Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When Edna (Robyn Nevin) vanishes, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) go to their family’s decaying country home and find clues about her increasing Dementia.

The Horror genre is at its best when it has something to say and not just to scare. And that’s what Relic does. It forces the audience to question how we treat our loved ones once they get old and ill. Will we be frustrated or calm in their moments of memory loss? First-time feature Director-Writer Natalie Erika James poses this question and more all while frightening the audience long after the credits roll. She has also rounded up a stellar cast of women who display every emotion from empathy to fright.

Relic screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 11:59 PM at The Ray, Mon, Jan. 27th at 9 PM at Park Avenue, Wed, Jan. 29th at 9:15 PM at Redstone Cinema 7, Fri, Jan. 31st at 11:59 PM at Broadway Centre Cinema 6, and Sat, Feb. 1st at Library Centre Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

The latest Documentary from Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering focuses on Music Mogul Russell Simmons’ accusers.

The Documentary duo are known to expose sexual assault that happens in many places. This time they turn their focus onto the music industry with their primary interviewee being Music Executive Drew Dixon. However, this is more than a documentation of sexual assault. This Film describes how intersectionality plays a role in how certain communities stay quiet when they are assaulted, and why society looks at certain accusers differently.

On The Record screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 5:30 PM at The MARC, Sun, Jan. 26th at 6 PM at Redstone Cinema 7, Tues, Jan. 28th at 6:30 PM at Rose Wagner Centre, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 9 PM at Temple Theatre.

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see THE INVISIBLE MAN.

Screening details: Wednesday, February 26, 2010 at 7:00PM
TORONTO // Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP
VANCOUVER // Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver
MONTREAL (EN) // Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal

Synopsis:
What you can’t see can hurt you. Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss (Us, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale) stars in a terrifying modern tale of obsession inspired by Universal’s classic monster character.

Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass (Moss) escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister (Harriet Dyer, NBC’s The InBetween), their childhood friend (Aldis Hodge, Straight Outta Compton) and his teenage daughter (Storm Reid, HBO’s Euphoria).

But when Cecilia’s abusive ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House) commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City there. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

THE INVISIBLE MAN is in theatres Friday, February 28, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Miranda July is back with her latest film about a Con Artist family who taught their 26-year-old daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) the art of scamming and stealing.

This is a quirky Film centred on the need to feel love and care from parents.  Wood does a tremendous job of projecting the yearning for warm words and loving touches from her detached parents. She does this while being withdrawn and contained. Her scene partner is the mesmerizing and scene-stealing Gina Rodriquez who plays the confident and empathetic Melanie. Overall, Kajillionaire is a unique Comedy with captivating performances across the board.

Kajillionaire screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 9:30 PM at Eccles Theatre, Sn, Jan. 26th at 8:30 AM at The MARC, Mon, Jan. 27th at 6:30 PM at Rose Wagner Centre, Wed, Jan. 29th at 6 PM at Sundance Resort, and Sat, Feb. 1st at Eccles Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

In the attempt to find meaning in her life, Jan (Toni Collette), breeds a racehorse in her tiny Welsh town and enters him in once race after another.

This is a hilarious and heart-warming underdog story filled with quintessential British humour. Although the story is quite conventional it’s the way Horse Racing is presented and the brilliant performance from Collette that separates it from the rest. Overall, Director Euros Lyn brings Jan’s true story to the screen in an entertaining and heartfelt way.

Dream Horse screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 8 PM at Rose Wagner Center, Sat, Jan. 25th at 12 PM at The Ray Theatre, Thurs, Jan. 30th at 9 AM at Temple Theatre, Fri, Jan. 31st at 9:30 PM at Rose Wagner Center, and Sat, Feb. 1st at Temple Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

In 1973, Beth (Sophia Lillis), her uncle Frank (Paul Bettany) and his longtime partner Wally (Peter Macdissi) drive from New York City to their rural South Carolina hometown to attend the family patriarch’s funeral.

Alan Ball’s delicate touch aids this heartfelt road movie about a man accepting himself and revealing who he is to his family. At the core is the moving performance from Bettany who reveals Frank’s fears hiding underneath his cool, easygoing persona. The Film is full of heart and there is a lot of fun to be had, which evens out the heavier moments of Frank dealing with his hidden pain.

Uncle Frank screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 3:30 PM at Eccles Theatre, Mon, Jan. 27th at 9 AM at Library Centre Theatre, Thur, Jan. 30th at 9 PM at Sundance Resort, Sat, Feb. 1st at 9 AM at Eccles Theatre, and Sun, Feb. 2nd at 6 PM at Tower Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

The Film tells the true story of Attorney Kenneth Feinberg (Michael Keaton) who led the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund.

Worth is a sensitive Drama that centers on a question impossible to answer: how much is a life worth? Director Sara Colangelo shows us a different 9/11 story that focuses on the survivors and their families just as much as it does Feinberg. Within the prime narrative, there are scenes that show the unfair class hierarchy government and corporations have and impose on society. Keaton is in his best form and Stanley Tucci is as good as ever in the role of Charles Wolf, a community organizer whose wife died in the towers.

Worth screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 9:45 PM at Eccles Theatre, Sat, Jan. 25th at 8:45 AM at Library Centre Theatre, Sat, Jan. 25th at 9:30 PM at Grand Theatre, Tues, Jan. 28th at 6 PM at Sundance Resort, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 5:30 PM at Egyptian Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

During the day Cassie (Carey Mulligan) appears to be an unambitious drifter, however, she reveals her hidden vendetta at night when she hunts down men who cross her.

Director-Writer Emerald Fennell brings her slick film style, she commonly uses as a show runner on Killing Eve, to this knock-out film. Fennell’s Script is tight and filled with richly-texturized dark, tender and humorous scenes. Even more impressive is the ample layers she’s given Cassie and the clear intentions behind each of her character’s actions. And those characters are brought to the screen with a pitch-perfect ensemble cast consisting of Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Laverne Cox, M Jennifer Coolidge, Alison Brie and more. It’s thrilling to watch the immensely committed Mulligan express a wide range of emotions from desolate to bliss to rage. Overall, this is one hell of a ride with an important message about the trauma that sexual violence inflicts.

Promising Young Woman screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 8:30 PM at The MARC, Sun, Jan. 26th at 9 AM at The Ray, Sun, Jan. 26th at 9:15 PM at the Grand, Wed, Jan. 29th at 11:30 PM at Prospector Square, and Fri, Jan. 31st at 9 AM at Eccles.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Director Julie Taymor adapts Gloria Steinem’s Autobiography “My Life on The Road” for the big screen.

Taymor brings her signature style to the screen in telling Steinem’s extraordinary life. Instead of telling a conventional Biopic Taymor breaks up Steinem’s life into four age groups. Those four Glorias sit on a bus that continues to ride and ask each other questions about their own life. This unique decision separates this linear biopic from the rest. Top it all off with the talents of Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore playing Steinem at different periods in her life. It’s clear this is one not to be missed.

The Glorias screens at Sundance on Sun, Jan. 26th at 12 PM at Eccles Theatre, Tues, Jan. 28th 8:45 AM at Eccles Theatre, Fri, Jan. 31st at 9:15 PM at the Grand Theatre, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 9:30 PM at The Ray Theatre.

Sightings were a bit more on the quiet front today, but some exciting names were out and about at Sundance earlier.

THE NEST – An American Entrepreneur’s life takes a twisted turn after he moves to an English Country Manor.

Jude Law

NINE DAYS – A recluse conducts a series of interviews with human souls for a chance to be born.

Bill Skarsgård

Winston Duke

RELIC – A daughter, mother and grandmother are haunted by a manifestation of Dementia, which threatens to consume their family’s home.

SURGE – A Thriller about a man who goes on a reckless journey of self-liberation over 24 hours. Stars of both Films, Bella Heathcote and Ben Whishaw gave us a two-for-one, spotted entering a Press Stop together for each of their Films!

(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)