#HOTDOCS: 2022 HOT DOCS CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL PREVIEW GUIDE

Boasting over 226 films this year, HOT DOCS ’22 promises to be bigger and better than ever, and this year Festival-goers again will be able to enjoy the Festival in-person and also digitally! The Festival takes place between April 28 to May 8, 2022 with many amazing premieres including Jennifer Baichwal‘s INTO THE WEEDS (Opening Night Film) and gripping Prime Video Series THE UNSOLVED MURDER OF BEVERLY LYNN SMITH. And in addition to great Films and Series, are special live events like the Big Ideas presented by Scotia Wealth Management series which will bring The Kids in the Hall back in their much-touted comeback, plus also a special presentation of Sundance Award-winning Documentary NAVALNY. Abigail E. Disney, great-niece of Walt Disney will be here to present THE AMERICAN DREAM AND OTHER FAIRY TALES. If this weren’t exciting enough, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu will do the Toronto leg of his WE WERE DREAMERS Book Tour with an In-Conversation at Hot Docs Friday, May 13, 2022 with some special guests! And also, Jay Baruchel will be at the Festival for WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE (EVEN JAY BARUCHEL), a new Series in which he explores the end of the world!

Our Team have had the pleasure of previewing some of the most-talked-about titles to premiere at HOT DOCS ’22. Let’s check-in on some of their recommendations!

GEORGE KOZERA (@PartyG)

FRAMING AGNES

Hot on the heels after winning two awards at the recent Sundance Film Festival, FRAMING AGNES initially positions itself as a Documentary about Agnes, a trans woman in the 1950s who lied to Harold Garfinkel (a UCLA gender health researcher), about being born intersex to qualify for gender-confirmation surgery. In 2017, she admitted she lied about her medical condition to have the surgery. Director Chase Joynt gained access to Garfinkel’s archives where he not only found Agnes’ transcripts but also transcripts of five other transgender interviewees and cleverly reimagines telling all their stories as a television talk show set half a century ago.

I originally resisted watching FRAMING AGNES as I personally am not a fan of documentaries heavily reliant on re-enactments of events, but as he did with “No Ordinary Man” the powerful Documentary on the life of musician Billy Tipton, Joynt vibrantly and with great finesse recreates and captures the essence of these six individuals. What makes this movie even more fascinating is hearing the Cast (which include Angelica Ross from “Pose”, Zackary Drucker from “Transparent”, Silas Howard who directed “A Kid Like Jake” and Jen Richards) talk about their own experiences as a trans person with some parallels to the lives of the subject matter they are portraying. With insight provided by Jules Gill-Peterson, an author and professor of transgender history at John Hopkins University, FRAMING AGNES is equally illuminating and thought provoking and highly recommended.

FRAMING AGNES screens at Hot Docs ’22 as follows:
TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre 1 – Sunday, May 1st @ 8:30pm
Varsity Cinemas Theatre 8 – Thursday, May 5th @ 5:45pm

Online Screening Information:
Online streaming is available for five days starting on MAY 2 at 9:00 AM.

SCRAP
Feature Film Documentaries is a genre I gravitate towards as it offers insights to historical events or an individual that we only may have a limited knowledge of. It can illuminate, educate, and entertain all at once. What I learned watching Writer/Producer/Director Stacey Tenenbaum’s SCRAP is that I never thought I’d be completely enthralled with a movie about discarded scrap metal! Playing on the theme of what becomes of things when they die and making us re-examine our relationship with items we throw away as our lives are becoming more filled with disposal items, SCRAP takes us on a global journey where we see how “one man’s junk” is lovingly restored and reinvented.

From a family of seven adults and eight children in Thailand that live in the fuselage of a discarded airplane and charge admission to those wanting a unique Selfie experience to an architect in Spain dismantling a cargo ship to incorporate into the design of a modern church being built in Korea, this visually stunning movie is masterful in execution. This Hot Docs World Premiere keeps the audience entranced as they travel to India to see workers taking apart millions of cellphones, the UK where the old telephone booths are meticulously brought to back to life and South Dakota where a Sculptor works magic with farm machinery parts. The commentaries from Photojournalists, Artists, and Architects (just a few to mention) are insightful with borderline religious profundity.

SCRAP is a cinematic marvel and made me think twice about the repercussions of throwing away things I no longer want nor need.

SCRAP screens at HOT DOCS ’22 as follows:
Sunday, May 1 – 2:00pm – Isabel Bader Theatre, Toronto
Wednesday, May 4 – 11:00am – Cineplex Varsity 8, Toronto
Monday, May 2 – Saturday, May 7 – Canada-wide Online Streaming

SAM NOW
It must be emotionally unfathomable for a young child to have a parent just disappear one day, which is what happened to Sam Harkness when he was 14-years-old. In SAM NOW, Sam’s older stepbrother by nine years, Director Reed Harkness uses a wealth of home movies and family interviews to navigate the many mysteries of his mother Jois’ disappearance. As the narrative unfolds, we witness Sam coming of age as he tries to break free from a singular traumatic event, one that has replicated itself in his family for generations. We see him take a 2,000-mile road trip in search of answers. We learn of his mother Jois’ complicated adoption history from Japan. And we experience the ripple effects on the Harkness family including Sam’s brother Jared, father Randy and grandma Doris.

Edited with precision, SAM NOW explores many emotional topics which include emotional child abuse and narcissism with finesse and even humour. It was fascinating to watch the Harkness throughout the 25-year span this movie covers. Scenes of discomfort marry beautifully with lighthearted ones. Ultimately, it is a story of forgiveness and acceptance, and I cannot wait to see what Director Reed Harkness will do next.

World Premiere Screenings at Hot Docs ’22:
Sunday, May 1 at 5:45 PM
TIFF Bell Lightbox 2
Thursday, May 5 at 2:45 PM
Varsity 8

Also streaming on Hot Docs at Home:
Starting on Monday, May 2 at 9:00 AM

HOUSEWITZ
A survivor of the Westerbork concentration camp, Lous suffers from agoraphobia and hasn’t left her home in decades. With her cat keeping her company, she revels in travel shows on TV and dancing to the music of Tiësto. She is also plagued with recurrent dreams where she is lost and cannot find her way back home. HOUSEWITZ, nominated for an IDFA Award for Best Dutch Film, Lous’ daughter, Filmmaker Oeke Hoogendijk documents her mother’s lift with stern precision.

Indeed, Lous is an interesting character. She is as articulate as she is demanding. Her home would make for a fascinating episode of “Hoarders” and her salty language could make a sailor on shore leave blush. However, it is visually pedantic and the movie offers no original insights into the Holocaust survivor Documentary genre.

HOUSEWITZ screens at HOT DOCS ’22 as follows:
Sunday May 1st, 02:45 PM, Varsity 6
Thursday May 5th, 05:15 PM, Varsity 7

THE ART OF SILENCE
Growing-up, Marcel Marceau was a steady fixture on late night talk shows and variety shows. Marceau’s brilliance in bringing to life his signature character Bip with only body movements and facial expressions were awe-inspiring. THE ART OF SILENCE is the first feature-length Documentary of this phenomenally-talented man, who turned mime into an art form.

While employing many conventions of a Documentary Biopic, which include interviews with Marceau’s widow and daughters and learning how he joined the French Resistance to smuggle Jewish children to Switzerland (which, in itself, is beautifully portrayed in Jesse Eisenberg’s “Resistance”), Director Maurizio Starkly Drux skillfully presents how Marceau influenced and enhanced the lives of many, including the director himself. Christoph Starkie, the Director’s deaf father, was so moved by Marceau that he became a mime himself. In THE ART OF SILENCE, we also meet Rob Mermin, a student at Marceau’s mime school, who battled Parkinson’s Disease with movement techniques he learned at the school and now teaches that technique to other Parkinson’s patients. We also meet Louis Chevalier. Marceau’s grandson, who incorporates his grandfather’s artistic influences with precise, Fosse-eques dance movements.

But the true star of THE ART OF SILENCE is Marceau and the privilege of seeing many of his performances up close and uninterrupted is cinematic nirvana.

THE ART OF SILENCE screens at HOT DOCS ’22 as follows:
Monday, May 2 – 2:45pm – Cineplex Varsity 8, Toronto
Sunday, May 8 – 8:30pm – TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto
For 5 days beginning Tuesday, May 3, 9AM – Canada-wide Online Streaming

STILL WORKING 9 TO 5
Not only was the 1980 megahit “9 to 5”, starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and (in her big-screen debut) Dolly Parton, the first female-led Motion Picture to gross over $100 million, it was the fuel to reignite the embers of the women’s movement in the United States. STILL WORKING 9 TO 5 an entertaining Documentary that reunites the stars of the Comedy with exclusive interviews about the making of the Film. It is also a scathing indictment of the mistreatment of women in the workplace that, sadly, has not progressed as much as it should.

There is a treasure trove of goodies and trivia to discover about the making of the, now, classic Movie. It was interesting to note that the original screenplay was a much darker comedic piece (after Fonda decided against going the dramatic route) and that Lily Tomlin was not impressed with much of the comic dialogue and threatened to leave the project twice, until she learned that the Producers were thinking of replacing her with the late, great Gilda Radner. The many other fascinating tidbits I will leave for you to discover…and discover you should!

Equally as fascinating, albeit incredibly frustrating, are the travesties women experienced at their jobs and STILL WORKING 9 TO 5 succinctly and successfully touches on subjects as varied as pay inequities, sexual harassment, the almost 40-year journey in the United States to ratify the Equal Rights Amendments, the #MeToo movement and other topics. Whereas any of the aforementioned topics would make for fascinating Documentaries, we are provided with enough backstories and ammunition to go on a Google search trip.

STILL WORKING 9 TO 5 is not only engaging, but also educational as well. It’s must-see. It screens at Hot Docs ’22 as follows:
Fri, Apr 29 | 8:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox 1
Mon, May 2 | 10:00 AM Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
Sat, May 7 | 8:30 PM | Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

HUNTING IN PACKS
Truth be told, I resisted watching HUNTING IN PACKS, Writer/Director Chloe Sosa-Sims’ documentary that follows politicians Michelle Rempel Garner (Conservative, Canada), Jess Philips (Labour, UK) and Pramila Jayapal (Democrat, USA) through elections, leadership campaigns and their efforts to enact bold new policies. My erroneous assumption that I would be bombarded with political rhetoric and gender inequalities was immediately dispelled when we are first introduced to these women in power. Whereas they all have different, passionate agendas (Rempel: the Alberta pipeline, Philips: domestic violence, Jayapal: healthcare), they tell us what propelled them to enter the political arena and why they continue to assert their individual platforms despite the constant death threats or vitriolic statements they receive on their social media platforms. We watch, with rapt attention and tempered admiration, as they tirelessly work to accomplish their goals.

Sosa-Sims must be commended for successfully achieving a sense of balance without passing judgement on any government ideologies. HUNTING IN PACKS eschews the trend of many recent politically themed documentaries that want to anger the audience. She presents these three politicians with honesty, clarity, and respect. I was happy to see all three advance in their political careers but was not surprised that only two of them continue to work to achieve their original mandates.

HUNTING IN PACKS will appeal to the political junkies and illuminate those who are looking for a unique perspective. It screens at HOT DOCS ’22 as follows:

Hot Docs Public In-Person Screenings:
Monday May 2, 9pm, TIFF Bell Lightbox 1
Thursday May 5, 12:30pm, TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

IMAGES OF A NORDIC DRAMA
After finding a treasure trove of paintings from an unknown artist stored in a barn for decades, IMAGES OF A NORDIC DRAMA tell the story of how art collector Haakon Mehren endeavoured to have this work displayed at the National Museum in Norway. The artist, Aksel Waldemar Johannessen, died an alcoholic at 42 years old without ever having his work exhibited while alive and his paintings were vivid oil depictions of prostitutes and drunks living in poverty and squalor. The authorities at the time at the National Museum found the work thematically repulsive and offensive and rejected the collection. In order to legitimize the work in the eyes of art historians, curators and collectors, Mehren took great pains to exhibit the paintings – starting with a renowned gallery in Oslo and followed by successful shows in Italy and Germany, only to face constant rejection from Norway’s art establishment.

Art is subjective, whether they be on canvas or the movie screen or found on Spotify. I personally found Johannessen’s work fascinating but would never want to have it hanging over my couch! Therein lies my issues with IMAGES OF A NORDIC DRAMA. It is the first documentary from Oscar nominated Norwegian feature film Director Nils Gaup and it’s a standard “talking heads” doc that quickly fails to maintain interest. As fascinating as it was to learn about the politics of the art world and the different analyses from art experts, the same subject matter and some individual pieces of art are presented repetitively ad nauseum. Despite an applause worthy final scene, it was laborious to sit through.

IMAGES OF A NORDIC DRAMA screens at HOT DOCS ’22 as follows:

Saturday, April 30 at 11:30am
Location: Varsity 8 (55 Bloor Street West)
Thursday, May 5 at 8:45pm
Location: Varsity 8 (55 Bloor Street West)

BERNIE LANGILLE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO BERNIE LANGILLE
BERNIE LANGILLE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO BERNIE LANGILLE opens with Cpl Bernie Langille’s grandson (with the same first name) says, “This story is so unbelievable that I wouldn’t believe it myself.” On February 8, 1968, Cpl. Bernie Langille stationed at New Brunswick’s CFB Gagetown showed up in bed next to his wife, his head bleeding. He’d been out with a friend at the base canteen. The next morning, his condition worsened, and a puddle of blood was found on the basement floor. The local ER was slow getting him transported to Halifax. While waiting for the flight to Halifax, Langille was violently abused by a controversial doctor. When he finally made it to Halifax, he survived his ambulance getting hit by a train. At the hospital, following surgery, he died. More than a half-century later, Cpl. Langille’s grandson discovered his grandfather’s S.I.N. number on his tombstone and was inspired to seek answers to the cold case that was practically a family curse.

With the use of interviews, family photos and miniatures. BERNIE LANGILLE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO BERNIE LANGILLE reads like a thriller from the minds of Jonathan Kellerman or Dan Brown. It is rife with intrigue, conspiracy theories, and (what Hitchcock lovingly called) McGuffins as we enter a world of murders, drug addiction, spousal abuse, alleged Agent Orange experiments, government cover-ups, oh, there’s even a family member that is mentioned at the film’s thirty-minute mark…so many “what ifs” that it strains logic and patience. What sets this documentary apart is Director Jackie Torrens’ expert use of miniatures to re-enact and dramatize past events. I was mesmerized by the authentic attention to detail in these many scenes and genuinely appreciated this unique interpretation of a standard whodunnit nonfiction narrative.

BERNIE LANGILLE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO BERNIE LANGILLE screens at HOT DOCS ’22 as follows:

Saturday, April 30 – 8:30pm – TIFF Bell Lightbox 4, Toronto
Thursday, May 5 – 1:00pm – TIFF Bell Lightbox 3, Toronto
For 5 days beginning Sunday, May 1, 9AM – Canada-wide Online Streaming

AMANDA GILMORE (@GilmoreAmanda)

INTO THE WEEDS

Into The Weeds is a shocking, maddening and terrifying Documentary.

In 2014, Bay Area groundskeeper Dewayne “Lee” Johnson suffered from rashes following an accident at his job. His health continued to deteriorate and led to a cancer diagnosis. Johnson wondered if his illness was caused by the cleaning chemical Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, which he’d been using. When the science confirmed it was, Johnson began a legal battle against a multinational agrochemical corporation to hold them accountable.

Director Jennifer Baichwal tells Johnson’s heartbreaking story to touch on the environmental crisis and the damaging power of deep-pocketed corporations. We are reminded of the sinister powers of these multi-million dollar corporations, and how it’s nearly impossible to win over them. Yet, Baichwal gives the viewer an inspiring story to fuel our hope. Johnson’s David-and-Goliath legal battle reminds the audience that sometimes the little guy can win.

Overall, Into The Weeds is a Documentary that makes the viewer want to take action. Baichwal’s subjects expose the corruption giving the audience a wider knowledge that will make them inquire about the chemicals they use and make a change.

Into The Weeds screens on Hot Docs ’22:

Thu, Apr 28 at 6:30 PM at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

Fri, Apr 29 at 5:30 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Sat, May 7 at 1:30 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2

Online streaming is available for five days starting on Apr 29 at 9:00 AM

MAKE PEOPLE BETTER

Director Cody Sheehy’s latest Documentary is a thriller that follows the disappearance of Chinese scientist Dr. He Jiankui. Dr. He led the controversial experiment that produced the world’s first genome-edited babies. This experiment, which was supported by China’s government and top US scientists, led to an international outcry and swift moves by Chinese authorities to disappear not just Dr. He, but the twin girls whose genes he had edited.

Make People Better is a rounded look at the controversial historic event that sent the world into an uproar. Sheehy achieves this with footage of respected scientists, interviews from a scientific journalist, people who worked with Dr. He, and never-before-scene footage of Dr. He. This leads to every side of the argument being heard. In doing so, Sheehy gives insight into this procedure and the pros and cons depending on the hands of power it falls into.

When Make People Better focuses on the disappearance of Dr. He and the young twins, it brings to light the fluctuating laws of the Chinese Government. Particularly when it comes to scientific experiments and how the laws can be altered and impacted depending on public perspective. This is when the Documentary shifts into Thriller territory. Playing out like a mystery feature that has the audience an active member in trying to find the reason for the disappearance.

Make People Better screens at Hot Docs ’22:

Sat, Apr 30 at 5:15 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Tue, May 3 at 10:45 AM at Isabel Bader Theatre

Sat, May 7 at 11:45 AM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Online streaming is available for five days starting on MAY 1 at 9:00 AM

NELLY & NADINE

Nelly & Nadine is an inspiring film that reminds us about the strength of love.

Acclaimed filmmaker Magnus Gertten has made many gripping documentaries from the archival film reels shot on Malmö’s harbour in 1945. After being transfixed by the expression on Nadine Hwang’s face in the footage, he sets out to find out more about the woman. What he uncovers is a love story between Nadine, who was the daughter of a Chinese ambassador to Spain, and Opera Singer Nelly Mousset-Vos who met on Christmas Eve 1944 in Ravensbrück concentration camp.

The footage leads Gertten to the North of France where he meets Nelly’s grandchild, Sylvie. As Sylvie, for the first time, beings searching through Nelly’s archives she witnesses the love story her Grandmother and Nadine shared. This sends her on a journey to meet with archivists and those who knew both women. Slowly, the beautiful story of their unbreakable love is told. It’s a stunning, cinematic way to tell these two women’s romance.

Additionally, this Documentary depicts a Grandchild learning the truth about their Grandparent. Sylvie learns about the romantic relationship Nelly and Nadine shared, something she was kept from knowing as a child. We watch as she comes to the realization, understanding, and acceptance of her Grandmother’s truth. 

Overall, Nelly & Nadine is an inspiring love story about two women who met during the darkest of times, and despite being separated in the last months of the war managed to reunite and spend the rest of their lives together.

Nelly & Nadine screens at Hot Docs ’22:

Sat, Apr 30 at 12:00 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2

Thu, May 5 at 5:30 PM at Isabel Bader Theatre

Online streaming is available for five days starting on MAY 1 at 9:00 AM

MY OLD SCHOOL

My Old School tells the true story of Scotland’s most notorious imposter. In 1993, 16-year-old Brandon Lee enrolled in Bearsden Academy, a posh high school in the rich end of Glasgow. He clearly looked older than his classmates, but he was a model pupil so no one questioned it. A year later, the students and faculty at Bearsden were apart of a front-page scandal involving Brandon Lee and his fascinating tale of deception.

Filmmaker Jono McLeod brings us this captivating story through interviews with classmates, animation and a movie star portraying Brandon Lee. Even though the world has seen Lee before, he didn’t want to be seen in My Old School. So none other than beloved Scottish actor Alan Cummings takes his place. Cummings marvellouslyreenacts the transcript of Lee’s interview making for an enthralling viewing experience.

My Old School could easily paint Lee as a type of villain. However, McLeod attempts to understand the man and the motives behind his actions. Through interviews with his prior classmates and some faculty at Bearsden, we see how those who knew him think of what he did. At times, those classmates question the morality of the depths he went. These moments co-exist with other former students who take an empathetic look at a man who will stop at nothing to achieve his dream.

My Old School screens at Hot Docs ’22:

Sun, May 1 at 5:15 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Wed, May 4 at 10 AM at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

Sat, May 7 at 5:30 PM at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

Online streaming is available for five days starting on MAY 2 at 9:00 AM

UNLOVED

This heartbreaking Documentary dives deep into Ontario’s Huronia Regional Centre, a now-closed hospital and home for children with developmental disabilities. Filmmaker Barri Cohen interviews survivors of the abusive establishment to bring us the horrific truths they endured and how the Government at the time turned a blind-eye.

Hearing about the traumatic experiences these survivors endured makes for a difficult, but necessary watch. This institution and many similar, committed horrific, illegal, and immoral acts. Although this happened in the past, it comments on how other, similar institutions still in operation today could easily follow the same path. It’s a startling reminder that we must be vigilant and question the big institutions who care for our loved ones.

Cohen adds herself and her family as subjects in Unloved due to the personal connection they have with Huronia. In doing so, we see the generational effects one decision can have on a family. Her father placed her two half-brothers in Huronia. She never got to meet them and they died while there. Giving us this personal aspect along with the survivors stories, we get a rounded view of the lasting effects Huronia had on survivors, the ones who have past, and their families.

Unloved: Huronia’s Forgotten Children screens at Hot Docs ’22:

Tue, May 3 at 5:30 PM at Isabel Bader Theatre

Fri, May 6 at 2:15 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2

Online streaming is available for five days starting on MAY 4 at 9:00 AM

More on HOT DOCS ’22 including tickets and schedule here.

#SPOTTED: ELIO IN TORONTO AT VELVET UNDERGROUND

I only recently discovered ELIO, but it has been nothing but love for this Welsh-born, Toronto-raised Singer/Songwriter who is on the tip of Pop greatness. For one, her management includes mentor Charli XCX who continues to thrive as a global sensation and coincidentally the star was just in town this week at Massey Hall. The two collaborated on Elio’s catchy track “Charger”, which actually is how I discovered her Music!

Elio played a packed house at intimate Velvet Underground on Queen West, the crowd which knew by heart many of her Bedroom Pop jams like Jackie Onassis, @elio.irl and latest single Vitamins. The twentysomething only during the Pandemic started putting-out Music and streams have tallied-in by the millions, stamping her a real force to be reckoned with. But more than that, her silky and emotive voice has an edge and she has a way of taking you away to another place as she sings about love, anxiety and escapism as a Gen-Z queen.

Playing for just under an hour, the Singer named after Timothée Chalamet‘s character in the Novel and Film CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, shows she’s still learning to connect with her audience after gaining her following online, but as the show progressed and she came into her own, she became one with the audience. Whether she has the Vocoder turned-on or is just singing with her guitar, Elio’s talent is undeniable.

Opening Act, Alexandra Porat, also from Toronto, warmed the crowd-up with her own brand of Pop sensibility. She premiered new Track Pity Party.

Spotted in the crowd was Porat‘s mentor and “sister”, Juno-nominated Singer/Songwriter Ralph whom we love and have been waiting to see live forever!

Some Snaps from the night:

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Some of Elio’s top tracks:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS”

This looks amazing! Check-out the new Trailer for MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS, based on the beloved Novel and coming this Summer! Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert star.

Synopsis:

MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS is the enchanting tale of a seemingly ordinary British housekeeper whose dream to own a couture Christian Dior gown takes her on an extraordinary adventure to Paris.

MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS is in theatres July 15, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

#FIRSTLOOK: DISNEY AT CINEMACON 2022

Disney have unveiled a few eagerly-awaited new titles at CINEMACON in Las Vegas earlier today.

The preview included a look at three upcoming releases from 20th Century Studios: “The Bob’s Burgers Movie,” the newest film from David O. Russell (“American Hustle,” “Silver Linings Playbook”), and James Cameron’s first follow-up to his sci-fi action-adventure “Avatar,” the highest-grossing movie of all time.

AMSTERDAM

The title of Russell’s film, which will open in theatres on November 4, 2022 is “Amsterdam.” CinemaCon attendees were treated to a sizzle reel of footage from the film, which is an original romantic crime epic about three close friends who find themselves at the center of one of the most shocking secret plots in American history. Based on facts that meet fiction, “Amsterdam” stars Academy Award® winner Christian Bale, two-time Oscar® nominee Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Taylor Swift, Timothy Olyphant, Zoe Saldana, with Oscar-winner Rami Malek and two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro. Written and directed by five-time Oscar® nominee David O. Russell, the film is produced by Arnon Milchan, Matthew Budman, Anthony Katagas, David O. Russell and Christian Bale, with Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer and Sam Hanson serving as executive producers. 

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

The title of the “Avatar” sequel, which will open in theatres December 16, is “Avatar: The Way of Water.” Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive,  and the tragedies they endure. Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the film stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, and Kate Winslet. To whet audiences’ appetites, the studio will re-release “Avatar” in theatres on September 23, 2022.

The teaser trailer, which was screened in 3D for the very first time today and drew highly enthusiastic responses from the CinemaCon audience, will debut exclusively in theatres with Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” on May 6. In addition, Zoe Saldana, who stars in both “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Amsterdam,” will be receiving the CinemaCon “Star of the Year” award at the “Big Screen Achievement Award” Ceremony on Thursday evening, April 28, 2022.

BOB’S BURGERS

The studio also screened the first six minutes of “The Bob’s Burgers Movie,” which opens in theatres nationwide May 27, for convention attendees. The animated, big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure based on the long-running Emmy®-winning series showcases voice talent, which includes H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal,withZach Galifianakis, and Kevin Kline.

The film is directed by Loren Bouchard & Bernard Derriman. The screenplay is by Loren Bouchard & Nora Smith. The producers are Loren Bouchard, Nora Smith, and Janelle Momary-Neely.

#FIRSTLOOK: MICHAEL J. FOX TO STAR IN UNTITLED APPLE TV+ FEATURE

Apple TV+ have announced today a new upcoming Feature directed by Oscar-winning Davis Guggenheim, about starring legend Michael J. Fox!

The film is currently in production in New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver and will be a mix of scripted and archived footage of the Canadian-born star, telling us Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words — the improbable tale of an undersized kid from a Canadian army base who rose to the heights of stardom in 1980s Hollywood. The account of Fox’s public life, full of nostalgic thrills and cinematic gloss, will unspool alongside his never-before-seen private journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis, at twenty-nine, with Parkinson’s disease. Intimate and honest, and produced with unprecedented access to Fox and his family, the film will chronicle Fox’s personal and professional triumphs and travails, and will explore what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease. With a mix of adventure and romance, comedy and drama, watching the film will feel like… well, like a Michael J. Fox movie.

(Photo credit: Apple TV+/Mark Seliger)

#FIRSTLOOK: “CHIP ‘N DALE: RESCUE RANGERS” TRAILER

We present a new look at CHIP ‘N DALE: RESCUE RANGERS from SNL‘s Akiva Schaffer and starring a phenomenal Voice Cast.

Synopsis:

In “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,” Chip and Dale are living amongst cartoons and humans in modern-day Los Angeles, but their lives are quite different now. It has been decades since their successful television series was canceled, and Chip (voice of John Mulaney) has succumbed to a life of suburban domesticity as an insurance salesman. Dale (voice of Andy Samberg), meanwhile, has had CGI surgery and works the nostalgia convention circuit, desperate to relive his glory days. When a former castmate mysteriously disappears, Chip and Dale must repair their broken friendship and take on their Rescue Rangers detective personas once again to save their friend’s life. 

CHIP ‘N DALE: RESCUE RANGERS premieres May 20, 2022 on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

#FIRSTLOOK: MARGOT ROBBIE IN “BARBIE”

A new still has been released from Greta Gerwig‘s BARBIE, based on the beloved Mattel doll and starring and produced by Margot Robbie. With a Screenplay co-written by Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach, this upcoming Comedy already is stacked with an Awards-caliber pedigree!

Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Hari Nef and Will Ferrell all complete the stacked Cast!

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release BARBIE July 21, 2023.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

#SPOTTED: DAVE PORTNOY IN TORONTO 🍕

Dave Portnoy gained famed being Founder of Sports and Pop Culture Blog BARSTOOL SPORTS, but managed to parlay that into becoming an Social Media star with his wildly-popular One Bite Pizza Reviews which take him city to city, reviewing pies with his brash, direct commentary. This has been a recipe for success, winning him millions of fans, making him a poster boy for “Bro Culture”.

Portnoy made his first visit to Toronto this week flying-in on a private jet from sunny Florida. In addition to having some fun watching the Boston Red Sox in action at Rogers Centre in a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, concluding Thursday, he also came for work. Penn National Gaming purchased a 36% stake in Barstool Sports (in which he still retains creative control) back in 2020, and that same company also acquired theScore in 2021, the latter hosting Portnoy this week. He even visited their King Street West offices today in-between Pizza Reviews.

Thus far, Portnoy has sung the praises of Queen Street West’s North of Brooklyn’s Pizza (8.4/10), but then panned much-loved Maker Pizza fared worse score of 6.1/10, citing “doughiness”. He was spotted today at popular Blondies’ Pizza too so that review is coming-up soon!

BlogTO and Dave Portnoy went at it and they were both trending on Twitter, with the website calling popular Pizza spots around the City reminding them of allegations of misconduct that circulated, perhaps discouraging them from inviting him to their shops.

Portnoy then snapped back on his Instagram, adding the popular site to his “Hate List”, with his supporters also chiming-in to defend him on Twitter. Despite the drama, Portnoy was in good spirits, spotted at his hotel taking Selfies and signing autographs as he head-out to Rogers Centre and jokingly on some items he signed “F*CK BlogTO” along with his signature.

See some Snaps:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong)

Portnoy is here till the end of the week. Cannot wait to see what more antics ensue!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: “BODIES BODIES BODIES” TRAILER

After a popular premiere at SXSW ’22, here comes the new Trailer for hilarious Whodunit BODIES BODIES BODIES!

Synopsis:

From Halina Reijn and starring Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha’la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, with Lee Pace and Pete Davidson. BODIES BODIES BODIES – Only In Theaters August 5. #BodiesBodiesBodies

BODIES BODIES BODIES is in theatres August 5, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: A24)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “THE BLACK PHONE”

Ethan Hawke returns to Horror in THE BLACK PHONE. See the new Trailer.

Synopsis:

The phone is dead. And it’s ringing.

Director Scott Derrickson returns to his terror roots and partners again with the foremost brand in the genre, Blumhouse, with a new horror thriller. Finney Shaw, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.

Starring four-time Oscar® nominee Ethan Hawke in the most terrifying role of his career and introducing Mason Thames in his first ever film role, The Black Phone is produced,

directed, and co-written by Scott Derrickson, the writer-director of Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Marvel’s Doctor Strange.

The film’s screenplay is by Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill (Doctor Strange, Sinister franchise), based on the award-winning short story by Joe Hill from his New York Times bestseller 20th Century Ghosts. The film is produced by Derrickson & Cargill’s Crooked Highway and presented by Universal and Blumhouse. Jason Blum, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill are producers on the film, which is executive produced by Ryan Turek and Christopher H. Warner.

Genre: Horror

Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone and Ethan Hawke

Directed by: Scott Derrickson

Screenplay by: Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill

Based on the short story by Joe Hill

Producers: Jason Blum, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill

Executive Producers: Ryan Turek, Christopher H. Warner

THE BLACK PHONE arrives in theatres June 2, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)