We all love a good Biopic and GET ON UP is one we’ve been excited about!  Godfather of Soul JAMES BROWN is immortalized not only by his legendary Music, but also this upcoming Film about his rise to fame.  Universal Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to a July 30th Advance Screening!

Official Synopsis:
In his follow-up to the four-time Academy Award®-nominated blockbuster The Help, Tate Taylor directs 42‘s Chadwick Boseman as James Brown in GET ON UP. Based on the incredible life story of the Godfather of Soul, the Film will give a fearless look inside the music, moves and moods of Brown, taking audiences on the journey from his impoverished childhood to his evolution into one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Boseman is joined in the Drama by a brilliant Supporting Cast: Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Nelsan Ellis, Lennie James, Tika Sumpter, Jill Scott and Dan Aykroyd.

Watch the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Re-Tweet the below or share this Post with your Friends on Facebook to double your chances:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/getonup @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #GETONUP!  In theatres 8/1/14!

Official Artwork:

Universal Pictures Canada release GET ON UP on Friday, August 1, 2014.

(Photo/video credit:  Universal Pictures Canada)

Based on the best-selling Memoir, WILD is set to make a splash this forthcoming Awards season.  Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée who brought us Academy Award-winning DALLAS  BUYERS CLUB, the Film is a chronicle of one woman, Cheryl Strayed, and her 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent catastrophe. 

Expect this to be at TIFF ’14.  Will this be the Film to get Witherspoon her second Oscar?

Official Artwork:

Watch the official brand-new Trailer here. 

Fox Searclight release WILD this Fall.

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searclight)

Fox Searchlight and Mr. Will want to take Readers to the Toronto Advance Screening of if I ORIGINS starring Michael Pitt and Brit Marling!

Official Synopsis:

I ORIGINS, the second feature Film from Writer and Director Mike Cahill, tells the story of Dr. Ian Gray (Michael Pitt), a Molecular Biologist studying the evolution of the eye. He finds his work permeating his life after a brief encounter with an exotic young woman (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey) who slips away from him. As his research continues years later with his lab partner Karen (Brit Marling), they make a stunning scientific discovery that has far reaching implications and complicates both his scientific and spiritual beliefs. Traveling half way around the world, he risks everything he has ever known to validate his theory. Also starring Steven Yeun and Archie Panjabi, the Film is produced by Mike Cahill, Hunter Gray and Alex Orlovsky.

Watch the Trailer below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. You’re encouraged to share this Post with your Friends on Facebook. Re-Tweet the below to increase your chances:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/iorigins @MRWILLW wants us to #win passes to the #Toronto Advance Screening of #IORIGINS!

We attended a Screening of the Film with Cahill and Pitt earlier this week.  More on that here.

Fox Searchlight release I ORIGINS on Friday, July 25, 2014 in Toronto and Vancouver.

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)

Mongrel Media and Mr. Will want to give Canadian Readers a chance to win heartbreaking and sweet THE FACE OF LOVE starring amazing Annette Bening and Ed Harris.

Official Synopsis:

Widowed for five years, Nikki (Annette Bening) is still grieving for her husband Garrett, who was the love of her life. One day, she spots a man who could be her husband’s double. Tom (Ed Harris) is an art teacher, and she hires him for private lessons. They soon begin dating, but she keeps the fact that he bears an uncanny resemblance to Garrett a secret.

She tries to hide him from her daughter (Jess Weixler) and from her close neighbour (Robin Williams), but when her daughter finally meets him, she can’t hide her shock. For Tom‘s sake, Nikki has to figure out whether she has feelings for him or whether her feelings are based only on how he looks.

Watch the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook!  Share the Post with your Friends and double your chances!

See some snaps we got of Bening in Toronto at TIFF ’13 last Fall here!

Mongrel Media release THE FACE OF LOVE on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital & Video-on-Demand Tuesday, July 15, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

Director/Writer Mike Cahill made a huge splash on the Indie scene in 2011 with low-budget Sci-Fi/Drama Another Earth. He’s back with a strong effort this time around, I Origins, starring two of his Muses – Brit Marling (whom also starred in his feature debut) and someone he calls “the greatest Actor of his generation”, Michael Pitt.

Although Pitt certainly is no stranger to Toronto, recently filming Hannibal here locally and also having visited for TIFF, Fans were delighted to see him and Cahill at a special screening of their Film, on which Pitt also served as Executive Producer, tonight at Varsity Cinemas.  Sporting a Björk T-Shirt and smoking an electronic cigarette, Pitt always has been about the Art and tells the Audience at a Q&A following the Movie, that he prefers to work with Artists and jokingly he might need a couch to crash on soon.

The Sci-Fi/Drama laced with elements of romance, follows a Molecular Biologist (Pitt) whose study of the human eye may change the way we look at our scientific and spiritual beliefs.  Odd, sweet and at every turn unpredictable, Cahill once again brings a unique voice to contemporary Film – a bit of a hodgepodge approach which somehow blends beautifully together. “If you can take one thing away from this Movie”, Cahill ponders, “It would be to not be so afraid of death.”.

Watch a Clip from the Q&A tonight, hosted by Richard Crouse below.  Here Pitt is asked about choosing love over money in his careful career choices.

Review to follow…

View the Trailer:

Fox Searchlight release I Origins as follows:
July 25, 2014 – Toronto, Vancouver
August 1, 2014  – Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Winnipeg
August 8, 2014  – Halifax, Ottawa, Victoria

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Fox Searchlight)

The Pop Sensation known as Lady Gaga returns to Toronto once again this Wednesday at Air Canada Centre for her Artrave Tour. Since she had a bit of time off, she decided to make her way to Toronto for a bit of relaxation.

Yesterday she was spotted by fans shopping around Yorkville, but today she took a minute to greet fans before boarding her bus to Buffalo for her show tonight at First Niagara Center. Fans, Monsters as she calls them, delighted at the sight of her French Bulldog Puppy, Asia. The near-30-degree weather couldn’t hold Gaga back from dressing warmly, completely unphased by the humidity.

Gaga performed at Ottawa Blues Fest last week and supported Jazz Legend Tony Bennett at the Montreal Jazz Festival last week. She is prepping the release of a Duets Album with Bennett titled Cheek to Cheek after they had great results with a rendition of The Lady is a Tramp on his Duets II Disc. That Album hits stores September 2014.

A new batch of tickets have been released for Lady Gaga‘s Artrave Show Wednesday in case you missed out!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The Queen’s Plate always is a huge deal for me and I was thrilled this year once again to be a part of it all!  For those unaware, the 155th edition of North America’s most historic horse race was held at Woodbine Racetrack, drawing a huge crowd of Racing Fans and Fashionable types.  The celebrations wouldn’t quit with the Hats & Horseshoes Party going-on into the evening even after the races were over.  Live Music, Food Trucks, some high-profile Media Types like CTV‘s The Social Host Melissa Grelo and a partnership with Rogers Media, including Flare Magazine,  helped the Queen’s Plate reach a new audience, going even deeper into the Canadian consciousness.

Fans of my Blog sometimes are confused about my love for the Sport, but it truly runs deep in my blood.  I grew-up with Horse Racing and my Family is extremely passionate about it.  It  always will hold a dear place in my heart and I am happy to do anything I can to spread awareness to an important Industry which employs over 20k people in Ontario, generating millions in revenue for our province.  Hosting a group of new racing fans in the exclusive Flare Lounge yesterday and seeing their enthusiasm confirmed exactly what I’ve known all along. This is the greatest sport on Earth and all it takes is one afternoon at the races to see it.

It made me so happy to see the Grandstand and Walking Ring filled with people who normally don’t come out to the races, igniting Woodbine with smiles, hats and colourful fascinators.  The thunderous cheer from the Crowd as our hometown girl LEXIE LOU thundered past the boys in the stretch to win the $1-million race is something I will never forget.  The great sense of pride I felt for jockey Patrick Husbands – being just a few feet from him and Lexie Lou in the Winner’s Circle –  as he tore flowers from his victory flower blanket, throwing petals into the air like confetti, is a feeling so magical I wish I could make you experience it just once.

I love this Sport so much and hope it’ll be here to stay forever.

See some Snaps from the Festivities I took yesterday:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

One of the most controversial and daring Films of 2014 certainly is Lars Von Trier‘s NYMPHOMANIAC and now is your chance to own a copy of the fast-selling DVD!

Official Synopsis:
Recounting the erotic journey of self-diagnosed Nymphomaniac Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg). After being rescued by a stranger following a beating in an abandoned alley, Joe shares her unlikely stories with her charming savior.

NYMPHOMANIAC stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Mia Goth, Sophie Kenney Clark, Connie Nielsen, Udo Kier, Jens Albinus and Nicolas Bro.

Watch the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook!  Share with your friends on Facebook and increase your chances!

Mongrel Media releases NYMPHOMANIAC on DVD, Blu-ray (also available on iTunes, Digital & Video-On-Demand) Tuesday, July 8, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

Although it got a stiff challenger earlier in the week, Transformers: Age of Extinction would prevail at the Box Office this Memorial Day Weekend. Bringing-in $37 million from 4,233 theatres in its second week out for Paramount Pictures, the Blockbuster already in North America has grossed $180 million.

Tammy may not have gotten much love from the Critics – in fact Media in Canada weren’t even given a chance to review it – but the Melissa McCarthy Comedy is a testament to that Star’s big bankability, earning $21.1 million for Warner Bros. in its debut. Opening in theatres on Wednesday, the Film so far has earned $33.8 million already.  Critics gave it a 27% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a C+ CinemaScore.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 continues to show great resilience in third spot this weekend with $10 million for 20th Century Fox, just ahead of  22 Jump Street in fourth, which continues to perform great with $9.5 million earned. The latter makes its way to the $150 million-mark for Sony Pictures. Both Films are in their fourth week out.

Earth to Echo, which many are comparing to E.T., opens in fifth spot with $9.2 million for Relativity Media/eOne Films.  The Film receives mixed reviews from Critics with 56% on the Tomatometer and Audiences loved it, giving it an A- CinemaScore.

Deliver Us From Evil makes a statement with a debut in sixth, earning $9.2 million for Sony Pictures.  Critics gave it a negative 32% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a B- CinemaScore.

Former Champ Think Like a Man Too rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.2 million for Sony Pictures, bringing its total to $3.6 million in five weeks out.

A little something for you Action Fans!  The Raid and The Raid 2 have been hailed as two of the greatest Action Flicks of all time. Now here’s your chance, courtesy of eOne Films and Mr. Will to win THE RAID 2 on Blu-ray!

Official Synopsis:
Written and directed by Gareth Evans, THE RAID 2 picks up right where the first film left off and follows Rama (Iko Uwais) as he goes undercover and infiltrates the ranks of a ruthless Jakarta crime syndicate in order to protect his family and uncover the corruption in his own police force.

Watch the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.  Re-Tweet the below also to increase your odds of winning:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/theraid2  @MRWILLW wants us to #win #THERAID2 on Blu-ray!  Out 7/8!

Good luck, Wongsters!

Order it now on Blu-ray Combo here.  It hits stores Tuesday, July 8, 2014 via eOne Films.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)