#SUNDANCE: “GOD’S COUNTRY”

By Amanda Gilmore

Julian Higgins’ Feature debut follows Sandra (Thandiwe Newton) in the direct aftermath of her mother’s passing. Over the course of seven days, the increasing environment of racism and misogyny brings Sandra to a boiling point.

God’s Country is a slow-burn pressure-cooker of a film that will have you on the edge of your seat. Higgins creates tension in every frame as we follow Sandra’s grieving process and determination to be taken seriously in a world against her. The anxiety-inducing music by DeAndre James Allen-Toole adds to this unnerving atmosphere making for one intense viewing experience.

At the heart of the Film is a captivating character study that rests on Newton’s sturdy shoulders. She gives a tour-de-force performance perfectly exposing the grieving process. While Sandra’s mourning, a confrontation with two hunters who trespass on their property increases her grief and anger. Higgins and co-writer Shaye Ogbonna have created a grossly understated character. Newton plays into this understatement allowing for one surprising, riveting performance.

God’s Country screens virtually at Sundance:
Premiere: Jan. 23 at 11PM EST

Second Screening: Jan. 25 at 10AM (available for 24hrs)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW CHARACTER POSTERS FOR “SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY”

New Character Posters have just been released to get us pumped for SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY! Check ’em out!

Synopsis:
Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.

The film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo and Paul Bettany.

 

See the new Character Posters:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Friday, May 25, 2018.

 

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)

#TIFF13: OFFICIAL SCHEDULE AND CELEBRITY GUEST LIST ANNOUNCED!

At long last the TIFF ’13 Guest List has been announced and among the Marquee names we can expect to see in Toronto in two weeks are phenomenal!  Although speak of Brad Pitt and George Clooney making appearances here didn’t amount to much more than rumour, this year the Female Contingent shines brightest with several of Hollywood’s A-List set to present their latest Oscar Vehicles here.

Among the Celebrities expected this year are:

Emilia Clarke, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Tom Felton, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey, Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Sarah Gadon,  Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Mike Myers, Emma Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Amy Poehler, Keanu Reeves, Kate Winslet, Adam Driver, Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Owen Wilson, Ralph Fiennes, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Gyllenhaal, JudeLaw, Jessica Chastain, Jai Courtney, Mila Kunis, Pierce Brosnan, Sandra Bullock, Jason Bateman, Zac Efron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Colin Firth, Idris Elba, Ed Harris, Michael C. Hall, Annette Benning, James McAvoy, Liam Neeson, Steven Soderbergh, Ben Foster, Anton Yelchin, Maria Bello, Jennifer Garner, Nicolas Cage, Daniel Brühl, Tom Hiddleston, Jack Huston, Hugh Jackman, Jessica Lange, Melissa Leo, Adam Levine, Catherine O’Hara, Kurt Russell, Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Berenger, Tom Wilkinson, Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Clive Owen, Zach Galifianakis, Emily Watson, John Hawkes, Alan Rickman, Toni Collette, Josh Brolin, Alice Cooper, Tiger Chen, Rebecca Hall, Will Forte, Kevin Zegers, Taylor Kitsch, Juliette Binoche, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Thandie Newton,  Terrence Howard, James Hetfield, Thomas Haden Church, Tim Robbins,  Glenn Close, Dakota Fanning, Philip Glass and several more!

Keep checking back here as the Toronto International Film Festival makes additions as we get closer to Thursday, September 5, 2013 when TIFF ’13 kicks-off!  The Festival runs till Sunday, September 15, 2013.

The official Schedule has been announced and you can now start planning your Festival right here. Download the Official Schedule right here!

Single Tickets go on sale on Sunday, September 1, 2013 on TIFF‘s Website here.

Things are about to get real exciting around here!  Happy TIFF, indeed!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#SPOTTED: THANDIE NEWTON IN TORONTO FOR “HOPE RISING” FUNDRAISER

Here as a surprise Guest, the amazingly talented and sweet Thandie Newton showed her support for a fantastic cause tonight at Roy Thomson Hall.  The BAFTA Award-winning Actress who last visited the City during TIFF 2010 (read more here), came to deliver a Speech at the Hope Rising Fundraiser in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which hopes to turn the tides of AIDS/HIV in Sub-Saharan South Africa.  Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has contributed more than $55 million to those Countries affected most by the Pandemic. Newton, who just celebrated her Birthday yesterday, was dressed in a pair of stunning, shimmery Pants and currently is at-work on TV Series Rogue.

Joining the Cause tonight were four-time GRAMMY Winner and Pop Icon Annie Lennox and three-time GRAMMY-winning Canadian Songbird  Sarah McLachlan.  African Diva Angélique Kidjo also was fittingly featured as one of the Evening’s Headliners.  After the two-and-a-half hour Concert which had all three Performers collaborating on Lennox‘s Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves and Sweet Dreams, they each made a quiet and quick exits out of the Venue in Suburbans with their respective Entourages. 

For those of you who missed the Affair, CBC Radio One has plans to air the Concert on Friday, November 30, 2012.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)