NOVEMBER 2017 | VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 10
INSIDE: 2017-18 MET OPERA HD Screenings Guide
Plus AARON SORKIN MORE JESSICA CHASTAIN BENEDICT THOR! CUMBERBATCH GEORGE CLOONEY JULIANNE Chris MOORE Hemsworth TALKS RAGNAROK
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 41619533
THE 10 BEST HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS YOU’LL SEE ANYWHERE, PAGE 36
CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2017 | VOL 18 | Nº10
COVER ONTOUR BY GETTY BY ONTOUR IMAGES C
/
STORY
32 THOR’S BACK! In this exclusive interview, Chris Hemsworth reveals that he’d become so bored playing Marvel superhero Thor he felt he was “wearing handcuffs.”
That all changes with this JOHN RUSSO BY PHOTO COVER month’s Thor: Ragnarok, a far-out space adventure featuring a wise-cracking, less serious Thor who, Hemsworth says, was tons of fun to play BY INGRID RANDOJA REGULARS
4 EDITOR’S NOTE 6 SNAPS 8 IN BRIEF 12 ALL DRESSED UP 14 IN THEATRES 40 RETURN ENGAGEMENT 41 CINEPLEX STORE 42 FINALLY… FEATURES
20 CURRENT EVENT 24 PAST TENSE 28 POKER STARS 36 GIFT WRAPPED Benedict Cumberbatch Director George Clooney Molly’s Game writer/director How’s that holiday shopping says he got a charge from and star Julianne Moore on Aaron Sorkin and star coming along? Don’t sweat playing The Current War’s why the stressful, 1950s-set Jessica Chastain talk poker, it — our Holiday Gift Guide morally suspect inventor Suburbicon is both a comedy filmmaking and coming to has 10 awesome ideas to get Thomas Edison and drama terms with Donald Trump’s win you started BY INGRID RANDOJA BY MICHAEL KENNEDY BY MARNI WEISZ BY MARNI WEISZ
NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 3 EDITOR’S NOTE
PUBLISHER SALAH BACHIR
EDITOR MARNI WEISZ DEPUTY EDITOR INGRID RANDOJA ART DIRECTOR LUCINDA WALLACE GRAPHIC DESIGNER DARRYL MABEY VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCTION SHEILA GREGORY
CONTRIBUTOR MICHAEL KENNEDY ADVERTISING SALES FOR CINEPLEX MAGAZINE AND LE MAGAZINE CINEPLEX IS HANDLED BY CINEPLEX MEDIA.
HEAD OFFICE 416.539.8800 SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SALES LORI LEGAULT (EXT. 5242) VICE PRESIDENT ROBERT BROWN (EXT. 5232) VICE PRESIDENT, SALES JOHN TSIRLIS (EXT. 5237) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SALES GIULIO FAZZOLARI (EXT. 5254) ACCOUNT MANAGERS CORY ATKINS (EXT. 5257) JASON BAUER (EXT. 5233) ZACH BEACH (EXT. 5269) BRENDAN DEVINE (EXT. 5280) SHEREE KYTE (EXT. 5245) ZANDRA MACINNIS (EXT. 5281) HEATHER MARSHALL (EXT. 5290) SARAH MILLS (EXT. 5292) JENNA PATERSON (EXT. 5243) AND, CUT! JULIAN PIEKE (EXT. 5216) BRETT POSCHMANN (EXT. 5287) TANYA STEVENS (EXT. 5271) o, Thor cut off his long, beautiful hair. Is that really such a big deal? LESLEY TAYLOR (EXT. 5266) ED VILLA (EXT. 5239) Well, yeah. Kind of. TOM WOYZBUN (EXT. 5253) DIRECTOR, MEDIA OPERATIONS Can you think of another franchise where a lead character has undergone such a drastic CATHY PROWSE (EXT. 5223) MANAGER, THEATRICAL PROGRAMMING transformation, losing a physical feature so central to their being? In fact, actors often talk DEBI KINGSTON (EXT. 5259) about how slipping back into an earlier character’s hair and wardrobe instantly puts them in touch HALIFAX 902.401.8152 ACCOUNT MANAGER with that old fictitious friend. It helps us reconnect, too. CRAIG JACKSON
Think of the biggest franchises of the past few decades — Back to the Future, Austin Powers, Star Trek, QUEBEC 514.868.0005 SALES DIRECTOR, EASTERN CANADA Mission: Impossible, Pirates of the Caribbean, Twilight, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter. When our GEORGE GOULAKOS (EXT. 225) ACCOUNT MANAGERS heroes return to the screen they look pretty much the same as the last (and first) time we saw them. DAVE CAMERON (EXT. 224) How would we react to Captain Kirk with a ponytail, Jack Sparrow with a buzz cut or Katniss Everdeen MARTINE MÉNARD (EXT. 222) OTTAWA 844.870.1112 as a blonde? ACCOUNT MANAGER When franchise mainstays do change their dos it’s usually to account for a natural human condition NICOLE BEAUDIN WATERLOO 519.725.3733 — baldness. John McLane had a bushy head of brown hair for the first three Die Hard movies, made ACCOUNT MANAGER nearly 30 years ago, but returned completely bald for 2007’s Live Free or Die Hard because Bruce Willis HEATHER BOYD MANITOBA/ had lost his locks. Similarly, in X-Men: Apocalypse, James McAvoy’s third film playing Professor X, SASKATCHEWAN 204.396.3044 ACCOUNT MANAGER the Scottish actor finally shaved his head so that the young X could match up with smooth-headed MORGAN COMRIE
Patrick Stewart who plays X later in the timeline. CALGARY 403.264.4420 ACCOUNT MANAGER Of course, you may notice something about the majority of these franchise stars. They’re men. KEVIN LEAHY
And, generally speaking, men are less likely to have long hair, making their haircuts less dramatic. As EDMONTON 780.919.3011 ACCOUNT MANAGER the Avengers’ Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson’s hair has fluctuated from wavy to straight, medium BARB KITZAN red to dark red, and long to mid-length. Meh, boring. Perhaps the character with the most dynamic BRITISH COLUMBIA 604.689.3068 ACCOUNT MANAGER hair in movie-franchise history is Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley, who went from long, lush curls in MATT WATSON
Alien to a short, wavy bob in Aliens to a shaved head in Alien 3, back to long, but straighter, hair in SPECIAL THANKS MATHIEU CHANTELOIS, ELLIS JACOB, Alien: Resurrection. PAT MARSHALL, DAN MCGRATH, The truth is, Thor’s flowing, golden locks in the Avengers movies (and the comic books) have always ÉDITH VALLIÈRES Cineplex Magazine™ is published 11 times a year been a bit of a sticking point. That’s because most descriptions of Norse mythology’s god of thunder by Cineplex Entertainment. Subscriptions are $34.50 ($30 + HST) a year in Canada, $45 a year in describe Odin’s son as a redhead. the U.S. and $55 a year overseas. Single copies are $3. Back issues are $6. All subscription inquiries, What do you think? Are you willing to give the shorthaired Thor a chance? Chris Hemsworth — who back issue requests and letters to the editor should be directed to Cineplex Magazine at 102 Atlantic Ave., plays him in the Marvel movies, including this month’s Thor: Ragnarok — certainly is. In fact, in our Toronto, ON, M6K 1X9; or 416.539.8800; interview, “Super Fun!,” page 32, Hemsworth explains why chopping off Thor’s mane was a godsend. or [email protected] Publications Mail Agreement No. 41619533. Elsewhere in this issue we talk to Benedict Cumberbatch about powering up for The Current War Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Cineplex Magazine, 102 Atlantic Ave., (page 20), Jessica Chastain and Aaron Sorkin discuss going all in for the poker movie Molly’s Game Toronto, ON., M6K 1X9 750,000 copies of Cineplex Magazine are distributed through (page 28), George Clooney and Julianne Moore banter about Suburbicon (page 24), and on page 36 Cineplex Entertainment, The Globe and Mail, and other outlets. Cineplex Magazine is not responsible for the return of unsolicited we have a treat for early-bird shoppers, our Holiday Gift Guide. manuscripts, artwork or other materials. No material in this The Metropolitan Opera: magazine may be reprinted without the express written consent Plus, if you’re an opera fan you’ll want to flip to the centre of this issue for of the publisher. © Cineplex Entertainment 2017. Live in HD Program Guide, a handy-dandy listing of the Met’s 2017-18 screenings (live and encore) at Cineplex theatres. Enjoy! n MARNI WEISZ, EDITOR Our text pages are 4 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017
SNAPS
UPTOWN GIRL Sarah Silverman tries to hitch a ride in downtown New York while shooting her new documentary TV show, I Love You, America. The back of the sign read “Not a Murderer.” PHOTO BY ALESSIO BOTTICELLI
DRENCHED IN COLOUR Selena Gomez shoots a rainy day scene on the New York set of Woody Allen’s upcoming, as-yet-untitled film. PHOTO BY ROBERT KAMAU/GETTY
LUCKY GUYS Logan Lucky stars Adam Driver (left) and Channing Tatum enjoy a loving embrace at the U.K. premiere of their thriller Logan Lucky. PHOTO BY DAVID M. BENETT/GETTY
6 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 ROYAL TREATMENT That’s Australian actor Margot Robbie under all that makeup on the London set of Mary Queen of Scots. Robbie plays Mary’s cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, in the biographical drama. PHOTO BY SPLASH NEWS
FRONT-ROW FRIENDS Aussies Nicole Kidman (left) and Naomi Watts attend Michael Kors’ Spring 2018 runway show in New York City. They’ve been best friends since 1991 when they co-starred in the Australian drama Flirting. PHOTO BY JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY
LETO SHINES Actor/musician Jared Leto performs with his band Thirty Seconds to Mars at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. PHOTO BY KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY
NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 7 IN BRIEF
Jesse Eisenberg On Home Turf: THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT Jesse Eisenberg and Alexander Skarsgård are in Montreal this month to help THETRUTHIS… Canadian writer/director Kim Nguyen make his most ee that lasso of truth coiled at the hip after Larson got credit for the device, Marston mainstream movie to date, of Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) in this happily promoted it and tried to convince the The Hummingbird Project. S Justice League pic? courts of its efficacy. Eisenberg and Skarsgård You may not realize that Princess Diana’s So why does Diana use the lasso to bind star as cousins looking lasso has its origins in a very real (though highly someone — as she and her Amazon sisters did to make huge amounts controversial and much debated) technology to Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) when they were of money through high- developed and espoused by her creator, trying to find out why he’d come to their island frequency trading, the William Moulton Marston — the polygraph or paradise in Wonder Woman — rather than sit practice of using powerful lie-detector test. them down and connect them to a machine? computers and leading-edge Although, officially, the invention is attributed Well, it turns out Marston was also a technology to trade stocks to a medical student and police officer named proponent of bondage, an activity he regularly at a lightning-fast pace. John Augustus Larson, who first used it in practiced with Elizabeth and their mistress Nguyen is best known 1921, Marston — a psychologist by trade — Olive Byrne (the trio lived happily together for his 2012 filmWar Witch, was experimenting with the technology a while raising four children). He believed learning which was nominated for decade earlier, inspired by his wife Elizabeth’s to submit was at the core of any healthy Best Foreign Language Film observation that her blood pressure seemed to relationship. at the Oscars. —MW rise when she became angry or excited. Even Justice League hits theatres November 17th. THE ART OF FILM
“It all starts with a little sketch of what I have in mind,” says Mar Cerdà, an illustrator from Barcelona, Spain, who uses just watercolour paper, paint and glue to create magical dioramas depicting famous movie scenes. “Before focusing on illustration I studied cinema, specializing in art direction,” Cerdà says of her fascination with movies. “I’m not only influenced by the movies themselves but also by the making of movies: the light, the mise-en-scène and, above all, the space.” Here, from left, you see Cerdà’s three-dimensional renditions of Romeo + Juliet, The Darjeeling Limited and Zoolander 2. Go to marillustrations.com to see more. — MW
8 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017
FAKE VIEWS Although most of the film wasn’t actually shot on a train, the scenery you see streaming past the windows in this month’s Murder on the Orient Express was indeed projected onto screens behind those windows during filming, making cast members feel like they were on a picturesque journey. “I found myself going to the end of the train to watch the scenery go by as if I was on a real train, and I wasn’t the only one,” the film’s star and director Kenneth Branagh told a London crowd that was treated to early footage of the Hail film back in May. “Quite a few of us got motion sickness.” to the
PHOTO BY SGT JOHANIE MAHEU, RIDEAU HALL RIDEAU JOHANIE MAHEU, SGT BY PHOTO CHIEF Congratulations to Cineplex Magazine publisher Salah Bachir on being named Playback’s 2017 Canadian Film & Television Hall of Fame Humanitarian Award winner. Playback, a trade magazine for Canada’s film and TV industry, chose Bachir because of his long history as a philanthropist and patron of the arts, which includes raising millions of dollars for Toronto’s 519 Community Centre, helping to fund a new dialysis unit IT’S ALL at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, and sitting on dozens of boards of directors over the past two decades, The Killing of a including for the Canadian Film Centre Sacred Deer’s and Art Gallery of Ontario. Nicole Kidman and Earlier this year Bachir also GREEK Colin Farrell became the chancellor of OCAD University, one of Canada’s If you notice a unique cadence in the dialogue of Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’ preeminent institutions for the absurdist works like 2015’s The Lobster (nominated for a Best Original Screenplay study of art and design, and last Oscar) and this month’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer there’s good reason. year he was named a Member of Although both movies were shot in English, a language both Lanthimos and his the Order of Canada. co-writer Efthymis Filippou speak fluently, they chose to write the screenplays in their Well done, Salah. native Greek before translating them to English. The process results in dialogue that’s often awkward and deadpan, but works for telling their uncomfortable stories.
10 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 Dan Stevens (left) and Christopher Plummer in The Man Who Invented Christmas A CHRISTOPHER Acting Her CHRISTMAS Christopher Plummer owns Christmas this year. AGE The 87-year-old Canadian actor has two holiday movies out this month. First, Just because writer-director on November 17th, the animated family feature The Star comes out, with Plummer Martin McDonagh wrote the role of voicing King Herod, ruler of Judea, in this story of Jesus’s birth that’s largely told Mildred in Three Billboards Outside by barn animals. Ebbing, Missouri specifically for Then a week later The Man Who Invented Christmas hits theatres with Plummer Frances McDormand, and just cast as the embodiment of Ebenezer Scrooge as Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) because McDormand thought struggles to write his masterwork, A Christmas Carol. —MW Mildred was “amazing,” didn’t mean she was going to do it. McDormand was convinced she was too old. “At the time he gave it to me I was 58, I’m 60 now… and I’m really interested in playing my Quote age. I like being my age. And I kind of have a political thing Unquote about it,” explained McDormand during a press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival. I like Roman, Mildred is an angry — very angry I can actually — grieving mother who erects billboards criticizing her local police say that. I look department when no arrests have at this film been made months after her young- adult daughter was murdered. and I go, man, Is 58 really too old to play the mother of a young woman? In this I like that guy. case, McDormand thought so. “I also I don’t say have a working-class background and I was concerned that women that much, from this socioeconomic strata not like this. did not wait until they were 38 to have their first child,” she said. “And so we went back and forth, DENZEL WASHINGTON ON THE IDEALISTIC and we debated that for quite a DEFENSE ATTORNEY while, and then finally my husband HE PLAYS IN [writer-director Joel Coen] said, ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. ‘Just shut up and do it.’” —MW
NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 11 LLA DRESSED UP HALLE HARRISON ANGELINA BERRY FORD JOLIE At the London premiere of In London for a photocall to At the New York premiere of Kingsman: The Golden Circle. promote Blade Runner 2049. First They Killed My Father. PHOTO BY RUNE HELLESTAD/GETTY PHOTO BY DAVE J. HOGAN/GETTY PHOTO BY DIA DIPASUPIL/GETTY
12 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 ALICIA TARON EVA VIKANDER EGERTON MENDES At a screening of Submergence during In London for the premiere of At the Cerritos, California, launch the San Sebastián Film Festival. Kingsman: The Golden Circle. of her New York & Company fall PHOTO BY JUAN NAHAROO/GETTY PHOTO BY JOE MAHER/GETTY fashion collection. PHOTO BY RACHEL MURRAY/GETTY
NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 13 IN T HE AT R E S NOVEMBER 1
A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS This Bad Moms sequel finds moms Amy (Mila Kunis), Kiki (Kristen Bell) and Carla (Kathryn Hahn) struggling to give their families the perfect Christmas, and the pressure really ramps up when their respective moms — Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon — arrive for a holiday visit.
NOVEMBER 3
THOR: RAGNAROK Taking a page from Guardians of the Galaxy’s playbook, the third Thor film is a comedic, cosmic romp that showcases a lighthearted Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who teams with a more evolved Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) to take on goddess of death Hela (Cate Blanchett). Series mainstays Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Heimdall (Idris Elba) are back, while Jeff Goldblum joins the cast as the quirky Grandmaster. See Chris Hemsworth interview, page 32.
THE KILLING OF ROMAN J. A SACRED DEER ISRAEL, ESQ. Director Yorgos Lanthimos’ Denzel Washington put on a (Dogtooth, The Lobster) latest bunch of weight and adopted offering stars Barry Keoghan a disheveled look to play (Dunkirk) as a strange young an altruistic lawyer named man whose relationship with Roman J. Israel, whose morals a surgeon (Colin Farrell) are tested when he starts has dire consequences working for an ambitious for the surgeon’s wife and unethical lawyer Denzel Washington (Nicole Kidman) and teen (Colin Farrell). in Roman J. Israel, Esq. daughter (Raffey Cassidy). CONTINUED
14 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017
NOVEMBER 10 NOVEMBER 17 MURDER ON THE DADDY’S HOME 2 ORIENT EXPRESS In this sequel to the hit Kenneth Branagh not only 2015 comedy, docile Brad JUSTICE LEAGUE directs this adaptation of (Will Ferrell) and domineering Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and author Agatha Christie’s Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) have Wonder Woman whetted our appetites for whodunit, he plays lead become great co-dads to this superhero feast that sees Batman character Hercule Poirot, their kids, but their relationship (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman the mustachioed sleuth who is put to the test when (Gal Gadot) recruit a team of must sniff out which of his Brad’s touchy-feely father metahumans — Flash (Ezra Miller), fellow 13 passengers travelling (John Lithgow) and Dusty’s Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg aboard a luxury train murdered macho dad (Mel Gibson) (Ray Fisher) and maybe even a a gangster (Johnny Depp). spend Christmas with the back-from-the-dead Superman The all-star cast includes family. Look for John Cena (Henry Cavill) — to take on baddie Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench, as the biological father of Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), who Josh Gad, Penélope Cruz, Dusty’s stepdaughter, Adrianna is searching for the all-powerful Derek Jacobi, Willem Dafoe (Didi Costine). Mother Boxes hidden on Earth. and Daisy Ridley. Returning characters include Lois Lane (Amy Adams), Johnny Depp in Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), Murder on the Orient Express Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane).
The Star
THE STAR LADY BIRD This animated tale recounts Actor and screenwriter the first Christmas as seen Greta Gerwig makes her solo through the eyes of a directing debut with this brave donkey named Bo critically acclaimed drama (Steven Yueh), who joins Mary about 17-year-old Christine (Gina Rodriguez) and Joseph “Lady Bird” McPherson (Zachary Levi) as they follow (Saoirse Ronan), a high-school the Star of Bethlehem. senior who butts heads with The voice cast includes her mom (Laurie Metcalf) as Oprah Winfrey, Tracy Morgan, she desperately tries to figure Keegan-Michael Key, Tyler out what she wants to do with Perry and Kristin Chenoweth. her life.
16 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 Wonder’s Jacob Tremblay and Julia Roberts
WONDER THREE BILLBOARDS Canada’s own Jacob Tremblay OUTSIDE EBBING, (Room) is more than just a MISSOURI child star; he’s a dependable Winner of the People’s Choice little actor. In this adaptation award at this year’s Toronto of R.J. Palacio’s novel he International Film Festival, portrays 10-year-old writer/director Martin August Pullman, who suffers McDonagh’s acerbic dramedy from a rare facial deformity stars Francis McDormand as and has been homeschooled Mildred Hayes, who plasters his entire life. His parents — three billboards with messages Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson — accusing the town sheriff B:9.25” make the big step of enrolling (Woody Harrelson) of doing T:7.625”him in a prep school with little to solve her daughter’s S:6.875”the hopes he will be able to (Kathryn Newton) murder. fit in. CONTINUED
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OCTOBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 17
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ALW 010748 Always Shower Half Page.indd Proof ROUND Stock: - #: 10.1 CINEPLEX EVENTS GHIBLI ANIME SERIES NOVEMBER 22 Spirited Away WED., NOV. 1 COCO BROADWAY HD Pixar’s latest animated feature is set in Mexico Present Laughter THURS., NOV. 2; and finds little Miguel MON., NOV 13 (Anthony Gonzalez) Irving Berlin’s dreaming of being a famous Holiday Inn - musician like his great-great The Broadway Musical grandfather Ernesto de la Cruz SUN., NOV. 26 (Benjamin Bratt). When Miguel steals Cruz’s guitar, he FAMILY FAVOURITES is transported to the Land of The Nut Job 2: the Dead where he must find Nutty by Nature Ernesto or remain with the SAT., NOV. 4 dead forever. Masha and the Bear SAT., NOV. 11 Wonder Woman SAT., NOV. 18 Home Alone SAT., NOV. 25
MET OPERA Jessica Chastain in Molly’s Game Norma (Bellini) ENCORES: SAT., NOV. 4; MOLLY’S GAME MON., NOV. 6; WED., NOV. 8 Aaron Sorkin writes and Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) makes his directing debut ENCORES: SAT., NOV. 11; with this adaptation of MON., NOV. 27; WED., NOV. 29 Molly Bloom’s book that details The Exterminating how she came to run a high- Angel (Adès) stakes poker game catering to LIVE: SAT., NOV. 18 Hollywood celebs, Wall Street ANIME hotshots and the Russian mob. Pokémon the Movie: Jessica Chastain portrays I Choose You! Bloom, Idris Elba is the lawyer SUN., NOV. 5; MON., NOV. 6 who must defend her when the FBI comes calling and IN THE GALLERY Michael Cera is Player X, a Canaletto and the Hollywood actor who loves Art of Venice the big games. See Jessica THURS., NOV. 9 Chastain and Aaron Sorkin CLASSIC FILMS interview, page 28. Casablanca SUN., NOV. 12; WED., NOV. 15 THE CURRENT WAR An account of the real-life NATIONAL THEATRE NOVEMBER 24 race between Thomas Edison Follies (Benedict Cumberbatch) LIVE: THURS., NOV. 16 THE MAN WHO and George Westinghouse INVENTED (Michael Shannon) to see who BOLSHOI BALLET CHRISTMAS could bring electricity to the The Taming of the Shrew Dan Stevens portrays Victorian masses first. Edison believed LIVE: SAT., NOV. 19 author Charles Dickens as he direct current (DC) was the PASSPORT TO struggles to write his classic best distribution system for THE WORLD holiday tale A Christmas Carol. electricity while Westinghouse Armenia: Proud Working under a deadline, favoured alternating current and Fierce Dickens conjures up the (AC). Nicholas Hoult portrays MON., NOV. 20 misanthropic Ebenezer Scrooge Serbian engineer Nikolai Tesla, (Christopher Plummer) Dan Stevens in who works with both men. DOCUMENTARY The Man Who and a cast of colourful Invented Christmas See Benedict Cumberbatch MAMIL characters. interview, page 20. THURS., NOV. 30
GO TO CINEPLEX.COM/EVENTS SHOWTIMES ONLINE AT CINEPLEX.COM FOR MORE INFO ALL RELEASE DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
18 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017
LIGHT Put down your smartphone, turn off your computer and think for a few minutes about a time, more than a century ago, when men like Thomas Edison were still figuring out how to harness electricity. Turns out things weren’t all happy and bright. We talk to The Current War’s star Benedict Cumberbatch about playing Edison and the competition that changed the world n BY INGRID RANDOJA
f Benedict Cumberbatch delivery system is expensive to run and can was going to play a genius on travel only short distances. screen, yet again, he vowed he George Westinghouse, the engineer and would make this one different businessman, backs the alternating current from the rest. (AC) system, which is cheaper and travels His version of American a far greater distance. While Westinghouse inventor Thomas Edison in starts to pull ahead of Edison in the so-called The Current War doesn’t “battle of currents,” Edison begins to smear display any of the quiet Westinghouse’s name and even colludes to heroism Cumberbatch brought to computer ensure the newly invented electric chair uses whiz Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, alternating current to do its job. or the quirky nobility of his rendition of “Edison was an inventor of great brilliance Sherlock Holmes. His Edison is a man who is and was the frontman for his own products; both stubborn and, at times, mean-spirited. researching, developing and patenting them, “Edison does some pretty dastardly things and then manufacturing and marketing. He in this film,” says Cumberbatch during an was a bit of a one-man band in an extraor- interview at this year’s Toronto International dinary sense,” says Cumberbatch. “I guess a Film Festival. “He wants to win at all costs, lot of pride comes with that, and pride before he’s obsessed.” a fall is kinda what the film is about. He’s Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me and always been selective in his hearing because Earl and the Dying Girl), The Current War he’s partially deaf, but even in a more pro- depicts the race between Thomas Edison and found way because he chooses to only hear George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) what he wants to hear, he can’t hear the better to see which one can harness the power of wisdom.” electricity and bring it to the masses first. The film also features Nicholas Hoult Edison gets off to a quick start, inventing a (Mad Max: Fury Road) as Nikola Tesla, usable light bulb and, in 1892, brings electric- the brilliant Serbian-born engineer who ity to 59 customers living on a New York City eventually teams with Westinghouse after block. However, Edison’s direct current (DC) Edison spurns his ideas, and CONTINUED
20 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 21 THE CURRENT WAR HITS THEATRES NOVEMBER 24TH
BATCH OF PRODUCTIONS The workaholic Benedict Cumberbatch added the tag of producer to his résumé back in 2013 when he, along with Adam Ackland, Ben Dillon and Adam Selves, launched their SunnyMarch film and TV production company. The Current War is their first film co-production. Here’s a look at the company’s recent and upcoming projects. Benedict Cumberbatch (right) and Woody Norman in The Current War The Child in Time This 90-minute drama based on Tuppence Middleton (Netflix’s Sense8) as manicured image of the past. It’s about giving Ian McEwan’s award-winning novel aired Edison’s wife Mary, who implores Edison to it energy. These were young, innovative on BBC TV in September and starred spend more time with his two children. people doing extraordinary things in a really Cumberbatch and Kelly Macdonald as It’s the first time we’ve seen Cumberbatch accelerated period of technological evolution, parents whose three-year-old daughter play a father on film, a new development as we’re seeing now as well.” goes missing. that mirrors the 41-year-old actor’s life off Gomez-Rejon isn’t shy about placing his Melrose screen. He and his wife Sophie are parents of camera in odd places — shooting a scene Set to air next year, this five-part two-year-old Christopher Carlton and eight- from high above looking straight down, or TV series is based on the semi- month-old Hal Auden. Cumberbatch, a no- from the floor looking up. It could be unnerv- autobiographical novels by English torious workaholic, is now coming to terms ing for an actor. author Edward St. Aubyn. Cumberbatch with juggling a career and family. “Seeing some of the camera positions I portrays Patrick Melrose, who is raised “I am a lot less comfortable with that isola- said to Alfonso, ‘I don’t want you to make me by abusive parents, becomes a playboy, tion than Edison was,” says the actor. “I am look like a Bond baddie from shooting me spirals into addiction and fights his way thousands of miles away from my children, from weird angles, because if you exacerbate back. Hugo Weaving, Jennifer Jason Leigh which FaceTime only makes me painfully the idea that he’s disagreeable you lose the and Anna Madeley co-star. too aware. Absolutely my priorities have nuance of storytelling,” notes the actor. “But How to Stop Time changed. It’s about where and when I do my apart from that it was, ‘Okay, yup, we’ll do Based on the novel by Matt Haig, this work so I can spend more time with family. that shot.’ Boy did it pay off because it’s a truly feature film casts Cumberbatch as “And the older I get, as well, I want to work beautiful, poetic cinematic experience.” Tom Hazard, who has a rare genetic with certain people. It’s not just about the The film also paints a picture of how condition that slows his aging — he’s 436 material but to join with filmmakers I want to powerful men see the world as their private years old. He works as a history teacher work with.” playground to be used as they see fit. When and makes the mistake of falling in love. That includes The Current War director asked if this type of man is enjoyable to play, The End We Start From Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, who brings vitality to Cumberbatch brings up a fascinating case Cumberbatch and wife Sophie — herself the film, using a myriad of camera angles, study. a playwright, actor and theatre director split-screens and inspired editing. It’s exactly “Would one play Trump, or the Devil? I am — will produce this drama based on the kind of energy Cumberbatch wanted sure there is a reason why Trump is the way the debut book by Megan Hunter that both as an actor and as one of the film’s pro- he is, so yes, would I like to unearth that, it chronicles a mother and her baby ducers through his production company, would be interesting. Do I want to play him, who are forced to find refuge in the SunnyMarch. no, I don’t want to give him any more air time countryside when London becomes “I knew Alfonso would bring to this a sort than the man is already manufacturing for submerged under water after an of modernism of seeing these men in the past himself. Everyone is so bored of it.” environmental disaster. who are building a future, and the idea of how you encapsulate that excitement of the new; Ingrid Randoja is the deputy editor of something that is not sepia-toned and not a Cineplex Magazine.
22 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017– 18 SEASON AT CINEPLEX THEATRES
Go to Cineplex.com/Opera to buy tickets and find participating theatres LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017–18 SEASON
4 A Note from the General Manager
6 Norma BELLINI 15 La Bohème PUCCINI LIVE: OCT 7, 2017 LIVE: FEB 24, 2018 ENCORES: NOV 4, 6, 8, 19, 25, 2017 ENCORES: APR 7, 9, 11, 15, MAY 5, 2018
7 Die Zauberflöte MOZART 16 Semiramide ROSSINI LIVE: OCT 14, 2017 LIVE: MAR 10, 2018 ENCORES: NOV 11, 27, 29, DEC 10, 16, 2017 ENCORES: APR 21, 23, 25, 29, MAY 26, 2018
8 The Exterminating Angel ADÈS 17 Così fan tutte MOZART LIVE: NOV 18, 2017 LIVE: MAR 31, 2018 ENCORES: DEC 9, 11, 13, 2017, JAN 7, 13, 2018 ENCORES: MAY 5, 7, 9, 13, JUN 2, 2018
12 Tosca PUCCINI 18 Luisa Miller VERDI LIVE: JAN 27, 2018 LIVE: APR 14, 2018 ENCORES: FEB 17, 26, 28, MAR 3, 11, 2018 ENCORES: MAY 19, 21, 23, 27, JUN 16, 2018
14 L’Elisir d’Amore DONIZETTI 19 Cendrillon MASSENET LIVE: FEB 10, 2018 LIVE: APR 28, 2018 ENCORES: MAR 17, 19, 21, 24, APR 1, 2018 ENCORES: JUN 9, 11, 13, 17, 23, 2018
For ticket and broadcast information call Cineplex Entertainment Guest Services, 1-800-333-0061, or go to Cineplex.com/Opera
On the cover: Sonya Yoncheva as Tosca, photo by Ann Ray/Metropolitan Opera
2 | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA
A Note from the General Manager
We have an exciting lineup of live movie theater Our season would not be complete without The Metropolitan Opera: transmissions in store for you this season. We the presentation of a major new work, in this Live in HD Program Guide open with a new Norma, featuring the star case the Met premiere of Thomas Adès’s Editorial content created pairing of Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role The Exterminating Angel, which the Met by the Metropolitan Opera. and Joyce DiDonato as Adalgisa—the most co-commissioned and produced with the Reformatted for the Canadian lustrous Norma pairing since Sutherland and Salzburg Festival and the Royal Opera House, market by Cineplex Media. Horne in the late ’60s, which I witnessed as a Covent Garden. It has enjoyed great public teenage usher in the Family Circle. and critical success. The Met: Live in HD But there are many other highlights to look You might surmise that the entire season is one series is made possible forward to. Toward the end of the season, potential highlight after another. That is certainly by a generous grant from DiDonato returns to sing the title role of our aspiration for the Met’s new season and for its founding sponsor, Cendrillon, Massenet’s masterful take on the every season that we program. The Neubauer Family Cinderella story that has previously been missing Foundation We are very grateful for the pioneering support from the Met’s repertory. of the Neubauer Family Foundation, the founding Digital support of In between, rising soprano Sonya Yoncheva sponsor of the Live in HD series, as well as digital The Met: Live in HD makes Met history by starring in three different support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, and is provided by operas transmitted into movie theaters in the to Jacqueline Desmarais for her support of the same season: Yoncheva sings the title roles of HD series in Canada, in memory of her husband, our splendid new Tosca production that opens Paul G. Desmarais Sr. on New Year’s Eve and a rare revival of Verdi’s I hope you will join us in your local cinema for the Transmission of Luisa Miller (also starring Piotr Beczała and 2017–18 season of The Met: Live in HD. Thank you The Met: Live in HD in the indefatigable Plácido Domingo), as well as for watching. Canada is made possible Puccini’s timeless heroine Mimì in La Bohème thanks to the generosity opposite tenor sensation Michael Fabiano. Best wishes, of Jacqueline Desmarais, in memory of Paul G. Desmarais Sr.
Peter Gelb General Manager Photo by Ken Howard/ Metropolitan Opera
4 | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA
LIVE IN HD OCT 7, 2017 12:5 5 PM ET
ENCORE BROADCASTS NOV 4, 2017 12PM ET & AT* NOV 6, 2017 6:30PM LOCAL NOV 8, 2017 12:55PM LOCAL NOV 19, 2017 4PM LOCAL NOV 25, 2017 6PM LOCAL
CONDUCTOR Carlo Rizzi
PRODUCTION Sir David McVicar VINCENZO BELLINI SET DESIGNER Robert Jones NORMA COSTUME DESIGNER NEW PRODUCTION Moritz Junge LIGHTING DESIGNER Sondra Radvanovsky offers a fearless performance of the title druid priestess Paule Constable opposite Joyce DiDonato and Joseph Calleja—a casting coup for bel canto fans. Carlo Rizzi conducts. MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Leah Hausman
ACT I Gaul, 50 B. C. E. Oroveso leads the druids ACT II Norma contemplates murdering her and warriors in a prayer for revenge against the children but instead begs Adalgisa to take NORMA conquering Romans. Pollione no longer loves them to Rome with Pollione. Adalgisa hopes Sondra Radvanovsky the high priestess Norma, with whom he has to persuade Pollione to return to Norma. The ADALGISA two children. He now loves the young priestess warriors learn a new commander will replace Joyce DiDonato Adalgisa. Norma prays for peace. Pollione finds Pollione. Hearing that Pollione will not return Adalgisa crying and urges her to flee with him to to her, Norma urges her people to attack the POLLIONE Rome. Adalgisa confesses to Norma that she has conquerors. Oroveso demands a sacrificial Joseph Calleja a lover, and when she discovers that Adalgisa is victim, and Pollione is brought in. Norma OROVESO her rival, Norma’s kindness turns to fury. Adalgisa promises him his freedom if he will give up Matthew Rose declares that she would rather die than steal Adalgisa. When he refuses, Norma threatens
Pollione from Norma. to kill him and their children. She tells the druids *ET & AT – Saturday encores are that a guilty priestess must die, then confesses scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time INTERMISSION that she is referring to herself. Pollione now for BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and at 12PM Atlantic Time for asks to share her fate, and the lovers throw NB/NL/NS/PE. themselves onto the pyre.
Production a gift of Veronica Atkins
Photo by Paola Kudacki / Metropolitan Opera
6 | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA LIVE IN HD OCT 14, 2017 12:5 5 PM ET
ENCORE BROADCASTS NOV 11, 2017 12PM ET & AT* NOV 27, 2017 6:30PM LOCAL NOV 29, 2017 12:55PM LOCAL DEC 10, 2017 4PM LOCAL DEC 16, 2017 6PM LOCAL
CONDUCTOR James Levine
PRODUCTION Julie Taymor
SET DESIGNER WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART George Tsypin
COSTUME DESIGNER DIE ZAUBERFLO¨ TE Julie Taymor LIGHTING DESIGNER Music Director Emeritus James Levine conducts Mozart’s magical fable, Donald Holder
seen in Julie Taymor’s spectacular production, which captures both the PUPPET DESIGNERS opera’s earthy comedy and its noble mysticism. Julie Taymor and Michael Curry
ACT I A mythical land. Prince Tamino and As part of their trials, Tamino and Papageno CHOREOGRAPHER the bird-catcher Papageno are sent by the are not allowed to speak, and Pamina, thinking Mark Dendy Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Tamino doesn’t care for her, is heartbroken. Pamina, who is being held captive by Sarastro Meanwhile, Papageno meets a flirtatious old PAMINA and his brotherhood of priests. Tamino has fallen lady. After many dangers, Tamino and Pamina Golda Schultz in love with a picture of Pamina and hopes to are finally reunited. Papageno, desperate that he QUEEN OF THE NIGHT win her. Arriving at Sarastro’s temple, the two can’t find a girl for himself, attempts to commit Kathryn Lewek travelers learn that it is the queen, not Sarastro, suicide, when suddenly Papagena appears — TAMINO who is evil. Sarastro, who realizes that Pamina she was the old lady, now transformed into a Charles Castronovo and Tamino are meant for each other, promises young girl. The Queen of the Night and her PAPAGENO the girl eventual freedom. servants attack the temple but are defeated and Markus Werba banished. All hail the triumph of courage, virtue, INTERMISSION and wisdom. SPEAKER Christian Van Horn ACT II Sarastro announces to the priests that Tamino will undergo initiation rites to join the Production a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Henry R. Kravis SARASTRO brotherhood. Pamina, who has also fallen in Additional funding from John Van Meter, René Pape The Annenberg Foundation, Karen and Kevin Kennedy, love with Tamino, is horrified when her mother *ET & AT – Saturday encores are Bill Rollnick and Nancy Ellison Rollnick, scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time asks her to murder Sarastro. Sarastro in turn Mr. and Mrs. William R. Miller, Agnes Varis and for BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and tells Pamina that he does not seek vengeance. Karl Leichtman, and Mr. and Mrs. Ezra K. Zilkha at 12PM Atlantic Time for NB/NL/NS/PE.
Photo by Marty Sohl / Metropolitan Opera
THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | 7 LIVE IN HD NOV 18, 2017 12:5 5 PM ET ENCORE BROADCASTS DEC 9, 2017 12PM ET & AT* DEC 11, 2017 6:30PM LOCAL DEC 13, 2017 12:55PM LOCAL JAN 7, 2018 4PM LOCAL JAN 13, 2018 6PM LOCAL CONDUCTOR Thomas Adès PRODUCTION Tom Cairns SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER Hildegard Bechtler LIGHTING DESIGNER Jon Clark PROJECTION DESIGNER Tal Yarden CHOREOGRAPHER THOMAS ADÈS / LIBRETTO BY TOM CAIRNS Amir Hosseinpour
LETICIA MAYNAR THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL Audrey Luna LUCIA DE NOBILE MET PREMIERE PRODUCTION Amanda Echalaz SILVIA DE ÁVILA The Met presents the American premiere of Thomas Adès’s The Exterminating Angel, Sally Matthews a surreal fantasy about a dinner party from which the guests can’t escape. BEATRIZ Sophie Bevan ACT I A luxurious mansion. Before a fancy party, ACT III A crowd of people have gathered outside, LEONORA PALMA some servants inexplicably leave the de Nobile but nobody is able to enter the house. Inside, Alice Coote mansion. While the guests enjoy the meal, the Julio and Raúl burst a pipe for water. Everyone BLANCA DELGADO rest of the servants, except the butler Julio, becomes increasingly irrational. Eduardo Christine Rice escape the house. When it is time to depart, and Beatriz take their own lives. The guests FRANCISCO DE ÁVILA Iestyn Davies the guests feel no motivation to go home believe that a sacrifice is needed to secure EDMUNDO DE NOBILE and instead make themselves comfortable their liberation. Suddenly, Leticia realizes that Joseph Kaiser for the night. everyone is in exactly the same place as when RAÚL YEBENES their captivity began. They repeat their actions Frédéric Antoun ACT II Dr. Conde examines Russell, who is dying. from that first night and are ultimately able to Still, no one can exit the room. Julio arrives with EDUARDO escape, but their freedom will not last long. David Portillo breakfast. Leticia entreats the butler not to enter COL. ÁLVARO GÓMEZ the drawing room, but he too becomes trapped. A co-commission and co-production of the Metropolitan Opera; Royal Opera House, David Adam Moore The guests begin to panic. During the night, Covent Garden; Royal Danish Theatre; and ALBERTO ROC Russell dies. Salzburg Festival Rod Gilfry Production a gift of Robert L. Turner INTERMISSION SEÑOR RUSSELL Additional funding from Kevin Burdette The H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, PhD. JULIO and Oscar Tang Endowment Fund, Christian Van Horn and American Express DR. CARLOS CONDE Sir John Tomlinson *ET & AT – Saturday encores are scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time for Photo by Monika Rittershaus / BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and at 12PM Atlantic Time for NB/NL/NS/PE. Salzburger Festspiele 2016
8 | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA
LIVE IN HD JAN 27, 2018 12:5 5 PM ET
ENCORE BROADCASTS FEB 17, 2018 12PM ET & AT* FEB 26, 2018 6:30PM LOCAL FEB 28, 2018 12:55PM LOCAL MAR 3, 2018 6PM LOCAL MAR 11, 2018 4PM LOCAL
CONDUCTOR James Levine
PRODUCTION Sir David McVicar GIACOMO PUCCINI SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER John Macfarlane TOSCA LIGHTING DESIGNER NEW PRODUCTION David Finn
Sir David McVicar’s ravishing new production offers a splendid backdrop for MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Puccini’s thriller. James Levine conducts a cast that includes Sonya Yoncheva, Leah Hausman Vittorio Grigolo, and Sir Bryn Terfel. TOSCA
ACT I Rome, June 1800. The painter cries out in defiance of tyranny, and Scarpia’s Sonya Yoncheva Mario Cavaradossi, a liberal, helps the escaped men carry him off to be executed. Scarpia offers CAVARADOSSI political prisoner Angelotti hide from the police. Tosca Cavaradossi’s freedom in exchange for her Vittorio Grigolo Cavaradossi’s devoted but jealous lover, the love. She agrees, but the moment he has written singer Floria Tosca, suspects him of being a safe conduct pass for her, she grabs a knife and SCARPIA unfaithful. Baron Scarpia, the sadistic chief of kills him. Sir Bryn Terfel police who is hunting Angelotti, wants Tosca INTERMISSION SACRISTAN for himself and arouses her jealousy with remarks Patrick Carfizzi about Cavaradossi. As the crowd sings a ACT III Tosca comes to Cavaradossi’s prison
Te Deum, celebrating Napoleon’s recent defeat to tell him that he is free but explains that he *ET & AT – Saturday encores are in battle against the Imperial Austrian forces, has to go through a mock execution before they scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time Scarpia vows that he will bend Tosca to his will. can leave the city. The firing squad shoots, and for BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and at 12PM Atlantic Time for Cavaradossi falls down. When Tosca realizes the INTERMISSION NB/NL/NS/PE. shots were real and he is dead, she leaps from ACT II Unable to find Angelotti, Scarpia has the battlement.
arrested Cavaradossi, whom he suspects of Production a gift of Jacqueline Desmarais, in memory aiding the fugitive. When Scarpia has the painter of Paul G. Desmarais Sr; The Paiko Foundation; and tortured, the frightened Tosca reveals Angelotti’s Dr. Elena Prokupets, in memory of her late husband, Rudy Prokupets hiding place. News arrives that Napoleon has in Major funding from Rolex fact won the battle. Cavaradossi triumphantly Photo by Jonathan Tichler / Metropolitan Opera
12 | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA
LIVE IN HD FEB 10, 2018 12PM ET
ENCORE BROADCASTS MAR 17, 2018 12PM ET & AT* MAR 19, 2018 6PM LOCAL MAR 21, 2018 12:55PM LOCAL MAR 24, 2018 6PM LOCAL APR 1, 2018 4PM LOCAL
CONDUCTOR Domingo Hindoyan
PRODUCTION Bartlett Sher GAETANO DONIZETTI SET DESIGNER Michael Yeargan L’ELISIR D’AMORE COSTUME DESIGNER Catherine Zuber Pretty Yende debuts a new role at the Met with her first Adina, opposite LIGHTING DESIGNER Matthew Polenzani, who enthralled Met audiences as Nemorino in 2013. Jennifer Tipton Domingo Hindoyan conducts.
ADINA ACT I Italy, 1836. Nemorino, a young villager, ACT II At the pre-wedding feast, Adina Pretty Yende is trying to win the love of the beautiful farm refuses to sign the marriage contract as long owner Adina. He is disconcerted by the arrival as Nemorino is not present. He has decided NEMORINO of Sergeant Belcore, who immediately begins that to speed the effects of the elixir he needs Matthew Polenzani flirting with Adina and asks her to marry him. a second bottle, but without enough money, BELCORE Dulcamara, a traveling purveyor of medicines, he enlists in Belcore’s regiment for a volunteer Davide Luciano arrives in town advertising a magic cure-all bonus. Meanwhile, the village girls have heard potion. Nemorino uses all of his money to that Nemorino’s rich uncle has died and left his DOCTOR DULCAMARA buy a love potion—in fact, a simple bottle of nephew a fortune. Besieged by them, Nemorino Ildebrando D’Arcangelo Bordeaux—that Dulcamara guarantees will win interprets their interest as proof that the elixir the lady’s heart within a day. Nemorino quickly is taking effect. Adina, realizing her true feelings, *ET & AT – Saturday encores are downs the bottle and, feeling the effect of the buys Nemorino’s contract from the army and scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time for BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and “potion,” is so certain he will be irresistible to confesses her love to him, and the two are at 12PM Atlantic Time for Adina that he feigns indifference. Surprised happily united. NB/NL/NS/PE. and hurt by his behavior, Adina agrees to marry Production a gift of The Monteforte Foundation, Belcore at once. in honor of Wim Kooyker
INTERMISSION
Photo by Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera
14 | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA LIVE IN HD FEB 24, 2018 12:3 0 PM ET
ENCORE BROADCASTS APR 7, 2018 12PM ET & AT* APR 9, 2018 6PM LOCAL APR 11, 2018 12:55PM LOCAL APR 15, 2018 4PM LOCAL MAY 5, 2018 6PM LOCAL
CONDUCTOR Marco Armiliato
PRODUCTION Franco Zeffirelli
GIACOMO PUCCINI SET DESIGNER Franco Zeffirelli
COSTUME DESIGNER LA BOHÈME Peter J. Hall The world’s most popular opera returns in Franco Zeffirelli’s classic LIGHTING DESIGNER production, with a cast of young stars. Sonya Yoncheva is the fragile Gil Wechsler Mimì, opposite Michael Fabiano as the poet Rodolfo. MIMÌ Sonya Yoncheva ACT I Paris, the 1830s. The near-destitute ACT III Weeks later, Mimì comes to see Marcello painter Marcello and poet Rodolfo live with on the outskirts of Paris and tells him of her MUSETTA their roommates, Colline and Schaunard, in a distress over Rodolfo’s jealousy. She says it is Susanna Phillips garret in the Latin Quarter. As his friends leave best that they part. Rodolfo, on the other hand, RODOLFO to celebrate Christmas at the Café Momus, wants to separate from Mimì because he thinks Michael Fabiano Rodolfo stays home to write. He meets his pretty her illness can only grow worse in the poverty neighbor, Mimì, and the two fall in love at first they share. Mimì tearfully says goodbye to him, MARCELLO sight. Arm in arm, they leave to join his friends. but overcome with emotion, the two decide to Lucas Meachem remain together until spring. ACT II At the café, Marcello’s former sweetheart, SCHAUNARD Musetta, makes a noisy entrance on the arm of INTERMISSION Alexey Lavrov her elderly but wealthy lover, Alcindoro, arousing ACT IV Now separated from their girlfriends, COLLINE Marcello’s jealousy. Tumult ensues, and Musetta, Rodolfo and Marcello lament their loneliness. Matthew Rose having sent Alcindoro away, eventually falls into Musetta arrives with Mimì, who is mortally ill. Marcello’s arms. BENOIT / ALCINDORO Left alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their first Paul Plishka INTERMISSION happy days. The others return, and Mimì dies, leaving Rodolfo heartbroken. *ET & AT – Saturday encores are scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time Production a gift of Mrs. Donald D. Harrington for BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and at 12PM Atlantic Time for Revival a gift of Viking Cruises NB/NL/NS/PE.
Photo by Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera
THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | 15 LIVE IN HD MAR 10, 2018 12:5 5 PM ET
ENCORE BROADCASTS APR 21, 2018 12PM ET & AT* APR 23, 2018 6:30PM LOCAL APR 25, 2018 12:55PM LOCAL APR 29, 2018 4PM LOCAL MAY 26, 2018 6PM LOCAL
CONDUCTOR Maurizio Benini
PRODUCTION John Copley GIOACHINO ROSSINI SET DESIGNER John Conklin SEMIRAMIDE COSTUME DESIGNER Michael Stennett This masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks makes a rare Met appearance, with LIGHTING DESIGNER Maurizio Benini on the podium. The all-star bel canto cast features Angela Meade, Gil Wechsler Elizabeth DeShong, Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov, and Ryan Speedo Green.
SEMIRAMIDE ACT I Ancient Babylon. Assur comes to the ACT II The queen repudiates Assur’s claim Angela Meade temple of Baal in hopes that the queen will that she promised her hand in return for him choose him as successor to her late husband. arranging Nino’s murder. Arsace learns that ARSACE When the sacred altar flame goes out, Oroe he is actually the crown prince and that Assur Elizabeth DeShong warns that the ceremony should not proceed. and Semiramide assassinated his father, Nino. IDRENO Arsace arrives in answer to a summons from the Arsace cannot bring himself to take his own Javier Camarena queen. When he learns that Assur is a suspect mother’s life and tells Semiramide that he is her in his father’s murder, he faces the older man. son. She bids him to kill her, but he still cannot. ASSUR Semiramide announces that Arsace will become Assur plans to hide in Nino’s tomb and ambush Ildar Abdrazakov both king and her husband. The ghost of the Arsace. Arsace enters the vault to await his OROE fallen King Nino appears. He announces that rival. Assur appears, and Semiramide descends Ryan Speedo Green Arsace will reign, but only after a victim is in hopes of saving Arsace. In the dark, Arsace sacrificed in atonement. Arsace vows vengeance, accidentally fells Semiramide. Oroe orders Assur *ET & AT – Saturday encores are but the apparition vanishes. to be arrested. The people rejoice in the gods’ scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time victory and implore Arsace to assume the throne. for BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and INTERMISSION at 12PM Atlantic Time for Production a gift of the Lila Acheson and NB/NL/NS/PE. DeWitt Wallace Fund for Lincoln Center, established by the founders of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. Revival a gift of Ekkehart Hassels-Weiler
Photo by Winnie Klotz / Met Archives
16 | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA LIVE IN HD MAR 31, 2018 12:5 5 PM ET
ENCORE BROADCASTS MAY 5, 2018 12PM ET & AT* MAY 7, 2018 6:30PM LOCAL MAY 9, 2018 12:55PM LOCAL MAY 13, 2018 4PM LOCAL JUN 2, 2018 6PM LOCAL
CONDUCTOR David Robertson
PRODUCTION Phelim McDermott WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART SET DESIGNER Tom Pye COSÌ FAN TUTTE COSTUME DESIGNER NEW PRODUCTION Laura Hopkins
LIGHTING DESIGNER A winning cast—including Kelli O’Hara and Christopher Maltman—comes Paule Constable together for Phelim McDermott’s clever vision of Mozart’s comedy about the sexes, set in a 1950s carnival-esque environment inspired by Coney Island. FIORDILIGI Amanda Majeski ACT I America, in the 1950s. Don Alfonso offers ACT II With Despina’s encouragement, the girls Ferrando and Guglielmo a wager: He will prove choose which man they’d like, and Alfonso brings DORABELLA that their fiancées, the sisters Fiordiligi and them to meet the boys. Dorabella responds Serena Malfi
Dorabella, will be unfaithful under the right quickly to the disguised Guglielmo’s advances, DESPINA circumstances. The boys defend the women and but Fiordiligi refuses to yield to Ferrando. She Kelli O’Hara accept the challenge. Alfonso finds Fiordiligi and chastises Dorabella for her betrayal and resolves Dorabella and explains that the boys have been to join her beloved at the front. Ferrando again FERRANDO called away to war. The girls are inconsolable, declares his love for Fiordiligi, and she finally Ben Bliss but Despina encourages them to find new lovers. accepts. Despina, impersonating a lawyer, arrives GUGLIELMO Don Alfonso, with Despina’s help, introduces to marry the couples. Alfonso announces that Adam Plachetka them to two “infatuated young friends” of his, Guglielmo and Ferrando have returned. When in fact Guglielmo and Ferrando in disguise. the boys discover the marriage contract, they DON ALFONSO The sisters fervently reject them. The young men feign horror but soon reveal the entire charade. Christopher Maltman pretend to take poison, but Despina, disguised Alfonso bids the lovers learn their lesson. as “Doctor Magnetico,” pretends to heal them. Co-production of the Metropolitan Opera *ET & AT – Saturday encores are In order to fully recover, Ferrando and Guglielmo and English National Opera scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time for BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and request kisses from Fiordiligi and Dorabella, who In collaboration with Improbable at 12PM Atlantic Time for rebuff their advances. Production a gift of William R. Miller, NB/NL/NS/PE. and the Trust of Joseph Padula INTERMISSION Additional funding from The Walter and Photo by Martin Smith / Leonore Annenberg Endowment Fund English National Opera
THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | 17 LIVE IN HD APR 14, 2018 12:3 0 PM ET
ENCORE BROADCASTS MAY 19, 2018 12PM ET & AT* MAY 21, 2018 6PM LOCAL MAY 23, 2018 12:55PM LOCAL MAY 27, 2018 4PM LOCAL JUNE 16, 2018 6PM LOCAL
CONDUCTOR James Levine
PRODUCTION Elijah Moshinsky GIUSEPPE VERDI SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER Santo Loquasto LUISA MILLER LIGHTING DESIGNER James Levine and Plácido Domingo add yet another chapter to their legendary Duane Schuler Met collaboration. Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role opposite tenor Piotr Beczała. LUISA Sonya Yoncheva ACT I England, 19th century. Luisa is in love ACT II Miller has been jailed. Wurm tells Luisa with Carlo, who is actually Rodolfo, the son of that, by writing a letter pledging herself to him, FEDERICA Count Walter. Miller, Luisa’s father, is dubious of she can save her father. Wurm and Walter plot to Olesya Petrova Carlo’s true intentions. His fears are confirmed send Luisa’s letter to Rodolfo. Then, after Wurm RODOLFO when Walter’s retainer, Wurm, reveals Rodolfo’s and Walter threaten her father, Luisa professes Piotr Beczała identity. Walter hopes to have his son marry the her love for Wurm to Federica. Walter persuades duchess, Federica. Miller tells Luisa that Rodolfo Rodolfo, who despairs after receiving Luisa’s MILLER has deceived her, but the young man comes to letter, that he can avenge Luisa’s treachery by Plácido Domingo plead his sincerity. When Walter insults Luisa, marrying Federica. WALTER Miller defends her. The count orders both Luisa INTERMISSION and her father be imprisoned, but Rodolfo Alexander Vinogradov secures their freedom by threatening to reveal ACT III Rodolfo confronts Luisa with the letter WURM incriminating information about his father. before asking her to pour him a drink. Not Dmitry Belosselskiy knowing that he has spiked the drink with INTERMISSION poison, she and Rodolfo both drink from *ET & AT – Saturday encores are the cup. Before dying, she tells him the truth. scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time When Wurm and Walter arrive, Rodolfo kills for BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and at 12PM Atlantic Time for Wurm before succumbing to the poison himself. NB/NL/NS/PE. Production a gift of Catherine and Ephraim Gildor Revival a gift of Rolex
Photo by Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera
18 | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA LIVE IN HD APR 28, 2018 12:5 5 PM ET
ENCORE BROADCASTS JUN 9, 2018 12PM ET & AT* JUN 11, 2018 6:30PM LOCAL JUN 13, 2018 12:55PM LOCAL JUN 17, 2018 4PM LOCAL JUN 23, 2018 6PM LOCAL
CONDUCTOR Bertrand de Billy
PRODUCTION Laurent Pelly JULES MASSENET SET DESIGNER Barbara de Limburg CENDRILLON COSTUME DESIGNER MET PREMIERE PRODUCTION Laurent Pelly LIGHTING DESIGNER Massenet’s sumptuous take on Cinderella comes to the Met for the first time, with Duane Schuler Joyce DiDonato in the title role. Bertrand de Billy conducts Laurent Pelly’s production. CHOREOGRAPHER
ACT I A storybook kingdom. Madame de Cendrillon find each other in the wood, and she Laura Scozzi la Haltière refuses to let her stepdaughter, tells him her true name, Lucette. They fall into an Cendrillon, attend a ball at the palace. After enchanted sleep. FAIRY GODMOTHER Cendrillon’s family leaves, her Fairy Godmother Kathleen Kim ACT IV Back at home, Cendrillon believes that the appears and conjures her a coach, a gown, whole episode was a dream. A herald announces CENDRILLON and glass slippers. Cendrillon must leave the that the prince, hoping to find his beloved, is Joyce DiDonato festivities before midnight, and the glass slippers having women from all over the kingdom try will prevent her family from recognizing her. PRINCE CHARMING on the glass slipper left behind by the unknown Alice Coote ACT II Prince Charming is terribly unhappy with beauty. Cendrillon and the Fairy Godmother the party until Cendrillon arrives in all her finery. arrive at court, and the prince immediately MADAME DE LA HALTIÈRE The two immediately fall in love, but at the stroke recognizes Cendrillon. They declare their love, Stephanie Blythe of midnight, Cendrillon hurries away. and everyone hails her as their future queen. PANDOLFE Cendrillon is produced in association with the INTERMISSION Laurent Naouri Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London; ACT III Madame de la Haltière and her daughters Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona; Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie, Brussels; and Opéra de Lille. This *ET & AT – Saturday encores are return, complaining about the mysterious beauty production was first performed at The Santa Fe Opera. scheduled at 12PM Eastern Time who attended the ball. Alone with his daughter, for BC/AB/SK/MB/ON/QC and Production a gift of The Sybil B. Harrington at 12PM Atlantic Time for Pandolfe suggests to Cendrillon that they return Endowment Fund NB/NL/NS/PE. to the country; however, once alone, the girl Additional funding from Elizabeth M. escapes into the forest. Prince Charming and and Jean Marie R. Eveillard Photo by Ken Howard / Santa Fe Opera
THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA | LIVE IN HD PROGRAM GUIDE 2017-18 | 19
MIDDLE-CLASS Mayhem With a Coen Brothers script in hand, director George Clooney digs beneath the manicured lawns of 1950s America to find all kinds of rich, messy dirt. Here Clooney and his Suburbicon star Julianne Moore talk about why their film is so hard to pin down n BY MICHAEL KENNEDY
icket fences once symbolized all that was right with the American Dream. Not anymore. Director George Clooney’s dark dramedy Suburbicon takes place in a seemingly idyllic 1950s town that turns out to be anything but when thugs invade the home of Gardner and Rose Lodge (Matt Damon, Julianne Moore), killing Rose and setting Gardner on a very dark path. Enter Rose’s twin sister, Margaret (also Moore), who moves in with the grieving family and gets caught up in a violent whirlwind. Clooney and Moore were at CinemaCon in Las Vegas when they sat down to talk about the film.
Tell us about the journey of this movie, You get to wear how it got to the big screen. some pretty CLOONEY: “Mmm. I think the Coen Brothers fantastic outfits in wrote it in 1986, and it had a very bumpy this movie, Julianne. journey. In the 2000s or something they came MOORE: “Yeah, yeah! to me and offered me to do a part in it, and Some wigs, some out- so I got ahold of the script. And it never got fits. Yeah, I think the made for one reason or another, and there production values are were some things that needed to be fixed. And very, very high, and it’s a couple years ago I dusted it off and talked a fun movie to look at. to the brothers and wondered if we could It’s very beautiful.” make the film, and they said, ‘Go do it.’ And CLOONEY: “And she gets to play two parts.” experience. We had lovely, very short days then I got to start calling up my friends and MOORE: “I have two parts.” most of the time.” people who I thought would be wonderful in CLOONEY: “And that’s good for me, because CLOONEY: “We did have short days.” the film.” I paid her for one.” MOORE: “He is as gifted as he is affable.” MOORE: “That’s right! Cheaper all around.” CLOONEY: “Which means I’m not gifted.” Is it comedy? Is it drama? MOORE: “No, stop! But also the level of MOORE: “It’s both.” What was it like working for talent that he attracted on the set was kind CLOONEY: “It’s a little of both. Yes. I’ll let the George Clooney as a director? of incredible. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever audience decide what it is. We can’t quite MOORE: “He’s a despot. He’s a tyrant. Yeah, worked with a crew of this calibre. People figure it out.” actually, I mean it was such a wonderful were like right at the top of their game, and so
24 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 SUBURBICON HITS THEATRES OCTOBER 27TH
Go to CINEPLEX.COM/MOVIETWINS Matt Damon and Julianne Moore in Suburbicon for a look at actors who’ve doubled up INSET: From left, Damon, director George Clooney and to play twins on the big screen cinematographer Robert Elswit on set it made every day super, super easy, and it’s As it was a Coen Brothers script in the going to get. Yeah.” all due to George.” first place, did you kind of stay true to CLOONEY: “Well, you asked what I hope their style? they get — they get a free car! There’s a guy Can you tell us a little bit about CLOONEY: “I think it’s kind of their style. at Paramount, and you just call him up. New the rest of the cast, George? Well, listen — I rip off everybody’s style. You guy, named Jim Gianopulos.” CLOONEY: “Well, there’s a wonderful new- know, I worked with Soderbergh for years MOORE: “He’s a new guy, yeah. Everybody comer named Matt Damon. He’s an up-and- and stole from him, and I’ve stolen from a lot gets a car.” comer, he’s quite talented. I saw him in this of people. But this one has a specific kind of CLOONEY: “Yeah, this is how he got the job. Liberace film, I thought he was good in that.” dialogue that you will recognize. But every He promised a car to everybody. It works. MOORE: “Yeah, he was good in that.” film’s its own film. You know, this one’s not — No, listen, the truth of the matter is the rea- CLOONEY: “Yeah, Matt — you know, listen it ain’t The Big Lebowski.” son you get out of the house and go see a — I’ve been working with and friends with MOORE: “No, no, not that. Not O Brother, movie is because you want to go out and Matt for many, many, many years. And when Where Art Thou?” you want to be entertained. And you want to I called him up and asked him if he’d do it, CLOONEY: “No, ain’t that either!” get lost for an hour and a half or two hours, he said ‘Yeah,’ and then read the script and MOORE: “No, not that. Something else!” and this seems like, you know, we hope called up and said, ‘This is going to be a we’ve succeeded in that, but people will let blast.’ And, you know, wonderful actors like What do you think audiences will us know.” Oscar Isaac, who is just, actually, he’s that get out of this movie? actor that when you watch you go, ‘Oh, this is CLOONEY: “A free car.” Michael Kennedy is Cineplex’s executive going to explode all over the place.’” MOORE: “That’s right, that’s what they’re vice president of filmed entertainment.
NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 25
28 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 Against All ODDS Acclaimed screenwriter Aaron Sorkin usually sticks to stories about politics and the media. So the true tale of Molly Bloom, a competitive skier turned high-stakes poker maven, may seem like a risky choice for his directorial debut. Will it pay off? Here the writer-turned- helmer and his star Jessica Chastain talk about filming Molly’s Game in Toronto, including a few tough days off the start n BY MARNI WEISZ
aron Sorkin’s first day as a known as the writer and showrunner of TV’s director didn’t go exactly as The West Wing — in which America is run by he’d hoped. a Democratic President who speaks fluent The date was November Latin, is a scholar of economics, American 9th, 2016, and the celebrated studies and theology, and possesses an ethical writer of A Few Good Men, core as unwavering as a flagpole made of lead The Social Network and — this was not good. Steve Jobs was in “I did not in my wildest dreams anticipate Toronto to shoot his that it was going to be a tough day,” continues directorial debut, Molly’s Game. The film tells Sorkin, who had already chosen one of the the story of Molly Bloom, a competitive skier film’s easiest scenes for his first day as a who, after being sidelined by a back injury, director. Molly overhears her mother having started running a high-stakes poker game a fight with her father over the phone. “I that attracted celebrity players, including thought if anything it would be a fun day and Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio and I’m going to have to ground people a little bit.” Ben Affleck. Bloom ran into trouble with the Two days earlier Sorkin had gathered all FBI, however, after allowing players with of his department heads to give them some Russian mob connections into another game advice. she’d organized. “I said, ‘You know, listen, there’s an election If that date — November 9th, 2016 — rings in the U.S. tomorrow. By the end of the day a bell, there’s good reason. some people are going to be very happy, some “The day after the election, yes,” recalls a people are not going to be very happy. Happy nattily dressed Sorkin, as he sits next to the people, give the unhappy people a break. film’s star, Jessica Chastain, on a hotel couch Don’t dance around.’ And everybody under- in Toronto during the Toronto International stood that what I was saying was, ‘There may Film Festival. be one or two people in the group rooting for Of course, Sorkin is referring to the U.S. Trump to win; it’s not going to happen. Hillary general election held one year ago this people, don’t dance in their face.’” Writer/director Aaron Sorkin with his star Jessica Chastain month. The one where Donald Trump “Don’t gloat,” interjects Chastain. The two- on the set of Molly’s Game became President of the United States. time Oscar-nominee (for Zero Dark Thirty And for Sorkin, who is perhaps best and The Help) has one leg curled CONTINUED
NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 29 MOLLY’S GAME HITS THEATRES NOVEMBER 22ND PHOTO BY STEFANIE KEENAN/GETTY STEFANIE BY PHOTO
Molly (Jessica Chastain) with her lawyer (Idris Elba) in Molly’s Game
underneath her body as she sits, looking even if it means going to jail. chic, in a scarlet blazer that matches her hair, But don’t expect to see actors playing her lips, and the soles of her Louboutin shoes. Maguire, DiCaprio, Affleck or Affleck’s friend In fact, Sorkin was in his room at Toronto’s Matt Damon (who reportedly came to just one Four Seasons hotel at about 4 a.m. on game and was a complete gentleman) in the November 9th when he wrote that famous film. Although Molly Bloom did identify those BLOOM IN letter to his daughter Roxy and Roxy’s mom actors in her 2015 memoir, Molly’s Game: TORONTO Julia that went viral after being published From Hollywood’s Elite to Wall Street’s There’s a throwaway line in Molly’s Game in Vanity Fair. Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes that implies that, thanks to her legal It began: Sorkin Girls, Well the world Adventure in the World of Underground Poker, issues, poker maven Molly Bloom is changed late last night in a way I couldn’t she insists it was because they had already no longer allowed in Canada. Someone protect us from. That’s a terrible feeling for been outed as players in her game. She would must have pulled some strings to get a father. I won’t sugarcoat it — this is truly reveal no more, and she certainly wouldn’t her here for the film’s world premiere at horrible. It’s hardly the first time my candidate turn personal information and emails over the Toronto International Film Festival. didn’t win (in fact it’s the sixth time) but it is to the FBI. Here you see Bloom (left) with the the first time that a thoroughly incompetent That gave Sorkin and his team an out. To woman who plays her, Jessica Chastain, pig with dangerous ideas, a serious psychiatric the disappointment of those who want to at the film’s premiere party. disorder, no knowledge of the world and no know whether Leo talked about his romantic curiosity to learn has. conquests while waiting on the river, or if Ben “He actually sent it to me before it was was likely to fold pocket jacks if there was an published. I was really upset,” recalls Chastain. overcard on the table, there isn’t a single actor “Then about four hours in I felt guilty and “I was actually in Toronto by myself, my hus- named in the film. I was like, ‘Okay you guys, I’m going to play band wasn’t even here, and I was in a hotel That said, it’s clear to anyone who has read Molly in a movie,’ and we all talked about room, super depressed, and I came to work, Bloom’s book, or the articles written about the game. So that was very helpful,” says and the one person you want to see when it, that Michael Cera’s character — identi- Chastain. “I was in the man cave…. I just something like that happens actually is fied only as Player X — is at least 70 percent sat there quietly; I bit my tongue. Any time Aaron Sorkin. And he said, ‘I wrote an email Tobey Maguire, by far the best and most I wanted to disagree with what someone was to my daughter, I’m going to send it to you.’” involved of the celebrity poker players. talking about, or tell them that I had a lot of Over the next weeks, Chastain and Sorkin, Neither Sorkin nor Chastain were poker problems with what they were talking about, who also wrote the script for Molly’s Game, players before this film, and they still aren’t. I had to remind myself that I was an observer.” worked through their disappointment while But Chastain did sit in on “the New York Her silence paid off. making a dense, thought-provoking drama game”that’s mentioned in the movie “That was very helpful,” Chastain says of that rises above the real-life story’s salacious and is still running today. Not as a player, being in the room. “I don’t know how I lucked bits and focuses on Bloom’s tenacity, drive mind you, just as a fly on the wall. No one into that. It was a really lucky break for me.” and refusal to reveal the facts and foibles of recognized her; they thought she was some- her poker-playing clientele’s personal lives, one’s girlfriend. Marni Weisz is the editor of Cineplex Magazine.
30 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017
SUPER
Fun!If you thought Guardians of the Galaxy Fun!took Marvel’s superhero movies in a fun direction, get ready for the hilarious adventures of Thor and Hulk, two crazy Avengers who hook up in the far reaches of the universe and take on a couple of scary villains. Here Chris Hemsworth talks about why Thor: Ragnarok made him fall in love with the god of thunder all over again n BY INGRID RANDOJA Thor (Chris Hemsworth, left) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) do battle in Thor: Ragnarok INSET: Hemsworth as the short-haired Thor
sky an actor and they’ll Chris Hemsworth’s and this character, I can’t do tell you one of their greatest moment of truth came the same thing, I feel like fears is becoming bored by a few years ago when he I’ve got handcuffs on as an a character they play. admitted that playing Thor, actor.’” Sigourney Weaver the Norse god he portrayed Well, the handcuffs come struggled to find inter- in two Avengers films and off with the third pic in the esting ways to portray two standalone Thor films, Thor series, Thor: Ragnarok, Ellen Ripley over had become a chore. a fantastical romp that redefines four Alien films, “I’d just become incredibly bored Hemsworth’s somewhat sombre and Daniel Craig with myself and with my interpretation superhero as a charming, comedic do- openly questioned whether he could muster of the character,” says Hemsworth on the line gooder who still knows how to land a punch another turn as James Bond before agreeing from Los Angeles. “I called up [Marvel Studios and fight for justice. to play the superspy one more time in the president] Kevin Feige and I said, ‘Man, we’ve The film, helmed by New Zealand actor, upcoming Bond 25. got to find something different for this world writer and director Taika Waititi, is set after
32 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 the events of The Avengers: Age of Ultron, and and bringing forth Ragnarok, or the end of Shakespearean tonality, the sort of rhythms sees Thor leaving Earth to patrol the universe the world. that he speaks with, and that gave me a lot of and search for the all-powerful Infinity Stones. Returning cast includes Tom Hiddleston freedom to interpret things differently.” Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) has also as Thor’s mischievous adopted brother Loki, Also different is Thor’s hair — his golden left Earth after realizing his growing attrac- who has been ruling Asgard for the past few locks are gone. tion to Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) is a years, Idris Elba as Asgardian sentry Heimdall “As soon as I cut the hair it felt like I could danger to them both. and Anthony Hopkins as Thor’s father Odin. move differently and speak differently,” notes The story kicks off when Thor is kidnapped The new lady in Thor’s life is warrior Valkyrie, Hemsworth. “There’s really something lib- by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), the ruler played by Tessa Thompson. erating about it because, on a subconscious of the planet Sakaar who pits Thor against a “Thor feels much more grounded in this level, you put the wig on, you put the costume captured Hulk in a gladiatorial match. From film,” says Hemsworth. “I wanted to get away on, and your body goes, ‘Oh yeah, we operate there, the action ramps up as the reunited from him being too godly and larger than like this.’ No matter how hard I tried to get pals set out to stop goddess of death Hela life, I wanted him to feel a little more con- out of that, it wasn’t until we did something (Cate Blanchett) from destroying Asgard temporary. And so we moved away from his drastic, aesthetically, that I CONTINUED
NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 33 THOR: RAGNAROK HITS THEATRES NOVEMBER 3RD
Go to CINEPLEX.COM/ CHRISDEGREES to see how the top four Hollywood Chrises — Hemsworth, Pratt, Pine, Evans — are connected through their films
Best buds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) INSET: Director Taika Waititi on set
Caption TK
went, ‘Oh yeah, here we go!’ I feel lighter Hemsworth says the fact does he not? Where does on my feet all of a sudden.” that he and Waititi are from his allegiance lie? So we The 34-year-old Aussie says credit goes to the same part of the world had a lot of fun with that.” Kiwi director Waititi for making the cosmic only strengthened their You can hear the genuine adventure possible. Waititi, now 42, began working relationship. excitement in Hemsworth’s his career as a painter and then dove into “There was an instant kind voice when he speaks about stand-up comedy, photography, acting and of connection or bond, and a the movie and a character he’s filmmaking. His directing credits include similar sense of humour and attitudes played time and time again. Eagle vs Shark, Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople we sort of fell right into and also made it such “It’s exciting because I certainly am not and What We Do in the Shadows, and it’s that an ease to work together.” losing stamina or motivation to play Thor. slate of quirky, entertaining and very humane Waititi has described Thor: Ragnarok as You know, I’ve spoken to people in big fran- films that made him Hemsworth’s choice to a road pic/buddy comedy that unites polar chises who kind of feel the fatigue and they’re helm Thor: Ragnarok. opposites Hulk and Thor. Hemsworth agrees; like, ‘Ugh, yeah, I’m kind of done.’ Whereas “I’d seen his movie Boy five or six years ago the bromance between the two centres the film. this, I think all of us went, ‘Oh my god, this and I sought him out to have a general meet- “Bruce Banner and Thor, they’ve never is like a different franchise now. I feel like a ing with him and just say, ‘Look, I’m a fan, really even spoken on screen, so Mark [Ruffalo] different character in a different world.’ Who and if anything ever comes up that you’re and I, we got to kind of invent that relation- knows where we go in the Marvel Universe doing I’d love to work with you,’” remembers ship. We created quite a unique dynamic from here, but this is probably the most fun Hemsworth. “And then his name popped up between the two of them, as well as with I’ve had playing the character, and it’s the on a list of directors for Thor 3 and I immedi- Hulk. We have Hulk being a little more articu- fifth time I’ve done it.” ately started making a bunch of noise about it late in this movie. You know, there’s been an and pointing at his name and said, ‘For what inconsistency in can he talk, can he not, does Ingrid Randoja is the deputy editor of it’s worth, that’s my pick!’” he know who you are, does he recognize you, Cineplex Magazine. SURFING PHOTO BY GETTY BY SURFING PHOTO
Hemsworth surfing in WORKING FROM HOME Byron Bay, Australia When Chris Hemsworth isn’t busy making movies he retreats to his native Australia and his beachside home in Byron Bay, New South Wales, with wife Elsa Pataky and their three children — five-year-old daughter India Rose and twin three-year-old sons Tristan and Sasha. Living — and working — at home has become a priority for the actor, who wouldn’t mind expanding his creative footprint like British star Tom Hardy, who stars in films, TV Peaky( Blinders) and produced the show Taboo. “My wife and I are just obsessed with the show Peaky Blinders, bit late to the party with that [laughs]. At some point I’d love to direct and produce. The motivation for Tom Hardy with Peaky Blinders, I think, was to work back home and be in the land that sort of birthed him, so to speak. A lot of people are like that with Australia; I’d love to do something back home and not have to always sort of bounce to another country or continent to work.’” —IR
34 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017
PRESENTS HOLIDAY& PREP! 10 Gift Ideas to Get You on Your Way
1.LIGHT IT UP Stop searching under the tree for that hidden cord. Turn your Christmas lights on and off with GREETINGS2. FROM Treemote ($20, Canadian Tire), WESTEROS the remote control that Keep an eye out for whimsical adds a festive touch to your Pop Culture Holiday Cards like coffee table. this punny Game of Thrones offering at HomeSense ($3 each).
3.FRESH LOOK Embrace winter with the Skiing Pillow Cover ($40, Indigo) and bring a fresh breath of Canadian air to any living room.
IRON GIANT The Lucky Iron Fish ($30, luckyironfish.com) is a 9.GIFT FROM ABOVE great way to get more iron in Your little angel your diet, and for every one will look heavenly 10. you buy one is donated to a carrying 7AM Enfant’s family in need. Drop the fish into Wings Backpack cooking water to release a safe, ($72, westcoastkids.ca). beneficial amount of the mineral. Meant for ages two and up.
36 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 4.JACKED TREE We’re imagining an entire tree covered in these adorable 5.PRETTY KITTY Lumberjack Ornaments Enhance the visions of ($8 each, Lowe’s), sugarplums dancing in their creating a festive salute heads with the glow from to Canada’s logging Arty Cat Paper Night Light industry. ($20, Midoco in Toronto, [email protected] for other locations).
6.TOM’S TOME Beloved Hollywood icon Tom Hanks has a new book out this month. Uncommon Type ($32, bookstores) is a collection of charming short stories about interesting characters. Who wouldn’t want that? GIFTING GOAL You’ll score big if you give a loved one this old-school 7. Tabletop Foosball Game ($25, Marshalls) this holiday season.
8.BEER ME Forget the wine and bring your host a few bottles of Innis & Gunn’s Frank & Sense Beer ($8 per 500ml bottle, liquor stores), a golden ale infused with — we kid you not — gold, frankincense and myrrh.
NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 37 RADPLAID!
BOTTEGA VENETA TORY PHOTO BY BURCH CATWALKING/GETTY PHOTO BY CATWALKING/GETTY
GUCCI PHOTO BY CATWALKING/GETTY JUNYA WATANABE PHOTO BY CATWALKING/GETTY 38 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 Plaid is always ubiquitous come the cooler months. But the staple of comfort clothes underwent a radical redesign PLAID! on this year’s fall/winter runways. Here are our favourite looks.
MARNI PHOTO BY CATWALKING/GETTY
ZIMMERMANN PHOTO BY PETER WHITE/GETTY
MIU MIU PHOTO BY ESTROP/GETTY
JENNY PACKHAM PHOTO BY ESTROP/GETTY NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 39 RETURN ENGAGEMENT
YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS ere’s looking at you, kid.” “We’ll always have Paris.” “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Those are just three memorable lines from 1942’s Casablanca, one of the most loved, and quoted, films in Hollywood history. Set during World War II, the film stars Humphrey Bogart as cynical American Rick Blaine, who runs a nightclub in Casablanca that’s frequented by spies, soldiers and refugees. Rick’s world is turned upside down when ex-lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) — who broke Rick’s heart when she deserted him in Paris years ago — arrives with her freedom-fighter husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) and asks Rick for “letters of transit,” which will allow the couple to flee the Nazis. Why does Casablanca resonate so much with audiences? The answer lies in the pure romanticism of seeing Rick and Ilsa, who are madly in love, sacrifice their happiness for the greater good. Released during the height of WWII, American and European audiences saw their own personal sacrifices reflected on Casablanca screen, and screens as part of 75 years Cineplex’s Classic Films later the film series on November 12th reminds us and 15th. Go to that beauty Cineplex.com/Events lies in doing the right thing. for times —INGRID and locations. RANDOJA
40 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017 The Month’s Best CINEPLEX STORE Home Entertainment DUNKIRK BUY IT NOVEMBER 28 Director Christopher Nolan’s epic World War II drama painstakingly recreates the sea rescue of more than 300,000 Allied troops trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, France. Fionn Whitehead and Harry Styles portray soldiers stranded on the beach, Tom Hardy is an RAF pilot fighting in the skies and Mark Rylance is a civilian boater who joins the rescue efforts.
CARS 3 RENT IT NOVEMBER 7 After suffering a horrible crash, veteran racecar Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) agrees to train with the feisty Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo) in order to compete against high-tech, rookie rival Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer).
IT BUY IT NOVEMBER 21 Who knows why clowns are so freakin’ scary but they are, and this adaptation of the Stephen King novel showcases the terrifying VALERIAN AND DESPICABLE Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), THE CITY OF ME 3 a clown who terrorizes a A THOUSAND BUY IT NOVEMBER 21 group of misfit PLANETS We get a double dose of children during BUY IT NOVEMBER 7 Steve Carell in this third the 1980s. RENT IT NOVEMBER 21 Despicable Me film as the Director Luc Besson’s comic actor voices not only imaginative space opera reformed villain Gru but also casts Dane DeHaan and his long-lost brother Dru, who Cara Delevingne as galactic team up to stop disgruntled cops who must protect the former child star Balthazar sprawling city of Alpha from Bratt (Trey Parker) from an impending apocalypse. destroying Hollywood. RENT OR BUY MOVIES AT CINEPLEX.COM/STORE WATCH ANYWHERE: Download the Cineplex Store app to watch your favourite movies on the widest selection of devices, including Xbox One and Xbox 360, Roku, LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Android and iOS. Plus, earn SCENE points!
NOVEMBER 2017 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | 41 FINALLY...
MAN’S Amigo BEST Meet Dante, loyal friend to Miguel, the 12-year-old protagonist of Coco, which takes place in Mexico’s land of the living and land of the dead. Though Dante may look like a ragtag combination of 18 different dog breeds, GETTY
/ he’s a true Xoloitzcuintli, or Xolo for short, the national dog of Mexico. “We actually invited some Xolo dogs to visit the studio,” explained Daniel Arriaga, a character art director for Pixar. “We had a lot of fun designing Dante. We gave him patchy skin, he has a broken ear, he’s walleyed and his PHOTO BY STEPHANIE ZELL STEPHANIE BY PHOTO tongue is always hanging out.” Xolos can be either hairless or coated (though most are hairless), come in toy, miniature or standard sizes, and have a history in Mexico that dates back more than 3,000 years. In fact, their remains have been found in Mayan and Aztec tombs. And that tongue thing? It’s because Dante’s missing a bunch of teeth, a common trait for Xolos. Adorbs. —MW
COCO HITS THEATRES NOVEMBER 22ND
42 | CINEPLEX MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017