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)

"SHERLOCK HOLMES" NO MYSTERY AT TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shaows

As expected, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, a sequel in the Franchise, not so mysteriously debuts on-top with $40 million at the Box Office. Of course, this isn't quite as strong as its 2009 opening with $62.3 million but that had the benefit of opening on Christmas Day for Warner Bros.

Opening in second is Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked with $23.5 million for 20th Century Fox, again distantly trailing its Franchise predecessor from 2009 which earned $48.8 million. The lack of Family Comedies over the next bit fares well for this one.

Paramount Pictures' Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, filmed partly in Vancouver, has a strong limited opening, showing only in IMAX at 425 theatres with $13.3 million but as pointed out by Nikki Finke at Deadline, this was boosted much by its Thursday night opening and the help of a much-hyped six-minute Warner Bros.' Dark Knight Rises Preview beforehand, which unfortunately that Studio wasn't able to secure with its own Sherlock Holmes.  Also, the increased Ticket Prices for IMAX Movies (approximately $4 more than a Regular Ticket), also inflates its opening numbers somewhat.

New Year's Eve, the Star-spangled Rom-Com slips to fourth spot with $7.4 million for Warner Bros. after a tepid debut last weekend, again ahead of The Sitter in fifth with $4.4 million.

Young Adult from Paramount Pictures, from the same team which brought us Juno, debuts in 986 theatres with $3.5 million, while The Descendants is going strong still in only 878 theatres with $3.5 million.  To-date, the George Clooney Oscar Vehicle has brought-in $28 million, but on a side note, it was made for about $20 million which is rather expensive for an Indie Film.

GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS PREMIERES "YOUNG ADULT" IN TORONTO

Diablo Cody & Jason Reitman at TIFF 2009

Surprise! After one week of publicizing what would be known only as the #SecretMovie on Twitter, this evening at TIFF Bell Lightbox, CBC Personality/Hunk George Stroumboulopoulos finally revealed before approximately 1,000 Moviegoers at 7:30 PM tonight that it would be none other than Jason Reitman's latest Film, Young Adult being premiered.  The turnout had been so overwhelming that two theatres had to be utilized to meet the demand of those who queued for hours in what can be called a v. successful social media marketing experiment.

Joining-in on the surprise were the same Director/Writer Duo behind Oscar-winning 2007 Comedy Juno, Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, dropping by to introduce the Film and a Q&A afterward.  The Dramedy stars Charlize Theron a Teen-Fiction Writer who returns to her Hometown in hopes of recapturing the heart of her High School Sweetheart played by Patrick Wilson, who just happens to now be married. She reunites with another High School Buddy played by Patton Oswalt, who also has never quite gotten over his High School phase.  Young Adult will be released by Paramount Pictures in Limited Release on December 9, 2011.  Word is TIFF Bell Lightbox will be playing the Film.

Toronto Screeners had mostly positive things to say about Young Adult, with much praise learning towards Oscar Winner Theron for her performance as Mavis and also Oswalt.  See what they said:

@leoraheilbronn Tweets, "No Oscars here. Excellent turn by Charlize though."

@sajak555 Tweets, "Kinda odd, but enjoyed it."

@CFCCreates Tweets, "YOUNG ADULT was stellar! @JasonReitman @diablocody should be proud!".

Brad Tweets, "They should stop marketing this as a Comedy.  Theron and Oswalt were great. I'm a fan of Diablo Cody (mostly United States of Tara), but this felt very different, odd even.".

Watch the Trailer for Young Adult below:

CHARLIZE THERON & PRINCE HARRY CAUGHT HUGGING

Charlize Theron & Prince Harry on Marie Claire UK

Prince Harry and Charlize Theron were spotted exchanging hugs this weekend at the Audi Challenge Charity Polo Cup in Berkshire. In addition to being big supporters of the fight against HIV in Africa, you might recall that Theron is said to be in talks to play Harry’s late Mother, Princess Diana in an upcoming Biopic for which details are still being kept under wraps.

Perhaps research for the role at long last is beginning?  Theron's schedule appears to have freed-up a bit since she is no longer attached to Snow White and the Huntsman 3-D, which films in Montreal.

There is lots of buzz surrounding Theron’s next Film Young Adult from Director Jason Reitman, whose last three Features have premiered at TIFF. Perhaps we’ll be seeing Theron in Toronto this September?

See the Photos of Theron and Prince Harry at Marie Claire UK.

(Photo credit: Marie Claire/Rex Features)

WIN A DATE WITH CHARLIZE THERON FOR $20K

Charlize Theron in South Africa

More reasons to love her. Although Charlize Theron has been away from the spotlight while filming Jason Reitman's latest project Young Adult, much of her time has been devoted to her own Charity.

The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project which benefits at-risk Children in South Africa and Communities suffering from HIV/AIDS, held a Benefit last night at New York City's The Darby Restaurant and one of the items being raffled off were a pair of tickets to a Lakers Game. Male Bidders offered to double their bids apparently should Theron agree to be their date.  Finally she confirmed she would attend for a minimum bid of $20,000 US.

I wonder who the lucky Dog was....

JustJared posted photos from the evening here.

(Photo credit: The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project)

CHARLIZE THERON TAPPED TO STAR IN REITMAN/CODY'S YOUNG ADULT

Stunning Charlize Theron has been rather quiet of late but this will step thrust her back in the spotlight in no time. Director Jason Reitman (Up in the Air, Juno) and screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno, The United States of Tara) are reuniting after much success together with 2007's Juno. Deadline.com reports that their new project Young Adult will star Oscar winner Theron, who will play a Ghost Writer of novels for young adults. Feeling a loss of self-identity, she decides to reunite with some of her High School friends and try to fulfill some of the dreams they had which never came true. The film will be a joint production between Mandate Pictures and John Malkovich's Mr. Mudd. Production tentatively is set to begin this November.

As an aside, Cody just welcomed a new baby boy into this world last week named Marcello Daniel Maurio and I did get to meet her at TIFF last fall when she was promoting Jennifer's Body.  I can confirm she's just delightful. I'm baffled how she divides her time between all these projects and balancing being a mother!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)