What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 25th September 2014.

After last weeks dearth of new releases - seven no less - comes another raft of new cinema content during the Aussie school holiday season with five new films to tease you out on a Spring evening into a darkened movie theatre with a bunch of popcorn chewing fizz slurping strangers. Sounds like fun . . . and indeed it will be, with the big screen rendering of a popular 80's TV revenge and retribution action series made famous by a stoic Edward Woodward in the title role back in the day; then we have estranged twins dodging death coincidentally and pondering their life and where/how and why it all went horribly wrong - sounds like a laugh and it might well be! Next up is an Aussie sex-romp charting the bedroom Olympic antics of five couples that is funny, controversial, scandalous and weird and is likely to polarise audiences because of its revealing at times taboo subject matter. Then we have a bungled kidnapping and a ransom refused because of a pending divorce and all the table turning hilarious fallout as a result; and to close out the week a foreign language coming of age story of two young teenage girls set amidst the backdrop of a newly independent state in the early 1990's.

Get out amongst it this week to your local independent or multiplex theatre, and when you've sat through your big screen entertainment, record your thoughts in the Comments section following this article, or a Review, and let me, and my other Reader know what you think! Enjoy the movie!

THE EQUALIZER (Rated MA15+) - 'The Equalizer' TV Series upon which this film is based ran for 88 episodes from mid-1985 through to mid-1989 and starred veteran actor Edward Woodward as Robert McCall - a former covert operations officer turned 'Equalizer' to protect the innocent, downtrodden and needy who are suffering at the hands of low life crims, organised crime, and the unscrupulous underworld of a late 80's New York City.

Fast forward to 2014 and Director Antoine Fuqua has once again teamed up with Denzel Washington to bring this popular 80's TV series to the big screen. Washington is Robert McCall a former black-ops Commando this time around, who having faked his own death is now leading a quite life in Boston. minding his own business, and trying to forget his violent turbulent past. Armed with a unique set of combat skills and a heap of experience he comes to the rescue to young Teri (Chloe Grace-Moretz) who is under the control of Russian gangsters and mobsters, as he can't simply sit-by and let her life go down to the toilet. And so McCall comes out of exile and self-imposed retirement to equalise the odds of the innocent, downtrodden and needy by doing what he does best, and dishing out his own brand of justice, mixed up with just a hint of vengeance! As the 80's show told us - if someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have no where else to turn, then you can call 'The Equalizer'!

THE SKELETON TWINS (Rated M) - twins Milo (Bill Hader) and Maggie (Kristen Wiig) have been estranged from each other for ten years or so, having been very close and almost inseparable as children. Coincidentally they both manage to cheat death on the same day and this together with other family circumstances reunite them once again at the family home in up-State New York - now both in their thirties. Milo is a struggling no-hope actor with little prospects on the horizon and Maggie a secretly unhappy wife who is barley keeping mind and soul together despite a loving husband. Milo seeks to rekindle a long-lost relationship with Rich (Ty Burrell) - a scandal that back in the day caused the rift between brother and sister. Maggie meanwhile fraternises with Aussie SCUBA instructor hunk Billy (Boyd Holbrook) potentially threatening her marriage. As the twins reunite and relive the painful memories of the past whilst confronting the confusion of the present day, their relationship is tested as they seek to make excuses for their past acts and reconcile their previous behaviours. Understanding this though and acknowledging their mistakes may be the only way they can truly move forward and re-establish the close brother and sister bond they once shared.

THE LITTLE DEATH (Rated MA15+) - another Aussie offering this week - this time from first time Director Josh Lawson who also wrote and stars. This is a film of relationships, sex, love, fantasy and fetish and what goes on behind the bedroom door. With the spotlight on the sexual shenanigans of five couples all living in the same street it peers into the often taboo subject of sex and the things people get up to to satisfy their sexual appetite, and the potential ramifications of it. Interwoven in the story is the new neighbour who somehow connects them all while asking us the question why we do what we do, and just how far are we prepared to go to get it for a few brief fleeting moments of sexual satisfaction? Also starring familiar faces including Lachy Hulme, Lisa McCune and Patrick Brammall this original comedy will leave you pondering the nature of its taboo subject matter.

LIFE OF CRIME (Rated MA15+) - based on an Elmore Leonard book this black comedy centres around two petty crims who decide to kidnap the wife of wealthy socialite Detroit property developer Frank Dawson (Tim Robbins) and seek a hefty ransom. In masterminding their get rich quick kidnapping scam to snaffle Mickey Dawson (Jennifer Aniston) and demand $1M for her release, they don't bank on nefarious husband Frank refusing to pay because he doesn't want her back, and besides he has a Mistress on the side and is about to file for divorce anyway! And so our crims need to quickly rethink their scheme and come up with Plan B to turn the tables, bring down the cheating husband, and take him for all they can - this time though aided and abetted by a somewhat annoyed and angry wife! Also starring Mos Def, Isla Fisher, Mark Boone Jnr., and John Hawkes this is Directed by Daniel Schecter.

IN BLOOM (Rated M) - set in Tiblisi in the early 90's, this film tells the coming of age story of two teens girls Eka (Lika Babluani) and Natia (Mariam Bokeria) with the backdrop of Georgia and their beautiful but increasingly run down city - newly independent from Russia and on the brink of civil unrest with all the uncertainty, fear and dread that this in turn creates. Their lives contrast each other but what goes on at home behind closed family doors has little consequence when compared to the adventure of boys, the big city, a new state of independence and their lives about to spring into bloom. When handsome young lad Lado gets to know Natia and gifts her a pistol with which to protect herself, the ramifications of this on both teenage lives will test the relationship and potentially change their young lives for ever. A multi-award winning film at various international film festivals, and nominated at this years Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film this film is touted as compelling viewing based on the real life childhood experiences of writer and co-Director Nana Ekvtimishvili.

And so there it is - five film offerings to tempt and tease your movie going tastebuds, but not so much for the kids this week! Nonetheless there is still plenty of great content doing the rounds from previous weeks to ensure that all tastes and genres are provided for.

Get amongst it - go see a movie!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-