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Jessie Buckley

#TIFF23: “FINGERNAILS” REVIEW

By Mr. Will Wong

Christos Nikou makes his English feature directorial debut in Toronto-filmed FINGERNAILS. It’s quirky, cute and will make you squeamish. All of that in one sitting.

Though the Film dons a nostalgia to it, it is set in the future. Couples now have the ability to test if in fact their love is true at an institute specializing in finger nail tests, putting couples through intimacy-enhancing activities. Anna (Jessie Buckley) lands a job at the institute after testing “positive” for true love with her partner Ryan (Jeremy Allen White). Something doesn’t sit right still. She takes on this job secretly, telling Ryan she’s teaching at an elementary school. Anna works with Amir and while working with the institute’s clientele, they form a bond that has Anna questioning if her true “positive” with Ryan is in fact real.

Nikou tells an age old love triangle story through a new lens, opting for 35mm which together with the styling and soundtrack of the Film, make us feel we’re in the past, even though we’re in the future. His commentary on society’s dependence on technology doing the thinking for us makes this a biting satire, but with a unique mixture of grotesque (yes, these fingernail pulling will have you covering your eyes!), yet charming at once.

Buckley and Ahmed have a believable chemistry, while White isn’t given quite as much to work with, painting the mundane backdrop whereby Anna‘s life is set against. Nikou crafts something thought-provoking though it takes a different route to get there.

FINGERNAILS screens at TIFF ’23 as follows:

Tuesday, September 12
Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Premium, Descriptive Sound

Wednesday, September 13
TIFF Bell Lightbox
Closed Captioning

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “WOMEN TALKING” IN MONTREAL

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes in Montreal to see critically-acclaimed WOMEN TALKING.

Advance screenings will be held Wednesday, January 11, 2022 in:

  • Montreal: Cineplex Forum at 7:00 pm 

Synopsis:

Based on the best-selling novel by Miriam Toews, “Women Talking” follows a group of women in an isolated religious colony as they struggle to reconcile their faith with a series of sexual assaults committed by the colony’s men.

Director: Sarah Polley

Cast: August Winter, Ben Whishaw, Claire Foy, Frances McDormand, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Kate Hallett, Kira Guloien, Liv McNeil, Michelle McLeod, Rooney Mara, Shayla Brown, Sheila McCarthy

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK.

Rules and regulations here.

Universal Pictures Canada release WOMEN TALKING – In Select Theatres January 13, 2023. Everywhere January 20, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

#SPOTTED: JEREMY ALLEN WHITE IN TORONTO FILMING “FINGERNAILS”

JEREMY ALLEN WHITE is having a phenomenal year. After having premiered this Summer on Hulu/Disney+, THE BEAR has gone on to receive many accolades, including nominations at the People’s Choice, Critics’ Choice, Gotham and Satellite Awards, thanks in large part to his leading performance as Carmen Berzatto. The character goes from working in New York City as an award-winning Chef, to having to take over his family’s business, an Italian Beef Sandwich Shop in Chicago, following the death of his brother. Prior to that, he graduated right out of high school to land the role of Phillip Gallagher on the very popular series Shameless.

White last came to Toronto at TIFF ’18 to promote series HOMECOMING alongside Julia Roberts and has continued to see his star rise these past few years. He’s in town again working on upcoming Apple TV+ Feature, FINGERNAILS. The Film centers on a woman (Jessie Buckley) who works at an institution which determines whether or not a couple’s love is real. The Sci-Fi Romance directed by Christos Nikou, also is co-produced by Cate Blanchett.

We’re so glad we got a chance to catch-up quickly with White after meeting him at TIFF ’18. The Film just wrapped and White simultaneously is working on THE IRON CLAW, which centers on a the Von Erich family’s wrestling dynasty. The Film also stars Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson and Lily James.



(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Hulu)

#TIFF22: “WOMEN TALKING”

By Amanda Gilmore

This exquisite Adaptation of Miriam Toews’ acclaimed novel follows a group of women in a Mennonite colony who have experienced generations of epidemic abuse. The men, who hold the power, have told the women that the sexual assaults inflicted on them were the cause of ghosts or their own imagination. But when one of the men is caught and names others as culprits, a group of women are tasked with deciding if they should stay and fight or leave.

Writer-Director Sarah Polley is back with this simple yet complex film. It’s straightforward in its narrative, however, it examines the intricate meanings of justice, forgiveness, and faith. Further, it shows women reconstructing the future they want for themselves and their children. Each character has a different perspective, which helps examine the many themes in Women Talking.

Salome (Claire Foy) seeks retribution for the evils inflicted on her and her fellow women. Level-headed and soon-to-be-mother Ona (Rooney Mara) hopes to leave the colony and pave a new life for her unborn child. Mariche (Jessie Buckley) can’t agree to stay or leave and bluntly questions each opinion that is given. The trios’ mothers, Greta (Sheila McCarthy) and Agata (Judith Ivey) symbolize the generations of silence that have led to the perpetuated abuse. An emotional knockout scene happens when Greta apologizes to Mariche for her part in the abuse.

The entire female Ensemble deliver top-tier performances that make it hard to pick a standout. Yet, Buckley is given the biggest character arch and gives an indelible performance as a woman grappling with the painful truth. Among these women is school teacher August (Ben Whishaw), who takes the minutes of the meeting. He symbolizes the men who support and care for women. Whishaw gives a heartbreaking performance.

In lesser hands, Women Talking would come off as stagey. However, Polley, along with Editors Christopher Donaldson and Rosyln Kalloomakes, make it cinematic. Polley uses imagery to convey the subtext and further the themes. Such as repetitive visuals of the women’s hair being braided. This shows them being tied in their experiences and banding together in their decision for a future. Additionally, the exceptional Direction from Polley effectively shows the violence while never being exploitative. She achieves this by showing the aftermath rather than the actual abuse.

Women Talking is one of the best films of the year.

Women Talking screens as follows at TIFF ’22:

Tue, Sep 13 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre at 6:30 pm

Wed, Sep 14 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre at 2:30 pm

Fri, Sep 16 IN-PERSON at Royal Alexandra Theatre at 8:30 pm

Sat, Sep 17 IN-PERSON at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 6:00 pm

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR ALEX GARLAND’S “MEN”

Hot off her Academy Award nomination yesterday, here’s the new Trailer for MEN, starring Jessie Buckley. The Film is by Alex Garland who brought us Ex Machina and Annihilation.

Synopsis:

In the aftermath of a personal tragedy, Harper (Jessie Buckley) retreats alone to the beautiful English countryside, hoping to have found a place to heal. But someone or something from the surrounding woods appears to be stalking her. What begins as simmering dread becomes a fully-formed nightmare, inhabited by her darkest memories and fears in visionary filmmaker Alex Garland’s (Ex Machina, Annihilation) feverish, shape-shifting new horror film.

VVS Films release MEN May 20, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “THE COURIER”

Based on true story, THE COURIER starring Rachel Brosnahan and Benedict Cumberbatch is coming soon! See this new Trailer.

Synopsis:

THE COURIER is a true-life Spy Thriller, the story of an unassuming British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history. At the behest of the UK’s MI-6 and a CIA operative (Rachel Brosnahan), he forms a covert, dangerous partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) in an effort to provide crucial intelligence needed to prevent a nuclear confrontation and defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.





Elevation Pictures release THE COURIER, coming soon.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

#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)

#SUNDANCE: “IRONBARK”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Based on the true story of businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) who, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, was sent by MI6 and CIA operatives to the Soviet Union to work with a mole Oleg (Merab Ninidze) and bring back documents.

This unflinching Political Drama pays tribute to the ordinary yet unbelievably strong and brave hero of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Director Dominic Cooke managers to bring something unique to the old Political Drama genre. The use of Lighting, Production Design and Cinematography elevates this important and heartbreaking story along with its stellar cast. Cumberbatch is at the top of his game as Wynne who teaches us that there’s humanity at the centre of every conflict, no matter how big. Jessie Buckley, who plays Wynne’s wife, gives a heartbreaking performance particularly in a scene where she finally gets to see her husband again. The rest of the Cast consisting of Ninidze, Rachel Brosnahan and more turns in memorable and powerful performances.

Ironbark screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 6:30 PM at Eccles, Sat, Jan. 25th at 9 AM at Eccles, Sat, Jan. 25th at 6:15 PM at Grand Theatre, Mon, Jan. 27th at 12 PM at Sundance Resort, Sat, Feb. 1st at 8:30 PM at The MARC, and Sun, Feb. 2nd at Rose Wagner Center.

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “WILD ROSE”

eOne Films x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto + Vancouver a chance to attend an Advance Screening of WILD ROSE! Screenings are as follows:

Toronto – Varsity – June 20, 7pm
Vancouver – Fifth Ave – July 3, 7pm

Synopsis:
Young single mother Rose-Lynn Harlan (former musical reality talent show contestant Jessie Buckley, who came in second on the BBC show I’d Do Anything), 23, lives in Glasgow, but dreams of becoming a country star in Nashville.

After spending a year in prison on drug-related offences, Rose-Lynn goes home to her mother (Julie Walters), who has been taking care of Rose-Lynn‘s two young children. Rose-Lynn is indifferent to her kids, seeing them as an impediment on her road to stardom.

Once a singer at a local country music club, Rose-Lynn now has a strict parole curfew and an ankle monitor, which precludes her from returning to the stage. Instead, she finds a job as a housekeeper for an English woman, Susannah (Sophie Okonedo), during the day. When Susannah and her children hear Rose-Lynn singing while working, they become fans and want to help her reach her dreams.

 

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 from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

 

eOne Films release WILD ROSE:
June 21, 2019 – Toronto
July 5, 2019 – Vancouver, Montreal

 

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

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