jake gyllenhaal
#TIFF18: “WILDLIFE” REVIEW
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Paul Dano’s directorial debut Wildlife comes to Toronto after premieres at Sundance and Cannes. Joe (Ed Oxenbould) is 14-years-old and looking for a job after his Dad Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal) loses his. Jerry has too much pride to look for a job, so he ends up taking work fighting local wildfires. With Jerry gone until the first snowfall, Joe’s Mom Jeannette (Carey Mulligan) must also look for work while also dealing with her newfound independence.
Wildlife is absolutely gorgeous to look at. Dano strives for period authenticity and alongside Cinematographer Diego Garcia, creates a beautifully nostalgic portrait of a family in crisis. The performances from Gyllenhaal, Mulligan and character actor Bill Camp are also quite well done, with the young Oxenbould turning in some absolutely stunning work. But the Film around them is increasingly dull as it moves sluggishly through its 104-minute running time. I understand the slice of life aesthetic Dano and Co-writer/Partner Zoe Kazan are going for, but Wildlife takes much too long to figure out where it’s going and is not all that satisfying when it gets there.
Wildlife screens on Monday, September 10 at 2:30 PM at Princess of Wales, Wednesday, September 12 at 5:45 PM at Ryerson Theatre and Saturday, September 15 at 6:15 PM at Winter Garden Theatre.
#TIFF18: “THE SISTERS BROTHERS”
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
The Sisters Brothers is the film adaptation of Canadian author Patrick deWitt’s award-winning Western Novel about two vastly different brothers (Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly) who are sent to kill a man (Riz Ahmed) who has been accused of stealing from a crime boss. Before making its North American Premiere at TIFF in the Special Presentation Programme it screened at the Venice Film Festival to rave reviews.
Writer-Director Jacques Audiard pays homage to the western genre while offering his own dark humour twist. Thanks to the powerhouse of talent that is Audiard’s cast, which consists of Joaquin Phoenix, John C. Reilly, Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed, this gritty and violent Film is enriched with wit and humanity.
The Sisters Brothers screens at on Saturday, September 8 at 9:30 PM at Princess Of Wales Theatre and Sunday, September 9 at 10 AM at Winter Garden Theatre.
#SUNDANCE18: “WILDLIFE” REVIEW
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Wildlife is set in 1960s Montana and follows a family, through the eyes of the son, 14-year-old Joe (Ed Oxenbould). His father, Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal) has recently been fired from his job and decides to leave his family to fight a forest fire near the Canadian border. This leaves his mother, Jeanette (Carey Mulligan) to take care of their home which sends her into an adventure of her own.
Paul Dano’s directorial debut is hauntingly beautiful. Dano and Zoe Kazan co-write a captivating and heartbreaking depiction of a family slowly falling apart. Yet, it’s Dano’s strong ability to use the camera as a lens to help us see through Joe’s eyes, projecting his pain onto the audience. Dano also uses little camera movement, which lets his remarkable Cast shine.
Oxenbould’s phenomenal performance is at the level of a seasoned veteran, bringing to life a young, confused and shattered Joe. The incomparable Gyllenhaal expresses all facets of the male ego without saying many words. His depiction of Jerry is the stuff of wonder. Mulligan is exquisite, delivering a fiery and fearless performance as the scared and heartbroken Jeanette. All of Jeanette’s flaws are on full display and Mulligan relishes in her imperfection. She is hypnotic and gives one of the best performances to date.
Wildlife screens at Sundance on Jan. 20 at 3:30PM at Eccles PC, Jan. 21 at 6:30PM at Redstone 1 PC, Jan. 22 at 9:30PM at Rose Wagner SLC, Jan. 26 at 5:30PM at Prospector PC, and Jan. 27 at 8:30AM at Prospector PC.
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “STRONGER”
eOne Films x Mr. Will want to take you to see TIFF ’17 selection STRONGER starring Jake Gyllenhaal + Tatiana Maslany! Screenings take place on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Victoria.
Synopsis:
STRONGER, a deeply personal account of the infamous 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and its aftermath film in which Jeff (Academy Award® nominee Jake Gyllenhaal) goes from being an ordinary working-class 27-year-old to a double amputee fighting for his life. In the months following the blast, Jeff tackles intensive physical and emotional rehabilitation with the unwavering support of Erin and his family. It is Jeff’s personal account of the heroic journey that tests a family’s bond, defines a community’s pride and inspires his inner courage to overcome devastating adversity.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
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eOne Films release STRONGER Friday, September 22, 2017.
(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)
#TIFF17: “STRONGER”
Review by Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong
The Boston Marathon bombing of April 2013 impacted many people but perhaps few so drastically as Jeff Bauman. Director David Gordon Green’s latest effort Stronger, follows Bauman on his path toward recovery and redemption.
Hailing from the working-class suburb of Chelmsford, Jeff (Jake Gyllenhaal) was standing near the marathon’s finish line ready to cheer on his on-again/off-again girlfriend Erin (Canadian Tatiana Maslany). Moments before bombing he saw a young man in a baseball cap and looked him in the eyes. When Jeff awoke in hospital the next day he learned he had lost both his legs. His mother (played by Miranda Richardson) and guilt-ridden girlfriend try to help on the road to recovery as he wrestles with PTSD and the weight of the expectations thrust upon by a nation desperate for a hero.
In order to make the audience feel more connected with Bauman and his trauma, Green relies rather heavily on close-ups but this does not detract from the stellar performances, particularly from Maslany. Although formulaic, Stronger does its best to recreate the rather unlikable Bauman and paint him as a modern, if highly flawed, hero.
eOne Films will screen Stronger at TIFF ’17 at the following times:
Friday, September 8 6:30 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall
Saturday, September 9 10:45 a.m. Winter Garden Theatre
#TIFF17: DAY TWO SIGHTINGS – JAKE GYLLENHAAL, LADY GAGA, MARGOT ROBBIE, SEBASTIAN STAN, ALLISON JANNEY + MORE!
Now that’s more like it! We are still a bit bummed about Eminem cancelling on TIFF ’17, but today cheered us up! See some of the massive stars in and around town today at the world’s greatest Film Festival!
We ❤ Lady Gaga and when a last-minute addition was made to premiere her Netflix Documentary GAGA: FIVE FOOT TWO here, we realized how much that TIFF ‘17 game had stepped-up! Gaga appeared at an previously unannounced Press Conference today for the Documentary and a select handful of fans were lucky enough even to get the Selfie! She arrived right in the nick of time riding shotgun in her SUV.
I, TONYA gets its Premiere tonight and the buzz is feverish for the Tonya Harding Biopic. Stars Margot Robbie and Allison Janney are getting major Oscars buzz for their portrayals of the disgraced Figure Skater and her mother respectively. Also here is Captain America star Sebastian Stan who plays Harding‘s husband. All were incredibly-nice to fans as they did the rounds today!
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Boston Marathon Drama STRONGER comes into TIFF ’17 with some buzz and we welcome back Jake Gyllenhaal who by now should be an honourary Torontonian! Also with him were Co-Stars Miranda Richardson and Canada’s own Tatiana Maslany, the latter enjoying a Cali Love smoothie.
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Jason Sudeikis also was out earlier returning to the City where he filmed KODACHROME, which premiered here last night. Ed Harris was with him, although declining photos.
After kicking-off TIFF ’17 with Opening Gala BORG/MCENROE, Icelandic star Sverrir Gudnason was out earlier doing Press for the Film. Oddly, Co-Star Shia LaBoeuf who plays his Tennis arch-rival, was missing in action!
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Our favourite Duo are totally owning TIFF ’17! Loved seeing again Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet out pushing CALL ME BY YOUR NAME.
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While Eminem couldn’t make it out last night, we still loved seeing Director Joseph Kahn out tonight. He directs BODIED which got a great response last night in TIFF‘s Midnight Madness Programme.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#FIRSTLOOK: RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED FOR NETFLIX’S “OKJA”
A release date has been announced for eagerly-awaited Netflix Film OKJA with a star-studded Cast which includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Tilda Swinton, Steve Yeun, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito and newcomer Seo Hyun An.
Synopsis:
From visionary Director Bong Joon Ho, this grand global adventure follows a friendship too big to ignore. Meet Mija, a young girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend – a massive animal named Okja. Following her across continents, the coming-of-age comedy drama sees Mija’s horizons expand in a way one never would want for one’s children, coming up against the harsh realities of genetically modified food experimentation, globalization, eco-terrorism, and humanity’s obsession with image, brand and self-promotion.
See the Teaser:
Netflix Canada premiere OKJA Wednesday, June 28, 2017.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
#FIRSTLOOK: NEW BIG GAME TRAILER FOR “LIFE”
Right in time for the BIG GAME Sunday comes this brand new Trailer for Sci-Fi Thriller LIFE!
Synopsis:
Life is a terrifying sci-fi thriller about a team of scientists aboard the International Space Station whose mission of discovery turns to one of primal fear when they find a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars, and now threatens the crew and all life on Earth. LIFE stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson and Ryan Reynolds.
See it below:
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “DEMOLITION”
VVS Films + Mr. Will want to take you to an Advance Screening of TIFF ’15 and SXSW selection, DEMOLITION! Screenings take place April 6, 2016 in Vancouver and both Toronto and Montreal April 7, 2016. You must be 19+ for the Vancouver screening.
Synopsis:
A successful investment banker, Davis (Jake Gyllenhaal), begins to unravel after his wife is killed in a tragic car crash. What starts as a complaint letter to a vending machine company turns into a series of letters revealing startling personal admissions.
Davis‘ letters catch the attention of customer service rep Karen (Naomi Watts) and, amidst emotional and financial burdens of her own, the two strangers form an unlikely connection. With the help of Karen and her son, Davis starts to rebuild, beginning with the demolition of the life he once knew. Jean-Marc Vallee (Wild, Dallas Buyers Club) directs.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
Enter to win by clicking “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your city. Click “share” from there for an extra chance!
G’luck, Willionaire$!
VVS Films release DEMOLITION Friday, April 8, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “EVEREST”
Universal Pictures Canada + Mr. Will want to take Readers in select cities to see the gripping star-studded Thriller, EVEREST! Screenings take place in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton on Wednesday, September 16, 2015.
Synopsis:
Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.
The epic adventure stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Artwork:
See the Trailer:
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. In the comments, indicate your City and tell me about your worst ever snowstorm. You may click “share” from there for an extra chance or Tweet the below:
http://www.mrwillwong.com/everest @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #EVERESTMovie. In theatres 9/18!
G’luck, Willionaire$!
Universal Pictures Canada release EVEREST on Friday, September 18, 2015 and everywhere in IMAX Friday, September 25, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
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