By Nicholas Porteous

Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and her partner Aaryan (Himesh Patel) want a child. The only problem—they’re living in a dystopian future, the planet is a wreck, and the government has decided any would-be parents must be assessed up front. The criteria for a pass into parenthood is unclear, and the test is designed that way, but the decision is made by assessors, who spend several days observing, testing and judging their subjects. Enter Virginia (Alicia Vikander), a steely-eyed, humourless agent who—when she isn’t probing our leads with questions—takes on the physicality and persona of an extremely difficult child. Throwing food, picking fights, peeing in things that aren’t toilets—it’s all part of The Assessment, which squanders an interesting premise on a questionable group of characters.

It’s difficult to buy into the stakes of the film—whether or not our couple will be granted the right to conceive—because The Assessment doesn’t show any evidence these people actually love—or even like—each other, beyond lip service. There’s no chemistry here, and in fact they spend most of their time becoming less and less invested in each other—not much of a leap from where they begin. The Assessment also features a very troubling depiction of sexual assault, and seems to be implicitly blaming the victim for a crime that’s not their fault in any way. Olsen manages to find an interesting balance between the absurd world she lives in, and the gravity of her desire to bring another human into it. Further evidence she can make anything work. Meanwhile, Patel spends a good deal of his screen time in a big empty virtual room, reciting random numbers and commands that we aren’t supposed to understand in an effort to make digital fur texture feel just right. Vikander makes big swings in every scene, whether she’s pretending to be a kid or a rigid bureaucrat with no bedside manner, but I found her performance too mannered, and it’s impossible to empathize after a scene in the latter half of the Film. My assessment: you already know.

The Assessment screens at TIFF ‘24:

Friday September 13th at 2:00 PM at Scotiabank

Saturday September 14th at 2:45 PM at Scotiabank

By Amanda Gilmore

Jude Law is superbly horrendous as Henry VIII in Director Karim Aïnouz’s first English-language Film.

Firebrand begins with the King’s sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr (Alicia Vikander), left in charge while he’s away. When he returns, obese with swollen oozy legs, Catherine is forced to the side once again. She sees a better way to rule and hopes to influence her husband in the right direction. However, will that determination cause her to end up like her husband’s prior five wives?

At the beginning of the Film, we are told that history is mainly told about men and wars. Firebrand is telling history about neither of the two. It’s proudly focusing on the brave, intelligent Catherine. It’s the first film about Henry VIII told actually from a Feminist point of view.

Catherine cares for all of the prior wives’ children as though they were her own. She is generous to her servants. She even warns her childhood friend whose a vocal critic of the King of his return, even though she’s aware that this act of rebellion may lead to her death. Vikander gives a fierce performance as the courageous Catherine. It’s one that will be among the finest of the year.

Director Aïnouz delivers a brutal Historical Drama that forces you to watch the inhumanity of Henry VIII. His wickedness fully unleashes when his fragile ego leads him to concoct a belief that Catherine has been cheating on him. While Catherine is pregnant, Henry hits, drags and attempts to rape her over this false belief he’s created. Aïnouz’s unflinching direction focuses on this barbarity. It’s a performance from Law unlike any other in his already remarkable career. He’s truly grotesque, revelling in his cruelty. The pairing of Vikander and Law makes for one enthralling showdown that leads to one of the most satisfying film endings.

Firebrand screens at Cannes ’23:

Sun May 21 at 7:30PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Mon May 22 at 9AM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Mon May 22 at 1:30PM at AGNÈS VARDA THEATRE

Mon May 22 at 2PM at CINEUM IMAX

Mon May 22 at 7PM at LICORNE

Tue May 23 at 12PM at CINEUM AURORE

Wed May 24 at 12PM at CINEUM SCREEN X

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Run-of-Engagement Passes to see THE GREEN KNIGHT.

Synopsis:

An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, THE GREEN KNIGHT tells the story of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur‘s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger. From visionary filmmaker David Lowery comes a fresh and bold spin on a classic tale from the knights of the round table. 

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

Elevation Pictures release THE GREEN KNIGHT July 30, 2021.

Rules and regulations here.

You must be following.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Premiering at Cannes, Justin Chon‘s BLUE BAYOU is set to hit theatres this September.

Story: 

An official selection of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival from award-winning writer/director Justin Chon, Blue Bayou is the moving and timely story of a uniquely American family fighting for their future. Antonio LeBlanc (Chon), a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou, is married to the love of his life Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and step-dad to their beloved daughter Jessie. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past when he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home.

Focus Features release BLUE BAYOU September 17, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

John David Washington and Alicia Vikander star in BECKETT, coming to Netflix this August!

Synopsis:

Following a tragic car accident in Greece, Beckett, an American tourist, finds himself at the center of a dangerous political conspiracy – and on the run for his life.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Due in theatres this Summer is THE GREEN KNIGHT starring Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander and Joel Edgerton, written and directed by David Lowery!

Synopsis:

An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur‘s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger, and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger. From visionary filmmaker David Lowery comes a fresh and bold spin on a classic tale from the knights of the round table.

See the Trailer:

Elevation Pictures release THE GREEN KNIGHT in theatres this Summer!

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Director Julie Taymor adapts Gloria Steinem’s Autobiography “My Life on The Road” for the big screen.

Taymor brings her signature style to the screen in telling Steinem’s extraordinary life. Instead of telling a conventional Biopic Taymor breaks up Steinem’s life into four age groups. Those four Glorias sit on a bus that continues to ride and ask each other questions about their own life. This unique decision separates this linear biopic from the rest. Top it all off with the talents of Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore playing Steinem at different periods in her life. It’s clear this is one not to be missed.

The Glorias screens at Sundance on Sun, Jan. 26th at 12 PM at Eccles Theatre, Tues, Jan. 28th 8:45 AM at Eccles Theatre, Fri, Jan. 31st at 9:15 PM at the Grand Theatre, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 9:30 PM at The Ray Theatre.

Mr. Will wants to give Readers a chance to attend a special Fan screening of TOMB RAIDER on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in Toronto!

Synopsis:
Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished when she was scarcely a teen. Now a young woman of 21 without any real focus or purpose, Lara navigates the chaotic streets of trendy East London fd as a bike courier, barely making the rent, and takes college courses, rarely making it to class. Determined to forge her own path, she refuses to take the reins of her father’s global empire just as staunchly as she rejects the idea that he’s truly gone. Advised to face the facts and move forward after seven years without him, even Lara can’t understand what drives her to finally solve the puzzle of his mysterious death.

Going explicitly against his final wishes, she leaves everything she knows behind in search of her dad’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. But her mission will not be an easy one; just reaching the island will be extremely treacherous. Suddenly, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Lara, who—against the odds and armed with only her sharp mind, blind faith and inherently stubborn spirit—must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown. If she survives this perilous adventure, it could be the making of her, earning her the name tomb raider.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

All guests are encouraged to wear any TOMB RAIDER or Lara Croft gear to this special fan screening.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release TOMB RAIDER Friday, March 16, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Submergence is the newest Film from Wim Wenders and follows two lovers (Alicia Vikander and James McAvoy) whose careers force them oceans apart.

The performances from Vikander and McAvoy anchor this Film both individually and together. Their magnetic chemistry is essential to believing these characters are willing to spend months apart just for a moment together again. The sets are stunning and Wenders shoots the ocean romantically finding beauty in the vast water. Unfortunately, Submergence in its script, fails to captivate beginning to end.

Submergence screens at TIFF on Sept. 10 at Elgin at 6:15 PM and Sept. 11 at TBLB1 at 3 PM.

eOne Films x Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto to an Advance Screening of TULIP FEVER on Wednesday, August 30, 2017.

Synopsis:
In 17th Century Amsterdam, an orphaned girl (Alicia Vikander) is forcibly married to a rich and powerful merchant (Christoph Waltz) – an unhappy “arrangement” that saves her from poverty. After her husband commissions a portrait, she begins a passionate affair with the painter (Dane DeHaan), a struggling young artist. Seeking to escape the merchant’s ever-reaching grasp, the lovers risk everything and enter the frenzied tulip bulb market, with the hope that the right bulb will make a fortune and buy their freedom.

Cast: Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne,  Jack O’Connell, Holliday Grainger, Christoph Waltz, Zach Galifianakis, Judi Dench.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. “Favourite” this Tweet on Twitter: @mrwillw for an extra chance!

eOne Films release TULIP FEVER Friday, September 1, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)