What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 23rd January 2020.

In case you missed all the buzz of this years 77th Golden Globe Awards honouring the very best in film and American television from 2019, which were held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 5, 2020, with Ricky Gervais hosting the ceremony for the fifth and allegedly final time, below is the run down of all the winners, grinners and also rans from the world of cinema.

* Best Motion Picture : Drama.
Awarded to '1917', beating out 'The Irishman', 'Joker', 'Marriage Story' and 'The Two Popes'
* Best Motion Picture : Musical or Comedy
Awarded to 'ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD', beating out 'Dolemite Is My Name', 'Jojo Rabbit', 'Knives Out' and 'Rocketman'.

* Best Performance in a Motion Picture : Drama | Actor
Awarded to JOAQUIN PHOENIX for 'JOKER', beating out Christian Bale for 'Ford v. Ferrari', Antonio Banderas for 'Pain and Glory', Adam Driver for 'Marriage Story' and Jonathan Pryce for 'The Two Popes'.
* Best Performance in a Motion Picture : Drama | Actress
Awarded to RENEE ZELLWEGER for 'JUDY', beating out Cynthia Enviro for 'Harriet', Scarlett Johansson for 'Marriage Story', Saoirse Ronan for 'Little Women' and Charlize Theron for 'Bombshell'.
* Best Performance in a Motion Picture : Musical or Comedy | Actor
Awarded to TARON EGERTON for 'ROCKETMAN', beating out Daniel Craig for 'Knives Out', Roman Griffin Davis for 'Jojo Rabbit', Leonardo DiCaprio for 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' and  Eddie Murphy for 'Dolemite Is My Name'.
* Best Performance in a Motion Picture : Musical or Comedy | Actress
Awarded to AWKWAFINA for 'THE FAREWELL', beating out Ana de Armis for 'Knives Out', Cate Blanchett for 'Where'd You Go, Bernadette', Beanie Feldstein for 'Booksmart' and Emma Thompson for 'Last Night'.

* Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture : Actor
Awarded to BRAD PITT for 'ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD', beating out Tom Hanks for 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood', Anthony Hopkins for 'The Two Popes', Al Pacino for 'The Irishman' and Joe Pesci for 'The Irishman'.
* Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture : Actress
Awarded to LAURA DERN for 'MARRIAGE STORY', beating out Kathy Bates for 'Richard Jewell', Annette Benning for 'The Report', Jennifer Lopez for 'Hustlers' and Margot Robbie for 'Bombshell'.

* Best Director
Awarded to SAM MENDES for '1917', beating out Bong Joon-ho for 'Parasite', Todd Phillips for 'Joker', Martin Scorsese for 'The Irishman' and Quentin Tarantino for 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'.
* Best Screenplay
Awarded to QUENTIN TARANTINO for 'ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD', beating out Noah Baumbach for 'Marriage Story', Bong Joon-ho for 'Parasite', Anthony McCarten for 'The Two Popes' and Steve Zaillian for 'The Irishman'.
* Best Foreign Language Film
Awarded to BONG JOON-HO for 'PARASITE', beating out 'The Farewell', 'Les Miserables', 'Pain and Glory' and 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire'.
* Best Animated Feature Film
Awarded to 'MISSING LINK', beating out 'Frozen II', 'How to Train Your Dragon : The Missing World', 'The Lion King' and 'Toy Story 4'.
* Best Original Song
Awarded to '(I'M GONNA) LOVE ME AGAIN' from 'ROCKETMAN' by ELTON JOHN and BERNIE TAUPIN.




* The Cecil B. De Mille Award which is an honorary Golden Globe Award bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for 'outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment' was awarded to TOM HANKS.
* The Carol Burnett Award which is also an honorary Golden Globe Award bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for 'outstanding contributions to television on or off the screen' was awarded to ELLEN DEGENERES.

For the full run down on the film and television awards presented, the nominees, the winners, the pics and the inside word, you can also visit the official website at : https://www.goldenglobes.com

Turning attention back to this weeks six latest release new movies to grace your local Odeon screen, we start off with a biographical drama film centering on America's most beloved neighbour and highly acclaimed pre-school television programme host as he is interviewed by a journalist hoping to uncover some dirt only to find none and ultimately coming to terms with his own inner demons. Next up we have a Sci-Fi horror adventure about the crew of a vessel stranded seven miles down on the ocean floor only to come under attack by mystery creatures awakened by an underwater earthquake. We then have a true story of a man wrongly accused of murder, sentenced to death and the young upstart defence lawyer who battles against the odds to clear his name. This is followed up by a comedy centering on two female business partners who run their own successful beauty products business but have financial woes, and an industry mogul who wants to buy out their business - sounds too good to be true, and it might just be as the two life long friends relationship is put to the test. We then close out the week with two very different biographical docos - the first charting the fifteen year journey of an Australian heavy metal band as they strive for recognition at some of the worlds largest music festivals; and finally charting the life, times and influences on Mexico's most famous painter and artist who died in 1954 but has since found the acknowledgement, acceptance and recognition for her many artworks and what she stood for.

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

'A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD' (Rated PG) - is a 2019 American drama film directed by Marielle Heller and inspired by the 1998 article 'Can You Say ... Hero?' by Tom Junod, published in Esquire. Heller is an American Director, Writer and Actress of film, television and theatre whose previous film making credits include the highly acclaimed and multi-award winning 'Can You Ever Forgive Me' in 2018, based on the confessional memoir of Lee Israel as portrayed my Melissa McCarthy. This film is about the beloved television icon Fred Rogers who lived from 1928 through until 2003 and who was an American TV personality, musician, puppeteer, writer, Producer, and Presbyterian Minister. He was the creator, showrunner and host of the preschool TV series 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood', which ran from 1968 to 2001. His work in children's television has been widely lauded, and he received over forty honorary degrees and several awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 and a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 1997. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999.

Here Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is an investigative journalist who receives an assignment to profile Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers (Tom Hanks). He approaches the interview with scepticism, as he finds it hard to believe that anyone can have such a good nature. But Roger's empathy, kindness and decency from America's most beloved neighbour soon chips away at Vogel's jaded outlook on life, forcing the reporter to reconcile with his own painful past. Also starring Chris Cooper, Susan Kelechi Watson, Maryann Plunkett and Enrico Colantoni, the film has been praised by critics, has won three awards and been nominated for another 55 so far, many of which are still pending decisions, and has grossed US$61M off the back of its US$25M production budget since its release in the US in late November.

'UNDERWATER' (Rated M) - here this underwater action adventure Sci-Fi horror offering is Directed by William Eubank in only his third feature film outing as Director following 2011's 'Love' and 2014's 'The Signal', both of which were also Sci-Fi features. Set 5,000 miles from land and seven miles below the surface of the ocean, the crew of underwater researchers who are looking at a month long stay on the ocean floor, must scramble to safety and navigate their way across that ocean floor after their subterranean laboratory is destroyed by an earthquake that has awakened some kind of mysterious and ravenous creatures that appear to be none too pleased by their seemingly unwelcome presence. Staring Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, T.J. Miller,  John Gallagher Jnr., Gunner Wright and Mamoudou Athie. The film cost US$80M to make, and was released Stateside earlier this month, and has so far taken US$27M.

'JUST MERCY' (Rated M) - this American true story legal drama is Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton in his fourth feature film after 2012's 'I Am Not a Hipster', 2013's 'Short Term 12' and 2017's 'The Glass Castle'. Following this outing Cretton is slated to Direct 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' for the MCU Phase 4 due for release in 2021 and currently in pre-production. This film tells the true story of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), who, with the help of young defence lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), appeals his murder conviction having been wrongfully imprisoned for the 1986 murder of eighteen year old Ronda Morrison in Monroeville, Alabama. His conviction was wrongfully obtained, based on police coercion and perjury, and in the 1988 trial, the judge imposed the death penalty, even though the jury imposed a sentence of life imprisonment. From 1990 to 1993, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals turned down four appeals and in 1993, after McMillian had served six years on Alabama's death row, the Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that he had been wrongfully convicted. This is his story. Also starring Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, O'Shea Jackson Jnr. and Rob Morgan, the film saw its World Premier screening at TIFF in early September last year, went on limited release on Christmas Day in the US (to qualify for awards season recognition), has garnered generally favourable Reviews so far, has taken US$23M at the Box Office before its much wider release from mid-this month. 'Just Mercy' is based on the 2014 memoir of the same name, written by Bryan Stevenson.

'LIKE A BOSS' (Rated M) - Directed by Puerto Rican film maker Miguel Arteta whose previous big screen offerings include 2002's 'The Good Girl', 2011's 'Cedar Rapids', 2014's 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day', 2014's 'Beatriz at Dinner' and 2018's 'Duck Butter' most recently, here brings us this American comedy film about best friends Mia Carter (Tiffany Haddish) and Mel Paige (Rose Byrne) who run their own cosmetics company called appropriately 'Mel & Mia's', which is a business they founded from nothing. But their business is also struggling financially, and the prospect of a buyout offer from industry titan Claire Luna (Salma Hayek) proves too tempting to pass up. The beauty business takes a turn for the worse when their benefactor starts stealing from them, and Mia and Mel's lifelong friendship is put to the ultimate test. Also starring Jennifer Coolidge and Billy Porter, the film was released in the US earlier this month to largely negative Reviews and so far recouped US$19M from its US$29M budget outlay.

'VIVA THE UNDERDOGS' (Rated MA15+) - Directed, lensed, written and edited by Allan Hardy in his first full length film, this documentary film follows the self-managed Australian heavy metal band 'Parkway Drive' on their fifteen year long underdog journey, to see if they can go from small-town surf rats to international festival headliners. From searching out surf spots and sleeping on the streets for their first international tour to evolving their sound and re-setting the benchmark in metal with every new album, the five high-school bandmates have always done it their own way, chasing adventures, having fun and breaking boundaries year after year.  Now, Parkway Drive put it all on the line to create the biggest most explosive show for their loyal fan base. Self-funded, self-managed and committing to over one hundred tour dates, with a forty strong crew and six semi-trailers filled with cutting edge audiovisual equipment & pyrotechnics, is it enough for the five high-school mates to defy the odds and earn their spot at the top of the world’s biggest rock festivals? A decade of behind the scenes personal footage, coupled with unprecedented access to the bands most explosive live tours and world’s biggest music festivals, this doco offers up an incredibly honest and candid look at Parkway Drive’s journey, good-times, battles, triumphs and sacrifices. The current and long term band members are Winston McCall on vocals, Jeff Ling on lead guitar, Luke Kilpatrick on rhythm guitar, Jia O'Connor on bass guitar and Ben Gordon on drums.

'FRIDA : VIVA LA VIDA' (Rated CTC) - this biographical documentary is Directed and Written by Italian Giovanni Trolio and highlights the two sides of Frida Kahlo’s spirit on one side, the revolutionary, pioneering artist of contemporary feminism and on the other; the human being, victim of her tortured body and a tormented relationship. Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter known for her numerous portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. She lived from 1907 until 1954 and Kahlo's work has subsequently been celebrated internationally as emblematic of Mexican national and indigenous traditions and by feminists for what is seen as its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form. With acclaimed Italian Actress and Director Asia Argento providing the narration, the two faces of the artist are revealed by pursuing a common thread consisting of Frida’s own words as captured in letters, diaries, and private confessions. The film alternates interviews with original documents, captivating reconstructions, and Frida Kahlo’s own paintings kept in some of the most amazing museums in Mexico. This film is not to be confused with the 2002 biographical drama film 'Frida' with Salma Hayek portraying Frida Kahlo in her Academy Award nominated role as the famed artist.

With six 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 week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 6th December 2018.

In November the world bid a fond farewell to a number of stars of the silver screen and the small screen. In brief, shown below, is my passing tribute to those stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and in particular the world of film and television. May you all Rest In Peace, and thanks for the memories . . . . Stan Lee, Ken Swofford, William Goldman, Nicolas Roeg, Ricky Jay and Bernardo Bertolucci.

* Ken Swofford : born Kenneth Charles Swofford on 25th July 1933 and died 1st November 2018, aged 85. Swofford was an American film and television Actor who amassed 125 acting credits over a career spanning six decades. His movie credits included the likes of 'The Andromeda Strain', 'Skyjacked', 'The Domino Principle', 'S.O.B.', 'Annie' (the 1982 version) and 'Thelma & Louise'. He was however, more prolific in his TV career with guest and recurring appearances on a number of popular series including 'The Virginian', 'Mission : Impossible', 'The Streets of San Francisco', 'Columbo', 'The Waltons', 'The Partridge Family', 'Gunsmoke', 'Ellery Queen', 'Rich Man, Poor Man : Book II', 'Police Story', 'The Six Million Dollar Man', 'The Rockford Files', 'Fame', 'Dynasty', 'Dallas', 'Baywatch' and 'Murder, She Wrote'.
* Stan Lee : born Stanley Martin Leiber on 28th December 1922, died 12th November 2018 aged 95. Lee was an American comic book Writer, Editor, and Publisher who was active from the '40's right through to the 2010's. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business to become Marvel Comics' uppermost creative leader for two decades, spearheading its expansion from a small division of a publishing house to a multimedia corporation that dominated the comics industry, and many would say the movie industry too. Collaborating with others at Marvel, especially fellow Co-Writer and Artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he was responsible for co-creating many popular fictional characters that are now forever ingrained in our sub-conscience, including superheroes Spider-Man, the X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and Ant-Man, amongst others, all of whom have enjoyed considerable world wide success on the big screen over the past ten years or so. Following his retirement from Marvel in the 1990's, he remained a public figurehead for the company, and frequently made cameo appearances in films based on his Marvel characters, on which he received an honorary 'Executive Producer' credit. Records show that Lee had 218 Writing credits to his name, 154 Producer credits and 121 as Actor amongst numerous others. He also was the recipient of eleven award wins and a further nine nominations. What a legacy this man leaves behind!
* William Goldman : born 12th August 1931, and died 16th November 2018, aged 87. Goldman was an American novelist, Playwright and Screenwriter who first came to prominence with the release of his first novel in 1957 titled 'The Temple of Gold'. Over the years he wrote another fifteen novels, releasing his last in 1986, as well a s number of short stories and non-fiction works. In between time he became a prolific Screenwriter penning numerous films from 1965 right up until 2015. These included 'Harper', 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', 'The Stepford Wives', 'The Great Waldo Pepper', 'Marathon Man' (based on his own novel), 'All the President's Men', 'A Bridge Too Far', 'Magic' (also based on his own novel), 'The Princess Bride' (again based on his own novel), 'Twins', 'Misery', 'Chaplin', 'Maverick', 'The Chamber', 'The Ghost and the Darkness', 'Absolute Power', 'Hearts in Atlantis' and 'Wild Card' (once more based on his own novel) amongst others. He won eleven awards including two Academy Awards for 'All the President's Men' and 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', was nominated for three Golden Globes, and won one BAFTA and was nominated for another. He was also the recipient of three wins and three nods from the Writers Guild of America. He was described as 'one of the late twentieth century's most popular storytellers'.
* Nicolas Roeg : born Nicolas Jack Roeg on 15th August 1928 and died 23rd November 2018 aged 90. Roeg was an English Director and Cinematographer who after completing National Service in 1947 got a job in the film industry working as tea boy then the clapper loader at Marylebone Studios in London. Throughout the '50's he progressed to various camera jobs graduating to the role of camera operator in which he worked on several film and television productions during the '60's including 'The Trials of Oscar Wilde', 'The Sundowners', 'Lawrence of Arabia', 'Doctor Zhivago', 1967's 'Casino Royale' and TV series 'Ghost Squad'. It wasn't until 1970 that he gained his first Directing credit with the crime drama 'Performance' starring Mick Jagger. He followed this up with 'Walkabout', 'Don't Look Now' in 1973, 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' in 1976 with David Bowie, 'Bad Timing' in 1980 with Art Garfunkel, 'Eureka', 'Castaway', 'Two Deaths' and 2007's 'Puffball' being his last feature length film. All up Roeg had 29 Director credits to his name, twenty as Cinematographer and 26 working in the camera department. He accumulated nine award wins and another fourteen nominations including three BAFTA nods and three Cannes Palme d'Or nominations. In 1999, the British Film Institute acknowledged Roeg's importance in the British film industry by naming 'Don't Look Now' and 'Performance' as the 8th and 48th greatest British films of all time. In 2011, Roeg was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
* Ricky Jay : born Richard Jay Potash on 26th June 1946 and died on 24th November 2018, aged 72. An American stage Magician, Actor, Writer and Consultant and in addition to his renown with sleight of hand tricks, he was also known and highly regarded for his card tricks, card throwing, memory feats and quick fire stage patter. He is well authored in magic and its history having published eleven books on the subject, had numerous articles published and given lectures, demonstrations and exhibitions too. Jay had 39 Acting credits to his name since his television debut on 'Simon & Simon' back in 1983. Since then he has worked regularly in both film and TV on such productions as 'House of Games', 'Homicide', 'The Spanish Prisoner', 'Boogie Nights', 'Tomorrow Never Dies', 'Mystery Men', 'Magnolia', 'State and Main', 'Heist', 'The Prestige', 'The Brothers Bloom' and his last film role in 2015's 'The Automatic Hate'. In between his movie appearances he worked on both single and multiple episodes of such television shows as 'The X-Files', 'Deadwood', 'Kidnapped', 'The Unit' and 'Lie To Me'. Jay worked with Writer and Director David Mamet on seven of his films.
* Bernardo Bertolucci : born 16th March 1941 and died 24th November 2018, aged 77. He was an Italian Director and Screenwriter whose first Directing and Writing credit was on the 1962 murder mystery thriller film 'The Grim Reaper'. He worked progressively throughout the remainder of the '60's, '70's, '80's and '90's with his output slowing in the 2000's amassing a career portfolio that took in 25 Directing credits, 25 Writing credits and three as Producer. Among his more notable works were 1972's 'Last Tango in Paris' with Marlon Brando, 1976's '1900' with Robert De Niro, 1987's multi-award winning (including nine Academy Award wins) 'The Last Emperor', 1990's 'The Sheltering Sky', 1993's 'Little Buddha' with Keanu Reeves, 1996's 'Stealing Beauty' with 2012's 'Me and You' being his last feature film outing. All up Bertolucci garnered 49 award wins including two Oscars, two Golden Globes and one BAFTA win; and a further 32 nominations. He was bestowed with the inaugural Honorary Palme d'Or at the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Turning attention to this week then, we have no fewer than nine new cinematic offerings gracing an Odeon near you in the coming week. We kick off with a dystopian post apocalyptic world where a heroine emerges to stop London, now a giant city that has been propped up on wheels and roams the country side, from destroying everything in its path, whilst also trying to thwart an all powerful man she blames for the death of her mother. We then switch to a reimagining of the WWII Battle of Normandy and the eve of the D-Day Landings in this zombie gore fest tale of a small platoon of US soldiers who stumble across a Nazi experimental lab. Sticking with the undead genre we have next a British Christmas zombie comedy musical film that is quite probably something we haven't seen before; followed by a tale of college sweethearts in America whose life becomes inextricably linked by a twist of fate to a group of people in Spain. Next up is a true story about a successful writer who falls out of favour and so to make ends meet begins forging letters of the deceased rich & famous and selling them off for a tidy profit. This is followed by a RomCom about a 40 something year old Mum who has let her life pass her by, but who gets a second chance at a successful career by bluffing and faking her way into a major finance company under the guise that she is an expert Consultant. We then have another alleged true story set in the '90's in which a hip-hop dance troupe holed up in deserted school overnight and continue their celebrations whilst under the influence of illicit substances; before turning to a film surrounding two very different sisters one of which has a seemingly serious online relationship with a mystery man, whilst the other can see through the ruse and tries to prevent her siblings world form crashing in around her. We then wrap up with a supernatural horror offering set in a creepy abandoned school that harbours more deathly secrets than this mothers cares to overcome as she searches amongst its corridors and old classrooms for her missing son.

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

'MORTAL ENGINES' (Rated M) - here the supremely collaborative team of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillippa Boyens get their creative minds around this latest post-apocalyptic steampunk adventure offering based on the book of the same name by Philip Reeve. The threesome here Co-Produce and between them penned the Screenplay of this American and New Zealand co-production that cost US$100M to bring to the big screen, is Directed in his debut by fellow New Zealander Christian Rivers, saw its Premier in London at the end of November, is released in New Zealand and Australia this week, and the US next week.

Set hundreds of years after civilisation was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, we meet Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan) who is a twenty-something Londoner who has only ever lived inside his travelling hometown, and his feet have never touched grass, land or mud. His first introduction to the world outside comes abruptly one day when Tom gets in the way of a mysterious young woman named Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar). She emerges as the only one who can stop London, now a giant, predator city on wheels from swallowing up everything in its path, whilst also attempting to execute a plan to kill Thaddeus Valentine (Hugo Weaving) a powerful man whom she blames for the death of her mother. Hester and Tom wind up getting themselves banished from the moving 'traction' city, to fend for themselves. Driven by the memory of her mother, Hester joins forces with Tom along with Anna Fang (Jihae), a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head. Also starring Stephen Lang and Patrick Malahide.

'OVERLORD' (Rated MA15+) - here we have an American WWII horror offering that spins a new slant on the historical D-Day Landings. Directed by Western Australian Julius Avery, whose only other feature so far has been 'Son of a Gun' in 2014, this film is Co-Produced by J.J. Abrams and is set on the eve of D-Day with American paratroopers preparing to drop in behind enemy lines to penetrate the walls of a fortified church and destroy a radio transmitter. When their plane is shot down the five remaining soldiers Corporal Ford (Wyatt Russell), Private Boyce (Jovan Adepo), sniper Tibbet (John Magaro), photographer Chase (Iain De Caestecker) and Dawson (Jacob Anderson) must continue on foot. En route they run into a French woman who agrees to escort them to their target, Chloe (Mathilde Ollivier). As the soldiers approach their destination, they soon come to the realisation that there's more going on in the Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation. Making their way to an underground lab, the outnumbered men stumble upon a sinister experiment that forces them into a vicious battle against an army of the undead. The film was released in the US on 9th November, cost US$38M to make, has so far grossed US$39M and has generated mixed or average Reviews so far.

'ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE' (Rated MA15+) - sticking with the undead theme, here where we have a British Christmas zombie comedy musical of all things, Directed by John McPhail. This offering saw its World Premier at Fantastic Fest way back in September 2017, and saw its US & UK release last week before its release in Australia this week. It has so far garnered generally positive Press. This film tells the story of how a zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven – at Christmas time, forcing Anna (Ella Hunt) and her friends to fight, slash and sing their way to survival, as they face off against the undead in a desperate race to reach their loved ones. But they soon discover that no one is safe in this brave new world, and with civilisation crumbling all around them, the only people they can truly rely on, are each other.

'LIFE ITSELF' (Rated MA15+) - this American drama film is Directed and Written by Dan Fogelman in only his second Directorial outing after 2015's 'Danny Collins'. The film follows college sweethearts Will (Oscar Isaac) and Abby (Olivia Wilde) as they fall in love, get married and prepare to bring their first child into the world. As their story unfolds in New York, fate links them to a group of people in Seville, Spain, including a troubled young woman, a man and his granddaughter, a wealthy landowner and a plantation manager all over several generations. With an ensemble cast that takes in Mandy Patinkin, Olivia Cooke, Annette Benning, Antonio Banderas and Samuel L. Jackson the film had its World Premier screening at TIFF in September, was released later that same month in the US, cost US$10M, has so far recovered about US$5M and has received generally negative Reviews.

'CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?' (Rated M) - this American biographical drama offering is brought to us by Director, Actor and Writer Marielle Heller recounting the real life exploits of Lee Israel, a noted American author who became a literary forger and thief. Based on Lee Israel's own 2008 confessional autobiographical book of the same name, the film stars Melissa McCarthy as Lee Israel who made her living through the '60's, '70's and '80's writing profiles of high-achieving women such as Katharine Hepburn, cosmetics executive Estée Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen and charts her subsequent life as she attempts to revitalise her sagging writing career in the '90's by forging letters from deceased authors and playwrights. She died in 2014 aged 75. The film also stars Richard E. Grant as her loyal and trusted friend Jack Hock. The film has received Critical praise in particular for McCarthy's and Grant's performances, and ha so far taken just $7M at the Box Office since its US release in mid-October following its Premier screening at Telluride in early September.

'SECOND ACT' (Rated M) - here we have an American RomCom Directed by Peter Segal whose previous film making credits include 'Anger Management', '50 First Dates', 'The Longest Yard', 'Get Smart' and most recently 2013's 'Grudge Match'. Here he Directs Jennifer Lopez as Maya, an under achieving forty something year old mother who has struggled with unfulfilled dreams and career frustrations. But, Maya's life is about to turnaround when she gets a chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts, and that it's never too late for a second act when a private finance firm is misled into believing that she's an accomplished Consultant, and hire her to handle a major business deal. Also starring Vanessa Hudgens, Leah Remini, Treat Williams and Milo Ventimiglia. The film is set for release in the US the week before Christmas.

'CLIMAX' (Rated MA15+) - this French musical horror mash-up is Directed, Written, Edited and Co-Produced  by Argentinian filmmaker Gasper Noe whose previous Directing credits take in 'Irreversible', 'Enter the Void' and 'Love'. The film screened in the Directors' Fortnight category at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Art Cinema Award, cost US$3M, has so far recovered US$790K and has received widespread Critical acclaim. Allegedly based on a true story, here a troupe of young hip-hop dancers gather in a remote and empty school building to rehearse on a cold night one Winter sometime during the '90's. Their all-night celebration soon turns into a hallucinatory nightmare when they learn that their drinks have been laced with LSD. The film stars Sofia Boutella.

'NOBODY'S FOOL' (Rated MA15+) - this is an American romantic comedy drama offering from Writer and Director Tyler Perry. Released in the US earlier last month, the film has so far grossed US$32M off the back of a US$19M Budget investment, and has garnered generally lacklustre Reviews so far. And so, following a five year jail term, wild child Tanya (Tiffany Haddish) looks to her prim & proper do the right thing sister Danica (Tika Sumpter) to help her in getting reestablished into society. The feisty former prison inmate however, becomes suspicious and concerned when Danica tells her that she's in a long-distance, online relationship with a mystery man she has never met. As the polar opposites start to butt heads, Tanya quickly discovers that her sister's near perfect existence may not be quite what it seems, and her online love interest might really be a fake. Also starring Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Missi Pyle and Omari Hardwick.

'THE SCHOOL' (Rated M) - Written and Directed in his feature film debut, Aussie Storm Ashwood here crafts an Australian horror and otherworldly action fantasy offering that goes on limited release across selected cinemas this week. When Dr. Amy Wintercraig (Megan Drury) who is searching for her missing son, awakens to find herself in an abandoned school, she must survive a supernatural terror known affectionately as 'The Hungries' who are half dead teenage kids baying for blood, and a gang of youths headed up by Zac (Will McDonald) who seem to run the outlandish horror show, as well as face her own demons if she is to find the truth about where her son is. Also starring Nicholas Hope, Milly Alcock, Texas Watterston and Jack Ruwald.

With nine 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 week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-