What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 8th May 2025.

The 78th annual Cannes Film Festival takes place this year from the 13th through to 24th May. Held annually in Cannes, on the French Riviera the festival previews new films of all genres from around the world. Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres. Cannes is one of the 'Big Three' major European film festivals, alongside Venice and Berlin, as well as one of the 'Big Five' major international film festivals, alongside Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance. 

The festival will open with the French comedy film 'Bye Bye' by Amelie Bonnin, where it is eligible for the Camera d'Or Award as a feature Directorial debut. This year there are twenty-one feature films in Official Competition for the prestigious Palme d'Or Award, whose Jury is presided over by French Actress Juliette Binoche. Among those titles are the following :-

* 'Alpha' - from France and Belgium, this drama film is Written and Directed by Julia Ducournau and starring Golshifteh Farahani, Tahar Rahim and Emma Mackey. World Premiere.

* 'Die, My Love' - from the USA, this dark comedy thriller is Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek and Nick Nolte. World Premiere.

* 'Dossier 137' - from France, this crime drama is Co-Written and Directed by Dominik Moll and starring Lea Drucker. World Premiere. 

* 'Eddington' - from the USA and this contemporary Western is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ari Aster and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler and Luke Grimes. World Premiere.

* 'The History of Sound' - from the USA and the UK, this historical romantic drama film is Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Oliver Hermanus and stars Paul Mescal, Chris Cooper and Josh O'Connor.  World Premiere.

* 'The Mastermind' - from the USA and the UK, this crime film is Written and Directed by Kelly Reichardt and starring John Magaro, Josh O'Connor, Hope Davis, Bill Camp, Amanda Plummer and Gaby Hoffman. World Premiere.

* 'Nouvelle Vague' - from France and Co-Produced and Directed by Richard Linklater, and starring Guillaume Marbeck and Zoey Deutch. World Premiere.

* 'The Phoenician Scheme' from the USA and Germany and this espionage black comedy is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Wes Anderson and starring Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Hope Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Richard Ayoade and Mathieu Amalric. World Premiere.

* 'Sentimental Value' - from Norway, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the UK and this comedy drama is Co-Written and Directed by Joachim Trier and stars Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgard, Elle Fanning, and Cory Michael Smith. World Premiere.

* 'The Secret Agent' - from Brazil, France, Germany and the Netherlands, this historical political thriller is Written, Co-Produced and Direcetd by Kleber Mendonca Filho, and stars Wagner Moura, Udo Kier, Gabriel Leone and Maria Fernanda Candido. World Premiere.

American Actor, Director and Producer Robert De Niro is to be bestowed with the Honorary Palme d'Or Award during the festivals Opening Ceremony. 

For the remaining films in Official Competition and a brief synopsis, plus all the other film sections and those playing in the other competitive strands, and a whole lot of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/

Turning attention back to this weeks no fewer than eight new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we launch with a French erotic drama offering about a woman who, in search of a lost pleasure, travels alone to Hong Kong on a business mission, and in the vibrant and sensual global city, she indulges in intense encounters and new experiences. This is followed by another French release that charts the beginnings of an iconic French-Armenian singer, songwriter and Actor, from zero to fame. Then we have an action thriller in which an estranged couple with a bounty on their heads must go on the run with their son to avoid their former employer, a unit of shadow ops that has been sent to kill them. Next up is slasher outing set in a fading midwestern town in which Frendo the clown, a symbol of bygone success, reemerges as a terrifying scourge. Then we turn to an Aussie drama about a daughter, a mother, and a stranger from another land who are thrown together on an unexpected road trip. Following on is an emotional drama about a courageous factory worker who fights for justice when cheated and mistreated by her company; before closing out the week with an Aussie alternative animated music film that serves as a fairy tale for the modern world exploring the consequences of human progress.

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

'EMMANUELLE' (Rated MA15+) : this English language French erotic drama film is Co-Written, Produced and Directed by Audrey Diwan who made her feature film making debut in 2019 with 'Losing It' and would follow this up in 2021 with 'Happening' to much universal critical praise along the way to collecting twenty-seven award wins and a further forty-nine nominations from around the awards circuit. This film is based on the 1967 erotic novel of the same name by Emmanuelle Arsan, and is a reboot of the series. This is the eighth cinematic film in the series of the same name and the fifteenth film overall with the debut feature being released in 1974 and starring Sylvia Kristel in the title role - a role she would reprise in 1975, 1977, 1984 and 1993.

Here then, Emmanuelle (Noemie Merlant), a quality controller for a luxury hotel brand, arrives in Hong Kong to evaluate a hotel run by Margot (Naomi Watts), having been tasked with finding a good reason to sack her. Searching for a lost pleasure, she has numerous sensual experiences inside the hotel, and crosses path with Kei (Will Sharpe), a mysterious client with whom she becomes infatuated. Also starring Anthony Wong, Jamie Campbell Bower and Carole Franck. The film was released in its native France in late September last year and only now does it get a showing in Australia.

'MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR' (Rated M) - is a French and Belgian Co-Produced musical biographical drama film Written for the screen and Directed by Mehdi Idir and Grand Corps Malade (aka Fabien Marsaud). The film charts the life of French singer Charles Aznavour, portrayed by Tahar Rahim, from his beginning as the son of Armenian immigrants to the rise of his career as a singer, songwriter, Actor and activist which cemented his status as a beloved figure in France. The film was released in France in late October last year, has so far grossed US$16M from a production budget of US$28M, and has garnered mostly positive reviews.

'SHADOW FORCE' (Rated MA15+) - this American action thriller film is Co-Written and Directed by Joe Carnahan who made his feature film Directorial debut with 'Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane' in 1998, and would follow this up with the likes of 'Narc' in 2002, 'Smokin' Aces' in 2006, 'The A-Team' in 2010, 'The Grey' in 2011, 'Boss Level' in 2021, and 'Copshop' also in 2021. Here, Kyrah (Kerry Washington) and Isaac (Omar Sy) were once the leaders of a multinational special forces group called Shadow Force. They broke the rules by falling in love, and in order to protect their son Ky (Jahleel Kamara), they go underground. With a large bounty on their heads, and the vengeful Shadow Force hot on their trail, one family's fight becomes all-out war. Also starring Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Method Man and Mark Strong. It is released in the US this week too.

'CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD' (Rated MA15+) - is an American slasher film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Eli Craig in his third feature film outing following 'Tucker & Dale vs. Evil' in 2010 and 'Little Evil' in 2017. Here, Looking for a fresh start, Quinn Maybrook (Katie Douglas) and her father Dr. Maybrook (Aaron Abrams) move to the quiet town of Kettle Springs. They soon learn the fractured community has fallen on hard times after losing the treasured Baypen Corn Syrup Factory to a fire. As the locals bicker amongst themselves and tensions boil over, the sinister, grinning clown Frendo, the Baypen mascot, emerges from the cornfields to cleanse the town of its burdens, one bloody victim at a time. The film saw its World Premiere at SXSW in mid-March, is released this week too Stateside, and has garnered generally positive reviews.

'WITH OR WITHOUT YOU' (Rated M) - this Australian drama film is Written, Executive Produced and Directed by Kelly Schilling in her feature film Directing debut. It follows the moving story of Chloe (Melina Vidler), a young woman determined to rescue her free-spirited, alcoholic mother, Sharon (Marta Dusseldorp), from the claws of temptation. When Chloe’s ex-boyfriend torches her caravan, destroying everything inside, including her life savings, they find themselves on an unexpected road trip with a mysterious West African man named Dalu (Albert Mwangi), who is also looking for a better life. On their journey through the Australian countryside, they face challenges and unexpected detours, which, along with humour and passion, lead them to discover hope and healing.

'LILLY' (Rated CTC) - is an American drama film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rachel Feldman who Directed 'Witchcraft III : The Kiss of Death' in 1991 followed by 'She's No Angel' in 2001. She has also Written and Directed a number of short film between 1981 and 2017. Here then, based on the true story of working-class hero, Lilly Ledbetter (Patricia Clarkson), a hard-working Alabama supervisor at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. whose singular goal is to lift her family into the middle class. Having grown up in poverty, she endures a work environment plagued by pervasive harassment for the sake of the best paycheck in the county. As retirement approaches, Lilly discovers that the system has been cheating her, paying her close to half of what the men with the same jobs are earning. Outraged, Lilly fights this injustice to the Supreme Court, the corridors of Congress and eventually The White House all while powerful forces try to shut her down. Also starring John Benjamin Hickey, Thomas Sadoski and Josh McDermitt. The film saw its World Premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival in mid-October last year. Lilly Ledbetter died two days later, at the age of 86. The film is released in the US this week also.

'THE WEDDING BANQUET' (Rated M) - this American romantic comedy film is Co-Written and Directed by Andrew Ahn who has previously Directed the feature films 'Spa Night' in 2016, 'Driveways' in 2019, and 2022's 'Fire Island'. This film is a remake of the 1993 critically and commercially successful film of the same name that was Directed by Ang Lee. Here then, hoping to stay in the country, a gay man Min (Han Gi-chan) proposes a green card marriage to a female friend Lee (Lily Gladstone) in exchange for paying for her IVF treatment. However, things soon get complicated when his grandmother surprises them with plans for an extravagant Korean wedding banquet. Also starring Kelly Marie Tran, Joan Chen and Bowen Yang. The film was released Stateside in mid-April and has so far grossed US$919K.

'TALL TALES' (Rated PG) - here fabled English record producer Mark Pritchard, luminary English musician, songwriter and the frontman of Radiohead Thom Yorke, and groundbreaking Australian visual artist Jonathan Zawada present 'Tall Tales' - a debut collaborative visual and audio cinema experience a decade in the making. Directed by Jonathan Zawada, the film is a fairy tale for the modern world - depicting rising tides, kings & queens, Amazon logistics and robotic arms under iridescent skies. We wanted computers to do our accounting - instead, they try to paint our pictures and sing our songs. Like all good fairy tales - this work edges light with the dark as Thom's echoed chants intertwine with Mark's shimmering electronics. A prophetic visual album, 'Tall Tales' has been years in the making, but delivered right on time.

With eight 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-