What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st May 2018.

In May, the world bid a fond farewell to number of stars of the silver screen and the small screen. In brief, shown below, is my passing tribute to those stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and in particular the world of film and television. May you all Rest In Peace, and thanks for the memories.

* Clint Walker : Norman Eugene 'Clint' Walker was born on May 30th 1927 and died on May 21st 2018, aged 90. He was an American Actor and Singer who gained his first big screen role in an uncredited appearance in the 1954 film 'Jungle Gents' as a Tarzan type character. Thereafter he came to the attention of Cecil B. DeMille who cast him alongside Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner and Edward G. Robinson in the epic 'The Ten Commandments'. Next up he was cast in the role for which he is perhaps best remembered as Cheyenne Bodie in 1957 in two episodes of hit Western television series 'Cheyenne' edited together too make a feature length film 'The Travellers'. The TV series 'Cheyenne' ran over seven series from 1955 through to 1963 with Walker playing the title character in all 108 episodes. He also appeared as that same character in a 1960 episode of 'Maverick', in the 1991 made for television film 'The Gambler Returns : The Luck of the Draw' and in a single episode of 'King Fu : The Legend Continues' in 1995. The Actor would go on to star in many Westerns over the following years including 'Fort Hobbs', 'Yellowstone Kelly', 'Requiem to Massacre', 'Gold of the Seven Saints', 'The Night of the Grizzly', 'More Dead Than Alive', 'Sam Whiskey', 'The Great Bank Robbery', 'Yuma', 'Hardcase', 'The Bounty Man', 'Baker's Hawk', 'The White Buffalo' and in a single episode of the epic television series of 1978's 'Centennial'. In the meantime, he also starred in Frank Sinatra's only Directorial effort, the WW2 actioner 'None But The Brave' in 1965, and then there was also his role as Samson Posey in the classic wartime 'The Dirty Dozen' in 1967 with an all star cast; the short-lived TV series spanning just thirteen episodes in the title role of 'Kodiak' as Alaskan State Patrolman Cal 'Kodiak' McKay, and his last screen role lending his voice to the character of Nick Nitro in 1997's 'Small Soldiers'. All up Walker had 42 Acting credits to his name in a career spanning five decades. He was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in 2004.

* Margot Kidder : Margaret Ruth Kidder was born on October 17th 1948 and died on May 13th 2018, aged 69. She was an American/Canadian Actress and a political, environmental and anti-war Activist. Kidder gained her big screen debut in the 1969 docudrama 'The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kalahari'. This was followed up a year later by Norman Jewison's 'Gaily, Gaily' and then Brian de Palma's 'Sisters' in 1973, slasher horror flick 'Black Christmas' in 1974 and 'The Great Waldo Pepper' alongside Robert Redford in 1975. However, it was to be her role cast as Lois Lane in the 1978 'Superman' movie alongside Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent (aka 'Superman') that really propelled Kidder into the limelight. She reprised the role alongside Reeve in 1980's 'Superman II', 1983's 'Superman III' and 1987's 'Superman IV : The Quest for Peace'. 1979 saw another big ticket outing in the shape of the 'The Amityville Horror' in which Kidder starred alongside James Brolin as real life Kathy and George Lutz respectively. That film recouped US$87M from its US$5M Production Budget and spawned numerous sequels and reboots over the years. Following her mainstream success with the 'Superman' franchise and 'Amityville' her career took a somewhat stagnant pause although she remained active in feature films and television throughout the '80's, '90's and 2000's up until last year, but mostly in B-Grade features, made for television films, guest appearances on single or several episodes of TV series and the theatre. Her last four films were for Writer and Director Frank D'Angelo - these being 2014's 'The Big Fat Stone', 2015's 'No Deposit', 2016's 'The Red Maple Leaf' and 2017's 'The Neighbourhood' which was to be her final acting role. All up Kidder amassed 135 Acting credits to her name, and was the recipient of seven award wins and a further eight nominations.

This week there are just three new release movies coming to your local Odeon. We kick off with the second Directorial outing for this Aussie jobbing stuntman that also features his younger brother and an all star cast in a comedy crime offering about an unassuming businessman who gets into a spot of bother down Mexico way with the local drug cartel while learning that his wife back home is carrying on with one of his bosses who has hired his ex-Mercenray brother to keep him safe. We then move to a French foreign language biographical film about a famed painter at the turn of the last century who takes a leave of absence to escape Paris for the far flung remote reaches of Tahiti to rediscover his mo-jo . . . and that he does in more ways than one! And the week wraps up with a historical retelling of a 1976 passenger aeroplane hijacking that had the world on the edge of its seat before it all ended abruptly in a hail of bullets one week later.

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

'GRINGO' (Rated MA15+) - here Aussie Stuntman, Actor and only second time Director of a full length feature film, Nash Edgerton brings us this American comedy crime caper, which he also Co-Produced. Nash Edgerton is the older brother of Actor, Director, Writer and Producer Joel Edgerton. Nash's previous feature length Directing credit was the 2008 Australian thriller 'The Square', and he has worked as Stunt Coordinator or Stuntman in numerous Hollywood movies over the years and occasionally acts too.  For this film Nash has assembled an all star cast that takes in David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Thandie Newton, Sharlto Copley, Harry Treadaway, Paris Jackson and brother Joel amongst others. The film was released in the US in early March, has received mixed or average Reviews, and has so far taken US$6M at the Box Office.

Here, mild-mannered U.S. businessman Harold Soyinka (David Oyelowo) works for a medical technology firm that has developed the 'weed pill' (a medical marijuana that has been simplified into a pill format.) Harold's bosses, Elaine Markinson (Charlize Theron) and Richard Rusk (Joel Edgerton), travel with him to Mexico to handle the mass production of the product. Harold fakes his own kidnapping in order to reap benefit from the company policy of paying out US$2M if anything was to happen to him in Mexico during a business trip. He learns too that his wife has left him as she is having an affair with Richard. While out drunk, Harold gets kidnapped for real by the cartel, who hold a grudge against his bosses and the company for cutting them out of their plans. Richard hires his brother Mitch (Sharlto Copley), who just happens to be an ex-mercenary, to keep Harold safe. Crossing the line from law-abiding citizen to wanted criminal, Harold must survive an increasingly dangerous situation that asks the question whether he is in over his head, or two steps ahead?

'GAUGUIN' (Rated M) - this biographical French foreign language offering is Directed and Co-Written by Edouard Deluc and recounts the story of French post-impressionist artist Paul Gauguin (Vincent Cassel) who lived from 1848 until 1903. Here, it is Paris, 1891 and feeling decidedly smothered by the political and bourgeois atmosphere underlying Paris at the time, with everything seemingly artificial and conventional, the artist decided that he needed to review his motivation and find a realism to renew his art. Failing to convince his wife Mette (Pernille Bergendorff) and his five children to follow him to the island paradise of Tahiti, he sets out alone. Upon arrival, he elects to settle down in Mataiera, a village far from Papeete, debunking himself to a native straw and mud hut. He soon finds his mo-jo, painting and carving in a style close to the primitive art specific to the island. During his two-year stay (he came and went over a ten year period during his latter life) Gauguin experienced solitude, poverty, heart problems and other trials and tribulations, but also happiness in the arms of Tehura (Tuhei Adams), a beautiful young, thirteen year old, native girl who helped regenerate his zest for life and had a lasting impact on his art.

'ENTEBBE' (Rated CTC) - aka '7 Days In Entebbe' in the US, this is an American crime drama Directed by Brazilian Jose Padilha (also known for the Brazilian crime drama films 'Elite Squad' and 'Elite Squad : The Enemy Within' and the 2014 'RoboCop' reboot.) This film concerns 'Operation Entebbe' - a successful counter terrorist hostage rescue mission carried out by Commandos of the Israel Defence Forces at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on 4th July 1976. The events of this hostage situation have been committed to film on three previous occasions - 1976's 'Victory at Entebbe', 1977's 'Raid on Entebbe' and the Israeli 1977 film 'Operation Thunderbolt'. Here, in this dramatisation, two Palestinian and two German terrorists, Brigitte Kuhlmann (Rosamund Pike) and Wilfried Bose (Daniel Bruhl) hijacked Air France Flight 139 en route from Tel Aviv, Israel to Paris, France via Athens, Greece. They held the 248 passengers and crew hostage at Entebbe Airport and demanded a ransom of US$5M for the aeroplane and the release of 53 Palestinian and pro-Palestinian militants, forty of whom were prisoners in Israel. After relocating all hostages to a disused airport building, the hijackers separated all Israelis and several non-Israeli Jews from the larger group and forced them into a separate room. Over the following two days, 148 non-Israeli hostages were released and flown out to Paris. Ninety-four, mainly Israeli passengers along with the twelve Air France crew, remained hostage and were threatened with death. The rescue operation mounted by the Israel Defence Force took a week to plan and just ninety minutes to execute. This that true story. Also starring Eddie Marsan as Shimon Peres, Lior Ashkenazi as Yitzhak Rabin and Angel Bonanni as Yonatan Netanyahu and Nonso Anomie as Idi Amin. The film has generated mixed or average Reviews at best and grossed so far US$7M since its release in the US in mid-March.

With three new release films out 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. Meanwhile, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

JASON BOURNE : Monday 1st August 2016.

'JASON BOURNE' which I saw earlier in the week is based on the action spy thriller books and the character created by Robert Ludlum who first burst onto our screens in 2002 in 'The Bourne Identity' with Matt Damon playing the title character of a CIA assassin suffering extreme memory loss who chases across the world to uncover the secrets of his past, and claim back his identity. The first film was Directed by Doug Liman, with the second and third instalments - 'The Bourne Supremacy' in 2004 and 'The Bourne Ultimatum' in 2007 both Directed by Paul Greengrass. In 2012 'The Bourne Legacy' was Directed by Tony Gilroy with Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross on the run as a result of Bourne's actions in 'Ultimatum', and although Damon declined to return as our titular hero, he does appear in archival photographs and dialogue as the storylines overlap. Those first four films were made for a combined US$370M and grossed worldwide US$1,222B and collectively were hailed as both critical and commercial successes. Now almost ten years after last playing the character, Matt Damon is back and reunited with Paul Greengrass in this further instalment - made for US$120M with the screenplay written by Greengrass and both Damon and Greengrass acting as Co-Producers. The film has so far grossed US$128M since its release.

After ten years of laying low following the events at the conclusion of 'Ultimatum', we find Bourne (Matt Damon looking all the more grizzled and world weary) scraping together a meagre living by engaging in illegal fist fights for money somewhere on the Turkish/Bulgarian border. Meanwhile in Reykjavik, Iceland, Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) is collaborating with a computer hacker, whistleblower and privacy activist to hack into the CIA mainframe and expose their black op's programmes. Whilst doing so, Parsons finds documents relating to Bourne's past and in particular his entry into the Treadstone project and the part his father, Richard Webb, played in it, which ultimately cost him his life back in 1999. Armed with this extensive new found data Parsons travels to Greece to track down Bourne and alert him, convinced that while his memory has returned, these files will contain revealing new information that he will not be aware of.

Whilst Parsons is hacking into the CIA main frame, Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) who heads up the CIA's cyber operations team is alerted that their system has been compromised, and so a trace is put on Parson's with suspicions that she is linked to Bourne. Let the chase begin! Lee works for Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) the Director of the CIA who gives the go ahead to put full resources behind tracking Parsons and in turn Bourne - mobilising 'The Asset' (Vincent Cassel) to take them out in a search and destroy mission - ask no questions. Soon enough Parsons meets up with Bourne in a anti-government riot stricken Athens with CIA operatives and The Asset hot on their heels.

What follows is an intense action set piece around the back streets of Athens as Parsons and Bourne separate on foot and then meet up at Syntagma Square and commandeer a motorcycle tearing off down the side streets and alleyways chased by The Asset, the local Police and the CIA. They successfully manage to evade and by-pass rioting hordes, riot police, motorcycle police, the CIA in hot pursuit in the obligatory black trucks and The Asset chasing them down at high speed and then on foot. But The Asset comes good in the end with the help of drone surveillance from above, and a link to Lee in his ear, and with a single well aimed shot takes down Bourne and Parsons sending the former slamming into a parked car and the latter with a bullet in her back. Muttering her dying words she passes a luggage locker key to Bourne, containing a hand written notebook and an encrypted USB stick.

Moving to Berlin, Bourne locates the hacker that Parsons was dealing with back in Reykjavik, and has him decrypt the USB files. Looking through these he learns more truths about his father and how he was the originator of the Treadstone project that ultimately got him killed. However, Lee is able to trace the location of Bourne through malware implanted in the files which he has now accessed, and so a team is sent to take him out. By now however, Lee is beginning to form her own opinions of Bourne based on the information that she is seeing unfold in front of her own eyes. She alerts Bourne to the onset of the raid and that his cover is blown, just as he makes off, and the computer files are erased remotely. 

Using the data he recovered from these files the action moves to London, where Bourne tracks down a Malcolm Smith (Bill Camp), a former Treadstone Surveillance Agent now working at his own security firm. Smith is instantly nervous that Bourne wants to see him and alerts Dewey and in turn Lee that a rendezvous has been arranged. Lee meanwhile persuades Dewey to allow her one attempt to bring Bourne in having studied his files further. Dewey agrees to her plan but secretly mobilises The Asset to take down Lee's team and eliminate Bourne once and for all. Sensing that the CIA will be watching his every move, Bourne sets up some diversion and distraction tactics of his own in the very public gathering place he is to meet with Smith. He whisks Smith away long enough to question him on a roof top, not knowing that Dewey is in Smith's ear ordering him not to divulge anything to Bourne. However, Bourne is growing increasingly impatient threatening to launch Smith off the edge five storey's up. Smith relents and advises that Richard Webb created Treadstone, but tried to prevent his son's entry into the programme. Smith also advises that under orders from Dewey, he had The Asset kill Bourne's father but stage the death to look like a terrorist attack, so giving the young David Webb the impetus to join Treadstone. The Asset takes out Smith before any more beans can be spilled, and Bourne jumps to safety from five floors up!

Bourne meanwhile meets up with Lee who is left scratching her head wondering what the hell just happened to her team. She confesses that she is questioning Dewey's motives, and advises him that Dewey is due to speak at a Las Vegas convention with Aaron Kalloor (Riz Ahmed), the CEO of a social media application with 1.5 billion subscribers - called 'Deep Dream'. Kalloor has a huge following being the face of corporate social responsibility in the internet age, but his company is being secretly funded by Dewey, who wants to use his technology as a backdoor entry for unhindered surveillance of the masses in a project now known as 'Iron Hand'. Kalloor has an attack of his conscience and intends to come clean at the convention in front of a gathered audience and the worldwide media. But Dewey has other thoughts and orders The Asset to take out both Kalloor and Lee whilst they sit on the speakers panel, but this attempt is thwarted by Bourne just in time. In the frenzy afterwards Bourne makes it to Dewey's suite to confront him with what he knows with both the CIA and Lee closing in. In the ensuing fracas Dewey is shot by Lee, and Bourne sustains a bullet wound from Craig Jeffers (Ato Essandoh), Deweys right hand guy, but not before Bourne puts a bullet in him.

This only leaves The Asset on the run having sustained a bullet wound from Bourne at the convention assassination attempt. The Asset commandeers a SWAT truck to make his getaway, leaving Bourne to do likewise with a car through the streets of uptown Las Vegas in what is a lengthy and well choreographed chase sequence. When both vehicles come to rest in a casino amidst much carnage, destruction and collateral damage, a foot chase leads to a sewer where its close quarter hand to hand combat between Bourne and The Asset. Needless to say, the latter buys the farm!

In the aftermath when the dust has settled and Bourne has gone back underground, he meets in a park with Lee who attempts to persuade him to come back in, promising him that the CIA is changing with the times and can be the organisation he thought it was when he first signed up. He walks away saying he'll think about it, but does not respond when she calls after him 'how will I reach you'? The film closes as Lee sits back in her car with a recording device planted earlier by Bourne that has audio visual evidence that she cannot be trusted.

I liked 'Jason Bourne' but it delivers exactly what you have come to expect from this franchise. It is well delivered but fairly formulaic and predictable. The action set pieces look good at the hands of Director Paul Greengrass who has proven his ability to stage intense close up fist fights and epic multiple vehicle city centre chases on foot, on motorcycle and by car. Bourne has proven as indestructible and indefatigable as ever surviving bullet wounds, near strangulation, countless body blows, falling off a roof five storeys high with nothing but an industrial strength washing line to break his fall, careering off a motorcycle at high speed and into a parked car, and driving his car into a SWAT truck that pins him under the roof of the porte cochere to a casino. And that is just in this film! Their are some confusing elements to this film, questions left unanswered and plot holes that includes what has Bourne been doing for the last ten years as we see him engaging in various underground illegal fist fights - for what purpose exactly I wonder? It is worth seeing for sure, but you can wait for the DVD/Bluray release, and while this film sets up a possible further instalment, I do wonder if this franchise has now run its course and its time for Bourne to ease himself into retirement once and for all, and concentrate on his future rather than his past.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 28th May 2015.

Here in Australia we lurch into Winter this week with more excuses to beat the seasonal cold climactic conditions and venture inside to a warm dark place with a big silver screen, surround sound and escapist adventure on a grand scale. The week ahead offers no exception with more great offerings to tempt, tease and tantalise the filmic tastebuds, so don't be shy and get out there see a movie this week!

Speaking of which, we have five great offerings that take in another great theme park future adventure attraction adapted for the big screen and possibly hoping to emulate that Johnny Depp vehicle that has done so well over the years; then there is another natural disaster flick that has been done a hundred times before that sees death, destruction & danger writ large and one man only capable of saving the world . . . apparently; and a Spanish/Argentinian very black comedy offering that sees six unconnected stories linked only be acts of extreme violence and vengeance. Next up is an Aussie film of a determined damaged man, his Utopian commune, his child soldiers and his son through whose eyes we see the story unfold; and finally a case of life imitating art in small town France as an English couple roll into town whose lives seems to mirror those as written about by a an influential French writer in a certain novel 170 years before.

With a heck of a choice this week when you have been to see your movie choice, remember to drop us your views & opinions in the Comments section below this or any other post, and share your critique with the movie going world. Enjoy your film!

TOMORROWLAND (Rated PG) - this film is based on the Disney theme park future Utopian, innovative and optimistic land that first appeared in 1955 and over the years has been through several updated visions and still exists today as more & more Disney theme parks open around the world. The film, which has its inspiration from the attraction, is Directed, Produced and Written by Brad Bird utilising a budget of US$180M and is a Sci-Fi mystery action adventure. The roots of this tale begin in 1964 at The New York World's Fair where a young aspiring inventor meets a seasoned inventor pro who travel together through the 'It's a small world' attraction.

Years later in the present day young inventor Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) meets with that young inventor from back in 1964, Frank Walker (George Clooney) and together they embark on a dangerous journey to uncover the secrets of 'Tomorrowland' a place located somewhere between time and space but with a clock counting down on their future, and that of mankind. In the spirit of the late great Walt Disney this is a story for children of all ages with optimism, invention, adventure, hope and promise at its core that is writ large in this offering that surely would do the man proud for capturing all of those themes on which he built his global empire. Also starring Hugh Laurie and a cast of child acting talent as you would expect.

SAN ANDREAS (Rated M) - here we have another natural disaster action adventure film the like of which you have seen one hundred times before. What is different this time around - dunno really except it cost US$100M, was shot on Australia's Gold Coast and in Brisbane as well as LA, San Fran and Bakersfield, and features Dwayne Johnson and Kylie Minogue amongst others! Directed by Brad Peyton this is the story of a magnitude 9 earthquake along California's San Andreas fault line that sees the earth torn apart from under Los Angeles all the way to San Francisco. Needing to locate his estranged daughter search & rescue helicopter pilot Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson) and his ex-wife Emma (Carla Gugino) embark on a treacherous journey through the devastation to reach their daughter and escape to safety together with a few other misplaced refugees along the way no doubt. En route cities crumble, the earth will split open, fire & brimstone will spew forth, tidal waves will engulf cities, people will inevitably die by the thousands, after shocks will be felt on the east coast and the world will never be the same again - thanks God though for The Rock! Also starring Alexandra Daddario (as Blake - Ray's estranged daughter), Paul Giamatti, Ioan Gruffudd and our Kylie!

WILD TALES (Rated MA15+) - this Spanish/Argentian collaborated film is Directed by Damian Szifron and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this years Academy Awards. Made for just US$3.3M it has already grossed US$30M and is a bleak black comedy of six unconnected stories but connected by their themes of violence, vengeance, and what drives people to such extremes. With its story titles 'Pasternak', 'The Rats', 'The Strongest', 'Little Bomb', 'The Proposal' and 'Until Death Do Us Part' this film has already electrified audience and has picked up 23 award wins and 38 further nominations. Laugh, cry and be shocked by the range of raw emotions shown here as these characters are pushed to extremes of human behaviour.

PARTISAN (Rated MA15+) - this is an Australian film Written and Directed by Ariel Kleiman and filmed in Australia and in Georgia. It tells the story of Gregori (Vincent Cassel) who is the leader and founder of a Utopian commune that he has established behind high walls to help troubled woman whilst training an army of child soldiers, shielded from the evils of the outside world. This tale unfolds through the eyes of young Alexander (Jeremy Chabriel) - a child of Grigori's, bright, intelligent and brave. As Alexander knows very little of the outside world we learn on what he comes to discover as he is sent out with other children on assassination raids. With Gregori playing the father figure, the ruler, and the authoritarian he mentors all his children in the art of killings, survival and navigation techniques, but, as Alexander grows up and becomes more wise so he begins to question his fathers motives, intentions and decisions. A raw and emotional journey this film won the Cinematography Award at The Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize there too.

GEMMA BOVERY (Rated MA15+) - this French subtitled DramedyRom is Directed by Anne Fontaine and the Screenplay was Co-Written by her too and stars both French and English acting talent. Here, Martin Joubert (Fabrice Luchini) is a well-heeled Parisian who relocates to Normandy and settles into the peaceful tranquil village life as a baker. One fine day an English newlywed couple move into a neighbouring farm - Gemma and Charles Bovery (Gemma Arterton and Jason Flemyng respectively) and here Martin's idyllic life is turned upside down as he becomes acquainted with the young couple. Martin is an avid follower of the works of famed influential 19th century writer Gustave Flaubert who published 'Madame Bovary' in 1857. Now seemingly witnessing art imitating life in front of his very eyes, the actions of the heroine of that novel, also called Gemma Bovery, begin to mirror those of the woman before him. As his affections grow stronger for the woman, and as she gets sidetracked by other male interests, should he intervene as fact and fiction seem to be on a collision course, or should he stay away from the hand that fate may be about to deal him? You'll just have to see the movie for that answer!

Five new release movies that offer action, adventure, drama, comedy and romance this week and five very good reasons to get out to your local movie theatre. When you have enjoyed your film, share your thoughts, and then go do it again!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-