#TIFF23: “MEMORY” REVIEW

By Mr. Will Wong

Writer/Director Michel Franco (Sundown) returns to TIFF with his latest effort, MEMORY, a beautiful story about two broken souls who come together under unlikely circumstances.

Silvia (Jessica Chastain) is working on staying sober, raising her teenage daughter and her dayjob at an adult daycare. After joining her sister (Merritt Wever) at a high school reunion, she sees Saul (Peter Sarsgaard) who inexplicably decides to follow her home. But there’s definitely more than meets the eye and feeling bad for him after he is found sleeping on the street outside her home, she is drawn to taking care of him. At once, she must navigate the resurfacing of her mother (Jessica Harper) from whom she is estranged. Silvia and Saul both realize that they actually have a lot more in common than realized, but at once this also could jeopardize their looming bond with one another.

We’ve been craving stories about human connection, especially after the past few years and the ever-changing way in which humans interact from a distance. Franco gets to the core of his two leads and the more we learn about them, the more heartbroken we are for them. The Film is filled with heartfelt compassion, exploring the deep and crippling impact that unresolved trauma can have. MEMORY doesn’t quite go the way we think it is at the start, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sarsgaard is devastatingly good, capturing Saul’s essence as he navigates his early-onset Dementia, vulnerable and confused, yet at times sharp as a knife. He gives us his all and having lived with a parent who had Dementia I can say the condition is captured truthfully. Chastain always delivers and she shines, especially late when she is forced to confront her mother.

MEMORY screens at TIFF ’23:

Tuesday, September 12
Royal Alexandra Theatre
Premium
5:30 PM

Thursday, September 14
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
6:15 PM
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#TIFF23: DAY SIX SIGHTINGS – JESSICA CHASTAIN, PETER SARSGAARD, MICHEL FRANCO, OREN KINLAN, JOHN CARNEY AND CHRISTOS NIKOU

As TIFF ’23 begins to wind down, we enjoyed a much more leisurely pace today. Any time Jessica Chastain comes to town, we show up just like she always shows up for her fans. Despite only having four minutes to greet her fans, who lined the street outside Royal Alexandra Theatre for Michel Franco‘s MEMORY, she made the most of it, walking the line interacting with everyone. She is just absolutely lovely and still despite her stature and success, THE NICEST CELEBRITY ON THE PLANET. Her care and compassion for her supporters is unparalleled and we hope she never changes. Exemplary.

Was great seeing her Co-Star Peter Sarsgaard, fresh off his win in Venice for his performance in the Film for Best Actor, which sees two high school friends reunited, with things take a concerning turn when Sarsgaard‘s character follows Chastain‘s character home.

The Cast and Director head over to Margo on King West for post-premiere celebrations. The newly-launched hotspot situated inside members-only club, Clio.

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Another high-profile film to premiere tonight was John Carney’s FLORA AND SON which won raves earlier this year in Sundance. The Film centers on a single mother looking to bond with her son over music lessons. In town for the debut at Roy Thomson Hall were Carney his one of the Film’s breakout stars, Oren Kinlan.

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Filmed right here in Toronto, Director/Writer Christos Nikou’s FINGERNAILS got a full circle moment at Princess of Wales Theatre where the Sci-Fi Romance premiered. He dedicated the Premiere in memory of his friend, late TIFF Programmer Ravi Srninivasan, who generously gave him his Raptors season tickets while filming in the City. Both this and Flora and Son arrive later this year on Apple TV+, both getting celebrated with a pre-party at Ace Hotel.

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We’re pretty much wrapping-up our star sighting content and look forward to quite a few screenings these next few days! Keep checking back for our Team’s reviews!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#TIFF22: “THE GOOD NURSE”

By Amanda Gilmore

This True Crime Thriller is about Charles Cullen (Eddie Redmayne) a nurse who over a 16-year career confessed to killing 29 people, although the actual number is believed to be much higher. The Film follows Amy (Jessica Chastain), a nurse who worked with Charles and helped the detectives get their confession.

Director Tobias Lindholm, making his English language Feature Debut, creates an enthralling murder mystery Film. He opens on a patient dying with Charles, in his uniform, eerily looking on while many doctors and nurses try to save the life. There’s no doubt that something isn’t quite right with him. It’s this knowledge that we carry with us throughout, even in his tender moments, mostly shared with Amy. Redmayne is cast perfectly in this highly mysterious performance that captivates.

Screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns brilliantly adapts the novel The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder by Charles Graeber. Her tight Script builds tension while highlighting America’s health care system. We learn that Amy must complete her first year at the hospital before getting health insurance for her life-or-death heart transplant. This makes The Good Nurse more than your typical true crime chiller. It critiques the unjust health care system and insurance requirements.

Then we arrive at the detective part of The Good Nurse. It digs into unethical health care practices within the institutions. We fully become aware of exactly what Charles did, which is shocking and horrifying. However, the investigation exposes how these hospitals that employed Charles, were culpable. For instance, the hospital he works at with Amy refuses to hand over the evidence of their internal investigation. They had suspicions about he committed the murders, yet, they refused to own up to it. And in their refusal, they allowed him to continue.

He was only stopped due to the fearless help of Amy. Once again Chastain is extraordinary. The complexity of her performance is immense and she lands every beat. It’s mesmerizing to watch her come to the realization of the horrific acts he committed. Both Chastain and Redmayne deliver tour-de-force performances.

The Good Nurse screens as follows at TIFF ’22:

Fri, Sep 16 IN-PERSON at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 9:00 am

Sat, Sep 17 IN-PERSON at Roy Thompson Hall at 11:00 am

Sun, Sep 18 IN-PERSON at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 12:00 pm

#TIFF22: “THE GOOD NURSE” TRAILER

Premiering at TIFF ’22, Jessica Chastain is back after her Oscar-winning performance in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which stars fellow Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne. Here is a brand-new Trailer for THE GOOD NURSE, streaming later this year on Netflix.

Synopsis:
Amy, a compassionate nurse and single mother struggling with a life-threatening heart condition, is stretched to her physical and emotional limits by the hard and demanding night shifts at the ICU. But help arrives, when Charlie, a thoughtful and empathetic fellow nurse, starts at her unit. While sharing long nights at the hospital, the two develop a strong and devoted friendship, and for the first time in years, Amy truly has faith in her and her young daughters’ future. But after a series of mysterious patient deaths sets off an investigation that points to Charlie as the prime suspect, Amy is forced to risk her life and the safety of her children to uncover the truth.

A gripping thriller based on true events, THE GOOD NURSE is directed by Academy Award nominee Tobias Lindholm, written by Academy Award nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns, and stars Academy Award winners Jessica Chastain as Amy Loughren and Eddie Redmayne as Charles Cullen, as well as Nnamdi Asomugha, Noah Emmerich, and Kim Dickens.

Netflix release THE GOOD NURSE October 26, 2022.
It will play in Select Theaters October 19, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW STILLS FROM “THE GOOD NURSE”

Oscar winners Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne star in THE GOOD NURSE, arriving this Fall on Netflix. The Thriller is based on a True Story. The first stills for the Feature has just been released.

Synopsis:
Suspicious that her colleague is responsible for a series of mysterious patient deaths, a nurse risks her own life to uncover the truth in this gripping thriller based on true events.

Release Date: Fall 2022
Director: Tobias Lindholm
Screenplay By: Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Based on the Book: The Good Nurse by Charles Graeber
Producers: Scott Franklin, Darren Aronofsky, Michael A. Jackman
Executive Producers: Ari Handel, Glen Basner, Jonathan Filley, Josh Stern
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, Nnamdi Asomugha, Kim Dickens, Malik Yoba, Alix West Lefler, and Noah Emmerich

THE GOOD NURSE arrives this Fall on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “THE FORGIVEN” + CANADIAN RELEASE DATES

Hot off her Academy Award win, Jessica Chastain alongside Ralph Fieness can be seen in TIFF ’21 selection THE FORGIVEN, coming soon to theatres.

Synopsis:

The Forgiven takes place over a weekend in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, and explores the reverberations of a random accident on the lives of both the local Muslims, and Western visitors to a house party in a grand villa.

THE FORGIVEN opens across select cities in Canada:

July 1, 2022

Toronto – Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Vancouver – Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

Ottawa – Bytowne Cinema

July 8, 2022

London – Hyland Cinema

Kingston – The Screening Room

Waterloo – Princess Twin Cinemas

July 15, 2022

Hamilton – Playhouse Cinema

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

#OSCARS: “CODA” WINS BEST PICTURE AT THE 2022 OSCARS

The 94th annual Academy Awards returned once again to Dolby Theatre as Cinema’s most prestigious night had altered course during the Pandemic. Taking top honours was Sian Heder‘s CODA, taking Best Picture. The Film is the first-ever Film with a predominantly Deaf Cast to win Best Picture. It premiered at Sundance in 2021, before selling to Apple for a record $25 million, proving a smart investment. The Film written and directed Heder, is based on the 2014 French coming-of-age film La Famille Bélier, centering on a young woman who is the child of deaf parents.

In addition to winning Best Picture, CODA also won Heder Best Adapted Screenplay and Troy Kotsur would take Supporting Actor.

Other major winners included Will Smith for his work in KING RICHARD, landing him Best Actor, proving third time’s the charm after having been nominated thrice for an Oscar.

Jessica Chastain gained much momentum in recent weeks, taking Best Actress for her portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker in THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE. This also was her third time being nominated for an Oscar, proving once again that third time’s the charm!

Best Director went to Jane Campion for THE POWER OF THE DOG, which was seen as the favourite to win Best Picture. She has the distinction of being the third woman ever to win the category.

Hosted by a Trio of Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, the night was not without drama. Funnyman Chris Rock when presenting Best Documentary, poked fun at Jada Pinkett Smith‘s baldness which landed him a slap on-stage from eventual Will Smith, in defense of his wife.

#Oscars | Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock In The Face On Oscars Stage After Jab At Wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s Appearance https://t.co/6TZkI48QNh pic.twitter.com/ibpffmh2Mc

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 28, 2022

Things got lighter as this year’s In Memoriam took an uplifting turn with a gospel choir paying tribute to among others Ivan Reitman, Sidney Poitier and Betty White.

Some of the evening’s standout looks at the Oscars:

Holy mother of God. Lupita Nyong’o in Prada. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/G2VU4JgVOB

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022

Jessica Chastain in Gucci channeling Hollywood Magic Hour. Stunning. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/sjunjKXCwX

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022

Wilmer Valderrama looks s👀 good in Dolce & Gabanna. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/NswTRuM5LC

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022

The look of a winner. Ariana DeBose confident in Valentino pantsuit. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/5naNw1E39q

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022

One went shirtless. One wore a shirt. Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet at the #Oscars for DUNE. pic.twitter.com/6yld0ZWhpn

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022

A friggin’ Rockstar. Live for Kristen Stewart. Don’t care what the Academy thinks. She has won the night. Chanel has done amazing work tailoring her looks all Awards Season. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/JRNYXxEkgk

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022

Zoe Kravitz in Saint Laurent. Beautiful, simple. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/PgTuXnrEaQ

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 27, 2022

Complete list of winners below:

Best Picture

“Belfast”
“CODA” (Winner)
“Don’t Look Up”
“Drive My Car”
“Dune”
“King Richard”
“Licorice Pizza”
“Nightmare Alley”
“The Power of the Dog”
“West Side Story”

Best Actress

Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Winner)
Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter”
Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers”
Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos”
Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”

Best Actor

Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”
Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick, Boom”
Will Smith, “King Richard” (Winner)
Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”

Best Director

Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car”
Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza”
Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” (Winner)
Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story”

Best Original Song

“Be Alive” from “King Richard”
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto”
“Down to Joy” from “Belfast”
“No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” (Winner)
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days”

Best Documentary Feature

“Ascension”
“Attica”
“Flee”
“Summer of Soul” (Winner)
“Writing with Fire”

Best Adapted Screenplay

“CODA,” Sian Heder (Winner)
“Drive My Car,” Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe
“Dune,” Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth
“The Lost Daughter,” Maggie Gyllenhaal
“The Power of the Dog,” Jane Campion

Best Original Screenplay

“Belfast,” Kenneth Branagh (Winner)
“Don’t Look Up,” Adam McKay, Story by McKay and David Sirota
“King Richard,” Zack Baylin
“Licorice Pizza,” Paul Thomas Anderson
“The Worst Person in the World,” Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier

Best Costume Design

“Cruella” (Winner)
“Cyrano”
“Dune”
“Nightmare Alley”
“West Side Story”

Best International Feature Film

“Drive My Car” (Winner)
“Flee”
“The Hand of God”
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”
“The Worst Person in the World”

Best Supporting Actor

Ciarán Hinds, “Belfast”
Troy Kotsur, “CODA” (Winner)
Jesse Plemons, “The Power of the Dog”
JK Simmons, “Being the Ricardos”
Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”

Best Animated Feature

“Encanto” (Winner)
“Flee”
“Luca”
“The Mitchells vs. the Machines”
“Raya and the Last Dragon”

Best Visual Effects

“Dune” (Winner)
“Free Guy”
“No Time to Die”
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
“Spider-Man: No Way Home”

Best Cinematography

“Dune” (Winner)
“Nightmare Alley”
“The Power of the Dog”
“The Tragedy of Macbeth”
“West Side Story”

Best Supporting Actress

Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter”
Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” (Winner)
Judi Dench, “Belfast”
Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”
Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

“Coming 2 America”
“Cruella”
“Dune”
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Winner)
“House of Gucci”

Best Production Design

“Dune” (Winner)
“Nightmare Alley”
“The Power of the Dog”
“The Tragedy of Macbeth”
“West Side Story”

Best Editing

“Don’t Look Up”
“Dune” (Winner)
“King Richard”
“The Power of the Dog”
“Tick, Tick, Boom”

Best Original Score

“Don’t Look Up”
“Dune” (Winner)
“Encanto”
“Parallel Mothers”
“The Power of the Dog”

Best Live Action Short

“Ala Kachuu – Take and Run”
“The Dress”
“The Long Goodbye” (Winner)
“On My Mind”
“Please Hold”

Best Animated Short

“Affairs of the Art”
“Bestia”
“Boxballet”
“Robin Robin”
“The Windshield Wiper” (Winner)

Best Documentary Short Subject

“Audible”
“Lead Me Home”
“The Queen of Basketball” (Winner)
“Three Songs for Benazir”
“When We Were Bullies”

Best Sound

“Belfast”
“Dune” (Winner)
“No Time to Die”
“The Power of the Dog”
“West Side Story”

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

#EDITORSNOTE: MR. WILL STAR SIGHTINGS 2021

We’re lucky to have even have had the chance to partake in any star-spotting this year given the circumstances we’ve been in! And even though what we got was a reduced version of TIFF ’21 this year, we’re still thrilled that talent still came through, while production on various Series and Films also continued around town this year. And as always we’re happy to go as close as the talent want to get, ensuring safety first. One day we’ll look back and call this our “Masked Era”.

While this is only a fraction of the quantity of star sightings we’ve had in the past, we did our best to do what we do safely. Some exciting names still passed through Toronto in 2021 and we were there!

I’d have to say it was epic that Toronto’s Simu Liu exploded onto the international stage as a mega star for his work in Marvel Studios’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. Not only was it amazing catching-up in person – he actually remembered my name – we also got a quick interview with him! Other names like Rebecca Ferguson, whom we’ve admire for quite a while, came through for TIFF ’21 and we’re glad we finally got to meet her properly! And when do we not get excited to see Jessica Chastain in-town? One of our highlights was getting a Selfie with Mila Kunis, whom we love, together with beanie bright and early in the AM? While concerts were scaled back quite a bit this year, we’re happy to have met some emerging names on the international scene who actually happen to be Canadian, like Mustafa the Poet and BBNo$! And how cool was it that hot off his venture into space, earning him the distinction of oldest person ever to go to space, William Shatner came to Toronto for Fan Expo Limited Edition?

Let’s take a walk down memory lane!

See some of our favourite star sightings of 2021, in no particular order!

While we will wait a bit for these case counts to go down, we look forward to Toronto being the star-studded City it once was once again!

Mr. Will

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “THE 355”

We’ve waited forever for this and the new Trailer for THE 355 finally has surfaced!

Synopsis:

When a top-secret weapon falls into mercenary hands, wild card CIA agent Mason “Mace” Brown (Oscar®-nominated actress Jessica Chastain) will need to join forces with rival badass German agent Marie (Diane Kruger, In the Fade), former MI6 ally and cutting-edge computer specialist Khadijah (Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o), and skilled Colombian psychologist Graciela (Oscar® winner Penélope Cruz) on a lethal, breakneck mission to retrieve it, while also staying one-step ahead of a mysterious woman, Lin Mi Sheng (Bingbing Fan, X-Men: Days of Future Past), who is tracking their every move.

As the action rockets around the globe from the cafes of Paris to the markets of Morocco to the opulent auction houses of Shanghai, the quartet of women will forge a tenuous loyalty that could protect the world—or get them killed.

The film also stars Édgar Ramirez (The Girl on the Train) and Sebastian Stan (Avengers: Endgame).

THE 355 is in theatres January 7, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

#TIFF21: “THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE” REVIEW

By Mr. Will Wong

Director Michael Showalter (The Lovebirds, The Big Sick) is back with THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE, based on the 2000 Documentary of the same name. Centering on the rise and fall of Television Evangelists Jim and Tammy Bakker (Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain), the subject matter is sensational – but so are the performances!

Showalter and Screenwriter Abe Sylvia create something rather magical here and while on paper, our main subject might be misunderstood, having been so closely-tied to the fraud committed by her convict husband, what we get here actually is a sympathetic portrait of Tammy Faye Baker. We see the lack of privilege from which she is brought-up, to becoming a beloved Television Personality and Singer. She is the woman behind the successful man, and when he stops loving her, all she hopes is that he will love her back, all while living a life of ridiculous extravagance. The Film recounts her downward spiral, which includes addiction to prescription pills as she navigates life through a loveless marriage.

Chastain has gifted us with a phenomenal body of work over the years, however this stands as her finest performance. She captures so perfectly Tammy Faye Baker‘s pain and wounds, as well as her unwavering love of God so beautifully that it is impossible not to be affected by her work. She delivers a real tour-de-force in the Film’s final musical number. And seeing her take a stand for those living with AIDS truly is a visceral moment evincing her true understanding of Tammy Faye Bakker‘s essence. Chastain acts as a vessel for Baker‘s pure soul, and while the subject’s legacy may have been one of embarrassment to many, this performance makes us see exactly why it is so many people around the world were enamoured by her. We were left trembling.

Above this, Garfield truly shows his range here, giving us what it is that made Jim Bakker tick – power and money, sometimes kind and gentle, other times curt and vile. His work here is a true revelation.

Admittedly, the Film feels a bit long at times as we go back and forth on the excesses that filled the world of The Bakkers, but Showalter certainly makes it a fun ride. Without a doubt, we will be hearing a lot about this Film this coming Awards Season and expect the phenomenal Chastain to be front and center.

THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE screens at TIFF ’21:

Mon, Sep 13 DIGITAL PREMIERE SCREENING digital TIFF Bell Lightbox Availability: Canada 5:00pm

Mon, Sep 13 IN-PERSON Visa Skyline Drive-In at Ontario Place 8:00pm

Sat, Sep 18 DIGITAL SECOND SCREENING digital TIFF Bell Lightbox Premium Availability: Canada 5:00pm