KATE BECKINSALE IN TORONTO FOR "TOTAL RECALL"

Kate Beckinsale & Mr. Will-W.

One of my favourite Actresses undoubtedly is Kate Beckinsale and although she's been in the City for the Toronto International Film Festival in the past promoting titles like Underworld and Nothing but the Truth, unfortunately I'd never had a chance to meet her.  Arriving last month for her Husband Len Wiseman's Total Recall Reboot in which she plays the role of Lori (married to Colin Farrell's Doug), the beautiful Beckinsale has been spotted out and about by Fans and Paparazzi alike. Because I still hadn't seen her, I was beginning to think she was somewhat of a Mirage.

I had spotted Beckinsale on a stroll with her Daughter Lily, Husband Len, another young Lady and their two Dogs Ingrid and Pocket.  The latter even has been spotted on-Set with her.  Careful not to be intrusive, I had asked if on her way back she could take a minute to chat and take a Photo with me and absolutely she fulfilled her promise! 

Upon finally meeting her, I confessed  what a great Fan I am of 2008's Nothing but the Truth.  Despite few people seeing that Film, her portrayal of a Journalist who had taken her integrity to the extreme affected me deeply.  "Yes, it's a shame that it never really made it to the theatres as I was proud of that one", she admits.  I commented also how overall I thought Doug Liman's 2010 Film Fair Game (inspired also by the story of shamed Spy Valerie Plame) paled in comparison and she was touched genuinely, saying "Yes, we thought the same!".

She, Lily (daughter of Michael Sheen) and one Young Lady visiting also noticed that I had brought my Dog Billy out for a walk and the three of them were rather smitten by him.  Beckinsale asked, "Is he a Shih Tzu? and she absolutely was correct!  Their Dogs Pocket and Ingrid - both Female - were so adorably sweet, jumping on my leg.  And the two young Ladies present were so sweet wishing me a good night before they head off after our Chat.

"HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS" BREAKS BOX OFFICE RECORDS

Still from Harry Potter
& The Deathly Hallows

After breaking Box Office records Thursday night with a stunning $24 million opening, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows seemed to have tailed off over the weekend despite some projections that pegged it to make up to $160 million. Mind you, it still made an estimated $125.1 million from 4,125 theatres making it moot point for any other film to even bother opening this weekend before U.S. Thanksgiving. Harry Mother of God!

Megamind continues to perform amazingly well despite dropping to second this weekend with $16.1 million. The film was on-top for two weeks consecutively prior to this, ahead again of this week's third place finisher Unstoppable which earned $13.1 million. Made for $100 million, the Film has made back $41.9 million in two weeks of release domestically.

The Next Three Days from Lionsgate Films is the latest film from Crash Director Paul Haggis, garnering $6.7 million in its debut, to place it in fifth spot. The film starring Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks has received negative reviews overall.

Rounding out the bottom of the Top Ten is Fair Game which continues to get an expanded release, now in 386 theatres. The excellent flick starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts earned $1.4 million from in its third week since opening in limited release.

VALERIE PLAME'S FAIR GAME REVIEW

Still from Fair Game

Based on the Memoir Fair Game by disgraced CIA Agent Valerie Plame, Doug Liman's latest film of the same title recounts the story which shook the United States seven years ago.  Being one of America's most respected CIA Agents, Plame (Naomi Watts) completed many an important undercover mission prior to things going awry.    

Plame's husband, Journalist Joe Wilson (Sean Penn) had journeyed to Niger, investigating the validity in claims of Saddam Hussein ordering weapons of mass destruction allegedly produced there, to be used against the U.S.  After drawing the conclusion that no such deal had taken place, Wilson had refuted erroneous claims from President George W. Bush that the U.S. was in clear and imminent danger, referencing supposed evidence from the British Intelligence.  

Wilson then took poisonous pen to paper and wrote a piece published in the New York Times in 2003, outlining some of his own direct findings from his time in Niger.  Scooter Libby (David Andrews) who at the time was a part of the Bush Administration, held the title of Assistant to the Vice President for National Security.  He proceeded to go on an all-out attack, discrediting Wilson for having been tipped-off by his wife Plame.  This essentially sabotaged her career by unveiling her secret identity to the world.  As a result of this, we see Wilson and Plame's relationship begin to fall apart as Wilson is determined to uncover the truth, while Plame struggles to cope with the controversy and attention she received so suddenly.

"MEGAMIND" OUTSMARTS COMPETITION AT BOX OFFICE

Still from Megamind

Paramount's animated Feature Megamind is on target to top this weekend's Box Office with $44.5 million based on Friday night's numbers, totaling $12.5 million from 3,944 theatres. It won't be a cakewalk though for the film which features the voices of Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brat Pitt, Ben Stiller and many more. 

Warner Bros.' Due Date proves once again that Robert Downey Jr. is a highly bankable star with the Comedy, having brought in $12.2 million from 3,355 theatres; it is expected to make $34.3 million this weekend. Consider this though - although numbers appeared tight on Friday, family audiences head out to the theatres on Saturdays and Sundays. With this being the case, expect Megamind's lead to widen with Sunday's final numbers being published.

Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls like many other of his films is also a Box Office success, taking in $7.4 million on Friday night, which on any other weekend would be good enough to make it number one. The heavy Drama will in all likelihood land in third in its opening weekend with $21 million.

Saw 3-D as expected, slipped dramatically after opening on-top last weekend for Lionsgate Films. The Horror took in $2.6 million Friday night and will likely make just shy of $9 million in total this weekend.

Also of interest is Danny Boyle's latest film 127 Hours starring James Franco as a man who amputates his own arm in the name of survival, opening in only four theatres. The film averaged $19,250 per theatre which is exceptional. Summit Entertainment's Fair Game starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn and opening also in limited release, averaged $3,913 per theatre by comparison from 46 theatres.  Review to come tomorrow.

MR. WILL-W.'S EARLY OSCAR PREDICTIONS - OCTOBER 2010

Although not quite as formula-based as my girl Sasha predictions are over at Awards Daily, Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven is known to have picked an Oscar winner or two in the past.  Even though the big day isn't until Sunday, March 5, 2011, I will break down for you who I feel is in-contention for a nomination in the major categories.   Obviously, there are a few contenders which I have not seen yet, so I have denoted these with an asterisk.  The names in bold are the contenders I feel have the greatest chance of winning the actual Oscar.  Selections are subject to change and I'll probably re-jig this again closer to the end of the year.

Still from Black Swan

BEST PICTURE

• The Town
• Black Swan
• Inception
• The Kids Are All Right
• The Social Network
• 127 Hours
• Rabbit Hole
• Toy Story 3
• Blue Valentine
• The King's Speech

*Hereafter (review to be posted Wednesday), Made in Dagenham, True Grit, Fair Game and Love and Other Drugs

VIDEO: FAIR GAME TRAILER

I've been going on about this movie forever, but the trailer has surfaced at long last.  Although it won't be doing the rounds on the festival circuit, namely in Venice and Toronto, Doug Liman's Fair Game looks to deliver every bit of promise it has shown on paper.  The film is based on the true story of CIA Agent Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts) whose identity was revealed after her husband Joseph C. Wilson (Sean Penn) wrote a piece in The New York Times discrediting the Bush Administration in justifying their invasion of Iraq.  The film will be released on November 5, 2010 through Summit Entertainment.

And I just may have a signed 8x10 of Watts, who is a front-runner in the race for Best Actress at the Oscars, to give away to my lovely readers.  But you'll just have to wait til a bit later in the year for that.  Oh yeah.

DANNY BOYLE'S 127 HOURS AND SHAWN KU'S BEAUTIFUL BOY AT TIFF 2010

Yes! The equally handsome as he is talented James Franco, will more than likely be appearing at this year's TIFF as Slumdog Millionaire Director Danny Boyle's 127 Hours is now rumoured to be one of this year's titles. Boyle of course, won the Cadillac People's Choice Award at the festival in 2008 and subsequently, Best Picture at the Oscars in 2009 with that film. 127 Hours is based on the true story of Aron Ralston, who had to cut off the lower portion of his arm after being trapped in a rock-climbing incident; he survived. The film, which opens November 5, 2010 via Fox Searchlight, also stars Mean Girls' now slim-and-trim Lizzy Caplan. Read more about it at Entertainment Weekly.

Also, it was just announced that Choreographer-turned-Director Shawn Ku's Beautiful Boy will be premiering at TIFF too. The film which stars Maria Bello, Michael Sheen and get this - Meat Loaf - is a story about the parents of a young man who goes on a killing rampage at his College, before finally killing himself. Although chilling films like Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine and Gus van Sant's Elephant have been made on the matter, it is said that this film instead focuses more on the story of the parents of the Murderer. This is definitely one of Sheen's meatier roles and Bello as we've seen in David Cronenberg's A History of Violence, is a perfect fit for darker matter even though she doesn't always get to show it. The film will screen September 12, 2010, although its theatrical release date has yet to be confirmed.

DIRECTOR DOUG LIMAN DEFENDS NAOMI WATTS

On Naomi Watts' performance in Fair Game, director Doug Liman responds to critics who feel her performance lacked warmth or dimension: "It would have been easy to create a fiction that Naomi’s Valerie is an emotional NOC. That she has this steely exterior but when she comes home and she’s something else. In fiction you can make up anything, but I actually spent time around the real Val and found her completely compelling as a person and she kept that façade no matter what she was doing and I wanted Naomi Watts’ character to follow suit." 

Watts is rumoured to have put on a career best performance as disgraced CIA agent Valerie Plame in Liman's film, screening in Cannes.  I personally think they should just FedEx me a copy of this Screener and I will decide for them!  STAT.

"ROUTE IRISH" FAVOURED TO WIN THE PALME D'OR AT CANNES

Director Ken Loach's last minute submission for this year's Palme D'Or competition at the Cannes Film Festival, is now the favourite to win the prestigious prize.  The film called Route Irish as about two ex-soliders from Liverpool contracted out to help in Iraq.  One of the soldiers dies while on assignment and the other rejects the government's official positioning on his mate's passing.  He then decides to do his own investigation.  Loach last won the presitigious Palme D'Or in 2006 with The Wind That Shakes The Barley, which subsequently got ignored at the Oscars, but he is a Cannes darling.

The film I'm keeping a tab on most is Doug Liman's Fair Game starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn, based on the memoirs of disgraced CIA agent Valerie Plame.  Oddsmakers are listing the film at 10-1 to win the Palme D'Or, making it far from being the favourite... but there's still a chance.  Last year's winner The White Ribbon by German director Michael Haneke won the award, and was heavily favoured to win Best Foreign Picture at the Oscars this year subsequently, but falling short.