#BOXOFFICE: “SONIC THE HEDGEHOG” RACES TO THE TOP IN DEBUT

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG races to #1 this weekend at the Box Office, a total $57 million from 4,167 theatres in its opening for Paramount Pictures. The SEGA video game adaptation gets 64% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.

BIRDS OF PREY perches in second with $15.3 million for Warner Bros. This takes its tally to $61 million domestically.

FANTASY ISLAND opens in third with $13.5 million from 2,784 theatres for Sony Pictures. The Horror adaptation of the popular TV Series, gets 10% on the Tomatometer and a C- CinemaScore.

THE PHOTOGRAPH debuts in fourth for Universal Pictures, with $12.2 million from 2,516  theatres. The Romance starring Lakeith Stanfield and Issa Rae, gets 76% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

PARASITE going strong off its Best Picture win at the Oscars, surfaces in eighth with $5.5 million from 2,001 theatres for NEON/MK2.

DOWNHILL debuts in tenth with $4.7 million for Searchlight Pictures. The English adaptation of Swedish film Force Majeure starring Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss gets 41% on the Tomatometer and a D CinemaScore.

#SUNDANCE: 2020 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS

By Amanda Gilmore

This year’s Sundance Film Festival saw a wide range of films from a wide range of Filmmakers. There were some films that came into the Festival being bought, such as highly-buzzed Zola by  Sony Pictures and A24, to Palm Springs starring now Andy Samberg, now distributed by Hulu and NEON.  Winners at the Festival have been unveiled with films like MINARI and I CARRY YOU WITH ME getting top honours.

NEXT Innovator Award was chosen by a single juror this year and it was Gregg Araki.

NEXT Audience Award: I CARRY YOU WITH ME directed by Heidi Ewing

NEXT Innovator Award: I CARRY YOU WITH ME directed by Heidi Ewing

World Cinema Documentary Competition — the jury included Eric Hynes, Rima Mismar and Nanfu Wang.

World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing: Mila Aung-Thwin, Sam Soko and Ryan Mullins for SOFTIE

World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematography: Mircea Topoleanu and Radu Ciorniciuc for ACASA, MY HOME

World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Creative Storytelling: Benjamin Ree for THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF

World Cinema Documentary Award for Directing: Iryna Tsilyk for THE EARTH IS BLUE AS AN ORANGE

World Cinema Grand Jury Prize Documentary: EPICENTRO directed by Hubert Sauper

World Cinema Documentary Audience Award: THE REASON I JUMP directed by Jerry Rothwell

The World Cinema Dramatic Competition — the jury included Alba Rohrwacher, Wagner Moura, and Haifaa Al Mansour.

World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting: Ben Whishaw for SURGE

World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Visionary Filmmaking: Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese for THIS IS NOT A BURIAL, IT’S A RESURRECTION

World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Screenplay: Fernanda Valadez and Astrid Rondero for IDENTIFYING FEATURES (SIN SEÑAS PARTICULARES)

World Cinema Dramatic Award for Directing: Maïmouna Doucouré for CUTIES

World Cinema Grand Jury Prize World Dramatic: YALDA, A NIGHT FOR FORGIVENESS directed by Massoud Bakhshi

World Cinema Audience Award: IDENTIFYING FEATURES (SIN SEÑAS PARTICULARES) directed by Fernanda Valadez

The U.S. Documentary Competition — the jury included Rachel Rosen and Noland Walker

U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Emerging Filmmaker: Arthur Jones for FEELS GOOD MAN

U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact Filmmaking: Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, and Eli Despres for THE FIGHT

U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing: Tyler H. Walk for WELCOME TO CHECHNYA

U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Innovation in Nonfiction Storytelling: Kirsten Johnson for DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD

U.S. Documentary Directing Award: Garrett Bradley for TIME

U.S. DocumentaryGrand Jury Prize: BOYS STATE directed by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine

U.S Documentary Competition Audience Award: CRIP CAMP directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht

The U.S. Dramatic Competition — the jury included Ethan Hawke, Wash Westmoreland, and Rodrigo Garcia

U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast: the cast of CHARM CITY KINGS

U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Auteur Filmmaking: Josephine Decker for SHIRLEY

U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Neorealism: Eliza Hittman for NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS

The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Edson Oda for NINE DAYS

U.S. Dramatic Directing Award: Radha Blank for THE 40-YEAR-OLD VERSION

U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize: MINARI directed by Lee Isaac Chung

U.S. Dramatic Competition Audience Award: MINARI directed by Lee Isaac Chung

Some highlights of the Festival were seeing marquee names like Taylor Swift, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Rachel Brosnahan – the latter two whom we haven’t been lucky enough yet to see at TIFF yet, but hopefully soon!

Festival Goers also are treated to some really great Pop-Ups, our favourites being the Lyft Up Lounge sponsored by Lyft and one for the upcoming film, DOWNHILL. The former talked to the Lounge’s namesake program which offers free rides to those in need, while giving out chocolate,  coffee and Impossible Burgers. Visitors got a chance to take a picture with their simulated ski lift also! The latter gave out soup, hot chocolate, coffee and even an oxygen bar were on-site to perk us up!

 

 

 

Catch-up on our 2020 Sundance coverage including reviews and sightings here.

 

(Photo credit: A24/Amanda Gilmore)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “DOWNHILL”

Searchlight Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see Sundance selection DOWNHILL!

 

Screenings take place February 12, 2020 7:00 PM in:

• Toronto
• Montreal
• Vancouver

SYNOPSIS:
Barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation in the Alps, a married couple is thrown into disarray as they are forced to reevaluate their lives and how they feel about each other. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell star in this biting comedy.

 

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 on Twitter via @mrwillw for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

 

DOWNHILL is in theatres Valentine’s Day.

 

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

#SUNDANCE: 2020 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SIGHTINGS – WILL FERRELL, MILA KUNIS, NICHOLAS BRAUN, KERRY WASHINGTON, LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, WILMER VALDERRAMA, AUBREY PLAZA, SARAH GADON + MORE

The star sightings continue to pour-in and our Amanda Gilmore doesn’t disappoint! See some of the talent she spotted out and about at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Day Three!

 

DOWNHILL is about a couple married with kids, who barely escape an avalanche on a trip, only to be forced to confront finally how they feel about one another.

Will Ferrell

 

 

FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME centers on “pre-Hamilton” Lin-Manuel Miranda and the improv Hip-Hop movement he was part of, the Documentary following their reunion in 2019.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

 

ZOLA centers on a Stripper who goes on a wild road trip to Florida. This Film is getting a startling amount of buzz out of the Festival and stars Riley Keough.

Nicholas Braun

 

FOUR GOOD DAYS is about a mother who helps her daughter in recovery from substance abuse. Glenn Close and Mila Kunis both star in the Drama.

Mila Kunis

 

THE FIGHT is a Documentary which centers on the tsunami of lawsuits against the Trump administration which came about shortly after he got elected.

Kerry Washington (Producer)

 

BLACK BEAR is about a female Filmmaker who turns to the woods after having some creative struggles, only for the woods to summon her inner demons.

Aubrey Plaza

 

Sarah Gadon

 

Christopher Abbott

 

Wilmer Valderrama

 

SNOWPIERCER (Netflix TV Series) centers on a world that has become a frozen wasteland and the group of people left who inhabit a train which circles the globe. Parasite Director Bong Joon Ho serves as a Producer on the Series which stars Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs.

Daveed Diggs

 

(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “DOWNHILL”

Set to premiere at Sundance, DOWNHILL stars Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss! See the new Trailer!

Synopsis:
Barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation in the Alps, a married couple is thrown into disarray as they are forced to reevaluate their lives and how they feel about each other. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell star in this biting comedy.

 

See the Trailer:

 

Fox Searchlight release DOWNHILL Friday, February 14, 2020.

 

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)