What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 9th November 2023

The 42nd Three Rivers Film Festival (3RFF) runs this year from Wednesday 8th until Wednesday 15th November in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The 3RFF remains the largest annual film festival in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and this exciting event traditionally highlights unmatched depth and breadth of choice in the best international independent film. 3RFF is part of a long tradition of film innovation in Pittsburgh—from the world’s first Nickelodeon in 1905 to its role today as a popular filming location. 

This year’s festival showcases twenty-two exciting and thought-provoking indie feature films including dramas, comedies, and documentaries. Also presenting all the fun things that make a film festival so much more than just going to the movies, including World and Pittsburgh Premieres of incredible films, the chance to meet cast and crew, an amazing opening night party to kick it all off, and so much more!

Of the twenty-two films being screened, those feature films are as given below :-

* 'Dancing Queen' - from Norway and Directed by Aurora Gosse. Mina, is a nerdy, eager-to-fit-in teenager at the start of a new school year. Despite her self-doubts, she challenges herself to participate in a dance competition to impress E.D. Win, a popular young hip-hop dancer. With the support of her thoroughly enthusiastic grandmother, Mina embarks on her own version of a hero’s journey.

* 'Double Down South' - from the USA and Directed by Tom Schulman. Nick runs an illegal gambling operation in his run-down plantation house in the deep south. Soon he finds himself enamoured with Diana - a smart, tough, and charming ace who’s determined to win big. Together they prepare to risk it all to take down a world champion. 

* 'Hard Miles' - from the USA and Directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna. This humorous coming of age sports drama follows an unlikely crew of at-risk youth on a seemingly impossible bike ride from Denver to the Grand Canyon, with the aid of a determined coach who pushes the young men to their limits in an effort to teach them life’s most valuable lessons. Starring Matthew Modine and Sean Astin.

* 'The Holdovers' - from the USA and Directed by Alexander Payne. A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam. Starring Paul Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.

* 'Housekeeping for Beginners' - from North Macedonia, Poland, Croatia, Serbia and Kosovo and Directed by Goran Stolevski. Dita never wanted to be a mother, but circumstances force her to raise her girlfriend's two daughters, tiny troublemaker Mia and rebellious teen Vanesa. A battle of wills ensues as the three continue to butt heads and become an unlikely family that must fight to stay together.

* 'La Chimera' - from Italy, France and Switzerland and Directed by Alice Rohrwacher. After being released from an Italian prison, Arthur, an English archaeological scholar with an uncanny knack for knowing just where to find hidden artefacts, reunites with a band of misfits. Together they work to extract Etruscan relics until they find a treasure beyond measure.

* 'Little Brother' - from the USA and Directed by Sheridan O'Donnell. When Pete attempts suicide once again, his parents recruit his younger brother Jake to drive him home for a family intervention. But on that 1400-mile trip, the brothers who were once close become an explosive combination, as the brothers’ road trip is filled with trials, tribulations, and revelations.

* 'Love Without Walls' - from the UK and Directed by Jane Gull. This is a heart-wrenching tale of a young married couple and their efforts to keep love alive through adversity in modern day London. Despite their trials and tribulations, Sophie, an art student, and Paul, an aspiring musician, somehow manage to maintain good humour and positivity. US Premiere.

* 'Mr. Blake at Your Service' - from France and Directed by Gilles Legardinier. Andrew Blake is a grieving, widowed British businessman who takes a job as a Butler at the Domaine de Beauvillier estate in northern France near where he and his wife spent the early days of their romance. Although everyone at the estate seems to be just as badly off as he is, his arrival seems to spur them all back to life. Starring John Malkovich.

* 'My Love Affair With Marriage' - from Luxembourg, the USA and Latvia and Directed by Signe Baumane. The protagonist, Zelma, a young, spirited woman, is determined to conform to the pressures of the mythological Sirens in order to find love. But the more she attempts to conform, the more her body resists. This tale of inner female rebellion blends both two-dimensional and stop-motion animation to take us on her journey.

* 'Parachute' - from the USA and Directed by Brittany Snow. Riley meets Ethan the night she’s released from a rehab facility. When they’re together, life makes sense, but Riley’s therapist urges her to avoid dating for a year. So, when the pair develop an intimate friendship that borders on codependency, Riley’s insecurities about her body send her back into a spiral.

* 'Perfect Days' - from Japan and Directed by Wim Wenders. Hirayama, is a quite-contented man who spends his days working as a cleaner of public toilets in Tokyo. His thoroughly structured daily routine reveals his passion for music and books and his love of the trees he photographs. As we are immersed in his daily life, a series of unexpected encounters gradually expose more of his past.

* 'The Secret Art of Human Flight' - from the USA and Directed by H.P. Mendoza. Here, an eccentric spiritual guide who just might be a con artist and a widower grieving the tragic loss of his wife and best friend deliver a tale of grief and healing by tapping into that all-too-human attribute of going to almost any length to find hope in the midst of despair. 

* 'Sugar and Stars' - from France and Directed by Sebastien Tulard. The film follows renowned chef Yazid Ichemrahen from his rough early beginnings to working for the world’s top chefs in Paris and Monaco. As a child, Yazid moved from one foster home to another but held onto his dream of becoming a pastry chef. Through Yazid’s indomitable spirit, resourcefulness, and determination, he works to realise his dream of winning an international pastry championship.

* 'Two Lives in Pittsburgh' - from the USA and Directed by Brian Silverman. Confronted by his mother’s illness and his child’s exploration of gender, Bernie Evers, a traditional blue-collar guy, finds himself struggling to come to terms with the man he’s always been and the father his child needs him to be.

* 'Unsinkable' - from the USA and Directed by Cody Hartman. In the aftermath of the Titanic disaster in April 1912, Senator William Alden Smith chaired an inquiry by the United States Senate into the causes of and responses to the shocking event. The film explores the rushed investigation and political interference in the search for accountability when the 'unsinkable' RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden journey. World Premiere.

For the details of the Documentary Features being showcased - '1946 : A Mistranslation That Shifted Culture', 'Black Barbie : A Documentary', 'Citizen Sleuth', 'Karen Carpenter : Starving for Perfection', 'Kite Zo A (Leave the Bones)' and 'O Pioneer', you can go to the official website at : https://filmpittsburgh.org/pages/three-rivers-film-festival

This week we have seven new movie offerings to tease you out to your local Odeon, hailing from all corners of the globe, kicking off with the 33rd entry in the MCU that sees our three protagonists team up after they begin swapping places with each other every time they use their powers. Then we have a New Zealand dark comedy film about a former teen actress who seeks enlightenment at a remote retreat while also navigating the close yet turbulent relationship with her stunt performer daughter. Next up is an American offering about an ex-special forces operative who takes on a job to provide security for a journalist as she interviews a dictator, but, a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview and they are forced to escape into the jungle where they must survive. This is followed by an Aussie comedy about a man whose secret dominatrix cleans out all of his bank accounts, leaving this married stockbroker just one day to save his life from ruin. Then we turn to a French film in which a young woman survives a terrorist attack on a busy Paris brasserie, and after time spent with her mother, she returns to Paris and an event that haunts her in order to find the answers that will allow her to move on with her life. Up next is an Australian drama about a non-resident cab driver and his fare, a old lady who can't remember where she's going, while he can't forget his troubled past. And closing out the week we have a South African animated action adventure film about a team of nano sized, peace keeping aliens who end up stranded in the brain of 16-year-old boy, and who then have to work together with his friends to save Earth from an intergalactic villain who took control of his schools Principal.

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

'THE MARVELS' (Rated M) - is an American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics featuring the characters Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel. It is intended to be the sequel to the 2019 film 'Captain Marvel', a continuation of the 2022 TV mini-series 'Ms. Marvel' and the 33rd film in the MCU. The film is Co-Written and Directed by Nia DaCosta whose previous film making credits take in her debut in 2018 with 'Little Woods' and 2021's 'Candyman'. This film was originally scheduled for an early July 2022 release before being moved back to 11th November 2022, then mid-February this year then the end of July before settling on this date. It forms part of Phase Five of the MCU and is the third entry in this phase following 'Ant-Man and the Wasp : Quantumania' and 'Guardians of the Galaxy : Vol. 3'. 

Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. However, unintended consequences see her shouldering the burden of a destabilised universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), her powers become entangled with those of Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) - two other superheroes. The trio team up to form 'The Marvels' to determine why they are swapping places with each other every time they use their powers. The film cost in the region of US$220M to produce, and also stars Samuel L. Jackson and Park Seo-joon.

'BAD BEHAVIOUR' (Rated MA15+) - this New Zealand black comedy drama film is Written, Directed and stars Alice Englert in her feature film making debut. The film saw its Premiere screening at this years Sundance Film Festival back in January and has so far garnered mixed or average reviews. The film tells the story of Lucy (Jennifer Connelly), a former child Actress who seeks enlightenment at a retreat led by spiritual leader Elon (Ben Whishaw) while she also navigates the close yet turbulent relationship with her stunt performer daughter, Dylan (Alice Englert).

'FREELANCE' (Rated MA15+) - is an American action comedy offering Directed by Pierre Morel whose debut feature film was 'District 13' in 2004 which he would follow up with the likes of 'Taken' in 2008 with Liam Neeson, then 'The Gunman' in 2015 with Sean Penn and 'Peppermint' in 2018 with Jennifer Garner amongst others. Here, years after retiring from the Army, former Special Forces operator Mason Pettits (John Cena) takes a job providing security for journalist Claire Wellington (Alison Brie) as she interviews Juan Venegas (Juan Pablo Raba), President of Paldonia. When a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle together. Also starring Alice Eve, Christian Slater and Morton Csokas. The film was released in the US late last month and cost US$40M to produce. 

'THE BIG DOG' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian comedy film is Written and Directed by Dane McCusker in his feature film debut. One sunny day in an upper middle-class Aussie suburb and a few hours before his despondent son’s graduation party, alpha Sydney stockbroker Richard Morgan (Julian Garner) has his bank accounts drained by his 'findom' mistress, Princess Paige (Asha Boswarva). That’s a (usually) non-sexual dominatrix hired by wealthy men to spend their money and humiliate them. Richard now has to attempt to gather a mountain of cash that will prevent his unsuspecting wife Kelly (Felicity Price) from discovering the ugly truth.

'PARIS MEMORIES' (Rated M) - is a French drama film Written and Directed by Alice Winocour who made her feature film Directing debut with 2012's 'Augustine' then 'Disorder' in 2015 and 'Proxima' in 2019. After an idyllic date night fuelled by red wine and a late-night motorcycle ride home, Mia (Virginie Efira) stops at a Parisian bistro to take shelter from a downpour. Her reprieve is shattered when a gunman opens fire. Three months later after surviving that attack, Mia is still traumatised, unable to recall the events of that night and finds herself numbed and unable to resume her life. In an effort to move forward, she investigates her memories and retraces her steps. The film saw its Premiere in the Directors' Fortnight programme of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, had its US Premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, was released in cinema's in France in early September 2022 and only now is it released here in Australia having so far grossed US$3.6M at the Box Office and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'DAMAGE' (Rated CTC) - is an Australian drama offering Written and Directed by Madeleine Blackwell in her feature film making debut. Here, Ali (Ali Al Jenabi) is not a citizen. He drives a taxi using another man’s license and relies on the GPS to negotiate his way around a city he doesn’t know. His passenger, Esther (Imelda Bourke) is an old woman who can’t remember where she is going. She is angry because she has been stripped of everything that is familiar to her and she doesn't recognise the world anymore. They travel through the night in search of a vague destination while surveillance cameras mark their journey, coldly omitting the human element, defining who belongs and who does not, who is safe and who is not. What they have in common is their damage – she can’t remember and he can’t forget.

'HEADSPACE' (Rated PG) - this South African animated action adventure film is Directed by Paul Meyer (who also Co-Writes here) and Gerhard Painter. Norman (voiced by Bonko Khoza) is a fairly typical teenage boy who has an above average concern for the future of our planet. It all becomes very real when three microscopic, peace-keeping aliens Sophie (Jana Louw), Max (Chris van Rensburg) and Gus (James Cairns) crash land into his iced tea. They enlist him and his friends to save the planet from the intergalactic villain, Zolthard (also quite small, and voiced by Zak Hendrikz) who has in turn taken control of their school principal as well as two other teachers. Zolthard will stop at nothing to get his fleet of droids to invade Earth and dominate the giants that roam it.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 13th December 2018.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards were held at Sydney's Star Hotel and Casino on Wednesday 5th December 2018, and as the official website states, these are a continuum of the AFI Awards, which have honoured screen excellence in Australia since 1958. The AACTA Awards recognise film, television and documentary screen craft excellence - including Directing, Producing and Acting, through to Cinematography, music and score composition and costume design - across more than fifty Awards each year. The AACTA's are Australia's highest film and television Awards which began in their now current format in August 2011, following the AFI's launch of the Australian Academy. and are held annually in Sydney, Australia in recognition and celebration of Australia’s highest achievements in film and television, as judged by the industry itself.

This year, amidst all the glitterati, glamourati, and the paparazzi the proud winners and grinners of the big screen awards were presented to the following :-

* AACTA Award for Best Feature Film : 'Sweet Country'
* AACTA Award for Best Indie Film : 'Jirga'
* AACTA Award for Best Direction : Warwick Thornton for 'Sweet Country'
* AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor : Hamilton Morris for 'Sweet Country'
* AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress : Angourie Rice for 'Ladies in Black'
* AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor : Simon Baker for 'Breath'
* AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress : Nicole Kidman for 'Boy Erased'
* AACTA Award for Best Original Screenplay : David Tranter and Steven McGregor for 'Sweet Country'
* AACTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay : Joel Edgerton for 'Boy Erased'
* AACTA Award for Best Cinematography : Warwick Thornton for 'Sweet Country'
* AACTA Award for Best Original Musical Score : Christopher Gordon for 'Ladies in Black'
* AACTA Award for Best Sound : 'Breath'
* AACTA Award for Best Costume Design : Wendy Cork for 'Ladies in Black'
* AACTA Award for Best Feature Documentary : Paul Damien Williams for 'Gurrumul'
* AACTA Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation : Animal Logic for 'Peter Rabbit'
and, The AACTA Longford Lyell Award for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Bryan Brown.

This week then sees the release of four new films coming to your local Odeon. We launch off with a re-cut, re-edited, and partially re-shot version of a strictly adults only anti-hero superhero film of earlier this year that re-wrote the rule book in all of its bloody violence, foul mouthed, wise arsed glory. This version has been toned down for a family audience this festive season, whilst still retaining many of the touchstones that has made this franchise so popular. Next up is a tale of mid-nineteenth century Ireland with the backdrop of the Great Famine and one mans struggle to seeks justice, or revenge or both on those that did him, and his family, wrong. We then go to a revenge action thriller concerning a one woman army out to wreak bloody vengeance on those that killed her husband and her daughter - and there's plenty of miscreants lining up it seems on both sides of the law. Wrapping up the week is an animated feature film concerning multiple web-slinging superheroes with arachnid like tendencies who inhibit an alternate universe to their live action counterparts.

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

'ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL' (Rated M) - in 2016 the Marvel character of Deadpool aka Wade Wilson burst onto our screens in this origin feature of the fourth wall breaking potty-mouthed wise-cracking indestructible anti-hero superhero. A huge financial success raking in a Box Office haul of US$783M off the back of a US$58M Budget, critically acclaimed, multi-award winning and record breaking 'Deadpool' was Directed by Tim Miller and starred Ryan Reynolds as our titular hero who hunts down the man who gave him mutant abilities and caused his scarred physical appearance. Of course, off the back of this success came 'Deadpool 2' earlier this year as Directed by David Leitch for US$110M and bringing home US$734M in which our hero forms the team X-Force to protect a young mutant from the time-travelling soldier, Cable. 'Deadpool 3' is currently in development.

And so 'Once Upon a Deadpool' is a re-cut PG version of 'Deadpool 2' said to be more family friendly and less potty-mouthed with a Christmas twist, that also includes twenty minutes of new footage not previously seen. Those scenes mostly take in Deadpool's bedside dialogue with Fred Savage in a homage to Savage's starring role as the Grandson in the 1987 bedtime-story classic 'The Princess Bride'. Other than these additions to frame the story, and some additional light hearted child friendly themeing, the bulk of the film is a re-edited, supposedly toned down version of 'Deadpool 2'.

'BLACK '47' (Rated MA15+) - this Irish historical period offering is Directed and Co-Written for the screen by Lance Daly and is based on a short story made into a short film called 'An Ranger' by Pierce Ryan and P.J. Dillon. The film saw its World Premier screening at the Berlin Film Festival back in March this year, was released in Ireland in September and now goes on a limited release here is Australia this week. Telling the story set in 1847 during the Great Famine of 1845-1849, of an Irish Ranger Martin Feeney (James Frecheville) who returns from war to find that his mother has died in the famine of starvation, and his brother has been hanged by the British having stabbed a bailiff during the family's eviction from their home. When his plans to emigrate to America fails, he starts a vendetta against the establishment in Ireland. Also starring Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Jim Broadbent, Freddie Fox and Barry Keoghan the film has received generally positive Reviews and has so far grossed US$2M.

'PEPPERMINT' (Rated MA15+) - here French film Director and Cinematographer Pierre Morel, whose previous Directing credits include 'District 13', 'Taken', 'From Paris With Love' and 'The Gunman', delivers us an American action vigilante movie that has been described by one Critic as 'Death Wish' on steroids'. Released in the US in early September, the film cost US$25M, has so far recovered US$49M but has received generally negative Press along the way. In this story Riley North (Jennifer Garner) awakens from a coma after surviving a brutal attack that killed her husband and daughter. When the system shields the murderers from justice, Riley sets out to transform herself over  a period of five years, from law abiding citizen to urban killing machine using all the close quarter combat tactics in the guerrilla playbook. Channelling her frustrations at the system and the injustice served into motivation, the young widow spends years in hiding teaching her mind, body and spirit to become an unstoppable force. Eluding a drug cartel underworld headed up by Diego Garcia (Juan Pablo Raba), the Police in the form of Detectives Stan Carmichael and Moises Beltran (John Gallagher Jnr. and John Ortiz respectively) and the FBI Agents Lisa Inman and Barker (Annie Illonzeh and Method Man respectively), Riley embarks on a deadly quest to deliver her own personal form of justice by utilising her own set of very particular skills.

'SPIDER-MAN : INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE' (Rated PG) - here we have a computer animated feature film based on the famed Marvel Comics character and produced by Columbia and Sony in association with Marvel. Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman the film cost US$90M to make, is released Stateside this week too and has generated widespread Critical acclaim for the quality of innovative animation, the story line, humour and voice acting. The film is set in a shared multiverse called the 'Spider-Verse', which features different alternate universes. Bitten by a radioactive spider, teenager Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into Spider-Man. Juggling his high-school demands with his new found super powers, he must now use his new skills to battle the Kingpin, aka Wilson Fisk (Liev Schreiber), a hulking madman who can open portals to other dimensions. Miles however, is one only of many Spider-Men (or Spider-Persons to be PC), including Peter Parker (voiced by Jake Johnson). Hailee Steinfeld voices Gwen Stacey aka Spider-Gwen, Lily Tomlin is May Parker, Zoe Kravitz is Mary Jane Watson and Nicolas Cage, Brian Tyree Henry, Oscar Isaac, Mahershala Ali, Kathryn Hahn and of course the obligatory cameo by the late great Stan Lee. A sequel is already in the early stages of development together with several potential spin-offs based on the buzz surrounding this feature. The film has been nominated for an early 2019 Golden Globe Award in the Best Animated Feature category.

With four 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-

THE GUNMAN : Thursday 16th April 2015.

I like a Sean Penn movie, and think his versatile acting talents are a drawcard in an age where often we have cardboard cut out characters, predictable personalities, and genre specific typecasting that can be summed up and pinned down in a 90 second trailer. And so it was that I saw Penn's latest offering 'THE GUNMAN' earlier in the week on its Australian opening night at my local multiplex. Directed by Pierre Morel who introduced the world to the Liam Neeson franchise 'Taken', in this film, based on the early 80's book 'The Prone Gunman' by Jean-Patrick Manchette, Penn takes a Screenwriting, Producing and Acting credit and doubtless chipped in with the US$40M production budget too.

The 54 year old Actor is looking more & more grizzled as every year passes with his weather beaten features, his lived in face and his increasingly rugged complexion, and maybe for this reason he is well cast as the ageing now retired ex-soldier Jim Terrier who eight years ago assassinated the Minister of Mining in the very fragile, politically unstable and economically retarded Congo.

Times are tough down Congo way in 2006 when the film opens, and so Terrier is part of a team supposedly acting as security on the construction of a new airstrip for use by a mining company who are exploiting various minerals, metals and mining opportunities from the resources rich country. But, Terrier is really part of an elite squad who have a particular set of skills that might just come in handy when the Minister of Mining decides to cancel all multi-million dollar mining contracts and put them up for grabs again in this corrupt economy. And so orders are given for Terrier and his team to take out the Minister and skip the continent pronto, with the job falling to Terrier to pull the trigger and get outta Dodge City leaving behind his love interest Annie (Jasmine Trinca) and his pals.

Eight years later Terrier has carved out a new life and decides to return to the Congo working for an NGO digging water wells to help the still downtrodden locals. A death squad arrive and seek to take out Terrier for reasons that at this point are unclear to him, but of course armed with his particular set of skills he dispenses with his quarry quick smart. Skipping Dodge City once again he ends up within 24 hours in London and seeks out his former employer for some advice, guidance, support and insight into who might be after him after all this time.

From this point forward the hunt is on as Terrier uncovers more unscrupulous former colleagues, more dodgy dealings, and foils more attempts on his life as the truth behind his part in the killing of the Minister in 2006 is revealed. From here the cat and mouse game takes us to Barcelona and then Gibraltar and then back again with scenes that are reminiscent of 'Bourne', 'Taken' and many others of this type. That said, the hand to hand fight scenes, the close quarter gun fire, and the action sequences are well handled but in reality nothing that you haven't seen before . . . probably many times.

The cast is strong and add gravitas to the story line including Javier Bardem as former colleague Felix who hooks up with Terrier's former love interest Annie after he moved on in 2006; then there is Ray Winstone as Stanley as long term friend and former colleague going back long before the events of the Congo unfolded. Idris Elba is DuPont, the CIA Agent investigating dodgy mining companies, dodgy security contractors and dodgy third world services providers and the one that gave the orders for Terrier's kill in the first place; and Mark Rylance as Cox the former head of Terrier's elite squad and now head of one such service provider on the cusp of winning a new mega contract but needs first to ensure there are no loose ends leading back to the events of 2006 . . . and Terrier is a loose end!

All of this adds up to a familiar tale of revenge & retribution, thrills & spills, fast paced action, and Sean Penn toned up, buffed up, and pumped up adding kick-ass action to his Resume just as Willis, Washington, Neeson, Stallone, and Schwarzenegger continue to do well into their 50's and 60's. In the final analysis you don't have to see this on the big screen and could easily wait three months for the DVD & BluRay release, but there are redeeming features and you could find worse things to spend your $20 on. If formulaic genre type action films of this type are up your alley then you're likely to enjoy this, and Penn does a solid job trying to stay alive throughout, kicking butt, and looking grizzled, toned and stoic as the body count rises.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 16th April 2015.

With just a few days of the Easter school holidays now left it seems we have this week the calm before the storm in terms of new movie releases to tempt us out to a local theatre. With some big budget blockbuster action fare coming our way in the next couple of months, this weeks offerings are relatively small fry compared to those, but nonetheless will find an audience for what they offer.

And what do they offer I hear you groan? First up we have an action thriller starring a Hollywood A-lister and a bunch of others who easily fall into that same category that should deliver in spades, but, is familiar territory trodden by others before! Then we have a romantic fantasy spanning decades with a woman harbouring an ageless secret that is in danger of being found out, but what will the consequences be on her and those around her; and finally a comedic sequel to a 'Segway' riding downbeat Security Cop who clearly thinks he is something he ain't, and is never likely to be, and so I wonder why are we even talking about this, but, there's sure to be a laugh in there somewhere!

When you have checked out this weeks latest cinematic offerings, or any of those still out on general release, share you views and opinions with your like minded friends in filmdom by leaving a Comment below this or any other Post. Enjoy your movie choice!

THE GUNMAN (Rated MA15+) - as a starting point this actioner is Directed by Frenchman Pierre Morel who was responsible for launching Liam Neeson's 'Taken' franchise, and is based on the 1981 novel 'The Prone Gunman' by Jean-Patrick Manchatte. Made for US$40M this action thriller sees Jim Terrier (Sean Penn) as an ex-soldier who eight years ago as part of a mercenary assassination team took out a Diplomatic Minister in The Congo, but as a result had to go into hiding to protect not only himself, but his team too for fear of retaliation. With tensions already running high in The Congo the kill added more fuel to an already uneasy fire.

Fast forward to the present day and Terrier has a new life and is working for an NGO when he returns to The Congo clearly expecting the dust to have long settled. Well, how wrong can a man be? When he is caught in the cross-fire of a hit squad there are deaths and mayhem aplenty as the net closes in around him, and those around him! Terrier goes back into hiding again all the while seeking to identify who has come out of the woodwork to move him on to the life hereafter, and why after all this time. The support cast here is strong enough to add plenty of weight to this story, including Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, and Mark Rylance, coupled with an accomplished action Director and the set pieces that action aficionados are likely to applaud.

THE AGE OF ADALINE (Rated M) - this is a romantic fantasy film spanning eight decades that is Directed by Lee Toland Krieger who got the gig after a number of other helmsmen were first associated with this outing before him. Made for US$25M this tells the story of 29 year old Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) who in the first half of the 20th century is involved in a car accident, and whilst she survives she I rendered ageless, and for all time moving forward she will forever be 29. Eight decades have past since that accident and Adaline has been able to maintain her secret by living a lonely life, not getting too involved with anyone, and keeping her distance from those who wanted to get close. One day a chance encounter with philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michael Huisman) rekindles her love of life, romance and adventure until a weekend with his parents threatens to reveal her story and the truth behind her ageless secret, that could in turn have far reaching repercussions for her forever. Also starring Harrison Ford as William Jones, Kathy Baker as Connie Jones, and Ellen Burstyn. This could be 'Benjamin Button' in reverse . . . perhaps!

PAUL BLART : MALL COP 2 (Rated PG) - the first film, Directed by Steve Carr, was released in early 2009 off the back of a US$26M production budget and brought home US$183M, so I guess it was inevitable that a sequel would come our way sooner rather than later. This time in the Director's chair we have Andy Fickman and a budget of US$38M, and like last time Adam Sandler gets a Producer credit as does the hero of the piece Kevin James who also co-wrote. So once again our Mall Cop on patrol riding his 'Segway' in and out of shopping precincts upholding justice, righting wrongs and apprehending miscreants is Paul Blart (Kevin James) who has earned a break and skips off to LA for some R&R with his teenage daughter before she heads off to College. Combining business with pleasure Blart Snr. and Blart Jnr. are there to holiday while Blart Snr. also attends a Security Expo. Stumbling across a heist on the hotel in which Blart & Blart are staying, it's the Segway riding Security enforcement officer to the rescue to foil them pesky good for nothing crooks and ensure justice, the law and the American way are upheld - no doubt with rip roaring gut busting side splitting hilarious consequences . . . maybe!

Three movies this week then giving us a mix of thrills, spills, action, romance, fantasy and comedy that won't be for everyone, but are sure to find a viewer or two willing to invest a hard earner dollar or twenty for two hours of so of big screen entertainment. If one such individual is you, then share your thoughts with us here at Odeon Online and reach out to our evert growing worldwide following.

Movies - see something this week!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-