Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Military brat turned Veterinarian Lauren (Lake Bell) helps Joan (Grace Zabriskie) take care of hidden mythical creatures called Cryptids at Joan’s Cryptozoo. The two dream of one day opening the zoo to create an understanding of these creatures. Lauren’s made it her mission to search for the Baku, a dream-eating Cryptid, that saved her from her tormented dreams as a child. When they find out the US Government might have captured the Baku with the intent to use her as a weapon against the counter-culture, Lauren sets out on a quest to save her.

Cryptozoo is a psychedelic animated journey that’s never been experienced before. The Film’s made for adult audiences, which is what makes the hand-drawn animation, by animation director Jane Samborski, more impactful. It creates nostalgia for an era of animation cinema and television that seems to be kept in the past. Additionally, it adds to the trippy vibe of the Film.

Director-Writer Dash Shaw has something to say about idealism, utopian dreams, and the effects of holding creatures captive within a zoo. Idealistic Lauren and Joan aim for the Cryptozoo to be a utopia for these magical beasts while being a place the public can learn they shouldn’t fear them. This thinking mimics the zoos we see that enclose animals today. If we draw parallels between the creatures and our animals, we see the inhumanity in zoos. Further, during the climactic scene, we understand that utopia shouldn’t be sought because it can rarely be achieved.

The voice work from its Ensemble Cast is great. Bell expresses Lauren grappling with the reality that these mystical creatures don’t want to be in cages. In the beginning, we get a trippy scene involving Amber and Matthew (Louisa Krause and Michael Cera). Although Cera is only in that one scene his comedic voice talents are memorable. While Krause commands an empathy along with anger in her voice.

Cryptozoo is a rare idiosyncratic film that’s a marvel to watch. At times it’s dark and funny while always being magical. And it comes with a reminder to stop fearing the things we don’t know or understand.

Cryptozoo screens at Sundance:

Live Premiere: January 29 at 3 PM (EST)

On-Demand (available for 24 hours): January 31 at 10 AM (EST)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

During their hunt for food, dimwitted brothers Issachar and Zabulon (Maxi Delmelle and Harpo Guit) lose their mother’s beloved dog, January Jack. To punish her sons, she kicks them out of their family apartment until they bring her dog back. While on the quest to retrieve January Jack, the brothers get into bizarre situations while running around Brussels.

Mother Schmuckers has unique humour, crazy situations, and outlandish characters that only work in this type of genre film. Filmmaking and Brother Duo Lenny and Harpo Guit have borrowed from many filmmakers who’ve come before them, however, they’ve created a style that is distinctly their own. This includes their use of innovative shots that immerse us into this wild day-in-the-life narrative.

The Film is loaded with comedy that has stooge-like characters become involved in gross situations. Some of these situations are funny but at times become ridiculous. Such as the opening scene, which immediately places the audience in the Film’s atmosphere. As it progresses, each scene becomes more chaotic and bizarre until the final frame. Some of the scenes are humorous, however, there are scenes containing animal and sexual abuse that are not funny but uncomfortable and at times disgusting. This might be the Guit Brothers’ intention, and if so, they have succeeded.

Overall, Mother Schmuckers is a film that is not for everyone but might become a cult hit. It also has two committed performances from Delmelle and Harpo Guit.

Mother Schmuckers screens at Sundance:

Live Premiere: January 30 at 12 AM (EST)

On-demand (available for 24 hours): January 31 at 10 AM (EST)

Toronto + Vancouver! We’ve got your chance to win Advance Virtual Screening Passes to see TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER! The Screening will feature interactive experiences and offer you a chance to unlock exclusive content.

Date: Monday February 8 (Vancouver) & Tuesday February 9th (Toronto)

Time: 8:00pm EST / 5:00pm PST

*Attendees will have 24 hours to watch the film. Note you will not need a Netflix account to participate.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance. You must be following.

Rules and regulations here.

Netflix release TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER Friday, February 12, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Homeroom follows the 2019-2020 graduating class of Oakland High School, as the Student Board Directors fight for change within their school system.

As the school year begins, these students are fighting against budget cuts and pleading to remove the presence of police officers in their schools. This action would save the school budget of $2.5 million. The students because this is money could be allocated into programs to aid in ending the school to prison pipeline. Although they face many challenges in completing their goals, this Documentary proves the power and resilience of youth. 

We watch as they pivot but continue to fight for their causes when faced with the pandemic. The Student Directors never stop Zoom meetings to hear from their student body. They keep on speaking to the Board of Directors and Mayor of Oakland asking for the removal of the police. Director Peter Nicks goes further, showing the emotional impacts the police killing of George Floyd had on the students. And the effect it had on the School Board’s decision of police within high schools.

Homeroom screens at Sundance:

Live Premiere: January 29 at 12 PM (EST)

On-Demand (available for 24 hours): January 31 at 10 AM (EST)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

This engrossing Documentary tells the story of an Afghan refugees, known as the pseudonym Amin, journey from Kabul to Copenhagen.

Director Jonas Poher Rasmussen creates filmmaking ingenuity by mixing animation and archive footage. The animation is used, along with pseudonyms, to keep the identity of Amin protected. Additionally, the animation puts audiences into the experience of being an adolescent fleeing multiple countries in search of safety. The archive footage amplifies the risks Amin and his family encountered staying in Kabul and on their multiple passages.

Rasmussen’s personal relationship to Amin aids this Documentary. Amin opens up about his family, his frightening journey, his identity and more. Through one man’s honest and heartbreaking story we learn about the sacrifices refugees make in the search for a safer home. Further, it explores the PTSD refugees experience decades following their harrowing passages. Such as the psychological impact of how one loves and trusts within their relationships.

Flee screens at Sundance:

Live Premiere: January 28 at 10 PM (EST)

On-Demand (available for 24 hours): January 30 at 10 AM (EST)

Written by Clean Bandit, Guest Vocalist iann dior and Bastille’s Dan Smith, a new video has surfaced for today for the track, HIGHER. Grammy-winning Clean Bandit just recently scored their 10th UK Top 10 hit with the Track Tick Tock (ft. Mabel)!

Check out HIGHER and TICK TOCK below:

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music)

Episode 4 of Marvel’s WANDAVISION is streaming now. Here’s a sneak peek of the episode!

In case you have yet to discover Marvel’s first foray into episodic TV programming, this is what it’s all about.

Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision” is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision—two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives—begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. 

“WandaVision,” the first Marvel Studios series created exclusively for Disney+, stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, Paul Bettany as Vision, Kathryn Hahn as Agnes, and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, who was introduced to audiences in “Captain Marvel.” Kat Dennings will reprise her role as Darcy from “Thor” and “Thor: The Dark World,” and Randall Park will reprise his role as Jimmy Woo from “Ant-Man and The Wasp.” The series is directed by Matt Shakman with Jac Schaeffer as head writer. 

Marvel‘s WANDAVISION is streaming now on Disney+, new episodes to arrive weekly.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

One of Variety’s Top Ten Directors to Watch, Prano Bailey-Bond, makes her feature debut with Censor. It takes place in the ’80s when the world was in a frenzy over violence in films, particularly Video Nasties. It follows Film Censor Enid (Niamh Algar) who’s assigned to review a disturbing video from the archive that draws parallels to a traumatic event from her childhood.

Bailey-Bond pays homage to the Video Nasty era with mentions to films, such as I Spit on Your Grave, that was causing the hysteria at the time. Throughout the narrative, Enid watches horrific acts of violence and makes decisions of what to cut. These disturbing films don’t always show the gruesome acts, but their horror is heard and witnessed through the eyes of Enid. Bailey-Bond uses aspect-ratio and the grainy, jumpy VHS tape aesthetics of the 1980s. This gives an authentic feel that aids the story, particularly near the end.

Algar is brilliant as the quiet Enid, who becomes possessed in her quest. In the beginning, Enid is nearly devoid of emotion as she watches the video nasties. That is until the Film comes along that ignites the memory of her traumatic event. As the story progresses, we watch Enid begin transforming. Her long-buried guilt over the disappearance of her sister floats to the surface, and she grasps to believe the lie she’s told herself. Algar is mesmerizing throughout, but most notably towards the end. She completely unravels in Enid’s desperation for answers and switches meticulously between emotions.

Thankfully, Censor isn’t a modern-day Video Nasty. Instead, it’s a twisted love-letter to the era with a powerful story of the ties between memory, trauma and guilt. There’s also a delightful amount of gore and dark humour to be had.

Censor screens at Sundance:

Live Premiere: January 29 at 12 AM (EST)

On-Demand (available for 24 hours): January 29 at 10 AM (EST)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

This Documentary recalls summer concert series, The Harlem Cultural Festival which took place in 1969. The event was one that celebrated Black culture and music; however, many don’t know about it. That’s because reporters decided to cover Woodstock which happened the same year. So the footage of the Harlem Cultural Festival has sat in a basement for 50 years. Until now.

Director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson brings the Harlem Cultural Festival to the screen through archival footage and recent interviews with those who attended the Festival. The use of the never-before-seen archival footage brings us right into the beauty of the summer series. We experience watching musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, and more. We listen to their music but also their inspiring words.

Additionally, the archival footage shows us what the Media’s focus was on at the time and the experiences of people living in Harlem. The Media was focused on the successes of white America, such as the landing on the moon. While those attending the Festival were focused on how the Government could allocate money to help diminish the high rates of poverty.

The recent interviews are powerful. The Musicians were honoured to be there to celebrate Black culture and music. The attendees, there were over 300,000 people who attended that summer, speak about how it felt to be celebrating themselves. During the interviews, Thompson plays the footage. In doing so, you watch emotional moments as they relive one of the most special times in their lives.

Summer of Soul finally brings this Festival to the screen and has a strong message. It’s an examination of the importance of history to the human spirit. The Harlem Cultural Festival celebrated the Black Community and for 50 years it has been erased from history. When history is ignored it hinders the hearts of minds of those who lived through it, but also generations that follow. 

Summer of Soul (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) screens at Sundance:

Live Premiere: January 28 at 10 PM (EST)

On-Demand (available for 24 hours): January 30 at 10 AM (EST)

20-year-old Canadian Singer-Songwriter Faouzia is back with this gorgeous new collabo with John Legend, MINEFIELDS, directed by Kyle Cogan. Faouzia was raised in Winnipeg and is on the verge of something big with 20+ million monthly listeners on Spotify!

The Video was just released, check it out below:

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music)