LOGAN shreds its competition to take the top of the Box Office with a monstrous $81 million opening for 20th Century Fox.  Playing it 4,071 theatres across North America, the final Wolverine Film starring Hugh Jackman receives an outstanding 93% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore. Despite an outstanding performance in its debut, it still is behind 2009’s X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, which opened with $85 million, although it should be noted that was a PG-13 release and this latest installment is R-rated, setting a record for highest-ever opening for a Film of that rating in March, a record held previously by 300.

In second this weekend is GET OUT from Universal Pictures, which last weekend debuted on-top.  It earns a stellar $26.5 million in its second week out, a two-week tally of $76.3 million.

Faith-based Film THE SHACK opens in third with $15.3 million from 2,888 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. It gets 16% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE is in fourth with $11.1 million for Warner Bros. Over four weeks it has made $148 million domestically.

BEFORE I FALL debuts in sixth for Open Road Films/Elevation Pictures with $4.6 million from 2,346 theatres. The Sundance selection gets a respectable 68% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.

LA LA LAND rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.1 million after last weekend’s Oscars mis-announcement debacle where it was named Best Picture, only or it to be clarified the award actually went to MOONLIGHT.  LA LA LAND over 13 weeks has earned $145 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  MOONLIGHT also gets a boost from last weekend’s Oscars exposure placing eleventh, expanding back to 1,564 theatres and earning $2.2 million.  It has grossed $25 million over 20 weeks of release for A24 Films/Elevation Pictures.

She’s grown-up so much! Lorde has been away from the spotlight for a bit now but the time away has done lots for her maturity wise. She sings candidly about a break-up on new single GREEN LIGHT, which actually is pretty exceptional. Accompanying the single is a gorgeously-shot Video.  She’s effortless, cool and we feel like we really are getting a piece of her broken heart here in this Clip from Director Grant Singer.

See the Video:

We don’t believe it’s already been four years since she burst on the scene!

Lorde‘s upcoming album MELODRAMA will be released Summer 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music/Mr. Will Wong)

Hot on the heels of its announcement earlier this week that it will be closing the TIFF KIDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL next month, SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE comes at us with a sassy new Video from star Meghan Trainor, I’m a Lady!  In case you missed our Tweet yesterday, here it is:

Watch below:

Some ways for you to get the Track to enjoy:

iTunes: smarturl.it/ImaLady
Apple Music – smarturl.it/ImaLady_AM
Spotify – smarturl.it/ImaLady_Sptfy
Google Play – smarturl.it/ImaLady_GP
Amazon – smarturl.it/ImaLady_Dig

Sony Pictures Canada release SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE Friday, April 7 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music Entertainment/Sony Pictures)

It’s been a long minute since we’ve heard new Music from one of your faves, Sheryl Crow. Since signing with Warner Music, the rock icon is prepping a return to the spotlight with her debut disc (and ninth studio album) on the label, BE MYSELF, out Friday, April 21, 2017.

See the Animated Video for new single Halfway There, which if you pre-order the album now, you get with purchase:

Tracklisting as follows:
1.“Alone In The Dark”
2. “Halfway There”
3. “Long Way Back”
4. “Be Myself”
5. “Roller Skate”
6. “Love Will Save The Day”
7. “Strangers Again”
8. “Rest Of Me”
9. “Heartbeat Away”
10. “Grow Up”
11. “Woo Woo”

Crow will be embarking on a tour this spring, no Canadian dates confirmed just yet.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music/Tchad Blake)

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

A little bit like Mean Girls, a little bit like Groundhog Day, BEFORE I FALL, based on the Novel by Lauren Oliver, takes us inside teenager Samantha‘s(Zoey Deutch) world after a tragic car accident on Cupid Day has her re-living that same day over and over until she fully understands how it is her actions impact her own destiny. In town to promote the Film which closed-out the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival, were its Director Ry Russo-Young and star Zoey Deutch and we had the pleasure of chatting with them.

When did you first get involved with the source-material and what was one of the biggest challenges bringing it to the screen?
Ry: I read the script about three years ago and what I was so attracted to was that is surprised me. I sort of thought that it was a superficial Teen Movie in the first 20 pages and wasn’t sure if I was on board with who these characters were and all that. Then I found Sam’s journey to be unexpectedly emotional and moving and profound. So thats what attracted me to the Movie.

Zoey: What attracted me initially was that I felt like…its so rare that I read a script that feels like it has the opportunity to be both extremely thought-provoking and moving, while also being entertaining. And not that I had any idea or expectation it would make it to Sundance or TIFF Next Wave or be a wide release. But I felt that it was so thought-provoking and so entertaining and so wonderful to watch a young girl go through so many different variations of her own self to explore all the contradictions and complications and intricacies of being a young woman. I really thought that that was important and inspiring and a really wonderful opportunity too.

Ry: It’s also a story we don’t get to see so often its a classic heroes journey with a female protagonist that is really at its heart. It’s the kind of Movie that I wish I had when I was a teenager, so its kinda like be the change that you want to see.

The chemistry between the group of friends is very organic. Did this chemistry need work or did it come naturally?

Ry: I think it was a little bit of both to be honest. A lot of the girls, Zoey’s job, she was in every scene it was so demanding a lot of the girls hung-out. We rehearsed a bit with all four of them. They hung-out independently as well a lot they went out to dinner.

Zoey: That also fed into the social cues of that group. Because I really did want Sam to feel like more of a follower than any other members of the group. Yes, she was probably like second in command to Lindsay but it was almost like a positive that I didn’t get to hang out them as much as they got to hang out with each other because they had developed this thing and I still felt a little but left out because I wasn’t there, I wasn’t experiencing those things. They were posting things on Instagram, I wasn’t there, and I would feel left-out. And it helped me. It really helped me feel lonely and left-out. It was actually kind of useful. But the girls…when I did get to hang-out with them they are the coolest, funniest, sweetest most wonderful women and and so supportive. And I am really truly friends with all of them. And I wish they were here now. We were texting them, chatting them, texting them all pictures of us.

Ry: It’s a little but of both in terms of we did some work and then they were also so natural with each other and everyone was down and had great energy.

These so called ‘mean girls’ all have their own back stories. Why was that important? To make sure that that backstory was shown?

Zoey: So vital. And I feel like, I don’t know what your experiences in middle school or high school were like, but for me people weren’t one thing. They were like Sam, she’s a bully and she’s bullied. Like Lindsay, she’s mean but for a reason. It comes from a place of real vulnerability and a fear for vulnerability. And I thought that was so beautiful that there really wasn’t a clear distinct hero or villain in the Movie. That you see so many facets of female experience.

Ry: Diversity is really key. To me that is the hope for a Movie like this…is that there are other Films. That this sort of leads the way for more Films by and about women. And one of the things in terms of…it was everything to me. Because otherwise we would just have stereotypes right? We would have these archetypes and stereotypes that we have seen a thousand times. And part of whats interesting about the Movie is that you do realize that everyone has their own humanity and is their own kind of complicated person battling their own inner demons. I always try to think about…to think about every character as if it was their own Movie about that character.

More on Ry Russo-Young and Zoey Deutch‘s visit to Toronto here.

Elevation Pictures release BEFORE I FALL Friday, March 3, 2017.

(Photo credit: Elevation Pictures)

We certainly are in a new era of cinema where we’re seeing huge stars like Brad Pitt starring in original Netflix Films! You must see this new Teaser for WAR MACHINE in which he stars alongside a massive supporting cast filled to them brim in starpower!

Synopsis:
An absurdist war story for our times, Writer-Director David Michôd (Animal Kingdom) recreates a U.S. General’s roller-coaster rise and fall as part reality, part savage parody – raising the specter of just where the line between them lies today. His is an exploration of a born leader’s ultra-confident march right into the dark heart of folly. At the story’s core is Brad Pitt’s sly take on a successful, charismatic four-star general who leapt in like a rock star to command NATO forces in Afghanistan, only to be taken down by a journalist’s no-holds-barred exposé.

WAR MACHINE stars Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, Sir Ben Kingsley, Anthony Michael Hall, Topher Grace, Will Poulter, Lakeith Stanfield, Emory Cohen, John Magaro, RJ Cyler, Alan Ruck, Scoot McNairy and Meg Tilly.

See the Trailer:

Netflix Canada release WAR MACHINE Friday, May 26, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

It’s that time of the year again and you can bet we’re super-pumped for CANADIAN SCREEN WEEK!  As in previous years, FAMILY FAN DAY will give us a chance to connect with some of our favourite Canadian stars of the screen!  Taking place Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, the event runs from 10 AM to 2 PM and guess what?  It’s free!

Exciting activations and contests are being planned and did you know that the first 100 in line will get a free swag bag? There will be doughnuts from JELLY MODERN, a MAC booth giving you inspiration for your spring 2017 look, exciting animals from HANDS ON EXOTICS and also a coding workshop by LADIES LEARNING CODE.

Stars in attendance this year include:

• Dan Riskin and Ziya Tong, Daily Planet (Bell Media)

• Kristian Bruun, Orphan Black (Bell Media)

• Simu Liu, Andrea Bang and Andrew Phung, Kim’s Convenience (CBC)

• Hélène Joy and Lachlan Murdoch, Murdoch Mysteries (CBC)

• Alisha Newton, Heartland (CBC)

• Janaye, Tony, Victor, Gary the Unicorn and Dot, CBC Kids (CBC)

• Dwight Drummond, CBC News Toronto (CBC)

• Kim Coates, Bad Blood (Rogers Media)

• Dina Pugliese and Kevin Frankish, Breakfast Television (Rogers Media)

• Victoria Baldesarra and Shelby Bain, The Next Step (Family Channel)

• Chelsea Clark and Ehren Kassam, Degrassi: Next Class (Family Channel)

• Devyn Nekoda, Colin Petierre and Julia Tomasone, Backstage (Family Channel)

• Hosts from Global’s The Morning Show (Corus Entertainment)

• Mike Holmes and Mike Holmes Jr., Holmes + Holmes (Corus Entertainment)

• Noah Cappe, The Bachelor Canada (Corus Entertainment)

• Anthony Farnell, Global News (Corus Entertainment)

• Ella Ballentine, Sara Botsford, Kate MacDonald Butler, L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables (Corus Entertainment/Breakthrough Entertainment)

…and several more!

YTV‘s Carlos Bustamante will fill hosting duties.

____________________________________

Here’s a couple tips for taking the best selfies with the stars, from your resident expert, Mr. Will:

1. Be calm, stars are more like us than we are  led to believe.

2. Ask nicely. If you are a real fan, let them know how they have touched your life.

3. Give them space and let them initiate it if they want to get closer to you.

4. Make sure there’s no glaring light behind you in the photo. This is v. unflattering and will almost always ruin your photo. If there is light, make sure it is shining on your faces.

5. Nobody likes a double-chin, so tilt that camera/cell phone up just a bit and tilt that chin down.

6. Look into the lens of the camera, not the screen on your cell phone and smile! Keep your eyes open!

7. Take an extra snap quickly just in case the first didn’t turn out – it’s always good to have a back-up.

8. Thank the star.

____________________________________

Enjoy and g’luck! We’ll be seeing you around Canadian Screen Week!

More on Family Fan Day here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television)

A release date has been announced for eagerly-awaited Netflix Film OKJA with a star-studded Cast which includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Tilda Swinton, Steve Yeun, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito and newcomer Seo Hyun An.

Synopsis:
From visionary Director Bong Joon Ho, this grand global adventure follows a friendship too big to ignore. Meet Mija, a young girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend – a massive animal named Okja. Following her across continents, the coming-of-age comedy drama sees Mija’s horizons expand in a way one never would want for one’s children, coming up against the harsh realities of genetically modified food experimentation, globalization, eco-terrorism, and humanity’s obsession with image, brand and self-promotion.

See the Teaser:

Netflix Canada premiere OKJA Wednesday, June 28, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

One of 2017’s biggest emerging musical acts is about to make a huge splash stateside. Stunning 21-year-old English Singer/Songwriter Dua Lipa is making waves with current single Scared to be Lonely, a collabo with red-hot Producer/DJ Martin Garrix. In the UK, she already is an accomplished one garnering nominations at the recent BRIT AWARDS for a Critic’s Choice Award, BBC‘s Sound of 2016 and also being named NME‘s Best New Artist.

Dua Lipa played a sold-out show at Toronto’s Mod Club to night and if that weren’t enough she braved the cold in the same shimmery dress she donned on-stage to greet hundreds of fans following the show outside the venue!

See our Snaps:

With one of 2017’s biggest emerging musical acts, #DuaLipa who played a sold-out show at The Mod Club tonight!

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Feb 27, 2017 at 8:30pm PST

#DuaLipa literally stood outside in the cold and met hundreds of Toronto fans after her Mod Club Show! Amazing. (@DuaLipa @warnermusiccanada)

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Feb 27, 2017 at 8:45pm PST

Check out Scared to be Lonely below:

Dua Lipa’s debut disc is due this summer via Warner Music Canada.

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

Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to see GHOST IN THE SHELL first in Toronto, Montreal + Ottawa. Screenings take place Wednesday, March 29, 2017:

Toronto – Scotiabank Theatre @ 7:00PM

Montreal – Cinema Banque Scotia Montreal @ 7:00PM

Ottawa – Scotiabank Theatre Ottawa @ 7:00PM

Synopsis:
In the near future, Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the first of her kind:  A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. When terrorism reaches a new level that includes the ability to hack into people’s minds and control them, Major is uniquely qualified to stop it. As she prepares to face a new enemy, Major discovers that she has been lied to:  her life was not saved, it was stolen. She will stop at nothing to recover her past, find out who did this to her and stop them before they do it to others. Based on the internationally acclaimed Japanese Manga, “The Ghost in the Shell.”.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. For an extra shot, “favourite” this Tweet on Twitter: @mrwillw!

Paramount Pictures Canada release GHOST IN THE SHELL Friday, March 31, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)