Mongrel Media x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of TIFF ’23 selection DADDIO starring Dakota Johnson x Sean Penn!

TORONTO:
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 7PM
Cineplex Yonge & Dundas (10 Dundas Street East Suite 402)

VANCOUVER:
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 7PM
Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas 88 W. Pender St.

To enter for a chance, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK or IG. In the comments state your city and tag a friend!

Rules and regulations here.

Mongrel Media release DADDIO June 28, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win copies of MADAME WEB on 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray.

SYNOPSIS

Madame Web tells the standalone origin story of one of Marvel publishing’s most enigmatic heroines. The suspense-driven thriller stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic in Manhattan who may have clairvoyant abilities. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she forges a relationship with three young women destined for powerful futures– if they can all survive a deadly present.

SPECIAL FEATURES 

4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ & DIGITAL EXTRAS 

• Gag Reel  
• Easter Eggs 
• Oracle Of The Page  
• Fight Like A Spider  
• Future Vision  
• Casting The Web  
• Deleted Scene

DVD  

• Future Vision  
• Casting The Web  

CAST AND CREW

Directed by: SJ Clarkson  

Produced by: Lorenzo di Bonaventura 

Based on The: Marvel Comics 

Story by:  Kerem Sanga and Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless  

Screenplay by: Matt Sazama &  Burk Sharpless and Claire Parker & SJ Clarkson 

Executive Producers: Adam Merims, SJ Clarkson, Claire Parker 

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O’Connor, Tahar Rahim, Mike Epps, Emma Roberts, Adam Scott 

SPECS

Run Time: Approx. 116 minutes 

Rating: PG 

4K UHD: 2160p Ultra High Definition / 2.39:1• Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible), English & French (Doublé au Québec)- Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Color • Some of The Information Listed May Not Apply To Special Features or the Blu-ray disc ™ 

Blu-ray™: 1080p High Definition / 2.39:1 • Audio: English, French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English & French (Doublé au Québec)- Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Mastered in High Definition • Color • Some of The Information Listed May Not Apply To Special Features. 

DVD: 2.39:1 Anamorphic Widescreen • Audio: English, French (Double au Quebec), Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English & French (Double au Quebec)- Audio Description Tracks Stereo • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Color • Some of The Information Listed May Not Apply To Special Features. 

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post on MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK, IG or X. Tag a friend in the comments. Open to all in Canada.

Rules and regulations here. 

MADAME WEB is now in stores.

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

Her web connects them all. 🕸 #MadameWeb – starring Dakota Johnson – is coming soon exclusively to movie theaters.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Canada)

By Mr. Will Wong

Writer/Director Christy Hall makes a phenomenal feature debut with a brilliant pair of leads in DADDIO. Though the meter is stopped with a flat rate fare, we never quite know where we are headed as we follow a young woman (Dakota Johnson), boarding a cab at JFK Airport, only to be stuck in traffic. She’s driven by Clark (Sean Penn), a foul-mouth taxi driver who tells it like it is. The two make some playful banter back and forth as we learn about their loves and the roadblocks they have faced.

Hall does a fantastic job taking these two unlikely strangers and giving us a story about meaningful human connection. Clark is able to get to the very core of his passenger, whom while able to hold her own against him as a woman young enough to be his daughter, is pensive and we get glimpses of her world through her text message interactions with a love interest. Through Clark, the young woman is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about her own life, and she is able to unpeel some layers from Clark‘s tough exterior as surely there’s a story there behind his street smarts and wisdom. Our two leads get more than they could ever have bargained before and their lives are changed forever this one night, borrowing a bit from Sofia Coppola‘s Lost in Translation, which explores some similar themes and emotions.

DADDIO is the type of film that leaves you thinking about it days after and we are simply in love with the performances from Johnson and Penn, whom are both absolutely irresistible. Johnson always manages to leave a bit of mystery in her characters, which leaves us wanting to know more.

DADDIO screens at TIFF ’23:

Sunday, September 10
TIFF Bell Lightbox
Closed captioning
3:00 PM

Thursday, September 14
TIFF Bell Lightbox
Closed captioning
4:00 PM

By Mr. Will Wong

The world is obsessed with Multiverses and we’re here for it. Not unlike EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, SLIP explores what could’ve been in a parallel universe. Zoe Lister-Jones creates, directs and stars in this Dramedy series as Mae Cannon, who is living content and comfortable with her husband Elijah (Whitmer Thomas) and a job in the Art world. But it isn’t enough and she longs for more. Her relationship is void of passion, and she makes an interesting observation then after some time in relationship, you’re single again but together.

She then finds herself meeting a mysterious stranger in Eric (Amar Chadha-Patel) at a bar and we see a different version of her and traces of who she might’ve been in the past. Is this really happening? And how does she get back to her normal life again with Elijah?

Lister-Jones aims high wearing multiple caps here, but is successful drawing us right into this world where everything feels intimate and we’d want to invest more time getting to know Mae and what lessons she learns and the people she meets in the situations ahead. Did we mention Dakota Johnson produced this Toronto-filmed Series as well?

All eight episodes of SLIP will be arriving on The Roku Channel and it screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

Slip at Stateside Theatre

Mar 16, 2023

5:45pm—7:06pm

One of 2022’s biggest breakout hits no doubt will be CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH. Written, directed by and starring Cooper Raiff, the heartfelt Dramedy about a 22-year-old named Andrew who strikes an unlikely bond with a young mother, Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her daughter Lola (Vanessa Burghardt). This all set of course in the world of the Bar Mitzvah circuit.

It was our honour to chat with Raiff about this Film, which took the Audience Award in the Dramatic category at Sundance earlier this year. It possesses a rare magic to it that so compassionately takes us into the world of these characters. You don’t forget a Film like CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH and its people.

We ask Raiff about the genesis of the Film and whether or not it is autobiographical.

Raiff: “It’s a very personal movie. None of it’s autobiographical, but all of it is. It’s based on feelings I’ve had, experiences I’ve had, people in my life. It’s always difficult taking things that are personal to you onto a screen. You’re not just trying to have this cathartic thing, you’re trying to communicate to an audience.”

“The genesis of it is that I wanted to make a Movie about a young mom of a disabled daughter. I started pitching those two characters to people and they were like, ‘That’s not a Movie. That’s like two Characters.’. Then I thought of this other character and thought of this idea to tell the story through the lens of the person I knew best in the world, this 22-year-old dummy. I needed a way for them to keep coming into contact with each other and then the Bar Mitzvah circuit idea came in.”.

We ask about what struggles Raiff faced getting something so personal to him to the screen, and also the process of getting Dakota Johnson to sign-on as Executive Producer, in addition to starring as Domino.

Raiff: “Her Producer met her first, Ro Donnelly. I pitched her those four elements, and I pitched her the title CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH, and she told Dakota about it. And we all met, the three of us the next day, and it was night time for Dakota, she was in Greece, about to film The Lost Daughter. And I pitched her this Character and I told her how much I love her as a Performer and how much I really wanted to collaborate with her.”

“A big struggle was that the character of Domino is kinda based on my mom. Lola‘s in a way based on my sister. My sister’s disabled. She’s not Autistic, it’s more severe. She has a condition called Holoprosencephaly where she can’t walk or talk and I really wanted to make a Movie about her. This is what I’m talking about. The struggle of something so personal. I was going to make this Movie about my actual sister and I realized she would’ve been a very terrible Actress. She would’ve looked into the camera the whole time. So what I wanted to communicate was that bond.”

“The best moments of the Movie are when Vanessa Burghardt who plays Lola – watching her audition tape, it just triggered something in me where I started crying so hard, because I knew immediately she was reading with her mom, like her mom was behind the camera. I don’t know why I knew, but I could tell she was frustrated at one point. She was frustrated with her mom. It made me laugh and want to cry and that bond is what I wanted to make the Movie about.”.

Vanessa Burghardt delivers a breakout performance here, in what is her Feature Film debut. Raiff tells us about tackling the topic of Disability in his Film.

Raiff: “Vanessa said that Lola’s a person before she’s a poster for Autism. Something I really care about is that it’s important to respect that we are different. But there’s this line in the Movie where Andrew asks Domino, ‘Is it hard?’ to Lola being Autistic, and she says, ‘Yeah, but not because of her’. That is a key thing with people with disabilities. It’s really harsh. But it’s not hard because of this Disability, it’s hard because of the world we’re living in makes it difficult. And it’s not accessible in many ways. People are idiots. I think it’s important to show that embracing it is really easy.”.

After raves on the Festival Circuit including Sundance, SXSW and more recently the Tribeca Film Festival, Raiff reflects on all the accolades.

Raiff: “It’s been surprising and so emotional and nice. Hearing you talk about it, it gives me chills and I really feel so happy to be talking to you about it.”.

We ask Raiff what’s next?

Raiff: “I’m shooting a Hockey Movie this Fall called THE TRASHERS, based on a True Story about this dad named Jimmy Galante (David Harbour), who gifts his 18-year-old son a Hockey Team, and his son becomes the President of the Team and the story ends with the dad in federal prison. It’s really personal to me and I can’t wait for people to see it!”.

See our Chat here:

CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH arrives June 17, 2022 on Apple TV+.

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)

A new adaptation of Jane Austen‘s PERSUASION is on its way starring Dakota Johnson and Henry Golding. Need I say more? SOLD. See the new Trailer below.  Carrie Cracknell directs.

Synopsis:

Living with her snobby family on the brink of bankruptcy, Anne Elliot is an unconforming woman with modern sensibilities. When Frederick Wentworth—the dashing one she once sent away—crashes back into her life, Anne must choose between putting the past behind her or listening to her heart when it comes to second chances. Adapted from the Jane Austen novel.

CAST: Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis, Richard E. Grant, Henry Golding, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Ben Bailey-Smith, Yolanda Kettle, Nia Towle, Izuka Hoyle

Netflix release PERSUASION July 15, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

By far my favourite Movie of ’22 thus far. I saw CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH at Sundance where it won the Audience Award and haven’t forgotten about it one bit. Here’s the new Trailer!

Synopsis:

Fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old Andrew is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. But if there’s one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it’s how to get a party started, which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar and bat mitzvahs for his younger brother’s classmates. When Andrew befriends a local mom, Domino, and her daughter, Lola, he finally discovers a future he wants—even if it might not be his own. Cooper Raiff writes, directs, and stars alongside Dakota Johnson, Brad Garrett, Leslie Mann, and newcomers Vanessa Burghardt and Evan Assante in this tale of unconventional love that brims with emotional honesty. 

“Cha Cha Real Smooth” premieres Friday, June 17, 2022 on Apple TV+.

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)

By Amanda Gilmore

AM I OK? is a touching Comedy and an ode to female friendship.

The Film follows inseparable Los Angeles best friends Lucy (Dakota Johnson) and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno). When Jane’s new promotion requires her to move to London, Lucy confesses her long-held secret: She likes women. In the lead up to their impending separation, we follow as Jane prepares for her big move and Lucy searches for her first sexual experience with a woman.

What sets AM I OK? apart is that it depicts the coming-of-age of two women in their 30s. Co-Directors Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro along with Screenwriter Lauren Pomerantz have created a brilliant Comedy that flawlessly captures friendship, love and self-discovery.

It’s refreshing to see a coming-out story for a 30-something. Lucy’s journey is endearing and Johnson knocks it out of the park. She approaches Lucy with a delicate fragility that guides her along in her sexual awakening. She shares a genuine chemistry in scenes with Kiersey Clemons, who plays her romantic interest and co-worker. Clemons gives a strong performance as the indecisive Brittany. And Mizuno gives a superb performance as the compassionate and headstrong Jane, who appears to have it all together, but is harbouring her anxieties within after she is given a opportunity to go overseas on a promotion.

The Screenplay gives us these two separate stories, while keeping Lucy and Jane‘s friendship at the forefront. This works because Johnson and Mizuno have such a palpable chemistry that feels entirely organic. Additionally, the Supporting Cast bring impactful comedic performances. Molly Gordon plays the outgoing Kat, a co-worker of Jane’s, who just irritates Lucy. And Notaro does double duty with a hilarious cameo.

AM I OK? screens virtually at Sundance:
Premiere: Jan. 24 at 4PM EST

Second Screening: Jan. 26 at 10AM EST (available for 24hrs)

By Mr. Will Wong

Writer/Director/Actor Cooper Raiff is at Sundance with his third Feature CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH, performing all three duties with equal dexterity. What he’s crafted here is sure to be one of the biggest breakout hits of the Festival. The Film is a sensitive, beautiful and touching coming-of-age story about a 22-year-old man named Andrew, still figuring life out after his girlfriend goes off to Barcelona.

When we meet Andrew, he moves back in with his mom (Leslie Mann), stepdad Greg (Brad Garrett) and little brother David (Evan Assante). He works a mundane job at Meat Stick, a Corndog shop, and after attending a Bar Mitzah with David, his charm makes him a hot commodity with all the local Jewish moms, and he soon finds himself with a hosting gig. He meets Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her daughter Lola (Vanessa Burghardt), who is on the Autism spectrum and finds himself striking a real connection with the two. Though she is further along in life than he, Andrew finds himself falling for Domino (and she for him too), although she is engaged to be married to Joseph (Raul Castillo). He finds himself at a bit of an impasse figuring it all out and where he fits, as life is about to pull him potentially in several different ways.

Raiff does a superb job in his acting, writing and direction, giving us a full portrait of Andrew. He is a brother, a confidante, a boyfriend and though he is frustrated at times how things aren’t going in his favour or that he hasn’t put it all together yet, we never lose sight of his good heart. He views life with an observant understanding. This is balanced perfectly by elements of humour, lightheartedness and undercurrent of bittersweet emotions which Andrew experiences. This level of care and detail doesn’t just stop at Andrew. We see those around him for who they are and are asked what they want.

This Ensemble of Actors gel together just perfectly. Johnson, whom also serves as Producer, builds upon her impressive catalog of work here as Domino, giving us a quiet chaos and her chemistry with Raiff is electric even if ultimately their relationship is on platonic terms. Mann is effective as Andrew‘s supportive mother, even if his disapproval of her partner Greg provides several of the Film’s most memorable jokes. Promising young talent Assante brings out a nurturing warmth in Andrew, winning us over. And of course, the casting of newcomer Burghardt really punctuates how they got it all right with this Film casting an Autistic actress – a really fantastic on-screen debut that educates as much as it entertains.

This empathic journey of growth proves to be a rewarding one that delivers the laughs as much it is good for the soul, and we’ll be thinking about for some time. Beyond ecstatic for the world to get to know this Film.

CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH screens at Sundance as follows:

• PREMIEREJAN. 23  4:45PM EST Available Until Jan. 23 7:45PM EST 
• SECOND SCREENING JAN. 25  10:00AM EST Available Until Jan. 26 10:00AM EST