#SPOTTED: GRETA GERWIG & NOAH BAUMBACH IN TORONTO FOR “FRANCES HA”

With its release only a week away, Greta Gerwig (Arthur, Damsels in Distress) and Noah Baumbach (Kicking and Screaming, The Squid and the Whale) returned to the City where they debuted their latest Collaboration Frances Ha, once again.  After drawing raves at TIFF last September, the Duo are here for a couple days of Press for the charming Dramedy about a 27-year-old Dance Company Apprentice whose world unravels after her Best Friend moves out of their apartment.  This leaves Frances (Gerwig)  on her own to figure out who she really is and what she will do with her life.

Several lucky Fans including Mr. Will Wong Readers, got a chance to see the Film tonight at a special Advance Screening held at Varsity Cinemas, attended by Gerwig and Baumbach. Due to overwhelming demand resulting in exceeded capacity, some had to be offered passes to an additional Screening of the Film next week. Those lucky enough to get in however, had a chance to chat with the Duo whom co-wrote the Film together afterwards, as they discussed their creative process.  One aspiring Actress was ecstatic after  jokingly being extended an offer by Baumbach to crash on his  couch  when she moves to New York City!  Now that’s hospitality!

One Reader, Bruce Gibbons Tweets me, “They’re absolutely adorable!”, while Diana DiFrancesco raves, “Frances Ha is wonderful!  Everyone should go see it!”.  Another Reader Addison Wylie commented, “Frances Ha is a very Frenchy black-and-white episode of Girls, but it’s much more than that”, and Matt Hoffman also praises it, saying “Noah Baumbach is at his best in another great, quirky Comedy starring the lovely Greta Gerwig”.

Gerwig drew a crowd of Fans outside the theatre and was lovely to stop for a few Photos, with a few lucky enough to get a Snap!  Special thanks to the Readers who were kind enough to send along their Photos!

Mongrel Media releases Frances Ha on Friday, June 21, 2013 in Toronto and Vancouver, followed by additional cities.

Read my Review of Frances Ha here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Diana DiFrancesco/Michelle Moon)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO AN ADVANCE SCREENING OF “FRANCES HA” FEATURING Q&A

After making a splash at TIFF 2012, Director/Writer Noah Baumbach‘s latest effort, FRANCES HA hits theatres at long last. Now Mongrel Media and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Toronto and Vancouver Readers a chance to see this delightful Comedy/Drama!

Official Synopsis:

Best Friends since their Vassar days, Frances (Gerwig) and Sophie (Mickey Sumner, Sting’s daughter) live together in a Brooklyn apartment. Whether discussing Boyfriends or just hanging out, the Women are so comfortable with each other, Frances jokes “we are like a Lesbian Couple that doesn’t have sex anymore.” But Frances’s world is toppled when Sophie decides to move with a Friend to Tribeca.

Baumbach likens Frances to Charlie Brown without the “good grief.”

She can’t afford the $3.00 charge on an ATM Machine, let alone an apartment in Tribeca. She’s an Apprentice with a Dance Company that may never hire her. She’s still considers Sophie her Best Friend, but they aren’t really speaking anymore. She’s still living in New York, but she doesn’t have a place of her own. While others move on with their lives, Frances bounces from apartment to apartment, maybe crashing with a friend or often making rash decisions, like taking a weekend trip to Paris.

The cast includes Grace Gummer (Meryl Streep’s Daughter) and Adam Driver (TV Hit Girls) with Cameos by Josh Hamilton (Star of Baumbach’s Kicking and Screaming) and Gerwig’s parents (who play Frances’s Parents).

The Advance Screening takes place at Fifth Avenue Cinemas (Vancouver) and Varsity Cinemas (Toronto) next Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 7:00 PM.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

 

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before Wednesday, June 13, 2013. Share on Facebook or Re-Tweet the info below and double your chances.  Good luck!

http://www.mrwillwong.com/francesha @MRWILLW wants us to attend an Advance Screening of #FRANCESHA in #Toronto and #Vancouver! #win

Mongrel Media releases FRANCES HA on Friday, June 21, 2013 in Toronto and Vancouver, followed by Montreal on Wednesday, June 28, 2013.

 

I had the pleasure of seeing FRANCES HA last Fall at TIFF and loved it!  Read my Review here.

 

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

#TIFF12: “FRANCES HA” REVIEW

Noah Baumbach‘s Frances Ha centers around a Dance Apprentice soon approaching her 30s, questioning what it is she really wants in life. She lives day to day in a free-spirited manner, deeming herself “undateable” and having little regard for the future. Frances’ (Greta Gerwig) world falls apart after her Best Friend and Roommate Sophie (Mickey Sumner) decides to move-in with her Boyfriend Patch (Patrick Heusinger).  At the same time, she is faced with the reality that she is not needed in the upcoming Holiday Season at her Dance Company.  She is then forced to find herself as she moves from roommate to roommate and job to job, before ultimately hitting rock bottom.

Shot entirely in black and white, Frances Ha is highly stylized and exquisite to the eye. Gerwig‘s unconventional beauty and undeniable charisma alone are enough to colour the entire screen.  Although this a modern story for the Female Underdog,  truly anyone going through a rough patch in their lives can leave feeling inspiration from the Film. The stakes and rewards never are that high, but the situations are v. real and I found myself relating completely.

Sumner (Daughter of Rock Legend Sting) is a fresh face and name to look-out for and turns-in a solid performance, embodying at least one female Friend we all have in our lives. Rescue Me‘s Michael Zegen lights-up the screen, teasing us with chemistry between Gerwig and himself, even if things never come to fruition for them.

Frances Ha is a cute and elegant piece of Art, never for a moment talking down to us.  Release date to be determined.

 

8 FILMS TO SEE AT #TIFF12

The Toronto International Film Festival traditionally is a good indicator of the Films we can expect to be in-contention come Awards Season, which concludes with the Oscars. In fact, six out of seven recent Best Picture Winners saw their debuts at TIFF including: Crash, The King’s Speech, Slumdog Millionaire, No Country for Old Men, The Hurt Locker and The Artist. This raises the question – will the next Best Picture Winner also be premiering at TIFF 2012? Bet on it. Here are a few early Contenders premiering at TIFF 2012 nabbing serious buzz coming into the Festival and some of these just may even have a real fighting chance Sunday, February 24, 2013 at the Oscars.

ARGO – A CIA Specialist helps six Americans who have found shelter at the home of Canadian Ambassador during the Iranian Revolution. Stars Ben Affleck, John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, Victor Garber, Clea Duvall and Taylor Schilling. Affleck also directs. Warner Bros. releases October 12, 2012. Screens at TIFF: Friday, September 7, 2012 at Roy Thomson Hall – 6:30 PM, Saturday, September 8, 2012 at VISA Screening Room – 11:00 AM and Saturday, September 15, 2012 at VISA Screening Room – 3:00 PM.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK – A former Teacher who was institutionalized, returns home to reconcile matters with his Ex-Girlfriend. He meets a mysterious Woman with her own set of problems. Stars Bradley Cooper, Julia Stiles and Jennifer Lawrence. David O. Russell (The Fighter) directs. Already hearing Oscar buzz from Insiders about Lawrence here. Alliance Films releases November 21, 2012. Screens at TIFF: Saturday, September 8, 2012 at Roy Thomsom Hall at 6:30 PM and Sunday, September 9, 2012 at VISA Screening Room at 11:00 AM.

THE MASTER – A Drama set in the ’50s about a Man whose Faith-based Organizations begin to catch-on with the help of his Right-hand Man. Stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix. Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood) directs. Alliance Films releases on October 12, 2012. Screens at TIFF: Friday, September 7, 2012 at Princess of Wales Theatre – 9:00 PM, Saturday, September 8, 2012 at TIFF Bell Lightbox – 3:15 PM and Sunday, September 16, 2012 at TIFF Bell Lightbox – 6:00 PM.

THE SESSIONS – A Man with an iron Lung enlists the help of a Sex Therapist and Priest to help him lose his Virginity. Stars Helen Hunt, William H. Macy and John Hawkes; Ben Lewin directs. Fox Searchlight releases October 26, 2012. Screens at TIFF: Sunday, September 8, 2012 at VISA Screening Rom at 2:30 PM, Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at VISA Screening Room at 2:30 PM and Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Ryerson Theatre.

THE PAPERBOY – A Reporter returns to his Hometown in Florida to investigate the case of a Man on Death Row. Stars John Cusack, Matthew McConnaughey, Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron; Lee Daniels (Precious) directs. D Films releases on October 19, 2012. Screens at TIFF: Friday, September 14, 2012 at VISA Screening Room – 6:00 PM and Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Ryerson Theatre – 6:00 PM.

THE HUNT – A Danish Film about a Kindergarten Teacher is falsely accused of Child Abuse. Stars Mads Mikkelsen (who won Best Actor at Cannes in May for this) and Thomas Bo Larsen; Thomas Vinterberg directs. Screens at TIFF: Monday, September 10, 2012 at TIFF Bell Lightbox – 9:15 PM and Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at TIFF Bell Lightbox – 3:00 PM. Opens in theatres October 25, 2012 via Mongrel Media.

FRANCES HA – A young Dance Teacher lives her life with unaccountable joy and lightness, but aims to be so much more than what she is. Stars Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver and Mickey Sumner; Noah Baumbach directs this Film which recently won the hearts of Critics at the Venice Film Festival. Screens at TIFF: Friday, September 7, 2012 at Ryerson Theatre – 9:30PM, Saturday, September 8, 2012 at Winter Garden Theatre – 12:00 PM and Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Bloor HotDocs Cinema – 6:15 PM.

DREDD 3D – Set in a futuristic World where Violence is fought with Violence, a Trainee aspires to become a Judge – who act also as Jury and Executioners. Stars Olivia Thirlby, Karl Urban and Lena Headey; Pete Travis directs. Screens at TIFF: Thursday, September 6, 2012 at Ryerson Theatre – 11:59 PM and Saturday, September 8, 2012 at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas – 12:30 PM. Opens in theatres via Alliance Films on Friday, September 21, 2012.

Of course, as is the case with previous TIFFs, there always is a Dark Horse or two to emerge out of the clouds. Surely we’ll also be hearing about The Reluctant Fundamentalist, A Song for Marion and Hyde on Hudson Park? We soon shall see…

 

(Photo credit: Alliance Films)