Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
A spaceship housing criminals and screwups is heading for a Black Hole close to Earth. Monte (Robert Pattinson) is awake and tending to the care of the ship â while also taking care of his daughter, who was actually born on the ship. But not everything is cheerful as it seems.
Saying anything more would spoil the surprises legendary French Director Claire Denis has in store for audiences in her English language debut. Suffice to say, fluids are spilled, secrets are revealed and as you might have heard, thereâs a room on the ship called the âfuckboxâ. It all makes for a bizarre sci-fi oddity that takes its time coming together, producing results that are far from satisfying. The multiple layers make for encouraged re-watchability (as does discovering what the film is actually about), but some of the disturbing content may make that incredibly difficult. Juliette Binoche does great work as the shipâs doctor, but Pattinson positively knocks this one out of the park, carrying the Film from one strangely enigmatic moment to the next. He does a terrific job reminding us that Edward Cullen should continue to be a forgotten fragment of the past.
High Life screens on Sunday, September 9 at 9:30 PM at Roy Thomson Hall [World Premiere], Tuesday, September 11 at 11:00 AM at Winter Garden Theatre and Friday, September 14 at 9:45 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
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Canada’s largest Sci-Fi and Gaming Convention is back! FAN EXPO CANADA returns in Toronto to Metro Toronto Convention Centre right before fall and the names are bigger than ever! It is set to run August 30 – September 2, 2018.
Highlighted by a reunion of the BACK TO THE FUTURE Cast, Fan Expo Canada boasts a star-studded lineup of talent you won’t want to miss including:
MICHAEL J. FOX, CHRISTOPHER LLOYD, LEA THOMPSON, TOM WILSON (Back to the Future films)
CARY ELWES, CHRIS SARANDON, WALLACE SHAWN (The Princess Bride)
JEFF GOLDBLUM (Jurassic Park)
WILLIAM SHATNER (Star Trek)
JASON MOMOA (Game of Thrones, Justice League)
ROB SCHNEIDER (Saturday Night Live)
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS (Star Wars films)
PETER MAYHEW (Star Wars films)
KAREN GILLAN (Doctor Who, Guardians of the Galaxy)
EVANGELINE LILLY (Lost, Ant-Man and the Wasp)
LUCY LAWLESS, RENEE OâCONNOR (Xena: Warrior Princess)
RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON (MacGyver, Stargate SG-1)
JOE KEERY (Stranger Things)
PAUL REUBENS (Pee-weeâs Playhouse)
ROBIN LORD TAYLOR (Gotham)
AUSTIN AMELIO (The Walking Dead)
TOM PAYNE (The Walking Dead)
MARK SHEPPARD (Supernatural)
JENNIFER MORRISON (Once Upon A Time)
EMMA DUMONT (The Gifted)
GREGG SULKIN (Runaways)
Guest availability is subject to change. Get your tickets and learn more about it at www.fanexpocanada.com.
(Photo credit: Fan Expo Canada)
2017 was another one for the books! Inasmuch as I sometimes fail to appreciate the wonderful things we have access to, it really isn’t until you look back that you realize everything you had. I’m humbled to have experienced so many amazing moments in 2017 whether it be Movies, Music or Celebs. Come join me as I walk down memory lane. While there is nothing but chaos in the world, sometimes this is all we have as an escape!
MOVIES
While we like to think that 2017 was only an ‘okay’ year for Movies, looking back at it all, we actually are quite pleased with the caliber of Films we saw. The year certainly was not short on quality and while the subject matter wasn’t as heavy as some previous years, our heart was filled with love by incredibly beautiful stories like Call Me By Your Name or fascinating escapes into the minds of the infamous like I, Tonya and Molly’s Game. We were dazzled by the magnificence of The Greatest Showman and don’t think we’ve ever laughed as hard as seeing the severely-underrated Girls Trip!
Don’t forget to check-out the Team’s Top Tens of 2017 right here.
SONGS
While 2017 was a solid year for Film, I felt it was inversely a spotty year for Pop Music and believe me, I love Pop. I struggled to compile ten of my favourites reflecting the year.
As much as I wanted to dislike Taylor Swift‘s reputation Album, I found myself loving it more immensely the more I held back. And who’d ever have thought I’d have loved Harry Styles’ debut Disc as much as I did? It ranks still as my favourite Album of 2017 led by Sign of the Times. In addition to this, we loved discovering the OST to The Greatest Showman late in the year, which is track after track of infectious perfection. Dua Lipa also is an uncovered gem and we can’t wait for more from this stunning beauty.
SIGHTINGS
Every year we tell ourselves that we’re ready to call it a day with all the Celeb Selfies but as the years pass, we find there’s always new heroes to meet. 2017 was a standout getting to meet several names I’ve longed to meet for many years now. This was the year I finally met Angelina, partied with Jamie Dornan, finally selfied with one of our faves, Sally Hawkins. These are just some of my favourite Celeb moments and believe me, there were many to choose from.
Anna Paquin
T.J. Miller
Cindy Crawford
James Franco
Prince Harry ♥️ Megan Markle
Alison Brie
Dave Franco
Tommy Wiseau
Freddie Highmore
Christian Bale
Rosamund Pike
Angelina Jolie
Liam Neeson
Jamie Dornan
Andy Serkis
James McAvoy
Stanley Tucci
Laurie Metcalf
Diane Lane
Jennifer Lawrence
Sally Hawkins
Jessica Chastain
Michael Cera
Allison Janney
Maisie Williams
Billie Piper
Timothée Chalamet
Stranger Things Kids
Margot Robbie
Niall Horan
Post Malone
Iggy Azalea
Emma Roberts
Shemar Moore
Lea Michele
Andy Cohen
Camila Mendes
Milo Ventamiglia. Click right arrow for Sterling K. Brown!
Mandy Moore
Jaden Smith
Pierce Brosnan
Blake Lively
Dua Lipa
KJ Apa
Stay tuned next week as Team Mr. Will present you their Top Ten Films of 2017!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
By Mr. Will Wong, SiobhĂĄn Rich and Justin Waldman
Now in its 23rd year, FAN EXPO returned once again to Toronto this weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre celebrating fandom and bringing fans close to their idols of past and future. The extravaganza continues to pull-in upwards of 129,000 people from around the world with panels, exhibits, signings and photo ops galore. There’s even Speed-Dating for the geek-minded.
Cosplayers were out in full festive force with several paying tribute to the likes of The Joker, Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman and Doctor Who.
A major highlight this year was the reunion of the original ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Cast including a seldom-seen Tim Curry, who was available for photo ops and also pre-signed memorabilia. His Castmates Meat Loaf, Nell Campbell, Barry Bostwick and Patricia Quinn also made their way to Fan Expo.
A hot ticket item this weekend, selling-out, was photo ops for the Cast of STRANGER THINGS including Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo. The former also appeared with his fellow Castmates from another production in which he stars, hotly-anticipated Stephen King Remake IT, out next week.
This year, Fan Expo‘s Guest List was heavy on talent filming in the City including Cast members from STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, which sees a premiere on CBS this September including Sonequa Martin-Green, Anthony Rapp and Doug Jones.
Meanwhile, returning favourites Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), John Barrowman (Arrow), Nathan Fillion (Castle), Stephen Amell (Arrow), Anthony Daniels (Star Wars) and Matt Smith (Doctor Who) also proved popular.
THOR: RAGNAROK EXHIBIT
Among the several dazzling displays and exhibits at Fan Expo Canada this year was an exhibit for eagerly-awaited THOR: RAGNAROK from Marvel, giving fans get an exclusive first look at the costumes and pieces seen in the Movie.
In this third Thor Movie, our hero faces his toughest villain yet, Hela played by Cate Blanchett, and her costume makes the villain even more daunting. A black and green costume with a 3D printed headpiece that resembles something similar to a creature from nightmares it truly is a sight to behold. As well the headpiece was never actually worn in the film but rather carried afterwards in very careful placement to fit the Film.
Next is Karl Urbanâs Skurge and without giving away too much information about the character he seems to be a forced to be reckoned with as well. A double-sided axe that is truly remarkable accompanies his costume. As well his costume is made of actual steel and fabric, making it one of the more impressive costumes.
Loki’s (Tom Hiddleston) costume takes its final form in this third Film. There are little tidbits of goodies in the costume as well, if we remember the first Avengers Film, the necklace Loki wears has a small piece in his costume this time around as an ode to that other appearance.
Next we have hotly-anticipated Jeff Goldblumâs The Grandmaster whose fabric costume is so much more impressive in person that anyone could have ever imagined. The layers of fabric and costume it self really stands out and boasts the character.
Two really cool props from Ragnarok are from the Hulk Vs Thor scenes where we get a first up close look at Hulkâs sword and hammer that he uses in the fight. These props are massive and certainly a dream come true for fans to be able to see these props up close and personal.
One of the most impressive pieces at Fan Expoâs exhibit this year was Thorâs costume itself, as it is a mish-mash of different pieces. While he is away from Asgard and fighting, he acquires different pieces of his costume and writing on his costume that shows his journey. However the most interesting piece for fans would be Thorâs helmet, which many fans have dreamed of seeing since the first Movie came out.
Photos from the THOR: RAGNAROK Exhibit. Hover cursor left and right below to navigate.
This gorgeous star of X-Men, Taken, The Wolverine, The Blacklist, How to Get Away with Murder, The Blacklist and Hemlock Grove, the latter filmed right in our City, returns to Toronto again once again. She tells her fans at her panel about her experience working with Hugh Jackman who would go on to be in the widely-acclaimed LOGAN. “It’s impossible to envision anyone else playing that role”, she says about her Co-Star. “I’m grateful to have worked with him.”.Â
On Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner playing a role she helped shape in upcoming X-Men: Dark Phoenix, she says “I think she’s amazing. She reached out to me when she got cast as Jean Grey and asked what pointers I had for her and I told her she’s amazing and to just follow your gut and that’s what she did.”.
TIM CURRY
You know you’re iconic when your Films are remade and your roles are reprised. This iconic star of Rocky Horror Picture Show and the original Pennywise in Stephen King’s IT, which is projected to make a huge splash next weekend at the Box Office, made a rare appearance at this year’s Fan Expo treating fans to an intimate panel.
On which of his projects he considers his favourites, Curry says “Well, I guess one of them is Clue where my part was as big as the Bible. I also love Muppet Treasure Island.“.
On his phenomenal voicework in Animation, he says “I love it. I’ve never been a contortionist. The day is young and one day I hope to be.”.Â
While he is the idol of many who attended his panel, he cites Alec Guinness as being someone he looks up to.
JOHN BARROWMAN
This star of Doctor Who, Desperate Housewives, Torchwood, Legends of Tomorrow and of course Arrow is loved by many a fan. Â He reflects on the fun he has had on the latter. “A lot of things happened and part of what I like to do is making people crack-up by doing something from across of them. Stephen (Amell) is really easy to crack-up”.
In what will be the most talked-about moment of Fan Expo Canada 2017, Barrowman was asked by a fan at his panel whom his best on-screen kiss was with. Â A fan who went by the name Montana then rushed the stage to the shock of the crowd and Barrowman, and the two embraced in a kiss which had the fan going shirtless. The crowd went ecstatic. Â David Tennant, his Doctor Who Co-Star was his favourite kiss, by the way!
The best kind of audience participation at @JohnBarrowman‘s @FANEXPOCANADA panel. #FXC17 pic.twitter.com/Ls81n9x934
â MsTypo (@Typo_eh) September 1, 2017
KATHLEEN TURNER
Those of us who grew-up in the ’80s have fond memories of Turner‘s work in classics like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Turner reflected on her beginnings as an actress with her fans. She claims “I didn’t see many films. I always felt like Film happened to me.”. “Most of my imagination was satisfied by reading. This is how I always thought I wanted to be an actor”, she says. “This is my 40th year in my profession and it is still absolutely thrilling to be doing it. I am now entering my fourth profession and I will be doing Cabaret. I can sing.”.
MATT SMITH
In addition to its presence being felt largely this year with several fans dressed as Dr. Who, Matt Smith returned to Fan Expo once again this year. On his eventual exit from the beloved Series, Smith says “Yeah, I always knew I was going to stay for another year. Maybe I would’ve stayed on for another year. But then I thought I couldn’t get too comfortable. It’s a difficult show to leave because it’s such a brilliant character but as an actor you have to continue to do things that frighten you and make you uncomfortable.”. Â
Smith currently can be seen in Netflix‘s acclaimed The Crown as Philip.
See some Snaps from Fan Expo Canada 2017. Navigate by hovering cursor over left and right of gallery.
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Missed it this year? Learn more about FAN EXPO CANADA right here and come next year!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/SiobhĂĄn Rich/Justin Waldman)
Some exciting updates from your favourite streaming service Netflix today out of Beverly Hills as a junket was held announcing some important 2016 dates for the slate. Â Here are the details below:
Black Mirror: British star Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Beyond the Lights, Concussion and Doctor Who) and Canada’s Mackenzie Davis (The F Word, Halt and Catch Fire and The Martian) have been cast in lead roles in one of the episodes of the Netflix original series Black Mirror. Owen Harris (Kill Your Friends) will direct the episode. Created and written by Charlie Brooker, the series is produced by House of Tomorrow, and Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones serve as executive producers.
Marvelâs Jessica Jones – Will Return for Second Installment
Currently streaming its first season on Netflix, Marvelâs Jessica Jones is a suspenseful, edgy look into the life of Jessica Jones, one of the most popular new Marvel characters of the last decade. After a tragic ending to her short-lived Super Hero stint, Jessica Jones is rebuilding her personal life and career as a private investigator in New York Cityâs Hellâs Kitchen neighborhood. Criticsâ Choice award nominee Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones) is joined by an amazing cast including David Tennant (Kilgrave), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Rachael Taylor (Trish Walker), Carrie-Anne Moss, Eka Darville, Erin Moriarty, and Wil Traval, among others. The series is executive produced by series showrunner Melissa Rosenberg (Twilight, Dexter) and Liz Friedman (Elementary), along with Jeph Loeb (Marvelâs Daredevil, Lost, Marvelâs Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).
Flaked – Premieres globally Friday, March 11, 2016 at 12:01am PT
Flaked is the serio-comic story of Chip, a celebrated long-time resident of the insular world of Venice, California who falls for the object of his best friend’s fascination. Soon the tangled web of half-truths and semi-bullshit that underpins his all-important image and sobriety begins to unravel. Five-time Emmy Award nominee Will Arnett plays Chip, a man doing his honest best to stay one step ahead of his own lies. The series also stars David Sullivan, Ruth Kearney and George Basil. Executive producers Will Arnett and Mark Chappell (The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret) co-created and co-wrote the 8-episode series. Ben Silverman (Founder and Chairman of Electus), Peter Principato and Mitch Hurwitz (Arrested Development) also serve as executive producers on the show. Electus and Principato-Young are providing production services. Flaked is a Netflix production. Link to first look photos here.
The Ranch – First 10-episodes premiere globally Friday, April 1, 2016 at 12:01am PT
Set in present day on a Colorado ranch, this multi-camera comedy series stars Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Sam Elliott and Debra Winger. The show follows Coltâs (Kutcher) return home after a brief and failed semi- pro football career to run the family ranching business with his older brother Jameson âRoosterâ (Masterson) and father Beau (Elliott), whom he hasnât seen in 15 years. Winger stars as Coltâs and Roosterâs mother, Maggie, who runs the local town bar. The Ranch is executive produced by Don Reo (Two and Half Men,My Wife and Kids) and Jim Patterson (Two and a Half Men, Mike and Molly). Kutcher and Masterson serve as executive producers and co-executive producer respectively.
Lost & Found Music Studios – Premieres globally on Friday, April 1 at 12:01am PT
As part of the expanding slate for tweens and teens, Lost & Found Music Studios is a live action series about a group of talented teenage musicians who struggle to find their authentic sound and place in the world as they hone their craft at a prestigious music studio. In each episode, young artists navigate the ups and downs of the music industry, as they find their way to love, inspiration, and redemption. After all, the next hit song could be just one heartbreak away.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Second installment premieres globallyFriday, April 15, 2016 at 12:01am PT
After living in a cult for fifteen years, Kimmy (Ellie Kemper – The Office) decides to reclaim her life and start over in New York City. Armed with just a backpack, light-up sneakers, and a couple of way-past-due library books, sheâs ready to take on a world she didnât even think existed anymore. Wide-eyed but resilient, nothing is going to stand in her way. She quickly finds a new job (working for 30 Rock’s Jane Krakowski), a new roommate (Tituss Burgess – 30 Rock), and a new beginning. The cast also includes Lauren Adams, Sara Chase, Sol Miranda and Emmy winner Carol Kane (Taxi, The Princess Bride). The first season of this acclaimed comedy was nominated for an EmmyÂź award.
Kong: King of the Apes – Premieres globally on Friday, April 15, 2016 at 12:01am PT
This animated TV series for kids from Executive Producer Avi Arad, this is a fresh and modern take on the classic King Kong story. Set in 2050, KONG is still the strongest creature ever born with many human traits that make him the ultimate iconic hero. In KONG, the future looks bright for San Franciscoâs Alcatraz Island since its transformation into the most impressive Natural History and Marine Preserve on the planet. But when the star attraction suddenly goes ape and KONG becomes public enemy number one, the villain that framed him is free to unleash an army of gigantic robotic dinosaurs on the unsuspecting world. Ironically, KONG is the only force formidable enough to stop these super-powered dinosaurs and the evil genius manipulating them. But KONG is now the worldâs most hunted fugitive. Fortunately, there are three young humans who know the truth and are willing to risk their lives to help KONG evade capture, while he battles to save humankind.
Marseille – Premieres globally Friday, May 5, 2016 at 12:01am CET
As the municipal elections approach in Marseille, Robert Taro, the city’s Mayor for the last twenty years, prepares his last coup: push through the vote for the construction of a casino in the historic center of the Marina. Nothing has been left to chance, and his successor, Lucas BarrĂšs, is already designated. But the latter’s all-consuming ambition and the secret interests of the city’s leaders, whether they come from its opulent villas or from the cities of the northern suburbs, impede the Mayor’s plans. The race for Mayor becomes a power struggle where no holds are barred. Only one question arises: how far will they go? The cast includes GĂ©rard Depardieu (Robert Taro), BenoĂźt Magimel (Lucas BarrĂšs), GĂ©raldine Pailhas (Rachel Taro), Nadia FarĂšs (Vanessa dâAbrantĂšs), StĂ©phane Caillard (Julia), Jean-RenĂ© Privat (Cosini), Guillaume Arnault (Eric), Hedi Bouchenafa (Farid), Carolina Jurczak (Barbara), and Nassim Si Ahmed (Selim). Marseille is written by Dan Franck who serves as Executive Producer. Florent Siri (âClocloâ), director of episodes 1-4, also serves as Executive Producer. Thomas Gilou is the director of episodes 5-8. Marseille is produced by Paris-based Federation Entertainment, led by Pascal Breton, producer of the hit French series Dolmen and Sous le Soleil. Link to Marseille date announcement here.
Grace and Frankie – Second installment premieres globally Friday, May 6, 2016 at 12:01am PT
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star as Grace and Frankie, two women whose lives are suddenly turned upside down when their husbands, played by Martin Sheen (âRobertâ) and Sam Waterston (âSolâ), reveal they are gay and leave them for each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, they form an unlikely bond to face an uncertain future together and discover a new definition of âfamily,â with laughter, tears and plenty of mood enhancers along the way. From executive producers Marta Kauffman (Friends) and Howard J. Morris (Home Improvement), the hilarious and heartbreaking comedy takes on aging with gusto â from joint pain to joint rolling and blind dates to night blindness â and offers a poignant look at how lifeâs turning points show us who we really are. The series also stars Brooklyn Decker, Ethan Embry, Baron Vaughn and June Diane Raphael. In addition to Kauffman and Morris, the series is also executive-produced by David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross from Skydance Productions, along with Paula Weinstein and Fonda and Tomlin.
Word Party – Premieres globally on Friday, June 3 at 12:01am PT
A vocabulary building show for preschoolers from The Jim Henson Company, Word Party follows four adorable baby animals as they sing, dance and play. The show invites our youngest viewers to help teach the baby animals new words, learn these new words themselves, and even celebrate these achievements with a âWord Party!â Word Party is produced using the groundbreaking Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, a proprietary technology from Jim Hensonâs Creature Shop that allows puppeteers to perform digitally animated characters in real time – enabling the animation to be more lifelike and spontaneous.
Orange is the New Black – Fourth installment premieres Friday, June 17, 2016 at 12:01am PT
Ready to do a little more time with the ladies of Litchfield? The outrageous, award-winning and critically-acclaimed series from Emmyâ Award winner Jenji Kohan stars Taylor Schilling, Uzo Aduba, Laura Prepon, Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Laverne Cox, Dascha Polanco, Michael Harney, Danielle Brooks, Taryn Manning, Selenis Leyva, Yael Stone, Nick Sandow, Samira Wiley, Lea DeLaria, Jackie Cruz, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Adrienne Moore. Lionsgate Television produces the series. Link to Orange is the New Black date announcement here.
Stranger Things – Premieres globally Friday, July 15, 2016 at 12:01am PT
The new drama series written and directed by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer (Wayward Pines, Hidden) consists of eight, one-hour long episodes. In the series, a young boy vanishes into thin air. As friends, family, and local police search for answers, they are drawn into an extraordinary mystery involving top secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and one very strange little girl. The series, set in Indiana, is a love letter to the â80s classics that captivated a generation. Stranger Things stars Winona Ryder (Show Me a Hero), David Harbour (Suicide Squad), Finn Wolfhard (The 100, Aftermath, The Resurrection), Millie Brown (BBCâs Intruders, Once Upon A Time, NCIS), Gaten Matarazzo (The Blacklist), Caleb McLaughlin (The Lion King on Broadway), Noah Schnapp (Bridge of Spies, The Peanuts Movie), Natalia Dyer (After Darkness, Hannah Montana: The Movie), Charlie Heaton (Shut In, Urban and the Shed Crew), and Matthew Modine (Weeds, Proof). The Duffer Brothers are writing, directing and showrunning the series, and will serve as executive producers along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen via their 21 Laps entertainment banner (The Spectacular Now, Night At The Museum, Real Steel, Date Night). Stranger Things is a Netflix production.
The Get Down – Part-one premieres globally Friday, August 12, 2016 at 12:01am PT
The first six episodes of Baz Luhrmannâs all-new music-driven drama, from Sony Pictures Television, will focus on 1970s New York City â broken down and beaten up, violent, cash strapped — dying. Consigned to rubble, a rag-tag crew of South Bronx teenagers are nothings and nobodies with no one to shelter them â except each other, armed only with verbal games, improvised dance steps, some magic markers and spray cans. From Bronx tenements, to the SoHo art scene; from CBGBs to Studio 54 and even the glass towers of the just-built World Trade Center, The Get Down is a mythic saga of how New York at the brink of bankruptcy gave birth to hip-hop, punk and disco — told through the lives and music of the South Bronx kids who changed the city, and the world…forever. Luhrmann, director of Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet, and The Great Gatsby, will direct the first episode and serve as executive producer, overseeing all creative aspects of the show. Joining him on the creative team are four-time Academy-Award winner Catherine Martin (The Great Gatsby,Moulin Rouge!), along with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Stephen Adly Guirgis (The Motherf***er With The Hat) and hip-hop historian and writer Nelson George, and a trio of the pioneers of hip-hop: Grandmaster Flash, DJ Kool Herc, and Afrika Bambaataa, each of whom will also be portrayed on the series. The cast includes Shameik Moore, Justice Smith, Herizen Guardiola, Skylan Brooks, Tremaine Brown Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jimmy Smits, Giancarlo Esposito and Jaden Smith.
Love – Premieres Friday, February 19, 2016 Created, written and executive produced by Judd Apatow, Paul Rust and Lesley Arfin, Love follows nice guy Gus (Paul Rust) and brazen wild-child Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) as they navigate the exhilarations and humiliations of intimacy, commitment, love and other things they were hoping to avoid. Love is an unflinching, hilarious and excruciatingly honest take on modern relationships. Brent Forrester and Dean Holland also serve as executive producers. The first installment – 10-half-hour episodes – premieres globally Friday, February 19, 2016.
House of Cards – Fourth installment premieres Friday, March 4, 2016, as announced previously.
(Photo credit: Netflix Canada)
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
In 2005, Judd Apatow unspooled The 40-Year-Old Virgin and instantly became the go-to Comedy Mastermind. And while his Cast has had unparalleled success since, Apatowâs features as a Writer/Director have not. So for his fifth Feature, he decided to stay behind the camera and let someone else write the Story. And when that someone happens to be Comedic Goddess Amy Schumer, all bets are off.
Amy (Schumer) is a writer for a low-brow menâs magazine, and is all but totally against the idea of monogamy. She is content to drink, smoke and move from guy to guy with no commitments. But that changes when she is assigned to write an article on sport doctor/surgeon Aaron (Bill Hader). After hooking-up, Amy and Aaron begin a relationship. And like all Meet-Cutes, it only gets complicated from there.
Trainwreck is easily the funniest Film of the summer, and one of the funniest in recent memory. It is a Romantic Comedy, but does not play by any of the conventional rules. It feels genuine and fun, giving an unglamourous look at something that Film has romanticized for far too long.
Schumer is terrific in her first leading role. She commands the screen from the moment she shows up, and makes her Character feel authentic and real. She is not some girl pining for Prince Charming to take her away to his castle â this is a confident Character, with real problems, feelings and emotions. Her Comedy is not for everyone (and some may find her Characterâs behaviour to be abhorrent), but I nearly fell out of my seat from laughing so hard at some of her quips and actions. Schumer has an infectious energy that drives Trainwreck, giving it a pulse even at its lowest moments. She is very much the post-modern feminist, and Apatow wisely never tries to reel her in.
Hader plays against-type as Amyâs love interest Aaron. He plays the entire Film straight-laced and succeeds spectacularly. I remain shocked that his Character remains so normal and neutral, never creeping into his usual zany SNL-style schtick. Another surprise is LeBron James, who seems to have been given the gift of deadpan humour. His scenes are some of the best in the Film, and kudos to him for staying so stone-faced even with the most outrageous portions of dialogue. Supporting turns from Colin Quinn, Brie Larson, Tilda Swinton and the WWEâs John Cena are all excellent and downright hysterical.
But for how wildly-enjoyable the Film is, it fumbles in the Third Act where it gets progressively sillier and stranger. What starts off as a very modern look at relationships quickly devolves into something that lacks the cohesion and even the intelligence that came before it. By the time the ending comes, it just feels a bit baffling (and not in the preposterous The 40-Year-Old Virgin kind of way). I am not sure if this is because of Schumerâs Script or Apatowâs direction â but it is not helped by the Film running 20 minutes longer than it should. Apatow long has been criticized for his Filmsâ lack of brevity, and while Trainwreck runs out of steam a bit later you might imagine, it still feels too long.
Despite a weak Third Act, Trainwreck is hysterical the whole way through. Schumer has written a modern take on relationships that very rarely feels forced, and manages to often feel just as genuine as it does poignant. Her chemistry with Hader is awesome, and the Supporting Cast is ridiculously-funny. Apatow still has some growing to do as a Director, but Schumer is a Star.
Universal Pictures Canada release TRAINWRECK on Friday, July 17, 2015.
Pacific Northwest Pictures + Mr. Will want you to win a copy of OCTOBER GALE on DVD!
Official Synopsis:
A killer stalks a remote island in this edge-of-your-seat thriller starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman, and Tim Roth. Helen (Clarkson), a recently widowed doctor, returns home to her isolated cottage off the Canadian coast to find a stranger with a gunshot wound (Speedman) hiding out from two men intent on killing him. As an ominous storm brews outside, trapping the pair on the island, they must join forces to survive a harrowing night of terror, while navigating the mounting attraction growing between them. Full of hairpin plot twists and unrelenting tension, October Gale is a grippingly suspenseful spine-chiller.
Watch the Trailer:
Patricia Clarkson + Mr. Will:
Â
#ScottSpeedman at #TIFF14 for #OctoberGale. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook!
Pacific Northwest Pictures release OCTOBER GALE on DVD, now in stores!
Order a copy here.
(Photo/video credit: Pacific Northwest Pictures)
Pacific Northwest Pictures + Mr. Will want to take you to see TIFF ’14 Selection OCTOBER GALE in Toronto and Vancouver!
Official Synopsis:
A killer stalks a remote island in this edge-of-your-seat thriller starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman, and Tim Roth. Helen (Clarkson), a recently widowed doctor, returns home to her isolated cottage off the Canadian coast to find a stranger with a gunshot wound (Speedman) hiding out from two men intent on killing him. As an ominous storm brews outside, trapping the pair on the island, they must join forces to survive a harrowing night of terror, while navigating the mounting attraction growing between them. Full of hairpin plot twists and unrelenting tension, October Gale is a grippingly suspenseful spine-chiller.
Watch the Trailer:
Patricia Clarkson + Mr. Will:
#ScottSpeedman at #TIFF14 for #OctoberGale. #NikonD3300
A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
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Pacific Northwest Pictures release OCTOBER GALE on Friday, March 27, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Pacific Northwest Pictures)
Seven-time Tour de France-winning Cyclist Lance Armstrong certainly is no stranger to controversy and not one, but two Films are on their way about his fall from grace after his doping offences were brought to light.
Just beginning production this past weekend, Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena) is directing a Biopic simply known as The Cycling Project,  based on the Book Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong by David Walsh.  Cast in the role of  Sportswriter Walsh is Australian Actor Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, The Sapphires), who persistently hounds Armstrong for years.  Playing Armstrong is Ben Foster (seen above) who has been selective in his roles to date, but soon will be seen in Kill Your Darlings, opposite Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan.  He currently is attached to Robin Wright and both were spotted in Toronto at TIFF ’13 just last month.  StudioCanal is producing the Film.  TIFF ’14, perhaps?
Also premiering at TIFF ’13 was Documentary The Armstrong Lie by Filmmaker Alex Gibney who followed Armstrong for four years following his Comeback post-Cancer to his admission of doping in 2012, following a federal investigation.  The Film includes interviews with Armstrong‘s Teammates and Doctors.  “It’s not a Story about doping, it’s a story about Power and hanging onto that Power”, says Gibney.  Mongrel Media releases on Friday, November 29, 2013.
See the Trailer for The Armstrong Lie below:
(Photo credit: StudioCanal | Video credit: Mongrel Media)
Anticipation is building for TIFF ’13, with less than two months to go as Toronto prepares to light-up on Star Power! The first batch of Films were announced by Piers Handling and Cameron Bailey on July 23, 2013 at TIFF Bell Lightbox and indeed there are several exciting Galas and Premieres to take place in Toronto this September. Today, August 8, 2013 the Canadian Film Slate was unveiled also!
The Opening Night Gala slot goes to DreamWorks‘ highly-anticipated WikiLeaks Film, The Fifth Estate from Director Bill Condon. “It’s about one of the most important issues of the day, information, and who controls it”, says Bailey. The Crime-Comedy, Life of Crime, will close-out the Festival.
With only one-quarter of the titles announced, there are several more Titles to be confirmed in coming weeks. I’ve also listed some major Contenders to get their Premieres here in the City after Labour Day Weekend! Most of these are based on Awards buzz, with speculation being made based on their release dates or the fact that they already are on the Festival Circuit.
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AMONG THE CONFIRMED:
The Fifth Estate – A look at the relationship between WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his early supporter and eventual colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg, and how the website’s growth and influence led to an irreparable rift between the two friends. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Stanley Tucci, Daniel BrĂŒhl, Laura Linney and Anthony Mackie.
August: Osage County – A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Stars Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Juliette Lewis and Abigail Breslin.
12 Years a Slave – In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Giamatti.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – A chronicle of Nelson Mandela‘s life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Stars: Naomie Harris, Idris Elba and Robert Hobbs.
The Railway Man – A victim from World War II’s “Death Railway” sets out to find those responsible for his torture. A true story. Stars Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth and Stellan SkarsgĂ„rd.
The Grand Seduction – A much-needed boost, in the form of a new factory, is promised to the residents of the tiny fishing village St. Marie-La-Mauderne, provided they can lure a doctor to take up full-time residency on the island. Inspired, the villagers devise a scheme to make Dr. Christopher Lewis a local. From Toronto’s Don McKellar, starring Taylor Kitsch, Brendan Gleeson and Liane Balaban.
The Art of the Steal – A third-rate motorcycle daredevil and part-time art thief teams up with his snaky brother to steal one of the most valuable books in the world. Film in Toronto and directed by Jonathan Sobol, it stars Jay Baruchel, Kurt Russell, Katheryn Winnick and Matt Dillon.
The Right Kind of Wrong – Leo the dishwasher falls in love with a bride on the day of her wedding – to another man. Stars Ryan Kwanten and Catherine O’Hara.
Don Jon – A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love. Stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore.
Dallas Buyers Club – The story of Texas electrician Ron Woodroof and his battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies after being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986, and his search for alternative treatments that helped established a way in which fellow HIV-positive people could join for access to his supplies. Stars Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Dennis O’Hare and Steve Zahn.
Devil’s Knot – The savage murders of three young children sparks a controversial trial of three teenagers accused of killing the kids as part of a satanic ritual. The latest from Toronto Director Atom Egoyan, starring Reese Witherspoon, Colin Firth, Mireille Enos and Stephen Moyer.
Labour Day – Depressed single mom Adele and her son Henry offer a wounded, fearsome man a ride. As police search town for the escaped convict, the mother and son gradually learn his true story as their options become increasingly limited. Stars Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin and Tobey Maguire.
Prisoners – A Boston man kidnaps the person he suspects is behind the disappearance of his young daughter and her best friend. Stars Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mario Bello, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo, Terrence Howard and Paul Dano. One of two possible Denis Villeneuve Films to premiere at TIFF.
Rush –Â A biography of Formula 1 champion driver Niki Lauda and the 1976 crash that almost claimed his life. Mere weeks after the accident, he got behind the wheel to challenge his rival, James Hunt. Stars Liam Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde, Natalie Dormer and Daniel BrĂŒhl; Ron Howard directs.
The Past – An Iranian man deserts his French wife and two children to return to his homeland. Meanwhile, his wife starts up a new relationship, a reality her husband confronts upon his wife’s request for a divorce. Stars BĂ©rĂ©nice Bejo, Tahar Rahim and Ali Mosaffa.
Blue is the Warmest Colour – The story of a young lesbian couple’s beginning, middle and possible end. Stars LĂ©a Seydoux, AdĂšle Exarchopoulos and Salim Kechiouche.
Can a Song Save Your Life – A dejected music business executive forms a bond with a young singer-songwriter new to Manhattan. Stars Hailee Steinfeld, Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo.
Belle – Period drama inspired by the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle. She was the illegitimate daughter of John Lindsay a Captain in the Royal Navy, stationed in the Caribbean with a Black woman named Maria Belle who bore him a daughter c. 1762. There has been a great deal of speculation about Maria Belle‘s status: whether enslaved, captured, free and so on. It is likely she was a slave aboard a captured Spanish ship. Stars Sarah Gadon, Matthew Goode and Tom Felton.
Bad Words – A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult. Stars Jason Bateman and Ben Falcone; Bateman also directs.
The Double – A comedy centered on a man who is driven insane by the appearance of his doppleganger. Stars real-life Couple, Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska.
Enough Said – A divorced woman who decides to pursue the man she’s interested in learns he’s her new friend’s ex-husband. Stars the late James Gandolfini, Ben Falcone and Toni Collette.
Ida – Poland 1962 Anna is a novice, an orphan brought up by nuns in the convent. She has to see Wanda, the only living relative, before she takes her vows. Wanda tells Anna that Anna is Jewish. Both women start a journey not only to find their family tragic story, but who they really are and where they belong. They question their religions and ideas they believed in. Both are trying to go on living but only one of them can. Stars Agata Kulesza, Dawid Ogrodnik and Agata Trzebuchowska.
Third Person – Three interlocking love stories involving three couples in three cities: Rome, Paris, and New York. Stars James Franco, Mila Kunis and Olivia Wilde; Toronto’s Paul Haggis directs.
Felony – Life changes in an instant for a decorated police officer on his way home after having a few drinks when he kills a bicyclist, but he ends up hiding the truth from his fellow officers. Stars Joel Edgerton, Jai Courtney and Melissa George.
Gravity – Astronauts attempt to return to Earth after debris crashes into their space shuttle, leaving them drifting alone in orbit. Stars George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.
Like Father, Like Son – Ryota Nonomiya is a successful businessman driven by money. He learns that his biological son was switched with another child after birth. He must make a life-changing decision and choose his true son or the boy he raised as his own. Masaharu Fukuyama, Machiko Ono and YĂŽko Maki.
Mystery Road – An indigenous detective returns to the Outback to investigate the murder of a young girl. Stars Hugo Weaving and Aaron Pedersen.
Joe – An ex-con, who is the unlikeliest of role models, meets a 15-year-old boy and is faced with the choice of redemption or ruin. Stars Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan and Sue Rock.
Man of Tai Chi – A young martial artist’s unparalleled Tai Chi skills land him in a highly lucrative underworld fight club. Stars Keanu Reeves, Hu Chen, and Karen Mok.
Under the Skin – An alien in human form is on a journey through Scotland. Stars Scarlett Johansson, Paul Brannigan and Antonia Campbell-Hughes.
Philomena – A woman searches for her adult son, who taken away from her decades ago when she was forced to live in a convent. Stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.
Night Moves – A drama centered on three environmentalists who plot to blow up a dam. Stars Dakota Fanning and Jesse Eisenberg.
Tracks – A young woman goes on a 1,700 mile trek across the deserts of West Australia with her four camels and faithful dog. Stars Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver.
Pioneer – This conspiracy thriller is set in the early 80’s, the beginning of the Norwegian Oil Boom. Enormous oil and gas deposits are discovered in the North Sea and the authorities aim to bring the oil ashore through a pipeline from depths of 500 meters. A professional diver, Petter, obsessed with reaching the bottom of the Norwegian Sea has the discipline, strength and courage to take on the world’s most dangerous mission. But a sudden, tragic accident changes everything. Petter is sent on a perilous journey where he loses sight of who’s pulling the strings. Gradually he realizes that he is in way over his head and that his life is at stake. Â Stars Wes Bentley and Stephen Lang.
Omar – The portrait of a 17 year-old girl, in 4 seasons and 4 songs. Directed by François Ozon and starring Marine Vacth and GĂ©raldine Pailhas.
Only Lovers Left Alive – A story centered on two vampires who have been in love for centuries. Stars Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton.
Parkland – A recounting of the chaotic events that occurred at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital on the day U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Stars James Badge Dale, Zac Efron, Paul Giamatti, Colin Hanks, Marcia Gay Harden and Billy Bob Thorton.
The Lunchbox – Indian Drama set in Mumbai about love by correspondence. Stars Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Life of Crime – Ordell Robbie and Louis Gara hit it off in prison, where they were both doing time for grand theft auto. Now that they’re out, they’re joining forces for one big score. Stars Jennifer Aniston, Isla Fisher and John Hawkes.
The Green Inferno – A group of student activists travel from New York City to the Amazon to save a dying tribe but crash in the jungle and are taken hostage by the very natives they protected. Stars Lorenza Izzo, Sky Ferreira and Ariel Levy.
All Cheerleaders Die – A rebel girl signs up a group of cheerleaders to help her take down the captain of their high school football team, but a supernatural turn of events thrusts the girls into a different battle. Stars Sianoa Smit-McPhee, Caitlin Stasey and Brianna Womick.
Kill Your Darlings – A murder in 1944 draws together the great poets of the beat generation: Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs. Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Ben Foster, Dane DeHaan, Michael C. Hall and Elizabeth Olsen.
Enemy – A man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie. Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, MĂ©lanie Laurent and Sarah Gadon; a second Denis Villeneuve Film (made in Toronto) which could well premiere at TIFF.
The F Word – A story of a young man and woman who struggle to navigate their friendship, which has developed a deep romantic undercurrent. Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Adam Driver, Rafe Spall, Megan Park and Zoe Kazan.
All the Wrong Reasons – An ensemble Film about four everyday people: a Store Manager, a Security Guard, a Fire Fighter and a Clerk who struggle in the aftermath of trauma. Stars Kevin Zegers, Emily Hampshire and the late Cory Monteith.
Tom Ă la ferme – A grieving Man meets his lover’s family, who were not aware of their son’s sexual orientation. Stars and is directed/written by Festival Favourite Xavier Dolan, Lise Roy and Pierre-Yves Cardinal.
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TO BE CONFIRMED:
Machete Kills – The U.S. government recruits Machete to battle his way through Mexico in order to take down an arms dealer who looks to launch a weapon into space. Stars Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba, Alexa Vega, Mel Gibson, Vanessa Hudgens, Sofia Vergara and Lady Gaga.
Runner Runner – When a poor college student who cracks an online poker game goes bust, he arranges a face-to-face with the man he thinks cheated him, a sly offshore entrepreneur. Stars Ben Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Justin Timberlake and Gemma Arterton.
Carrie – A sheltered high school girl unleashes her newly developed telekinetic powers after she is pushed too far by her peers. Stars Julianne Moore, ChloĂ« Grace-Moretz, Judy Greer, Ansel Elgort, Portia Doubleday and Gabriella Wilde. Filmed in Toronto, this would be a welcome return home and possible Midnight Madness Premiere.
The Counselor – A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking. Stars Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, Natalie Dormer, PenĂ©lope Cruz and Javier Bardem.
Oldboy – An advertising executive is kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement. When he is inexplicably released, he embarks on an obsessive mission to discover who orchestrated his punishment, only to find he is still trapped in a web of conspiracy and torment. Stars Josh Brolin, Samuel L. Jackson and Elizabeth Olsen.
The Wolf of Wall Street – Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, Jon Favreau and Ethan Suplee.
Nebraska – An aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize. Stars Bruce Dern and Will Forte.
Grace of Monaco – The story of former Hollywood star Grace Kelly‘s crisis of marriage and identity, during a political dispute between Monaco’s Prince Rainier III and France’s Charles De Gaulle, and a looming French invasion of Monaco in the early 1960s. Stars Nicole Kidman, Tim Roth and Frank Langella.
American Hustle – The story of a con artist and his partner in crime, who were forced to work with a federal agent to turn the tables on other cons, mobsters, and politicians – namely, the volatile mayor of impoverished Camden, New Jersey. Stars Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Renner.
How to Catch a Monster – A single mother is swept into a dark underworld, while her teenage son discovers a road that leads him to a secret underwater town. Stars Saoirse Ronan, Eva Mendes, Christina Hendricks and Ben Mendelsohn; Ryan Gosling‘s directorial debut.
Noah – The Biblical Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge, and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood. Stars Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly and Anthony Hopkins.
Inside Llewyn Davis – A singer/song-writer navigates New York’s folk music scene during the 1960s. Stars Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Justin Timberlake, Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac.
Haunter – The ghost of a teenager who died years ago reaches out to the land of the living in order to save someone from suffering her same fate. Stars Abigail Breslin, David Hewlett and Stephen McHattie; filmed in Toronto.
Very Good Girls – Two New York City girls pact to lose their virginity during their first summer out of high school. When they both fall for the same street artist, the friends find their connection tested for the first time. Stars Elizabeth Olsen, Dakota Fanning, Demi Moore and Peter Sarsgaard.
Diana – The last two years of Princess Diana‘s life: her campaign against land mines and her relationship with surgeon Dr. Hasnat Khan. Stars Naomi Watts, Cas Anvar and Naveen Andrews.
More Titles at ‘TIFF 13 to come in the coming weeks…Â Full Schedule to be released August 20, 2013.
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(Photo credit: DreamWorks)
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