THE NAKED GUN : Tuesday 26th August 2025.

I saw the M Rated 'THE NAKED GUN' this week at my local independent movie theatre and this American action comedy film is Co-Written and Directed by Akiva Schaffer whose previous feature film Directorial credits include his debut in 2007 with 'Hot Rod', then 'The Watch' in 2012, 'Popstar : Never Stop Never Stopping' in 2016 and 'Chip 'n Dale : Rescue Rangers' in 2022. This film serves as a legacy sequel to 1994's 'Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult' and is the fourth instalment in 'The Naked Gun' franchise, with those first three films in the series grossing a combined US$477M at the global Box Office. This film was released Stateside on 1st August, here in Australia last week, has so far grossed US$89M off the back of a US$42M production budget and has generated positive critical acclaim. 

Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jnr. (Liam Neeson) of the LAPD Police Squad singlehandedly thwarts a bank robbery disguised as a young schoolgirl. Unknown to him at the time, this was a distraction to steal a gadget from a safe deposit box held in the banks vault called the 'P.L.O.T. Device' (Primordial Law Of Toughness).  Police Chief Davis (CCH Pounder) reassigns Drebin to traffic patrol when his over-the-top law enforcement becomes a legal liability. While paying tribute to his father Frank Drebin Sr., he prays to him to send him an owl as a sign of his approval.

Drebin, and his Captain Ed Hocken Jnr. (Paul Walter Hauser) investigate software engineer Simon Davenport's (Jason MacDonald) fatal car crash, deeming it suicide, but Drebin notices a matchbook at the scene. Simon's sister Beth (Pamela Anderson), a crime writer, argues against his claim, but Drebin dissuades her from investigating further. 

Drebin finds Richard Cane (Danny Huston), Simon's wealthy employer at Edentech, at the company's tech expo. After they both heap seemingly never ending praise on the Black Eyed Peas, Cane donates a self-driving electric car to Police Squad, which causes havoc with Drebin behind the wheel, and also recommends his personal nightclub. Drebin notices the matchbook found at Simon's crash site has the same logo as the nightclub.

Cane privately demonstrates how he will use the stolen P.L.O.T. Device to turn human against human and return them to their barbarian nature, culling the population save for his fellow billionaires, who will be insulated from harm inside his personal bunker which will be equipped with all the comforts of home, and then some. Drebin, interrogates one of the bank robbers, and learns about the deposit box, which was Simon's, connecting the two cases. At Cane's club, Beth distracts Cane with improvised, atrocious scat singing while Drebin fights many of Cane's henchmen in order to gain access to security footage, which reveals that Simon met discreetly with a journalist. Davis suspends Drebin for insubordination. Beth stays with the demoralised Drebin, and he considers finally moving on from memories of his late wife. Drebin and Beth spend a romantic weekend at an alpine lodge where they spend time frolicking in the snow, and building a life size snowman. They find a book of magical and mysterious incantations on a bookshelf and recite one, bringing their snowman to life, which at first is friendly enough but then turns murderous after they neglect it. They manage to decapitate the snowman, tossing its head into the hot tub, where is quickly melts away. 

Drebin visits the home of the journalist to find him murdered, and is easily tricked into incriminating himself. He flees in the electric car, but Cane overrides the controls and attempts to kill Drebin just as he did Simon. Drebin shoots out the windshield, but is trapped again by the car driving head-on into balloons, a swarm of bees, and a replacement windshield. Purely by accident, he activates Clippy, who helpfully unlocks the doors, allowing Drebin to jump free of the car before it drives headlong into the harbour. Meanwhile, Police Squad has been decommissioned. Beth reveals that Simon feared the misuse of the P.L.O.T. Device, but Drebin suspects that Beth is using him and angrily leaves her home.

Drebin captures Cane's henchman Gustafson (Kevin Durand) and frightens him into confessing to Cane's plan to activate the P.L.O.T. Device at the New Year's ball drop at a MMA match. Drebin heads to the match at the 'Ponzi-scheme.com Arena', equipped with an earpiece that blocks the wearer from the P.L.O.T. Device's frequency. Beth plans to kill Cane, but he sees this coming as recorded in her book. Drebin finds the P.L.O.T. Device inside the New Year's balls. As the balls drop, he snags his trouser leg on the winch at which he loses his pants as the balls drop, indecently exposing himself to the entire TV audience, and those watching live inside the arena, leading them to not respect his order to evacuate. The P.L.O.T. Device activates, and mindless violence erupts throughout the city. Drebin fights through innocents by ricocheting ejected handgun magazines, but cannot catch up with Cane and his associates who have all fled the scene on motorcycles. 

His father's spirit arrives as an owl, airlifting Drebin now in hot pursuit. Hanging on to one leg of the owl, he tells it to take a dump on Cane, which blinds Cane across his visor with bird crap, causing him to crash his motorbike. Cane and Drebin face off, with Cane doubling up in agony after just one punch to the gut. Beth nearly shoots Cane in revenge, but Drebin talks her down. Drebin and Beth use the P.L.O.T. Device to calm the crowd and embrace lovingly as Cane is arrested. In the aftermath, Davis announces to a gathered crowd of the media that Police Squad has been reinstated, although Drebin faces 'investigation' by 'Internal Affairs' – which is actually the name of a tropical resort, where he spends his time with Beth.

'The Naked Gun' for me had a small number of laugh out loud moments, and the rest of this legacy sequel just left me feeling, well 'meh'! Liam Neeson does a respectable job of following in the footsteps of Leslie Nielsen, and brings his comedic A-game to the role playing it straight-laced while delivering some humorous verbal touches and sight gags. For those of us (and I include myself here) old enough to remember the first film in the franchise which opened in 1988 this film represents a fair nod to that classic of 37 years ago now in all its slapstick, quick witted, non-sensical tongue planted firmly in cheek humour that made the original movie so appealing. But for audiences not familiar with those first three films, I can see that this style of Police procedural parody might fail to launch, especially in this era of political correctness . . . or perhaps not! This is an old-school, silly screwball spoof crime caper comedy that has its moments, but for the most part left me wondering why I paid the price of cinema entry when I could have waited a few short weeks to see at home on my chosen streaming platform - if I was so inclined.

'The Naked Gun' merits two claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 28th August 2025.

This year marks the 20th annual Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival running from Tuesday 2nd through until Sunday 7th September, on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard sitting in the Atlantic Ocean just south of Cape Cod. The Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival is presented by the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society. The Film Society presents award-winning feature films, documentaries, animation, and shorts from around the world, paired with topical speakers throughout the year. It aims to bring together people of all ages, foster appreciation of the world’s diversity, and stimulate discussion through the universal language of film. The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society has become a much loved year-round arts organisation screening over two hundred films annually, with a membership of over 2,500 and annual patronage of over 35,000. About 90% of all film selections are non-US productions, helping to fulfil the festival mission of promoting cross-cultural understanding through film - so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night Film is 'Dreams (Sex Love)' is the second part of the Oslo Trilogy and is a Norwegian drama film Written and Directed by Dag Johan Haugerud. In between 'Sex' and 'Love',  Haugerud deals with the complexity of human relationships, sexuality and social norms. Here, Johanne falls in love with her teacher and records her fantasies and feelings in writing. Together with her mother and grandmother, they debate the literary potential and whether to publish it. The film was selected for the Main Competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its international Premiere in mid-February this year, and won the Golden Bear.

The Closing Night Film is 'Four Mothers' from Ireland and is Co-Written and Directed by Darren Thornton and is an Irish-set, English-language remake of the 2008 Italian film 'Mid-August Lunch'. An author is saddled with caring for his mother after she suffers a stroke. His plans for a book tour are thrown into disarray when three more elderly women arrive on his doorstep in Dublin for what turns out to be a chaotic weekend. The film had its World Premiere screening at the BFI London Film Festival in mid- October last year and was theatrically released in Ireland and the UK in early April this year.

The feature films in the Spotlight section of the festival are as briefly shown below :-

* 'Checkpoint Zoo' - from the US and the UK and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Joshua Zeman. The documentary deals with the 71-day rescue mission to evacuate thousands of animals from Kharkiv’s Feldman Ecopark, which was shelled with Russian artillery during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

* 'Grand Tour' - from Portugal, Italy, France and Germany, this historical drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Miguel Gomes. In 1918, Rangoon is a city under British colonial rule. Civil servant Edward abandons his fiancee Molly on the day they are to be married. He flees in a state of melancholy, contemplating Molly's condition. Determined to be married, Molly follows his trail. The film had its World Premiere at the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival in late May 2024 where Gomes won the Best Director award.

* 'The Marching Band' - from France and this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Emmanuel Courcol. Acclaimed conductor Thibaut has leukemia and needs a bone marrow donor. Learning he was adopted, he finds his biological older brother, a musician in a small marching band in Lille and cook in a school canteen. Their reunion sparks a fraternal, musical journey. The film Premiered in mid-May 2024 at the Cannes Film Festival.

* 'Odd Fish' - from Iceland and this drama film is Written and Directed by Snaevar Solvi Solvason. Two childhood friends get a long-awaited opportunity to found and run a seafood restaurant together. When one of them comes out of the closet as a trans woman, their friendship gets tested.

* 'Oceans Are The Real Continents' - from Spain and Written and Directed by Tommaso Santambrogio in his feature film debut. Three stories of migration, exile, and memory develop in the Cuban town of San Antonio De Los Banos, a place that time forgot. The film had its World Premiere screening at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2023.

* 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' - from Ireland, the UK, the USA and Zambia and Written and Directed by Rungano Nyoni. On an empty road in the middle of the night, Shula stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family. The film competed in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May 2024.

* 'The Black Sea' - from the USA and Bulgaria and Directed by Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Harden. A charismatic big dreamer from Brooklyn with no follow-through gets stuck in a small Bulgarian resort town and finds unexpected connection. 

* 'The Making of a Japanese' - from Japan, the USA, Finland and France this documentary film is Directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki. The film follows a year long journey at a Japanese elementary school, whose system is based on old military training and strict hierarchy, where children learn good manners early on, learn to follow rules and show respect for others.

* 'The Dating Game' - from the USA, the UK and Norway this documentary film is Co-Produced and Directed by Violet Du Feng and follows three Chinese men - Zhou, Li, and Wu, as they attend a seven-day dating camp in Chongqing to learn how to find love from two dating coaches - Hao and Wen, who are married to each other. 

* 'Don't Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight' - from South Africa this drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars Embeth Davidtz in her feature film making debut. The films depicts eight-year-old Bobo's life on her family's Rhodesian (now Zimbabwe) farm during the Bush War's final stages. It explores the family's bond with Africa's land and the war's impact on the region and individuals through Bobo's perspective.

* 'Pink Lady' - from Israel and Italy this drama film is Directed by Nir Bergman. Battie and Lazer, a Jewish ultra-Orthodox young couple with three children are being blackmailed by the Wolf's gang. Both are going to fight the gang in a journey that will test their love and faith and change their lives forever.
* 'When Fall is Coming' - from France and Written, Produced and Directed by Francois Ozon. Michelle, a well-behaved grandmother, lives quietly in a Burgundy village near her long time friend Marie-Claude. Michelle's stressed out daughter Valerie visits on All Saints' Day to drop Lucas off for a vacation. Unexpected events disrupt their plans.

For the details of the Short Film Juried Competition and the Animation Showcase, plus more from the Martha's Vineyard Film Society, you can go to the official website at : https://mvfilmsociety.com/festivals/marthas-vineyard-international-film-festival/

Turning back to this weeks four hot new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we begin with an action crime thriller in which a former baseball player finds himself immersed in the criminal underworld of New York in the 1990's. This is followed with a black comedy splatter offering in which a downtrodden janitor is exposed to a catastrophic toxic accident, resulting in his transformation into a new kind of hero who uses his newfound superhuman strength to battle slimy criminals and a corrupt CEO. Then we turn to a comedy drama film that sees old tensions resurface when former bandmates who were former lovers reunite for a private show at the island home of an eccentric millionaire. And closing out the week we have a French legal drama about a man who is accused of murdering his wife, and his lawyer must defend him against all odds, and especially against himself.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'CAUGHT STEALING' (Rated MA15+) - is an American action crime thriller film that is Co-Produced and Directed by Darren Aronofsky who made his feature film Directorial debut with 1998's 'Pi', and which he would follow up in the ensuing years with 'Requiem for a Dream' in 2000, 'The Fountain' in 2006, 'The Wrestler' in 2008, 'Black Swan' in 2010, 'Noah' in 2014, 'Mother!' in 2017 and 'The Whale' in 2022. This film is based on Charlie Huston's book of the same name. 

When his punk-rock neighbour Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, New York City bartender and burned-out ex-baseball player Henry 'Hank' Thompson (Austin Butler) suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters who all want a piece of him as he is forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined, in 1990's New York. Also starring Zoe Kravitz, Regina King, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio, Griffin Dunne, Bad Bunny, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Carol Kane. The film is released Stateside this week also.

'THE TOXIC AVENGER' (Rated MA15+) - this American Superhero black comedy splatter film is Written and Directed by Macon Blair who made his feature film making debut with 'I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore' in 2017. This film is the fifth film and a reboot of 'The Toxic Avenger' film series and a remake of the 1984 film of the same name and has continued through three film sequels, a stage musical, a comic book series from Marvel Comics, a video game, and an animated television series. Here then, set in a fantasy world following Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage), a stereotypical weakling who works as a janitor at Garb-X health club and is diagnosed with a terminal illness that can only be cured by an expensive treatment that his greedy, power hungry employer refuses to pay for. After deciding to take matters into his own hands and rob his company, Winston falls into a pit of toxic waste and is transformed into a deformed mutant monster vigilante known as Toxie, that sets out to do good and get back at all the people who have wronged him. Also starring Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Kevin Bacon and Elijah Wood, the film saw its World Premiere screening at Fantastic Fest in late September 2023, and is released this week too in the US having garnered generally favourable reviews.

'THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND' (Rated PG) - is a British comedy-drama film Directed by James Griffiths, and written by Tim Key and Tom Basden, and is based on their 2007 short film 'The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island' which won the best short film at The Edinburgh International Film Festival and was nominated for the 2008 BAFTA Award for Best Short Film. This is James Griffiths second feature film Directorial offering after 2014's 'Cuban Fury'. This film follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric two time lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island off the Welsh coast and dreams of getting his favourite musicians, Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) of the aptly named folk band McGwyer Mortimer, back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers are reunited for the first time in many years, accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig. The film saw its World Premiere at this years Sundance Film Festival back in January, had a limited US release in late March, was released in the UK in late May, has so far grossed US$5.4M at the Box Office and has received generally positive press. 

'THE THREAD' aka 'AN ORDINARY CASE' (Rated M) - this French legal drama film is Co-Written, Directed and stars Daniel Auteuil who has numerous acting credits to his name and a handful of feature film Directing credits taking in his debut with 'The Well-Diggers Daughter' in 2011, 'Marius' in 2013, 'Fanny' also in 2013 and 'The Other Woman' in 2018. Here, Jean Monier (Daniel Auteuil), a troubled lawyer, agrees to represent a client named Nicolas Milik (Gregory Gadebois). The latter has been accused of murdering his wife. While trying to prove his client's innocence, Monier finds himself more and more involved in the case. Also starring Sidse Babett Knudsen. The film had its World Premiere showcasing at the Cannes Film Festival in late May 2024, was released in its native France in mid-September last year, and only now is it released here in Australia. 

With four new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online- 

NOBODY 2 : Tuesday 19th August 2025.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'NOBODY 2' earlier this week at my local multiplex, and this American action thriller film is Directed by Timo Tjahjanto who first burst onto the scene in 2009 as one half of The Mo Brothers with their feature length debut with 'Macabre', which they would follow up with 'Killers' in 2014, and 'Headshot' in 2016, and then in his own right 'May the Devil Take You' and 'The Night Comes for Us' both in 2018, 'May the Devil Take You Too' in 2020, 'The Big 4' in 2022 and 'The Shadow Strays' in 2024. This film was released in the US and here in Australia last week, has so far grossed US$19M off the back of a US$25M production budget and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

Here then, this sequel to 2021's 'Nobody' sees suburban husband, father and workaholic assassin Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk who also Co-Wrote the screenplay and Co-Produces here too) is forced to take on assignments for 'The Barber' (Colin Salmon) as an assassin to pay off a US$30M debt he owes after destroying a Russian obshchak. 

His relationship with his family has grown distant as a result, especially with his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen). Wanting a break to re-bond with his family, he plans a family trip to Plummerville, a somewhat outdated amusement park which he visited when he was much younger with his brother Harry (RZA) and father David (Christopher Lloyd), promising Becca to leave his life as Nobody for the duration of their holiday.

While at an amusement arcade at Plummerville, his teenage son Brady (Gage Munroe) gets in trouble after a teenager, Max Martin (Lucius Hoyos), destroys a plush toy meant for his younger sister Sammy (Paisley Cadorath). This results in the whole family being kicked out. When an employee slaps the back of Sammy's head, Hutch impulsively beats up the staff, drawing the ire of both Wyatt Martin (John Ortiz), the owner of the amusement park, and Abel (Colin Hanks), a corrupt sheriff. Wyatt wants Hutch and his family kicked out, but Abel secretly tells his men to kill them. 

The next day, on a river boat, Hutch is attacked by some of Abel's men, losing the tip of his pinky finger in the process. He soon finds out from his brother, Harry, that Plummerville is a bootlegging route, while The Barber informs him that the route belongs to Lendina (Sharon Stone), whom Abel works for, and Wyatt has to pay off. When Wyatt tells Lendina this is his last payment and that his original debt is now cleared, she has Abel kidnap his son, Max. 

Hutch, wanting to de-escalate the situation, tells Abel that he and his family will leave town. But, when he sees the kidnapped Max bound and gagged, he decides to rescue him and burns a stack of Lendina's money and drugs, and blows up their warehouse in the process, scarring Abel for life.

Hutch and Max head to an old lodge where David was staying, and Brady and Max reconcile their differences. While Becca is angry that he couldn't keep his promise of not getting into more trouble, she tells him that she's not going anywhere, and he must fix it. He and Wyatt reconcile and prepare the amusement park for Lendina's arrival, with help from Harry and David.

Later that night with the theme park cleared of all tourists, Abel saunters up to Hutch and Wyatt and delivers them an ultimatum while Lendina and her small army of henchmen look on, saying that they can accompany him and risk their fate, or stand and fight and face certain death. Needless to say Hutch and Wyatt decide to stand their ground and as Abel turns and walks back he is executed at Lendina's command for being an annoyance, while most of her men are killed by Hutch and Wyatt. 

Harry kills Lendina's henchmen at the lodge, while Wyatt is shot in the leg, and David is knocked unconscious. Lendina attacks Hutch, but is tranquilised first in the shoulder and then in the eye by Becca. David recovers just in time to blow up the park, killing Lendina and the remainder of her men in the process. 

Hutch and Becca embrace and then dive headlong into a water feature to escape the burning explosions all around them as the park erupts in a ball of flame. After being interrogated in an unknown hangar, Hutch and Becca are freed on orders from an anonymous source. Later on, the family watches a visual album of their Plummerville holiday.

'Nobody 2' is B-movie action fare writ large, which packs a punch (pun intended) when Hutch's back is against the wall, and there are a couple of genuine laugh out loud moments to be enjoyed here. Bob Odenkirk does a fine job of playing the somewhat down at heel suburban, yet nonetheless loveable, dad and family man masking a cold hearted killer when he's doing his day job as a latter day hero. Sharon Stone turns in an all too brief role as the main antagonist here arriving on the scene well beyond the half-way mark, and Connie Nielsen get's her moment in the sun when she takes out Lendina with a tranquiliser gun. However, this film follows the formula of most sequels and fails to deliver the story we all hope for, instead opting for cartoonish action sequences delivered by half baked cookie cutter characters. All of that said, this film lacks the originality and the polish of the first film, but it is serviceable yet easily forgettable, and at an 89 minute runtime it doesn't leave you wanting either. 

'Nobody 2' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 21st August 2025

The 82nd annual Venice International Film Festival will be held this year from 27th August to 6th September at Venice Lido in Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the 'Big Five' International film festivals worldwide, which include the Big Three European Film Festivals (Venice, Cannes and Berlin), alongside the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and the Sundance Film Festival in the USA. Founded in August 1932 the festival is part of the Venice Biennale, one of the world's oldest exhibitions of art, created by the Venice City Council on 19 April 1893. The range of work at the Venice Biennale now covers Italian and international art, architecture, dance, music, theatre, and cinema. During the festival, Venice hosts many events and parties, interviews and meetings with filmmakers and Actors every night, venues open all night, and parties are held in beautiful casino palaces and gardens.

This year the festival will open with the World Premiere screening of the drama film of a love story 'La grazia' from Italy, and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, and is in official competition for the Golden Lion. The festival closes with the Sci-Fi crime thriller 'Dog 51' from France and is Co-Written and Directed by Cedric Jimenez. 

American filmmaker Alexander Payne will serve as Jury President for the main competition for the Golden Lion, of which there are twenty-one films in contention. Among those films are the following :-

* 'Bugonia' - from Ireland, South Korea and the USA and this Sci-Fi black comedy is Co-Produced and Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and stars Jesse Plemmons, Emma Stone and Alicia Silverstone and focuses on two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. World Premiere.

* 'Father Mother Sister Brother' from the USA, Ireland, France, Italy and Japan this comedy drama is Written and Directed by Jim Jarmusch and stars Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling and Tom Waits. Estranged siblings reunite after years apart, forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents. World Premiere.

* 'Frankenstein' - from the USA and this Gothic Sci-Fi film is Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Guillermo del Toro and stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Charles Dance, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Ineson and Burn Gorman. A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. World Premiere.

* 'A House of Dynamite' - from the USA and this political thriller is Co-Produced and Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and stars Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriele Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Moses Ingram, Anthony Ramos, Greta Lee and Jason Clarke. A group of White House officials scramble to deal with an incoming missile attack on the USA. World Premiere.

* 'Jay Kelly' - from the UK and the USA this coming of age comedy drama is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Noah Baumbach and stars George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Stacy Keach, Riley Keough, Emily Mortimer, Patrick Wilson, Jim Broadbent, Lenny Henry, Greta Gerwig, Isla Fisher and Alba Rohrwacher. The film follows a friendship between a famous actor and his manager as they travel through Europe and reflect on their life choices, relationships, and legacies. World Premiere.

* 'No Other Choice' - from South Korea and this black comedy thriller film is Co-Written, Produced and Directed by Park Chan-wook. It follows a man who engages in a desperate hunt for new employment after being fired from a position he has held for 25 years. World Premiere.

* 'The Smashing Machine' - from the USA, Canada and Japan and this biographical sports drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Benny Safdie and stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt and Ryan Bader. The film tells the story of mixed-martial arts and UFC champion Mark Kerr. World Premiere.

* 'The Stranger' - from France and this drama film is Written for the screen and Directed by Francois Ozon and stars Benjamin Voisin. Set in 1930's Algeria, an apathetic Frenchman shows total indifference to life. His emotional detachment leads to a murder, followed by a trial that scrutinises both the crime and his character. World Premiere.

* 'The Testament of Ann Lee' - from the UK and this historical drama musical film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Mona Fastvold and starring Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, Stacy Martin and Matthew Beard. Ann Lee, the founding leader of the Shaker Movement, and proclaimed as the female Christ by her followers, depicts her establishment of a utopian society and the Shakers' worship through song and dance. Based on real events. World Premiere.

* 'The Wizard of the Kremlin' - from France, the UK and the USA and this political thriller is Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Olivier Assayas and stars Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Zach Galifianakis, Tom Sturridge and Jeffrey Wright. It follows the fictional character of Vadim Baranov during the final years of the Soviet Union and the turbulent start of the Russian Federation, while a young Vladimir Putin rises into power. World Premiere.

For the full run down of all feature films in the Official Competition for the Golden Lion, plus all the details of the other films in competition, those out of competition and the other film strands being showcased, together with a whole lot of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2025

Turning to this weeks seven hottest new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon close to your home, we launch with a black comedy neo-Western film about the political and social turmoil caused by the contested mayoral election fought between the Sheriff and the Mayor of this small town in New Mexico. Then we turn to a story about a secretive 'fixer' who brokers payoffs on behalf of corrupt corporations, and a potential client who may need his protection. Next up we have an Australian action horror offering set at the height of the Vietnam War in which a recon unit is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon, but they soon discover they are not alone, and must face the most terrifying creatures to ever walk the Earth. This is followed up with an American action comedy film in which only one man has the particular set of skills - to lead Police Squad and save the world. Following on we have a film based on a true story about a Polish woman conscripted to serve as housekeeper to a Nazi officer in Warsaw after it fell to the Nazis, and how she helped shelter a dozen Jews. Next we turn to an Australian drama comedy about a struggling Hollywood actress who returns home to Kangaroo Island, confronting the love triangle that tore her family apart; before closing out the week with an American dark comedy in which a female private investigator probes a number of strange deaths linked it seems to a religious cult. 

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the seven latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'EDDINGTON' (Rated M15+) - this American neo-Western black comedy film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ari Aster whose prior feature film making credits are his 2018 debut with 'Hereditary', then 'Midsomer' in 2019 and 'Beau is Afraid' in 2023. This film had its World Premiere showcasing at the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May this year and was released in the US in mid-July. It received generally positive reviews from critics, and has so far grossed US$12M worldwide against a budget of US$25M.

In May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayoral candidate Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) who is running for re-election, sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, New Mexico. Also starring Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O'Connell and Michael Ward.

'RELAY' (Rated M) - is an American thriller film Co-Produced and Directed by David Mackenzie who made his Directorial debut in 2002 with 'The Last Great Wilderness' which he would follow up with other titles including 'Young Adam' in 2003, 'Hallam Foe' in 2007, 'Perfect Sense' in 2011, 'Starred Up' in 2013, 'Hell or High Water' in 2016 and 'Outlaw King' in 2018. Here, a world class 'fixer' Tom (Riz Ahmed) specialises in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin. He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning and always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from potential client Sarah Grant (Lily James), needing his protection just to stay alive, the rules quickly start to change. Also starring Sam Worthington and Victor Garber. The film had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September last year and is released here in Australia and the US this week, having garnered generally positive critical feedback.

'PRIMITIVE WAR' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian wartime action horror film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Luke Sparke who made his feature film Directing debut with 'Red Billabong' in 2016 and would follow this up with 'Occupation' in 2018, 'Occupation : Rainfall' in 2020, 'Devil Beneath' in 2023, 'Bring Him to Me' also in 2023 and 'Scurry' in 2024. Here then, set in 1968 Vietnam, a recon unit known as Vulture Squad is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone, and instead of enemy soldiers they face prehistoric dinosaurs. Starring Tricia Helfer, Ryan Kwanten, Jeremy Piven, Ana Thu Nguyen and Nick Wechsler.

'THE NAKED GUN' (Rated M) - is an American action comedy film Co-Written and Directed by Akiva Schaffer whose previous feature film Directorial credits include his debut in 2007 with 'Hot Rod', then 'The Watch' in 2012, 'Popstar : Never Stop Never Stopping' in 2016 and 'Chip 'n Dale : Rescue Rangers' in 2022. This film serves as a legacy sequel to 1994's 'Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult' and is the fourth instalment in 'The Naked Gun' franchise, with those first three films in the series grossing a combined US$477M at the global Box Office. Here, following in the footsteps of his bumbling father, Detective Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) must solve a murder case to prevent the police department from shutting down. Also starring Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand and Danny Huston. The film was released Stateside on 1st August, has so far grossed US$74M off the back of a US$42M production budget and has generated positive critical acclaim.

'IRENA'S VOW' (Rated MA15+) - this Canadian and Polish Co-Production is Directed by Louise Archambault, whose prior feature film making credits take in her 2005 debut with 'Familia', then 'Gabrielle' in 2013, 'And the Birds Rained Down' and 'Thanks for Everything' both in 2019 and 'One Summer' in 2023. The screenplay for this film was written by Dan Gordon who also wrote the Broadway play of the same name. Here, Irena Gut Opdyke (Sophie Nelisse), a Polish nurse helps shelter and protect a dozen Jewish people during the Holocaust by hiding them in the cellar of the home where she was employed as a housekeeper by Nazi German officer Eduard Rugemer (Dougray Scott). The film premiered in the Centrepiece programme in September 2023 at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was released in Canada in mid-April 2024. It has so far grossed US$1.2M at the Box Office and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'KANGAROO ISLAND' (Rated M) - is an Australian drama comedy film Co-Produced and Directed by Timothy David in his feature film debut. Estranged daughter Lou (Rebecca Breeds), an actress whose career has not taken off in Hollywood, returns to her hometown on Kangaroo Island, upon request by her father (Erik Thomson). Lou and her sister Freya (Adelaide Clemens), who is religious, have a complicated past relationship. They try to repair their differences and make peace for the sake of their father, but another family secret is revealed. The films name derives from Kangaroo Island in South Australia, where it was filmed. It saw its World Premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival in early November last year, and has generated largely positive critical reviews.

'HONEY DON'T!' (Rated MA15+) - this American neo-noir dark comedy detective film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ethan Coen, one half of the highly acclaimed, multi-award winning Coen Brothers combo that he shares with his brother Joel. The pair made their Directorial debut with 1984's 'Blood Simple' and would follow this up with other notable titles including 'Raising Arizona' in 1987, 'Miller's Crossing' in 1990, 'Barton Fink' in 1991, 'Fargo' in 1996, 'The Big Lebowski' in 1998, 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' in 2000, 'No Country For Old Men' in 2007, 'Burn After Reading' in 2008, 'True Grit' in 2010 and 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs' in 2018. His first solo feature film came in 2024 with 'Drive-Away Dolls', and this film is intended to be the second in a three parter. Here, in Bakersfield, California, female small town private detective Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley) investigates a woman's death and tangles with a religious cult, led by the Reverend Drew Devlin (Chris Evans). Also starring Aubrey Plaza and Charlie Day, the film is released this week too in the USA having seen its World Premiere screening at this years Cannes Film Festival in late May. 

With seven new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-