#TIFF16: “FREE FIRE”

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

After getting burned quite badly by his highly decisive High-Rise at last year’s Festival, I was a little skeptical to give Director Ben Wheatley’s Midnight Madness opener Free Fire a chance this year.

But I am very glad I did – because I freaking loved every moment of it.

Wheatley’s stylish and wildly unpredictable ode to ‘70s Crime-Thrillers is a blast from start to finish, rarely slowing down to breathe over the course of its 90-minute running time. What starts as a typical weapons deal devolves into a bloody, merciless and quick-witted Mexican standoff inside a sprawling abandoned warehouse. Everyone is in it for themselves, even turning on each other, hoping to be the last one standing to leave with a briefcase full of money.

The character set-up is minimal before chaos erupts, but each cast member seems to slide perfectly into their role. I have never seen Armie Hammer have as much fun or look nearly as cool under pressure as he does here. Sharlto Copley is pure manic insanity, continuing his string of standout, nonsensical character performances. Cillian Murphy is never afforded the time to cut loose, surprisingly staying narrow and calculating throughout. And fresh off her Oscar-winning turn in Room, Brie Larson turns heads as the only female in this room – who is just as lethal and desperate as the rest.

Free Fire is a lot of bloody fun, and the kind of genre film that audiences at Midnight Madness are going to go crazy for. Do not miss out.

FREE FIRE screens at TIFF ’16 on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 11:59 PM and
Friday, September 9, 2016 at 11:30 AM at the Ryerson Theatre.

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “ANTHROPOID”

Elevation Pictures and Mr. Will want to take Readers to an Advance Screening of ANTHROPOID!  Screenings take place on Wednesday, August 10 and Thursday, August 11, 2016 in the following cities:

Toronto – August 11th, 7pm
Varsity Theatre (55 Bloor St. W, Toronto)

Vancouver – August 11th, 7pm
International Village (88 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6N9)

Winnipeg – August 10th, 7pm
Scotiabank Theatre Winnipeg Polo Park (817 St James St, Winnipeg, MB R3G 3L3)

Victoria – August 11th, 7pm
Cineplex Odeon Victoria (780 Yates St, Victoria, BC V8W 1L4)

Calgary – August 11th, 7pm
Scotiabank Theatre Chinook (6455 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0K4)

Edmonton – August 11th, 7pm
South Edmonton (1525-99th Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T6N 1K5)

Halifax – August 10th, 7pm
Scotiabank Halifax (190 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax, NS B3S 1C5)

Ottawa – August 11th, 7pm
Scotiabank Theatre Ottawa Gloucester (2385 City Park Dr, Gloucester, ON K1J 1G1)

Synopsis:
Based on the extraordinary true story of Operation Anthropoid, the WWII mission to assassinate SS General Reinhard Heydrich, the main architect behind the Final Solution and the Reich‘s third in command after Hitler and Himmler.

ANTHROPOID stars Cillian Murphy, Jamie Dornan and Charlotte Le Bon.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate for us your city.

G’luck Willionaire$!

Elevation Pictures release ANTHROPOID on Friday, August 12, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)