What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st August 2017.

These last couple of months have seen more than their fare share of celebrity passings from the world of film and television. Many of these pass under the radar, confined to a few lines of remembrance and respect on the social media pages from which many these days rely on as their sole source of news. As August draw to a close I thought I would look back on the last two months or so and remember here, those that have touched out lives on both the big screen and the small screen, over the years, and who have left a legacy by which they will be forever remembered.

* Adam West, American film and television Actor, born 1928, died 9th June 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Young Philadelphians', 'Geronimo', 'Batman', 'The Detectives' television series, 'Batman' television series and 'Family Guy' television series.
* Michael Nyqvist, Swedish Actor, born 1960, died 27th June 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo', 'The Girl Who Played with Fire', 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest', 'Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol'and 'John Wick'. Still to be released : 'Hunter Killer', 'Radegund' and 'Kursk'.
* Barry Norman, British Film Critic, born 1933, died 30th June 2017. Television presenter of BBC 1's annual 'Film . . . ' programme from 1972 until 1998.
* Martin Landau, American stage, television and film Actor, born 1928, died 15th July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Mission Impossible' television series, 'Space 1999' television series, 'North by Northwest', 'They Call Me Mr. Tibbs', 'Crimes and Misdemeanours', 'Ed Wood' and 'Remember'.
* George R. Romero, American Director, Writer, Editor and Actor born 1940, died 16th July 2017. Most notable films : 'Night of the Living Dead', 'Dawn of the Dead', 'Day of the Dead', 'Land of the Dead', 'Diary of the Dead', 'Survival of the Dead', 'The Crazies', 'Creepshow', and 'Monkey Shines'.
* John Heard, American film and television Actor, born 1945, died 21st July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Cat People', 'C.H.U.D.', 'The Seventh Sign', 'BIG', 'Beaches', 'Home Alone', 'Home Alone 2 : Lost in New York', 'Awakenings', 'In the Line of Fire', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Sharknado', 'The Client' television series, 'The Sopranos' television series, and 'Prison Break' television series.
* Sam Shepard, American stage, television and film Actor, playwright, author and Director, born 1943, died 27th July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Right Stuff', 'Steel Magnolias', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Black Hawk Down', 'The Notebook', 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward  Robert Ford', 'Safehouse' 'Killing Them Softly', 'Mud', 'August : Osage County' and 'Midnight Special'.
* Robert Hardy, English stage, television and film Actor, born 1925, died 3rd August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold', '10, Rillington Place', 'Young Winston', 'The Shooting Party', 'Sense and Sensibility', 'An Ideal Husband', 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', 'War and Remembrance' television mini-series, and 'All Creatures Great and Small' television series.
* Sonny Landham, American film Actor and Stuntman, born 1941, died 17th August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Warriors', 'Poltergeist', '48 Hours', 'Predator', 'Action Jackson' and 'Lock Up'.
* Bruce Forsyth, English television Presenter, Actor, Comedian, Writer, Singer and Dancer, born 1928, died 18th August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium', 'The Bruce Forsyth Show', 'The Generation Game', 'Play Your Cards Right', 'You Bet', 'Takeover Bid' game shows, and films 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks', 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' and 'Anna Pavolva'.
* Jerry Lewis, American stage, television, film and radio Actor, Producer, Director, Writer, Singer and Comedian, born 1926, died 20th August 2017. Most notable appearances : seventeen films with Dean Martin, 'The Nutty Professor', 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World', 'The Family Jewels', 'The King of Comedy', and 'Max Rose'.
* Tobe Hooper, American film Director, Producer and Writer, born 1943, died 26th August 2017. Most notable films : 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre', 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2', 'Eaten Alive', 'Poltergeist', 'Lifeforce', 'Night Terrors', 'The Mangler', 'Toolbox Murders', 'Mortuary', 'Djinn' and television mini-series 'Salem's Lot'.

This week we have five new films coming to a multiplex or independent theatre near you. We kick off with action adventure comedy featuring an unlikely buddy pairing of two adversaries that need to depend on each other with their lives to be able to make it to their intended destination the next day; followed by a tug of love and a custody battle between a Uncle and a Grandmother over a very gifted young child caught up in the middle; then four girlfriends on a weekend away living it up large and boisterous; before closing out with two Australian offerings - the first a comedy of life's wrong decisions based on the very real experiences of the lead Actor and Writer, and then an action thriller with the backdrop of a deadly contagion released over Sydney.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four new release movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are here warmly 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 meanwhile, enjoy your cinematic outing during the coming week.

'THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Australian Patrick Hughes whose previous credits include 'Red Hill' and 'Expendables 3' here is in the chair for this off-kilter action comedy buddy movie about a Hitman, and his Bodyguard! Released in the US in mid-August and costing US$30M the film has so far grossed US$63M, and has received average Reviews praising the on-screen chemistry that seems to exist between the two lead characters, but downplaying the cliched plot and delivery, despite the collective talents of the assembled cast.

Here former top bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) who is now disgraced and makes a meagre living protecting corporate executive types, is enlisted to bring notorious Hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) to testify at the International Courts of Justice in The Hague, against the ruthless and merciless Dictator of Belarus Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) for crimes against humanity. Bryce has had run ins with Kincaid in the past when they were on opposite sides of a loaded gun, and so the Bodyguard is very reluctant to escort the Hitman anywhere, but agrees for the reinstatement of his good name and reputation. The two must put their differences aside and work together to make it to The Hague on time, untarnished and very much alive in order for Kincaid to testify so sending the evil Dictator down. Along the way all manner of challenges, obstacles and no good henchmen hell bent on preventing them from making it to their intended destination stand in their way. There will be bullets flying, gun play, explosions, fist fights, car chases, cursing and swearing and laughs aplenty before the final credits role. Also starring Selma Hayek, Richard E. Grant, Sam Hazeldine, and Elodie Yung.

'GIFTED' (Rated M) - this drama film is Directed by Marc Webb whose previous Directing credits include '(500) Days of Summer' and the 2012 reboot of the 'Spider-Man' franchise with 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and its 2014 sequel 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'. This story surrounds seven year old intellectually gifted Mary Adler (Mckenna Grace) growing up near Tampa, Florida in the care of her Uncle Frank Adler (Chris Evans) since she was six months old when her mother Diane, a promising mathematician, took her own life. Showing a remarkable mathematical talent on her first day of first grade school, she is offered a subsequent scholarship at a school for gifted children. Frank however, turns down the offer based on historical experiences with such schools and not wanting to deprive Mary of a normal childhood. Franks estranged mother and Mary's grandmother, Evelyn Adler (Lindsay Duncan) has a different view, and wants to relocate the young gifted child to Massachusetts under special tutelage and seek custody of Mary. What ensues is a custody battle between Frank and Evelyn with Mary caught in the middle and compromises ultimately having to be made on all sides. The film also stars Octavia Spencer and Jenny Slate, was released in the US in early April, has so far grossed US$38M from its US$7M budget outlay and has received generally positive press.

'GIRLS TRIP' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Malcolm D. Lee this comedy offering features four life long best girl friends - Ryan, Sasha, Lisa and Dina (Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish respectively) who take a long overdue weekend away down to New Orleans for the annual Essence Music Festival. Over the course of the weekend they gradually reignite their sisterhood; and rediscover their wild sides while partying hard; living it up; getting hooked-up; being loud, proud and in yer face; while at the same time experiencing moments of raw, venerable emotion that only serve to make their bond stronger still. Also starring Mike Colter and cameo appearances as themselves by Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, Estelle, Common, New Edition and various others, this film was released in the US at the end of July, has so far taken US$120M off the back off a US$20M budget and has received generally positive Reviews.

'ALI'S WEDDING' (Rated M) - this Australian RomCom based on real events has garnered much critical acclaim since its world Premier at the 2016 Adelaide Film Festival in October last year. Directed by Jeffrey Walker, this film tells the story of Ali (Osamah Sami), the son of an Iraqi refugee living in a north Melbourne suburb where his father Mahdi (Don Hany) is the leader of the local Mosque. The family has big expectations of Ali, who is struggling with his entrance exam to study medicine at University. He is also under pressure to agree to an an arranged marriage although he secretly admires Dianne (Helena Sawires). Ali just wants to make his father proud, but finds it more than challenging to make this dream a reality. What is a young man to do, other than fake it 'til you make it! And so Ali does, lying about his entrance exam grades to gain acceptance from his father and the local Muslim community, that just lead this one bad decision onto another, then another. Eventually as these decisions spiral out of control, the consequences of which verge on cataclysmic, Ali must decide to be ruled by his head, his heart or his sense of duty. The film is Co-Written by Osamah Sami based on his very own real life experiences which make this film all the more endearing and relevant in today's society from a multi-cultural and acceptance standpoint.

'EVENT ZERO' (Rated MA15+) - here this Australian action thriller is Directed, Produced and Written by Enzo Tedeschi and tells the story of a terrorist attack on Sydney releasing a deadly contagion into the city's populace. When her father Yusuf Nassar (Harry Pavlidis) is in the frame for the biological attack, suspended federal police detective Leyla Nassar (Ash Ricardo) embarks on a mission to clear her fathers name, uncover the truth and bring down the culprits while the leading local Politicians power-hungry to satisfy their own nefarious aims do everything they can to cash in on the catastrophe. Also starring Nicholas Hope and Zoe Carides.

With five new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, of which two are local Aussie fare, one low budget custody drama from the US, then another a comedy about four girls making the most of a weekend getaway, and the other a big screen action comedy also from Stateside, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephiles afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-