While the 2020 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS didn’t see a clean sweep for any particular Film, what made it most unique was the split of awards among deserving titles which may have been overseen on other circuits. Taking home top honours at this year’s Awards, held once again at Santa Monica Pier, was Lulu Wang‘s THE FAREWELL. The Film won Best Feature and Best Supporting Actress with Zhao Shuzhen, who sadly was unable to celebrate due to the Coronavirus situation in China. Wang‘s partner Barry Jenkins was with her to support her, showing his pride backstage.

UNCUT GEMS which surprisingly for many failed to garner an Academy Award nomination, performed very well at the Spirit Awards, rewarding Best Director to Co-Directors The Safdie Brothers and also Best Male Lead (Adam Sandler). Sandler gave a spirited speech delivered completely as a different character, before thanking his family, while the Safdie Brothers both delivered a comical speech which saw them talking over one another.

Much like the rest of Awards Season, Renée Zellweger took home Best Female Lead for her work in JUDY, marking her first Spirit Award win after three nominations. Returning Host Aubrey Plaza delivered an opening number, a version of Judy Garland‘s Get Happy with hilarious lyrics, delivering the chuckles once again.

Watch it here:

MARRIAGE STORY also saw recognition with the Film’s team being awarded the Robert Altman Award, along with its Director/Writer Noah Baumbach who was also awarded Best Screenplay. Baumbach gave thanks to his partner Greta Gerwig, telling the audience “Even though she made a Movie (Little Women) too expensive to be here, she is just as independent as any of us.”. This was Baumbach‘s first Spirit Award.

Watch Film Independent’s YouTube Channel for more clips and speeches here.

We were thrilled once again to partner with Hollywood Suite, exclusive Canadian Broadcaster of the Awards!

See some of our star-studded Snaps. Navigate Albums by selecting the right arrow.

While Awards Season is about to conclude with the Academy Awards taking place tomorrow, we’ll look back at this year’s Spirit Awards as an unforgettable one!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Film Independent)

This year’s Oscars nominations were unveiled this morning, hosted by John Cho and Issa Rae. Coming out on-top is Todd Phillips’ JOKER leading the class of 2020 with 11 nods including Best Picture, Director and Lead Actor. It is followed closely by a three-way tie with 10 nominations each between Martin Scorsese‘s THE IRISHMAN, Quentin Tarantino‘s ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD and Sam Mendes’ 1917.

While Films up for Best Picture largely centered on the male perspective, Greta Gerwig‘s LITTLE WOMEN still managed to get a nod despite she not being up for her directorial work.

The largest snubs this year is the omission of Films like The Safdie Brothers’ UNCUT GEMS and Lulu Wang‘s THE FAREWELL, which were critical darlings. The latter especially, which saw Awkwafina win Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy last weekend at the Golden Globes. Both she and the Film failed to garner nominations. The same applies to ROCKETMAN star Taron Egerton who won last week for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy. Jennifer Lopez also failed to get recognition in the Best Supporting Actress category for her work in HUSTLERS.

Complete list of nominees are below:

Best Picture
“Ford v Ferrari” (Disney/Fox)
“The Irishman” (Netflix)
“Jojo Rabbit” (Fox Searchlight)
“Joker” (Warner Bros.)
“Little Women” (Sony)
“Marriage Story” (Netflix)
“1917” (Universal)
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (Sony)
“Parasite” (Neon)

Best Director
Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”)
Todd Phillips (“Joker”)
Sam Mendes (“1917”)
Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”)

Best Actor
Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”)
Leonardo DiCaprio (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
Adam Driver (“Marriage Story”)
Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”)
Jonathan Pryce (“The Two Popes”

Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”)
Scarlett Johansson (“Marriage Story”)
Saorise Ronan (“Little Women”)
Charlize Theron (“Bombshell”)
Renee Zellweger (“Judy”)

Supporting Actor
Tom Hanks (“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”)
Anthony Hopkins (“The Two Popes”)
Al Pacino (“The Irishman”)
Joe Pesci (“The Irishman”)
Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)

Supporting Actress
Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”
Laura Dern (“Marriage Story”)
Scarlett Johansson (“Jojo Rabbit”)
Florence Pugh (“Little Women”)
Margot Robbie (“Bombshell”)

Adapted Screenplay
Taika Waititi (“Jojo Rabbit”)
Steve Zaillian (“The Irishman”)
Anthony McCarten (“The Two Popes”)
Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”)
Todd Phillips and Scott Silver (“Joker”)

Best Original Screenplay
Rian Johnson (“Knives Out”)
Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”)
Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (“1917”)
Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won (“Parasite”)

Animated Feature
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World””
“I Lost My Body”
“Klaus”
“Missing Link”
“Toy Story 4”

International Feature Film
“Corpus Christi”
“Honeyland”
“Les Miserables”
“Pain and Glory”
“Parasite”

Best Documentary
“American Factory”
“The Cave”
“Edge of Democracy”
“For Sama”
“Honeyland”

Best Cinematography
“The Irishman”
“Joker”
“The Lighthouse”
“1917”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Best Costume Design
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Joker”
“Little Women”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Film Editing
“Ford vs. Ferrari”
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Joker”
“Parasite”

Makeup and Hairstyling
“Bombshell”
“Joker”
“Judy”
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”
“1917”

Original Score
“Joker”
“Little Women”
“Marriage Story”
“1917”
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Original Song
I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” “Toy Story 4”
“I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”
“I’m Standing With You,” “Breakthrough”
“Into the Unknown,” “Frozen 2”
“Stand Up,” “Harriet”

Production Design
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“1917”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Parasite”

Sound Editing
“Ford v Ferrari”
“Joker”
“1917”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’

Sound Mixing
“Ad Astra”
“Ford vs. Ferrari”
“Joker”
“1917”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Visual Effects
“Avengers: Endgame”
“The Irishman”
“The Lion King”
“1917”
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Documentary (Short Subject)
“In the Absence”
“Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone If You’re a Girl”
“Life Overtakes Me”
“St. Louis Superman”
“Walk Run Cha-Cha”

Short Film (Animated)
“Daughter”
“Hair Love”
“Kitbull”
“Memorable”
“Sister”

Short Film (Live Action)
“Brotherhood”
“Nefta Football Club”
“The Neighbor’s Window”
“Saria”
“A Sister”

The Oscars air Sunday, February 9, 2020 at 8 PM ET on ABC.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

For a third straight week it’s all about STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER with a take of $37 million from 4,406 theatres for Disney. This brings its run in North America to $454 million.

In second is JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL with $24.5 million from 4,134 theatres for Sony Pictures.

Third goes to THE GRUDGE with $13 million from 2,642 theatres also for Sony Pictures. The Reboot gets an F CinemaScore and 19% on the Tomatometer. Franchise best still goes to 2004’s original with $39.1 million and a #1 debut.

Fourth is LITTLE WOMEN with $12 million, a healthy $58 million over two weeks domestically for Sony Pictures.

UNCUT GEMS gets eighth spot with $5.8 million from 2,686 theatres for A24/Netflix.

CATS is at the bottom of the Top Ten with $2.5 million for Universal Pictures in its second week out.

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER makes it two weeks on-top, taking $89.6 million at the Box Office week two this post-Christmas Holiday weekend, from 4,406 theatres. Thus far, it has grossed $380.9 million domestically for Disney.

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is second with $30.8 million from 4,227 theatres for Sony Pictures. It has grossed $176 million in its third week.

FROZEN 2 takes third with $18.5 million, a total $423 million in its sixth weekend for Disney.

LITTLE WOMEN debuts in fourth with $18 million for Sony Pictures, from 3,308 theatres. Greta Gerwig‘s Adaptation gets 95% on the Tomatometer.

SPIES IN DISGUISE opens in fifth with $13.1 million from 3,502 theatres for 20th Century Fox. It gets 73% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore.

UNCUT GEMS lands in sixth with $10.9 million for A24/Netflix, expanding to 2,341 theatres. It gets 93% on the Tomatometer and oddly, a disproportionate C+ CinemaScore.

CATS in its second week out gets $5.1 million from 3,380 theatres for Universal Pictures.

RICHARD JEWELL rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.9 million for Warner Bros., a total $16 million in three weeks.

2019 was a remarkable year in Cinema. More than ever are we seeing Netflix and female Directors at the forefront and you will see this in the Team’s year’s best. Once again we are thrilled to share our favourites with you and would love to see how these align with your own personal faves. If you haven’t caught-up yet on your 2019 viewing, we hope the Team gives you some inspiration for your Holiday viewing!

Enjoy the rest of your Holidays and to an even more amazing 2020!

Team Mr. Will

L to R: Jonathan Godfrey, David & Alyssa Baldwin, George Kozera, Justin Waldman x Mr. Will

(There in spirit: Amanda Gilmore, Siobhán Rich)

A farewell to beloved Thompson Diner, where we held our 2019 Holiday Brunch.

In my opinion, this year has been one of the strongest years in Film for a VERY long time. We had amazing diverse creative talents in front and behind the camera who have worked together to make outstanding work, which is precisely why making this Top Ten list has been extremely difficult for me. I would love to write a Top 30 list if I was allowed, but sadly I’m not. Because of this, I have made my list according to my favourite films of the year that I could also re-watch multiple times for years to come. I have also added some honourable mentions because let’s face it, this year was flipping awesome!

DISCLAIMER: I have yet to see 1917 at the time of writing this list.

The Films below are listed in alphabetical order, they are not ranked.

Booksmart
Honey Boy
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Knives Out
Late Night
Little Women
Marriage Story
Parasite
Us

Honourable Mentions:
The Peanut Butter Falcon: an extremely touching and unique coming-of-age story.
Ready Or Not: an inventive thriller with one wickedly funny and badass female lead.
Rocketman: I LOVE Elton John and this film was a knockout!

Written in order the release, the following are my faves for 2019: winter began with If Beale Street Could Talk, a tale of struggle set to a mesmerizing score. Next, Alita: Battle Angel, a great anime adaptation with mesmerizing MOCAP (Motion Capture) work. Spring brought Toy Story 4, a 3D spectacle for the ages; and Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood, another spectacular Script from Tarantino. IT Chapter 2 scared me silly this summer, and A Hidden Life was my TIFF ’19 darling. Fall brought with it a Trilogy of favorites: the powerful performance piece, Joker; the breathtaking animation of Frozen 2; and of course, a forever favorite, Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Winter has returned, and with it, Little Women, a wondrous adaption to warm this holiday season. I have high hopes for 2020, including: Dune, Tenet, Mulan, No Time to Die and Bill & Ted Face the Music.

GEORGE KOZERA (@PartyG on Twitter)

2019 was a banner year for me, watching movies in a darkened theatre. I saw many impressive features from either first-time Directors or from established awards winners. Netflix, the little distribution company that could, released movies that were eclectic in genres and superior in quality and for the second year in a row, one of its offerings made my list as Number One. I saw movies that bored deeply into my skin and heart and mind and soul. It is with apologies to the Christmas releases that I have yet to see (Little Women, Bombshell, 1917, Uncut Gems) and too many Honorable Mentions to list that I submit my Top Ten of 2019:

1. Marriage Story
2. Jojo Rabbit
3. Waves
4. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
5. Parasite
6. The Irishman
7. Knives Out
8. The Last Black Man in San Francisco
9. Joker
10. Rocketman

JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DubsReviews on Twitter)

2019 has certainly been an interesting year for movies. We saw the end of The Skywalker Saga, the warfare between Netflix and Distributors continues to grow increasingly-tense, Scorsese and Iger are teasing a conversation. Movies had more surprises this year, and there have been some genuinely heartwarming and enlightening movies this year. In alphabetical order here are my top 10 movies to end out the decade.

Booksmart
Olivia Wilde directing Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever may have been the most unexpected, most hilarious thing I have seen all year but this Movie is endlessly-fantastic. It is the only Movie I have seen countless times this year, it became an instant classic for myself, that will be adored for the ages.

Jojo Rabbit
Taika Waititi in my mind can do no wrong when it comes to filmmaking. Ragnarok, What We Do In The Shadows,and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Waititi constantly delivers genuinely heartwarming and hilarious movies. Jojo Rabbit is no exception to that, the WWII satire is everything I expected of it and more.

Joker
I love some brilliant Joaquin. I love me some Joker. I just love this Movie. It is haunting and ingenious, but please for everything that makes this great, do not make a Sequel.

Knives Out
This Whodunit was one of the biggest questions from this Agatha Christie-esque film. It was marvelously-acted, packs a punch, and let’s face it, were all obsessing about knitted sweaters now.

The Lighthouse
I couldn’t begin to tell you what I thought I was getting myself into when I went to see this. All I can tell you is that it is one of the strangest, brilliant movies I’ve seen all year and I still think about it all these months later.

Little Women
Moment of truth, this was my first Little Women and what Greta Gerwig manages to do with it is nothing short of inspiring. However when you have Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and Saoirse Ronan its also hard not to be delighted the entire time.

Midsommar
This was horrifying. Ari Aster still manages to haunt me with his brilliant Horror Film. The Director’s Cut is significantly better than the theatrical cut as well, as well as more haunting when you pay attention to the background. There is nothing else to say.

Parasite
If you’ve seen it, you know EXACTLY why its on the list. If you have not, why are you waiting? Stop reading immediately and go see the Movie. There is literally no reason not to. It is brilliant and deserves all the acclaim.

Uncut Gems
Give Sandman everything. This Movie is neurotic, anxiety-inducing acid and you cannot look away. I felt dirty after watching the Movie, but I can’t shake it. Adam Sandler has never delivered a better performance.

Waves
This Movie broke me, is the easiest way to put it. It is beautiful, it is tragic, it is heartwarming, it is heartbreaking. This Movie launches a rocket right into the feelings and explodes on impact.

2020, you’re the start of a new decade, you better deliver as well as if not better than 2019.

DAVID BALDWIN (@DaveMABaldwin on Twitter)

1. Parasite
2. Jojo Rabbit
3. Marriage Story
4. The Farewell
5. Us
6. Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood
7. Honey Boy
8. Blinded By The Light
9. 1917
10. Booksmart

2019 will go down as one of the best years for Film this decade – maybe even the singular best one. There is so much to say about these ten brilliant Films, and even more to say about the multitude of films that did not make this list. Yes, many will remember this year for the end of The Avengers and Star Wars Sagas. But others will remember it for the magnificent new discoveries that were made, for the masters making some of their best work to date and for the actors we completely wrote-off giving us plenty of reasons to remember them again. I lived, breathed and loved so many movies this year. And know that with the impending birth of my first child, that so much about next year and the next decade of my filmgoing life is going to be so drastically different. So it might just be the nostalgia talking, but I doubt I will ever see another exquisite year of Cinema like this ever again.

Mr. Will’s 2019 Best-Of List is here.

(Photo credit: Netflix/Fox Searchlight/MK2/Mongrel Media/Sony Pictures/Mr. Will Wong)

After a rousing reception at TIFF ’19, a new Trailer surfaces for UNCUT GEMS starring Adam Sandler.

Synopsis:
A Safdie Brothers film starring Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, and Eric Bogosian.

See the Trailer:

In theatres this December.

(Photo/video credit: A24 Films)

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) is a jeweller and compulsive gambler. He cannot seem to keep any of the money or collateral he has, frequently selling it for bet money – even if the collateral does not belong to him. And after Howard acquires a rock filled with precious gemstones, things quickly go from bad to worse.

Uncut Gems is not for everyone and is easily one of the most divisive films at the Festival. Directing duo Benny and Josh Safdie have a distinct style, and they infuse this one with the same look, feel and tone of their Robert Pattinson vehicle, Good Time. What they create is a film that runs over two hours, but somehow only manages to feel 45-minutes long. It moves chaotically and recklessly from scene to scene, gradually ratcheting up the tension to unbearable levels. Just watching the shenanigans and situations Sandler’s character Howard finds himself in is ridiculously-exhausting, but somehow just as wildly exhilarating. The Supporting Cast is solid (inexplicably including NBA star Kevin Garnett), but Sandler is in his own other world here. He plays into some of his classic archetypes but also grounds himself in a totally foreign space, bringing out nuances you would never think possible. I just wish the film had a bit more substance to it.

UNCUT GEMS screens during TIFF at the following times:

Monday September 9, 9:15pm @ Princess of Wales
Tuesday September 10, 10:30am @ Elgin Theatre
Saturday September 14, 1:00pm @ Ryerson Theatre
Sunday September 15, 6:00pm @ Ryerson Theatre