Nocturnal Animals
#GOLDENGLOBES: “LA LA LAND” TAKES TOP HONOURS AT THE 74th ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
The 74th annual Golden Globe Awards took place in Hollywood tonight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association honouring the year’s best in Film and Television. Taking home top honours tonight with seven wins was Musical La La Land directed by Damien Chazelle. Premiering to raves at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September and winning the People’s Choice Award, the Film swept important categories Best Motion Picture Comedy/Musical, Screenplay (Damien Chazelle), Director (Damien Chazelle), Actress (Emma Stone), Actor (Ryan Gosling), Original Score (Justin Hurwitz) and Original Song (City of Stars).
See the Cast and Director post-victory:
Moonlight which has been a force all Awards Season almost walked away empty-handed, but alas won Best Motion Picture Drama for up-and-coming Director Barry Jenkins.
Tonight’s Best Foreign Motion Picture winner Elle certainly makes the Best Actress Oscars race a bit more interesting with Isabelle Huppert winning in an upset over favoured Natalie Portman.
Manchester by the Sea which long has been considered an Awards Season frontrunner was rewarded Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Casey Affleck).
In the Television categories, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Atlanta and The Crown proved popular. The former won Best Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and also a win for Sarah Paulson who starred as famed lawyer Marcia Clark. Atlanta, which also is broadcast by FX like The People, won for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy and Best Actor in a TV Series Comedy (Donald Glover). Netflix‘s The Crown won Best Television Series Drama and Best Actress in a Television Series Drama (Claire Foy).
The show was hosted by Funnyman Jimmy Fallon, who despite technical glitches with the Teleprompter after a spirited La La Land-inspired opening number, managed to overcome adversity to a punchy Donald Trump-targeted speech stating “This is the Golden Globes, one of the few places left where America still honors the popular vote”. He also continued to poke fun referencing this year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient Meryl Streep who starred in Golden Globe-nominated Florence Foster Jenkins, about the world’s worst singer, proclaiming “Even she turned down performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration.”.
Watch the Cold Opening:
Streep was introduced by Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture winner Viola Davis, moving the crowd with some profound statements in her DeMille acceptance speech, encouraging us to “Take our broken hearts and turn them into art.”. She also made a couple pokes at Mixed Martial Arts and President Elect Donald Trump stating, “Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence insights violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others we all lose.”.
Watch the Speech:
Surprises this evening included victories by Aaron Taylor-Johnson for Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for Nocturnal Animals, which has been much-overlooked this Awards Season. Also, many were surprised that critical darling Game of Thrones, nearing the end of its run, was overlooked all night in favour of new series, expensively-produced The Crown. Daughter of music icon Diana, Tracee Ellis Ross achieved distinction becoming the first black Actress since Debbie Allen in 1983 to win Best Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy for Blackish.
Fashion always is a highlight at the Golden Globes and yellow/gold proved popular with actresses Reese Witherspoon, Emily Ratajkowski, Priyanka Chopra and nominees for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture and Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama respectively, Viola Davis and Natalie Portman, donning variations of the colour on the Red Carpet. Actresses Mandy Moore and Kristen Bell also dropped draws with tasteful cleavage-revealing pieces.
Next up are the Academy Awards, which air Sunday, February 26, 2017 8:30 PM EST on ABC.
Complete list of Golden Globe winners here.
(Photo/video credit: Getty Images)
#EDITORSNOTE: TEAM MR. WILL NAME THEIR TOP TENS OF 2016
What I love most about working with Team Mr. Will is that we really are connected on a deep level as true lovers of Film. We all at some point were that passionate fan who queued hours in rush lines at Festivals or fought valiantly to win a contest to an Advance Screening. Despite our eclectic tastes, we work with open minds and are a judgment-free zone. We read each other’s reviews, learn and grow from one another. Although it sometimes is a great challenge splitting titles among our team, it always is love and somehow always works out in the end. We’re Filmgoers just like you with lives, jobs and school, but no matter what there always is time for our greatest passion, Film.
Whether it be Jon Godfrey‘s artistic and aesthetic sensibility, David Baldwin‘s great attunement to detail, George Kozera‘s energy and wit, Justin Waldman‘s infectious passion for Sci-Fi and Animation, Siobhán Rich‘s vast knowledge and versatility or Amanda Gilmore‘s fresh on-the-pulse perspective, we all have a unique voice that comes together in harmony as a rich, complex chord.
See our Team’s Ten Best-Of 2016 Lists.
Which speak loudest to you? Which inspire you to expand your cinematic horizons?
Mr. Will
SIOBHÁN RICH (@Typo_Eh)
This has been such a great year for Film I would have preferred to submit a Top Twenty list. My alphabetical Top Ten leaves off the fantastic Animated Movie The Red Turtle, Mark Duplass’ touching Black and White Film Blue Jay, the brilliant Documentary Tower, and great Oscar hopefuls like Nocturnal Animals, Twentieth Century Women and A Monster Calls. So, if those got left off my list imagine how great these ten Movies are!
Angry Indian Goddesses
Cameraperson
Everybody Wants Some!!
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Kubo and the Two Strings
Loving
Moonlight
Paterson
Toni Erdmann
The Women’s Balcony
JON GODFREY (@Skot_Somers)
Instead of explaining each Film, I’ll explain my method for making this list. I’ve been doing this for many years now, and I’ve grown honest enough with myself to know that what I like may not be for everyone. Be that as it may, in the last twelve months these are the Films that left the greatest impression on me. These are the Films I enjoyed on the big screen, or at home on TV. These are the Films I lost myself in, or enjoyed with the people I love. These are the Films that made me feel like a kid again, or helped me grow as a man. For me, these have been the Ten Best Films of 2016.
1. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2. Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice
3. Loving
4. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
5. Eight Days a Week
6. Shin Godzilla
7. Moonlight
8. Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV
9. Knight of Cups
10. Warcraft
DAVID BALDWIN (@DaveMABaldwin)
When I look back at 2016, it is hard to believe how wild and chaotic a year it has been. While there were dozens of genuinely terrific Films, there were an immense amount of disappointments. I may be getting increasingly harder to please at the Movies, but the Top Ten Films for me this year challenged my expectations and each had a profound affect that have lasted long after the credits finished rolling.
1. Swiss Army Man
2. Nocturnal Animals
3. Arrival
4. La La Land
5. O.J.: Made in America
6. Zootopia
7. Hell or High Water
8. The Nice Guys
9. Moana
10. The Edge of Seventeen
JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DubsReviews)
This Top Ten list is in no particular order, but also self-explanatory. You have everything from must see blockbusters to small little things from brilliant Directors like Charlie Kaufman. While there may be some gigantic titles like that small space Indie about a galaxy far far away that everyone and their pets are seeing, but the small indies and the underrated Comedies must make my Top Ten list. 2016 was incredible, and these ten Movies are some of the best of the best.
Anomalisa
Bad Moms
The Edge of Seventeen
Deadpool
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Kubo and the Two Strings
La La Land
Loving
Moana
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
AMANDA GILMORE (@GilmoreAmanda)
The Top Ten Movies I have chosen for 2016 are varied from one another. There is a Film for everyone on this list. My list includes the most important Films from multiple genres and storylines.
1. La La Land
2. Moonlight
3. Arrival
4. Manchester By The Sea
5. Nocturnal Animals
6. 10 Cloverfield Lane
7. Zootopia
8. Jackie
9. Elle
10. Don’t Breathe
GEORGE KOZERA (@PartyG)
2016 may not have been a banner year for Movies for me personally, but since seeing it at TIFF ’16, I am still obsessed with Director Damien Chazelle’s musical masterpiece, followed closely by the most compelling Documentary I have seen since Hoop Dreams. Indie features, outstanding performances by female veterans (Meryl Streep and Sally Field), and an exciting new voice in Canadian Cinema rocked my world in 2016.
1. La La Land
2. OJ: Made in America
3. Closet Monster
4. Moonlight
5. Manchester by the Sea
6. Love and Friendship
7. Deadpool
8. Captain Fantastic
9. Florence Foster Jenkins
10. Hello, My Name is Doris
The Team Mr. Will 2016 Holiday Selfie
(L to R: Jon, Amanda, Dave, Siobhán + Justin)
…and of course we can’t forget George + our official Team Mascot, “Princess” (@APicByMrWill)
Mr. Will‘s own 2016 Best-Ofs? Click here for those!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/eOne Films/Elevation Pictures/Fox Searchlight/Universal Pictures/The Orchard/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada/ESPN Films)
#BOXOFFICE: “ROGUE ONE” DOMINANT IN DEBUT
As anticipated, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY debuts dominantly this weekend with $152.2 million from 4,157 theatres for Disney. Despite equally strong reviews from Critics with 84% on the Tomatometer, getting an A CinemaScore from Audiences also, it cannot best last year’s STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS‘ record-setting $247 million opening. This however, makes ROGUE ONE the second-highest opening ever for a Film in December.
MOANA makes it a Disney Double, placing second with $12.5 million, a total of $162.7 million over four weeks domestically.
OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY lands in third this weekend with $7.9 million for Paramount Pictures, a total $31 million over two weeks.
COLLATERAL BEAUTY lands in fourth with $7.2 million from 3,028 theatres for Warner Bros. Critics gave it a harsh 14% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences loved the Holiday Drama with an all-star cast including Kate Winslet, Edward Norton, Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren and Will Smith, with an A- CinemaScore.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA expands to 1,208 theatres for Mongrel Media/Roadside Attractions, good enough for sixth with $4.1 million.
LA LA LAND also expands in its second week to just 200 theatres, earning a whopping $4.1 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films. This looks great for the Oscar contender which continues its expansion in coming weeks. It gets a Canadian release Christmas Day in select cities.
ARRIVAL is in ninth with $2.9 million for Paramount Pictures, a total $86.6 million now in six weeks.
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS rounds-out the Top Ten with 1,246 theatres for Universal Pictures with $1.4 million. In five weeks it has made $8.8 million.
#TIFF16: DAY 5 SIGHTINGS – RYAN GOSLING, EMMA STONE, AMY ADAMS, MARK WAHLBERG, AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON, OSCAR ISAAC, HOLLY HUNTER, J.K. SIMMONS + MORE
The weekend might be over but you wouldn’t know it if you were at TIFF! Day Five perhaps is the grandest one yet with the Festival’s most anticipated title making its debut here after a huge splash in Venice, Damien Chazzelle‘s LA LA LAND starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. The duo are set to walk the Red Carpet tonight at Roy Thomson Hall. Miles Teller (who coincidentally worked with Chazzelle on his first Film, WHIPLASH) also is set to make a case for Best Actor in BLEED FOR THIS, which debuts tonight at Princess of Wales Theatre. Down the road, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner are set to walk the Carpet for Denis Villeneuve‘s Sci-Fi romp ARRIVAL at Roy Thomson Hall.
See the names we spotted today in the City!
Ryan Gosling, LA LA LAND
#RyanGosling at #TIFF16 for #LaLaLand.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Emma Stone, LA LA LAND
With the mesmerizing #EmmaStone at #TIFF16 for #LaLaLand.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
John Legend, LA LA LAND
#JohnLegend at #TIFF16 for #LaLaLand.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Rosemarie DeWitt, LA LA LAND
#RosemarieDeWitt at #TIFF16 for #LaLaLand.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Director Damien Chazzelle, LA LA LAND
J.K. Simmons, LA LA LAND
Amy Adams, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS + ARRIVAL
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
Because I needed another. #AaronTaylorJohnson #TIFF16 #NocturnalAnimals
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Oscar Isaac, THE PROMISE
Richard Gere, NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER
Mark Wahlberg, DEEPWATER HORIZON
Marky Mark. He was spotted at #Wahlburgers today! #TIFF16 #DeepwaterHorizon
A video posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Marky Mark. #TIFF16 #MarkWahlberg #DeepwaterHorizon #Wahlburgers 🍔
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Ethan Hawke, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN + MAUDIE
#EthanHawke at #TIFF16 for #TheMagnificentSeven + #Maudie.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Aaron Eckhart, BLEED FOR THIS
Miles Teller, BLEED FOR THIS
#MilesTeller at #TIFF16 for #BleedforThis.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Dave Matthews out enjoying TIFF
Lennox Lewis out enjoying TIFF
Boxing icon #LennoxLewis at #TIFF16.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#TIFF16: TEAM MR. WILL MAKE THEIR TOP 2016 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PICKS
It’s our favourite time of the year and the team at MR. WILL WONG are excited to share with you their insights as to what you should be seeing at TIFF ’16! It’s impossible to believe we’re literally two days away from the world’s greatest Film Festival!
Mr. Will (@mrwillw)
La La Land
Elle
Personal Shopper
Loving
Denial
The electric buzz coming out of Venice for LA LA LAND is certainly warranted and we cannot wait for you to discover the genius that is Damien Chazelle‘s dazzling sophomore effort. We also were mesmerized by Isabelle Huppert‘s work in Paul Verhoeven‘s dark and twisty ELLE. Kristen Stewart mesmerized us in PERSONAL SHOPPER in what is a career-best performance. We haven’t yet seen LOVING, but believe the buzz and can’t wait to be floored by Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton‘s performances. We also cannot deny we were moved by Rachel Weisz‘s phenomenal work in DENIAL and although people aren’t talking about it as much as some of the other marquee titles, do not let this one slip off your radar. Honourable mention also to UNA starring Ben Mendelsohn and Rooney Mara (we adore her!) which also is getting quite a bit of buzz and acclaim out of Telluride. We will let you know as soon as we see it!
Let’s see what the rest of the Team have to say…
Siobhán Rich (@Typo_Eh)
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
La La Land
Nelly
Paterson
Toni Erdmann
If you’re only going to see five Movies at TIFF this year you should try and make them well rounded choices. Toni Erdmann is a brilliant Foreign Film that will leave you smiling long after you leave the theatre. Jim Jarmusch’s Paterson is a beautiful character study starring Adam Driver. No Film curation would be complete with a Documentary and you can’t go wrong with Director Steve James. Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is an interesting David & Goliath story centering around the 2008 financial crisis. Checking off both the Vanguard and all important Canadian boxes is Anne Émond’s Biopic Nelly, which explores the life a writer from Québec. Finally, for a fun pick that will leave all your friends envious: La La Land. This hugely buzzed-about Musical staring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone is an early favourite for People’s Choice winner. My bonus pick is Jeff Nichols’ Loving about a couple in Virginia who fought to overturn the State’s ban on interracial marriage.
Have a great TIFF ’16!
David Baldwin (@DaveMABaldwin)
La La Land
I absolutely adored and championed Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-winning Whiplash after seeing it during TIFF ’14. I was immediately on board for anything he had in store for his follow-up. I was excited after hearing it was a Musical, but became infinitely more excited when I found out it would team-up Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone again. No matter what happened, this was the only ticket I absolutely NEEDED at this year’s Festival.
The Birth of a Nation
Nate Parker’s directorial debut about a slave uprising in the 1830s was the toast of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It was destined for Oscar glory at that time, but now it is being talked about for a whole other despicable reason. It was on my radar from before, but the controversy that is plaguing its release is just making me more interested in watching it. TIFF promises extended talks after the Film for its first two screenings, but are they going to happen?
Headshot
I look back at some years going to TIFF and immediately regret missing out on some great Films. Skipping-out on The Raid back in 2011 was a terrible mistake, and one I made sure I did not repeat when I heard Indonesian action star Iko Uwais was returning to Midnight Madness with his new Film Headshot. I did not even stop to read what the Film was about and still have very little clue. I just know that watching it at Midnight is going to be a blast.
Nocturnal Animals
Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams are two of the best actors working in Hollywood right now. Putting them together under the direction of Fashion Designer-turning-Filmmaker Tom Ford? Well that can only be a truly special kind of Film, and if the buzz out of Venice is to be believed, we are in for a sumptuous treat. And if it is anything like Ford’s A Single Man, it is destined for greatness.
Bleed for This
Miles Teller is one of the very few actors who I will watch anything in, no matter what. When I watched the trailer for Bleed for This during the summer, I knew this would be another great performance from the young actor. And seeing him paired with the likes of Aaron Eckhart, Katey Sagal and the great Ciarán Hinds makes for an unmissable event.
Justin Waldman (@DubsReviews)
Oh where to begin with the most wonderful time of the year? And no I am not talking about Christmas. Well I lied, I sort of am TIFFmas is here and there are plenty of highly-anticipated Films coming to the Festival this year and without further yammering, here are my top five in no particular order.
La La Land
Nocturnal Animals
Arrival
Free Fire
Paterson
All of these Films have elements to them that make me incredibly-excited for them. Whether that be Actors, Directors or general concept behind each one of these Movies, these have me anticipating TIFF ’16.
Jon Godfrey
American Honey
American Pastoral
A United Kingdom
The Handmaiden
The Red Turtle
What I love most about Film Festivals are the Movies. What I love most about TIFF is its international flavors. Like the city the Festival of Festivals is set in, TIFF Films are from multiple cultures and feature endless perspectives. Though two of my picks have “America” in their title, both are helmed by Directors from the United Kingdom. A United Kingdom is directed by an English woman of Ghanaian decent, and discusses interracial marriage. Then there’s The Handmaiden, set in Japan occupied Korea and dressed like Victoria’s England. Lastly, The Red Turtle, is a Dutch drawn Film co-produced by Japan’s Studio Ghibli… and it’s also my top pick 😉 All my picks look at this world with wonder, and come from around this wonderful world.
Amanda Gilmore (@GilmoreAmanda)
La La Land
Anything Damien Chazelle makes I will run to see! Plus it has the added bonus of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. It’s a Musical! It is one of the most talked about Films of the year.
Manchester By The Sea
Casey Affleck is a marvel to watch in everything he does, that is reason alone to see this. But this year he is getting Oscar buzz for his performance! It’s a quiet Film with a lot of heart.
Loving
This is the most talked about film coming out of film festivals. It’s got Oscar written all over it! The story is one of the more powerful and important ones at the Festival.
Burn Your Maps
This is a small Film that many aren’t talking about. Jacob Tremblay (Room) stars as the lead which is enough reason to go. It’s the Film no one talks about before the Festival, but everyone will hear about it after.
Nocturnal Animals
I’m a sucker for Jake Gyllenhaal. I’m a sucker for Amy Adams. The plot is strange and dark. It’s directed by Tom Ford (A Single Man) and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
George Kozera (@PartyG)
La La Land
Denial
It’s Only the End of the World
Arrival
American Pastoral
From a sun-drenched, most innovative Musical in decades (LA LA LAND) to the darkness of a soul who dismisses the reality of the Holocaust in a court room Drama (DENIAL); from offerings by two Canadian Auteurs who have yet to fail to impress (Xavier Dolan‘s IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD and Denis Villeneuve‘s ARRIVAL) to a heartbreaking Family Drama based on a Philip Roth Novel (AMERICAN PASTORAL), TIFF ’16 is poised to be the best Festival yet!
TIFF ’16 takes place between Thursday, September 8, 2016 through Sunday, September 18, 2016. Check back right here and bookmark for up-to-minute star sightings and Reviews of the most buzzed Films at the Festival!
Be sure to be following on Social Media also:
Twitter: @mrwillw
Instagram: @mrwillwong
Snapchat: mrwillwong
Facebook: @mrwillwongblog
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com