2018 will go down as one of the best years in recent Cinema. While I’m not loving the current sound of what’s dominating the airwaves, there were a few Pop Gems that filled my heart and ears with joy. Those of you who are following me on Social Media know that my year was all about A STAR IS BORN. I had few expectations of it at the beginning of the year, but then came the Trailer in June and then came news of it premiering at TIFF ’18. Seeing it at the Festival, my year and life would be changed forever, single-handedly owning my two favourite realms, Music and Film. I am still not healed of the heartbreak I experience and can imagine what it’s like to be Lady Gaga or Bradley Cooper and carrying their characters with them after filming. If you still haven’t seen it, please do.
We loved the resurgence of the Musical with the likes of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Bohemian Rhapsody and Mary Poppins Returns performing v. well in numbers. The World needs a lift in spirits and these all came to save the day at the right time.
Music wise, we are ever-excited about Dua Lipa‘s blooming career and she has gifted us with several earworms which still stand the test of time at the end of year. While there wasn’t really a big single off it, Mariah Carey‘s critically-acclaimed Caution is definitely a smooth, cohesive listen. Cardi B‘s Invasion of Privacy gave us life in a big way this spring and likewise, there wasn’t one particular 2018 single which impacted us, the Album was on repeat for quite a while for us.
Here are my Best of 2018 Lists:
MUSIC
One Kiss – Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa
The Middle – zedd ft. Maren Morris
Electricity – Silk City ft. Dua Lipa
I’ll Never Love Again – Lady Gaga
Shallow – Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga
God is a Woman – Ariana Grande
Breathin – Ariana Grande
Lights Down Low – M△X
Nothing Breaks Like a Heart – Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus
Youngblood – 5 Seconds of Summer
FILM
A Star is Born
Green Book
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Crazy Rich Asians
Ben is Back
Love, Simon
A Quiet Place
Vice
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Check-out Team Mr. Will’s Best Picpicks of 2018 here.
2018 also was my best year for Selfies ever. Will I ever stop? Why stop at something you love this much? Sorry, haters!
Adam Brody
We’ve been at this game for what is approaching our tenth year and we’re showing no signs of stopping. We are indebted to you, our Readers for all the support and love you’ve shown all these years and we’ll never forget being named NOW Magazine Readers’ Choice Best Blogger this year. Thank you. To a stellar 2019!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN Blu-Ray Combo Pack Sing-Along Edition!
Synopsis:
Join the celebration, sing and dance, and discover how it all began! Ten years after Mamma Mia! The Movie premiered, you’re invited back to the magical Greek island of Kalokairi in an all-new musical sequel based on the songs of ABBA. Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is now pregnant, and like her mother Donna (Meryl Streep), she’ll need to take risks. The film’s original cast returns, with new additions including Lily James as a young Donna, Andy Garcia and Oscar® winner Cher.
Special Features:
Includes Blu-ray, DVD and a digital copy of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
Play with Sing-Along
Deleted/Extended Songs and Scenes with Commentary by Director/Screenplay Writer Ol Parker
High Jinks
Enhanced Sing-Alongs
The Story
Mamma Mia! Reunited
Playing Donna
Sophie’s Story
Meeting Cher
Costumes and The Dynamos
Choreographing Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Cast Meets Cast
Curtain Call
Dancing Queen: Anatomy of a Scene
Cast Chats
Performing for Legends
Class of ’79
Today Interview with Cher & Judy Craymer
Feature Commentary with Director/Screenplay Writer Ol Parker
Feature Commentary with Producer Judy Craymer
Deleted Songs and Scenes with Commentary by Director/Screenplay Writer Ol Parker
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Click “share” on this Post from there for an extra chance or Re-Tweet this Contest Post from @mrwillw on Twitter!
Universal Pictures Canada release MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN SING-ALONG Edition, in stores now.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)
It’s a new era! With audiences embracing inclusion and diversity more and more, CRAZY RICH ASIANS is the Movie of the Now, taking the top of the Box Office with $21.6 million from 3,384 theatres for Warner Bros. Not only are Critics in love with the Kevin Kwan Bestseller Adaptation, it gets an A CinemaScore from Audiences which should be enough to propel it in coming weeks with word of mouth. Directed by Jon M. Chu, it opened Wednesday night, for a total $31 million over five days.
THE MEG continues to take a bit at the competition in second with $20 million from 4,118 theatres making it a Warner Bros. Top-Two. Over two weeks the shark Action-Thriller has made $82.6 million.
In third is MILE 22 with $14.3 million from 3,250 theatres for STX Entertainment/VVS Films. The fourth collaboration between Director Peter Berg and star Mark Wahlberg, gets 20% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT is in fourth with $10.9 million for Paramount Pictures, a total $181 million over four weeks.
ALPHA debuts in sixth with $9.4 million from 2,719 theatres for Sony Pictures. The story about the first friendship between man and wolf, gets 84% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN is in ninth with $3.5 million for Universal Pictures in in its fifth a week, a tally of $111.3 million made domestically.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION gets $3.4 million for Sony Pictures, a total $153 million over six weeks.
For a second straight week, we see MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT do the possible, taking the top of the Box Office once again with $34 million from 4,395 theatres for Paramount Pictures. Over two weeks, it has grossed $123.2 million in North America.
Debuting in second with $26.2 million is Disney‘s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, which is by no means a disgrace. Playing in 3,602 theatres, the Film starring Ewan McGregor gets 67% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.
In third is the Comedy THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME with $12.8 million earned from 3,111 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, in its debut. Starring Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis, it gets 38% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN is in fourth, edging its way closer to $100 million. It garners $8.9 million in its third week out for Universal Pictures, a total of $91.1 million.
TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.6 million in its second week out for Warner Bros. It has made $20.5 million thus far domestically.
He just keeps getting better! Tom Cruise is still at the top game 37 years after his acting debut and this weekend he celebrates a Franchise best for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT! This sixth installment in the Series opens with $60 million from 4,386 theatres, a stellar 97% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore for Paramount Pictures. Star Simon Pegg was in Toronto this week and in case you missed his amazing shoutout to us at the Canadian Premiere of Fallout, check it out here!
In second is MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN with $15.3 million from 3,514 theatres for Universal Pictures, a two week tally of $70.7 million after a debut in second last weekend.
EQUALIZER 2 lands in third this weekend with $13.6 million for Sony Pictures, a two week total of $68.2 million. Denzel Washington definitely still has got it!
TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES opens in fifth with $10.7 million for Warner Bros. from 3,188 theatres. It gets an excellent 89% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore from Audiences.
THE FIRST PURGE rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.7 million for Blumhouse Productions/Universal Pictures, a four-week total of $10.1 million.
Often follow-ups fail to live-up to the success of their Predecessors but both critically and commercially, MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN does the unlikely! Debuting atop the Box Office this weekend with an impressive $37 million from 3,317 theatres for Universal Pictures, this Prequel to 2008’s Box Office smash MAMMA MIA gets 78% on the Tomatometer and also an A- CinemaScore. By contrast, the 2008 Adaptation of the smash hit Broadway Musical, earned $27.7 million in its debut and mustered only 54% from Critics on the Tomatometer.
In second is another follow-up, EQUALIZER 2 reuniting Denzel Washington and Director Antoine Fuqua, with $33.7 million for Sony Pictures, from 3,388 theatres. Critics gave it 51% on the Tomatometer and audiences loved it with an A CinemaScore. Its 2014 Predecessor debuted with $34 million back in 2014.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION still is going strong in third this weekend with $22.4 million from 3,388 theatres for Sony Pictures, a total $90.1 million gross over two weeks domestically.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP sits in fourth with $15.6 million for Disney/Marvel. Over four weeks it has earned $164 million in North America.
UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB debuts in ninth with $3.4 million for Blumhouse Productions/Universal Pictures. Its 2015 Predecessor opened with $15.8 million.
Rounding-out the Top Ten is SORRY TO BOTHER YOU with $2.7 million for Annapurna Pictures/eOne Films, a two-week total of $10.1 million.
Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to attend an Advance Screening of MAMMA MA! HERE WE GO AGAIN! Screenings take place Wednesday, July 18, 2018 in the following cities:
TORONTO PROMO confirmed at Cineplex Yonge & Eglinton Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM
MONTREAL PROMO confirmed at Cineplex Montreal Forum Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM
VANCOUVER PROMO confirmed at Cineplex International Village Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM
CALGARY PROMO confirmed at Cineplex Sunridge Spectrum Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM
OTTAWA PROMO confirmed at Cineplex Landsdowne &VIP Wednesday, July 18th at 7:00PM
Synopsis:
YOU CAN DANCE. YOU CAN JIVE. HAVING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE AT THE FEEL-GOOD MOVIE OF THE SUMMER!
UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN. THE PARTY BEGINS JULY 20TH.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate there your City. In the comments, tell us your favourite ABBA song! Click “share” on this Post from there for an extra chance or Re-Tweet this Contest Post from @mrwillw on Twitter!
Universal Pictures Canada release MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN Friday, July 20, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
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