ALL-STAR READING OF "8" IN LOS ANGELES: GEORGE CLOONEY, BRAD PITT, MATT BOMER, CHRIS COLFER & MORE SHOW SUPPORT

AFER presents a live Reading of 8

An all-star Cast Reading of Dustin Lance Black's Play 8, took place this evening in Los Angeles with the likes of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matthew Morrison, Matt Bomer, Martin Sheen, George Takei, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Bacon, John C. Reilly, Chris Colfer and many more taking part.  

Directed by Rob Reiner, 8 is based upon Court Transcripts and actual Interviews chronicling the landmark Federal Trial of California's  Prop. 8, which served to prohibit Same-Sex Couples from marrying. The Reading was presented by the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

Watch the one-night-only Reading below:

For more, visit AFER's Official YouTube Page here.

(Photo/video credit: AFER)

"J. EDGAR" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from J. Edgar

Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar gives us a glimpse at the little-known private life of a Public Figure who both was celebrated for his achievements in Law Enforcement and also despised for an ethically  questionable regime in his near-50 year reign as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States.

Leonardo DiCaprio steps-up to the challenge of playing a Man who is tough-as-nails in his all-consuming ambition to establish and protect his own Legacy in America. At the other end of the spectrum however, we see a Paradox. Eastwood portrays Hoover as an Man torn between his relentless drive to please his demanding Mother (Judi Dench), his secret relationship with second-in-line Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer) and his endless desire to be a Public Hero, which he will go at all lengths to become.  Does J. Edgar portray its Hero in a positive light?  No, not necessarily.  What we get here is an attempt to understand the psyche of an incredibly complex Hero who nobody really ever knew -  not his Lover, his trusted Secretary Helen (Naomi Watts) nor Himself for that matter.

We all know Dustin Lance Black's fantastic Screenwriting in 2008's Milk, but even he had his work cut-out for him with the challenge of covering the span of 50 years in the life of someone who in all honesty isn't that likable.   As is the case with any Biopic, everything traditionally culminates in a defining moment and despite hinting repeatedly at that to come, J. Edgar hangs anticlimactically. The frequent crisscrossing of time lines instead of punctuating important moments in Hoover's life, somewhat disrupts a natural flow. One moment we see a young, strapping Hoover as Hollywood Starlets are clawing to bed him; the next we doubt his mental well-being in his old age.  The most telling moment of all is when Hoover's world unravels late and I found myself feeling apathy versus sympathy and this is unfortunate.

LEONARDO DiCAPRIO & CLINT EASTWOOD TO TEAM ON J. EDGAR HOOVER BIOPIC

Clyde Tolson & J. Edgar Hoover

An exciting bit of news here. Clint Eastwood and Leonardo DiCaprio are teaming up together for the first time to make a Biopic about J. Edgar Hoover, the first ever Director to the Bureau of Investigation, eventually known as the FBI. Known mostly for his controversial tactics in obtaining evidence and directives, Hoover oversaw the investigation to John F. Kennedy's assassination.  He also was rumoured to have been romantically involved with his second-in-line, Clyde Tolson.

The Film, J. Edgar, is a Warner Bros. production and on that same note, Hoover served also as a consultant to that Company when required for research purposes during the '60s.

J. Edgar will star DiCaprio in the lead role of Hoover, while The Social Network's breakout star Armie Hammer will star as Tolson. Charlize Theron also will star in the project too which will soon begin production.  Dustin Lance Black who penned the amazing Oscar-winning Screenplay for Milk is attached also here.  Oscars Gold.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH VIRGINIA REVIEW

Dustin Lance Black

Something's definitely wrong with Virginia.  Milk Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black makes his Directorial debut in What's Wrong With Virginia and I'm going to be as easy on it as I can after seeing a screening of it earlier today at TIFF.

The film revolves around a mentally unstable woman named Virginia (Jennifer Connelly) involved with a married man many years her senior, Dick (Ed Harris).  Dick has political aspirations as the town's Sherriff, but after Virginia manages to convince him that she is pregnant with his baby, he decides to end the affair in fear of derailing his bid.  Meanwhile, Virginia's teenaged son Emmett (Harrison Gilbertson) resents Dick but also at the same time is romantically involved with a girl named Jesse (Emma Roberts) who could well be his biological half-sister, seeing that Virginia devoted herself only to one man for 20 years.

Where What's Wrong with Virginia falls short is a lack of a character development and a clear focus.  I failed to find one character I found engaging, which is odd. Virginia of course is at times comedic in her instability (i.e. running into a bank with a gorilla mask, gun and a dress) and endearing in her fragility, but one finds it difficult to empathize with her as we never get the opportunity to know her or her back story.  The story line of forbidden love involving Emmett and Jesse lacks any heart or tension, as is the case with Dick and Virginia; we never tap into their psyches nor do we understand what draws them to one another.

JENNIFER CONNELLY IN DUSTIN LANCE BLACK'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH VIRGINIA AT TIFF

Jennifer Connelly arrives at Pre-party for new film What's Wrong with Virginia

Is there anything more lovely than Jennifer Connelly?  The brilliant actress arrived at Swarovski at Yonge x Bloor this afternoon to party along with the cast of Milk Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black's directorial debut, What's Wrong with Virginia.  Also in attendance today were the amazing Ed Harris who plays the man whom she has a scandalous longtime affair with in the film, Yeardley Smith (yes, the voice of Lisa on The Simpsons) and newcomer Harrison Gilbertson.  Emma Roberts who also stars in the film, unfortunately did not attend after partaking in TIFF festivities this past weekend.

What's Wrong with Virginia premiered tonight at VISA Screening Room and I will be reviewing the film tomorrow.  On her way out, I managed to nab an autograph from the stunning actress, who was surprisingly generous.

Check out more photos below from the Pre-party and Premiere: