Timothee Chalamet
#TIFF18: DAY TWO – JULIA ROBERTS, TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET, ARMIE HAMMER, STEVE CARELL, ISSA RAE + SEVERAL MORE STARS SPOTTED
By Mr. Will Wong
Day two of TIFF ’18 has gone exceedingly-well and we’re happy to deliver you some of that starpower we witnessed around the City! While stars of breakout hit CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet, were busy promoting their latest projects around town, one thing’s clear – fans still very much are in love with these two actors. Everywhere I went, new faces were asking where they could find Chalamet, walking around proudly displaying their memorabilia from the Film.
While we caught wind of BEAUTIFUL BOY stars Steve Carell and quietly entering and exiting their hotel, followed by a dinner at Sotto Sotto Thursday night, they were out in full force today and we’re thrilled to have snapped them, taking-in that adoration and excitement for the Drama based on a true story and memoirs from a father and son who went through the rigors of addiction and rose above. Fans not only queued hours on the Red Carpets at the Elgin and Roy Thomson Hall to see them, they also waited at the back of the theatre for a chance to see them exit too.
We once again were blessed by Queen Julia Roberts‘ presence this year, promoting not one but two projects – a new Amazon Series titled HOMECOMING and her latest Film, BEN IS BACK which is said to place her in prime contention for an Oscar as a mother who must stop her family from falling into shambles after her son (Lucas Hedges) resurfaces and she realizes he’s still in harm’s way. Fans queued hours to see her at Ryerson Theatre and got exactly what they asked for as she graced the Red Carpet, signing several autographs.
HOMECOMING was developed by Sam Esmail, who happens to be married to SHAMELESS star Emmy Rossum and we got a pleasant surprise spotting her tonight!
We still remember fondly the last time Dev Patel was at TIFF with LION and we loved that Film so much. Excitement is just as high for his two TIFF ’18 Films, HOTEL MUMBAI and THE WEDDING GUEST. We spotted his MUMBAI Co-Stars Armie Hammer and Jason Isaacs out too!
DONNYBROOK premiered at Winter Garden Theatre tonight and stars Frank Grillo, Jamie Bell and up-and-comer Margaret Qualley (daughter of Andie McDowell). It centers on two men from very different worlds, competing in a bare-knuckle brawl.
We cannot conceal our excitement for the adaptation of Angie Thomas’ THE HATE U GIVE and we are delighted by chance to have come across a few cast members: Sabrina Carpenter, Issa Rae and Lamar Jones.
Others we spotted around town, including Jude Law at TIFF ’18 for VOX LUX, which saw Natalie Portman arriving a bit late for, plus legend Danny Glover, who is at the Festival with The Old Man & The Gun, plus up-and-comer RJ Cyler (Power Rangers):
We were up and at ’em early and so honoured to appear on Breakfast Television with Winston Sih! In case you missed it, you can watch it again here:
More to come tomorrow!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#TIFF18: GUESTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2018 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
By Mr. Will Wong
The time has arrived. We waited every year with baited breath for those Toronto International Film Festival guest announcements and finally they have been announced! While several marquee titles like Beautiful Boy, First Man, Destroyer, Wildlife, High Life, A Star is Born, If Beale Street Could Talk and Ben is Back embark on their Awards Season trails, Toronto once again readies itself for the massive onslaught of starpower and talent set to shut down the City post-Labour Day.
With multiple titles at the Festival, stars like Jake Gyllenhaal, Dev Patel, Amanda Steinberg, Lucas Hedges and Nicole Kidman are set to make the best of the Fest!
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mahershala Ali and Hilary Swank also will be having In-Conversations-With! More on that here.
Toronto’s own Drake also will introduced highly-buzzed MONSTERS AND MEN, Jason Reitman is back with fan favourite Live Read of The Breakfast Club and THE FIRST MAN will be presented at Ontario Place‘s Cinesphere!
Announced to attend TIFF ’18 earlier today are:
Who are you most excited to see?
Our Team are prepping feverishly for this our biggest and best year yet at TIFF as we get ready to bring you the buzz on all the biggest stars and Films of the Festival.
More on some of TIFF ’18’s most-talked-about titles here.
In the meantime, start planning your Festival, who and what you’ll see right here.
(Photo/video credit: TIFF)
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN A “CALL ME BY YOUR NAME” PRIZE PACK
Mongrel Media x Mr. Will want to take you to see acclaimed TIFF ’17 selection CALL ME BE YOUR NAME! This was one of our favourites this year. Up for grabs is a Prize Pack which includes a Run-of-Engagement Pass for two to see it and also a copy of the Novel on which it is based, plus a digital download for Director Luca Guadagnino‘s stellar Film, I AM LOVE.
Synopsis:
Teenager Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet) is spending the summer of 1983 at his parents’ cliffside mansion on the Italian Riviera. His days are filled with a variety of cultural activities, including transcribing classical music, reading books, and hanging out with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel).
Things change for Elio when a charming American named Oliver (Armie Hammer) arrives to intern for Elio‘s father (Michael Stuhlbarg), who is an eminent professor specializing in Greco-Roman culture. Elio develops feelings for Oliver, and is pleased when those feelings are returned.
Based on the Novel by André Aciman.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Canadian Readers only, please.
Mongrel Media release CALL ME BY YOUR NAME Friday, December 15, 2017.
(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN ADVANCE + RUN-OF-ENGAGEMENT PASSES TO SEE “LADY BIRD”
Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto a chance to win Advance Passes and Run-of-Engagement Passes to see acclaimed TIFF ’17 selection LADY BIRD.
Advance Screenings are as follows:
- Halifax: Scotiabank Halifax at 7:30pm
- Winnipeg: St. Vital at 7:30pm
- Calgary: Eau Claire at 7:00pm
- Vancouver: 5th Avenue at 7:00pm
- Edmonton: North Edmonton at 7:00pm
Synopsis:
High school senior Christine McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) — also known by the nickname she chose for herself, Lady Bird — is desperate to get out of California. She can’t wait to move to the East Coast, where she dreams of big city life and Ivy League universities.
However, because her grades are nothing spectacular and she has no connections, Lady Bird decides she needs to add extracurriculars to make her college applications stand out.
She considers joining Math Olympiad, but her math grades are terrible, so she joins the drama club. Meanwhile, her mother, who doesn’t understand Lady Bird’s aspirations and desire to move far away, has her hands full supporting the family by working double shifts as a nurse. She struggles to understand her self-centered daughter, who believes she deserves everything in life and that everyone should love her the way she is.
Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Please indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance!
Elevation Pictures release LADY BIRD Friday, November 10, 2017.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
#TIFF17: DAY TWO SIGHTINGS – JAKE GYLLENHAAL, LADY GAGA, MARGOT ROBBIE, SEBASTIAN STAN, ALLISON JANNEY + MORE!
Now that’s more like it! We are still a bit bummed about Eminem cancelling on TIFF ’17, but today cheered us up! See some of the massive stars in and around town today at the world’s greatest Film Festival!
We ❤ Lady Gaga and when a last-minute addition was made to premiere her Netflix Documentary GAGA: FIVE FOOT TWO here, we realized how much that TIFF ‘17 game had stepped-up! Gaga appeared at an previously unannounced Press Conference today for the Documentary and a select handful of fans were lucky enough even to get the Selfie! She arrived right in the nick of time riding shotgun in her SUV.
I, TONYA gets its Premiere tonight and the buzz is feverish for the Tonya Harding Biopic. Stars Margot Robbie and Allison Janney are getting major Oscars buzz for their portrayals of the disgraced Figure Skater and her mother respectively. Also here is Captain America star Sebastian Stan who plays Harding‘s husband. All were incredibly-nice to fans as they did the rounds today!
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Boston Marathon Drama STRONGER comes into TIFF ’17 with some buzz and we welcome back Jake Gyllenhaal who by now should be an honourary Torontonian! Also with him were Co-Stars Miranda Richardson and Canada’s own Tatiana Maslany, the latter enjoying a Cali Love smoothie.
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Jason Sudeikis also was out earlier returning to the City where he filmed KODACHROME, which premiered here last night. Ed Harris was with him, although declining photos.
After kicking-off TIFF ’17 with Opening Gala BORG/MCENROE, Icelandic star Sverrir Gudnason was out earlier doing Press for the Film. Oddly, Co-Star Shia LaBoeuf who plays his Tennis arch-rival, was missing in action!
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Our favourite Duo are totally owning TIFF ’17! Loved seeing again Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet out pushing CALL ME BY YOUR NAME.
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While Eminem couldn’t make it out last night, we still loved seeing Director Joseph Kahn out tonight. He directs BODIED which got a great response last night in TIFF‘s Midnight Madness Programme.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#TIFF17: DAY ONE SIGHTINGS – SHIA LABEOUF, TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET, STELLAN SKARSGÅRD + MORE!
Opening Night Gala at TIFF ’17 is Tennis Drama BORG/McENROE. While its star Shia LaBeouf often is known for trouble in the news, he was all a gentleman for fans waiting for him at the Film’s Press Conference, walking the line signing autographs and doing photos-with. While it rained on his way out, he insisted on walking umbrella-free despite a Handler trying to keep him covered.
Later in the day, we spotted his iconic Co-Star Stellan Skarsgård, father of Alexander and Bill, the latter destined for Box Office glory starring in Stephen King’s IT this weekend. Opting to slip early out of his Premiere, he stopped for a quick Photo before heading out for a bite.
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Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet are gaining huge Oscars momentum with their latest, an Adaptation of CALL ME BY YOUR NAME by Director Luca Guadadigno (A Bigger Splash, I Am Love). The Trio walked the Red Carpet tonight for the Film at Ryerson Theatre and were amazing, causing quite a commotion!
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It’s not every day we see Eminem in Toronto and today was supposed to be our lucky day! The Actor/Rapper produces BODIED from Music Video Auteur Joseph Kahn and was slated to appear at its Premiere at Ryerson tonight but cancelled late.
More tomorrow. We are expecting a bigger day!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#TIFF17: “CALL ME BY YOUR NAME”
Review by Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong
Coming-of-age stories are hardly anything new. Neither are stories about young men learning to accept their sexuality. What makes Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name unique is its dedication to expressing its young protagonist’s story in a way that is no way exploitative while still being completely honest about the struggles of the 17-year-old.
Elio (Timothée Chalamet) lives “somewhere in Northern Italy” with his parents (Amira Casar and Michael Stuhlbarg, whose emotional Third Act soliloquy is a highlight of the Film). Every year the Perlmans invite an American university student to study with them for the summer. This year’s guest, Oliver (Armie Hammer), has caught the attention of all the girls in the village. Stuck on the sidelines, Elio isn’t sure if he’s jealous of Oliver or the girls. As the summer draws to a close, Elio makes the first move and changes the power dynamic in his relationship with Oliver leaving both emotionally vulnerable.
Standing as a servant to the Film but never overtaking the action, the music, highlighted with original songs by Sufjan Stevens, is nothing short of perfection. Perhaps the least well known of the cast, Chalamet’s performance is astonishing even in scenes where Guadagnino’s imagery leans toward becoming too heavy-handed. Call Me By Your Name is an absolute must-see during the Festival.
Mongrel Media will screen Call Me By Your Name at TIFF ’17 at the following times:
Thursday, September 7 7:15 p.m. Ryerson Theatre
Friday, September 8 9:30 a.m. TIFF Bell Lightbox
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