What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 21st November 2024

The 28th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival is currently taking place, having started on Friday 8th November and running through until  Sunday 24th November, in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Pimedate Oode filmifestival, POFF) first took place in 1997. Since 2014, POFF is one of the fifteen A-list film festivals accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) and whose accreditation is renewed every year. The aim of the festival is to present a comprehensive selection of world cinema from the last two years to a local and international audience, offering fresh film production with high artistic value. Today, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has grown into one of the biggest film festivals in Northern Europe and the busiest regional industry platforms. The festival is an important meeting point for a rapidly growing number of industry professionals from around the globe.

The Opening Night film was the World Premiere German offering 'Long Story Short' from Director David Dietl and tells the story of a group of close friends who celebrate parties over an extended period of time. They experience a lot of fun together, but also tragic moments that prove that love and friendship are the most important gifts of all our lives.

This year, those eighteen films in Official Competition, all vying for any one of numerous awards on offer including the Grand Prix for the Best Film which carries a cash prize of €20,000 shared by the Director and Producer, plus awards for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Script, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Original Score and Best Production Design, are as follows :-

* '100 Liters of Gold' - from Finland and Italy and Written and Directed by Teemu Nikki. 

* 'Buzzheart' - from Greece and the USA and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Dennis Iliadis.

* 'Can I Get a Witness?' - from Canada and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ann Marie Fleming.

* 'Deaf Lovers' - from Estonia and Serbia and Written and Directed by Boris Guts. World Premiere.

* 'Empire of the Rabbits' - from Turkey, Mexico and Croatia and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Seyfettin Tokmak. World Premiere.

* 'Girl America' - from Czechia, Slovakia and Switzerland and Co-Produced and Directed by Viktor Taus.

* 'Pink Lady' - from Israel and Directed by Nir Bergman. World Premiere.

* 'Out of Control' - from France and Co-Written and Directed by Anne Le Ny. World Premiere.

* 'Pyre' - from India and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Vinod Kapri. World Premiere.

* 'Reading Lolita in Tehran' - from Italy and Israel and Co-Produced and Directed by Eran Riklis.

* 'Seed of the Desert' - from Colombia and Written and Directed by Sebastian Parra R. World Premiere.

* 'Silent City Driver' - from Mongolia and Co-Written and Directed by Sengedorj Janchivdorj. World Premiere.

* 'Some Nights I Feel Like Walking' - from the Philippines, Italy and Singapore and Written and Directed by Petersen Vargas. World Premiere.

* 'The Boy With Pink Pants' - from Italy and Directed by Margherita Ferri.

* 'The Exalted' - from Latvia, Estonia and Greece and Co-Written and Directed by Juris Kusietis. World Premiere.

* 'The Loop' - from the Republic of Korea and Written and Directed by Sang Beom Koo. World Premiere.

* 'The Mousetrap' - from Ukraine. World Premiere. 

* 'The Shadow' - from Estonia and Directed by Jaak Kilme.

For the full synopsis of these films mentioned above, plus the other competitive strands, and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://poff.ee/en/about/tallinn-black-nights-film-festival/

This week we have five new movies coming to a big screen Odeon close to home, kicking off with the first instalment in a two parter that sees Elphaba, an ostracised but defiant girl born with green skin, and Glinda, a privileged aristocrat born popular, become extremely unlikely friends in the magical Land of Oz, and as the two girls struggle with their opposing personalities, their friendship is tested as both begin to fulfil their destinies as Glinda the Good and The Wicked Witch of the West. Then we have a comedy about a father who seeks the help of his adult daughter to raise his young twins after his second wife leaves him. Next up is an Aussie drama about two estranged brothers who are forced back into each others lives when they're tasked with scattering the ashes of their recently deceased mother in the country town where she grew up. This is followed by a Vietnamese offering centring around a family's attempts to fraudulently pass off their daughter as a trophy bride for an elite family, aiming to secure their fortune; before closing out the week with a documentary film showing the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the unlikely alliance which develops between a Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist.

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.

'WICKED' (Rated PG) - is an American epic musical fantasy film Directed by Jon M. Chu, whose prior feature film credits take in his debut with 'Step Up 2 : The Streets' in 2008 and then 'G.I. Joe : Retaliation' in 2013, 'Now You See Me 2' in 2016, 'Crazy Rich Asians' in 2018 and 'In the Heights' in 2021. This film is the first of a two-part film adaptation of the stage musical of the same name by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which in turn was loosely based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire. Costing US$145M to produce, the film saw its World Premiere showcasing in Sydney on 3rd November and is released in the US this week too, with early critical reviews being very positive.

Set in the Land of Oz, largely before Dorothy Gale's arrival from Kansas, the plot covers the events of the musical's first act, following green-skinned Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) who studies at Shiz University and the beginning of her path to ultimately becoming the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside an unlikely friendship with a classmate Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande) who later becomes Glinda the Good Witch of the North. Also starring Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh and Peter Dinklage. 'Wicked : Part 2' is slated for a November release next year. 

'GOODRICH' (Rated M) - this American comedy film is Written and Directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer in only her second feature film Directorial outing following 'Home Again' in 2017. Art dealer Andy Goodrich's (Michael Keaton) life gets upended when his younger wife Naomi (Laura Benanti) leaves him and enters a 90-day rehab programme while also threatening divorce. Andy takes charge of their nine-year-old twins Billie and Mose (Vivien Lyra Blair and Jacob Kopera respectively), thrusting him into the world of modern parenthood for which he is deeply unprepared. With his career falling by the wayside, he soon leans on his 36 year old pregnant daughter from his first marriage Grace (Mila Kunis) for support, ultimately becoming the father she never had. Also starring Carmen Ejogo. Kevin Pollack and Andie MacDowell. The film was released in the US in mid-October, has so far grossed US$1.6M and has garnered largely favourable reviews.

'STRANGE CREATURES' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian drama film Written and Directed by Henry Boffin in his feature film making debut. Nate Taylor (Riley Nottingham) hasn’t spoken a word to his brother, Ged (Johnny Carr), in over four years after a mysterious falling out. But when their mother passes away from a sudden aneurysm, the brothers must set aside their differences in order to fulfil their mother’s final wish, to have her ashes scattered at the old family home in the country town of Narrabri, NSW some 520 kms northwest of Sydney. Setting out across Australia in the only vehicle available to them – a black hearse – the boys soon realise that the trip will be anything but plain sailing. Spurred on by Ged’s destructive behaviour and their intense dislike for each other, a set of unfortunate events threaten to derail them from ever reaching their goal. 

'THE TROPHY BRIDE' (Rated M) - this Vietnamese comedy drama thriller film is Directed by Ngoc Dang Vu whose previous film making efforts take in the likes of 'Lost in Paradise' in 2011 and 'Lost in Paradise 2' in 2017, 'Never Trust a Stranger' in 2015 and 'Dad, I'm Sorry' in 2021. Here then, in a desperate bid for fortune, a downtrodden and dysfunctional family of four risks it all as high-society fraudsters in a daring scheme to make their sole daughter the trophy bride of an elite family. The film was released in the US and the UK last week.

'NO OTHER LAND' (Rated M) - is a documentary film Written, Directed and Edited by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor in their Directorial debuts. The film was made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective of four activists as an act of resistance on the path to justice during the ongoing conflict in the region. A young Palestinian activist named Basel Adra has been resisting the forced displacement of his people by Israel's military in Masafer Yatta, a region in the West Bank, since he was a child. He records the gradual destruction of his homeland, where Israeli soldiers are tearing down homes and evicting their inhabitants. He befriends Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist who helps him in his struggle. They form an unexpected bond, but their friendship is challenged by the huge gap between their living conditions, in that Basel faces constant oppression and violence, while Yuval enjoys freedom and security. The film saw its World Premiere screening at this years Berlin International Film Festival in mid-February this year and has so far collected twenty-nine award wins and another seven nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit.

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-

A DIFFERENT MAN : Tuesday 12th November 2024

I got around to seeing that MA15+ Rated 'A DIFFERENT MAN' earlier this week following its release in Australia on October 24th. This American dark comedy psychological thriller film is Written and Directed by Aaron Schimberg in only his third feature film outing following 'Go Down Death' in 2013 and 'Chained for Life' in 2018. The film saw its World Premiere screening at this years Sundance Film Festival at the end of January, was released Stateside at the end of September, in the UK in early October, has so far grossed US$1.2M and has generated largely favourable reviews.

Here, Edward Lemuel (Sebastian Stan) is a struggling Actor with neurofibromatosis that manifests itself as a disfiguring facial condition. He lives in a ramshackle old apartment block with seemingly paper thin walls and floorboards and a constant dripping of black water through the ceiling in his lounge room. One day a new neighbour takes up residence, Ingrid Vold (Renate Reinsve) who is an aspiring playwright, and is working on her first theatre production although it is still early days. It doesn't take long before the pair get acquainted and Edward starts to have feelings for Ingrid, although he is way too nervous to have those feelings manifest themselves. 

He is offered a cutting edge yet still experimental medical procedure to cure him of his disfigurement which he reluctantly agrees to. Sometime later the disfiguring tumors, lumps, bumps and lesions on his face literally begin to melt away and fall off in large clumps revealing his natural healthy looking face underneath. He takes on the identity of Guy Moratz and claims to his doctor, who makes a house call to check on Edward's progress, that Edward has died suddenly by suicide, and that he is a family member who has called around to clear out Edward's apartment. This conversation is overheard by Ingrid. 

Some time later, Guy is now a successful and wealthy real estate agent. One day, he discovers that Ingrid is producing an off-Broadway play she has written called 'Edward', that is based on his life. Guy auditions and is cast in the lead role. Guy and Ingrid begin a sexual relationship soon thereafter, though Ingrid remains unaware of his real identity. During rehearsals they are visited by Oswald (Adam Pearson), a man with neurofibromatosis who has taken a keen interest in the play. The confident and charismatic Oswald quickly befriends the cast and crew, although Guy is somewhat put off by his outgoing and overly positive manner.

Ingrid and Oswald grow closer, and after Guy is unable to recite his lines, she decides to recast Oswald in the lead role. The play is a success, and Oswald's performance receives very positive reviews. Guy's mental state begins to deteriorate, and he begins stalking Oswald, is fired from his real estate job, and eventually storms the stage of the play one night to physically attack Oswald. During the on-stage scuffle, part of the set collapses on top of Guy breaking his legs and arms. While he recovers from his injuries he moves back into his former apartment next to Ingrid, who is now living with Oswald and making plans to adapt Edward into a film with movie Producer Michael Shannon. One day, after Guy's physical therapist expresses disgust for Oswald behind his back, Guy stabs him with a kitchen knife and is jailed. 

Years later, after Guy is released from prison, he comes across a billboard promoting Ingrid's most recent play. He once again encounters Oswald. He has dinner with Oswald and Ingrid at a Japanese restaurant. The pair are now very happily married and a highly successful creative duo who are planning their retirement to a commune in Canada, after Ingrid comments that she has achieved everything in life she ever really wanted - parenthood, a happy marriage and a successful career. A waiter arrives to take their orders, but a visibly nervous Guy struggles to choose from the menu. Oswald comments that he hasn't changed a bit.

'A Different Man' is part 'Beauty and the Beast', part 'The Elephant Man' and part 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' all wrapped up in a modern day story of accepting who and what we are and living with the consequences of our actions. This film has body horror, thrills, drama, emotion and laugh out loud moments courtesy of both Stan and Pearson who give their all to their respective performances. This is a thought provoking absorbing story that will leave you thinking long after the credits have rolled, with the main message left by Writer and Director Aaron Schimberg being that you can't judge a book by its cover!

'A Different Man' warrants 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 14th November 2024

The 32nd Camerimage Festival takes place this year from Saturday 16th through until Saturday 23rd November in the Polish city of Torun. The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography recognises and rewards the best in cinematography in film, television and music videos, and is described as being dedicated to the art of cinematography and its creators - cinematographers. The unconventional format of the Festival, which awards films according to their visual, aesthetic and technical values, has turned out to be an alternative to traditional film festivals.  

Steve McQueen's historical war drama 'Blitz' will serve as the festival's Opening Film, while the first half of Jon M. Chu's two-part musical fantasy film 'Wicked' will be the Closing Film. Both films will be honoured with special awards for their Director and Production Designer, respectively.

Australian Actress Cate Blanchett was announced as the Jury President for the Main Competition, with the Golden Frog Award where the idea behind the award is to present the feature films where the image significantly contributes to the way a story is told. There are twelve films in the main competition section, these being :-

* 'Blitz' - from the UK and the USA and Directed by Steve McQueen, with Cinematographer Yorick Le Saux.

* 'The Brutalist' - from the UK and Directed by Brady Corbet, with Cinematographer Lol Crawley.

* 'Cabrini' - from the USA and Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, with Cinematographer Gorka Gomez Andreu.

* 'Conclave' - from the UK and the USA and Directed by Edward Berger, with Cinematographer Stephane Fontaine.

* 'The Devil's Bath' - from Austria and Germany and Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, with Cinematographer Martin Gschlacht.

* 'Dune : Part Two' - from Canada and the USA and Directed by Denis Villeneuve, with Cinematographer Greig Fraser.

* 'Emilia Perez'  - from France and the USA and Directed by Jacques Audiard, with Cinematographer Paul Guilhaume.

* 'The Fire Inside' - from the USA and Directed by Rachel Morrison, with Cinematographer Rina Yang.

* 'The Girl with the Needle' - from Denmark, Poland and Sweden and Directed by Magnus von Horn, with Cinematographer Michal Dymek.

* 'Gladiator II' - from the UK and the USA and Directed by Ridley Scott, with Cinematographer John Mathieson.

* 'Small Things Like These' - from Ireland, Belgium and the USA and Directed by Tim Mielants, with Cinematographer Frank van den Eeden.

* 'Vermiglio' - from Italy, France and Belgium and Directed by Maura Delpero, with Cinematographer Mikhail Krichman.

For the full synopsis of the aforementioned films in the main competition, plus the other competitive strands and a whole lot more good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://camerimage.pl/en/energacamerimage-2024/

Looking ahead then to this weeks six new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with the sequel to a hugely popular and successful film from 2000 by an acclaimed Director that in this instalment sees our hero forced to enter the Colosseum, after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome, and must look to his past to find strength to return the glory of Rome to its people. This is followed by the story of a woman employed as a social worker who leads a simple and structured life, which is blown wide open when a man follows her home from their high school reunion, and their surprise encounter will profoundly impact both of them as they open the door to the past. Then we turn to the first of two Christmas comedy dramas - the Balsano family and a few close friends are together for what is likely to be their final family Christmas in their ancestral home, however, two of the younger members of the family escape for teenage rebellion; and then, nobody is ready for the mayhem and surprises that ensue when six of the worst youngsters disrupt the town's annual Christmas performance. Next up we have a Filipino offering that after fighting for their love to conquer the time, distance and a global shutdown that kept them apart, this couple meet again in Canada but realise that they're now very different people; before closing out the week with an Aussie doco that takes us back to May 1973, when 10,000 artists, activists, hippies, radical students, gurus and visionaries descended on a small dairy town for ten days of social and cultural exploration that changed a generation.

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

'GLADIATOR II' (Rated M) - is a US and UK co-produced epic historical action film that is Co-Produced and Directed Ridley Scott and is the sequel to Scott's classic 'Gladiator' from 2000, which grossed US$465M off the back of a production budget of US$103M and which won five Academy Awards from twelve nominations among a total awards haul of sixty wins and a further 104 nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. The film is released here in Australia and New Zealand this week, in the UK on 15th and the USA on 22nd November. A further sequel 'Gladiator III' is reportedly in the early stages of development. 

Over two decades after the events of 'Gladiator', Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Maximus (Russell Crowe from the first film), lives with his wife and child in Numidia - a Roman province on the North African coast. Roman soldiers led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invade, killing his wife and forcing Lucius into slavery. Inspired by Maximus, Lucius resolves to fight as a gladiator under the teaching of Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave who plots to overthrow the young emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn). Also starring Derek Jacobi, Lior Raz, Tim McInnerny, Rory McCann and Matt Lucas.  

'MEMORY' (Rated MA15+) - this American and Mexican co-produced drama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Michel Franco whose previous feature film credits include 'Chronic' in 2015 and 'Sundown' in 2021. The film had its World Premiere at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival where lead Actor Peter Sarsgaard won the Volpi Cup for his performance. Social worker Sylvia's (Jessica Chastain) structured life is blown apart when Saul (Peter Sarsgaard) follows her home from their high school reunion. Their surprise encounter profoundly impacts both of them as they open the door to the past. Also starring Merritt Weaver, Jessica Harper, Elsie Fisher and Josh Charles. It was released Stateside in late December last year, is only released here in Australia this week having so far grossed US$2M and has garnered generally favourable critical reviews.

'CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER'S POINT' (Rated M) - is an American Christmas comedy drama film Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Tyler Thomas Taormina. Here, a rambunctious extended family descends upon their small Long Island hometown on Christmas Eve for what could be the last holiday in their ancestral home. Before the evening is over, and as generational tensions arise, two teenage cousins take advantage of the chaos to sneak out into the wintry night and make the holiday their own. Starring Michael Cera, Sawyer Spielberg, Francesca Scorsese, Elsie Fisher, Matilda Fleming and Ben Shenkman.  The film saw its World Premiere at this years Cannes Film Festival and was released in the US last week.

'THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER' (Rated G) - this American comedy drama film is Directed by Dallas Jenkins and is based on the 1972 novel by Barbara Robinson. The Herdmans are six juvenile delinquent siblings who have a reputation for being the worst kids in the world. However, when they take over the local church pageant during the holidays, they just might teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas. Starring Judy Greer, Pete Holmes with Beatrice Schneider, Mason D. Nelligan, Matthew Lamb, Ewan Wood, Essek Moore and Kynlee Heiman as the Herdman clan. The film was released in the US last week and has received generally positive reviews. 

'HELLO, LOVE, AGAIN' (Rated PG) - is a Philippine romantic drama film Directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana and is the sequel to the 2019 film 'Hello, Love, Goodbye'. After fighting for their love to conquer time, distance and a global shutdown that kept them apart, Joy (Kathryn Bernardo), a nurse working in Canada who previously worked as a domestic helper in Hong Kong, and Ethan (Alden Richards), a bartender working in Hong Kong, meet again in Canada but realise that they have also changed a lot, individually. 

'AQUARIUS' (Rated M) - this Australian historical documentary film is Co-Written and Directed by Wendy Champagne in only her second feature doco after 'BAS! Beyond the Red Light' in 2009. In May 1973, the small northern New South Wales dairy town of Nimbin was the perfect location, surrounded by farmland and rainforest. The inhabitants (all 300 of them) hoped the event would bring young people to their struggling town. Thousands arrived, all willing to contribute to the Aquarius Festival, whether by playing instruments or digging drains. It wasn’t quite all saunas, nudity, acrobatics, and chilled-out bliss however, as festival goers faced down Police interference, internal chaos, drugs and personal dramas. Nonetheless, countless participants found kinship as well as a blueprint for a sustainable life. 

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

VENOM : THE LAST DANCE - Tuesday 5th November 2024

I saw the M Rated 'VENOM : THE LAST DANCE' at my local multiplex earlier this week, and this American Superhero film features the Marvel Comics character Venom, is the sequel to 2018's 'Venom' and 2022's 'Venom : Let There Be Carnage' and is the fifth film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. Those first two instalments grossed a combined US$1.36B off the back of a total production budget of US$220M, with the first film in the franchise being Directed by Ruben Fleischer and the second by Andy Serkis. This third and seemingly final offering is Written and Directed by Kelly Marcel in her feature film making debut. The film was released in the US and here in Australia a couple of weeks now now, cost US$120M to produce, has so far grossed US$326M and has generated mixed critical reviews.

Here then, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy once again reprising his role and also taking a Writer and a Co-Producer credit) and his symbiote Venom are on the run down Mexico way getting drunk in some street bar, following their recent battle with Carnage. The murder of Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham) one of New York City's finest cops, makes international headlines with Eddie being named the prime suspect on national television which he sees just as he is exiting the bar, forcing him to set out to New York City in an attempt to clear his name. 

Unknown at this stage to both of them, a creature known as a Xenophage has begun tracking Eddie and Venom. The recent events draw the attention of Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a soldier who oversees Imperium, a secret government operation at the site of the very soon-to-be-decommissioned Area 51 in Nevada some 130kms north of Las Vegas, for the capture and study of other symbiotes that have come to Earth. 

Mulligan, it is revealed survived his encounter with Carnage, is captured after being left for dead by another symbiote, who eluded Strickland's soldiers. He is bonded with one of many other contained symbiotes and questioned by Imperium researchers Dr. Teddy Payne (Juno Temple) and Sadie Christmas (Clark Backo), to learn about the symbiotes' purpose on Earth before Strickland is ordered to take Eddie and Venom down. 

Eddie and Venom cling onto the side of an aeroplane bound for New York City when they are attacked by a Xenophage who has been tracking them. A fight breaks out with many of the passengers inside the aircraft watching on in horror at the scene unfolding on the outside at 40,000 feet. Eddie and Venom lurch themselves off the plane, with Venom forming a parachute so that they can glide back down to the ground with a soft landing, which they do in the middle of desert terrain. 

Venom explains to Eddie that Xenophages were unleashed into the universe by Knull (an unrecognisable Andy Serkis), the creator of the symbiotes, to retrieve a Codex, which is forged only when a symbiote resurrects its host. This can free Knull from the prison the symbiotes trapped him in a very long time ago. Because Venom revived Eddie once before, he now carries a Codex that the Xenophage has now tracked to Earth. 

After being ambushed by Strickland and his team while barely escaping from them and the Xenophage, Eddie meets Martin Moon (Rhys Ifans), his wife Nova (Alanna Ubach) and his young son and teenage daughter of traveling hippies and alien enthusiasts who offer him a free ride to Las Vegas on their way to Area 51 for a last ditch attempt to find signs of alien life there. Meanwhile, Mulligan's new symbiote informs Strickland of Knull's intentions with the Codex, which can only be destroyed if either Eddie or Venom dies.

Arriving in Las Vegas, Eddie and Venom run into Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu) at a casino on vacation and Venom shares a dance with her before being abruptly ambushed by the Xenophage again in her penthouse suite. Strickland's team of crack soldiers arrives, separates Venom from Eddie and flies them to Area 51 where Eddie is reunited with Mulligan. Sadie frees Venom, who re-bonds with Eddie after Strickland shoots him. This attracts the Xenophage to the base, killing Mulligan. Venom has the other confined symbiotes released, which bond with Sadie and other hosts to fight off the Xenophage, who has signalled to Knull that the Codex has been located. Knull sends more Xenophages through portals to Earth, overwhelming the symbiotes. 

Realising he must sacrifice himself to destroy the Codex and save the universe, Venom merges with the Xenophages, leads them into a nearby acid shower, and bids Eddie farewell before ejecting him. Strickland, mortally wounded from a Xenophage attack and being in too close a proximity to the acid shower raining down, pulls the pin on his grenades to destroy them and destroy Area 51 in a giant ball of flame. Payne bonds with a symbiote to save Sadie from the explosion while Eddie falls unconscious as the base burns to the ground.

Sometime later, Eddie comes round in a hospital bed, where a military officer informs Eddie that his actions with Venom at Area 51 have earned him an expungement, under the condition of keeping the events that unfolded there a secret until the day he dies, or risk being imprisoned in the coldest darkest place on Earth. Arriving in New York City, Eddie gazes at the Statue of Liberty, which he said he would take Venom to see, while remembering his former 'buddy'. 

'Venom : The Last Dance' is entertaining enough if your fan of the first two instalments in this franchise, or a fan of Tom Hardy or both, and is an enjoyable popcorn film that delivers on the thrills, spills and kills, has a few moments of emotion, a couple of laugh out loud moments and never takes itself too seriously. This movie is exactly what you would expect it to be - rather disposable and nothing that is really fresh out of the box that we haven't already seen, but for first time feature filmmaking Director Kelly Marcel she has turned in a serviceable conclusion to this franchise that overall in terms of global Box Office take has to date amassed US$1.69B off the back of budgets totalling US$340M, so I guess is a worthwhile exercise for Sony and Marvel. 

'Venom : The Last Dance' merits 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 7th November 2024

The 69th Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) takes place this year from Thursday 7th through until Sunday 17th November, in the Irish city of Cork, and is a local, national and international celebration of cinema. CIFF’s mission is to present Ireland’s most exciting, diverse, and ambitious annual film festival, connecting and stimulating audiences and artists through a carefully curated selection of the best films, to create a unique shared cultural experience, rooted in Cork, open to the world. It is also Ireland’s first and largest film festival and one of Cork’s most significant and popular annual cultural events. Award-winning films from the international film festival circuit, new discoveries and cinema classics are selected by an experienced curatorial team, to be premiered in cinemas in Cork and screened online via the Festival Digital Platform, available to viewers nationwide.

The Opening Night Gala film presentation is 'Conclave', the mystery thriller film Directed by Edward Berger and stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence who organises a papal conclave to elect the next Pope, and finds himself investigating secrets and scandals about each candidate. The Closing Night Gala film is 'Rumours' and this black comedy film is Co-Written and Directed by Guy Maddin that has world leaders who meet at the G7 Summit but get lost in the woods whilst trying to compose a joint statement on an unspecified global crisis. Beset by thick fog and menaced by undead bog bodies and a giant brain, they navigate the tortured passions between them. 

Those films competing for the Spirit of the Festival Awards for Best Film and Best Screenplay are as follows :-

* 'Arcadia' - from Greece and Bulgaria, and Directed by Yorgos Zois this fantasy drama film has psychologist Katerina having to confront her worst suspicions as she accompanies Yannis, a once-respected doctor, to identify the victim of a tragic car accident at an off-season seaside resort.

* 'Gloria!' - from Italy and Switzerland this historical musical film is Directed by Margherita Vicario. Here, Teresa, a maid in eighteenth-century Venice, works at a girls' musical institute. As the Pope's visit approaches, she discovers the piano amid the institute's preparations.

* 'The Imminent Age' - from Spain, this drama is Directed by Clara Serrano Llorens and Gerard Simo Gimeno and tells the story of eighteen year old Bruno, whose life is becoming increasingly limited by the growing dependence of his 86 year old grandmother Natividad, the only family he has ever known. When the opportunity to take her to a nursing home arises, both will have to deal with a decision they had not allowed themselves to consider before.

* 'Julie Keeps Quiet' - from Belgium and Sweden this psychological drama film is Directed by Leonardo Van Dijl and is about Julie, a star player at an elite tennis academy. When her coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended, all of the club's players are encouraged to speak up. But Julie decides to keep quiet.

* 'Lesson Learned' - from Hungary, this drama film is Directed by Balint Szimler and tells the story of a young teacher who rebels against archaic school methods as Palko, a new foreign student, struggles to adapt to Hungary's demanding education system.

* 'Loveable' - from Norway and Directed by Lilja Ingolfsdottir, this drama offering sees Maria juggling four children and a demanding career while her second husband, Sigmund, travels all the time. One day they get into an ugly argument which gives rise to Sigmund eventually asking her for a divorce.

* 'Rabia' - from France, Germany and Belgium and Written and Directed by Mareike Engelhardt, this drama film has Jessica and her best friend leave their home in France for Syria to join Daech. Driven by the promise of a new life, when they arrive, they find themselves locked up in a women's house run by the authoritarian and charismatic Madame.

* 'Under the Volcano' - from Poland and is Co-Written and Directed by Damian Kocur. This drama film sees a Ukrainian family of four are enjoying the last day of their holiday on the island of Tenerife, Spain. However, upon arriving at the airport, they quickly learn that their flight has been canceled, as Russia has invaded Ukraine. Trapped on the island, the tourists become refugees.

* 'The Village Next to Paradise' - from Austria, Germany, France and Somalia, this drama is Written and Directed by Mo Harawe, and tells of a newly formed family confronting challenges while pursuing individual goals and facing the intricacies of modern life, relying on love, trust, and resilience to guide them.

For the other film strands being presented, including the Best New Irish Feature, World Tour, Culinary Cinema and more, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://corkfilmfest.org/

This week, with six new movie offerings coming to a big screen Odeon close to home, we launch with an American drama film set in 1936 Pittsburgh, in which this black American family grapples with family legacy and difficult decisions as they determine the fate of their heirloom piano, exploring deeper themes along the way. Then we have an American Christmas action adventure film that sees Santa Claus getting kidnapped, and so the North Pole's Head of Security must team up with the world's most infamous bounty hunter in a mission to save Christmas. Next up we have an American absurdist fantasy drama film about a family of four Sasquatches living in the dense forests of North America who find themselves on a collision course with the ever changing world around them. And following these we have a trio of Aussie films starting with a comedy about a self-appointed Mother of the Year who sees an opportunity when her daughter falls into a coma and assumes her daughter's identity. And closing out the week we have two Aussie doco's - the first traces a year in the life of probably Australia's most iconic beach side swimming pools and what it means to the local and more far reaching community; and the second tells the story of a former world #4 tennis star who rose through the ranks while surviving war, bullying and extreme domestic violence.

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

'THE PIANO LESSON' (Rated M) - is an American drama film Co-Written and Directed by Malcolm Washington (son of Denzel) in his feature film Directorial debut, and is adapted from the 1987 play by August Wilson. This the third big screen adaptation of an August Wilson play - the first 'Fences' was Directed and starred Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in 2016 and the second 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' starring Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis and was Produced by Denzel Washington in 2020. Denzel Washington has shepherded the films and has vowed to continue Wilson's legacy by adapting the rest of his plays into films for a wider audience. Washington said, 'the greatest part of what's left of my career is making sure that August is taken care of'. This film is once again Co-Produced by Denzel Washington. 

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, the film follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which is decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Corey Hawkins, Ray Fisher and Danielle Deadwyler, the film saw its World Premiere at the Telluride Film Festival at the end of August, is released here in Australia and the USA from this week before streaming on Netflix from 22nd November onward.

'RED ONE' (Rated PG) - this American Christmas action adventure comedy film is Directed by Jake Kasdan whose previous feature film credits take in his debut with 'Zero Effect' in 1998, then 'Orange County' in 2002, 'Walk Hard : The Dewey Cox Story' in 2007, 'Bad Teacher' in 2011, 'Sex Tape' in 2014, and the last two 'Jumanji' reboots in 2017 and 2019. Here then, when Santa Claus, Code Name : RED ONE, (J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped, the North Pole's Head of Security, Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world's most infamous bounty hunter, Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas. Also starring Lucy Liu and Bonnie Hunt, the film cost a reported US$250M to produce and is released in the UK this week too, and the US from next week.

'SASQUATCH SUNSET' (Rated MA15+) - is an American absurdist fantasy drama film Co-Produced, Co-Directed and Co-Edited by Nathan and David Zellner, with David also writing the screenplay. In the misty wilderness forests of Northern California, a family of four nomadic Sasquatches, quite possibly the last of their enigmatic kind, embark on an absurdist, epic, hilarious, and ultimately poignant journey over the course of one year. These shaggy and noble giants fight for survival as they find themselves on a collision course with the ever-changing world around them. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough and Nathan Zellner, the film saw its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in mid-January this year, was released Stateside in mid-April, in the UK in mid-June, has so far collected US$1M at the Box Office and has garnered generally favourable reviews.

'AUDREY' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian comedy film is Co-Produced and Directed by Natalie Bailey in her feature film debut although she has a career spanning some 25 years Directing TV series. Here then, following self-appointed Mother of the Year, Ronnie Lipsick (Jackie van Beek), who is living a life she never wanted, with a derailed career, a husband whose love for life has gone limp (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) and two daughters who she struggles to connect with (Josephine Blazier and Hannah Diviney). When an accident lands her eldest daughter Audrey (Josephine Blazier) in a coma, Ronnie gets a second chance at life by taking on her daughter’s identity – only she’s not the only one in the family who sees Audrey’s comatose state as an opportunity.

'THE POOL' (Rated M) - is an Australian documentary film Directed by Ian Darling that showcases Bondi Icebergs Club and its most photographed pool in the world. For nearly a century this spectacular fifty metre stretch of sparkling blue water at the southern end of Bondi Beach has occupied a special corner in the hearts of millions. This is where generations of children have learnt to swim, where the diehard have braved the frigid waters of one hundred winters, where the young and beautiful have come to bond and bake in the hot sun, and where sightseers from around the world have taken refuge during the scorching heights of endless Australian summers. Icebergs is at once a meeting place, a resting place, a workout place and a place of romance and ritual, capturing the lives of those who gather there, and revealing how this iconic space fosters a deep sense of community, connection, and belonging.

'UNBREAKABLE : THE JELENA DOKIC STORY' (Rated M) - this Australian documentary film is Written and Directed by Jessica Halloran and Ivan O'Mahoney, and tells the true story of how Jelena Dokic overcame extraordinary odds, and of her ultimate triumph in the face of poverty, bullying and extreme brutality. It’s about how she survived as a refugee, twice. How she survived on the tennis court as she ascended to become world No.4. But most importantly, how she survived the unimaginable abuse by Damir Dokic, her violent father and manager. The man whose love she craved most. It’s a story of growing up – never being alone, but always lonely. Ultimately, it’s the story of how the tennis world and a nation of fans chose to look away when Jelena needed them most. The film features firsthand testimony from Jelena, Australian and international tennis greats, including Pam Shriver and Lindsay Davenport, as well as former WTA officials and journalists.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-