What's new in Odeon's this week : Sunday 1st January 2023

The movie industry awards season is about to ramp up, having already seen the Gotham Awards presented on 28th November, the British Independent Film Awards on 4th December, the AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) Awards on 5th December, the People's Choice Awards on 6th December and the American Film Institute Top Ten Awards on 9th December amongst others. In the count down to Hollywood's Night of Night's, the Oscar Ceremony on 12th March, below is a list of the more significant upcoming awards presentations that might merit your attention, and scrutiny. 

* 10th January 2023 - The 80th Golden Globe Awards as chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

* 15th January 2023 - The 28th Critics Choice Awards.

* 11th February 2023 - The 27th Satellite Awards presented by the International Press Academy. 

* 18th February 2023 - The 75th Directors Guild of America Awards.

* 19th February 2023 - The 76th BAFTA Awards.

* 24th February 2023 - The 12th AACTA International Awards.

* 25th February 2023 - The 34th Producers Guild of America Awards.

* 25th February 2023 - The 50th Annie Awards presented by the International Animated Film Association - Hollywood.

* 26th February 2023 - The 29th Screen Actors Guild of America Awards.

* 4th March 2023 - The 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards.

* 5th March 2023 - The 75th Writers Guild of America Awards.

* 12th March 2023 - The 95th Academy Awards.

Stay tuned into your future Odeon Online editions for the full list of all the winners, grinners and also-rans of the aforementioned awards ceremonies, and perhaps then some. 

This New Years Day then, there are only two new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, and we begin with an American remake of a Swedish film from 2015 about a sixty-year-old grump who no longer sees purpose in his life following the loss of his wife and is ready to end it all, but his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door. And closing out the week we have an Aussie drama film about a young girl, who while learning to dive, befriends a magnificent wild blue groper, beginning her life-long journey to save the world's coral reefs.

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

'A MAN CALLED OTTO' (Rated M) - this American comedy drama film is Directed by Marc Forster and is the second film adaptation of the 2012 novel 'A Man Called Ove' by Swedish author Fredrik Backman, following the 2015 Swedish film of the same name Written and Directed by Hannes Holm. Marc Forster's prior film making credits take in the likes of 'Monster's Ball' in 2001, 'Finding Neverland' in 2004, 'The Kite Runner' in 2007, 'Quantum of Solace' in 2008, 'World War Z' in 2013 and 'Christopher Robin' in 2018. The film saw a limited release in the US from 30th December before a much wider release from 13th January and has so far garnered mixed or average reviews.

The film tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), who after his wife dies and he is forced to retire from his job of nearly forty years, this grumpy sixty-year-old decides to end his own life. He lives his life by a staunch set of principles, strict routines and a short fuse, and gives everyone in his gated neighbourhood community a hard time as he watches over it like a hawk. His only joy comes from criticising and judging his exasperated neighbours. However, his attempts at suicide are thwarted when a lively young family moves in next door, and he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol (Mariana Trevino), leading to an unexpected friendship that will turn his world upside-down. Also starring Rachel Keller and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

'BLUEBACK' (Rated PG) - is an Australian drama film Directed and Co-Produced by Robert Connolly, from a screenplay written by Robert Connolly and Tim Winton, based on Winton's 1997 novel of the same name. Connolly's previous feature film making credits include his debut in 2001 with 'The Bank', then 'Three Dollars' in 2005, 'Balibo' in 2009, 'The Turning' in 2013, 'Paper Planes' in 2015 and 'The Dry' in 2021. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Toronto International Film Festival back in mid-September 2022, and is released here in Australia on New Years Day. The film follows Abby (played by Ariel Donoghue as a child, Ilsa Fogg as a teenager and Mia Wasikowska as an adult), a child who befriends a magnificent wild blue groper while diving. When Abby realises that the fish is under threat, she takes inspiration from her environmental activist Mum, Dora (Radha Mitchell) and takes on poachers to save her friend, and help protect the ocean that she so loves. Also starring Eric Bana and Erik Thomson. 

With just two 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-