What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th July 2019.

The 37th annual Munich International Film Festival (Filmfest München) took place between June 27th and July 6th this year and is the largest summer film festival in Germany and second only in size and importance to the Berlinale. It has been held annually since 1983 and takes place in late June. It presents feature films and feature-length documentaries. The festival is also proud of the role it plays in discovering talented and innovative young filmmakers. With the exception of retrospectives, tributes and homages, all of the films screened are German Premieres and many are European and World Premieres.

This years winners and grinners of the numerous awards and a total prize pool of in excess of EU200K, are as follows :-

CineMerit Award

* Since 1997, the Munich International Film Festival has honoured outstanding personalities in the international film community for extraordinary contributions to motion pictures as an art form. This year both Actor and Director Ralph Fiennes, and Actor Antonio Banderas were honoured with this prestigious award. 

CiniMasters Competition

* The ARRI/OSRAM Award goes to the best international film in the CineMasters Competition. The Award carries a purse valued at EU50K and is awarded by a three-member independent jury. The winner in this section went to Brazilian film 'Bacurau' Directed by Kleber Mendonca Filho and Juliano Dornelles. A special mention went to the Belgian, Danish and Norwegian Co-Produced 'Cold Case Hammarskjold' Directed by Mads Brugger. There were eight other films in this competition section that took in 'Between Two Waters' from Spain; 'Blaze' from the US and Directed by Ethan Hawke; 'An Easy Girl' from France; 'Fire Will Come' from France, Luxembourg and Spain; 'Liberte' from Germany, France, Portugal and Spain; 'Parasite' from South Korea and Directed by Bong Joon-ho; 'Peterloo' from the UK and Directed by Mike Leigh and 'The Place of No Words' from the US and Directed by Mark Webber.
CiniVision Award
* Sponsored by the Motion Picture Licensing Company, the CineVision Award carries a purse of EU15K and honours the Director of an international newcomer film. The award has been presented at the Munich International Film Festival since 2007, and since 2012 it has its own section: the CineVision Competition for Best International Film by an Emerging Director. An independent three-member jury elects the winner. The winner of this section went to Director Melina Leon for her Peru, Spain and USA Co-Produced film 'Cancion Sin Nombre' ('Song Without a Name'). There were nine other films in this competitive section, that were : 'Angelo' from Luxembourg and Austria; 'Animals' from Australia, Ireland the UK; 'The Art of Self Defence' from the USA; 'The Climb' also from the USA; 'Judy and Punch' from Australia; 'Land of Ashes' from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and France; 'The Man Who Surprised Everyone' from Russia; 'Manta Ray' from China, Thailand and France; and 'Winter After Winter' from China.
CiniCoPro Award
* The EU100K CineCoPro Award is the most generous award for German Co-Producers of international Co-Productions. As many as ten international Co-Productions involving German Co-Producers compete for this unique prize in a special section of the program. All of the nominated films celebrated their World Premiere or their German Premiere in Munich. The winner within this section of the competition was the German and Brazilian Co-Produced 'A Vida Invisivel De Euridice Gusmao' ('The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao') by Director Karim Ainouz and Co-Producers Viola Fugen and Michael Weber. There were eight other entries in this section, those being : 'Gaza' from Germany, Canada, Ireland and the UK; 'Hier' from Germany, France, Morocco, Holland, Sweden and Hungary; 'It Must Be Heaven' from Germany, France, Canada and Turkey; 'The Orphanage' from Germany, France, Denmark, Luxembourg, Afghanistan and Qatar; 'Saturday Afternoon' from Germany, Russia and Bangladesh; 'Stay Still' from Germany and Italy; 'The Traitor' from Germany, France, Italy and Brazil; and 'The Whistlers' from Germany, France and Romania.

For the full low down on all the events, the comings and goings, the toing and froing, the celebs, the awards and of course the films played in and out of competition, you can visit the official website at : https://www.filmfest-muenchen.de/en/  

This week there are just three latest release movies coming to your local Odeon. We kick off with the live action remake of an already hugely popular and successful animated Disney classic of twenty-five years ago that sees a new born lion cub destined for great things first having to grow up and face numerous hardships and challenges along the way before claiming his rightful place as a leader of the African animal kingdom. We then have a biographical drama film charting the life and times of an iconic Russian born ballet dancer and his defection to the west, before closing out with a biographical documentary about an iconic mission to step foot on the Moon and the three men who made groundbreaking history in the process.

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

'THE LION KING' (Rated PG) - here we have an already hotly anticipated live action remake of Disney's 1994 traditionally animated musical feature film 'The Lion King' which was made for US$45M and grossed worldwide US$969M and spawned a whole industry for the next 25 years that included a whole raft of derived works, such as a hugely successful Broadway adaptation which has toured the world and still is; two direct-to-video follow-ups being the sequel, 'The Lion King II:Simba's Pride' in 1998, and the prequel 'The Lion King 1½' in 2004; two television series, 'Timon and Pumbaa' and 'The Lion Guard'; a 3D re-release in 2011 and a video game release. 'The Lion King' garnered two Academy Awards for its achievement in music, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy among its total awards haul of 36 wins and a further 29 nominations. And so here hot on the heels of his success with the live action version of 'The Jungle Book' in 2016, Director and Co-Producer Jon Favreau is back in the chair for this version of the timeless Disney classic.

The story here will be familiar to adults and kids alike but by way of a recap, Simba (voiced by Danny Glover as the grown up Simba and J.D. McCrary as the young Simba) the lion cub idolises his father, Crown Prince Mufasa (voiced once more by James Earl Jones) of the Pride Lands, and takes to heart his own royal destiny on the wild and sweeping plains of Africa. But not everyone in the kingdom is rejoicing the new cub's arrival. Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Mufasa's brother, and prior heir to the throne has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, culminating in Simba's exile. Now, with help from a curious pair of newfound friends - Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and Timon (Billy Eichner), Simba must figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. Also starring the voice talents of Beyonce as Nala and Shahadi Wright Joseph as the young Nala, Simba's childhood best friend and future love interest; and Alfre Woodard as Sarabi - the Queen of the Pride Lands, Mufasa's mate and mother of Simba. The film is released in the US this week too.

'THE WHITE CROW' (Rated M) - this British biographical film is Directed, Co-Produced and stars Ralph Fiennes in only his third filmmaking outing following 'Coriolanus' in 2011 and 'The Invisible Woman' in 2013. Based on the 2007 authorised biography 'Rudolf Nureyev : The Life' by Julie Kavanagh, this film charts the life and times of how the little boy who was born on a train in Siberia at the beginning of World War II grew up to become the top ballet dancer in Russia and how a life altering visit to Paris in 1961 at the age of 22, saw him seek asylum in France which in turn made him the greatest male ballet star ever. Starring acclaimed dancer Oleg Ivenko as Rudolf Nureyev and Ralph Fiennes as Alexander Pushkin the Russian ballet dancer and ballet master. The film saw its world Premier screening at the Telluride Film Festival back in late August 2018, and only now does it go on general release, having received generally mixed or average Reviews thus far.

'APOLLO 11' (Rated G) - here this American documentary film Directed, Co-Produced and Edited  by Todd Douglas Miller centres on the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, the first spaceflight to land humans on the Moon. The film consists solely of archival footage, including 70mm film that was previously unreleased to the public, and does not feature narration, interviews or modern recreations. Back in 2016 CNN Films approached Todd Douglas Miller to make a film for the 50th anniversary in 2019 of the Apollo 11 landing and this is the resultant offering. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year and was released in the US in early March to critical acclaim and a Box Office take so far of US$10M.

With three 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-

FIRST MAN : Tuesday 16th October 2018.

'FIRST MAN' which I saw at my local multiplex this week, is an American biographical drama film based on the 2005 book by James R. Hansen titled 'First Man : The Life of Neil A. Armstrong' and is Directed and Co-Produced by Oscar winner Damien Chazelle of 'Whiplash' and 'La La Land' fame. Made for US$65M the film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival back in August, and was subsequently screened at the Telluride Film Festival and then the Toronto International Film Festival in early September. The film went on general release in the US last week too having received generally widespread critical praise for Chazelle's Direction, the performances of Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy especially, the score and the cinematography. Box Office receipts so far amount to US$30M.

The film charts the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon by the time the clock ticks over into 1970, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. Launching (literally) in 1961, we see Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) struggling at the controls as a NASA test pilot of an X-15 experimental hypersonic rocket powered aircraft that was able to reach the edge of outer space, when after a moment of weightlessness the plane inadvertently bounces off the atmosphere. Even though he successfully manages to navigate the plane to a safe landing somewhere in the Mojave Desert, his superiors air their concerns about his recent spate of mishaps, and therefore choose to ground him. Meanwhile, his young daughter Karen, has a brain tumour, and is receiving cutting edge treatment. But despite this, Armstrong is distracted and pours over books, keeps copious notes on her symptoms, treatment and searches out some possible cure. But, before long Karen passes, and as any father would be, Armstrong is gutted.

Shortly afterwards Armstrong applies for Project Gemini (NASA's second human spaceflight programme) and is accepted, requiring Armstrong, his wife Janet (Claire Foy) and son Rick (Luke Winters) to move to Houston, together with a bunch of other astronauts chosen to take part in the Gemini Programme. Here he befriends Elliot See (Patrick Fugit) and Ed White (Jason Clarke) whilst under the watchful eye of Deke Slayton (Kyle Chandler) - NASA's first Chief of the Astronaut Office. Up to this point, them pesky Russians have eclipsed Uncle Sam in every aspect of the '60's Space Race, as so Slayton states in no uncertain terms the importance of Project Gemini as a precursor to the Apollo missions and the ultimate aim of putting a man on the moon by the close of the decade. Armstrong and the chosen handful of hopefuls are put through a rigorous training regime that tests them to the very limits of their endurance . . . and beyond.

Meanwhile, Janet gives birth to another son, Mark (Connor Blodgett). After the Ruskies notch up another first by performing an EVA (ExtraVehicular Activity - a spacewalk performed outside a craft orbiting the Earth), Armstrong is advised by Slayton that he has been chosen to be the Commander of Gemini 8 which would see the first docking of two spacecraft in orbit, with David Scott (Christoper Abbott) as his pilot. Armstrong and Scott successfully launch on Gemini 8 and dock as planned with the Agena Target Vehicle in space. After celebrating their success, things go rapidly pair shaped as the docked pairing of space craft begins to spin uncontrollably. Armstrong is able to successfully undock the two craft, but Gemini continues to spin at an ever increasing rate. After almost blacking out, Armstrong is able to bring the rapidly rotating craft under control and safely aborts the mission, saving their lives in the process. Janet, however, has had the privilege of listening in to their radio transmission is none too impressed with her husbands near death experience and promptly berates Slayton saying that they are all 'just a bunch of boys playing with balsa wood models . . .  you don't have anything under control'.

In due course Ed White announces that he has been selected for the Apollo 1 Mission together with Gus Grissom (Shea Whigham) and Roger Chaffee (Cory Michael Smith). During a launch simulation test on Apollo 1 on 27th January 1967, a fire inside the cabin and the resultant explosion takes the lives of White, Grissom and Chaffee. Armstrong meanwhile is representing NASA at a White House function, when he is interrupted by an urgent phone call from Slayton, advising him of this tragedy. A year or so later Armstrong is testing a Lunar Landing Research Vehicle and is nearly killed in the process, ejecting over a field and being dragged along the ground by his parachute, while the test vehicle crashes to the ground in a ball of flame.

Shortly afterwards Armstrong is advised by Slayton that he has been chosen to command the Apollo 11 Mission with a view to this culminating in a Moon landing. His crew will be Buzz Aldrin (Corey Stoll) and Michael Collins (Lukas Haas). Collins will pilot the command module Columbia alone in orbit while Armstrong and Aldrin are on the lunar surface. Shortly after, the three astronauts hold a Press Conference where Armstrong is particularly blunt and succinct in his answers to the gathered world press, leaving Aldrin to interject with more broader and lighthearted answers.

The night before the launch while Armstrong is needlessly busying himself with packing, Janet confronts him about the strong possibility that he won't survive the Mission, and steadfastly demands that he explains the risks to both Rick and Mark - his young sons. Armstrong is evasive and is clearly uncomfortable with such a confronting and potentially emotional conversation with his two boys, let alone his wife. After a brief conversation around the dinner table before the boys bedtime, Armstrong bids his boys farewell and kisses his wife goodbye, and departs for the Moon.

The day arrives, and Apollo 11 successfully launches, and within four days of flight touches down on the surface of the Moon on 20th July 1969. Armstrong became the first person to step onto the lunar surface six hours after landing on 21st July, with those immortal words 'one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind', with Aldrin joining him some twenty minutes later. After exploring the surface for some time, Armstrong walks over to a small crater and gently drops into it a bracelet that was his daughter's - forever leaving a memento to her memory on the surface of that far away place. Having spent the best part of whole day collecting samples, taking photographs, observing the Moon's surface, and going walkabout, the pair take off to rejoin Collins aboard the Columbia and head back to Earth landing in the North Pacific Ocean on the afternoon of 24th July 1969. The crew are placed in quarantine for a month. Janet visits Armstrong and through the glass panels of his temporary isolation, the pair share a quiet moment of contemplation, touching hands through the plate glass.

The film also stars Ciaran Hinds as Robert R. Gilruth - the first Director of NASA's Manned Spacecraft Centre and Pablo Schreiber as Jim Lovell, the backup Commander on Armstrong's Apollo 11 Mission.

Here, continuing with his run of Academy Award success, Damien Chazelle has crafted a nuanced film that will be surely worthy of some Oscar consideration come nomination season. Rather than the all too common chest beating and hero worship associated with such space age films, here 'First Man' paints a picture of a an everyday ordinary man pushed to extraordinary lengths in his quiet determination to be the first man on the Moon. In equal measure we see the emotion, the joy and the tragedy of Armstrong's every day family life coupled with the errors, flaws, accidents and incidents and the all too many deaths experienced by NASA and Armstrong's fellow astronaut colleagues during the course of those Gemini and Apollo Missions. Gosling gives a stoic and reserved performance as both the troubled and completely focused on his day job at the expense of his family Armstrong; while Foy more than ably supports as the no bullshit tell it as it is supportive, caring and understanding (to a point) wife. Chazelle's attention to detail throughout the film cannot be faulted, and his recreation of the era, the inner workings of NASA, and the failures and successes of the technology of the time really make this film. Concentrating on the '60's era only and the events leading up to the first Moon landing was Chazelle's choice and who can argue with that, but perhaps an insight into the reserved man post that heroic journey to go boldly where no man has gone before would have rounded out the film more completely. Nonetheless, certainly worth the price of your ticket, and you should see this on the big screen for sure.

'First Man' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard, out of a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 11th October 2018.

In September the world bid a fond farewell to a number of stars of the silver screen and the small screen. In brief, shown below, is my passing tribute to those stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and in particular the world of film and television. May you all Rest In Peace, and thanks for the memories . . . . Burt Reynolds, Gary Kurtz, Al Matthews, Fenella Fielding and Christoper Lawford.

* Gary Douglas Kurtz : born July 27th 1940, died September 23rd 2018, aged 78. Kurtz was an American film Producer and Assistant Director who had seventeen Producer credits to his name, five as Assistant Director, four as Production Manager and two as Editor. His most notable film Production credits include 'American Graffiti', 'Star Wars : Episode IV - A New Hope', 'Star Wars : Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back', 'The Dark Crystal', 'Return to Oz' and 'Slipstream'. Over the years he collected thirteen award wins and eight nominations including two Academy Award nods for 'American Graffiti' in 1974 and 'Star Wars' in 1978. He began his career in the movie industry in 1965 as Assistant Director on the Jack Nicholson and Harry Dean Stanton Western 'Ride in the Whirlwind' and continued up until 2016 with 'Gangster Kittens'.
* Al Matthews : born Alexander Basil Matthews on November 21st 1942, died September 22nd 2018, aged 75. Matthews was a folk singer and songwriter and Actor with 36 acting credits to his name including 'Yanks', 'The Final Conflict', 'Superman III', 'Aliens' (perhaps his most famed role as Sergeant Apone), 'The Fifth Element' and 'Tomorrow Never Dies'. Matthews served for six years in the US Marine Corps taking in active duty in the Vietnam War and to that end his website reads 'I hold thirteen combat awards and decorations, including two purple hearts. I was the first black Marine in the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam to be meritoriously promoted to the rank of sergeant; I served with Kilo Battery, Fourth Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, of that I am very proud'.
* Fenella Fielding : born Fenella Marion Feldman on November 17th 1927 and died September 11th 2018 aged 90. Fielding was an English theatre, film and television actress, popular in the '50's and '60's and having a reputation as 'England's first lady of the double entendre', she was known too for her seductive image and distinctively husky voice. With sixty Acting credits to her name, she got her break in 1957 on three episodes of British spy drama series 'Destination Downing Street' followed up two years later with her film debut in 'Follow a Star' with Norman Wisdom, John Le Mesurier, Ron Moody and Hattie Jacques. Over the ensuing years she appeared in the likes of 'Doctor in Love', 'The Old Dark House', 'Doctor in Distress', 'Doctor in Clover', 'Carry On Regardless', 'Carry On Screaming', 'Drop Dead Darling', 'Lock Up Your Daughters', 'Guest House Paradiso' and 'The All Together'. In between time she appeared in numerous television series across single and multiple episodes, as well as short films and voice work as recently as 2017 on the short film 'Frankula'. Fielding was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity.
* Burt Reynolds : born Burton Leon Reynolds Jnr., on February 11th 1936 and died September 6th 2018 aged 82. Reynolds was an American Actor, Director and Producer but his career didn't start out that way. He attended Florida State University on a football scholarship and played halfback and he had hoped to be named to All-American teams and have a career in professional football; however, he injured his knee in the first game of his second season, and later that year lost his spleen and injured his other knee in a bad car accident, so effectively ending his professional football aspirations. With 186 Acting credits to his name, fourteen Director credits and eleven as Producer he gained his first break in television in 1958 and from that point onward worked regularly throughout the next sixty years right up until the time of his death. His television works included multiple recurring appearances on 'Riverboat', 'Gunsmoke', 'Hawk', 'Dan August', 'B.L.Stryker', 'Out Of This World', 'Evening Shade' and more recently 'Hitting the Breaks'. His more notable big screen appearances over the years include his debut film role in 1961's 'Angel Baby', and then 'Navajo Joe', 'Sam Whiskey', 'Deliverance' (one of his most famed roles), 'The Longest Yard' (both the 1974 original and the 2005 remake), 'Gator', 'Nickelodeon', 'Smokey and the Bandit' (another famed role), 'Hooper', 'Smokey and the Bandit II', 'The Cannonball Run', 'Best Friends', 'Sharky's Machine', 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas', 'City Heat', 'Boogie Nights' (highly acclaimed and award winning role), 'The Dukes of Hazzard', the critically acclaimed 2017 drama 'The Last Movie Star' and 'Defining Moments' set for a Christmas release this year. Reynolds had 34 award wins (including two Golden Globes) to his name and a further 29 nominations (including one Oscar nod, five Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmy and one BAFTA nomination).
* Christopher Lawford : born March 29th 1955, died September 4th 2018 aged 63. Lawford was an American author, actor, and activist. He was a member of the prominent Kennedy family, and son of actor Peter Lawford who had numerous film and television Acting roles from 1930 through until his death in 1984. One of the famous 'Rat Pack' he starred alongside Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr., in the original 1960 'Ocean's Eleven'. After battling various drug and legal issues throughout his earlier life, Christopher turned to the movie business in 1988 and spent over fifteen years in the film and television business as an Actor, Lawyer, Executive, and Producer. He got his first film role in 1988 in 'The Suicide Club' which was to be the first of 45 Acting credits which over the years took in 'The Russia House', 'The Doors', 'The Confession', 'The 6th Day', 'Thirteen Days', 'Exit Wounds', 'Terminator 3 : Rise of the Machines', 'The World's Fastest Indian'  and 'Slipstream' with 'Eavesdrop' being his last Acting credit in 2008. Lawford worked extensively in politics, government and the non-profit sector holding executive staff positions, and was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve on the California Department of Public Health Advisory Board.

Turning to this week we have three new filmic offerings to tease you out to your local Odeon. We launch (literally) with a biographical drama from a multi-award winning Director about mans greatest and most dangerous journey in the history of great and dangerous journeys to go boldly where no man had gone before. We then have a fictional story about a bunch of seemingly normal folk all harbouring their own secrets and lies who come together one rainy night at a hotel that straddles two States, and their last chance to find peace with themselves . . . or not as the case may be! And we then wrap up the week with another historical telling, this time of a series of terrorist attacks in India just ten years ago, as the victims fight for their survival seemingly against the odds.

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

'FIRST MAN' (Rated M) - this American biographical drama film is based on the 2005 book by James R. Hansen titled 'First Man : The Life of Neil A. Armstrong' and is Directed and Co-Produced by Oscar winner Damien Chazelle of 'Whiplash' and 'La La Land' fame. Made for US$60M the film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival back in August, and was subsequently screened at the Telluride Film Festival and then the Toronto International Film Festival in early September. It goes on general release in the US this week too having received generally widespread critical praise for Chazelle's Direction, the performances of Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy especially, the score and the cinematography.

The film tells the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon by the time the clock ticks over into 1970, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account exploring the sacrifices and the cost on Armstrong and on the nation of one of the most dangerous and ultimately triumphant missions in history - the Apollo 11 mission to conquer the Moon before the decade was out in 1969. Starring Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong, Claire Foy as Janet Shearon (Armstrong's first wife), Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll as Buzz Aldrin, Ciaran Hinds, Patrick Fugit, Lukas Haas as Michael Collins, Shea Whigham, Brian d'Arcy James and Pablo Schreiber as Jim Lovell.

'BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE' (Rated MA15+) - here we have a 1960's set American thriller that is Directed, Written and Co-Produced Drew Goddard who wrote multiple episodes of popular television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', 'Angel', 'Alias', 'Lost', created and wrote two episodes of 'Daredevil' and wrote for the big screen too including 'Cloverfield', 'World War Z', 'The Martian', and 'Cabin in the Woods' which was also his Directing debut. After this outing Goddard is Writing and Directing Marvel's 'X-Force'. Back to this film though, and the storyline follows seven strangers who find themselves at the El Royale, a novelty hotel traversing the border of California and Nevada. But as the strangers — which include a priest Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), a vacuum cleaner salesman Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm), a gangster from down south Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson), a former singer Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), and a charismatic cult leader Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth) all settle into their rooms for the night, they all get one last shot at redemption before discovering that something strange is afoot inside and outside the hotel, and everything goes pear shaped. Also starring Nick Offerman, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman and Russell Crowe.

'ONE LESS GOD' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian and Nepalese joint produced film is based on the real life events that unfolded in November 2008 when a small group of Islamic militants from Pakistan lays to siege the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, and another eleven coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai resulting in 164 deaths and 308 wounded. Not to be confused with the other, as yet to be released film of the same subject matter 'Hotel Mumbai' due for release in early 2019, this film is Directed, Co-Produced, Written and Edited in his feature film debut by Aussie Liam Worthington. The film had its Premier screening in completion at the 'Dances with Films' Festival way back in June 2017 where it took out the Grand Jury Award for Best Film as well as the Industry Choice Award. When the group of terrorists bomb the hotel with six separate explosions and threaten the lives of its guests and employees the Indian forces are powerless to overcome the perpetrators, and for a whole four days are unable to regain control. During which time the guests battle for their survival as the terrorists seek to drive them out of hiding. Starring Jospeh Mahler Taylor, Sukhraj Deepak, Kabir Singh, Kieren Kumar, Nathan Kaye and Mihika Rao.

With three 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-