Today, Disney+ debuted the trailer for “Faraway Downs,” an inspiring epic adventure and reimagined extended version of Baz Luhrmann’s 2008 film “Australia.” The film, told in six chapters, will premiere all at once on November 26, 2023 on Disney+ in Canada.
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman star in #FarawayDowns, a captivating six-part reimagining of Baz Luhrmann’s cinematic masterpiece, Australia.
— Disney+ Canada 🇨🇦 (@DisneyPlusCA) October 19, 2023
Premiering November 26, only on Disney+ Canada. pic.twitter.com/Gt2eMavqbW
Starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Bryan Brown, Brandon Walters, Ben Mendelsohn, David Wenham and Jack Thompson, the story centers on English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman), who travels halfway across the world to confront her wayward husband and sell an unusual asset:  Faraway Downs, a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian outback. Following the death of her husband, a ruthless Australian cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown) plots to take her land, and she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to protect her ranch. The sweeping adventure-romance is explored through the eyes of young Nullah (Brandon Walters), an Indigenous Australian child caught up in the government’s Draconian racial policy now referred to as the Stolen Generations. Together, the trio experiences four life-altering years, a love affair between Lady Ashley and the drover, and the unavoidable impact of World War II on Northern Australia. 
“Australia” was directed, produced (with Catherine Knapman and G. Mac Brown) and co-written by Baz Luhrmann, alongside writers Stuart Beattie, Ronald Harwood and Richard Flanagan, with production and costume design by multiple-Academy Award winner Catherine Martin. “Faraway Downs” is executive produced by Luhrmann, Martin, Knapman and Schuyler Weiss. 20th Television is the studio.
Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Kids Profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.
Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Cineplex Run-of-Engagement Pass to see THE SON.
Synopsis:
While married to Kate (Laura Dern), Peter (Hugh Jackman) has an affair with Beth (Vanessa Kirby), and leaves Kate and their son Nicholas. Years later, now living with Beth and their infant, Peter is surprised when ex-wife Kate (Laura Dern) shows up with Nicholas (Zen McGrath), who is now a teenager.
Beth has trouble communicating with Nicholas, who has skipped school for months and is troubled, distant, and angry. Peter decides to step up and take care of Nicholas as he would have liked his own father to have taken care of him. However, as he tries to juggle work, Beth, their child, and the offer of a longtime dream position in Washington, Peter loses sight of how to best deal with Nicholas’ problems.
To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Please indicate your City in the comments. Re-Tweet the below also for another chance!
Enter for a chance to #win Cineplex Run-of-Engagement Passes to see #TheSon.https://t.co/ly5ny9yeBS pic.twitter.com/ONHTz3Tt2t
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) January 12, 2023
Rules and regulations here.
Note: Winners will only be contact via a direct message from our official account. Do not respond to third-party comments or messages asking you for your personal information.
Elevation Pictures is releasing THE SON in select theatres across Canada on January 20, 2022.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
By David Baldwin
Peter (Hugh Jackman) has it all. He is a big shot attorney being courted by D.C. for a Senator’s election bid and his new wife Beth (Vanessa Kirby) has just given birth to a beautiful baby boy. Peter’s older son Nicholas (Zen McGrath) is not doing great though – he is not getting along with his Mom, Peter’s ex Kate (Laura Dern), is not going to school and is suffering from severe depression and anxiety. Hearing this, Peter agrees to let Nicholas live with him and his new family in the hopes that his mental health will improve. Except it does not, it just gets worse.
THE SON is easily the most divisive movie I have seen at TIFF ’22. The discourse, anger and debate this Movie has already sparked is not quite at the level of The Whale, but it is going to get so much more heated after its theatrical release this Fall. Your “enjoyment” (I used the term loosely because THE SON is not very fun to watch) will entirely hinge on your feelings around Mental Health, specifically when it involves a child. I do not want to spoil where the Film goes – the foreshadowing motifs sprinkled throughout are about as subtle as a fire alarm – rather, I want to note that it careens into bleak and unsettling territory.
What also works against the Film is the inevitable comparisons to The Father. That film, like THE SON, was adapted by Zeller and Christopher Hampton from Zeller’s play and both feature tremendously intricate Production Design and a tortured character at its centre. Whereas that film focused on Anthony Hopkins’ towering, extraordinary performance, this Film spends more time with Jackman than it does McGrath’s titular character. And when McGrath does show up, he is whiny, annoying, cold, distant, melodramatic and unrefined. Some have punched down and have suggested it as being laughably bad. While I myself did not think it is a great performance, I would caution before saying it was bad. McGrath plays Nicholas as a scared, anxious and confused teenager who does not understand the feelings he is experiencing nor the ability to process them, so it makes perfect sense why he is so melodramatic and all over the place.
Elsewhere, both Dern and Kirby are sidelined through far too much of the Film (though the latter still slays every time she appears) and an explosive two-scene cameo from Hopkins is so incendiary that the Film is never able to match its energy afterwards. Which is all to say, Jackman has a lot of heavy lifting to do. He is up to the task and delivers a very good, albeit aggravating performance. You will just want to reach out and shake him violently for his character’s arrogance and callousness towards his son’s precarious situation. Worse, his spectacular “Oscar” scene comes in the form of a 10-minute epilogue that does not really need to be there. Which is a hell of a shame.
THE SON screens as follows at TIFF ’22:
Mon, Sep 12 IN-PERSON Roy Thomson Hall 9:00pm
Tue, Sep 13 IN-PERSON TIFF Bell Lightbox 12:00pm
We were thrilled to attend the international Press Junket unveiling the new Trailer for Westworld Creator/Director/Writer and Producer Lisa Joy‘s REMINISCENCE. The Sci-Fi-Thriller stars Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Fergusion, Thandiwe Newton and Daniel Wu, arriving in theatres this Summer.
In-attendance at the junket were:
Writer/Director Lisa Joy is asked about the evocative Music heard in the Film in the Trailer.
Joy: “Music is incredibly important to the Film as a theme and some ways to the Plot. Rebecca beautifully sings as Mae and the idea that her appeal is not just her beauty, personality and warmth, but that song in the way it’s sung, putting that kind of music into the world, can itself grip someone.”.
“Music has the ability to transport us when you hear a familiar song, back to a time and place we were before, in a way it was the first reminiscence machine. I knew I wanted it to be really specific for this Film.”.
“We played with Noir tropes, but I wanted it to reflect the swagger Nick Bannister has, so we added a lot of bass guitar, tuning it down low and a lot of drum beats to underscore the action. But each of our characters has a theme in the Film. if you listen closely, there are clues in the Film as to what we’re expecting.”.
Joy had Hugh Jackman only in mind for the starring role of this Film and flew to New York to discuss it with him after sending him an e-mail. She got her wish. Jackman tells us about his character Nick Bannister.
Jackman: “He runs a company Bannister & Associates, and we run this company that allows you to go back and relive memories. To feel them, to see them, to touch them, to hear them. Technology was developed in the war which I had to use for interrogations. He has a fairly tough exterior, his experience is in the war on the frontlines and also as an interrogator. He’s really quite broken and really quite disengaged.”.
“He has this company which is fading at best and into that world comes the incredible Mae and that changes everything and that is extraordinary. He’s not expecting anyone to rock him in any particular way. He’s just immediately intrigued, drawn-in, mesmerized and increasingly becomes obsessed with her. He needs to really discover what has happened because he knows in his heart that something horribly wrong has happened to her. He just won’t accept any other version of events and goes on this great odyssey through the darkest places in the world of Miami.”.
Rebecca Ferguson tells us what drew her to the role of Mae.
Ferguson: “What drew me to the role was the conversations with Lisa. One of the first things we talked about was questioning your persona. The whole idea of who we really are, because who I am to you is not accurate or the same as who I see myself as, and also not who I’d like to be perceived as sometimes. It was such a lovely idea that through this Film we see this character built through the eyes of every other character but herself. I found that really challenging, there were so many levels to it. And it was so unpredictable. I also loved the idea we’re living in a world that’s nocturnal. I think it’s brilliant, like Lisa was saying before, it’s really life imitating art. It puts us in an environment where the pressures of consequence are higher as well.”.
Daniel Wu is a major star in Asia and plays the role of villain, St. Joe.
Wu: “That experience working with Lisa was amazing. I’ve worked with many Chinese Directors, a handful of female Chinese Directors, but never a female Chinese-American Director. It felt like working with my sister and we’d get on the phone and she’d be like ‘Dude, dude, dude’, and then we’d start talking about the character. We had so much fun creating the character.”.
“There was a war that happens and Bannister was a participant in that war. St. Joe was a victim of that war. He was interned and escaped being interned. And then out of survival, built-up this world in New Orleans where he could be the boss. The king of that world. What he’s doing is a mirror of what Nick is doing because the world is kinda terrible at the time. It’s hot and the economy is so bad that people don’t want to be in the present anymore, whether you’re rich or you’re poor. St. Joe is offering the poor people an escape through the vodka that he sells. He’s just a really interesting character that Lisa allowed me to create. I’ve played villains before, but not a villain before where he’s three-dimensional and so human. And to hang-out with Hugh over there was great as well!”.
“This is probably the first time you’ve seen a Chinese guy with a Southern Accent on-screen.”.
Joy: “The part that was so wonderful working with Daniel on. This is creating a Chinese-American character and that involves speaking my kind of Chinese. That dumbed-down Chinglish version that I was speaking at home. This is how I talk with my Mom and we did work on making sure that Daniel had this perfect accent – this homebrew blend – to be raised in a country, but also speak the language of your parents. I learned so many new curses from Daniel!”.
Thandiwe Newton speaks about the ground-breaking Technology seen in the Film.
Newton: “I was supposed to be this hard-nosed character who’s seen it all, done it all, really jaded. But there we were on-set in what looked like an art installation, where we were able to actually use the Technology as they were acting. Very often as Actors, we stand on stages with Green Screen. Of course, it’s all magical when you see the final product, but it is hard and it’s really hard to keep the freshness of realism alive when you’re on those stages. So here we were, really interacting with the newest form of Technology available. It was astonishing and I still made it look like I’ve seen it all, done it all!”.
“We’re all so excited for Lisa. She had this dream and he (Nick) forced a few people to make it happen. It wasn’t easy. It was really hard and looks incredible.”.
The Film touches upon the concepts of love and dreams coming true. Joy talks about these key central themes.
Joy: “I think everyone wants their dreams to come true, but I think sometimes it takes a lifetime and a process of constantly re-examining what those dreams should be. A sense of peace and tranquility result when you learn to chase the right dream. There are so many things that can sway each of us that when we chase those things, they lead us astray. Bannister’s character in this is chasing, perhaps a dream. He doesn’t know who this woman is anymore. She essentially ghosts him. It’s kinda like this Rashomon when you look at Mae‘s character through all these different characters from her past and her present.“.
“Love is a kind of blindness. I think love is the opposite. Love is fully being able to see someone, their flaws and their virtues and still wanting to be with them. In a way, the blindness emerges when you choose to love that person. And there’s this Greek myth where this couple who’s in love, they’re given this curse where through one eye they see their lover through the gaze of love and through the other, they see their lover as their lover truly is. In the gaze of love, they forever are beautiful, forever the one. If you dream the right dream, you can find things that stand the test of time, the right kind of blindness to live your life in.”.
Warner Bros. Canada release REMINSCENCE in theatres Friday, August 20, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
The Roslyn School District in Long Island has become substantially more prestigious due to the tireless work of Superintendent Frank Tassone (Hugh Jackman) and his team. But everything starts falling apart when it is discovered that his Assistant Superintendent Pam Gluckin (Oscar-winner Allison Janney) has been embezzling money from the school. And as one student journalist begins digging deeper, it becomes clear that Frank may be involved as well.
Bad Education is equal parts Comedy and Tragedy, made all the more eye-opening by it being inspired by a true story. In only his second Feature, Director Cory Finley has proven himself a terrific young talent with a keen eye for detail and structure. While I would have preferred a less meticulous pace, it allows Finley the opportunity to really explore all of the nuances of Mike Makowsky’s spectacular Script. It is impeccably designed, brilliantly connected and easily one of the strongest at this year’s festival. The Script feels especially authentic given that Makowsky was a student at the school during the real-life timeline of the Film. While the performances are strong across the board, Jackman is the clear standout with his magnificently layered and weathered performance. We all love him as Wolverine, but this may just be his finest hour.
BAD EDUCATION screens during TIFF at the following times:
Sunday September 8, 6:15pm @ Princess of Wales [World Premiere]
Monday September 9, 3:00pm @ Princess of Wales
Thursday September 12, 9:00pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Friday September 13, 7:00pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Saturday September 14, 1:00pm @ Winter Garden Theatre
A new Trailer has surfaced for MISSING LINK!
Synopsis:
Mr. Link (Zach Galifianakis) is 8 feet tall, weighs 630 pounds, and covered in fur. He can also talk and write letters, as he does to fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) when he grows tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest.
Frost is astounded when he meets the creature, especially when he realizes how humanlike Mr. Link is. They go on a journey to find Link‘s longlost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana), the explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world.
See the Trailer:
Elevation Pictures release MISSING LINK Friday, April 12, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
Featuring a star-studded Voice Cast, here’s a new Trailer for stop-motion animated feature MISSING LINK! Voices include: Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson and Timothy Olyphant.
Synopsis:
Missing Link follows myths and monsters investigator, Sir Lionel Frost, who sets off on an adventure to the Pacific Northwest to prove the existence of a legendary creature—Mr. Link. Frost, who’s also looking to gain acceptance by his small-minded explorer peers, is accompanied on his journey by Adelina Fortnight, a free-spirited, independent adventurer who just so happens to possess the only known map to their secret destination of trying to find Link.
See the Trailer:
Elevation Pictures release MISSING LINK April 12, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
Photo and Words by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Ahead of its Canadian Premiere, TIFF held the Press Conference for The Front Runner. In attendance were Producer Helen Estabrook, Writers/Executive Producers Matt Bai and Jay Carson, Writer/Producer/Director Jason Reitman and Star Hugh Jackman. The Film, based on a true story, chronicles the fallout from reporters discovering and detailing the private life of Democratic Party Leader front running candidate Gary Hart (Jackman).
The Film has been in development for many years now, with the recent American Presidential Election not having any effect on the Film. “We were drawn to the story before we [lived] in the world today. It made it more relevant to us,” Reitman says. And while the ripped from the headlines plot may seem incredibly timely, the Film’s goal aims a lot higher. “The Film is always asking what do we want to know, and what should we know,” Reitman said, echoing the opinions of Bai and Carson and reminding us that news outlets did not report on political candidates’ personal lives before these stories broke out about Hart. Jackman, having met Hart while preparing for the Film suggests that had he been elected, “It’d be a very different world today if it had happened.”
The Front Runner‘s date was recently moved to Tuesday November 7, Election Day for public officials in the United States. Reitman was pretty empathic on his hope with the move: “First thing: vote. Second thing: see our Movie.”
The Front Runner screens Saturday, September 8 at 6:30 PM at Ryerson Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 12:30 PM at Elgin Theatre, Friday, September 14 at 1:00PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox and Saturday, September 15 at 6:00 PM at Ryerson Theatre.
By Mr. Will Wong
We don’t recall a more explosive first Saturday at TIFF in recent memory! Several stars were out and about on Day Three of the Festival and your jaw will drop who we saw!
A STAR IS BORN – Lady Gaga
THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT – Alexander SkarsgĂĄrd and Jesse Eisenberg
GLORIA BELL – John Turturro and Julianne Moore
View this post on Instagram
THE FRONT RUNNER – Hugh Jackman and Jason Reitman
HALLOWEEN – Jamie Lee Curtis
View this post on Instagram
🤞🖖#JamieLeeCurtis at #TIFF18 for #Halloween! #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival
LIFE ITSELF – Annette Bening, Olivia Cooke and Mandy Patinkin
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK – Stephan James, Kiki Layne and Barry Jenkins
PAPI CHULO – Matt Bomer
View this post on Instagram
#MattBomer at #TIFF18 for #PapiChulo. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival
WILD ROSE – Jessie Buckley and Mary Steenburgen
THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER – Maggie Gyllenhaal
THE SISTERS BROTHERS – Riz Ahmed
Â
View this post on Instagram
#RizAhmed at #TIFF18 for #TheSistersBrothers. #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF
WIDOWS – Viola Davis and Daniel Kaluuya
INSTYLE MAGAZINE PARTY – traditionally the hottest party at the Festival!
THE HATE U GIVE – Amandla Stenberg
BEAUTIFUL BOY – TimothĂ©e Chalamet
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – Kelly Marie Tran
(Photo credit: David Baldwin/Mr. Will Wong)
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
After debuting at Teluride last week, Toronto favourite Jason Reitman has brought his second film of the year, The Front Runner, to TIFF for its Canadian premiere. The Film tells the story of US Senator Gary Hart (Hugh Jackman), a one-time presidential hopeful in the three weeks leading up to the Democratic National Convention. Hart is the front runner to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States, but when the Miami Herald uncovers an extramarital affair, it will change the way the news reports on politics.
The Front Runner is downright fascinating in how it examines how news is reported, while asking deeper questions about morality and ethics. Reitman is at the height of his directorial powers here, shooting sweeping one-take shots with ease and focusing on an ever-growing ensemble of incredible talent — with Jackman in one of his most electric roles to date. The newsroom scenes are particularly terrific, but once the affair is uncovered, the film seems to get bogged down in mundane melodrama and begins to dramatically deflate. By the time the Film ends, it becomes completely devoid of energy and importance, and never seems to answer the question of why we should care about the moment when the news cycle was irrevocably changed forever. And if that was not disappointing enough, the Film criminally underutilizes Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons, which is quite simply unacceptable.
The Front Runner screens Saturday, September 8 at 6:30PM at Ryerson Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 12:30PM at Elgin Theatre, Friday, September 14 at 1:00PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox and Saturday, September 15 at 6:00PM at Ryerson Theatre.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com