You’ve never seen the THE ADDAMS FAMILY like this! Presenting the new Teaser Trailer for the upcoming Halloween release!

Synopsis:
Get ready to snap your fingers! The Addams Family is back on the big screen in the first animated comedy about the kookiest family on the block. Funny, outlandish, and completely iconic, the Addams Family redefines what it means to be a good neighbor.

Directed By: Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan

Cast: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll with Bette Midler and Allison Janney

See the Teaser Trailer:

Artwork:

Universal Pictures Canada release THE ADDAMS FAMILY this Halloween.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see TEEN SPIRIT! Screenings are as follows:

Vancouver:
Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Time: 7:00am
Location: Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver (900 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 3G5)

Winnipeg:
Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Time: 7:00am
Location: SilverCity St. Vital Cinema (160-1225 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 5E5)

Calgary:
Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Time: 7:00am
Location: Cineplex Odeon Westhills Cinemas (165 Stewart Green SW, Calgary, AB, T3H 3C8)

Synopsis:
Violet (Elle Fanning) is a shy teenager who dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition. Driven by a pop-fueled soundtrack, Teen Spirit is a visceral and stylish spin on the Cinderella story.The film also stars Rebecca Hall, Zlatko Buric and Agnieszka Grochowska.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Click Re-Tweet on this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

We couldn’t pass-up a chance to test drive the new 2019 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 after catching wind of its arrival. You know how much we adore the Series!

We’ve been a bit down about losing our dear Billy a few weeks back and with there being so little downtime since then with event after event to cover, we really haven’t had a moment to ourselves and time to catch-up with dear friends and the Accord Touring 2.0 gave us exactly this. Time to drive far away, clear our mind and reflect.

The Acccord Touring 2.0 builds on its predecessors’ legacy of style and elegance. We felt elevated driving the Lunar Silver Metallic masterpiece across all terrains: bumpy country roads, highways and city concrete.

Its 2.0-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, iVTEC, turbo-charged 4-cylinder engine meant pure power… all 252 horsepower of it! For the first time ever we got to experience its Adaptive Damper System which individually can adjust the shock absorbers’ forces to match the vehicle’s payload, the state of the road surface and even the driving style. State of the art!

Like recent evolutions in offerings from Honda, we fully have gotten used to shift gear-free driving. The heart and soul of the vehicle is its intuitive Display Audio System and panel with HondaLink Navigation System. Its HandsFreeLink connected easily to our Android, allowing us to stream our favourite playlists off Spotify when we weren’t vibing-out to SiriusXM Hits 1 or their newly-launched all-hits Pandora channel. Its 452-watt Audio System with ten speakers is magical.

We love some of the things Honda continues to do for user-friendliness in Climate Control, recognizing the different, customized needs of driver and passengers. We adore that there are seat warmers and coolers. The heated steering wheel option came in handy as we transition from the frigid winter to spring. We love that there are several charging ports and a charging plate ensuring everyone is happy!

The ventilated front seats and perforated leather-trimmed seating surfaces deliver comfort and purpose and we received several compliments about roominess from our friends who were lucky enough to ride along.

Safety always is first with Honda and we loved its Traffic Sign Recognition, keeping us updated on our travels with changes in speed limits in a holographic manner on the car’s windshield. Its Blind Spot Information System does much work for us so that we can stay focused on the drive and its Collision Mitigation Braking System, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, plus Lane and Road Departure Systems keep us on alert.  Upon a few drops of moisture on the windshield we notice our windshields begin to wipe automatically. Now that’s intuition!

Like the 2019 Honda According Touring that we tried over the Holidays, we once again saw that pesky Tire Pressure Low warning light surface again after driving over a speed bump in the country.  If you’ve double-checked the tire pressure and all is fine, try re-calibrating by going into Vehicle settings on the Accord‘s touch-screen display and under TPMS Calibration. We selected the Calibrate option which made the warning go away.

We couldn’t avoid rising gas prices this time around after being spoiled all winter long, but we got plenty of value out of a tank of gas on ECON mode driving country to see our namesakes Mr. Will and A Pic by Mrwill, to city for work and Press Junkets, including the one for hotly-anticipated Teen Romance, AFTER which is poised for big numbers.

We created many memories in the 2019 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 with our family (inluding my nephew’s cat Jinx!) and friends and couldn’t have had a better sidekick to do it all in.

The 2019 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 retails from $40,976 CAN. More here.

See some Snaps:

In loving memory of Billy. I’ll never forget all our adventures together in the many Honda vehicles we’ve been in together over the years. Recorded in the 2019 Honda Accord Touring 2.0.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

SHAZAM! is a well-meant winner at the Box Office this weekend, nabbing top spot for Warner Bros. with $53.7 million, from 4,259 theatres. The latest adaptation from DC Comics, gets universal acclaim with 91% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore to match.

Debuting in second spot and not disgraced in a reboot of Stephen King’s PET SEMATARY with $24 million from 3,585 theatres for Paramount Pictures. It gets 61% on the Tomatometer and a C+ CinemaScore from Audiences.

In third is last week’s champ, Disney’s DUMBO with $18.5 million from 4,259 theatres. Over two weeks, it has made $76.5 million domestically.

In fourth is US with $14.5 million for Universal Pictures, a total $151.3 million gross across North America in three weeks.

BEST OF ENEMIES starring Taraji P. Henson opens in sixth with $4.9 million for STX Entertainment, from 1,705 theatres. It will be expanding to Canada shortly for Elevation Pictures. It gets 50% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD rounds things out in tenth with $2 million for Universal Pictures, a total $156.7 million grossed over seven weeks.

Joaquin Phoenix is riveting in this new Teaser Trailer for JOKER, available now!

Synopsis:
Arthur is a troubled man. Despite his mother urging him to live his life with a happy face and laughter and bring joy to others, he is subject to constant harassment and beatings. However, as he sees the world around him growing crazier and crazier, he begins to descend into madness upon the realization that his life is not a tragedy, but instead a comedy – paving the way for his transformation into Gotham’s greatest criminal, The Joker.

See the Trailer:

Warner Bros. Canada release JOKER Friday, October 4, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Canada)

By George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

Grammy Award-winning and Emmy-nominated Conductor Richard Kaufman, marked his debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra with an exciting concert featuring a host of Oscar-winning and nominated scores and songs. BEST OF HOLLYWOOD features music from classic movies like The Godfather and The Magnificent Seven to Gone with the Wind and Dr. Zhivago and the heavenly orchestral performances fill the Roy Thomson Hall with elegance and memories of wonderful films. One cannot help being swept-away with the sensual and romantic music from Out of Africa or notice how John Williams must have been inspired by Parade of the Charioteers from Ben Hur when he created the now iconic score of Star Wars. Throughout the Concert, Kaufman and the TSO are graced with the mellifluous voice of Whitney Claire Kaufman and two of her performances were my personal highlights from the concert. Her rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio accompanied only by a piano elicited goosebumps and I absolutely loved hearing sing Through the Eyes of Love, a song that was deleted from the final cut of Mary Poppins as Walt Disney did not like the idea of this character singing a love song.

Richard Kaufman entertains the audience with trivia about the movies and personal insights and stories. He is a charming host and outstanding conductor. My one and only minor caveat with BEST OF HOLLYWOOD is that there three too many songs from the Disney catalogue. Though glorious in their own right, I would have like to hear Whitney Claire Kaufman sing the 1942 Oscar winner You’ll Never Know from Hello, Frisco, Hello, Secret Love from Calamity Jane or To Sir with Love. Those songs would have fit her glorious voice.

That aside, BEST OF HOLLYWOOD brings to the audience a phenomenal repertoire of scores and songs, sensationally presented and should be seen by fans and neophytes. It is a phenomenal Concert.

BEST OF HOLLYWOOD can be enjoyed at Roy Thomson Hall Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM and on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 8:00 PM. More here.

(Photo credit: George Kozera)

Visionary Jim Jarmusch (Broken Flowers, Paterson) brings us his latest effort, THE DEAD DON’T DIE featuring one or the most eclectic Casts ever!

Synopsis:
THE DEAD DON’T DIE – the greatest zombie cast ever disassembled starring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Caleb Landry Jones, Rosie Perez, Iggy Pop, Sara Driver, RZA, Selena Gomez, Carol Kane, Austin Butler, Luka Sabbat and Tom Waits. Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch.

See the Trailer:

Universal Pictures Canada release THE DEAD DON’T DIE Friday, June 14, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Wrapping-up Canadian Screen Week, March 25-31, 2019, the 7th edition of the Canadian Screen Awards Broadcast Gala took place tonight at Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. The week-long series of awards and events presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, serve to honour excellence across multiple platforms in the Country from Film, to TV to Digital Media.

Noticeably absent this year was these presence of English-language Feature films up for Best Motion Picture, with French-language films leading the way. Coming-of-Age Drama A Colony: Blackfly by Director Geneviève Dulude-De Celles won the coveted award ultimately. Teen Actress Emilie Bierre won Best Actress for her work in the Film which sees her grappling with bullying entering junior high school.

The Great Darkened Days earlier in the week swept the Gala Honouring Cinematic Arts, held at the Four Seasons Hotel, with wins for Sound Editing, Costume Design, Art Direction/Production Design, Cinematography and Actress in a Supporting Role (Sarah Gadon).

Ryerson graduate Jasmin Mozaffari was awarded for Direction with her debut effort FIRECRACKERS which premiered at TIFF to much acclaim. “I am honoured to be part of the group where 60% of the nominees were women” , she says.

ANNE WITH AN E had tied with SCHITT’S CREEK with 15 nominations apiece. The former would prevail though with seven wins at the Broadcast Gala including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Actress, Drama Series (Teen Actress Amybeth McNulty). CARDINAL also would win seven Awards in the Television categories including Best Actor and Actress in a Drama Program or Limited Series, Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse.

Honouring a Canadian talent making waves abroad, the Radius Award was presented tonight for the first time ever to Toronto’s Stephan James who starred both in Awards Season contender and winning, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK and also Amazon Prime Series HOMECOMING alongside Julia Roberts. He came with his brother Shamier Anderson and they told the Newsroom about their joint venture, The B.L.A.C.K Ball which earlier this Awards Season was held for the first time ever in Los Angeles with the likes of Tessa Thompson, Tiffany Haddish, Jesse Williams, Amandla Stenberg and more attending.

Other Awards handed-out tonight included the Academy Icon Award which honoured the Cast of THE KIDS IN THE HALL. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Filmmaker Deepa Mehta (Water, Beeba Boys), while Funnywoman Mary Walsh was handed the Earle Gray Award. The first-ever Industry Leadership Award went to our dear friends at Entertainment One.

For the first time ever this year, the Canadian Screen Arts Festival took place at Cineplex theatres every Saturday in March from Iqaluit to Vancouver, giving audience a chance to see some of this year’s nominated Films including Sashinka, Stockholm, What Walaa Wants, Immaculate Memories and Just a Breath Away.

See some Snaps from the night:

The Cast of Schitt’s Creek

Four-time Canadian Screen Award winner, Catherine O’Hara

Beth Janson, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television

Billy Campbell, Cardinal: Blackfly

Karine Vanasse, Cardinal: Blackfly

Stephan James x Shamier Anderson

Cindy Sampson, Private Eyes

Melanie Scrofano, Wynonna Earp

Kim Coates, Bad Blood

The Cast of Kim’s Convenience

Aaron Ashmore, The Killjoys

Sarah Gadon, The Great Darkened Days

Tynomi Banks, Canada’s a Drag

Moira Walley-Beckett, Amybeth McNulty x Miranda de Pencier of Anne With an E

Natasha Negovanlis x Elise Bauman

Rebecca Romijn x Jerry O’Connell

Yannick Bisson, Murdoch Mysteries

Mary Walsh

Tori Anderson x Allan Hawco

Catherine Reitman x Danielle Kind x Philip Sternberg of Workin’ Moms

Wendy Crewson

Jasmin Mozaffari x Caitlin Grabham, Firecrackers

The Kids in the Hall

See our Highlight Reel with our George Kozera (@PartyG):

More on the Gala here.

All photos shot on the Nikon D3400. Video on the Samsung S8+.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The Red Carpet was rolled out last night at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX in Toronto for the Premiere of Toronto Filmmaker Natty Zavitz‘s ACQUAINTED. The Drama centers on two former high school classmates who cross paths again one day at a bar and the sparks ignite. Reluctantly, they reveal to one another that they are in committed relationships and what unfolds is a refreshing conversation set against a Toronto backdrop, about shifting views on monogamy and generational identity. The story is semi-autobiographical and stars a Cast filled with accomplished Toronto talent including Giacomo Gianniotti (Grey’s Anatomy), Laysla de Oliveira (Locke & Key), Rachel Skarsten (Batwoman), Jonathan Keltz (Entourage), Raymond Ablack (Narcos) and more. The stars came out to fete the Film’s premiere with a Q&A moderated by George Stroumboulopoulos, followed by an Afterparty at the Maverick Condos VIP Registration Event Space.

A who’s-who of Toronto Entertainment were present including Tyrone Edwards (E! News), DVSN, Aaron Poole (Salvation), Dillon Casey (Remedy), Paula Brancati (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Dalmar Abuzeid (Anne with an E) and several more.

See the Trailer:

Zavitz tells the audience about his love for the City and how his Film is a reflection of such. “Toronto’s the best and I love being Torontonian”, he says. “I feel like I haven’t seen Toronto on-screen like the way I experienced it. This whole Cast is Torontonian. The Soundtrack is as well (with contributions from Daniel Caesar, Charlotte Day Wilson and DVSN). Most of Cast lives in L.A., works in L.A. and came home to make a story about our City.”. On whether or not he feels the Film is “Canadian” Zavitz states, “It feels more Torontonian than Canadian I think.”.

Giannotti who currently is working in L.A., has made a point of supporting this Film to the fullest, flying-in between filming to both make the Movie and promote it.  To him, the Film is a statement of what it means to be a person. “We have a lot of pressures as human beings on this planet to be relationships and to think of ourselves in a certain way. So we thought this Film beautifully explores all that and how you process that. It’s about being a human being.”. Giannotti, along with his friend Keltz not only star in the Film, but also serve as Producers.

See some Snaps from the night, including the Afterparty sponsored by Nobis. Stars also sipped on George Clooney‘s Casamigos Tequila.

A71 Films release ACQUAINTED Friday, April 5, 2019 in Toronto and Vancouver.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/A71 Films)

DUMBO flies in its debut for Disney, taking-in $44 million from 4,259 theatres. The live-action Adaptation of the animated classic, gets 51% on the Tomatometer and and A- CinemaScore.

US slips to second spot with $33.6 million in its second week, still performing brilliantly. Over two weeks, the Jordan Peele Horror makes $128.2 million for Universal Pictures.

CAPTAIN MARVEL lands in third with $20.2 million for Disney, a total $353.5 million over four weeks.

FIVE FEET APART is in fourth with $6.3 million, a total $35.9 million over three weeks for CBS Films/eOne Films.

HOTEL MUMBAI expands to 924 theatres for Bleecker Street Films/VVS Films, with $3.4 million. The TIFF ’18 selection gets 74% on the Tomatometer.

THE BEACH BUM opens in tenth with $1.8 million from 1,015 theatres for NEON/VVS Films. The Matthew McConaughey starrer which just premiered at SXSW, gets 50% on the Tomatometer.