What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 21st October 2021.

The 26th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea opened on 6th October and closed on 15th October. For this 26th edition 223 films from seventy countries were officially invited to the festival, which was attended by 76,072 people over the course of the ten days of the event. This years Opening Night film was the South Korean feature 'Heaven : To the Land of Happiness' Written and Directed by Im Sang-soo in which two gentlemen meet by chance and decide to go on an adventure together, with their journey becoming a quest for happiness. The Closing Night film was 'Anita' from China and Directed by Longmond Leung in this biopic of Canto pop idol, singer, actress and media-magnet Anita Mui, who died at the age of 40 in 2003. 

As for the awards presented at this years festival, the following were the happy winners and grinners within the main sections :-

New Currents - the main competition section at BIFF, which showcases the works by emerging Asian Directors, had eleven entries, and was won jointly by 'The Apartment with Two Women' from South Korea and Directed and Written by Kim Se-in; 'Farewell, My Hometown' from China and Directed and Written by Wang Er Zhou; and 'Seire' from South Korea and Written and Directed by Park Kang. 

A Window on Asian Cinema - in which seven films are selected to compete for the Kim Jiseok award, with the award being jointly presented to 'Gensan Punch' from the Philippines and Directed by Brillante Mendoza; and 'The Rapist' from India and Directed and Written by Aparna Sen. 

Korean Cinema Today - Vision Section saw twelve selections showcased as World Premiere screenings, from which four films were chosen as joint award winners. These being 'Chorokbam' Directed by Yoon Seo-jin; 'Hot in Day, Cold at Night' Directed by Park Song-yeol; 'A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea' Directed by Kim Miyoung and 'Through My Midwinter' Directed by Oh Seong-ho. 

Flash Forward - features the films that have already won awards or become a hot topic at other film festivals. This section saw nine entries and was won by 'Mass' from the US and Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Fran Kranz. 

In addition, the following awards were also presented to : Kwon Daham as Actor of the Year for 'Through My Midwinter'; to Lim Ji-ho as Actress of the Year for 'The Apartment with Two Women'; the FIPRESCI Award was presented to 'Seire' and Director Park Kang; and the new Watcha Award was presented to 'Through My Midwinter' and 'The Apartment with Two Women' by Oh Seong-ho and Kim See-in respectively. 

For further details on all the sections, and the awards presented at the 26th Busan International Film Festival, you can visit the official website at : https://www.biff.kr

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

'THE LAST DUEL' (Rated MA15+) - this historical drama film is Directed by Ridley Scott; written for the screen by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon, Co-Produced by Scott, Holofcener, Affleck and Damon and based on the 2004 book 'The Last Duel : A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France' by Eric Jager. Of course Ridley Scott is no stranger to historical dramas have helmed 'The Duellists' his 1977 debut feature film, '1492 : Conquest of Paradise' in 1992, 'Gladiator' in 2000, 'Kingdom of Heaven' in 2005, 'Robin Hood' in 2010 and 'Exodus : Gods and Kings' in 2014. This film was originally scheduled to begin a limited theatrical release at Christmas 2020, before going wide in early January this year, but as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the release date was delayed to mid-October 2021. It had its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival in early September, before being release in the US and UK last week and here in Australia this week. It has garnered generally favourable Reviews.

Based on actual events, the film unravels long-held assumptions about France's last sanctioned duel between Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), two friends turned bitter rivals. Carrouges is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Le Gris is a Norman squire whose intelligence and eloquence make him one of the most admired nobles in court. Here then it is 1386 in the midst of the Hundred Years War, when Carrouges' wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer), is viciously assaulted by Le Gris, a charge he denies, but she refuses to stay silent, stepping forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. It is the last legally sanctioned duel in France's history. The ensuing trial by combat, a gruelling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God's hands. Also starring Ben Affleck, Alex Lawther, Marton Csokas and Harriet Walter.

'MALIGNANT' (Rated R18+) - is an American supernatural horror film Directed, Co-Produced and based on an original story by Australian film maker James Wan, whose previous directorial outings include 'Saw' in 2004, 'Insidious' in 2010, 'The Conjuring' and 'Insidious : Chapter 2' in 2013, 'Furious 7' in 2015, 'The Conjuring 2' in 2016 and 'Aquaman' in 2018. Originally slated for a mid-August 2020 release, the film was pulled from the schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was subsequently released in France on 1st September, then the US on 10th September, having so far grossed US$30M off the back of a US$40M production budget, and so far generating mixed or average Reviews. Here then, Madison (Annabelle Wallis) is paralysed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities as she decides to find and save the victims. Also starring Mckenna Grace as the young Madison, with Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White, and Jacqueline McKenzie also starring.

'THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN' (Rated MA15+) - this international co-produced drama film is Directed and Written by Kaouther Ben Hania, and was nominated as the Tunisian entry for the Best International Feature film at this years Academy Awards and has garnered positive Critical acclaim. Sam Ali (Yahya Mahayni), a young sensitive and impulsive Syrian, left his country for Lebanon to escape the war. To be able to travel to Europe and live with the love of his life, he accepts to have his back tattooed by one of by the World's most controversial contemporary artists. Turning his own body into a prestigious piece of art, Sam will however, come to realise that his decision might actually mean anything but freedom. Also starring Dea Liane, Monica Bellucci and Koen De Bouw. The film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival in early September 2020, where Yahya Mahayni won the Best Actor Award.

'LOVE YOU LIKE THAT' (Rated M) - this Aussie RomCom is Directed, Written and Co-Produced by first time feature film maker Eric C. Nash. The mysterious appearance of a young woman washed up naked and unconscious on the beach of the coastal town of Seafront Sands, turns the sleepy town into a tailspin. Is she a mermaid, why does she have amnesia, what is going on with her craving for coffee? The young woman has a profound effect on everyone she comes into contact with and as the people of Seafront Sands are celebrating the Town’s Holiday event, they are buzzing, and excitement is in the air. Little do they know, the arrival of a mysterious woman will make them all believe that true love is just a day away. Starring Mitchell Hope, Allira Jaques, John Jarratt and Chris Haywood. 

'BECOMING COUSTEAU' (Rated M) - is an American documentary film Directed and Co-Produced by Liz Garbus whose numerous documentaries, and feature films include her debut in 1998 with 'The Farm : Angola, USA', 'Bobby Fischer Against the World' in 2011, 'Love, Marilyn' in 2012, 'What Happened, Miss Simone?' in 2015, 'Lost Girls' in 2020, and 'All In : The Fight for Democracy' also in 2020. This film saw its World Premier showcasing at the Telluride Film Festival on 2nd September this year, had its International Premier at TIFF the following week and is released in the US and in selected cinema's in Australia this week having generated largely favourable Reviews. The film takes a deep dive into the life, passions, achievements and tragedies surrounding the famous explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau, featuring an archive of newly restored footage. It focuses on the inventor-explorer-environmentalist-filmmaker revolution - giving mankind the resources to explore the ocean with the Aqua Lung, calling attention to ocean pollution, and his longtime collaboration with the National Geographic Society.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

LOST GIRLS : Wednesday 25th March 2020.

In these very trying and testing times for us all that has seen many cinema's, Odeon's, and movie theatres around the world close their doors for the foreseeable future because of the escalating threat of the COVID-19 Coronavirus taking an ever increasing hold on the world at large, many film and television productions halted in their tracks indefinitely, and new film releases pushed back to some future date when some sense of movie going normalcy is expected to resume, I have, needless to say, had to adapt to this new world order. And so with my usual Reviews of the latest cinematic releases being curtailed, instead I will post my Review of the latest release movies showing on Netflix until such time as the regular outing to my local multiplex or independent theatre can be reinstated.

In the last few weeks then, a number of new feature films have landed at Netflix - of which I review as below 'Lost Girls' which I saw from the comfort of my own sofa on Wednesday 25th March.

'LOST GIRLS' is Directed by the American documentary filmmaker, Producer and Writer Liz Garbus, whose previous notable works include 1998's 'The Farm : Angola, USA' which was nominated for an Academy Award, 'The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib' which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special, 'Bobby Fischer Against The World' which opened the Sundance Film Festival Premier Documentary Section, 'Killing in the Name' also nominated for an Academy Award, 'Love, Marilyn', and 'What Happened, Miss Simone?' again nominated for an Academy Award. This is Garbus' first full length feature film debut after her previous 30+ documentary outings. This film is based on a true unsolved murder mystery as recounted in the book 'Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery' by Robert Kolker. The film saw its World Premiere showing at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year, and was released in mid-March on Netflix.

The film opens at night, with a girl running and screaming down a deserted dirt road being pursued by a vehicle behind with its headlights glaring. The girl frantically runs into scrubland, never to be seen again. It is May 2010. Fast forward a few days, and mother of the 24 year old girl in question Mari Gilbert (Amy Ryan) has been leaving text messages for her daughter Shannan Gilbert, and her sister Sherre (Thomas McKenzie) has been leaving voicemail messages all of which have gone unanswered. Mari visits the local Police Station who reveal to her that Shannan made a 911 call from Oak Beach, Long Island at 4:51am, the alleged night of her disappearance. Playing back a recording of that call it sounded as though Shannan was panicked and running at the same time, although the Police authorities took over an hour to respond to the call arriving at the scene at 6:10am by which time there was no trace of the girl.

Shannan we later find out was a sex worker, and was put into foster care when she was twelve years old by her mother who couldn't cope with her daughters bipolar disease and who as a single mother struggled to make ends meet, as she still does, working two jobs and on occasion has asked her daughter for a handout, while remaining mute about where Shannan gets her money from, although secretly knows the truth. This secret however, rises to the surface once Shannan is officially declared a missing person, leaving Mari to reveal the truth to daughters Sherre and Sarra (Oona Laurence).

While the Police undertake a search for Shannan within the Oak Beach community, they come across the remains of a body, then another, then another. Soon in the fullness of time, ten bodies are recovered in a stretch of wasteland bordering the affluent Oak Beach gated residential community. Mari crosses paths with Police Commissioner Richard Dormer (Gabriel Byrne) who is handed the case, and ploddingly goes through the motions in an attempt to locate her missing daughter and uncover who is behind the murders.

In the meantime, the hardworking, angry and determined Mari has become the surrogate leader of the mothers of the other identified girls whose bodies were discovered in the process of searching for Shannan. They decide to hold a vigil at Oak Beach - all of them feeling ignored and demoralised by the lack of support from the authorities, until one year in, and Mari persuades Dormer to dredge the swamp which was the one place that the Police had not looked because it was practically inaccessible. In the intervening period, a local tip off had alerted Mari to Dr. Peter Hackett (Reed Birney) the local overseer of the Oak Beach gated community who seems to have plenty of circumstantial evidence stacking up against him, but nothing concrete.

Eventually, Shannan's body is discovered in the swamp, but more than twelve months after her reported disappearance, and all because the swamp was deemed too hard to search by the Police. Had it not been for Mari's dogged determination and relentless pressure on the Police to do something, perhaps Shannan's body may never have been uncovered. The Police and public at large didn't seem to take Mari and those other mothers seriously because they're women, perhaps from a less well off background, and because her daughter in particular was involved in an often dangerous profession with a history of being judged and often condemned.

Before the closing credits roll we learn that still eight years on the Long Island serial killer who Police believe was responsible for between ten and sixteen murders over a period of twenty years still to this day remains unsolved. Investigators believed that Shannan died of an accidental drowning that was unrelated to the crimes of the Long Island serial killer, but Gilbert challenged the finding and fought to have the case reopened as a murder investigation. An independent autopsy sought by Gilbert’s family found that Shannan may have been strangled to death. We also learn that on 23rd July 2016 Mari Gilbert was stabbed to death by her daughter Sarra who suffered from schizophrenia. Sarra was charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree possession of a weapon, convicted of murder, and sentenced to 25 years in jail in August 2017. A truly sad case in every respect!

I have to say that 'Lost Girls' is an attention grabbing, compelling film delivered in all its grey, gloomy overcast atmospherics. A standout performance from Amy Ryan as the fractured yet defiantly stoic and determined mother who by needs must rises to the occasion in which she has been unjustly thrust, also makes this a watchable film that straddles the line between documentary and narrative feature that Director Garbus has so deftly crafted here. In the end its a story without any closure or a happy ending, just a mothers grief at uncovering the dead body of her eldest daughter abandoned in a swamp, and ultimately the mother too died prematurely. It's hardly a rewarding watch, and at times the story plods along without really going anywhere had it not been for Mari's sheer resolve in frustratingly getting the local law enforcement to get up of their butts and take her case seriously, and for her disruption of the Oak Beach local community. This isn't your usual murder mystery procedural whodunnit in which the bad guy goes down and, in fact quite the opposite, as this case still remains very open ended with no convictions, no suspects, no persons of interest and very little evidence save for the corpses of sixteen  unfortunates, and it's this fact that elevates 'Lost Girls' above those others in the genre.

'Lost Girls' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapboard from a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-