For a third straight weekend, Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER tops the Box Office in North America. With $43 million expected to be grossed from 4,258 theatres between Friday and Sunday on U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, this puts the Sequel at $363 million in its run to date for Disney.
Debuting in second is STRANGE WORLD, also from Disney with $15.8 million from from 4,174 theatres from Friday to Sunday, a total since its Wednesday release of $22 million. This Animated Feature with a twist of Sci-Fi, gets 73% on the Tomatometer.
Third spot goes to GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY with $8.8 million in its debut, which actually is impressive since this is a Netflix release. It is playing at only 638 theatres, and gets 93% on the Tomatometer. Its 2019 predecessor bowed with $26.7 million it its opening weekend at 3,461 theatres.
In fourth we’ve got DEVOTION which like Glass Onion, premiered at TIFF ’22. It gets $5.6 million from 3,405 theatres for Sony PIctures. The Aviation pic starring Top Gun‘s Glen Powell and upcoming Marvel star Jonathan Majors, gets 80% on the Tomatometer.
THE MENU benefits from some positive word of mouth and lands in fifth with $5 million in its second weekend out for Searchlight Pictures, a total $18.4 million.
After premiering at TIFF ’22 to rousing reception including a second-runner-up placing for the coveted People’s Choice Award, the release of the follow-up to 2019’s KNIVES OUT is before us. Sweeping us away to scenic Greece, this latest installment GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY promises all the style, charm and delight of its predecessor but yet a completely new experience and characters.
While star Daniel Craig who reprises the role of Detective Benoit Blanc once again here, was unwell for today’s international Press Conference, we had the pleasure of hearing Writer/Director Rian Johnson and the Cast speak about this exciting release arriving on Netflix in time for the Holidays. Joining us were:
Rian Johnson talks about the wonderful experience of creating 2019’s KNIVES OUT and the task of creating an equally-brilliant followup.
Johnson: “It was challenging, but also when Daniel and I were making the first one – we were on-set having such a great time. Even if it does moderately well, it will be fun to keep making these. But the mode we were working in, was not to continue the story of the first one, but to treat them like Agatha Christie treated her books. To do an entirely new mystery every time, a new location, a new Rogues’ Gallery of characters. Anyone who really knows her work, knows she really shook it up book to book, it’s not just a change of Whodunit, it was a change of genre and throwing crazy narrative spins that had never been done before. She was really keeping the audience on their toes. Let’s come up wth something truly different and make audiences say, ‘Wow! I’m getting the same pleasure as the first one but I’ve never seen this before!'”.
We learned from the Cast that the first ever table read took place at Daniel Craig‘s house where he greeted the Cast in a salmon-coloured shirt and Espadrilles! Johnson tells us about creating magic through his talented Ensemble.
Johnson: “It’s as simple as getting the best Actors you possibly can get. My head spins when I think we were able to get this group together. There’s also the added element of it’s a little bit like throwing a dinner party. It is an Ensemble, we know we’re going to be on-location together and kind of be stuck together for a while. You’re also trying to cast cool people who are hopefully going to get along and have a good time together.”.
Kate Hudson, who plays former Supermodel-turned Fashion Designer Birdie Jay, tells us about chasing the much-sought-after chance to work with Johnson.
Hudson: “I chased Rian. I was slipped the Script and we knew the part was to be cast. I was like, ‘Get me in the room. Rian said ‘Come and let’s see what you can do with Birdie’, and I did my best and that best seemed to find me here.”.
Kathryn Hahn plays Claire Debella, Governor of Connecticut and equates the experience of working on this Sequel, to being in a theatre ensemble.
Hahn: “It goes back to a sense of egolessness among these humans. We did get to and have to spend every single day really together. It felt like there was a backstage and an onstage. We had these holding areas where we were all together and ate our lunches together for the most part. It felt very much like we were in a theatre ensemble. It did have that kind of grace. Rian was able to find a group of humans who had that – and that is really rare. A group of people who were able to just be there for the thing. And also starting with Daniel who had been through the experience before and was there with such a welcoming generosity of spirit for every single person. There were so many shots where the camera was on one person but I wish you could turn it around to see everyone crowded around for someone’s reaction shot, which was pretty remarkable and hilarious.”.
Leslie Odom Jr. having starred on Broadway’s “Hamilton” is no stranger to working with a tight-knit Ensemble and also speaks highly of the experience working on GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY. He stars as Lionel Toussaint, a Scientist who works for Edward Norton‘s Billionaire Miles Bron.
Odom: “This is one of the best Ensembles. It’s really an impossible thing to achieve without leadership. It happens from top-down. You can’t lead from the bottom or middle of all sheet. It’s really Rian, Daniel and Ram making it creative, persmissive and fun.”.
Norton also has fond memories working with the Cast.
Norton: “When someone like Rian calls and says ‘I’m basically gonna run a summer camp for deeply-unserious people, I need people willing to ham it up’ – it was printed in the invite. I do think when you’re with a group of people and it becomes apparent the words ‘repetitive’ and ‘boring’ have never applied to any of them, it’s a lot of fun. I do think the experience of a summer theatre troupe is for a lot of us who came into this from theatre or the idea of being from a repertory company or an Ensemble, it has a special pleasure. It reminds you have your high school drama club for those of us who were dorky enough. There’s a funny irony to making films or doing theatre, it’s a bunch of adults playing dress-up pretending to be other people and it’s amazing how much seriousness we layer over that. When you liberate yourself from any pretention to be doing anything other than entertaining the audience and yourselves, it’s incredibly wonderful. And after a year and half in your pyjamas, it’s especially great.”.
Janelle Monáe dazzles as Cassandra “Andi” Brand, unlike any other role she’s ever played before. Her character is on the outs with her old group of friends and she tells us about preparing for the role.
Monáe: “I am a fan of everybody on this stage. Being able to work with Rian is a dream. I literally told myself if I ever had the opportunity, it’s a ‘yes’. After reading the Script, it was a ‘hell yes!’. This is a character you get to play with. So many layers, so mysterious. It took a lot of focus and there were moments where the Cast was out having a blast after they did their scenes and maybe I was in a corner upset, jealous, mad! No, no, no, I wasn’t! We’re in a murder mystery parties outside of filming a murder mystery and we’re in Greece, what can I complain about? I got an opportunity to grow as an Actor and also gained what I like to say is family.”.
Jessica Henwick stars as Peg, Birdie‘s Assistant and comments on Monáe‘s incredible fashion at said murder mystery parties and dinners.
Henwick: “It was amazing. It was a guaranteed serve. If Janelle was coming to dinner, it was gonna be a look and everyone else was underdressed.”.
Madelyn Cline who plays Whiskey, recalls finding-out she was joining this star-studded Ensemble.
Cline: “I was landing in New York – you know when you get close enough to the ground and everyone’s phone starts pinging, and got a message from Rian, ‘Would you have time for a call?’. I panic. He’s gonna tell me I didn’t get it. So I said, ‘In an hour’ and had to prepare myself. I was huddled in a corner at baggage claim when Rian asked if I wanted to be a part of it. Is that even a question? Of course I do! I proceeded to have best weekend of my life. So cheers to that!”.
The Cast also comment on Craig‘s phenomenal work.
Hudson: “For me, just watching Daniel work was a privilege. He is a consummate professional. He shows-up ready to deliver every line. He honours Rian‘s word. Just to be a part of that and learn from that was really something”.
Hahn: “His Physical Comedy I’m just floored by. His control of his body and how he throws himself into this part physically is something I was so excited to watch. He really is a gamer in that department.”.
The Cast also comment on the fashion and whom they thought had the best costumes in the Film.
Norton: “Definitely Kathryn.”.
Hudson: “That beige rack was solid”.
Norton: “In the wardrobe room, they often have Polaroids of those who have been in before you. I hadn’t met anybody and I looked at the Polaroid wall and thought this Movie is gonna be really funny. I saw Dave Bautista in the crocodile skin bikini and thought there will be at least one good laugh in this Film!”.
Hudson: “Every time Kathryn walked in with a new beige, it was so deeply funny. That is the genius of Rian‘s writing. But Jenny (Eagan) creating each iconic look was so dreamy and the fittings I think for all of us after talking about it so much, when we walked into Jenny‘s fitting, immediately you saw your character come to life, stepping right into the character. Everyone had that and Jenny was a real dream to work with.”.
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is in select theatres November 23, 2022 and arrives December 23, 2022 on Netflix.
At long last we get an official Trailer for TIFF ’22 selection GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY!
Logline: In the follow up to Rian Johnson’s KNIVES OUT, Detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery involving a new cast of colorful suspects. |
Director: Rian Johnson Writer: Rian Johnson Producers: Ram Bergman, Rian Johnson Executive Producer:Tom Karnowski Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline with Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista |
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is in Select Theaters for One Week Only November 23, 2022
and On Netflix December 23, 2022.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
By David Baldwin
The pandemic is raging and Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) finds himself in Greece, ready to board the yacht of billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton). Bron has brought together his closest friends for a weekend getaway at his island, promising a murder mystery and more. Of course, not anything is what it seems and it is up to Blanc to crack the case.
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is just as fun and wildly entertaining as its Oscar-nominated predecessor. Rather than redo the same beats as that film with winking nods, Writer/Director Rian Johnson has composed a Sequel with minimal similarities. Yes, it deals again with spoiled American socialites and is still a lovingly made whodunit with the wild Kentucky Fried Detective Benoit Blanc front and centre. That is where the similarities end though, because this eclectic cast of supporting characters (including the likes of Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson and the positively luminous Janelle Monáe) all have varying agendas and stakes in the larger plot – and their circumstances are all very different than any members of the Thrombey Clan. And the wild cameos are simply amazing.
Where GLASS ONION falters is in its pacing and chaotic structure. It feels about 20 minutes too long and could have benefitted from a number of scenes being tightened up. The entire opening sequence, introducing all of the new players, is well done and very funny, but it comes at the expense of not getting to the main plotline as quickly as it should. Thankfully Johnson’s sharp and witty writing is still just as fine-tuned as before, so the rapid-fire laughs and twists keep the film moving even when it stops dead in its tracks. I still managed to enjoy the Film immensely despite these squabbles, yet know it could have been even stronger had it not been so loose and breezy.
And to no one’s surprise, Craig is fabulous as Benoit Blanc. The accent and his impeccable timing have only grown since his last go-round, and some of the ridiculous things Johnson gets him to say are simply incredible. He is nearly shown up by Monáe (who absolutely slays from start to finish), yet somehow manages to hold his own I hope Johnson and Craig are true to their word and never stop making Benoit Blanc adventures. The man is a gifted comedic performer and to see that talent go to waste would be simply unforgiveable.
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY screens as follows at TIFF ’22:
Sat, Sep 10 IN-PERSON Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre 6:00pm
Sun, Sep 11 IN-PERSON Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre 9:00am
Mon, Sep 12 IN-PERSON Scotiabank Theatre 9:30pm
Tue, Sep 13 IN-PERSON Cinesphere IMAX Theatre 6:00pm
Thu, Sep 15 IN-PERSON Cinesphere IMAX Theatre 9:30pm
Sat, Sep 17 IN-PERSON TIFF Bell Lightbox 9:00pm
A new Traser has arrived for TIFF ’22 selection, GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY – right in time for the Festival!
Synopsis:
According to Johnson, Blanc’s penchant for bombast is partly to thank for the film’s title, which pays homage to the 1968 Beatles song of the same name. “I’m always fishing for something fun that Blanc can grab onto as an overwrought metaphor that he can beat to death,” he says. “This is all in plain sight from the very start. So, the idea of glass came to me, something that’s clear. I’ll be very honest. I literally got out my iPhone and searched my music library with the word ‘glass.’ There’s got to be some good glass songs. I was like, “Oh, is it a glass fortress? Is it a glass castle? Is it a glass man?” The first thing that came up, because I’m a huge Beatles fan, is ‘Glass Onion.'”
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY arrives December 23, 2022.
(Photo credit: Netflix)
Following its Premiere at TIFF ’19, Rian Johnson‘s followup to KNIVES OUT, GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY, will make its way to Toronto for TIFF ’22! This is TIFF‘s 47th edition, believe it or not!
Synopsis:
In the follow-up to Rian Johnson’s 2019 Knives Out, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, Detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery involving a new cast of colorful suspects. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery stars Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline with Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista. Written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced alongside his partner Ram Bergman under their T-Street banner, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a Netflix film.
The Film will arrive later this year on Netflix. More to come.
(Photo credit: Netflix)
We LOVED KNIVES OUT and are so thrilled a follow-up will be out this Holiday Season! Details have been unpeeled about GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY. 🧅
Logline:
In the follow up to Rian Johnson‘s KNIVES OUT, Detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery involving a new cast of colorful suspects.
Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline with Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista
More to come.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
For a second straight week, BAD BOYS FOR LIFE is proving to be an exceedingly smart move from Sony Pictures, taking $28 million from 3,775 theatres. This brings its two week run to $111.6 million already domestically.
In second is Best Picture Contender 1917 with $14 million from 3,937 theatres for Universal Pictures, taking its tally to $102.1 million, its third weekend in wide release.
THE GENTLEMEN from Director/Writer Guy Ritchie debuts in third with $10.8 million for STX Entertainment/VVS Films. It gets 72% on the Tomatometer.
Landing in fourth spot is DOLITTLE with $9.8 million from 4,155 theatres for Universal Pictures, a total $41.9 million over two weeks in North America.
THE TURNING debuts in fifth with $6.2 million from 2,500 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Horror starring Mackenzie Davis, Brookylnn Prince and Finn Wolfhard gets 13% on the Tomatometer.
KNIVES OUT rounds-out the Top Ten with $3 million from 1,667 theatres for Mongrel Media/Lionsgate Films.
2019 was a remarkable year in Cinema. More than ever are we seeing Netflix and female Directors at the forefront and you will see this in the Team’s year’s best. Once again we are thrilled to share our favourites with you and would love to see how these align with your own personal faves. If you haven’t caught-up yet on your 2019 viewing, we hope the Team gives you some inspiration for your Holiday viewing!
Enjoy the rest of your Holidays and to an even more amazing 2020!
Team Mr. Will
(There in spirit: Amanda Gilmore, Siobhán Rich)
A farewell to beloved Thompson Diner, where we held our 2019 Holiday Brunch.
AMANDA GILMORE (@GilmoreAmanda on Twitter)
In my opinion, this year has been one of the strongest years in Film for a VERY long time. We had amazing diverse creative talents in front and behind the camera who have worked together to make outstanding work, which is precisely why making this Top Ten list has been extremely difficult for me. I would love to write a Top 30 list if I was allowed, but sadly I’m not. Because of this, I have made my list according to my favourite films of the year that I could also re-watch multiple times for years to come. I have also added some honourable mentions because let’s face it, this year was flipping awesome!
DISCLAIMER: I have yet to see 1917 at the time of writing this list.
The Films below are listed in alphabetical order, they are not ranked.
Booksmart
Honey Boy
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Knives Out
Late Night
Little Women
Marriage Story
Parasite
Us
Honourable Mentions:
The Peanut Butter Falcon: an extremely touching and unique coming-of-age story.
Ready Or Not: an inventive thriller with one wickedly funny and badass female lead.
Rocketman: I LOVE Elton John and this film was a knockout!
JONATHAN GODFREY (@FFCottage on Instagram)
Written in order the release, the following are my faves for 2019: winter began with If Beale Street Could Talk, a tale of struggle set to a mesmerizing score. Next, Alita: Battle Angel, a great anime adaptation with mesmerizing MOCAP (Motion Capture) work. Spring brought Toy Story 4, a 3D spectacle for the ages; and Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood, another spectacular Script from Tarantino. IT Chapter 2 scared me silly this summer, and A Hidden Life was my TIFF ’19 darling. Fall brought with it a Trilogy of favorites: the powerful performance piece, Joker; the breathtaking animation of Frozen 2; and of course, a forever favorite, Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Winter has returned, and with it, Little Women, a wondrous adaption to warm this holiday season. I have high hopes for 2020, including: Dune, Tenet, Mulan, No Time to Die and Bill & Ted Face the Music.
GEORGE KOZERA (@PartyG on Twitter)
2019 was a banner year for me, watching movies in a darkened theatre. I saw many impressive features from either first-time Directors or from established awards winners. Netflix, the little distribution company that could, released movies that were eclectic in genres and superior in quality and for the second year in a row, one of its offerings made my list as Number One. I saw movies that bored deeply into my skin and heart and mind and soul. It is with apologies to the Christmas releases that I have yet to see (Little Women, Bombshell, 1917, Uncut Gems) and too many Honorable Mentions to list that I submit my Top Ten of 2019:
1. Marriage Story
2. Jojo Rabbit
3. Waves
4. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
5. Parasite
6. The Irishman
7. Knives Out
8. The Last Black Man in San Francisco
9. Joker
10. Rocketman
JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DubsReviews on Twitter)
2019 has certainly been an interesting year for movies. We saw the end of The Skywalker Saga, the warfare between Netflix and Distributors continues to grow increasingly-tense, Scorsese and Iger are teasing a conversation. Movies had more surprises this year, and there have been some genuinely heartwarming and enlightening movies this year. In alphabetical order here are my top 10 movies to end out the decade.
Booksmart
Olivia Wilde directing Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever may have been the most unexpected, most hilarious thing I have seen all year but this Movie is endlessly-fantastic. It is the only Movie I have seen countless times this year, it became an instant classic for myself, that will be adored for the ages.
Jojo Rabbit
Taika Waititi in my mind can do no wrong when it comes to filmmaking. Ragnarok, What We Do In The Shadows,and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Waititi constantly delivers genuinely heartwarming and hilarious movies. Jojo Rabbit is no exception to that, the WWII satire is everything I expected of it and more.
Joker
I love some brilliant Joaquin. I love me some Joker. I just love this Movie. It is haunting and ingenious, but please for everything that makes this great, do not make a Sequel.
Knives Out
This Whodunit was one of the biggest questions from this Agatha Christie-esque film. It was marvelously-acted, packs a punch, and let’s face it, were all obsessing about knitted sweaters now.
The Lighthouse
I couldn’t begin to tell you what I thought I was getting myself into when I went to see this. All I can tell you is that it is one of the strangest, brilliant movies I’ve seen all year and I still think about it all these months later.
Little Women
Moment of truth, this was my first Little Women and what Greta Gerwig manages to do with it is nothing short of inspiring. However when you have Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and Saoirse Ronan its also hard not to be delighted the entire time.
Midsommar
This was horrifying. Ari Aster still manages to haunt me with his brilliant Horror Film. The Director’s Cut is significantly better than the theatrical cut as well, as well as more haunting when you pay attention to the background. There is nothing else to say.
Parasite
If you’ve seen it, you know EXACTLY why its on the list. If you have not, why are you waiting? Stop reading immediately and go see the Movie. There is literally no reason not to. It is brilliant and deserves all the acclaim.
Uncut Gems
Give Sandman everything. This Movie is neurotic, anxiety-inducing acid and you cannot look away. I felt dirty after watching the Movie, but I can’t shake it. Adam Sandler has never delivered a better performance.
Waves
This Movie broke me, is the easiest way to put it. It is beautiful, it is tragic, it is heartwarming, it is heartbreaking. This Movie launches a rocket right into the feelings and explodes on impact.
2020, you’re the start of a new decade, you better deliver as well as if not better than 2019.
DAVID BALDWIN (@DaveMABaldwin on Twitter)
1. Parasite
2. Jojo Rabbit
3. Marriage Story
4. The Farewell
5. Us
6. Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood
7. Honey Boy
8. Blinded By The Light
9. 1917
10. Booksmart
2019 will go down as one of the best years for Film this decade – maybe even the singular best one. There is so much to say about these ten brilliant Films, and even more to say about the multitude of films that did not make this list. Yes, many will remember this year for the end of The Avengers and Star Wars Sagas. But others will remember it for the magnificent new discoveries that were made, for the masters making some of their best work to date and for the actors we completely wrote-off giving us plenty of reasons to remember them again. I lived, breathed and loved so many movies this year. And know that with the impending birth of my first child, that so much about next year and the next decade of my filmgoing life is going to be so drastically different. So it might just be the nostalgia talking, but I doubt I will ever see another exquisite year of Cinema like this ever again.
Mr. Will’s 2019 Best-Of List is here.
(Photo credit: Netflix/Fox Searchlight/MK2/Mongrel Media/Sony Pictures/Mr. Will Wong)
The weekend belongs to JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL, nabbing top spot in its debut with $50 million for Sony Pictures, from 4,078 theatres. This is a best opening for the Franchise, also getting 67% on the Tomatometer. Last installment, 2018’s WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE became Sony Pictures‘ highest-grossing title ever.
In second after a three-week reign, is FROZEN 2 with $21 million from 4,078 theatres for Disney.
KNIVES OUT lands in third with $9.5 million for Lionsgate Films/Mongrel Media.
Fourth spot goes to Clint Eastwood‘s RICHARD JEWELL which is based on true events at the 1996 Summer Olympics, earning $6.5 million from 2,502 theatres for Warner Bros. It gets 75% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore despite some controversy about its accuracy.
BLACK CHRISTMAS opens in fifth with $5.3 million from 2,625 theatres for Universal Pictures, with 43% on the Tomatometer and a D CinemaScore.
Rounding-out the Top Ten is 21 BRIDGES with $1.3 million fron 1,533 theaters for VVS Films/STX Entertainment.
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