From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael Christopher Abbott
Searchlight Pictures release POOR THINGS December 8, 2023.
(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)
The tenth edition of JUST FOR LAUGHS TORONTO just wrapped, doing it bigger and better than ever before. I know we’ve often envied the Montreal leg of the Festival, but Toronto returning to an in-person format this year of the Festival, the excitement was stratospheric! Among the Comedy heavyweights in-town this weekend were Iliza Shlesinger, Marc Maron, Peter Billingsley, Vince Vaughn and Trevor Noah – hot off his announcement that he’ll be exiting The Daily Show after hosting for the past seven years.
Some amazing highlights of the closing-half of the Festival this year.
Toronto really got a treat as A Christmas Story star Peter Billingsley and adored Actor Vince Vaughn closed-out the Festival with the World Premiere of CHRISTMAS WITH THE CAMPBELLS, an upcoming Holiday Comedy which uses the classic Hallmark blueprint, without sparing the swearing! The duo produced the Film together, while Vaughn had a hand in writing the Scrript.
The Premiere, originally scheduled for last weekend, was slotted in for closing night of what already was a star-studded Festival. The Film stars Brittany Snow, Justin Long and Alex Moffatt, and will be in theatres later this year, while also streaming on AMC+ in the U.S.
So happy we got to chat with Billingsley and Vaughn about their new Film.
Could you describe CHRISTMAS WITH THE CAMPBELLS as a love letter to Hallmark movies? Could you say that?
Vaughn: Kinda. We had a woman, Barbara Kymlicka who writes some terrific Hallmark movies, write a real kind of story with emotion. We put a lot of Hard “R” Comedy in there so it’s kinda funny and kinda heart-felt.
How do you draw that fine balance between it being a parody and an actual love letter?
Vaughn: That was the interesting thing part. So we play it straight. We have a Hallmark Composer, Editor, Cinematographer, Set Designer. But the language and points of view of the characters are straight Comedy. It’s a really interesting blend and the Movie has tested really well. We’re just finally excited to have a World Premiere in Toronto.
Billingsley: We don’t betray the rules of a Hallmark movie, so there’s that. There’s a really good feeling in the end and you laugh a lot along the way.
I know you both have a real affinity for Toronto. What’s one thing that Toronto’s got that you can’t find anywhere else in the world?
Vaughn: You know what? I think Toronto’s a place where people are raising families and going to work. It’s a real city where people enjoy themselves. For me it’s special. My mom was born here, I used to come all the time to see family as a kid. I still see family here, it’s just a great city.
Billingsley: Toronto has a lot of film fans. The Toronto International Film Festival has a reputation of being the Fan’s Festival. It gets great crowds that love movies, so it’s always great to bring a film here.
This charismatic, all-around Entertainer delighted fans two nights at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. If you haven’t checked-out his observational WTF with Marc Maron Podcast, you absolutely should. Also how cool was it that he was starstruck sitting behind Rush‘s Geddy Lee on his flight out of Toronto?
This Australian Treasure really wowed us with an incredible, tight set where we wouldn’t quit with the laughs. We love them from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, but this was a more accurate capture of his range, amazing comedic timing and writing. Floored. A star on the rise, with some hilarious anecdotes about growing-up non-binary in his native Newcastle.
It’s Jerrod Carmichael‘s world and we’re all living in it! Hot off his Emmy win for HBO Special ROTHANIEL, he delivered a low-key set at Bluma Appel Theatre, reflecting on life, love and his coming to terms with his sexuality. He has a unique vibe, moving at an unrushed pace, with pensive pauses, and at once has a grip on his audience. So amazing getting to see this burgeoning star, who has in the zone with his headphones on when we spotted him being ushered-in quickly.
Just for Laughs Toronto 2022 was one for the books! While we are a little Festivaled-out in what’s been a hectic September, we wouldn’t trade it in for anything! Cannot wait to see what next year’s Festival brings! More on Just for Laughs Toronto here.
Don’t forget to check-out our Recap of the Festival’s first-half here, which includes some of our favourites as well.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
*All captured on the Samsung S22*
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Best friends Val (Jerrod Carmichael) and Kevin (Christopher Abbott) are having a tough go of it. Val is feeling out of control in his life being stuck at a job he hates and the fear of becoming a father. Kevin tried to kill himself three days ago and now sits in a psychiatric hospital attempting to convince the doctors he’s fine. When Val visits Kevin he decides to break him out. This leads to the two make a pact to end their lives by days end.
This darkly comedic debut feature from Director Jerrod Carmichael is about mental illness, a failed mental health system, the right to bear arms and a love letter to friendship. There are tonal shifts that happen within the script, written by Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch, but they work. These shifts happen while examining the past traumas of Kevin and Val and pivoting to their binding friendship. There is a brutal honesty that happens between best friends that’s often humorous. Additionally, there’s the ability to trust and confide your darkest truths in a best friend that’s impossible with anyone else. Katcher and Welch incorporate the reality of this relationship within the script and Carmichael controls the shifts on screen.
Not only does Carmichael steers this complex, layered film he also gives a strong performance. Of the two, Val is more level-headed and analytical. His decision to end his life comes from a place of recent depression and loss of control. Carmichael shows this in calculated doses, slowly exposing one layer of his character at a time. On the other hand, Kevin has had horrific trauma happen to him since childhood. A doctor who was supposed to help him, assaulted him. Whenever he has tried to get help, it hasn’t worked. This has made him feel that suicide is the only option. Abbott does a tremendous job of embodying the anguish Kevin carries and the weight of his choice. Further, he has impressive control of switching between a state of calm and unleashed anger.
Throughout, we are left wondering if the two will actually follow through with their pact. Without giving anything away, the ending leaves room for the suicide debate to be discussed. The same goes for the right to bear arms. Throughout this day-in-the-life story, Kevin references the negatives and positives of guns, which they intend to use for their pact. At moments within the script, we see the argument for guns when in a controlled setting, as in the scene at the shooting range. But we also witness the heartbreaking reality of what happens when a gun is in the hands of someone in an uncontrolled setting, this is shown multiple times throughout.
Carmichael makes an assured feature debut that tackles many controversial topics. Overall, On The Count of Three is a poignant look at mental health and the beautiful bond of friendship. It has genuine chemistry between Carmichael and Abbott. And Tiffany Haddish makes an impact with only one scene.
On The Count of Three screens at Sundance:
Live Premiere: January 29 at 9 PM (EST)
On-Demand (available for 24 hours): January 31 at 10 AM (EST)
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