Television Critics Association Week celebrations continue and we were thrilled the join the panel for THE OFFER, arriving this April on Paramount+. Lovers of Cinema should be delighted about this one as it tells us the backstory behind the development of Francis Ford Coppola‘s game-changing THE GODFATHER. Dexter Fletcher directs and the Series is told from the eyes of Canadian-born Producer Albert S. Ruddy, played by Miles Teller.

Joining the Panel were:

Nikki Toscano, Executive Producer
Michael Tolkin, Executive Producer
Dexter Fletcher, Executive Producer
Miles Teller, Executive Producer and Star
Matthew Goode
Juno Temple
Giovanni Ribisi

Executive Producer Nikki Toscano tells us about what The Godfather meant to her and what THE OFFER explores.

Toscano: “I grew-up on The Godfather. The first time I saw it, I wasn’t even a teenager. I was enthralled by the masterful and subtle storytelling, it became the high watermark in my mind of what was possible, and it continues to inform me. To this day, I discover new things every time I watch it. I can keep watching it because The Godfather explores the most universal theme of all, family. THE OFFER is the story of Producer Albert S. Ruddy, who goes into the mattresses to get his film made. It’s told from Ruddy‘s POV and examines the many challenges he faced. Evading mandates from his corporate bosses at Gulf and Western, to threats from the real-life mafia, all the while navigating the nuances of Hollywood to get the job done.”.

The Godfather is based on Mario Puzo’s Novel and not a lot is known about this character played by Patrick Gallo. Toscano, Fletcher and Tolkin tell us what they know and thought of Mario.

Toscano: “Mario‘s character for us had not been exposed to Hollywood in any sort of way. We see the story through Al and Mario‘s eyes. I think what Patrick brought to the character was the excitement of what it was like to have Mario‘s book adapted, to be a Producer and a part of this Hollywood machine.”.

Fletcher: “We understand that Mario Puzo was someone who wrote from a very personal place, and brought this energy and family feel to that book. Patrick brought all that enthusiasm and warmth to it, so that we could create around that heart and warmth… It was important we create a family-feel, a real ensemble.”.

Tolkin: “The only story I knew about making The Godfather was that Mario Puzo got into a fight with Frank Sinatra one night at Chasen’s. So I had five minutes of the Show written. I just needed nine hours and fifty-five minutes more to fill in.”.

Miles Teller tells us about Ruddy and the pressure to play someone real.

Teller: “For me, playing Al, he’s certainly not as well-known, at least mannerisms-wise as some of these other characters in the story. I think it is important you do have a little more freedom there as far as your character likeness and your interpretation of them, you feel like you really need to hit certain things. I didn’t really feel that, but whenever you play someone in real life, there’s a great responsibility that comes with that. I think you do that through the internalization and your interpretation of the work that you do hopefully capture that person’s essence. I think someone can watch the Show who knows Al and feel that there’s something there, that we’re sharing some sort of DNA, something akin to each other. There’s a great responsibility when you’re taking on somebody’s life and re-telling it, especially a life that was as full as Al’s was. I was telling my wife if someone made a movie about my life, you couldn’t even fill 30 minutes of it! I mean, I enjoy my life but it’s nowhere as entertaining as Al. More than anything, I just had a blast playing him, just being able to re-tell his story. I wanted to text him and tell him ‘Al, this is so much fun! Playing you is really keeping me on my toes!’.”.

Matthew Goode tells us about playing Producer Robert Evans.

Goode: “I would suggest that Bob Evans was pretty well known. I found it quite terrifying when Dexter and Nikki gave me the job. I felt a lot better when I was doing my scenes with Marlon Brando (Justin Chambers). That actually gave me a lot of comfort. I was like, ‘I’m up against him, but let’s see what you’ve got pal!’. There’s an awful lot you can find on the internet. As Bob himself said, ‘There’s always your version, the other person’s version and then the truth.’. Even just the foreword of his book by Peter Bart, there’s a really interesting idea to play a character we don’t really know much about, which I thought Josh (Zuckerman) did brilliantly. Even in the foreword it gives you quite a bit of information. I found out a lot by talking to people in Hollywood and they’d go, ‘Hey, he used to go to the same hairdresser as me, this, that and the other…’. All the stories, considering there’s a lot of contentious stuff about his history, most of these people would say ‘He was the nicest, he was the kindest, he was the most generous’, and perhaps his downfall was due to his more angel side than his darker side.”.

Juno Temple gives us a bit of insight into the process behind playing famed agent Bettye McCartt.

Temple: “We started the whole process a bit later, closer to when we actually started filming. For Bettye McCartt, there really isn’t a lot of information to find about her. Like Nikki, I watched The Godfather before I was a teenager, and it deeply-affected me and I have such a romanticism of Hollywood-past. And I’m so intoxicated by it and the group of people making this was so extraordinary including Miles Teller, whom I’ve wanted to work with forever, and Nikki, the most badass, brilliant woman in Hollywood. And suddenly I got told I was going to be a part of it and it was about a character I didn’t know anything about. Dexter did this incredible thing when we all gathered and the weekend before we had the luxury of a couple weeks of rehearsal, he actually said ‘You guys have a little bit of homework to do. I would like for you to come in Monday with a backstory of who you are and how you got to the moment of meeting Al Ruddy, taking you forward in the journey to making The Godfather.’. It was such a profoundly brilliant experience because you’re sitting in a circle of faces that you potentially know from work they’ve done. And while they are playing characters you potentially know really well, or you don’t know so much about, or you just heard their names or you don’t know anything about them at all. Each person had done such extraordinary research whether they were making-up what they could with whatever little information they found on the internet, or whether they really had these facts. It didn’t matter because suddenly you were in a room with these people and it made sense why they were going to be involved with the movie.”.

Toscano, Tolkin and Fletcher talk about the choice to tell THE OFFER as a TV Show versus a Movie.

Toscano: “That comment is a reflection of the time. Wonderful things are being done on TV these days. In some ways it’s poking-fun at the time period.”.

Tolkin: “TV’s become the great delivery system for storytelling now. We’re happy watching ten hours of a television series than 90 minutes of a movie most of the time.”.

Fletcher: “We went for style and impact and we made something as big and impressive as we could with the resources we had. We didn’t go about it thinking it was for TV and aim for the stars. We go big, we go bold and I don’t think we drew that line. Hopefully part of the strength of what we put out feels like we’re in keeping with the movies. I think it pays homage to that.”.

THE OFFER arrives April 28, 2022 on Paramount+.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount)

DOWNTOWN ABBEY fans, here’s your first glimpse of the new Teaser for DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA.

Synopsis:

The original principal cast of Downton Abbey will all once again return for the second film. In addition to the original cast, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West will join the cast.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada will release
DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA in theatres on May 20, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features/Universal Pictures Canada)

By Amanda Gilmore

We’ve seen many Films about Christmas, but none quite like this. It’s Christmas Day and also the last living night for humans on Earth. The Government and Scientists have proclaimed that poison will sweep across the world, wiping out humanity. A group of upper-class friends decide to spend their last Christmas and night together at a cosy house in the English Countryside. They are part of the fortunate who get to choose between taking a Government-approved ‘exit’ pill or letting the poison take them.

Silent Night takes on the challenge of the Dramedy. Feature-Debut Writer-Director Camille Griffin successfully navigates these tonal changes with control and ease. Her Script is laced with deep themes on climate change and wealth. Typically with apocalyptic-type films, it’s zombies or aliens who are to blame for the end of the world. However, Griffin blames the more likely culprit, climate change. In a powerful scene set around the dinner table, Art (Roman Griffin Davis) informs the guests that this is happening because the Earth is sick of consuming the garbage we have given it. The theme of wealth is highlighted in regards to the ‘exit’ pill. In one scene, Simon (Matthew Goode) informs his son, Art, how they’re lucky to be given the pill as others weren’t.

Additionally, it’s through wealth that we get these comedic, self-absorbed yet lovable characters. Griffin has assembled a strong cast consisting of Keira Knightley, Goode, Griffin Davis, Annabelle Wallis, Lily-Rose Depp, Sope Dirisu, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Lucy Punch. Each is perfectly cast for their respected characters but Wallis and Griffin Davis are standouts. 

Wallis is hilarious as self-centred Sandra. She believes everyone is in love with her yet yearns for the love of her only daughter. She truly knocks it out of the park. Then there is young Griffin Davis, who you’ll remember from Jojo Rabbit. Here he plays a cheeky, intelligent boy who is frightened to be facing his death. Both Knightley and Goode give touching performances as parents spending their last night with their children.

Overall, Silent Night is a delightful British Dramedy that turns the traditional Christmas Film on its head.

Silent Night screens at TIFF ’21:

Thu, Sep 16 at 7 PM at Roy Thompson Hall

Fri, Sep 17 at 5 PM on Digital TIFF Bell Lightbox

Sat, Sep 18 at 7 PM on Digital TIFF Bell Lightbox

A new Trailer has surfaced for Kingsman Prequel, THE KING’S MAN.

SYNOPSIS:
As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in The King’s Man, directed by Matthew Vaughn.

Cast includes: Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou and Charles Dance.

See the Trailer:

THE KING’S MAN is in theatres December 22, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox Canada)

Starring Matthew Goode x Toni Collette, the new Trailer for the Comedy, BIRTHMARKED has just surfaced for us to enjoy!

Synopsis:
Two scientists decide to raise their children (one natural, two adopted) in complete isolation as part of a large social experiment to see if they can shape their children’s personalities contrary to their genetic predisposition (a Nurture vs. Nature experiment). Eventually the children start to resist the conditioning set out by their parent’s “curriculum” and the relationship between the parents starts to deteriorate.

See the Trailer:

eOne Films release BIRTHMARKED May 2018.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Elevation Pictures and Mr. Will want you to get-in on a Film which has Critics and Audiences in overwhelming agreement of its greatness! THE IMITATION GAME premiered here at TIFF ’14 to resoundingly positive response winning the People’s Choice Award. Although it’s been in theatres in limited release for a bit, we want you to experience what is definitively a Contender at the Academy Awards!  Also, we want you to win a copy of Alan Turing: The Enigma, on which the Film is based and if this weren’t enough how about a super-rare authentic signed Photo from BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH himself?

Official Synopsis:
In THE IMITATION GAME, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the genius British mathematician, logician, cryptologist and computer scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win WWII. Turing went on to assist with the development of computers at the University of Manchester after the war, but was prosecuted by the UK government in 1952 for homosexual acts which the country deemed illegal.

THE IMITATION GAME also stars Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong and Allen Leech.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook!  Click “share” on this Post from there and get an extra chance.  You also may Re-Tweet the below for another opportunity also:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/theimitationgame @MRWILLW wants us to #win a #THEIMITATIONGAME Prize Pack!

 Good luck, Willionaire$!

A glance at that Cumberbatch Autograph:

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 8:28am PDT

Mr. Will + The Cast of The Imitation Game:

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jan 1, 2015 at 5:31pm PST

Elevation Pictures release THE IMITATION GAME, now in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

If anyone knows how to win an Oscar, it’s certainly The Weinstein Co. Grolsch People’s Choice Award Winner THE IMITATION GAME certainly turned a few heads and touched a few hearts at TIFF ’14 and in case you haven’t acquainted yourself with its brilliance, now’s your turn. Acclaim is high for Benedict Cumberbatch‘s sensitive portrayal of Turing and the Film which gives due justice to an unsung Hero.

Official Synopsis:

Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), a brilliant Cambridge mathmetician, cryptanalyst and computer scientist, is enlisted by his country during World War II to break the Nazi Enigma code, and is later persecuted by the government for being homosexual. THE IMITATION GAME stars also, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Allen Leech and Mark Strong. Morten Tyldum directs.

See the Trailer:

What do you think?  Best Picture?

Elevation Pictures release THE IMITATION GAME on Friday, November 21, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Fox Searchlight Canada and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary a chance to win Double Passes to the Advance Screening of Park Chan-Wook’s (Old Boy) Thriller, Stoker. Believe me, we’ve been waiting forever for this!  The Toronto Screening takes place Thursday, February 28, 2013. Additional Screening dates/venues  to be confirmed.

After India‘s (Mia Wasikowska) Father dies in an auto accident, her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable Mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman). Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious, charming Man has ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him. Lucas Till, Alden Ehrenreich and Jackie Weaver star also.

Watch the eery Trailer in full below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before February 20, 2013. You should also be following on Twitter  too! Please remember to indicate your city of choice and if you have increased privacy settings on Facebook, ensure you leave me a way to get in touch!

Double your chances by Re-Tweeting the below:

 http://www.mrwillwong.com/stokergiveaway @MRWILLW wants me to attend the Advance Screening of STOKER. Passes for VAN/CGY/TOR available.

Good luck!

Fox Searchlight releases STOKER in Toronto on March 1, 2013.  Additional Cities to follow.

Visit the official Website for Stoker.

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)

“We don’t need to be friends… we’re family.”.

Creepy. Stoker borders uncomfortable territory in an emotionally-charged Triangle between widowed Mother Evie (Nicole Kidman), Daughter India (Mia Wasikowska) and Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) who surfaces out of nowhere. India begins to suspect that Charlie‘s sudden arrival may have been triggered by ulterior motives, as the three of them become increasingly close to one another.

Chan-Wook Park (Old Boy) directs this rather awesome looking Thriller which before today wasn’t even on many of our radars. And get this, Prison Break Star Wentworth Miller, who worked together with Kidman on 2003’s The Human Stain, writes the Screenplay!

Watch the gripping Trailer below:

Fox Searchlight releases on March 1, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)