2012 OSCAR NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Jennifer Lawrence announces 2012 Oscar Nominees

The 2012 Oscar nominations were announced bright and early this morning with the help of The Hunger Games Star Jennifer Lawrence and the surprises just wouldn't quit! Martin Scorcese came out on-top with an impressive eleven nominations, including Best Picture. Many also were surprised to see the sudden presence of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, which has been a non-presence much of Awards Season, only to pop-up finally for the coveted prize - a brilliant campaign by Warner Bros. to shape perceptions with as late a release as possible. Nonetheless, The Artist which has swept Best Picture awards coast to coast leading up to this, receives a stellar ten nominations. It is without a question the one to beat, although other Nominees The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, War Horse, Moneyball, The Tree of Life and The Help might have something to say about this.

Everyone is talking about some surprising omissions, namely both Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan for their mesmerizing work in Shame.  Elizabeth Olsen who is astoundingly good in Martha Marcy May Marlene also was nowhere to be found either and some are saying that Fox Searchlight which handled distribution for both Films in the U.S., had tapped-out its resources campaigning for its Prize Horse, The Descendants. Also, The Adventures of Tintin, widely considered a contender for Animated Feature Film at one point was overlooked altogether this year.

There were some real pleasant surprises to be had this morning, especially for Actor in a Supporting Role with Jonah Hill (Moneyball), Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn), Max von Sydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close) and Nick Nolte (Warrior) all popping-up based on their powerful performances, to join category favourite, Christopher Plummer (Beginners).  Despite Warrior failing to garner critical and commercial success, it is thrilling that Nolte gets his due recognition as an alcoholic Father on-the-mend, hoping to repair his relationships with his two Sons.

REVIEW: "HAYWIRE"

Still from Haywire

Covert Operative Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) is a wanted Woman. After successfully completing a mission in Barcelona with Aaron (Channing Tatum) to rescue a Journalist held hostage, she is then sent off to Dublin by her Handler Kenneth (Ewan McGregor), where she is paired with Paul (Michael Fassbender).  Mallory however, then realizes that she has become the target of a mission and must fight with everything she's got to stay alive, avoid her Pursuers and unravel the true reason behind the hunt in which she has become target.

Director Steven Soderbergh tries something new with Haywire and successfully keeps you on the edge of your seat with his slick storytelling and some riveting Action thrown into the mix.  Fans of Mixed Martial Arts star Carano have plenty to be excited about with some tightly choreographed fight sequences guaranteed to get the audience cheering. Just wait till you see Fassbender get trapped in a Body Scissors hold and lulled into deep slumber.  

As an Actress, Carano delivers her lines solidly albeit one-dimensional at times, and perhaps doesn't react enough to her ultimate betrayal to give us that extra ounce of push towards her.  Even with a stellar Supporting Cast of Men, this all is about her and she manages to carry her weight. Much of Haywire isn't so much dialogue-driven as it is about action and subtext and because key details are unveiled only late, some of the Story as a result is sacrificed.  Nonetheless, it is hard not to be entertained here.  Alliance Films releases Haywire on January 20, 2012.

MICHAEL FASSBENDER ON "THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER"

Michael Fassbender

Michael Fassbender covers this week's issue of The Hollywood Reporter, chatting with Pamela McClintock.  In the Interview, we learn that he's actually an Adrenaline Junkie, obsessed with Speed! During his break from filming recently, he escaped to Hawaii, which coincidentally is where fellow Golden Globe Nominee George Clooney shot his winning Film, The Descendants. "I was strapped to the instructor, who was behind me. For 50 seconds, you're free-falling, and your brain is saying, 'What are you doing?'". Lucky Instructor.

Fassbender also reveals that if he could take one person to the Oscars as his Date, it would be his Mother. Hilariously, we learn also that his Father also was "proud" after seeing his super-talented Son's full-frontal scene in Shame at the Venice Film Festival. 

Click here to read more and see some Outtakes from the Photoshoot too!

(Photo credit: The Hollywood Reporter/Brian Bowen Smith)

FEW SURPRISES AT GOLDEN GLOBES: "THE ARTIST" & "THE DESCENDANTS" HEAD-TO-HEAD TO WIN OSCAR

Michelle Williams Backstage at 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards

The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards went down earlier this evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles and there were few surprises to be found with Oscars Frontrunner The Artist winning Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and its closest competitor The Descendants winning Best Motion Picture Drama.

The Artist also won for Best Original Motion Picture Score (Ludovic Bource) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical (Jean Dujardin), while The Descendants won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama (George Clooney). Clooney upon accepting his award told fellow Nominee Michael Fassbender, "Thanks for taking over the frontal nudity clause" - referring to that one's daring performance in Shame. "If you want to go play Golf with your hands behind your back, go right ahead!".

Michelle Williams won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy/Musical for her outstanding portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn, while current Oscar favourite for Best Actress, the formidable Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, won Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama - her eighth Golden Globe. A humble Streep made note of some additional performances she felt were of note this year among her Peers, including Adepero Oduye's work in Pariah and Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre.  "In any other year they would be awarded", she told the audience.

Modern Family won Best Television Comedy or Musical for a third consecutive year, while Showtime's Homeland won two awards for Best Television Drama and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Drama (Clare Danes).

MICHAEL FASSBENDER ON FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE OF "INTERVIEW" BY JOSH BROLIN

Michael Fassbender in February 2012 Issue of Interview

For those of you who follow my Blog, it is no real mystery that I have a clear and present fondness for Michael Fassbender.  The brilliant Actor is still gaining tons of buzz for his startling portrayal of a Sex Addict in Steve McQueen's Shame and on January 20, 2012, he will be seen in Action Flick Haywire alongside Mixed Martial Arts Star Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas and more.

On the February Issue of Interview Magazine, Fassbender chats with his Friend Josh Brolin whom he met in Toronto back in 2008 at TIFF.  Fassbender reveals to Brolin that after filming Prometheus in London earlier last year, he took a break, Motorcycling his way through Europe.  He says, "I did 5,000 miles with my dad. We went through Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Italy . . . and then I did Spain and France by myself. It was a trip—you would have loved it.".  Both Brolin and Fassbender worked together on 2010's Jonah Hex.

Brolin also relays a message from his Wife Diane Lane to Fassbender on his work in Shame after the Couple saw it together at a 10:00 AM screening. 

Click here to read more.

(Photo credit: Sebastian Kim/Interview Magazine)

MR. WILL-W.:POP MAVEN'S 2011 BEST-OF LISTS

Although I was always under the mindset that 2011 wasn't really a standout year in terms of Music and Film, looking back I can appreciate that even though for me there were no clear-cut, definitive favourites, overall there were many bright and memorable moments.  I have selected my Top Ten Films and Top 20 Tracks of 2011.  Let's see where my choices compare to yours!

Still from The Artist

TOP TEN FILMS:
1. The Artist
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
3. Shame
4. Bridesmaids
5. The Help
6. The Muppets
7. War Horse
8. My Week with Marilyn
9. Drive
10. Warrior

One of my biggest regrets this year was not seeing The Artist at TIFF in September, but better late than never as the Film which touched and uplifted me most, actually is only a recent discovery.  The Silent Film about Era-star George Valentin is a triumph and a must-see for all.  Also, despite not loving the original Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, alas all that buzz did amount to something solid with David Fincher's Adaptation starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig being absolutely electrifying.  Michael Fassbender quickly has become one of my favourite Actors also with his riveting performance in Shame as a Sex Addict whose life is interrupted by the sudden arrival of his estranged Sister. Kristen Wiig's performance in Bridesmaids still sticks with me to this day as does Michelle Williams' work in My Week with Marilyn.

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:

MICHAEL FASSBENDER ON "MTV AFTERHOURS"

Michael Fassbender on MTV Afterhours

A Reader sent me this over and after trying to check it out on MTV U.S.' Website, I realized we can't view this in Canada due to regional restrictions.  Some Fans were kind enough to upload it to Chinese site TuDou for all of us to enjoy.  Yay!

Michael Fassbender, currently promoting his big Oscar vehicle SHAME, appeared recently on MTV Afterhours with Josh Horowitz.  Throwing Fassbender completely off-guard, Horowitz challenges him to a Guessing Game like you've never seen before.  

Hint: it has to do with Fassbender's "big reveal" in the SHAME. A true test of his self-confidence, Fassbender handles himself gracefully and is a great sport about it all!

Click here to watch the hilarious Clip.

Don't forget to enter to win Advance Passes to see SHAME in Toronto and also that signed Michael Fassbender Photo here.

(Photo credit: MTV)

ENTER TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO SEE "SHAME" | MICHAEL FASSBENDER SIGNED PHOTO GIVEAWAY

Official Artwork for SHAME

Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a thirty-something man living in New York who is unable to manage his sex life. After his wayward younger sister Cissy (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment, Brandon’s world spirals out of control. From Director Steve McQueen, SHAME is a compelling and timely examination of the nature of need, how we live our lives and the experiences that shape us.

Easily my favourite Film thus far in 2011, Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven is proud to partner together with Alliance Films to take ten lucky Readers to see a Toronto Advance Screening of SHAME. The Film has won the acclaim of Critics everywhere in its run thus far in the Festival Circuit in Toronto, New York, Venice and London, among others.

The Screening takes place Thursday, December 1, 2011 at Scotiabank Theatre. To qualify, you must click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook before November 28, 2011. Please keep in mind the Film contains graphic content and language and is Restricted.

FIRST TRAILER: "SHAME"

Official Artwork for Shame

At last a proper Trailer for my favourite Film of 2011 has surfaced. Shame starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan is daring, mesmerizing, sexy and haunting. One month after seeing it at TIFF 2011, I still can't stop thinking about Fassbender's spellbinding work as Brandon, a New York Businessman held captive by his own Sexual Addiction. His daily routing is shaken-up when his estranged Sister Sissy (Mulligan) shows up out of the blue.

On December 2, 2011 Alliance Films releases Shame in Canada and you too will see the performance which won Fassbender the coveted Award for Best Actor at Venice Film Festival this year.

See Photos of the alluring Fassbender at the TIFF 2011 Premiere for the Film here.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

MICHAEL FASSBENDER AT TIFF 2011 FOR "SHAME" & "A DANGEROUS METHOD"

Michael Fassbender in Toronto - September 2011

To whomever started the rumour that Michael Fassbender was canceling his TIFF 2011 visit, you need a serious spanking! The strapping German-born Irish Actor arrived finally today in Toronto after missing a round of Press for another high-profile Film in which he stars, A Dangerous Method.

Just having won the Award for Best Actor at Venice Film Festival this weekend, Fassbender I saw is genuinely is amazing to his Fans, taking the time after his James Franco-attended Premiere for Steve McQueen's Shame at Princess of Wales Theatre.  One-by-one, he signed Autographs for and took Photos with seemingly not in a rush at all, as his rumoured Girlfriend Zoe Kravitz sat in their SUV waiting patiently.  And yes, those good looks are swoon-worthy.  Seen and confirmed.

Fassbender absolutely shines as Brandon in the dark and moody Shame, delving deep into the mind and heart of an emotionally empty, yet successful New York Businessman who is surprised by the resurfacing of his younger Sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan).   Despite resenting her arrival - a disruption in his Playboy lifestyle - the two are connected in spirit by their traumatic Childhood.  Sissy unravels some deeply embedded fears and insecurities in Brandon which he for long has been afraid to face about his own life and his addiction to Sex.   

Shame is sexy, riveting and heartbreaking at once and admittedly I still am thinking about the complex blend of emotions I felt watching this Film.  Visually, McQueen gives us quiet elegance, paired with a superb Score by Harvey Escott perfectly heightening the emotions we experience in this difficult Journey. Mulligan's performance also is a true revelation as she fearlessly goes further than ever before into that emotional reservoir of hers.  Most of all, Fassbender's performance has him fully extended and committed to Brandon; I am mesmerized. I definitely will be seeing it again when it gets a proper release this Fall via Alliance Films.

JAMES FRANCO AT TIFF 2011

James Franco in Toronto - September 2011

Here to present his Love Letter to River Phoenix and Gus Van Sant, titled My Own Private Idaho, James Franco seems to be atop many the Must-Meet Lists of many a Mavenati at TIFF 2011.  I spotted Franco out and about actually seeing Movies today, supporting fellow New Yorker Elizabeth Olsen's upcoming release Martha Marcy May Marlene.  In addition, he was at Princess of Wales Theatre supporting Michael Fassbender's much-buzzed Film Shame for which he won a Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival this past weekend.  He looked a little tired to say the least, but understandably so - the Man is a Machine.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY AT TIFF FOR "A DANGEROUS METHOD"

Keira Knightley in Toronto - September 2011

The Premiere for David Cronenberg's latest work A Dangerous Method was held last night at Roy Thomson Hall, but earlier in the day the Press Conference for the Psychological Drama was held. Unfortunately though, one of its biggest stars Michael Fassbender was missing-in-action although hopefully that will change soon.  Regardless, the Film continues to garner an alarming amount of praise and I'd say at this point it's a front-runner in the race for Best Picture at the Oscars.

Keira Knightley plays Sabina, who is caught in a torrid affair with her Psychologist Carl Jung (Fassbender), and she is getting a lot of buzz for the her intense performance in the Film. When I saw Knightley leaving her Press Conference yesterday unfortunately she had been in a rush and had to tell her Fans she wouldn't be able to stop, as was the case with a normally Fan-loving Viggo Mortensen who plays Sigmund Freud in A Dangerous Method. 

Director David Cronenberg - the Pride of Toronto  - however, was more than accommodating being a bit more generous with Fans, as was fellow Torontonian Sarah Gadon, who also will be appearing in his next Film Cosmopolis alongside Robert Pattinson.  Jokingly, Gadon told Fans "I wish you'd find another Photo of me", commenting on having to sign this same Photo she often gets asked to sign.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

MICHAEL FASSBENDER: THE TALK OF TELLURIDE AND VENICE FILM FESTIVALS

Michael Fassbender

Much of the buzz coming out of both the Telluride and Venice Film Festivals is centering around Michael Fassbender, who along with Ryan Gosling seem to have finally caught the heat that differentiates Actors from Megastars. Even though Fassbender still is little-known in these parts, that soon is expected to change.

Although some are reporting walk-outs at Telluride (Colorado) due to the graphic nature of Steve McQueen's Shame, much acclaim seems to be coming out of it all still. L.A. Times' Julie Makinen describes the opening minutes of the Drama about a Sex-Obsessed Man named Brandon, "A courageous performance by a full-frontal Fassbender — has slept with a hooker and masturbated in the shower. And then things get really kinky.".

Oliver Lyttelton of Indiewire praises Fassbender's performance in David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method, which also explores themes of Sexuality with him playing Psychiatrist Carl Jung. Lyttleton says that the German-born Irish Actor is "deeply sad and deeply human, never shutting the audience out.".

And to think, this time next week he'll be here in the City for TIFF 2011 with both these Films!  

(Photo credit: See-Saw Films/Film4)

NEW TRAILER FOR "HAYWIRE"

Still from Haywire

"You better run.".

Move over Angelina - there's a new Girl in town.  Mixed Martial Arts star Gina Carano looks super-convincing in Steven Soderbergh's new Action Thriller Haywire, in theatres January 2012.  She stars as a Secret Agent who gets betrayed ...and she looks rather pissed about it.

The Film which did the rounds at Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend looks rather promising with an A+-list Cast which includes Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas and Ewan McGregor.

Haywire isn't the only anticipated Film inspired by Mixed Martial Arts as Warrior starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, gets a release this September.  And possibly a TIFF Premiere in September too after doing the rounds at Comic-Con?  Soderbergh last was represented at TIFF with  The Informant! in 2009, although his Contagion looks more likely to surface at TIFF with its forthcoming September release. Relativity Media will be distributing Haywire in the U.S.

Check out the Trailer in full below:

NEW TRAILER FOR "A DANGEROUS METHOD" FROM DAVID CRONENBERG

Still from A Dangerous Method

"Sometimes you have to do something unforgivable to go on living".

Just released is this new Trailer for David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method and everything about it screams Oscars.  Keira Knightley looks like she is delivering some career-best work here as submissive Seductress Sabina and Michael Fassbender as Carl Jung is outright intense.  Cronenberg, who is in Toronto right now working with Sarah Gadon and Robert Pattinson on Cosmopolis, first teamed with that Actress on this Film.

No release date has been set yet, but we're looking at Fall 2011 and this one likely will do the Festival rounds at TIFF this September.

See the Trailer in full below:

MIA WASIKOWSKA & MICHAEL FASSBENDER AT NEW YORK PREMIERE OF "JANE EYRE"

Mia Wasikowska & Michael Fassbender at Jane Eyre Premiere

The New York Premiere of Jane Eyre was held tonight at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, but not after a bit of a kerfuffle. Apparently, the Screening was to happen at the Soho Grand Hotel, but due to leaks in information, the location had to be changed at the last minute.

Stars Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender arrived in style, doing the rounds and posing together on the Red Carpet. Doesn't Wasikowska look perfect in Elie Saab? This more than makes up for her absence this past Awards season where she was nowhere to be found, sadly.

Fassbender was rumoured to be in Toronto filming Sir Ridley Scott's Prometheus, although this has been verified as false information.

Click here to see the complete Photo Collection at Zimbio by Stephen Lovekin of Getty Images.

(Photo credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

MICHAEL FASSBENDER, CHARLIZE THERON AND NOOMI RAPACE MOVIE "PROMETHEUS" FILMING IN TORONTO

Michael Fassbender

Sneaky sneaky. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Sir Ridley Scott has actually already begun Production for his latest Film Prometheus in Toronto based upon the mythological Story of a Man who stole fire from the god Zeus and as a result is punished by torture, making an Eagle eat his liver daily only for it to keep growing back. Plot details are under lock and key.  Did you know?  I didn't know.

The Film will star handsome Irish Actor Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, Hunger), Oscar-winning Charlize Theron and hotly-tipped Swedish Actress Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Filming is taking place at new-improved Pinewood Studios over the next three weeks, where the upcoming Total Recall Film starring Colin Farrell will also be done.

Please start sending me your sightings.  I know I'll be on the lookout!

(Photo credit: Vogue)

UPDATE: I have reached-out to Pinewood Studios in Toronto and they have confirmed that the above is in fact only a rumour.  A Studio Representative replied, "Yes, we saw that (The Hollywood Reporter's post). It’s completely false. We have no idea where they got that info from… But it certainly wasn’t us.".  So there you have it - sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Mavenati!

THE TALKING CURE - AN EARLY LOOK

Viggo Mortensen, whom I feel was ignored unjustly in the Oscars Best Actor race for The Road, has just been confirmed to replace recent Best Supporting Actor winner Christoph Waltz in great Canadian director David Cronenberg's newest film, The Talking Cure.  It will be based on the book by Christopher Hampton (author of Dangerous Liasons) and is said to be about psychoanalyst/neurologist Sigmund Freud, who will be played by Mortensen and his feud with pupil Carl Jung.  The latter will be played by Michael Fassbender, known best for his tour-de-force performance in 2008's Hunger where he emaciated himself beyond recognition for the role.

The film will also star one of my favourite younger actresses Keira Knightley who will play Sabina Spielrein, the object of the master and pupil's feud.  It won't be in theatres until 2011 and as is the case with many of Cronenberg's films, they receive the gala treatment at TIFF. Sounds smoking hot.  Please let there be lots of love scenes.  Thanks!  (Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)