FIRST TRAILER: "SHAME"

Official Artwork for Shame

At last a proper Trailer for my favourite Film of 2011 has surfaced. Shame starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan is daring, mesmerizing, sexy and haunting. One month after seeing it at TIFF 2011, I still can't stop thinking about Fassbender's spellbinding work as Brandon, a New York Businessman held captive by his own Sexual Addiction. His daily routing is shaken-up when his estranged Sister Sissy (Mulligan) shows up out of the blue.

On December 2, 2011 Alliance Films releases Shame in Canada and you too will see the performance which won Fassbender the coveted Award for Best Actor at Venice Film Festival this year.

See Photos of the alluring Fassbender at the TIFF 2011 Premiere for the Film here.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

DEANIE IP: HONG KONG'S GREATEST CHANCE AT AN OSCAR WITH "A SIMPLE LIFE"

Official Poster for A Simple Life

One Title I regret not having had on my radar during TIFF 2011 was Ann Hui's A Simple Life, which is looking like Hong Kong's greatest chance at an Oscar since 1993's Chen Kaige Film Farewell My Concubine.  The Dramedy about the relationship between a Nanny and the Boy she took care of, won the praise of The Hollywood Reporter and Variety at the Venice Film Festival recently.  Above this, 63 year-old Actress/Singer Deanie Ip whom I watched on VHS tapes on rented Chinese TV series growing up, was awarded Best Actress at the Festival earlier by Jurors (including Black Swan Director Darren Aronofsky). 

That means Ip, who by the way speaks fluent English, beat-out Actresses like Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster and Glenn Close who also were in-contention for the Award.  Michael Fassbender for those curious, won Best Actor for his work in Shame.  

This Victory however, means a lot to the ailing Hong Kong Film Industry which has been destroyed by Piracy and a creative drought over the past decade.  Although it is by no means a guarantee Ip nor the Film will get an Oscar nod, it does mean that A Simple Life is now on the radar and after you see it's touching Trailer below, you'll get why exactly.  The two-minute Trailer had me in tears and instantly made me ponder Mortality and my own relationship with my Mother. 

There is no attached Distributor for the U.S. nor Canada yet and it would be a shame if we didn't get a chance to see it over here.

See it below:

MADONNA LOATHES HYDRANGEAS

Madonna at W.E. Press Conference

Amaze. This provides me hours of entertainment on-end. At Madonna's Press Conference for the widely-panned W.E., to premiere here in Toronto next Monday, a Fan thoughtfully walked up to her and gifted her a Bouquet of Hydrangeas. Sweet, right? Well, the Queen of Pop looks absolutely disgusted with the choice of flowers, whispering "I absolutely loathe Hydrangeas", which was picked-up by the Microphone.

Watch it all unfold below:

MADONNA AND CAST OF "W.E." AT VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

Madonna at W.E. Premiere - Venice Film Festival 2011

Photographer Gareth Catermole of Getty Images captured lots of great Photos of Madonna arriving on the Photo Call for W.E. in Venice earlier today.  She looks absolutely stunning!  

Visit Zimbio for the full set of Photos.

It's hard to believe that She plus Cast members Abbie Cornish and Andrea Riseborough will be here in Toronto in a little over a week!  Early Reviews, including one from Variety however, aren't so promising.

And I'm thrilled to say I got to meet one of the Stars of W.E. already, Natalie Dormer, back in March.  An absolute Doll.

(Photo credit: Gareth Catermole/Getty Images)

WHO IS ANALEIGH TIPTON?

Analeigh Tipton in Crazy Stupid Love

I never would've guessed she had it in her but America's Next Top Model Cycle 11's second runner-up Analeigh Tipton is quite the Actress!  I just came out of a screening for Crazy Stupid Love, the first breakout role for the 22 year-old as Jessica - a lovelorn Babysitter - and for the life of me I could not pinpoint where exactly I knew her from. Finally my Friend Kara pointed out to me her ANTM roots and suddenly it all came together!

Tipton not only held her own against the likes of Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, but dare I say, she stole the show? She is remarkable.