Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give readers a chance to see SPLIT!  Screenings take place Wednesday, January 18, 2017 in TORONTO, VANCOUVER, MONTREAL, CALGARY, EDMONTON, OTTAWA + WINNIPEG.

TORONTO

Cineplex Scotiabank Toronto  7:00 PM

VANCOUVER

Cineplex International Village   7:00 PM

MONTREAL

Cineplex Montreal Forum  7:00PM

CALGARY

Cineplex Odeon Sunridge Spectrum  7:00 PM

WINNIPEG

SilverCity St. Vital      7:00PM

EDMONTON

Cineplex Odeon South Edmonton Commons  7:00PM

OTTAWA

Scotiabank Theatre Ottawa  7:00 PM

Synopsis

As three teenage girls wait for their father to finish putting bags into the trunk of their car, a strange man gets into the driver’s seat. His name is Kevin (James McAvoy) — a seriously mentally ill man with 23 personalities. He kidnaps the girls and shuts them away in a locked bunker. They quickly learn he has more than one identity when he shows up dressed as a woman, telling them, “Don’t worry. He knows what you’re here for. He knows he’s not allowed to touch you.”

Another of his personalities, Hedwig, says he’s nine years old. One of the sisters, Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), realizes the only way they can get out is to convince one of Kevin‘s alter egos to let them go. She thinks maybe Hedwig will help, but he tells them, “He’s done awful things to people and he’ll do awful things to you.” They find out one of Kevin‘s personalities is a vicious psychopath called The Beast.

Meanwhile, Kevin‘s psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley), who doesn’t know what he’s done, believes there is a submerged personality she hasn’t yet met who will materialize and dominate all the others.

Trailer:

Artwork:

The Red Carpet was rolled out at Isabel Bader Theatre earlier this week. In-town were multiple Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain, Director John Madden and Canadian stars including Al Mukadam, Grace Lynn Kung and Raoul Bhaneja from upcoming Political Drama MISS SLOANE.  The ensemble presented the Film together for the first time ever at its Toronto Premiere, hot on the heels of it being award second runner-up for the Audience Award at the Whistler Film Festival.  The likes of acclaimed Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin also were spotted in the audience and we hear a much in-the-news Meghan Markle also was to attend. Made in Toronto here earlier this year, the Film centers on ambitious lobbyist Elizabeth Sloane (Chastain) as she goes up against her most powerful opponent yet in the name of gun control. Her credibility goes under great scrutiny and she just might lose everything she has worked so hard to build.

Our David Baldwin and Siobhán Rich attended the Red Carpet for a chat with the Cast and Director on their experience making what will be known as one of the most thought-provoking Films to hit theatres this year.

JESSICA CHASTAIN (plays Elizabeth Sloane)

We ask Chastain, beautiful in a burgudy Givenchy gown, about her attraction to roles which balance a no-nonsense sensibility and a bit of vulnerability.

“I like playing characters which challenge the status quo. Elizabeth Sloane does just that. She is an over-prepared perfectionist, who is very flawed and still we root for her.  How many times have we seen George Clooney play characters like this?”.

With recent changes on the political front in the United States, we ask Chastain what she wants Miss Sloane‘s audience to take away from the Film.

“There are so many issues in world today including the issue of Wage Gap.  We used to think of it as ‘Why aren’t men paying us fairly?’. Research however has shown it is more that women don’t ask for more. Men are outgoing and for some reason women just aren’t doing the same.”.  She adds, “I hope women can see from this that a woman can be ambitious, over-prepared and that it’s okay. Elizabeth is not a ‘B-word’, she is just successful.”.

This certainly wasn’t Chastain‘s first time in the City, having made four Films here. She currently is in-town filming Aaron Sorkin‘s directorial debut, a high-stakes Poker Drama, MOLLY’S GAME.  We ask her about her love affair with Toronto.

“I just saw today a video from the Mayor of Toronto declaring me an honourary Torontonian!”, she rejoices. “I love Toronto crews.  They are wonderful people who are wonderful at their jobs.”

JOHN MADDEN (Director)

Having worked together on 2010’s THE DEBT, MISS SLOANE reunites Director John Madden (THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE) and Chastain together once again.  We ask Madden about the experience collaborating together once again.

“We have been trying to do it for almost ten years! I have watched Jessica‘s career unfold as I always imagined it would.  She would send me scripts she was interested in and often I just wasn’t around.  There has to be an exact alignment and when I read this script, I wrote back to her immediately.  I told her ‘This is the one!'”.

We ask Madden about how MISS SLOANE might be perceived after the recent U.S. election.

“I don’t feel any different about the Film. I am startled by the reflections it’s throwing off. Gun Regulation is a very divisive and passionately-fought issue and I would stress this Film not about this issue. It more is a vehicle about political process and also the issue of Gender Politics.”.  Madden says “Film collides with time, and environment defines and shapes an audience’s reaction in a different way.”. “We float free of exact circumstance here, Miss Sloane is a work of imagination, a fantasy. If a Film is going to be interesting, it should be contentious and I hope people go out talking about it and are engaged by it.”.

AL MUKADAM (plays Ross)

We ask the Canadian actor about what drew him most to MISS SLOANE.

“The script was a perfect document, it was an incredibly-smart page-turner.  By the end of it, I asked ‘What kind of Movie is this?’. It felt like a Thriller I had to get to the end of.”.

RAOUL BHANEJA (plays R.M. Dutton)

We ask the veteran actor about his experience working with his A-List Co-Stars like John Lithgow, Sam Waterston, Michael Stuhlbarg, in addition to Chastain.

“I have to pinch myself every time. I also enjoyed working with the Toronto actors too!  It’s amazing when you get to watch these actors you admire up-close. I’ve been doing this 20 years.  You can still learn.”.

We ask Bhaneja what drew him most to MISS SLOANE.

“After reading the script, I hoped so bad to be in it.  It is outstanding first page to end.”. On working with Madden, he says “John gave us a lot of opportunities to do something on-screen. I love his Film MRS. BROWN. He is an incredible director and a leader and he believe it or not, used to teach acting at Yale. The way he sees the world made a lot of sense to me. You could say he is an Actor’s Director.”.

GRACE LYNN KUNG (plays Lauren)

We ask the Canadian actress seen recently on CBC Series InSecurity, stunning in Narces, how she prepared for her role in the highly-buzzed project.

“Lots of research. Being Canadian, I digged a lot into the American political system, the senate and the art of lobbying. It’s actually very ‘cloak and dagger’. People don’t realize that’s how things get done in Washington.”. On the auditioning process, Kung reveals “We didn’t get a full script, as it was kept under-wraps. We got a breakdown of the characters and actually all read the same set of sides. We weren’t sure which role we were reading for.”.

Kung has nothing but the highest praise for Chastain and her artistry. “Jessica picks roles with a meticulous eye. I would always watch her and ask ‘What is she doing? How is she doing it? What can I learn from it?’. She was there every day driving dialogue on every single page.”.

On Madden, she confesses, “I will work on anything  John wants.  My first audition he was there conducting. There is a beautiful chemistry among the cast and this comes from John‘s piecing together of everything.”.

See the Trailer:

Some more Snaps from the evening:

We’re Chastainiacs, okay? Another moment with John Madden x Jessica Chastain at the Canadian Premiere of #MissSloane. Photo: @mstypo.

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 6, 2016 at 2:36pm PST

#JessicaChastain poses with #MissSloane Director John Madden and her cast mates at the Film’s Red Carpet Premiere. Photo: @mstypo.

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 5, 2016 at 5:40pm PST

The beautiful #JessicaChastain chats with our Dave Baldwin at tonight’s Red Carpet premiere for #MissSloane. Photo: @mstypo.

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 5, 2016 at 5:39pm PST

A radiant #JessicaChastain with #MissSloane Director John Madden at the Film’s Canadian Premiere! Photo: @mstypo.

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 5, 2016 at 5:48pm PST

VVS Films release MISS SLOANE on Friday, December 9, 2016.

Some Social Media accounts for you to follow:

@MissSloaneMovie

@DaveMABaldwin

@Typo_Eh

@VVS_Films

@MrWillW

(Photo/video credit: Siobhán Rich/VVS Films/Mr. Will Wong)

AMAZING describes perfectly this new second Trailer for Netflix‘s LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS.

Synopsis:
Based on the internationally best-selling series of books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) and starring Emmy and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, A Series of Unfortunate Events recounts the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans — Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – whose evil guardian Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance. The siblings must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling his many devious plans and disguises, in order to discover clues to their parents’ mysterious death. The eight-episode series is a Netflix original production, executive produced by Emmy Award winner Barry Sonnenfeld and Daniel Handler, and premieres January 13, 2017 only on Netflix. 

See the Trailer:

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Football Fans got a huge treat last night during halftime on Monday Night Football on ESPN! The new Teaser Trailer for TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT!

Watch here:

Paramount Pictures Canada release TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT on Friday, June 23, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

eOne Films x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to see acclaimed Drama, LION. Screenings take place in the following:

Vancouver – Wednesday December 14th – 7:00 PM at Fifth Avenue

Calgary – Wednesday December 14th – 7:00 PM at Eau Claire

Edmonton – Wednesday December 14th – 7:00 PM at South Edmonton

Winnipeg – Wednesday December 14th – 7:00 PM at Landmark Grant Park

Halifax – Wednesday December 14th – 7:00 PM at Park Lane

Victoria – Wednesday December 14th – 7:00 PM at Silvercity Victoria

Synopsis:
A five-year-old Indian boy, Saroo, lives with his single mother and siblings in poverty. He and his brothers often beg for food and money at the train station. When his older brother, Guddu, tells Saroo that he’s going to take the train to another city, Saroo asks if he can come. Guddu agrees and when they reach their destination, he tells Saroo to wait for him on the platform.

When Guddu doesn’t come back, Saroo hops on another train in search of his brother and winds up many miles away from his home. The little boy is unable to tell the police exactly where he’s from and is eventually declared an abandoned child. He winds up at the Indian Society for Sponsorship and Adoption, where he’s soon adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman, David Wenham).

Saroo grows up as a typical Australian boy, learning English and eventually forgetting his native tongue, Hindi. Meanwhile, his mother endlessly searches for her son.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your city.

eOne Films release LION in Toronto Friday, December 9, 2016 and additional cities Wednesday, December 21, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Paramount Pictures Canada + Mr. Will want to take Readers to see FENCES, directed by and starring Denzel Washington. Screenings take place in Toronto and Montreal:

Toronto (Wednesday December 21st) – Scotiabank Theatre @ 7:30PM

Montreal (Monday December 19th) – Cinéma Cineplex Forum @ 7:30PM

Synopsis:

FENCES is directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay by August Wilson, adapted from Wilson‘s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play. The film stars Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Jovan Adepo, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson and Saniyya Sydney.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City!

Paramount Pictures Canada release FENCES on Christmas Day.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

For a second straight week, MOANA tops the Box Office for Disney, with $29.6 million from 3,875 theatres. In two weeks it has made $121 million domestically, getting a break from competitors with no new wide releases slated.

Former champ FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM is in second with $16.8 million for Warner Bros., tallying $181.3 million over three weeks.

ALLIED lands in third with $7.3 million for Paramount Pictures in its second week, almost passing the $30-million mark.

ARRIVAL is in fourth with $7.1 million also for Paramount Pictures. In its four weeks out it has made $71 million.

BAD SANTA 2 is in eighth in its second week out with $3.1 million for eOne Films/Broad Green Pictures. It has made $15 million in its run so far.

Oscar contender MANCHESTER BY THE SEA rounds out the Top Ten with $2.2 million from only 156 theatres. It has made $4.3 million over three weeks for Mongrel Media/Roadside Attractions.

Premiering at the Comic Con Experience 2016 in Brazil earlier today, here comes a new Teaser Trailer for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2!

See the Teaser:

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 is in theatres May 2017!

(Photo/video credit: Marvel Entertainment)

Check out this new Trailer for  touching Canadian production, KISS AND CRY.

Synopsis:
A romantic drama based on the story of Carley Allison, a promising 18 year old figure skater and singer who finds love just as she is diagnosed with a rare 1 in 3.5 billion form of sarcoma.

KISS AND CRY stars Sarah Fisher, Luke Bilyk and Chantal Kreviazuk.

See the Trailer:

KISS AND CRY premieres on World Cancer Day Friday, February 4, 2017. Get tickets here.

(Photo/video credit: Mythic Productions)

We absolutely are crazy about Riz Ahmed, the English Actor who in recent years has seen his star rise rather quickly stateside. In addition to starring in HBO Series The Night Of this year, Ahmed turned heads in a acclaimed 2014 Thriller Nightcrawler alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. While we have yet to see his performance in acclaimed TIFF ’16 Selection Una (which he had to cancel an appearance for) with another of our favourites Rooney Mara, we soon will see him on many screens in STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE, for which he was in town for today.

With a whirlwind Press Day schedule, Ahmed with little notice to viewers, appeared on Breakfast Television, CP24 Breakfast and Your Morning. In the afternoon he shared the spotlight with Ryan Reynolds on The Social, that Canuck in town doing good at Sick Kids’ Hospital. He celebrates his 34th birthday tomorrow!

We gave it a shot and found Ahmed, who was was a great sport about the Selfie. We cannot wait to see him come back hopefully soon with his Hip-Hop Duo SWET SHOP BOYS, which just concluded their tour in multiple cities in support of their Album, Cashmere.

See our Snap:

With one of my faves, the brilliant and handsome #RizAhmed aka #RizMC, in town promoting #StarWarsRogueOne earlier today. #StarWars #RogueOne #SwetShopBoys

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Nov 30, 2016 at 11:59am PST

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE Friday, December 16, 2016.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)