The Critic

By Amanda Gilmore

Set in 1934 London, The Critic follows Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) who’s a ruthless Drama Theatre Critic for the Chronicle. When the main editor of the paper dies, his son David Brooke (Mark Strong) takes over the company. Brooke isn’t a fan of Jimmy’s recurring written cruelty of theatre star Nina Land (Gemma Arterton). Thus, giving him a month’s notice before he’s let go. But Jimmy will stop at nothing to save his position.

Screenwriter Patrick Marber adapts the novel from Anthony Quinn and delivers a story of ambition and blackmail. It takes place during the rise of the British Union of Fascists. A period where Jimmy needs to live in hiding for who he is. He’s been given a position that most only aspires to achieve. It’s his most prized accomplishment.

McKellen gives a mesmerizing performance as the scathing critic. In other hands, we’d wish for Jimmy’s demise.

Yet, McKellen’s heavyweight talent causes us to often side with this often despicable anti-hero. He’s equally matched with the bewitching Arterton. At times The Critic lags, particularly in the beginning, but once their characters meet the energy ignites to the finish.

Overall, The Critic is a rollercoaster ride through blackmail, betrayal and murder within the theatre and newspaper world. The entire ensemble give powerhouse performances including Leslie Manville who makes an impact in a few short scenes.

The Critic screens at TIFF ’23:

Monday, September 11 at 12 PM at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Wednesday, September 13 at 4 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Saturday, September 16 at 3 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Walt Disney Studios Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of THE KING’S MAN. Screenings take place as follows:

Toronto (Canadian Premiere)
Tues, Dec 14
7:00pm
TIFF Bell Lightbox

Vancouver
Thurs, Dec 16
7:00pm
International Village

Montreal
Wed, Dec 15
7:00pm
Scotiabank Theatre

Synopsis:

As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in “The King’s Man.”.  20th Century Studios‘ THE KING’S MAN opens in theatres on December 22, 2021. 

The Red Band Trailer below:

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and on the comments there indicate your City. Re-Tweet the below for an extra chance.

Enter for a chance to #win passes to an Advance Screening of #TheKingsMan in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

How: https://t.co/eRKFw6dZfn pic.twitter.com/VvxMMLGNdY

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) December 6, 2021

Rules and regulations here.

NOTE: Winners will only be reached from our official account. Do not accept friend requests from others asking for your personal information. Please guard your information carefully.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Studios Canada)

Djimon Hounsou Gemma Arterton Harris Dickinson kingsman Ralph Fiennes Rhys Ifans The King's Man

A new Trailer has surfaced for Kingsman Prequel, THE KING’S MAN.

SYNOPSIS:
As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in The King’s Man, directed by Matthew Vaughn.

Cast includes: Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou and Charles Dance.

See the Trailer:

THE KING’S MAN is in theatres December 22, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox Canada)

Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler reunite for some fun in MURDER MYSTERY! Check-out the new Trailer!

Synopsis:
When an NYC cop (Adam Sandler) finally takes his wife (Jennifer Aniston) on a long promised European trip, a chance meeting on the flight gets them invited to an intimate family gathering on the Super Yacht of elderly billionaire Malcolm Quince. When Quince is murdered, they become the prime suspects in a modern day whodunit. MURDER MYSTERY reunites Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston along with an ensemble cast of global talent.

See the Trailer:

Netflix Canada stream MURDER MYSTERY Friday, June 14, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix Canada)

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to see THEIR FINEST. Screenings take place as follows:

Vancouver

Date: Monday, April 10th

Time: 7:00pm

Location: 5th Avenue (2110 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6J 3H6)

Winnipeg

Date: Monday, April 10th

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Grant Park (1120 Grant Ave Unit 127, Winnipeg, MB R3M 2A6)

Calgary

Date: Monday, April 10th

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Eau Claire (200 Barclay Parade SW #200, Calgary, AB T2P 4R5)

Edmonton

Date: Monday, April 10th

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Scotiabank Edmonton (#3030, 8882-170 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5T 4M2)

Victoria

Date: Monday, April 10th

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Odeon Victoria (780 Yates Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1L4)

Toronto

Date: Wednesday, April 12th

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Varsity (55 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M4W 1A5)

Halifax

Date: Wednesday, April 12th

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Park Lane (5657 Spring Garden Road, Halifax, NS, B3J 3R4)

Ottawa

Date: Wednesday, April 21st

Time: 6:45pm

Location: Bytowne Ottawa (325 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON, K1N 5Y4)

Synopsis:
1940, London, the Blitz; with the country’s morale at stake, Catrin, an untried screenwriter, and a makeshift cast and crew, work under fire to make a film to lift the nation’s spirits – and inspire America to join the war. A witty, romantic and moving portrayal of a young woman finding her way, and her voice, in the mayhem of war… and the movies.

Directed by Lone Scherfig (An Education), THEIR FINEST stars Gemma Arterton, Bill Nighy and Sam Claflin.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. For an extra chance, “favourite” this Tweet on Twitter: @mrwillw.

Elevation Pictures release THEIR FINEST Friday, April 14, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Run-of-Engagement Passes to see TIFF ’16 selection THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS! You also will win a copy of the Novel on which it is based. It plays in the following cities:

Toronto / Yonge & Dundas
Vancouver / Park Theatre
Calgary / Eau Claire
Ottawa / South Keys
Halifax / Park Lane

Synopsis:
The near future; humanity has been all but destroyed by a mutated fungal disease that eradicates free will and turns its victims into flesh-eating “hungries”. Only a small group of children seem immune to its effects.

At an army base in rural England, this group of unique children are being studied, subjected to cruel experiments by biologist Dr. Caldwell. Despite having been infected with the zombie pathogen that has decimated the world, these children retain normal thoughts and emotions. And while still being subject to the craving for human flesh that marks the disease these second- generation “hungries” are able to think and feel making them a vital resource in the search for a cure.

The children attend school lessons daily, guarded by the ever watchful Sergeant Parks. But one little girl, Melanie, stands out from the rest. Melanie is special. She excels in the classroom, is inquisitive, imaginative and loves her favourite teacher Miss Justineau.

When the base falls, Melanie escapes along with Miss Justineau, Sergeant Parks and Dr. Caldwell. Against the backdrop of a blighted Britain, Melanie must discover what she is and ultimately decide both her own future and that of the human race.

The Girl With All The Gifts is directed by Colm McCarthy and stars Sennia Nanua, Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close and Paddy Considine.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your city.

Elevation Pictures release THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS at Cineplex Event Cinemas and iTunes Friday, February 24, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

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)