What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 21st March 2019.

With the Film Festival circuit now well and truly underway, following the likes of the 'Sundance Film Festival' which took place between 24th January and 3rd February, the '69th Berlin International Film Festival' which took place between 7th and 17th February, we now have the 33rd annual 'South By Southwest' (abbreviated to 'SXSW') a yearly conglomerate of film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences that takes place in mid-March in Austin, Texas, United States. It began in 1987, and has continued to grow in both scope and size every year, this year taking place between 8th and 17th March. The official website, states that 'for nine days, creatives of all stripes gather for the acclaimed SXSW Film Festival program to celebrate raw innovation and emerging talent from both behind and in front of the camera'.

This years line up includes ten World Premiers, in Narrative Feature Competition being : 'Alice' (France), 'Extra Ordinary' (Ireland), 'Go Back to China' (China, USA), 'Mickey and the Bear' (USA), 'Ms. White Light' (USA), 'Pig Hag' (USA), 'Porno' (USA), 'Saint Frances' (USA), 'South Mountain' (USA), and 'Yes God Yes' (USA).








In the Headliners section, big names and big talent grace red carpet Premiers and Gala Screenings with major and rising names from the world of cinema. Those films featured here are : 'The Beach Bum' (also getting its World Premier) with Matthew McConaughey; 'Booksmart' (World Premier) featuring Kaitlyn Dever; 'The Curse of La Llorona' (World Premier) with Linda Cardellini; 'Good Boys' (World Premier) with Jacob Tremblay; 'The Highwaymen' (World Premier) with Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson; 'Long Shot' (World Premier) with Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron; 'Pet Sematary' with Jason Clarke; 'Stuber (Work in Progress)' with Dave Bautista and 'Us' with Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke.

Also receiving their World Premier screening in the Narrative Spotlights section are included : 'Adopt a Highway' with Ethan Hawke; 'The Art of Self-Defence' with Jesse Eisenberg; 'The Day Shall Come' with Anna Kendrick; 'I'm Just F*cking With You' with Keir O'Donnell; 'The Peanut Butter Falcon' with Shia LaBeouf; 'Run This Town' with Damian Lewis; 'Villains' with Bill Skarsgard and 'The Wall of Mexico' with Jackson Rathbone.

You can get the whole line-up of last weeks 'SXSW' festival, and more, by visiting the website at : https://www.sxsw.com/festivals/film/

This week there are four latest release movies coming to your local Odeon. We launch with a gritty crime drama starring an oft awarded Actress in an acclaimed role the likes of which we have never seen her portray before, as a downtrodden LAPD cop living on the edge and with a past, and she pulls it off with conviction. We then turn to a true story about a family with wrestling in its blood, and how the young daughter rises to stardom on the WWE circuit. Next up is another true true story transplanted from Sweden to England that sees a bunch of hapless middle aged men infiltrate a generally female led sport that takes them to the world championships, and for many of them doubtless a form of redemption too. And the week wraps up with a CGI sequel featuring an impressive voice cast and many characters you have grown up with all assembled brick by brick for your family entertainment pleasure.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four 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 week ahead.

'DESTROYER' (Rated MA15+) - Nicole Kidman here plays 110% against type in a much talked about role the likes of which we have never seen her play before, and, she delivers in spades. Directed by American film and television Director Karyn Kusama who's previous film making credits take in 2000's highly acclaimed debut 'Girlfight' and thereafter 'Aeon Flux', 'Jennifer's Body' and most recently in 2015 'The Invitation'. 'Destroyer' saw its World Premier screening at the Telluride Film Festival back in late August last year, saw its US release on Christmas Day, and now its gets a go in Australia this week. The film has garnered generally positive Reviews, has so far recouped just over US$2M of its US$9M production budget, and has received two award wins and another twelve nominations from around the circuit including a Golden Globe, a Satellite and an AACTA nod for Best Actress for Kidman.

As a young cop, Erin Bell (Nicole Kidman) went under cover with her former partner Chris (Sebastian Stan) to infiltrate a gang in the California desert with tragic life changing consequences. Bell continues to work as a detective for the Los Angeles Police Department, but feelings of bitterness and remorse leave her down trodden and overtaken by guilt. When Silas (Toby Kebbel) the leader of that gang suddenly re-emerges, Bell embarks on an obsessive quest to find his former associates, bring him to justice one way or another and finally make peace with her tortured past. Also starring Bradley Whitford and Scoot McNairy.

'FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY' (Rated M) - Stephen Merchant here Directs, Dwayne Johnson Executive Produces and stars in this biographical sports comedy drama film based on the 2012 documentary 'The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family' by Director Max Fisher, depicting the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) career of English professional wrestling personality Paige (aka Saraya-Jade Bevis). The film saw its Premier screening at this years Sundance Film Festival, went on release in the US at the end of February, cost US$11M, has so far grossed US$29M and has met with a favourable critical response. Born into a close knit wrestling family, Saraya 'Paige' Knight (Florence Pugh) and her brother Zak (Jack Lowden) are ecstatic when they are granted a once-in-a-lifetime chance to try out for the WWE. But when only Paige earns a spot in the competitive training programme, she must bid farewell to her loved ones and face the new highly contested world alone. Paige's journey forces her to dig deep and ultimately prove to the world that what makes her different is the very thing that can make her a star. Also starring Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Vince Vaughn, Stephen Merchant and Dwayne Johnson.

'SWIMMING WITH MEN' (Rated M) - this British comedy offering is Directed by Oilver Parker whose previous credits include 'Othello', 'An Ideal Husband', 'The Importance of Being Earnest', 'St. Trinian's' and its sequel 'The Legend of Fritton's Gold', 'Dorian Grey', 'Johnny English Reborn' and 'Dad's Army' most recently. This film saw its Worldwide Premier at last years Edinburgh International Film Festival and went on general release in the UK in early July last year. Only now does it get a limited release in Australia. Based on the true story of a group of Swedish men who competed in the synchronised swimming world championships which was made into a 2010 documentary by Dylan Williams titled 'Men Who Swim', this film transplants the action to England and tells the story of Accountant Eric Scott (Rob Brydon) who is suffering a mid-life crisis and is trying to win back the heart and mind of his wife Heather (Jane Horrocks). This ultimately sees him finding a new purpose in his life as part of an all-male, middle-aged, amateur synchronised swimming team. Together they make a bid to compete at the unofficial Male Sync-Swimming World Championships in Milan, and doubtless take a shot at personal redemption en route. Also starring Rupert Graves, Daniel Mays, Thomas Turgoose, Jim Carter, Charlotte Riley and Adeel Akhtar.

'THE LEGO MOVIE 2 : THE SECOND PART' (Rated PG) - here we have the fourth instalment in the 'Lego Movie' franchise following 2014's 'The Lego Movie', and 2017's 'The Lego Batman Movie' and 'The Lego Ninjago Movie'. Those first three films grossed at the global Box Office the sum total of US$904M off the back of a combined production budget of US$215M. This film is a direct sequel to that earlier 2014 movie and is Directed by Mike Mitchell with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (who both wrote and Directed the first film) taking Producer, Story and Screenwriter credits this time around. Here this computer animated family adventure comedy follows on from the events of the first film, in as much as the citizens of Bricksburg face a dangerous new threat when LEGO DUPLO space invaders start to wreak havoc on everything that stands in their path. The battle to defeat the enemy and restore harmony to the LEGO universe takes Emmet (voiced by Christ Pratt), Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett) and the rest of their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds that puts their courage and their creativity to the test. Also starring the voice talents of an impressive ensemble cast that takes in Tiffany Haddish, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Maya Rudolph, Will Ferrell, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Jason Mamoa, Cobie Smulders, Richard Ayoade, Ralph Fiennes, Will Forte and Bruce Willis. The film cost US$99M to bring to the big screen and has so far recouped US$172M since its release Stateside in early February, and has received generally positive Reviews.

With four new release movies 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-