raul castillo
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “THE INSPECTION”
levelFILM and Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to see TIFF ’22 selection THE INSPECTION, which has won raves on the Festival circuit.
The Screening takes places November 30, 2022 in Toronto at Cineplex Cinemas Varsity at 8:00 PM.
To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet the Contest Tweet below for an extra chance.
Enter for a chance to #win Advance Passes to see THE INSPECTION in Toronto.https://t.co/TY07UwuPsv pic.twitter.com/7h9zWXTx7Z
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) November 22, 2022
Rules and regulations here.
levelFILM release THE INSPECTION in theatres December 2, 2022.
(Photo/video credit: levelFILM/A24)
#TIFF22: “THE INSPECTION”
By Mr. Will Wong
Based on Writer/Director Elegance Bratton‘s autobiographical account of his time in the military, THE INSPECTION truly is a hidden gem of the Festival.
The Film centers on French (Jeremy Pope), a young black gay man who finds himself homeless, with his mother (Gabrielle Union) kicking him out, disapproving of his sexuality. He decides to join the military, but when others suspect that he is homosexual, he finds himself without an ally as his fellow recruits vie with him to graduate a Marine. But not first without testing his every physical and mental limit.
He finds himself attracted to his Drill Sargeant (Raúl Castillo) who encourages him to keep to task despite being met with a complete lack of support. And underneath it all, French is eager to make his mother proud, hopeful for a reconciliation.
Bratton gives us a deeply-personal and compelling film, which is detailed in its exploration of the rigorous training these recruits undergo. It isn’t long before we are drawn into this world, seeing the world through French‘s eyes, thanks to an outstanding performance by Pope in the lead role. He is vulnerable, fearful yet driven to make it. He masters the physical demands of the role as well. An unrecognizable Union also delivers a superb performance even though she is seen sparingly, breathing humanity into a challenging character. It also proves very tough not to gravitate to Castillo, who commands the screen, grounding the story which is entrenched in a world of hyper-toxic masculinity.
Such a fantastic film and a story that needs to be seen in understanding the events that led to the need for a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy permitting homosexuals to serve in the military.
THE INSPECTION screens as follows at TIFF ’22:
Thu, Sep 08 IN-PERSON Royal Alexandra Theatre 8:30 pm
Sat, Sep 10 IN-PERSON Scotiabank Theatre Toronto 11:30am
Fri, Sep 16 IN-PERSON Scotiabank Theatre Toronto 11:30am
#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TEASER FOR “NIGHT TEETH”
This Cast is so intriguing! Right in time for Halloween comes NIGHT TEETH, arriving next month on Netflix.
Synopsis:
To earn some extra cash, quirky college student Benny (Jorge Lendeborg, Jr.) moonlights as a chauffeur for one night. His task: drive two mysterious young women (Debby Ryan and Lucy Fry) around Los Angeles for a night of party hopping. Taken captive by his clients’ charm, he soon learns that his passengers have their own plans for him – and an insatiable thirst for blood. As his night spins out of control, Benny is thrust into the middle of a clandestine war that pits rival tribes of vampires against the protectors of the human world, led by his brother (Raúl Castillo), who will stop at nothing to send them back into the shadows. With sunrise fast approaching, Benny is forced to choose between fear and temptation if he wants to stay alive and save the City of Angels.
Cast: Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Debby Ryan, Lucy Fry, Raúl Castillo, Alfie Allen, Alexander Ludwig, Sydney Sweeney, and Megan Fox
NIGHT TEETH arrives on Netflix October 20, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR NETFLIX’S “SEVEN SECONDS”
How long does it take to bury the truth?
We love Regina King and this is exactly the type of role we’ve been waiting to see her in. SEVEN SECONDS looks absolutely gripping and you must see this new Trailer for the Netflix Original Series.
Synopsis:
In an instant, life is forever changed for Brenton Butler and his family. After a white cop accidentally hits and critically injures a black teenager, a northeastern city explodes with racial tensions, an attempted cover up and its aftermath, and the trial of the century. From creator and executive producer, Veena Sud (The Killing) comes Seven Seconds – a thrilling new anthological crime drama that explores the human stories behind the headlines.
The series stars two-time Emmy winner Regina King (American Crime) alongside breakout British actress Clare-Hope Ashitey (Doctor Foster), Russell Hornsby (Fences), Beau Knapp (Sand Castle), Michael Mosley (Ozark), David Lyons (Safe Haven), Raul Castillo (Special Correspondents), Zackary Momoh (A United Kingdom), Nadia Alexander (Blame) and Coley Speaks (Circle).
See the Trailer:
SEVEN SECONDS streams on Netflix Friday February 23, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
#FIRSTLOOK: HBO’S “LOOKING” STARRING JONATHAN GROFF
I am absolutely unafraid to admit that HBO‘s LOOKING is my newest Guilty Pleasure. As its first Season reached a half-way point this weekend, I look forward with a bit of sadness that there are only a few more weeks till it concludes. And then comes an excruciating wait for another Season. Hopefully.
The Premise is simple, but there are so many, many rich unafraid-to-go-there layers in this Series from Creator Michael Lannan. Set in San Francisco, we get an honest look at the lives of three Gay Men: Patrick (Jonathan Groff), Agustín (Frankie J. Alvarez) and Dom (Murray Bartlett). If this were Sex and the City, Patrick – a Video Game Developer looking for love – certainly would be our Carrie. Agustín – a coupled Artist amidst a bit of a creative Dry Spell – and Dom – a Waiter aspiring to embark once again as a Restauranteur after a big disappointment – don’t so clearly fit the archetypes of Samantha, Miranda nor Charlotte, but as the Series gets rolling, we get the feeling big changes are about to take place for both of them. We can’t wait to see what happens next and we have a feeling there might be a bit of trouble. The knowing glances we get from our three Leading Men capture so subtly that unique dynamic among Gay Men of perhaps once being potential Lovers before deciding ultimately to be Friends.
Fans of GLEE and FROZEN will feel a sense of familiarity with Groff who has starred in both, the latter still freezing its position near the top of the Box Office, and he is just really, really good here. He owns it as a picky, fumbling Patrick, constantly reminding us the importance of using a filter when we speak, but we are with him every step of the way watching him redeem himself each time.
In one super-awkward moment in the Series’ third Episode he hits-on Kevin (Russell Tovey), whom we later learn actually is his soon-to-be Boss. Raúl Castillo plays Richie, whom Patrick meets on the Subway and we become enamoured at first glance. Did I mention, the Cast is heartbreakingly-handsome?
If that weren’t enough, the amazing Scott Bakula also stars in the Series as a Floral Shop Owner, Lynn. We meet him in a towel only in a Steam Room with Dom. Yes, I just said Scott Bakula and Steam Room in one sentence.
LOOKING looks and feels like San Francisco, taking us away for 30 minutes to another place every time. The eclectic Electronic-Pop selections also are just pitch-perfect. While most eyes are on HBO‘s Runaway Hit TRUE DETECTIVE right now, this new Comedy Series certainly isn’t to be ignored.
Anyhow, I’ll let you Wongsters discover LOOKING on your own. It airs Sunday nights on HBO Canada at 10:30 PM EST.
Some of the more memorable moments thus far:
Patrick (Jonathan Groff) hitting-on eventual Boss Kevin (Russell Tovey)
Patrick (Jonathan Groff) meets Richie (Raúl Castillo)
Official Artwork:
(Photo credit: HBO)
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