What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st October 2019.

The International Rome Film Festival is a film festival that takes place in Rome, Italy, during the month of October, and this year ran from Thursday 17th through until Sunday 27th October.  The actual complete name in Italian is Festa del Cinema di Roma. Even though it is quite a young festival, having been founded only in 2006, the importance of the hosting city as well as the strong economic investment has placed the Rome Film Festival among the most important film festivals in the world, with huge media coverage and world-famous artists in attendance.

This year, there were thirty-three films in Official Selection all aiming for the top awards and recognition. Among these were :-

* 'THE AERONAUTS' - from the USA, Directed by Tom Harper and starring Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne, Himesh Patel, Phoebe Fox and Tom Courteney. In 1862, daredevil balloon pilot Amelia Wren teams up with pioneering meteorologist James Glaisher to advance human knowledge of the weather and fly higher than anyone in history.

* 'ANTIGONE' - from France, Directed by Sophie Deraspe and starring Nahema Ricci. Following the murder of her parents, young Antigone, her sister, two brothers, and her grandmother take shelter in Montreal, where they live a quiet life in a small apartment in a working-class neighbourhood. Tragedy explodes when one brother is killed by police while they are arresting the other, a small-time drug dealer.

* 'DOWNTON ABBEY' - from the UK, Directed by Michael Engler and starring Hugh Bonneville, Michel Dockery, Jim Carter, Imelda Staunton, Maggie Smith and Elizabeth McGovern. The famous British TV series 'Downton Abbey' becomes a film for the big screen, that picks up and continues the story of the aristocratic Crawley family, returning to their grand estate with the most illustrious guests that the Crawleys could hope to entertain, the sovereigns of the United Kingdom, King George V and Queen Mary.

* 'DROWNING' - from the USA and Directed by Melora Walters and starring Melora Walters, Gil Bellows, Mira Sorvino and Jay Mohr. A mother is forced to come to grips with suffering when, despite her worst fears and her best efforts to dissuade her son, he decides to join the army and go fight in Iraq.

* 'THE FAREWELL' - from the USA and China and Directed by Lulu Wang and starring Awkwafina, Tzi Ma and Diana Lin. Chinese-born, U.S. raised Billi reluctantly returns to Changchun to find that her beloved grandmother, Nai-Nai, has been given mere weeks to live, although everyone has decided not to tell Nai Nai herself.

* 'FETE DE FAMILLE' - from France, Directed by Cedric Kahn and starring Catherine Deneuve and Emmanuelle Bercot. On a summer's day, a family gathers to celebrate mother Andrea's 70th birthday. Attending are the husband, the two sons – one with his wife and twins; the other with his new fiancee Rosita – a video-camera to capture the happy event and an eighteen year-old who grew up there, plus, the unexpected arrival of the youngest daughter Claire, who had disappeared some years before.

* 'HONEY BOY' - from the USA, Directed by Alma Har'el and starring Shia LaBoeuf (who also wrote the Screenplay), Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe and Natasha Lyonne, explores the life of a young actor, from his troubled childhood to early adulthood. He does everything he can think of to come to understand and reconcile with his father, by means of cinema, his own dreams, art as a form of therapy, or imagination as a form of hope.

* 'HUSTLERS' - from the USA, Directed by Lorene Scafaria and starring Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Julia Stiles and Cardi B. In 2007, Destiny has become a stripper so she can provide for herself and her grandmother, but her life will change when she meets Ramona, the star of the strip joint, and the two immediately hit it off. Destiny quickly learns the 'ropes' from Ramona and soon start raking in more money than they can spend, until the Global Financial Crisis of late 2008 occurs, when by necessity they have to change the rules of their game. 

* 'THE IRISHMAN' - from the USA, Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Graham and Anna Paquin. An epic crime saga of organised crime in post-war America told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a hustler and hitman who worked alongside some of the most notorious figures of the 20th century.

* 'JUDY' - from the USA, Directed by Rupert Goold, and starring Renee Zellweger, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon and Jessie Buckley. In the winter of 1968, Judy Garland arrives in London to perform in a series of concerts. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in 'The Wizard of Oz' - her voice may have weakened, but its dramatic intensity shines increasingly bright.

* 'MILITARY WIVES' - from the UK, Directed by Peter Cattaneo and starring Kristen Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan and Jason Flemyng. Separated from their husbands and staring down the barrel of anxiety and loneliness, the quiet bravery and sacrifice of military wives goes largely unnoticed while they live with the dread of a fateful knock on the door. But Kate, an officer’s wife, bears it all with grace and stoicism. She finds freedom in song, and persuades a group of women on the base in the same situation to form the first Military Wives Choir.

* 'MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN' - from the USA, Directed by Edward Norton and starring Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. In 1950's New York, a private investigator and a loner, who suffers from Tourette Syndrome, is trying to get to the bottom of the murder of his mentor and only friend. Armed with just a few clues and his own obsessive intelligence, he starts to discover a number of well-kept secrets upon which the future of New York City depends. This film served as the Festival's opener.

* 'MYSTIFY : MICHAEL HUTCHENCE' - from Australia, Directed by Richard Lowenstein and starring Michale Hutchence and those family and friends closest to him. A powerfully intimate and insightful documentary portrait of the INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, a complex and sensitive man who with his extraordinary voice and reckless lifestyle, his charm and sensuality, enchanted audiences for an all-too-short time on and off the stage.

* 'NOMAD : IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF BRUCE CHATWIN' - from the UK and Directed by Werner Herzog. When writer and adventurer Bruce Chatwin was dying, he summoned his friend Werner Herzog, asking to see his recent film about tribesmen of the Sahara. In exchange, as a parting gift, Chatwin gave Herzog the rucksack he’d carried on his travels around the world. 30 years later, carrying the rucksack, Herzog sets out on his own journey, inspired by their shared passion for the nomadic life.

* 'PAVAROTTI' - from the USA, Directed by Ron Howard and starring Luciano Pavarotti, Nicoletta Mantovani, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan. This documentary relies on original film clips and rare interviews with the singer's family and colleagues to illustrate the life, career and enduring legacy of an artist who was an icon of lyric opera, a giant in music and a man worthy of respect and admiration.

* 'RUN WITH THE HUNTED' - from the USA, Directed by John Swab and starring Ron Perlman, Michael Pitt, Tree Hemmingway and Mark Boone Jnr. A young boy commits murder to save his best friend from an attack, and is forced to escape the country town he was born in and leave everything behind. He thus escapes to the nearest city, where he becomes part of a gang of young street thieves.

* 'SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK' - from the USA, Directed by Andre Ovredal and starring Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Abrams, Dean Norris and Gil Bellows. In 1968 in a house, located on the edges of the city, Sarah, a girl who conceals terrible secrets, has transformed her tormented existence into a series of scary stories, written in a book that has reached beyond the boundaries of time. Stories that become far too realistic for a group of young people who, on the night of Halloween, delve into Sarah's terrifying case.

* 'WAVES' - from the USA, Directed by Trey Edwards Shults and starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, Sterling K. Brown, and Lucas Hedges. The future looks bright for Tyler, a young African-American who seems to have everything he needs: a wealthy family to support him, a spot on the high school wrestling team and a girlfriend he is madly in love with. But just when he is pushed to the limit, Tyler’s apparently perfect life begins to show cracks, and the stage is set for tragedy.

* 'WESTERN STARS' - from the USA, Directed by Thom Zimmy and starring Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa. This is a cinematic film version of Bruce Springsteen’s album of the same name, and offers the opportunity to see him perform all thirteen songs on the album. Springsteen’s first studio album in five years, the album marks a departure for the singer while still drawing on his roots.

For the full programme of events, you can visit the official website at : http://www.romacinemafest.it

And so turning attention to this weeks six latest cinematic offerings, we start with the sixth instalment in this hugely successful and influential franchise, but as seen by the film makers as a direct follow on to the second film, about a new type of liquid metal humanoid robot sent back from the future to hunt and destroy a hybrid cyborg human that is being aided by our titular gun totting heroine one Sarah Connor and her old T800 ally. This is followed up by an epic crime story from an acclaimed Director with an ensemble cast about a fella of Irish descent who turns hitman for the mob. Next up is a German film about a daring escape plan from the East to the West in 1979 concerning two families and their home made hot air balloon. We then turn to a comedy drama about a party hard New Yorker who gets a dose of reality from her doctor, and decides to shape up, get fit, loose weight and run a marathon all the while facing a few other life challenges along the way. Next up we have a sequel to a 2017 horror offering of the bitey kind that this time sees four female teenage divers come face to face with a school of great white's in the sunken subterranean depths of an ancient Mayan city. And we close out the week with a biodrama offering of a slightly off the rails young Cuban kid who is given the chance of a lifetime at a local dance school, where he discovers his true passion that ultimately leads him to international stardom in his chosen field.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'TERMINATOR : DARK FATE' (Rated MA15+) - finally hitting our big screens this week is the highly anticipated, much hyped and eagerly awaited American Sci-Fi actioner Directed by Tim Miller in only his second feature film Directing gig after 2016's critical and commercial success that was 'Deadpool'.  The film is Co-Produced and adapted from a story by James Cameron amongst others.  It will be the sixth instalment in the 'Terminator' franchise and the first since 1991's 'Terminator 2 : Judgement Day' to have franchise creator James Cameron involved. The first five films in the franchise have earned a collective Box Office gross of US$1.85B off the back of combined Production Budgets of US$463M. Cameron considers the film a direct sequel to his 1984 film 'The Terminator' and 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day', while 2003's 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines', 2009's 'Terminator Salvation', 2015's 'Terminator Genisys' and the television series 'Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles' are described as occurring in alternate timelines. This instalment cost in the vicinity of US$180M to bring to the big screen, and is released in the US this week too.

Set some 27 years after the events of 'Terminator 2 : Judgement Day', a new, modified liquid metal prototype Terminator known as the Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna) is sent from the future by Skynet in order to terminate Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes), a hybrid cyborg human known as Grace (Mackenzie Davis), and her friends. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) comes to their aid, as well as the original Terminator - the T800 Model 101 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) which has gained autonomy from its original programming and has integrated into human society and is now living a secluded life and known as Carl, for a fight for the future. Also starring Edward Furlong as John Connor and Diego Boneta.

'THE IRISHMAN' (Rated CTC) - already hailed as Martin Scorsese's finest film in twenty odd years, this American epic crime drama film is Directed and Co-Produced by the acclaimed Scorsese and based on the 2004 memoir 'I Hear You Paint Houses' by Charles Brandt. After languishing in development hell for about ten years, 'The Irishman' was confirmed as Scorsese's next film following 'Silence' in 2016. De Niro and Pacino were confirmed to star as was Pesci, who came out of his unofficial retirement to star after being asked allegedly fifty times to take the role by his good friend De Niro. The film tells the story of Frank Sheeran, a mob hitman and World War II veteran who develops his own particular set of skills during his wartime service in Italy. Now an old man, he reflects on the events that defined his career as a hitman, particularly the role he played in the disappearance of labour leader Jimmy Hoffa, his longtime friend, and his involvement with the Bufalino crime family. 'The Irishman' saw its World Premier screening at the recent New York Film Festival, has received widespread critical acclaim, goes on a limited cinematic release from 1st November and is then available via digital streaming on Netflix from 27th November onward. The film stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Ray Romano, Stephen Graham, Harvey Keitel, Bobby Cannavale, Jesse Plemmons and Anna Paquin amongst others, has a run time of 209 minutes and cost US$159M - being one of Scorsese's most expensive films to date.

'BALLOON' (Rated M) - this true story is Directed and Co-Written by acclaimed German film maker, comedian, Actor, voice artist and author Michael Herbig whose previous hit films in his native Germany were 2001's 'Manitou's Shoe' and 2004's 'Dreamship Surprise'. It is 1979, East Germany at the height of the Cold War, and Gunter Wetzel (David Kross), a bricklayer, and his friend Peter Strelzyk (Friedrich Mucke), an electrician, have reached the end of their tether in the oppressive DDR regime. The two men and their wives Petra Wetzel (Alicia von Rittberg) and Doris Strelzyk (Karoline Schuch) commit themselves to undertake a mission to secretly build a hot air balloon from scratch that will carry them and their families over the border fence into West Germany and to their freedom. Over the course of the next eighteen months they sew 1,000 square metres of cloth, and gather countless weather reports from West German radio, but their first attempt fails due to adverse weather and the balloon crash lands just metres from the border. With the Stasi State Police hot on their tails having found the wreckage, they must now race against time to build a more robust weather resisting balloon that will ensure their success, before being caught. Also starring Thomas Kretschmann.

'BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON' (Rated M) - first time film maker and Screenwriter Paul Downs Colaizzo brings us this comedy drama offering that saw its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year, went on general release in the US in late August, has generated largely positive press and has grossed US$7M at the Box Office so far. Jillian Bell stars as Brittany Forgler a humorous, friendly, hot mess of a New York dweller who knows how to have a good time and party hard, but at 27, her late-night adventures and early-morning walks-of-shame are starting to catch up with her. When she stops by a doctor's office in an attempt to score some Adderall, she finds herself slapped with a prescription she never wanted. Forced to face reality for the first time in a long time, Brittany laces up her training shoes and runs around one city block working up a sweat. The next day, she runs two. Soon she runs a mile. Brittany finally has some much needed direction in her life and sets herself the goal of running the New York Marathon. But before she can do so, she must overcome a number of challenges along the way! Also starring Michaela Watkins, Alice Lee, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Lil Rel Howery and Micah Stock.

'47 METRES DOWN : UNCAGED' (Rated M) - here we have a sequel to the 2017 survival horror film '47 Metres Down' which grossed US$63M off the back of a less than US$6M Production Budget despite its mixed Reviews. Now just two years later we have the inevitable follow up that like its predecessor is Directed and Co-Written by British mistress of the horror genre Johannes Roberts. Also like its predecessor this film has garnered mostly mixed Reviews and has so far grossed US$37M from a US$12M Budget. The story here surrounds four teenage girls - Sasha (Corinne Foxx), Mia (Sophie Nelisse), Alexa (Brianne Tju) and Nicole (Sistine Stallone) who decide to go scuba diving to a sunken Mayan city but soon discover that the sunken subterranean ruins are also a hunting ground for deadly great white sharks with evolved senses. With their air supply steadily declining, the frightened girls must navigate the underwater labyrinth of claustrophobic caves and eerie tunnels in their increasingly frantic search for a way out of their watery nightmare.

'YULI' (Rated M) - here Spanish Director, Producer, Writer and Actress Iciar Bollain brings us this biographical drama film about Yuli, the nickname given to Carlos Acosta (played by himself) by his father Pedro (Santiago Alfonso). From a young age, Yuli shied away any kind of discipline and education, instead preferring the streets of a run-down neighbourhood in Havana, Cuba where he learned most of his schooling. But Pedro knows his son has natural talent and forces him to attend Cuba’s National Dance School. Against his will and despite his initial indiscipline, Yuli ends up being captivated by the world of dance, and from childhood he will begin to forge his own legend, as one of the best dancers of his generation, often breaking taboos and becoming the first black artist to dance Romeo in the Royal Ballet in London, where he forged a legendary career as a principal dancer for seventeen years from 1998 through 2015. He has danced with with many companies including the English National Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, Houston Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and in early 2020 will become the Artistic Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. The music score for the film was written by Alberto Iglesias and the film has so far picked up four award wins and another thirteen nods from around the festival and awards circuit.

With six new release movies this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ZOMBIELAND : DOUBLE TAP - Tuesday 22nd October 2019.

'ZOMBIELAND : DOUBLE TAP' which I saw this week at my local multiplex, is the long awaited MA15+ Rated ZomCom sequel to 2009's 'Zombieland' film which was Directed by Ruben Fleischer, starred Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin, and was a critical and commercial success grossing US$103M off the back of a US$24M production budget. Apparently a sequel was muted even before the release of the first film, but then things languished in development Hell for a number of years before being officially green lit in early 2018. This sequel was released in the US last week too, cost US$45M to make, has so far grossed US$39M and has generated mixed Reviews so far.

And so in this next instalment set ten years after the events of the first film, and following an opening narrative to bring us duly up to speed with the passing events of the last decade, we open up with a zombie showdown involving Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) going head to head with a bunch of marauding zombies on the now overgrown lawn of the White House. Needless to say its a complete bloodbath as our four intrepid zombie killing heroes win the day using assault rifles, pump action shotguns, crowbars and pistols to thwart their flesh hungry aggressors.

Taking up residence in the deserted White House, Columbus decides to propose to Wichita and uses the First Lady's Hope Diamond ring to seal their engagement. Meanwhile Little Rock has thoughts of escaping her surrogate family and finding a man, settling down and starting her own family, but these notions are quickly rebuffed by her father figure Tallahassee. Early the next day, Tallahassee finds a brief hand scribbled note from Wichita and Little Rock, stating they have left because Little Rock feels Tallahassee still treats her like a child, and Wichita’s fear she has become far too attached to Columbus.

A few weeks later, resigned to their new found female-less lives, Tallahassee and Columbus are riding Segwey's around a desert shopping mall, when Columbus comes across Madison (Zoey Deutch) who has spent the last ten years or so of her life living inside the freezer of a frozen dessert restaurant chain. Madison pretty quickly manages to put Tallahassee off side, but she warms to Columbus, who invites the dumb ass blonde bimbo to come live with them at the White House, much to Tallahassee's chagrin. That first night Madison seduces Columbus.

The next morning Wichita returns to the White House alone and upon discovering that Columbus slept with Madison is none too pleased. Wichita goes on to explain that Little Rock left for Graceland with a hippie named Berkeley (Avan Jogia), and commandeered Tallahassee's prized modified Presidential limousine affectionately known as 'The Beast' with them. She also informs the group of more agile and durable 'super zombies' that she has come across, who are stronger, faster and able to withstand multiple attempts at killing them. Fearing for Little Rock's safety, the group head toward Graceland in a beat up minivan much to Tallahassee's disgust.

En route, the gang thwart a pack of zombie's while trying to commandeer a luxury RV, but come across one such super zombie that takes multiple shots to the head and body to eventually kill it - Columbus calls this new breed of zombie the T-800 (after the original 'Terminator'). Back in the minivan, because the RV blew its front tyres after inadvertently driving over road spikes, Madison begins to show sign of zombiefication, forcing Columbus to shoot her in the head somewhere off road and in the woods.

And so the remaining three continue their journey to Graceland, expecting to find Little Rock and The Beast, but there is no sign of either. They drive out of town and come across an Elvis themed motel, in whose driveway is parked The Beast. Venturing gingerly inside, Tallahassee is floored by Nevada (Rosario Dawson) pointing a gun in his face. When Nevada realises that they are friendly she advises that Little Rock and Berkley left for an outpost hippie commune called Babylon. Bonding over their shared love of all things Elvis Presley, Nevada and Tallahassee spend the night together.

The next morning, the pair are awoken by a ruckus coming from outside, only to find a monster truck has crushed The Beast and literally parked on top of it in the driveway. Albuquerque (Luke Wilson) and Flagstaff (Thomas Middleditch) alight from their vehicle and instantly it is recognised that the pair strongly resemble Tallahassee and Columbus in their personalities, traits and foibles. A pack of super zombies arrive on the scene and Albuquerque and Flagstaff, decide to fend them off alone showing the others 'how it's done'! They seemingly successfully overcome the horde, only to reveal within a few minutes that they were both bitten. Turning rapidly into super zombies themselves they are eventually thwarted and killed with Nevada's help, but not before trashing the place.

Saying farewell to Nevada to venture onto Babylon, en route the three come across Madison on the road driving an ice cream truck. They pull her over and she explains that she had an allergic reaction to the nuts contained within the trail mix she was eating when she had her episode, and Columbus spared her life by shooting over her head to scare her away. At Babylon, Little Rock and Berkley arrive and are greeted with a no guns policy as they are a peace loving community, and so their guns are instantly melted down to make peace medallions. A few days later the reunited group of four arrive at Babylon and reluctantly agree to give up their stash of weapons too in order to gain entry.

The group are reunited with Little Rock. Realising she is now a young adult and no longer needing his protection, Tallahassee leaves, as the commune celebrate the group’s arrival with a display of fireworks. While driving away, Tallahassee comes across a massive horde of super zombies who have been attracted by the fireworks, and returns to warn the commune. Left without guns, Tallahassee comes up with a two pronged attack plan. Firstly, using fireworks to attract the zombies into an enclosed area directly outside the communes walls, and exploding a tank of biodiesel when they are all contained. Secondly, to arm the members of the commune with makeshift barricade shields to corral the zombies off the skyscraper roof that houses the commune, baited by himself.

The first plan has only limited success when the zombie horde is larger than expected, and the unarmed group finds themselves seriously outnumbered and surrounded. Contemplating their fate Nevada arrives in the monster truck, rescuing the group by mowing down randomly every zombie left standing, of which there are many. The truck flips over on to its side, forcing them to exit the confines of the truck and journey on foot up the skyscraper chased by the horde. The commune members use their pre-prepared makeshift shields to create a single path off the edge of the tall building. Pursued by the zombies, Tallahassee jumps off the building, catching the hook of a construction crane as the horde falls to their deaths like lemmings. Two zombies grab at Tallahassee's leg and hold on left dangling precariously, but Little Rock shoots them with a forgotten custom made pistol once owned by Elvis, given to her by Tallahassee as an early Christmas present, so saving his life.

Little Rock reconciles with Tallahassee, Wichita finally accepts Columbus’ marriage proposal, Little Rock splits up with Berkeley, who then immediately hooks up with Madison who then stay behind at Babylon as the original group of four, joined now by Nevada, leave the commune in a dusky pink 1950's Cadillac convertible.

'Zombieland : Double Tap' has plenty going for it that will make it an enjoyable couple of hours spent at your local movie theatre, but at the same time it doesn't steer too far away from the original premise that made the first instalment so critically and commercially successful. The story is coherent enough, the zombie bloodletting is gore inspiring and there are enough undead kills to satisfy the most die hard fan, the chemistry between the lead characters is clearly evident, the comedic humour yields a number of laugh out loud moments, and there is the occasional tongue in cheek emotional interlude to counter balance the manic zombie attacks. What lets this film down is that it is largely simply a rehash of what went before, going through the all too familiar motions for the sake of fountains of blood spatter and gory zombie deaths, interspersed with the odd laugh, and a plot that is a thinly veiled road movie of reckoning on various levels, and that's about it. It is worth staying in your seat for the funniest element of the film that comes as a mid credits sequence featuring Bill Murray promoting 'Garfield 3'.

'Zombieland : Double Tap' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th October 2019.

The 63rd British Film Institute London Film Festival took place between the 2nd and 13th October this year. This annual film festival founded in 1953 is held in the UK, runs for two weeks in October with cooperation from the British Film Institute, and screens more than 300 films, documentaries and shorts from approximately 50 countries.






This years opening film was 'The Personal History of David Copperfield' in this UK Production Directed by Armando Iannucci. Starring Dev Patel in the title role with Ben Whishaw, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi and Tilda Swinton this film tells the classic Charles Dickens story following Copperfield from early youth through to middle age, tracing his social awakening and charting his huge personal ups and downs as he witnesses the best and worst of humanity in this Victorian England set epic.
The closing night film was Martin Scorsese's epic 'The Irishman' which by now I'm sure needs no introduction other than to say it unites an all star cast taking in Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Al Pacino, Ray Romano, Stephen Graham, Bobby Cannavale and Anna Paquin.

This year there were ten films in Official Competition, which were :
* 'FANNY LYE DELIVER'D' - this UK and German Co-Produced historical drama film set in 1657 England is Directed by Thomas Clay and stars Maxine Peake, Charles Dance and Freddie Fox.
* 'HONEY BOY' - this US Production is Directed by Alma Har'el and Written by Shia LaBeouf and starring Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges and Noah Jupe about a child Actor in Hollywood struggling with an unconventional and brutalising past.
* 'LINGUA FRANCA' - is a US Production Directed by Isabel Sandoval and starring Eamon Farren, Lynn Cohen, Lev Gorn and Isabel Sandoval and is about an undocumented Filipino immigrant woman living in Brooklyn searching for safety and security in her chosen country.
* 'LA LLORONA' - not be confused with the recent supernatural horror film 'The Curse of La Llorona', this Guatemalan and French Co-Produced film by Director Jayro Bustamante tells the story of a retired general in failing health who witnesses spectres of his past which come back to haunt him as he his tried for genocide.
* 'MOFFIE' - is a UK and South African Co-Production Directed by Oliver Hermanus and stars Kai Luke Brummer, Ryan de Villiers, and Matthew Vey and tells the story of the violent persecution of gay men during their national service years under South Africa's 1981 Apartheid regime.
* 'MONOS' - a multi-national Co-Produced war drama film Directed by Alejandro Landes and starring Julianne Nicholson and Moises Arias in this hallucinogenic thriller about child soldiers high up in the South American mountains who are hiding an American Doctor prisoner.
* 'THE OTHER LAMB' - here this Irish, Belgian and US Co-Produced film is Directed by Malgorzata Szumowska and stars Raffey Cassidy, Michael Huisman and Denise Gough and is about life in an otherworldly cult known as The Flock, a community of women and girls ruled over by Shepherd, the only male, and a seemingly benevolent but undisputed leader of the strictly regimented and isolated woodland settlement.
* 'THE PERFECT CANDIDATE' - this German and Saudi Arabian Co-Production is Directed by Haifaa Al Mansour and tells the story of a young Doctor who unexpectedly becomes an electoral candidate, challenging Saudi Arabia's strict social codes of what is expected of a young woman in that country.
* 'ROSE PLAYS JULIE' - this Irish and UK Co-Produced drama film is Directed by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor and stars Ann Skelly, Orla Brady and Aiden Gillen and is about a young woman seeking her biological mother ultimately taking us through longing and revenge to arrive at the darker places of power and its abuse.
* 'SAINT MAUD' - here this UK Produced psychological drama is Directed by first timer Rose Glass and stars Morfydd Clarke and Jennifer Ehle and tells the story of a young nurse with a mysterious past who becomes dangerously obsessed with a former and dying dancer, whom she is now looking after as her live in carer.

In Official Competition, 'MONOS' took out the Award for Best Film. Special Commendations were also given by the Jury for 'Honey Boy' and 'Saint Maud'.

To get all the news on the years BFI London Film Festival, you can visit the official website at : https://www.whatson.bfi.org.uk

This week we have six new film releases to tease you out to your local Odeon. We start the week with a story of a gifted young, albeit bullied Pakistani poet growing up 50kms northwest of London in 1987, who who is given a new outlook on life through the music of 'The Boss'. We then have a comedy horror offering surrounding a newly wed bride who must survive an age old family ritual playing hide and seek with potentially deathly consequences. With weddings featuring heavily this week, we have next a story set in 1974 Melbourne involving a marriage between a couple who were promised to each other in their early childhood by their fathers, only now 21 years later feelings and attitudes have changed! Following on we have a tale of an Indian orphanage founder who travels to New York as the behest of a wealthy benefactor, only to be invited to her daughters wedding the next day from which ghosts from the past are unexpectedly resurrected. Then we have a horror offering in time for Halloween that sees a smartphone app able to predict with pinpoint accuracy exactly when you are going to die, and when a young nurse downloads the app to her dismay it seems she has only three days to live - it's a race against time then to stop the clock or stop the mystery figure haunting her. And we wrap up the week with a biography of perhaps the worlds greatest operatic tenor who died in 2007.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'BLINDED BY THE LIGHT' (Rated PG) - is a British comedy drama film Directed and Co-Produced by Gurinder Chadha whose previous Directorial credits include 'Bhaji on the Beach', 'Bend it Like Beckham', 'Bride and Prejudice', and 'Viceroy's House' most recently. Inspired by the life of journalist Sarfraz Manzoor and his love of the works of Bruce Springsteen, Manzoor co-wrote the script with Chadha. It is based on Manzoor's memoir 'Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll'. The film saw its Worldwide Premier screening at this years Sundance Film Festival, went on general release in the UK in early August, in the US in mid-August, has received generally positive critical acclaim, and has so far taken US$17M at the Box Office off the back of US$15M cost of production.

Javed Khan (Viveik Kalra) is a Pakistani teenager who experiences racial and economic turmoil while living in Luton, England, in 1987 in Margaret Thatcher's Britain. He writes poetry and lyrics for his best friend Matt's (Dean-Charles Chapman) band as a way to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the stubborn views of his traditional father Malik (Kulvinder Ghir). When a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteeen, Javed sees parallels between the singer's powerful lyrics and his own working-class environment. Springsteen's melodies soon inspire Javed to find his own voice and follow his dreams. Also starring Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon and Nell Williams.

'READY OR NOT' (Rated MA15+) - is an American comedy thriller horror offering Directed by the pairing of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The film was released in the US in late August, has received generally positive Reviews and has so far grossed US$53M off the back of a US$6M production budget. And so the story here surrounds Grace Le Domas (Samara Weaving) who couldn't be happier after she marries the man of her dreams, Alex Le Domas (Mark O'Brien) at his family's luxurious country estate. There's just one catch - she must now hide from midnight until dawn while her new in-laws hunt her down with guns, crossbows and other weapons in a macabre game of Hide and Seek which is a generations long standing family ritual of playing a game at midnight on the wedding night with each new addition to the family. As Grace desperately tries to survive the night against seemingly overwhelming odds, she soon finds a way to turn the tables on her not-so-lovable relatives. Also starring Adam Brody, Henry Czerny and Andie MacDowell.

'PROMISED' (Rated PG) - this Australian and Italian Co-Produced Romantic Drama film is Written, Produced and Directed by first timer Nick Conidi. Here, back in the Melbourne of 1953 two young Italian children - five year old Robert (Daniel Berini) and newborn Angela (Antoniette Iesue) are promised in marriage by their fathers, Sal (Paul Mercurio) and Joe (Mirko Grillini). Against the reservations of Angela’s mother Rosalba (Tina Arena), Sal is insistent that he must uphold his promise to Joe – a man with 'connections'. Twenty-one years on to 1974, and Angela is now a beautiful, intelligent and modern lady whose dreams and aspirations lie well beyond the family pastry shop. Robert, now 25, has just returned home from studying law abroad at Oxford. Despite changing times, fading traditions, Angela’s love for another man, and the more liberal attitudes of the mid-'70's, she is still expected to marry Robert. As a web of secrets, lies and revelations rise to the surface, it teaches everyone involved that love, like life, can never be perfectly arranged.

'AFTER THE WEDDING' (Rated M) - is an American drama film Written and Directed by Bart Freundlich whose previous film making credits take in 'World Traveller', 'Catch That Kid', 'Trust the Man', 'Rebound' and 'Wolves' more recently. This film is a remake of the 2006 film of the same name by Susanne Bier. The film saw its World Premier at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, its release in the US in mid-August, has so far received generally mixed or average Reviews and has grossed just US$2M. Here, Isabel (Michelle Williams), a co-founder of an orphanage in the Indian city of Kolkata travels to New York to meet a potential benefactor, Theresa Young (Julianne Moore). Despite her frustration by the need to justify a charitable donation, she agrees to the meeting, which falls a day before the wedding of Theresa's daughter (Abby Quinn). Isabel is unexpectedly invited to the wedding and the events that ensue force her to confront decisions she made twenty years previously as well as a man from her past, who turns out to be Theresa's husband (Billy Crudup).

'COUNTDOWN' (Rated CTC) - Directed and Written by Justin Dec in his feature film debut this American horror thriller arrives just in time for Halloween. Here whilst it seems that everything about our lives are on our smart phones, now it appears so to is our death. Everyone around young nurse Quinn (Elizabeth Lail) is having fun with a new app called 'Countdown' which predicts to the exact second how much longer you have got left to live. But when Quinn downloads the app to her horror and dismay it tells her that she has just three days left to live. With time running out, the clock counting down and a mysterious figure haunting her, she must find a way to to save her life before the clock says it's time to die. Also starring Charlie McDermott, Anne Winters and P.J. Byrne. The film is released in the US this week too.

'PAVAROTTI' (Rated M) - this UK and USA Co-Produced documentary film is Directed by Ron Howard and is about the world renowned Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti who died in September 2007 at the age of 71 having been active in his chosen field of singing since 1955. The film was produced with the cooperation of Luciano Pavarotti's estate using family archives, interviews and live music footage, was released in the US in early June this year, then in the UK in mid-July and now for a limited release in Australia. The film has garnered generally positive press and has so far grossed US$7M.

With six new release movies this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

GEMINI MAN : Tuesday 15th October 2019

'GEMINI MAN' which I saw at my local independent Odeon earlier this week is an M Rated American Sci-Fi actioner Directed by the acclaimed and multi-award winning Taiwanese film maker Ang Lee whose previous credits include 'Eat Drink Man Woman', 'Sense and Sensibility', 'The Ice Storm', 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', 'Brokeback Mountain', 'Life of Pi' and 'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk' most recently. The film is also Co-Written and based upon a story by David Benioff - he who is the much lauded Co-Writer and Showrunner of that lesser known HBO series 'Games of Thrones'. The original story for the film was first pitched way back in 1997 and then went through development hell for the ensuing twenty years with various well known A-Grade Directors and Actors assigned to the project coming and going. The film was released in the US last week too, and has so far generated relatively poor Reviews and has grossed US$72M at the Box Office from its Production Budget of circa US$150M.

Here Henry Brogan (Will Smith) is an elite, albeit ageing government assassin seeking to end his career and enter a life of relaxation and blissful retirement. Having shot an alleged terrorist on a moving bullet train from a distance of two kilometres away, Henry has become somewhat disillusioned after 72 confirmed kills and decided that it really is time to retire. While settling down to the free and easy life at his rural home, he one day meets Dani (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who is the recently appointed boat rental manager at his local wharf, and they strike up a conversation before Henry takes his boat out for a spot of mackerel fishing. Henry rendezvous with a former colleague aboard his lavish luxury yacht and they enjoy a beer. Henry's friend confides that the alleged terrorist that he killed was in fact an innocent, as advised by an informant named Yuri. Henry has his friend arrange a meeting with Yuri so that he can learn more. Upon leaving Henry looks up at the bright blue cloudless sky and notices a reflection of a drone flying high overhead. Later that night, Henry's friend and former colleague is killed aboard the luxury motor yacht and his body, together with that of his female companion, are thrown overboard.

Spying in on that conversation is Clay Varris (Clive Owen) the ruthless Director of a secret black-ops unit named 'Gemini' and Janet Lassiter (Linda Emond) the Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). They determine that because Henry is now potentially on their trail, that he needs to be eliminated. Varris has his own ideas of how this should be done, but is overruled by Lassiter. Varris reluctantly agrees, but if her plan all goes south, then Varris will step in and do the job his way using his resources.

Upon arriving back at the harbour Henry asks Dani out for a drink at a dock side bar a couple of days later. He rocks up with a bunch of flowers and a copy of Dani's DIA security clearance having done some investigative work to confirm his suspicions that she was/is a fellow agent sent to survey him. Later that night, Henry is woken from his sleep by heavily armed snipers who had tripped an alarm system surrounding the perimeter of his home. Henry quickly and efficiently dispenses with the four armed men, and calls Dani to warn her that they'll likely be after her too by power of association. Sure enough, while commandeering a speed boat at the harbour, Dani is attacked but is able to disarm her assailant, tie him up and knock out a couple of his teeth in the process. The pair then meet up with trusted former colleague, and long time friend Baron (Benedict Wong) who flies them down to the safety of his own home in Colombia to collect their thoughts and plan their next move to meet up with Yuri.

In the meantime, after Lassiter's attempt to neutralise Henry and Dani, Varris intervenes and sends his own top assassin to kill Henry. The pair get involved in a frenzied attack involving automatic weapons, grenades, knives and a frenetic motorcycle chase sequence through the streets of Cartagena culminating in the assassin gaining the upper hand until the local Police arrive to save the day, and save Henry so allowing the assailant to flee. Henry is locked up but is released following the intervention of Dani in her official capacity as a DIA Agent.

During the chase, Henry noticed that the younger man bore an uncanny resemblance to himself and possessed a similar set of skills, but quickly dismissed it. Similarly, arriving back at a safe house, the assassin is revealed to be Clay's adopted son named Junior (Will Smith), who also asks questions about his similarities to Henry's, but his questions are quickly dismissed by Varris who just orders Junior to do his job and take out Henry once and for all. Dani in the meantime has suspicions of her own regarding the connection between the two.

Borrowing a Gulfstream Jet from a good friend, Baron flies Henry and Dani to Budapest to meet with Yuri. There, Dani has a local run a DNA test on a baseball cap left behind by Junior and a blood sample from a bandage used to treat Henry. The test results come back, proving conclusively after three separate assessments, that Junior's and Henry's DNA is identical - a 100% match. They deduce therefore that Junior is a clone of Henry. Later Henry meets Yuri Kovacs (Ilia Volok), who informs him of the cloning project and that the man Henry killed was one of the project’s Scientists. Having designed a method to produce clones devoid of pain or emotion, the Scientist attempted to distance himself from the project and was killed upon being discovered.

In an attempt to get Junior to turn away from Clay's nefarious intentions, Henry calls Janet Lassiter, who agrees to send Junior to bring Dani safely back to the United States. Collecting Dani from a designated historical site in Budapest, Junior sets up a trap for Henry with the intention of this being their final showdown. Strip searched, bound and gagged Dani is still able to forewarn Henry via a covert listening device in her mouth. Ambushing the younger assassin and gaining the upper hand this time, Henry explains to Junior that he is a clone, convincing him by revealing their similar secret traits no one else could know. Escaping back to Gemini HQ, a heartbroken Junior confronts Varris, who claims that he is better than Henry, is still his son, and that the mission must still go on.

Meanwhile Henry, Dani and Baron have flown on the Gulfstream Jet back to the US with Henry getting some much needed repairs to his bruised and bloodied body and sleep en route. Junior by now is less than convinced about Varris' justification for his actions and intentions, and having sneaked out of Gemini HQ locates the three and decides to form a partnership to bring down Varris. The four travel by SUV to the extensive Gemini HQ and are greeted by a small platoon of heavily armed guards with enough fire power to destroy a small town. The SUV is targeted and all but Baron manage to escape as the vehicle explodes in a ball of flame. Henry and Dani escape into a nearby auto shop and Junior makes for a rooftop where he can gain a better view. Varris comes up to the rooftop, there is an exchange of heated words, a brief fist fight, and Junior knocks Varris out cold, retreating to the shop where Henry and Dani are under intense fire, taking out the Gemini goons in the process. 

With the Gemini operatives all killed, the three next face off against another assassin who is seemingly considerably more agile and resilient to bullets, fire, pain and emotion. However, after setting this assassin on fire and Dani plugging him with three high powered semi-automatic bullets directly to the chest at close range, his body lays motionless. Pulling off his full face helmet and visor another younger clone of Junior/Henry is revealed. At this point Varris enters and sees his latest and totally unique creation dead on the ground, and attempts to justify his actions to the three survivors. Junior, is poised to shoot Varris at point blank range, but Henry persuades Junior otherwise, and instead, he kills Varris himself.

Ensuring there are no more clones in existence, that they are finally free from harms way, and that Gemini has been closed down, Henry and Dani six months later meet with Junior, who has enrolled into College under a new identity. Junior has taken the name Jackson, after his mothers surname, and Brogan, Henry's surname.

I didn't like 'Gemini Man', but I didn't loathe it either. My impression of this relative by the numbers fairly formulaic offering sits some where mid-stream. Sure it's entertaining enough, the action set pieces maintain the interest for all the extensive choreography that must have gone into them; Will Smith at age 51 beating up, or getting beaten up by Will Smith at age 23 is interesting and for the most part well executed; and Brogans back up team of Winstead and Wong add some gravitas and levity to the otherwise predictable storyline that we have seen in countless movies before, and more often than not with sharper dialogue. Ang Lee's use of a 120 frames per second renders the film with a clarity of image that you'll either appreciate for what it is or hate it, and this is something that has divided the Critics the world over - some praising the Directors ingenuity and for embracing the technology while others have lambasted him. And then there is the de-aging process seen here with Will Smith the younger and younger still which has also divided audiences and yet is steadily becoming commonplace having seen this used with Samuel L. Jackson in 'Captain Marvel' recently and with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci in the upcoming 'The Irishman'. Ang Lee is certainly not one to shy away from the use of cutting edge technology in his films - both in front and behind the camera, but a little more thought to the plot, imbuing the film with a little more humour and a little more attention to the script could have made this film greater than the sum of its parts.

'Gemini Man' warrants three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-