BALLERINA : Tuesday 10th June 2025

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'BALLERINA' earlier this week, and this American action thriller film is the fifth film in the 'John Wick' franchise, and serves as a spin-off instalment that is Directed by Len Wiseman, whose prior feature film making credits are 'Underworld' in 2003, 'Underworld : Evolution' in 2006, 'Live Free or Die Hard' in 2007 and 'Total Recall' in 2012, as well as Producing 'Underworld : Rise of the Lycans' in 2009, 'Underworld : Awakening' in 2012, and 'Underworld : Blood Wars' in 2016. This film is also Co-Produced by Chad Stahelski who Directed the first four 'John Wick' films. The film was released here in Australia and the US last week, having so far grossed US$57M from a production budget of US$90M and has generated largely positive critical reviews. Allegedly as far back as March 2023 the studio announced it has plans to develop a sequel with de Armas returning to her role. 

The film opens with a young Eve Macarro (Victoria Comte) playing at ballet dancing with her father Javier (David Castaneda) in their lavish seaside villa. Javier is/was an assassin, a Kikimora for the Ruska Roma, and when Eve was younger he went on the run with his daughter to escape a Cult his wife was heavily involved with, which ultimately led to her death. The Cult's Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne) wants to retrieve Eve, and so undercover of darkness the Cult lays siege to their residence, killing the guards and fatally wounding Javier, who helps Eve escape. New York Continental Hotel owner Winston Scott (Ian McShane) brings Eve to the Ruska Roma, where Eve meets their Director (Anjelica Huston) and agrees to join them.

Over the course of the ensuing twelve years Eve (Ana de Armas) trains as a ballerina and a Kikimora assassin/bodyguard under the Director and her mentor Nogi (Sharon Duncan-Brewster). Eve graduates as a Kikimora after killing a fellow Kikimora, as a final test to truly assess that she has what it takes. After completing a contract some two months later, Eve is attacked by an assassin, whom she kills and identifies as a Cultist from a scar of a cross burned onto his wrist. She asks the Director about the Cult, wanting revenge. The Director forbids Eve from chasing down the Cult due to a centuries old truce between the Cult and the Ruska Roma.

Eve disobeys the Director and visits the New York Continental, where Charon, the Hotel Concierge (Lance Reddick, in his final screen appearance following his death in March 2023, aged 60) grants her a meeting with Winston. Winston reveals that one Cultist, Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus), is staying at the Prague Continental with a US$2M bounty on him, so Eve travels there and books a room directly next to his. Several Cultists are also there, led by Lena (Catalina Sandino Moreno), waiting for the bounty's fulfilment. 

Eve infiltrates Pine's room, discovering his young daughter Ella (Ava McCarthy), whom Pine reveals is hiding from the Cult, having escaped from them. When the Cult sees that Eve has not killed Pine, Lena increases the bounty to US$4M. The Cultists and other mercenaries attack Pine on Continental grounds. Eve assists him and he entrusts Ella to her. Cultist Dex (Robert Maaser) shoots Pine, while Lena incapacitates Eve and takes Ella. The Prague Continental staff spare Eve for not breaking Continental rules but execute two captured Cultists/mercenaries for their attack.

While in Prague Eve goes to purchase a stash of weapons from arms dealer Frank (Abraham Popoola), but the Cult henchmen attack his shop. After Eve kills every last one of the Cult's heavies, Frank helps her narrow down the location of the Cult's base and provides her with a car so that she can drive herself to their location. 

Eve's search leads to the town of Hallstatt in Upper Austria, where she quickly comes under attack as all the townspeople are of the Cult and many are assassins, some of whom the Cult has offered safe haven to. Eve is eventually captured and brought to the Chancellor, who discovers her ties to the Ruska Roma. Eve reveals her revenge plot, while he reveals that Pine is his son and Ella his granddaughter. The Chancellor remembers Eve, informing Lena that she is Eve's older sister, whom Eve believed to be dead. Eve breaks free before being cornered by Lena, who reveals their kinship. Lena tells Eve that Javier abandoned her during his escape due to fearing that the Cult had already indoctrinated Lena. Hearing of Eve and Lena talking, the Chancellor orders their deaths. The Cult's attack kills Lena while Eve escapes.

The Chancellor calls the Director with a declaration of war between their factions due to Eve's relentless actions, despite the Director repeatedly stating that Eve had gone rogue. To satisfy the Chancellor, the Director sends John Wick (Keanu Reeves) to take out Eve as a compromise, which the Chancellor accepts. 

The Chancellor orders a temporary stand-down of the townsfolk once John arrives at Hallstatt, where he finds and defeats Eve, repeatedly sparing her and imploring her to leave Hallstatt. Eve pleads for her revenge, so the sympathetic John gives her the remaining twenty-eight minutes until midnight, when the stand-down orders end, to kill the Chancellor. If she fails to kill the Chancellor by then, he will have no choice but to see out his contract to its foregone conclusion.

Eve continues fighting against the Cult across Hallstatt, with John killing Dex to save Eve. Some Cultists attack John, who in turn kills them. When the Cult loses track of John, the Chancellor attempts to flee with Ella in a SUV, but Eve shoots the driver causing the vehicle to come to an abrupt halt, and corners the Chancellor. The Chancellor exits the car and attempts to reason with Eve, but Eve executes him where he stands, and rescues Ella. John calls the Director who asks if 'she' is dead, but John simply responds by stating that 'he' is dead.

Ella is reunited with an alive and recovering Pine at the New York Continental where Eve takes refuge. Now exiled from the Ruska Roma, Eve watches former Kikimora trainee and friend Tatiana's (Juliet Doherty) Swan Lake ballet performance. The Cult places a US$5M bounty on Eve, and being alerted to this development on her mobile phone, as were several other members of the audience, she quickly exits the theatre.

'Ballerina' has all the trademarks of the four previous 'John Wick' instalments, which I guess is down largely to the involvement of Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves, from the bullet ballet choreography, the intense close quarter fight scenes, the creative kills, and a strong cast who really give it their all. Director Len Wiseman has done a very respectable job of steering this franchise in a relatively new direction whilst maintaining the many touchstones, characters, top notch cinematography, relentless pace and everything we have come to expect from the series so far. Ana de Armas gives a solid performance as the Ballerina in question here, and seems to slip easily enough into the role as the gun totting, arse kicking, flame thrower wielding, ice skate launching, grenade lobbing assassin Eve Macarro, and it's good to see Keanu Reeves reprise his role as John Wick even if only for a couple of scenes in the last fifteen minutes or so. 

'Ballerina' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 12th June 2025

The 27th annual Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) this year runs from Wednesday 11th June through to Sunday 15th June, and is dedicated to showcasing new achievements in independent film and honouring the work of emerging as well as acclaimed Directors, Producers, and Actors. PIFF is committed to serving communities who are often outside of the mainstream, in the margins, or otherwise underserved, but have a voice critical to the evolution of artistic expression. Founded in 1999, and now celebrating its 27th anniversary, PIFF has permanently established itself as the largest cultural event in lower Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA and Provincetown’s premier cultural event, attracting 10,000 plus film-goers, movie buffs, and arts patrons. This five-day festival showcases over eighty American and international independent narrative, documentary, and animated features and shorts as well as panel discussions and special events.

This years Opening Night Film presentation is 'Strange Journey : The Story of Rocky Horror'. 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' is given a compelling and entertaining treatment by creator Richard O’Brien’s son, Director Linus O’Brien, who brings unique access and insights to this definitive history of this cult phenomenon. At its heart, the 1975 classic is a movie about conservative values versus transgression, an evergreen topic that is arguably a large reason for its continued relevance and popularity. Featuring interviews with a host of the film’s iconic original cast and crew members, including Lou Adler, Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick, and Susan Sarandon. The Closing Night Film is 'Spiritus : No Business Like Dough Business'. Highlighting the rich history of one of the oldest and beloved family-run businesses in Provincetown - Spiritus Pizza is a local gem and iconic late-night gathering spot. Since its founding in 1971, and through the ensuing decades, Spiritus has remained a vibrant epicentre of activity, resilience, and deeply-rooted history in Provincetown, as well as a slice of pizza heaven! US Premiere.

In the Narratives section of the festival, the following films are being showcased :-

* 'Cactus Pears' - from Canada, India and the UK and Directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade in his feature debut.

* 'Dreaming of Lions' - from Brazil, Portugal and Spain and Directed by Paolo Marinou-Blanco. North American Premiere.

* 'Dreams (Sex Love)' - from Norway and Directed by Dag Johan Haugererud. This is the final instalment of the Director's trilogy 'Sex-Love-Dreams'.

* 'East of Wall' - from the USA and Directed by Kate Beecroft in her feature debut. Starring Scoot McNairy and Jennifer Ehle.

* 'Familiar Touch' - from the USA and Directed by Sarah Friedland in her feature debut.

* 'Honey Don't' - from the USA and the UK and Directed by Ethan Coen, and starring Margaret Qualley, Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, Billy Eichner and Charlie Day.

* 'Jimmy' - from France, Turkey and the USA and Directed by Yashaddai Owens.

* 'Messy' - from the USA and Directed and starring Alexi Wasser in her Directorial debut.

* 'Oh, Hi!' - from the USA and Directed by Sophie Brooks and starring Logan Lerman, Molly Gordon and Geraldine Viswanathan.

* 'Operation Taco Gary's' - from the USA and Directed by Michael Kvamme, and starring Dustin Milligan, Doug Jones, Simon Rex, Jason Biggs and Brenda Song.

* 'Plainclothes' - from the USA and Directed by Carmen Emmi in her Directing debut, and starring Tom Blythe, Russell Tovey and Christian Cooke.

* 'Ponyboi' - from the USA and Directed by Esteban Arango, and starring River Gallo, Dylan O'Brien and Murray Bartlett.

* 'Queens of the Dead' - from the USA and Directed by Tina Romero.

* 'Queerpanorama' - from China, Hong Kong and the USA and Directed by Jun Li.

* 'Sauna' - from Denmark and Directed by Mathias Broe.

* 'Sisters' - from the USA and Directed by and starring Susie Yankou.

* 'Sorry, Baby' - from the USA and Directed by and starring Eva Victor in her Directorial debut with Naomi Ackie and Lucas Hedges.

* 'The Baltimorons' - from the USA and Directed by Jay Duplass in his solo feature Directing debut.

* 'Twinless' - from the USA and Directed by and starring James Sweeney with Dylan O'Brien.

* 'Two Women' - from Canada and Directed by Chloe Robichaud.

For the full synopsis of the above highlighted films, plus the details of the film strands being screened, the in-person conversations being held with Ari Aster, Eva Victor, Murray Bartlett and River Gallo, the awards being presented, plus a whole lot of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://www.provincetownfilm.org/festival/

This week then we have four new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, kicking off with a survival horror film about a surfer who must escape after being abducted by a serial killer intent on feeding her to sharks. Then we have a RomCom about a NYC matchmaker's lucrative business gets complicated as she finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex. Next up is a live action remake of a successful animated film from 2010 that sees the friendship between Hiccup, an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becoming the key to both species forging a new future together; before closing out the week with an Aussie doco about an Australian musician who guides us through his musical career and his wildlife sanctuary in Sumatra, where rescued trafficked animals are nursed back to health by conservationists.

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 week ahead.

'DANGEROUS ANIMALS' (Rated MA15+) - this American and Australian Co-Produced survival horror film is Directed by Sean Byrne who made his feature debut in 2009 with 'The Loved Ones' and then 'The Devil's Candy' in 2015, with this his third feature film offering. This film saw its premiere screening at the Directors' Fortnight section of this years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May, was released in the US last week and this week in Australia having garnered generally positive critical reviews.

The film follows a savvy and free-spirited surfer, Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), who must escape after being abducted by a shark obsessed serial killer, Tucker (Jai Courtney) and held captive on his boat, where she must figure out how to escape before he carries out a ritualistic feeding to the sharks circling below.

'MATERIALISTS' (Rated M) - is an American RomCom Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Celine Song whose only previous feature film was 2023's critically acclaimed and commercially successful 'Past Lives'. Here, a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker Lucy (Dakota Johnson) finds herself torn between the perfect match in Harry Castillo (Pedro Pascal) and her imperfect ex., John (Chris Evans). Also starring John Magaro and Sawyer Spielberg. The film is released Stateside this week too. 

'HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON' (Rated PG) - this American fantasy film is Written, Co-Produced, and Directed by Dean DeBlois, and is a live-action remake of the 2010 animated film 'How to Train Your Dragon' that was produced by DreamWorks Animation, and is loosely based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Cressida Cowell. Dean DeBlois previous feature film making credits are his debut with 'Lilo & Stitch' in 2002, 'How to Train Your Dragon' in 2010, 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' in 2014 and 'How to Train Your Dragon : The Hidden World' in 2019. On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been sworn enemies for generations, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Mason Thames), the inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), defies centuries of traditional dragon-fighting practice when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. Also starring Nick Frost, Nico Parker and Julian Dennison, the film is released in the US this week also, having seen its World Premiere screening in Las Vegas in early April. It has already been announced that a live action remake of 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' is set for release on 11th June 2027. 

'ELLIS PARK' (Rated M) - is an Australian documentary Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Justin Kurzel whose prior feature film making credits take in 'Snowtown' in 2011, 'Macbeth' in 2015, 'Assassin's Creed' in 2016, 'True History of the Kelly Gang' in 2019, 'Nitram' in 2021 and 'The Order' in 2024. Australian musician Warren Ellis takes us on a guided tour through his world and one very special animal sanctuary. A key member of iconic bands 'The Dirty Three' and 'Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds', multi-instrumentalist Ellis has cut a brilliant and unorthodox figure in the music industry for over thirty years. Far from the international concert halls in which he has played, a very different passion project came into being during the dark times of the COVID-19 pandemic - a wildlife sanctuary in the forests of Sumatra. Co-founded by Ellis and spearheaded by the indomitable Femke den Haas, whose dedicated team of conservationists rescues trafficked and mistreated animals and then devotes years to nursing them back to health. The film follows its subject from his childhood home in Ballarat to his first, long-awaited visit to the park that bears his name. Along the way, it delves into Ellis’s expansive love of music and artistic history, illuminating the parallel evolutions in his multifaceted creative practice and commitment to the conservation cause.

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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME : Tuesday 3rd June 2025

I saw the M Rated 'THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME' at my local independent movie theatre this week, and this US and German Co-Produced espionage black comedy film is Produced, Written and Directed by Wes Anderson from a story he conceived with Roman Coppola. Anderson's previous feature film credits take in the likes of his debut in 1996 with 'Bottle Rocket', and which he would follow up with other offerings including 'The Royal Tenenbaums' in 2001, 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' in 2004, 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' in 2009, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' in 2014, 'Isle of Dogs' in 2018, 'The French Dispatch' in 2021, and 'Asteroid City' in 2023. This film Premiered in the main competition at this years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May, was released in the USA and here in Australia last week, has so far recovered US$8M from its production budget of US$30M and has garnered generally positive critical reviews. 

The film opens with wealthy businessman, arms dealer and derring-do multi-millionaire Anatole 'Zsa-Zsa' Korda (Benicio del Toro) narrowly avoiding the latest in a string of assassination attempts on his life when his private plane that he is flying in is sabotaged by unknown assassins. The plane crashes down in a cornfield, and he succumbs to his injuries. He briefly passes into the afterlife where his suitability to be admitted into the great here after is being determined by a council of existential beings, who reject him and thus he returns to this mortal coil.

Being fully aware that he narrowly escaped death, Korda offers an olive branch to his only daughter whom he is not seen in six years, the novice nun, Sister Liesl (Mia Threapleton), to take over from him on a trial basis while he gets his affairs in order, and in the event that further attempts on his life are ultimately successful. His meeting with Liesl is observed by Bjorn Lund (Michael Cera), a Norwegian entomologist hired by Korda to tutor him in his latest interest, insects of all kinds. Korda takes Bjorn on board as his personal administrative assistant. 

Korda, known unfavourably as 'Mr. Five Per Cent' on account of his ability to intervene in any large deal, is a wanted man, and a shady business consortium, directed by Excalibur (Rupert Friend), unites to fix the price of core materials, mainly crushable rivets, that will cripple Korda’s grand scheme to overhaul the infrastructure of Phoenicia. The price fixing has huge implications for what Korda calls 'The Gap' (the funding deficit of his major capital works) and so he must meet with his network of underground fixers and investors to cover the missing funds. First he heads to Phoenicia and meets with Prince Farouk (Riz Ahmed), who helps thwart a further assassination attempt. Farouk, Korda, Liesl and Bjorn head into a half-built underground railway, which has come to a building halt with Leland (Tom Hanks) and Reagan (Bryan Cranston) having stopped construction works in protest at Korda having changed the terms of their original agreement. Farouk and Korda compete with Leland and Reagan in a game of H-O-R-S-E, despite Farouk having absolutely no knowledge of basketball, with Korda vowing to return to the original deal and cover more of The Gap if his side loses. Farouk manages to complete a half court shot and Leland and Reagan agree to cover 15% of the deficit. 

Later, Korda meets with Marseille Bob (Mathieu Amalric) where it turns out that he has also changed the terms of an existing deal, forcing Bob into a rage and leading him to pull out of the deal completely. Their meeting is cut short when Sergio (Richard Ayoade) and his revolutionary guerilla forces hold Bob’s nightclub at gun point. Bob urges them to stand down and Korda takes a bullet to his lower right side for his friend in the crossfire. Bob, to compensate Korda, vows to cover his share of The Gap.

Next the group head to a ship to meet Marty (Jeffrey Wright), a fast-talking American investor. Marty is also stung by Korda’s backtracking on an existing deal, but quickly leaps to Korda’s aid when he passes-out from the after effects of being shot. Marty offers Korda a blood transfusion and they negotiate as blood is passed from one to the other. Korda realises the deal is going bust and threatens to pull the pin on a hand grenade he had offered as a gift unless Marty concedes, which he does.

They move on and meet with Cousin Hilda (Scarlett Johansson), who is Korda's second cousin and his prospective wife. She accepts a proposal of engagement but refuses to weigh in on helping with the gap, which puts the pressure on Korda to strike an agreement with his nefarious half-brother Nubar (Benedict Cumberbatch) who he has told Liesl is responsible for the death of her mother. 

On the way to the final meeting, Bjorn is revealed to be an agent of the consortium, but he joins up with Korda and Liesl, having developed genuine feelings towards her. At the meeting of various syndicates and investors, Nubar declines to cover any of The Gap, reveals himself as the organiser of Korda's assassination attempts and decides to kill his brother himself. Korda manages to fend him off and subdues him with a vial of poisonous gas. 

In a moment of revelation brought on by the fight and his very recent involvement with Liesl, Korda vows to cover The Gap himself, even though it amounts to his entire fortune and then some, and also outlines plans to pay his workers a fair and honest wage, having previously pledged to use slave labour. The project is a virtuous one that benefits Phoenicia but ends up bankrupting Korda. He retires to a much simpler life running a small restaurant with Liesl as his main waiting staff, while he is the chef, bottle washer and manager stripped of all his previous luxuries. The two close the restaurant late at night and sit down to a game of cards as they have accepted a more modest life.

I left the movie theatre feeling a little ho-hum about 'The Phoenician Scheme'. The plot tends to meander just a tad to much for my liking which made it hard for me to concentrate too much on what was happening, and all the scenes involving a Who's Who of A-list acting talent felt rushed, and at the end of the day they all pretty much delivered the same outcome. That said, Wes Anderson has here once again delivered us a film of his singular quirkiness with vivid colours, larger than life characters, off-kilter action, top notch attention to detail, and at times laugh-out-loud moments. Threapleton, Cera and del Toro all shine in this film and carry off their zany roles with aplomb, whilst the other cast members who add colour and movement to the proceedings get just a few minutes of screen time and a handful of lines of dialogue and then they're gone, and alas never to be seen again. This film is not up there with his earlier 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', 'Isle of Dogs' or 'The French Dispatch', and is sure to please fans of the Director, but of me, well 'meh'!

'The Phoenician Scheme' warrants three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th June 2025

The 72nd Sydney Film Festival this year runs from Wednesday 4th June through until Sunday 15th June, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre, and includes features, documentaries, short films, retrospectives, films for families, animations and a series of industry and public talks. Patrons of the festival include Gillian Armstrong, Cate Blanchett, Jane Campion, Nicole Kidman, Baz Luhrmann, George Miller, and Sam Neill among others. Last year, in 2024, over two hundred productions from over seventy countries were selected for the festival, attracting an audience of over 120,000.

This years Opening Night Film presentation is 'Together' - the Australian horror comedy film Written and Directed by Michael Shanks. This film is also in the Official Competition (refer below for further details). The Closing Night Film is 'Splitsville' that is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Michael Angelo Covino and stars Adria Arjona, Dakota Johnson and O-T Fagbenie. When his wife asks for a divorce, a man runs to his friends for support, only to learn that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage.

The festival presents awards as follows : Official Competition (AU$60K cash prize) for 'cutting-edge, audacious and innovative' feature films; Documentary Australia Award (AU$20K, Academy Award qualifying); Sustainable Future Award (AU$40K); Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films for Best Australian Fiction (AU$7K Academy Award qualifying), Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Australian Director (AU$7K), AFTRS Craft Award for Best Practitioner (AU$7K), Yoram Gross Animation Award for Best Australian Animation (AU$7K Academy Award qualifying), The Event Cinemas Rising Talent Award for Screenwriting (AU$7K) and the Sydney Film Festival First Nations Award (AU$35K).

Those films in Official Competition this year are summarised below :-

* 'All That's Left of You' - from Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar and Saudi Arabia this film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars Cherien Dabis. This film Chronicles the loves, hopes, losses and traumas of a Palestinian family over seven decades. Australian Premiere.

* 'The Blue Trail' - from Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands and Chile and Co-Written and Directed by Gabriel Mascaro. Here, a remarkable woman tries to evade a dystopian fate via a grand Amazonian quest. Australian Premiere.

* 'DJ Ahmet' - from North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia and Croatia and Written and Directed by Georgi M. Unkovski. Telling the story of a fifteen-year-old North Macedonian boy who finds refuge in dance music and in first love. Australian Premiere.

* 'It Was Just An Accident' - from Iran, France and Luxembourg and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Jafar Panahi. This road movie combines moral dilemmas, comic moments and shocking revelations to extraordinary potent effect. Australian Premiere.

* 'The Love That Remains' - from Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and France and Written, Directed and photographed by Hlynur Palmason. A hilarious portrait of an Icelandic family as the parents navigate their separation. Australian Premiere.

* 'The Mastermind' - from the USA and Written, Directed and Edited by Kelly Reichardt and starring Josh O'Connor, Alana Haim and John Magaro. A 1970's set art heist drama. Australian Premiere.

* 'Mirrors No. 3' - from Germany and Written and Directed by Christian Petzold and starring Paula Beer. This intrigue filled drama tells the story of a woman who gets entwined with a family following a car crash. Australian Premiere. 

* 'My Father's Shadow' - from the UK and Nigeria and Co-Written and Directed by Akinola Davies Jnr. Set in 1993 over the course of just one heady day in Lagos, Nigeria and an estranged father takes his two young sons from their countryside home to the megalopolis where they are overwhelmed by the sensory overload. Australian Premiere.

* 'Romeria' - from Spain and Germany and Written and Directed by Carla Simon. A mesmerising drama that combines family history with breathtaking fantasy. Australian Premiere.

* 'The Secret Agent' - from Brazil, France, Netherlands and Germany and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Kleber Mendonca Filho. Set in Brazil in 1977, this is a rousing tense political thriller, as the harsh military dictatorship imposes increasingly draconian measures on the population. Australian Premiere.

* 'Sorry, Baby' - from the USA and Written, Directed and starring Eva Victor with Naomi Ackie and Lucas Hedges. A dramedy about a young English Professor trying to overcome a sexual assault with the help of her sprightly best friend, endearingly awkward neighbour and a sweet stray kitten. Australian Premiere. 

* 'Together' - from Australia and the USA and Written and Directed by Michael Shanks and starring Alison Brie, Dave Franco and Damon Herriman. Here, a long term couple relocate to the country leaving behind their city lives and close friends, when a freak supernatural encounter in a cave sends the pair on a devilishly unexpected ride that will bring them closer 'together' than ever before. Australian Premiere.

For the full details of the other competitive strands, the complete low down on the 200+ films being showcased and a whole bunch of other good stuff waiting for you at this years Sydney Film Festival, you can go to the official website at : https://www.sff.org.au/

Turning the attention then back to this weeks five new release films coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we kick off with a spin-off film from a hugely popular action franchise that sees an assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma organisation, set out to seek revenge after her father's death. Next up we have the sixth film in this series that has a teenage kung fu prodigy relocating to New York City, where he attracts the unwelcome attention from a local karate champion and embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition with the help of two older experienced and expert hands. This is followed by a horror offering about two priests who must put aside their differences to perform a series of dangerous exorcisms on a possessed young woman. Then we turn to a biographical drama film about a Broadway Actress who has never missed a performance throughout her long, illustrious career, yet, in the rehearsals her confidence is challenged; before closing out the week with a crime thriller in which a grieving father with a history of violence kidnaps the child responsible, igniting a frenzied manhunt fuelled by a powerful politician.

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 week ahead.

'BALLERINA' (Rated MA15+) - this American action thriller film is the fifth film in the 'John Wick' franchise, and serves as a spin-off instalment that is Directed by Len Wiseman, whose prior feature film making credits are 'Underworld' in 2003, 'Underworld : Evolution' in 2006, 'Live Free or Die Hard' in 2007 and 'Total Recall' in 2012, as well as Producing 'Underworld : Rise of the Lycans' in 2009, 'Underworld : Awakening' in 2012, and 'Underworld : Blood Wars' in 2016. This film is also Co-Produced by Chad Stahelski who Directed the first four 'John Wick' films.

Taking place between the events of 'John Wick : Chapter 3 – Parabellum' and 'John Wick : Chapter 4', Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), a ballerina-assassin, begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma and sets out to exact revenge for her father's death. Also starring Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Norman Reedus in supporting roles, with Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick (in his final screen appearance, following his death in March 2023 aged 60), Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves reprise their roles from the previous films. The film is released in the US this week too, and allegedly as far back as March 2023 the studio announced it has plans to develop a sequel with de Armas returning to her role.

'KARATE KID : LEGENDS' (Rated PG) - is an American martial arts drama film Directed by Jonathan Entwistle in his feature film Directing debut although he has Directed a variety of short films, music video's and both single and multiple episodes of TV series since 2009 up until the present day. This film is the sixth in 'The Karate Kid' franchise following the 2010 film of the same name and is set after the events of the television series 'Cobra Kai' which ran from 2018 up until this year. Those first five films in the series grossed a total global Box Office haul of US$676M off the back of combined production budgets of US$86M, making this latest instalment a no-brainer. Here, after moving to New York City with his mother, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) struggles to let go of the past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates. When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition, but his skills alone aren't enough. With help from Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), he soon learns to merge two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown. The film Premiered in Mexico City in early May, was released in the US and Canada last week and has so far grossed US$46M against a production budget of US$45M.

'THE RITUAL' (Rated MA15+) - this American horror film is Written and Directed by David Midell who made his feature film Directing debut in 2014 with 'NightLights' and which he would follow up with 'The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain' in 2019. This film is based on a true story and is inspired by the 1935 book 'Begone Satan!' The film follows two priests Theophilus Riesinger (Al Pacino) and Joseph Steiger (Dan Stevens), one having a crisis of faith and the other confronting a turbulent past, as they attempt to put aside their differences to save an allegedly possessed young woman Emma Schmidt (Abigail Cowen) through a series of dangerous exorcisms. The film is released Stateside this week too.

'THE GREAT LILLIAN HALL' (Rated M) - is an American biographical drama TV film that is Directed by Michael Cristofer, and was released on HBO back at the end of May in 2024, and only now does it get a limited cinema release here in Australia. Michael Cristofer's previous feature film Directing roles are 'Body Shots' in 1999, 'Original Sin' in 2001 and 'The Night Clerk' in 2020, and he has also acted in numerous single and multiple episodes of TV series from 1974 right up until very recently. Here then, as beloved Broadway star Lillian Hall (Jessica Lange) pours her heart, soul, and time into preparing for her next big role, she finds herself blindsided by confusion and forgetfulness. Battling against all odds to make it to opening night, while holding on to her fading memories and identity, she must navigate a tumultuous emotional journey, balancing her desire for the spotlight and the stark demands of the real world. Also starring Kathy Bates, Lily Rabe and Pierce Brosnan.

'BARRON'S COVE' (Rated CTC) - this American crime drama thriller is Written and Directed by Evan Ari Kelman in his feature length Directorial debut, and tells the story of when Caleb Faulkner's (Garrett Hedlund) son is killed in a tragic accident, grief consumes him. But when the system fails to hold the responsible child accountable, Caleb takes matters into his own hands, by abducting the boy and vanishing into the wilderness. His desperate act ignites a frantic manhunt, led by a power-hungry politician eager to twist the tragedy for personal gain. As tensions rise, Caleb must decide whether vengeance will truly bring him peace. Also starring Tramell Tillman, Stephen Lang, Brittany Snow, Hamish Linklater and Christian Convery. The film was released in the US back in early October last year.

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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-