Today is the final day most major trade publications have their pop-ups, so it’s one last hurrah for star sightings before things quiet down significantly for the remainder of TIFF ’21. Which is wonderful for us as we can take a breath finally, and focus on seeing Films.
Causing the most commotion around town were BELFAST Director/Writer Sir Kenneth Branagh and its star Jamie Dornan, who did the rounds today. They premiered the Film at Roy Thomson Hall, receiving a standing ovation. The story is said to be deeply-personal to Branagh who grew-up in the titular city during the ’60s, and Dornan is receiving accolades for his work here. So thrilled to catch Dornan and Branagh out and about at different points in the day! Dornan was so kind to stop for a snap with beanie and I, whom I brought out with me on my travels. Her first TIFF and also tomorrow is her first birthday! What better way to celebrate than by her meeting Dornan?
So happy also to get an invite from Variety Magazine and Canada Goose to check-out their lounge, which hosted several A-Listers the past few days at the Festival including Rebecca Ferguson, Jessica Chastain, Benedict Cumberbatch and more. Today we saw Dornan and Branagh in the lounge, picking-out some new outerwear. Branagh is a huge fan of Canada Goose and we heard that he still has a parka he’s been wearing for over ten years!
Can I saw how cool it was meeting Kenny G? The legendary Saxophonist helping propel Smooth Jazz to a wider audience, was in town for Director Penny Lane’s Documentary, LISTENING TO KENNY G. The Film premiered today at Scotiabank Theatre.
And last but not least, we were so happy to see stunning Jessica Chastain as she head-off to the Premiere of highly-buzzed THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE, which has her portraying Evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. She was so smitten by beanie!
Totally dozing-off but will be up and at it early with a few screenings tomorrow including THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE and BELFAST! Can’t wait to share my thoughts!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
By Amanda Gilmore
Wealthy couple David (Ralph Fiennes) and Jo (Jessica Chastain) are making their way to friend Richard’s (Matt Smith) lavish weekend party deep in the Moroccan Desert. On their drive, high-functioning alcoholic David hits a young Moroccan boy with his car, killing him. They arrive at the party with the boy’s dead body unsure of what to do. Soon, David finds himself with the boy’s father, on the way to the burial. While Jo and the rest of the privileged Western guests spend the weekend continuing to party, David is forced to confront his sins.
The Forgiven is a dark British Comedy with something to say. Writer-Director John Michael McDonagh creates laughs in the bleakest moments. This mostly excels due to the outstanding performance from Fiennes who delivers lines in a hilariously dry way. The Comedy has a purpose: to make the darker themes about privilege, Neocolonialism, forgiveness and judgement easier to swallow. For example, ignorant dialogue is said by Western characters about the Moroccan people. The comedy lands and the point gets across due to the powerhouse ensemble McDonagh has assembled.
The Cast is led by Fiennes who revels in playing pompous David. While David is on his journey to the burial he’s faced the truth of his sin and the pain it inflicted on the family. Chastain is great as the unhappy Jo who gets carried away at the party and commits a sin of her own. The talented Christopher Abbott, who plays flirtatious Tom, spends most of his time trying to seduce the intelligent Jo. These scenes are wonderful to watch because of the witty rhetoric and the chemistry they share. Rounding off the Cast is Smith who delights in playing lavishly wealthy Richard and Caleb Landry Jones who gives a memorable performance as Richard’s party-enthusiast boyfriend, Dally.
The Forgiven screens at TIFF ’21:
Sat, Sep 11 at 5:30 PM at Roy Thompson Hall
Sat, Sep 11 at 9 PM on Digital TIFF Bell Lightbox
Wed, Sep 15 at 7 PM on Digital TIFF Bell Lightbox
Wed, Sep 15 at 9 PM at RBC Lakeside Drive-In at Ontario Place
We’ve hit peak starpower at TIFF ’21 and even with Red Carpets and talent scaled back there’s still plenty enough to keep us busy!
The 2021 TIFF Tribute Gala took place earlier today at Roy Thomson Hall with this year’s Honourees taking the stage to accept their awards. Those in attendance included:
Jessica Chastain — TIFF Tribute Actor Award supported by the Tory Family
Benedict Cumberbatch — TIFF Tribute Actor Award
Denis Villeneuve — TIFF Ebert Director Award
Alanis Obomsawin — Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media supported by Participant Media
Ari Wegner — TIFF Variety Artisan Award
Danis Goulet — TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by L’Oréal Paris and supported by MGM
Dionne Warwick — TIFF Special Tribute Award
We caught some special moments as the stars arrived and we even saw Benedict Cumberbatch and Dionne Warwick share an embrace. R&B Legend Warwick, here for Documentary DON’T MAKE ME OVER, shared that she admittedly was a little starstruck seeing Cumberbatch, whom she admires for her work on SHERLOCK, which she was obsessed with streaming during the Pandemic! Cumberbatch is receiving tons of Oscar buzz for his work in Jane Campion‘s THE POWER OF THE DOG. Review here.
Chastain and Villeneuve, both busy with Press Days today for their respective films THE FORGIVEN and DUNE, made time to walk over to the fans, snapping Selfies and signing autographs. Chastain was stunning in a colour block Moschino outfit!
The Awards air Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 7pm ET on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app in Canada.
Some Snaps:
Several other Premieres took place across the City including MONTANA STORY which stars Owen Teague and Haley Lu Richardson, which many are commending for its heart and compassion. We spotted the stars and Co-Directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel, Ubering about with the Film’s stars earlier. Review to come shortly.
One of our greatest highlights finally is a moment with Rebecca Ferguson, whom we admire so deeply. This chameleon of an Actress has won acclaim for her work on the Mission: Impossible Franchise, The White Queen and more popularly, The Greatest Showman. Oh yeah, her! Ferguson stars in DUNE, which premiered at Ontario Place‘s Cinesphere and will be busy with Villeneuve with a day of press in support of the hotly-anticipated October 22, 2021 release. Review here.
One parting note, I attended a screening of Edgar Wright‘s LAST NIGHT IN SOHO and it was incredible! My thoughts below…
How amazing Wright even threw me a “like”!
We decided to take it easy tonight, wrapping early. Tomorrow will be pretty much the last day we’ll be out snapping content with more of a focus on the Films after Monday. Who knows, I might even have a little special sidekick out with me tomorrow!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Searchlight Pictures and Mr. Will are delighted to give Readers in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to see TIFF ’21 selection THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE! Screenings take place Wednesday, September 15, 2021 as follows:
Toronto: Cineplex Cinemas Varsity, 7:00 pm
Montreal: Scotiabank Theatre, 7:00 pm
Vancouver: Cineplex International Village, 7:00 pm
Synopsis:
THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE is an intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. In the 1970s and 80s, Tammy Faye and her husband, Jim Bakker, rose from humble beginnings to create the world’s largest religious broadcasting network and theme park, and were revered for their message of love, acceptance and prosperity. Tammy Faye was legendary for her indelible eyelashes, her idiosyncratic singing, and her eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life. However, it wasn’t long before financial improprieties, scheming rivals, and scandal toppled their carefully constructed empire.
To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. In the comments, indicate your City.
For an extra chance, Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below.
We've got your chance to see #TIFF21 selection #TheEyesofTammyFaye in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver!https://t.co/B2z5k87vwv pic.twitter.com/KgjfHY3p6H
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) September 7, 2021
Rules and regulations here.
Searchlight Pictures release THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE September 17, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)
Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain star in SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE, coming this Fall from HBO! A new Teaser has just surfaced.
Synopsis:
Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaac, and a reimagining of a classic. Scenes from a Marriage, an HBO Original limited series based on the acclaimed drama from Ingmar Bergman, premieres this September on HBO Max.
(Photo/video credit: HBO)
Be prepared for a very Chastain Awards Season. Jessica Chastain is mesmerizing in this new Trailer as Tammy Faye Bakker in THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE!
Synopsis:
THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE is an intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. In the 1970s and 80s, Tammy Faye and her husband, Jim Bakker, rose from humble beginnings to create the world’s largest religious broadcasting network and theme park, and were revered for their message of love, acceptance and prosperity. Tammy Faye was legendary for her indelible eyelashes, her idiosyncratic singing, and her eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life. However, it wasn’t long before financial improprieties, scheming rivals, and scandal toppled their carefully constructed empire.
Searchlight Pictures release THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE September 17, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)
Check-out this Trailer for THE 355 which boasts a phenomenal female Cast!
Synopsis:
A dream team of formidable female stars come together in a hard-driving original approach to the globe-trotting espionage genre in The 355.
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 wealth and glamour of Shanghai, the quartet of women will forge a tenuous loyalty that could protect the world—or get them killed.
See the Trailer:
eOne Films release THE 355 is in theatres January 15, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)
Fresh off its appearance at Comic-Con comes this brand-new Trailer for IT CHAPTER TWO!
Synopsis:
Evil resurfaces in Derry as director Andy Muschietti reunites the Losers Club—young and adult—in a return to where it all began with “It Chapter Two.”
The film is Muschietti’s follow-up to 2017’s critically acclaimed and massive worldwide box office hit “IT,” which grossed over $700 million globally. Both redefining and transcending the genre, “IT” became part of the cultural zeitgeist as well as the highest-grossing horror film of all time.
Because every 27 years evil revisits the town of Derry, Maine, “It Chapter Two” brings the characters—who’ve long since gone their separate ways—back together as adults, nearly three decades after the events of the first film.
See the Trailer:
Warner Bros. Canada release IT CHAPTER TWO Friday, September 6, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)
Only because 2017’s IT messed us up good, we’re here to ruin your sleep cycle in 2019 as well. Check-out the creepy new Teaser for Toronto-made IT CHAPTER TWO from Director Andy Muschietti.
Synopsis:
Because every 27 years evil revisits the town of Derry, Maine, “It Chapter Two” brings the characters—who’ve long since gone their separate ways—back together as adults, nearly three decades after the events of the first film.
Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Mama”) stars as Beverly, James McAvoy (“Split,” upcoming “Glass”) as Bill, Bill Hader (HBO’s “Barry,” “The Skeleton Twins”) as ”) as Mike, Jay Ryan (TV’s “Mary Kills People”) as Ben, James Ransone (HBO’s “The Wire”) as Eddie, and Andy Bean (“Allegiant,” Starz’ “Power”) as Stanley. Reprising their roles as the original members of the Losers Club are Jaeden Martell as Bill, Wyatt Oleff as Stanley, Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie, Finn Wolfhard as Richie, Sophia Lillis as Beverly, Chosen Jacobs as Mike, and Jeremy Ray Taylor as Ben. Bill Skarsgård returns in the seminal role of Pennywise.
See the Trailer:
Warner Bros. Canada release IT CHAPTER TWO Friday, September 6, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)
After earning over $700 million worldwide, 2017’s IT became one of the highest-grossing Horror movies of all time. Production on IT: CHAPTER 2 began a week ago in and around Toronto just like its Predecessor, including overnight shoots at Mandarin Restaurant in Mississauga, before moving back to its base at Pinewood Studios.
While the Film is expected to remain faithful to Stephen King‘s source material and the original 1990 TV Movie, surely returning Director Andy Muschietti will have a few a scares up his sleeve for us! It: Chapter 2 films through October and we can expect to see the clouded clown return to torment the Loser’s Club, now grown-up 27 years later, bringing them back to the cursed town of Derry.
The original cast of kids, most who have been in Toronto briefly these past couple weeks, will reprise their roles in this upcoming installment and in this Film will be seeing their adult versions:
Beverly … Jessica Chastain
Bill … James McAvoy
Stanley … Andy Bean
Richie … Bill Hader
Ben … Jay Ryan
Eddie …James Ransone
Mike … Isaiah Mustafa
Bill Skarsgård who was terrifying as Pennywise the Clown, also returns.
It – pardon the pun – was an amazing weekend and we caught wind they were in Yorkville for a night of relaxation after an overnight shoot the night prior. They were recreating this iconic scene in which Pennywise gives the Losers’ Club an ominous message after reuniting at a Chinese restaurant:
Chastain, McAvoy, Hader, Mustafa, Ransone, Ryan, Muschietti and his sister Bárbara, a Producer on the Film, plus friends thankfully had a far less mortifying meal at upscale Japanese it-spot Kasa Moto followed by libations at Amber and late-night Karaoke. Will Arnett, Vinay Virmani and more also were spotted out in the vicinity, giving Yorkville back a bit of its past starpowered lustre.
See our Snaps! I am luckiest guy in the world!!
Chastain, McAvoy, Muschietti, Ryan
Chastain, Bárbara Muschietti (Producer), Ransone
Mustafa
Muschietti
Hader
Ransone
While we’ve met Chastain a dozen-plus times in our travels and Film Festival romps, this was the most memorable meeting yet! She is the kindest, most giving actor in Hollywood today and hasn’t changed since her meteoric rise. Basically, we don’t deserve her! We’re just happy to see her thriving, having fun and that her peers love and respect her as much as we do!
We admit we still are horrified after seeing IT last fall. Every rustle of the leaves to every time Pennywise surfaced and flashed his teeth shook us to the core. Oddly, it was equally emotional too as I’m sure many were affected by the fact that the Losers’ Club were outcasts just like us, with very real problems of their own whether it be Beverly and her abusive father or Bill grieving the painful loss of his little brother.
We are beyond thrilled about seeing the 2019 follow-up, slated for a post-Labour Day release just like the first chapter.
Are you ready to float, Losers?
🤡🎈
(Photo credit: Warner Bros./Mr. Will Wong)
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