Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
After receiving critical acclaim at its premiere in Telluride last week, Can You Ever Forgive Me? lands in Toronto and hopes to keep the momentum going. Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) is a Biography Writer desperately seeking a new book deal. She is behind on all of her payments, and is running out of ideas. After having some luck selling historical letters on the black market, Israel gets the idea to start fabricating some of her own.
Lengthy title aside, Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a wonderful character study that remains compelling at all times. We want to see Lee succeed whatever way she can (even if she’s self-destructive), and we feel her every struggle. Most of this is due to McCarthy’s fearless performance. She still maintains her vulgar wit, but she is more subdued that what we are used to, going deeper than she ever has before. Her work here is some of the best of her career, showing off an emotional side she has only hinted at in the past. And if that was not enough, the Film also packs a delightful turn from character actor Richard E. Grant as her friend Jack Hock. I sense future Oscar nominations.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? screens Saturday, September 8 at 12:15 PM at Winter Garden Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 3:00 PM at Scotiabank Theatre and Saturday, September 15 at 12:00 PM at Princess of Wales Theatre.
Box Office Queen Melissa McCarthy is back and this time as you’ve never seen her before. Check-out this new Trailer for THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS.
Synopsis:
No Sesame. All Street. Two clashing detectives, one human (Melissa McCarthy) and one puppet, are forced to work together to solve the brutal murders of the former cast of a beloved classic puppet television show.
In theaters this summer. Brian Henson directs with a Cast including Maya Rudolph, Elizabeth Banks and Joel McHale.
See the Trailer:
VVS Films release THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS Friday, August 17, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)
Melissa McCarthy AND deception together in one Film? Sign us up! We love everything about upcoming Dark Comedy CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? This is the other side of McCarthy we’ve waited so long to see!
SYNOPSIS:
Melissa McCarthy stars in the adaptation of the memoir CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?, the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer (and friend to cats) Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) who made her living in the 1970’s and 80’s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant).
Fox Searchlight release CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME Friday, October 19, 2018.
TIFF ’18, anyone?
(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight)
Let’s face it! Not all of us are Football experts, but every year the Super Bowl rolls around, there’s plenty for us to look at and be excited. We for one are thrilled about Lady Gaga‘s Pepsi Halftime Show which we’re predicting her to make a real statement! While the funny commercials usually are a given with the likes of KIA stepping it up and then some with Funnywoman Melissa McCarthy in a big-budget starring role, others like AUDI and BUDWEISER went a more political route with a pro-equal pay and immigrant message in their spots, making good use of their position and voice.
Check out some of our favourite TV Spots from this year’s SuperBowl:
Words cannot describe our excitement. We had our doubts about this new GHOSTBUSTERS Film, but this Trailer should alleviate that. It looks awesome!
Synopsis:
Ghostbusters makes its long-awaited return, rebooted with a cast of hilarious new characters. Thirty years after the beloved original franchise took the world by storm, director Paul Feig brings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today – Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. This summer, they’re here to save the world!
See the Trailer:
Sony Pictures Canada release GHOSTBUSTERS Friday, July 16, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Canada)
Finally after a lot of talk, we see some action! Some new Character Posters (below) and a new still have been released (above) from upcoming 2016 release GHOSTBUSTERS! Check ’em out below!
Synopsis:
Thirty years after the original film took the world by storm, Ghostbusters is back and fully rebooted for a new generation. Director Paul Feig combines all the paranormal fighting elements that made the original franchise so beloved with a cast of new characters, played by the funniest actors working today. Get ready to watch them save the world this summer!
GHOSTBUSTERS stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Charles Dance, Michael Kenneth Williams and Chris Hemsworth.
See the new Character Posters:
Sony Pictures Canada release GHOSTBUSTERS on Friday, July 15, 2016.
(Photo credit: Sony Pictures Canada)
Melissa McCarthy continues to stamp herself Queen of the Box Office, with her latest Comedy, SPY debuting at number one this weekend for 20th Century Fox with $30 million from 3,711 theatres. In fact, since 2011, a remarkable seven out of eight of her Films have debuted in the Top Three, this being her second Film since Identity Theft to debut on-top. In addition to commercial success, Critics adored the Film with remarkable 95% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a B+ CinemaScore only.
SAN ANDREAS in its second week, lands in second with $25 million for Warner Bros. In two weeks it is just shy of the $100-million mark after a smashing debut at number one last week.
INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 debuts in third spot with $23 million for Focus Features/eOne Films, from 3,002 theatres. Critics gave it favourable reviews with a 60% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences responded fairly well with a B+ CinemaScore. While a strong showing, this falls short of 2013’s $40 million opening for Chapter 2.
ENTOURAGE: THE MOVIE rewards Fans of the HBO Series handsomely and the Film continuation of the beloved Show, debuts in fourth spot with $18.3 million from 3,108 theatres for Warner Bros. While the Critics were tough on it with a 30% on the Tomatometer, Audiences gave it a decisive “yes” with an A- CinemaScore.
PITCH PERFECT 2 finds itself in fifth $8.5 million for Universal Pictures, now in its fourth week. It now has made $161 million domestically.
Rounding-out the Top Ten is POLTERGEIST with $2.7 million for 20th Century Fox in its third week out. The Horror Remake has made $44 million in its run thus far.
Straight from the Director’s mouth, we learned an amazing bit of news today regarding the forthcoming installment of GHOSTBUSTERS from Paul Feig! And believe me, this is exactly what we had hoped for!
See the Principal Cast as per Feig:
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) January 27, 2015
So to recap, that’s Melissa McCarthy and Saturday Night Live Alumni Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.
Sony Pictures release GHOSTBUSTERS on Friday, July 22, 2016.
(Photo credit: Sony Pictures)
We can never get enough MELISSA MCCARTHY! After getting Exclusive Premiere on The Ellen Show yesterday, the entire Internet now gets to enjoy the Trailer for her new Action-Comedy, SPY, in all its hilarity!
Official Synopsis:
Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency’s most dangerous missions. But when her partner (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham) is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent a global disaster.
See the Trailer:
20th Century Fox release SPY on Friday, May 22, 2015!
(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox)
Let’s be real. We can never have enough Celeb Selfies! 2014 was a year I’ll never forget and will forever go down as one of our most star-studded yet! Our travels brought us to L.A. and New York, but our most exciting adventures took place here in our Hometown of Toronto! Let’s take a walk down our star-studded memory lane to some of our fave Celeb moments of 2014!
Who were you most excited to see? The red-hot Benedict Cumberbatch? The private Usher? The iconic Tom Cruise? The adorable Anna Kendrick? “It Boy” Ansel Elgort? How about “It Girl” Shailene Woodley? The incredibly-tough Reese Witherspoon? The irresistible Tom Hardy?!
Also, we want to share with you some of our fave of the several thousand Celeb Snaps we took in 2014! Chances are if there was a major Star in-town this year, we at some point snapped them!
2014 will go down as one of the strongest years for Cinema in recent memory, but which Movies rocked our World? And which Singles ruled our iPod? You’re about to find out!
Re-live some of our Fave Celeb Selfies of 2014 (click HD for better quality):
TOP PHOTOS:
Tinashe, Tattoo Rock Parlour
Rachel McAdams at Canada’s Walk of Fame
Ryan Reynolds + Peter Fonda at Canada’s Walk of Fame
Tove Lo, The Phoenix
Robert Pattinson at the NKPR IT Lounge, TIFF ’14
Channing Tatum, TIFF ’14
Steve Carell, TIFF ’14
Denzel Washington, TIFF ’14
Felicity Jones, TIFF ’14
Kevin Costner, TIFF ’14
Adam Sandler, TIFF ’14
Robert Downey Jr., TIFF ’14
Tom Hardy, TIFF ’14
Ian Somerhalder, Fan Expo 2014
Elijah Wood, Fan Expo 2014
Norman Reedus, Fan Expo 2014
Shawn Mendes, Universal Music Canada
One Direction, Where We Are Tour
5 Seconds of Summer, Summer 2014
Daniel Radcliffe + Zoe Kazan, The F Word Toronto Premiere
Katy Perry, Prismatic World Tour
Lady Gaga, Artrave Tour
Charlie Sheen, Joe Carter Classic Afterparty
Gordon Lightfoot, SOCAN Awards
Missy Peregrym + Charlotte Sullivan, Shaw Media Upfronts
Charlie Barnett + Jesse Lee Soffer, Shaw Media Upfronts
Stephen Amell, Bell Media Upfronts
Kirsten Vangsness, Bell Media Upfronts
Elizabeth Henstridge, Bell Media Upfronts
Katie Holmes, Met Gala, NYC
Blake + Ryan, Met Gala, NYC
Hugh Jackman, Met Gala, NYC
Lily Aldridge + Kate Upton, Met Gala, NYC
Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey), Met Gala, NYC
Marion Cotillard, Met Gala, NYC
Joshua Jackson + Diane Kruger, Met Gala, NYC
Zac Efron, NYC
Iggy Azalea, The New Classic Tour
Cher, D2K Tour
Miley Cyrus, Bangerz Tour
Katheryn Winnick, Canadian Screen Awards
Martin Short, Canadian Screen Awards
Shay Mitchell, Canadian Screen Awards
Maria Bello, David Cronenberg + Viggo Mortensen, Canadian Screen Awards
Laura Vandervoort + Olivier Trevena, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.
Ellen Wong, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.
TOP FILMS:
1. WHIPLASH
2. GONE GIRL
3. NIGHTCRAWLER
4. WILD
5. BIRDMAN
6. THE IMITATION GAME
7. FOXCATCHER
8. THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
9. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
10. THE LEGO MOVIE
Perhaps under-seen, WHIPLASH is the one Film you absolutely must see this year. J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller will shatter your World with their performances! You’ll leave shaken and sobered.
TOP SINGLES
1. ALL ABOUT THAT BASS – Meghan Trainor
2. BLANK SPACE – Taylor Swift
3. WEST COAST – Lana Del Rey
4. BOOM CLAP – Charli XCX
5. POMPEII – Bastille
6. STAY WITH ME – Sam Smith
7. SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT – 5 Seconds of Summer
8. COUNTING STARS – OneRepublic
9. SHAKE IT OFF – Taylor Swift
10. SAY SOMETHING – A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
2014 was all about that bass for us. Meghan Trainor blew our mind with her positive message about body image. We’re sold and extremely excited for her 2015 full-length Debut.
Won’t you join us as we embark on more exciting adventures in Entertainment 2015? Also stay tuned for an upcoming Post where our Contributors Jonathan Godfrey, Justin Waldman, David Baldwin and George Kozera share their fave Films of 2014 too!
Happy Holidays, Willionaire$!
Photos Post-TIFF ’14 taken on Nikon D3300. Photos pre-TIFF ’14 taken on Olympus E-PL5/Samsung S4.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com