What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 30th March 2023.

The 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival kicks off on Thursday 30th March and runs through until Monday 10th April. As one of the oldest film festivals in Asia, the global reputation of the HKIFF was built on the pioneering work of programming Asian films and its retrospectives when Asian and Hong Kong cinema were not well known to the international community. Built on a solid reputation for programming, the HKIFF became the model for many subsequent film festivals around the region. Today, the HKIFF has grown to be Hong Kong’s largest cultural event and is one of Asia’s most reputable platforms for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch new work and experience outstanding films. Screening over 280 titles from fifty countries the HKIFF reaches an audience of over 600,000, with 4,500 business executives attending the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market.

This years Opening Night films are the Asian Premier of 'Mad Fate' from Hong Kong and Directed by Soi Cheang and the World Premier of 'Elegies' also from Hong Kong and Directed by Ann Hui. The Closing Night film is the World Premier of 'Vital Sign' from Director Cheuk Wan-chi.

Ten films make up the Gala Presentation, these being :

* 'Aftersun' from the UK and USA and Directed by Charlotte Wells.

* 'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed' from the US and Directed by Laura Poitras.

* 'The Beasts' from Spain and France and Directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen.

* 'Corsage' from Austria, Luxembourg, Germany and France and Directed by Marie Kreutzer.

* 'The Eight Mountains' from Italy, Belgium and France and Directed by Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch.

* 'Plan 75' from Japan, France, the Philippines and Qatar and Directed by Hayakawa Chie.

* 'Saint Omer' from France and Directed by Alice Diop.

* 'Stars at Noon' from France and Directed by Claire Denis.

* 'Subtraction' from Iran and France and Directed by Mani Haghighi.

* 'World War III' from Iran and Directed by Houman Seyedi.

For the details of the Firebird Awards for the Young Cinema Competition (Chinese language); Young Cinema Competition (World); Documentary Competition; and the Short Film Competition, plus all the other film strands being showcased at this years HKIFF, you can go to the official website at : https://www.hkiff.org.hk/

Turning attention back to this weeks four new cinematic offerings coming your way, we kick off with a South Korean comedy crime drama about a young woman who decides to give up her newborn child to a church for adoption but discovers that there is an active group which steals these children for sale. Next up is a Sci-Fi comedy drama that tells the story of the host of a failing children's science show who tries to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut by building a rocket ship in his garage, and a series of bizarre events that occur that cause him to question his own reality. Next up we have a Biblical drama retelling of the story of after being called on by the Lord, Abraham's faith is tested on his three day journey to sacrifice his son; before closing out the week with a French animated feature set in an ancient Greek port city where the wrath of Poseidon threatens its populace, but a young, adventurous mouse and the cat who adopted her help the aged Jason and his Argonauts in their quest to save the city.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four 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 week ahead.

'BROKER' (Rated M) - this South Korean drama film is Written, Directed and Edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda whose previous Directorial credits take in the likes of 'Nobody Knows' in 2004, 'Still Walking' in 2008, 'After the Storm' in 2016, 'Shoplifters' in 2018 and 'The Truth' in 2019. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it screened in late May last year and won the Ecumenical Jury Award and the Best Actor Award for Song Kang-ho. It went on release in its native South Korea in early June, has so far grossed US$18M and has generated largely positive Critical reviews. The film has collected ten award wins and another twenty-seven nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit.

Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won) works. The two run an illegal business together, Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box (a place where people (typically mothers) can bring babies, usually newborn, and abandon them anonymously in a safe place to be found and cared for) with Dong-soo, who deletes the church's surveillance footage that shows a baby was left there. They sell the babies on the adoption black market. But when a young mother So-young (Lee Ji-eun) comes back after having abandoned her baby, she discovers them and decides to go with them on a road trip to interview the baby's potential parents. Meanwhile, two detectives, Soo-jin (Bae Doona) and Lee (Lee Joo-young), are on their case and on their trail. 

'LINOLEUM' (Rated M) - is an American Sci-Fi comedy drama film Written and Directed by Colin West in only his third feature film outing following his debut in 2012 with 'So It Was with Us' and 'Double Walker' in 2012 with seven short films in between. Here, Cameron Edwin (Jim Gaffigan), the host of a failing TV science show for children, has always had aspirations of being an astronaut. When a mysterious satellite coincidentally falls from space and lands in his backyard, his midlife crisis manifests into a plan to rebuild the machine into a rocket. As surreal events start to unfold around him, he slowly comes to the realisation that there's more to his life story than he once thought. Also starring Rhea Seehorn, Katelyn Nacon and Tony Shalhoub. The film was released in the US towards the end of February and has so far grossed just US$65K, but has generated mostly positive critical reviews.

'HIS ONLY SON' (Rated PG) - Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by David Helling in his feature film debut, this US Biblical drama offering chronicles one of the most controversial moments in all of scripture - when the Lord God (Daniel da Silva) gave Abraham (Nicolas Mouawad) the ultimate test by commanding him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac (Edaan Moskowitz), on the mountain of Moriah. Answering age-old questions as to why the Lord would require such a sacrifice, His Only Son profoundly explores mankind's relationship to God. This film is released Stateside too this week.

'ARGONUTS' (Rated G) - is a French animated adventure comedy film Written and Directed by David Alaux, Eric Tosti and Jean-Francois Tosti. In Yolcos, a beautiful and prosperous port city of ancient Greece, the population is threatened by the wrath of Poseidon (voiced by Paul Borne). A young mouse named Pattie (Kaycie Chase) and the orange cat who adopted her, Chickos (Emmanuel Curtil) will help old Jason (Michel Tureau) and his Argonauts to save the city by facing numerous mythical creatures and colourful adventures along the way. The film was released in its native France at the end of January, in the UK in mid-February and various other European nations up to now having so far grossed US$9.2M.

With four 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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 18th August 2022.

The 75th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is currently running from Friday 12th until Saturday 20th August. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all titles are World, International, European, UK or Scottish Premieres), in all genres and lengths. It also presents themed retrospectives and other specialised programming strands. 

This years Opening Night Gala film was 'Aftersun' from the UK and US and is Directed by Charlotte Wells and stars Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio. The Closing Night Gala film is 'After Yang' Directed by Kogonada and stars Colin Farrell and Jodie Turner-Smith. 

This year EIFF will present 'The Powell & Pressburger Award for Best Feature Film'. This competition is composed of a mix of UK and Irish filmmakers and international talents that honours imagination and creativity in filmmaking. The films selected for our 2022 competition are daring, eclectic and genuinely speak to the creativity that’s central to the works of the award’s namesakes – Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. 

The films in this strand are :-

* 'Flux Gourmet' - from the UK and Directed by Peter Strickland and starring Asa Butterfield and Gwendoline Christie in this dark comedy horror. UK Premier.

* '99 Moons' - from Switzerland and Written and Directed by Jan Gassmann and starring Valentina Di Pace and Dominik Fellmann in this sensual drama. UK Premier.

* 'Lola' - from Ireland and the UK and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Andrew Legge in his feature film making debut. Starring Stefanie Martini, Emma Appleton, Rory Fleck Byrne and Aaron Monaghan in this Sci-Fi drama. UK Premier.

* 'Fogareu' - from Brazil and France and Co-Written and Directed by Flavia Neves and starring Barbara Colen, Eucir de Souza, Allan Jacinto Santana, Timothy Wilson, Kelly Crifer, Nena Inoue, Vilminha Chaves, Fernanda Vianna and Vilma Montenegro in this drama. UK Premier.

* 'Husband' - from the UK and US and Co-Produced and Directed by Josh Appignanesi and Devorah Baum and starring Josh Appignanesi and Devorah Baum in this drama comedy. World Premier.

* 'Nothing Compares' - from Ireland and the UK and Directed by Kathryn Ferguson, and this documentary covers the period from 1987 to 1992 in the life and times of Sinead O'Connor. Scottish Premier.

* 'Leonor Will Never Die' from the Philippines and Directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar and starring Sheila Francisco, Bong Cabrera, Rocky Salumbides, Anthony Falcon in this comedy action thriller. UK Premier.

* 'Please Baby Please' - from the US and Co-Written and Directed by Amanda Kramer and starring Andrea Riseborough and Harry Melling in this drama. UK Premier.

* 'A Cat Called Dom' - from the UK and Directed and starring Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson in this documentary animation drama. World Premier.

* 'Mediterranean Fever' from Palestine, Germany, France, Cyprus, Qatar and Written and Directed by Maha Haj and starring Amer Hlehel and Ashraf Farah in this drama. UK Premier.

For all the details on the other strands, the events, and the comings and goings at this years 75th Edinburgh International Film Festival, you can go to the official website at : https://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/edinburgh-international-film-festival

Turning attention back to this weeks six new films gracing your local Odeon, we have one from the US, one from Britain, one from Australia and three from South Korea. Opening up we kick off with a Sci-Fi horror drama set in a future world where humans have adapted to a synthetic environment, with new transformations and mutations, and with it a celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. This is followed by a British comedy drama about a 55-year-old widow, who yearns for some adventure, human connection and some sex - some good sex. Next up is an Aussie thriller centred around a mother and daughter who deals with an uncertain threat that ultimately brings them closer together. And closing out the week we have three offerings from South Korea, the first of which is a drama about baby boxes that are left out (in this case at a church) for people to anonymously drop off their unwanted babies to be found and cared for. Then we turn to a romantic mystery offering about a detective who falls for a mysterious widow after she becomes the prime suspect in his latest murder investigation, before closing out the week with an action drama which plays out after a terror incident occurs mid-flight, leading this passenger jet to declare an emergency.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six 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 week ahead.

'CRIMES OF THE FUTURE' (Rated MA15+) - this Sci-Fi body horror film is Written and Directed by David Cronenberg whose previous film making credits include 'Crimes of the Future' in 1970 (not a remake or a sequel, as the theme is unrelated), 'Shivers' in 1975, 'The Brood' in 1979, 'Scanners' in 1981, 'Videodrome' in 1983, 'The Fly' in 1986, 'Naked Lunch' in 1991, 'Crash' in 1996, 'eXistenZ' in 1999, 'A History of Violence' in 2005, 'Eastern Promises' in 2007, 'Cosmopolis' in 2012 and 'Maps to the Stars' in 2014. This film Premiered at this years Cannes Film Festival, where it was in competition for the Palme d'Or and received a six-minute standing ovation. It was released in France towards the end of May and opened in Canada and the US in early June and here in Australia from this week, having so far grossed US$3.5M and generated largely positive critical reviews. 

As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice (Lea Seydoux), Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed, whose mission it is to use Saul's notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution. Also starring Scott Speedman and Don McKellar.

'GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE' (Rated M) - is a British sex comedy film Directed and Executive Produced by South Australian Sophie Hyde in only her third feature film outing following '52 Tuesdays' in 2013 and 'Animals' in 2019, although she has also helmed a number of short films, documentaries and TV series in the meantime as well as Writing and Producing. Here then, retired former Religious Education teacher, the fifty-five year old Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson), whose straight laced husband died two years previously, embarks on a post-marital sexual awakening with male sex worker Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack), and as he draws on his skills and charm, between them they find a surprising human connection. The film saw its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year and went on release in the UK in mid-June, has garnered generally positive Critical acclaim and has so far taken US$2M at the Box Office.

'THE GIRL AT THE WINDOW' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian thriller Directed by Mark Hartley in his third feature film making credit after 2006's 'Just Rollin'' and and 2013's 'Patrick : Evil Awakens', although he has Directed, Edited, Written and Produced numerous music videos and video documentaries in the meantime. A troubled teenage girl (Ella Newton) who’s struggling to cope with the accidental death of her father suspects that the mysterious killer stalking her hometown is not only her neighbour but the new romantic interest of her mother (Radha Mitchell). Also starring James Mackay and Vince Colosimo. 

'BROKER' (Rated MA15+) - this South Korean drama film is Written, Directed and Edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda whose previous Directorial credits take in the likes of 'Nobody Knows' in 2004, 'Still Walking' in 2008, 'After the Storm' in 2016, 'Shoplifters' in 2018 and 'The Truth' in 2019. Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) is the owner of a hand laundry and volunteers at the nearby church, where his friend Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won) works. The two run an illegal business together, Sang-hyeon occasionally steals babies from the church's baby box (a place where people (typically mothers) can bring babies, usually newborn, and abandon them anonymously in a safe place to be found and cared for) with Dong-soo, who deletes the church's surveillance footage that shows a baby was left there. They sell the babies on the adoption black market. But when a young mother So-young (Lee Ji-eun) comes back after having abandoned her baby, she discovers them and decides to go with them on a road trip to interview the baby's potential parents. Meanwhile, two detectives, Soo-jin (Bae Doona) and Lee (Lee Joo-young), are on their case and on their trail. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it screened in late May and won the Ecumenical Jury Award and the Best Actor Award for Song Kang-ho. It went on release in its native South Korea in early June, has so far grossed US$15M and has generated largely positive Critical reviews.

'DECISION TO LEAVE' (Rated MA15+) - is a South Korean romantic mystery film Co-Written, Produced and Directed by Park Chan-wook whose previous film making credits include 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance', 'Oldboy', 'Lady Vengeance', 'Stoker', and 'The Handmaiden' most recently in 2016. A detective investigating a man's death in the mountains ends up meeting and developing feelings for the dead man's mysterious wife in the course of his exhaustive investigations. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in May of this year where Park Chan-wook won Best Director. It was released in its native South Korea at the end of May, has so far grossed US$17M and has garnered widespread universal critical acclaim.

'EMERGENCY DECLARATION' (Rated MA15+) - this South Korean disaster action film is Written, Produced, Directed and Edited by Jae-rim Han whose previous film making outings include his debut in 2005 with 'Rules of Dating', then 'The Show Must Go On', 'The Face Reader' and 'The King' in 2017. The film is based on a real aviation disaster in which an aeroplane declared high alert and demanded unconditional landing when an unprecedented terror occurs inflight. The film saw its World Premier screening in the out of competition section of the 74th Cannes Film Festival in mid-July 2021, and was released in cinema's in South Korea earlier this month. Produced with a budget of about US$22M the film has so far recouped about US$11M before being released in the US last week and here in Australia this week. 

With six 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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 15th November 2018.

The film awards season has officially kicked off with the 'Hollywood Film Awards' being staged on 4th November at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California. This year marked the 22nd year that this celebration of all things Hollywood has taken place, having been launched for the first time in 1997. According to the official website, the Hollywood Film Awards 'honours some of the most acclaimed films and Actors, as well as previews highly anticipated films and talent for the upcoming year'. This years awards ceremony was Hosted by Awkwafina who toppled James Cordon as the Host with the Most for the previous three years. You can gain further details and all the news from the official website at : https://www.hollywoodawards.com/

Among this years list of twenty-four category Winners and Grinners from the world of cinema, the proud and celebrated recipients were :
* Hollywood Career Achievement Award : Nicole Kidman
* Hollywood Actor Award : Hugh Jackman for 'The Front Runner'
* Hollywood Supporting Actor Award : Timothee Chalamet for 'Beautiful Boy'
* Hollywood Actress Award : Glenn Close for 'The Wife'
* Hollywood Supporting Actress Award : Rachel Weisz for 'The Favourite'
* Hollywood Breakout Actor Award : John David Washington for 'BlacKkKlansman'
* Hollywood Breakout Actress Award : Amandla Stenberg for 'The Hate U Give'
* Hollywood Film Award : 'Black Panther'
* Hollywood Animation Award : 'Incredibles 2'
* Hollywood Director Award : Damien Chazelle for 'First Man'
* Hollywood Cinematography Award : Matthew Libatique for 'A Star Is Born'
* Hollywood Film Composer Award : Justin Hurwitz for 'First Man'
* Hollywood Costume Design Award : Sandy Powell for 'The Favourite'
* Hollywood Production Design Award : Hannah Beachler for 'Black Panther'.

This week we have just three new release movies coming to your local Odeon. We launch with the second instalment in the pre-Potterverse that sees our principle young wizard protagonist face off against a mightily powerful foe with the help of a much younger headmaster from a certain school for gifted wizard types. We then turn to a crime comedy caper concerning a career criminal getting on in life who has recently broken out of jail again and goes on a robbery spree that captures the hearts and minds of the general public and a certain detective on his tail too. We wrap up the week with an acclaimed Japanese story of a poor family living hand to mouth, on the edge of their means and who resort to petty crime to sustain themselves who take in a seemingly abandoned young girl which has repercussions for the whole family.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the three 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.

'FANTASTIC BEASTS : THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD' (Rated M) - here we have the second film in the 'Fantastic Beasts' saga and the tenth film in the 'Wizarding World' franchise as created by one J. K. Rowling. This instalment is the sequel to 2016's 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' which grossed globally US$814M off the back of a US$180M Production Budget and picked up fifteen award wins and another 52 nominations around the traps including the first Academy Award of the whole franchise so far for Costume Design. Here David Yates Directs, who is no stranger to the J.K.Rowling world having already Directed 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince', 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2' and 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'. This film saw its World Premier screening in New York last week and goes on wide release in the US, UK, Australia and other territories this week.

In the closing moments of the first film, the powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). However, true to his word, Grindelwald escaped custody and has begun mustering followers, most of whom are oblivious of his true agenda - to raise wizards and witches to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's dastardly plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who naturally agrees to lend a hand, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the most loyal friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world. Also starring Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Ezra Miller, Zoe Kravitz, Carmen Ejogo, Alison Sudol, and Callum Turner.

'THE OLD MAN & THE GUN' (Rated M) - this American crime comedy film is said to be Robert Redford's final film as an Actor before he hangs up his hat for good and retires on a career that has spanned six decades both in front and behind the camera. Written for the screen and Directed by David Lowery, this film is based on the life of Forrest Tucker who died in 2004 at the age of 83 and spent his entire life from the age of fifteen in and out of prison and as a career criminal. The script is based on David Grann's 2003 article in The New Yorker titled 'The Old Man and the Gun', which was later collected in Grann's 2010 book 'The Devil and Sherlock Holmes'. Having had its World Premier screening at the Telluride Film Festival in late August this year, the film went of general release in the US in late September and has so far grossed US$10M and has received generally positive Press. At age 70, Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford) makes an audacious escape from San Quentin Prison, conducting an unprecedented string of heists that confound authorities and capture the hearts of the public. Wrapped up in the pursuit are detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck), who becomes captivated with Forrest's commitment to his craft, and a woman who loves him, Jewel (Sissy Spacek) in spite of his chosen career path. Also starring Danny Glover, Tom Waits, Elisabeth Moss, John David Washington and Keith Carradine.

'SHOPLIFTERS' (Rated M) - this Japanese drama film is Written, Directed and Edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda, Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival back in May this year where is took out the prestigious Palme d'Or, was released in its native Japan in early June, has so far grossed US$54M and has received widespread critical acclaim. Somewhere in Tokyo, Osamu Shibata (Lily Franky) and his wife Nobuyo (Sakura Ando) live a life on the poverty line. Osamu gains infrequent casual employment and Nobuyo has a low-paying job, and the family has to rely largely on the grandmother's pension . . .  as well as petty crime. As Osamu is shoplifting for groceries with his son, Shota (Kairi Jo), they come across Yuri (Miyu Sasaki), a homeless four year old girl shivering in the cold. Osamu takes her home, where the family observe the symptoms of abuse and neglect. Despite their far from ideal financial circumstances, they informally adopt her, but when a shoplifting exercise goes adrift, hidden secrets begin to emerge exposing the bonds that tie the family together.

With three 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-