In celebration of her glorious Best Actress win in Cannes yesterday, here is the Trailer for David Cronenberg‘s gripping MAPS TO THE STARS, starring Julianne Moore. Filmed between Toronto and Los Angeles, this Thriller follows a Hollywood Family chasing fame and Celebrity. Moore‘s performance as a desperate, aging Actress has has singled-out early as the performance to look-out for this forthcoming Awards Season. Expect this to debut in a grand way this September at TIFF ’14!
Watch the Red-Band Trailer below:
Mr. Will and The Cast of Maps to the Stars:
eOne Films release MAPS TO THE STARS.
(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)
There is no other American Film garnering more early Awards season buzz than FOXCATCHER. Just coming out of Cannes yesterday with a Best Director (Bennett Miller) win and feverish acclaim for performances from Funnyman Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum, the Film based on the shocking True Story of millionaire Wrestling Coach John du Pont (Carell) and Brothers Mark (Tatum) and David Schultz (Ruffalo).
Murder, obsession, psychosis. This Film has all the ingredients of a Champion and Fans of Capote and Moneyball, both which premiered at TIFF prior to successful Awards Season Campaigns and directed too by Miller, won’t be disappointed.
Although the Teaser Trailer surfaced a while back, now is a perfect moment to get acquainted with what could well get a TIFF ’14 Premiere here in Toronto this September. In fact, I’d be shocked if this didn’t make the rounds here!
Watch the Trailer:
Friday, November 14, 2014 has been set as the release date for FOXCATCHER via Sony Pictures Classics (Mongrel Media in Canada).
(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)
David Cronenberg. Orphan Black. Gabrielle. Enemy. Call Me Fitz. These five names might not strike a connection other than that they are distinctly Canadian, but they were fêted tonight as big Winners at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards. The week-long Celebrations known as Canadian Screen Week culminated in a star-studded Red Carpet Bash at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, seeing several of our Country’s Heroes and Heroines of the Screen convening proudly in the name of our artistic accomplishments.
Over the course of the week, Toronto-filmed Sci-Fi Series Orphan Black amassed a whopping ten wins including TV Drama tonight. Its Star Tatiana Maslany certainly has shined a light on Canadian Talent over the past year, garnering a Critics’ Choice Award south of the Border last June for her performance(s) as several identical Women revealed to be Clones. The 28-year-old Regina-born Actress won for Actress, TV Drama, which is seen on BBC America and the Space Channel in Canada. A Belle of the Ball, indeed.
Making a splash in the TV categories was Call Me Fitz, winning for TV Comedy. Starring former Beverly Hills, 90210 Hunk Jason Priestley and Tracy Dawson, both won Actor and Actress, TV Comedy respectively. Priestley also directed Maslany in the Feature Film Cas & Dylan, for which she received also a nomination for Actress, Motion Picture.
Warming hearts this evening was Gabrielle Marion-Rivard, who lit-up the Press Room with her big smile, tightly clasping onto her Trophy. The first-time Actress stars in Gabrielle, which won her coveted Actress, Motion Picture. The Coming-of-Age Tale centering on a musically-gifted Teen suffering from Williams Syndrome (a condition with which Marion-Rivard actually has been diagnosed), went-on to win in the category of Motion Picture for eOne Films. The Canadian Distributor also saw more accolades with its new release Enemy, filmed in Toronto and directed by Denis Villeneuve, going-on to win for Director, Motion Picture and Supporting Actress, Motion Picture with Sarah Gadon.
Iconic Filmmaker David Cronenberg was honoured this Evening with the Lifetime Achievement Award and to ring-in the occasion were long-time Collaborator Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello. Although both Actors were careful not to take away his spotlight, Mortensen did say in the Press Room introducing Cronenberg rather succinctly, “I don’t think he’s gotten the universal recognition he deserves”, proudly flaunting some Montreal Canadiens Merchandise. The ground-breaking Director indicated his focuses right now are his debut Novel, Consumed, which potentially will be made into a Film, and also his next release Maps to the Stars, which has its sights set on the Cannes Film Festival this Spring.
Curious to see what Executive Producer of Maps to the Stars, Martin Katz has to say about the eagerly-awaited Film starring Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack and Julianne Moore? Interested to see where Anna Silk and Fan’s Choice Screen Star – Zoie Palmer – might be headed next on Lost Girl? Will Mr. D Star Gerry Dee be returning to Woodbine Racetrack to call a few more races? What does Mia Kirshner say about the second Season of Defiance? What were George Stroumboulopoulos‘ 2014 Canadian Screen Award Predictions?
Watch this Video of Mr. Will‘s Red Carpet Chats with all the above here:
Above all the celebrations, we had a blast admiring up-close the Red Carpet Fashions whether it be Pretty Little Liars Star Shay Mitchell in a daring plunging neckline, Jessica Paré stunning in Stella McCartney, Maria Bello beautiful in Nicholas Oakwell or Katheryn Winnick ravishing in red by Romona Keveza. Even Dina Pugliese of CITY‘s Breakfast Television was a Goddess in Jovani! Swoon.
For a complete list of Winners, click here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
In a Résumé which has seen several superlative performances, Julianne Moore appears to be amidst another career renaissance. Critics adored her at Cannes awarding her the coveted Actress Award for her work in Maps to the Stars, and despite also premiering at TIFF ’14 with slightly less fanfare, STILL ALICE now sees its release and Awards Trail begin after a carefully-timed gap. Could this be the four-time Oscar Nominee’s long-overdue moment?
Based on Lisa Genova‘s 2007 Bestseller, STILL ALICE centers around a Cognitive Psychologist played by Moore, who learns that she is struggling with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. The Film, directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, subtly shows us Alice‘s decline and its impacts on her loving Husband, John (Alec Baldwin) and very different Adult Children, Lydia (Kristen Stewart), Anna (Kate Bosworth) and Tom (Hunter Parrish). We witness Alice‘s struggle to keep her career afloat, while also trying to balance her family life with the incapacitating illness which under crisis, draws the Family inwards.
What makes STILL ALICE so remarkable is the amount of compassion we see and feel towards the Titular Character, played to perfection by Moore under the most unforgiving circumstances. As an Audience we are part of the completely authentic experience and the Film succeeds largely not only as a Portrait of a Woman committed in her own inner-battles, but also an educational piece on a matter which warrants our attention and awareness. Aside from Moore‘s flawless transformation into a startling blankness, we see a softer, humanizing side of Baldwin – not to mention some fantastic performances from a pair of Supporting Actresses in Stewart and Bosworth, both who continue to be focusing on more challenging roles of late and I’ll admit are increasingly-likable.
Moore‘s performance is not to be missed. Mongrel Media release STILL ALICE on Friday, January 23, 2015 in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
After winning the prestigious Palme d’Or in Cannes this May, all eyes have been set on BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR. Critics and Moviegoers at TIFF also raved about the Same-Sex Romance which now makes its way to Canadian theatres! Abdellatif Kechiche directs, while Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux star in this wonderful piece of Filmmaking which is so revealing, everyone is talking about it. Watch for one particular scene involving an Oyster!
Official Synopsis:
Blue is the Warmest Colour follows the emotional Love Affair between two young Women. At 15, Adèle (Exarchopoulos) doesn’t question: a Girl goes out with Boys. But her life changes when she meets Emma (Seydoux), an older Student with blue-streaked hair.
Watch the Trailer below:
Mongrel Media and Mr. Will Wong want to give Readers an amazing chance to win the very Graphic Novel on which Blue is the Warmest Colour is based by Julie Maroh. Order a Copy here.
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook!
Share on Facebook and double your chances!
Official Artwork:
Mongrel Media releases Blue is the Warmest Colour in Toronto (TIFF Bell Lightbox and Varsity Cinemas) and Vancouver (Park Theatre) on Friday, November 8, 2013. Additional Canadian Cities to follow including an Ottawa release one week later.
Good luck.
The Stars of BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR and Mr. Will:
(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media/Mr. Will Wong)
The Stars began to descend upon Toronto for the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival today and although some of the Actors to arrive don’t see their Movies for a few days, they just couldn’t resist enjoying our City a bit more than work permits!
Daniel Brühl is definitely a name to look out for TIFF ’13 with two Marquee Titles at the Festival this year including Opening Night Gala The Fifth Estate, premiering tonight at two venues. Unfortunately there have been no sightings yet of his brilliant Co-Star Benedict Cumberbatch still. This weekend he also will be here to present Ron Howard‘s RUSH, in which he stars as Formula 1 Driver Niki Lauda. The Actor was low-key, signing a couple Autographs, telling Fans he’ll greet them over the course of the week during TIFF Festivities.
Rising Star Paul Dano is a major force at TIFF ’13 also, here to present Thriller Prisoners in which he stars alongside Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal as a Suspect involved in the disappearance of two young Girls. He also will be promoting Oscar Contender 12 Years a Slave from Director Steve McQueen, boasting an equally stellar Cast of Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Sarah Paulson and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Dano was seen with the aid of cane and sans Girlfriend Actress Zoe Kazan, who also will be here this weekend for Romantic-Comedy, The F Word in which she stars opposite Daniel Radcliffe.
Although he’s not here for TIFF ’13 per say, Hugh Dancy and his Wife Claire Danes certainly are no strangers to the Festival, having visited many a time in the past for it. Dancy is back in Toronto (Baby Cyrus in tow) to prep for the forthcoming second season of Hannibal. I spotted Co-Star Mads Mikkelsen earlier today working out in my Building even!
One of the Films premiering at TIFF ’13 with the most buzz certainly is Blue is the Warmest Colour, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this past May. The Lesbian-theme French Drama stars an impeccably-talented Duo of Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos. Although both resisted Fans a bit, eventually they gave way taking Photos and signing Autographs. The Duo premiere their Film at TIFF tonight.
Ahh, my favourite Snap thus far! I love Jake Gyllenhaal and it always is a pleasure seeing him. The Actor, who stars in two Films at the Festival, Prisoners and Toronto-filmed Enemy, arrived in Toronto from New York City a couple days early and will be hard at work through the weekend in support of both Thrillers. The former is gaining lots of Oscar buzz already after a strong showing at the Telluride Film Festival.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
After winning raves and nabbing two Awards at Cannes this May including Best Actress, The Past now makes its way to the Toronto International Film Festival. After abandoning his Wife and two Children to return to his Homeland, Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) eventually is asked by his Wife Marie (Bérénice Bejo) to stay with her in order finalize their divorce. Tensions are thick however as their teenage Daughter Lucie (Pauline Burlet) is less than receptive of her Mother remarrying Samir (Tahar Rahim), whose young Son Fouad (Elyes Aguis) also begins acting out as unresolved affairs are brought to light among this evolving Family.
Director/Writer Asghar Farhadi (A Separation) soars in this complex and intriguing Tale told in both French and Persian. There are no gimmicks or effects here, just simply compelling Storytelling. Farhadi examines the detrimental ramifications of past actions among this Ensemble of Characters and more importantly, why they have acted questionably. A few lags in pacing late in the Film if anything make the Audience demand answers more in this Family Drama/Mystery, which is unafraid of examining painful territory. No loose will remain untied in The Past and through this fascinating emotional journey, we too yearn to move forward.
Academy Award Nominee Bejo (The Artist) is startlingly good as often-temperamental yet Marie, grappling with closure and issues of resentment in her own life, while Mosaffa gives us pure compassion and a deep sense of history in his performance as a Father reconciling his troubled past, reuniting with his Family in a clear frame of mind.
Mongrel Media releases The Past in Canada. TIFF Screenings are as follows:
Thursday, September 5, 2013 – 9:30 pm – Elgin
Saturday , September 7, 2013- 8:30 am – Bell Lightbox 1
Easily one of my favourite Films thus far in 2013, the compelling Fruitvale Station finally gets a release after months of anticipation following widespread acclaim at both the Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals. Reviewers at my Screening were so moved that a majority of them sat in the dark as the credits rolled, allowing for a moment to regain their composure.
The Drama written and directed by Ryan Coogler is based on the events surrounding the final day of Oscar Grant’s (Michael B. Jordan) life, New Year’s Eve 2009. Having weaved in and out of the Justice System, Oscar fights the battle within himself to stay out of trouble and be the Father to his Daughter Tatiana (Ariana Neal), Husband to Sophina (Melonie Diaz) and Son to Wanda (Octavia Spencer), whom he is expected to be.
Coogler does a fine job on this Feature debut, drawing rich and astounding performances from his Ensemble, particularly Jordan whom transitions as primarily a Television Actor to what hopefully is the beginning of a Film Career. On a deeper level he understands the struggles which Oscar faces to do good, at once drawn to the forces which keep him from making the right choices in his life. One key scene has Wanda visiting him in prison, Jordan showing remarkable range, convincingly calm and cool, then suddenly snapping in an instant upon being provoked by a fellow Inmate. That moment alone makes Jordan‘s Oscar a Contender for an Oscar… and Awards Season has yet to begin. Coogler captures with precision the gray areas of life – that Oscar‘s demise was a combination of circumstance and choice and furthermore, despite his choices, he is portrayed as a good person. There is an honest beauty to some of the Film’s more tender moments between Oscar, Sophina and Tatiana.
Oscar Winner Spencer as always is phenomenal in her perpetual state of concern for her Son, embodying what it means to be a Mother tested to the extreme, being forced to confront a variety of unfortunate circumstances, while always remaining collected. Diaz is a fresh face with, astoundingly good as Oscar‘s Wife, exhibiting an irresistible charm to her and hopefully we will be seeing more of her in the near future. Child Actor Neal is heartbreakingly good as a bewildered Daughter trying to understand her Father’s repeated absences.
eOne Films releases the unmissable Fruitvale Station on Friday, July 26, 2013.
Definitely one of the Films we’re most stoked about this year, Sofia Coppola‘s (Lost in Translation, The Virgin Suicides) The Bling Ring soon will see its release, after making a splash in Cannes! See what Critics are raving about already here. I saw it earlier this week and agree, it’s one of this Summer’s best.
And there couldn’t be a better fit than right here with all my Celebrity-obsessed Readers! Mr. Will Wong & eOne Films are thrilled to give you all a chance to attend Advance Screenings of The Bling Ring across Canada! Screenings take place at the following venues on Wednesday, June 19, 2013:
The Docu-Drama based on true events, centers around a group of Teens who mastermind the burglary of several Celebrities. Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Leslie Mann, Taissa Farmiga, Katie Chang and Emma Watson star.
See the amazing Trailer below:
Okay, to enter simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:
http://www.mrwillwong.com/blingring @MRWILLW wants us to #win Advance Screening Passes to #TheBlingRing, by #SofiaCoppola across Canada. RT to enter!
Good luck. Your deadline is Friday, June 14, 2013.
If that weren’t enough, one lucky Reader gets a Deluxe THE BLING RING Prize Pack including Poster, Soundtrack and Book! Get it, Wongsters!
eOne Films releases The Bling Ring in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax, Victoria on June 21, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: A24/eOne Films)
With a lack of Marquee Features to film in Toronto this Summer, David Cronenberg‘s long-gestating project, Maps to the Stars is confirmed to film in Toronto between Monday, July 8 through Monday, August 12, 2013. Co-produced by Entertainment One and Prospero Pictures, the Film as of last week had inked multiple distribution deals in Cannes and is said to be on the verge of closing even more deals in several other markets soon including Mexico, Hong Kong, India and Brazil.
The dark Drama based upon the Novel Dead Stars by Bruce Wagner, who also helms the Script, is said to be a scathing attack on Hollywood Celebrity Culture and the pursuit of Fame. Its most recognizable face, Robert Pattinson stars as Jerome and as announced prior, Julianne Moore and John Cusack star also as Havana and Sanford respectively. Moore was in the City just last Summer filming the Carrie Remake and we look forward to seeing her around again!
Recent additions to the Cast include Mia Wasikowska, Olivia Williams and Newcomer Evan Bird in the shocking role of a drug-addicted Child Actor. Toronto’s own Sarah Gadon, who has starred in Cronenberg‘s last two Films A Dangerous Method and Cosmopolis (opposite Pattinson), reunites with him a third time here.
More to come…
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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