By Mr. Will Wong

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about 2022, it’s that we can’t get enough of fraudsters. Following the release Inventing Anna and The Tinder Swindler, Director Michael Showalter (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) tackles the scandal surrounding convict Elizabeth Holmes. The eight-episode Series chronicles her rise from a Stanford dropout to her hustle bringing her health technology company Theranos, up to a valuation of $10 billion at its peak. And then there’s her eventual downfall, now facing up to 20 years (sentencing to take place this fall) in jail after being found guilty of defrauding investors. The Series explores the peak of greed in Silicon Valley and its consequences.

The Series is based on the Podcast of the same name by Rebecca Jarvis and we must admit, is an entertaining watch. We meet Holmes‘ (Amanda Seyfried), witnessing her transformation from her youth including her time in China showing-off her Chinese-Mandarin, meeting businessman Sunny Balwani (Naveen Andrews). The two would begin an affair spanning several years, which saw Balwani sign-on as Chief Operating Officer at Theranos, with Holmes the Chief Executive Officer. From there we see a toxic relationship, which propelled the wildfire that was Theranos, the company claiming to revolutionize blood testing with small volumes of blood – later proven false – and had prepared to launch itself into popular drug store chains across America.

The Dropout succeeds in keeping us in engaged, uncovering the juicy details that led to Holmes‘ downfall, brought to light by Wall Street Journal journalist John Carreyrou (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) in his 2015 exposé. This, as we see Holmes focus on leading her company and garnering accolades, become an inspiration for aspiring female entrepreneurs. As her company begins to crumble beneath her and once-loyal personnel begin to exit, Theranos‘ scientific credibility is challenged, with real people suffering the consequences of inaccurate blood testing.

Seyfried rises to the tough challenge of taking us on this wild ride through the darkly comedic aspects of “rah-rah” start-up company culture, going against the grain of the older male-dominated corporate culture. It is a marvel seeing her transformation as she embraces her CEO role, lowering her voice, embodying Holmes‘ denial and desperation as she is constantly dangling on a thread with the truth always dangerously close to being exposed. Andrews also is captivating and scary, emotionally dependent and vulnerable with Holmes in their most intimate moments, but also a raging tyrant. This, and a phenomenal and diverse Supporting Cast including the likes of Stephen Fry, Laurie Metcalf, William H. Macy, Sam Waterston, Alan Ruck, Dylan Minnette, LisaGay Hamilton and several more, make this an easy watch.

Disney+ subscribers are in for a treat as the first three episodes of THE DROPOUT arrive March 3, 2022, with new episodes to arrive weekly.

UNCHARTED takes the top spot once again at the Box Office with $23 million from 4,275 theatres in its second week out for Sony Pictures. This accounts for a total $83 million grossed domestically.

In second again this weekend is Channing Tatum’s directorial debut DOG, with $8.5 million from 3,677 theatres for United Artists Releasing/Elevation Pictures. This makes for a total $29.3 million over two weeks.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME hangs onto third spot with $6.1 million from 2,900 theatres for Sony Pictures, a total $780 million to date.

DEATH ON THE NILE is in fourth with $4.2 million from 3,100 theatres, a total $32.5 million for 20th Century Studios.

JACKASS FOREVER rounds things out with $3.2 million from 3,000 theatres for Paramount Pictures, a tally of $52.2 million thus far.

Jordan Fisher and Finneas team-up on “Nobody Like U” from Disney and Pixar’s TURNING RED. The song appears in the upcoming early 2000s Toronto-set Animated Feature.

The voices behind Pixar’s first-ever boy band include Jordan Fisher as Robaire, Finneas O’Connell as Jesse, Topher Ngo as Aaron T., Grayson Villanueva as Tae Young, and Josh Levi as Aaron Z. 

The Soundtrack for Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” is Set for Release on March 11, 2022, timed to the Film’s Premiere on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

MOON MANOR puts the “fun” in funeral. The Dark Comedy pondering mortality comes from female directing duo KnifeRock. See the Trailer below.

Synopsis: 

Today is Jimmy’s last day alive. His Alzheimer’s is worsening, so he’s decided to die like he has lived – with intention, humor, and zest. In his last day on Earth, Jimmy will show an obituary writer, his death doula, his estranged brother, his caretaker, a surreal being, and the guests at his fabulous FUN-eral, that perhaps the art of living is the art of dying. **Inspired By A True-ish Story**

levelFILM release MOON MANOR March 15, 2022 on-demand and digitally.

(Photo/video credit: levelFILM)

Toronto Comicon is back on again this year at Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s South Building from March 18-20, 2022.

After a two-year absence, we are thrilled to see the event back and it’s a pretty star-studded line-up! In addition to stars, there will be celebrity presentations, photo ops, signings, sketch duels and so much more!

TORONTO COMICON 2022 HIGHLIGHTED GUESTS INCLUDE:

JENNA COLEMAN (Doctor Who, Victoria)

JOHN CUSACK (Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity)

TIM ROSE (Star Wars universe)

BRIAN HERRING (Star Wars universe)

AUSTIN ST. JOHN (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)

LOU FERRIGNO (The Incredible Hulk)

LAURA VANDERVOORT (Smallville, The Handmaid’s Tale)

For a complete list of guests, info and tickets, visit: comicontoronto.com.

One of our favourite Canadians is back in town! Ryan Reynolds was in Toronto today to promote his upcoming Feature THE ADAM PROJECT, coming soon to Netflix. After a smashing success with their last collaboration FREE GUY, Director Shawn Levy and Reynolds – fellow Canadians – team-up again on this upcoming Sci-Fi Flick arriving March 11, 2022 on Netflix.

The Film once had Tom Cruise attached to star but after a patient wait, it finally is surfacing and looks rather epic. See the Trailer:

The Film sees Adam (Reynolds) travel back in time to confront his father as his younger self (Walker Scobell). Reynolds also serves as the Film’s Producer.

Reynolds‘ Press Tour involved extra precautions with barricades lined-up at one TV stop to keep fans back. He had his Security Team advise fans he wouldn’t be greeting them as an extra layer of caution, but he did throw some waves!

He joked on BT earlier that he created a Pandemic so he could be first to come back to Toronto to do Press! Reynolds also will be appearing soon on Global‘s THE MORNING SHOW.

Reynolds would premiere the Film at TIFF Bell Lightbox before a lucky audience.

It’s awesome seeing stars back in the City again doing Press! But we totally get it, safety first!

See some snaps of Reynolds from earlier:

(Photo/video credit: Netflix/Mr. Will Wong)

Starring Academy Award winner Yuh-Jung Youn (Minari), this is your first look at upcoming Apple TV+ Series PACHINKO.

Synopsis:

Filled with universal themes of family, love, triumph, fate and resilience, the series chronicles the hopes and dreams of a Korean immigrant family across four generations as they leave their homeland in an indomitable quest to survive and thrive. Starting in South Korea in the early 1900s, the story is told through the eyes of a remarkable matriarch, Sunja, who triumphs against all odds. It juxtaposes her story with that of her grandson, Solomon, in the 1980s.  

“Pachinko” is written and executive produced by Soo Hugh (“The Terror,” “The Killing”), who created the series and serves as showrunner. Kogonada and Justin Chon are executive producers and directed four episodes each, with Kogonada directing the pilot. Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer executive produce for Media Res; Theresa Kang-Lowe executive produces for Blue Marble Pictures; and Richard Middleton also executive produces. Media Res’ Dani Gorin co-executive produces along with David Kim and Sebastian Lee.

The series stars Academy Award-winning actress Yuh-Jung Youn as “Older Sunja”; Lee Minho as “Hansu”; Jin Ha as “Solomon”; Minha Kim as “Teenage Sunja”; Anna Sawai as “Naomi”; Eunchae Jung as “Young Kyunghee”; Inji Jeong as “Yangjin”; Jimmi Simpson as “Tom Andrews”; Junwoo Han as “Yoseb”; Kaho Minami as “Etsuko”; Steve Sanghyun Noh as “Isak”; Soji Arai as “Mozasu”; and, Yu-na Jeon as “Young Sunja.” 

PACHINKO will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on March 25, 2022 with the first three episodes followed by new weekly installments each Friday during its eight-episode season through April 29, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)

UPLOAD returns for a second season on Prime Video and here’s your first glimpse at the Trailer.

In Upload Season Two, Nathan is at a crossroads in his (after) life… his ex-girlfriend Ingrid has unexpectedly arrived to Lakeview hoping to strengthen their relationship, but his heart still secretly yearns for his customer service angel Nora. Meanwhile Nora is off the grid and involved with the anti-tech rebel group “The Ludds.” Season Two is packed with new near-future concepts, including Lakeview’s newest in-app digital baby program, called “prototykes,” and other satirical glimpses of the technological advances and headaches to come. 

The series was created by Greg Daniels who also serves as executive producer along with Howard Klein. 

Series stars: Robbie Amell as Nathan, Andy Allo as Nora, Kevin Bigley as Luke, Allegra Edwards as Ingrid, Zainab Johnson as Aleesha, Owen Daniels as A.I. Guy, and Josh Banday as Ivan, and Andrea Rosen as Lucy.

Season Two of UPLOAD arrives March 11, 2022 on Prime Video Canada.

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video Canada)

A star-studded Cast including Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Marc Maron, Lilly Singh, Alex Borstein and more star in BAD GUYS. This is the new Trailer.

Synopsis:

Nobody has ever failed so hard at trying to be good as The Bad Guys.

In the new action comedy from DreamWorks Animation, based on the New York Times best-selling book series, a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws are about to attempt their most challenging con yet—becoming model citizens. 

Never have there been five friends as infamous as The Bad Guys—dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf (Academy Award® winner Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), seen-it-all safecracker Mr. Snake (Marc Maron, GLOW), chill master-of-disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson, Hot Tub Time Machine franchise), short-fused “muscle” Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos, In the Heights) and sharp-tongued expert hacker Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina, Crazy Rich Asians), aka “Webs.” 

But when, after years of countless heists and being the world’s most-wanted villains, the gang is finally caught, Mr. Wolf brokers a deal (that he has no intention of keeping) to save them all from prison: The Bad Guys will go good. 

Under the tutelage of their mentor Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade, Paddington 2), an arrogant (but adorable!) guinea pig, The Bad Guys set out to fool the world that they’ve been transformed. Along the way, though, Mr. Wolf begins to suspect that doing good for real may give him what he’s always secretly longed for: acceptance. So when a new villain threatens the city, can Mr. Wolf persuade the rest of the gang to become … The Good Guys? 

The film co-stars Zazie Beetz (Joker), Lilly Singh (Bad Moms) and Emmy winner Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). 

Universal Pictures Canada release The Bad Guys in theaters April 22, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

From Producer Ryan Murphy comes an expansive new six-part Docu-Series about cultural icon Andy Warhol, THE ANDY WARHOL DIARIES.

Synopsis:

From executive producer Ryan Murphy and director Andrew Rossi, this breathtakingly expansive, six-part portrait of a legend chronicles the remarkable life of Andy Warhol from the intimate vantage point offered by the artist’s own posthumously published diaries. Beginning with his childhood in Pittsburgh, the series traces Warhol’s almost unbelievably diverse journey fluidly moving between mediums and through eras as an artist —both revered and reviled — director, publisher, TV producer, scene maker, celebrity and much more. While he was a larger than life figure, Warhol was intensely private regarding his personal life. This series truly reveals much about the very complex man through his own words — often in his own voice through the use of cutting-edge AI techniques— and those who worked, created, and played alongside him from the subversive to the mainstream, from John Waters to Rob Lowe. Executive produced by Murphy, Josh Braun, Stanley Buchthal, Alexis Martin Woodall, Scott Robertson and Rossi and written and directed by Rossi, The Andy Warhol Diaries deftly validates Warhol’s belief that the idea is not to live forever but to create art that will.

THE ANDY WARHOL DIARIES arrives on Netflix March 9, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)