"IRON MAN 3" AT COMIC-CON 2012

Robert Downey Jr. & Don Cheadle at Comic-Con 2012

With the rush of Comic-Con having wound-down, now come these awesome Photos courtesy of Disney, taken over the weekend of Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr. having loads of fun. The elaborate Festivities for Iron Man 3 not only included an appearance by the two Stars, but a Press Conference, a Press Line, a Costume Contest, plus an Autograph Signing by both Cheadle and Writer/Director Shane Black.  Fans got up-close and personal with Downey for a while at the Marvel Booth also. And how about this little mini Iron Men and Women?  Adorable.

Opening on May 3, 2013, Iron Man 3 pits the Superhero against his toughest Opponent yet, The Mandarin (Sir Ben Kingsley). Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall, Cobie Smulders, Guy Pearce and Gwyneth Paltrow star also.

 (Photo credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Walt Disney Motion Pictures)

REBECCA HALL AT TIFF 2011 FOR "THE AWAKENING"

Rebecca Hall at TIFF 2011 Premiere of The Awakening

British Beauty Rebecca Hall arrived at TIFF 2011 for Director Nick Murphy's Horror The Awakening. Set in the 1920s, its Story centers around a Hoax Exposer named Florence (Hall) who is brought in to visit a Boarding School after there are sightings of a Child Ghost.  She meets Robert, the School's Headmaster Robert (Dominic West) and Maud (Imelda Staunton) who oversees care of the Boys.  Adamant that these sightings do not in fact exist, Florence finds herself questioning herself after they become increasingly present.  At the same time, she is unsure also whether she should be fearing a Predator also who works at the School.

Hall delivers yet another absolutely stellar performance, revealing layers of Florence bit by bit until finally she is pared down to the core as a fearful shell of herself.  My biggest issue with The Awakening though is that it is manipulative, steering an unexpected course as it unravels, but nonetheless it is fine Storytelling which will have you on-edge all the way.  A fine directorial Debut from Murphy.

Meanwhile at the Premiere of the Film, a Barricade full of Fans unfortunately had to witness Hall being rushed off quickly despite there being sufficient time to sign  some Autographs and Photos.  Unlike many other Premieres earlier in the Festival, it was made clear that  the priority were Media and Media only - not Fans who queued hours for her. An apologetic Hall told me, "I don't know if I have time for a Photo..." before being led off by her strict Handler. This makes for a second consecutive TIFF in which the brilliant Hall has been led-off the moment I had an opportunity to ask for a Photo with her.

I did get to chat quickly with Murphy who was v. friendly, taking a Photo together, toying with Fans asking, "Who wants free Tickets?", only to reveal moments later he in fact had no passes! Tease.

eOne Films will be releasing in Canada on November 11, 2011.

See more Photos below:

"THE TOWN" TIFF GALA PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS

I did scope out the Press Conference for Ben Affleck's The Town this afternoon and although it was rather amazing seeing Affleck and his co-stars up-close, it was extremely competitive to get a clear line of sight to photos with tons of Autograph Hounds traveling in from aboard - some blocking each other and any Cameras trying to snap a shot- with their Clip Boards.  Affleck did "bless" a few photos with his initials, as did Rebecca Hall and Blake Lively (both even more stunning in-person), but stars like Mad Men's Jon Hamm were a little less generous with autographs due to time constraints. The Hurt Locker actor Jeremy Renner signed a grand total of zero autographs, which was rather surprising.

The Gala for The Town takes place Saturday night at Roy Thompson Hall and I'll definitely be in attendance and posting a review soon.  By then hopefully, I'll have some more photos of its stars including Hamm, whose wonderful photo magically disappeared from my Camera!  In the meantime though, enjoy these snaps from earlier this afternoon.

Ben Affleck

BEN AFFLECK SHOWS OFF HIS GRAY HAIR IN VENICE FOR THE TOWN

Ben Affleck & Rebecca Hall
at Venice Film Festival for "The Town"

One of this year's most anticipated films is Ben Affleck's The Town and it just received Gala treatment at Venice Film Festival yesterday, where its principal stars all came out on the Red Carpet. Affleck has been generating a lot of buzz with his noticably Salt and Pepper hair, which actually suits him rather well if I might say so. But then again, when has Affleck not been handsome?

Time Out Magazine published one of the first reviews, giving it three out of five stars. The review calls the Bank Heist Drama "a slice of robust craftmanship". Awards Daily pointed out Empire Movies' review, which notes particularly that "the supporting cast is excellent – notably Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall and especially Blake Lively, as Doug’s (Affleck) white-trash girlfriend, who really help Affleck sell his rough-diamond antihero." Many are taking note of Affleck's directorial ability.

The TIFF Gala for The Town is this Sunday at Roy Thompson Hall and I'll be there! Cannot wait.  For everybody else, the film opens next Friday, September 17, 2010.

(Photo credit: Associated Press)

W MAGAZINE INTERVIEW WITH REBECCA HALL AND JON HAMM

Two of my favourite actors Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Rebecca Hall (Frost/Nixon) grace the cover of August's W Magazine. The pair are promoting Ben Affleck-directed and headlined The Town, which is already getting a bit of Oscar buzz. In the interview with Kevin West, they talk about what it was like to work with Affleck and Hamm stated that he is "Mr. Boston" and could not walk a block without getting a 'Hi, Ben!' during filming.

The film centers around a Bank Manager (Hall) who witnesses the brutal beating of one of her colleagues during a Robbery. She then falls for the same man who was an accomplice to the crime (Affleck), while Hamm's character is in hot pursuit of the suspect.

When asked whether or not she had any part in the dissolving of Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes' marriage, she replied flat out, "No". Hamm pitched in a bit of humour, stating "The reality is that I broke them up", then joking about a beautifully-directed Sex Tape of theirs which Mendes directed.

Read the article in full here.  Crossing fingers this gets a screening at TIFF.  Looks hot.

(Photo credit: Nathaniel Goldberg/W Magazine)

REVIEW: PLEASE GIVE

Please Give is a hidden treasure and unfortunately this is more due to a lack of promotion for the film.  The story is about a husband-wife team of vintage furniture dealers, Alex (Oliver Platt) and Kate (Catherine Keener) who are successful at what they do.  The couple visits the homes of deceased elderly people scouting for pieces to sell at their shop and with their accumulated wealth, they are hoping to acquire the flat of their neighbour, a miserable 90 year-old Andra (Ann Morgan Guilbert), after she passes on.

Andra's granddaughter Rebecca (Rebecca Hall) is a Mammogram Technician who cares for her on a regular basis.  After struggling to meet a boyfriend, one of her elderly patients Mrs. Portman (Lois Smith) introduces Rebecca to her grandson Eugene (Thomas Ian Nicholas), meaning that she has less time for her grandmother.  Rebecca's sister Mary (Amanda Peet) is a Aesthetician and seems to have inherited some of her grandmother's cynicism towards the world and pretty much despises her grandmother, avoiding her at all costs.  With Rebecca focusing on her relationship with Eugene, Mary is forced to spend more time with her grandmother, though she has no patience for her negativity.

VANITY FAIR - HOLLYWOOD'S NEW "IT GIRLS"

.... and a warm welcome goes to Hollywood's newest batch of "It Girls".  These photos above, taken by Annie Leibowitz will be appearing in the March 2010 issue of Vanity Fair and Evgenia Peretz does a brief profile on each of these talented young actresses.

Sasha Stone at one of my favourite blogs Awards Daily, really nailed it on the head though - there are no minorities in this group of actresses.  The Huffington Post made a similar observation.  Is Hollywood really progressing enough to cast actors who are truly indicative of America's social reality?  Or has a wider ethnic spectrum of talent been excluded in this photo shoot?

Included in the group are:

• Carey Mulligan who is getting a lot of Oscar buzz for her breakthrough performance in An Education. I did have the opportunity to meet her last fall at TIFF and she is absolutely delightful.
• Kristen Stewart, star of Twilight and A New Moon.  Her next film in theatres this March is The Runaways, which has her playing rock legend Joan Jett.
• Amanda Seyfried, best known perhaps for her ability to predict weather with her boobs in Mean Girls and for starring alongside Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia.  I also got to meet her a TIFF this past September and she's another sweetheart. Her latest tear-jerker Dear John is also poised to debut big at the Box Office.
• Abbie Cornish, who is getting a bit of Oscar buzz for her turn in Bright Star.
• Rebecca Hall who gave us a wow one-two punch with strong performances in Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona and then Frost/Nixon.  Love her.
• Emma Stone who was hilarious in The House Bunny as a "sacrificed virgin" and also in Box Office champ Zombieland.
• Anna Kendrick, star of Twilight and Best Supporting Actress contender for her role alongside George Clooney in Up in the Air.  I was inches away from her at TIFF, but had no idea who she was at that point :(
• Evan Rachel Wood, who hasn't quite exceeded the promise she showed in Catherine Hardwicke's Thirteen, but is still undeniably one of the best in her generation.
• Mia Wasikowska, whom I have seen only briefly in failed Amelia Earheart biopic Amelia, but her upcoming starring role in Alice in Wonderland almost guarantees that she will be a big star.

Click here to read the rest of Peretz's write-up.  What I'm really excited to see though is Leibowitz's annual Oscar contender portraits, which will also be featured in the issue.