Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Blindspotting tells the tale of Collin (Daveed Diggs) in his final three days of parole and his hotheaded best friend Miles (Rafael Casal).
What is special about Blindspotting is that it tackles the issues of race relations in a unique way. The script, written by Diggs and Casal, flips back and forth between Comedy and Drama. One minute audiences will be laughing at the Buddy Comedy it seems to be, but then hit hard with the reality of race relations in America. Not only does Diggs and Casal do a great job of writing the script but also breathing life into their fully developed characters. There isn’t a second where you don’t believe the two haven’t been friends their entire lives. And you feel for them just as much as you question their mistakes. Top the script and performances off with energetic direction from Carlos Lopez Estrada and this is a Film not to be missed.
Blindspotting screens at Sundance on Jan. 18 at 5:30PM at Eccles PC, Jan. 19 at 9:30AM at The Ray PC, Jan. 20 at 9:15PM at The Grand SLC, Jan. 24 at 6PM at PC Library and Jan. 25 11:45PM at The Egyptian PC.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Sweet Country follows the story of Aboriginal Sam (Hamilton Morris) who in an act of defending himself and his wife kills a white man which has forced them to flee.
Director Warwick Thornton crafts a thrilling and heartbreaking western that is visually stunning to watch. And the tight script written by Steven McGregor and David Tranter has many twists and in-depth character development that captivates viewers from beginning to end. Sweet Country is an important film because it accurately depicts the violence and mistreatment of Aboriginal people. Thornton never shies away from the cruelty that his Aboriginal characters are faced with. Top that off with stunning performances from the entire Ensemble Cast and this is a Film that should not be missed.
Sweet Country screens at Sundance on Jan. 19 at 2:30PM at The Egyptian PC, Jan. 20 at 9:30PM at the Rose Wagner SLC, Jan. 22 at 11:30PM at Prospector PC, and Jan. 27 at 2:30PM at The MARC PC.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Manivald follows the story of a retired mother and her living-at-home 33-year-old son who fall in love with the same wolf.
This animated short may seem like a drama but it’s executed as a Comedy. The use of animated animals brings a humour to the story that wouldn’t be attainable if the characters were humans. Yet, there is also a strong moral to the story about finding oneself that is uplifting and endearing. This is an animated Short Film with adult humour that will shock and make you laugh.
Manivald screens at Sundance under the Animation Spotlight category on Jan. 19 at 6:30PM at Redstone 1 PC, Jan. 20 at 6PM at Broadway 6 SLC, Jan. 21 at 6PM at Temple PC, and Jan. 25 at 8:30PM at Egyptian PC.
By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
It’s only day one of the Sundance Film Festival here in Utah and the excitement is already building. To kick everything off Sundance President and Founder Robert Redford, Executive Director Keri Putman and Director John Cooper were all on hand at today’s Press Conference in the early afternoon.
The Trio talked about what’s new about this year’s Festival and how Sundance has grown since its inception. They were also faced with questions surrounding the #MeToo Movement and how the Festival is changing following the sexual misconduct allegations.
Redford stated that he is excited about the change that is happening within the industry. While Cooper talked about a Code of Conduct that has been introduced for every individual that attends Sundance as well as a help hotline.
Tonight also marked the start of the first screenings of the Festival. Buddy Comedy Blindspotting from Carlos López Estrada was the opening U.S Drama Film while Kailash was the opening U.S Documentary Film, about the creation of a global movement to end child slavery.
Stay tuned for more as update you with dailies from the Festival!
(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)
“You do what you do to make sure people remember you after you’re gone.”.
Winning tons of raves at Sundance earlier this year, the official Trailer for A GHOST STORY has surfaced earlier today. The Drama reunites Academy Award winner Casey Affleck and his Ain’t Them Bodies Saints Co-Star Rooney Mara and Director David Lowery together once again.
Synopsis:
A dead man (Casey Affleck) returns to haunt his wife (Rooney Mara), manifesting as a ghost wearing a sheet with eyeholes over his head. As he watches her deal with her grief, he also encounters a female ghost who is also haunting the same house. They come to observe the rhythms of human existence while family life in the house unfolds over a century.
Trailer:
A GHOST STORY hits theatres Friday, July 21, 2017 via Mongrel Media.
(Photo/video credit: A24 Films)
Filmed right here in Vancouver, COLOSSAL won big raves at TIFF ’16. Since then it has gotten distribution in the U.S. from newly-created NEON and it premiered at Sundance yesterday where it won more accolades. An April release date has been set for the Sci-Fi/Action/Thriller/Comedy starring Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens and Anne Hathaway.
Synopsis:
After losing her job and boyfriend in New York, Gloria (Hathaway) moves back to her home town and is shocked to discover that the catastrophic events hitting Earth are somehow connected to her mental state.
See the Trailer:
Cannot wait to see this!
We’ll NEVER forget meeting Hathaway at TIFF ’16!
Amazing Anne. #AnneHathaway #Colossal #TIFF16
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
NEON release COLOSSAL Friday, April 7, 2017.
(Photo/video credit: NEON)
After some major raves at Sundance including wins for the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, we get a first official look at Nate Parker’s THE BIRTH OF A NATION, which could well be a force this coming Awards Season.
Synopsis:
Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.
Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Gabrielle Union, Colman Domigo, Aunjanue Ellis, Aja Naomi King, Penelope Ann Miller and Jackie Earle Healey star.
See the Trailer:
TIFF ’16, anyone?
Fox Searchlight release THE BIRTH OF A NATION Friday, October 7, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)
It seems as though everything was taking place in Toronto this weekend! While attention was focused on the NBA All-Star Weekend, TIFF also was hosting the Next Wave Film Festival for young Movie Lovers!
Closing Night Gala SING STREET marked the end of the Festival, programmed for youth by youth. The well-reviewed Sundance hit is about an Irish teen who leaves his hometown to start a band in London during the 80s. The autobiographical Musical Comedy by Writer/Director John Carney, stars Ferdia Walsh-Peelo who is being touted as a big breakout star and a Musician in his own right. In addition to introducing his Film tonight at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Walsh-Peelo also did a Q&A, performing selections from Sing Street acoustically. He tells me outside Gabby’s, he’s used to performing with the five-piece band from the Film, so tonight was a bit unique doing it on his own.
See our Snap with Walsh-Peelo who has been in town on the coldest weekend ever to promote his Film!
See the Trailer:
Elevation Pictures release SING STREET, release date to be announced.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Parks and Recreation Star Adam Scott has been quiet of late and we’re thrilled to have him back! The dapper Funnyman last graced our city in 2011 walking the Red Carpet for Dramedy Friends With Kids. After premiering at Sundance to positive reception, his latest Comedy THE OVERNIGHT now is set for release.
The Film centers on a young family who relocate to L.A. They meet another mysterious young family and decide to go on a playdate which takes a turn to the interesting and revealing. Everyone is talking about the prosthetics. Jason Schwartzman and Taylor Schilling star also.
Scott has a busy day ahead doing promotion for The Overnight and in the 6 AM hour was at Breakfast Television where Fans say that despite being quiet, was very kind. He arrived at The Morning Show in the 8 AM hour and was all smiles.
See the Trailer:
Scott‘s Interview on CP24 Breakfast:
Our Snap (with Billy!!):
The Archive release THE OVERNIGHT in select cities Friday, June 26, 2015 with additional cities to follow.
More here.
(Photo/video credit: The Archive/Mr. Will Wong)
By Justin Waldman
The 2015 TriBeCa Film Festival ran from April 15-26, 2015 in beautiful Tribeca, New York and I attended for the first time ever! What originally drew me into travelling for 10 days to New York City for this incredible Film Festival co-founded by Robert DeNiro to bring people back downtown New York after the tragedies of 9/11, were the conversations, or Tribeca Talks: Director Series that was announced in the middle of March, just a mere month before the Festival. The booking and scouring to look-up Films, allow time to line up and travel, and build a schedule with no backups had begun.
The Tribeca Talks: Director Series that was just aforementioned including one hour Conversations with George Lucas moderated by Stephen Colbert, Christopher Nolan moderated by Bennett Miller, Cary Fukunaga moderated by James Schumer, and last not certainly not least, Brad Bird moderated by Janeane Garofalo. These Talks were not only incredible for their insight, but they were beyond entertaining and masterful. The 60 minutes flew-by in what felt like seconds, but the entire time was surreal, something that words cannot merely describe.
As well, the selection of seemingly endless Movies was unfathomable. There were so many great choices, and promising options, most of which turned out to be extremely fun and enjoyable while others fell short of that standard. Some of the highlights were: Leslye Headland’s Sleeping with Other People starring Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis. This Movie was absolutely hysterical as it steered from the typical Romantic Comedy norms and clichés, and provided new laughs and nuances that truly made this RomCom stand-out from the crowd. Hopefully it gets a Canadian release, and if it unfortunately does not it will be released on VOD 90 days after its opening in Cinemas. Other standouts included Man Up from Director Ben Palmer which paired Simon Pegg and Lake Bell together in an unseeingly-perfect Romantic Comedy as well. I swear I did not just see Romcoms at TriBeCa. Ashby from Director Tony McNamara is another extremely funny, brilliant, Dark Comedy featuring Mickey Rourke, Nat Wolff and Emma Roberts. The Film focuses on Wolff and Rourke who is a former Assassin and how the manage to enrich one another’s life.
The TriBeCa Film Festival also features an after the Movie discussion for certain Titles, not that the new Movies don’t have Q&As but rather they take older Movies and bring back Cast and Crew for a 45 minute discussion about the Movie and some insider information regarding the Project. The one that I was lucky enough to attend was Gus Van Sant’s brilliant Good Will Hunting. Minnie Driver, Gus Van Sant and Stellan Skarsgård were in attendance for this post movie talk and included a lot of information about Robin Williams on the set. This moved most of the Audience to laughter and tears. Some of the most memorable moments were when Skarsgård revealed that the first take of the scene between Williams and Skarsgård in the bar, Robin did the entire Role in his Nicholson impersonation. Another memorable tidbit was from Driver who reveled that the focus puller was terrible and could not be fired because he was related to someone high up so he referred to him as Helen… Keller. Moments like these unknown facts are what make for great memories.
TriBeCa was an incredible experience, which offered a ton of excitement in an array of events geared to true Film Lovers. These separate ticketed events are something that would be classified as once in a lifetime. Events such as Mary J. Blige’s Documentary The London Sessions, followed by her performing a live Concert, or a showing of Monty Python and the Holy Grail followed by a Talk with Monty Python. However, the Closing Night Film was the piece DE résistance. Goodfellas’ 25th Anniversary Screening in the new 4K restoration with a post-Screening Discussion with Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino, moderated by Jon Stewart. That was a memory never to be duplicated.
TriBeCa was a delight to attend, and a Festival I cannot wait to experience again next year!
Audio from this year’s Director Series below:
(Photo credit: Justin Waldman)
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