What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 23rd March 2023.

South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organised jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas, USA. It began in 1987 and has continued to grow in both scope and size every year. The SXSW Film Festival runs for nine days, which this year ran from Friday 10th March until Sunday 19th March, simultaneously with the SXSW Film Conference, and celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent both behind and in front of the camera.

This years Opening Night film was 'Dungeon's & Dragons : Honour Among Thieves' Written and Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, with the World Premier showcasing of 'Air' Directed by Ben Affleck chosen as the Closing Night film.

Of the two feature film award categories held - Narrative Feature Competition, which showcases eight World Premieres, eight unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling; and Documentary Feature Competition screening eight World Premieres with eight real world stories that demonstrate innovation, energy and bold voices, the winners and also rans, are as follows :-

* Narrative Feature Competition, winner : 'Raging Grace' Written and Directed by Paris Zarcilla in this UK produced horror film. This film beat out seven other international features, all of which had their World Premiers at SXSW, these being : 'I Used To Be Funny', from Canada and Written and Directed by Ally Pankiw; 'Late Bloomers' from the US and Directed by Lisa Steen; 'Mustache' from the US and Pakistan and Written and Directed by Imran J. Khan; 'Parachute' from the US and Co-Written and Directed by Brittany Snow; 'Pure O' from the US and Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Dillon Tucker; 'Scrambled' from the US and Written and Directed by Leah McKendrick; and 'Story Ave' Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Aristotle Torres.

* Special Jury Award for Performance, presented to Courtney Eaton for her role as Riley in the US drama romance feature film 'Parachute' Co-Written and Directed by Brittany Snow. 

* Special Jury Award for Cinematography, awarded to Eric Branco for 'Story Ave', this US drama film Co-Written and Directed by Aristotle Torres.

* Documentary Feature Competition, winner : 'Angel Applicant' from the US and Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Ken August Meyer. This film beat out seven other documentaries, all again having seen their World Premier screenings at this years SXSW. Those other films were : 'Another Body' from the US and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Sophie Compton; 'Geoff McFetridge : Drawing a Life' from the US and Co-Written, Produced and Directed by Dan Covert; 'Join or Die' from the US and Written, Produced and Directed by Rebecca Davis and Pete Davis; 'Pay or Die' from the US and Directed and Produced by Rachael Dyer and Scott Ruderman; 'Queendom' from France and the US and Co-Produced and Directed by Agniia Galdanova; 'Riders of the Storm' from Austria and Produced and Directed by Jason Motlagh and Mark Oltmans; and 'You Were My First Boyfriend' from the US and Written and Directed by Cecilia Aldarondo and Sarah Enid Hagey.

* Special Jury Award for Innovation in Storytelling, presented to 'Another Body' from the US and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Sophie Compton. 

For the other feature and short film sections, including details of 'Headliners', 'Narrative Spotlight', 'Documentary Spotlight', 'Midnighters' and 'Visions' plus the other award recipients and a whole heap of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://www.sxsw.com/festivals/film/

This week we have just three new cinematic offerings coming to a big screen Odeon near you, kicking off with the fourth instalment in this fast paced action thriller franchise that sees this legendary and almost indestructible hit man taking his fight against the High Table to earn his freedom as he seeks out the most powerful players across the global underworld. This is followed by a fantasy offering in which a young intern starts work at a mysterious London firm with unconventional employers, including a CEO who wants to disrupt the ancient magical world with modern corporate practices. And closing out the week we have an Aussie romantic drama set during the summer of 1999, when an 18-year-old amateur ballroom dancer has an unexpected and intense 24-hour romance with a friend's older brother.

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

'JOHN WICK : CHAPTER 4' (Rated MA15+) - here we have the continuing saga in the 'John Wick' franchise that is once again Directed and Co-Produced by Chad Stahelski following his earlier successes with the 2014 debut in the series 'John Wick', then 2017's 'John Wick : Chapter 2' and 2019's 'John Wick : Chapter 3 - Parabellum'. Those first three films grossed globally a total US$587M off the back of combined production budgets of US$145M. Originally set for worldwide cinematic release on 21st May 2021, 'John Wick 4' was delayed first due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then Keanu Reeves's commitments with 2021's 'The Matrix Resurrections'. This film saw its World Premier in London on 6th March and is scheduled for a worldwide release from this week. 'John Wick Chapter 5' is already in development with a release date yet to be confirmed.

In this instalment, John Wick (Keanu Reeves who also Executive Produces here) uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, and with the price on his head ever rising, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and in the underworld that turn old friends into new foes, from New York to Paris to Japan and Berlin. Also starring Ian McShane, Lance Riddick, Laurence Fishburne, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Hiroyuki Sanada, Scott Adkins, Clancy Brown and Natalia Tena.

'THE PORTABLE DOOR' (Rated PG) - is an Australian family friendly fantasy film Directed by Jeffrey Walker in only his third feature film outing following 'Dance Academy : The Movie' in 2017, and 'Ali's Wedding' also in 2017, although he has Directed numerous TV series to date including multiple episodes of 'Neighbours', 'Rake', 'Difficult People', 'Modern Family' and 'Young Rock' most recently. This film is adapted from 'The Portable Door', the first book in Tom Holt’s J.W. Wells & Co. series. Here then, Paul Carpenter (Patrick Gibson) and Sophie Pettingel (Sophie Wilde), are lowly, put-upon interns who begin working at the mysterious London firm J.W. Wells & Co., and become increasingly aware that their employers are anything but conventional. Charismatic villains Humphrey Wells (Christoph Waltz), the CEO of the company, and middle manager Dennis Tanner (Sam Neill) are disrupting the world of magic by bringing modern corporate strategy to ancient magical practices, and Paul and Sophie discover the true agenda of the vast corporation. The film is released in Australia from this week on Stan and in the UK on Sky Cinema and the US on MGM+ from 7th April. Also starring Miranda Otto, Rachel House, Jessica De Gouw and Damon Herriman.

'OF AN AGE' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian romantic drama film is Written and Directed by Goran Stolevski in only his second feature film after 'You Won't Be Alone' in 2022. Set during the Summer of 1999, seventeen year old Nikola 'Kol' Denic (Elias Anton), a Serbian born Australian amateur ballroom dancer enters a brief 24 hour intense romance with Adam Donegal (Thom Green), the brother of his ballroom dance partner Ebony Donegal (Hattie Hook). This film saw its World Premier screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival in early August last year, was released in the US in early February and is now released this week in Australia having garnered generally favourable reviews and collected US$557K at the Box Office. 

With three new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st August 2017.

These last couple of months have seen more than their fare share of celebrity passings from the world of film and television. Many of these pass under the radar, confined to a few lines of remembrance and respect on the social media pages from which many these days rely on as their sole source of news. As August draw to a close I thought I would look back on the last two months or so and remember here, those that have touched out lives on both the big screen and the small screen, over the years, and who have left a legacy by which they will be forever remembered.

* Adam West, American film and television Actor, born 1928, died 9th June 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Young Philadelphians', 'Geronimo', 'Batman', 'The Detectives' television series, 'Batman' television series and 'Family Guy' television series.
* Michael Nyqvist, Swedish Actor, born 1960, died 27th June 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo', 'The Girl Who Played with Fire', 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest', 'Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol'and 'John Wick'. Still to be released : 'Hunter Killer', 'Radegund' and 'Kursk'.
* Barry Norman, British Film Critic, born 1933, died 30th June 2017. Television presenter of BBC 1's annual 'Film . . . ' programme from 1972 until 1998.
* Martin Landau, American stage, television and film Actor, born 1928, died 15th July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Mission Impossible' television series, 'Space 1999' television series, 'North by Northwest', 'They Call Me Mr. Tibbs', 'Crimes and Misdemeanours', 'Ed Wood' and 'Remember'.
* George R. Romero, American Director, Writer, Editor and Actor born 1940, died 16th July 2017. Most notable films : 'Night of the Living Dead', 'Dawn of the Dead', 'Day of the Dead', 'Land of the Dead', 'Diary of the Dead', 'Survival of the Dead', 'The Crazies', 'Creepshow', and 'Monkey Shines'.
* John Heard, American film and television Actor, born 1945, died 21st July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Cat People', 'C.H.U.D.', 'The Seventh Sign', 'BIG', 'Beaches', 'Home Alone', 'Home Alone 2 : Lost in New York', 'Awakenings', 'In the Line of Fire', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Sharknado', 'The Client' television series, 'The Sopranos' television series, and 'Prison Break' television series.
* Sam Shepard, American stage, television and film Actor, playwright, author and Director, born 1943, died 27th July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Right Stuff', 'Steel Magnolias', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Black Hawk Down', 'The Notebook', 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward  Robert Ford', 'Safehouse' 'Killing Them Softly', 'Mud', 'August : Osage County' and 'Midnight Special'.
* Robert Hardy, English stage, television and film Actor, born 1925, died 3rd August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold', '10, Rillington Place', 'Young Winston', 'The Shooting Party', 'Sense and Sensibility', 'An Ideal Husband', 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', 'War and Remembrance' television mini-series, and 'All Creatures Great and Small' television series.
* Sonny Landham, American film Actor and Stuntman, born 1941, died 17th August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Warriors', 'Poltergeist', '48 Hours', 'Predator', 'Action Jackson' and 'Lock Up'.
* Bruce Forsyth, English television Presenter, Actor, Comedian, Writer, Singer and Dancer, born 1928, died 18th August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium', 'The Bruce Forsyth Show', 'The Generation Game', 'Play Your Cards Right', 'You Bet', 'Takeover Bid' game shows, and films 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks', 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' and 'Anna Pavolva'.
* Jerry Lewis, American stage, television, film and radio Actor, Producer, Director, Writer, Singer and Comedian, born 1926, died 20th August 2017. Most notable appearances : seventeen films with Dean Martin, 'The Nutty Professor', 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World', 'The Family Jewels', 'The King of Comedy', and 'Max Rose'.
* Tobe Hooper, American film Director, Producer and Writer, born 1943, died 26th August 2017. Most notable films : 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre', 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2', 'Eaten Alive', 'Poltergeist', 'Lifeforce', 'Night Terrors', 'The Mangler', 'Toolbox Murders', 'Mortuary', 'Djinn' and television mini-series 'Salem's Lot'.

This week we have five new films coming to a multiplex or independent theatre near you. We kick off with action adventure comedy featuring an unlikely buddy pairing of two adversaries that need to depend on each other with their lives to be able to make it to their intended destination the next day; followed by a tug of love and a custody battle between a Uncle and a Grandmother over a very gifted young child caught up in the middle; then four girlfriends on a weekend away living it up large and boisterous; before closing out with two Australian offerings - the first a comedy of life's wrong decisions based on the very real experiences of the lead Actor and Writer, and then an action thriller with the backdrop of a deadly contagion released over Sydney.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four new release 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 here warmly invited 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 meanwhile, enjoy your cinematic outing during the coming week.

'THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Australian Patrick Hughes whose previous credits include 'Red Hill' and 'Expendables 3' here is in the chair for this off-kilter action comedy buddy movie about a Hitman, and his Bodyguard! Released in the US in mid-August and costing US$30M the film has so far grossed US$63M, and has received average Reviews praising the on-screen chemistry that seems to exist between the two lead characters, but downplaying the cliched plot and delivery, despite the collective talents of the assembled cast.

Here former top bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) who is now disgraced and makes a meagre living protecting corporate executive types, is enlisted to bring notorious Hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) to testify at the International Courts of Justice in The Hague, against the ruthless and merciless Dictator of Belarus Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) for crimes against humanity. Bryce has had run ins with Kincaid in the past when they were on opposite sides of a loaded gun, and so the Bodyguard is very reluctant to escort the Hitman anywhere, but agrees for the reinstatement of his good name and reputation. The two must put their differences aside and work together to make it to The Hague on time, untarnished and very much alive in order for Kincaid to testify so sending the evil Dictator down. Along the way all manner of challenges, obstacles and no good henchmen hell bent on preventing them from making it to their intended destination stand in their way. There will be bullets flying, gun play, explosions, fist fights, car chases, cursing and swearing and laughs aplenty before the final credits role. Also starring Selma Hayek, Richard E. Grant, Sam Hazeldine, and Elodie Yung.

'GIFTED' (Rated M) - this drama film is Directed by Marc Webb whose previous Directing credits include '(500) Days of Summer' and the 2012 reboot of the 'Spider-Man' franchise with 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and its 2014 sequel 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'. This story surrounds seven year old intellectually gifted Mary Adler (Mckenna Grace) growing up near Tampa, Florida in the care of her Uncle Frank Adler (Chris Evans) since she was six months old when her mother Diane, a promising mathematician, took her own life. Showing a remarkable mathematical talent on her first day of first grade school, she is offered a subsequent scholarship at a school for gifted children. Frank however, turns down the offer based on historical experiences with such schools and not wanting to deprive Mary of a normal childhood. Franks estranged mother and Mary's grandmother, Evelyn Adler (Lindsay Duncan) has a different view, and wants to relocate the young gifted child to Massachusetts under special tutelage and seek custody of Mary. What ensues is a custody battle between Frank and Evelyn with Mary caught in the middle and compromises ultimately having to be made on all sides. The film also stars Octavia Spencer and Jenny Slate, was released in the US in early April, has so far grossed US$38M from its US$7M budget outlay and has received generally positive press.

'GIRLS TRIP' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Malcolm D. Lee this comedy offering features four life long best girl friends - Ryan, Sasha, Lisa and Dina (Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish respectively) who take a long overdue weekend away down to New Orleans for the annual Essence Music Festival. Over the course of the weekend they gradually reignite their sisterhood; and rediscover their wild sides while partying hard; living it up; getting hooked-up; being loud, proud and in yer face; while at the same time experiencing moments of raw, venerable emotion that only serve to make their bond stronger still. Also starring Mike Colter and cameo appearances as themselves by Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, Estelle, Common, New Edition and various others, this film was released in the US at the end of July, has so far taken US$120M off the back off a US$20M budget and has received generally positive Reviews.

'ALI'S WEDDING' (Rated M) - this Australian RomCom based on real events has garnered much critical acclaim since its world Premier at the 2016 Adelaide Film Festival in October last year. Directed by Jeffrey Walker, this film tells the story of Ali (Osamah Sami), the son of an Iraqi refugee living in a north Melbourne suburb where his father Mahdi (Don Hany) is the leader of the local Mosque. The family has big expectations of Ali, who is struggling with his entrance exam to study medicine at University. He is also under pressure to agree to an an arranged marriage although he secretly admires Dianne (Helena Sawires). Ali just wants to make his father proud, but finds it more than challenging to make this dream a reality. What is a young man to do, other than fake it 'til you make it! And so Ali does, lying about his entrance exam grades to gain acceptance from his father and the local Muslim community, that just lead this one bad decision onto another, then another. Eventually as these decisions spiral out of control, the consequences of which verge on cataclysmic, Ali must decide to be ruled by his head, his heart or his sense of duty. The film is Co-Written by Osamah Sami based on his very own real life experiences which make this film all the more endearing and relevant in today's society from a multi-cultural and acceptance standpoint.

'EVENT ZERO' (Rated MA15+) - here this Australian action thriller is Directed, Produced and Written by Enzo Tedeschi and tells the story of a terrorist attack on Sydney releasing a deadly contagion into the city's populace. When her father Yusuf Nassar (Harry Pavlidis) is in the frame for the biological attack, suspended federal police detective Leyla Nassar (Ash Ricardo) embarks on a mission to clear her fathers name, uncover the truth and bring down the culprits while the leading local Politicians power-hungry to satisfy their own nefarious aims do everything they can to cash in on the catastrophe. Also starring Nicholas Hope and Zoe Carides.

With five new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, of which two are local Aussie fare, one low budget custody drama from the US, then another a comedy about four girls making the most of a weekend getaway, and the other a big screen action comedy also from Stateside, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephiles 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 6th April 2017.

With the release of 'CHIPS' this week based on the six season run of the popular '70's and '80's television show 'CHiPs', this latest big screen adaptation of rich '60's, '70's and '80's source material adds another updated Hollywood makeover that may or may not prove to be successful, and which is created for an audience most likely to be unfamiliar with that earlier source material. 'CHIPS' joins a long line of updated small screen versions that have graced our big screens in recent years often with big names attached, that have included 'The A-Team', 'Starsky and Hutch', 'The Saint', 'The Equaliser', 'The Dukes of Hazard' (two films), 'The Sweeney', 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.', 'The X-Files' (two films), 'The Brady Bunch' (three films), 'The Avengers' (not the Marvel adaptation), 'Miami Vice', 'Charlie's Angels' (two films), 'The Addams Family' (three films), 'Dad's Army', '21 Jump Street' (two films) and probably the most successful long running franchise 'Star Trek' that has seen thirteen films released since 1979 in various iterations, followed up by 'Mission : Impossible' that has spawned five films so far with a sixth currently in production. Of course there have been plenty others too, most of which are instantly forgettable or unrecognisable, and animated series that have spawned live action remakes or reboots including 'Power Rangers', 'Scooby-Doo', 'The Smurfs', 'The Flintstones', 'Thunderbirds', 'The Muppets', 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' and lets not forget those Superhero characters offerings from both the Marvel and DC universe.

This week there are just three new filmic offerings coming your way, that kick off with the big screen treatment of a much loved late '70's/early '80's American motorcycle buddy cop show that is updated to the present day with all the politically incorrect, body humour, sight gags, sexual innuendo and over the top mindless unnecessary violence that fourteen year olds will just lap up!  Then we have the big screen sequel to a popular Australian dance school drama that sees the continuation of those students lives out in the real world; and wrapping up with a French foreign language offering of a rural Doctors practice handed over from trusted long standing medic to a young buck from the big city.

When you have sat through your film of choice in the coming week, remember that, as always, you are warmly invited to share your movie going views and opinions with us at this Blog, by leaving your relevant, constructive and pertinent observations in the Comments section below this or any other Post. Meanwhile, enjoy your film experience this week.

'CHIPS' : (Rated MA15+) - with a tag line like 'Chip Happens' you just know what you're gonna get in this big screen adaptation of the popular television series that ran for six seasons, and 139 episodes from 1977 through until 1983. That series centred around two California Highway Patrol (CHP, hence CHiPs) men - Francis (Frank) Llewelyn 'Ponch' Poncherello played by Eric Estrada and Jonathan (Jon) A. Baker played by Larry Wilcox. In 1999 a one off made for television movie sequel was released that starred the original two leading cast members, and a number of supporting cast. And so in 2017 Dax Shepard has taken it upon himself to almost single handedly resurrect the show with this updated version following the old formula. Shepard Directed, Co-Produced, Wrote and Stars in this big Hollywood offering that was made for US$25M, has received average Reviews at best, and has so far taken US$18M at the Box Office since its release in the US on the 24th March.

In this big screen version Michael Pena stars as Officer Frank 'Ponch' Poncherello a cocky self assured FBI agent working undercover at the CHP investigating a multi-million dollar heist that just might be an inside job within the CHP, and Dax Shepard stars as Officer Jon Baker a former bike riding champion turned probationary CHP officer who is also trying to piece back together his life and his marriage. And then there's Vincent D'Onofrio as Ray Kurtz, a bloodthirsty leader of a group of corrupt cops within the CHP department. The two new CHP partners must first learn to get along with each other, and I guess they do say that opposites attract, and then they need to thwart  the corrupt cops operating in their midst. Also starring Kirsten Stewart, and Eric Estrada cameo's as a Paramedic.

'DANCE ACADEMY : THE MOVIE' (Rated PG) - based on the popular award winning teenage Australian drama television series that aired over three seasons, and sixty-five episodes from 2010 through to 2013, charting a bunch of newly enrolled students at Sydney's National Academy of Dance. The three seasons represented, years one, two and three of their dance training culminating in their graduation and attempting to land contracts to become principle dancers with various dance company's. This film is therefore a big screen sequel to that series, and is set eighteen months after the events of series three, and follows Tara Webster's (Xenia Goodwin) journey as she pursues her dream to become a ballerina star, whilst also following the other characters from the series, and where they are at today in their lives, and their hopes and aspirations in pursuing their dance career dream. Miranda Otto also stars, and the film is Directed by Jeffrey Walker.

'THE COUNTRY DOCTOR' (Rated M) - also known as 'Irreplaceable', this French language dramedy film was first released in March 2016, and now a year later lands at Australian cinemas. Directed and Co-wriiten by Thomas Lilti this popular film stars Francois Cluzet as Doctor Jean-Pierre Werner, a rural Doctor who has devoted his lifes work to serving his patients in the country side, working long hours, often going beyond the call of duty, and establishing himself as a pillar of the community, over the last thirty years or so. He is dependable, reliable, responsible and trustworthy. When he himself is diagnosed with suffering from a serious illness it means he must give up his work and the pressures and demands that go with it. Enter Nathalie Delezia (Marianne Denicourt) a young Doctor with a Hospital background who is sent to assist Werner transition out of his role as the Country Doctor and take over his practice. Will she be able to take over from the man who believes he is irreplaceable, win over the locals, and meet the demands of her position as the new Country Doctor?

With three very different movies to choose from this week, plus all those others still out on general release, you are sure to find something that appeals to your film going senses. Remember to share your thoughts with us here when you have done so, and in the meantime I'll see you somewhere, sometime in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-