What a year 2023 has been for Canadian racing! For the first time in a while Horse of the Year title in Canada looks a bit of a headscratcher. Why? Because the spotlight shone on several stars this year. Not a bad problem at all!

Woodbine-based mare FEV ROVER won not one but two Grade I races, the E.P. Taylor and the Beverly D. north and south of the border respectively, which in any other year would make her a shoe-in for consideration. Let’s not forget a very impressive third in the Grade I Diana at Saratoga as well. She has kept reigning Horse of the Year MOIRA at bay, only for us to see that champion filly surpass her and run a bang-up third in the Breeders’ Cup against the world’s best after being close-up all year.

Sprinter PATCHES O’HOULIHAN won an incredible six races, each one escalating in difficulty for the same connections who brought us the unforgettable Pink Lloyd. He is showing many reminders of that same brilliance Pink had… and at only three years old. But otherwise the three-year-old male division is far from having one singular leader. TOUCH’N RIDE won both the Breeders’ Stakes and Grade III Ontario Derby through disqualifaction, while PARAMOUNT PRINCE strung together a pair of dazzling efforts this Summer in the nation’s most prestigious affair, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the King’s Plate and its precursor, the Plate Trial.

The three-year-old filly division is led by the tough ELYSIAN FIELD who won the Woodbine Oaks, but a valiant second in both the Queen’s Plate and Breeders’ Stakes against males. Her stablemate SOLO ALBUM also had a strong campaign, winning the Grade III Selene Stakes and then the Ontario Derby against males before being disqualified. She capped it off finishing second against older competition in the Maple Leaf Stakes behind the consistent older filly MILLIE GIRL who is one of the standouts of her own division.

In the two-year-old male division, there is the promising MY BOY PRINCE who has proven himself locally with dominance, and also on a world stage running second in the Grade I Summer Stakes and a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

The older male division also sees several vying for the throne including TYSON, who had a great summer campaign taking the Grade II Seagram Cup and Grade III Dominion Day Stakes, en route to running third in the U.S. in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Champion older filly/mare Sprinter division sees LOYALTY at its summit, winning both the Grade III Hendrie and Grade II Bessarabian Stakes, consistent throughout the whole season and improving further from her sophomore season.

The race for the nation’s top jockey, while competitive, once again goes to KAZUSHI KIMURA with almost $7 million in earnings, though SAHIN CIVACI had a career best season at Woodbine, close behind him. And how about these apprentices? The future is looking bright with new talents Amanda Vandermeersch, Sofia Vives, Rachel Slevinsky, Fraser Aebly and Pietro Moran all having great seasons, making their presences felt.

MARK CASSE and team also continue their domination, winning a whopping $7.6 million in purse money at Woodbine in 2023, almost doubling the earnings of a second Team KEVIN ATTARD, who had a great year also with $3.9 million in earnings.

Let’s look back together at what’s been a highly competitive year in 2023, with highlights from Woodbine and a short visit to Saratoga where we got to see racing’s biggest stars, including Cody’s Wish and White Abarrio!

Wishing you and your loved ones a restful Holiday. While we can’t wait for the 2024 season, a break is in good order!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Paramount Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a copy of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM on 4k UHD!

TlWildly entertaining, action-packed, and Certified Fresh with a 96% critic score* on Rotten Tomatoes®, this new hit movie delighted audiences around the world.  The latest adventure features eye-popping animation, an all-star voice cast, and plenty of humor for the whole family to enjoy together.  Available now on Digital.  On 4K Ultra HD SteelBook, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD December 12, 2023.

Bonus Features:

• TEENage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• The Mutant Uprising
• New York, New York: The Visual World of MUTANT MAYHEM
• Learn to Draw Leo

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Share this post from our “X” account for another shot!

Rules and regulations here.

(Photo credit: Paramount Home Entertainment)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a copy of GRAN TURISMO on 4k UHD!

SYNOPSIS:
Gran Turismo is based on the unbelievable true story of a team of unlikely underdogs – a struggling
working-class gamer (Archie Madekwe), a failed former racecar driver (David Harbour), and an idealistic
motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom). Together, they risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world.

Gran Turismo is an inspiring, thrilling, and action-packed story that proves that nothing is impossible when you’re fueled from within.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL EXTRAS
● Special Features
o Deleted & Extended Scenes
o The Engine: Driving the Visuals
o The Pit Crew: Action and Stunts
o The Garage: The Amazing Automobiles
o The Plan: The True Story of Jann Mardenborough
o The Wheels: The Fast-Acting Cast

DVD
● Special Features
o The Plan: The True Story of Jann Mardenborough
o The Wheels: The Fast-Acting Cast

CAST AND CREW
Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Produced by: Doug Belgrad, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Dana Brunetti
Screenplay by: Jason Hall and Zach Baylin
Story by: Jason Hall and Alex Tse
Based on: The Play Station Studios Video Game
Executive Producers: Matthew Hirsch, Jason Hall, Kazunori Yamauchi, Hermen Hulst
Cast: David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner and Djimon
Hounsou

SPECS
Run Time: Approx. 134 Mins.
Rating: PG-13. Intense Action and Some Strong Language
4K UHD: 2160p Ultra High Definition / 1,90:1 • Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1
compatible), French (Doublé au Québec) 5.1 DTS-HD MA, Spanish, English & French (Doublé au
Québec) – Audio Description Tracks 5/1 Dolby Digital • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish

• Color
  Blu-ray™: 1080p High Definition / 1.90:1 • Audio: English & French (Doublé au Québec) 5.1 DTS-HD
  MA, Spanish, English & French (Doublé au Québec) – Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital •
  Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Mastered in High Definition • Color
  DVD: 1.90:1 Anamorphic Widescreen • Audio: English & French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish, English –
  Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital, French (Doublé au Québec) – Audio Description Track Dolby
  Surround • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Mastered in High Definition • Color

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Share this post from our “X” account for another shot!

Rules and regulations here.

AVAILABLE ON 4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ & DVD NOVEMBER 7, 2023
ON DIGITAL NOW

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

To pump us up further (as if it were needed!) for MEAN GIRLS, we get a new Featurette speaking to some of the amazing Choreography we will see in the Film!

MEAN GIRLS IS ONLY IN THEATRES PREMIUM LARGE FORMAT SCREENS, AND DOLBY CINEMA JANUARY 12^TH, 2024

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

From the comedic mind of Tina Fey comes a new twist on the modern classic, MEAN GIRLS. New student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika). However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY

Jeff Richmond, Nell Benjamin, Eric Gurian, Erin David, Pamela Thur

PRODUCED BY

Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey

BOOK BY

Tina Fey

MUSIC BY

Jeff Richmond

LYRICS BY

Nell Benjamin

BASED ON THE STAGE MUSICAL “MEAN GIRLS”

SCREENPLAY BY

Tina Fey

DIRECTED BY

Samantha Jayne + Arturo Perez Jr.

STARRING

Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika, Bebe Wood, Christopher Briney, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Ashley Park, Tina Fey, with Tim Meadows

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

British Singer-Songwriter Kenya Grace has had a huge 2023 with atmospheric breakout hit “Strangers” becoming a viral sensation worlwide thanks to TikTok.

Grace made her first visit to Toronto, playing two sold-out shows at Drake Underground, abbreviated 45 minute sets leaving fans wanting more. Toronto was fortunate enough to be one of the few stops she did, ending her tour on a high note. She now is prepping the release of her EP via Warner Music.

Grace was so kind to come out and say “hello” after her set and there were many there to see her, and she was so lovely to take her time getting to know the faces behind the “likes”!

See our Snap:

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

Samsonite Canada and BOSS have just launched their exclusive suitcase collection! Check it out now on the Samsonite Canada website!

The co-created collection features three luggage sizes:

Samsonite Lite Box Alu Hugo Boss Spinner Small ($1,300)

Samsonite Lite Box Alu Hugo Boss Spinner Large ($1,500)

Samsonite Lite Box Alu Hugo Boss Spinner Trunk ($1,600)

Each piece is super lightweight, built with high-quality aluminum, soft-touch interior lining with BOSS branding, and designed with care for great detail. The trio seamlessly complement BOSS’s Fall/Winter 2023 collection, resonating with the BOSS ethos of self-determination and unique tailoring.

This collaboration came about together seamlessly, as both Samsonite and BOSS have a shared dedication to producing high quality, carefully designed products.

(Photo credit: Samsonite Canada)

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of NIGHT SWIM. Screenings take place as follows January 3, 2024:

Toronto: Scotiabank Theatre

Montreal (EN): Cinema Banque Scotia

Synopsis:

No running. No diving. No lifeguard on duty. No swimming after dark.

Atomic Monster and Blumhouse, the producers of M3GAN, high dive into the deep end of horror with the new supernatural thriller, Night Swim.

Based on the acclaimed 2014 short film by Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire, the film stars Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) as Ray Waller, a former major league baseball player forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness, who moves into a new home with his concerned wife Eve (Oscar^® nominee Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin), teenage daughter Izzy (Amélie Hoeferle, this fall’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) and young son Elliot (Gavin Warren, Fear the Walking Dead).

Secretly hoping, against the odds, to return to pro ball, Ray persuades Eve that the new home’s shimmering backyard swimming pool will be fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for him. But a dark secret in the home’s past will unleash a malevolent force that will drag the family under, into the depths of inescapable terror.

Night Swim is written and directed by Bryce McGuire (writer of the upcoming film Baghead) and is produced by James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuringfranchises, and Jason Blum, the producer of the Halloween films, The Black Phone and The Invisible Man. The film is executive produced by Michael Clear and Judson Scott for Wan’s Atomic Monster and by Ryan Turek for Blum’s Blumhouse.

Genre: Horror

Starring: Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie Hoeferle, Gavin Warren

Directed by: Bryce McGuire

Written by: Bryce McGuire,

Based on the short film by Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire

Producers: James Wan, Jason Blum

Executive Producers: Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Ryan Turek

To enter for a chance, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Share this post from “X” for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

Universal Pictures Canada release NIGHT SWIM in theatres January 5, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Hot off his Golden Globe nomination, Timothee Chalamet gave Toronto a sweet surprise, arriving at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in support of his upcoming holiday release, WONKA! Taking on the iconic titular role of Willy Wonka, this new re-telling of the classic story by Roald Dahl, directed by Paul King (Paddington), is set to inspire a new generation. The Film is Wonka‘s origin story recounting his rise from a destitute boy to a world-famous Chocolatier.

Toronto was lucky to be a part of the Film’s whirlwind tour, seeing stops in Tokyo, London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles and more. Chalamet made a quick appearance at Yorkdale’s WONKA’S SWEET ESCAPE Pop-Up, greeting fans and posing for photos. He even signed the wall and a life-size chocolate bar! The installation is on till January 2, 2024, giving visitors a chance to win a shopping spree at the luxury mall. And even if they don’t win, there’s a chance to get Wonka treats and pose for some fantastical photo ops!

Chalamet made his way up to the Cineplex to walk the gold carpet, speaking with select outlets and we were so honoured to be there!

Some highlights from WONKA‘s gold carpet:

Some snaps:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release WONKA in theatres December 15, 2023.

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

Hollywood Suite is proud to announce that the sixth season of their original documentary series A Year in Film has begun production. Premiering next spring, the next collection will look at some of the big screen highlights of 1968, 1972, 1981, 1996 and 2008.

Alongside in-house experts Alicia Fletcher, Cameron Maitland and Emily Gagne, some of Canada’s most influential industry professionals including film critic Radheyan Simonpillai (CTV’s Your Morning and CBC Radio) journalist and Designing the Movies host Nathalie Atkinson, and TIFF’s Director of Programming Robyn Citizen will be on hand to discuss the significance of the selected films and their impact on film history. This is also the first time that the 1960s will feature in the series.

“We have another binge-able season ahead with films that will hit all the nostalgia buttons,” said Ryan Mains, Head of Production for Hollywood Suite. “There is something for everyone, from critically revered award-winning titles to raunchy boundary-pushing ones. You won’t want to miss a single episode.”

This season’s episodes include:

 A Year in Film: 1968
1968 reflected the 60s tradition of upheaval, both in the real world and in Hollywood. The removal of the moralistic Production Code in favour of the new MPAA rating system allowed New Hollywood directors like Bob Rafelson and Peter Bogdanovich to make transgressive debuts. The news in 1968 was dominated by shocking moments from the Vietnam War to the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination, so escapism ruled at cinemas with sci-fi films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and musicals like Funny Girl dominating the box office. When it came to re-inventing movie fantasies though, it took directors from outside America like Roger Vadim and Sergio Leone to find refreshing takes on Hollywood’s classic genres.

 A Year in Film: 1972
In 1972, five White House operatives were arrested for burglarizing the Democratic National Committee offices, kicking off the Watergate Scandal. Violence erupted in Europe at the Munich Olympics, and with the increasingly explosive conflict in Ireland. Meanwhile, in America, the Equal Rights Amendment passed the Senate thanks to decades of feminist work. Francis Ford Coppola’s epic The Godfather and Bob Fosse’s adaptation of Cabaret proved to be hits with both awards bodies and audiences. Deliverance and The Poseidon Adventure made audiences reconsider their next boat trip, while comedies like What’s Up, Doc? and The Heartbreak Kid had people wondering if even the institution of marriage was safe.

 A Year in Film: 1981
1981 began with the swearing-in of President Ronald Reagan, however, just a few months later his attempted assassination delayed the Oscars, shining a light on Jodie Foster, who the assailant hoped to impress. The first DeLorean hit the streets, hoping to be the car of the future, and MTV launched music videos. Raiders of The Lost Ark proved Spielberg and Lucas were the new kings of blockbuster filmmaking, while Blow Out and Mommie Dearest revealed some of the most interesting stories happening offscreen. And the Canadian tax shelter era paid off big with crossover hits like My Bloody Valentine, Scanners and Porky’s.

 A Year in Film: 1996
Jamaican-Canadian Donovan Bailey became the fastest man alive, Jim Carrey was the first actor to make $20 million for The Cable Guy, and Oprah changed the face of publishing with her Book Club. Hollywood experienced an unprecedented boom in blockbuster filmmaking with massive hits like Independence Day, but rising budgets (and those record-breaking celebrity pay cheques) meant an overcrowded market with just as many flops. Teen horror made an unexpected return with hits like The Craft and Scream, but it was small films like Fargo, Bottle Rocket and Bound that introduced the next generation of directors.

 A Year in Film: 2008
In 2008, Beyonce and Jay-Z tied the knot and the Large Hadron Collider was officially activated to teach us more about the universe. Neither event was big enough, though, to distract from the continuing Hollywood writers’ strike and financial crises that caused chaos in the film industry and beyond. Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight made critics reconsider superhero films, but it was Iron Man that launched a Cinematic Universe that would continue for years to come. Milk and Slumdog Millionaire proved 90s outsider directors were Oscar worthy, while comedy hits like Step Brothers showcased their stars. Unlikely romance also made a big impact with high-profile hits like Wall-E and Twilight.

Viewers can catch up on the first four seasons of A Year in Film during Hollywood Suite’s Free Preview (on until January 5 with select Canadian cable providers) or at any time at hollywoodsuite.ca/ayearinfilm. Catch new episodes of the accompanying A Year in Film podcast, which is hosted by Becky Shrimpton, every other Tuesday.

This winter, the instantly recognizable and nostalgic game show Jeopardy! has crossed the pond with the all-new British reboot, Jeopardy! UK (20×60’). Hosted by national British treasure, Stephen Fry (The Morning Show, Veep, The Hobbit), the family-friendly quiz show will see contestants play to win, using their best general knowledge to end up on top, amassing winnings as they go. In each episode, airing weekly, three contestants compete to be crowned Jeopardy Champion, but it takes quick thinking and even quicker reactions to claim the title. It’s a fast-paced battle of wits and skill with dramatic twists and turns, as no one knows where the potentially game-changing Daily Doubles are hiding each day. The reboot will allow participants to play an extra round compared to the original format, increasing the stakes for the players. Jeopardy! UK premieres Wednesday, January 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT exclusively on BBC First in Canada.

“I am dizzy with delight and honoured to host Jeopardy! UK,” says Stephen Fry. “I hope Canadians watching this endlessly rewarding game show will welcome me into their homes as they did the great and iconic Jeopardy! host, Alex Trebek. Audiences should be prepared for a nostalgic and uniquely beguiling good time to grace screens on BBC First in Canada this January.”

Canadian legend Alex Trebek hosted the syndicated version Jeopardy! from 1984 to 2020; the first version of the show was hosted by Art Fleming on NBC from 1964 to 75 and 1978 to 1979. It is currently hosted by Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory) in the U.S. Stephen Fry is no stranger to hosting quiz shows, having hosted the popular British quiz program QI from 2003 to 2016. QI is also available on BBC First for Canadian audiences to enjoy.

Jeopardy! UK is a Whisper North production for ITV1 and ITVX. Executive Producers are Kerri Reid, Tom McLennan and Stephen Fry. It was commissioned by Katie Rawcliffe, ITV Head of Entertainment and Leanne Clarke, ITV Entertainment Commissioner. The original U.S. quiz show Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company and distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.