Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
This heartbreaking and poignant film follows Anne (Olivia Colman) who attempts to take care of her father Anthony (Anthony Hopkins) who has Dementia.
We’ve seen films about caring for ill parents before, but none anywhere close as good as Florian Zeller’s The Father. His Camerawork and Script don’t just document the memory loss Anthony is experiencing, instead, it propels you into his world. When he doesn’t know where he is and who he is with, the audiences don’t either. This Film has two jaw-dropping performances from Colman and Hopkins. Colman is, as usual, a real force who brings her vulnerability to Anne’s despair. And Hopkins gives a tour-de-force performance that will go down as one of his greatest.
The Father screens at Sundance on Mon, Jan. 27th at 3:30 PM at Eccles Theatre, Wed, Jan. 29th at 2:45 PM at The Ray, Thurs, Jan. 30th at 6:30 PM at Rose Wagner Center, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 8:45 PM at Egyptian Theatre.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
I Carry You With Me follows Iván and Gerardo from the beginning of their relationship in Mexico to their life as immigrants in New York City.
Director Heidi Ewing tells the story of the power of love and the lengths people will go to for a better life. Ewing and her co-writer Alan Page Arriaga’s Script has a steady pace, the cinematography by Juan Pablo RamĂrez is gorgeous and the two leads, Armando Espitia and Christian Vázquez, are mesmerizing. There is a creative change Ewing takes in the Third-Act. That creative change is one that I believe elevates the story, however, there will be many who disagree.
I Carry You With Me screens at Sundance on Sun, Jan. 26th at 12 PM at Library Center, Mon, Jan. 27th at 6 PM at Redstone Cinema 7, Tues, Jan. 28th at 3:45 PM at Broadway Centre Cinema 3, Fri, Jan. 31st at 8:30 PM at Prospector Square, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 9:30 AM at The Ray
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
When Sarah (Cristin Milioti) meets Nyles (Andy Samberg) at her younger sisters wedding the two are thrust into a surreal and unexpected interruption.
Palm Springs really is one of the best films at the Festival. The main idea, which I’m attempting to keep a secret from you, is something that has been done time and time again. However, Palm Springs takes this old trend and whips up something fresh and hilarious with it. The two leads have outstanding chemistry and there is never a dull moment from beginning to end. All involved, behind and in front of the camera, make this Film one true crowd-pleaser.
Palm Springs screens at Sundance on Sun, Jan. 26th at 3 PM at Library Centre Theatre, Mon, Jan. 27th at 11:30 PM at Prospector Square Theatre, Wed, Jan. 29th at 6:30 PM at Rose Wagner Centre, Thurs, January 20th at 6:30 PM at Eccles Theatre, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 12 PM at Redstone Cinema 7.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
When Edna (Robyn Nevin) vanishes, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) go to their family’s decaying country home and find clues about her increasing Dementia.
The Horror genre is at its best when it has something to say and not just to scare. And that’s what Relic does. It forces the audience to question how we treat our loved ones once they get old and ill. Will we be frustrated or calm in their moments of memory loss? First-time feature Director-Writer Natalie Erika James poses this question and more all while frightening the audience long after the credits roll. She has also rounded up a stellar cast of women who display every emotion from empathy to fright.
Relic screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 11:59 PM at The Ray, Mon, Jan. 27th at 9 PM at Park Avenue, Wed, Jan. 29th at 9:15 PM at Redstone Cinema 7, Fri, Jan. 31st at 11:59 PM at Broadway Centre Cinema 6, and Sat, Feb. 1st at Library Centre Theatre.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
The latest Documentary from Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering focuses on Music Mogul Russell Simmons’ accusers.
The Documentary duo are known to expose sexual assault that happens in many places. This time they turn their focus onto the music industry with their primary interviewee being Music Executive Drew Dixon. However, this is more than a documentation of sexual assault. This Film describes how intersectionality plays a role in how certain communities stay quiet when they are assaulted, and why society looks at certain accusers differently.
On The Record screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 5:30 PM at The MARC, Sun, Jan. 26th at 6 PM at Redstone Cinema 7, Tues, Jan. 28th at 6:30 PM at Rose Wagner Centre, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 9 PM at Temple Theatre.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Miranda July is back with her latest film about a Con Artist family who taught their 26-year-old daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) the art of scamming and stealing.
This is a quirky Film centred on the need to feel love and care from parents. Wood does a tremendous job of projecting the yearning for warm words and loving touches from her detached parents. She does this while being withdrawn and contained. Her scene partner is the mesmerizing and scene-stealing Gina Rodriquez who plays the confident and empathetic Melanie. Overall, Kajillionaire is a unique Comedy with captivating performances across the board.
Kajillionaire screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 9:30 PM at Eccles Theatre, Sn, Jan. 26th at 8:30 AM at The MARC, Mon, Jan. 27th at 6:30 PM at Rose Wagner Centre, Wed, Jan. 29th at 6 PM at Sundance Resort, and Sat, Feb. 1st at Eccles Theatre.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
In the attempt to find meaning in her life, Jan (Toni Collette), breeds a racehorse in her tiny Welsh town and enters him in once race after another.
This is a hilarious and heart-warming underdog story filled with quintessential British humour. Although the story is quite conventional it’s the way Horse Racing is presented and the brilliant performance from Collette that separates it from the rest. Overall, Director Euros Lyn brings Jan’s true story to the screen in an entertaining and heartfelt way.
Dream Horse screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 8 PM at Rose Wagner Center, Sat, Jan. 25th at 12 PM at The Ray Theatre, Thurs, Jan. 30th at 9 AM at Temple Theatre, Fri, Jan. 31st at 9:30 PM at Rose Wagner Center, and Sat, Feb. 1st at Temple Theatre.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
In 1973, Beth (Sophia Lillis), her uncle Frank (Paul Bettany) and his longtime partner Wally (Peter Macdissi) drive from New York City to their rural South Carolina hometown to attend the family patriarch’s funeral.
Alan Ball’s delicate touch aids this heartfelt road movie about a man accepting himself and revealing who he is to his family. At the core is the moving performance from Bettany who reveals Frank’s fears hiding underneath his cool, easygoing persona. The Film is full of heart and there is a lot of fun to be had, which evens out the heavier moments of Frank dealing with his hidden pain.
Uncle Frank screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 3:30 PM at Eccles Theatre, Mon, Jan. 27th at 9 AM at Library Centre Theatre, Thur, Jan. 30th at 9 PM at Sundance Resort, Sat, Feb. 1st at 9 AM at Eccles Theatre, and Sun, Feb. 2nd at 6 PM at Tower Theatre.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
The Film tells the true story of Attorney Kenneth Feinberg (Michael Keaton) who led the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund.
Worth is a sensitive Drama that centers on a question impossible to answer: how much is a life worth? Director Sara Colangelo shows us a different 9/11 story that focuses on the survivors and their families just as much as it does Feinberg. Within the prime narrative, there are scenes that show the unfair class hierarchy government and corporations have and impose on society. Keaton is in his best form and Stanley Tucci is as good as ever in the role of Charles Wolf, a community organizer whose wife died in the towers.
Worth screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 9:45 PM at Eccles Theatre, Sat, Jan. 25th at 8:45 AM at Library Centre Theatre, Sat, Jan. 25th at 9:30 PM at Grand Theatre, Tues, Jan. 28th at 6 PM at Sundance Resort, and Sat, Feb. 1st at 5:30 PM at Egyptian Theatre.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
During the day Cassie (Carey Mulligan) appears to be an unambitious drifter, however, she reveals her hidden vendetta at night when she hunts down men who cross her.
Director-Writer Emerald Fennell brings her slick film style, she commonly uses as a show runner on Killing Eve, to this knock-out film. Fennell’s Script is tight and filled with richly-texturized dark, tender and humorous scenes. Even more impressive is the ample layers she’s given Cassie and the clear intentions behind each of her character’s actions. And those characters are brought to the screen with a pitch-perfect ensemble cast consisting of Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Laverne Cox, M Jennifer Coolidge, Alison Brie and more. It’s thrilling to watch the immensely committed Mulligan express a wide range of emotions from desolate to bliss to rage. Overall, this is one hell of a ride with an important message about the trauma that sexual violence inflicts.
Promising Young Woman screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 8:30 PM at The MARC, Sun, Jan. 26th at 9 AM at The Ray, Sun, Jan. 26th at 9:15 PM at the Grand, Wed, Jan. 29th at 11:30 PM at Prospector Square, and Fri, Jan. 31st at 9 AM at Eccles.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com