globe. A humble Streep made note of some additional performances she felt were of note this year among her Peers, including Adepero Oduye's work in Pariah and Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre.  "In any other year they would be awarded", she told the audience.

Modern Family won Best Television Comedy or Musical for a third consecutive year, while Showtime's Homeland won two awards for Best Television Drama and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Drama (Clare Danes).

"THE IRON LADY" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from The Iron Lady

As is the case with My Week with Marilyn, those expecting a full-on Biopic about the rise and fall of a Heroine might be underwhelmed slightly by The Iron Lady. What Director Phyllida Lloyd gives us instead is a glimpse of the costs incurred by a nation and its Heroine Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep) - a battle-torn fighter with an all-consuming drive to be on-top and in-control.  What we get here is a frail and senile Thatcher in her old age reflecting upon her storied rise to Power and more so, her undying love for Husband Denis (Jim Broadbent).

Much of The Iron Lady is told as an afterthought through flashbacks triggered by mementos found in Thatcher's home. Still strong-willed in the face of Dementia, she refuses to accept that she is going mad as Denis keeps resurfacing as a vision to her, forcing her to face the person she once was and the person she has become.

It should come as no surprise that Streep is astoundingly good as Thatcher and as commonly is the case, an Actress is required to go through a transformation in the span of a Film.  In The Iron Lady however, we see Streep operating like a Formula 1 Champion, shifting through several gears. Played superbly by Alexandra Roach for the earlier part of Thatcher's life, we see Streep take Thatcher from being overly eager and shrill in Parliament to becoming a self-assured Prime Minister, unwavering in her unpopular decisions. She arguably is at her best while leading her nation through the Falklands War with resolute poise and authority.  If this were not enough, Streep also handles Thatcher's decline with grace, mastering ever detail down to the blank ponderous gazes that grow increasingly long in her senility.

The Iron Lady might not be the Political Drama that some are hoping for, but regardless it has plenty of heart and more than ably makes us empathize with someone who long has been scrutinized publicly and labelled as heartless.  It is impossible not to root for Thatcher as she is faced time and time again with impossible obstacles.  That being said, the illusive third Oscar will soon be a reality for Streep.  Alliance Films releases nationwide on January 13, 2012.

MERYL STREEP AT EUROPEAN PREMIERE FOR "THE IRON LADY"

Meryl Streep at European Premiere of The Iron Lady

I am so incredibly jealous of everyone in this Photo!  Meryl Streep stunned at the European Premiere of The Iron Lady at the British Film Institute - Southbank last night in Stella McCartney and totally made time for her Fans going in and out, which always brings a smile to my face.

I screened the Film earlier today and have nothing but praise for Streep's work and the Review is coming v. soon.  Alliance Films releases The Iron Lady on January 13, 2012 nationwide.

See more Photos of Streep being amaze on the Blue Carpet over at Zimbio!  Click here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Zimbio)

MERYL STREEP CELEBRATED AT "KENNEDY CENTER HONORS"

Meryl Streep - 34th annual Kennedy Center Honors

The Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington hosted its 34th annual Kennedy Center Honors, paying tribute to five individuals who have made great cultural contributions to America. Honorees this year include Sonny Rollins, Yo-Yo Ma, Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond and of course The Iron Lady herself, Meryl Streep.

The actual Gala took place earlier this month on Sunday, December 4, 2011 and one night prior, the Honorees received their Medallions from Senator Hillary Rodhmam Clinton.

During tonight's Broadcast, a tearful and appreciative Streep watched on from her balcony as she was serenaded to a tune of "She's Me Pal" by The Devil Wears Prada Co-star Anne Hathaway - complete with the splits - sounding noticeably improved due likely to preparations for her upcoming Role as Fantine in Tom Hooper's Les Miserables.  The Musical Drama is slated for a December 2012 release and production will begin soon. 

Friends and Co-stars Kevin Kline, Emily Blunt and Robert DeNiro also paid tribute to Streep. As her introduction stated succinctly, "By disappearing into her roles, Meryl Streep has made the World visible to us".

See more Photos over at Zimbio. CBS also is streaming Clips on its Website here.

The Iron Lady, for which Streep widely is considered an Oscar Frontrunner in the Best Actress category, opens Friday, January 13, 2012 via Alliance Films.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

NEW TRAILER FOR "THE IRON LADY"

Still from The Iron Lady

"Watch your Character, for it becomes your Destiny.".  Wise words for us all to live by according to Margaret Thatcher.

This new Trailer for The Iron Lady just surfaced and if you weren't already excited about Meryl Streep's chances at Oscar Gold this time around, this just might be enough to make you switch from Team Michelle Williams.  

We get a clearer picture of some of the Story here and from those who have already screened the Film, I gather that this is more of a Love Story between Thatcher and her Husband Denis (Jim Broadbent) versus a lot of Politics which we see in these Trailers.  I am also hearing that the Film focuses much more on the latter part of Thatcher's life after Denis' death and her battle with Dementia.

Watch this latest Trailer:

FIRST TRAILER: "THE IRON LADY"

Still from The Iron Lady

"With all due respect Sir, I have done battle every single day of my Life.".

Gosh, I am praying they didn't throw all the good bits only in the Trailer on this one. The first official UK Trailer for The Iron Lady has surfaced and Meryl Streep is just astonishingly good once again here amping up the theatrics as Margaret Thatcher. It already is shaping-up strictly to be a Michelle Williams vs. Meryl Streep Battle for the Oscar at this point in the game and as much as I am excited to see My Week with Marilyn this Thursday, I must say that Streep just appears to delve that extra inch deeper.  We'll soon know.

Here, you can judge for yourself:

NEW UK POSTER FOR "THE IRON LADY"

Official UK Poster for The Iron Lady

Much better.  The UK Poster for The Iron Lady, which surely will garner Meryl Streep her 17th Oscar nomination early next year in her performance as former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has been unveiled at a London Photo Call today.  Wouldn't you agree that it is so powerful that it deserves its own Post? Much more poignant and tasteful than this horrific North American Poster making its way around our Theatres below:

Director Phyllida Lloyd despite rumours of Thatcher's Children disapproving of the Film and its Script, has stated publicly that they will be won-over after seeing Streep's performance.  Can't wait. December 30, 2011.

See more Photos of Streep at the Photo Call.

(Photo credit: Film4/Alliance Films)

NEW TEASER TRAILER FOR "THE IRON LADY"

Still from The Iron Lady

OMG. This just made my day. Can we just disqualify for Meryl Streep from the Oscars race for Best Actress and give her a Lifetime Achievement Award named after herself? The Meryl Streep Honourary Lifetime Achievement Academy Award. That sounds about right.

Check out this just-released Teaser Clip for The Iron Lady below.  The Biopic about former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher opens in the U.S. this December via The Weinstein Co.

THE WEINSTEIN CO. TO DISTRIBUTE MERYL STREEP'S "THE IRON LADY"

Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher

It’s official! The Weinstein Co. have acquired U.S. rights to The Iron Lady, a Biopic by Mamma Mia! Director Phyllida Lloyd about former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Starring Meryl Streep, it is said only Studio footage was shopped around to Executives attending the Cannes Film Festival and earlier this morning it was confirmed that The Weinstein Co. won the bidding match for the Film, produced by U.K.-based Pathé Films.

As many of you might recall, The Weinstein Co. indeed is hot again, just having successfully campaigned The King’s Speech to a Best Picture victory at the Oscars earlier this year. The Iron Lady equally is being touted as a Film to watch this forthcoming Oscars season. Perhaps, we’ll see a TIFF 2011 Premiere, warranting a rare visit from Streep to Toronto? Exciting!

(Photo credit: Pathé Films)

NEW PROMOTIONAL PHOTO OF MERYL STREEP AS MARGARET THATCHER

Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady

Pathé Films has released this amazing Promotional Shot of Meryl Streep as former-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Chameleon!

The Film which is now in its second week of Production in London, will get a Sneak Preview at the Cannes Festival in May. This is going to be positively amazing!

(Photo credit: Pathé Films)

MERYL STREEP PREPPING FOR MARGARET THATCHER ROLE



Meryl Streep

Method Actress. The Queen – Meryl Streep – visited Britain’s House of Parliament yesterday to research for her role as former British Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher in the upcoming Biopic The Iron Lady. The Film is set in 1982 during the 17 days prior to the Falklands War between the UK and Argentina. According to The Independent, Streep watched-on and studied a debate between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour Leader Ed Miliband.

The Iron Lady is still in pre-production but will be produced by Pathé Films, which also is developing a Princess Diana Biopic starring Keira Knightley.

(Photo credit: 20th Century Fox)

AUTHOR/SCREENWRITER/DIRECTOR NORA EPHRON AT INDIGO IN TORONTO FOR "I REMEMBER NOTHING"

Nora Ephron at Indigo

Author. Screenwriter. Director. Jew-ish (moreso than Jewish). Bagel & Lox Lover.  A New York City Girl through and through. Nora Ephron landed in Toronto today to promote her latest Book I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections, a Collection of Essays which reflect on her success and life as an Aging Woman. A v. youthful 69 years of age, Ephron sat before an intimate audience of Fans at Indigo Manulife Centre, telling some humorous stories about her Career and fielded questions afterwards.

Ephron reflected upon her experience writing and directing 2008's Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep. Despite Streep having been v. concerned with physically transforming into a six foot-tall Julia Child, Ephron felt that Streep aside from eventually looking the part, has the uncanny ability to mimic others' voices (including Ephron's), in her 1986 semi-autobiographical film Heartburn. She went on to say that Streep has a way of Acting that authentically embodies the character rather than being a "parody-of....in a Dan Akroyd type-way".

Having written some of the most important Screenplays of our time like When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail, Silkwood and Sleepless in Seattle, Ephron claims modestly that the success of these films is not so much due to the Script or the Direction, but moreso the Actors. There have been times where she has lacked confidence in her own Scripts, but after seeing a talented Actor bring her work to life, jokingly she'd call herself a genius afterwards.

On her creative process, she tries to write at most four to five pages a day while in work mode. Ephron admitted that she prefers writing much more than directing in that the pressures of the Cutting Room while fun, are intense and stressful too. She feels that many Film Directors today are fearful of Writers and this if anything, hinders quality Filmmaking. She recalls the Films she saw as a child not having to go through the scrutiny and edits they do today; as an aside, she grew up in family of Filmmakers.  It is for this reason that she feels Movies back then are superior than the ones being made today.

She touches upon this in the Clip I captured below:

JULIA ROBERTS AND MERYL STREEP: TOGETHER AT LAST

Julia Roberts in Toronto - July 2010

Julia Roberts has got a secret.  Or not.  In a surprising bit of news, it has been announced that both Roberts and Meryl Streep are close to confirming an on-screen collaboration in a forthcoming adaptation of the play August: Osage County.  The film will be directed by John Wells who is known mostly for his work on Television (ER) and also his forthcoming release The Company Men.  The film is being developed by The Weinstein Co. and hopefully will be condensed down from its near three-and-a-half hour stage version. 

August: Osage Country penned by Tracy Letts, is about a family with multiple generations of women facing different demons.  The Matriarch Violet (to be played by Streep), is overcoming a serious addiction to Prescription Drugs, while her eldest daughter Barbara (Roberts) is dealing with her husband's infidelity.  Although this won't begin filming until next summer, we can expect that perhaps 2012 will be a year of powerhouse female performances, especially with the recent news of Jodi Foster and Kate Winslet teaming up to star in Roman Polanski's screen adaptation of Tony Award-winning play God of Carnage.  Don't make me choose... please!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

THE OSCARS RACE 2010: A DRAMA BASED ON A DRAMA | FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Check out some of these recently-released For Your Consideration pieces submitted by studios to Academy voters leading up to the Oscars. The ceremony will be televised Sunday, March 7, 2010 8 PM EST on CBS.  More of these pieces can be found on one of my favourite blogs, Awards Daily.

Best Picture favourite The Hurt Locker has raised a few eyebrows with some controversy surrounding one of its four producers, Nicolas Chartier who personally e-mailed a number of Academy voters in January urging they "not to vote for a $500 million film" (Avatar). This of course is a flagrant violation of Academy guidelines which prohibit competitors from "casting a negative or derogatory light on a competing film".  Needless to say, his invitation is now "magically" lost in the mail. How's that for drama based on a Drama?  

God, I love Hollywood!