"LION" IS KING OF THE BOX OFFICE AGAIN

Still from Moneyball

Disney's The Lion King 3-D, last week's Champion, defies all odds and does it a second week in a row, still going strong with $22 million in its second week of release. The Animated Feature wins a hotly-contested race for the lead with Sony Pictures' Moneyball, both a critical and commercial success, getting edged-out with $21 million. The Sports Drama also garnered an amazing 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, meaning that likely it will be a serious Best Picture contender come Awards season.  And to think it all started at TIFF 2011!

Third-place finisher Dolphin Tale 3-D for Warner Bros., starring Morgan Freeman and Harry Connick Jr., is by no means a slouch either, opening with a v. impressive $20 million from 3,507 theatres.

Abduction starring Taylor Lautner opens in fourth spot with $11 million below expectations, as it was made for $36 million and high hopes were held for its Lead Actor's star power. Surely the Actor will see better days soon with the impending release of the next installment of Twilight.

A strong and proven Cast of Leading Men wasn't enough to save Killer Elite which debuts in fifth spot also with $9.5 million. The Action Thriller starring Clive Owen, Robert DeNiro and Jason Statham also fared poorly with Critics at 23% on the Tomatometer.

Former Champion Contagion slips to sixth spot in its third week with $9 million, earning $57.5 million in its run, just ahead of Drive starring Ryan Gosling in seventh, with $6 million in its second week. Meanwhile, Disney's The Help finds itself in eighth spot, now surpassing the $150 mark domestically - just about exceeding everyone's expectations.

ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF "DRIVE" & SIGNED RYAN GOSLING PHOTO

I promised, I deliver.  Partnering for the first-time ever with Thomas Allen & Son Limited, Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven wants to give one lucky Reader a chance to win a copy of James Sallis' Novel, Drive, paired with a signed Ryan Gosling Photo. The stellar Film Adaptation starring Gosling, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks and Carey Mulligan is now in theatres via Alliance Films.

See Photos & Video from the TIFF 2011 Premiere of Drive here.

See Photos of Gosling arriving in Toronto for TIFF here.

To qualify for the win, you must "like" the Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven Facebook Page and leave a comment under this Post answering the question, does the Director of Drive, Nicolas Winding Refn, actually know how to drive?   You have until October 22, 2011 to qualify.  Good luck, Mavenati!  (Hint: Video on my Drive Premiere Post).

Even if you don't win, don't fret as I'll be giving away additional copies of Drive here also...

"THE LION KING 3-D" REIGNS OVER BOX OFFICE

Still from The Lion King

Family always comes first and that would be the case at the Box Office this weekend as Disney's The Lion King 3-D reigns supreme with $29.2 million earned from 2,330 theatres.

Former Champion Contagion by Stephen Soderbergh slips to second this weekend with $14.4 million after landing on-top last week.

Debuting in third is early Best Picture contender Drive starring Ryan Gosling, with $11 million for Lionsgate/Alliance Films, opening in 2,886 theatres. It currently stands at a stellar 93% on Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

Disney's The Help also is still going strong in fourth spot this weekend in its sixth week of release with $6.4 million this weekend, just ahead of the Remake of Thriller Straw Dogs in fifth spot, starring James Marsden and Kate Bosworth.

I Don't Know How She Does It starring Sarah Jessica Parker opens in sixth spot this weekend with $4.5 million and poor reviews at 20% on the Tomatometer.

The excellent Warrior is in eighth spot with $2.7 million in its second week for Lionsgate/Alliance Films, which is a pity.  Hopefully it will see strong numbers overseas.

RYAN GOSLING AT TIFF FOR "DRIVE" - PREMIERE PHOTOS & VIDEO

Ryan Gosling at Toronto Premiere of Drive

Drawing loud shrieks from Fans who queued for hours to see him at Ryerson Theatre tonight, Ryan Gosling demonstrated v. well why it is that he can be mentioned in the same breath as your George Clooneys and Brad Pitts, who have been omnipresent at TIFF 2011.  Gosling currently is receiving tons of Oscar buzz for his work on not one, but two titles to be released this Fall and I was lucky enough to attend the Premiere of Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive this evening.  I can confirm that it's nothing like anything I've ever seen.  It quite possibly is the most  stylish, serene, yet violent Film I've ever seen - chalk full of enthralling Action and Driving sequences.  Gosling is brilliant without ever really saying much.  Everything about him here is communicated through his eyes and  facial movements.

Refn tells the Audience, which included Gosling's immediate Family, that he wanted always to be in a John Hughes Brat Pack Film and models his Films after those of that Filmmaker, being a Child of the '80s.

Watch a Video extracted from this evening's Q&A with Gosling's Co-stars Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks:

ALBERT BROOKS AT TIFF FOR "DRIVE"

Albert Brooks & Mr. Will-W.

You know and love him for his work in The Simpsons (Series and Movie), plus Films like Finding Nemo and Broadcast News and by fluke I ran into the amazing Albert Brooks today.  Brooks is in-town promoting Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive, starring Ryan Gosling.

RYAN GOSLING AT TIFF FOR "THE IDES OF MARCH" & "DRIVE"

Ryan Gosling in Toronto - September 2011

Ahh... The one you've all been waiting for! Receiving a Hero's Welcome upon arriving back in Toronto from Los Angeles (on the same flight Marisa Tomei), Ryan Gosling is on-the-verge of something huge with two highly-buzzed Films this Fall. Drive and The Ides of March premiering at TIFF this weekend and everyone seems to be talking about how powerful his performances are in both.

Despite being surrounded by hoards of Fans, he still took the time and handled the situation like a true Professional, signing up a storm of Autographs and keeping them all back at a safe distance when things got a little unruly.  "What are you guys going to do with all of these?", he asked.  I replied to him "Does it matter?  Your true Fans will get these somehow!", which seemed to satisfy him.  I was able to nab one for you, Mavenati.  When things calm down a bit, I will package this together with the Novel Drive and offer it as a Giveaway so stay tuned!

Gosling = amazing.  You can catch him Friday night at Roy Thomson Hall for The Ides of March's Premiere, while on Saturday you will be able to find Gosling at Ryerson Theatre for Drive.  I will be there for the latter and am anxious to share my thoughts on it!  Will this be his year at the Oscars?  Bet on it.

See more Photos of our new favourite Canadian below:

MICHAEL FASSBENDER: THE TALK OF TELLURIDE AND VENICE FILM FESTIVALS

Michael Fassbender

Much of the buzz coming out of both the Telluride and Venice Film Festivals is centering around Michael Fassbender, who along with Ryan Gosling seem to have finally caught the heat that differentiates Actors from Megastars. Even though Fassbender still is little-known in these parts, that soon is expected to change.

Although some are reporting walk-outs at Telluride (Colorado) due to the graphic nature of Steve McQueen's Shame, much acclaim seems to be coming out of it all still. L.A. Times' Julie Makinen describes the opening minutes of the Drama about a Sex-Obsessed Man named Brandon, "A courageous performance by a full-frontal Fassbender — has slept with a hooker and masturbated in the shower. And then things get really kinky.".

Oliver Lyttelton of Indiewire praises Fassbender's performance in David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method, which also explores themes of Sexuality with him playing Psychiatrist Carl Jung. Lyttleton says that the German-born Irish Actor is "deeply sad and deeply human, never shutting the audience out.".

And to think, this time next week he'll be here in the City for TIFF 2011 with both these Films!  

(Photo credit: See-Saw Films/Film4)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY ANNOUNCES "25 FALL MOVIES WE CAN'T WAIT FOR"

Still from J Edgar

Entertainment Weekly has announced their 25 Fall Movies We Can’t Wait For complete with stills from each film.  Included on their List are:

• Moneyball
• Drive
• The Ides of March
• J Edgar
• Hugo
• Carnage
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

CONFIRMED TIFF 2011 TITLES

Still from Moneyball

So the first TIFF 2011 Press Conference was held at 10:00 AM today with various Galas and marquee titles announced.  Although weekly announcements still are to come over the next month, here are some of the more buzzed Movies we will be seeing in Toronto come September:

Trishna – directed by Michael Winterbottom – The tragic love story of a Property Developer’s Son and an Auto Rickshaw Owner’s Daughter; stars Freida Pinto.

The Lady – Luc Besson’s Biopic about pro-Democracy Activist Aung San Suu Kyi played by Michelle Yeoh, who was blacklisted in Burma after filming this one

W.E. – Madonna’s directorial debut. A film which criss-crosses a modern day love story with the romance between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.

AFTER COMIC-CON WILL "DRIVE" BE SURFACING AT TIFF?

Ryan Gosling & Mr. Will-W.

Yesterday the Press Conference for Cannes Film Festival favourite Drive was held in San Diego amidst all the Comic-Con fun, and star Carey Mulligan had nothing but praise for her handsome co-star Ryan Gosling.  She revealed, "He was amazing, such a nice guy, and explained his preparation for his role as a Stunt Actor.  "He spent months before the film knowing everything there was to know about cars. He built his own car for the film...and he learned stunt driving! He was a machine. Everyone loved him, he was a dream, he was amazing.".  Mulligan will be headed to Australia shortly to begin work on Moulin Rouge Director Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby 3-D alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Isla Fisher and Joel Edgerton.

Danish Director Nicolas Winding Refn told those in attendance that upon first meeting Gosling, he was worried that he had made a negative impression for himself after having taken medication for his Flu beforehand.  Refn says, "It was like a blind date in real life; nobody was going to get fucked tonight. We had simply no connection because I was so out of it, so stoned.". Hilarious!  Like in real life sometimes you can't just base things on a first impression as clearly things worked out with the great buzz Drive is receiving right now.

POSSIBLE 2011 TIFF TITLES? (UPDATED)

Still from Like Crazy

Although the Toronto International Film Festival is only a little over two months away, there already is wide speculation about which major Oscars Keyplayers will be getting a Toronto Premiere here come September.  Although these are based purely on rumour, the below v. possibly could be screening in the City - meaning you just might be seeing these Stars here!

Here are a few Candidates:

We Need to Talk About Kevin – starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly; about a Mother recounting the series of events leading up to her Son’s massacring of students and teachers at his High School.

Sleeping Beauty – Australian film starring Emily Browning about a Girl who enters a secret underground Prostitution Ring, taking a sleep-inducing Drug which then allows her Clientele to have their way with her without any recollection.

The Ides of March – starring George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood. A Staff Member to a new Presidential Candidate is given a quick, dirty Crash Course on Politics during his Campaign Trail.

ALLIANCE FILMS TO PURCHASE MAPLE PICTURES

Maple Pictures Logo

It was just announced yesterday that two of Canada's biggest Film Distributors are now one. Alliance Films will be purchasing Maple Pictures for a total $38.5 million, effectively handling its releases in Canada for U.S.-based Lionsgate Films.

Alliance Films' President Charles Layton states in a Press Release, "This transaction combines two extraordinary Distributors in Canada and strengthens the distribution infrastructure we offer to our content partners. We’re thrilled to add Lionsgate’s new Films and very large, renowned library to Alliance. We look forward to working with the entire Lionsgate Team in the years to come.”.