LITTLE WOMEN : Thursday 6th February 2020.

I saw the G Rated 'LITTLE WOMEN' at the Open Air cinema at Mrs. Macquarie's Point in Sydney last week and this American coming-of-age period drama film is written for the screen and Directed by Actress, Screenwriter and now second time film maker following 2017's highly acclaimed 'Lady Bird', Greta Gerwig. This is the eighth big screen adaptation of the 1868 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. The film cost US$40M to produce, has so far grossed US$177M, was released in the US on Christmas Day, and has garnered universal acclaim from Critics. The film has so far picked up 67 award wins and a further 177 nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit including Six Academy Award nods, two Golden Globe nominations, and a BAFTA win and four other nominations.

The film opens up in 1868 and we see Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) as a New York teacher and budding writer. She visits Mr. Dashwood (Tracy Letts) and presents him with an article she has written that she is looking to have published in his magazine. Mr. Dashwood scans the article and agrees to publish her work but not until Jo has done some considerable editing to the piece to make it more reader friendly. He pays her US$25, and Jo leaves very happy.

Her sister Amy (Florence Pugh), is in Paris with their Aunt March (Meryl Streep), and notices childhood friend Laurie (Timothee Chalamet) one day walking through a park. She invites him to a party. At the party, she becomes angry over Laurie's drunken behaviour and he scolds her in front of all the other invited guests for spending time with wealthy businessman, Fred Vaughn (Dash Barber).

In New York, Jo meets with Friedrich Bhaer (Louis Garrel), a professor infatuated with her. Jo asks Friedrich to critique her work and when he offers constructive criticism Jo takes it personally and ends their friendship. Following this, Jo receives a letter saying that her younger sister Beth (Eliza Scanlen) has become more sick, and so she returns home to be at her side and help nurse her back to health.

We then go back to 1861 in Concord, Massachusetts, and Jo and her older sister Meg (Emma Watson) go to a party where Jo meets Laurie, the grandson of their neighbour Mr. Laurence (Chris Cooper). On Christmas morning, their mother 'Marmee' (Laura Dern) persuades the girls to give their lavish breakfast to their poor neighbour, Mrs. Hummel and her four starving young children. They do so, albeit somewhat reluctantly, and when they return to their own home, the girls see their table full of food, provided by Mr. Laurence, together with a letter from their father fighting in the American Civil War, saying, amongst other things, how he misses his four 'little women'.

Jo later visits their Aunt March, who invites Jo to travel to Europe with her on an extended stay. One evening Meg, Jo, Laurie and John Brooke (James Norton), Laurie's tutor and Meg's eventual husband, go out to the theatre, leaving a jealous Amy behind at home. Jo hides the manuscript of a novel she has been working on in her bedroom in a chest of drawers. An angry Amy go searching for the manuscript, finds it and burns it out of spite, upsetting Jo when she discovers it missing. The pair get into a fight after Amy admits burning it, which is quickly broken up by their sisters and mother. Amy attempts to apologise but Jo will have none of it. The next day Amy, wanting to make amends with Jo, chases her onto a frozen over lake where Jo and Laurie are ice skating. The two skate over to rescue Amy when the ice breaks below her feet and she falls into the frozen water. That night, Jo expresses guilt to her mother over what happened to Amy.

We then fast forward back to 1868 and Laurie visits Amy to apologise for his behaviour at the party. Subsequently he urges Amy not to marry Fred Vaughn, but to marry him instead. Amy is upset at playing second fiddle to Jo for just about everything, including Laurie. Amy later turns down Fred's proposal only to learn that Laurie has left for London.

Back in the past, Marmee, is informed by letter that her husband and the girls father is ill from the effects of the Civil War. She reluctantly visits their father, for fear of leaving the four girls to fend for themselves. Beth is given the piano from Mr. Laurence, as her playing reminds him of her dead daughter, and he cannot abide to see the piano at which she used to play go to waste. Beth soon afterwards contracts scarlet fever. Amy, who has not had the disease before, is sent to stay with Aunt March. Marmee comes home early when Beth gets worse, but she recovers in time for Christmas, with their father (Bob Odenkirk) returning home too, surprising the girls. However, in the present, Beth's condition starts to deteriorate, and she dies.

On Meg's wedding day Jo tries to convince her to run away, and not proceed with the wedding, but Meg tells her she is happy getting married, opting for a life of security, stability and the love of a good man. Aunt March announces her trip to Europe, but decides to take Amy instead of Jo. After the wedding, Laurie opens up about his feelings for Jo, but she insists she does not feel the same way, and that their marriage would never work.

Soon afterwards Jo begins to wonder if she was too quick in turning Laurie down and writes him a letter, expressing her change of heart. On their way back from Europe with a sick Aunt March, Amy tells Laurie she turned down Fred's proposal of marriage. The two kiss and soon after marry on the journey home. Returning home, Laurie catches up with Jo and breaks the news. Jo is inwardly devastated but outwardly as stoic as ever, and they agree to just be friends. Jo returns to the letterbox and retrieves the letter she wrote for Laurie, tears it up and tosses it into the stream beside the house.

The next day, Jo starts work on a novel based on the lives of her and her sisters. She dispatches the initial chapters to Mr. Dashwood, who is seemingly unimpressed. Bhaer turns up at the March house to bid the family and Jo in particular farewell, as he is on his way to California to teach. Mr. Dashwood in the meantime has agreed to publish her book, but finds it unacceptable that the main character was unmarried. Jo amends her ending so that the main character, herself, chases after Bhaer in the rain and catches up with him at the Concord railway station, and stops him from going to California. She successfully negotiates copyright and royalties with Mr. Dashwood.

Later, after the death of Aunt March, Jo inherits her house and decides to open it as a school. Meg teaches acting and Amy teaches art to the young schoolchildren. Bhaer is also seen to be teaching children. Jo looks on at a printing and binding press as printers run off the first editions of her book, titled 'Little Women'.

It's easy to see why and how Great Gerwig's adaptation of the classic 'Little Women' novel has garnered such widespread critical acclaim. The production values are top notch from the horse drawn carriages, the grand piano's, the wide skirts and dresses and the detail in the homes of that era to the outstanding performances of the principle cast noting especially Ronan, Pugh and Chalamet, with honourable mentions going to Dern, Streep, Cooper and Letts also in the limited screen time they do have, but which make their performances no less effective. And the story is handled with a deft touch by Gerwig whose modern interpretation of the timeless classic presents us with an up to date coming of age story, female empowerment, endearing sisterhood and the power of a tight knit family unit, all wrapped up in a period piece set some 150 years ago. Despite all these positives and those thrust upon the film from Critics the world over, I found the time shifting premise of the film a little confusing and irritating, not knowing if I was watching a scene from 1861/2 or 1868/9 at times. That said, if you are able to get over this, then this is a smart, modern and creative retelling of a nostalgic period in American (fictional) history, that should easily delight the young and old, both the female and male audience, and those familiar with the source material, or those viewing for the first time.

'Little Women' warrants four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard out of a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Wednesday 1st January 2020

And so as we bid a fond farewell to 2019 with 2020 upon us and the festive season drawing to a close already, all that remains for me to say is a big thanks to all movie buffs, film fanatics, and followers of all things cinematic out there who have given my Blog the time of day over the past twelve months with your readership and interest. There have been many movies to celebrate and enjoy over the past year, some of which have been reviewed here at my humble little Blog, Odeon Online, and many many more that have seen a theatrical release in Australia have been Previewed here too. Looking forward to more of the same in 2020 from big screen blockbusters, to small independent features, to foreign language offerings all taking in horror, drama, thrillers, comedy, thought provoking documentaries and any combination thereof, you can rest assured that they will all be covered here at Odeon Online. Until then, sincerest Best Wishes to you all, wherever you may be reading this, for a very happy, healthy, safe and prosperous New Year.

To herald in the new year, we have three latest cinematic releases coming to an Odeon near you. We kick start 2020 with a British Director returning to his London gangland comedy crime caper  roots featuring an all star cast that sees an American expat looking to offload his marijuana empire but not before attracting the unwanted nefarious attention of a bunch of underworld crims. This is followed by an oft filmed version of a famed nineteenth century novel about four sisters who now as young adults have all left home but are brought back together to face challenging and changing times. And we wrap up the weeks new offerings with an animated spy comedy film about a debonair and suave international super spy and his smart and inventive, albeit less than debonair and suave sidekick, who need to rely on each other more than ever to save the world from a cyber madman.

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 week ahead.

'THE GENTLEMEN' (Rated  MA15+) - British Director, Producer and Screenwriter Guy Ritchie is no stranger to the British crime drama often tinged with a hint of tongue in cheek comedy, a la 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', 'Snatch', 'Revolver' and 'RocknRolla' which have helped propel its emerging stars into mainstream success - including Jason Statham, Tom Hardy, Idris Elba and Vinnie Jones. Here Guy Ritchie, is going back to his London gangland genre roots with his latest crime comedy offering that he Directs, Co-Produces, wrote the Screenplay for and also came up with the story with Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies.

The story here follows American expat Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who has created a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he is looking to cash out his business, it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail by those attempting to steal his domain out from under him. Also starring an ensemble cast that takes in Hugh Grant, Henry Golding, Charlie Hunnam, Jeremy Strong, Colin Farrell, Eddie Marsan and Michelle Dockery, is released in the UK today also, and not in the US until the back end of January.

'LITTLE WOMEN' (Rated G) - this American coming-of-age period drama film is written for the screen and Directed by Actress, Screenwriter and now second time film maker following 2017's highly acclaimed 'Lady Bird', Greta Gerwig. This is the eighth big screen adaptation of the 1868 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. The film cost US$40M to produce, has so far grossed US$36M, was released in the US on Christmas Day, and has garnered universal acclaim from Critics. Following the lives of the four March sisters, Amy (Florence Pugh), Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Beth (Eliza Scanlen) and Meg (Emma Watson), as they come of age and leave the family home in 1860's New England and in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Though all very different from each other, the March sisters stand by each other through both difficult and changing times. Also starring Meryl Streep as Aunt March, Laura Dern as Marmee March, Bob Odenkirk as Father March with Timothee Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Chris Cooper and James Norton.

'SPIES IN DISGUISE' (Rated PG) - is an American computer animated spy comedy film based loosely on Lucas Martell's 2009 animated short film 'Pigeon: Impossible', and is Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane in their Directorial debuts. Here, super spy Lance Sterling (voiced by Will Smith) and scientist Walter Beckett (Tom Holland) are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair, and the world has come to rely on him for saving it from dangers most grave. Walter on the other hand is not, but Sterling has come to rely on him for his technical smarts and inventive thinking to devise all manner of awesome gadgets to accomplish his world saving missions in spite of himself. But when events take an unexpected turn, Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other in a whole new way. And if this odd couple can't learn to work as a team, the whole world is in peril from cybernetic madman Tristan McFord (Ben Mendelsohn). Also starring Rashida Jones, Karen Gillan, and DJ Khaled, the film was released Stateside on Christmas Day and has so far earned US$38M at the Box Office.

With three new release movies 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-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th September 2019.

In August the world bid a fond farewell to a number of stars of the silver screen and the small screen. In brief, shown below, is my passing tribute to those stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and in particular the world of film and television. May you all Rest In Peace, and thanks for the memories . . . . Ningali Lawford, Richard Williams, Peter Fonda, Valerie Harper and Franco Columbu.

* Ningali Lawford - born in 1967 and died 11th August 2019, aged 52, Lawford was an Australian indigenous Actress of the Walmadjari people in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. She trained in dance at the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre in Sydney, before making her stage acting debut in 1990 in 'Bran Nue Dae' in Perth, later going on to appear in the Australian feature film of the same name in 2009 starring Geoffrey Rush, Ernie Dingo, Jessica Mauboy and Missy Higgins. It was in 2002 that Lawford made her big screen debut in Phillip Noyce's 'Rabbit-Proof Fence' with Kenneth Branagh, Jason Clarke, David Gulpilil and Deborah Mailman. Her last big screen outing was in last years 'Last Cab to Darwin' with Michael Caton and Jacki Weaver. In the meantime, Lawford had several television appearances in multiple episodes of the series 'The Circuit', then made for TV movie '3 Acts of Murder', then thirteen episodes lending her voice talents to the animated series 'Little J & Big Cuz' and finally on 'Mystery Road' in 2018. Lawford had collected one award win for 'Mystery Road' as part of the Ensemble cast and three nominations for her supporting role in 'Last Cab to Darwin'.

* Richard Williams - born 19th March 1933, died 16th August 2019, aged 86, Williams was a Canadian born English resident from age 22 and was an Animator, voice Actor, Director, Producer and Writer in a career spanning seven decades. His debut came in 1958 with the animated short film 'The Little Island' which garnered Williams his first BAFTA win for Best Animated Short Film. By the early '60's Williams had established his own company, Richard Williams Animation, which completed over 2,500 TV commercials, and won numerous awards and in 1962 he completed his first commercial success, the short film 'Love Me Love Me', narrated by Kenneth Williams. From there he Directed and animated many films over the ensuing years including 'A Lecture on Man', 'The Dermis Probe', 'A Christmas Carol' in 1971 for which he won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' in 1988 for which Williams was Animation Director and which secured him a Special Achievement Academy Award 'for animation direction and creation of the cartoon characters'. His troubled 31 years in the making of 'The Thief and the Cobbler' in 1995 was not followed up until 2010 with 'Circus Drawings' and his final film 'Prologue' in 2015 which was a critical success and gained many awards and nominations, including an Oscar and a BAFTA nomination for Best Animated Short Film. Added to his work in Direction, Williams also animated the titles of many feature films including 'What's New Pussycat?' and 'The Liquidator' both in 1965, 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' in 1966, 'Casino Royale' in 1967, 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' in 1968, 'The Return of the Pink Panther' in 1975, and 'The Pink Panther Strikes Again' in 1976. All up Williams had twenty-one credits for his animation, thirteen as Director, eight as Producer, six as Writer and five as Actor, and along the way he collected eleven award wins and two nominations.

* Peter Fonda - born 23rd February 1940, died 16th August 2019, aged 79, Fonda was the product of a Hollywood dynasty - his father the multi-award wining Actor Henry Fonda, his sister the multi-award winning Actress Jane Fonda, his daughter the multi-award winning Actress Bridget Fonda and his nephew the award winning Troy Garity. After a string of early '60's television show appearances, Fonda gained his first big screen outing in 'Tammy and the Doctor' in 1963, and this was followed up that same year by his turn in 'The Victors' in which he secured his first Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. From there, more television appearances followed, with the film 'Lilith' in 1964 and his first lead role in 'The Young Lovers' also that year. By the mid-1960s, Fonda was hardly a stereotypical Hollywood 'leading man'. Playboy magazine reported, Fonda had established a 'solid reputation as a dropout'. He had become outwardly nonconformist and grew his hair long and took LSD regularly, alienating the film making 'establishment'. His first 'counterculture' film was Roger Corman's 'The Wild Angels' in 1966 which he followed up with 'The Trip' a year later again for Corman. These in turn lead to 'Easy Rider' the seminal motorcycle road drama and counterculture landmark film of 1969 Directed by Dennis Hopper, and starring Hopper, Fonda and Jack Nicholson. In 1971 Fonda turned his hand to Directing, and also starred in 'The Hired Hand' with 'The Last Movie' again Directed by Dennis Hopper also coming out that same year. He would also Direct 'Idaho Transfer' in 1973, and 'Wanda Nevada' in 1979. His other more notable film credits take in the likes of 'Race with the Devil', 'Killer Force', 'Futureworld' (a sequel to 1973's 'Westworld'), 'Certain Fury', 'Deadfall', 'Escape from L.A.', 'Ulee's Gold' in 1997 for which Fonda won a Golden Globe Award for his performance and was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Then there was 'The Limey', 'Ghost Rider', 'Wild Hogs', '3:10 to Yuma', 'The Boondocks Saints II : All Saints Day', 'The Harvest', 'House of Bodies', 'The Runner', 'The Ballad of Lefty Brown', 'Boundaries' and the yet to be released 'The Last Full Measure' and 'The Magic Hours'. His more recent TV appearances include episodes on 'ER', 'Californication', 'CSI : NY', 'Hawaii Five-O', 'Blacklist' and 'Ride with Norman Reedus'. All up Fonda had 116 Acting credits to his name, three as Director, two as Writer, two as Producer and could boast thirteen award wins and a further 21 nominations including Academy Award, Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy and Screen Actors Guild awards and nods.

* Valerie Harper - born 22nd August 1939, died 30th August 2019, aged 80, Harper was an American Actress of stage, film and television whose career began with an uncredited role in the 1956 movie 'Rock, Rock, Rock!' before taking on various dancing roles on Broadway shows from 1959 through to 1962. Following a number of made for TV films, she appeared in 1974's 'Freebie and the Bean' alongside Alan Arkin and James Cann and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance as New Star of the Year. 1979's 'Chapter Two' again with James Caan earned her a second Golden Globe nod for Best Supporting Actress. 1980 saw 'The Last Married Couple in America' with George Segal and Natalie Wood and 1984 saw 'Blame it on Rio' with Michael Caine with  string of made for television movies being released in between time and subsequently right up until 2016. Here television appearances too were numerous, with her TV beginnings launching in 1970 on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' as Rhoda Morgenstern running for 92 episodes up until 1977, and then in the spin-off across110 episodes on 'Rhoda' from 1974 through until 1978. For her work on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', she three times received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, and later received the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on 'Rhoda'. She would go on to have guest appearances on a number of series over the years including 'The Love Boat', on 32 episodes of 'Valerie', on thirteen episodes of 'City', six on 'The Office' then 'Melrose Place', 'Sex and the City', 'That '70's Show', 'Family Law', 'Desperate Housewives', on eight episodes of 'The Simpsons', 'Hot in Cleveland', 'American Dad',' 2 Broke Girls' and 'Children's Hospital' most recently. All up Harper has seventy Acting credits to her name, and had garnered twelve award wins and a further eleven nominations throughout her career for her film and television work.

* Franco Columbu - born 7th August 1941, died 30th August 2019, aged 78, Columbu was an Italian born bodybuilder, powerlifter, Actor and author who started his career as a Boxer winning the Amateur Boxing Championship of Italy and then progressing to Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, and later bodybuilding, winning the title of Mr. Olympia in 1976 and 1981. From 1969 and for an number of subsequent years Columbu was considered to be one of the strongest men in the world. In  1977, Columbu competed in the first World's Strongest Man competition, placing fifth in overall points, which was an especially notable achievement considering Franco weighed much less than the other competitors. After his long term friend Arnold Schwarzenegger retired from bodybuilding competition in 1975 having won the Mr. Olympia title on six successive occasions up to that time, Franco Columbu became the next Mr. Olympia in 1976. After Schwarzenegger's comeback victory in the 1980 Mr. Olympia competition, Columbu followed suit and won the 1981 Mr. Olympia title. His acting career took off in 1976 with an uncredited role in 'Stay Hungry' with Jeff Bridges, Sally Field and Arnold Schwarzenegger and this was followed up by turns portraying himself in 'Pumping Iron', 'The Hustler of Muscle Beach' and 'The Comeback' before three successive outings alongside his bast mate Arnold Schwarzenegger again in 1982's 'Conan the Barbarian', 1984's 'The Terminator' and 1987's 'The Running Man'. In 1993's 'Last Action Hero' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the words 'A Franco Columbu film' appear on the opening credits of 'Jack Slater IV' (a film within the film) as a tribute to Columbu, although he does not actually get any screen time.    Following these there was largely a string of B-grade movies that took in 'Big Top Pee-wee', 'Perduta', 'Beretta's Island' (also Written by), 'Taken Alive' (also Written by), 'Doublecross on Costa's Island' (also Directed by), 'Ancient Warriors' and most recently 'One More Round'. All up Columbu has seventeen Acting credits to his name, seven as Producer, two as Director, two as Writer and he also acted as Stuntman on two further Schwarzenegger films 'Eraser' and 'End of Days'. Needless to say Columbu and Schwarzenegger were best friends for the 54 years they knew each other and could be described as brothers from another mother. Columbu also authored several books including 'Coming on Strong', 'The Bodybuilder's Nutrition Book' and 'Franco Columbu's Complete Book of Bodybuilding'.

And so to tempt you out on an early Australian Spring evening we have six new cinematic releases coming to your local Odeon. We kick off with the second and concluding chapter in this horror story that sees our clown faced antagonist return to small town America to wreak terror 27 years after his last visit having emerged stronger and more devilish than last time around. We then move to a drama surrounding an unhinged divorced mother who believes that someone else's little girl is her own and the fallout experienced by the girls parents and the woman when the truth eventually comes out. Next up is a famed 19th century story surrounding four closely knit sisters given a contemporary makeover; before we join a Chinese American family whose now grown up daughter has a special bond with her Grandmother back in China, but when that Grandmother is diagnosed with terminal cancer that family rally round, but keep the truth from Granny by claiming that the family have all converged back home to attend a wedding. This is followed by a film surrounding an old man from the remote Scottish islands who travels to the US to get treatment for a life threatening illness and reconnects with his estranged son and the impacts that this reuniting has on him; and closing out the week we have an Australian comedy about one mans lengthy hike up the Western Australian coastline to win back the heart of his girlfriend and to raise money for charity, but with some unexpected results along the way.

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

'IT : CHAPTER TWO' (Rated MA15+) - and so here it is - the sequel to the hugely popular and successful 'IT' supernatural horror film of 2017 based on the 1986 Stephen King novel of the same name. That first instalment raked in US$701M at the global Box Office off the back of a production budget of US$35M making it the highest-grossing R-Rated horror film of all-time, the highest-grossing horror film internationally and the highest-grossing horror film of all time. The film also received positive reviews, with many Critics calling it one of the best Stephen King adaptations, and along the way it picked up eight award wins and a further 43 nominations from around the awards and festival circuit. Both instalments have been Directed by Argentinian Andy Muschietti.

Twenty-seven years after the Losers Club defeated Pennywise the Clown (Bill Skarsgard), IT returns to terrorise the town of Derry once again. Now adults, the Losers have long since gone their separate and independent ways. However, the kids of Derry are disappearing again, so Mike (Isaiah Mustafa), the only one of the group to remain in their hometown, calls the other, now adult members of the Club, home. Damaged by the experiences of their past, they must each conquer their deepest fears to destroy Pennywise once and for all... putting them directly in the path of the Clown that has become deadlier and stronger than ever. Starring as the older and their younger selves of the Losers Club are James McAvoy as Bill Denbrough and Jaeden Martell (aka Jaeden Lieberher) as the younger Bill, Jessica Chastain as Beverly Marsh and Sophia Lillis as the younger Beverly, Jay Ryan as Ben Hanscom and Jeremy Ray Taylor as the younger Ben, Bill Hader as Richie Tozer and Finn Wolfhard as younger Richie, Isaiah Mustafa as Mike Hanlon and Chosen Jacobs as younger Mike, James Ransone as Eddie Kaspbrak and Jack Dylan Grazer as younger Eddie and Andy Bean as Stanley Uris and Wyatt Oleff as younger Stanley. All those portraying their younger selves reprise their roles from the first film. The film is released in the US this week too.

'ANGEL OF MINE' (Rated MA15+) - this American and Australian Co-Produced dramatical thriller is Directed by Kim Farrant in only her second feature film outing following 2015's 'Strangerland'. Seeing its World Premier screening at the recent Melbourne International Film Festival in mid-August, and adapted from the 2008 French movie 'L’Empreinte', here divorced mother Lizzy Manning (Noomi Rapace), an emotionally imbalanced woman battling for custody of her son with her ex-husband Mike (Luke Evans), has her life turned upside down when she crosses paths with Lola (Annika Whitely), a young girl who she believes to be the daughter she lost six years ago in a hospital fire. Unable to let her suspicions go, Lizzy first stalks and then befriends Lola's mother, Claire (Yvonne Strahovski) and her husband Bernard Bradley (Richard Roxburgh) gradually nudging her way into Lola's life, to the bewilderment of her own family. Claire grows suspicious on discovering that this strange woman has begun to systematically follow her little girl, appearing everywhere. As Lizzy's obsession grows ever more intense and her behaviour becomes increasingly disturbing, Claire confronts her, which brings deeply buried secrets to the surface and the shockingly devastating truth.

'LITTLE WOMEN' (Rated PG) - this American drama offering that is the seventh big screen adaptation of the famed Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel of the same name, but this time has a modern contemporary setting. Directed and Co-Written for the screen by Clare Niederpruem to mark the 150th anniversary of the books first publication, this film was released Stateside in September 2018 and only now does it make it to Australian theatres having taken just US$1.4M at the Box Office to date and garnered mixed or average Reviews. That said, this modern retelling brings a new generation together with their mothers, sisters and friends. From four sisters playing in the attic to women living with purpose, the March sisters - Meg (Melanie Stone), Jo (Sarah Davenport), Beth (Allie Jennings) and Amy (Taylor Murphy) are committed to always supporting one another. Yet, growing up sometimes means growing apart. An aspiring writer, Jo leaves for New York determined to publish a novel. In the wake of rejection upon rejection, her Editor challenges Jo to write about something more engaging - her family. When tragedy brings the sisters back home, sticking together takes on a new meaning. Also starring Lea Thompson, Bart Johnson, Ian Bohen and Lucas Grabeel. An eighth big screen adaptation of 'Little Women' is due for release at Christmas time this year Directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen as the four March sisters.

'THE FAREWELL' (Rated PG) - here we have an American comedy drama Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Lulu Wang apparently loosely based on her own life experiences. Made for just US$3M, the film saw its Premier screening at January's Sundance Film Festival before its wider US release in mid-July having taken so far US$14M and generated mostly widespread critical acclaim. Born in China, Billi Wang (Awkwafina) moved to the US with her father Haiyan Wang (Tzi Ma) and mother Jian Wang (Diana Lin) when she was a child but kept up a close, albeit long-distance, relationship with her beloved grandmother Nai Nai (Zhao Shuzhen), her father’s mother. When Billi learns her grandmother has terminal lung cancer and has been given only a few months to live, she’s distressed that the extended family wants to keep it a secret from Nai Nai, while gathering everyone together in Changchun to say their goodbyes under the ruse of an impromptu wedding.

'RORY'S WAY' (Rated M) - based on the bestselling novel 'La Sonrisa Etrusca' ('The Etruscan Smile') by José Luis Sampedro, this film is Directed by Oded Binum and Mihal Brezis and stars acclaimed British Actor Brian Cox as Rory MacNeil, a rugged old Scotsman who reluctantly leaves his beloved isolated Outer Hebridean island home and travels to San Francisco to seek medical treatment for a life threatening illness. Moving in with his estranged son Ian (J.J. Field) and his wife Emily (Thora Birch), Rory sees his life transformed through a newly found bond with his baby grandson and a romantic interest with the curator of a fine art museum, Claudia (Rosanna Arquette).

'THE NAKED WANDERER' (Rated PG) - in this Australian comedy romance offering Directed and Co-Produced by Alan Lindsay a devastated Jake (Angus McLaren) decides to walk all the way up the Western Australian Indian Ocean coastline for charity, butt-naked. His motivation came about when his girlfriend Jasmine (Megan Hajjar) turned down his proposal to marry. He is driven by media scoundrel Brian King (John Cleese) offer of a $200K incentive to complete the 4,000km walk coupled with him wanting to prove his worth to Jasmine. The walk makes Jake a celebrity, which appeals to Jasmine, but it's too late. Jake has fallen for mesmerising backpacker Valerie (Natasha Liu Bordizzo). A spiteful Jasmine flies in and declares she will marry Jake after all, but he turns Jasmine down and then Valerie vanishes. Also starring Sophie Kennedy Clark and Callan Durlik.

With six new release movies 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-