What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 15th August 2019.

Concluding your coverage from the 67th Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) which wraps up this coming Sunday 18th August having launched on 1st August, this years festival showcased over 260 feature length films and documentaries sourced from around the world and locally. A number of these were either Australian or World Premier screenings, which had been highlighted in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, under the title strands of Australian Films, International Films, Headliners, Animation and Night Shift.

And so in this closing segment from MIFF,  I bring you an overview of the Documentary strand described as 'truth is definitely stranger than fiction with MIFF 2019’s Documentaries, offering the best of real life. From famous and not-so-famous faces to spectacular and far-flung places, these films are inspiring, blood-boiling, educational, eye-opening, emotional, entertaining and true'. Included within this strand are the following :-
* 'AQUARELA' from Germany, USA, UK and Denmark and Directed by Victor Kossakovsky who here brings us this bombastic documentary capturing the raw power of water in all of its shocking, awe inspiring and wonderous beauty.
* 'THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM' from the USA and Directed by John Chester - an inspirational tale of John and Molly Chester who made an impact by starting a biodiverse farm on depleted land near Los Angeles and radically rethought their environmental footprint in the process.
* 'CAPITAL IN THE 21st CENTURY' from France and New Zealand and Directed by Justin Pemberton this entertaining and enlightening film about wealth, power and inequality is especially relevant for a generation considered the first to be financially worse off than their parents.
* 'COLD CASE HAMMARSKJOLD' from Denmark and Directed by Mads Brugger tells the gripping story of  how in 1961, on his way to negotiate a ceasefire in the Congo, Swedish economist and UN Secretary-General Dag Hammersjkold died in a plane crash. But why was his corpse found with an ace of spades tucked into his collar? Brugger unearths a sinister, spiralling conspiracy that could change how we think about modern African history. It might be a truth too horrifying to believe.
* 'DARK SUNS' from Canada and Directed by Julien Elie presents an epic investigation into decades of cartel-related violence and murder in Mexico and one of the most ambitious, damning and masterful documentaries of the year.
* 'FRIEDKIN UNCUT' from Italy and Directed by Francesco Zippel bringing us right into the world of the raconteurish William Friedkin, the legendary Director responsible for classics such as 'The Exorcist', 'The French Connection', 'Sorcerer' and 'Cruising'. This time, Friedkin is in front of the camera, opening up for the first time about his career and his life.
* 'HONEYLAND' from North Macedonia and Directed by Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska this is a visually sumptuous look at the endangered tradition of Macedonian wild beekeeping, the tenacious woman keeping it alive and the powerful environmental message her efforts have for us all.
* 'IN MY BLOOD IT RUNS' from Australia and Directed by Maya Newell this powerful, essential portrait of Australian youth, places the plight of the Northern Territory’s Indigenous children firmly in the spotlight.
* 'LOS REYES' from Germany and Chile and Directed by Bettina Perut and Ivan Osnovikoff about Futbol and Chola, a pair of playfully inquisitive stray dogs who have become a fixture at the Los Reyes skatepark in downtown Santiago.
* 'MACHINE' from Australia and Directed by Justin Krook here takes a deep dive into the world of machines which are rapidly infiltrating everything from transport to military to healthcare – among an ever-growing list of fields – artificial intelligence is no longer merely the realm of science fiction. In a world where machines are fast becoming smarter than people, what makes humanity special? And what does our increasing reliance upon and subservience to technology mean for humankind's future?
* 'MAIDEN' from the UK and Directed by Alex Holmes charting the 1989, history making first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World yacht race skippered by the 24-year-old Brit Tracey Edwards.
* 'MEETING GORBACHEV' from Germany, USA and the UK and Directed by Werner Herzog and Andre Singer here Herzog presents a disarmingly personal conversation with the man who drew back the Iron Curtain, Mikhail Gorbachev, the last President of the former Soviet Union from early 1990 until late 1991.



* 'MEMORY - THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN' from the USA and Directed by Alexandre O Philippe asks us why forty years after the release of Ridley Scott’s Science Fiction horror classic 'Alien', why are we still so captivated by this game-changing film?
* 'MIDNIGHT FAMILY' from Mexico and Directed by Luke Lorentzen who joins a family of unregistered paramedics cruising Mexico City’s streets in this frenetic eye-opener.
* 'NOTHING FANCY : DIANA KENNEDY' from Mexico and the USA and Directed by Elizabeth Carroll charting the life and times of nonagenarian Mexican chef and activist Diana Kennedy for whom cooking is more than a mere profession: it’s an act of revolutionary culinary anthropology.
* 'ONE CHILD NATION' from China and the USA and Directed by Jialing Zhang and Nanfu Wang comes the winner of this year’s Sundance Film Festival Documentary Grand Jury Prize, which lays bare China’s population-shaping policy, the accompanying propaganda and the multi-generational impact that’s still being felt today.
* 'OVER THE RAINBOW' from the USA and Directed by Jeffrey Peixoto who takes a unique and arresting examination of Scientology, straight from the mouths of those within and those escaping the church.
* 'THE REST' from Germany and Directed by Ai Weiwei offers up this affecting, insightful and highly topical documentary with the voices, faces and bodies caught in Europe’s refugee crisis.
* 'SCHEME BIRDS' from Scotland and Sweden and Directed by Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin who bring us this winner of Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival, this is an utterly unforgettable work of cinema verite, a penetrating and compassionate account of teenage life at Scotland’s forgotten margins.
* 'UNTOUCHABLE' from the USA and Directed by Ursula Macfarlane with the catalyst that launched the #MeToo movement into the global consciousness, the fall of Hollywood producing titan Harvey Weinstein is told through the testimony of the women he allegedly targeted in this powerful and damning documentary film.
* 'WATSON' from the USA and Directed by Lesley Chilcott brings us this story of how for fifty years, Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd co-founder Captain Paul Watson has been fighting to save the world’s oceans, and here Producer-turned-Director Lesley Chilcott documents with the same passion as her subject. The film’s stunning underwater footage is extraordinary, showing just what Paul Watson is desperately trying to protect.
* 'WHAT YOU GONNA DO WHEN THE WORLD'S ON FIRE?' from the USA, France and Italy and Directed by Roberto Minervini this breakout hit of the Venice Film Festival – where it took home four awards, is an exquisite portrait of life in New Orleans and the people making their way on the black side of America’s race divide.

For the other Documentary films featured in this strand, plus all the other films being showcased during the festival, together with all the latest news and views, festival information, and special screenings you can visit the official website at : https://www.miff.com.au/

This week there are just two latest release movies coming to an Odeon near you. We kick off with a throw back to the Hollywood era of yesteryear when the Golden Age was in decline heralding in a new era of film making auteurs, independent studios and experimental cinema. Here we chart the fortunes of a now struggling TV star and his stunt double as they negotiate their way around a Hollywood that they barely recognise anymore in the hope of restoring this star's status. And to close this weeks new releases we have a sequel to a canine tale that tells the story of a dog that is reincarnated multiple times but always remains true to its original owner and a promise it made to that owner in its dying moments to always look out for his granddaughter.

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

'ONCE UPON A TIME IN . . . HOLLYWOOD' (Rated MA15+) - here amidst much fanfare and pre-release hype is the long awaited eagerly anticipated ninth film by Director, Writer and Co-Producer Quentin Tarantino who I'm sure needs no further introduction. This comedy drama film saw its world Premier screening at the Cannes Film Festival back in late May where it was in competition for the prestigious Palme d'Or, saw its general release in the US on 26th July and this week is released in Australia and the UK. On a production budget of about US$90M the film has so far grossed US$110M and has garnered largely positive Reviews. The film stars an ensemble cast that takes in Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Luke Perry, Al Pacino, Bruce Dern, Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch, Timothy Olyphant, Damian Lewis, Damon Herriman, Scoot McNairy, Rummer Willis, Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Michael Madsen, James Remar and Quentin himself.

It is 1969, Los Angeles, at the hey day of hippie Hollywood where everything is changing, including the film industry's Golden Age. As the former TV star of a popular Western series Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognise anymore and are struggling to find any meaningful work that will restore Dalton's star status. Then, as luck would have it, all that might just about change as next door to Dalton's house move in a pair of new neighbours - Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and her new husband Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha).

'A DOGS JOURNEY' - (Rated PG) - this American comedy drama offering is here Directed by Gail Mancuso who has traditionally worked on numerous television series over the years as Director, including 'Modern Family', '30 Rock', 'Scrubs', 'Rules of Engagement', 'Two and a Half Men', 'Becker', 'Friends' and 'Roseanne'. Here she brings us the follow up to 2017's 'A Dog's Purpose' which was Directed by Lasse Hallstrom and made for US$22M and grossed US$205M globally. Bailey (voiced once more by Josh Gad) is an elderly St. Bernard/Australian Shepherd mix and is living the good life on the Michigan farm of his owner Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Ethan's wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger). He even has a new playmate: Ethan and Hannah's granddaughter, Clarity June 'CJ' (Emma Volk as the infant; Abby Ryder Fortson as the young, and Kathryn Prescott as the young adult). The problem is that CJ's mother, Gloria (Betty Gilpin), decides to take CJ away. Soon afterwards Ethan finds a sizeable lump in Bailey's stomach which results in him being put down. As Bailey's soul prepares to leave this life for a new one, he makes a promise to Ethan to find CJ and protect her at any cost. So begins Bailey's adventure through multiple lives filled with love, friendship and devotion as he, CJ, and CJ's best friend Trent (Henry Lau) experience joy and heartbreak, music and laughter, and a few good belly rubs together. The film was released Stateside in mid-May and has so far grossed US$67M.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

PALM BEACH : Friday 9th August 2019.

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




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Night Shift :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE LION KING : Tuesday 30th July 2019.

I finally got around to seeing 'THE LION KING' this week some two weeks after its Australian release. Rated PG this photorealistic computer animated remake of Disney's 1994 traditionally animated musical feature film 'The Lion King' was made for US$45M and grossed worldwide US$969M and spawned a whole industry for the next 25 years. This included a whole raft of derived works, such as a hugely successful Broadway adaptation which has toured the world and still is; two direct-to-video follow-ups being the sequel, 'The Lion King II:Simba's Pride' in 1998, and the prequel 'The Lion King 1½' in 2004; two television series, 'Timon and Pumbaa' and 'The Lion Guard'; a 3D re-release in 2011, a video game release and of course the obligatory merchandise. 'The Lion King' garnered two Academy Awards for its achievement in music, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy among its total awards haul of 36 wins and a further 29 nominations. And so here hot on the heels of his success with the live action version of 'The Jungle Book' in 2016, Director and Co-Producer Jon Favreau is back in the chair for this version of the timeless Disney classic. This film cost US$260M to make and has so far grossed US$1.025B worldwide and has received generally mixed Reviews.

The story here will be familiar to adults and kids alike unless you have been living under Pride Rock all your life. The recently born lion cub Simba (voiced by Danny Glover as the grown up Simba and J.D. McCrary as the young Simba) is presented to the animal kingdom from Pride Rock by Rafiki (John Kani) - a wise mandrill monkey who serves as the shaman of the Pride Lands, and a close friend of King Mufasa (voiced once more by James Earl Jones) the ruler of the Pride Lands and father of young Simba. The next day Mufasa shows Simba the Pride Lands and explains to him the responsibilities of being the King and the 'circle of life' which connects all living things.

Mufasa's younger brother, Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is jealous of Mufasa and Simba and wants the throne for himself and plots to eliminate his older brother and the young heir to the throne so he can become King. Scar, one day while out roaming with Simba, tricks the lion cub and his best friend Nala (Beyonce) into exploring a forbidden elephants' graveyard in the out of bounds Shadow Lands, where they are attacked by spotted hyenas led by Shenzi, Kamari, and Azizi (Florence Kasumba, Keegan-Michael Key, and Eric Andre respectively). Mufasa meanwhile had been alerted to the cubs whereabouts by the hornbill concierge Zazu (John Oliver), and arrives just in time before the pack of hyenas were poised to pounce on Simba and Nala. Afterwards, Scar visits the hyenas and manages to persuade them to help him overthrow Mufasa in exchange for hunting rights in the Pride Lands where the prey will be so much easier for them.

Scar sets a trap for Mufasa and his son, coaxing Simba into a gorge and having the hyenas chase a large herd of wildebeest into a stampede that will trample and kill him. Feigning ignorance, he advises Mufasa that Simba is in grave danger, knowing that the King will rush to save his son. Mufasa saves Simba but escaping the herd winds up dangling from the edge of the gorge. Scar refuses to help his brother consequently sending him falling to his death. He then convinces Simba that the tragedy was Simba's own fault and advises him to leave the kingdom and never return. Scar tells Mufasa's pride that both Mufasa and Simba were killed in the stampede, and assumes the mantle of King.

Simba, now exiled, begins the long journey to find a new place to call home. He collapses under the heat of the blistering desert sun and is happened upon by Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), a meerkat and a warthog, both outcasts too. The pair revive Simba who grows up in an idyllic jungle setting with his two new friends and other animals, living a carefree life, away from any danger and feeding on insects and grubs under the motto 'hakuna matata' (translated to 'no worries' in Swahili).

Grown into a young adult, Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a hungry lioness, who turns out to be Nala. She and Simba rekindle their friendship and fall in love, and she pleads with him to return home, advising him that the Pride Lands have turned into a drought-stricken barren wasteland under Scar's rule with the ever scavenging hyenas by his side. Still wracked with guilt over his father's death, Simba refuses and storms off. He then encounters Rafiki, who caught wind that Simba was still alive and tells him that Mufasa's spirit lives on in him. After seeing a vision of his father in the night sky, Simba comes to the realisation that he can no longer turn his back on his past and so returns to the Pride Lands with Nala.

With the help of his friends Timon and Pumbaa who have followed, Simba sneaks past the hyenas at Pride Rock and confronts Scar, who was about to fight Sarabi (Alfre Woodard) - the Queen of the Pride Lands, Mufasa's wife and Simba's mother. Scar reminds Simba over his role in Mufasa's death much to the surprise of the pride, and backs him to the edge of the rock, where he reveals to him that he in fact sent Mufasa crashing to his death. Enraged, Simba reveals the truth to the rest of the pride. Timon, Pumbaa, Zazu, Rafiki and the lionesses go head to head, toe to toe and tail to tail with the hyenas while Scar, trying to escape, is cornered by Simba at the top of Pride Rock. Scar begs for mercy and attempts to blame the hyenas for his actions. Simba, showing compassion as taught by his father, spares his life, but orders him to leave the Pride Lands forever and never return. Scar refuses and jumps to the attack, but Simba is able to toss him from the top of the rock. Scar survives the fall, but is attacked and killed by the hyenas, who overheard his attempt to betray them. 

Afterwards, Simba takes over as King and makes Nala his Queen and in due course with Pride Rock restored to its former state after some much needed rains, Rafiki presents Simba and Nala's newborn cub to the assembled animals, continuing the circle of life as told by Mufasa some years ago.

I have to say that I was just a tad disappointed by this retelling of the classic Disney animated feature film of 'The Lion King' as seen some 25 years ago first time around. Sure enough the voice cast is terrific, there are some laugh out loud moments, and the CGI really is first rate photo realism at its very best. The film is beautifully rendered in every minute detail and its easy to immerse yourself in the realistic portrayal of African native animals, flora and fauna until those native animals burst into song. The film is almost a frame by frame remake of the original and for this reason I found it a by the numbers predictable offering with little new to offer other than cutting edge CGI, which carries the film only so far. If you are seeing 'The Lion King' for the first time then this is likely to please audiences, but for those of us who remember the first hand drawn animated film from 1994, then this is likely to be seen as a technologically updated money grab by the Mouse House . . . . . that has clearly paid off!

'The Lion King' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard, out of a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st August 2019.

In July the world bid a fond farewell to a 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 . . . . Cameron Boyce, Rip Torn, Freddie Jones, Richard Carter, Rutger Hauer and Russi Taylor.

* Cameron Boyce - born May 28th 1999, and died July 6th 2019, aged 20. Boyce was an American Actor who made his big screen debut in 2008's feature film 'Mirrors' alongside Keifer Sutherland, and followed this up that same year with 'Eagle Eye' with Shia LaBeouf. Then came 'Grown Ups' in 2010 with Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Rob Schneider and his reprisal of the role as Adam Sandler's son in 'Grown Ups 2' in 2013. His final film role before his untimely death was in the yet to be released thriller 'Runt' in which Boyce had top billing. His small screen appearances launched in 2008 with a recurring role on 'General Hospital : Night Shift', a main role on 'Jessie' from 2011 through 2015, and as Cruella de Vil's son Carlos in the made for TV movies 'Descendants' in 2015, 'Descendants 2' in 2017, and the yet to be aired 'Descendants 3' in 2019. In the meantime there was also 'Bunk'd' a spin off from 'Jessie', then 'Code Black' and his voice work on two animated 'Spider-Man' series and the also yet to be aired new series 'Mrs. Fletcher' and 'Paradise City'. All up Boyce had 35 Acting credits to his name, and had one award win and two nominations under this belt. Over the course of his short life Boyce was involved in several charities including the 'Thirst Project' to bring clean water to underdeveloped countries; 'United Way' to end homelessness, 'It's On Us' to raise awareness of, and fight against, sexual assault on college campuses for both men and women; and 'Wielding Peace' a campaign to help fight against gun violence by showing celebrities and survivors 'wielding' a new kind of weapon — one of unity.

* Rip Torn - born Elmore Rual Torn Jnr. on February 6th 1931 and died July 9th 2019, aged 88, Torn was American Actor of the stage, television and film. After moving to Hollywood, Torn made his film debut in the 1956 film 'Baby Doll' with Karl Malden and Eli Wallach. Torn then studied at the Actors Studio in New York under Lee Strasberg, becoming a prolific stage actor, and while there he introduced his cousin Sissy Spacek to the entertainment business, and helped her enrol in the Actors Studio. All up Torn had 192 Acting credits to his name from the world of movies and television series, the most notable of which were 1959's 'Pork Chop Hill' with Gregory Peck, 1962's 'Sweet Bird of Youth' with Paul Newman, 1965's 'The Cincinnati Kid' with Steve McQueen, 1978's 'Coma' with Michael Douglas, 1979's 'The Seduction of Joe Tynan' with Meryl Streep, 1982's 'Airplane 2 ; The Sequel' with Lloyd Bridges, 1983's 'Cross Creek' with Mary Steenburgen for which Torn received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, 1984's 'City Heat' with Clint Eastwood, 1995's 'How to Make an American Quilt' with Winona Ryder, 1997's 'Men In Black' and a role he would reprise in 2002's 'Men In Black II', 1999's 'The Insider' with Russell Crowe, 2000's 'Wonder Boys' with Michael Douglas, 2004's 'Dodgeball : A True Underdog Story' with Ben Stiller and 2006's 'Marie Antoinette' with Kirsten Dunst amongst many others. His television career also included the likes of his small screen debut in 1957 in a single episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and then 'Dr. Kildare', 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.', 'Rawhide', 'Bonanza', on 89 episodes of 'The Larry Sanders Show' between 1992 and 1998 for which he was nominated for six Emmy Awards, winning in 1996, on 44 episodes as the Narrator on 'Ghost Stories' from 1997 through 1998, four episodes on 'Will & Grace' and seven episodes on '30 Rock'. Torn also appeared in ten Broadway stage productions from 1959 onwards, and a further seven Off-Broadway shows and Directed four. Torn was married three times and each time to an Actress - Ann Wedgeworth, Geraldine Page and Amy Wright with whom he had a combined six children. Not with out clashes with the law, Torn was arrested, released on bail for US$100K and subsequently pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and possession of a firearm, and was given a two-and-a-half-year suspended jail sentence, and three years probation in late 2010 for breaking into a Litchfield Bancorp branch office where he maintained a residence. In 1994 Torn successfully sued Actor Dennis Hopper for a total US$950K for defamation citing that Hopper had claimed that Torn pulled a knife on him during pre-production of the film 'Easy Rider' when the court ruling determined that the opposite was in fact true. After that incident Torn was replaced with Jack Nicholson in his breakout role.

* Freddie Jones - born Frederick Charles Jones on September 12th 1927 and died July 9th 2019, aged 91. Jones was an English Actor of stage, television, radio and cinema in a career that launched on the small screen in 1960 right up until 2018 with 218 film and television Acting credits under his belt. His many big screen roles included the likes of 1967's 'Far from the Madding Crowd' with Julie Christie, 1970's 'The Man Who Haunted Himself' with Roger Moore, 1971's 'Kidnapped' with Michael Caine, 1972's 'Antony and Cleopatra' with Charlton Heston, 1974's 'Juggernaut' with Richard Harris, 1979's 'Zulu Dawn' with Peter O'Toole, 1980's 'The Elephant Man' with John Hurt, 1982's 'Firefox' with Clint Eastwood, 1984's 'Firestarter' with Drew Barrymore, 1984's 'Dune' with Kyle MacLachlan, 1990's 'Wild At Heart' with Nicolas Cage, 2002's 'The Count of Monte Cristo' with Guy Pearce, 2004's 'Ladies in Lavender' with Judi Dench and 2005's 'The Libertine' with Johnny Depp. His small screen appearances of which there are many included over the years appearances on 'Z Cars', 'The Avengers', mini-series 'The Caesars' for which he won the award for the 'World's Best Television Actor of the Year' at the 1969 Monte-Carlo Television Festival, 'The Saint', 'Jason King', 'The Protectors', 'Space : 1999', on twenty episodes of 'The Ghosts of Motley Hall', 'The Duchess of Duke Street', 'Van der Valk', 'Pennies from Heaven', on four episodes 'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole' and on six episodes of 'The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole', 'Inspector Morse, 'Lovejoy', 'Heartbeat', 'The Bill' and on 776 episodes of the long running ITV Soap Opera 'Emmerdale' from 2005 though until 2018. Jones married Actress Jennifer Heslewood in 1965 with whom he had three sons, including Actor Toby Jones.

* Richard Carter - born December 11th 1953 and died July 13th 2019, aged 65. Carter was an Australian Actor who had 71 credits to his name, first appearing in 1983's 'Hostage' in an uncredited role. Later that same year he appeared in 'Undercover' and then two episodes of soap opera 'Sons and Daughters'. From there his film credits included 1985's 'Rebel' with Matt Dillon, 1989's 'The Punisher' with Dolph Lundgren, 1994's 'Muriel's Wedding' with Toni Collette, 1996's 'Idiot Box' with Ben Mendelsohn, 1999's 'Two Hands' with Heath Ledger, 2000's 'Bootmen' with Sam Worthington, 2001's 'The Man Who Sued God' with Billy Connolly, 2002's 'Rabbit-Proof Fence' with Kenneth Branagh, 2003's 'Gettin' Square' with Sam Worthington, 2011's animated 'Happy Feet Two' to which he lent his voice talents together with an ensemble cast, 2013's 'The Great Gatsby' with Leonardo DiCaprio and 2015's 'Mad Max : Fury Road' with Tom Hardy. His small screen appearances over the years included eight episodes on soap opera 'A Country Practice', 21 episodes on drama series 'Rafferty's Blues', mini-series 'Bangkok Hilton', 'The Flying Doctors', 'Fallen Angels', 'Wildside', 'The Bill', 'Blue Heelers', 44 episodes on 'White Collar Blue', and five episodes on each of 'East West 101' and 'Rake'.

* Rutger Hauer - born January 23rd 1944, and died July 19th 2019, aged 75. Hauer was a Dutch Actor, occasional Director, Producer and Writer who had 173 Acting credits to his name and who during his career spanning six decades had won 14 awards and been nominated for a further five, including one Golden Globe win and a nod. He made his small screen debut in the title role of the Dutch historical action adventure series 'Floris' in 1969 which ran for thirteen episodes, and then a further nineteen episodes in the follow up series in 1975 'Floris von Rosamund'. From there his first big screen role came with the 1973 Paul Verhoeven Directed film 'The Sensualist'. Within two years more European and American productions came beckoning with 1975's 'The Wilby Conspiracy' with Michael Caine and Sidney Poitier, and then again with Paul Verhoeven in 1977's 'Soldier of Orange'. 'Nighthawks' followed in 1981 with Sylvester Stallone, and then Ridley Scott's classic 'Blade Runner' in which Hauer played the iconic role of self aware android Replicant Roy Batty. 'The Osterman Weekend' followed and then the likes of 'Ladyhawke', 'Flesh + Blood' for Paul Verhoeven once again, 'The Hitcher', 'Wanted : Dead or Alive', 'Escape from Sobibor' for which Hauer won the Golden Globe, 'Blind Fury' for Phillip Noyce, 'Past Midnight', 'Beyond Justice', 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', 'Nostradamus', 'Confessions of a Dangerous Mind', 'Sin City', 'Batman Begins', 'Hobo with a Shotgun', 'The Rite', 'The Heineken Kidnapping', 'Spoon', '24 Hours to Live', 'The Broken Key', 'Corbin Nash', 'The Sisters Brothers', 'The Sonata' and currently in Post-Production are 'Viy 2', 'Emperor', 'Break' and recently wrapped filming 'Tonight at Noon'. In addition there were also one off television series appearances plus multiple recurring roles on 'Porters', 'Channel Zero', 'Mata Hari', 'Galavant', 'True Blood' and 'The 10th Kingdom'. Hauer was also an environmentalist. He supported the 'Sea Shepherd Conservation Society' and was a member of its board of advisors and he also established an AIDS awareness organisation called the 'Rutger Hauer Starfish Association'. In 2007, he published his autobiography, 'All Those Moments: Stories of Heroes, Villains, Replicants, and Blade Runners'. He was made a knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 2013.

* Russi Taylor - born May 4th 1944, and died July 26th 2019, aged 75. Taylor was an American voice Actress who voiced numerous animated characters throughout her career spanning four decades. Her career took off as the original voice of 'Strawberry Shortcake' in six episodes of the 1980 television show of the same name - a role she would reprise a further five times over the next four years. She also voiced Huey, Dewey and Louie and Webby Vanderquack in the television series 'Duck Tales' from 1987, as well a numerous characters on 'The Simpsons' from 1989 right through until the time of her death. Perhaps her most famed role however, was that of Minnie Mouse who she voiced for over thirty years from 1986 in television productions, direct to video films, and video games. Her film credits took in 'The Private Eyes' in 1980, 'My Little Pony : The Movie' in 1986, 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' in 1988, 'Duck Tales : The Movie' and 'The Rescuers Down Under' both in 1990, 'Babe' in 1995, 'Babe : Pig in the City' in 1998, 'Fantasia 2000' in 1999 and 'The Simpsons Movie' in 2007. All up Taylor had 196 Acting credits to her name, plus two award wins and a further sixteen nominations including a PrimeTime Emmy nod, two Annie Award nods and two Daytime Emmy nods. Taylor was married to Wayne Allwine, the third voice of Mickey Mouse, from 1991 until his death in May 2009. They were both named 'Disney Legends' in 2008.

This week then we have five new release movies to tempt you out on a cool mid-winter's evening and coming to an Odeon near you. We kick start those with a high octane all guns blazing peddle to the metal muscle bound actioner that is a spin-off from a hugely successful franchise that sees our two protagonists who share an intense dislike and distrust of each other having to join forces to thwart a genetically enhanced terrorist with superhuman like strength and stamina. We then have a change of pace when a group of homeless folk stage a non-violent protest in a public library that gets out of control. Next up is a French offering about a middle aged and bitter divorcee who invents an alternative persona on social media touting herself with a new identity and as someone half her age with potentially dire consequences for both her identities. A famed Prince of Denmark work by Shakespeare told from the opposite side of the fence as his love must learn to navigate the corridors of power in very much a mans world comes next before closing out the week with a doco charting six Antipodean hikers taking the famed 800kms Camino Trail and their voyage of self-discovery.

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

'FAST & FURIOUS : HOBBS & SHAW' (Rated M) - here we have the first spin-off movie from that hugely popular and successful 'Fast & Furious' franchise that launched in 2001 and has so far spawned eight films, with two more in the works set for release in 2020 and 2021, and a further female centred spin-off sometime thereafter. The franchise has also extended to short films, a television series, live shows, soundtrack albums and theme park attractions, and the first eight films in the series have grossed collectively US$5,135B at the global Box Office off the back of combined production budgets of US$1,010B. 'Hobbs & Shaw' is Directed by David Leitch (who previously took an uncredited Directing role on 'John Wick' with Chad Stahelski, plus 'Atomic Blonde' and 'Deadpool 2') and is Co-Produced by the films two lead Actors - Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. The film cost US$200M to bring to the big screen, saw its World Premier screening in Hollywood in mid-July and goes on general release here in Australia on 1st August and the US on 2nd.

Picking up where 'The Fate of the Furious' left off, Diplomatic Security Service federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and former SAS operative turned mercenary Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), two men who share an intense dislike for one another, are forced to team up to stop a new threat emerging in the shape of Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), a cyber-genetically enhanced international terrorist who gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever and in the process bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent Hattie Shaw (Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Deckard Shaw’s sister, so leaving Hobbs and Shaw to form their own team to save the human race and the world. Also starring Helen Mirren as Queenie Shaw (Deckard's and Hattie's mother), Cliff Curtis, Eddie Marsan and Roman Reigns.

'THE PUBLIC' (Rated M) - this American drama offering is Directed, Written, Co-Produced and also stars Emilio Estevez which saw its World Premier screening at TIFF back in September last year before going on general release in the US in early April. The film has so far taken US$575K at the Box Office and has generated largely positive Reviews. After learning that emergency shelters are at full capacity when a brutal Midwestern cold front makes its way to Cincinnati, a large group of homeless library patrons led by Jackson (Michael Kenneth Williams) refuse to leave the downtown public library at closing time. What begins as a nonviolent sit-in and occupy style act of civil disobedience by a bunch of ragtag randoms quickly escalates into a standoff with local riot police, led by a no-nonsense crisis negotiator Detective Bill Rumstead (Alec Baldwin) and a savvy district attorney Josh Davis (Christian Slater) with lofty political ambitions, all as two librarians Stuart and Myra (Emilio Estevez and Jena Malone respectively) are caught in the middle. Also starring Taylor Schilling, Jeffrey Wright and Gabrielle Union.

'WHO YOU THINK I AM' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Safy Nebbou, this French foreign language film is a dramatic thriller that saw its World Premier screening at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year and has garnered largely positive Press. Juliette Binoche here plays Claire Millaud, a fifty year old university lecturer and mother of two teenage boys, who is contending with the approach of middle age and remains stung by the betrayal of her ex-husband Gilles (Charles Berling), who is building a new life with a new partner. Claire also has a new lover, the handsome Ludovic Dalaux (Guillaume Gouix), but is under no illusions as to his fidelity. Out of a mix of petulance and curiosity, she impulsively creates a fake Facebook profile in which to keep an eye on him - she’s ‘Clara’, a 24 year old vivacious blond. Ludo doesn’t take the bait, but his close friend Alex Chelly (Francois Civil) does, and their online connection soon becomes flirtatious. Titillated by the opportunity of being young once more, Claire’s deceptions lead both of her identities into increasingly dangerous territory!

'OPHELIA' (Rated M) - this British and American Co-Produced romantic drama offering centres around the character of the same name from William Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet', following the story of Hamlet but from Ophelia's point of view. Directed by Australian Claire McCarthy and based on the novel by Lisa Klein this film saw its World Premier showing at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year, went on limited release in the US at the end of June and has garnered generally mixed or average Reviews thus far. As a rebellious and motherless child, Ophelia (Daisy Ridley) is taken into Elsinore Castle by Queen Gertrude of Denmark (Naomi Watts) as one of her most highly regarded ladies-in-waiting. Fairly soon, Ophelia ignites the attraction of the young Prince Hamlet of Denmark (George MacKay). A passionate romance builds between the two in secret as the kingdom is on the brink of war amidst its own political intrigue and turmoil. When Hamlet’s father is murdered and the Prince’s wits begin to unravel into an insatiable quest for vengeance, Ophelia must navigate the corridors of power in Denmark. Also starring Clive Owen, Tom Felton and Devon Terrell.

'CAMINO SKIES' (Rated PG) - it seems that most Australians and New Zealanders walk the 800km Camino Trail the ‘French way’, which begins in the French Basque town of St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and finishes in the Spanish town of Santiago de Compostella where pilgrims receive their final stamp and certificates marking the 29 major towns they have passed along the way. This documentary Co-Directed and Co-Produced by Fergus Grady and Noel Smyth takes six experienced and inexperienced antipodean pilgrims aged between 50 and 80, on a journey back to the Camino in order to gain insight into what drives them to come back again and again for this spiritual pilgrimage. From Perth to Christchurch, it brings together the most passionate group of ANZAC Camino pilgrims ever assembled and observes their likeminded personalities working together to achieve the same goal. As the pilgrims set off from Perth, Brisbane, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch we learn their individual stories and how they learn to live with heartbreak, grief, physical constraints and see the effect the month long journey has on their families. This is a film of ordinary people completing an extraordinary trek and the profound impact it has upon each and every one of them.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-