A PLEA FOR NICOLE KIDMAN IN "RABBIT HOLE"

Nicole Kidman at TIFF 2010

With all the attention Natalie Portman and Black Swan are getting in the race for Best Actress at the Oscars next February, I thought I'd do a little championing of a deserving Candidate in Nicole Kidman.  I saw Rabbit Hole a second time tonight and feel strongly about her work here really.  Love you too Annette Bening, but this time around Nicole upstaged you even.

In my opinion, Kidman's performance is even stronger than her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours, for which she actually won an Oscar in 2003.  She nails it absolutely in a pitch-perfect performance.  It's such a shame that this Film had to come out this year, as in any other year she would be the Toast of the Town.  

If you haven't had a chance to see Rabbit Hole yet, please do yourself a favour and see it. You'll be pleasantly surprised - you'll laugh, cry and feel watching her as Becca, a Woman coping with the loss of her four year-old Son in an accident.

Although I posted my review back in September after seeing it at TIFF, I thought I'd re-post it again seeing that some momentum is building for the Film.  Click here to read it.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

NICOLE KIDMAN AND AARON ECKHART AT APPLE STORE, SOHO FOR "RABBIT HOLE"

Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman at Apple Store, SoHo

One of my favourite films of 2010 definitely is Rabbit Hole and since I reviewed it here back in September at TIFF, the Drama is getting lots of positive buzz, especially for its Producer/Star Nicole Kidman.  Just two weeks ago it was announced that she would be receiving the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Cinema Vanguard Award on February 5, 2011 based on her performance.

With promotions in high gear now, Kidman and co-star Aaron Eckhart made an appearance at New York City's Apple Store, SoHo as part of their Meet the Filmmaker series.  God, I wish I were there as our Apple Stores here in Toronto barely have enough room for standing - let alone room to host an event of this magnitude!  And I came oh-so-close to getting a picture with Kidman in Toronto, until her Publicist pulled her away.  I will never forget.  

Other upcoming appearances in the Meet the Filmmaker series include Director David O. Russell for The Fighter, Sofia Coppola for Somewhere and Derek Cianfrance for Blue Valentine.  

Read my review here for Rabbit Hole, which opens in Limited Release on December 17, 2010.

Zimbio posted lots of great shots of both Kidman and Eckhart last night.  Click here to see more.

(Photo credit: Zimbio/WireImage)

MR. WILL-W.'S EARLY OSCAR PREDICTIONS - OCTOBER 2010

Although not quite as formula-based as my girl Sasha predictions are over at Awards Daily, Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven is known to have picked an Oscar winner or two in the past.  Even though the big day isn't until Sunday, March 5, 2011, I will break down for you who I feel is in-contention for a nomination in the major categories.   Obviously, there are a few contenders which I have not seen yet, so I have denoted these with an asterisk.  The names in bold are the contenders I feel have the greatest chance of winning the actual Oscar.  Selections are subject to change and I'll probably re-jig this again closer to the end of the year.

Still from Black Swan

BEST PICTURE

• The Town
• Black Swan
• Inception
• The Kids Are All Right
• The Social Network
• 127 Hours
• Rabbit Hole
• Toy Story 3
• Blue Valentine
• The King's Speech

*Hereafter (review to be posted Wednesday), Made in Dagenham, True Grit, Fair Game and Love and Other Drugs

MR. WILL-W.'S TIFF 2010 BEST-OF LISTS

Nicole Kidman for Rabbit
Hole at TIFF

TIFF 2010 has been wonderful and the last day of the Festival is always bittersweet for me.  After ten days of sheer madness, the normalcy once again is always welcome and for one, I'm sure my dog Billy will appreciate seeing me home more.  And I'm sure my waistline will appreciate it again too as all I've been eating on the go are Hot Dogs (you've never had a Hot Dog until you've had a Toronto Hot Dog), Pastries, Order-at-the-counter Chinese and Starbucks.

Reflecting on my favourite highlights is always a challenge, but this year in particular is difficult to extract from as the first few days of the Festival were extraordinarily concentrated with action, that  surely amidst the madness I might have missed the buzz on some amazing films (i.e. Clint Eastwood's Hereafter) and actors in town.  But if I were to make a few selections, I would narrow it down as follows:





MR. WILL-W.'S TOP FILMS OF TIFF 2010

1. Rabbit  Hole 

2. Black Swan

3. Blue Valentine

4. The Debt

5. 127 Hours

James Franco for 127 Hours

MR. WILL-W.'S GREATEST GUYS OF TIFF 2010

1. James Franco

2. Sam Worthington

3. Ryan Reynolds

4. Ryan Gosling

5. Michael Sheen

RABBIT HOLE REVIEW

Rabbit Hole

John Cameron Mitchell's (Shortbus, Hedwig and the Angry Inch) Rabbit Hole just might be my favourite film of TIFF 2010. Howie and Becca Corbett (Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman) are the couple with everything. A beautiful home and an adorable four year-old son Danny. That is, until the day he gets hit by a car in front of their home and dies tragically.

The story begins after the loss as we see Howie and Becca try to cope with the death of their son, attending support groups and from here we get a sense of how this tragedy has caused a divide in their relationship. Becca is jaded and skeptical - lying beneath the surface is an undercurrent of suppressed rage. Howie has an open heart and is willing to seek help and it is Becca's unwillingness to seek help that causes strain between them.

We see Becca turn to her mother played perfectly by Dianne Wiest for support, but at the same time aims her anger at her mother for failing to understand her struggle. We see Becca blow up also at those around her including her neighbour, sister and even a woman randomly while doing groceries. Howie continues to attend Group Therapy alone and befriends another mourning mother played by the brilliant Sandra Oh.  With tensions mounting between Howie and Beckie, we find Howie further drawn to Oh's character.  In addition to Howie engaging in an emotional affair with someone else, Becca seeks resolve secretly with the boy who killed her daughter accidentally, Jason (Miles Teller).  It is in him and not Therapy that she is able to get her own sense of closure and forgiveness.

NICOLE KIDMAN AT TIFF PRESS CONFERENCE FOR "RABBIT HOLE"

Nicole Kidman surprised just about everyone arriving about an hour early for her own Press Conference for Rabbit Hole, which also stars Aaron Eckhart. The John Cameron Mitchell film centers around a couple who lose their child and the struggles they face coping with this misfortune. Early reviews are looking positive, which is wonderful considering that Kidman could really use a break with her latest string of commercial under-performers.  The film premiered at VISA Screening Room last night.

Kidman did her best to sign autographs and did photos with a couple lucky fans. And I was oh-so-close! She and husband Keith Urban flew out of Toronto this afternoon shortly after doing a round of promotion.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)