Primed for Awards Season, WELCOME TO MARWEN is the latest from Robert Zemeckis. Check-out the Trailer for the Fantasy, starring Steve Carell.

Synopsis:
When a devastating attack shatters Mark Hogancamp (Carell) and wipes away all memories, no one expected recovery. Putting together pieces from his old and new life, Mark meticulously creates a wondrous town where he can heal and be heroic. As he builds an astonishing art installation—a testament to the most powerful women he knows—through his fantasy world, he draws strength to triumph in the real one.

In a bold, wondrous and timely film from this revolutionary pioneer of contemporary cinema, Welcome to Marwen shows that when your only weapon is your imagination…you’ll find courage in the most unexpected place.

See the Trailer:

Universal Pictures Canada release WELCOME TO MARWEN Friday, November 21, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)

It’s destiny! Best known as one-third of 65-million-album-selling Trio Destiny’s Child, Michelle Williams is in Toronto for a limited run as Teen Angel in the Toronto production of Grease at Elgin Theatre. Attendees of the shows also will be treated to a special two-song performance afterwards by the Grammy winner who also has found success in theatre on Broadway and solo as a Pop and Gospel Artist. She even stays behind after to meet fans if you are lucky enough to score a ticket!

It was a joy meeting Williams at last and seeing how happy she made fans in this rare Toronto appearance. She is so stunning! One fan even burst into “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child for her, graciously listening to her. Fiancé Chad Johnson (seen below in white T-shirt) was there too, proud and supportive!

Earlier in the day she did the rounds on morning television staples The Morning Show and CP24 Breakfast!

See some Snaps:

More on GREASE TORONTO, which plays till early July, here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Following great success at Sundance earlier this year, Director Boots Riley brought his debut Feature SORRY TO BOTHER YOU to Toronto for a Canadian Premiere tonight.

Centering on a young man named Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) who is struggling to make ends meet. Decidedly, he takes on a Telemarketer job as a last ditch attempt before eviction from his uncle’s garage. Taking on a new persona or what he calls his “white voice”, Cassius finds himself excelling and climbing the corporate ranks much to the disagreement of his artist girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) and friends at work who are plotting to bring on a union into the workplace. Things get increasingly complicated when he uncovers are horrific secret undertaking which one of his company’s biggest clients is plotting under influencial power player Steve Lift (Armie Hammer).

Despite it being Father’s Day, Sorry to Bother You brought-out a packed house at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas to see the buzzed Film first and hear Riley speak. Some of you may know the former Rapper from his work as Frontman of Hip-Hop act The Coup. Despite having filmmaking aspirations, Riley dropped-out Film School to pursue music only now to come full circle, better late than never. He also once worked as a Telemarketer too like the Film’s flawed hero, Cassius.

Riley tells the audience about the characters in this quirky, out-there journey of self-discovery, shot over 28 days at 61 locations, exploring at what costs one is willing to go against what they believe in truly. “I wrote things from a human place, writing every single character as if they were me. They all represent conflict going on in my head”. “I had to trust my views of the world and let them come out.”.

The Film’s breakout star is Lakeith Stanfield who plays Cassius. Riley tells us about his casting choice. “His manager was really persistent”, he says, met with laughter by the audience. “When I cast him, there had only been one episode of Atlanta and I only knew him from Short Term 12.”. “I went and met with him he had a full beard. I realized he was a much older soul than his years would let on. He also had the right element of crazy.”.

One key scene however was cut from the Film, reveals Riley. “There was a full frontal (non-sexual) nudity scene and I needed him to be the most vulnerable he can be. It was a deal breaker and he cut me off and said ‘I’ve been waiitng for a role like this!’.”. He adds, “I was able to cut it out. He (Stanfield) achieved what few great actors can achieve, this vulnerability – letting him experiece the feelings, never worrying what he looks like.”.

See the Trailer:

See some Snaps. Hover cursor left and right to navigate.

An honour attending the Canadian Premiere of Sundance hit #SorryToBotherYou with Director #BootsRiley. Totally out there, outlandish and thought-provoking, a credible feature debut for a promising Rapper-turned-Director. Out 7.13.18. Lead photo: @ellederush

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jun 17, 2018 at 5:49pm PDT

eOne Films release SORRY TO BOTHER YOU Friday, July 13, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films/Mr. Will Wong)

Nothing short of ‘incredible’!  INCREDIBLES 2 debuts atop the Box Office in its bow this weekend taking $175.3 million from 4,410 theatres for Disney/Pixar. Not only does it get a rare A+ CinemaScore from Audiences, it gets also a 94% on the Tomatometer. By comparison to its 2014 Predecessor, it more than doubles the intake of that one’s $70 million debut.

In second is last week’s champ OCEAN’S 8, with $20.5 million for Warner Bros. from 4,145 theatres, a two-week tally of $80 million domestically.

TAG opens in third with $13.7 million from 3,382 theatres for Warner Bros. The star-studded Comedy starring Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms and more, is based on a true story, and gets 57% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

HEREDITARY in its second week out makes $6.5 million for A24 Films/Elevation Pictures, a total $26.6 million.

SUPERFLY debuts in seventh spot for Sony Pictures with $5.6 million from 2,220 theatres. The Cult Classic Reboot gets 54% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

BOOK CLUB rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.2 million for Paramount Pictures. It has made $62.2 million in its domestic run.

The Open Roof Festival is about to take over Toronto’s Lower Junction beginning June 20 though August 22, 2018, steps away from the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA). Every Wednesday for 10 consecutive weeks, movie screenings will be paired with emerging local artists for an ultimate summer!

Films confirmed so far at the Festival include LOVE, SIMON, GAME NIGHT, THOROUGHBREDS, THE DEATH OF STALIN, THE GREEN FOG, GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI, BOOST and RUSHMORE.  Musicians confirmed thus far include Tomi Swick, The Heavyweights Brass Band, Delta Will, Chelsey Bennett and more!

Tickets are on sale now at $15 each and you can purchase  them at http://www.openrooffestival.com. The Festival takes place at 158 Sterling Road in Toronto.

(Photo credit: Open Roof Festival)

Cineplex Events is celebrating the accomplishments and 62nd birthday of an icon, Tom Hanks this July! See once again on the big screen some of Hanks’ greatest hits including Big (30th Anniversary), A League of their Own, Apollo 13 and Forrest Gump and fall in love with these classics all over again!

The schedule is as follows:
A League of their Own plays beginning July 3
Big plays beginning July 13
Apollo 13 plays beginning July 20
Forrest Gump plays beginning July 27

See the Festival Trailer here:

Tickets at participating Cineplex theatres is $6.99 only or $5.00 for three or more Movies!

Find out more here!

(Photo/video credit: Cineplex Events)

We all grew-up loving DUMBO and could really use some of that message again in an inclusive world. See the new Teaser from Tim Burton‘s live-action DUMBO.

Synopsis:
From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure “Dumbo” expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight. Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.

See the new Teaser:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release DUMBO Friday, March 29, 2019.

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

We’ve missed these gorgeous ladies! Check-out this brand-new look at Season 2 of Netflix‘s GLOW!

Synopsis:
Season 2 follows the women of GLOW as they become local celebrities, confronting the good, the bad, and the ugly realities of their newfound fame. As Ruth and Debbie settle into the day-to-day of making a season of TV together, they confront lingering issues at the heart of their friendship. Sam is still Sam, but now he has a teenage daughter living with him and twenty episodes to churn out. The wrestling is harder, the stakes are higher, and the hair is even bigger.

See the Trailer:

Season 2 of GLOW streams on Netflix Canada Friday, June 29, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Toronto was “it” today as some of the star-studded Cast of TAG were in the City promoting the much-buzzed Comedy. Here today were an A-List trio of Jon Hamm (Mad Men, Baby Driver), Jeremy Renner (The Town, Avengers) and Ed Helms (The Hangover, The Office) who star in the Jeff Tomsic Film about a group of five highly-competitive friends who go all-in when it comes to their playing tag, a tradition for them since the first grade. When one of them (Renner) who happens to be undefeated at the game, gets married, the other four look at this as the perfect opportunity to dethrone him – but not without a fight from him!  TAG also stars Hannibal Buress, Jake Johnson, Leslie Bibb, Isla Fisher and Rashida Jones.

See the Trailer:

Hamm, Renner and Helms did the rounds today in a hectic morning which saw them at TV stops like Breakfast Television, CP24 Breakfast, Your Morning, The Morning Show (National Edition), plus also a Facebook Live session. Fans queued the elaborate Red Carpet which lined the perimeter of the lobby at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the Canadian Premiere of TAG. Some lucky contest winners got up close and personal to the Trio of stars who were happy to stop for Autographs and Selfies, much to their delight!

Hamm, Renner and Helms were in great spirits despite a long day already at 2:30 PM, bringing smiles and cheers from the crowd. Contest winners also got to see the Film early, which we’re hearing is “hilarious”! Local Media came out in full force for this the Cast’s last stop on their press tour.

Our Amanda Gilmore (@GilmoreAmanda) will be sharing his Review shortly. Stay tuned.

See some Snaps from the Red Carpet:

Attended the Premiere? Share your moments with the Hashtag #TAGinTO!

Warner Bros. Canada release TAG Friday, June 15, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Warner Bros. Canada)

Two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro might be known to many of us as a legendary presence on the big and small screen, however he also is just as successful as a businessman.  Turning heads this past weekend at the TONY Awards with some controversial statements about President Donald Trump, the Icon before a crowd of media, stakeholders and VIP members who filled a shut-down Mercer Street made apologies. The occasion was the gold shovel ground-breaking of his latest business venture together with good friend, famed Michelin-starred Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the debut of Hotel/Resident/Restaurant hybrid NOBU TORONTO. Nobu Restaurants remain a top destination for travelers around the world with over 30 locations.

“I just wanted to make a note of apology for the idiotic behaviour of my President”, said De Niro, met by emphatic applause. “It’s a disgrace. And I apologize to Justin Trudeau too and the other people in the G7. It’s disgusting.”.  Toronto Mayor John Tory later would make reference to De Niro’s statement, stating succinctly “Thank you. And thank you of course for investing in Toronto.”. The crowd responded with laughter and more applause.

The 700-unit, 49-storey venture which now is one step closer to being a reality, is the brainchild of Madison Group, Westdale Properties and Nobu Hospitality. Also in attendance at the ground-breaking which kicked-off with Japanese Kodō drummers, was Meir Teper, a Film Producer who is a Principal at the latter. All residential units we learned, sold-out in less than three months.

De Niro did the rounds with local media today at a space in the vicinity of what will be Nobu Toronto in the near future and we simply can’t wait to see this welcome new addition to the Entertainment District and the role and starpower it draws to the City.

See some Snaps:

We had the pleasure of meeting Chef Nobu and DeNiro at the event! Unforgettable. Hover cursor left and right to navigate.

Swipe left! An honour ringing-in the ground-breaking of #NobuToronto with Chef #NobuMatsuhisa and #RobertDeNiro! Super-stoked to see this venture come to fruition on Mercer Street! #Toronto #Nobu #DeNiro

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jun 11, 2018 at 10:28am PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)