ENTER TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO SEE "LAWLESS" IN TORONTO

Official Artwork for Lawless

Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven &Alliance Films are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a Double Pass to see Lawless, starring Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce, Tom Hardy, Shia Labeouf, Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain.

In the mountains of Franklin County, Virginia, the Bondurant Brothers are the stuff of legend. Times are tough and jobs are scarce, but the Bondurants are Entrepreneurs and have built a thriving local business by concocting an intense and popular brand of moonshine. But Franklin County’s bootlegging days are about to end with the arrival of Special Deputy Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) from Chicago. The new “law” Rakes brings is lethal and corrupt and will challenge everything the brothers have built and represent. Determined to do whatever is necessary to fight for what is theirs, the Bondurants take up arms and confront the corrupt forces of the law in a faceoff to determine who controls the wettest county in the World.

The Screening takes place in Toronto, Monday, August 27, 2012.

To enter, click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook. You should also be following on Twitter too!  Your deadline is Friday, August 24, 2012.

Watch the Trailer for Lawless here.

Alliance Films releases Lawless on Wednesday, August 29, 2012.

(Photo credit: Alliance Films)

FIRST TRAILER: "PROMETHEUS"

Still from Prometheus

The first official Trailer for Sir Ridley Scott's Prometheus finally has surfaced after a series of three Teasers released over the past week. The Film, which has Scott doing Sci-fi for the first time since Blade Runner (1982) and Alien (1979), the latter for which this is a Prequel. Although there originally was talk of this filming partly at Toronto's newly-upgraded Pinewood Studios, alas that amounted only to a rumour as per the Studio itself.

After a team of Explorers work to trace the origins of Mankind, they wind-up getting involved in a fight for the survival Human Race. Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce, Logan Marshall-Green, Idris Elba and Patrick Wilson all are a part of this great-looking Cast. 20th Century Fox releases on June 8, 2012.

Without giving much away, the minute-long Trailer is pulsating with a terrifying sense of Catastrophe.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Don't be Afraid of the Dark

Guillermo del Toro rarely places his name on anything sub-par and Don't be Afraid of the Dark is no exception to the rule. The acclaimed Writer/Director produces and writes this Remake of the 1973 TV Movie of the same title, with Troy Nixey directing and surprisingly it exceeds expectations. 

Centering around a young Girl named Sally (Bailee Madison) who is forced to move into her Father Alex's (Guy Pearce) new Home along with his new Girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes), her childlike curiosity drives her to uncover a secret Basement which he prior did not know about. From there, the Story veers a little more towards the mythological, with age-old foreign Creatures lurking about the House eager to prey on Sally in this twisted, yet oddly at-times comical take on the Tooth Fairy.  After physically encountering these Creatures, Sally's Father writes off her fears simply as being irrational and imagined, but will it be too late by the time he sees the truth?

One of the biggest revelations in Don't be Afraid of the Dark, in addition to its crafty Storytelling, is a breakthrough performance from young talent Madison who actually bears a striking resemblance to Holmes.  This Horror Flick although at points a little bloody, rarely relies on the grotesque to get a scream from of its audience. Instead, it keeps us on-edge just enough with creepy vocalizations and use of light, unveiling the Creatures only late.  Alliance Films releases the entertaining Don't be Afraid of the Dark nationwide on August 26, 2011.  Grade: A-

WHY YOU NEED TO WATCH HBO'S "MILDRED PIERCE"

Still from Mildred Pierce

My latest obsession is HBO’s Mildred Pierce, a five-part Mini-Series which I have been going on about now since learning last year that it began Production in New York. Not to be confused as a Remake of the 1945 Film starring Joan Crawford as much as it is an Adaptation of the 1941 Novel by James M. Cain, Mildred Pierce is well worth that $20/month you’ll have to spend to get HBO here in Canada.

Directed by Todd Haynes, who brought us 2002’s outstanding Far From Heaven and starring Oscar winner Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce alleviates any worries those of us had about Winslet “stepping down a notch” to do Television when she is a bona fide Film Actress. If anything, her work here rates as one of her best performances yet.

Haynes truly understands the soul of a tortured Woman.  Mildred leaves her adulterous Husband, raising difficult and materialistic Daughter Veda on her own. All the while, she single-handedly builds a Restaurant Empire out of her own ambition in California during the Great Depression while experiencing a sexual re-awakening engaging in a sexy and passionate relationship with Monty Peragon (Guy Pearce) who is financially dependent on her. This Mini-Series not only is a study of a complex character, but also a detailed examining of Class Relations in a time when Money or a lack thereof, defined an Era.

Despite Winslet v. much being where our attentions are focused upon, Mildred Pierce’s Supporting Cast is remarkable, including another Oscar winner in Melissa Leo and the great Hope Davis. The biggest revelation thus far has been soon-to-be twelve Child Actor Morgan Turner, who plays a young Veda – full of venomous fire and ambition. Veda has her Mother at her mercy, constantly making her crave approval and validation. Several times we see her deliver slaps and receive them from Winslet. When I was 11 years old… And although she has yet to surface, the talented Evan Rachel Wood plays the older Veda who surely will be stealing a scene or two.

Mildred Pierce airs Sunday nights on HBO Canada at 9:15 PM EST.

(Photo credit: HBO)

HBO'S MILDRED PIERCE MINI-SERIES TO PREMIERE END OF MARCH

Still from Mildred Pierce

HBO's Mildred Pierce will be premiering in the U.S. on March 27, 2011, though its Canadian Premiere Date has yet to be confirmed.  The eagerly awaited five-part Mini-series stars the amazing Kate Winslet in the Lead Role made famous originally by Joan Crawford in 1945.

Instead of studying Crawford's performance, Winslet made sure not to watch the original Film Adaption of James M. Cain's Novel in order to stay true to the original story as much as possible.  Mildred Pierce is about a Woman who finds financial wealth during The Great Depression after becoming a Restauranteur.  She finds that her upward mobility causes strains in her relationship with her spoiled Daughter Veda (Evan Rachel Wood).

Watch Mildred Pierce's juicy Trailer below: