In advance of his new Docu-Series on YouTube, SEASONS comes Justin Bieber‘s new Single, YUMMY. We actually like the vibe of this. Looking forward to this new chapter!

Listen here:

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)

For a third straight week it’s all about STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER with a take of $37 million from 4,406 theatres for Disney. This brings its run in North America to $454 million.

In second is JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL with $24.5 million from 4,134 theatres for Sony Pictures.

Third goes to THE GRUDGE with $13 million from 2,642 theatres also for Sony Pictures. The Reboot gets an F CinemaScore and 19% on the Tomatometer. Franchise best still goes to 2004’s original with $39.1 million and a #1 debut.

Fourth is LITTLE WOMEN with $12 million, a healthy $58 million over two weeks domestically for Sony Pictures.

UNCUT GEMS gets eighth spot with $5.8 million from 2,686 theatres for A24/Netflix.

CATS is at the bottom of the Top Ten with $2.5 million for Universal Pictures in its second week out.

This Trailer will break your heart. Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth star as a couple coping with early-onset Dementia in SUPERNOVA.

Synopsis:

It is deep Autumn and Sam and Tusker, partners of twenty years, are on holiday. They are travelling across England in their old campervan visiting friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with young-onset dementia two years ago their lives have had to change. Jobs have been given up and plans put on hold. Their time together is now the most important thing they have. As the trip progresses however, their individual ideas for their future begin to collide. Secrets are uncovered, private plans unravel and their love for each other is tested like never before. Ultimately, they must confront the question of what it means to love one another in the face of Tusker’s irreparable illness. Written and directed by Harry Macqueen (Hinterland), and from the award-winning producers of 45 Years and I Am Not A Witch.

See the Trailer:

Mongrel Media release SUPERNOVA January 29, 2021 in select theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

Following the critical and commercial smash success of A QUIET PLACE, comes A QUIET PLACE PART II.

Synopsis:
Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

See the Trailer:

Paramount Pictures Canada release A QUIET PLACE PART II Friday, March 20, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

As we approach the end of this decade, let’s take a look back at some of our favourite memories from the past ten years! I started out late 2009 as a Blogger and never could imagine all the memories that would be created nor all the opportunities the Website would afford me. Back in 2009, we were standing behind the barricade as a fan and in 2019 we are now one of the City’s red carpet staples whether it be TIFF or a Movie Premiere.

People ask me all the time how I juggle several hats and to that I say that when you truly love what you do, you make the effort to strike that balance in your life. You all made me who I am today and the amazing people (Dave, Amanda, George, Siobhán, Jonathan and Justin) who give their time contributing to the Site, shaped our Brand.

Ten years ago I craved love, loyalty and validation. In many ways today those things still drive me, but for it all I am a little bit wiser, a little more able to stand up for myself, a little more weathered, a little more confident.

I’m grateful, humbled and touched by everyone’s continued support and promise to keep on going as far as I can! A Happy New Year to you. I’m beyond thrilled to see what 2020 will bring us all. Thank you for being there.

xMr. Will

Let’s take a walk down this memory lane known as the 2010s!

Being voted Best Blogger by my City at the NOW Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards is something I am so incredibly-grateful for. Sometimes when I look at my Twitter and Facebook and see many old friends who have been there with me all these years, something in my heart tells me I’ve done something right.  Thank you all for sticking with me.

So indebted to Hollywood Suite for inviting me to cover the 2019 Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica. I never, ever could have dreamed I’d be in Hollywood during Awards Season. This was such a gift and I hope something I can experience again in this lifetime! I’m grateful too to Telefilm Canada, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and the Consulate General of Canada who on multiple occasions sent me to Beverly Hills to cover the Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala!

To be able to walk the carpet at a Premiere with my beloved Billy before he had passed is something I look back and smile about to this day. I was so proud of my little guy, people wanting to take pictures with him in his Hawaiian shirt, and us posing together with star Adam Pally as legendary George Pimentel photographed. It was a dream come true being able to sit beside Billy at TIFF Bell Lightbox, him tucked comfortably into his reserved seating as the Movie played. I had worked so hard all these years to get where I had gotten and to be able to have Billy there with me to enjoy that meant so much to me. Thank you, Elevation Pictures for this.

Many of you know about my deep passion for horses and I am so touched to have not one, but two namesake racehorses in A Pic by Mrwill and Mr Will. I’m beyond thrilled at what Mr Will might become with him due to start racing in 2020. A Pic by Mrwill (Princess) gave me so many thrills as a fan favourite always fighting hard on the track to bring home a paycheque in her three-year-old season in 2017. I’ll never forget the day she made it to the Winner’s Circle at Woodbine Racetrack and being moved to tears after it all sunk-in at home. She gave it her all and while that would be her last race, that is something I will take with me forever. Thank you, John Ross and Cathy Wong for a lifetime of memories. Thank you, Emily Fisher for giving her an amazing home now that her racing career is over and still welcoming me to come see her. And thank you Michelle Love for all the effort you put into Mr Will, keeping him sound in his exciting journey of development. Thanks Emily Shields for this post-victory snap.

Lady Gaga without a question is one of the biggest stars to come out of the 2010s. I started the decade being obsessed and I still feel the same as the decade comes to a close. Her outstanding catalog of hits is her gift to us, her performance in A Star is Born has left me shaken to this day. This definitely was the Movie that hit me hardest this past decade. I will admit it took me over a dozen frustrating tries to land the Selfie with her, but that day in November when she came to promote Artpop, it finally happened. A true pinch-me moment. I was able to get another with her sans sunglasses when she was at TIFF for A Star is Born, but the first sip is always the sweetest.

Rihanna is indisputably a megastar. I remember this day where she said “no” to the Selfie, giving me a bit of heartbreak. But then she turned right back around, came over and pressed her face against mine and *snap* went my clunky Canon Point-and-Shoot.  Those tears of joy are real in my eyes. It was surreal seeing her and her entourage before a show at then-Molson Amphitheatre wandering-up Peter Street, fighting to keep her skirt down in the wind with several heads turning. Rihanna is a “rihl” presence.

If you asked me ten years ago if I’d wind-up being as big an Ariana Grande fan as I am now, my eyes would’ve shifted “side to side”. But she won me over. Yeah she did. She went from a modest TV star to a global Pop sensation. What a time to be living in the era of Ariana and her endless parade of hits! While I met her just before her Music career took-off in 2013, I did finally see her live on her Sweetener Tour in 2019 and it was outstanding! I’ll never forget her lecturing me for taking a picture of her while she was posing for a photo with another fan. Apparently it was distracting her. A young woman in-charge of her image!

People always ask who the nicest celebrities are whom I’ve ever met and you’d honestly be surprised that often it’s the biggest A-Listers who never disappoint. Angelina still mesmerizes me and she is everything I’d ever hoped for, stopping for what seemed like every fan at the TIFF Premiere of The Breadwinner, which she produced. It is disheartening seeing some celebrities whom are still carving their mark exhibiting “Diva behaviour” and believe me, I’ve seen it.  Listen, if Angelina and George can do it, so can you!

While she certainly has taken her time with new Music the latter part of this decade, few have risen as high as Adele. Her 21 and 25 Discs went right after my heart and still provide my soul some comfort to this day. She was the nicest, taking the time to chat with me, admitting she didn’t really have much fun at all in Toronto on a jam-packed whirlwind press visit for 21. She gave me a hug and told me to get home and that I was silly for wasting time waiting for her. I beg to differ. So worth it.
 

Nicole is one of my favourites of all-time. I remember having to be super-crafty about getting this pic, asking her friend (who took this pic) discreetly if it was okay as she exit a private dinner at TIFF for The Railway Man. Queen Nicole was more than kind about it, letting me give her my heartfelt spiel about what her performances in The Hours and Rabbit Hole meant to me. She seemed genuinely-affected, putting her hand over my shoulder and leaning-in for the snap. Shaken. She’s yet another master of her craft performing at a top level still this decade.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Renée‘s performance in Bridget Jones’s Diary is what sparked my inspiration in starting a Blog. She made it look so fun having something to chronicle her life and I took that, ran with it and made it my own. She was everything I imagined. So gracious, sweet and funny with her Southern accent. Renée defined much of the early 2000s for me and I’m delighted she’s still killing in a decade later!

Before A Star is Born came along and stole top spot, La La Land held the title for a good while this decade as my favourite Film. Emma Stone continues to throw us her best work yet and her performance here absolutely destroyed me. You can see I barely could keep my sh*t together in this pic. She was unreal. Earlier in the day amidst all the chaos I passed her a Plushie (it legit was the cutest, a stuffed puppy in a sweater that read “TIFF“) and when we finally met later in the day she told me she remembered me and told me she appreciated the sweet gesture. So thrilled she’d go on deservedly to win Best Actress at the Oscars a few months after. So excited for her portrayal of Cruella Deville.

The Canadian Chanteuse still is my Queen. Power Ballads might not have stood the test of time, but Céline has. Seeing her on her Courage Tour in Toronto was a dream come true. A master of her craft still performing at the highest level.

The Horse Racing community’s support both north and south of the border has meant so much to me. While I realize the Sport has faced more than its share of challenges this past year,  my love always has been the athletes, their stories and their well-being. I don’t believe it took 37 years for it to happen, but we finally saw another American Triple Crown winner crowned in 2015 and it would be American Pharoah. So honoured I got to cover his Haskell Invitational score at Monmouth Park in New Jersey for Woodbine and see him finally in-person. A pure legend whom even the likes of Julia Roberts fan-girled over, insisting on a meet and greet with him. And even more amazing seeing his kids performing on the track now so brilliantly as we reach the end of the decade.

I will forever be my nephew Kenny‘s hero for taking him to eTalk to see and meet Katy Perry. The Pop Queen’s career was just beginning to launch into stratospheric heights with the impending release of now-classic Teenage Dream.  I’ll never forget being among the first audience to hear her perform the eventual smash hit. While my first photo didn’t turn-out, I caught-up with her later and she remembered me right away, setting a time to meet her to re-take the photo after dinner and she delivered like Uber Eats before that was even a thing!

He is the King of Toronto and rightfully so. Drake has placed our City on the map internationally whether it be his Music or his ardent support of our Raptors, and we are indebted. I remember back in the day you could catch him wandering the streets of Yorkville with his crew. Those were the days! OMG. Good God, I sound so old.

So Tom Cruise just came to our Advance Screening of The Edge of Tomorrow and surprised us all. No big deal. Have always been a supporter of this ageless superstar and can’t wait for him to light-up our 2020 with Top Gun: Maverick! Thanks, Warner Bros. Canada for an unforgettable night!

Bruno Mars this past decade, has stamped himself an icon in-the-making. Seeing him perform at now-defunct Kool Haus before an intimate audience was a thrill. Such showmanship! He’ll definitely be around for some time.

I’ll never forget Will Ferrell taking the stage at his Premiere for Daddy’s Home asking where I was in the audience! Well I was waiting for him on the Red Carpet as he was a bit behind schedule for his interviews, but he came right over to me after his intro, seemingly-thrilled to meet me finally. What exactly was happening?? And was it really happening???  Something similar happened with Simon Pegg too at a screening of  Mission Impossible: Fallout.  Thanks, Paramount Pictures Canada for this.

I could go on forever, but these are some of my favourite memories. I could literally write an Anthology! So many more stories to tell.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

As we close out the Year of the Pig, we welcome-in the Year of the Rat!  Chinese New Year takes place just a little bit earlier this year on Saturday, January 25, 2020.

Those born in the Year of the Rat are known to be diligent, optimistic, clever, frugal, energetic and quick thinkers! Those born in the Year of the Dragon, Ox and Monkey are said to be in harmony with the Rat, so enjoy what good fortunes the year shall bring if that’s you!

Those born in the Year of the Horse, Goat and Rabbit are said to be least compatible with the Rat. This doesn’t mean your year will be horrible, it just means you may have more challenges your way and you can always count on a Chinese Horoscope to help navigate it.

Note that in Chinese Astrology should it happen to be your year this year, that’s known as Fan Tai Sui. So in a nutshell, when it’s your own year we’re observing, this offends the God of Tai Sui and that spills over to affecting your relationships, work and health, so do be careful.

Some notables born in the Year of the Rat include: Prince Charles, William Shakespeare, Eminem, Wayne Gretzky, George W. Bush, Truman Capote, LeBron James, Scarlett Johansson, Olivia Newton-John, The Rock, Katy Perry, Julianne Moore, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Selma Blair, Khloé Kardashian, Sean Penn, RuPaul, among others.

As we do every year, we love to share with you some of our favourite Chinese Horoscopes we’ve plucked from the interwebs!

This one is amazing. It is an accurate description of your sign and also breaks down your year’s forecast by quarter with a focus on your love life.

This one is simple to understand, gives you a bit of history behind each sign, compatiblity and recommends things to have which might bring luck your way.

Don’t know your sign? Don’t worry, many of us don’t. Use this handy reference below to find out:

Rat
1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 2020 2032

Ox
1925 1937 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997 2009 2021 2033

Tiger
1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010 2022 2034

Rabbit
1927 1939 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999 2011 2023 2035

Dragon
1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000 2012 2024 2036

Snake
1929 1941 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001 2013 2025 2037

Horse
1930 1942 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002 2014 2026 2038

Sheep
1931 1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003 2015 2027 2039

Monkey
1920 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004 2016 2028

Rooster
1921 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005 2017 2029

Dog
1922 1934 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006 2018 2030

Pig
1923 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007 2019 2031

Justin Bieber has been away for a bit but this is a perfect opportunity to catch-up with him. JUSTIN BIEBER: SEASONS is a YouTube Series recounting the global superstar’s past four years and soul search.

Synopsis:
For the very first time, the world’s biggest superstar, Justin Bieber, is pulling back the curtain and giving fans an intimate look into the past few years of his life. From the joys of marriage to the struggles through difficult seasons, Justin opens up to reveal his biggest challenges as he gets back into the studio to record his first album since 2015. Watch the full trailer now, which features a sneak peek of his new single “Yummy.”

Justin Bieber: Seasons a new documentary series premieres January 27 and you can choose how you want to watch – get early access to new episodes and watch the series ad-free with YouTube Premium or watch two new episodes each week with ads for free on YouTube.

See the Trailer:

JUSTIN BIEBER: SEASONS streams on YouTube Monday, January 27, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: YouTube)

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER makes it two weeks on-top, taking $89.6 million at the Box Office week two this post-Christmas Holiday weekend, from 4,406 theatres. Thus far, it has grossed $380.9 million domestically for Disney.

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is second with $30.8 million from 4,227 theatres for Sony Pictures. It has grossed $176 million in its third week.

FROZEN 2 takes third with $18.5 million, a total $423 million in its sixth weekend for Disney.

LITTLE WOMEN debuts in fourth with $18 million for Sony Pictures, from 3,308 theatres. Greta Gerwig‘s Adaptation gets 95% on the Tomatometer.

SPIES IN DISGUISE opens in fifth with $13.1 million from 3,502 theatres for 20th Century Fox. It gets 73% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore.

UNCUT GEMS lands in sixth with $10.9 million for A24/Netflix, expanding to 2,341 theatres. It gets 93% on the Tomatometer and oddly, a disproportionate C+ CinemaScore.

CATS in its second week out gets $5.1 million from 3,380 theatres for Universal Pictures.

RICHARD JEWELL rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.9 million for Warner Bros., a total $16 million in three weeks.

2019 was a remarkable year in Cinema. More than ever are we seeing Netflix and female Directors at the forefront and you will see this in the Team’s year’s best. Once again we are thrilled to share our favourites with you and would love to see how these align with your own personal faves. If you haven’t caught-up yet on your 2019 viewing, we hope the Team gives you some inspiration for your Holiday viewing!

Enjoy the rest of your Holidays and to an even more amazing 2020!

Team Mr. Will

L to R: Jonathan Godfrey, David & Alyssa Baldwin, George Kozera, Justin Waldman x Mr. Will

(There in spirit: Amanda Gilmore, Siobhán Rich)

A farewell to beloved Thompson Diner, where we held our 2019 Holiday Brunch.

In my opinion, this year has been one of the strongest years in Film for a VERY long time. We had amazing diverse creative talents in front and behind the camera who have worked together to make outstanding work, which is precisely why making this Top Ten list has been extremely difficult for me. I would love to write a Top 30 list if I was allowed, but sadly I’m not. Because of this, I have made my list according to my favourite films of the year that I could also re-watch multiple times for years to come. I have also added some honourable mentions because let’s face it, this year was flipping awesome!

DISCLAIMER: I have yet to see 1917 at the time of writing this list.

The Films below are listed in alphabetical order, they are not ranked.

Booksmart
Honey Boy
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Knives Out
Late Night
Little Women
Marriage Story
Parasite
Us

Honourable Mentions:
The Peanut Butter Falcon: an extremely touching and unique coming-of-age story.
Ready Or Not: an inventive thriller with one wickedly funny and badass female lead.
Rocketman: I LOVE Elton John and this film was a knockout!

Written in order the release, the following are my faves for 2019: winter began with If Beale Street Could Talk, a tale of struggle set to a mesmerizing score. Next, Alita: Battle Angel, a great anime adaptation with mesmerizing MOCAP (Motion Capture) work. Spring brought Toy Story 4, a 3D spectacle for the ages; and Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood, another spectacular Script from Tarantino. IT Chapter 2 scared me silly this summer, and A Hidden Life was my TIFF ’19 darling. Fall brought with it a Trilogy of favorites: the powerful performance piece, Joker; the breathtaking animation of Frozen 2; and of course, a forever favorite, Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Winter has returned, and with it, Little Women, a wondrous adaption to warm this holiday season. I have high hopes for 2020, including: Dune, Tenet, Mulan, No Time to Die and Bill & Ted Face the Music.

GEORGE KOZERA (@PartyG on Twitter)

2019 was a banner year for me, watching movies in a darkened theatre. I saw many impressive features from either first-time Directors or from established awards winners. Netflix, the little distribution company that could, released movies that were eclectic in genres and superior in quality and for the second year in a row, one of its offerings made my list as Number One. I saw movies that bored deeply into my skin and heart and mind and soul. It is with apologies to the Christmas releases that I have yet to see (Little Women, Bombshell, 1917, Uncut Gems) and too many Honorable Mentions to list that I submit my Top Ten of 2019:

1. Marriage Story
2. Jojo Rabbit
3. Waves
4. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
5. Parasite
6. The Irishman
7. Knives Out
8. The Last Black Man in San Francisco
9. Joker
10. Rocketman

JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DubsReviews on Twitter)

2019 has certainly been an interesting year for movies. We saw the end of The Skywalker Saga, the warfare between Netflix and Distributors continues to grow increasingly-tense, Scorsese and Iger are teasing a conversation. Movies had more surprises this year, and there have been some genuinely heartwarming and enlightening movies this year. In alphabetical order here are my top 10 movies to end out the decade.

Booksmart
Olivia Wilde directing Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever may have been the most unexpected, most hilarious thing I have seen all year but this Movie is endlessly-fantastic. It is the only Movie I have seen countless times this year, it became an instant classic for myself, that will be adored for the ages.

Jojo Rabbit
Taika Waititi in my mind can do no wrong when it comes to filmmaking. Ragnarok, What We Do In The Shadows,and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Waititi constantly delivers genuinely heartwarming and hilarious movies. Jojo Rabbit is no exception to that, the WWII satire is everything I expected of it and more.

Joker
I love some brilliant Joaquin. I love me some Joker. I just love this Movie. It is haunting and ingenious, but please for everything that makes this great, do not make a Sequel.

Knives Out
This Whodunit was one of the biggest questions from this Agatha Christie-esque film. It was marvelously-acted, packs a punch, and let’s face it, were all obsessing about knitted sweaters now.

The Lighthouse
I couldn’t begin to tell you what I thought I was getting myself into when I went to see this. All I can tell you is that it is one of the strangest, brilliant movies I’ve seen all year and I still think about it all these months later.

Little Women
Moment of truth, this was my first Little Women and what Greta Gerwig manages to do with it is nothing short of inspiring. However when you have Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and Saoirse Ronan its also hard not to be delighted the entire time.

Midsommar
This was horrifying. Ari Aster still manages to haunt me with his brilliant Horror Film. The Director’s Cut is significantly better than the theatrical cut as well, as well as more haunting when you pay attention to the background. There is nothing else to say.

Parasite
If you’ve seen it, you know EXACTLY why its on the list. If you have not, why are you waiting? Stop reading immediately and go see the Movie. There is literally no reason not to. It is brilliant and deserves all the acclaim.

Uncut Gems
Give Sandman everything. This Movie is neurotic, anxiety-inducing acid and you cannot look away. I felt dirty after watching the Movie, but I can’t shake it. Adam Sandler has never delivered a better performance.

Waves
This Movie broke me, is the easiest way to put it. It is beautiful, it is tragic, it is heartwarming, it is heartbreaking. This Movie launches a rocket right into the feelings and explodes on impact.

2020, you’re the start of a new decade, you better deliver as well as if not better than 2019.

DAVID BALDWIN (@DaveMABaldwin on Twitter)

1. Parasite
2. Jojo Rabbit
3. Marriage Story
4. The Farewell
5. Us
6. Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood
7. Honey Boy
8. Blinded By The Light
9. 1917
10. Booksmart

2019 will go down as one of the best years for Film this decade – maybe even the singular best one. There is so much to say about these ten brilliant Films, and even more to say about the multitude of films that did not make this list. Yes, many will remember this year for the end of The Avengers and Star Wars Sagas. But others will remember it for the magnificent new discoveries that were made, for the masters making some of their best work to date and for the actors we completely wrote-off giving us plenty of reasons to remember them again. I lived, breathed and loved so many movies this year. And know that with the impending birth of my first child, that so much about next year and the next decade of my filmgoing life is going to be so drastically different. So it might just be the nostalgia talking, but I doubt I will ever see another exquisite year of Cinema like this ever again.

Mr. Will’s 2019 Best-Of List is here.

(Photo credit: Netflix/Fox Searchlight/MK2/Mongrel Media/Sony Pictures/Mr. Will Wong)

If there was ever a year that contained highs and lows for me, 2019 was that year. My heart was broken losing my best friend and companion Billy in March. Since then there have been good days and bad days. I try to keep myself occupied always as it keeps my mind off things and I’ve decided this was the way I would cope. The Holidays this year will be extra tough and while I appreciate people quick to comment, “Just get another dog, you have so much love to give”, it really isn’t that easy. I am touched by the donations on Billy‘s behalf, the flowers we received, the thoughtful tokens and sentiments. Those helped.

I am in a different place than I was 16 years ago when I first got Billy. Life is much more hectic for me now and I didn’t have to be there as much for my parents as I do now. So to those who are concerned, the day will come when I will open my heart again to the possibility of pet parenting, but it isn’t just yet.

On that note, I also feel that we really don’t do enough to support people mourning pet loss. At work, employees get Bereavement Leave when they lose an immediate human family member and can get accommodations for mental wellness if deemed supported by the employer. But when it comes to a pet whom we love just as deeply and experience just as much pain when they’re gone, there are no formal regulated measures in place. In fact, with that being said, it is easy to feel embarrassed and ashamed for grieving a pet because it is so institutionalized that losing human lives is so much more important than losing an animal life. Pets are dependents and provide affection, support and routine in one’s life. When a pet ails, the heart aches just as much as it does as when a family member or a friend is ill. And when a pet goes, the disruption in one’s flow is dramatic. Just think about that for a sec.

The year while marred by some sadness, contained several happy moments that I will never forget. In addition to celebrating our tenth anniversary as a Blog, we met more heroes than we could’ve dreamed, saw great Films, enjoyed some great Music.  These are things that no amount of unhappiness could erase. Thank you to our Readers and Team Mr. Will – Dave, Jonathan, Justin, George, Amanda and Siobhán for all your continued loyalty and all you give so generously.

I always look forward to sharing with you my favourites of the year, and here are my Best-Of 2019.

Marriage Story
Knives Out
Uncut Gems
Hustlers
Rocketman
Joker
Bombshell
Jojo Rabbit
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Little Women

Juice – Lizzo
Cruel Summer – Taylor Swift
Old Town Road (Diplo Remix) – Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
Lover – Taylor Swift
Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
Good as Hell – Lizzo
Sweet But Psycho – Ava Max
Hey Look Ma, I Made It – Panic! at the Disco
Dancing with a Stranger – Sam Smith ft. Normani
7 Rings – Ariana Grande

TORONTO RAPTORS
I’ll admit it, I know little about Basketball but for that one moment in time that night in June, every Torontonian was a die-hard fan! 2019 was Toronto’s year and no one can ever take that away from us. The City has never been more united and I’m so happy despite it being gruelingly-hot, I was able to skip away from work thanks to my boss, and take-in the 2019 Toronto Raptors Championship Parade. You never forget a moment like that. Eight hours under the scorching sun on University Avenue.  Screaming children who didn’t want to be there. People budding ahead of you. But the moment the Raptors came through, none of that mattered.

One unassuming night waiting on a friend arriving on an L.A. flight, I’d cross paths with basically all them Raptors. All of them came passing through the terminal returning back from their exhibition games in Tokyo. I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was like being in one of those rooms with the dollar bills spiraling in the wind around you on a game show. Slam Dunk!🏀

CÉLINE DION
Céline not only is a national treasure, she is an Artist I’ve loved for many, many years. While power ballads haven’t always remained in-vogue, her Music has stood the test of time. My Heart Will Go On helped me cope with losing Billy and I like to think of meeting Céline as Billy‘s gift to me from beyond. Seeing her on her Courage World Tour finally for the first time, my heart wept. Only she can make me laugh hysterically and bring a tear to my eye in the span of four minutes. Such a blessing getting to meet my Heroine (the only one I didn’t have a photo-with yet other than Mariah!), even if I waited till 2 AM for it to happen on a frigid night in Toronto! I felt like death shortly after, but I’m alive! See what I did there?

RENÉE ZELLWEGER
Bridget Jones’s Diary is the reason I got inspired to Blog. She defined an era in my life as did Renée Zellweger. Seeing her at TIFF ’19 for JUDY was a bright spot in my life and getting to chat with her gorgeousness is something I will never forget. At the risk of being one of those annoying people who see like one movie a year and cry “Oscar!”, I actually mean it and you better be ready for a complete domination this Awards Season. Internet trolls, let’s see who gets the last laugh now!

J-LO
Who wasn’t obsessed with Jennifer Lopez in the early 2000s? Everyone calls Auld Lang Syne their New Year’s song, but sorry! Waiting for Tonight is all about 12/31 to me and always will be! Lorene Scafaria‘s HUSTLERS is the bomb and anyone who thinks otherwise sucks. It is about women taking back what’s theirs, owning-up to their mistakes and surviving to tell us about the juicy details. If that’s not empowerment, please step aside, I don’t need your negative energy! J-Lo and Constance Wu killed it.

Will never forget meeting J-Lo after hearing her and her Castmates speak at a Panel about the female voice, in support of the Film. Buy and download HUSTLERS now.

CONSTANCE WU
It’s okay sister, I got you! I’m not going to go on about how much Constance owned my 2018 with CRAZY RICH ASIANS because that’s so 2018, but meeting her and J-Lo after blessing us with that beautiful performance in HUSTLERS? I was a dummy for not stocking-up on Lotto 6/49 tickets that night!

LIZZO

This time last year I would’ve been, “Who-zzo?!?”. LIZZO slayed my 2019 with her excellence and one-by-one I saw the world become believers. I discovered her Music seeing her performance at Coachella on YouTube and became obsessed. I paid top-dollar for a ticket to her Danforth Music Hall Show which was long sold-out, grabbed that Meet & Greet lanyard and have never booked back. That was money well-spent seeing her twerk all up my face front row 🍑 and collectively with the sold-out crowd, be moved to tears by her inspiring words. I still don’t know how Truth Hurts became a #1 hit before Juice, but okay! CUZ I LUV YOU is essential listening. You. will. not. regret. buying. this. Album.

TOM HANKS
Never mind that I look like I’m losing control of my bladder in this pic and mysterious age lines that came from nowhere. This man of grace and legendary stature was kind enough to acknowledge me and that is enough. “I’m not going to pose for your Selfie, but I will walk by verrryyyy slowly.”. These are words spoken by Tom to me which I will repeat over and over in my head like a mantra till I die.

STEVEN SPIELBERG
Oh how nice, you got a Selfie with Kendall Jenner. Who cares!? This is the Selfie any self-respecting human being wants. LEGEND. ICON. KING MASTERMIND. Yes, I know, blurry as sh*t. Not even Remini could save this, but I got it. That was a night in New York at the Saturday Night Live Afterparty I’ll never forget!

SCARLETT JOHANSSON
We’ve all criticized some of Scarlett‘s choice of roles. 2019 was the year I’ve decided that Scarlett should be absolved of all casting sins as she more than redeemed herself with a mesmerizing performance in Noah Baumbach‘s MARRIAGE STORY, my personal fave of 2019. I am still traumatized from that fight scene with Adam Driver. I don’t care what Critics say about that part ruining the Movie – it was perfect, it was passion, it was ACTING! And if it weren’t for damn Renée and her brilliance, it would be the Year of Scarlett. She also is a delight in JOJO RABBIT. See both. Scarlett is notoriously-tough on Selfies, but she was amazing to give me a smile and a wave at the New York Film Festival Premiere of MARRIAGE STORY. Close enough!

MERYL STREEP
Okay, this really is pushing it as it doesn’t really count as a Selfie so much as it is her looking the same direction as me, but I’ll take it. but being in Meryl Streep‘s presence at her Premiere for THE LAUNDROMAT was an uplifting experience. We’ve waited so long for her to come to TIFF after having cancelled her last appearance in 2013 for AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and it finally happened. What a goddess!

DANNY DEVITO
So humbled we got a bit of face time with screen veteran Danny Devito back in March in support of Disney’s DUMBO. I’ve never had a more giving, gracious interviewee. He was personable, gave us rich and thoughtful responses. So happy our Dave Baldwin and I could share that together!

RON HOWARD
Totally dating myself, but I spent a lot of my school breaks being entertained on TV by Ron Howard, whether it be The Andy Griffith Show or Happy Days reruns. Okay, sure he’s directed Masterpieces like A BEAUTIFUL MIND, CINDERELLA MAN, SPLASH, APOLLO 13 and FROST/NIXON but in my heart he’ll always be Richie Cunningham and Opie!

RAMI MALEK
Okay, enough time has passed where I can admit that I just didn’t love BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. For one, it irks me how key things in Freddie Mercury‘s life like his sexuality were muted, when that was actually a big part of his life and persona. That being said, none can be detracted from Rami‘s flawless Oscar-winning performance. This Snap was taken at Chateau Marmont just one night before he took the gold. Don’t let others fool you, it gets cold in L.A. at night!

KRISTEN STEWART
OMG. I almost died when she said “yes” to the Selfie. I have been obsessed with K-Stew forever. Let me make it clear, I never fully got TWILIGHT, but it is her body of work including PERSONAL SHOPPER, CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA, PANIC ROOM, ON THE ROAD, THE RUNAWAYS and even more recently CHARLIE’S ANGELS, that I love. I’m sure many have wanted her to disappear but she’s not going nowhere, babe! She just keeps churning-out some outstanding work.

GLENN CLOSE
I could’ve swore it was Glenn‘s year at the Oscars. So lovely meeting this brilliant Thespian receiving her final award of last Awards Season for THE WIFE and the Independent Spirit Awards. Her adorable Havanese baby Pip was with her to receive the honour!

PAUL RUDD
I have loved Paul Rudd for years now and knowing he never comes to Toronto, New York Comic Con was that rare chance finally to see him! Love that he’s looking like himself and he’s every bit as friendly as you’d think! But then again, this was a paid Photo Op…

VICTORIA BECKHAM
I am one of those people who freaks out every time there is a Spice Girls reunion rumour circulating on Twitter and then go frowny-faced when I realize it’s only “the four of them”. Victoria was in Toronto doing good for Camp Oochigeas and giving her beauty line a plug. It was beyond cold, but so goddamn worth it. Is that a smile I see? 😊 That’s the magic of Mr. Will!

EDDIE MURPHY
Umm. So I won’t repeat what Victoria thinks about Eddie Murphy (Google it), but this does not erase how I feel about him as an Entertainer. Thrilled to see Eddie make his resurgence with DOLEMITE IS MY NAME and a triumphant return to the stage on Saturday Night Live this Holiday season.  He delivered me many age-inappropriate thrills in my younger days with BEVERLY HILLS COP, COMING TO AMERICA and BOOMERANG. But it was DREAMGIRLS that made me truly appreciate his artistry.

TIFFANY x DEBBIE GIBSON
Seriously, ten-year-old me is still freaking-out.  Former Teen Pop Idol rivals Tiffany and Debbie Gibson rocked my world as a kid. To see them join forces in this Photo Op as part of NKOTB‘s Mixtape Tour, was epic!  Who’d ever have known just a few months later I’d get invited to introduced Tiffany on-stage at her show at Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts? I’m so busy running through life sometimes that I forget to appreciate things like this.

BOWEN YANG
This Funnyman came out of nowhere to steal the show. Bowen is the best thing to happen to Saturday Night Live in quite some time! Better yet, he has the distinction of being the first American-Asian Cast member in the star-making Program! Cheers to diversity!

BRENDON URIE
Our airwaves continue to be dominated by PANIC! AT THE DISCO and we are so stoked we got this Snap with the Band’s Frontman Brendon Urie in New York this October! It was a complete surprise! It wasn’t easy but he posed and made sure I got it. If you haven’t heard their contribution to the FROZEN 2 Soundtrack, INTO THE UNKNOWN, you must. Mind-blowingly-powerful vocals from Urie!

KRISTEN BELL
And while we’re on the topic of FROZEN 2, we were so delighted Toronto got its own Fan Event for the Film in November! We deserved it! On Cloud Nine we got to chat with star Kristen Bell, nabbing a signature Team Mr. Will Selfie with Anna herself!

JA RULE
It’s okay, Ja! We know Fyre Festival wasn’t your fault. You’re forgiven. The things we’ve all done for a bit of cash 🙄… doo-doo-doo… Don’t look at me like you’ve never “taken one for the team”! That’s right, move along now!

STING
So yeah, it’s super-awkward when you’re at the office pouring some water into your bottle and someone’s like “Oh! I saw on BlogTO you met Sting!“. Well, thank you Toronto for thinking my Selfies are culturally-relevant. You’re welcome!

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
2019 was low-key The Boss‘ year. He had his Western Stars album and Documentary arrive and also BLINDED BY THE LIGHT was a love letter to his amazingness. Although I loved him as a kid, this was a year I was reminded once again to appreciate his amazing catalog of Music. Born to Run, Born in the USA, Dancing in the Dark, Lonely Hearts, Glory Days. Timeless. Seeing him at TIFF ’19 was great and he was so amazing going down the line, leaning-in for pictures and waves. So happy I had the video rolling and caught this!

Mr. Will x Billy Forever