MY PICKS FOR THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS

The 84th Academy Awards Official Poster

Being less than a week away, I've compiled my picks for the 84th Academy Awards. Admittedly, I haven't seen the Documentary and Short Film nominees so I am unable to comment.   I predict another sweep for The Artist, specifically for Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Directing, Costume Design and perhaps a couple technical categories.  Although I think Viola Davis did a fantastic job on The Help, I still feel at this point Meryl Streep should edge her out for Actress in a Leading Role based on her powerful portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Cannot wait to pop the Champagne and celebrate another year of Cine-memories!

Here are my picks:

BEST PICTURE
The Artist


ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jean Dujardin
The Artist


ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Meryl Streep
The Iron Lady


ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Octavia Spencer
The Help


ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Rango
Gore Verbinski

"CAPTAIN AMERICA" SAVES THE BOX OFFICE

Still from Captain America

Captain America not only saves the World, but also the Box Office coming out on top this weekend with an impressive $65.5 million opening, proving that Chris Evans too can be a bankable Leading Man. This result exceeds Paramount Pictures' expectations that the Marvel Comics adaptation would make approximately $60 million. Reviews have been fairly positive, garnering 73% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomotometer.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 continues to go strong in second week with $48 million this weekend. The entire Franchise just surpassed the $7 billion mark worldwide before the weekend began.

Sony Pictures' Friends with Benefits underwhelms with only $18.7 million in its debut much due in part to its timing of release going up against two Box Office monsters. On the upside, Critics appear to like the Rom-Com, coming in with 70% on the Tomatometer and I must say, I actually loved it!

Transformers: Dark of the Moon slips to fourth spot in this its fourth week of release $12.5 million, just ahead of Horrible Bosses in fifth which impressively was earned over $82 million it its three-week run.

Bad Teacher hangs onto the Top Ten in ninth spot with $2.5 million, putting it just-shy of the $100 million mark in its fifth week and believe it or not, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris is still in the Top Ten, rounding it all out with $2 million.

"HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2" SHATTERS BOX OFFICE RECORDS

Still from Harry Potter 7: Part 2

No surprises here! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows obliterates the competition this weekend for Warner Bros., taking in $168.6 million in its debut. The final installment of the Harry Potter franchise set a record for biggest single Box Office day ever, with $92.1 million on Friday.  It also broke the three-day weekend record held by 2008's The Dark Night, with $158 million - another Warner Bros. release. Above this, the Film universally has received praise, garnering an exceptional 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.  Expect this one to be a major player at the Oscars next year.  Read my Interview with star Matthew Lewis here.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon still continues to do exceptionally well, slipping to second this week with $23.5 million, ahead of Horrible Bosses with $17.5 million, which also is still going strong in its second week in the theatres, earning $59.8 million to-date. Read my Interview with Jason Sudeikis here. Meanwhile, Zookeeper finds itself in fourth this weekend with $12.5 million for Sony Pictures.

Disney's Winnie the Pooh debuts in sixth despite some really strong reviews, with $7.5 million.  Perhaps its opening up against Harry Potter wasn't the best in hindsight? Or was there simply not enough  buzz surrounding it?

Interestingly, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris still sits in the Top Ten with $1.8 million this weekend in its ninth week of release.  The Comedy has become Allen's most commercially successful Film of all time with a total $41.7 million earned in North America.

"TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON" TOPS THE HOLIDAY BOX OFFICE

Still from Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Like its first two installments, Paramount Pictures' Transformers: Dark of the Moon takes the top spot at the Box Office this  holiday weekend with $97 million over three days (Friday to Sunday). Opening in 4,013 theatres, the Sci-fi Action Film trails Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen which opened with $109 million back in October 2009, but bests the original Transformers which opened with $70 million in November 2007.  Maybe this third Film in the Series didn't need Megan Fox that much after all?

Disney's Cars 2 performs well in its second week of release with $24.7 million from 4,115 theatres. To-date it is earned $121 million in North America, ahead of Sony Pictures' Comedy Bad Teacher which in its second week also brings in $14 million.

Larry Crowne debuts disappointingly in fourth spot for Universal Pictures (Alliance Films in Canada), earning $13.5 million. The Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts-headlined Rom-Com hasn't fared well overall with Critics, garnering 34% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

20th Century Fox's Monte Carlo starring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy could only manage a fifth-place debut with $7.5 million. Despite a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, CinemaScore has given the Film an A grade.

Easily Woody Allen's biggest Box Office success in years, Midnight in Paris still clings on to the Top Ten in ninth spot with $3.5 million from 951 theatres, just ahead of a resilient Bridesmaids in tenth with $3.3 million. Bridesmaids in eight weeks of release, has earned $153.4 million for Universal Pictures, making it Director/Writer Judd Apatow's highest-grossing Film ever.

"CARS 2" ZOOMS TO TOP OF THE BOX OFFICE

Still from Cars 2

Cars 2 accelerates all the way to the top of the Box Office this weekend with $67 million earned for Disney. This result bests its predecessor's performance in its 2006 debut, earning $60 million on opening weekend.

Bad Teacher starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and Justin Timberlake debuts in second for Sony Pictures, with an impressive $31 million despite negative reviews overall (46% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer). On any other weekend this would place it on top.

Last week's champion Green Lantern slips to third with $18 million, ahead of Super 8 with $12.2 million. Mr. Popper's Penguins starring Jim Carrey continues to go strong still in fifth spot with $11 million this weekend, bringing its three-week tally to $95.3 million.

Bridesmaids surprisingly is still in the game in eighth spot with $5.5 million. In it seven-week run it has brought in $146.8 million for Universal Pictures.  Meanwhile, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris slips to tenth spot this weekend with $4.2 million.

"GREEN LANTERN" LIGHTS UP THE BOX OFFICE

Still from Green Lantern

Although the Critics generally didn't love it (25% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer) Green Lantern absolutely dominated the Box Office this weekend with $52.6 million earned domestically. Overseas it didn't fare as well, bringing in $17 million only. The $200 million Blockbuster is expected to expand into other territories in coming weeks.

Last week's Box Office champion Super 8 is still going strong in its second week with $21.2 million, landing it in second this weekend for Paramount Pictures and Star Trek Director J.J. Abrams.

Jim Carrey-headlining Mr. Popper's Penguins debuts in third with $18.2 million. The 20th Century Fox Family Comedy was made for $55 million and has yet to open Overseas. Finishing right behind Penguins is X-Men: First Class, also from Fox, with $11.5 million bringing its three week tally in North America to $119.9 million.

The Hangover Part II in its fourth week sits in fifth spot with $9.6 million. To date it has earned $232 million in these parts. Meanwhile Woody Allen's acclaimed Midnight in Paris rounds out the Top Ten in ninth spot with $5.2 million, continuing its expansion to 1,038 theatres for Sony Pictures Classics.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS LIVES UP TO ITS NAME IN DEBUT

Still from X-Men - First Class

X-Men: First Class had a first-in-class opening weekend at the Box Office, taking in $53 million from  3,641 theatres for 20th Century Fox.  Although a solid opening, this is considered weak for a Marvel Comics adaptation.   Reviews however, have been strong for the Film starring an Oscar-caliber Cast of Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence and Rose Byrne.  Rotten Tomatoes pegs it at 87% on its Tomatometer.

The Hangover Part II is still going strong in its second week, slipping to second with $35 million after a record-setting opening.  It is v. close to surpassing the $200 million mark domestically.

Meanwhile, Kung Fu Panda 2 continues to perform strong in third with $22 million this weekend in its second week, putting it just ahead of former Box Office-topper Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in fourth with $16.5 million in its third week of release.

Bridesmaids just surpassed the $100 million-mark in earnings this weekend in fifth spot with $12 million (a second Movie in the Top Ten for Byrne) and more notably, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris in Limited Release (147 theatres) is performing well in eighth spot with $2.4 million.

"THE HANGOVER PART II" SHATTERS BOX OFFICE RECORD

Still from The Hangover Part II

Congratulations, Warner Bros.! The Hangover Part II officially has shattered Box Office Records, becoming the highest opening R-rated Comedy of all time. Opening Thursday night with an eye-popping $31.6 million alone, the Wolf Pack are expected to make $107 million by Sunday and $139 by the end of U.S. Memorial Day Weekend. Despite poor reviews overall on Rotten Tomatoes (35%), CinemaScore rated the Film an "A" still.

Kung Fu Panda 2 was expected to give The Hangover Part II a run for its money, but in the end failed to threaten even though it performed well, with a projected take of $56 million by Sunday and $65 million over a five-day weekend.

After a superb debut, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is still going strong, estimated to take-in $50 million by Sunday. Bridesmaids follows behind in fourth with $20.6 million. To-date the Comedy has brought in $89.3 million in three weeks. Meanwhile, Thor finds itself in fifth this Memorial Day Weekend with $12 million.

Woody Allen's latest Midnight in Paris showing in only 58 theatres, lands in ninth spot in its second week of release with $2.2 million. The Rom-Com starring Rachel McAdams, Owen Wilson, Michael Sheen and Marion Cotillard will continue to expand in coming weeks.

"MIDNIGHT IN PARIS" WINS RAVES AT CANNES

Still from Midnight in Paris

They love it! Woody Allen's new Film Midnight in Paris with an all-star Cast of Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Marion Cotillard and more, just premiered as the opening night Gala at the Cannes Film Festival.

Thus far, reactions seem to be positive. Todd McCarthy at The Hollywood Reporter calls the Film "as beguiling as a stroll around Paris on a warm spring evening" and Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere states that it is a "relatively minor piece that works very well by way of charm and humour". Lookin' good! 

Yes, this is the Film responsible for McAdams and Sheen meeting and falling in love!

Midnight in Paris opens in theatres through Sony Pictures Classics May 20, 2011.

See Photos from its Press Conference held earlier today right here at Zimbio.

(Photo credit: Sony Pictures Classics)

RACHEL MCADAMS AND CHANNING TATUM ON THE SET OF THE VOW IN TORONTO

Rachel McAdams & Mr. Will-W.

Canada's sweetheart Rachel McAdams, as many of you are aware, is back in her hometown of Toronto shooting Michael Sucsy's The Vow. Although we've seen plenty of her handsome co-star Channing Tatum around town, McAdams has been pretty low-key. There have been only been a few Twitter reports of McAdams these past couple weeks riding her Bike through Yorkville, or going out for a stroll in Kensington Market.

I went by this evening to visit the set of The Vow in the city's Financial District, where they were taking advantage of the reduced traffic with it being Labour Day. McAdams looked absolutely gorgeous sporting a red-haired wig and a navy blue dress, heading back and forth between her Trailer and the Set. And thanks to a wonderful sweetheart on the Crew, I was lucky enough to chat with the talented actress and snap a photo together before she headed out for the day. 

Upon being escorted under an Umbrella, she was all smiles coming over to greet a few young ladies also who were waiting earlier in the day and myself.  I gave McAdams a big hug and told her how proud I was of her and how much she's accomplished; graciously she accepted the compliment appearing genuinely touched and appreciative.   I did express my excitement to see her next projects: Morning Glory (opposite Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford) and Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. The latter just wrapped-up a couple weeks ago and it seems she didn't get much of a breather between films. And of course, we both giggled about how much we love Allen, but she did whisper to me that unfortunately he'll only be here for a few hours this Sunday for his TIFF Gala for You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. Could this possibly be a hint that we'll see McAdams there too?  

RACHEL MCADAMS FILMING IN PARIS

Canada's Sweetheart Rachel McAdams is currently in Paris filming Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris and she is seen here reuniting with missing-in-action Owen Wilson after last being seen together in the 2005 hit The Wedding Crashers.  The film with an all-star cast including Michael Sheen (!), Kathy Bates, Marion Cotillard (!) and many more, is about a young American couple who travel to Paris and realize that the grass might actually be greener on the other side of the Atlantic.

Allen, Cotillard and McAdams are all scheduled to be in the city this September during TIFF. Perhaps we might see them out and about partying with one another?

Well, one thing's for sure - McAdams better hurry back as she's scheduled to start filming in Toronto next week alongside Hunk-of-the-Masses Channing Tatum, for upcoming project The Vow!  The Sony Screen Gems drama is about a young couple who get into a tragic car accident, with one of them experiencing severe memory loss.  Expect a "sighting" here soon.

(Photo credit: Fame Pictures/Pacific Coast News Online)