What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st November 2018.

In October the world bid a fond farewell to a number of stars of the silver screen and the small screen. In brief, shown below, is my passing tribute to those stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and in particular the world of film and television. May you all Rest In Peace, and thanks for the memories . . . . Scott Wilson, Arnold Kopelson, James Karen, Audrey Wells and Danny Leiner.

* James Karen - Born 28th November 1923, died 23rd October 2018, aged 94. Born Jacob Karnofsky, he was an American Actor of stage, television and films who amassed 204 acting credits to his name and remained active in the industry across seven decades right up to the time of his death where he was filming and lending his voice talents to a new animated television series titled 'Sticky Fingers'. His other more noteworthy film roles over the years included the likes of the Arnold Schwarzenegger debut of 1970 'Hercules in New York', and then 'All the President's Men', 'Capricorn One', 'The China Syndrome', 'The Jazz Singer', 'Poltergeist', 'Jagged Edge', 'Wall Street', 'Return of the Living Dead : Part II', 'Invaders from Mars', 'Piranha', 'Nixon', 'Up Close & Personal', 'Behind Enemy Lines', 'Apt Pupil', 'Any Given Sunday', 'Thirteen Days', 'Mulholland Drive' and 'The Pursuit of Happyness'. In between time there were also countless guest appearances on television shows including 'Starsky & Hutch', 'The Waltons', 'The Streets of San Francisco', 'The Rockford Files', 'Dallas', 'Dynasty', 'Cheers', 'Beverly Hills, 90210', 'The Practice' and 'First Monday' to name but a  few. In 1998 Karen was awarded a Life Career Award by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA.

* Danny Leiner - Born 13th May 1961, died 18th October 2018, aged 57. An American Director, Producer and Writer, who had thirty-one Directing credits to his name, six as Producer and two as Writer. He feature film debut came in 1996 with the comedy 'Layin' Low', which he followed up with 'Dude, Where's My Car' in 2000, 'Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle' in 2004, 'The Great New Wonderful' in 2005 amongst others. In between time he Directed television episodes of the likes of 'Freaks and Geeks', 'Party of Five', 'Gilmore Girls', 'Arrested Development', 'The Sopranos', 'The Office', 'Backwash' and most recently 'Selfie'.

 * Arnold Kopelson - Born 14th February 1935, died 8th October 2018, aged 83. An American Film and Television Producer, Kopelson during his career Produced thirty-one movies that have collectively accounted for seventeen Academy Award nominations and over US$3B in worldwide cinema ticket sales. He was bestowed with an Academy Award for Best Picture, a Golden Globe Award, and an Independent Spirit Award, all for his production of 'Platoon' in 1986, and also received a Best Picture Academy Award nomination for his production of 'The Fugitive' in 1993. His other notable film Producer credits include 'Porky's', 'Out for Justice', 'Falling Down', 'Outbreak', 'Se7en', 'Eraser', 'Murder at 1600', 'The Devil's Advocate', 'U.S. Marshalls', 'A Perfect Murder', 'Don't Say a Word' and 'Twisted'. He also lectured over the years on filmmaking at Harvard Business School, American Film Institute, New York Law School, the Writers Guild of America, University of Southern California, and University of California at Los Angeles, among others, and also authored several articles about film financing.

* Scott Wilson - Born William Delano Wilson on 29th March 1942, and died 6th October 2018, aged 76. With a career as a film and television Actor spanning six decades he amassed eighty-one Acting credits over those years and was the recipient of three award wins and another six nominations including a Golden Globe nod as Best Supporting Actor in the 1980 film 'The Ninth Configuration'. He scored his big screen role in 1967's 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'In Cold Blood' later that same year. Other notable film appearances over the years included 'The Gypsy Moths', 'The Great Gatsby', 'The Right Stuff', 'The Aviator', 'Johnny Handsome', 'The Exorcist III', 'Young Guns II', 'Judge Dredd', 'Dead Man Walking', 'G.I.Jane', 'The Way of the Gun', 'Pearl Harbour', 'Monster', 'The Last Samurai', 'The Heartbreak Kid', 'Radio Free Albemuth' and most recently 'Hostiles'. In between time there were numerous television appearances, perhaps the most noteworthy being as Hershel Green in thirty-two episodes of 'The Walking Dead'.

* Audrey Wells - Born 29th April 1960, died 4th October 2018, aged 58. An American Screenwriter, Director and Producer who wrote a number of successful Screenplays and Directed two films for which she had also created the script. Her works were mostly of the comedies and/or romantic film genre. Her credits take in two as Producer ('The Truth About Cats & Dogs' from 1996 and 'Under the Tuscan Sun' from 2003), two as Director ('Guinevere' from 1999 and 'Under the Tuscan Sun') and ten as Writer (including the three already mentioned, plus 'George of the Jungle', 'The Kid', 'Shall We Dance', 'The Game Plan', 'A Dog's Purpose' and most recently 'The Hate U Give'.

This week, we give you six new excuses to get out amongst the movie going public to your local multiplex or independent theatre, kicking off with a biographical offering about an iconic British rock band of the '70's and '80's and its flamboyant front man that helped define a generation, and whose influence is still being felt today. We then turn to an action thriller that sees the crew of one of Uncle Sam's submarines pitch up against the Ruskies to prevent WWIII from occurring; before a change of pace that takes us to small town Montana in the '60's and the impact that marital challenges has on the young teenage son of the couple facing those struggles. Next we have another documentary from this famed and often controversial Director, Writer and Producer this time examining the impact on the American people of the Trump administration; and then there is a South Korean offering of a historical zombie actioner nature; before wrapping up the week with a little known animated story of how three of our beloved fairytale Princesses come to be hooked up with same Prince Charming.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new 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 most welcome 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 outing during the coming week.

'BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY' (Rated M) - in a different turn here for film and television Director, Producer and Writer Bryan Singer, here he Directs this biographical offering about the British rock band 'Queen', and in particular its front man, showman, and lead singer Freddie Mercury. Bryan Singer's previous Directorial outings take in the likes of 'The Usual Suspects', 'Apt Pupil', 'X-Men', 'X2', 'Superman Returns', 'Valkyrie', 'X-Men : Days of Future Past' and more recently 'X-Men : Apocalypse'. The film was first announced back in 2010 by Brian May in a BBC interview. Since then various Directors and lead Actors have come and gone including Dexter Fletcher to Direct and Sasha Baron-Cohen and Ben Whishaw to portray Freddie Mercury. Dexter Fletcher went on to conclude filming as Director after Bryan Singer was fired for being persona non grata and for clashes with the cast and crew, although Singer gets the full credit as Director and Fletcher as Executive Producer. The film saw its World Premier screening in London on 23rd October, went on general release in the UK the next day, and is release here in Australia and the US this week. The film cost US$52M to Produce and has so far grossed US$13M.

The film charts the meteoric rise of Queen through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unrivalled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie (Rami Malek), surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of a solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie successfully reunites with his bandmates Brian May (Gwilym Lee), Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy) and John Deacon (Jospeh Mazzello) just in time for Live Aid in July 1985. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. The film also stars Aiden Gillen, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers and various others portraying well knows singers and musicians of the era. If, like me, you grew up in the era of Queen and sat glued to your TV for every minute of Live Aid back in '85, then this is surely a must see film.

'HUNTER KILLER' (Rated MA15+) - this American action thriller is Directed by Donovan Marsh who has also been known to Write, Edit and Produce some of his previous big and small screen works. Here he has based this film on the 2012 novel 'Firing Point' by George Wallace and Don Keith, and from the looks of his back catalogue this is his first big screen Hollywood outing with big named stars at his disposal. Set largely in the murky depths deep under the Arctic Ocean, American submarine Captain Joe Glass (Gerard Butler) is on the hunt for a U.S. sub in distress when he discovers a secret Russian coup is being planned which potentially threatens to destabilise the order of things globally. With crew and country on the line, Captain Glass must now assemble an elite group of Navy SEALs to sneak though enemy waters and rescue the kidnapped Russian President, who has been captured by his own Defence Minister, to stop WWIII from happening. Also starring Gary Oldman, Toby Stephens, Common, David Gyasi and Michael Nyqvist in one of his last film roles having passed away in June last year. The film was released last week in the US, cost US$40M to bring to the big screen, has is far grossed US$12M and has received generally mixed Reviews.

'WILDLIFE' (Rated M) - this highly acclaimed American drama film is Directed and Co-Written by Paul Dano in his Directorial debut, and is based on the 1990 novel of the same name written by Richard Ford. Here, fourteen year old Joe (Ed Oxenbould) is the only child of Jeanette, a housewife and mother, and Jerry Brinson, a golfing professional and father (Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal respectively) living in small town Montana in the '60's. An uncontrolled forest fire rages out of control close to the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job, and his sense of being, he elects to join the fire fighting crew, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves. Suddenly forced very quickly to grow up and accept some responsibility, Joe witnesses his mother's struggle as she tries to keep her head above water, and she falls for another man in her husbands absence, the fallout of which sends the already struggling family unit to breaking point. The film Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year, went on general release in the US in mid-October and has been universally acclaimed - in particular for Paul Dano's fine Directing efforts and also for Carey Mulligan's and Jake Gyllenhaal's strong performances.

'FAHRENHEIT 11/9' (Rated M) - here noted Documentarian Michael Moore is back at it again with all verve, vigour and vim that make his films so compelling. Here once more he Directs, Co-Produces, Writes and Narrates his way through his chosen journey this time, having predicted that Donald Trump would become the 45th President of the United States. Travelling across the country, Moore interviews the American public to get a feel for the social, economic and political impact of Trump's Presidency so far. Moore also takes a deep dive into the media, the Electoral College, the government agenda and his hometown of Flint, Michigan. This documentary explores two principle questions - how the US progressed to the Trump Presidency? and how to 'get out' of the era of the Trump administration? The title of the film is derived from the date when Trump's 2016 Presidential win was announced - the 9th November. The film Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in August this year, went on general release in the US in late September, has so far recovered US$5M from its US$6M production budget, and has received generally favourable Reviews.

'RAMPANT' (Rated MA15+) - out on limited release at selected cinemas is this South Korean historical action zombie offering from Director Kim Sung-hoon. The film tells the story of our hero, Yi Chung (Hyun Bin) who is rather partial to a bit of boozing, gambling and womanising and who in his spare time battles against 'Night Demons' to save the Joseon peoples and their nation. Yi Chung is the son of the King, and is renowned as the greatest martial artist in the world and is particular adept with a sword. Although he was handed over to the Qing Empire as a political prisoner, he returns home after ten years when his brother, the Crown Prince Yi Young (Kim Tae-woo), calls upon him after all these years to help thwart the evil bloodthirsty Night Demons that plague the country by night once and for all. Also starring Hyun Bin, Jang Dong-gun and Lee Sun-bin in other pivotal roles.

'CHARMING' (Rated G) - this animated musical comedy film is Directed and Written by Ross Venokur and was released in Spain back in April this year, cost US$20M to make and has so far grossed US$5M although no US release date has yet been confirmed. Telling the unknown, previously top secret, highly confidential and to some most upsetting story of Snow White (Avril Lavigne), Cinderella (Ashley Tisdale) and Sleeping Beauty (G.E.M.) who discover that they are all engaged to the same Prince Charming (Wilmer Valderrama). Shock horror, how could this be? After a Fairy Godmother (John Cleese) spills a large amount of charm dust on Charming, the Prince, led by the Lenore (Demo Lovato), a woman who is incapable of love, must embark on an epic journey of adventure and discovery to find his one truest of all loves. Also starring the voice talents of Sia and Steve Aoki.

With six 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 cinephile friends 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-