What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st August 2024.

The 22nd Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival kicks off on Friday 2nd August and runs through until Saturday 10th August on the island of Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA. This highly regarded Oscar-qualifying festival showcases the best of black cinema, featuring independent films, acclaimed documentaries, panel discussions, and exclusive events. The MVAAFF is committed to promoting diversity in the film industry, providing a platform for black and brown filmmakers to share their unique perspectives and stories. Over the past 22 years, the festival has grown into a premier event, attracting A-list talent and audiences from around the world. 

This years Opening Night film is 'Sing Sing' Directed by Greg Kwedar and tells the story of a group of prisoners at Sing Sing Correctional Facility who attempt to stage their own original stage production. The film stars Colman Domingo and Paul Raci. Peacock’s upcoming limited series 'Fight Night : The Million Dollar Heist' will lead the Closing Night festivities and stars Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle, Taraji P. Henson and Chloe Bailey.

The other feature films and feature documentaries being showcased are :-

* 'Freedom Hair' Directed by Diane Houston. 

* 'Billy Preston : That's The Way God Planned It' Directed by Paris Barclay.

* 'Bike Vessel' Directed by Eric D. Seals.

* 'Time II : Unfinished Business' Directed by Fox Rich.

* 'Black Table' Directed by John Antonio James and Bill Mack.

* 'Respect My Crown : The Rise of African American Women in Californian Politics' Directed by Pamela Bright-Moon.

* 'Young King' Directed by Bryant T. Griffin.

* 'Daughters' Directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae.

* 'He Looked Like a Postcard' Directed by Qasim Basir.

* 'The South Got Something To Say' Directed by Ryon Justin Horne and Tyson Alan Horne.

* 'A Radical Act : Renee Montgomery' Directed by Sandrine Orabona.

* 'Ol' Dirty Bastard : A Tale of Two Dirtys' Directed by Sam Pollard and Jason Pollard.

* 'False Positive' Directed by Ismail Al-Amin.

* 'The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat' Directed by Tina Mabry. 

* 'Albany Road' Directed by Christine Swanson.

* 'A King Like Me' Directed by Matthew O. Henderson.

* 'The Debutantes' Directed by Contessa Gayles.

* 'Luther : Never Too Much' Directed by Dawn Porter.

* 'It Was All A Dream' Directed by dream hampton.

For a brief synopsis of the above named feature films and documentaries, plus details of the short films being showcased and more besides, you can go to the official website at : https://www.mvaaff.com

Looking then at this weeks slew of seven new movies coming to your local Odeon, we begin with an American psychological thriller from an acclaimed Director that is partly inspired by a real life Police sting operation, whereby here a serial killer is trapped inside a concert venue as he and his young daughter attend a concert that is surrounded by law enforcement officers intent on capturing him. This is followed by an American comedy drama that sees a washed-up stand-up comedian co-parenting his autistic son with his ex-wife, when faced with crucial decisions about the boys future, father and son go on a life-changing cross-country road trip together. Next up we have a Canadian slasher offering about how a locket is removed from a collapsed fire tower in the remote woods that entombs a rotting corpse of a vengeful spirit spurred on by a horrific 70-year old crime, with his body being resurrected and hellbent on retrieving it, no matter what it takes. Then we turn to an American crime thriller about an ex-homicide detective with memory loss who is forced to solve a brutal murder, only to uncover chilling secrets from his forgotten past. Following on from this is the story of three life-long friends who travel to Key West, Florida, to be bridesmaids at a surprise wedding of their friend from college. Then we have a documentary drama that follows the unsolved Burger Chef Murders of 1978 that claimed the lives of four teenagers in Speedway, Indiana. And closing out the week is a New Zealand historical action film, spoken in traditional Maori, that is set in New Zealand in 1864, and follows the story of a crucial conflict of the nation's first land warfare, fought between Maori and imperial soldiers against overwhelming odds.

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

'TRAP' (Rated M) - is an American psychological thriller film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan who made his breakthrough with 'The Sixth Sense' in 1999 and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Unbreakable' in 2000, 'The Village' in 2004, 'The Visit' in 2015, 'Split' in 2016, 'Glass' in 2019, 'Old' in 2021 and 'Knock at the Cabin' in 2023. 

The film centres on a serial killer Cooper, dubbed 'The Butcher' (Josh Hartnett) who goes to a Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan) concert with his teenage daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue). Mid-way through the concert he realises that the concert is a trap set by law enforcement in an attempt to catch him. Also starring Hayley Mills, Alison Pill and Kid Cudi, the film is released in the US this week too.

'EZRA' (Rated M) - this American comedy drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Tony Goldwyn whose previous Directorial credits take in his debut with 'A Walk on the Moon' in 1999, 'Someone Like You' in 2001, 'The Last Kiss' in 2006 and 'Conviction' in 2010, although he has also helmed numerous TV episodes, and has many acting credits to his name too. This film follows Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with his father Stan (Robert De Niro), while struggling to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (William Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife Jenna (Rose Byrne). When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son's future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both their lives. Also starring Vera Farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, Rainn Wilson and Tony Goldwyn, the film saw its World Premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival back in September last year, was released Stateside at the end of May and only now is it released here in Australia having so far grossed US$3.2M and has generated mixed or average reviews. 

'IN A VIOLENT NATURE' (Rated R18+) - is a Canadian slasher film Written and Directed by Chris Nash that saw its World Premiere at this year Sundance Film Festival at the end of January in the Midnight programme, was released in the US at the end of May, is released in Australia this week and on streaming service Shudder at some future date. When a group of teenagers takes a locket from a collapsed fire tower out in the Ontario wilderness, they unwittingly resurrect the rotting corpse of Johnny (Ry Barrett), a vengeful spirit spurred on by a horrific 60-year old crime. The undead killer soon embarks on a bloody rampage to retrieve the stolen locket, methodically slaughtering anyone who gets in his way. The film has so far grossed US$4.5M and has garnered generally positive critical acclaim. 

'SLEEPING DOGS' (Rated MA15+) - this American crime thriller film is Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Adam Cooper in his feature length Directing debut, and is based on the 2017 novel 'The Book of Mirrors' by E.O. Chirovici. Roy Freeman (Russell Crowe) is an ex-homicide detective with Alzheimer's who is undergoing experimental treatment to help him regain some memories, and who is forced to revisit a case he can't remember. As a man's life hangs in the balance on death row, Freeman must piece together the brutal evidence from a decade-old murder investigation, uncovering a sinister web of buried secrets and betrayals linking to his past. With only instincts to trust, he faces a chilling truth, sometimes, it's best to let sleeping dogs lie. Also starring Karen Gillan, Marton Csokas and Tommy Flanagan, the film was released in the US in late March and has received mixed or average reviews. 

'THE FABULOUS FOUR' (Rated M) - is an American comedy film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, whose prior film making credits include 'Proof' in 1991, 'How to Make an American Quilt' in 1995, 'A Thousand Acres' in 1997 and 'The Dressmaker' in 2015. Here, a group of three life-long friends Lou, Alice and Kitty (Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally, and Sheryl Lee Ralph respectively) travel to Key West, Florida, to be bridesmaids in the surprise wedding of their best college girlfriend Marilyn (Bette Midler). Over the course of one outrageous trip, sisterhoods are rekindled, the past resurfaces, and there are enough sparks, raunch, and romance to change all their lives in unexpected ways. Also starring Bruce Greenwood and Michael Bolton, the film was released in the US last week and has generated mixed or average reviews.

'THE SPEEDWAY MURDERS' (Rated M) - this true crime mystery docudrama is Written and Directed by Adam Kamien and Luke Rynderman, and charts the 'The Burger Chef' murders that took place at a Burger Chef restaurant in Speedway, Indiana, USA, on the night of Friday, 17th November 1978. Four young employees went missing in what was initially thought to be a petty theft of cash from the restaurant's safe. By Saturday morning it became a clear case of robbery-kidnapping, and by Sunday, when their bodies were discovered in a woodland area some thirty miles away, a case of murder. While investigators believe they have identified some or all of the perpetrators, without physical evidence they have not been able to prosecute those who remain alive. This is that story of Assistant Manager Jayne Friedt aged 20, Daniel Davis aged 16, Mark Flemmonds aged 16 and Ruth Ellen Shelton aged 18 as portrayed by Essie Randles, Joseph Cumpston, Nya Cofie and Davida McKenzie respectively. 

'KA WHAWHAI TONU : STRUGGLE WITHOUT END' (Rated M) - this New Zealand historical action film is Directed by Mike Jonathan in his debut feature film, although he has previously helmed two feature length documentaries - 'The Road to the Globe' in 2012, and 'Freezing Works' in 2015 with a number of short films and TV series in between and since. Set in New Zealand in 1864, the film follows the story of a pivotal battle in the first land wars fought in New Zealand’s Waikato region. Amidst the chaos of the infamous 1864 siege of Orakau, two teenagers Haki and Kopu (Paku Fernandez and Hinerangi Harawira-Nicholas respectively) must seize command of their destinies and fight for freedom. Facing insuperable odds, the Maori tribes defiantly stand their ground in a struggle for sovereignty against the relentless advance of colonial forces. Presented in te reo Maori, this ambitious historical drama tells the story of a critical moment in New Zealand history from a Maori perspective. Also starring Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis and Jason Flemyng. 

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

KNOCK AT THE CABIN : Tuesday 7th February 2023.

I saw the M Rated 'KNOCK AT THE CABIN' at my local multiplex earlier this week. This American apocalyptic psychological horror film is Directed and written for the screen by M. Night Shyamalan, and is based on the 2018 novel 'The Cabin at the End of the World' by Paul G. Tremblay. Shyamalan's previous film output includes his breakout film with 'The Sixth Sense' in 1999, then 'Unbreakable' in 2000, 'Signs' in 2002, 'The Village' in 2004, then a period of less popular films before his resurgence with 'The Visit' in 2015, 'Split' in 2016, 'Glass' in 2019 and 'Old' in 2021. This film was released last week here in Australia and Stateside too, having seen its Premier screening in New York City on 30th January, garnering generally favourable critical reviews and has so far grossed US$28M from a production budget of US$20M.

The film opens up with young seven year old girl, Wen (Kristen Cui) catching grasshoppers outside a remote cabin in the woods somewhere in rural Pennsylvania. A short time later, a hulking figure of man sidles up and introduces himself as Leonard (Dave Bautista), saying that he wants to be Wen's friend and he helps her catch grasshoppers. Leonard goes on to explain that he needs to see her parents, Eric and Andrew (Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge respectively), to help save the world. Soon afterwards three others show up on foot carrying makeshift weapons fashioned out of gardening tools. 

Wen becomes suspicious and flees back to the cabin to alert her parents, who immediately barricade themselves inside. A knock comes to the cabin door with Leonard speaking calmly through the bolted door, urging Andrew and Eric to let them in, saying that no harm will come to them, they just need to talk, about a matter of some urgency. When the parents refuse, Leonard with his three colleagues Redmond (Rupert Grint), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird) and Adriane (Abby Quinn) forcibly break in, tie up the parents but not before Eric is knocked to the ground in a scuffle and suffers a concussion.

With Eric and Andrew immobilised Leonard and his companions, first introduce themselves giving each a little of their own back story and then he states that they have never met before this day and have no intention of harming the family. However, over the course of the past week, they have been driven by visions and an unknown force to find their family. He goes on to explain that the group have each foreseen an impending apocalypse, in which he claims that the oceans will rise, a pandemic will spread, the sky will fall, and finally, an eternal darkness will envelop the earth. The only way to prevent this from happening is for the family to sacrifice one of their own, but that only they can make that decision. However, they are warned that, if they fail to make a choice, they will survive the apocalypse, but they will be the only survivors and forced to roam the Earth alone. Needless to say Eric and Andrew believe that they are lying and that this attack has been brought on by hatred and delusion.

When the family refuses to make a choice, the group have to sacrifice one of their own. Redmond is the first to go with the group beating him to death with their weapons. Eric, who is concussed, sees a figure of light as Redmond passes away. On the TV, news reports show devastating mega tsunamis caused by undersea earthquakes about seventy miles off the north-west American coast which Leonard calmly states is the start of the apocalypse. 

Andrew comes to realise that he recognised Redmond, whom he believes to be Rory O'Bannon, a homophobic man who had assaulted him years earlier in a bar when Andrew was professing his deep love for Eric. This ultimately led to Rory's imprisonment and six months of surgery rehabilitation for Andrew. Andrew thinks that Rory tracked him down for revenge. Leonard, Sabrina, and Adriane question Andrew's assumption and grapple with their guilt, but still lay claim to the validity of their visions. They reveal that Redmond's death has unleashed the first disaster. The following day, the intruders sacrifice Adriane in the same manner as the family are still indecisive. The next disaster looms, as a deadly flu virus, which is particularly dangerous for children, spreads rapidly across the globe.

Andrew insists that the disasters are coincidental and that the visitors were anticipating a pre-scheduled news broadcast, reporting on old news. Andrew manages to escape, and runs to his car, locking himself inside and retrieves his gun. He is followed by Sabrina, who smashes a side window and stabs Andrew as he shoots at her leading to her fleeing. He frisks Redmond's dead body to locate his wallet and proves to Leonard that he was in fact, as suspected, Rory O'Bannon. Injured from his attack and with their tyres slashed, Andrew believes the four came in a vehicle that must be parked nearby and suggests that they use it to escape. Now armed with a loaded pistol, Andrew and Eric lock Leonard in the bathroom. Sabrina breaks into the house and is shot fatally by Andrew. Leonard tricks Andrew into reentering the bathroom by making him think he escaped through the window, and then overpowers him, stealing the gun. 

Leonard sacrifices Sabrina in the same manner as Redmond and Adriane and the broadcast shows hundreds of aeroplanes literally dropping out of the sky all around the world. Realising their time is nearly up, Leonard leads the three out on to the back deck as the sky begins to darken. Leonard informs them that after his death, they will only have a few minutes to make a decision before slicing his own throat. Upon his death, violent lightning strikes cause numerous spot fires and more planes to crash - the news feed on the TV reports of seven hundred plus planes falling unexplained from the sky. Eric now believes that the events are real, and that the intruders represent the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Redmond was 'malice' for his homophobic attitudes and his past beating of Andrew; Sabrina was 'health' for her work as a nurse; Adriane was 'nourishment' for her work as a line cook; and Leonard was 'guidance' for he worked as a teacher. 

Not wanting Wen to grow up alone in a destroyed and desolate world, Eric offers himself as the sacrifice. He notes that during Redmond's sacrifice he saw a vision of Andrew and an adult Wen. Eric feels that their family was chosen to make the sacrifice because their love was pure. Reluctantly, Andrew shoots and kills Eric before lightning strikes, setting the cabin on fire and the five corpses contained therein. Andrew and Wen find the visitors' vehicle with various belongings from each of them that validated their individual stories. They drive to a crowded diner nearby, where they watch news reports confirming that the disasters have subsided. 

'Knock at the Cabin' is not a horror film in the true sense of the genre, as the horror when it does occur, does so off screen and by suggestion. However, as a tense psychological thriller this film more than delivers and demonstrates once again Shyamalan's gift for crafting an intimate taut and tense B-movie. Dave Bautista here plays his role as the gentle giant literally on a mission from God to save the world or die trying, delivers probably his career best performance to date, and the other cast members are all on point too, although I would have liked to see more of Rupert Grint other than the few sparse lines of dialogue he is granted here. The ending when it came, after an efficient one hundred minute run time, felt somewhat rushed, half baked and missing the Director's trademark twist, but that said, this is an effective, emotional and immersive film that shows Shyamalan's visual gift for bringing his audience a thrilling movie. 

'Knock at the Cabin' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 22nd July 2021.

And so for another year the Cannes Film Festival, this year marking its 74th annual edition, drew to a close on Saturday 17th July. At the closing awards ceremony, the Jury President for the feature films in Official Competition, Spike Lee was joined by his other jurors Mati Diop, Mylene Farmer, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessica Hausner, Melanie Laurent, Kleber Mendonca Filho, Tahar Rahim and Song Kang-ho for the announcement of this years awards. These are as given below :-

In Competition

* Palme d'Or Award was presented by Spike Lee and Sharon Stone and awarded to 'TITANE' from Belgium and France and Written and Directed by Julia Ducournau. This drama triller stars Vincent Lindon and Agathe Rousselle and following a series of unexplained crimes, a father is reunited with the son who has been missing for ten years. Ducournau became only the second female Director to win the award and the first to win not jointly with another Director (in 1993 Jane Campion had won jointly with Chen Kaige for 'The Piano' and 'Farewell My Concubine' respectively).

* Grand Prix Award was presented by Oliver Stone and jointly awarded to 'A HERO' from Iran and Written and Directed by Asghar Farhadi, about Rahim who is in prison for defaulting on a debt he was unable to repay. During two-days of prison leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum, but things don't go as planned; and 'COMPARTMENT NO. 6' from Germany, Finland, Estonia and Russia and is Co-Written and Directed by Juho Kuosmanen about two strangers sharing a train journey up to the Arctic Circle that will change their perspective on life.

* Best Director Award was presented by Valeria Golino and awarded to Director and Co-Writer Leos Carax for 'ANNETTE' about a provocative stand-up comedian and his wife, a world-famous soprano, with their glamorous life taking an unexpected turn when their daughter Annette is born, a girl with a unique gift.

* Best Screenplay Award was presented by Andrea Arnold and awarded to  Directors and Co-Writers Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe for the Japanese drama film 'DRIVE MY CAR'. Yusuke Kafuku is a stage Actor and Director happily married to his playwright wife. Then one day the wife disappears.

* Best Performance by an Actress Award was presented by Lee Byung-hun and awarded to Renate Reinsve for her performance in the Norwegian film 'THE WORST PERSON INTHE WORLD' Directed and Co-Written by Joachim Trier, and centres around four years in the life of Julie, a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is.

* Best Performance by an Actor Award was presented by Adele Exarchopoulos and awarded to Caleb Landry Jones for his performance in 'NITRAM' Directed by Justin Kurzel and is based on the Tasmanian Port Arthur massacre in 1996. 

* Jury Prize was presented by Rosamund Pike and jointly awarded to 'AHED'S KNEE' from Israel, France and Germany and Directed and Written by Nadav Lapid about an an Israeli filmmaker who throws himself into two battles doomed to fail, the first against the death of freedom, and the other against the death of a mother. And the internationally co-produced 'MEMORIA' Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Apichatpong Weerasethakul centres around a woman from Scotland, who while traveling in Colombia, begins to hear strange sounds. Soon she begins to think about their appearance.

Un Certain Regard

* Un Certain Regard Award presented to 'UNCLENCHING THE FISTS' is a Russian drama film Written and Directed by Kira Kovalenko about a young woman living in a former mining town in North Ossetia, who struggles to escape the stifling hold of the family she loves as much as she rejects.

* Un Certain Regard Jury Prize awarded to 'GREAT FREEDOM' is an Austrian drama offering Directed by Sebastian Meise and centres on a man in post-WWII Germany who is imprisoned for being gay, and develops a relationship with his cellmate.

Camera d'Or

* The Camera d'Or Award for best first feature film presented to 'MURINA' a co-production between the US, Brazil, Croatia and Slovenia and is Directed and Co-Written by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic and Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese. This film concerns a teenage girl who takes it upon herself to replace her commanding  father with his wealthy foreign friend during a weekend trip to the Adriatic Sea. 

Trophee Chopard

* The Chopard Trophy Award presented to two young Actors in order to recognise and encourage their careers were presented to Jessie Buckley and Kingsley Ben-Adir by Jessica Chastain.

For the other awards and all the latest news and views, including the the FIPRESCI Prizes, the Ecumenical Prize, the International Critics Week Awards, the Directors Fortnights Awards, the Queer Palm and a bunch of others, you can visit the official website of the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival at : https://www.festival-cannes.com

As I write this Greater Sydney, where I live, remains in COVID lockdown for four weeks now ending (at this stage) on Friday 30th July, which means all of our cinema's are closed until this date, which further means that the release of the movies as given below, slated for release this week, will be delayed somewhat across certain parts of Australia at least. That said, these movies will either have been released or are set for an imminent release somewhere in the world, and as Odeon Online has an international audience, I thought it best to carry on regardless. As such, we launch the week with supernatural thriller about a holidaying family relaxing on an idyllic secluded beach somewhere in the tropics that is causing them to age rapidly. This is followed up by the third instalment in a franchise that takes us back to the origin of the ninja warrior who will become G.I. Joe. Next up is a comedy offering about a college student, who while attending a Jewish funeral service with her parents, runs into her sugar daddy. And we close out the week with a Spanish film about a woman caught up in the drama of her family and work decides to take charge of her life by getting married to herself.

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

'OLD' (Rated M) - is an American supernatural mystery thriller Directed and Written for the screen by M. Night Shyamalan and based on the 2010 graphic novel 'Sandcastle' by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters. Shyamalan of course has Directed numerous feature films since his breakout film 'The Sixth Sense' in 1999, followed by his more notable offerings 'Unbreakable' in 2000, 'Signs' in 2002, 'The Village' in 2004, 'The Visit' in 2015, 'Split' in 2016 and 'Glass' in 2019. Principal photography officially began in late September 2020, in the Dominican Republic marking the first time Shyamalan has filmed entirely outside Greater Philadelphia, presumably because the US was in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Dominican Republic was relatively safe. Production wrapped in mid-November. The film is released Stateside this week too. 

And so here, a young family on a tropical holiday discover to their horror that the secluded beach they are relaxing on for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly, reducing their entire lives into a single day. Starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Ken Leung, Eliza Scanlen, and Thomasin McKenzie.

'SNAKE EYES : G.I. JOE ORIGINS' (Rated M) - this American Superhero film is Directed by Robert Schwentke, is based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe toy, comic, and media franchise, and is a reboot, and the third instalment in the 'G.I. Joe' film series following 'G.I. Joe : The Rise of Cobra' in 2009 and 'G.I. Joe : Retaliation' in 2013 with both of those films raking in a combined US$678M worldwide gross off the back of US$305M total production budgets. This third offering in the series serves as an origin story for the title character Snake Eyes. Robert Schwentke is a German film Director and Writer whose previous big screen credits include 'Flightplan' in 2005, 'The Time Travellers Wife' in 2009, 'Red' in 2011, and 'Divergent : Insurgent' in 2015 and 'Divergent : Allegiant' in 2016. A mysterious lone fighter, known only as 'Snake Eyes' (Henry Golding), is welcomed into and trained by a secretive ancient Japanese ninja clan called the Arashikage, but finds his loyalties are tested when secrets from his past are revealed, as he eventually goes on the path to become the famous G.I. Joe hero. Originally slated for release at the end of March 2020, it was pulled from the schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic after several delays, and rescheduled eventually for the end of October this year before being moved up to this week in the US and Australia. Also starring Samara Weaving, Andrew Koji, Peter Mensah and Iko Uwais. A follow on film is in development apparently.

'SHIVA BABY' (Rated M) - is a US and Canadian Co-Produced comedy film Written and Directed by Emma Seligman in her feature film debut and is adapted from her own 2018 short film of the same name. The film saw its World Premier screening at the South by South West Film Festival in March 2020, went on general release in Canada at the end of March this year and in the US in early April, has so far grossed US$150K off the back of a US$200K production budget, has garnered generally favourable Reviews and has collected five wins and sixteen nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. Here, Rachel Sennott stars as Danielle, a directionless young bisexual Jewish woman who attends a shiva with her family. Other attendees include her successful ex-girlfriend Maya (Molly Gordon), and her sugar daddy Max (Danny Deferrari) with his wife Kim (Dianna Agron) and their screaming baby. It also features Fred Melamed and Polly Draper as Danielle's parents Joel and Debbie, as the events of the film take place almost entirely in real time and at one location as Danielle explores her romantic and career prospects under the intense watch of her family, friends, and judgmental neighbours.

'ROSA'S WEDDING' (Rated M) - here we have a Spanish comedy film Directed and Co-Written by Iciar Bollain who has eighteen Directing credits to her name, thirteen as Writer, three as Producer and thirty-two as an Actress who has also collected fifty-seven wins and another forty-seven nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit over the years. Rosa (Candela Pena), is on the cusp of turning forty-five as she combines her job as a seamstress in the movie business with the pressures of helping her demanding family. She comes to the conclusion that she has always lived her life to serve everyone else. Desperate, and near breaking point she plans to symbolically marry herself, and pursue her dream of starting her own business by leaving everything behind and focusing on herself. However, many obstacles, including her father, siblings and daughter, stand in the way of her joining herself in holy matrimony and beginning to live her life. The film has won eighteen awards and been nominated a further forty-three times. Also starring Sergi Lopez, Nathalie Poza, Ramon Barea and Paula Usero. 

With four 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 in the coming week, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 26th January 2017.

Continuing with the Awards Season updates, the 43rd Annual People's Choice Awards were held at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on 18th January 2017, recognising the people and their work in popular culture as voted by the general public. In the film category (there are also music, television and digital categories amounting to a total 65 awards handed out on the night) there are sixteen awards given as highlighted below. The ceremony was hosted by Actor, Comedian, Writer, Producer and Television Personality Joel McHale.

* Favourite Movie and Favourite Family Movie : 'FINDING DORY'
* Favourite Thriller Movie : 'THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN'
* Favourite Drama Movie : 'ME BEFORE YOU'
* Favourite Action Movie : 'DEADPOOL'
* Favourite Comedy Movie : 'BAD MOMS'
* Favourite Movie Actor : Ryan Reynolds
* Favourite Movie Actress : Jennifer Lawrence
* Favourite Action Movie Actor : Robert Downey Jnr.
* Favourite Action Movie Actress : Margot Robbie
* Favourite Dramatic Movie Actor : Tom Hanks
* Favourite Dramatic Movie Actress : Blake Lively
* Favourite Comedy Movie Actor : Kevin Hart
* Favourite Comedy Movie Actress : Melissa McCarthy
* Favourite Animated Movie Voice : Ellen DeGeneres for 'FINDING DORY'
* Favourite Movie Icon : Johnny Depp

This week there are four new offerings coming to your local multiplex or independent theatre. We start off with a prohibition era gangster film charting one mans rise to the top of the heap as seen through the lens of this Actor who also Writes and Directs in this his fourth feature behind the camera. We then move to a hugely acclaimed coming of age drama charting the life of one lad from young boyhood to manhood and his sexual awakenings and the drug scene that makes him what he is. Next up is an intense psychological thriller of multiple split personalities and the kidnapping of three girls as Directed by the master of suspense and surprises, and a career defining performance from the lead Actor, before wrapping up with the sixth instalment in a huge video game adapted film franchise that features the undead, mutant monsters and an evil corporation hell bent on wiping out civilisation as we know it.

As always you are cordially invited to share your movie going insights, observations and opinions with your like minded Cinephiles here at Odeon Online by leaving your relevant, constructive and pertinent Comment below this or any other Post. Meanwhile, enjoy your film in the week ahead.

'LIVE BY NIGHT' (Rated MA15+) - acclaimed Actor, Producer, Screenwriter and Director Ben Affleck is back with his fourth Directorial offering after 2007's 'Gone Baby Gone', 2010's 'The Town' and 2012's 'Argo', but with this 1920's era gangster offering based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane he has so far garnered his most lacklustre Director reviews. With Affleck Directing and starring as well taking the script credit and a Co-Producer credit alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, featuring a strong cast and a budget of US$65M the film has grossed just US$16M since its US release at Christmas. Perhaps timing is everything given the time of the year the film is released, what it is up against at the Box Office and the awards seasons focusing attention on more critically acclaimed fare. All that said, there are positives to be had, including strong visuals, an impressive cast and an entertainment factor - just not in the same league as Affleck's other three award winning feature films.

Set in Prohibition era Boston initially where Joe Coughlin (Ben Affleck) has been raised by his father Thomas Coughlin (Brendan Gleeson) the head of the Boston Police Department. When Joe falls in love with Emma Gould (Sienna Miller), the mistress of Albert White (Robert Glenister) who is the figurehead of the Irish Gang of Boston, the rival Italian Mafia Boss blackmails Joe to kill White. When he refuses he flees to California with Emma and along the way commits a daring bank robbery in which three policemen are killed. When Joe is imprisoned on a lesser charge he falls into the clutches of the Mafia Boss and is sent to Tampa, Florida to protect the interests of his rum production empire. Joe himself starts to rise to (underworld) prominence by investing in clubs and casino's but is targeted by the Ku Klux Klan starting an all out war for dominance, but where and how will it all end? Also starring Chris Cooper, Elle Fanning and Zoe Saldana.

'MOONLIGHT' (Rated M) - Written for the screen and Directed by Barry Jenkins based on the play 'In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue' by Tarell Alvin McCraney, this film has gained universal acclaim since its release Stateside in October last year, has made US$16M from its US$5M budget outlay and has garnered an impressive 140 award wins and another 222 nominations including The Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture plus five other nominations, four BAFTA nominations with winners yet to be announced and the yet to be released Academy Award hopefuls. Telling the coming of age story in three distinct chapters, we here chart the life of young Chiron (Alex Hibbert) known as 'Little' because of his meek and mild personality and stature. He lives with his abusive drug addicted mother Paula (Naomi Harris) in Miami whom he hates. In the second chapter Chiron is now a teenager played by Ashton Sanders. Here Chiron has his first sexual encounter, and gets arrested as a result of being the victim of an initiation ritual. In the final chapter Chiron now known as 'Black' (played by Trevante Rhodes) is a drug dealer in Atlanta. Grappling with himself across three defining segments in his life, this films charts the pain and torment of growing up, the pleasure and beauty of love and the consequences of your actions on your own life and those around you. Disturbing, heartbreaking, personal, tender and insightful this is a grounded drama that should be on your must see list.

'SPLIT' (Rated M) - Written, Co-Produced and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan this is described as a psychological horror film, but for me it's fits more in the thriller domain and certainly is edge of the seat stuff as the story progresses. The film costs US$10M to make and represents a return to form for the Writer/Director following 2015's successful found footage horror offering 'The Visit' which cost just US$5M and returned US$99M and was well received by Critics. The film kicks off in a fast food restaurant where a bunch of teenage girls are wrapping up celebrating a birthday party. Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula) are wanting to go home with Dad who refuses to leave outsider Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) alone without a lift home. A few moments pass, and in the car park and into the drivers seat gets a stranger that none of the girls have seen before. Before you know it he sprays a chemical into each of the girls faces that instantly renders them unconscious. Dad is nowhere to be seen. The unknown captor drives off with the three girls. The character at the heart of the film is Kevin Wendell Crumb suffering from dissociative identity disorder whereby he frequently exhibits the personality traits of any one of 23 alternate personalities (all of them played out expertly by James McAvoy). As these characters manifest themselves they can be dangerous, monstrous, creepy, funny, harmless, young, old, male, female. What unfolds as these alternate personalities spring forth is the emergence of an all powerful, dominant, almost superhuman 24th personality known only as 'The Beast' which Kevin's analyst, Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley), can only begin to understand, and whilst the three held captive girls attempt to escape their captor. I caught an early viewing of this film a week before its Australian release, so check out my full Review posted on 20th January if you want more.

'RESIDENT EVIL : THE FINAL CHAPTER' (Rated MA15+) - this film sees the sixth instalment in the Sci-Fi action horror series that began its big screen life back in 2002 having been adapted for the screen from the popular video game of the same name. Back then Paul W.S. Anderson was hired to Write and Direct - a role he stuck with four of the films including the last three as Director, as Writer on all six and as Co-Producer on all six too. Milla Jovovich has played Alice, the #1 kick-ass leather clad protagonist in all six films fighting against the Umbrella Corporation, the main antagonist in the series - a bioengineering pharmaceutical company that creates bioweapons. Umbrella was responsible for the zombie apocalypse, which occurred after the corporation's T-virus infected the Earth's population. The first five films cost a combined US$250M to make, and so far those films have returned US$916M with 'The Final Chapter' earning so far US$35M since its release in Japan at Christmas. The film is released in the US on 27th January. Here the story takes place three weeks after the events closed out 'Resident Evil : Retribution' that sees Alice return to Raccoon City where it all began and where Umbrella Corporation are gathering forces and readying themselves for the final attack on the remaining survivors of the apocalypse. As Alice joins forces with some old allies and friends you can bet it will be a bloody brutal battle against marauding hordes of the undead and pesky mutant monster types. The films also stars Ruby Rose, Iain Glen, Ali Larter and Shawn Roberts.

For films aimed squarely at the late-teen market and above this week, but offering the undead, unhinged split personalities, prohibition gangsters, and one mans coming of age story with the back drop of the War on Drugs. What's not to like here? Get yourself out to a movie theatre in the week ahead and catch a film of choice as Previewed here, or as Reviewed previously. In the meantime, I'll see you in the coming week sometime, somewhere at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

SPLIT : Wednesday 18th January 2017.

I was lucky enough to catch an advance screening earlier this week of M.Night Shyamalan's psychological thriller, 'SPLIT' one week ahead of its Australian release on Thursday 26th January. Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Shyamalan this is described as a psychological horror film, but for me it's fits more in the thriller domain and certainly is edge of the seat stuff as the story progresses. The film costs US$10M to make and represents a return to form for the Writer/Director following 2015's successful found footage horror offering 'The Visit' which cost just US$5M and returned US$99M and was well received by Critics. In between time however, we had to endure 'After Earth' in 2013, 'The Last Airbender' in 2010, 'The Happening' in 2008, and 'Lady in the Water' in 2006. Before these of course we had his breakout films which were more highly regarded than his latter day offerings - 'The Sixth Sense' in 1999, 'Unbreakable' in 2000, 'Signs' in 2002 and 'The Village' in 2004. In 'Split' Shyamalan harks back to his early work with suspense, thrills, dark humour, gripping performances from his lead Actors and his trademark surprises that will keep you guessing as the credits roll.

The film kicks off in a fast food restaurant where a bunch of teenage girls are wrapping up celebrating a birthday party. Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula) are wanting to go home with Dad who refuses to leave outsider Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) alone without a lift home. He offers to drive her home as its only a short distance out of his way, and so in the car park he is loading up his boot in broad daylight and the three girls climb inside the car. A few moments pass, and into the drivers seat gets a stranger that none of them have seen before. Before you know it he sprays a chemical into each of the girls faces that instantly renders them unconscious. Dad is nowhere to be seen. The unknown captor drives off with the three girls.

Later we see the girls captor carrying them into a room that is to become their prison cell. It is bare brick, three made up camp beds, and a gleaming white en suite bathroom. There are no windows and a single heavily bolted wooden door. Through a crack in the door they can see that there is an adjacent room with just one entry door and they can hear a voice on the other side. The door unlocks and in walks Dennis (James McAvoy) - a well built stocky man, obviously strong, a little nervous, but with a commanding presence. He establishes some ground rules, and leaves. The girls meanwhile contemplate their fate - as Claire seeks out a plan to break out of her prison confines using the teenage karate lessons learned by Marcia to overcome their captor. Casey meanwhile seems content to wait and see what unwinds - to watch and observe until the time is right to take decisive action.

Meanwhile various characters come and go - all of them played out by James McAvoy who at heart is Kevin Wendell Crumb suffering from dissociative identity disorder whereby he frequently exhibits the personality traits of any one of 23 alternate personalities. As these characters manifest themselves they can be dangerous, monstrous, creepy, funny, harmless, young, old, male, female.

Whilst we don't see Kevin until close to the end when his state of mind is explained, we do meet a well to do English matriarch with sinister overtones (Patricia), a nine year old simpleton lad who likes dancing to Kanye West (Hedwig), an OCD caretaker who is fastidious about cleanliness and hygiene (Dennis), and a gay fashion designer (Barry). All of these personalities are played out expertly by McAvoy using items of clothing as his only props to suit the personality he is portraying whilst his facial expressions, mannerisms and voice convey the mood and tone of the character he is inhibiting.

Meanwhile, Claire hatches a plan to escape through the roof of their prison cell and does so by means of ventilation ducting just wide enough for her to scale through. She exits in a nearby room and is promptly recaptured, and for her troubles is locked up in a storeroom all alone, feeling desperately sorry for herself and fearing the worst. Then Marcia has a go when she and Casey are invited to the kitchen for dinner. She slams a wooden chair into the turned back of one of Kevin's female alternates and makes a bolt for it, only to be recaptured in a dead end room from which there is no exit. She too is banished to another empty storeroom to contemplate her fate.

While all of this is going on Kevin's more sinister personalities are increasingly requesting daily emergency sessions with his analyst Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley) who has been treating Kevin for a number of years and has met just about all of his personalities. She specialises in the field of DID and has been chipping away to gain a full understanding of what makes each of his 23 personalities tick. It is here that we are introduced to the possibility of a 24th personality emerging - known as 'The Beast', that will dominate over the other 23, with his physical and mental strength. No one has yet seen The Beast in manifested form, but the other personalities know that he is coming, and when he does . . .

In micro-flashbacks too we catch short little bursts of what made Casey the young woman she is today. On hunting trips aged five or six when Casey (Izzie Coffey) first learned to shoot a shotgun and kill a deer under the tutelage of her father and Uncle, through to her fathers premature death and her being raised by her abusive Uncle. These life lessons as young as she is, have taught her to be patient, to give nothing away, and to play along with her captor gaining what little confidence and trust she can along the away. And in the end, it pays off as she emerges the heroine of the piece while her two friends succumb.

Dr. Fletcher becomes increasingly alarmed by Kevin's demands for sessions on a now daily basis by sending multiple e-mails at all hours of the day and night. She keeps digging away at times uncertain of which character she is addressing, but always placating the personality with kind words, generous compliments, and her own engaging character. All the while the tension mounts between them, only adding to the suspicion between the two parties.

Eventually 'The Beast' manifests itself and it is everything and more that Kevin and his various personalities had imagined. Domineering, powerful, almost superhuman, and definitely to be feared. In the final analysis there are some gruesome casualties along the way, but Casey survives with the help of a shotgun and some carefully aimed shots from the relatively safe confines of a locked cage. Whilst she survives, so does The Beast who we see treating his own wounds in some derelict home having escaped his own underground lair. He morphs from one personality to another having conversations with himself about the state of his shot up body, and what to do next.

As Casey is rescued we see the exact location above ground where Kevin housed his deep underground quarters in which he lived, held his prisoners captive and how he was able to move about relatively easily. There is a metaphor here for the behaviours exhibited by some of Kevin's personalities too. In a final scene where breaking news reveals the ordeal that Casey went through and the casualties of that experience, we cut to a diner and the dialogue between two patrons harks back to an earlier film where the antagonist is committed to an institution for the criminally insane, drawing comparisons between that character and the one of Kevin Wendell Crumb.

McAvoy carries this film with his seamless portrayal of a myriad of dangerous, unhinged, twisted personalities easily showcasing his awards worthy talents. Here too the storytelling and Direction of Shyamalan marks his welcome comeback with an original and compelling story, and those trademarks we have come to expect from his earlier works especially. See this on the big screen for the larger than life opening credits sequence, and the expert personalities adopted by each of McAvoy's alternate persona's - this film belongs to him, and he clearly relished the multiple characters the role presented him with.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-