By Amanda Gilmore
Flora and Son is the feel-good film of the year.
Dubliner Flora (Eve Hewson) is a young mother struggling to connect with her teenage son Max (Orén Kinlan). Max has stolen and been caught one too many times. If caught again he’ll be sent to juvie. Knowing Max has an interest in music, Flora brings home an acoustic guitar with the hopes it’ll keep him out of trouble. Unfortunately, Max doesn’t take the bait. Stuck with the guitar, Flora decides to learn it and takes online lessons from Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a soft-spoken teacher and mildly talented musician who lives in Los Angeles. Slowly, Flora and Jeff begin to fall for each other with each lesson.
No stranger to the musical genre, Writer-Director John Carney is in top form delivering a film about the power of music. Flora and Son stands out from his prior work because it focuses on the touching relationship between mother and son. Hewson is a revelation and gives a star-making performance as the direct, caring and angry Flora. As Flora learns the guitar, Max begins exposing his own musical talents to her. Music breaks down the walls between the two and becomes the bridge that connects them.
Carney furthers the theme of music connecting each of us through Flora’s relationship with Jeff. The two are on different continents, with an 8-hour time difference between them. However, the music they make together creates an intimate and deep connection. One Flora — possibly — has never experienced romantically before. Carney shows this connection smartly by removing the laptop Jeff is on and placing him in the room with Flora.
Overall, Flora and Son is funny, affecting and uplifting. An instant classic.
Flora and Son screens at TIFF ’23:
Tuesday, September 12 at 9:30 PM at Roy Thompson Hall
Wednesday, September 13 at 9 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Saturday, September 16 at 2:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Premiering at TIFF ’23, we are so stoked to see FLORA AND SON! Here’s a new Trailer for this Apple TV+ release, arriving September 29, 2023 on the streaming service.
Synopsis:
Single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max (Orén Kinlan). Encouraged by the police to find Max a hobby, Flora tries to occupy him with a beat-up acoustic guitar. With the help of a washed-up LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max discover the transformative power of music. From the musical mind of John Carney, “Flora and Son” explores the bond between a mother and son on a journey toward a new harmony.
“Flora and Son” is directed by John Carney. The film is produced by John Carney along with Anthony Bregman, Peter Cron, Rebecca O’Flanagan and Robert Walpole. Cathleen Dare, Milan Popelka and Alison Cohen are executive producing.
Director: John Carney
Cast: Eve Hewson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jack Reynor, Orén Kinlan
Writer: John Carney
Producers: Peter Cron, Rebecca O’Flanagan, Robert Walpole, Anthony Bregman, John Carney
Exec. Producers: Cathleen Dore, Milan Popelka, Alison Cohen
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favourite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have earned 376 wins and 1,567 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)
BAD SISTERS is coming soon to Apple TV+. Your first look at this Dark Comedy led by an amazing female Ensemble Cast.
Synopsis:
A delicious blend of both dark comedy and thriller, “Bad Sisters” follows the lives of the Garvey sisters bound together by the premature death of their parents and a promise to always protect one another. In addition to Horgan, the series will star Anne-Marie Duff (“Suffragette,” “The Salisbury Poisonings”), Eva Birthistle (“Brooklyn,” “The Last Kingdom”), Sarah Greene (“Frank of Ireland,” “Dublin Murders”) and Eve Hewson (“Behind her Eyes,” “The Luminaries”) as the Garvey sisters. The ensemble cast also includes Claes Bang (“Dracula,” “The Northman”), Brian Gleeson (“Frank of Ireland,” “Peaky Blinders”), Daryl McCormack (“Good Luck to you, Leo Grande,” “Peaky Blinders”), Assaad Bouab (“Call My Agent,” The Pursuit of Love”) and newcomer Saise Quinn (“Monster”).
The ten episode Series arrives later this year on Apple TV+.
(Photo credit: Apple TV+)
eOne Films x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see ROBIN HOOD! Something for you guys out in Halifax and Winnipeg finally! Screenings are as follows:
Toronto – Monday November 19 – 7:00pm at Scotiabank Toronto
Vancouver – Monday November 19 – 7:00pm at Marine Gateway
Calgary – Monday November 19 – 7:00pm at Scotiabank Chinook
Edmonton – Monday November 19 – 7:00pm at Scotiabank Edmonton
Winnipeg – Monday November 19 – 7:00pm at Scotiabank Winnipeg
Ottawa – Monday November 19 – 7:00pm at Scotiabank Ottawa
Halifax – Monday November 19 – 7:00pm at Scotiabank Halifax
Synopsis:
Robin of Loxley (Taron Egerton) a war-hardened Crusader and his Moorish commander (Jamie Foxx) mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown in a thrilling action-adventure packed with gritty battlefield exploits, mind-blowing fight choreography, and a timeless romance.
Cast: Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx, Ben Mendelsohn, Eve Hewson, Tim Minchin, Jamie Dornan
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City there. Click “share” for an extra chance!
eOne Films release ROBIN HOOD on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)
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