A new Canadian release date has been set for the theatrical release of THE CROODS: A NEW AGE.

About THE CROODS: A NEW AGE

The Croods have survived their fair share of dangers and disasters,from fanged prehistoric beasts to surviving the end of the world, but now they will face their biggest challenge of all: another family

The Croods need a new place to live. So, the first prehistoric family sets off into the world in search of a safer place to call home. When they discover an idyllic walled-in paradise that meets all their needs, they think their problems are solved … except for one thing. Another family already lives there: the Bettermans.

The Bettermans (emphasis on the “better”)—with their elaborate tree house, amazing inventions and irrigated acres of fresh produce—are a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. When they take the Croods in as the world’s first houseguests, it isn’t long before tensions escalate between the cave family and the modern family.

Just when all seems lost, a new threat will propel both families on an epic adventure outside the safety of the wall, one that will force them to embrace their differences, draw strength from each other and forge a future together.

The Croods: A New Age features the voice talent of returning stars Nicolas Cage as Grug Crood, Catherine Keener as Ugga Crood, Emma Stone as their daughter, Eep; Ryan Reynolds as Eep’s boyfriend, Guy; Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine) as Thunk and Cloris Leachman as Gran. They’re joined by new stars Peter Dinklage (HBO’s Game of Thrones) as Phil Betterman, Leslie Mann (Blockers) as Hope Betterman, and Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi) as their daughter, Dawn.

The film is directed by Joel Crawford.

Universal Pictures Canada release THE CROODS: A NEW AGE Wednesday, November 25, 2020.

(Photo credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Mandy is one of the Films in the Midnight cateogory at Sundance this year. Its directed by Panos Cosmatos and stars Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough and Linus Roache. It follows outsiders Red Miller (Cage) and Mandy Bloom (Riseborough) who live a loving and peaceful life. But when their haven gets savagely destroyed by cult leader Jeremiah Sand (Roache), Red seeks bloody vengeance. Director Cosmatos and both stars Cage and Roache were on hand at the Sundance Film Festival today for their junket. The three joke privately amongst each other and with journalists while speaking passionately about Mandy.

Q: Nicolas and Linus could you talk about how you got attached to this project and why you wanted to be apart of it? And Panos can you speak about why you wanted to make this Film?

A: Cage: I wanted to work with Panos I saw Behind The Black Rainbow I thought it was powerfully unique, a world unto itself, visionary, artistic, hallucinogenic. And I felt that to be able to play a man with the pathos of Red Miller in that kind of world would give me something that I had never done before.

Roache: I saw Black Rainbow after I read the script and saw the character that Panos had created it was an opportunity to kind of explore the outer limits of the male ego in all its grandiosity and pompous and outrageous violence. It was a gift of a role to be given. And to get to work with Nick was a Bucket List dream come true. So it couldn’t have been a better opportunity for me.

Cosmatos: I stated writing Mandy at the same time that I was writing Black Rainbow which was after the death of my father. Which was compounded on top of the death of my mother which I had suppressed and not dealt with. So I realized I had to face these things or I was going to be eaten alive. So I started writing Black Rainbow and Mandy at the same time and it wasn’t on purpose, but I realized in retrospect that they are both articulating two separate parts of the same thing. Black Rainbow deals a lot with control and I think I was a representation of me pushing in my emotions and feeling trapped. And Mandy is the opposite of that which is releasing all these emotions, its a very outward expression of those feelings. I’ve said that Black Rainbow is like an inhale and Mandy and exhale. But because of the feelings I was working through I became very obsessed with the theme of revenge at that time. Because it can be a very cathartic genre. I wanted to make a revenge movie that centered around the person that was being avenged as much as the avenger. I feel in the Film Mandy is ritually-killed because of the male ego and in the Film she is sort of reborn as an extension of her inner world. She is almost reborn as a Goddess and Red becomes like the Demigod.

Q: How was working with Andrea Riseborough?

A: Roache: Oh my God she’s amazing.

Cosmatos: I think Andrea is one of the greatest actresses of her generation, she’s a chameleon. I have been having people come up to me and telling me that they didn’t realize it was Andrea playing Mandy until about three-quarters of the way through.

Roache: I just had this one very intense scene with her and it was wonderful to do. But last night seeing the movie it kind of blew my mind that she represents all the different facets of the feminine. She’s like the mothers, the sisters, the daughters, she the lover. And it’s great.

Cosmatos: There are certain things in this film that are rooted way back in my past. Mandy to me is, when I was a kid there was a shitty fair in our town called the JC Fair, there was this stall that was selling ZZ Top wallets. There was this lady that was selling all the wallets and she was like a metal head who wore glasses. And for some reason I just fell in love with her. When I walked away I forgot the wallet and she called after me and my heart leaped. And I turned around and she said “you forgot your f***ing wallet.” I had an idea of Mandy in my head and I don’t think that Mandy was complete until Andrea come along.

Roache: But also as a woman though she brought the brokenness of her, the scar of the face, and that this woman was so warm and vulnerable. And almost otherworldly, like living in a fantasy world. Andrea really caught the, she sort of, she just did it unashamedly, there was no vanity in it. There was no “look at me.”

Cosmatos: Mandy is like the outsider looking out, I like characters like that.

There is no set release date yet for Mandy but more information can be found here.

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

It’s day two here at Sundance Film Festival and the momentum is building quickly. Main Street in Park City is buzzing with parties day and night. One of the main hotspots was the Sundance TV Kickoff Party where we spotted the likes of Terry Crews and Dominic Cooper. Moments after, a much in-the-news Ashley Judd was seen in the vicinity stopping for a Selfie.

It isn’t only the parties that are warming-up a snowy Park City, it’s also the starpower. Several Red Carpets took place including American Animals, a Heist Thriller starring Evan Peters and Barry Keoghan; Don’t Worry He Wont Get Far On Foot directed by Gus Van Sant (Milk, Elephant) and starring Jonah Hill and Joaquin Phoenix about a disabled rights Activist John Callahan who turns to drawing after becoming paralyzed; Lizzie starring Producer Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart which is said to be Beautiful Creatures-like and based on the Borden Family murders; and Mandy starring Nicolas Cage as a man hunting a religious sect which killed his wife, all premiered tonight in Park City.

See the Teaser for the new Van Sant Film below:

Wait until you get to know John Callahan.

Get your first look at Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot​, starring Joaquin Phoenix, @JonahHill​, Rooney Mara and Jack Black​. Directed by Gus Van Sant.

In select theaters May 11. #DWHWGFOF pic.twitter.com/Sigc28D7V4

— Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot (@dontworrymovie) January 16, 2018

Sevigny at Sundance with Lizzie:

Chloe Sevigny is premiering her flick #Lizzie at #Sundance! https://t.co/MHWQtk74ju

— JustJared.com (@JustJared) January 20, 2018

Salt Lake City also is booming with that Sundance spirit! It saw a Premiere for You Were Never Really Here which stars Sundance “It Boy” Phoenix. This is the Film for which he won Best Actor at Cannes last year, premiering at The Grand Theatre. Director Lynne Ramsay was in attendance.

 Stay tuned for more!

(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)

With great sadness, we must say farewell to another TIFF.  And with fatigue, a limp in my right foot and great pain in my neck today after a gruelling run these past 11 days, I look back at the happy times, the regrets and what TIFF ’14 might hold.  Despite all these mixed emotions, I know it won’t be long before I’m begging for more!  I live for the Toronto International Film Festival – the greatest in Film Festival the World – and wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.

Here’s a look back at some of the Highlights for me of the Festival in Compiled Lists:

MR. WILL’S MOST GRACIOUS 10

Anyone who encountered these Stars up-close and personal during TIFF ’13 can vouch that they deserve a warm round of applause for the respect, appreciation and courtesy they’ve shown our City. Whether it be Jessica Chastain‘s consistent grace and humility towards her Fans, Brad Pitt‘s surprise Red Carpet appearance in which he took several Photos with Fans at the 12 Years a Slave Premiere, Hugh Jackman stopping in the rain outside the Press Conference for Prisoners to meet and great all his Supporters individually – these Stars understand exactly what the Festival is all about for us Fans!

1. Jessica Chastain
2. Sandra Bullock
3. Tom Hiddleston
4. Daniel Radcliffe
5.. Brad Pitt
6. Josh Brolin
7. Hugh Jackman
8. Jennifer Aniston
9. Nicolas Cage
10. Emma Thompson

MR. WILL’S  SUCCESSFUL 6

These six Films gained a great amount of buzz and momentum coming out of TIFF ’13 in advance of their forthcoming Awards Season Best Picture Campaigns.  Sadly, August: Osage Country didn’t wind up getting critical love universally (I enjoyed it much!) hoped for, but it still remains a major Contender in the Acting categories – especially for a heartbreakingly-absent Queen Meryl Streep.

1. 12 Years a Slave
2. Labor Day
3. Dallas Buyers Club
4. Prisoners
5. Gravity
6. Rush

MR. WILL’S EMERGING 5

These five up-and coming Stars caused quite a stir wherever they spotted around TIFF ’13.  This time next year, expect to know them pretty much on a first name-basis.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch
2. Emilia Clarke
3. Daniel Brühl
4. Jai Courtney
5. Taylor Schilling

MR. WILL’S NAUGHTY LIST

Although we try to keep things positive here, we remain hopeful that next time these Stars visit our City, they show us a bit more Fan Appreciation – not just only when the Cameras are on – than they showed this year.  Little things like picking-up a  Sharpie or taking time to pose for Photos with Fans, or maybe not distancing themselves a 15 feet from the Barricades where their Fans had queued for hours to see them, would be a first step.  In all fairness, some had hyper-assertive Handlers or lateness to blame.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch
2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
3. Scarlett Johansson
4. Mila Kunis
5. Emilia Clarke

MR. WILL’S FASHIONABLE 5

These Stars certainly made a Statement whether it be out and about in our City or on the Red Carpet. I still cannot get over Kitsch‘s gray-on-gray Suit he wore at the Premiere of The Grand Seduction and certainly was a bit obsessed with Toni Collette‘s new Bangs. Julia Roberts was a Vision in her Dolce & Gabbana Dress at the Premiere of August: Osage County too, but my favourite look was Sandra Bullock at the Gravity Premiere in Narciso Rodriguez!

1. Sandra Bullock
2. Julia Roberts
3. Taylor Kitsch
4. Toni Collette
5. Jessica Chastain

And who exactly did Mr. Will got a Photo-with at TIFF ’13?

Ben Cotton, Dane Cook, Jason Reitman, Josh Brolin, Nicole Kidman, Anika Noni Rose, Bill Condon, Donnie Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg, Jack Huston, Tom Arnold, John Torturro, Lauren Lee Smith, Sami Gayle, Mary Walsh, Saoirse Ronan, Michael C. Hall, Tye Sheridan, Katie Boland, Aaron Abrams, Kelly Rowan, Daniel Radcliffe, Taylor Schilling, Effie Exarchopoulos, Dan Stevens, Daniel Brühl, Alicia Vikander, Tom Hiddleston, deadmau5, Carice Van Houten, Tom Welling, Vanessa Paradis, Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper, Taylor Kitsch, Toni Collette, Dakota Fanning, Jai Courtney, Ciaran Hinds, Jessica Chastain, Emilia Clarke, Jared Harris, Adelaide Kane, James Lafferty, Jennifer Morrison, David Arquette, Alfre Woodard, Ryan Kwanten, Catherine O’Hara, Mark Boone Junior, Will Forte, Emma Thompson, Cara Gee, Demian Bichir, Jude Law, Tom Wilkinson, Alfonso Cuaron, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Thompson (again!), Lea Seydoux, Robert Baker, Amanda Walsh, Adam Driver, Keanu Reeves and Nicolas Cage.

To re-visit some of the amazing names that I snapped in the City over the Festival, click here.

To read some of my Reviews of the Films that premiered at TIFF ’13, click here.  More Reviews to come over the next day or two as I play catch-up after all the madness.

…until next year, Wongsters!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

*Photos taken on Samsung Galaxy S4 and Olympus E-PL5

We’re almost half-way through TIFF ’13 and the Star Sightings just don’t stop.  Among the Talent we saw today include Marquee  names, and several more were seen at the popular InStyle Magazine Party held annually at the Windsor Arms Hotel.

Michael C. Hall at TIFF ’13 with Kill Your Darlings.

Saoirse Ronan at TIFF ’13 for Mary Queen of Scots.

Daniel Radcliffe at TIFF ’13 with The F Word, Kill Your Darlings and Horns.

Nicolas Cage runs the Red Carpet for Joe at Princess of Wales Theatre, zipping furiously through line of Autograph Seekers in record time.

Sandra Bullock greets hoards of Fans while promoting Gravity.  She was absolutely wonderful and in charge of the situation.

James Hetfield of Metallica promoting new Documentary, Through the Never.

Acting Legend Tom Wilkinson who stars in Belle at TIFF ’13.

David Arquette surprises at the InStyle Magazine Party, donning earrings with his Daughter Coco‘s name.

Jennifer Morrison at the InStyle Magazine Party.

Jared Harris at the InStyle Magazine Party.

Abigail Breslin at the InStyle Magazine Party.

Jessica Chastain at the InStyle Magazine Party.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

*Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy S4 and Olympus E-PL5

At long last the TIFF ’13 Guest List has been announced and among the Marquee names we can expect to see in Toronto in two weeks are phenomenal!  Although speak of Brad Pitt and George Clooney making appearances here didn’t amount to much more than rumour, this year the Female Contingent shines brightest with several of Hollywood’s A-List set to present their latest Oscar Vehicles here.

Among the Celebrities expected this year are:

Emilia Clarke, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Tom Felton, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey, Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Sarah Gadon,  Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Mike Myers, Emma Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Amy Poehler, Keanu Reeves, Kate Winslet, Adam Driver, Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Owen Wilson, Ralph Fiennes, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Gyllenhaal, JudeLaw, Jessica Chastain, Jai Courtney, Mila Kunis, Pierce Brosnan, Sandra Bullock, Jason Bateman, Zac Efron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Colin Firth, Idris Elba, Ed Harris, Michael C. Hall, Annette Benning, James McAvoy, Liam Neeson, Steven Soderbergh, Ben Foster, Anton Yelchin, Maria Bello, Jennifer Garner, Nicolas Cage, Daniel Brühl, Tom Hiddleston, Jack Huston, Hugh Jackman, Jessica Lange, Melissa Leo, Adam Levine, Catherine O’Hara, Kurt Russell, Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Berenger, Tom Wilkinson, Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Clive Owen, Zach Galifianakis, Emily Watson, John Hawkes, Alan Rickman, Toni Collette, Josh Brolin, Alice Cooper, Tiger Chen, Rebecca Hall, Will Forte, Kevin Zegers, Taylor Kitsch, Juliette Binoche, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Thandie Newton,  Terrence Howard, James Hetfield, Thomas Haden Church, Tim Robbins,  Glenn Close, Dakota Fanning, Philip Glass and several more!

Keep checking back here as the Toronto International Film Festival makes additions as we get closer to Thursday, September 5, 2013 when TIFF ’13 kicks-off!  The Festival runs till Sunday, September 15, 2013.

The official Schedule has been announced and you can now start planning your Festival right here. Download the Official Schedule right here!

Single Tickets go on sale on Sunday, September 1, 2013 on TIFF‘s Website here.

Things are about to get real exciting around here!  Happy TIFF, indeed!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)