"ROCK OF AGES" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Rock of Ages

Although I have yet to see the Stage Version of Rock of Ages, I can say with complete confidence that its Film Adaptation stands magnificently on its own as a thrilling Moviegoing Experience. Adam Shankman (A Walk to Remember, Hairspray) delivers an electrifying display of Showmanship and he will forever be known as the Director who convincingly transformed Tom Cruise into a Rock Star here.

The Premise is familiar: a Smalltown Girl named Sherrie (Julianne Hough) and a City Boy named Drew (Diego Boneta) who meet in Hollywood, working at Hotspot called The Bourbon Room, with dreams and aspirations of making it big. They are brought together by their undying passion for Rock 'n' Roll, even though they are an unlikely pairing.  At the same time, financially-ailing The Bourbon Room faces the tight scrutiny of Mayor Whitmore (Bryan Cranston) and his Wife Patricia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) due to some unpaid taxes and its promoting of immoral values; a watchful eye triggered passionately perhaps by a personal motive on the latter's part.  All the while, washed-up Rock Legend Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) soon is set to hit the stage in a highly-publicized performance which could be the Club's saving grace.  Rock of Ages however, is so much more than its Synopsis suggests.  It is a Celebration of the Power of Music; an embodiment of Rock 'n' Roll's rebellious spirit. It is an emphatic statement about believing in your dreams and fighting the fight for them.

Filled with superb performances from its Ensemble, Newcomer Diego Boneta wows at first asking in his Debut, while Dancing with the Stars Alumni Julianne Hough solidifies her place as a real Movie Star.  No one can deny the infectious charisma and energy of both Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin, while Oscar Winner Catherine Zeta-Jones gives us her tightest performance since Chicago - getting a chance to do exactly what she does best here.  Surprisingly good is Toronto's own Malin Åkerman as an uptight Rolling Stone Journalist. The biggest revelation of all here is Tom Cruise's jaw-dropping work as Stacee Jaxx - a mishmash of Jim Morrison, Axl Rose and Jon Bon Jovi. Many will be surprised, if not stunned by his performance which surely will garner some Awards buzz even this early in the Season.

ENTER TO WIN "ROCK OF AGES" - ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

Official Artwork for Rock of Ages - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

I've been going on about it at length on Twitter all week and now it's your turn to enjoy it. Universal Music Canada & Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven want to give Readers a chance to win a copy of the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to Rock of Ages, now in-stores!

Even if like me you haven't yet seen the Broadway Musical, you won't be able to resist some of these Big Arena Covers of our favourite Rock Tunes of the '80s-early '90s.  Better yet, did I mention that these versions heard/seen in the Movie are performed by Mary J. Blige, Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Diego Boneta ... and TOM CRUISE?  Your jaws will drop. Your socks will be knocked.

The superbly-infectious Soundtrack includes the following Tracks:

1. Paradise City - Guns N'Roses (Tom Cruise)

2. Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But A Good Time - Night Ranger & David Lee Roth & Poison (Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin)

3. Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Foreigner & Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Julianne Hough)

18TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS RECAP

Viola Davis - 18th Annual SAG Awards

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were held at The Shrine in Los Angeles earlier this evening, with Winners being determined by 2,100 Actors voting to honour their Peers for their brilliant work.  Viola Davis was Queen of the Red Carpet in a gorgeous white Marchesa dress, while her The Help Co-star Emma Stone looked stunning also in a black Alexander McQueen number.  Although the Ladies of Bridesmaids won over the audience re-enacting a drinking game on-stage around the word "Scorese", it was the Cast of The Help which was awarded Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Viola Davis was a bit of a surprise winning Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in The Help (defeating Meryl Streep) and Jean Dujardin for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in The Artist. Both wins for further solidify that they too just  might win Best Actress and Actor at next month's Academy Awards.

A recurring theme among tonight's SAG Award Winners was that it's never too late to be recognized.  For one, 82-year-old Christopher Plummer earned his first SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Beginners.  Some also might have been surprised that 90-year-old veteran Actress Betty White won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for Hot in Cleveland, beating-out Julie Bowen, Sofia Vergara, Tina Fey and Edie Falco. Another late to gain recognition is 62-year-old Jessica Lange, honoured for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series with American Horror Story.  

MARK RUFFALO TAKES LEAD IN RYAN MURPHY'S "THE NORMAL HEART": JULIA ROBERTS, JIM PARSONS, ALEC BALDWIN & MATT BOMER ALSO ADDED

Mark Ruffalo at TIFF 2008

2012 will be the start of Mark Ruffalo's long-overdue rise as a bona fide Leading Man in Hollywood.  The Actor has been confirmed to take the lead in Glee/American Horror Story Creator Ryan Murphy's new Film, The Normal Heart.  The HIV/AIDs Drama is based upon a TONY Award-winning Play of the same title and centers on Ned Weeks, who is one of the first Advocates in New York to raise awareness about the disease.  Written by Activist/Writer Larry Kramer, the Play largely is autobiographical.

The Cast for The Normal Heart is rather impressive including Julia Roberts, who last teamed with Murphy on 2010's Eat, Pray, Love.  She will be playing a wheelchair-bound Doctor who also is among the first to raise concern about HIV/AIDs.  Matt Bomer, whose star dramatically is on the rise, takes the role of Weeks' Boyfriend contracting the Disease, while another openly-Gay Actor Jim Parsons will tackle the role of an Activist from the South.  Alec Baldwin also has been named to play the Lawyer Brother of Weeks, struggling to cope with the sexuality of Ruffalo's character.

Ruffalo currently is filming Now You See Me, a Bank Heist Thriller which has the FBI circling a team of Illusionists who rob banks as part of their act, rewarding their audiences with money; Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg star. His upcoming Drama Thanks for Sharing has him alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, P!nk, Tim Robbins and Joely Richardson, about three Sex Addicts on the road to recovery.  His marquee release however is Disney's all-star The Avengers, in theatres May 4, 2012 which has him starring in what is said to be an important role as Bruce Banner/The Hulk.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

JANE KRAKOWSKI IN TORONTO FOR BLACKCREEK MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jane Krakowski in Toronto - July 2011

Just three months after delivering her first Child Bennett, Jane Krakowski was fit and in fighting form for the BlackCreek Music Festival's presentation of The Very, Very Best of Broadway at Rexall Centre.  The Show assembled together some of the biggest names in Broadway to perform a selection of Classics.  

The Tony and SAG Award-winning Actress, best known for her hilarious work on NBC's 30 Rock as Jenna Maroney, wowed the Audience with a showstopping delivery of A Call from the Vatican, performed recently by Penélope Cruz in 2009's NINE.  One onlooker was in awe how high Krakowski's heels were.

Krakowski was shocked to arrive back at her Hotel to find Fans waiting for Autographs and walked over to greet them asking, "What, they can't let you guys come any closer?".  Not surprisingly she was personable and bubbly, not at all unlike her Stage and Television persona generously giving her time to them after a long day which saw her leaving for Rehearsals before noon and arriving back to her Hotel after midnight.

DIEGO GONZÁLEZ BONETA CAST IN LEAD ROLE FOR "ROCK OF AGES" MOVIE

Diego González Boneta

After much deliberation, a Lead Actor finally has been chosen for the upcoming Feature Film adaptation of Rock of Ages from New Line Cinema (Warner Bros.). 21 year-old Diego González Boneta has been cast as Drew Boley, a young Man who moves to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams of making it in the Music Industry.

He will be supported by a talented Cast which includes Julianne Hough as his love interest Sherrie, in addition to Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Mary J. Blige and Alec Baldwin. Amy Adams is said to be in talks to star also as a Reporter who is the love interest of Cruise’s character, Stacee Jax.

For those of you who are Fans of the ABC Family Show Pretty Little Liars - and I know many of you are - you might remember Boneta as Alex Santiago. He also stars in TV series 90210 as Javier, also a Singer.

(Photo credit: Francis Bertrand)

TOM CRUISE PREPPING FOR ROLE IN "ROCK OF AGES" MOVIE

Constantine Maroulis & Tom Cruise

It's seriously happening. Tom Cruise is already taking voice lessons  for his upcoming role as Stacee Jaxx in the Film adaptation of Musical Rock of Ages. He will be required to learn three songs for the Film including Styx's Renegade, Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive and Foreigner's I Want to Know What Love Is, which will be featured as a Duet with Sherrie (Anne Hathaway). It doesn't appear Taylor Swift is attached to the project anymore as once rumoured, although names floating around include Mary J. Blige and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Cruise was spotted at Pantages Theatre in Hollywood this past weekend watching Rock of Ages and chatting with Producers and the Cast, posing for a Photo with Star Constantine Maroulis who may of us might remember from his stint on American Idol.

2010 PRIMETIME EMMY NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The nominees for the 2010 Primetime Emmys have been announced and the usual suspects Steve Carell (The Office), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Tina Fey (30 Rock) and Glenn Close (Damages) are nominated again.  Glee's presence is also v. strong this year garnering nominations for Best Comedy Series, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.  

Our darling Betty White also received a nomination for her Guest Appearance on Saturday Night Live too in the Best Guest Actress in a Comedy category!

Check out a full list of nominees here.

THE MARRIAGE REF - A RATINGS HIT

NBC's The Marriage Ref was previewed last night as a 30-minute teaser after the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony and it was a certified ratings hit, beating out its timeslot competition at 10:30 PM EST.  

The reality show produced by Jerry Seinfeld, brings real couples with humorous domestic dilemmas aboard, while a celebrity panel of judges come together to help resolve their disputes.  Appearing on last night's episode were Alec Baldwin, Eva Longoria-Parker and Jerry Seinfeld, while comedian Tom Papa hosted.  Coming soon are Sarah Silverman, Madonna, Tina Fey and many others. 

Featured last night on the show were a couple quarreling over whether or not the husband could keep his Taxidermied dog Fonzie around the house, which his wife was terribly against.  Another couple was debating whether or not to install a Stripper Pole in their bedroom.  The husband was all for it, the wife... not so much!

The full first episode of The Marriage Ref premieres this Thursday, March 4, 2010 on NBC at 10 PM EST.  Quite possibly the most brilliant hour of television ever.  Aside from Glee, of course.