What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 14th July 2016.

In the last few weeks I have brought you a number of Box Office statistics, and so wrapping up this mini-series I have concluded with a look at Australian home grown films and how these have fared, stood the test of time and what the Aussie's have flocked to see in the very recent past and further down the track. Having secured the below data from Screen Australia, the Top 10 Aussie films of all time as of today, and how these performed at the Australian Box Office are these :-

• 'Crocodile Dundee' - released in 1986 and launching Paul Hogan's film career as outback Mick Dundee - AU$47.7M 
• 'Australia' - released in 2008 by Director Baz Luhrmann giving us an epic WWII Australian history lesson - AU$37.6M
• 'Babe' - released in 1995 about a talking piglet named Babe down on the farm - AU$36.8M
• 'Happy Feet' - released in 2006 by Director George Miller about animated song & dance penguins - AU$31.8M
• 'Moulin Rouge' - released in 2001 by Director Baz Luhrmann about the infamous Parisian nightspot at the turn of the 20th Century - AU$27.7M
• 'The Great Gatsby' - released in 2013 by Director Baz Luhrmann based on the famed F. Scott Fitzgerald novel of 1920's New York and the life of one multi-millionaire Jay Gatsby and those around him - AU$27.4M
• 'Crocodile Dundee II' - released in 1988 and the second instalment for Paul Hogan as our unlikely outback hero - AU$24.9M
• 'Strictly Ballroom' - released in 1992 by Director Baz Luhrmann a story of more unconventional ballroom dancing - AU$21.8M
• 'Mad Max : Fury Road' - released in 2015 by Director George Miller this fourth instalment in the post-apocalyptic franchise that introduced the world to Max Rockatansky back in 1979 - AU$21.7M
• 'Red Dog' - released in 2011 this true story of a dogs love and devotion in the Australian outback mining region around Dampier - AU$21.5M. 

What this shows is that even after thirty years 'Crocodile Dundee' remains in the #1 spot and by a significant margin, with its sequel performing half as well but in the #7 place nonetheless.  This also shows that Baz Luhrmann is a force to be reckoned with four Top Box Office films in the Top 10 with George Miller's two. Those other notable films that sit below are 'The Dressmaker' at #11, 'The Dish' at #12, 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' at #14, Russell Crowe's 'The Water Diviner' at #15, Mel Gibson's 1981 war time classic 'Gallipoli' at #22, perennial Aussie favourite and often quoted 'The Castle' at #29, the pianist extraordinaire David Helfgott bio-pic 'Shine' at #30, the Heath Ledger bio-pic of 19th Century Aussie bush ranger outlaw 'Ned Kelly' at #35, outback Aussie  slasher horror 'Wolf Creek' at #48 and criminal underworld bio-pic of Mark Read 'Chopper' at #49 that launched the film career of Eric Bana. For the full listing of the Top 100, go to the Screen Australia website.

For the coming week then we have five new movies to tempt you out to your local Odeon, and for a mere $21 what better value way is there to spend your afternoon or evening? Kicking off we have a 21st Century all female reboot of a much loved critically acclaimed and commercially successful two movie franchise from the 80's centering around a bunch of hapless yet loveable ghost hunters and collectors. Then a story of love and loss and how a man has to tear apart the life he knew (literally) before he can rebuild and move on; with a modern day British spy drama following and penned by one of the best that sees an unsuspecting couple caught up in a web of intrigue as they chase across Europe with MI6 and the Russian mob hot on their tails. These are followed up with a unique and cleverly written story that sees a desperate mans salvation thanks to a dead man and how even a washed up corpse can have its uses; and then we wrap up with a nostalgic trip down an Irish memory lane to the 80's and a film of New Romantics, big hair, wide lapels, heavily synthed music and the dreams and aspirations of a young school lad desperately out to prove himself.

When you have been entertained by your film of choice in the week ahead, feel free to drop a line with your critique in the Comments section below this or any other Post - your fellow readers would love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

'GHOSTBUSTERS' (Rated PG) : the original 'Ghostbusters' film was released in 1984 and was Directed and Produced by Ivan Reitman, Written by Dan Aykroyd who also starred as Ray Stanz, and starred Harold Ramis as Egon Spengler and Bill Murray as Peter Venkmen - making up the threesome of parapsychologists, ghost hunters and spectre busters. That film was made for US$30M and returned US$295M and was also a critical success having been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Ray Parker Jnr's. signature tune as Best Original Song. Based on this success 'Ghostbusters II' was released in 1989 with the same cast reprising their roles for US$37M and returning US$215M. During its time there were also two animated television series, a number of video game releases, a comic book adaptation, merchandise, and the film has seen several cinematic re-releases in more recent years. And now, in 2016, we have a reboot for a whole new audience, but this time with a budget of US$144M, and Paul Feig in the Directors chair, with Ivan Reitman Co-Producing, with both Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd appearing in cameo roles.

Here we have an all female cast of ghost hunters and catchers continuing the work laid out by Stanz, Venkman and Spengler 30 years ago and still in Noo Yawk City. This time, paranormal researcher Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and physicist Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) are largely unsuccessful and uncared about authors who believe that ghosts are real and are among us in everyday society. Fast track a few years and Gilbert lands a job at Columbia University and when her book resurfaces unexpectedly, she is laughed out of class and out of a job. However, when ghosts of all descriptions manifest themselves in Manhattan - who ya gonna call? When the two authors reunite, they do so with nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) and subway worker Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) who knows the city inside out upside down and every which way. Armed with their trusty upgraded proton packs, our new team of Ghostbusters need to prepare themselves and their city for an epic ectoplasmic battle as Times Square becomes the meeting point for a thousand or more evil spectres, devilish ghouls and mischievous phantoms. Chris Hemsworth, Andy Garcia, Charles Dance, and Neil Casey also star. The film has so far divided audiences and critics.

'DEMOLITION' (Rated M) - I saw an early screening of this film as part of the Sydney Film Festival this year, on Wednesday 15th June, so for more, go to Blog Post #497 for the full coverage of this latest Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper offering as Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.

'OUR KIND OF TRAITOR' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Susanna White and based on the 2010 John le Carre novel of the same name, this is another spy game drama of intrigue, espionage, secrets and lies set in modern day recession gripped Britain. Involving a Russian oligarch and money launderer Dima (Stellan Skarsgard) who befriends and persuades British holidaying couple Perry Makepeice (Ewen McGregor) and Gail Perkins (Naomi Harris) in Marrakech, Morocco to deliver a package containing incriminating evidence to MI6 Agent Hector (Damien Lewis). This sets off a chain of events where not everything is quite what it seems that takes our out of their depth couple to Paris, Berlin, a safe house in the French Alps and then London's murky underworld as they seek to deliver very classified information to the British Secret Service and a very determined and ruthless Agent Hector. Also starring Jeremy Northam and Grigoriy Dobrygin who starred too in the 2014 le Carre adaptation 'A Most Wanted Man'.

'SWISS ARMY MAN' (Rated M) - Written and Directed by 'The Daniels' - Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for just US$3M this is their first full length feature film following a career established on short films, commercials and music videos, and with this offering they have caused quite a stir - for all the right reasons. Essentially, the film surrounds two men - one living one dead - the former Hank (Paul Dano) has been stranded on a desert island for sometime in the Pacific Northwest and with no sign of any rescue is about to hang himself. When, out of nowhere washes up a corpse of a blue suited man whom he eventually calls Manny (Daniel Radcliffe). Manny it appears has a number of unusual supernatural powers that Hank believes may just be his ticket outta Dodge - which include a seemingly endless dose of flatulence, which Hank harnesses to ride Manny across the ocean wave like a jet-ski back to land and civilisation. When he does reach the mainland however, he is still a long way from civilisation, and so begins a trek through the wilderness where Hank learns to use Manny's particular set of skills like a Swiss Army Knife. Taking us from the sublime to the ridiculous, the sentimental to the emotional, and the absurd to the profound this original film shows how one mans salvation can come from the most unlikely and twisted of places.

'SING STREET' (Rated M) - Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Irish indie film and television Writer/Director John Carney this is a tribute to growing up in the 80's with a back drop of inner-city Dublin a struggling family and the impact of financial decisions that means young Conor Lalor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) must move from his expensive fee paying school to a free state school to see out his education. Pretty soon after starting and having already caught the ire of school Principal Brother Baxter (Don Wycherley), Conor meets Raphina (Lucy Boynton) and off the cuff in order to impress here states that he is looking for a model to start in his next music video for his bands next release single. The problem is that Conor is not making a music video, does not have a pending single release, and nor does he have a band, or can sing or play a musical instrument. But these are just minor hurdles to be overcome in the course of true love, and so Conor sets about forming a band and before long are writing their own material. Meanwhile Conor's (stage name adapted to 'Cosmo') parents marriage is failing, and his relationship with Raphia is growing by the day as they share dreams of escaping to London to make their fame & fortune. With a thumping nostalgic 80's soundtrack including Duran Duran, The Cure, The Jam, Joe Jackson, Hall & Oates, M and Motorhead as well as a number of 'original' 80's songs performed by Cosmo's band 'Sing Street' this is an uplifting, feel good charming tale of hopes, dreams and optimism.

Five films for the coming week once again offering almost something for everyone giving you little excuse not to get out to your local movie theatre for a dose of cinematic entertainment. Share your thoughts here at this Blog when you have done so, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-