Charles Melton
#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “MAY DECEMBER”
If there’s one film I’m most excited about, I’d say it would be this. The new Trailer for MAY DECEMBER, has just arrived.
Details:
DIRECTOR: Todd Haynes
SCREENPLAY BY: Samy Burch
STORY BY: Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik
PRODUCERS: Natalie Portman, Sophie Mas, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Grant S. Johnson, Tyler W. Konney, Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell
EXEC. PRODUCERS: Madeleine K. Rudin, Thomas K. Richards, Lee Broda, Jeff Rice, Jonathan Montepare, Samy Burch, Alex Brown, Thorsten Schumacher, Claire Taylor
KEY CAST: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
LOGLINE: Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple (Julianne Moore, Charles Melton) buckles under the pressure when an actress (Natalie Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past.
Release schedule for MAY DECEMBER is as follows:
Opens New York Film Festival This Friday, September 29, 2023
In Select Theaters November 17, 2023 (US & Canada)
On Netflix December 1, 2023 (US & Canada)
#FIRSTLOOK: “MAY DECEMBER” TEASER
We cannot wait to see this but are thrilled we finally get a teaser for MAY DECEMBER, which premiere at Cannes to raves.
LOGLINE:
Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple (Julianne Moore, Charles Melton) buckles under the pressure when an actress (Natalie Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past.
DIRECTOR: Todd Haynes
SCREENPLAY BY: Samy Burch
STORY BY: Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik
PRODUCERS: Natalie Portman, Sophie Mas, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Grant S. Johnson, Tyler W. Konney, Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell
EXEC. PRODUCERS: Madeleine K. Rudin, Thomas K. Richards, Lee Broda, Jeff Rice, Jonathan Montepare, Samy Burch, Alex Brown, Thorsten Schumacher, Claire Taylor
KEY CAST: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
Opens New York Film Festival on September 29, 2023
In Select Theatres November 17, 2023
On Netflix December 1, 2023 (US & Canada)
#CANNES: “MAY DECEMBER” REVIEW
By Amanda Gilmore
Director Todd Haynes’ campy Dark Comedy May December is a sharp look at trauma and a critique of Hollywood’s invasive nature.
Actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) travels to Savannah, Georgia to research her newest role. It’s for a biographical Film of a notorious tabloid romance between Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton) that happened 20 years prior. Lucky for Elizabeth, Gracie (who she’s going to portray) has invited her into the now-married couple’s home. But when the Actress begins asking personal questions to get to the heart of her character, it forces the couple to confront their past.
Haynes’ tempered direction infuses camp humour into an unsettling story. Gracie and Joe began their affair twenty years prior. Gracie was a fully-formed adult with children and a husband, while Joe was in seventh grade. Their relationship shocked the news when they were caught in the stockroom of the pet store they both worked at. Gracie went to prison where she discovered she was pregnant with Joe’s child. Now, 20 years later, they’re married and share three children.
When Elizabeth arrives, it’s clear there are cracks in the marriage. Gracie spends her time anxious, often sobbing in bed in the middle of the night. Additionally, she controls Joe, treating him more like one of her children than her husband. In her fifth collaboration with Haynes, Moore is at her most mysterious ever. Balancing Gracie on the fine line between neurotic fragility and savagery.
May December critiques not only Gracie for her stomach-churning crime. It’s an examination of Hollywood’s invasive nature of these stories. Even the Cinematography by Christopher Blauvelt is hazy and feels glamorous like an old Hollywood film. Elizabeth inserts herself into the lives of Gracie, Joe, their children and their extended family. She has invasive questions without remorse for the effect they cause. Portman is in top form as the Actress whose true motivations become clearer the more people she meets who are impacted by the affair.
This theme becomes ever more prominent once Elizabeth tells Joe that she’s doing all this for the “story”. That’s when it hits Joe that Elizabeth never cared about him. She doesn’t even look at him as human. He’s just a character that Hollywood is going to use to earn profit and accolades. Melton is a revelation as he goes toe-to-toe with the caliber of talent he is placed alongside. His performance is heartbreaking as a — still — young man whose unaddressed trauma is turning into crippling stress and anxiety.
Haynes’ camera observes his characters, allowing the audience to become the judge and jury to Gracie and Elizabeth. The only character who can walk away with a clean conscious is Joe, who both women are traumatizing in different ways. With the diligent pacing of the script by Samy Burch, each character slowly unravels like one of the monarchs Joe cares for. Well, all but Gracie who remains an enigma.
May December screens at Cannes ’23:
Sat May 20 at 10:30PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE
Sun May 21 at 9AM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE
Sun May 21 at 11AM at AGNÈS VARDA THEATRE
Sun May 21 at 6:15PM at CINEUM IMAX
Sun May 21 at 7PM at LICORNE
Mon May 22 at 11AM at CINEUM AURORE
Tue May 23 at 11AM at CINEUM SCREEN X
…
#SPOTTED: SIMU LIU, JEREMY LIN, KIM LEE, CHARLES MELTON, RONNY CHIENG + MORE IN TORONTO FOR 2022 CCYAA CELEBRITY CLASSIC
It was one for the books as the second CCYAA (Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association) Celebrity Classic powered by Virgin Plus, took place last night at the University of Toronto‘s Goldring Centre! Headlined by and featuring guest appearances by the likes of Simu Liu and NBA star Jeremy Lin, Comedian Ronny Chieng, Comedian Hasan Minhaj, Bling Empire star Kim Lee, Shang-Chi star Meng’er Zhang and more, the weekend was highlighted by a series of events leading up to the match. The event raises funds for the Jeremy Lin Foundation and the CCYAA’s new Community Centre.
Among the festivities this weekend were three Comedy Shows at Yuk Yuk’s with Comedian Julie Kim headlining. Kim recently wrote the Script for the JUNOS, hosted by Liu, and is confirmed for the upcoming Just for Laughs Festival! There also was a Youth Jam held at Goldring Centre, plus a four-day vendor Festival, FRESH FEST, at indoor Asian Night Market, SUPERFRESH in the Annex. For one day only, popular California Bubble Tea Chain BOPOMOFE CAFE did a pop-up shop which saw at one point, a 90-minute queue outside the hotspot.
As expected, Lin strut his stuff at the tournament, not to be outshined by Content Creator Mike Wu, whom many were saying deserved MVP! Fans went wild seeing up-close and personal some of their Asian-Canadian/American idols!
We were out and about and so thrilled to get to meet some of the stars in-town for the affair celebrating North American Asian Excellence.
See who we spotted, with a little help from beanie!
This event is amazing and hoping in coming years it remains an annual thing! So important to celebrate the accomplishments of this Community!
Learn more about it here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN PASSES TO THE ADVANCE SCREENING OF “THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR”
Mr. Will wants to give Readers a chance to see THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR at the advance screening on May 15 . Screenings take place as follows:
VANCOUVER
Screening details:
Wednesday, May 15th 2019
Show Time: 7:00PM
Cineplex International Village
88 West Pender, 3rd Floor
Vancouver BC, V6B 6N9
MONTREAL ENGLISH
Screening details:
Wednesday, May 15th, 2019
Show Time: 7:30PM
Cinema Banque Scotia Montreal
977 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
Montreal QC, H3B 4W3
MONTREAL FRENCH
Screening details:
Wednesday, May 15th, 2019
Show Time: 7:00PM
Cinéma Starcité Montréal
4825 ave Pierre-de-Coubertin
Montreal QC, H1V 3V4
OTTAWA
Screening details:
Wednesday, May 15th, 2019
Show Time: 7:00PM
Scotiabank Theatre Ottawa
2385 City Park Drive
Ottawa ON, K1J 1G1
WINNIPEG
Screening details:
Wednesday, May 15th, 2019
Show Time: 7:00PM
Scotiabank Theatre Winnipeg
817 St. James Street
Winnipeg MB, R3G 3L3
CALGARY
Screening details:
Wednesday, May 15th, 2019
Show Time: 7:00PM
Scotiabank Theatre Chinook
6455 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary AB, T2H 0K4
EDMONTON
Screening details:
Wednesday, May 15th, 2019
Show Time: 7:00PM
Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton
8882 170 St Suite: #3030
Edmonton AB, T5T 4M2
HALIFAX
Screening details:
Wednesday, May 15th, 2019
Show Time: 7:00PM
Scotiabank Theatre Halifax
190 Chain Lake Dr.
Halifax NS, B3S 1C5
Synopsis:
College-bound romantic Daniel Bae and Jamaica-born pragmatist Natasha Kingsley meet—and fall for each other—over one magical day amidst the fervor and flurry of New York City. Sparks immediately fly between these two strangers, who might never have met had fate not given them a little push. But will fate be enough to take these teens from star-crossed to lucky in love? With just hours left on the clock in what looks to be her last day in the U.S., Natasha is fighting against her family’s deportation as fiercely as she’s fighting her budding feelings for Daniel, who is working just as hard to convince her they are destined to be together.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
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THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR is in theatres May 17!
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Canada)
#SPOTTED: YARA SHAHIDI + CHARLES MELTON IN TORONTO FOR “THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR”
Love is in the air! Cineplex Yonge & Dundas was extra festive tonight as it hosted a special Advance Screening of THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR with its two leads, Yara Shahidi (Blackish, Grownish) and Charles Melton (Riverdale). The Film is directed by Ry Russo-Young (Before I Fall) and based on the Novel of the same name by best-selling Author Nicola Yoon, whose Everything, Everything too got the big screen treatment in 2017. The house was packed for the promo screening followed by a Q&A moderated by The Social’s Melissa Grelo.
The Film centers on Daniel Bae (Melton), a young Korean-American man on the verge of entering college with aspirations of becoming a doctor at his parents’ wishes but a personal dream of becoming a poet. He crosses paths with Natasha (Shahidi), who with her family are facing deportation to Jamaica, making one last attempt to get her family permanent residence in the U.S.. The two meet one day before she and her family are to leave and one day before a crucial interview which could secure his future forever in his educational endeavours. They fall in love but are in a race against time.
See the Trailer:
Melton reflected on his path to success, moving to L.A. when he was 21 with a handful of money, canned soup and tuna. The Actor who took over the role of Reggie Mantle on The CW‘s Riverdale, imparted some advice to the audience, telling them “lay low, stay focused and keep your hopes high.” .
Shahidi who has gained much recognition starring in Golden Globe-winning and Primetime Emmy-nominated Blackish and subsequent spinoff Grownish, is balancing her work with studies at Harvard. Grelo asks her if she believes in love at first sight like the characters we see in THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR and she says “I have to, because my parents did.”. She reveals the Film almost got made in Toronto but alas, it was filmed in New York City where it actually is set and she feels this made a huge difference helping hers and Milton‘s characters understand the communities they grew-up in.
Following the Q&A, the audience got to witness a young man ask his girlfriend to Prom, complete with confetti and their friends in the audience holding signs spelling “PROM?”. The Actors even posed for a Photo Op with them, before taking Selfies with the rest of the audience. Shahidi who came with her mom, could only stay for a bit, while Melton stayed behind generously meeting everyone.
See some Snaps!
Warner Bros. Canada release THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR Friday, May 17, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Warner Bros.)
#FIRSTLOOK: NEW ARTWORK FOR SEASON THREE OF “RIVERDALE”
We know you’ve been waiting for it! Check-out this gorgeous new Artwork from Netflix’s RIVERDALE, Season Three!
Synopsis:
With tensions between the North and Southside at an all-time high—stoked by Hiram Lodge with the help of Reggie Mantle (Charles Melton), and intensified with the Black Hood’s unexpected re-emergence—a civil war seemed imminent. And, indeed, after a brief respite during which everyone came together to put on CARRIE the Musical, directed by Kevin Keller (Casey Cott), season two built to a riot that brought out the worst (and best) of Riverdale and its citizens, and culminated in the shocking arrest of one of our main characters. In season three, it’s the start of Junior year and the gang is forced to think about something new—their future. But with Hiram now in control of the Southside, Archie on trial for murder, and complicated romantic relationships forming, fans can expect a gripping start to the new season.
Based on the Archie Comics characters, RIVERDALE stars KJ Apa (The Cul de Sac), Lili Reinhart (Surviving Jack), Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody), Marisol Nichols (24), Madelaine Petsch (The Curse of Sleeping Beauty), Ashleigh Murray (Appearances: Younger, The Following), Casey Cott (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Mark Consuelos (Queen of the South, Pitch), Skeet Ulrich (Law & Order: LA, Jericho) with Mädchen Amick (Twin Peaks), and Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210).
Artwork:
Season 3 of RIVERDALE premieres Friday, October 11, 2018 on Netflix.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
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