Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
In eighteenth-century upstate New York, Abigail (Katherine Waterston) is grieving the loss of her daughter. She begins keeping track of her mundane rural life and interactions with her husband, Dyer (Casey Affleck), by journaling. Her grief slowly begins to alleviate when Tallie (Vanessa Kirby) and her husband Finney (Christopher Abbott) move into a neighbouring cabin.
Director Mona Fastvold creates a beautiful film that depicts grief and love. She works from the Script, written by Ron Hansen and Jim Shepard, that shows life as a settler in the eighteenth-century. Through these four characters, the Film is filled with the knowledge of the oppression and expectations of women during the time. Fastvold perfectly captures this life with stunning shots of candlelit cabins and breathtaking landscapes.
A lot of the speech in The World to Come is from the narration of Abigail. As she keeps her journal, the audience hears her hidden emotions and desires. Itâs difficult to execute heavy narration on-screen but Fastvold, Hansen, Shepard and the powerful voice work from Waterston make it an asset. Itâs used as a way to get exposition across swiftly and it’s delivered emotionally by Waterston.
This sweeping romance is a captivating watch due to the stellar performances from its ensemble. Waterston is brilliant as the restrained Abigail. She has the ability to show both Abigail’s sorrow alleviating and her love blossoming for Tallie through each interaction. Kirby gives a commanding performance as the confident and direct Tallie. The use of her stature and voice is captivating. Waterston and Kirby work perfectly together and have powerful chemistry.
Additionally, The World to Come takes a look male fragility during the eighteenth-century. They do this primarily through the character of Finney. His anger is targeted towards Tallie due to her not doing household âdutiesâ and producing a child. As this was expected of women at the time, Finney becomes enraged by Tallie. And furthermore, when Tallie desires to spend more time with Abigail than him. Abbott is brilliant in this dislikable role.
The World to Come screens at Sundance:
Live Premiere: February 2 at 3 PM (EST)
On-Demand (available for 24 hours): February 3 at 10 AM (EST)
Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of TIFF ’19 selection, OUR FRIEND! This stars Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson and Jason Segel!
Synopsis:
After receiving life-altering news, a couple finds unexpected support from their best friend, who puts his own life on hold and moves into their family home, bringing an impact much greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined.
See the Trailer:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK!. Re–Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an additional chance!
Enter for a chance to #win a Digital Download of OUR FRIEND starring Casey Affleck, Jason Segel and Dakota Johnson.https://t.co/9ii5OC8utK pic.twitter.com/uGj4YnkIWv
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) January 21, 2021
Rules and regulations here.
OUR FRIEND is on Digital and On-Demand Friday, January 22, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
After premiering at TIFF ’19, heart-breaking OUR FRIEND finally is ready for release. We don’t know about you but we can’t get enough Dakota Johnson!
Synopsis:
Nicole (Dakota Johnson) and Matthew Teague (Casey Affleck), faced with Nicole‘s impending death, see their best friend (Jason Segel) move in to help them out.
Directed by: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Casey Affleck and Jason Segel
See the Trailer:
Elevation Pictures release OUR FRIEND in theatres and on-demand January 22, 2020.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
Right in time for Awards Season, THE OLD MAN & THE GUN gets a confirmed release date which suggests it just might be as great as it looks.
Synopsis:
THE OLD MAN & THE GUN is based on the true story of Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford), from his audacious escape from the San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public. Wrapped up in the pursuit are Detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck) who becomes captivated with Forrest for his commitment to his craft, and a woman (Sissy Spacek) who loves him despite his chosen profession. David Lowery (Pete’s Dragon, A Ghost Story)Â writes and directs.
Another Still:
This definitely looks like a TIFF ’18 contender, yes?
Fox Searchlight release THE OLD MAN & THE GUN Friday, October 5, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)
“You do what you do to make sure people remember you after you’re gone.”.
Winning tons of raves at Sundance earlier this year, the official Trailer for A GHOST STORY has surfaced earlier today. The Drama reunites Academy Award winner Casey Affleck and his Ain’t Them Bodies Saints Co-Star Rooney Mara and Director David Lowery together once again.
Synopsis:
A dead man (Casey Affleck) returns to haunt his wife (Rooney Mara), manifesting as a ghost wearing a sheet with eyeholes over his head. As he watches her deal with her grief, he also encounters a female ghost who is also haunting the same house. They come to observe the rhythms of human existence while family life in the house unfolds over a century.
Trailer:
A GHOST STORY hits theatres Friday, July 21, 2017 via Mongrel Media.
(Photo/video credit: A24 Films)
The 89th annual Academy Awards took place tonight at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and in a shock of a finale, MOONLIGHT would win coveted Best Picture. Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway would make a not-soon-to-be-forgotten gaffe of announcing LA LA LAND and Best Picture, which eventually was corrected. Beatty clarified on-stage he had in fact received the envelope for Emma Stone, Best Actress. The acclaimed Barry Jenkins coming of age Film also would win for Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali).Â
In an era where inclusion and diversity are at the forefront of discussion, Ali becomes known as the first ever Muslim Actor to win an Oscar. Noted this year was an increased presence of talent whether it be Presenters or Nominees, of various ethnicities.
After dominating Awards Season, Damien Chazelle‘s LA LA LAND would sweep in several categories including Production Design, Cinematography, Original Score, Original Song, Directing and Actress (Emma Stone). Chazelle has the distinction of at age 32 being the youngest to ever win Best Directing.
Jimmy Kimmel filled hosting duties this year, delivering his signature brand of biting humour (much directed to a running friendly feud with Matt Damon) which drew big laughs and at once awkward silence when he joked about O.J. Simpson deserving an extra piece of bologna tonight after OJ: MADE IN AMERICA won Best Documentary.
The night reached a comedic high point where Kimmel told the audience that he had planned for a bus full of random tourists to visit Kodak Theatre without their knowing. Much to their surprise, they were greeted  by a front row of Hollywood Who’s-Who which included the likes of Emma Stone, Meryl Streep, Ryan Gosling, Denzel Washington, Mahershala Ali and several more!
.@jimmykimmel bringing tourists into the #oscars was pretty Fresh. pic.twitter.com/xetZUSL0pd
â Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) February 27, 2017
Accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award just earlier this year, three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep stole the show tonight right from the get-go without even speaking with Kimmel poking fun about Donald Trump‘s statement that she was over-rated getting the audience to giver her a standing ovation as the “highly-overrated Meryl Streep“.
âHighly overratedâ Meryl Streep gets standing ovation at #Oscars after being slammed by Trump https://t.co/K3lOQiFiE5 pic.twitter.com/FTI72LIq5u
â People Magazine (@people) February 27, 2017
The iconic Actress has appeared much in the news of late after Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld claimed to Women’s Wear Daily that Streep refused a dress from Chanel after she was denied monetary compensation for donning the label’s creation.  Streep vehemently has denied the accusation, issuing a statement: “I do not take this lightly, and Mr. Lagerfeldâs generic âstatementâ of regret for this âcontroversyâ was not an apology. He lied, they printed the lie, and I am still waiting.”.
The other acting categories went to heavy favourites. Casey Affleck won Best Actor for MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, Viola Davis won Best Supporting Actress for her work in stage-to-film Adaptation FENCES.
Canada was represented well, with Montreal’s Sylvain Bellemare winning Best Sound Editing for ARRIVAL. The Best Picture-nominated Film also saw our Denis Villeneuve receive a nomination for Directing.
As always the evening’s fashion is a huge part of the spectacle and here are some of the evening’s winning looks!
(Photo/video credit: Oscars/Getty Images)
We’re past the halfway point at TIFF ’16 and things begin to slow down to another gear after today. Premieres around the City tonight include DEEPWATER HORIZON which sees Mark Wahlberg, Kate Hudson and Kurt Russell walk the Red Carpet at Roy Thomson Hall. Meanwhile, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA which continues to gain Oscar momentum, brings Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams to the Carpet at Princess of Wales Theatre. Megastar Justin Timberlake also presents Documentary JT AND THE TENNESSEE KIDS at Roy Thomson Hall also.
Casey Affleck, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Kyle Chandler, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Â#KyleChandler at #TIFF16 for #ManchesterbytheSea. #MongrelatTIFF
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Matt Damon, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Mark Wahlberg, DEEPWATER HORIZON
#TIFF16: #MarkWahlberg who quickly made an appearance for the #DeepwaterHorizon afterparty.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Gina Rodriguez, DEEPWATER HORIZON
With the beautiful and gracious #GinaRodriguez. #DeepwaterHorizon #TIFF16
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Kurt Russell, DEEPWATER HORIZON
Â#KurtRussell at Premiere for #DeepwaterHorizon. #TIFF16
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Kate Hudson, DEEPWATER HORIZON
Director Peter Berg, DEEPWATER HORIZON
ÂWith #DeepwaterHorizon Director #PeterBerg. #TIFF16
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Virginia Madsen, BURN YOUR MAPS
Director Morgan Spurlock, RATS
Jason Momoa, THE BAD BATCH
Suki Waterhouse, THE BAD BATCH
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Review by SiobhĂĄn Rich for Mr. Will Wong
In real life very few situations end with a tidy bow and the words âhappily ever after.â Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan takes this notion to heart in the Movie Manchester By the Sea as his characters must reconcile past sorrows if they want survive the tragedies of today.
Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is quietly enduring his life when he learns his beloved brother Joe (Kyle Chandler) has died of congestive heart failure. At the reading of Joeâs will, Lee is horrified to learn that he has been given guardianship of his 16-year-old nephew, Patrick (Lucas Hedges). As the two struggle to find common ground, the audience slowly learns the truth behind Leeâs painful past and why he is so reluctant to stay in the seaside town.
With a Supporting Cast that boasts Matthew Broderick, Gretchen Mol and Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea suffers from no shortage of heavy-hitters. That said, the best part of the Movie is Casey Affleck who captures Leeâs tortured soul in a way that is never played for melodrama, but rather fleshed out with unexpected subtlety and nuance.
With plenty of hopeful Oscar buzz already surrounding this Movie, Manchester By the Sea is sure to be a hot ticket during TIFF ’16.
Manchester by the Sea screens at TIFF:
Tuesday, September 13, 2016 6:00 PMÂ Princess of Wales
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 11:30 AMÂ Visa Screening Room
Many raves are coming in about MANCHESTER BY THE SEA and several already are calling this a Best Picture contender even before its TIFF Premiere!
Synopsis:
In Manchester by the Sea, the latest Film from award-winning writer and director Kenneth Lonergan, the life of a solitary Boston janitor is transformed when he returns to his hometown to take care of his teenage nephew. The story of the Chandlers, a working-class family living in a Massachusetts fishing village for generations, Manchester by the Sea is a deeply poignant, unexpectedly funny exploration of the power of familial love, community, sacrifice and hope.
After the death of his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler), Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked to learn that Joe has made him sole guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Taking leave of his job, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea to care for Patrick, a spirited 15-year-old, and is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife Randi (Michelle Williams) and the community where he was born and raised. Â Â Bonded by the man who held their family together, Lee and Patrick struggle to adjust to a world without him.
See the Trailer:
Mongrel Media release MANCHESTER BY THE SEA Friday, November 25, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)
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