Since Suicide Squad and TIFF, Toronto hasn’t caught much of a break in terms of starpower. That is about to change soon.  While a slew of TV Series and Pilots continue to film in the City, we will be plenty excited to know that A-List names like Reese Witherspoon, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Neil Patrick Harris and Samuel L. Jackson are making their way north over the next few months.  That’s right!  Kicking-off 2016 proper!

DOWNSIZING, to be released via Paramount Pictures, is the latest endeavour for Oscar-nominated Director Alexander Payne who rocked our world with Sideways (2000) and The Descendants (2004).  Matt Damon will star as an Omaha man who joins the many others who opt to undergo a procedure which reduces them to a fraction of their size.  They then are moved-off to communities with many others like themselves.  Reese Witherspoon who worked with Payne in Election, Jason Sudeikis and Neil Patrick Harris also star.  Expect a late 2017 release, which means you guessed it… OSCARS and what could be a debut at TIFF ’17!   Filming runs April through July.

For those who like a bit more of a punch, the latest installment in the XXX franchise, THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE begins production in February through May and once again stars megastar Vin Diesel in the titular role.  Samuel L. Jackson returns and appearing also is MMA star Conor McGregor.  After Xander Cage (Diesel) is left for dead, he miraculously finds his way back and is sent on a new assignment by hander Augustus Gibbons (Jackson).

Production is to be based out of Pinewood Studios in Toronto for both Films.

After selling to Europacorp during TIFF in September for a cool $17 million, gun control drama Miss Sloane, starring future Oscar winner Jessica Chastain also is pegged for a late winter start date. Chastain stars as a lobbyist who goes up against Washington to pass through gun legislation.  The Hollywood Reporter reports a March start date, while the Directors Guild of Canada report filming could start as early as February.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

By Justin Waldman

The 2015 TriBeCa Film Festival ran from April 15-26, 2015 in beautiful Tribeca, New York and I attended for the first time ever! What originally drew me into travelling for 10 days to New York City for this incredible Film Festival co-founded by Robert DeNiro to bring people back downtown New York after the tragedies of 9/11, were the conversations, or Tribeca Talks: Director Series that was announced in the middle of March, just a mere month before the Festival. The booking and scouring to look-up Films, allow time to line up and travel, and build a schedule with no backups had begun.

The Tribeca Talks: Director Series that was just aforementioned including one hour Conversations with George Lucas moderated by Stephen Colbert, Christopher Nolan moderated by Bennett Miller, Cary Fukunaga moderated by James Schumer, and last not certainly not least, Brad Bird moderated by Janeane Garofalo. These Talks were not only incredible for their insight, but they were beyond entertaining and masterful. The 60 minutes flew-by in what felt like seconds, but the entire time was surreal, something that words cannot merely describe.

As well, the selection of seemingly endless Movies was unfathomable. There were so many great choices, and promising options, most of which turned out to be extremely fun and enjoyable while others fell short of that standard. Some of the highlights were: Leslye Headland’s Sleeping with Other People starring Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis. This Movie was absolutely hysterical as it steered from the typical Romantic Comedy norms and clichés, and provided new laughs and nuances that truly made this RomCom stand-out from the crowd. Hopefully it gets a Canadian release, and if it unfortunately does not it will be released on VOD 90 days after its opening in Cinemas. Other standouts included Man Up from Director Ben Palmer which paired Simon Pegg and Lake Bell together in an unseeingly-perfect Romantic Comedy as well. I swear I did not just see Romcoms at TriBeCa. Ashby from Director Tony McNamara is another extremely funny, brilliant, Dark Comedy featuring Mickey Rourke, Nat Wolff and Emma Roberts. The Film focuses on Wolff and Rourke who is a former Assassin and how the manage to enrich one another’s life.

The TriBeCa Film Festival also features an after the Movie discussion for certain Titles, not that the new Movies don’t have Q&As but rather they take older Movies and bring back Cast and Crew for a 45 minute discussion about the Movie and some insider information regarding the Project. The one that I was lucky enough to attend was Gus Van Sant’s brilliant Good Will Hunting. Minnie Driver, Gus Van Sant and Stellan Skarsgård were in attendance for this post movie talk and included a lot of information about Robin Williams on the set. This moved most of the Audience to laughter and tears. Some of the most memorable moments were when Skarsgård revealed that the first take of the scene between Williams and Skarsgård in the bar, Robin did the entire Role in his Nicholson impersonation. Another memorable tidbit was from Driver who reveled that the focus puller was terrible and could not be fired because he was related to someone high up so he referred to him as Helen… Keller. Moments like these unknown facts are what make for great memories.

TriBeCa was an incredible experience, which offered a ton of excitement in an array of events geared to true Film Lovers. These separate ticketed events are something that would be classified as once in a lifetime. Events such as Mary J. Blige’s Documentary The London Sessions, followed by her performing a live Concert, or a showing of Monty Python and the Holy Grail followed by a Talk with Monty Python. However, the Closing Night Film was the piece DE résistance. Goodfellas’ 25th Anniversary Screening in the new 4K restoration with a post-Screening Discussion with Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino, moderated by Jon Stewart. That was a memory never to be duplicated.

TriBeCa was a delight to attend, and a Festival I cannot wait to experience again next year!

Audio from this year’s Director Series below:

Christopher Nolan

Cary Fukunaga

George Lucas

Brad Bird

(Photo credit: Justin Waldman)

Basically, I ROFLd all through 2012′s Horrible Bosses and I am certain from the likes of it, it pretty much will be the same seeing HORRIBLE BOSSES 2!

A Teaser Trailer for the Sequel has just surfaced and the laughs just seem to pick-up where they left-off last time. I personally loved Jennifer Aniston as the sex-crazed Boss of Charlie Day‘s Dale and she’s up to her old tricks yet again here.  Read our Chat with Sudeikis back in 2011 as he was in-town promoting Horrible Bosses.

See the Teaser:

Warner Bros. release HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 on U.S. Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

The World of Cinema Elite made their way to Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles tonight for the 86th annual Academy Awards.  Praised as both a  strong year for Red Carpet Fashion and Film with a heated battle between American Hustle, 12 Years a Slave and Gravity, among others for Best Picture, ultimately 12 Years a Slave would prevail with top honours tonight.

The Drama based on the Memoir by Solomon Northrup, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September, before going-on to sweep a litany of accolades this Awards Season including victories at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Broadcast Film Critics Association  and the Independent Spirit Awards just yesterday. In addition, to winning coveted Best Picture, it won also for Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Alfonso Cuarón‘s Gravity, which has grossed over $700 million worldwide, also premiering at TIFF this last Fall, won the most Oscars this evening, tallying-in at seven wins, primarily in technical categories including Cinematography, Score and Visual Effects. Cuarón himself went-on to win for Directing.

AIDS Drama Dallas Buyers Club won the important Actor and Supporting Actor Categories with Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto respectively.  Both brought along their Mothers to the Awards, the latter making a heartfelt tribute to his Mother who overcame great odds to provide for both him and his Brother.

As predicted by many, Cate Blanchett now is a two-time Oscar Winner, her first win coming for her work in 2004’s The Aviator. The Australian Actress won for her empathetic portrayal of a Woman coping with mental and addiction issues in Woody Allen‘s Blue Jasmine.

The Fashion on the Red Carpet tonight was a huge draw as several Fans via Social Media sounded-off on the tasteful styles of Kate Hudson in Versace, Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé, Amy Adams in Gucci, Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab and perhaps the most-talked-about was a Princess-like Lupita Nyong’o in what is now being called a “Nairobi Blue” Prada Dress with a Hairband.  The light pastel blue Creation was chosen by the eventual Oscar Winner, who told Ryan Seacrest on the Red Carpet that it reminded the Kenyan Native of Nairobi.

Ellen DeGeneres once again did a bang-up job, making herself right at home with the A-List Audience, poking fun at everything from welcoming Liza Minnelli as a Female Impersonator, to some of this year’s Nominees who didn’t attend College (the Camera panned on Amy Adams nodded her head, admitting she too didn’t attend) to bringing out Pizza to some of the Evening’s famous Guests.  Meryl Streep was one of the first to help herself to a slice.  In addition, DeGeneres was out to set a record for the Most Re-Tweeted Selfie and helping her along were the likes of Bradley Cooper, Channing Tatum, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lawrence, Jared Leto, Meryl Streep, Lupita Nyong’o, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey. Quickly, the Photo received over a million Re-Tweets (overtaking a previous Tweet from President Obama upon his Re-Election) and could’ve received more if it weren’t for reported technical difficulties likely due to the onslaught of traffic.

See it below:

See more Photos here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Ellen DeGeneres)

One of the best-reviewed Films of the year didn’t make it to many theatres, but now’s your chance to own it on DVD and Blu-ray. MONGREL MEDIA and Mr. Will Wong want to give Readers an awesome chance to win a DVD Copy of DRINKING BUDDIES!

Official Synopsis:
Luke (Jake Johnson) and Kate (Olivia Wilde) are co-workers at a Chicago Brewery, where they spend their days drinking and flirting. They’re perfect for each other, except that they’re both in relationships. Luke is in the midst of marriage talks with his girlfriend of six years, Kate is playing it cool with her Music Producer boyfriend Chris (Ron Livingston). But you know what makes the line between “friends” and “more than friends” really blurry? Beer.

Drinking Buddies stars Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Jason Sudeikis, Anna Kendrick and Ron Livingston.

Watch the Trailer below:

Official Artwork:

To enter to win a Copy, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.  Canadian Readers only please. Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook!

http://www.mrwillwong.com/drinkingbuddies @MRWILLW wants us to #win a copy of #DRINKINGBUDDIES. In stores 12/3!

Mongrel Media releases Drinking Buddies in stores on Tuesday, December 3, 2013.

Pre-order here!

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

It was an extremely hectic day of Star-gazing and Star-chasing around the City today on Day Four of TIFF ’13.  Please pardon my extreme exhaustion as tonight’s Post will be simply a Photo Dump, with more details to come once I’ve caught-up on my rest.  Tired is an understatement (!), but I’m driven to give my Readers and Followers my absolute best.  The day was capped-off late with a Red Carpet Afterparty for Ron Howard‘s Rush, at the Thompson Hotel.  Without further a do here they are!

Steve Coogan at the Princess of Wales Theatre Premiere of hotly-buzzed Drama, Philomena, directed by Stephen Frears. Unfortunately Dame Judi Dench was absent:

British Thespian Richard E. Grant  attending the Philomena Premiere earlier today. Even Movie Stars have to go through protocol just like us, to get into TIFF Screenings as you can see!  The Actor is here for his Film, Dom Hemingway.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus signing Autographs at the Press Conference for her new Rom-Com, Enough Said, also known as James Gandolfini‘s last Film:

The handsome Taylor Kitsch looking impeccable in gray, heading to the Premiere of his Film The Grand Seduction, by Canadian Filmmaker Don McKellar:

I must admit the biggest Winner at TIFF ’13 thus far are definitely Toni Collette‘s amazing Bangs. Love ’em and I am glad she’s had a change of heart of late, now taking Photos with Fans unlike in prior years! The Actress is here for Enough Said.

Kim Cattrall just about surprised us all today picking-up her Buddy Don McKellar at his Hotel before they head off together to the Premiere of his latest, The Grand Seduction.

Academy Award Nominee Demián Bichir at the Pre-Party for his Film Dom Hemingway, which premiered tonight at Princess of Wales Theatre. Those who aren’t familiar with him, he starred recently in the hilarious Comedy, The HEAT.

Few Actresses have been as Fan-inaccessible at TIFF ’13 as Emilia Clarke, known best for her work on HBO’s Game of Thrones. The Actress avoided Fans tonight at the Pre-Party for the Film and Afterparty also. We can at least agree that she looks stunning in Mustard Yellow!

Although Twilight Director Bill Condon was here just a few days ago for the Festival, it was only a matter of time before a Dreamgirl showed up! Anika Noni Rose was amazing to Fans earlier today in Yorkville who spotted her as she head out to her Premiere for Half of a Yellow Sun!

Model Madeleina Ghenea might be known for her ties to Gerard Butler in Tabloids of late but she too is building a name for herself as an Actress, starring in Dom Hemingway at TIFF ’13.

Dakota Fanning easily was one of the People I must looked forward to seeing at TIFF ’13 and my how she’s grown! The Actress looked beautiful in a two-piece shimmery Ensemble. I may have even gotten a Photo with her at the Ryerson Theatre Premiere of Night Moves!

Jesse Eisenberg was amazing with Fans at the Ryerson Theatre Red Carpet Premiere of Night Moves. The Actor was in Toronto not too long ago visiting Girlfriend Mia Wasikowska who filmed here this Summer.

Liam Hemsworth certainly wasn’t expected to come out to the TIFF ’13 Premiere of Ron Howard’s Rush, but the Actor flew to Toronto yesterday to support his older Brother Chris tonight (sans Miley Cyrus unfortunately). Here he is at the Afterparty of the Film:

Chris Hemsworth and Wife Elsa Pataky arrived together at tonight’s Rush Premiere at Roy Thomson Hall and Afterparty, both looking impeccable.

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis are just perfect for one another and their chemistry was full on display as they gazed into each other’s eyes at the Red Carpet for the Rush Official Afterparty.

Harry Potter Star Tom Felton, in-town for his Film Therese, also showed-up to one of the hottest Tickets in Toronto tonight, the Premiere for Rush.

Rush Star Daniel Bruhl and the real Niki Lauda, Formula 1 Champion, even showed-up and walked tonight’s Red Carpet together!

 

And of course the Afterparty for Rush wouldn’t be complete with a mention of the legendary Ron Howard!

Just as I am about to doze off over my Laptop… Stay tuned for more tomorrow!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

*Photos shot on Samsung Galaxy S4 and Olympus E-PL5

Warner Bros. Canada and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a Double Pass to Advance Screenings of We’re The Millers across Canada including Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver on Thursday, August 1, 2013.

If you haven’t yet seen the hilarious Red-Band Trailer for We’re The Millers, I insist you do so.  All I have to say is Jennifer Aniston‘s Stripper moves and an amazing Homage to TLC‘s Smash Hit, Waterfalls have me obsessed.   Sold!

Official Synopsis below:

David Burke (Jason Sudeikis) is a small-time Pot Dealer whose Clientele includes Chefs and Soccer Moms, but no kids—after all, he has his scruples. So what could go wrong? Plenty. Preferring to keep a low profile for obvious reasons, he learns the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished when he tries to help out some local Teens and winds up getting jumped by a trio of gutter Punks. Stealing his stash and his cash, they leave him in major debt to his supplier, Brad (Ed Helms). In order to wipe the slate clean—and maintain a clean bill of health—David must now become a big-time Drug Smuggler by bringing Brad‘s latest Shipment in from Mexico. Twisting the arms of his Neighbours, cynical Stripper Rose (Jennifer Aniston) and wannabe Customer Kenny (Will Poulter), and the tatted-and-pierced streetwise Teen Casey (Emma Roberts), he devises a foolproof Plan. One fake Wife, two Pretend Kids and a huge, shiny RV later, the “Millers” are headed south of the Border for a Fourth of July weekend that is sure to end with a bang!

We’re The Millers also stars: Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn, Thomas Lennon, and Ed Helms.

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.  Double your chances by sharing this Post or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/werethemillers @MRWILLW wants us to #win Double Passes across Canada for #WERETHEMILLERS. In theatres 8/7! #HOWTOBEAMILLER

See for yourself the Red-Band Trailer (NSFW) everyone’s laughing about:

Can’t wait to get home to watch it? Here’s the tame(r) version of the Trailer:

Official Artwork below:

Toronto Festival of Beer
July 26-28
Bandshell Park, Toronto ON
www.beerfestival.ca/

EdgeFest
July 31, 11am
Downsview Park, Toronto ON
http://www.edge.ca/edgefest/

WakeStock
August 9-11
Millennium Waterfront Park, Collingwood ON
http://wakestock.com/

Warner Bros. Canada releases the hilarious We’re The Millers on Wednesday, August 7, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

Amazing news, Toronto!  Funnyman Jason Sudeikis will be in Toronto this Sunday night appearing live at Yonge-Dundas Square, 8:30 PM.  In town to promote the Comedy We’re The Millers, the Saturday Night Live Alumni chats with Peter Kash from FLOW 93.5 and you can be a part of it simply by showing up! Starting at 6:00 PM also, you will be able to win Swag from the Movie and also Advance Tickets to its Toronto Advance Screening.

More below:

Watch the Trailer here.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada releases We’re The Millers on Friday, August 9, 2013.  We’ve got passes to Screenings across Canada coming up soon!  Stay tuned to Mr. Will Wong on Facebook for more!

(Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

Everyone’s talking about Jennifer Aniston again  and this is exactly why!  A brand new Trailer for We’re the Millers has just surfaced and you won’t believe your eyes!  And trust me, we’re still recovering from her naughty performance in 2011 Box Office Hit, Horrible Bosses.   Sorta one part Harold & Kumar, a little like Weeds and kinda The Brady Bunch, this perhaps is the most outlandish Plot Line to hit the theatres this Summer.

Official Synopsis for We’re The Millers:

David Burke (Jason Sudeikis) is a small-time Pot Dealer whose clientele includes Chefs and Soccer Moms, but no Kids—after all, he has his scruples. So what could go wrong? Plenty. Preferring to keep a low profile for obvious reasons, he learns the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished when he tries to help out some local teens and winds up getting jumped by a trio of gutter punks. Stealing his stash and his cash, they leave him in major debt to his Supplier, Brad (Ed Helms). In order to wipe the slate clean—and maintain a clean bill of health—David must now become a big-time Drug Smuggler by bringing Brad‘s latest shipment in from Mexico. Twisting the arms of his neighbors, cynical stripper Rose (Jennifer Aniston) and wannabe Customer Kenny (Will Poulter), and the tatted-and-pierced streetwise teen Casey (Emma Roberts), he devises a foolproof plan. One fake Wife, two pretend Kids and a huge, shiny RV later, the Millers are headed south of the border for a Fourth of July weekend that is sure to end with a bang.

And for the not-so-light-hearted, here is the Red-Band (NSFW) Trailer:

From the Creators of Ice Age and Rio comes the star-studded Epic from 20th Century Fox. The Animated Feature follows a Teen Girl who finds herself transported into the Forest, where she joins forces with a variety of Characters to save the World. Epic features the voice work of Amanda Seyfried, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler, Josh Hutcherson, Judah Friedlander, Colin Farrell, Pitbull, Beyoncé, Aziz Ansari and recent double Oscar Winner, Christoph Waltz.

Epic follows a positive new wave of young Female-fronted Animated Action Adventures and the time couldn’t be better with Disney‘s Brave  just winning Animated Feature at the Oscars on Sunday night and going on to gross a massive $535-million worldwide.  Fans already are drawing visual and thematic parallels to The Spiderwick Chronicles and Avatar. And while The Hangover 3 will be catering to an R-Rated Audience, Epic offers Families an option this Victoria Day at the Movies.

Watch the Trailer in full below: