Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa—along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman—return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”

Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.

All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.

Directed by Wan, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is produced by Peter Safran, Wan and Rob Cowan. The executive producers are Galen Vaisman and Walter Hamada.

The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger.

Joining Wan behind-the-camera is his sterling team of “Aquaman” artisans: director of photography Don Burgess (“The Conjuring 2”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“Jumanji: The Next Level”), editor Kirk Morri (“Furious 7”), composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (“Wonder Woman”) and music supervisor is Michelle Silverman (“Malignant”). Visual effects supervisor Nick Davis (“The Clash of the Titans” films, “The Dark Knight”) and costume designer Richard Sale (“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Ready Player One”) also join.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents An Atomic Monster / A Peter Safran Production of A James Wan Film, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” set to open in theatres internationally beginning 20 December 2023 and in North America on December 20, 2023; it will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Today, Amazon Studios announced the new series Mr. & Mrs. Smith is now premiering in early 2024, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. From co-creators and executive producers Donald Glover (Swarm, Atlanta) and Francesca Sloane (Atlanta, Fargo), the series, a reimagining of the 2005 New Regency film, stars Glover as John Smith and Maya Erskine (PEN15) as Jane Smith.

About Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Meet the Smiths: Two strangers, John and Jane, who have given up their identities to be thrown together as partners—in espionage and in marriage. Matched by a mysterious agency, each episode follows them on a new mission and new milestone in their relationship. When the cracks begin to show through, they must fight to stay together. Because in this marriage, divorce is not an option.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith will be a part of the savings, convenience, and entertainment that Prime members enjoy in a single membership.

The international success of the Paramount+ Argentine original film THE RESCUE: THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD (EL RAPTO) continues. On Monday, September 11, the film had its North American Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film was presented in the “Special Presentations” category. Lead actor Rodrigo de la Serna (Money Heist), the director and renowned filmmaker Daniela Goggi (Abzurdah, El Hilo Rojo) and the producer Benjamín Domenech from Rei Cine were in attendance. The final TIFF screening of EL RAPTO will take place on Sunday, September 17, 2023.

Paramount+ also debuted the teaser trailer for the acclaimed film that will soon premiere in international markets where the streaming service is available.

The film, produced by Paramount Television International Studios, Rei Cine and Infinity Hill, is directed by Daniela Goggi and stars Rodrigo de la Serna, Julieta Zylberberg, Lautaro Perez Hillal, Lola Loyacono, Andrea Garrote, German Palacios and Jorge Marrale. 

Buenos Aires in the 1980s. Julio Levy returns from political exile to take up a position in the large family business when his older brother, like other Argentines, is kidnapped. In charge of organizing the rescue and with the full weight of his family on his shoulders, Julio discovers the forces that still operate behind the newly recovered Argentine democracy. Julio then begins a disadvantaged fight against the prevailing system.

THE RESCUE: THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD is a fictional political thriller inspired by various stories that happened that decade in Argentina after the dictatorship, and in the book “El salto de papá” by Martín Sivak.

By David Baldwin

John Knox (Michael Keaton) is a hitman. He is cold, calculated, brilliant and also happens to have just been diagnosed with a very fast-moving form of dementia. With only weeks of lucidity left and frequent blackout spells, Knox must get his house in order and make amends before it is too late. And with the cops on his tail after a hit gone bad and his estranged son Miles (James Marsden) knocking at his door after a particularly bloody incident, things are not going to be easy for Knox.

KNOX GOES AWAY is a movie tailor-made for Boomer Dads. There are elements of neo-noir, remorse, redemption, dark humour and a handful of really violent death scenes. It checks all the boxes. Sadly though, Keaton’s direction (his second effort after 2008’s The Merry Gentleman) is nothing extraordinary. He has a bad habit of slamming to black between scenes rather than have proper transitions, the camera effects when Knox is going through a dementia episode are odd and there is no real auteurship or unique identifiers on display. Additionally, the overly elaborate plan that is the crux of the Film is extremely messy and does not help make the story any less muddy.

Keaton’s acting on the other hand is fantastic. The way his eyes and body language convey Knox’s sense of distress and confusion is terrific, as are the dialogue slips when he forgets anything and the cool precision he uses for when he does not. Keaton has always been reliable and this is easily one of his best performances – and certainly will wash away any ill feelings you may have had after watching him in The Flash earlier this summer. Marsden makes a valiant effort as Miles and Al Pacino does fine whenever he pops up in the small but pivotal role of Knox’s friend Xavier. Further down the line, Joanna Kulig is quietly impactful as the sex worker Knox spends time with every Thursday, and Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden devastates in her brief role as Knox’s ex.

Referring to one particular dead character, Keaton and Marsden both say “I would dig him up and kill him again” if they had the chance. Both times I felt that deep in my bones and wish the rest of the Film would have given me the same visceral reaction.

KNOX GOES AWAY screens at TIFF ’23:

Sunday, September 10 at 9:45 PM at Princess of Wales Theatre

Monday, September 11 at 5:30 PM at Roy Thomson Hall

20th Century Studios Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of THE CREATOR.

Screenings take place September 27, 2023 as follows:

Toronto

Yonge & Dundas

7:00PM

Vancouver

Marine Gateway

7:00PM

Synopsis:

20th Century Studios, New Regency and Entertainment One release their epic sci-fi action thriller “The Creator,” which opens in theatres September 29, 2023. Directed by Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One,” “Godzilla”), the film stars John David Washington (“Tenet”), Gemma Chan (“Eternals”), Ken Watanabe (“Inception”), Sturgill Simpson (“Dog”), newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles and Academy Award® winner Allison Janney (“I, Tonya”). The film’s screenplay is by Gareth Edwards and Chris Weitz, from a story by Edwards. The producers are Gareth Edwards, p.g.a., Kiri Hart, Jim Spencer, p.g.a. and Arnon Milchan. The executive producers are Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, Natalie Lehmann, Nick Meyer and Zev Foreman.

Amidst a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua (Washington), a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife (Chan), is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war… and mankind itself. Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory… only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. In the comments, let us know your City. Re-Tweet the below for another chance.

Rules and regulations here.

20th Century Studios Canada release THE CREATOR September 27, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Studios Canada)

The finish line is in sight for TIFF ’23 but we’re still out and about! We spotted Ava DuVernay doing the rounds earlier! The history-making Oscar-nominated BAFTA and Primetime Emmy winner looked stunning earlier and was so lovely to stop for a snap! Her film ORIGIN was a late add to the lineup at TIFF ’23.

Shortly after, we saw Oscar-nominated Actress Salma Hayek Pinault arriving to her Red Carpet for SABOR DE LA NAVIDAD. In a rush to get to her interviews, she didn’ stop at the barricade for her fans. She serves as Executive Producer for the Film.

Also, a huge joy witnessing Chloe Domont‘s feature directorial debut FAIR PLAY. This is definitely one of the best things I’ve seen so far at TIFF ‘23. Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor play a couple who after getting engaged, live through a power struggle when one of them gets promoted at work. So wonderful seeing Domont at the Roy Thomson Hall Premiere tonight.

Please seeing Viggo Mortensen still here for THE DEAD DON’T HURT.

And last but not least, our friends at Elevation Pictures celebrated their 10th Birthday and it was a bustling party at their building on Richmond Street. They had a whopping 14 films at the Festival! Several noticables, including Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard were there.

(Photo/video credit Mr. Will Wong)

By David Baldwin

Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) is a professor who moonlights as a surveillance operative for the police. He is asked to fill in as an “undercover hitman-for-hire” during one sting, and surprises everyone with the strength and believability of his performance. Gary quickly becomes the go-to undercover performer and one day meets Madison (Adria Arjona), who wants to hire him to kill her husband.

Talk about your classic meet cute.

HIT MAN, the latest from multi-hyphenate Director Richard Linklater, is easily one of the hottest and most sought-after tickets at TIFF ’23. It is not hard to figure out why – he directs the hell out of the Film, crafting an offbeat Romantic Comedy that is just a joy to watch. Linklater has never been nailed down to one genre over the course of his nearly 40-year career, always swinging for the fences with mainstream experimentation and zigging when you assume he should be zagging. Though there are a few occasional story stumbles here and places where it could have been tightened, this is easily one of his best and funniest films; the kind of screwball Comedy we have not seen in decades.

Of course, we cannot give Linklater all the credit. The Film is very much a collaboration between him and Writer/Producer Powell, who is having the time of his life. This is their third film together and I can only hope there will be more collabs soon, because this has the promise of being one of the great actor/director pairings. Powell is electric from the moment the Film begins, narrating with gusto and confidently jumping into every scene headfirst. The scenes with him chatting with different perps in very different costumes are a clear highlight, showcasing his range and adoration for the material (which is based on a true story). But it is his powder keg chemistry with Arjona that really makes the Film sing. It is immediately palpable in their first scene together, and only gets stronger and sexier as the Film goes on.

Make sure you have the fire department on speed dial when you watch. Because any time these two are together threatens to ignite the screen from how incendiary their chemistry is.

HIT MAN screens at TIFF ’23:

Monday, September 11 at 5:30 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre

Tuesday, September 12 at 2:00 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre

Saturday, September 16 at 8:30 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto [Newly Added]

By David Baldwin

Tulika (Tanya Maniktala) and Army Commando Amrit (Lakshya) are in love and plan to get married. The only problem is, Tulika is engaged to someone else and is on her way on the Rajdhani Express train to meet him in New Delhi. Amrit is on the train as well, as are a large number of bandits armed to the teeth with blades of all sizes. When the bandits start robbing the passengers and put Tulika in grave danger, Amrit and his commando friend Viresh spring into action.

KILL is fucking awesome. Period. There’s really no other succinct way to put it.

Writer/Director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat has crafted an edge of your seat Thriller that takes place almost entirely on a moving train and tells you very early on that it is not fucking around. If that was not enough to keep your blood pressure sky high, then the claustrophobic camera angles in the small train compartments and narrow hallways should do the trick. How Bhat was able to capture some of these incredibly-choreographed fight scenes is a minor mystery, with each one looking more intense than the last. The relentless barrage of bone-crushing, limb-snapping, brain splattering action scenes will not be for everyone – some moments are straight up the most vicious and graphically violent of the year, easily giving last year’s Midnight Madness fave Project Wolf Hunting a run for its money. For those who do revel in over-the-top gore and brutal fight scenes however, you need to put KILL at the top of your watchlist immediately.

Though some of the romance is ham-fisted and some of the familial bickering goes on too long, KILL is a blast from start to finish. Maniktala is great as Tulika, and Lakshya is terrific in his solemn, man of few words, star-making performance. He carries the movie with just his fierce eyes, his fighting stance and all the shocking things he does to the bodies of the bandits. Raghav Juyal does equally well as the villainous Fani, oozing charisma and swagger everywhere he goes. He is a wonderful foil for Lakshya’s Amrit and gets nearly all of the best lines.

Just make sure you KILL with a bunch of friends. Listening to the collective gasps, screams and clapping made for one of the best TIFF screening experiences ever.

KILL screens at TIFF ’23:

Friday, September 8 at 11:59 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre

Saturday, September 9 at 9:10 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

By George Kozera

We first meet Sophia (Magalie Lepine Blondeau) and Xavier (Francis-William Rheaume) at a dinner party with some close friends. The topics and conversations around the dining room table ooze with intelligentsia and witty banter. Once back home, this couple, who have been together for ten years without the “benefit” of marriage, retreat to separate adjoining bedrooms where Sophia asks Xavier if he was sexually attracted to one of the guests at the party who just happened to be single. The next day, Sophia goes alone to meet with a contractor they both hired at the chalet they purchased north of Montreal to determine how much work the house requires and meets Sylvain (Pierre-Yves Cardinal, best known for his role in Xavier Dolan’s “Tom at the Farm”). Sylvain is smoking hot with enough testosterone to fuel a small country. Before one can say “Mon Dieu”, they embark on a highly-charged sexual liaison.

Nominated for the Un Certain Regard Award at this year’s Cannes festival, THE NATURE OF LOVE succinctly tackles many fascinating topics. What makes for a perfect relationship: brains (which Xavier has in spades but is as sexual as a neutered puppy) or brawn (Sylvain may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but he is incredibly attentive in every other way). How does either gender deal with their mid-life crises. When and what makes a long-term relationship burdensome.

Director Monia Chokri seems inspired by the films of fellow Quebec Oscar winner Denys Arcand and seamlessly merges the witty repartee alongside unbridled passion and romanticism. She also elicits magnetic performances from the Movie’s three leads and the look and feel of the movie is inspired. But for reasons that would reveal key plotlines, I found THE NATURE OF LOVE somewhat polarizing and not completely credible. I do suggest it’s almost essential viewing and I would LOVE to talk about it afterwards!

THE NATURE OF LOVE screens at TIFF ’23:
Thursday, Sept.14, 4PM, Scotiabank
Friday, Sept. 15, 9:15PM, Scotiabank

By Amanda Gilmore

Dicks: The Musical is an instant Cult Classic.

Based on the off-Broadway musical Fucking Identical Twins by Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson (who also co-write and star here), you better believe there has never been a film quite like this before. It’s an uproarious Musical-Comedy riff off of The Parent Trap that needs to be seen to be believed. 

It follows identical twin brothers Craig (Sharp) and Trevor (Jackson) who’ve never met each other. One was raised by their mother, Evelyn (Megan Mullally) the other by their father Harris (Nathan Lane). When they show up to work one day, they realize they are identical twin brothers. They concoct a plan to get their parents to fall madly in love with each other again. Unfortunately for them, their dad is gay and their mom’s vagina — literally — ran away.

The Co-Writers adapt their off-Broadway Musical into a cinematic experience that’s proudly, gloriously and unapologetically queer. Director Larry Charles (who also Directed Curb Your Enthusiasm and Borat) brings comedic genius into every musical number and scene. Most importantly, he trusts in the outstanding comedy legends he’s cast. Lane and Mullally are brilliantly cast as the oddball parents. These legendary comedic actors are fully committed to their characters and jump in head first to all the mayhem that ensues.

Dicks: The Musical is sure to be divisive. There are moments that some will find strange and the more conservative viewer will find gross (SPOILER ALERT: there’s a vagina with eyes that flies in the air). Yet, the musical-comedy will be loved by those who go in with an open mind and allow themselves to be swept up in the riotous ride. Even if the ending may make you scratch your head.

Dicks: The Musical screens at TIFF ’23:

Thursday, September 7 at 11:59 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre

Friday, September 8 at 8 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Saturday, September 16 at 9:30 PM at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre