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AD Advice+ E 8x10.5 0920.indd 1 2020-09-17 12:48 PM HOLIDAY 2020 CONTENTS VOLUME 21 #5

↑ 2021 Movie Preview’s : Afterlife

COVER STORY 16 20 26 31 PLUS HOLIDAY SPECIAL GUY ALL THE 2021 MOVIE GIFT GUIDE We catch up with KING’S MEN PREVIEW Stressed about ’s most Writer-director Bring on 2021! It’s going 04 EDITOR’S Holiday gift-giving? lovable action star and to be an epic year of NOTE Relax, whether you’re to find star moviegoing jam-packed shopping online or out how he’s spending tell us about making with 2020 holdovers 06 CLICK! in stores we’ve got his downtime. Hint: their action-packed and exciting new titles. you covered with an It includes spreading spy pic The King’s Man, Here we put the spotlight 12 SPOTLIGHT awesome collection of goodwill and talking a more dramatic on must-see pics like CANADA last-minute presents about next year’s prequel to the super- Top Gun: Maverick, sure to please action- Free Guy fun films F9, Black Widow and 42 IN THE BY MARNI WEISZ BY INGRID RANDOJA BY MARNI WEISZ , and chat WORKS with Jungle Cruise leads and 46 CINEPLEX , Respect STORE UP FRONT star Why The Father is such an immersive watch; three and Part II 49 SCREEN ways to celebrate Christmas in cinemas; and a director TEST look at ’ Oscar bid, News of the World BY INGRID RANDOJA +08 AND MARNI WEISZ 50 ART OF FILM

ON THE COVER, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET IN DUNE, IN BLACK WIDOW, HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 3 IN NO TIME TO DIE, DWAYNE JOHNSON AND EMILY BLUNT IN JUNGLE CRUISE, JENNIFER HUDSON IN RESPECT EDITOR’S NOTE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER Salah Bachir

EDITOR Marni Weisz DEPUTY EDITOR Ingrid Randoja CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGNER Lucinda Wallace

Advertising sales for Cineplex Magazine is handled by Cineplex Media.

TORONTO HEAD OFFICE 416-539-8800 Goodbye 2020, VICE PRESIDENT Robert Brown VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCTION Sheila Gregory Bring on 2021! EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SALES Giulio Fazzolari EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SALES IF THIS PAST YEAR HAD BEEN A MOVIE… No Time to Die hits theatres. Emily Blunt Ed Villa It might have been a B-film written by and Dwayne Johnson will not be quaran- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SALES QUEBEC/EASTERN CANADA some hack who doesn’t know how to wrap tining during their cruise up the Amazon Jonathan Laflamme up a script. in Jungle Cruise. Vin Diesel will not sanitize MANAGER, THEATRICAL PROGRAMMING It might have been a heartbreaking the driver’s seat with a Lysol wipe before Debi Kingston

about love and loss, separation and racing off in F9. Yay! ACCOUNT MANAGERS

impossible choices. Never have we needed escape more TORONTO 416-539-8800 It might have been a political thriller, and it will arrive in abundance. Cory Atkins, ext. 5257 Christina Clark, ext. 5278 with harried leaders forced to make life- Turn to our 2021 Movie Preview, Sheree Kyte, ext. 5245 or-death decisions that affect millions. page 31, and salivate over the buffet of Beth Leverty, ext. 5285 It might have been a medical drama films you can look forward to in the coming Zandra MacInnis, ext. 5281 about heroism and selflessness. year. We’ve packed it with behind-the- Heather Marshall, ext. 5290 Jenna Paterson, ext. 5243 It might have been a sci-fi with a trailer scenes stories, insights and fun tidbits. Brett Poschmann, ext. 5287 that starts, “In a world where people have There are even mini interviews with Lorelei von Heymann, ext. 5249 to stand six feet apart…” John Krasinski (A Quiet Place Part II), Wendell Sappor, ext. 5277 It might have been a quirky indie pic Jennifer Hudson (Respect) and the pre- Lesley Taylor, ext. 5266 Tom Woyzbun, ext. 5253 about finding creative ways to pass time viously mentioned Blunt and Johnson HAMILTON/NIAGARA 416-558-7190 in small spaces. (Jungle Cruise) to whet your appetite. Jennifer Wishart

It might have been a family flick about Elsewhere in this issue we talk with QUEBEC 514-868-0005 a parent and child who finally get to know Ryan Reynolds, star of 2021’s Free Guy, Benoit Deschambault, ext. 224 each other when they’re forced to spend about the importance of owning your Martine Ménard, ext. 222 time in the same house. own story (page 20), and sit down for a MAN/SASK 204-396-3044 Morgan Comrie It might have been a romance about an Zoom chat with Ralph Fiennes and his CALGARY 403-264-4420 online love that grows slowly, remotely, director about how the Matthew Vaughn Kevin Leahy

before a dramatic real-world meeting that upcoming action pic The King’s Man fits EDMONTON 780-919-3011 probably utilizes a crane shot. seamlessly into the Kingsman franchise Barb Kitzan

It might have been a zombie pic where (page 26). BRITISH COLUMBIA 604-689-3068 scores of people escape the city by mov- Plus, on page 16 you’ll find our annual Matt Watson ing north to the country but forget that Holiday Gift Guide filled with inspiring Cineplex Magazine™ is published winter is coming and it’s gonna snow up ideas. That’s right, we’ve already done by Cineplex Entertainment. Subscriptions are $34.50 ($30 + HST) a year in Canada, there…a lot. your shopping for you. You’re welcome. $45 a year in the U.S. and $55 a year overseas. All subscription inquiries We’re movie people, so it’s impossible Thanks for spending this strangest of and letters to the editor should be not to look back at a year so strange, so years with us. As we bring 2020 to a close directed to Cineplex Magazine at 1303 Yonge St., Toronto, ON, M4T 2Y9; extraordinary, so dramatic, and think of it I wish you a very happy holiday season or [email protected]. in terms of how the movie version might and look forward to seeing you in the Publications Mail Agreement No. 41619533. play out. Someday, some of these movies new year. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Cineplex Magazine, 1303 Yonge St., might even get made. Toronto, ON, M4T 2Y9 But you know what I prefer to think 656,500 copies of Cineplex Magazine are about right now? All the films coming out distributed through Cineplex Entertainment, The Globe and Mail, and other outlets. in 2021 that will have absolutely nothing Cineplex Magazine is not responsible for to do with the past year. Daniel Craig’s the return of unsolicited materials. No MARNI WEISZ, material in this magazine may be reprinted 007 will not be wearing a mask when EDITOR without the express written consent of the publisher. © Cineplex Entertainment 2020.

4 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR HIGH CANADIAN STANDARDS, LOOK FOR THE BLUE COW.

DFC-CineplexAd-Final.indd 1 2020-11-11 8:43 PM CLICK!

↗ QUEEN OF PHILLY Queen Latifah and film a scene for their basketball pic Hustle in Philadelphia.

↗ LIEV FROM NEW YORK Liev Schreiber sports a classic, - era T-shirt while playing basketball in .

↗ TIGHT SPOT A vintage Fiat 500 serves as ’s unlikely ride on the set of Mission: Impossible 7 in Rome, Italy.

6 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 ↙ SHIELDS UP The modern world invades 14th-century France as wears a face shield on the County Tipperary, Ireland, set of Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel.

↖ MEAL DEAL Kevin Smith (right) and Jason Mewes man the counter at their Mooby’s pop-up in Chicago. The fictional restaurant that appears in several of Smith’s films was open for just week.

↖ STEPPING OUT Ewan McGregor and Rebecca Dayan look appropriately fabulous while shooting Halston, a bio-pic about the fashion icon, in New York City.

PHOTOS BY GILBERT CARRASQUILLO/GETTY (QUEEN LATIFAH AND ADAM SANDLER); DEBBIE HICKEY/GETTY (JODIE COMER); HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 7 DANIEL BOCZARSKI/GETTY (JASON MEWES AND KEVIN SMITH); GETTY (LIEV SCHREIBER); SAMANTHA ZUCCHI/GETTY (TOM CRUISE); JOSE PEREZ/GETTY (EWAN MCGREGOR AND REBECCA DAYAN) UP FRONT

IN FOCUS

↑ and You Must in The Father

POWER TEAM Remember This… Playwright Director Florian Zeller and stars Sir Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman (Dangerous Liaisons) make dementia real for The Father’s audience co-wrote the script with Florian Zeller based on Zeller’s play IF YOU FEEL A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED WHILE sets that change inexplicably, in order to illus- watching The Father, director Florian Zeller and trate Anthony’s confusion. DREAM CASTING his stars, most notably Sir Anthony Hopkins and “You do not understand exactly what is going The protagonist’s name is Anthony Olivia Colman, have done their jobs. on, but it was a way for me to make the audi- because Zeller had Hopkins plays Anthony, an 80-year-old with ence experience what the main character was Anthony Hopkins dementia, and Colman is his daughter Anne, going through,” said Zeller during a virtual &A in mind when he wrote the play eight who’s trying to take care of her dad even as he session at this year’s Toronto International Film years ago refuses help. Festival. The French filmmaker, best known as a #1 FATHER The film has earned rave reviews, thanks in playwright, based the film on his own stage play. The Father won large part to first-time film director Zeller’s use “It’s like a puzzle in a way, you can play with all the Audience Award of multiple actors in the same role (for example, the pieces, it will never work entirely, you know, for Best Film at Sundance also plays Anne at points) and as if a piece will always be missing.” —MW

8 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 COLLECTIBLES EVENT CINEMA GOLDEN GAL Holidays Check out this hyperreal statue of Gal Gadot in her Wonder Woman 1984 armour. Created by the relatively on the new Korean collectibles company JND Studios (it’s only their second figure, after Joker’s Arthur Fleck), Big Screen the statue was created by artist Soyoung Lee and Highbrow to low, stands 66 centimetres high. sophisticated to It was selling for $1,899 (U.S.) sophomoric, heady to Beverly D’Angelo and via the company’s website, hilarious, Cineplex offers in but we’re afraid all 700 pieces Christmas Vacation in the limited run sold out in three ways to get out a single day when pre-orders of the house and into opened in late October. the spirit in the runup to Christmas. Missing your extended there’s no better way to A classic 2008 staging family? A repeat viewing watch the Jimmy Stewart of The Nutcracker from of Christmas Vacation classic about despair the National Ballet should cure that as Clark and salvation than on of Canada satisfies Griswold (Chevy Chase) the big screen, in the cravings not just for and his family make room dark, where no one can Tchaikovsky but for the for obnoxious Cousin Eddie see you cry. grand Christmas parties () and his of yesteryear, or just last motley clan. FIND DATES, TIMES AND year, now that holiday And if an annual viewing PARTICIPATING THEATRES gatherings are more of It’s a Wonderful Life is AT CINEPLEX.COM/EVENTS. muted. required in your household

STILL FIGHTING EVIL MONSTER MOVIE After six films, we’re pretty sure writer-director Paul W.S. Anderson and his actor wife, Milla Jovovich, are done with the Resident Evil film franchise, especially because their last Resident Evil film was subtitled The Final Chapter. But that doesn’t mean the couple is done making kick-ass monster-hunting movies based on videogames. Here you see Anderson (right) directing his beloved and her co-star Tony Jaa on the set of their latest post-apocalyptic survival pic, Monster Hunter. Based on the Capcom game, the film finds Jovovich’s Captain Artemis and Jaa’s Hunter banding together to, well, hunt monsters.

HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 9 UP FRONT

OSCAR BAIT OH CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! Seven years after their acclaimed drama Captain Phillips, Tom Hanks and director Paul Greengrass reunite for News of the World. The 1870s-set Western As with Captain Phillips, this Captain Phillips’ famous scene in ↑ Tom Hanks and stars Hanks as a news reader one stars Hanks as a Captain which , as the pirate Helena Zengel in (he travels Texas reading — Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, Muse, commandeers Phillips’ News of the World newspapers aloud to crowds) a veteran of several wars cargo ship and insists, “I am the who decides to escort a — and the trailer seems to take captain now.” 10-year-old girl named Johanna advantage of the coincidence. Here’s hoping News of (Helena Zengel) back to her When Kidd, teaching Johanna the World can come close to relatives several years after her his name, points to his chest and Captain Phillips’ impressive parents and sister were killed in says, “Captain. Make no mistake, score of six Oscar nominations, a battle with the Kiowa people. Captain,” it’s hard not to think of including Best Picture. —MW

QUOTE UNQUOTE

She’s going out at night, she’s pretending to be drunk, she’s alone and she’s allowing herself to be rescued by a man. She doesn’t ever

‘‘ advance a situation with men; she doesn’t give them

any signals that she is trying to end up in any kind of sexual scenario with them. She waits ‘‘ until the moment when the man takes advantage of that, and then she immediately snaps out of it and reveals that she’s sober and teaches them a lesson.

— ON CASSIE, HER CHARACTER IN PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN

10 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 SCE392.02_CineplexMagazine_FullPageAd_8x10.5_General_FINAL.indd 1 2020-06-12 4:44 PM SPOTLIGHT CANADA Why did you want to make Wander, which, no surprise, is very different from your other films? My partner Tim Doiron and I have been working on the concept of Wander for the past four years, so it was a subject matter that we felt really passionate about. We love the idea of conspiracy and being cur- rent, and we sort of made it about border control, stolen land and chip technology.

Tell us about directing Aaron Eckhart and . Aaron Eckhart is an unbelievable talent and brought his entire being to the set every day, every second that he is in frame. He just took the role so personally and dove so deep into that character. And Tommy Lee Jones, a legend. He was a super-pro, he was in a great mood, loved New Mexico.... They’re equally mesmer- izing but on totally different spectrums.

This is your first film shot outside of Canada. How was working in New Mexico? The town of Wander is a huge character in the film, and for us to get it right we went there five months before shooting and drove all over New Mexico in search of the little town that could be Wander and we found Carrizozo. Carrizozo is a forgotten about town that used to be on the railroad tracks, had a gold mine, and it couldn’t be more perfect. The population is maybe 40 people, and the community Niagara to was so open to us shooting there. New Mexico Did growing up in Niagara Falls fuel your imagination? Canadian director April Mullen Very much so, Niagara Falls is inbred in enlists big talent for Wander me. I was always curious, inspired, and there are so many different little pockets. You can go into the tourist district, and then the downtown that has been closed PRIL MULLEN HAS DIRECTED EIGHT MOVIES — since the 1920s, the casino district, the eight very different movies. The Niagara Falls SEEN ON nature side with gorgeous vineyards. native doesn’t believe in sticking with one genre. SCREEN Niagara Falls has so many diverse little Her versatility extends to comedy (GravyTrain), Mullen has acted capsules that I felt like every door you (Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of the Tosser), in five of her own opened was like a different type of movie. films and played aA zombie pic (Dead Before Dawn 3D), and lesbian romance Kyra Sedgwick’s (Below Her Mouth). Her latest, Wander, is a conspiracy drama set daughter in 2004’s The pandemic has changed how we in a tiny New Mexico town. It stars Aaron Eckhart as mentally Cavedweller make and consume movies. What’s unstable private detective Arthur Bretnik, who’s hired to inves- your take on the future of filmmaking? FLOWER GIRL tigate the case of a murdered woman, and Tommy Lee Jones as a Her family has It’s tough to imagine how creating will conspiracy nut who eggs Arthur on as he uncovers a possible plot operated Mullen morph, but it will, because you can’t stop involving missing illegal immigrants and nefarious technology. Garden Market creation. Imagination and creating is what We caught up with the bubbly filmmaker (she began her career in Niagara Falls, we do, and it’ll find its new form and it’ll the city’s only as an actor) over the phone from the village of Ridgeway, , flower market, survive as it always does. — INGRID RANDOJA near Niagara Falls, where she’s hunkering down with her family for 37 years during the pandemic. FIND WANDER AT CINEPLEXSTORE.COM

12 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 PHOTO COURTESY ZACK ESAU MEDIA CJ60187_NewsOfTheWorld_Cineplex_Ad.indd 1 2020-11-13 1:51 PM

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16 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 Tunes Tenet Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson’s picked up on Tenet concept of inversion by having musicians play pieces backwards and then reversing

them for the film’sTenet score. Cool. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is Deluxe Edition

available as a three-disc vinyl or two-CD set. $21 for CD, $46 for vinyl, music retailers

Just Drive Still a few more , months until F9 the next Fastmovie, & Furious hits theatres, but you can play the newest videogame installment, Fast & Furious , Crossroads right now! $55, EBGames.ca

Perk Up Who knows if or when we’ll ever get a Friends movie, but you can satisfy cravings for the classic show Up Stream with this Friends “Central Perk” . Percolator . Access all the best streaming platforms Coffee Maker Set — including, of course, the Cineplex Store — $50, Walmart.ca with ease using the Roku Streaming Stick+ Compatible with 4K and HDR TVs the + has four times the wireless range so you can reach TVs all over the house. $70, electronics stores HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 17 HOLIDAYGIFT GUIDE

Life Lessons Delightful illustrations by Sarah Conradsen accompany Paul Ruditis’ text in It’s a Wonderful Life: The Illustrated Holiday Classic

the beloved Jimmy, an adaptation Stewart movie. of $26, bookstores

Painting the Deck No matter your game it’s a lot more fun with a good, fresh deck. Movie and art lovers alike will appreciate Movie Genius: Playing Cards illustrated by artist

Bijou Karman. $16.50, select bookstores or Amazon.ca

Spend $50 or more on a Cineplex Gift Card Christmas Card and get a free popcorn and two free movies! FYI, you can also use the card to buy or rent movies at CineplexStore.com. $50, Cineplex theatres or Cineplex.com

Building Excitement We’ve got both Spider-Man and Venom movies slated for 2021, but you can make the old foes battle right now with LEGO’s Spider Mech vs. Venom set, complete with 604 pieces and four minifigs — Spider-Man, Venom, Aunt May and Ghost Spider. $60, toy stores

18 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020

W H AT A

He’s generous, funny, talented and handsome,

so the fact that Ryan Reynolds is also a nice

Canadian boy is just a bonus. Here we chat with the pride

of Vancouver about inspiring change in difficult times,

why childlike innocence is the best, and Free Guy,

the 2021 action-comedy in which he plays a suddenly

sentient videogame character named Guy

BY INGRID RANDOJA

HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 21 DEMAND A LOT from our movie stars, asking that they be attractive, talented, make great films and shine as mor- ally upright citizens. It’s a ridiculous standard to set, but then along comes Ryan Reynolds. Maybe it’s because he’s Canadian (born and raised in Vancouver), self-deprecating, dev- astatingly funny and married to the equally talented and striking Blake Lively that he gets top marks, or it could be that in the past few months the 44-year-old star has shown the world how to wield celebrity clout for good. In March, as COVID-19 took hold, he and Lively stepped up and donated $1-million (U.S.) to Food Banks Canada and Feeding America. “COVID-19 has brutally impact- ed older adults and low-income families,” he wrote on , adding, “If you can give, these orgs need our help. Take care of your bodies and hearts. Leave room for joy. Call someone who’s isolated and might need connection.” In June, the couple donated $200,000 to Nova Scotia’s St. Francis Xavier University to help fund an Indigenous women’s leadership program and just a few months ago he helped kickstart the Group Effort Initiative, which ↑ “Guy is sort of inspired by Elf, the focuses on housing and training diverse Ryan Reynolds (left) and character,” explains Reynolds during a recent Lil Rey Howery in Free Guy young filmmakers to work on his next movie Zoom interview from his home in upstate to be shot in Canada. Reynolds is funding the New York where he’s hunkering down with his program, and in a video explaining the initia- wife and three young daughters, six-year-old tive he says, “Making a film is a group effort not be fixed overnight, but change James, four-year-old Inez and one-year-old but for entirely too long that group has sys- can start locally and immediately.” Betty. “It instantly creates vulnerability when temically excluded Black, Indigenous, people He’s had missteps — his wed- you have a protagonist that is not sure of his of colour and several other marginalized com- ding took place on a plantation in surroundings or situation or how to handle munities. This is a global problem which will South Carolina, a choice he deeply them.” regrets, but he and Lively apolo- Attracted to a kick-ass character named gized for the choice earlier this year Molotov Girl (Jodie Comer), Guy emerges while lending their support to the from the background to become the game’s Black Lives Matter movement. hero, growing more self-aware and stunning TWO GUYS Since we haven’t seen Reynolds the game developers, led by the obnoxious Free Guy isn’t the only film on the big screen since 2018’s Antoine (), who are planning to that casts Reynolds as a 2 (though he did voice shut the game down after releasing a subpar character named Guy, a moniker selected for its the lead CGI character in 2019’s sequel. generic nature. The actor Detective Pikachu), we’ll be more Reynolds thinks the fast-paced, feel-good who, coincidentally, than ready when his action-packed flick is exactly the kind of film the world starred in the late- comedy Free Guy finally comes out needs now. ’90s series Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place next year after several COVID- “These are some challenging and pretty also voices a caveman related delays. Reynolds plays Guy frightening times and the movie spoke to me named Guy in the (also known as Blue Shirt Guy), about authorship and how each of us can Croods movies, 2013’s a background character in the really own our story and create real change. I The Croods and the new sequel, The Croods: videogame Free City who realizes don’t mean to be too esoteric about it, and it A New Age. he could be so much more. also just felt like an absolute fastball of joy.”

22 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 “but actually both of them have a FUNNY BUSINESS childlike innocence to them, which When he’s not making movies, is their premier redeeming quality. Ryan Reynolds is busy overseeing I love looking at the world through his growing business empire. In 2018 he bought a stake in Aviation Gin, childlike innocence and, in doing and thanks to the clever and funny that, it actually inspires a ton of ads he helps create it has become comedy, a ton of romance, all of the fastest growing gin brand in those sorts of things. the world. Last year he invested in Mint Mobile and again, thanks “And I also love laughing at my- to his creative panache, has self,” he continues. “My whole life helped the discount wireless I’ve found that’s been my greatest operation soar. creative goldmine, looking inward In an interview with Fast Company magazine and finding aspects of my own per- earlier this year Reynolds sonality and life to laugh at. That’s spoke about his attraction kept me sane and it’s something to marketing. “There’s that I hope I never lose.” something fascinating to me about creating a piece of In a May 2018 New York Times content that’s shareable and profile Reynolds revealed that he acknowledges quite nakedly suffers from severe anxiety, and that it’s an ad. And it’s only feels completely at ease when certainly more honest.” —IR he performs. He attributes that anx- iety to growing up the youngest of four boys in a house dominated by his volatile father, James (Reynolds’ working non-stop, appearing in films such as oldest daughter is named after him), National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, : Trinity, a former police officer who the ac- Just Friends and Smokin’ Aces. tor called “the stress dispensary in Mostly forgettable stuff, but that changed our house.” with 2011’s superhero pic Green Lantern. Directed by fellow Canadian Learning to laugh at himself, and Although a critical dud, the film raised ( trilogy), Free Guy make others laugh, was the tonic Reynolds’ profile and made him realize he was capitalizes on the attributes we love most Reynolds needed and what helped better suited to poking fun at superheroes about Reynolds — his quick-witted humour, kickstart his career as a young ac- than playing them straight, which, of course, physicality and a wonderful earnestness. tor in the Canadian teen TV drama paved the way for the Deadpool pics. Even when playing his most popular film Hillside. It wasn’t long before he was Free Guy shows us Reynolds at his child- character, the potty-mouthed Deadpool, like best, an innocent who sees the world as Reynolds makes us believe that he’ll always a strange and wonderful place. He admits the do what’s right. world isn’t so wonderful at the moment but “If you look at Blue Shirt Guy or Deadpool, believes our current feelings of uncertainty most people might say these are very different, ↓ can be a catalyst for good. Free Guy’s Ryan Reynolds disparate kind of characters,” says Reynolds, and Jodie Comer “One of the great gifts that the world is offering us right now — and I say this under- standing that it’s easy for me to say it from where I sit — is that the world is uncomfort- able right now. People are uncomfortable. And that is a real impetus to growing and chang- ing and pushing forward and drawing people from rest to effort. That can create new and better worlds. “I’ never going to be the guy that’s un- welcoming of change. I love change. I want change for my kids, I want the world to be more equitable. I want all of those things.”

Ingrid Randoja is the deputy editor of Cineplex Magazine.

HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 23 24 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 ABOUT FACE Frances McDormand says that every line on her face, every crease of her skin, connects her to the landscape at the heart of Nomadland

ONE OF THE MOST SATISFYING “What I love about the faces in things Frances McDormand’s heard Nomadland is that we’re all mature, about her work in the past few years so if you see a saguaro cactus it’s is that a closeup of her face is like almost the same as Swankie and visiting a national park. She loves that. Bob Wells and Linda May and me,” “There is something about an said McDormand, referring to her unaltered, aging face that [is] kind Nomadland co-stars — non-actors of like a landscape, it’s like a natural who play versions of themselves in landscape,” McDormand enthused the film that won the People’s Choice during a virtual Q&A session at this Award at the Toronto fest. year’s Toronto International Film “As I get older, one of the most Festival. important things to me is I’ve got That “national park” comment to be in the environment that my was made about McDormand’s cellular structure is going to go back Oscar-winning performance in in and feed, and that’s not concrete 2017’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, and brick, that’s dirt,” McDormand Missouri, but she says it applies just continued. as much to her new film Nomadland. “I think that Chloé has a real con- Directed by Chloé Zhao, the film nection to the cycle of human life, is based on Jessica Bruder’s non- and that the exploration of a group of fiction book about a community of older people — of elders, of seniors, American seniors who live out of of seasoned people — is a part of trailers and RVs, not for the love of that landscape too, and so the desert the lifestyle, but because poverty and landscape is the perfect place to circumstance have put them there. put us.” —MARNI WEISZ

HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 25 TAILOR-MADE PREQUEL

Although he didn’t know he was going to make a prequel at the time, the story for Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman origins story, The King’s Man, was all there in the first movie — in one three-minute scene. Here the writer-director and his franchise’s new star, Ralph Fiennes, banter about making this third film, which is slated to hit theatres in February, and come up with an idea for the fourth

BY MARNI WEISZ Director Matthew Vaughn (left) on The King’s Man set with actors Robert Aramayo (centre) and Ralph Fiennes

HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 27 FTER MAKING HIS first two Kingsman films — slick, fun and decid- edly violent spy movies A set in the present day and starring and — writer-director Matthew Vaughn was itching to do something a little differ- ent. He to make a period piece, something like Lawrence of Arabia or The Man Who Would Be King, the rousing, history-based movies he remembered from his childhood. So, it seems, he had two choices. Either start from scratch and come up with something new, or find a way to make that period film work within the confines of his Kingsman series. He chose the latter. “First, I thought, how am I going to raise a lot of money to make the film that’s in my head and then tell everyone it’s an epic Ralph Fiennes adventure movie? Hollywood would have (left) and Harris questioned it more,” says Vaughn during a Dickinson in The King’s Man Zoom interview alongside the star of his Inset: Director new movie, Ralph Fiennes. “Put Kingsman Matthew Vaughn in the title, they didn’t question it for a second. “But also,” he continues, “I was trying to come up with what my epic adventure would be, and I had the story in my mind that I’d already created, the story was al- Kingsman: The Secret Service and its 2017 ready there from the first Kingsman film.” follow-up Kingsman: The Golden Circle. You may remember a scene in 2014’s After a couple of delays the film is now Kingsman: The Secret Service in which scheduled to hit theatres in February. Firth’s spy Harry Hart explains to his young, rough-around-the-edges recruit Eggsy (Egerton) the origins of the shadowy spy agency named after a tailor shop. FIENNES PLAYS THE DUKE OF OXFORD, “Since 1849 the Kingsman tailors have one of those powerful individuals who, clothed the world’s most powerful indi- having previously fought in a war is now viduals,” Firth began. “By 1919 a great a pacifist…of sorts. He sees a group of number of them had lost their heirs to tyrants and masterminds, in- World War I. That meant a lot of money cluding the Russian mystic Rasputin going uninherited and a lot of powerful (), joining up to push human- men with a desire to preserve peace and ity toward the First World War and, along protect life. Our founders realized they with his butler Shola (), ROLE MODEL could channel that wealth and influence a warrior from Africa, and his son’s nanny Djimon Hounsou, for the greater good. And so began our Polly (), a skilled code- who plays the other venture, an independent, interna- breaker, tries to correct the course of Duke of Oxford’s righthand man, Shola, tional intelligence agency operating at the history. started his career as highest level of discretion.” While just as slick as its predecessors, a model after being It was in that scene, one he’d written this third film is more dramatic according encouraged to do so years ago, that Vaughn found the story to Fiennes, whose Duke of Oxford has a by fashion designer Thierry Mugler. for The King’s Man, the prequel to vested interest in keeping his boy Conrad

28 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 CLEVER CASTING Look for in the triple role of King V (bottom left), Kaiser Wilhelm II (centre) and Tsar Nicholas II (right), the real-life cousins who ruled , Germany and Russia respectively.

Vaughn’s own life reads like a movie. actors. And yet they do keep . Aside from the whole being married to “I had lunch with Colin only two weeks Claudia Schiffer thing the 49-year-old ago or three weeks ago,” says Fiennes. director was raised believing American Did they speak about the Kingsman actor Robert Vaughn (TV’s The Man From films? U.N.C.L.E.) was his father. It wasn’t until “They got a little doll of me and they 2002 that he found out his real dad was were both ripping it apart,” jokes Vaughn. an English aristocrat by the name of “No, no, no,” says Fiennes, who claims George De Vere Drummond, the godson to be having remembering the of King George VI. details of the conversation thanks to While the idea for the Kingsman movies large amounts of pasta and wine. “It’s all came to him as he was sitting, bored, in a happy blur.” a tailor shop, the tone of the films — “I think we did talk about making films upper-crust meets shocking but often for Matthew,” he finally recalls. “But it (Harris Dickinson) from going off to fight funny cartoon violence — well, that came was all very positive. I would love to work in the war. from his frustration with how serious the with Colin. I mean, I know him socially of “Its emotional centre is a father/son movies had become. course and I have a very high regard for relationship,” says Fiennes. “I would say Vaughn says it’s a bit awkward bringing his him as an actor.” to Matthew that everything is anchored it up in front of Fiennes, who currently Vaughn pipes up. “It would be great off that. Within the first first 10 minutes of plays M in the storied 007 franchise that’s Ralph, we should do The Godfather II the film you understand why that particu- set to continue with No Time to Die, but of the Kingsman world,” he says, evok- lar father/son relationship is so defined in that he and his friend comic-book writer ing the middle Godfather film which a very specific way.” were getting smashed in a pub weaves together the 1917 story of a young when the topic came up. Don Corleone () with the “We were just drinking and saying, like, 1958 story of his son Michael (), what’s happened to Bond? Where’s the though the two actors never share the BOTH MEN ARE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN humour, where’s this, where’s that?” screen. their lives, doing interviews via Zoom Asked to respond to Vaughn’s assess- It could happen. Vaughn has expressed instead of in person. ment of the Bond films Fiennes barely interest in doing more Kingsman movies, Vaughn — who, prior to the Kingsman has a word out before his director shouts, each one exploring a different decade of films was best known for directing “No comment!” the spy agency’s history. Layer Cake, Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class “Matthew, you have to find a way to — is in Suffolk, England, where he lives bring us together,” says Fiennes. with his wife, model Claudia Schiffer, and “I’d love to. You know what, that would their three children, and Fiennes is in a IT’S A BIT OF A SURPRISE THAT be fun,” says Vaughn. “That really would hotel room in Rome, where he’s been Fiennes hasn’t worked with the Kingsman be fun.” staying for a few weeks — not working, franchise’s original star, Colin Firth, since just living. 1996’s The English Patient. They are, after Marni Weisz is the editor of “He’s disappearing,” jokes Vaughn. all, two of Britain’s foremost dramatic Cineplex Magazine.

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*Buy a $50 Gi Card and receive a pack of coupons worth up to $34 for free. Actual value will depend on when and where the coupons are redeemed. Limited time o er, coupons available while supplies last. Coupons must be used between the dates as marked on the coupons themselves. For terms and conditions, including dates of use, visit Cineplex.com/Holiday. O er not valid on Gi Cards purchased with a Gi Card or on Playdium® or ® branded gi cards. Not valid on Corporate Gi Card orders. Additional restrictions may apply. ™/® Cineplex Entertainment LP or used under license. MOVIE WE CAN’T SAY GOODBYE PREVIEW TO 2020 FAST ENOUGH. AFTER SUFFERING THROUGH DELAY AFTER DELAY WE’RE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME THE BOUNTY THAT IS EXPECTED TO COME WITH THE YEAR 2021. A COMBINATION OF 2020 HOLDOVERS AND FLICKS THAT WERE ALWAYS SLATED FOR THE COMING YEAR, THE NEXT 12 MONTHS PROMISE A VERITABLE BUFFET OF THEATRICAL DELIGHTS. BRING. IT. ON. BY INGRID RANDOJA & MARNI WEISZ

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INTERVIEW QUIET PLEASE DIRECTOR JOHN KRASINSKI REVISITS THE SILENT WORLD HE CREATED THREE YEARS AGO FOR THE SCARY SEQUEL, A QUIET PLACE PART II

WE’VE BEEN NERVOUSLY WAIT- Murphy was so enamoured with ing to see how A Quiet Place’s 2018’s A Quiet Place that he wrote resilient Abbott family — mom Krasinski an email telling him Evelyn (Emily Blunt), deaf daugh- how impressed he was, but then ter Regan (), decided it was cheesy and never hit son Marcus (Noah Jupe) and the send. A year later Murphy got the new baby — are faring in a world call asking him to be in the sequel. full of monsters who use sound The first film was a huge hit, to hunt humans. The earning more than $300-million sequel, A Quiet Place (U.S.) worldwide and served as A QUIET Part II, continues their a coming-out party for Krasinski PLACE terrifying journey and as a director. The boyish star PART II for writer-director from TV’s The Office showed off a DIRECTOR JOHN KRASINSKI John Krasinski the myriad of filmmaking skills — (A QUIET PLACE) follow-up film is all deftly crafting teeth-chattering STARRING about dealing with tension, heart-wrenching drama EMILY BLUNT, new monsters — oth- and big action pieces. MILLICENT SIMMONDS, er humans. “Now you The native graduated get to see how other from Brown University and then people have survived, attended the National Theater but I don’t think anybody did Institute before making his way to it as well as our family, so that’s New York where he waited tables what’s so scary,” Krasinski told until his acting career took off. us in an interview earlier this year. “I went to a theatre school Newcomers Cillian Murphy whose whole tagline is ‘Risk. Fail. and Djimon Hounsou play survi- Risk Again,’ and I live my life by vors the family meets when they that, artistically at least,” he says. leave their isolated farm and head So far, the risks are paying off. out into the open. Apparently, —IR

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GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE GOODBYE, DIRECTOR WHO YOU (TULLY ) MR. BOND STARRING WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE GONNA CALL? , MCKENNA GRACE, HOW NO TIME TO DIE WRAPS MURRAY, AYKROYD AND HUDSON RETURN, BILL MURRAY UP DANIEL CRAIG’S 007 BUT THIS NEW GHOSTBUSTERS FILM STORY ARC, AND TO MEET FOCUSES ON A WHOLE NEW GENERATION THE FRANCHISE’S NEW GOODIES AND BADDIES It took more than 30 years play siblings living in a small town to find the right script and who discover their grandfather, Call it the director, and to cajole a reluctant Egon Spengler (the late NO TIME long goodbye. Bill Murray to return for a third ), was an original TO DIE No Time to Die, film in the original series, Ghostbuster and they’ll need his DIRECTOR featuring following Ghostbusters (1984) assortment of ghostbusting tools CARY JOJI Daniel Craig’s and Ghostbusters II (1989). to fight the supernatural forces FUKUNAGA (reportedly) directed the first haunting their town. They also get (BEASTS OF NO NATION) two films, but here he passes the a helping hand from grandpa’s final spin torch to son Jason Reitman, who former crew, including Venkman STARRING as 007, was DANIEL CRAIG, in turn passes the ghostbusting (Bill Murray), Stantz () one of the RAMI MALIK, duties to a younger generation. and Zeddmore (). ANA DE ARMAS first films Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard delayed by the pandemic, which means we’ve been waiting a long time to see how ’S BIG YEAR his Bond will bow out. The film is rumoured to tie up loose If all goes according videogame series, and, to plan, we’ll see finally, swings back ends and answer lingering Tom Holland in three into action as Peter questions that go all the films this year, beginning Parker in Spider-Man 3 way back to Casino Royale, with Chaos Walking. The (no official title as of Craig’s first film as Bond. dystopian drama is set yet) late in the year. In this pic, the superspy on a planet where a virus Since Peter’s mentor faces off against a villain has seemingly killed all Tony Stark died in named Safin (), women, so Holland’s Avengers: Endgame, reunites with love interest character Todd Hewitt is it’s Doctor Strange Dr. Madeleine Swann astonished when he comes (Benedict (Léa Seydoux) and enlists across a lady named Viola Cumberbatch) (Daisy Ridley). Holland keeps who’ll guide the the help of CIA operative the action-adventure theme young superhero Paloma (Ana de Armas) going with Uncharted, the going forward. and new 00 agent Nomi adaptation of the popular (Lashana Lynch).

34 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 TOM HOLLAND PHOTO BY VERA ANDERSON/GETTY FIND CURRENT RELEASE DATES ON CINEPLEX.COM

MORBIUS DIRECTOR DANIEL ESPINOSA (LIFE) STARRING , NEW BLOOD ADRIA ARJONA, JARED LETO ENTERS THE MARVEL MATT SMITH A SECOND UNIVERSE AS MORBIUS, AN ANTIHERO DOSE OF VENOM FIGHTING A RARE BLOOD DISEASE Another Spider-Man baddie returns to the big screen in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. JARED LETO WAS SORELY DISAPPOINTED as a villain. Leto plays biochemist The sequel to 2018’s Venom is when he lost the role of the Joker to Michael Morbius, who was born with set to arrive next summer with for the standalone a rare blood disease that is killing him. the always watchable Joker pic. Yet, that meant he could In a final attempt to stay alive he infects returning as Eddie Brock, the star as antihero Morbius in ’s himself with bat’s blood that transforms human host to a violent being, and adaptation of the Marvel comic-book him into a superbeing with a taste for as a serial killer infected with series, a spinoff from the Spider-Man blood. Adria Arjona plays Morbius’s a bad-tempered alien named series where Morbius first appeared love interest, Martine Bancroft. Carnage.

MARVEL’S NEXT PHASE: BLACK WIDOW AND BEYOND Marvel’s post-Avengers as the titular martial- universe takes shape next arts warrior who battles year with the release of the nefarious Mandarin Black Widow, which is set (Tony Leung). before Endgame but feels And Marvel hopes to more like a swan song end the year strong for Natasha Romanoff with Eternals, directed (Scarlett Johansson) as by Chloé Zhao, which she returns home to introduces us to a group of Russia after the events of immortals living on Earth. : Created by the Celestials, to confront her painful past. these gods are sworn to The Phase Four protect the planet from Kumail Nanjiani, Salma be enough to make us movies continue with the evil Deviants. The film’s Hayek, forget the Avengers but Shang-Chi and the Legend stellar cast, including and Lauren Ridloff (who should deliver that shot of the Ten Rings, which Richard Madden, Angelina plays the MCU’s first of superhero star power stars Canadian Simu Liu Jolie, Gemma Chan, deaf superhero), won’t we .

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INTERVIEW A LITTLE RESPECT BEFORE HER DEATH, ARETHA FRANKLIN HANDPICKED JENNIFER HUDSON TO PLAY HER IN THE STORY OF HER LIFE. WELL, THAT’S QUITE AN ENDORSEMENT

JENNIFER HUDSON WAS STILL While Cats was mercilessly working on the big-screen adap- panned (despite Hudson’s im- tation of the musical Cats when pressive vocal contributions) she started prepping for a role when it came out in December she’d been circling for 15 years — 2019, Respect looks much more the late R&B great Aretha Franklin promising. It traces Aretha’s life in the bio-pic Respect. from her childhood singing gos- Moving back and forth between pel in Detroit to signing first with productions wasn’t easy consid- Columbia and then ering she had to shift between Atlantic Records where radically different vocal styles on she became a star. RESPECT a dime. Think of “Memories,” her Hudson was hand- DIRECTOR LIESL TOMMY dramatic ballad from Cats on the picked by Franklin (DEBUT) one hand, and Aretha’s power- (who passed away in STARRING house anthems like “Think” and 2018) shortly after she JENNIFER HUDSON, “Respect” on the other. finished making her MARY J. BLIGE, “I’m trying to figure out a bal- very first movie, 2006’s ance between the two,” she said Dreamgirls. She won a over the phone at the time, while Best Supporting Actress Oscar literally on the way from a Cats for that performance, outshin- junket to the set of Respect at ing even Beyoncé, who starred L.A.’s Universal Studios. in the film. “‘Memory,’ the approach and “We would say, ‘Okay, what music and the genre is more are you going to do to top this?’” operatic and uses the softer sides recalled Hudson. “The only thing and the lighter sides of my voice. I could imagine, a dream of mine And then there’s ‘Respect,’ or would be to play Aretha Franklin. Aretha’s material, and it uses the And I think that was the start of chest.” it all.” —MW

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DIESEL FUMES

VIN DIESEL’S FOE IN THE NEW FAST & FURIOUS PIC, F9, IS HIS OWN LITTLE BROTHER. WHO’S BIG AND BAD ENOUGH TO PLAY SAID BRO? JOHN CENA, OF COURSE

There are two things the Fast & Furious franchise does really well — showcase outrageous car stunts and cast big, muscular men in starring roles. Cue John Cena, the latest strongman to join IN THE the cast. He plays Dom’s HEIGHTS (Vin Diesel) younger brother DIRECTOR Jakob, a thief, assassin and JON M. CHU (CRAZY RICH high-performance driver ASIANS) who teams with the villain STARRING Cipher () to ANTHONY RAMOS, NEW HEIGHTS MELISSA BARRERA, take down Dom. The film was LIN-MANUEL shot in , Scotland, BASED ON THE LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA MIRANDA MUSICAL, IN THE HEIGHTS WILL Los Angeles, Thailand and BE A BIG DRAW FOR HAMILTON FANS the Republic of Georgia, F9 Before Hamilton, there was loves hairdresser Vanessa and a few cast In the Heights, a musical written (Melissa Barrera), is devoted DIRECTOR members let it JUSTIN LIN by Lin-Manuel Miranda in his to neighbourhood matriarch (FAST & slip that some freshman year of college and Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz) and FURIOUS 6) scenes will take described, back then, as a hangs with friends Benny (Corey STARRING place in space. hip-hop version of Rent. Hawkins) and Nina (Leslie Grace) JOHN CENA, That’s right, the Like the play, the film is set in while dreaming of his ancestral VIN DIESEL, MICHELLE F&F producers the largely Hispanic-American home, the Dominican Republic. RODRIGUEZ New York neighbourhood of Expect the story’s politics to have upped their Washington Heights and revolves be juiced up with references game to a whole around bodega owner Usnavi to Dreamers and the current new level, providing us with (played by Miranda in the state of race relations in America, out-of-this-world escapism. Broadway version that won four and look for Miranda in the small Tonys and by Anthony Ramos, role of the Piragua Guy, who sells also from the cast of Hamilton, treats. here). As on Broadway, Usnavi

SPIELBERG GOES WEST Race relations also take centre stage in ’s remake of 1961’s West Side Story, the musical set in 1950s New York about a Polish boy named Tony (Ansel Elgort) who falls in love with a Puerto Rican girl named Maria (Rachel Zegler).

38 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 FIND CURRENT RELEASE DATES ON CINEPLEX.COM

TOP GUN: MAVERICK DIRECTOR JOSEPH KOSINSKI (OBLIVION) ON A MISSION STARRING Even a pandemic TOM CRUISE, can’t keep adrenaline NEED FOR SPEED JENNIFER CONNELLY, junkie Tom Cruise AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS, TOM CRUISE CLIMBS BACK MILES TELLER from the action. INTO THE COCKPIT FOR THE TOP GUN SEQUEL, MAVERICK The 58-year-old is currently shooting Mission: Impossible 7 Feeling cooped up? It’s time to cadets for a dangerous mission. and has been spotted fly the skies with Tom Cruise in One of his pupils is the feisty son filming on top of a this long-awaited sequel to 1986’s (Miles Teller) of his late pal Goose. moving train. Look for Top Gun. Cruise reprises his role Jennifer Connelly plays Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 7 as navy pilot Pete “Maverick” love interest, and is back to hit theatres toward Mitchell, who is now a veteran flight as Iceman, who is now a four-star the end of the year. instructor charged with training his admiral and chief of naval operations.

DENIS’ DUNE

DENIS VILLENEUVE GETS HIS SHOT AT ADAPTING DUNE

Sometimes the stars align, and the perfect MEDIEVAL director finds the perfect MULLET? project. That’s the case with Canadian filmmaker is spotted on the Denis Villeneuve, who has set of The Last Duel in Cahir, County Tipperary, Ireland, with always wanted to adapt what looks to us like a decidedly author Frank Herbert’s haircut. The film, which is classic sci-fi novel DUNE being directed by Ridley Scott Dune and is on a sci-fi DIRECTOR and co-stars Jodie Comer, roll having recently DENIS VILLENEUVE and Matt’s friend helmed the acclaimed lead a rebellion and upend (BLADE Ben Affleck, is based on Runner 2049 and the universe. We can’t RUNNER Eric Jager book about besties 2049) Arrival. Timothée Chalamet wait to see Chalamet’s in 14th-century France who STARRING plays Paul Atreides, who take on the complicated are ordered to fight to the death TIMOTHÉE arrives on the desert Atreides and Villeneuve’s CHALAMET, after one accuses the other ZENDAYA, of raping his wife. Look for planet Arrakis only to version of the planet’s it on screens in late 2021. discover it’s his destiny to giant sandworms.

MATT DAMON PHOTO BY DEBBIE HICKEY/GETTY HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 39 20212 0 2 1

2021 MOVIE PREVIEW

INTERVIEW UP THE RIVER INSPIRED BY THE CLASSIC DISNEY THEME PARK RIDE, JUNGLE CRUISE PROMISES BAD JOKES, GOOD FUN AND SOME SERIOUS CHEMISTRY BETWEEN STARS DWAYNE JOHNSON AND EMILY BLUNT

DWAYNE JOHNSON GREW UP watched The African Queen right largely in Tampa, Florida, as a before they went into production self-proclaimed “Disney kid,” and sees the connection. “The so when he was asked to star in idea of a journey together and the Jungle Cruise — the adventure pic adventure and the unknown and based on the original Disneyland travel and people being in a fish ride that’s since been replicated out of water situation,” she says. at Disney parks around the world Though, where Hepburn played — it was a pretty big deal for the a missionary being transported big man who already had a pretty to safety by Bogart’s riverboat big career. captain, here it’s Blunt’s scien- “We have enjoyed the parks tist who commissions and the movies and the brand Johnson’s captain to JUNGLE that Disney brings, and being take her deeper into the CRUISE parents of little children, too... jungle to find the Tree of DIRECTOR so cut to Jungle Cruise and this Life, which she thinks JAUME opportunity that we had, it was has healing . COLLET-SERRA (THE SHALLOWS) pretty overwhelming,” Johnson “I really was taken by STARRING enthused during an interview in the spirit of the char- DWAYNE Atlanta this past February, acter because, to be JOHNSON, The ride has always owed honest, when I got of- EMILY BLUNT some of its inspiration to the fered it…I was like, ‘Oh, movies as Imagineer Harper Goff I’m going to play the girlfriend had the 1951 Humphrey Bogart/ role,” she said, “and then I read Katharine Hepburn adventure it and I was like, ‘Wow, he’s the pic The African Queen in mind girlfriend!’” when he designed the attraction’s “I’m the girlfriend,” confirmed riverboats. Johnson. “She’s the .” Johnson’s co-star Emily Blunt —MW

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JUNGLE CRUISE DIRECTOR JAUME COLLET-SERRA INTERVIEW (THE SHALLOWS) STARRING DWAYNE JOHNSON, UP THE RIVER EMILY BLUNT INSPIRED BY THE CLASSIC DISNEY THEME PARK RIDE, JUNGLE CRUISE PROMISES BAD JOKES, GOOD FUN AND SOME SERIOUS CHEMISTRY BETWEEN STARS DWAYNE JOHNSON AND EMILY BLUNT

DWAYNE JOHNSON GREW UP LARGELY enthused during an interview in Though, where Hepburn played a in Tampa, Florida, as a self-proclaimed Atlanta this past February, missionary being transported to safe- “Disney kid,” so when he was asked The ride has always owed some ty by Bogart’s riverboat captain, here to star in Jungle Cruise — the ad- of its inspiration to the movies as it’s Blunt’s scientist who commissions venture pic based on the original Imagineer Harper Goff had the 1951 Johnson’s captain to take her deeper Disneyland ride that’s since been Humphrey Bogart/Katharine Hepburn into the jungle to find the Tree of Life, replicated at Disney parks around film The African Queen in mind when which she thinks has healing powers. the world — it was a pretty big deal he designed the attraction’s riverboats. “I really was taken by the spirit of for the big man who already had a Johnson’s co-star Emily Blunt the character because, to be honest, pretty big career. watched The African Queen right be- when I got offered it…I was like, ‘Oh, “We have enjoyed the parks and fore they went into production and I’m going to play the girlfriend role,” the movies and the brand that Disney sees the connection. “The idea of a she said, “and then I read it and I was brings, and being parents of little journey together and the adventure like, ‘Wow, he’s the girlfriend!’” children, too...so cut to Jungle Cruise and the unknown and travel and “I’m the girlfriend,” confirmed and this opportunity that we had, it people being in a fish out of water Johnson. “She’s the Indiana Jones.” was pretty overwhelming,” Johnson situation,” she says. —MW

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TOP GUN: MAVERICK DIRECTOR JOSEPH KOSINSKI (OBLIVION) ON A MISSION STARRING Even a pandemic TOM CRUISE, can’t keep adrenaline NEED FOR SPEED JENNIFER CONNELLY, junkie Tom Cruise AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS, TOM CRUISE CLIMBS BACK MILES TELLER from the action. INTO THE COCKPIT FOR THE TOP GUN SEQUEL, MAVERICK The 58-year-old is currently shooting Mission: Impossible 7 Feeling cooped up? It’s time to cadets for a dangerous mission. and has been spotted fly the skies with Tom Cruise in One of his pupils is the feisty son filming on top of a this long-awaited sequel to 1986’s (Miles Teller) of his late pal Goose. moving train. Look for Top Gun. Cruise reprises his role Jennifer Connelly plays Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 7 as navy pilot Pete “Maverick” love interest, and Val Kilmer is back to hit theatres toward Mitchell, who is now a veteran flight as Iceman, who is now a four-star the end of the year. instructor charged with training his admiral and chief of naval operations.

DENIS’ DUNE

DENIS VILLENEUVE GETS HIS SHOT AT ADAPTING DUNE

Sometimes the stars align, and the perfect MEDIEVAL director finds the perfect MULLET? project. That’s the case with Canadian filmmaker Matt Damon is spotted on the Denis Villeneuve, who has set of The Last Duel in Cahir, County Tipperary, Ireland, with always wanted to adapt what looks to us like a decidedly author Frank Herbert’s 1980s haircut. The film, which is classic sci-fi novel DUNE being directed by Ridley Scott Dune and is on a sci-fi DIRECTOR and co-stars Jodie Comer, roll having recently DENIS VILLENEUVE Adam Driver and Matt’s friend helmed the acclaimed lead a rebellion and upend (BLADE Ben Affleck, is based on the Blade Runner 2049 and the universe. We can’t RUNNER Eric Jager book about besties 2049) Arrival. Timothée Chalamet wait to see Chalamet’s in 14th-century France who STARRING plays Paul Atreides, who take on the complicated are ordered to fight to the death TIMOTHÉE arrives on the desert Atreides and Villeneuve’s CHALAMET, after one accuses the other ZENDAYA, of raping his wife. Look for planet Arrakis only to version of the planet’s OSCAR ISAAC it on screens in late 2021. discover it’s his destiny to giant sandworms.

40 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 MATT DAMON PHOTO BY DEBBIE HICKEY/GETTY IN THE WORKS BY INGRID RANDOJA Phoenix Captures Napoleon Back in 2000 Joaquin Phoenix’s dazzling turn as vengeful Emperor Commodus in director Ridley Scott’s Gladiator announced his arrival as a serious actor. Now, Phoenix and Scott are reuniting for the Napoleon Bonaparte bio-pic Kitbag, which casts Phoenix as the 19th-century French general turned emperor whose military mind and huge ego allowed him to conquer much of continental Europe. Writer David Scarpa (All the Money in the World) is handling script duties.

TAY LOR - JOY IS YOUNG FURIOSA

Charlize Theron’s turn as badass Furiosa was the highlight of 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road and set the table for a standalone Furiosa film. Theron was understandably disappointed when she learned the movie would be a prequel, which meant they’d need a younger actor for the role. Now we hear that Anya Taylor-Joy (Emma) has landed the coveted part. Aside from her physical resemblance to Theron, Taylor-Joy has the acting chops for the job. She’ll be joined by Chris Hemsworth and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in unspecified roles.

42 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 PATEL PLANS MURDERS

Dev Patel continues to choose inter- esting roles, having recently played a Dickens hero (The Personal History of ) and medieval knight (The Green Knight). Now he takes on a seedier part in a still untitled film from I, Tonya director Craig Gillespie about the real-life Chippendale Murders. Patel will play Steve Banerjee, who co-founded the Chippendales dance troupe in 1979 and was jailed for orchestrating the mur- der of the troupe’s choreographer and planning the murders of other dancers.

MCAVOY IMPROVISES

It’s an acting challenge James McAvoy couldn’t pass up. My Son — the English remake of the French film Mon garçon ZENDAYAEYES SPECTOR — casts McAvoy as a father looking for his missing boy. However, McAvoy isn’t Zendaya’s career is skyrocketing. The 24-year-old made history as the working from a script, he’s improvising youngest woman to win a Lead Actress Emmy, which she did for Euphoria, his scenes with the other actors, who and now she’s eyeing her first lead role in a movie. She’s in negotiations to do know what the scenes are about play Ronnie Spector in the bio-pic Be My Baby, which chronicles Spector’s and guide the action. Claire Foy plays rise as a member of the ’60s R&B girl group The Ronettes and her abusive McAvoy’s ex-wife, and Christian Carion, marriage to music producer Phil Spector, who stole the rights to her who directed the original French film, music and kept her a prisoner in their home. helms the remake.

PHOTOS BY VERA ANDERSON/GETTY (JOAQUIN PHOENIX, ANYA TAYLOR-JOY); BRENDON THORNE/GETTY (ZENDAYA); HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 43 GEOFF ROBINS/GETTY (DEV PATEL); JON KOPALOFF/GETTY (JAMES MCAVOY) CHOOSE YOUR MOVIEGOING ADVENTURE Seeing a movie in a “regular” Cineplex theatre is already so much better than the best home cinema — the sound, the picture, the size! But filmmakers are coming up with increasingly mind-blowing ways to tell their stories, whether those films take place in space, underwater or even on another world. Fortunately, innovative theatre formats are keeping pace to take you deeper than ever into the action. There’s UltraAVX, IMAX, ScreenX, D-BOX, 4DX and VIP. So what’s the difference?

BY GILLIAN BERNER

UltraAVX IMAX ScreenX

UltraAVX delivers the most Experience a larger, curved Wraparound screens cover powerful picture quality with screen with an expanded three walls of the theatre stunningly crisp image detail. aspect ratio for select films, creating an all-encompassing, It also has the most impressive letting audiences see up to 270-degree experience! in-theatre sound system, so you 26 percent more picture. Locations have recently feel totally surrounded by the With brighter projection and expanded beyond Toronto soundtrack and sound-effects powerful sound systems, these to Vancouver, Edmonton, for maximum excitement. auditoriums place you in the Calgary, Ottawa and Halifax Plus, you can enjoy it all from middle of every scene. as well. comfortable reserved seats with extended leg room. BEST FOR: Films that were shot BEST FOR: Movies set in places with IMAX cameras — think of you'd like to visit but probably BEST FOR: Action, sci-fi and Christopher Nolan’s work, or any never will. Think of deep space fantasy, where you want to movie with a sweeping landscape. or an underwater world. lose yourself in the adventure.

44 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 D-BOX 4DX VIP

Experience motion seats that 4DX is a one-of-a-kind Enjoy an indulgent night at the move with the on-screen multisensory moviegoing movies with food, from tacos to adventure. The best seats in experience. Expect full-motion truffle fries, and drinks delivered the auditorium are reserved seating, wind, rain, mist, snow, right to your extra-comfy, wide for D-BOX, so you’re guaranteed back and leg ticklers, fog, leather seats in an intimate a great view. air jets, scents, lightning and environment. Enhance your bubbles, all timed with the kid-free evening with a custom BEST FOR: When you want to movie for a seamless theatrical cocktail at Cineplex’s licensed actually feel the speed of a adventure. lounge before or after the movie. car chase, the shaking of an earthquake, the tilt of a quickly BEST FOR: Thrill seekers BEST FOR: Treating yourself to a wanting an all-around sensory turning spacecraft or the carefree or girls’ night experience. It’s best enjoyed rumble of a passing herd of out when you want a break from with action, superhero, horror dinosaurs. and sci-fi films. the kids…and someone to serve you for a change.

PHOTO BY GILAXIA/GETTY; ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRIS PHILPOT HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 45 WATCH AT HOME: YOUR GUIDE TO NEW RELEASES CINEPLEX STORE AVAILABLE TO RENT OR BUY FROM CINEPLEXSTORE.COM

SCI-FI

TENET ↑ DEDICATED CHRISTOPHER NOLAN FANS the role, and as he explained to Cineplex Magazine John David Washington made the trek to cinemas to see the director’s in an interview earlier this year, that meant (left) and Robert Pattinson latest mind-bending epic, but for those who training with Navy Seals. “I got to work with a in Tenet couldn’t grab a socially distanced cinema seat lot of guys that served, and the mentality you the film arrives on the small screen with the have to have is in this character. To not just give same large expectations. his life for the mission, but more importantly While the movie’s plot is profoundly com- for the people he’s working with, that mentality plex, the basic premise sees a CIA agent called stuck with me. It was a character I wish I could Protagonist (John David Washington) and an be in real life.” LUCKY SEVEN operative from the secret Tenet organization Another thrill for viewers is the film’s far- Sir plays an intelligence (Robert Pattinson) teaming up to stop Russian flung locations. Tenet was filmed in the U.K., officer in Tenet, oligarch Andrei Sator (), Norway, Denmark, Estonia, , Italy and the making it the seventh time Caine has been who can communicate with the future, from U.S. What was Washington’s favourite location? seen in a Nolan film assembling a device that will wipe out human- “ was the place I connected to the ity. Jaw-dropping action scenes keep our heads most,” he says. “I actually had planned on [re- REAL DEAL That Boeing 747 that spinning and no Nolan film is complete without turning] before this pandemic. I really wanted crashes into a hangar a powerful score, this one courtesy of composer to get back to India and as soon as I can I plan in the film is real. It was cheaper to Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther), that adds a on going back.” —IR buy an old plane than layer of emotional fervour to an already intense create the crash with visual effects viewing experience. BUY: DECEMBER 15 John David Washington threw himself into RENT: JANUARY 5

46 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 ALL FILMS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT CINEPLEXSTORE.COM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. DRAMA THE NEST and Carrie Coon shine in this sharp drama set in the greed- soaked 1980s that finds desperate businessman Rory (Law) moving his family back to England after failing to make it big in New York. It’s HOLIDAY a delicate dance for Rory, who’s struggling financially and alienated from his unhappy wife Allison (Coon) who sees through her husband’s crumbling veneer. Director Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene) FATMAN slowly builds the tension, allowing his stars to expertly explore the Take a break from sugary, feel-good nooks and crannies of their complicated characters. Holiday films with this dark comedy starring as bitter and disillusioned Chris (a.k.a. Santa Claus), who lives in Alaska and bemoans the state of the world. When he gives nasty rich kid Billy (Chance Hurstfield) a piece of coal for Christmas, the little ruffian sends a hitman (Walton Goggins) to take out the “Fatman.”

Watch Cineplex Store movies on a variety of devices ▪ Enjoy on your mobile device, tablet or Apple TV HORROR by downloading the Cineplex Store app on the POSSESSOR App Store or Google Play. ▪ Stream on your computer Back in 2012 it looked like Brandon Cronenberg was all set to follow in (please use Chrome on Macs). his father David’s footsteps with his debut techno- Antiviral, ▪ Watch on your LG Smart TV but the younger Cronenberg has been focusing on smaller projects (2012 model or later) or since. Now he returns with Possessor, an unsettling drama starring Samsung Smart TV (2013 as Tasya Vos, who has been implanted with a or later with Smart Hub). device that enables her to take control of another person’s body and ▪ Connect via your TV and a use it to carry out assassinations. However, she breaks protocol when Roku device or Chromecast. she takes control of a man named Colin Tate (Christopher Abbott), who fights back against the intruder inside him.

HOLIDAY 2020 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE 47 CINEPLEX STORE

PERIOD PIECE THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD SIMPLY DELIGHTFUL IS HOW WE describe director ’s (The Death of Stalin, TV’s Veep) take on ’ classic 1850 novel David Copperfield. Iannucci brings a light comedic touch to the story of Copperfield, who is shuf- fled off to boarding school as a boy and encounters a variety of fascinating folks as he grows up to become a writer. Dev Patel is wonderful as Copperfield, wide-eyed and energetic, and as the ac- tor explained to Cineplex at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film is all ↑ about friendship. Caption TKTKTK “David Copperfield is a coming-of-age story about a young man trying to find his place in the world and owning who he really is,” said Patel. “It’s his journey to become a writer and it really is an ode to friendship and to the help of friends and as her eccentric lodger would normally never be cast in a Dickens family getting you somewhere in life and Mr. Dick, as the smarmy pic the chance to shine. “I think that not forgetting that, and when you get up to Uriah Heep, Rosalind Eleazar as David’s Armando’s idea was I just want to cast the top floor, send the elevator back down confidante Agnes and as the whoever I want to cast because I want for your friends.” impoverished Mr. Micawber. kids in school to watch that and relate to Patel’s supporting cast includes Tilda Iannucci breaks convention with his those people on screen,” said Patel. “So, Swinton as his aunt Betsey Trotwood, colour-blind casting, giving actors who I’m just happy to be a part of it.” —IR

COMIC BOOK THE NEW MUTANTS Instead of focusing on the X-Men characters we know and love, the 13th film in the X-Men franchise introduces us to a new, and younger, band of mutants. We meet the troubled Dani (Blu Hunt), Rahne (), Sam (Charlie Heaton), Illyana (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Bobby (Henry Zaga), who are brought to an abandoned hospital where they can safely learn to control their powers. The real action starts, though, when they realize they’re prisoners and must band together to escape. Filmed during the summer of 2017 and only recently released the film showcases a cast of emerging young actors and stars in the making.

48 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 ALL FILMS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT CINEPLEXSTORE.COM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SCREEN TEST

1. 6. Which NHL player had Name the Kurt Russell movie a cameo as angry that told the true story of diner patron Seabass in a ragtag U.S. team that Dumb and Dumber? beat the mighty Soviets a) Cam Neely at the 1980 Olympics. b) Bob Probert a) Miracle c) Tie Domi b) Mighty d) Mark Messier c) Ice d) Overtime 2. Who played the 7. Charlestown Chiefs’ Which NHL team flew north to coach in the cult take on a local pond-hockey classic Slap Shot? LACE team in the a) movie Mystery, Alaska? b) Bill Murray a) Toronto Maple Leafs c) ’EM UP b) New York Rangers d) c) Vancouver Canucks d) L.A. Kings 3. Which Canadian city 8. did the Highlanders, Name the popular Goon’s minor league French-Canadian film hockey team, call franchise about an home? amateur hockey league. a) Saint John a) Les Sticks b) St. John’s b) Les Boys c) Halifax c) Les Pucks d) Hamilton d) Les Goals 4. 9. Which real NHL Which of the following franchise got its name actors did not have a role Hockey movies from a 1992 Disney in Youngblood, about minor film about a Pee-Wee don’t come close league hockey team the hockey team? to baseball or even Hamilton Mustangs? a) Florida Panthers football movies in a) Rob Lowe b) Tampa Bay Lightning the annals of film b) Patrick Swayze c) Nashville Predators history. But if you’re c) C. Thomas Howell d) Anaheim Ducks a real hockey fan you d) Keanu Reeves know there are a few that must be seen. 5. How well do you know 10. Who played a minor the movies about Which actor from the league hockey enforcer Canada’s favourite Suicide Squad movies used turned tooth fairy in the winter sport and the to play for a rec hockey kids’ movie Tooth Fairy? actors who love it? team called the Assassins? a) Dwayne Johnson Find out here. a) Margot Robbie b) Liev Schreiber b) Jared Leto c) Ryan Reynolds c) Will Smith

d) Mike Myers d) Joel Kinnaman

ANSWERS:

. a, 2. d, 3. c, 4. d, 5. a, 6. a, 7. b, 8. b, 9. c, 10. a 10. c, 9. b, 8. b, 7. a, 6. a, 5. d, 4. c, 3. d, 2. a, .

49 CINEPLEX MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2020 1 ART OF FILM

Portraits That Pop Having worked as a scenic artist on films and TV shows, Orlando, Florida, painter Johannah O’Donnell appreciates the artistry of movies — “everything from set design to wardrobe to hair and makeup,” she says. So it’s no surprise that movie characters — usually female ones — are often the subjects of her acrylic portraits. “I tend to relate more to the female characters in films, and since all of my pieces contain an element of self-portrait, painting women just feels more natural to me.” Though her portraits are for the actors they depict, O’Donnell explains that each one also contains part of her personality, “whether it’s in the choice of subject matter, the colour scheme, or even the background elements, who and what I choose to paint, that’s ultimately an expression of who I am.” —W M

TO SEE MORE GO TO JOHANNAHODONNELL.COM

Clockwise from top, (), Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear) and ()

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