What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 6th May 2021.

The 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards were held two days before the Academy Awards on Friday 22nd April at the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California and hosted by the American actress, stand-up comedian, impressionist, visual artist, and singer Melissa Villasenor. Founded in 1984, this years awards honoured the best independent films and television series of 2020 with the winners initially presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the bare budgets of independent films. Since 2006 however, winners have received a metal trophy depicting a bird with its wings spread sitting at the top of a pole with the shoestrings from the previous design wrapped around the pole. The show is produced by Film Independent, a not-for-profit arts organisation, and Film Independent members vote to determine the winners of the Spirit Awards.

For the full list of this years winners, and the runners-up, refer below :-

Best Feature

* Awarded to 'NOMADLAND', beating out 'First Cow', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', 'Minari' and 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always'.

Best Director

* Awarded to CHLOE ZHAO for 'NOMADLAND', beating out Lee Isaac Chung for 'Minari', Emerald Fennell for 'Promising Young Woman', Eliza Hittman for 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always' and Kelly Reichardt for 'First Cow'.

Best First Feature

* Awarded to DARIUS MARDER for 'SOUND OF METAL', beating out Radha Blank for 'The Forty-Year-Old Version', Heidi Ewing for 'I Carry You with Me', Edson Oda for 'Nine Days' and Channing Godfrey Peoples for 'Miss Juneteenth'.

Best Documentary Feature

* Awarded to 'CRIP CAMP', beating out 'Collective', 'Dick Johnson Is Dead', 'The Mole Agent' and 'Time'.

Best International Film

* Awarded to 'QUO VADIS, AIDA?' from Bosnia and Herzegovina, beating out 'Bacurau' from Brazil, 'The Disciple' from India, 'Night of Kings' from the Ivory Coast and 'Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time' from Hungary.

Best Male Lead

* Awarded to RIZ AHMED for 'SOUND OF METAL', beating out Chadwick Boseman for 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', Adarsh Gourav for 'White Tiger', Rob Morgan for 'Bull' and Steven Yuen for 'Minari'.

Best Female Lead

* Awarded to CAREY MULLIGAN for 'PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN', beating out Nicole Beharie for 'Miss Juneteenth', Viola Davis for 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', Sidney Flanigan for 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', Julia Garner for 'The Assistant' and Frances McDormand for 'Nomadland'.

Best Supporting Male

* Awarded to PAUL RACI for 'SOUND OF METAL', beating out Colman Domingo for 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', Orion Lee for 'First Cow', Glynn Turman for 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' and Benedict Wong for 'Nine Days'.

Best Supporting Female

* Awarded to YOUN YUH-JUNG for 'MINARI', beating out Alexis Chikaeze for 'Miss Juneteenth', Yeri Han for 'Minari', Valerie Mahaffey for 'French Exit' and Talia Ryder for 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always'.

Best Screenplay

* Awarded to EMERALD FENNEL for 'PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN', beating out Lee Isaac Chung for 'Minari', Eliza Hittman for 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', Mike Makowsky for 'Bad Education' and Alice Wu for 'The Half of It'. 

Best First Screenplay

* Awarded to ANDY SIARA for 'PALM SPRINGS', beating out Kitty Green for 'The Assistant', Noah Hutton for 'Lapsis', Channing Godfrey Peoples for 'Miss Juneteenth' and James Sweeney for 'Straight Up'.

Best Cinematography

* Awarded to JOSHUA JAMES RICHARDS for 'NOMADLAND', beating out 'She Dies Tomorrow, 'Bull', 'The Assistant' and 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always'.

Best Editing

* Awarded to CHLOE ZHAO for 'NOMADLAND', beating out 'The Invisible Man', 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', 'Residue' and 'I Carry You with Me'.

In addition, Special Awards are given as follows :-

* John Cassavetes Award given to the best feature made for under US$500K - recipients are the Writer, Director, and Producer and awarded to 'RESIDUE'.

* Robert Altman Award given to its film Director, Casting Director, and ensemble cast and presented to 'ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI . . .'.
* Producers Award given to emerging Producers, who despite highly limited resources demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to create quality independent films. The winner receives a US$25K unrestricted cash grant, and presented to GERRY KIM.

* Someone to Watch Award given to a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The winner receives a US$25K unrestricted cash grant, and presented to EKWA MSANGI for 'FAREWELL AMOR'.

* Truer than Fiction Award given to an emerging Director of non-fiction features who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The winner receives a US$25K unrestricted cash grant, and presented to ELEGANCE BRATTON for 'PIER KIDS'.

For the complete summary of awards winners from all categories, including TV, plus a whole lot more, you can visit the official website at : https://www.filmindependent.org/spirit-awards/

And so, turning the attention back to this weeks five latest release new films coming to an Odeon near you, we kick off with a thriller about a successful married man, who after a one night stand finds himself entangled in a cunning police detective's latest investigation. This is followed up with a story about a couple whose relationship is on the rocks and growing worse during a pandemic lock down, who attempt a high-risk, high-stakes jewellery heist at a renowned London department store. Next up is an Aussie tale about a woman who, after being given a medical miracle, has a few days to bring her estranged children together, bring the family business back from the brink of ruin and potentially reignite an old flame. Then comes a French biopic set in 1940 when France collapses to Germany and a newly appointed two star General heads to London to establish the resistance while his wife and children look to get the hell outta Dodge! And we wrap up the week with a determined young Saudi doctor's surprise run for office in the local city elections sweeps up her family and community as they struggle to accept their town's first female candidate.

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 week ahead.

'FATALE' (Rated MA15+) - this American thriller film is Directed and Co-Produced by Deon Taylor whose prior film making outings include 2010's 'Chain Letter', 2018's 'Traffik', and 2019's 'The Intruder' and 'Black and Blue'. It was initially scheduled to be released in late June 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then scheduled to be released in late October 2020, however, it was then pushed back to 2021 before being moved up to a mid-December 2020 release which ultimately became 8th January 2021 via VoD. The film has so far grossed close to US$7M and has generated mixed or average Reviews. 

After a wild one-night stand, Derrick Tyler (Michael Ealy), a successful sports agent, watches his perfect life slowly disappear when he discovers that the sexy and mysterious woman he risked everything for, is a determined police detective Valerie Quinlan (Hilary Swank) who entangles him in her latest investigation. As he tries desperately to put the pieces together, he falls deeper into her trap, risking his family, his career, and even his life. Also starring Mike Colter and Damaris Lewis. 

'LOCKED DOWN' (Rated M) - is a romantic comedy heist film Directed by Doug Liman whose prior film making credits include 'Swingers', 'The Bourne Identity', 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith', 'Edge of Tomorrow', 'American Made' and 'Chaos Walking' most recently. The screenplay was written by Steven Knight in July 2020, financed and filmed entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic over just an eighteen day period in October 2020 for a budget of about US$3M. The film was released in the US on HBO Max in January 2021, and has garnered mixed or average Reviews. And so here, waiting to go their separate ways after the end of a lockdown, Linda (Anne Hathaway) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a disgruntled London-based couple, attempt a high-risk heist at the Harrods department store that surprisingly brings them closer together. Also starring Stephen Merchant, Mindy Kaling, Lucy Boynton, Mark Gatiss, Claes Bang, Ben Stiller, and Ben Kingsley.

'JUNE AGAIN' (Rated M) - this Australian comedy drama is Directed and Written by J.J. Winlove in only his second feature film outing following 2015's 'Life Is Risky'. During an all too fleeting bout of lucidity from her dementia, June Wilton (Noni Hazlehurst) has precious little time to reconnect with her estranged now adult children Ginny (Claudia Karvan) and Devon (Stephen Curry) and subsequently learns that things have not gone quite according to plan. With limited time on her hands she sets about putting everything and everyone back on track including her children, while attempting to save the family business, and rekindle an old flame, but she quickly discovers that in fact she needs help from the very people she was trying to rescue. Also starring Nash Edgerton. 

'DE GAULLE' (Rated M) - Written and Directed by Gabriel Le Bomin here it is May 1940, where the war between Germany and its neighbours has intensified. Shockingly, the French army collapses, and Hitler seizes Paris. The government is in panic and considers accepting defeat, but recently promoted two-star General Charles de Gaulle (Lambert Wilson), wants to change the course of history. His wife, Yvonne (Isabelle Carre), is his first support, but very quickly events spiral out of control and separate them – she and their three children Anne, Philippe and Elisabeth (Clemence Hittin, Felix Back and Lucie Rouxel respectively) set out on the roads of exodus, as Charles travels to London to meet with Winston Churchill (Tim Hudson). He wants to make another voice heard, that of resistance! 

'THE PERFECT CANDIDATE' (Rated PG) - this Saudi Arabia drama offering is Directed, Co-Produced and Co-Written by Haifaa al-Mansour whose previous film making credits include 'Wadjda' in 2012, 'Mary Shelley' in 2017, and 'Nappily Ever After' in 2018. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival back in late August 2019 where it was in competition for the Golden Lion, before its initial release in Spain in March 2020, has so far taken US$1.2M at the Box Office, now gets a limited release in Australia and has garnered generally positive critical acclaim so far. When Dr. Maryam Alsafan (Mila Al Zahrani) a hardworking young doctor in a small-town clinic, is prevented from flying to Dubai for a conference without a male guardian's approval, she seeks help from a politically connected cousin but inadvertently registers as a candidate for the municipal council. Maryam sees the election as a way to fix the muddy road in front of her clinic, but her campaign slowly generates much broader appeal. 

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 coming week, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th July 2018.

In June, the world bid a fond farewell to number of stars of the silver screen and the small screen. In brief, shown below, is my passing tribute to those stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and in particular the world of film and television. May you all Rest In Peace, and thanks for the memories Anthony Bourdain, Leslie Grantham and Stanley Anderson.

* Anthony Michael Bourdain - born 25th June 1956, died 8th June 2018, aged 61. An American celebrity Chef, writer, travel documentarian, television personality and regarded as one of the most influential Chef's in the world. Graduating in 1978 from the Culinary Institute of America he went on to become the Executive Chef for many years at the famed Manhattan French eatery Brasserie Les Halles, upon which he based many of his culinary exploits in his first book 'Kitchen Confidential : Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly' in 2000. From there he went on to host his first food and world-travel television show, 'A Cook's Tour' which coincided with the release of his second book of the same name, and ran for 35 episodes on the Food Network in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, he began hosting the Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure programs 'Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations' running from 2005 through to 2012 and then 'The Layover' from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, he began a three-season run as a judge on the cooking themed reality TV competition 'The Taste', and that same year hosted the award winning food and travel show 'Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown' for CNN. In the meantime, he also published other non-fiction books including 'The Nasty Bits' in 2006, 'No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach' in 2007, and 'Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook' in 2010. His articles and essays appeared in many national and international magazines, newspapers and periodicals over the years and in 2015 he appeared as himself in the highly acclaimed film 'The Big Shout' in which he used seafood stew as an analogy for a collateralised debt obligation. Also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for his writing and television work over the years, Bourdain was the Keith Richards of the food service industry, outspoken, adventurous, a lovable rogue, and coming from the industry myself, a personal favourite who has read all his books, and watched many a TV show of his with avid interest.

* Leslie Michael Grantham - born 30th April 1947, died 15th June 2018, aged 71. An English Actor of stage and screen Grantham will be forever etched in the subconscious minds of a loyal fan base of that long running British television soap 'EastEnders' as 'Dirty' Dennis Watts, the former landlord of the Queen Victoria Public House. Over the years he appeared in 562 episodes from the series launch in 1985 through to 1989 and then in a comeback running from 2003 to 2005. Aside from his regular turn on 'EastEnders' Grantham had regular work over his career including recurring appearances on television series such as 'Doctor Who', 'Winners and Losers', 'The Paradise Club', 'Cluedo' (based on popular whodunit board game in which he starred as Colonel Mustard), '99-1', 'Woof' and 'The Uninvited', as well as feature films taking in 'Waiting for Godot', 'Shadow Run', 'Crow's Nest', 'Lava', 'Charlie', 'Deadtime', 'The Factory', 'Mob Handed' and the recently completed awaiting release 'The Krays : Dead Man Walking'. All up Grantham had 48 Acting credits.

* Stanley Anderson - born 23rd October 1939, died 24th June 2018, aged 78. An American Actor of both stage and screen and perhaps best known for his role as Drew Carey's Dad in the 'Drew Carey Show'. Anderson's career started in 1967, two years after his return from military service in Korea. For the next 23 years he appeared in over two hundred stage productions at Arena Stage, the American Conservatory Theatre and The Actors Company amongst several others. In 1991 he got his television break through in mini-series 'Son of the Morning Star' as Ulysses S. Grant. From there and over the years he appeared in many notable Hollywood features including 'Deceived', 'RoboCop 3', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Primal Fear', 'The Rock', 'Armageddon', 'Proof of Life', 'Spider-Man', 'S1mOne', 'Red Dragon', and 'Runaway Jury'. In between time, there were also numerous television series appearances on the likes of 'L.A. Law', 'Seinfeld', 'Just Shoot Me!', 'The X Files', 'Ally McBeal', 'Law & Order', 'The Practice', and 'NYPD Blue'. He also lent his voice talents to numerous documentaries, education and lifestyle channels including 'National Geographic', 'The Discovery Channel', 'The History Channel' and 'The Learning Channel'. All up, Anderson had 52 Acting credits.

This week coming to an Odeon near you, we have four new release films. Launching with another MCU Superhero offering that is a sequel to the first instalment from 2015, this time the lead character who can shrink to a tiny insect size or upscale to larger than life, forms a crime fighting dynamic duo with another winged insect with a sting in her tail, all with the aid of Mum & Dad in whose footsteps they follow. Next is a historical biographical drama charting the life, love and one particularly world renowned work of literary art, by the troubled author of the novel 'Frankenstein'. We then turn to a comedy of a talking dog having to buddy up with an FBI Agent to thwart an animal smuggling ring at a world famous dog show event; before wrapping up with three largely estranged siblings returning to their vineyard home in France to ponder over what should become of their late father's winery.

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 week ahead.

'ANT-MAN AND THE WASP' (Rated PG) - and so the Marvel machine keeps grinding away churning out superhero fare for us to spend our $20 or so on at the local multiplex. And it is too with this sequel to 2015's 'Ant-Man', which off the back of a US$110M Budget grossed US$520M at the global Box Office, was generally well received by Critics and audiences alike, and picked up three award wins and another 33 nominations from around the circuit. This 20th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Directed by Peyton Reed once again, who came on board one month after the release of the first instalment. This film is released in the US this week too, but not in the UK until early August. Paul Rudd, who plays Ant-Man/Scott Lang also takes a Co-Writer credit this time around.

Set two years following the events that unfolded with 'Captain America : Civil War' and prior to the events that unfolded just recently in 'Avengers : Infinity War' and now under house arrest (explaining his absence from 'Avengers : Infinity War') Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) struggles with balancing his choices as both a father to young Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson) and a responsible superhero. Approached by Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and her father - a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, entomologist, and physicist who became the original Ant-Man way back when, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), Lang must once again put on the Ant-Man suit and fight alongside the new Wasp (aka Hope van Dyne). The urgent mission soon leads to secret revelations from the past as the dynamic pairing find themselves in a battle against a powerful new enemy, known as Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). Also starring Walton Goggins, Michael Pena, Bobby Cannavale, Laurence Fishburn and Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet van Dyne (the wife of Pym, mother of Hope, and the original Wasp back in the day), and of course keep an eye out for Stan Lee's obligatory cameo.

'MARY SHELLEY' (Rated PG) - this internationally Produced romantic historical period drama is Directed by Saudi Arabian Haifaa al-Mansour, had its World Premier screening at TIFF back in September last year, went on release in the US in late May and gets its Australian and UK release this week. The film has received mixed or average Reviews at best, and has so far grossed just US$193K. The story surrounds Mary Wollstonecraft (Elle Fanning) whose family staunchly disapproves when she and poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (Douglas Booth) announce their love for each other. The family is mortified upon discovering that the couple has eloped, together with Mary's half-sister, Claire (Bel Powley). While staying in the home of Lord Byron (Tom Sturridge) at Lake Geneva, the guests are challenged to write a ghost story, which leads Mary to conceive her novel 'Frankenstein'. Also starring Stephen Dillaine, Maisie Williams, Ben Hardy and Joanne Froggatt.

'SHOW DOGS' (Rated PG) - here we have an American buddy-cop family comedy that was mired in controversy after its opening weekend. So research advises, a week after its initial release in the US in mid-May, several movie Critics and parental groups accused the Producers of the film of including a scene that normalised child grooming. Resulting from this outcry, the Studio re-edited the film and re-released it for its second weekend. Directed by Raja Gosnell the film cost a mere US$5.5M to make and has so far grossed US$29M although the film has received largely unfavourable Reviews. The story here takes place in a world where humans co-exist with talking dogs (of course!) and following a thwarted attempt to recover a stolen baby panda, Police dog Max (voiced by Ludacris) reluctantly buddies up with human FBI agent Frank (Will Arnett). A hot lead takes Max and Frank to the Canini Invitational Dog Show in Las Vegas for the world's most exclusive event of its kind. To locate the panda, Max goes under cover as a furry contestant to get the lowdown from his fellow four legged friends, and Max must pose as his trainer. With help from their new pooch buddies, this dynamic crime-fighting duo must now foil another kidnapping plot and rescue other various other furry and valuable animals from a gang of greedy smugglers. Also starring Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, RuPaul and Shaquille O'Neal. You'ld be forgiven for drawing similarities with 'Turner & Hooch' or 'K-9' already!

'BACK TO BURGUNDY' (Rated M) - this French foreign language drama film is Directed and Co-Written by Cedric Klapisch, was released just over a year ago in its native France, and only now does it get a limited showing in Australia. The film costs just over US$9M to make, and it has so far made just a tad over US$9M, garnering mixed or average Reviews along the way. The story here tells of three siblings who are reunited for the first time in a very long time at their family home in the picture perfect environs of Burgundy, France to save the family vineyard. Jean (Pio Marmai), is the black sheep of the family who unexpectedly returns home from a decade abroad in Australia to reconnect with his hospitalised father. He is welcomed by his sister, the tough and uncompromising Juliette (Ana Girardot), who took over the task of managing the vineyard after their father became ill. And then there is Jeremie (Francois Civil), the youngest of the three who has recently married into one of the region’s more prestigious wine families, and is expected, in time, to take the reins there. Their father dies shortly after Jean’s return, leaving them with the estate and a huge inheritance tax bill that they can ill afford. As a year goes by, Jean, Juliette, and Jeremie must learn to reinvent their relationship and build trust and gain confidence in each other as they toil to safeguard the 'terroir' that inextricably binds them together. Eric Caravaca plays the father who we see throughout the film in flashback.

With four new release films out 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-