What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th April 2025.

The 68th annual San Francisco International Film Festival this year takes place from Thursday 17th through until Sunday 27th April. Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. The annual event features a range of marquee premieres, international competitions, compelling documentaries, short and mid-length films, live music performances, and dazzling red carpet events. The SFFILM Festival is deeply rooted in the culture and process of film appreciation - film as an art form and as a meaningful agent for social change - and is an important showcase for the most searching and innovative films from around the globe, so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night Film is 'Rebuilding' from the USA and Written and Directed by Max Walker-Silverman, and tells the story of communal love and resilience, as uncertain and mild-mannered man Dusty (Josh O’Connor) determined to rebuild his family ranch and recapture his purpose as a cowboy. Also starring Meghann Fahy, Amy Madigan, Lilly LaTour and Kali Reis. The Closing Night Film is 'Outerlands' from the USA and is Written and Directed by Elena Oxman and is about a gig worker in San Francisco who balances multiple jobs, including dealing party drugs. When their crush asks them to watch her daughter, what starts as temporary childcare evolves into an unexpected journey of self-discovery and healing.

Presented at the Festival since its inaugural year in 1957, the Golden Gate Awards are among the most significant honours for emerging global film artists in the USA. Prizes are traditionally awarded in twelve narrative, documentary, and short film categories and include cash awards. Those films in the Narrative Feature Competition are as follows :-

* 'The Quiet Son' - from France and Written and Directed by the sister duo of Delphine and Muriel Coulin. 

* 'Xoftex' - from Germany and France and Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed, photographed and Co-Edited by Noaz Deshe.

* '3670' - from South Korea and is Written, Executive Produced, Directed and Edited by Joonho Park.

* 'Cactus Pears' - from India, the UK and Canada and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade.

* 'Sukkwan Island' - from France, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the UK and Written and Directed by Vladimir de Fontenay.

* 'All That's Left of You' - from Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars Cherein Dabis.

* 'Ricky' - from the USA and Co-Written and Directed by Rashad Frett.

* 'Surviving Earth' - from the UK and is Written and Directed by Thea Gajic.

* 'That Summer in Paris' - from France and Co-Written and Directed by Valentine Cadic.

For the synopsis of the above highlighted films, plus all the details of the other films in competition, the film sections being showcased, and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://sffilm.org/

Turning back to this weeks five hottest new release movies gracing a big screen Odeon close to your home, we launch with a supernatural horror film about twin brothers who return to their hometown but are faced with a greater evil. Next up is a modern telling of war as a surveillance mission goes south for a platoon of American Navy SEAL's in insurgent territory in Iraq. Then we turn to a mystery thriller in  which a widowed mother's first date takes a terrifying turn when she's bombarded with anonymous threatening messages on her phone, leaving her questioning if her charming date is behind the harassment. This is followed by a biographical drama offering telling the story of the arrest, trial and imprisonment of an Australian journalist, who while reporting on the Arab Spring uprising becomes entangled in a deadly game of rivalries. And closing out the week we have a comedy drama about an Englishman who experiences personal and political changes after adopting a penguin during a turbulent time in Argentina's history.

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

'SINNERS' (Rated MA15+) - is an American period supernatural horror film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ryan Coogler, whose former feature film output includes his big screen debut with 'Fruitvale Station' in 2013, which he would follow up with 'Creed' in 2015, 'Black Panther' in 2018 and 'Black Panther : Wakanda Forever' in 2022. The film is released this week too in the US and had a production budget of US$90M. 

Here then, set in the 1930's in the Southern United States during the height of the Jim Crow era, the film follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who are attempting to leave their troubled lives behind, as they return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. Also starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, Jayme Lawson and Delroy Lindo. 

'WARFARE' (Rated MA15+) - this war action film is Written and Directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland and is based on Mendoza's experiences during the Iraq War as a former US Navy SEAL. Alex Garland's prior feature film making credits take in his debut with 'Ex Machina' in 2014, then 'Annihilation' in 2018, 'Men' in 2022 and 'Civil War' most recently last year. Here then, a platoon of Navy SEAL's embark on a dangerous surveillance mission in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event. Starring D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Ray Mendoza with Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, Michael Gandolfini, Charles Melton, Noah Centineo, Henry Zaga and Alex Brockdorff. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing in mid-March, was released in the USA last week, here and in the UK this week, has garnered generally favourable critical press and has so far grossed US$8.5M from a production budget of US$20M.

'DROP' (Rated MA15+) - is an American mystery thriller film Directed by Christopher Landon who made his feature film Directing debut with 'Burning Palms' in 2010 and would follow this up with 'Paranormal Activity : The Marked Ones' in 2014, then 'Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse' in 2015, 'Happy Death Day' in 2017, 'Happy Death Day 2U' in 2019, 'Freaky' in 2020 and 'We Have a Ghost' in 2023. Here then, Violet (Meghann Fahy), a widowed mother, is on a date with Henry (Brandon Sklenar) when she is terrorised by a series of anonymous messages to her mobile phone. The caller instructs her to tell nobody, and follow increasingly malicious instructions, or her younger sister, Jen (Violett Beane), and her son, Toby (Jacob Robinson) will be killed, culminating with her being told to kill Henry. The film had its premiere at the SXSW in early March, was released in the US last week, has received positive reviews from critics and has so far grossed US$11M from a production budget of US$11M.

'THE CORRESPONDENT' (Rated M) - this biographical legal thriller film is Directed by Kriv Stenders whose prior feature film output includes 'The Illustrated Family Doctor' in 2005, 'Boxing Day' in 2007, 'Lucky Country' in 2009, 'Red Dog' in 2011, 'Kill Me Three Times' in 2014, 'Red Dog : True Blue' in 2016, 'Australia Day' in 2017 and 'Danger Close : The Battle of Long Tan' in 2019. This film is based on the 2017 memoir 'The First Casualty' by Peter Greste. The film is based on the real-life story of Australian foreign correspondent and journalist Peter Greste (Richard Roxburgh), who was arrested in Cairo, Egypt after being accused of spreading false news and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood. Imprisoned for seven years despite his innocence, he survives on wits alone before being released in 2015. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Adelaide Film Festival back in September last year and is released this week here in Australia. 

'THE PENGUIN LESSONS' (Rated M) - is a comedy drama film Directed by Peter Cattaneo who made his feature film Directorial debut with 1997's 'The Full Monty' and which he would follow up with 'Lucky Break' in 2001, 'Opal Dream' in 2006, 'The Rocker' in 2008 and 'Military Wives' in 2019. This film is based on the 2015 memoir of the same name by Tom Michell. Inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman, Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach at a Uraguayan resort, his life is turned upside-down, as the penguin then kept following him and so he took it back to the school, where it became a popular pet. Also starring Jonathan Pryce as the school Headmaster. It premiered as a gala presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival in September last year, was released in the US in late March and is released in the UK, Ireland and here in Australia this week. It has so far grossed almost US$3M and has generated mixed or average reviews.

With five 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 March 2020.

The 70th annual 'Berlin International Film Festival' took place between Thursday 20th February and Sunday 1st March. Usually referred to as the 'Berlinale', this is a film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is considered one of the 'Big Three' next to the Venice Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival. With around 300,000 tickets sold and 500,000 admissions each year, it has the largest public attendance of any annual film festival. Up to 400 films are shown in several sections across cinematic genres. Around twenty films compete for the festival's top awards - the 'Golden Bear' and several 'Silver Bears'.

The festival launched with the opening gala presented by the highly acclaimed Bulgarian Actor Samuel Finzi followed by the World Premiere showing of the film 'My Salinger Year' Directed by the French Canadian film maker and Screenwriter Philippe Falardeau which was selected for the Berlinale Special section. This year the acclaimed English Actor Jeremy Irons acted as the Jury President for the Berlinale Competition section together with American film maker Kenneth Lonergan, Italian Actor Luca Marinelli and Brazilian film maker Kleber Mendonca Filho amongst a few others.

In main completion this year, were eighteen international films, those being :-
* 'All the Dead Ones' - a drama from Brazil and France, Directed by Caetano Gotardo and Marco Dutra.
* 'Bad Tales' - an Italian Swiss drama, Directed by Damiano D'Innocenzo and Fabio D'Innocenzo
* 'Berlin Alexanderplatz' - a drama from Germany, Netherlands and France, Directed by Burhan Qurbani.
* 'DAU. Natasha' - a drama from Germany, Ukraine, UK and Russia, Directed by Ilya Khrzhanovskiy and Jekaterina Oertel.
* 'Days' - a Taiwanese drama film, Directed by Tsai Ming-liang.
* 'Delete History' - a French Belgian drama film, Directed by Benoît Delepine and Gustave Kervern.
* 'First Cow' - a drama film from the United States, Directed by Kelly Reichardt.
* 'Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always' - a drama from the United States, Directed by Eliza Hittman.
* 'Hidden Away' - an Italian biographical drama film, Directed by Giorgio Diritti.
* 'The Intruder' - an Argentinian and Mexican thriller, Directed by Natalia Meta.
* 'Irradiated' - a documentary from France and Cambodia, Direcetd by Rithy Panh.
* 'My Little Sister' - a drama from Switzerland, Directed by Stephanie Chuat and Veronique Reymond.
* 'The Roads Not Taken' - a drama from the UK, Directed by Sally Potter.
* 'The Salt of Tears' - a drama from France and Switzerland, Directed by Philippe Garrel.
* 'The Woman Who Ran' - from South Korea, Directed by Hong Sang-soo.
* 'Siberia' - a drama film from Italy, Germany and Mexico, Directed by Abel Ferrara.
* 'There is No Evil' - an Iranian, German and Czech Republic drama, Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof.
* 'Undine' - a German French drama film, Directed by Christian Petzold.

And so, in the final analysis, the awards presented in main competition were :-




* Golden Bear – 'THERE IS NO EVIL' by Mohammad Rasoulof,
* Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize – 'NEVER, RARELY, SOMETIMES, ALWAYS' by Eliza Hittman,
* Silver Bear for Best Director – HONG SANG-SOO for 'The Woman Who Ran',
* Silver Bear for Best Actress – PAULA BEER for 'Undine',
* Silver Bear for Best Actor – ELIO GERMANO for 'Hidden Away',
* Silver Bear for Best Script – DAMIANO D'INNOCENZO and FABIO D'INNOCENZO for 'Bad Tales',
* Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution – JURGEN JURGES for cinematography in 'DAU. Natasha'.
* The Honorary Golden Bear was awarded to HELEN MIRREN.

For the full details on all the awards winners, the comings and goings, the news and the views, you can visit the official website at : https://www.berlinale.de

And so this week we have six latest release new films gracing your local Odeon. Kicking off with a first date gone horribly wrong for this young couple who go on the run as a result of their actions, only to be hunted down by the Police and heralded as heroes by the public. Next off we have a new Superhero who is brought back from the dead, reengineered, injected with a billion or so nanobots and had his memory wiped clean, but as he starts to remember things he embarks on a deadly rampage out for revenge. We then have three British offerings - the first is a true story about a group of women left at home while their military husbands are serving overseas - and in 2010 they formed a choir, which has subsequently grown into an international movement. Then we have a horror film about a possessed red dress, and whoever wears it more often than not meets with dire consequences, followed up by a family gathering to mark New Years Eve in the English countryside but things go a little awry when an estranged and unwelcome sibling makes an appearance. And we close out the week with a romantic drama film about a young Christian singer who falls for a young girl with terminal cancer.

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 coming week.

'QUEEN & SLIM' (Rated MA15+) - this American romantic crime drama offering is Directed by first time film maker Melina Matsoukas who is an already established American music video, television and commercial Director. Amongst her numerous music video's which she has made since 2006 she has worked with Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Robin Thicke and Christina Aguilera. Her TV commercials credits take in such companies as Diesel, Adidas, Lexus, Nike and Stella McCartney. This film saw its World Premiere at the American Film Institute Fest in mid-November 2019 and was released in the US in late-November. It has so far received generally positive reviews from critics, has grossed US$47M off the back of a circa US$18M production budget, and has garnered ten award wins and a further 27 nominations from around the awards circuit.

Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) and Slim's (Daniel Kaluuya) first date to an Ohio diner takes an unexpected turn when a policeman pulls them over for a minor traffic violation while Slim is driving Queen home. When the situation escalates, and Queen's leg is grazed by a bullet fired by the agitated Policeman, Slim takes the officer's gun and shoots him in self-defence. Now labelled cop killers in the media, Slim and Queen feel that they have no choice but to go on the run and evade the law, otherwise face the prospect of a life behind bars. When a video of the incident goes viral, the unwitting outlaws soon become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people all across the country. Also starring Bokeem Woodbine, Chloe Sevigny, Flea, Indya Moore and Sturgill Simpson. 

'BLOODSHOT' (Rated M) - is an American superhero film based on the Valiant Comics character of the same name which first appeared in 1992. It is intended to be the first instalment in a series of films set within a Valiant Comics shared cinematic universe, and is Directed by David S. F. Wilson in his feature film making debut. Starring in the lead role and also Co-Producing here Marine Ray Garrison (Vin Diesel) and his wife are assassinated. But, Garrison is reborn by a team of scientists. Enhanced with nanotechnology, which grants him the powers of regeneration and meta-morphing made possible through nanites injected into his blood, hence the name Bloodshot, he becomes a superhuman, biotech killing machine. As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he struggles to recall anything from his previous life. But when his memories begin filtering back and he remembers the man that killed both him and his wife, he breaks out of the facility hellbent on revenge, only to discover that there’s more to the conspiracy than he originally imagined. Bloodshot's bloodstream contains a billion nanobots, enabling him to heal from injuries quickly, interface with technology, and shape shift his mass. Also starring Toby Kebbel, Guy Pearce and Eliza Gonzalez. Made with a budget of US$42M the film is also released Stateside this week. 

'MILITARY WIVES' (Rated M) - this British comedy drama offering is Directed by Peter Cattaneo who is perhaps best known for Directing the 1997 hit 'The Full Monty'. With their beloved partners away serving with the armed forces in Afghanistan, a group of women on the home front come together to form the very first military wives choir, helping each other through some of life's most difficult moments, and quickly find themselves at the centre of a media sensation and global movement. The film was inspired by the true story of the Military Wives Choirs, a network of 75 choirs in British military bases across the UK and overseas. The first choir held their initial rehearsal in April 2010 in Catterick Garrison. Now with over 2,200 members, the MWC network is tri-service (British Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Royal Marines) and any woman with a military connection can join including those currently serving, veterans, mothers, sisters and daughters, empowering women from across the military community. The film was released in the UK last week having seen its World Premier screening at TIFF back in September last year, and stars Kristen Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan, Jason Flemyng, Greg Wise and Emma Lowndes. 

'IN FABRIC' (Rated MA15+) - here this British comedy horror film is Directed and Written by Peter Strickland. The film saw its World Premier showing at the Toronto Film Festival way back in September 2018, went on release in the UK in June 2019, in the US in December 2019 and now gets a limited showing here in Australia. A lonely woman, Sheila Woodchapel (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), recently separated from her husband, working as a bank teller and living with her son Vince visits a bewitching London department store in search of a dress in the sales that she can wear out on a date. She's fitted with a perfectly flattering, flowing red gown by sales assistant Miss Luckmoore (Fatma Mohamed), which, in time, will come to unleash a malevolent curse and unstoppable evil, threatening everyone who comes into its path. Also starring Hayley Squires, Gwendoline Christie, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Leo Bill and Julian Barratt.

'HAPPY NEW YEAR, COLIN BURSTEAD' (Rated MA15+) - this British comedy drama film is Written and Directed by Ben Wheatley whose previous film making credits include 'Sightseers', 'A Field in England', 'High-Rise' and 'Free Fire' most recently in 2016. Colin Burstead (Neill Maskell) hires a lavish country house in England's south western county of Dorset for his extended family to see in the New Year. Unbeknownst to other members of the family, and unfortunately for Colin, his sister Gini (Hayley Squires) has invited their estranged brother David (Sam Riley), so placing Colin's position of power in the family unit under serious threat. Also starring Joe Cole, Charles Dance, Alexandra Maria Lara and Bill Paterson. The film had its World Premier screening at the London Film Festival back in October 2018, was released in the UK in late December 2018 and only now gets its release in Australia.

'I STILL BELIEVE' (Rated PG) - is a Christian biographical romantic drama film Directed by Andrew and Jon Erwin whose previous film making credits include 'Woodlawn' and 'I Can Only Imagine' most recently in 2018. This film is based on Jeremy Camp's memoir of the same title. Camp is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter from Lafayette, Indiana. Camp has released eleven albums, four of them are certified as Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, and two live albums. His original music is a mixture of ballads and up-tempo songs with rock influences. It focuses on Camp's (K.J. Apa) romance with his first wife, Melissa (Britt Robertson), whom he married in October 2000 despite knowing she was dying. The couple were informed after their honeymoon that Melissa's cancer had spread. She died in February 2001, four-and-a-half months after they married. It dramatises Camp's college years, his rise as a well-known singer, and eventually meeting his second wife, Adrienne (Abigail Cowen). Also starring Gary Sinise and Shania Twain as Camp's father and mother respectively, the film is released in the US this week too.

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-