"EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Nine year-old Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) loses his Father Thomas (Tom Hanks) tragically as a result of the September 11th World Trade Center attacks. Before his passing, Thomas leaves behind a mysterious Key in his closet, leading Oskar to go an on all-consuming search throughout the five Boroughs of New York City to find its accompanying Lock.
This quest however, happens without his grieving Mother Linda's (Sandra Bullock) knowledge and along the way, Oskar gets a bit of unlikely help from an Elderly Gentleman (Max von Sydow) who is renting a room from his Grandmother (Zoe Caldwell). The Boy must face and conquer his own personal demons in unraveling this great Mystery in honour of his beloved Father.

Director Stephen Daldry (The Reader, The Hours) truly can do no wrong and such is the case with the intense, detailed and heartfelt Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, an Adaptation of the bestselling Novel by Jonathan Safran Foer.  Despite already an impeccable Cast, all eyes migrate to Breakout Star Horn, a discovery from Game Show Jeopardy. The young Actor handles the quiet nuances required of his Role with equal dexterity as its more melodramatic moments.  A true indication of his ability comes in a particularly tricky and verbose scene where he is paired with von Sydow, rattling off his lines with the skill and conviction of a true Professional beyond his years.  Horn holds his own beautifully in key tender moments with Oscar-caliber talents Bullock, Jeffrey Wright and Viola Davis.

ENTER TO WIN AN ADVANCE PASS TO SEE "EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE" IN TORONTO

Still from Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

I'm extremely honoured and incredibly pleased to be hosting this Giveaway together with Warner Bros. Canada.  Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has all the makings of a real Holiday Classic.  The heartwarming Story follows Oskar (Thomas Horn), an 11 year-old Boy who goes on a search throughout New York City to find the mysterious Lock to the Key his deceased Father left behind to him.  Oskar's Father Thomas (Tom Hanks) died in the World Trade Center Attacks. Stephen Daldry (The Hours, The Reader) directs.

This Advance Screening takes place in Toronto on Monday, December 19, 2011. Although the allotment of Tickets still are being finalized, you can click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook to enter.  All entries must be received by December 16, 2011.  Good luck, Mavenati - this is one you don't want to miss!

As an added Bonus, I will be on-hand following the Screening to hand all Winners a Copy of the Novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Movie Tie-in Edition) by Jonathan Safran Foer now in-stores from Thomas Allen.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR "EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE"

Official Artwork for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Grab a Kleenex ...or ten. The Trailer for the Stephen Daldry's Adaptation of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close finally has surfaced. Quick-paced and melancholy, it looks to have that same Boy-like wonderment in the face of Tragedy that 2002's The Hours had and that same powerful storytelling 2008's The Reader possessed.

Although it originally was to be released via Warner Bros. in January 2012, it looks now like plans are ahead of schedule, pushing for a Christmas release, marking Sandra Bullock's first Film post-Oscar/Divorce and also what looks to be the start of a promising for Child Actor, Thomas Horn.

The post-911 Drama follows a Boy named Oskar (Horn) who searches New York for a Lock to the Key his Father (Tom Hanks) gave him prior to passing away. 

See the Trailer in full below:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SANDRA BULLOCK!

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock just may have gotten the sweetest Birthday gift ever today.  The Oscar-winning Actress who is currently busy working on two films, Gravity (opposite George Clooney) and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (opposite Tom Hanks), may or may not have heard that Ex-Husband Jesse James has called off his engagement to Author/Tattoo Artist Kat Von D.

James tells People Magazine today, "I'm so sad because I really love her (presumably Kat Von D).  The distance between us was just too much.".  How sad.  Surely he's got a Backup or ten in his Address Book somewhere.  Karma's a Bitch.

Happy Birthday, Sandra!  We all miss you and can't wait to have you back.

(Photo credit: Harper's Bazaar)

ELLEN DEGENERES TO SPEAK AT "POWER OF WOMEN" CONFERENCE IN TORONTO

OMG.  One of my favourite people, Ellen DeGeneres will be speaking at the Power of Women Conference in Toronto on Thursday, August 11, 2011.  The Event which also features Suzanne Somers and Leigh Anne Tuohy (the Woman whom The Blind Side was based upon), takes place at Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Tickets range from $183 (General) to $476 (VIP with access to Luncheon).  Ouch.  

Click here for more information on the event.

SANDRA BULLOCK & TOM HANKS FILM "EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE" IN NEW YORK CITY

In what looks like an absolute Tearjerker, Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks have begun filming their new project Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.  This marks Bullock's return to work after a year marked by many personal highs and lows.
Set in New York City and based upon the 2005 Novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, it is about an eleven year-old Boy named Oscar (Thomas Horn) who goes on an all-out search for the lock to the key his Father (Hanks) left him before he was killed in the 9/11 Attacks.

Stephen Daldry, Director of sublime The Hours, helms the project which also features an excellent Cast of Jeffrey Wright, John Goodman, Viola Davis and James Gandolfini. 2012 Oscar Contender.

Just Jared has posted some snaps from the Set here.

OPRAH TOPS FORBES LIST; LADY GAGA RANKS FOURTH

Forbes Magazine has listed their annual Top 100 World's Most Powerful Celebrities list which compiles figures based on Pay, TV/Radio Rank, Press Rank, Web Rank and Social Rank and topping this year’s list again is multimedia magnate Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey was surpassed by Angelina Jolie last year, although the latter has had a quiet year, slipping to number 18 on the list. Surprisingly though, Beyoncé Knowles ranks second, ahead of Avatar director James Cameron. Lady Gaga shoots up to number four on the list, earning $67 million this past year believe it or not. She must loathe herself completely right now because she has very publicly claimed how much she hates money, no?

The list is as follows:

1. Oprah Winfrey

2. Beyoncé Knowles

3. James Cameron

4. Lady Gaga

SANDRA BULLOCK'S MTV AND GUYS' CHOICE AWARDS BLITZ

If being cheat on makes you this hot, sign me up for a lifetime of adulterous lovers because Sandra Bullock has never looked better.  In addition to attending last night's MTV Movie Awards, Bullock surprised at Spike TV's Guys' Choice Awards at Sony Pictures Studio in Culver City on Saturday.  The Oscar winner accepted the Troops' Choice Award for Entertainer of the Year, presented by Robert Downey Jr. Careful to avoid any additional media attention, she was armed with a large group of Security Guards and was ushered quickly in to receive her award and then out.

KATE, SANDRA AND JENNIFER - REAL MEN

When things just aren't working out with your partner, look to these fine ladies as your inspiration.  Kate Winslet, Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Aniston handled/are handling their break-ups with dignity, poise and class.  Instead of beating a dead horse on a lost cause and embarrassing themselves publicly or via their PRs, they took/are taking time to focus on what's important.  Themselves.  

I salute these ladies for handling their break-ups like "Real Men" would.  We could all learn a lesson or two from them.  Trust me - it's their loss, ladies.

THE OSCARS 2010: A QUICK RECAP

We're all strapped for time, so here's the Oscars recapped for those of you who missed it.

• Mo'Nique was absolutely no surprise in winning Best Supporting Actress for Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire.  She delivered  a poignant speech thanking the Academy for not letting politics decide her fate and basing the award on merit.  Hardly modest, but the audience would seem to have agreed with her as they gave her a standing ovation.  The film also won the Best Adapted Screenplay award.
• Dapper German actor Christoph Waltz won for his terrifying turn in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, being the subject of hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin's Nazi jokes.  Expect his career to take off in North America soon.
• Designer and A Single Man director Tom Ford looked the gold standard in handsome.  I'm anxious to see what's to come next from him after such a strong reception to his first and only film.
• Sarah Jessica Parker arrived on the Red Carpet with husband Matthew Broderick looking like an Avatar character with her fluorescent blue eyes. The Grecian Goddess look constructed by Tom Ford, just didn't work for her and she looked over-tanned.  Broderick later paid tribute with Molly Ringwald (the original Lindsay Lohan) to the late great director John Hughes (Home Alone, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club).
• Helen Mirren looked stunning in a gray Badgley Mischka number.  It didn't even matter that she wasn't a serious contender for Best Lead Actress.

SANDRA BULLOCK ACCEPTS RAZZIE AWARD FOR WORST ACTRESS

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for Sandra Bullock who attended the annual Golden Raspberry Awards (The Razzies) at Barnsdall Theatre in Los Angeles on the eve of The Oscars.  Bullock graciously accepted the Worst Actress award for her performance in All About Steve in which she plays single and tactless Crossword Puzzlemaker Mary Horowitz.  Bullock told the Associated Press, “I think this is an extraordinary award....and I didn’t realize that, in Hollywood, all you had to do was say you’d show up, and then you’d get the award. If I’d known that, I would have said I was appearing at the Oscars a long time ago."

But 2009 was also a fantastic year for Bullock who had two massive blockbuster hits in The Proposal and The Blind Side, the latter in which she is favoured to win her first Oscar tonight.  She was nominated for Golden Globe Awards for both those films also by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.  If Bullock were to win tonight she would be following in the footsteps of Halle Barry who was the last actress to win that illusive Oscar/Razzie double for her performance in Monster's Ball, and then the clunker known as Catwoman. Not an easy feat to accomplish by any means.  Good luck Sandra, the Mavenati are all rooting for you!

Click here to view a full list of winners at last night's Razzie Awards.  (Photo credit: Associated Press)

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!

OSCARS 2010 NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED: A BATTLE OF THE SEXES AND THE EXES

The 2010 Oscar nominations were announced this morning and not only will this year be a Battle of the Sexes, but also a Battle of the Exes.  Director James Cameron (Avatar) will be going head-to-head with his former wife Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) in major categories like Best Director and Best Picture.  Each director garnered an astounding nine nominations. 

For the time ever, the format of the Best Picture category has been ammended to include ten films this year.  This year's nominees include:  Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air, Avatar, An Education, The Hurt Locker, The Blind Side and District 9.  Although my heart leans towards The Blind Side as a personal favourite, in all probability this will be Avatar's year.

Finalists in the Best Actor category are: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart), George Clooney (Up in the Air), Colin Firth (A Single Man), Morgan Freeman (Invictus) and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker).  Make no mistake about it, it's all about Bridges in this category.

Nominees for Best Actress are: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), Helen Mirren (The Last Station), Carey Mulligan (An Education), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) and Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia).  I think most of my readers will agree as per a recent poll here, that this will be Bullock's year.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, SANDRA BULLOCK!

Sandra Bullock is absolutely killing it this year.  Fresh off yet another win at this weekend's Screen Actor's Guild Awards for Best Actress in The Blind Side, she is now the clear favourite to win the Oscar for Best Actress, with that predictive Golden Globes-Screen Actor's Guild double.  This is just what the world needs to see right now.  The message of hope through true hard work and humility.  We love you, Sandra.  You're an inspiration!

I am also excited to hear the cast of Glee in winning the Best Ensemble Cast in a comedy television series.  Well-deserved. Still waiting on those upcoming tour details.

The results in the motion picture acting categories were an exact duplication of the Golden Globes awards, however a Best Ensemble Award was given to the cast of Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.  Don't forget to check out these pics I got from the Toronto premiere of that film this past August.  Let me tell you, Tarantino is a class act.  A truly gracious spirit who loves his fans. Despite a very hectic schedule that day, he made sure to give each and every fan who wanted to meet him, his undivided attention.

For a full listing of winners from the Screen Actor's Guild awards, click here.

THE GOLDEN GLOBES: A QUICK RECAP

Congratulations to the cast of Glee, The Hangover, Mad Men and Avatar, in addition to Sandra Bullock, Drew Barrymore, Mo'nique, Meryl Streep, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, who were among the big winners from the 2010 Golden Globe Awards tonight at The Beverly Hilton. 

There were no real surprises tonight other than I'd say, Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes) and Bridges (Crazy Heart) winning for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy and Drama respectively.  Many were banking on George Clooney (Up In The Air) winning in the latter category.   Mo'nique was pretty much a shoe-in for her performance in Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire and you can expect the same result a the upcoming Oscars. And true to form, Bullock was humble and gracious in accepting her award for The Blind Side, acknowledging that she is not the most talented actress in accepting her award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama.  This win definitely solidifies her chances at a possible Oscar win, although we will only know the list of nominees when they are announced February 2, 2010.

And guess what?  You, my Mavenati, guessed correctly in a recent survey posted here on who would win in Bullock's category.  Way to go!  Streep also had some of her fellow nominees like Marion Cotillard in tears during her speech in accepting her award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy for Julie & Julia.  A true class act.

View some fantastic photos from this evening's rainy red carpet.  The ladies below looked absolutely amazing, particulary Kate Hudson and Sandra Bullock in purple.  Despite appearing under-dressed, Julia Roberts looked chic in a simple black number accessorized with a showpiece necklace.  Once again, Lea Michele from Glee is proving that she belongs with the best of them, after dazzling in red recently at the People's Choice Awards.

For a full list of winners, visit The Hollywood Foreign Press Assocation's official website here.  (Photo credit: Getty Images)

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS

The People's Choice Awards aired on CBS this evening and as usual, they are a blast to watch because I often agree with the winners the public chooses.   Hosted by Queen Latifah, winners were honoured in the categories of music, film and television.  Among the winners tonight were a much more coherent Mariah Carey (Favourite R&B Artist), a genuinely sweet Sandra Bullock (Favourite Actress), Carrie Underwood (Favourite Country Artist), Steve Carrell (Favourite Television Comedy Actor), Taylor Swift (Favourite Female Artist), Taylor Lautner (Favourite Breakthrough Actor), Hugh Jackman (Favourite Action Star) and Johnny Depp (Favourite Actor).  Above this, Glee was honoured Favourite Comedy Television Series in its first season.  The principal cast accepted the award on stage, before a tasteless product placement was inserted mid-speech for DiGiorno Pizza, one of the evening's sponsors.  Tacky.

View a complete list of winners here.  Here are some gorgeous pics I found from Getty Images.  Doesn't Glee's Lea Michele look incredible?  A star is borne.

THE BLIND SIDE: FACTOR OR NON-FACTOR?

You're probably well aware that I am a huge fan of the film The Blind Side if you've been following my blog.  There is some debate building around the film right now in whether or not it will be a factor at the Oscars.  Commercially it is a smash success already making $186 million to-date and critically, the consensus is favourable.  However, family-oriented sports dramas generally don't gain the respect of the Academy and this is the issue.  I for one, feel the film is one of the year's best, and I've seen most of the contenders other than The Hurt Locker.

To date the film itself has failed to receive any nominations in any of the precursor award ceremonies leading up to the Oscars.  Sandra Bullock in the very least continues to bring in the nominations for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy, garnering nods in the important Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild awards.

ABC will be airing an hour-long special this Friday, January 1, 2010 on 20/20 at 8 PM EST all about The Blind Side, in a perfectly-timed push to sway some attention its way for Best Picture consideration.  The special will feature interviews with Tuohy and Michael Oher, whom the film centers around, and the film's cast members.  Should be interesting.

GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Up in the Air and Glee lead this year's pack of Golden Globe Awards nominees. The former garnered a total six nominations from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in the motion picture categories, while the latter earned four in the television categories. Following closely behind Up in the Air with five nods is Rob Marshall's musical Nine, due in theatres on Christmas Day, while James Cameron's Avatar got four. Golden Globe darlings including 30 Rock, Mad Men and Big Love all earned three nominations behind Glee.

The motion picture acting categories are highly competitive this year and notably, personal favourites Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep each received two nominations. Bullock is nominated for her stellar performance in The Blind Side (Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama) and also The Proposal (Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy). Meryl Streep will be competing against herself for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy with Julie & Julia and the soon to be released It's Complicated; her 24th and 25th Golden Globe nominations and surely just two of many more to come.

The match for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama is heated one with some really evenly-matched nominees including George Clooney (Up in the Air), Colin Firth (A Single Man), Morgan Freeman (Invictus), Tobey Maguire (Brothers) and Jeff Bridges (A Crazy Heart). The same can be said about the very competitive Best Supporting Actress category which will be pitting Mo'Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire), Pénelope Cruz (Nine), Julianne Moore (A Single Man) and co-stars Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air).

REVIEW: THE BLIND SIDE

Let me start off by saying that I know nothing about football - English and American. When I heard that Sandra Bullock had a new football-themed film coming out, I was neither here nor there about seeing it. However, after the great reviews kept pouring in for screenwriter/director John Lee Hancock's The Blind Side, I could deny it no more.

This film is based on the true story of gargantuan Baltimore Ravens Offensive Left Tackle (whatever that means!) Michael Oher, who came from an impoverished upbringing in Memphis. He was given an opportunity to attend a private school based on his physical potential to be a football player. He is played by unknown actor Quinton Aaron with great sensibility. Watching him progress from a state of silent vulnerability to a young man who finds his own voice, is an unforgetable experience. Right away, I found myself rooting for this unlikely hero from start to finish.

Oher is taken-in by wealthy couple, Leigh Ann and Sean Tuohy, played by Bullock and country mega-star Tim McGraw, who are responsible for turning his life around. Although, McGraw is still earning his mark in Hollywood as a bona fide actor, I have always found Bullock a fine actress. It is her choice of roles which have both boosted her commercial popularity, yet hindered her critical success at the same time. Let's be real - films like Miss Congeniality and The Proposal just aren't going to get Oscars push. This film however, is Bullock's Erin Brokovitch and it would be a shame if her name was not at least thrown around come awards season because she is incredible as Tuohy. She commands each scene with a no-nonsense attitude and her unconditional love for her family, including Oher, leaves you walking away from the movie wanting to be a better person. In fact, I saw a kid who didn't have enough money to pay for his candy at Metro afterwards and I dug into my pocket and spotted him $3.00 for his Gummy Bears. Yes, Bullock is that deeply affecting here.