TOM CRUISE & KATIE HOLMES SPLIT

Katie Holmes in Toronto - August 2010

It's over.  Katie Holmes has filed for Divorce from Tom Cruise requesting full custody of their six-year-old Daughter, Suri.  The Couple whom married in Italy back in 2006 and have become a regular Tabloid Staple and Paparazzi Target for quite some time now.  Irreconcilable Differences are cited for the reason behind their Split, but anyone who has paid attention to the Couple can see that they both have handled the Spotlight quite different. Cruise although private, embraces his Fame whereas Katie still tends to shy away from hers. Perhaps this is one of their "Irreconcilable Differences"?

Cruise for one has continued to see his Profile rise after a string of negative Press tied to his Scientology beliefes. He has a string of six projects - including another Box Office Monster in Mission Impossible 5 - seeing a projected release in the next year or two, where as Katie has taken her role as a Mother first and foremost with two Projects on-the-go in the next year ahead.  Will we be seeing a resurgence in her Career post-Divorce a la Nicole Kidman perhaps?

If anyone knows a thing about creative insipration from Heartbreak, it's Adele who just announced today that she's expecting...

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

"ROCK OF AGES" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Rock of Ages

Although I have yet to see the Stage Version of Rock of Ages, I can say with complete confidence that its Film Adaptation stands magnificently on its own as a thrilling Moviegoing Experience. Adam Shankman (A Walk to Remember, Hairspray) delivers an electrifying display of Showmanship and he will forever be known as the Director who convincingly transformed Tom Cruise into a Rock Star here.

The Premise is familiar: a Smalltown Girl named Sherrie (Julianne Hough) and a City Boy named Drew (Diego Boneta) who meet in Hollywood, working at Hotspot called The Bourbon Room, with dreams and aspirations of making it big. They are brought together by their undying passion for Rock 'n' Roll, even though they are an unlikely pairing.  At the same time, financially-ailing The Bourbon Room faces the tight scrutiny of Mayor Whitmore (Bryan Cranston) and his Wife Patricia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) due to some unpaid taxes and its promoting of immoral values; a watchful eye triggered passionately perhaps by a personal motive on the latter's part.  All the while, washed-up Rock Legend Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) soon is set to hit the stage in a highly-publicized performance which could be the Club's saving grace.  Rock of Ages however, is so much more than its Synopsis suggests.  It is a Celebration of the Power of Music; an embodiment of Rock 'n' Roll's rebellious spirit. It is an emphatic statement about believing in your dreams and fighting the fight for them.

Filled with superb performances from its Ensemble, Newcomer Diego Boneta wows at first asking in his Debut, while Dancing with the Stars Alumni Julianne Hough solidifies her place as a real Movie Star.  No one can deny the infectious charisma and energy of both Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin, while Oscar Winner Catherine Zeta-Jones gives us her tightest performance since Chicago - getting a chance to do exactly what she does best here.  Surprisingly good is Toronto's own Malin Åkerman as an uptight Rolling Stone Journalist. The biggest revelation of all here is Tom Cruise's jaw-dropping work as Stacee Jaxx - a mishmash of Jim Morrison, Axl Rose and Jon Bon Jovi. Many will be surprised, if not stunned by his performance which surely will garner some Awards buzz even this early in the Season.

ENTER TO WIN "ROCK OF AGES" - ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

Official Artwork for Rock of Ages - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

I've been going on about it at length on Twitter all week and now it's your turn to enjoy it. Universal Music Canada & Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven want to give Readers a chance to win a copy of the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to Rock of Ages, now in-stores!

Even if like me you haven't yet seen the Broadway Musical, you won't be able to resist some of these Big Arena Covers of our favourite Rock Tunes of the '80s-early '90s.  Better yet, did I mention that these versions heard/seen in the Movie are performed by Mary J. Blige, Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Diego Boneta ... and TOM CRUISE?  Your jaws will drop. Your socks will be knocked.

The superbly-infectious Soundtrack includes the following Tracks:

1. Paradise City - Guns N'Roses (Tom Cruise)

2. Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But A Good Time - Night Ranger & David Lee Roth & Poison (Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin)

3. Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Foreigner & Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Julianne Hough)

ADAM SHANKMAN IN TORONTO FOR "ROCK OF AGES"

Adam Shankman in Toronto - June 2012

They don't come more well-rounded than Adam Shankman. The Director/Actor/Choreographer/Producer landed in Toronto last night to do a round of Press for the widely-awaited Motion Picture Adaptation of Rock of Ages from Warner Bros.  Shankman got one of his first breaks dancing for Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson and his directorial Efforts are v. familiar to us including 2007's Hairspray and 2002's A Walk to Remember.

The $80-million Musical Comedy centers around two Singers, Drew (Diego Boneta) and Sherrie (Julianne Hough) who arrive in Hollywood with dreams of making it big. In the meantime, they take jobs at famed The Bourbon Room and soon learn that life in Los Angeles isn't quite what it's cut-out to be.  The Film stars also Paul Giamatti, Alec Balwdwin, Russell Brand, Mary J. Blige, Malin Åkerman, Bryan Cranston and Catherine Zeta-Jones.  Its biggest secret Weapon also happens to be its biggest Star Tom Cruise as sexy, washed-up Rock Star Stacee Jaxx, ready to impress the world with a full-on transformation in this is first Role requiring him to sing.  

Spirited Shankman was said to have taken a Photo on his Cell Phone of the Audience for Cruise last night at a Screening held at AMC - Yonge & Dundas, encouraging the Audience to have fun, dance and sing along.  

I caught-up with him earlier today as he finished a series of Radio Interviews following a Breakfast Television appearance at CityTV.  Host Dina Pugliese has nothing but raves for the Film, in theatres June 15, 2012 giving it "two thumbs up!" on Twitter.

 I'll be reviewing Rock of Ages shortly, so stay tuned for that! In the meantime, preview its Original Motion Picture Soundtrack in full here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

IDRIS ELBA, CHARLIE DAY & CHARLIE HUNNAM CONFIRMED FOR "PACIFIC RIM"

Charlie Day

At long last, Toronto has scored another new Production!  Director Guillermo del Toro who in 2007 was nominated for an Oscar with Pan's Labrynth, will be filming his new Sci-Fi/Action flick Pacific Rim (Working Title: Still Seas) in the City beginning Halloween through April 2012. 

Pacific Rim will see Humans boarding giant Robots to fight-off gargantuan Monsters and confirmed so far are Idris Elba, star of 2009's campy Obsessed and also Horrible Bosses star Charlie Day, who for a change will be taking on a more serious role.  British Actor Charlie Hunnam also will be starring and is known best for his work on Sons of Anarchy.

Although Tom Cruise originally was considered for Elba's role, alas that fell-through.  Will be exciting to see the Cast list expand in the near future.  Perhaps newly-upgraded Pinewood Studios will play host to filming?

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

"OPRAH WINFREY" FINALE AIRING TODAY

Oprah Winfrey - TIFF 2009

Today marks the end of an Era in Television as Oprah Winfrey’s final Show airs later today. The final Taping which took place yesterday was considerably modest compared to her Monday and Tuesday-aired episodes recorded at United Center in Chicago, which featured Celebrity Guests like Tom Cruise, Madonna and Stevie Wonder.

The focus of the final Episode is said to be between Winfrey and her Fans with one chair only on-stage and an audience including names like Tyler Perry, Cicely Tyson and soon-to-be-Divorée Maria Shriver. Fans leaving the Taping reported the experience as being emotional and the Cameras follow Winfrey about as she walks through the halls of Harpo Studios, bidding farewell to members of her staff.

Have some Kleenex ready! And remember, she’s not really gone. The Oprah Winfrey Network is still around!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

DIEGO GONZÁLEZ BONETA CAST IN LEAD ROLE FOR "ROCK OF AGES" MOVIE

Diego González Boneta

After much deliberation, a Lead Actor finally has been chosen for the upcoming Feature Film adaptation of Rock of Ages from New Line Cinema (Warner Bros.). 21 year-old Diego González Boneta has been cast as Drew Boley, a young Man who moves to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams of making it in the Music Industry.

He will be supported by a talented Cast which includes Julianne Hough as his love interest Sherrie, in addition to Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Mary J. Blige and Alec Baldwin. Amy Adams is said to be in talks to star also as a Reporter who is the love interest of Cruise’s character, Stacee Jax.

For those of you who are Fans of the ABC Family Show Pretty Little Liars - and I know many of you are - you might remember Boneta as Alex Santiago. He also stars in TV series 90210 as Javier, also a Singer.

(Photo credit: Francis Bertrand)

TOM CRUISE PREPPING FOR ROLE IN "ROCK OF AGES" MOVIE

Constantine Maroulis & Tom Cruise

It's seriously happening. Tom Cruise is already taking voice lessons  for his upcoming role as Stacee Jaxx in the Film adaptation of Musical Rock of Ages. He will be required to learn three songs for the Film including Styx's Renegade, Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive and Foreigner's I Want to Know What Love Is, which will be featured as a Duet with Sherrie (Anne Hathaway). It doesn't appear Taylor Swift is attached to the project anymore as once rumoured, although names floating around include Mary J. Blige and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Cruise was spotted at Pantages Theatre in Hollywood this past weekend watching Rock of Ages and chatting with Producers and the Cast, posing for a Photo with Star Constantine Maroulis who may of us might remember from his stint on American Idol.

KATIE HOLMES & TOM CRUISE FURIOUS AT ANNE HATHAWAY?

Anne Hathaway at TIFF 2008

The Daily Mail is reporting that Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are boycotting the Oscars this year as word is that the Couple are displeased with Co-Host Anne Hathaway's recent parody of Holmes on a skit called The Miley Cyrus Show.  Hathaway hosted SNL on November 20, 2010.  Although Cruise's Publicist has confirmed this isn't true, do you  recall Holmes nor Cruise having any real reason to be at the Oscars anyway this year?  Neither has starred in any films in-contention for Awards this season.

After her appearance Hathaway clarified to Access Hollywood, "I was a teenager when Dawson's Creek was airing, and I was a pretty avid fan, so it just sort of came from that. It wasn't really Katie Holmes; it was more Joey Potter.".  So there.  Is any additional apology or explanation required, really?

If this is rumour is true, Holmes' lack of a thick skin makes me wonder how she's made it this far in Show Business being offended so easily. To be parodied by Anne Hathaway in my books, is an honour. And if anything, the one who looks worst out of this ordeal is what's depicted as an attention-seeking Miley Cyrus!

Let's relive that moment on SNL again below:

TOM CRUISE AND TAYLOR SWIFT AMONG OTHERS NAMED FOR "ROCK OF AGES" MOVIE

So according to Access Hollywood, the upcoming film adaptation of Tony Award-winning Musical Rock of Ages will star Country sensation Taylor Swift as Sherrie Christian.  New Line Cinema (Warner Bros.) will be overseeing the project which begins production in January 2011.  Although just rumoured, Adam Shankman (A Walk to Remember, Hairspray, The Rocky Horror Glee Show) will be directing.  

Now, don't get me wrong as I do love Swift, but if you do recall that promotional spot she did for the 2009 MTV VMAs performing Tonight from West Side Story, her vocal limitations were revealed like a scab under a Band-Aid.  I have my hesitations about her ability to perform the demanding power-tunes required of her in Rock of Ages but one thing's for sure - she sure has the draw to make this almost a shoe-in for success.

But get this, Tom Cruise apparently also has been offered a role in the film too as a Bartender, not one of the more principal roles in the stage version of the Musical.  Cruise is a chameleon, so I have no doubt that if he takes on the role he'll be amazing.  We've all heard him sing in Top Gun to Righteous Brothers' You've Lost that Loving Feeling - hopefully that's not a taste of what's to come.  But then again, AutoTune was released in 1997....

THANDIE NEWTON CONFIRMS MARIAH CAREY'S PREGNANCY AND LEAKS DETAILS ABOUT TOM CRUISE

Thandie Newton at TIFF 2010

That sweetheart known as Thandie Newton inadvertently revealed that Mariah Carey is in fact pregnant today on ABC's The View.  When asked by the show's Panel why it is that she wound up taking on her disturbed sexually-destructive role in Tyler Perry's upcoming For Coloured Girls, Newton revealed that Mariah Carey (originally cast for the part) became pregnant right before the film began Production.  She then corrected herself saying "... or something major is going on with her right now".  Love her!

It is expected that Mariah Carey will publicly announce her Pregnancy any day now with promotions being under way for her amazing Merry Christmas II You album.  Read my review of it here.

Joy Behar then asked Newton what it was like filming a love scene with Tom Cruise in Mission -Impossible II earlier in her career, joking "Did he jump on the bed?".  Newton giggled revealing that while filming one love scene in bed, she had been laying under the sheets when she noticed a sudden change in disposition in Cruise.  She later found out that he was wearing some type of a contraption which "masks whatever might be going on under there".  

Watch the episode in full here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

LES GROSSMAN FILM GETS GREEN LIGHT

Paramount Pictures has given the green light for a Les Grossman film.  The pottymouthed Studio Executive played by an unrecognizable Tom Cruise in the comedy Tropic Thunder, was a big hit at Sunday night's MTV Movie Awards which had him starring in hilarious skits with some of the evening's marquee stars along with a Dance-Off with Jennifer Lopez.  The story will give us insight to how he came to be the fascinating character that he is. 

According to one of the attached Producers to the project, actor Ben Stiller indicated “(Les) assured me he plans to quote, ‘F—ing kill the s— out of this movie and make Citizen f—ing Kane look like a piece of crap home movie by the time we are done.’ I am honored to be working with him”.  Epic thunder.  (Photo credit: Huffington Post)

WELCOME BACK, TOM CRUISE

Welcome back, Tom Cruise. Is it finally safe to say that the world has forgiven him for that Oprah freak show and gotten over the fact he's just simply into Scientology?  You'd swear the man was a Serial Rapist the way he's been treated. Well I'm ready for him and actually quite excited to see this new action comedy Knight & Day with Cameron Diaz from Fox.

With the MTV Movie Awards just around the corner on June 6, 2010, Cruise reprises his role as Les Grossman, potty-mouthed Hollywood Mogul in Tropic Thunder for a series of promo spots for the show. He recorded one where he visits the set of Risky Business with an older incarnation of himself in Chinos, not approving of them. Also check out this amusing clip of him having a Business Meeting on the importance of maintaining an image, with Twilight's Robert Pattinson. By the end of it Grossman (Cruise) convinces Pattinson to wash his hair in dirt. Love it.

TOM CRUISE AND KELLY MCGILLIS REUNITE!

Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis reunited at last night's Prince of Persia premiere in Los Angeles.  As a child, Top Gun was one of my favourite films.  Who'd have known that 26 years could make such a difference?  Doesn't this photo just "take your breath away"?  tee-hee

Cruise looks amazing, that's for sure.  And although McGillis has aged, she looks healthy.  This is the power of Scientology, people.  Don't diss it.  I'd totally support a McGillis career relaunch.  I'll never forget her performance in The Accused.  Come to think of it, that was a wildly inappropriate film for a 12 year-old to be watching....  Oh well, it was the '80s!  (Photo credit: Getty Images)