#FIRSTLOOK: “YOU WON’T BE ALONE” TRAILER

Official Sundance selection YOU WON’T BE ALONE stars Noomi Rapace and you can catch the just-released Trailer here.

Synopsis:

Set in an isolated mountain village in 19th century Macedonia, YOU WON’T BE ALONE follows a young girl who is kidnapped and then transformed into a witch by an ancient spirit. Curious about life as a human, the young witch accidentally kills a peasant in the nearby village and then takes her victim’s shape to live life in her skin. Her curiosity ignited, she continues to wield this horrific power in order to understand what it means to be human.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada release YOU WON’T BE ALONE April 2, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “BRAZEN”

Alyssa Milano is back in BRAZEN! See the new Trailer for this Thriller Series coming to Netflix.

Synopsis:

Prominent mystery writer and crime expert, Grace (Alyssa Milano), hurries back to her family home in Washington, D.C. because her estranged sister summons her. When her sister is killed and her double life as a webcam performer is revealed, Grace ignores the warnings of cool-headed detective Ed (Sam Page) and gets involved in the case.

BRAZEN arrives on Netflix January 13, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: “EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE” TRAILER

We are so excited to see Michelle Yeoh in EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE at SXSW! Here is our first glance at its Trailer!

Synopsis:

A film from Daniels and starring Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., with James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE – In Theaters March 25, 2022 via Elevation Pictures.

(Photo credit: A24/Elevation Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF “MOONFALL”

MOONFALL is the latest from Roland Emmerich, starring Patrick Wilson and Halle Berry! Enjoy the first five minutes of the Film right here!

Synopsis:

In Moonfall, a mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurtling on a collision course with life as we know it. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler (Academy Award^® winner Halle Berry) is convinced she has the key to saving us all – but only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper (Patrick Wilson, “Midway”) and a conspiracy theorist, K.C. Houseman (John Bradley, “Game of Thrones”) believe her. These unlikely heroes will mount an impossible last-ditch mission into space, leaving behind everyone they love, only to find out that our Moon is not what we think it is. 

Mongrel Media release MOONFALL April 4, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

#FIRSTLOOK: 2022 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

After going virtual last year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards are back in-person on Santa Monica Pier! Nominees were announced this morning and leading the way in nominations with five nominations is IFC Films Thriller THE NOVICE, followed by THE LOST DAUGHTER, the directorial debut of Maggie Gyllenhaal. While the Awards traditionally are held the weekend of the Oscars, an earlier date this year allow the ceremony to be more of a precursor to Awards Season. Some of the presenters this year include Regina Hall, Naomi Watts and Beanie Feldstein.

Full list of nominees:

Best Feature
“A Chiara”
“C’mon C’mon”
“The Lost Daughter”
“The Novice”
“Zola”

Best Director
Janicza Bravo, “Zola”
Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Lost Daughter”
Lauren Hadaway, “The Novice”
Mike Mills, “C’mon C’mon”
Ninja Thyberg, “Pleasure”

Best Male Lead
Clifton Collins Jr., “Jockey”
Frankie Faison, “Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain”
Michael Greyeyes, “Wild Indian”
Udo Kier, “Swan Song”
Simon Rex, “Red Rocket”

Best Female Lead
Isabelle Fuhrman, “The Novice”
Brittany S. Hall, “Test Pattern”
Patti Harrison, “Together Together”
Taylour Paige, “Zola”
Kali Reis, “Catch the Fair One”

Best Supporting Female
Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter”
Amy Forsyth, “The Novice”
Ruth Negga, “Passing”
Revika Reustle, “Pleasure”
Suzanna Son, “Red Rocket”

Best Supporting Male
Colman Domingo, “Zola”
Meeko Gattuso, “Queen of Glory”
Troy Kotsur, “CODA”
Will Patton, “Sweet Thing”
Chaske Spencer, “Wild Indian”

Best Screenplay
Nikole Beckwith, “Together Together”
Janicza Bravo, Jeremy O. Harris, “Zola”
Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Lost Daughter”
Mike Mills, “C’mon C’mon”
Todd Stephens, “Swan Song”

Best First Screenplay
Lyle Mitchell Corbine, Jr., “Wild Indian ”
Matt Fifer; Story by Sheldon D. Brown, “Cicada”
Shatara Michelle Ford, “Test Pattern ”
Fran Kranz, “Mass”
Michael Sarnoski; Story by Vanessa Block, Michael Sarnoski, “Pig”

Best First Feature
“7 Days”
“Holler”
“Queen of Glory”
“Test Pattern”
“Wild Indian”

John Cassavettes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
“Cryptozoo”
“Jockey”
“Shiva Baby”
“Sweet Thing”
“This is Not a War Story”

Best Cinematography
“A Chiara”
“Blue Bayou”
“The Humans”
“Passing”
“Zola”

Best Documentary
“Ascension”
“Flee”
“In The Same Breath”
“Procession”
“Summer of Soul”

Best Editing
“A Chiara”
“The Nowhere Inn”
“The Novice”
“Zola”
“The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain”

Robert Altman Award (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
“Mass”

Best International Film
“Compartment No. 6”
“Drive My Car”
“Parallel Mothers”
“Pebbles”
“Petite Maman”
“Prayers for the Stolen”

Producers Award (Honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films.)
Brad Becker-Parton
Pin-Chun Liu
Lizzie Shapiro

Someone to Watch Award
Alex Camilleri, “Luzzu”
Michael Sarnoski, “Pig”
Gillian Wallace Horvat, “I Blame Society”

“The Truer Than Fiction Award” (Presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.)
Angelo Madsen Minax, “North By Current”
Jessica Beshir, “Faya Dayi”
Debbie Lum, “Try Harder!”

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
“Black and Missing”
“The Choe Show”
“The Lady and The Dale”
“Nuclear Family”
“Philly D.A.”

Best New Scripted Series
“Blindspotting”
“It’s a Sin”
“Reservation Dogs”
“The Underground Railroad”
“We Are Lady Parts”

Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series
Thuso Mbedu, “The Underground Railroad”
Anjana Vasan, “We Are Lady Parts”
Jana Schmieding, “Rutherford Falls”
Jasmine Cephas Jones, “Blindspotting”
Deborah Ayorinde, “THEM: Covenant”

Best Male Performance in a New Scripted Series
Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game”
Olly Alexander, “It’s a Sin”
Michael Greyeyes, “Rutherford Falls”
Murray Bartlett, “The White Lotus”
Ashley Thomas, “THEM: Covenant”

Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series
“Reservation Dogs”

The 37th annual FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS take place Sunday, March 6, 2022.

(Photo credit: IFC Films )

#GOLDENGLOBES: “SUCCESSION” LEADS 2022 GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES

2022 Golden Globe nominations were unveiled earlier this morning in Los Angeles with Snoop Dogg serving announcement duties. Topping the nominations this year is HBO’s widely-acclaimed SUCCESSION with five nominations. The third season of the Series just concluded last night with an explosive cliffhanger finish.

Netflix prevailed with the most nominations, garnering a total 17 nominations, with THE POWER OF THE DOG, TICK, TICK…BOOM! and DON’T LOOK UP nominated for Motion Picture – Drama and Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical.

A few interesting observations. Jessica Chastain, who is nominated in both Film and TV categories for her work in THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE and SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE, is placed in the Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama category though technically THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE technically can be considered a Musical, where her chances might have been increased at winning. Many are surprised by the omission of graphic Body-Horror TITANE which won accolades out of Cannes and TIFF. And while many saw NIGHTMARE ALLEY as a major contender, it was nowhere to be found on the list of nominees. Some also are surprised Bradley Cooper didn’t get recognition for his supporting turn in LICORICE PIZZA.

Nominees are below:

Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy

“The Great” (Hulu)

“Hacks” (HBO/HBO Max)

“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)

“Reservation Dogs” (FX on Hulu)

“Ted Lasso” (Apple TV Plus)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama

Brian Cox (“Succession”)

Lee Jung-jae (“Squid Game”)

Billy Porter (“Pose”)

Jeremy Strong (“Succession”)

Omar Sy (“Lupin)

Best Performance by an Actress, Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture made for Television

Jessica Chastain (“Scenes From a Marriage”)

Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”)

Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision“)

Margaret Qualley (“Maid”)

Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”)

Best Director, Motion Picture

Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”)

Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”)

Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Lost Daughter”)

Steven Spielberg (“West Side Story”)

Denis Villeneuve (“Dune”)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Marion Cotillard (“Annette”)

Alana Haim (“Licorice Pizza”)

Jennifer Lawrence (“Don’t Look Up”)

Emma Stone (“Cruella”)

Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Mahershala Ali (“Swan Song”)

Javier Bardem (“Being the Ricardos”)

Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”)

Will Smith (“King Richard”)

Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”)

Best Television Series, Drama

“Lupin” (Netflix)

“The Morning Show” (Apple TV Plus)

“Pose” (FX)

“Squid Game” (Netflix)

“Succession” (HBO/HBO Max)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama

Uzo Aduba (“In Treatment”)

Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”)

Christine Baranski (“The Good Fight)

Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (“Pose”)

Best Performance by an Actor, Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture made for Television

Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”)

Oscar Isaac (“Scenes From a Marriage”)

Michael Keaton (“Dopesick”)

Ewan McGregor (“Halston”)

Tahar Rahim (“The Serpent”)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Leonardo DiCaprio (“Don’t Look Up”)

Peter Dinklage (“Cyrano”)

Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick … Boom!”)

Cooper Hoffman (“Licorice Pizza”)

Anthony Ramos (“In the Heights”)

Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture

Ben Affleck (“The Tender Bar”)

Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”)

Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”)

Troy Kotsur (“CODA”)

Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”)

Best Original Score, Motion Picture

“The French Dispatch” (Searchlight Pictures) — Alexandre Desplat

“Encanto” (Walt Disney Pictures) — Germaine Franco

“The Power of the Dog” (Netflix) — Jonny Greenwood

“Parallel Mothers” (Sony Pictures Classic) — Alberto Iglesias

“Dune” (Warner Bros.) — Hans Zimmer

Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy

Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)

Elle Fanning (“The Great”)

Issa Rae (“Insecure”)

Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)

Jean Smart (“Hacks”)

Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture made for Television

“Dopesick” (Hulu)

“Impeachment: American Crime Story” (FX)

“Maid” (Netflix)

“Mare of Easttown” (HBO/HBO Max)

“The Underground Railroad” (Amazon Prime Video)

Best Supporting Actor, Television

Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”)

Kieran Culkin (“Succession”)

Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”)

Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”)

O Yeong-su (“Squid Game”)

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy

“Cyrano” (MGM)

“Don’t Look Up” (Netflix)

“Licorice Pizza” (MGM)

“Tick, Tick … Boom!” (Netflix)

“West Side Story” (20th Century Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture

Caitríona Balfe (“Belfast”)

Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”)

Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”)

Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”)

Ruth Negga (“Passing”)

Best Picture, Foreign Language

“Compartment No. 6” (Sony Pictures Classics) — Finland, Russia, Germany

“Drive My Car” (Janus Films) — Japan

“The Hand of God” (Netflix) — Italy

“A Hero” (Amazon Studios) — France, Iran

“Parallel Mothers” (Sony Pictures Classics) — Spain

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture

Paul Thomas Anderson — “Licorice Pizza” (MGM/United Artists Releasing)

Kenneth Branagh — “Belfast” (Focus Features)

Jane Campion — “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)

Adam McKay — “Don’t Look Up” (Netflix)

Aaron Sorkin — “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon Studios)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama

Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”)

Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”)

Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”)

Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”)

Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”)

Best Motion Picture, Drama

“Belfast” (Focus Features)

“CODA” (Apple)

“Dune” (Warner Bros.)

“King Richard” (Warner Bros.)

“The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)

Best Television Actor, Musical / Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)

Nicholas Hoult (“The Great”)

Steve Martin (“Only Murders in the Building”)

Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”)

Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”)

Best Supporting Actress, Television

Jennifer Coolidge (“White Lotus”)

Kaitlyn Dever (“Dopesick”)

Andie MacDowell (“Maid”)

Sarah Snook (“Succession”)

Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”)

Best Original Song, Motion Picture

“Be Alive” from “King Richard” (Warner Bros.) — Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson

“Dos Orugitas” from “Encanto” (Walt Disney Pictures) — Lin-Manuel Miranda

“Down to Joy” from “Belfast” (Focus Features) — Van Morrison

“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from “Respect” (MGM/United Artists Releasing) — Jamie Hartman, Jennifer Hudson, Carole King

“No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” (MGM/United Artists Releasing) — Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell

Best Motion Picture, Animated

“Encanto” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

“Flee” (Neon)

“Luca” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

“My Sunny Maad” (Totem Films)

“Raya and the Last Dragon” (Walt Disney Studios)

While the Awards won’t be televised this year as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association focus on reform and review of their practices, the winners will be announced January 9, 2022.

(Photo credit: HBO)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE”

We present to you the new Canadian Trailer for FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE.

Synopsis:

Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world.  Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.  But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

The film features an ensemble cast led by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”), two-time Oscar nominee Jude Law (“Cold Mountain,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”), Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Katherine Waterston, and Mads Mikkelsen.  

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE will be in theatres in Canada on April 15, 2022.  The film will be distributed worldwide in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

#COOKING: SOBA NOODLE BOWL RECIPE

Soba Bowl. Soba are the perfect noodle. Made of Buckwheat, these nourishing noods cook just as fast as Instant Ramen. This Bowl is great when you are short on time or inspiration. Tangy, sweet, vegetarian and light, this is one dish is super-easy to make.

Ingredients:
2-3 handfuls of Soba Noodles
1/4 cup corn kernels
12 Edamame Pea Pods, shells removed
1/4 cup shredded Mozzarella

Kewpie Japanese Mayonnaise
Furakake

Soba Sauce:
5 tbsps Ketchup
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Oyster Sauce (available in vegetarian)
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

Ingredients:

1. 1. Boil Soba Noodles in salted water. Note these noodles cook quickly. Rinse and strain in colander.
2. 2. In shallow bowl, layer with a base of noodles. Add Edamame, corn, a dollop of em>Soba Sauce and cheese.
3. 3. Microwave for about 45 seconds on high till cheese melts.
4. 4. Drizzle Kewpie Mayonnaise on top.
5. 5. Add dash of Furukake.
6. 6. Serves 3-4. Mix well when eating.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#BOXOFFICE: “WEST SIDE STORY” DANCES ITS WAY TO #1

Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY leads the way at the Box Office this weekend taking #1 spot with $13.2 million from 2,820 theatres across North America for 20th Century Fox. It currently is sitting at a stellar 95% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer.

In second with $8 million is Disney’s ENCANTO, which took top spot last weekend. It is playing at 3,750 theatres for a two week tally of $69 million.

Third goes to GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE with $5.9 million from 3,815 theatres for Sony Pictures, putting its total run at $110 million over three weeks.

HOUSE OF GUCCI lands in fourth with $3.8 million from 3,407 theatres for Universal Pictures. It just surpasses the $40 million-mark.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHOSEN: THE MESSENGERS rounds-out the Top Five with $3.2 million for Fathom Events. Over two weeks, it has made $15.2 million. This does not yet have a release in Canada.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “HALO”

Gaming lovers got a sneak peek at the new Trailer for HALO, an upcoming new Series Adaptation of the iconic Video Game, at the 8th annual GAME AWARDS.

Check-out the brand new Trailer and Poster.

Synopsis:

As a live-action series exclusively for Paramount+, HALO will take place in the universe that first came to be in 2001 with the launch of Xbox®’s first “Halo” game. Dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, HALO the series will weave deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future.

The series stars Pablo Schreiber (“American Gods”) as the Master Chief, Spartan-117; Natascha McElhone (“Californication”) as Dr. Halsey, the brilliant, conflicted and inscrutable creator of the Spartan super soldiers; and Jen Taylor (“Halo” game series, RWBY) as Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history, and potentially the key to the survival of the human race. Additional stars include Bokeem Woodbine (“Fargo”), Shabana Azmi (“Fire”), Natasha Culzac (“The Witcher”), Olive Gray (“Half Moon Investigations”), Yerin Ha (“Reef Break”), Bentley Kalu (“Avengers: Age of Ultron”), Kate Kennedy (“Catastrophe”), Charlie Murphy (“Peaky Blinders”) and Danny Sapani (“Penny Dreadful”). Also joining the cast as original characters are Ryan McParland (“6Degrees”), Burn Gorman (“The Expanse”) and Fiona O’Shaughnessy (“Nina Forever”).

HALO arrives on Paramount+ in 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount+)