Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Best friends Val (Jerrod Carmichael) and Kevin (Christopher Abbott) are having a tough go of it. Val is feeling out of control in his life being stuck at a job he hates and the fear of becoming a father. Kevin tried to kill himself three days ago and now sits in a psychiatric hospital attempting to convince the doctors he’s fine. When Val visits Kevin he decides to break him out. This leads to the two make a pact to end their lives by days end.
This darkly comedic debut feature from Director Jerrod Carmichael is about mental illness, a failed mental health system, the right to bear arms and a love letter to friendship. There are tonal shifts that happen within the script, written by Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch, but they work. These shifts happen while examining the past traumas of Kevin and Val and pivoting to their binding friendship. There is a brutal honesty that happens between best friends that’s often humorous. Additionally, there’s the ability to trust and confide your darkest truths in a best friend that’s impossible with anyone else. Katcher and Welch incorporate the reality of this relationship within the script and Carmichael controls the shifts on screen.
Not only does Carmichael steers this complex, layered film he also gives a strong performance. Of the two, Val is more level-headed and analytical. His decision to end his life comes from a place of recent depression and loss of control. Carmichael shows this in calculated doses, slowly exposing one layer of his character at a time. On the other hand, Kevin has had horrific trauma happen to him since childhood. A doctor who was supposed to help him, assaulted him. Whenever he has tried to get help, it hasn’t worked. This has made him feel that suicide is the only option. Abbott does a tremendous job of embodying the anguish Kevin carries and the weight of his choice. Further, he has impressive control of switching between a state of calm and unleashed anger.
Throughout, we are left wondering if the two will actually follow through with their pact. Without giving anything away, the ending leaves room for the suicide debate to be discussed. The same goes for the right to bear arms. Throughout this day-in-the-life story, Kevin references the negatives and positives of guns, which they intend to use for their pact. At moments within the script, we see the argument for guns when in a controlled setting, as in the scene at the shooting range. But we also witness the heartbreaking reality of what happens when a gun is in the hands of someone in an uncontrolled setting, this is shown multiple times throughout.
Carmichael makes an assured feature debut that tackles many controversial topics. Overall, On The Count of Three is a poignant look at mental health and the beautiful bond of friendship. It has genuine chemistry between Carmichael and Abbott. And Tiffany Haddish makes an impact with only one scene.
On The Count of Three screens at Sundance:
Live Premiere: January 29 at 9 PM (EST)
On-Demand (available for 24 hours): January 31 at 10 AM (EST)
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.
Just two days left of TIFF ’15, it’s only midday and we’re shocked how many stars still are milling about doing press. See who we’ve spotted this afternoon!
Keith Richards. The Rolling Stones rock legend made a spirited entrance at his Press Conference for Documentary Under the Influence, drawing lots of cheers. He’s got a jam-packed day with his Premiere tailgating the conference!
Cynthia Nixon. This one’s for all my Mirandas! I adore Sex and the City and made it a point of finding the gorgeous actress! She’s here for James White, premiering at Ryerson Theatre tonight.
For all my Mirandas. With #SexandtheCity star #CynthiaNixon. She is at #TIFF15 with #JamesWhite. #TIFF #TIFF40 #TorontoFilmFestival #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Christopher Abbott also is with Nixon promoting James White and we caught-up while he was having a smoke break.
Dev Patel is no stranger to TIFF and he’s actually grown to be a handsome, stylish young man, no? The Chappie star is here for The Man Who Knew Infinity.
With #TheManWhoKnewInfinity star #DevPatel. #TIFF15 #TIFF40 #TIFF #TorontoFilmFestival #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Jeremy Irons always has been a goal of ours to meet and today he was kind to do a roll down of his window for Photos. Note, the legend doesn’t do Selfies, so he made a bit of an exception. He also is here for The Man Who Knew Infinity.
Joshua Jackson came out to support Diane Kruger tonight at her Roy Thomson Hall Premiere for Disorder.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
The lovely Diane Kruger heading from a private dinner to her big premiere tonight. Love the colours on her dress!
‘(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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