For more formidable talent in the week ahead, as well as some of the great content doing the rounds and as Previewed and Reviewed in previous Posts, there are five new films coming your way. These kick off with the conclusion of a highly successful future dystopian franchise that sees democracy restored to an over powering leader at the hands of one determined woman and those that have chosen to follow her. Then a cold murder case revisited by the victims mother and her FBI colleague years later with far reaching consequences for all; followed up by unscrupulous Repo Men doing what they do best without integrity, beyond the law and devoid of emotion until one victim bounces back. We then have an all star comedic cast supported by a dog and a bunch of aliens which sounds like a recipe for a laugh a minute movie; and wrapping up the week a feel good Indian foreign language film of slums, brothers, determination and pizza!
With such diversity again this week, you'll be compelled to get to your local cinema and catch a latest release. When you have, share your thoughts, views and opinions with your like minded cinephiles here at Odeon Online by recording your critique in the Comments Box below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your movie!
THE HUNGER GAMES : MOCKINGJAY, Part 2 (Rated M) - I was rather non-plussed by the first instalment in the concluding two films in this mega franchise that has so far seen a global Box Office return of US$2.31B off combined production budgets of US$333M. In this final instalment of the trilogy written by Suzanne Collins, this US$125M film is again Directed by Francis Lawrence and sees all our favourite characters reunited for the last hurrah . . . although it seems that Lionsgate are considering prequels and further sequels even though there are only three books in the series which have already been committed to celluloid.
And so to the film which began it journey's end a year ago, we have the state of Panem engulfed in full scale all out revolutionary war. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her merry band of followers that include Peeta (Josh Hutchinson), Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claiflin) and Cressida (Natalie Dormer) converge on The Capitol and President Snow (Donald Sutherland) with the aim of taking him out once and for all, liberating the downtrodden citizens of Panem and installing a new world order. At the same time President Snow has become increasingly intent on destroying Katniss and everything she stands for. Although on the 'inside' there is Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) and Johanna (Jena Malone), Katniss must play out one final game in order to overthrow The Capitol, but at what cost to herself, those she knows and loves, and the people of Panem. Also starring Stanley Tucci, Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks and Philip Seymour Hoffman in his last role, this is must see I think just to see how it all ends, if for no other reason.
SECRET IN THEIR EYES (Rated M) - This film is based on the 2005 novel by Argentinian writer Eduardo Sacheri that has been adapted for the big screen previously in its native Argentina and won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2010 Academy Awards Ceremony. Now it has been Hollywood-ised and has been Directed by Billy Ray and Written by him for the screen with a budget of US$20M. The film stars Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Julia Roberts) as FBI Investigators aided by District Attorney Claire (Nicole Kidman) seeking to bring to justice the brutal murder of Jess' teenage daughter. When the case leads to a dead end and all goes cold, thirteen years later Ray returns with a new lead that may just lead them to resolve the case finally, whilst uncovering old and painful memories of the past, and revealing what vengeance can truly mean to the human psyche.
99 HOMES (Rated M) - A film of house repossessions Written, Produced, Directed and Edited by Ramin Bahrani who also came up with the story which centres upon unemployed construction worker and single Dad Dennis Nash (Andrew Garfield) living with his mother Lynn (Laura Dern) in Orlando, Florida with his young son Connor (Noah Lomax). Tough, callous and unscrupulous Rick Carver (Michael Shannon) is a real estate businessman who has made his wealth by evicting struggling home owners when they fail to meet their mortgage payments. When Carver evicts Nash and his family with the help of the local Police, the distraught family move into a dead beat low end Motel thinking all is lost. But salvation is not far away in the form of Rick Carver who offers Nash a job and the chance to reclaim his family home . . . but at what cost to his family, his friends, his conscience and his humility. Made for US$8M this film has received much critical acclaim for its depiction of a situation faced by many Americans when the Global Financial Crisis hit in late 2008. It has already won a number of awards and nominations and been in competition at several International Film Festivals.
ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING (Rated M) - Featuring an all star cast of comedic talent this film should be a sure fire hit . . . in theory, but alas, that does not always come to pass. Written, Directed and also starring Terry Jones, he of Monty Python fame, with an ensemble cast of Monty Python alumni that is John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and also starring the late great Robin Williams in his final role as a dog, no less, and canine companion and mans best friend to Neil Clarke (Simon Pegg). Neil is a down in the dumps disillusioned schoolteacher who one day wakes up with the ability to do anything he wants - absolutely anything - thanks to a bunch of power crazy aliens (this is where the Python Team come in) who have granted him these extraordinary powers. Coming to terms with his new founds abilities is no easy thing for a mere mortal, and so Neil calls upon his trustee dog, Dennis to help him along the way . . . as of course you would! Also starring Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley and Kate Beckinsale.
THE CROWS EGG (Rated PG) - This Indian Tamil comedy drama film is set in the slums of Chennai where two young brothers live with their mother and grandmother is a small concrete and tin shack. Their boys father is in prison, and so the mother does what she can to support the family unit while the boys scavenge for coal that falls off the passing train trucks at the rail yard and on-selling their haul for as much as they can get. They also scavenge for crows eggs from the nests of these birds and regard these as a delicacy, and so they start calling themselves Crows Egg the Elder and Crows Egg the Younger. One day seeing a commercial on the television for a soon to open pizza franchise nearby the two young lads become fixated on wanting to sample pizza for themselves for the first time, more so that it is endorsed by a famous actor too. Their quest to eat pizza becomes all consuming and they will stop at (almost) nothing to ensure their dream is realised. Starring newcomers Vignesh as Periya (Crows Egg the Elder) and Ramesh as Chinna (Crows Egg the Younger) this film has received much critical acclaim and several awards for Best Childrens Film and Best Child Artists for the two young stars who give compelling and believable performances. Made for just US$110K, the film has so far grossed US$7.5M, making that a very solid return by anyones reckoning.Five more films released then in the coming week for your viewing consideration, and again all offering something different and offering something for most tastes. Get your yourself to a movie theatre and soak up some solid cinematic entertainment in the week ahead, and then let us know here, what you thought.
See you at the Odeon.
-Steve, at Odeon Online-
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