Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Piercing is an unconventional love story that follows Reed (Christopher Abbott) who leaves his wife and newborn at home to kill a seemingly unsuspecting prostitute, Jackie (Mia Wasikowska). But she has plans of her own.

Writer-Director Nicolas Pesce creates an outrageously-stylish, twisted romance. Adapted from the Novel of the same name by Ryu Murakami, the characters have dozens of layer that peel away throughout. And the two leads relish in those never-ending layers. Abbott is phenomenal as the calm and sadistic Reed. While Wasikowska is a firework as the eccentric Jackie. Together they ignite something inexplicable and heat-up the screen. And because of them no matter how fiendish the characters become, you always want them to end up together.

Piercing screens at Sundance on Jan. 22 at 11:59PM at PC Library, Jan. 21 at 8:30PM at The Egyptian PC, Jan. 24 at 8:30PM at The MARC PC, Jan. 26 at 11:59PM at Broadway 6 SLC, and Jan. 27 at 11:59PM at PC Library.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Damsel follows Samuel (Robert Pattinson) who goes on a journey to marry his love, Penelope (Mia Wasikowska). The pair are reunited after success in David Cronenberg‘s Maps to the Stars. But when their venture takes an unsuspected turn, lines become blurred between who the villain, hero and damsel are.

Writer-Director brother duo David and Nathan Zellner craft a beautifully-shot deadpan Comedy-Western. They divert from  typical Western fare to create a hilarious genre-bending thrill ride. The laughs come courtesy of this powerhouse Ensemble. Pattinson is a stand-out as the clueless, blinded-by-love Samuel. He takes his character way beyond the script to create a highly-memorable character. And Wasikowska is a knockout as the strong, fearless Penelope. This is Wasikowska’s Film and it is a pure delight. Top that off with a comical performance from David Zellner as the Preacher and the cutest miniature pony and this is one unforgettable ride!

Damsel screens at Sundance on Jan. 23 at 3:30PM at Eccles PC, Jan. 24 at 9AM at PC Library, Jan. 27 at 9:30PM at The Ray PC and Jan. 28 at 12:30PM at Rose Wagner SLC.

Following the worldwide success of 2010’s Alice in Wonderland, fans patiently have waited for the followup to Tim Burton‘s stunning reimagination of the beloved series of Lewis Carroll stories.  Toronto proudly hosts a Pop-Up shop celebrating ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS and beginning Saturday, fans will have a rare opportunity themselves to get the full Alice experience!

The Pop-Up exhibit is put together by famed Cakemaker Yolanda Gampp, recreating the Mad Hatter‘s (reprised in the Movie by Johnny Depp) Tea Party Table! Gampp will even be meeting fans this Saturday between 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM at the venue. The first 100 guests even get to try her cake!

We had the amazing opportunity to visit the exhibit and even got to try a slice of her famous chocolate cake. And it was divine! Gampp tells me her favourite is chocolate and it is her go-to still when inviting her friends over! There was a cake replica of the Madhatter‘s hat and we can say we got to taste its genius!

See our Snaps from the Pop-Up!

Don’t forget to check out the #AliceonQueen Exhibit in celebration of #AliceThroughtheLookingGlass. Runs 5.20 through 5.27 277 Queen St. West! 5.21 11:30-3:30 meet YouTube Cake Sensation @YolandaGampp whom with her team recreated the #MadHatter’s Tea Party! @DisneyStudiosCanada release 5.27.

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on May 19, 2016 at 9:01am PDT

Also see this latest Featurette with Depp for ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS:

Synopsis:

Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) has spent the past few years following in her father’s footsteps and sailing the high seas. Upon her return to London, she comes across a magical looking glass and returns to the fantastical realm of Underland and her friends the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen), Absolem (Alan Rickman), the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) and the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), who is not himself. The Hatter has lost his Muchness, so Mirana (Anne Hathaway) sends Alice on a quest to borrow the Chronosphere, a metallic globe inside the chamber of the Grand Clock which powers all time. Returning to the past, she comes across friends – and enemies – at different points in their lives, and embarks on a perilous race to save the Hatter before time runs out.

The ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS exhibit runs Friday, May 20-27, 2016 at 277 Queen Street West in Toronto! Join the conversation using the hashtag #ALICEONQUEEN. And it’s free!

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Friday, May 27, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We loved 2010’s Alice in Wonderland, so fans will be thrilled to know the cast is reuniting in ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, out next spring.

Synopsis:
Alice Through the Looking Glass reunites the all-star cast from the worldwide blockbuster phenomenon, including: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter along with the voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. We are also introduced to several new characters: Zanik Hightopp (Rhys Ifans), the Mad Hatter’s father and Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen), a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.

See the Teaser:

Walt Disney Studios Pictures Canada release ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Friday, May 27, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Pictures Canada)

We’re huge fans of Guillermo del Toro and are thrilled to present to you a chance to see first his latest masterpiece, CRIMSON PEAK, which was made in Toronto! Screenings take place in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton on Wednesday, October 14, 2015.

Synopsis:
Legendary Pictures’ Crimson Peak, a co-production with Universal Pictures, is a haunting gothic horror story directed by the master of dark fairy tales, Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy series, Pacific Rim), written by del Toro & Matthew Robbins and starring Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam and Jim Beaver.

In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author Edith Cushing is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds…and remembers.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this post at Mr. Will on Facebook. Tell me whom Edith should choose, the childhood friend or the mysterious outsider. Also remember to indicate your city.

G’luck Willionaire$!

Universal Pictures Canada release CRIMSON PEAK on Friday, October 16, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Toronto-filmed CRIMSON PEAK finally gets a Trailer release and it looks bloody terrifying! This is Director Guillermo Del Toro like we’ve never seen! We don’t think we can wait till Halloween for this!

See the Trailer:

Official Synopsis:
Legendary Pictures’ Crimson Peak, a co-production with Universal Pictures, is a haunting gothic horror story directed by the master of dark fairy tales, Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy series, Pacific Rim), written by del Toro & Matthew Robbins and starring Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam and Jim Beaver.

In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds… and remembers. 

Universal Pictures Canada release CRIMSON PEAK on Friday, October 16, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

One of our fave Films at TIFF ’13 was TRACKS. We’re pleased our Friends in the U.S. finally will have a chance to see it as it gets a released later this week.  In celebration of the Film’s iTunes and Video-on-Demand release next week, we are offering Readers a chance to win a free iTunes Download of the Film!  Mia Wasikowska is phenomenal in this. You must see it.  It is heart-felt, therapeutic and hugely emotional.

Our Review here.

Watch the Trailer below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Canadian Readers only please.

Mongrel Media release TRACKS on iTunes and Video-on-Demand Tuesday, September 23, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

After receiving much praise at TIFF ’13, Richard Ayoade‘s THE DOUBLE now gets a Home Entertainment release exactly one year later. D Films and Mr. Will want to give Readers across Canada a chance to win a copy on DVD!

Official Synopsis:

Inspired by Dostoyevsky‘s Novella of the same name, THE DOUBLE  is a Dark Comedy written by Ayoade and Avi Korine (Mister Lonely), a funny and frightening story about an insignificant man driven to near breakdown by the appearance of his Doppelganger.

Simon (Jesse Eisenberg) is a timid Man, scratching out an isolated existence in an indifferent world. He is overlooked at work, scorned by his Mother, and ignored by the Woman of his dreams (Mia Wasikowska). He feels powerless to change any of these things. The arrival of a new Co-worker, James (also Jesse Eisenberg), serves to upset the balance. James is both Simon‘s exact physical double and his opposite – confident, charismatic and good with women. To Simon‘s horror, James slowly starts taking over his life.

Watch the Trailer below:

Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska & Mr. Will:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.

D Films release THE DOUBLE on Tuesday, September 9,  2014.

(Photo/video credit: D Films/Mr. Will Wong)

After receiving much praise at TIFF ’13, Richard Ayoade‘s THE DOUBLE soon will see a Canadian release and both D Films and Mr. Will want to give Readers across Canada a chance to win Run-of-Engagement Passes to see it!

Official Synopsis:

Inspired by Dostoyevsky‘s Novella of the same name, THE DOUBLE  is a Dark Comedy written by Ayoade and Avi Korine (Mister Lonely), a funny and frightening story about an insignificant man driven to near breakdown by the appearance of his Doppelganger.

Simon (Jesse Eisenberg) is a timid Man, scratching out an isolated existence in an indifferent world. He is overlooked at work, scorned by his Mother, and ignored by the Woman of his dreams (Mia Wasikowska). He feels powerless to change any of these things. The arrival of a new Co-worker, James (also Jesse Eisenberg), serves to upset the balance. James is both Simon‘s exact physical double and his opposite – confident, charismatic and good with women. To Simon‘s horror, James slowly starts taking over his life.

Watch the Trailer below:

Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska & Mr. Will:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.

D Films release THE DOUBLE on Friday, June 13, 214.

(Photo/video credit: D Films/Mr. Will Wong)

In celebration of her glorious Best Actress win in Cannes yesterday, here is the Trailer for David Cronenberg‘s gripping MAPS TO THE STARS, starring Julianne Moore. Filmed between Toronto and Los Angeles, this Thriller follows a Hollywood Family chasing fame and Celebrity. Moore‘s performance as a desperate, aging Actress has has singled-out early as the performance to look-out for this forthcoming Awards Season. Expect this to debut in a grand way this September at TIFF ’14!

Watch the Red-Band Trailer below:

Mr. Will and The Cast of Maps to the Stars:

eOne Films release MAPS TO THE STARS.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)