What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 23rd June 2022.

The 69th Sydney Film Festival came to a close on Sunday 19th June after twelve days and nights of showcasing inspiring and entertaining premieres, talks and parties, and the greatest, strangest and most exciting work that cinema has to offer. Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW; the Federal Government through Screen Australia and the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund; and City of Sydney the Festival’s Principal Local Government Partner. Sydney Film Festival also runs the Travelling Film Festival year-round, taking the best of international and Australian cinema to twenty-two regional centres around the country.

Twelve films are selected for the Official Competition, which celebrates 'courageous, audacious and cutting-edge' cinema with an AU$60K cash prize. Sydney Film Festival also presents eight other cash awards over the course of the festival. This years winners and grinners in those categories are :-

The Sydney Film Prize for the Best Film in Official Competition, was awarded to 'Close' from Belgium and Directed by Lukas Dhont. Winner of the Grand Prix Award at Cannes earlier this year, the film tells the story of two thirteen-year-olds Leo and Remi who are best friends. We meet them running happily through vast fields of flowers. They dream of unimaginable wealth, of being stars on YouTube. Remi is an aspiring musician, and Leo is his greatest fan. Theirs is a loving and genuine friendship. And then they start high school. For the very first time, their closeness comes into question as they are teased and taunted by their schoolmates. Gradually a rift develops between the friends, with tragic consequences.

The Documentary Australia Award for Australian Documentary is 'Keep Stepping', Directed by Luke Cornish. On Sydney’s urban fringe, two young women battle for a better life in the underground world of competitive street dance. Patricia, Romanian-born and hanging out for a visa, is a breakdancer. Gabi, of Chilean-Samoan heritage, pops with power. Both dream of escaping the rough hand they’ve been dealt. Will a win at Australia’s biggest dance competition Destructive Steps – in which 60 contestants compete in the preliminary rounds - be their golden ticket? Or will the external pressures of financial hardship and volatile relationships stop them from even reaching the dancefloor?

The Dendy Awards for Best Australian Short Films sponsored by Dendy Cinema's offers two awards - The Dendy Live Action Short Award and the Rouben Mamoulian Award (named after the Director who first presented the award in 1974). The former was presented to 'The Moths Will Eat Them Up' Directed by Luisa Martiri and Tanya Modini, and the latter was awarded Luisa Martiri and Tanya Modini for 'The Moths Will Eat Them Up'. This fourteen minute short film tells the story of a woman’s ordinary train ride home at night which turns into a terrifying game of cat and mouse with a stranger until an unforeseen force is summoned.

The Sustainable Future Award is presented to a narrative or documentary film of any length that deepens our knowledge and awareness of the impact of the global climate emergency. The winner of this award is 'Delikado', Directed by Karl Malakunas. A tourist destination and home to one of the world’s most diverse rainforests, the island of Palawan in the Philippines is a dangerous place for land defenders. Bobby Chan, a local environmental lawyer, leads a group of renegade land protectors who confiscate the chainsaws of illegal loggers. Up for re-election, local Mayor Nieves Rosento is the focus of a dirty campaign supported by land developers and President Rodrigo Duterte. Along with ex-illegal logger Tata, they confront murder and betrayal in their efforts to preserve this precious environment.

For details of the other award winners, and the SFF Audience Awards (announced one week after the close of the festival), plus details of the upcoming SFF Travelling Film Festival, you can visit the official website at : https://www.sff.org.au/

Turning attention back to this weeks upcoming new release movies, of which there are seven, we kick off with a drama biopic of the King of Rock 'n' Roll who rose to fame in the 1950's while maintaining a complex relationship with his Manager. This is followed up by doco chronicling the tumultuous - yet creatively fruitful - period of this British singer and songwriters life and career following the release of his 1987 solo debut, 'Faith', then through the creation and release of his 1990 follow-up 'Listen Without Prejudice, Vol.1'. Next up we have a French drama offering telling the story of the rise and the fall of a young man in Paris who dreamed to be a writer and became a journalist. Then we turn to an American action drama about a burlesque dancer who must go on the run to save a neighbour boy whose life is threatened by her ex-lover. Following on, we have a New Zealand comedy romance film about a suburban couple who make a last ditch attempt to salvage their marriage by going to a new age retreat on a remote island where they hope to reconnect. Up next is the first of two animated features closing out the week, with an origin story of one twelve-year-old's dream to become the world's greatest supervillain, followed by a Russian family action adventure film of a princess who is captured by a robber in the woods, and so she takes it upon herself to turn his world upside down.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the seven latest release new films 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 week ahead.

'ELVIS' (Rated M) - is an Australian and US Co-Produced biographical musical drama film Co-Written for the screen, based on a story, Directed and Co-Produced by Baz Luhrmann whose previous film making credits take in his debut 'Strictly Ballroom' in 1992, 'Romeo + Juliet' in 1996, 'Moulin Rouge!' in 2001, 'Australia' in 2008 and 'The Great Gatsby' in 2013. The film had its World Premier screening at the Cannes Film Festival on 25th May where it received a twelve minute standing ovation. Released in Australia and worldwide this week, it was originally scheduled to be released in early October 2021, before being delayed to early November 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then later to this week. It cost US$85M to produce and has garnered generally positive critical acclaim.

The film chronicles the life and career of singer and actor Elvis Presley, from his early days as a child (played by Chaydon Jay) growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi to becoming a rock and roll star and movie star (played by Austin Butler) in Memphis, Tennessee and his conquering of Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as his complex relationship with his Manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). Also starring Richard Roxburgh, Olivia DeJonge, Luke Bracey, David Wenham, Xavier Samuel, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dacre Montgomery, Kate Mulvany, Josh McConville and Anthony LaPaglia.

'GEORGE MICHAEL : FREEDOM UNCUT' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by George Michael and David Austin this career-spanning documentary marks the final work from the internationally renowned superstar and features incredible, unseen archival and private home footage, taken before his untimely death at the age of 53 on Christmas Day 2016. Giving the audience a first-person account of this dramatic period in his life from his debut solo album 'Faith' and following the making of his acclaimed, best-selling album 'Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1' it reveals how he became one of the most influential recording artists of all time, who alone fought a corner for all artists by challenging the standard recording contract and helped to rewrite the rules of the music industry. Featuring interviews with some of Michaels’ most famous friends and music legends, including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ricky Gervais, Nile Rogers, Mark Ronson, Liam Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Jean Paul Gaultier, James Corden and Tony Bennett. This documentary is narrated by the singer, who was heavily involved in the making of the film that serves as his final work, and why he stepped out of the limelight and turned his back on celebrity.

'LOST ILLUSIONS' (Rated M) - is a French drama film Co-Written and Directed by Xavier Giannoli whose previous feature film making credits include his debut in 2003 with 'Eager Bodies' then 'When I Was a Singer', 'In the Beginning', 'Superstar', 'Marguerite' and 'The Apparition' in 2018. This film is based on the serial novel of the same name written by Honore de Balzac between 1837 and 1843, and saw its World Premier showcasing at the Venice Film Festival back in September last year, before its release in its native France towards the back end of October. Costing US$17.5M to produce the film has so far taken US$8M and has garnered largely positive Reviews. In 1821, Lucien de Rubempre (Benjamin Voisin) arrives in Paris as a sensitive, and idealistic young poet determined to write a reputation-making novel. Instead, he finds himself swept into journalism, whose influence and reach is booming with the help of the printing press, recently having become widely available. Under the mentorship of cynical editor Etienne Lousteau (Vincent Lacoste), Lucien agrees to write glowing theatre reviews for bribes, achieving material success at the expense of his conscience. Also starring Xavier Dolan, Gerard Depardieu and Cecile de France. 

'NINE BULLETS' (Rated MA15+) - this American action drama film is Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Gigi Gaston whose prior feature film credits take in her debut in 2001 with 'Rip It Off', then 'The Nanny Murders' in 2020, and 'Fatal Memory' this year, before the release of this film. Here then, a former burlesque dancer turned author named Gypsy (Lena Headey) discovers a second chance at life and redemption when she risks everything to rescue her young neighbour Sam (Dean Scott Vazquez) after he witnesses his parents' murder. Now on the run from the local crime boss Jack (Sam Worthington), who happens to be her longtime ex, she makes a desperate attempt to get the boy to safety. Also starring Cam Gigandet and Barbara Hershey, the film has garnered less than favourable press. 

'NUDE TUESDAY' (Rated MA15+) - is a New Zealand comedy drama romance film Co-Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Armagan Ballantyne in only his second feature film outing following 'The Strength of Water' in 2009. When middle-aged suburban couple, Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman) are gifted a remote couples’ retreat for their anniversary, they decide to give their failing marriage one last shot before calling it quits. Arriving in an idyllic sanctuary nestled in the snow capped mountains of a fictional island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, Laura and Bruno uncomfortably enter a world of laughter workshops, tantric dance, sexual liberation and emotional animals, helmed by the charismatic guru Bjorg Rassmussen (Jermaine Clement), who all communicate with each other in complete made up language 'gibberish'.  When new temptations start to take hold, the couple are pushed to the brink forcing them to look within to find what they really want. The film has so far generated much critical praise.

'MINIONS : THE RISE OF GRU' (Rated PG) - this American CGI action comedy films is the sequel to the spin-off prequel 'Minions' from 2015, and the fifth entry overall in the 'Despicable Me' film franchise. Directed by Kyle Balda who Co-Directed 'The Lorax' in 2012, 'Minions' in 2015 and 'Despicable Me 3' in 2017. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 13th June before its release in Australia this week and the US from 1st July. Set following the events of the first film in the 1970's, a young twelve year old Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) tries to join a group of supervillains known as the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader - the legendary fighter Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin). When the interview turns disastrous, Gru and his Minions (all voiced by Pierre Coffin) go on the run with the Vicious 6 hot on their tails. Luckily, he finds an unlikely source for guidance in Wild Knuckles himself, and soon comes to learn that even bad guys need a little help from their friends. Also starring the voice talents of Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Russell Brand and Julie Andrews.

'MY SWEET MONSTER' (Rated PG) - is a Russian animated family action adventure film and Directed by the the pairing of Viktor Glukhushin and Maksim Volkov. Here, the 16-year-old Princess Barbara (Haylie Duff) throws a tantrum at her birthday party. While everybody is distracted, the throne is seized from her father King Elijah (Martin Cooke) by a sneaky post clerk Weasel. However, unsatisfied with being the sole ruler of the Kingdom, he also plans to marry Barbara. Princess Barbara runs away from the palace and finds herself deep in the woods. She bumps into Bogey the Outlaw (John Heder) and his friend the Wicked Rabbit (Josh Wilson). Barbara's interference wreaks havoc into the ordinary bachelor-style life of the two friends, which sees her meddling into everything, arranges her own set of rules, and keeps getting on their nerves with her assumptions about the dashing Prince Edward. To get rid of Barbara, Bogey decides to go as far as to find the Prince Edward, stop the Weasel and restore the world of some semblance of order. Also starring the voice of Pauly Shore.

With seven new release movie offerings 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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-