THE JUNGLE BOOK continues its domination at the Box Office a third straight week at number one!  The Disney Live Action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling‘s story, earns $38 million from 4,041 theatres, making for $248 million thus far domestically. Expect huge numbers also for Disney/Marvel next week as CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR opens.

KEANU debuts in second for Warner Bros. with $9 million, from 2,658 theatres. It gets an B CinemaScore and a 77% on the Tomatometer. We foresee the kitten comedy becoming a bit of a sleeper hit in coming weeks as it gains a cult status.

THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR is in third this weekend with $8.8 million from 3,802 theatres. In two weeks it has grossed $33 million for Universal Pictures.

Star-studded MOTHER’S DAY debuts in fourth with $7.8 million for Elevation Pictures/Open Road Films, from 3,035 theatres. It gets a B+ CinemaScore and 9% on the Tomatometer.

RATCHET & CLANK debuts in fifth with $5.8 million for Universal Pictures/Focus Features, from 2,891 theatres. The Animated Feature gets 20% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.

ZOOTOPIA is in seventh for Disney with $4.5 million in its ninth week out with $324 million earned in its North American run.

CRIMINAL rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.2 million for VVS Films/Lionsgate Films, earning $13.3 million domestically over three weeks.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada + Mr. Will want you to win a THE 5TH WAVE Book/DVD Combo Pack!

Synopsis:
After four waves of deadly attacks devastate most of Earth, Cassie (Chloë Grace Moretz), 16, goes on the run to find her younger brother and prepare for the fifth and final wave, in which there is little hope of survival.

She comes across a young man who may be able to help, but she’s not sure she can trust him.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Contest open to Readers in Canada only.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada release THE 5TH WAVE on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, May 3, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada)

Rihanna and Calvin Harris, back at it again! After worldwide success five years ago with We Found Love, comes their new Song of the Summer, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAME FOR. We can just hear Taylor Swift allover this for some reason?? Is it just us??

Check out a Preview:

Also, stream in full on Spotify here.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music Canada)

By George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

On the most recent episode of Masterchef Canada, Chef Michael Bonacini describes these treats as the latest in food trends. Éclairs. An oblong pastry made with choux dough, filled with a cream and topped with icing. Or what I called growing up in Montreal, a city renowned for its pastries, chocolate and cream, hot dogs. Yes, I was quite an unsophisticated child!

NUGATEAU is the first Éclair-only Patisserie in Toronto. As owner, Abm Kadir, explained to me during the Bakery’s exclusive Spring/Summer samplings event, he was looking to fill a food niche that this city was missing and came up with the concept of an all and only eclairs establishment in a city filled with boutique cupcakes stores. Alongside pastry chef Atul Palghadmal, they experimented with hundreds of flavour combinations until they came up with a number of winners and they change their menu regularly to highlight seasonal items. There are also savoury éclair options; one of them being a foie gras with truffle oil and the other contained smoked salmon – yes, my salivary glands went into overdrive when I heard about those!

To ensure my integrity as a reporter for this site and at great personal risk for adding excess bulk to this already curvy body, I sampled seven…yes SEVEN…to die for éclairs. The visually stunning RED ROCKET was a sumptuous red velvet concoction with a white chocolate cream filling with raspberry compote and chocolate. The MONT TREMBLANT was a decadent twist on the traditional éclair of my childhood with 70% dark chocolate cremeux and whipped praline cream. ANNABELLE played with my taste buds with whipped pistachio cream and fresh strawberries. The MANGO VIOLET was a glorious combination of tropical mango scented florally. ST. DOMINGUE was dark chocolate cream and glaze. I loved BANANA CARAMEL. But my favourite of the night was the APRICOT SAFFRON, a sinful apricot cream infused with Spanish saffron. Unapologetically self-indulgent to a fault.

NUGATEAU is a gorgeous tiny little boite of a Patisserie, minimally decorated. When artistry is displayed behind the glass counter, who needs decor? This gem is located at 717 Queen St West, half a block west of Bathurst. It has now become my Mecca for outstanding desserts.

More on NUGATEAU here.

Artistically, Beyoncé is in a career renaissance. This is polarizing as those of us who loved her from her Destiny’s Child days have either kept along with her journey of growth or abandoned the trail. Fortunately, a vast majority have stuck with her and her ever-evolving sound. Sixth solo studio disc Lemonade came as a surprise release less than a week ago and instead of the Music itself being the focus, it is getting more attention for pointing accusations at whom the hypothetical “other woman” is, accounting for some of the anger and aggression dispersed throughout the Disc. This is a good thing though. When Beyoncé speaks, people are listening.

Lemonade (a tribute to her maternal grandmother) despite its sunny name is dark, but if you’ve listened to her past few Discs, this is the direction the Singer/Songwriter/Entrepreneur has headed in recent years.  The edge here however is sharp.  The Album isn’t crammed with singles or bangers.  It is a mixture of sounds aimed at evoking mood and thought in its listeners. It is about embodying the spirit and voice of the strong, independent American Woman. It very much is about empowerment.

English Singer/Songwriter James Blake has a couple contributions on the Disc and starts things off on a moody note on one of two collaborations, Pray You Catch Me.  They duet on Forward (think an edgier take on Rihanna/Mikky Ekko‘s Stay) later in the sequence.  The Rock influence in Beyoncé‘s repertoire is apparent on Led Zeppelin-sampling, Jack White dreamchild, Don’t Hurt Yourself and despite appearing a bit odd on paper, completely works.  Sorry, which details infidelity in her partner and all the warning signs of it, stirs-up the most controversy to whom “Becky with the good hair is”. Does she really exist or is she metaphorical of the insecurities that women face? Either way it is genius and people are talking.

The Weeknd collaboration 6 Inch is a dark, mysterious anthem to femininity and fierceness, one of the more radio-friendly tracks on the Disc, while Daddy Lessons with its country roots pays homage to Beyoncé‘s southern upbringing and a reminder that not all men are at blame. It takes a man to tell you what kind of man to be warned of, right?  The gorgeous Love Drought is placed mid-Disc and a perfect cool-down after an array of emotions expressed earlier.

Hip-Hop’s It Boy Kendrick Lamar gets a plum spot on the ’70s soulful-rock homage, Freedom.  First single Formation closes-out the Disc, a perfect transition to take Fans from Beyoncé of an era past to the Beyoncé of now.

Like her fifth self-titled Disc, there is a visual component to this Disc. Check-out the Trailer below:

Certainly a bright spot in an outstanding catalogue from Music’s reigning Queen. Sony Music Entertainment Canada release LEMONADE, now available on iTunes, Amazon, Tidal and in-stores Friday, May 6, 2016.

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

I want to start this review on a more personal note than the other reviews for Hot Docs. I have a brother who suffers from autism and I understand the struggles and hardships associated with it. But I also understand the wrong and terrible stigmas associated with autism as well.

The Documentary Life, Animated from Academy Award-winning Director Roger Ross Williams, details how our subject Owen, develops verbal autism to tear-inducing effect. Maybe it had something to do with how my brother and I tried to communicate with while we were younger, who knows.

The Film details his relationship with the Disney Animated Movies that helped shape who he has become today in helping him get a grasp of the English language. Owen, like many other children who have autism, was diagnosed early on at the age of three. As his motor skills diminished doctors were worried he would never be able to speak again.

Life, Animated is a magical experience that allows the audience to see how Owen through the power of Film. Bring tissues.

Tuesday, May 3 9:15 p.m. Isabel Bader
Thursday, May 5 12:30 p.m. Hart House
Saturday, May 7 1:00 p.m. Fox Theatre

By George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

Frenetic and hyper energetic, Canada’s own Charles Ross condenses the almost 12 hours of cinematic magic that is Star Wars episodes IV, V and VI into a 75 minute intermission-less marathon. ONE-MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY is definitely written for and caters to the geeks and nerds and the Sheldon Coopers of the world who can recite the movie verbatim. Many of those at the star-studded Toronto premiere I attended had responded with enthusiasm and gales of laughter. Guests tonight included John Ralston, Ashleigh Rains, Kristian Bruun, Jackie Perez, Lachlan Murdoch, Julie Nessrallah and Ashley Leggat.

As a more casual fan of the Movie franchise, what I truly admired about this show is that it played with my imagination. The stage is black. There are no props, not even a light sabre! It’s just Charles Ross, in a black jumpsuit, as he re-enacts all 3 Movies: characters, sound effects, the iconic musical soundtrack and opening scrolls. Ross is not a master impersonator, but his 3CPO and R2D2 impressions were dead-on. My imagination ran wild as I envisioned the Movie with Ross’ words. The Show is fast paced (sometimes to a detriment as occasionally all the dialogue runs together too quickly and is hard to understand), very funny and entertaining. I wish there were more commentary jokes like the one where Luke Skywalker says he was surprised that Darth Vader wasn’t black and the answer he received was “No, that’s James Earl Jones. My voice.” More zingers like that would have made my evening.

ONE-MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY is a fun night out. Charles Ross is outstanding and I do hope he wasn’t joking when, while interacting with the audience, he said that his next show will be “One-Man Pride and Prejudice”. It runs now through May 1, 2016 at Toronto’s Bluma Appel Theatre.

More here.

(Photo credit: George Kozera/David Baldwin/Handout)

After much acclaim at TIFF ’15, THE RAINBOW KID gets a long-awaited release!

Synopsis:
The Rainbow Kid is a gritty coming of age story that follows Eugene, a teenager with Down syndrome, on the journey of his life. Obsessed with everything rainbows, whether it’s their beauty, their symbolism, or the myths that surround them, this obsession acts as an escape from his real life, which is a mess: he’s bullied at school, his hard-bitten mom neglects him, and the girl he likes doesn’t notice him. Worse, he discovers that he and his mom are on the verge of being evicted. Eugene decides to take matters into his own hands. He’ll find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Eugene will save the day.

An optimistic Eugene sets out on an adventure across rural Ontario and encounters a host of larger than life characters: an alcoholic dowser, a cross dressing punk rocker, and a special needs girl with a disturbing home life. As he struggles to adapt and understand the worrisome situations he finds himself in, a strange thing happens: he begins to experience rainbow mythologies first hand, but the line between fact and fiction soon blur together. Eugene’s odyssey becomes more and more dangerous, but he forges ahead, taking the challenges head on. The Rainbow Kid is a story of growth, coming of age, and most of all, hope.

Trailer:

While visiting the Bell Media headquarters for an interview during TIFF ’15, I had the pleasure of meeting with The Rainbow Kid stars Dylan Harman and Krystal Nausbaum.

See our Snap:

THE RAINBOW KID hits theatres Friday, May 6, 2016 and screens as part of the Canadian Indie Film Series. More here.

Some ways for you to see THE RAINBOW KID:

MAY 4 – SNEAK PREVIEWS
Landmark Cinemas 10 Kingston
Landmark Cinemas 10 Waterloo
Landmark Cinemas 16 Country Hills Calgary
Landmark Cinemas Paramount Kamloops
Landmark Cinemas 7 Penticton
Landmark Cinemas Cranbrook
Landmark Cinemas 5 Campbell River
Landmark Cinemas Courtenay
Landmark Cinemas 9 City Centre Edmonton
Landmark Cinemas 8 Winnipeg Grant Park
Landmark Cinemas 24 Kanata
Landmark Cinemas 24 Whitby
Landmark Cinemas 10 New Westminster
Landmark Kelowna Grand
Landmark Cinemas 8 Avalon Nanaimo

MAY 6 – OPENS
The Carlton – Toronto
Landmark Cinemas 24 Kanata
Landmark Cinemas 24 Whitby
Landmark Winnipeg Towne Cinema 8

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

No it’s not a rumour, SNOWDEN the Movie really exists and after some delays, we’re finally getting the official Trailer!

Synopsis:
Academy Award®-winning director Oliver Stone, who brought Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Wall Street and JFK to the big screen, tackles the most important and fascinating true story of the 21st century. Snowden, the politically-charged, pulse-pounding thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley, reveals the incredible untold personal story of Edward Snowden, the polarizing figure who exposed shocking illegal surveillance activities by the NSA and became one of the most wanted men in the world. He is considered a hero by some, and a traitor by others. No matter which you believe, the epic story of why he did it, who he left behind, and how he pulled it off makes for one of the most compelling films of the year.

Watch:

Elevation Pictures release SNOWDEN Friday, September 16, 2016. TIFF ’16, anyone?

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Tons of celebrity cameos and sassy antics highlight this new Trailer for ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: THE MOVIE! You must check this out! Looks hilar.

Synopsis:
Appropriate for their big screen debut, Edina and Patsy (Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley) are still oozing glitz and glamour, living the high life they are accustomed to; shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London’s trendiest hotspots. Blamed for a major incident at an uber fashionable launch party, they become entangled in a media storm and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the glamorous playground of the super-rich, the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent and live the high life forever more!

See the Trailer:

Fox Searchlight release Friday, July 15, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)