TORONTO PRODUCTIONS RETURN FROM THE HOLIDAYS

Anastasia Griffith in NBC's Trauma

Things are beginning to pick-up again in Toronto from a Production standpoint with Cast and Crew returning from the Holidays for major titles once again like Pacific Rim, Nikita, Rookie Blue, The Firm and Lost Girl.

In addition to Stephen Gyllenhaal's new Pilot Sworn to Silence starring Neve Campbell beginning here later this month, some other noteworthy Productions also will be surfacing soon too. Toronto's Jonathan Sobol made his directorial debut with A Beginner's Guide to Endings, managing to attract major Hollywood talent including Harvey Keitel, J.K. Simmons, Scott Caan and Tricia Helfer.  Premiering at TIFF 2010, that Film is about three Brothers set-out to reverse their wrongs after learning they have only a few days left to live.  Sobol's next effort titled The Black Marks, is a Heist Comedy which is slated to film mid-January through late February.  This one centers around three Men looking to steal one of the World's rarest books.  The Principal Cast for The Black Marks will include Montreal's Jay Baruchel, Kurt Russell and Matt Dillon.

Another interesting TV Series to film in Toronto is Copper from BBC America (its first scripted series) and Cineflix, about a young Irish Police Officer at-work in an area of 19th-century New York City, populated by Immigrants.  Thus far, British Thespian Anastasia Griffith has been cast as the Wife of the Lead Character and she will be juggling this project with ABC's successful Fairy Tale-Drama Once Upon a Time in which she stars in the dual role of Abigail/Kathryn Nolan.  Griffith previously was seen on Damages and Trauma also.  Production is expected to take place later this month through May.

THE IDES OF MARCH - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from The Ides of March

The Ides of March certainly has the pedigree of an Oscar contender, but does it live up to its deafeningly-loud buzz? Perhaps so, perhaps not. At 30 years of age, Stephen (Ryan Gosling) is the Mastermind behind the Political Campaign of Presidential Candidate, Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney). After becoming involved with 20 year-old intern Molly (Evan Rachel Wood) and unexpectedly being wooed by the Brain behind a powerful opponent to Governor Morris in Tom (Paul Giamatti), Stephen finds himself caught in a thick, knotted web of corruption, betrayal and deception, himself struggling to do what is right and more importantly, survive in the cut-throat world of Politics.

Make no mistake, The Ides of March is a highly-watchable and engaging affair, marked overall by strong performances in particular from Gosling and Wood, the latter perhaps benefiting most from her work here as a lovelorn Seductress.  Having also seen Gosling's Drive recently,  it is plain to see where he invested his focus best, with both Films seeing a release over the past month. This Political Drama's most pivotal moment comes where Stephen and Governor Morris face-off  quietly and icily, handled with tight precision as Director/Co-writer Clooney draws-in our focus to the expressions on their Talking Heads and intense dialogue.

ENTER TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO A TORONTO ADVANCE SCREENING OF "THE IDES OF MARCH"

The Ides of March Official Artwork

The Ides of March takes place during the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio Presidential primary, when an up-and-coming campaign Press Secretary (Ryan Gosling) finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate’s shot at the Presidency.

Missed it at TIFF 2011? Don't fret. Alliance Films & Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven are excited to offer Readers a chance to win Double Passes to see George Clooney’s The Ides of March. With a superb Cast that includes Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti and Clooney himself, the Political Drama already is considered a Frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars. The Screening takes place Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:30 PM at Scotiabank Theatre.

  The Ides of March hits theatres Friday, October, 7, 2011.

To qualify for 1 of 20 pairs of Passes to an Advance Screening in Toronto, all you have to do is click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven’s Facebook Page. Your deadline is October 3, 2011. Good luck, Mavenati!

And while you're there, don't forget to enter to win a signed Ryan Gosling Photo and copy of the Novel, Drive!  Follow me on Twitter too!

See its Trailer in full below:

MARISA TOMEI AT TIFF FOR "THE IDES OF MARCH"

Marisa Tomei in Toronto - September 2011

Oscar-winning Actress Marisa Tomei is absolutely stunning in-person. It's just too bad she wants little to do with Fans, keeping a distance from them upon arrival in Toronto this evening. After coming out to find that her SUV was not ready, she quickly ran back indoors where she stood behind a Police Officer. Not even a hand-wave!

Tomei is here for the Premiere of George Clooney's The Ides of March, taking place at Roy Thomson Hall on Friday night. It is expected that she might also show up at a Party or two during her stay also...

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

NEW TRAILER FOR "THE IDES OF MARCH"

Still from The Ides of March

"I'll do or say anything if I believe in it. But I have to believe in the cause.".

The stakes are big in this new Trailer for The Ides of March, which not only is premiering at TIFF this September, but also it is a mega Oscar-contender for Best Picture. See Ryan Gosling star as an Intern, Stephen Myers, assisting with on the campaign of a Presidential Hopeful, played by Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney). Things get just a little competitive and heated when Stephen finds out something dark and shady about Mike that goes against his beliefs.  

My question is, what is Gosling up for here, Best Supporting Actor or Lead Actor as he appears to have the most screen time?  This looks like a The Devil Wears Prada type scenario in 2007 which saw Anne Hathaway get more screen time, but instead Meryl Streep be in the running for Best Actress.  Clooney of course is Streep and Gosling of course is Hathaway.

See the Trailer in full below:

CRAZY STUPID LOVE. - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Crazy Stupid Love.

Widely-regarded as one of the most anticipated Rom-Coms of 2011, Crazy Stupid Love. delivers every bit of promise that it hints. This complicated Love Story centers around a married Couple, Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore), who are set to divorce after she cheats on him with a Co-worker of hers, David (Kevin Bacon). This of course impacts their two young Children Robbie (Jonah Bobo) and Molly (Joey King) but Cal especially struggles being in his mid-40s and now forced to re-enter the Dating scene again. He lacks the social graces to be at any type of an advantage after marrying young and never dating anybody else other than Emily.

Cal comes across handsome Playboy Jacob (Ryan Gosling) at a bar one night and under that one’s tutelage, his life is turned around, undergoing a Makeover and projecting a confident approach with Women. Despite appearing better off, Cal still however, is lonely. Both he and Emily realize that perhaps a Divorce might not be the best answer to their problems. Along the way, Jacob meets vivacious young Lawyer Hannah (Emma Stone) who just might be the one to trigger a change to his Playboy lifestyle. Is it too late for Cal though and has he veered too far off-path that their Marriage is now irreparable?

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 5 ADVANCE SCREENING PASSES TO SEE "CRAZY STUPID LOVE" IN TORONTO

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 5

 ADVANCE SCREENING PASSES TO SEE 

"CRAZY STUPID LOVE"

IN TORONTO

Warner Bros. Canada & Mr. Will-W.: Pop Maven want to give you and your guest a chance to attend a Toronto Advance Screening of one of this Summer's most eagerly-awaited Romantic Comedies, Crazy Stupid Love.  Best Cast ever!

NEW POSTERS FOR "STUPID CRAZY LOVE"

Boys will be Boys!  Check out these newly-released Posters for Crazy Stupid Love, in theatres in exactly July 29, 2011 via Warner Bros.  Funnyman Steve Carell looks just about ready to murder Kevin Bacon there.  No, his Wife will not be stolen! 

The Rom-Com sees Cal (Carell) try to carry on with his life after his Wife Emily (Julianne Moore) leaves him.  He also is faced with the challenge of getting back into the swing of Dating once again with the help of Playboy Jacob (Ryan Gosling), in addition to working on his relationship with his Kids.

See more of the sexy Posters below:

"STUPID CRAZY LOVE" - WATCH THE TRAILER

There are too many bloody reasons why I need to see this Movie and here are five. Julianne Moore. Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei. Emma Stone. Steve Carell.

Stupid Crazy Love centers around Cal (Carell), a Man who is in a passionless marriage with Emily (Moore). She has an Affair on him and wants a Divorce. He must start over and date all over again without a clue what to do. That is until he meets the debonair Jacob (Gosling) who shows him a thing or two.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY IN TORONTO FOR "THE LINCOLN LAWYER"

Matthew McConaughey in Toronto - March 2011

Once voted People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive, Matthew McConaughey has been quieter of late on the Film Front, but he is already winning lots of praise for his work in upcoming release The Lincoln Lawyer. The Film is based upon the 2005 Novel by Michael Connelly and centers around a Lawyer  named Mickey Haller (McConaughey) who works out of the back of a Lincoln Town Car around Los Angeles, while his Client works to pay off his overdue legal fees.  He must defend Client Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe) against Attempted Murder and Assault charges after being framed.

McConaughey is now in full promotional swing for The Lincoln Lawyer and just made a stopoff in Toronto at CBC's George Stroumbouloupoulous Tonight, plus doing an interview with that network's Ilana Banks also.  Banks gushed to me, "He sure had a twinkle in his eye and is proud of his new flick".  

Arriving in an Escalade - not a Town Car, which would have been more fitting perhaps - McConaughey was surrounded by a small crowd of Fans and Paparazzi, stopping to sign a meager three Autographs, mumbling "I'm  just going to keep walking" aloud. 

I will not be shy in saying that I possess one of these few Autographs, a gorgeous 8x10 of him in a Dolce & Gabanna Ad (seen right) reading "jk livin' (an abbreviation of just keep livin'), Matthew McConaughey".  Notoriously Paparazzi-shy, McConaughey disappointingly refused Autographs and Photos with Fans who braved the cold weather, as he exited the venue amidst flashing Cameras.  The Stroumboulopoulous interview will be airing at a later date.  Check his official website for details.

And why not one more Photo of the handsome Actor just for good measure?

CYRUS REVIEW

Although the story line of jealous Child versus Step-parent is nothing new, Fox Searchlight's Cyrus kicks things up a notch with some superb acting which never for a moment stops convincing us that these characters are real people with real drama.  Cyrus is full of laughs at the expense of unflattering moments and it appears that  Screenwriting/Directing brothers Jay and Mark Duplass have a Sleeper Hit on their hands.

John C. Reilly plays vulnerable John, who has never quite recovered from his divorce from ex-wife Jamie (Catherine Keener) seven years prior, even though he still remains friends with her despite her finding a new lover.  At her urging, John goes to a party to become acclimated once again with the world of Dating.  Despite lacking confidence, he does meet beautiful Molly (Marisa Tomei), with whom the sparks go a-flying.  Little does he know though that Molly has a full-grown son, Cyrus (Jonah Hill) with a dangerous Oedipus Complex, trying to sabotage her relationship with John.