By Mr. Will Wong
Max Minghella‘s SHELL really should have been a part of TIFF‘s Midnight Madness programme, vying to be a campy cult classic.
We meet Sam (Elisabeth Moss), an aging Actress struggling to land roles..In fact, she loses out to someone she once babysat. She takes the suggestion to go to a wellness institution, Shell, which calls Zoe (Kate Hudson) its CEO. Sam begins to find confidence undergoing treatments. But things get suspicious once clients begin disappearing inexplicably, unlocking some dark secrets about Shell.
We love that Minghella is drawing inspiration from camp, erotica and all that juicy stuff. Elizabeth Berkley gets her flowers here and Sam and Zoe‘s relationship at times feels very Crystal vs. Nomi in Showgirls.
SHELL starts off rather solid, but fulfills its campy destiny in the final.act, going way over the top. Moss is superb, nailing the drama, comedy and horror of this.
SHELL screens as follows at TIFF ’24:
Thursday, September 12
VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
9:30 pm
Friday, September 13
Scotiabank Theatre
5:30 pm
Today, Disney+ debuted the official trailer for FX’s “The Veil,” a highly anticipated international spy thriller, which will premiere on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 only on Disney+ in Canada. The premiere of the six-episode limited series will include the first two episodes, followed by a new episode each week.
FX’s “The Veil” explores the surprising and fraught relationship between two women who play a deadly game of truth and lies on the road from Istanbul to Paris and London. One woman has a secret, the other a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost. In the shadows, mission controllers at the CIA and French DGSE must put differences aside and work together to avert potential disaster.
Starring Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award winner Elisabeth Moss, Yumna Marwan, Dali Benssalah and Josh Charles. Written by Steven Knight (“Peaky Blinders,” FX’s “Taboo”), the series will be executive produced by Knight alongside Di Novi Pictures’ Denise Di Novi, and Moss under her Love & Squalor Pictures banner. “The Veil” is produced by FX Productions.
Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.
Based on Lauren Beuke‘s best-selling Novel, Chicago-filmed SHINING GIRLS is set to arrive later this month on Apple TV+. Starring, produced and directed by Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy and SAG Award winner Elisabeth Moss, the genre-bending Series centers on Kirby Mazrachi, who must confront her traumatic past after being attacked violently by Harper Curtis (Jamie Bell). As aspiring Journalist herself, she teams with Reporter Dan Velazquez to uncover the truth, all as her present reality is ever-shifting.
Our Amanda Gilmore had the pleasure of chatting with the Cast and Creators of SHINING GIRLS, hot-off its premiere at SXSW ’22. Joining us were:
Elisabeth Moss (“Kirby Mazrachi”/Director/Executive Producer)
Wagner Moura (“Dan Velazquez”)
Silka Luisa (Showrunner/Executive Producer)
Michelle MacLaren (Director/Executive Producer)
You wear multiple hats here as Producer, Director and Star. What made you want to tell Kirby‘s story to the world?
Moss: “I really wanted to work with the other people on the Show. Michelle MacLaren was gonna do the first two episodes, and Dana Reid four of them. Obviously, I’ve worked with Dana on The Handmaid’s Tale and Michelle I’ve always wanted to work with and we had this third spot for a Director. When they asked if I wanted to do it, I jumped at the chance to work with those women. I like the opportunity to work with other Directors and get inspired in that way. So as a Director, to get with these women I’ve admired so much – and have so much more experience than I do – and have watched for many years, to be learning from as a new Director, was the thing I leapt at.”.
A lot of reality shifting happens in Kirby‘s world. If you could shift into any reality what would it be?
Moss: “Honestly, I would shift it to be Bora Bora in one of those over-the-water huts and it would be a beautiful, beautiful day. I’ve been in Toronto since the end of November and Toronto winters – they are what they are – gotta love it. So that would be my reality shift. It’s so superficial and I’m really sorry!”.
“Where is Spring? Where is it coming? God, it’s maddening. I’ll meet you in Bora Bora!”.
Dan is a loving father and a truth-seeking Journalist. But there is a dichotomy to him as he is troubled. How did you balance those aspects?
Moura: “I think that’s great. That’s what you want as an Actor. To have a character that has different layers. I’m a father myself. I have three sons. And it was great to work with the kid who played my son. I was able to show a side of the character that brings a lot of humanity to a guy trying to raise a kid by himself and dealing with alcoholism, getting his life back in order and try to do Journalism. I think Dan is a really awesome character. When I first read it, I really wanted to play this guy.”.
Can you tell us about working with Jamie Bell and the rest of the Cast?
Moura: “Jamie is amazing. We had a few scenes together. Most of the scenes I have with Jamie I’m completely drunk, which is an extremely hard thing to pull-off. I’ve seen the first four episodes and he’s so creepy. But Jamie is a funny, lovely, cool guy to hang-out with in-between takes. I was drunk, he was making jokes. All the Cast was amazing. I love Erika Alexander who plays my boss in The Chicago Sun-Times. She’s an amazing Actress, really great to work with. We had a really great time in Chicago, it was Summer.”.
Each episode directed by you is laced with mystery, but you almost manage to give us clarity on Kirby‘s reality-shifting world. What were some of the greatest challenges you faced in balancing those lines?
MacLaren: “That’s a really good question, Amanda. The biggest challenge is how much we reveal to the audience and how little do we reveal to the audience? Audiences are so sophisticated and smart today. We want to draw them in with the mystery and trying to figure it out. But we don’t them to be so lost they won’t be engaged. It’s a balance. In this case, the time-shifts are metaphors for the aftermath of trauma so we wanted you to feel unbalanced. We wanted you to feel that Kirby‘s life is constantly shifting. And what would that mean for you? We want to do it in a grounded, real way. We didn’t want to do it in a fantastical way. So it’s actually done a lot editorially. As the Show evolves, they get more complex and more convoluted in their execution. But they’re done in a way you can really identify with it.”.
You’ve worked on some of the most iconic Television franchises of our time. What drew you to the Shining Girls?
MacLaren: “Really good writing. Characters I felt invested-in. Lizzie Moss. And something I haven’t done before. It’s genre-bending, it’s different. It was a challenge. It scared me. I like to choose things that challenge me that put me out of my comfort zone. And I got to use different things from genres I’ve worked in to bring to this. And Apple TV+, I’ve collaborated with them before and I’m doing it again. I love working with them.”.
Does adapting an already beloved Novel add any more pressure than already is there?
MacLaren: “I happen to know that Lauren Beukes loved what Silka did in her adaptation. So I think if the Author is happy, that’s awesome. That’s really great and takes a little bit of the pressure off. If she’s supportive of it, that’s really wonderful. It’s always interesting. It’s like doing a sequel. Some people love it, some people don’t. It’s subjective storytelling. It’s Silka‘s version of Shining Girls. Hopefully, people will love it and there’s people that may miss certain things from the Book. You never know. But I think she did an amazing job of adapting a really challenging story.”.
How did you navigate the pressures of adapting this beloved Novel especially seeing how this story involves a reality-shifting element?
Luisa: “I think because I loved it so much, I felt so intuitive. It felt the story was in my bones. It wasn’t so much a pressure. It felt like a pleasure, living in a world I was really connected to. Hopefully in the translation that really shows.”.
Can you walk us through the process of finding your Ensemble Cast?
Luisa: “So Lizzie was the first piece of Casting. It was fantastic because she came on right after the Pilot and became a part of the development process. So as we got a Writers’ Room and started to write more scripts, she actually helped shape Kirby‘s character. At that point, once we were closer to production we had to fill-out the rest of the Cast. Wagner gives an amazing performance. Jamie Bell brought so many unexpected turns I hadn’t imagined in Harper myself. As we got closer to production, we filled-out all those other roles.”.
SHINING GIRLS premieres globally on Apple TV+ Friday, April 29, 2022 with the first three episodes of the series and will be followed by one new episode dropping each week.
(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)
Elisabeth Moss stars-in, produces and directs Apple TV+ Series SHINING GIRLS, debuting soon on Apple TV+. See the new Trailer here!
Synopsis:
Based on Lauren Beukes’ best-selling novel, “Shining Girls” follows Kirby Mazrachi (Moss) as a Chicago newspaper archivist whose journalistic ambitions were put on hold after enduring a traumatic assault. When Kirby learns that a recent murder mirrors her own case, she partners with seasoned, yet troubled reporter Dan Velazquez (played by Wagner Moura), to uncover her attacker’s identity. As they realize these cold cases are inextricably linked, their own personal traumas and Kirby’s blurred reality allow her assailant to remain one step ahead. In addition to Moss and Moura, the gripping drama stars Phillipa Soo, Amy Brenneman and Jamie Bell. “Shining Girls” is adapted for television and executive produced by Silka Luisa, who also serves as showrunner.
Elisabeth Moss stars, directs and executive produces through Love and Squalor Pictures, alongside Lindsey McManus. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson and Michael Hampton executive produce through Appian Way. Michelle MacLaren directs and executive produces with Rebecca Hobbs for MacLaren Entertainment. Daina Reid directs and executive produces. Author Lauren Beukes and Alan Page Arriaga also serve as executive producers.
Apple TV+ release SHINING GIRLS Friday, April 29, 2022.
(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)
By Mr. Will Wong
Based on Lauren Beukes‘ acclaimed Novel THE SHINING GIRLS, Apple TV+’s SHINING GIRLS delivers on the twisty thrills of its source material. The genre-bending Sci-Fi-Thriller series stars Elisabeth Moss as Kirby Mazrachi, who falls victim to a vicious attacker. Just avoiding death, she survives to hunt her assailant down. While this is a premise we’ve heard before, what makes this story interesting is that the time-travelling attacker, Harper Curtis (Jamie Bell) has a purpose. He must murder bright, successful women to be able to continue further in his time travels.
Moss has a hand in producing, directing and starring in this suspenseful Series and if you loved her in The Invisible Man, tonally there are some echoes of the quiet, vulnerable brilliance we saw in that Film. Her Kirby is confused, shaken and traumatized and it is up to us to uncover what happened exactly to her as she makes amends too these painful memories she’s suppressed. Bell is haunting, disarming at first, but just that little bit too eager to get to know his victims, before launching his attack. Also featured prominently is Wagner Moura as Dan who works at the newspaper which Kirby is employed. Dan had written about Kirby‘s attack years prior, but never followed-up on it and together they form multi-layer alliance to help her understand her present and her past.
Canadian Director and Producer Michelle MacLaren (Breaking Bad, The Morning Show) has a hand in directing the Series’ first two episodes, which leaves us wanting more.
SHINING GIRLS arrives on Apple TV+ April 29, 2022. It screens at SXSW ’22 as follows:
Mar 13, 2022 2:45pm—3:39pm
Mar 14, 9:00am CDT – Mar 16, 9:00am CDT 9:00am—9:54am
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a copy of THE INVISIBLE MAN on Blu-ray™!
Synopsis:
THE INVISIBLE MAN follows a modern tale of obsession inspired by Universal’s classic monster character. Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) slowly begins to rebuild her life after the death of her abusive ex-boyfriend (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). But before long, she begins to question whether or not he is truly gone. In addition to the feature, THE INVISIBLE MAN delivers up twenty minutes of exclusive bonus content, including a chance to better get acquainted with the film’s leading actress: Elisabeth Moss, feature commentary with the writer/director and deleted scenes you won’t want to miss.
BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY™, 4K ULTRA HD AND DVD:
DELETED SCENES
MOSS MANIFESTED – Elisabeth Moss describes the physical and emotional challenges she faced while portraying Cecilia, a woman whose truth is constantly questioned by those around her.
DIRECTOR’S JOURNEY WITH LEIGH WHANNELL – Director Leigh Whannell acts as tour guide through principal photography, from day 1 to day 40.
THE PLAYERS – Filmmakers and cast provide an in-depth analysis of each character and how they interact with the unseen terror of THE INVISIBLE MAN.
TIMELESS TERROR – A behind the scenes look at how writer/director Leigh Whannell re-imagined this iconic character through the lens of modern technology and socially relatable themes.
FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR LEIGH WHANNELL
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for another chance!
Enter for a chance to #win #THEINVISIBLEMAN on Blu-ray™!
Contest open to U.S. and Canada residents. You must be following us on Facebook to qualify.Details: https://t.co/JtruEeW2Cp pic.twitter.com/GM6NCdYPMm
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) May 15, 2020
Rules and regulations here.
Contest open to Canadian and U.S. readers.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment release THE INVISIBLE MAN on DVD and Blu-ray™ Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)
Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see THE INVISIBLE MAN.
Screening details: Wednesday, February 26, 2010 at 7:00PM
TORONTO // Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP
VANCOUVER // Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver
MONTREAL (EN) // Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal
Synopsis:
What you can’t see can hurt you. Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss (Us, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale) stars in a terrifying modern tale of obsession inspired by Universal’s classic monster character.
Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass (Moss) escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister (Harriet Dyer, NBC’s The InBetween), their childhood friend (Aldis Hodge, Straight Outta Compton) and his teenage daughter (Storm Reid, HBO’s Euphoria).
But when Cecilia’s abusive ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House) commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.
Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City there. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.
Rules and regulations here.
THE INVISIBLE MAN is in theatres Friday, February 28, 2020.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
We want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see THE KITCHEN starring an incredible cast which includes Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish and Elisabeth Moss,! Screenings take place as follows:
VANCOUVER
Screening details:
Wednesday, August 7 2019
Show Time: 7:00 PM
Cineplex International Village
88 West Pender, 3rd Floor
Vancouver BC, V6B 6N9
MONTREAL (FRENCH)
Screening details:
Wednesday, August 7 2019
Show Time: 7:00 PM
Cineplex Quartier Latin
350 Rue Emery
Montreal QC, H2X 1J1
EDMONTON
Screening details:
Wednesday, August 7 2019
Show Time: 7:00 PM
Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton
8882 170 St Suite: #3030
Edmonton AB, T5T 4M2
OTTAWA
Screening details:
Wednesday, August 7 2019
Show Time: 7:00 PM
Scotiabank Theatre Ottawa
2385 City Park Drive
Ottawa ON, K1J 1G1
CALGARY
Screening details:
Wednesday, August 7 2019
Show Time: 7:00 PM
Scotiabank Theatre Chinook
6455 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary AB, T2H 0K4
WINNIPEG
Screening details:
Wednesday, August 7 2019
Show Time: 7:00 PM
Scotiabank Theatre Winnipeg
817 St. James Street
Winnipeg MB, R3G 3L3
HALIFAX
Screening details:
Wednesday, August 7 2019
Show Time: 7:00 PM
Scotiabank Theatre Halifax
190 Chain Lake Dr.
Halifax NS, B3S 1C5
Synopsis:
The gritty, female-driven mob drama “The Kitchen,” from New Line Cinema and BRON Creative, was written and directed by Andrea Berloff, who was nominated for an Oscar for the original screenplay for “Straight Outta Compton.”
“The Kitchen” stars Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”), Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”), and Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) as three 1978 Hell’s Kitchen housewives whose mobster husbands are sent to prison by the FBI. Left with little but a sharp ax to grind, the ladies take the Irish mafia’s matters into their own hands—proving unexpectedly adept at everything from running the rackets to taking out the competition…literally.
The film also stars Domhnall Gleeson (“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”), James Badge Dale (“Only the Brave”), Brian d’Arcy James (“Spotlight”), with Margo Martindale (TV’s “The Americans”), Oscar winner Common (“Selma,” “Marshall”), and Bill Camp (“Vice”). The cast also includes Jeremy Bobb (“Marshall”), E.J. Bonilla (TV’s “The Long Road Home”), Wayne Duvall (“Prisoners”), Annabella Sciorra (TV’s “Daredevil”), Myk Watford (HBO’s “True Detective”).
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate there your City. Click “share” from there or Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for one more chance!
#THEKITCHENMOVIE is in theatres Friday, August 9, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Canada)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Canadian Readers a chance to win a copy of US on Blu-ray!
Synopsis:
After sending shockwaves across contemporary culture with his directorial debut, GET OUT, Academy Award®-winning visionary Jordan Peele returns with another original nightmare.
Set in present day along the iconic Northern California coastline, US stars Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide Wilson, a woman returning to her beachside childhood home with her husband, Gabe (Black Panther’s Winston Duke), and their two children (Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex) for an idyllic summer getaway.
After spending a tense beach day with their friends, Adelaide and her family return to their vacation home. When darkness falls, the Wilsons discover the silhouette of four figures holding hands as they stand in the driveway. US pits an endearing American family against a terrifying and uncanny opponent: doppelgängers of themselves.
Writer and director Peele produces for his Monkeypaw Productions alongside Sean McKittrick, Jason Blum, and Ian Cooper.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance to win!
US is in stores Tuesday, June 18, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment/Universal Pictures)
Productions are in flight again around Toronto, utilizing our snowy conditions. Taking advantage of a snow-free afternoon, several stars in town working enjoyed milder weather for once.
LET IT SNOW
Filming for Netflix Feature Let it Snow has been underway and it stars a talented, young up-and-coming Cast including Odeya Rush, Kiernan Shipka, Liv Hewson, Shameik Moore and Isabela Moner. Based on the Book by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson, the Romantic-Comedy centers on a group of people brought together by a snowstorm on Christmas Eve.
We spotted Matthew Noszka (Star), Moner (seen next in Dora The Explorer), Shipka (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Rush (Lady Bird) and Moore (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) out and about.
The Production wraps end of March.
SPINNING OUT
Spinning Out centers on a figure skater on the comeback trail as a Pairs skater, after sustaining an injury. The Netflix Series wraps in May and we spotted stars Willow Shields (The Hunger Games) and Evan Roderick (Arrow) earlier out and about. The Series stars Kaya Scodelario (The Maze Runner) and January Jones (Mad Men) also.
LOCKE AND KEY
This Netflix Series based on Joe Hill’s Comic Book Series, is about three siblings brought together after their father’s gruesome murder. They discover a set of keys which must be used against an evil creature looking to hold power and possess the keys. Connor Jessup (American Crime), Jackson Robert Scott (It) and Emilia Jones (Brimstone) star. We spotted Laysla de Olivera out, and she appears next in Toronto-made Code 8 starring cousins Robbie and Stephen Amell, which also is set to stream on Netflix. Executive Producer Andy Muschietti (It, It: Chapter Two) is no stranger to Toronto having directed both Blockbusters here.
Production wraps in June.
FALLING
Green Book star Viggo Mortensen makes his directorial debut in Falling, which sees a conservative father who moves in with his gay son and his family in Los Angeles. Veteran Actor Lance Henriksen has been at work in Toronto, being greeted personally by his Co-Star and Director at the airport upon arrival.
The Production wraps late April.
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
Golden Globe and Primetime EMMY winner Elisabeth Moss certainly is a busy woman, currently filming season three of dystopian Drama THE HANDMAID’S TALE till April. Moss was just at SXSW in Austin promoting Jordan Peele‘s upcoming Film, US.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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