Documentary MAKE ME FAMOUS is coming soon to Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto for a run between January 20 – February 1, 2023.

Set amid the legendary ‘80s Lower East Side art scene, a forgotten artist with dreams of glory is “restored” in the evocative documentary Make Me Famous.

He shared the hand-to-mouth existence of fellow artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and David Wojnarowicz. But in life, Edward Brezinski was better known for his antics than his art, which is only just now being discovered.

His reputation was such that, when Brezinski died, his obituary dwelled on an incident where he poisoned himself, eating part of an expensive installation called Bag of Donuts that he deemed pretentious.

Make Me Famous, by director Brian Vincent and producer Heather Spore, is a documentary that uses the life of an almost-legend – sneered at by some contemporaries, admired by others – as a springboard for a period in New York’s cultural history when “starving artists” reset the creative bar.

Reflecting the New Wave mentality then playing out in music, they created a community in studios in the city’s then-derelict Lower East Side. With little more than a DIY creative urge and practically no cash, the likes of Julian Schnabel would come home from his restaurant job with broken plates and put them together as a “canvas” for paintings.

Brezinski’s home base, the Magic Gallery, was a decrepit apartment on Third Avenue, across from a men’s shelter. Fellow aspiring artists and gallerists created the beginnings of a “scene” that made some rich and famous, and left others behind.

Through interviews, and hundreds of images – much never before seen, including videos – Make Me Famous examines some of these intangibles through the recollections of some of NYC’s Downtown scene’s most colourful figures. As business entered the picture, were “antics” good marketing?

Actor/monologist Eric Bogosian recalls helping the late Robert Mapplethorpe assemble a sex-fueled gallery launch party, which was packed with revelers, none of whom bought even a single one of his works.

Along with his Neo-Expressionist artworks, the commercially unsuccessful Brezinski left behind a mystery as his legacy. After a time struggling in East Berlin, he ended up in France, where he apparently died in 2007 (in Nice, the authorities initially said). But proof of his death was sketchy, so the filmmakers embark on a journey, based on a rumour, that he may have faked his own death.

Make Me Famous follows Brezinski’s friends and fellow artists, Marguerite Van Cook and James Romberger, to France to unearth the truth about what happened to Brezinski.

Richard Hambleton and other artists questioned why director Vincent would make a film about a relative unknown. “Famous people, to me, are talked about ad nauseam,” Vincent says. “Whereas this story is guaranteed to be the only documentary made about it so far.”

“On a personal level, I’m an actor, and I’ve been a struggling actor for 30 years. And so, I can relate to these feelings of not being famous, and questioning whether I’m going to fail in my career.

“I wanted to answer the fundamental question, if I’m still struggling to the day that I die, did I inspire anyone? What will be left of what I did? And then more broadly, it’s interesting to look back and see what was overlooked in art history.

And then it begins an investigation, which is the fun part. That’s the stuff I love to do.”

Filmmakers Brian Vincent and Heather Spore are also performers. Brian graduated from Juilliard and Heather was on Broadway in Wicked for 13 years.

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes in Montreal to see critically-acclaimed WOMEN TALKING.

Advance screenings will be held Wednesday, January 11, 2022 in:

• Montreal: Cineplex Forum at 7:00 pm 

Synopsis:

Based on the best-selling novel by Miriam Toews, “Women Talking” follows a group of women in an isolated religious colony as they struggle to reconcile their faith with a series of sexual assaults committed by the colony’s men.

Director: Sarah Polley

Cast: August Winter, Ben Whishaw, Claire Foy, Frances McDormand, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Kate Hallett, Kira Guloien, Liv McNeil, Michelle McLeod, Rooney Mara, Shayla Brown, Sheila McCarthy

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK.

Rules and regulations here.

Universal Pictures Canada release WOMEN TALKING – In Select Theatres January 13, 2023. Everywhere January 20, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

As a perfect accompaniment to the limited edition Do Son collection by world-famous Diptyque Candles, the Werlen Meyer creative studio has produced a short film, that immerses you in the fond memories of summers spent in Halong Bay, Vietnam, by Yves Coueslant, one of Diptyque’s founders. Set to a unique soundtrack by singer-songwriter James Blake, the film brings to life the inspiration behind Do Son, one of Diptyque’s iconic fragrances.

This year, a few new additions to the beloved Do Son collection are arriving, including limited edition bottles donning new artwork and a new 30ml EDT size (perfect for travelling!).

More here.

We can’t wait for 80 FOR BRADY! A new Featurette has arrived for this star-studded new Comedy coming next month!

SYNOPSIS:

80 FOR BRADY is inspired by the true story of four best friends living life to the fullest when they take a wild trip to the 2017 Super Bowl LI to see their hero Tom Brady play. Starring Academy Award® nominee Lily Tomlin, Academy Award® winner Jane Fonda, Academy Award® winner Rita Moreno and Academy Award® winner Sally Field, with 7-time Super Bowl Champion and producer Tom Brady, 80 FOR BRADY is in-theatres February 3, 2023.

CAST:

Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Tom Brady, Billy Porter, 

Rob Corddry, Alex Moffat, Guy Fieri, Harry Hamlin, Bob Balaban, Glynn Turman, 

Sara Gilbert, Jimmy O. Yang, Ron Funches, Matt Lauria

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced an additional five world premiere feature films, plus four award-winning feature films from previous Festivals, to the 2023 Sundance Film Festival lineup. The 2023 Festival will take place January 19–29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29, 2023. Single Film Tickets for in-person and online go on sale January 12 at 10 a.m. MT.

The latest feature films world premiering at the upcoming Festival include: Beyond Utopia, playing in the U.S. Documentary Competition section; Earth Mama, Flora and Son, and Past Lives, playing in the Premieres section; and Stephen Curry: Underrated,playing in the Special Screenings section.

Returning to the Festival as Encore Special Screenings are CODA (2021 Sundance Film Festival), Klondike (2022 Sundance Film Festival), Navalny (2022 Sundance Film Festival), and Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021 Sundance Film Festival). This will be the first time these Sundance award winners will screen in person at the Festival in Park City. Encore Special Screenings will screen January 25–27, with many of the filmmakers in attendance for post-screening Q&A’s.

“These five new films round out our program in an exciting and emotional way. They are cinematic experiences that delight, entertain, and keep us on the edge of our seats. The works introduce us to new voices, along with directors we’re excited to welcome back to the Festival,” said Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “Having four encore films play in Utah is truly a homecoming. While they reached audiences around the world, wherever they were, this year they will return to fuel the energy and excitement at the heart of the Sundance community.”

The Sundance Film Festival is an artist program of the Sundance Institute. Proceeds earned through Festival ticket sales go to uplifting and developing emerging artists on a year-round basis through focused labs, direct grants, fellowships, residencies, and more.

Today’s additions add to the 2023 Festival slate, where 110 feature-length films will screen representing 28 countries, and 45 of 124 (36%) feature film directors are first-time feature filmmakers. 17 of the feature films and projects were supported by Sundance Institute in development through direct granting or residency labs.

98, or 89%, of the Festival’s 110 feature films will be world premieres. Director demographics are available in an editor’s note below.
The latest additions to the 2023 Sundance Film Festival by section are:

U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Beyond Utopia / U.S.A. (Director: Madeleine Gavin, Producers: Jana Edelbaum, Rachel Cohen, Sue Mi Terry) — Hidden camera footage augments this perilous high-stakes journey as we embed with families attempting to escape oppression, ultimately revealing a world most of us have never seen. World Premiere. Available online.

PREMIERES

Earth Mama / U.S.A (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Savanah Leaf, Producers: Cody Ryder, Shirley O’Connor, Medb Riordan, Sam Bisbee) — A pregnant single mother with two children in foster care embraces her Bay Area community as she fights to reclaim her family.Cast: Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Doechii, Sharon Duncan Brewster, Dominic Fike, Bokeem Woodbine.World Premiere. Fiction.

Flora and Son / U.S.A, Ireland (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: John Carney, Producers: Anthony Bregman, Peter Cron, Rebecca O’Flanagan, Robert Walpole) — Single mom Flora is at war with her teenage son, petty thief Max. Encouraged by the police to find Max a hobby, she rescues a beat-up guitar from a dumpster and finds that one person’s trash can be a family’s salvation. Cast: Eve Hewson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Orén Kinlan, Jack Reynor. World Premiere. Fiction.

Past Lives / U.S.A (Director and Screenwriter: Celine Song, Producers: Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, David Hinojosa) — Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny and love, and the choices that make a life. Cast: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro. World Premiere. Fiction.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Stephen Curry: Underrated / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Peter Nicks, Producers: Ryan Coogler, Erick Peyton) — Stephen Curry is one of the most influential, dynamic, and unexpected players in the history of basketball. Intimate cinematic video, archival footage, and on-camera interviews reveal Curry’s rise from an undersized college player to a four-time NBA champion. World Premiere. Documentary.

ENCORE SPECIAL SCREENINGS

CODA / U.S.A, France (Director and Screenwriter: Siân Heder, Producers: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger) — As a CODA – Child of Deaf Adults – Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents. Cast: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin. World Premiered in the 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. Dramatic Competition section, where it won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic, Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, and U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast.

Klondike / Ukraine, Turkey (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Maryna Er Gorbach, Producers: Mehmet Bahadir Er, Sviatoslav BulakovskyI) — The story of a Ukrainian family living on the border of Russia – Ukraine during the start of war. Irka refuses to leave her house even as the village gets captured by armed forces. Shortly after they find themselves at the center of an air crash catastrophe on July 17, 2014. Cast: Oxana Cherkashyna, Sergey Shadrin, Oleg Scherbina, Oleg Shevchuk, Artur Aramyan, Evgenij Efremov. World Premiered in the 2022 Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition section, where it won the Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic.

Navalny / U.S.A. (Director: Daniel Roher, Producers: Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, Shane Boris) — Anti-authoritarian Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny recovers in Berlin after nearly being poisoned to death with the nerve agent Novichok. He makes shocking discoveries about his assassination attempt and bravely decides to return home – whatever the consequences. World Premiered in the 2022 Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. Documentary Competition section, where it won Festival Favorite and the Audience Award: U.S. Documentary.

Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) / U.S.A. (Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Producers: David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent, Joseph Patel) — An epic event that celebrated Black history, culture, and fashion shines a light on the importance of history and the healing power of music during times of unrest. World Premiered in the 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. Documentary Competition section, where it won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary and Audience Award: U.S. Documentary.

“Boston Strangler,” 20th Century Studios true-crime thriller from writer-director Matt Ruskin about the trailblazing reporters who broke the story of the notorious Boston Strangler murders of the 1960s, will premiere March 17, 2023, exclusively on Disney+ under the Star banner in Canada.

“Boston Strangler” stars two-time Oscar® nominee Keira Knightley (“The Imitation Game,” “Pride & Prejudice”), Emmy® nominee Carrie Coon (“Fargo,” “The Gilded Age”), Alessandro Nivola (“Amsterdam”), David Dastmalchian (“Dune”), Morgan Spector (“Homeland”), Bill Camp (“Joker”), and Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper (“Adaptation”). Written and directed by Matt Ruskin (“Crown Heights”), the film is produced by Ridley Scott (“The Martian”), Kevin J. Walsh (“House of Gucci”), Michael Pruss (“American Woman”), Josey McNamara (“Promising Young Woman”), and Tom Ackerley (“I, Tonya”), with Michael Fottrell (“The Fate of the Furious”) and Sam Roston serving as executive producers. Sam Roston will oversee for Scott Free and Bronte Payne for LuckyChap.

The film follows Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), a reporter for the Record-American newspaper, who becomes the first journalist to connect the Boston Strangler murders. As the mysterious killer claims more and more victims, Loretta attempts to continue her investigation alongside colleague and confidante Jean Cole (Carrie Coon), yet the duo finds themselves stymied by the rampant sexism of the era. Nevertheless, McLaughlin and Cole bravely pursue the story at great personal risk, putting their own lives on the line in their quest to uncover the truth.  

ABC Audio, a division of ABC News, will release a true crime companion podcast about the Boston Strangler ahead of the film’s debut on Disney+. The three-part narrative series will be hosted by award-winning journalist and former Boston Globe reporter Dick Lehr, who knew Loretta McLaughlin and has reported on the Boston Strangler case. The podcast will delve into the backstories and tragic fate of the victims linked to the Boston Strangler case and explore why these half-century-old killings remain the subject of so much fascination. It will be available for free on all major podcast platforms.  

Following the popularity and positive reviews of Season One, Netflix’s GINNY & GEORGIA is about to return for a second season. Bringing back many of the same elements we loved about the first season of this Greater Toronto Area-filmed series, the stakes are upped here as Georgia (Brianne Howey) continues to ruffle feathers, seeking to gain acceptance in Wellsbury, yet at once not giving a care what others think. And Ginny (Antonia Gentry) continues uncovering some disagreeable things in the name of surviving and supporting her kids.

When a Series is looking to push boundaries and approach “real topics”, it is bound to cause a bit of controversy. One thing we admire about this second season is its bravery exploring Ginny‘s mental health struggles as she copes with her challenging mother and her relationship with the town’s mayor, Paul (Scott Porter). At once, Ginny is trying to navigate her relationship with Marcus (Felix Mallard), more than ever before leaning-on her biological father Zion (Nathan Mitchell) for support when her mother is impossible. Gentry really does some commendable work decliately exploring Ginny‘s battles and sexual awakening.

Howey continues to excel, drawing us into Georgia’s world. On one hand we kinda want Child Protective Services to nail her, but the compassion in which she brings here makes us want to root for her and get away with some of the unforgivable things she’s done.

Toronto’s Sara Waisglass also is just fantastic in the supporting role of Max, Ginny‘s best friend and sister of her love interest Marcus. She’s a scene-stealer whose energy provides this deeper, darker second season a much-needed lift in spirits.

We enjoyed the first season of this Series, but found ourselves more invested than ever in this second season. Things get tangled and messy and what fun it be if it weren’t? The wait has been more than worthwhile and we foresee more seasons to come after this solid follow-up.

The second season of GINNY & GEORGIA arrives January 5, 2023 on Netflix.

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER continues to make a splash this weekend with $67.8 million from 4,202 theatres for 20th Century Studios this New Year’s three-day weekend! Over three weekends, it has grossed in excess of $450 million domestically.

In second is PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH with $15.9 million from 4,121 theatres. Over two weekends, it has made $65.5 million for Universal Pictures.

Third spot goes to BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER with $5 million from 2,310 theatres, a total $439 million over eight weekends.

Landing in fourth we have I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY, the Whitney Houston Biopic, with $4.1 million from 3,625 theatres for Sony Pictures, a two week tally of $15.8 million.

Rounding things out is BABYLON with $3 million, a two weel total of $11.4 million for Paramount Pictures.

What a year! 2022 honestly was the year we’ve been holding-out for with restrictions having lifted after all our patience these past couple years with the Pandemic. And it was a phenomenal year for Cinema and Toronto proved once again it was at the forefront of it all as the hub for it all!

Team Mr. Will break-down their Top Fave (and then some…) favourites of 2022 in this Highlight Reel below. See what these films mean to us. And yes, Everything Everywhere All at Once and Women Talking were big hits among the Team, in addition told in fresh, underheard voices. But what about some of their other eclectic picks you might’ve missed-out on? This is worth a watch. This Team has a sense of humour!

For a second straight week, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER takes the #1 spot at the Box Office. Over the three-day Christmas weekend, grossing $55 million from 4,202 theatres, bringing its two-week total to $279.7 million domestically for 20th Century Studios.

A distant runner-up is PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH with $11.1 million in its debut from 4,099 theatres for Universal Pictures. Opening Wednesday, it has grossed $24.3 million already. Its 2011 predecessor opened with $34 million.

Third spot goes to Whitney Houston Biopic I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY, earning $5.5 million from 3,625 theatres for Sony Pictures.

Fourth is BABYLON with $3.3 million from 3,343 theatres for Paramount Pictures. The latest from Damien Chazelle gets.

Rounding-out the Christmas Top Five is BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER with $2.6 million, bringing its seven week tally to $426.5 million for Disney.