What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 8th August 2024.

The 72nd Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) kicks off in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on Thursday 8th August and runs through until Sunday 25th August. 'MIFF is an independent not-for-profit organisation that has been continuously running since 1952, making it the premier film festival in Australia and one of the world’s oldest film festivals, alongside Cannes and Berlin. Presenting a curated global program of innovative screen experiences and the world’s largest showcase of exceptional Australian filmmaking, MIFF is an accessible, iconic cultural event that provides transformative experiences for audiences and filmmakers alike. MIFF’s 72-year history significantly contributes to Melbourne’s standing as a cultural city. With its ongoing commitment to the collective festival experience being open to all, MIFF has contributed to community and connectedness in Melbourne. Audiences come to MIFF for its bold, diverse and adventurous programming' so reads the official website. 

This year, MIFF is featuring more than 250 films from over 62 countries, featuring the hottest picks from the worldwide festival circuit, new Aussie films, future award contenders and films showing for the first time in Victoria. With this film programme in mind, MIFF’s film competition, Bright Horizons, recognises the new, the next, the breakthrough and the best, with an extraordinary international line-up of first- and second-time filmmakers competing for the Bright Horizons Award, one of the richest film prizes in the world, with a cash prize valued at AUD$140K. The Bright Horizons Award is deliberated on by an esteemed international jury, this year led by Jury President Ivan Sen, the Indigenous Australian filmmaker. He is a Director, screenwriter and cinematographer, as well as an editor, composer and sound designer.

This years festival Opening Night Gala Film presentation is 'Memoir of a Snail' from Australia and is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Adam Elliot with this animated drama film featuring the voice talents of Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Eric Bana, Magda Szubanski, Tony Armstrong, Nick Cave and Jacki Weaver. 

Those ten feature films in competition are as follows :-

* 'Flow' - from France, Belgium and Latvia and is Written and Directed by Gints Zilbalodis. A menagerie adrift on a boat must work together to survive a catastrophic flood in this animated film. Australian Premiere.

* 'Good One' - from the USA and Directed by India Donaldson. A simple camping trip evolves into a life-changing experience in this coming-of-age dramatic Directorial debut. Australian Premiere.

* 'Hoard' - from the UK and Written and Directed by Luna Carmoon. The past comes knocking in this four-time Venice-winning feature drama debut that blends grief, grime, love and childhood trauma. Australian Premiere.

* 'Inside' - from Australia and Written and Directed by Charles Williams. This crime drama set inside a prison is a portrait of institutionalisation and salvation. World Premiere.

* 'Janet Planet' - from the USA and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Annie Baker. A mother/daughter coming of age drama. Australian Premiere. 

* 'Julie Keeps Quiet' - from Sweden and Belgium and Co-Written and Directed by Leonardo Van Dijl. When her coach is accused of misconduct, a tennis prodigy decides, for her own complex reasons, not to return serve. Australian Premiere.

* 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' - from the UK, Ireland and Zambia and Written and Directed by Rungano Nyoni. With absurdist humour and playfully surrealist imagery, this drama comedy rages at a middle-class Zambian family’s shameful silence. Australian Premiere.

* 'Sweet Dreams' - from the Netherlands, Sweden and Indonesia and Written and Directed by Ena Sendijarevic. The desperate absurdities of colonisation are laid bare in this satirical historical drama of a Dutch family’s fallout following the death of their wealthy patriarch. Australian Premiere.

* 'Universal Language' - from Canada and Co-Written and Directed by Matthew Rankin. In this drama comedy set in a reimagined Winnipeg two young kids find a banknote, leading them on an odyssey that takes them out of childhood and into the unforgiving world of adults; a disillusioned teacher shows up late to a class, only to insult his students; and a filmmaker arrives back at his family home and discovers that another man has taken his place. Australian Premiere. 

* 'The Village Next to Paradise' - from Germany, France, Austria and Somalia and Written and Directed by Mo Harawe. Hope and familial bonds thrive in dangerous conditions in a small but picturesque community by the ocean, located in a region racked by political instability and the ever-present threat of foreign drone strikes. Australian Premiere.

For all the other film strands, and details of the some 250 films being showcased at this years MIFF, plus a whole heap of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://miff.com.au

Coming back to this weeks three latest big screen releases coming your way, we start off with an American Sci-Fi action comedy that is based on a best-selling video game, that follows a down-at-heel team of misfits on a mission to save a missing girl who holds the key to unimaginable power. This is followed by an American romantic drama about a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in a new city, when a chance meeting with a neurosurgeon sparks a connection but she begins to see sides of him that remind her of her parents' relationship. And, closing out the week we have a Aussie family fantasy animated sequel that has a pink were-poodle who goes on a mission to save a young moon spirit and finds himself caught up in the magic of a werewolf sorceress.

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

'BORDERLANDS' (Rated M) - this American Sci-Fi action comedy film is Co-Written for the screen, based on a story and Directed by Eli Roth whose prior Directing credits take in 'Cabin Fever' in 2002, 'Hostel' in 2005 and its follow up 'Hostel : Part II' in 2007, 'The Green Inferno' in 2013, 'Death Wish' in 2018 and 'Thanksgiving' in 2023. This film is based on the best selling video game of the same name, and is released in the US this week also.

Here, Lilith (Cate Blanchett), an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe's most powerful man, Atlas (Edgar Ramirez). Lilith forms an uneasy alliance with an unexpected team, comprising Roland (Kevin Hart), a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina, a feral teenage demolitionist (Ariana Greenblatt); Krieg (Florian Munteanu), Tina's musclebound, bombastically challenged protector; Dr. Patricia Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), the scientist with a questionable grip on sanity; and Claptrap (voiced by Jack Black), a persistently wiseass robot. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. Also starring Gina Gershon.

'IT ENDS WITH US' (Rated M) - is an American romantic drama film Directed and starring Justin Baldoni in his third feature film making outing following 'Five Feet Apart' in 2019 and 'Clouds' in 2020 although he has many other Directing credits to his name on short films, TV movies and television series. This film is based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover. Here then, Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) moves to Boston to realise her lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) quickly ignites an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, she begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents' relationship. When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle is turned on its head, leaving her with an impossible choice. The film is released Stateside this week too.

'200% WOLF' (Rated G) - this Australian, German, Spanish and Mexican Co-Produced family fantasy action adventure animated film is Directed by Alexs Stadermann whose previous feature film credits include 'Maya the Bee Movie' in 2014, 'Maya the Bee : The Honey Games' in 2018 and '100% Wolf' in 2020. Heroic poodle Freddy Lupin (voiced by Ilai Swindells) has everything it takes to lead his werewolf pack. Except respect. If only he were more wolf like. But when a wayward wish transforms him into a werewolf and deposits a mischievous moon sprite on Earth, Freddy must restore the cosmic order before Earth and Moon collide! Also starring the voice talents of Jennifer Saunders and Samara Weaving. 

With three 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-