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King Richard

#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 BĂŠlier, 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.



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:



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)

#GOLDENGLOBES: “WEST SIDE STORY”, “THE POWER OF THE DOG” AND “SUCCESSION AMONG BIG WINNERS AT 2022 GOLDEN GLOBES

While they were not televised this year, the 79th edition of the GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS took place tonight in private at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. In response to some controversy over the Hollywood Foreign Press Association‘s lack of diversity and business practices, plus also COVID-19 considerations, the event was scaled back, without stars in attendance this year.

Winning top honours this year in the Film categories were THE POWER OF THE DOG, taking Motion Picture – Drama, Director (Jane Campion) and Supporting Actor (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and also WEST SIDE STORY which took Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Actress (Rachel Zegler) and Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose).

In the Television categories, HBO‘s SUCCESSION took top honours for Series Drama, plus Actor in Series Drama (Jeremy Strong) and Supporting Actress – Television (Sarah Snook).

Some surprises in the Motion Picture – Drama Actor and Actress categories with Will Smith defeating THE POWER OF THE DOG‘s Benedict Cumberbatch among others for his work in KING RICHARD, and BEING THE RICARDOS’ Nicole Kidman beating-out favourite Kristen Stewart for SPENCER.

Here are a list of winners:

FILMS

Motion picture — Drama

“The Power of the Dog” | WINNER
“Belfast”
“CODA”
“Dune”
“King Richard”

Actor in a motion picture — Drama

Will Smith (“King Richard”) | WINNER
Mahershala Ali (“Swan Song”)
Javier Bardem (“Being the Ricardos”)
Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”)
Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”)

Actress in a motion picture — Drama

Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”) | WINNER
Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”)
Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”)
Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”)
Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”)

Motion picture — Musical or Comedy

“West Side Story” | WINNER
“Cyrano”
“Don’t Look Up”
“Licorice Pizza”
“Tick, Tick…Boom!”

Actor in a motion picture — Musical or Comedy

Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick…Boom!”) | WINNER
Leonardo DiCaprio (“Don’t Look Up”)
Peter Dinklage (“Cyrano”)
Cooper Hoffman, “Licorice Pizza”
Anthony Ramos, “In the Heights”

Actress in a motion picture — Musical or Comedy

Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) | WINNER
Marion Cotillard (“Annette”)
Alana Haim (“Licorice Pizza”)
Jennifer Lawrence (“Don’t Look Up”)
Emma Stone (“Cruella”)

Supporting actor in a motion picture

Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”) | WINNER
Ben Affleck, “The Tender Bar”
Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”)
Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”)
Troy Kotsur (“CODA”)

Supporting actress in a motion picture

Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) | WINNER
Caitriona Balfe (“Belfast”)
Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”)
Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”)
Ruth Negga (“Passing”)

Director — Motion Picture

Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”) – WINNER
Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Lost Daughter”)
Steven Spielberg (“West Side Story”)
Denis Villeneuve (“Dune”)

Screenplay — Motion Picture

“Belfast”| WINNER
“Being the Ricardos”
“Don’t Look Up”
“Licorice Pizza”
“The Power of the Dog”

Motion picture — Foreign Language

“Drive My Car” (Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Japan) | WINNER
“Compartment No. 6” (Juho Kuosmanen, Finland)
“The Hand of God” (Paolo Sorrentino, Italy)
“A Hero” (Asghar Farhadi, Iran)
“Parallel Mothers” (Pedro Almodóovar, Spain)

Motion picture — Animated

“Encanto” | WINNER
“Flee”
“Luca”
“My Sunny Maad”
“Raya and the Last Dragon”

Original score — Motion Picture

“Dune” — Hans Zimmer | WINNER
“Encanto” — Germaine Franco
“The French Dispatch” — Alexandre Desplat
“Parallel Mothers” — Alberto Iglesias
“The Power of the Dog” — Jonny Greenwood

Original song — Motion Picture

“No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” (Billie Eilish; written by Eilish, Miles Ale, Finneas O’Connell) | WINNER
“Be Alive” from “King Richard” (Beyoncé; written by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson)
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” (Sebastiáan Yatra; written by Lin-Manuel Miranda)
“Down to Joy” from “Belfast” (written and performed by Van Morrison)
“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from “Respect” (Jennifer Hudson; written by Jamie Alexander Hartman, Hudson, Carole King)

TV

Television series — Drama

“Succession” | WINNER
“Lupin”
“The Morning Show”
“Pose”
“Squid Game”

Actor in a television series — Drama

Jeremy Strong, “Succession” | WINNER
Brian Cox, “Succession”
Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game”
Billy Porter, “Pose”
Omar Sy, “Lupin”

Actress in a television series — Drama

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, “Pose” | WINNER
Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment”
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
Christine Baranaski, “The Good Fight”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Television series — musical or comedy

“Hacks” | WINNER
“The Great”
“Only Murders in the Building”
“Reservation Dogs”
“Ted Lasso”

Actor in a television series — musical or comedy

Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” | WINNER
Anthony Anderson, “black-ish”
Nicholas Hoult, “The Great”
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”

Actress in a television series — Musical or Comedy

Jean Smart, “Hacks” | WINNER
Hannah Einbeinder, “Hacks”
Elle Fanning, “The Great”
Issa Rae, â€œInsecure”
Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”

Limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for Television

“The Underground Railroad” | WINNER
“Dopesick”
“Impeachment: American Crime Story”
“Maid”
“Mare of Easttown”

Actor in a limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television

Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” | WINNER
Paul Bettany, “WandaVision”
Oscar Isaac, “Scenes from a Marriage”
Ewan McGregor, “Halston”
Tahar Rahim, “The Serpent”

Actress in a limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for television

Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown” | WINNER
Jessica Chastain, “Scenes from a Marriage”
Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”
Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision”
Margaret Qualley, “Maid”

Supporting Actor — Television

O Yeong-Su, “Squid Game” | WINNER
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”
Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”

Supporting Actress — Television

Sarah Snook, “Succession” | WINNER
Jennifer Coolidge, “White Lotus”
Kaitlyn Dever, “Dopesick”
Andie MacDowell, “Maid”
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”

Awards Season will culminate in the 94th annual Academy Awards, which take place Sunday, March 27, 2022.

(Photo credit: 20th Century Studios)

#EDITORSNOTE: TEAM MR. WILL TOP TENS OF 2021

While it felt the latter part of 2021 was rather hectic on the release side for films, it certainly was a memorable, although sometimes chaotic year in Cinema. As we saw several films which should’ve surfaced in 2020, banked for our enjoyment on the big screen this year, it makes it even more challenging to narrow down our favourites. Truly, the Films that made the cut in 2021 truly were outstanding as they had to shine amongst a quality slate of releases.

Though it seems we’re making one step forward and two steps back in making it through this Pandemic, we were so happy to have been able to be back in theatres once again and enjoy a hybrid version of the Toronto International Film Festival. For that we are grateful and we look forward to sitting in a theatre once again, full capacity with popcorn and drink in-hand, even if not yet.

Team Mr. Will break down their favourite releases of 2021 for us and as always, it is an exciting and eclectic mix. Films like CODA, ROADRUNNER, NINE DAYS, C’MON C’MON and MASS might not be on all Critics’ Top Tens, but they fared well among the Team and found a home with us. If you’re still deciding what to see or are on the fence about, let us help you out!

So grateful for this amazing family of Writers and their esteemed opinions and hard work delivering for us year-round.



AMANDA GILMORE (@GilmoreAmanda)

I think Cinema is at its best when it entertains, increases empathy and enlighten us. The films in my Top Ten check those boxes for me. However, 2021 is filled with impactful Cinema and my list could easily be 20! Other films I love are Awards Season favourites King Richard, Belfast & Spencer. This list was made before viewing A Hero, Parallel Mothers & Cyrano.

The Worst Person in the World & Petite Maman would be below but they release in 2022. Keep an eye out for them!

Top Ten Narratives (in alphabetical order):

C’mon C’mon
CODA
Drive My Car
Judas & the Black Messiah
The Lost Daughter
Nine Days
Passing
The Power of the Dog
tick, tick… BOOM!
West Side Story

Fav Docs (in alphabetical order):
 Flee
Summer of Soul
Writing With Fire



NICHOLAS PORTEOUS (@noveltyhat)


1. NYC Epicenters
2. Life in a Day: 2020
3. The Last Duel
4. Dune
5. Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
6. C’mon C’mon
7. Spencer
8. The Green Knight
9. Bo Burnham: Inside
10. Annette

In a near-tie for my favorite this year: two Documentaries attempting to process recent history. Life in a Day revisits the original 2010 experiment, sourcing thousands of hours of amateur footage from across the world shot on a single day in 2020 that might as well represent the era. Spike Lee‘s NYC Epicenters–a four part miniseries available on Crave–looks at every major New York disaster since 9/11 up to the present moment with absolutely crushing clarity. Sidenote: Netflix‘s ‘Turning Point‘ gives 9/11 some much-needed context as the inciting incident in a much broader tragedy for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Bo Burnham’s Inside grapples with our collective quarantine routine, and though I have misgivings about how accurate it is to Burnham‘s real experience of the pandemic–dropping it a bit further down the list–I cannot deny the singular power of his music to bring meaning to our perpetually sealed-off lives. In third–and the first narrative on the list–The Last Duel failed to connect with the Box Office but succeeded in keeping me locked at a 70° angle as I untangled the all-too-familiar cycle of assault, denial, and public scorn told from three distinct perspectives, brought together by a relentless, titular duel more explosive than anything Ridley Scott has ever yelled at a journalist. Dune could not be less connected to our present, so it was nice to become ensnared in its deadly world with the most well-integrated Visual Effects I’ve ever seen. Roadrunner and C’mon C’mon are both stories of Documentarians who live their work. For Joaquin Phoenix, it’s a spiritually healing act. For Anthony Bourdain, it’s a bit more complicated. Spencer synthesized Diana‘s tragedy into a devastating weekend of pheasant hunting, pea soup and Jazz. Sidenote: ‘Diana the Musical‘ is worth a Netflix skim for a horrific glimpse into yet another way of defining her story. The Green Knight revitalized title cards–along with reflections on destiny and death. And Annette finally put an end to our cultural obsession with selfish toxic male stars–j/k!


GEORGE KOZERA (@PartyG)

2021 was the year I capitulated, when it came to the Movies. I firmly believed that they HAD to be seen on a big screen to even be considered worthy candidates to make my personal “Best” list. To me, VOD always stood for movies that studios deemed unworthy of a theatrical release and streaming services were like HBO: good stuff but, like HBO movies, should not be considered Oscar-worthy. My feelings came crashing down when I saw my first movie in a darkened theatre when we were finally allowed to do so. It was the Documentary “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain”. It was also the 107th movie I had watched this year. The final nail in the coffin was when I was given the choice to see “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” in the theatre or to stream it and I chose the latter.


Whittling down the 288 titles I watched in 2021 to my Top Ten was no easy task! And apologies to the movies I haven’t seen yet (The Lost Daughter, Drive My Car, A Hero, Parallel Mothers and The Green Knight) that could have made the list and those that I could not squeeze-in (Annette, Flee, Belfast, Being the Ricardos, Don’t Look Up, In the Heights and Passing).

  1. The Power of the Dog
  2. West Side Story
  3. Mass
  4. CODA
  5. tick…tick…Boom!
  6. (tie) Summer of Soul/Attica
  7. Nine Lives
  8. The Humans
  9. Dune
  10. The Worst Person in the World


JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DubsReviews)

What a mess 2021 has been, we thought we couldn’t possibly still be in this god damn pandemic anymore but here we are. Thankfully, even through the endless, and I mean ENDLESS delays we got some content this year that was absolutely incredible. Only one movie on this Top Ten list only played the festival circuit, and I cannot stress enough that it must be viewed when it comes out. Everything on this list deserves its placing, and if you haven’t seen some of these picks, please please please go and see it to warm your Cinephile heart. I present to you my top 10 of 2021. May 2022 bring forward some other excellent Cinema!

Alone With You Green Knight
I’m your Man
Language Lessons
Licorice Pizza
Mass
Red Rocket
Tick Tick Boom
Titane
Violet

Note: at the time of publication I have not seen Drive My Car, or Parallel Mothers.

Happy New Year everyone, and Bon Cinema!



DAVID BALDWIN (@DaveMABaldwin)

Were we wrong thinking 2021 would be better than 2020? While it was not nearly as much of a dumpster fire, there is still so much wrong and so few lessons learned. I loved being able to experience movies in a theatre again, yet am depressed at how few people turned up for anything that did not involve Marvel characters (though I did enjoy some of those ones too). Fingers crossed we can lose the increasingly annoying “Exclusively in Theatres” rhetoric at some point in 2022. All of that said, I was able to experience a whole world of titles at digital festivals and likely saw more movies this year alone than I have in previous years (or at least compared to all the years I have tracked on Letterboxd!). So it was not all doom and gloom.

Here is a look at my ranked Top 10 list of titles that had a profound effect on me, inspiring my creativity endlessly in a year where I felt so little, followed by alphabetical lists of 2020 films I could not see until 2021 and a few festival favourites waiting for proper release.

  1. Nine Days
  2. The Mitchells vs. The Machines
  3. Mass
  4. Titane
  5. Dune
  6. The Worst Person in the World
  7. Judas and the Black Messiah
  8. Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
  9. Riders of Justice
  10. Licorice Pizza


2020 Favourites That Were Available This Year
Minari
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Saint Maud

Unreleased Festival Favourites
Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes
Catch the Fair One
The Fallout
Petite Maman
Sundown


MR. WILL (@mrwillw)

Three things we always look for in a great film. One, it has to take us on a real journey and there’s gotta be something at stake that’s meaningful. It doesn’t matter how big the stakes are. It is the Director and Actors’ jobs to make it feel like the journey they are going on matters. Two, we love it when an Actor transforms and we laud bravado in a performance. Three, we want to feel something when we walk away from a film. These Films meet all the criteria for me. Whether it be Kristen Stewart’s transcendent performance as Diana in Spencer which we’re still obsessed with, or what it means for a father to go for broke because he believes so much in his daughters in King Richard, or films like Zola and Red Rocket which pushed the envelope giving us a glimpse into the lives of Sex Workers, my eyes were opened and sometimes welled-up from some of the masterful work I saw in my Top Ten.

Don’t forget to check-out highlights from our 2021 Star Sightings in Toronto here!

1. Spencer
2. King Richard
3. Red Rocket
4. Blue Bayou
5. The Eyes of Tammy Faye
6. Zola
7. West Side Story
8. Dune
9. Coda
10. Licorice Pizza

To another amazing year in Film ahead! Thank you for continuing to join us!

Team Mr. Will

#BOXOFFICE: “GHOSTBUSTERS” SCARES AWAY THE COMPETITION

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE scares aware the competition with a $40.5 million opening this weekend from 4,315 theatres for Sony Pictures. The third installment in the original Franchise gets 61% on the Tomatometer.

In second is Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS with $10.8 million for Disney from 4,055 theatres. Over three weeks it has grossed $135.8 million in North America.

Third goes to CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG with $9 million from 3,628 theatres for eOne Films/Paramount Pictures, a two week tally of $33.5 million.

Fourth spot goes to KING RICHARD, based on the life of Venus and Serena Williams‘ father Richard, with $6.5 million from 3,302 theatres for Warner Bros. It gets 92% on the Tomatometer.

Rounding-out the Top Five is DUNE with $3 million for Warner Bros., a total five week run of $98.2 million.

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN PASSES TO SEE “KING RICHARD” IN THEATRES

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win Cineplex in-theatre passes for two to see KING RICHARD. Believe me this, this true story of Richard Williams and his daughters Venus and Serena (yes, that Venus and Serena!) is a must-see.

Our Review here.

SYNOPSIS:

Based on the true story that will inspire the world, Warner Bros. Pictures’ “King Richard follows the journey of Richard Williams, an undeterred father instrumental in raising two of the most extraordinarily gifted athletes of all time, who will end up changing the sport of tennis forever. Two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith (“Ali,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Bad Boys for Life”) stars as Richard, under the direction of Reinaldo Marcus Green (“Monsters and Men”).

Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard has a plan that will take Venus and Serena Williams from the streets of Compton, California to the global stage as legendary icons. The profoundly moving film shows the power of family, perseverance and unwavering belief as a means to achieve the impossible and impact the world.

Aunjanue Ellis (“If Beale Street Could Talk,” TV’s “Quantico”) plays the girls’ mom, Oracene “Brandi” Williams, Saniyya Sidney (“Hidden Figures,” “Fences”) stars as Venus Williams, Demi Singleton (TV’s “Godfather of Harlem”) stars as Serena Williams, with Tony Goldwyn (the “Divergent” series, TV’s “Scandal”) as coach Paul Cohen and Jon Bernthal (upcoming “The Many Saints of Newark,” “Ford v Ferrari”) as coach Rick Macci. The ensemble also includes Andy Bean (“IT Chapter Two”), Kevin Dunn (the “Transformers” films, HBO’s “Veep”) and Craig Tate (“Greyhound”).

Green directed “King Richard” from a screenplay written by Zach Baylin. The producers were Tim White and Trevor White under their Star Thrower Entertainment banner, and Will Smith under his Westbrook banner. Isha Price, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, Adam Merims, Lynn Harris, Allan Mandelbaum, Jon Mone and Peter Dodd served as the executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-winning director of photography Robert Elswit (“There Will Be Blood”), production designers Wynn Thomas (“Da 5 Bloods,” “Hidden Figures”) and William Arnold (“The Hate U Give”), Oscar-nominated editor Pamela Martin (“The Fighter”), and two-time Oscar-nominated costume designer Sharen Davis (“Dreamgirls,” “Ray”). The music is by Oscar-nominated composer Kris Bowers (“Space Jam: A New Legacy,” “A Concerto is a Conversation”). A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, A Star Thrower Entertainment Production, A Westbrook Production, A Keepin’ It Reel Production, “King Richard” is slated for release on November 19, 2021 in theatres.

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance!


Rules and regulations here.

NOTE: Winners will only be contacted through this official account. Do not accept friend requests from others asking for you to provide your personal information.

See KING RICHARD in theatres November 19, 2021.

Read our highlights from the Press Conference for KING RICHARD here.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

#INTERVIEW: “KING RICHARD”

By Mr. Will Wong

One of this year’s most powerful Dramas is before us. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, KING RICHARD is the true story behind Richard Williams, father of Tennis icons Venus and Serena. The Family-Sports Drama chronicles their uphill battle from their life in Compton to securing a place among Tennis’ elite. Will Smith plays the role of Richard, the often misunderstood mastermind behind the Williams Sisters’ success, supported by some superb performances by Aunjanue Ellis as wife Oracene, Saniyya Sidney as Venus, and Demi Singleton as Serena.

We couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday than to sit-in on the Press Conference for KING RICHARD. In attendance were:

Will Smith
Reinaldo Marcus Green (Director)
Trevor White (Producer)
Zach Baylin (Writer)
Venus Williams (Executive Producer)
Serena Williams (Executive Producer)
Isha Price (Producer, sister to Venus and Serena)
Aunjanue Ellis
Saniyya Sidney
Demi Singleton
Tony Goldwyn
Jon Bernthal

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams talk about the surreal experience of seeing their family portrayed on-screen.

Venus: “I think it’s super-emotional. I’ve seen the Trailer, read the Script and every time I watch it, my eyes get watery. I think it was amazing seeing the family atmosphere on the set and how much Demi and Saniyya really acted like me and Serena. I saw them holding hands and it was so sweet! I’m so proud of what everyone has accomplished. It’s pretty surreal to be honest. They really understood our family and portrayed us in a way that was really us and we’re really proud of that.”.

Serena: “No words describe it better than just surreal. To see these incredible Actresses and everyone behind it who put this all together about our dad, his journey because of myself and my sister. Wow, are we really something? It really is super-surreal for me and then to have Will to play my father in the way he just embodied Richard Williams, it just took the Film to a whole new level. It’s so emotional, it’s well-done and a brilliant piece of work.”.

Will Smith talks about what appealed to him most about playing Richard Williams.

Will: “We were talking earlier and there was an interview that Venus was doing when she was 13 or 14 and Richard Williams snaps on a reporter. I saw that in real time and the look on Venus‘ face burned an image on my heart because that’s how I wanted my daughter to look when I showed-up. The interview had really changed my parenting at the time. It was like she had a lion. She was so confident and comfortable that her lion wasn’t going to let anything happen to her. And I fell in love with Richard Williams. That was 20 something years ago. When the opportunity to be a part of this came-up, the first thing I knew I wanted was to show a father protecting a daughter like that to the world.”.

Tim White is one of the Film’s Executive Producers and talks about KING RICHARD‘s long journey to the big screen.

Tim: “I had played Juniors Tennis and sort of knew the story of Richard Williams a little bit and it was something that always really stuck with me, this image of 1999 at the Lipton Championships, him holding up a sign that said ‘I TOLD YOU SO’. Around 2014-2014, Trevor and I started talking about this as a potential idea for a movie. We were both just incredibly inspired by the family’s relentless pursuit of this dream. We started to meet with Writers and for a couple years with 25-30 Writers and found out that there are a thousand different ways to tell this story. It wasn’t until we met Zach that we really zeroed-in on exactly what this was. It was really that Script that started the process of this Film actually becoming real. We sent the Script to Will, Isha and really at that point began to bring this to life.”.

Aunjanue Ellis delivers a powerful Grand Slam as the Williams Sisters‘ mother Oracene. She long has been an acclaimed veteran of the screen (When They Can See Us, Birth of a Nation) and admits she felt like she’s done something right in her career for it to lead her to this coveted role today.

Aunjanue: “I want to say that I give a whole lot of credit to these Filmmakers. They insisted that Miss Oracene not be in the shadows. To do something where we did not see her as a Co-Conspirator of this crazy dream would have been dishonest. We tried to give her the presence she deserved to have because that was the truth.”.

KING RICHARD introduces us to a couple brilliant young talents in Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton as Venus and Serena, respectively. The two talk about bringing authenticity to their roles, and we learned that Saniyya is left-handed and had to learn to play Tennis like Venus on the off-hand.

Demi: “To bring everything together and make it feel as real as possible, I think Saniyya and I just did a lot of research. That was really important to us that everything we did was real because this is not our story, this is theirs. We searched the internet and had Miss Isha there.”.

“The first time I got to speak to Serena was when they surprised us on set. That was such a fun day. They spoke to us about everything but tennis. They spoke about their life and childhood, the people that they dated growing-up. (The Panel laughs) We just got to speak to them as people. It was really fun to get to know that side of Serena.”.

Serena: “We wanted to make sure we were portrayed in the right way.”.

Saniyya: “I was so nervous meeting Venus for the first time. We had such great conversations not about tennis, but just them as people. I’ve looked-up to them too since I was little. It was very important to let people know how big of a heart Venus has. We had such an amazing experience on this set, getting to create this family, not just with my Cast but everyone behind the camera. They made us feel so comfortable. I was excited to try tennis. It was great.”.

Venus: “What was interesting was one of the coaches was someone we went to the Macci Academy with. It’s such a small world that ended-up happening. I think it really connected getting the girls ready for this role.”.

Jon Bernthal is a real revelation as coach Rick Macci and he talks about what he identified with most in KING RICHARD.

Jon: “It’s such an incredible honour to be a part of this family and beautiful story! To me there’s nothing more important in my world than my babies. Parenthood is the most important job, it’s the hardest job and a job you’re never gonna get perfect. For me, the thing I connected with in Rick, talking to some of the folks who played for him, talking to him and talking to Serena about him, was that he loved the game and made it fun. I think that was something with Richard that you could get behind, as weird and quirky as he was with his mustache and hair, you could still get behind this guy.”.

Director Reinaldo Marcus Green talks about the process of making this Film and thought often about his mother.

Reinaldo: “I was on the tennis court once before that, I am a baseball player and in making a movie, I wanted to make a movie that my mom could see. She understands what family, what love is. She understands what struggle is. I made this Movie for folks like my mother who could see this and enjoy it and still understand what’s happening and not get lost in the technical aspects of the sport. We honed-in on what aspects of tennis we needed to tell this story. When we were talking about ‘open stance’, which Venus and Serena used to revolutionize the game of tennis, we had to be specific about that. Let’s talk about how we could use that in the Film to shape the tennis sequences.”.

“Not every film has everyone love each other when you call ‘cut!’. As we know, we were roping each other just to get it in. It is a testament to how much fun we created on the set with Will and Aunjanue being the backbone of the family, not only in the Film, but on-set. They created an environment for everyone to excel and it was amazing.”.

Tony Goldwyn plays Paul Cohen, a coach who played a formative role in the Williams Sisters’ success getting into the Juniors.

Tony: “It was really interesting. Zach‘s Script was one of the things that appealed to me and in this contentious relationship with Richard, there is this playfulness to it and a mutual respect. I found the real Paul Cohen and had long conversations with him. I asked him about his relationship with the Williams family and Venus and Serena. And I asked about the approach he took teaching tennis because I just wasn’t sure. It’s a very intense, high-octane thing. What I want to say is that it’s about family and making it something joyful even though it’s super-intense. He expressed this love for the family and this incredible admiration for Richard, so it validated what I saw in Zach‘s Script. Whatever disagreements they had, was offset by the fact that this man is fighting and advocating for his kids, and Oracene too. For me, my first day on-set, with all the sisters, it was almost like there was some type of a magnet and I thought, ‘This was easy, because this is a family!’. It was seamless when they were on-camera and when they weren’t.”.

Will Smith talks about playing Richard Williams, comparing it to his own experience as a father.

Will: “When I take-on a role I do it to explore something. It was a new idea for me aligning with your children versus directing your children. It was a very, very different concept and approach that was magical in the Williams family that the rules were set, but the rules that were established were divine. So faith was at the center and it was a collective journey we were going on. It wasn’t as a parent, ‘I know and you don’t, so you’re gonna do as I say!’. It was somewhat what eye-opening for me. My father was very military when I was growing up, the kids don’t get a vote. You do what’s established for you. There’s some benefits to that mindset, but this was a very different thing.”.

Zach Baylin talks about not making the Film about chronicling the Williams Sisters’ successes, but more so about giving us an authentic glimpse at their family life and journey.

Zach: “I think that was the big effort. It was going to be a gripping family story that’s not just a SportsCentre package about moments we all know. If we were really gonna get to know the family, we really needed the intimate moments. We collectively had found the architecture of where the Movie is going. It was really about digging-in and doing research, finding the little things that this family did. I wrote first draft of the Script and thought it was pretty good, but sat down with everyone and asked what was it really like in the van, dinner table with Richard. That’s what really brought it to life, not just chronicling greatest hits. It’s a inside look at every moment.”.

Isha Price serves as a Producer on KING RICHARD, but also happens to be Venus and Serena‘s sister. She was on-hand during filming to ensure scenes were captured as authentically as possible as an accurate reflection of her family.

Isha: “It was definitely a journey, this persistence of Tim and Trevor in wanting to tell the story of my dad and not have it be one of vilification, but one of who he was as a father and what he wanted to do, and how the family came together to be able to do that. When it was understood that was what we wanted to happen, it became a lot easier to get behind it. Then was the process of going to my family after reading the Script. There’s this opportunity, there’s this Script, it’s a little raw. There’s definitely things we can finesse and get right. This person is behind it and we have a lot of respect for Will. He wants to get it right and won’t do it unless we bought into idea of doing of what this could be and doing it right and being ourselves. That took some time.”.

“That vilification aspect is still out there. Being able to trust this Filmmaker and this Production Team and everyone can do it the right way. Often time in the sport, you get one chance at it. To make sure it was told right, it was fair and honest. It really displayed the integrity we always tried to have as a family. It took some time to get there with my family. There’s a little bit of distrust as you can imagine being in public eye for so long. To be written about at young age and not have people understand what our family dynamic is like and get asked, ‘Are they close? Do they fight off the court?’. Years and years of that we built-up a bit of distrust. We got there because I did trust that as long as there was gonna be a footprint there – and I might have gotten a couple people upset – it was important for me because I had a responsibility to my family to make sure this story was told right. To have willing participants on this journey with this entire Cast and Production Team wanting to do it right, is why the story is what it is. Everyone had a hand in wanting to get this story right and tell this real hero story of what he was able to do, but also the foundation that my mom was able to lay and be sure that part of the family was there. That was the part we wanted to make sure was right. There are no words for how Aunjanue got it and made sure her presence was felt.”.

Venus and Serena tell us what they hope young girls watching can take away from the Film.

Venus: “Anything is possible and to always believe in yourself, never doubt. Doubt does nothing for you. The time you spend doubting is the same time you can spend believing in you. As a family you can achieve anything. This is a Family film. Even if you don’t understand tennis, you understand family. Surrounding yourself with family can take you higher.”.

Serena: “You really do have to believe in yourself that anything is possible. There’s nothing wrong with setting your goals high. The sky is literally the limit.”.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release KING RICHARD in theatres November 19, 2021.

Read our Review here.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Canada)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “KING RICHARD”

KING RICHARD is the true story of Tennis icons The Williams Sisters and their father. Check out the brand-new Trailer for the Film!

Synopsis:

Based on the true story that will inspire the world, Warner Bros. Pictures’ “King Richard follows the journey of Richard Williams, an undeterred father instrumental in raising two of the most extraordinarily gifted athletes of all time, who will end up changing the sport of tennis forever.  Two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith (“Ali,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Bad Boys for Life”) stars as Richard, under the direction of Reinaldo Marcus Green (“Monsters and Men”).

Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard has a plan that will take Venus and Serena Williams from the streets of Compton, California to the global stage as legendary icons.  The profoundly moving film shows the power of family, perseverance and unwavering belief as a means to achieve the impossible and impact the world.

KING RICHARD arrives in theatres November 19, 2021 via Warner Bros. Canada.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

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