Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto a chance to see TIFF ’17 selection VICTORIA & ABDUL! The Screening takes place Monday, September 25, 2017 in Toronto.
Synopsis:
Academy Award winner Judi Dench (“Shakespeare in Love”) reunites with Academy Award-nominated director Stephen Frears (“The Queen”), and returns to the role of Queen Victoria, in “Victoria & Abdul.” The screenplay of “Victoria & Abdul” is by Academy Award nominee Lee Hall (“Billy Elliot”), based on journalist Shrabani Basu’s book Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen’s Closest Confidant., which brought to light the long-hidden history of Victoria and Abdul from their own diaries and journals. The extraordinary true story of the amazing and unlikely friendship between Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) and a young clerk, Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), who becomes her teacher, her spiritual advisor, and her devoted friend. In 1887, Abdul travels from India to present a ceremonial medal as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee but surprisingly finds favor with the elderly Queen. The unprecedented and unlikely relationship causes a battle royale within the royal household, pitting the Queen against court and family. “Victoria & Abdul” humorously explores questions of race, religion, power, and the farce of Empire through the prism of a highly unusual and deeply moving friendship.
Cast: Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Eddie Izzard, Adeel Akhtar, Tim Pigott-Smith, Olivia Williams, Fenella Woolgar, Paul Higgins, Robin Soans, Julian Wadham, Simon Callow and Michael Gambon.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
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Universal Pictures Canada release VICTORIA & ABDUL Friday, September 29, 2017 in Toronto, with additional cities to follow Friday, October 6, 2017.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
Okay, we admit we were underwhelmed by FIFTY SHADES DARKER but this new Teaser for FIFTY SHADES FREED offers some promise!
Synopsis:
Christian (Jamie Dornan) and Ana (Dakota Johnson) return from their honeymoon. Christian has purchased the publishing business where Ana worked, and she is now the Commissioning Editor.
After missing four of her contraception injection appointments, Ana learns she is pregnant. After hearing the news, Christian is angry, because he thinks Ana will love the baby more than him, and demands that she get an abortion.
Meanwhile, Ana‘s old boss, Jack (Eric Johnson), is causing problems for Ana when he tries to kidnap her and failing, kidnaps someone close to her.
See the Teaser:
Universal Pictures Canada release FIFTY SHADES FREED Friday, February 9, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
This looks incredible! Primed for its release this awards season, comes this new Trailer for ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD starring an unrecognizable Kevin Spacey, Michelle Williams, Mark Wahlberg and Charlie Plummer, the latter just at TIFF ’17 with Lean on Pete.
Synopsis:
J. Paul Getty had a fortune. Everyone else paid the price. #AllTheMoney In the World in theaters this December.
See the Trailer:
Sony Pictures release ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD December 2017.
(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)
TIFF ’17 may be winding down but that certainly doesn’t mean there aren’t any more stars left to spot. Â While we were so excited about Daniel Craig returning after filming Dream House here a few years back, those hopes were dashed when we received confirmation he no longer would be coming. Academy Award winner Halle Berry however also stars in their new Film KINGS from Mustangs Director Deniz Gamze ErgĂĽven. The Film centers on a family before and after the violent L.A. Riots in 1992 following the Rodney King trial.
Berry looke gorgeous in a shimmery and sheer black dress, her hair like a high ponytail like a Grecian goddess.
See some Snaps of the Cast, ErgĂĽven and Berry tonight at Roy Thomson Hall. Hover left and right to navigate slideshow.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Masterpiece. That is the easiest and quickest way to describe Guillermo del Toro’s gothic romance The Shape of Water. The Film recently won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and is the early front-runner to take the Grolsch People’s Choice Award at TIFF this Sunday.
It is the 1960’s and mute Eliza (a never better Sally Hawkins) is working as a cleaning lady in a high-tech government facility. While cleaning one of the labs, she discovers what the scientists and top brass refer to as The Asset (Doug Jones) – a fish/human/creature hybrid. Despite the secrecy of his existence, Eliza befriends the creature, changing both of their lives irrevocably.
Not since 2006’s Oscar-nominated Pan’s Labyrinth has del Toro been able to marry his incredible visuals with a worthwhile story. But he delivers in spades here, creating a dark fairy tale that is just as much touching and emotional as it is thrilling. It is a breathless and surprising experience that is sure to delight audiences, and is easily one of the top movies of the year. And it’s all the more special because so much of this period piece was filmed in Toronto – including at the Elgin Theatre where it will screen during TIFF.
Don’t miss it.
Fox Searchlight Pictures will screen The Shape of Water at TIFF ’17 at the following times:
Monday, September 11 9:30 p.m. Elgin Theatre
Tuesday, September 12 3:00 p.m. Elgin Theatre
Friday, September 15 9:00 p.m. Elgin Theatre
Sunday, September 17 6:30 p.m. Elgin Theatre
TIFF ’17 very much continues to be alive and kicking at its halfway point. We admit it, we’re drained but we look forward to the pace calming down tomorrow.
The Birks Diamond Tribute honouring the accomplishments of Canadian Women in Film. Held on the scenic rooftop of the Spoke Club, the gathering brought to us by Maison Birks and Telefilm Canada was a who’s-who and who’s next in the industry. Diverse honourees this year include Ellen Wong, Amanda Brugel, Mina Shum, Shailyn Pierre-Dixon and Sherry White. Â We are so honoured to have been one of 27 selected jurors across Canada! Hover left and right to navigate the slideshow.
Annette Bening and Jamie Bell are getting praise for their performances in Professor Marston and the Wonder Women. We spotted the pair who play lovers in Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool. We spotted them out earlier doing the rounds and both were gracious to stop for fans! Huge fan of Bening!
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Luke Evans‘ star continues to rise especially with his fantastic work in Beauty and the Beast. He is at TIFF ’17 with Professor Marston and the Wonder Women tonight, a timely Film which comes off the recent Box Office record-setting success of the superhero on which it centers. Australian Actress Bella Heathcote also is here for the Film and looked lovely for her Premiere!
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Javier Bardem continues to be amazing TIFF ’17 with starring roles in mother! and Loving Pablo, plus an In-Conversation slated.
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Lean on Pete is the one Horse Racing Film of TIFF ’17. Buzz came out of Telluride Film Festival for its star Charlie Plummer who finds himself in a quarter horse. ChloĂ« Sevigny plays a jockey in the Drama. Both stars were kind to stop despite Sevigny joking that nobody knew who she was!
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THE ESCAPE stars a talented duo of Gemma Arterton and Dominic Cooper and premiered tonight TIFF ’17!
#TIFF17: #GemmaArterton at #TIFF2017 with #TheEscape. #TIFF #TorontoInternationalFilmFestival
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We love the international component of TIFF in that we get to see stars who normally aren’t based stateside here. Adele Exarchopoulos (Blue is the Warmest Colour) and Matthias Schoenaerts graced the Red Carpet at Ryerson Theatre tonight for Racer and the Jailbird and despite being late, they introduced their Film and came back out to greet fans one-by-one. Amaze!
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While they weren’t really ones for Selfies, Don Johnson and Vince Vaughn were at Ryerson Theatre tonight for BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99.
#TIFF17: #DonJohnson at #TIFF2017 with #BrawlinCellBlock99. #TIFF #TorontoInternationalFilmFestival
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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
It has been well over 12 hours since I watched Darren Aronofsky’s mother!, and I am still processing everything that happens within its 115-minute running time. Aronofsky has never been one to make films with easy interpretations, but mother! is far and away his densest movie to date.
The less you know about mother!, the better. But the plot revolves around a woman (Jennifer Lawrence) who lives with a famous poet (Javier Bardem). His house was destroyed, and she is helping to remodel and put it back together. But when unexpected guests arrive, things begin to get strange.
mother! is wrapped in layers of subtext and varying ideologies. It is at times frustrating to watch because Aronofsky is throwing so much at the screen at once, creating a nightmarish fever dream of a movie that goes to some shocking and bizarre places. But what it lacks in coherency, it more than makes up in astounding visuals and exquisite sound design. And at the heart of all the chaos is Lawrence, putting in an incredible performance that needs to be seen to be believed.
Paramount Pictures Canada will screen mother! at TIFF ’17 at the following times:
Sunday, September 10 9:15 p.m. Princess of Wales
Monday, September 11 11:30 a.m. Elgin Theatre
Wednesday, September 13 9:30 a.m. Princess of Wales
Review by Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong
Following in the tradition of other Oscar hopefuls, motion-capture pioneer Andy Serkis brings his directorial debut to TIFF. Written by Oscar-nominated Screenwriter William Nicholson, Breathe, tells the true story of a man stricken with Polio and a woman who refuses to lose hope.
While in Kenya, Robin Cavendish (Andrew Garfield) became paralyzed from the neck down after contracting Polio. When he and his pregnant wife Diana return to England they are faced with a lifetime spent in cold, restrictive hospitals. Unwilling to accept the doctors’ dire prognosis, Robin and Diana decide to move home so he can be with his family. With the help of his friend Teddy (Hugh Bonneville), Robin is able to escape the prison of his bed through a wheelchair with a built-in respirator.
Although Breathe is about Robin, the Movie truly belongs to the remarkable Claire Foy who portrays Diana as more than a naïve girl in love but rather a woman with strong beliefs who is not prepared to give-up. Strong performances overcome Nitin Sawhney’s dreadful Score are sure to help drive the Festival popularity of this by-the-numbers Biography.
Elevation Pictures will screen Breathe at TIFF ’17 at the following times:
Monday, September 11 6:00 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall
Tuesday, September 12 10:00 a.m. Winter Garden Theatre
TIFF ’17 continues to go amazingly-well for us, but even being at the half-way mark we’re still not done! Â Check out some of the amazing sightings we had today!
MARK FELT: THE MAN WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE has all the pedigree of a winner. The Drama centers on “Deep Throat“, the man who as an anonymous source led to the Watergate Scandal investigation. Its stars Liam Neeson, Diane Lane and Tony Goldwyn and premieres tonight at Ryerson Theatre.  We spotted Neeson and Lane out earlier and they were both amazingly- nice, taking a quick moment to stop. We’re in love with our Selfie with Neeson and Lane has starred in two of our faves, Secretariat and Unfaithful!
#TIFF17: #DianeLane at #TIFF2017 with #MarkFelt. #TorontoInternationalFilmFestival #TIFF
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BREATHE is coming into TIFF ’17 with lots of buzz. The Tearjerker marks Andy Serkis‘ directorial debut and is based on its Producer Jonathan Cavendish‘s parents’ story. Robin Cavendish, his father, is known for breaking ground in helping the severely-disabled gain freedom with mobility chairs.  Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, long with Serkis were out and about today doing Press and it was a pure joy seeing them interact with their fans!
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HOSTILES also premieres tonight at Princess of Wales Theatre and stars Academy Award winner Christian Bale and Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike. The Duo were out and about earlier promoting the Film and while they were private largely most of the day we were lucky to spot them amidst their hectic schedule. The Drama is about a US Cavalry Officer who accompanies reluctantly, a Cheyenne War Chief and his family back to their tribal lands. Bale is  sporting a new look for his role as Dick Cheney, hence if you couldn’t recognize him, someone’s done their job good!
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We loved chatting with Ari Graynor, Dave Franco and Paul Scheer about their new Film THE DISASTER ARTIST, premiering at Midnight Madness. While James Franco was to be a part of the chat, alas he was behind schedule. We did find him on the Red Carpet though where he was really giving to Media and fans! And even Rachel McAdams and Cult Icon Tommy Wiseau whom James Franco portrays, came out! You will LOVE this Film. It is hilarious! Check back towards the Holidays as our chat goes live.
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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
The Disaster Artist chronicles Writer/Director Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) through the development, production and shocking success of the cult classic The Room.
The Film’s script could’ve become a mean mockery of Wiseau’s dream but instead it depicts an empathetic character study of him, all while being uproariously funny. It has a terrific transformative lead performance from Franco, a strong supporting cast, and many hilarious cameos. Franco becomes Wiseau in what is one of his greatest performances to date. Fans of The Room will not be disappointed with this comedic portrayal of how the beloved cult classic got made.
The Disaster Artist screens at TIFF on Sept. 11 at Ryerson Theatre at 11:59PM, and Sept. 12 at Scotiabank Theatre #1 at 6:45PM.
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