The Reviews and the Previews, the News, and the Views of what's hot and what's not at the movies, at your cinema and at your local Odeon!
Friday 18 October 2024
MEGALOPOLIS : Tuesday 15th October 2024
Wednesday 16 October 2024
What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th October 2024
Of the twenty-two feature films being presented in the 'Marquee' section the following titles are included, among others :-
This week to tease you out to your local Odeon, there are no fewer than nine new release movies coming to a big screen close to home, kicking off with a crime thriller about a man diagnosed with a rapidly evolving form of dementia, and so this contract killer gets the chance to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged son. Then we have a horror offering about a global pop sensation who is about to embark on a new world tour, and who begins to experience increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Next up is an Aussie drama in which a desperate woman kidnaps and enforces rehab on her violent brother in a last-ditch effort to save their lives. This is followed by a Vietnamese fantasy horror inspired by the famous fairy tale Tam Cam, this reimagining follows Cam, the half-sister of Tam, as she navigates a dark and twisted world filled with familiar yet terrifying new characters and elements. Then we turn to a German biographical film about Hilde Coppi, who along with her husband Hans Coppi belonged to Red Orchestra, a German resistance group to Nazism. Following on, we have an Aussie doco taking us from the Tiwi Islands to Melbourne, Victoria and back again, as four young women who seek to make it in elite sport must face uncertain futures; before another Aussie offering - this time an animated feature about how after a series of misfortunes, a snail-collecting, melancholic misfit learns how to find confidence within herself amid the clutter of everyday life. Next is an American historical drama that takes us back to 19th century New England where courage, hope, war, and true love collide in a tale of epic proportions, before closing out the week with a long thought to be lost documentary from an acclaimed Director that charts the recording, promotion and touring of this popular Rock & Roll bands fifth studio album in 1982.
Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the nine 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 week ahead.
'KNOX GOES AWAY' aka 'ASSASSINS PLAN' aka 'A KILLER'S MEMORY' (Rated M) : is an American crime thriller film Co-Produced, Directed and starring Michael Keaton who made his Directorial debut in 2008 with 'The Merry Gentleman'. This film saw its World Premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023, had a limited cinema release in the US in mid-March this year, has so far grossed US$654K and has garnered mixed critical reviews.The film follows a contract killer John Knox (Michael Keaton) with a rapidly evolving form of dementia, who vows to spend his final days attempting to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged adult son Miles (James Marsden). The film also stars Ray McKinnon, Marcia Gay Harden and Al Pacino.
'SMILE 2' (Rated MA15+) - this American psychological supernatural horror film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Parker Finn, who also helmed the 2022 first instalment 'Smile' in his feature film debut which went on to gross US$217M worldwide from a production budget of US$17M. Here then, about to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins to experience increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and pressures of fame, she must face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control. Also starring Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage and Raul Castillo. It is released in the US this week too.
'HE AIN'T HEAVY' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian drama film Witten and Directed by David Vincent Smith in his feature film making debut. Here, Jade (Leila George) has never been able to travel overseas. She’s too worried about her meth-addicted brother Max (Sam Corlett), always on call to take him to hospital or provide first aid after he’s self-harmed. In desperation, she finally confines Max in a room inside the rural house left by their grandmother. But then Jade’s mother (Greta Scacchi) arrives, and she’s appalled that her son is caged up like an animal. This film is based on the short film by Smith from 2019 'I'm Not Hurting You', and it saw its World Premiere screening at this years Sydney Film Festival in June.
'THE SISTERS' (Rated MA15+) - this Vietnamese fantasy horror thriller film is is Co-Written and Directed by Tran Huu Tan and centres around a series of unexplained missing cases and disturbing deaths which start to occur in a faraway village when the Chief's dead daughter comes back to life, unveiling shocking secrets of the village's Forest Demon and the ritual of human sacrifice related to the prosperity of the Chief's family. Staring Cuong Quoc as the Village Chief and Lam Thanh My and Rima Thanh Vy as the sisters Cam and Tam respectively.
'FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE' (Rated MA15+) - is a German autobiographical film Directed by Andreas Dresen and is based on true events set in early 1942 in Berlin, where Hilde Coppi (Liv Lisa Fries), a young medical assistant, became part of a rebel group that was later known as the 'Red Orchestra'. There she met and fell in love with Hans Coppi (Johannes Hegemann), who later became her husband. They enjoyed a wonderful summer together, despite the danger of their activities and the risk of being caught. Eventually captured by the Gestapo, Hilde was imprisoned while pregnant. She gave birth to a son in Barnimstrasse women's prison, and soon after, she was condemned to death. In her final months, being a mother gave her the strength to face her destiny. The film saw its Premiere screening at this years Berlin International Film Festival back in February and is released in its native Germany this week too.
'LIKE MY BROTHER' (Rated G) - this Australian documentary film is Directed by Sal Balharrie and Danielle MacLean and is Written by Sal Balharrie. This personal portrayal of the lives of four Indigenous Australian girls from the remote Tiwi Islands, whose love for football propels them to dare to dream - to shatter conventions, tread uncharted territories, and shoulder the hope of a community in their pursuit to play in the AFLW (Australian Football League Womens). Filmed over six years, the documentary follows Freda, Jess, Julie, and Rina as they face the challenges of social and physical obstacles in their way. Their shared aspiration turns into a reality for some, but those lucky enough to realise their dream are quickly confronted by the profound cultural shift of relocating to Melbourne, to become elite athletes, playing for the Essendon Football Club. Throughout their journey, the players are tested by the delicate balance between their love for footy and the obligations to family and their community back home.
'MEMOIR OF A SNAIL' (Rated M) - is an Australian adult stop-motion animated tragicomedy film Written, Produced and Directed by Adam Elliot, whose five films, both shorts and a feature, have collectively participated in over seven hundred film festivals and have received over one hundred awards, including an Academy Award for 'Harvie Krumpet' in 2003. This is Elliot's second feature film following 'Mary and Max' in 2009. Here, Grace Pudel (voiced by Sarah Snook) is a lonely misfit with an affinity for collecting ornamental snails and an intense love for books. At a young age, when Grace is separated from her fire-breathing twin brother Gilbert (voiced by Kodi Smitt-McPhee), she falls into a spiral of anxiety and angst. Despite a continued series of hardships, inspiration and hope emerge when she strikes up an enduring friendship with an elderly eccentric woman named Pinky (Jacki Weaver), who is full of grit and lust for life. The film also stars the voice talents of Eric Bana, Magda Szubanski, Tony Armstrong and Nick Cave. It had its World Premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in mid-June this year where it won the Cristal Award for a Feature Film.
'THE HOPEFUL' (Rated PG) - this US and Australian Co-Produced drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Kyle Portbury in only his second full length film offering following his documentary 'The Mountain Within' in 2009. Here, following the War of 1812, William Miller (Bill Lake) sets off on a quest for meaning that unravels a profound truth with the power to transform everything. His revelation sparks a fire in Ellen Harmon (Tommie-Amber Pirie), who braves fierce resistance to champion the cause. And through her witness the message begins to take hold. Her preaching grows beyond prophecy and develops into a more holistic vision for how Christians should live and worship. We see blossoming the seeds of a new global movement of faith - the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
'TOM PETTY : HEARTBREAKERS BEACH PARTY' (Rated M) - is a1983 Tom Petty documentary once believed to be lost, and Directed by Academy Award winner Cameron Crowe in his Directorial debut. The documentary was filmed in 1982 and 1983 as Petty’s band recorded, promoted, and toured their fifth studio album, 'Long After Dark'. Heartbreakers Beach Party had been unavailable for years until a 16mm print was found earlier this year and restored to include nineteen minutes of archival footage and commentary from Crowe himself. In addition to Crowe and Petty, members of the Heartbreakers—Mike Campbell, Howie Epstein, Stan Lynch, and Benmont Tench—and Stevie Nicks all appear in the doco. The film is getting a very limited release - showing for two nights only on 17th and 20th October in selected cinema's.
Friday 11 October 2024
JOKER : FOLIE A DEUX - Tuesday 8th October 2024
Set sometime in the early '80's and two years after the events of the first film, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), is now a patient at Arkham State Hospital in Gotham City, and is awaiting trial for the five murders he committed back then. His lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), has in mind to argue in his defence that Arthur has dissociative identity disorder and that his 'Joker' personality was responsible for the crimes. Meanwhile, head security guard at the hospital Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson) often shares a joke with Arthur and one day takes him over to the other side of the hospital where less dangerous patients are housed, to join a music therapy session, for his recent good behaviour. While there, his attention is drawn to Harleen 'Lee' Quinzel (Lady Gaga), who is part of the group of singers. The pair strike up a private conversation while Jackie's attention is elsewhere, and Lee tells Arthur that she grew up in the same neighbourhood as he did, had an abusive father who died in a car crash, and was committed by her mother to the hospital after burning down her parents' apartment building. Lee also expresses her admiration for the Joker's crimes and personality, and saying that she watched a TV movie about Arthur/Joker twenty times and that is was great.
Wednesday 9 October 2024
What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 10th October 2024.
Turning the attention then back on this weeks six new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we launch with a crime comedy caper set on a sleepy East Coast island community which is corrupted by a handful of eccentric characters when a bag of cash is found at a murder scene. This is followed by a biographical drama about a former President of the USA in his much younger days back in the 1970's when he seeks independence from his father's influence, and so with a notorious lawyers support, he enters Manhattan real estate and becomes a leader. Next up is a drama offering about a construction worker who joins a local theatre's production of 'Romeo and Juliet', only for the drama onstage to start mirroring his own life. Then we turn to an American Superhero horror film in which Hellboy and a rookie agent in the 1950's are sent to the Appalachian Mountains, where they discover a remote community dominated by witches and led by a sinister local demon. Then we have the third instalment in a slasher horror franchise that sees Art the Clown unleash chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve; before closing out the week with an intensely moving documentary of Actor, father, and activist Christopher Reeve, before and after his accident that left him paralysed, as recounted by family and friends.
Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six 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 week ahead.
'GREEDY PEOPLE' (Rated MA15+) - this American crime comedy film is Co-Produced and Directed by Potsy Ponciroli whose previous feature film credits take in his 2012 debut with 'Super Zeroes' which he would follow up with 'Old Henry' in 2021. This film was released in the USA in late August and this week in Australia having generated mixed or average reviews along the way.Here then the eclectic residents of a small, picturesque island town must navigate a sensational murder and the discovery of a million dollars, leading to a series of increasingly bad decisions which upend the once-peaceful community. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Himesh Patel, Lily James, Tim Blake Nelson, Traci Lords, Jim Gaffigan and Simon Rex.
'THE APPRENTICE' (Rated MA15+) - is a biographical drama film Directed by Ali Abbasi whose prior feature film making credits are his debut with 'Shelley' in 2016, then 'Border' in 2018 and 'Holy Spider' in 2022. Here, set during the early years of Donald Trump's business career as a real estate businessman, the film focuses on the relationship of Trump (Sebastian Stan) and Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), a New York City prosecutor known for working with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Second Red Scare. Also starring Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump and Martin Donovan as Fred Trump. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival in late May this year, is released in the US and here in Australia this week, cost US$16M to produce and has generated mixed or average reviews.
'GHOSTLIGHT' (Rated M) - this American drama film is Directed by Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson and is Written by O'Sullivan and Co-Produced by Thompson. When melancholic construction worker Dan Mueller (Keith Kupferer) finds himself drifting from his wife Sharon (Tara Mallen) and teenage daughter Daisy (Katherine May Kupferer), he discovers community and purpose in a local theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet. As the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss.
'HELLBOY : THE CROOKED MAN' (Rated MA15+) - is an American Superhero horror film Co-Written and Directed by Brian Taylor and based on the Dark Horse Comics character Hellboy created by Mike Mignola. This is the second reboot of the Hellboy film series and is the fourth live-action entry in the franchise after 'Hellboy' in 2004 and 'Hellboy II : The Golden Army' both Directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Ron Perlman as Hellboy, and then 'Hellboy' in 2019 this time Directed by Neil Marshall with David Harbour as Hellboy. In this reboot, set in the 1950's, Hellboy (Jack Kesy) and a rookie BPRD (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defence) agent Bobbie Jo Song (Adeline Rudolph) are stranded in rural Appalachia, and discover a small community haunted by witches, led by a local devil with a troubling connection to Hellboy's past - The Crooked Man (Martin Bassindale). The film saw a limited theatrical release in international markets, beginning in Belgium in late June and the UK in late September with its US release through direct-to-VOD from this week. It has so far grossed US$1.3M from a production budget of US$20M.
'TERRIFIER 3' (Rated R18+) - this American Christmas slasher horror film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Damien Leone and is the sequel to 2022's 'Terrifier 2' and the third instalment in the 'Terrifier' series, all of which have been Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Leone. The first two films in the franchise grossed US$19.4M off the back of combined production budgets of just US$285K. Five years after surviving Art the Clown's (David Howard Thornton) Halloween massacre, Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) and her younger brother Jonathan (Elliot Fullam) are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind. But just when they think they're safe, Art the Clown returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare. The festive season quickly unravels as Art unleashes his twisted brand of terror, proving that no holiday is safe. The film Premiered at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas in mid-September, and is released Stateside and here in Australia this week, having cost US$2M to produce and has received generally positive critical reviews.
'SUPER/MAN : THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY' (Rated M) - is a documentary film about the life of American Actor Christopher Reeve following his horse riding accident in late May 1995 at an equestrian competition which left him paralysed from the neck down, and his subsequent work as an activist for disability rights. The film was Directed by Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui, who also co-wrote the script, with Bonhote also taking a Co-Producer credit. Its title is a reference to Reeve's role as Superman in the four 'Superman' films spanning from 1978 through to 1987. The film saw its Premiere in mid-January this year at the Sundance Film Festival, and received a limited theatrical release in the US in late September and is scheduled for a wide release in the US and Australia from this week, and has garnered universal critical acclaim. Christopher Reeve died on 10th October 2004 at the age of 52.