What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 20th August 2020.

Film Festivals, during the first six months of 2020, have for the most part been canned completely, postponed or held in cyberspace because of the fear of spreading COVID-19 with so many people crammed into movie theatres, presentation halls and social gatherings. But, as cinema's around the world start to re-open, albeit under certain restrictions, so too have a number of film festivals emerged from the fug of the Coronavirus with a, for now, abridged line up of events and activities to satisfy the ardent movie goer, film Critic and those connected either directly or indirectly with the film industry. Below then, is a schedule of the most noted film festivals slated in the closing months of 2020.

* Venice International Film Festival - now marking its 77th year, is scheduled to be held from 2nd through 12th September albeit in a slimmed down in-person format. Australian actress Cate Blanchett has been appointed as the President of the Jury, with 'The Ties' Directed by Daniele Luchetti, being selected as the opening film - the first Italian film in eleven years to open the festival.
* Toronto International Film Festival - now marking its 45th year, TIFF is scheduled to be held from 10th through 21st September. Organisers have acknowledged that the event will 'look different' than in past years, primarily by incorporating an online streaming component, with five days of in-person presentations. The lineup has been significantly reduced from previous years, with just fifty new feature films and five short film programmes being showcased this year.
* Atlanta Film Festival - originally scheduled for the first ten days in May, this festival was postponed and is now scheduled to take place from 17th through 27th September, marking its 44th year. The organisers are planning to host both drive-in and virtual screenings, with the lineup including 150 films and twenty educational events.
* Zurich Film Festival - now in its 16th year this festival is scheduled for between 24th September and 4th October with the organisers of this Swiss festival stating that a government ban on gatherings of over one thousand people will not impact their late-September event.

* British Film Institute London Film Festival - scheduled for 7th through 18th October, the 2020 edition will be the most accessible version of the festival to UK audiences yet. Film lovers will be given an opportunity to connect for a unique and innovative festival experience, enjoying both live and digital screenings, Q&A's, roundtable discussions and more across the twelve days of the Festival.

* Chicago Film Festival - now in its 56th year with this years edition occurring between 14th and 25th October. The organisers remain committed to producing a programme of screening, events and related activities anticipating a reduced lineup of sixty to seventy new titles being showcased this year.

This week there are just two latest cinematic releases to tempt you out to your local Odeon, kicking off with a biographical drama about an LA immigration lawyer who, off her own back, changed the asylum laws in the US to include women as a protected class, saving thousands in the process. And this is followed up by a New Zealand crime comedy about two hapless would-be crims that get caught up on the wrong side of a local crime boss with potentially dire consequences for them both - let the hilarity begin!

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it either of the two latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or 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.

'SAINT JUDY' (Rated M) - is an American biographical drama film Directed and Co-Produced by Sean Hanish whose previous feature film Directorial outings are '29 and Holding' in 2004, 'Return to Zero' in 2014 and 'Sister Cities' in 2016. The film saw its World Premier screening at the late September 2018 Los Angeles Film Festival before going on a limited release Stateside in early March 2019, and now it gets a limited run in Australia, having taken just US$96K at the Box Office so far. Picking up one award win and four nominations, 'Saint Judy' has received mixed or average Reviews so far.

This film charts the story of Los Angeles immigration attorney Judy Wood (Michelle Monaghan), who single-handedly changed United States asylum law to include women as a protected class. Wood's victory in this regard saved the lives of tens of thousands of female immigrants around the world. Beginning as she relocates with her son Alex (Gabriel Bateman) from New Mexico to Los Angeles so her son can be closer to his dad Matthew (Peter Krause), her work in an immigration law office, then in her own law office and in particular the case of an Asefa Ashwari (Leem Lubani), a teacher from Afghanistan facing deportation to her win in the US Court of Appeals. Also starring Alfred Molina (who also Executive Produces), Common, Gil Birmingham and Alfre Woodard.

'LOWDOWN DIRTY CRIMINALS' (Rated MA15+) - this crime comedy caper from New Zealand is Directed by Paul Murphy whose previous film making credits take in 'Second Hand Wedding' in 2008 and 'Love Birds' in 2011. In the meantime Murphy has worked extensively on major Hollywood films as a Best Boy/Grip. Here Freddy (James Rolleston) loses his job as a pizza delivery guy, so he and his best buddy Marvin (Samuel Austin) find work with a small-time crook Spiggs (Scott Wills). After they mess up a routine job, Spiggs sends them on a fool’s errand - to kill gangster Donny Kong (Min Kim) who's been sleeping with his wife. When the wrong guy ends up dead, Freddy and Marvin find themselves crossing paths with someone even more frightening than their boss - gangster 'The Upholsterer' (Rebecca Gibney) and her two hapless henchmen. The resulting chaos escalates into a situation that’ll threaten their lives and force them to re-examine their career choices, which they has initially envisioned as being one of riches and women aplenty.

With two new release films 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-