REVIEW: "THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO"

Still from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Although I never thought much of Niels Arden Oplev's original Adaptation of Stieg Larsson's international Bestseller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I am a huge Fan of David Fincher's interpretation of it.

This first installment in the Trilogy-to-come centers around an unlikely Duo brought together by a family Mystery haunting wealthy Swedes The Vangers for well-over 40 years. Shamed Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is called upon by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to solve the mystery behind the presumed murder of his beloved Niece Harriet. After reaching a roadblock in his investigation, he is connected with volatile 23 year-old Computer Hacker-for-hire Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). Coincidentally, she also is the same Hacker who was enlisted to investigate Mikael amidst his own controversy.

As Mikael and Lisbeth continue their fact-finding, they begin unraveling some deep, dark secrets about the Vanger Family never before brought to light and we realize that danger is ever-imminent as they are being watched by someone closer to home than originally believed.

KATE MARA & MAX MINGHELLA AT TIFF 2011 WITH "TEN YEAR"

Kate Mara & Mr. Will-W.

This morning while beginning my fourth day of TIFF 2011 festivities, I crossed paths with the stars of Ten Year. Just across the road from my Condo! Kate Mara, Sister of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo herself Rooney Mara and her Boyfriend Max Minghella (The Social Network) were out shopping today and were amazing enough to stop for a quick Photo before heading off.

Minghella appears in two titles at this year's Festival, the other being high-profile The Ides of March, which premiered here on Friday night.

Ten Year is said to have some similarities to The Big Chill and it premieres Monday night at Ryerson Theatre, with names like Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan being expected for arrival also.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

ANDREW GARFIELD AT COMIC-CON FOR "THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN"

Andrew Garfield at TIFF 2010

With the Trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man (due July 2012 via Sony Pictures) surfacing the other day, many Fans including myself are asking the question - why they have to re-tell Peter Parker's transformation to Spider-Man all over again?  Although this question remains to be answered, the entire Cast including Emma Stone and Director Marc Webb, made an appearance earlier today  at Comic-Con in San Diego.  Star Andrew Garfield even showed-up dressed as Spider-Man - enough of a distraction from the burning question ...for me at least!

Garfield had nothing by praise for Tobey Maguire's interpretation of the coveted role telling attendees, “When I watch that first Spidey film, I lost my mind. I watched it back to back, twice in a row when I first saw it.”.  He also confirmed that Maguire has been supportive, revealing “He (Maguire) gave me his blessing. It meant the world to me, because I respect him so much in general and also what he did with the role.".

2011 ACADEMY AWARDS RECAP

Natalie Portman at the 83rd Academy Awards

The 83rd Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre this evening, were marred most perhaps by predictability. As Award after Award was handed-out this evening, it became more and more apparent that there were not going to be any real surprises in the most anticipated categories.   

Colin Firth as Actor in a Leading Role, yes - saw it a mile away.  Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, giving The Fighter an Oscar double in the Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role categories respectively - yes.  Aaron Sorkin for Adapted Screenplay with The Social Network - uh-huh.  Inception in the technical categories: Sound Editing, Visual Effects, Editing, Sound Mixing - yup.

The biggest surprise in my opinion was The King's Speech Director Tom Hooper nabbing the Award for Directing over The Social Network's David Fincher, a telling sign that the former would go on to win the coveted Best Picture Award.  Another telling sign was that Colin Firth's now-famous Speech in that Film was played over a Montage of all the Best Picture Nominees prior to the Award being announced.  The Weinstein Brothers sure know how to win an Oscar, that much I'll say.

NATALIE PORTMAN WINS AT SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS

Hilary Swank & Natalie Portman at 17th Annual SAG Awards

Yes!  Two of my favourites together at last.  Natalie Portman and Hilary Swank exchange greetings on the Red Carpet at tonight's Screen Actor's Guild Awards in Los Angeles.  Portman dressed in Azzaro and over $2 million in jewels from Tiffany & Co. showed off that growing Baby Bump loud and proud.  Swank opted for Versace in a colour she really should be seen in more often.

Of course, Portman won Best Actress for Black Swan in her first-ever SAG nomination in the category, beating out previous Winner Swank for Conviction.  The top honour of Best Ensemble Cast Award went to Tom Hooper's The King's Speech, including Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter.  The Film has displayed a stunning late kick this Awards season, possibly overthrowing The Social Network as the favourite for Best Picture at the Oscars late February.

 For a complete list of Winners, click here.  Check out more Photos from tonight's Red Carpet over at Zimbio (Tip: you must see Mila Kunis' Alexander McQueen number).

(Photo credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

MARK ZUCKERBERG AND JESSE EISENBERG UNITE ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE"

Mark Zuckerberg, Jesse Eisenberg & Andy Samberg on SNL

It happened!  Facebook Co-founder Mark Zuckerberg did make an appearance on tonight's episode of Saturday Night Live after all as rumoured.  Jesse Eisenberg played Host after only last week garnering his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Zuckerberg in David Fincher's The Social Network.  

Apparently Eisenberg and Zuckerberg have never met, but they were united on-stage for the first time along with cast member Andy Samberg who was dressed also as Zuckerberg.  Yes, count 'em - three Zuckerbergs.  Eisenberg played up the awkwardness of the moment after Zuckerberg revealed he has indeed seen the Best Picture candidate.

"THE KING'S SPEECH" TOPS RIVALS WITH 12 OSCAR NOMINATIONS

Still from The King's Speech

Some surprises, but not really. This year’s Oscar nominations were announced earlier today and The King’s Speech from The Weinstein Co. towers over its rivals with a total twelve nominations, including the most coveted category of Best Picture in which it will be up against nine other titles. It is considered a favourite especially in the Best Actor category based on the strength of Colin Firth’s career-best performance, but also Co-stars Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter also get recognized for their work in the Best Supporting Actor/Actress categories.

Paramount Pictures’ Western-Drama True Grit garnered an impressive ten nominations also with Jeff Bridges surprising some with a Best Actor nomination after having won that Award last year. Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ Blockbuster Inception earned a total eight nominations, although mostly in technical categories and less for Acting. This ranks Inception as the third most nominated Film in this year’s Oscars race, alongside Sony Pictures’ The Social Network which many consider to be the frontrunner for Best Picture based on its wins in precursor ceremonies like the most recent Golden Globes.  The King's Speech however, edged it out this past weekend in the Producer's Guild Awards. 

Another title from Paramount Pictures’ The Fighter, consistently has been in the thick of it this Awards season, garnering seven nominations (three coming from its outstanding Support Cast members Amy Adams, Melissa Leo and Christian Bale). Many are wondering though whether or not the split votes between Adams and Leo will aid for True Grit’s 14 year-old Star Hailee Steinfeld, who is seen as a Dark Horse to win Best Supporting Actress in her first role ever in a Film.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 68TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

Aaron Sorkin

For those of you who missed the 68th annual Golden Globes tonight on NBC, here's a recap and some highlights:

-The Social Network executes a full-on assault on the evening, winning most major Awards - Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director (David Fincher), Best Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin) and Best Score (Trent Reznor)

-The televised broadcast going black as Natalie Portman is announced as a nominee for Best Actress in a Drama Motion Picture for Black Swan.  Of course she won joking, "That Man - Benjamin Millepied - he`s the best Actor ever because in the Film he said he wouldn`t sleep with me and look, he really does want to sleep with me! ". Millepied is now engaged to Portman and the Father of their Child, to be born this Summer.

-Colin Firth winning Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for The King's Speech and true to character, delivering understated words.  No surprises there.

-A recovering Michael Douglas presenting the Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama to The Social Network Producer Scott Rudin; Douglas received a standing ovation.

NATALIE PORTMAN WINS AT CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS

Natalie Portman at the 2010 Critics' Choice Movie Awards

Natalie Portman is winning so many Awards already for Black Swan that I've decided to coin a new term: Congratalie which has been created to save effort in congratulating Natalie Portman on her Award wins.  Portman won Best Actress last night at the 16th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards in Los Angeles and I doubt anybody would dispute her deserving this.  Garbed in a lovely Gianfranco Ferre number which helped flatter that Baby Bump, the Actress was all smiles as she was presented the Award by Kevin Spacey.

Other winners last night include Colin Firth for Best Actor, Hailee Steinfeld for Best Young Actor, a pair of wins for The Fighter in the categories of Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale) and Best Supporting Actress (Melissa Leo).  The Social Network was a big winner last night also winning top honours for Best Movie, Best Director (David Fincher) and also Best Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin).  No surprises here.  Don't forget to tune into tomorrow night's Golden Globe Awards, which air 8 PM EST on NBC.

Kevin Winters, my favourite Paparazzi took some amazing shots last night and you can see all 270+ Photos at Zimbio here.  For more highlights from the night visit the VH1 website.

(Photo credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

JAY BARUCHEL & ALLISON PILL: A COUPLE

Jay Baruchel

Buzz has been circulating the Toronto Film Critics' Association Awards Gala tonight that homegrown talents Jay Baruchel (How to Train Your Dragon, She's Out of My League) and Alison "Sorry I Don't Take Photos With Fans" Pill (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Milk) have been canoodling together in a v. Couple-like manner. Baruchel and Pill were seen arriving together.  An interesting match, but at the same time not surprising?  And yes, I did hear Pill say the aforementioned quote myself.

Alison Pill

Despite Winners having been announced mid-December the Gala held at Nota Bene, honours the selected Victors and Victresses. David Fincher's The Social Network won the Association's top honour of Best Picture and the Film also scored in categories: Best Actor (Jesse Eisenberg), Best Supporting Actor (Armie Hammer) and Best Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin). 

Denis Villeneuve, Director of Incendies was on-hand to accept the award for Best Canadian Film, which includes a monetary prize of $15,000.

 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

ROONEY MARA & DAVID FINCHER IN FEBRUARY'S "W" MAGAZINE

Rooney Mara in W Magazine

Early favourite for Best Director at February’s Oscars, David Fincher sits down with W Magazine’s Lynn Hirschberg and chats about his celebrated career in next month's Issue. Looking back at some of his more important Films, Fincher feels that The Social Network stands as a “Movie” in his books, not a “Film”. 2007’s Zodiac however was a real “Film” according to the Director in that "it was about murders that changed America. After the Zodiac killings in California, the Summer of Love was over. Suddenly, there was no more weed or pussy. People were hog-tied and died. No one died during the creation of Facebook. By my estimation, the person who made out the worst in the creation of Facebook still made more than 30 million dollars. And no one was killed.”.  He might have a point there.

Although Fincher doesn’t get photographed, we do get a sneak peek at The Social Network Star Rooney Mara’s dark transformation as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which re-teams the Actress with Fincher.  The Film is now in Post-Production. 

ANDREW GARFIELD COVERS "DETAILS"

Andrew Garfield in February's Details Magazine

The Social Network's Andrew Garfield looks focused in this Photo by Details Magazine's Norman Jean Roy, who sure knows how to photograph a Man.  Covering the publication's February issue, Garfield talks about Fame, telling Jeff Gordinier: "I hope I never blow up".

Garfield then goes on to speak about his life-changing experience filming perhaps his strongest scene in The Social Network, where he barges into Facebook's Headquarters confronting Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) and then smashing a Laptop.  He admits,  "I've gone through my whole life caring deeply what people think of me.  That was probably one of the first times where I didn't care for a second. And it was liberating. I felt more like a man than I've ever felt".  Read the Article in full here .

The February issue of Details hits stores later this month, while The Social Network hits stores today in DVD Blu-Ray and Standard Two-Disc Editions.

(Photo credit: Details/Norman Jean Roy)

STARS ARRIVE AT "THE SOCIAL NETWORK" DVD LAUNCH

Jesse Eisenberg and Aaron Sorkin

In-stores on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, David Fincher's The Social Network held a DVD Launch Party in Beverly Hills yesterday. Most of the principal cast members including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Brenda Song, Armie Hammer and Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin showed-up to promote the Movie which will be available in Standard Two-Disc and Blu-Ray editions.

Seen above being.... social are Sorkin and Eisenberg, both up for Oscars consideration for their respective categories.

Zimbio has lots of great Photos from the event here.

(Photo credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

"THE SOCIAL NETWORK" SET FOR JANUARY 11, 2011 RELEASE

The Social Network DVD

Mark your calendars!  Timed perfectly for the Oscars voting period, David Fincher's The Social Network will see a DVD release here in North America on January 11, 2011 via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  The current frontrunner in the race for Best Picture follows a strategy similar to that of Paul Haggis' Crash, which was released theatrically ahead of Awards season and timed also with a DVD release right around the crucial voting period.  The Film went on to win Best Picture in 2006 over favoured Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee).

The Social Network's release mid-January would be beneficial in numerous ways in that all the buzz it is getting right now will be great of Sales and Rentals of the Film.  At the same time, the frequent advertising and mentioning of its release would aid in its cause for staying visible in the 6,000+ Academy Voters' collective consciousness.

Crafty/sneaky or whatever you like to call it - I'm so up for owning this one on DVD.  Can't wait to watch the abundance of Featurettes on the Two-Disc edition of the DVD, including a full-length Documentary about the making of the The Social Network, its Scoring and Commentary with Fincher & Cast.

17TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Still from The Fighter

Nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards have just been announced and perhaps this is a better indication of what's to come for the Oscars than the randomness of Monday's Golden Globe nominees.  Honouring the v. best performances in Television and Film, the SAGs will air Sunday, January 30, 2011 on TBS.

The Fighter ties The King's Speech in leading all nominees with four nods each. Surprisingly, The Social Network only earned two nominations this time - Oustanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture and Oustanding Performance by an Actor in Leading Role in a Motion Picture.

Both Robert Duvall for Get Low and Jeff Bridges for True Grit finally get some recognition this Awards season in the category of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role alongside favourites Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network, Colin Firth for The King's Speech and James Franco for 127 Hours.

2011 GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Golden Globe Award

Nominees for the 68th annual Golden Globe Awards were announced earlier today and the Hollywood Foreign Press Assocation made some good choices and some odd ones too in honouring the best in both Television and Film.  The King's Speech led all others with a total seven nominations, while The Fighter and The Social Network followed behind closely with six each.

Nominees for Best Motion Picture, Drama include Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The King's Speech and The Social Network - all excellent and deserving choices.  The HFPA however, raised a few eyebrows for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy with choices like Alice in Wonderland 3-D, Burlesque, The Tourist and Red, showing signs that perhaps this category has outgrown its name? The clear-cut favourite here would be The Kids Are All Right, looking like a shoe-in for the win against these.

The match for Best Director is a competitive one with finalists which including Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), David Fincher (The Social Network), Tom Hooper (The King's Speech), Christopher Nolan (Inception) and David O. Russell (The Fighter) - all deserving of the win.

"THE SOCIAL NETWORK" WINS BIG AT TORONTO FILM CRITICS ASSOCATION AWARDS

Still from The Social Network

No surprises here. The Toronto Film Critics Association announced their year’s best this morning and again David Fincher’s The Social Network cleaned-up. The movie based on the rise of Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, won Picture of the Year in addition to awards for Best Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin), Best Director (Fincher), Best Actor (Jesse Eisenberg) and in a bit of a shocker, Best Supporting Actor (Armie Hammer).  His co-stars Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield actually have been getting a bit more buzz so this comes as a bit of an upset.

Best Actress went to Jennifer Lawrence for her breakthrough performance in Winter’s Bone.  She also was awarded the same honour by the Los Angeles Film Critics this weekend. Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld who before this weekend was known more for her appearance on a K-Mart ad and some Teen Flicks, was Best Supporting Actress for her turn in The Coen Brothers’ True Grit – another breakthrough performance.

Runner-up for Picture of the Year was Cannes’ Palme D’or Winner Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives and also Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan.

Read more here about Toronto’s Winners.

(Photo credit: Sony Pictures)

NEW YORK FILM CRITICS SOCIETY WINNERS ANNOUNCED - "THE SOCIAL NETWORK" CONTINUES TO DOMINATE

Still from The Social Network

One of the more important precursors to the Oscars is the New York Film Critics’ Circle Awards just held earlier today. In what’s looking more and more like a shoe-in for Best Picture next February is David Fincher’s The Social Network, which won top honour of Best Film; Fincher also nabbed Best Director.  But get this though - The Social Network this weekend was also awarded Best Film unilaterally by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assocation, the Boston Society of Film Critics and New York Film Critics Online. 

Surprisingly, Best Actress was handed to Annette Bening for The Kids are All Right over Natalie Portman in Black Swan, while Best Actor honours went according to plan with Colin Firth, winning in that category for The King’s Speech.  Black Swan won for Best Cinematography possibly due to a local bias seeing that much of the Film was shot in Brooklyn.

Melissa Leo, just in Toronto this past weekend, won Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter, yet another trophy in her cabinet after just receiving an award for that same performance, from the Boston Society of Film Critics too. Mark Ruffalo won for Best Supporting Actor in The Kids are All Right and it would be amazing to see him rewarded with an Oscar nomination next year for the first time.

Click here to read about more of the Winners.

(Photo credit: Sony Pictures)

CAST OF "THE SOCIAL NETWORK" HONOURED AT HOLLYWOOD AWARDS GALA

The Social Network's Rashida Jones, Josh Pence, Jesse Eisenberg,
,Justin Timberlake, Max Minghella and Andrew Garfield

Congratulations to the cast of David Fincher's The Social Network who were honoured at the Beverly Hilton last night for the 14th annual Hollywood Awards Gala.  And Awards season still hasn't begun yet! The Actors won the  Ensemble Acting Award and my guess is that they're likely to win the Screen Actor's Guild Award for Best Ensemble Cast on Sunday, January 30, 2011 too.

Other Actors honoured last night include:

"PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2" SCARES AWAY ITS RIVALS

Still from Paranormal Activity 2

Outdoing its predecessor which only was released a year ago, Paramount's Paranormal Activity 2 opened huge this weekend with an estimated total of $43.5 million from 3,216 theatres.  The film now holds the record as the highest grossing R-Rated Midnight Opening of all-time, raking in $6.3 million Thursday night, according to Nikki Finke at Deadline.  Paranormal Activity, made for only a budget of $15k, opened with $19.6 million last Fall and went on to earn $193.3 million worldwide.  Impressively, the film's sequel received fairly strong reviews also, with a 67% consensus at Rotten Tomatoes.

Last week's champion Jackass 3-D also from Paramount, slips to second with an estimated $21.5 million at the Box Office.  It opened last week with a spectacular $50 million and continues to perform strongly, as does Summit Entertainment's Action Flick Red filmed partly here in Toronto.  Red earned $15.2 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to $43.6 million.

Clint Eastwood's Hereafter had an uncharacteristically weak opening in fourth spot for the iconic filmmaker, earning $12 million from 2,181 theatres.  The Warner Bros. film also is garnering mixed reviews from Critics, with a 51% rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

Audiences are still in-love with David Fincher's The Social Network which in its fourth week slips to fifth spot with $7.2 million based on early weekend numbers, putting it just ahead of Disney's Secretariat which is performing steadily, just now recouping its $35 million production budget.