"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)

"HUGO 3-D" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Hugo 3-D

Magical, absolutely magical. Legendary Director Martin Scorcese's first foray into the Family genre - the $170-million opus that is Hugo 3-D - is an intricate and eye-popping Spectacle unlike anything you've ever seen. Set in a post-War-torn Paris, we see the World through the eyes of an orphaned Boy named Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) who lives day-to-day at a Train Station, escaping the watchful eye of a tyrannical Station Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen). Before passing away, Hugo's Father (Jude Law) leaves behind a mysterious broken Automaton (a self-operating machine), which only can be unlocked by a heart-shaped key held by Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz). Her Guardian happens to be Georges Méliès (Sir Ben Kingsley).

Georges deems Hugo untrustworthy after having caught him stealing from his Toy Store at the Station, meaning Hugo and Isabelle are to bond secretly. As this Story develops, we learn that this Automaton holds a rich and storied Tale of whom Georges and his Wife Jeanne (Helen McCrory) once were before their Paris was affected by War.

Hugo 3-D, based upon Brian Selznick's Novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is hard not to like with a Story so multi-layered, it engages you right from the get-go and never relents. Together with this Boy, we try to unlock the mystery behind the Automaton, fearing genuinely for him every step of the way as he escapes being thrown into an Orphanage. 3-D Technology here is tasteful and elegant as only can be expected of Scorcese.

MARTIN SCORCESE ON "HUGO 3-D"

Martin Scorcese covers The Hollywood Reporter

The latest Issue of The Hollywood Reporter features none other than legendary Filmmaker Martin Scorcese on its Cover. Scorcese who soon releases Hugo on November 23, 2011 via Paramount Pictures, tells Jay Fernandez about his repressed Childhood when he was frequently silenced and also how his 12 year-old Daughter Francesca inspired him to make this latest effort.

Scorcese says, "You deal with them (Children) every day so that you're made to understand actually how they perceive the world around them, even from the level of their height". "It's a different way of living entirely. But the thing about it is then (doing Hugo) seemed natural. It didn't seem like a stretch. Being around children, I'm very comfortable with them now.".

Watch Scorcese and Avatar Director James Cameron talk to The Hollywood Reporter about the use of 3-D in Hugo below:

Read the Article in full here.

(Photo/video credit: The Hollywood Reporter)

CHLOE MORETZ AT TIFF FOR "HICK"

Chloe Moretz & Mr. Will-W.

The unmistakably talented 14 year-old Chloë Moretz made me a promise over Twitter the other day to take a Snap with me today and she followed through, remembering exactly who I was.  Despite there being hoards of people waiting for both her and George Clooney to exit their shared venue, Moretz still was wonderful, taking the time to greet as many Fans as possible.

Although I did see Hick today, personally it failed to meet my expectations in terms of believability, Moretz herself stepped-up to the challenges of her role and I am a true champion of her potential.  Unfortunately, Blake Lively did not visit the City as confirmed a few weeks back and Juliette Lewis, surprisingly didn't take the stage during the Q&A attended also by Co-star Eddie Redmayne following the Premiere at Winter Garden Theatre.  Lewis can however v. much be found around as she continues to film NBC's The Firm in the City til early next year.

Moretz can next be seen in Martin Scorcese's Hugo due November 23, 2011.

See more below:

MARTIN SCORCESE'S "HUGO" TRAILER RELEASED

Still from Hugo

"Where are your parents, little man?" - Station Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen)

Not quite what I was expecting, this new Trailer for Martin Scorcese's latest work Hugo has just surfaced. Adapted from the story The Invention of Hugo Cabret, its Hero is an orphaned Boy who finds himself in a journey to unlock the mystery surrounding his late Father. Starring young breakout star Asa Butterfield and Chloë Grace Moretz, this 3-D uplifting Action/Fantasy adventure will hit theatres on U.S. Thanksgiving (November 23, 2011).  Paramount Pictures will be distributing in North America, with Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law, Ben Kingsley and Emily Mortimer also starring.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

MORE NAMES ADDED TO CAST OF SCORCESE'S HUGO CABRET

More names have been added to Martin Scorcese's 3-D film, Hugo Cabret (formerly The Invention of Hugo Cabret). According to Collider, the film began production in London yesterday and so far, confirmed cast members include: Sir Ben Kingsley, Jude Law, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chloë Moretz and Asa Butterfield. Expect big things. Click here to read the official press release. (Thanks Awards Daily!).

SCORCESE GOES 3-D

Iconic director Martin Scorcese will be jumping aboard the 3-D bandwagon for his next project, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The film is based on the children's books by Brian Selznick and centers around a Parisian boy who tries to solve the mystery of a broken robot.  Despite being independently financed, the film will be distributed by Sony Pictures.  So far, Sacha Baron Cohen (BORAT, Bruno) and Ben Kingsley (The House of Sand and Fog, Shutter Island) have been attached to the project and British youngster Asa Butterfield will be appearing in the film's starring role.  Butterfield was seen most recently in The Wolfman and he will be in the upcoming Nanny McPhee sequel. 

Scorcese's creative integrity really cannot be questioned, so I don't foresee the move to film in 3-D necessarily as negative.  I just don't like the idea that I will have to upgrade my television yet again  to watch the forthcoming wave of DVDs  made for the ever-popular format.  The Invention of Hugo Cabret will be in theatres December 2011.

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.