Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

After making huge splashes in Venice and Telluride, Oscar-winning Director Damien Chazelle’s First Man landed in Toronto earlier this week. The Film chronicles the true story of Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) and his journey towards becoming the first man to walk on the moon.

Visually, First Man is breathtaking. The attention to detail is immense, and the way the camera claustrophobically captures action inside multiple spacecrafts is truly wondrous. The Third Act scenes shot with IMAX cameras are practically jaw-dropping. The sound design is even better, with each scene sounding absolutely exquisite whether it’s a quiet scene of exposition or all hell breaking loose on a rocket soaring through space. Gosling is great as always – doing his very best playing a man of few words – and the Supporting Cast all deliver great work (although it seems like Claire Foy and Olivia Hamilton get continually shafted in favour of their male counterparts).

Beyond running a hair too long, my only major quibble with the Film is Chazelle’s overuse of shaky-cam. It makes sense in action scenes where we are being thrust into the experience, but it just becomes distracting for the likes of a family argument in a kitchen.

First Man screens on Sunday, September 9 at 2:00PM at Ontario Place Cinesphere, Monday, September 10 at 4:00PM, Elgin Theatre and 6:00PM at Roy Thomson Hall, Tuesday, September 11 at 11:00AM at Princess of Wales Theatre, Saturday, September 15 at 9:30PM at Princess of Wales Theatre and each day from Wednesday, September 12 to Sunday, September 16 at 6:00PM at Scotiabank Theatre.

Words and Photo by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

The morning after its Canadian Gala Premieres, TIFF held the Press Conference for Damien Chazelle’s First Man. In attendance were Chazelle, Stars Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Patrick Fugit and Olivia Hamilton, along with Astronaut Neil Armstrong’s sons Rick and Mark Armstrong. The Film chronicles the true story of Armstrong and his journey towards becoming the first man to walk on the moon.

Having made critically acclaimed Oscar-winners Whiplash and La La Land (which won the People’s Choice Award at TIFF ’16), Chazelle says he was drawn to First Man because he wanted to show “the cost of a goal and the cost of a certain kind of ambition.” Gosling was drawn to Chazelle’s take because he felt the Film “wanted to uncover the man behind the myth.” Armstrong had said no to writers who wanted to write about his life story for years, before saying yes to Author James Hansen. Hansen’s book provided the basis for the Movie, and a framework for Chazelle and Writer Josh Singer to make the Film as thoroughly researched and authentic as possible. According to Armstrong’s sons, the man himself would be “pleased with the [final] result.”

The Cast had nothing but positive things to say about Chazelle’s process, with Foy noting that the Cast’s relationships “were seamless” from rehearsals to filming. Stoll said that working on the Movie was “a dream come true. I felt like a kid going to space camp.” “It was had to relate to [Armstrong’s] genius, his heroism and his humility,” Gosling said, “But it was an honour to be involved.” Whether the Film hits the same Oscar highs many are currently predicting is still to be determined, but the Film’s lasting legacy may be the same as Armstrong’s own legacy. Talking about his Dad, Mark Armstrong said of the successful Apollo 11 mission that “It inspired and motivated an entire generation to be better.”

First Man screens on Sunday, September 9 at 2:00PM at Ontario Place Cinesphere, Monday, September 10 at 4:00PM at Elgin Theatre and 6:00PM at Roy Thomson Hall, Tuesday, September 11 at 11:00AM at Princess of Wales Theatre, Saturday, September 15 at 9:30PM at Princess of Wales Theatre and each day from Wednesday, September 12 to Sunday, September 16 at 6:00PM at Scotiabank Theatre.

By Mr. Will Wong

TIFF ’18 officially has reached its cooling point, but that doesn’t mean that Day Six wasn’t filled to the brim with starpower! Ryan Gosling was out and about promoting FIRST MAN with his Castmates and Director Damien Chazelle, while Nicole Kidman continued to do the rounds for her latest, BOY ERASED.  While TIFF ’18 heavyweight Lucas Hedges couldn’t make it to Toronto to promote his three Films at the Festival, it was a pleasant surprise that Singer/Songwriter/YouTuber Troye Sivan could make it for the Film in which he stars. Also, you might want to know about Sundance breakout hit ASSASSINATION NATION which premiered to much fanfare at Ryerson Theatre for Midnight Madness, as we expect this one to catch on in this post-#MeToo climate.

See who was saw!

FIRST MAN – Ryan Gosling, Damien Chazelle, Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler, Olivia Hamilton, Patrick Fugit x Corey Stoll

 

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The #FirstMan Press Conference with #RyanGosling, #OliviaHamilton, #ClaireFoy, #PatrickFugit, #CoreyStoll, #RickArmstrong, #MarkArmstrong, #KyleChandler and Director #DamienChazelle. 🚀 Lead Photo: @davemabaldwin | Others: @mrwillwong #TIFF18 #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival #NikonD3400

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2018 at 9:35am PDT

 

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First men. I will never stop believing in you, #RyanGosling. Thank you for always showing love. Also, #DamienChazelle. #FirstMan #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF18

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2018 at 9:21am PDT

 

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With the Cast of #FirstMan: #ClaireFoy 👑, #CoreyStoll, #PatrickFugit, #OliviaHamilton and #KyleChandler. #TIFF #TIFF18 #torontointernationalfilmfestival 🚀

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2018 at 10:38am PDT

BOY ERASED – Nicole Kidman, Troye Sivan x Joel Edgerton, an Australian triple!

 

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The Cast of #BoyErased: Goddess #NicoleKidman, #TroyeSivan and Director #JoelEdgerton. #TIFF18 #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2018 at 5:37pm PDT

 

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Singer-Songwriter-YouTube personality #TroyeSivan at #TIFF18 for #BoyErased. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2018 at 5:10pm PDT

COLETTE – Keira Knightley x Dominic West

 

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#DominicWest and #KeiraKnightley, stunning in Chanel. The latter extremely late for #TIFF18 Premiere of #Colette, leaving fans who queued for hours and media disappointed. Time is valuable. Someone of her experience and level of professionalism should get that. #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2018 at 3:21pm PDT

VITA AND VIRGINIA – Elizabeth Debicki

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The stunning #ElizabethDebicki at #TIFF18 for both #Widows and #VitaandVirginia. #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2018 at 5:51pm PDT

ASSASSINATION NATION – Odessay Young, Suki Waterhouse, Abra and Hari Nef

 

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The party kicked-off at Mister C before heading via Party Bus to #AssassinationNation. #MidnightMadness #TIFF18 Premiere! Attending were: #OdessaYoung, #SukiWaterhouse, #HariNef, #Abra and #ColmanDomingo. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2018 at 7:22pm PDT

Expect things to start slowing down in terms of star-spotting, but we look forward to focusing on the Films of the Festival!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Everything about this says OSCARS. Introducing the new Trailer for Academy Award-winning Director Damien Chazelle starring Claire Foy and Ryan Gosling. Chazelle and Gosling last paired together in 2016’s LA LA LAND.

Synopsis:
On the heels of their six-time Academy Award®-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar®-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures’ First Man, the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost-on Armstrong and on the nation-of one of the most dangerous missions in history.

See the Trailer:

Universal Pictures release FIRST MAN Friday, October 12, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)

We know you’ve waited a long time for this!  A new Trailer for THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB starring Claire Foy, has surfaced and here’s the first look!

Synopsis:
Lisbeth Salander, the cult figure and title character of the acclaimed Millennium book series created by Stieg Larsson, will return to the screen in The Girl in the Spider’s Web, a first-time adaptation of the recent global bestseller. Golden Globe winner Claire Foy, the star of “The Crown,” will play the outcast vigilante defender under the direction of Fede Alvarez, the director of 2016’s breakout thriller Don’t Breathe; the screenplay adaptation is by Steven Knight and Fede Alvarez & Jay Basu.

See the Trailer:

A Photo Call was just held in Sweden for The Girl in the Spider’s Web, the eagerly-awaited follow-up to 2011’s THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. The installment will see Golden Globe winner Claire Foy take over the lead role.

Synopsis:

Lisbeth Salander, the cult figure and title character of the acclaimed Millennium book series created by Stieg Larsson, will return to the screen in The Girl in the Spider’s Web, a first-time adaptation of the recent global bestseller written by David Lagercrantz. Golden Globe winner Claire Foy, the star of “The Crown,” will play the outcast vigilante defender under the direction of Fede Alvarez, the director of 2016’s breakout thriller Don’t Breathe; the screenplay adaptation is by Steven Knight and Fede Alvarez & Jay Basu.

Sony Pictures Canada release THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB Friday, November 9, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)

20th Century Fox Canada x Mr. Will would love to give Toronto and Vancouver Readers a chance to see UNSANE, starring Claire Foy. Screenings take place on Thursday, March 15, 2018.

Synopsis:
Sawyer Valentini (Claire Foy) is being stalked by a man named David (Joshua Leonard). She blocks his number on her cell phone, changes her email address, takes out a restraining order and moves many times to escape him.

She looks into support groups for the victims of stalkers and thinking she’s signing papers to become a member of a group at a mental health center, she winds up being involuntarily admitted as a psychiatric patient. Not only that, but she believes her stalker has followed her and is posing as a medical worker to get close to her. The more she insists she’s not crazy, the crazier she appears.

Her mother (Amy Irving) tries to get Sawyer released, and even goes so far as to go to the police. As Sawyer continues to see David all around her, she begins to wonder if she actually is crazy.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

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

20th Century Fox Canada release #UNSANE Friday, March 23, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox Canada)

Fans of THE CROWN will love this brand-new Featurette for the beloved Series’ second season. Expect more Prince Philip (Matt Smith) and bigger dilemmas for Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) as they head into the ’60s.

See the Featurette:

Netflix Canada stream THE CROWN SEASON TWO Friday, December 8, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to see TIFF ’17 selection BREATHE, the directorial debut of Andy Serkis. Screenings take place: Toronto (10/18), Vancouver, Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Victoria (all 10/23).

Synopsis:
Robin Cavendish (Andrew Garfield) spots a beautiful young woman named Diana (Claire Foy) at a cricket match and even though his friends tell him he doesn’t stand a chance, they fall in love and get married.

In 1959, the Cavendishes are in Kenya with their first child on the way when Robin is struck down by polio. The doctors say he’s paralyzed and only has a few months to live. They return to Britain, where Robin is confined to a hospital bed day in and day out, staying alive only thanks to a ventilator that keeps him breathing.

Although Robin would rather die than lie in a hospital bed for the rest of his life, Diana refuses to listen, saying their son needs his father. In order to bring back Robin’s will to live, Diana has to figure out how to get him out of the hospital and home, where she plans to care for him herself.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

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

Elevation Pictures release BREATHE in select cities Friday, October 20, 2017 and wide Friday, November 3, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Review by Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong

Following in the tradition of other Oscar hopefuls, motion-capture pioneer Andy Serkis brings his directorial debut to TIFF. Written by Oscar-nominated Screenwriter William Nicholson, Breathe, tells the true story of a man stricken with Polio and a woman who refuses to lose hope.

While in Kenya, Robin Cavendish (Andrew Garfield) became paralyzed from the neck down after contracting Polio. When he and his pregnant wife Diana return to England they are faced with a lifetime spent in cold, restrictive hospitals. Unwilling to accept the doctors’ dire prognosis, Robin and Diana decide to move home so he can be with his family. With the help of his friend Teddy (Hugh Bonneville), Robin is able to escape the prison of his bed through a wheelchair with a built-in respirator.

Although Breathe is about Robin, the Movie truly belongs to the remarkable Claire Foy who portrays Diana as more than a naïve girl in love but rather a woman with strong beliefs who is not prepared to give-up. Strong performances overcome Nitin Sawhney’s dreadful Score are sure to help drive the Festival popularity of this by-the-numbers Biography.

Elevation Pictures will screen Breathe at TIFF ’17 at the following times:

Monday, September 11 6:00 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall
Tuesday, September 12 10:00 a.m. Winter Garden Theatre