What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 20th March 2025

Founded in 1997, the 28th Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) this year runs from Wednesday 19th March through until Sunday 23rd March. SIFF is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the best in independent film and filmmakers from around the world, inspiring savvy film lovers, and introducing the power of film to student filmmakers. SIFF takes place every March in the United States’ renowned Wine Country, just 45 minutes north of San Francisco. It is noted for its participation of film and media industry jurists and panelists and continues to grow its reputation in finding and cultivating new talent from around the world, creating a significant platform for networking and distribution opportunities. SIFF programmes full-length features and documentaries, as well as short films in the Live Action, Documentary and Animated categories. SIFF also showcases Culinary, Food and Wine films across all categories and presents comedies from around the world in addition to dramas and other genres. The five-day festival supports filmmakers with generous cash award prizes and an accommodation programme providing the opportunity to interact with industry professionals, community members, and our astute film audience in one of the most intimate, engaging and inspiring settings on the festival circuit - so reads the official website.

The Sonoma International Film Festival’s three tentpole films—its Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing selections, all promise an unforgettable cinematic journey filled with heart, adventure, and cultural resonance. Kicking off the festival is the Opening Night Film 'Sweet Story', a charming real-life fairy tale about a patisserie owner’s quest to save a cafe on a remote Swedish island. Directed by Sarah Justine Kerruish and Matt Maude from the UK - World Premiere. The festival’s Centerpiece, 'On Swift Horses', delves into the complexities of love and self-discovery in a sweeping 1950's period drama, and is Directed by Daniel Minahan and is from the USA, and finally, the Closing Night Film, 'The Wedding Banquet', offers a vibrant, contemporary reimagining of Ang Lee’s beloved classic, paired with a tribute to the legendary Joan Chen. Directed by Andrew Ahn and from the USA.

SIFF's Narrative Feature Competition highlights outstanding films from emerging talent worldwide—works that captivate audiences with compelling characters, unique perspectives, and masterful storytelling. This competitive category is dedicated to narrative feature films that do not yet have US distribution, offering filmmakers a prestigious platform to premiere their work, connect with industry professionals, and gain exposure in a vibrant festival setting. Those films in this competitive strand are as follows :-

* 'Cafe Chairel' - from Mexico and Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Fernando Barreda Luna. World Premiere. A lonely cafe owner and a wandering young woman forge a soulful connection over coffee.

* 'DJ Ahmet' - from North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Croatia and Serbia and Written and Directed by Georgi M. Unkovski. A North Macedonian shepherding boy´s love of techno music sets him on a path of small-town love and rebellion.

* 'Long Good Thursday' - from Finland, and Directed by Mika Kaurismaki. In a serene Finnish Summer, an ageing farmer unexpectedly finds joy and love with a free-spirited artist.

* 'Gloria!' - from Italy, and Co-Written and Directed by Margherita Vicario. A mute maid’s discovery of a pianoforte shakes up a crumbling 18th-century girls’ music school for orphans.

* 'Mexico 86' - from France and Belgium and Written and Directed by Cesar Diaz. Maria, a Guatemalan activist in exile, is torn between her noble cause and maternal love for her son, Marco. As political pressure mounts to complete her mission, Maria must protect her child while confronting past choices and dangerous secrets.

* 'The Party's Over' - from Spain and Written and Directed by Elena Manrique. A Spanish divorcee’s life is upended when she shelters a Senegalese immigrant in her shed.

* 'My Favourite Cake' - from Iran, France, Sweden and Germany and Written and Directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha. A 70-year-old Iranian widow’s taxi ride takes an unexpected turn toward romance and rebellion.

* 'Waves' - from the Czech Republic and Written and Directed by Jiri Madl. Journalists in 1960's Czechoslovakia navigate the tightrope between truth and propaganda.

To view the other film strands being showcased under the headings of 'Culinary Films & Events', 'Late Night Films', 'Documentary Feature Competition', 'Short Film Competition', 'Special Presentations' and the 'Shorts Programs', plus a whole bunch of other good content, you can go to the official website at : https://sonomafilmfest.org/festival/

This week there are seven new cinematic experiences to choose from coming to a big screen Odeon near you, and we launch with an American biographical crime drama offering that tells the story of a pair of Italian Americans who were rivals for control of a major crime family in the mid-20th century. Then we turn to an ancient Greek story of how after twenty years Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca, where he finds his wife held prisoner by suitors vying to be king and his son facing death at their hands. Next up is a psychological horror film of how a judge recovering from a stroke at an assisted living facility, encounters a psychopathic patient who uses a hand puppet to abuse fellow residents. This is followed by an American action thriller that follows a thief who breaks into a luxury SUV, only to realise to his peril, that he has slipped into a sophisticated and deadly trap. Coming next is a live action remake of a Disney classic that sees a princess join forces with seven dwarfs to liberate her kingdom from her cruel stepmother the Evil Queen. Following on we have a story of young woman who unexpectedly befriends an online stranger, sharing her self-centered father's name, and this namesake's support might just transform her life; before closing out the week with a critically acclaimed and multi-award winning animated feature film about a courageous cat and its wondrous journey after its home is devastated by a great flood.

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 week ahead.

'THE ALTO KNIGHTS' (Rated MA15+) - is an American biographical crime drama film Co-Produced and Directed by Barry Levinson, whose previous feature film offerings include his debut with 'Diner' in 1982 and then the likes of 'The Natural' in 1984, 'Good Morning, Vietnam' in 1987, 'Rain Man' in 1988, 'Bugsy' in 1991, 'Disclosure' in 1994, 'Sleepers' in 1996, 'Wag the Dog' in 1997, 'Sphere' in 1998, 'Bandits' in 2001, 'What Just Happened' in 2008 and 'Rock the Kasbah' in 2015. The film is released Stateside and here in Australia this week, and cost US$45M to produce.

In the 1950's, notorious New York crime bosses Frank Costello (Robert De Niro) and Vito Genovese (Robert De Niro) vie for control of the city streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that reshapes organised crime forever. Genovese orders a hit on Costello in 1957, who survives the attempt on his life but is wounded, and ultimately decides to retire from the Mafia. Also starring Debra Messing, Katherine Narducci, Cosmo Jarvis and Michael Rispoli. 

'THE RETURN' (Rated M) - this Greek, Italian and UK Co-Production is Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Uberto Pasolini, and is based on Homer's ancient Greek poem 'The Odyssey'. Pasolini's prior feature film making credits take in his directorial debut in 2008 with 'Machan' and then 'Still Life' in 2013 and 'Nowhere Special' in 2020. After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognisable. The king finds much has changed since he left to fight in the Trojan War. His beloved wife, Penelope (Juliette Binoche), is a prisoner in her own home and hounded to choose a new husband. Their son Telemachus (Charlie Plummer) faces death at the hands of suitors who see him as an obstacle in their pursuit of Penelope and the kingdom. Odysseus is no longer the mighty warrior his people remember, but he must face his past to save his family. The film saw its World Premiere at TIFF in early September last year, was released Stateside in early December, has so far grossed US$900K and has generated largely positive critical reviews.

'THE RULE OF JENNY PEN' (Rated MA15+) - is a New Zealand psychological horror film Co-Written for the screen, Executive Produced and Directed by James Ashcroft, and is based on Owen Marshall's short story of the same name. Ashcroft made his feature film Directorial debut with 'Coming Home in the Dark' in 2021, although he has Directed a number of short films and TV series since 2015. Here then, Arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush) suffers a near-fatal stroke, leaving him partially paralysed and confined to a retirement home. Resistant to the staff and distant from his friendly roommate, Mortensen soon clashes with seemingly gentle resident Dave Crealy (John Lithgow) who secretly terrorises the home with a sadistic game called 'The Rule of Jenny Pen' while wielding his dementia doll as an instrument of cruelty. What begins as childish torment quickly escalates into far more sinister and disturbing incidents. When Mortensen's pleas to the staff go unanswered, he takes it upon himself to put an end to Crealy's reign of terror. The film was released in New Zealand and the US in early March, in the UK and Ireland in mid-March and here in Australia this week, has garnered generally favourable critical reviews and has so far grossed US$391K. 

'LOCKED' (Rated MA15+) - this American action thriller film is Directed by David Yarovesky who made his feature film making debut with 2014's 'The Hive', and which he would follow up with 'Brightburn' in 2019 and 'Nightbooks' in 2021. This film is an English language remake of the 2019 Argentinian action thriller film '4'x4', and so here, a young, flippant carjacker Eddie Barrish (Bill Skarsgard) is trapped in a heavily modified car by a mysterious sociopath known only as William (Anthony Hopkins), who intends to teach him the 'consequences' of his lifestyle. With no means of escape, Eddie must fight to survive in a ride where escape is an illusion, survival is a nightmare, and justice shifts into high gear. The film is released this week too in the US. 

'SNOW WHITE' (Rated PG) - is an American musical fantasy film Directed by Marc Webb, whose prior feature film making credits take in his Directorial debut in 2009 with '500 Days of Summer', which he would follow up with 'The Amazing Spider-Man' in 2012 and 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' in 2014, 'Gifted' in 2017 and 'The Only Living Boy in New York' in 2017. This film is a live-action reworking of Walt Disney Productions's 1937 animated film 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', which itself is based on the 1812 fairy tale 'Snow White' by the Brothers Grimm. Here then, a Princess, known as Snow White (Rachel Zegler) determined to free her kingdom from tyranny, joins forces with seven dwarfs - Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy and Dopey, to liberate her kingdom from her cruel stepmother, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot). Also starring Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, Snow White's love interest. The film saw its European Premiere in Spain on 12th March, and goes on wide release as of this week. It cost in the region of US$255M to produce. 

'BOB TREVINO LIKES IT' (Rated M) - this American comedy drama offering is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Tracie Laymon in only her second feature film outing following 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' in 2011, although she has Written, Produced and Directed many other short films and TV series episodes since. Here, a young woman named Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira) uses Facebook to pursue her estranged father, Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo). In the process, she encounters a different, childless man of the same name, Robert Trevino (French Stewart) who begins liking her posts, causing the two to correspond. Upon meeting up in real life, Bob becomes a father figure in Lily's life. The film had its World Premiere in early March 2024 at SXSW where it won the festival's Grand Jury Award and Audience Award in the Narrative Feature categories. It is released in the US this week too and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'FLOW' (Rated G) - is an animated adventure film Written, Co-Produced, Directed, Photographed, Edited and Co-Scored by Gints Zilbalodis. It is a Latvian, French, and Belgian Co-Production, it features no dialogue and follows a cat trying to survive along with other animals in a seemingly post-apocalyptic world as the water level dramatically rises. The film took five-and-a-half years to complete, and saw its World Premiere showcasing at the end of May 2024 at the Cannes Film Festival and was released in its native Latvia at the end of August last year. It has received widespread critical acclaim and has collected fifty-four award wins (including the Best Animated Feature Film at this years Academy Awards) and another seventy nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. The film has so far grossed US$20M from a production budget of US$3.8M, was released in the US in early December and only now is it released here in Australia. 

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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 12th October 2017.

The Adelaide Film Festival launched on Thursday 5th October and runs for eleven days through until 15th October. Founded in 2002 the Adelaide Film Festival has a strong focus on showcasing local South Australian and Australian film product, and is featured in Variety Magazine's Top 50 unmissable film festivals around them world, stating that 'Of the planet’s 1,000-plus film fests, only a select few pack industry impact. A few dozen more, by virtue of vision, originality, striking setting, audience zest and/or their ability to mine a unique niche, also rank as must-attends'. This year, over the eleven days of the Festival, there will be 142 screenings, among them 24 World Premiers, 40 Australian Premiers and many of these high profile films that have only recently aired internationally. Included in this group, are : -
* 'Cargo' - Post apocalyptic zombie thriller. Directed by Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling and starring Morgan Freeman and David Gulpilil. (World Premier)
* 'Sweet Country' - Australian Western. Directed by Warwick Thornton and starring Sam Neill and Bryan Brown. (Australian Premier)
* 'Bad Blood' - Thriller. Directed by David Pulbrook and starring Xavier Samuel and Morgan Griffin, and Previewed below. (World Premier)
* 'How To Talk To Girls At Parties' - Science Fiction romantic comedy. Directed by John Cameron Mitchell and starring Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning. (Australian Premier)
* 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' - Psychological horror thriller. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman.
* 'Goodbye Christoper Robin' - Drama. Directed by Simon Curtis and starring Brendan Gleeson and Margot Robbie. (Australian Premier)
* 'Call Me By Your Name' - Coming of age drama. Directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet. (South Australian Premier)
* 'Wonderstruck' - Drama. Directed by Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams. (South Australian Premier)
* 'In The Fade' - German Drama. Directed by Faith Akin and starring Diane Kruger (South Australian Premier)
* 'Mayhem' - Action horror comedy. Directed by Joe Lynch and starring Steven Yeun and Samara Weaving. (South Australian Premier)
* 'Rabbit' - Thriller. Directed by Luke Shanahan and starring Adelaide Clemens and Alex Russell. (South Australian Premier)
* 'Of Body and Soul' - Hungarian Drama. Directed by Ildiko Enyedi and starring Alexandra Borbely and Geza Morcsanyi. (South Australian Premier)
* 'The Square' - Swedish drama satire. Directed by Ruben Ostlund and starring Dominic West and Elisabeth Moss. (South Australian Premier)
* 'The Party' - Comedy. Directed by Sally Potter and starring Timothy Spall and Kristin Scott Thomas. (South Australian Premier)
* 'The Lovers' - Comedy romance. Directed by Azazel Jacobs and starring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts. (South Australian Premier)
* 'The Meyerowitz Stories' - Comedy drama. Directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler. (Australian Premier)
* 'The Florida Project' - Drama. Directed by Sean Baker and starring Willem Dafoe and Caleb Landry Jones. (Australian Premier)
* 'One Thousand Ropes' - New Zealand Drama. Directed by Tusi Tamales and starring Frankie Adams and Nathaniel Lees. (South Australian Premier)
* 'Thelma' - Norwegian supernatural horror thriller. Directed by Joachim Trier and starring Eile Harboe. (Australian Premier)
You'll get all the news, Previews and Reviews, programme details and the highlights and a whole to more at the website : adelaidefilmfestival.org

Turning attention to this weeks nine, yes nine, latest release offerings, we start with an adventure survival story set atop a high snow covered mountain wilderness; then we move to a Noo Yawk based drama involving a father and son gettin' all jiggy with the same woman with far reaching consequences; a just in time for Halloween slasher horror picture that is all slice, dice, repeat; then a cat and mouse one man against the world of terrorists action thriller; before a race against time get outta jail crime drama, and a romantic drama with a green thumb. There are also three Australian new releases this week too that take in a romantic drama comedy that might just work against all the odds; a thriller featuring a remote cabin in the woods, a recently engaged couple and some strange goings on; before closing out with a thought provoking documentary about the ever declining health of our world's oceans.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the nine new release films 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 here warmly invited 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 experience during the coming week.

'THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US' (Rated M) - here Dutch/Palestinian two time Academy Award nominee Director Hany Abu-Assad delivers a romantic adventure survival story based on the 2011 book of the same name by Charles Martin. The film was released in the US last week having Premiered at TIFF in early September, has so far recouped US$14M from its US$35M production budget, and has received generally mixed Reviews from Critics and audiences alike. The project has been in development for over five years with various scriptwriters coming and going and various Directors assigned to Direct, with Abu-Assad scoring the gig in late 2014. Meanwhile a who's who of acting talent were assigned to the principle leads including Michael Fassbender, Charlie Hunnam, Margot Robbie and Rosamund Pike over the intervening years.

The film tells the story of two complete strangers, surgeon Dr. Ben Bass (Idris Elba) and photojournalist Alex Martin (Kate Winslet), who after their flight is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, charter a light aircraft to get them to their shared destination, piloted by Walter (Beau Bridges). The charter plane crashes in the High Uintas Wilderness in northeastern Utah in the midst of Winter. The pair survive but not without injury, and are stranded on the mountain terrain with harsh weather conditions closing in. Working together to battle the extreme elements of the remote snow covered landscape with its ever present dangers, they embark on a perilous journey across hundreds of miles of wilderness pushing each other to survive, whilst mustering the inner strengths when they come to realise that help is not going to be forthcoming. Also starring Dermot Mulroney as Alex's fiancee.

'THE ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK' (Rated M) - Directed by Marc Webb, whose previous Directing credits include '(500) Days of Summer', 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' and the also recently released 'Gifted' here tells a story of recent college graduate Thomas Webb (Callum Turner) who has recently moved into his own apartment. Here he gets to know his alcoholic neighbour W.F. Gerald (Jeff Bridges) who dispenses worldly advice with a nip of whiskey. Webb's world soon comes crashing down around him when he learns that his father Ethan Webb (Pierce Brosnan) is having an affair with a beautiful and seductive woman, Johanna (Kate Beckinsale) behind the back of his wife Judith (Cynthia Nixon). Determined to bring an end to their relationship, Thomas ends up sleeping with her, setting in motion a course of events that will change everything he thinks he knows about his family, and himself. The film was released in limited theatres in the US in early August, has so far taken just over US$1M and has garnered generally less than favourable Reviews.

'WHAT IF IT WORKS' (Rated M) - Written, Produced and Directed by Australian Romi Tower in her feature length film Directorial debut, this Romantic Dramedy stars Luke Ford as Adrian, a happy go lucky tech geek who suffers from OCD, and Anna Samson as Grace, an attractive young street artist who suffers from multiple personality disorder. Filmed on the colourful street art filled laneways of Melbourne, Victoria, the film tells the story of this couples unfolding relationship that in theory can't work, it simply shouldn't work . . . . but what if it did? Also starring Brooke Satchwell.

'HAPPY DEATH DAY' (Rated M) -  this horror slasher slice 'em & dice 'em version of 'Groundhog Day' arrives at our cinemas just in time for Halloween. Directed and Written by Christopher B. Landon whose previous feature film credits include 'Burning Palms', 'Paranormal Activity : The Marked Ones' and 'Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse', this film sees college student Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) waking up on her birthday morning in the bed of fellow student Carter Davis (Israel Broussard). As the day wears on, Tree gets an uneasy feeling that she has experienced that days events before. When a masked killer takes her life in a brutal attack, she wakes up again in that same bed on her Birthday morning unharmed. Now, in a continuos time loop, Tree must relive that terrifying experience time after time, until she can figure out who her killer is. Also starring Ruby Modine (daughter of Matthew), and is released in the US on Friday 13th!

'THE FOREIGNER' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Martin Campbell whose previous Directorial credits include two Bond outings with 'Goldeneye' and 'Casino Royale', 'The Mask of Zorro' and 'The Legend of Zorro', 'Edge of Darkness' and 'Green Lantern' this action thriller is based on the 1992 novel 'The Chinaman' by Stephen Leather. Here Quan Ngoc Minh (Jackie Chan) is a humble London businessman whose long since buried past spills over in a revenge-fuelled vendetta when his teenage daughter dies in a senseless act of politically motivated terrorism. His relentless search to locate the terrorists leads to a cat-and-mouse conflict with a high ranking official within the British government, Liam Hennessy (Pierce Brosnan), whose own past may hold the clues to the identities of the elusive killers. The film cost US$35M to make and has so far taken US$67M since its initial release in China at the end of September.

'GOOD TIME' (Rated MA15+) - this crime drama film is Directed by brothers Ben and Josh Safdie and Premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival where it was in competition for the Palme d'Or. It was released in limited theatres across the US back in early August, and now gets its limited release in Australia. The film has generated generally positive press and has so far taken just US$2M at the Box Office. The story here unfolds following a bank robbery gone wrong that lands his younger brother in prison. So Constantine 'Connie' Nikas (Robert Pattinson) embarks on a twisted journey through the city's nefarious underbelly in an increasingly desperate, and often dangerous attempt to get his brother Nick (Ben Safdie) out of jail on Rikers Island. Over the course of one adrenaline fuelled night, Connie lurches into a mad descent into violence and mayhem as he races against the clock to save his brother and himself, knowing their lives hang in the balance. Also starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Barkhad Abdi.

'BAD BLOOD' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian thriller offering is Written for the screen and Directed by David Pulbrook and gets its Australian release this week after its Premier screening at the Adelaide Film Festival. Carrie (Morgan Griffin) is a veterinarian who goes on a weekend holiday with her fiancee Vincent (Xavier Samuel), a best-selling author. He however, hides a dark secret from his past, added to which he begins to experience weird occurrences each day. It is almost as though someone is following him, and if so what do they want? They spend the weekend at an isolated house in the middle of a nowhere forest to celebrate their recent engagement where Carrie finds that Vincent may not be what he seems, and as cracks begin to emerge in their relationship, can they really trust each other, or will their bond strengthen as though their lives depend upon it.

'THIS BEAUTIFUL FANTASTIC' (Rated PG) - Written and Directed by Simon Aboud, this Romantic Drama film was released way back in October 2016 and only now gets its Australian release in selected cinemas. Starring Jessica Brown Findlay as Bella Brown, a reclusive yet quirky aspiring children's author who works in a library while trying to write a children's book. It is a condition of the landlord from whom she rents her house that she also maintains the garden, but she hates plants and therefore gardening. As the garden becomes increasingly overgrown and neglected, her landlord gives her one month to fix up the garden otherwise she's out on her ear! In so doing, reluctantly, she develops friendships with her cantankerous neighbour, his cook/housekeeper, and an inventor who is a frequent visitor to the library. Also starring Tom Wilkinson, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Irvine and Sheila Hancock.

'BLUE' (Rated PG) - Directed by Karina Hudson this is a challenging feature documentary that delves into the ongoing perils of our oceans’ ecological systems. Two years in the making, this films aim is to boost global awareness of plastic’s effect on the environment to save our oceans. With half the marine life from our oceans lost in the last forty years, and by 2050 there is likely to be more plastic floating in our oceans than fish, 'Blue' examines themes of habitat destruction, species loss and pollution on a global scale. Hudson’s solid cinematic vision captures six thought provoking action-adventure segments set across the Pacific Ocean around Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and the USA. These are the stories of everyday people striving to protect the oceans and raise awareness of pollutant dangers in order to protect the oceans and the fragile ecosystems living with it for generations to come. A highly relevant and thought provoking film.

With nine new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, taking in a three Australian releases, a romantic adventure survival film, a romantic drama, a drama, a crime drama, an action thriller and a horror slasher offering. Remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephiles afterwards here at Odeon Online, and meanwhile, 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 31st August 2017.

These last couple of months have seen more than their fare share of celebrity passings from the world of film and television. Many of these pass under the radar, confined to a few lines of remembrance and respect on the social media pages from which many these days rely on as their sole source of news. As August draw to a close I thought I would look back on the last two months or so and remember here, those that have touched out lives on both the big screen and the small screen, over the years, and who have left a legacy by which they will be forever remembered.

* Adam West, American film and television Actor, born 1928, died 9th June 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Young Philadelphians', 'Geronimo', 'Batman', 'The Detectives' television series, 'Batman' television series and 'Family Guy' television series.
* Michael Nyqvist, Swedish Actor, born 1960, died 27th June 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo', 'The Girl Who Played with Fire', 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest', 'Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol'and 'John Wick'. Still to be released : 'Hunter Killer', 'Radegund' and 'Kursk'.
* Barry Norman, British Film Critic, born 1933, died 30th June 2017. Television presenter of BBC 1's annual 'Film . . . ' programme from 1972 until 1998.
* Martin Landau, American stage, television and film Actor, born 1928, died 15th July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Mission Impossible' television series, 'Space 1999' television series, 'North by Northwest', 'They Call Me Mr. Tibbs', 'Crimes and Misdemeanours', 'Ed Wood' and 'Remember'.
* George R. Romero, American Director, Writer, Editor and Actor born 1940, died 16th July 2017. Most notable films : 'Night of the Living Dead', 'Dawn of the Dead', 'Day of the Dead', 'Land of the Dead', 'Diary of the Dead', 'Survival of the Dead', 'The Crazies', 'Creepshow', and 'Monkey Shines'.
* John Heard, American film and television Actor, born 1945, died 21st July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Cat People', 'C.H.U.D.', 'The Seventh Sign', 'BIG', 'Beaches', 'Home Alone', 'Home Alone 2 : Lost in New York', 'Awakenings', 'In the Line of Fire', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Sharknado', 'The Client' television series, 'The Sopranos' television series, and 'Prison Break' television series.
* Sam Shepard, American stage, television and film Actor, playwright, author and Director, born 1943, died 27th July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Right Stuff', 'Steel Magnolias', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Black Hawk Down', 'The Notebook', 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward  Robert Ford', 'Safehouse' 'Killing Them Softly', 'Mud', 'August : Osage County' and 'Midnight Special'.
* Robert Hardy, English stage, television and film Actor, born 1925, died 3rd August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold', '10, Rillington Place', 'Young Winston', 'The Shooting Party', 'Sense and Sensibility', 'An Ideal Husband', 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', 'War and Remembrance' television mini-series, and 'All Creatures Great and Small' television series.
* Sonny Landham, American film Actor and Stuntman, born 1941, died 17th August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Warriors', 'Poltergeist', '48 Hours', 'Predator', 'Action Jackson' and 'Lock Up'.
* Bruce Forsyth, English television Presenter, Actor, Comedian, Writer, Singer and Dancer, born 1928, died 18th August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium', 'The Bruce Forsyth Show', 'The Generation Game', 'Play Your Cards Right', 'You Bet', 'Takeover Bid' game shows, and films 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks', 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' and 'Anna Pavolva'.
* Jerry Lewis, American stage, television, film and radio Actor, Producer, Director, Writer, Singer and Comedian, born 1926, died 20th August 2017. Most notable appearances : seventeen films with Dean Martin, 'The Nutty Professor', 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World', 'The Family Jewels', 'The King of Comedy', and 'Max Rose'.
* Tobe Hooper, American film Director, Producer and Writer, born 1943, died 26th August 2017. Most notable films : 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre', 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2', 'Eaten Alive', 'Poltergeist', 'Lifeforce', 'Night Terrors', 'The Mangler', 'Toolbox Murders', 'Mortuary', 'Djinn' and television mini-series 'Salem's Lot'.

This week we have five new films coming to a multiplex or independent theatre near you. We kick off with action adventure comedy featuring an unlikely buddy pairing of two adversaries that need to depend on each other with their lives to be able to make it to their intended destination the next day; followed by a tug of love and a custody battle between a Uncle and a Grandmother over a very gifted young child caught up in the middle; then four girlfriends on a weekend away living it up large and boisterous; before closing out with two Australian offerings - the first a comedy of life's wrong decisions based on the very real experiences of the lead Actor and Writer, and then an action thriller with the backdrop of a deadly contagion released over Sydney.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four new release 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 here warmly invited 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 meanwhile, enjoy your cinematic outing during the coming week.

'THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Australian Patrick Hughes whose previous credits include 'Red Hill' and 'Expendables 3' here is in the chair for this off-kilter action comedy buddy movie about a Hitman, and his Bodyguard! Released in the US in mid-August and costing US$30M the film has so far grossed US$63M, and has received average Reviews praising the on-screen chemistry that seems to exist between the two lead characters, but downplaying the cliched plot and delivery, despite the collective talents of the assembled cast.

Here former top bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) who is now disgraced and makes a meagre living protecting corporate executive types, is enlisted to bring notorious Hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) to testify at the International Courts of Justice in The Hague, against the ruthless and merciless Dictator of Belarus Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) for crimes against humanity. Bryce has had run ins with Kincaid in the past when they were on opposite sides of a loaded gun, and so the Bodyguard is very reluctant to escort the Hitman anywhere, but agrees for the reinstatement of his good name and reputation. The two must put their differences aside and work together to make it to The Hague on time, untarnished and very much alive in order for Kincaid to testify so sending the evil Dictator down. Along the way all manner of challenges, obstacles and no good henchmen hell bent on preventing them from making it to their intended destination stand in their way. There will be bullets flying, gun play, explosions, fist fights, car chases, cursing and swearing and laughs aplenty before the final credits role. Also starring Selma Hayek, Richard E. Grant, Sam Hazeldine, and Elodie Yung.

'GIFTED' (Rated M) - this drama film is Directed by Marc Webb whose previous Directing credits include '(500) Days of Summer' and the 2012 reboot of the 'Spider-Man' franchise with 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and its 2014 sequel 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'. This story surrounds seven year old intellectually gifted Mary Adler (Mckenna Grace) growing up near Tampa, Florida in the care of her Uncle Frank Adler (Chris Evans) since she was six months old when her mother Diane, a promising mathematician, took her own life. Showing a remarkable mathematical talent on her first day of first grade school, she is offered a subsequent scholarship at a school for gifted children. Frank however, turns down the offer based on historical experiences with such schools and not wanting to deprive Mary of a normal childhood. Franks estranged mother and Mary's grandmother, Evelyn Adler (Lindsay Duncan) has a different view, and wants to relocate the young gifted child to Massachusetts under special tutelage and seek custody of Mary. What ensues is a custody battle between Frank and Evelyn with Mary caught in the middle and compromises ultimately having to be made on all sides. The film also stars Octavia Spencer and Jenny Slate, was released in the US in early April, has so far grossed US$38M from its US$7M budget outlay and has received generally positive press.

'GIRLS TRIP' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Malcolm D. Lee this comedy offering features four life long best girl friends - Ryan, Sasha, Lisa and Dina (Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish respectively) who take a long overdue weekend away down to New Orleans for the annual Essence Music Festival. Over the course of the weekend they gradually reignite their sisterhood; and rediscover their wild sides while partying hard; living it up; getting hooked-up; being loud, proud and in yer face; while at the same time experiencing moments of raw, venerable emotion that only serve to make their bond stronger still. Also starring Mike Colter and cameo appearances as themselves by Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, Estelle, Common, New Edition and various others, this film was released in the US at the end of July, has so far taken US$120M off the back off a US$20M budget and has received generally positive Reviews.

'ALI'S WEDDING' (Rated M) - this Australian RomCom based on real events has garnered much critical acclaim since its world Premier at the 2016 Adelaide Film Festival in October last year. Directed by Jeffrey Walker, this film tells the story of Ali (Osamah Sami), the son of an Iraqi refugee living in a north Melbourne suburb where his father Mahdi (Don Hany) is the leader of the local Mosque. The family has big expectations of Ali, who is struggling with his entrance exam to study medicine at University. He is also under pressure to agree to an an arranged marriage although he secretly admires Dianne (Helena Sawires). Ali just wants to make his father proud, but finds it more than challenging to make this dream a reality. What is a young man to do, other than fake it 'til you make it! And so Ali does, lying about his entrance exam grades to gain acceptance from his father and the local Muslim community, that just lead this one bad decision onto another, then another. Eventually as these decisions spiral out of control, the consequences of which verge on cataclysmic, Ali must decide to be ruled by his head, his heart or his sense of duty. The film is Co-Written by Osamah Sami based on his very own real life experiences which make this film all the more endearing and relevant in today's society from a multi-cultural and acceptance standpoint.

'EVENT ZERO' (Rated MA15+) - here this Australian action thriller is Directed, Produced and Written by Enzo Tedeschi and tells the story of a terrorist attack on Sydney releasing a deadly contagion into the city's populace. When her father Yusuf Nassar (Harry Pavlidis) is in the frame for the biological attack, suspended federal police detective Leyla Nassar (Ash Ricardo) embarks on a mission to clear her fathers name, uncover the truth and bring down the culprits while the leading local Politicians power-hungry to satisfy their own nefarious aims do everything they can to cash in on the catastrophe. Also starring Nicholas Hope and Zoe Carides.

With five new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, of which two are local Aussie fare, one low budget custody drama from the US, then another a comedy about four girls making the most of a weekend getaway, and the other a big screen action comedy also from Stateside, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephiles 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-