ANORA : Tuesday 25th February 2025

I finally got around to seeing the critically lauded, highly praised and multi-award winning MA15+ Rated 'ANORA' earlier this week. This American comedy drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Sean Baker whose prior feature film credits include his 2000 debut with 'Four Letter Words' and then the likes of 'The Prince of Broadway' in 2008, 'Tangerine' in 2015, 'The Florida Project' in 2017 and 'Red Rocket' in 2021. This film saw its World Premiere at last years Cannes Film Festival in late May where it garnered much critical acclaim, a ten minute post-screening standing ovation and won the festivals prestigious Palme d'Or Award. It was released in the US in mid-October last year and has so far grossed US$38M from a production budget of just US$6M. It has also collected 128 award wins and another 275 nominations from around the awards and festival circuit, including six Oscar nods. 

Anora 'Ani' Mikheeva (Mikey Madison) is a 23-year-old stripper working in 'Headquarters', an upmarket strip club, and living in Brighton Beach, in Brooklyn. As Ani is able to speak some Russian and understand the language, her boss Jimmy (Vincent Radwinsky) introduces her to a customer Ivan 'Vanya' Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the somewhat immature 21-year-old son of a very wealthy Russian oligarch, Nikolai Zakharov (Aleksei Serebryakov). Vanya is in the US to study, but prefers to party, get drunk, snort cocaine, play video games and lord it up in his family's extensive Brooklyn mansion, where he resides alone while his parents are back home in Russia. 

Vanya hires Ani for numerous sexual encounters and pays her US$15K to stay with him for a week and be his girlfriend. Vanya and his besties jet off to Las Vegas, where Vanya asks Ani to marry him so that he can obtain a green card instead of returning to Russia to work in his fathers business. Although Ani is reluctant at first, Vanya insists his love is genuine, and they elope to a Vegas wedding chapel and within fifteen minutes are officially married. Ani quits her job at Headquarters and moves into Vanya's mansion. 

When news of the wedding reaches Russia, Vanya's mother, Galina (Darya Ekamasova), orders his Armenian godfather, Toros (Karren Karagulian), to find the couple and arrange an immediate annulment while she and her husband fly to the US on their private jet. Toros sends his henchmen, Garnik (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov), to the house. They tell Vanya that his parents will take him back to Russia, and anger Ani by calling her a prostitute. Vanya storms out of the house and flees the unfolding scene. 

Ani fights Garnik and Igor, injuring them and destroying several items of furniture, fixtures and fittings, but they tie her up with a telephone cable. A short time later Toros arrives. He lectures Ani about Vanya's immaturity, forcibly removes Ani's four carat diamond wedding ring, has her gagged with a red scarf, and offers her US$10K to accept the annulment. Ani insists that she and Vanya are in love, and that she may already be carrying their baby, but agrees to help Toros find him.

Ani, Toros, Garnik, and Igor spend the night driving around Brooklyn searching for Vanya, with Toros asking just about anyone and everyone if they have seen Vanya because he's disappeared. Ani's friends inform her that he is at Headquarters, her former workplace with another stripper. The group arrives there to find Vanya too intoxicated to listen or talk any sense to them, and Ani getting into a fight with another rival stripper Diamond (Lindsey Normington). They all leave together forcing them to wait outside the courthouse until the morning. The next day, the annulment is thrown out of court because Ani and Vanya were married in Nevada, and the rule of law states that a marriage can only be annulled in the state in which the marriage took place. 

At a New York airport, Nikolai and Galina disembark their private jet having just flown in from Russia. Ani speaks to Galina in Russian, saying how pleased she is to meet with Vanya's beautiful family but Galina immediately rejects her, and chides her for her poor command of the Russian language. Vanya concedes to his parents and coldly tells Ani that their marriage is impossible while Galina orders everyone on the plane to Las Vegas. Ani, at first refuses to board the plane, and states that having not signed a prenuptial agreement, threatens to force Vanya through divorce proceedings, but Galina threatens to destroy her life and that of her family and friends if she does. Finally realising Vanya's immaturity and his family's power, Ani agrees to the annulment. After the papers are signed, Igor suggests that Vanya apologise to Ani, but Galina insists that her son will not apologise to anyone. Ani insults Vanya and Galina before leaving. Toros tells Ani that she can spend one last night in Vanya's mansion but that she must be gone in the morning, and that is when she'll also get her US$10K.

Igor takes Ani back to New York to pack up her belongings. While spending one last night at the Zakharov mansion, Igor attempts to break the ice with Ani by trying his luck with some friendly chat. She though remains upset by their first encounter, arguing that he assaulted her and would have raped her had they been alone, to which he replies that he is not a rapist and denies the claim. In the morning, Igor gives Ani the money Toros promised her and drives her home. In the car, he returns Ani's wedding ring as a gesture of goodwill, but makes her promise not to tell Toros. Ani initiates sex with Igor in the car, but stops when he attempts to kiss her - she breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably in his arms.

The first half of 'Anora's' 139 minute run time is a bonk fest with more T&A on display here too that is sure to turn some audience members off. That said the second half delves into the drama with some real laugh out loud moments that touches on raw emotion, a power struggle, the class divide and human connection. Mikey Madison is a force to be reckoned with here, and delivers a performance worthy of all the accolades bestowed upon her, and the remaining ensemble cast all more than adequately earn their keep too. Writer and Director Sean Baker has here delivered us a film of two halves, with the first displaying all the boldness and beauty of Anora, and the second more akin to Guy Ritchie's early work on 'Lock, Stock . . . . .' and 'Snatch' as the film lurches into a game of cat and mouse that ultimately sees our protagonist rue the day that she ever crossed paths with the antagonist and his family. My only criticism of the film is that I found the first half over gratuitous bordering on the repetitive same old same old, and the Director could have benefited from a less is more approach by shaving twenty minutes off the run time and ramping up the second half more. It is certainly worth the price of your movie ticket though, but if you are over sensitive to sex, nudity and T&A on screen, then be warned that perhaps this movie is not for you. 

'Anora' warrants three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 27th February 2025

The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, honouring the best achievements in film and television performances for the 2024 year were presented on 23rd February at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, USA, with Actress Kristen Bell hosting the ceremony for the second time. 

The winners, grinners and also rans in the film categories, are as follows :-

* Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role - presented to Timothee Chalamet for 'A Complete Unknown', beating out Adrien Brody for 'The Brutalist', Daniel Craig for 'Queer', Colman Domingo for 'Sing Sing' and Ralph Fiennes for 'Conclave'. 

* Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - awarded to Demi Moore for 'The Substance', beating out Pamela Anderson for 'The Last Showgirl', Cynthia Erivo for 'Wicked', Karla Sofia Gascon for 'Emilia Perez' and Mikey Madison for 'Anora'.

* Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - presented to Kieran Culkin for 'A Real Pain', beating out Jonathan Bailey for 'Wicked', Yura Borisov for 'Anora', Edward Norton for 'A Complete Unknown' and Jeremy Strong for 'The Apprentice'. 

* Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - awarded to Zoe Saldana for 'Emilia Perez', beating out Monica Barbaro for 'A Complete Unknown', Jamie Lee Curtis for 'The Last Showgirl', Danielle Deadwyler for 'The Piano Lesson' and Ariana Grande for 'Wicked'.

* Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture - presented to Sergio Castellitto, Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Isabella Rossellini, and Stanley Tucci for 'Conclave', beating out 'Anora', 'A Complete Unknown', 'Emilia Perez' and 'Wicked'.

* Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture - awarded to 'The Fall Guy', beating out 'Deadpool & Wolverine', 'Dune : Part Two', 'Gladiator II' and 'Wicked'.

* The Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jane Fonda.

For the full listings of all the nominees in the film category, the complete list of all the television nominees and winners, plus a whole lot more, you can go to the official website at : https://www.sagawards.org/

Focusing back on this weeks no fewer than nine new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we kick off with an Iranian drama in which an investigating judge grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran, when his gun vanishes. Next up we have a Brazilian drama about a mother forced to reinvent herself when her family's life is shattered by an act of arbitrary violence. This is followed by an epic Sci-Fi fantasy offering where a witch travels to the Lost Lands in search of a magical power that allows a person to transform into a werewolf. Then we turn to an Aussie crime drama where a prisoner is forced to murder Australia’s most despised criminal. Following on we have British horror film in which Wendy Darling encounters a twisted Tinker Bell as she tries to rescue her brother, Michael, from the evil clutches of Peter Pan. Next is a Swedish doco about a son, his father and a best mate who take a road trip down through France in an attempt to rekindle the fathers zest for life having recently retired. Then we have an American war drama showing how one act of kindness can live on forever, as a grandmother recounts her own story of courage during her youth in Nazi-occupied France, as a boy shelters her from mortal danger. This is followed by a doco about how and why twenty-six royal treasures from Dahomey, exhibited in Paris, are returned to Benin; before closing out the week with an Aussie animated family film that sees a one of kind young tiger adopted by a wrestler kangaroo family, and who's life changes when visions lead him to his roots.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the nine 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 SEED OF THE SACRED FIG' (Rated M) - this Iranian, German and French Co-Produced political drama films is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, who made his feature debut film with 'The Twilight' in 2002, and would follow this up with the likes of 'The White Meadows' in 2009, 'Manuscripts Don't Burn' in 2013, 'A Man of Integrity' in 2017, and 'There Is No Evil' in 2020. This films title refers to a species of fig that spreads by 'wrapping itself around another tree and eventually strangling it'. It had its World Premiere screening at last years Cannes Film Festival in late May where it received a twelve minute standing ovation, was released in France in mid-September, and in Germany in late December.

This film centres on a family thrust into the public eye when Iman (Missagh Zareh) is appointed as an investigating judge in The Revolutionary Court in Tehran. As political unrest erupts in the streets, Iman realises that his job is even more dangerous than expected, making him increasingly paranoid and distrustful, even of his own wife Najmeh (Soheila Golestani) and daughters Sana (Setareh Maleki) and Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami). The film has garnered universal critical acclaim, has so far grossed close to US$6M, and has collected thirty-one award wins and another sixty-seven nominations from around the awards and festival circuit.

'I'M STILL HERE' (Rated M) - is a Brazilian and French Co-Production Directed by Walter Salles and is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's 2015 memoir of the same name. Walter Salles prior feature film making credits include 'The Motorcycle Diaries' in 2004, 'Dark Water' in 2005, and 'On the Road' in 2012 amongst others. This film stars Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro as Eunice Paiva, a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance in January 1971 of her husband, the dissident politician Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), during the military dictatorship in Brazil. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Venice International Film Festival in early September last year, was released in Brazil in early November, in France, Portugal and the USA in mid-January to universal critical acclaim and has so far grossed US$27M from a production budget of just US$1.5M. It has so far collected forty-six award wins and a further sixty-two nominations from around the awards and festival circuit, including three Academy Award nods. 

'IN THE LOST LANDS' (Rated M) - this epic fantasy film is Co-Produced, Directed and based on a story Co-Written by Paul, W. S. Anderson, and is based on the short story by George R. R. Martin. Anderson's previous film making credits include 'Mortal Kombat' in 1995, 'Event Horizon' in 1997, all of the six 'Resident Evil' films ranging from 2002 through to 2016, 'Alien vs. Predator' in 2004, 'Death Race' in 2008, 'Pompeii' in 2014 and 'Monster Hunter' in 2020. Here then, a queen, desperate to find happiness in love, takes a daring step by sending the powerful and feared witch Gray Alys (Milla Jovovich) to the 'Lost Lands' to give her the magical gift of turning into a werewolf. With the mysterious hunter Boyce (Dave Bautista), who supports her in the fight against dark creatures and merciless enemies, Gray Alys roams an eerie and dangerous world. And only she knows that every wish she grants has unimaginable consequences. The film is released Stateside on 7th March. 

'INSIDE' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian prison drama film Co-Produced, Written and Directed by Charles Williams in his feature film making debut, and is probably best known for his 2018 short film 'All These Creatures' which won the Short Film Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. In this film, transferred from juvenile to adult prison, Mel Blight (Vincent Miller) is taken under the wing of both Mark Shepard (Cosmo Jarvis), Australia's most despised criminal, and Warren Murfett (Guy Pearce), a soon-to-be-a-paroled inmate. The paternal triangle that forms between them becomes their undoing. It saw its World Premiere screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival in early August last year 

'PETER PAN'S NEVERLAND NIGHTMARE' (Rated MA15+) - this British independent horror film is Written and Directed by Scott Chambers whose prolific output takes in twenty-three Director credits since 2018, one hundred Producer credits since 2013 and numerous other roles both in front of, and behind the camera. This is the third instalment in 'The Twisted Childhood Universe' (TCU), after 'Winnie-the-Pooh : Blood and Honey' in 2023 and 'Winnie-the-Pooh : Blood and Honey 2' in 2024, and serves as a horror retelling of J. M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan'. This film follows Wendy Darling (Megan Placito) who encounters a twisted Tinker Bell (Kit Green) as she embarks on a quest to find her younger brother Michael (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney), who has been abducted by Peter Pan (Martin Portlock) and taken to the titular Neverland. The film was released in the US in mid-January and is released in the UK and here in Australia this week, having cost about US$350K and has so far recovered US$270K, and has received mixed critical reviews. 

'THE LAST JOURNEY' (Rated PG) - is a Swedish documentary film Directed by Filip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson, and after forty years as a beloved French teacher in the town of Koping, Lars Hammar retires, but becomes passive and apathetic to the dismay of his family. Looking to rekindle the spark in his life, his son Filip and his best friend Fredrik load Lars into a car to head on a road trip to France, in the hope of rekindling his almost non-existent spark of life. The film Premiered in Swedish cinemas a year ago on 1st March 2024 and across the Scandinavian countries from mid-September to early October, has so far collected four award wins and another four nominations, and has grossed US$280K.

'WHITE BIRD : A WONDER STORY' (Rated PG) - is an American war drama film Directed by Marc Forster, is based on the 2019 graphic novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio, and serves as both a spin-off prequel and a sequel to the 2017 film 'Wonder'. Marc Forster's prior film making credits take in the likes of 'Monster's Ball' in 2001, 'Finding Neverland' in 2004, 'The Kite Runner' in 2007, 'Quantum of Solace' in 2008, 'World War Z' in 2013, 'Christopher Robin' in 2018, and 'A Man Called Otto' in 2022. Here, we follow Julian (Bryce Gheisar), who has struggled to belong ever since he was expelled from his former school for his treatment of Auggie Pullman (played by Jacob Tremblay in 'Wonder'). To transform his life, Julian's grandmother Sara Blum (Helen Mirren) finally reveals to Julian her own story of courage, in that during her youth in Nazi-occupied France, a boy shelters her from mortal danger. They find first love in a stunning, magical world of their own creation, while the boy's mother Vivienne Beaumier (Gillian Anderson) risks everything to keep her safe. The film has so far recovered US$9M from its US$20M production budget, since being released in the US in early October last year and has generated mixed or average reviews.

'DAHOMEY' (Rated G) - this documentary film is a French, Senegal and Benin Co-Production that is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Mati Diop whose prior feature film debut was the multi-award winning 'Atlantics' in 2019, although she has Directed numerous short films since 2004. The documentary film blends facts and fiction to narrate the stories of twenty-six African artworks. The royal artefacts from the Kingdom of Dahomey (1600–1904) were taken to France during the region's colonial period (1872–1960). In the 21st century, they were put on display in the Musee du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, a museum of non-European art located in Paris. Following a campaign for repatriation, the artefacts were returned to Benin, and the film also traces the reactions of Beninese people. It had its World Premiere in the main competition at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2024 where it won the festival's top prize, the Golden Bear, has garnered universal critical acclaim, has so far grossed US$566K at the Box Office and has thus far collected thirteen award wins and another forty-nine nominations from around the awards and festival circuit.

'THE LOST TIGER' (Rated G) - this is the first Australian animated family feature film to be Written and Directed by an indigenous woman - Chantelle Murray. Here, we follow a plucky young tiger  Teo, one of the last Thylacines (aka Tasmanian Tiger), as he is taken in by a family of boisterous, travelling, wrestlemania Kangaroos. Teo carries with him a mysterious crystal necklace, the only clue left by those who abandoned him. The voice cast includes Thomas Weatherall, Rhys Darby, Celeste Barber, Jimi Bani and Nakkiah Lui.

With nine 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-

CAPTAIN AMERICA : BRAVE NEW WORLD - Tuesday 18th February 2025.

I saw the M Rated 'CAPTAIN AMERICA : BRAVE NEW WORLD' earlier this week, and this American Superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics character Sam Wilson / Captain America, and is the fourth instalment in the 'Captain America' film series, a continuation of the TV miniseries 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' and the 35th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This film is Directed and Co-Written for the screen by Julius Onah in his fourth feature film Directing outing following 'The Girl Is in Trouble' in 2015, 'The Cloverfield Paradox' in 2018, and 'Luce' in 2019. The first three films in the 'Captain America' film franchise - 'Captain America : The First Avenger' in 2011, 'Captain America : The Winter Soldier' in 2014, and 'Captain America : Civil War' in 2016 grossed US$2,238B at the global Box Office from combined production budgets of US$560M, making this fourth offering a no brainer. That latter film ended the 'Captain America' trilogy starring Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, and Sam Wilson becomes the new Captain America in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'. This film forms part of Phase Five of the MCU, was released here in Australia and the US last week, has so far grossed US$205M off the back of a US$180M production budget, and has generated mixed or average critical reviews.

The film opens on US Presidential Election night and a triumphant Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) takes the microphone to thank the American people for voting him in, and stating that they can achieve great things 'together'. We then fast track five months and Ross sends Sam Wilson/Captain America (Anthony Mackie) and Joaquin Torres/Falcon (Danny Ramirez) to Oaxaca, Mexico to thwart the illegal sale of classified items stolen by the Serpent Society, a rogue special-ops team led by Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito). The pair successfully recover the items, but Sidewinder escapes. Following the mission and back on home soil, Wilson and Torres both train with Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), a super soldier who was imprisoned and experimented on by the US government for thirty years, and his existence kept a secret, even from the former Captain America.

Ross invites Wilson and Torres to a summit with world leaders at the White House, and Wilson accepts on the condition that Bradley is also invited. Ross asks Wilson to help him reform the Avengers. During the summit, Ross explains that a new metal, adamantium, has been discovered on 'Celestial Island', which was formed when the Celestial Tiamut partially emerged in the Indian Ocean, and was petrified by the Eternals. The recovered items were the first refined samples of the metal and were stolen from a Japanese mining operation. To avoid an arms race, Ross proposes a treaty to govern adamantium's mining and worldwide distribution. As he is talking, the 1959 song 'Mr. Blue' by The Fleetwoods, plays and causes several men, including Bradley, to begin shooting at Ross and other gathered dignitaries. Apprehended by Ross's Security Advisor and former Black Widow Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas), the men come to their senses and deny any knowledge of the attack.

While investigating, Wilson is ambushed by Sidewinder. Wilson over powers and captures him. Torres tracks a call on Sidewinder's phone to a hidden black site in West Virginia called Camp Echo One. Ross tries to keep the treaty alive, but the Prime Minister of Japan Ozaki (Takehiro Hira) blames him for the theft of their adamantium and the subsequent White House attack. Ross realises that the mastermind of these events is Dr. Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), who gained advanced intelligence after being exposed to Bruce Banner's blood during the Abomination's rampage through Harlem. Ross imprisoned Sterns at Camp Echo One, publicly blamed him for the Abomination's actions, and promised to release him if Sterns helped advance him to the presidency. Wilson and Torres find Sterns and learn how he uses technology and the song 'Mr. Blue' as a mind control tool. He escapes while they are fighting mind-controlled soldiers.

Bat-Seraph investigates Camp Echo One herself and helps Wilson and Torres. They meet with Wilson's military friend Dennis Dunphy (William Mark McCullough), who has Sidewinder in custody. Wilson learns enough from Sidewinder to deduce Sterns's plan to destroy Ross's reputation. Wilson, Torres, and Bat-Seraph go to Celestial Island where Ross and the Prime Minister Ozaki are racing to claim ownership of adamantium. 

Sterns controls the minds of two American pilots who attack the Japanese fleet. Wilson and Torres intercept the fighter jets and convince the Japanese to stand down. Torres is shot out of the air and plunges into the Indian Ocean, critically injured. Ross tells Wilson that he is dying of heart failure and had Sterns develop pills that have prolonged his life. Ross refused to release Sterns for fear that he would no longer make the pills, leading to Sterns seeking revenge.

Sterns kills Dunphy, preventing him from calling Wilson and explaining that the pills, taken one at a time three times a day, have been adding gamma radiation to Ross's body. At the hospital, where Wilson is watching on as surgeons restart Torres heart, he is consoled by his friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). Sterns later surrenders himself to Wilson. During a press conference on the White House Rose Garden, Ross loses control of his emotions and transforms into a red Hulk, and destroys part of the White House. Wilson rushes to stop him. 

Unable to overpower Ross, Wilson attempts to calm him down by reminding him of visits to Washington, D.C.'s cherry blossom trees with his estranged daughter Betty, when she was much younger. The two fight until they can fight no more, and Ross reverts to his normal self. Later, Bradley is exonerated, Wilson invites a recovering Torres to join the Avengers, the treaty is ratified, and work has begun on repairing the damaged White House. Ross resigns and has himself incarcerated at the Raft (an underwater maximum security prison located in the Atlantic Ocean), where Wilson and Betty (Liv Tyler) visit him. 

'Captain America : Brave New World' is an OK entry into the MCU canon - it's not great but it's also not that bad either. Anthony Mackie/Sam Wilson is a more than acceptable replacement for Chris Evans/Steve Rogers even though he is a mere mortal and doesn't posses the super powers that the latter had, but he still has the wings, the suit, the shield and that gadgets that help him get by. Harrison Ford chews up the scenery, especially when he transforms into Red Hulk and looks as though he's having a blast, and there are some parallel's to be drawn here with the current presidential administration too. As for the two villains in the piece - Sidewinder and Sterns, they are largely under utilised and really serve as mere McGuffin's to move the story along. Whilst the action set pieces are well choreographed as we have come to expect from the MCU, the CGI at times leaves much to be desired, especially in the case of the cherry blossom scene in which Cap and Red Hulk go head to head and toe and toe in close quarter combat - so obviously computer generated that the techies must have been asleep at the wheel the day they programmed that sequence! 

'Captain America : Brave New World' 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 20th February 2025

The 78th British Academy Film Awards (the BAFTAs) were held on Sunday evening 16th February at London's Royal Festival Hall within the Southbank Centre, and hosted, for the second year in a row by the Scottish stage and screen Actor, David Tennant. The awards honour films of any nationality that were screened in British cinemas in 2024, with 'Conclave' receiving the most nominations with twelve, followed by 'Emilia Perez' with eleven and 'The Brutalist' with nine. 

The winners, grinners and also rans in the main categories, are as given below :-

* Best Film - awarded to 'Conclave', beating out 'Anora', 'The Brutalist', 'A Complete Unknown' and 'Emilia Perez'. 

* Best Director - awarded to Brady Corbet for 'The Brutalist', beating out Jacques Audiard  for 'Emilia Perez', Sean Baker for 'Anora', Edward Berger for 'Conclave', Coralie Fargeat for 'The Substance' and Denis Villeneuve for 'Dune : Part Two'.

* Best Actor in a Leading Role - presented to Adrien Brody for 'The Brutalist', beating out Timothee Chalamet for 'A Complete Unknown', Colman Domingo for 'Sing Sing', Ralph Fiennes for 'Conclave', Hugh Grant for 'Heretic' and Sebastian Stan for 'The Apprentice'.

* Best Actress in a Leading Role - awarded to Mikey Madison for 'Anora', beating out Cynthia Erivo for 'Wicked', Karla Sofia Gascon for 'Emilia Perez', Marianne Jean-Baptiste for 'Hard Truths', Demi Moore for 'The Substance' and Saoirse Ronan for 'The Outrun'.

* Best Actor in a Supporting Role - presented to Kieran Culkin for 'A Real Pain', beating out Yura Borisov for 'Anora', Clarence Maclin for 'Sing Sing', Edward Norton for 'A Complete Unknown', Guy Pearce for 'The Brutalist' and Jeremy Strong for 'The Apprentice'.

* Best Actress in a Supporting Role - presented to Zoe Saldana for 'Emilia Perez', beating out Jamie Lee Curtis for 'The Last Showgirl', Selena Gomez for 'Emilia Perez', Ariana Grande for 'Wicked', Felicity Jones for 'The Brutalist' and Isabella Rossellini for 'Conclave'. 

* Best Original Screenplay - awarded to Jesse Eisenberg for 'A Real Pain', beating out 'Anora', 'The Brutalist', 'The Substance' and 'Kneecap'.

* Best Adapted Screenplay - presented to Peter Straughan for 'Conclave', beating out 'Emilia Perez', 'Nickel Boys', 'Sing Sing' and 'A Complete Unknown'.

* Best Animated Film - awarded to 'Wallace & Gromit : Vengeance Most Fowl', beating out 'Flow', 'Inside Out 2' and 'The Wild Robot'.

* Best Documentary - awarded to 'Super/Man : The Christopher Reeve Story', beating out 'Black Box Diaries', 'Daughters', 'No Other Land' and 'Will & Harper'.

* Best Film Not in the English Language - presented to 'Emilia Perez', beating out 'All We Imagine as Light', 'I'm Still Here', 'Kneecap' and 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig'.

* Best Casting - awarded to Sean Baker and Samantha Quan for 'Anora', beating out 'The Apprentice', A Complete Unknown', 'Conclave' and 'Kneecap'.

* Best Cinematography - presented to Lol Crawley for 'The Brutalist', beating out Stephane Fontaine for 'Conclave', Greig Fraser for 'Dune : Part Two', Paul Guilhaume for 'Emilia Perez' and Jarin Blaschke for 'Nosferatu'. 

* Best Costume Design - presented to Paul Tazewell for 'Wicked', beating out 'Blitz', 'A Complete Unknown', 'Conclave' and 'Nosferatu'.

* Best Editing - awarded to Nick Emerson for 'Conclave', beating out 'Anora', 'Dune : Part Two', 'Emilia Perez' and 'Kneecap'.

* Best Make-Up and Hair - presented to Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stephanie Guillon, Frederique Arguello, and Marilyne Scarselli for 'The Substance', beating out 'Dune : Part Two', 'Emilia Perez', 'Nosferatu' and 'Wicked'.

* Best Original Score - awarded to Daniel Blumberg for 'The Brutalist', beating out 'Conclave', 'Emilia Perez', 'Nosferatu' and 'The Wild Robot'.

* Best Production Design - awarded to Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales for 'Wicked', beating out 'The Brutalist', 'Conclave', 'Dune : Part Two' and 'Nosferatu'.

* Best Sound - presented to Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill, Gareth John, and Richard King for 'Dune : Part Two', beating out 'Blitz', 'Gladiator II', 'The Substance' and 'Wicked'.

* Best Special Visual Effects - awarded to Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Gerd Nefzer, and Rhys Salcombe for 'Dune : Part Two', beating out 'Better Man', 'Gladiator II', 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' and 'Wicked'.

* Outstanding British Film - presented to Edward Berger, Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Michael A. Jackman, and Peter Straughan for 'Conclave', beating out 'Bird', 'Blitz', 'Gladiator II', 'Hard Truths', 'Kneecap', 'Lee', 'Love Lies Bleeding', 'The Outrun' and 'Wallace & Gromit : Vengeance Most Fowl'. 

* Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer - awarded to Rich Peppiatt for 'Kneecap', beating out Luna Carmoon for 'Hoard', Dev Patel for 'Monkey Man', Sandhya Suri, James Bowsher and Balthazar de Ganay for 'Santosh' and Karan Kandhari for 'Sister Midnight'.

* Best Children's & Family Film - presented to 'Wallace & Gromit : Vengeance Most Fowl', beating out 'Flow', 'Kensuke's Kingdom' and 'The Wild Robot'.

Additionally, the BAFTA Fellowship Award was presented to the British Actor and TV Presenter Warwick Davis, and the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award was presented to MediCinema, a UK-based registered charity that builds, installs and manages state-of-the-art cinemas, screening the latest releases the film industry has to offer in hospitals and health facilities.

For the full low down on all matters relative to the 2025 Bafta Awards ceremony, you can go to the official website at : https://www.bafta.org/awards/film

Turning attention back to this weeks four new movie offerings coming to a big screen Odeon close to home, we launch with a horror comedy offering based on an acclaimed authors 1980 short story about twin brothers who find their father's old monkey toy in the attic, after which a series of gruesome deaths start, and when the siblings decide to throw the toy away and move on with their lives, growing apart over the years, they must come together once again to thwart the evil toy that has come back into their lives. This is followed by a historical action drama set in 14th Century Switzerland, where a once peaceful hunter leads his people to rebellion after his family and country are threatened by a tyrannical Austrian King. Next up we have a drama film about a seasoned showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a thirty-year run; before closing out the week with a coming of age drama film about a twelve year old girl who lives with her half-brother and her father, who raises them alone in a squat in northern Kent, but he doesn't have much time to devote to them both and so the daughter looks for attention and adventure elsewhere.

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

'THE MONKEY' (Rated MA15+) - this American horror comedy film is Written for the screen and Directed by Osgood Perkins, whose prior feature film making credits take in his debut with 'The Blackcoat's Daughter' in 2015, 'I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House' in 2016, 'Gretel & Hansel' in 2020, 'Longlegs' more recently in 2024, and 'Keeper' set for a release in early October this year. This film is based on the 1980 short story by Stephen King, is released in the US this week too, and cost US$11M to produce. It has generated largely positive critical reviews. Stephen King has praised the film claiming it to be 'batshit insane'.

After stumbling upon their father's vintage toy monkey in the attic, twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn (both played by Theo James, with Christian Convery playing the younger Hal and Bill) witness a string of horrifying deaths unfolding around them. In an attempt to leave the haunting behind, the brothers discard the monkey and pursue separate paths over the ensuing years. However, when the inexplicable deaths resurface, the brothers are compelled to reconcile and embark on a mission to permanently eliminate the cursed toy. Also starring Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood and Adam Scott. 

'WILLIAM TELL' (Rated M) - is a UK, Italian and Swiss Co-Production written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Nick Hamm who made his feature film debut with 1998's 'The Very Thought of You' and would follow this up with 'The Hole' in 2001, 'Godsend' in 2004, 'Killing Bono' in 2011, 'The Journey' in 2016, 'Driven' in 2018 and 'Gigi & Nate' in 2022. Here then, in the early years of the 14th Century Switzerland, a once peaceful hunter, William Tell (Claes Bang) leads his people in rebellion after his family and country are threatened by a tyrannical Austrian King. As the Holy Roman Empire crumbles, the quiet lives of the Swiss peasants are upended. Also starring Connor Swindells, Rafe Spall, Emily Beecham, Jonathan Pryce and Ben Kingsley. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the TIFF in early September last year, and was released in the UK in mid-January

'THE LAST SHOWGIRL' (Rated M) - this American drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Gia Coppola who made her feature film Directorial debut with 'Palo Alto' in 2013 and followed this up with 'Mainstream' in 2020. Here, when the glittering Las Vegas French style revue at a casino resort she has headlined for decades announces it will soon close, a glamorous showgirl Shelley Gardner (Pamela Anderson) must reconcile with the decisions she’s made and the community she has built as she plans her next act. Also starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Billie Lourd and Jason Schwartzman, the film had its World Premiere screening at TIFF in early September last year, has so far grossed US$4.5M from a production budget of less than US$2M and has garnered generally positive critical reviews. It has so far won six awards and a further twenty-three nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit.

'BIRD' (Rated MA15+) - is a UK, US, French and German Co-Produced coming of age drama film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Andrea Arnold whose previous feature film output takes in her debut in 2006 with 'Red Road', then 'Fish Tank' in 2009, 'Wuthering Heights' in 2011, and 'American Honey' in 2016. Twelve-year-old Bailey (Nykiya Adams) lives with her devoted but chaotic single dad Bug (Barry Keoghan) and wayward half-brother Hunter (Jason Buda) in a squat in Gravesend, north Kent. Approaching puberty and seeking attention and adventure, Bailey's fractured home life is transformed when she encounters Bird (Franz Rogowski), a mysterious stranger on a journey of his own. The film had its World Premiere screening at last years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May, was released Stateside in early November, has so far grossed US$1.6M, has received generally positive critical reviews, and has won six awards and another twenty-two nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit so far.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-