ROCKETMAN : Tuesday 4th June 2019.

'ROCKETMAN' which I saw this week is a biographical musical film based on the life and times of Sir Elton John (aka Reginald Kenneth Dwight) as Directed by Dexter Fletcher, whose previous film making credits include 'Wild Bill' in 2011, 'Sunshine on Leith' in 2013, 'Eddie the Eagle' in 2016, and an uncredited role as Director on last years 'Bohemian Rhapsody' having replaced Bryan Singer as Director for the final two weeks of filming, but received an Executive Producer credit due to Directors Guild of America rules. An Elton John biopic had been in development for almost two decades, with the project going through several Directors, studios and Actors before Sir Elton finally approached Paramount Pictures. In early 2018 Taron Egerton was cast to play Elton John having previously appeared with Sir Elton in the 2017 film 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle', and Egerton, as Johnny the Gorilla, sang John's song 'I'm Still Standing' in the animated film 'Sing'. The film cost US$41M to bring to the big screen, saw its Premier screening at the Cannes Film Festival on 16th May this year, was released in the UK on 22nd May and was released in the US and here in Australia last week. The film has so far taken US$71M and has generated mostly positive Reviews. The film is titled after Sir Elton's 1972 UK #2 and US #6 hit single of the same name.

The film opens up with a flamboyantly attired Elton John (Taron Egerton) wearing an orange and heavily sequined Devil stage outfit walking hurriedly down a corridor and bursting through the doors of a room wherein, sat in a circle, is a self help group. Welcomed by the others, Elton opens up with a statement of who he is, and that he is an alcoholic, a drug addict, a sex addict and addicted to various other things to help him escape from his fractured childhood upbringing and what he has become, and, that he's bulimic. And so begins in flashback a story of his young years, right up until the time he entered this rehab facility where he currently sits with various others in the same group attempting to come to some understanding of the forces that worked for him and against him to bring him to this point.

As a young child, Reginald 'Reggie' Dwight was raised by his less than loving mother Sheila (Bryce Dallas Howard), his more caring grandmother Ivy (Gemma Jones), while his father Stanley (Steven Mackintosh) was away serving in the Royal Air Force. Reggie shows interest in playing the piano, and seems to possess a natural gift, and soon begins private piano lessons at London's prestigious Royal Academy of Music. Stanley returns home for a two week period of leave, and keeps his son at arms length having never really ever shown him any affection or emotion. Eventually, feeling constricted by his family surroundings and discovering Sheila getting it on with another man in a car, Stanley walks out on his family forever, to forge a new life. Reggie takes up an interest in Rock & Roll music artists such as Elvis Presley, gets a similar haircut to The King, and begins performing in local pubs before joining a band, 'Bluesology'.

As an adult, Reggie changes his name to Elton John (Elton from a fellow Bluesology band member, and John after John Lennon) and responds to an advert in the music press seeking singers, songwriters and musicians with any talent to make contact. This takes him to an appointment with the Dick James Music Publishing Company under the management of Ray Williams (Charlie Rowe). Williams introduces Elton to songwriter Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell). The pair meet up for the first time in a local cafe and quickly form a bond, with Taupin accepting both Elton and his closeted homosexuality. 

The pair are encouraged to move in together so that they can be close to each other to fuel their songwriting output. Taupin moves into the Dwight family home, which creates a strain on the family unit, but nonetheless allows the pair the proximity to each other to encourage Taupin's lyrics to be quickly set to music by Elton.

The duo impress Dick James (Stephen Graham) with 'Your Song' and he sets up their first American performance for them at the 'Troubadour' in Los Angeles. The audience loves Elton's performance, and he doesn't hold back having fought off his earlier nerves. At a party afterwards at Mama Cass's place, he feels abandoned when Taupin leaves him to be with a woman.

At that same party, feeling somewhat dejected, Elton is approached by John Reid (Richard Madden), a music Manager and Promoter who is attracted to Elton. The two sleep together. Reid's ever increasing influence over Elton results in him spiralling into a life of decadence and debauchery as his career takes off and he becomes one of the worlds most successful musicians, at one point accounting for 5% of all the worlds records sales. Meanwhile, Elton embraces an ever increasing extravagant and flamboyant stage profile.

After Elton contracts him as his new manager, Reid begins manipulating Elton, starting off with his insistence that he admits to his mother and father that he's gay so they can help shelter his sexual leanings from the press. Sheila curtly over the telephone informs Elton she was already aware of his sexuality and had been for a long time and doesn't really care, except, she tells him, that he's facing a life of being alone forever. Elton finds Stanley in his new suburban family home and doesn't tell him that he's gay, because he's too upset by his father's happiness with his new family, complete disregard of his old one and total indifference towards Elton and his success. Struggling with his parental issues, as well as Reid's rising abuse, Elton becomes addicted to cannabis, cocaine, alcohol and sex. 

After witnessing Reid cheating on him with another man, at a house party later that day, he consumes a dangerous amount of drugs and alcohol and attempts suicide by jumping into his pool. Whilst sinking to the bottom of the pool, and before being pulled out by friends, he sees a vision of his younger self wearing a makeshift aqualung and playing at a small piano. He is pulled out, bundled into the back of an ambulance and rushed into hospital, and not long after is forced back on stage to continue his performance.

Elton falls out with both his mother and Taupin. Feeling angry, increasingly agitated and depressed, and very alone in the world despite the trappings of his success, he consumes prescription pills and alcohol, causing him to have a heart attack at home during which he falls down the stairs. Once more he is rushed into hospital. Reid hears the news and waves it off as a mild chest infection, forcing Elton again to get back on stage for his next performance. Realising that his life is spiralling out of control, Elton leaves before the performance and finally seeks help. He enters rehabilitation and comes to the realisation that he no longer needs anything from his parents or Reid. Elton repairs his friendship with Taupin, who visits him in the rehab clinic, and returns to performing, wrapping up with 'I'm Still Standing' off the 1983 hit album 'Too Low For Zero'.

In 'Rocketman' Actor turned Director Dexter Fletcher, has crafted a solid tribute to Elton John's meteoric rise to super stardom in the late '60's and through the '70's, and doesn't let up in exposing the warts and all lifestyle and its effects on the wildly extravagant singer. He does however, take some liberties with the timelines, the story and the facts but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment factor of seeing Taron Egerton mimic Sir Elton so well and so brazenly, and how he spirals out of control so wantonly as a result of his success. The film charts the first twenty years or so of his musical career up until about the time he married Renate Blauel in Sydney in 1984, and their subsequent divorce in 1988 and the release of 'I'm Still Standing' in 1983 (muddled timelines here) which concludes the film with Egerton's Elton John cut into the actual video footage that accompanied the release of that single. It is unlikely that 'Rocketman' will emulate the success of those other two hit musical dramas of this year 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (US$904M Box Office) and 'A Star Is Born' ($US435M Box Office), but it is sure to please die hard Elton John fans as well as those with only a passing interest in the life and times of this enduring rock music icon. The film plays out with an update and images of where Sir Elton is now in both his personal and musical life as of the present day.

The film includes such renditions of John's famous back catalogue performed convincingly by Taron Egerton as 'The Bitch is Back', 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting', 'Border Song' 'Your Song', 'Crocodile Rock' 'Tiny Dancer', 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', 'Pinball Wizard', 'Rocket Man', 'Bennie and the Jets', 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word' and 'I'm Still Standing'. 

'Rocketman' warrants 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 30th May 2019.

And so the 72nd Cannes Film Festival drew to a close on Saturday 25th May, and as reported in this weekly update over the last couple of weeks there were twenty-one films in main competition for the prestigious Palme d'Or award and eighteen in the running in the Un Certain Regard section with eleven films competing for the Camera d'Or prize.

The final winners and grinners of these acclaimed awards and a few others too, are as given below :-

In Competition :
* Palme d'Or : 'Parasite' by Bong Joon-ho
* Grand Prix : 'Atlantics' by Mati Diop
* Jury Prize : 'Bacurau' by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles, and, 'Les Misérables' by Ladj Ly
* Best Director : Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne for 'Young Ahmed'
* Best Actress : Emily Beecham for 'Little Joe'
* Best Actor : Antonio Banderas for 'Pain and Glory'
* Best Screenplay : Céline Sciamma for 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire'
* Special Mention : Elia Suleiman for 'It Must Be Heaven'.

Un Certain Regard :
* Un Certain Regard Award : 'The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmão' by Karim Ainouz
* Un Certain Regard Jury Prize : 'Fire Will Come' by Oliver Laxe
* Un Certain Regard Award for Best Director : Kantemir Balagov for 'Beanpole'
* Un Certain Regard Jury Award for Best Performance : Chiara Mastroianni for 'On a Magical Night'
* Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize : Albert Serra for 'Liberté' and Bruno Dumont for 'Joan of Arc'
* Coup de Cœur Award : 'A Brother's Love' by Monia Chokri and 'The Climb' by Michael Angelo Covino.

Golden Camera :

* Camera d'Or : 'Our Mothers' by Cesar Diaz.

FIPRESCI Prizes :

* In Competition : 'It Must Be Heaven' by Elia Suleiman
* Un Certain Regard : 'Beanpole' by Kantemir Balagov
* Parallel section : 'The Lighthouse' by Robert Eggers. 

You can get all the latest news and views and the complete list of happy and celebrated awards winners by visiting the official website at : https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/

With just three latest release movies coming to your local Odeon in the week ahead, we kick off with this biopic of a flamboyant music legend whose stellar, albeit at times tumultuous, career spans six decades and he's still going strong today. We then move to a monster mash up in this Hollywood version of a Japanese monster icon, that sees our giant lizard face off against three menacing mythical foes that between them threaten all of humanity in the process. Closing out the week we see a French family friendly animated feature about a much loved medieval fellow and his sidekick on the quest to find a young druid and the secrets of a magic potion.

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 coming week.

'ROCKETMAN' (Rated MA15+) - here this biographical musical film based on the life and times of Sir Elton John (aka Reginald Kenneth Dwight) is Directed by Dexter Fletcher, whose previous film making credits include 'Wild Bill' in 2011, 'Sunshine on Leith' in 2013, 'Eddie the Eagle' in 2016, and an uncredited role as Director on last years 'Bohemian Rhapsody' having replaced Bryan Singer as Director for the final two weeks of filming, but received an Executive Producer credit due to Directors Guild of America rules. An Elton John biopic had been in development for almost two decades, with the project going through several Directors, studios and Actors before Sir Elton finally approached Paramount Pictures. In early 2018 Taron Egerton was cast to play Elton John having previously appeared with Sir Elton in the 2017 film 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle', and Egerton, as Johnny the Gorilla, sang John's song 'I'm Still Standing' in the animated film 'Sing'. The film cost US$41M to bring to the big screen, saw its Premier screening at the Cannes Film Festival on 16th May this year, was released in the UK last week on 22nd May and is released in the US and here in Australia this week.

The film follows Elton John's (Taron Egerton) early days as a prodigy at London's Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell), as well as his struggles with depression, substance abuse, and acceptance of his sexual orientation. Also starring Richard Madden as John Reid (Sir Elton's first manager from 1970 through until 1998, and lover for those first five years, during which time Reid also managed 'Queen' from 1975 until 1978), Bryce Dallas Howard, Stephen Graham and Gemma Jones. The film has so far generated largely positive Reviews. The film is titled after Sir Elton's 1972 UK #2 and US #6 hit single of the same name.

'GODZILLA II : KING OF THE MONSTERS' (Rated M) - this American monster fest is a sequel to 2014's 'Godzilla' that was Directed by Gareth Edwards at a cost of US$160M raking in a respectable US$530M at the global Box Office. This time around Directing duties fall to Michael Dougherty who also Co-Wrote the script in this the 35th film in the Godzilla franchise, the third film in Legendary's MonsterVerse, and the third Godzilla film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. This film costs US$200M, and the premise of this instalment is described as the crypto-zoological agency Monarch and its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra (a giant moth), Rodan (a pre-historic Pteranodon), and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah (an armless, bipedal, golden-scaled, bat-winged dragon with three heads and two tails). When these ancient super-species, believed to be the stuff of mythological legend, rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity's very existence hanging in the balance. Starring an ensemble cast list that includes Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, O'Shea Jackson Jnr., Ken Watanabe and David Strathairn. A sequel, 'Godzilla vs. Kong', is scheduled to be released on March 13th 2020, and has already wrapped filming and is now in Post-Production, and is Directed by Adam Wingard.

'ASTERIX : THE SECRET OF THE MAGIC POTION' (Rated PG) - here we have a French computer animated family friendly adventure comedy film Directed by Alexandre Astier and Louis Clichy and based on the French Asterix comic books that date back to 1959. The film was released in France in early December 2018 and with the film's English dub release in Australia from this week onwards. In this tale, Asterix (voiced by Christian Clavier) and Obelix (by Guillaume Briat) embark on a quest across Gaul looking for a young druid worthy of learning the secret of the magic potion, after elderly village druid Panoramix (Bernard Alane) breaks his leg when he falls from a tree while picking mistletoe. Once Asterix and Obelix begin their quest, all hell breaks lose at home as the Romans start attacking. Meanwhile, an evil wizard named Sulfurix (Daniel Mesguich) does everything he can to steal the potion's secret recipe. The film has so far taken US$38M at the Box Office.

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-

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY : Tuesday 6th November 2018.

'BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY' is a different turn here for film and television Director, Producer and Writer Bryan Singer. Here he Directs this biographical offering about the British rock band 'Queen', and in particular its front man, showman, and lead singer Freddie Mercury. Bryan Singer's previous Directorial outings take in the likes of 'The Usual Suspects', 'Apt Pupil', 'X-Men', 'X2', 'Superman Returns', 'Valkyrie', 'X-Men : Days of Future Past' and more recently 'X-Men : Apocalypse'. The film was first announced back in 2010 by Brian May in a BBC interview. Since then various Directors and lead Actors have come and gone including Dexter Fletcher to Direct and Sasha Baron-Cohen and Ben Whishaw to portray Freddie Mercury. Dexter Fletcher went on to conclude the final two weeks or so of filming as Director after Bryan Singer was fired for being persona non grata and for clashes with the cast and crew, although Singer gets the full credit as Director and Fletcher as Executive Producer. The film saw its World Premier screening in London on 23rd October, went on general release in the UK the next day, and was released here in Australia and the US last week. The film cost US$52M to Produce and has so far grossed US$156M.

The film charts the meteoric rise of Queen through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. As the film opens we see Farrokh Bulsara (Rami Malek) working as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport. It is 1970. Farrokh is also a college student living at home with his sister Kashmira (Priya Blackburn), mother Jer (Meneka Das) and father Bomi (Ace Bhatti). They are British Indian of Parsi decent we learn from Bomi over the dinner table later on which refers to a member of the Zoroastrian community who migrated to India and Pakistan from Persia during the Arab invasion of 636–651AD.

Shortly after Farrokh goes out to a nightclub to see a local band, Smile, perform live. Post show Smile's lead vocalist Tim Staffell (Jack Roth) announces to his other two band members Brian May (Gwilym Lee) and Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy) that he is quitting Smile to join a more up & coming band with greater prospects of success. As luck would have it, Farrokh walks past Brian and Roger sitting in the back of the bands van feeling sorry for themselves and dejected, and strikes up a conversation, which ultimately leads Farrokh to offer his services as their new lead vocalist. Proving himself with a short burst of his singing ability, Farrokh is in. Shortly after, John Deacon (Joseph Mazzello) is recruited as bass guitarist.

The band changes their name to Queen, and gradually start to become known around the British club scene. After a year on the road touring around Britain, the band sells their van to finance their debut album, released in mid-1973 and self-titled. Their progressive style leads the band to be signed to EMI Records and managed by John Reid (Aidan Gillen). In the meantime, Farrokh legally changes his name to Freddie Mercury much to the chagrin of his father, and he also asks fashion store assistant Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton) to marry him having been in a steady relationship for some two years or so, and having met for the first time when he saw Smile perform. However, during the bands breakout US Tour while he is away from Mary for the first time for any real length of time, it dawns on Freddie that he is attracted to men, more so than women.

In 1975 the band lock themselves away in a remote country farmhouse to record their fourth album 'A Night at the Opera'. It is during this time that they also record their six minute opus 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. Upon hearing the full version of the song for the first time EMI Executive Ray Foster (Mike Myers) rubbishes the song and says that it is way too long to gain any radio airplay, and that it does not follow the tried and true formula of pop/rock music to appeal to the record buying public.

After a very tense argument in Ray Foster's offices, the four band members walk out severing their ties with Foster and EMI for being unsupportive and not heeding their wishes to have Bohemian Rhapsody released as their first single off the new album. Freddie throws a rock through Foster's office window and the band taunts him from the street below, to which Foster retorts by saying that they'll all be forgotten about come Christmas. Freddie is good friends with London's Capital Radio DJ Kenny Everett (Dickie Beau) who has him debut the song live on the airwaves. Despite mixed reviews Bohemian Rhapsody becomes a smash hit and stayed at the #1 slot in the British Charts for nine weeks over the Christmas and New Year period 1975/'76. Shortly after the band's first World Tour, Freddie begins an affair with Paul Prenter (Allen Leech), his personal manager. Mary splits with Freddie when he comes out to her as believing himself to be bisexual, although she assures him that he is gay and that she had known it for some time.

The band's success marches on worldwide through to the early '80's. Tensions begin to surface between the other three band members and Freddie over the direction their music seems to be taking and a noticeable change in Freddie's attitude. In 1981, after a lavish party in Freddie's home, he falls for Jim Hutton (Aaron McCusker), one of the waiters at the party who has stayed back late to help clear up. After a couple of drinks early into the morning they part company, with Jim telling Freddie to look for him when he learns to like himself . . . a noticeable issue that had led to the rift between him, Brian, Roger and John.

The band's press conference to promote the release of their 1982 album 'Hot Space' is doggedly and aggressively hijacked by the press, who bombard Freddie with questions about his personal life and his sexual leanings, rather than concentrating on the music much to Brian's disdain. Freddie bites back in no uncertain terms to the gathered room of Reporters all of whom are frantically clicking away with their cameras. Shortly afterwards, he fires John Reid very unceremoniously for courting CBS Records behind his back for a solo deal worth US$4M and a commitment to two albums. At this point, Freddie recruits the band's long term Lawyer, Jim 'Miami' Beach (Tom Hollander) to carry the mantle as their Manager too, which he accepts. 

Over time Freddie's relationship with his band mates goes progressively south. He then announces that he signed a US$4M deal with CBS Records to go solo. In a heated argument in which he does his best to alienate his former band members and 'family' forever, he walks out on them all. He moves to Munich in 1984 to work on his first solo album, with which he struggles, and later by his own admission does not have the same creative chemistry with his new band as he did have with Queen. While in Munich he hosts non-stop drug and alcohol fuelled gay orgies with Paul. Paul meanwhile refuses to pass on telephone messages from Jim Beach or Mary who have been desperately trying to reach him. One night in the pouring rain, Mary pays him an unexpected visit and urges him to return to the band, as they have been offered a spot in Bob Geldof's African Famine Relief benefit concert 'Live Aid' at London's Wembley Stadium. Upon hearing that Paul withheld this news from him, Freddie instantly severs ties with him as Mary pulls away in her taxi to go home. Out of bitter retaliation, Paul goes public about Freddie's sexual proclivities on primetime Television. With AIDS spreading seemingly rapidly around the world, Freddie secretly has himself medically checked out and learns that he is infected with the disease.

Freddie hastily returns to London to ask for forgiveness from his band mates and Manager Jim Beach for his behaviour, for alienating them, and for thinking that he was better off without them. Freddie is prepared to make almost any concessions to get them back together and to get them a slot at the Live Aid Concert. They reconcile and are given a last-minute slot by event organiser Bob Geldof (Dermot Murphy). Immediately following a rehearsal for the concert, Freddie reveals to Brian, Roger, John and Jim that he has AIDS. They are devastated by this news, but Freddie puts on a brave face saying that now he will live everyday as he was meant to, and that together they will punch a hole in the sky when they perform on stage in front of a global audience of 1.4 billion people. On the day of Live Aid, he reunites beforehand with Jim Hutton and Mary, and then reconnects with his family at their home with his new 'friend' Hutton. Queen's Live Aid performance is a huge success as Freddie has the global audience eating out of his hand. By the time Queen come off stage after their twenty minute set, Bob Geldof's target of one million pounds raised for the day, is surpassed by late afternoon for the UK event alone - attributed in no small degree to the power of Queen's performance.

Freddie died on 24th November 1991 at the age of 45 from bronchopneumonia as a complication of AIDS. Just ahead of the closing credits, we are told that following his death, Jim Beach and Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon organised The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness, the proceeds of which were used to launch 'The Mercury Phoenix Trust'. The organisation has been active ever since and the current Trustees are Brian May, Roger Taylor, Jim Beach, and Freddie's closest friend and former girlfriend Mary Austin.



I enjoyed 'Bohemian Rhapsody' more than I thought I would, and I think you will too. Exploring the life of the great showman, Rami Malek puts in a convincing turn as Queen's frontman, as does Gwilym Lee as Brian May especially. Whilst their more popular songs are explored in some detail from inception to recorded end product - 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'We Will Rock You', 'Another One Bites the Dust', 'Love of My Life', much of their other equally notable back catalogue is merely glossed over, and I couldn't help thinking as well, that so too were the struggles the band endured over time, and the triumphs they celebrated. That said, we gain an insight into Freddie Mercury into what made him the man and the rock icon he was/is, his inner demons, his fears, his anxieties and the deep loneliness he felt despite his fame and fortune. As for Brian, Roger and John, we gain no such insight, but don't let that detach from the films impact because their performances are all solid too. The films closing Live Aid sequence to which all events lead us to this point on 13th July 1985 is authentically and faithfully recreated and if, like me, you grew up in the era of Queen and sat glued to your TV for every minute of Live Aid back in '85, or simply like their music which still endures to this day, then this is surely a must see film for you.

'Bohemian Rhapsody' warrants four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard, from a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st November 2018.

In October 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 . . . . Scott Wilson, Arnold Kopelson, James Karen, Audrey Wells and Danny Leiner.

* James Karen - Born 28th November 1923, died 23rd October 2018, aged 94. Born Jacob Karnofsky, he was an American Actor of stage, television and films who amassed 204 acting credits to his name and remained active in the industry across seven decades right up to the time of his death where he was filming and lending his voice talents to a new animated television series titled 'Sticky Fingers'. His other more noteworthy film roles over the years included the likes of the Arnold Schwarzenegger debut of 1970 'Hercules in New York', and then 'All the President's Men', 'Capricorn One', 'The China Syndrome', 'The Jazz Singer', 'Poltergeist', 'Jagged Edge', 'Wall Street', 'Return of the Living Dead : Part II', 'Invaders from Mars', 'Piranha', 'Nixon', 'Up Close & Personal', 'Behind Enemy Lines', 'Apt Pupil', 'Any Given Sunday', 'Thirteen Days', 'Mulholland Drive' and 'The Pursuit of Happyness'. In between time there were also countless guest appearances on television shows including 'Starsky & Hutch', 'The Waltons', 'The Streets of San Francisco', 'The Rockford Files', 'Dallas', 'Dynasty', 'Cheers', 'Beverly Hills, 90210', 'The Practice' and 'First Monday' to name but a  few. In 1998 Karen was awarded a Life Career Award by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA.

* Danny Leiner - Born 13th May 1961, died 18th October 2018, aged 57. An American Director, Producer and Writer, who had thirty-one Directing credits to his name, six as Producer and two as Writer. He feature film debut came in 1996 with the comedy 'Layin' Low', which he followed up with 'Dude, Where's My Car' in 2000, 'Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle' in 2004, 'The Great New Wonderful' in 2005 amongst others. In between time he Directed television episodes of the likes of 'Freaks and Geeks', 'Party of Five', 'Gilmore Girls', 'Arrested Development', 'The Sopranos', 'The Office', 'Backwash' and most recently 'Selfie'.

 * Arnold Kopelson - Born 14th February 1935, died 8th October 2018, aged 83. An American Film and Television Producer, Kopelson during his career Produced thirty-one movies that have collectively accounted for seventeen Academy Award nominations and over US$3B in worldwide cinema ticket sales. He was bestowed with an Academy Award for Best Picture, a Golden Globe Award, and an Independent Spirit Award, all for his production of 'Platoon' in 1986, and also received a Best Picture Academy Award nomination for his production of 'The Fugitive' in 1993. His other notable film Producer credits include 'Porky's', 'Out for Justice', 'Falling Down', 'Outbreak', 'Se7en', 'Eraser', 'Murder at 1600', 'The Devil's Advocate', 'U.S. Marshalls', 'A Perfect Murder', 'Don't Say a Word' and 'Twisted'. He also lectured over the years on filmmaking at Harvard Business School, American Film Institute, New York Law School, the Writers Guild of America, University of Southern California, and University of California at Los Angeles, among others, and also authored several articles about film financing.

* Scott Wilson - Born William Delano Wilson on 29th March 1942, and died 6th October 2018, aged 76. With a career as a film and television Actor spanning six decades he amassed eighty-one Acting credits over those years and was the recipient of three award wins and another six nominations including a Golden Globe nod as Best Supporting Actor in the 1980 film 'The Ninth Configuration'. He scored his big screen role in 1967's 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'In Cold Blood' later that same year. Other notable film appearances over the years included 'The Gypsy Moths', 'The Great Gatsby', 'The Right Stuff', 'The Aviator', 'Johnny Handsome', 'The Exorcist III', 'Young Guns II', 'Judge Dredd', 'Dead Man Walking', 'G.I.Jane', 'The Way of the Gun', 'Pearl Harbour', 'Monster', 'The Last Samurai', 'The Heartbreak Kid', 'Radio Free Albemuth' and most recently 'Hostiles'. In between time there were numerous television appearances, perhaps the most noteworthy being as Hershel Green in thirty-two episodes of 'The Walking Dead'.

* Audrey Wells - Born 29th April 1960, died 4th October 2018, aged 58. An American Screenwriter, Director and Producer who wrote a number of successful Screenplays and Directed two films for which she had also created the script. Her works were mostly of the comedies and/or romantic film genre. Her credits take in two as Producer ('The Truth About Cats & Dogs' from 1996 and 'Under the Tuscan Sun' from 2003), two as Director ('Guinevere' from 1999 and 'Under the Tuscan Sun') and ten as Writer (including the three already mentioned, plus 'George of the Jungle', 'The Kid', 'Shall We Dance', 'The Game Plan', 'A Dog's Purpose' and most recently 'The Hate U Give'.

This week, we give you six new excuses to get out amongst the movie going public to your local multiplex or independent theatre, kicking off with a biographical offering about an iconic British rock band of the '70's and '80's and its flamboyant front man that helped define a generation, and whose influence is still being felt today. We then turn to an action thriller that sees the crew of one of Uncle Sam's submarines pitch up against the Ruskies to prevent WWIII from occurring; before a change of pace that takes us to small town Montana in the '60's and the impact that marital challenges has on the young teenage son of the couple facing those struggles. Next we have another documentary from this famed and often controversial Director, Writer and Producer this time examining the impact on the American people of the Trump administration; and then there is a South Korean offering of a historical zombie actioner nature; before wrapping up the week with a little known animated story of how three of our beloved fairytale Princesses come to be hooked up with same Prince Charming.

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

'BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY' (Rated M) - in a different turn here for film and television Director, Producer and Writer Bryan Singer, here he Directs this biographical offering about the British rock band 'Queen', and in particular its front man, showman, and lead singer Freddie Mercury. Bryan Singer's previous Directorial outings take in the likes of 'The Usual Suspects', 'Apt Pupil', 'X-Men', 'X2', 'Superman Returns', 'Valkyrie', 'X-Men : Days of Future Past' and more recently 'X-Men : Apocalypse'. The film was first announced back in 2010 by Brian May in a BBC interview. Since then various Directors and lead Actors have come and gone including Dexter Fletcher to Direct and Sasha Baron-Cohen and Ben Whishaw to portray Freddie Mercury. Dexter Fletcher went on to conclude filming as Director after Bryan Singer was fired for being persona non grata and for clashes with the cast and crew, although Singer gets the full credit as Director and Fletcher as Executive Producer. The film saw its World Premier screening in London on 23rd October, went on general release in the UK the next day, and is release here in Australia and the US this week. The film cost US$52M to Produce and has so far grossed US$13M.

The film charts the meteoric rise of Queen through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unrivalled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie (Rami Malek), surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of a solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie successfully reunites with his bandmates Brian May (Gwilym Lee), Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy) and John Deacon (Jospeh Mazzello) just in time for Live Aid in July 1985. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. The film also stars Aiden Gillen, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers and various others portraying well knows singers and musicians of the era. If, like me, you grew up in the era of Queen and sat glued to your TV for every minute of Live Aid back in '85, then this is surely a must see film.

'HUNTER KILLER' (Rated MA15+) - this American action thriller is Directed by Donovan Marsh who has also been known to Write, Edit and Produce some of his previous big and small screen works. Here he has based this film on the 2012 novel 'Firing Point' by George Wallace and Don Keith, and from the looks of his back catalogue this is his first big screen Hollywood outing with big named stars at his disposal. Set largely in the murky depths deep under the Arctic Ocean, American submarine Captain Joe Glass (Gerard Butler) is on the hunt for a U.S. sub in distress when he discovers a secret Russian coup is being planned which potentially threatens to destabilise the order of things globally. With crew and country on the line, Captain Glass must now assemble an elite group of Navy SEALs to sneak though enemy waters and rescue the kidnapped Russian President, who has been captured by his own Defence Minister, to stop WWIII from happening. Also starring Gary Oldman, Toby Stephens, Common, David Gyasi and Michael Nyqvist in one of his last film roles having passed away in June last year. The film was released last week in the US, cost US$40M to bring to the big screen, has is far grossed US$12M and has received generally mixed Reviews.

'WILDLIFE' (Rated M) - this highly acclaimed American drama film is Directed and Co-Written by Paul Dano in his Directorial debut, and is based on the 1990 novel of the same name written by Richard Ford. Here, fourteen year old Joe (Ed Oxenbould) is the only child of Jeanette, a housewife and mother, and Jerry Brinson, a golfing professional and father (Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal respectively) living in small town Montana in the '60's. An uncontrolled forest fire rages out of control close to the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job, and his sense of being, he elects to join the fire fighting crew, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves. Suddenly forced very quickly to grow up and accept some responsibility, Joe witnesses his mother's struggle as she tries to keep her head above water, and she falls for another man in her husbands absence, the fallout of which sends the already struggling family unit to breaking point. The film Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year, went on general release in the US in mid-October and has been universally acclaimed - in particular for Paul Dano's fine Directing efforts and also for Carey Mulligan's and Jake Gyllenhaal's strong performances.

'FAHRENHEIT 11/9' (Rated M) - here noted Documentarian Michael Moore is back at it again with all verve, vigour and vim that make his films so compelling. Here once more he Directs, Co-Produces, Writes and Narrates his way through his chosen journey this time, having predicted that Donald Trump would become the 45th President of the United States. Travelling across the country, Moore interviews the American public to get a feel for the social, economic and political impact of Trump's Presidency so far. Moore also takes a deep dive into the media, the Electoral College, the government agenda and his hometown of Flint, Michigan. This documentary explores two principle questions - how the US progressed to the Trump Presidency? and how to 'get out' of the era of the Trump administration? The title of the film is derived from the date when Trump's 2016 Presidential win was announced - the 9th November. The film Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in August this year, went on general release in the US in late September, has so far recovered US$5M from its US$6M production budget, and has received generally favourable Reviews.

'RAMPANT' (Rated MA15+) - out on limited release at selected cinemas is this South Korean historical action zombie offering from Director Kim Sung-hoon. The film tells the story of our hero, Yi Chung (Hyun Bin) who is rather partial to a bit of boozing, gambling and womanising and who in his spare time battles against 'Night Demons' to save the Joseon peoples and their nation. Yi Chung is the son of the King, and is renowned as the greatest martial artist in the world and is particular adept with a sword. Although he was handed over to the Qing Empire as a political prisoner, he returns home after ten years when his brother, the Crown Prince Yi Young (Kim Tae-woo), calls upon him after all these years to help thwart the evil bloodthirsty Night Demons that plague the country by night once and for all. Also starring Hyun Bin, Jang Dong-gun and Lee Sun-bin in other pivotal roles.

'CHARMING' (Rated G) - this animated musical comedy film is Directed and Written by Ross Venokur and was released in Spain back in April this year, cost US$20M to make and has so far grossed US$5M although no US release date has yet been confirmed. Telling the unknown, previously top secret, highly confidential and to some most upsetting story of Snow White (Avril Lavigne), Cinderella (Ashley Tisdale) and Sleeping Beauty (G.E.M.) who discover that they are all engaged to the same Prince Charming (Wilmer Valderrama). Shock horror, how could this be? After a Fairy Godmother (John Cleese) spills a large amount of charm dust on Charming, the Prince, led by the Lenore (Demo Lovato), a woman who is incapable of love, must embark on an epic journey of adventure and discovery to find his one truest of all loves. Also starring the voice talents of Sia and Steve Aoki.

With six 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-