PENGUIN BLOOM : Wednesday 27th January 2021.

'PENGUIN BLOOM' is a PG Rated Australian film which I saw at my local independent movie theatre earlier this week, and is Directed by Glendyn Ivin in only his second feature film outing following 'Last Ride' in 2009, although he has directed a number of TV series and mini-series including 'Puberty Blues', 'Gallipoli', 'Safe Harbour' and 'The Cry' most recently. This family drama film is based on the 2016 book of the same name by Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive, saw its World Premier screening at TIFF back in September last year, and was released theatrically last week in Australia and in the US, UK, France and a number of Asian countries on 27th January on Netflix. The film has generated mixed or average Reviews, and taken US$2M at the Australian Box Office so far. 

The film opens up with the outdoorsy adventurous Bloom family enjoying a holiday in Thailand, with the oldest son Noah (Griffin Murray-Johnston) providing the voiceover narration saying that he and his two younger brothers wanted to go to Disneyland but instead their parents decided on Thailand instead - not that the boys weren't enjoying themselves traipsing through the jungle, enjoying the surf, the markets, the unusual foods, the evening fireworks and spending time with their fun loving outgoing parents. That is to say that 'everything was pretty much perfect, until last year happened' comments Noah. We see Noah and his Mum Sam (Naomi Watts, who also Co-Produces here) climb the steps up onto the rooftop of their hotel to take in the views, with Dad Cameron (Andrew Lincoln) trailing behind with his camera - he's a professional photographer. In an unguarded moment, Sam leans against a railing to pose for a photo and the wooden supports holding the railing in place give way causing Sam to fall to the ground two storeys below. 

We then fast forward several months to the family back home on Sydney's Northern Beaches where Sam is wheelchair bound having suffered severe damage to her spinal cord leaving her paralysed from the waist down. Sam is feeling sorry for herself (understandably), angry, frustrated and depressed - so much so that she spends much of her time in bed, with the curtains drawn blocking out the Australian sunshine and the sweeping views out across the ocean and to Barrenjoey Lighthouse in the middle distance. She longs to be the woman and the mother she once was - enjoying the surf and being in the water rather than being a burden on the whole family and practically unable to do anything for herself. 

Then one day while the young boys were out playing at their local beach Noah happens to come across a young Magpie chick that had fallen out of its nest from a tree high above, and had injured itself. Noah picks up the young chick and with his two younger brothers Rueben (Felix Cameron) and Oli (Abe Clifford-Barr) they take the injured bird back home. Cameron agrees to let it stay in the house and for the family to nurse it back to health, but Sam is much more reluctant seeing the Magpie as just another unnecessary distraction to add to the mounting chores and familial responsibilities now firmly resting on Cam's shoulders. Noah hits upon the name Penguin, because of its black and white markings, and so Penguin Bloom is welcomed into the family unit.

When the kids go off to school, and Dad is out on a photographic assignment, Sam is left home alone to fend for herself while Penguin becomes increasingly annoying cheeping and chirping craving attention and when it doesn't get it jumps out of its basket and parades around the house knocking over vases, pecking at a sock monkey, picking out the teabag from Sam's hot cuppa and leaving a trail of bird poop wherever she goes. However, as time progresses and the bird begins to heal and grow, so Sam's attitude to Penguin begins to change, as she begins to play a more active role in caring for the bird and nurturing it. Sam starts to see in Penguin a common connection and her mood changes for the better as a result, and often Penguin is the first one to alert the rest of the family when Sam is in difficulty or distressed. 

In the meantime, Sam's Mother Jan (Jacki Weaver) is on hand to help out with chores around the house and provide some light relief, but more often that not tends to nag at her daughter and son-in-law by providing good intentioned but useless advice rather than offer a sympathetic ear and an understanding point of view. One day Cameron comes home to find that Sam, who has had a particularly bad day, has smashed all the wall mounted photographs of her and her family that were a throwback of the outdoor pursuits she once enjoyed in her former able bodied life. After clearing up the mess Cam suggests that she should get into kayaking as a means to get back in the water and give her some focus. Sam initially dismisses the notion and berates her husband for even suggesting the idea. 

However, in time, she relents and agrees to give it a go. And so the family go down to kayak rental place and meet with instructor Gaye (Rachel House) the no nonsense instructor who takes Sam through her paces before announcing that she needs to capsize the kayak, and if she doesn't do it herself then she'll do it for her. Sam at first refuses point blank but when Gaye tells her that she still has her arms and her ability to breathe to keep her afloat, she relents and voluntarily capsizes the kayak. From that point forward there is no looking back.

One year on from her accident and on the occasion of Sam's birthday, Jan invites the family around for lunch. Gaye is in attendance with Sam's sister Kylie (Leeanna Walsman) and while Jan is nagging Sam and Cam, Penguin who also came around has walked out onto the balcony and has been attacked by two other very territorial Magpies. With the family shouting from the deck above at the birds in an attempt to stop their fighting, Cam rushes downstairs to disperse the birds and in doing so Penguin flies off. So begins a fruitless search. After several days, with still no sign of Penguin, Cam arranges for a makeshift chair to be constructed with which they will carry Sam up to the top of the Barrenjoey Lighthouse look out, using the brute strength of Gaye, Kylie, Cam and a former nursing colleague of Sams, Bron (Lisa Hensley) with Jan in tow. After a heartfelt reconnection between Sam and Cam in which she announces 'I'm back' they return home to the familiar chirping of Penguin who has also returned home for one final time to bid her fond farewells before flying the nest for good. 

'Penguin Bloom' is a feel good family orientated movie that tugs at the heartstrings and leave you with at least a lump in your throat or even a tear in your eye by the time the end credits roll, and we see those credits accompanied by stills taken by the real Cameron Bloom of the real Sam Bloom and their family and the ubiquitous Penguin. Naomi Watts delivers another first rate authentic performance as the initially broken woman and mother who clambers herself away from the edge of the abyss thanks to a Magpie whose performance almost matches her own (although to be fair there were several Magpies, a CGI version and an animatronic one used in the making of this film apparently), and the sweeping vistas of Sydney's Northern Beaches is also quite spectacular. Andrew Lincoln is solid enough, Jacki Weaver's talents are under utilised and Griffin Murray-Johnston as the eleven year old Noah is quite a revelation. Despite being just a tad predictable and sticking to the formula, this is a well crafted tale of over coming adversity and having faith in the loved ones around you to help and guide you through those difficult times. All credit must also go to the real Bloom family for allowing Glendyn Ivin such unrestricted access to their own home for the shoot and for allowing him to tell their emotional story with aplomb.

'Penguin Bloom' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 25th September-1st October 2016

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Naomi Watts does on 28th September - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 48, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 25th September

• Heather Locklear - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actress | Producer
• Catherine Zeta-Jones - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actress | Singer
• Michael Douglas - Born 1944, turns 72 - Actor | Producer
• Pedro Almodovar - Born 1949, turns 67 - Director | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Mark Hamill - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Michael Madsen - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Jason Flemyng - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Will Smith - Born 1968, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter  

Monday 26th September

• Jim Caviezel - Born 1968, turns 48 - Actor
• Linda Hamilton - Born 1956, turns 60 - Actress
• Olivia Newton-John - Born 1948, turns 68 - Singer | Songwriter | Actress  

Tuesday 27th September

• Gwyneth Paltrow - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Denis Lawson - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Meat Loaf (aka Marvin or Michael Lee Aday)- Born 1947, turns 69 - Singer | Actor | Producer  

Wednesday 28th September

• Brigitte Bardot - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actress | Singer
• Mira Sorvino - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress | Producer
• Naomi Watts - Born 1968, turns 48 - Actress | Producer
• Hilary Duff - Born 1987, turns 29 - Actress | Producer | Singer | Songwriter  

Thursday 29th September

• Ian McShane - Born 1942, turns 74 - Actor | Producer
• Luke Goss - Born 1968, turns 48 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Nicolas Winding Refn - Born 1970, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Friday 30th September

• Ezra Miller - Born 1992, turns 24 - Actor
• Eric Stoltz - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Producer | Director 
• Ian Ogilvy - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor
• Angie Dickinson - Born 1931, turns 85 - Actress
• Victoria Tennant - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actress | Producer
• Fran Drescher - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director
• Monica Bellucci - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actress
• Marion Cotillard - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actress | Singer  

Saturday 1st October

• Brie Larson - Born 1989, turns 27 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director
• Julie Andrews - Born 1935, turns 81 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Randy Quaid - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actor | Producer
• Zach Galifianakis - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Tom Hooper - Born 1972, turns 44 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Naomi Ellen Watts was born in Shoreham, Kent, England to mother Myfanwy Roberts - a dealer in antiques and latterly a costume/set designer for film and television, and father Peter Watts who died at age 30 of an apparent heroin overdose. He was a sound engineer and road manager for British progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Her parents divorced when the young Watts was just four years of age, and within three years her father was dead. The family, including older brother Ben then moved to North Wales where she attended Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni. Three or so years later her mother remarried and the family moved to Suffolk, in East Anglia where she attended the Thomas Mills High School. In 1980 she saw the hit song and dance film 'Fame' and seeing her mother perform live on stage cemented a career as an Actress in Naomi's mind. At age fourteen the family relocated to Sydney, Australia where mother Myfanwy established a career in the film and television business. Taking acting lessons and attending auditions she met up, and became good friends with young Nicole Kidman. In Sydney she attended Mosman High School and then North Sydney Girls High School, but failing to graduate she worked sundry jobs to pay her way. At eighteen she had a brief time with a modelling agency which proved unsuccessful. She then took part in a drama workshop by chance invitation, which reignited her interest in acting.

Watts secured her screen debut in the 1986 Australian film 'For Love Alone' Directed by Stephen Wallace and starring Sam Neill, Hugo Weaving and Hugh Keays-Byrne. After a period of absence her next gig was on the long running Australian comedy series 'Hey Dad' in 1990, and then five episodes of the six part mini-series 'The Brides of Christ' in 1991. That same year was John Duigan's 'Flirting' with Noah Taylor, Nicole Kidman and Thandie Newton in this sequel to the 1987 'The Year My Voice Broke' and was critically acclaimed. She followed this up with nineteen episodes on the Australian weekday soap opera 'Home and Away' in 1991 as the handicapped character Julie Gibson. She then took a 'gap year' and travelled to the USA and through Nicole Kidman's network sought to secure more acting work.

This led to small roles in the likes of Joe Dante's 'Matinee' with John Goodman in 1993 and then a return to Australia for three in a row with 'Wide Sargasso Sea' for John Duigan again, 'The Custodian' with Hugo Weaving and Anthony LaPaglia, and 'Gross Misconduct' with Jimmy Smits. Returning to the US Watts struggled to gain any traction with her acting work and became increasingly frustrated by the US film and television making machine. Encouraged to stick with it by good friend Nicole Kidman, she won a support role in 'Tank Girl' with Lori Petty, Ice-T and Malcolm McDowell.

The rest of the 90's saw small parts in feature length and made for television movies including 'Persons Unknown', 'Under the Lighthouse Dancing', 'Dangerous Beauty', 'and 'Strange Planet'. There was also 'Sleepwalkers' - a short-lived nine episode SciFi mystery drama series with Bruce Greenwood, and then perhaps her breakout role in 1999's David Lynch Directed 'Mulholland Drive' with Justin Theroux. Originally intended as a made for television film pilot for an extended TV series, it was never picked up by the networks. When it wasn't, Lynch completed the deliberately open ended pilot with a conclusion which he filmed in late 2000 and turned that into a feature length film released in 2001 to critical acclaim, picking up 46 award wins and another 57 nominations - many for Lynch's Directing, but also numerous for Watt's performance.

The American English language remake of the Japanese horror 'Ringu' with 2002's 'The Ring' receive further critical and commercial success with Watts in the lead role as investigative journalist Rachel Keller. Watts reprised her role in the 2005 follow up 'The Ring Two', but not the 2016 third film in the franchise 'Rings' still yet to be released but due before the end  of the year. The Australian bio-pic 'Ned Kelly' for Director Gregor Jordan with Heath Ledger in the title role alongside Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush and Joel Edgerton came in 2003, as did 'La Divorce', and the highly praised '21 Grams' for Alejandro G. Inarritu with Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro picking up 29 award wins and 73 nominations including an Oscar nod for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Watts.

'We Don't Live Here Anymore' with Mark Ruffalo, 'The Assassination of Richard Nixon' with Sean Penn, 'I Heart Huckabees' with Dustin Hoffman, 'Ellie Parker', 'Stay' with Ewan McGregor, and Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' remake with Adrien Brody and Jack Black in 2005 saw Watts playing the role of Ann Darrow made famous by Fay Wray in the 1933 version of the film. Jackson's film was another critical and commercial success story making US$550M from a US$207M budget and earning 45 award wins and another 92 nominations. For the balance of the decade highlights were David Cronenberg's 'Eastern Promises' with Viggo Mortensen, 'Funny Games' with Tim Roth, and 'The International' with Clive Owen.

The new decade kicked off in 2010 with Woody Allen's 'You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger', then Doug Liman's 'Fair Game' with Sean Penn again, Jim Sheridan's 'Dream Home' with Daniel Craig, Clint Eastwood's 'J. Edgar' with Leonardo DiCaprio, 'The Impossible' with Ewan McGregor again, 'Diana' as Princess Diana Spencer, and then Alejandro G. Inarritu's 'Birdman, or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance' with Michael Keaton which garnered 186 award wins and another 265 award nominations. 'St. Vincent' followed in 2014 with 'While We're Young' with Ben Stiller, 'The Sea of Trees' with Matthew McConaughey, 'About Ray' and 'Demolition' with Jake Gyllenhaal bringing us up to date, save for her reprised role as Evelyn in 'Insurgent', 'Allegiant' and the 2017 release of 'Ascendant' - the final film in the 'Divergent' series.

Next up is 'The Bleeder' with Liev Schreiber, 'Shut In' due later this year, 'The Glass Castle' with Brie Larson currently filming, 'The Book of Henry' now completed filming, new television series 'Gypsy' with Billy Crudup, and the series return of the highly acclaimed 'Twin Peaks' in 2017. Australian animated outback adventure 'Larrikins' for Tim Minchin for which Watts is lending her voice talents is currently filming for a 2018 release, and 'Ophelia' has been recently announced also for 2018 too.

All up Watts has 76 acting credits to her name and nine as Producer. To date, she has amassed 52 award wins and another 81 nominations including two Academy Award, one Golden Globe and one BAFTA nod for her work on '21 Grams' and 'The Impossible'. Watts was romantically linked to Heath Ledger from 2002 until 2004, and then Liev Schreiber since 2005 with whom she has two boys - Alexander Pete (born in 2007) and Samuel Kai (born in 2008). In 2006, she became a goodwill ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, and has supported many associated initiatives in the ensuing years.

Naomi Watts - considers herself as much Australian as English; good friends with Nicole Kidman, Simon Baker, Sean Penn, Kate Hudson, Mark Ruffalo et al; has worked with the best Actors and Directors in the business; has worked across just about every genre; has been voted on numerous 'Top Lists' in the last fifteen years; practices yoga, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is vegetarian; and continues to surprise and delight us with her film choices and her performances. Happy Birthday to you Naomi, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

DEMOLITION : Wednesday 15th June 2016.

I saw 'DEMOLITION' at my favourite Sydney movie theatre on Wednesday evening last week as part of the Sydney Film Festival screenings. Due in Australian cinemas on 14th July, released in the US on 8th April and screened at TIFF in early September 2015, it would be fair to say that this film has so far found only a limited audience and received luke warm reviews for the most part. It is a shame because the film promises so much with a strong Director at the helm in Jean-Marc Vallee who most recently brought us Reece Witherspoon's 'Wild' and Matthew McConaughey's 'Dallas Buyer's Club', and a strong cast in the three principle leads. The movie theatre was well attended which gives an indication of the pulling power of Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead and the calibre of the Director, but that said, the woman sat next to me got up and walked out within 20 minutes! Make of that what you will!

The story here centres on Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) a successful investment banker who has worked since aged 27 in his father-in-laws business. Driving in the car with his wife Julia (Heather Lind) at the wheel, Davis is talking on his mobile phone on loud speaker with her Dad and his boss Phil (Chris Cooper) when unexpectedly and from nowhere the car is smashed sideways on with Julia's side taking full impact. We cut to the hospital where Davis and Phil are given the news of Julia's death as a result of massive head trauma. Phil is devastated as any grieving father would be, Davis however, processes this in a different way, detached and without emotion, he escaped almost unscathed. He siddles up to a vending machine in the Hospital waiting area to buy a packet of peanut M&M's, but delivery is halted mid-way through and his money is gone. Using his phone, he takes a photograph of the vending company details.

After the funeral, at her parents home where there is a wake for Julia, Davis retires to the study and begins to draft up a handwritten complaint letter to the vending company explaining his experience at the Hospital. Before getting to the point however, he feels compelled to record his life story detailing the facts that brought him to that Hospital and that vending machine in the first place. Davis throws himself back into work, but is hardly able to concentrate, his mind wandering and emotionally disconnected. Phil offers encouragement and words of wisdom, security and support, which inwardly Davis shrugs off almost with disdain and contempt.

Moments before her death, in the car Julia asked Davis to fix a leak in the home fridge using a tool kit given to him a few Christmas's ago and that he had all but forgotten about, not being a very handy toolkit kinda guy by his own admission. One evening home alone, he notices the leak in the fridge, searches out the tool kit and begins to dismantle the fridge . . . completely, until it is a mass of component parts on the floor - a process he clearly finds therapeutic. Having been told once by his father-in-law 'if you want to fix something, you have to take it apart and put it back together again' - advice he clearly takes to the extreme, and so he begins to dismantle anything that captures his interest - his desk top computer at work, the cubicles in the gents toilets because of a squeaking door, a newly delivered espresso machine ordered by his wife and still in the box. He even pays some building contractors to allow him onto a condemned house in his business suit so that he can help physically pull down a house. All of these actions, and his day to day observations he sees as a metaphor of his life - that they have some hidden meaning that he didn't appreciate until now.

In the meantime, he pens several other letters to the vending machine company, never expecting to get a response but because he finds this some form of release to express himself in writing to a complete stranger whom he is never going to meet. Until of course upon receiving four letters the customer service representative from the vending company calls - at 2:00am in the morning. They strike up a conversation and Davis feels an instant attraction to the womans voice, and tracks her down to her place of work. That woman is Karen Moreno (Naomi Watts), who by now knows everything about Davis through his letters and feels equally attracted to him, although she is in a relationship with the vending company owner, and has a 15 year old rebellious son Chris (Judah Lewis).

After several aborted attempts to meet, they do so, and Karen is attracted by his free thinking and reckless spirit. Davis starts to chase Karen and as their relationship starts to strengthen, so does his relationship with Chris who is battling his own adolescent challenges, not the least of these being over his own sexuality. This gives rise to a some moments of dialogue that are real laugh out loud moments that pack a punch, and show what young Judah Lewis might be capable of as an Actor in the future.

Meanwhile, Phil has taken it upon himself to set up an honorary scholarship fund in Julia's name and as her legacy, using her life insurance monies, but he needs Davis' signature on a release document for it to proceed and to which Davis procrastinates much to Phil's chagrin. Then there is Karen's declining relationship with her vending machine owner boyfriend, the growing pains that Chris is experiencing and all the while Davis is yet to shed a tear for his dearly departed wife. He is in denial, and clearly enjoying his new found freedom, dismantling objects that take his fancy, and there is a new girl on the scene.

Davis decides that it would be a good idea to demolish his own modern house in the suburbs, and buys a bulldozer off e-Bay to assist him and Chris in the process. When the bulldozer stalls and they fail to get it restarted they set to the kitchen and lounge with sledgehammers, crow bars and pick axes . . . great fun, and incredibly therapeutic as they trash the place wholesale. Davis seems hell bent on demolishing the life he once knew and starting afresh, but during this process makes a startling discovery that brings him back down to Earth and results in a confrontation with Julia's parents. At the same time Chris attends a party and gets badly beaten up. That same night, Davis visits Karen's home and walks in unexpectedly to find her boyfriend having returned home from an interstate trade show, and promptly gets beaten up too.

The film draws to a close with Davis reconciling with Julia's parents, and he making a gesture to keep Julia's memory alive in a public place and for the public (and children especially) to enjoy. As for his ongoing relationship with Karen we are left guessing, but Chris invites him to witness a controlled building demolition event at 11:00am one morning, which he attends with Chris looking on through binoculars, smiling. Another metaphor!

I enjoyed this film but more for the chemistry between Davis and Chris especially, and can see that it won't be for everyone. It lumbers along at times, and it is hard to really connect with a man who refuses to mourn the death of his wife, recognise the grief of those others around him, or show any emotion, feeling, or heart for his new personal circumstances despite the tragedy of it all. Despite this Gyllenhaal gives a compelling strong performance as the detached soul seeking to rebuild a new life after demolishing the old; Chris Cooper makes up for the emotion as the father racked with guilt over the all too premature loss of his daughter; and Naomi Watts provides the anchor to keep Davis grounded with what and who he really is. All of that said there are moments here that will shock, surprise, make you laugh out loud and make you cringe with an ending that is just a little too sugar coated for me. Worth a look for sure, but you can save yourself the price of a movie ticket and wait for the BluRay and DVD release too.

 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ALLEGIANT - THE DIVERGENT SERIES : Thursday 14th April 2016.

'ALLEGIANT' which I saw during the past week is the third instalment in the popular teenage dystopian Sci-Fi series of books by Veronica Roth that follows on from 'Divergent' and last years 'Insurgent' which made US$289M and US$298M respectively off the back of a combined US$195M budget, so hardly blockbuster status. Like 'Potter', 'Twilight' and 'The Hunger Games' before it, the final book in the Divergent series is split into two films with the final piece of this puzzle 'Ascendant' due for release in June 2017. In the meantime, 'Allegiant' is Directed by Robert Schwentke, who also Directed 'Insurgent', and was made for US$110M and since its release in the US on 18th March has so far made US$152M. The film has so far received largely luke warm reviews, but is likely to find an audience of those so far following the exploits of Tris Prior & Co., as the series enters its conclusion.

Here we see the same bunch of characters that you by now know, with Tris (Shailene Woodley) wishing to escape the confines of a walled in Chicago of the future with Four (Theo James) for the first time, so leaving behind everything and (almost) everyone she knows and loves.  With the events that unfolded at the end of 'Insurgent', we join as Evelyn (Naomi Watts) has taken power and is holding those citizens  of Dauntless and Erudite captive who conspired against the uprising. Those found 'guilty' are publicly executed - with Caleb (Ansel Elgort) next on the list who remains holed up in a jail cell gazing down at Tris for sympathy who is giving none - outwardly at least.  Evelyn attempts to pressure Tris and Four into taking a leadership role within the new order, but neither are interested and turn their backs as they have their own hidden agenda now.

Knowing that the hostilities will only escalate further Tris and Four manage to have Caleb released under false pretences and make their getaway with Christina (Zoe Kravitz), Peter (Miles Teller) and Tori (Maggi Q) to the wall that encircles Chicago which has now become reinforced with a high voltage current. Despite this they succeed in their attempt to free themselves of the city, but not without chase and a casualty along the way.

Needless to say they break through, scale down a cliff face and begin their journey into who knows what? It is not long before they emerge in a red & orange coloured landscape of scorched earth and toxic waterways, and the wreckage of a civilisation long since vanished. However, they are soon picked up by a group of friendly welcoming soldiers who have been watching their every move and reassure them they are now safe. They are escorted to the Bureau of Genetic Welfare - a highly advanced city amid the desolate landscape that has risen out of the former Chicago airport on the city's fringe. Here, Tris is introduced to David (Jeff Daniels) the leader of the Bureau who advises her of the truth behind Chicago, and that is was an experiment to raise genetically pure Divergents, but the experiments failed, and only Tris is truly pure, whilst all others are 'damaged' and to varying degrees. But David can help her restore peace to Chicago which is becoming increasingly fragile as the former Evelyn's factionless prepare to battle it out for supremacy over Johanna's (Octavia Spencer) new Allegiant faction, with the threat of all out war becoming more real by the day.

As Tris' trust in David grows, so Four becomes more suspicious. He is enlisted into the military force with Christina while Peter and Caleb are given surveillance duties within the Bureau, to maintain a very close watch on the developments and the comings & goings in Chicago. On a child rescue mission into the 'fringe' which Four joins, he learns that there is more to rescuing less fortunate kids that humanitarian reasons as he was led to believe. Having witnessed first hand what becomes of the captured children and uncovered the truth behind forceful child abductions Four confronts Tris with this news, but she dismisses the notion in support of David.

As Tris is flown with David to meet the Council he reports to in an attempt to stop the violence in Chicago, Four engineers his escape from the Bureau back to Chicago in attempt to halt an all out war.  He escapes but his ship is downed and he in injured but flees to safety and eventually makes it back to Chicago where he is picked up and promptly thrown in a cell where Evelyn confronts him with her desire to go to war and quell Johanna and her Allegiant faction. Meanwhile Tris' meeting with the Council did not go well and she learns that David had the authority all along to end the violence in Chicago but chose not to - as a consequence she breaks off her partnership with him as she can longer trust what he is saying. She returns to the Bureau and hatches a quick escape plan with Caleb and Christina.

They make it back to Chicago, locate Four but not before Evelyn aided by a turncoat Peter who has struck up a clandestine deal with David, have released a gas into the atmosphere of the city to erase the memories of all its inhabitants so ending the war and bring about peace in her favour and on her terms. With Peter and Evelyn sealed away in a tightly locked vault, it would be only them who have any memory of the before and after once the gas is fully released. In the meantime, Tris, Caleb, Chritsina and Four race against time to locate the underground gas dispersion hub to prevent the gas release from deploying fully.

Of course it all comes good in the end as the gas released is halted before it's all too late, but not before Evelyn is shot by an angered Peter who then makes his escape seeking to get back to the Bureau and claim his reward on the deal he struck up with David. The citizens
are free to live another day as Tris goes on air with the truth behind the existence of the Bureau and the experiment of which they have all been part . . . but no more, as Caleb sends the shuttle which brought them back is returned packed full of explosives which detonates upon reaching its target bringing down the Bureau, everyone in it and everything it stood for.

I have to say, I found this film underwhelming. Maybe the Director and the Producers are gearing up for the huge finale that will break Box Office records for the franchise and wow us beyond belief. There are no stand out moments in this film other than perhaps the spectacle of the visuals as we venture for the first time beyond the wall. Other than that this film is pretty pedestrian and everything you would expect. The cast seem to plod their way through their lines and the action - neither of which are especially memorable, and its all fairly predictable fare. Let's hope for a whole lot more on every level in the final chapter of this series - for which we'll have to wait another twelve months. In the meantime, wait for the Bluray and DVD release so that you can watch this in the comfort of your home.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 9th April 2015.

If like me, your Easter came and went with chocolate overload, Easter eggs aplenty, work, and all the pleasure of a long weekend, now it is time to turn attention to this weeks latest movie releases and all the silver screen things we love when its not Easter and we're working the j-o-b!

This week then we have four new offerings for this second week of the Easter school holiday period that offer decidedly more adult fare than we have seen of late, but the themes of those on offer we have seen before in various guises. Kicking off is another afflicted individual who against the odds rises to the challenge of an intellectual opportunity to discover himself, prove himself and set himself free; a love story of two opposing worlds that collide and do so amidst a friendship that inspires and motivates their own feelings for each other; then a dramedy of a middle aged couple each struggling with their own mid-life challenges who hook up with a much younger couple who help them rediscover themselves and overcome their life's roadblocks; and finally a story of single Mum and teenage ADHD and often violent son and what happens when she pulls him out of an institution and the unlikely friendship that develops between the son and the neighbour.

So when you've made your choice and sat in a dark room with a bunch of complete strangers gawping up at a big screen for two hours at any one of these new movies on offer, or those still out on general release, drop a Comment below this, or any other Post, and share your thoughts with the Odeon Online world. Enjoy your film!

X + Y (Rated M) - Directed by Morgan Matthews and based loosely on a documentary he filmed back in 2007 - 'Beautiful Young Minds' that is of a similar subject matter, here we have socially inept teenager Nathan (Asa Butterfield) who is an autistic genius who has a strong bond with his father and who understands and has patience with his sons condition. When Dad passes away Nathan struggles to connect with his Mother Julie (Sally Hawkins), but enter tutor Martin Humphries (Rafe Spall) who throws Nathan a lifeline and suggests he enter an international maths competition, because he has a gift with numbers.

Accepting the challenge that takes Nathan from his English suburban comfort zone to competition around the world to Taipei and back again, this charts his story of relationships forged, friendships founded, confidence established and love experienced. Touted as heart warming, funny in parts, engaging and emotional this film is likely to pull audiences in as 'Still Alice' and 'The Theory of Everything' also did with its subject matter and nuanced performances.

THE LONGEST RIDE (Rated M) - based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks and Directed by George Tillman Jnr., this is the story of two young lovers from very different backgrounds - Luke Collins (Scott Eastwood) - a former bull riding champion looking at another shot at the limelight, and Sophia Danko (Britt Robertson) - a graduating college student about to move to New York for her dream job in the art world. As their worlds collide and their ideals differ they forge an unlikely relationship with Ira (Alan Alda) whose decades long love of his wife draws parallels with their own fledgling relationship and from which they learn to adapt, accept and agree their differences so that they can move on . . . together.

MOMMY (Rated MA15+) - Written, Produced and Directed by 25 year old Xavier Dolan this Canadian French foreign language film was in competition at last years Cannes Film Festival and came away with the Jury Prize and so far has walked away with 41 award wins and another forty nominations. Made for a meagre US$5M this film tells the story of widow of three years Diane 'Die' Despres (Anne Dorval) who struggles to make ends meet and will do (almost) whatever it takes to get ahead in life. Her 15 years old son Steve (Antoine-Olivier Pilon) was institutionalised in a care facility just after his father died because of his ADHD affliction and his violent outbursts, and now Die has decided to get him outta there. With a history of issues in his wake Die now needs to bring Steve home realising that he is never likely to be rehabilitated in an institution. Facing many of her own challenges Mommy Die has to adapt and accept her actions to care for her unpredictable son. Neighbour Kyla (Suzanne Clement) takes a shine to Steve and helps Die with his home schooling and his eventual assimilation into society . . . but not without challenges, emotion and passion all the way.  Last week I commented that 'Leviathan' was the must see foreign language film of the year . . . but this might just be it instead - you decide!

WHILE WE'RE YOUNG (Rated M) - Written, Produced and Directed by Noah Baumbach this comedy drama stars Ben Stiller as Josh, husband to Naomi Watts wife Cornelia. They are 40-somethings at a watershed in their lives. Josh is a struggling film-maker and with their lives going no where quickly and rapidly overtaking them while caught napping! With their friends getting married, having children and pursuing sensible careers Josh and Cornelia gravitate toward young 20-somethings Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried) whose younger, energetic and enthusiastic lives begin to rub off on the older couple. But as time wears on Josh begins to think that perhaps there is more to this growing friendship than meets the eye and can the young ones be trusted.

Four new films released for the week ahead for you viewing pleasure, that may not offer something for everyone, but provide plenty of more mature movie motivation to get you out there amongst it. Don't be shy and share your thoughts with your like minded cinephiles reading this Blog and pass on your filmic recommendations . . . or not as you see fit!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-