What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 22nd June 2017.

The 64th annual Sydney Film Festival came to a close on Sunday night 18th June, with its closing night screening of action adventure 'Okja' by South Korean film-maker Bong Joon-ho and starring Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lily Collins, Steven Yuen, Daniel Henshall and child actress Ahn Seo-hyun. Ahead of this screening the Official Competition Winner was announced, which came as a little bit of a surprise given the strength of the other eleven competing films, that included 'The Beguiled', 'Una' (released this week and Previewed below), 'We Don't Need A Map', 'Happy End', and 'I Am Not Your Negro' (the favourite to win).

All that said, Hungarian film, 'On Body and Soul' walked away with the AU$60K prize money and the Award for Best Film, having also won the Golden Bear main competition prize at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival in February. Directed and Written by Ildiko Enyedi, the film tells the story of two co-workers in a Budapest abattoir - one the Director of the firm, Endre, and the other Maria, a recently appointed quality controller. By chance, the pair discover that each night they share exactly the same dream - about a pair of deer cavorting in the woods.  As a result of their shared connection, they feel compelled to attempt a romance, but real life proves more challenging than their common beautiful dream. Jury President Margaret Pomeranz​ referred to 'On Body and Soul' as 'graceful, measured and profoundly compassionate'. She went on further to say 'it's a film that shows us that even in this divided world we are capable of sharing the same dreams; that amongst the ugliness of a slaughterhouse, kindness, gentleness can be found'. Congratulations on your win, Ildiko Enyedi.

This week there are six new films coming to your local multiplex or independent theatre. We kick off with the fifth instalment in a blockbusting Sci-Fi action franchise that sees a select band of returning humans buddy up once more with their giant robot friends in understanding the history of the latter on Earth, in order that the future of the former can be protected. We then turn the focus to a drama that sees the sins of the past resurface fifteen years later when the sinner is unwittingly confronted with the sinned against, but what are the motives at play here? Next up is an a road trip to Vegas for this young lad who has hired a career crim to take out his step dad, but has second thoughts en route, followed with an American historical bio-pic telling the slow, meandering story of one of this country's greatest Poets. Attention is then turned to the fourth film in this teen franchise that sees the family on a road trip to celebrate a 90th birthday, but all is not lost for this wimpy kid, yet! We then wrap-up with the third offering in this Pixar CG animation film about a myriad of motor vehicles and a red sports car whose days on the racing circuit may just be behind him . . . or are they?

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six new releases as Previewed below, or those as doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, be cordially invited 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 cinema experience this week.

'TRANSFORMERS : THE LAST KNIGHT' (Rated M) - Michael Bay here Directs once again this fifth instalment in this hugely successful Sci-Fi action franchise, that launched in 2007 with 'Transformers', then 'Revenge of the Fallen' in 2009, 'Dark of the Moon' in 2011, and 'Age of Extinction' in 2014. Those first four films cost a combined US$755M and have collectively returned at the global Box Office US$3,774B. Not bad for a franchise that began its life as a children's toy line back in 1984 made by American toy manufacturer Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. The franchise has gone on to spawn animated television series, comic books, graphic novels, video games, a theme park ride at several Universal Parks & Resorts, and of course a burgeoning film franchise.  Now in 2017 and for a cool US$217M budget, Michael Bay is back allegedly for the last time as Director, with 'The Last Knight' that sees Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci reprising their roles from 'Age of Extinction' as Cade Yeager, and Joshua Joyce respectively. In this instalment Josh Duhamel, John Turturro and Tyrese Gibson, reprise their roles from the first three films also. A 'Bumblebee' spin-off film Directed by Travis Knight in his live action film debut is due for release mid-2018, with 'Transformers 6' due in mid-2019.

And so to this gripping instalment. In the absence of Autobot leader Optimus Prime (but not for long methinks), humankind have gone to war against the Transformers. To save our fragile planet Cade Yaeger forms an unlikely partnership with young Chevrolet Camaro Autobot Bumblebee (voiced by Erik Aadahl); an English Lord, Sir Edmund Burton (Anthony Hopkins) an astronomer and historian who knows a thing or two about the history of the Transformers on Earth; and an Oxford University Professor of English Literature, Viviane Wembley (Laura Haddock). Needing to unlock the age old hidden secrets of why the Transformers keep returning to Earth is the key to safeguarding our future. Also starring  the voice talents of Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, John Goodman as Hound and Omar Sy as Hot Rod. Expect action set pieces writ large, destruction on a grand scale, the crunching of metal, lots of shouting and history rewritten!

'UNA' (Rated M) - this film screened in Official Competition at the very recent Sydney Film Festival where it had its Australian Premier, although it's World Premier screening was at the Telluride Film Festival in early September last year. Directed by renowned Australian theatre Director Benedict Andrews in his feature film debut, 'Una' is based on the David Harrower stage play 'Blackbird'. Here, Una Spencer (Rooney Mara) tracks down Ray Brooks (Ben Mendelssohn), who, fifteen years previously when Una was a minor, sexually abused her. Having served his time in prison for his crime and carved out a new and happy life for himself subsequently, Ray's peaceful contended existence is threatened with the arrival of Una, but what are her motives. With Ray desperate to preserve his new life and family unit, is Una out for revenge or is she motivated by something else? An intense emotional drama surrounding the sins of the past coming back to haunt the present, with these two fractured personalities who are left in a head to head standoff as secrets and buried memories, unanswered questions and unresolved longings resurface. Also starring Riz Ahmed and Tara Fitzgerald.

'DETOUR' (Rated MA15+) - made by British Screenwriter and Director, Christopher Smith, and shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2016, this film went on general release in the US in late January this year, and only now reaches Australian cinemas, in limited screenings. Here law student Harper (Tye Sheridan) recruits career criminal Johnny Ray (Emory Cohen), whom he encounters in a bar one night, to murder his step-father Vincent (Stephen Moyer) who he blames for the car accident that has hospitalised his mother in a coma. Johnny Ray asks $20K to dispense with the step-father. The next morning Johhny Ray arrives with his stripper girlfriend Cherry (Bel Powley) to collect Harper to travel to Las Vegas together to complete the hit, unaware that Harper has already taken matters into his own hands. The road trip to Vegas is far from a smooth ride, as Johnny Ray has debts to settle en route, and Harper tries to cover up the tracks of his crime, and escape from Johnny Ray in one piece, ideally with Cherry in tow.

'A QUIET PASSION' (Rated PG) - this critically lauded film Written and Directed by English Screenwriter, Director, novelist and Actor Terence Davies tells the biographical story of American Poet Emily Dickinson who lived from 1830 until 1886 and who is now recognised as the most important Poet of 19th Century America. Here, Cynthia Nixon portrays Emily Dickinson charting her life from young schoolgirl growing up in Amherst, Massachusetts, to her later years as a reclusive, unrecognised talent yet still maintaining close links with her family and writing poetry prolifically, which would not go acknowledged until after her death. Thoughtful, emotional, nuanced - a character study that will reward the poetically minded historians amongst us. Also starring Emma Bell as the younger Emily Dickinson; Keith Carradine as Emily's father Edward; Joanna Bacon as Emily's mother Emily, Duncan Duff as Emily's brother Austin; and Jennifer Ehle as Emily's sister Lavina.

'THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID : THE LONG HAUL' (Rated PG) - this fourth film in the series based on the books by Jeff Kinney, launched in 2010 with the inaugural 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' as Directed by Thor Freudenthal. This was followed up by 'Rodrick Rules' in 2011, 'Dog Days' in 2012 and now 'The Long Haul' in 2017, with the three latter films all Directed by David Bowers. Those first three films in the franchise were made for a combined US$58M, and collected US$225M at the worldwide Box Office, with this latest instalment costing US$22M to bring to the big screen, having grossed since its mid-May release Stateside US$30M. Here, young Greg Heffley's (Jason Drucker) summer holiday plans of idling about are thwarted when his parents announce a road trip for the whole family to help celebrate an elderly relatives 90th birthday. Cue sighs of disbelief at this daunting prospect, but all is not lost when Greg learns that this family outing coincides with a video gaming Expo at which Greg's YouTube hero will be present. Greg therefore hatches a cunning plan to attend the Expo, and secure his fifteen minutes of fame. Also starring Alicia Silverstone as Mum, Susan; Tom Everett Scott as Dad, Frank; and Charlie Wright as brother, Rodrick. The film has received largely negative Reviews.

'CARS 3' (Rated G) - this is the third film in the successful animated 'Cars' franchise that charged full throttle onto our big screens in 2006 with 'Cars', followed up in 2011 with 'Cars 2'. Both of these instalments were Directed by John Lasseter, and both took a combined global Box Office haul of US$1,024B off a budget outlay of US$320M. The Pixar series has also spawned two animated television series, two short films, two spin-off films with 'Planes' in 2013 and 'Planes : Fire and Rescue' in 2014, and several Disneyland theme park rides. Now in 2017, strap yourself in and buckle up for a third offering brought to us by Director Brian Fee (who acted as a storyboard artist on the first two films), with John Lasseter taking an Executive Producer credit this time around. Here outshone, out manoeuvred, and outpaced by up and coming younger talent, Lightning McQueen (voiced again by Owen Wilson) finds himself being pushed out of the sport of motor racing that he has grown up with and which he loves. To help him get back his former glory and secure his place in a big race, he will need to rely on the help of young gun technician Cruz Ramirez (voiced by Cristela Alonzo) and some inspiration from other friends, if he is to stand any chance of winning on Piston Cup Racing's grandest stage. Also starring the voice talents of Armie Hammer as new younger rival Jackson Storm, Bonnie Hunt, Chris Cooper, Larry the Cable Guy and a host of others. Made for US$175M, the film has so far taken US$81M since its release in the US just last week.

Six films this week offering something for almost everyone, once again. Whether family animated features are for you; or effects laden shoot 'em up, blast 'em down, loud & proud action Sci-Fi is your thing; or a teen road movie or indeed an adult drama fuelled road movie; or a historical bio-pic; or an emotional drama does it for you, then this week there is a film out there for you at your local theatre. Share your movie going thoughts with us afterwards, and meanwhile, I'll see you somewhere, sometime in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-