NICOLAS CAGE AT TIFF 2011 FOR "TRESPASS"

Nicolas Cage at TIFF 2011 Premiere of Trespass

Despite being a two-time Academy Award winner and bona fide Megastar Nicolas Cage graced the Red Carpet at Roy Thomson Hall last night for Joel Schumacher's new Thriller Trespass.  Despite drizzling rain, Cage was a great sport working the crowd with Autographs and Photos from start to finish, after arriving early.

Cage stars as a wealthy Businessman named Kyle who has fallen on tougher times.  He and his his Wife Sarah (Nicole Kidman) and Daughter Avery (Liana Liberato) are taken hostage in their own home but as the Story unfolds, we learn of these Extortionists different motives - some more personal than others.  Will Kyle and his Family be able to outsmart their Captors as secrets are unveiled along the way, or will they lose it all including their lives if their demands are left unsatisfied?

"GNOMEO & JULIET" TOPS BOX OFFICE WITH LOWEST EARNING #1 IN TWO YEARS

Still from Hall Pass

In what is the lowest-earning Box Office topper in over two years, Summit Entertainment takes the top spot with Animated Feature Gnomeo & Juliet in its third week of release with $14.2 million.  

Warner Bros. originally was thought to have topped the Box Office with The Farrelly Brothers' new Comedy Hall Pass, although after the final tally it wound up placing second with $13.4 million from 2,950 theatres.  Last week's champion, also from Warner Bros., Unknown lands in third with $12.4 million. In two weeks, the Thriller has grossed $43.5 million.

Slipping to fifth this weekend is last week's first runner-up Disney's I Am Number Four with $11 million. The teen-targeting Action/Fantasy seems to be getting a lot of buzz for allegations of its star Alex Pettyfer having "threatened" now ex-Girlfriend Dianna Agron of Glee.

Paramount Pictures continues to pull out all the stops for Justin Bieber: Never Say Never 3-D as it remains in sixth spot with $9.2 million this weekend, after a special Director's Cut of the Documentary with additional footage was released to theatres.

Summit Entertainment's Drive Angry 3-D unfortunately had a soft opening with only $5.1 million made this weekend in its first week. Perhaps it's time for Nicolas Cage to take a little break? Successive Box Office misfires Bangkok Dangerous, Knowing, The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Season of the Witch have all failed to bring in the anticipated big numbers.

WILLIAM FICHTNER IN TORONTO FOR "DRIVE ANGRY 3-D" | AUTOGRAPH GIVEAWAY

William Fichtner & Mr. Will-W.

Long Island-turned-Los Angeles native William Fichtner is known primarily as a Character Actor. His high forehead and menacing grin are one-part Clint Eastwood, one-part Christopher Walken, granting him a natural birthright to many a Tough Guy role.  Perusing his lofty Resume, one could perhaps question why it is that Fichtner isn't more of a Household name.  Crash, Heat, Black Hawk Down, The Dark Knight, The Chumscrubber, Armageddon, Prison Break, Entourage - all noteworthy and all showcasing some of Fichtner's fine work.

The Actor arrived in Toronto midday, gearing-up for a round of Press tomorrow for his latest Film, Drive Angry 3-D distributed here by Maple Pictures.  The Action/Fantasy directed by Horror Specialist Patrick Lussier (Dracula 2000, My Bloody Valentine) pits him in villainous role of mind-controlling The Accountant, versus Milton, played by Oscar winner Nicolas Cage.  The Film centers around Milton, escapes Hell to avenge the killing of his Daughter and also the kidnapping of his Granddaughter.  Sexy Amber Heard plays Cage's Sidekick, Piper.

Catching Fichtner on his way out to Dinner with a Colleague who he joked was Texting him aggressively, I was fortunate enough to spend a quick moment with him to tell him how fantastic his body of work is.   I commented that I've heard nothing but positive buzz about his unforgiving performance in Drive Angry 3-D and humbly he accepted the praise.  Fichtner was wonderful enough to pose for a quick Photo and signed a 5x7 (seen below) for you to have, Mavenati!  So tell me, which one of you wants it most? 

"TRUE GRIT" EXPECTED TO TAKE TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from True Grit

In a tight finish for a third consecutive week, True Grit and Little Fockers duke it out Cowboy style at the Box Office. True Grit based on preliminary numbers from Friday, is expected to take the top spot with $13.5 million. Two-week champion Little Fockers, is expected to land in second with $13.2 million although it could well take top spot after final tallies come in tomorrow.  Screeners have already floated online as illegal downloads for True Grit, not impacting its Box Office performance.

Season of the Witch, which critically has been-panned, the latest in a series of Box Office and critical failures from Oscar winner Nicolas Cage, is expected to bring in $9.2 million, good enough for third spot in its debut. Rotten Tomatoes has pegged the Film at 1% on the Tomatometer. Pathetic.

Sony Screen Gems' Country Strong also failed to impress the Critics despite high hopes, but doesn't disgrace itself in its debut with $7.5 million in fourth. Keep in mind that it only opened in 1,424 theatres versus Season of the Witch which is showing in 2,816 theatres.

NEW STILL FROM "TRESPASS" - NICOLE KIDMAN & CAM GIGANDET

Still from Trespass

Occasionally some Stills from an upcoming movie get released and I get excited and this one sure looks good (other than for the obvious reasons).  Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage are paired together as Sarah and Kyle, a wealthy couple in Joel Schumacher's latest project Trespass.  The Thriller sees a wealthy couple who are held for ransom by four men, but as the situation becomes more desperate, a story of Betrayal is unravelled.  Oh yes.  

Just putting it out there, that if you're a Burglar and you look like Burlesque's Cam Gigandet, who plays the role of Jonah, you're more than welcome to help yourself to whatever Snacks are in the cupboard.  Thanks.

Schumacher has been quiet of late but when he is working on something you can almost be certain that it's great and suspenseful.  Veronica Guerin and Phone Booth are two of his more memorable recent works.  This latest effort does not yet have a release date, but will be released in 2011.

JustJared has posted additional Stills from Trespass here.

TIFF DAY 6

No reviews to report today as the selections didn't tickle my palette. Fear not though as there were lots of stars to see still!

I must say that Nicolas Cage is amazing. Although I'm not a huge fan of his work he took a good 10 minutes of his time signing autographs and posing for photos with everyone who asked nicely. He is at the festival promoting director Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans. The same applies to Colin Farrell who is here to promote director Neil Jordan's (End of the Affair) Ondine - I even got a photo with his handsome self too! Robin Wright Penn, fresh off a divorce from Sean Penn was amazing also and happily posed for a photo for me. Wright Penn is here with Keanu Reeves promoting The Private Lives of Pippa Lee which is garnering some rave reviews at TIFF. I will be seeing that on Thursday.

A big thumbs down goes to Canada's very own Ellen Page. She ignored all fans today completely, although rumour is that she's not feeling well. Trust me, if George Clooney can do a round of autographs with a cast on his hand, then Page has no excuse! Things got extremely chaotic outside the Press Conference for Drew Barrymore's film Whip It and despite my being right in front of her literally, I couldn't manage to get many decent shots with all the crowding around me. She was nice enough to scribble her autograph on my copy of He's Just Not That Into You which she produced. She then proceeded to take my dried up Sharpie and did a round of signatures, eliciting a bunch of "boos" from those hoping to get autographs for resale. I want my marker back, Drew!

I had much better luck with handsome fashion icon Tom Ford today and got to chat with him quickly. He graciously signed what he called his favourite ad for me. Colin Firth as usual, was extremely amazing happily posing with many female fans. Firth just won a Best Lead Actor award at the prestigious Venice Film Festival for his performance in Dorian Gray.

For now, you can feast on these:

I received an insider's tip on the whereabouts of U2 later this evening and was able to snap these shots of The Edge and Bono leaving Masonic Temple (MTV Headquarters). This was a special guest appearance on Elvis Costello's Spectacle show. I must say, Bono is much more handsome in person than on television. And yes, I was one of the lucky few who scored Bono's autograph! Yes.

Check back tomorrow for some photos of Natalie Portman and Michael Cera.

xW