Elevation Pictures had a huge year in 2014 and together we want Readers across Canada to win some of their most prolific releases on Blu-ray!  The Imitation Game not only was a major player this Awards Season, but performed stellar at the Box Office, while A Most Violent Year was on the Best-Of Lists of several influencial Critics.  The Rewrite soon will see a simultaneous Blu-ray and On-Demand release.

THE IMITATION GAME

Official Synopsis:
Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), a brilliant Cambridge mathematician, cryptanalyst and computer scientist, is enlisted by his country during World War II to break the Nazi Enigma Code, and is later persecuted by the government in 1952 for being homosexual.

Watch the Trailer for The Imitation Game:

IN STORES AND ON-DEMAND TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015.

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

Official Synopsis:
Set in 1981, which was statistically New York City’s most violent year. Immigrant Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) and his wife Anna (Jessica Chastain) try to expand their business and make their American Dream come true but find it difficult as they’re surrounded by rampant violence, decay, and corruption.

Watch the Trailer for A Most Violent Year:

IN STORES AND ON-DEMAND TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015.

THE REWRITE

Official Synopsis:
Keith Michaels (Hugh Grant) is a washed-up British screenwriter who won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 1998. Since then, he had divorced and gone broke. He begins teaching a screenwriting course at Binghamton University in upstate New York and falls in love with a single mother (Marisa Tomei).

Watch the Trailer for The Rewrite:

IN STORES AND ON-DEMAND TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015.

Canadian Readers may enter to win copies of all three, or specify in their entry which Titles you are interested in.  Do so by “liking” this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook.  For an extra entry, you may click the “share” button on this Post from there.

G’luck Willionaire$!

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

For the second week in-a-row, FIFTY SHADES OF GREY has Moviegoers in handcuffs, dominating again the Box Office with $23.2 million from 3,655 theatres for Universal Pictures! Although it is noted that this is a 75% drop from its debut last weekend, this still is strong enough for a decisive lead. Domestically, it has grossed over $130 million already and just surpassed a phenomenal $300 million worldwide!

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER lands in second, continuing what has been a strong run. It earns $16.3 million from 3,680 theatres in its third week for Paramount Pictures, surpassing $125 million thus far in North America.

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE in its second week settles for Runner-Up with $15.8 million for 20th Century Fox, playing at 3,266 theatres. In two weeks it has grossed $66 million.

McFARLAND opens in fourth with $11.3 million for Disney, from 2,755 theatres. Critics gave the Film based on a True Story starring Kevin Costner, a v. good 77% on the Tomatometer. Audiences responded with an even better A CinemaScore.

THE DUFF debuts in fifth with a solid with $11.03 million from 2,575 theatres for eOne Films/CBS Films. Critics responded well with a 62% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes and a great A- CinemaScore, which should bode well for a bit of word-of-mouth.

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2, just one of several debuts this weekend, opens in seventh with $5.8 million from 2,880 theatres for Paramount Pictures. Critics weren’t so kind with a rating of 14% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences were a bit more forgiving with a C- CinemaScore.

THE IMITATION GAME rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.5 million or The Weinstein Co./Elevaton Pictures, its fate at the Oscars in the Best Picture category to be determined shortly. This is its 13th week out.

Not that there ever was a doubt about it, but FIFTY SHADES OF GREY  manages to exceed expectations  still with a smashing $81.7 million opening from 3,646 theatres for Universal Pictures. This feat makes it one of the highest-grossing R-rated openings of all time with the likes of The Passion of the Christ and Matrix Reloaded. The E.L. James Adaptation from Director Sam Taylor-Johnson, might not have gotten much love critically this Valentine’s Day weekend, but Fans certainly are in love at the Box Office.  It received a 22% from Critics on the Tomatometer. Audiences gave it a C+ CinemaScore.  It was just announced the Sequel starts filming this Summer in Vancouver!  We don’t care what anyone thinks. WE LOVE IT. Our Review here.

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE opens solid with an amazing $35.6 million from 3,204 theatres for 20th Century Fox.  The Action/Mystery starring Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson and Tagar Egerton opens with a strong 71% on the Tomatometer and B+ CinemaScore from Audiences.

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER continues to go well in its second week with $30.5million from 3.654 theatres for Paramount Pictures. In already has surpassed the $100-million-mark domestically.

AMERICAN SNIPER slips to fourth spot for Warner Bros. in its eighth week out with $16.4 million.  To date, it has grossed $307 million in North America.

THE IMITATION GAME continues to get positive word of mouth, hanging-on to the Top Ten in eighth with $3.3 million for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, reaching the $80-million-mark domestically.

PROJECT ALMANAC rounds-out the Top Ten for Paramount Pictures with $2.7 million in its third week.

For  a third straight week, AMERICAN SNIPER shows absolute domination of the Box Office in North America, bringing-in $31  million from 3,885 theatres for Warner Bros.  In six weeks, this latest effort from Clint Eastwood brings-in $248 million.

PADDINGTON continues to benefit from word-of-mouth for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, rising to second spot with $7.8 million in its third week out. Cumulatively, the Film has made almost $50 million.4

Teen-Time Travel Romp PROJECT ALMANAC debuts in third with $7.7 million for Paramount Pictures.  Critics weren’t sold on it with a 36% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a decent B CinemaScore.

BLACK OR WHITE debuts in fourth for D Films/Relativity Media with $6.2 million from 1,823 theatres.  The TIFF ’14 Selection starring Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, debuts with strong Audience reaction, an A- CinemaScore and a 34% on the Tomatometer.

THE BOY NEXT DOOR lands in fifth this weekend with $5.7 million for Universal Pictures, now in its second week out, a two-week total  of $25 million.

THE IMITATION GAME continues to roll along well for Elevation Pictures/The Weinstein Co.  in its Oscar Trail, in seventh spot this weekend with $5.3 million, a total $68 million grossed in its tenth week out.

THE LOFT debuts in tenth with $2.6 million for Open Road Films. The Danish Adaptation Thriller starring James Marsden and Wentworth Miller has yet to get a Canadian release.

Unbelievable!   Expectations were high for AMERICAN SNIPER, but who would’ve known that it would pull-in $88 million in its debut from 3,555 theatres  for Warner Bros. this weekend?  The Clint Eastwood Drama starring Bradley Cooper opened – pardon the pun – with a bang, with $30.5 million debut Friday, setting an all-time record for a January release.  This also has the distinction of being Eastwood‘s highest-grossing opening for a Film also. Critics were fairly impressed with a 72% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a superb A+ CinemaScore.  Undoubtedly its Best Picture nod earlier this week helped solidify the buzz for Moviegoers.

THE WEDDING RINGER starring a Duo of Funnymen in Kevin Hart and Chris Rock debuts in second with a solid $20.6 million for Sony Pictures from 3,003 theatres. Critics weren’t impressed with a 33% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences loved it with an A-CinemaScore, which should bode well for spreading word of mouth in coming weeks.

PADDINGTON opens in third this weekend for eOne Films/The Weinstein Co. with a good $19.3 million from 3,303 theatres. Get this, Critics gave it a brilliant 98% on the Tomatometer, and an on-par A CinemaScore was received from Audiences for this Adaptation of the internationally-adored Children’s Franchise. Ben Whishaw and Nicole Kidman star in the Film.

TAKEN 3 after opening on-top last weekend, slips to fourth spot with $15.3 million for 20th Century Fox. In two weeks it has pulled-in a spiffy $66 million domestically.

SELMA might not have received a lot of Oscar love, but Audiences certainly are perceptive to all the buzz surrounding the Best Picture Nominee, placing fifth with $10.3 million for Paramount Pictures in its fourth week out, expanding to 2,235 theatres this weekend.

THE IMITATION GAME crosses the $50 million-mark domestically in its eighth week out, also expanding to 1,611 theatres for The Weinstein Co./Elevation Pictures.  The Best Picture Nominee places seventh this weekend with $7.3 million.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.9 million in its fourth week out.  It now has made $106.5 million domestically for 20th Century Fox.

After significant wins at the 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards this past weekend, BIRDMAN and THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL lead the way at the upcoming 87th annual Academy Awards, as announced earlier this morning in Los Angeles by Chris Pine, J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuarón. The two Films received nine nominations each and will be going head-to-head for top honours in Best Picture, Cinematography, Writing (Original Screenplay) and Directing.  The latter received no nominations in the Acting categories.

Following closely with eight nominations is Winner of the People’s Choice Award (on numerous occasions a Pre-cursor to Oscar success)  at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, THE IMITATION GAME. Meanwhile, BOYHOOD which won Best Motion Picture, Drama at the Golden Globes would go-on to garner six nominations today tying with AMERICAN SNIPER, which has had the quietest Awards Campaign thus far as it  proceeds in a gradual roll-out to theatres. All three of these Films are up for Best Picture.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, WHIPLASH and INTERSTELLAR received five nominations apiece also, with the former two up for Best Picture and the latter receiving recognition almost exclusively in technical categories.

The Best Actor category is perhaps the most competitive with Golden Globe Winners Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) up against Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) and Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game).  Many are seeing the omissions of David Oyelowo (Selma) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) as major snubs, after being present much of this Awards Season for their riveting performances respectively. Bradley Cooper now has the distinction of being the first Actor in a decade to receive three consecutive (Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle and now American Sniper) Oscar nominations; the last to do so was his former Partner, Renee Zellweger.

Julianne Moore leads a strong group in the Best Actress category after a win at the Golden Globes for Still Alice.  Her other strong Best Actress performance in Maps to the Stars did not get recognition this morning, but this could well be a blessing in eliminating split votes against herself. Reese Witherspoon (Wild) also is seen as a strong Contender, alongside Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) and Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) – the latter whose Campaign has varied between Supporting Actress and Lead Actress. A surprise was Oscar Winner Marion Cotillard‘s appearance on the list for her work in French Drama Two Days, One Night. Amy Adams, who was awarded Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy for Big Eyes on Sunday unfortunately will not be a Contender.

J.K. Simmons is seen as a definitive choice for Best Supporting Actor with his performance as a sadistic Conductor in Whiplash. Two-time Nominee Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), three-time Nominee Edward Norton (Birdman),  four-time Nominee Ethan Hawke (Boyhood) and Oscar Winner Robert Duvall (The Judge) round-out the Group.

After being quiet this Awards Season, many are thrilled that Lauren Dern gets recognized for her work in Wild for Best Supporting Actress.  She is now a two-time Nominee after getting her first nod in 1992’s Rambling Rose.  Dern will be up against Golden Globe Winner Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game), Emma Stone (Birdman) and three-time Oscar Winner Meryl Streep (Into the Woods).  Some are seeing Jessica Chastain‘s omission in A Most Violent Year also a snub.

For a complete list of Nominees, visit the official Oscars Website.

The  87th annual Academy Awards air on ABC Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 7:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit: ABC)

Ignore those nasty Reviews, Audiences still v. much are in-love with TAKEN.  In an opening as explosive as the Action the Franchise is known for, the Trilogy Finale starring once again Liam Neeson, takes-in $40.4 million for 20th Century Fox from 3.594 theatres.  In comparison to its Predecessors, this latest Installment doesn’t quite eclipse the opening weekend success of 2012’s TAKEN 2, which brought-in $49 million in its debut. It does however surpass 2009’s first Installment, which opened with $24 million. Critics were unanimous in their snubbing with an 11% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences gave it a solid B+ CinemaScore.  Made for $48 million, it looks well on its way to turning a profit.

Paramount Pictures‘ big Oscar Vehicle SELMA opens with $11 million from 2,179 theatres,  Both Audiences and Critics alike agree that the Ava DuVernay Film is phenomenal, with an A+ CinemaScore and a matching 98% CinemaScore.

UNBROKEN continues to show amazing consistency, landing in third in its third week out with $8.2 million for Universal Pictures, just surpassing the $100 million-mark domestically.

Disney‘s INTO THE WOODS places fifth this weekend with $8.68 million, also surpassing the $100 million-mark in three weeks.  The Film is up for Best Comedy/Musical at the Golden Globe Awards, although it is seen widely as an Outsider in the Oscar race.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES finds itself in fifth spot in its fourth week out with $8.61 million for Warner Bros. It thus far has made $235 million in its North American run.

In sixth with $7 million is The Weinstein Co./Elevation Pictures’ THE IMITATION GAME which continues its Oscar Trail with a major piece of the puzzle in its fate being unveiled at Sunday night’s Golden Globe Awards.

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 1 rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.6 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, now in its eighth week out and a dazzling $329 million grossed domestically to-date.

Elevation Pictures and Mr. Will want you to get-in on a Film which has Critics and Audiences in overwhelming agreement of its greatness! THE IMITATION GAME premiered here at TIFF ’14 to resoundingly positive response winning the People’s Choice Award. Although it’s been in theatres in limited release for a bit, we want you to experience what is definitively a Contender at the Academy Awards!  Also, we want you to win a copy of Alan Turing: The Enigma, on which the Film is based and if this weren’t enough how about a super-rare authentic signed Photo from BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH himself?

Official Synopsis:
In THE IMITATION GAME, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the genius British mathematician, logician, cryptologist and computer scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win WWII. Turing went on to assist with the development of computers at the University of Manchester after the war, but was prosecuted by the UK government in 1952 for homosexual acts which the country deemed illegal.

THE IMITATION GAME also stars Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong and Allen Leech.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook!  Click “share” on this Post from there and get an extra chance.  You also may Re-Tweet the below for another opportunity also:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/theimitationgame @MRWILLW wants us to #win a #THEIMITATIONGAME Prize Pack!

 Good luck, Willionaire$!

A glance at that Cumberbatch Autograph:

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 8:28am PDT

Mr. Will + The Cast of The Imitation Game:

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jan 1, 2015 at 5:31pm PST

Elevation Pictures release THE IMITATION GAME, now in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

For a third straight week, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES continues its Box Office dominance in North America with $22.1 million grossed this weekend for Warner Bros. from 3,875 theatres. The Studio just announced its record 2014 numbers internationally earning $3.17 billion.  To date, the Finale in its Trilogy has earned $221 million.

UNBROKEN for a second consecutive week places second, earning $21 million for Universal Pictures from 3,190 theatres.  The Angelina Jolie-directed War Drama is on its way to the $100-million mark.

INTO THE WOODS finds itself in third place again this weekend with $18.6 million for Disney, edging closer also to that $100 million mark domestically.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2: ANGEL OF DEATH earns $15 million for Relativity Media/eOne Films in its debut from 2,602 theatres, placing fourth. Its 2012 Predecessor starring Daniel Radcliffe bests this Sequel slightly with its $20 million opening, placing second.  Audiences gave the Film a C CinemaScore, while Critics gave it a 24% on the Tomatometer.

Meanwhile, Oscar Contender THE IMITATION GAME continues to perform strongly in limited release with $8.3 million earned this weekend from 754 theatres, good enough for eighth spot.

THE GAMBLER in its second week earns $6.8 million, putting it in ninth spot, a two-week tally of $28.1 million for Paramount Pictures.

BIG HERO 6 rounds-out the Top Ten with $5.3 million for Disney in its ninth week out.  The Blockbuster in its run has earned $211 million domestically.

Cinema Lovers were inundated with fantastic Selections at the Movies in 2014.  Although there isn’t quite a definitive Standout, there were many, many outstanding Films released.  Dare we say, one of the strongest years in recent memory? This  certainly makes the race for dominance this Awards Season a rather curious one.

We rely regularly on the opinions of our resident Contributors: Jonathan Godfrey (now with us a third year!), David Baldwin, Justin Waldman and our newest Team addition George Kozera, to keep us informed on what to watch and asked them what their Favourites of 2014 were.  We’re not professional Film Critics by any measure, but we love Film passionately and if you ever want a Friend’s opinion, we are happy to share! The voice of the Fan always should matter most and we are Fans just like YOU!

As you will see, the choices are eclectic, a reflection of the offerings this year…

JONATHAN GODFREY

1. Interstellar
2. Lucy
3. The Tale of Princess Kaguya
4. Nymphomaniac
5. John Wick
6. Maps to the Stars
7. Wild
8. Mood Indigo
9. Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt 1
10. Bjork: Biophilia Live

Every year of my life has been cinematically-splendid, and 2014 was no different. Numerous Films from diverse Genres excited my eyes and elevated my mind-state. None more so than Nolan’s Interstellar. Having seen it four times in the theatre it still doesn’t feel like enough. That said, it wasn’t the only slice of Sci-Fi I gobbled up. Lucy also satiated my appetite for Techno-Fantasy. Then there was the outright Fantasy of Studio Ghibli’s breathtaking tale about a Bamboo Princess, Lars Von Triers four-hour dive into sexual addiction, Keanu’s kick-ass Escapade, Cronenberg’s Olympian Tragedy, Witherspoon’s awe-inspiring performance, Michel Gondry’s take on a cult novel that finally made its way to Canadian screens, and Katniss Everdeen… the Icon who continues to inspire me. Last, but most definitely not least, Björk released her incredible Concert Film which combined technological advances with her love for nature. Maybe 2014 was a little different after all, it was grippingly- cinematic, but with a touch of the divine.

DAVE BALDWIN

Looking back, I think 2014 was one hell of a year for Film. There were some truly awful and sub-par Films released this year too. But there were just as many good, and even a few truly-great Films released as well. It was a mixed bag, but the quality and ambition of some of this year’s crop of Films was truly extraordinary. While Franchise/Comic Book Film fatigue is starting to become quite evident, some pretty huge and experimental gambles paid off brilliantly (did anyone ever expect The LEGO Movie to be as wildly enjoyable as it was?). The Box Office stats in North America may not suggest it, but it was a truly memorable year. And if this is what we have to expect in 2015, I am immediately excited for some of its prospects — and for some time to re-watch some of this year’s best Films again!

1. Whiplash
2. Nightcrawler
3. Birdman
4. Boyhood
5. Life Itself
6. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
7. The Imitation Game
8. Gone Girl
9. How To Train Your Dragon 2
10. Guardians of the Galaxy

(Potential top Films not seen before end of 2014: Big Eyes, American Sniper, A Most Violent Year)

JUSTIN WALDMAN

It is New Year’s Eve and that means that we are supposed to look back at the year and discuss the best things we have seen and witnessed this year. This year brought a ton of great Films that were released throughout the entire year, most of which came out in the second half of the year but some came out earlier on. With so many great Films that came out this past year and one Title that comes out in February, here are the best Films of 2014 with a few extra Titles. In absolutely no particular order:

1. Snowpiercer
2. Big Hero 6
3. Whiplash
4. Nightcrawler
5. Foxcatcher
6. The F Word
7. Pride
8. Dear White People
9. Calvary
10. Guardians of the Galaxy

Now that the best 10 Movies of the year I saw are out there, here is a few of the other Titles that did not make the Top 10 but deserve recognition, at least in my mind. Into the Woods, Big Eyes, Theory of Everything, Interstellar, Birdman, Gone Girl, Locke and Life Itself. 2014 was an excellent year of Film, 2015 has a tough year to compete against but BRING IT ON!

GEORGE KOZERA

For the first time in years, I struggled with whittling down the Movies I saw that were eligible for my Top 10 Movies of 2014. That in itself is a strong indication how many great movies were released this year! So it is with great apologies to the following Movies that WOULD have made the list in a weaker movie year (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wild, Gone Girl, The Lego Movie, The F Word, Locke & The Babadook), I submit my Top 10 that made the biggest impact on me in 2014.

1. Boyhood
2. Foxcatcher
3. The Theory of Everything
4. Birdman
5. Ida
6. The Immigrant
7. The Imitation Game
8. Mommy
9. Nightcrawler
10. Whiplash

My 2014 in review, including my Best-Of?  Click here for that.

Stick with us once again in 2015 for the most exciting Canadian Advance Screening Giveaways, Prizes, Star-Spottings and Reviews!

(Photo credit: Paramount Pictures/Mongrel Media/Elevation Pictures/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)