The 90th Academy Awards took place at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles tonight. Sweeping top honours after gaining the most nominations (13) was Guillermo del Toro‘s Toronto-filmed Fantasy The Shape of Water winning four awards including Best Picture, Directing, Production Design and Original Score. The Film’s Toronto Crew celebrating tonight at Palais Royale, were credited for being a part of the Film’ success. del Toro, who has been vocal about his love for Toronto using the City regularly to base his productions, encouraged other Genre Filmmakers to continue breaking ground with the door he helped open.

See del Toro’s speech:

#ShapeOfWater‘s Guillermo Del Toro wins for Best Director at the 90th #Oscars! Don’t miss this amazing speech! pic.twitter.com/g0T9ICGtSn

— ABC Network (@ABCNetwork) March 5, 2018

While many saw Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as the favourite to win Best Picture, it still took acting honours for Leading Actress with Frances McDormand and Supporting Actor with Sam Rockwell. McDormand gave a memorable speech which had her laughing nervously, devoting her time on-stage getting all her fellow female nominees to stand together in a call for inclusion and equality.  Both The Shape of Water and this premiered at TIFF ’17 with the latter winning the coveted People’s Choice Award and the two are released by Fox Searchlight.

See McDormand’s speech:

Best Actress winner Frances McDormand rallies the crowd. Presented by @ATT. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/6loAtYheKZ

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 5, 2018

Dunkirk‘s win tally would come in at three with scores for Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Film Editing. Blade Runner 2049 by Canadian Director Denis Villeneuve, would win for Cinematography and Visual Effects. Disney’s Coco was awarded Animated Feature and also for Original Song with Remember Me, performed on the broadcast by Gael García Bernal, Miguel and Natalie Lafourcade. Call Me By Your Name earned one win for Adapted Screenplay. Allison Janney nabbed Supporting Actress for her work in I, Tonya, which presenter Jodie Foster who appeared on-stage in crutches, would joke that Meryl Streep was responsible for her injury, having “I, Tonya-ed” her.

The Evening was hosted by Funnyman Jimmy Kimmel who tackled head-on several issues of now including #MeToo and #TimesUp using case in point, the substantial pay gap between Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams on re-shoots for nominated All the Money in the World. Despite both being represented by William Morris Endeavor, Wahlberg was paid eight-times Williams‘ salary, although the former made right by donating his earnings to #TimesUp.

Kimmel joked that the Oscar statue is the ideal man in that he “keeps his hands to himself, never says a rude word and doesn’t have a penis. He is a statue of limitations”.  A running joke for the evening was that the winner with the shortest speech would win a jet ski in the same vein as The Price is Right, which Leading Actor winner Gary Oldman was clear he wouldn’t be winning as he took his time thanking those responsible for his success. Oldman‘s Film Darkest Hour would win also for Makeup.

See Kimmel‘s running joke with the help of Helen Mirren:

Following an outcry that the Oscars lacked diversity, that certainly was addressed full force this year and repeatedly the theme of inclusion was brought-up throughout the night.  We would see female nominees in categories like Directing (Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird) and Cinematography (Rachel Morrison, Mudbound) and first-time Nominee Jordan Peele winning Original Screenplay for Get Out. A Fantastic Woman starring Chilean transgender Actress Daniela Vega, would win Foreign Language Film.  Basketball icon Kobe Bryant also would win his first Oscar for Animated Short Film, Dear Basketball.

Complete list of winners here.

(Photo/video credit: The Academy/Getty Images/ABC)

The ever-resilient JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE once again reclaims the throne, taking the top of the Box Office for Sony Pictures. In its seventh week it earns $11 million from 3,553 theatres, just surpassing the $350 million-mark. Its Home Entertainment release is just around the corner for those who need to see it again!

In second after after its #1 debut last weekend is MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE bringing-in $10 million in week two from 3,793 for 20th Century Fox. It has made $36 million domestically.

Horror WINCHESTER opens in third for CBS Films/VVS Films with $8.6 million from 2,480 theatres. Starring Helen Mirren, the Film gets 10% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN continues to show staying power in fourth with $7.6 million, a total $137 million over seven weeks in North America for 20th Century Fox.

THE SHAPE OF WATER is in ninth this weekend with $4.1 million for Fox Searchlight, $44.5 million over ten weeks. It certainly gets a boost from all the Oscars buzz it has received leading the tally in nominations. It expands to 2,341 theatres.

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.9 million, expanding to 1,726 theatres also for Fox Searchlight. It has made $41 million over 13 weeks, also seeing a boost from its Oscar buzz.

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards were announced at 8:22 AM ET in Los Angeles with Andy Serkis and Tiffany Haddish filling hosting duties. Leading the way with 13 nominations is Guillermo del Toro’s Toronto-made Romance-Fantasy The Shape of Water with 13 nominations including Best Picture, Directing, Lead Actress (Sally Hawkins), Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Original Screenplay and more.

Martin McDonagh‘s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which like The Shape of Water is distributed by Fox Searchlight and winning the People’s Choice Award at TIFF ’17, is seen as the Best Picture favourite. It comes hot-off a win for Motion Picture Drama at the Golden Globes and three Screen Actors’ Guild Award wins earlier this month. It gets seven nods including Directing, Lead Actress (Frances McDormand), Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell), Directing and Original Screenplay, among others.

While there was uproar that Greta Gerwig was omitted from Directing honours at the Globes, the Academy shows their respect for the Lady Bird Helmer in light of the #MeToo and #TimesUp initiatives at the forefront of discussion. Rachel Morrison also becomes the first woman ever to get a Cinematography nod at the Oscars for Mudbound.

Director Jordan Peele like Gerwig finds Oscars recognition with his first Feature, the Horror Get Out. The Film sees Daniel Kaluuya up for Leading Actor and Peele up for Original Screenplay.

Being in the news much of late with allegations of sexual misconduct, James Franco was omitted from the list despite great acclaim for his The Disaster Artist. The Film centering around “the worst Movie ever made”, The Room, does get a nod for Adapted Screenplay. Others are expressing discontent Armie Hammer for Call Me By Your Name and Wonder Woman were disregarded.

Singer Mary J. Blige gets her first Oscar nomination as an Actress (Supporting) for her work in Mudbound.  She also is up for Original Song with Mighty River from that Netflix release.

Canada gets recognized with Canadian-produced Animated Feature The Breadwinner, in which Angelina Jolie produced. Many thought her First They Killed My Father would get a Foreign Language Film nod but alas it missed.

See more of this year’s Nominees below:

Best Picture

Leading Actor

Leading Actress

Directing

Supporting Actress

Supporting Actor

Documentary

Animated Feature

Foreign Language Film

Original Song

Adapted Screenplay

Original Screenplay

 The Academy Awards air 8 PM ET on Sunday, March 4, 2018 on ABC.

(Photo credit: The Academy)

The 75th annual Golden Globes Awards took place tonight in Beverly Hills, California. With the #TimesUp initiative front and center of our attentions, we saw all talent uniformly wearing black to draw attention to the cause for equality and an end to sexual harassment in the workplace.

Seth Meyers hosted the affair boldly poking-fun at the likes of Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein. In the face of change, he calls 2018 “the year marijuana was allowed and sexual harassment wasn’t anymore.”.

Oprah Winfrey who next can be seen in Disney‘s A Wrinkle in Time, was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. Her Wrinkle Co-Star Reese Witherspoon introduced her as being all “a noun, a verb and an adjective”. And even Meyers joked DeMille should be honoured she was given the award. Winfrey recalls herself as a kid in Milwaukee back in 1964, watching Anne Bancroft speak a historic five words on television, “The winner is Sidney Poitier“. She hopes to inspire another black girl watching tonight seeing her be named the first ever black Cecil B. DeMille Award Winner. Winfrey states, “I wanted to express gratitude to all women who endured years of abuse and assault as they like my mother had mouths to feed, bills to pay and dreams to pursue.”. Recounting the story of rape (1944) victim Recy Taylor whose six attackers never were persecuted, she defiantly states that we are at the end of an era, “Their time us up!”.

“I want all of the girls watching here now to know, that a new day is on the horizon.” @Oprah accepts the 2018 Cecil B. de Mille award. #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/hbquC1GBjm

— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 8, 2018

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri scored huge in the Film categories including a win for Motion Picture Drama. Martin McDonagh was awarded Screenplay for the Film which he also directed. He jokes, “My mother really wanted Lady Bird to win.”. Oscar Winner Frances McDormand before tonight had been nominated seven times for a Globe, but finally received her first win for Actress in a Motion Picture Drama.  She declined to make political comments but expressed pride that the Film still is filling seats in brick and mortar theatres across the U.S. the “old-fashioned” way. Sam Rockwell, after a career spanning almost three decades, finally won a Golden Globe for his work in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. “It’s nice to be in a movie people saw”, he kids before thanking others involved with the TIFF ’17 People’s Choice Award-winning Film and also wife Leslie Bibb.

Let’s hear it for our winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, Frances McDormand! She’s honored for her role in @3Billboards. #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/1bJOBP3YNW

— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 8, 2018

HBO’s Big Little Lies was a major force in the Television categories winning TV Miniseries or Movie. Nicole Kidman was awarded her fourth Golden Globe for her Actress work, thanking her Co-Star, Co-Producer and fellow Nominee Reese Witherspoon with whom together she brought the HBO release to Television. Kidman despite getting the cue to shorten her speech, thanked her husband Country Star Keith Urban last, telling him “When your cheek is pressed against mine, the whole world just melts away, I love you.”. Co-Stars Laura Dern and Alexander Skarsgård also won for their work as Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress (Dern‘s fourth Globe too!) in the Miniseries.

Lady Bird, which premiered at TIFF ’17, won Comedy or Musical. The Film which loosely is based on Greta Gerwig‘s life, also is her directorial debut. Gerwig thanked her hometown Sacramento for giving her the wings and roots needed to succeed in life. 23-year-old Saoirse Ronan already has been nominated for three Globes but alas gets her first win tonight for her acclaimed work in Lady Bird. She kept pointing-out in her humble speech how her mom out of excitement was in the audience on FaceTime while she was on-stage.

A round of applause for Saoirse Ronan taking home the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her role in @LadyBirdMovie! #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/fXm4pygZ41

— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 8, 2018

Visionary Guillermo del Toro made a teary acceptance for Director with The Shape of Water while the Orchestra had tried drowning his speech out due to time restrictions. “Turn the music down, it’s taken me 25 years to get here” he said, drawing cheers from the audience. Moments before, Natalie Portman presenting his award alongside Ron Howard, pointed-out how all Nominees in the Category were male.

Gary Oldman was awarded Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in TIFF ’17 selection Darkest Hour. In his speech, he told us how his wife puts-up with his incredible dedication telling others “I go to bed with Winston Churchill and wake-up with Gary Oldman.”.

A massive congratulations to Gary Oldman for being awarded the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama award for his role in @DarkestHour! #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/YyPfI7iBNl

— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 8, 2018

Jeered widely for having made the worst movie of all time, The Room, Filmmaker and Cult Icon Tommy Wiseau got the last laugh joining Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy Winner James Franco on-stage tonight. Franco stars in and directs The Disaster Artist which recounts Wiseau‘s process making that Cult Classic. Franco thanked his younger brother Dave in his speech saying “He always wanted his own Coen Brother” to make Films with and it looks like he too along with Wiseau saw his dream come true.

Allison Janney who delivers a chilling portrayal of Tonya Harding’s mother LaVona Golden in I, Tonya, was awarded a well-deserved Globe beating-out some stiff competition including Laurie Metcalf whom many also feel is deserving for her work in Lady Bird. Janney made a poignant statement about perception of truth in Media, an enlightenment after having worked on the Film which gives us a fresh perspective on the disgraced Figure Skater. It was a good night for both Tommy Wiseau and Tonya Harding.

.@AllisonBJanney is awarded Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for her outstanding work in @ITonyaMovie. Yay! 👏 pic.twitter.com/tgg72x8p30

— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 8, 2018

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was this year’s Dark Horse, winning Comedy Series and also Rachel Brosnahan (House of Cards) winning Actress in a Comedy Series. The Amazon Series centers on a Jewish housewife in the ’50s who becomes a Stand-up Comedian.

Elisabeth Moss shone a light on Canada dedicating her Actress in a Drama Series win to Margaret Atwood who wrote the source material on which Toronto-made The Handsmaid’s Tale is based. The Series also took home a Globe for Drama Series. This is her second Golden Globe win, her first for Miniseries Top of the Lake.

After four nominations, Ewan McGregor finally gets his first Globe win for Actor in a TV Miniseries or Movie with Fargo.  Another Canadian connection, the Series was filmed in Calgary.

Sterling K. Brown was awarded his first Globe for his work on Series This is Us.  The rising star next can be seen in Marvel’s Black Panther and reminded his kids in his speech he’d be there to take them to school tomorrow morning, in addition to expressing his awe of Oprah Winfrey being seated before him on the podium.

The ONLY way to start an acceptance speech. 🙌 @SterlingKBrown 🙌 #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/34vexLiKA1

— GIPHY (@GIPHY) January 8, 2018

After getting a nod last year and seeing MASTER OF NONE, for which he has directing and writing credits, Funnyman Aziz Ansari gets a Globe for Actor in a Comedy Series. He becomes the first ever South Asian Actor to win a Globe.

In addition to having grossed almost $600 million worldwide, Disney•Pixar‘s Coco goes on to Globe success, winning Animated Feature.

Hot off its #1 success on the Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart, The Greatest Showman also wins a Globe for Original Song, This is Me, sung by Keala Settle and also Kesha.

Fatih Akin‘s In the Fade won Foreign Language Film. The German Film starring Diane Kruger as a woman dealing with the aftermath of a terrorist attack, received a TIFF ’17 Premiere.

Awards Season culminates in the Academy Awards which air Sunday, March 4, 2018 on ABC, 7 PM ET.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Truly we are blessed to work with an outstanding Team whom we wouldn’t be able to do it without. While you will see many Year’s Best Lists pop-up around this time of year, what makes our Team unique is that we genuinely are paying Filmgoers like you. These are real opinions without the critical pretension, of individuals who know a lot about Film and individuals who live and breathe Film. We all work day and night jobs like all of you, juggling screenings and junkets into our crazy schedules for the love of Film.

We thank David Baldwin, Jonathan Godfrey, Siobhán Rich, Amanda Gilmore and Justin Waldman for their amazing work on the daily!

We thank you for joining us on our adventures throughout the year and hope you’ll be around as we share our thoughts with you on the upcoming 2018 slate.

From our family to yours!

DAVE BALDWIN
The real world may have been a complete nightmare in 2017, but the celluloid world was nothing short of incredible. Each month gifted us with exceptional films that continually surpassed any and all expectations. While there were some terrible stinkers sprinkled throughout, 2017 will go down as a banner year for cinema. There was something for everyone, from blockbusters to indies to everything in-between, and it was incredibly hard to narrow down a list of just 10 of those films. I could easily list 10-20 more genuinely outstanding pictures — it was really that great of a year. And while there is a dark cloud over Hollywood right now, I’d like to think this year’s films prove that we are finally moving in the right direction instead of reliving the past.

1. The Shape of Water
2. The Big Sick
3. Baby Driver
4. Ingrid Goes West
5. Get Out
6. Call Me By Your Name
7. Raw
8. The Disaster Artist
9. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
10. I, Tonya

JONATHAN GODFREY
The Red Turtle
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Trainspotting 2
mother!
Ghost in the Shell
Blade Runner 2049
Alien Covenant
Justice League
Your Name.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

These are the movies that moved me the most this year. Many of them performed poorly with regards to revenue and reviews. Nevertheless, I enjoyed them deeply, and in my own way. They are all passion projects that were beautiful to behold. So much so that I don’t have an overall “favourite.” I have “favourites,” and I can’t wait to find ten more in 2018.

SIOBHÁN RICH

The Big Sick
Call Me By Your Name
Don’t Talk to Irene
Foxtrot
Get Out
Girls Trip
Ladybird
Loveless
The Post
Shape of Water
Split
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

I found it incredibly difficult to narrow down my list this year. Presented as always in alphabetical order, this list does not include Logan, Wonder Woman or Baby Driver but does include a movie that was criminally left off TIFF’s list for Canada’s Top Ten. I included a comedy that had people falling off their seats and one that reflects what my family looks like. I also snuck in some early favourites to balance out my top two foreign films from TIFF ’17 and a late entry which blew me away. Finally, I rounded out my top twelve with a few hits from TIFF that will definitely be making a comeback during Oscar season.

AMANDA GILMORE

Lady Bird
Call Me By Your Name
The Florida Project
Get Out
A Ghost Story
Dunkirk
The Shape Of Water
The Disaster Artist
Mudbound
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

My Top Ten are in no particular order. In my Top Ten there are Films that I found unique, told honest depictions of the human condition and/or pushed the boundaries of filmmaking. All the Films showcase outstanding acting, writing and direction done by all involved. These Films are in my Top Ten because no matter what time they came out throughout 2017 they have stayed with me until the end. And will probably stay with me throughout the years to come. Hope you enjoyed them if you have seen them. And I hope you seek out the ones you haven’t!

JUSTIN WALDMAN
2017 has been one roller coaster of a year for Hollywood, or Christopher Plummer being in like every movie (ha!). However if you can look past all the horrible things that have plagued Hollywood this year, there are plenty of quality films that hit the silver screen this year. In absolutely no particular order here at my top ten movies for 2017.

The Big Sick
Logan/Wonder Woman
Lady Bird
Call Me By Your Name
Get Out
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The Disaster Artist
The Post
The Shape of Water
Logan Lucky

These films all possess something to them that made them stand out this year, whether it be the subject matter, the performances, the unexpected fantastic ride it took you on, each of these 11 movies gave me something this year. As well they all have massive re-watch value and are endlessly delights to watch.

For Mr. Will‘s Best-Of 2017 including Movies, Music and Celeb Spottings, click here!

Continuing momentum into Awards Season, nominations were announced for the 75th Golden Globe Awards today. Leading Film nominations is TIFF ’17 selection and Toronto-filmed THE SHAPE OF WATER with seven nominations including Screenplay, Original Score, Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon) and Actress (Octavia Spencer), Actress in a Drama (Sally Hawkins) and Director (Guillermo del Toro).

Following closely with six nominations apiece are fellow Fox Searchlight release THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI which also premiered at TIFF ’17 winning the Cadillac People’s Choice Award and THE POST which for the first time ever pairs Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and Director Steven Spielberg. All three in the trio are nominated for their work.

Leading Television Nominees are HBO‘s BIG LITTLE LIES which was just announced for a second season despite its first season ending where it source material Novel ends. Its two leads Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman both vie for Actress in a Limited Series, while Shailene Woodley is up for Supporting Actress.

In addition to THE SHAPE OF WATER being Toronto-set and filmed, Canada plays a key role at the Golden Globes with our v. own Eric McCormack up for the rebooted WILL AND GRACE in the Actor in a TV Comedy category. Toronto-made THE HANDMAID’S TALE star Elisabeth Moss also is up for Actress in a TV Drama. The Series also is up for TV Series Drama as is Ann Dowd for Supporting Actress. THE BREADWINNER which is produced by Angelina Jolie (her FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER) is up for Foreign Language Film) and starring Canadian talent Saara Chaudry, also is up for Animated Feature. MOLLY’S GAME which was filmed in Toronto, sees Jessica Chastain up for Actress in a Motion Picture Drama. Screenwriter-turned-Director Aaron Sorkin also is up for Screenplay.

The Awards often are known for the deciding-Hollywood Foreign Press Association‘s surprises and shocks. Many are surprised Greta Gerwig who just was named Best Director by the Toronto Film Critics’ Association for her directorial debut LADY BIRD, was the best shot at a female being nominated in the category. She does at least get recognized for in the Screenplay category for the Film. Jordan Peele, many were expecting to get recognized for his writing and directing in GET OUT but got shut-out for both. Kumail Nanjiani won much acclaim for his and wife Emily Gordon‘s autobiographical Comedy THE BIG SICK but was snubbed. THE FLORIDA PROJECT which was named Best Picture also by the TFCA, failed to get a nod for Motion Picture Comedy though Willem Dafoe sees a Supporting Actor nod.

Many are surprised Ansel Elgort received a nomination for his work for Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy in Edgar Wright’s BABY DRIVER despite the Film winning huge raves earlier this year. Another fresh face Timothée Chalamet finds hinself up against seasoned competition for Actor in Motion Picture Drama for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME. He is expected to be a major force this Awards Season.

While he filmed his scenes only recently, Christopher Plummer who replaced Kevin Spacey in ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD already has landed a Supporting Actor nod in a Motion Picture.

For a complete list of Nominees, visit here.

NBC air the Golden Globe Awards Sunday, January 7, 2018 8 PM ET.

COCO is set to top the Box office a second consecutive week in a row with $27 million from 3,987 theatres for Disney. Domestically it has made $119 million. In fact we see no changes from last week in our top four Movies, this due partly to the lack of new challengers released this weekend.

JUSTICE LEAGUE settles for second again this weekend with $15.8 million for Warner Bros. Over three weeks it has grossed $196.5 million over three weeks.

WONDER remains in third spot with $3.2 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, grossing $88 million thus far in its North American run.

THOR: RAGNAROK is in fourth with $9.3 million, a total $291 million earned to date for Disney over five weeks.

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI expands to 1,430 theatres with $4.5 million for Fox Searchlight, good enough for seventh spot this weekend.

LADY BIRD continues to gain Oscar momentum in eighth with $4 million from 11,194 theatres for A24 Films/Elevation Pictures. It gets a boost with some hardware won this week including Saoirse Ronan‘s Gotham Awards victory for Best Actress.

THE STAR rounds the Top Ten with $3.8 million, a total $28 million over three weeks for Sony Pictures.

After a record-breaking opening in Mexico, Disney•Pixar‘s COCO is the choice of Moviegoers this U.S. Thanksgiving weekend with a $49 million opening from 3,987 theatres across North America. It earns a sensational A+ CinemaScore and a 96% on the Tomatometer. Can we call it an Oscar Contender?

Fox Searchlight x Mr. Will want to take Readers to an Advance Screening of TIFF ’17 People’s Choice Award winner THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI!

Screenings take place as follows:

TORONTO

Monday, November 13 / 7:00PM / Cineplex Yonge and Dundas

VANCOUVER

Thursday, November 16 / 7:00PM / Cineplex International Village

CALGARY

Thursday, November 16 /7:00PM / Cineplex Westhills

Synopsis:

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI is a darkly comedic drama from Academy Award® winner Martin McDonagh (IN BRUGES). After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, Mildred Hayes (Academy Award® winner Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, commissioning three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Academy Award® nominee Woody Harrelson), the town’s revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother’s boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing‘s law enforcement is only exacerbated.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance!

Fox Searchlight release THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI as follows:

November 17, 2017 (Toronto)

November 22, 2017 (Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg)

December 1, 2017 (Wide)

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)

We live for TIFF and our hearts are filled with gratitude that we live in the City with the greatest Film Festival in the world!  Team Mr. Will break-down for you their top Films to look-out for at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.  With single tickets going on sale to the public Monday, September 4, 2017 at 10:00 AM EST, perhaps you could use a bit of inspiration for your own Festival picks?

From our Family to yours…

Siobhán Rich (@Typo_Eh)

Pop culture played a big part in my picks this year with The Room, Barack Obama and Wonder Woman playing key roles in three of my selections. The other two premiered at festivals earlier this year to wide acclaim are are sure to be on everyone’s top Films of 2017.

BPM (Beats Per Minute)
Call Me By Your Name
The Disaster Artist
The Final Year
Professor Marston and the Women

Jonathan Godfrey (@Skot_Somers)

This year I’m sticking to Indies! First off there’s Cannes darling, The Square. A satirical look at the Post-Modern Art World and all of its troubling social issues. Second is Jane, a Documentary about the beloved primatologist Jane Goodall. Third, The Lodgers, is an Irish Horror that was shot in one of the country’s most harrowing haunted houses. Fourth, Apostasy. The aptly-titled Film focuses on a rebellious youth within a controlling cult. Lastly, my only non-Indie, The Shape of Water. The latest Monster Movie from Toronto’s adopted son, Guillermo del Toro. All good and hopefully great. Time will tell. Have a happy Festival!

The Square
Jane
The Lodgers
Apostasy
The Shape of Water

Justin Waldman (@DubsReviews)

The Disaster Artist
James Franco tackles The Room in adapting the Book written by Greg Sestero who played “Mark” in arguably one of the worst movies ever made, The Room.

Unicorn Store
Brie Larson makes her directorial debut with an extraordinary cast.

The Florida Project
From the director of Tangerine this small Indie film will be one of the standouts from the Festival as well without a doubt.

Molly’s Game
Aaron Sorkin script. Aaron Sorkin directing.

mother!
Early reviews and buzz out of Venice, alleviate all rumours surrounding its changed release date.

Amanda Gilmore (@GilmoreAmanda)

The Disaster Artist

This Film is hilarious from beginning to end and James Franco gives the performance of his career as Tommy Wiseau. It will delight Midnight Madness fans, The Room fans and everyone else that sees it.

Call Me By Your Name

Since Sundance, this Film has received rave reviews for the story, direction, and acting. It’s sure to garner multiple award nominations and possibly some wins come Awards Season.

Downsizing

As soon as it screened at the Venice Film Festival it was a sure fire hit calling it Alexander Payne’s finest work.

The Florida Project

Sean Baker impressed audiences with his directorial debut Tangerine and now he’s back with this touching examination of familial love. Set around a daughter and her young mother living in a motel, this will be the tearjerker of the Festival.

Lady Bird

Greta Gerwig has written some brilliant female roles over the past few years. Now she’s making her directorial debut with her latest script starring Saoirse Ronan.

David Baldwin (@DaveMABaldwin)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

I saw the Trailer for this Movie back in March and was on-board immediately. Frances McDormand looks like the perfect match for Martin McDonagh‘s spectacular writing.

The Disaster Artist

I love The Room, and the behind the scenes story is the most fascinating, hilarious, ludicrous and absolutely insane thing I have ever read. I have been waiting ever so patiently since SXSW to experience the madness — and bonus points because it will be at Midnight Madness with the maestro himself, Tommy Wiseau, in the audience.

mother!

I know literally nothing about this Film beyond it starring Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, and that it is directed by Darren Aronofsky. That’s more than enough to get me excited. The posters have been cryptic at best, so I’m really hoping that I’m rewarded for going in blind.

Mom and Dad

The premise of parents killing their kids for 24 hours had my curiosity. Having Nicolas Cage in the leading role got my attention.

Manhunt

John Woo‘s return to the kind of action movies that influenced a generation of Filmmakers and film fans. If there aren’t any doves or dual wielding pistols, I’m rioting.

Mr. Will (@mrwillw)

Having seen a handful of the key TIFF ’17 titles, I am the greatest champion for Sundance favourite CALL ME BY YOUR NAME. I love Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love, A Bigger Splash)‘s work and once again he pushes the boundaries and our perceptions of love in this beautifully-told Novel adaptation. It is gorgeous, a bit dangerous and emotional – everything a TIFF Film should be.  I have yet to see I, Tonya and mother! but both have great pedigrees and with that come high hopes. The Disaster Artist was magical, Battle of the Sexes was superb. That being said, my Top Five are as follows:

Call Me By Your Name
I, Tonya
mother!
The Disaster Artist
Battle of the Sexes