Searchlight Pictures x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see TIFF ’22 selection, EMPIRE OF LIGHT from visionary Director Sam Mendes.

Screenings take place as follows Wednesday, December 7, 2022:

• Toronto: Cineplex Varsity at 7:30 pm
• Montreal: Cineplex Forum at 7:30 pm 
• Vancouver: Fifth Avenue at 7:00 pm 

Synopsis:

From Academy Award®-winning director and writer Sam Mendes, EMPIRE OF LIGHT is a moving drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times. Set in and around a faded old cinema in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, it follows Hilary (Olivia Colman) a cinema manager struggling with her mental health, and Stephen (Micheal Ward), a new employee who longs to escape this provincial town in which he faces daily adversity. Both Hilary and Stephen find a sense of belonging through their unlikely and tender relationship and come to experience the healing power of music, cinema, and community.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate in the comments there your City. Re-Tweet the Contest Tweet below for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

Searchlight Pictures release EMPIRE OF LIGHT in theatres December 9, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

We have an official Trailer fo TIFF ’22 selection EMPIRE OF LIGHT starring Olivia Colman, from Director Sam Mendes.

Synopsis:

Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, EMPIRE OF LIGHT is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, from Academy Award®-winning director Sam Mendes.

Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, Colin Firth

Searchlight Pictures release EMPIRE OF LIGHT December 9, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

By Amanda Gilmore

Set in the 1980s in a seaside town in England, Empire of Light follows Hilary (Olivia Colman) and Steven (Michael Ward) who work at The Empire picture house. Hilary has worked at the movie theatre for a long time, however, Steven is a new employee. The two share a connection and begin a relationship that changes them both.

Writer-Director Sam Mendes gives us a love letter to Cinema through the love story blossoming between his two characters. The Empire picture house is one we don’t often see anymore. For instance, it has the bright lights of a marquee on the outside. Inside, it looks more like a theatre rather than a cinema. This picture house, and the love story, is beautifully captured by the immense talent of revered Cinematographer Roger Deakins.

The Empire is the backdrop of the connection Hilary and Steven have. It’s one based on respect, care and empathy. The two are experiencing life differently. Hilary lives a repetitive, mundane life. Oh, and she’s never seen a movie before. While Steven has his whole life ahead of him and desires to go to college. As their relationship goes on, we notice that they are struggling with more than we thought.

Hilary has been dealing with mental health issues. She recently sought help and returned to work. However, she came off her medication and begins to relapse. Colman, once again, gives a breathtaking performance. Steven is dealing with racism and nationalism happening. He gets assaulted both verbally and physically. Ward is a revelation as the empathetic, patient Steven. Colman and Ward have undeniable chemistry. Although the audience is aware that this relationship won’t last due to their life experiences, we still root for them because the connection they share changes them both for the better.

Empire of Light screens as follows at TIFF ’22:

Mon, Sep 12 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre at 3:00 pm

Tue, Sep 13 IN-PERSON at Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre at 3:00 pm

Sat, Sep 17 IN-PERSON at Royal Alexandra Theatre at 5:00 pm

It was just announced earlier today that Director Sam Mendes will be honoured with the TIFF EBERT DIRECTOR Award at this year’s TIFF Tribute Awards Gala, taking place Sunday, September 11, 2022 at Royal York Hotel.

TIFF will be presenting the Canadian Premiere of Mendes’ most recent work Empire of Light, which he wrote, directed, and produced. Mendes made his feature film debut at the Festival in 1999 with the World Premiere of American Beauty, a TIFF People’s Choice Award winner, for which he was honoured with an Oscar in the Best Director category.

“From his first appearance at TIFF with American Beauty, director Sam Mendes brought his exacting and lyrical vision of cinema to Toronto,” said Bailey. “We are delighted to honour his unique voice and body of work with this year’s TIFF Ebert Director Award.” 

Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, Searchlight Pictures’ Empire of Light is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema. Starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, with Toby Jones and Colin Firth, Mendes also teams up with award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, who was also a TIFF Tribute Award recipient in 2019.

The TIFF Ebert Director Award recognizes filmmakers who have exemplified greatness in their careers. Named after legendary film critic Roger Ebert, the Award marks an evolution of the Festival’s Roger Ebert Golden Thumb Award, which in past has gone to celebrated visionaries such as Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis, Ava DuVernay, Wim Wenders, and the late Agnès Varda. Past recipients who received the Award since the TIFF Tribute Awards were introduced include Denis Villeneuve (2021), Chloé Zhao (2020), and Taika Waititi (2019).

Mendes joins the recently announced list of 2022 TIFF Tribute Award honourees, the ensemble of My Policeman, who will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by Polestar. More information on the 2022 TIFF Tribute Awards event and this year’s honourees will follow in the coming weeks.

The TIFF Tribute Awards have served as an awards-season bellwether, with past honourees such as Deakins, Waititi, Zhao, Jessica Chastain, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Joaquin Phoenix going on to win awards on the international stage. The TIFF Tribute Awards honour the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, recognizing leading industry members, acting talent, directorial expertise, new talent, and a below-the-line artist and creator. The Awards event also serves as TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser to support TIFF’s Every Story fund, which promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film and TIFF’s core mission to transform the way people see the world through film. 

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a copy of Academy Award-winning 1917 on Blu-ray!

Synopsis:
Sam Mendes, the Oscar®-winning director of Skyfall, Spectre and American Beauty, brings his singular vision to his World War I epic, 1917.

At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (Captain Fantastic’s George MacKay) and Blake (Game of Thrones’ Dean-Charles Chapman) are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers—Blake’s own brother among them.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Share this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweet this Tweet via @mrwillw.

Rules and regulations here.

1917 is in stores Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)

The Golden Globe Awards took place tonight at the Beverly Hilton, honouring together the best in Television and Cinema in one star-studded affair. The Awards for the first-time ever, served guests an all-vegan menu with Climate Change being front and center in discussion. Funnyman Ricky Gervais hosted a fifth and final time and once again nobody was spared of his biting humour, whether it be Leonardo DiCaprio being teased for his young girlfriends, The Irishman being too long or everyone as a whole being sent-off for the evening to go enjoy their booze and drugs, which failed to be caught by NBC Censors.

ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD  took home three scores including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Motion Picture Screenplay (Quentin Tarantino) and Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Brad Pitt).

Sam Mendes’ 1917 would win Best Director in a Motion Picture and also Best Motion Picture – Drama. The Film gets a wide release next week.

JOKER would be awarded Best Original Score in a Motion Picture, in addition to heavy favourite Joaquin Phoenix winning for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. Renée Zellweger as predicted, would take Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama after a 17-year absence from the ceremony.

In a couple surprises, ROCKETMAN also took home two Golden Globes, for Best Song with (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Taron Egerton). For Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Awkwafina would pull-off the upset winning for her performance in universally-acclaimed The Farewell.

HBO‘s SUCCESSION and Amazon‘s FLEABAG were both the big winners in the Television categories. The former took Best TV Series Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series Drama (Brian Cox). The latter took Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Musical or Comedy (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). In addition to starring in Flebag, Waller-Bridge also wrote the Series, based on her one-woman Play.

Saturday Night Live‘s Kate McKinnon presented Ellen DeGeneres the Carol Burnett Award and reflected on how DeGeneres paved the way for her as a gay woman in Entertainment. “She risked her entire life to tell the truth. If I hadn’t seen her, I wouldn’t be on TV.”. DeGeneres when accepting her Award told the audience, “The real power in Television is not that people watch my Show, but that people watch my show and are inspired to put some of that into their own lives.”.

Charlize Theron presented the Cecil B. DeMille Award to screen veteran Tom Hanks to a standing ovation, recounting how he gave her one of her first big breaks auditioning for 1996’s That Thing You Do and giving her a second chance with a five minute break after being what she called “a sweaty mess”. A tearful Hanks gave thanks to his wife Rita Wilson and five children, stating “They are a loving group of people who put-up me with me being away months and months at a time. I can’t tell you what your love means to me.”. He credits his peers, stating “You’re a dope if you don’t steal from the ones you work with – I’ve worked with many who are known by one name like Meryl, Denzel and Antonio“.  He shares a bit of advice based on his years of experience, saying “Showing-up on-time is one of the greatest liberating acts you can give others in a Movie, because when the time comes you have to hit all the marks and go there.”.

There were several winning looks on the Red Carpet including a glamorous red Vera Wang dress donned by Scarlett Johannson. Nicole Kidman also came in red, appearing every bit a Movie Star in Versace. Rising Star Ana de Armas sparkled like a sapphire in Ralph & Russo at her first-ever Globes appearance.  Jennifer Lopez drew a lot of divided opinions on Social Media with her gold bow dress by Valentino.

Complete list of winners here.

The Oscars air Sunday, February 9, 2020, 8 PM EST on ABC. Nominees will be announced Monday, January 13, 2020.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see 1917. Screenings take place as follows:

Screenings: Wed. Dec 18

TORONTO //  Cineplex Cinemas Varsity and VIP @ 7:00PM

Screenings: Wed. Jan 8

VANCOUVER // Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver @ 7:00PM    

MONTREAL // Cinema Banque Scotia Montreal @ 7:00PM

Synopsis:
Sam Mendes, the Oscar®-winning director of Skyfall, Spectre and American Beauty, brings his singular vision to his World War I epic, 1917.

At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (Captain Fantastic’s George MacKay) and Blake (Game of Thrones’ Dean-Charles Chapman) are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers—Blake’s own brother among them.

1917 is directed by Sam Mendes, who wrote the screenplay with Krysty Wilson-Cairns (Showtime’s Penny Dreadful).

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

1917 is out Christmas Day in Toronto and across Canada Friday, January 10, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

The moment we’ve all been waiting for! At long last, a proper Teaser for SPECTRE aka Bond 24 to kick-off our weekend!

Official Synopsis:
In SPECTRE, a cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE. Sam Mendes returns to direct SPECTRE, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as 007 for the fourth time. SPECTRE is produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, from a script by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade.

See the Teaser:

Sony Pictures Canada release what promises to be the biggest BOND Film yet, SPECTRE, on Friday, November 6, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)

A new Vlog has surfaced for SPECTRE, which is currently in production in Italy.  This new Post features Director Sam Mendes who tells us why it is he has signed on for a second time in the internationally-renowned BOND Franchise.

He says, says, “The reasons I’m doing the second Bond movie are the reasons I would do any movie, really, which is all to do with the story.  And in this movie, ‘Spectre,’ what you have is a movie entirely driven by Bond.  He is on a mission from the very beginning.”. Additionally, “It’s about whether or not to pursue the life he’s always pursued, whether he matters and is he going to continue or not.  And you’re going to have to come to see the movie to find out whether he does.”

See the Vlog here:

Sony Pictures Canada release SPECTRE on Friday, November 6, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)