Mr. Will's Wall Of Fame


FB Like Box

Twitter

Instagram

WORLD-FAMOUS SELFIES↥ 

Jesse Plemons

TIFF21: “THE POWER OF THE DOG” REVIEW

Review by David Baldwin

Cattle ranchers George and Phil Burbank (Jesse Plemons and Benedict Cumberbatch) have made a successful enterprise for themselves in Montana circa 1925. Phil rules the men they employ with an iron fist, while George is a bit more wholesome and understanding. George takes to widow Rose (Kristen Dunst) after meeting her at a restaurant stop and quickly marries her much to Phil’s chagrin. When she and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) move into the Burbank family home however, Phil starts making things difficult for everyone.

Academy Award-winning Co-Writer/Director Jane Campion return to feature filmmaking after a decade long hiatus is a methodical and deliberately paced take on a Western. I would not call it revisionist as others have, yet it does very much feel like a deconstruction of a classic American genre. There are no real heroes and villains here – just troubled individuals trying their best to get on with their lives and not doing a great job of it. Campion’s pacing varies throughout the Film, with some scenes being particular zippy and others slowed to a crawl. She captures the intimacy and heartache of the old West (with gorgeous New Zealand vistas subbing in for Montana) but is more interested in the feelings of her characters than she is in anything else. I would never call THE POWER OF THE DOG boring, though will admit that it may be a great challenge for some viewers to get through.

The Production Design and costuming are sumptuous and Jonny Greenwood’s brooding score is absolutely brilliant, morphing from something soft and sweet to horrific and overbearing faster than you can snap your fingers. Plemons and Smit-McPhee are great in their roles, though they end up getting lost in the margins of some sections. Red hot Thomasin McKenzie (also at TIFF ’21 with Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho) pops-up as a house servant, yet really has no bearing on the story. And while Dunst gives it her all, transforming into a desperate and anxious alcoholic over the course of the Film’s running time, THE POWER OF THE DOG belongs entirely to Cumberbatch. Never have I hated a character so thoroughly and viscerally within seconds of seeing him pop up on screen. He is an absolute monster here, spewing acidic and vile remarks carelessly and genuinely toxifying everything around him just by being present. Cumberbatch’s performance feels lived-in, with even his most tender moments still coming off as repulsive. This is easily a career best performance for the Oscar-nominated thespian, whom Doctor Strange fans will not recognize whatsoever. Do not be surprised if he becomes the front-runner for Best Actor.

THE POWER OF THE DOG screens at TIFF’ 21:

Fri, Sep 10 Princess of Wales 5:00 PM

Fri, Sep 10 VISA Skyline Drive-In at Ontario Place 8:30 PM

Fri, Sep 10 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 9:00 PM

Fri, Sep 17 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 1:00 PM

Sat, Sep 18 TIFF Bell Lightbox 1 3:00 PM

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF “I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS”

From the Writer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Charlie Kaufman, comes I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS. The Psychological Thriller is based on the acclaimed Novel by Canadian Writer Iain Reid. The Film Adaptation starring Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette and David Thewlis arrives on Netflix this week.

To celebrate its release, we are giving Canadian Readers a chance to win a copy of the Bestseller on which it is based.

See the Trailer:


To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. You also can Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.


I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS is out Friday, September 4, 2020 on Netflix.

Rules and regulations here.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: “I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS” TRAILER

From the brilliant mind of Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) comes this new Trailer for I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS!

Synopsis:
Despite second thoughts about their relationship, a young woman (Jessie Buckley) takes a road trip with her new boyfriend (Jesse Plemons) to his family farm. Trapped at the farm during a snowstorm with Jake’s mother (Toni Collette) and father (David Thewlis), the young woman begins to question the nature of everything she knew or understood about her boyfriend, herself, and the world. An exploration of regret, longing and the fragility of the human spirit, I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS is directed and written by Academy Award winner Charlie Kaufman (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND). Inspired by Iain Reid’s bestselling namesake novel.

See the Trailer:


I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS streams on Netflix Friday, September 4, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “JUNGLE CRUISE”

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt star in JUNGLE CRUISE. Check-out this brand-new Teaser Trailer!

Synopsis:

Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE is an adventure-filled, Amazon-jungle expedition starring Dwayne Johnson as the charismatic riverboat captain and Emily Blunt as a determined explorer on a research mission. Also starring in the film are Edgar Ramirez, Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti.

 

See the Trailer:

Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE is in theatres Friday, July 24, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “ANTLERS”

Well this looks creepy! Check-out the new Trailer for ANTLERS starring Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons!

Synopsis:
In ANTLERS, a small-town Oregon teacher (Keri Russell) and her brother (Jesse Plemons), the local sheriff, discover that a young student (Jeremy T. Thomas) is harboring a dangerous secret with frightening consequences.

 

See the Trailer:

 

Fox Searchlight release ANTLERS 2020.

 

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)

For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com