"PUSS IN BOOTS" DELIVERS THE TREATS ON HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

Still from Puss in Boots 3-D

Paramount Pictures makes it two-for-two with two separate Movies. Despite it being Halloween weekend, Families dictated the results at the Box Office this weekend with Shrek Spin-off Puss In Boots 3-D at the top of the tally with $34 million.  The Animated Feature has fared well among Critics also, with an 86% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Finishing behind in second is last week's champion Paranormal Activity 3 with $18.5 million, earning $81.3 million already in two weeks.

20th Century Fox debuts in third with Justin Timberlake-starring In Time with $12 million, debuting below expectations. Reviews haven't been strong for the Action/Drama, rating 36% on the Tomotometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

Another Paramount Film, Footloose (2011) slips to fourth spot with $5.5 million - a total run so far of $38.5 million in North America - just-ahead of Johnny Depp's latest Film The Rum Diary, based on the life of Hunter S. Thompson, with $5 million.

The Ides of March still is sitting in the Top Ten in eighth spot after four weeks of release, taking-in $2.7 million. To-date, it has brought in $33.5 million, while another TIFF 2011 Gala Premiere Moneyball is in ninth spot this weekend with $2.4 million in its sixth week.

"REAL STEEL" OUT-DANCES "FOOTLOOSE (2011)" TO THE FINISH

Still from Footloose

In a tepid weekend at the Box Office, last week's champion Real Steel performs consistently well in its second week for Walt Disney Motion Pictures/Dreamworks, holding on at the top with $16 million. To-date it has earned just-under $52 million.

Paramount Pictures just misses the top spot, despite leading out the gate on Friday night with the 2011 Remake of Footloose, taking-in $15.5 million from 3,549 theatres, well on its way to recouping the $24 million it cost to make. Audiences and Critics have been responding well also to the Film, with it sitting at 73% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

Another Remake debuting this weekend is The Thing for Universal Pictures, earning $9 million, not faring so well critically with 33% on the Tomatometer.

It surprises me still that George Clooney's The Ides of March managed to pull-in only $7.5 million this weekend, earning $22.1 million cumulative in two weeks, landing just-ahead of another Film which premiered at TIFF 2011, Moneyball. The Brad Pitt Baseball Dramedy pulled-in $5.5 million in its fourth week of release for Sony Pictures.

Debuting in eighth spot this weekend is 20th Century Fox Comedy The Big Year starring Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson with only $3 million. Not only did the Film receive poor reviews (39% on the Tomatometer), a telltale sign also is a lack of promotion it received.

"REAL STEEL" DEMOLISHES COMPETITION AT BOX OFFICE

Still from Real Steel

Without a doubt, Real Steel demolishes the competition this weekend at the Box Office, running away with a stellar debut of $27 million from 3,440 theatres in North America. The Disney Father/Son Action flick starring Hugh Jackman and Toronto's own Dakota Goyo, recently had its Canadian Premiere here in Toronto and I am proud to have been a part of it all! Click here to read all about it.

Despite some great reviews for George Clooney's The Ides of March, it only could muster a debut in second spot with $11 million from 2,199 theatres which might seem a bit underwhelming for the Political Drama with an All-star Cast of Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood, in addition to Clooney himself.

After landing on-top of the Box Office last weekend, Warner Bros.,' A Dolphin Tale slips to third spot this weekend with $8.5 million in its third week, just ahead of Moneyball with $7 million for Sony Pictures.

Cancer Dramedy 50/50 slips to fifth spot this weekend with $5.5 million, experiencing a 40% slip from its opening weekend. Meanwhile, former Champion The Lion King 3-D drops to eighth spot this weekend with $5 million, earning $86.4 million in its four-week run.

"A DOLPHIN TALE" SWIMS TO THE TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from A Dolphin Tale

A Dolphin Tale swims to the top with $14.2 million of a wide-open weekend at the Box Office against many other Films just making their debuts. In two weeks it has earned $37.5 million for Warner Bros. after opening in second last weekend.

Holding-on in second spot again this weekend is Sony Pictures' Moneyball with $12.5 million, just-ahead of the Movie the beat it last week Disney's The Lion King 3-D, with $11.1 million.

50/50 despite strong reviews could only muster a debut in fourth spot with $8.9 million, making back its $8 million in production costs and good enough to edge-out Christian-themed Film Courageous, which only opened in 1,611 theatres. Honor begins at home its Tagline suggests.

Dream House, the Toronto-filmed Horror starring Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz wasn't a hit among Critics and despite being made for $60 million, it earned only $8.2 million in its debut in sixth.

What's Your Number? starring Anna Faris opens in 3,002 theatres with $5.6 million for 20th Century Fox in eighth, out-finishing former Champion, Contagion in ninth with $5 million.

"LION" IS KING OF THE BOX OFFICE AGAIN

Still from Moneyball

Disney's The Lion King 3-D, last week's Champion, defies all odds and does it a second week in a row, still going strong with $22 million in its second week of release. The Animated Feature wins a hotly-contested race for the lead with Sony Pictures' Moneyball, both a critical and commercial success, getting edged-out with $21 million. The Sports Drama also garnered an amazing 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, meaning that likely it will be a serious Best Picture contender come Awards season.  And to think it all started at TIFF 2011!

Third-place finisher Dolphin Tale 3-D for Warner Bros., starring Morgan Freeman and Harry Connick Jr., is by no means a slouch either, opening with a v. impressive $20 million from 3,507 theatres.

Abduction starring Taylor Lautner opens in fourth spot with $11 million below expectations, as it was made for $36 million and high hopes were held for its Lead Actor's star power. Surely the Actor will see better days soon with the impending release of the next installment of Twilight.

A strong and proven Cast of Leading Men wasn't enough to save Killer Elite which debuts in fifth spot also with $9.5 million. The Action Thriller starring Clive Owen, Robert DeNiro and Jason Statham also fared poorly with Critics at 23% on the Tomatometer.

Former Champion Contagion slips to sixth spot in its third week with $9 million, earning $57.5 million in its run, just ahead of Drive starring Ryan Gosling in seventh, with $6 million in its second week. Meanwhile, Disney's The Help finds itself in eighth spot, now surpassing the $150 mark domestically - just about exceeding everyone's expectations.

ANNA FARIS & CHRIS PRATT AT TIFF FOR "MONEYBALL"

Anna Faris in Toronto - September 2011

Surprise!  I learned today that one of my favourite Funnywomen Anna Faris (The Hot Chick, Lost in Translation) is actually married to Actor Chris Pratt, who is at TIFF 2011 with the Brad Pitt-starring Baseball flick, Moneyball.

After longing to meet her for years now, I finally got my moment telling her "It's about time you came!", to which she giggled as Autograph Seekers hit-up her Husband for some signatures.  At one point Paparazzi kept insisting that she throw a wave at the Cameras, our eyes both met and we giggled  profusely at each other.  Faris was an amazing sport and I can't wait to see more from her.  She currently is filming The Dictator, starring Sacha Baron Cohen.

Mind you, not to be outdone by his beautiful Wife, Pratt also was amazing to Fans and had only one thing to say, "Don't forget to check out Moneyball!".

See more Photos below:

SKINNY JONAH HILL AT TIFF FOR "MONEYBALL"

Mr. Will-W. & Jonah Hill

Wow!  Look how slim Funnyman Jonah Hill has gotten.  Upon arriving in Toronto, Hill had only one thing on his mind.  Based on Tweets from his Toronto Fans, he had decided upon Japango for Sushi after a long flight from Los Angeles.

The Actor is here for Brad Pitt-starring Moneyball and surprised Fans and Paparazzi with his svelte new physique, barely recognizable.  Good job, Jonah!

 Despite his Handler making matters difficult for Fans, Hill still obliged and did Photos with Fans, along with a few scribbles. 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY ANNOUNCES "25 FALL MOVIES WE CAN'T WAIT FOR"

Still from J Edgar

Entertainment Weekly has announced their 25 Fall Movies We Can’t Wait For complete with stills from each film.  Included on their List are:

• Moneyball
• Drive
• The Ides of March
• J Edgar
• Hugo
• Carnage
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

CONFIRMED TIFF 2011 TITLES

Still from Moneyball

So the first TIFF 2011 Press Conference was held at 10:00 AM today with various Galas and marquee titles announced.  Although weekly announcements still are to come over the next month, here are some of the more buzzed Movies we will be seeing in Toronto come September:

Trishna – directed by Michael Winterbottom – The tragic love story of a Property Developer’s Son and an Auto Rickshaw Owner’s Daughter; stars Freida Pinto.

The Lady – Luc Besson’s Biopic about pro-Democracy Activist Aung San Suu Kyi played by Michelle Yeoh, who was blacklisted in Burma after filming this one

W.E. – Madonna’s directorial debut. A film which criss-crosses a modern day love story with the romance between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.