What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 8th May 2014.

This week we have a veritable optical and aural feast for the senses as seven no less, new releases hit your local movie theatres to entice you out on a cool Winter evening and in front of a big screen. There is comedy, there is documentary, there is period piece, there is some drama and there is alternative - something it seems really for everyone . . . except the kids maybe, but fear not the Superheroes and teen flicks are still doing the rounds to keep them tempted!

So now that Winter is knocking on the door of a fading Autumn, get yourself out from in front of the small screen, and perch yourself instead in front of the big screen and enjoy the experience.

BAD NEIGHBOURS - so far in this franchise we have had 'Bad Lieutenant', 'Bad Boys', 'Bad Santa', 'Bad Teacher', 'Bad Grandpa' and now we have 'Bad Neighbours'! There's a lotta bad shit going down it must be said! That said, there is no franchise, and all of these movies have just one thing in common - 'Bad'! This stars Seth Rogen and Zac Efron as the duelling neighbours - the former married happily with very young child in tow, and the latter the frat boy with a six-pack who moves in next door intent on upsetting the suburban peace with wild parties, gorgeous girls, drugs, alcohol, loud music, pimped up cars and all manner of mayhem to be everything but neighbourly! The support comes in the shape of Rose Byrne, Dave Franco, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse and so it goes - this is the foundation of the film that moves along with various set pieces, jolly japes, gags & guffaw's and hilarity aplenty that is sure to go down a treat with your average 17 year old! On this basis it will probably go well - watch out for 'Bad Neighbours Too' in a couple of years!

CHEF - written by, directed and starring Jon Favreau who brought you so convincingly the 'Iron Man 1 & 2' instalments from the hugely successful franchise, and starring his stable mate Robert Downey Jr., with Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo with Scarlett Johansson and Sophia Vergara all adding seasoning and spice to this story. Favreau is fallen celebrity Chef (Carl Casper) who at the hands of restauranteur Dustin Hoffman finds himself jobless and worthless following a poor review from referred critic Oliver Platt. And so at the behest of ex-wife Sophia Vegara he is able to source a sad broken down past its use by date food truck via a good mate (RDJ) to save his career, give him some purpose, reestablish his reputation and rekindle the relationship with his 10 years old son who he takes on a culinary road trip in said food truck which is now fitted out, upgraded, refurbished to prepare, serve and sell Cuban street food. Sounds like a recipe for success - a voyage of discovery kneaded with emotion, drama, comedy and a generous sprinkling of fun. Yum!

SEDUCED AND ABANDONED - this has a limited release only and this doco-style offering will not be for everyone, unless like me you are a movie tragic! This is a movie about the movies and is an inside look at what it takes to get a film financed, produced, distributed and up on the big screen. No easy feat, despite the hundreds of movies released every year. This is an insightful film that has Director James Toback teaming up with Alec Baldwin as they talk to film financiers, Actors, Directors and attend festivals to bring you a no holds barred insiders view of an industry that ain't getting any easier and is getting more and more costly. All the while the two crusaders are pitching a faux movie to the studio execs, so that you can see on screen the pain that must be endured before the green light is switched on!

HEALING - written and directed by Craig Monahan this is the story of a prison inmate undergoing a rehab programme on a 'working farm' as he comes to the end of a long term sentence. In doing so he (Viktor played by Don Hany) comes across an injured eagle which he nurses back to health, and flight mode. Case worker Matt (Hugo Weaving) persuades the powers that be to allow the rehabilitating prisoners to rehabilitate injured game birds, and hence everyone is 'Healed'! This leaves me wondering just how many game birds can find themselves injured and in need of life support within the immediate vicinity of your average prison? Maybe more that we know! In between time there is prison tension, inmate drama, emotion and a good dose of healing hearts, minds and hands aplenty it seems. Or not!

THE DOUBLE - this looks a little art house, perhaps alternative, dark, moody and probably captivating. Directed by Richard Ayoade who hit the scene with sleeper hit 'Submarine' in 2010, this tells the story of introverted, shy & retiring white collar lad Simon James (played by Jesse Eisenberg) who harbours a secret crush on copy room girl Mia Wasikowska. Life goes on innocently until a new guy arrives in the office called James Simon (also played by Jesse Eisenberg) and who just happens to be the spitting image of Simon James - expect this guy is outgoing, confident, gregarious and successful and everything that his 'double' is not! Is this imagined, is it real, is Simon James going crazy, is James Simon out to steal his identity and his life? Confused, seeing double, finding it hard to distinguish one from t'other? You should be! You'll just have to check it out for yourself!

BELLE - set in 18th Century England this sees the true telling of an illegitimate mixed race daughter Dido Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) of a well-to-do Royal Navy Admiral being raised by her gentrified aristocratic great uncle played by Tom Wilkinson, and in growing up in such well connected surroundings actively joins the cause to abolish English slavery with the aid and support of a young romantic love interest Vicar's son. Starring the likes of Matthew Goode, Emily Watson and Miranda Richardson also.

A CASTLE IN ITALY - a French/Italian offering to round off the weeks new releases, with subtitles, this family drama unfolds as a wealthy aristocratic clan implode as a result of terminal illness, desperation for motherhood, and the impending loss of the wealth and riches the family has depended on for so long. Complex characters showing varying signs of neurosis, anxiety, love, loss, faith, hope and fear all mashed up with comedic moments that might leave you laughing, crying or bewildered . . . or all three! Directed, written, and starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.

Plenty to choose from this week with seven new filmic offerings to get you out to your local multiplex or local independent. When you've sat, watched and listened and chewed on your popcorn let me know your thoughts! Enjoy the movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-