#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH CURATED SELECTION

Monday, March 8, 2021 is International Women’s Day and to celebrate, Hollywood Suite all month long are bringing you a selection of curated Films either directed by women or centering on powerful female characters. Kicking things off on March 8th is 2018’s COLETTE starring Keira Knightley.

Additional Films to be spotlighted:

RBG (2018) – March 2 at 6:30 pm ET
DIRECTORS: BETSY WEST and JULIE COHEN
A documentary showcasing the life and career of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. From
being a trailblazer for women’s rights to becoming a pop culture icon in her final decade, West and Cohen
get behind-the-scenes, unprecedented access to the woman known lovingly as RBG.

REAL GENIUS (1985) – March 2 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: MARTHA COOLIDGE
When two college students discover their project is being eyed by nefarious government officials to be
used as a weapon, they set out to put a stop to their plans.

BLACK GIRL (1972) – March 9 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: Ossie Davis
STARRING: PEGGY PETTITT, LESLIE UGGAMS, RUBY DEE, CLAUDIA MCNEIL
A dramatic exploration of family dynamics, the search for identity and the fulfillment of dreams among
three generations of Black women.

ENOUGH (2002) – March 10 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: MICHAEL APTED
STARRING: JENNIFER LOPEZ, JULIETTE LEWIS
A working-class waitress thinks her dreams have come true when she’s swept off her feet by a gorgeous
millionaire. She soon discovers that her dream man is anything but, forcing her to go on the run.

WELCOME TO ME (2014) – March 14 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: SHIRA PIVEN
STARRING: KRISTEN WIIG, LINDA CARDELLINI
After winning the lottery and deciding to go off her medications, a mentally unbalanced woman buys her
own talk show.

MIXED NUTS (1994) – March 19 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: NORA EPHRON
When threatened with eviction on Christmas Eve, the staff of a crisis hotline called Lifesavers – along with
a cast of oddball characters – are thrown into a state of crisis themselves.

GIRLFRIENDS (1978) – March 23 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: CLAUDIA WEILL
STARRING: MELANIE MAYRON
This critically acclaimed drama centres around a struggling New York City photographer who finds
herself dealing with a profound loneliness when her best friend moves out and gets married.

SEVEN MINUTES IN HEAVEN (1986) – March 30 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: LINDA FEFERMAN
STARRING: JENNIFER CONNELLY, MADDIE CORMAN
Trusted by her father to care for their home while he’s out of town, a straight-A student lets her two best
friends move in

(Photo credit: Elevation Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: MONGREL MEDIA X HOLLYWOOD SUITE PRESENT WORLD CINEMA WEDNESDAYS

Hollywood Suite and Mongrel Media will be teaming-up for World Cinema Wednesdays, kicking-off with PERSEPOLIS March 3, 2021. The partnership will see over 20 Mongrel Media’s most acclaimed titles from around the world premiere on Hollywood Suite over the next year.

Other WORLD CINEMA WEDNESDAYS titles include the likes of SUN CHILDREN, which has been shortlisted for Best International Feature for the 2021 Academy Awards. Bandar Band, RBG, A Fantastic Woman, The Lobster, The Lunchbox, A Royal Affair and Let the Right One In are among the other titles.

March’s selections from the Series include:

Beau Travail, Natalie Portman’s A Tale of Love and Darkness, Rubaiyat Hossain’s Made in Bangladesh and Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Brussels. All five titles will be available On Demand in March as well.

Visit Hollywood Suite’s website https://hollywoodsuite.ca for more.

(Photo credit: Mongrel Media)

#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE PRESENT “THE IMPACT SERIES”

Hollywood Suite have announced that they will be the Canadian home of acclaimed, socially-conscious Documentary Series THE IMPACT SERIES. The Series of eight films will broadcast Monday nights at 9pm ET starting March 15, 2021.

Films in the Series include timely topics ranging from oppression, climate change, gun violence and the use of our brains.

CHICAGO 10 (2007) – Premieres Monday, March 15 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: Brett Morgen
Re-released to coincide with the 2020 U.S. election, this innovative documentary tells the story of the group of young Americans who would not have their opinions oppressed, and who spoke out during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in the face of armed government forces.

NOW (2020) – Premieres Monday, March 22 at 9pm ET DIRECTOR: Jim Rakete

From Greta Thunberg to the Extinction Rebellion, for the young activist the rebellion is both a means and an end in the struggle for the climate of the future.

TO THE FOUR WINDS (2018) – Premieres Monday, March 29 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: Michel Toesca
An olive grove farmer on the southeast French border tries to help immigrants without papers, many of them black, crossing over from Italy, but runs into bureaucratic and racist obstructions.

HOLY MOUNTAIN ( 2017) – Premieres Monday, April 5 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: Reinhold Messner
Nepal, 1979: a group of young New Zealanders led by Peter Hillary decide to climb the 6,828-metre-high mountain Ama Dablam. Reinhold Messner and his team intend to do the same. They observe the dangerous ascent of the first group, who very quickly seem to be in serious danger.

J’VEUX DU SOLEIL! ( 2019) – Premieres Monday, April 12 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: Gilles Perret
French journalist François Ruffin – now a Member of Parliament – decides to embark on a journey across France with documentary filmmaker Gilles Perret to visit the infamous Gilets Jaunes (Yellow vests) occupying roundabouts since November 2018 to protest social inequalities.

THE GREAT INVISIBLE (2014) – Premieres Monday, April 19 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: Margaret Brown
Re-released to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of the catastrophe, The Great Invisible looks beyond the media coverage of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, which to this day remains the worst oil spill in American history.

31⁄2 MINUTES, 10 BULLETS (2007) – Premieres Monday, April 26 at 9pm ET
DIRECTOR: Marc Silver
Black Friday 2012: four boys in a red SUV pull into a gas station after spending time at the mall buying sneakers and talking to girls. With music blaring, one boy exits the car and enters the store, a quick stop for a soda and a pack of gum. A man and a woman pull up next to the boys in the station, making a stop for a bottle of wine. The woman enters the store and an argument breaks out when the driver of the second car asks the boys to turn the music down. 31⁄2 minutes and ten bullets later, one of the boys is dead.

In addition to the Monday night series, the Canadian documentary The Divided Brain w ill be available through Hollywood Suite On Demand beginning April 1, followed by its linear broadcast in September.

THE DIVIDED BRAIN (2019) – Available Hollywood Suite On Demand on April 1 DIRECTOR: Manfred Becker
Inspired by the book “The Master and his Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World” by Dr. Iain McGilchrist, The Divided Brain posits that the imbalance of the human brain could have catastrophic consequences for our species. Has our society been hijacked by the left hemisphere? Is it too late to correct the imbalance?

(Photo credit: Hollywood Suite)

#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE’S BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2021 PROGRAMMING LINEUP

February is Black History Month and on their programming lineup is an eclectic collection of Films from the ’50s onwards, to help you celebrate.

Hollywood Suite 70s

No Way Out (1950) Thursday, Feb 11 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – A pioneering film that deals with race relations, Sidney Poitier plays a doctor who tends to two racist white criminals who arrive at his hospital after being shot.

Carmen Jones (1954) Thursday, Feb 18 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – It’s the screen adaptation of the stage musical which was a modern reworking of the classic Bizet opera Carmen. Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge star in the drama that follows a steamy romance between a factory worker and a pilot.

Island in the Sun (1957) Thursday, Feb 18 at 10:50 pm ET – PREMIERE – Based on the Alec Waugh novel, this drama starring Harry Belafonte, Joan Fontaine, James Mason, Dorothy Dandridge and Joan Collins, is set in the fictitious island of Santa Marta and deals with race relations and interracial romance.

Buck and the Preacher (1972) Sunday, Feb 20 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – Sidney Poitier’s directorial debut, the film stars Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and Ruby Dee. Following the end of the Civil War, soldier-turned-trail-guide Buck makes a living by helping former slaves find settlements in the West. Along the way, a con artist Preacher joins the group and constantly clashes with Buck. But when a gang of bounty hunters attempts to round up the freed slaves to bring them back to Louisiana, the two put aside their differences to fight a common enemy.

Hollywood Suite 80s

Hanky Panky (1982) Saturday, Feb 6 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – Director Sidney Poitier takes a comic turn directing Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner in this action-comedy about a man who is drawn into a web of government secrets when a woman carrying a mysterious package gets into a taxi with him. When she’s later murdered, he becomes the chief suspect and goes on the run.

Stir Crazy (1980) Saturday, Feb 6 at 10:55 pm ET – That’s right, they’re bad. Two best friends, who dress up like woodpeckers, are framed for a bank robbery and sent to prison. It’s the second of four on-screen collaborations between Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.

Clara’s Heart (1988) Wednesday, Feb 17 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – A young Neil Patrick Harris meets Whoopi Goldberg in this drama about a Jamaican housekeeper who becomes an unforgettable influence in the life of a young boy, providing him with affection, growth and gentle comic comfort to the harsh realities of his parents’ divorce.

The Color Purple (1985) Wednesday, Feb 17 at 10:50 pm ET – Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. The film stars Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Rae Dawn Chong, and Adolph Caesar and tells the touching tale of a woman who struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father and husband over four decades.

Hollywood Suite 90s

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) Friday, Feb 5 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – This romantic comedy-drama, adapted from Terry McMillan’s best-selling 1996 novel, tells the story of a workaholic stockbroker who has an island fling on vacation but realizes even though he is half her age, they may have something deeper. The all-star cast includes Taye Diggs, Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg and Regina King.

A Rage in Harlem (1991) Friday, Feb 5 at 11:10 pm ET – Dubbed The Sting Above 125th Street, this caper stars Gregory Hines, Forest Whitaker, Danny Glover and Robin Givens and tells the story of a gangster’s girlfriend who flees to Harlem with a trunk of gold after a shootout, unaware that the rest of the gang is on her trail.

The Five Heartbeats (1991) Friday, Feb 26 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – Robert Townsend directed and co-wrote the script with Keenan Ivory Wayans, which follows the three-decade career of the vocal group The Five Heartbeats. The plot was based on the stories of several Motown groups, including The Dells, The Temptations, and The Four Tops.

Hollywood Suite 2000s

Love & Basketball (2000) Sunday, Feb 14 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan headline in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s directorial debut and cult classic about two next-door neighbours who grow up and pursue basketball careers before eventually falling for each other, proving all is fair in love and basketball.

Antwone Fisher (2002) Sunday, Feb 7 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – Denzel Washington starred and made his directorial debut in a film about a young navy man who is forced to confront his past in therapy after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman. Derek Luke, in his first lead role, garnered critical praise for his portrayal of Antwone Fisher.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Friday, Feb 19 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – A biopic starring Will Smith alongside his son Jaden Smith who makes his film debut as Gardner’s son, Christopher Jr. The film tells the astounding yet true rags-to-riches saga of a homeless father who raised and cared for his son on the mean streets of San Francisco and went on to become a crown prince of Wall Street.

The Secret Life of Bees (2008) Friday, Feb 26 at 9:00 pm ET – PREMIERE – Adapted from the novel by Sue Monk Kidd, the film is set in South Carolina in 1964. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father T-Ray, 14-year-old Lily flees with her caregiver to a South Carolina town. When she enters the lives of the Boatright sisters, April, May and June, she discovers they hold the secrets to her past. Features stellar performances from Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, and Sophie Okonedo.

These titles appear on Hollywood Suite beginning February 1, 2021.

(Photo credit: Hollywood Suite)

#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE FREE PREVIEW AVAILABLE STARTING DECEMBER 1, 2020!

Great news for the Holidays! Hollywood Suite will be available as a free preview for you from December 1, 2020 to January 5, 2021! Among the exciting things they have lined-up are a tribute to Keanu Reeves, a KEANUSSANCE and the second season of their series A YEAR IN FILM. As announced previously, HBO MAX series VALLEY OF TEARS also is coming to Hollywood Suite exclusively.

VALLEY OF TEARS

Hollywood Suite is the exclusive Canadian home of the all-new HBO Max Original 10-part war drama, Valley of Tears. The biggest budget Israeli TV series of all time, Valley of Tears comes to Hollywood Suite following the smashing success of its debut in its home country and on HBO Max in the US. 

The series is inspired by the true events of the 1973 Yom Kippur War in Israel. 

Episodes 1 and 2 of Valley of Tears will premiere back-to-back Saturday, December 19 on HS00, with a new episode airing each following Saturday. Each episode will be available On Demand immediately following their air date. The series will be broadcast in the original Hebrew with English subtitles. Subtitled and English-dubbed versions will be available On Demand. 

A YEAR IN FILM – SEASON TWO 

The Hollywood Suite original documentary series A Year in Film explores how movies reflect the events, mood, politics, and culture of their time. A Year in Film immerses you in film history and pop culture with insights and movie memories from filmmakers, industry insiders, and critics. Season two dives into the films that shaped the years 1975, 1986, 1994 and 2000.

A Year in Film: 1975

With Watergate and the fall of Saigon dominating the news, people were looking for an escape. 

• New Hollywood delivered with films like Nashville, Shampoo and Dog Day Afternoon
• Women directors crafted an independent vision with Hester Street and Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles 
• And in Canada, David Cronenberg clashed with the Canadian government over his first hit Shivers

Premiering December 6, 2020 at 9:00pm ET on Hollywood Suite 70s Movies (HS70)

Films featured in A Year in Film: 1975 airing or On Demand in December : Dog Day Afternoon, Barry Lyndon, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles.

A Year in Film: 1986

Celebrations like Vancouver’s Expo 86, Hands Across America and the passing of Halley’s Comet were tempered by the sadness of tragedies like Chernobyl, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and the uncovering of the Iran-Contra affair. 

• Robots dominated the box office with hits like Short Circuit
• Decade-defining hits like Pretty in Pink, Top Gun and Stand by Me cemented their iconic status. 
• And in Canada, Canadian directors scored big in Hollywood with The Fly, Aliens and The Decline of the American Empire
• Featured in the episode, director Jim Wynorski looks back on Chopping Mall

Premiering December 13, 2020 at 9:00pm ET on Hollywood Suite 80s Movies (HS80)

Films featured in A Year in Film: 1986 airing or On Demand in December:The Fly, Aliens, Top Gun, Platoon, Chopping Mall, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, River’s Edge, The Decline of the American Empire, and Stand by Me. 

A Year in Film: 1994

Gen X controlled the narrative in a big way. While Hollywood struggled with the generation gap, independent films connected with mainstream audiences more than ever. 

• Pulp Fiction cemented Quentin Tarantino as a bold voice in Hollywood
• Jim Carrey hit big with three massive films: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask andDumb and Dumber
• And in Canada, Canadian filmmakers gained notoriety with hits like Double Happiness
• Featured in the episode, director Atom Egoyan discusses his classic Exotica

Premiering December 20, 2020 at 9:00pm ET on Hollywood Suite 90s Movies (HS90)

Films featured in A Year in Film: 1994 airing or On Demand in December: Forrest Gump, Double Happiness, Pulp Fiction, Reality Bites, Dumb and Dumber, Clifford, Speed, The Crow, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Eat Drink Man Woman.  

A Year in Film: 2000

The dawn of the new millennium saw a mix of frustrations over a contested U.S. election and relief after Y2K fears fizzled. The film landscape seemed wide open for new and exciting voices to emerge. 

• Asian cinema took the art-house spotlight with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Yi Yi andIn the Mood for Love
• Steven Soderbergh made an Oscar double-play with Erin Brockovich and Traffic
• And in Canada, Canadian directors mined horror and satire with films like American Psycho
• Featured in this episode, director John Fawcett reflects on Ginger Snaps

Premiering December 27, 2020 at 9:00pm ET on Hollywood Suite 2000s Movies (HS00)

Films featured in A Year in Film: 2000 airing or On Demand in December:Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Yi Yi, American Psycho, Ginger Snaps, In the Mood for Love, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. 

KEANUSSANCE

December is all Keanu, all the time. His name means “cool breeze over the mountains,” and he’s a well-rounded, well-loved, low-key Canadian guy who kicks ass and has serious acting chops. Raised in Toronto, his three-decade long filmography is prolific and filled with an alarming amount of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster franchises. The cinematic homage to The One includes: 

Hollywood Suite 80s Movies Channel (HS80)

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) – December 5, 9:00 pm ET

River’s Edge (1986) – December 6, 9:00 pm ET

Hollywood Suite 90s Movies Channel (HS90)

Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991) – December 5, 10:35 pm ET

Speed (1994) – December 5, 12:10 am ET

My Own Private Idaho (1991) – December 6, 10:45 

Chain Reaction (1996) – December 6, 12:30 am 

The Matrix (1999) – December 12, 9:00 pm 

Johnny Mnemonic (1995) – December 12, 11:20 pm 

Point Break (1991) – December 13, 9:00 pm

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) – December 13, 11:10 pm

Hollywood Suite 2000s Movies Channel (HS00)

The Replacements (2000) – December 20, 9:00 pm

The Matrix Reloaded (2003) – December 12, 11:20 pm

The Matrix Revolutions (2003) – December 12, 1:40 am

Something’s Gotta Give (2003) – December 20, 11:00 pm 

John Wick (2014) – December 30, 9:00 pm

John Wick 2 (2014) – December 30, 10:45 pm 

Constantine (2005) – December 31, 9:00 pm

FAMILY FAVOURITES

These family films are like your favourite PJs and a weighted blanket. Here’s a list of Hollywood Suite comfort films to ease your mind: The Holiday (2006), Grease (1978), Labyrinth (1986), Little Women (1994), The Karate Kid (1984), Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights (2002), Ella Enchanted (2004), Grown Ups (2010), Pitch Perfect (2012) and The Princess Bride (1987). 

(Photo credit: Hollywood Suite)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW PROGRAMMING FOR HOLLYWOOD SUITE – NOVEMBER 2020

Hollywood Suite present a special slate of programming for November, including a tribute weekend to the late Anton Yelchin, including an exclusive broadcast of Documentary LOVE, ANTOSHA which premiered to raves at Sundance, and also a ReelWorld 20th Anniversary Retrospective which can’t be missed!

ANTON YELCHIN WEEKEND – November 13^th and 14^th and OnDemand

LOVE, ANTOSHA (2019)A Hollywood Suite Exclusive — Friday, November 13, 9:00 pm ET on HS00

This heartwarming documentary that premiered at Sundance focuses on Anton Yelchin’s prolific career in film and television. Anton Yelchin left an indelible legacy as an actor. Through his journals and other writings, his photography, the original music he wrote, and interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues, this film looks not just at Anton’s impressive career, but at a broader portrait of the man. Born in the former Soviet Union to a family of artists, Anton came to the U.S. with his parents when he was six months old. He started acting at nine. He had a genuine curiosity and love for people, for art, and for family and a willingness to explore, and be open with, the darker parts of himself. Love, Antosha explores his successes and his struggles, and lets viewers get to know this extraordinary person the world was cheated from seeing grow old.

5 to 7 (2014) — Friday, November 13, 10:35 pm ET on HS00

Starring Anton Yelchin, Bérénice Marlohe, Olivia Thirlby, Lambert Wilson, Frank Langella and Glenn Close, 5 to 7 is the love story of Brian, a 24-year-old writer who has an affair with a 33-year-old married French woman, Arielle. Arielle and her middle-aged husband have an agreement, allowing them to have extramarital affairs as long as they are confined to the hours between 5 and 7 p.m.

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) — Saturday, November 14, 9:00 pm ET on HS00

Written and Directed by Jim Jarmusch, Only Lovers Left Alive tells the story of two artistic, sophisticated and centuries old vampire lovers who ponder their ultimate place in modern society. The film boasts an all-star cast including: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright and John Hurt.

Green Room (2016) — Saturday, November 14, 11:05 pm ET on HS00

A punk rock band becomes trapped in a secluded venue after finding a scene of violence. For what they saw, the band themselves become targets of violence from a gang of white power skinheads who want to eliminate all evidence of the crime. The cast includes Patrick Stewart, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat and Macon Blair.

REELWORLD 20th ANNIVERSARY RETROSPECTIVE – November 18^th and 19^th and OnDemand

Founded in 2000, The Reelworld Festival supports Canadian filmmakers and artists from Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American communities. As a partnership between Reelworld and Hollywood Suite, the Reelworld 20^th Anniversary Retrospective, showcases seven award-winning films from past Reelworld festivals.

Hue: A Matter of Colour(2014) — Wednesday, November 18, 9:00 pm ET

This feature documentary by renowned director and cinematographer Vic Sarin is a personal, yet global investigation into the history and current state of colourism: the discrimination within one ethnicity based on differences in skin tone. Sarin travels the globe to discuss this complex cross-cultural social issue with individuals whose lives it affects, including a Filipina entrepreneur whose business has flourished within the billion-dollar skin-whitening industry. Hue leads viewers on a thoughtful and surprising journey to the heart of a painful and pervasive social issue that not only polices appearance, but also class, gender, and geography.

Farewell Regent(2019) – Wednesday, November 18, 10:30 pm ET

In a documentary that charts the complex canvas of Regent Park, Christene Browne puts a human face on the unique tensions and fellowships of the country’s most infamous social housing project. Farewell Regent eschews the storied violence of the Toronto community to focus on the activism and resilience that has always been in the DNA of its people.

Tiger!(2005) — Wednesday, November 18, 12:05 am ET

Lalita Krishna tells the compelling story about a wrestling legend who turned 60 in 2004 and instead of retiring, chose to take on a 36-year-old Judo champion. Tiger Jeet Singh spelled terror and mayhem for men as big and burly as him, yet his name was whispered with tremulous adulation by thousands of fans from Toronto to Tokyo.

Echoes(2013) — Wednesday, November 18, 1:00 am ET

Director Sun-Kyung (Sunny) Yi looks at international adoptions from China. An extraordinarily intuitive film about the very essence of life, which is loss, Echoes chronicles the experiences of mothers who represent three distinct aspects of the story: A Chinese mother who abandoned her baby; a white, middle-class North American mother who adopted a Chinese girl; and a Canadian mother preparing to pick up her baby from China. Each of these mothers shares her experiences and struggles reconciling the powerful emotions and ideas that both abandonment and adoption, from an alien culture, entail.

Bearwalker(2001) — Thursday, November 19, 9:00 pm ET

Shirley Cheechoo C.M. tells the story of a supernatural force at work in a small community where prejudice, injustice, corruption, and revenge are simmering just below the surface. Four Aboriginal sisters struggle with the powerful and menacing spirit of the Bearwalker, an evil force that takes possession of and tears apart several lives in the town.

Little Brother of War(2003) – Thursday, November 19, 10:25 pm ET

A young boy’s heroic journey in search of his deceased parents sets forth a series of life-affirming events, changing not only his life but also the lives of others.

Turbulence (2015) –Thursday, November 19 at 12:00 am ET

From director Soran Mardookhi, Turbulence tells the story of Sherzad, a former electrical engineer from Iraqi Kurdistan, who tries his best to lead a normal life in Canada, his adopted country. His estranged young daughter, Jina, numbs herself with drugs in order to forget her bitter past, but has a hard time fitting in, even amongst the misfits. Jina and her father both have to resort to desperate measures to deal with their situation.

(Photo credit: Hollywood Suite)

#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE “A YEAR IN FILM: PODCAST”

Hollywood Suite present their first ever foray into the world of Podcasts, in celebration of International Podcast Day!

The 50-minute Podcast looks at a diverse array of game-changing moments and films by year of release with Becky Shrimpton, Cameron Maitland and Alicia Fletcher. Beginning October 1st, new episodes (total 12) arrive on the 1st and 15th of the month. The Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play and Stitcher.

Episodes are as follows:

Episode 1 – “Disco and Truckers Rule”

Release date: October 1, 2020

Year: 1978

Films: The Eyes of Laura Mars, The Wiz, Convoy and Every Which Way but Loose.

Episode 2 – “Elaine May and Beatlemania”

Release date: October 15, 2020

Year: 1978

Films: California Suite, Heaven Can Wait, I Wanna Hold Your Hand and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Episode 3 ­– “Hong Kong New Wave and British Animation”

Release date: November 1, 2020

Year: 1978

Films: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Drunken Master, Watership Down and Lord of the Rings

Episode 4 – “The Reign of Stephen King and Porky’s Spawns”

Release date: November 15, 2020

Year: 1983

Films: Christine, Cujo, Screwballs and Losin’ It

Episode 5 – “Prepare for Nuclear War and Gender Swaps”

Release date: December 1, 2020

Year: 1983

FiIms: War Games, The Day After, Mr. Mom and Flashdance

Episode 6 – “Fashion Vampires and Rock ‘n Roll”

Release date: December 15, 2020

Year: 1983

Films: Liquid Sky, The Hunger, Get Crazy and Rock & Rule

Episode 7 – “Women Take Over – Indie Renaissance and New Queer Cinema”

Release date: January 1, 2021

Year: 1992

Films: The Long Day Closes, Just Another Girl on the IRT, Orlando and Gas, Food, Lodging

Episode 8 – “Women Take Over – Fully Loaded and Rappers’ Delight”

Release date: January 15, 2021

Year: 1992

Films: Gun Crazy, My New Gun, Juice and Trespass

Episode 9 – “Women Take Over – Thrillers and Competing Columbuses”

Release date: February 1, 2021

Year: 1992

Films: Love Crimes, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle; 1492: The Conquest of Paradise and Christopher Columbus: The Discovery

Episode 10 – “Mental Health Comedies and Subverting Disney”

Release date: February 15, 2021

Year: 2007

Films: Eagle vs. Shark, Lars and the Real Girl, Enchanted, and Stardust

Episode 11 – “Horror Debuts and Naughty Musicals”

Release date: March 1, 2021

Year: 2007

Films: The Host, REC, Hairspray and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Episode 12 – “Serial Killers and White-Collar Criminals”

Release date: March 15, 2021

Year: 2007

Films: Hot Fuzz, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Michael Clayton and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

Season Two of Hollywood Suite’s A YEAR IN FILM, the TV Series, arrives in December.

(Photo credit: Hollywood Suite)

#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE PRESENT “SHOCKTOBER”

Beginning October 1, 2020, Hollywood Suite presents a month of Horror in SHOCKTOBER with 70 classics and two new Canadian Features for you to enjoy, FAKING A MURDERER and THE SANCTUARY.

FAKING A MURDERER (2020) premieres Wednesday, October 14 at 9:00 pm ET on HS00–Filmmaking duo Adam Rodness and Stu Stone stumble upon a series of online videos which they believe contain a man confessing to a murder of someone named Stacy. With “True Crime” being the hottest genre in the industry, they decide that they too should cash in on the trend, creating a hit series of their own. After convincing a broadcaster this project is sure to be a success, their pitch earns them the green light. Adam and Stu hit the ground running and begin their investigation, hire a production crew and head out on the road. Only, they don’t know exactly where to start. As time ticks away and their bank account runs dry, they must go to any means necessary to deliver what they promised. What they believe to be a straightforward murder case turns into an unforgettable manhunt that could have deadly consequences for all.

THE SANCTUARY (2019) premieres Monday, October 12 at 10:40 pm ET on HS00– After the brutal murder of his girlfriend, killer Wade Overton escapes from custody. While on the run, Wade eventually finds refuge with an elderly couple. As Wade plots their demise, it becomes clear that appearances are not always what they seem.

Other classics, sorted by era are:

Hollywood Suite 70s Movies Channel – HS70

Blackmail (1929) Thursday, October 15 at 9:00 pm ET – The oldest title in the Hollywood Suite library, this early Alfred Hitchcock thriller is about a London woman who is blackmailed after killing a man who tried to attack her.

Gojira (1954) Thursday, October 10 at 9:00 pm ET – Director Ishiro Honda’s original Godzilla movie is not only a horror story about a seemingly unstoppable beast created by American nuclear weapons testing, but also a somber exploration of conflicted postwar emotions.

Suspiria (1977) Friday, October 30 at 9:00 pm ET – An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders. Directed by Dario Argento and starring Jessica Harper, Suspiria received critical acclaim for its visual and stylistic flair, use of vibrant colours and its score by Argento and the progressive rock band Goblin.

Hollywood Suite 80s Movies Channel – HS80

Chopping Mall (1986) Saturday,October 17 at 9:00 pm ET – Director Jim Wynorski’s tale of a group of young shopping mall employees who stay after closing for a late-night party. It’s all fun and games until the mall goes into lockdown and the robot security guards malfunction, setting off a killing spree.

Near Dark (1987) Sunday, October 25 at 9:00 pm ET – It’s a western and a horror rolled into one. After he is bitten by a beautiful drifter, a small-town boy reluctantly joins a group of travelling vampires. Starring Adrian Pasdar, Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen, this Weird West work is directed by Kathryn Bigelow and features a cameo from James Cameron.

Inferno (1980) Friday, October 30 at 10:35 pm ET – A thematic sequel to Suspiria, the film is the second part of Dario Argento’s “Three Mothers” trilogy. An American college student in Rome and his sister in New York investigate a series of killings in both cities where their resident addresses are the domain of two covens of witches.

Hollywood Suite 90s Movies Channel – HS90

The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999) Sunday, October 25 at 9:00 pm ET – It’s a little bit of history repeating when an outcast teenage girl is taunted by a group of high school jocks, all of them unaware of her cutthroat telekinetic powers, which leads to a horrible massacre. Amy Irving reprises her role as survivor-turned-guidance-counselor Sue Snell in Katt Shea’s follow-up to the famous 1976 adaptation of Stephen King’s first novel.

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) Saturday, October 31 at 9:00 pm ET – The seventh installment in the Halloween franchise, directed by Steve Miner and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Adam Arkin, Michelle Williams and Josh Hartnett, is a do-over ignoring anything that happened in films 3–6. Laurie Strode has faked her death in order to go into hiding from her brother, Michael Myers. But you can’t trick evil, and he finds her working at a private boarding school in California.

Hollywood Suite 2000s Movies Channel – HS00

George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead (2009) Friday, October 23 at 9:00 pm ET–Written and directed by George A. Romero and starring Alan van Sprang, Kenneth Welsh and Kathleen Munroe, this is the sixth entry in Romero’s Night of the Living Dead series and was the last film to be directed by Romero before his death in 2017. On an island off the coast of North America, local residents simultaneously fight a zombie epidemic while hoping for a cure to return their undead relatives back to their human state.

Green Room (2015) Monday, October 12 at 9:00 pm ET – A punk band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo-nazi skinhead bar. The all-star cast includes Patrick Stewart, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat and Macon Blair.

For more, visit hollywoodsuite.ca.

(Photo credit: Hollywood Suite)

#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE PRESENT “O CANADA SPOTLIGHT”

Beginning July 1, 2020, Hollywood Suite kick-off their spotlight on Canada’s finest with round-the-clock offerings including:

·       The Red Violin (1998) 12:40 pm on HS90 – This drama, directed by François Girard and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Oh, Don McKellar and Greta Scacchi spans four centuries and five countries as it tells the story of a mysterious red-coloured violin and its many owners.

·       The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974) 3:35 pm on HS70 – Based on Mordecai Richler’s novel, Richard Dreyfus stars as Duddy, a poor boy raised in Montreal, driven by power, money and owning land as he dreams of becoming the next rag-to-riches story.

·       Meatballs (1979) 9:00 pm on HS70 – Ivan Reitman’s ode to summer camp features Bill Murray in his first starring role as Tripper, head counsellor at the cut-rate Camp North Star. Shot in Haliburton, Ontario, the film is full of high jinks and pranks as Camp North Star competes in annual games against Camp Mohawk, a more elite camp. Meatballs gave rise to the careers of Murray and Reitman along with the chant “It Just Doesn’t Matter.”

·       Canadian Bacon (1995) 9:00 pm on HS90 – Michael Moore directed this US-Canada co-pro about a US president who tries to boost his sagging approval rating by starting a war with Canada. Alan Alda, Rhea Perlman and Kevin Pollack lead the charge with John Candy in his final movie role.                                                                        

·       Strange Brew (1983) 10:40 pm on HS80 – Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis take their goofy SCTV characters Bob and Doug Mackenzie on a big-screen adventure. Max von Sydow plays an evil brewmeister who plans to take over the world by placing a mind-control drug in Elsinore beer. Little does he know the power of the hoser, eh?

·       Eastern Promises (2007) at 11:20 pm on HS00 – Directed by David Cronenberg and starring Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Vincent Cassel, this gritty crime drama centres around a Russian teenager living in London who dies during childbirth. Clues in her journal lead a midwife to the girl’s ties with a violent Russian mob family.

As announced previously their THE BEST OF THE BEST Spotlight also is ongoing featuring Films which have either won Oscars, BAFTAs or Independent Spirit Awards beginning July 2, 2020.

Schedule below:

July 2–July 5                 Oscar Best Director

·       The Graduate (1967) Thursday, July 2 at 9:00 pm on HS70 – Mike Nichols’ Academy Award-winning romantic comedy tells the story of recently-graduated college student Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), who is seduced by Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), a bored housewife. Things get complicated when he falls in love with her daughter.

·       Traffic (2000) Friday, July 3 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – Steven Soderbergh’s crime drama follows four intersecting story lines revolving around the drug trade in America. Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, James Brolin, Albert Finney, Amy Irving, Benjamin Bratt, Topher Grace and Erika Christensen lead an all-star cast.

·       Saving Private Ryan (1998) Saturday,  July 4 at 9:00 pm on HS90 – Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper, Edward Burns, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi and Tom Sizemore headline in Steven Spielberg’s epic war drama that follows the Normandy Landings and a group of US soldiers’ quest to go behind enemy lines to rescue a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.

·       Cabaret (1972) Sunday, July 5 at 9:00 pm on HS70 – Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome to Cabaret where Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey and Michael York electrify in this celebrated musical set in decadent 1930s Berlin during Hitler’s rise to power. The film chronicles Cambridge student Brian Roberts’ friendship with the high-spirited Sally Bowles, a singer at the sleazy Kit Kat nightclub.

July 6–12                      Oscar Best Picture

·       Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) Monday, July 6 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – Michael Keaton made his cinematic comeback as a faded Hollywood actor best known for playing the superhero “Birdman,” as he struggles to mount a Broadway play.  

·       Chariots of Fire (1981) Tuesday, July 7 at 9:00 pm on HS80 – The movie, with Vangelis’s unforgettable theme song, is based on the true story of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell who race for the gold in the 1924 Olympics. While one runs for his faith, the other participates to leave prejudice behind.

·       The Artist (2011) Wednesday, July 8 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – Two silent film stars fall in love, but their romance becomes complicated when one of their careers takes off and the other goes downhill with the introduction of talkies.

·       Casablanca (1942) July 9 9:00 pm on HS70 – During WWII, Rick (Humphrey Bogart), a nightclub owner in Casablanca, agrees to help his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) and her fugitive husband. 

·       Silence of the Lambs (1991) July 10 9:00 pm on HS90 – Have a nice chianti and some fava beans to savour alongside this psychological thriller about a young FBI cadet (Jodie Foster) who must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer (Anthony Hopkins) to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.

·       The King’s Speech (2010) July 11 9:00 pm on HS00 – Colin Firth plays King George VI who tries to overcome his stammering problem with the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue, portrayed by Geoffrey Rush, and makes himself worthy enough to lead his country through World War II.

·       Annie Hall (1977) July 12 9:00 pm on HS70 – It’s the most fun you’ll have without laughing. Follow the on-again, off-again romance between Annie and Alvy who break all the rules of a romcom, and the fourth wall.

July 12–19                    Film Independent Spirit Awards Best Film

·       Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Monday, July 13 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – Ang Lee’s visual masterpiece tells the story of a warrior, the woman he loves, a daring outlaw and a princess with dreams of becoming a fighter. The film is a revelation for its mix of amazing choreographed martial arts battles, breathtaking scenery and poetic drama.

·       Sideways (2004) Tuesday, July 14 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – Jack (Thomas Haden Church) and Miles (Paul Giamatti) confront middle age on a road trip through Santa Barbara County wine country to celebrate Jack’s final days as a bachelor.

·       The Wrestler (2008) Wednesday, July 15 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – Mickey Rourke gained recognition and awards in Darren Aronofsky’s drama for his portrayal of ageing wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson who struggles to keep up with life as he is too old to continue his wrestling career.

·       Juno (2007) Thursday, July 16 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – Diablo Cody’s coming-of-age comedy drama showcases Ellen Page as a 16-year-old dealing with things way beyond her maturity level when an unplanned pregnancy makes her grow up faster than she wanted.

·       Lost in Translation (2003) Friday, July 17 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – For relaxing times, make it Suntory time. Bill Murray brings intensity to Sofia Coppola’s drama about a fading movie star who forms an unlikely friendship with a young woman he meets in Tokyo.

·       The Player (1992) Saturday, July 18 at 9:00 pm on HS90 – Robert Altman’s satire features Tim Robbins as a Hollywood studio exec with a sketchy moral compass who gets embroiled in a murder.

·       Pulp Fiction (1994) Sunday, July 19 at 9:00 pm on HS90 – The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption. Quentin Tarantino’s neo-noir crime film is filled with a memorable bestselling soundtrack and unforgettable performances by Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer.

July 20–26                   Oscar Best Supporting Actor

·       Django Unchained (2012) Monday, July 20 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist western, starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson, deserves both your curiosity and your attention. With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.

·       Good Will Hunting (1997) Tuesday, July 21 at 9:00 pm on HS90 – Gus Van Sant directs this touching drama from virtually unknown screenwriters and young actors, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The movie tells the story of Will Hunting, a young MIT janitor who is a headstrong, working-class genius failing at life. Robin Williams won an Academy Award for his performance as a sensitive therapist who may be the only one to reach Will. How do you like them apples?

·       Inglourious Basterds (2009) Wednesday, July 22 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – This Tarantino ensemble cast includes Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Mike Myers, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender and Mélanie Laurent. In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish US soldiers coincides with a theatre owner’s vengeful plans for the same.

·       Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Thursday, July 23 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin, Greg Kinnear, Paul Dano and Toni Collette take their family dysfunction cross-country in a VW bus to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant.

·       Julia (1977) Friday, July 24 at 9:00 pm on HS70 – Vanessa Redgrave and Jane Fonda are Julia and Lillian, two childhood friends whose relationship is challenged when Julia asks Lillian to smuggle large sums of money into pre-war Germany to buy the freedom of Jewish prisoners.

·       Jerry Maguire (1996) Saturday, July 25 at 9:00 pm on HS90 – Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Rod Tidwell, an arrogant football player who becomes super-sports agent Jerry Maguire’s sole client after Jerry is fired for having a moral epiphany. Show me the Money! Show him the Oscar!

·       Whiplash (2014) Sunday, July 26 at 9:00 pm on HS00 – A promising young drummer (Miles Teller) enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor (J.K. Simmons) who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential.

July 27–31                   BAFTAs Best Actress

·       Secrets and Lies (1996) Monday, July 27 at 9:00 pm on HS90 – A successful Black optometrist discovers that her birth mother is an underprivileged white woman who had kept her teenage pregnancy a secret. Brenda Blethyn and Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s performances as the reunited mother and daughter won critical acclaim and award recognition.

·       Charade (1963) Tuesday, July 28 at 9:00 pm on HS70 – Billed as a suspenseful romantic comedy, Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant try to escape several men who are searching for the missing, stolen fortune of her dead husband.

·       The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981) Wednesday, July 29 at 9:00 pm on HS80 – The romantic drama film intercuts the stories of two romantic affairs: one, a Victorian period drama involving a gentleman palaeontologist, Charles Smithson, and the complex and troubled Sarah Woodruff, known as “the French lieutenant’s woman.” The other affair is between the actors Mike and Anna, playing the lead roles in a modern filming of the story. In both segments Jeremy Irons and Meryl Streep play the lead roles.

·       A Taste of Honey (1961) Thursday, July 30 at 9:00 pm on HS70 – In this kitchen-sink drama, British teen Jo (Rita Tushingham) struggles to find love in her bleak day-to-day life, which is dominated by her alcoholic mother, Helen (Dora Bryan). Jo’s pregnancy further obscures their relationship.

·       Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974) Friday, July 31 at 9:00 pm on HS70 ­– After her husband dies, Alice (Ellen Burstyn) and her son, Tommy, leave their small New Mexico town for California, where Alice hopes to make it as a singer. Money problems force them to settle in Arizona instead, where Alice takes a job as waitress in a small diner.

More on Hollywood Suite‘s Website here.

(Photo credit: Hollywood Suite)

#COOKING: BEND & SNAPS RECIPE (“LEGALLY BLONDE”-INSPIRED FOR HOLLYWOOD SUITE’S “REEL MEALS”)

Bend & Snaps! Our friends at Hollywood Suite enlisted our help crafting a yummy Legally Blonde-inspired creation as part of their Reel Meals Series. We’re so thrilled to hear Mindy Kaling will be co-writing Legally Blonde 3, one of our favourite underdog stories of all time! How timely, especially since Legally Blonde will be premiering on Hollywood Suite June 28, 2020? Be sure to check-out their Blog for more movie-inspired delectables on their Blog here.

While cookies aren’t technically a meal, who doesn’t love a snack while watching a movie?

These ginger snaps not only are sinfully buttery and full of spicy sass, but they also can be dolled-up like Elle Woods would! We challenge you to break-out the sparkliest sprinkles and the hottest pink icing to pay tribute to one of our favourite on-screen heroines.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup Crisco Golden
3/4 cup organic raw sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
3 tbsps candied ginger, chopped
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:
1. Mix flour, spices, baking soda and salt together in one bowl.
2. Using handmixer, cream butter, shortening and 1/2 cup sugar. Add egg and vanilla, beating till creamy.
3. Add molasses and mix till combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
4. Add flour mixture bit by bit with handmixer on low, combining fully.
5. Disperse candied ginger throughout cookie dough using hands. Shape dough into a ball, cover and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour.
6. Using food processor, take 1/4 cup sugar and grind for about a minute. Pour sugar in a shallow platter.
7. Preheat oven to 350°F.
8. After chilled, allow dough to stand room temperature till pliable (about 15 or more minutes). Roll dough into equal-sized balls.
9. Dip dough balls into sugar and place on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Dough should yield 20-24 cookies.
10. Bake 13-15 minutes depending how firm you want the cookie. When you see crinkles form, this means the cookies are done. Remove from oven.
11. Cool on sheet for about 20-30 minutes. Once fully cooled after minimum 1 hour, you may start dressing the cookies with icing and favourite Legally Blonde phrases and words like “Elle“, “Bruiser” and of course, “Bend” and “Snap“!  These are fine in the fridge for a week or more.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jun 18, 2020 at 4:49am PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Hollywood Suite)