In its second week out, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI continues to power-on with a lead over the Christmas Box Office. By Christmas Day, it is projected to make $102.5 million from 4,232 theatres across North America, a total $399.1 million over two weeks alone for Disney.

JUMANJI 2: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is expected to make $44.3 million by Christmas Day for Sony Pictures, from 3,765 theatres. It gets 77% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore.

PITCH PERFECT 3 also shows signs of life with a debut in third with $35.6 million earned 3,447 theatres by Christmas for Universal Pictures. The Franchise best still belongs to 2015’s Pitch Perfect 2 which opened with $69 million.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN opens in fourth with $12.1 million, a total $16.7 million since its Wednesday opening for 20th Century Fox. It gets a 51% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.

DARKEST HOUR expands to 806 theatres for Focus Features/Universal Pictures with $6.1 million. Over five weeks it has made $9 million domestically.

THE SHAPE OF WATER since TIFF ’17 has been touted an Oscar Contender and it makes its way to ninth spot for Fox Searchlight with $3.5 million expanding to 726 theatres in its fourth week.

FATHER FIGURES rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.7 million for Warner Bros. in its opening from 2,902 theatres. It gets 22% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore. 

We love our Wes Anderson and today we get a new look at the Artwork for eagerly-awaited stop-motion Animated Feature ISLE OF DOGS coming March 2018.

Synopsis:

ISLE OF DOGS tells the story of ATARI KOBAYASHI, 12-year-old ward to corrupt Mayor Kobayashi. When, by Executive Decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture.

Umm. How ever did we live without OCEAN‘S 8? We present to you the brand new Teaser for this all-female, star-studded installment in the Heist Series!

Synopsis:

The tide has turned and it’s a whole new “Ocean’s” when a group of 8 plan and execute a heist in New York. The film stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson and Awkwafina.

Teaser:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release OCEAN’S 8 Friday, June 8, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

While it isn’t out for a year, we get this beautiful First Look at THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS to get us into the Holiday spirit!

Synopsis:
All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift from her late mother. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy and featuring a special performance by Misty Copeland, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.

See the Teaser:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS Friday, November 2, 2018.

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

This certainly looks intriguing …without giving too much away. Peter Jackson of THE LORD OF THE RINGS fame, presents us MORTAL ENGINES.

Synopsis:
Thousands of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, humankind has adapted and a new way of living has evolved. Gigantic moving cities now roam the Earth, ruthlessly preying upon smaller traction towns. Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan)—who hails from a Lower Tier of the great traction city of London—finds himself fighting for his own survival after he encounters the dangerous fugitive Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar). Two opposites, whose paths should never have crossed, forge an unlikely alliance that is destined to change the course of the future.

Mortal Engines is the startling, new epic adventure directed by Oscar®-winning visual-effects artist Christian Rivers (King Kong). Joining Rivers are The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies three-time Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who have penned the screenplay. The Universal and MRC adaptation is from the award-winning book series by Philip Reeve, published in 2001 by Scholastic.

See the Teaser:

Universal Pictures Canada release MORTAL ENGINES December 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Toronto Indie Pop Band ALVVAYS have been kicking for six years now and are making a huge splash on the Festival circuit. In support of their second Disc ANTISOCIALITES, they played five consecutive sold-out shows at The Mod Club in their hometown.

We got to witness the Band live and witness their melodic and nostalgic Synth-Pop. The set under just an hour delivering delight to the packed house.

ALVVAYS consists of members Molly Rankin (lead vocals), Kerri MacLellan (keyboards), Alec O’Hanley (guitar), Brian Murphy (bass) and
Sheridan Riley (drums). Riverdale Fans might recognize their tune MARRY ME ARCHIE. Gorgeous current single DREAMS TONITE can be heard on Rock/Alternative or Indie Radio.

While packing-up we got to meet all five members of ALVVAYS, who stylize their name as such with the name Always being taken already by another Band.

Check it out:

See our Snaps:

So much fun seeing Toronto’s own #Alvvays play their fifth sold-out show at The Mod Club in support of new Disc #AntiSocialites! Thanks @steve_s2001!

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Surprise! Or not. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI opens with a huge bang for Disney, raking-in a superb $220 million from 4,232 theatres. Critics are loving this follow-up to 2015’s The Force Awakens with 93% on the Tomatometer and a resounding A CinemaScore from Audiences. It still however is unable to best the $247 million opening its Predecessor had.

Animated Feature FERDINAND is a distant second with $12.3 million from 3,621 theatres for 20th Century Fox. Starring John Cena, it gets 75% in the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.

In third is COCO with $9.2 million now in its fourth week out, surpassing the $150 million-mark domestically for Disney.

WONDER is in fourth with $5 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films. It has made a successful $108 million already over five weeks in North America.

DADDY’S HOME 2 is showing incredible longevity into the Holidays in sixth with $3.3 million for Paramount Pictures in its sixth week. It is just shy of $100 million.

In eighth is THE DISASTER ARTIST expanding to 1,010 theatres with $2.4 million for Elevation Pictures/A24 Films. It has made $12.7 million over three weeks.

LADY BIRD continues to capitalize off its Oscar buzz in tenth with $1.9 million from 947 theatres for Elevation Pictures/A24 Films.  It has made $25 million thus far.

Another year of phenomenal racing has concluded in Ontario and while we have been a fan of the races for many years, 2017 stands out among all the others. This would be the year that reigning leading Trainer Mark Casse was surpassed by Norm McKnight in win standings and while the latter didn’t have any stake wins in that total, this is a sign of change and mobility on the circuit. We are seeing up-and-coming names like Denyse McClachrie, Martin Drexler and Tony Gattelaro make their presence known, the former two landing in the year-end Top Ten standings at Woodbine. Also more than ever, females – equine and human – are front and center in the sport.

The caliber of horses in Ontario has never been stronger. While undisputed Woodbine star PINK LLOYD had a flawless seven-race stakes win streak in 2017, there were many other heroes who rose. Some used racing at Woodbine as a springboard to success abroad whether it be on the track or in the sales ring where they’d begin the next stage of their careers in the breeding shed. Need we mention the likes of Tepin, Quidura, River Maid, Catch a Glimpse, Mississippi Delta, Crowley’s Law, Dacita, Moonlight Sky and Enstone, all Woodbine-raced and selling for a substantial sum at the November Sales in Kentucky?

Fillies and mares shined and among them fittingly-named WONDER GADOT, a namesake of Actress Gal Gadot and her revered Wonder Woman role, would perform well at the Breeders’ Cup en route to a victory in the Grade II Demoiselle at Aqueduct. Her two-year-old filly stablemates WIN THE WAR and ROAD TO VICTORY also would turn heads with flashy stakes scores, the latter winning the Grade II Golden Rod at Churchill Downs.

Trainers Josie Carroll, Barb Minshall and Catherine Day Phillips also had so much talent among their trainees that the Sovereign Awards honouring Canada’s best in Horse Racing, will prove rather tough for voters. Carroll‘s AMI’S MESA would make us proud almost taking home the top prize in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint under Luis Contreras but stablemates MOONLIT PROMISE and GAMBLE’S GHOST also would find stakes success this year, the former going undefeated in 2017. Day Phillips had a superb year with several stars in her barn like Mr. Havercamp, Financial Recovery and Guy Caballero, but her DIXIE MOON would crush the boys in the important Cup and Saucer Stakes before faring respectably at the Breeders’ Cup, having just enough left to win the Ontario Lassie late in the year. Watch out for the immensely-fast GRACE AND DIGNITY, one of the quickest fillies we’ve seen here in years who’s knocking on the door of greatness. We also cannot forget Barb Minshall’s stellar two-year-olds ADMIRALTY PIER and DREAM IT IS, the outstanding Shackleford filly who slayed the competition at Saratoga in the Grade III Schuylerville this summer. The runner-up in that race went on to perform well in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The Queen’s Plate is confirmed for Saturday, June 30, 2018 with Country Star Brad Paisley set to take the stage the night before at Woodbine. The historic race looks a wide open affair at this point with several making a case for their potential including John Ross and Jack of Hearts Racing’s Coronation Futurity winner AHEADBYACENTURY (named after The Tragically Hip hit). Ken & Sarah Ramsey’s HEMP HEMP HURRAY fared well in the Grade I Summer Stakes at Woodbine and has yet to run on anything but grass.  His connections certainly know how to win the race having taken the 2016 edition with Sir Dudley Digges.

SILENT STING also just nabbed the Kingarvie Stakes for Sid Attard and Stronach Stables, the latter of course scoring a 2017 Woodbine Oaks-Plate double with exceptional filly HOLY HELENA. Any other year she would be a cinch for Horse of the Year if it weren’t for an exceptional year.

Chiefswood Stables’ PIPERS WARRIOR seems to be improving into an athlete of note for Trainer Mike DePaulo. FLAMEAWAY found success at Saratoga also in the Skidmore Stakes for Mark Casse and comes into 2018 with a real shot at Plate glory with stablemates NEEPAWA and ROSE’S VISION, the latter two owned also by Chiefswood Stables.

Iconic Sam-Son Farms have a couple interesting possibilities with talented two-year-olds, the blue-blooded Tapit colt STRIKE ME DOWN who is based in the U.S. and also promising gelding KITTEN’S BOY.

2017 was a year of many emotions. These are my top moments in Ontario Thoroughbred Racing seen through my lens.

See you 2018? Happy Holidays!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong | Audio: Sony Music Entertainment)

Melissa McCarthy AND deception together in one Film? Sign us up! We love everything about upcoming Dark Comedy CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? This is the other side of McCarthy we’ve waited so long to see!

SYNOPSIS:
Melissa McCarthy stars in the adaptation of the memoir CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?, the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer (and friend to cats) Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) who made her living in the 1970’s and 80’s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant).

Fox Searchlight release CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME Friday, October 19, 2018.

TIFF ’18, anyone?

(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight)

You know we love Christmas! Mr. Will x Warner Music Canada want to give Readers to win copies of this Holiday’s hottest releases, SIA‘s EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS and THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, one of our favourite Movies of 2017!

To get you into the spirit, have a listen to these uplifting Holiday tunes!

SANTA’S COMING FOR US (starring Kristen Bell)

EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS

THE GREATEST SHOW – Hugh Jackman and Cast

NEVER ENOUGH – Loren Allred

The Cast of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN x Mr. Will

With all the ugliness of the world, #GreatestShowman is the Movie we all need right now. It fills the heart with joy and happiness. An immaculately-styled Spectacle told through gorgeous song and precise choreography. A role only #HughJackman could have played and a Movie that could not have been made without Baz Luhrmann paving the way. #ZacEfron and #RebeccaFerguson will wow you! 🎩🎪 In theatres Christmas.

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Sia x Mr. Will

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We’ll never forget the day our dreams came true and Snapchat had a SIA Snapchat Lens!

Chandelier. (@siathisisacting) #Sia

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 🎅 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 21, 2016 at 6:15pm PDT

To enter to win these amazing CDs, plus also a super-rare SIA Christmas wig, click “like” on this Post over at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK! Contest open to all Readers in Canada.

Warner Music Canada release SIA‘s EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS and THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK, both now in stores and available digitally.