ben whishaw
#FIRSTLOOK: TRAILER FOR “PASSAGES”
Global film distributor, streaming service and production company MUBI and Canadian distributor Mongrel Media have announced that Passages – Ira Sachs’ critically-acclaimed, complex take on passion and lust – will open theatrically in Canada on August 11, 2023. The new official trailer for Passages has also been released today.
Directed by Ira Sachs (Love is Strange, Little Men) and produced by Saïd Ben Saïd (Elle, Bacurau) and Michel Merkt (Toni Erdmann), Passages stars Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Paddington, Women Talking), Franz Rogowski (Great Freedom, Transit, Victoria), and Palme d’Or-winner Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue is the Warmest Colour, The Five Devils).
Passages received its World Premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Feature Film at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival.
After completing his latest project, filmmaker Tomas (Rogowski) impulsively begins a heated love affair with a young school teacher, Agathe (Exarchopoulos). For Tomas, the novelty of being with a woman is an exciting experience that he is eager to explore despite his marriage to Martin (Whishaw). But when Martin begins his own affair, the mercurial Tomas refocuses his attention on his husband.
Set in contemporary Paris, Passages charts an escalating battle of desire between three people, where want is constant and happiness is just out of reach. With the film exquisitely shot and featuring honest, emotionally nuanced performances, Sachs has created a breathtakingly intimate and insightful drama exploring the complexities, contradictions, and cruelties of love and longing.
PASSAGES WILL BE IN THEATRES IN CANADA FROM AUGUST 11, 2023.
(Photo/video credit: Mubi/Mongrel Media)
#TIFF22: “WOMEN TALKING”
By Amanda Gilmore
This exquisite Adaptation of Miriam Toews’ acclaimed novel follows a group of women in a Mennonite colony who have experienced generations of epidemic abuse. The men, who hold the power, have told the women that the sexual assaults inflicted on them were the cause of ghosts or their own imagination. But when one of the men is caught and names others as culprits, a group of women are tasked with deciding if they should stay and fight or leave.
Writer-Director Sarah Polley is back with this simple yet complex film. It’s straightforward in its narrative, however, it examines the intricate meanings of justice, forgiveness, and faith. Further, it shows women reconstructing the future they want for themselves and their children. Each character has a different perspective, which helps examine the many themes in Women Talking.
Salome (Claire Foy) seeks retribution for the evils inflicted on her and her fellow women. Level-headed and soon-to-be-mother Ona (Rooney Mara) hopes to leave the colony and pave a new life for her unborn child. Mariche (Jessie Buckley) can’t agree to stay or leave and bluntly questions each opinion that is given. The trios’ mothers, Greta (Sheila McCarthy) and Agata (Judith Ivey) symbolize the generations of silence that have led to the perpetuated abuse. An emotional knockout scene happens when Greta apologizes to Mariche for her part in the abuse.
The entire female Ensemble deliver top-tier performances that make it hard to pick a standout. Yet, Buckley is given the biggest character arch and gives an indelible performance as a woman grappling with the painful truth. Among these women is school teacher August (Ben Whishaw), who takes the minutes of the meeting. He symbolizes the men who support and care for women. Whishaw gives a heartbreaking performance.
In lesser hands, Women Talking would come off as stagey. However, Polley, along with Editors Christopher Donaldson and Rosyln Kalloomakes, make it cinematic. Polley uses imagery to convey the subtext and further the themes. Such as repetitive visuals of the women’s hair being braided. This shows them being tied in their experiences and banding together in their decision for a future. Additionally, the exceptional Direction from Polley effectively shows the violence while never being exploitative. She achieves this by showing the aftermath rather than the actual abuse.
Women Talking is one of the best films of the year.
Women Talking screens as follows at TIFF ’22:
Tue, Sep 13 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre at 6:30 pm
Wed, Sep 14 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre at 2:30 pm
Fri, Sep 16 IN-PERSON at Royal Alexandra Theatre at 8:30 pm
Sat, Sep 17 IN-PERSON at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 6:00 pm
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “NO TIME TO DIE”
Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see NO TIME TO DIE, the latest in the iconic 007 Franchise.
Screenings take place September 28, 2021 as follows:
- Montreal: Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal at 3:00 PM
- Toronto: Scotiabank Theatre at 3:00 PM
Synopsis:
In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
Cast: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, with Jeffrey Wright, with Christoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes as “M”. Also starring Rory Kinnear, Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, David Dencik, and Billy Magnussen
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Indicate under the Post there your City. You also can Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance! You must be following.
Enter for a chance to #win Advance Passes in Toronto and Montreal to see #NoTimeToDie!
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) September 22, 2021
Details are here: https://t.co/RrPX5eseMA pic.twitter.com/BTBEATGjQA
Rules and regulations here.
Universal Pictures Canada release NO TIME TO DIE on October 8, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
#INTERVIEW: EMILY MORTIMER ON “MARY POPPINS RETURNS”
Officially holding the record for longest gap for a sequel at 54 years, Mary Poppins Returns and is poised to do it in a huge way. The Rob Marshall-directed Musical starring Emily Blunt in the iconic titular role, is fresh-off four Golden Globe nominations including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Emily Blunt), Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda) and Best Original Score.
In town to promote the Film is English Actress Emily Mortimer, who plays the adult version of central Mary Poppins character Jane Banks. Mortimer has drawn acclaim for her performances in a duo of Martin Scorsese films Hugo and Shutter Island, Woody Allen‘s Match Point, plus roles in HBO’s The Newsroom. Oxford-trained Mortimer returns to the City, her first visit in a while, having starred in 2007’s Toronto-made Lars and the Real Girl alongside Ryan Gosling. Joining her is best friend Dolly Wells, with whom she created Comedy Series Dolly & Em. Wells starred in 2018’s Can You Ever Forgive Me? as Lee Israel’s (Melissa McCarthy) love interest, Anna.
See the Trailer:
Gracing the Blue Carpet at Scotiabank Theatre were a bevy of familiar Canadian names who showed their pure excitement for the Film including the likes and families of Ben Mulroney, Carlos Bustamente, Morgan Hoffman, Lauren Orlando and Sarah Fisher.
We ask Mortimer about how she came to be involved with Mary Poppins Returns.
“I met Rob (Marshall) at his apartment. Someone told me that he and his producing partner John (DeLuca) saw me on a morning chat show and thought I’d be a good for Jane Banks. I don’t know if that’s true, but I met him and he was so inspiring why we needed Mary Poppins to return to our lives at this particular moment in time where life feels confusing, painful and strange. I walked out of the meeting convinced we needed to make this Movie.” .
We asked her the most daunting thing about becoming Jane Banks.
“As a child, she’s one of the most famous children in cinematic history played so brilliantly by Karen Dotrice. How do you begin to step into those tiny little shoes? I think with everyone involved with the Movie, it comes from a place of love. Everybody approached this Film loving the original and not wanting to let it down, wanting to give it their all and make it special, yet also different in its own light. There was no cynicism. It was a special experience.” .
We ask Dolly Wells what the legacy of Mary Poppins means to her.
“It means my childhood. I wish I could remember the first time I saw it. It reminds me of Christmas, my family and the fire roaring. The excitement of being a child and that anything is possible – that a nanny can have a never-ending bag of magic, can click her heels and burst into song. It has an appealing sense of joy and hope.” .
We congratulate her on Can You Ever Forgive Me?‘s two Golden Globe nominations.
“I had such nice times. Marielle Heller (Director) should have been nominated. We had a really great times. Melissa is a dream – everything you’d imagine. The performance by the incredible Richard E. Grant is charming and brilliant. Marielle has a delicate touch and this is only her second film.” .
We ask Wells about her childhood best friend, Mortimer and at what point they realized they could be collaborative partners.
“20 years ago, it was kind of her idea. She said, ‘Why don’t we write something together?’. Before that, I’d always be leaving things in a drawer that I’d written. I was too shy. It took about ten years to make a movie and now we are writing something else.” .
See some Snaps of the night:
Emily Mortimer
Dolly Wells
Sarah Fisher
Ben, John, Brian and Isabel Mulroney
Morgan and Sydney Hoffman
Carlos Bustamente and Family
The Reklaws
See some highlights from the Blue Carpet:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release MARY POPPINS RETURNS Wednesday, December 19, 2018.
Photos taken on the NIKON D3400
Video taken on the Samsung S7 Plus
(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada/Amanda Gilmore/Mr. Will Wong)
#FIRSTLOOK: THE MUSIC + MAGIC BEHIND “MARY POPPINS RETURNS”
A new Featurette has surfaced for MARY POPPINS RETURNS! Take a glimpse at the Music and magic behind this eagerly-awaited Sequel directed by Rob Marshall and starring Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury and Ben Whishaw.
Synopsis:
In Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” an all new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.
See the Featurette:
#FIRSTLOOK: SAM MENDES REVEALS CAST, TITLE + RELEASE DATE FOR “BOND 24”
Much speculation has circled surrounding the casting of the upcoming BOND 24 Film, but rumours were put to rest earlier this morning at London’s Pinewood Studios as Director Sam Mendes unveiled not only the title and release date of the upcoming Sony Pictures release, but also its Cast!
Starring in SPECTRE, which is an acronym for Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion, once again is Daniel Craig who has helped revive the Franchise to much critical and commercial success. The Villain is to be played none other than by two-time Oscar Winner, Christoph Waltz in the role of Oberhauser. Andrew Scott, known best for his work in Sherlock and this year’s Festival Darling, PRIDE, also joins the Cast with Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), Lea Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Colour) and Monica Belluci (The Passion of the Christ).
The Synopsis for SPECTRE is as follows:
A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.
See Mendes’ announcement below:
Sony Pictures release SPECTRE on Friday, November 6, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)
#TIFF12: BEN WHISHAW AT PRESS CONFERENCE FOR “CLOUD ATLAS”
Just one of several Stars to show-up to promote Warner Bros.’ Sci-Fi Epic, Cloud Atlas, handsome British Thespian Ben Whishaw made his way over to the hoards of Fans waiting outside the venue yesterday. The Actor last came to TIFF back in 2009 for Jane Campion‘s Bright Star alongside Abbie Cornish and he next can be seen in Skyfall, the latest in the James Bond Franchise.
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