What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 8th September 2022.

The 47th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) launches on Thursday 8th September and runs through until Sunday 18th September. TIFF is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permanent destination for film culture whose mission is 'to transform the way people see the world through film'. This years full lineup will comprise around two hundred feature films and about forty short films, the largest lineup the festival has booked since the pre-pandemic 2019 edition. 

The Opening Film of the festival will be 'The Swimmers' from the UK and US and Co-Written and Directed by Sally El Hosaini and starring Nathalie Issa and Manal Issa. The Closing Film will be 'Daliland' from the US and Directed by Mary Harron and starring Ben Kingsley, Ezra Miller, Barbara Sukowa, Rupert Graves and Suki Waterhouse. 'The Fabelmans', screening as a special presentation, marks the first time in history that a Steven Spielberg Directed film will Premiere at the festival.

The festival's main awards for films in the festival programme, including the People's Choice Award, will be presented at the conclusion of the festival. In the Official Selections Gala Presentations section, there are nineteen films, these being :-

* 'A Jazzman's Blues' - from the USA and Written and Directed by Tyler Perry. Starring Joshua Boone, Solea Pfeiffer, Amirah Vann, Austin Scott, and Ryan Eggold in a story of forbidden love and family secrets that reaches from the 1940's to the 1980's. World Premier.

* 'Alice, Darling' - from Canada and the USA and Directed by Mary Nighy. Anna Kendrick captures the anxious psychology of a woman in an abusive relationship as her friends try to reconnect with her while on a cottage getaway. World Premier.
* 'Black Ice' - from Canada and Witten and Directed by Hubert Davis. This incisive, urgent documentary examines the history of anti-Black racism in hockey, from the segregated leagues of the 19th Century to professional leagues today, where Black athletes continue to struggle against bigotry. World Premier.

* 'Butcher's Crossing' - from the USA and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Gabe Polsky. Set in the 1870's, this Western stars Nicolas Cage as a buffalo hunter who lures a naive young man into an ambitious expedition in the Colorado Rockies. World Premier.

* 'Daliland' - from the UK and USA and Directed by Mary Harron. Starring Ben Kingsley and Barbara Sukowa, this film pulls back the curtain on the larger-than-life union of Spanish painter Salvador Dali and his wife Gala. World Premier.

* 'Hunt' - from South Korea and Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and starring Lee Jung-jae. In this 1980's-set thriller, in which Lee Jung-jae plays an intelligence chief who uncovers a plot to assassinate the President of South Korea while hunting for a mole within his own agency. North American Premier.

* 'Kacchey Limbu' - from India and Written and Directed by Shubham Yogi. The film follows a pair of siblings who find themselves on competing cricket teams as they struggle to balance familial loyalty with the pursuit of their passions. World Premier.

* 'Moving On' - from the USA and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Paul Weitz. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star in this fusion of audacious comedy and bracing drama about estranged pals who are reunited when a beloved mutual friend dies, leaving her widower the target of a revenge plan. World Premier.

* 'Paris Memories' - from France and Co-Written and Directed by Alice Winocour. Starring Virginie Efira and Benoit Magimel this piercing examination of what it means to live through devastating violence, dramatises the way trauma can render our fragments of memory into a puzzle. North American Premier.

* 'Prisoner's Daughter' - from the USA and Co-Executive Produced and Directed by Catherine Hardwicke. Granted a compassionate release, a dying convict (Brian Cox) tries to reconnect with his daughter (Kate Beckinsale) and the grandson he’s never known, but his violent past comes back to haunt them all. World Premier.

* 'Raymond & Ray' - from the USA and Written and Directed by Rodrigo Garcia. This intricate drama shot through with audacious gallows humour, stars Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke as long-estranged half-brothers who reunite to bury their father. World Premier.

* 'Roost' - from the USA and Co-Produced and Directed by Amy Redford. In this immersive thriller, a young love affair involving Grace Van Dien and Kyle Gallner becomes a menacing game of cat and mouse. Nothing and no one are as they appear to be . . . World Premier.

* 'Sidney' - from the USA and Co-Executive Produced and Directed by Reginald Hudlin. This documentary portrait of the late, great Sidney Poitier surveys his films, life story, and litany of accomplishments as an artist and activist who forever changed what it means to be Black in America. World Premier.

* 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' - from the USA and Co-Written and Directed by Peter Farrelly. Zac Efron, Russell Crowe and Bill Murray star in this film about a merchant seaman who, in 1967, accepted a bet to personally deliver a case of beer from New York to his army buddies in Vietnam. World Premier.

* 'The Hummingbird' - from Italy and France and Co-Written and Directed by Francesca Archibugi. Based on the novel by Sandro Veronesi, this profoundly moving nonlinear epic depicts the strange, wondrous life of Marco Carrera (Pierfrancesco Favino) from childhood through adulthood to his final years. World Premier.

* 'The Son' - from the UK and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Florian Zeller. Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, and Anthony Hopkins star in this immersive drama about a family struggling to support a teenager in the throes of a mental health crisis. North American Premier.

* 'The Swimmers' - from the UK and Co-Written and Directed by Sally El Hosaini. This soaring epic drama tells the true story of two sisters who left their home in war-torn Syria for a new life in Europe — and the chance to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics. World Premier.

* 'The Woman King' - from the USA and Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. This epic tale brings to life the true story of the Agojie, the all-female military regiment charged with protecting the embattled African Kingdom of Dahomey during the mid-1820's. Starring Viola Davis, John Boyega and Hero Fiennes Tiffin. World Premier.

* 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' - from the UK and Directed by Shekhar Kapur. Starring Lily James, Shazad Latif, and Emma Thompson, this effervescent romantic comedy follows a filmmaker who decides to document her best friend’s journey toward arranged marriage. World Premier.

For all the other Official Selections taking in Special Presentations, Contemporary World Cinema, TIFF Docs, Discovery, Platform, Midnight Madness, Short Cuts, and Wavelengths, plus other events including Dialogues, Microsessions, Perspectives, Spotlights and Visionaries, you can go to the official website at : https://www.tiff.net/

Now that Spring has sprung (in Australia at least), but not so you'ld notice it, what better way is there to celebrate the fact than to spend a couple of hours in a warm dark place with a bunch of strangers all gawping up at a big screen with moving pictures! And so turning attention to this weeks four latest release new movies we launch with a comedy drama horror offering set at an institute devoted to culinary and alimentary performance, where a cohort find themselves embroiled in power struggles, artistic vendettas, and gastrointestinal disorders. We then turn to an Irish language film about a nine-year-old girl from a dysfunctional family who goes to live with distant relatives for the Summer, where living with a middle-aged farm couple, she discovers a new way of living. Next up is the fourth instalment in this romantic drama franchise that sees two young star crossed lovers finally growing up and coming to the realisation that they are not so different to each other after a shocking revelation about one of their families emerges. And closing out the week, we have an Aussie doco about Australia's most significant environmental battle to save the remote Franklin River from being dammed by a hydroelectric project in the 1980's, as told through the lens of a current-day solo rafting adventurer.

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

'FLUX GOURMET' (Rated MA15+) - this comedy drama horror offering is Written and Directed by Peter Strickland whose previous feature film outings include his debut in 2009 with 'Katalin Varga', then 'Berberian Sound Studio' in 2012, 'The Duke of Burgundy' in 2014 with 'In Fabric' in 2018 being his most recent before this one. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Berlin International Film Festival in mid-February this year, has so far taken just US$19K from its very limited release in the US and Canada but has garnered widespread critical acclaim and picked up three award nominations so far. 

A group of experimental performance artists Elle di Elle (Fatma Mohamed), Billy Rubin (Asa Butterfield) and Lamina Propria (Ariane Labed), known for their process of 'sonic catering' (where they extract disturbing sounds from various foods) take up residency at a remote artistic institution, run by an enigmatic Director Jan Stevens (Gwendoline Chrsitie). An outsider, Stones (Makis Papadimitriou) is tasked with recording the day-to-day rituals of the group, only to discover that he is slowly becoming part of their collective himself.

'THE QUIET GIRL' (Rated M) - is an Irish language coming of age film Written and Directed by Colm Bairead in his feature film debut although he has Directed several TV series, TV movies, short films and documentaries before. It is based on the 2010 novella 'Foster' written by Claire Keegan. Set in rural Ireland in 1981 a quiet, neglected nine year old girl Cait (Catherine Clinch) is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer. She blossoms in their care and in their loving family home, but in this house in Rinn Gaeltacht, County Waterford, where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one. The film saw its World Premier screening at the Berlin International Film Festival in mid-February, went on release in its native Ireland in mid-May and has garnered generally positive Reviews so far collecting twelve award wins and another seven nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. 

'AFTER EVER HAPPY' (Rated M) - is an American romantic drama film Directed by Castille Landon and is based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Anna Todd. It is fourth film in the 'After' franchise, following 2019's 'After', 2020's 'After We Collided' and 2021's 'After We Fell' which was also Directed by Landon. Here then, as a shocking truth about a couple's families emerge, the two lovers discover they are not so different from each other. Tessa Young (Josephine Langford) is no longer the sweet, simple, good girl she was when she met Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) any more than he is the cruel, moody boy she fell so hard for. The film was released in the UK in mid-August, goes on general release here in Australia and the US from this week, and a fifth film in the series titled 'After Everything' is already in post-production with Langford and Fiennes Tiffin reprising their roles once again.

'FRANKLIN' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian historical adventure documentary film is Co-Written and Directed by Kasimir Burgess whose prior feature length films include his debut in 2014 with 'Fell' and his doco 'The Leunig Fragments' in 2019. Here then eighth-generation Tasmanian and environmentalist Oliver Cassidy embarks on a life-changing solo rafting trip down the beautiful yet remote Franklin River. His goal is to retrace his late father’s fourteen-day expedition to attend the blockade that saved the World-Heritage listed national park from being destroyed by a huge hydroelectric dam project in the early 1980's. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with key players and narrated by Hugo Weaving, the eight-year-long 'Franklin campaign' is revealed as the most significant environmental protest in Australia's history; an inspiring example of the power of non-violent direct action to bring about lasting change. 

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

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-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 10th September 2015.

Last week I happily reported that Spring had sprung down Australia way and that we look forward with a renewed energy, enthusiasm and excitement to the prospect of longer days, warmer evenings and prolonged sunshine - well let me tell ya, that none of that stuff has yet eventuated, and it seems to me to be as cool in Adelaide as it has been all Winter! Having been in Sydney too this last weekend it is only just a tad warmer there - at least there is always the prospect of a warm dry place to relax and enjoy a movie of choice at your local independent theatre of big screen multiplex, which of course brings us to this weeks new releases!

For the coming week there are six new release films to get you into that multiplex kicking off with a sequel to a dystopian futuristic teen action adventure which these days are two a penny but still may be enough of a draw card for dystopian futuristic teen action adventure followers; then an animated feature of video arcade games of yesteryear writ large and determined to wage war on our unsuspecting planet at the hands of a confused alien foe; then a tale that might make you think differently about butterflies and moths; then with a dad having to readjust to his new life with two young daughters in tow up next; and then a uniquely shot film of an alternative LA Christmas; and finally, an insight to a 50's screen icon whose memory still endures 60 years on.

With such a great offering in the next seven days, not to mention all the great movies still out on general release, be sure to drop your friends and like minded movie lovers a Comment or two in the box directly below this or any other Post and share your own critique, comments, observations and thoughts about your most recent movie going experience. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

MAZE RUNNER : THE SCORCH TRIALS (Rated M) - the first film in this series came out in September 2014 based on the book of the same name by James Dasher published in 2009, and was made for US$34M and grossed US$344M. For the second time around Wes Ball is Directing again for this follow up to that first instalment in this teenage dystopian Sci-Fi action adventure yarn. The story here reassembles the cast largely from that first film, and having escaped The Maze, they all find themselves at the next level of the dangerous game controlled by Janson/Rat Man (Aiden Gillen).

Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and his mates The Gladers, are on the hunt and on the run seeking out clues to lead them to the mysterious organisation known at WCKD. Their journey takes them across the perilous 'Scorch'  - a desolate and deadly landscape filled with all manner of trials and tribulations . . . and you can bet that it's pretty damn hot too! Along the way the merry band of Maze Runners team up with resistance fighters in an attempt to thwart WCKD and uncover what plans they have for them next - and there will be gnashing of teeth, clenching of fists, and profanity aplenty as that truth is revealed . . . setting up the next thrilling, not to be missed instalment, which will inevitably be split into two films to bring the series to a close! Where have you seen that done before?

PIXELS (Rated PG) - not a Pixar animated feature this, but Directed by Chris Columbus for Columbia Pictures at a cost of US$88M, this CG animated film features all the early video game characters from Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong and such like. Back in the early 80's when these games were the cutting edge of gaming technology a couple of young likely lads - Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler) and Will Cooper (Kevin James) enter a gaming competition but narrowly loose out to Eddie Plant (Peter Dinklage). A videocassette of the winner and the games of the day is launched into space as a time capsule, and fast forward to the present day and Brenner works as a cable guy and Cooper is President of the free world. But the free world is under attack from aliens who intercepted that videocassette and believe it to be threat and so attack the Earth to save themselves, replicating those video game characters of yesteryear to take down our fragile green, peace loving planet. Only those gaming heroes from back in the day can now save the world from destruction at the hands of Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Co. Also starring Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Dan Aykroyd, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Serena Williams, Michelle Monaghan and a freakin' giant yellow PacMan!

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY (Rated MA15+) - this British drama film is Written and Directed by Peter Strickland and surrounds Evelyn and Cynthia played by Chiara D'Anna and Sidse Babett Knudsen respectively. Evelyn is studying a branch of entomology (moths and butterflies) under Cynthia and the two are romantically involved with the former working as a maid in the latters home.  Cynthia has high expectations of order and cleanliness and when Evelyn fails to meet those standards she is punished. The two act out scenes of sexual dominance and sado-masochism with their roles becoming reversed as Evelyn is less and less satisfied and her demands go unfulfilled, while Cynthia worries about her age and makes accusations about Evelyn's loyalties and motivations. It all comes full circle as the two kiss and make up and start back at the beginning, all underscored with a strong cast, solid performances, a visual and aural feast and a deft hand by the Director and Writer, Strickland. Already this film has picked upon handful of awards & nominations and has had much critical praise bestowed up on it.

PEOPLE PLACES THINGS (Rated M) - this low budget James C. Strouse Directed New York City set comedy you have seen before in various guises. Here mild mannered low key unassuming and recently single again Dad, Will Henry (Jemaine Clement) is a graphic novelist having to juggle getting back into the dating scene with brining up two six year old twin daughters Clio and Colette (sisters Aundrea and Gia Gadsby respectively) and nurturing a classroom full of students learning his craft. Along the way we are introduced to Kat (Jessica Williams) a student of Will's; Regina Hall as her Mother Diane and possible love interest for Will; and Stephanie Allynne as Charlie - Will's ex. who has now got it on for Gary (Michael Chernus).  Can Will pull himself together for the sake of his girls, his students, his art and himself . . . quite possibly!

TANGERINE (Rated MA15+) - with a  budget of just US$100K, this film was shot using three iPhone 5S smartphones by Sean S. Baker who acted as Director, Producer, Writer, Editor and Cinematographer on this low key comedy-drama. This film surrounds transgender sex worker Sin-Dee-Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) who on Christmas Eve ends a 28 day long lock-up in the local county jail. Upon release she meets up with friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) at the local Do-Nut Time Store in Hollywood. During their conversation Alexandra reveals to Sin-Dee that her boyfriend and pimp Chester (James Ransone) has been cheatin' on her with Dinah (Mickey O'Hagan) and so Sin-Dee heads off in search of the low-down no-good double-crossin' dirt bags. Her journey sees her experience and confront many of LA's sub-cultures and alternatives as she drifts from one place to the next. Unique, bold, gritty, brave film making that is likely to surprise and leave you wanting more.

LIFE (Rated MA15+) - Anton Corbijn Directs this autobiographical drama film of a period in the early 50's when American Actor and screen idol James Dean was coming to prominence and just prior to the release of 'East of Eden' in 1955. 'Life' Magazine photographer Dennis Stock was assigned by his Agency - Magnum Photo's to shoot the Hollywood star on the rise and chronicle their time together as they get acquainted, their friendship grows and the pair travel together from LA to New York to Indiana shooting some of the most iconic images of the young Actor torn from us way to early. Robert Pattinson starts as Dennis Stock, Dane DeHaan is James Dean, and supporting are the likes of Joel Edgerton and Ben Kingsley.

Six films then and there you have it. Some cracking compelling cinematic content coming your way in the week ahead that just shouts out 'buy a ticket today' and catch a film of choice - you know it makes sense.!

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-