A-LISTERS AT 23RD ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS GALA

Brad Pitt & Angeline Jolie at 23rd Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala

The 23rd Annual Palm Springs Film Festival Awards Gala is where it was at last night with tons of A-listers flying out to spritz-up the Desert with a bit of Glamour. Brad Pitt, who arrived with a cane in-hand after inuring his knee skiing with three-year-old Daughter Vivienne, received the Desert Palm Achievement Award. On-stage, he thanked Co-stars Jonah Hill, Sean Penn and Philip Seymour Hoffman. On his Tree of Life Co-star Jessica Chastain who earlier received the Spotlight Award, he joked "Usually an Actress has to work in the Porn industry to have that kind of success. It’s impressive.”.

Others honoured last night included Michelle Williams in Prada, receiving the Desert Palm Achievement Award for her work in My Week with Marilyn; Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud Director Stephen Daldry being named Director of the Year; Glenn Close getting a Career Achievement Award; Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Diablo Cody & Jason Reitman given the Ensemble Award for Young Adult; Director Michel Hazanavicius being presented with the Sono Bono Visionary Award for The Artist; and Octavia Spencer, a Breakthrough Performance Award for her work in The Help. 

See Photos from the Night over at Zimbio.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

"EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Nine year-old Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) loses his Father Thomas (Tom Hanks) tragically as a result of the September 11th World Trade Center attacks. Before his passing, Thomas leaves behind a mysterious Key in his closet, leading Oskar to go an on all-consuming search throughout the five Boroughs of New York City to find its accompanying Lock.
This quest however, happens without his grieving Mother Linda's (Sandra Bullock) knowledge and along the way, Oskar gets a bit of unlikely help from an Elderly Gentleman (Max von Sydow) who is renting a room from his Grandmother (Zoe Caldwell). The Boy must face and conquer his own personal demons in unraveling this great Mystery in honour of his beloved Father.

Director Stephen Daldry (The Reader, The Hours) truly can do no wrong and such is the case with the intense, detailed and heartfelt Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, an Adaptation of the bestselling Novel by Jonathan Safran Foer.  Despite already an impeccable Cast, all eyes migrate to Breakout Star Horn, a discovery from Game Show Jeopardy. The young Actor handles the quiet nuances required of his Role with equal dexterity as its more melodramatic moments.  A true indication of his ability comes in a particularly tricky and verbose scene where he is paired with von Sydow, rattling off his lines with the skill and conviction of a true Professional beyond his years.  Horn holds his own beautifully in key tender moments with Oscar-caliber talents Bullock, Jeffrey Wright and Viola Davis.

ENTER TO WIN AN ADVANCE PASS TO SEE "EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE" IN TORONTO

Still from Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

I'm extremely honoured and incredibly pleased to be hosting this Giveaway together with Warner Bros. Canada.  Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has all the makings of a real Holiday Classic.  The heartwarming Story follows Oskar (Thomas Horn), an 11 year-old Boy who goes on a search throughout New York City to find the mysterious Lock to the Key his deceased Father left behind to him.  Oskar's Father Thomas (Tom Hanks) died in the World Trade Center Attacks. Stephen Daldry (The Hours, The Reader) directs.

This Advance Screening takes place in Toronto on Monday, December 19, 2011. Although the allotment of Tickets still are being finalized, you can click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook to enter.  All entries must be received by December 16, 2011.  Good luck, Mavenati - this is one you don't want to miss!

As an added Bonus, I will be on-hand following the Screening to hand all Winners a Copy of the Novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Movie Tie-in Edition) by Jonathan Safran Foer now in-stores from Thomas Allen.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR "EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE"

Official Artwork for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Grab a Kleenex ...or ten. The Trailer for the Stephen Daldry's Adaptation of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close finally has surfaced. Quick-paced and melancholy, it looks to have that same Boy-like wonderment in the face of Tragedy that 2002's The Hours had and that same powerful storytelling 2008's The Reader possessed.

Although it originally was to be released via Warner Bros. in January 2012, it looks now like plans are ahead of schedule, pushing for a Christmas release, marking Sandra Bullock's first Film post-Oscar/Divorce and also what looks to be the start of a promising for Child Actor, Thomas Horn.

The post-911 Drama follows a Boy named Oskar (Horn) who searches New York for a Lock to the Key his Father (Tom Hanks) gave him prior to passing away. 

See the Trailer in full below:

SANDRA BULLOCK & TOM HANKS FILM "EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE" IN NEW YORK CITY

In what looks like an absolute Tearjerker, Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks have begun filming their new project Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.  This marks Bullock's return to work after a year marked by many personal highs and lows.
Set in New York City and based upon the 2005 Novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, it is about an eleven year-old Boy named Oscar (Thomas Horn) who goes on an all-out search for the lock to the key his Father (Hanks) left him before he was killed in the 9/11 Attacks.

Stephen Daldry, Director of sublime The Hours, helms the project which also features an excellent Cast of Jeffrey Wright, John Goodman, Viola Davis and James Gandolfini. 2012 Oscar Contender.

Just Jared has posted some snaps from the Set here.