We miss Jean-Marc Vallée so much and it helps that a Documentary is in development by Marie-Julie Dallaire, to help us remember his incredible talent and body of work.
Saddened to hear of Jean-Marc Vallée's passing. Such a brilliant Filmmaker. pic.twitter.com/q1Gau9tBjR
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) December 27, 2021
Details:
ITEM 7 is pleased to announce that a feature-length documentary on the life and career of Jean-Marc Vallée is in the works. Produced by Pierre Even and directed by Marie-Julie Dallaire, the film will benefit from the support and participation of the family of the late Canadian filmmaker, his sons Alex and Émile Vallée and their mother Chantal Cadieux. Made up of archives and original footage, this film will allow the audience to spend time with Jean-Marc Vallée, this sensitive filmmaker whose intensity left no one indifferent.
“Jean-Marc and I became friends at the release of C.R.A.Z.Y.. His sudden departure leaves me without words. Yet I feel the need to express my love and gratitude to him loud and clear. CUT PRINT THANK YOU BYE will be my way of paying tribute to Jean-Marc, of keeping him alive, of mourning him, using our common language: cinema,” said director Marie-Julie Dallaire.
Pierre Even said, “Jean-Marc’s departure left a gaping hole in our lives. This great emptiness has brought together all those who knew him. CUT PRINT THANK YOU BYE is a work of sharing and memory, so that everyone has access to this great man of cinema, our friend Jean-Marc Vallée.”
“Cinema is a ribbon of dreams, inspired by the desire to share the human experience of loving and being loved. Jean-Marc understood this… Why make a film about JMV? Because we must not forget that we must dream, that we must love, that we must share. For those who follow us.” added Yves Bélanger, director of photography and initiator of this project.
For this film, an intimate portrait as well as a last opportunity to spend time with the extraordinary artist that was Jean-Marc Vallée, Pierre Even (producer of C.R.A.Z.Y. and Café de Flore) and Marie-Julie Dallaire (director of Comme une vague, Iris 2022 for Best Documentary with Jean-Marc Vallée as executive producer), long-time collaborators of the filmmaker, join forces with cinematographer Yves Bélanger (Dallas Buyers Club, Wild, Demolition, Sharp Objects, Big Little Lies), another frequent collaborator of the director.
(Photo credit: Searchlight Pictures)
We admit a month ago having known v. little about HBO‘s new series BIG LITTLE LIES, based on the novel by Liane Moriarty. Since discovering it though, we’re helplessly hooked. We have previewed the first six of seven episodes and cruelly were left hanging at the end of it. It consumed us fully this weekend and it’s been on our mind all day.
The seven-part series follows the lives of three mothers in Monterey, California as they cope with family-life balance, each facing their own unique demons. We have Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), a well-to-do stay at home mom of two, invested in a local theatre production of Avenue Q much to the disapproval of the local mayor and conservative locals. Celeste (Nicole Kidman), a lawyer-on-hiatus, has a seemingly-perfect life too with twin boys, a gorgeous house and a handsome husband in Perry (Alex Skarsgård). Enter to the picture, mysterious single mother Jane (Shailene Woodley) and her son who are new to the area, drawn to its affordable private school education at a public school cost. Things begin to unravel one day at school when Jane’s son Ziggy (Iain Armitage) is accused of hurting Renata’s (Laura Dern) daughter Anabella (Ivy George). This ignites what becomes a rampant fire as we see these mothers go to all costs to protect their children. Passions flare as Celeste and Madeline rally to support their new friend Jane and the consequences are well, fatal. As the story unfolds we get eyewitness accounts, some less reliable than others, and we learn the deep, dark secrets each of our three leading women are harbouring, leading them together to where they are today. Who dies? Why? Who did it? How? We have so many questions.
Canada’s very own Jean-Marc Vallée does a phenomenal job at the reins here and while BIG LITTLE LIES at times is a bit of a meditative slow-burn, we nonetheless are invested every step of the way. Our characters are richly-developed, complex, aware, intelligent and multi-dimensional. Nothing is ever just black or white with them, there is a rather large, beautifully-messy gray area. Domestic violence, consent, sexuality, infidelity are just some of the meaty matters the series examines with great depth and it leaves us with plenty to think about.
Although Witherspoon’s brand has become synonymous with being Elle Woods and Rom-Coms like Sweet Home Alabama, we really love her pairing with Vallée which as we saw in Oscar-nominated WILD, has given her a real opportunity to shine as a dramatic force. Kidman seldom disappoints and she has shown that when she is in full-control of her output (remember the outstanding Rabbit Hole?), as she is here serving with Witherspoon as Executive Producers, she is devastatingly good. We also really enjoy Woodley’s work as Jane, careful never to give too much away about her character as one of the story’s most fascinating aspects. And we love Laura Dern in a performance that is worthy of top-billing, as a woman on fire in the deeply-angry Renata.
See a Tease:
HBO Canada airs BIG LITTLE LIES Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 9 PM EST.
More here.
(Photo/video credit: HBO)
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)
A new one-minute Clip for Jean-Marc Vallée‘s WILD has just been released. The Film which is garnering a ton of Oscar buzz for Reese Witherspoon on the Festival Circuit soon will see a release. Here, Cheryl (Witherspoon) looks exhausted, coming across a General Store on her on-foot journey, arriving at Kennedy Meadows, a Resort high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She’s been dreaming of Snapple and a bag of chips and gets it! Just as the Clip is about the end we’re about to hear Cheryl open-up and this is where we’re left hanging! How dare they!
Watch and see the Clip here:
Fox Searchlight release WILD on Friday, December 5, 2014.
(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)
Remstar Films, Touchwood PR and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers a chance to see the Film walking into Awards Season with an insane amount of Oscar Buzz! After premiering at TIFF ’13, several walked away deeply affected by the scintillating performances seen in Jean-Marc Vallée‘s Dallas Buyers Club. Now you too can witness the magic, Canada! This is indeed a special Film and my favourite Film of 2013 thus far! You will be blown away by performances from Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto.
Official Synopsis:
When Texan Cowboy Ron Woodroof is diagnosed with HIV, he is prescribed a highly toxic drug and given thirty days to live. Refusing to accept this death sentence, Woodroof taps into the world of underground pharmaceuticals and becomes a kingpin of an unapproved alternative treatment that is both restorative and life extending. Woodroof struggles with the FDA as he helps spread awareness of the government’s misinformation, taking a stand against the politically corrupt who prefer to profit from the sick instead of aiding them in their recovery.
We have Double Passes available in the following Cities for an Advance Screening on Monday, November 18, 2013:
Calgary – Eau Claire Theatre
Edmonton – Windermere Cinemas
Winnipeg – Macgillivray Cinemas
Ottawa – Empire 7 Theatres
Halifax – Parklane Cinema
Watch the Trailer below:
To enter to win a Double Pass to see DALLAS BUYERS CLUB in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Halifax and Winnipeg, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook and state your City. Double your chances by Re-Tweeting the below:
http://mrwillwong.com/dallasbuyersclub @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #DALLASBUYERSCLUB!
Good luck.
Official Artwork:
Read my Review of Dallas Buyers Club here.
Dallas Buyers Club already has opened in Toronto and Montreal and will open in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax and Ottawa on Friday, November 22, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Remstar Films)
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