What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 25th February 2021.

The 23rd British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) 2020 were held on Thursday 18th February 2021 to recognise the best in British innovative and creative independent cinema and filmmaking talent from the United Kingdom. Each year, the BIFA voters view the 300+ entered films. After a rigorous discussion-based selection process the long list and nominations are decided by confidential vote. The winners in most categories are decided by independent juries, newly appointed each year and not involved in the nominations process. These juries, comprised of leading professionals and talent from the British film industry, meet to discuss the nominated films and the winners are decided by secret ballot. This years awards were hosted by Actor Tom Felton.

This years winners and grinners, are as given below :-

Best British Independent Film

* Awarded to 'ROCKS', Directed by Sarah Gavron, beating out 'Calm with Horses', 'His House', 'Saint Maud' and 'The Father'.

Best International Independent Film

* Awarded to 'NOMADLAND', Directed by Chloe Zhao, beating out 'Babyteeth', 'Les Miserables', 'Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always' and 'Notturno'. 

Best Documentary

* Awarded to 'THE REASON I JUMP', Directed by Jerry Rothwell, beating out 'The Australian Dream', 'Being a Human', 'Rising Phoenix' and 'White Riot'.

The Discovery Award

* Awarded to 'PERFECT 10', Directed by Eva Riley, beating out 'Justine', 'Looted', 'One Man and His Shoes' and 'Rose : A Love Story'.

Best Director

* Awarded to Remi Weekes for 'HIS HOUSE'.

The Douglas Hickox Award for Best Debut Director

* Awarded to Rose Glass for 'SAINT MAUD'.

Best Actor

* Awarded to Anthony Hopkins for 'THE FATHER'.

Best Actress

* Awarded to Wunmi Mosaku for 'HIS HOUSE'.

Best Supporting Actor

* Awarded to D’angelou Osei Kissiedu for 'ROCKS'

Best Supporting Actress

* Awarded to Kosar Ali for 'ROCKS'.

Most Promising Newcomer

* Awarded to Kosar Ali for 'ROCKS'.

Breakthrough Producer

* Awarded to Irene Gurtubai for 'LIMBO'.

Best Screenplay

* Awarded to Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton for 'THE FATHER'.

Best Debut Screenwriter

* Awarded to Riz Ahmed for 'MOGUL MOWGLI'.

Best Cinematography

* Awarded to Ben Fordesman for 'SAINT MAUD'.

Best Editing

* Awarded to Yorgos Lamprimos for 'THE FATHER'.

Best Casting

* Awarded to Lucy Pardee for 'ROCKS'.

Best Costume Design

* Awarded to Charlotte Walter for 'MISBEHAVIOUR'.

Best Make-Up and Hair Design

* Awarded to Jill Sweeney for 'MISBEHAVIOUR'.

Best Effects

* Awarded to Pedro Sabrosa and Stefano Pepin for 'HIS HOUSE'.

Best Production Design

* Awarded to Jacqueline Abrahams for 'HIS HOUSE'.

Best Music

* Awarded to Paul Corley for 'MOGUL MOWGLI'.

Best Sound

* Awarded to Nick Ryan, Ben Baird and Sara de Oliveira Lima for 'THE REASON I JUMP'.

For the full low-down on all the awards recipients, the nominees and a whole lot more about the British Independent Film Awards, you can visit the official website at : https://www.bifa.film/

This week we have five latest release new films coming to an Odeon near you, kicking off with a story about a terminally ill wife and mother who arranges to bring her family together for one last time before she dies. Next up is a Sci-Fi action thriller about a retired military operative who finds himself in a never-ending time loop on the day of his death, and this is followed up with the story of two unnamed men who were crucified alongside Jesus. And closing out the week we have two biographical documentaries from the music scene - the first sees legendary drummer, Mick Fleetwood enlist an all-star cast for a one-of-a-kind concert honouring the early years of Fleetwood Mac and its founder, Peter Green, which was held on 25th February 2020 at the London, Palladium; and the second concerns teenage singer-songwriter Billie Eilish rise to stardom as she navigates life on the road, on stage, and at home with her family.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the five latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or 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.

'BLACKBIRD' (Rated M) - is an American drama film Directed by Roger Michell whose previous film making outings include 'Notting Hill' in 1999, 'Changing Lanes' in 2002, 'Morning Glory' in 2010, 'Hyde Park on Hudson' in 2012, 'My Cousin Rachel' in 2017, the documentary 'Tea with the Dames' in 2018, then this film in 2019, 'The Duke' in 2020 and the documentary 'Elizabeth' currently in post-production. This film is a remake of the 2014 Danish film 'Silent Heart' Directed by Bille August, and saw its World Premier screening at TIFF back in September 2019 before its release in the US one year later in September 2020 and now its release in Australia from this week. The film has so far grossed US$809K and has garnered mixed or average Reviews. 

Here Lily (Susan Sarandon) and Paul (Sam Neill) summon their loved ones to their beach house for one final gathering before Lily decides to end her long battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - a nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function, for which there is no cure currently). The couple plan a loving weekend complete with holiday traditions, but the mood becomes strained when unresolved issues surface between Lily and her daughters Jennifer (Kate Winslet) and Anna (Mia Wasikowska). Also starring Lindsay Duncan, Rainn Wilson and Bex Taylor-Klaus. 

'BOSS LEVEL' (Rated MA15+) - is an American Sci-Fi actioner Directed, Co-Produced and Co-Written for the screen by Joe Carnahan whose previous film making credits take in 'Narc', 'Smokin' Aces', 'The A-Team', 'The Grey' and the straight to video offering 'The Stretch' most recently. This film has been in gestation since 2012 when Carnahan first announced he was working on the film. Then fast forward six years and the shoot finally went into production in early 2018 with its scheduled release being August 2019 which it subsequently missed and in November US distribution rights were acquired by Hulu, with a US release date now set for early March and this week in Australia. Here former special forces agent Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo), is trapped in a time loop that constantly repeats the day of his murder. Pulver manages to uncover clues about a secret government project that could unlock the mystery behind his death but must find Colonel Clive Ventor (Mel Gibson), the head of the government program, while outrunning assassins determined to keep him from the truth, and save his wife Jemma Wells (Naomi Watts) in the process. Also starring Michelle Yeoh and Ken Jeong. The film cost US$45M to produce.

'THE PENITENT THIEF' (Rated M) - Directed, Co-Produced and starring Lucas Miles in his feature film debut this is the story of the two unnamed men who were crucified alongside Jesus and how they came to be beside him on the cross that fateful day. Beginning with the journey of the Magi and their chance meeting with young Dismas (Jay Giannone) and his brother Jotham (Kyle Roark) at the manger in Bethlehem, sometime after, the young brothers will suffer an unspeakable tragedy that results in them being taken in by a group of thieves with a leaning towards acts of violence. There, they meet Gestas (Joey Folsom), another young man who will also share in their fate. Together, as they make their way to the cross, they will seek to out manoeuvre their destiny, but before doing so they must survive a ruthless Roman centurion who threatens to unleash a terrible revenge on them. Along the way, they frequently cross paths with Jesus and other influential figures, but they will soon find that there is no escape from the brutal end that awaits them all on Calvary. Also starring Kevin Sorbo, James Russo, Major Dodge, James Logan and Skeeta Jenkins.

'MICK FLEETWOOD & FRIENDS' (Rated CTC) - Mick Fleetwood has assembled a stellar cast of musicians to celebrate the music that established Fleetwood Mac as one of the biggest bands in the world – the music of Peter Green. With a line-up featuring Neil Finn (Crowded House), Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), John Mayall, Christine McVie & Jeremy Spencer (Fleetwood Mac), Zak Starkey, Pete Townshend (The Who), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) and Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones), this once-in-a-lifetime concert event captured at The London Palladium on 25th February 2020 is an absolute must-see for any music fan out there. Mick Fleetwood commented that 'the concert is a celebration of those early blues days where we all began, and it’s important to recognise the profound impact Peter and the early Fleetwood Mac had on the world of music'. Peter Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together with Fleetwood Mac in 1998. Rolling Stone magazine rates Peter as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time. Peter Green died at the age of 73 on 25th July 2020. 

'BILLIE EILISH : THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY' (Rated M) - this true coming-of-age documentary film is Directed by American film maker and documentarian R.J. Cutler whose previous Directorial outings include 'The September Issue', 'If I Stay' and 'Belushi' most recently in 2020. Here he charts the story of the singer and songwriter Billie Eilish and her rise to global superstardom. Offering a deeply intimate look at this extraordinary teenager’s journey, at just seventeen years of age, navigating life on the road, on stage, and at home with her family, while writing, recording and releasing her debut album 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?' The film is released in selected cinemas in the US and Australia from this week and also on Apple TV+ and Neon.

With five 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-