What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 15th February 2018.

The 22nd Annual Satellite Awards were presented by the International Press Academy (IPA) from The InterContinental Hotel at Century City, Los Angeles on Sunday 11th February. This awards ceremony honours outstanding performers, films and television shows and is presented by the IPA - an association of professional entertainment journalists, representing both domestic and foreign markets in print, television, radio, cable and new media outlets. The Satellite Awards specifically recognise achievement in the areas of film, television and new media, and the first such awards ceremony was held in January 1997.

In the main category of film achievement, the winners and grinners announced earlier this week were :
* Best Film : 'God's Own Country' and 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri'.
* Best Animated Film : 'Coco'.
* Best Foreign Language Film : 'In the Fade' (Germany)
* Best Director : Jordan Peele for 'Get Out'.
* Best Actor : Gary Oldman for 'Darkest Hour' and Harry Dean Stanton for 'Lucky'.
* Best Actress : Sally Hawkins for 'The Shape of Water' and Diane Kruger for 'In the Fade'.
* Best Supporting Actor : Sam Rockwell for 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri'
* Best Supporting Actress : Lois Smith for 'Marjorie Prime'.
* Best Original Screenplay : 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' by Martin McDonagh.
* Best Adapted Screenplay : 'The Disaster Artist' by Michael H. Weber and Scott Neustadter.
* Best Cinematography : Roger Deakins for 'Blade Runner 2049'.
* Best Visual Effects : 'Blade Runner 2049'.
* Best Art Direction and Production Design : 'The Shape of Water'.
* Best Costume Design : Mark Bridges for 'Phantom Thread'.

 Special Achievement Awards were also presented to the following :
* Auteur Award (for singular vision and unique artistic control over the elements of production) to Greta Gerwig.
* Humanitarian Award (for making a difference in the lives of those in the artistic community and beyond) to Stephen Chbosky.
* Mary Pickford Award (for outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry) to Dabney Coleman,
* Nikola Tesla Award (for visionary achievement in filmmaking technology) to Robert Legato.
* Best First Feature : John Carroll Lynch for 'Lucky'.

This week then we kick off with the eighteenth film in a comic book cinematic universe giving rise to a whole new African based Superhero in his first dedicated big screen outing that has already won much praise from Critics; before moving onto another critically acclaimed offering of a coming of age story and a year in the life of a high schooler in her last year and the trials and tribulations faced in the twelve months leading up to her 18th birthday; before closing out the week with a jilted wife, a cheating husband, a sympathetic sister and her energetic friends and the new lease on life she ultimately discovers where she least expected it.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the three new 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 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 in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon experience during the week ahead.

'BLACK PANTHER' (Rated M) - and so Marvel Studios unleash another Superhero into our movie going world in this stand alone origin offering of 'Black Panther' (aka King T'Challa of the fictional African nation of Wakanda). The character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby first appeared in the comic book 'Fantastic Four #52' in 1966 and depicts T'Challa as the King and protector of Wakanda. Along with possessing enhanced abilities achieved through ancient Wakandan ritual, T'Challa also relies on his genius intellect, rigorous physical training, martial arts skills, access to cutting edge technologies and accumulated wealth to ward off his enemies. Back in 1992 Wesley Snipes first muted his desire to work on a Black Panther film, and over the following ten years the project was further developed but eventually came to nothing. Then in 2005 Marvel announced that Black Panther was one of ten characters from its portfolio that would be developed as part of its Cinematic Universe, and in 2011 a Scriptwriter was hired and in 2014 the project was greenlit. Chadwick Boseman was cast in the role of T'Challa and made his first appearance in 2016's 'Captain America : Civil War' in which his character sides with Iron Man/Tony Stark. And so here we have this eighteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Directed and Co-Written by Ryan Coogler for US$200M. The film Premiered in the US at the end of January and goes on general release around the world this week. The film has received widespread critical acclaim, noting especially the Direction, casting, action sequences, costume design and, in a first for Marvel starring a predominantly black cast.

Following the events of 'Captain America : Civil War' T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns now as the new King of Wakanda following the death of his father and former King, T'Chaka at the hands of Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) a South African black market arms dealer, smuggler and all round gangster. Two enemies conspire against T'Challa to bring down his kingdom - Erik 'Killmonger' Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) - a Wakandan exile who became an American black-ops soldier who now seeks to overthrow T'Challa and who is in cahoots with Ulysses Klaue. T'Challa, as Black Panther, joins forces with CIA Agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) and his own Dora Milaje - Wakanda's own elite team of all female special forces, to prevent a potential global conflict. Also starring Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and naturally a cameo by Stan Lee.

'LADY BIRD' (Rated MA15+) - this highly praised and critically acclaimed film is Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig in her first solo Directorial outing. Costing US$10M to make, the film received its World Premier at last September's Telluride Film Festival, and a week later received  a standing ovation when it screened at TIFF. Going on general release in the US in early November, the film has so far taken US$45M at the Box Office, and now goes on wide release in Australia and the UK this week. The film has so far garnered 83 award wins and a further 185 nominations including the pending Academy Awards for which it is up for five including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress; and three BAFTA's being Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. It won two Golden Globes, and was nominated for another two, and also gained three SAG Award nods and five International AACTA's nominations. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, the film tells the coming of age story of Christine 'Lady Bird' McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) who is studying in her last year at High School. She lives with her parents Marion and Larry (Laurie Metcalfe and Tracy Letts respectively) in a relationship that is somewhat strained, as well as her adopted brother and his girlfriend. Navigating a turbulent relationship with her mother, applying to out of State Universities, losing her virginity, learning to drive, the break up of her parents marriage, the High School Prom and turning eighteen all combine to create an eventful, full and poignant year for Lady Bird. Also starring Lucas Hedges, Timothee Chalamet and Odeya Rush.

'FINDING YOUR FEET' (Rated M) - Directed by Richard Loncraine, this British feel good romantic comedy drama offering opened the Torino Film Festival back in November last year, and was promoted at the American Film Market that same month. This week 'Finding Your Feet' goes on release in Australia, ahead of its general release in the UK next week and the USA the week after. Telling the story of conservative and well to do Sandra Abbott (Imelda Staunton) who discovers that Mike (John Sessions) her husband of forty years has been carrying on behind her back with her best friend Pamela (Josie Lawrence). Sandra seeks safe haven and a chance to lick her wounds in London with her estranged, older sister Bif (Celia Imrie). Sandra feels like a real outsider compared to her outspoken, outgoing, serial dating, free spirited sister who lives on an inner-city council estate . . . a far cry from the comfort she has been used to. But different is just what the Doctor ordered for Sandra and she reluctantly lets Bif drag her along to a community dance class where she meets her sister's friends, Charlie (a slimmed down Timothy Spall), Ted (David Hayman) and Jackie (Joanna Lumley). This colourful group of defiant and energetic seniors start to show Sandra that retirement is only the beginning, and that divorce might just offer a whole new lease of life, and love.

With three new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, 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-