Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Montreal a chance to attend an Advance Screening of M. Night Shyamalan’s OLD. The Screening takes place Wednesday, July 21, 7:00 PM at the Cinéma Cineplex Laval. Each double pass allows for the admission of 2 people.

Synopsis:

This summer, visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan unveils a chilling, mysterious new thriller about a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly … reducing their entire lives into a single day. The film stars an impressive international cast including Golden Globe winner Gael García Bernal (Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle), Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), Rufus Sewell (Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle), Ken Leung (Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Jupiter Ascending), Abbey Lee (HBO’s Lovecraft Country), Aaron Pierre (Syfy’s Krypton), Alex Wolff (Hereditary), Embeth Davidtz (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Eliza Scanlen (Little Women), Emun Elliott (Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens), Kathleen Chalfant (Showtime’s The Affair) and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit). Old is a Blinding Edge Pictures production, directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, from his screenplay based on the graphic novel Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Lévy and Frederik Peeters. The film is also produced by Ashwin Rajan (Glass, AppleTV+’s Servant) and Marc Bienstock (Glass, Split). The film’s executive producer is Steven Schneider.

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Universal Pictures Canada release OLD on July 23, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

M. Night Shyamalan is back with OLD, in theatres this Summer.

Synopsis:

This summer, visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan unveils a chilling, mysterious new thriller about a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly … reducing their entire lives into a single day.

The film stars an impressive international cast including Golden Globe winner Gael García Bernal (Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle), Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), Rufus Sewell (Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle), Ken Leung (Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Jupiter Ascending), Abbey Lee (HBO’s Lovecraft Country), Aaron Pierre (Syfy’s Krypton), Alex Wolff (Hereditary), Embeth Davidtz (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Eliza Scanlen (Little Women), Emun Elliott (Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens), Kathleen Chalfant (Showtime’s The Affair) and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit).

Universal Pictures Canada release OLD in theatres July 23, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Pablo Larraín’s eighth film follows married couple Ema (Mariana Di Girolamo) and Gastón (Gael García Bernal) after they return their adopted son to child services, due to him setting their house on fire with Ema’s sister inside.

As with every Larraín film, Ema is a visual feast for the eyes. This time around he examines how guilt affects a marriage as a whole and as separate individuals. When he looks into Ema and Gastón’s individual guilt is exposed how it affects a mother and father differently due to societal expectations. All of the internal conflicts of his characters are powerfully visualized through captivating Choreography and all-consuming performances.

Ema screens at Sundance on Fri, Jan. 24th at 9 PM at Sundance Resort, Tues, Jan. 28th at 5:30 PM at Egyptian Theatre, and Thurs, Jan. 20th at 11:45 PM at Park Avenue Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Wasp Network focuses on a few Cuban intelligence agents who pose as dissidents during the country’s 90s post-Soviet Union economic collapse.

Director Olivier Assayas is a master of telling multiple character storylines and making them all come together naturally. With Wasp Network, he continues on this path. This time around he focuses on three different intelligence agents with different things to lose and gain. Although the Film does get a bit slow at times it’s the performances from an all-star Cast that keep the audience’s attention. Those intense performances are from Edgar Ramírez, Gael García Bernal, and Wagner Moura. Yet the most captivating performances come from Penélope Cruz and Ana de Armas who are the ones most affected by their husband’s actions.

Wasp Network screens at TIFF on Mon, Sep 9 at Ryerson Theatre at 6 PM, Tue, Sep 10 at Scotiabank Theatre at 6 PM, and Sat, Sep 14 at Ryerson Theatre at 8:30 PM.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Cagalera (Benny Emmanuel) and Moloteco (Gabriel Carbajal) want to leave their impoverished lives behind. Cagalera is living in the shadow of an abusive alcoholic father and Moloteco lives alone in a ramshackle house that could blow over at any minute. They need money badly, and must continually look for new and more dangerous ways to find it.

In his second Feature behind the camera, Gael García Bernal delivers an intense and uncompromising vision of life in a Mexican slum. It is a character study that is equal parts raw and intimate, rarely taking a breath in-between all of the chaos that ensues. And while I admire his gritty approach, I am not quite sure what Bernal was striving for with how obscene and grotesque some elements of the Film are. For one, the violence is vicious and often shocking just for the sake of it. For another, the dialogue seems disingenuous and mean-spirited. I would forgive these faults if there was more than a brief hint or two of introspection. Do not get me wrong, Emmanuel and Carbajal are positively luminous in their roles. But the Script by Augusto Mendoza could and should have done them more favours.

CHICUAROTES screens during TIFF at the following times:

Tuesday September 10, 9:15pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Wednesday September 11, 6:15pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Friday September 13, 5:15pm @ Scotiabank Theatre

Already breaking Box Office records in Mexico, Disney•Pixar’s COCO is set to hit theatres for U.S. Thanksgiving. After a rigorous audition process spanning a year alas the perfect lead was found in 12-year-old Anthony Gonzalez who won the role of Miguel in the Adrian Molina/Lee Unkrich co-directed Film. The young Actor is in Toronto today to promote the Animated Feature in which he stars alongside Gael García Bernal and Benjamin Bratt.

COCO gives us an interesting take on death, centering around Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), in which death versus grieving, is viewed as a celebration of things which the dead had loved while they were alive.

After an extended spirited appearance on Breakfast Television which saw Gonzalez singing and joking with Dina Pugliese, he braved the freeze to complete a second day of Canadian Press today.

See our Snap! What a charmer!

With the charming young star of Disney•Pixar’s #COCO, #AnthonyGonzalez. The Film in which he stars as Miguel, centers around #DiadelosMuertos (Day of the Dead), celebrating the things which the dead had loved. It opens U.S. Thanksgiving and already has broken Box Office records in Mexico.

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 🎅 (@mrwillwong) on Nov 17, 2017 at 5:39am PST

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release COCO Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

By Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong

On November 22nd, audiences will be introduced to Miguel, Hector, Danté, and all their friends when Coco opens in theatres across the country. Last week we were fortunate enough to hear Co-Director Adrian Molina and Producer Darla K. Anderson discuss  and share some behind the scenes secrets of Disney-Pixar’s latest original Movie.

When Miguel’s great-great-grandmother was abandoned by her musician husband, she responded by starting a successful business and banning all music from her life – an edict which continues to this day. This rule is tough on 12-year-old Miguel who worships the famous musician Ernesto de la Cruz and has even taught himself how to play guitar by watching old de la Cruz movies in secret. When Miguel tries to borrow his hero’s guitar on Día de los Muertos, he ends up in the Land of the Dead and learns he has only 24 hours to get back to the land of the living or risk becoming a skeleton himself. Joining him on his adventure are his Sholo dog Danté and Hector, a skeleton he meets in the Land of the Dead.

Coco takes place on Día de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead and explores the universal ideas of “what it means to be part of a family” and “remembering where you come from.” The Pixar team describe on Día de los Muertos as a “celebration of joy and remembrance” and sought to imbue the Film with sense of positivity that children and adults can all connect with.

From local folk art to the beautiful alebrije animals which populate the Land of the Dead, audiences will see evidence of the team’s multiple trips to Mexico and their Pixar believe that “research is incredibly important.” From the varying types of traditional Mexican music heard throughout the movie to the accuracy of the characters’ guitar fingering and playing no detail was too small.

The voice cast, led by newcomer Anthony Gonzalez, is nothing short of stellar. When not searching for traditional Pixar Easter eggs, audiences should keep an ear out for Renee Victor, Gael García Bernal and even a singing Benjamin Bratt.

Molina and Anderson referred to animation as a “collaborative sport” and this extended from the lighting palate to storyboards. During the four-plus years it took for Co-Director Lee Unkrich’s idea of honouring Día de los Muertos to turn into the completed “love letter to Mexico,” an army of people will have contributed to creation of Coco. Based solely on the brief clips Molina and Anderson shared with us, you have the Mr. Will Wong Guarantee™ that you will NOT be disappointed by Pixar’s beautiful new Movie, Coco.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release COCO Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

After premiering at TIFF ’14, Jon Stewart‘s directorial debut certainly left a strong impression on audiences. Now’s your turn Vancouver, Montreal (both Monday, November 10th) and Toronto (Wednesday, November 12th), to see just how well the Funnyman fares as a Director in the poignant and gripping Political Drama, ROSEWATER!

Official Synopsis:

The true story of the imprisonment and torture of Iranian-Canadian journalist and filmmaker Maziar Bahari (Gael García Bernal), who was imprisoned for five months in Iran following an appearance on director Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show.

He named his interrogator “Rosewater” because he smelled of the familiar fragrance. Rosewater beat him and used methods of psychological torture in order to obtain information. His segment on The Daily Show, a satirical sketch in which an actor posed as an American spy in Iran and interviewed Bahari, was played for him and he was accused of being a spy and of working for Zionists.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook and leave a comment there with your City!  Share  from Facebook this Post with your friends to increase your chances!

Good luck, Willionaire$!

Gael Garcia Bernal + Mr. Will:

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2012 at 10:11am PDT

Search Engine Films release ROSEWATER Friday, November 14, 2014 in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

Follow SEARCH ENGINE FILMS on Twitter here!

(Photo/video credit: Search Engine Films)

It absolutely is our favourite time of the year again and announced this morning is the official list of Talent coming to Toronto for TIFF ’14! We look forward to seeing plenty of returning names – some just here last year like the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Kate Winslet – and also plenty of Stars from years past making their way back here once more!

Among the names attending TIFF ’14 this year include:

Jon Stewart, Martin Scorcese, Richard Gere, Andrew Garfield, Viggo Mortensen, Gael Garcia Bernal, James Franco, Jane Fonda, Chloë Moretz, Brit Marling, Laura Dern, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vanessa Redgrave, Vera Farmiga, Al Pacino, Tina Fey, Haley Joel Osment, Robert Pattinson, Ansel Elgort, Alice Eve, Sam Rockwell, Amanda Seyfried, Michael Shannon, Dax Sheppard, Robert Duvall, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Hailee Steinfield, Justin Chatwin, Method Man, Jennifer Connelly, Bobby Cannavale, Kuoth Wiel, Cassie Williams, Danny Webb, Dominic West, Jung Woo-Sung, John Boylan, Sam Worthington, Tye Sheridan, Andrew Scott, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, Connie Britton, Reese Witherspoon, Evan Bird, Zhao Wei, Han Ye-Ri, Melissa Benoist, Haley Bennett, Sonja Bennett, John Travolta, Julianne Moore, Isaach De Bankolé, Dan Stevens, Jason Bateman, Corey Stoll, Xavier Dolan, Peter Stormare, Ben Schnetzer, Abigail Spencer, Ellen Barkin, Bill Pullman, Charlotte Aubin, Kate Winslet, Ryan Reynolds, Rene Russo, Roger Waters, Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Loreto Aravena, Tobey Maguire, Aubrey Plaza, Tobey Maguire, Gemma Arterton,  Juliette Binoche, Zhang Yimou, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Rose Byrne, Channing Tatum, Chris Evans, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Mark Ruffalo, Bill Murray, Daniel Barber, Liam Aiken, Mike Leigh, Olivier Assayas, Richard LaGravenese, Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Anna Kendrick, Morgan Freeman, Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, Rosario Dawson, Chris Rock, John Cusack, Benedict Cumberbatch, Octavia Spencer, Keira Knightley, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kevin Costner, Anthony Mackie, Patricia Clarkson, J.K. Simmons, Miles Teller, Priyanka Chopra, Daniel Bruhl, Michael Winterbottom, Justin Chon, Steve Carell, Gong Li, Hayden Christensen, Tory Kittles, Jordana Brewster, Holliday Grainger, Max Irons, Lone Scherfig, Sam Claflin, Douglas Booth, Paul Bettany, Daniel Barnz, Noah Baumbach, Barry Avrich, Jennifer Aniston, Akon, Nick Kroll, Holly Hunter, Catherine Keener, Greta Gerwig, Omar Sy Jennifer Garner, Salma Hayek, Kevin Smith, Eddie Redmayne,  Felicity Jones, Faye Marsay, Bill Nighy, Justin Long, Christopher Plummer, Marton Csokas, David Cronenberg, Sarah Gadon, Tom Schilling, Tom Hardy and more!

TIFF also will be hosting a series of In-Conversations-With as part of their Mavericks Programme. Joining-in are the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Denzel Washington, Richard Gere, Juliette Binoche, Jon Stewart, Dan Savage, Julie Taymor and several more!

As is the case always, it’s sometimes not just who’s coming – it’s who they’re bringing.  Don’t be surprised if Jennifer Garner brings Husband Ben Affleck along and be warned if Andrew Garfield brings Emma Stone along!

Who’s on our list of Must-Meets?  Plenty!  We hope finally to get a positive moment with Reese Witherspoon and Kate Winslet!  Excited about Martin Scorcese, J.K. Simmons, Bobby Cannavale, Miles Teller, Corey Stoll, Tobey Maguire, Rose Byrne, Michael Douglas and newer names like Max Irons and Douglas Booth, that’s for sure.  And did we read TINA FEY!?!?  Finally!  AND WHERE IS TOM HARDY?!?!

The list is always subject to surprise and no-shows as we know all too well!

Visit the official TIFF Website for more.

TIFF ’14 runs September 3 – 14, 2014.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to offer Readers a chance to win a copy of NO on DVD! After premiering at TIFF here in the City last Fall, the Film starring Gael García Bernal (Rudi Y Cursi, The Motorcycle Diaries) went on to receive an Academy Award Nomination earlier this year for Best Foreign Language Film.

Official Synopsis:

In 1988, Chilean military Dictator Augusto Pinochet, due to international pressure, is forced to call a plebiscite on his presidency. The country will vote “YES” or “NO” to Pinochet extending his rule for another eight years. Opposition leaders for the “NO” persuade a brash young advertising executive, Rene Saavedra (Gael García Bernal), to spearhead their campaign. Against all odds, with scant resources and under scrutiny by the despot’s minions, Saavedra and his team devise an audacious plan to win the election and set Chile free from oppression.

Watch the Trailer below:

To enter to win a copy of NO, simply click “Like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/no @MRWILLW wants us to #win a copy of #NO starring #GAELGARCIABERNAL on DVD! In stores 6/25!

Good luck. Canadian Readers only, please.  Your deadline is Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

We had the pleasure of meeting Bernal in Toronto last fall. See our Snap:

NO is in stores Tuesday, June 25, 2013.  Pre-order it here.

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