By Mr. Will Wong
Premiering as part of TIFF‘s Primetime Programme dedicated to Television, Channel 4‘s ALICE & JACK stars Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson as two lovers who meet online and despite not having much in common initially, the sparks fly.
Alice however, is cold and adamant that Jack should never call her again, though they both cannot stop thinking about one another. This goes off and on for several years and amidst the gaps, Jack is forced to move on with his life and this poses problems with mysterious Alice suddenly resurfacing again in his life. Why is she so afraid to let him in?
Victor Levin writes and Juho Kuosmanen directs, with some phenomenal work by our two leads, particularly Riseborough who keeps us hanging with her outbursts of anger, which are balanced by sudden acts of kindness that keep us guessing what her deal is.
The limitations of the television format push the pacing along too rapidly and things unfold and get resolved some times a little too conveniently despite the Series never backing away from exploring the complex messiness of love. In fact, we are seeing a recurring theme among some of the biggest titles at TIFF ’23 – an exploration of dynamics between men and women and also the psychological impacts of trauma. Our attention was kept throughout the 83-minute runtime.
ALICE & JACK screens at TIFF ’23:
Saturday, September 16
Royal Alexandra Theatre
5:00 PM
Sunday, September 17
TIFF Bell Lightbox
9:15 AM
Matthew Warchus’ MATHILDA THE MUSICAL is soon before us and today we get a glimpse of the new Trailer of this grand production, based on Roald Dahl‘s beloved book!
Synopsis:
A brand new take on the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical. Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical tells the story of an extraordinary girl, with a vivid imagination, who dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.
Cast: Academy Award® Winner Emma Thompson (Miss Trunchbull), Alisha Weir (Matilda); Lashana Lynch (Miss Honey), Stephen Graham (Mr. Wormwood), Andrea Riseborough (Mrs. Wormwood), Sindhu Vee (Mrs. Phelps)
Also Introducing: Charlie Hodson-Prior (Bruce Bogtrotter), Meesha Garbett (Hortensia), Rei Yamauchi Fulker (Lavender), Winter Jarrett Glasspool (Amanda Thripp), Andrei Shen (Eric), Ashton Robertson (Nigel)
By Mr. Will Wong
Director Michael Morris (Better Call Saul, 13 Reasons Why) is known primarily for his work in Television, but makes his feature debut at SXSW with TO LESLIE. The Texas-set Drama centers on Leslie (Andrea Riseborough), a single mother who has made some poor life choices and after winning the lottery some years ago, blowing it all away. She lost custody of her son and has bottomed-out, going from stranger to stranger, turning to alcohol as her sources of comfort. She’s burned bridges around town and they aren’t afraid to remind her.
She meets Sweeney (Marc Maron), who owns a local motel. He gives her a chance to start again, hiring her on as a cleaner. Leslie however struggles, returning to her old self-destructive ways. This seems to be her last chance at getting her life in order and a shot at redemption with her son, a cross she’s beared for many years.
While TO LESLIE takes some time to unfold, Morris gives scenes the space to breathe and his audience to ponder. And your patience is rewarded if you wait to the end. Riseborough‘s superb work cannot be denied. She delivers a performance that makes one feel the weight of the world she carries on her shoulders. She’s numb to her critics, including Nancy (Allison Janney) who once loved her but now loathes her, and is really just trying to get through the day and not get fired. While her relationship with Sweeney doesn’t erase her problems, it awakens that little bit of vigor she needs to move forward again and for things to fall into place. The Film possesses great heart and soul because of the care and compassion Riseborough puts into Leslie and the struggles she’s facing. Sidenote: she produces the Film alongside Maron.
TO LESLIE screens at SXSW ’22 as follows:
Mar 12, 20228:30pm—10:29pm
Mar 13, 9:00am CDT – Mar 15, 9:00am CDT9:00am—10:59am
Mar 15, 202212:45pm—2:44pm
Mar 18, 20229:45pm—11:44pm
By George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong
As much as I am a cat person, I am a greater fan of Benedict Cumberbatch and THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN had me in a cinematic nirvana state. Set in London in the late 1800s, this is real life story of an ambidextrous Artist who we first meet selling his drawings of animals at country fairs while studying the skills of boxing and dealing with an overly excitable and exuberant family at home. Louis Wain may lack social graces and friendships due to his extreme views on a number of topics, he endeavours to live in a less chaotic household and hires Emily Richardson (Claire Foy) as a governess to tutor and care for his younger sisters. Louis and Emily fall in love, marry, and move out to a country estate where they find a stray kitten. Inspired by this furry intruder, Louis Wain ultimately becomes the toast of Victorian London for his many published drawings of humanized and animated cats.
This is Cumberbatch’s most eccentric, irresistible and accomplished performance to date. Everything: from the timbre of his voice to how his body language differs to whoever he is with; even his rapid-paced, hip hoppity gait is a marvel to watch. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Claire Foy is equally magnetic to watch, even if her role is less showy. With outstanding performances from Andrea Riseborough and Toby Jones in supporting roles and a most sensual vocal narration from Academy Award winner Olivia Colman, THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN is a must-see.
It screens:
Sat, Sep 11 IN-PERSON Visa Skyline Drive-In at Ontario Place 8:30 PM
Sat, Sep 11 IN-PERSON Roy Thomson Hall 9:30 PM
Sun, Sep 12 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox
Mon, Sep 13 CANADIAN SATELLITE SCREENING Cineplex Cinemas Summerside 6:00 PM
Fri, Sep 17 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox
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)
Review by Amanda Gilmore
Writer-Director Stacey Gregg is making her Feature debut with this unsettling Psychological Thriller. It follows Laura (Andrea Riseborough) who, along with her husband and son, is grieving the loss of her young daughter, Josie. When a new family moves in next door, Laura becomes close with their daughter, Megan (Niamh Dornan), who would’ve been the same age as Josie. When Megan begins talking about intimate details involving Josie and the night she died, Laura begins to believe that Megan is the reincarnation of her daughter.
Here Before is a suspenseful journey that keeps its audience on the edge of their seats. The suspense is amplified through disquieting sound and music by Adam Janota Bzowski. This sound, along with Gregg’s strong direction, creates an ominous atmosphere that becomes increasingly unsettling with each scene. Gregg’s layered Script uses Laura’s and her family’s grief to create ample amounts of mystery surrounding what is and isn’t real. This is aided by the precision editing from Brian Philip Davis. Impressively, the mystery is kept until the climax when the shocking truth is finally revealed.
At the core of Here Before is the ever-talented Riseborough, who delivers an outstanding performance and an impeccable Northern Irish accent. She roots Laura in her grief which creates audiences to relate and understand her. In doing so, audiences continue to be on Laura’s side even when her actions become questionable. Additionally, the very young Dornan turns in a powerful performance that shows talent beyond her years. She creates an equal balance of eeriness and childhood-charm in Megan which aides in the mystery of the narrative.
Here Before screens at SXSW Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 1 PM ET.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Burden is the true life story of Mike Burden (Garrett Hedlund) who opens a KKK Museum in South Carolina with fellow Klan members. When he falls in love with Judy (Andrea Riseborough) he makes the choice to leave the KKK and gets taken in by an African-American Reverend (Forest Whitaker).
What makes Burden a standout is that its told through the perspective of a previous Klan member. Writer-Director Andrew Heckler is unforgiving in his depiction of the horrifying acts which the Klan members practice. But also balances the KKK members’ ideals and the African-American ideals equally which entices the story.
Burden also sees Hedlund’s greatest performance to date. His performance is fearless and all-in. Hedlund physically changes his posture, walk and accent to become Burden. There’s also an incredible Ensemble consisting of Tom Wilkinson as the terrifying KKK leader, Riseborough as the passionate single mother and Whitaker as the conflicted Reverend.
Burden screens at Sundance Jan. 21 at 6:15PM at PC Library, Jan. 23 at 12PM at Eccles PC, Jan. 25 at 9:15PM at The MARC PC, Jan. 26 at 9PM at SLC Library, and Jan. 27 at 8:30AM at The Egyptian PC.
Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, written by Academy Award-winning Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy and co-produced by Academy Award-winning Filmmaker Danny Boyle, the Sports Drama based around 1973’s high-profile tennis match pitting former World No. 1s Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) and Billie Jean King (Emma Stone), recreates the paths each player took to the highly-touted match.
The event would on a grander scale be a significant moment in women’s liberation with doubts being cast by its male organizers about women’s place and worth in society. The Film also looks at Billie Jean King‘s personal struggle with her identity, then married to husband Larry (Austin Stowell) and falling in love with hairdresser Marilyn (Andrea Riseborough).
While many of us know already the outcome of the match, Dayton and Faris do some phenomenal work helping us arrive at it.
If you think you’ve seen Oscar-winning Stone at her best, she throws us a tour-de-force here, stepping-up to the physicality of her role convincingly. Carell plays up Bobby‘s overconfidence and chauvinism, having fun with it and still makes us feel for him, which is no easy feat. Fantastic supporting turns from Riseborough, Sarah Silverman and Natalie Morales complete a strong Ensemble.
Battle of the Sexes screens TIFF ’17:
Sunday, September 10, 2017 6:00 PM Ryerson Theatre
Monday, September 11, 2017 2:30 PM Princess of Wales Theatre
Friday, September 15, 2017 3:00 PM Princess of Wales Theatre
Saturday, September 16, 2017 5:00 PM Ryerson Theatre
Critics already are calling BIRDMAN a triumph and this is your chance to see it first! The amount of Awards buzz for this Alejandro González Iñárritu Film is alarming and we hope like us you are just as excited to see it! Screenings will take place in Toronto and Vancouver on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 (Mr. Will‘s Birthday!), and the following week in Calgary! We hope those of you in Toronto will be there to celebrate that special day with this remarkable Film!
Official Synopsis:
Washed-up actor Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton), who became famous for playing an iconic superhero in the movies, decides to stage a comeback in a Broadway play.
Pressures mount leading up to the play’s opening night as Riggan battles his ego and tries to win back his family, at the same time re-establishing his career and finding himself in the process.
BIRDMAN stars Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts.
Official Artwork:
See the Trailer:
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Fox Searchlight release BIRDMAN in Toronto and Vancouver on Friday, October 24, 2014, with additional Cities to follow.
(Photo/video credit: Fox Searclight)
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