What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 30th November 2017.

In November, the world bid a fond farewell, with a thanks for the memories, to a number of stars of  both the small screen and the big screen. In brief, shown below is my passing tribute to some of the stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. May you all Rest In Peace.

* Rance Howard - Born November 17th 1928, died November 28th 2017, aged 89. American Actor of film and television and father to Actor and Director Ron Howard, and Actor Clint Howard, and Grandfather to Actresses Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard. He had 280 acting credits to his name going back to his big screen debut in 1956, right up to the present day with a number of feature film projects in various stages of development. His movie credits include such notable outings as 'Cool Hand Luke', 'Chinatown', 'Splash', 'Cocoon', 'Innerspace', 'The 'Burbs', 'Parenthood', 'Far and Away', 'Universal Soldier', 'The Paper', 'Terminal Velocity', 'Ed Wood', 'Apollo 13', 'Sgt. Bilko', 'Independence Day', 'Mars Attacks', 'A Beautiful Mind', 'Cinderella Man', 'Frost/Nixon', 'Angels & Demons', 'Nebraska', 'Max Rose' and 'The Lone Ranger' with numerous television series and episodes appearances spanning seven decades.

* David Cassidy - Born April 12th 1950, died November 21st 2017, aged 67 years. American Singer, Songwriter, Actor and guitarist, most famed for his role as Keith Partridge across 96 episodes of the classic early '70's family musical sitcom television series 'The Partridge Family'. Also starred in episodes of 'Ironside', 'Bonanza', 'The Mod Squad', 'Police Story', 'The Love Boat', 'Fantasy Island', 'Tales of the Unexpected', 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', 'Malcolm in the Middle', 'Ruby & The Rockits' and 'CSI'. His music career also consisted of twelve studio albums, three live albums, six compilation albums, two soundtrack albums, and twenty-four singles.
* Rodney Bewes - Born November 27th 1937, died November 21st 2017, aged 79 years. English Actor and Writer best known for his role as Bob Ferris across 20 episodes of 'The Likely Lads' from 1964 through to 1966, and then across 27 episodes of 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' from 1973 through to 1974, plus a spin off feature film in 1976. He continued to work sporadically in film, television and theatre appearing in such films as 'Billy Liar', 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', 'The Three Musketeers', 'Jabberwocky', 'The Spaceman and King Arthur' and 'The Wildcats of St. Trinian's'.
* Keith Barron - Born August 8th 1934, died November 15th 2017, aged 83 years. English Actor and television presenter. With 160 acting credits to his name, he appeared on television first in 1961 with his last appearance being in 2016 across ten episodes of 'DCI Banks'. Over the years he appeared in multiple episodes of 'The Odd Man' and its second series 'It's Dark Outside', and then 'Prince Regent', 'Doctor Who', 'Leaving', 'Duty Free', 'Room at the Bottom', 'Haggard', 'The Good Guys', 'Where The Heart Is', 'The Chase', 'Coronation Street', and assorted films including 'The Man Who Had Power Over Women', 'Melody', 'The Land That Time Forgot', 'At The Earth's Core', 'Voyage of the Damned', 'God's Outlaw', 'Lapland' and 'Being Eileen'.
* John Hillerman - Born December 20th 1932, died November 9th 2017, aged 84. American Actor most famed for his role as Jonathan Quayle Higgins III on the popular detective television show 'Magnum P.I.' which ran for 162 episodes from 1980 through until 1988. For his role as Higgins, Hillerman earned five Golden Globe nominations, winning in 1981, and four Emmy nominations, winning in 1987. He had 71 acting credits to his name and retired from acting in 1999. During his career which launched in 1970 with an uncredited appearance in the feature film 'They Call Me Mr. Tibbs', he also starred in other notable movies including 'The Last Picture Show', 'What's Up, Doc', 'The Thief Who Came To Dinner' 'High Plains Drifter', 'Paper Moon', 'The Naked Ape', 'Blazing Saddles', 'Chinatown', 'The Day of the Locust' and 'A Very Brady Sequel'. His television roles included appearances on the likes of 'Mannix', 'Kojak', 'Ellery Queen', 'Hawaii Five-O', 'Wonder Woman', 'Little House on the Prairie', 'The Love Boat', 'Soap', 'Hart to Hart', 'Lou Grant', 'Murder, She Wrote' and 'The Hogan Family'.

Turning to this week we have seven new release movies coming to an Odeon near you. We kick off with a film about a film, but not just any film, this film is one of the worst films of all time and there's a story behind it that has to be told; then we move to a devastating bush fire true story that claimed too many lives to save a remote community; then a prison crime drama of the lengths one man will go to on the inside to protect his family on the outside; before moving to a small town murder thriller which pulls the whole community into its web of intrigue. We then move to a drama offering telling the story of a young boy whose facial disfigurement does not stand in his way to overcoming the adversity and prejudice thrust upon him by his schoolmates and others; before wrapping up with a couple of Christmas offering - one a family oriented animated twist on the Christmas Nativity and the other inspired by a true story of how the modern Christmas came about courtesy of a classic book written by a famed wordsmith of some 170 years ago.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the seven latest release films 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 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 big screen Odeon experience during the coming week.

'THE DISASTER ARTIST' (Rated M) - the now cult classic for all the wrong reasons, 'The Room' upon which this film is based, was released in 2003 and Written, Produced, Directed and starred Tommy Wiseau. At the time of its limited release it was panned by Critics for its bizarre and unconventional storytelling and various technical and narrative flaws, was described as 'the Citizen Kane of bad movies' and others have touted it as one of the worst films ever made. Originally labelled  as an independent romantic drama film, the movie found cult status subsequently and continues to be shown in limited screenings at select theatres to this day, with Wiseau retrospectively characterising the film as a black comedy, even though audiences have generally viewed it as a poorly-made drama, a viewpoint supported by some of the film's cast. In 2013 Greg Sestero, the films other principal Actor published a memoir titled 'The Disaster Artist : My Life Inside The Room, The Greatest Bad Film Ever Made' about the making of 'The Room' which has inspired this film.

And so James Franco Directs, Co-Produces and stars in this biographical comedy drama offering that stars him too as Tommy Wiseau, with his brother Dave Franco cast as Greg Sestero. Charting the meeting and early friendship between Wiseau and Sestero which occurred via acting classes in San Francisco, and Sestero's hopes and dreams of making it big in Hollywood which ultimately spurred him on to sign up for Wiseau's movie project 'The Room' - a film so bad it's good! Also starring Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Alison Brie, Jackie Weaver, Sharon Stone, Melanie Griffith, Zoey Deutch with celebrity cameo's from the likes of Bryan Cranston, Zach Braff, J.J. Abrams, Danny McBride, Judd Apatow, Keegan-Michael Key, Lizzy Caplan, Kristen Bell and others. The film is released in the US this week too, and unlike its subject matter film, this movie has received critical acclaim and most notably as has James Franco's performance. The film was shown at TIFF back in September and took out top prize at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

'ONLY THE BRAVE' (Rated M) - Directed by Joseph Kosinski whose previous Directing credits include 'Tron : Legacy' and 'Oblivion' here brings us the true story of action and drama based on the GQ Magazine article 'No Exit' written by Sean Flynn. Recreating the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots - a group within the Prescott, Arizona, Fire Department whose mission was to fight wild fires. Formed in 2002 as a fuels mitigation crew, it transitioned to a handcrew in 2004, and ultimately to a hotshot crew in 2008. The crew had their own fire station, where equipment was stored including two ten-man crew carriers. On June 30, 2013, nineteen firefighting crew members of the group were killed fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire. There were twenty members of the group, of which only one survived. According to the National Fire Protection Association, it was the greatest loss of life for firefighters in a wildfire since 1933, the deadliest wildfire of any kind since 1991, and the greatest loss of firefighters in the United States since the 9/11 attacks. This is their story, as played out by an ensemble cast taking in Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Taylor Kitsch, James Badge Dale, Jeff Bridges, Andie McDowell and Jennifer Connelly. The film cost US$38M to make, has so far grossed US$21M since its release Stateside in mid-October, and has received generally positive Reviews in particular for the cast, and the sensitivity with which the film maker handles the terrifying and emotional subject matter.

'SHOT CALLER' (Rated MA15+) - Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ric Roman Waugh this crime thriller was released in the US in mid-August and has so far taken just US$3M despite its generally favourable Reviews and especially the praise bestowed upon the lead Actor Nicolaj Coster-Waldau. Here he plays Jacob 'Money' Harlon, a successful stockbroker, happily married with one child. When he runs a red light while under the influence of alcohol and accidentally kills his business partner, he is arrested and charged for vehicular manslaughter and jailed for thirty months. Inside prison he has to come to terms with the inmate hierarchy, and prove himself for the sake of his own protection and wellbeing. He does so, which gains him favour with the lead gang, but that favour comes at a price. As Harlon gradually integrates himself into prison society and the way of the gangs, he gets involved in a prison riot which lengthens his prison sentence fourfold. Serving out his time, upon his release he is coerced into orchestrating a major crime with a rival gang which doesn't end well for Harlon, resulting in him being imprisoned for life. Harlon, however took care of business on the outside and now on the inside too, from which at least his wife and child are safe from any repercussions. Also starring Jon Bernthal, Benjamin Bratt and Holt McCallany.

'SWEET VIRGINIA' (Rated MA15+) - this thriller is Directed by Jamie M. Dagg and was released in the US earlier this month, having Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April this year. Here a former rodeo star and now motel manager Sam (Jon Bernthal), with a small time life, unknowingly starts an uneasy alliance with a young man, Elwood (Christopher Abbott) who checks into the motel and is responsible for a triple murder that has suddenly gripped this small Alaskan town. Every character from his loved ones to his motel patrons, plays a role in the unravelling of this community as the dangerous association forged by the two men sparks off a wave of violence and the re-emergence of Sam's innermost demons. Also starring Imogen Poots, Rosemarie DeWitt and Odessa Young.

'WONDER' (Rated PG) - this drama film based on the best selling and award winning 2012 novel of the same name by R.J. Palacio and is Directed by Stephen Chbosky whose prior Directing credits include 2012's 'The Perks of Bring a Wallflower'. Here the story centres around young August 'Auggie' Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) a fifth grade aged lad living with his parents in upper Manhattan. Jacob has an extremely rare medical facial deformity, which he refers to as 'mandibulofacial dysostosis', or more probably Treacher Collins Syndrome (a genetic disorder characterised by deformities of the ears, eyes, cheekbones, and chin) and a cleft palate. Having had 27 surgeries to improve his condition, Auggie had been home-schooled by his mother Isabel (Julia Roberts), but with his Dad Nate (Owen Wilson) his parents decide to enroll him in to Beecher Prep, a private school, for the start of middle school. As his new school mates, the local community, and his family all struggle to reveal their acceptance and compassion of Auggie, the young lads journey from zero to hero will unite them all in ways that no one ever thought possible. Also starring Izabela Vidovic as Olivia 'Via' Pullman, Auggie's older sister, and Mandy Patinkin as the school Principal Mr. Tushman. The film has garnered generally favourable Reviews and from its US$20M budget outlay has so far taken US$72M since its mid-November opening in the US.

'THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS' (Rated PG) - Directed by Bharat Nalluri, this Christmas drama offering is based on the 2008 book 'The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits' by Les Stanford. It is October 1843 and Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) is down at heel because his last three books have all failed to find an audience. Outcast by his Publishers, he sets about penning and self publishing a book that he very much hopes will see the reversal of his fortunes and revive his flagging career. Over a six week period in which Charles Dickens was influenced by his own father John Dickens (Jonathan Pryce), he writes 'A Christmas Carol' in which he brings to life Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer) and others whilst setting in motion the Christmas festive spirit that we know today. Also starring Simon Callow, Donald Sumpter, Bill Paterson and Miriam Margoyles. The film was released in the US last week and the UK this week too, has taken US2M at the Box Office so far and has generated positive press.

'THE STAR' (Rated G) - this CGI animated Christmas outing is Co-Produced by Sony Pictures Animation and is Directed by Timothy Reckart based on the Nativity of Jesus, with added animal input. Made for US$20M and so far having grossed US$24M, the film stars an ensemble voice cast but has received average Reviews at best. Here, a small yet plucky donkey named Bo (Steven Yuen) longs for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to escape, and finally goes on the adventure of a lifetime. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth (Aidy Bryant), a loveable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave (Keegan-Michael Key), a dove with lofty aspirations. Together with three smartarse camels Felix, Cyrus and Deborah (Tracy Morgan, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey respectively), and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new found friends follow The Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told - that of the first Christmas. Also starring the voices of Gina Rodriguez, Kelly Clarkson, Kristin Chenoweth, Mariah Carey, Kris Kristofferson, Ving Rhames and Christopher Plummer.

With seven new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, with the likes of a couple of festive season offerings - one of the family friendly animated kind and the other of the origins of a classic seasonal story that inspires the festive spirit; then an uplifting tale of a young lad with a facial disfiguration; followed by murky goings on in small town Alaska; a prison crime drama of the lengths a man will go to to protect his family on the outside; a true story of a wild fire and the tragic consequences upon those firemen caught up in it, and wrapping up with the story behind the greatest bad film ever made. Remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephiles afterwards here at Odeon Online, and meanwhile, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-