What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 8th February 2024.

This years 74th Berlin International Film Festival (The Berlinale) launches on Thursday 15th February and runs through until Sunday 25th February. The official website reads 'the Berlinale is a unique place of artistic exploration and entertainment. It is one of the largest public film festivals in the world, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the globe each year. For the film industry and the media, the eleven days in February are also one of the most important events in the annual calendar and an indispensable trading forum. The festival was created for the Berlin public in 1951, at the beginning of the Cold War, as a 'showcase of the free world'. Shaped by the turbulent post-war period and the unique situation of a divided city, the Berlinale has developed into a place of intercultural exchange and a platform for the critical cinematic exploration of social issues. To this day it is considered the most political of all the major film festivals. The Berlinale brings the big stars of international cinema to Berlin and discovers new talents. It accompanies filmmakers of all disciplines on their paths into the spotlight and supports careers, projects, dreams and visions'.

The International Jury presents the following awards within its main competition strand : Golden Bear for Best Film (awarded to the film’s Producers), Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, Silver Bear Jury Prize, Silver Bear for Best Director, Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance, Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance, Silver Bear for Best Screenplay and Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution.

This years films in Competition are as follows :-

* 'Another End' - from Italy and Directed by Pierro Messina and starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Olivia Williams. World Premiere.

* 'Architecton' - from Germany, France and the USA and Directed by Victor Kossakovsky. Documentary World Premiere.

* 'Black Tea' - from France, Mauritania, Luxembourg, Taiwan and Cote d'Ivorie and Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako. World Premiere.

* 'La Cocina' - from Mexico and the USA and Directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios and starring Rooney Mara. World Premiere. 

* 'Dahomey' - from France, Senegal and Benin and Directed by Mati Diop. Documentary World Premiere.

* 'A Different Man' - from the USA and Directed by Aaron Schimberg. 

* 'The Empire' - from France, Italy, Germany, Belgium and Portugal and Directed by Bruno Dumont and starring Camille Cottin. World Premiere.

* 'Gloria!' - from Italy and Switzerland and Directed by Margherita Vicario. World Premiere.

* 'Suspended Time' - from France and Directed by Olivier Assayas. World Premiere.

* 'From Hilde, With Love' - from Germany and Directed by Andreas Dresen. World Premiere.

* 'My Favourite Cake' - from Iran, France, Sweden and Germany and Directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha. World Premiere.

* 'Langue Etrangere' - from France, Germany and Belgium and Directed by Claire Burger and starring Nina Hoss. World Premiere. 

* 'Who Do I Belong To' - from Tunisia, France, Canada, Norway, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Meryam Joobeur. World Premiere.

* 'Pepe' - from the Dominican Republic, Namibia, Germany and France and Directed by Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Arias. World Premiere.

* 'Shambhala' - from Nepal, France, Norway, Hong Kong, China, Turkey, Taiwan, USA and Qatar and Directed by Min Bahadur Bham. World Premiere.

* 'Small Things Like These' - from Ireland and Belgium and Directed by Tim Mielants and starring Cillian Murphy and Emily Watson. World Premiere and the Opening Night Film. 

* 'Dying' - from Germany and Directed by Matthias Glasner. World Premiere.

* 'The Devil's Bath' - from Austria and Germany and Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala. World Premiere.

* 'Sons' - from Denmark and Sweden and Directed by Gustav Moller and starring Sidse Babette Knudsen. World Premiere.

* 'A Traveller's Needs' - from South Korea and Directed by Hong Sangsoo and starring Isabelle Huppert. World Premiere.

For the full synopsis of the aforementioned films in competition, plus all the other competitive strands and the Honorary Golden Bear Award which this year is being presented to the US Director, Producer and Screenwriter Martin Scorsese for his lifetime achievement, you can visit the official website at : https://www.berlinale.de/

This week there are just three new cinematic releases to tempt you out to a cool air conditioned movie theatre to stave off the heat of an Aussie summer, and we kick off with a sequel to a 2020 Australian thriller, that this time sees five women participate in a hiking retreat but only four come out the other side, with this returning Federal Agent heading into the mountains hoping to find his informant still alive. This is followed by a National Theatre production that tells the story of the England soccer team, and how with the worst track record for penalties in the world, their manager knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt, to take his team and country back to the promised land. And closing out the week we have for two nights only a 65th anniversary concert tour of one of Britain's most iconic musicians. 

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the three latest release new films 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.

'FORCE OF NATURE : THE DRY 2' (Rated M) - is an Australian mystery thriller film Written for the screen and Directed by Robert Connolly, and is based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Jane Harper. This film is a sequel to 2020 film 'The Dry' which first introduced the world to detective Aaron Falk played by Eric Bana who reprises his role here and also acts as Co-Producer. Robert Connolly's previous feature film making credits take in his debut in 2002 with 'The Bank' which he would follow up with 'Three Dollars' in 2005, 'Balibo' in 2009, 'The Turning' in 2013, 'Paper Planes' in 2015, and 'The Dry' in 2020. 

Here, five women take part in a corporate hiking retreat deep in the Victorian mountain ranges, one of the five is a whistle-blower and she disappears. When only four of those women return with each telling a different story, Detectives Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) and Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie) must find out what really happened before time runs out and the hope of finding her alive becomes more remote. Also starring Deborra Lee-Furness, Anna Torv, Robin McLeavy and Richard Roxburgh. 

'DEAR ENGLAND' (Rated E) - this English National Theatre Live film is Written by James Graham and Directed by Rupert Goold and centres on England football Manager Gareth Southgate (played by Joseph Fiennes), the pressures of elite sport, and the role of the national men's football team in the national psyche. The play explores how Southgate helped to change notions of masculinity on the England team, in the run-up to, and aftermath of, three tournaments - its unexpected run to the semifinals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia; its disappointing defeat in the 2020 European Championship final at Wembley Stadium and its quarterfinal exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The title of the play comes from the open letter Southgate wrote to England fans in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Dear England' saw its World Premiere at the National Theatre in London, where it ran from 20th June to 11th August 2023, before transferring to to the Prince Edward Theatre in London's West End for a limited fourteen-week run from 9th October 2023 until 13th January 2024.

'CLIFF RICHARD : THE BLUE SAPPHIRE TOUR' (Rated G) - for a very limited time in cinema's the British music icon Cliff Richard, now 83 years of age, is celebrating his 65th anniversary as of one of Britain’s all-time greatest hit makers. Cliff Richard’s anticipated Blue Sapphire Tour is set to dazzle the silver screen in this two-date only cinema event, recorded from London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, and Directed by Brian Klein. Across his illustrious and unrivalled eight-decade career spanning stage and screen, Sir Cliff Richard has become a British icon and cultural treasure, amassing many gold and platinum records, well over 250 million records sales worldwide, fourteen number-one singles, a colossal 96 Top 20 hits, seven number-one albums and a string of Brit and Ivor Novello awards to his name. Sir Cliff will be bringing a selection from his huge catalogue of hits back to the stage for this monumental celebration in cinemas nationwide, including 'Move It', 'Wired for Sound', 'Saviours Day' and 'The Young Ones'. This special presentation also includes bonus footage exclusive to cinemas.

With three new release movie offerings 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, and after ten years of writing my Blog, and 1,400 posts, I'm taking a break from writing my Reviews and Previews of the latest release movies. But fear not, I'll be back, in a few months when I'll take off again with all the latest at your big screen Odeon. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-