BEIRUT : Tuesday 31st July 2018.

'BEIRUT' which I saw earlier in the week is an American espionage thriller offering that received its Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year and was released Stateside in early April. Directed by Brad Anderson whose credits include numerous television series episodes and feature films including 'The Machinist', 'Transsiberian', 'The Call' and 'Stonehearst Asylum', and is Co-Produced and Written by Tony Gilroy of the 'Bourne' series fame amongst many other notable scripting credits including 'Rogue One', 'Michael Clayton', 'Duplicity' and 'State of Play'. The film has received generally favourable Reviews and has so far taken US$7M at the Box Office. This release has also received much online and press criticism for its stereotypical portrayal of the Lebanese people, Arabs and Muslims; depicting a confusing misrepresentation of the history of Beirut; ignoring the political complexities of the region; and for not using any Lebanese Actors in the Production. The Lebanon has called for its boycott on social media channels. I guess you'll just have to decide for yourself.

Set in 1982, in Beirut, Mason Skiles (Jon Hamm) was a former U.S. diplomat to Lebanon who ten years previously was living in Beirut with his Lebanese wife, Nadia, who was killed in a gunfight during a party at their home. That gunfight involved Rami Abu Rajal, the older brother of thirteen year old allegedly orphaned Palestinian Karim (Yoav Sadian) who had been taken in by Mason and his wife and who were in the throes of arranging sponsorship papers for him and his full time education. Rami it transpires was linked to the recent Munich Olympics massacre and was believed to be in Beirut although unconfirmed. Mason's good friend CIA Agent Cal Riley (Mark Pellegrino) interrupts the party stating to Mason that he wishes to question Karim about his brother, whom Mason nor Nadia had no knowledge of, and about whom Karim was very evasive. Just at that point, all Hell breaks loose during the party resulting in the bloody carnage.

Fast forward to 1982 and Skiles has crawled inside a bottle and is working as an industrial relations arbitrator in New England. However, out of the blue, as he is rounding out another tough day at the office at some local dive bar, he is approached by a former client acting on behalf of the US Government. After quickly renewing acquaintances the man states that he is on official business and that Skiles has been asked to attend an academic lecture in Beirut. The man then hands over an envelope containing US$6,000 cash, a first class plane ticket, hotel reservation and a new passport. Mason states that he would never step foot inside Beirut again. The man leaves, so allowing Mason the chance to ponder his decision.

Needless to say, Mason doesn't need much convincing and he travels to Beirut. There he meets a select number of State Department officials - Donald Gaines (Dean Norris), Gary Ruzak (Shea Whigham), and Frank Shalen (Larry Pine) together with CIA Field Agent Sandy Crowder (Rosamund Pike) and learns that Cal Riley has been abducted in Lebanon, and his kidnappers specifically asked for Mason Skiles to negotiate his release.

Now the gathered group of negotiators meet with the kidnappers where they discover that Karim (Idir Chender), now approaching his mid 20's, is leading the group. Karim demands the release of his brother Rami, whom he believes is being held captive by the Americans, in exchange for Cal Riley. Skiles protests that they do not have Rami, but suspects that he is being held by the Israelis. So Skiles and Ruzak travel to meet with an Israeli governmental official, who also announces that they do not have Rami.

The next day, while Skiles is finalising the lecture that was his 'official' business reason for visiting Beirut, a car bomb explodes directly outside the building. In the carnage that follows immediately afterwards, Skiles is bundled into a truck and blindfolded and taken to a secret location to meet Karim. Karim takes him to Riley as proof of life. Riley, beaten, bruised but not down, covertly tells Skiles that the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) that he refers to in code as 'Peace, Love, Only', is holding Rami, and that Gaines should not be trusted, and a photograph back in his apartment will provide the evidence. Before releasing Skiles, Karim gives him an ultimatum for later the same night to return Rami by 2:30am, or he will sell Riley to Iran. Skiles goes to Riley's apartment to search for the photographic clue, where he encounters Crowder. After a brief standoff, she reveals that Gaines had been stealing money from the US Embassy, and that Riley had been preparing to draft a report shortly before he was kidnapped. Crowder had located the photograph previously and removed it, knowing that Gaines would also be searching for it.

Skiles convinces Crowder that the PLO is holding Rami. She steals US$4M from the CIA office in order to trade Rami for Riley. Skiles sets up the trade for Rami having parted company with US$3.9M to buy Rami from the Israeli's, and at 2:30am brings him to the exchange with Karim. After exchanging Riley for Rami, Rami is shot and killed by a Mossad sniper from a nearby bombed out building. The Americans narrowly escape with Skiles sustaining a non life threatening shot to his arm courtesy of Karim's henchmen, who needless to say are none too pleased with the sudden turn of events.

Before leaving Beirut, Skiles learns that Gaines has unexpectedly retired, and Ruzak has left Beirut. Crowder announces her intention to apply for the newly-vacant jobs, and Skiles offers his services as a negotiator. Riley and Skiles part company with a smile and a handshake saying that they should not leave it so long next time between drinks. 

'Beirut' is a well crafted old school type thriller that shows a war ravaged city at its knees and the governmental wranglings on going between the US, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine as each vie for a piece of the action and to gain the upper hand through almost any means necessary. Jon Hamm is well cast in the role as the leading man for once, and delivers Tony Gilroy's script with a world weary alcohol fuelled realism and believability that keeps the story grounded, and very much of the era in which it is set. Rosamund Pike, whilst having a lesser role is no less convincing as the undercover agent tasked with keeping Skiles alive and ensuring the mission is a success - she's one of the good guys here, and she doesn't turn corrupt at the end either which is a bit of a refreshing twist. At times the film drags its heels a little, but this is only a minor criticism and this is certainly worth the price of cinema entry.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 26th July 2018.

'The Land of the Long White Cloud' (aka New Zealand) may be famed for Peter Jackson's epic productions of 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies, as well as that world famous egg white and cream dessert Pavlova, and of course the sheer number of sheep that inhabit the countryside, but it also has a growing reputation for producing some genre bending, off the wall, quirky and often quietly unique comedy films. Taking a look back at the highlights of more recent years, here is my synopsis of my pick of the bunch :-
* 'The Breaker Upperers' - released 2018, and Previewed below.
* 'Pork Pie' - released in 2017, Directed and Written by Matt Murphy and starring Dean O'Gorman, James Rolleston and Ashleigh Cummings the film was generally well received although failed at the Box Office recouping just US$798K from its US$3.8M budget outlay. This film is a remake of the 1981 New Zealand film 'Goodbye Pork Pie' and tells the story of three accidental outlaws on the run who travel the length of New Zealand with the Police and the media in tow in a stolen orange coloured Mini Cooper.
* 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' - released 2016, Directed by Taika Waititi, and starred Julian Dennison and Sam Neill. Critically acclaimed and a firm favourite with moviegoers, the film tells the story of the mishaps and adventures of a fourteen year old lad and his foster father who become the subjects of a national man hunt after becoming lost in the New Zealand wilderness. The film picked up twenty award wins and another 25 nominations from around the circuit and took US$23M at the Box Office off the back of a US$2.5M budget investment.
* 'What We Do In The Shadows' - released 2014, Directed, Co-Produced, Co-Written and Starring Taika Waititi and Jermain Clement this was film was highly regarded by Critics and did well with audiences favouring vampire horror comedy. Here four centuries old Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead, whilst trying to navigate the mundane aspects of life in the 21st Century. The film collected 25 award wins and a further eighteen nominations from around the festival traps, and took US$7M from its US$1.6M production budget.
* 'Boy' - released 2010, Directed, Written and Starring Taika Waititi and James Rolleston. Critically lauded and a hit with audiences alike, the film broke all New Zealand Box Office records at the time of its release, and picked up thirteen award wins and another nine nominations and took US$9M at the Box Office. Set on New Zealand's east coast back in 1984, the film tells the story of an eleven year old boy who is a devout Michael Jackson fan, who gets the chance to reconnect with his absentee criminal father who has returned home to dig up a bag of ill gotten cash that he buried years ago. But, to the boys surprise his father is far from the hero and adventurer he imagined him to be.
* 'Black Sheep' - released in 2007, Directed and Written by Jonathan King, the film collected five award wins and five nominations and took US$5M at the Box Office. Sheep-averse Henry returns to his brother's New Zealand farm, hoping to be bought out for his share of the property. However, upon arrival what he discovers are genetically altered sheep that prey on humans and turn their victims into undead, woolly killers. Rampaging madness follows as Henry, a local animal-rights activist and a farmhand set out to stop the marauding flesh eating animals.

This week we have five latest release movie offerings to tease you out to you local Odeon, four of which are decidedly female driven. The first however, is a thriller set in the early 80's during the Lebanese Civil War that sees a former US Diplomat return to Beirut after ten years following the killing of his wife there. We then turn to a New Zealand comedy offering by a pair of likely girls who Direct, Write and Star in this film about a small but successful business they have established around breaking couples up - for better or for worse! Then we have a British drama comedy set in the '70's and '80's about one women's journey to establish herself as a stand up comedian doing the rounds of the tough and prejudiced Northern England Working Men's Clubs scene. And we wrap up with two bio-pics - the first of a highly acclaimed, widely successful and hugely popular songstress who died tragically back in 2012; and the second about a highly acclaimed and popular Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court that in all likelihood you've never heard of, but this is a compelling insight into the life, times and beliefs of this still practising 85 year old icon of the American legal system.

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

'BEIRUT' (Rated MA15+) - this American espionage thriller offering received its Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year and was released Stateside in early April. Directed by Brad Anderson whose credits include numerous television series episodes and feature films including 'The Machinist', 'Transsiberian', 'The Call' and 'Stonehearst Asylum', and is Co-Produced and Written by Tony Gilroy of the 'Bourne' series fame amongst many notable other scripting credits including 'Rogue One', 'Michael Clayton', 'Duplicity' and 'State of Play'. The film has received generally favourable Reviews and has so far taken just US$7M at the Box Office.

Set in 1982, in Beirut, Mason Skiles (John Hamm) was a former U.S. diplomat to Lebanon who ten years previously was living in Beirut with his Lebanese wife, Nadia, who was killed in a gunfight during a party at their home. Fast forward to 1982 and Skiles has crawled inside a bottle and is working as an industrial relations arbitrator in New England. However, out of the blue, he is called back into service to save a colleague from the group that is possibly responsible for his own family's death. Meanwhile, a CIA field agent Sandy Crowder (Rosamund Pike) who is working under cover at the American embassy is tasked with keeping Skiles alive, and ensuring that the mission is a success.

'THE BREAKER UPPERERS' (Rated M) - this New Zealand comedy was Directed, Written and stars the pairing of Madeline Sami and Jackie van Beek who some fifteen years prior we find Mel (Madeleine Sami) and Jen (Jackie van Beek) coming to the realisation that they were being two-timed by the same man. Bitter and twisted they became instant friends and formed 'The Breaker Upperers', a small-time business breaking up couples for cash. Now in their late-thirties and business is going great guns. They're a platonic, codependent couple who keep their cynicism alive by not getting emotionally involved with anybody else. But when they run into an old victim, Mel develops a conscience and their friendship is well & truly tested. Also starring James Rolleston and Executive Produced by Taika Waititi, the film Premiered at SXSW back in March before its initial release in NZ in May and its more recent screening at the Sydney Film Festival in June.

'FUNNY COW' (Rated MA15+) - this English comedy drama film is Directed by Adrian Shergold and tells the story of a female comedian's rise to stardom by doing the hard yards of her stand up routine in the working mens club circuit across the north of England throughout the turbulent '70's and '80's when prejudice, sexism, racism and bigotry were rife. Told from the perspective of the unnamed Funny Cow (Maxine Peake) as we learn of her troubled childhood through to her rollercoaster adult relationships that have influenced and inspired her comedic routine as she struggles to pave her way in very much a mans world. Tony Pitts wrote the story and also stars as her violent soul mate Bob, Paddy Considine stars as her lover Angus, and Stephen Graham plays her father. Alun Armstrong, Vic Reeves and Kevin Rowland also star. The film Premiered at the London Film Festival in October last year, and has been described as both hilarious and heart-breaking all at the same time, and Peake's performance has come in for particular praise.

'WHITNEY' (Rated M) - this no holds barred documentary film is Directed and Written by Kevin Macdonald and charts the life of the legendary American singer Whitney Houston, who died so tragically at the age of 48 on February 11th 2012 from accidental drowning in the bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel brought about by heart disease and cocaine use. Whitney broke more music industry records than any other female singer in history, became the only artist to have seven consecutive U.S. number one singles and had over two hundred million album sales to her credit. Friends, family and colleagues talk about her lifestyle both in front of and behind the cameras, in a life marred with scandals, struggles and eventual tragedy. The film Premiered at Cannes this year, went on release in the US earlier this month, and has received generally positive Reviews. A poignant, emotional and compelling look inside the troubled life of a musical icon.

'RBG' (Rated PG) - this American documentary is Co-Directed and Co-Produced by Betsy West and Julie Cohen and tells of the life and career of Supreme Court of the United States Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A career that has spanned many decades, and how Ginsberg developed a legal legacy while becoming prominent within pop culture for her lifelong battle against gender discrimination. The film presents a biographical depiction of the Supreme Court Justice from her birth in Brooklyn, New York in 1933 through her rise to the Supreme Court up to the present day in which she remains active at the age of 85. The film was released in the US in early May, has met with generally favourable Critical Reviews and has taken US$13M at the Box Office.

With five new release films out this week to tempt you 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-