What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 4th November 2021.

The 34th Tokyo International Film Festival is currently in full flight having opened on Saturday 30th October and ending on Monday 8th November. This festival is one of Asia's competitive film festivals, and the only Japanese festival accredited by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations). TIFF has played an integral role in Japan's film industry and cultural scene since it was founded in 1985. TIFF aspires to be recognised as one of the four major film festivals in the world and in the same league as Cannes, Venice and Berlin. This year the Opening Night film was 'Cry Macho' Directed, Co-Produced and starring Clint Eastwood, with the Closing Night film being 'Dear Evan Hansen' Directed by Stephen Chbosky.

In Official Competition at TIFF this year The International Competition Jury will award the Tokyo Grand Prix, Special Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Artistic Contribution and the Audience Award from a line up of fifteen films. The winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony, with the Tokyo Gran Prix winner collecting prize money of US$30K. Those films are :-

* 'Arisaka' - from The Philippines and Directed by Mikhail Red. World Premier screening.

* 'Californie' - from Italy and Directed by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman. Asian Premier.

* 'Crane Lantern' - from Azerbaijan and Directed by Hilal Baydarov. World Premier screening.

* 'The Daughter' - from Spain and Directed by Manuel Martin Cuenca. Asian Premier.

* 'The Dawning of the Day' - from Sri Lanka and Directed by Asoka Handagama. World Premier screening.

* 'The Four Walls' - from Turkey and Directed by Bahman Ghobadi. World Premier screening.

* 'Hommage' - from Korea and Directed by Shin Su-won. World Premier screening.

* 'Just Remembering' - from Japan and Directed by Matsui Daigo. World Premier screening.

* 'La Civil' - from Belgium, Romania and Mexico and Directed by Teodora Ana Mihai. Asian Premier.

* 'One and Four' - from China and Directed by Jigme Trinley. World Premier screening.

* 'The Other Tom' - from Mexico and the US and Directed by Rodrigo Pla and Laura Santullo. Asian Premier.

* 'Payback' - from The Philippines and Directed by Brillante Ma Mendoza. World Premier screening.

* 'Poet' - from Kazakhstan and Directed by Darezhan Omirbaev. World Premier screening.

* 'Third Time Lucky' - from Japan and Directed by Nohara Tadashi. World Premier screening.

* 'Vera Dreams of the Sea' - from Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania and Directed by Kaltrina Krasniqi. Asian Premier.

The Gala Section premieres the latest films ahead of their Japanese release. Ten films will be showcased this year which include much-talked-about films in international film festivals around the world, the latest films from internationally renowned auteurs, and entertainment films that were massive hits in their home countries. Those titles are : 'Churuli', 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye', 'The French Dispatch', 'Gensan Punch', 'The Hand of God', 'Last Night in Soho', 'Limbo', 'Memoria', 'The Power of the Dog' and 'Raging Fire'.

The World Focus section presents notable works from various international film festivals and the latest films that have yet to be released in Japan. The eight films showcased here are : 'The Box', 'Libertad', 'Veneciafrenia', 'Il Buco', 'Murina', 'Swan Song', 'Terrorizers' and 'Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash'.

Asian Future is a competitive section that features up-and-coming Asian Directors who have Directed no more than three feature-length films. The top film will be awarded the 'Asian Future Best Film Award' and prize money of US$10K. Two Japanese films have been selected this year. All ten films competing in the section will have their World Premiere showcasing. Those films are : 'American Girl', 'Asu', 'The Brittle Thread', 'The Brokers', 'The Coffin Painters', 'The Last Birds of Passage', 'The Nighthawk's First Love', 'Somebody's Flowers', 'When Pomegranates Howl' and 'World, Northern Hemisphere'.

For the complete run down of scheduled films and a whole lot more from this years 34th Tokyo International Film Festival, you can go to the official website at : https://www.2021.tiff-jp.net/ 

This coming week then we have four latest release new films coming to you local Odeon, and we kick off with the 26th instalment in the MCU that sees a race of immortal beings with superhuman powers who have lived on Earth for thousands of years hidden in plain sight, reunite to battle the evil Deviants. This is followed by a story of a violent gang war from the perspectives of mobster Dickie Moltisanti and his teenage nephew, Anthony Soprano, in the midst of Newark's 1967 riots. Next up, and in the world of international crime, an Interpol agent attempts to hunt down and capture the world's most wanted art thief, with the help of the world's second most wanted art thief. And closing out the week is a documentary  about a legendary cookbook author and television superstar, who changed the way Americans think about food, television, and even about women.

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 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.

'ETERNALS' (Rated M) - this much hyped epic superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics characters of the same name, is the 26th film in the MCU and the third film in the MCU's Phase Four. Directed and Co-Written by Chloe Zhao whose prior film credits are 2015's 'Songs My Brother Taught Me' her debut, then 'The Rider' in 2017 and the critically acclaimed 'Nomadland' in 2020. Originally set for release on 6th November 2020, it was then moved back to 12th February 2021 and then to this week in the US, UK, Australia and other international territories due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film cost US$200M to produce and has so far generated mixed or average Reviews. 

Starring an ensemble cast that takes in Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie that following the return of half the global population in 'Avengers: Endgame' ignites 'the emergence', the Eternals (an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth) —an immortal alien race created by the Celestials (their mythology is that they are members of the first lifeforms created in and by the original universe, and have contributed to the creation of the Multiverse including the evolution of life therein) who have secretly lived on Earth for more than seven thousand years, are forced into reuniting to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, the Deviants (an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth instigated by the alien Celestials, and wage war against their counterparts, the Eternals), after an unexpected tragedy forces them out of hiding in plain sight. 

'THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK' (Rated MA15+) - is an American crime drama story Directed by Alan Taylor whose previous film making credits take in his debut 'Palookaville' in 1995, 'The Emperor's New Clothes' in 2001, 'Thor : The Dark World' in 2013 and 'Terminator : Genisys' in 2015. In the meantime he has also Directed multiple episodes of 'Homicide : Life on the Street', 'Sex and the City', 'The Sopranos' and 'Game of Thrones'. Co-Written by and based on characters created by David Chase this film serves as a prequel to Chase's HBO crime drama series 'The Sopranos', and takes place during the 1960's and '70's in Newark, New Jersey. The film follows a young Anthony Soprano who is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark's history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family's hold over the increasingly race-torn city. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he worships, Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), who struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities, and whose influence over his impressionable nephew will help make the teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we'll later come to know - Tony Soprano (Michael Gandolfini, and the son of James Gandolfini who played Tony Soprano in the TV series). The film has garnered largely positive critical acclaim, has so far recouped US$12M off the back of a US$50M production budget, saw its World Premier showcasing at the Tribeca Film Festival in late September and went to general release in the US on 1st October along with a month-long simultaneous release on HBO Max. Also starring Jon Bernthal, Leslie Odom Jnr., Corey Stoll, Vera Farmiga, Ray Liotta and Billy Magnussen. 

'RED NOTICE' (Rated M) - is an American action comedy film Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Rawson Marshall Thurber, whose prior film making credits include his debut 'DodgeBall : A True Underdog Story' in 2004, 'We're the Millers' in 2013, 'Central Intelligence' in 2016 and 'Skyscraper' in 2018. The film gets a limited cinematic release from this week, before going to air on Netflix from 12th November. With a budget somewhere in the vicinity of US$180M it represents the biggest investment made by the streaming service in a feature film to date. Here then, when Interpol issue a Red Notice — the highest level arrest warrant to hunt and capture the world’s most wanted criminals, the FBI’s top profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) lands the case. His world wide pursuit finds him in the middle of a daring robbery where he’s forced to team up with the world’s greatest art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch the world’s most wanted art thief, Sarah Black aka 'The Bishop' (Gal Gadot). 

'JULIA' (Rated PG) - this American documentary film is Directed and Co-Produced by Julie Cohen and Betsy West with Ron Howard serving as Executive Director. The film chronicles the life of Julia Child, who lived from 1912 until 2004 and was an American cooking teacher, author, and television personality. She is recognised for bringing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' (published in 1961) and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was 'The French Chef', which premiered in 1963 and aired over 145 episodes through until 1973. All up Julia Child claimed fifteen TV series, eight DVD releases, published eighteen books and in 2009, a feature film 'Julie & Julia' adapted by Nora Ephron from Child's memoir 'My Life in France' saw Meryl Streep played Child. The film won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical or Comedy. This film has garnered mostly positive Reviews, saw its World Premier screening at the Telluride Film Festival in early September, and now gets its release in the US and here in Australia from this week. 

With four 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 at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 26th July 2018.

'The Land of the Long White Cloud' (aka New Zealand) may be famed for Peter Jackson's epic productions of 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies, as well as that world famous egg white and cream dessert Pavlova, and of course the sheer number of sheep that inhabit the countryside, but it also has a growing reputation for producing some genre bending, off the wall, quirky and often quietly unique comedy films. Taking a look back at the highlights of more recent years, here is my synopsis of my pick of the bunch :-
* 'The Breaker Upperers' - released 2018, and Previewed below.
* 'Pork Pie' - released in 2017, Directed and Written by Matt Murphy and starring Dean O'Gorman, James Rolleston and Ashleigh Cummings the film was generally well received although failed at the Box Office recouping just US$798K from its US$3.8M budget outlay. This film is a remake of the 1981 New Zealand film 'Goodbye Pork Pie' and tells the story of three accidental outlaws on the run who travel the length of New Zealand with the Police and the media in tow in a stolen orange coloured Mini Cooper.
* 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' - released 2016, Directed by Taika Waititi, and starred Julian Dennison and Sam Neill. Critically acclaimed and a firm favourite with moviegoers, the film tells the story of the mishaps and adventures of a fourteen year old lad and his foster father who become the subjects of a national man hunt after becoming lost in the New Zealand wilderness. The film picked up twenty award wins and another 25 nominations from around the circuit and took US$23M at the Box Office off the back of a US$2.5M budget investment.
* 'What We Do In The Shadows' - released 2014, Directed, Co-Produced, Co-Written and Starring Taika Waititi and Jermain Clement this was film was highly regarded by Critics and did well with audiences favouring vampire horror comedy. Here four centuries old Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead, whilst trying to navigate the mundane aspects of life in the 21st Century. The film collected 25 award wins and a further eighteen nominations from around the festival traps, and took US$7M from its US$1.6M production budget.
* 'Boy' - released 2010, Directed, Written and Starring Taika Waititi and James Rolleston. Critically lauded and a hit with audiences alike, the film broke all New Zealand Box Office records at the time of its release, and picked up thirteen award wins and another nine nominations and took US$9M at the Box Office. Set on New Zealand's east coast back in 1984, the film tells the story of an eleven year old boy who is a devout Michael Jackson fan, who gets the chance to reconnect with his absentee criminal father who has returned home to dig up a bag of ill gotten cash that he buried years ago. But, to the boys surprise his father is far from the hero and adventurer he imagined him to be.
* 'Black Sheep' - released in 2007, Directed and Written by Jonathan King, the film collected five award wins and five nominations and took US$5M at the Box Office. Sheep-averse Henry returns to his brother's New Zealand farm, hoping to be bought out for his share of the property. However, upon arrival what he discovers are genetically altered sheep that prey on humans and turn their victims into undead, woolly killers. Rampaging madness follows as Henry, a local animal-rights activist and a farmhand set out to stop the marauding flesh eating animals.

This week we have five latest release movie offerings to tease you out to you local Odeon, four of which are decidedly female driven. The first however, is a thriller set in the early 80's during the Lebanese Civil War that sees a former US Diplomat return to Beirut after ten years following the killing of his wife there. We then turn to a New Zealand comedy offering by a pair of likely girls who Direct, Write and Star in this film about a small but successful business they have established around breaking couples up - for better or for worse! Then we have a British drama comedy set in the '70's and '80's about one women's journey to establish herself as a stand up comedian doing the rounds of the tough and prejudiced Northern England Working Men's Clubs scene. And we wrap up with two bio-pics - the first of a highly acclaimed, widely successful and hugely popular songstress who died tragically back in 2012; and the second about a highly acclaimed and popular Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court that in all likelihood you've never heard of, but this is a compelling insight into the life, times and beliefs of this still practising 85 year old icon of the American legal system.

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

'BEIRUT' (Rated MA15+) - this American espionage thriller offering received its Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year and was released Stateside in early April. Directed by Brad Anderson whose credits include numerous television series episodes and feature films including 'The Machinist', 'Transsiberian', 'The Call' and 'Stonehearst Asylum', and is Co-Produced and Written by Tony Gilroy of the 'Bourne' series fame amongst many notable other scripting credits including 'Rogue One', 'Michael Clayton', 'Duplicity' and 'State of Play'. The film has received generally favourable Reviews and has so far taken just US$7M at the Box Office.

Set in 1982, in Beirut, Mason Skiles (John Hamm) was a former U.S. diplomat to Lebanon who ten years previously was living in Beirut with his Lebanese wife, Nadia, who was killed in a gunfight during a party at their home. Fast forward to 1982 and Skiles has crawled inside a bottle and is working as an industrial relations arbitrator in New England. However, out of the blue, he is called back into service to save a colleague from the group that is possibly responsible for his own family's death. Meanwhile, a CIA field agent Sandy Crowder (Rosamund Pike) who is working under cover at the American embassy is tasked with keeping Skiles alive, and ensuring that the mission is a success.

'THE BREAKER UPPERERS' (Rated M) - this New Zealand comedy was Directed, Written and stars the pairing of Madeline Sami and Jackie van Beek who some fifteen years prior we find Mel (Madeleine Sami) and Jen (Jackie van Beek) coming to the realisation that they were being two-timed by the same man. Bitter and twisted they became instant friends and formed 'The Breaker Upperers', a small-time business breaking up couples for cash. Now in their late-thirties and business is going great guns. They're a platonic, codependent couple who keep their cynicism alive by not getting emotionally involved with anybody else. But when they run into an old victim, Mel develops a conscience and their friendship is well & truly tested. Also starring James Rolleston and Executive Produced by Taika Waititi, the film Premiered at SXSW back in March before its initial release in NZ in May and its more recent screening at the Sydney Film Festival in June.

'FUNNY COW' (Rated MA15+) - this English comedy drama film is Directed by Adrian Shergold and tells the story of a female comedian's rise to stardom by doing the hard yards of her stand up routine in the working mens club circuit across the north of England throughout the turbulent '70's and '80's when prejudice, sexism, racism and bigotry were rife. Told from the perspective of the unnamed Funny Cow (Maxine Peake) as we learn of her troubled childhood through to her rollercoaster adult relationships that have influenced and inspired her comedic routine as she struggles to pave her way in very much a mans world. Tony Pitts wrote the story and also stars as her violent soul mate Bob, Paddy Considine stars as her lover Angus, and Stephen Graham plays her father. Alun Armstrong, Vic Reeves and Kevin Rowland also star. The film Premiered at the London Film Festival in October last year, and has been described as both hilarious and heart-breaking all at the same time, and Peake's performance has come in for particular praise.

'WHITNEY' (Rated M) - this no holds barred documentary film is Directed and Written by Kevin Macdonald and charts the life of the legendary American singer Whitney Houston, who died so tragically at the age of 48 on February 11th 2012 from accidental drowning in the bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel brought about by heart disease and cocaine use. Whitney broke more music industry records than any other female singer in history, became the only artist to have seven consecutive U.S. number one singles and had over two hundred million album sales to her credit. Friends, family and colleagues talk about her lifestyle both in front of and behind the cameras, in a life marred with scandals, struggles and eventual tragedy. The film Premiered at Cannes this year, went on release in the US earlier this month, and has received generally positive Reviews. A poignant, emotional and compelling look inside the troubled life of a musical icon.

'RBG' (Rated PG) - this American documentary is Co-Directed and Co-Produced by Betsy West and Julie Cohen and tells of the life and career of Supreme Court of the United States Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A career that has spanned many decades, and how Ginsberg developed a legal legacy while becoming prominent within pop culture for her lifelong battle against gender discrimination. The film presents a biographical depiction of the Supreme Court Justice from her birth in Brooklyn, New York in 1933 through her rise to the Supreme Court up to the present day in which she remains active at the age of 85. The film was released in the US in early May, has met with generally favourable Critical Reviews and has taken US$13M at the Box Office.

With five new release films out this week to tempt you 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-