"THE VOW" DEBUTS #1 AT BOX OFFICE: RECORD-BREAKING WEEKEND HEADLINED BY CANADIANS

Still from The Vow

Lovers and Movie Lovers alike united at the Box Office this weekend, with not one - but four - films opening to huge numbers. This marks the first time four opening releases have opened with numbers exceeding the $20 million mark. Overall, receipts for the Top Ten are expected to tally in-excess of $169 million, which is a 25% increase over last year's numbers according to Deadline. What makes it even more special is that the Top Three Films all have strong Canadian connections.

Debuting at the top of the pack though is Sony Pictures' Romantic-Drama The Vow starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, with an impressive $41 million from 2,958 theatres. Of McAdams' last five Films, three have now debuted at the top including her work in the Sherlock Holmes Franchise. She filmed this latest chart-topper in Toronto, where she still currently resides.

Following closely in second is Safe House, starring Denzel Washington and Canada's Ryan Reynolds with great $39 million opening for Universal Pictures, opening in 3,119 theatres, just ahead of yet another Film with Canadian connections, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3-D from Warner Bros.  The Adventure/Fantasy was directed by Brad Peyton of Gander, Newfoundland and earns a stellar $27 million domestically. Overseas, it already has made $41.5 million.

Star Wars Fans showed their support for the 3-D re-release of Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, taking-in $23 million for 20th Century Fox - enough to land it in fourth spot. While another release from the Company, Chronicle slips to fifth after opening in the number one spot last weekend with $12 million.

The Woman in Black in its second week, slips to sixth spot with $10.4 million, although it has yet to open overseas where it should perform well.   Meanwhile, The Descendants is still going strong in ninth spot with $3.4 million for Fox Searchlight - now in its 13th week of release.  Former champ, Underworld: Awakening 3-D rounds out the Top Ten with $2.5 million.

RYAN REYNOLDS MISSING FROM LIST OF 2011 CANADA'S WALK OF FAME INDUCTEES

Ryan Reynolds at TIFF 2010

To be held on October 1, 2011 at Elgin Theatre, Canada’s Walk of Fame will be honouring some of the greatest in Canadian talent by adding some new members to its exclusive list of 131 Inductees.

Honourees this year include: Dr. Roberta Bondar, Burton Cummings, Daniel Nestor, Sandra Oh, Russell Peters and Mordecai Richler.  The Ceremony will be televised on both Slice and Global Television although there is no confirmation which stars will actually be in attendance.

Ryan Reynolds, despite originally being on the list of Inductees in June, is missing now from the list seen on the Canada's Walk of Fame website.  The Vancouver-born Actor currently is busy filming R.I.P.D. and that likely has played a part in this unfortunate bit of news.  Canada's Walk of Fame CEO and Founding Director Peter Soumalias confirms with me below that they "look forward to inducting him in the future." 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

TAYLOR SWIFT AT TORONTO'S AIR CANADA CENTRE FOR "SPEAK NOW" TOUR

Taylor Swift in Toronto - July 2011

Performing for the first of two nights at Toronto's Air Canada Centre on the Toronto leg of her Speak Now Tour, Grammy winner Taylor Swift managed to overcome illness and wow a sold-out crowd after a show just last night at Montreal's Bell Centre. With the audience consisting mostly of early twenty-something Females, Swift focused mostly on newer material from her 4.8 million copy-selling third Disc Speak Now, released last October.

Arriving on-stage at exactly 8:30 PM, Swift delivered her "A-Game", dazzling the audience in one shiny outfit after the other with Beyoncé-like swagger and confidence, delivering tracks like Mine and The Story of Us. It wouldn't be long before the audience would chime-in with Swift singing together in unison on Mean, an ode to her harshest Critics and the price of Karma.

One highlight in particular this evening was a Mash-up of her Ballad Back to December, along with OneRepublic's Apologize and You're not Sorry, also appearing on her latest effort.  Complete with a String section and lights resembling falling snow, the moment was magical indeed.

Into the second half of the show, Swift took the party to a secondary stage set-up behind the  Soundboards, serenading the charmed audience with some Acoustic bliss on her track Fearless, which was merged together with Train's Hey, Soul Sister and Jason Mraz's I'm Yours. The Show hit a high note, as she took the festivities back to the  main stage once again with her Grammy-nominated tune You Belong With Me, clocking in at over six minutes.

INTERVIEW: MARK STRONG ON "GREEN LANTERN"

Mark Strong in Toronto - June 2011

"Ah, Parking Validation.  What a fascinating thing!", he tells a small group of Journalists today as he entered the Interview Suite of his Hotel. Mark Strong had just arrived in Toronto earlier to promote his latest Film Green Lantern, Warner Bros.' eagerly-awaited Blockbuster from Director Martin Campbell. Dressed in a fitted navy blue Blazer, a crisp blue Shirt and Jeans, the 47 year-old British Thespian - and Father of two - admits, "I only first learned of Parking Validation in Los Angeles".

Strong's new-found Fame in North America having starred in recent mega-hits like Sherlock Holmes and Kick-Ass has been long overdue perhaps, after spending many years on-stage and in lesser-known  (in these parts at least) Television Series in the U.K.  He considers himself lucky to be cast in big-budget productions now, often as the Villain, posing the question "What's the point of making something that will never be seen?". He reveals that his eldest Son recently witnessed Fans approaching him for Autographs, confused at the sight of it all.  He had explained to his six year-old, "This is just a feature of my job, but it does not mean in any way that I am better than they are.".

Growing-up in London, Strong admits knowing little about American Superheroes - other than Superman whom he considers most iconic - as they were more obscure overseas. "I honestly knew nothing about Green Lantern.... Martin sent me a load of Comics to read. I became hooked on the look of Sinestro", whom he plays in this DC Comics adaptation.  The Character is the Leader of a race of Peace Protectors  (Lanterns) who shun the one chosen Human Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds).  Hal is faced with the daunting task of overcoming his fears and limitations as a Human in order to save the Universe from destructive Parallax (voiced by Clancy Brown). 

VANITY FAIR MARCH 2011 HOLLYWOOD ISSUE COVER

March 2011 Cover of Vanity Fair

Could this Photo get any hotter?  Norman Jean Roy shot this year's eagerly-anticipated Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue Cover and is it ever a sight to see.  Roy managed to bring together: Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, James Franco, Jennifer Lawrence, Anthony Mackie, Olivia Wilde, Jesse Eisenberg, Mila Kunis, Robert Duvall, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Andrew Garfield, Rashida Jones, Garrett Hedlund and Noomi Rapace together in this Keeper of a Cover.

Click here to read more about the Behind-the-Scenes details of this Shoot.

The March issue of Vanity Fair hits newsstands later this month.  Must grab.

(Photo credit: Norman Jean Roy/Vanity Fair)

RYAN REYNOLDS & SCARLETT JOHANSSON CONFIRM SPLIT

Ryan Reynolds at TIFF 2010

GQ Magazine's Babe of the Year and People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive are no longer together. Us Weekly reports that Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson have split up for about two weeks now, less than two years after marrying.

The Couple via a Publicist, have issued this following statement: "After long and careful consideration on both our parts, we've decided to end our marriage. We entered our relationship with love and it's with love and kindness we leave it. While privacy isn't expected, it's certainly appreciated."

Tragic, but perhaps many saw this coming as the Couple had dated less than a year before deciding to wed and with their hectic filming schedules, it is understandable that their foundation wasn't strong enough to last the time spent apart.  I'm sure many of you are already planning an "in" to Reynolds as we speak - just remember to give him a bit of space before you start going all out!

Read more details here.

 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

RYAN REYNOLDS AWARDED PEOPLE'S "SEXIEST MAN ALIVE"

Ryan Reynolds at TIFF 2010

People Magazine just announced its annual Sexiest Man Alive and just a few days after it was announced his wife is GQ Magazine's 2010 Babe of the Year, Ryan Reynolds too gets some attention too. Does this in effect make them the Sexiest Couple of the Year by default?

Reynolds tells the Magazine, "Now it's going to be, 'Sexiest man, take out the garbage.' (in reference to wife Scarlett Johansson). That does sound better. The most difficult part is going to be organically working this title into a conversation with random strangers.".

To read the interview in full, click here.

 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

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

THE HOTTEST RYAN

TIFF 2010 was all about The Ryans.  From Top to Bottom L to R: Ryan Phillippe, Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Kwanten - all hot right now.  But who is the hottest Ryan?

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

TIFF INSTYLE AND HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION PARTY PICS

Malin Akerman & Mr. Will-W.

Held traditionally towards the halfway mark of TIFF ever year, InStyle Magazine and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association throw a bash at the Windsor Arms Hotel, marking one of the biggest highlights of the Festival. 

The Hotel rolled out the Red Carpet and installed a Media Tent for its ultra-exclusive list of Celebrity Guests and everyone including hundreds of spectators out on the street got to join in on the festivities, giving Toronto a taste of Hollywood.  

Here's who showed up for some fun and Swag:

Abigail Breslin

PICTURES FROM RYAN REYNOLDS' TIFF PREMIERE OF BURIED

Ryan Reynolds at TIFF Premiere of Buried

Ryan Reynolds surprised himself completely with what a large turnout he brought to his new small indie flick Buried directed by Rodrigo Cortês, which sees him waking up buried six feet under. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier in the year to some strong reviews. It will be released on October 8, 2010 in Canada via Maple Pictures and was also acquired in the U.S. by Lionsgate.

Reynolds looked perfect dressed in a suit and black tie, signing autographs from start-to-finish for fans at Ryerson Theatre, before heading off for some fun at the InStyle Magazine and Hollywood Foreign Press Association TIFF Party at Windsor Arms Hotel.  I just may have a beautiful signed 6x8 of Reynolds to give away soon to a lucky Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven reader.  Stay tuned!

Check out some more of Reynolds below in fine form:

RYAN REYNOLDS ARRIVES AT TIFF PRESS CONFERENCE FOR BURIED

Director Rodrigo Cortes could be onto something interesting as his new film Buried premieres tomorrow night at Ryerson Theatre.  The film is about a man who wakes up six feet underground, realizing he's been..... ta-dah!  Buried.  Cortes and Canadian hunk Ryan Reynolds (the film's only star) did a bit of promotion today at their Press Conference and there was quite a bit of havoc with hoards of Fans and Autograph Hounds trying to get to him.  With that being said, he only granted a few lucky people with his signature before scooting off quickly.  

(Photo credit: Catherine Dennis via Mr. Will-W.)

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON WRAPS UP

Now I wish we had something like this in Toronto, but I suppose TIFF will have to do!  The 41st annual San Diego Comic-Con held at the San Deigo Convention Centre just wrapped-up and it is said that over 120,000 fans attended the event this year.  The Pop Culture convention gives fans an opportunity to connect with their favourite icons and get the scoop on forthcoming projects pertaining to a Superhero, Comic, Fantasy or Sci-Fi nature. 

Stars to turn up this year included the likes of Seth Rogen, Ryan Reynolds, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, cast members of Glee and many, many more.

Check out these photos below from the festivities: