By David Baldwin

It is the late 1980s and Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) is looking for a hit. The Video Game Designer and salesman is hemorrhaging money, but may have found his salvation in a game called Tetris. He is not the only one who wants a piece of it though, and once he learns that the IP rights belong to the Soviet Union, Henk decides he is going to travel behind the Iron Curtain and negotiate for them himself.

Did that sound convoluted? Well, there are a whole lot more rights-related shenanigans where that came from on top of family drama and light Nintendo-related nostalgia. Some of the story has been clearly embellished (particularly a bit cribbed from the Oscar-winning Argo), yet it stays grounded enough to keep your attention. I loved how Lorne Balfe incorporated the music from Tetris into his Score, yet could have done without the recurring neon-soaked 8-bit motif anytime a setting changed.

While Henk’s story is straight-forward enough, it feels like it is at odds with the bigger tale Director Jon S. Baird and Writer Noah Pink are more interested in telling: the dying days of the Soviet Union and all the corruption that goes with it. The shady individuals, the double-crossing deals, the KGB, the spying, Gorbachev, all of it is fascinating and often downright terrifying. There are a whole lot more of these elements in the Film than you might imagine – considering it is called TETRIS – and I think it suffers from having them smashed-together with Henk’s story.

TETRIS is a well-made film despite these qualms and I enjoyed watching it. Egerton is just as charismatic and committed as always, and his chemistry with Nikita Yefremov, who plays Tetris architect Alexey Pajitnov, is wonderful. Had Baird and Pink focused more on that budding friendship or made a separate movie about the inner workings of the USSR, then we could have had a much more cohesive picture about one of the most ultra-popular pieces of media ever created, rather than the messy film we did get.

TETRIS screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 15 at 6:00pm at Paramount Theatre

Mar 16 at 5:15pm at Alamo Lamar E

Upcoming Julian Assange Documentary ITHAKA is coming soon to Ted Rogers Hot Docs Cinema. Those attending the upcoming March 24, 2023 screening will get to see Gabriel and John Shipton (Julian Assange’s brother and father) in-person at a special Q&A.

Synopsis:

A moving and intimate portrayal of one father’s fight to save his son, Ithaka exposes the brutal realities of the campaign to free Julian Assange

Filmed over two years across the UK, Europe and the US, this documentary follows 76 year-old retired builder, John Shipton’s tireless campaign to save his son, Julian Assange.

The world’s most famous political prisoner, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, has become an emblem of an international arm wrestle over freedom of journalism, government corruption and unpunished war crimes.

Now with Julian facing a 175 year sentence if extradited to the US, his family members are confronting the prospect of losing Julian forever to the abyss of the US justice system.
This David-and-Goliath struggle is personal – and, with Julian’s health declining in a British maximum-security prison and American government prosecutors attempting to extradite him to face trial in the US, the clock is ticking.

Weaving historic archive and intimate behind-the-scenes footage, this story tracks John’s journey alongside Julian’s fiancée, Stella Moris, as they join forces to advocate for Julian. We witness John embark on a European odyssey to rally a global network of supporters, advocate to politicians and cautiously step into the media’s glare – where he is forced to confront events that made Julian a global flashpoint.

Ithaka provides a timely reminder of the global issues at stake in this case, as well as an insight into the personal toll inflicted by the arduous, often lonely task of fighting for a cause bigger than oneself.

ITHAKA screens at Hot Docs Cinema on March 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th and 26th, 2023.

By David Baldwin

PAY OR DIE follows the stories of three families who have a connection to Type 1 Diabetes and are struggling with the price of insulin in the United States. More specifically, it centers around Nicole Smith-Holt, her activism, and her lobbying to get a new health bill passed in Minnesota – named Alec’s Law after her late son who died from diabetes complications – that would force pharmacies and insulin makers to provide emergency supplies of insulin to diabetics in need for a more reasonable price.

PAY OR DIE is not so much a discussion around insulin and Type 1 Diabetes, so much as it is a full-blown Horror film. I sat, riveted in my seat, listening to the startling statistics and stories around insulin prices, Diabetics who have been forced to stretch their insulin reserves as long as possible and have survived, and the family members mourning the loss of the ones that did not. It is absolutely harrowing hearing these tales, and often flabbergasting and downright disgusting. Filmmakers Rachael Dyer and Scott Alexander Ruderman rightfully take Big Pharma to task here repeatedly, comparing the insulin prices to other countries and showing just how much they fleece from these individuals with a terminal disease. It outright includes an entire section where a mother and her 11-year-old daughter (both with Type 1 Diabetes) drive from Seattle to Vancouver to buy up supplies for nearly five-times less than what they would have paid in the US.

For someone who has a minimal understanding of the US healthcare system, PAY OR DIE is a necessary watch that will have you crying and raging in your seat. My only complaint was around the timeline the film sets for itself. It is chronological in terms of the profiles of each family, yet bounces around almost erratically between them with no real sense of what year we are in. We are at one point following a young woman navigating a recent diagnosis in 2020 alongside Covid-19, and then suddenly back in time to Smith-Holt leading rallies at Eli Lilly headquarters. It does not take away from the central message or theme of the film thankfully; it just would have benefitted from being more cohesive and cleaner edited.

PAY OR DIE screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 11 at 3:15pm at Alamo Lamar E

Mar 13 at 3:00pm at Alamo Lamar C

Mar 16 at 2:30pm at Alamo Lamar B

Premiering at SXSW ’23 in its Film & TV program this Saturday, we get a new look at BEEF!

Synopsis:

BEEF follows the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers. Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder, goes head-to-head with Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made entrepreneur with a picturesque life. The increasing stakes of their feud unravel their lives and relationships in this darkly comedic and deeply moving series.

Missed it at SXSW ’23? It arrives on Netflix on April 6, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Paramount Pictures Canda x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES, hot off its acclaimed premiere at SXSW ’23!

Screenings take places as follows:

TORONTO

Date: Saturday, March 25th

Time: 4:00PM start
Location: Yorkdale Cineplex Cinemas

VANCOUVER
Date: Saturday, March 25th
Time: 4:00PM start
Location: Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

MONTREAL – ENG
Date: Saturday, March 25th
Time: 4:00PM start
Location: Cineplex Cinemas Forum

MONTREAL – FRE
Date: Saturday, March 25th
Time: 4:00PM start
Location: Cineplex Cinemas StarCité

CALGARY

Date: Saturday, March 25th
Time: 4:00PM start

Location: Scotiabank Theatre Chinook

Synopsis:

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.  Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

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

Rules and regulations here.

#DNDMovie is in theates March 31, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

We present the Trailer for Documentary LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING!

Produced by Bungalow Media + Entertainment for CNN Films and HBO Max, in association with Rolling Stone Films, director Lisa Cortés’ Sundance opening night documentary LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING tells the story of the Black queer origins of rock n’ roll, exploding the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator – the originator – Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard’s complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon’s life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions. In interviews with family, musicians, and cutting-edge Black and queer scholars, the film reveals how Richard created an art form for ultimate self-expression, yet what he gave to the world he was never able to give to himself. Throughout his life, Richard careened like a shiny cracked pinball between God, sex and rock n’ roll. The world tried to put him in a box, but Richard was an omni being who contained multitudes – he was unabashedly everything. Directed by Lisa Cortés, LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING is produced by Robert Friedman, Cortés, Liz Yale Marsh and Caryn Capotosto and Executive Produced by Dee Rees.

Magnolia Pictures will release LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING for special one-night-only theatrical screenings on April 11, 2023 followed by additional theaters and a digital release on April 21, 2023.

In Canada, Mongrel Media release it April 21, 2023 in theatres and on VOD May 19, 2023.

By Amanda Gilmore

Award-Winning Filmmaker Dawn Porter brings us this engrossing Documentary about one of the most influential and least understood First Ladies, Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson. Porter uses all-archival footage and the 123 hours of personal and revealing audio diaries that Lady Bird recorded during her husband’s administration.

Through Lady Bird’s audio diaries, we get a look into many pivotal events throughout US history. That’s because LBJ’s time in office was one of the most tumultuous and significant periods in modern American history that included the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. Porter doesn’t glaze over these monumental moments but rather delves deep into the movements, protests and the bills passed. We’ve heard of these historical moments from today’s viewpoint, however, this Documentary gives insight into this important period from someone inside the White House while it was all happening.

This engrossing Documentary shows the impact Lady Bird had during her husband’s time in office. She was a voice of reason for LBJ and spoke her mind when she knew her opinion needed to be heard. It’s captivating to listen to phone calls she made to her husband informing him of how he should be handling certain situations. These conversations, and all the other times she voiced her opinion, are inspirational for women of all ages — both then and now. 

The one major takeaway about Lady Bird‘s legacy, as her passion for the environment. It was due to her that Nixon form the National Environmental Policy Act. It’s clear that her focus on environmental issues proves she was a woman and catalyst ahead of her time.

Although she’s been considered one of the least understood First Ladies, The Lady Bird Diaries proves that she was an intelligent political strategist and had a deep understanding of people.

The Lady Bird Diaries screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Mar 10 at 5:00pm at ZACH Theatre

Mar 14 at 6:15pm at Rolling Theatre at The Long Center

To commemorate Women’s History Month, writer/director/journalist Chandler Levack has joined forces with Hollywood Suite to curate a day of programming featuring the work of women filmmakers and performers. The films are set to air on Hollywood Suite’s 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s channels on March 30, 2023, and will be available to stream all month on Hollywood Suite On Demand.

“All of my favourite movies will screen this month, including life-changing gems like Claudia Weill’s Girlfriends and Susan Seidelman’s Smithereens, and true boundary-breaking auteur films by Sofia Coppola and Elaine May,” said Levack. “The series ends with two films by Canadian geniuses that totally blew my mind when I first watched them and prove that the future of Canadian cinema is female — Joyce Wong’s Wexford Plaza and Grace Glowicki’s wholly original and jaw-dropping Tito — both shot for under $150,000. It’s a true honour to be asked to curate this series. In case you didn’t know, I like movies! Especially when they put women in the centre of the frame.”

“Chandler is an exceptional filmmaker and fierce champion of talented women,” added Sharon Stevens, Vice President, Programming for Hollywood Suite. “With her award-winning feature debut I Like Movies now in Canadian theatres, she is the perfect person to lead our Women’s History Month programming.”

Hollywood Suite’s Women in Film collection, airing throughout March and available all month on demand, features 50 movies that showcase talented women in front of and behind the camera. Discover the collection at hollywoodsuite.ca/women-in-film.

Levack’s Guest Programmer Picks

A NEW LEAF (1971)
Director: Elaine May
Starring: Elaine May, Doris Roberts, Renée Taylor

ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (1974)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Leila Goldoni

GIRLFRIENDS (1978)
Director: Claudia Weill
Starring: Melanie Mayron

FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)
Director: Amy Heckerling
Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates

SMITHEREENS (1982)
Director: Susan Seidelman
Starring: Susan Berman

THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (1987)
Director: George Miller
Starring: Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer

ORLANDO (1993)
Director: Sally Potter
Starring: Tilda Swinton

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES (1999)
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Kathleen Turner

GRACE OF MY HEART (1996)
Director: Alison Anders
Starring: Illeana Douglas, Jennifer Leigh Warren

TITO (2019)
Director: Grace Glowicki
Starring: Grace Glowicki

THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (2015)
Director: Marielle Heller
Starring: Bel Powley, Kristin Wiig

WEXFORD PLAZA (2016)
Director: Joyce Wong
Starring: Reid Asselstine, Ellie Posadas

ABOUT HOLLYWOOD SUITE

Hollywood Suite owns and operates four exclusive HD channels featuring the iconic movies that defined the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, plus essential Hollywood classics from the Golden Age, always uncut and commercial-free. With hundreds of movies every month on four HD channels and Hollywood Suite On Demand, Hollywood Suite provides an unparalleled value to consumers.

Hollywood Suite is available to over 10 million households across Canada, exclusively through Canadian television service providers and Amazon Prime Video Channels. Visit hollywoodsuite.ca for more Information.

ABOUT CHANDLER LEVACK

Chandler Levack, Writer/Director, Producer Chandler Levack grew up in Burlington, Ontario, and lives in Toronto where she studied cinema at the University of Toronto and screenwriting at the Canadian Film Centre. She has directed numerous music videos, earning two JUNO nominations. Also a veteran arts journalist and critic, she has contributed to such publications as The Globe & Mail, The Village Voice and Maisonneuve, with articles for the latter resulting in two Canadian National Magazine Awards nominations. Her short film We Forgot to Break Up (2017) premiered at TIFF and SXSW. I Like Movies is her feature debut.

By Mr. Will Wong

Luchina Fisher‘s THE DADS is timely and important. The 11-minute Documentary Short brings six fathers together for a fishing trip in Oklahoma, but this is far from just a dudes’ getaway flick.

We learn these men are actually fathers to trans and LGBTQ+ children. Together, they swap stories of their biggest fears, including one of them whose son is black and trans, worrying every day for his safety. Another is the father of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who is 1998 was beaten, tortured and left to die. Here we are in 2023 with so much work left to do and if anything, the Film leaves us with a message of hope through the uncertainty, exploring fatherhood and masculinity through a fresh lens.

This is far too urgent a matter to be explored over 11 minutes only, but in its short screen time, Fisher‘s message is impactful. We are hoping there might be an expanded version of THE DADS to come or a follow-up to come.

THE DADS screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Documentary Shorts Program 2 at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

Mar 12, 2023

2:15pm—3:46pm

Documentary Shorts Program 2 at Alamo Lamar D

Mar 16, 2023

6:45pm—8:16pm

We got a brand new look at CHUPA, coming soon to Netflix, with this brand-new Trailer. This is directed by Jonás Cuarón.

SYNOPSIS | Shy 13-year-old Alex (Evan Whitten) flies from Kansas City to Mexico to meet his extended family for the first time. There he meets his grandfather and former lucha libre champion Chava (Demián Bichir), energetic, wrestling-obsessed cousin Memo (Nickolas Verdugo), and fearless, hip cousin Luna (Ashley Ciarra). But just as Alex begins to get his bearings, he discovers a mythical creature living under his grandfather’s shed: a young chupacabra cub, which he recognizes from stories of the feared, full-grown chupacabra, fabled to feed on farmers’ livestock. Alex soon learns that his new friend “Chupa” has a secret history with his family, and that dogged, dangerous scientist Richard Quinn (Christian Slater) is hunting the misunderstood creature to try and harness his powers. To protect Chupa from impending danger, Alex sets off on the adventure of a lifetime, one that will push the bonds of his newfound family to the brink, and remind him that life’s burdens are lighter when you don’t have to carry them alone.

Directed by Jonás Cuarón (Desierto), and produced by 26th Street Pictures’ Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe (The Christmas Chronicles), CHUPA is a nostalgic journey through myth, memory, and the making of one’s own personal legend.

CHUPA arrives April 7, 2023 on Netflix.

(Photo credit: Netflix)