What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 28th May 2026.

The 66th Krakow Film Festival (KFF) this year is held from Sunday 31st May through until Sunday 7th June in the Polish city of Krakow. Founded in 1961 when it was called the Polish Short Film Festival, the Krakow Film Festival is one of the oldest events in the world dedicated to documentary films, short animations and short feature films. The core of the festival consists of four equal competitions - documentary, DocFilmMusic, short film and Polish one. During the eight days of the festival, viewers have the opportunity to watch about two hundred films from around the world. They are presented in competitions and numerous special sections. The festival is accompanied by exhibitions, concerts, outdoor screenings and meetings with filmmakers, as well as KFF Industry – an event aimed at the film industry . . . . . so reads the official website. 

In this years International Documentary Film Competition, there are thirteen titles from across the globe - works that refuse to look away from the burning questions of our time whilst boldly pushing beyond the boundaries of classical documentary filmmaking. The Krakow Film Festival invites its audiences to reflect on the future of cinema, encounter extraordinary personalities, and to journey to the furthest corners of the world. Competing for this year’s top honours are films of formal daring and emotional intensity - unafraid of intimacy, and wholly capable of casting a critical eye over reality. 

Those thirteen films are as given in brief, below :-

* 'Around Paradise' - from Germany and Written and Directed by Yulia Lokshina. A group of well-off Europeans are trying to flee as far as possible from vaccines, taxes, Islam, the spectre of a third world war and a climatic catastrophe. They are searching for freedom in poor regions of southern Paraguay, where they set up a self-sufficient enclave.

* 'Holofiction' - from Germany and Austria and Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Michal Kosakowski. Few historical events have been portrayed on screen as often as the Holocaust. And few have become so entrenched in cliches, stereotypes and conventions. We are treated to a daring video essay compiled from clips of over 3,000 feature films made in the period from the late 1930's right up to the present day. The images, edited thematically, come together to form a single coherent work, engaging (without words!) with fictional representations of the Holocaust.

* 'If Pigeons Turned to Gold' - from the Czech Republic and Slovakia and Written, Directed, Co-Photographed and Edited by Pepa Lubojacki. Filmed over a seven year period, the film follows the lives of four family members, whose shared past has grown into a fragmented, contrasting present.

* 'Magic Hour' - from Poland and Written and Directed by Marcin Borchardt. The film tells a story of a brilliant clan of Polish cinematographers focusing on Piotr Sobocinski, whose Hollywood career and untimely death reveal the dark side of success in the film industry.
* 'Redlight to Limelight' - from India, Finland and Latvia and Written and Directed by Bipuljit Basu. CAM-ON is an amateur film group made of sexual workers from Calcutta and their children. In the real setting of slums, they are working on their first feature film based on their own, often painful, experiences.

* 'Silent Flood' - from Ukraine and Germany and Directed, Co-Photographed and Co-Edited by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk. On the banks of the Dniester in Western Ukraine lives an isolated community that ignores socioeconomic development. The Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupts their idyllic daily life and becomes a challenge to their pacifist views.

* 'Synthetic Sincerity' - from the UK and Co-Written, Produced, Directed, Photographed and Edited by Marc Isaacs. How to make a face generated by artificial intelligence to be more human? For example, you can train AI on the characters of documentary films. The Director agreed that his work be used. The result is a witty hybrid of documentary and fiction exposing the blurring of many boundaries in the AI era.

* 'The Arctic Circle of Lust' - from Finland, Germany and Sweden and Written and Directed by Markku Heikkinen. In the Far North, emotions and passions can reach fever pitch. A middle-age farming couple find out about it for themselves when the man discovers he is not attracted only to women, and she gives him the go-ahead.

* 'The Fabulous Time Machine' - from Brazil and Co-Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Eliza Capai. Although they live in one of the poorest regions of Brazil, they almost burst the screen with girlish energy. The protagonists invite us to a very colourful world on the cusp of carefree fun and coming of age, which usually brings a definitive end to innocence.

* 'The Tale of Silyan' - from North Macedonia and the USA and Co-Produced and Directed by Tamara Kotevska. What could an old Macedonian legend about a boy turned into a stork possibly have in common with farmers’ protests on the fringes of modern-day Europe?

* 'The Winning Generation' - from the Netherlands and Co-Written and Directed by Marco de Stefanis. For twelve years the camera had followed a young Armenian activist who, over time, became a politician and is fighting for the sovereignty of his country, which remains under constant threat from Moscow.

* 'Tickling the Devil' - from Poland and Co-Written, Produced, Directed and Co-Photographed by Piotr Malecki. Christopher Morris took part in twenty-eight wars. Armed with a photographic camera, he documented bloody conflicts across the world. Today, he tries to lead a peaceful family life, but the demons of war continue to haunt him, and turbulent American reality calls out to him at every turn.

* 'Tristan Forever' - from Switzerland and Co-Written, Directed, Photographed and Co-Edited by Tobias Nolle. The eponymous Island is considered the most isolated of all inhabited places on Earth. It is here where a Parisian physician returns after thirty years with a plan to stay forever this time.

For the full details of the other competitive strands - the Short Film Competition (36 films), the National Competition (41 films) and the DocFilmMusic Competition (eight films), and the other sections being showcased, plus a whole lot of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.krakowfilmfestival.pl/en/66th-kff/

Turning the focus back to this weeks four hot new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with a musical comedy drama offering about a past-his-prime wedding singer, who meets a fading boy-band star during a gig, and the two bond over music and a late-night jam session, in this feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. Next up we have a biographical drama film in which, after the sudden death of her father, a woman turns to the ancient art of falconry, training a wild goshawk named Mabel to navigate her profound loss. Then we turn to a Sci-Fi horror story where, after a therapist's patient disappears into a dimension beyond reality, she must venture into the unknown to save him. And closing out the week we have a Hong Kong film telling the story of how after being raped, a Pastor's daughter committed suicide, and years later, when the rapist is released from prison, he joins the Pastor's church!

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.

'POWER BALLAD' (Rated M) - is an American and Irish musical comedy drama film Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by John Carney, whose Directorial debut in his own right, 'On the Edge' was released in 2001, and he would follow this up with other movies taking in 'Once' in 2007, 'Begin Again' in 2013, 'Sing Street' in 2016 and 'Flora and Son' in 2023. This film saw its World Premiere screening at the Dublin International Film Festival in early March this year, is released in the US, the UK, Ireland and here is Australia this week, and has garnered generally favourable critical reviews.

Rick Power (Paul Rudd), wedding singer, meets washed up former boy band singer, Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), at a wedding one night and bonds with him over a jam session. After the jam session, Danny steals one of Rick's songs, and it becomes a number one hit that brings Danny back into popularity, leading to Rick seeking out revenge and the recognition he believes he is owed - even if it means risking everything he cares about. Also starring Havana Rose Liu, Jack Reynor, Peter McDonald (who also Co-Wrote the screenplay with John Carney) and Sophie Vavasseur.

'H IS FOR HAWK' (Rated M) - this UK and US Co-Produced biographical drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe in her third feature film outing following 'Swallows and Amazons' in 2016 and 'Misbehaviour' in 2020. This film is based on the 2014 memoir of the same name by naturalist Helen MacDonald. The film chronicles Helen Macdonald’s (Claire Foy) experience of grief following the sudden death of their father Alisdair Macdonald (Brendan Gleeson) and their decision to train a goshawk named Mabel, as a means of coping with that loss. The narrative interweaves two strands - Macdonald’s personal bereavement and the practical and psychological challenges of falconry. Also starring Denise Gough, Sam Spruell, and Lindsay Duncan. It saw its Premiere showcasing at the Telluride Film Festival in late August last year and was released in the UK and the USA towards the end of January this year, has garnered generally positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$3M.

'BACKROOMS' (Rated M) - is an American Sci-Fi horror film Directed by Kane Parsons, in his feature film making debut, and is based on his own web series published in January 2022 as the short film 'The Backrooms (Found Footage)' which he posted to his YouTube channel, and which went viral and expanded into twenty-four more short films culminating in a web series that has had 77 million views as of May 2026. Here then, Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a depressed and misanthropic furniture store owner feeling stuck in the simplicity of his life, seeking help from his therapist Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve), one night discovers a doorway in his store that transports him into the haunting and seemingly never ending backrooms. Also starring Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett and Lukita Maxwell. The film cost less than US$10M to produce and is released in the US this week too. 

'VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH' (Rated MA15+) - this Hong Kong crime drama film is Co-Directed by Sen Lam and Antonio Tam and Written by Antonio Lam. Here, Pastor Leung (Anthony Wong) who preaches God's forgiveness, finds himself in a dire situation when Chi Lok (George Au), a young man who raped and caused the death of his daughter years ago, is released from prison and unexpectedly joins his church. Can the pastor forgive him despite his instinct for vengeance? The film was released in early June 2025 in its native Hong Kong, having seen its Premiere screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival in late October 2024, and only now does it get a limited showing in Australia, having so far grossed US$645K and garnering mixed or average reviews.

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 14th July 2016.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-