Taking place five years after its acclaimed first season, MICHAEL: THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS returns to the CBC lineup as MICHAEL: EVERY DAY, after budget cuts at the network back in 2012 prevented a second season. Produced and directed by Genie and Tony Award winner Don McKellar (Sensitive Skin), this latest installment of the acclaimed series reunites Psychiatrist Dr. David Storper (Bob Martin) and his patient Michael (Matt Watts).

We meet the neurotic, though seemingly well-adjusted Michael  just as he has an anxiety attack at the airport prior to boarding a flight, while David himself is coping with the traumatic loss of one of his patients recently, worse for wear than Michael, his 15-year patient.  The Ottawa-made sitcom has these two characters reuniting once again unexpectedly and focuses on their intense and co-dependent friendship, darkly-comical while at once heartwarming how it looks at mental illness with a bit of lightness.  At once it also makes the matter feel refreshingly “normal”.

We can’t wait to see where Michael and David’s in/out-of-office relationship takes them next.  Also returning to the series is  Tommie-Amber Pirie as David’s endearing assistant Claire.

MICHAEL: EVERY DAY airs Sundays on CBC, find out more about it here.

See a special feature on Michael: Every Day from CBC:

(Photo credit: CBC)

Our first spotting of 2017 is an amazing one! At age 17, Joey King has accomplished more than what many of us will accomplish in a lifetime! The Actress has been in and out of Toronto the past couple months filming upcoming Horror WISH UPON, which has her starring alongside Ryan Phillippe, Elisabeth Röhm and Stranger Things’ Shannon Purser. It centers on a teenage girl who discovers a magical box with deadly consequences.

King has built a powerful résumé already starring in major blockbusters like Ramona and Beezus, The Conjuring, The Dark Knight Rises, White House Down and Oz the Great and Powerful. We even had the pleasure of interviewing King for the latter title years ago and she honestly is just as lovely over the phone as in-person! She was just 14 back then. Read our chat.

Just having wrapped on WISH UPON, 2017 is a busy year with appearances on The Flash and a role in Zach Braff’s Going in Style alongside Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine!

See our Snap with King:

Loved meeting finally the insanely-talented #JoeyKing, who just wrapped on upcoming Horror, #WishUpon!

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jan 11, 2017 at 3:29am PST

Broad Green Pictures release WISH UPON later this year! Follow the Movie on Instagram here.

(Photo credit: Glamoholic/Mr. Will Wong)

Perhaps we will be seeing this at next year’s Golden Globes? While we are riding the musical highs of La La Land, we were treated to a sneak peek for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST featuring Emma Watson, who originally was cast in Emma Stone‘s eventual Golden Globe Award-winning role in La La Land. Here Watson can be heard singing Belle.

See it below:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Friday, March 17, 2017.

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

The 74th annual Golden Globe Awards took place in Hollywood tonight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association honouring the year’s best in Film and Television. Taking home top honours tonight with seven wins was Musical La La Land directed by Damien Chazelle. Premiering to raves at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September and winning the People’s Choice Award, the Film swept important categories Best Motion Picture Comedy/Musical, Screenplay (Damien Chazelle), Director (Damien Chazelle), Actress (Emma Stone), Actor (Ryan Gosling), Original Score (Justin Hurwitz)  and Original Song (City of Stars).

See the Cast and Director post-victory:

Moonlight which has been a force all Awards Season almost walked away empty-handed, but alas won Best Motion Picture Drama for up-and-coming Director Barry Jenkins.

Tonight’s Best Foreign Motion Picture winner Elle certainly makes the Best Actress Oscars race a bit more interesting with Isabelle Huppert winning in an upset over favoured Natalie Portman.

Manchester by the Sea which long has been considered an Awards Season frontrunner was rewarded Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Casey Affleck).

In the Television categories, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Atlanta and The Crown proved popular. The former won Best Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and also a win for Sarah Paulson who starred as famed lawyer Marcia Clark. Atlanta, which also is broadcast by FX like The People, won for Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy and Best Actor in a TV Series Comedy (Donald Glover).  Netflix‘s The Crown won Best Television Series Drama and Best Actress in a Television Series Drama (Claire Foy).

The show was hosted by Funnyman Jimmy Fallon, who despite technical glitches with the Teleprompter after a spirited La La Land-inspired opening number,  managed to overcome adversity to a punchy Donald Trump-targeted speech stating “This is the Golden Globes, one of the few places left where America still honors the popular vote”. He also continued to poke fun referencing this year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient Meryl Streep who starred in Golden Globe-nominated Florence Foster Jenkins, about the world’s worst singer, proclaiming “Even she turned down performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration.”.

Watch the Cold Opening:

Streep was introduced by Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture winner Viola Davis, moving the crowd with some profound statements in her DeMille acceptance speech, encouraging us to “Take our broken hearts and turn them into art.”. She also made a couple pokes at Mixed Martial Arts and President Elect Donald Trump stating, “Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence insights violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others we all lose.”.

Watch the Speech:

Surprises this evening included victories by Aaron Taylor-Johnson for Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for Nocturnal Animals, which has been much-overlooked this Awards Season. Also, many were surprised that critical darling Game of Thrones, nearing the end of its run, was overlooked all night in favour of new series, expensively-produced The Crown. Daughter of music icon Diana, Tracee Ellis Ross achieved distinction becoming the first black Actress since Debbie Allen in 1983 to win Best Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy for Blackish.

Fashion always is a highlight at the Golden Globes and yellow/gold proved popular with actresses Reese Witherspoon, Emily Ratajkowski, Priyanka Chopra and nominees for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture and Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama respectively, Viola Davis and Natalie Portman, donning variations of the colour on the Red Carpet.  Actresses Mandy Moore and Kristen Bell also dropped draws with tasteful cleavage-revealing pieces.

Next up are the Academy Awards, which air Sunday, February 26, 2017 8:30 PM EST on ABC.

Complete list of Golden Globe winners here.

(Photo/video credit: Getty Images)

In third this week out and first weekend in wide expansion, HIDDEN FIGURES takes the top of the Box Office with $22.8 million, playing now in  expanding to 2,471 theatres for 20th Century Fox. The Oscar contender starring Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae, gets a stellar 92% on the Tomatometer. An A+ CinemaScore for this crowd-pleaser.

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY after three weeks atop the Box Office slips to second with $21.8 million from 4,157 theatres. This takes its domestic total to $478.2 million in North America.

In third this weekend is SING with $19.5 million for Universal Pictures. The Animated Feature has made $216.5 million in two weeks.

UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS debuts in fourth with $13.1 million for Sony Pictures from 3,070 theatres. Critics give this installment 18% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it a B+ CinemaScore.

LA LA LAND expands to 1,515 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films with $10.3 million, a total $52 million over five weeks of limited release.

PASSENGERS is in sixth with $8.5 million, a total $80.5 million earned over three weeks for Sony Pictures across North America.

ASSASSIN’S CREED rounds out the Top Ten with $3.8 million for 20th Century Fox in its third week. In total, it is just shy of $50 million-mark in its domestic run.

Elevation Pictures + Mr. Will want to take Readers to see Michael Keaton in THE FOUNDER, the story behind the rise of a little burger corporation you may have heard of! Screenings take place as follows:

Toronto

Date: January 18, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Varsity (55 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M4W 1A5)

Ottawa

Date: January 18, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Cineplex Cinemas Ottawa (3090 Carling Ave, Nepean, ON K2B 7K2) *TBC

Vancouver

Date: January 18, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Scotiabank Vancouver (900 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 3G5)

Victoria

Date: January 18, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: SilverCity Victoria (3130 Tillicum Rd, Victoria, BC V9A 6T2)

Halifax

Date: January 18, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Park Lane (5657 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax, NS B3J 3R4)

Edmonton

Date: January 18, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Scotiabank Theatre (West Edmonton Mall, 8882 170 St NW #3030, Edmonton, AB T5T 4M2)

Calgary

Date: January 18, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Scotiabank Chinook (6455 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0K4)

Winnipeg

Date: January 18, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Polo Park (Polo Park Shopping Center, 817 St James St, Winnipeg, MB R3G 3L3)

Synopsis:
Directed by John Lee Hancock (SAVING MR. BANKS), THE FOUNDER features the true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Writer Robert Siegel (THE WRESTLER) details how Kroc maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire. The film also stars Laura Dern as Ray Kroc’s first wife Ethel; John Carroll Lynch as Mac McDonald and Nick Offerman as Dick McDonald.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook and indicate your city. Click “share” from there for an extra chance!

Elevation Pictures release THE FOUNDER Friday, January 20, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Mr. Will x eOne Films want to give Readers a chance to win Run-of-Engagement Passes to see MOLLY’S GAME, Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut. We also are offering selected winners a special Prize Pack with Molly Bloom cards from the set of the Film! 🃏

Synopsis:

MOLLY’S GAME stars Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom – Colorado Olympic-class skier turned high-stakes poker princess. Also starring Idris Elba, Kevin Costner and , the film dives into the elusive world of elite poker that caters to Hollywood royalty, sports stars, and business titans. Molly finds herself attracting the wrong kind of attention when she inadvertently engages members of the Russian mob at her table. Her streak comes to a grinding halt when she’s arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

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

eOne Films release MOLLY’S GAME wide Friday, January 5, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to take Readers to see xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE, filmed right here in Toronto! Screenings take place as follows:

Screenings will take place in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa on Wednesday January 18th, 2017 at 7:00PM.

Toronto – Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas @ 7:00PM

Montreal – Cinema Banque Scotia Montreal @ 7:00PM

Ottawa – Cineplex Cinemas Ottawa @ 7:00PM

Synopsis:
The third explosive chapter of the blockbuster franchise that redefined the spy thriller finds extreme athlete turned government operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) coming out of self-imposed exile and on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon known as Pandora’s Box. Recruiting an all-new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself enmeshed in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of world governments. Packed with the series’ signature deadpan wit and bad-ass attitude, “xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” will raise the bar on extreme action with some of the most mind-blowing stunts to ever be caught on film.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Indicate your city and click “share” from there for an extra chance!

Paramount Pictures Canada release xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE Friday, January 20, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

For a third straight week, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY dominates the Box Office with $50.8 million from 4,157 theatres across North America.  In its North American run it has made $441 million thus far for Disney. This makes it 2016’s second-highest grossing Film, behind FINDING DORY (also, Disney) which earned $486.3 million this year.

SING continues to be highly bankable for Universal Pictures, in second with $42.5 million from 4,209 theatres. In its two-week run, it has made $179 million already domestically.

PASSENGERS is in third this weekend for Sony Pictures with $15.5 million, a total of $65 million over two weeks.

MOANA is in fourth with $10.4 million for Disney, a six week total of $212.8 million.

FENCES is performing strongly, placing fifth with $$9.9 million for Paramount Pictures from 2,301 theatres, totaling $32 million over three weeks. It has an impeccable 95% score on the Tomatometer, with an A- CinemaScore.

LA LA LAND is in sixth with $9.4 million from only 750 theatres across North America. It has made $36.8 million already as it continues to expand over four weeks.

WHY HIM? is in seventh with $8.6 million for 20th Century Fox, a total $35.7 million in two weeks.

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.9 million, a total $29.3 million in seven weeks.

Like the rest of the world, we are terribly saddened by the news of George Michael‘s sudden passing last night. Although we don’t want to turn this into an obituary, we wanted to remember him for the true legend he was to us.

Our childhood and high school years were defined much by Michael‘s music, whether it be his days with Wham! or ultimately as one of the greatest solo male artists of our time. From Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go to Freedom to I Want Your Sex to Freedom! 90, Michael was connecting on a deep level to my generation, even if we technically weren’t old enough to be listening to some of things he was singing about.

I remember helping one summer at my Dad’s Fish & Chip shop and although it was somewhere I really didn’t want to be at all with all the other kids enjoying their summer vacations, Michael‘s music on the radio helped me get through the summer.  I remember calling to request Kissing a Fool and Monkey on AM Radio ad nauseum, much to the annoyance of the DJ on the Request Line who had to keep answering my calls. I was that overzealous Fan who made sure Michael stayed in the Top 6 at 6, the type of Fan in today’s terms who clicks “refresh” and “submit” to sore wrists on a web form to get their idol popularity votes. The difference between some of today’s idols and Michael however is that truly he deserved his success and popularity. He was a true artist and had that rare gift of emoting especially in his ballads, in a way that has been the blueprint for the careers of several artists after him. Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Nick Jonas, Enrique Iglesias, Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey – these are just some of the important artists who came after Michael, whose influence can be traced back to him.

It was always my hope to see Michael live.  When his 25 Live Tour was announced, I made it a point of doing whatever it took to see him and to this day it is a decision I don’t regret.  Playing for two sold nights back-to-back at Air Canada Centre, it was a blessing of the purest form to hear him sing his way through his extensive catalogue of hits that July night. Although a Canadian visit from Michael was a rarity, this  now will be known as the last time he ever performed in Canada.

Freedom! 90 was the final song in Michael‘s Encore. Watch it below:

Despite being known more as tabloid fodder in recent years than the true icon and musical genius he is, Michael clearly was experiencing pain in a way only he ever will understand as seen by multiple baffling incidents reported in the news. In ways, he broke down many walls enabling further the conversation about sexual orientation even if on a personal level for him, it came at great humiliation.  In some way, his courage has given a voice to those at struggle, his Music giving us memories that will last a lifetime.

We miss you and love you, George Michael.

Thank you George. 😢

A video posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Dec 26, 2016 at 9:35am PST

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)