What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 3rd August 2023.

The 71st Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) this year launches on Thursday 3rd August and runs through until Sunday 20th August. MIFF is a not-for-profit organisation that has been continuously running since 1952, making it the leading film festival in Australia and one of the world’s oldest film festivals, alongside Cannes and Berlin. Presenting a curated global programme of innovative screen experiences and the world’s largest showcase of exceptional Australian filmmaking, MIFF is an accessible, iconic cultural event that provides transformative experiences for audiences and filmmakers alike. The festival takes place annually in various cinemas in the Melbourne CBD, presenting an acclaimed screening programme including films from local and international filmmakers, alongside industry events.

This years Opening Night Gala film is 'Shayda' from Australia and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Noora Niasari and tells the story of Shayda, a brave Iranian mother, who finds refuge in an Australian women’s shelter with her six-year-old daughter. Over Persian New Year, they take solace in Nowruz rituals and new beginnings, but when her estranged husband re-enters their lives, Shayda’s path to freedom is jeopardised. The Closing Night Gala film presentation is 'Theater Camp' Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman and follows a ragtag cast and crew of theatre nerds who bring extra drama to save their beloved summer camp.

MIFF’s film competition, Bright Horizons, recognises the new, the next, the breakthrough and the best, with an extraordinary international line-up of first and second time filmmakers competing for one of the richest film prizes in the world - AU$140K. Eleven feature films are in competition, as given below :-

* 'Ama Gloria' - from France and Written and Directed by Marie Amachoukeli in her feature film debut. The drama film tells the story of six-year-old French girl Cleo's bond with her Cape Verdean nanny, Gloria. 

* 'Animalia' - from France, Morocco and Qatar and Written and Directed by Sofia Alaoui in her feature film debut. This drama Sci-Fi uses an alien invasion to peer across the stakes of faith and family in contemporary Morocco.

* 'Banel & Adama' - from France and Senegal and Written and Directed by Ramata-Toulaye Sy. This drama film is a haunting tale of two star-crossed lovers set in a rural Senegalese village.

* 'Disco Boy' - from Belgium, France, Italy and Poland and Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Giacomo Abbruzzese. This dramatic thriller sees a rogue Belarusian harbouring dreams of slipping unnoticed across the French border, but the aspiration soon sours stumbling from terrible loss into the arms of the French Foreign Legion.

* 'Earth Mama' - from the USA and Written and Directed by Savanah Leaf. This drama film is about a young heavily pregnant black woman caught up in a spiral of institutional disadvantage.

* 'Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell' - from France, Singapore, Spain and Vietnam and Written, Directed and Edited by Pham Thien An. This drama film sees a detached and morose Saigon thirtysomething man who has little idea that his life is about to be pushed towards a vast spiritual reckoning, as he embarks on a mystical journey across a beguiling rural Vietnam.

* 'How to Have Sex' - from Greece and the UK and Written and Directed by Molly Manning Walker. High school is over and, before the reality of exam results hits, a trio of British teenagers are determined to have the 'Best! Holiday! Ever!' Tara, Em and Skye arrive in Malia, a party town in Crete, primed for a blowout of clubbing, binge-drinking and attempts at seduction.

* 'The Rooster' - from Australia and Written and Directed by Mark Leonard Winter in his film making debut. Here, a hermit and a suspended cop form an unlikely connection amid crisis while camping out in a remote forest, but, surrounded by trees, far away from any trace of civilisation, is everything really as it seems? World Premiere screening.

* 'Shayda' - from Australia and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Noora Niasari in her feature film Directorial debut. The film tells the story of a mother seeking a new life for herself and her daughter.

* 'The Sweet East' - from the USA and photographed and Directed by Sean Price Williams in his feature film making debut. This comedy drama film is about a school girl separated from her classmates on a school trip to Washington, DC who finds herself on a feverish journey through the eastern seaboard, falling into the orbit (or trap) of various freaks and interlopers who call the great nation of the US home.

* 'Totem' - from Denmark, France and Mexico and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Lila Aviles. This family drama presents a seven year old child’s-eye view of love, loss and life in all their messy, glorious, heartbreaking colour.

For all the other programme sections, the Australian films, the headlining films, MIFF Shorts, plus a whole lot more good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://miff.com.au/

Turning attention then back to this weeks six new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we kick off with an American comedy offering that sees this adult son telling his old-school Italian immigrant father that he is going to propose to his all-American girlfriend, and Dad insists on crashing a weekend with her wealthy parents. This is followed by a biographical drama film about the illegitimate son of an African enslaved and a French plantation owner, who rises to heights in French society as a composer before an ill-fated love affair. Next up is a sequel to a 2018 movie about giant megalodon sharks surfacing from the deepest depths of the ocean causing mayhem above the water and below it too. Then we turn to a British comedy about a dream the women of Ballygar have to taste freedom - to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes. Following on from this is an Australian doco that sees this northern NSW farm besieged by drought, bushfires and ecological despair, and so begins a journey of discovery to regenerate the soil beneath the feet of this famed Aussie Actress and the land on her farm; before closing out the week with a French drama film about a man setting out to walk across France after an accident that could have left him unable to walk at all.

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

'ABOUT MY FATHER' (Rated PG) - this American comedy film is Directed by Laura Terruso whose prior feature film making efforts take in her 2017 debut with 'Fits and Starts', then 'Good Girls Get High' in 2018, and 'Work It' in 2020. This film is Co-Written and stars the American stand-up comedian and Actor Sebastian Maniscalco and is loosely based on his life and his relationship with his father. This film was released in the US towards the end of May, has so far grossed US$16M off the back of a production budget of US$29M and has garnered generally unfavourable reviews. 

Sebastian (Sebastian Maniscalco) informs his traditional Italian immigrant father Salvo (Robert De Niro) about his plan to propose to his American girlfriend Ellie (Lesley Bibb), and Salvo insists on joining them for a weekend with her wealthy and extremely eccentric parents (Kim Cattrall and David Rasche). Despite the clash between their two cultures and initial perception of having nothing in common, they eventually become a single, unified family by the end of the summer holiday weekend.

'CHEVALIER' (Rated M) - is an American biographical drama film Directed by Stephen Williams whose previous big screen Directorial efforts are 'Soul Survivor' in 1995, 'Shadow Zone : My Teacher Ate My Homework' in 1997 and 'Milgaard' in 1999. Since then, Williams has worked extensively in TV. This film is based on the life of the titular French-Caribbean musician Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (Kelvin Harrison Jnr.), who lived from 1745 until 1799, the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, who rose to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist, conductor, composer, a champion fencer and a fine dancer complete with a love affair and falling out with Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton). Also starring Samara Weaving, Marton Csokas and Minnie Driver. It saw its World Premiere screening at TIFF in mid-September last year, was released in the US in late April, has so far grossed US$4M and has generated mostly favourable critical reviews. 

'THE MEG 2 : THE TRENCH' (Rated M) - this Sci-Fi action horror film is Directed by Ben Wheatley whose previous feature film making outings take in his 2009 debut with 'Down Terrace' which he would follow up with the likes of 'A Field in England' in 2013, 'High Rise' in 2015, 'Free Fire' in 2016, 'Happy New Year, Colin Burstead' in 2018, 'Rebecca' in 2020, and 'In the Earth' in 2021. This film is the sequel to 2018's 'The Meg' (which grossed US$530M at the global Box Office) and is based on the 1999 novel 'The Trench' by Steve Alten. Here then, Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham, who reprises his role from the first film) leads a research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitched against colossal, prehistoric sharks and relentless environmental plunderers, they must outrun, outsmart and outswim their merciless predators. Also starring Cliff Curtis and Page Kennedy (also both reprising their roles from the first film) and Wu Jing, it is due for release in the US this week too. 

'THE MIRACLE CLUB' (Rated PG) - is a British drama film Directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan whose previous feature film making offerings take in his debut in 1978 with 'On a Paving Stone Mounted', 'December Bride' in 1990, 'Nothing Personal' in 1995, 'Ordinary Decent Criminal' in 2000, 'The Heart of Me' in 2002, 'Stella Days' in 2011 and 'Citizen Lane' in 2018. Here then, set in 1960, the women of Ballyfermot, Ireland, dream of winning a pilgrimage to Lourdes in France. Four close friends 'win' a life-changing ticket at their local raffle night, thanks to their interfering priest. Starring Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, Agnes O'Casey and Stephen Rea the film saw its World Premiere screening at the Tribeca Film Festival in early June, was released in the US mid last month, and is released in the UK at the end of September. It has received mixed or average reviews and has so far grossed US$1.6M at the Box Office.

'RACHEL'S FARM' (Rated PG) - this Australian documentary film is Directed by the British born Australian Actress, Director and Writer Rachel Ward whose previous feature film making credits include 'Martha's New Coat' in 2003, 'Beautiful Kate' in 2009 and 'Palm Beach' in 2019. For many years, Rachel's Nambucca Valley beef farm in northern New South Wales, Australia was a family retreat, conventionally farmed by Rachel’s neighbour Mick. The 2019 Black Summer fires spared the farm, but the near-miss sets Rachel thinking hard about the future. Mick encourages Rachel to challenge established farming practices, and take on a new approach which starts from the soil up. Its hands-on hard graft, but she’s determined, and her joy at finding solutions is palpable. 'Rachel’s Farm' is about the environmental threats we face, but it’s also the story of one woman’s resolve to tackle them head on, intent on making a difference. Rachel has been married to Australian Actor Bryan Brown since 1983.

'ON THE WANDERING PATHS' (Rated M) - is a French drama film Co-Written and Directed by Denis Imbert whose two prior feature film making credits are 'Vicky' in 2015 and 'Vicky and Her Mystery' in 2021. This film is based on the book of the same name by Sylvain Tesson. Here Jean Dujardin plays Pierre Girard a famous explorer and writer, who travels regularly throughout the world. One day, climbing a hotel frontage while drunk, he falls from high and winds up in a deep coma. When he awakes, he has difficulty walking but, against everyone's advice, he decides to walk through France from Provence to Mont Saint-Michel, following forgotten pathways. The film was released in its native France towards the end of March and is released this week here in Australia having so far grossed US$8M. 

With six 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-

PALM BEACH : Friday 9th August 2019.

I saw 'PALM BEACH' towards the end of last week, and this M Rated Australian drama comedy offering is Directed and Co-Written by Australian Actress, film and television Director and Screenwriter Rachel Ward and stars an ensemble cast set amidst the back drop of Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The film had its Premier screening at the recent Sydney Film Festival, went on general release in Australia on 8th August and has so far met with mostly mixed Reviews.




To mark a milestone birthday, Frank (Bryan Brown and real life husband of Rachel Ward) and his wife Charlotte (Greta Scacchi) decide to throw a three-day party to celebrate at their luxurious house at Palm Beach, welcoming their nearest and dearest friends. Frank flies in long term friends Leo (Sam Neill) and his wife Bridget (Jacqueline McKenzie) and Billy (Richard E. Grant) and his wife Eva (Heather Mitchell) from various corners of the globe having arrived Business Class in Sydney and then flown by private charter seaplane upto the ritzy Northern Beaches oceanside suburb of Palm Beach. Upon arrival the two couples are ushered into the spectacularly lavish, light, airy and spacious home overlooking the peninsula out to the lighthouse perched atop Barrenjoey Headland. Almost immediately the Dom Perignon is flowing and the gathered families including adult children sit down to a lavish meal of prawns, oysters, salmon, more Champagne and wine aplenty. By now we have also learned that Frank, Leo and Billy were once involved in a band together called 'The Pacific Sideburns' who had one hit record called 'Fearless' back in 1977 but little beyond that.

Rounding out the guest list are Frank and Charlotte's grown up kids - the aimless son Dan (Charlie Vickers) and new doctor Ella (Matilda Brown, and real life daughter of Brown and Ward), with Caitlin (Frances Berry) the daughter of Leo and Bridget, together with Holly (Claire van der Boom) the daughter of a departed friend and her new sheep farmer beau Doug (Aaron Jeffrey).

After a satisfying lunch, the hosts and guests all settle down in various parts of the house enjoying a night cap and pleasant conversation. All that though is about to implode as Leo confides in Charlotte that he had a recent skin cancer scare from which he is now fully recovered and that he deeply regrets a decision they and Frank made together twenty years ago and is now willing to tear their families apart so that the truth can finally emerge. This news comes as a devastating blow to Charlotte who Leo tasks with telling Frank of his decision after all these years. Just then Leo and Charlotte are called into the lounge to watch an award winning French TV commercial for adult incontinence nappies put together by Billy but using their song 'Fearless' as the backdrop to the ad. No one up to this point has seen the ad, not even Eva, and when Leo and Frank hear their music in the background they are needless to say furious.

The next morning Frank makes his peace with Billy and they all go off for a surf. And so another day begins and so does another day of eating and drinking. Amidst all of this Frank tasks his guests with the construction of an outdoor pizza oven, Bridget lets it slip that she believes that Leo has never really loved her, and Eva as a jobbing Actress is torn between a part playing a grandmother in an upcoming movie much to Billy's constant derisory comments that at 60, she is still too young to be playing such roles, despite the fact that such roles are the only one's now being offered to her.

Added to this there is Holly and Doug's emerging romance, the fact that Frank is secretly on anti-depressants and ever since he sold his hugely successful sportswear company, 'Swagger Gear', he has felt 'dead inside' and he can barely relate to his no hope son, Dan. And the final insult to Frank is Billy's constant comments about twin chimney pots blotting the view from the house out across the Headland and the two bodies of water either side - to which Frank responds after several niggling comments by taking a hammer to said chimney pots in a fit of rage, only to be rescued down from his ladder by his gathered friends, but not before Frank has muttered a few terse words in their direction.

The next night the friends are all taken by boat to a beachside restaurant where more celebrations follow and a firework display in Frank's honour. Ella makes a speech to mark her fathers birthday which starts off very negatively but ends on a positive one to which Frank is invited to respond but is so overcome with emotion that he can't. One on the walk home Holly reveals to Doug after he has asked for her hand in marriage, that she is not the one for him, and he is obviously knocked for six by her rebuttal.

The next day the group board the boat once again and head up the waterway to a secluded spot and enjoy another lavish lunch at a picnic spot under the trees. Doug has repaired the outboard motor to Franks speed boat, so enabling Dan to take out Caitlin on a doughnut. While speeding along Dan is distracted and to avoid a collision with a youngster enjoying himself out on the water swerves the boat, loses control and is tossed overboard and knocked unconscious in the fall. He is rushed to hospital in an ambulance with a very concerned Frank and Charlotte by his side, while the other house guests all return to Palm Beach in a very sombre mood awaiting news. Doug meanwhile has said goodbye to Holly for the last time.

In hospital Dan regains consciousness and it is determined that he has a broken collar bone only and is therefore out of danger. Frank makes his peace with Dan and vows never to question him again, and Dan responds tearfully that he'll make his own way in the world and will prove himself worthy. Holly meanwhile texts Doug to say simply that she can't have children, at which point he turns the car around and returns to Palm Beach.

With all of this going on Leo, Charlotte and Frank confront each other over the secret that they have harboured for over twenty years. And that is who is the true biological father of Dan. Leo believes it his him, following a one night stand with Charlotte, even though Frank has raised him. Ella overhearing the discussion comes to the rescue with the results of a DNA test that she and Dan had done some years ago proving that 99.95% that they are biological brother and sister, and unless Leo slept with Charlotte giving rise to Ella as well, then they must both be Frank's children. And so this matter too is resolved once and for all.

The next morning Eva awakes early, packs her things and tells Billy that she is leaving him, for good. She orders a cab, it arrives and off they drive with Billy chasing the cab on foot down the drive. He implores Eva to give him one last chance, apologises profusely for his actions, his attitude and the things that he has said and done. Reluctantly she agrees to come back on the basis that he promises that the next ten years will be their best ten years. As the sun sets on another day, the pizza oven has been fired up, cocktails are shaken and the party gets underway once again and everything is good in the world.

'Palm Beach' is a take it or leave it, something and nothing, style over substance kinda movie where the views, the vistas and the stunning scenery seen from the sun soaked deck of an opulent unspoilt abode perched above the ocean on one side and Pittwater on the other take priority over the plot. This is the story of a largely group of seniors (aged 60 years+) with their affluent, privileged lifestyle living off the royalties of their one hit wonder from yesteryear and their subsequent mostly successful careers, and their close knit mateship, all suffering from first world problems, getting under the skin of each other but willing to forgive and forget in a heartbeat because they, after all, are long term friends and all disputes can be settled with a good feed washed down with a chilled Chardonnay. Ward has assembled a fine cast of Antipodean movie royalty here (many of whom have worked numerous times with each other over the years) and you certainly get a sense that filming this movie must have been a hoot all the way through. But, I was left wanting more melodrama, more laughs, and more substance in what is described as a drama comedy, rather than just being kept engaged by a film that really has few standout moments other than the backdrop of Palm Beach and the environs itself.

'Palm Beach' warrants two claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard, from a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 8th August 2019.

A couple of weeks ago I posted an overview of the 2019 Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) now in full swing and running from Thursday 1st August through until Sunday 18th August. Melbourne is a significant city in the history of film with 1906's 'The Story of the Kelly Gang' being the world's first full-length feature film and filmed in the city. Established in 1952, the MIFF is one of the oldest film festivals in the world and has become the most notable screen event in Australia. An iconic Melbourne event, the festival takes place annually in various theatres within the Melbourne CBD, presenting an acclaimed screening program including films from local and international filmmakers, alongside industry events.

I featured an overview of Australian Films, International Films and Headliners in that earlier post, so this time I'll turn attention to two of the other strands featured during the festival.

Animation :
Offering filmmakers a freedom unavailable in live action, Animation brings us some of the most inventive and extraordinary films. As a way to explore troubling histories, equally troublesome contemporary realities, flights of fancy and heartfelt coming-of-age tales that could only be told through this medium, these films bring to life wildly imaginative stories.

* 'Bunuel in the Labyrinth of Turtles' : from Holland and Spain and Directed by Salvador Simo.

* 'Cats' : from China and Directed by Gary Wang.

* 'Children of the Sea' : from Japan and Directed by Ayumu Watanabe.

* 'Funan' : from Cambodia, Belgium, France and Luxembourg, and Directed by Denis Do.

* 'I Lost My Body' : from France and Directed by Jeremy Clapin and winner of the Cannes Critics Week Grand Prix.

* 'Okko's Inn' : from Japan, and Directed by Kitaro Kosaka.

* 'The Swallows of Kabul' : from France and Directed by Elea Gobbe-Mevellec and Zabou Breitman.

* 'Violence Voyager' : from Japan and Directed by Ujicha.

Night Shift :

This is the home of things that go bump in the dark, weird, eerie, outlandish and hilarious cinematic spaces. It offers die-hard genre lovers with a taste for the provocative and unusual all the aliens, sci-fi puppet violence, possessed clothing, surreal suburbs and Indigenous horror they can handle. From creepy psychological thrillers and stoner comedy to misunderstood masterpieces and uncanny horror fables. Included in this strand are : 

* 'Berberian Sound Studio' ; from the UK and Directed by Peter Strickland and starring Toby Jones.

* 'Come to Daddy' : from the USA, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand, and Directed by Ant Timpson and starring Elijah Wood.

* 'Dark Place' : from Australia and Directed by five up & coming Indigenous film makers Bjorn Stewart, Kodie Bedford, Liam Phillips, Perun Bonser and Rob Braslin with a horror anthology made up of 'Killer Native', 'Scout', 'Foe', 'The Shore' and 'Vale Light' respectively.

* 'In Fabric' : from the UK, and Directed by Peter Strickland and starring Gwendloine Christie.
* 'The Dead Don't Die' : from the USA and Directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Danny Glover, Steve Buscemi, Iggy Pop, Tilda Swinton, Tom Waits, Rosie Perez, Selena Gomez, Chloe Sevigny, Carol Kane and Caleb Landry Jones.

* 'Deerskin' : from France and Directed by Quentin Dupieux and starring Adele Haenel and Jean Dujardin.

* 'Extra Ordinary' : from Belgium and Ireland and Directed by Enda Loughman and Mike Ahern and starring Will Forte, Maeve Higgins and Claudia O'Doherty. 

* 'Koko-Di Koko-Da' : from Denmark and Sweden and Directed by Johannes Nyholm and starring Leif Edlund and Peter Belli.

* 'The Lodge' : from the USA and UK, and Directed by Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz and starring Alicia Silverstone, Richard Armitage and Riley Keough.

* 'Memory - The Origins of 'Alien'' : from the USA and Directed by Alexandre O Phillipe.

* 'Something Else' : from the USA and Directed by Christian Stella and Jeremy Gardner and starring Brea Grant and Jeremy Gardner.

You can get more details of these films and others featured in these strands, together with all the news and views of the Melbourne International Film Festival at the official website, at : https://www.miff.com.au/

This week we have five latest release cinematic offerings coming to an Odeon near you. Kicking off then, we have a horror film set amongst the backdrop of a folk festival in rural Sweden that occurs just once every ninety years, and for small group of American and English ring-ins this seemingly harmless summertime festival soon turns their world upside down and inside out. We then have an Aussie dramedy set on Sydney's Northern Beaches that could be described as 'Home and Away' for Seniors as a group of long term friends celebrate a birthday with an old secret and harboured resentments coming to the fore to mire the festivities. Next up is an American dramedy about an almost has-been late night TV host who is saved from the axe by a young Indian decent woman with a skill for writing and a sharp wit. We then turn to a Vietnam War film featuring an infamous battle that occurred in August 1966 between the Australian forces and the local Viet Cong for which both sides claimed victory; and we close out the week with a true story of a white lion in Africa rescued by  a young teenage English girl and guided through the African Savannah to find a safe haven for her special four legged friend.

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

'MIDSOMMAR' (Rated R18+) - this folk horror film is Directed and Written by Ari Aster of 'Hereditary' fame - his highly praised feature length supernatural psychological horror Directorial debut starring Toni Collette, Ann Dowd and Gabriele Byrne which grossed US$80M off the back of a US$10M production budget. This film was made for US$9M, was released in the US and the UK in early July, has so far grossed US$32M and has been widely praised by Critics.

With their relationship in trouble, a young American couple - Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh) and Christian Hughes (Jack Reynor) travel to a fabled Swedish midsummer festival that occurs but once every ninety years where a seemingly rural country paradise transforms into a sinister, dread-soaked nightmare as the locals reveal their terrifying agenda. Also starring Will Poulter, William Jackson Harper and Vilhelm Blomgren.

'PALM BEACH' (Rated M) - Directed and Co-Written by Australian Actress, film and television Director and Screenwriter Rachel Ward this Australian drama comedy offering stars an ensemble cast set amidst the back drop of Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches. To mark his 73rd birthday, Frank (Bryan Brown and real life husband of Rachel Ward) and Charlotte (Greta Scacchi) decide to throw a three-day party to celebrate at their luxurious house in Palm Beach, welcoming their nearest and dearest friends. Frank, Leo (Sam Neill) and Billy (Richard E. Grant) were once involved in a band together called 'The Pacific Sideburns' who had one hit record back in 1977 but little beyond that. Rounding out the guest list are Billy's partner, beautiful actress Eva (Heather Mitchell); Bridget (Jacqueline McKenzie), who feels that husband Leo is increasingly distant; and the hosts' children Dan and Ella - with new sheepfarmer beau Doug (Charlie Vickers and Matilda Brown and Aaron Jeffrey respectively). The party starts well as to be expected, with mouth-watering food and flowing champagne aplenty but it doesn't take long for new and old resentments to surface and, more seriously, the threat of an old secret potentially coming to light. The film had its Premier screening at the recent Sydney Film Festival.

'LATE NIGHT' (Rated M) - Canadian Director, Producer and Screenwriter Nisha Ganatra here Directs this American drama comedy offering that is Written, Co-Produced and stars Mindy Kaling in the joint lead role together with Emma Thompson. The film saw its Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in late January, went on release in the US in early June, has so far grossed US$17M off the back of a mere US$4M production budget and has garnered largely positive press so far. And so legendary late-night talk show host and comedienne Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson) is told by the network President Caroline Morton (Amy Ryan) to fix up her show and grow her steadily declining ratings otherwise face the chop. Katherine's world is however, turned upside down when she hires her only female staff writer Molly Patel (Mindy Kaling) on the basis that she is an Indian-American while the rest of her writing crew are made up mostly of older white men. Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, her decision has unexpected hilarious consequences as the two women separated by culture and generation are united by their love of a biting punchline. Also starring John Lithgow, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Denis O'Hare and Max Casella.

'DANGER CLOSE : THE BATTLE OF LONG TAN' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian Vietnam War film is Directed by Kriv Stenders whose previous film making credits include 'Red Dog', 'Kill Me Three Times', 'Red Dog : True Blue', 'Australia Day' and the made for TV movie remake of 'Wake in Fright' most recently. Made for US$35M the film charts the story of of the Battle of Long Tan on 18th August 1966 which took place in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, in South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. The action was fought between the Viet Cong and People's Army of Viet Cong units and elements of the 1st Australian Task Force, with both sides claiming victory in the aftermath. The operation ended on 21st August. The film stars Travis Fimmel as Major Harry Smith who was the Commanding Officer during the battle, Luke Bracey, Richard Roxburgh, Matt Doran and Stephen Peacocke.

'MIA AND THE WHITE LION' (Rated PG) - this French produced family adventure film is Directed and Co-Produced by Gilles de Maistre and was released in its native France in late December last year, in the US in mid-April and now its get a theatrical run in Australia this week. The film has so far made US$36M at the Box Office and has generated mixed or average Reviews. Mia Owen's (Daniah De Villiers) life gets turned upside down when her family decides to leave London to manage a lion farm in South Africa. When a beautiful white lion named Charlie is born, the 10-year-old finds happiness once again as she develops a special bond with the growing cub. When Mia uncovers a secret that puts Charlie, now aged three, in danger, she sets out on an incredible journey across the wild South African Savannah in search of a sanctuary for her beloved friend. Also starring Melanie Laurent, Langley Kirkwood and Ryan MacLennan as the rest of the Owen family.

With five new release movies 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-