ETERNALS : Wednesday 3rd November 2021.

I saw 'ETERNALS' earlier this week at an advanced screening at my local multiplex, and this M Rated much hyped, eagerly anticipated and long awaited epic superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics characters of the same name. This 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, following its World Premier in LA on 18th October. The film cost US$200M to produce and has so far generated mixed or average Reviews, and at the time of writing the film has grossed US$30M. 

The core Eternals team who landed on our little blue planet about seven thousand years ago, consists of ten characters, each with their own set of very particular skills and super powers. There is Sersi (Gemma Chan), who can transform objects into different elements, such as rock into sand, metal into water, wood into stone and so on; Ikaris (Richard Madden), has the ability to fly and fire cosmic laser beams from his eyes; Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), who can project energy blasts from his hands; Sprite (Lia McHugh), a twelve year old girl who can summon illusions at will ; Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), an inventor extraordinaire; Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), who is deaf but has superhuman speed; Druig (Barry Keoghan), with the ability to control many multiple minds at once; Gilgamesh (Don Lee) with super strength, and Thena (Angelina Jolie), the Goddess of war who can summon weapons of cosmic light; and leading the pack is Ajak (Salma Hayek), the 'Prime Eternal' who has the ability to heal herself and others and is able to communicate with the Celestial Arishem the Judge (voiced by David Kaye) as a surrogate mother and protector of the Eternals. 

And so the Eternals are an immortal alien race created millennia ago 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) and who were sent to Earth to protect humanity from the Deviants (an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth instigated by the alien Celestials). In 5000 BC, the Eternals arrived on Earth from their home planet Olympia sent by the Celestial Arishem, where they have to fight the invasive Deviants and ultimately destroy them all. Over the ensuing millennia, they have protected humanity from the dangers posed by these mutant creatures, but were not permitted to stand in the way of the development of mankind. The last of the Deviants were seemingly killed off some five hundred years ago, at which point the group became divided, as views differed about their responsibility towards the world's growing population. They subsequently spent the next few centuries largely separated from each other, waiting for Arishem to send them back to Olympia.

Fast forward to present day London and Sersi and Sprite are living together. After Sersi was left by her partner Ikaris more than five hundred years previously, she now has a relationship with Dane Whitman (Kit Harington) who works at London's Natural History Museum. When the three are attacked one evening by the Deviant leader Kro, Ikaris appears and chases the creature away after observing that this Deviant was able to self heal. Sersi, Sprite and Ikaris decide to reunite all Eternals to prepare for the renewed danger. They round up the rest of the group, all except for Ajak who was seemingly killed by a Deviant. 

As the new leader of the group, Ajak gave Sersi the ability to communicate with Arishem. In a conversation with the Celestial, Arishem tells her that the overriding mission of the Eternals was not to fight the Deviants, but to prepare Earth for 'The Emergence'. Arishem further explains that for millions of years, the Celestials have been planting their seeds in populated planets so that a new Celestial can be born from them. Since the energy of innumerable individuals is required for this, the Celestials sent the Deviants, so that the respective apex predators of the planet could be eradicated therefore paving the way for the ongoing development of life. However, the Deviants evolved and became apex predators themselves, explaining why the Eternals were sent to thwart them. Arishem concludes that Earth has now reached the necessary population density so that The Emergence - the birth of the Celestial Tiamut and the consequent destruction of Earth - can occur. This fact was known by Ajak since the Eternals arrived, but she was sworn to secrecy, telling Ikaris a few centuries ago but only revealing in flashback seven days before The Emergence was due to begin. Arisham also reveals that there was no home planet, Olympia, from which the Eternals originally hailed, and that they are destined to die with The Emergence. 

The Eternals came to love and respect humanity, despite all their flaws, over the centuries gone by, and so they decide not to obey the will of Arishem and instead want to prevent The Emergence. Through the 'Uni-Mind' created by Phastos - a connection between all Eternals that brings their collective powers together in a single force, Druig is then meant to harness the necessary power to bring Tiamut to sleep by means of his mind control abilities. However, not all Eternals are satisfied with the plan and Kingo leaves the group because he does not want to face Arishem and Ikaris reveals himself as an opponent. It was he who had been informed of The Emergence by Ajak and who finally sacrificed the leader to the Deviants when she too spoke out in opposition to the destruction of the Earth.

Makkari sprints around the world at warp speed to locate the place of The Emergence at the foot of an active volcano. There, a fight between Ikaris and the Eternals breaks out. The Deviant Kro, who wants to take out his revenge on the Eternals and who had previously killed Gilgamesh, is also there. Together, the group are able to bring Ikaris under control, while Thena defeats Kro at the same time by slicing and dicing him up with the aid of a pair of swords of cosmic light. 

Phastos activates the Uni-Mind, which Ikaris also joins after he has rethought his life on Earth and his relationship with Sersi. Since Druig is too weak from the previous fight to face Tiamut, Sersi, who is able to manipulate and transform substances, takes on the job and kills Tiamut by transforming the molten lava flow into ice and then hardened rock, so solidifying the emerging Tiamut. Wracked by guilt, Ikaris flies off taking one last look at planet Earth before flying directly into the sun. Sersi grants Sprite human life so that she can grow into an adult and experience all the things that adults do, albeit knowing that she will some day die too; Phastos remains with his partner and husband Ben (Haaz Sleiman) and their adoptive son Jack (Esai Daniel Cross), Kingo returns to his life as a famous Bollywood Actor; and Sersi returns to London to be with Dane Whitman. Thena, Druig and Makkari fly into space aboard their spaceship to find other Eternals. 

One day when Sersi and Dane are out walking and talking about her recent exploits in saving the world on Hampstead Heath with the City of London in the background, Arisham arrives on the horizon and summons Sersi and the other still earthbound Eternals telling them that with their killing of Tiamut he is still yet to judge whether Earth's civilisation will live or die. Keep watching for a mid-credits and a post-credits sequence in which Thena, Druig and Makkari get an unexpected couple of visitors on board their spaceship, and Dane Whitman opens up an old chest inherited from his forebearers.  

In crafting 'Eternals' Director and Co-Screenwriter Chloe Zhao has thrown out the MCU how-to rule book and created a film that takes the near fifteen year old epic franchise in a new and fresh direction. This film has emotion, sex, homosexuality and a rag tag bunch of various nationalities, cultures and beliefs all wrapped up into one neat little package that is not short on the action set pieces, or the humour delivered for the most part by Kingo and Gilgamesh. That said, its hard to get truly invested in ten characters when there is so little time given to their respective back stories which span millennia; the film labours at the mid-section and at a running time of 157 minutes it is, for me at least, twenty minutes overcooked. There will be those that love this film, and those that hate it, and as for this Reviewer, well I sit somewhere in the middle. But credit has to go to Chloe Zhao for steeping foot outside of the tried and tested MCU formula and delivering us something different, which despite its flaws, paves the way for a perhaps invigorated Phase Four - only time will tell where these characters take us. 

'Eternals' warrants three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, from Odeon Online-

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-

NOMADLAND : Tuesday 12th January 2021.

I saw 'NOMADLAND' at my local independent movie theatre earlier this week and this highly acclaimed M Rated American drama film is Directed, Written, Co-Produced and Edited by the Chinese movie maker Chloe Zhao in only her third Directorial outing after 'Songs My Brother Taught Me' in 2015 and 'The Rider' in 2017. In September 2018, Marvel Studios hired her to direct 'Eternals', based on the comic book characters of the same name, which is set for a release in early November 2021. This film is based on the 2017 non-fiction book 'Nomadland : Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century' by Jessica Bruder. The film saw its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September last year, goes on general release in the US on 19th February 2021, has generated universal Critical acclaim, and has so far collected seventy-nine award wins and another fifty-four nominations from around the awards and festival circuit. All off a budget of a mere US$6M. 

The film opens up with a brief history of the town Empire, in Nevada where the US Gypsum plant closed down in January 2011 after 88 years of operations, and by July of that same year the post code, 89405, is discontinued, rendering the once populated town of some 750 residents practically a ghost town as businesses closed and people left their homes in search of better prospects and employment elsewhere. One such resident is Fern (Frances McDormand who also Co-Produces here) who worked in Human Resources at the gypsum plant for a number of years alongside her husband who was a long serving employee and who passed away sometime recently. In the grips of winter with a thick blanket of snow on the ground, Fern is seen in a lock up garage packing up various essentials into a van which she has modified for a road trip, turning her back on Empire once and for all it seems. She intends to travel the country in search of employment, and lands a job at an Amazon fulfilment centre during the winter in the lead up to the busy Christmas and New Year season. 

A friend and fellow work mate named Linda (Linda May) invites Fern to visit a desert winter gathering in Quartzsite, Arizona organised by Bob Wells, which provides a support system and community for fellow nomads and vandwellers. When the seasonal work at Amazon ends and Linda leaves, Fern, who initially declined the invitation, changes her mind as the weather turns much colder and she struggles to find work in the area. At the gathering, Fern reconnects with Linda and meets fellow nomads and learns basic survival and how to become self-sufficient whilst travelling the long and winding road. 

After the gathering has ended and most of the other nomads have moved on, Fern remains in no hurry to go anywhere. She gets to know Swankie, a fellow nomad who has also stayed behind to repaint her own van before hitting the road again. Some days later, Fern's notices a blown tyre on her van, so she asks Swankie for a ride into town to buy a spare. Swankie berates Fern for not being better prepared, and invites her to learn more road survival skills, during which time the pair bond. Swankie tells Fern about her cancer diagnosis and shortened life expectancy of about eight months, and her plan to make good memories on the road rather than waste away in a hospital. They eventually go their separate ways.

Fern later takes a job as a camp host at an RV park. There she comes across David (David Strathairn), another nomad she met and danced with back at the desert community. She cares for David when he falls ill, accompanying him to the hospital for emergency surgery, and bringing him food. Upon his release, seemingly fully recovered, the two of them later take casual work at a local restaurant - Wall Drug Store, in Wall, South Dakota. One night David's adult son visits the restaurant looking for him, informing David that his wife is pregnant and asking him to come meet his future grandchild. David is hesitant, but Fern encourages him to go. David asks her to come with him, but she declines.

Fern lands a new job at the beet harvest, but her van breaks down and the cost of the repairs comes to US$2,300 which she can't afford. After calling friends to ask to borrow money and drawing a resounding blank, she visits her sister and her husband at their home. Her sister loans her the money, but questions why Fern was never around in their life and why Fern stayed in Empire after her husband died. Fern later visits David and his son's family - the grandchild is now five months old and she learns that David has elected to stay with them for the long-term. He offers her a room to stay in permanently in a guest house on the property, but she decides to leave after only a few days, becoming uncomfortable in a real bed with a solid roof over her head.

A year has now passed and Fern returns to her seasonal job at Amazon and when that stint comes to an end she revisits the Arizona commune. There she learns that Swankie has died, and she and the other nomads pay tribute to her life around the camp fire at night. Fern later opens up with Bob about her relationship with her husband, and Bob shares the story of his adult son's suicide five years ago at the age of 28. This particular day would have been his 33rd birthday. Bob expresses a love for the fact that goodbyes are not final in the nomad community, as they always promise to see each other again 'down the road'. Later, Fern returns to the ghost town of Empire and clears out the lock up garage of all her possessions saying to the manager that she no longer has any use for them. She visits the now vacant factory and the home she shared with her husband before getting back on the road again, and continuing with her journey wherever the road takes her. 

Apart from a small handful of professional Actors, the nomads in 'Nomadland' are real vandwellers and nomads living on the fringe of society and who have turned their back on consumerism, commercialism and the very culture that has rejected them. Make no mistake, in case you were unaware there is no sex, no violence, no explosions, or car chases, no gun play or close quarter hand to hand toe to toe head to head combat in this film. Instead what Zhao and McDormand, who is in every scene, manage so deftly to do is capture the spirit, the empathy and the imagery in a completely understated way to propel the viewer right into the very heart of Fern for all her regrets, her struggles and her dogged resilience for the first time in her life to be free and to make the most of the open road and explore the vast wide expanse of the American mid-west. This is a slow, meandering, thought provoking film from a Director standing on the edge of greatness, an Actress who is already there combined with non-Actors portraying fictionalised versions of themselves, impressive cinematography and a haunting piano soundtrack that all add up to a film that is worthy of the many accolades already bestowed up on it, and the early Oscar buzz. Catch it on the big screen - you won't be disappointed.

'Nomadland' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Saturday 26th December 2020.

With Christmas upon us, for many of us around the world this festive season will take on a whole new meaning given the ongoing and seemingly ever present impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries across Europe, the US and Asia are now battling second and third phase outbreaks that bring more restrictions, more lockdowns and more uncertainty. If your Government permits, get out a see a movie on the big screen this festive season and escape the trials and tribulations of the real world for a few hours. In the meantime I take this opportunity to wish my readership wherever you are in the world, a safe, happy and relaxing Christmas with your families, friends and loved ones - assuming you are able to. Together we can beat this thing by remembering to wear a face mask, practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. I wish you all the very best and compliments of the season to you. 

Coming to big screens across Australia and in some cases internationally this Boxing Day, we have six new movie releases to tease you out to your local Odeon the day after Christmas. We begin with the much delayed ninth instalment in the DCEU that sees an immortal Superheroine face off against an apex predator superhuman and a ruthless businessman intent on making wishes come true. Next up is a woman's odyssey to explore a nomadic existence in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis; followed by a French film set in the late '60's about a woman thrust into running a housekeeping school, only to face challenges along the way from the bank, the students, and a former lover. We then turn to a real life telling of Churchill's Special Operations Executive set up during the early months of WWII and how a group of spirited women undermine the Nazi's in France. We then turn to a sequel of an animated feature from a few years ago that tells the story of a prehistoric family this time in search of a new place to call home, and when they find their seemingly idyllic place adventure awaits. And wrapping up the week is a food porn doco about how one renowned Chef was tasked with assembling a select group of the world's best Pastry Chefs to create the decadent desserts that would have been served up to the court of the Palace of Versailles in the late 17th and 18th centuries.    

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.

'WONDER WOMAN : 1984' (Rated M) - the ninth instalment in the DCEU is finally here, and this sequel to 2017's 'Wonder Woman' which grossed US$822M off the back of a production budget of about US$140M, is once again Directed by Patty Jenkins, and has been the subject of numerous delays to finally get us to this point. Originally announced for release on December 13, 2019, before being moved up to November 1, 2019, then it was delayed to June 5, 2020 and delayed again to August 14, 2020 while the world rode out the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2020, a further delay saw the film's release pushed to October 2, 2020, before it was moved to this Christmas date. The film will also stream on HBO Max in the US and through Premium VoD in Canada from the same day as its theatrical release in those countries, while the rest of the world can enjoy the big screen cinematic release from anytime between this week and the end of January 2021. Costing US$200M to make the film is not expected to be profitable, needing to take US$500M to break even after marketing costs are factored in. That said, this sequel has generated largely positive Critical acclaim.

Set in 1984 Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot who also Co-Produces here) is reunited with her former love interest Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) and must face off against Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig) who morphs into Cheetah, a cheetah like apex predator superhuman, and Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal), a charismatic businessman and founder of Black Gold Cooperative, who has acquired a mysterious Dreamstone that seemingly is able to grant wishes upon contact with any user. Also starring Connie Nielsen and Robin Wright reprising the roles from the first film as Hippolyta and Antiope respectively with Linda Carter who played Wonder Woman in the 1970s television series, makes a special cameo appearance as Asteria, a legendary Amazon warrior.

'NOMADLAND' (Rated M) - this highly acclaimed American drama film is Directed, Written, Co-Produced and Edited by the Chinese movie maker Chloe Zhao in only her third Directorial outing after 'Songs My Brother Taught Me' in 2015 and 'The Rider' in 2017. In September 2018, Marvel Studios hired her to direct 'Eternals', based on the comic book characters of the same name, which is set for a release in early November 2021. This film is based on the 2017 non-fiction book 'Nomadland : Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century' by Jessica Bruder. Here following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada following the Global Financial Crisis, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. Featuring real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West, the film also stars David Strathairn. The film saw its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September this year, goes on general release in the US on 19th February 2021, has generated universal Critical acclaim, and has so far collected twenty-three award wins and another nineteen nominations from around the awards and festival circuit.

'HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE' (Rated M) - this French comedy drama offering is Directed and Co-Written by Martin Provost whose more recent film making outings have included the highly acclaimed 'Seraphine' in 2008, 'The Long Falling' in 2011, 'Violette' in 2013 and 'The Midwife' in 2017. Paulette Van der Beck (Juliette Binoche) and her husband Robert (Francios Berleand) have been running a housekeeping school in Alsace, France in the late 1960's. After the sudden death of her husband, Paulette discovers that the school is on the verge of bankruptcy and has to step up and take on her responsibilities to the teenage girls under her tutelage and her staff. With preparations underway for the best housekeeping competition TV show, she and her lively students begin to question their beliefs as the nation-wide protests of May 1968 transform society around them. Reunited with her first love, Andre Grunvald (Edouard Baer), and with the help of her eccentric stepsister Gilberte (Yolanda Moreau) and strict nun Marie-Therese (Noemie Lvovsky), Paulette joins with the schoolgirls to overcome their suppressed status and become liberated women. This film opened in its native France back in March this year, and now gets a release in Australia from this week.

'A CALL TO SPY' (Rated M) - this American historical drama film is Lydia Dean Pilcher in only her second feature film outing following 2018's 'Radium Girls'. Inspired by true events during the early months of WWII and with Britain becoming desperate, Winston Churchill orders his new spy agency—the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to recruit and train women as spies. Their daunting mission is to conduct sabotage and build a resistance. SOE's 'spymistress' is Vera Atkins (Stana Katic) who recruits two unusual candidates -Virginia Hall (Sarah Megan Thomas who also wrote and Produced here), an ambitious American with a wooden leg, and Noor Inayat Khan (Radhika Apte), an Indian Muslim pacifist. Together, these women help to undermine the Nazi regime in France, leaving an unmistakable legacy in their wake. The film saw its World Premier screening at the Edinburgh International Film Festival way back in June 2019, saw its release in the US in early October, has so far taken just US$182K at the Box Office and now gets a release in Australia having generated positive critical Reviews.

'THE CROODS : A NEW AGE' (Rated PG) - is an American computer generated animated adventure comedy film that is the sequel to 2013's 'The Croods' which grossed US$588M off the back of a circa US$160M production budget. This film is Directed by first-timer Joel Crawford who takes over from Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders. And so here, searching for a safer habitat, the prehistoric Crood family discover an idyllic, walled-in paradise that meets all of its needs. Unfortunately, they must also learn to live with the Betterman's - a family that sits a couple of notches above the Croods on the evolutionary scale. As tensions between the new neighbours builds, a new threat soon launches both clans on an epic adventure that forces them to embrace their differences, draw strength from one another, and survive together. Featuring the returning voices of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener and Cloris Leachman joined by the new vocals provided by Peter Dinklage, Leslie Mann and Kelly Marie Tran. The film has so far grossed US$77M from a production budget of US$65M since its release Stateside at the back end of November and has garnered mixed or average Reviews so far. 

'OTTOLENGHI AND THE CAKES OF VERSAILLES' (Rated G) - here Director Laura Gabbert whose previous documentary features include 'Sunset Story' in 2003, 'No Impact Man : The Documentary' in 2009 and 'City of Gold' in 2015, brings us her latest Doco about renowned Israeli born Chef Yotam Ottolenghi and how he was commissioned by New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art to reimagine desserts and pastry goodies that would have been savoured by French royalty in the court of Versailles during the period from the 1680's to the 1790's. To assist with his effort, Ottolenghi enlists the support of a veritable who's who of renowned pastry chefs from across the globe. Perhaps the most highly regarded of which is Dominique Ansel, the French-American best known for inventing the cronut (the croissant/doughnut hybrid). Then there is Ghaya Oliveira, a Tunisian chocolate aficionado and the Executive Pastry Chef at the exclusive New York restaurant Daniel. The British team of Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have had their intricate gelatine desserts Instagrammed around the world and from Singapore, Janice Wong is known for intricately detailed 'edible art' and finally the Ukrainian baker Dinara Kasko who creates astonishing cakes using 3D printing. The film has generated mostly positive press. 

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-