Huge news! Hot off its Premiere at Cannes, David Cronenberg‘s CRIMES OF THE FUTURE will get a Canadian Premiere in Toronto at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX on May 30, 2022. This event is brought to us by TIFF, Sphere Films (known formerly as MK2 | MILE END) and Seredipity Point Films.

The event will be followed by Q&A with the Director, the Producer, and members of the Cast at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the exclusive Canadian venue to screen the film’s North American premiere. The Film opens across North America on Friday, June 3, 2022 including TIFF Bell Lightbox.
 
Tickets for the Crimes of the Future special one-night-only event as well as tickets for the film’s regular theatrical screenings go on sale starting at 10am on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 for TIFF Members, and to the general public on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Tickets will be limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Synopsis:
 
Crimes of the Future is a meditation on human evolution. As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux), Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed… Their mission — to use Saul’s notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.
 
Following its North American premiere on May 30, Crimes of the Future will start its theatrical run at TIFF Bell Lightbox on June 3, 2022. On Tuesday, May 31, the day after the premiere, TIFF will screen Crash (1996), setting the stage for both the theatrical release of Crimes of the Future and a four-film TIFF Cinematheque series spotlighting Cronenberg’s earlier work, titled Cronenberg: Crimes of the Past and running July 2 to July 10. The series features screenings of Videodrome (1983), Dead Ringers (1988), eXistenZ (1999), and a second screening of Crash. Tickets for Cronenberg: Crimes of the Past go on sale Wednesday, June 22 for TIFF Members and to the public the following week on June 29. All screenings will take place at TIFF Bell Lightbox.  Pieces from David Cronenberg‘s collection will be on-display also throughout TIFF Bell Lightbox in celebration of the Film.

(Photo credit: Sphere Films)
 

Right in time for its Premiere at Cannes, comes these new Posters from Baz Luhrmann‘s ELVIS!

Synopsis:

From Oscar-nominated visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama “Elvis”, starring Austin Butler and Oscar winner Tom Hanks. The film explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Butler), seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks). The story delves into the complex dynamic between Presley and Parker spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the most significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge).

Starring alongside Hanks and Butler, award-winning theatre actress Helen Thomson (“Top of the Lake: China Girl,” “Rake”) plays Elvis’s mother, Gladys, Richard Roxburgh (“Moulin Rouge!” “Breath,” “Hacksaw Ridge”) portrays Elvis’s father, Vernon, and DeJonge (“The Visit,” “Stray Dolls”) plays Priscilla. Luke Bracey (“Hacksaw Ridge,” “Point Break”) plays Jerry Schilling, Natasha Bassett (“Hail, Caesar!”) plays Dixie Locke, David Wenham (“The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, “Lion,” “300”) plays Hank Snow, Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “The High Note”) plays B.B. King, Xavier Samuel (“Adore,” “Love & Friendship,” “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”) plays Scotty Moore, and Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”) plays Jimmie Rodgers Snow.

Also in the cast, Dacre Montgomery (“Stranger Things,” “The Broken Heart Gallery”) plays TV director Steve Binder, alongside Australian actors Leon Ford (“Gallipoli,” “The Pacific”) as Tom Diskin, Kate Mulvany (“The Great Gatsby,” “Hunters”) as Marion Keisker, Gareth Davies (“Peter Rabbit,” “Hunters”) as Bones Howe, Charles Grounds (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “Camp”) as Billy Smith, Josh McConville (“Fantasy Island”) as Sam Phillips, and Adam Dunn (“Home and Away”) as Bill Black.

To play additional iconic musical artists in the film, Luhrmann cast singer/songwriter Yola as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, model Alton Mason as Little Richard, Austin, Texas native Gary Clark Jr. as Arthur Crudup, and artist Shonka Dukureh as Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton.

Oscar nominee Luhrmann (“The Great Gatsby,” “Moulin Rouge!”) directed from a screenplay by Baz Luhrmann & Sam Bromell and Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce and Jeremy Doner, story by Baz Luhrmann and Jeremy Doner. The film’s producers are Luhrmann, Oscar winner Catherine Martin (“The Great Gatsby,” “Moulin Rouge!”), Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler Weiss. Courtenay Valenti and Kevin McCormick executive produced.

The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Mandy Walker (“Mulan,” “Australia”), Oscar-winning production designer and costume designer Catherine Martin (“The Great Gatsby,” “Moulin Rouge!”), production designer Karen Murphy (“A Star Is Born”), editors Matt Villa (“The Great Gatsby,” “Australia”) and Jonathan Redmond (“The Great Gatsby”), Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Thomas Wood (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), music supervisor Anton Monsted (“Australia,” “Moulin Rouge!”) and composer Elliott Wheeler (“The Get Down”).

Principal photography on “Elvis” took place in Queensland, Australia with the support of the Queensland Government, Screen Queensland and the Australian Government’s Producer Offset program.

A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, A Bazmark Production, A Jackal Group Production, A Baz Luhrmann Film, “Elvis” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is set to release in theatres in North America on June 24, 2022, and internationally beginning 22 June 2022.

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

After its Premiere at Sundance, comes this first look at BRIAN AND CHARLES, coming to theatres soon.

Synopsis:

BRIAN AND CHARLES follows Brian, a lonely inventor in rural Wales, who spends his days building quirky, unconventional contraptions that seldom work. Undeterred by his lack of success, Brian attempts his biggest project yet. Three days, a washing machine, and various spare parts later, he’s invented Charles, an artificially intelligent robot who learns English from a dictionary and has an obsession with cabbages. What follows is a humorous and entirely heartwarming story about friendship, family, finding love, and letting go.

Universal Pictures Canada/Focus Features will release BRIAN AND CHARLES in theatres on Friday, June 17, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

Netflix present a new Preview of GEEKED WEEK 2022, the five-day virtual fan event celebrating their genre series, films, and games returns on Monday, June 6 – Friday, June 10, 2022 with tons of your favorites.

See this new Trailer with snippets from The Sandman, The Umbrella Academy, Manifest, Stranger Things, The Gray Man, Alice in Borderland, Day Shift, The Sea Beast and for the first time ever, exclusive Netflix games.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

The 51st edition of the JUNO AWARDS took place tonight at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage, a return to an in-person format after the Pandemic halted celebrations last year. Held outdoors to pivot around Covid-19, the event was a welcomed return to outdoor music and this also is the first time the event was held in Toronto since 2011’s edition at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena). Tonight’s Broadcast Gala, aired live on CBC, concluded a weekend of celebrations honouring the best in the Canadian Recording Industry, including a Comedy Showcase, the Cadillac Fairview JUNO Fan Fare allowing fans to meet some of their favourite emerging Artists, plus the Opening Night Awards, held at Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

It was a star-studded affair on the outdoor Red Carpet as stars, including those performing, being honorued and nominated, made their way through, including the like of Shawn Mendes, Avril Lavigne and fiancé Mod Sun, Deborah Cox, Chris Bosh, Mustafa, Charlotte Cardin and several more. Host Simu Liu, star of Marvel’s SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS also graced us with his presence in a hot pink suit.

See Liu‘s Opening tonight, getting a little help from Michael Buble, Kim’s Convenience Co-star Andrew Phung.

Winning top honours tonight was Montreal’s Charlotte Cardin, who has had a career year and now is touring in support of her Album PHOENIX, which garnered her Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year and Single of the Year for “Meaningless” which she performed live on the Broadcast.

Pickering’s Shawn Mendes also fared very well not only being honoured with the International Achievement Award, but also received the TikTok JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD, based on fan votes.

Scarborough’s Deborah Cox was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The R&B Vocalist known best for her smash hit “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here“, was supposed her ber friend and NBA Hall of Famer Chris Bosh who surprised. Several stars like Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Angela Bassett and John Legend recorded video greetings congratulating her.

Global Superstar Avril Lavigne might not have received any awards tonight, but added tons of starpower to the Awards this year, performing a Medley of her hits including “Complicated”/”Bite Me”/”Girlfriend”/”Sk8r Boi” and “I’m With You”. At her Ricoh Colisseum show last night, her label honoured her with a plaque for single “Bite Me” which has reached gold status in Canada.

The 2022 Humanitarian Award Presented by Music Canada was given to Susan Aglukark, recognizing her commitment to improving the lives of children and youth in Northern Indigenous communities.

Some magical Red Carpet moments we snapped tonight:

Guests tonight got to experience this amazing Photo Op Booth courtesy of SONOS!

What a weekend!

The JUNO Awards return to Edmonton in 2023. Complete list of winners here.

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

The 2022 JUNO Opening Night Awards were held tonight at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, in advance of tomorrow night’s Broadcast Gala at Budweiser Stage!

Taking home top honours was Montreal’s CHARLOTTE CARDIN, taking three awards: Single of the Year Presented by Live Nation Canada, Artist of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada and Pop Album of the Year for PHOENIX. Scarborough’s THE WEEKND followed Cardin with two awards for Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year and Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN. 

The Opening Night Awards marked the first time 24 Artists won JUNOs, including the likes of Allison Russell (Contemporary Roots Album of the Year), Andrea Jin 金玉琪 (Comedy Album of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada), Charmaine (Rap Single of the Year Presented by ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective), youngest ever JUNO winner Kairo McLean at age 13 (Reggae Recording of the Year), MONOWHALES (Breakthrough Group of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters), Mustafa (Alternative Album of the Year Presented by CBC Music) and more. Global Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo also won International Album of the Year for her debut LP SOUR.

Major honourees tonight also included Denise Jones, posthumously awarded the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award. Accepting the award on behalf of Denise were her two sons Jesse and Jerimi. Three-time JUNO Award winner, Susan Aglukark, was recognized with the 2022 Humanitarian Award Presented by Music Canada. Aglukark was honoured for her commitment to improving the lives of children and youth in Northern Indigenous communities. Dallas Green was named the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award Presented by Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation with the award for his dedicated support of MusiCounts and music education.

Complete list of winners here.

The Broadcast Gala, hosted by Simu Liu, airs 8 PM ET on CBC.

(Photo credit: CARAS)

The JUNOS celebrations continue in Toronto, honouring the best in Canadian Music! The Cadillac Fairview JUNO FAN FARE took place this afternoon at Eaton Centre as some of the biggest names to emerge in music from Canada graced the stage at the Meet & Greet, giving fans an opportunity to meet some of their new faves! A welcome return to in-person events, encouraging safety protocols to be observed despite social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines loosening-up recently in Toronto. Delighted fans even walked away with Cadillac Fairview Gift Cards!

Appearing at the event were Toronto’s own JP Saxe, who has built a massive following worldwide, and his smash hit “If the World Was Ending” with Julia Michaels, has dominated airwaves globally. Vancouver Island’s Lauren Spencer-Smith, who is known for advancing to the Top 20 of American Idol, but also her 2019 effort UNPLUGGED, VOL. 1 EP also garnered her a JUNO nomination. Among the others to appear were Regina’s Tesher known for his viral hit on TikTok, “Jalebi Baby”; double nominee Savanna Ré from Toronto; JUNO-winning Rap Artist TOBi from Toronto; Ottawa’s Elijah Woods who was nominated in 2020 for hit “Ain’t Easy“; and of course, Toronto Band Valley, who also are JUNO-nominated.

While we didn’t get a chance to see them in-person based on scheduling during Saxe‘s slot, Manitoba’s Faouzia and London’s Emanuel also were at the event too – a shame as we wish we didn’t have to choose!

Saxe performed a two-song set for the audience and will be back in Toronto this July for a two-night stint at The Danforth Music Hall as part of his Feelings are Stupid Tour. He also is building his following internationally collaborating with American-Chinese Megastar Eric Chou on “A Little Bit Yours“.

Some Snaps from the event:

… and of course, we’re just like you. We’re a fan too! Do you think we’d miss our chance to meet these stars?

The JUNO Awards take place tomorrow night at Budweiser Stage, and air on CBC at 8 PM ET!

(Photo/video credit: CBC)

Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS reigns a second straight week, taking $75 million from 4,534 theatres for Disney, bringing its total to $230.4 million in North America.

THE BAD GUYS lands in second with $7.4 million for Universal Pictures, taking its tally to $66.7 million.

Debuting in third goes to the remake of Stephen King‘s FIRESTARTER, with $5.3 million from 3,412 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Horror partly-filmed in Toronto starring Zac Efron, also arrives on streaming service Peacock. It gets 13% on the Tomatometer.

Fourth is SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 with $4.9 million, for a total $176 million in its domestic run for Paramount Pictures.

At the bottom of the Top Five is EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE with $3.3 million, a total $47 million grossed thus far for A24/Elevation Pictures.

The 2022 Cannes Film Festival kicks-off Tuesday, May 18, 2022 and runs till Saturday, May 28, 2022. This will be our first official year at the Festival as our Amanda Gilmore will be on the French Riviera covering the Festival!

Returning to its traditional May slot, the Festival serves as a major precursor to what we might see Awards Season later this year. But timed perfectly, some huge Blockbusters like TOP GUN: MAVERICK and Baz Luhrmann‘s ELVIS will be getting their chance to premiere before the world. Many eyes will be on Openight Night film Michel Hazanavicius’ FINAL CUT, David Cronenberg’s Athens-filmed CRIMES OF THE FUTURE and Closing Night selection SHOWING UP from Director Kelly Reichardt.

Amanda previews for us her six-most eagerly-anticipated titles of the Festival.

CRIMES OF THE FUTURE

Canada’s David Cronenberg is finally back at Cannes and is bringing Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux and Viggo Mortensen with him. Crimes of the Future takes place in the not-so-distant future where the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. In a recent interview, Cronenberg said he’s expecting walkouts at the Festival screenings. This only makes us want to see it more! It will compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or.

DECISION TO LEAVE

After spending some time making television, Director Park Chan-wook has returned to Film with Decision to Leave. It’s a mystery thriller that follows a detective who falls for a widow after she becomes the prime suspect in his latest murder investigation. We are fans of Chan-wook’s prior films such as Oldboy and Stoker. We can’t wait to see what he’s got up his sleeve for Decision to Leave. It will compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or.

ELVIS

We have been waiting for this biopic of Elvis Presley for some time now after production was halted at the beginning of the pandemic. Finally, it will be having its world premiere at the Festival and we couldn’t be happier. Baz Luhrmann is bringing his dazzling direction to the Rock Legend’s life and he’s assembled quite the cast. We can’t wait to see Austin Butler become the man himself and Tom Hanks’ portrayal of his manager Colonel Tom Parker.

THE SILENT TWINS

This Film tells the true, eerie story of twin sisters who were entirely silent, communicating only with each other as children. As teenagers, they became obsessed with writing fiction, then with teenage boys, and finally, with crime. It’s Written and Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska and stars Letitia Wright as both sisters. It will screen in-competition for the Un Certain Regard Award.

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING

Writer-Director George Miller is returning to Cannes for this Fantasy Romance starring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton. It follows a lonely scholar on a trip to Istanbul who discovers a Djinn who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. What she wants is love, but can and should he grant it to her? We can’t wait to see what epic journey Miller brings us on this time.

WAR PONY

Actress Riley Keogh is making her Director Debut with War Pony. She Co-Directs with Gina Gammell and the Film is based on real events. It follows the interlocking stories of three Lakota men living on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The three tales explore the concept of belonging: a child belonging to a family, a man belonging to “America,” and an elder belonging to his Tribe. It will screen in-competition for the Un Certain Regard Award.

Stay tuned for our coverage and bookmark this link for updated Reviews and coverage!

Apple TV+ are making their foray into animated features. LUCK will arrive on the streaming service this coming August! Here is your look at the brand-new Teaser!

Synopsis:

“Luck” centres around the story of Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest person in the world. When she discovers the never-before-seen Land of Luck, Sam must unite with the magical creatures there to turn her luck around. Eva Noblezada (“Hadestown,” “Miss Saigon,” “Yellow Rose”) will provide the voice for “Sam.” When she ages out of foster care, Sam discovers the Land of Luck and embarks on a quest that could change her luck forever. Simon Pegg (“Mission: Impossible,” “Ice Age,” “Star Trek Beyond”) will provide the voice for “Bob,” a lucky black cat from the Land of Luck, where “The Captain,” voiced by Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner Whoopi Goldberg, stands guard as the Head of Security. Bob becomes Sam’s partner in the quest to find a lucky penny in hopes of preserving his lucky life. 

Also joining is Flula Borg (“Suicide Squad 2,” “Pitch Perfect,” “Trolls World Tour”), who will provide the voice for “Jeff the Unicorn,” a larger-than-life facilities engineer who maintains the magical machine that distributes good and bad luck to the human world and who dreams of one day being reunited with his one true love, The CEO of Good Luck, The Dragon, voiced by two-time Academy Award winner Jane Fonda. Lil Rel Howery (“Free Guy,” “Vacation Friends,” “Judas and the Black Messiah”) will provide the voice for “Marv,” the owner of the “Flowers & More” store where Sam gets her first job, who is upbeat, sharply-dressed, and always ready with an encouraging word for unlucky Sam. 

Additional cast members include Colin O’Donoghue (“Once Upon a Time,” “The Right Stuff,” “The Rite”) who will provide the voice for “Gerry,” a loyal leprechaun who adores his job working with Bob at “Arrivals and Departures” in the Land of Good Luck and is the first to volunteer for any task, bringing good cheer wherever he goes. John Ratzenberger (“Cheers,” “Empire Strikes Back,” “A Bridge Too Far”) will provide the voice for “Rootie,” a bad luck root and the self-appointed mayor of Bad Luck, who runs “The Lucky Shot,” the one and only Bad Luck watering hole, where he specializes in free advice. Adelynn Spoon (“Watchmen,” “Tell Me Your Secrets,” “Sweet Magnolias”) will provide the voice for “Hazel,” Sam’s roommate and best friend at the Summerland Home for Girls, who is five years old and believes that she’ll be adopted by her forever family just as soon as she finds a real lucky penny, which Sam is determined to find her.

Check-out this adorable Care Package for LUCK which we received!

LUCK arrives on Apple TV+ August 5, 2022.

(Photo credit: Apple TV+)