It comes as absolutely no surprise that TOP GUN: MAVERICK flies high in its debut this weekend, setting a personal best for Tom Cruise being his first ever opening to surpass $100 million, while setting a U.s. Memorial Day weekend record! This is actually surprising! The Sequel to the iconic 1986 film, earns $123 million from 4,735 theatres for Paramount Pictures in its debut. By comparison, its Predecessor opened with $8,193,052. Look how far we’ve come! It also garners 97% on the Tomatometer.
Second spot goes to DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS with $17 million, after three weeks on-top. This brings its total to $376 million domestically for Disney.
THE BOB’S BURGERS MOVIE debuts in third with $15.6 million from 3,425 theatres for 20th Century Studios. This Adaptation of the popular TV Series, gets 86% on the Tomatometer.
Fourth goes to DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA with $6.4 million for Universal Pictures/Focus Features. Over to weekends it has brought in $30 million.
Rounding this Top Five out is THE BAD GUYS with $4.9 million, for a total $83.6 million for Universal Pictures.
Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS reigns a second straight week, taking $75 million from 4,534 theatres for Disney, bringing its total to $230.4 million in North America.
THE BAD GUYS lands in second with $7.4 million for Universal Pictures, taking its tally to $66.7 million.
Debuting in third goes to the remake of Stephen King‘s FIRESTARTER, with $5.3 million from 3,412 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Horror partly-filmed in Toronto starring Zac Efron, also arrives on streaming service Peacock. It gets 13% on the Tomatometer.
Fourth is SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 with $4.9 million, for a total $176 million in its domestic run for Paramount Pictures.
At the bottom of the Top Five is EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE with $3.3 million, a total $47 million grossed thus far for A24/Elevation Pictures.
Disney have unveiled a few eagerly-awaited new titles at CINEMACON in Las Vegas earlier today.
The preview included a look at three upcoming releases from 20th Century Studios: “The Bob’s Burgers Movie,” the newest film from David O. Russell (“American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”), and James Cameron’s first follow-up to his sci-fi action-adventure “Avatar,” the highest-grossing movie of all time.
AMSTERDAM
The title of Russell’s film, which will open in theatres on November 4, 2022 is “Amsterdam.” CinemaCon attendees were treated to a sizzle reel of footage from the film, which is an original romantic crime epic about three close friends who find themselves at the center of one of the most shocking secret plots in American history. Based on facts that meet fiction, “Amsterdam” stars Academy Award® winner Christian Bale, two-time Oscar® nominee Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Taylor Swift, Timothy Olyphant, Zoe Saldana, with Oscar-winner Rami Malek and two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro. Written and directed by five-time Oscar® nominee David O. Russell, the film is produced by Arnon Milchan, Matthew Budman, Anthony Katagas, David O. Russell and Christian Bale, with Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer and Sam Hanson serving as executive producers.
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
The title of the “Avatar” sequel, which will open in theatres December 16, is “Avatar: The Way of Water.” Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the film stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, and Kate Winslet. To whet audiences’ appetites, the studio will re-release “Avatar” in theatres on September 23, 2022.
The teaser trailer, which was screened in 3D for the very first time today and drew highly enthusiastic responses from the CinemaCon audience, will debut exclusively in theatres with Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” on May 6. In addition, Zoe Saldana, who stars in both “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Amsterdam,” will be receiving the CinemaCon “Star of the Year” award at the “Big Screen Achievement Award” Ceremony on Thursday evening, April 28, 2022.
BOB’S BURGERS
The studio also screened the first six minutes of “The Bob’s Burgers Movie,” which opens in theatres nationwide May 27, for convention attendees. The animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running Emmy®-winning series showcases voice talent, which includes H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal,withZach Galifianakis, and Kevin Kline.
The film is directed by Loren Bouchard & Bernard Derriman. The screenplay is by Loren Bouchard & Nora Smith. The producers are Loren Bouchard, Nora Smith, and Janelle Momary-Neely.
Ethan Hawke returns to Horror in THE BLACK PHONE. See the new Trailer.
Synopsis:
The phone is dead. And it’s ringing.
Director Scott Derrickson returns to his terror roots and partners again with the foremost brand in the genre, Blumhouse, with a new horror thriller. Finney Shaw, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.
Starring four-time Oscar® nominee Ethan Hawke in the most terrifying role of his career and introducing Mason Thames in his first ever film role, The Black Phone is produced,
directed, and co-written by Scott Derrickson, the writer-director of Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Marvel’s Doctor Strange.
The film’s screenplay is by Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill (Doctor Strange, Sinister franchise), based on the award-winning short story by Joe Hill from his New York Times bestseller 20th Century Ghosts. The film is produced by Derrickson & Cargill’s Crooked Highway and presented by Universal and Blumhouse. Jason Blum, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill are producers on the film, which is executive produced by Ryan Turek and Christopher H. Warner.
Genre: Horror
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone and Ethan Hawke
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Screenplay by: Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill
Based on the short story by Joe Hill
Producers: Jason Blum, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill
Executive Producers: Ryan Turek, Christopher H. Warner
THE BLACK PHONE arrives in theatres June 2, 2022.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a mind-blowingly cool SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME Prize Pack!
The Prize Pack includes:
Synopsis:
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighbourhood hero’s identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange’s help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who’ve ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.
BONUS MATERIALS
4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY™, AND DIGITAL
DVD
To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet the Contest Tweet below for an extra chance!
Enter for a chance to #win a super-cool #SpiderManNoWayHome Prize Pack!
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 5, 2022
How: https://t.co/ZGD4nlzFzG pic.twitter.com/sKXVfN2EnK
Rules and regulations here.
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME arrives in-stores April 12, 2022.
(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Following its smash success at the Box Office, taking it to the $800-million-mark in North America, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME arrives at home! In honour of this, Spider-Man is taking over Yonge & Dundas Square in Toronto tomorrow, March 22, 2022 between 8:30 and 4:30 PM for one day only! There will also be a tuck shop filled with take-home movie night snack packages and an interactive photo opp.
SYNOPSIS
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighbourhood hero’s identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange’s help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who’ve ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.
BONUS MATERIALS
4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY™, AND DIGITAL
DVD
CAST AND CREW
Directed By: Jon Watts
Written By: Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers
Produced By: Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal
Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, JoAnn Perritano, Rachel O’Connor, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach
Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, with Marisa Tomei
SPECS
Runtime: Approx. 148 minutes
Rating: PG-13: Sequences of action/violence, some language and brief suggestive comments
4K UHD: Feature: 2160p Ultra High Definition / 2.39:1 • English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible), French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish, English & French (Doublé au Québec) – Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray™: Feature: 1080p High Definition / 2.39:1 • Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish, English & French (Doublé au Québec) – Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital
DVD: Feature: 2.39:1 Anamorphic Widescreen • Audio: English, French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English & French (Doublé au Québec) – Audio Description Tracks Dolby Surround
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment release SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME on Digital March 22, 2022 and it will be on DVD/Blu-ray April 12, 2022.
(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Opening exactly where we left off, Spider-Man’s (Tom Holland) identity as Peter Parker has been revealed to the world. With his future irrevocably destroyed and his closest family and friends caught in the fallout, Peter seeks out the help of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). Strange offers to perform a spell that will have everyone forgetting who the web slinger is, but Peter messes it up – and now familiar villains from other universes have started appearing and they are none too happy to see Spider-Man.
The anticipation and fervor around SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME has been increasing at an almost unprecedented rate and the sheer weight of the expectations surrounding it is intense and practically suffocating. People online are excited about this Movie and with all the rumours, alleged reports, pap photos and speculation, it is not hard to figure out why. Did returning Director Jon Watts (the rare MCU Filmmaker who made an entire Trilogy of films) and his behind-the-scenes team prepare in advance for how outrageous the fan reaction would be?
Perhaps they did, because when you boil it down to its most basic structure, NO WAY HOME feels like a delicate balancing act that could go wrong at any second. It instinctively knows where past Spider-Man sequels stumbled in their overstuffed exposition, introductions and future franchise set-ups – something the MCU has been guilty of more than once – and boldly offloads much of that baggage. Yes, there are too many characters here (and some you might miss if you blink), but the Film wastes practically no time introducing them nor their backstories. In fact, it pokes fun at many of the most ridiculous moments from Sam Raimi and Marc Webb’s previous Spidey entries, and peppers in plenty of nods and references that fans will either enjoy immensely or wish they had completely forgotten. NO WAY HOME does not have time to catch you up on everything; it just wants to keep propelling itself forward at all costs.
Without getting into specifics and ruining the moments that had me smiling and chuckling endlessly, the nostalgia that fuels so much of NO WAY HOME feels careful and precise. It never feels overused, overdone nor superficial. Cheesy and sometimes overly-cloying; never superficial. The fan service is plentiful and the plethora of mic drop moments will have the sold-out crowds screaming with delight this weekend. And while I would love to describe how great the banter is here between many of the characters, I will just sum it up by saying it is the funniest of any Spider-Man movie. Period.
Beyond having my expectations both met and subverted, what really surprised me about NO WAY HOME was how gritty and emotionally mature it is. Homecoming and Far From Home did their very best to avoid the darker moments, inserting more jokes than reflection. This time out, the Film seems to revel in its darkest moments and genuinely attempts to have its characters contend with what happens. It is nowhere near as nihilistic as the downer ending of Avengers: Infinity War, but having actual stakes and consequences gives NO WAY HOME a strength and resonance that is missing from much of its MCU brethren. Much like Peter himself, Watts and returning Screenwriters Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers have learned from their mistakes and have grown over the course of this new Spider-Man Trilogy. I admire the chances they take here, and sincerely hope Producer/Braintrust Kevin Feige allows other MCU Filmmakers to do the same in the future.
Everyone who shows up here, whether they are new, old, or somewhere in-between, are great and incredibly comfortable in their roles, no matter the time that has passed. Holland continues doing wonders as Peter and Spider-Man, and Zendaya continues to be a terrific MJ. Their chemistry is wonderful and their complex teenage emotions feel richly developed. Cumberbatch has fun as Doctor Strange, and it was nice to see Jacob Batalon getting a bit more to do as Peter’s best friend and “guy in the chair” Ned Leeds. J.K. Simmons’ seminal performance as J. Jonah Jameson is just as outstanding as you hoped it would and the unhinged madness of Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin is spectacular. The bipolar, chaotic energy he brings to the Film is top-notch and not easily replicated, instantly reminds you why he will always be one of Spider-Man’s best villains.
The Film is far from perfect though and I could go on criticizing the breathless pacing, the sometimes-muddied CGI, the odd out-of-character moments or some of the gee-whiz antics of the Second Act. I can forgive all of those things, if only for the Film’s bittersweet last few moments. Watts and Company put the pieces in place for the next adventure, leading up to a final scene that reminded me a lot of Iron Man back in 2008. The Film that kicked off a series unlike any before or since ends on Robert Downey Jr. delivering the immortal words, “I am Iron Man”. The sheer rush I received from those words gave me goosebumps and made me infinitely excited for whatever came next. It left me wanting more. I had that exact feeling, those exact goosebumps watching SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME conclude. And sure, the two stingers in the credits are fun glimpses of what’s to come, but those last seconds prior to the credits – well, they were the real moments that have me positively buzzing at the prospect of what comes next for Holland’s Spider-Man. Hopefully we do not need to wait too long to find out what that is.
Having said all of that, I recommend you leave your expectations and baggage at your cinema’s doors, and prepare to bask in the most epic Spider-Man film ever made. It is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for new and long-time Spidey fans and is the singular must-see event of the holiday season.
Sony Pictures Canada release SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME on Friday, December 17, 2021.
*Please exercise caution observing COVID-19 protocols if seeing this in-theatre*
Review by David Baldwin
Cattle ranchers George and Phil Burbank (Jesse Plemons and Benedict Cumberbatch) have made a successful enterprise for themselves in Montana circa 1925. Phil rules the men they employ with an iron fist, while George is a bit more wholesome and understanding. George takes to widow Rose (Kristen Dunst) after meeting her at a restaurant stop and quickly marries her much to Phil’s chagrin. When she and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) move into the Burbank family home however, Phil starts making things difficult for everyone.
Academy Award-winning Co-Writer/Director Jane Campion return to feature filmmaking after a decade long hiatus is a methodical and deliberately paced take on a Western. I would not call it revisionist as others have, yet it does very much feel like a deconstruction of a classic American genre. There are no real heroes and villains here – just troubled individuals trying their best to get on with their lives and not doing a great job of it. Campion’s pacing varies throughout the Film, with some scenes being particular zippy and others slowed to a crawl. She captures the intimacy and heartache of the old West (with gorgeous New Zealand vistas subbing in for Montana) but is more interested in the feelings of her characters than she is in anything else. I would never call THE POWER OF THE DOG boring, though will admit that it may be a great challenge for some viewers to get through.
The Production Design and costuming are sumptuous and Jonny Greenwood’s brooding score is absolutely brilliant, morphing from something soft and sweet to horrific and overbearing faster than you can snap your fingers. Plemons and Smit-McPhee are great in their roles, though they end up getting lost in the margins of some sections. Red hot Thomasin McKenzie (also at TIFF ’21 with Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho) pops-up as a house servant, yet really has no bearing on the story. And while Dunst gives it her all, transforming into a desperate and anxious alcoholic over the course of the Film’s running time, THE POWER OF THE DOG belongs entirely to Cumberbatch. Never have I hated a character so thoroughly and viscerally within seconds of seeing him pop up on screen. He is an absolute monster here, spewing acidic and vile remarks carelessly and genuinely toxifying everything around him just by being present. Cumberbatch’s performance feels lived-in, with even his most tender moments still coming off as repulsive. This is easily a career best performance for the Oscar-nominated thespian, whom Doctor Strange fans will not recognize whatsoever. Do not be surprised if he becomes the front-runner for Best Actor.
THE POWER OF THE DOG screens at TIFF’ 21:
Fri, Sep 10 Princess of Wales 5:00 PM
Fri, Sep 10 VISA Skyline Drive-In at Ontario Place 8:30 PM
Fri, Sep 10 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 9:00 PM
Fri, Sep 17 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 1:00 PM
Sat, Sep 18 TIFF Bell Lightbox 1 3:00 PM
Premiering at TIFF ’21, here is a new clip from THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN starring Benedict Cumberbatch!
Synopsis:
Academy Award® Nominee and BAFTA- winning Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange, Patrick Melrose, The Imitation Game) stars as forgotten British artist Louis Wain in the extraordinary true story of a brilliant but troubled soul, whose fascination with the mysteries of the world is both complicated and deepened when he meets the love of his life Emily, played by Emmy® Winner and BAFTA Nominee Claire Foy (The Crown, First Man).
The film boasts an impressive ensemble supporting cast including Andrea Riseborough (Birdman (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), The Death of Stalin), Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Hunger Games), Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary, Dumbo), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education), Hayley Squires (I, Daniel Blake, Southcliffe), Stacy Martin (Nymphomaniac, Vox Lux), Phoebe Nicholls (The Elephant Man), Adeel Akhtar (The Big Sick, Pan, Four Lions, Utopia), Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch), Richard Ayoade (Soul, The Souvenir) and Julian Barratt (Mindhorn, Flowers, The Mighty Boosh) and Sophia di Martino (Loki, Flowers). It was recently announced that Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Free Guy), Nick Cave (20,000 Days on Earth) and Olivia Colman (The Crown, The Favourite) appear in the film, with Colman narrating.
MK2 | MILE END will release THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN in theatres October 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Obscured Pictures)
A new Teaser’s arrived for December release SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME!
Synopsis:
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a Super Hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
Sony Pictures Canada release SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME December 17, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Marvel Studios)
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