What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 3rd December 2015.

Monday 30th November saw the first Awards Ceremony of AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) with its film accolades for those working in essence behind the camera; and the second ceremony to be held on 9th December for those working in front of it. Both events are held at Sydney's Star Casino, and on Monday night this week nine feature film awards were given out, with a further six next week. Hosted by Actor, Writer and Producer Rob Carlton the AACTA Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Music, Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects or Animation, all went to 'Mad Max : Fury Road'; with Best Costume Design going to 'The Dressmaker' (that figures!); Best Original Screenplay to 'Paper Planes' and Best Adapted Screenplay to 'Last Cab to Darwin'. For more, go to : aacta.org

For the coming week ahead we have four new films doing the rounds at a theatre near you that kick start the new movie week with a sea faring survival epic that pitches mere mortal men against a great beast of the ocean depths hundreds of miles from land and the stuff of maritime lore; then a good ol' conspiracy theory about a bumbling President and the alleged story of draft dodging back in the day and the repercussions of this thirty years later; a Christmas season comedic offering of mateship, partying, festive cheer, growing up and moving on; and to finalise, an interview between two writers one on the cusp of critical acclaim and the other a Reporter for a well known magazine struggling to get a break.

Again, and as always, when you have seen your movie of choice of those Previewed below or any of those still out on general release and as either Reviewed or Previewed in earlier editions, drop your like minded cinephile friends your own thoughts, opinions and observations on your film experience. We'd all love to hear from you and you can do so in the Comments Box below this or any other Post. Enjoy your movie.

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA (Rated M) - Back in 1820 a whaling ship from Massachusetts captained by George Pollard Jnr, was sunk in the Southern Pacific Ocean by a sperm whale - that ship was 'The Essex'! As a result of its sinking the twenty man crew spent months at sea having to resort to cannibalism in order to survive before the final eight men were finally rescued. Cabin Boy Thomas Nickerson and First Mate Owen Chase wrote an account of their ordeal at sea at the mercy of a sperm whale and that inspired Herman Melville's 1851 book, 'Moby Dick' - the story upon which Director Ron Howard has based his latest film taken from the 2000 book of the same name by Nathaniel Philbrick.

Essentially that is the story, with Chris Hemsworth playing First Mate Owen Chase, Benjamin Walker as Captain George Pollard Jnr., Tom Holland and Brendan Gleeson playing Thomas Nickerson the younger and the elder respectively, Ben Whishaw as Herman Melville and Cillian Murphy as Matthew Joy the Second Mate. When their ship, The Essex, is torn in two by a gigantic whale with incredible size and strength, the crew are left to drift the ocean for months on end amidst raging storms, despair, panic, hunger, and thirst and so their plight becomes a true test of survival and the lengths man will go to in order to survive, and fish another day when they think that all is lost!

TRUTH (Rated M) - This film is Directed by first timer James Vanderbilt who wrote the Screenplay and also Co-Produced, and is based on the memoir of Mary Mapes 'Truth and Duty : The Press, The President and The Privilege of Power'. It surrounds CBS Producer of '60 Minutes Wednesday' Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett), her crew and National News Anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) who get caught up in the conspiracy surrounding President George W. Bush re-election campaign in 2004 when it was revealed by the show that in the early 70's he received preferential treatment from the Texas Air National Guard following his failure to achieve even basic training and performance requirements to avoid being drafted to Vietnam through the position in the political arena held by his father at the time. Ultimately the scandal cost Mapes and Rather their jobs, their careers and their reputations when falsehoods were revealed . . . or were they really false? Gotta love a good conspiracy theory! The film also stars Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, Stacy Keach, Dermot Mulroney, was filmed in Sydney, Australia and cost less than US$10M.

THE NIGHT BEFORE (Rated MA15+) - Festive film fare is likely to come thick & fast now in the lead up to Christmas and here is the second offering of the season so far with this Jonathan Levine Written and Directed comedy. Starring long term buddies Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) whose parents died years earlier on Christmas Eve, Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen) and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) the three have every Christmas Eve since spent the night together to support Ethan and comfort him with a big annual reunion night out of jolly japes, misadventure, fun, frivolity and hilarious shenanigans! With Isaac knocking on the door of first time fatherhood, and Chris is busy being famous, the trio of buddies realise their reckless days of Christmas celebrations are soon to be no more. So poised for one last hurrah they set off into NYC in search for the holy grail of Christmas parties - The Nutcracka Ball!

THE END OF THE TOUR (Rated M) - Directed by James Ponsoldt and based on David Lipsky's 2010 best seller 'Although Of Course You End up Becoming Yourself' this is his story about his five day long road trip interview with acclaimed author of 'Infinite Jest' David Foster Wallace in 1996. Lipsky is here played by Jesse Eisenberg, a Reporter with Rolling Stone magazine who learns in 2008 that Wallace (Jason Segel) committed suicide. From here the story goes back to that five day trip when Lipsky's Editor grants him an assignment to shadow Wallace during his book tour to launch 'Infinite Jest' which went on to become a touchstone for many a subsequent Writer. As Wallace opens up to Lipsky so more and more topics are discussed, more questions answered and more hidden truths revealed although often veiled in caution on Wallace's part. With several award wins and nominations already under its belt and high critical praise for the storytelling and nuanced performances this uplifting, inspiring and often funny account of two writers on opposite sides of the fence is likely to surprise and delight.

Four films of note then to get you out amongst the movie going public in the seven days ahead. When you have done so share your thoughts of your latest film experience as we'd love to hear from you, and so would our other ever growing readership. In the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-