By Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
There are plenty of Novels that get adapted into Features or Miniseries and down the road the author of the original text comes out against the final Hollywoodized version of their product. Stephen King is rather famous for disliking adaptations of his own work, even when the Hollywoodization is regarded as a classic, King still opposes. When watching some of the more recent King adaptations, there is usually a lot to be desired still, however with Apple TV+’s Lisey’s Story there is very little more to desire after the eight episodes. This is in part due to the fact that King adapted his own work and legendary Director Pablo Larrain directed the Series, but it hits the bullseye precisely.
Lisey Landon (Julianne Moore) lost her literary genius husband, Scott (Clive Owen) and decided to try and move on with her life and leave his unpublished works as such. Unfortunately for Lisey, a stalker Jim Dooley (Dane DeHaan) cannot accept that Scott’s work will go unpublished and starts to torment and stalk Lisey. As this progresses, it gets more intense and terrifying for Lisey as she is a caregiver for her sister, Amanda (Joan Allen), who needs around the care attention for her mental health. Lisey is helped by her other sister, Darla (Jennifer Jason Leigh) with Amanda but has her own griefs and traumas to process as well.
What makes Lisey’s Story so captivating is the story. King brilliantly interweaves flashbacks of Lisey remembering her romance with Scott, the modern day and supernatural occurrences. The way the story comes together is seamless, full of suspense, awe, and thrills. Pablo Larrain also masterfully directs this rich tapestry of words with such ease and brilliance that audiences will be captivated throughout the Series. The entire Show is engulfed in beautiful storytelling, visuals and direction that is sensational.
With any strong direction and storytelling only so much can be accomplished without a powerhouse Cast, and thankfully for Lisey’s Story everyone brings their A-Game. Moore astounds as Lisey, trying to process her PTSD of losing her husband, while being tormented by her stalker and flashbacks she so desperately tried to move on from. Clive Owen playing Scott, trying to help Lisey through his puzzle in helping her process her grief is nothing shy of captivating. However it is Dane DeHaan who gives a career best performance, as his performance is chilling, haunting, and terrifying. He embodies the darkness of King excellently and does not shy away from becoming the monster he was written out to be.
When there is a hauntingly brilliant Script, beautiful direction, and superb acting the final product is nothing short of fantastic. Lisey’s Story may start off with a lot of supernatural elements begging the audience to suspend belief briefly, but the payout and deliverance of the final product is more than worth the time. Sheer ingenuity and execution makes Lisey’s Story another phenomenal entry into the Apple TV+ catalogue and an adaptation King himself can approve of Lisey’s Story streams on Apple TV+ now.
Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to #win a Cineplex Gift Card to see SPIRIT UNTAMED in theatres.
Synopsis:
An epic adventure about a headstrong girl longing for a place to belong who discovers a kindred spirit when her life intersects with a wild horse, Spirit Untamed is the next chapter in the beloved story from DreamWorks Animation.
Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) never really knew her late mother, Milagro Navarro (Eiza González, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), a fearless horse-riding stunt performer from Miradero, a small town on the edge of the wide-open frontier.
Like her mother, Lucky isn’t exactly a fan of rules and restrictions, which has caused her Aunt Cora (Academy Award® winner Julianne Moore) no small amount of worry. Lucky has grown up in an East Coast city under Cora’s watchful eye, but when Lucky presses her own luck with one too many risky escapades, Cora picks up stakes and moves them both back with Lucky’s father, Jim (Oscar® nominee Jake Gyllenhaal), in Miradero.
Lucky is decidedly unimpressed with the sleepy little town. She has a change of heart when she meets Spirit, a wild Mustang who shares her independent streak, and befriends two local horseback riders, Abigail Stone (Mckenna Grace, Captain Marvel) and Pru Granger (Marsai Martin, Little). Pru’s father, stable owner Al Granger (Emmy winner Andre Braugher, Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine), is the best friend of Lucky’s father.
When a heartless horse wrangler (Emmy nominee Walton Goggins, FX’s Justified) and his team plan to capture Spirit and his herd and auction them off to a life of captivity and hard labor, Lucky enlists her new friends and bravely embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to rescue the horse who has given her freedom and a sense of purpose, and has helped Lucky discover a connection to her mother’s legacy and to her Mexican heritage that she never expected.
Spirit Untamed is the next chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved franchise that began with the 2002 Oscar-nominated film Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron and includes an Emmy-winning TV series. The film is directed by Elaine Bogan (Netflix and DreamWorks Animation Television’s Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia) and is produced by Karen Foster (co-producer, How to Train Your Dragon). The film’s co-director is Ennio Torresan (head of story, The Boss Baby), and the film’s score is by composer Amie Doherty (Amazon’s Undone, DreamWorks Animation’s Marooned).
See the Trailer:
To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. Re-Tweet this Tweet below also for an extra chance. You must be following.
Enter for a chance to #win a Cineplex Gift Card to see #SpiritUntamed in theatres, where available.https://t.co/MpOqdzbOBr pic.twitter.com/t4jGBSnHzK
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) May 27, 2021
Rules and regulations here.
SPIRIT UNTAMED is in theatres June 4, 2021.
*Please ensure you exercise caution in observing COVID-19 protocols if seeing this in-theatre.*
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
Coming this September, this is your first look at the Trailer for the screen adaptation of DEAR EVAN HANSEN!
Synopsis:
The breathtaking, generation-defining Broadway phenomenon becomes a soaring cinematic event as Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Ben Platt reprises his role as an anxious, isolated high schooler aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social-media age. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Wonder), the film is written for the screen by the show’s Tony winner Steven Levenson with music and lyrics by the show’s Oscar®, Grammy and Tony-winning songwriting team of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman). Featuring Grammy winning songs, including the iconic anthem “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through a Window,” “For Forever” and “Words Fail,” Dear Evan Hansen stars six-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams, Oscar® winner Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart), Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give), Colton Ryan (Apple TV+’s Little Voice), Nik Dodani (Netflix’s Atypical), DeMarius Copes (Broadway’s Mean Girls) and Danny Pino (NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).
DEAR EVAN HANSEN arrives in theatres September 24, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
We were beginning to wonder what happened! Thrilled to hear THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW is arriving soon on Netflix. See the new Trailer!
Synopsis:
Anna Fox (Amy Adams) is an agoraphobic child psychologist who finds herself keeping tabs on the picture perfect family across the street through the windows of her New York City brownstone. Her life is turned upside down when she inadvertently witnesses a brutal crime. Based on the gripping, best-selling novel and adapted by Tracy Letts, shocking secrets are revealed and nothing and no one are what they seem in this suspenseful psychological thriller starring Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie, Fred Hechinger, Wyatt Russell, Brian Tyree Henry, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Julianne Moore.
THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW arrives May 14, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
Check-out the new Trailer for SPIRIT UNTAMED!
Synopsis:
An epic adventure about a headstrong girl longing for a place to belong who discovers a kindred spirit when her life intersects with a wild horse, Spirit Untamed is the next chapter in the beloved story from DreamWorks Animation.
Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) never really knew her late mother, Milagro Navarro (Eiza González, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), a fearless horse-riding stunt performer from Miradero, a small town on the edge of the wide-open frontier.
Like her mother, Lucky isn’t exactly a fan of rules and restrictions, which has caused her Aunt Cora (Academy Award® winner Julianne Moore) no small amount of worry. Lucky has grown up in an East Coast city under Cora’s watchful eye, but when Lucky presses her own luck with one too many risky escapades, Cora picks up stakes and moves them both back with Lucky’s father, Jim (Oscar® nominee Jake Gyllenhaal), in Miradero.
Lucky is decidedly unimpressed with the sleepy little town. She has a change of heart when she meets Spirit, a wild Mustang who shares her independent streak, and befriends two local horseback riders, Abigail Stone (Mckenna Grace, Captain Marvel) and Pru Granger (Marsai Martin, Little). Pru’s father, stable owner Al Granger (Emmy winner Andre Braugher, Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine), is the best friend of Lucky’s father.
When a heartless horse wrangler (Emmy nominee Walton Goggins, FX’s Justified) and his team plan to capture Spirit and his herd and auction them off to a life of captivity and hard labor, Lucky enlists her new friends and bravely embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to rescue the horse who has given her freedom and a sense of purpose, and has helped Lucky discover a connection to her mother’s legacy and to her Mexican heritage that she never expected.
Spirit Untamed is the next chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved franchise that began with the 2002 Oscar-nominated film Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron and includes an Emmy-winning TV series. The film is directed by Elaine Bogan (Netflix and DreamWorks Animation Television’s Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia) and is produced by Karen Foster (co-producer, How to Train Your Dragon). The film’s co-director is Ennio Torresan (head of story, The Boss Baby), and the film’s score is by composer Amie Doherty (Amazon’s Undone, DreamWorks Animation’s Marooned).
See the Trailer:
SPIRIT UNTAMED arrives in theatres June 4, 2021 via Universal Pictures Canada.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
After its premiere at Sundance earlier this year, we soon will get to enjoy THE GLORIAS from Director Julie Taymor, at home!
Synopsis:
The story of feminist icon Gloria Steinem‘s (Julianne Moore) itinerant childhood’s influence on her life as a writer, activist and organizer for women’s rights worldwide.
See the Trailer:
levelFILM release THE GLORIAS on Digital and On-Demand Friday, October 4, 2020.
(Photo/video credit: levelFILM)
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Director Julie Taymor adapts Gloria Steinem’s Autobiography “My Life on The Road” for the big screen.
Taymor brings her signature style to the screen in telling Steinem’s extraordinary life. Instead of telling a conventional Biopic Taymor breaks up Steinem’s life into four age groups. Those four Glorias sit on a bus that continues to ride and ask each other questions about their own life. This unique decision separates this linear biopic from the rest. Top it all off with the talents of Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore playing Steinem at different periods in her life. It’s clear this is one not to be missed.
The Glorias screens at Sundance on Sun, Jan. 26th at 12 PM at Eccles Theatre, Tues, Jan. 28th 8:45 AM at Eccles Theatre, Fri, Jan. 31st at 9:15 PM at the Grand Theatre, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 9:30 PM at The Ray Theatre.
VVS Films x Mr. Will want to give Canadian Readers a chance to win GLORIA BELL on Blu-ray!
Synopsis:
Divorcée Gloria Bell (Julianne Moore), in her late fifties, has two adult children (Michael Cera, Caren Pistorius) whom she rarely sees. She wants more to life than just being a mother and a grandmother. She loves to dance and spends her evenings at clubs with her girlfriends, waiting for the right man to come along. She meets Arnold (John Turturro), who’s recently divorced, and the two quickly bond.
However, Arnold’s ex-wife and grown-up daughters constantly get in their way with their non-stop phone calls that he never ignores. Finally, his inability to tell them he’s dating again makes Gloria question whether or not he’s ready to give his all to a new relationship.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Please note this is open only to Canadian Readers.
VVS FILMS release GLORIA BELL Tuesday, June 4, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
After The Wedding follows Isabel (Michelle Williams), who runs an orphanage in India. When the orphanage is in need of money she receives a substantial donation, but it comes with a catch. Isabel will have to travel to New York City and meet a successful business woman (Julianne Moore) to convince her she deserves the money. However, when she arrives she is forced to examine her past.
The Film is the American remake of Susanne Bier’s Oscar-nominated Film of the same name. This time around, Director Bart Freundlich (Moore‘s real-life husband) decided to make the two leads women, rather than Bier’s male leads. This results in a refreshing take on the original story while allowing for substantial performances from Williams and Moore. Both women are a force in their individual scenes, yet when they are together the fireworks ignite. Their performances and this tender family story make for an impactful viewing experience.
After The Wedding screens at Sundance on Thurs., Jan 24 at 5:30PM at both Eccles PC and The Ray PC, Fri., Jan 25 at 9AM at Eccles PC and 9:15PM at The Grand SLC, Sat., Jan 26 at 9PM at Resort Sundance, Wed., Jan 30 at 5:30PM at Prospector PC, and Sat., Feb 2 at 5:30PM at The MARC PC.
It was a star-studded second day at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and our Amanda Gilmore was out and about capturing all the excitement in between her screenings.
She tells us TROOP ZERO is the one to look out for next Awards Season as the feel-good Film produced by and starring Viola Davis premiered to rousing reception. Check out her Review here.
She also saw the Adaptation of popular Richard Wright Novel, NATIVE SON which sees Best Picture-winning Moonlight star Ashton Sanders back in the spotlight again. Her thoughts on the Film here.
Real-life couple Director Bart Freundlich and Oscar winner Julianne Moore team-up on a Remake of Danish film AFTER THE WEDDING, which also stars Michelle Williams. Amanda‘s review here.
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Amanda‘s Recap:
Throughout the day there were second screenings from films that premiered last night and into the afternoon and evening their were new premieres to come. One of those premieres was Shia LaBeouf’s screenwriting debut Film, which is semi-autobiographical, Honey Boy. When the Film finished, there was a strong applause and since then it has been on our radar. Another Film that premiered tonight was Screenwriter and Actor Mindy Kaling’s Late Night. This Film follows a female Late Night Talk Show Host, which is definitely something topical right now. It is one of the hardest tickets to get at this year’s Festival. Kaling has been a steady force within the industry since her days on The Office. Now IMDb has given Kaling the STARMeter Award today.
Out on Main Street, many stars were found walking, doing press and hitting some parties. Some people spotted today were Mindy Kaling, Nick Robinson, Julianne Moore, Jada Pinkett Smith, Malin Åckerman, Billy Crudup and more.
A majority of these actors opted to walk down the street to each of their interviews rather than taking a vehicle. And a lot of them took their time to stop for fans on the street even though a lot were running around to their next interviews.
Tonight also was the Sundance Kickoff Party that we were lucky enough to attend. The atmosphere was filled with high energy and conversations about the best films viewed so far. After overhearing conversations it is clear that many people loved Troop Zero, while others had a lot to say about Documentaries.
Check-out some of the awesome star sightings by Amanda in and around the hub of the Festival:
Ashton Sanders, Native Son
There is still a lot of Festival left! Tomorrow Zac Efron will be in town to premiere his Ted Bundy Biopic, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, which just dropped its Trailer today. There is a lot of hype surrounding it so far at Sundance. There will be some star power hitting the Midnight Programme tomorrow night with Dakota Johnson and Armie Hammer’s new film Wounds. It is sure to be a day full of excitement and we look forward to bringing you all the latest, so stay tuned.
(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)
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