Michelle Obama is back but not in a way you’d think! WAFFLES & MOCHI take us into the curious culinary world of aspiring chefs! See this first look.

Synopsis:

Once upon a thyme, deep in The Land of Frozen Food, lived two best friends named Waffles and Mochi with one shared dream: to become chefs! The only problem? Everything they cooked was made of ice. When these two taste-buddies are suddenly hired as the freshest employees of a whimsical supermarket, they’re ready for the culinary adventure of a lifetime. With the help of friendly new faces like the supermarket owner, Mrs. Obama, and a magical flying shopping cart as their guide, Waffles and Mochi blast off on global ingredient missions, traveling to kitchens, restaurants, farms and homes all over the world, cooking up recipes with everyday ingredients alongside renowned chefs, home cooks, kids and celebrities. Whether they’re picking potatoes in the Andes of Peru, sampling spices in Italy, or making Miso in Japan, these curious explorers uncover the wonder of food and discover every meal is a chance to make new friends. Waffles + Mochi is an exciting invitation to get kids and grown-ups cooking together in the kitchen and connecting to cultures around the globe.

Trailer:

All ten episodes of WAFFLES & MOCHI arrives March 16, 2021 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

We’re in lockdown and there has been no shortage of new releases to occupy our time with. See some of the Films, Series and Movies that we think you might be interested in February!

THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY (HULU)

Lee Daniels (Precious) directs and produces this compelling Montreal-filmed Biopic about legendary Jazz vocalist Billie Holiday, based on the Novel  Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari.  The story follows the FBI, led by Harry Anslinger (Garrett Hedlund), and their pursuit of Holiday (Andra Day) on drug charges in their war against drugs. This was seen as an attack on Holiday in preventing her from performing live one of her signature songs “Strange Fruit” which talks to the Black community being lynched, reflecting the American government in a poor light. The Film makes no mistake about its portrayal of Holiday and her demons, tracing back to her childhood where she was forced into prostitution, to her many failed relationships and also her dependency on drugs. Daniels offers us the sympathy that Holiday got posthumously and the Film’s greatest treat is Day who embodies Holiday‘s spirit whether she is singing or taking us down her troubled path. Trevante Rhodes (Moonlight) plays Jimmy Fletcher, America’s first black federal agent tasked with investigating Holiday, but also falling for her and her him. While the Film could have been told a bit more concisely exploring failed romances, ultimately its examination of the Black community being targeted unjustly by the justice system is where it leads us to and sadly something happening in the ’40s still rings true today. THE UNITED STATES vs. BILLIE HOLIDAY arrives on Hulu February 26, 2021 and it is no coincidence it was scheduled around Awards Season.

SOME KIND OF HEAVEN (MK2 | MILE END)

Lance Oppenheim debuted this first Feature at Sundance 2020 to acclaim and if Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) signing-on to produce this Documentary is any indication, he’s headed to bright places – pardon the pun. This Film is set in a sunny Florida retirement community called The Villages, dubbed a “Disneyland for Retirees”, or as one of its subjects calls it, “a waiting room to heaven”. The community is constructed to help remind its residents of a happier time in their lives and most of them appear happy on the surface, we do meet a few subjects in the Film who take us a layer deeper. We meet a couple dealing with the husband’s drug use, which lands him in legal trouble; and a widow looking for romance; and a man looking for a wealthy older women to take care of him. Oppenheim despite being a young, emerging Filmmaker is able to get his subjects to trust him and open-up a very personal level about some harsher realities these seniors are living through. Perhaps this shiny, happy community isn’t necessarily the nirvana it’s painted out to be. This is a fascinating meditation about life and love at a stage which often isn’t explored in Film. MK2 | MILE END release SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Friday, February 12, 2021 in theatres and on virtual cinema.

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE UK SEASON 2 (CRAVE)

Okay, while we admit we’re a bit spoiled by the production values and next-level costumes on the American version of this Series, the UK is now onto Season 2 of the fan favourite Series, calling BBC its home on the other side of the Atlantic. And to be honest, we are enjoying this spinoff! Among the challenges this season the Queens are tasked with, is a mock Musical called RATS – imagine a rodent-filled version of CATS – and while there is a bit of cattiness to be found among the contestants, they admittedly are a little less argumentative on this version of the Series. These Queens are quirky and campy and love some of the Celebrity Guest Judges they’ve brought on this season including Elizabeth Hurley and Graham Norton! New episodes arrives Thursday on Crave.

SELENA + CHEF SEASON 2 (CRAVE)

We initially were on the fence about this Series. I mean what could Selena Gomez teach us about cooking? But after giving this a chance, we actually loved it. Each week we follow this global Pop superstar as she learns under some of America’s top chefs. All this is recorded from her home and during the Pandemic. We share more of our thoughts on this Series here. New episodes arrive Thursdays on Crave with the HBO add-on.

FIREFLY LANE (NETFLIX)

Initially when I saw the Trailer for this I expected it maybe to be a bit safe, but this Vancouver-filmed Series starring Katherine Heigl as TV Personality Tully Hart and Sarah Chalke as Kate Mularkey, her best friend is actually great and has a bit of grit to it. Tully is the pretty, successful one who has no problem getting male attention, while Kate is recently-separated and looking to get back into the work force. Lacking confidence, Tully helps Kate land a job at work but as the Series progresses, we learn about their past through younger versions of themselves, played well by Ali Skovby (Tully) and Roan Curtis (Kate) . Tully, though she appears to have everything, has a lot of underlying sadness and is holding some deep secrets. And gradually, we see Kate come out of her shell after heartbreak, while dealing with some challenges with her teen daughter. Love the nostalgic throwback Soundtrack and references to the ’80s, which adds to the mood. This is one-part BFF Comedy, one-part Drama (complete with love triangle) about how we are shaped by our pasts. FIREFLY LANE arrives on Netflix Wednesday, February 3, 2021.

THE DIG (NETFLIX)

Simon Stone (The Daughter) directs this Drama which takes place at the onset of World War II. Edith Perry (Carey Mulligan) is a widow who hires Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to excavate large burial mounds on her property. Much to Basil‘s surprise, he finds what is a ship of national importance. Catching wind of this, an Archaeologist from Cambridge, Charles Phillips (Ken Stott) takes over the dig by order of the government, leaving Edith in a battle to maintain her rights to decide the fate of the find since it is on her property. Her fears are that the find will be placed in the British Museum and with an impending war, it could fall into wrongful hands. While grappling with her declining health, Edith must ensure that Basil gets due credit for his discovery and that the treasure is given its due honour. Stone does a wonderful job drawing us into this story, a slow-burning but engaging look at the process and people involved in preserving and protecting what is now known as the most impressive medieval grave to be discovered in Europe. Carey is superb whether it be asserting Edith or as a mother protecting her son from hurt as she faces her own mortality, and Fiennes is easy to root of in his humble display of Basil. THE DIG streams now on Netflix.

FINDING ‘OHANA (NETFLIX)

Jude Weng makes her Feature directorial debut here and gets beautiful Hawaii to work with as a backdrop in telling this story of two siblings, Pili (Kea Peahu) and Ioane (Alex Aiono), brought from New York City to Oahu by their mother (Kelly Hu) to take care of their grandfather (Branscombe Richmond) who faces the risk of losing the home he built. While the kids resent being there, it isn’t long before they find things to love. Ioane falls for a local girl in Hana (Lindsay Watson), while Pili finds a journal which eludes to there being a valuable treasure hidden within the island’s dangerous caves. Buddy Casper (Owen Vaccaro) joins them on this adventure where they learn themselves just how beautiful Hawaii and its culture are, but most of all, Pili and Ioane learn the importance of family after having felt distant from their mother in their time in New York as she struggles to make ends meet. While the Film veers more to a younger audience, adults might find a bit of nostalgia as the Film feels a bit like a reimagination of The Goonies, further solidified by an appearance from Ke Huy Quan who starred in that classic. FINDING ‘OHANA streams now on Netflix.

WENDY WILLIAMS: THE MOVIE (LIFETIME)

TV and Radio Personality Wendy Williams has built a brand as an outspoken girl next door and Lifetime movie WENDY WILLIAMS: THE MOVIE documents her rise, struggles and betrayals. Darren Grant (Empire, Soundtrack) directs this chaotic recounting of some of the much-publicized drama Williams has gone through. The Movie doesn’t shy from matters like ex-husband Kevin Hunter (Morocco Omari) secretly having an affair and child with another woman; her battle with drug addiction; that time she collapsed live on air dressed as the Statue of Liberty; and also her difficulty conceiving a child. This is meant to illustrate Williams as someone strong, who has overcome adversity, but the chaotic energy that dominates the Film somehow detracts from this even despite star Ciera Payton‘s best efforts to channel Williams authentically. We were hoping for something that gave us more of Williams’ vulnerability and just how exactly she overcame adversity, but unfortunately we never quite get this as this Movie, which is executive produced by Williams, is more concerned with showing than telling. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t entertaining though! WENDY WILLIAMS: THE MOVIE airs on Lifetime. Check here for showtimes.

FLACK (AMAZON PRIME VIDEO)

While the UK already has known about this Series, we’re just getting around to discovering the juiciness that is FLACK. The idea is original in this Anna Paquin-produced series, which also has her int he starring role as Robyn, an American Publicist who relocated to London. We are a part of her world which never has a dull moment as she navigates her famous clients’ lives, cleaning-up their sometimes catastrophic messes. We also meet those around her, including her no-nonsense boss Caroline (the brilliant Sophie Okonedo), her icy best friend and co-worker Eve (Lydia Wilson) and an intern Melody (Rebecca Benson). The Series also explores her relationship with her sister Ruth (Genevieve Anderson) as they both grieve the loss of their mother. Robyn also is dealing with her own vices and we see her power over others and also some of the destruction she causes, all while professionally helping others maintain their images. At only six episodes, we only wish there were more for us to savour. There isn’t one weak link in this Cast, some phenomenal performances take these shocking storylines and make them believable and enthralling. Season One of FLACK is available now on Amazon Prime Video.

I’M YOUR WOMAN (Amazon Prime Video)

Julia Hart co-writers and directs this fantastic flick produced by and starring Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). The ’70s-set story centers on Jean (Brosnahan), a young woman who suddenly becomes a mother and is whisked away from the life she knows, to be on the run after her husband Eddie (Bill Heck) betrays his partners-in-crime. A mysterious man named Cal (Arinzé Kene) takes her away but we realize that those in search of her husband, also are in pursuit of her. Much of the Film’s first two acts are suspenseful and engrossing, with the final act taking a different turn as some long-burning questions are uncovered and Jean begins to find her own voice. Clocking-in at over two hours, I’M YOUR WOMAN takes us on a dangerous and dark ride and we’re glad we were aboard. Brosnahan as always is superb and luckily we can enjoy this at home at Amazon Prime Video now!

FRAMING BRITNEY SPEARS (Hulu/FX)

This Documentary answers at long last why Britney Spears still is stuck in a Conservatorship with her father Jamie controlling her finances still, despite being long over her meltdown. The New York Times explore in great detail the lead-up to Spears‘ need to have her father take control over her affairs, tracing the beginning of her celebrity up to her troubled past where she almost lost it all. She has been very cryptic on the matter with puzzling Social Media posts which read like a cry for help. In spite of this, we see her informed fans step-up with the #FreeBritney movement, demanding the Pop icon be able to decide her own fate, turning her finances over to Bessemer Trust according to Spears‘ wishes. And she refuses to work rightfully until the matter is resolved. The Film by Samantha Stark interviews subjects who were close to her and those who adore her, piecing together possibly how Spears might feel despite her not formally being involved with the project. This is a must-watch for fans of Spears and Pop Culture, giving us a layer of depth in a matter which has been trivialized far too often.

Some of our recent reviews including THE LITTLE THINGS, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, PALMER, JIU JITSU, PENGUIN BLOOM, MALCOLM & MARIE, THE WHITE TIGER, WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS and more here.

Coming later this month on Netflix is the highly-intriguing CRIME SCENE: THE VANISHING AT THE CECIL HOTEL which explores the Los Angeles Hotel’s history of horror, including the death of a Vancouver woman. We’re shaking.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix/Hulu/Crave)

I had my reservations about this, but actually found it very enjoyable. SELENA + CHEF debuted August 2020 on HBO Max (and on Crave in Canada with the HBO add-on), the Series taking the highly-likable Selena Gomez on a new journey each episode as she gets mentored by a top chef virtually.

While we didn’t expect a second season this soon, it’s already here before us and though we’re waiting on some of the heavier hitters to begin production again amidst this Pandemic, this serves as lighthearted educational fun in the meantime.

International superstar Gomez‘s cooking knowledge self-admittedly isn’t very advanced and that’s fine as she often asks honest questions and shows her limitations, which get corrected on-screen, i.e. her chopping skills are anxiety-inducing at times. There’s something to take away here every episode no matter if you’re a novice or a pro in the kitchen as these celebrity Chefs open-up and give us some real pro tips. Not every creation lands like it should, but we learn how to do it better next time and that’s a refreshing way to present cooking.

See a Highlight Reel of her knifing skills. You’ll see!

At the end of each episode, Gomez ties-in each episode with a charitable donation on her part to a charity of the Chef’s choice and sometimes genuinely is overcome with emotion hearing why the charity is important. An example of this is Chefs Jon & Vinny supporting the NAACP, an organization which is doing work that is relevant especially in a post-#BlackLivesMatter landscape. This any many other genuine moments where Gomez is being her authentic self.

The Series is filled with many little joys and unscripted surprises. We get to make Tacos with Roy Choi and Taylor Swift appears on the phone! OMG. Some Asparagus literally catches on fire in the oven. Terrifying. One Chef, Angelo Sosa insists she mix white chocolate into her Guacamole. “This isn’t my vibe”, she apologizes and she is honest she didn’t like it. Good for her.

Part of what makes the dynamic fun is that Gomez is quarantining with her maternal grandparents, her grandpa or “Papa” as she calls him, is unrelentingly tough on her. Her best friends Liz and Raquelle also are rooming with her and are her Taste Testers and ad-hoc Sous Chefs, who sometimes make matters worse, but it’s all in good fun!

A diverse array of upcoming guests on Season 2 of the Series include Curtis Stone, Kelis (yes, “Milkshake” Kelis!) and more.

See the Trailer below:

We’re actually excited to continue with this and definitely have time in our day for this. New episodes to arrive weekly on Thursday.

(Photo/video credit: HBO Max)

One of our favourite things to do over the Holidays is watch Food Network’s various marathons and in addition to those, they have several exciting new programs coming at us! Buddy Valastro is back in BUDDY VS. CHRISTMAS and Kristin Chenoweth hosts CANDY LAND! See some of their exciting options lined-up including premiere dates for these and returning favourites HOLIDAY WARS, HOLIDAY BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP and more!

Holiday Wars, Season 2 (6x60min)
Canadian Broadcast Premiere
Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT

It’s time for a brand-new holiday season competition packed with tons of Christmas cheer! Hosted by Raven-Symoné, five teams of cake masters and sugar artists face off in four jolly battles, creating mind-blowing, fantastical holiday displays that are as festive as they are delicious. In the Snowball Fight challenge, the competitors must use cake and sugar to create an edible holiday design in just 45 minutes. One winning team wins an advantage for the Winter Blizzard challenge, where they have to craft an eye-popping Christmas display made up entirely of cake and sugar. One team is eliminated after each battle, and in the end, one team will jingle all the way home with a $25,000 grand prize.

Holiday Baking Championship, Season 7 (2x120min & 6x60min)

Canadian Broadcast Premiere
Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT

The search to find the greatest holiday baker begins as eight amateur bakers enter the kitchen, where they show off their family traditions and superb baking skills. To survive the challenges from week to week, they must prove their abilities in front of the tough-love judges: Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller and Lorraine Pascale. Hosted by Jesse Palmer, this baking championship is the sweetest way to celebrate this holiday season.

Kids Baking Championship: Season’s Sweetings (1x60min)
Canadian Broadcast Premiere
Sunday, November 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Four beloved kid bakers are back and must think on their feet, as Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman challenge them to create holiday gingerbread houses with a cake twist. Their skills are tested with a surprising curveball of making reindeer treats as well. One winner will rise to the top to take home a baker’s dream prize package of top-of-the-line baking equipment worth over $10,000.

Christmas Cookie Challenge, Season 4 (6x60min)

Canadian Broadcast Premiere
Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning November 15

Holiday cookies are more than mere sweets — they are gifts, mementos of childhood, and most certainly made with pride. In Christmas Cookie Challenge, five confident and daring bakers compete to prove their holiday cookie-making skills. Tough-love judges are on hand to crown the holiday cookie master, who will go home with a $10,000 prize!

Candy Land (1x120min & 5x60min)
Canadian Broadcast Premiere

Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning November 17

On the sweetest new competition series, Candy Land, host Kristin Chenoweth guides five teams of professional cake and sugar artists through fantastical challenges to create heavenly confectionary showpieces based on the iconic Hasbro game. Each of the six episodes feature the players stepping into one of the eye-popping life-size lands, from Peppermint Forest and Gumdrop Mountains, to Chocolate Mountain and Lollipop Woods, to forage for flavors and unique ingredients to use for their masterpiece designs. Judges Nacho Aguirre and Aarti Sequeira determine which teams advance down the board, and the first to make it to King Kandy’s Castle wins the game and earns the grand prize of $25,000.

Buddy vs. Christmas (4x60min)
Canadian Broadcast Premiere
Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning November 23

Buddy Valastro goes head-to-head with the greatest non-cake artists in the new elaborate Christmas-themed competition series, Buddy vs. Christmas. Buddy’s skills will be tested as he goes up against an award-winning scenic designer, a glassblower, an animatronics expert and more. The one that conquers Christmas with their design will be crowned winner by cartoonist and comedian Jason Chatfield and lifestyle blogger Courtney Quin.

DAYTIME PROGRAMMING
Some of Food Network most recognizable faces share holiday-themed instructional programming from series including Giada’s Holiday Handbook, Guy’s Ranch Kitchen, The Kitchen, The Pioneer Woman, and Valerie’s Home Cooking.

RETURNING HOLIDAY SPECIALS
In addition to the new programming, Food Network Canada’s schedule is jam-packed with holiday-themed episodes and specials from fan-favourite series including Chopped, Chopped: Sweets, Chopped Juniors, Guy’s Grocery Games, The Big Bake: Holiday, The Great Food Truck Race, and more.

HOLIDAY MARATHONS
Beginning December 7, marathons of fan-favourite holiday series and specials air every day from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Viewers can also cozy up on the couch and enjoy marathons of Christmas Cookie Challenge, Gingerbread Giants, Holiday Baking Championship, Holiday Gingerbread Showdown, Holiday Wars, Santa’s Baking Blizzard, The Big Bake: Holiday, and more.

(Photo credit: Food Network Canada)

It’s that time of the year again! We admit TIFF ’20 couldn’t gave come any sooner as it is the highlight of our year every year. While our expectations have been managed of a reduced Festival in light of our current climate, we still plan to celebrate the best Film Festival in the world however we can. We understand the star power won’t be here in the City like previous years, but we are still excited to deliver you content just as you were there with us at the Festival! We’ve got our Films picked-out and look forward to bringing you highlights from some star-studded In-Conversations with the likes of Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Saoirse Ronan and more, plus daily reviews of the Festival’s most-buzzed titles! Team Mr. Will are thrilled to deliver you our best coverage just like we do every year, even if on a different scale!

We spoke to The Toronto Sun‘s Jane Stevenson about how this year’s set-up impacts our plans here.

First are foremost we’d like to thank our partners, returning and new this year.

H&M CANADA – H&M still remains our favourite fashion go-to year after year and while there are a limited number of physical events to attend this year, we’re still honoured to showcase pieces from their Fall/Winter 2020 Collection! With the seasons changing, H&M wants to help you build your best and coziest Fall wardrobe. With all H&M stores officially reopened across Canada, they have great, fashionable Fall items and amazing deals happening both online and in store. We’re thrilled to rock a couple new pieces from their Fall/Winter 2020 Collection at some TIFF ’20 in-person events.

CHATIME CANADA – We are obsessed with Chatime and are delighted again this year to give our Readers and Followers a chance to win some gift vouchers. Others try, but Chatime has proven time and again to be the best Bubble Tea available and we’re thrilled they’re branching-out to several new areas for you to see what the crazy is all about! We live a walk away from a location but often just Uber Eats it in as nothing’s better than bypassing the wait! My recommendations are their Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea, Wintermelon Iced Tea or Iced Grapefruit Black Tea! Be sure to try their brand-new Tea of the Month, the Brown Rice Green Tea with Fresh Milk and also their 1 litre Super Cups Also right in-time for Mid-Autumn Festival, you also can find limited edition Mooncakes in select stores by Bake Code!

NTD APPAREL INC. – We understand safety should always come at the expense of fun and style. NTD Apparel Inc.’s official licensed merchandise are available at several retailers like Winners, Walmart, Canadian Tire and more! We offered you a chance to win some JAWS and BACK TO THE FUTURE face coverings in July and those were a huge hit!

SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT – One of our favourite purveyor of cinematic hits has in recent months brought us our favourites on Home Entertainment including Bad Boys For Life, Little Women, A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, Bloodshot and more!

ACURA CANADA – As TIFF this year while largely is digital, it will include a Drive-In component, more than ever do we need an amazing ride for the task. We’ll be arriving in style TIFF ’20 in the 2020 ACURA ILX TECH A-SPEC! We’ve already got a few Premieres on our schedule that we’ll enjoy in the ILX and we can’t wait to take you along with us for the ride!

NINJA KITCHEN CANADA – One of the joys of our pandemic has been sharpening our culinary skills and we were excited to launch a Cooking section on our website and the feedback has been amazing! Never did we realize before how much the Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer would elevate and simplify our cooking experience. We’ve made everything from Roast Chicken to Doughnuts to Steak and it is a joy to know we can have our favourite Sweet Potato Fries whenever we want now! Being home at TIFF this year more than ever for screenings, we appreciate the value of good food at home while we’re screening the Festival’s hottest titles.

STARBUCKS CANADA – Starbucks was a part of my daily life before the pandemic and it broke my heart that being home meant I couldn’t have my Starbucks every day. We’re so happy their stores are open again full-service and right in time for Pumpkin Spice Latte season – our favourite thing to have every TIFF, iced or hot! And don’t forget to try their brand-new Apple Oat Flat White. The ever-popular Oat Beverage is now available as a dairy alternative!

HAPPY HAND SANITIZER – More than ever before do we depend on staying safe with some sanitizer. Available at retailers like Well.ca and Whole Foods, Happy Hand Sanitizer sprays on easy, moisturizes, dries quick and is unscented. Best of all, it isn’t goopy like many others on the market. It also is safe for continued daily use at 80% alcohol and available in 2 and 8 oz. bottles. We don’t go anywhere without it! And best of all, it’s Canadian-made!

More excitingly, we’re thrilled to give our lucky Readers a chance to enjoy some of the products our partners offer! One lucky Readers will win our MR. WILL’S TIFF SURVIVAL PRIZE PACK which is an annual highlight. This year, the prize is more thrilling than ever!

The Prize Pack includes:

1 Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer, 3.8L (value $189 CAN)
4 Chatime Canada Gift Drink Vouchers with official Chatime Reusable Straws (value $60 CAN)
$25 Starbucks Canada Gift Card (value $25 CAN)
1 H&M Canada VIP Discount Card, good for 25% off
1 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada Blu-ray™  Set including: Bad Boys For Life, Little Women, A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Bloodshot! (value $125)
NTD Apparel Inc. official licensed BACK TO THE FUTURE and JAWS Face Coverings (value $25)
2 2 oz. bottles of HAPPY Hand Sanitizer (value $15)

A total value of at least $500 CAN! If the drawn winner is from the Great Toronto Area, I will hand-deliver the package to you during TIFF ’20.

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. You can Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw or tag two friends on this Post on our Instagram for an extra chance! You must be following and we will be verifying!

Even if you don’t win the Prize Pack, we’ve got some goodies to give away on our Social Media throughout the Fest!

MRWILL on Twitter

MR. WILL on Instagram

DAVE BALDWIN on Twitter

AMANDA GILMORE on Twitter

Bookmark this link here and check back often for our rolling TIFF ’20 coverage.

#TIFF20 runs September 10-20, 2020.

Happy TIFF, everyone!

Team Mr. Will

UNSOLVED MYSTERIES (NETFLIX)

Mustering-up the courage to watch this took a lot out of us. This Series mortified us growing-up in the ’90s and made it difficult for this pre-teen to go to sleep on a regular basis, yet still we watched. Netflix just released season 15 of this Series which tackles cold cases and unexplained phenomenons. The theme song and title graphic have been updated by still make us shiver. The round we get six episodes examining everything from a man whose body was found in Baltimore’s Belvedere Hotel; a woman who disappeared from her hair salon with her remains found later leaving her son with several questions and no closure; the search for a man suspected to have killed his family in France; a black man who went missing after attending a party with friends; various towns one night in September 1969 which encountered what is believed to be an UFO; and sisters seeking justice for their missing sister- the suspect being their mom. I am shaking just re-thinking about these. There literally are footprint marks on my bedroom floor for all the feet sweats! We need a mental break. but want more.

CRAZY DELICIOUS (NETFLIX)

We love our cooking and baking competitions and British series CRAZY DELICIOUS is no exception. Each episode, three contestants square-off and are given ingredient and theme challenges and must impress a panel of three high-profile “Food Gods” including Carla Hall, Heston Blumenthal and Niklas Ekstedt. Host Jayde Adams provides tons of puns and quirk. We love the colours and innovation as the show gets its contestants to amp-up the creativity in a serious time crunch. Some thrive, some flop and at six episodes, this was an easy zip-through. I wanted to eat everything.

ATHLETE A (NETFLIX)

Co-Directors Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk take us deep into the world of American Gymnastics where a bombshell was dropped when it was uncovered that Doctor Larry Nassar had abused several young female gymnasts. But prior to being sentenced to 175 years in prison, how did he manage to get away with this for so many years? Documentary ATHLETE A uncovers the web of deception and how the USA Gymnastics Team continued to receive several reports, burying them for several years. Finally, Rachael Denhollander, now a lawyer and a former gymnast ignited the spark that became a blaze as the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar, bringing these victims to justice. We see Nassar‘s world unfold in detail and we get some exclusive content and footage including an interrogation where he visibly is uncomfortable when questioned about his examination practices. Like Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, the Film is focused on the victims and their healing but this goes a layer deeper in understanding of the perpetrator in addition to the victims. Riveting.

HOMEMADE (NETFLIX)

This is a collection of 17 short films, produced by Pablo Larrain (Jackie) set during the COVID-19 Pandemic, ranging between 4 to 11 minutes in length ranging from comedic to dramatic, some autobiographical even. Netflix has arranged the Films in episodes which so you can pick and choose which you wanted to view. Some standouts include:

RuPAUL’S DRAG RACE SEASON 11 (NETFLIX)

Confession – I honestly haven’t tuned into RuPaul’s Drag Race since its first two seasons. It isn’t that I didn’t love it, because I did. Life got busy and there were so many other things to watch. Amidst this period of isolation, I decided to catch-up again and that proved a great decision! We meet 14 Queens here, one returning from last season after a premature elimination. And we also have Canadian representation with former Toronto star Brooke Lynn Hytes making us proud, capitalizing off her experience as a ballet dancer to wow the judges. Celebrity judges include Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevingne, Kandi Burruss, Tony Hale, Joel McHale, Clea DuVall, Katherine Langford, Gina Rodriguez and several more. As desired, things get super-heated among this diverse group of Queens but it is a wonder seeing how far along this Series has advanced in complexity and what we get is a dazzling production with some nailbiter challenges including a drag magic show and a Grease-inspired parody musical. This, in addition to some nerve-wrecking Lip Sync For Your Life and runway challenges. A little wonder how this Series has taken home a whopping NINE Emmys. We need a just-concluded Season 12 on Netflix, in addition to recently-launched Canada’s Drag Race, which is available on Crave in Canada.

CANADA’S DRAG RACE (CRAVE)

Toronto is known as a hot bed for drag talent and this spinoff of RuPaul’s Drag Race gives 12 Canadian Queens a chance to compete for a $100k prize and a year of stays at The Hilton! Brooke Lynn Hytes made a huge splash on season 11 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and gets a heroine’s welcome home as one of three judges, alongside supermodel Stacey Mackenzie and actor Jeffrey Bower Chapman. Each week, a new celebrity guest judge appears starting with the likes of Elisha Cuthbert (24, Happy Endings) and Jade Hassouné (Shadowhunters). A new episode arrives every Thursday on Crave, with the Series premiering this past Thursday to raves. Canada’s Queens certainly have a quirkiness to them, as evinced by a Rocky Mountains photo challenge which saw them tasked with looking their fiercest when the wind machine suddenly went full blizzard mode on them! There’s certainly already quite a bit of sass to be seen already and we can’t wait to see the drama develop.

WE’RE HERE (CRAVE/HBO)

You’d be hard-pressed to find anything more heart-felt, entertaining and educational in six episodes right now on Television. Yes, we had to purchase the HBO add-on to our Crave subscription to see this but it was well-worth the price. WE’RE HERE follows three of America’s top Drag Queens: Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara and Shangela as they venture to the most obscure towns in America to deliver a message of self-love. We meet a wide array of subjects from people grieving a loss, to people who identify as heterosexual to spread a message of inclusion, to individuals who are non-binary and seek drag as an act of expression to help realize their true selves.

Imagine RuPaul’s Drag Race and Queer Eye as a mash-up in a Documentary format. The Series digs deep and we really see our subjects go on a journey of growth, dealing with things that have halted their lives and most of all, it so much fun seeing the big reveals at the end of each episode. It is eye-opening the barriers that these Queens faced in these places which face an uphill battle in acceptance. The Series culminates in us getting to know each of the Drag Queens and their own emotional journeys from obscurity to fame. WE’RE HERE tugs on all the right emotional strings and gave us all the feels. You will not regret seeing this.

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN (CRAVE/HBO)

So sad we missed our chance to see this in theatres last fall, but so happy we got to finally enjoy it on Crave via the HBO add-on. Based on Garth Stein‘s Novel, this Story of the unbreakable bond between an owner and their pet hits all the marks emotionally. While oversimplified in parts including a legal battle, what this Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn) Tearjerker does well is its empathetic view of the world it gives us from our central canine Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner) and also his unconditional love for race car driver owner, Denny (Milo Ventimiglia). While this doesn’t really tread any new territory, it gives its audience exactly what it knows it is going to get. This is a must-see for anyone who’s ever loved their dog more than anything and it literally will have you crying so hard, you’ll be gasping for air. You have been warned.

THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB (NETFLIX)

Based on Ann M. Martin’s popular Children’s Novels, this ten-episode Series sure is to be a hit with the younger crowd this Summer. Make no mistake though there are lessons to be learned by kids, young and old here. We follow seventh-graders Kristy (Sophia Grace), Stacey (Shay Rudolph), Claudia (Momona Tamada) and Mary Anne (Malia Baker), who band together to create a club of Baby-Sitters to earn some money. Along the way, they learn about some of the battles they and those close to them each are facing in their own lives. Purely wholesome, these dramas seem real to these young ladies who are dealing with things for the first time. For example, Stacey is a Type-1 Diabetic; Claudia is trying to understand her grandmother’s past having witnessed what it was like to be at an internment camp and also trying to find her artistic self; Mary Anne is learning to assert herself, not knowing how to say “no”. This and several more complex story lines such as living with a single parent or seeing your parent re-marry or date. And the Series even stars Alicia Silverstone as Kristy‘s mother. We love that the stories have been modernized for kids of today but still there are important and healthy perspectives which we all can learn from. We have a feeling there will be more seasons ahead.

DESPERADOS (NETFLIX)

This Comedy centers on Wesley (Nasim Pedrad) and her two BFFs Brooke (Anna Camp) and Kaylie (Sarah Burns) who jet off to Mexico to save the former from sabotaging a blossoming relationship with Jared (Robbie Amell). Wesley‘s biological clock is ticking and she’s running out of patience. Jared is a hunk who has it all and could be the one. That is until he “ghosts” Wesley, triggering her to send an angry series of messages confronting him – only to realize he was hospitalized! In a manic frenzy, Wesley and her friends try to break into his hotel room and delete the series of angry emails. The trip to Mexico however proves life-changing as each of the ladies come to different realizations about what they truly want in life. Enter to the picture Sean (Lamorne Morris), who keeps surfacing and despite having had a rocky start with Wesley, we wonder if she might’ve overlooked him. This Comedy by Ellen Rapoport starts-off actually quite funny with SNL alumni Pedrad shining in her many gags, but when things get a little more serious and she’s forced to face her demons and the BFFs get separated in the second-half, it somehow fizzles and feels a bit long at just under two hours.

MUCHO MUCHO AMOR: THE LEGEND OF WALTER MERCADO (NETFLIX)

Puerto Rican Astrologer Walter Mercado gained fame internationally in the ’70s with his larger-than-life persona and flamboyant fashion, but then suddenly disappeared after having been a very regular part of his fans’ lives. This Documentary by Cristina Constantini and Kareem Tabsch explains his rise to stardom and also the reason why he went away, but more importantly, we witness his comeback after a legal battle after signing-away past, present and future rights to his own name. This is a fascinating portrait of an icon, unafraid to ask questions about this mysterious figure including his romantic life. Hamilton mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda even appears in the Documentary as a teary-eyed adoring fan. The only thing tragic about this is that the subject likely never got to see this lovely tribute to him before passing away last year, though it lets his colourful legacy live on.

For our Review of HAMILTON, click here.

For our Review of EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA, click here.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

The streaming options are limitless right now during this isolation period and our Team gather together some Series and Films that might be on your radar this month!

DEFENDING JACOB (APPLE TV+)

Based on William Landay‘s best-selling Novel of the same name, this eight-part Series stars Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery and Jaeden Martell as a family navigating the son being accused of a deadly crime.  The suspenseful Series throws in a few twists where we realize very early the outcome, but the story doesn’t end there as it goes a layer deeper and we learn about Andy (Evans), a successful lawyer navigating being a father to his son Jacob (Martell) and seeking justice for him, yet having to step aside from the situation based on conflict of interest. We learn that Andy has been covering a deep, dark secret about his family which is key to how the story unfolds.  Evans shows us his true dramatic chops, while Downton Abbey‘s Dockery also transforms into a suburban housewife/mother who increasingly grows doubtful of her son’s innocence. Martell, who we loved in It, Knives Out and St. Vincent continues to show why he’s among this next generation’s top young talent. All episodes are available now to stream on Apple TV+.

JUDY AND PUNCH (A71)
Set in Seaside, which humourously is nowhere near the sea, this Australian Black Comedy centers on a couple, Judy (Mia Wasikowska) and Punch (Damon Herriman), a pair of Puppeteers with a popular show. Taking place in an era of Paganism, where justice is sought through hanging and stoning, we see Judy frustrated by her husband’s drinking which leads to catastrophe and domestic violence.  Just when we think Judy is dead, she isn’t and she bands with a group of misfits who help her find herself as she exacts revenge on her husband who manufactures a story about her disappearance, struggling to maintain his puppet act on his own. This Film, which got raves at Sundance last year, is the directorial debut by Actress and Writer Mirrah Foulkes, carried by a post-Me Too energy and fantastic performances from its two leads. Wasikowska emerges from the background as the Film progresses breathing a vulnerable courage into Judy, while Herriman who has played Charles Manson in both Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and Mindhunter, brings a similar type of manic energy to Punch.  Worth a watch if revenge stories are your thing.  Available June 5, 2020 on Digital and On-Demand.

JEFFREY EPSTEIN: FILTHY RICH (NETFLIX)

This four-part Netflix series is based on the Book of the same name by James Patterson. Co-written by John Connolly and Tim Malloy, it gives us candid interviews with victims of the convicted sex offender, also exposing some of his high-profile and highly-guarded circle of friends who victimized these young, often under-aged women. Certainly a difficult watch and often enraging how successful Epstein and his legal team were for several years dodging conviction and receiving pardon.  Being so secretive and cryptic, we never get a clear picture as to the Whys behind Epstein‘s action, although we commend this being largely about what this opportunity means to his many victims who never really had their justice or chance to be heard with him ending his life.

HONEY BOY (AMAZON PRIME)

Winning much Awards Season acclaim and a premiere at TIFF ’19, this Dramedy based on Shia LaBeouf’s life growing-up as a child actor with his alcoholic, sex offender father, played by himself. Noah Jupe (Mid-90s) plays a younger LaBeouf, as this story which doubles as therapy for LaBeouf who still maintains a close relationship with his father.  Honey Boy explores the peculiar dynamic when a child is the breadwinner in the family and the power struggle between parent and child, set in a $40-a-night motel room where they live. A difficult watch at times, we gain insight and some empathy for this troubled, often misunderstood star who also wrote the Film, directed by Alma Har’el. This has been on Amazon Prime for a bit, but definitely worth a watch for their phenomenal work by the Film’s two leads.

FLAVORFUL ORIGINS (NETFLIX)
This gorgeously-shot treasure is a quick watch and we easily zipped through this. Those who love to learn about other cuisine and cultures should definitely check this out. Season One draws you right in as we visit the Chaoshan region of Guangdong, China. Each episode we learn about native ingredients which define the region’s tastes and learn about the processes behind making dishes like Raw Crab, Fish Sauce, Master Sauce, Fish and Meat Balls, plus so much more. Highly-educational, giving you insight into the science behind foods also. Something to wind down to at the of the day. Both seasons are on Netflix.

BLOCKERS (NETFLIX)

This 2018 coming-of-age Comedy finally surfaces on Netflix and the timing is perfect with many of our grads missing out on their Proms this year, being at home. Directed by Kay Cannon, BLOCKERS centers on three girls about to graduate high school, making a sex pact together to each lose their virginities.  Their parents get involved after learning of this and try to intercept this from happening. We see their adventure unfold as the parents try to find out where they each are headed to after Prom. Fantastic performances by our three teen leads Kathryn Newton (Julie), TIFF International Rising Star Geraldine Viswanathan (Kayla) and Gideon Adlon (Sam), and our three adult leads John Cena (Mitchell), Leslie Mann (Lisa) and Ike Barinholtz (Hunter).  The jokes are relentless as the fumbling parents desperately try to go undercover and understand the lingo, but ultimately the Film is heartfelt and about each of the girls finding themselves. Blockers is so much more than a raunchy Comedy.

LAST MOMENT OF CLARITY (VVS FILMS)
By Justin Waldman

First-time Writer/Director Duo Colin and James Krisel come together to bring Last Moment of Clarity to our viewing pleasure. While there are strong performances from the Cast, the familiarity of plot points and themes, along with a truly head scratching turn leaves the audience slightly dumbfounded. Sometimes the best mysteries would be the ones that are left unturned or without the resolution desired by the protagonist, however then one would always be chasing that final answer.

The Movie focuses on Sam (Zach Avery), who is living in Paris, goes to a local cinema and sees his assumed dead partner, Georgia (Samara Weaving) as an actress in the Film and this causes him to question the world he left behind, and, if Georgia is actually dead. Upon launching his own private eye investigation, he runs into old acquaintance Kat (Carly Chaikin) as she tries to help him uncover the mystery.

What makes Last Moment of Clarity work well are the performances by Avery, Weaving and  Chaikin. Avery is determined to find out if the woman he assumed was dead, is actually alive and stops at nothing from uncovering the truth, Samara’s performance is grounded and incredibly-focused, and Carly’s desire to reconnect and help her old friend is precise and heartwarming. The action that flows in the Movie while keeping you locked in suspense, including up to the last frame of the Movie, keeps you captivated, but the big plot twist, later explained by a Hitchcockian means, is a bit far-fetched. VVS Films release LAST MOMENT OF CLARITY on-demand June 5, 2020, and DVD/Blu-ray June 30, 2020.

ABE (MK2 | MILE END)

We didn’t expect much from coming-of-age Dramedy ABE, but it was a pleasant surprise.  The Film centers on a 12-year-old boy (Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp) with a love of cooking, who must reconcile the conflicted feelings brought upon his grandparents. One side of his family is Palestinian, the other side Israeli and this is a recipe for disaster as family dinners often end in both sides not seeing eye-to-eye when it comes to harbouring past political and religious resentment. With him reaching the age for a Bar Mitzvah in the near future, Abe must choose which side of his heritage he will adopt. Abe‘s parents enroll him in a summer cooking camp which he realizes quickly is well below his skill set, and he winds-up studying under a professional Chef, Chico (Seu Jorge) without his parents knowing.  Will his new skills help him prepare a meal that will being both sides of his family together at last? What happens when his parents find out he’s been hiding this secret?

Schnapp is wonderful in the titular role and the Film takes a genuinely-touching turn when the adults are forced to examine their deep hatred of one another.  Abe examines the conflicted reality of growing-up with mixed heritage, the pressures of conformity and also the process of finding one’s self. All the while, Director/Writer Fernando Grostein Andrade presents the story in a fun, lighthearted way with plenty of mouthwatering moments. ABE will be available (to be confirmed) at virtual Imagine Theatres.

QUEER EYE: SEASON 5 (NETFLIX)

The Fab Five are back at it and hit-up Philadelphia this season and true to brand, they hit all the right feels at moments. We meet a diverse range of those in need of help including a Pastor grappling with his church and his sexuality; a Pet Groomer whose boyfriend cheated on her and is in desperate need of business advice; a hunky Jersey Shore DJ in his late thirties who has some growing-up to do; a teen Activist with a nervous energy looking to improve her living space and have people take her more seriously; a Seafood Shop Owner ready to launch a restaurant, coming at the cost of being there for his family; a Pediatrician who feels guilty not spending enough time with her daughter; and a mother and wife who is dealing with her husband’s ALS diagnosis.  The latter is the emotional high point where we see the Fab Five connect with her on a level deeper than any other, revealing a raw, visceral truth about appreciating our past and present. We can never grow tired of these transformations and love that they aren’t about changing these subjects as much as they are about making them elevated versions of themselves. A perfect celebration of Pride, released in a timely manner!

SURVIVE THE NIGHT (VVS FILMS)
By Justin Waldman

From Director Matt Eskandari and first-time Writer Doug Wolfe, comes Survive the Night, which at times feels aptly-named. Despite some brief moments of tension and action, sadly, even a solid Cast which features Bruce Willis, can’t salvage this.

The Movie focuses on brothers Jim (Shea Buckner) and Matty (Tyler Jon Olson) as they’re robbing a gas station and things go awry and Matty gets shot. They’re both worried about getting caught, but end up going to a hospital and following disgraced doctor, Rich (Chad Michael Murray) home. This is where they threaten his family, Frank (Willis) and Jan (Lydia Hull) included, so Rich can operate on Matty and save him, or his family will become collateral damage.

In addition to a lack of cohesion, we don’t feel these characters have enough at stake, which is baffling considering half the Cast is either trying to save their family or save their own skin and at times we felt this is a Film we’ve already seen. VVS Films release SURVIVE THE NIGHT, out now on-demand and on DVD/Blu-ray July 21, 2020.

THE POSTCARD KILLINGS (VVS FILMS)
By David Baldwin

After traveling to London to identify his daughter’s mutilated body, New York detective Jacob Kanon (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) decides to stick around and help with the investigation. He quickly learns that a serial killer is on the loose, murdering people and setting their bodies up in positions similar to popular art pieces. The killer also seems to be sending out postcards to journalists – suggesting where they might strike next – and Kanon is eager to join the chase around Europe to find them.

The Postcard Killings is stylish and looks great. But for the most part, it feels very cold, clinical and by the numbers. Save for one shocking moment in the middle of the Film, everything plays out exactly as you would assume and it was almost too obvious to predict the Film would be based on a book with the way it moves from scene to scene. It makes for a Film that is neither thrilling nor dull – just one that strikes the balance somewhere in the middle. Morgan shines as the cop reeling from a tragedy, but he only gets a few precious moments to breathe life into the character. I wish the same could be said for Cush Jumbo (of The Good Fight/The Good Wife), who does a lot of heavy lifting yet seems to be playing a heroine character cribbed from any number of other thrillers. VVS Films release THE POSTCARD KILLINGS on-demand and digitally now and on DVD/Blu-ray June 23, 2020.

STEALING SCHOOL (GAME THEORY FILMS)

Director/Writer Li Dong examines racial injustice and deep dirty Academia secrets in Satire STEALING SCHOOL, where we see a bright young Chinese-Canadian student named April (Celine Tsai) defend her innocence before a tribunal, when an obsessive Teaching Assistant (Jonathan Keltz) accuses her of plagiarism. As the plot thickens, we learn of a darker web of corruption and the lengths others will go to sway the ruling and what’s in it for them. Despite this not being an issue of April’s race, it comes to the forefront the deeper we go and we realize things might not have been what they appeared at first. We’re afraid to reveal exactly why as it would be giving too much away, but everyone’s hiding something from the past here. Dong manages to keep us in suspense the whole ride with theatrics and a bit of melodrama from its lead characters, telling this story which at times feels more Drama than Comedy, neat and concise. Game Theory Films release STEALING SCHOOL on Vimeo-on-Demand June 19, 2020 and Apple TV/iTunes June 23, 2020.

BUFFALOED (VVS Films)

Zoey Deutch delivers pure fire in Tribeca Film Festival selection BUFFALOED from Director Tanya Wexler. Set in the chaotic, cut throat world of Debt Collection, we meet Peg (Deutch), just about ready to get into college and onto a bright future till she realizes she’s got to pay for tuition. Making the wrong choices to do just that, she pays her dues in prison only to come out and land a job where she realizes she has the strength of persuasion and is actually good enough to compete against her awful misogynistic boss Wizz (Jai Courtney). What ensues is a turf war between them and we wonder if Peg‘s gotten in over her head, so much that her family gets implicated in some of her sketchy dealings. While the Dark Comedy gets a bit rowdy at times, Deutch manages to capture our interest the entire way with her sheer charisma and despite its absurdities, the Film is making a statement about debt the debt crisis in America today facing every day people like you and me, struggling to afford rent, mortgages and medical bills and the greed that can destroy us. VVS Films release BUFFALOED on-demand June 16, 2020.

DA 5 BLOODS (NETFLIX)

Iconic Filmmaker Spike Lee is back with his latest Feature on Netflix, DA 5 Bloods. We meet four former Vietnam vets: Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis) and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) who return to there on a search to find the remains of and some of the gold their fallen Squad Leader Norman (Chadwick Boseman) had helped them hide back then. The story follows these men, who had several loose ends untied, including coping with PTSD. The Film even explores some of the complexities and resentment locals have towards American soldiers still, being responsible for the deaths of their families in the war. Entering the picture is Desroche (Jean Reno), a Frenchman looking to buy gold off the Bloods and matters get complicated when they find their lives on the line in the name of completing their mission as things get bloody. Performances are very strong from this tight Ensemble, led by Lindo and at moments it feels too long. Lee always has something to say and it is incredibly-timely that he ties it all together in a Black Lives Matter framework, and once again displays his remarkable ability to tell the complicated stories, humanizing his characters with great detail in the African-American voice.

WHITNEY (NETFLIX)

We still don’t believe she’s gone.  We’ve been meaning to catch this 2018 Documentary about our beloved Whitney Houston and after watching it finally we only had regrets we didn’t see it sooner.  Filmmaker Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) gives us a very intimate look at the troubled life of this famed international Superstar who had it all. He also asks some very uncomfortable questions to those who were closest to her, exploring pressure for her to make her life seem perfect to the world.  Macdonald interviews everyone from her ex-spouse Bobby Brown, who is uncomfortable discussing her drug use still, to those who worked closely with her like Tiffanie Dixon, her Hairstlylist who found her dead. One thing that is crucial for a Documentary about someone this high-profile to succeed is that it uncovers details that weren’t known prior and some shocking revelations are made about her family which are heartbreaking. This story, painted with a backdrop of her powerful catalog of hits makes this an empathetic, truthful portrait of the Whitney we never got to know.

DATING AROUND SEASON 2 (NETFLIX)

I’ll preface this by saying I dislike Dating Shows – the artifice and song-and-dance that comes with them. But I actually really enjoyed the fly-on-the-wall, unforced approach this very inclusive and diverse Series on dating takes. Each episode we follow along with a new person and their slate of potential suitors on dinner and drink dates. Sometimes you really feel the sparks, sometimes it’s just plain awkward and you’re begging for the date to end. By the end of each episode each subject picks the one person they choose to date again and sometimes these are shocking, sometimes not. We love the vast array of people we meet of varying orientations and ethnicities and that everyone is being as close to an authentic version of themselves as possible. We enjoy that uncomfortable subjects sometimes are brought to light in their conversations and we get why some people still remain single! Now in its second season, DATING AROUND was a quick and easy watch and a totally fresh take on a clichéd genre of Television.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix/Apple TV+/VVS Films/A71/Amazon Prime Video/MK2|MILE END/Game Theory Films)

Fried Periwinkles in Black Bean-Chilli Sauce. Periwinkles are a river snail, hence if you love mussels or clams, these will be up your alley! It’s best to pluck the flesh out with a toothpick but so worth the work!

Ingredients:
2 lbs Periwinkles, cleaned
2 tbsps Lee Kum Kee Black Bean Garlic Sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 red chillies, seeded and minced
2 shallots, minced
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsps tapioca starch
1/4 cup chicken stock/water
2 tbsps white/cooking wine
1 tsp organic raw sugar
1 stalk green onion, minced
1/2 sweet yellow pepper, cut into chunks
1 tbsp sesame oil
Black pepper to taste

Coriander, chopped for garnish

Instructions:
1. Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat.
2. Sautée garlic, peppers, chilli, shallots, green onion (reserving some aside) and ginger till caramelized. Add black bean sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes.
3. Turn heat to high and add Periwinkles and wine. Cover lid.
4. In small bowl, mix soy sauce, sugar and equal parts water.
5. Uncover lid after four to five minutes, add stock/water and stir soy and starch paste into liquid till sauce thickens. Add sesame oil and pepper.
6. Stir evenly. Transfer to platter and garnish with green onion and coriander. Serve with rice.

Strangers Things star Noah Schnapp stars in ABE, coming to virtual cinemas later this month!

Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Abe (Noah Schnapp) is an aspiring chef who wants his cooking to bring people together–but his half-Israeli, half-Palestinian family has never had a meal that didn’t end in a fight. Ditching his traditional summer camp, Abe begins working with Chico (Seu Jorge), an adventurous street chef who encourages him to think outside his old cuisines. But when Abe‘s deceit is uncovered, he must grapple with his family, his background, and his passions, and whether even the most lovingly-cooked family dinner can heal old wounds.

See the Trailer:

MK2 | MILE END release ABE Friday, June 19, 2020 in virtual Imagine Cinemas.

(Photo/video credit: MK2)

JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DubsReviews)
1. Outside of walking Donnie (his Shorkie) and work, we watch a lot of TV. Binged Fringe in a week, half way through my countless re-watch of Community and Netflix is adding some great content so that keeps me entertained.

2. I miss being able to go outside and not worry about being outside.

3. Fringe minus Season 5, if you’re into trash Too Hot Too Handle, Disney+ has everything your childhood or adulthood consisted of in terms of classics like Kim Possible, Recess, X-Men the Animated Series. At the end of May they’re fixing the aspect ratio on The Simpsons, so there’s 11-13 quality seasons of Television, with another 17 seasons sprinkled in.

4. Tenet. Nothing short of it. It’s also one of two movies that is still tentatively opening this year that I can remember. Haha

NICHOLAS PORTEOUS (@NoveltyHat)

1. Most of my days involve checking current turnip prices in the morning and reporting them to my close circle of Animal Crossing confidants while tending to my island, going for an indoor bike ride while Pokébattling, attempting to make some progress on a 1000-piece Mexico Tourism puzzle I bought for $3 long before the Pandemic–hardest puzzle of my life–developing personal projects like sketches, shorts and video essays, working the odd gig that comes my way whether that’s editing or virtual hosting, a round or two of Fortnite, and an unhealthy amount of streaming.

2. I miss people. People were fun. I miss not being even a little selective about where I went or who I saw. Thankfully, I still have a girlfriend (for half the week)! I miss Theatre and Film. I miss the streetcar! I miss thinking about going on a trip, even if I didn’t actually go.

3. For my money, COVID-viewing is all about finding the lengthiest entertainment:

– When the Levees Broke is a fantastic four-part HBO Documentary Series by Spike Lee about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. It feels awfully relevant right now, and makes me extremely thankful to be Canadian, and to be dealing with a crisis that hasn’t come anywhere close to unraveling my life.

– OJ: Made in America is another towering long-form Doc that leaves American Crime Story in the dust–IMO–by putting the trial in its much needed, painfully ironic civil rights context. This must be the fifth time I’ve watched all seven-ish hours and it never ceases to astound me.

– Middleditch and Schwartz is a Netflix experiment in long-form improv, and I hope it becomes a long-term part of their programming! Each of the three specials is comedy magic. Two best buds making impressively elaborate nonsense over a single sustained narrative.

– Survivor: Winners at War is a flawed, but fantastic season of one the all-time great shows. And there’s a cool bonus feeling of normalcy from tuning in live, only to be reminded of the virus by EVERY commercial masquerading as a PSA.

– The Pop Culture Detective is a YouTube channel featuring longer essays about unsettling trends in mainstream masculinity. It’s eye-opening, exhaustive and genuinely entertaining to unpack. For any Creator, it’s fun to imagine what Film, TV and Video Games might look like if these ideas were taken into account.

– Finally, there’s a lot of excellent, free theatre on offer right now. Check the YouTube channels for National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and Stratford Festival.

4. Post-COVID anticipations:

– I’m very excited to see A Quiet Place Part II because it was supposed to be my first assignment for Mr. Will Wong as a Contributor! If it’s not streamed, going to see it will signify some kind of return to the things I’ve missed.

– I’m Thinking of Ending Things is Charlie Kaufman’s next. If it comes into existence after this tragically low-output period in his career, that’ll be a major win in itself.

– Who WASN’T excited for Tenet, the next Chris Nolan madhouse?? It looks to be the purest expression of his timeplay aesthetic.

– Barbie, Greta Gerwig‘s next, co-written by Noah Baumbach and starring Margot Robbie as, yeah, BARBIE. No explanation needed.

– Annette, Leos Carax’s first film since Holy Motors eight years ago, easily one of the top movies of the 2010s.

– The Tragedy of Macbeth, with a surprisingly solo-directing Joel Coen.

– The Many Saints of Newark. It’s theoretically another couple of episodes of The Sopranos. I’ll be there.

I’m excited for all the virus-related Filmmaking we’re in store for generally. Processing this moment in history through any lens–whether it’s a personal narrative, Doc, or demented Sci-Fi extrapolation–will be an essential part of our collective recovery. I made a Short Film in isolation and it certainly helped. This is the dawn of a genre.

AMANDA GILMORE (@GilmoreAmanda)

1. My average day in  isolation mainly consists of reading a lot of books. If anyone is looking for one I HIGHLY recommend The Wives by Tarryn Fisher. I do some at-home workouts to keep my energy and spirits up. And I’ve been doing some free online courses to keep my brain stimulated.

2. What I miss most about my pre-isolation life is being able to go out for dinner and sitting in a cinema.

3. Let’s be serious though, I’ve been watching a lot of TV and Movies! If you are looking for some recommendations mine are below:

NETFLIX: Watch or re-watch THE OFFICE. I watched it from beginning to end for my third-time while in quarantine and it brought me so much joy.

TV: Sunday’s just got better because the Third Season of KILLING EVE has finally begun. If you haven’t watched before, please do so! The Show’s phenomenal.

MOVIES: BOOKSMART and THE INVISIBLE MAN are outstanding!

4. I have a gigantic list of movies I can’t wait to see in the cinema, once it’s safe to do so! One at the top of my list is A QUIET PLACE: PART II.

1. Since self-isolation, I have been vacillating between hyperactivity and heavenly sloth. Case in point: I have just shy of 1500 titles on DVD and Blu ray. When the precariously-stacked hundreds of movies inevitably fulfilled its destiny and tumbled, leaving my living room floor carpeted in a psychedelic kaleidoscope of plastic covered movie art, I damp wiped, dried, reorganized, re-shelved and documented 1500 movies. Since then, freshly showered but unshaven (rueful that my beard will never attain Michael McDonald or Dave Baldwin greatness), I lounge on my sofa and have movie themed days…French language cinema, trilogies of movies I’m embarrassed to admit I own (50 Shades), sequels I’ve never seen to movies I enjoyed (Now You See Me 2, Maleficent 2). Today, as I transform five pounds of stewing beef into Hungarian Goulash, it will either be the last three Star Wars movies or the best of Xavier Dolan or finally start watching Downton Abbey.

2. What I miss, the few times I venture out to get provisions, is the energy I always get when walking the streets of Toronto. The vibrancy of living in Canada’s most diverse city is curtailed. I also miss dinner parties. And hugs…man, do I ever miss hugs!

3. I was quite impressed with RESISTANCE (VOD), the true story of famed Mime Artist, Marcel Marceau and how he saved hundreds of Jewish orphans during WWII. In what could have been a disastrous casting choice, Jesse Eisenberg (in real life, 36 years old) gives an awards-calibre performance as Marceau (who wasn’t even 20 years old when the Movie evens took place). I also really enjoyed Hugh Jackman in BAD EDUCATION (Crave). On the TV front, I am a big fan of CTV‘s latest Drama TRANSPLANT with its many Toronto location shots and the powerful work from its lead actor, Hamza Haq. Lastly, I am obsessed with ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST and TOP CHEF (both the Canadian and American versions).

4. Once it will be safe to savour movies again on the big screen, there are three movies I am salivating to see: MULAN, IN THE HEIGHTS and Spielberg‘s version of WEST SIDE STORY.

DAVE BALDWIN (@DaveMABaldwin)

1. Average day the past six weeks has revolved entirely around feeding, changing and calming down baby Quentin. Not much I can do outside of watch TV/Movies — there’s no time for anything else!

2. I miss having conversations inside my house with family and friends, as opposed to standing six feet apart in my driveway. I’d also prefer to not have to wear gloves and a mask when I leave the house.

3. I’ve been enjoying watching Feel Good and The Last Dance on Netflix, and Run on Crave. Fleabag as well on Amazon Prime, so good! And spent way too much time watching repeats of The Big Bang Theory.

Movie-wise, I enjoyed The Half of It on Netflix and re-watching Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood on Crave. Looking forward to watching Blood Quantum and The Assistant on VOD in the coming weeks!

4. Toss-up between Tenet and No Time to Die.

1. My average day follows my normal routine as much as possible. Get-up at seven and get ready for work, only now I don’t go into the office. Washed and caffeinated, I plug away on my computer at home for eight to ten hours. Then it’s time for my daily walk before I jump on Xbox. After gaming, I close out the day with Netflix and a book in bed. Lately, I’ve been reading Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

2. As the French term it, “joie de vivre.” That cheerful enjoyment of life — en masse — is missed.

3. Netflix has been killing it lately with great TV like:

• Tiger King
• The Last Dance
• Never Have I Ever
• Nadiya’s Time to Eat
• Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045

I’ve also been loving Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Prop Culture on Disney+, and finally got around to watching His Dark Materials… it was amazing. I can’t wait for Season 2.

2. I’m excited for movies in general. I miss the theatre. Despite building myself a great home theatre, I still prefer the traditional experience. It makes movie watching an event, and I miss that level of depth to the experience. That said, as for specific films I’m looking forward to, definitely Mulan. I haven’t been excited for a Disney “live-action“ ever, but that movie looks beautiful. In addition, I’m itching for Tenet. I need the sublimation that comes from films like Nolan’s.

1. While Covid-19 has halted many aspects of my life, my work life remains really busy as we are supporting people impacted at work.

On the website, I am more focusing on streaming releases and running promotions for digital and on-demand versus theatrical releases right now.

Luckily, I get to work from home, so I can be there with my parents right now who are at risk and elderly. I enjoy keeping them excited about food, helping with errands, household tasks, groceries and cooking. I look forward to making new things all the time (which I’ve been posting on my Instagram: mrwillwong). I also enjoy singing and have been posting covers of songs I adore too!

While I don’t have the gym access I normally do, I try to fit-in long walks (sometimes just to take-out Bubble Tea!). That helps clear my mind. I have literally run out of things to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime!

2. I miss my movies in the theatre and pumping everyone up about new releases, but that will come again!

I miss seeing my coworkers, team and friends in-person but thankfully feel like I haven’t skipped a step with chat platforms and Social Media.

I miss also seeing my godchildren (Mr Will & Princess) and can’t wait to go on adventure to the country to see them. I miss seeing the horse races live and photographing them, which has been my weekend love for years.

And going to Starbucks.

3. FX’s Mrs. America is mindblowingly-good. I love great acting at the Cast is sublime. The characters are so well-written and acted and I love that everyone is grappling with complicated conflicts.

I have watched a lot of cooking and baking shows like all seasons of The Great Canadian Baking Show, Nailed It! and The Chef’s Line and those are awesome, quick watches.

I zipped through Hollywood and Season 3 of Ozark quickly too. Just saw A Secret Love (about two real-life Rockford Peaches from A League of their Own) and am half-way through Never Have I Ever.

4.  I need to see Mulan. It pains me I was literally three days away from attending a press screening for it when isolation started. Also, West Side Story and Top Gun: Maverick.

Stay in-touch with us at Mr. Will on Facebook and comment on this post some of your recommendations and what you’re looking forward to post-isolation!