THE COURIER : Tuesday 13th April 2021.

I saw 'THE COURIER' last week, which is an M Rated UK and US Co-Produced historical drama film Directed by Dominic Cooke, whose prior film making outings take in two 'National Theatre Live' performances for 'The Comedy of Errors' in 2012 and 'Follies' in 2017, with 'On Chesil Beach' in 2017 and three episodes of the TV mini-series 'The Hollow Crown' in 2016. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival way back in January 2020, was released Stateside in the US on 19th March, in the UK not until 17th May and here in Australia earlier this month having generated US$8.5M at the Box Office so far and generally favourable critical Reviews. 

Based on a true story that played out in the early '60's between the United States and the Soviet Union as both countries threatened one another with the might of their nuclear arsenals. In Moscow, CIA agents are a rare commodity, and the US has become hungry for more and more intelligence on Russia's next move. Russian military intelligence officer, Colonel Oleg Penkovsky (aka Alex, codenamed Ironbark, and played by Merab Ninidze) makes the very risky choice to defy his country in an attempt to halt all out nuclear war. Penkovsky is able to smuggle a message into the US Embassy in Moscow which lands on the desk of CIA Agent Emily Donovan (Rachel Brosnahan) who then travels to London and meets with her counterpart in MI6, Dickie Francis (Angus Wright). Together they hatch a plan to enlist the services of someone who can hide in plain sight and be completely inconspicuous in helping to courier Penkovsky's leaked intel out of Moscow and into the waiting hands of the CIA and MI6. Their cunning plan rests at the feet of businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch), who has absolutely zero experience in the intelligence community and as such is unlikely to draw attention to himself as he goes about his work of drumming up new business avenues in Moscow. Over lunch, the three discuss their plan, and Wynne accepts the offer without truly appreciating what he has committed himself to. 

Wynne travels to Moscow and gets through customs no questions asked. He checks into his hotel and within a couple of days is meeting with a delegation of businessmen with whom he is hoping to develop business relations with so that all sides can gain a benefit. At that meeting is Oleg Penkovsky who invites Wynne for lunch, and then the opera and so the relationship is cemented having noticed a tie clip that was given to Wynne by Agent Donovan back in London, saying that he should wear it all times while in Moscow.

And so the story of subterfuge and international espionage ensues with Wynne playing the everyman businessman being wined and dined by the Russians, and in return he pays it back when the delegation of Russian's visit London on a famil. Wynne certainly knows how to turn on the charm and entertains his Russian guests with good food, plenty of liquor and a rousing time showing them the London club scene and all the trappings of a western capitalist society, with his wife Sheila (Jessie Buckley) also in attendance. All the while he and Penkovsky are exchanging 'contracts' for their undercover business dealings which in reality are top secret Russian military documents being drip fed back to the CIA and MI6. 

As Wynne spends more and more time toing and froing between London and Moscow so Sheila becomes increasingly suspicious - even more so because he has adopted a fitness regime and has become more adventurous in bed - and because we learn Wynne was at some point in the past unfaithful to his seemingly dutiful and forgiving wife. Shortly afterwards Penkovsky is paid a random visit in his Moscow office by a KGB Officer Gribanov (Kirill Pirogov) who begins asking probing questions about Wynne. Penkovsky states that he just a capitalist western salesman looking to make money by trading with Russia and that there is nothing to fear, and so Gribanov leaves apparently satisfied, for now! 

Khrushchev is becoming increasingly restless with America's placement of nuclear warheads in Turkey making them within easy range of Moscow. And so he seeks out a location on America's doorstep that would make US soil within easy reach of Russia's nuclear capability - Cuba. And so Penkovsky ramps up his supply of intelligence to Wynne providing documents, plans, drawings and maps of nuclear installations, long range rockets, and the fallout projections of an attack on the US. Shortly afterwards Penkovsky collapses in his office one day seemingly suffering a heart attack. He is seen recovering in hospital days later with his wife by his side, having been told by a nurse that he will make a full recovery and is just exhausted and worn out. 

Following this, Wynne returns to his hotel room to find that a Collins pocket Russian/English dictionary had been misplaced from the position he left it in when he exited earlier in the day. He suspects that his room had been searched and is now bugged. With the Russians seemingly now closing in and the Cuban Missile Crisis gathering real and potentially deadly consequences for the western world, Penkovsky agrees a time line for he and his wife and young daughter to defect. An escape route is planned and Donovan travels to Moscow to coordinate his extraction. In the American Embassy Wynne and Donovan watch the unfolding reports in Cuba on the television. With this, they spring into action with Wynne catching the next plane outta Dodge, and Donovan coordinating Penkovsky's extraction on the ground.  

As Penkovsky rushes to his modest apartment to gather up a few possessions and his wife and daughter to flee the country once and for all, he is greeted by Gribanov and a contingent of KGB personnel. Gribanov states that he poisoned Penkovsky which put him in hospital so that he could search his home and his office while he was out of action temporarily. There he found all the evidence needed to prove his guilt of feeding intelligence to the west. Gribanov asks Penkovsky to tell his wife and daughter what he had done, and knowing full well that his time had come he says that he betrayed his country and is a traitor. At that, he is physically manhandled out his apartment, leaving his wife distraught and sobbing. Meanwhile, Wynne is sitting anxiously in his seat on the plane waiting for takeoff. A message comes over the PA system apologising for the deadly in the takeoff. At that KGB Officers board the plane and order Wynne out of his seat and to accompany them. He is bundled into the back of a waiting vehicle. Donovan is arrested too by KGB authorities for driving the vehicle that was to transport Penkovsky out of the country, but she has diplomatic immunity and is later dropped off at the American Embassy and told she has 24 hours to leave the country. 

Wynne is carted off to a prison facility - his head is shaved, he is stripped naked, body searched, is given a cold shower and thrown in a basic cell with a cast iron bed, a couple of blankets and a bucket filled with the previous inmates urine and faeces. He is repeatedly interrogated by Gribanov and given water thin soup with a few chopped carrots and eyeballs with which to sustain himself. Time marches on as the weeks turn into months. 

Donovan and Francis visit Sheila at her home and break the news that Wynne had been arrested and was in prison in Russia. She, like Penkovsky's wife, was completely unknowing. They ask her to vehemently deny any rumours or speculation about her husbands alleged spying activities to the press or media and to carry on as though this is all a storm in a tea cup. After six months, and a dramatic loss of weight and nearly at breaking point, Wynne is visited in his prison by Shelia, who asks for her forgiveness for ever doubting him. She also tells him that the Cuban Missile Crisis was averted and Khrushchev withdrew his weapons from Cuba at the steadfast insistence of Kennedy - this was the first time Wynne has heard news of this development. Sheila tells him to remain strong as it could take another year for England to secure his release. 

Later while under further questioning by Gribanov, Penkovsky is brought into the room. It is the first time in about eight months that the pair have seen each other. Penkovsky confesses that he did hand over secret military documents to Wynne, but that Wynne had no knowledge of the contents of the packages, and that he was simply a mule. Wynne reaches across the table and grabs Penkovsky's hand and tells him that he averted the missile crisis in Cuba and that Russia withdrew, and that his sacrifices were worth it in the end. At this point Wynne is grabbed from behind and carted out of the room - this is the last time the pair ever set eyes on each other. 

A year later on 22nd April 1964 Wynne is released in a spy-swap for the Russian Konon Molody (known in the west as Gordon Arnold Lonsdale). Penkovsky is executed and buried in an unmarked grave, while his wife and daughter remain free and living in Moscow. In a pre-credits summary we are told that during their association Penkovksy exchanged over five thousand pieces of secret military intelligence with Wynne, making for a particularly fruitful relationship while it lasted. 

This film has been compared a lot to Spielberg's 'Bridge of Spies' and while this film is not in the same league as that offering I did learn something new about the unassuming English salesman who aided and abetted Oleg Penkovsky in defusing the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Cumberbatch is perfectly cast as the everyman who ultimately shows extraordinary courage in the face of extreme adversity while demonstrating strength in human decency and simply wanting to make the world a safe place. Ninidze is also well cast as is Buckley, the production values are top notch and the film moves along a goodly pace despite the lack of any car chases, explosions, gun play, fist fights or gratuitous deaths. This is simply put, a well crafted Cold War true story that ups the tension, drama, emotion, patriotism and heroics in an effective albeit understated way that only adds to the appeal ultimately. Old fashioned cinema - but there's nothing wrong in that!

'The Courier' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard, out of a potential five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st April 2021.

Last week the 73rd Writers Guild of America Awards and the 32nd Producers Guild of America Awards were held on 21st and 24th March respectively, and both via virtual ceremonies. The former honours the best writing in film, television and radio of 2020, while the latter honours the best film and television Producers of 2020.

In the film categories, the winners and the grinners, and the also rans are as given below :-

WGA Awards

Best Original Screenplay

* Awarded to 'PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN' written by Emerald Fennel, beating out 'Judas and the Black Messiah', 'Palm Springs', 'Sound of Metal' and 'The Trial of the Chicago 7'. 

Best Adapted Screenplay

* Awarded to 'BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM' written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Mazer, Jena Friedman and Lee Kern, beating out 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', 'News of the World', 'One Night in Miami' and 'The White Tiger'.

Best Documentary Screenplay

* Awarded to 'THE DISSIDENT' written by Mark Monroe and Bryan Fogel, beating out 'All In : The Fight for Democracy', 'Herb Alpert Is . . . ', 'Red Penguins' and 'Totally Under Control'. 

PGA Awards

Daryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures

* Awarded to 'NOMADLAND' Produced by Frances McDormand, Chloe Zhao, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher and Dan Janvey, beating out 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm', 'Judas and the Black Messiah', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', 'Mank', 'Minari', 'One Night in Miami', 'Promising Young Woman', 'Sound of Metal' and 'The Trial of the Chicago 7'.

Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures

* Awarded to 'SOUL' Produced by Dana Murray, beating out 'The Croods : A New Age', 'Onward', 'Over the Moon' and 'Wolfwalkers'.

Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures

* Awarded to 'MY OCTOPUS TEACHER' Produced by Craig Foster, beating out 'David Attenborough : A Life on Our Planet', 'Dick Johnson Is Dead', 'Softie', 'A Thousand Cuts', 'Time' and 'The Truffle Hunters'. 

For the complete run down of all the awards as bestowed by the WGA and the PGA, plus a whole lot more, you can go to the official websites for the WGA at : https://awards.wga.org and for the PGA at : https://producersguild.org 

This week then there are five latest release new films coming to an Odeon near you. And we kick off with a critically lauded film about a man who refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages, and as he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality. This is followed by a true story of a Cold War spy, Greville Wynne, and his Russian source who attempt to put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. Next up we have an all out actioner that follows a man who helps a stranger being harassed by a group of men, only to become the target of a vengeful drug lord, who then utilises a very particular set of skills to win the day. And we then close out the week with two animated features, both sequels - the first seeing a chaotic battle unfold between arch enemies Jerry Mouse, who has taken refuge in NYC's Royal Gate Hotel, and Tom Cat, who is hired to drive him away before the day of a big wedding; and finally a tale of two misfit castaways who are adrift on a raft following a storm and who later struggle to reunite an unconventional family, out-run a volcano, and negotiate peace on a creaking Ark.

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 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.

'THE FATHER' (Rated M) - this French and British Co-Produced film is Directed and Co-Written for the screen by the acclaimed French novelist, playwright and Director Florian Zeller in his feature film making debut, and is based on his own play 'Le Pere' which premiered in 2012. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in January 2020, had a limited release in the US from the end of February, is released in Australia this week, and in the UK on 11th June. The film cost US$20M to make, has so far recovered US$2M and has received the highest praise from Critics picking up twenty-one award wins so far and another 135 nominations including six Oscar nods, six BAFTA nods and two SAG nominations, all of which remain pending at the time of writing. The performances of the two lead actors - Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman have been singled out for particular praise.

Anthony (Anthony Hopkins) is 80, mischievous, living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), encouragingly introduces. Yet help is also becoming a necessity for Anne as she is unable to make daily visits anymore and Anthony’s grip on reality is steadily diminishing. As we experience the ebb and flow of his memory, how much of his own identity and past can Anthony cling to? How does Anne cope as she grieves the loss of her father, while he still lives and breathes before her? Also starring Imogen Poots, Mark Gatiss, Olivia Williams and Rufus Sewell. 

'THE COURIER' (Rated M) - this historical drama film is Directed by Dominic Cooke whose prior film making outings take in two 'National Theatre Live' performances for 'The Comedy of Errors' in 2012 and 'Follies' in 2017 with 'On Chesil Beach' in 2017 and three episodes of the TV mini-series 'The Hollow Crown' in 2016. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival way back in January 2020, was released Stateside in the US on 19th March, in the UK not until 17th May and here in Australia this week having generated US$3M at the Box Office so far and generally favourable critical Reviews. Telling the true story of the British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) who helped MI6 penetrate the Soviet nuclear programme during the Cold War. Wynne is approached by a spy from MI6 and a spy from the CIA and asked to pose as a business partner of Russian  Oleg Penkovsky (codenamed Ironbark, and played by Merab Ninidze) in order to gain intelligence relating to Soviet missiles being transported to Cuba. Ultimately, Wynne and his Russian source, provided crucial intelligence that brought an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Also starring Jessie Buckley, Rachel Brosnahan and Angus Wright. 

'NOBODY' (Rated MA15+) - is an American action thriller Directed by the Rissian musician and filmmaker Ilya Naishuller whose only previous feature film was 2015's 'Hardcore Henry' for which he also Produced, Wrote, acted in, composed the music for and also lensed. Released in the US on 26th March, the film has so far grossed US$3M and has generated favourable Reviews. And so, here Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) fails to defend himself or his family when two thieves break into his suburban home one night. The aftermath of the incident soon strikes a match to his long-simmering rage. In a barrage of fists, knives, gunfire and squealing tyres, Hutch must now save his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen), son Blake (Gage Munroe) and daughter Sammy (Paisley Cadorath) from a dangerous Russian drug lord Yulian Kuznetsov (Aleksei Serebryakov), and ensure that he will never be underestimated again as a nobody. Also starring Christopher Lloyd, Michael Ironside and RZA. 

'TOM AND JERRY' (Rated G) - here, this American live-action/computer-animated comedy film is based on the cartoon characters and animated theatrical short film series of the same name created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. It is the second theatrical film based on the characters following 1992's 'Tom and Jerry: The Movie' and is Directed by Tim Story whose previous directorial outings include his 1992 debut 'One of Us Tripped', then 'Fantastic 4' in 2005 and its 2007 follow up 'Fantastic 4 : Rise of the Silver Surfer', 'Hurricane Season' in 2009, 'Ride Along', 'Ride Along 2' and the recently announced 'Ride Along 3' with 'Shaft' in 2019. And so a legendary rivalry reemerges when Jerry Mouse moves into New York City's finest hotel on the eve of the wedding of the century, forcing the desperate event planner Kayla Forester (Chloe Grace Moretz) to hire Tom Cat to get rid of him. As mayhem ensues, the escalating cat-and-mouse battle soon threatens to destroy her career, the wedding, and possibly the hotel itself. Tom and Jerry are voiced by William Hanna, Mel Blanc, and June Foray via archival recordings, alongside Frank Welker and Andre Sogliuzzo, with additional voices provided by Bobby Cannavale, Lii Rel Howery with live action provided by Michael Pena, Colin Jost, Rob Delaney, and Ken Jeong. The film was released in the US at the end of February, cost US$70M to produce, has so far recouped US$78M and has generated largely negative press. 

'TWO BY TWO : OVERBOARD' (Rated PG) - this follow up to 2015's 'Two by Two' (aka 'Ooops! Noah is Gone') is once again Directed by the pairing of Toby Genkel and Sean McCormack, with this animated adventure comedy offering seeing the young Nestrian Finny (voiced by Max Carolan) and his best mate Leah (voiced by Ava Connolly), a Grymp, accidently fall off the ark and are swept out to sea. Out on their own on a raft, they get separated by a storm. While Finny finds a whole colony of Nestrians underwater, Leah lands on a beautiful island that seems to shake regularly and smoke pours from the top of the mountain. As these two misfit castaways struggle to reunite an unorthodox family, out-run a volcano, and negotiate a peace deal on a creaking Ark, they also have other dangers and adventures to face along the way. 

With five 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-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 9th August 2018.

With 'Mission : Impossible - Fallout' which was released just last week rapidly raking in the Box Office dollars across the world and having been hailed as the best in the series so far, and some even going so far to rate the film as one of the best action movies of all time, I thought this an appropriate time to review the franchise to date. So, in case you're not up to speed with the previous five instalments, here is a quick synopsis, ahead of this weeks Previews, which as usual are given further below :

* 'Mission : Impossible' - released 1996, Directed by Brian de Palma, Produced by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, and starring Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Jon Voight, Henry Czerny, Jean Reno, Kristin Scott Thomas and Vanessa Redgrave. Production Budget costs US$80M, Worldwide Box Office take US$458M. Ethan Hunt is framed for the murder of his fellow IMF agents during a Prague Embassy mission gone wrong and falsely accused of selling government secrets to a mysterious international criminal known only as 'Max'.



* 'Mission : Impossible II' - released 2000, Directed by John Woo, Produced by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner and starring Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Dougray Scott, Dominic Purcell, Thandie Newton, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Roxburgh and Anthony Hopkins. Production Budget costs US$125M, Worldwide Box Office take US$547M. Ethan Hunt sends international thief Nyah Nordoff-Hall undercover to stop rogue IMF agent, and Nyah's former lover, Sean Ambrose from stealing a deadly virus to start a pandemic and sell the antidote to the highest bidder.

* 'Mission : Impossible III' - released 2006, Directed by J.J. Abrams, Produced by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner and starring Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Billy Crudup, Aaron Paul, Maggie Q, Laurence Fishburn, Eddie Marsan and Michelle Monaghan. Production Budget costs US$150M, Worldwide Box Office take US$398M. Ethan Hunt, retired from being an IMF team leader and engaged to be married, assembles a team to face the elusive arms and information broker Owen Davian who intends to sell a mysterious dangerous object known as 'The Rabbit's Foot'.

* 'Mission : Impossible - Ghost Protocol' - released 2011, Directed by Brad Bird, Produced by Tom Cruise, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk, and starring Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Michael Nyqvist, Tom Wilkinson and Lea Seydoux. Production Budget costs US$145M, Worldwide Box Office take US$695M. Ethan Hunt and the entire IMF are blamed for the bombing of the Kremlin while investigating an individual known only as 'Cobalt'. He and three other agents are left to stop him from starting a global nuclear war.



* 'Mission : Impossible - Rogue Nation' - released 2015, Directed and Written by Christopher McQuarrie, Produced by Tom Cruise, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger, and starring Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Sean Harris, Tom Hollander, Rebecca Fergusson and Alec Baldwin. Production Budget costs US$150M, Worldwide Box Office take US$683M. Ethan Hunt comes under threat from the 'Syndicate', a near-mythical organisation of rogue agents who kill to order. Faced with the IMF's disbandment, Hunt assembles his team for their mission to prove the Syndicate's existence and bring the organisation down by any means necessary.

* 'Mission : Impossible - Fallout' - released 2018, Directed and Written by Christopher McQuarrie, Produced by Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, Jake Myers and J.J. Abrams and starring Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Sean Harris, Rebecca Fergusson, Alec Baldwin, Henry Cavill, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby and Michelle Monaghan. Production Budget costs US$178M, Worldwide Box Office take so far US$334M. When an IMF mission ends badly, the world is faced with dire consequences. As Ethan Hunt takes it upon himself to deliver on his original briefing, the CIA begins to question his loyalty and his motives.

This week we have four new feature films coming to your local Odeon that kick off with a remake of a blaxploitation crime drama film from the early '70's probably best known for its soundtrack back then, but which has been dusted off and given the 21st Century treatment for a whole new audience. We then turn to an action comedy about two hapless girlfriends who somehow get caught up in an international conspiracy and get chased half way around the world dodging bullets, nasty criminal types and corrupt cops in their attempt to save the world from a fate worse than this film. Next up is a British period piece of one young couple who have a less than satisfying wedding night which ultimately has lifelong lasting repercussions on them both; and we then wind up with a sequel to a found footage horror film about a laptop, a group of friends, and things that go bump in the night with terrifying consequences for them all.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'SUPERFLY' (Rated MA15+) - here we have a remake of the 1972 Blaxploitation action crime drama film of the same name, this time Directed by Director X (aka Julien Christian Lutz). This Canadian film and music video Director has been shooting music videos since 1998, but this is only his third outing helming a feature film since 'Across the Line' in 2015 and 'Centre Stage : On Pointe' in 2016. Released in the US in mid-June, the film cost US$16M to make, has so far grossed US$21M and has garnered generally mixed or average Reviews.

Cocaine kingpin Youngblood Priest (Trevor Jackson) comes to the realisation that it's time to exit the game after surviving a violent attack from a crazed rival. Hoping for one last score, so that he can retire to the good life, Priest and his partner travel down Mexico way to arrange a deal. The career criminal now finds himself trying to out run and out smart the local cartel, a pair of corrupt Police officers, a betrayed supplier and all them pesky double-crossing no-good criminal types who want his piece of the action that threaten his road to peace and freedom. The film also stars Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis, Jacob Ming-Trent and Jennifer Morrison.

'THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME' (Rated MA15+) - channeling the great Mike Meyers (aka one Austin Powers), here we have an all girl line up in this riff on that action comedy offering as Directed and Co-Written by Susanna Fogel in only her second feature film outing after 2014's 'Life Partners'. The film stars Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon as Audrey and Morgan respectively as two thirty-something best friends living the quiet life in LA. The pair of besties find themselves caught up in no uncertain terms in a major international conspiracy when Audrey's ex-boyfriend unexpectedly re-emerges in her life chased down by a team of deadly assassins hot on his tail, while it emerges that he actually works for the CIA as an Agent. The dynamic duo suddenly spring into action and chase half way across Europe trying to evade those pesky assassin types and a charming British Agent all the while trying to save the world. Also starring Justin Theroux, Gillian Anderson and Paul Reiser. Sound like a laugh a minute!

'ON CHESIL BEACH' (Rated M) - this British drama film is helmed by first time Director of a feature length film Dominic Cooke, and was adapted for the screen by the author of the 2007 book of the same name Ian McEwan. The film received its World Premier screening at TIFF back in September last year and was released both in the UK and the USA in mid-May, has received generally favourable Reviews and has so far taken US$2.5M at the Box Office. Set in 1962, the film tells the story of newlyweds Edward (Billy Howle) and Florence (Saoirse Ronan), both in their early 20's and also both virgins. They spend their honeymoon preoccupied and terrified by the prospect of consummating their marriage, which as a disastrous first attempt at sex and their differing reactions to that initial failed experience has lasting lifelong impacts for them both. Also starring Emily Watson and Anne-Marie Duff.

'UNFRIENDED : DARK WEB' (Rated MA15+) - this 'found footage' horror offering is Written and Directed by Stephen Succo in his first feature length Directorial outing, despite the fact that he has Written and Produced such horror films as 'The Grudge', 'The Grudge 2', 'Texas Chainsaw 3D', 'The Possession' and 'Beyond the Reach'. This film is a stand-alone follow-up to 2014's like minded found footage supernatural horror 'Unfriended' which off a Budget of US$1M grossed US$64M at the Box Office. Here, a young man jumps online to play a game with five of his good friends on a laptop he came by in lost property that has remained unclaimed for some months. He shows them a mysterious folder that he came across while checking out his new device that plays disturbing videos of people who appear to be in danger accessed via the Dark Web. While viewing some of the disturbing scenes from that folder, the group receive an anonymous message that tells them they will all die if they disconnect, or call the Police. Their planned night of fun rapidly turns deadly as each user becomes the target of something sinister, while the others watch helplessly in terror. The film Premiered at SXSW back in March, cost US$1M and since its release in the US on the 20th July, has so far taken US$9M, and has received mixed or average Reviews.

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 in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-