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

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

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:

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

By David Baldwin

Hannah (Hadley Robinson) is a young fashion designer barely keeping it together under the weight of mounting anxieties. She keeps having sharp pains in her stomach due to all of the stress and one night, the pains get so bad that a literal appendage with eyes and a mouth violently pushes itself out of her. This monstrous entity can talk too and it seems keen on fueling her anxieties.

I am not going to lie to you – I laughed out loud the moment the “Appendage” appears. Kudos to the behind-the-scenes team for doing all the effects practically, but this ghastly creature is more hilarious than it is terrifying. That is, until Writer/Director Anna Zlokovic pulls the rug out and Hannah’s life starts to get increasingly more twisted as a result of this literal growing manifestation of anxiety and self-doubt. Zlokovic has adapted from her own wicked Short Film here (starring SXSW Queen Rachel Sennott as Hannah) and makes some very interesting choices along the way. Sometimes they are predictable, sometimes unpredictable, and other times positively outrageous. Not all of it works unfortunately, with some subplots and ideas introduced and forgotten within the same breath. I admire the ridiculous swings the film takes though and its lean and mean running time. I just thought there would be more to it.

All of that said, Robinson is terrific, absolutely relishing in the chaotic journey Zlokovic puts Hannah through. She is very much lock in step with the tone of the picture and has a way with pivoting her emotions with chilling precision. Schitt’s Creek’s Emily Hampshire does well in her juicy supporting turn as Claudia, who has a special connection with Hannah, and I loved the standout work from Desmin Borges and Brandon Mychal Smith (who starred together on the criminally-underrated FX show You’re the Worst). I only wish they got even more to do here!

APPENDAGE screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 11 at 11:15am at Alamo Lamar C

Mar 14 at 9:45pm at Alamo Lamar E

Mar 16 at 2:00pm at Alamo Lamar C

TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS had a huge debut at SXSW ’23 with the unveiling of character statues at Porsche House! Stars Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback and Toby Nwigiwe were in Austn for the big presentation!

The statues will be touring the world with upcoming stops in LAS VEGAS, CHICAGO, AND NEW YORK CITY, plus SAO PAULO, SINGAPORE, SYDNEY, MADRID, BERLIN, LONDON, MEXICO CITY and TOKYO.

SYNOPSIS:

Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformer – the Maximals – to the existing battle on earth between Autobots and Decepticons. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023.

Some Snaps from the event:

(Photo credit: Paramount Pictures Canada/Getty Images)

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS had the honour of opening the 2023 SXSW Festival at Paramount Theatre, and the response has been phenomental for this Film by Co-Directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. In fact, it is sitting at 100% on the Tomatometer. The Film arrives March 31, 2023 via Paramount Pictures.

In attendance last night were the Film’s stars: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis and Daisy Head, plus Directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley and Producers Nick Meyer and Jeremy Latcham.

SYNOPSIS:

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.  Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Paramount Pictures Canada)

By Mr. Will Wong

The world is obsessed with Multiverses and we’re here for it. Not unlike EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, SLIP explores what could’ve been in a parallel universe. Zoe Lister-Jones creates, directs and stars in this Dramedy series as Mae Cannon, who is living content and comfortable with her husband Elijah (Whitmer Thomas) and a job in the Art world. But it isn’t enough and she longs for more. Her relationship is void of passion, and she makes an interesting observation then after some time in relationship, you’re single again but together.

She then finds herself meeting a mysterious stranger in Eric (Amar Chadha-Patel) at a bar and we see a different version of her and traces of who she might’ve been in the past. Is this really happening? And how does she get back to her normal life again with Elijah?

Lister-Jones aims high wearing multiple caps here, but is successful drawing us right into this world where everything feels intimate and we’d want to invest more time getting to know Mae and what lessons she learns and the people she meets in the situations ahead. Did we mention Dakota Johnson produced this Toronto-filmed Series as well?

All eight episodes of SLIP will be arriving on The Roku Channel and it screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Slip at Stateside Theatre

Mar 16, 2023

5:45pm—7:06pm

SCREAM VI makes some noise in its debut with $42 million from 3,675 theatres for Paramount Pictures/Spyglass Media. This latest installment, a first without Neve Campbell, gets 76% on the Tomatometer from Critics. This marks a best for the Franchise, besting 2022’s SCREAM, which opened with $30 million just as theatres were just re-opening during Covid-19, and also a $34 million openings for SCREAM 3 back in 2000.

CREED III is still fighting in its second week with $24 million from 4,007 theatres, a tally of $102 million in North America for Warner Bros.

65 starring Adam Driver, opens in third with $10 million from 3,405 theatres for Sony Pictures. It gets 36% on the Tomatometer.

Fourth goes to ANT-MAN & THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA with $7.3 million for Marvel/Disney, so very close to the $200 million-mark domestically.

Fifth is COCAINE BEAR with $6.3 million for Universal Pictures, a run of $51.9 million.

By Mr. Will Wong

Co-directed, written by and starring Lucy McKendrick, FUCK ME, RICHARD is a twisty Psychological Thriller that will keep you guessing. Sally (McKendrick) is recovering from a broken leg and feeling lonely. Scrolling through a dating app, she finds her match in Richard (Nathan Wallace). The two embark on a passionate relationship over the phone and we learn that Richard‘s mother is fighting for her life and in need of money. Sally decides to help him in what appears to be a scam, but we ask, is Sally being entirely honest to us and Richard as well?

McKendrick does a fantastic job taking us into Sally’s lonely, painkiller-blurred reality. But make no mistake, she’s not entirely out of it. The performance is understated, which leaves much to the imagination, yet at once is incredibly brazen and vulnerable. She carries the entire 17 minutes of this Short Film, a very impressive introduction to her talents, alongside Co-Director Charlie Pollinger.

Narrative Shorts Program 2 at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

Mar 11, 2023

2:15pm—3:56pm

Narrative Shorts Program 2 at Alamo Lamar E

Mar 15, 2023

12:00pm—1:41pm

By Amanda Gilmore

When Director Penny Lane decides to donate her kidney to a stranger, she makes the decision to document each part of the process. Initially, she’s met with skepticism and many questions of ‘why’. As we watch her go through each step in the process, Lane manages to change our way of thinking and make us laugh while she does it.

Confessions of a Good Samaritan is an in-depth inquiry into the science, history, and ethics of organ transplantation. Experts across many fields lend their knowledge not only of the process of organ transplantation but traits of the individuals who donate. A particular section on the meaning and importance of altruism is the first time audience members start understanding what makes someone want to become a donor. This altruism is showcased through Lane. Although she doesn’t think of herself as a good samaritan in the beginning. Following her story informs the viewer of the lengthy process a donor experiences. And her quirky personality is the cherry on top of this entertaining, through-provoking Documentary.

By the end, Lane has changed our question of ‘why’ into ‘why not’. We see that donating a kidney, or something as small as agreeing to be an organ donor on your driver’s license, is something anyone could and should do. She’s brought us along on her journey and showed us that there is a different way to live. Not a life of only thinking about ourselves and our close loved ones. But one where we can extend that care, nurture, kindness and love to strangers. It’s clear that the world would be a much better place with more good samaritans.

Confessions of a Good Samaritan screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 10 at 5:00pm at Alamo Lamar B

Mar 11 at 11:00am at Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema

Mar 15 at 12:30pm at Violet Crown Cinema 1

Mar 15 at 1:00pm at Violet Crown Cinema 3