We were thrilled to attend the international Press Junket unveiling the new Trailer for Westworld Creator/Director/Writer and Producer Lisa Joy‘s REMINISCENCE. The Sci-Fi-Thriller stars Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Fergusion, Thandiwe Newton and Daniel Wu, arriving in theatres this Summer.

In-attendance at the junket were:

Writer/Director Lisa Joy is asked about the evocative Music heard in the Film in the Trailer.

Joy: “Music is incredibly important to the Film as a theme and some ways to the Plot. Rebecca beautifully sings as Mae and the idea that her appeal is not just her beauty, personality and warmth, but that song in the way it’s sung, putting that kind of music into the world, can itself grip someone.”.

“Music has the ability to transport us when you hear a familiar song, back to a time and place we were before, in a way it was the first reminiscence machine. I knew I wanted it to be really specific for this Film.”.

“We played with Noir tropes, but I wanted it to reflect the swagger Nick Bannister has, so we added a lot of bass guitar, tuning it down low and a lot of drum beats to underscore the action. But each of our characters has a theme in the Film. if you listen closely, there are clues in the Film as to what we’re expecting.”.

Joy had Hugh Jackman only in mind for the starring role of this Film and flew to New York to discuss it with him after sending him an e-mail. She got her wish. Jackman tells us about his character Nick Bannister.

Jackman: “He runs a company Bannister & Associates, and we run this company that allows you to go back and relive memories. To feel them, to see them, to touch them, to hear them. Technology was developed in the war which I had to use for interrogations. He has a fairly tough exterior, his experience is in the war on the frontlines and also as an interrogator. He’s really quite broken and really quite disengaged.”.

“He has this company which is fading at best and into that world comes the incredible Mae and that changes everything and that is extraordinary. He’s not expecting anyone to rock him in any particular way. He’s just immediately intrigued, drawn-in, mesmerized and increasingly becomes obsessed with her. He needs to really discover what has happened because he knows in his heart that something horribly wrong has happened to her. He just won’t accept any other version of events and goes on this great odyssey through the darkest places in the world of Miami.”.

Rebecca Ferguson tells us what drew her to the role of Mae.

Ferguson: “What drew me to the role was the conversations with Lisa. One of the first things we talked about was questioning your persona. The whole idea of who we really are, because who I am to you is not accurate or the same as who I see myself as, and also not who I’d like to be perceived as sometimes. It was such a lovely idea that through this Film we see this character built through the eyes of every other character but herself. I found that really challenging, there were so many levels to it. And it was so unpredictable. I also loved the idea we’re living in a world that’s nocturnal. I think it’s brilliant, like Lisa was saying before, it’s really life imitating art. It puts us in an environment where the pressures of consequence are higher as well.”.

Daniel Wu is a major star in Asia and plays the role of villain, St. Joe.

Wu: “That experience working with Lisa was amazing. I’ve worked with many Chinese Directors, a handful of female Chinese Directors, but never a female Chinese-American Director. It felt like working with my sister and we’d get on the phone and she’d be like ‘Dude, dude, dude’, and then we’d start talking about the character. We had so much fun creating the character.”.

“There was a war that happens and Bannister was a participant in that war. St. Joe was a victim of that war. He was interned and escaped being interned. And then out of survival, built-up this world in New Orleans where he could be the boss. The king of that world. What he’s doing is a mirror of what Nick is doing because the world is kinda terrible at the time. It’s hot and the economy is so bad that people don’t want to be in the present anymore, whether you’re rich or you’re poor. St. Joe is offering the poor people an escape through the vodka that he sells. He’s just a really interesting character that Lisa allowed me to create. I’ve played villains before, but not a villain before where he’s three-dimensional and so human. And to hang-out with Hugh over there was great as well!”.

“This is probably the first time you’ve seen a Chinese guy with a Southern Accent on-screen.”.

Joy: “The part that was so wonderful working with Daniel on. This is creating a Chinese-American character and that involves speaking my kind of Chinese. That dumbed-down Chinglish version that I was speaking at home. This is how I talk with my Mom and we did work on making sure that Daniel had this perfect accent – this homebrew blend – to be raised in a country, but also speak the language of your parents. I learned so many new curses from Daniel!”.

Thandiwe Newton speaks about the ground-breaking Technology seen in the Film.

Newton: “I was supposed to be this hard-nosed character who’s seen it all, done it all, really jaded. But there we were on-set in what looked like an art installation, where we were able to actually use the Technology as they were acting. Very often as Actors, we stand on stages with Green Screen. Of course, it’s all magical when you see the final product, but it is hard and it’s really hard to keep the freshness of realism alive when you’re on those stages. So here we were, really interacting with the newest form of Technology available. It was astonishing and I still made it look like I’ve seen it all, done it all!”.

“We’re all so excited for Lisa. She had this dream and he (Nick) forced a few people to make it happen. It wasn’t easy. It was really hard and looks incredible.”.

The Film touches upon the concepts of love and dreams coming true. Joy talks about these key central themes.

Joy: “I think everyone wants their dreams to come true, but I think sometimes it takes a lifetime and a process of constantly re-examining what those dreams should be. A sense of peace and tranquility result when you learn to chase the right dream. There are so many things that can sway each of us that when we chase those things, they lead us astray. Bannister’s character in this is chasing, perhaps a dream. He doesn’t know who this woman is anymore. She essentially ghosts him. It’s kinda like this Rashomon when you look at Mae‘s character through all these different characters from her past and her present.“.

“Love is a kind of blindness. I think love is the opposite. Love is fully being able to see someone, their flaws and their virtues and still wanting to be with them. In a way, the blindness emerges when you choose to love that person. And there’s this Greek myth where this couple who’s in love, they’re given this curse where through one eye they see their lover through the gaze of love and through the other, they see their lover as their lover truly is. In the gaze of love, they forever are beautiful, forever the one. If you dream the right dream, you can find things that stand the test of time, the right kind of blindness to live your life in.”.

Warner Bros. Canada release REMINSCENCE in theatres Friday, August 20, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

The Roslyn School District in Long Island has become substantially more prestigious due to the tireless work of Superintendent Frank Tassone (Hugh Jackman) and his team. But everything starts falling apart when it is discovered that his Assistant Superintendent Pam Gluckin (Oscar-winner Allison Janney) has been embezzling money from the school. And as one student journalist begins digging deeper, it becomes clear that Frank may be involved as well.

Bad Education is equal parts Comedy and Tragedy, made all the more eye-opening by it being inspired by a true story. In only his second Feature, Director Cory Finley has proven himself a terrific young talent with a keen eye for detail and structure. While I would have preferred a less meticulous pace, it allows Finley the opportunity to really explore all of the nuances of Mike Makowsky’s spectacular Script. It is impeccably designed, brilliantly connected and easily one of the strongest at this year’s festival. The Script feels especially authentic given that Makowsky was a student at the school during the real-life timeline of the Film. While the performances are strong across the board, Jackman is the clear standout with his magnificently layered and weathered performance. We all love him as Wolverine, but this may just be his finest hour.

BAD EDUCATION screens during TIFF at the following times:

Sunday September 8, 6:15pm @ Princess of Wales [World Premiere]
Monday September 9, 3:00pm @ Princess of Wales
Thursday September 12, 9:00pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Friday September 13, 7:00pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Saturday September 14, 1:00pm @ Winter Garden Theatre

A new Trailer has surfaced for MISSING LINK!

Synopsis:
Mr. Link (Zach Galifianakis) is 8 feet tall, weighs 630 pounds, and covered in fur. He can also talk and write letters, as he does to fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) when he grows tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest.

Frost is astounded when he meets the creature, especially when he realizes how humanlike Mr. Link is. They go on a journey to find Link‘s longlost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana), the explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world.

See the Trailer:

Elevation Pictures release MISSING LINK Friday, April 12, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Featuring a star-studded Voice Cast, here’s a new Trailer for stop-motion animated feature MISSING LINK! Voices include: Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson and Timothy Olyphant.

Synopsis:
Missing Link follows myths and monsters investigator, Sir Lionel Frost, who sets off on an adventure to the Pacific Northwest to prove the existence of a legendary creature—Mr. Link. Frost, who’s also looking to gain acceptance by his small-minded explorer peers, is accompanied on his journey by Adelina Fortnight, a free-spirited, independent adventurer who just so happens to possess the only known map to their secret destination of trying to find Link.

See the Trailer:

Elevation Pictures release MISSING LINK April 12, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Photo and Words by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Ahead of its Canadian Premiere, TIFF held the Press Conference for The Front Runner. In attendance were Producer Helen Estabrook, Writers/Executive Producers Matt Bai and Jay Carson, Writer/Producer/Director Jason Reitman and Star Hugh Jackman. The Film, based on a true story, chronicles the fallout from reporters discovering and detailing the private life of Democratic Party Leader front running candidate Gary Hart (Jackman).

The Film has been in development for many years now, with the recent American Presidential Election not having any effect on the Film. “We were drawn to the story before we [lived] in the world today. It made it more relevant to us,” Reitman says. And while the ripped from the headlines plot may seem incredibly timely, the Film’s goal aims a lot higher. “The Film is always asking what do we want to know, and what should we know,” Reitman said, echoing the opinions of Bai and Carson and reminding us that news outlets did not report on political candidates’ personal lives before these stories broke out about Hart. Jackman, having met Hart while preparing for the Film suggests that had he been elected, “It’d be a very different world today if it had happened.”

The Front Runner‘s  date was recently moved to Tuesday November 7, Election Day for public officials in the United States. Reitman was pretty empathic on his hope with the move: “First thing: vote. Second thing: see our Movie.”

The Front Runner screens Saturday, September 8 at 6:30 PM at Ryerson Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 12:30 PM at Elgin Theatre, Friday, September 14 at 1:00PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox and Saturday, September 15 at 6:00 PM at Ryerson Theatre.

By Mr. Will Wong

We don’t recall a more explosive first Saturday at TIFF in recent memory! Several stars were out and about on Day Three of the Festival and your jaw will drop who we saw!

A STAR IS BORN – Lady Gaga

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#LadyGaga at #TIFF18 for #AStarIsBorn. Here she is at a private dinner in Yorkville. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival #NikonD3400

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 5:57pm PDT

THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT – Alexander Skarsgård and Jesse Eisenberg

 

View this post on Instagram

 

The men of #TheHummingbirdProject at #TIFF18: #AlexanderSkarsgard and #JesseEisenberg. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 9:57am PDT

GLORIA BELL – John Turturro and Julianne Moore

 

View this post on Instagram

 

The Cast of #GloriaBell: #JulianneMoore and #JohnTurturro at #TIFF18. #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 9:57am PDT

THE FRONT RUNNER – Hugh Jackman and Jason Reitman

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#JasonReitman and #HughJackman at #TheFrontRunner Press Conference: “First thing: vote. Second thing: see our movie.”. #TIFF18 #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival Lead Photo: @davemabaldwin

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 1:18pm PDT

HALLOWEEN – Jamie Lee Curtis

 

View this post on Instagram

 

🤞🖖#JamieLeeCurtis at #TIFF18 for #Halloween! #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 1:10pm PDT

LIFE ITSELF – Annette Bening, Olivia Cooke and Mandy Patinkin

 

View this post on Instagram

 

The Cast of #LifeItself at #TIFF18: #AnnetteBening, #MandyPatinkin and #OliviaCooke. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 10:14am PDT

IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK – Stephan James, Kiki Layne and Barry Jenkins

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A delight seeing Director #BarryJenkins (#Moonlight) back at #TIFF with #IfBealeStreetCouldTalk. Lots of buzz about breakout star #KikiLayne and Toronto’s own #StephanJames. #TIFF18 #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 10:50am PDT

PAPI CHULO – Matt Bomer

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#MattBomer at #TIFF18 for #PapiChulo. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 11:26am PDT

WILD ROSE – Jessie Buckley and Mary Steenburgen

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Another breakout star of #TIFF18, #JessieBuckley, here for #WildRose in which she sings also! #MarySteenburgen also stars! #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 11:13am PDT

THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER – Maggie Gyllenhaal

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A pure joy finally meeting #MaggieGyllenhaal at #TIFF18 for an In-Conversation and Oscar contender from Netflix, #TheKindergartenTeacher. #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 10:20am PDT

THE SISTERS BROTHERS – Riz Ahmed

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#RizAhmed at #TIFF18 for #TheSistersBrothers. #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 1:50pm PDT

WIDOWS – Viola Davis and Daniel Kaluuya

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Definitely a highlight meeting #GetOut star #DanielKaluuya at #TIFF18 for #WIDOWS. Others spotted: #ViolaDavis looking a vision and #CynthiaErivo! #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 8, 2018 at 5:15pm PDT

INSTYLE MAGAZINE PARTY – traditionally the hottest party at the Festival!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

More from last night’s InStyle Magazine Party at #TIFF18: #MatthewMcConaughey #TimotheeChalamet #JoelEdgerton #DominiqueFisher #SerindaSwan #BrianTyreeHenry #ChristianNavarro #SarahPaxton #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFD

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2018 at 2:49am PDT

THE HATE U GIVE – Amandla Stenberg

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#AmandlaStenberg is one of #TIFF18’s “It Girls” . She stars in #TheHateUGive and #WhereHandsTouch. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2018 at 2:43am PDT

BEAUTIFUL BOY – Timothée Chalamet

 

View this post on Instagram

 

The indisputable King of #TIFF18 is #TimotheeChalamet, drawing crowds everywhere he goes! And everyone gracious! #BeautifulBoy #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2018 at 2:52am PDT

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – Kelly Marie Tran

 

View this post on Instagram

 

With #StarWars star #KellyMarieTran last night at #TIFF18. She is here for #SorryforyourLoss. #TIFF #RoseTico #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2018 at 2:38am PDT

(Photo credit: David Baldwin/Mr. Will Wong)

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

After debuting at Teluride last week, Toronto favourite Jason Reitman has brought his second film of the year, The Front Runner, to TIFF for its Canadian premiere. The Film tells the story of US Senator Gary Hart (Hugh Jackman), a one-time presidential hopeful in the three weeks leading up to the Democratic National Convention. Hart is the front runner to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States, but when the Miami Herald uncovers an extramarital affair, it will change the way the news reports on politics.

The Front Runner is downright fascinating in how it examines how news is reported, while asking deeper questions about morality and ethics. Reitman is at the height of his directorial powers here, shooting sweeping one-take shots with ease and focusing on an ever-growing ensemble of incredible talent — with Jackman in one of his most electric roles to date. The newsroom scenes are particularly terrific, but once the affair is uncovered, the film seems to get bogged down in mundane melodrama and begins to dramatically deflate. By the time the Film ends, it becomes completely devoid of energy and importance, and never seems to answer the question of why we should care about the moment when the news cycle was irrevocably changed forever. And if that was not disappointing enough, the Film criminally underutilizes Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons, which is quite simply unacceptable.

The Front Runner screens Saturday, September 8 at 6:30PM at Ryerson Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 12:30PM at Elgin Theatre, Friday, September 14 at 1:00PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox and Saturday, September 15 at 6:00PM at Ryerson Theatre.

You know we love Christmas! Mr. Will x Warner Music Canada want to give Readers to win copies of this Holiday’s hottest releases, SIA‘s EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS and THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, one of our favourite Movies of 2017!

To get you into the spirit, have a listen to these uplifting Holiday tunes!

SANTA’S COMING FOR US (starring Kristen Bell)

EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS

THE GREATEST SHOW – Hugh Jackman and Cast

NEVER ENOUGH – Loren Allred

The Cast of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN x Mr. Will

With all the ugliness of the world, #GreatestShowman is the Movie we all need right now. It fills the heart with joy and happiness. An immaculately-styled Spectacle told through gorgeous song and precise choreography. A role only #HughJackman could have played and a Movie that could not have been made without Baz Luhrmann paving the way. #ZacEfron and #RebeccaFerguson will wow you! 🎩🎪 In theatres Christmas.

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 🎅 (@mrwillwong) on Dec 10, 2017 at 10:39am PST

Sia x Mr. Will

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 🎅 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 1, 2014 at 7:59am PDT

We’ll never forget the day our dreams came true and Snapchat had a SIA Snapchat Lens!

Chandelier. (@siathisisacting) #Sia

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 🎅 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 21, 2016 at 6:15pm PDT

To enter to win these amazing CDs, plus also a super-rare SIA Christmas wig, click “like” on this Post over at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK! Contest open to all Readers in Canada.

Warner Music Canada release SIA‘s EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS and THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK, both now in stores and available digitally.

We are hit or miss on Musicals but can we tell you how floored we are by the Spectacle that is THE GREATEST SHOWMAN? Hitting theatres this Christmas, its stellar Soundtrack now is in stores to get you ready for the experience on the Big Screen!

Brace yourself to be swept away to magical land of euphoria and dazzling dreams. We cannot stop listening to the Tracklist featuring phenomenal performances by Hugh Jackman, Zendaya, Zac Efron, Keala Settle and several more including a showstopping delivery by The Voice Finalist Loren Allred who voices Rebecca Ferguson’s Jenny Lind in the Movie. Her work on the perfect ballad Never Enough will affect you deeply.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul oversee the original Music in this triple-Golden Globe-nominated Musical based on the rise of Entrepreneur and Showman P.T. Barnum.

While it was to be released a year ago, The Greatest Showman directed by Australian Michael Gracey with a Screeplay by Jenny Bicks (Sex and the City) and Bill Condon (The Twilight Saga, Dreamgirls), proves worth the long wait. The Choreography is precise and fantastic, the emotions are real. This is Me performed by Settle is just one of several fantastic numbers here and it gets the Globe nod when many others on the Album also could have made the short list. Jackman was born to play the titular role. The Film is unable to separate itself from Baz Luhrmann‘s genius influence but that is a good problem to have.

In addition to Allred’s vocal perfection on Never Enough, Jackman has never sounded better. We love the much-needed uplifting spirit on The Greatest Show and Come Alive, perfect for the Holidays. Efron and Zendaya shine bright on duet Rewrite the Stars. Production is slick and sonically the Soundtrack lifts us just like the Film does.

Enjoy a few selections from THE GREATEST SHOWMAN below:

THIS IS ME

COME ALIVE

NEVER ENOUGH

REWRITE THE STARS

THE GREATEST SHOW

Warner Music Canada release THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK, in stores now.

Mr. Will x 20th Century Fox want to give Readers in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver a chance to attend an Advance Screening of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN!

The Screening takes place this Sunday, December 10, 2017 10:00 AM. Due to the fast turnaround on these we will be drawing winners right away, please enter only if you are sure you can attend.

Synopsis:

Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business & tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate for us your City. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

20th Century Fox Canada release THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Friday, December 20, 2017.

Official Hashtag: #GreatestShowman

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox)