"THE EXPENDABLES" ON-TOP A SECOND WEEK: TEPID WEEKEND OVERALL

Still from The Expendables 2

It's a tepid weekend at the Box Office, but not enough to stop The Expendables 2 from firing their way back to number one again .. even with a meager $13.5 million. The Action Blockbuster in two weeks has earned a cumulative $51.2 million in North America.

The Bourne Legacy once again finds itself at number two this weekend with $9.3 million and a total $84.9 million banked in three weeks of release - just enough to edge-out ParaNorman in third with $8.5 million in its second week.

Sony Pictures' Premium Rush is one of only a few Films opening this weekend, but could muster only an seventh-place debut with $6.3 million, despite solid reviews on Rotten Tomatoes (76% on the Tomatometer).  This raises some questions about talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt's bankability as a Lead Actor with Looper coming out next month.

2016 Obama's America debuts in eight spot with $6.2  million, impressive for a small-budget Documentary opening in only 1,091 theatres this weekend in the U.S.  The Film asks what America would be like if President Obama were to be re-elected once again; it is said to be anti-Obama.

Meanwhile, Hit and Run, the Comedy starring (and directed by) Dax Sheppard and Wife Kristen Bell debuts in tenth spot with $4.6 million.

FIRST LOOK: DANIEL DAY-LEWIS IN "LINCOLN"

Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln

Finally, he's back. The legendary Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Abraham Lincoln in surely what is to be another Oscar-worthy turn in LINCOLN.  This marks his first Film since 2009 Musical NINE. Disney just released this First Look at the phenomenal Actor in the role of the beloved U.S. President.

Disney issued a Press Release giving us some more clues to what we can expect here. The Drama focuses on the last four months of the President's life and the political strategizing he undertook at the close of the Civil War to ensure that slavery would be forever outlawed.

Steven Spielberg, who directed last year's Best Picture Contender for Disney, War Horse, says “Our Movie is really about a working leader who must make tough decisions and get things done in the face of overwhelming opposition.".

In addition to Day-Lewis, the Film sports an incredible Cast which includes Sally Field, John Hawkes, Lee Pace, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jackie Earle Haley, David Strathairn, Jared Harris and James Spader. WOW.  The Starpower is immense.

Disney releases Lincoln on November 16, 2012, with a limited release on November 9, 2012 in select cities.

Like LINCOLN: The Movie on Facebook here.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)

"THE DARK KNIGHT RISES": MOVIE REVIEW

Still from The Dark Knight Rises

Expectations are impossibly high for Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, the Finale to his epic Batman Trilogy. Fans of its two Predecessors however, have little to worry about here.  This Installment introduces us to a battle-worn Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) eight years in exile after Batman is seen as being responsible for the death of Gotham's Community Pillar, D.A. Harvey Dent. 

Gotham however is under-siege with the imminent danger brought-on by a menacing presence with a Terrorist Agenda, Bane (Tom Hardy).  Although she appears immediately as a Foe, the beguiling Burglar Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) is called-upon by a soon to be out-of-exile Batman to save the City of its greatest threat yet.  Will this be enough we wonder, and at what lengths will Batman go to in order to protect a City which continually has shunned him despite his good intentions?

The Dark Knight Rises is without a question a Work of Art.  The Film is breathtakingly-shot, with some masterfully choreographed Action sequences and first-rate performances from the best Hollywood has to offer.  At the same time, it presents some thought-provoking parallels to the World we live in and also Humanity today - if only we all had an all-consuming drive for Justice and Selflessness like Batman...   Perhaps as we approach possibly a Post-Obama Era even, this Film needed to be made as a reflection of the Collective Consciousness and where we stand right now in the continuous War against Terrorism.

Bale as always can be counted upon to deliver and he does so once again with understated charm.  A hardly-recognizable Hardy is terrifying to watch as Bane - deliciously ruthless, albeit lacking enough dimension for my liking, considering his outstanding range as an Actor. We never really get a true sense of what lies beneath his unquenchable thirst for Destruction. Gary Oldman as the vulnerable Jim Gordon and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake round-out what quite possibly is the Dream Team of Ensemble Casts.  I however, cannot mask my excitement for Hathaway's irresistible portrayal of  Catwoman/Selina Kyle, silencing any doubt that she could really pull-off that daunting assignment.  Dare I say she might even find herself in-contention for her second ever Oscar Nomination?

MATTHEW MODINE & NESTOR CARBONELL AT CANADIAN PREMIERE OF "THE DARK KNIGHT RISES"

Nestor Carbonell & Matthew Modine at Canadian Premiere of The Dark Knight Rises

Although more a modest Cousin to the The Dark Knight Rises Premiere which took place in London tonight at Leicester Square, Toronto played host to the Canadian Premiere of perhaps 2012's most eagerly-anticipated Film. The final Installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy is poised to open big with estimates just-shy of the $200 million mark to be made domestically this weekend.

Stars Matthew Modine (Any Given Sunday, Full Metal Jacket) and Nestor Carbonell (Lost, Ringer) flew-in to the City for a round of Press in support of what is seen at this point as a Frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars.  Modine plays the integral Role of Deputy Commissioner Foley, while Carbonell reprises the Role of Gotham's Mayor Anthony Garcia in The Dark Knight Rises.  The Actors combined made appearances earlier today on CityTV's Breakfast Television, CP24 Breakfast and also CTV's Canada AM.

Modine and Carbonell graced the Red Carpet tonight in the City's Financial District at a Venue which for one night only was re-branded Wayne Manor - of course an Homage to the Film's Hero, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale). The glamorous Affair thematically was tied into the Film, named the Black & White Masquerade Ball. Earlier in the evening, Modine sat-in on the Canadian Premiere at Scotiabank Theatre.

I was one of the lucky few who was able to attend the Premiere and will be posting my full Review of The Dark Knight Rises on Friday.  Stay tuned!

Warner Bros. releases The Dark Knight Rises on Friday, July 20, 2012 with several theatres offering Midnight Screenings. 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

ENTER TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO THE CANADIAN PREMIERE OF "THE DARK KNIGHT RISES"

Still from The Dark Knight Rises

With its Premiere descending upon us, our Friends at Warner Bros. Canada are giving Fans a chance to rise to the occasion!  The Dark Knight Rises premieres Wednesday, July 18, 2012 here in Toronto and you can enter to win via Twitter a Double Pass to see it first.

Simply ReTweet the below and remember to follow @WBPicturesCan and @WarnerBrosTDot!

"I want to RISE with @warnerbrostdot at the Toronto Premiere of ‪#TheDarkKnightRises‬" to win 2 passes. Contest ends Sunday." 

Yes, there will be Cast in-attendance, although who still has yet to be confirmed.  Good luck!  See you there!

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

ZOOEY DESCHANEL & JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE?"

Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon-Levitt

It's like 500 Days of Summer all over again!  Zooey Deschanel - not to be confused with newly-single Katy Perry - and Co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt reunite for this charming little Cover of What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? charmingly simple a Ukulele and a Guitar accompanying.  Too bad this isn't on Deschanel's latest Album A Very She & Him Christmas as it's wonderful. I just may have to forgive Gordon-Levitt for being so horrible to Fans during TIFF this past September.

Deschanel says on YouTube, "I have known Joe Gordon-Levitt for going on 12 years. We first met in the summer of 2000 while doing a tiny movie called Manic, where we bonded over a mutual appreciation for Harry Nilsson and Nina Simone and I have been lucky enough to call him one of my dearest friends ever since. When we did 500 Days of Summer 8 years later, we spent every lunch hour dancing to Marvin Gaye in the hair and make up trailer; we had loads of fun. I hope to do a thousand more movies with him because he's simply the best. But in the meantime, we made a little New Year's duet for all of you! The original by Nancy Wilson. ENJOY!  Don't forget to check out Joe's website. New Girl is back January 17 (my birthday)!".

Watch What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? below:

JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT SNUBS FANS AT TIFF 2011: CO-STARS SHINE

Joseph Gordon-Levitt at TIFF 2011 Premiere of 50/50

The Fans absolutely love Joseph Gordon-Levitt but it would appear he doesn't feel the same about them. Arriving in Toronto just hours before the Premiere of his TIFF 2011 title 50/50, missing its Press Conference yesterday, the talented Actor avoided Fans completely, some who queued up all day hoping just to get an Autograph.

The shy Actor did the same also on his way out of Ryerson Theatre, where the Premiere had been held, sheepishly avoiding eye contact with a smirk on his face.

Co-stars Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick and Bryce Dallas Howard however were wonderful to Fans, making time for them before and after working the Media Line at the Red Carpet, especially fellow Canadian Rogen who drew tons of cheers.  Even Funnywoman Kathy Griffin popped by to walk the Red Carpet to give out a few high-fives and Autographs for laughing out loud!

Read my Review of 50/50 here.

See more Photos below:

50/50 - TIFF MOVIE REVIEW

Still from 50/50

We often don't think of Cancer as a funny thing, but Vancouver-filmed 50/50 makes the most of it finding humour in the worst possible scenario. The Jonathan Levine Film, was written by Will Reiser who was inspired by his own battle with the Disease. It tackles heavy subject matter with a dash of optimism while at the same time, remaining true to the heart of the struggle.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a powerful, performance making proud those backers who first took note of his talent as a Child Actor in Sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, and if you weren't sold on him with his work in 2009's sleeper hit 500 Days of Summer, 50/50 will have you seeing him as a cut from the same cloth as talented contemporaries like James Franco and James McAvoy.

Gordon-Levitt's portrayal of Adam is authentic and mostly numbing myself having battled Cancer at one point in my life, I can appreciate that. He brings to life delicately the resentment, the doubts of uncertainty and disappointments which not only come from coping on a personal level, but also seeing how the Disease can affect one's own social support network. Despite being much a Comedy, the focus is honed-in just enough at the right moment that we are reminded how serious Adam's struggle is and ultimately that is where we get a proper glimpse at Gordon-Levitt's range.

VANITY FAIR MARCH 2011 HOLLYWOOD ISSUE COVER

March 2011 Cover of Vanity Fair

Could this Photo get any hotter?  Norman Jean Roy shot this year's eagerly-anticipated Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue Cover and is it ever a sight to see.  Roy managed to bring together: Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, James Franco, Jennifer Lawrence, Anthony Mackie, Olivia Wilde, Jesse Eisenberg, Mila Kunis, Robert Duvall, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Andrew Garfield, Rashida Jones, Garrett Hedlund and Noomi Rapace together in this Keeper of a Cover.

Click here to read more about the Behind-the-Scenes details of this Shoot.

The March issue of Vanity Fair hits newsstands later this month.  Must grab.

(Photo credit: Norman Jean Roy/Vanity Fair)

INCEPTION REVIEW

Christopher Nolan's Inception isn't a film I can explain simply in a paragraph or so, but I will try my best to be concise. The concept of Inception involves entering one's dreams and planting thoughts into their mind. Extraction would involve going into one's dreams and taking their ideas. In the world where this film takes place, there is technology to do the latter, however whether or not the former can be done remains to be seen. 

Saito (Ken Watanabe) makes a deal with Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) to accomplish the mission of achieving Inception. That is, if Dom can help Saito destroy the inherited empire of Oil Tycoon Robert Fisher Jr. (Cillian Murphy) in planting distrust against his family, Saito can ensure that Dom is cleared of any charges against him.  Dom stands accused of murdering his wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) and constructs quite literally, a "Dream Team" to accomplish this mission.

The Team consists of Ariadne (Ellen Page), Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Eames (Tom Hardy) and Yusuf (Dileep Rao) who each serve a pivotal role in accomplishing the task of capturing Fisher Jr. and subjecting him to Inception. As the Team delves deeper into the Heir's subconscious via multiple tiers of Dreams, we also delve deeper also in the Dom's psyche too, getting bits and pieces of the mysterious circumstances behind Mal's death. Dom is driven to get back home to his two estranged children, driving him and his Team to complete the mission, but will the dark, suppressed thoughts of his mind divert their focus and lead to their downfall?