LIAM NEESON TAKES TOP OF BOX OFFICE WITH THIRD MOVIE IN-A-ROW

Still from The Grey

Liam Neeson finds himself atop the North American Box Office yet again, proving that older Men too can draw a crowd at the theatres. In fact, five of his last nine films to be released since 2010 have all debuted in the Top Two including his last three, The Chronicles of Naria: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Unknown and now this $25-million Action-Thriller The Grey earning $20 million from 3,185 theatres in its debut.

Underworld: Awakening which topped the Box Office last weekend, slips to second spot this weekend with $12.5 million, aheead of One for the Money, an Adaptation of the Janet Evanovich novel, opening in third with $11.8 million for Lionsgate Films from 2,737 theatres. Starring Katherine Heigl, the Action-Comedy was made for $42 million and fared well among older Women. Ticket sales also were driven by a partnership with Groupon in the U.S., offering tickets for just $6 and $12 for a pair of tickets, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Last week's runner-up Red Tails slips to third with $10.4 million.

Man on a Ledge from Summit Entertainment (recently acquired by Lionsgate Films in the U.S.), debuts in fifth spot with $8.3 million. The Action-Thriller starring Sam Worthington, edges-out Best Picture nominees Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close in sixth spot earning $7 million and also The Descendants in seventh with $5.7 million; both received a boost with Oscar nominations being announced last week.

ENTER TO WIN A "NEW YEAR'S EVE" MOVIE PRIZE PACK

New Year's Eve Official Artwork

Sofia Vergara. Ashton Kutcher. Michelle Pfeiffer. Lea Michele. Jessica Biel. Hilary Swank. Sarah Jessica Parker. Josh Duhamel. Katherine Heigl. Abigail Breslin. Zac Efron. Jon Bon Jovi. Robert De Niro. Alyssa Milano. What do all these Stars have in common?

Well, they all star in the Holiday Opus known as New Year's Eve from Director Garry Marshall.  The mega-Romantic Comedy, which tells the heartwarming stories of various Couples in New York City, opens in theatres December 9, 2011. Warner Bros. & Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven want to give you a chance to win a New Year's Eve Prize Pack, which includes the following:

2 Champagne Flutes

2 Party Favours

1 New Year's Recovery Kit

1 Ice Bag

2 Tins of Breath Mints

1 Jumbo Tote Bag

1 Pair of Run-of-Engagement Passes to see New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve Prize Pack

To qualify for the win, click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook or Retweet the following: RT @MRWILLW wants me to win a "NEW YEAR'S EVE" Movie Prize Pack.  http://tinyurl.com/7sc5zuc #MRWILLNYE  

Your deadline is December 8, 2011.  Toronto area Readers only, please.  Winners are responsible for pick-up.

Watch the Trailer for New Year's Eve:

INTERVIEW: ABIGAIL BRESLIN ON "NEW YEAR'S EVE"

Abigail Breslin

Director Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries) won over Moviegoers at the Box Office with 2009's megastar Opus Rom-Com Valentine's Day and is now ready to unleash his latest effort, New Year's Eve. The Movie intertwines the Love Stories of various New Yorkers, all leading up to the annual Ball Drop at Times Square. What defines this Film ultimately is its stellar Cast including headlining names like Hilary Swank, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry, Ashton Kutcher, John Lithgow, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel and its youngest Star, Abigail Breslin. The now-15 year-old Actress at the age of seven became the fourth youngest Actress ever to be nominated for the prestigious Oscar with her Breakout Role as Olive in Little Miss Sunshine.

Breslin, flying into Toronto from her hometown of New York City, sat down to chat with a small group of Journalists about her role as the rebellious Hailey in New Year's Eve.  This counts as her third collaboration with Marshall whom she likens to being "like a Grandpa" to her. Hailey's Storyline is about a 15 year-old Girl who sneaks-out on New Year's Eve to be with a Boy named Seth (Jake T. Austin) against the wishes of her watchful Mother Kate (Sarah Jessica Parker).

I asked Breslin what it was like bonding with iconic Sex and the City Star Parker to create a believable Mother-Daughter relationship. Believe it or not, Reality Television brought them together. She tells me, "It was a cold one-week April shoot, but we talked a lot about American Idol during filming and the whole 'who got voted off' thing.  It was fun!".  

Hailey at the price of rebellion gets her heart broken and I asked in real life how Breslin would handle seeing a Boy she likes kissing another Girl.  After pondering it, she says  "It's a tricky situation, so in real life I get where she's coming from.".  Demonstrating true holiday spirit in forgiveness, Breslin says "Seth is a good Guy in the Movie so I'd cut him a little slack in real life.".

Many wonder how Breslin can balance her thriving Acting Career and also just being a 15 year-old Girl.  The Actress currently is enrolled in Online High School, admitting at heart she's a "ten year-old boy", multitasking her affection for Computer Games (Oyunlar 1 is her favourite website) and Studies.  When she is with her Friends she states, "We never really talk about my Career. We mostly talk about Clothes and Guys and stuff like that.".  Breslin also credits her Mother Kim - her Manager - for helping her stay grounded clearly and organized, traveling with her when she films and Press Tours. "Once I get home from filming, I do regular things like clean my room and take the dogs out".

NEW TRAILER FOR "NEW YEAR'S EVE"

 "There's nothing like New Year's Eve in New York City.".

While we're waiting on the official Artwork for Warner Bros.' New Year's Eve from Director Garry Marshall, let us feast our eyes on this just-released Trailer for the All-star Cast Rom-Com.  Following the same formula as last year's Box Office hit Valentine's Day also from the same Studio, this forthcoming release follows the intertwined stories of various New Yorkers leading up to that one big night in the year where we let go of the unhappy and ring in new hopes and aspirations.

The Cast of New Year's Eve is extraordinary: Zac Efron, Sarah Jessica Parker, Yeardley Smith, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank, Lea Michele, Ashton Kutcher, Josh Duhamel, Jessica Biel, Katherine Heigl, Robert De Niro, Sofia Vergara, Abigail Breslin, Halle Berry, Alyssa Milano, Ludacris, Sienna Miller, Ryan Seacrest, Seth Meyers, Ludacris, Russell Peters and Jon Bon Jovi are some of the names seen.  Kutcher to clarify, does not play the same character he did in Valentine's Day.

New Year's Eve opens in theatres December 8, 2011.  Although I didn't particularly enjoy Valentine's Day for the same reason I don't usually enjoy movies with All-star Casts, as their stories often are written too thinly, I'd be willing to walk in with a clean slate on this one!

Watch the Trailer in full below:

"THE SOCIAL NETWORK" ON-TOP FOR A SECOND

Still from The Social Network

Although it should come as no surprise, The Social Network hangs on for a second week at the top of the Box Office with $15.5 million earned, just edging out two tough new challengers, Life As We Know It and Secretariat. The David Fincher film about the story behind Facebook, has all of Twitter abuzz with celebrities like Rob Lowe and Alyssa Milano raving about it to their Followers.

Warner Bros.' Life As We Know It almost debuted on-top, taking in $14.6 million proving that Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl has what it takes to draw in movie-goers. And despite favourable reviews, Walt Disney's Secretariat just didn't perform like the champion Race Horse it is about, but $12.6 million (enough to land it in third) in its opening weekend is nothing to scoff at.

Surprisingly, Legends of The Guardian: The Owls of Ga'Hoole continues to perform consistently, landing in fourth with $7 million this weekend. To-date, it has earned $39.4 million domestically and  just beat-out Wes Craven's new 3-D horror My Soul To Take, which opened in fifth spot for Universal Pictures with $6.9 million.

Ben Affleck's The Town continues to perform like the monster that it is, bringing in $6.3 million this weekend in sixth spot, garnering (pardon the pun) a total of $73.5 million in just four weeks.

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT REVIEW

Life as We Know It Still

Greg Berlanti is known more recently as Producer of series like Brothers & Sisters and also forthcoming blockbuster Green Hornet.  Life as We Know It is only his second attempt at directing a Feature and it actually exceeded my expectations, as its trailers suggest the standard predictability that comes with Romantic Comedies.

Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) is a successful entrepreneur, who owns a successful local Café.  A bit of a Control Freak, she is introduced to a strapping yet perhaps too carefree Messer (Josh Duhamel) by her BFF Alison (Christina Hendricks) and husband Peter Novak (Hayes MacArthur).  Of course, things never go according to plan and both Holly and Messer realize their lack of chemistry, yet because they remain close friends to Alison and Peter, they are continuously in each other's scope.

One day unexpectedly, the couple passes away and they grant Guardianship of their daughter Sophie to Holly and Messer, forcing them to re-evaluate their priorities in life as they struggle to embrace their new  roles as her parents.  Messer though, is a bit of a Playboy, wrapped-up in his aspirations to be a Director of televised sports events.  With their drastically different aspirations and clashing personalities, will Baby Sophie be able to be the binding force which brings them together, especially with Social Worker Janine Groff (Sarah Burns) remaining at close range, determining their competency and thus fate as her parents?