What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 8th June 2023

The 70th Sydney Film Festival kicks off on Wednesday 7th June and runs through until Sunday 18th June. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre, and includes features, documentaries, short films, retrospectives, films for families and animations. Films are shown at venues across the Sydney central business district. Patrons of the festival include Gillian Armstrong, Cate Blanchett, Jane Campion, Nicole Kidman, Baz Luhrmann, George Miller, Bryan Brown, Phillip Noyce, Rachel Ward, Sam Neill and Hugo Weaving among others. Prior to 2007, the Sydney Film Festival was classified by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) as a Non-Competitive Feature Film Festival. Since 2007, the Festival announced it had received funding from the New South Wales Government to host an official international competition, which rewarded 'new directions in film'. The FIAFP has since classified the Sydney Film Festival as a Competitive Specialised Feature Film Festival.

This years Opening Night Film is 'The New Boy' from Australia and Directed by Warwick Thornton and starring Cate Blanchett with Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair and newcomer Aswan Reid in this beguiling story of spirituality and survival set in 1940's Australia. The Closing Night Film is 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' Co-Written and Directed by James Mangold and starring Harrison Ford returning to the role of the legendary hero archaeologist for this highly anticipated final instalment of the iconic franchise – a big, globe-trotting, rip-roaring cinematic adventure, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore and Mads Mikkelsen.

Twelve films are selected for the Official Competition, which celebrates 'courageous, audacious and cutting-edge' cinema with an AU$60K cash prize. Sydney Film Festival also presents eight other cash awards over the course of the festival. The Official Competition recognises that rare but thrilling film that truly moves the art form forward. Innovative, provocative or controversial, they broaden our understanding of the world and say important things in original ways. Those twelve films are as follows :-

* 'Afire' - from Germany and Written and Directed by Christian Petzold and starring Thomas Schubert, Paula Beer, Langston Uibel and Enno Trebs that sees four young people trapped at a holiday house as a fire draws near in this tragicomic romp. Australian Premiere.

* 'Art College 1994' - from China and Co-Written, Directed and Edited by Liu Jian this animated film is a slacker comedy-drama about a group of art students in China in the ’90's – a time of great change for the nation. Australian Premiere.

* 'Bad Behaviour' - from New Zealand and Written, Directed and starring Alice Englert with Jennifer Connelly and Ben Whishaw in a dark comedy about spiritual retreats and a turbulent mother-daughter relationship. Australian Premiere.

* 'Cobweb' - from South Korea and Directed by Kim Jee-Woon and starring Song Kang-ho in this very funny and clever film about a movie Director obsessed with re-shooting the end of his completed film in order to make a true masterpiece. Australian Premiere.

* 'The Dark Emu Story' - from Australia and Co-Written and Directed by Allan Clarke this thought provoking, revelatory and inspiring documentary tells the story of Bruce Pascoe’s 2014 best selling book 'Dark Emu' - the publishing phenomenon that challenged Australia to rethink its history and ignited a raging debate. World Premiere.

* 'Fallen Leaves' - from Finland and Sweden and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Aki Kaurismaki this compassionate comedy has two lonely people who meet by chance and then try, in turbulent times, to find love. Australian Premiere.

* 'Joram' - from India and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Devashish Makhija that sees a labourer in Mumbai who goes on the run with his baby daughter Joram in this edge-of-your-seat survival thriller that deftly weaves political intrigue with a stylish and propulsive cinematic sensibility. Australian Premiere.

* 'Monster' - from Japan and Directed and Edited by Kore-eda Hirokazu that is an intense, mysterious and morally complex drama told through multiple perspectives. Australian Premiere.

* 'The Mother Of All Lies' - from Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Produced, Directed and Edited by Asmae El Moudir here melds fact, fiction and captivating figurines to lay bare a hidden personal and national history. Australian Premiere.

* 'The New Boy' - from Australia and Written and Directed by Warwick Thornton and starring Cate Blanchett with Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair and newcomer Aswan Reid in this beguiling story of spirituality and survival set in 1940's Australia. Australian Premier.

* 'Past Lives' - from the USA and Written and Directed by Celine Song and starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro as two school friends who explore a lingering, deep connection that appears to transcend time and the tyranny of distance. Australian Premier.

* 'Scrapper' - from the UK and Written and Directed by Written and Directed by Charlotte Regan and starring Harris Dickinson, Lola Campbell and Alin Uzun about a twelve-year-old girl who lives happily alone until her estranged father turns up one day unannounced. Australian Premier.

For all the other programme strands and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website of the 70th Sydney Film Festival at : https://www.sff.org.au/

This week then, with five new cinematic releases coming your way, we launch with an American crime thriller in which a talented but troubled Police Officer is recruited by the FBI's chief investigator to help profile and track down a disturbed individual terrorising the city. This is followed by a British drama film about an ordinary man who has passed through life, living on the side lines, until he goes to post a letter one day . . . and just keeps walking. Next up is a film with real bite that has a family stranded on a crumbling oil rig off the Mexican coast that sees them having to face off against a vengeful megalodon shark. And we close out the week with two French films - the first a romantic drama offering about a young woman living with her eight year old daughter, and with a father suffering from neurodegenerative disease, she struggles to secure a decent nursing home and amidst all this she runs into an unavailable friend with whom she embarks on an affair; followed by this comedy film that has a group of friends taking one of their own to a sunny Greek island to celebrate his 50th birthday, but due to a flight cancellation, the holiday will take place in a much rainier destination - the birthday boys' family home in Brittany.

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

'TO CATCH A KILLER' (Rated MA15+) - this American crime thriller film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by the Argentinian Damian Szifron in his English language Directorial debut, and following his successful 'Wild Tales' film of 2014 being the most successful film in the history of Argentina. This film was released in the US in late April this year, has so far grossed US$2.1M and has generated mixed reviews from critics.

Eleanor (Shailene Woodley) is a young talented but troubled officer of the Baltimore Police Department wrestling with the demons of her past when she is recruited by Lammark (Ben Mendelsohn), the FBI's chief investigator, to help profile and track down a sniper who is committing a series of seemingly-unrelated mass shootings. As the police and FBI launch a nationwide manhunt, they are thwarted at every turn by the killer's unprecedented behaviour. Given her tortured psyche, Eleanor may be the only person who can understand the mind of their assailant and bring him to justice. Also starring Jovan Adepo and Ralph Ineson. 

'THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY' (Rated M) - is a British drama film Directed by Hettie Macdonald in only her second feature film outing following 'Beautiful Thing' in 1996, although she has Directed many multiple episodes of TV series and stage productions in the meantime. This film is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Rachel Joyce. Retired pensioner Harold Fry (Jim Broadbent) lives in the South Devon town of Kingsbridge, England with his wife Maureen (Penelope Wilton), whose marriage to him has become despondent and quiet. One day, Harold receives a letter from his old friend, Queenie Hennessy (Linda Bassett), who is dying from cancer and is living in a hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed, in Northumberland on the English and Scottish border. Harold then decides to walk the length of England to reach Berwick-upon-Tweed without the use of transport or support from Maureen. Along the way, he encounters a variety of people who show interest in his hiking achievement. Harold also reflects on how his only son David (Earl Cave), an unemployed former Cambridge University graduate, struggled with depression along with a serious drug and alcohol addiction, all of which led him to taking his own life in a garden shed. The film was released in the UK at the end of April, and has generated mostly positive critical acclaim.

'THE BLACK DEMON' (Rated M) - filmed in the Dominican Republic and Directed by Adrian Grunberg whose previous two Directorial outings were 'Get the Gringo' in 2012 and 'Rambo : Last Blood' in 2019. Here Josh Lucas plays Paul Sturges who decides to combine work and play by taking the family on a vacation to Bahia Negra, Mexico, while also taking the opportunity to check out his oil rig off the coast of Mexico. However, upon his arrival he sees that the local town has changed markedly since his last visit, to the point of having almost become a ghost town. Despite local warnings about the fabled 'black demon', Paul takes his family with him out to the oil platform, which he quickly observes is in an eerie state of disrepair. There he learns from the surviving workers that the facility has awakened a megalodon shark that swims around the platform, killing anyone who tries to leave it. Paul must then find a way to save his family from the prehistoric shark as the rig slowly sinks. The film was released in the US towards the end of April having cost US$50M to produce and has generated largely negative press. Also starring Fernanda Urrejola, Venus Ariel and Carlos Solorzano.

'ONE FINE MORNING' (Rated MA15+) - is a French German Co-Produced romantic drama film Written and Directed by Mia Hansen-Love whose feature film debut came with 'All Is Forgiven' in 2007 and which she would follow up with the likes of 'Father of My Children' in 2009, 'Things to Come' in 2016, 'Maya' in 2018 and 'Bergman Island' most recently in 2021. The story surrounds a young single mother Sandra Kienzier (Lea Seydoux) raising her eight-year-old daughter Linn (Camille Leban Martins) while struggling to take care of her father George (Pascal Greggory), who's been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease. While trying to secure a decent nursing home, she runs into a married friend Clement (Melvil Poupaud) and they begin an affair. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the May 2022 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Europa Cinemas Label Award for Best European Film, was released in France in early October, in Germany in early December and this week is released in Australia having so far grossed US$1.4M at the Box Office and garnered universal critical acclaim. 

'HAPPY 50' (Rated M) - this French comedy (aka 'Plancha' or 'Griddle') film is Written and Directed by Eric Lavaine whose prior feature film making credits take in his 2006 debut with 'Poltergay', then 'Incognito' in 2009, 'Barbecue' in 2014, 'Back to Mom's' in 2016, 'You Choose' in 2017 and 'No Filter' in 2019. Set eight years after their previous adventure in 'Barbeque' the group of friends reunites to celebrate Yves' (Guillaume de Tonquedec) 50th birthday. They all meet at the airport, hiding Yves' eyes to surprise him, before taking off for Greece and the holiday island of Paros for two weeks of happiness, sun and celebrations. Unfortunately for them, their flight is canceled at the last moment. Not to miss out on the celebrations Yves invites the gang to his ancestral mansion on the Brittany coast in Kerzelek. While lots of activities are planned, the rainy weather thwarts these holidays. Locked in the beautiful granite stones of the estate, nerves are quickly frayed, letting secrets and stormy revelations emerge. Also starring Lambert Wilson, Franck Dubosc, Jerome Commandeur, Sophie Duez, Caroline Anglade and Alice Llenas. 

With five new release movie offerings 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-

WILD TALES : Sunday 21st June 2015.

'WILD TALES' is a Spanish & Argentinian collaboration released earlier this year and has been on a limited release in Australia for a few weeks now. Having seen the shorts I felt compelled to see this very black comedy film consisting six separate short stories that are linked only by the common theme running throughout. Directed by Damian Szifron this film cost US$3.5M to make and has so far grossed US$30M+ along the way picking up a swag of film awards and nominations - 23 and 42 respectively, including the Oscar nod for Best Foreign Language Film at this years ceremony.

Six films within a film then that are not linked, only by a common theme that connects them all. That theme is one of extreme acts of random violence, and what drives everyday individuals to conduct such acts. Whilst the subject matter is bleak, it is delivered in an intense, urgent, and at times comedic style that makes for compelling viewing and will leave you thinking about the characters, the situations they find themselves in and the actions they take as a result - often with dire consequences - well after the credits have rolled.

Those six subjects are 'Pasternak' - the first playing out in the opening sequence. Two passengers on a plane strike up a random conversation across the aisle from each other and as their conversation unfolds we learn they have a mutual acquaintance - Gabrielle Pasternak. One by one all passengers discover they are all linked in some way to Pasternak and so a state of mild panic breaks out at 30,000 feet, when the trolley dolly announces that Pasternak is the purser in the cockpit and he has locked the door as the plane nose dives towards a suburban house.

Then we have 'The Rats' - as a lone drivers pulls up to a road side diner late at night, wanting to eat. As the waitress takes his order she recognises him as a loan shark who ruined her family with tragic consequences. Telling the story to the cook back in the kitchen, the cook offers to put rat poison in the diners eggs and chips but the waitress declines the offer fearing the repercussions . . . but the cook does it anyway and he tucks in to his supper. Then the diners son arrives and tucks into some of the chips. As the waitress tries to retrieve the plate and prevent them from eating more, the diners gets aggravated and angry, and so the cooks stabs him multiple times with a Chef's Knife. The son looks on, and vomits!

Next up in 'The Strongest' set along a fairly deserted winding and beautiful mountain road. Behind the wheel of a new Audi Coupe is a corporate type approaching some local hillbilly driving a shit box who refuses to let the Audi pass. Eventually, the Audi squeezes by shouting abuse out of the window and giving the hillbilly the bird. Further down the road the Audi blows a tyre and pulling up to the side of the road the driver gets out to replace the tyre, as the hillbilly ambles by, reversing his car up right to the front of the Audi so that it cannot be driven away. Fearing the worst the Audi driver gets back into his car and engages the central locking. By now the hillbilly smashes the windscreen with the car jack and then takes a crap and a piss over the broken windshield. What follows is a tit for tat exchange of words and actions that results in one of the most real, raw, intense, urgent and immediate close quarter fight scenes that I have seen on screen for a very long time. The consequences of this do not end well for either, and for me, this segment was the highlight of the film.

'Little Bomb' comes next that sees an explosives demolition expert pushed to the edge as a result of a parking infringement in which his car is towed away from an unrestricted zone he believes. Seeking recompense from the towing company by way of a refund for the fine and payment in respect of his lost time, inconvenience that caused him to miss his daughters birthday, his crumbling marriage and the sheer injustice of it all that no one it seems is prepared to accept. Creating a storm that is captured on CCTV and then makes news headlines he is fired from his job, and going for an interview his car gets towed again. Knowing something about explosives he hatches a plan that will give him the revenge he is seeking on the towing company, and so engineers for his car to be towed once more.

'The Proposal' sees a BMW returning home early one morning with a broken grille and a dislodged and bloodied number plate. A young man was behind the wheel and we learn later in the day that a hit & run driver has killed a pregnant woman in the early hours of the morning - the husband swears revenge on live TV. Distraught, the grieving young man confesses to his father - a wealthy businessman, who immediately calls his lawyer. They hatch a plan convincing the long term family gardener to take the rap for the crime to save the son . . . in exchange for $500K and a likely sentence of just a few years. The prosecuting officer believes that things don't add up with the gardener, and so offers to cut a deal with the father and his lawyer . . . in exchange for a large sum of money. With the other parties all wanting more money because of the growing risk and the son then deciding to confess to the press, the father gets jack of it all and takes the money off the table. Some intense negotiations follow and as the gardener is bundled out to a waiting police car with his head covered the grieving husband awaits clutching a hammer.

Finally 'Until Death Do Us Part' rounds out this package and is the story of a woman scorned . . . on her wedding day. Celebrating with family and friends at the Reception the bride discovers that her new husband may have had some previous shenanigans with a very attractive work colleague who just happens to be a guest at the wedding. Not too impressed with this news the tensions in front of the gathered guests become more and more strained as the evening wears on resulting in a violent clash on the dance floor between new wife and former lover. Swearing to make her new husbands life a living hell for all eternity, it's get worse before it gets better - and better it does in a most public way!

This is a great film that I really enjoyed and could relate to in terms of the situations that led to the extreme acts that unfold on screen. Strong stories, believably acted, deftly Directed and delivered with irony and satire that lifts this film to another level still. Catch it soon - you won't be disappointed. 'Wild Tales' is another very sold offering in this years foreign language films released so far.









-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 28th May 2015.

Here in Australia we lurch into Winter this week with more excuses to beat the seasonal cold climactic conditions and venture inside to a warm dark place with a big silver screen, surround sound and escapist adventure on a grand scale. The week ahead offers no exception with more great offerings to tempt, tease and tantalise the filmic tastebuds, so don't be shy and get out there see a movie this week!

Speaking of which, we have five great offerings that take in another great theme park future adventure attraction adapted for the big screen and possibly hoping to emulate that Johnny Depp vehicle that has done so well over the years; then there is another natural disaster flick that has been done a hundred times before that sees death, destruction & danger writ large and one man only capable of saving the world . . . apparently; and a Spanish/Argentinian very black comedy offering that sees six unconnected stories linked only be acts of extreme violence and vengeance. Next up is an Aussie film of a determined damaged man, his Utopian commune, his child soldiers and his son through whose eyes we see the story unfold; and finally a case of life imitating art in small town France as an English couple roll into town whose lives seems to mirror those as written about by a an influential French writer in a certain novel 170 years before.

With a heck of a choice this week when you have been to see your movie choice, remember to drop us your views & opinions in the Comments section below this or any other post, and share your critique with the movie going world. Enjoy your film!

TOMORROWLAND (Rated PG) - this film is based on the Disney theme park future Utopian, innovative and optimistic land that first appeared in 1955 and over the years has been through several updated visions and still exists today as more & more Disney theme parks open around the world. The film, which has its inspiration from the attraction, is Directed, Produced and Written by Brad Bird utilising a budget of US$180M and is a Sci-Fi mystery action adventure. The roots of this tale begin in 1964 at The New York World's Fair where a young aspiring inventor meets a seasoned inventor pro who travel together through the 'It's a small world' attraction.

Years later in the present day young inventor Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) meets with that young inventor from back in 1964, Frank Walker (George Clooney) and together they embark on a dangerous journey to uncover the secrets of 'Tomorrowland' a place located somewhere between time and space but with a clock counting down on their future, and that of mankind. In the spirit of the late great Walt Disney this is a story for children of all ages with optimism, invention, adventure, hope and promise at its core that is writ large in this offering that surely would do the man proud for capturing all of those themes on which he built his global empire. Also starring Hugh Laurie and a cast of child acting talent as you would expect.

SAN ANDREAS (Rated M) - here we have another natural disaster action adventure film the like of which you have seen one hundred times before. What is different this time around - dunno really except it cost US$100M, was shot on Australia's Gold Coast and in Brisbane as well as LA, San Fran and Bakersfield, and features Dwayne Johnson and Kylie Minogue amongst others! Directed by Brad Peyton this is the story of a magnitude 9 earthquake along California's San Andreas fault line that sees the earth torn apart from under Los Angeles all the way to San Francisco. Needing to locate his estranged daughter search & rescue helicopter pilot Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson) and his ex-wife Emma (Carla Gugino) embark on a treacherous journey through the devastation to reach their daughter and escape to safety together with a few other misplaced refugees along the way no doubt. En route cities crumble, the earth will split open, fire & brimstone will spew forth, tidal waves will engulf cities, people will inevitably die by the thousands, after shocks will be felt on the east coast and the world will never be the same again - thanks God though for The Rock! Also starring Alexandra Daddario (as Blake - Ray's estranged daughter), Paul Giamatti, Ioan Gruffudd and our Kylie!

WILD TALES (Rated MA15+) - this Spanish/Argentian collaborated film is Directed by Damian Szifron and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this years Academy Awards. Made for just US$3.3M it has already grossed US$30M and is a bleak black comedy of six unconnected stories but connected by their themes of violence, vengeance, and what drives people to such extremes. With its story titles 'Pasternak', 'The Rats', 'The Strongest', 'Little Bomb', 'The Proposal' and 'Until Death Do Us Part' this film has already electrified audience and has picked up 23 award wins and 38 further nominations. Laugh, cry and be shocked by the range of raw emotions shown here as these characters are pushed to extremes of human behaviour.

PARTISAN (Rated MA15+) - this is an Australian film Written and Directed by Ariel Kleiman and filmed in Australia and in Georgia. It tells the story of Gregori (Vincent Cassel) who is the leader and founder of a Utopian commune that he has established behind high walls to help troubled woman whilst training an army of child soldiers, shielded from the evils of the outside world. This tale unfolds through the eyes of young Alexander (Jeremy Chabriel) - a child of Grigori's, bright, intelligent and brave. As Alexander knows very little of the outside world we learn on what he comes to discover as he is sent out with other children on assassination raids. With Gregori playing the father figure, the ruler, and the authoritarian he mentors all his children in the art of killings, survival and navigation techniques, but, as Alexander grows up and becomes more wise so he begins to question his fathers motives, intentions and decisions. A raw and emotional journey this film won the Cinematography Award at The Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize there too.

GEMMA BOVERY (Rated MA15+) - this French subtitled DramedyRom is Directed by Anne Fontaine and the Screenplay was Co-Written by her too and stars both French and English acting talent. Here, Martin Joubert (Fabrice Luchini) is a well-heeled Parisian who relocates to Normandy and settles into the peaceful tranquil village life as a baker. One fine day an English newlywed couple move into a neighbouring farm - Gemma and Charles Bovery (Gemma Arterton and Jason Flemyng respectively) and here Martin's idyllic life is turned upside down as he becomes acquainted with the young couple. Martin is an avid follower of the works of famed influential 19th century writer Gustave Flaubert who published 'Madame Bovary' in 1857. Now seemingly witnessing art imitating life in front of his very eyes, the actions of the heroine of that novel, also called Gemma Bovery, begin to mirror those of the woman before him. As his affections grow stronger for the woman, and as she gets sidetracked by other male interests, should he intervene as fact and fiction seem to be on a collision course, or should he stay away from the hand that fate may be about to deal him? You'll just have to see the movie for that answer!

Five new release movies that offer action, adventure, drama, comedy and romance this week and five very good reasons to get out to your local movie theatre. When you have enjoyed your film, share your thoughts, and then go do it again!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-