What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 18th February 2021.

The 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam was held from 1st through to 7th February in various locations in and around Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Since its foundation in 1972, it has maintained a focus on independent and experimental filmmaking by showcasing emerging talents and established auteurs. The festival also places a focus on presenting cutting edge media art and arthouse film, with most of the participants in the short film programme identified as artists or experimental filmmakers. 

This years opening night feature presentation was 'Riders of Justice' from Denmark and Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen and stars Mads Mikkelsen, Nicolas Bro, Lars Brygmann and Nikolaj Lie Kaas. The films tells the story of a former soldier who returns home to care for his daughter after his wife died in a tragic train accident. However, when a survivor of the wreck surfaces and claims foul play, he begins to suspect his wife was murdered and embarks on a mission to find those responsible.

IFFR's trade mark Tiger Competition celebrates the innovative and adventurous spirit of up-and-coming filmmakers from all over the world. The competition was founded in 1995 with the aim of discovering, raising the profile of and rewarding up-and-coming international film talent. The Tiger Award is accompanied by a €40K cash prize, to be shared between the Director and Producer of the winning film. Two Special Jury Awards worth €10K are also presented for exceptional artistic achievement within the competition.

This years winner of the Tiger Award was presented to P. S. Vinothraj in his Directorial debut for the Indian film 'Pebbles' about a poverty-stricken father and son who wander a southern Indian landscape where anger and frustration burn hotter than the sun. Two Special Jury Award prizes were presented to Pascal Tagnati for his Directorial debut feature film 'I Comete - A Corsican Summer' from France exploring a cross-section of life in a Corsican village where tradition is revered, observing the locals throughout one summer; and presented to Norika Sefa for her Directorial feature film debut 'Looking for Venera' from Kosovo about Kosovan teenager Venera, struggling to go her own way in a strongly patriarchal situation. All three films saw their World Premier screening at IFFR. 

The films selected for the Big Screen Competition are presented to an audience jury composed of five film lovers. Together they determine which film they think deserves to be shown in movie theatres across the Netherlands and broadcast on television after the festival. The winner of the Big Screen Award wins a cash prize of €30K, half of which goes to the distributor who decides to buy the film. And this years winner, from a line up of fourteen films, was 'El perro que no calla' ('How to Be a Man') Directed by Ana Katz from Argentina.

The Audience Award is given to the filmmaker of the film in the official selection with the highest average vote in the audience poll. The winning filmmaker will receive a €5K prize! This years winner was announced as Jasmila Zbanic for her film 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' from Bosnia and Herzegovina from a line up of thirty-five films in total. 

The Critics FIPRESCI Award is given to the best film in the Tiger Competition. The jury assembles members of the Federation Internationale de la Presse Cinematographique (FIPRESCI), which consists of international film journalists, and this years win went to 'The Edge of Daybreak' from Thailand by Director Taiki Sakpisit in his feature film making debut. The film had its World Premier screening. The Critics KNF Award is given by the 'Circle of Dutch Film Journalists' with this year the Award went to the best film in the Tiger Short Competition being the twenty-seven minute short film 'Manifesto' from Norway and Directed by Ane Hjort Guttu. This film saw its International Premier showcasing. 

For the full line up of awards presented, plus all the news, views and reviews from this years 50th IFFR, you can visit the official website at : https://iffr.com/en

And so turning attention back to this week, we have six latest release new movies coming to your local Odeon. And we start off with a drama offering about a Korean American family who move to rural Arkansas in the '80's in search of a new life and the American Dream. This is followed by an American crime thriller about a Deputy Sheriff sent to Los Angeles who becomes embroiled in the search for a serial killer who is terrorising the city. Next up is an English film about a teenage lad who spends his summer listening to heavy metal music and trying to get along with his librarian mum, and we then close out the week with three documentaries, the first of which concerns a handful of men who search for the rare, expensive and delicious white Alba truffles deep in the forests of Piedmont, Italy. Then the second is an in depth exploration of the life and work of an acclaimed musician who never shied away from the political and social turbulence of his era. And we wrap up the week with an Aussie doco charting the first thirty years of an influential and acclaimed dance company that has its roots firmly set in Aboriginal culture. 

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new movies 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.

'MINARI' (Rated PG) - is an American drama film Written and Directed by Lee Isaac Chung whose previous feature film credits are 'Munyurangabo', 'Lucky Life', 'Abigail Harm' and the documentary 'I Have Seen My Last Born'. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival at the end of January 2020, winning both the US Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the US Dramatic Audience Award, and in the meantime has collected fifty-four award wins and a further 142 nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit including three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, ten Critics' Choice Movie Award nominations, six Independent Spirit Award nominations, and a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Needless to say the film has been universally acclaimed, and was released theatrically in the US last week. 

Set during the 1980's a Korean American family moves from California to a rural plot of land in Arkansas in search of its own American Dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home. Starring Steven Yeun as the father Jacob Yi, Han Ye-ri as mother Monica, Alan Kim as their son David, Noel Kate Cho as daughter Anne and Youn Yuh-jung as Monica's mother Soon-ja who travels from Korea to help out the struggling new farmers with their children. Also starring Will Patton. 

'THE LITTLE THINGS' (Rated M) - is an American crime thriller Directed, Written and Co-Produced by John Lee Hancock who previous film making outings include 'The Rookie', 'The Alamo', 'The Blind Side', 'Saving Mr. Banks', 'The Founder' and 'The Highwaymen'. The film cost US$30M to make, has so far generated mixed or average Reviews and has recouped US$13M of that initial budget investment since its release Stateside at the end of January. Here, Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe 'Deke' Deacon (Denzel Washington) joins forces with Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Sgt. Jim Baxter (Rami Malek) to search for a serial killer who's terrorising Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, suspect #1 Albert Sparma (Jared Leto), Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke's past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case. For his performance, Leto received Best Supporting Actor nominations at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

'DAYS OF THE BAGNOLD SUMMER' (Rated M) - this British film is Directed by 'The Inbetweeners' star Simon Bird in his feature film making debut. It saw its World Premier screening at the Locarno Film Festival back in August 2019, went on release in the UK in early June last year and only now does it arrive at Australian cinemas. The film is based on the graphic novel by Jeff Winterhart, features a soundtrack by Belle & Sebastian, and has garnered positive Press so far. The film centres around the somewhat precarious relationship between well-meaning single librarian mother Sue Bagnold (Monica Dolan) and her black-clad teenage son Daniel (Earl Cave), who'd rather listen to the death metal sounds of Metallica than his mother. Daniel was meant to spend the summer in Florida visiting his Dad, but is now stuck with Mum following the trip's cancellation. Over the course of the six week summer break, will mother and son be able to find some common ground from which they can begin to relate to each other and reignite the fun times they used to have together? Also starring Rob Bryden, Tamsin Greig and Alice Lowe.

'THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS' (Rated M) - this Italian documentary film is Directed and Written by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw who also take on the roles of Cinematographers here too. The film has garnered universal critical acclaim since its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in January 2020. This week it gets its release in Australia and in the US on 5th March. Deep in the forests of Piedmont, Italy, a handful of men, seventy or eighty years of age, hunt for the rare and expensive white Alba truffle—which so far has resisted all of modern science's efforts at cultivation. They're guided by a secret culture and training handed down through generations, as well as by the noses of their cherished and expertly trained dogs. They live a simpler, slower pace of life, in harmony with their loyal animals and their picture perfect country-side, that seemingly comes straight out of the pages of a fairy tale. 

'ZAPPA' (Rated MA15+) - Directed and Co-Produced by Alex Winter - the Actor, film maker, Producer and Writer who has thirty-seven directorial, twenty-eight acting, sixteen Producer and eleven writing credits to his name including as Bill, in three 'Bill & Ted' films, here brings us this highly acclaimed documentary exploring the life of musician Frank Zappa. He died in 1993 at the age of 52, but during his career as a rock guitarist, orchestral composer, music producer, innovative filmmaker, businessman, and social and political commentator he left an indelible mark on his chosen path in life that continues to amaze with over sixty albums of music from rock to orchestral, in addition to innumerable films, concerts and other accomplishments. With unfettered access to the Zappa family trust and all archival footage, this film explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time.

'FIRESTARTER : THE STORY OF BANGARA' (Rated M) - this Australian documentary film is Directed and Written by Wayne Blair and Nel Minchin and charts the birth and spectacular growth to where this Australian dance company is today as it enters its fourth decade. It recognises Bangarra’s early founders and tells the story of how three young Aboriginal brothers – Stephen, David and Russell Page – turned the newly born dance group into one of Australia’s leading performing arts companies. Through the eyes of the Page brothers and company alumni, 'Firestarter' explores the loss and reclaiming of culture, the burden of intergenerational trauma and crucially, the extraordinary power of art as a messenger for social change and healing.

With six new release films 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- 

BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC : Tuesday 15th September 2020.

'BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC' which I saw earlier this week is the PG Rated long awaited third instalment in the 'Bill & Ted' franchise following 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' in 1989 and 'Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey' in 1991. Both of those films combined generated US$79M at the worldwide Box Office off the back of production budgets amounting to US$27M. This Sci-Fi comedy film is Directed by Dean Parisot whose previous feature film credits take in 'Galaxy Quest', 'Fun with Dick and Jane' and 'RED 2', was released in the US on 28th August and last week here in Australia, cost US$25M to produce and has so far grossed US$3.5M. It has generated largely positive Reviews.

Here Alex Winter reprises his role of William S. 'Bill' Preston Esq. and Keanu Reeves his role as Ted 'Theodore' Logan. Following a montage of the history of the Wyld Stallyns and their rise to meteoric super stardom and their inevitable fall from grace as they failed to write that one song that would unify the world, their CD sales took a sharp nosedive and the pair were destined to play low level gigs in dive bars in front of largely stoned or drunk patrons, Bill and Ted have remained surprisingly upbeat. Now in 2020, they are initially seen making a speech and then playing their latest song at the wedding of their mother/step mother (it's complicated) which goes horribly wrong and sounds like a cacophony of disjointed uncoordinated musical instruments all fighting against each other to be heard. 

After the failed wedding gig in front of family and friends, Ted confides in Bill that he thinks they well never write the prophesied song, and a local music store has offered him $6,500 for his Les Paul guitar which he is seriously considering taking up. However, their young daughters Theadora 'Thea' Preston (Samara Weaving) and Wilhelmina 'Billie' Logan (Brigette Lundy-Paine) have great faith in their fathers and are their greatest supporters. They egg them on with words of encouragement. 

Meanwhile, Kelly (Kristen Schaal) the now grown up daughter of their earlier time travelling guide Rufus, arrives from seven hundred years in the future to take them to 2720, where they meet with The Great Leader (Holland Taylor), who is also Kelly's mother who advises them that they have until 7:17pm that evening to write the song that will unite the universe and prevent all reality from collapsing once and forever. 

Realising that it will be almost impossible for them to write such a song in just over seventy minutes they use Rufus's time travelling phone booth to steal the song from their future selves. Landing back home but two years hence in 2022, they learn that their future selves are even more unsuccessful than they were, and that their wives have left them. With Bill and Ted missing, the Great Leader sends a time-traveling robot named Dennis Caleb McCoy (Anthony Carrigan) to kill them, hoping therefore to restore balance to the universe. Kelly travels back to the present to warn them, but instead meets their daughters, Billie and Thea, who decide to help their fathers create the song. Using Kelly's time machine, Billie and Thea recruit musicians Jimi Hendrix (DazMann Still), Louis Armstrong (Jeremiah Craft), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Daniel Dorr), Ling Lun (the legendary founder of music in ancient China, played by Sharon Gee), and Grom (a drummer from before recorded history, played by Patty Anne Miller).

Bill and Ted travel to five years down the track to 2025, where they have seemingly become successful. However, they are tricked by their future selves, who try to pass off a song by Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures) as their own. Billie, Thea, and their newly recruited band members from across time return to the present day to meet up with Kelly and a time-displaced Kid Cudi (Kid Cudi), but Dennis inadvertently kills them and sends them all to Hell. In the ensuing fracas Bill and Ted jump forward to 2030 and discover that their future selves are incarcerated in prison and have become ripped, muscle bound heavily tattooed inmates who now have an axe to grind with their past selves for leaving them at the mercy of the Police authorities during the bust at Dave Grohl's place, which led to their imprisonment. When their future selves get into a brawl with other inmates, Bill & Ted make a quick exit and jump forward to 2067.

There they find a much older Bill and Ted on their deathbeds in a hospital. The aged Bill and Ted give their younger selves a USB drive containing the fabled song written by Preston/Logan, stating that it must be performed at 7:17pm at 'MP 46'. Upon saying their final farewells and exiting the hospital, Dennis appears, but stands down upon learning Bill and Ted have the song, and painfully informs them that he killed their daughters, and every member of their band too. In an attempt to coax Dennis into killing them so they can rescue their daughters in Hell, Bill snaps the USB drive in half and tosses it away. This backfires as a distraught Dennis full of remorse, turns his killer laser beam weapon on himself, but Bill and Ted throw themselves in the way of the beam, so sending all three to their deaths and the depths of Hell. There Bill and Ted locate their daughters and the band. With the help of Billie and Thea, Bill and Ted square away their differences with their old bandmate Death (William Sadler) to return everyone alive to 2020.

The group arrive on a busy freeway at the 'MP 46' sign post as reality is collapsing all around them, and with only a matter of minutes left until 7:17pm. Bill and Ted realise that the 'Preston/Logan' hand written on the USB drive retrieved by Dennis, actually refers to Billie and Thea, and that the song must be performed by everyone across time and space. They are joined by their wives, Princess Elizabeth Logan (Erinn Hayes) and Princess Joanna Preston (Jayma Mays), who have both come to the realisation they are happiest in their current time period. The four use Rufus' phone booth to create infinite copies of themselves across time and space, handing instruments to everyone who ever lived. Everyone across reality performs the song together, with Billie and Thea producing, while Bill and Ted lead the band on guitar. The universe is repaired and everyone returns to their proper dimensions in time and space.

I would have to say that my expectations going into this film were not particularly high, and I came out not feeling surprised or disappointed either. This film largely hit my mark, and as the third instalment in the franchise with a 29 year hiatus between films two and three it does a largely respectable job of maintaining the quirkiness, the wackiness and the idiosyncrasies that made those first two instalments so popular and unique for their time. Keanu Reeves comes across as being just a little bored and non-plussed about the whole affair but Alex Winter more than makes up for him with his zeal, energy and innate positivity, while William Sadler gets undoubtedly the best lines in the little screen time he is afforded. Samara Weaving and Brigitte Lundy-Paine also put in a respectable turn as Bill and Ted's chips off the old blocks. The film has heart, is goofy, effects laden and there are no bad guys here, only a couple of aspiring muso lunkheads caught up in their own time warp trying to do the right thing by just about everyone they come into contact with, and living by their own credo to 'Be Excellent To Each Other'! A phrase worth heeding in these uncertain times! For lovers of 'Excellent Adventure' and 'Bogus Journey' this final instalment is sure to please and deftly recreates the silliness of those first two films. For everyone else, if you're not expecting too much, then you won't be disappointed.

'Bill & Ted Face the Music' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-