Television Critics Association Week celebrations continue and we were thrilled the join the panel for THE OFFER, arriving this April on Paramount+. Lovers of Cinema should be delighted about this one as it tells us the backstory behind the development of Francis Ford Coppola‘s game-changing THE GODFATHER. Dexter Fletcher directs and the Series is told from the eyes of Canadian-born Producer Albert S. Ruddy, played by Miles Teller.

Joining the Panel were:

Nikki Toscano, Executive Producer
Michael Tolkin, Executive Producer
Dexter Fletcher, Executive Producer
Miles Teller, Executive Producer and Star
Matthew Goode
Juno Temple
Giovanni Ribisi

Executive Producer Nikki Toscano tells us about what The Godfather meant to her and what THE OFFER explores.

Toscano: “I grew-up on The Godfather. The first time I saw it, I wasn’t even a teenager. I was enthralled by the masterful and subtle storytelling, it became the high watermark in my mind of what was possible, and it continues to inform me. To this day, I discover new things every time I watch it. I can keep watching it because The Godfather explores the most universal theme of all, family. THE OFFER is the story of Producer Albert S. Ruddy, who goes into the mattresses to get his film made. It’s told from Ruddy‘s POV and examines the many challenges he faced. Evading mandates from his corporate bosses at Gulf and Western, to threats from the real-life mafia, all the while navigating the nuances of Hollywood to get the job done.”.

The Godfather is based on Mario Puzo’s Novel and not a lot is known about this character played by Patrick Gallo. Toscano, Fletcher and Tolkin tell us what they know and thought of Mario.

Toscano: “Mario‘s character for us had not been exposed to Hollywood in any sort of way. We see the story through Al and Mario‘s eyes. I think what Patrick brought to the character was the excitement of what it was like to have Mario‘s book adapted, to be a Producer and a part of this Hollywood machine.”.

Fletcher: “We understand that Mario Puzo was someone who wrote from a very personal place, and brought this energy and family feel to that book. Patrick brought all that enthusiasm and warmth to it, so that we could create around that heart and warmth… It was important we create a family-feel, a real ensemble.”.

Tolkin: “The only story I knew about making The Godfather was that Mario Puzo got into a fight with Frank Sinatra one night at Chasen’s. So I had five minutes of the Show written. I just needed nine hours and fifty-five minutes more to fill in.”.

Miles Teller tells us about Ruddy and the pressure to play someone real.

Teller: “For me, playing Al, he’s certainly not as well-known, at least mannerisms-wise as some of these other characters in the story. I think it is important you do have a little more freedom there as far as your character likeness and your interpretation of them, you feel like you really need to hit certain things. I didn’t really feel that, but whenever you play someone in real life, there’s a great responsibility that comes with that. I think you do that through the internalization and your interpretation of the work that you do hopefully capture that person’s essence. I think someone can watch the Show who knows Al and feel that there’s something there, that we’re sharing some sort of DNA, something akin to each other. There’s a great responsibility when you’re taking on somebody’s life and re-telling it, especially a life that was as full as Al’s was. I was telling my wife if someone made a movie about my life, you couldn’t even fill 30 minutes of it! I mean, I enjoy my life but it’s nowhere as entertaining as Al. More than anything, I just had a blast playing him, just being able to re-tell his story. I wanted to text him and tell him ‘Al, this is so much fun! Playing you is really keeping me on my toes!’.”.

Matthew Goode tells us about playing Producer Robert Evans.

Goode: “I would suggest that Bob Evans was pretty well known. I found it quite terrifying when Dexter and Nikki gave me the job. I felt a lot better when I was doing my scenes with Marlon Brando (Justin Chambers). That actually gave me a lot of comfort. I was like, ‘I’m up against him, but let’s see what you’ve got pal!’. There’s an awful lot you can find on the internet. As Bob himself said, ‘There’s always your version, the other person’s version and then the truth.’. Even just the foreword of his book by Peter Bart, there’s a really interesting idea to play a character we don’t really know much about, which I thought Josh (Zuckerman) did brilliantly. Even in the foreword it gives you quite a bit of information. I found out a lot by talking to people in Hollywood and they’d go, ‘Hey, he used to go to the same hairdresser as me, this, that and the other…’. All the stories, considering there’s a lot of contentious stuff about his history, most of these people would say ‘He was the nicest, he was the kindest, he was the most generous’, and perhaps his downfall was due to his more angel side than his darker side.”.

Juno Temple gives us a bit of insight into the process behind playing famed agent Bettye McCartt.

Temple: “We started the whole process a bit later, closer to when we actually started filming. For Bettye McCartt, there really isn’t a lot of information to find about her. Like Nikki, I watched The Godfather before I was a teenager, and it deeply-affected me and I have such a romanticism of Hollywood-past. And I’m so intoxicated by it and the group of people making this was so extraordinary including Miles Teller, whom I’ve wanted to work with forever, and Nikki, the most badass, brilliant woman in Hollywood. And suddenly I got told I was going to be a part of it and it was about a character I didn’t know anything about. Dexter did this incredible thing when we all gathered and the weekend before we had the luxury of a couple weeks of rehearsal, he actually said ‘You guys have a little bit of homework to do. I would like for you to come in Monday with a backstory of who you are and how you got to the moment of meeting Al Ruddy, taking you forward in the journey to making The Godfather.’. It was such a profoundly brilliant experience because you’re sitting in a circle of faces that you potentially know from work they’ve done. And while they are playing characters you potentially know really well, or you don’t know so much about, or you just heard their names or you don’t know anything about them at all. Each person had done such extraordinary research whether they were making-up what they could with whatever little information they found on the internet, or whether they really had these facts. It didn’t matter because suddenly you were in a room with these people and it made sense why they were going to be involved with the movie.”.

Toscano, Tolkin and Fletcher talk about the choice to tell THE OFFER as a TV Show versus a Movie.

Toscano: “That comment is a reflection of the time. Wonderful things are being done on TV these days. In some ways it’s poking-fun at the time period.”.

Tolkin: “TV’s become the great delivery system for storytelling now. We’re happy watching ten hours of a television series than 90 minutes of a movie most of the time.”.

Fletcher: “We went for style and impact and we made something as big and impressive as we could with the resources we had. We didn’t go about it thinking it was for TV and aim for the stars. We go big, we go bold and I don’t think we drew that line. Hopefully part of the strength of what we put out feels like we’re in keeping with the movies. I think it pays homage to that.”.

THE OFFER arrives April 28, 2022 on Paramount+.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount)

The Juno Awards, celebrating Canada’s best in Music are returning to Toronto again this year! Even better, they will be in-person for the first time since 2019. And guess what? Simu Liu will be hosting!

The Awards take place at Budweiser Stage in Toronto, on Sunday, May 15 , 2022 and broadcast and streamed live across Canada at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.

Tickets go on-sale March 4, 2022.

20th Century Studios Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see DEATH ON THE NILE. Screenings take place in Toronto and Vancouver on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 7 PM.

Synopsis:

Based on the 1937 novel by Agatha Christie, “Death on the Nile” is a daring mystery-thriller about the emotional chaos and deadly consequences triggered by obsessive love. Kenneth Branagh, back as the iconic detective Hercule Poirot, is joined by Tom Bateman, four-time Oscar® nominee Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright. “Death on the Nile,” which reunites the filmmaking team behind 2017’s global hit “Murder on the Orient Express,” is written by Michael Green, adapted from Christie’s novel, and is produced by Ridley Scott, Kenneth Branagh, p.g.a., Judy Hofflund, p.g.a. and Kevin J. Walsh, with Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Matthew Jenkins, James Prichard and Mathew Prichard serving as executive producers.

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this dramatic tale of love gone wrong features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement.

Filmed with 65mm Panavision cameras in late 2019, “Death on the Nile” transports audiences to the 1930s, recreating many of the locations that served as inspiration for Christie’s glamorous, high society thriller.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate there your City. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet for an extra chance. You must be following.

NOTE: Winners will be reached from our official Facebook account. Do not accept friend requests for third parties requesting your personal information.

Rules and regulations here.

20th Century Studios Canada release DEATH ON THE NILE February 11, 2022.

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

Havana Rose Liu stars in Thriller NO EXIT, arriving soon on Disney+.

Synopsis:

In “No Exit,” Havana Rose Liu (“Mayday”) makes her feature film leading role debut as Darby, a young woman en route to a family emergency who is stranded by a blizzard and forced to find shelter at a highway rest area with a group of strangers. When she stumbles across an abducted girl in a van in the parking lot, it sets her on a terrifying life-or-death struggle to discover who among them is the kidnapper. Directed by Damien Power (“Killing Ground”) from a screenplay by Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari (“Ant-Man and the Wasp”) based on Taylor Adams’ 2017 novel and produced by PGA Award winner Scott Frank (“The Queen’s Gambit”), the film stars Havana Rose Liu, Danny Ramirez (“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Top Gun: Maverick”), David Rysdahl (“Nine Days”), Dale Dickey (“Winter’s Bone), Mila Harris (“Young Dylan”) and Dennis Haysbert (“Breakthrough”). 

NO EXIT arrives February 25, 2022 on Disney+ via its Star banner.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

Woody Harrelson is back in Bobby Farrelly‘s CHAMPIONS! In case you missed the Trailer, here it is and also a brand-new Poster.

Universal Pictures Canada/Focus Features release Friday, March 24, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada/Focus Features)

Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds team-up on THE ADAM PROJECT, coming March to Netflix!

Synopsis:

A time-traveling pilot teams up with his younger self and his late father to come to terms with his past while saving the future.

Director: Shawn Levy
Writers: Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin
Producers: David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Shawn Levy, p.g.a., Ryan Reynolds, p.g.a.
Executive Producers: Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen, George Dewey, Patrick Gooing, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Walker Scobell, with Catherine Keener and Zoe Saldaña

THE ADAM PROJECT arrives on Netflix March 11, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

With a story developed partly by Fede Alvarez and Co-Writer of the 1974 classic Kim Henkel, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE re-tells this nightmare to a new generation. The Film is coming soon to Netflix.

Synopsis:
Melody (Sarah Yarkin), her teenage sister Lila (Elsie Fisher), and their friends Dante (Jacob Latimore) and Ruth (Nell Hudson), head to the remote town of Harlow, Texas to start an idealistic new business venture. But their dream soon turns into a waking nightmare when they accidentally disrupt the home of Leatherface, the deranged serial killer whose blood-soaked legacy continues to haunt the area’s residents — including Sally Hardesty (Olwen Fouéré), the sole survivor of his infamous 1973 massacre who’s hell-bent on seeking revenge.

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE arrives February 18, 2022 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Blinks, we’ve got something exciting for you! SNOWDROP which stars Blackpink‘s Jisoo is coming soon to Disney+! The 16-episode Series begins streaming February.

Synopsis:

When a blood-soaked man (Jung Hae-In) bursts into the dormitory of a women’s university in Seoul, Korea, Eun Yeong-ro (Jisoo) will go against her better judgement and risk being expelled to hide the man from his attackers and tend to his wounds. Unbeknownst to Yeong-ro, the man has a harrowing secret that threatens to put her friends’ and family’s safety at risk, and the two young lovers will have to work together to overcome the obstacles.

Centered around the forbidden romance of a young couple, “Snowdrop” features Jisoo’s debut-starring performance in a Korean drama that will take viewers on an emotional rollercoaster full of excitement, action, and romance.  The series follows Yeong-ro as she goes against her family and her country to help the man she loves, while Jung Hae-In puts everything on the line to save the only thing he loves more than his country, Yeong-ro.

“Snowdrop” was written by Yoo Hyun-mi and directed by Jo Hyun-tak, the duo behind the 2018 thriller “Sky Castle.” 

The first two episodes of SNOWDROP arrives February 9, 2022 on Disney+, additional episodes arriving weekly.

(Photo credit: Disney)

By Justin Waldman

The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future requires a lot of deep thinking to truly embrace what the inner message is trying to tell the audience. Francisca Alegria directs and co-writes this beautiful Film that at its core is an allegory for how we are destroying our planet and might die from our own mistakes. As well, the way that the Movie tells its story is so unique and inspiring that its hard not to at least admire what the vision was even if it doesn’t entirely connect with the audience.

Magdalena (Mia Maestro) comes back from the dead, as she is reborn and comes up from the river with fish and singing animals around her. The Film makes sure to use its language sparingly and when it does it is significant, but everything else is surrounded by lore and mythical happenings. There is so much to digest and process throughout the Feature, but it is a wonder to be seen. There is so much beauty, worry, and horrors that are presented throughout the feature that will disturb the audience if the allegory is discovered immediately.

The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future tells us the terrifying reality we live in, that we are separating children from their families, in depictions of the calves and cows going to the milk farm, that we’re killing the environment and one day we’re not going to have much of a planet to live on. Instead of being a drag, and bringing its audience to depression, the beauty of the Cinematography and marvelous performance from Maestro truly makes the Film great. However, if the message doesn’t hit home immediately, its entire message might get lost. The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future is beautiful to look at, and is making a compelling statement, if one can get past the horrors of our reality.

The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future screens at Sundance as follows:
Premiere: Jan 23rd 8:30 pm EST
Second screening: Jan 25th 10am EST (24 hours)

By Justin Waldman

Some films make your innards turn, make you squirm and give you the most uncomfortable feelings of all time. These aren’t bad things, it means the movie is doing exactly what it is supposed to do, and Palm Trees and Power Lines does exactly that. Jamie Dack both writes and directs this Feature, and while it is one of the most uncomfortable and cringiest movies that could possibly be seen it will definitely work for some audiences. However, this did not resonate with me, but I understand that this will affect people differently and it is hard to dismiss what does work within the Film.

Lea (Lily McInerny) is your typical 17-year-old girl, who is just endlessly bored with what life has handed her. She’s not interested particularly in what her friends are up to, disrespects her mother, and just kind of floats through life doing what she wants to. As she’s at a diner with some friends, trying to dine and dash, about to be caught, Tom (Jonathan Tucker) emerges and helps her narrowly escape the consequences of his actions. There is something different about Tom, Lea is drawn to him, his smooth talking and way he takes interest in her. However, something darker lurks as it usually does when a man whose in his 30s takes interest in a teenager.

Palm Trees and Power Lines is carried by its powerhouse performances from both McInerny and Tucker. They excel in their performances, shining bright throughout their screen time, with Lily starting off with her boredom being tangible and then her interest and desire to be wanted by Tom. Tucker’s performance as Tom is disturbing, in all the wrong ways. His way to smooth talk and get around her nerves is something truly monstrous. Furthering the advancement of the story and the truly despicable things that happen in this Movie, makes your stomach churn. Palm Trees and Power Lines will resonate with some audiences and make them truly feel sick to their stomach, and others will struggle to resonate and connect to these characters. Depending on where one falls on that resonation, will entirely make or break the experience for them.

Palm Trees and Power Lines screens at Sundance as follows:
Premiere screening: Jan 24th at 2:15 pm EST
Second screening: Jan 26th 10am EST (24 hours)
Award screening: Jan 29th 10am EST (72 hours)
Award screening: Jan 30th 10 am EST (48 hours)