Great news! Just announced today is a brand-new Film Festival in The Blue Mountains, just two hours outside Toronto! Blue Mountain Film Festival (BMFF) will be led by veteran film executive, Helen du Toit in the role of Executive & Artistic Director.

Toit for many years served as Artistic Director at the Palm Springs Film Festival.

Sponsored by all-seasons Blue Mountain Resort, BMFF invites film-lovers and filmmakers to connect, be inspired and escape into the mountains to enjoy the very best in international and Canadian cinema.

The Festival will take place June 1-5, 2022 at the Blue Mountain Village Conference Centre with programming details to come in the new year. For now, we know they plan to premiere 25 films from around the globe, with a focus on Ontario productions.

Details can be found at www.bluemtnfilmfest.ca.

Check-out this Cast, Aubrey Plaza, Hugh Grant, Josh Hartnett and Jason Statham in a hilarious Spy-Action-Comedy! See the new Trailer for OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DE GUERRE.

Synopsis:

In the film, super spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). Reluctantly teamed with some of the world’s best operatives (Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone), Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood’s biggest movie star Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) to help them on their globe-trotting undercover mission to save the world.

Elevation Pictures release OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DE GUERRE, coming soon.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

You guys are in for a treat, and even better you can enjoy it right at home January! The new Trailer for HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA!

Synopsis:

Drac and the Pack are back, like you’ve never seen them before in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. Reunite with your favorite monsters for an all-new adventure that presents Drac (Brian Hull) with his most terrifying task yet. When Van Helsing’s (Jim Gaffigan) mysterious invention, the ‘Monsterification Ray,’ goes haywire, Drac and his monster pals are all transformed into humans, and Johnny (Andy Samberg) becomes a monster! In their new mismatched bodies, Drac, stripped of his powers, and an exuberant Johnny, loving life as a monster, must team up and race across the globe to find a cure before it’s too late, and before they drive each other crazy. With help from Mavis (Selena Gomez) and the hilariously human Drac Pack, the heat is on to find a way to switch themselves back before their transformations become permanent. The film also features the voices of Kathryn Hahn (Ericka), Steve Buscemi (Wayne), Molly Shannon (Wanda), David Spade (Griffin the Invisible Man), Keegan-Michael Key (Murray), Fran Drescher (Eunice), Brad Abrell (Frank), and Asher Blinkoff (Dennis). 

For the final chapter of the Hotel Transylvania film series, franchise creator Genndy Tartakovsky returns as one of the screenwriters and executive producers. Selena Gomez will also serve as an executive producer, while reprising her role as Drac’s daughter, Mavis, alongside Andy Samberg, returning as Johnny. Directed by Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska, the film is produced by Alice Dewey Goldstone and executive produced by Tartakovsky, Michelle Murdocca, and Gomez. The story is by Genndy Tartakovsky with a screenplay by Amos Vernon & Nunzio Randazzo and Genndy Tartakovsky.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA will premiere exclusively on
Prime Video globally January 14, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video)

Walt Disney Studios Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of THE KING’S MAN. Screenings take place as follows:

Toronto (Canadian Premiere)
Tues, Dec 14
7:00pm
TIFF Bell Lightbox

Vancouver
Thurs, Dec 16
7:00pm
International Village

Montreal
Wed, Dec 15
7:00pm
Scotiabank Theatre

Synopsis:

As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in “The King’s Man.”.  20th Century Studios‘ THE KING’S MAN opens in theatres on December 22, 2021. 

The Red Band Trailer below:

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and on the comments there indicate your City. Re-Tweet the below for an extra chance.

Enter for a chance to #win passes to an Advance Screening of #TheKingsMan in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

How: https://t.co/eRKFw6dZfn pic.twitter.com/VvxMMLGNdY

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) December 6, 2021

Rules and regulations here.

NOTE: Winners will only be reached from our official account. Do not accept friend requests from others asking for your personal information. Please guard your information carefully.

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

Djimon Hounsou Gemma Arterton Harris Dickinson kingsman Ralph Fiennes Rhys Ifans The King's Man

We know many of you are so pumped about this! Check-out this brand-new Canadian Trailer for THE MATRIX: RESURRECTIONS!

Synopsis:

From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes “The Matrix Resurrections,” the long-awaited fourth film in the groundbreaking franchise that redefined a genre. The new film reunites original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in the iconic roles they made famous, Neo and Trinity.

The film also stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (the “Aquaman” franchise) Jessica Henwick (TV’s “Iron Fist,” “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”), Jonathan Groff (“Hamilton,” TV’s “Mindhunter”), Neil Patrick Harris (“Gone Girl”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (TV’s “Quantico,”), Christina Ricci (TV’s “Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story,” “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles”), Telma Hopkins (TV’s “Dead to Me,”), Eréndira Ibarra (series “Sense8,” “Ingobernable”), Toby Onwumere (TV’s “Empire”), Max Riemelt (series “Sense8”), Brian J. Smith (series “Sense8,” “Treadstone”), and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Angel Has Fallen,” TV’s “Gotham”).

Lana Wachowski directed from a screenplay by Wachowski & David Mitchell & Aleksander Hemon, based on characters created by The Wachowskis. The film was produced by Grant Hill, James McTeigue and Lana Wachowski. The executive producers were Garrett Grant, Terry Needham, Michael Salven, Jesse Ehrman and Bruce Berman.

Wachowski’s creative team behind the scenes included “Sense8” collaborators: directors of photography Daniele Massaccesi and John Toll, production designers Hugh Bateup and Peter Walpole, editor Joseph Jett Sally, costume designer Lindsay Pugh, visual effects supervisor Dan Glass, and composers Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, In Association with Village Roadshow Pictures, In Association with Venus Castina Productions, “The Matrix Resurrections.” The film will be distributed by worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It will be released in theatres December 22, 2021.

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

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers in Toronto and Vancouver a chance to win Advance Passes to see SING 2!

Screenings take place as follows:

Wednesday, December 15

• Toronto: Yonge & Eglinton at 7:00 PM
• Vancouver: Cineplex International Village at 7:30 PM

Synopsis:

This holiday season, the new chapter in Illumination’s smash animated franchise arrives with big dreams and spectacular hit songs as the ever-optimistic Buster Moon and his all-star cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet…all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There’s just one hitch: They first have to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star—played by global music icon Bono, in his animated film debut—to join them.

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

Rules and regulations here.

Universal Pictures Canada release SING 2 December 22, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Mongrel Media x Mr. Will are giving Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see AMERICAN UNDERDOG!

Screenings take place as follows:

Wednesday, December 15:

• Edmonton: Scotiabank Theatre at 7:00 PM
• Halifax: Scotiabank Theatre at 7:00 PM

Monday, December 20:

• Montreal: Cineplex Forum at 7:00 PM
• Toronto: Scotiabank Theatre at 7:00 PM

Synopsis:

American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. The film centers on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player – but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is. American Underdog is an uplifting story that demonstrates that anything is possible when you have faith, family, and determination.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and in the comments there indicate your City for us. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

NOTE: Please do not accept friend requests from others accounts advising you that you’ve won and asking you to submit your personal information. Be diligent guarding your info. We will only message winners from our official Facebook account.

AMERICAN UNDERDOG is in theatres December 25, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Check-out these new character posters for eagerly-awaited SCREAM!

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past. Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”), Courteney Cox (“Gale Weathers”) and David Arquette (“Dewey Riley”) return to their iconic roles in Scream alongside Melissa Barrera, Kyle Gallner, Mason Gooding, Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Marley Shelton, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sonia Ammar.

Paramount Pictures Canada release SCREAM January 14, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

By Mr. Will Wong

The incredibly star-studded DON’T LOOK UP comes to us from acclaimed Director/Writer Adam McKay (Vice, The Big Short). The Dark Comedy centers on two Astronomers, Randy Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) who embark on a Media Tour to warn the world that a comet is approaching, potentially destroying our planet.

We are incredibly-honoured to be among the group of Journalists selected to attend the global press conference for DON’T LOOK UP, and joining us were an impressive bunch

Leonardo DiCaprio tells us about working with McKay and also comments on the marred public perception of Scientists.

DiCaprio: “Adam created this Film, which was about the Climate Crisis, but made it with a sense of urgency by making it about a comet that is about to hit earth within eight months. And it’s about how Science has become politicized and there’s alternative facts. I was just thinking to play a character who’s solely based on so many people I’ve met from the scientific community, in particular Climate Scientists who have been trying to communicate the urgency of this issue and feeling like they’re subjected to the last page on the newspaper. There’s too many other things we’re inundated with. I love the way he portrayed these two different characters, one that is incredibly-outspoken, this Greta Thunberg-type of character in Jen‘s and mine who is trying to play within the system.”.

“I also love the way he was incredibly truthful about how we’re so immensely distracted from the whole truth nowadays and of course Covid hit and there was a whole new scientific argument going on there. It’s such an important Film to be a part of at this particular time.”.

Lawrence: “It’s just so sad and frustrating to watch people who’ve dedicated their lives to learning the truth and be turned away because people don’t like what the truth has to say.”.

Adam McKay talks about his use of Comedy in delivering this very serious real-life message.

McKay: “We were talking about the idea of dealing with Climate Crisis which is so overwhelming and arguably the greatest threat to life in the history of mankind. It almost can feel like an animal attacking you, but if you’re able to laugh, that means you have some distance. I actually think that’s really important and you can feel urgency and sadness, and feel lost, while also having a sense of humour. And that was the intention of the Movie after the crazy last five, ten years we’ve all had. Wouldn’t it be funny to just laugh at this? So that was kinda the approach.”.

DiCaprio talks about the necessity of some of the blockbuster names in the Film to get the message out about Climate Change.

DiCaprio: “I’ve been looking for a movie about the subject for decades now. This is an issue where everyone feels ultimately like, ‘What kind of difference can we make?’ and what can we contribute to this cause. Adam really cracked the code with so many comparisons that we can make to the Climate Change crisis with this story line. As a whole, it’s the most important topic we all can be talking about on a regular basis. It takes Artists like this to change the narrative, to create conversation.”.

In DON’T LOOK UP, the central comet is named after Lawrence‘s character. She is asked about how her character feels about this.

Lawrence: “I think at first it’s very exciting until it becomes a catastrophe, and you’re named something people are not happy about. There was an evolution where at first she was very proud of this and then resentment built.”.

Kid Cudi talks about his experience on this Film as DJ Chello, while also contributing to the Film’s theme song “Just Look Up” with Ariana Grande, who plays Riley Bina.

Cudi: “It was nerve-wrecking. It felt like even though I was there for three days, it felt like a family setting and everybody embraced me. It was my first time meeting Tyler Perry, and he’s so cool and I didn’t realize he was so tall! I learned sometimes you’ve just gotta relax and go with the flow and be within your space and comfortable. I talk to Kathryn Hahn, whom I’m friends with, and she told me about Adam. She said, ‘Just be ready for him to throw anything!’ and that made me even more scared.”.

“When Nicholas Britell (Song Producer) played the song for me, I said, ‘Holy shit! Where do I fit? How do I approach this?’. He had something written for me and we tried that, but it just wasn’t working. Maybe it would be better if I approach it with my own flavour and take that approach. This is not me writing a song from a Kid Cudi perspective, this is from DJ‘s perspective and they’ve (DJ and Riley) just linked back up, and he’s pretty much confessing and expressing his love to her, and he’s just kinda forgetting about the importance of the song. I’m just happy to be with my baby. I took this approach. You’re on-stage with this girl making this song with the love of your life. You just had a huge fallout and everyone around the world knew about it. So it was this reunion moment. It was intense at first because Ariana is such an incredible Artist. Her vocal performance is just stellar. I’m just really happy we were happy to figure it out and it worked.”.

“Just Look Up” can be heard here:

Lawrence also talks about her experience working with Grande, being a huge fan of hers.

Lawrence: “It was shocking, she’s so tiny. I’m a huge fan of her music. It was overwhelming. Our worlds don’t normally collide. I felt like a radio contest winner. I didn’t know how to talk to her. I just did my best.”.

Jonah Hill and DiCaprio each talk about their mutual admiration for one another, working together this a third time. Hill plays the President’s son Jason Orlean.

Hill: “Honestly, I’ve always been a fan of Leo and have had mad respect for how much he puts his money and time where his mouth is in regards to this issue, so not only as a friend, but someone who is out there talking a big game, and actually walks the walk.”.

DiCaprio: “He is an absolute genius, this friend of mine. He has this ability to improvise, take control of a scene and have the narrative be shifted in amazing, colourful ways. It is a sight to witness and truly remarkable to experience. He’s absolutely a genius. I would love to work on a hundred more films.”.

Lawrence: “Amen, really fun.”.

Hill: “I agree with what he said (laughs). Real talk, I’ve worked with now pretty much all the best Actors in the world, a lot who are up here right now, and there’s been no more loyal friend in show business. Aside from that, put all those feelings aside. What you see when they yell “action!’ and what he does, no disrespect, is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Hands down. Just kidding! Duh! (looking at Meryl Streep) I’ll text you how I feel!”.

Tyler Perry talks about playing TV Host Jack Bremner, opposite Cate Blanchett who plays Brie Evantee.

Perry: “I actually made a couple phone calls to people who are on morning shows right now that I admire, I sent them part of the Script. I said, ‘Why don’t you read this and send it back to me on your iPhone?’. And they did, so I got some bits here and there. Those guys are professional Journalists. They were very helpful helping me pull that off.”.

McKay: “Tyler is being very humble, by the way. The big trick between him and Cate Blanchett is that they really had to have a chemistry. It was so remarkable within five minutes, it was as if they’d been on a show together for ten years!”.

Perry: “That happens when there’s sexual chemistry! That was obvious. I said, ‘Okay, I just have to flirt, I get it!’. She’s gonna kill me!”.

Meryl Streep talks about her character President Orlean and where she pulled inspiration and the sacrifices of being a public servant.

Streep: “There were so many places to take things from because there’s so many preposterous people who put themselves in public places shamelessly. It was kinda fun to put together this character who was about amassing power and money, more power and more money. And nice hair and nails to top it all off. And unfortunately, that’s what the cost of what being a public servant is. You really have to make a big sacrifice. Your family makes a sacrifice and you have to be willing to do that. It’s amazing we ever get good people to do it. We need them right now. It’s a high cost in public service, that’s for sure.”.

DiCaprio talks about a compelling moment in DON’T LOOK UP where he delivers an impassioned speech.

DiCaprio: “Adam and I worked on that speech probably 50 times together. What I really wanted to do was try to articulate the frustration of the scientific community, how one is sitting on a pulpit trying to tell the truth and all these other noises are drowning out the main message. So we worked a lot together trying to understand the frustration of the scientific community and how one would be in a situation like that. How do you put on this professional jacket to cut through straight to the truth of the situation?”.

The Cast is asked about moments in the Film they found chilling.

Streep: “There is a scene in a bar with Tyler and Cate and everything’s going to shit outside. She says, ‘I just wanna get drunk and talk shit about people’. I know a lot of people like that. It’s not an unusual reaction but it chilled my bones.”.

“I don’t want to give any spoilers, but there’s also when they’re in the car with Timothée Chalamet and he proposes an idea to Jen and she goes ‘Yeah’. And it’s so clear it’s no way it’s ever gonna happen. The human dream is you hope something good will happen even though we know something bad is. That’s the kernel of truth, that we push this information away because it’s too painful.”.

DON’T LOOK UP is in select theatres December 10, 2021 and on Netflix December 24, 2021.

Our Review will be up shortly.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

True to tradition, we present to you our A YEAR IN HORSES 2021 Review! While the season at Woodbine Racetrack started a bit later this year due to Covid-19 delays, it still proved to be an action-packed abbreviated season. There was no shortage of excitement.

The Community wrote the story. I was simply there.

While 2021 turned out to be a season without any one definitive standout star, what we did witness was some of Woodbine‘s greatest go on to retain their form of previous seasons, proving exactly why they are fan favourites. The greats had a chance to share the spotlight.

Will Horse of the Year go to now-retired legend PINK LLOYD whom at age 9 proved he still is the best sprinter in Canada? Or will the honours go to Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year, the one-eyed MIGHTY YEART who notched wins north and south of the Border, winning two key stake races in his division locally, the Dominion Day and the Autumn. Or perhaps the hard-trying three-year-old filly MUNNYFOR RO will spring a surprise and win the hearts of Sovereign Award voters with her Woodbine Oaks, Wonder Where and Ontario Damsel scores both turf and Tapeta? Let’s not forget TOWN CRUISE‘s epic wire-to-wire score in the $1-million Woodbine Mile against international-quality competition! So many great moments, even if it genuinely is a coin toss this year who might be named top horse in the country!

This was Kazushi Kimura‘s year to shine, running away with the most amount of wins for a jockey at Woodbine, ahead of last year’s leading rider Rafael Hernandez, Emma-Jayne Wilson and Justin Stein. Hard to believe he was only an apprentice a few years back! And of course Mark Casse dominated trainer standings this year with his top caliber stock and hardworking Toronto team.

I have always pushed for an inclusive representation of the sport and have compiled some of my top memories from 2021 in this Video Review, set to Ed Sheeran‘s “Bad Habits“, in my opinion one of the best songs this year. No bad habits here, we love spreading the joy Canadian Horse Racing brings us!

The 2022 racing season begins at Woodbine on April 16, 2022. The Queen’s Plate retains its later date, slotted for August 21, 2022. We cannot wait! We hope everyone has an amazing Holiday and some well-deserved relaxation after what was an intense meet!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)