#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DE GUERRE”

Star-studded, Guy Ritchie directed Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre launches exclusively in Canada on Prime Video on April 7, 2023! Here’s a look at the Trailer!

Directed by: Guy Ritchie

Cast: Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone, and Hugh Grant

Synopsis: In the film, super spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). Reluctantly teamed with some of the world’s best operatives (Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone), Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood’s biggest movie star Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) to help them on their globe-trotting undercover mission to save the world. Written byGuy Ritchie and Ivan Atkinson & Marn Davies and produced byGuy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, Bill Block.

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video)

#SXSW: “UPON ENTRY” REVIEW

By David Baldwin

Diego (Alberto Ammann) and Elena (Bruna Cusí) are immigrating from Spain to the United States in the hopes of starting a new life. They have landed in Newark with all the necessary approvals and have three hours before their connecting flight leaves for Miami.

That is how UPON ENTRY opens, with the remainder of its 74-minute running time composed of anxiety, confusion and an endlessly grueling interrogation after Diego and Elena are taken to a secondary inspection area when the authorities discover some inconsistencies with the pair. No minute is wasted as this young couple are psychologically disarmed and made to question every detail of their lives together. It is harrowing stuff that does not get as deplorable as you might think, but certainly leaves you on edge with its palpable realism.

A few ill-timed blunders and underdeveloped plot devices aside, Writer/Director team Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez have crafted a picture that grips you from beginning to end. The suspense they manage to squeeze out of these characters, as they mainly sit in one cold, sterile interrogation room talking, is terrific, as is the way we learn about the characters’ histories – sometimes at the same time as they are. The minimal use of music amplifies Diego and Elena’s horrifying experience exponentially, as does the deliberate framing as they answer the immigration officers’ questions. Ammann and Cusí are dynamic in their roles, easily evolving their emotions as needed, and each delivering standout work. You never believe for an instant that these are actors and not real people. Laura Gómez (who memorably played Blanca Flores on Orange is the New Black) is just as convincing, if not even better than our two leads. She plays one of the no-nonsense interrogation officers with the dialed-up intensity of a wolf who just found its prey, and yes, she is just as scary as that sounds.

UPON ENTRY screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 10 at 8:30pm at Alamo Lamar C

Mar 12 at 5:45pm at Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema

Mar 16 at 11:30am at Alamo Lamar E

#OSCARS: “EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE” DOMINATES 2023 OSCARS

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE dominated the 95th Academy Awards tonight with seven wins, including Best Picture, Actress in a Leading Role (Michelle Yeoh), Directing (The Daniels), Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Original Screenplay (The Daniels) and Editing. Going into the night, the Film has the distinction of being the most awarded Film in history and further added to the tally. Yeoh made history as the first ever Asian woman to win Actress in a Leading Role.

It was a banner year for Canada also with Toronto’s Sarah Polley taking home Adapted Screenplay for WOMEN TALKING. Many were expecting her to be nominated also for Directing also, but this continued the trend of industry veterans dominating the Academy Awards this year and Polley began her career acting at the age of four.

Toronto’s Daniel Roher took Documentary for his film NAVALNY, which premiered at Sundance and Hot Docs last year to much acclaim, as a springboard to its Oscars success.

Brendan Fraser who is of French-Canadian heritage, as expected would take Actor in a Leading Role for his compelling transformation in Darren Aronofsky‘s THE WHALE, joking on-stage “This is what it’s like in the Multiverse!” a nod to EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE.

Complete list of winners:

BEST PICTURE

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“Avatar: The Way of Water”

“The Banshees of Inisherin”

“Elvis”

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” *WINNER

“The Fabelmans”

“Tár”

“Top Gun: Maverick”

“Triangle of Sadness”

“Women Talking”

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Hong Chau, “The Whale”

Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” *WINNER

Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Brendan Gleeson, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Brian Tyree Henry, “Causeway”

Judd Hirsch, “The Fabelmans”

Barry Keoghan, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” *WINNER

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

“All Quiet on the Western Front,” Germany *WINNER

“Argentina, 1985,” Argentina

“Close,” Belgium

“EO,” Poland

“The Quiet Girl,” Ireland

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)

“The Elephant Whisperers” *WINNER

“Haulout”

“How Do You Measure a Year?”

“The Martha Mitchell Effect”

“Stranger at the Gate”

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

“All That Breathes”

“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”

“Fire of Love”

“A House Made of Splinters”

“Navalny” *WINNER

ORIGINAL SONG

“Applause” from “Tell It like a Woman”

“Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”

“Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

“Naatu Naatu” from “RRR” *WINNER

“This Is A Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” *WINNER

“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On”

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”

“The Sea Beast”

“Turning Red”

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”

“Living”

“Top Gun: Maverick”

“Women Talking” *WINNER

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“The Banshees of Inisherin”

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” *WINNER

“The Fabelmans”

“Tár”

“Triangle of Sadness”

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Austin Butler, “Elvis”

Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Brendan Fraser, “The Whale” *WINNER

Paul Mescal, “Aftersun”

Bill Nighy, “Living”

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Cate Blanchett, “Tár”

Ana de Armas, “Blonde”

Andrea Riseborough, “To Leslie”

Michelle Williams, “The Fabelmans”

Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” *WINNER

DIRECTOR

Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” *WINNER

Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans”

Todd Field, “Tár”

Ruben Ostlund, “Triangle of Sadness”

PRODUCTION DESIGN

“All Quiet on the Western Front” *WINNER

“Avatar: The Way of Water”

“Babylon”

“Elvis”

“The Fabelmans”

CINEMATOGRAPHY

“All Quiet on the Western Front” *WINNER

“Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”

“Elvis”

“Empire of Light”

“Tár”

COSTUME DESIGN

“Babylon”

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” *WINNER

“Elvis”

“Everything Everywhere All at Once”

“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“Avatar: The Way of Water”

“The Batman”

“Elvis”

“Top Gun: Maverick” *WINNER

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” *WINNER

“The Flying Sailor”

“Ice Merchants”

“My Year of Dicks”

“An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It”

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

“An Irish Goodbye” *WINNER

“Ivalu”

“Le Pupille”

“Night Ride”

“The Red Suitcase”

ORIGINAL SCORE

“All Quiet on the Western Front” *WINNER

“Babylon”

“The Banshees of Inisherin”

“Everything Everywhere All at Once”

“The Fabelmans”

VISUAL EFFECTS

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“Avatar: The Way of Water” *WINNER

“The Batman”

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

“Top Gun: Maverick”

FILM EDITING

“The Banshees of Inisherin”

“Elvis”

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” *WINNER

“Tár”

“Top Gun: Maverick”

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“The Batman”

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

“Elvis”

“The Whale” *WINNER

Some amazing fashion moments tonight from the Red Carpet:

#Oscars: Michelle Yeoh in Dior. pic.twitter.com/KtYS4f22fP

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 12, 2023

#Oscars: Austin Butler in perfectly-tailored YSL suit. pic.twitter.com/fIve4ojkOB

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 12, 2023

#Oscars: Best-dressed goes to Cara Delevingne in Elie Saab. Just wow! pic.twitter.com/SXu3OPnuoA

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 12, 2023

#Oscars: We’re seeing a lot of dual-tone. Hong Chau looks amazing in Prada. pic.twitter.com/GL35e45L57

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 12, 2023

#Oscars: Florence Pugh by Valentino. Champagne on champagne. Again, dual tone. pic.twitter.com/RpdZotKxLL

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 12, 2023

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR DISNEY’S “THE LITTLE MERMAID”

The trailer for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” the live-action reimagining of the studio’s animated musical classic, are here! Two of the film’s stars, Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy, debuted the trailer during the 95th Annual Academy Awards®. “The Little Mermaid,” helmed by visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall, opens exclusively in theatres nationwide May 26, 2023.

“The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy. The film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (“grown-ish”) as Ariel; Jonah Hauer-King (“A Dog’s Way Home”) as Prince Eric; Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as the voice of Sebastian; Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the voice of Scuttle; Jacob Tremblay (“Luca”) as the voice of Flounder; Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as Queen Selina; Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby; with Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula.

“The Little Mermaid” is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”)with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) and lyrics by Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. The film is produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

#SXSW: “AMERICAN BORN CHINESE” TO PREMIERE AT SXSW 2023 AND ARRIVES MAY ON DISNEY+

Today, Disney+ revealed the May 24, 2023 premiere date for the Disney+ Original series “American Born Chinese.” This :30 first look at the genre-hopping action-comedy from Disney Branded Television series produced by 20th Television, celebrates the show’s three Oscar nominees: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and guest star Stephanie Hsu. The Series gets a premiere at SXSW this week!

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, “American Born Chinese” tells the story of Jin Wang, an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods.

The coming-of-age adventure features an all-star international cast, including Academy® Award-Nominees and Golden Globe winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Ben Wang (“Chang Can Dunk”), two-time International Emmy Award nominee Yeo Yann Yann (“Wet Season”), Chin Han (“Mortal Kombat”), Daniel Wu (“Reminiscence”), former Taekwondo champion Jimmy Liu and Sydney Taylor (“Just Add Magic”). Academy® Award nominee Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) guest stars.

Emmy® Award-winning writer/producer Kelvin Yu (“Bob’s Burgers,” “Central Park”) serves as executive producer and showrunner. Destin Daniel Cretton (Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Short Term 12”) is set to direct and serves as executive producer, alongside Melvin Mar and Jake Kasdan (both of “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and “Jumanji: The Next Level”), Erin O’Malley (“Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.”), Asher Goldstein (“Short Term 12,” “Just Mercy”) and Gene Luen Yang.

(Photo/video credit: Disney+)

#FIRSTLOOK: “ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING” SEASON THREE

Check out the first look at season three of the acclaimed Original comedy series, “Only Murders in the Building.” This first teaser shows a sneak peek at guest star and Oscar®-winner Meryl Streep in the new season, coming soon to Disney+.

Murders? In the building? Groundbreaking. Meryl Streep joins #OnlyMurdersInTheBuilding Season 3. 🏙 pic.twitter.com/crmvWLiEmy

— Disney+ Canada 🇨🇦 (@DisneyPlusCA) March 12, 2023

From the minds of Steve Martin, Dan Fogelman and John Hoffman comes a comedic murder-mystery series for the ages. “Only Murders in the Building” follows three strangers (Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez) who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. As they record a podcast of their own to document the case, the three unravel the complex secrets of the building which stretch back years. Perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living amongst them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it’s too late.

“Only Murders in the Building” hails from co-creators and writers Steve Martin and John Hoffman (“Grace & Frankie,” “Looking”). Martin and Hoffman executive produce along with Martin Short, Selena Gomez, “This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal. The series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

#SXSW: “THE LONG GAME” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

In 1955, Veteran JB Peña (Jay Hernandez) and his wife move to the small town of Del Rio, Texas. He gets hired as the school district’s superintendent. It’s there that he sees a glimpse of himself reflected in a group of five Mexican-American students. The students work as caddies outside school hours. JB catches them playing the sport one night and relishes in their potential. He offers them the chance to be the school’s first golf team. The rest is history.

Based on the true story and critically acclaimed self-published book by Author Humberto G., The Long Game is an uplifting underdog story. It’s a story of finding ones worth in a world that repeatedly puts you down. These five young men face racism every day. They’re unwelcome in local restaurants and are put down by the white men they caddy for. Director Julio Quintana brings us into their world, reminding us of the time in which these men lived.

Some might think that we’ve seen this story before, but not quite like this. It’s told through the love of golf. Each of the young men loves the sport and are wildly talented at it. Quintana tells us all we need to know about the sport and delves into the camaraderie of the teammates. His Cast of young Actors is outstanding. Their energy is palpable and they hit each beat with nuance and precision. The stand-out is up-and-coming Julian Works who plays Joe, the leader of the group that carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Hernandez also shines as a man willing to stop at nothing to see these young men succeed.

Although this story is formulaic, it delivers an uplifting poignant story of five young Mexican-Americans that we won’t ever forget.

The Long Game screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 12 at 11:45am at Paramount Theatre

Mar 15 at 5:45pm at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

#SXSW: “299 QUEEN STREET WEST” REVIEW

By Mr. Will Wong

What better stage for 299 QUEEN STREET WEST to debut than at a Festival like SXSW, where Music, Film, Television and Comedy intersect? This third Documentary from Toronto Filmmaker Sean Menard (The Carter Effect) explores the great cultural impact of MuchMusic in its iconic Queen Street headquarters. For any Canadian whom like myself grew-up throughout the ’80s and ’90s, the groundbreaking Music Television Station forever will be embedded into our generation’s identity. In fact, it is difficult to talk about this Film without feeling emotional and proud that we were there to witness the era.

MUCHMUSIC launched in 1984, driven by a focus on Music and Artist. Many an icon has walked through their halls, interviewed by Video Jockeys – some who came in with very little experience – but somehow were people we saw a bit of ourselves in, entertaining us from days on-end as kids on weekends and summer vacations. We were one of those kids who would wait glued by the TV set for a Madonna video to be played. We hate-watched Electric Circus, a one of a kind Dance Music program that gave a voice to Toronto nightclub culture. We would queue the studio’s Queen Street entrance during the MuchMusic Video Awards (MMVAs) for a glimpse of Avril Lavigne and Destiny’s Child, hoping for an autograph.

The bright light that was MuchMusic would dim throughout the 2010s as we entered the era of YouTube for Music Video consumption and Bell Media‘s acquisition of the network would lead to a change in format geared towards non-scripted Television. It’s 2023 and it’s been five years since we’ve seen the MMVAs, an annual event that took over the City ever Father’s Day, making us feel awful for abandoning our fathers every year, leaving us incredibly sunburnt. We really had it great in Toronto.

Menard lets the voices of MuchMusic tell its story through archives and voiceovers. Denise Donlon, David Kines, Sook-Yin Lee, Namugenyi Kiwanuka, George Stroumbolopoulos, Bill Welychka, Monika Deol, Steve Anthony, Michael Williams, Tony “Master T” Young and of course our all-time favourite, Erica Ehm (she even serves in a Consultant capacity for the Documentary) all are participants. So many fascinating stories how MuchMusic had evolved from very little structure to becoming a mandatory stop for the world’s top musical acts in amplifying the message about their new music. MuchMusic was always about the relationship between Artists and their fans and its legacy lives on to this day.

One, there is the nostalgia factor about 299 QUEEN STREET WEST that captures that same magic spell MuchMusic had over us in its heyday. But it truly is the compelling behind-the-scenes stories the network’s talent of what it was like interviewing the world’s biggest stars and ultimately for some what it felt like to fall out of love with their jobs that make this a must-watch. A phenomenal Documentary. Hoping this gets the TIFF treatment this Fall as it deserves it.

299 QUEEN STREET WEST screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

299 Queen Street West at Alamo Lamar A

Mar 13, 2023

6:15pm—8:13pm

299 Queen Street West at ZACH Theatre

Mar 17, 2023

5:45pm—7:43pm

#SXSW: “PLAN C” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

In 2014, Francine, a Social Scientist, and her partners launched Plan C. The purpose of the network was to spread information about how and where to buy abortion pills online. The organization now includes many people from advocates, midwives, and doctors. Director Tracey Droz Tragos first begins documenting the group in 2019 and follows them all the way through to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

This Documentary would feel urgent at any point throughout history. Yet, with the current political climate, we find ourselves in it feels all the more critical. Tragos educates us on the abortion pill, allowing us to form our own opinions before we get into the harrowing stories of those who gained access to the pill and of those working with Plan C.

Throughout history, there has been a stigma attached to abortion. With this Documentary, Tragos helps in ending that stigma. She achieves this by showing us the challenges women need to face in order to get their hands on the pill. A pill that is completely safe and FDA-approved. It even allows the woman to be in the comfort of their home, surrounded by who they want when having the abortion. Rather than going to a clinic that has Pro-Life protesters screaming at them as they enter.

Additionally, Tragos puts the focus on those working at Plan C. She lays out the laws surrounding abortion, the unrelenting bravery of the heroes working at Plan C, and the stories of those who’ve helped gain access to safe abortion. Therefore, giving a well-rounded view of abortion in America.

Plan C screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 12 at 11:00am at ZACH Theatre

Mar 14 at 5:45pm at Alamo Lamar A

Mar 18 at 3:00pm at Alamo Lamar A

#SPOTTED: NESSA BARRETT & ISABEL LAROSA AT THE PHOENIX IN TORONTO

Success has come quickly for Nessa Barrett, whose Toronto stop of her Young Forever Tour got upgraded to The Phoenix after selling-out Opera House originally. The 20-year-old Singer-Songwriter from New Jersey, got discovered and signed to Warner Music after uploading music to TikTok. In 2022, she released her debut Album, for which this Tour is named after. She played a packed house, performing a 17-track set which due to crowding, saw a couple fans near the front of the stage, faint. Barrett had stopped her show twice to do wellness checks.

Barrett sounded amazing, showing-off a Gold certification for breakout hit “Die First“. She bravely has tackled mental health and the notion of death in her music, herself having battles of her own. Her fans appreciate her vulnerability and candidness and we saw exactly why she is the Queen for a new generation.

Supporting Barrett was Isabel Larosa, whose hit “i’m yours” gained lots of traction on TikTok in both its original and sped-up versions. She performs alongside her brother Thomas, who produces her Music. So much talent!

Some highlights and snaps:

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(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Warner Music)