What's new in Odeon's this week : Saturday 1st January 2022.

As 2021 draws to a close and many of us say good riddance to a year of mask wearing, social distancing, QR code scanning, lockdowns, restrictions and ever escalating COVID-19 case numbers as first the Delta variant ripped through the world and now the new Omicron variant continues its path of mayhem, it's a time of reflection on the cinematic year that was, and the hope for generally better times ahead in the new year. This year I have Reviewed fifty-eight movies, Previewed 228 feature films and documentaries and paid my respects to 262 legends of both the small screen and the big screen who have passed away in 2021. All that remains for me to say is the very best to you for a very Happy New Year that is safe, healthy and prosperous, and wherever you are in the world, get out and watch a movie at your local multiplex or local independent movie theatre and support all those working tirelessly in front and behind the camera who like so many other trades and industries around the world, continue to do it tough. Thanks for your support in 2021 and I look forward to bringing you more of the same content in the year ahead. 

To tempt you out to your local Odeon on a balmy Summer's evening and in the first week of 2022, we have three new cinematic offerings, kicking off with a biographical offering about the blossoming romance between a young, attractive Italian woman working as an office manager within her father's small trucking firm and the heir to a 50% stake in a renowned Italian fashion house that transforms into a fight for control of that famed fashion brand. This is followed by a reboot of two classic films from the 1980's that serves as a direct sequel set 32 years after the second film, in which a group of youngsters discover their connection to the grandfathers secret legacy and the group of ghost busting heroes he was once part of. And we close out the week with an adventure comedy film about how a young girl's love for a tiny puppy makes the dog grow to an enormous size.

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

'HOUSE OF GUCCI' (Rated MA15+) - is an American biographical crime drama film Directed by Ridley Scott in his second film release this year following 'The Last Duel' released in Australia at the end of October. This film is based on the 2001 book 'The House of Gucci : A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed' by Sara Gay Forden. The World Premiere screening of 'House of Gucci' was held at London's Leicester Square in early November 2021 and was theatrically released in the US in late November 2021. The film has received mixed reviews from critics, and it has so far grossed US$112M from a production budget of US$75M.

The film is inspired by the shocking true story of the family behind the Italian fashion empire, Gucci. When Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), an outsider from humble beginnings, marries Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately . . . murder. Also starring Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci (son of Aldo Gucci), Jeremy Irons as Rodolfo Gucci (father of Maurizio), Al Pacino as Aldo Gucci (uncle to Maurizio), Salma Hayek as Giuseppina 'Pina' Auriemma (a psychic), and Jack Huston as Domenico De Sole (assistant to Maurizio). 

'GHOSTBUSTERS : AFTERLIFE' (Rated PG) - this American supernatural comedy film is Directed and Co-Written by Jason Reitman whose previous film making credits include his debut 'Thank You for Smoking' in 2005, 'Juno' in 2007, 'Up in the Air' in 2009, 'Labour Day' in 2013, 'Tully' in 2018 and 'The Front Runner' too that same year. This film serves as the sequel to 1984's 'Ghostbusters' and 1989's 'Ghostbusters II' both directed by Reitman's father Ivan, and the fourth film in the Ghostbusters franchise after the female-driven reboot Directed by Paul Feig in 2016. 'Ghostbusters : Afterlife' was screened unannounced on 23rd August 2021, during the 2021 CinemaCon event in Las Vegas. It was released in the US in mid-November 2021, after being delayed four times from an original July 2020 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film has garnered mixed or average Reviews and has so far grossed US$178M off the back of a US$75M production budget. Set thirty-two years after 'Ghostbusters II', a single mother Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) and her two children Trevor and Phoebe (Finn Wolfhard and Mackenna Grace respectively) move to a small town in Oklahoma, where they discover their connection to the Ghostbusters and their grandfather's secret legacy. Also starring Paul Rudd, Bokeem Woodbine, J.K. Simmons with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver reprising the roles from the earlier films. 

'CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG' (Rated PG) - is an American adventure comedy film Directed by Walt Becker whose previous Directorial offerings include 'Van Wilder' in 2002, 'Wild Hogs' in 2007, 'Old Dogs' in 2009 and 'Alvin and the Chipmunks : The Road Chip' in 2015. This film is based on the children's book series of the same name by Norman Bridwell. The film was screened unannounced on 26th August 2021, during the CinemaCon event in Los Angeles. It was initially scheduled to premiere at the September 2021 Toronto International Film Festival to be followed by a cinema release in the US in mid-September after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was ultimately pulled from the festival and was later released theatrically and on Paramount+ on 10th November 2021 in the US. When Emily Elizabeth Howard (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer Mr. Bridwell (John Cleese) who gives her a little red puppy, she never anticipated waking up to find a giant, ten feet tall hound in her small New York City apartment. With her single mother away on business, Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey Howard (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that takes a bite out of the Big Apple. It has received mixed reviews from critics, having grossed US$74M on a US$64M budget. A sequel is in development.

With just 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 cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-