What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 9th July 2026.

This years 23rd Golden Apricot International Film Festival (GAIFF) takes place between Sunday 12th July and Sunday 19th July. It was established in 2004 in Yerevan, the capital and largest city in Armenia, with the co-operation of the 'Golden Apricot' Fund for Cinema Development and the Armenian Association of Film Critics and Cinema Journalists. The Festival is dedicated to the theme of Crossroads of Cultures and Civilisations, and features a multitude of films representing various nations and religions, collectively depicting the richness of the human experience. GAIFF is different from other film festivals as it is smaller in scale and hence more intimate, nevertheless it garners international attention and respect. Earlier this year, GAIFF was granted accreditation by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), joining the global network of internationally recognised film festivals, which now includes forty-nine accredited festivals across twenty-nine countries.

The films are presented in two international competition sections: features and documentaries. The Golden Apricot (grand prize) and the Silver Apricot (special mention) are awarded in each category. The Armenian Panorama is the pan-Armenian competitive section of the festival for films produced by filmmakers of Armenian descent. GAIFF also has three sections outside of competition to showcase more outstanding films - Non-competitive, Retrospective and Tribute. Competing for the Golden Apricot Award for the Best Film in the International Competition, are the following twelve features, given as below, in brief :-

* 'Babystar' - from Germany and Co-Written and Directed by Joscha Bongard. 

* 'Father' - from Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland and Co-Written and Directed by Tereza Nvotova. 

* 'Hair, Paper, Water . . . ' - from Belgium, France and Vietnam and Written and Directed by Nicolas Graux and Minh Quy Truong, photographed by Nicolas Graux, and Co-Sound Engineered and Edited by Minh Quy Truong.

* 'London' - from Austria, and Co-Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Sebastian Brameshuber.

* 'No Good Men' - from Germany, France, Norway, Denmark and Afghanistan, and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat.

* 'Outliving Shakespeare' - from Armenia and the Nethwerlands, and Directed by Inna Sahakyan, Ruben Ghazaryan, and Co-Written and Co-Produced by Inna Sahakyan.

* 'Past Future Continuous' - from Iran, Norway and Italy and Written and Directed by Morteza Ahmadvand and Firouzeh Khosrovani, and Co-Produced by Firouzeh Khosrovani.

* 'The Currents' - from Switzerland and Argentina and Written and Directed by Milagros Mumenthaler.

* 'The Lion at My Back' - from Cyprus, Luxembourg and Greece and Co-Written, Produced and Directed by Tonia Mishiali. 

* 'The Mechanics of Borders' - from Canada and Co-Written and Directed by Hubert Caron-Guay.

* 'The Moon Is a Father of Mine' - from Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Turkey, and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by George Ovashvili.

* 'Tristan Forever' - from Switzerland and Written and Directed by Tobias Nolle and Loran Bonnardot, and photographed and Edited by Tobias Nolle.

For the more detailed summary of the above highlighted films in the International Competition, plus the other competitive sections and strands bring showcased, together with a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.gaiff.am

Turning the focus then back to this weeks six new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon this week, we begin with a comedy in which a couple who's marriage is already on thin ice, and when they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours for a get to know you dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. This is followed by a supernatural horror that is the sixth offering in this franchise and quite probably the most brutal yet, in which following the death of her husband, a woman seeks comfort with her in-laws in their remote family home, and as one by one they are transformed into Deadites, so turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell. Next up we have another supernatural horror offering where a lovelorn medical student, becomes terrorised by a sinister force after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze that involves consuming human ashes. Then we turn to a drama film about an elderly Catholic nun in the Philippines whose faith is challenged by institutional corruption and cover-ups after witnessing a construction worker's fatal accident. Following on we have coming-of-age autobiographical drama film where, in order to secure her education, an eighteen year old woman must find her birth family, and so guided by her mother's diary, she travels to the coast and uncovers buried secrets and long-hidden shames of the past. And closing out the week we have a live action remake of two hugely successful animated feature films from the recent past, where, leaving her island for the first time, this young girl embarks on an epic seafaring adventure to restore prosperity to her people.

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 INVITE' (Rated MA15+) - this American comedy film is Directed by Olivia Wilde in her third feature film Directorial outing following 'Booksmart' in in 2019 and 'Don't Worry Darling' in 2022, as well as her many acting roles in the likes of 'The Girl Next Door' in 2004, 'Alpha Dog' in 2006, 'Cowboys & Aliens' in 2011, 'People Like Us' in 2012, 'Deadfall' also in 2012, 'Rush' in 2013, 'Her' in 2013, 'The Lazarus Effect' in 2015, 'Love the Coopers' in 2015, 'Life Itself' in 2019 and 'Richard Jewell' in 2019. This film is an English language remake of the Spanish film 'The People Upstairs' Directed by Cesc Gay.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela's (Olivia Wilde) marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours Hawk (Edward Norton) and Pina (Penelope Cruz) for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down? The film saw a limited release in US cinema's on 26th June before going wide from this week too, having seen its World Premiere showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year. It has so far grossed US$1.5M.

'EVIL DEAD BURN' (Rated R18+) - is an American supernatural horror film that is Co-Written and Directed by the French film maker Sebastien Vanicek, whose only other feature film Directing output was 2023's 'Infested'. This film serves as the third standalone entry, after 2013's 'Evil Dead' and 'Evil Dead Rise' in 2023, and the sixth instalment overall in the 'Evil Dead' film series. Those first five films in the series have grossed US$300M from combined production budgets of US$47M. Sam Raimi, the series creator, returns in the capacity of Co-Producer. Following the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws in their secluded family home. As one by one they are transformed into Deadites, turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell, she comes to discover that the vows she took in life live on . . . even in death. Starring Souhelia Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand and George Pullar. In April 2024, it was announced that another mainline film is currently in development, which was later titled 'Evil Dead Wrath', with Francis Galluppi as the Writer and Director. Principal photography began in late February this year, in Auckland, New Zealand, with the film scheduled for release in early April 2028.

'SACCHARINE' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian supernatural horror film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Natalie Erika James who made her feature film debut with 'Relic' in 2020 and would follow this up with the prequel film to 1968's 'Rosemary's Baby' with 'Apartment 7A' in 2024. After succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving the eating of human ashes, lovelorn medical student Hana (Midori Francis) finds herself terrorised by the ghost of the person she's eating. Also starring Danielle Macdonald, Madeleine Madden and Robert Taylor. The film had its World Premiere screening at the Midnight section of this years Sundance Film Festival in late January, was released in the USA in late May, has so far grossed US$116K and has generated mixed or average critical reviews. 

'FIRST LIGHT' (Rated M) - is a Co-Production between the Philippines and Australia and is Written and Directed by James J. Robinson in his feature length debut. Set in a decaying convent in the mountains of Luzon in the Philippines, the film follows Sister Yolanda (Ruby Ruiz), a middle-aged Catholic nun whose faith is shaken by a tragic accident, in which a young construction worker dies. As pressure mounts from the Church and state to suppress the truth, she finds herself questioning the ethical standards and the institution she has devoted her life to. The film had its World Premiere in August 2025 at the Melbourne International Film Festival, where it won the AU$50K Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award. It was released in the Philippines toward the end of last month, and has garnered positive critical reviews. 

'ROMERIA' (Rated MA15+) - this Spanish and French coming-of-age autobiographical drama film is Written and Directed by Carla Simon in her third feature length outing following 2017's 'Summer 1993' and 'Alcarras' in 2022. Here, 18 year-old Marina (Llucia Garcia) , who travels to the glittering seaside town of Vigo determined to uncover information on her deceased biological father. Gradually tracking down his siblings, she slowly learns uncomfortable secrets about her parents' unconventional life and turbulent past. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Cannes Film Festival in late May 2025 where it was in competition for the Palme d'Or, cost US$3.6M to produce, has so far grossed US$3M and has received favourable critical reviews. 

'MOANA' (Rated PG) - is an American musical adventure film, and is a live-action adaptation of Disney Animation's 2016 film of the same name. It is the third instalment and the first live-action film in the 'Moana' franchise, and is Directed by Thomas Kail in his feature film making debut. Those first two animated feature films grossed US$1,7B at the worldwide Box Office off the back of combined production budgets of US$300M, making this live action offering a shoe-in. Prompted by a summons from the ocean, Moana (Catherine Laga'aia, in her feature film debut) departs her home island of Motunui for the first time and travels past its barrier reef. Accompanied by the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson, reprising his role from the previous two animated films and also taking a Co-Producer credit here), she undertakes a voyage aimed at recovering the well-being of her community. Also starring Rena Owen, John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Jemaine Clement. The film is released this week also in the US.

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-

SUPERGIRL : Tuesday 30th June 2026.

I saw the M Rated 'SUPERGIRL' earlier this week, and this American superhero film is based on the titular character from DC Comics. The film is Directed by Craig Gillespie and is the second film in the DC Universe (DCU), following 2025's 'Superman' which was Written and Directed by James Gunn - the joint CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran, and starred David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. Craig Gillespie's prior feature film making credits take in his 2007 debut with 'Mr. Woodcock', and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Lars and the Real Girl' also in 2007, 'Fright Night' in 2011, 'I, Tonya' in 2017, 'Cruella' in 2021 and 'Dumb Money' in 2023. This film forms part of the DCU's 'Chapter One : Gods and Monsters', and as recently as last month Peter Safran commented that Supergirl would have a major role in the future of the DCU beyond her return in the Superman follow-up film 'Man of Tomorrow' scheduled for release on 9th July 2027. This film had its World Premiere screening in Brooklyn, New York on 22nd June, and was released worldwide from the 25th June onward. It has so far grossed US$79M from a production budget somewhere in the region of US$180M, and has generated mixed or average reviews.

The film opens in the present day with Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl (Milly Alcock) celebrating her 23rd birthday, with her dog Krypto by travelling to several planets across the galaxy and drinking excessively, getting drunk and waking up the next morning with the mother of all hang overs - a routine she repeats frequently it seems. Her elder cousin Clark Kent aka Superman (David Corenswet) calls her often, out of concern that she is spending way too much time off-world and seemingly unable to settle on planet Earth.

During one such off planet stops, Supergirl encounters Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), the last survivor of her family who were murdered by the Brigand leader Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), who heads up a group of space pirates and human traffickers. Ruthye requests Supergirl's assistance in her quest for vengeance, but is denied. Krem hijacks Supergirl's ship together with several other Brigands, and shoots Krypto with a poisonous dart when he tries to stop them. Upon learning that Krypto has only three days left to live, Supergirl decides to pursue Krem to retrieve an antidote that he keeps on person, while also reluctantly taking on Ruthye as her companion.

After a brief run-in with the Sklarian Raiders, a group of all female space pirates, aboard an interstellar bus, Supergirl interrogates them and learns of Krem's location on the planet Bilquis. There, Supergirl and Ruthye learn from a local couple, Bomar (Kadiff Kirwan) and Mareck (Thalissa Teixeira), that the Brigands have been kidnapping young women to force them to be their brides. Mareck attempts to drug Supergirl to trade her and Ruthye to the Brigands in exchange for their daughter Sarna (Asha Soetan), but Supergirl resists and fights the Brigands, and is assisted by the bounty hunter Lobo (Jason Momoa), who is targeting the Brigands' lieutenant Drom Baxton (Diarmaid Murtagh). 

During the battle, Supergirl stops Ruthye from killing Krem, allowing him to escape after killing Bomar and his family. A guilt-ridden Supergirl decides to go after Krem alone, and is escorted by several local aliens to the Brigands' location on the planet, Barenton. However, Supergirl is weakened by the planet's green sun, and is tended to by Ruthye, who secretly followed her and who pulls her into a cave and out of the way of the harmful green suns rays, but not out of danger.

In a moment between Supergirl and Ruthye we learn of Kara's backstory. During the destruction of the planet Krypton, scientist Zor-El (David Krumholtz) and his wife Alura (Emily Beecham) evacuate along with many Kryptonians to Argo City, where Zor-El activates a force field system that separates a chunk containing the city from the planet, preventing it from being destroyed when its core explodes. However, before doing so the infant Kal-El is shipped off to Earth in a pod. Eight years later, Alura gives birth to her and Zor-El's daughter, Kara. Eventually, it is discovered that the separation of Argo City exposed a mineral known as 'Kryptonite', which is slowly killing the citizens through radiation. After Alura dies from Kryptonite poisoning, Zor-El decides to send the ten year old or so Kara and her puppy Krypto off in a pod bound for Earth, where she will join her older cousin. Upon landing, and unable to speak the Earth language, they are greeted by Kal-El, who is living a double life as Clark Kent and Superman. Although she is unable to understand, Superman tells Kara that her powers will very soon start to kick-in. Kara later tries to adjust to her new life on Earth, and in Metropolis, while also adopting the alias 'Supergirl'.

Ruthye is later kidnapped by the Brigands after she exits the cave to fetch a drink of water for Supergirl, and is taken to their ship, where Lobo is also imprisoned. Ruthye manages to escape her cell and free Lobo, but is caught by Krem as she makes it topside. She is then saved by Supergirl, who has managed to recover after the planet rotates to a yellow sun. 

With Lobo's aid, Supergirl defeats the Brigands and frees the captive women on board. She pleads with Ruthye to not kill Krem, convincing her that it would not ease her pain, and if she did then that is something she would have to live with for the rest of her life.

As Ruthye walks away, Supergirl picks up her sword and uses it to kill Krem herself. She recovers the antidote and returns to Krypto, saving him in time. Later, as Supergirl bids a tearful farewell to Ruthye, she relents and invites her to join her aboard her retrieved ship in celebrating the rest of her 23rd birthday week. Sometime later, Supergirl reunites with Superman on Earth, where she states her wish to stay indefinitely, reaffirming that the planet is now her home.

This DCU second instalment represents solid enough entertainment, but it is fairly predictable, derivative and offers up nothing that we haven't really seen before. Milly Alcock as the titular Supergirl plays the sassy blond with attitude and a penchant for hard liquor and kicking ass, with conviction and determination, and it will be interesting to see what she does next with the character, and under a different Director. As for the other principle cast, Jason Momoa is well cast as Lobo and you can tell he was relishing the role, but Eve Ridley as Ruthye lapsed more than once into her native English language that she sounded more royal than the Princess of Wales, and was sidelined with seemingly nothing to do but twiddle her thumbs while the action played out around her. Matthias Schoenaerts character of Krem is a one dimensional villain leading a group of other one dimensional villains who serve as nothing more than the keeper of an antidote with which to revive the obviously CGI created Krypto, and they all naturally buy the farm in the end. It's a serviceable enough introduction to Supergirl, but the plot is paper thin, the CGI FX at times questionable, and the film is shot to a large extent in dark muted tones that makes it hard to discern what is happening on screen. 

'Supergirl' 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 2nd July 2026

The 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) this year runs from Friday 3rd July through until Saturday 11th July, whilst also celebrating its 80th anniversary since its inception. It is the largest film festival in the Czech Republic and the most prestigious such festival in Central and Eastern Europe. It is one of the oldest A-list film festivals (i.e., non-specialised festivals with a competition for feature-length fiction films), a category it shares with the festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno, San Sebastian, Montreal, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Every year, the festival presents some 200 films from around the world, and regularly hosts famous and important filmmakers. The Karlovy Vary festival is intended for both film professionals and the general public, and offers visitors a carefully designed programme, excellent facilities and a broad range of other services . . . . . so reads the official website.

The festivals Opening Film is the Argentinian sports documentary film 'The Match' Written and Directed by Juan Cabral and Santiago Franco, and which chronicles the historic 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England, famous for Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal, while framing the match within the geopolitical tensions of the Falklands War. The Closing Film presentation is a crime thriller film Written and Directed by Noah Segan 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York', about an aging career pickpocket Harry Lehman (John Turturro) who is forced into a desperate, high-stakes race against time through the streets of his city.

This years Crystal Globe Competition features twelve films, all vying for the US$25K Grand Prix Award. In addition, within this category there is US$15K Grand Jury Prize and Awards for Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress, Those films are detailed in brief as follows :-

* 'Behind the Rain' - from Chile and Directed and Sound Engineered by Valeria Sarmiento. World Premiere.

* 'Black Money for White Nights' - from Bulgaria and Greece and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov. World Premiere.

* 'Five Years, Four Months' - from Colombia and the USA and Written and Directed by Esteban Hoyos Garcia and Juan Miguel Gelacio, and Co-Produced by Esteban Hoyos Garcia. World Premiere.

* 'Fruit Gathering' - from Myanmar, Czech Republic and France and Written and Directed by Aung Phyoe. World Premiere.

* 'The Guest' - from Denmark and Co-Written and Directed by Mads Mengel. World Premiere.

* 'A Happy Family' - from Switzerland and Co-Written and Directed by Jan-Eric Mack. World Premiere.

* 'Hijamat' - from Germany and Written and Directed by Nader Saeivar. World Premiere.

* 'Chica Checa' - from Czech Republic, France and the Slovak Republic, and Written, Directed and scored by Simon Holy. World Premiere. 

* 'The Lion at My Back' - from Cyprus, Luxembourg and Greece and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Tonia Mishiali. World Premiere.

* 'Only Beautiful Things to Look At' - from the Slovak Republic, Czech Republic and Hungary and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ivan Ostrochovsky. World Premiere.

* 'Pipes' - from Lebanon, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and photographed by Karim Kassem. World Premiere.

* '3 Weeks After' - from Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy and Luxembourg and Co-Written and Directed by Miroslav Terzic. World Premiere.

At the opening ceremony of this year’s Festival, the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema will be presented to legendary Actor, and two-time Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman. At the closing ceremony of the Festival, the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema will be presented to the winner of an Oscar, a Cesar, and four European film Awards, French Actress Juliette Binoche. Also at this year’s 60th edition of the Festival, the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema will go to world-renowned Cinematographer Robert Richardson, winner of three Academy Awards and recipient of seven additional Oscar nominations. And in addition, the Festival will present the President’s Award to Actor Jeffrey Wright.

For the more detailed synopsis of the above mentioned films in the Crystal Globe Competition, plus the other competitive strands being showcased, and the whole line up of films being screened, together with a whole lot of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.kviff.com

Focusing the attention back to this weeks five new movies coming to a big screen Odeon close to your home, we launch with a black comedy thriller in which a married couple abduct a 19-year-old criminal and try various methods to rehabilitate him. Then we have a historical fantasy romance film where a woman whose neglectful husband leaves her alone for a hundred days to test her fidelity, as she becomes entangled in a love triangle with her loyal maid and her husband's seductive friend. Next up is a satirical drama that follows three millennial couples whose relationships are thrown into disarray when they descend on a luxury Southern Highlands farmstay for a birthday weekend they'll never forget. This is followed by a historical drama film chronicling three distinct human experiences perceived by a ginkgo tree at the University of Marburg Botanical Garden in 1908, 1972, and 2020; before closing out the week with this sixth instalment in the series that follows the Jackass crew as they perform their final series of dangerous stunts and pranks, marking the end of the franchise.

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.

'THE GOOD BOY' (Rated MA15+) - aka 'HEEL' is a Polish and UK Co-Produced black comedy thriller film Directed by Jan Komasa, whose previous feature film output include 'Suicide Room' in 2011, 'Warsaw 44' in 2014, 'Corpus Christi' in 2019, 'The Hater' in 2022 and 'Anniversary' in 2025. This film is Komasa's first English language feature. It had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September last year, was released in the USA in late March, has received generally positive critical reviews, and has so far grossed US$1.2M at the Box Office. 

The film follows 19-year-old hooligan Tommy (Anson Boon), who revels in a life of drugs, parties, and violence. One night, on a bender with his reckless friends, he becomes separated from the group and is abducted by an unknown figure. Though he is no stranger to inflicting violence, he is enraged and horrified when he wakes to find himself chained in the basement of the isolated suburban family home of Chris (Stephen Graham), his wife Kathryn (Andrea Riseborough), and their young son Jonathan (Kit Rakusen). The family sets out to reform Tommy's unruly behaviour, forcing him to comply with their relentless mind games or seek escape at any cost. Also starring Monika Frajczyk and Savannah Steyn. 

'100 NIGHTS OF HERO' (Rated M) - is a UK and US Co-Produced historical fantasy romance film that is Written and Directed by Julia Jackman in only her second feature film outing following 'Bonus Track' in 2023. This film is based on the graphic novel 'The One Hundred Nights of Hero' by Isabel Greenberg, which in turn was based on the Middle Eastern folktale 'One Thousand and One Nights'. It follows a woman, Cherry (Maika Monroe) whose neglectful husband Jerome (Amir El-Masry) leaves her alone for a hundred days to test her fidelity, as she becomes entangled in a love triangle with her loyal maid Hero (Emma Corrin) and her husband's seductive friend Manfred (Nicholas Galitzine). The film also stars Charli XCX, Richard E. Grant and Felicity Jones. The film had its World Premiere showcasing at the Venice International Film Festival in early September last year, was released Stateside in early December last year, in the UK in early February this year and only now is it released here in Australia, having so far grossed US$472K from a production budget of US$5.3M and has garnered generally favourable critical reviews.

'THE BIRTHDAY TRIP' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian satirical drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed, photographed and Edited by James Robert Woods in his feature film debut. To celebrate their joint thirtieth birthdays, lapsed high-school besties Clare Lapsley Smith (Nicola Frew), Angie Olsson (Josephine Starte) and Isabel McDonald (Annelise Hall) organise a luxury weekend away at the six-star Lothian Gate farmstay in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, with their partners in tow (Luke Jacobz, David Quirk and Ben Gerrard). While the women share a nostalgic bond, the men are strangers, and the simmering social machinations test the couples' loyalty. Meanwhile, across the perfectly manicured grounds, the fraught relationship between the farmstay's conflicted caretaker Felix Doyle (Robert Preston) and his partner Sapphire Phoenix (Sapphire Blossom) threatens to derail the weekend. 

'SILENT FRIEND' (Rated M) - is a German, French, Hungarian and Hong Kong Co-Produced historical drama film Written and Directed by Ildiko Enyedi, whose prior feature film making credits take in her debut in 1989 with the Cannes Camera d'Or winner 'My 20th Century' which she would follow up with the likes of 'Simon, the Magician' in 1999, 'On Body and Soul' in 2017 and 'The Story of My Wife' in 2021. Here then, the film follows a single ginkgo tree dating back to 1832 through three loosely connected stories in different eras - 1908, 1972, and 2020, taking place in the old university town of Marburg, Germany. Starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Lea Seydoux, Luna Wedler, Martin Wuttke, Johannes Hegemann, Marlene Burow and Enzo Brumm. It saw its World Premiere screening at the Venice International Film Festival in early September last year, was released in Germany in mid-January this year and has generated universal critical acclaim.

'JACKASS : BEST AND LAST' (Rated MA15+) - this American reality slapstick comedy film is Co-Produced and Directed by Jeff Tremaine who helmed all the previous 'Jackass' instalments from 'Jackass : The Movie' in 2002, through to 'Jackass Forever' in 2022.  It will be the sixth and final main instalment in the 'Jackass' film series, with those first five films in the series grossing US$560M at the worldwide Box Office off the back of combined production budgets totalling US$62M. This film is a compilation of stunts, skits, and pranks, intercut with on-set talking heads with its cast. The movie will be a mix of old and new footage, bringing back the biggest stunts and pranks from the franchise, as well as brand new ones, and never-before-seen footage. The film stars original 'Jackass' members Johnny Knoxville (who once again Co-Produces here), Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Preston Lacy, Dave England, and Danger Ehren, along with Poopies, Zach Holmes, Jasper Dolphin, and Rachel Wolfson. The film was released Stateside last week. It was released across Europe and the USA on 25th and 26th June respectively, has so far grossed approaching US$12M from its production budget of US$10M and has received positive critical reviews.  

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-

TUNER : Tuesday 23rd June 2026.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'TUNER' earlier this week, and this USA and Canadian Co-Produced crime thriller film is Co-Written and Directed by Daniel Roher in his debut narrative fiction film following his documentaries 'Once Were Brothers : Robbie Robertson and the Band' in 2019 and the Academy Award winning 'Navalny' in 2022, and 'The AI Doc : Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist' which Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year and is scheduled for release later on in 2026. The film had its World Premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in late August last year, was released in the US towards the end of May, has garnered generally positive critical acclaim, and has so far recouped US$10M at the Box Office from its US$7M production budget outlay. 

The film opens with a montage of Niki White (Leo Woodall), the very capable assistant of New York City piano tuner Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman) a friend of his late father, going from one NYC upmarket residence to another tuning the piano's of the mostly rich, and in some cases, famous. Once a gifted musician, Niki has hyperacusis (an increased sensitivity to sound and a low tolerance for environmental noise) and can no longer play piano, wearing ear protection at all times against loud noises. After Harry forgets the combination to his safe, Niki teaches himself to open it with the aid of search engine tutorials and his heightened sense of hearing, discovering a talent for safe-cracking.

One day, while tuning a grand piano at a music conservatory, Niki meets Ruthie Waymon (Havana Rose Liu), a determined student pianist. At a wealthy client’s home that is being refurbished where Niki is told to return after 8:00pm when the place will be free of tradesmen and their associated noise, he is disturbed by a trio of Israeli thieves and breaks into the safe for them under false pretences, earning a job offer from their leader, Uri (Lior Raz). 

With Harry’s encouragement, Niki strikes up a romance with Ruthie after repairing her treasured piano that her aunt left her when she passed away. Niki explains that it took years of exposure therapy to manage his sensitivity to sound, and that he has perfect pitch. After Harry is hospitalised after a heart attack, Niki accepts Uri’s offer, determined to save Harry and his wife Marla from debt. Proving himself on Uri’s own safe, Niki joins him, his accomplice Yoni (Gil Cohen), and nephew Benny (Nissan Sakira) as they use their security company to rob wealthy homes, but only stealing what the owners are unlikely to miss. Overcoming Ruthie’s misgivings about their relationship, Niki gives her a stolen watch which he says he bought at a market, that it wasn't expensive, and that is almost identical to a second heirloom left to her by her aunt, and which Ruthie said she lost on a bus. Niki introduces Ruthie to Marla (Tovah Feldshuh) and the bedridden Harry in hospital, secretly paying down their hospital bills which amount to US$36K, in US$10K instalments. 

With Niki now on the fairly lucrative payroll of Uri, he enlists Niki to open a safe for a pair of Korean gangsters, retrieving the seed phrase to their uncle’s cryptocurrency wallet. The uncle arrives, holding everyone at gunpoint and forcing Niki to eat the only copy of the twelve word password, but is shot dead by Benny. Niki flees in agony as the gun shot was fired directly over his head. Later that evening Niki logs into the Cryto account and had memorised the twelve word passcode discovering that the wallet holds close to US$18M. Harry dies, and Uri surprises Niki at shiva, demanding his help to steal the digital key to the uncle’s money, or failing that Ruthie might befall a tragic accident to her hands. 

A grieving Niki decides not to join the robbery, but Ruthie’s anxiety about her upcoming performance and his own resentments of his long foregone musical career lead them to lash out at each other. Storming out of her apartment saying that he was a far better piano player that she has ever hoped to be, Niki is captured by Uri’s crew in the apartment car park. Disoriented by an air horn blasted in his ear by Uri, he is forced to open the uncle’s safe before racing to Ruthie’s performance of her original work, with renowned composer Marius Maissner (Jean Reno) in the audience. Maissner invites Ruthie to join a new project as his assistant in Europe, but recognises her watch as his own grandmother’s heirloom, which survived the Holocaust alongside his grandfather’s watch before they were both stolen from his safe. Niki arrives and is confronted by Ruthie, and admits the truth to Maissner. Assuring him that Ruthie is blameless, Niki offers to recover his grandfather’s watch in exchange for not involving the Police, to which Maissner reluctantly agrees.

Later, on a Saturday night when Uri's security company warehouse is used to host dance parties, Niki is caught breaking into Uri’s safe. Bundled outside and beaten up, Niki begs for the watch and reveals its Holocaust history. He convinces Benny and Yoni, but Uri viciously beats him and ruptures his eardrums in the process again using the air horn which he holds as close to his ear as he can get and blasts away. Waking up in hospital, Niki discovers that doctors successfully repaired his earlobe damaged by Yuri, and that he is now partially deafened, but no longer needs earplugs to tolerate noise. Uri has also left him the watch. Leaving Marla almost US$1M which he syphoned off from the crypto account, remembering what Uri told him to only take what the owner is unlikely to miss. Niki delivers the watch to a grateful Maissner stating that he is absolved, and who leaves him and Ruthie alone together. As an emotional Ruthie looks on, Niki gives a virtuoso piano performance for the first time in years, before declaring that the E flat is off. 

In his narrative feature debut Daniel Roher has delivered us a mash up of the heist movie, with RomCom elements, great virtuoso piano work, and a melodramatic buddy film, which may sound as though he's bitten off more than he can chew here, but it works, and it does so convincingly. All of these separate ingredients don't compete with each other, rather they complement one another to make for an enjoyable movie experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. Leo Woodall as the Tuner Niki has proven his leading man status here, ably supported by all too brief screentime played out by Hoffman and Reno. I wasn't so convinced by the relationship between Ruthie and Niki however, as I'm not sure that such a driven and determined musical talent as Ruthie would let a relationship get in the way of her ultimate goal. That said, this little film is a rare delight, that offers up something for almost everyone. See it on the big screen with the best immersive sound system you can - you won't be disappointed. 

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

   

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 25th June 2026.

The 43rd Munich International Film Festival will take place this year from Friday 26th June to Sunday 5th July. It is the largest summer film festival in Germany and second in size and importance to the Berlinale, and has been held annually since 1983 and takes place in late June or early July. It presents around 150 feature films and feature-length documentaries on more than eighteen screens, and the festival has an annual attendance of around 80,000. It accredits more than six hundred members of the international press and media as well as over 2,500 film industry professionals. It has always been a popular meeting place for industry insiders throughout Germany and Europe. With the exception of retrospectives, tributes and homages, all of the films screened are German, European and World Premieres. There are a dozen competitions with prizes worth over EU€250K which are donated by the festival's major sponsors and partners.

This years Opening Film presentation is the Polish, German, Italian and French Co-Produced 'Fatherland' that is Co-Written and Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski. Starring Sandra Huller and Hanns Zischler as Erika Mann and exiled German novelist Thomas Mann respectively, as they embark on a road trip from Frankfurt, West Germany, to Weimar, East Germany, during the Cold War in 1949. The film had its World Premiere in the main competition at this years Cannes Film Festival on 14th May, where Pawlikowski won the Award for Best Director. 

This years competition for the best international film presents new works of master Directors from all over the world - in this competition they will be presented to the Munich audience long before the official German theatrical release. They compete for the CineMasters Award which is endowed with EU€10K. In this section there are twelve films all competing, as given in brief below :-

* 'All of a Sudden' - from Belgium, Germany, France and Japan, and Co-Written and Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and starring Virginie Efira. 

* 'Chasing Summer' - from the USA and Directed by Josephine Decker and starring Iliza Shlesinger.

* 'Two Pianos' - from France and Co-Written and Directed by Arnaud Desplechin and starring Francois Civil and Charlotte Rampling.

* 'Gentle Monster' - from Germany, France and Austria and Written and Directed by Marie Kreutzer and starring Lea Seydoux and Catherine Deneuve. 

* 'I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning' - from the UK and Directed by Clio Barnard and starring Anthony Boyle and Joe Cole.

* 'If I Go They Will Miss Me' - from the USA and Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Walter Thompson-Hernandez and starring Danielle Brooks and J. Alphonse Nicholson.

* 'Double Freedom' - from Argentina, Chile, Germany, Luxembourg and the UK, and is Written and Directed by Lisandro Alonso and stars Misael Saavedra and Catalina Saavedra.

* 'Landmarks' - from Argentina, Denmark, France, Mexico, the Netherlands and the USA, and Co-Written and Directed by Lucrecia Martel.

* 'Forever Your Maternal Animal' - from Belgium, France and Mexico and Written and Directed by Valentina Maurel, and starring Daniela Marin, Mariangel Montero, Marina De Tavira and Reinaldo Amien.

* 'The Man I Love' - from the USA and Co-Written and Directed by Ira Sachs, and starring Rami Malek, Luther Ford, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Tom Sturridge and Rebecca Hall.

* 'The Sun Rises On Us All' - from China and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Shangjun Cai, and starring Zhilei Xin, Songwen Zhang and Shaofeng Feng.

* 'Shame and Money' - from Germany, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia and Belgium, and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Visar Morina, and starring Astrit Kabashi, Flonja Kodheli, Kumrije Hoxha, Fiona Gllavica and Alban Ukaj.

For the brief synopsis of the aforementioned films, plus the details of the other competitive film sections being showcased including Cinecopro Competition (for best international co-production), the Cinevision Competition (best international debut film), the Cinerebels Competition (for extraordinary films), and the Cinekindl Competition (intelligent entertainment not only for children) and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.filmfest-muenchen.de/en/

Looking to this weeks five new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with the second offering in the DCU as Kara Zor-El joins forces with an unlikely companion on an interstellar journey of vengeance and justice when an unexpected adversary strikes too close to home. Then we have a comedy drama in which after 35 years in Chicago, Donal reluctantly returns to the Scottish Highlands to reconcile with his estranged older brother and owner of the 200 year old family whisky distillery. Next up is a French fantasy drama where a fifteen-year-old orphan witnesses the shoot for a film adaptation of the fairy tale The Snow Queen, and she becomes fascinated by its lead Actress. This is followed by a French comedy drama film that has an unexpected road trip bringing a dysfunctional family together for one last journey with their elder matriarch, sparking moments of connection, joy, and reconciliation; and closing out the week, we have the seventh instalment in this hugely successful animated comedy franchise that sees the Minions banding together to save the day after unleashing monsters upon an unsuspecting world in the Hollywood of old.

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.

'SUPERGIRL' (Rated M) - is an American superhero film and is based on the titular character from DC Comics. The film is Directed by Craig Gillespie and is the second film in the DC Universe (DCU), following 2025's 'Superman' which was Written and Directed by James Gunn - the joint CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran, and starred David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. Craig Gillespie's prior feature film making credits take in his 2007 debut with 'Mr. Woodcock', and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Lars and the Real Girl' also in 2007, 'Fright Night' in 2011, 'I, Tonya' in 2017, 'Cruella' in 2021 and 'Dumb Money' in 2023. This film forms part of the DCU's 'Chapter One: Gods and Monsters', and as recently as last month Peter Safran commented that Supergirl would have a major role in the future of the DCU beyond her return in the Superman follow-up film 'Man of Tomorrow' scheduled for release on 9th July 2027.

Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) celebrates her 23rd birthday by traveling across the galaxy with her dog Krypto. Along the way, she meets the young Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) and encounters a tragedy that leads her on a 'murderous quest for revenge'. Also starring Matthias Schoenaerts, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet and Jason Momoa. The film is released this week too in the US.

'GLENROTHAN' (Rated M) - this British comedy drama film is Directed by Brian Cox in his feature film making debut, although he will be well known the world over for his screen acting achievements in his seven decade spanning career in the theatre, in film and in television. Here then, set in the Scottish Highlands, two headstrong brothers Donal and Sandy (Alan Cumming and Brian Cox respectively), who last got together on the day of the mothers funeral in which they had a violent exchange with their father, are brought back together at the country home of their 200-year-old family whisky distillery after Donal relocated himself to Chicago, USA thirty-five years previously. Sandy needs Donal to take over the family's whisky distillery or he will be forced to sell and give up on the family's legacy. But their reunion forces the brothers to confront the past and the real reason Donal left Glenrothan. Also starring Shirley Henderson and Alexandra Shipp. The film saw its Premiere screening at TIFF in mid-September last year, was released in the UK in mid-April this year and has received average reviews at best.

'THE ICE TOWER' (Rated M) - is a French, German and Italian Co-Production that is Co-Written and Directed by Lucile Hadzihalilovic whose prior feature film making efforts take in her 2004 critically acclaimed debut 'Innocence' and then 'Evolution' in 2015 and her English language debut 'Earwig' in 2021. Set in the 1970's, the enigmatic Actress Cristina (Marion Cotillard) is shooting a film adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale 'The Snow Queen', in which she plays the title character. At the same time, Jeanne (Clara Pacini), a runaway teenage orphan, takes refuge in the studio where the film is being shot and falls under Cristina's spell, and a mutual fascination grows between them. Also starring August Diehl and Gaspar Noe. The film had its World Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in mid-February 2025, where it won the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution. It was released in its native France in mid-September last year, has so far grossed US$46K at the Box Office from a production budget of US$5.6M and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'BON VOYAGE, MARIE' (Rated M) - this French comedy drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Enya Baroux in her feature film debut, although she has helmed a number of short films and a TV series since 2017. Marie (Helene Vincent) is 80 years old and has a plan that she dares not confess. When her irresponsible son Bruno (David Ayala) and granddaughter Anna (Juliette Gasquet) insist on knowing why she wants to travel to Switzerland, Marie improvises an incredible story - an inheritance forgotten in a bank. What starts out as a white lie turns into a crazy family trip in an old motorhome, joined by Rudy (Pierre Lottin), a social worker they barely know, who is caught up in the adventure against his will. Along the way, amidst reproaches, laughter and secrets, this unexpected trip will bring three generations together again . . . even if that’s not what they were looking for. The film was released in its native France in mid-March 2025, and has so far grossed US$3.9M at the Box Office. 

'MINIONS & MONSTERS' (Rated PG) - is an American animated comedy film Co-Written and Directed by Pierre Coffin and Produced by Illumination. It is the third instalment in the 'Minions' prequel series and the seventh instalment overall in the 'Despicable Me' franchise. The first six films in the franchise grossed a total Box Office haul of US$5.46B off the back of combined production budgets of US$479M making the continuation of the series a no-brainer. Pierre Coffin Directed the first three 'Despicable Me' films in 2010, 2013 and 2017 and the first 'Minions' film in 2013. And so, this is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered 1920's Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created. Starring the voice talents of Pierre Coffin as the Minions, and Zoey Deutch, Jeff Bridges, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Bobby Moynihan, Phil LaMarr and Trey Parker. The film Premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival earlier this week and will be released in the USA on 1st July.

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-