Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Pablo Larraín’s eighth film follows married couple Ema (Mariana Di Girolamo) and Gastón (Gael García Bernal) after they return their adopted son to child services, due to him setting their house on fire with Ema’s sister inside.

As with every Larraín film, Ema is a visual feast for the eyes. This time around he examines how guilt affects a marriage as a whole and as separate individuals. When he looks into Ema and Gastón’s individual guilt is exposed how it affects a mother and father differently due to societal expectations. All of the internal conflicts of his characters are powerfully visualized through captivating Choreography and all-consuming performances.

Ema screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 9 PM at Sundance Resort, Tues, Jan. 28th at 5:30 PM at Egyptian Theatre, and Thurs, Jan. 20th at 11:45 PM at Park Avenue Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Viggo Mortensen’s directorial debut follows the turbulent relationship between a father and son.

With Falling, Mortensen examines the strong bond between relatives even after they’ve become severed. The focus here is on the relationship between John (Mortensen) and his ill yet overtly profane father Willis (Lance Henriksen). The performances are outstanding, particularly Henriksen who plays a remarkably unlikeable character. Willis continuously makes sexist, racist and homophobic remarks, however, no matter how hateful his rhetoric John always forgives him. This becomes a problem for the story because John is happily married to a man and there is no explanation behind why he easily forgives and forgets his father’s repugnant insults.

Falling screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 31st at 6:30 PM at Eccles Theatre, Sat, Feb. 1st at 5:30 PM at The MARC Theatre, and Sun, Feb. 2nd at 3:30 PM at Rose Wagner Center.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Crip Camp is an endearing Documentary about a camp in the 1970s that was for disabled people.

It starts out as a film depicting a camp that made its attendees feel like they had a place to belong but it turns into a call for civil rights. This is thanks to Directors Nicole Newman and Jim LeBrencht who use footage from the 1971 camp and civil rights marshes and bills those campers have passed throughout the years. Through current interviews with the spirited campers, this documentary will make you laugh, cry and want to call for more equal rights.

Crip Camp screens at Sundance on Thurs. Jan. 23rd at 5:30 PM at The Ray Theatre and Eccles Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at 8:30 AM at The MARC Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at Grand Theatre, Sat. Jan. 25th at 9 PM at Sundance Resort, Wed. Jan. 29th at 6 PM at Library Centre Theatre, and Thurs. Jan. 30th at 9:30 PM at Redstone Cinema 1.

Those who attend the 2020 Canadian International AutoShow are in for a treat! Walt Disney Studios Canada will have an activation featuring a replica of the van seen in upcoming Film Pixar’s ONWARD. The can, also known as Guinevere is that of the character Barley, who is voiced by Chris Pratt.

Fans will have a chance to take photos with purple Guinevere adorned with a Pegasus mural and crescent moon windows and on select days there will be a magician on-hand to performed tricks and illusions inspired by the Film.

Above this, replicas of Duke Caboon’s motorcycle from TOY STORY 4 as well as Lightning McQueen from the CARS franchise!

Activation times:
February 14 12:00pm – 10:00pm
February 15-22 10:30am – 10:00pm February 23 10:30am – 6:00pm

The 2020 Canadian International Show runs February 14 to 23, 2020.

Pixar’s ONWARDS is in theatres Friday, March 5, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)

We’ve been thrilled to see RUN THIS TOWN for quite some time now! Here’s a brand-new Poster and Trailer for the Film set against a backdrop of a Rob Ford-run Toronto.

Synopsis:
Naive, young Toronto newspaper reporter Bram (Ben Platt) finds himself doing desk work instead of breaking hard-hitting stories, until he accidentally finds scandalous information about the city’s controversial mayor, Rob Ford (Damian Lewis). Bram attempts to pry information from Ford‘s aides, Ashley (Nina Dobrev) and Kamal (Mena Massoud), who are trying to cover Ford’s tracks and spin the story.

Trailer:

See the brand-new Poster:

Elevation Pictures release RUN THIS TOWN Friday, March 6, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Director Lana Wilson has created a thought-provoking Documentary  about how fame immensely impacts someone’s self-image, identity and more.

This isn’t a Film that simply scratches the surface of Swift’s life, it digs deep and figures out the root cause of her highly-publicized some moves and emotions. Wilson is able to achieve this level of investigation because Swift is completely unbarred and delivers her truth speaking about politics, feminism, misogyny, body image (including revealing a bout with an eating disorder) and more. The scenes where she addresses these topics are often emotionally hard-hitting, however, we get a good glimpse also in candid studio clips, showing her magnetic talent and quick wit.

Miss Americana isn’t about portraying Swift’s life as daisies and rainbows, instead she talks about the good, the bad, her flaws and what she can do to be the person she aspires to be. Fans soon will be able to stream this Friday, January 31, 2020.

Miss Americana screens at Sundance on Thurs. Jan. 23rd at 9:00 PM at Eccles Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at 9:00 AM at Eccles Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at 9:15 PM at Grand Theatre, Thurs. Jan. 30th at 9:30 AM at The Ray Theatre, Fri. Jan. 31st at 3:45 PM at Broadway Centre Cinema 3, Sat. Feb. 1 at 6 PM at Sundance Resort, and Sun. Feb. 2nd at 6:15 PM at Grand Theatre.

It was an action-packed Day One at Sundance! Following on Amanda Gilmore‘s Preview of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, she was out in the thick of the action getting in on some of the excitement.  Taylor Swift made a huge splash in Park City, appearing in support of her Netflix Documentary MISS AMERICANA, the Trailer which just surfaced this week.

While it was never really confirmed that Swift would be appearing, there were some sightings of her earlier today on Main Street, which sealed the deal.  Fans lined the street and Amanda tells us there were about 200 fans waiting just for a chance to get a rush ticket to attend the Premiere of the Documentary. She walked right through the front entrance but not without talking lots of Selfies with Fans, insisting on grabbing their cell phones and doing it herself for them!

See some of Amanda’s Snaps below, including some video footage if you swipe left on the Album:

While it was rumoured The Obamas would show up for CRIP CAMP, a Documentary the power couple produced, alas they didn’t make it out.

Stay tuned, Amanda’s got lots more to deliver us from Park City these next few days including her Reviews of some of the Festival’s most-buzzed Films and star sightings!

(Photo/video credit: Amanda Gilmore/Netflix)

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

We are back at the Sundance Film Festival and are as excited as ever. There are many things to be excited about this year from the stars to the films. As in previous years, Sundance is making strides towards diversity. To start off this new decade Sundance has included 107 projects by female Filmmakers (44%), 90 projects by people of colour (37%), and 47 projects by LGBTQ+ Filmmakers (19%). That diversity brings a diverse range of films, making it an inclusive Film Festival.

Some of the Films that have the most buzz going into the Fest are:

Bad Hair (Midnight): This is the official opening night Midnight film directed by Justin Simien (Dear White People) and is labelled as a brilliant satirical Psychological Thriller. It also has a superb cast consisting of Elle Lorraine, Vanessa Williams, Jay Pharoah, Lena Waithe and Laverne Cox.

Come Away (Kids): This Film tells that story of Peter before he became Peter Pan and Alice before she visited Wonderland. It has a star-studded cast consisting of Angelina Jolie, David Oyelowo and Micheal Caine.

Four Good Days (Premieres): This Film stars Glenn Close as a mother who tries to help get her drug-addicted daughter (Mila Kunis) clean.

Minari (U.S Dramatic Competition): This Film follows a Korean family who moves from the West Coast to rural Arkansas in search of the American Dream.

Miss Americana (Doc Premieres): Taylor Swift is kicking-off the Festival tonight with a documentary about her finding herself and using her voice.

Promising Young Woman (Premieres): Carey Mulligan is back at Sundance playing a woman who hunts down men who cross her path.

Shirley (U.S Dramatic Competition): Director Josephine Decker returns to Sundance with this biographical portrait of beloved horror author Shirley Jackson, who is brought to the screen by the ever captivating Elisabeth Moss.

Sylvie’s Love (U.S Dramatic Competition): Tessa Thompson is the star of this 1950s love story about a Saxophone Player who falls for a Television Producer.

The Glorias (Premieres): The one and only Gloria Steinem is getting her book told on the big screen and the one and only Julianne Moore is playing her.

Worth (Premieres): Micheal Keaton stars as Kenneth Feinberg who, following the 9/11 attacks, led the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. This Film follows Feinberg in the moments following the 9/11 attacks as he tries to broker deals with the victims’ families.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

We are thrilled to give Readers in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton a chance to win Advance Passes to see THE CALL OF THE WILD starring Harrison Ford! Screenings take place Thursday, February 13, 2020.

Synopsis:
Adapted from the beloved literary classic, THE CALL OF THE WILD vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team–and later its leader–Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master. As a live-action/animation hybrid, THE CALL OF THE WILD employs cutting edge visual effects and animation technology in order to render the animals in the film as fully photorealistic–and emotionally authentic–characters.

Cast:
Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, Colin Woodell

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post over at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Indicate your City there in your entry in the comments. Share this Post on Facebook for an extra chance or Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw!

Rules and regulations here.

THE CALL OF THE WILD is in theatres Thursday, February 20, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)

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Paramore Frontwoman Hayley Williams debuts her solo single SIMMER and we’ve got the Video to show you!

Williams’ solo album PETALS FOR ARMOR hits stores Friday, May 8, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music/Lindsey Byrnes)