By Mr. Will Wong

The Holidays are a time for inspiration and Academy Award winner George Clooney is back with just that, directing THE BOYS IN THE BOAT. Based on Daniel James Brown’s 2013 best-selling Book of the same title, this is the story of the 1936 University of Washington Rowing Team overcoming destitution during the Great Depression to compete for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. The Team today remains one of the most prestigious in the sport.

We recently got to participate in a global press junket with the Cast and Creators of THE BOYS IN THE BOAT. Joining us were:

George Clooney, Director

Callum Turner, Joe Rantz

Joel Edgerton, Coach Al Ulbrickson

Hadley Robinson, Joyce Simdars

Grant Heslov, Producer

George Clooney is asked about the challenges of making Rowing look intense and exciting.

Clooney: “It’s like Formula 1 in a way – you can’t see speed from far back and you have to be up close. We had to come up with the math to make Rowing look exciting and engergetic.”.

Producer Grant Heslov comments on the battle of securing rights to adapt the New York Times Best-Seller.

Heslov: “We chased the Book when it first came out, and I’m still mad about we didn’t get it.”.

Clooney explains what drew him to bringing THE BOYS IN THE BOAT to the big screen most.

Clooney: “It’s a Depression-era story. Washington was a new state then and a new part of the world. Rowing was on the map here compared to the legacy schools. These men were lumperbacks and got together like The Beatles, and together could be good enough to win the Olympics. They wound up being incredible men who made an incredible team.”.

“I like good stories. I think it’s fun when you can see how they’ve written the Book or the Play. It’s always interesting to find a way to make it a film, it’s very different way to tell a story.”.

English Actor Callum Turner recalls the grueling preparation process for his role as Joe Rantz.

Turner: “None of us knew how to row. It was February and the river is snowing, we’re wearing tight shorts, it’s freezing cold and we have no skills on the boat. We weren’t in a good place and you could see the pain in George’s face. We had to learn a new skill and be in unison – the hardest part about Rowing. If one person is off by a millimetre, the boat suffers.”

Clooney: “They trained every day for five months.”.

Turner: “We ate together, went out together, exercised together, but didn’t sleep together”, he jokes. “The Book so rich, the story so true. It is a beautiful underdog story.”. “It’s remkarable what he was able to achieve.”.

Hadley Robinson gained global recognition on HBO series WINNING TIME, but tackles a different sport here. She plays Joyce Simdars, Joe’s wife.

Robinson: “I’m doing a lot of clapping and a lot of cheering! I love it and I love a period piece. This is an interesting time in history. These people are destitute, struggling to make ends meet. They’re all working to put food on their plates. I love working in this time period. Finding the hope and light within people going through so much. They have such high hopes and need to have light because they’re in this situation.”.

Joel Edgerton plays Coach Al Ulbrickson, a role he looked forward to playing, having had multiple coaches in his life.

Edgerton: “I just loved when I first talked to George and read the Script. He was described as this coach who seemed to derive zero pleasure from his job. I often look at coaches and think, ‘Why are you even doing this?’. I started to realize behind those grimaces, there’s guys who care too much and it reminds me of the relationships between fathers and sons. They’re like dads to me. I had many coaches who were just like tough dads and I really wanted to please them. I was excited to play a coach and not go through what Callum went through.”.

Heslovrov comments on the boats seen in the Film.

Heslov: “We had to build all the boats. Those old boats are made out of wood and incredibly heavy. These boats were made out of fiberglass to look like wood. We had to make about 25 boats.”.

Turner: “The Rowers went into the boats and they were amazed. One of the most grueling experiences of my life. They gave us an Olympic gold medal-winning coach and therapists. The last two weeks were the races and we had to build towards that moment.”.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release THE BOYS IN THE BOAT in theatres Christmas Day.

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

Watch the official trailer for #TheBoysInTheBoat, from director George Clooney, starring Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner. In theatres this Christmas.

Synopsis:

Based on the best-selling book about the inspirational true story of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin.

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

Joel Edgerton stars in MASTER GARDENER, coming soon to theatres. See the new Trailer.

Synopsis:

Directed by Academy Award® nominee Paul Schrader based on his original screenplay, MASTER GARDENER follows Narvel Roth (award-winner Joel Edgerton), the meticulous horticulturist of Gracewood Gardens. He is as much devoted to tending the grounds of this beautiful and historic estate, to pandering to his employer, the wealthy dowager Mrs. Haverhill (three-time Academy Award® nominee Sigourney Weaver). When Mrs. Haverhill demands that he take on her wayward and troubled great-niece Maya (Quintessa Swindell) as a new apprentice, chaos enters Narvel’s spartan existence, unlocking dark secrets from a buried violent past that threaten them all.

VVS Films release MASTER GARDENER  as follows:

May 19, 2023

Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Victoria

Montreal (The Forum)

Kingston (The Screening Room)

Ottawa (Scotiabank Theatre)

Kanata (Landmark)

Waterloo (Princess Twin)

Whitby (Landmark)

May 26, 2023

Hamilton (Playhouse)

Additional cities tbc.

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

Joel Edgerton is back and starring in the TV Adaptation of DARK MATTER.

Synopsis:

Hailed as one of the best sci-fi novels of the decade, “Dark Matter” is a story about the road not taken. The series will follow Jason Dessen, (played by Edgerton) a physicist, professor, and family man who – one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago – is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the multiverse of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of mind-bending realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself. 

The Sci-Fi Series will stream on Apple TV+. More to come.

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV)

Due in theatres this Summer is THE GREEN KNIGHT starring Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander and Joel Edgerton, written and directed by David Lowery!

Synopsis:

An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur‘s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger, and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger. From visionary filmmaker David Lowery comes a fresh and bold spin on a classic tale from the knights of the round table.

See the Trailer:

Elevation Pictures release THE GREEN KNIGHT in theatres this Summer!

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Following its rousing reception at TIFF ’18, Universal Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto, Vancouver + Montreal a chance to attend an Advance Screening of Joel Edgerton‘s BOY ERASED. Screenings take place Thursday, November 1, 2018.

Synopsis:
“Boy Erased” tells the story of Jared (Lucas Hedges), the son of a Baptist pastor in a small American town, who is outed to his parents (Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe) at age 19. Jared is faced with an ultimatum: attend a conversion therapy program – or be permanently exiled and shunned by his family, friends, and faith. Boy Erased is the true story of one young man’s struggle to find himself while being forced to question every aspect of his identity.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Tell us what you would have done if you were Jared and faced with his challenging situation.

Universal Pictures Canada release BOY ERASED Friday, November 9, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Boy Erased follows Jared (Lucas Hedges) who is a son of a Baptist Pastor (Russell Crowe) in a small town. When Jared gets ousted to his parents his father tells him he can either attend a gay Conversion Therapy Program or be exiled from their family. Boy Erased is the second Feature for Actor-Director Joel Edgerton and will have its World Premiere TIFF ‘18 in the Special Presentations Programme.

Lucas Hedges lands a career-defining role as Jared as he displays a wide range of emotion in his often subtle performance. Nicole Kidman, who plays Jared’s mother, gives a complex and perfect performance. With Boy Erased, it is obvious that Edgerton has clear vision and message when he makes his Films, and we need more of them.

Boy Erased screens Tuesday, September 11 at 9 PM at Princess Of Wales, Wednesday, September 12 at 2:30 PM at Princess Of Wales and Saturday, September 15 at 12 PM at Roy Thompson Hall.

Not a dry eye in the house. See the new Trailer for BOY ERASED starring Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea, Lady Bird), Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe. Joel Edgerton  directs.

Synopsis:
Jared (Lucas Hedges) is the teenage son of a Baptist minister (Russell Crowe) in a small American town. Although his mother (Nicole Kidman) loves him unconditionally, his father tells Jared he’ll have to disown him when the teen admits he’s attracted to men.

His mother takes him to a church-run gay conversion program, where they teach the patients that no one is born a homosexual, that it’s a choice. He’s told that God will not love him the way that he is. However, Jared has a hard time trying to wrap his head around these ideas.

See the Trailer:

Universal Pictures Canada release BOY ERASED Friday, November 2, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)

This actually looks amazing. This new Trailer for Spy-Action-Thriller RED SPARROW sees Jennifer Lawrence reuniting with The Hunger Games Director Francis Lawrence.

Synopsis:
Young Russian “Sparrow” Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) is a spy and trained seductress. She is assigned to a first-tour CIA agent (Joel Edgerton) who handles the organization’s most important Russian mole. But when Dominika meets the agent and sees past her mission, she begins to fall for him and suddenly considers becoming a double agent in order to act on her passion. Their lives are put in jeopardy, and consequently their affair puts others in danger as well.

See the Trailer:

20th Century Fox Canada release RED SPARROW Friday, March 9, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox)

A new Trailer has surfaced for this Holiday’s must-see Action Flick BRIGHT teaming again Director David Ayer and Will Smith after their smashing success with Suicide Squad.

Synopsis:
Set in an alternate present-day, this action-thriller directed by David Ayer (Suicide Squad, End of Watch, writer of Training Day) follows two cops from very different backgrounds (Ward, a human played by Will Smith, and Jakoby, an orc played by Joel Edgerton) who embark on a routine patrol night that will ultimately alter the future as their world knows it.  Battling both their own personal differences as well as an onslaught of enemies, they must work together to protect a thought-to-be-forgotten relic, which in the wrong hands could destroy everything.

The Netflix film stars Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace, Lucy Fry, Edgar Ramirez, Ike Barinholtz, Enrique Murciano, Jay Hernandez, Andrea Navedo, Veronica Ngo, Alex Meraz, Margaret Cho, Brad William Henke, Dawn Oliveri, and Kenneth Choi.

See the Trailer:

Netflix Canada release BRIGHT Friday, December 22, 2017. It will play also in select theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix Canada)