AARON ECKHART STARS IN DENNIS WILSON BIOPIC "THE DRUMMER"

Aaron Eckhart & Mr. Will-W.

In an intiguing bit of news, the amazing Aaron Eckhart is attached for a new Film called The Drummer, a Biopic about the last six years of The Beach Boys Drummer/Songwriter Dennis Wilson's life prior to his passing away late 1984; he was only 39 years-old.  The Title currently is listed as being in-production.

Wilson often was considered the Dark Horse of the Band and battled Alcohol and Drug Addiction. He drowned to death while recovering items he had thrown overboard at the Marina Del Ray in Los Angeles following a day-long drinking binge.

As an interesting fact, he once was friends with Serial Murderer Charles Manson and at one point they had worked on Music together before their Friendship had dissolved.

The Drummer will be directed by Randall Miller who also co-wrote its Script. International Distribution will be handled  by W2 Media as reported by Variety Magazine, which bought rights for a whopping seven figures. This should be a good one and perhaps will be underrated-Eckhart's long-overdue Plum Role!  Sounds meaty enough.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

NICOLE KIDMAN AND AARON ECKHART AT APPLE STORE, SOHO FOR "RABBIT HOLE"

Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman at Apple Store, SoHo

One of my favourite films of 2010 definitely is Rabbit Hole and since I reviewed it here back in September at TIFF, the Drama is getting lots of positive buzz, especially for its Producer/Star Nicole Kidman.  Just two weeks ago it was announced that she would be receiving the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Cinema Vanguard Award on February 5, 2011 based on her performance.

With promotions in high gear now, Kidman and co-star Aaron Eckhart made an appearance at New York City's Apple Store, SoHo as part of their Meet the Filmmaker series.  God, I wish I were there as our Apple Stores here in Toronto barely have enough room for standing - let alone room to host an event of this magnitude!  And I came oh-so-close to getting a picture with Kidman in Toronto, until her Publicist pulled her away.  I will never forget.  

Other upcoming appearances in the Meet the Filmmaker series include Director David O. Russell for The Fighter, Sofia Coppola for Somewhere and Derek Cianfrance for Blue Valentine.  

Read my review here for Rabbit Hole, which opens in Limited Release on December 17, 2010.

Zimbio posted lots of great shots of both Kidman and Eckhart last night.  Click here to see more.

(Photo credit: Zimbio/WireImage)

RABBIT HOLE REVIEW

Rabbit Hole

John Cameron Mitchell's (Shortbus, Hedwig and the Angry Inch) Rabbit Hole just might be my favourite film of TIFF 2010. Howie and Becca Corbett (Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman) are the couple with everything. A beautiful home and an adorable four year-old son Danny. That is, until the day he gets hit by a car in front of their home and dies tragically.

The story begins after the loss as we see Howie and Becca try to cope with the death of their son, attending support groups and from here we get a sense of how this tragedy has caused a divide in their relationship. Becca is jaded and skeptical - lying beneath the surface is an undercurrent of suppressed rage. Howie has an open heart and is willing to seek help and it is Becca's unwillingness to seek help that causes strain between them.

We see Becca turn to her mother played perfectly by Dianne Wiest for support, but at the same time aims her anger at her mother for failing to understand her struggle. We see Becca blow up also at those around her including her neighbour, sister and even a woman randomly while doing groceries. Howie continues to attend Group Therapy alone and befriends another mourning mother played by the brilliant Sandra Oh.  With tensions mounting between Howie and Beckie, we find Howie further drawn to Oh's character.  In addition to Howie engaging in an emotional affair with someone else, Becca seeks resolve secretly with the boy who killed her daughter accidentally, Jason (Miles Teller).  It is in him and not Therapy that she is able to get her own sense of closure and forgiveness.

TIFF: TRAGEDY AND CELEBRATION EXHIBIT

.... so we're five days into TIFF and I'm exhausted, having slept just 10 hours over the last four days. Things will be quieting down a bit soon, but I hope you guys have been having as much fun as I have!

To reward you, I'm putting on an Art Exhibit called TIFF: Tragedy and Celebration. I hope you have fun at the Exhibit and tell all your friends about it. We do have a Seniors and Students' Discount on Wednesdays. LOL.

The Tragedy of Hamm

The Celebration of Eckhart

On another note, could one of my readers with amazing Photoshop skills help save my otherwise amazing photo with Jon Hamm?  Please?  Love you!

INSTYLE MAGAZINE CONVICTION TIFF PARTY

Below are just a few of the faces seen tonight at the InStyle Magazine Party for Tony Goldwyn's Conviction. Just after midnight Betty Ann Waters, whom the movie is based upon, could be seen stumbling onto the street inebriated completely, before she and her friends were loaded onto an SUV to head off to Queen Street hotspot Sweaty Betty's for drinks. How fitting.

Aaron Eckhart

Jon Hamm, Jennifer Westfeldt

Justin Long

A separate SUV came prior to load what would be a star-studded ride including Hilary Swank, Justin Long, Juliette Lewis, Sam Rockwell and Tony Goldwyn.  As always, Lewis was out-of-it.  But hey, it's a party!  Hopefully she'll be coherent for her 9 AM Press Conference for the film.  

And of course Aaron Eckhart was a complete surprise as were Mad Men star Jon Hamm and his partner Jennifer Westfeldt.  Hamm is one of those people who I just seem to have no Photo-luck with, first accidentally deleting a perfectly lovely shot of him from Friday at The Town's Press Conference and now after taking a perfect photo together, it turned out that our photo was blurry!  Help!  I need a Photoshop Doctor.  This is an emergency!!