#BOXOFFICE: “CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2” BRINGS PURE SUNSHINE TO THE BOX OFFICE

Besting its 2009 Predecessor by about $5 million in its debut, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 gave Families a clear-cut choice at the Movies this weekend and they responded huge, placing it on-top of the Box Office for Sony Pictures this weekend with an astounding $35 million from 4,001 theatres. Made for $78 million, the Animated-Feature received a coveted A- CinemaScore, although Critics overall weren’t as responsive with 58% on the Tomatometer.

Debuting in second and certainly not disgraced is Ron Howard‘s Racing Drama Rush, which premiered here a couple weeks back at TIFF ’13. Expanding to 2,297 theatres in its second week for eOne Films/Imagine/Universal Pictures with $10.8 million, the Oscar Contender has received critical praise with 88% on the Tomatometer and above this, Audiences loved the Film starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel  Brühl just as much with an A- CinemaScore.

Prisoners after debuting on-top last weekend, slips to third with $11.2 million for Warner Bros., grossing $38 million to-date. Following closely behind in third in its debut is Don Jon. The Comedy, written, produced, directed and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, opens with $9.5 million from 2,422 theatres for Relativity Media and Remstar Films in Canada.

Baggage Claim, starring Paula Patton, debuts in fifth for Fox Searchlight with a decent $9.5 million also from 2,027 theatres. Critics panned the Romantic-Comedy with 14% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences praised it with an A- CinemaScore.

Debuting Documentary Metallica: Through the Never 3-D, another TIFF ’13 Film, opens in ninth with $2.9 million from only 308 theatres. Rounding-out the Top Ten is We’re the Millers, still going strong in this its eighth week of release with $2.8 million.

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN PASSES TO SEE “DON JON” IN VANCOUVER, CALGARY, EDMONTON, WINNIPEG AND OTTAWA | RUN-OF-ENGAGEMENT PASSES AVAILABLE IN TORONTO ONLY

We took you two of you Toronto Wongsters to the TIFF ’13 Red Carpet Premiere of DON JON, bringing you up-close and personal with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson, but don’t worry Canada – we’ve got your back!

Touchwood PR, Remstar Films and Mr. Will Wong want to give Readers across the Country a chance to attend Advance Screenings of Joseph Gordon-Levitt‘s directorial debut, DON JON!

 

We loved DON JON. Read our Review here.

 

All Screenings take place on Wednesday, September 25, 2013.

Vancouver (Scotiabank Theatre) – 7 PM
Calgary (Scotiabank Theatre) – 7 PM
Edmonton (Scotiabank Theatre) – 7 PM
Winnipeg (Cineplex Odeon McGillivray) – 7 PM
Ottawa (Silver City Gloucester) – 7:30 PM

 

For those of you in Toronto, Run-of-Engagement Passes will be available after the Film’s release. You can still enter to win these Passes.

 

Watch the Trailer here.

 

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook and state which of the above Cities you’d like Passes for. Share on Facebook with your Friends or Re-Tweet the below to double those chances:

http://mrwillwong.com/donjonpasses @MRWILLW wants us to #win Double Passes across Canada to see #DONJON! In theatres 9/27!

 

Good luck, Wongsters!

 

Remstar Films release DON JON on Friday, September 27, 2013.

 

(Photo/video credit: Remstar Films)

#TIFF13: 12 ABSOLUTE MUST-SEE FILMS AT THE 2013 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The names have never been bigger.  The 2013 Toronto International Film Festival will run from Thursday, September 5, 2013 – Sunday, September 15, 2013 and our City soon will host some of the biggest names in Cinema internationally. Especially outstanding this year is the Female Contingent.  Thanks to Films like August: Osage County, The Railway Man,Don Jon and Labor Day, Toronto will be seeing the likes of Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet and Nicole Kidman and we couldn’t be more excited not only to see their performances, but also what they’ll be donning on our Red Carpets.

Without Film, we would have no TIFF.  In addition to making it out to catch a glimpse of these A-Listers, it is important that we support the Films which give a reason for these Stars to visit our fabulous City.  I’ve had the chance to preview a number of this year’s major Titles seeing a Premiere here during the Festival, some for which I wait to see still with baited breath.

Here are my 12 most notable Players premiering at TIFF ’13, which will be a major force this forthcoming Awards Season:

 

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY –  A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Stars Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Juliette Lewis and Abigail Breslin. Review to go live September 10th.

Screening times:
Monday September 9 – Roy Thomson Hall 6:30 PM
Tuesday September 10 – Visa Screening Room (Elgin) 11:00 AM

Trailer:

 

RUSH –  A biography of Formula 1 champion driver Niki Lauda and the 1976 crash that almost claimed his life. Mere weeks after the accident, he got behind the wheel to challenge his rival, James Hunt. Stars Liam Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde, Natalie Dormer and Daniel Brühl; Ron Howard directs.

Screening times:
Sunday September 8 – Roy Thomson Hall at 9:30 PM
Monday September 9 – Ryerson Theatre at 12:00 PM

Trailer:

 

LABOR DAY – Depressed single mom Adele and her son Henry offer a wounded, fearsome man a ride. As police search town for the escaped convict, the mother and son gradually learn his true story as their options become increasingly limited. Stars Kate Winslet,  Josh Brolin and Tobey Maguire. Review to go live September 14th.

Screening times:
Saturday September 7 – Ryerson Theatre at 6:00 PM
Sunday September 8 – TIFF Bell Lightbox 1 at 9:00 AM
Saturday September 14 – Ryerson Theatre at 6:00 PM

 NO TRAILER

TRACKS – A young woman goes on a 1,700 mile trek across the deserts of West Australia with her four camels and faithful dog. Stars Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver. Review to go live the evening of September 10th.

Screening times:
Tuesday September 10 – Visa Screening Room (Elgin) at 6:00 PM
Wednesday September 11 – TIFF Bell Lightbox 1 at 2:45 PM

Trailer:

 

DON JON – A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love. Stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore. Review to go live the evening of September 10th.

Screening times:
Tuesday September 10 – Princess of Wales at 6:30 PM
Wednesday September 11 – Ryerson Theatre at 3:00 PM

Trailer:

 

ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE – A story centered on two vampires who have been in love for centuries. Stars Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton. Review to go live September 5th.

Screening times:
Thursday September 5 – Ryerson Theatre at 9:00 PM
Saturday September 7 -The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 12:15 PM

Trailer:

 

THE FIFTH ESTATE – A look at the relationship between WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his early supporter and eventual colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg, and how the website’s growth and influence led to an irreparable rift between the two friends. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Stanley Tucci, Daniel Brühl, Laura Linney and Anthony Mackie. Review to go live September 5th.

Screening times:
Thursday September 5 –Visa Screening Room (Elgin) at 6:30 PM and Roy Thomson Hall  at 8:00 PM
Saturday September 7 – Winter Garden Theatre at 12:30 PM

Trailer:

 

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB – The story of Texas electrician Ron Woodroof and his battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies after being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986, and his search for alternative treatments that helped established a way in which fellow HIV-positive people could join for access to his supplies. Stars Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Dennis O’Hare and Steve Zahn.

Screening times:
Saturday September 7 – Princess of Wales at 10:00 PM
Sunday September 8 – Visa Screening Room (Elgin) at 11:00 AM

Trailer:

 

PRISONERS  –  A Boston man kidnaps the person he suspects is behind the disappearance of his young daughter and her best friend. Stars Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mario Bello, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo, Terrence Howard and Paul Dano. Review to go live September 13th.

Screening times:
Friday September 6 -Visa Screening Room (Elgin) at 9:00 PM
Saturday September 7 – Princess of Wales at 12:00 PM
Friday September 13 -Visa Screening Room (Elgin) at 2:30 PM

Trailer:

 

THE RAILWAY MAN – A victim from World War II’s “Death Railway” sets out to find those responsible for his torture. A true story. Stars Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård.

Screening times:
Friday September 6 – Roy Thomson Hall at 6:30 PM
Saturday September 7 – Visa Screening Room (Elgin) at 11:00 AM
Thursday September 12 – Visa Screening Room (Elgin) at 11:00 AM

 NO TRAILER

 

12 YEARS A SLAVE – In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Giamatti.

Screening times:
Friday September 6 – Princess of Wales at 6:00 PM
Saturday September 7 – Ryerson Theatre at 11:30 AM
Saturday September 14 – Visa Screening Room (Elgin) at 9:00 PM

Trailer:

 

PHILOMENA – A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman’s search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent. Stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.

Screening times:
Sunday September 8 – Princess of Wales at 3:30 PM
Monday September 9 -Visa Screening Room (Elgin) at 11:00 AM

Trailer:

 

Don’t forget to check back as Reviews and loads of Celebrity Photos and Scoops will be posted throughout the Festival. Click here for our Reviews section and get the scoop on what we thought of these TIFF ’13 Titles!

 

(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight)