What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 15th June 2023.

The 22nd annual Transilvania International Film Festival kicked off on Friday 9th June and runs through until Sunday 18th June. Founded in 2002, the Transilvania International Film Festival is the first and largest international film festival in Romania and one of the most important film events in the region, with over 100,000 participants at each edition. The festival takes place every year in the heart of Transilvania, in Cluj-Napoca, a modern city with a rich history. Open to the general public as well as industry professionals, the festival shows over 250 films and its programme includes cine-concerts, concerts, as well as art exhibitions and meeting opportunities between filmmakers and the Romanian audience. Transilvania IFF has taken on the mission of discovering new voices in cinema and hosts two international competitions - feature fiction and feature documentary - dedicated to first and second-time Directors, as well as an annual showcase of contemporary Romanian cinema. The festival also screens the most anticipated and award-winning films of the season, provocative and controversial productions, and includes a strong section dedicated to children and film education, so reads the official website.

The Opening Night Gala feature film presentation is 'Northern Comfort' from Iceland, the UK and Germany and is Co-Written and Directed by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurosson and stars Timothy Spall and Lydia Leonard. It's hard to publicly admit your fears, especially when it's a fear of flying and you've already bought holiday tickets with your new boyfriend. In preparation for her trip, Sarah signs up for an exclusive course designed to cure her fear of flying, the final test being a round trip flight from London to Reykjavik. What sounds good on paper soon gives way to a wave of paranoia as turbulence hits that turns the journey into a race against the clock at the end of which, literally, every man flies for himself. The Closing Night film is 'Asteroid City' Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Wes Anderson and with an all star cast set in the 1950's in an American desert town, this sci-fi romantic comedy takes place at an astronomy conference where students and their parents witness some strange events that will forever change the course of history and mankind.

British Actor Timothy Spall and Australian Actor Geoffrey Rush will be honoured at the festival with Lifetime Achievement Awards, with American Writer, Producer and Director Oliver Stone also attending to showcase his latest documentary film 'Nuclear Now'. 

Those feature films in the fiction category competition are as follows :-

* 'The Barbarians' - from Argentina and France and Directed by Andrew Sala.

* 'Like A Fish On The Moon' - from Iran and Directed by Dornaz Hajiha.

* 'Carbon' - from Moldova and Directed by Ion Bors.

* 'The Cake Dynasty' - from Denmark and Directed by Christian Lollike.

* 'Daughter of Rage' - from Nicaragua and Mexico and Directed by Laura Baumeister.

* 'Banger' - from The Czech Republic and Directed by Adam Sedlak.

* 'Family Time' - from Finland and Sweden and Directed by Tia Kouvo.

* 'Stillness in the storm' - from Spain and Directed by Alberto Gastesi.

* 'Upon Entry' - from Spain and Directed by Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastian Vasquez.

* 'Charcoal' - from Brazil and Argentina and Directed by Carolina Markowicz.

* 'Noemie Says Yes' - from Canada and Directed by Genevieve Albert.

* 'The Uncle' - from Croatia and Directed by David Kapac and Andrija Mardesic.

For the full details relating to the complete run down of films and retrospectives being showcased at this years Transilvania International Film Festival, you can go to the official website at : https://tiff.ro/en

This week then to tease you out to your local Odeon on a chilly Winter's evening, we have six new movies, kicking off with the thirteenth film in the DCEU that sees Barry Allen using his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without Superheroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future. This is followed by a New Zealand horror offering that after mysteriously inheriting an abandoned coastal property, this young family accidentally unleash an ancient, long-dormant creature that terrorised the entire region, and his own ancestors for decades. Next up is a Canadian RomCom about a married couple who are excited to have some alone time while their twin daughters are away at camp, but unfortunately for them, their romantic week becomes a series of sexual adventures to re-energise their relationship. Then we turn to an Aussie doco about a proud Aboriginal woman and her journey to unearth the truth about her past, and to reconcile the two sides of her family. Following on from this we have an American comedy drama about a novelist's long-standing marriage which is suddenly upended when she overhears her husband give his honest reaction to her latest book; and closing out the week we have a CG animated feature set in a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy discover something elemental - how much they actually have in common.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six 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 FLASH' (Rated M) - this much hyped and eagerly awaited American Superhero film is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. It is intended to be the thirteenth instalment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and is Directed by Andy Muschietti whose previous feature film making credits take in his debut with 2013's 'Mama', then the Stephen King novel adaptation of 'It' in 2017 and 'It Chapter Two' in 2019. This film is released in the US this week also, following multiple delays caused by the Director changes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and post-production setbacks. It had a production budget of about US$220M.

Worlds collide when Barry Allen, aka The Flash (Ezra Miller) uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod (Michael Shannon) has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman (Michael Keaton) out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian, Supergirl (Sasha Calle) albeit not the one he's looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry's only hope is to race for his life. Also starring Ron Livingstone, Kiersey Clemons, Ben Affleck, Jeremy Irons, Temuera Morrison, Gal Gadot and Nicolas Cage. 

'THE TANK' (Rated MA15+) - is a New Zealand horror thriller offering Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Scott Walker in his second feature film offering following 2013's 'The Frozen Ground'. Set in 1978, Ben Adams (Matt Whelan) lives in Oakland, California with his wife Jules (Luciane Buchanan) and their young daughter Reia (Zara Nausbaum). After mysteriously inheriting an abandoned coastal property in Oregon from his late mother (who never once mentioned owning the site) Ben and his family accidentally unleash an ancient, long-dormant creature that terrorised the entire region - including his own ancestors - for generations. The film saw a limited release in the US towards the end of April before streaming later that week, and is now released here in Australia 

'THE END OF SEX' (Rated MA15+) - this Canadian romantic comedy film is Directed by Sean Garrity whose previous feature film making efforts include his 2001 debut with 'Inertia', then 'Lucid' in 2005, 'Zooey & Adam' in 2009, 'Blood Pressure' in 2012, 'After the Ball' in 2015 and 'I Propose We Never See Each Other Again After Tonight' in 2020. Here then, we have a married couple Josh (Jonas Chernick who also wrote the screenplay) and Emma (Emily Hampshire), both in their 40's and both feeling the pressures of parenting and adulthood, who decide to send their kids to winter camp for the first time for a week so that they can embark on a series of sexual adventures to reinvigorate their relationship. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the TIFF in early September last year, has so far collected just US$55K at the Box Office and has generated mixed or average reviews so far. 

'THE LAST DAUGHTER' (Rated PG) - this Australian documentary film is Co-Directed by Brenda Matthews, a proud Wiradjuri woman living in Bundjalung Country, Queensland, Australia, in her debut feature film making effort and Australian American film maker Nathaniel Schmidt. As a child, Brenda Matthews was handed over to a white family to be raised, before eventually being returned to the Aboriginal family she no longer knew. Decades later, she feels disconnected from both halves of her life. But the traumas of her past do not lie quietly buried. She remembers her white parents with fondness, especially their daughter who was around her age. Now an adult, Brenda searches for her foster family and the truth behind her government ordered abduction. In the process she uncovers long-buried secrets and government lies, whilst reconciling her past and the two sides of her family. 

'YOU HURT MY FEELINGS' (Rated M) - is an American comedy drama film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Nicole Holofcener whose prior feature film making credits include her debut in 1996 with 'Walking and Talking', then 'Lovely & Amazing' in 2001, 'Friends with Money' in 2006, 'Enough Said' in 2013 and 'The Land of Steady Habits' in 2018. Beth (Julia Louis-Dreyfus who also Co-Produces here) struggles with a lack of self-confidence and her marriage with unsuccessful therapist Don (Tobias Menzies) is affected by a betrayal. Before this, they had a peaceful but co-dependent relationship, which makes their only child Elliott (Owen Teague) uncomfortable. Beth's sister Sarah (Michaela Watkins) helps her cope with the pain, possibly because of her own struggles with husband Mark (Arian Moayed), who is a struggling actor. The film has garnered universal critical acclaim and has so far grossed US$4M since its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival at the end of January and its US release in late May. 

'ELEMENTAL' (Rated PG) - is an American computer-animated romantic comedy-drama film Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and is Directed by Peter Sohn whose only other Director credit was with the 2015 Pixar animated film 'The Good Dinosaur'. 'Elemental' is the twenty-seventh feature film released by Pixar and is set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic elements of nature. The story follows fire element Ember Lumen (Voiced by Leah Lewis) and water element Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie), who meet and fall in love after Wade is summoned by a plumbing accident at a convenience store owned by Ember's bigoted father Bernie (Ronnie del Carmen). While they cannot touch each other, Ember and Wade protect their identity against strong men and women and their own family while they attempt to make their relationship work. Following its World Premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival at the end of May, the film has garnered mixed or average early reviews so far on a film that cost US$200M to produce. It is released this week too Stateside. 

With six 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-