NOBODY 2 : Tuesday 19th August 2025.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'NOBODY 2' earlier this week at my local multiplex, and this American action thriller film is Directed by Timo Tjahjanto who first burst onto the scene in 2009 as one half of The Mo Brothers with their feature length debut with 'Macabre', which they would follow up with 'Killers' in 2014, and 'Headshot' in 2016, and then in his own right 'May the Devil Take You' and 'The Night Comes for Us' both in 2018, 'May the Devil Take You Too' in 2020, 'The Big 4' in 2022 and 'The Shadow Strays' in 2024. This film was released in the US and here in Australia last week, has so far grossed US$19M off the back of a US$25M production budget and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

Here then, this sequel to 2021's 'Nobody' sees suburban husband, father and workaholic assassin Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk who also Co-Wrote the screenplay and Co-Produces here too) is forced to take on assignments for 'The Barber' (Colin Salmon) as an assassin to pay off a US$30M debt he owes after destroying a Russian obshchak. 

His relationship with his family has grown distant as a result, especially with his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen). Wanting a break to re-bond with his family, he plans a family trip to Plummerville, a somewhat outdated amusement park which he visited when he was much younger with his brother Harry (RZA) and father David (Christopher Lloyd), promising Becca to leave his life as Nobody for the duration of their holiday.

While at an amusement arcade at Plummerville, his teenage son Brady (Gage Munroe) gets in trouble after a teenager, Max Martin (Lucius Hoyos), destroys a plush toy meant for his younger sister Sammy (Paisley Cadorath). This results in the whole family being kicked out. When an employee slaps the back of Sammy's head, Hutch impulsively beats up the staff, drawing the ire of both Wyatt Martin (John Ortiz), the owner of the amusement park, and Abel (Colin Hanks), a corrupt sheriff. Wyatt wants Hutch and his family kicked out, but Abel secretly tells his men to kill them. 

The next day, on a river boat, Hutch is attacked by some of Abel's men, losing the tip of his pinky finger in the process. He soon finds out from his brother, Harry, that Plummerville is a bootlegging route, while The Barber informs him that the route belongs to Lendina (Sharon Stone), whom Abel works for, and Wyatt has to pay off. When Wyatt tells Lendina this is his last payment and that his original debt is now cleared, she has Abel kidnap his son, Max. 

Hutch, wanting to de-escalate the situation, tells Abel that he and his family will leave town. But, when he sees the kidnapped Max bound and gagged, he decides to rescue him and burns a stack of Lendina's money and drugs, and blows up their warehouse in the process, scarring Abel for life.

Hutch and Max head to an old lodge where David was staying, and Brady and Max reconcile their differences. While Becca is angry that he couldn't keep his promise of not getting into more trouble, she tells him that she's not going anywhere, and he must fix it. He and Wyatt reconcile and prepare the amusement park for Lendina's arrival, with help from Harry and David.

Later that night with the theme park cleared of all tourists, Abel saunters up to Hutch and Wyatt and delivers them an ultimatum while Lendina and her small army of henchmen look on, saying that they can accompany him and risk their fate, or stand and fight and face certain death. Needless to say Hutch and Wyatt decide to stand their ground and as Abel turns and walks back he is executed at Lendina's command for being an annoyance, while most of her men are killed by Hutch and Wyatt. 

Harry kills Lendina's henchmen at the lodge, while Wyatt is shot in the leg, and David is knocked unconscious. Lendina attacks Hutch, but is tranquilised first in the shoulder and then in the eye by Becca. David recovers just in time to blow up the park, killing Lendina and the remainder of her men in the process. 

Hutch and Becca embrace and then dive headlong into a water feature to escape the burning explosions all around them as the park erupts in a ball of flame. After being interrogated in an unknown hangar, Hutch and Becca are freed on orders from an anonymous source. Later on, the family watches a visual album of their Plummerville holiday.

'Nobody 2' is B-movie action fare writ large, which packs a punch (pun intended) when Hutch's back is against the wall, and there are a couple of genuine laugh out loud moments to be enjoyed here. Bob Odenkirk does a fine job of playing the somewhat down at heel suburban, yet nonetheless loveable, dad and family man masking a cold hearted killer when he's doing his day job as a latter day hero. Sharon Stone turns in an all too brief role as the main antagonist here arriving on the scene well beyond the half-way mark, and Connie Nielsen get's her moment in the sun when she takes out Lendina with a tranquiliser gun. However, this film follows the formula of most sequels and fails to deliver the story we all hope for, instead opting for cartoonish action sequences delivered by half baked cookie cutter characters. All of that said, this film lacks the originality and the polish of the first film, but it is serviceable yet easily forgettable, and at an 89 minute runtime it doesn't leave you wanting either. 

'Nobody 2' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

FADING GIGOLO - Wednesday 4th June 2014.

I ventured out on a rainy Sydney night to Collaroy on Wednesday evening to see 'FADING GIGOLO' which is still just about doing the rounds. Directed, written and starring John Turturro this delightful little film is one of an occasional directorial outing for Mr. Turturro who is usually seen in front of the camera. That said he has aligned a solid cast that includes his offsider here Murray (played by Woody Allen seen more these days behind the camera than in front) with various love/sex interests that for the most part are Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara and Vanessa Paradis (in her English language debut), and along the way trying to maintain the straight and narrow as Jewish local law keeper is Liev Schreiber.

The plot is simple enough - two long term friends Fioravante/Virgil (Turturro) and Murray (Allen) are down on their luck and down on their money, when Murray announces one day that when talking to his dermatologist Dr. Parker (Stone) she stated an interest in a 'menage a trois', and did he know anyone that could help the cause? Murray of course springs to action with a thought that Fioravante could fit the bill and could be willing if the price were agreeable. And so Murray becomes Fioravante's ageing 'pimp' and when business picks up the latter creates a 'stage' name for himself . . . and so 'Virgil' is born! After various assignments the 'menage a trios' occurs with Stone's friend - the curvaceous, buxom, and willing Selima (Vergara).

All of this is set with the backdrop of Brooklyn's Jewish community and so enter Avigal (Paradis) the widow of a former basketball champ who has been in enforced mourning for two years as her religious beliefs dictate, and craves some connection to combat her desperate loneliness. And so Virgil seeks to lend his services but is overcome with respect, compassion and love to the extent that any sexual contact is pushed to the sidelines. Meanwhile local Jewish policeman Dovi (Schreiber) has been besotted with Avigal since they were kids having grown up across the street from each other, but he never had the courage to quite tell her how much he loves her . . . until now, when there is another suitor on the block and his hand is forced for fear of loosing her.

This film gives us a handful of sharp witted lovable characters interspersed with sexual longing, awakening and a needing to belong. Turturro does a solid job both in front and behind the camera, but for me this is Allen's film, and it has his trademarks all over it. His laconic, neurotic, idiosyncratic dialogue and mannerisms are a treat and makes the film what it is, together with the backdrop of his beloved city make this so much more that your average tween/twenty something rom-com.

You can rush out and see it at your local independent movie theatre (where it is more likely to be playing), or wait for the dvd/Bluray which will be out soon, but certainly worth a viewing.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 1st May 2014.

Easter School holidays are done, kids back at school, the Winter days drawing in and this weeks new releases have a decidedly more mature, adult feel. That said there are still plenty of movies doing the rounds that will appeal to the child/teen market, but if Mum & Dad what a night off then there are three offerings to tempt your movie going dollar and give you something a little more deep, meaningful and thought provoking.

When you've decided which is the one for you, sit back, relax, chomp on your bucket 'o' popcorn, and slurp on your gallon of brown fizzy stuff and enjoy the movie!

FADING GIGOLO - John Turturro writes, directs and stars as our fading gigolo of the title here who down on his luck, job and money thinks he has all the makings of an ageing gigolo more than capable of satisfying the mind, body and soul of any woman. Supported by his also cash starved friend and self appointed manager (Woody Allen) the two embark on a series of encounters with the fairer sex that has our gigolo doing the jiggy jiggy with Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara and Vanessa Paradis (in her first English language film) with various curved balls thrown in for good measure. These include Brooklyn's Jewish community, the disconnect with what the body yearns for and what your Religion will allow, and of course the line between money and love/sex/instant gratification. Set against the back drop of NYC, and with Woody Allen's influences upon John Turturro this could be quietly and charmingly worth a look.

YOUNG & BEAUTIFUL - from French Director, Francois Ozon and with subtitles, this is a coming of age, sexual awakening story centering around 17 year old Isabelle (Marine Vatch) who upon losing her virginity moves on quickly to become a call girl unknown to her family and closest friends. A relationship develops with an older client, and then her secret begins to unravel as her Mother discovers her double life and complications ensue. Set across four seasons, this is described as a slow burning film that will rein you in and captivate you from beginning to end as it twists and weaves and Isabelle searches for her true identity amidst her young fractured life.

52 TUESDAYS - as the name implies this film was shot over 52 consecutive Tuesdays spanning a year. It features a largely unknown cast of non-professional acting talent and directed by Sophie Hyde in her debut as film-maker. This Australian production filmed in Adelaide took out best film at the Berlin Film Festival. It centres around gender transition from mother Jane to becoming father James and the relationship with teenage daughter Billie whose story of teen angst and confusion dovetails in with her own sexual awakening, the re-establishment of a relationship with her father, and the mental and emotional readjustment of the relationships that must follow as a result of these actions that unfold over the course of the year on screen. Prepare for a roller coaster ride.

Decidedly catering for the adult audience this week, these films will not be to everyone's taste but it seems that sex is on for young and not so young, for the serious and not so serious, and for the confused and the experienced. Enjoy your outing to the movies this week, and let me know what you think.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-