What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th December 2015.

Over the last couple of weeks I have referenced the AACTA Awards held at Sydney's Star Casino, first up on 30th November and then the second ceremony on 9th December recognising all that is best in the Australian film and television scene. Those that picked up Awards on 30th November have been mentioned before and last week Cate Blanchett's success with the Longford Lyell Award. This week I'll wrap things up with the winners & grinners in the principle categories, although of course these don't detract from those recipients previously honoured. Picking up the AACTA Award for Best Film was 'Mad Max : Fury Road' and Best Direction to  George Miller for 'Mad Max : Fury Road'.  Best Lead Actor is Michael Caton in 'Last Cab to Darwin' and Best Lead Actress being Kate Winslet for 'The Dressmaker'. Picking up the Best Supporting Actor Award was Hugo Weaving for 'The Dressmaker' and Best Supporting Actress went to Judy Davis, for 'The Dressmaker'.  Finally, rounding out the Awards was The People's Choice Award which went to . . . surprise, surprise, 'The Dressmaker'. In the final analysis those multiple winners were 'Mad Max : Fury Road' picking up eight Awards, 'The Dressmaker' five, and 'Last Cab to Darwin' two. Well done, and congratulations to all. You can see more at : www.aacta.org

This week, one week outside of Christmas, perhaps the most highly anticipated, eagerly awaited and much hyped film of the year, if not the last three years, is about to hit our cinema screens at an Odeon very near you. You know the one I'm talking about as it hardly needs any introduction and is already well established in our cinematic history, our popular culture, and our movie going psyche. This week it is the only release, which is hardly surpassing as no Studio, no Producer and no Director would want to go head to head on the same release date as this proven epic space opera that has already lasted 38 years so far . . . and counting!

With this in mind, see the extended Preview below, and when at one minute past midnight on 17th December, if you are amongst the world's first to see this latest instalment, drop your mates here at Odeon Online a note in the Comments section below this or any other Post, and share your views and opinions, thoughts and observations about the movie you've seen. Enjoy your film.

'STAR WARS : Episode VII - THE FORCE AWAKENS' (Rated M) - In 1977 a young George Lucas who already had a number of successful films under this belt, created a story that has become ingrained in popular culture, and has spawned an entire industry around successive stories, movies, books, television series, radio broadcasts, merchandise, video games and theme park attractions. That initial film was of course 'Star Wars' which later became 'Star Wars : Episode IV - A New Hope' with the original trilogy taking in successive films in 1980 and 1983. Then in 1999, the franchise was resurrected with an prequel trilogy kicking off with 'Star Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace' with two further instalments in 2002 and 2005. Those initial six films have grossed US$4.39B including the animated feature in 2008 'The Clone Wars' and  each film has either been nominated for, or won, at The Academy Awards. Then in 2012 The Walt Disney Company purchased Lucasfilm for in excess of US$4B and made it known that there would be a further three films in the franchise commencing with 'The Force Awakens', that opens at an Odeon near you this week.

So, history lesson over, this next instalment is upon us, finally, after a massive media campaign that kicked off as soon as Disney announced its plans for the sequel trilogy and Director J.J.Abrams came on board having jumped ship from that other 'Star' franchise - 'Star Trek' after two outings. With a budget of US$200M this film is expected to be a Box Office sensation, and that would be hardly surprising given the publicity, advertising, promotion, anticipation, expectation and frenzy from the world over since the first teaser trailer was released early this year. 

This film is set about thirty years after the final film in the original franchise - 'Star Wars : Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi' and sees a number of our favoured characters returning from back then including Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, C3PO, R2D2 and Chewbacca. At this time the Rebel Alliance has become the Resistance and the Galactic Empire has become the First Order and follows newly established characters Finn (a redeemed First Order Stormtrooper who is in possession of Luke and Anakin's light sabre), Rey (a planet Jakku scavenger), and Poe (a highly regarded and accomplished Resistance X-Wing fighter pilot) as they meet new friends and fight old enemies. Starring such names as Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow and Simon Pegg, as well of course as Ford, Fisher, Hamill, Daniels and Baker. Can't hardly wait!

With just one new release this week, there is really no contest in terms of what you're going to see, unless of course you have been living under a rock for the last three years, or hail from a galaxy far far away! If you check out this must see film of the year, or another of those currently on general release, be sure to let us know your thoughts of your movie experience this week. 

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 10th December 2015.

Last week I gave a quick snapshot of the first Awards Ceremony of AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) as presented on 30th November with its film accolades for those working behind the camera; with the second ceremony to be held on 9th December for those working in front of it. On that evening nine film awards were presented with another six this week, and both events are held at Sydney's Star Casino. In the meantime however, it has been announced that Australia's very own Cate Blanchett is to be the proud and very worthy recipient of the AACTA Longford Lyell Award, which is presented to those who have made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia’s screen environment and culture. This most prestigious award (named after Australian pioneering film-makers Raymond Longford and his partner Lottie Lyell) and the highest honour to be bestowed by AACTA will be presented on Wednesday evening by Hugo Weaving and Richard Roxburgh with personal tributes from Gillian Armstrong, Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford, Ridley Scott and Ron Howard amongst others. For more go to : www.aacta.org

There are slim pickings in movie theatres in the week ahead with only limited new content coming our way, although there are still plenty of offerings out there on general release that has been either Reviewed, Previewed or both in previous Blog Posts on these humble pages. I guess it is the calm before the storm of a certain much hyped eagerly awaited and highly anticipated inter galactic saga that continues the franchise that started almost forty years ago and which has its release in just one week from now, and of course there is a plethora of new films coming our way at Christmas and early in the new year. For those, you'll have to keep reading, but until then, we'll Review what there is this week. And so this week we have just one new film of the high stakes gambling persuasion set amidst the deep southern USofA that is your not your typical gaming & wagering offering.

As usual you are cordially invited to leave a parting comment once you have sat through your movie of choice and formed an opinion of what your have seen up on the big silver screen - good, bad or indifferent, we'd love to hear from you! You can do so below this or any other Post in the Comments section that follows every Post. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

MISSISSIPPI GRIND (Rated M) - Written and Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, this film had its initial release at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year, and its Stateside release in late September, so it has taken a while to reach our shores Down Under, although it was shown too at the Melbourne International Film Festival in early August this year. Originally Jake Gyllenhaal was linked to the project way back in 2012, but dropped out to be replaced by Ryan Reynolds. And so this story is one of gambling in America's deep south centering around New Orleans and the road trip to get there stopping off at various casino's, racetracks, bars & clubs en route.

Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) is a down at heel, down on his luck, down in the dumps gambler on a losing streak but still chasing his losses looking for the big win that will reverse his fortunes and set him up. Gerry meets up by chance with Curtis (Ryan Reynolds) a young buck, with luck on his side, a twinkle in his eye, and an easy come easy go outlook on life. Soon Gerry's luck begins to change for the better and so the two team up with Gerry believing he has found his good luck charm in Curtis. They leave Iowa and head to New Orleans where a high stakes poker game promises rich rewards, and whilst en route the two get to know each other, form a bond and uncover what motivates them and what traits underpin their individual characters. If you are expecting 'Casino' or 'The Gambler' you'll be disappointed, this it ain't - more a character study of what drives the gambling psyche. Sienna Miller also stars.

If this film is for you or not, or any of those currently in circulation, share your views with the movie going world here at Odeon Online, and in the meantime, do you bit to keep movies alive.

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 3rd December 2015.

Monday 30th November saw the first Awards Ceremony of AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) with its film accolades for those working in essence behind the camera; and the second ceremony to be held on 9th December for those working in front of it. Both events are held at Sydney's Star Casino, and on Monday night this week nine feature film awards were given out, with a further six next week. Hosted by Actor, Writer and Producer Rob Carlton the AACTA Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Music, Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects or Animation, all went to 'Mad Max : Fury Road'; with Best Costume Design going to 'The Dressmaker' (that figures!); Best Original Screenplay to 'Paper Planes' and Best Adapted Screenplay to 'Last Cab to Darwin'. For more, go to : aacta.org

For the coming week ahead we have four new films doing the rounds at a theatre near you that kick start the new movie week with a sea faring survival epic that pitches mere mortal men against a great beast of the ocean depths hundreds of miles from land and the stuff of maritime lore; then a good ol' conspiracy theory about a bumbling President and the alleged story of draft dodging back in the day and the repercussions of this thirty years later; a Christmas season comedic offering of mateship, partying, festive cheer, growing up and moving on; and to finalise, an interview between two writers one on the cusp of critical acclaim and the other a Reporter for a well known magazine struggling to get a break.

Again, and as always, when you have seen your movie of choice of those Previewed below or any of those still out on general release and as either Reviewed or Previewed in earlier editions, drop your like minded cinephile friends your own thoughts, opinions and observations on your film experience. We'd all love to hear from you and you can do so in the Comments Box below this or any other Post. Enjoy your movie.

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA (Rated M) - Back in 1820 a whaling ship from Massachusetts captained by George Pollard Jnr, was sunk in the Southern Pacific Ocean by a sperm whale - that ship was 'The Essex'! As a result of its sinking the twenty man crew spent months at sea having to resort to cannibalism in order to survive before the final eight men were finally rescued. Cabin Boy Thomas Nickerson and First Mate Owen Chase wrote an account of their ordeal at sea at the mercy of a sperm whale and that inspired Herman Melville's 1851 book, 'Moby Dick' - the story upon which Director Ron Howard has based his latest film taken from the 2000 book of the same name by Nathaniel Philbrick.

Essentially that is the story, with Chris Hemsworth playing First Mate Owen Chase, Benjamin Walker as Captain George Pollard Jnr., Tom Holland and Brendan Gleeson playing Thomas Nickerson the younger and the elder respectively, Ben Whishaw as Herman Melville and Cillian Murphy as Matthew Joy the Second Mate. When their ship, The Essex, is torn in two by a gigantic whale with incredible size and strength, the crew are left to drift the ocean for months on end amidst raging storms, despair, panic, hunger, and thirst and so their plight becomes a true test of survival and the lengths man will go to in order to survive, and fish another day when they think that all is lost!

TRUTH (Rated M) - This film is Directed by first timer James Vanderbilt who wrote the Screenplay and also Co-Produced, and is based on the memoir of Mary Mapes 'Truth and Duty : The Press, The President and The Privilege of Power'. It surrounds CBS Producer of '60 Minutes Wednesday' Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett), her crew and National News Anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) who get caught up in the conspiracy surrounding President George W. Bush re-election campaign in 2004 when it was revealed by the show that in the early 70's he received preferential treatment from the Texas Air National Guard following his failure to achieve even basic training and performance requirements to avoid being drafted to Vietnam through the position in the political arena held by his father at the time. Ultimately the scandal cost Mapes and Rather their jobs, their careers and their reputations when falsehoods were revealed . . . or were they really false? Gotta love a good conspiracy theory! The film also stars Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, Stacy Keach, Dermot Mulroney, was filmed in Sydney, Australia and cost less than US$10M.

THE NIGHT BEFORE (Rated MA15+) - Festive film fare is likely to come thick & fast now in the lead up to Christmas and here is the second offering of the season so far with this Jonathan Levine Written and Directed comedy. Starring long term buddies Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) whose parents died years earlier on Christmas Eve, Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen) and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) the three have every Christmas Eve since spent the night together to support Ethan and comfort him with a big annual reunion night out of jolly japes, misadventure, fun, frivolity and hilarious shenanigans! With Isaac knocking on the door of first time fatherhood, and Chris is busy being famous, the trio of buddies realise their reckless days of Christmas celebrations are soon to be no more. So poised for one last hurrah they set off into NYC in search for the holy grail of Christmas parties - The Nutcracka Ball!

THE END OF THE TOUR (Rated M) - Directed by James Ponsoldt and based on David Lipsky's 2010 best seller 'Although Of Course You End up Becoming Yourself' this is his story about his five day long road trip interview with acclaimed author of 'Infinite Jest' David Foster Wallace in 1996. Lipsky is here played by Jesse Eisenberg, a Reporter with Rolling Stone magazine who learns in 2008 that Wallace (Jason Segel) committed suicide. From here the story goes back to that five day trip when Lipsky's Editor grants him an assignment to shadow Wallace during his book tour to launch 'Infinite Jest' which went on to become a touchstone for many a subsequent Writer. As Wallace opens up to Lipsky so more and more topics are discussed, more questions answered and more hidden truths revealed although often veiled in caution on Wallace's part. With several award wins and nominations already under its belt and high critical praise for the storytelling and nuanced performances this uplifting, inspiring and often funny account of two writers on opposite sides of the fence is likely to surprise and delight.

Four films of note then to get you out amongst the movie going public in the seven days ahead. When you have done so share your thoughts of your latest film experience as we'd love to hear from you, and so would our other ever growing readership. In the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-