BLACK ADAM : Tuesday 25th October 2022.

I saw the M Rated 'BLACK ADAM' earlier this week, and this American Superhero film is based on the DC Comics character of the same name, is a spin-off from the 2019 film 'Shazam!' and is the eleventh film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). It is Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra whose prior film making credits include his debut in 2005 with 'House of Wax', then four films with Liam Neeson - those being 'Unknown' in 2011, 'Non-Stop' in 2014, 'Run All Night' in 2015 and 'The Commuter' in 2018, with 'The Shallows' in 2016 and 'Jungle Cruise' most recently in 2021. This film was originally slated for a Christmas 2021 release but was moved from that date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then given an end of July 2022, release date, but was then moved again, having seen its World Premiere in Mexico City on 3rd October and was released here in Australia, the US and a number of other territories from last week, having cost in the region of US$195M to produce, has so far recouped US$156M, and has garnered mixed or average critical reviews. 

The film opens up in 2,600 BC long before the ancient city of Rome and the empire of Babylon came into being. We are taken back to the city of Kahndaq where the tyrannical King, Akh-Ton (Marwan Kenzari) rules with an iron fist and has his subjects mine for the rare precious blue metal 'Eternium' in open mines with their bare hands. When he has sufficient supplies he crafts the crown of Sabbac which bestows great power on whoever shall wear the crown. After attempting to stage a revolt by the downtrodden and weary slaves, a young slave boy is given the powers of Shazam by the Council of Wizards because he is deemed pure of heart to wield those powers, so transforming him into Kahndaq's heroic champion, who allegedly kills Ahk-Ton and brings and early end to his reign. 

History lesson over, and we fast forward to the present day Kahndaq which is under marshall law overseen by the ruthless Intergang. We then meet up with archaeologist and University Professor Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) who tries to locate the Crown of Sabbac with the help of her brother Karim (Mo Amir) and their colleagues Samir (James Cusati-Moyer) and Ishmael (Marwan Kenzari). As Adrianna obtains the crown hidden deep in a cavernous cave buried within a mountain, Intergang members appear and ambush them, demanding that she hand over the crown. As Adrianna is held at gunpoint on her knees, she reads an incantation on a tombstone laying beneath her that awakens Teth-Adam (Dwayne Johnson), whom she believes to be Kahndaq's champion, from a long overdue rest and recuperation. Adam immediately sets about slaughtering just about all of the Intergang army.

Shortly afterwards US government official Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) has caught wind that Teth-Adam is on the rampage and deems that he is a threat to world peace and contacts the Justice Society of America (JSA) - Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) to bring him into custody, and forcibly if need be. The JSA arrives in time to stop Teth-Adam from causing yet more destruction to Kahndaq than he has already caused, and Intergang's troops. The JSA explains to Adrianna that Adam was not a saviour who was laid to rest in a tomb, but a madman who was imprisoned and entombed for all eternity.

Ishmael reveals himself as Intergang's leader to Karim and overheard by Adrianna's teenage son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui). Ishmael shoots Karim in the stomach and a chase ensues with Amon, who steals the crown to prevent Ishmael getting his grubby hands on it, but Ishmael gets the better of young Amon and captures him, but not before Amon had switched the crown in his back pack for a set of school books. Adam, Adrianna, and the JSA who now have possession of the crown intend to use it to trade for Amon. They reach Ishmael, holed up in his abandoned mine headquarters who reveals that he is the last descendant of King Ahk-Ton and, wanting his rightful place on the throne, demands the crown, which Adrianna willingly gives up in order to save Amon's life. Ishmael betrays his part of the deal and shoots at Amon, and Adam, trying to save Amon, loses control and destroys the mine encampment with his power, killing Ishmael in the process. 

Wracked with guilt, Adam flees to the ruins of Ahk-Ton's palace, where he explains to Hawkman that the legends of Kahndaq's champion were in fact wrong, and it was Adam's son Hurut (Jalon Christian) who was granted the powers of Shazam and became Kahndaq's champion. Knowing that Hurut was invincible, Ahk-Ton's assassins were instructed to execute Hurut's family, including Adam and Hurut's mother. Hurut granted Adam his powers in order to save his father's life, and Ahk-Ton's assassins immediately killed the depowered Hurut. An enraged Adam then slaughtered all of the king's men, Ahk-Tok and destroyed Kahndaq's palace. He was subsequently deemed unworthy by the Council of Wizards and entombed within the Rock of Eternity. Feeling incapable of becoming a true hero, Adam surrenders, by uttering the word 'Shazam'. 

The JSA takes him to a secret Task Force X black site located deep under the sea under the pack ice. Dr. Fate, who is able to see into the future, has a premonition of Hawkman's impending death. As the JSA returns to the city, they realise that Ishmael intentionally made Adam kill him while he was wearing the Crown of Sabbac so that he could be reborn as the host of the demon Sabbac, who rises from the underworld to claim his throne. 

Sabbac commands the Legions of Hell to terrorise Kahndaq, with Adrianna and Karim initially fighting them off while Amon rallies the people of the city to join in the fight. The JSA prepares to face Sabbac in Ahk-Ton's ruins, but Dr. Fate creates a magical force field that prevents Hawkman, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher from entering. He reveals that Hawkman's death can be avoided with his own sacrifice. Dr. Fate fights Sabbac on his own and uses his astral projection to release Adam after talking to him in his cryo sleep and asking him to wake-up and come to their aid. Sabbac kills Dr. Fate, resulting in the force field disappearing, and so allowing the others to join in the fight. Just as Sabbac is about to overpower and dispense with the JSA, Adam arrives and joins the battle. With help from Hawkman using Dr. Fate's helmet, Adam kills Sabbac. 

The three remaining JSA departs on good terms with Adam, who accepts his new role as the protector of Kahndaq and takes on a less old fashioned name replacing Teth-Adam with Black Adam. In a mid-credits sequence, Amanda Waller communicates with Adam and warns him against leaving Kahndaq. Adam says that there is no one on Earth who can defeat him, to which Waller responds that she was not referring to someone from this world. Superman (Henry Cavill) arrives shortly thereafter and suggests that they should talk!

'Black Adam' is an entertaining enough romp that is heavy, very heavy, on the CGI action sequences and the OTT violence that lurches from one action set piece to the next with a frenzied frequency that after a while seems to all meld into one elongated tale of 'shoot first, ask questions . . . never'! Sure, the myriad of action scenes are well realised but when you come to appreciate that nobody or nothing can ever harm the indestructible Adam, it all becomes a bit ho hum! Dwayne Johnson's big bold badass antihero superhero delivers all the kicks, punches and death blows that you would expect of him, and delves sufficiently into his back story to make his character arc relatable, but that is where the characterisation ends and the exposition sadly falters for the four new superhero types that this film introduces us to. For fans of Dwayne Johnson and big spectacle relentless comic book action then this film is for you, but for those of us who saw it under the pretext of a new dawn in the DCEU, then you are likely to be a tad disappointed. 

'Black Adam' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard out of a potential five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 27th October 2022

The 35th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) was first established in 1985 and from that year until 1991 was held biennially, and from 1991 onwards held annually. This year the festival launched on Monday 24th October and runs through until Wednesday 2nd November. Together with the Shanghai International Film Festival, it is one of Asia's competitive film festivals, and is considered to be the largest film festival in Asia and the only Japanese festival accredited by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations). The festivals events include open-air screenings, voice-over screenings, and appearances by Actors, as well as seminars and symposiums related to the film market.

This years Opening Night Gala film is the World Premier of the Japanese feature 'Fragments of the Last Will', Directed by Zeze Takahisa; with the Closing Night film being the Japanese Premier screening of 'Living' from the UK and Directed by Oliver Hermanus and starring Bill Nighy. 

The Tokyo Grand Prix award has remained throughout the festivals existence and is handed to the best film, as the top award. Other awards that have been given regularly include the Special Jury Award and awards for best Actor, best Actress and best Director. In official competition for the Grand Prix award are fifteen films chosen from around the world for screening at the festival. This year TIFF received 1,695 entries from 107 countries and regions. Those fifteen features are :-

* '1976' - from Chile, Argentina and Qatar, and Directed by Manuela Martelli. Chile under the Pinochet regime. Carmen is asked by a priest to shelter a young man, and she agrees — but this will change her life drastically. Asian Premier.

* 'Ashkal' - from Tunisia and France, and Directed by Youssef Chebbi. Bodies are found at a construction site near Tunis, where work was halted due to a pro-democracy movement; two detectives begin investigating. Asian Premier.

* 'The Beasts' - from Spain and France and Directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen. Set in a remote mountain village in Galicia, Spain, this potent thriller depicts the friction between a local powerbroker and a middle-aged French couple who have moved there to start a farming life. Asian Premier.

* 'by the window' - from Japan and Directed by Imaizumi Rikiya. A man discovers his wife is cheating on him, but then is bothered by his mixed feelings as he's too honest but yet searching for happiness. World Premier.

* 'Egoist' - from Japan and Directed by Matsunaga Daishi. Is love an ego to save yourself, or . . . This film tells the story of the love between Kosuke, an Editor, and Ryuta, a Personal Trainer. World Premier.

* 'The Fabulous Ones' - from Italy and Directed by Roberta Torre. In a villa housing transgender women, residents try to fulfil the last wish of their late friend, buried in male clothing against her will. International Premier.

* 'Glorious Ashes' - from Vietnam, France and Singapore and Directed by Bui Thac Chuyen. The film unveils relationships between three women and their partners in a southern seaside village. World Premier.

* 'Kaymak' - from North Macedonia, Denmark, The Netherlands and Croatia and Directed by Milcho Manchevski. Two couples go down the rabbit hole of unconventional erotic relationships, respectable at the beginning, happy at the end. Underneath its exploration of the eternal search for love, the film tackles darker social issues - surrogate parenting, infidelity, woman's role in family and society, human trafficking, sexual freedom. World Premier.

* 'Life' - from Kazakhstan and Directed by Emir Baigazin. A man loses everything after bankruptcy. Asian Premier.

* 'Manticore' - from Spain and Directed by Carlos Vermut. The film depicts the love between a young male game designer and a tomboy. Asian Premier.

* 'Mountain Woman' - from Japan and the USA and Directed by Fukunaga Takeshi. Set in the late 18th Century, an outcast girl, Rin lives in a village suffering from famine. She draws strength from Mt. Hayachine, where the spirits of humans ascend after passing. World Premier.

* 'Peacock Lament' - from Sri Lanka and Italy and Directed by Sanjeewa Pushpakumara. To earn money for his sister's heart surgery, Amila works for a company but learns they traffic babies to foreigners, from unwanted pregnancies. World Premier.

* 'Tel Aviv Beirut' - from Cyprus, France and Germany and Directed by Michale Boganim. With the backdrop of the 1980's Israeli-Lebanese conflict, this road movie portrays the journey of women separated from their families by the border. World Premier.

* 'This Is What I Remember' - from Kyrgyzstan, Japan, The Netherlands and France and Directed by Aktan Arym Kubat. The film depicts a man who has lost his memory while working in Russia and returns to Kyrgyzstan for the first time in 20 years. World Premier.

* 'World War III' - from Iran and Directed by Houman Seyedi. An actor playing Hitler in a film about World War II quits, and a day labourer working as an extra is chosen as a substitute. Asian Premier.

For the other sections playing out at this years 35th Tokyo International Film Festival in the Asian Future, Gala Selection, World Focus, Youth, Nippon Cinema Now, Japanese Animation and Japanese Classics strands, plus a whole lot more besides, you can visit the official website at : https://2022.tiff-jp.net/

This week then, with five new release movies coming to an Odeon close to you, we start with a historical epic film based on true events and set in the early 19th Century about the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey against a foreign enemy. This is followed by a historical comedy drama about a widowed cleaning lady in 1950's London who falls in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. Next up we have a groundbreaking film about two men with commitment problems who attempt a relationship; and then we turn to a horror splatter sequel that follows a murderous clown's resurrection and pursuit of a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night, one year following the events of the first film; before closing up the week with a family film about a young girl who discovers her magic stone is part of an ancient prophecy and embarks on a thrilling journey to face a great evil, and shape her own destiny.

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

'THE WOMAN KING' (Rated M) - is an American historical epic film Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood whose previous feature film Directorial credits are 'Love & Basketball' in 2000, 'The Secret Life of Bees' in 2008, 'Beyond the Lights' in 2014, and 'The Old Guard' in 2020. The film saw its World Premier showcasing at TIFF in early September this year, has generated positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$83M off the back of a US$50M production budget. 

Set in 1823, a group of all-female warriors known as the Agojie, protects the West African kingdom of Dahomey that existed from the early 17th to the late 19th centuries, with skills and fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Faced with a new threat from the Oyo Empire (also in West Africa and located to the east of Dahomey) that existed from the mid-17th century to the late 18th century, General Nanisca (Viola Davis) trains the next generation of recruits to fight against a foreign enemy that's determined to destroy their way of life. Also starring Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, John Boyega and Hero Fiennes Tiffin. 

'MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS' (Rated PG) - is a historical comedy drama film Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Anthony Fabian in his third feature film making effort following 'Skin' in 2008 and 'Louder Than Words' in 2013, although he has also Directed a number of short films, documentaries and a TV series too. This film is based on the novel 'Mrs. 'Arris Goes To Paris' by Paul Gallico from 1958 and is the third screen adaptation of that novel. In 1957 London, a widowed housekeeper Mrs. Ada Harris (Lesley Manville) falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, deciding she must have one of her own. After working to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris that will change not only her own outlook, but the very future of the House of Dior. Also starring Isabelle Huppert, Lambert Wilson and Jason Isaacs. The film saw its release in the US in mid-July, the UK in late September and in France next week having so far grossed US$16M at the Box Office from a US$13M production budget and has garnered generally favourable reviews. 

'BROS' (Rated MA15+) - this American romantic comedy film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Nicholas Stoller whose prior feature film Directorial offering are 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' in 2008, 'Get Him to the Greek' in 2010, 'The Five-Year Engagement' in 2012, 'Neighbors' in 2014, 'Neighbors 2 : Sorority Rising' in 2016 and the animated 'Storks' movie in 2016 also. Here then, Bobby Lieber (Billy Eichner) is a neurotic podcast and radio show host who's happy to go on Tinder dates and content not to have a serious relationship. That all changes when he meets Aaron Shepard (Luke Macfarlane), an equally detached lawyer who likes to play the field. Repeatedly drawn to each other, both men begin to show their vulnerable sides as their undeniable attraction turns into something resembling a commitment. The film saw its World Premier screening at TIFF in early September, was released in the US in late September, has so far grossed US$11.5M from its US$22M production budget and has generated largely favourable critical reviews. 

'TERRIFIER 2' (Rated CTC) - is an American splatter film Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Damien Leone in his fourth feature film making offering following 'All Hallows' Eve' in 2013, 'Frankenstein vs. The Mummy' in 2015 and 'Terrifier' in 2016 to which this film is a direct sequel. The film saw its World Premiere at the FrightFest on 29th August and went on release in the US in early October where it was met with positive reviews from critics with many considering the film to be an improvement over its predecessor. Here then, after being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) returns to the timid town of Miles County where he targets a teenage girl, Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) and her younger brother, Jonathan Shaw (Elliot Fullam) on Halloween night. The film has so far grossed US$5.3M from its production budget of US$250K, with 'Terrifier 3' already planned and Damien Leone suggesting that he has more than enough material to warrant a 'Terrifier 4'. 

'MIA AND ME : THE HERO OF CENTOPIA' (Rated PG) - is an animated and live action family adventure film based on a German TV series that is Co-Written and Directed by Adam Gunn in his debut feature film making outing, although he has previously Directed on thirteen episodes of 'Archibald's Next Big Thing' for Netflix. When Mia (Margot Nuccetelli) returns to her old family summer home for the first time since her parents’ death, she is suddenly taken back into the unicorn world of Centopia through the magical portal. There she meets Iko (Mike Singer), an elf from Lotus Island, who desperately needs her help. Toxor (Gedeon Burkhard), a monstrous, toad-like, vindictive villain, is taking over Lotus Island, transforming its citizens into an army of will-less henchmen with its dark magic. Mia, and her old and new friends, must band together to follow in the footsteps of the mythical heroine of Centopia and unite three ancient, magical power stones to defeat Toxor. When faced with the biggest villain Centopia has ever known, Mia will learn what it really means to be a hero, and shape her own destiny in the process.

With five 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-

DON'T WORRY DARLING : Tuesday 18th October 2022

I saw the M Rated 'DON'T WORRY DARLING' at my local multiplex this week, and this American psychological thriller film is Directed, Co-Produced and starring Olivia Wilde in only her second Directorial outing following the highly acclaimed 'Booksmart' in 2019. This film saw its World Premiere screening at the Venice International Film Festival in early September, was released in the US in late September and here in Australia on 6th October having generated mixed Reviews from Critics and costing US$35M to produce and so far returning US$79M in Box Office receipts.  

Set in the sun drenched company town of Victory, California, believed to be sometime in the 1950's Alice and Jack Chambers (Florence Pugh and Harry Styles respectively) seem to lead a near perfect life. Everyday the men leave their neat homes, smartly suited and booted, and reverse their cars out of their driveways and make the journey in convoy across the desert to Victory Headquarters, leaving their ever dutiful wives to clean the house, prepare dinner, relax by the pool with a cocktail with the other wives and ensure they are waiting at the front door with their husbands favourite cocktail in hand when he comes home from a hard day at the office. 

All of the town's womenfolk, including Alice's good friends Bunny (Olivia Wilde), Margaret (KiKi Layne) and Peg (Kate Berlant) are discouraged from asking questions about their husbands' work and told not to venture out to the Headquarters. Other than the fact that the husbands are permitted to state that they are collectively working on 'the development of progressive materials' this is just about all the wives are allowed to know about their dear husband's tireless work. Margaret has subsequently become an outcast after taking her young son out into the desert, resulting in her son's apparent death, although she claims that Victory took him from her as punishment for venturing out into the desert. While attending a party hosted by Frank (Chris Pine), Victory's enigmatic founder and leader, and his wife Shelley (Gemma Chan), Alice sees Margaret's husband trying to administer her medication.

One morning while taking the bus across town, Alice observes a light aircraft crash out in the desert. She rushes to help out across the desert and eventually comes to the Headquarters, a small building perched high up on a rocky outcrop covered in mirror-like windows. After touching one, she experiences surreal hallucinations and blacks out. She wakes up back home later that night with no idea how she got there. Jack is in the kitchen doing his best to prepare dinner for them both. In the following days, she experiences increasingly strange occurrences. She receives a phone call from Margaret, who claims to have seen the same thing Alice did, and rushing over to her house she sees Margaret stood on the roof who then proceeds to slit her own throat and falls backwards from the roof onto the grass below. Before she can reach Margaret, Alice is dragged away by two men in red jumpsuits, while two others quickly bundle up Margaret's body. 

Later that evening Jack counters Alice's claims and says Margaret simply fell while cleaning the windows and is recovering. This story is further verified by town physician and co-founder of the Victory Project Dr. Collins (Timothy Simons), who attempts to give Alice prescription drugs, but Jack intervenes saying that she doesn't need them. Alice becomes increasingly paranoid, anxious and confused, and during a special Victory event where Frank gives Jack a special promotion, Alice breaks down in the ladies rest room and is comforted by Bunny. Alice attempts to explain everything to her, but Bunny reacts angrily, accusing Alice of being selfish.

Some time later, Alice and Jack invite their immediate neighbours (except Bunny and her husband Dean) to dinner, with Frank and Shelley as special guests, and newbies in town Violet and Bill Johnson (Sydney Chandler and Douglas Smith respectively). Frank speaks privately with Alice in the kitchen as she is putting the finishing touches to dinner, implying that she is correct in her suspicions. Encouraged by his near confession, she attempts to expose him over dinner, but instead, Frank manipulates her accusations, making her look delusional to the other guests. After the guests have all left abruptly and before the meal had even started Alice begs Jack to take them both away from Victory and to do so tonight, straight away. Jack initially agrees, but when Alice gets in the car, he allows for her be taken away by Frank's men in red jumpsuits. Dr. Collins oversees Alice's electroshock therapy. During the procedure, she sees visions of herself in another life, as a present-day overworked and stressed out surgeon named Alice Warren who lives with the unemployed Jack and struggles to make ends meet. Jack spends his time listening to the voice of Frank selling his project over a website called 'Organised Chaos'. 

After her bout of therapy Alice returns to Victory and is welcomed home by Jack, but she continues to experience hallucinations and flash-backs. She later remembers the whole truth, that Victory is a simulated world created by Frank, and that Jack forced her into the simulation in the hope that they can lead an idyllic life together. When Jack realises she knows the truth, he claims he did this for her as she was miserable in her real life, but Alice is angered that Jack took away her autonomy and the life she loved. Jack gets down on his knees and hugs Alice, begging her to forgive him, then attempts to squeeze the life out of her forcing Alice to smash a heavy glass Whisky tumbler down on his head, killing him outright. 

Frank is called with news of Jack's death and sends his men in red jumpsuits to apprehend Alice. Bunny finds Alice and explains that she has always known Victory was a simulated world, but chooses to stay so she can be with her two young children, who died in reality. She tells Alice to escape in Jack's car and go to the Headquarters, which is an exit portal from the simulation. The other wives come to realise the truth as their husbands begin to panic, and join in the car chase. Alice drives Jack's car out across the desert towards the Headquarters, chased by Dr. Collins and Frank's men, who crash into each other sending their three cars exploding in a ball of flame. 

At their house, Shelley, wanting to regain her own control of the Victory Project, stabs Frank to death with a kitchen knife in the chest and then twists it for good measure. Alice makes it to Headquarters, where she has a vision of Jack asking her to stay. Alice ignores the vision and rushes to the window just before Frank's men reach her, and wakes up in the present day real world.

For me 'Don't Worry Darling' is all style over substance. The impeccable set design to the cinematography are top rate, and the performances of Florence Pugh and Chris Pine in particular more than carry the film, supported by an average performance from Harry Styles but one in which he shows he's got the acting chops to go the distance. After a promising first third, the films meanders and gets all too repetitive in the middle section before limping home to an underwhelming ending that felt rushed, half baked and left me scratching my head with all those unanswered questions. The film is a mash up of 'The Truman Show', 'Pleasantville' and 'The Stepford Wives' and whilst Olivia Wilde's intentions may have been admirable she has hardly reinvented the genre here, and instead has merely dusted it off, polished it up and given it a dose of 2022 glitz.

'Don't Worry Darling' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 20th October 2022.

The Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) this year is held from Wednesday 19th October through until Sunday 30th October. The AFF is an international film festival usually held for two weeks in mid-October in cinemas in Adelaide, South Australia. Originally presented biennially in March from 2003, since 2013 AFF has been held in October, and from this year forward the festival will be staged annually. It has a strong focus on local South Australian and Australian produced content, with the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund (AFFIF) established to fund investment in Australian films. Established in 2003, it was listed in Variety's '50 Unmissable Film Festivals around the world' in 2007.

The Opening Night Gala film presentation is the documentary about the Adelaide rock band of the '70's 'The Angels : Kickin' Down The Door', that is Written and Directed by Madeleine Parry. The Closing Night film is the psychological horror thriller 'Talk to Me' Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou, and centres around a troubled teenager, Mia, and her group of friends who discover how to conjure spirits using a ceramic embalmed hand. They become hooked on the new thrill, until Mia is confronted by a soul claiming to be her dead mother.

The Feature Fiction Competition this year consists of six films, comprising the following entries :-

* 'Metronome' - from Romania and France and Written and Directed by Alexander Belc. Romania, autumn 1972. Ana, a 17 year-old, finds out that her boyfriend will flee the country for good in a few days. The two young lovers decide to spend their last days together.

* 'Huesera' - from Mexico and Peru and Co-Written and Directed by Michelle Garza Cervera. Valeria has long dreamed about becoming a mother. After learning that she's pregnant, she expects to feel happy, yet something's off.

* 'Autobiography' - from Australia and Indonesia and Written and Directed by Makbul Mubarak. A young man is employed as a housekeeper in an empty mansion. When its owner returns to start his mayoral election campaign, the young man bonds with him and defends him when his campaign is vandalised, setting off a chain of violence.
* 'Klondike' - from Ukraine and Turkey and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Maryna Er Gorbach. The story of a Ukrainian family living on the border of Russia and Ukraine during the start of the war. Irka refuses to leave her house even as the village gets captured by armed forces. Shortly after they find themselves at the centre of an international air crash catastrophe on 17th July 2014.
* 'War Pony' - from the USA and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Riley Keough and Gina Gammell. The interlocking stories of two young Oglala Lakota men growing up on their Pine Ridge Reservation home, and how the pair must wrestle with grief, violence and identity to forge their unique paths to adulthood.
* 'Whina' - from New Zealand and Co-Written and Directed by James Napier Robertson and Paula Whetu Jones. The sweeping biopic of iconic Maori elder and activist, Whina Cooper.

The Documentary Competition, feature six films, consisting of :-

* 'Hidden Letters' - from China, the USA and Norway and Directed by Violet Du Feng and Zhao Qing. For centuries in Jiangyong County in China’s Hunan Province, women had their feet bound and were expected to follow the Confucian Three Obediences of strictly following orders from their fathers, husbands and sons. In response they developed a written script, Nushu, that men couldn’t understand, to share their intimate thoughts and write poetry and songs. 

* 'The Hamlet Syndrome' - from Poland and Germany and Directed by Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosolowski. In the months leading up to the full-scale Russian invasion, five young Ukrainians prepare to stage a theatre production combining the core themes of Hamlet with their combat experiences in the ongoing war between the two countries since the revolution of 2014.

* 'The Plains' - from Australia and Written, Produced, Directed and Edited by David Easteal. Every evening a man in his late fifties commutes home in his car at the end of the working day in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.

* 'Fledglings' - from Poland and Directed and Co-Edited by Lidia Duda. Zosia, Oskar, and Kinga are seven-year-olds who are moving away from their parents for the first time to attend boarding school for the blind and vision-impaired. Zosia is relentlessly talkative, Oskar works out his insecurities on the piano, and Kinga is a solid, supportive presence.

* 'Sanson and Me' - from Mexico and the USA and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rodrigo Reyes. This film follows a young immigrant's path from coastal Mexico to a life sentence for murder in California.

* 'Dos Estaciones' - from Mexico and France and Directed and Co-Edited by Juan Pablo Gonzalez. In the bucolic hills of Mexico's Jalisco highlands, iron-willed businesswoman Maria Garcia fights the impending collapse of her tequila factory.

For the full programme of films featured, the awards and more good stuff going down at this years Adelaide Film Festival, you can visit the official website at : https://adelaidefilmfestival.org/aff22/

This week there are four new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, launching with the eleventh offering in the DCEU that tells the origin story of Teth-Adam, a man born into slavery who acquires super powers and how he wants to use his newfound might some five thousand years later to wipe out criminals from the face of the earth having developed a distorted version of justice, after his traumatic experience as an enslaved person in Ancient Egypt. Next up is a horror thriller about a young woman staying at an Airbnb who discovers that the house she has rented is not what it seems. This is followed by a story of a detective investigating a man's death in the mountains ends up meeting and developing feelings for the dead man's mysterious wife in the course of his dogged sleuthing. And we close out the week with an Aussie drama about an alienated teenager who learns to find meaning and purpose through the pain of love and loss.

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

'BLACK ADAM' (Rated M) - is an American Superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, is a spin-off from the 2019 film 'Shazam!' and is the eleventh film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). It is Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra whose prior film making credits include his debut in 2005 with 'House of Wax', then four films with Liam Neeson - those being 'Unknown' in 2011, 'Non-Stop' in 2014, 'Run All Night' in 2015 and 'The Commuter' in 2018, with 'The Shallows' in 2016 and 'Jungle Cruise' most recently in 2021. This film saw its World Premiere in Mexico City on 3rd October and is scheduled to be released here in Australia, the US and a number of other territories from this week, having cost in the region of US$185M to produce.

In the ancient city of Kahndaq, Teth Adam was bestowed the almighty powers of the gods. After using those powers for vengeance, he was imprisoned, becoming Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson). Nearly 5,000 years have passed, and Black Adam has gone from man to myth to legend. Now free, his unique form of justice, born out of rage, is challenged by modern-day heroes who form the Justice Society of America : Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo)and Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), who try to stop his rampage, teach him how to be a hero more than a villain, and must team up to stop a force more powerful than Adam himself. Also starring Viola Davis as Amanda Waller from previous DCEU entries. 

'BARBARIAN' (Rated MA15+) - this American horror film is Written, Directed and stars Zach Cregger in only his third feature film making outing following 'Miss March' in 2009 and 'The Civil War on Drugs' in 2011. The film saw its World Premier at the San Diego Comic Con toward the end of July this year and went on general release in the US in early September, having so far grossed US$41M from a US$4M budget outlay and garnering generally positive critical reviews. Traveling to Detroit for a job interview, Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) books a rental home. But when she arrives late at night, she discovers that the house is double booked to a Keith Toshko (Bill Skarsgard) who is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers a dark secret within the home and that there's a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest. Also starring Justin Long and Kate Bosworth. 

'DECISION TO LEAVE' (Rated M) - is a South Korean romantic mystery film Co-Written, Produced and Directed by Park Chan-wook whose previous film making credits include 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance', 'Oldboy', 'Lady Vengeance', 'Stoker', and 'The Handmaiden' most recently in 2016. A detective investigating a man's death in the mountains ends up meeting and developing feelings for the dead man's mysterious wife in the course of his exhaustive investigations. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in May of this year where Park Chan-wook won Best Director. It was released in its native South Korea at the end of May, has so far grossed US$17M and has garnered widespread universal critical acclaim, as well as picking up nine other award wins and eight other nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. 

'EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN' (Rated M) - this Australian drama offering is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Nadi Sha in his feature film debut. As eighteen year old Jay Knight (Jordan Dulieu) stands on a cliff top contemplating putting an end to the meaningless miasma of his existence, twenty-eight year old Liz Myers (Freyja Benjamin) lands in town on the latest leg of her endless adventures backpacking around the world. After a sliding doors moment brings this unlikely pair together, they form a deep and immediate bond - much to the chagrin of Jay’s privileged but jaded socialite parents Meredith and David Knight (Gigi Edgley and Martin Crewes respectively). Unfortunately, Liz’s laissez faire lifestyle is brought to an abrupt halt by a life-threatening mystery illness and, as Jay becomes more and more entwined in her plight, all four are forced to come to terms with their world views.

With four 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 week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

AMSTERDAM : Tuesday 11th October 2022

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'AMSTERDAM' earlier this week, and this mystery comedy film set in the early 1930's is Written, Directed and Co-Produced by David O. Russell whose previous feature film making credits include 'Three Kings' in 1999, 'I Heart Huckabees' in 2004, 'The Fighter' in 2010, 'Silver Linings Playbook' in 2012, 'American Hustle' in 2013 and 'Joy' in 2015. This film saw its World Premier showcasing in New York City on 18th September and was released in the US and here in Australia last week week, having cost US$80M to produce, has so far recouped just US$12M and has garnered mixed critical reviews. 

In 1918, Burt Berendsen (Christian Bale) is sent at the insistence of his very well connected and very well to do estranged wife's parents to fight in World War I. While stationed in France, Burt meets and becomes good friends with African-American soldier Harold Woodsman (John David Washington), both under the command of affable General Bill Meekins (Ed Bagley Jnr.) After they sustain severe and multiple shrapnel injuries in battle, including Burt's loss of an eye, the pair are nursed back to health by Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie), an outgoing nurse, whom they form a close bond with also.

When Burt and Harold have sufficiently recovered from their wounds, the three move to Amsterdam, where they live together and become close friends spending their time living life to the full, until Burt announces his return to New York City to be with his wife Beatrice (Andrea Riseborough). Harold, who has fallen in love with Valerie and she with him, also leaves to return to New York City and fulfill his own aspirations, but before he leaves Valerie leaves him unexpectedly leaving just a hand written note bidding him farewell. 

Fast forward to New York City in 1933 and Burt has opened his own medical practice catering to injured veterans of the war and still remains firm friends with Harold, who is now a lawyer, while they have not heard from Valerie since they left Amsterdam some fifteen years previously. Harold asks Burt to perform a post-mortem on Bill Meekins, now a senator who served as the commander of their regiment during the war, at the urgent request of Meekins' daughter Elizabeth (Taylor Swift), who believes that he was murdered. Burt performs the post-mortem aided by nurse Irma St. Clair (Zoe Saldana). The post-mortem reveals that Meekins stomach contained an unusual amount of a grey liquid indicating a mercury laced poison leading them to conclude that this must have been the cause of death. Burt and Harold meet with Elizabeth to talk about the post-mortem results, but she is suddenly killed when a hitman pushes her under the wheels of an oncoming car. The hitman frames Burt and Harold for her death during the ensuing melee, while they flee the scene on foot as the Police arrive.

In an attempt to clear their names Burt and Harold try to determine who had led Elizabeth to hire them. This leads them to wealthy textile heir Tom Voze (Rami Malek) and his antagonising wife Libby (Anya Taylor-Joy). At the Voze residence they reunite with Valerie, and learn that she is Tom's sister and was the one who convinced Elizabeth to hire them, knowing that ultimately they could be trusted. Valerie is now under constant supervision by Tom and Libby, who claim that she suffers from vertigo, a nerve disease and various other ailments though the medications Tom and Libby urge her to take every day could just be the real issue. Tom suggests to Burt and Harold that they should talk to Gil Dillenbeck (Robert De Niro), a famous and decorated veteran who now advocates for WWI veteran's rights and was close friends with Meekins.

Burt's initial attempts to contact Dillenbeck fail, and meanwhile Harold and Valerie spend the day at her home, where they notice the hitman, Tarim Milfax (Timothy Olyphant) maintaining a watchful on their movements. They follow him to a forced sterilisation clinic owned by a mysterious organisation known as the 'Council of Five'. After a fight with Milfax, Harold and Valerie catch-up once more with Burt. Valerie takes them to New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel where they meet Paul Canterbury (Mike Myers) an MI6 spy, maker of glass eyes and an ornithologist and Henry Norcross (Michael Shannon) a US Naval Intelligence Officer, maker of glass eyes, ornithologist and partner of Canterbury - Valerie's benefactors from Amsterdam who are secretly spies masquerading under their other guises. Paul and Henry explain that the Council of Five are planning to overthrow the American government and that Dillenbeck can help them foil their plot.

The three finally are granted a meeting with Dillenbeck having got past his gatekeeper wife, and who is offered US$40K from a fat middle aged man on behalf of an unnamed benefactor to deliver a speech rallying veterans to forcibly remove President Franklin D. Roosevelt from the White House and install Dillenbeck as a puppet dictator in his place. Dillenbeck agrees and plans to speak at a reunion gala that Burt and Harold are hosting, in order to draw out whoever is behind the plot.

At the reunion event, Dillenbeck instead makes his own speech instead of the one he was paid to say. Milfax, from the rafters directly above the stage has intentions to shoot Dillenbeck for going against the plan, but Harold and Valerie spot him and are able to thwart him in time. Milfax is arrested, while the Council of Five are revealed to be four industry leaders, including Tom, who are fanatically obsessed with Benito Mussolini, Heinrich Himmler and Adolf Hitler and have designs on making America a fascist state, with Dillenbeck becoming the fifth member of the secretive cabal, or so they had thought.

Tom and the other leaders are arrested by Police, but are quickly released as such people in high places often were, and so they in turn slander Dillenbeck in the press following their release. Dillenbeck testifies about the incident to Congress and returns home to live out his life. Harold and Valerie leave the country since they cannot be together in the United States aided by a slow boat out of New York organised quickly by Canterbury and Norcross, but not bound for Amsterdam as it will soon enough be overrun with the Gestapo exclaims Norcross, to which Valerie nonchalantly responds with 'who are they?' Burt wishes them farewell and plans to reopen his medical practice and pursue a relationship with Irma, finally coming out of the shadow of his estranged wife and his over bearing in-laws.

I have to say that I am somewhat surprised by the critical drubbing that 'Amsterdam' has received, because I, and the two movie buddies I went with to see this film, enjoyed this latest quirky comedy thriller supported by an ensemble of fine A-list acting talent. The trio of Bale, Washington and Robbie share a screen presence that is a pleasure to watch and between them they rarely miss a beat, delivering their quips, comedic one liners and sight gags with aplomb, and look as though they're having a great time doing it too. The production values and cinematography are also top notch, and whilst the story line zigs and zags, ducks and weaves, it is nonetheless a work of fiction with a modicum of a true story woven into the at times meandering narrative, but it works and all comes together nicely in the end. This may not be David O. Russell's greatest ever work, but as a story of the power of friendship and love; remembering those that exist on the fringes of our society; and thwarting the enemy at the gates, this is an entertaining enough period romp that merits the price of your movie ticket. 

'Amsterdam' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-