What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 14th July 2016.

In the last few weeks I have brought you a number of Box Office statistics, and so wrapping up this mini-series I have concluded with a look at Australian home grown films and how these have fared, stood the test of time and what the Aussie's have flocked to see in the very recent past and further down the track. Having secured the below data from Screen Australia, the Top 10 Aussie films of all time as of today, and how these performed at the Australian Box Office are these :-

• 'Crocodile Dundee' - released in 1986 and launching Paul Hogan's film career as outback Mick Dundee - AU$47.7M 
• 'Australia' - released in 2008 by Director Baz Luhrmann giving us an epic WWII Australian history lesson - AU$37.6M
• 'Babe' - released in 1995 about a talking piglet named Babe down on the farm - AU$36.8M
• 'Happy Feet' - released in 2006 by Director George Miller about animated song & dance penguins - AU$31.8M
• 'Moulin Rouge' - released in 2001 by Director Baz Luhrmann about the infamous Parisian nightspot at the turn of the 20th Century - AU$27.7M
• 'The Great Gatsby' - released in 2013 by Director Baz Luhrmann based on the famed F. Scott Fitzgerald novel of 1920's New York and the life of one multi-millionaire Jay Gatsby and those around him - AU$27.4M
• 'Crocodile Dundee II' - released in 1988 and the second instalment for Paul Hogan as our unlikely outback hero - AU$24.9M
• 'Strictly Ballroom' - released in 1992 by Director Baz Luhrmann a story of more unconventional ballroom dancing - AU$21.8M
• 'Mad Max : Fury Road' - released in 2015 by Director George Miller this fourth instalment in the post-apocalyptic franchise that introduced the world to Max Rockatansky back in 1979 - AU$21.7M
• 'Red Dog' - released in 2011 this true story of a dogs love and devotion in the Australian outback mining region around Dampier - AU$21.5M. 

What this shows is that even after thirty years 'Crocodile Dundee' remains in the #1 spot and by a significant margin, with its sequel performing half as well but in the #7 place nonetheless.  This also shows that Baz Luhrmann is a force to be reckoned with four Top Box Office films in the Top 10 with George Miller's two. Those other notable films that sit below are 'The Dressmaker' at #11, 'The Dish' at #12, 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' at #14, Russell Crowe's 'The Water Diviner' at #15, Mel Gibson's 1981 war time classic 'Gallipoli' at #22, perennial Aussie favourite and often quoted 'The Castle' at #29, the pianist extraordinaire David Helfgott bio-pic 'Shine' at #30, the Heath Ledger bio-pic of 19th Century Aussie bush ranger outlaw 'Ned Kelly' at #35, outback Aussie  slasher horror 'Wolf Creek' at #48 and criminal underworld bio-pic of Mark Read 'Chopper' at #49 that launched the film career of Eric Bana. For the full listing of the Top 100, go to the Screen Australia website.

For the coming week then we have five new movies to tempt you out to your local Odeon, and for a mere $21 what better value way is there to spend your afternoon or evening? Kicking off we have a 21st Century all female reboot of a much loved critically acclaimed and commercially successful two movie franchise from the 80's centering around a bunch of hapless yet loveable ghost hunters and collectors. Then a story of love and loss and how a man has to tear apart the life he knew (literally) before he can rebuild and move on; with a modern day British spy drama following and penned by one of the best that sees an unsuspecting couple caught up in a web of intrigue as they chase across Europe with MI6 and the Russian mob hot on their tails. These are followed up with a unique and cleverly written story that sees a desperate mans salvation thanks to a dead man and how even a washed up corpse can have its uses; and then we wrap up with a nostalgic trip down an Irish memory lane to the 80's and a film of New Romantics, big hair, wide lapels, heavily synthed music and the dreams and aspirations of a young school lad desperately out to prove himself.

When you have been entertained by your film of choice in the week ahead, feel free to drop a line with your critique in the Comments section below this or any other Post - your fellow readers would love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

'GHOSTBUSTERS' (Rated PG) : the original 'Ghostbusters' film was released in 1984 and was Directed and Produced by Ivan Reitman, Written by Dan Aykroyd who also starred as Ray Stanz, and starred Harold Ramis as Egon Spengler and Bill Murray as Peter Venkmen - making up the threesome of parapsychologists, ghost hunters and spectre busters. That film was made for US$30M and returned US$295M and was also a critical success having been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Ray Parker Jnr's. signature tune as Best Original Song. Based on this success 'Ghostbusters II' was released in 1989 with the same cast reprising their roles for US$37M and returning US$215M. During its time there were also two animated television series, a number of video game releases, a comic book adaptation, merchandise, and the film has seen several cinematic re-releases in more recent years. And now, in 2016, we have a reboot for a whole new audience, but this time with a budget of US$144M, and Paul Feig in the Directors chair, with Ivan Reitman Co-Producing, with both Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd appearing in cameo roles.

Here we have an all female cast of ghost hunters and catchers continuing the work laid out by Stanz, Venkman and Spengler 30 years ago and still in Noo Yawk City. This time, paranormal researcher Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and physicist Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) are largely unsuccessful and uncared about authors who believe that ghosts are real and are among us in everyday society. Fast track a few years and Gilbert lands a job at Columbia University and when her book resurfaces unexpectedly, she is laughed out of class and out of a job. However, when ghosts of all descriptions manifest themselves in Manhattan - who ya gonna call? When the two authors reunite, they do so with nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) and subway worker Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) who knows the city inside out upside down and every which way. Armed with their trusty upgraded proton packs, our new team of Ghostbusters need to prepare themselves and their city for an epic ectoplasmic battle as Times Square becomes the meeting point for a thousand or more evil spectres, devilish ghouls and mischievous phantoms. Chris Hemsworth, Andy Garcia, Charles Dance, and Neil Casey also star. The film has so far divided audiences and critics.

'DEMOLITION' (Rated M) - I saw an early screening of this film as part of the Sydney Film Festival this year, on Wednesday 15th June, so for more, go to Blog Post #497 for the full coverage of this latest Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper offering as Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.

'OUR KIND OF TRAITOR' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Susanna White and based on the 2010 John le Carre novel of the same name, this is another spy game drama of intrigue, espionage, secrets and lies set in modern day recession gripped Britain. Involving a Russian oligarch and money launderer Dima (Stellan Skarsgard) who befriends and persuades British holidaying couple Perry Makepeice (Ewen McGregor) and Gail Perkins (Naomi Harris) in Marrakech, Morocco to deliver a package containing incriminating evidence to MI6 Agent Hector (Damien Lewis). This sets off a chain of events where not everything is quite what it seems that takes our out of their depth couple to Paris, Berlin, a safe house in the French Alps and then London's murky underworld as they seek to deliver very classified information to the British Secret Service and a very determined and ruthless Agent Hector. Also starring Jeremy Northam and Grigoriy Dobrygin who starred too in the 2014 le Carre adaptation 'A Most Wanted Man'.

'SWISS ARMY MAN' (Rated M) - Written and Directed by 'The Daniels' - Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for just US$3M this is their first full length feature film following a career established on short films, commercials and music videos, and with this offering they have caused quite a stir - for all the right reasons. Essentially, the film surrounds two men - one living one dead - the former Hank (Paul Dano) has been stranded on a desert island for sometime in the Pacific Northwest and with no sign of any rescue is about to hang himself. When, out of nowhere washes up a corpse of a blue suited man whom he eventually calls Manny (Daniel Radcliffe). Manny it appears has a number of unusual supernatural powers that Hank believes may just be his ticket outta Dodge - which include a seemingly endless dose of flatulence, which Hank harnesses to ride Manny across the ocean wave like a jet-ski back to land and civilisation. When he does reach the mainland however, he is still a long way from civilisation, and so begins a trek through the wilderness where Hank learns to use Manny's particular set of skills like a Swiss Army Knife. Taking us from the sublime to the ridiculous, the sentimental to the emotional, and the absurd to the profound this original film shows how one mans salvation can come from the most unlikely and twisted of places.

'SING STREET' (Rated M) - Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Irish indie film and television Writer/Director John Carney this is a tribute to growing up in the 80's with a back drop of inner-city Dublin a struggling family and the impact of financial decisions that means young Conor Lalor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) must move from his expensive fee paying school to a free state school to see out his education. Pretty soon after starting and having already caught the ire of school Principal Brother Baxter (Don Wycherley), Conor meets Raphina (Lucy Boynton) and off the cuff in order to impress here states that he is looking for a model to start in his next music video for his bands next release single. The problem is that Conor is not making a music video, does not have a pending single release, and nor does he have a band, or can sing or play a musical instrument. But these are just minor hurdles to be overcome in the course of true love, and so Conor sets about forming a band and before long are writing their own material. Meanwhile Conor's (stage name adapted to 'Cosmo') parents marriage is failing, and his relationship with Raphia is growing by the day as they share dreams of escaping to London to make their fame & fortune. With a thumping nostalgic 80's soundtrack including Duran Duran, The Cure, The Jam, Joe Jackson, Hall & Oates, M and Motorhead as well as a number of 'original' 80's songs performed by Cosmo's band 'Sing Street' this is an uplifting, feel good charming tale of hopes, dreams and optimism.

Five films for the coming week once again offering almost something for everyone giving you little excuse not to get out to your local movie theatre for a dose of cinematic entertainment. Share your thoughts here at this Blog when you have done so, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 16th October 2014.

This week we have four new offering to tempt the more mature audiences amongst us with decidedly dramatic intentions and featuring some big names to pique your interest. Not much here for the younger viewer it must be said, but that's OK, because there is always plenty of left-over cinematic content still doing the rounds to appease those needing that fix! And so we have an ageing English Hollywood action star reprising (possibly) his character from another franchise out for revenge and retribution of a different kind this time; we have a tale of overnight memory loss that you might just think you saw 14 years ago with an aspiring Director and Actor just starting out on their careers on the way to the big time; a breakout Australian made prison/heist movie from a first time Director and Writer; and a Swedish offering exploring family values, relationships and trust with the backdrop of a skiing holiday gone horribly wrong!

So when you have ventured out over the coming week to see something new on the big screen, drop your pearls of wisdom and your own Review in the 'Comments' section immediately following this Post, or any other, and let me and my other interested Reader know what you think. Don't be shy - your feedback is warmly encouraged! Enjoy your movie!

BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Rowan Joffe this film is based on the best selling book of the same name by Author S. J. Watson and stars at its leads Nicole Kidman, Mark Strong, Colin Firth and Anne-Marie Duff. It was shot in London. The story will get you thinking about Christopher Nolan's 'Momento' released in 2000 and follows along similar-ish lines, but don't think you are just seeing a rehash of that film. The story surrounds Christine Lucas (Nicole Kidman) who every morning wakes up in bed with a strange man who has to explain that he is her husband, Ben Lucas (Colin Firth), who she is, where they are, and what is going on in her/their life. This is all the result of anterograde amnesia, which she has suffered from for over 20 years as a result of a car accident in her early 20's. For Christine this means that every night her brain erases the memories of the previous day while she sleeps, and she awakes in the morning with no recollection of those events.

What unfolds we learn is that Christine is under the daily medical care of Dr. Nash (Mark Strong) who tells her that her condition is the result of an attack that left her for dead at an airport hotel. Dr. Nash also gives Christine a camera to record her daily thoughts and experiences on film, but which he must remind her every morning to play it back, so that in some way she can piece together her life and gain some clarity around her situation. Conflicting stories arise as the plot twists and turns on this largely suburban ordinary woman thrust into extraordinary circumstances with no memories of what occurred 24 hours ago to guide her, comfort her or inform her as more uncertainty, betrayal and gaps appear in what Christine knows, or is led to believe. Arriving on the scene too is a blast from the past that Christine starts to gain some faint memories of, Claire (Anne-Marie Duff), and when they reunite, more confusion, mixed messages and possible danger ensues. Who can she really trust therefore, and possibly, not even herself! A taught psychological drama that will make you think just how lucky you are to have your memories intact, as Kidman puts in a strong performance of the memory challenged everywoman - just as another up & coming Australian Actor did 15 years ago - Guy Pearce!

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (Rated MA15+) - this too is a film based on a book of the same name by Lawrence Block, and Directed by Scott Frank. This film stars at its lead Liam Neeson, and you would be forgiven for thinking that with such a title this is just another 'Taken' or 'Unknown' or 'Non-Stop' that Neeson is turning out every 18 months or so in order to pay the bills. He has become adept and clearly the go-to grizzled ageing actor that can still play act at convincingly defending his corner with an arsenal of sharp wits, gadgets and household implements (a little like Robert McCall in the recent 'Equalizer' me thinks!) That said, here he is an ex-NYPD Officer (Matthew Scudder) who in 1992 shot dead a seven year old girl by mistake during a shoot out with low life crims. He discharged himself from the force, crawled inside a bottle and in 1999 we find him attending AA and moonlighting as a private investigator for hire. He is duly hired by a man who's wife was kidnapped and then chopped up into little pieces and sent back to him, even though he paid the $400K ransom demanded. And so Scudder goes on the man hunt, and discovers more than he bargained for. He is not one here though for physical violence - more good old fashioned policing preferring to pound the beat for clues, talk to suspects and witnesses in a low-key considered way, and use his diplomacy and tact to avoid confronting situations. He is also battling his own demons too and he must bring this, and those he is searching for under control before it's too late for everyone. Rated as a solid performance from Neeson, and a notch up from those previously mentioned Neeson outings this may be a pleasant surprise that might just spawn a sequel for Actor and Director based on other Scudder character books in the series.

SON OF A GUN (Rated MA15+) - written and Directed by Julius Avery this is the debut feature film for the Pemberton born award winning moviemaker. This story takes us to a violent Western Australian prison wherein resides a Brendan Lynch (Ewan McGregor) who is doing time as criminal mastermind and Australia's Public Enemy numero uno. Convicted of a petty crime 19 year old JR (Brenton Thwaites) finds himself doin' time on a six month stint with Lynch who quickly takes the young impressionable lad under his wing and tutelage. This of course comes at a price which will have to be repaid later on in the film. And so in the meantime a daring air-escape from the prison is planned which takes JR, Lynch and fellow cohorts Sterlo (Matt Nable) and Merv (Eddie Baroo) over the fence and to their freedom to pitch a daring heist on a gold mine masterminded by criminal kingpin Sam (Jacek Korman) which is set up to make them all millions! As JR gets pulled into the web of Lynch and his underworld gang members a father/son relationship starts to unfold, but in the aftermath of the heist as things start to unravel and go belly up so a cat & mouse game ensues which will take JR and Lynch on a collision course which will test their trust, loyalty and relationship with each other. Featuring some daring action set pieces, Western Australian locations, and an of the moment prison escape story with a solid central character this might just surprise and delight over and above those films seen before of the same genre.

FORCE MAJEURE (Rated M) - a Swedish film about a Swedish family who travel to holiday in the French Alps for a spot of skiing and family bonding. The sun shines, the snow lays fresh and thick on the ground and the scenery is spectacular. Lunching in a nearby hostelry the family sit in idyllic surroundings gazing in wonder at the mountain ranges before them, when an avalanche strikes sending snow cascading down the mountain side . . . in their general direction. When the realisation dawns that  tonnes of snow is about to impact their peaceful lunch and engulf their very existence all patrons flee for their lives. When mother Ebba (Lisa Loven Kongsli) tries to protect her children Vera and Harry (Clara and Vincent Wettergren respectively) and calls out for husband Tomas (Johannes Kuhnke) he is no where in sight having been seen hot tailing it outta there in the opposite direction with not a care in the world except for his own skin! When the reality of the situation clears and the avalanche did not strike the peaceful lunchtime venue and all souls are saved, the hilarity of the matter soon turns to anger, resentment and a questioning of family values and priorities with all eyes on Dad! With the family's lives now turned asunder, a marriage in question, and the place of the man as the patriarch of the family in doubt, Tomas is left to struggle to regain his place in the family pecking order; win back confidence, respect and love; and prove himself worthy to continue being part of this family unit. Comedic, dramatic, questioning and bold this film won the Jury Prize at this years Cannes Film Festival, it appeared in the Special Presentations at the Toronto International Film Festival this year, and is the Swedish entry for Best Foreign Film at the 2015 Academy Awards.

That's it then - four movie marvels making for tough decisions dependant on where your film tastes and preferences lie. Plenty to enjoy nonetheless, and be sure to share your cinematic experience when you're done. Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

AUGUST : OSAGE COUNTY - 14th January 2014

Saw 'AUGUST:OSAGE COUNTY' this evening after getting to the end of the queue to be told 'THE BOOK THIEF' was sold out tonite - so next best option! Had read the reviews of this film which have been mixed despite the strong ensemble cast, the stirring emotional story line, and the fact that is largely set within the four walls of an ageing family home. 

This is the tale of a seriously dysfunctional family, three estranged sisters, and their mother suffering mouth cancer and hooked on uppers, downers and pain killers to numb the pain all the while seemingly oblivious to what these prescription drugs are doing to her mental state (solid film material this!) 

The mother in question is played to great effect by Meryl Streep who gives another solid performance with moments of pathos, anger, humour and raw emotion. Very ably supported by Julia Roberts who has given her best performance since her award winning 'ERIN BROKOVICH' turn drops the 'F' bomb more times that you can count but her performance is solid & grounded and a highlight of the film. Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper, Dermot Mulroney, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ewan McGregor all support and all have their moment in the sun with some great lines and emotional dialogue. 

This all surrounds a cataclysmic event in the family that bring all these disjointed disenfranchised characters together, which in turn brings out many more skeletons, home truths and twists & turns as the family unit slowly implodes. Heavy on dialogue, heavy on emotion, at times bleak & unforgiving this is not uplifting stuff, but it will leave you wondering, debating and discussing some very strong performances and the dinner sequence in particular is more than noteworthy as a pivotal scene in the film. 

You don't need to see this on the big screen and don't watch it if you're feeling alone, depressed or angry!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-