“Are you keeping secrets?”.
2015 already is shaping-up to be the year of the Psycho-Sexual Thriller. I can’t deny that 50 Shades of Grey certainly is on my mind, but how about this intriguing new Film from Dutch Director Erik Van Looy, who also directed the original version which this American Remake is based upon.
Official Synopsis:
Five married men jointly own a loft that they use to meet their mistresses in secret. However, when the bloodied body of a murdered young woman is handcuffed to the bed in that very same loft, the men begin to suspect each other of being a murderer.
I do rather love the casting: Wentworth Miller, James Marsden, Karl Urban, Matthias Schoenaerts and get this, Modern Family‘s Eric Stonestreet!
Watch the Trailer:
Open Road Films release THE LOFT on Friday, January 30, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Open Road Films)
For many of us returning to work today, getting up was extra hard. Here’s a little bit of positivity to ring-in 2015, courtesy of our Friend SpongeBob!
See SpongeBob get us into the spirit singing Thank God It’s Monday!:
Did you know that The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water soon will be in theatres? In celebration of its release, today is declared SpongeBob’s Day of Positivity! Moviegoers across the U.S. at Cinemark Theatres got treated to free Popcorn and various festivities are happening through U.S. and Canada as we speak.
Follow @PARAMOUNTCANADA for more.
Official Synopsis:
From Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies comes “THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER,” an all-new 3D adventure that’s as wild and funny as its name. For the first time, SpongeBob SquarePants, the world’s favorite sea dwelling invertebrate, comes ashore to our world for his most super-heroic adventure yet.
Paramount Pictures Canada release THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER in theaters on Friday, February 6, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)
For a third straight week, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES continues its Box Office dominance in North America with $22.1 million grossed this weekend for Warner Bros. from 3,875 theatres. The Studio just announced its record 2014 numbers internationally earning $3.17 billion. To date, the Finale in its Trilogy has earned $221 million.
UNBROKEN for a second consecutive week places second, earning $21 million for Universal Pictures from 3,190 theatres. The Angelina Jolie-directed War Drama is on its way to the $100-million mark.
INTO THE WOODS finds itself in third place again this weekend with $18.6 million for Disney, edging closer also to that $100 million mark domestically.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2: ANGEL OF DEATH earns $15 million for Relativity Media/eOne Films in its debut from 2,602 theatres, placing fourth. Its 2012 Predecessor starring Daniel Radcliffe bests this Sequel slightly with its $20 million opening, placing second. Audiences gave the Film a C CinemaScore, while Critics gave it a 24% on the Tomatometer.
Meanwhile, Oscar Contender THE IMITATION GAME continues to perform strongly in limited release with $8.3 million earned this weekend from 754 theatres, good enough for eighth spot.
THE GAMBLER in its second week earns $6.8 million, putting it in ninth spot, a two-week tally of $28.1 million for Paramount Pictures.
BIG HERO 6 rounds-out the Top Ten with $5.3 million for Disney in its ninth week out. The Blockbuster in its run has earned $211 million domestically.
Cinema Lovers were inundated with fantastic Selections at the Movies in 2014. Although there isn’t quite a definitive Standout, there were many, many outstanding Films released. Dare we say, one of the strongest years in recent memory? This certainly makes the race for dominance this Awards Season a rather curious one.
We rely regularly on the opinions of our resident Contributors: Jonathan Godfrey (now with us a third year!), David Baldwin, Justin Waldman and our newest Team addition George Kozera, to keep us informed on what to watch and asked them what their Favourites of 2014 were. We’re not professional Film Critics by any measure, but we love Film passionately and if you ever want a Friend’s opinion, we are happy to share! The voice of the Fan always should matter most and we are Fans just like YOU!
As you will see, the choices are eclectic, a reflection of the offerings this year…
JONATHAN GODFREY
1. Interstellar
2. Lucy
3. The Tale of Princess Kaguya
4. Nymphomaniac
5. John Wick
6. Maps to the Stars
7. Wild
8. Mood Indigo
9. Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt 1
10. Bjork: Biophilia Live
Every year of my life has been cinematically-splendid, and 2014 was no different. Numerous Films from diverse Genres excited my eyes and elevated my mind-state. None more so than Nolan’s Interstellar. Having seen it four times in the theatre it still doesn’t feel like enough. That said, it wasn’t the only slice of Sci-Fi I gobbled up. Lucy also satiated my appetite for Techno-Fantasy. Then there was the outright Fantasy of Studio Ghibli’s breathtaking tale about a Bamboo Princess, Lars Von Triers four-hour dive into sexual addiction, Keanu’s kick-ass Escapade, Cronenberg’s Olympian Tragedy, Witherspoon’s awe-inspiring performance, Michel Gondry’s take on a cult novel that finally made its way to Canadian screens, and Katniss Everdeen… the Icon who continues to inspire me. Last, but most definitely not least, Björk released her incredible Concert Film which combined technological advances with her love for nature. Maybe 2014 was a little different after all, it was grippingly- cinematic, but with a touch of the divine.
DAVE BALDWIN
Looking back, I think 2014 was one hell of a year for Film. There were some truly awful and sub-par Films released this year too. But there were just as many good, and even a few truly-great Films released as well. It was a mixed bag, but the quality and ambition of some of this year’s crop of Films was truly extraordinary. While Franchise/Comic Book Film fatigue is starting to become quite evident, some pretty huge and experimental gambles paid off brilliantly (did anyone ever expect The LEGO Movie to be as wildly enjoyable as it was?). The Box Office stats in North America may not suggest it, but it was a truly memorable year. And if this is what we have to expect in 2015, I am immediately excited for some of its prospects — and for some time to re-watch some of this year’s best Films again!
1. Whiplash
2. Nightcrawler
3. Birdman
4. Boyhood
5. Life Itself
6. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
7. The Imitation Game
8. Gone Girl
9. How To Train Your Dragon 2
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
(Potential top Films not seen before end of 2014: Big Eyes, American Sniper, A Most Violent Year)
JUSTIN WALDMAN
It is New Year’s Eve and that means that we are supposed to look back at the year and discuss the best things we have seen and witnessed this year. This year brought a ton of great Films that were released throughout the entire year, most of which came out in the second half of the year but some came out earlier on. With so many great Films that came out this past year and one Title that comes out in February, here are the best Films of 2014 with a few extra Titles. In absolutely no particular order:
1. Snowpiercer
2. Big Hero 6
3. Whiplash
4. Nightcrawler
5. Foxcatcher
6. The F Word
7. Pride
8. Dear White People
9. Calvary
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
Now that the best 10 Movies of the year I saw are out there, here is a few of the other Titles that did not make the Top 10 but deserve recognition, at least in my mind. Into the Woods, Big Eyes, Theory of Everything, Interstellar, Birdman, Gone Girl, Locke and Life Itself. 2014 was an excellent year of Film, 2015 has a tough year to compete against but BRING IT ON!
GEORGE KOZERA
For the first time in years, I struggled with whittling down the Movies I saw that were eligible for my Top 10 Movies of 2014. That in itself is a strong indication how many great movies were released this year! So it is with great apologies to the following Movies that WOULD have made the list in a weaker movie year (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wild, Gone Girl, The Lego Movie, The F Word, Locke & The Babadook), I submit my Top 10 that made the biggest impact on me in 2014.
1. Boyhood
2. Foxcatcher
3. The Theory of Everything
4. Birdman
5. Ida
6. The Immigrant
7. The Imitation Game
8. Mommy
9. Nightcrawler
10. Whiplash
My 2014 in review, including my Best-Of? Click here for that.
Stick with us once again in 2015 for the most exciting Canadian Advance Screening Giveaways, Prizes, Star-Spottings and Reviews!
(Photo credit: Paramount Pictures/Mongrel Media/Elevation Pictures/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)
Mr. Will and D Films want to give Readers a chance to win TIFF ’14 Selection THE GUEST on DVD!
Official Synopsis:
A mysterious and devastatingly charming stranger (Dan Stevens) arrives at the home of a bereaved family claiming to be the best friend of their dead son.
THE GUEST also stars Maika Monroe, Lance Reddick and Brendan Meyer; Adam Wingard directs.
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post on Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Also share this Post with your friends at Facebook and your chances will be doubled!
Watch the Trailer:
Official Artwork:

Pre-order a copy here.
D Films release THE GUEST on DVD Tuesday, January 6, 2015.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
We’ve been waiting what seems like an eternity for SEVENTH SON and now Universal Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton a chance to see it first on Wednesday, February 4, 2015!
Official Synopsis:
In a time of enchantments when legends and magic collide, the sole remaining warrior of a mystical order (Oscar® winner Jeff Bridges) travels to find a prophesized hero born with incredible powers, the last Seventh Son (Ben Barnes). Torn from his quiet life as a farmhand, the unlikely young hero embarks on a daring adventure with his battle-hardened mentor to vanquish a dark queen (Julianne Moore) and the army of supernatural assassins she has dispatched against their kingdom.
Watch the Trailer:
Official Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. Tell us your City and tell us which popular Book Series SEVENTH SON is based upon! Click “share” on this Post from there and earn an extra chance or Re-Tweet the below for another shot:
http://www.mrwillwong.com/seventhson @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #SEVENTHSON! In theatres 2/6!
Good luck, Willionaire$!
Universal Pictures Canada release SEVENTH SON on Friday, February 6, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
For the second week in-a-row, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES reigns supreme at the Box Office, prevailing even over an onslaught of strong Christmas releases with $40 million from 3,875 theatres for Warner Bros. In two weeks the Finale to The Hobbit Trilogy, has grossed $167.5 million.
Despite a strong opening, topping Christmas Day ticket sales at the Box Office, Angelina Jolie‘s UNBROKEN alas places second this weekend with $33.3 million from 3,131 theatres for Universal Pictures. Audiences were wowed with an A- CinemaScore, although Critics were left with mixed feelings for the once-Oscar Contender, tallying-in with a 51% score on the Tomatometer.
INTO THE WOODS debuts a strong third with $32.6 million from 2,440 theatres for Disney, which is all the more impressive considering it is playing in 800 less theatres than the top two finishers this weekend. Audiences gave it a B CinemaScore, although Critics gave the star-studded affair a better 71% on the Tomatometer.
NIGHT AT THE MUSUEM: SECRET OF THE TOMB actually betters its first week performance this weekend with $21.6 million grossed from 3,914 theatres for 20th Century Fox. In two weeks it has made $56.3 million.
ANNIE meanwhile isn’t disgraced with $17.3 million in its second week out for Sony Pictures, edging closer to that $50 million-mark domestically.
THE GAMBLER debuts in seventh with $8.3 million for Paramount Pictures from 2,478 theatres across North America. Critics and Audiences alike agreed the Remake was less than stellar with a C+ CinemaScore and a 47% on the Tomatometer.
Oscar Contender THE IMITATION GAME expands to 747 theatres for Elevation Pictures/The Weinstein Co., earning a healthy $7.9 million in its fifth week out.
WILD also continues to perform well in just 1,285 theatres with $5.1 million for Fox Searclight, rounding-out the Top Ten.
Let’s be real. We can never have enough Celeb Selfies! 2014 was a year I’ll never forget and will forever go down as one of our most star-studded yet! Our travels brought us to L.A. and New York, but our most exciting adventures took place here in our Hometown of Toronto! Let’s take a walk down our star-studded memory lane to some of our fave Celeb moments of 2014!
Who were you most excited to see? The red-hot Benedict Cumberbatch? The private Usher? The iconic Tom Cruise? The adorable Anna Kendrick? “It Boy” Ansel Elgort? How about “It Girl” Shailene Woodley? The incredibly-tough Reese Witherspoon? The irresistible Tom Hardy?!
Also, we want to share with you some of our fave of the several thousand Celeb Snaps we took in 2014! Chances are if there was a major Star in-town this year, we at some point snapped them!
2014 will go down as one of the strongest years for Cinema in recent memory, but which Movies rocked our World? And which Singles ruled our iPod? You’re about to find out!
Re-live some of our Fave Celeb Selfies of 2014 (click HD for better quality):
TOP PHOTOS:
Tinashe, Tattoo Rock Parlour
Rachel McAdams at Canada’s Walk of Fame
Ryan Reynolds + Peter Fonda at Canada’s Walk of Fame
Tove Lo, The Phoenix
Robert Pattinson at the NKPR IT Lounge, TIFF ’14
Channing Tatum, TIFF ’14
Steve Carell, TIFF ’14
Denzel Washington, TIFF ’14
Felicity Jones, TIFF ’14
Kevin Costner, TIFF ’14
Adam Sandler, TIFF ’14
Robert Downey Jr., TIFF ’14
Tom Hardy, TIFF ’14
Ian Somerhalder, Fan Expo 2014
Elijah Wood, Fan Expo 2014
Norman Reedus, Fan Expo 2014
Shawn Mendes, Universal Music Canada
One Direction, Where We Are Tour
5 Seconds of Summer, Summer 2014
Daniel Radcliffe + Zoe Kazan, The F Word Toronto Premiere
Katy Perry, Prismatic World Tour
Lady Gaga, Artrave Tour
Charlie Sheen, Joe Carter Classic Afterparty
Gordon Lightfoot, SOCAN Awards
Missy Peregrym + Charlotte Sullivan, Shaw Media Upfronts
Charlie Barnett + Jesse Lee Soffer, Shaw Media Upfronts
Stephen Amell, Bell Media Upfronts
Kirsten Vangsness, Bell Media Upfronts
Elizabeth Henstridge, Bell Media Upfronts
Katie Holmes, Met Gala, NYC
Blake + Ryan, Met Gala, NYC
Hugh Jackman, Met Gala, NYC
Lily Aldridge + Kate Upton, Met Gala, NYC
Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey), Met Gala, NYC
Marion Cotillard, Met Gala, NYC
Joshua Jackson + Diane Kruger, Met Gala, NYC
Zac Efron, NYC
Iggy Azalea, The New Classic Tour
Cher, D2K Tour
Miley Cyrus, Bangerz Tour
Katheryn Winnick, Canadian Screen Awards
Martin Short, Canadian Screen Awards
Shay Mitchell, Canadian Screen Awards
Maria Bello, David Cronenberg + Viggo Mortensen, Canadian Screen Awards
Laura Vandervoort + Olivier Trevena, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.
Ellen Wong, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.
TOP FILMS:
1. WHIPLASH
2. GONE GIRL
3. NIGHTCRAWLER
4. WILD
5. BIRDMAN
6. THE IMITATION GAME
7. FOXCATCHER
8. THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
9. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
10. THE LEGO MOVIE
Perhaps under-seen, WHIPLASH is the one Film you absolutely must see this year. J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller will shatter your World with their performances! You’ll leave shaken and sobered.
TOP SINGLES
1. ALL ABOUT THAT BASS – Meghan Trainor
2. BLANK SPACE – Taylor Swift
3. WEST COAST – Lana Del Rey
4. BOOM CLAP – Charli XCX
5. POMPEII – Bastille
6. STAY WITH ME – Sam Smith
7. SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT – 5 Seconds of Summer
8. COUNTING STARS – OneRepublic
9. SHAKE IT OFF – Taylor Swift
10. SAY SOMETHING – A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
2014 was all about that bass for us. Meghan Trainor blew our mind with her positive message about body image. We’re sold and extremely excited for her 2015 full-length Debut.
Won’t you join us as we embark on more exciting adventures in Entertainment 2015? Also stay tuned for an upcoming Post where our Contributors Jonathan Godfrey, Justin Waldman, David Baldwin and George Kozera share their fave Films of 2014 too!
Happy Holidays, Willionaire$!
Photos Post-TIFF ’14 taken on Nikon D3300. Photos pre-TIFF ’14 taken on Olympus E-PL5/Samsung S4.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
We’ve waited long and hard for FOCUS to be made and the wait has been even more grueling since seeing its first Trailer! Another new Trailer has surfaced for the Action/Comedy starring Margot Robbie and Will Smith! This brand new look gives us a fiery look at the explosive chemistry between the two Leads.
Official Synopsis:
Will Smith stars as Nicky, a seasoned master of misdirection who becomes romantically involved with novice con artist Jess (Margot Robbie). As he’s teaching her the tricks of the trade, she gets too close for comfort and he abruptly breaks it off. Three years later, the former flame—now an accomplished femme fatale—shows up in Buenos Aires in the middle of the high stakes racecar circuit. In the midst of Nicky’s latest, very dangerous scheme, she throws his plans for a loop…and the consummate con man off his game.
See the Trailer:
Warner Bros. release FOCUS on Friday, February 27, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)
There just is no arguing with a legacy! The Hobbit might have come to an end as a trilogy, but Fans certainly won’t say goodbye to it without a bang! THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES debuts with a stunning $86.4 million for Warner Bros., from 3,875 theatres across North America. The Blockbuster by Peter Jackson gets an A- CinemaScore, barely getting a positive consensus on the Tomatometer with a 60% score at Rotten Tomatoes from Critics. This debut outdoes its former Franchise-best, with 2012’s An Unexpected Journey garnering $84 million on its opening weekend.
Debuting in second is another Franchise Finale in A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB with $19.6 million for 20th Century Fox, from 3,785 theatres. By contrast, 2009’s Battle of the Smithsonian earned $54 million on its opening weekend. Audiences gave the Film a B+ CinemaScore, while reviews were mixed among Critics at 50% on the Tomatometer.
ANNIE opens in third with $19.1 million from 3,116 theatres for a trouble-ridden Sony Pictures. This Remake bests its 1982 Predecessor, which went-on to become a Classic after a fifth place debut with $5.3 million. Although Critics hammered the Musical starring Oscar Nominee Quvenzhane Wallis in the titular role with 29% on the Tomatometer, Audiences gave it resounding “yes” with an A- CinemaScore.
After a number one placing last weekend, EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS slips to fourth spot this weekend with some stiff competition from new releases, earning $8 million this weekend. Its two week tally brings it to $38.6 million domestically for 20th Century Fox.
WILD expands to 1,061 theatres for Fox Searchlight and does so successfully, placing sixth with $7 million.
TOP FIVE continues to perform respectably in ninth with $2.9 million in its second week out for Paramount Pictures, now earning $11.9 million in its domestic run.
Rounding-out the Top Ten is INTERSTELLAR with $2.7 million also for Paramount Pictures. In seven weeks it has grossed $171.6 million.
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