What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 23rd May 2019.

As reported last week, the 72nd Cannes Film Festival is now in full swing until 25th May. As well as those twenty-one films in main competition for the prestigious 'Palme d'Or' award, the 'Un Certain Regard' section sees a further eighteen films compete for the 'Prix Un Certain Regard' which was introduced to the section to recognise young talent and to encourage innovative and daring works by presenting one of the films with a grant to aid its distribution in France. The name literally translated means 'a certain glance' but is understood by French speakers to mean 'from another point of view'. Here it means films with various types of visions and styles, which tell their stories in nontraditional ways. This section presents 'original and different' works which seek international recognition. The 'Camera d'Or' ('Golden Camera') is an award of the Festival for the best first feature film presented in one of the Cannes' selections and is awarded during the Festival's Closing Ceremony by an independent jury. The rules define first film as 'the first feature film for theatrical screening (whatever the format; fiction, documentary or animation) of sixty minutes or more in length, by a Director who has not made another film of sixty minutes or more in length and released theatrically.

Of those films competing for the Camera d'Or, below you'll find a quick summary of the main contenders :-

* 'A Brother's Love' - here this Canadian drama comedy offering is Directed and Written by Monia Chokri about Sophia (Anne Elisabeth Bosse), an immature university graduate student who is forced to reassess her life when her brother Karim (Patrick Hivon), with whom she has always had a very close and codependent relationship, falls in love with her gynecologist Éloise (Évelyne Brochu).

* 'Les Miserables' - this is a French drama film Directed and Co-Written by Ladj Ly about the 2005 Paris riots and stars Damien Bonnard.

* 'Bull' - this American drama film is Directed and Written by Annie Silverstein and stars Vicky Kadian, Yolonda Ross and Rob Morgan.

* 'Homeward' - this is a Ukrainian drama offering Written and Directed by Nariman Aliev.

* 'Particles' - this French/Swiss Co-Produced drama film is Directed and Written by Blaise Harrison and stars Thomas Daloz, Salvatore Ferro and Leo Couilfort.

* 'Port Authority' - this is an American drama film Directed and Written by Danielle Lessovitz

* 'The Bare Necessity' - this French drama film is Written and Directed by Erwan Le Duc and stars Fanny Ardant, Maud Wyler and Swann Arlaud.

* 'The Climb' - is an American comedy film Directed and Written by Michael Covino

* 'Sick, Sick, Sick' - this Brazillian/French and Dutch Co-Produced drama offering is Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Alice Furtado and stars Digao Ribeiro, Juan Paiva and Lourenco Mutarelli.

* 'Song Without a Name' - here this Peruvian and Swiss Co-Produced drama film is Co-Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Melina Leon and stars Lidia Quipse, Lucio Rojas and Maykol Hernández.

* 'Summer of Changsha' - this Chinese crime drama film is Written and Directed by Zu Feng.

You can get the full low down on these films, plus the many more screening both in and out of competition, and all the latest news and views at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival by visiting the official website at : https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/

Putting the focus back to this weeks latest release films coming to your local Odeon, we have four new offerings to tempt the ardent cinema goer. We launch into the week with a live action remake of a critically and commercially successful Disney animated feature from 27 years ago that sees a street urchin offered a chance to make something of his life courtesy of a magic lamp, a genie and three wishes. We then have a change of pace completely with a superhero horror offering that sees the gift of a perfect baby boy turn on its head when that young lad reaches puberty and things begin to go south very quickly for those around him. Next up we have an acclaimed foreign language offering about a pair of previously wealthy women, who by virtue of inheritance, have fallen on tough times for the first time in their thirty years together. Resorting to driving well to do ladies around town to make ends meet, one of the women makes a new connection that breathes fresh and invigorating life into the old girl. We then close the week with a documentary offering a look at an ideal future twenty years hence that is well within humanities grasp to effect lasting and meaningful change based on the technologies available today, for the benefit of the next generation and those that come after it, our planet and our collective future.  

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and 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.

'ALADDIN' (Rated PG) - in 1992 Disney released a feature length animated 'Aladdin' film starring Robin Williams as our titular genie from the magic lantern, which was in turn based on the Arabic folktale of the same name from the 'One Thousand and One Nights' which dates back to the early 18th Century. That film was made for US$28M, grossed US$504M at the global Box Office, was hailed a critical success and spawned various derived works and other material inspired by the film, including two direct-to-video sequels, 1994's 'The Return of Jafar' and 1996's 'Aladdin and the King of Thieves', an animated television series of the same name, and a Broadway production. The film picked up 32 award wins and 22 other nominations including two Academy Awards wins, three Golden Globe wins and five Grammy wins. Fast forward to 2016 and Guy Ritchie (yes he of 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', 'Snatch', 'Revolver', two successful 'Sherlock Holmes' films and 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' fame amongst others) was announced to Direct a live action remake of the Disney classic of the same name.

And so here we are, opening in cinemas around the world this week, Aladdin (Mena Massoud), a young street urchin who's only friend is his kleptomaniac pet monkey Abu (voiced by Frank Welker), falls in love with Jasmine (Naomi Scott), the Princess of Agrabah who is set to marry a Prince by her Sultan father (Navid Negahban). When he and Abu find a magic lamp containing a Genie (Will Smith channelling the late great Robin Williams), however, they must protect it from the wicked Grand Vizier, Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) and his loyal parrot Iago (voiced by Alan Tudyk), who both want to rule Agrabah with the Genie’s wishes and powers most awesome.

'BRIGHTBURN' (Rated MA15+) - here we have something new and seemingly fresh - a superhero horror film as Directed by David Yarovesky, Written by Mark and Brian Gunn and Co-Produced by James Gunn. Costing US$7M to bring to the big screen, the film tells the story of Tori (Elizabeth Banks) who after a difficult struggle with fertility, has her dreams of motherhood come unexpectedly true with the arrival of a mysterious baby boy who crash lands on Earth somewhere in the vicinity of  small-town Kansas form another world it appears. Young Brandon (Jackson A. Dunn) appears to be everything Tori and her husband Kyle (David Denman) ever wanted, he's bright, talented and curious about the world. But as Brandon nears puberty, a powerful darkness seems to manifest within him, and Tori becomes consumed by terrible doubts about her son. Once Brandon begins to act on his twisted urges, those closest to him find themselves in grave danger, as the miracle child transforms into a vicious predator. The film is released in the US this week too.

'THE HEIRESSES' (Rated M) - this Paraguayan drama film is Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Marcelo Martinessi and saw its Premier screening at the Berlin International Film Festival back in February 2018 where it was in main competition for the Golden Bear, and it was also selected as the Paraguayan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at this years 91st Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. The film has however, accumulated a total of 34 award wins and 35 other nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit and has garnered generally positive Reviews. Only now does it go on limited release in Australia. Here, Chela (Ana Brun) and Chiquita (Margarita Irun) are both descended from wealthy families in Asunción, Paraguay and have been together for more than thirty years. Recently however, their financial situation has declined leaving them no option but to sell off their inherited possessions. But when their debts result in Chiquita being imprisoned on fraud charges, Chela is forced to face a new harsh reality. Driving for the first time in years, she starts to provide a local taxi service to a group of well off elderly ladies. As Chela settles into her new life, she encounters the much younger Angy (Ana Ivanova), forging a fresh and invigorating new connection. Chela finally begins to break out of her shell and engage with the world, embarking on her own personal, intimate revolution.

'2040' (Rated G) - here Australian Actor, Writer, Producer and Director Damon Gameau delivers us this climate change documentary with a difference. This award winning Director for his debut feature length 2014 doco 'That Sugar Film', drills down on the best minds from around the world to focus on climate, economics, technology, civil society, agriculture and sustainability. '2040' maps out a pathway for change that can lead us to a more ecologically sustainable and equitable future. Motivated by his four year-old daughter who will turn 25 in 2040 and a concern for the planet she will inherit, Damon Gameau ventures out on a global journey to meet the proactive innovators and change agents at the forefront of delivering the best solutions already available to us today to improve the health of our planet and societies tomorrow, rather than the politicians who simply take a reactive approach to the matter by throwing seemingly vast sums of cash at the issue without any clear strategy. Described as an aspirational film full of hope about the possibility to make changes that will shift the course for humanity and the planet. This is the narrative the next generation needs to see, to aspire to, and to believe is possible.

With four new release movies 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 in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ROBIN WILLIAMS - dies aged 63 - R.I.P.

The world is reeling today following the announcement of the tragic and sudden death of Robin Williams reported overnight. Pronounced dead just after mid-day on Monday 11th August 2014 at his home in Tiburon, Northern California the exact circumstances surrounding his death are still not yet clear, although suicide by asphyxiation is suspected at this time. Struggling with early cocaine abuse and alcohol addiction in later years, he had suffered severe depression in more recent times in the period leading up to his death.

I had the privilege to see Robin Williams live at the Sydney Entertainment Centre a few years ago and being a long-term fan will always remember his rapid fire routine, his quick thinking, and his no holds barred approach to his stand-up comedy act. Nothing was off the table and anyone and everyone, anything and everything was fodder for his comedic genius - his quips, his one-liners, his observations on life, his accompanying mannerisms and facial gestures, his vocal capabilities, and his ability for improvisation were almost unequalled, and the foundation for his success. A true comic genius that transcended to the big screen in many memorable performances - humorous, dramatic and at times sinister - Williams had the full range and leaves us with a profound legacy of work that will ensure his memory lives on.

Born Robin McLaurin Williams on July 21st 1951 in Chicago he later moved to the San Francisco Bay area where he graduated from High School. He studied theatrical art at the College of Marin and later won a three years scholarship to Juilliard in New York where he got to know fellow student, Christopher Reeve. He wanted to become a dramatic actor but turned to stand-up comedy when he could get the break he needed.

Then in 1978 his break came on the long running 50's teen sit-com 'Happy Days' when a friendly happy-go-lucky out of place alien was cast on the show. Such was the success of his turn on this show that a spin-off series was created, and so 'Mork & Mindy' hit our television screens with Williams playing 'Mork' from the planet Ork. The hit show ran for four successful years until 1982 during which time he starred as 'Popeye' in the film of the same name in 1980, and 'The World according to Garp' in 1982. In the few years that followed a number of other TV shows and films would occupy his time, but it was 1987's 'Good Morning, Vietnam' that really established Williams as a force to be reckoned with.

From there he never looked back and starred in many film roles utilising his comic talents, his ability for improvisation, his voice range, and his desire to act in the more dramatic movies that would now come his way. His filmography is diverse and varied and includes 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen', 'Dead Poets Society', 'Toys', 'Awakenings', 'Dead Again', 'The Fisher King', 'Hook', 'Mrs. Doubtfire', 'What Dreams May Come', 'Jumanji', 'The Birdcage', 'Deconstructing Harry', 'Flubber', 'Good Will Hunting', 'Bicentennial Man', 'Jakob the Liar', 'Patch Adams', 'One Hour Photo', 'Insomnia', 'RV', 'Man of the Year' and recently 'The Butler' and 'The Angriest Man in Brooklyn'. He also starred in two 'Night at the Museum' films and lent his considerable voice talents to two 'Happy Feet' films, Disney's 'Aladdin', 'Robot's' and 'A.I. : Artificial Intelligence' amongst others. Due for release later in 2014 are still to come 'Merry Friggin' Christmas' and the third in the 'Night at the Museum' franchise with 'Secret of the Tomb'.

Williams was the recipient of an Academy Award win for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1998 for 'Good Will Hunting' and was nominated a further three times for the Best Actor in a Lead Role category. He won the Golden Globe in 1978 for 'Mork & Mindy', in 1987 for 'Good Morning, Vietnam', in 1992 for 'The Fisher King', in 1993 for his voice work on 'Aladdin', in 1994 for 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and in 2005 received the Cecil B. DeMille Award. He was nominated a further six times. Added to this he received two BAFTA nominations for 'Dead Poets Society' and 'Good Morning, Vietnam'. All up he had a career haul of 55 award wins and 67 nominations.

He was married three times - from 1978-1988 to Valerie Velardi; from 1989-2008 to Marsha Williams; and from 2011 to today to Susan Schneider. He had three children - Zak born 1983, Zelda born 1989 and Cody born 1991. He and his former wife Marsha formed 'The Windfall Foundation' to raise funds for many charities, and he was an active supporter of 'Comic Relief' and other worthy causes.







Comic genius, talented actor, voice artist and a man guaranteed to lift the spirits and raise a smile - you will be missed by those you leave behind, but in doing so we have your rich legacy to remind us.

Robin Williams - Rest In Peace
1951-2014.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-