What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th February 2022.

The 72nd annual Berlin International Film Festival (aka the Berlinale) took place from 10th to 20th February in person. The festival opened with Francois Ozon's drama film 'Peter Von Kant'. Isabelle Huppert was awarded Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement on 15th February at the Berlinale Palast award ceremony. Her film by Laurent Lariviere, 'A propos de Joan' was also screened.

The awards were presented on 16th February, with those winners being :-

* The Golden Bear for Best Film was presented to 'Alcarras' Directed and Co-Written by Carla Simon. This Spanish and Italian Co-Produced film is set and was filmed near Alcarras, Catalonia, featuring non-professional actors speaking Catalan language. The plot concerns a family drama about the disappearance of traditional peach-harvesting activities to a planned solar farm bringing the members of one family to a stand-off. World Premier screening.

* The Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize was awarded to 'The Novelist's Film' Directed, Written, photographed, edited and scored by Hong Sang-soo. This South Korean black and white drama film is described as the film that, 'celebrates the beauty of chance encounters, while talking about the importance of authenticity in the dishonest world of cinema'. World Premier screening.

* The Silver Bear Jury Prize was presented to 'Robe of Gems' from Mexico, Argentina and the US and Directed, Co-Produced and Co-Edited by Natalia Lopez Gallardo. World Premier screening.

* The Silver Bear for Best Director was awarded to Claire Denis from France for 'Both Sides of the Blade'. World Premier screening.

* The Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance was presented to Meltem Kaptan for 'Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush' from Germany and France. World Premier screening.

* The Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance was awarded to Laura Basuki for 'Before, Now & Then' from Indonesia. World Premier screening.

* The Silver Bear for Best Screenplay was presented to Laila Stieler for 'Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush' from Germany and France.

* The Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution was awarded to Rithy Panh and Sarit Mang for 'Everything Will Be OK' from France and Cambodia. World Premier screening. 

* Special Mention was made to Michael Koch for 'A Piece of Sky' from Germany and Switzerland. World Premier screening.

You can visit the official website, for all the news and the winners in the other competition sections as announced on 16th February, plus a whole lot more besides, at : https://www.berlinale.de/

Turning back to this weeks current releases, we launch with another adaptation of a famed 1897 play in which all too self-conscious to woo Roxanne himself, wordsmith Cyrano de Bergerac helps young Christian nab her heart through love letters. Next up is a Kosovan film about a woman whose husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo, and so she sets up her own small business to provide for her kids, but as she fights against a patriarchal society that does not support her, she faces a crucial decision. This is followed by a film about the legendary rock band Foo Fighters who move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much anticipated 10th album, but there are supernatural forces at work that might just prevent them from doing so. Then we turn to a documentary offering charting the story of 30-year-old climber Tom Ballard who disappeared on one of the Himalayas' most deadly mountains, Nanga Parbat, in February 2019; before closing out the week with a Japanese anime about a single mother and her eleven-year-old daughter with nothing in common except living together on a boat at the port, and a miracle that occurs when their secret is revealed.

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

'CYRANO' (Rated M) -  this musical romantic drama film is Directed by Joe Wright and with a Screenplay by Erica Schmidt, based on Schmidt's 2018 stage musical of the same name, itself based on the 1897 Edmond Rostand play 'Cyrano de Bergerac'. Joe Wright is the British Director and Producer whose previous film making credits take in 'Pride & Prejudice' in 2005, 'Atonement' in 2007, 'The Soloist' in 2009, 'Hannah' in 2011, 'Anna Karenina' in 2012, 'Pan' in 2015 and 'Darkest Hour' in 2017. The film saw its World Premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in early September last year, is scheduled for a wide cinema release in the US, the UK and here in Australia from this week onwards, cost US$30M to produce and has garnered generally positive critical reviews. 

The film tells the story of Cyrano de Bergerac (Peter Dinklage) as he pines for the affections of the beautiful Roxanne (Haley Bennett), who has fallen in love with another man named Christian de Neuvillette (Kelvin Harrison Jnr.). Though Cyrano understands that his social status and physical appearance will forever keep him apart from his love, he offers his skills as a gifted poet to Christian in an effort to bring him and Roxanne together once and for all. Also starring Ben Mendelsohn, 'Cyrano' has so far picked up six award wins and another forty-six nominations, many of which are still pending an outcome at the time of writing.

'HIVE' (Rated M) - is an Albanian-Kosovan drama film Written and Directed by Blerta Basholli in her Directorial debut. It saw its World Premier at the Sundance Film Festival at the end of January 2021 and became the first film in Sundance history to win all three main awards – the Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Award and the Directing Award – in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. It was selected as the Kosovan entry for the Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards. The film is based on the true story of a woman Fahrije (Yllka Gashi), whose husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo. Along with their grief, her family is struggling financially. In order to provide for them she launches a small agricultural business selling her own pepper and eggplant relish and honey, but in the traditional patriarchal village where she lives, her ambition and efforts to empower herself and other women are not seen as positive things. She struggles not only to keep her family afloat but also against a hostile community who is rooting for her to fail. Released in the US in early November last year and this week here in Australia, the film has garnered positive critical acclaim. 

'STUDIO 666' (Rated R18+) - this supernatural horror comedy film is Directed by B.J. McDonnell and is based on a story by Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters fame. The film marks the first to feature the Foo Fighters that is not a documentary, as the band were previously the subject of 2011's 'Foo Fighters : Back and Forth' and 2014's 'Foo Fighters : Sonic Highways'. Grohl stars in the film alongside his Foo Fighters bandmates Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, and Rami Jaffee as they struggle to record their tenth album at an Encino mansion, with band frontman Dave Grohl forced to battle the supernatural forces within the house that threaten the completion of their album, and the lives of his fellow bandmates. 'Studio 666' is released in the US this week too.

'THE LAST MOUNTAIN' (Rated M) - the unforgettable story of the thirty-year-old climber Tom Ballard who disappeared on the so-called killer mountain, Nanga Parbat in Pakistan in February 2019. Directed by Chris Terrill, here he explores the life of British mountaineer Tom Ballard who died while attempting to climb Nanga Parbat with Italy’s 42-year-old Daniele Nardi. They both perished while attempting to scale Nanga Parbat in winter. Ballard was the son of world-famous mountaineer Alison Hargreaves, reputed to be one of the greatest female climbers of all times who died on K2 in 1995. Their compelling lives are explored here using intimate family archive footage and interviewing those left behind to tell the unforgettable story of Tom and his family. The film gets a limited showing in selected cinemas from this week. 

'FORTUNE FAVOURS LADY NIKUKO' (Rated M) - is a Japanese anime film based on the novel of the same name by Kanako Nishi, and is Directed by Ayumu Watanabe. Here, Nikuko (voiced by Shinobu Otake) is a brash, happy-go-lucky passionate woman in an otherwise sleepy seaport town in northern Japan. She’s also the single mother of eleven-year-old Kikuko (Cocomi), who is her opposite in many ways. Kikuko is a string-bean of a young girl, thoughtful, quietly curious, and methodical in how she approaches life in this small seaside town. Nikuko embarrasses Kikuko as any mother to a preteen would, but Nikuko’s bold spirit makes her especially well-known in a town where Kikuko herself wants nothing more than to simply blend in. As Kikuko navigates the everyday social dramas of middle school, enhanced with touches of magical realism from her ever-present imagination, a shocking revelation from the past threatens to upend the pair’s fragile relationship. The film was released in its native Japan in mid-June last year and has picked up two award wins and three nominations so far. 

With five 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-

DARKEST HOUR : Saturday 27th January 2018.

I saw the highly lauded and critically acclaimed WWII British drama film 'DARKEST HOUR' at the weekend, as Directed by Joe Wright, whose previous Directorial credits include 2005's 'Pride & Prejudice', 2007's 'Atonement', 2011's 'Hanna' and 2012's 'Anna Karenina' amongst a few others. The film received its World Premier screening at the Telluride Film Festival in early September last year and was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival later that same month. It went on wide release Stateside just before Christmas and in the UK and Australia earlier in January. The film cost US$30M to make and has so far grossed US$99M, picking up a swathe of awards along the way too including so far 29 wins and 60 other nominations including six Academy Award and nine BAFTA nominations yet to be determined. Most notably, Gary Oldman has so far received 23 Best Actor award wins from around the circuit for his convincing rendition as Winston Churchill . . . and counting!

The film takes place over just three weeks in May 1940. As the film opens up, the Nazi forces are advancing rapidly on Belgium, Holland and France leaving a trail of destruction and occupation behind them. In London's Houses of Parliament, the Labour Party Opposition Leader demands the resignation of the then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) because seemingly he doesn't have the wherewithal to protect the security of Britain from the advancing threat of Nazi Germany. Chamberlain advises his Conservative Party colleagues that he wants for Edward Wood, Lord Halifax (Stephen Dilate) as his successor, but Halifax declines citing that his time has not yet come. This leaves Chamberlain no option but to choose the only other candidate that the other parties will support in a Coalition Government, Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman). King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn) reluctantly invites Winston Churchill to form a new Government but states that it must include Neville Chamberlain (whom he is a supporter of) and Lord Halifax (whom he is close and trusted friend of). Secretly King George wants Halifax to be Prime Minister.

Going into Parliament for his inaugural speech Churchill is already on the back foot with many of his political peers. His track record is not so hot - the failed Gallipoli Campaign, his support of King Edward VIII during his abdication crisis, his opposition of Indian self-government, and that he twice has 'crossed the floor' already. His first speech does not garner much support, and his point blank refusal to negotiate with Hitler on peace talks also incites the ire of many who see this as the only solution to avoid annihilation.

He firmly believes that the Germans can't be trusted, and so he meets with the recently sworn in French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud, in which Churchill discounts any claims that the Allied Forces are staring down the barrel of defeat in the Battle for France. Halifax and Chamberlain agree that France is losing their battle against the Nazi's, and the surrender of Holland and Belgium is already looming ever closer. They try to persuade Churchill to engage with an Italian Ambassador who will act as the go between in peace talks between he and Hitler.  Halifax and Chamberlain plan to resign from office if Churchill refuses to enter into peace talks with Germany, which would result in a vote of no confidence so paving the way for Halifax to become Prime Minister. Churchill goes live on radio with a broadcast stating that all is not lost in France and the Allied Forces are pushing back against the German War Machine and that everyone at home can rest easy in their beds (or words to that effect!).

Meanwhile, with the advancing Germans well into French territory, the might of the British Armed Forces is forced back into a very tight corner at Dunkirk and Calais. Acting against the advice of his War Cabinet, Churchill orders that 4,000 holed up soldiers in Calais distract the German forces away from Dunkirk in order that they can be evacuated from the beach there. It means potentially sacrificing the 4,000 Calais contingent into a suicide mission in order that 300,000 British soldiers can be rescued. A prospect that does not sit well with Halifax or Chamberlain, but Churchill has little alternative in such desperate circumstances.

He initiates 'Operation Dynamo', launching a flotilla of countless small pleasure craft and motor boats and yachts to head to Dunkirk across the English Channel with all haste to rescue the British troops trapped there. This incidentally was the very subject of Christopher Nolan's excellent 'Dunkirk' film of last year, which explored the evacuation from three perspectives - the land, the sea and the air, and Joe Wright also covered the Dunkirk evacuation in his earlier film 'Atonement'. As news filters through that Belgium has surrendered, and in all likelihood France will do so very soon too, Churchill calls US President Franklin D. Roosevelt for assistance with a number of war ships to help defend Britain from the German onslaught which now appears to be imminent. Roosevelt however, declines, citing that his hands are tied by a series of Acts passed in the 1930's preventing the United States from entering into costly disputes with far away nations.

The defeat in France, the ongoing evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk which had yet to be proven successful, and the rising probability of a German invasion onto British soil results in the War Cabinet overwhelmingly voting for a peaceful negotiation with Hitler, with certain conditions attached including that Britain shall remain independent. One evening, King George VI unexpectedly visits Churchill, and pledges his support in fighting the Germans at all costs. King George had thought long and hard about fleeing Britain for Canada to rule in exile from there in the event of a German invasion, but decided against that notion. Spurred on by the King's commitment of support, Churchill  does something he has never done before. He takes a London Underground Tube ride to Westminster. Between stations he talks to members of the British public about their mood, and their preparedness to live potentially under German rule. Overwhelmingly, the men and women, old and young that he talks to, agree to fight, rejecting all notions of a peaceful negotiation and surrender.

Arriving at Westminster to address Parliament, Churchill first gathers his Outer Cabinet and any other hangers on, to seek their support to reject any further discussions about a negotiated peace, but rather to stand up and fight. All those gathered offer their agreement. Before going into Parliament to hear Churchill's address, Halifax demands of Chamberlain his commitment to continue with their plan to dispose him.  Chamberlain, stalls and is having second thoughts, saying to wait until after the Prime Minster has spoken.

Churchill stirs Parliament with a rousing speech that culminates with 'We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and . . . ' At this, and with rapturous applause from the stalls and gallery, Chamberlain forgoes his plan to depose of Churchill, leaving Halifax rejected. Churchill departs. It is the 4th June 1940, and Churchill remains Prime Minister for the remaining five years of WWII until the Allies declare Victory over Germany in May 1945, but he was unsuccessful in securing a further term in the General Election held in July 1945. Chamberlain died of cancer in November 1940, and Halifax was offered a posting to become the Ambassador to the United States. The Dunkirk Evacuation under Operation Dynamo, was a huge success rescuing some 340,000 troops using a flotilla of some 800 civilian boats.

Kristin Scott Thomas also stars at Clementine Churchill, the rock behind Winston, and Lily James as Elizabeth Layton, the Secretary to Churchill, who joins him on his first day in office as Prime Minister.

This is Gary Oldman's film without doubt. He chews up every scene in which he appears either sucking on his trademark cigar or sipping a large Scotch or both - no matter what time of day or night, or what the circumstance may be. The accolades bestowed upon him are well deserved as he adds gravitas to the character and delivers a nuanced performance whether its his laconic sense of humour, the moments of self doubt, his mood swings, the intimate times with his wife and immediate family, his intelligence shining through in times of crisis, or his ability to wordsmith with the best orators in the land. And Joe Wright has delivered too another highly polished offering combining historical fact and fiction into an engrossing film that captures the look, feel and mood of Britain at this pivotal moment in history. Don't go into this film expecting all the action of Nolan's 'Dunkirk' - here the action is largely confined to a war of words and emotion that Churchill was renowned for, and for standing his ground even though all those others around him were trying to topple him. A film perhaps best suited to those mature enough to remember the war years or our school history lessons or those from that era, and less so for the millennials that may find the film too labouring, not enough action, and less than relevant in their world of today. If you don't see this film for any reason other than Gary Oldman's performance, then that is good enough reason.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 24th September 2015.

The Adelaide Film Festival kicks off in mid-October featuring over 180 films for a ten day period from October 15th until 25th with local South Australian content, Australian films, and international offerings with ten films in competition all receiving their Australian Premier screening. Those that are kick off with Cate Blanchett's latest offering 'Carol' after gaining critical acclaim at Cannes earlier this year, with others 'Freeheld', 'Office', 'Lamb', 'Father', 'Gold Coast', 'Tanna', '316', 'Neon Bull' and 'Looking for Grace'. Scott Hicks new film 'Highly Strung' gets its World Premier at the Festival Opening Night Gala, with 'Youth' starring Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz and Jane Fonda bringing the festival to a close on 25th. If you are in the Adelaide locale in the latter half of October head on to the Palace Nova and Mercury Cinemas for more films in a ten day period than you can shake a choc top at.

This week however, there are six new cinematic offerings with which to tease, tempt and tussle you to a movie theatre kicking off with those damn pesky drug barons down Mexico way looking to create a snow storm as one fanciful FBI Agent seeks to bring it all crashing down. Then there is a past master of the horror genre who went off the rails a bit, but seemingly is back on track with this tale of outback country shenanigans with things that go bump in the night with an old couple up to no good down in the woods today! Then there is murder, mystery, mayhem and music in a sleepy English town where this grizzly story unfolds before the townsfolk can move on with their lives; and after this, two stories with the back-drop of the 70's - one in SanFran and the other in deepest darkest Melbourne but both totally separate; and wrapping up, an origin story involving a much loved character setting out on his own voyage of discovery.

So many films, so little time, but when you have made time to watch any one of the below Previewed films remember to drop a Comment below this or any other Post and showcase your filmic views, opinions and observations to the wider Bloggersphere. Enjoy your film.

SICARIO (Rated MA15+) - there is a very strong pedigree behind this film that should assure it of a high degree of success. Director Denis Villeneuve, Cinematographer Roger Deakins, and starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio del Toro, Jon Bernthal and Victor Garber this film was made for US$30M and was in competition for the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year and is going out on general release now. 'Sicario' is cartel slang for 'hitman', and in the context of this film surrounds the drug war between the US and its border with Mexico. This, as you know, has been the subject of many a film over the years, but, already this film has garnered much interest and much acclaim for its gritty, raw, emotional and violent portrayal of the impact that the war on drugs has on those associated with it - directly and indirectly.

Our story here surrounds an idealistic FBI Agent Kate Mercer (Emily Blunt) who is tasked with chasing down a Mexican drug lord. She is operating under the watchful eye of an undercover assassin with a mysterious and questionable past and who is almost beyond the law, Alejandro (Benicio del Toro), and has been engaged by a special government task force to fight the ever escalating war on drugs, led by Matt Graver (Josh Brolin). As the Team get deeper and deeper into the war between duelling drug lords, so Agent Mercer must question her own moral compass, the fine line between right and wrong, and all the things she believes in to survive the battle she has been thrust in to. A must watch, and slated as one of the films of the year.

THE VISIT (Rated M) - M. Night Shyamalan has failed to ignite the success of his early offerings with  'The Sixth Sense' and 'Unbreakable', and so this time around he has Written, Produced and Directed and taken his destiny into his own hands with this dark horror thriller comedy that he made for a lean US$5M of his own hard earned cash and has so far realised a return of US$39M. The film sees brother and sister Tyler and Becca respectively (Ed Oxenbould and Olivia DeJonge) who get packed off to outback Pennsylvania to spend a week with their maternal grandparents Pop Pop (Peter McRobbie) and Nana (Deanna Dunagan) whom they have never met, while Mum (Kathryn Hahn) sails off into the sunset on a cruise with the new boyfriend. Once grandparents and grandkids get acquainted, all is going swimmingly until things start to go bump in the night and some strange happenings with the oldies start to occur, that make the young kids wonder if they'll ever make it home.

LONDON ROAD (Rated MA15+) - From 'Fury Road' to 'London Road' with 'Locke' and 'Legend' in between Tom Hardy is snapping up just about every role there is going - action epic, violent bio-pic, small independent and now art-house musical murder mystery. Directed by Rufus Norris, 'London Road' tells the true life story of a street in Ipswich, in England that back in 2006 became the centre of attention across the nation for all the wrong reasons. When the bodies of five women were found in Ipswich the residents of London Road found themselves at the centre of a multiple murder case - in their own back yards and on their doorsteps! The events that unfolded during the investigations surrounding the serial killing murders of five prostitutes who used to work the nearby streets, and the arrest and subsequent conviction of Steve Wright were picked up by the National Theatre and turned into a stage play that was originally Directed by Norris, who has now committed the story to celluloid and turned it into a musical - but not perhaps the kind you would expect! Using word for word dialogue of those real residents embroiled at the centre of the murder case and interviewed at the time, their stories come together through conversation, emotion, observation and anecdotes to showcase how they rallied around and came out the other end. Tom Hardy stars with Olivia Coleman and Anita Dobson.

CUT SNAKE (Rated MA15+) - This Australian thriller is Directed by Tony Ayres and takes its title from the Aussie saying 'as mad as a cut snake' - meaning stay away because that critter is mightily pissed off! And so it is here, as this film takes us back to the mid-70's Melbourne where Sparra Farrell (Alex Russell), a young guy in his mid-20's living a quiet life, working an honest job and has hooked up with a lovely young girl Paula (Jessica de Gouw). Things are going well as he tries to put his violent, darker past behind him and build a new life . . . until Pommie (Sullivan Stapleton) turns up. This ex-cell mate is a charismatic, foreboding man who quickly turns Sparra's life on its head and he finds himself heading into those bad old ways he has earlier turned his back on, and all the while he has Paula to consider and what she means to him.

THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (Rated MA15+) - Written and Directed by Marielle Heller and based on the semi-autobiographical graphic novel of the same name by Phoebe Gloeckner this takes us back too to the mid-70's but this time San Francisco, where 15 year old would-be cartoonist Minnie Goetze (Bel Powley) gets it on for the first time with her mothers boyfriend Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard), and despite the twenty year age difference between them she relishes her first sexual experience, the awakening within her, and her desire for more. This coming of age story in the time of free-love, sex, drugs, and the American way she records in an audio diary and through her animated scribblings which move this unique story along in a non-judgemental emotional funny and provocative way. Krsiten Wiig stars as Charlotte - Minnie's mother. This has already garnered much positive press for its strong storyline, it's fresh approach to the teenage sexual awakening genre, solid performances and it has won several awards around the festival circuit on its way to our cinemas.

PAN (Rated PG) - Director Joe Wright has taken US$150M and turned this Peter Pan story into an origin tale that takes us way back when young twelve year old Peter (Aussie newcomer Levi Miller) was wet behind the ears and totally clueless about the ways of the world and what fate held in store for him. Whisked away to Neverland, Peter finds fun, adventure, excitement and danger around every corner but he meets new friends James Hook (no hook as yet, Garrett Hedlund) and Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara) who will help him thwart the pirate Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman) whilst discovering his true identity and purpose in life so sending him on his way as the much loved Peter Pan.

Six cracking reasons to get out amongst a bunch of like minded strangers to a warm dark place with a bright light, deafening surround sound, pre-show ads that go on for way too long, and a candy bar full of sugary tasty snacks that you don't really want, but you'll buy anyway. When you've done all this, share your thoughts . . . and then do it all over again next time!

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

HANNA : archive from 3rd August 2011.

Saw 'HANNA' last night because I thought this looked quite intriguing, has a strong cast, a proven Director in Joe Wright at the helm, and pace, emotion and gritty set pieces. The film was made for US$30M and made about US$64M at the global Box Office so not a huge success, but along the way it picked up five award wins and 24 other nominations.

The story surrounds Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) and her father Erik Heller (Eric Bana) who have been holed up in the frozen backwoods of remote Finland, ever since Erik said goodbye to his life as a CIA operative about 13 years or so earlier. Since Hanna was knee high to a grasshopper she has been trained religiously and diligently by Dad as a ruthless skilled assassin but with intelligence, an education and the smarts to survive on her own. Cut off from the outside world Hanna has not experienced music, film, electricity, the Internet or McDonald's, let alone other human contact. Hanna even has several identities all drummed into her over the years with intricate history detail that she can call upon as she travels across Europe and further afield. Erik's focus has been clear, and his mission with Hanna has been to prepare for the inevitable day when his teachings will be duly required to serve then both well.

Erik harbours a closely guarded secret and knows that the day will come when senior CIA Official Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett) will finally catch-up with him and attempt to take him out . . . unless he and Hanna can get to her first! With the day fast approaching Erik advises Hanna that she is now 'ready' and so sets in motion a chain of events that will bring those searching for them out of the woodwork all guns blazing.

A game of cat & mouse ensues across Europe as Hanna finds herself up against the authorities, against travelling tourists, against hired killers instructed to take her out, and against the wonders and dangers of everyday life that she has never experienced before, and, with Wiegler hot on her tail. With the intention of meeting up with her father in Berlin, Hanna must overcome adversity and put her particular set of skills to the test on many occasions so that she can move ahead and accomplish the mission. As the plot moves on there are a few twists & turns as you would expect, moments of tension, some intense action, and it is delivered in a gritty style that reminded me of 'Bourne' with a few truths emerging that will help piece this puzzle together.

A lot of this has been seen before in 'The Professional' but it's an interesting take on the orphan brought up to be a killing machine by a lone parent living in the middle of nowhere until the teenager can wreak revenge on the establishment. Some good set pieces and a thumping Chemical Brothers soundtrack, this alternative coming of age story is OK only, and you can easily wait for the DVD, or catch it now on TV as I did again only recently.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-