What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 11th July 2024.

Well hello again to all you movie goers, you cinephiles and you film fanatics the world over, I'm back after a five month hiatus from bringing you Odeon Online at least twice a week. Normal service is resumed and it's good to return to your screens with all the latest goings on at your local big screen Odeon, so stay tuned, locked in and online for more of the good stuff from across the world of cinema.

So getting straight back into it, this week there are four new movies coming to your local Odeon, all of which hail from the US. Launching with a stand alone sequel to a hugely successful 1996 film that this time around sees a retired tornado-chaser and meteorologist persuaded to return to Oklahoma to work with a new team and new weather-alert technologies. Then we turn to a triptych offering that are loosely connected that sees a man seeking to break free from his predetermined path; a cop who questions his wife's demeanour after her return from a supposed drowning; and a woman in search for an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual leader. This is followed by a romantic dramedy that sees a marketing maven and a by the book launch director who must team up for a mission set against the high stakes backdrop of NASA's 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing; and wrapping up the week we have a horror slasher movie that is the reported third and final outing in this trilogy set this time in 1980's Hollywood when an adult film star and aspiring actress finally gets her big break, but, as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.

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.

'TWISTERS' (Rated M) - this American action adventure disaster film is Directed by Lee Isaac Chung who rose to fame and recognition with 'Minari' in 2020 which went on to collect 122 award wins and a further 245 nominations from around the awards and festival circuit. This film is a stand alone sequel to the 1996 film 'Twister' which starred Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, was Directed Jan de Bont and grossed US$495M against a production budget of US$90M. 

Still wracked by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is lured back to the wide open plains by her friend, Javi (Anthony Ramos), to test a groundbreaking yet experimental weather alert system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charming but often reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As the tornado season intensifies, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple storm systems converge over central Oklahoma. This film had a production budget of US$200M and is released stateside next week on 19th July. 

'KINDS OF KINDNESS' (Rated MA15+) - labelled an absurdist black comedy anthology film this is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by the acclaimed Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos whose previous film output includes 'The Lobster', 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer', 'The Favourite' and 'Poor Things' most recently. Structured as a 'triptych fable', this film comprises three distinct but loosely connected stories, titled 'The Death of R.M.F.' which follows a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life; 'R.M.F. is Flying', about a Policeman who is alarmed that his wife who was missing-at-sea has returned and seems a different person; and 'R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich' about a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader. The films stars Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn and Mamoudou Athie, saw its World Premiere screening at this years Cannes Film Festival, was released in the US on the 21st June, in the UK on 28th June and this week here in Australia, having so far grossed US$6M off the back of a US$15M production budget. 

'FLY ME TO THE MOON' (Rated M) - this American romantic dramedy is Directed by Greg Berlanti whose prior feature film output takes in 'The Broken Hearts Club' in 2000, 'Life as We Know It' in 2010 and 'Love, Simon' in 2018 as well as creating, writing and producing numerous successful TV shows and series. Set during the 1960's Space Race between the USA and the USSR, a relationship develops between the NASA Director in charge of the Apollo 11 launch, Cole Davis (Channing Tatum) and the marketing specialist, Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) brought in to fix NASA's public image and stage a 'back-up' fake Moon landing in the event that the real mission fails. Also starring Woody Harrelson and Ray Romano the film is released this week in the US and Canada too and had a production budget of US$100M.

'MAXXXINE' (Rated MA15+) - is an American slasher action thriller film Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Ti West and is the third film in the 'X' series which kicked off with 'X' in 2022 and was quickly followed by 'Pearl : An X-traordinary Origin Story' also in 2022. Those first two films in the series grossed a combined near US$30M off the back of a total budget of just US$2M and both were also critically lauded. Here, Maxine (once again played by Mia Goth) sets out for fame and fortune in 1980's Hollywood while being targeted by a mysterious killer, after being cast as the lead in a new horror film being helmed by Elizabeth Bender (Elizabeth Debicki), in spite of the fact that all of her previous film credits were in adult films. Also starring Kevin Bacon, Giancarlo Esposito, Lily Collins, Halsey, Bobby Cannavale and Michelle Monaghan. The film was released in the US last week and has so far grossed US$8M. 

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 16th March 2023.

The 95th Academy Awards were presented on Sunday 12th March in a ceremony held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The awards honour films released in 2022, and the ceremony was Hosted by Comedian and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel for the third time, after the 89th and 90th editions of the ceremony in 2017 and 2018. 

So, in case you missed out on all the winners, grinners and also rans attended by the glitterati and glamourati at this years Oscar ceremony, below is a summary of the main categories :-

* Best Picture : awarded to 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', beating out 'All Quiet on the Western Front', 'Avatar : The Way of Water', 'The Banshees of Inisherin', 'Elvis', 'The Fabelmans', 'Tar', 'Top Gun : Maverick', 'Triangle of Sadness' and 'Women Talking'.

* Best Director : presented to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', beating out Martin McDonagh for 'The Banshees of Inisherin', Steven Spielberg for 'The Fabelmans', Todd Field for 'Tar' and Ruben Ostlund for 'Triangle of Sadness'.

* Best Actor : presented to Brendan Fraser for 'The Whale', beating out Austin Butler for 'Elvis', Colin Farrell for 'The Banshees of Inisherin', Paul Mescal for 'Aftersun' and Bill Nighy for 'Living'.

* Best Actress : awarded to Michelle Yeoh for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', beating out Ana de Armas for 'Blonde', Cate Blanchett for 'Tar', Andrea Riseborough for 'To Leslie' and Michelle Williams for 'The Fabelmans'. 

* Best Supporting Actor : presented to Ke Huy Quan for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', beating out Breadan Gleeson for the 'Banshees of Inisherin', Brian Tyree Henry for 'Causeway', Judd Hirsch for 'The Fabelmans' and Barry Keoghan for 'The Banshees of Inisherin'.

* Best Supporting Actress : awarded to Jamie Lee Curtis for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', beating out Angela Bassett for 'Black Panther : Wakanda Forever', Hong Chau for 'The Whale', Kerry Condon for 'The Banshees of Inisherin' and Stephanie Hsu for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'.

* Best Original Screenplay : awarded to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', beating out 'The Banshees of Inisherin', 'The Fabelmans', 'Tar' and 'Triangle of Sadness'.

* Best Adapted Screenplay : presented to Sarah Polley for 'Women Talking', beating out 'All Quiet on the Western Front', 'Glass Onion : A Knives Out Mystery', 'Living', and 'Top Gun : Maverick'.

* Best Animated Feature Film : awarded to 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio', beating out 'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On', 'Puss in Boots : The Last Wish', 'The Sea Beast' and 'Turning Red'.

* Best International Feature Film : presented to 'All Quiet on the Western Front' Directed by Edward Berger, beating out 'Argentina, 1985', 'Close', 'EO' and 'The Quiet Girl'.

* Best Documentary Feature : awarded to 'Navalny', beating out 'All That Breathes', 'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed', 'Fire of Love' and 'A House Made of Splinters'.

* Best Original Score : presented to Volker Bertelmann for 'All Quiet on the Western Front', beating out 'Babylon', 'The Banshees of Inisherin', 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' and 'The Fabelmans'.

* Best Sound : presented to Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon, and Mark Taylor for 'Top Gun : Maverick', beating out 'All Quiet on the Western Front', 'Avatar : The Way of Water', 'The Batman' and 'Elvis'. 

* Best Production Design : awarded to Christian M. Goldbeck and Ernestine Hipper for 'All Quiet on the Western Front', beating out 'Avatar : The Way of Water', 'Babylon', 'Elvis' and 'The Fabelmans'.

* Best Cinematography : awarded to James Friend for 'All Quiet on the Western Front', beating out 'Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths', 'Elvis', 'Empire of Light' and 'Tar'.

* Best Make-Up and Hair Styling : presented to Adrien Morot, Judy Chin, and Anne Marie Bradley for 'The Whale', beating out 'All Quiet on the Western Front', 'The Batman', 'Black Panther : Wakanda Forever' and 'Elvis'. 

* Best Costume Design : awarded to Ruth E. Carter for 'Black Panther : Wakanda Forever', beating out 'Babylon', 'Elvis', 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' and 'Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris'. 

* Best Film Editing : presented to Paul Rogers for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', beating out 'The Banshees of Inisherin', 'Elvis', 'Tar' and 'Top Gun : Maverick'.

* Best Visual Effects : awarded to Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett for 'Avatar : The Way of Water', beating out 'All Quiet on the Western Front', 'The Batman', 'Black Panther : Wakanda Forever' and 'Top Gun : Maverick'.

For the full run down of this years Oscar Ceremony, you can visit the official website at : https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023

Turning back to this weeks latest cinematic offerings, we kick off with a British drama set in 1950's London, where a humourless civil servant decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis. This is followed by a psychological horror film that is a prequel to a hugely successful and popular 2022 horror film that this time is set in 1918, where a young woman on the brink of madness pursues stardom in a desperate attempt to escape the drudgery, isolation and lovelessness of life on her parents' farm. Next up is the twelfth offering in the DCEU that continues the story of teenage Billy Batson and his foster siblings who, upon reciting the magic word 'SHAZAM!' is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam, who this time must face off against the Daughters of Atlas to ultimately save the world. Then we turn to a doco that takes us on a transformative and immersive journey through the New York music scene of the early 2000's that reverberated around the world; before closing out the week with an intimate look at the photographs and photographers that defined the image of Queen Elizabeth II during her reign. 

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

'LIVING' (Rated PG) - is a British drama film Directed by the South African filmmaker and writer Oliver Hermanus from a screenplay by Kazuo Ishiguro, adapted from the 1952 Japanese film 'Ikiru' Directed by Akira Kurosawa, which in turn was inspired by the 1886 Russian novella 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' by Leo Tolstoy. Oliver Hermanus previous feature film offerings take in his 2009 'Shirley Adams', 'Beauty' in 2011, 'The Endless River' in 2015 and 'Moffie' in 2019. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival in late January 2022 before its release in the UK in early November and only now is it released here in Australia, having so far grossed US$10.5M at the Box Office and garnered universal acclaim. 

Overwhelmed at work and lonely at home, Rodney Williams (Bill Nighy) is a senior London County Council bureaucrat in 1953 London. His life, however, takes a heartbreaking turn when a medical diagnosis tells him his time is short. Influenced by a local decadent and a vibrant woman, Margaret Harris (Aimee Lou Wood), he continues to search for meaning until a simple revelation gives him a purpose to create a legacy for the next generation. The film has so far collected nine award wins and a further forty-six nominations including a Best Actor nod for Bill Nighy at this years Academy Awards. 

'PEARL' (Rated MA15+) - with its subtitle 'An X-traordinary Origin Story' is a psychological horror film Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Ti West and serves as the prequel to 2022's 'X' also Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Ti West and which returned US$15M from its US$1M budget outlay, and is the second offering in the 'X' film series, which continues with 'MaXXXine' which is currently in post-production awaiting a future release date. This film saw its World Premier showcasing at the Venice International Film Festival back in September last year and was released Stateside in mid-September, having so far grossed US$9.5M from its US$1M production budget and has garnered generally positive Critical reviews. Here then, trapped on her family's isolated farm in Texas with her German immigrant parents, Pearl (Mia Goth, who also Co-Writes here with Ti West) must tend to her ailing father (Matthew Sunderland) under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother Ruth (Tandi Wright). Lusting for a glamorous life like she's seen in the movies, Pearl finds her ambitions, temptations, and repressions all colliding.

'SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS' (Rated M) - is an American Superhero film Directed by David F. Sandberg and is based on the DC Comics character 'Shazam' which had his first DCEU outing in 2019 also Directed by Sandberg, grossing US$366M off the back of a production budget of about US$90M. This film serves as the twelfth instalment in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) and was originally slated for release in April 2022 but was subsequently delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, giving rise to its release here in Australia and the US from this week. Billy Batson aka Shazam (Zachary Levi) and his foster siblings, who transform into superheroes by saying the word 'Shazam!', are forced to get back into action and fight the Daughters of Atlas - Anthea (Rachel Zegler), Kalypso (Lucy Liu) and Hespera (Hellen Mirren), who arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago. Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and they must stop them from using a weapon that could destroy the world. Also starring Asher Angel, Adam Brody, Meagan Good, Ross Butler and Djimon Hounsou. This instalment cost US$125M to produce. 

'MEET ME IN THE BATHROOM' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern whose previous feature documentary films are 'No Distance Left to Run' in 2010 and 'Shut Up and Play the Hits' in 2012, this film takes us on an immersive journey through the New York music scene of the early 2000's, as a new generation kick-started a musical rebirth for New York City that reverberated around the world. Featuring era defining bands including The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem, Interpol and Vampire Weekend, it is based on the 2017 book 'Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001–2011' by music journalist Lizzy Goodman. The book and this film is named after the Strokes song of the same name from their 2003 album 'Room on Fire'. The film saw a limited cinema release in early November last year in the US before streaming from the end of that same month.

'PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN' (Rated CTC) - Directed by award-winning photographer Fabrizio Ferri based on the best-selling book 'Elisabetta II: Ritratto di Regina' by Paola Calvetti, this documentary centres around the image of one of the most iconic women of our time and her extraordinary relationship with photography - Queen Elizabeth II. Narrated by the British Actor Charles Dance with contributions from Emma Blau, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Isabella Rossellini and Susan Sarandon amongst others, the film offers an original portrayal of the story of The Queen from a totally new perspective - through the most intense, amazing, revealing photographic portraits of her, as shared by the extraordinary photographers who accompanied and often created the image of the British monarchy itself. Special focus is given to each of The Queen's most intense, intimate, faithful portraits, symbols of 20th century history, appraised by the photographers who portrayed Her Majesty - Brian Aris, Jason Bell, Julian Calder, Chris Levine, David Montgomery, and John Swannell.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th March 2022.

The 74th Directors Guild of America Awards were presented on 12th March at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California in front of a gathered audience of some eight hundred guests. and hosted by the American Writer, Director, Producer and comedian Judd Apatow, who had hosted previously in 2018 and 2020. The awards honour the outstanding directorial achievement in feature films, documentary, television and commercials of 2021. Guest presenters included Kathryn Bigelow, Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Julie Delpy, Kirsten Dunst, Andrew Garfield, Ken Jeong, Natasha Lyonne, Michael Mann, Christopher Nolan, Jesse Plemons, Martin Scorsese, Sarah Snook and Chloe Zhao.

In the three feature film award categories, the winners and nominees were as follows :-

Feature Film : awarded to Jane Campion for 'THE POWER OF THE DOG', beating out Paul Thomas Anderson for 'Licorice Pizza', Kenneth Branagh for 'Belfast', Steven Spielberg for 'West Side Story' and Denis Villeneuve for 'Dune'. 

Documentary : presented to Stanley Nelson Jnr. for 'ATTICA', beating out Jessica Kingdon for 'Ascension', Raoul Peck for 'Exterminate All the Brutes', Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson for 'Summer of Soul (... Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)' and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin for 'The Rescue'.

First-time Feature Film : awarded to Maggie Gyllenhaal for 'THE LOST DAUGHTER', beating out Rebecca Hall for 'Passing', Tatiana Huezo for 'Prayers for the Stolen', Lin-Manuel Miranda for 'Tick, Tick . . . Boom!', Michael Sarnoski for 'Pig' and Emma Seligman for 'Shiva Baby'.

In addition, Spike Lee was presented with the Lifetime Achievement in Feature Film Award.

For all the other winners, and also rans in the Television and Commercials categories, plus a whole lot more besides, you can go to the official website at : https://www.dga.org/awards/annaul.aspx

This week with just three new movies coming to an Odeon near you, we kick off with an American slasher horror offering about a group of young adult film makers who venture out to rural Texas in 1979 to make their pornographic offering, but get more than they bargained for when they come up against the elderly couple who own the farmhouse where the cast intend to shoot their film. This is followed by a story of a mid-thirty year old man who is given a short time to live as he tries to find the perfect new family for his four year old son to live with after he's gone. And we close out the week with a documentary about mans connection with some of the great rivers of the world.

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

'X' (Rated R18+) - is an American slasher film Written, Directed, Co-Produced and Co-Edited by Ti West whose feature film making credits include his debut 'Roost' in 2005, then 'The House of the Devil' in 2009, 'Cabin Fever 2 : Spring Fever' also in 2009, 'The Innkeepers' in 2011, 'The Sacrament' in 2013 and 'In a Valley of Violence' in 2016. The film had its World Premier screening at South by South West on 13th March this year, before its release in the US on 18th March. It has so far taken US$4.5M at the Box Office, and has garnered generally positive critical acclaim. Earlier this month, it was revealed that a prequel film was shot back-to-back in secret with the first film. Also Written and Directed by Ti West, photography took place again in New Zealand, and upon official announcement was already in the post-production stage. 

In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives. Starring Mia Goth as both Maxine Minx, the pornographic actress and the elderly Pearl, her boyfriend and producer Wayne (Martin Henderson), fellow actors Bobby-Lynne (Brittany Snow), Jackson Hole (Scott Mescudi), Director RJ (Owen Campbell) and his girlfriend Lorraine (Jenna Ortega) and Stephen Ure as Howard, the husband of Pearl.

'NOWHERE SPECIAL' (Rated M) - this Italian, Romanian and UK Co-Produced drama film is Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Umberto Pasolini in his third feature film making offering following 'Machan' in 2008 and 'Still Life' in 2013 with Eddie Marsan and Joanne Froggatt. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice Film Festival in mid-September 2020, was released in the UK in mid-July 2021 and only now does it gain a release in Australia. Here then, set in Northern Ireland where John (James Norton) a thirty-five year old window cleaner is only given a few months to live. He attempts to find a new perfect family for his four year old son Michael (Daniel Lamont) who he has brought up alone after his mother left them immediately after his birth, whilst determined to shield the young lad from the realities of a dire situation. The film has garnered widespread critical acclaim and has collected four award wins and another eight nominations from around the awards and festival circuit. 

'RIVER' (Rated E) - this Australian documentary film is Co-Directed and Co-Written by Jennifer Peedom and Joseph Nizeti and is narrated by Willem Dafoe who has also narrated several of Peedom's other documentary features including 'Mountain' in 2017 and 'Mountain Quest' in 2018. This documentary explores the timeless relationships between humans and rivers. Starting at Mount Kailash, where four of the world’s most sacred rivers are born of melting ice, and ending in the great Sundarban mangrove deltas of Bangladesh and India, where fresh becomes salt, the film traces a songline from source to sea. Accompanied by a score by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the audience will be taken on a journey through space and time in this orchestral and atmospheric concert film. Spanning six continents, and drawing on extraordinary contemporary cinematography, including satellite filming, the film shows rivers on scales and from perspectives never before seen.

With just three 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-