Mumford & Sons Frontman Marcus Mumford graced Toronto with his presence playing Massey Hall last night in support of his first ever Solo Disc, SELF-TITLED. The Disc, which confronts some traumas and pains Mumford has experienced, took him on the road in the U.S. in September, just wrapping in our City before he heads next to Europe for the next leg of his tour. The emotional performance brought his audience to tears as he gave fans his most raw, vulnerable self.

So thrilled to get to meet him quickly and he was gracious. I only wish my camera was a little more co-operative, not getting a chance to do a re-take as he rushed-off! Grateful nonetheless.

Check-out some material from Mumford’s SELF-TITLED Disc:

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

Rihanna is back with another new Track from the BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER OST. “Born Again” is a dark, cinematic, sweeping beautiful Ballad. Love this!

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER is now in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)

SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL is here to get us into that Holiday spirit and here’s a first look at the Trailer!

Synopsis:

Produced by Timeless Films in association with Axis Studios and directed by Stephen Donnelly, Charles Dickens’ ageless legend is reborn in this supernatural, time-travelling, musical adaptation of the definitive Christmas story. With his very soul on the line, Scrooge has but one Christmas Eve left to face his past and build a better future. Featuring re-imagined songs from the legendary and two-time Academy Award® winner Leslie Bricusse OBE, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol is one for a new generation to sing.

SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL arrives on Netflix December 2, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

After resounding praise at Venice and TIFF, THE WHALE surfaces with a new Canadian Trailer. The latest masterpiece from Darren Aronofsky arrives in theatres this December via Elevation Pictures. Definitely one of our favourites of ’22. Cannot wait to see this again!

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures/A24)

The black carpet was rolled-out at Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto at the Canadian Premiere of BLACK PANTHER, WAKANDA FOREVER. Several local stars came out to celebrate the release of this eagerly-awaited Blockbuster, the evening hosted by Actor brothers Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, Founders of The Black Academy.

This follow-up to 2018’s BLACK PANTHER, sees Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death.

Some Snaps from the festivities:

A Reel of Highlights:

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER arrives in theatres November 11, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The 2022 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival kicked-off tonight with Opening Night Gala RICEBOY SLEEPS starting things on a high note. The acclaimed Feature from Vancouver’s Anthony Shim recently won the Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, and also nabbed the Audience Award at the Busan International Film Festival shortly after. The Film was followed by a Q&A with Shim and its stars Choi Seung-yoon and Ethan Hwang, and it centers on a mother and son who immigrate from South Korea to Canada, facing hardships here as a rift grows between them.

A Reception was held at the Annex Hotel prior to the Premiere, with notable guests in attendance including Shim, Choi and Hwang. The Festival, now in its 26th edition, is comprised of Symposiums, Features, Shorts and the opportunity for Filmmakers to pitch.

Others in attendance were:

A Reel of highlights:

The 2022 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival goes through November 20, 2022 in-person and online. More here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

A first look at the official Trailer for Guillermo del Toro‘s PINOCCHIO, has arrived. Opening in select theatres this Friday, this fantastical re-imagining of this beloved tale arrives on Netflix in time for the Holidays!

Synopsis: 
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro reinvents Carlo Collodi’s classic tale of the wooden marionette who is magically brought to life in order to mend the heart of a grieving woodcarver named Geppetto. This whimsical, stop-motion film directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson follows the mischievous and disobedient adventures of Pinocchio in his pursuit of a place in the world.

Directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, the film features an all-star voice cast with Ewan McGregor as Cricket, David Bradley as Geppetto, and introducing Gregory Mann as Pinocchio. Other cast includes Finn Wolfhard, Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson, Burn Gorman, with Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz and Academy Award® winner Tilda Swinton.

Cast: Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson, Burn Gorman

Guillermo del Toro‘s PINOCCHIO arrives December 9, 2022 on Netflix. It plays at TIFF Bell Lightbox Friday, November 11, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

We have a new Trailer for “Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?”, which was just announced recently to come to Disney+!

Synopsis:

From Disney Branded Television, the intimate and inspirational film follows Tony Award®-winning icon Idina Menzel on her path to realize a lifelong dream: headlining a concert at Madison Square Garden in her hometown of New York City. Featuring never-before-seen performance footage alongside raw and vulnerable interviews, the documentary follows Idina on an intimate journey as she juggles the challenges of being a working mom and wife on a grueling travel schedule while preparing to take the stage at the legendary arena.

Directed by filmmaker Anne McCabe and produced in partnership with Ideal Partners, “Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?” makes its world premiere on December 9, exclusively on Disney+.

Through unprecedented interviews and footage, the beloved actress and singer, whose triumphant roles include Broadway productions of “Rent” and “Wicked” as well as the celebrated voice of Elsa in Disney’s “Frozen,” pulls back the curtain on her remarkable career, the incredible — and oftentimes laborious — moments that prepared her for her big breaks and the people who have supported her since the beginning. Additionally, Menzel reflects on motherhood, marriage and the realities of juggling work and family. Throughout the film, she shares her personal experience with in vitro fertilization, an emotional process that runs parallel to her runway toward Madison Square Garden.

“We made this documentary to show firsthand how important it is to pursue your passions and lean on those around you in times of hardship,” said Menzel. “This documentary was a joy to make, and I hope it resonates with my fans and new audiences alike who find themselves balancing motherhood, work and marriage while chasing their own dreams and inspires others to keep pushing forward.”

Captured in striking intimacy and detail, “Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?” follows Menzel on a national tour over the course of 16 shows on the road. The film showcases never-before-seen footage of Menzel throughout her life, from home videos of her early days as a singer at just 7 years old to her beginnings at the premiere of “Rent” the musical in 1996 to preparing for the original role of Elphaba in “Wicked” and the creation and subsequent phenomenon that was “Frozen.” Featuring interviews with Menzel herself, her parents, family, friends and co-creatives, the documentary weaves in Menzel’s show-stopping performance as she conquers the stage at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?” is produced by Disney Branded Television and Ideal Partners for Disney+. For Ideal Partners, Rachel Cohen and Jana Edelbaum are producers. The documentary film is directed by Anne McCabe.

Menzel was recently honored at this year’s 35th annual Disney Legends Award ceremony, where she was inducted for her roles as Elsa in “Frozen” and Nancy Tremaine in “Enchanted.” Menzel also recently released an inspiring children’s book with her sister, writer and teacher Cara Mentzel, titled “Loud Mouse.” From Disney-Hyperion, “Loud Mouse” is a picture book about a little mouse finding her big voice and is all about self-acceptance and being true to yourself. She also released a companion song for the book.

(Photo credit: Disney)

If you’ve never heard of her prior, Sara Jane Ho is about to change your world and bring etiquette back with upcoming Netflix Series MIND YOUR MANNERS. The Harvard alumni has found much success with her Institute Sarita, which coaches her students to being their best selves, with a philosophy that etiquette is about being mindful of others around you, and making them at ease.

We watch as she travels to different cities, really taking to understand new students she takes under her wings and laying-out what obstacles are holding them back from becoming their best selves. In the first episode we meet a young woman who is held back by a lack of self-confidence due to Eczema, which is overcompensated for by dressing provocatively and “caking” on makeup. Another is a young man who is having trouble finding the “one”. Ho offers simple tips on his dating profile and mannerisms to help build his confidence. We also meet a grandmother who has been putting her family’s needs before hers for a long time. And also a new mother who’s lost her groove after post-partum depression.

Above this, Ho comes with a tradition-based Chinese approach to home layouts with Feng Shui, accupuncture and herbal medicine. The said new mother is offered a bowl of Congee even. We love this.

These are very real, relatable scenarios which surely viewers at home can take a thing or two from. Episodes are cut with actual classes with a group of Chinese women looking to garner the grace that Ho has built a brand on. They get coached on everything from pronouncing the names of fashion houses correctly, to delicately spitting unfavourable foods out.

While episodes are short, perhaps not giving Ho the full space to explore these journeys and transformations to the desired emotional effect, they are undeniably entertaining and engaging.

MIND YOUR MANNERS arrives November 16, 2022 on Netflix.

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to attend an Advance Screening of TIFF ’22 People’s Choice Award-winning film, Steven Spielberg‘s THE FABELMANS.

Screenings take place Monday, November 21, 2022 in:

• Toronto: Scotiabank Theatre at 7:30 pm
• Montreal: Cineplex Forum at 7:30 pm 
• Vancouver: Scotiabank Theatre at 7:00 pm 

Synopsis:

Directed by Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans is written by Spielberg and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America, Caroline, or Change), who has earned Oscar^® nominations for his screenplays for Spielberg’s Lincoln and Munich. The film is produced by three-time Oscar^® nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger p.g.a. (West Side Story, The Post), Steven Spielberg p.g.a. and Tony Kushner p.g.a. The film is executive produced by Carla Raij (Maestro, co-producer West Side Story) and Josh McLaglen (Free Guy, Logan).

The film stars Gabriel LaBelle (The Predator, American Gigolo series) as 16-year-old aspiring filmmaker Sammy Fabelman; four-time Academy Award^® nominee Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea, My Week with Marilyn) as his artistic mother, Mitzi; Paul Dano (The Batman, There Will Be Blood) as his successful, scientific father, Burt; Seth Rogen (Steve Jobs, An American Pickle) as Bennie Loewy, Burt’s best friend and honorary “uncle” to the Fabelman children, and Academy Award^® nominee Judd Hirsch (Uncut Gems, Ordinary People) as Mitzi’s Uncle Boris. 

The ensemble cast includes Oscar^® nominee Jeannie Berlin (The Heartbreak Kid, Inherent Vice) as Sammy’s paternal grandmother, Hadassah Fabelman; Julia Butters (Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood, 13 Hours) as Sammy’s sister Reggie; Robin Bartlett (Moonstruck, Lean on Me) as Sammy’s maternal grandmother Tina Schildkraut and Keeley Karsten (Hunters, Evil Lives Here) as Sammy’s sister Natalie. 

The music is by five-time Academy Award^® winner John Williams (Schindler’s List, Jaws), the costume designer is two-time Oscar^® winner Mark Bridges (The Artist, Phantom Thread) and the production designer is two-time Oscar^® winner Rick Carter (Lincoln, Avatar). The Fabelmans is edited by three-time Academy Award^® winner Michael Kahn ace (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List) and Sarah Broshar (West Side Story, The Post). The film’s director of photography is two-time Academy Award^® winner Janusz Kaminski (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan). 

Genre: Drama

Cast: Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle, Jeannie Berlin, Julia Butters, Robin Bartlett, Keeley Karsten and Judd Hirsch

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Screenplay by: Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner

Produced by: Kristie Macosko Krieger p.g.a., Steven Spielberg p.g.a., Tony Kushner p.g.a.

Executive Producers: Carla Raij, Josh McLaglen

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Universal Pictures Canada release THE FABELMANS November 23, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)