Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is set in 1993 and follows Cameron (Chloë Grace Moretz) who is caught on prom night in the back seat of a car kissing another girl. When her legal guardians find out they send her to a gay conversion therapy camp.

The Film is a beautiful Coming-of-Age story set in an ugly world. Writer-Director Desiree Akhavan crafts a heartbreaking and heartwarming story of accepting who you are no matter the odds stacked against you. What’s refreshing about the story is that is never shies away from the cruelty these teenagers face at the camp.

The Ensemble is outstanding. Moretz has given one of her best performances as Cameron. And  Sasha Lane who plays the self-assured Jane is enthralling. There are other great performances from Jennifer Ehle as the shockingly horrible leader of the conversion camp and John Gallagher Jr. as the lost Reverend.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post screens at Sundance on Jan. 22 at 12:15PM at Eccles PC, Jan. 23 at 6:30PM at Redstone 1 PC, Jan. 25 at 2:30PM at The MARC PC, Jan. 26 at 3PM at PC Library, and Jan. 27 at 3:15PM at The Grand SLC.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Piercing is an unconventional love story that follows Reed (Christopher Abbott) who leaves his wife and newborn at home to kill a seemingly unsuspecting prostitute, Jackie (Mia Wasikowska). But she has plans of her own.

Writer-Director Nicolas Pesce creates an outrageously-stylish, twisted romance. Adapted from the Novel of the same name by Ryu Murakami, the characters have dozens of layer that peel away throughout. And the two leads relish in those never-ending layers. Abbott is phenomenal as the calm and sadistic Reed. While Wasikowska is a firework as the eccentric Jackie. Together they ignite something inexplicable and heat-up the screen. And because of them no matter how fiendish the characters become, you always want them to end up together.

Piercing screens at Sundance on Jan. 22 at 11:59PM at PC Library, Jan. 21 at 8:30PM at The Egyptian PC, Jan. 24 at 8:30PM at The MARC PC, Jan. 26 at 11:59PM at Broadway 6 SLC, and Jan. 27 at 11:59PM at PC Library.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Damsel follows Samuel (Robert Pattinson) who goes on a journey to marry his love, Penelope (Mia Wasikowska). The pair are reunited after success in David Cronenberg‘s Maps to the Stars. But when their venture takes an unsuspected turn, lines become blurred between who the villain, hero and damsel are.

Writer-Director brother duo David and Nathan Zellner craft a beautifully-shot deadpan Comedy-Western. They divert from  typical Western fare to create a hilarious genre-bending thrill ride. The laughs come courtesy of this powerhouse Ensemble. Pattinson is a stand-out as the clueless, blinded-by-love Samuel. He takes his character way beyond the script to create a highly-memorable character. And Wasikowska is a knockout as the strong, fearless Penelope. This is Wasikowska’s Film and it is a pure delight. Top that off with a comical performance from David Zellner as the Preacher and the cutest miniature pony and this is one unforgettable ride!

Damsel screens at Sundance on Jan. 23 at 3:30PM at Eccles PC, Jan. 24 at 9AM at PC Library, Jan. 27 at 9:30PM at The Ray PC and Jan. 28 at 12:30PM at Rose Wagner SLC.

Premiering at TIFF’s NEXT WAVE Film Festival next month, LOVE, SIMON is setting Twitter on-fire we are told. Check out the Trailer for the Coming-of-Age story starring up-and-comer Nick Robinson. We’re getting total The Edge of Seventeen vibes.

Synopsis:
Everyone deserves a great love story. But for seventeen-year old Simon Spier it’s a little more complicated: he’s yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing. Directed by Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Brothers & Sisters), written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, LOVE, SIMON is a funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about the thrilling ride of finding yourself and falling in love.

See the Trailer:

More details on the Premiere here.

20th Century Fox Canada release LOVE, SIMON Friday, March 16, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox)

How long does it take to bury the truth?

We love Regina King and this is exactly the type of role we’ve been waiting to see her in. SEVEN SECONDS looks absolutely gripping and you must see this new Trailer for the Netflix Original Series.

Synopsis:
In an instant, life is forever changed for Brenton Butler and his family. After a white cop accidentally hits and critically injures a black teenager, a northeastern city explodes with racial tensions, an attempted cover up and its aftermath, and the trial of the century. From creator and executive producer, Veena Sud (The Killing) comes Seven Seconds – a thrilling new anthological crime drama that explores the human stories behind the headlines.

The series stars two-time Emmy winner Regina King (American Crime) alongside breakout British actress Clare-Hope Ashitey (Doctor Foster), Russell Hornsby (Fences), Beau Knapp (Sand Castle), Michael Mosley (Ozark), David Lyons (Safe Haven), Raul Castillo (Special Correspondents), Zackary Momoh (A United Kingdom), Nadia Alexander (Blame) and Coley Speaks (Circle).

See the Trailer:

SEVEN SECONDS streams on Netflix Friday February 23, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Night Comes On follows Angel (Dominique Fishback) and her 10-year-old sister Abby (Tatum Marilyn Hall) who are apart of the foster care system. When Angel gets released from a juvenile detention centre on the eve of her 18th birthday, she goes on a journey with Abby that could ruin both of their futures.

In Writer-Director Jordana Spiro’s first Feature Film she crafts an honest depiction of the troubles children in foster care go through. Both when they are in the program and the moments following their release. Newcomer Fishback is marvelous as the mistreated and dejected Angel. And Hall is charming as the bright spirited Abby. They have great chemistry and challenge each other in every scene, investing us every step of the way.

Night Comes On screens at Sundance on Jan. 19 at 9:30PM at The Ray PC, Jan. 20 at 11:30PM at Prospector PC, Jan. 21 at 9PM at Broadway 6 SLC, Jan. 24 at 9PM at Temple PC, and Jan. 25 at 3PM at Park Ave PC.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

The Happy Prince takes place in the final days of Oscar Wilde (Rupert Everett) as he looks back on his failures.

Actor-Writer-Director Rupert Everett crafts an intriguing portrait of a dying man. He focuses on the years Wilde shared with his lover Bosie (Colin Morgan) and the events that circled around the relationship, creating the period in which Wilde lived but also the tragic events he lived through. Everett has devoted much of his craft to Wilde portraying him in the Play The Judas Kiss, which played in Toronto.

Everett is superb as Wilde. His passion and love for Wilde shines through every frame. He encompasses the wild, loving, funny, depressed and sometime angry Wilde effortlessly. Everett surrounds himself with a talented ensemble consisting of Colin Firth, Emily Watson and Edwin Thomas who elevate every scene.

The Happy Prince screens at Sundance on Jan. 21 at 9:30PM at Eccles PC, Jan. 22 at 9AM at PC Library, Jan. 24 at 9PM at Sundance Resort, Jan. 27 at 7PM at Redstone 2 PC, and Jan. 28 at 3:15PM at The Grand SLC.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

I Think We’re Alone Now takes place after the apocalypse and follows recluse Del (Peter Dinklage) who believes he was the only survivor, until fiery Grace (Elle Fanning) bursts into his hometown.

Director Reed Morano crafts a captivating and character driven atmospheric survival tale. Morano’s use of setting to introduce her characters personality adds gives a special touch to this beautiful story. Dinklage is great as the man whose happier to be alone but has a change of heart when Grace comes along. And Fanning is spellbinding as the mysterious Grace whonis full of life. When they come together their chemistry is magnetic. Top that off with a shocking twist and this is an exceptional end-of-the-world Film.

I Think We’re Alone Now screens at Sundance on Jan. 21 at 12:15PM at Eccles PC, Jan. 22 at 9:30PM at Redstone 1 PC, Jan. 23 at 9:30PM at Rose Wagner SLC, Jan. 24 at 9:30AM at The Ray PC, and Jan. 26 at 11:45AM at The MARC PC.

Iconic Clint Eastwood has centered much of his work of late on Non-Fiction and things that have affected the American conscience including 2016’s Sully and 2014’s American Sniper.

The 15:17 to Paris is unique in that stars the actual heroes who in 2015 who confronted a terrorist boarding a train to Paris in the Thalys Train Attack in which four people died after a terrorist opened fire aboard a train before being subdued by passengers.

Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos, three American friends, in addition to being those heroes wrote the Memoir on which the Film is based. The Trio were in Toronto today to promote the new Film by Eastwood which stars Judy Greer and Jenna Fischer also.

Among their stops were Global Television‘s The Morning Show (Toronto Edition). We are honoured to get a Snap with these heroic men! We loved that they were into the Mini Wheats sample truck parked outside!

Our Snap:

Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler + Alek Skarlatos are heroes. They are responsible for confronting a Terrorist who opened fire on a train to Paris in 2015. #ClintEastwood cast the Trio to play themselves in his new Film #The1517toParis and they are in town today! 🗼

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 🏮 (@mrwillwong) on Jan 23, 2018 at 8:21am PST

See the Trailer:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release THE 15:17 TO PARIS Friday, February 9, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Warner Bros.)

Hot off its four Oscar nominations today including Best Picture, Luca Guadagnino‘s Call Me By Your Name continues to be a fan favourite for many including ours, and we were fortunate to have it Premiere here at TIFF ’17. Right in time for that important announcement Author and Professor André Aciman who wrote the Novel on which the Film is based, is in Toronto.

Appearing last night at a Book signing preceded by an In-Conversation-With at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Aciman did the rounds earlier today.including The Morning Show (National Edition).

Aciman had several interesting things about his acclaimed Novel and revealed he didn’t have enough courage to submit the “dirty story with a peach” to his agent. What makes Call Me By Your Name unlike other Films centering on same-sex love is that the two central characters are not oppressed. He tells the Audience, “I’m usually ahistorical. I hate realism. I wanted the love of two men to exist as it should: outside of disease, outside of prejudice, outside of bullying, outside of danger.”.

We were lucky to get a Snap with Aciman on his way out:

Hot off its four #AcademyAwards nominations today, #AndreAciman, Professor and Author of #CallMeByYourName in #Toronto for a timely visit.

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 🏮 (@mrwillwong) on Jan 23, 2018 at 8:13am PST

Mongrel Media release CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, now playing.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Mongrel Media)