What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 15th October 2015.

I've mentioned it over the last few weeks or so and as such today, 15th October, the Adelaide Film Festival launches and runs for the next 11 days, featuring 180 or so films, 40 Australian premieres, 24 South Australian films, 10 films in competition, 51 film-making countries represented and deemed by Variety Magazine as one of the Top 50 must visit International Film Festivals on the annual circuit. There is a packed agenda full of movie goodness, cinematic gems and film delights for even the most discerning viewer, so, if you are in the locale and in need of an odeon fix get along to downtown Adelaide, South Australia and call 'action!' on any one or more of the films on offer. For the full programme and more, visit the website at : https://adelaidefilmfestival.org

This week then there are four new offerings in the cinematic universe (well, OK then, Australia at least!) to entice you to your nearest movies theatre kicking off with a tale of two brothers, one city and a whole bunch of underworld criminal activity back in the 60's (no, this is not 'Black Mass' - that has been Previewed and Reviewed already!). Then we have an English set Victorian era Gothic horror tale from Guillermo, the Grand-Daddy of the genre; followed by another maestro of his particular genre dazzling us with his cool visuals, and a true life tale of taking a walk on the wild side; and wrapping things up nicely is a RomCom with a first time Aussie actor bowled over by an Indian divorced single mum - cue culture clash!

After you have sat through this weeks movie of choice, be sure to share your thoughts and words of wisdom with the other like minded cinephiles partaking of this Blog but leaving a few lines of critique in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

LEGEND (Rated MA15+) - Back in 1990, Peter Medak, Directed a film called 'The Krays' about the life of times of notorious London crime brothers Ronnie & Reggie Kray starring real life brothers Gary & Martin Kemp (aka half of hugely successful Brit Band of the 80's Spandau Ballet). I loved that film and saw it more times that I can remember. It also starred Billie Whitelaw, Tom Bell and Steven Berkoff and it picked up a handful of award wins and nominations too. Now 25 years later, and that story has been resurrected again for the big screen, this time by Director and Screenwriter Brian Helgeland and based on the 1972 book by John Pearson 'The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins'. The film was made for US$25M and so far has made $18M having been released in the UK in early September with its US release not until late November.

This film brings together both Tom Hardy and Tom Hardy in the lead roles of Ronnie and Reggie Kray respectively and charts their rise in 1960's London as kingpins of organised crime in the East End. Their violent profiteering is well depicted here as they conducted their business through their gang, The Firm, and commit acts of arson, racketeering, assault, armed robbery, and murder which ultimately led to their arrest in 1969 and life imprisonment at the hands of Detective Superintendent Leonard 'Nipper' Read (Christopher Ecclestone). The relationship between the two is also explored here too and the ties that bound them so closely together that made them a force to be reckoned with . . . for all the wrong reasons, and even as Reggie sought to rein in the psychotic inclinations of his twin brother Ronnie. Also starring Emily Browning as Frances Shea (Reggie's first wife) and Taron Egerton, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany and Chazz Palminteri, this is one I'll be catching to see how it stacks up against that 1990 classic.

CRIMSON PEAK (Rated MA15+) - Directed, Produced and Co-Written by Mexican Guillermo del Toro this is a romantic Gothic horror film set in the English countryside in the late 19th Century in a lonely rambling crumbling and menacing mansion that harbours more secrets of violence, death, mystery and things that go bump in the night. Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is looking to escape from a childhood trauma and in so doing meets and marries dashing charming and seductive Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) who whisks the young maiden away to his ancestral family home where she meets the sister of Sir Thomas, Lady Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain) who is the keeper of the family's mysterious dark secrets that Edith will encounter and seek to uncover over time. But as the truth inches ever closer, so Edith will discover that some secrets are best left a secret, and that not everything and everyone is what they may seem - including the very fabric of the house she now resides in. Made for US$55M can anyone do Gothic Horror better than del Toro - quite possibly not, so get yourself to a movie theatre and have the bejesus scarred out of you!

THE WALK (Rated PG) - Directed, Produced and Co-Written by Robert Zemeckis this film is based on the real life story of Frenchman Phillippe Petit who on 7th August 1974 strung a high wire between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre and walked across from one side to the other. This bio-pic stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the lead role as our tightrope walking high wire artist Petit whose book 'To Reach the Clouds' this film is based on. With an ambition to walk the void between the two towers Petit musters a plan to recruit a team and train under the tutelage of mentor Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley) to help him realise his goal. Along the way he has to overcome unrest in his ranks, betrayal, numerous close calls, injury, doubt and the steepest of odds to pull off his death defying walk. Made to be seen in 3D this is likely to be a feast for the senses, a gripping story and post card from Paris and New York of yesteryear that we know Zemeckis is capable of delivering.

UNINDIAN (Rated M) - This is an Australian film, set in Sydney Directed by Anupam Sharma and starring Indian actress Tannishtha Chatterjeein the lead female role as Meera and Brett Lee (yes the Aussie International Test Cricketer) as Will. This romantic comedy sees beautiful, divorced and single mother Meera chasing her dreams rather than the wishes of her parents and their Indian heritage. She has carved out a successful career and a stable and secure life for her and her daughter despite ever mounting pressures to find a nice Indian man. Then of course she stumbles across tall, blonde, handsome, charming Will and she must risk falling in love with an Aussie bloke and going against the wishes of her family, or following her own emotions and live her own life. Variety is the spice of life and for Meera, Will might just provide both . . . and more! Howzat!

And how is that for four very different films once again to choose from that offer us drama, romance, comedy, horror  and a biographical telling of three guys from the same era that couldn't be more different if they tried. There has to be something here that appeals, and if by some chance that's not the case, there is still plenty more great content doing the rounds and as Previewed in previous week. Enjoy your movie!

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-