JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DubsReviews)
1. Outside of walking Donnie (his Shorkie) and work, we watch a lot of TV. Binged Fringe in a week, half way through my countless re-watch of Community and Netflix is adding some great content so that keeps me entertained.

2. I miss being able to go outside and not worry about being outside.

3. Fringe minus Season 5, if you’re into trash Too Hot Too Handle, Disney+ has everything your childhood or adulthood consisted of in terms of classics like Kim Possible, Recess, X-Men the Animated Series. At the end of May they’re fixing the aspect ratio on The Simpsons, so there’s 11-13 quality seasons of Television, with another 17 seasons sprinkled in.

4. Tenet. Nothing short of it. It’s also one of two movies that is still tentatively opening this year that I can remember. Haha

NICHOLAS PORTEOUS (@NoveltyHat)

1. Most of my days involve checking current turnip prices in the morning and reporting them to my close circle of Animal Crossing confidants while tending to my island, going for an indoor bike ride while Pokébattling, attempting to make some progress on a 1000-piece Mexico Tourism puzzle I bought for $3 long before the Pandemic–hardest puzzle of my life–developing personal projects like sketches, shorts and video essays, working the odd gig that comes my way whether that’s editing or virtual hosting, a round or two of Fortnite, and an unhealthy amount of streaming.

2. I miss people. People were fun. I miss not being even a little selective about where I went or who I saw. Thankfully, I still have a girlfriend (for half the week)! I miss Theatre and Film. I miss the streetcar! I miss thinking about going on a trip, even if I didn’t actually go.

3. For my money, COVID-viewing is all about finding the lengthiest entertainment:

– When the Levees Broke is a fantastic four-part HBO Documentary Series by Spike Lee about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. It feels awfully relevant right now, and makes me extremely thankful to be Canadian, and to be dealing with a crisis that hasn’t come anywhere close to unraveling my life.

– OJ: Made in America is another towering long-form Doc that leaves American Crime Story in the dust–IMO–by putting the trial in its much needed, painfully ironic civil rights context. This must be the fifth time I’ve watched all seven-ish hours and it never ceases to astound me.

– Middleditch and Schwartz is a Netflix experiment in long-form improv, and I hope it becomes a long-term part of their programming! Each of the three specials is comedy magic. Two best buds making impressively elaborate nonsense over a single sustained narrative.

– Survivor: Winners at War is a flawed, but fantastic season of one the all-time great shows. And there’s a cool bonus feeling of normalcy from tuning in live, only to be reminded of the virus by EVERY commercial masquerading as a PSA.

– The Pop Culture Detective is a YouTube channel featuring longer essays about unsettling trends in mainstream masculinity. It’s eye-opening, exhaustive and genuinely entertaining to unpack. For any Creator, it’s fun to imagine what Film, TV and Video Games might look like if these ideas were taken into account.

– Finally, there’s a lot of excellent, free theatre on offer right now. Check the YouTube channels for National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and Stratford Festival.

4. Post-COVID anticipations:

– I’m very excited to see A Quiet Place Part II because it was supposed to be my first assignment for Mr. Will Wong as a Contributor! If it’s not streamed, going to see it will signify some kind of return to the things I’ve missed.

– I’m Thinking of Ending Things is Charlie Kaufman’s next. If it comes into existence after this tragically low-output period in his career, that’ll be a major win in itself.

– Who WASN’T excited for Tenet, the next Chris Nolan madhouse?? It looks to be the purest expression of his timeplay aesthetic.

– Barbie, Greta Gerwig‘s next, co-written by Noah Baumbach and starring Margot Robbie as, yeah, BARBIE. No explanation needed.

– Annette, Leos Carax’s first film since Holy Motors eight years ago, easily one of the top movies of the 2010s.

– The Tragedy of Macbeth, with a surprisingly solo-directing Joel Coen.

– The Many Saints of Newark. It’s theoretically another couple of episodes of The Sopranos. I’ll be there.

I’m excited for all the virus-related Filmmaking we’re in store for generally. Processing this moment in history through any lens–whether it’s a personal narrative, Doc, or demented Sci-Fi extrapolation–will be an essential part of our collective recovery. I made a Short Film in isolation and it certainly helped. This is the dawn of a genre.

AMANDA GILMORE (@GilmoreAmanda)

1. My average day in  isolation mainly consists of reading a lot of books. If anyone is looking for one I HIGHLY recommend The Wives by Tarryn Fisher. I do some at-home workouts to keep my energy and spirits up. And I’ve been doing some free online courses to keep my brain stimulated.

2. What I miss most about my pre-isolation life is being able to go out for dinner and sitting in a cinema.

3. Let’s be serious though, I’ve been watching a lot of TV and Movies! If you are looking for some recommendations mine are below:

NETFLIX: Watch or re-watch THE OFFICE. I watched it from beginning to end for my third-time while in quarantine and it brought me so much joy.

TV: Sunday’s just got better because the Third Season of KILLING EVE has finally begun. If you haven’t watched before, please do so! The Show’s phenomenal.

MOVIES: BOOKSMART and THE INVISIBLE MAN are outstanding!

4. I have a gigantic list of movies I can’t wait to see in the cinema, once it’s safe to do so! One at the top of my list is A QUIET PLACE: PART II.

1. Since self-isolation, I have been vacillating between hyperactivity and heavenly sloth. Case in point: I have just shy of 1500 titles on DVD and Blu ray. When the precariously-stacked hundreds of movies inevitably fulfilled its destiny and tumbled, leaving my living room floor carpeted in a psychedelic kaleidoscope of plastic covered movie art, I damp wiped, dried, reorganized, re-shelved and documented 1500 movies. Since then, freshly showered but unshaven (rueful that my beard will never attain Michael McDonald or Dave Baldwin greatness), I lounge on my sofa and have movie themed days…French language cinema, trilogies of movies I’m embarrassed to admit I own (50 Shades), sequels I’ve never seen to movies I enjoyed (Now You See Me 2, Maleficent 2). Today, as I transform five pounds of stewing beef into Hungarian Goulash, it will either be the last three Star Wars movies or the best of Xavier Dolan or finally start watching Downton Abbey.

2. What I miss, the few times I venture out to get provisions, is the energy I always get when walking the streets of Toronto. The vibrancy of living in Canada’s most diverse city is curtailed. I also miss dinner parties. And hugs…man, do I ever miss hugs!

3. I was quite impressed with RESISTANCE (VOD), the true story of famed Mime Artist, Marcel Marceau and how he saved hundreds of Jewish orphans during WWII. In what could have been a disastrous casting choice, Jesse Eisenberg (in real life, 36 years old) gives an awards-calibre performance as Marceau (who wasn’t even 20 years old when the Movie evens took place). I also really enjoyed Hugh Jackman in BAD EDUCATION (Crave). On the TV front, I am a big fan of CTV‘s latest Drama TRANSPLANT with its many Toronto location shots and the powerful work from its lead actor, Hamza Haq. Lastly, I am obsessed with ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST and TOP CHEF (both the Canadian and American versions).

4. Once it will be safe to savour movies again on the big screen, there are three movies I am salivating to see: MULAN, IN THE HEIGHTS and Spielberg‘s version of WEST SIDE STORY.

DAVE BALDWIN (@DaveMABaldwin)

1. Average day the past six weeks has revolved entirely around feeding, changing and calming down baby Quentin. Not much I can do outside of watch TV/Movies — there’s no time for anything else!

2. I miss having conversations inside my house with family and friends, as opposed to standing six feet apart in my driveway. I’d also prefer to not have to wear gloves and a mask when I leave the house.

3. I’ve been enjoying watching Feel Good and The Last Dance on Netflix, and Run on Crave. Fleabag as well on Amazon Prime, so good! And spent way too much time watching repeats of The Big Bang Theory.

Movie-wise, I enjoyed The Half of It on Netflix and re-watching Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood on Crave. Looking forward to watching Blood Quantum and The Assistant on VOD in the coming weeks!

4. Toss-up between Tenet and No Time to Die.

1. My average day follows my normal routine as much as possible. Get-up at seven and get ready for work, only now I don’t go into the office. Washed and caffeinated, I plug away on my computer at home for eight to ten hours. Then it’s time for my daily walk before I jump on Xbox. After gaming, I close out the day with Netflix and a book in bed. Lately, I’ve been reading Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

2. As the French term it, “joie de vivre.” That cheerful enjoyment of life — en masse — is missed.

3. Netflix has been killing it lately with great TV like:

• Tiger King
• The Last Dance
• Never Have I Ever
• Nadiya’s Time to Eat
• Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045

I’ve also been loving Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Prop Culture on Disney+, and finally got around to watching His Dark Materials… it was amazing. I can’t wait for Season 2.

2. I’m excited for movies in general. I miss the theatre. Despite building myself a great home theatre, I still prefer the traditional experience. It makes movie watching an event, and I miss that level of depth to the experience. That said, as for specific films I’m looking forward to, definitely Mulan. I haven’t been excited for a Disney “live-action“ ever, but that movie looks beautiful. In addition, I’m itching for Tenet. I need the sublimation that comes from films like Nolan’s.

1. While Covid-19 has halted many aspects of my life, my work life remains really busy as we are supporting people impacted at work.

On the website, I am more focusing on streaming releases and running promotions for digital and on-demand versus theatrical releases right now.

Luckily, I get to work from home, so I can be there with my parents right now who are at risk and elderly. I enjoy keeping them excited about food, helping with errands, household tasks, groceries and cooking. I look forward to making new things all the time (which I’ve been posting on my Instagram: mrwillwong). I also enjoy singing and have been posting covers of songs I adore too!

While I don’t have the gym access I normally do, I try to fit-in long walks (sometimes just to take-out Bubble Tea!). That helps clear my mind. I have literally run out of things to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime!

2. I miss my movies in the theatre and pumping everyone up about new releases, but that will come again!

I miss seeing my coworkers, team and friends in-person but thankfully feel like I haven’t skipped a step with chat platforms and Social Media.

I miss also seeing my godchildren (Mr Will & Princess) and can’t wait to go on adventure to the country to see them. I miss seeing the horse races live and photographing them, which has been my weekend love for years.

And going to Starbucks.

3. FX’s Mrs. America is mindblowingly-good. I love great acting at the Cast is sublime. The characters are so well-written and acted and I love that everyone is grappling with complicated conflicts.

I have watched a lot of cooking and baking shows like all seasons of The Great Canadian Baking Show, Nailed It! and The Chef’s Line and those are awesome, quick watches.

I zipped through Hollywood and Season 3 of Ozark quickly too. Just saw A Secret Love (about two real-life Rockford Peaches from A League of their Own) and am half-way through Never Have I Ever.

4.  I need to see Mulan. It pains me I was literally three days away from attending a press screening for it when isolation started. Also, West Side Story and Top Gun: Maverick.

Stay in-touch with us at Mr. Will on Facebook and comment on this post some of your recommendations and what you’re looking forward to post-isolation!

Keeneland Bread Pudding. Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky makes the best Bread Pudding and believe me, it is all the hype! We haven’t stopped thinking about it since having some. We hope to make another trip there this November for the Breeders’ Cup and get the real deal! 🍞🏇 During isolation, they have been kind enough to share their legendary recipe with fans! They use Sister Shubert Rolls, which we don’t have out our way. But we baked some superb fresh white bread last week, froze it and this was the perfect way to give it new life! Other modifications, we reduced the recipe to a third (we don’t have a party of 20 to serve it to sadly!), cutting down some of the sugar as well. I added nutmeg, the original recipe has cinnamon only. And the Bourbon Sauce absolutely is a must!

Ingredients:
1/3 loaf of white bread, cut into 1″ cubes
3 eggs
3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup organic raw sugar
1/3 cup golden raisins
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Bourbon Sauce:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup icing sugar
2 tbsps Bourbon (they use Maker’s Mark)

Instructions:
1. Beat eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla with handmixer.
2. In large bowl, pour batter over bread cubes. Soak minimum 2 hours in refrigerator.
3. Preheat oven at 275°F.
3. Transfer mixture to greased baking pan. Press-on raisins, sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. Bake 90 minutes or till pudding is golden brown and bounces back with a firm press. Allow to cool an hour.
5. In mixing bowl, whisk butter, Bourbon and icing sugar till creamy. Set aside and serve over warm Bread Pudding.

Official Recipe:

Curry Fish Balls Skewers. These are a beloved Chinese Street Food, sold at vendors and night markets. Fish Balls if you’ve never had them, are not unlike Hot Dogs when speaking to their texture and accessibility. They are made from the flesh of white fish, pounded and combined with starch, boasting a delightful chewy texture. It is common they are cooked in a curry sauce and skewered, or added to your Ramen. Enjoy this part of my childhood!

Ingredients:
2 packs of Fish Balls (fried or not), defrosted
1/2 can Coconut Milk
1/2 block Glico Medium Curry
2 tbsps dark soy sauce
2 tsps curry powder
2 shallots, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp organic raw sugar
1 tbsp Canola oil

Instructions:
1. Sautée garlic and shallots in oil in medium-sized pot till caramelized, on medium-high heat.
2. Add Fish Balls and fry till just golden.
3. Add 1 cup water, sugar, coconut milk, soy sauce and curries. Bring to boil.
4. Reduce to low heat and simmer 15-20 minutes. The Fish Balls may expand, but don’t worry, when they shrink again, they will absorb even more of that superb sauce.
5. Serve on skewers.

Gallery:

Kentucky Derby Cake. For the first time in 75 years, the most exciting 2 minutes in Sports won’t be contested the first Saturday in May. We’re still celebrating! 95% of all Bourbon is produced in Kentucky and we thought we’d celebrate this beautiful state and our love for horses with this moist, buttery, nutty creation pronounced with the popular whiskey. And what says Kentucky Derby more than an adornment of roses? We’re taking you into the winner’s circle! Might we suggest a nice, bright Bourbon cocktail like a Libertine to go with your slice? 🌹🏇

Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups flour
1 cup butter, room temperature
3 tbsp Crisco Golden
1 cup whole milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice, let sit 1 hour room temperature
3/4 cup organic raw sugar
4 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup Bourbon (Woodford Reserve, official Kentucky Derby sponsor)
1/2 cup pecans, toasted
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Bourbon Pecan Icing:
2 cups icing sugar
3 tbsps Bourbon
1/4 cup half & half
1/4 cup pecans, toasted

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven at 350°F.
2. In large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and Crisco.
3. In separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
4. In small bowl, mix milk, Bourbon and vanilla.
5. Combine flour into butter bit by bit, beating with handmixer.
6. Add milk mixture and beat till smooth.
7. Fold-in pecans with spatula.
8. Grease Bundt pan and dust with flour, tapping-out excess flour.
9. Pour batter into pan, levelling with spatula.
10. Place in oven, baking 45 minutes or till toothpick comes out clean.
11. Cool cake 20 minutes, using spatula around edges to loosen it from pan. Flip cake over onto a platter.
12. Cool 1 hour.
13. Prepare icing by mixing icing sugar, Bourbon and cream by hand. Icing shouldn’t be too thick nor too thin.
14. Use a spoon and drape icing over cake. Sprinkle toasted pecans over top of cake evenly.
15. Stand 1 hour before serving. Garnish hollow of cake with roses.

Seared Lamb Chops in Balsamic Reduction. I love me some lamb, which I get to enjoy only a couple times a year. Possessing a natural gaminess, some find its taste unpleasant, hence marinating it with herbs overnight certainly helps. Seasoned right and seared at a high heat for a short time, lamb chops can be just as satisfying as a juicy steak!

Lamb Chops:
8 lamb chops, cleaned and pat dry with paper towels
1 tbsp basil, chopped
3 sprigs rosemary (1 for garnish)
1 tbsp thyme
2 tbsps olive oil
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Balsamic Reduction:
3/4 cup chicken/beef broth
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup cherry tomatoes
2 shallots, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon organic raw sugar

Turmeric Almond Raisin Rice:
1 cup long grain rice
1/2 cup beef/chicken stock
1 cup water
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup almond slivers
1 teaspoon Turmeric
Sea salt, to taste

Asparagus:
1 bunch of Asparagus, cleaned
2 tbsps unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon wedge
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:
1. For rice, combine all ingredients in rice cooker and once cooked, fluff before serving.
2. For Asparagus, sautée butter and garlic. Once browned, add Asparagus and cook medium-high heat for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and squirt lemon wedge over top before plating.
3. Marinate lamb chops in salt, pepper, oil, basil, thyme and rosemary. Seal in Ziploc bag(s) and refrigerate overnight.
4. Heat large skillet with oil on medium-high heat. Once hot, sear lamb chops 3-4 minutes per side. Place on warm platter.
5. Sautée shallots and garlic in butter. Once caramelized, add vinegar, sugar and stock. Add cherry tomatoes. Cook-down till liquid is reduced and thickened. This takes 5 or more minutes on medium-high heat, uncovered.
6. Pour reduction over lamb chops and garnish with sprig of rosemary. Serve with Turmeric Almond Raisin Rice and Asparagus.

Gallery:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Synopsis:
Autumn de Wilde’s feature debut EMMA. is “irresistible” (Justin Chang, NPR) and “the best adaptation yet” (Matt Goldberg, Collider), featuring a fresh and razor-sharp screenplay by Man Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton (“The Luminaries”) that stays true to Austen’s endearing novel and brings to life the English Countryside in 1815. With an exceptional ensemble cast lead by Anya Taylor-Joy EMMA. is rounded out by Johnny Flynn (Beast), Bill Nighy (Love Actually, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Series), Mia Goth (Suspiria), Josh O’ Connor (“The Crown”), Miranda Hart (Spy, “Call the Midwife”), Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, “War & Peace”), Tanya Reynolds (“Sex Education”), Connor Swindells (“Sex Education”), Rupert Graves (“Sherlock,” A Room with a View) and Gemma Whelan (“Game of Thrones”).

BLU-RAY™, DVD & DIGITAL BONUS FEATURES:

· Deleted Scenes

· Gag Reel

· A Playful Tease – Go behind the scenes with the talented cast of EMMA. as they share their experiences making the film.

· Crafting a Colorful World* – Cast and crew discuss the gorgeously preserved locations, extravagant set dressing, and authentic Regency costumes featured in EMMA..

· The Autumn Gaze* – An intimate look at director Autumn de Wilde‘s filmmaking process and her photographic eye.

· Feature Commentary with Director Autumn de Wilde, Screenwriter Eleanor Catton, and Director of Photography Christopher Blauvelt

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra shot. You must be following to qualify!

Rules and regulations here.

EMMA. is on Digital May 5, 2020 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD May 19, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)

With Hollywood Suite being offered as a free preview with many service providers, you might be wondering what to watch with all this time at home right now. Here’s their upcoming programming highlights coming, May 4-10, 2020!

Family Fun
Grab your loved ones and share the drama and the laughs of these family-friendly flicks.
• Matilda (1996) Tuesday, May 5 at 9:00 pm ET on HS90 – Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved novel, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman and Mara Wilson shine in the story of a 5-year-old genius who is mistreated by her parents.
• Bogus (1996) Wednesday, May 6 at 5:20 pm ET on HS90 – Whoopi Goldberg, Gérard Depardieu, and Haley Joel Osment tell the tale of a recently-orphaned young boy, who is taken in by his godmother. The pair both can see the boy’s imaginary friend, a French magician named Bogus.
• Nanny McPhee (2005) Saturday, May 9 at 3:40 pm ET on HS00 – Colin Firth plays a widower with 7 mischievous children who could use some help. Nanny McPhee, portrayed by Emma Thompson, comes to the rescue using her magical powers to rein in the septet of scamps.
• Bend it Like Beckham (2003) Sunday, May 10 at 5:15 pm ET on HS00 – Kiera Knightly, Parminder Nagra, Johnathan Rhys Meyers, and Archie Panjabi kick around love, friendship and a soccer ball in this British rom com.

Sci-Fi Thrills
In space, they say no one can hear you scream… see if that’s true in these futuristic dramas.
• Ex Machina (2014) Monday, May 4 at 10:45 pm ET on HS00 – Don’t miss Oscar Isaac’s dance party in this psychological thriller about a young programmer, played by Domhnall Gleeson, who gets a chance to become a part of a strange scientific experiment where he is expected to assess artificial intelligence by interacting with a female robot.
• Aliens (1986) Friday, May 8 at 11:00 pm ET on HS80 – See Sigourney Weaver as the OG badass-female-action hero, battling a swarm of unstoppable alien invaders and their evil queen.
• THX 1138 (1971) Saturday, May 9 at 3:10 pm ET on HS70 – George Lucas’ directorial debut is set in a futuristic society where people are controlled by android police and drugs are used to supress emotions.
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) Saturday May 9 at 11:00 pm ET on HS70 – Steven Spielberg directs Richard Dreyfuss as Roy Neary, a man who will abandon everything he has to prove he saw a UFO.

Singers take on Hollywood
They may have earned accolades and awards as musicians, but lucky for us, when Hollywood called, these songsters answered.
• Purple Rain (1984) Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00 pm ET on HS70 – This cult classic proved Prince had swagger on stage and on screen. The High Priest of Pop is joined by Apollonia and Morris Day and the Time with a killer soundtrack that includes “Let’s Go Crazy,” “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and obviously “Purple Rain.”
• The Fighter (2010) Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00 pm ET on HS00 – Mark Wahlberg gives good vibrations as Micky Ward in this true story about the struggles of younger brother trying to live up to his older brother’s boxing legacy.
• The Way We Were (1973) Sunday, May 10 at 7:00 pm ET on HS70 ¬– Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford find love and lose it in Sydney Pollack’s classic heartbreaker about two disparate lovers whose political views and convictions drive them apart. At least they have the laughter to remember.
• Mermaids (1990) Sunday, May 10 at 9:00 pm ET on HS90 – Cher turns back time in this 60s period comedy-drama about an eccentric, single mother who relocates to a small town with her two daughters, played by Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci.

Moments that Made History
Maybe you missed the lesson in school, but these movies capture all the emotion and drama from epic moments in the past.
• The Iron Lady (2011) Tuesday, May 5 at 9:00 pm ET on HS00 – Meryl Streep won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s longest-serving and first female Prime Minister.
• The Hindenburg (1976) Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00 pm ET on HS70 – Based on the real-life disaster of the Hindenburg, a German passenger airship that caught fire and was destroyed. George C. Scott and Anne Bancroft headline.
• Chariots of Fire (1981) Thursday, May 7 at 9:00 pm ET on HS80 – The movie, with Vangelis’s unforgettable theme song, is based on the true story of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell who race for the gold in the 1924 Olympics. While one runs for his faith, the other participates to leave prejudice behind.
• Henry & June (1990) Thursday, May 7 at 11:40 pm ET on HS90 – A biographical drama that explores the literary love triangle between author Henry Miller, his wife, June and novelist Anaïs Nin. The film features Uma Thurman, Richard E. Grant, Fred Ward and Maria de Medeiros.

Momapalooza
On Sunday, May 10, tune in for an all-day salute to some unforgettable cinematic movie moms.
• On Golden Pond (1981) 2:05 pm on HS80 – Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda will make your heart go pitter pat as a family who tries to repair their fractured relationship one summer at their lake house.
• Throw Momma from the Train (1987) 3:55 pm ET on HS80 – In this dark comedy, Owen Lift’s (Danny DeVito) mother is overbearing, paranoid and abusive, so her son plans her murder, with the help of his writing teacher (Billy Crystal).
• Raising Arizona (1987) 5:25 pm ET on HS80 – It ain’t Ozzie and Harriet; it’s Joel and Ethan Coen. When Edwina (Holly Hunter), an infertile ex-cop and Herbert (Nicolas Cage), a convenience-store robbing ex-con can’t conceive and can’t adopt, they decide to steal one of the quintuplets of a rich businessman.
• Mamma Mia! (2008) 7:10 pm ET on HS00 – Based on the hit musical play, the movie uses ABBA tunes to tell the story of a bride-to-be trying to find the true identity of her father. The summer box office smash has a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Christin Baranski, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth having the time of their lives.
• Serial Mom (1994) 7:20 pm on HS90 – In John Waters’ dark comedy, Kathleen Turner is a bird-calling, overprotective momma bear who only wants the best for her kids and will literally kill to get it.
• Steel Magnolias (1989) 7:00 pm ET on HS80 – An all-star lineup including Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts prove that it truly takes a village to raise a child.
• Knocked Up (2007) 9:00 pm ET on HS00 – Judd Apatow’s romantic comedy with Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, and Leslie Mann, tells a tale as old as time: girl meets stoner; girl has a one-night stand with stoner; girl gets pregnant with stoner’s child.
• Sugarland Express (1974) 10:35 pm on HS70 – Steven Spielberg’s crime drama (his directorial debut) stars Goldie Hawn as a woman who attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband escape prison so they can kidnap their son. But things don’t go as planned.
• Mommie Dearest (1981) 10:40 pm ET on HS80 – This biopic chronicles the physical abusive and traumatic upbringing of Christina Crawford at the hands of her mother, screen legend, Joan Crawford. Faye Dunaway won critical praise for her performance of the iconic actress who had a strong aversion to wire hangers.
• Juno (2007) 11:10 pm ET on HS00 – Diablo Cody’s coming-of-age comedy drama showcases Ellen Page as a 16-year-old, dealing with things way beyond her maturity level, when an unplanned pregnancy makes her grow up faster than she wanted.
• Hope Floats (1998) 1:05 am on HS90 – When Birdie Pruitt publicly discovers her husband and her best friend are having an affair, she flees from Chicago with her young daughter and moves back in with her mother in small-town Texas. Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr., Gena Rowlands and a young Mae Whitman head the cast.

(Photo credit: Universal Pictures)

Pineapple-BBQ Pork Pastries. A hybrid of two classics, BBQ Pork Puff Pastry x Pineapple Buns. The latter is a staple at any Chinese bakery but surprisingly doesn’t have any pineapple in it. What a tragedy! Let’s fix that. 🍍

Think – a flaky, crumbly meat pie with a savoury-sweet pork filling… and a cookie topping!

Pastry:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsps sea salt
1/2 cup butter, chilled
3/4 cup Crisco Golden All-Vegetable Shortening
1/2 cup cold water

Cookie Crust:
3/4 cup flour
4 tbsps unsalted butter, softened
1 egg yolk
2/3 cup organic raw sugar, pulsed in food processor till fine
1 tbsp whole milk
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp turmeric

Pineapple-BBQ Pork Filling:
2 cups Chinese BBQ Pork (Cha Siu), minced
1/2 white onion, minced
3/4 cup chicken or beef broth
3/4 cup pineapple chunks, sectioned
3 tbsps organic raw sugar
2 tbsps soy sauce
2 tbsps dark soy sauce
3 tbsps Oyster Sauce
2 tbsps Hoisin Sauce
5 tbsps flour

1 egg beaten, used as egg wash

Instructions:
1. Prepare pastry, combining ingredients, adding water 1 tbsp at a time, handling minimally. Knead dough gently on floured surface. Roll into ball. Chill minimum 2 hours, no more than 5 days.
2. Pineapple-BBQ Pork filling: Sautée onions in sesame oil. Add pork and pineapple. Cook 3 minutes medium-high heat. Add sugar, dark and regular soy sauce, Oyster Sauce, Hoisin Sauce and chicken/beef broth. Bring to boil. Taste to ensure flavour balance is right. In bowl, mix flour and equal parts water to form paste, stirring into pork mixture till thick like a pie filling. Chill.
4. Cut dough into halves. Roll each half onto floured surface. Use cup to cut circles, reforming and rolling again till used. Each half should yield 12 circles, a total 24.
5. Flatten each circle with hand. Scoop filling into center of dough circle, careful not to overfill. Place another circle on-top, pressing together to seal and crimp edges gently with fork. Use paper towel to tidy any filling that leaked-out. Prepare 12 pastries and place on greased baking sheet.
6. Prepare oven at 425°F.
7. Cookie crust: mix flour, baking powder and turmeric in one bowl. In separate bowl, cream milk, butter, vanilla, egg yolk and sugar. Combine butter mixture into flour and form dough. Form 12 even balls, rolling into a thin sheet between 2 Ziploc bags till large enough to cover each pastry. Apply to pastries gently.
8. Using fingers or brush, apply egg wash.
9. Bake 15-17 minutes till golden. Cool 15 minutes.

White Bread. To be honest Sourdough is okay, but nothing beats versatile, fluffy white bread. This is the second time in-a-row I’ve been able to get my dough to rise so I know it’s not a fluke! The trickiest part is ensuring the yeast is activated in lukewarm, not warm water and adding sugar. And the temperature at which you proof cannot be too hot. I’ll share a couple of my tips to making that perfect loaf! 🍞

Ingredients:
5 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
3 tablespoons organic raw sugar
1/2 tablespoon sea salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

1 egg, beaten for egg wash

Instructions:
1. Mix flour, salt and butter in mixing bowl. Use two forks criss-crossing to cut butter in.
2. In bowl, mix 3/4 cup lukewarm water (not warm or hot) with yeast and sugar till dissolved and filmy. Let stand a few minutes.
3. Mix yeast water into flour bit by bit, using forks. Pour another 1 1/3 cup lukewarm water, forming dough.
4. Turn dough onto flat, floured surface. Sprinkle with flour till dough no longer is sticky, kneading 10 minutes. Dough should be punchy and elastic.
5. Grease large bowl and transfer dough into it. Cover with damp cloth and place in oven on top rack with a pot of hot water on the rack below. Shut oven. Replace hot water again in 30 minutes. This provides a perfect environment for your dough to rise. Be careful!
6. Dough will have doubled in size by one hour if proofed right. If not, your water might have been too hot when activating or something is up with your yeast. Transfer back to floured surface and knead 5 minutes, releasing air pockets.
7. Grease loaf pan and fit dough into it. Proof again for 45 minutes to 1 hour covered, with pot of hot water underneath in oven. Dough will have doubled again in size. Remove from oven.
8. Preheat oven at 400°F. Brush top of loaf with egg wash using fingers or a brush.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes or till golden brown. Rotate pan once, half-way through. Allow to cool 15 minutes in pan and transfer to cooling rack to avoid bottom getting soggy. This freezes well.

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL, which premiered at TIFF ’19!

Synopsis:
When Abby (Tuppence Middleton) returns home following the death of her mother she becomes obsessed with fragmented memories of a kidnapping she claims to have witnessed as a child. Abby’s younger sister (Hannah Gross), Laure’s tense relationship with her sibling is tested as Abby’s obsession grows out of control.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance. You must be following on both channels to qualify.

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)