Premiering at TIFF ’19, check-out the new Trailer for DOLEMITE IS MY NAME with an all-star Cast including Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes and Keegan-Michael Key.
Synopsis:
Stung by a string of showbiz failures, floundering comedian Rudy Ray Moore (Academy Award nominee Eddie Murphy) has an epiphany that turns him into a word-of-mouth sensation: step onstage as someone else. Borrowing from the street mythology of 1970s Los Angeles, Moore assumes the persona of Dolemite, a pimp with a cane and an arsenal of obscene fables. However, his ambitions exceed selling bootleg records deemed too racy for mainstream radio stations to play. Moore convinces a social justice-minded dramatist (Keegan-Michael Key) to write his alter ego a film, incorporating kung fu, car chases, and Lady Reed (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), an ex-backup singer who becomes his unexpected comedic foil. Despite clashing with his pretentious director, D’Urville Martin (Wesley Snipes), and countless production hurdles at their studio in the dilapidated Dunbar Hotel, Moore’s Dolemite becomes a runaway box office smash and a defining movie of the Blaxploitation era.
See the Trailer:
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME streams this Fall on Netflix.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Wild Rose follows Glasgow born and raised Rose-Lynn (Jessie Buckley) who dreams of escaping to Nashville to become a country music star. It had its World Premiere in the Special Presentations Programme at TIFF ’18. In case you missed it the Film is set to release on February 8, 2019 in the UK and May 10, 2019 in the USA. As of right now there is no Canadian release date but the Film is bought by eOne Films. We were lucky enough to sit down with the star of the Film, Jessie Buckley, along with the Director Tom Harper and Writer Nicole Taylor while they were in Toronto for the Festival.
Q: Glasgow and Rose-Lynn are gritty on the outside but very colourful on the inside. How important was it to write the duality of the two and then make that duality visual?
TAYLOR: Because I’m from there it’s so hard to have any perspective on it. I have not lived there for a very long time, but it’s almost like the longer I live away from it the more respect I have for it. Just as you say, Glasgow has this reputation for being this hard-ass place but the people are so warm, and they chat away whether you want them to or not. Its like the biggest move cliche to say that the city is like a character in the Movie but this is a love letter to Glasgow. And everything I love about Glasgow, the lack as sentimentality, the humour, the way that Rose-Lynn’s mom played by Julie Waters — people just get on with it, they just isn’t no chat. I just love the city.
HARPER: For me it’s like I didn’t know much about Glasgow but obviously I have spent a lot of now for the Film. With the lead up, the locations and the casting and pre-production. It [Glasgow] was amazingly welcoming. You know when you go somewhere and make something somewhere there is always a danger, or you have this fear, that people might not want to, they might question why if you aren’t from somewhere why you would want to be there. But actually what I felt was that there was a great welcoming, like they were saying, “look at our culture, be apart of that culture, tell the stories.” And I think also because people we worked with who read the script were so warming to the Script, and loved it so much that it was sort of easy. That’s one side of it, but the other side is that the Film even though it couldn’t be set anywhere else there are a set of themes. Thematically it resonates with, I think it could be anybody anywhere. So even though in some ways it’s very specific, thematically it’s quite universal. And I think that, having been to Glasgow only a couple of time before reading the script, it didn’t stop me from immediately falling in love with Rose-Lynn and the character and identifying or empathizing with her, particularly with her struggles and hardships.
TAYLOR: You know that thing in Film where its got to be super particular but then also be universal, this couldn’t be more particular it was bloody autobiographical. I had to write this Film about this girl who couldn’t wait to leave this place. But it was so useful to have somebody who didn’t have that relationship with Glasgow, who could find and express that universal energy. Because it’s about someone who just doesn’t belong really to where they come from.
HARPER: That’s a nice way to describe our collaborative working relationship.
Q: Jessie, you have played a lot of authentic characters throughout your career what sets Rose-Lynn apart from the others?
BUCKLEY: She is just herself. With Beast or War and Peace they all have their own little mission, you know? They all have their own little thing they are trying to get something out of their life. And for Rose-Lynn it’s her courage to grab her dream. Even when she knows that the consequences of what that might be for everybody else. And it’s not only destructive to them but also to her. That bold journey of identity where she thinks she needs to go far away from who she is in order to find herself, and at the end she realizes that you can’t do that because it’s who you are is the boldest part of your dream.
eOne Films release WILD ROSE as follows:
June 21, 2019 – Toronto
July 5, 2019 – Vancouver, Montreal
July 12, 2019 – Expands
As Awards Season kicks into high gear, the 2018 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards were held tonight, honouring the year’s best in Cinema as decided by that esteemed Association. Taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel, the site of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association‘s InStyle Magazine Bash at TIFF, Film Critics and industry celebrated what was a stellar year both critically and commercially in Film, seeing a record $11.8 billion grossed at the Box Office in North America last year.
Honoured tonight were the best in Canadian and International Cinema with previous winner Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier’s ANTHROPOCENE: THE HUMAN EPOCH winning the Association’s Rogers Best Canadian Film Award. Given a hefty prize of $100k, the Duo decided spontaneously to split the money with runners-up MAISON DU BONHEUR Director Sofia Bohdanowicz and AVA Director Sadaf Forough, whom also received $5,000 from Rogers Communications.
Other winners announced tonight include Director Molly McGlynn who won the $10,000 Stella Artois Jay Scott Prize for an Emerging Artist for her debut, MARY GOES ROUND which premiered at TIFF ’18 to raves.
Native Canadian Trailblazer Tantoo Cardinal also was awarded the $50,000 Technicolor Clyde Gilmour Award for her achievements in Canadian Cinema, presented by fellow First Nations Actress Tanaya Beatty (The Twilight Saga). Cardinal chose to donate the funds to First Nations Filmmaker Darlene Naponse, who directed FALLS AROUND HER in which Cardinal stars.
Director Morgan Neville was given the $5,000 RBC Allan King Documentary Film Award for Mr. Rogers Pic, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?.
Genevieve Citron was named recipient of the inaugural TFCA Emerging Critic Award, a $1,000 prize.
Announced earlier were double Golden Globe-winning ROMA for Best Picture and Best Director (Alfonso Cuarón), plus Ethan Hawke for Best Actor in First Reformed and Olivia Colman for Best Actress in The Favourite. Regina King won Best Supporting Actress for her work in If Beale Street Could Talk, doubling-up with her Golden Globes success this past weekend and Steve Yeun won Best Supporting Actor for his work in Best Foreign-Language Film winner, BURNING.
More winners here.
TIFF Creative Director Cameron Bailey filled hosting duties this year and Presenters included Don McKellar, Traci Melchor, Rick Mercer and more.
It was our first time ever attending the TFCA Awards, courtesy of our friends at Hollywood Suite and GAB Communications, and we are so honoured to celebrated with our peers and idols.
See some Snaps:
Alfonso Cuarón
Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier
Tantoo Cardinal
Darlene Naponse
Rick Mercer
Don McKellar
Cameron Bailey
Molly McGlynn
Genevieve Citron
Traci Melchor
Richard Crouse
George Pimentel
Some faces of the TFCA including President Peter Howell and Vice President/Secretary Johanna Schneller
Our hardworking friends in the Film industry get a night out!
Our friends at GAB Communications and Hollywood Suite:
All photos taken on the NIKON D3400.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
By Jonathan Godfrey for Mr. Will Wong
To celebrate TIFF’s forthcoming retrospective on the cinema of Spielberg, a group of Cinephiles were invited to an evening of trivia and celluloid magic. Despite being familiar with the works of Steven Spielberg, being quizzed on his accomplishments was no easy feat. Luckily, sitting back to enjoy an original 35MM print of Jurassic Park was.
And for anyone in Toronto from December 21st – January 10th, TIFF will be screening 28 films from the incomparable director’s catalog. From Jaws to Amistad there is a bevy of beautiful films being exhumed from the archives and showcased on the silver screen. So be sure to stop by the TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre for a holiday dosage of nostalgia ultra. After all, nothing says Christmas like the movies.
More on TIFF‘s Close Encounters: The Cinema of Steven Spielberg Retrospective here.
Described both as rugged and refined, WESLODGE was one of our official partners of TIFF ’18! The King Street West hotspot in Toronto from premier hospitality group ICONINK, has hosted several stars during the Festival including this year, Isabelle Huppert, Chloë Grace Moretz and Maika Monroe.
Executive Chef Ben Heaton delivers a sophisticated spin on Canadian classics. Open for brunch and dinner, plus a late night menu, Weslodge has been a fixture in the City and for good reason!
Favourites include:
Nashville Hot Chicken
Wagyu Beef Footlong
Burgers
Striploin Steaks
Buffalo Fried Chicken
The Full Weslodge Brunch
We are giving our Toronto readers a chance to experience the star treatment at Weslodge with a $200 Gift Card which should be more than enough for a fabulous dinner for two!
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Be following and “like” this Post on our Instagram @mrwillwong for an extra chance. Tag a friend in the comments there!
You also may click “share” on this Post from Facebook too for another chance! Be sure to follow WESLODGE also!
Weslodge is located at 480 King St W Toronto, ON M5V 1L7
Weslodge.com for more.
(Photo credit: ICONINK)
CRITICS ARE CALLING FIRST MAN “SPECTACULAR,” “A CINEMATIC TRIUMPH” AND “THE BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR.” UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND ACADEMY AWARD®-WINNING DIRECTOR DAMIEN CHAZELLE INVITE YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY TO THE MOON. RYAN GOSLING AND CLAIRE FOY STAR IN FIRST MAN. IN THEATRES AND IMAX OCTOBER 12TH.
Mr. Will x Universal Pictures Canada want to give Readers a chance to attend an Advance Screening of TIFF ’18 selection, FIRST MAN.
Screenings take place as follows:
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 10TH
TORONTO SCOTIABANK THEATRE TORONTO 7:30 PM
VANCOUVER CINEPLEX CINEMAS MARINE GATEWAY 7:00 PM
MONTREAL CINEPLEX MONTREAL FORUM 7:00 PM
CALGARY LANDMARK SHAWNESSY 7:00 PM
EDMONTON CINEPLEX SOUTH COMMONS 7:00 PM
Synopsis:
On the heels of their six-time Academy Award®-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar®-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures’ First Man, the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost—on Armstrong and on the nation—of one of the most dangerous missions in history.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and tell us what you would say to Ryan Gosling if you were stuck together on a rocket to the moon. Also please indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.
Universal Pictures Canada release FIRST MAN Friday, October 12, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
By Mr. Will Wong
And in a blink of an eye, another TIFF has passed and this one had us working right to the finish line! It’s only after the fact that we have a moment to take it all in how much we went through. We estimate double our average in Celebrity Snaps this year. That’s how star-studded TIFF ’18 was. It was that kind of a year!
We had the pleasure of previewing several of this year’s Awards Season contenders and we are waiting with baited breath to see A STAR IS BORN and GREEN BOOK, both outstanding, duke it out for Oscars glory in coming months. We loved both, are thrilled the latter was honoured with the People’s Choice Award at the Festival, but something about the former makes our heart sing. We cannot stop thinking about it or its Soundtrack. It takes a magical Film to do that.
Let’s relive some of my favourite star-studded moments of the Festival, as lensed through the Nikon D3400. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without this amazing camera which worked amazingly-well with our Blackberry Key 2 in terms of file transmission to ensure we were able to get our photos uploaded and edited within moments for you all to enjoy! The clarity of these snaps speak for themselves.
A STAR IS BORN Press Conference
We will never stop taking our signature Celebrity Selfies and TIFF ’18 was unforgettable even if we saw many returning faces. We wouldn’t have been camera-ready without the right gear and depending on each scenario, sometimes the Blackberry Key 2 worked best for those Selfies, sometimes the Nikon D3400 worked better. What matters is that more often than not, we got the snap! And many we did.
Here’s some of our faves!
Alexander Skarsgård
Amandla Stenberg
Amber Heard
Anthony Ramos
Boyd Holbrook
Cara Delevingne
Chris Pine
Claire Foy
Daniel Kaluuya
Elizabeth Debicki
Gwendoline Christie
Hari Nef
Jacob Tremblay
Jamie Dornan
Jamie Lee Curtis
John David Washington
Julianne Moore
Kelly Marie Tran
Lady Gaga
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Margaret Qualley
Olivia Munn
Parker Sevak
Peter Sarsgaard
Quincy Jones
Riz Ahmed
Ryan Gosling
Steve Carell
Steven Yeun
Timothée Chalamet
Trevante Rhodes
Troye Sivan
Zhang Yimou
In case you missed our Television appearances during TIFF ’18 this is our first year hitting-up the three big media giants: Global, CITY and CP24 (Bell Media). Thrilled! Our brand continues to thrive as a Festival go-to and we are so happy for the recognition.
CP24 with George Lagogianes
Breakfast Television with Winston Sih
Until next year. We’re already ready!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
If you were in and around Roy Thomson Hall TIFF ’18, you could not avoid Acura‘s presence at the Festival. We had the pure joy of test-driving the 2018 Acura ILX this TIFF. Sleek, stylish and sophisicated, we wouldn’t have endured those late nights and early mornings without the ILX. It was our MVP, no doubt.
We felt sheer confidence owning the road, empowered by its 2.4-litre, 16-valve, DOHC, i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine. The ILX operates at an impressive 201 horsepower, with engine torque of 180 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm.
Above this, we are reminded frequently of its safety features including a Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Blind Spot Information system (BSI) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM™) system. We’ll admit that those 4 AM drives home having slept an hour the night before during TIFF, can be a test of endurance. These features helped keep is safe and aware.
Parking in those tight, testy downtown parking lots is a challenge but the ILX’s Multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines made it all so easy!
With television appearances, screenings are star sightings around town to tend to, we cannot stress how crucial it was to stay connected with multiple USB charging ports, HandsFreeLink™-Bluetooth® capability and an 8-inch LED backlit VGA display. We love that Acura still believes in CD players in addition to an array of options to stream music off our phone, plus Sirius XM. We just wish there was a way to hear Google Maps through car’s sound system while listening to Sirius XM, the radio or CDs.
We admit being more tired than ever keeping-up with the Festival’s frantic pacing, that’s why we found real comfort retreating to our ILX for the occasional powernap. Its 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat and 2-position memory were our bed away from home and we loved being able to stare up through its moonroof and collect our thoughts and plan our next steps.
The ILX is a bit of a ‘gas guzzler’ with City/Hwy/Combined fuel economy of
9.4/6.8/8.2 litres/100 km. In some instances we found half a tank of gas gone after a day of driving and perhaps this is where Acura could take notes from its sister, Honda which has mastered fuel economy with its popular ECON mode option.
That being said, the 2018 Acura ILX is a statement of class, prestige and luxury. We will never forget the memories we made TIFF ’18 with it!
More on it here.
By Mr. Will Wong
It’s hard to believe TIFF ’18 already has come to an end! Amidst the half-hour sleeps and hustling venue to venue we now can finally take a deep breath and appreciate what a wonderful Festival it was yet again! While this edition definitely was a bit of endurance test – we were working right to the end – it is one of those things you look back at and miss greatly. We already are strategizing for TIFF ’19 and believe us, we’ll be ready!
A warmhearted thank you to all our followers who keep us motivated on Social Media with all your encouragement and also our amazing partners: Nikon Canada, H&M Canada, Starbucks Canada, Blackberry Canada, Acura Canada, Britbox Canada, Dufflet Pastries, Chatime Canada, KANDL Artistique, INK Entertainment and CP24. We wouldn’t be doing what we do without YOU!
Also, a huge congrats to Leonardo who won our TIFF ’18 Survival Prize Pack! He was overjoyed and will be sure to spoil himself with all that swag!
This is the first year ever we’ve appeared in some form on Canada’s big three giants: Corus, Rogers and Bell Media with televised appearances on Global News, Breakfast Television and CP24 respectively. We also had to turn-down others unfortunately due to scheduling (every minute counts during TIFF), but there’s always hope we can take care of everyone next year!
I also must thank my amazing Team of Contributors who worked feverishly to get their Reviews in throughout the Festival to keep our Readers informed of what’s good. David Baldwin, Amanda Gilmore, Siobhan Rich, Justin Waldman and George Kozera, thank you for all the hard work you do!
While we simply were too exhausted to post last night, here are some Snaps from our final TIFF ’18 event, the Red Carpet of Closing Night Gala JEREMIAH TERMINATOR LeROY starring Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern and Jim Sturgess. We got to chat briefly with breakout stars James Jagger (son of Mick) and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
The Film is based on the Memoir Girl Boy Girl: How I Became JT Leroy by Savannah Knoop and is about a woman who spent six years masquerading as Writer Laura Albert‘s created teenage male literary persona JT LeRoy, directed and co-written by Justin Kelly. We ask stars Kevin Harrison Jr. and James Jagger about the importance of a story like this which examines gender confirmation and fluidity in the now.
Jagger: “I think it’s interesting in this industry that it’s taken so long for it to get to a place where it is now, there have been a lot of false hopes. I think finally we are seeing some true development. I think certain exponents of this Film have been working towards that for a really long time. I think it’s an exciting time to be alive!”.
Harrison: “We all have our online personalities that we like to put out there and this Film is the OG (original) version of what that was and I find that interesting, but we continue to be progressing.”
We ask Jagger and Harrison what drew them most to the Film?
Jagger: “It was the opportunity to be in scene with Diane (Kruger) and that really was the thing that drew me most. Diane I’ve been a fan of for a really long time. It was a good day, it’s been an absolute pleasure.”.
Harrison: “I was drawn to the idea of playing this Basquiat-type guy who gets to fall in love with someone interesting – we’re both really queer in the Movie and we love each other. That was interesting to me.”.
A cheerful goodbye to TIFF ’18, with waves from Dern and Stewart! See you next year!
(Photo/video credit: Amanda Gilmore/Mr. Will Wong)
By Mr. Will Wong
While known much for his funny Films, Peter Farrelly, one-half of the Duo which brought us classics There’s Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene, gifts us at TIFF ’18 with the Sleeper Hit of the Festival, GREEN BOOK. The heartwarming Comedy details the unlikely friendship between a Concert Pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) and his bouncer-turned-chaffeur Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen). While from completely opposite worlds, it is impossible not to be charmed by the back-and-forth banter between sophisticated Don and tough-talking Tony in this witty Script by the latter’s actual son Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie and Farrelly.
Performances are outstanding from our leading Trio. Mortensen continues to build his stellar catalog of work and is pitch-perfect throughout the Film’s light and heavier moments which don’t shy away from matters which still are true today. Ali is remarkable as Shirley, capturing his strength and fragility – we were spellbound. Cardellini while under-written and under-seen is a joy every time she is on-screen. We are thrilled for audiences to discover this gem, giving TIFF ’18 a much-needed lift of spirits.
GREEN BOOK screens Thursday, September 13 Winter Garden Theatre 2:30 PM and Saturday, September 15 Princess of Wales Theatre (VISA Screening Room) 3 PM.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com