LOCKED : Tuesday 25th March 2025

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'LOCKED' this week, and this American action thriller film is Directed by David Yarovesky who made his feature film making debut with 2014's 'The Hive', and which he would follow up with 'Brightburn' in 2019 and 'Nightbooks' in 2021. This film is an English language remake of the 2019 Argentinian action thriller film '4'x4', has generated mixed or average reviews and has so far grossed US$1.1M since its release in the US and here in Australia last week. 

The film opens up with down on his luck small time criminal in an auto repair shop attempting to get his van back on the road, but with US$450 still owing on the repair job the owner of the shop tells him to get lost and come back when he has the funds to cover the cost of repairs. The guy sees a wallet on a nearby trolley and spies an opportunity, so he creates a scene involving a heavy set mechanic who man handles him forcing him back against the trolley, and with that the wallet is lifted. He promptly leaves saying he'll be back on Friday. Walking down the street his partner calls screaming down the phone saying why he didn't pick up their young daughter from school as planned. He apologises but his lame excuse falls on deaf ears. He removes a bunch of notes from the wallet, and then ditches it. He buys something to eat and three scratch cards. He then calls several 'associates' and asks them all to loan him some money, but they all hang up on him and soon as he says his name, Eddie. 

And so Eddie (Bill Skarsgard) walks along the street surreptitiously pulling at car door handles in the hope that one of them will open. He comes across a public parking lot, in the middle of which is parked a very sleek looking black SUV, with the name DOLUS emblazoned in big lettering on the rear tail gate. He pulls at the drivers side door handle and it opens, much to his amazement. He climbs in, and quickly sets about exploring the interior for anything of value that he can steal. When all he finds is a pair of sunglasses he decides to exit, but the doors are all locked. He tries frantically pulling at every door handle but to no avail. He finds a tyre wrench in the rear and first tries to pull away the trim to the drivers side door but badly cuts his arm when reaching for the lock mechanism. 

He then tries to smash the glass but its seems the glass is smash proof. He tries kicking out the window with both feet, but that's no good either. He then pulls out a revolver and shoots off one round at the window, and the bullet ricochets off the glass and straight into his lower leg. He writhes around in agony as blood pours onto the carpet. Then the phone rings with a message on the display saying 'Answer Me'. Eddie ignores it, until the caller rings off. It rings again, and again Eddie ignores it, and again, and again. Eventually Eddie answers the call. It is Friday evening. 

The caller states his name as William, the owner of the vehicle that Eddie is now trapped inside, a retired Doctor who was born in a small town in South Wales, who made his money by working hard for decades, and who now has terminal prostate cancer and has about four months to live. Eddie pleads with him to let him go, but William is not the sort of man to be bargained with, does not suffer fools lightly, and wants to teach Eddie a lesson and the consequences of his actions. 

William explains that the car has been modified to his own specifications, including bullet proof glass, one way windows so nobody can see into the car, mobile phone jamming technology, four internal cameras, soundproofing, and everything about the car can be controlled remotely. After a while Eddie falls asleep. He wakes up the next morning and his arm and leg are bandaged up. 

And so Saturday comes and goes, as does Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. During this time William and Eddie converse frequently, with Eddie pleading to be released, then cussing and cursing, then turning on the Mr. Nice Guy routine all to no avail. Every time Eddie cusses, so William sends an electric shock through the front or rear seats to teach him a further lesson. William at one point turns the air conditioning down so low for a prolonged period of time that Eddie turns blue, and on another occasion turns the aircon up so high that Eddie strips down to his jocks. William also plays Swiss yodelling music at such a high volume for hours on end, almost sending Eddie over the edge. All the while Eddie has long since exhausted his supply of water, and has taken to pissing in his water bottle and in a moment of desperation drinks his own urine to stay hydrated. He also has no food. 

And so on Tuesday night with the rain pouring down, Eddie out of frustration once again, gets into the drivers seat and stabs away at the electronic ignition repeatedly with his finger. The engine fires up, and he's elated. But his high hopes of escape are very short lived as the steering wheel is being handled remotely and a message comes up on the screen that driverless mode selected. And so the car makes its way out of the car park and across the city streets, sometimes abiding by the rules of the road and at other times driving recklessly, at speed, and weaving in and out of other cars. The vehicle passes an alleyway in which two thugs and violently beating up someone who is slumped on the ground. The car comes to a halt metres away from the pair who at first continue pummelling their victim. One of the thugs looks up and into the glare of the headlights and pulls a gun pointing it at the car. The car then lurches forward and mows down the thug and then reverses back over him. The second thug makes a bolt for it on foot and eventually comes to a chained gate, as the car comes to a halt just a few meters away. Eddie pleads with William to stop, but William is relentless and eventually crushes the thug to death against the heavily padlocked wire gate.

The car then drives to a multi-storey carpark and up to the roof top and parks beside another black vehicle. A shadowy figure gets out of the other vehicle and approaches the SUV winding down the drivers side window just one-third of the way down. He introduces himself as William (Anthony Hopkins), and gives Eddie a bottle of water to drink which he downs in one gulp. He then hands Eddie a cable tie and tells him to secure himself to the bar located under the seat. Eddie complies with this request and secures both his hands to the bar, so that he is bent down awkwardly with his head at the same level as the fascia panel above the glove box. 

William gets into the drivers seat and drives off, telling Eddie to prepare himself for a long journey. On the journey Eddie goads William asking him what his plans are for him, and how he's going to dispose of his body; and also asking him what happened to his family. William says that his daughter Amy was killed by an unknown assailant who shot Amy in the neck and she died in his arms, and the Police never actively pursued the case, which is in part the reason why he lost all faith in law enforcement. After a while of conversational toing and froing, Eddie is able to manipulate a vehicle kill switch located under the glove box with his foot (having taken a photo of the fuse box days earlier with his mobile phone). This cuts all power to the vehicle. In the ensuing fracas William fires off a round at Eddie, but as the SUV hits a rock on a tight corner in the road, the shot goes astray and the bullet hits the front windscreen, ricochets off to the passenger side window, then the rear window before ricocheting back in the direction of William's front seat, through that and into William's upper back. The car tumbles end over end down a deep ravine and comes to rest right side up at the bottom. William is barely conscious, and Eddie's face is battered, bruised and bloodied having come into contact with the fascia panel on numerous occasions. He is able to cut himself free from the cable ties, just as the engine catches fire. He scrambles to the back and smashes away at the rear window with the tyre wrench eventually breaking the glass allowing him to escape as the flames engulf the car completely. 

It is now Wednesday morning and the sun is rising. His phone rings and its his daughter Sarah, asking him if he'll collect her from school today at 2:15pm. Hardly able to speak and dog tired Eddie says yes of course, he'll be there. He scrambles back up to the road and waits for a passing vehicle, which arrives shortly after, and offers him a lift and a thick heavy jacket to keep him warm. Earlier Eddie had removed a partially scratched scratch card from his pocket revealing two $500 numbers. He scrapes away at the other two numbers to reveal a third $500 number. He has won $500 enough to clear his debt to the garage and get his van back in time for him to collect Sarah as planned at 2:15pm. At the auto shop at 2:05pm the shop owner says that he can collect his van but its parked in out back and will take about half an hour. Eddie can't wait that long. Meanwhile 2:15pm comes and Sarah (Ashley Cartwright) is waiting patiently outside the school gates for her Dad. Eddie comes bounding down the street on a kids bike that he saw in the auto repair shop, jumps off and the pair embrace. 

With 'Locked', Director David Yarovesky has delivered us a movie shot largely in a single location that serves to up the ante on the claustrophobia and the tension evident in the actions and reactions of the man trapped inside the limited confines of a souped up SUV. In this respect the film works well, and Bill Skarsgard delivers a solid enough performance to make his role convincing, ably supported by the always dependable Anthony Hopkins as the ageing and dying sociopath determined to serve up a slice of retribution as only he knows how. The mid-section meanders along a bit and gets a little repetitive at times, but at a fairly brisk 93 minute run time, this film will hold your interest and is worth the price of your ticket to see these two actors go head to head in an emotional and at times violent thrill ride. 

'Locked' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 27th March 2025

The 23rd Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) kicks off on Thursday 27th March and runs through until Sunday 30th March, and is New Jersey’s Premier Independent Film Festival that enriches the State with robust year-round programming. Founded in 2002, the artistic philosophy of the Garden State Film Festival is rooted in the celebration of the independent film genre and the creation of a forum where local and other independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. It was also created to pay tribute to New Jersey’s legacy as the birthplace of the American filmmaking industry in Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratories where he invented the first film cameras and projectors, to Fort Lee, where the original studios were founded. The event provides novice and aspiring filmmakers, actors, and others interested in careers in the film business, the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals in an atmosphere conducive to learning and mentoring - so reads the official website.

The feature films being showcased at this years festival are as follows :-

* 'The Ballad of a Hustler' - is a Latino human rights drama Directed by Heitor Dhalia. From the USA.

* 'Bardejov' - this drama based on a true story is Directed by Danny A. Abeckaser. From the USA.

* 'Beggarman' - this drama film is Directed by Danny Montero . From the USA.

* 'The Compatriots' - is a comedy drama film Directed by Spencer Cohen. From the USA.

* 'Counting In' - is a mockumentary comedy Film Directed by Griffin M. Davis. From the USA.

* 'First Rites' - this action drama film is Directed by Michael Fredianelli. From the USA.

* 'Here's Yianni!' - is a drama film Directed by Christina Eliopoulos and stars Eric Roberts, Rosanna Arquette, Julia Ormand and Kevin Pollack. From the USA.

* 'If That Mockingbird Don't Sing' - this comedy drama film is Directed by Sadie Bones. From the USA.

* 'Lady Parts' - is a comedy drama film Directed by Nancy Boyd. From the USA.

* 'Love, Danielle' - this comedy drama film is Directed by Marianna Palka and stars Lesley Ann Warren. From the USA.

* 'Scarlet Winter' - is an action drama film Directed by Munjal Yagnik. From the USA.

* 'The Short Game' - is a family sports drama film Directed by Frank Sanza. From the USA.

* 'The Creep From the Bar Last Night' - this drama film is Directed by Michael Coppola. From the USA.

For the full synopsis of the above named films, plus all the details of the documentary features, the short films and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://www.gsff.org/

This week we have six new movie release offerings to tease you out to your local Odeon, kicking off with an action thriller that sees a man who left his profession behind to work construction and be a good dad to his daughter, but when a local girl vanishes, he's asked to return to the skills that made him a mythic figure in the shadowy world of counter-terrorism. This is followed up by a psychological horror film about a mysterious woman who repeatedly appears in a family's front yard, often delivering chilling warnings and unsettling messages, leaving them to question her identity, motives and the potential danger she might pose. Next up is a Sci-Fi set on a struggling cattle farm some years in the future, where a woman discovers the unsettling consequences of her husband's animal breeding technology. Then we turn to a drama film about a man, one of sixty thousand draft evaders and deserters who fled to Canada to avoid serving in Vietnam, who shares all his secrets to de-mythologise his mythologised life. Following on is a Japanese documentary about an ample cat colony that inhabits a Shinto shrine - residents care for them and others are disturbed by the mess - here the filmmaker observes their coexistence. And closing out the week we have an Aussie doco about the legend, the mateship, the magic—made against all odds, this film unveils the untold story behind Australia’s most successful film. 

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.

'A WORKING MAN' (Rated MA15+) - is an American action thriller that is Co-Written for the screen and Co-Produced by Sylvester Stallone and David Ayer and Directed by David Ayer, whose prior film making credits take in his Directorial debut in 2005 with 'Harsh Times', and which he would follow up with other titles including 'Street Kings' in 2008, 'End of Watch' in 2012, 'Fury' in 2014, 'Suicide Squad' in 2016, 'Bright' in 2017 and 'The Beekeeper' in 2024. This film is based on Chuck Dixon's 2014 novel 'Levon's Trade'. The film is released in the US this week too.

Here, Levon Cade (Jason Statham, who also Co-Produces here), an ex-Royal Marines Commando, leads a peaceful life as a construction worker in Chicago. However, Levon is forced to use his old set of skills to find the teenaged daughter Jenny Garcia (Arianna Rivas) of his boss Joe Garcia (Michael Pena), who has been kidnapped by human traffickers, and soon uncovers a conspiracy of corruption and government agents' involvement in human trafficking. Also starring David Harbour and Jason Flemyng.

'THE WOMAN IN THE YARD' (Rated CTC) - this American psychological horror film is Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, whose prior feature film credits take in his debut with 'House of Wax' in 2005, followed by others including 'Orphan' in 2009, 'Unknown' in 2011, 'Non-Stop' in 2014, 'Run All Night' in 2015, 'The Commuter' in 2018 (these last four films all starred Liam Neeson), 'Jungle Cruise' in 2021, 'Black Adam' in 2022 and 'Carry On' most recently in 2024. Here then, Ramona (Danielle Deadwyler) is a woman crippled by grief after she survives a car accident that takes her husband (Russell Hornsby). Seriously injured, Ramona now must care for their 14-year-old son (Peyton Jackson) and 6-year-old-daughter (Estella Kahiha), alone in her rural farmhouse. A lone, spectral woman (Okwui Okpokwasili) shrouded entirely in black appears on their front lawn without explanation and warns them 'today's the day'. The film is released Stateside this week too.

'IN VITRO' (Rated M) - is an Australian Sci-Fi film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Will Howarth (who also Co-Produces and Co-stars here) and Tom Mckeith. Set in the near future, Layla (Talia Zucker) and her husband Jack (Ashley Zukerman) live on an remote cattle property hundreds of miles from the nearest neighbour. With their son away at boarding school, Jack spends his days tending to the livestock and experimenting with new biotechnology, Layla pines for her son and the life she once had. One night, everything changes when a storm knocks out power to the property and they soon discover that something unknown has been released onto the farm. But as Layla discovers more about the mysterious presence and Jack’s behaviour becomes increasingly controlling, Layla finally uncovers a secret that brings her face to face with the reality of her relationship with Jack and their life on the farm. The film premiered at last years Sydney Film Festival in June, and only now is it released here in Australia. 

'OH, CANADA' (Rated M) - this American drama film is Written and Directed by Paul Schrader, and is based on the 2021 novel 'Foregone' by Russell Banks. Schrader made his Directorial debut with 'Blue Collar' in 1978 and over the years he would follow this up with the likes of 'American Gigolo' in 1980, 'Cat People' in 1982, 'Affliction' in 1997, 'Dying of the Light' in 2014, 'Dog Eat Dog' in 2016, 'First Reformed' in 2017, 'The Card Counter' in 2021, and 'Master Gardener' in 2022. Here, filmmaker Leonard 'Leo' Fife (played by Richard Gere in the present and Jacob Elordi in flashbacks) is dying of cancer. He is a hero to Canadian progressives, who revere his award-winning muckraking documentaries and are fascinated by his life story. According to legend, Leo fled America for Montreal to dodge the Vietnam War draft, and went on a Kerouac-style road trip to Castro's communist Cuba. In his last days, he agrees to sit for a CBC documentary filmed by his former students Malcolm (Michael Imperioli) and Diana (Victoria Hill). Malcolm promises that he is making an admiring retrospective of Leo’s career. Also starring Uma Thurman. The film saw its World Premiere at last years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May, was released in the US in early December, has so far grossed US$1.2M and has garnered generally favourable critical reviews.

'THE CATS OF GOKOGU SHRINE' (Rated G) - is a Japanese documentary film Co-Produced, Directed, photographed, and Edited by Kazuhiro Soda. Gokogu is a small, ancient Shinto shrine in Ushimado, Japan. Home to dozens of street cats, it is also known as Cat Shrine. Many people visit the shrine for various reasons - some to worship gods, others to enjoy gardening. Some people come to clean the shrine as volunteers while others just stop by on their way to fish Japanese sardinella, and, it is the perfect place for kids to play after school. It is a heaven for cat-loving residents and visitors too. Some people visit Gokogu to feed the freely roaming stray cats. Others just come to see these cats or to take pictures of them. But some residents complain about the waste the cats leave around the neighbourhood. Gokogu looks peaceful on the surface, but it is also the epicentre of a sensitive issue that divides the local community. 

'LOVE OF AN ICON : THE LEGEND OF CROCODILE DUNDEE' (Rated PG) - this Australian documentary film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Co-Directed by Victoria Baldock and Delvene Delaney. Crocodile Dundee burst onto global cinema screens, and into the hearts of millions, nearly forty years ago in 1986, and remains Australia’s most successful film ever. What were the magic ingredients that contributed to this cultural icon? And why does it still mean so much to so many? This origin story behind the box office record breaking classic, features Paul Hogan (who starred as Michael J. 'Crocodile' Dundee in all three films in the franchise), Delvene Delaney, the late John Cornell (Co-Creator), Linda Kozlowski, Peter Fairman (Director), Russell Boyd (Cinematographer), David Gulpilil and the late John Meillon among many others.

With six 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, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

BLACK BAG : Tuesday 18th March 2025

I saw the M Rated 'BLACK BAG' this week, and this American spy thriller film is Directed, photographed and Edited by Steven Soderbergh, whose prior feature film making credits take in his debut in 1989 with 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' which he would follow up with numerous others, including 'Out of Sight' in 1998, 'Erin Brockovich' and 'Traffic' both in 2000, 'Ocean's Eleven', 'Ocean's Twelve' and 'Ocean's Thirteen' in 2001, 2004 and 2007 respectively, 'Contagion' in 2011, 'Magic Mike' in 2012, 'Side Effects' in 2013, 'Logan Lucky' in 2017, 'Unsane' in 2018, and 'Presence' most recently released earlier this year. This film was released in the US last week too, has generated universal critical acclaim, and has so far grossed US$15M from a production budget of about US$55M.

Here British intelligence officer George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) is given one week by his superior, Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgard), to investigate the leak of a top-secret software programme code-named Severus. One of five suspects is his wife, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), also an intelligence officer. He invites the other four suspects, who are also fellow spies, over for dinner on Saturday evening. The four suspects are satellite imagery specialist Clarissa Dubose (Marisa Abela), her boyfriend Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke), agency psychiatrist Dr. Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris) and Zoe's boyfriend Col. James Stokes (Rege-Jean Page). At dinner, George drugs their food, but beforehand tells Kathryn not to eat a certain dish, to lower their inhibitions and reveals that Freddie has been cheating on Clarissa, who upon hearing this revelation promptly impales Freddie's hand with a steak knife to the table.  

The next evening while Meacham enjoys a peaceful Scotch on the balcony of his apartment, he suddenly grabs at his chest and keels over, dead from an apparent heart attack. George becomes suspicious of Kathryn after she denies having seen a certain film, although he found a cinema ticket stub in her bathroom garbage bin. The next day he covertly enters her office, logs into her computer diary and learns she will be traveling to Zurich later in the week, on a 'black bag' mission. He persuades Clarissa to redirect a spy satellite for three minutes and twenty seconds and watches Kathryn meet with a Russian operative in real time in a city square in Zurich, Switzerland. 

Meanwhile, James informs George that Kathryn has access to a Zurich bank account containing GB£7M in misdirected and unexplained funds. In a tense psychiatric session, Zoe asks if Kathryn prioritises her career or her husband. In a subsequent session, Zoe breaks up with James. Upon returning from Zurich late at night, Freddie waits for Kathryn outside their house and informs her that George suspects her. Kathryn says that she needs the night to consider her options and next steps. 

We learn that during the three+ minutes George redirected the satellite to watch Kathryn's meeting in Zurich, another Russian operative disappeared from a Liechtenstein safehouse with a copy of the Severus programme, and is now making his way to Eastern Europe to use it to cause a nuclear meltdown. Kathryn uses Clarissa to track the Russian. She suspects that their boss, Arthur Stieglitz (Pierce Brosnan), deliberately allowed Severus to leak in order to cause a nuclear meltdown in order to disrupt the government, even though it could potentially kill thousands of innocent lives.

She leaks the Russian's location to a CIA contact, resulting in a drone strike on a car in Poland, killing both Russians. George puts all suspects except his wife Kathryn through a polygraph test to determine when they first learned about Severus. In bed that night, the husband and wife compare notes and come to the realisation that they are being set up.

George and Kathryn invite the other four suspects to a second dinner party, at which no food or drink is served, but instead Kathryn places a gun on the table, while George says they will play a game. He reveals several secrets - that Freddie and Zoe had an affair, and that Zoe learned of the Severus programme from James but attempted to stop its dissemination due to her Catholic faith. George states that there were two plots - the first by Stieglitz and James to leak Severus and cause a nuclear meltdown, and the second by Zoe and Freddie to use Kathryn to stop it. James grabs the gun, confesses to plotting with Stieglitz and killing Meacham, and attempts to shoot George, but the gun was loaded with blanks. Kathryn pulls out another gun and shoots and kills James with a bullet to the head. The next day George dumps James' body in a pond, where he goes to fish in peace and quiet, while the others return to work. Kathryn informs Stieglitz that his plot failed and suggests he remove himself from the picture, as she has her eyes on his role. Later that night as Kathryn and George reaffirm their love for each other, they realise that the Zurich bank account containing the GB£7M remains untouched and could potentially still be theirs.

With 'Black Bag' Director Steven Soderbergh has crafted an intelligent, mature and engaging spy thriller that pays tribute to the spy classics of yesteryear. This film has both style and substance, and Writer David Koepp will keep you guessing right up until end, and with on point performances from Blanchett and Fasbender, as well as the other principle cast, this all adds up to a very well paced film that doesn't outstay its welcome at a brisk and concise 93 minute run time. 

'Black Bag' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 20th March 2025

Founded in 1997, the 28th Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) this year runs from Wednesday 19th March through until Sunday 23rd March. SIFF is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the best in independent film and filmmakers from around the world, inspiring savvy film lovers, and introducing the power of film to student filmmakers. SIFF takes place every March in the United States’ renowned Wine Country, just 45 minutes north of San Francisco. It is noted for its participation of film and media industry jurists and panelists and continues to grow its reputation in finding and cultivating new talent from around the world, creating a significant platform for networking and distribution opportunities. SIFF programmes full-length features and documentaries, as well as short films in the Live Action, Documentary and Animated categories. SIFF also showcases Culinary, Food and Wine films across all categories and presents comedies from around the world in addition to dramas and other genres. The five-day festival supports filmmakers with generous cash award prizes and an accommodation programme providing the opportunity to interact with industry professionals, community members, and our astute film audience in one of the most intimate, engaging and inspiring settings on the festival circuit - so reads the official website.

The Sonoma International Film Festival’s three tentpole films—its Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing selections, all promise an unforgettable cinematic journey filled with heart, adventure, and cultural resonance. Kicking off the festival is the Opening Night Film 'Sweet Story', a charming real-life fairy tale about a patisserie owner’s quest to save a cafe on a remote Swedish island. Directed by Sarah Justine Kerruish and Matt Maude from the UK - World Premiere. The festival’s Centerpiece, 'On Swift Horses', delves into the complexities of love and self-discovery in a sweeping 1950's period drama, and is Directed by Daniel Minahan and is from the USA, and finally, the Closing Night Film, 'The Wedding Banquet', offers a vibrant, contemporary reimagining of Ang Lee’s beloved classic, paired with a tribute to the legendary Joan Chen. Directed by Andrew Ahn and from the USA.

SIFF's Narrative Feature Competition highlights outstanding films from emerging talent worldwide—works that captivate audiences with compelling characters, unique perspectives, and masterful storytelling. This competitive category is dedicated to narrative feature films that do not yet have US distribution, offering filmmakers a prestigious platform to premiere their work, connect with industry professionals, and gain exposure in a vibrant festival setting. Those films in this competitive strand are as follows :-

* 'Cafe Chairel' - from Mexico and Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Fernando Barreda Luna. World Premiere. A lonely cafe owner and a wandering young woman forge a soulful connection over coffee.

* 'DJ Ahmet' - from North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Croatia and Serbia and Written and Directed by Georgi M. Unkovski. A North Macedonian shepherding boy´s love of techno music sets him on a path of small-town love and rebellion.

* 'Long Good Thursday' - from Finland, and Directed by Mika Kaurismaki. In a serene Finnish Summer, an ageing farmer unexpectedly finds joy and love with a free-spirited artist.

* 'Gloria!' - from Italy, and Co-Written and Directed by Margherita Vicario. A mute maid’s discovery of a pianoforte shakes up a crumbling 18th-century girls’ music school for orphans.

* 'Mexico 86' - from France and Belgium and Written and Directed by Cesar Diaz. Maria, a Guatemalan activist in exile, is torn between her noble cause and maternal love for her son, Marco. As political pressure mounts to complete her mission, Maria must protect her child while confronting past choices and dangerous secrets.

* 'The Party's Over' - from Spain and Written and Directed by Elena Manrique. A Spanish divorcee’s life is upended when she shelters a Senegalese immigrant in her shed.

* 'My Favourite Cake' - from Iran, France, Sweden and Germany and Written and Directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha. A 70-year-old Iranian widow’s taxi ride takes an unexpected turn toward romance and rebellion.

* 'Waves' - from the Czech Republic and Written and Directed by Jiri Madl. Journalists in 1960's Czechoslovakia navigate the tightrope between truth and propaganda.

To view the other film strands being showcased under the headings of 'Culinary Films & Events', 'Late Night Films', 'Documentary Feature Competition', 'Short Film Competition', 'Special Presentations' and the 'Shorts Programs', plus a whole bunch of other good content, you can go to the official website at : https://sonomafilmfest.org/festival/

This week there are seven new cinematic experiences to choose from coming to a big screen Odeon near you, and we launch with an American biographical crime drama offering that tells the story of a pair of Italian Americans who were rivals for control of a major crime family in the mid-20th century. Then we turn to an ancient Greek story of how after twenty years Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca, where he finds his wife held prisoner by suitors vying to be king and his son facing death at their hands. Next up is a psychological horror film of how a judge recovering from a stroke at an assisted living facility, encounters a psychopathic patient who uses a hand puppet to abuse fellow residents. This is followed by an American action thriller that follows a thief who breaks into a luxury SUV, only to realise to his peril, that he has slipped into a sophisticated and deadly trap. Coming next is a live action remake of a Disney classic that sees a princess join forces with seven dwarfs to liberate her kingdom from her cruel stepmother the Evil Queen. Following on we have a story of young woman who unexpectedly befriends an online stranger, sharing her self-centered father's name, and this namesake's support might just transform her life; before closing out the week with a critically acclaimed and multi-award winning animated feature film about a courageous cat and its wondrous journey after its home is devastated by a great flood.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the seven 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.

'THE ALTO KNIGHTS' (Rated MA15+) - is an American biographical crime drama film Co-Produced and Directed by Barry Levinson, whose previous feature film offerings include his debut with 'Diner' in 1982 and then the likes of 'The Natural' in 1984, 'Good Morning, Vietnam' in 1987, 'Rain Man' in 1988, 'Bugsy' in 1991, 'Disclosure' in 1994, 'Sleepers' in 1996, 'Wag the Dog' in 1997, 'Sphere' in 1998, 'Bandits' in 2001, 'What Just Happened' in 2008 and 'Rock the Kasbah' in 2015. The film is released Stateside and here in Australia this week, and cost US$45M to produce.

In the 1950's, notorious New York crime bosses Frank Costello (Robert De Niro) and Vito Genovese (Robert De Niro) vie for control of the city streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that reshapes organised crime forever. Genovese orders a hit on Costello in 1957, who survives the attempt on his life but is wounded, and ultimately decides to retire from the Mafia. Also starring Debra Messing, Katherine Narducci, Cosmo Jarvis and Michael Rispoli. 

'THE RETURN' (Rated M) - this Greek, Italian and UK Co-Production is Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Uberto Pasolini, and is based on Homer's ancient Greek poem 'The Odyssey'. Pasolini's prior feature film making credits take in his directorial debut in 2008 with 'Machan' and then 'Still Life' in 2013 and 'Nowhere Special' in 2020. After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognisable. The king finds much has changed since he left to fight in the Trojan War. His beloved wife, Penelope (Juliette Binoche), is a prisoner in her own home and hounded to choose a new husband. Their son Telemachus (Charlie Plummer) faces death at the hands of suitors who see him as an obstacle in their pursuit of Penelope and the kingdom. Odysseus is no longer the mighty warrior his people remember, but he must face his past to save his family. The film saw its World Premiere at TIFF in early September last year, was released Stateside in early December, has so far grossed US$900K and has generated largely positive critical reviews.

'THE RULE OF JENNY PEN' (Rated MA15+) - is a New Zealand psychological horror film Co-Written for the screen, Executive Produced and Directed by James Ashcroft, and is based on Owen Marshall's short story of the same name. Ashcroft made his feature film Directorial debut with 'Coming Home in the Dark' in 2021, although he has Directed a number of short films and TV series since 2015. Here then, Arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush) suffers a near-fatal stroke, leaving him partially paralysed and confined to a retirement home. Resistant to the staff and distant from his friendly roommate, Mortensen soon clashes with seemingly gentle resident Dave Crealy (John Lithgow) who secretly terrorises the home with a sadistic game called 'The Rule of Jenny Pen' while wielding his dementia doll as an instrument of cruelty. What begins as childish torment quickly escalates into far more sinister and disturbing incidents. When Mortensen's pleas to the staff go unanswered, he takes it upon himself to put an end to Crealy's reign of terror. The film was released in New Zealand and the US in early March, in the UK and Ireland in mid-March and here in Australia this week, has garnered generally favourable critical reviews and has so far grossed US$391K. 

'LOCKED' (Rated MA15+) - this American action thriller film is Directed by David Yarovesky who made his feature film making debut with 2014's 'The Hive', and which he would follow up with 'Brightburn' in 2019 and 'Nightbooks' in 2021. This film is an English language remake of the 2019 Argentinian action thriller film '4'x4', and so here, a young, flippant carjacker Eddie Barrish (Bill Skarsgard) is trapped in a heavily modified car by a mysterious sociopath known only as William (Anthony Hopkins), who intends to teach him the 'consequences' of his lifestyle. With no means of escape, Eddie must fight to survive in a ride where escape is an illusion, survival is a nightmare, and justice shifts into high gear. The film is released this week too in the US. 

'SNOW WHITE' (Rated PG) - is an American musical fantasy film Directed by Marc Webb, whose prior feature film making credits take in his Directorial debut in 2009 with '500 Days of Summer', which he would follow up with 'The Amazing Spider-Man' in 2012 and 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' in 2014, 'Gifted' in 2017 and 'The Only Living Boy in New York' in 2017. This film is a live-action reworking of Walt Disney Productions's 1937 animated film 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', which itself is based on the 1812 fairy tale 'Snow White' by the Brothers Grimm. Here then, a Princess, known as Snow White (Rachel Zegler) determined to free her kingdom from tyranny, joins forces with seven dwarfs - Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy and Dopey, to liberate her kingdom from her cruel stepmother, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot). Also starring Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, Snow White's love interest. The film saw its European Premiere in Spain on 12th March, and goes on wide release as of this week. It cost in the region of US$255M to produce. 

'BOB TREVINO LIKES IT' (Rated M) - this American comedy drama offering is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Tracie Laymon in only her second feature film outing following 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' in 2011, although she has Written, Produced and Directed many other short films and TV series episodes since. Here, a young woman named Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira) uses Facebook to pursue her estranged father, Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo). In the process, she encounters a different, childless man of the same name, Robert Trevino (French Stewart) who begins liking her posts, causing the two to correspond. Upon meeting up in real life, Bob becomes a father figure in Lily's life. The film had its World Premiere in early March 2024 at SXSW where it won the festival's Grand Jury Award and Audience Award in the Narrative Feature categories. It is released in the US this week too and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'FLOW' (Rated G) - is an animated adventure film Written, Co-Produced, Directed, Photographed, Edited and Co-Scored by Gints Zilbalodis. It is a Latvian, French, and Belgian Co-Production, it features no dialogue and follows a cat trying to survive along with other animals in a seemingly post-apocalyptic world as the water level dramatically rises. The film took five-and-a-half years to complete, and saw its World Premiere showcasing at the end of May 2024 at the Cannes Film Festival and was released in its native Latvia at the end of August last year. It has received widespread critical acclaim and has collected fifty-four award wins (including the Best Animated Feature Film at this years Academy Awards) and another seventy nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. The film has so far grossed US$20M from a production budget of US$3.8M, was released in the US in early December and only now is it released here in Australia. 

With seven 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, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

MICKEY 17 : Tuesday 11th March 2025.

I saw the M Rated 'MICKEY 17' earlier this week and this Sci-Fi black comedy film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Bong Joon-ho, whose prior feature film credits take in his debut with 'Barking Dogs Never Bite' in 2000 and then the likes of 'The Host' in 2006, 'Mother' in 2009, 'Snowpiercer' in 2013 his English language debut, 'Okja' in 2017 and the critically lauded and multi-award winning 'Parasite' in  2019. This film is based on the 2022 novel 'Mickey7' by Edward Ashton, and saw its World Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in mid-February, before being theatrically released in South Korea on 28th February and later Stateside and here in Australia last week. It has garnered generally favourable critical reviews, and has so far grossed US$59M from a production budget of US$118M. 

It is 2054, and Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) and his best friend Timo (Steven Yeun) are financially well and truly broke after a failed business venture that saw them borrowing money to open up a chain of macaron stores. Unable to repay a murderous loan shark, the pair decide to flee Earth by signing up as crew for a spaceship that leaves our little blue planet to colonise the planet Niflheim, a journey that will take them four-and-a half years. Timo signs up as a shuttle pilot and Mickey as the spaceship's only 'Expendable'. Using Earth-banned technology to clone Mickey and restore his memories, Mickey is treated as disposable, given lethal assignments that mere mortals would never dare contemplate, and then reprinted after death - time after time after time. 

During the voyage, a romance develops between Mickey and security agent Nasha (Naomi Ackie). Some four years pass and the spaceship eventually arrives at snow bound and wintery Niflheim. Using Mickeys 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 the spaceship's scientists finally develop a vaccine against Niflheim's air borne pathogens. Mickey 17, the seventeenth version of Mickey, is given the task of capturing one of the planets giant woodlice-like alien creatures (termed 'creepers') for scientific analysis. In doing so, he falls into a deep fissure in the ice, beyond the reach of Timo, who leaves and reports Mickey 17's death. However, the creepers arrive en masse and collectively push Mickey 17 out of the fissure, for him to return almost unscathed to the spaceship.

Mickey 17 returns to the spaceship, cleans himself up and flops on to his bed only to be greeted by the very recently printed Mickey 18 (Robert Pattinson), who is much more confident and aggressive. As the expedition's leader, twice failed politician Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo), has vowed to kill any 'Multiples' (simultaneously living clones), Mickey 18 tries to kill Mickey 17, who resists and is then interrupted by Timo. Mickey 18 then tries to kill Timo, but is interrupted and leaves with Nasha, who believes she is leaving with Mickey 17. Mickey 17 in the meantime is brought to dinner with Marshall, his wife Ylfa (Toni Colette), and security guard Kai Katz (Anamaria Vartolomei). Mickey 17 suffers severe pain after being served experimental meat and being treated with experimental painkillers. Kai intervenes to stop Marshall from putting a bullet in his head. Kai later woos Mickey 17, who flees.

Nasha learns of the Mickeys and accepts them both. When Mickey 17 tells Mickey 18 what happened over dinner with the Marshall's, an enraged Mickey 18 decides to kill Marshall at a public ceremony commemorating a huge chunk of Niflheim rock. Chaos ensues when two baby creepers emerge from the rock that had just moments before been lasered in half. Mickey 17 arrives and captures creeper Zoco, but creeper Luko jumps onto Marshall and is shot to pieces by Kai and other security agents. Nasha stops Mickey 18 from killing Marshall, who discovers the Multiples. Mickey 17, Mickey 18 and Nasha are arrested, and locked up. Thousands of creepers arrive outside the ship, calling out to Zoco.

Locked up in their respective cells Mickey 17's description of the creepers helping him escape from the fissure makes Nasha realise they are not hostile. Timo tries to kill Mickey 17 to satisfy the loan shark who has seemingly caught up with him even on Niflheim, but Nasha and Mickey 18 overpower him. The Mickeys and Nasha are brought to Marshall, who wants to exterminate all the creepers. Marshall destroys Mickey's stored memories, while Nasha saves Zoco from being executed by Ylfa. Marshall's assistant Preston (Daniel Henshall) persuades Marshall to task the Mickeys to compete in collecting creeper tails, which Ylfa wants one hundred of for making edible sauce, with the winner being allowed to live. The Mickeys are forced to wear remote-detonated bomb vests to ensure they comply with the instructions.

When the Mickeys are sent out into the frozen snow-bound wasteland surrounding the ship, they peacefully seek out the creepers' leader, which prompts Marshall to go outside himself with a security team and Preston ready to film the unfolding events for a live broadcast, and with the intention of personally killing all the creepers. Using a translation device manufactured by sympathetic scientist Dorothy (Patsy Ferran), Mickey 17 communicates with the creepers' leader, informing on Marshall's plan. The creepers' leader threatens to kill all humans, unless Zoco is returned alive and one human is killed to compensate for Luko's death.

Mickey 17 tells Nasha via camera to free Zoco. Nasha takes Ylfa hostage to ensure Zoco's release. Nasha releases Ylfa, who tries to kill Zoco, but Nasha again saves him. The security agents arrest Ylfa. Nasha returns Zoco to the creepers' leader, while Mickey 18 fights Marshall and detonates the bomb planted on his vest, killing himself and Marshall to fulfil the demand by the creepers' leader. Afterwards Ylfa commits suicide in a psychiatric ward, while Preston and other Marshall collaborators are imprisoned. An associate of the loan shark tries to kill Timo, but Timo manages to kill him. Nasha is later elected as a colony political leader. She presides over a groundbreaking ceremony on Niflheim where it is now spring time, where Mickey 17 (now to be known as 'Mickey Barnes') detonates the cloning device to symbolically end the Expendable programme, but not before he had a vision of a reprinted Ylfa and Marshall.

Director, Producer and Writer Bong Joon-ho has here delivered us a darkly comedic Sci-Fi satire set in the near future on some distant planet far far away that is a times absurdist, thought provoking, a social commentary, and an environmental essay while exploring the class divide and providing us with a bit of a creature feature too along the way. Robert Pattinson gives possibly a career best performance as the various Mickey's, ably supported by a scene chewing Mark Ruffalo channeling a certain POTUS and an equally on point Toni Collette serving up his unhinged yet domineering sauce loving wife. Visually the film looks the part too, but the plot meanders along and it overstays its welcome just a tad at a 137 minute run time, and I came out of the movie theatre feeling a little 'meh'!

'Mickey 17' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-