By David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

“I wanted the Film to feel evil.”

It is a rather innocuous quote, but one that perfectly describes the aura around Ari Aster’s critically-acclaimed Film Hereditary. The first-time feature Writer/Director has received unanimous praise out of both Sundance and SXSW for his Tale of a grieving family who, in the wake of their matriarch’s death, discover nightmarish secrets relating to their ancestry. Aster presented the Film at TIFF Bell Lightbox on Wednesday evening – the first Canadian public screening – and followed with a Q&A with the George Stroumboulopoulos.

And when your Film is being touted on posters as the “scariest Film since The Exorcist”, you know the audience is in for something special.

The less said about the shocks and surprises found within Hereditary, the better. For Aster, he just wanted to “make a Movie about grief and trauma.” But having watched various Oscar-type movies during his schooling at AFI and Sundance, he knew he had to make something more unique and outside the box: “It’s in me to see [those kinds of movies] and think, what’s the worst thing I can do here?” He doubled down by suggesting the whole point of Hereditary was to “make a Film that didn’t let people off the hook” for what they were involved with, suggesting not so-subtly that “everything that’s coming is inevitable.”

Another important element of Aster’s discussion with Strombo was regarding the Film’s Sound Design. Much of the sounds came directly off the pages of Aster’s Script, but his Sound Team was determined to use them in radically different ways. “We played a lot with using different speakers,” Aster says, using them to express not just the sounds on-screen, but the different emotions and feelings of the characters. He stressed that some effects – including mouth clicking that becomes progressively more horrifying – were designed to be “played in different parts of the room” at all times. As Aster recalled, listening on a conventional stereo system completely ruined the terrifying effects he was going for (and in turn, Colin Stetson’s enigmatic Score), remarking that he “wanted this sub base thing that you feel in your guts more than you hear it.”

But no matter where the conversation went (including a brief mention of how proud he was of Lead Actress Toni Collette’s “kamikaze” performance), Aster kept circling back to the feeling he was trying to evoke through every twisted frame of Hereditary. “I wanted to test your patience,” he told the packed audience, noting that “As the [characters] were suffering, the Movie is smiling.” And while he describes the Film as “sinister” and “mean-spirited”, he continues to be both shocked and delighted at the acclaim the Film keeps receiving – he just assumed he was “making a really alienating movie that made people feel bad.”

I will save my full thoughts on Hereditary for my upcoming Review but will note that I do not remember the last time I was so unsettled and unnerved watching a Movie. So skip the Trailers and start mentally preparing yourself – you will not want to miss out on this future Horror classic.

Elevation Pictures release HEREDITARY on June 8, 2018.

(Photo credit: David Baldwin)

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to attend an Advance Screening of SKYSCRAPER starring Dwayne Johnson! Screenings take place Wednesday, July 11, 2018 in TORONTO, MONTREAL, CALGARY, VANCOUVER, EDMONTON. Venues as follows:

TORONTO WEDNESDAY JULY 11 7:00 PM Cineplex Yonge Dundas

MONTREAL WEDNESDAY JULY 11 7:00 PM Cinema Banque Scotia

VANCOUVER WEDNESDAY JULY 11 7:00 PM Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver

EDMONTON WEDNESDAY JULY 11 7:00 PM Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton

CALGARY WEDNESDAY JULY 11 7:00 PM Scotiabank Theatre Chinook

Synopsis:

3,500 FEET. 240 STORIES. THIS SUMMER, THE WORLD’S TALLEST BUILDING… GETS ROCKED. UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES PRESENT DWAYNE JOHNSON IN THE BIGGEST ADVENTURE OF THE YEAR! SKYSCRAPER. IN THEATRES AND REAL-D 3D JULY 13TH.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK  and indicate your City. Tell us in the comments one time you got accused of something you didn’t do! Click “share” from there for an extra chance or Re-Tweet this Contest Post from @mrwillw on Twitter.

Universal Pictures Canada release SKYSCRAPER Friday, July 13, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to attend an Advance Screening of MAMMA MA! HERE WE GO AGAIN! Screenings take place Wednesday, July 18, 2018 in the following cities:

TORONTO PROMO confirmed at Cineplex Yonge & Eglinton Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM

MONTREAL PROMO confirmed at Cineplex Montreal Forum Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM

VANCOUVER PROMO confirmed at Cineplex International Village Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM

CALGARY PROMO confirmed at Cineplex Sunridge Spectrum Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM

OTTAWA PROMO confirmed at Cineplex Landsdowne &VIP Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM

Synopsis:
YOU CAN DANCE. YOU CAN JIVE. HAVING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE AT THE FEEL-GOOD MOVIE OF THE SUMMER!

UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. THE PARTY BEGINS JULY 20TH.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate there your City. In the comments, tell us your favourite ABBA song! Click “share” on this Post from there for an extra chance or Re-Tweet this Contest Post from @mrwillw on Twitter!

Universal Pictures Canada release MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN Friday, July 20, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Running May 24 to June 3, 2018 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the INSIDE OUT LGBT FILM FESTIVAL is set to kick-off! Several high-profile Films set to premiere at the Festival including Opening Night Gala A KID LIKE JAKE starring Jim Parsons and Claire Danes, HEARTS BEAT LOUD starring Kiersey Clemmons and Nick Offerman and THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST for which Chloë Grace Moretz won Best Actress at Sundance earlier this year. Hotly-tipped also is HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES starring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman, which will see a digital release in early June.

Our Team preview for you some of the Festival’s most-talked-about titles and we will be providing you updates on some of these as the Festival commences!

In the meantime, here are some hidden treasures at Inside Out:

A MOMENT IN THE REEDS
Review by George Kozera

A MOMENT IN THE REEDS opens with Leevi (Jaume Puustinen) in a car with his father Jouko (Mika Melender) driving through the Finnish countryside. The emotional estrangement between the two is palpable. Leevi just arrived from Paris, where he is studying literature, to help renovate the family lake house and pointedly deflects the questions from his dad about his life and living arrangements. Arriving at the cottage, Leevi learns that his father hired a handyman to help with the renovations. A foreigner. Fortuitously, Tareeq (Boodi Kabbani) arrives, and whereas he cannot speak Finnish, his carpentry skills far outweigh Leevi’s and the father and son communicate with him in English.

When the father is called away on business, the two young men bond while working together, then drinking beers in the sauna and on the porch afterwards. The attraction between them is tangible and intense and they eventually wind up in bed together.

Whereas the plot of A MOMENT IN THE REEDS is somewhat derivative of many gay-themed dramas, the romance between Leevi and Tareeq is realized exquisitely with moments of sensuality coupled with revelations shared (Tareeq’s struggles with being a Syrian refugee living in Finland and Leevi’s emotions dealing with his dead mother). Billed as the first LGBT Romance from Finland, Writer/Director Mikko Makela fashioned a beautifully-accomplished, emotionally involving Movie. Kudos.

A MOMENT IN THE REEDS plays at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, June 3, 2018, 4:45 pm

HURLEY
Review by Justin Waldman

Derek Dodge’s Documentary Hurley focuses on racecar legend Hurley Haywood, and his struggles with being gay in such a “macho” sport. The Documentary focuses on Hurley’s career as well as his relationship with Peter Gregg on and potentially off the racetrack. This also serves as Hurley Haywood’s official ‘coming-out’, as he was worried that doing so would dampen his career and he would not be accepted by the racing world.

This is a Sports Documentary with an LGBTQ underbelly. It focuses more on Haywood’s career than it does his personal life and relationships. However, when it does get into his personal life and relationships it becomes a beautiful story of courage and acceptance and shows that sometimes in life being who you want to be is harder than it should have to be.

Hurley is an eye-opening examinayion about his career and the toxic masculinity that surrounded the sport in the ’70s and arguably even today, and the love that is shared between his partner and himself for being able to overcome the adversary that is Motorsport.

Hurley screens at Inside Out on Monday May 28, 2018 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, 7 pm.

GRIMSEY
Review by George Kozera

Bearded hunky Spaniard Bruno (Richard Garcia) arrives in Reykjavik, Iceland to look for his companion, Norberto, who left him without any explanation. While waiting for any kind of information from the police, his sister tells him to meet up with another ex-pat Spaniard, Arnau (Raul Portero) while there. Thus begins GRIMSEY, a journey around Iceland about a man looking for answers and/or closure.

Arnau, a tour guide, meets up with Bruno who is somewhat rude to him. When Bruno is told by the police that Norberto was last seen in a little town of Vik, he phones Arnau to apologize for his behaviour earlier and tells him he’s on his way to the small town north of Reykjavik to continue his quest. Suspension of disbelief number one: who shows at Bruno’s rental seconds before he leaves? Arnau. (How did he find Bruno and how did he know which car rental he was at?)

Arriving in Vik, only to be told that Norberto left three weeks prior heading further north, suspension of disbelief number two occurs: they meet another ex-pat gay couple from Spain who actually met and dined with Norberto. Back in the car. Scene after endless scene where we hear Bruno’s messages to Norberto which include pearls like “I feel my heart as a hotel. A hotel that you can leave without saying goodbye” and confessing that he was always a terrible travel companion with him and had been unfaithful. (No wonder Norberto ran away without a trace). We also hear Arnau’s messages to an ex-boyfriend which also doesn’t paint him in a positive light.

As a Road Trip Movie, GRIMSEY is endlessly fascinating. Iceland is a country rich in diverse landscapes and the cities they stop at are picturesque. The real star of this Movie is the beauty of Reykjavik. Written and directed by the two leads, as a narrative this Film is a bit lagging with scenes lasting longer than they should or have touches that suggest that GRIMSEY perhaps veers a bit to much to vanity rather than substance.

GRIMSEY plays at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, May 25, 2018, 7:15 pm.

 
OCTAVIO IS DEAD!
Review by George Kozera

In OCATVIO IS DEAD!, Tyler (Sarah Gadon) just lost her job when she finds out the father she never met had passed away and she is the sole beneficiary of his estate. Her mother Joan (played in full throttle eccentric mode by Rosanna Arquette) sees this as an opportunity to stop her years’ long medical insurance fraud and sponge off her daughter but Tyler decides to run away in the middle of the night and go to her father, Octavio’s (Raoul Trujillo), house to learn more about the man she knew nothing about. Thus begins Canadian Writer/Director Sook-Yin Lee’s atmospheric new Drama.

While rummaging through her father’s belongings in his filth-covered, book-lined apartment, Octavio appears to her in the form of a ghost. She also finds a photo of him besides a handsome young man, who she ultimately finds working at a gentleman’s club. To gain access to the facility, she lops off her hair, puts on her daddy’s suit, shirt and ties and successfully meets Apostolis (Dimitris Kitsos). They immediately bond and, consequently, secrets are revealed.

Sarah Gadon (Alias Grace), looking very much like and channeling a young Angelina Jolie, gives a compelling performance as Tyler, however unbelievable she looked and acted as a guy. It is accomplished and interesting. Best known for her work on Much Music, CBC Radio and in Film (Shortbus), Sook-Yin Lee’s writing and directing seem to be influenced strongly by David Lynch. Trying to combine supernatural elements with grotesque secondary characters and surreal imagery doesn’t always work in her favour but it doesn’t fail her vision either. Kitsos has very little to do but look pretty and be half-naked and Trujillo provides menace, tinged with sadness.

OCTAVIO IS DEAD! may be overreaching at times, but it is rarely uninteresting. It plays at TIFF Bell Lightbox on June 2, 2018 at 9:15 pm.

 
M/M
Review by George Kozera

In Ryerson University graduate, Drew Lint’s, feature length debut, M/M, this Writer/Director takes us deep inside a world of sexual and psychological obsession to a techno beat and rhythm. Golden-haired Matthew (Antoine Lahaie) recently moved to Berlin from Montreal. His is a lonely existence, made even more untenable with occurring dreams of statues staring at him. While at his job working at an indoor swimming pool facility, he gets a message on his cellphone, via a gay dating app, from Matthias (Nicolas Maxim Edlicher), seductively lounging across from him. Whereas nothing happens after that first communication, Matthew follows Matthias where he watches him shower, then trails him all the way to his apartment where he sees him in a sexual embrace with another guy. The obsession with the sexually voracious Matthias intensifies to not only stalking him but to Matthew changing the way he looks and dresses to mirror Matthias. When Matthias is hospitalized in a coma after a motorcycle accident, Matthew moves into his apartment and starts to live his life as Matthias does. Is it no surprise they share the same name; are they, in essence, the same person?

M/M is the most visually impressive directorial Feature Film debut I’ve seen since Kogonada’s Columbus. Drew Lint masters colours and textures seamlessly and breathtakingly. His use of whites and grays delights as does the occasional use of computer graphics. His storytelling is also impressive as it concisely encompasses many themes: loneliness, sexuality, the Social Media, art as a commodity. There are moments in the Movie that go on a bit too long or add nothing to the narrative but that can be attributed to a first-timer throwing all that he can to stimulate the senses.

M/M is a provocative, atmospheric and fascinating. Drew Lint is a name to remember and follow.

M/M plays at the TIFF Bell Lightbox May 30, 2018 at 9:15 pm

More on tickets and schedule here!

We are super-excited about Toronto’s own Jessie Reyez and have been following her on her rise over the past couple years closely. The Singer-Songwriter who hails from Brampton, has seen a significant boost in her profile beginning with her soulful and minimalistic radio staple Figures, which has been a mainstay since 2016. Rarely with a moment to rest, Reyez has been busy balancing the recording of her forthcoming debut Disc with strategic planning and performances on both sides of the Atlantic. Finally we got to meet this brilliant young woman whom we are touting as Music’s next major force!

Hot off the release of new Single Body Count, which is a cut from the same cloth as Figures with a sassy punch, Reyez visited Times Square in New York City yesterday, posing in front several LED Billboards advertising her new Single on Spotify! Prior to that the JUNO Award winner was in L.A working on some new Music and even did a Q&A with fellow Torontonan Lilly Singh too!

We are overjoyed we got to meet Reyez finally who is everything we thought she would be, embracing us with a hug in appreciation of our support. We asked her how far along her Album is and she assures us it’s almost done. She tells us, “The thing is I recorded like 200 songs for it and now I’ve got to narrow it down.”. I asked if her first few Singles will be on it, although she still isn’t sure if she will include Greater One and Figures on it. Either way, we are so buying it!

If you haven’t checked-out Body Count‘s Salem Witch Hunt-inspired Video, you can do so here:

In case you aren’t up to speed on Reyez‘s amazing Music and compelling vocals, check it out below:

GREATER ONE

FIGURES

We’ll be seeing Reyez again in a couple days and we’re so stoked! More to come!

See our Snaps!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Universal Music)

Cardi B quickly has won our hearts and her debut Disc INVASION OF PRIVACY still is v. much on our playlists and minds. Check-out the new Jora Frantzis-directed Video for latest Single Be Careful, which like Drake’s Nice for What, samples Lauryn Hill’s Ex-Factor with a samba-meets-streets vibe.

See the Video:

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music)

DEADPOOL 2 is v. much alive! The latest Marvel entry takes top spot in its opening with an outstanding $132.1 million from 4,349 theatres in North America for 20th Century Fox. It gets 84% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore from Audiences. Its Predecessor set a record for highest R-rated opening ever for a Film with $132.4 million and this one falls just shy. Numbers still are yet to be finalized.

Slipping to second is AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR with a healthy $28.2 million for Marvel/Disney. Over four weeks it has grossed $598 million domestically.

BOOK CLUB opens in third with $13.4 million for Paramount Pictures, playing in 2,781 theatres. It gets 59% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore.

LIFE OF THE PARTY tallies in fourth spot with $7.8 million for Warner Bros., a two-week total of $30.9 million.

SHOW DOGS opens in sixth spot with $5.3 million from 3,145 theatres for eOne Films/Global Road. It gets 26% on the Tomatometer, but a great A- CinemaScore.

Rounding-out the Top Ten is Ruth Ginsburg  Documentary RBG with $1.2 million.

We bring you this latest Princess Diary with a heavy heart.  After training very forwardly this spring, our dear Princess A PIC BY MRWILL, sadly sustained a fractured Sesamoid in her front right leg Thursday morning.  She had just completed a quick workout on Woodbine’s Dirt Training Track. Thankfully, Exercise Rider Ashlee Edwards could sense something was wrong near the end of the breeze and with some fast thinking, pulled her up right away and we are indebted for this. We admit there was worry and uncertainty receiving messages shortly after from concerned onlookers as she was vanned off, though we can confirm that Princess’ injury while fortunately not life-threatening, is career-ending.

Princess always has been thought-of highly by her “Dad” John Ross.  He has been her biggest champion from the start, picking her out as HIP No. 164 at the 2015 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Premier Yearling Sale along with his partner, Princess’ “Mom” Cathy Wong. He’s been with her every step of the way from her battling an almost fatal infection as a baby to guiding her to the Winner’s Circle in what will be known as her final start last August. John never gave up on her, always taking the tougher route.

That taste of sweet victory was something I never will forget. My friends, Team Ross and I standing under the beating sun with Princess, veins protruding on her face after giving it her all in fight to the finish line in the longest race of her career. She was so brave and while sometimes lacking that punch in the final stretch, she wouldn’t be denied this time. I leaned-in to kiss her on her nose, dripping with hose water, trying to make sense of what just had happened. I wanted so desperately for everyone to see this filly, my namesake, as the winner I knew she was and after so many tries, it happened finally. The heavy weight of expectation lifted finally, we were free and had nothing more to prove.

While Princess isn’t the most accomplished horse in John‘s barn, she certainly is one of the most loved and we always made her feel like she was the most special. It is so hard to believe I’ll have to come to terms with walking by her stall and not seeing her there anymore. I will miss surprising her every week with a jumbo Fuji apple and a bag of miniature carrots,  but not first without a spirited twirl from her and a cry to hurry-up. While she could never speak her appreciation, I knew in my heart what it meant to her that I made time to see her. Sometimes that even came with a kiss.

Princess earlier today:

Princess did everything we ever hoped of her and she made us all so proud.  Even when she didn’t win, she almost always gave it her all and this is how we and her fans will remember her for in her career as an athlete. The outpour of support from bettors and fans online and at the track has been astounding in her brief career, normally securing her place as the betting favourite at post time. While John, Cathy, the Team and myself are all heartbroken that one road ends abruptly here, we are hopeful for what might come next.

While Princess has been unlucky in ways sustaining this her third injury in less than two years, she also has been blessed in so many other ways.  Though hurt, every time she has stayed just enough out of harm’s way as if she were being saved for something greater.

John  tells us, “Princess was a lovely filly to train.  She has the best personality and we were looking forward to a great season with her. We will decide her future in the next few months. We hope most that she has a full recovery. Thanks to everyone for all your support. We are incredibly touched that you connect so much to her.”. Cathy adds, “She always held a special place in our hearts and when things got scary, we never doubted once that we did the right thing doing all we could for her. I remember naming her when she was a baby and how I couldn’t wait for The Jockey Club to approve it. It was one of my happiest moments having our picture taken together in the Winner’s Circle with Princess.”.

Cathy + Princess yesterday morning:

The next few months will be all about Princess’ rehabilitation and she will be remaining on the grounds at Woodbine for a while more. I intend to take full advantage of this and hope at some point we can give her fans (or as we call them her “priends”) a chance to say goodbye. While it still is very early to say, motherhood certainly is an option for her and we already quietly have received inquiries. It is shocking how quickly the word has spread, even though it shouldn’t have come as a surprise knowing how well loved she is. I for one am a huge fan of her being a broodmare prospect. With her sweet demeanour, beautiful conformation, competitive spirit and bloodlines which run deep in talent (including $1.1 million-earning champion Bear Now and $165k earner Classyshadesofgrey), we believe without a doubt that she is the perfect fit for the role of mom.

This all of course is dependent on Princess’ recovery and wellness and we will walk this path to healing together with her. Visiting her today, we feel good about her getting better soon. Her quality of life in this next phase is important equally to the great care she received when she was able to compete on the track.

Princess Diaries will still be coming and we look forward to sharing with you her journey ahead. How fittingly bittersweet is it that with all this talk of the Royal Wedding, our Princess too walks down the aisle to a new chapter in her life?

Please continue to follow our journey with her:

Twitter: @apicbymrwill
Instagram: @apicbymrwill
Facebook: /apicbymrwill

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Cathy Wong)

BACKSTREET‘S BACK, ALRIGHT! Our fave five are back and in celebration of their 25th anniversary they have a new single, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart! New sound, classic dance moves!

Check out the new Video!

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music Entertainment)

Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto a chance to attend an Advance Screening of ACTION POINT! Screening takes place Thursday, May 31, 2018.

Synopsis:
Everyone’s favorite daredevil Johnny Knoxville is back to his hilariously painful antics in the upcoming comedy ACTION POINT. Knoxville stars as D.C., the crackpot owner of a low-rent, out-of-control amusement park where the rides are designed with minimum safety for maximum fun. Just as D.C.’s estranged teenage daughter Boogie comes to visit, a corporate mega-park opens nearby and jeopardizes the future of Action Point. To save his beloved theme park and his relationship with his daughter, D.C. and his loony crew of misfits risk everything to pull out all the stops – and stunts – making for another wild ride from the star of BAD GRANDPA and JACKASS.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK.

Paramount Pictures Canada release ACTION POINT Friday, June 1, 2018.

Hashtag: #ActionPoint
Facebook: /ActionPointMovie
Twitter: @ActionPointMov
Instagram: @ActionPointMovie

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)