Many of you by now have seen Bong Joon Ho‘s masterpiece PARASITE and I’m sure like me, you’ve been programmed to salivate at the words “RAM-DON“. The Korean dish (also known as “Jjapaguri“) made of a combination of instant noodles, topped with Sirloin Beef is a metaphor about class in the Film.  In one scene we see Park Yeon-kyo (played by Yeo-jeong Jo) rushing to return home early, calling her maid Kim Chung-sook, played by Hye-jin Jang, and tasking her with very little time to make her son’s favourite meal, Ram-Don. Feeling her son is above eating just instant noodles like the rest of the common people, the addition of Sirloin to the ramen adds that element of sophistication worthy of the young boy’s palate. Kim Chung-sook of course has no idea what Ram-Don is and we see her in a massive panic to make it in time for their return home and never before did we realize how much we needed this dish in our lives!

We’ve seen various takes on its Recipe online, but we’ll break it down real simple for you in 10 steps:

1. Marinate a pound, or a little more of Beef Sirloin which has been chopped into cubes.  Toss the beef in a mixture of 1-2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce, 1 tablespoon of Gochujang (Korean Pepper Paste), 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar or Maple Syrup, 1 tablespoon of Rice Vinegar, 1-2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of Sesame Oil. Chill overnight, covered.

2. Chop 1/4 to 1/2 an onion, sautée in 1 tablespoon of oil in skillet on high heat. Toss-in half of marinated beef cubes and sear till browned. Be careful not to overcook. Place aside. Repeat process using other half of onion and beef cubes. Having too much beef in the pan hinders the searing process, hence it is best to do in two batches.

3. Prepare 1 package of Nongshim Spicy Seafood Noodles and 1 package of Nongshim Chapaghetti. If your grocer doesn’t have these brands then look for an alternative Spicy Seafood Ramen or Instant Jajangmyeon… or move to a more diverse neighbourhood.. or make some more Asian friends who can hook you up.

4. Boil about 5 cups of water and then place two portions of noodles in the pot.

5. Prepare seasoning packets.

6. Once noodles have loosened in the water, pour enough water out into sink to leave just enough water to barely cover the noodles in the pot. Then add in seasoning packets (1/2 packet of the Spicy Seafood Soup Base, 1 full packet of the Chapaghetti sauce mix, 1 full packet of the Chapaghetti herbs) and save the oil packet that comes with the Chapaghetti. Be careful not to scald yourself, I don’t want no lawsuits.

7. Cook on medium heat until the liquid thickens, stirring the noodles in the pot.

8. After two to three minutes, your noodles should be covered in a thick sauce, which looks like below.

9. Toss in the seared beef cubes and onion, plus the contents of the oil packet which you set aside earlier, into the noodle mixture on low heat for about a minute or two at most. Allow the juices from the steak to mix fully into the noodles.

10. Transfer to plate and serve with a side of Kimchi. This serves literally two adults.

Tell me that’s not beautiful! 🍜

PARASITE is on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday, January 28, 2020.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

In celebration of Chinese New Year, some new Artwork for eagerly-anticipated Disney’s MULAN!

Synopsis:
Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro brings the epic tale of China’s legendary warrior to life in Disney’s “Mulan,” in which a fearless young woman risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation…and a proud father.

“Mulan” features a celebrated international cast that includes: Yifei Liu as Mulan; Donnie Yen as Commander Tung; Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan; Yoson An as Cheng Honghui; with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor.

See these stunning new Character Posters!

Yifei Liu

Yoson An

Gong Li

Donnie Yen

Jason Scott Lee

Jet Li

Disney’s MULAN is in theatres Friday, March 26, 2020.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Dinner in America is an energetic anthem for Punk Rockers.

Writer-Director Adam Rehmeier has made a fast-paced fun film about two young people from opposite worlds. However, their one similarity is their love for Punk-Rock. The characters are easy to fall in love with due to their wonderfully written character traits and the committed performances from Emily Skeggs and Kyle Gallner.

Dinner in America screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 9:30 PM at The Ray Theatre, Sat, Jan. 25th at 11”59 PM at Broadway Centre Cinema 6, Sun, Jan. 26th at 8:30 am AT prospector Square Theatre, Fri, Jan. 31st at 3:30 PM at Eccles Theatre, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 2:30 PM at The MARC.

The star sightings continue to pour-in and our Amanda Gilmore doesn’t disappoint! See some of the talent she spotted out and about at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Day Three!

DOWNHILL is about a couple married with kids, who barely escape an avalanche on a trip, only to be forced to confront finally how they feel about one another.

Will Ferrell

FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME centers on “pre-Hamilton” Lin-Manuel Miranda and the improv Hip-Hop movement he was part of, the Documentary following their reunion in 2019.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

ZOLA centers on a Stripper who goes on a wild road trip to Florida. This Film is getting a startling amount of buzz out of the Festival and stars Riley Keough.

Nicholas Braun

FOUR GOOD DAYS is about a mother who helps her daughter in recovery from substance abuse. Glenn Close and Mila Kunis both star in the Drama.

Mila Kunis

THE FIGHT is a Documentary which centers on the tsunami of lawsuits against the Trump administration which came about shortly after he got elected.

Kerry Washington (Producer)

BLACK BEAR is about a female Filmmaker who turns to the woods after having some creative struggles, only for the woods to summon her inner demons.

Aubrey Plaza

Sarah Gadon

Christopher Abbott

Wilmer Valderrama

SNOWPIERCER (Netflix TV Series) centers on a world that has become a frozen wasteland and the group of people left who inhabit a train which circles the globe. Parasite Director Bong Joon Ho serves as a Producer on the Series which stars Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs.

Daveed Diggs

(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Come Away tells an alternative origin story for Peter Pan and Alice from Alice in Wonderland.

Although the Film, starring Angelina Jolie, David Oyelowo, Michael Caine and  Gugu Mbatha-Raw is targeted towards children, there are many themes that resonate with adults. Director Brenda Chapman’s primary theme throughout is grief with focus on contrasting what grief looks like within children and adults. Chapman also blends an even mix of actuality and fantasy giving it an authentic feel. Overall, Come Away is enchanting from the adventure to the examination of grief, even if it is sometimes a little slow.

Come Away screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 12:30 PM at The Ray Theatre, Sat, Jan. 25th at 12:30 PM at Redstone Cinema 1. Sun, Jan. 26th at 12 PM at Salt Lake City Library Theatre, Fri, Jan. 31st at 5:30 PM at Prospector Square Theatre, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 3:30 PM at Redstone Cinema 1.

For a second straight week, BAD BOYS FOR LIFE is proving to be an exceedingly smart move from Sony Pictures, taking $28 million from 3,775 theatres. This brings its two week run to $111.6 million already domestically.

In second is Best Picture Contender 1917 with $14 million from 3,937 theatres for Universal Pictures, taking its tally to $102.1 million, its third weekend in wide release.

THE GENTLEMEN from Director/Writer Guy Ritchie debuts in third with $10.8 million for STX Entertainment/VVS Films. It gets 72% on the Tomatometer.

Landing in fourth spot is DOLITTLE with $9.8 million from 4,155 theatres for Universal Pictures, a total $41.9 million over two weeks in North America.

THE TURNING debuts in fifth with $6.2 million from 2,500 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Horror starring Mackenzie Davis, Brookylnn Prince and Finn Wolfhard gets 13% on the Tomatometer.

KNIVES OUT rounds-out the Top Ten with $3 million from 1,667 theatres for Mongrel Media/Lionsgate Films.

It was a star-studded Day Two at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and our Amanda Gilmore was out and about capturing some of that starpower!  See who she spotted and which Films did the rounds today.

DINNER IN AMERICA  centers on a Punk Rocker and a young woman obsessed with his band. They fall in love unexpectedly and go on a journey together in mid-west America’s decaying suburbs.

Kyle Gallner

Griffin Gluck

Lea Thompson

WORTH takes place post-9/11 when Congress appoint Attorney Kenneth Feinberg to lead the Compensation Fund for victims of the attacks. He is forced to face the question of what value a life is worth when going head-to-head with a community organizer whose wife died in the towers.

Amy Ryan

Stanley Tucci

SPREE centers on a Rideshare Driver who hatches a deadly plan to go viral.

Joe Keery

David Arquette and the most adorable little sunglass-donning pup!

BAD HAIR is a Comedy-Horror about a young woman who decides to get a weave in joining a career in Music Television, only to realize the weave has a mind of its own.

Kelly Rowland

James Van Der Beek

IRONBARK is about a Cold War Spy and his Russian source, who try to put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Rachel Brosnahan (Go, Amanda!)

Stay tuned for more as we expect several more sightings to come tomorrow!

(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Pablo Larraín’s eighth film follows married couple Ema (Mariana Di Girolamo) and Gastón (Gael García Bernal) after they return their adopted son to child services, due to him setting their house on fire with Ema’s sister inside.

As with every Larraín film, Ema is a visual feast for the eyes. This time around he examines how guilt affects a marriage as a whole and as separate individuals. When he looks into Ema and Gastón’s individual guilt is exposed how it affects a mother and father differently due to societal expectations. All of the internal conflicts of his characters are powerfully visualized through captivating Choreography and all-consuming performances.

Ema screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 9 PM at Sundance Resort, Tues, Jan. 28th at 5:30 PM at Egyptian Theatre, and Thurs, Jan. 20th at 11:45 PM at Park Avenue Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Viggo Mortensen’s directorial debut follows the turbulent relationship between a father and son.

With Falling, Mortensen examines the strong bond between relatives even after they’ve become severed. The focus here is on the relationship between John (Mortensen) and his ill yet overtly profane father Willis (Lance Henriksen). The performances are outstanding, particularly Henriksen who plays a remarkably unlikeable character. Willis continuously makes sexist, racist and homophobic remarks, however, no matter how hateful his rhetoric John always forgives him. This becomes a problem for the story because John is happily married to a man and there is no explanation behind why he easily forgives and forgets his father’s repugnant insults.

Falling screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 31st at 6:30 PM at Eccles Theatre, Sat, Feb. 1st at 5:30 PM at The MARC Theatre, and Sun, Feb. 2nd at 3:30 PM at Rose Wagner Center.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Crip Camp is an endearing Documentary about a camp in the 1970s that was for disabled people.

It starts out as a film depicting a camp that made its attendees feel like they had a place to belong but it turns into a call for civil rights. This is thanks to Directors Nicole Newman and Jim LeBrencht who use footage from the 1971 camp and civil rights marshes and bills those campers have passed throughout the years. Through current interviews with the spirited campers, this documentary will make you laugh, cry and want to call for more equal rights.

Crip Camp screens at Sundance on Thurs. Jan. 23rd at 5:30 PM at The Ray Theatre and Eccles Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at 8:30 AM at The MARC Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at Grand Theatre, Sat. Jan. 25th at 9 PM at Sundance Resort, Wed. Jan. 29th at 6 PM at Library Centre Theatre, and Thurs. Jan. 30th at 9:30 PM at Redstone Cinema 1.