What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 23rd October 2025.

The 12th annual Doc'n Roll Film Festival takes place this year from Thursday 23rd October through until Sunday 9th November. Doc'n Roll is a women-led film agency that platforms and champions marginal voices in the music industry - we are passionate about independent film and music of all genres. Our mission is to celebrate music subcultures by providing a unique platform to support creative, compelling and unforgettable documentaries that celebrate the performers, labels, scenes and stories. Doc'n Roll began life in 2013, when we launched the UK's Music & Arts Documentary Film Festival as an arts discovery film fest, convinced it was time to show some love to outlier music, arts and subculture documentaries that were all too often ignored by risk-averse film programmers. Now some 10+ years on, via our now UK-wide annual festival, one-off events and special screenings, we provide our audience with the opportunity to watch these killer documentaries in ace cinemas, as they were designed to be watched : LOUD. Doc'n Roll programmes encore event screenings and special one-off premieres year-round in the UK. Additionally, Doc'n Roll screens in Dublin, Amsterdam, New York City, San Francisco and Dubai. The 12th edition of Doc'n Roll Film Festival UK & Ireland, our headline festival, runs across ten of the city's best-loved cinemas. It will open at Barbican Cinemas and close at BFI Southbank, with additional screenings in Dublin and Brighton . . . . so reads the official website.

The feature films being showcased at this years Doc'n Roll Film Festival are as follows :-

* 'Butthole Surfers : The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt' - from the USA and Directed by Tom Stern. The film traces how two accounting students from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, found solidarity in their shared strangeness, gathered a tribe of like-minded outsiders - queers, weirdos, and nonconformists, including the unforgettable naked performance artist/dancer Kathleen Lynch - and launched one of the most radical and unpredictable paths in rock history. UK Premiere.

* 'A Way To Die : The Short-Films of COIL' - from France and Directed by Xavier Laradji and Maxime Lachaud. After paying tribute to and introducing the photographic and pictorial work of Peter Christopherson (1955-2010) and John Balance (1962-2004) to a larger audience, founding members of the cult formation COIL, Timeless editions have had the duo’s filmed archives restored, from their early films in adolescence in the early 1970's to the more accomplished works of the 1980's/90's, uncovering a first-rate cinematic body of work. UK Premiere.

* 'I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol' - from the USA and Directed by Nick Mead and Andre Relis. A compelling filmic setting for the wry, honest and often hilarious firsthand stories of Glen Matlock, the founding member of the Sex Pistols who co-wrote ten of the twelve iconic songs on their only studio album, 'Never Mind the Bollocks', only to have his contributions later downplayed. Hear his account of the Pistols’ rise in a frank, insightful portrait of a group of malcontents determined to change the music business and attack society’s hypocrisy and stale conventions. UK Premiere.

* 'Big Mama Thornton : I Can't Be Anyone But Me' - from the USA and Directed by Robert Clem. Willie Mae 'Big Mama' Thornton was a major figure in American popular music for forty years. From a rural Alabama background, she defied gender norms, wore jeans, a cowboy hat and boots, stood over six feet tall and weighed as much as 300 pounds. Mike Stoller tells us it was her demeanor - and the two scars on her forehead - that inspired him and Jerry Lieber to write 'Hound Dog' expressly for her. After Hound Dog became a #1 R&B hit in 1952, she won acclaim in Europe as part of the American Folk Blue Festival. She was a major part of the US blues revival in the late 60's and 70's with her unique style of performing, her humour and her rawness were a hit at festivals and clubs all over America and in Europe. UK Premiere.

* 'Para Vivir : The Implacable Times of Pablo Milanes' - from Mexico, Spain and the USA and Directed by Fabien Pisani. A deeply personal portrait of Cuban music icon Pablo Milanes, captured in self-imposed exile during his final years. Milanes, co-founder of the Nueva Trova movement with Silvio Rodriguez, was a major voice in Cuba's revolutionary cultural movement. This film combines interviews with musical luminaries such as Serrat, Chico Buarque, Harry Belafonte and Fito Paez, alongside intimate moments of Milanes in his final years, looking frail and reflecting on the fading Cuban Utopia.

* 'Sound of a Dream : Lee Burridge' - from the USA and Directed by Hoj Jomehri. This intimate portrait follows underground DJ Lee Burridge, whose lifelong goal has been to bring people together through music. Blending cinematic storytelling, rare archival footage and access to Burridge’s inner world, the film traces a 40-year journey from a small seaside village in Dorset to some of the world’s most iconic stages, from Fabric London to Burning Man and Coachella. Burridge’s story is one of persistence and passion, and also impermanence. World Premiere.
* 'In Time : Donal Lunny' - from Ireland and Directed by Nuala O'Connor. Donal Lunny is one of Ireland’s most outstanding artists, and this is the first film account of his life - a portrait that reveals his peerless contribution to Irish culture and music. A founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts, Lunny played a central role in reviving and transforming Irish traditional and folk music for new generations. International Premiere.

* 'Felix Dare to Dream' - from Italy and Directed by Valerio Bariletti and Morgan Bertacca. The story of Felix Leu is one of defiance, creativity, and the search for freedom. A fascinating story of an existential journey - that of Felix Leu, artist, pioneer of modern tattooing, and patriarch of one of the most iconic and respected families on the international scene - the Leu Family, a bohemian clan that turned freedom and creativity into their way of life. UK Premiere.

* 'Nash the Slash Rises Again' - from Canada and Directed by Tim Kowalski. In the late 1970s, Nash the Slash emerged as one of music’s true enigmas, an electric violinist and sonic alchemist blending classical finesse with punk rebellion. From scoring Un Chien Andalou live to mesmerising audiences with his analog arsenal, Nash pushed the boundaries of performance and sound. His singular vision drew him to the UK, signing with Richard Branson’s DinDisc alongside Gary Numan, yet his refusal to compromise collided with the industry’s demands. Returning to Toronto, he embarked on wild adventures with Iggy Pop and forged a path beyond rock, composing for films, installations, and silent cinema. World Premiere.

* 'The Big Johnson' - from the USA and Directed by Lola Rocknrolla. Dean Johnson was a famous New York drag queen, rock star, sex party promoter and late in life escort. In 2007 Dean went on a job and never came back. Was it just an accidental OD, Dean had a history of drug use or was it something more sinister? Another escort died in the same apartment four days earlier. The mystery of his death is only part of Dean Johnson's wild life. Dean was the first in many things, the first bald drag queen, the first to throw sex parties in the 80's during the AIDS crisis, the first openly gay singer on Island records (which cost him his record deal). The first and only person to throw a LGBTQ party at the iconic rock club CBGBs. International Premiere.

* 'Monk in Pieces' - from the USA, Germany and France and Directed by Billy Shebar and David C. Roberts. Meredith Monk - composer, performer, and interdisciplinary artist – is one of the great artistic pioneers of our time, yet her profound cultural influence is largely unrecognised. With Monk’s music at its centre, and featuring interviews with Bjork and David Byrne, Monk in Pieces is a mosaic that mirrors the structure of Monk’s own work, and illuminates her wildly original vocabulary of sound and imagery. UK Premiere.

* 'Tony Foster : Painting at the Edge' - from the USA and Directed by David C. Schendel. Award-winning visual artist Tony Foster has spent nine of the past thirty-five years living in a tadpole tent, using his art as a platform to advocate for the conservation of wild land and raise awareness of climate change. Part explorer, part artist, he routinely risks his life to find the perfect undiscovered landscape. He does not use photography or sketches but paints on site, often in the most difficult weather and uncomfortable circumstances. World Premiere.

* 'Chasing Rainbows : My Visual Duet with Jimmy Scott' - from the USA and Directed by Storm Di Scozia. A 30-years in the making duet between a legendary American jazz singer (Jimmy Scott) and a Scottish rock singer (Storm Di Scozia) in 2014, setting in motion an incredible adventure that will shed light on the extraordinary career and life of Cleveland's most beloved singer, Jimmy Scott, and his biggest fan, Scottish rock singer Storm Di Scozia. UK Premiere.

* 'A Beautiful Place - Lebanon Hanover' - from the Netherlands and Directed by Isolde Woudstra. Taking us on an intimate journey with darkwave icons Lebanon Hanover during their 2024 tour. As the enigmatic duo, William Maybelline and Larissa Iceglass, traverse Europe playing electrifying shows in Bristol, London, Paris, and Berlin, the film unveils the raw emotion behind their haunting sound while exploring the deep, symbiotic bond between the band and their devoted fans, capturing the essence of melancholy, passion, and connection. UK Premiere.

* 'Pieces of Heaven : Porridge Radio' - from the UK and Directed by Ella Margolin. Filmed at the Centre Pompidou in 2024 to mark the release of the band’s final album, 'Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me'. Led by songwriter Dana Margolin, it moves through inertia, heartbreak and dysphoria as she distils over a decade of music into one unforgettable hour. World Premiere.

* 'Boy George & Culture Club' - from the USA and the UK and Directed by Alison Ellwood. A provocative, chaotic and impossibly fun look at one of music’s most groundbreaking bands. An intimate portrait of Culture Club’s rise to fame, dramatic split, and remarkable reunion for the film. For the first time, Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss come together to share their story, offering candid insights into their creative process and personal relationships, and the band’s towering cultural impact. UK Premiere.

* 'Move Ya Body : The Birth of House' - from the USA and Directed by Elegance Bratton. A celebration of the new sound that emerged from the underground clubs of Chicago’s South Side, which sparked a global movement of joy, freedom and radical togetherness. Young Chicagoan Vince Lawrence embarked on a journey that would change music history. From his father’s record store to the underground clubs of the South Side, Vince and a group of visionary friends experimented with drum machines and synthesisers, crafting a revolutionary new sound - house music.

* 'Scab Vendor : The Life and Times of Jonathan Shaw' - from the USA and Directed by Mariana Thome and Lucas Barros. Scab Vendor is a documentary exploring the extraordinary life of Jonathan Shaw whose youth was marked by rebellion against his glamorous lineage and his mother’s alcoholism. After a near-fatal heroin overdose in his 20's, Shaw embarked on a transformative journey by hitchhiking from Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro, honing his craft under legendary old-school tattoo masters, and ultimately redefining tattoo culture. UK Premiere.
* 'Rockers Don't Stop : The Revival of Rockers Revenge' - from the USA and Directed by Arthur Baker. A comeback story with grit and groove. New York's 1980's Dance pioneers Rockers Revenge reunite decades later to finally record their debut album, transforming nostalgia into a powerful journey of friendship, resilience, and unfinished dreams. From the front lines of New York’s COVID crisis to the pulse of Black Lives Matter, their music channels loss, hope, and defiance. World Premiere.

* 'How Tanita Tikaram Became a Liar' - from the UK and Directed by Natacha Horn. Revealing the maverick music icon as never before, Tikaram delivers, in her own words, a raw, political, and personal account of life as a brown, queer woman growing up in the UK - echoing the themes of her new album LIAR (Love Isn’t A Right), the sequel to her multi-million selling debut Ancient Heart. World Premiere.

For the details of the Short Film also being screened, and a whole lot of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://www.docnrollfestival.com

Turning the focus back on this weeks six hot new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we launch with a gothic Sci-Fi film based on a classic early 19th Century novel that has been made into countless movies over the last almost one hundred years and surrounds a brilliant albeit self obsessed scientist who creates a living breathing monster that ultimately leads to the undoing of both of them. Next up is a biographical musical drama charting the early years of this New Jersey Rocker while crafting his 1982 album 'Nebraska', which emerged as he recorded 'Born in the USA' with the E Street Band. Then we turn to a drama set in the 1970's in a sedate corner of Massachusetts, an unemployed carpenter turned amateur art thief plans his first big heist, but when things go haywire, his life unravels. This is followed by a psychological black comedy about two men who lost their respective twin brothers develop a growing friendship after meeting in a support group. Up next is a drama offering from a first time Director about an octogenarian woman who transitions to life in assisted living as she contends with her conflicting relationship to herself and her caregivers; before closing out the week with a romantic drama film that centres on the strained relationship between a young mother and her teenage daughter, exacerbated by the mothers husbands tragic death.

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.

'FRANKENSTEIN' (Rated MA15+) - is an American gothic Sci-Fi film that is Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Guillermo del Toro and is based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel of the same name. del Toro's previous feature film output includes his feature film debut in 1992 with 'Cronos' and then the likes of 'Mimic' in 1997, 'The Devil's Backbone' in 2001, 'Hellboy' in 2004, 'Pan's Labyrinth' in 2006, 'Hellboy II : The Golden Army' in 2008, 'Crimson Peak' in 2015, 'The Shape of Water' in 2017, 'Nightmare Alley' in 2021 and 'Pinocchio' in 2022. This film had its World Premiere in the main competition at this years Venice International Film Festival in early September, is followed by a limited cinema release from 17th October and a global release on Netflix on 7th November. 

A brilliant but egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) brings a creature (Jacob Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. Also starring Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, Christoph Waltz, Charles Dance, Lauren Collins, Ralph Ineson and Burn Gorman. The film has generated largely favourable critical reviews, and cost US$120M to produce.

'SPRINGSTEEN : DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE' (Rated M) - this American biographical musical drama film is Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Scott Cooper who made his Directorial debut with the critically acclaimed 'Crazy Heart' in 2009 and would go on to Direct 'Out of the Furnace' in 2013, 'Black Mass' in 2015, 'Hostiles' in 2017, 'Antlers' in 2021 and 'The Pale Blue Eye' in 2022. This film is based on the 2023 book 'Deliver Me from Nowhere' by Warren Zanes. This film chronicles the making of Bruce Springsteen's 1982 album 'Nebraska' when he was a young musician (Jeremy Allen White) on the cusp of global superstardom, struggling to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past. Recorded on a 4-track recorder in Springsteen's New Jersey bedroom, the album marked a pivotal time in his life and is considered one of his most enduring works, servings as a stark, somber acoustic record portraying the lives of blue-collar workers who try to succeed in life but fail at every turn, while searching for a deliverance that never comes. Also starring Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Graham, Odessa Young, Gaby Hoffman and Marc Maron. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Telluride Film Festival at the end of August with its US and Australian release this week. It has received positive reviews from critics.

'THE MASTERMIND' (Rated M) - is a US and UK Co-Production that is Written, Directed and Edited by Kelly Reichardt who made her feature film Directorial debut with 'River of Grass' in 1994 and went on to Direct the likes of 'Old Joy' in 2006, 'Meek's Cutoff' in 2010, 'Night Moves' in 2013, 'Certain Women' in 2016, 'First Cow' in 2019 and 'Showing Up' in 2022. In a sedate Massachusetts suburb circa 1970, unemployed family man, carpenter and amateur art thief James Blaine Mooney (Josh O'Connor) sets out on his first heist. With the museum cased and accomplices recruited, he has an airtight plan to steal four paintings. Or so he thinks. When holding onto the art proves more difficult than stealing them, Mooney is relegated to a life on the run. Also starring Alana Haim, Hope Davis, Bill Camp, John Magaro and Gaby Hoffman. The film had its World Premiere at the main competition of this years Cannes Film Festival in late May, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or. It was released Stateside last week, has received generally positive critical reviews, and has so far grossed US$104K.

'TWINLESS' (Rated MA15+) - this American psychological black comedy film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars James Sweeney in only his second feature film outing following 2019's 'Straight Up'. Here, two young men meet in a support group for twinless twins and form an unlikely friendship. Roman (Dylan O'Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney) both search for solace and an identity without their other halves and soon become inseparable outside the group. But when Roman meets Dennis' ebullient co-worker, Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), all is revealed to be not what it seems, as each man harbours secrets that could unravel everything. The film saw its World Premiere in the US Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year where it won the Audience Award, went on release Stateside in early September, has so far grossed US$1.3M and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'FAMILIAR TOUCH' (Rated M) - is an American drama film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Sarah Friedland in her feature film making debut. The film follows an octogenarian woman Ruth Goldman (Kathleen Chalfant) as she transitions to life in an assisted living facility contending with her relationship to herself and her caregivers while dealing with cognitive decline. It had its World Premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in early September 2024 in the Horizons section, where Director Sarah Friedland won the Luigi de Laurentiis Lion of the Future prize for best first film, alongside the Best Director award, while Kathleen Chalfant won the Best Actress award. It was released in the US in mid-June this year, has so far grossed US$258K and has garnered universal critical acclaim.

'REGRETTING YOU' (Rated M) - this romantic drama film is Directed by Josh Boone in his fourth feature film making effort following his debut in 2012 with 'Stuck in Love', then 'The Fault in Our Stars' in 2014, and 'The New Mutants' in 2020. This film is based on the 2019 novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover. Here, Morgan Grant (Allison Williams) and her daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace) whose relationship is already strained, are forced to explore what's left behind after a devastating accident resulting in the tragic death of Morgan's husband Chris (Scott Eastwood), reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover each other. Also starring Dave Franco, Mason Thames, Willa Fitzgerald and Clancy Brown. The film is released in the US this week too.

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 week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th November 2022.

The second edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival runs this year from Thursday 1st December through until Saturday 10th December and is held in Jeddah in western Saudi Arabia. The RSIFF is for film lovers, filmmakers, and the global film industry. The Red Sea Film Foundation is an independent, non-profit organisation created to support the film industry in Saudi Arabia in the production and distribution of films, as well as education on cinema. The Foundation’s initiatives support the ambitious plans for the Kingdom in the entertainment industries, with its pillars of a vibrant society, an ambitious nation and a thriving economy. This festival is a unique and powerful platform for celebrating film, connecting cultures, and expanding our horizons. Much more than a film-watching event - it is a diverse and comprehensive platform that celebrates every facet of filmmaking. These ideas of celebration, connection, and cultural exchange made their way into this year’s theme : 'FILM IS EVERYTHING'. A bold, cinematic, progressive and cultural ten-day festival for film lovers, storytellers, and industry professionals from around the globe, so the official website reads.

The Opening Night Gala film presentation is 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' Directed by Shekhar Kapur and stars Lily James and Shazad Latif in the story of two people from different cultures who fall in love. The Closing Night film is Khaled Fahd’s Saudi feature 'Valley Road', about a man from a Saudi village who is believed to have a disability; and only his sister recognises his difference is what elevates him.

The Festival is divided into eleven sections, with each programme expertly curated by a team of internationally renowned programmers, delivering the best in Arab and world cinema, television, and VR to engaged Saudi and global audiences. The Red Sea Competition values all cinematic forms, from narrative to animation and documentary, featuring works from Asia and Africa, including the Arab world. It presents challenging cinematic works with innovative filmmaking and great storytelling by emerging and established voices, celebrated with generous prizes awarded by an international jury. There are fourteen feature films in competition, these being :-

* 'A Childless Village' - from Iran and Directed by Reza Jamali. Kazem, an elderly film-maker, tried to shoot a documentary twenty years before this film takes place in a remote Azeri village where the women, who were all childless, were presumed to be sterile. His film was never completed, and the village women, anxious to preserve their dignity, burnt the footage. Two decades later, when it is established that it is the men who were and are infertile, Kazem decides to go back with his camera.

* 'A Summer in Boujad' - from Morocco, France and Belgium and Directed by Omar Mouldouira. Seven years after the death of his mother, thirteen-year-old Karim has left Paris for Morocco with his father Messaoud, who has remarried and decided to return to his homeland. After a year at a French boarding school in Casablanca, Karim joins the newly blended family – including his new half-brother, stepmother and his father’s mother-in-law - for the summer in Boujad, a small town in central Morocco.

* 'Before Now and Then' - from Indonesia and Directed by Kamila Andini. Set in West Java, Nana finds refuge in a second marriage after losing her family to war in the 1940's. Then, she befriends her second husband's mistress, Ino, together seeking for the meaning of freedom.

* 'Dirty Difficult Dangerous' - from France, Italy, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Directed by Wissam Charaf. Set in Beirut, Lebanon, an impossible love story unfolds between an Ethiopian housemaid and a Syrian refugee whose body is undergoing mysterious changes.

* 'Hanging Gardens' - from Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, UK and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji. When a young Iraqi rubbish picker rescues an American sex doll from the Baghdad dumps, he crosses into a perilous red zone, where friends become enemies and nothing is certain in an explosive mix of love, war and madness.

* 'Harka' - from Tunisia, France and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Lotfy Nathan. Ali is barely making a living selling contraband gasoline. The young impoverished Tunisian all of a sudden finds himself in charge of his two sisters following the death of his father. 

* 'Mountain Onion' - from Kazakhstan and Directed by Eldar Shibanov. The story of the growing up of eleven-year-old Dzhabai, who sells mountain onions on the highway, and who finds his mother with his idol, a truck driver. He then goes off to a remote corner of China with his little sister for the so called Golden Viagra for his father, so that he can regain his position as the man of the family.

* 'Next Sohee' - from South Korea and Directed by July Jung. High school student Sohee starts a job training at a call centre, but she faces the pressure of greedy company only interested in their balance sheet, which ultimately leads to her death. Detective Oh Yu-jin, who has something in common with Sohee starts to follow the clues to reveal the truth.

* 'Nezouh' - from the UK, Syria and France and Directed by Soudade Kaadan. Even as bombs fall on Damascus, Mutaz refuses to flee to the uncertain life of a refugee. His wife, Hala, and daughter, Zeina, must make the choice whether to stay or leave.

* 'Our Lady of the Chinese Shop' - from Angola and Directed by Ery Claver. When a Chinese merchant brings to a neighbourhood of Luanda a peculiar holy plastic figure of Our Lady, a mourning mother will seek peace, a committed barber starts a new cult and a stray kid will look for revenge for his lost friend.

* 'Raven Song' - from Saudi Arabia and Directed by Mohamed Al-Salman. At the age of thirty, Nasser is drifting, convinced his father doesn't understand him. His life comes into sharp focus, however, when he is diagnosed with a brain tumour. At the same time, he meets and becomes infatuated with a striking but enigmatic young woman and must make some rapid decisions before he undergoes risky neurosurgery.

* 'Shimoni' - from Kenya and Directed by Angela Wanjiku Wamai. A teacher newly released from prison after seven years renegotiates the confines of the physical world while forced to face his nightmare in the flesh.

* 'The Last Queen' - from Algeria, France and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Damien Ounouri and Adila Bendimerad. In 1516, Algerian King Salim Toumi accepted the help of feared pirate Aroudj Barbarossa to liberate Algiers from Spanish occupation, only to die in mysterious circumstances once the city was secure. The next day, Barbarossa proposed marriage to Salim's Queen Zaphira, having already vowed to his crew that he intended to take Salim's palace, horse and wife. Zaphira, who may or may not have existed but, whose passion and determination became the stuff of legend - proved more than a match for him.

* 'Within Sand' - from Saudi Arabia and Directed by Mohammed Alatawi. When 'Snam' gets ambushed by a group of thieves and leave him for dead, he finds himself lost in the Saudi desert. While his pregnant wife, Halla is about to give birth to their first child, he finds himself being followed by a lone wolf.

For the Short Film Competition details and the other programme strands, plus a whole lot more besides, you can go to the official website at : https://redseafilmfest.com/en/

Turning attention back to this weeks eight new release movies gracing a big screen Odeon near you, we kick start with a murder mystery that is a stand alone sequel to a successful 2019 film that sees our famed Southern US detective traveling to a Greek island for his latest case. Then we have a young couple who travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. Next up is a story of first love between a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and an intense and disenfranchised drifter. This is followed by a historical telling of a Queen who in 1402 is ruling over Sweden, Norway and Denmark through her adopted son, but a conspiracy is in the making and the Queen finds herself in an impossible dilemma that could shatter her life's work. Following on we have a darker version of the classic children's fairy tale of a wooden puppet that transforms into a real living boy; before a story of a real estate agent, who after reaching a crossroads in her life, decides to trade in her career for one in the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. Then we turn to a cinephiles roller-coaster ride through the rise, fall and re-birth of projected film; before closing out the week with an animated action adventure offering that sees the legendary Clades family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

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

'GLASS ONION : A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY' (Rated M) - this American murder mystery film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rian Johnson whose previous film making credits take in his big screen debut with 'Brick' in 2005, then 'The Brothers Bloom' in 2008, 'Looper' in 2012, 'Star Wars : Episode VIII - The Last Jedi' in 2017 and 'Knives Out' in 2019, to which this film is a standalone sequel. This film had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September this year and is scheduled to have a one-week limited theatrical release from this week before its streaming release on 23rd December by Netflix. It has received positive reviews from critics and cost US$40M to produce.

Tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites his friends, including Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) for a 'murder mystery party' getaway on Glass Onion, his private Greek island. However, when someone turns up dead for real, Blanc must crack the case and discover who the killer is. Also starring Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jnr., Jessica Henwick, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Ethan Hawke, Natasha Lyonne, Hugh Grant, Yo-Yo Ma and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. 

'THE MENU' (Rated MA15+) - is an American black comedy horror film Directed by Mark Mylod whose prior feature film making efforts are his debut in 2002 with 'Ali G Indahouse', then 'The Big White' in 2005, with 'What's Your Number?' in 2011 being his last big screen offering before this one. In the meantime he has also Directed multiple episodes of 'The Royle Family', 'Entourage', 'Game of Thrones', 'Shameless' and 'Succession'. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September this year, before its release in the US last week and here in Australia this week. Here then, young couple Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) travel to a remote island to eat at Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant run by celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), who has prepared a lavish molecular gastronomy menu where food is treated as conceptual art, but his approach to cuisine has some shocking surprises for the wealthy guests. Also starring Hong Chau, Janet McTeer and John Leguizamo, it has received generally favourable reviews. 

'BONES AND ALL' (Rated MA15+) - this coming-of-age romantic cannibal road horror film is Directed by Luca Guadagnino whose previous film making credits take in the likes of his 1999 debut with 'The Protagonists', then 'I Am Love' in 2009, 'A Bigger Splash' in 2015, the much awarded and lauded 'Call Me By Your Name' in 2017 and 'Suspiria' in 2018. This film is based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis and saw its World Premier showcasing at at this years Venice International Film Festival in early September where it won the Silver Lion for Best Direction. This is a story of first love between Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee (Timothee Chalamet), an intense and disenfranchised drifter; a liberating road odyssey of two young people coming into their own, searching for identity and chasing beauty in a perilous world that cannot abide who they are. The film also stars Mark Rylance, Michael Stuhlbarg, Andre Holland, Chloe Sevigny and David Gordon Green, and has generated largely positive reviews. 

'MARGRETE : QUEEN OF THE NORTH' (Rated MA15+) - this Danish historical drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Charlotte Sieling whose previous feature film making efforts are 'Above the Street, Below the Water' in 2009 and 'The Man' in 2017. This film was one of the largest productions in the history of Danish cinema, enjoying the largest budget ever for a Danish-language feature film coming in at about US$10M. It premiered in its native Denmark in mid-September 2021 and has generated largely positive Reviews, but this has failed to make a dent in its Box Office takings, so far recovering just US$46K of its production budget. The year then is 1402. Queen Margrete (Trine Dyrholm) has achieved what no man has managed before. She has gathered Denmark, Norway and Sweden into a peace-oriented union, which she single-handedly rules through her young, adopted son, Erik (Morten Hee Andersen). The union is beset by enemies, however, and Margrete is therefore planning a marriage between Erik and an English princess. An alliance with England should secure the union's status as an emerging European power but a breathtaking conspiracy is under way that can tear Margrete and all she believes in apart. 

'GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO' (Rated M) - is a stop-motion animated musical fantasy film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Guillermo Del Toro with Mark Gustafson sharing the Director credit, and is based on the 1883 Italian novel 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' by Carlo Collodi. The film saw its World Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in mid-October this year, was released in select cinemas in the US on 9th November, before its streaming release on 9th December by Netflix, cost US$35M to produce and has received universal critical acclaim. A wooden puppet, Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann) comes to life and dreams of becoming a real boy in 1930's Fascist Italy. When Pinocchio comes to life, however, he turns out not to be a nice boy but instead the opposite, causing mischief and playing mean tricks. But at its core, Pinocchio is a story of love and disobedience as Pinocchio struggles to live up to his father's expectations, learning the true meaning of life' Also starring the voice talents of Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Burn Gorman, Tim Blake Nelson and John Turturro.  

'SERIOUSLY RED' (Rated M) - this Australian drama film is Directed by Gracie Otto in her feature film making debut. Here, Red (Krew Boylan) is at a crossroads in her life. A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9-to-5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party's dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator. Red has to lose herself in order to find herself. Also starring Bobby Cannavale, Daniel Webber, Rose Byrne, Celeste Barber and Jean Kittson. 

'SPLICE HERE : A PROJECTED ODYSSEY' (Rated CTC) - is an Australian documentary film Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Robert Murphy. The film explores the single greatest change in the history of cinema - the digital shift from recording and projecting movies on film. Now ten years on from this momentous transition, film maker and projectionist Rob Murphy shares his personal journey to find out what has really happened to film. The journey starts in Australia and then expands geographically and thematically as Rob ventures into the projectionist underground, meeting the champions of projected film and lesser known heroes behind the scenes. We discover that the digital revolution has not just changed the way we see movies but is becoming a threat to how we will remember them.

'STRANGE WORLD' (Rated M) - this American computer-animated science-fiction action-adventure film is Produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, is the 61st animated film produced by the studio, and is Directed by Don Hall whose other feature film Director credits are 'Winnie the Pooh' in 2011, 'Big Hero 6' in 2014 and 'Raya and the Last Dragon' in 2021. The film chronicles the legendary Clades family, mainly Searcher Clade (voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal) who has always been a farmer and has never had the bravery of his family of explorers, but they are forced to tackle their latest and most crucial mission as they must rely on each other and forced to put away their differences while in an uncharted and treacherous land of Avalonia to find a special creature that awaits. Also with the voices of Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union and Lucy Liu. It is released Stateside this week too. 

With eight 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-

NIGHTMARE ALLEY : Tuesday 25th January 2022.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'NIGHTMARE ALLEY' this week, which is an American neo-noir psychological thriller film Directed, Co-Written for the screen and Co-Produced by Guillermo del Toro whose previous film making credits take in 'Hell Boy', 'Pacific Rim', 'Crimson Peak' and the Academy Award winning 'Pan's Labyrinth' and 'The Shape of Water'. This film is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham, and is the second feature film adaptation following the 1947 film starring Tyrone Power. The film has garnered generally positive Reviews and has recovered US$15M in Box Office receipts from its US$60M production budget so far, having been released Stateside in mid-December last year. It has also so far won fourteen awards and been nominated a further seventy-seven times (of which some of those nominations are still awaiting an outcome) from around the awards circuit. 

The film opens up in 1939, and we see Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper, who also Co-Produces here) dragging a bundled up body across the floor of a ramshackle dwelling and dumping that body under the floorboards. He then douses the body and the surrounding room with petrol, strikes a match, and walks out of the rural house perched on a hill as it becomes engulfed in flames. He gets on bus, and sleeps. When he wakes its nighttime and the bus has reached the end of the line. He gets out and walks toward a travelling carnival, ultimately securing a job as an employee (a carny) on that travelling carnival. When the carnivals resident 'geek' becomes ill, the owner Clem Hoately (Willem Dafoe) has Carlisle help him drop off the body at a nearby inner-city Church, on the promise of a steak and eggs dinner. Over dinner, Clem explains that he finds alcoholics or drug addicts, who are often men with a troublesome history, and coaxes them in with promises of a temporary job, somewhere to sleep and regular meals, but gives them alcohol that contains a few drops of opium tincture. He uses their gradual dependence to physically and mentally abuse them until they sink into madness and depravity, thus creating a geek for his carnival. Later that night Clem shows Carlisle where he stores the moonshine he brews to control the other carnies, warning him not to mistake it for the wood alcohol for pickling medical specimens he stores in jars nearby, for that stuff will easily kill a man.

After a lot of fetching and carrying, erecting and dismantling the big carnival tents and sideshows, often in the pouring rain, Carlisle lands a job with clairvoyant act Madame Zeena (Toni Collette) and her alcoholic husband Pete (David Strathairn). Zeena and Pete use an ingenious coded language system, devised by Pete, to make it seem that she has extraordinary mental powers, which Pete begins teaching to Carlisle. Pete and Zeena warn him not to use these skills to continue leading patrons on when it comes to the dead, which they refer to as a 'spook show'. They always tell their customers after the show that it is a deception for fear of people getting hurt. Meanwhile, as Carlisle becomes more and more familiar with their act, and he grows in confidence, he is attracted to fellow performer Molly (Rooney Mara) and approaches her with an idea for a two-person act away from the carnival, using his new found mentalist abilities. 

One night, after Pete asks Carlisle to secure him a bottle of Clem's moonshine, he gives Pete the wrong bottle (possible accidentally) and the old man dies the next morning in Zeena's arms from consuming wood alcohol. In the aftermath, Carlisle swears his love to Molly and reiterates his plan. She accepts, and they leave the carnival behind. Two years later, Carlisle has successfully reinvented himself as 'The Great Stanton', a mentalist act for New York's wealthy ruling class, together with Molly as his assistant, using Zeena and Pete's tried and tested techniques. During a performance, their act is interrupted by psychologist Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett), who attempts to expose their system of code. Stan's line of questioning allows him to gain the upper hand over Ritter, keeping their act safe while publicly humiliating her. He is later approached by the wealthy Judge Kimball (Peter MacNeill), who engaged Ritter to test Carlisle. He is now convinced of Carlisle's abilities and offers to pay him handsomely to allow him and his wife Felicia (Mary Steenburgen) to communicate with their dead son who died in Nomansland during WWII at the age of 23. Despite Molly's objections to the unwritten 'spook show' ruling, Carlisle agrees.

Ritter invites Carlisle to her office. She knows full well that he is a con man, but is nevertheless intrigued by his skills of mental manipulation. Through her recorded sessions with her clients, she has accumulated a wealth of potentially sensitive information about various members of New York's movers and shakers and the rich and famous. Sharing a connection, she and Carlisle begin an affair, and they conspire together to manipulate Kimball, with Ritter secretly providing private and sensitive information to fuel his pretence. She does this on the condition that she can start therapy sessions with Carlisle, based on complete honesty, who reveals his guilt over Pete's death, and his hatred of his alcoholic father, who he killed in their home before joining the carnival. 

Kimball introduces Carlisle to the powerful and very private Ezra Grindle (Richard Jenkins), whose lover, Dory, died of a forced abortion. Despite warnings from Ritter that Grindle is dangerous, Carlisle begins to scam Grindle and starts to drink, having told her previously that he 'never' touches the stuff!. Ritter feeds information to Carlisle, which he supplements by doing his own clandestine investigations, to use against Grindle as revenge for him previously attacking her. She shows Carlisle a scar down her chest and abdomen she received from Grindle. Molly becomes increasingly uncomfortable, and upon learning of the affair with Ritter, leaves Carlisle. He begs her to stay, but she refuses, only agreeing to help him one last time. 

She poses as Dory for Carlisle's ultimate act: manifesting herself as Dory from the other side for Grindle so that he can ask for her forgiveness. However, he loses control of Grindle, who reveals himself to be a violent abuser of many women due to his guilt for Dory. He then clutches hold of Molly wrist before she can exit the escalating out of control scene and realises that his vision of Dory is a fake. Unknown to Carlisle, Grindle's head of personal security, Anderson (Holt McCallany), hears a radio broadcast announcing that Judge Kimball and his wife have been found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, because of Carlisle's promises to Felicia that they would be reunited with their dead son after their own deaths. She had shot dead her husband and then turned the gun on herself. Knowing that Carlisle was recommended to Grindle by the Judge, he goes to check on what was going down between the two.

Upon coming to the realisation that 'Dory' is fake, Grindle becomes enraged and promises to ruin Carlisle. A tussle breaks out between the two men and Carlisle beats him to death with repeated blows to the face, then kills Anderson during their escape by running over him, twice, in their car. As he begins to smash up their car to create the impression that it was stolen, Molly leaves Carlisle for good. Carlisle goes to Ritter for help but discovers she has been scamming him all along, revealing that she wanted revenge for what happened during their initial meeting. She speaks of her disappointment in realising that he was nothing more than a base money-driven petty criminal. She calls the Police and threatens to use her recordings of their sessions as evidence that he is mentally disturbed should he try to implicate her. Ritter shoots Carlisle in the ear, and he tries to strangle Ritter using the telephone cable with the line to the Police still open but as the Police arrive, he flees.

Wanted, injured, with no money, nowhere to go and only the clothes on his back, Carlisle jumps a train and hides behind a wall of chicken coups, as the Police search the carriages but find no evidence of him. He wanders around for years as an aimless alcoholic tramp. At his limit, he tries to get a job as a mentalist at another carnival. The owner (Tim Blake Nelson) turns him away but offers him a drink and a 'temporary' job as the new geek at the last minute, using the same patter that Clem recounted to him all those years previously. Carlisle accepts, laughing out, 'I was born for it'. Seemingly aware of his fate, his laughs turn to tears.

In 'Nightmare Alley' Director Guillermo del Toro has here hung up his all too familiar horror fantasy tropes and traded these in for a psychological melodramatic offering that is bathed beautifully in the colours and images of the era in which the film is set with the emphasis on meticulous detail, whilst still retaining the filmmaking DNA that del Toro is so renowned for. Cooper here shines in his role as the fractured tormented soul with regrets about his past 'indiscretions' but willing to brush these under the carpet for his share of the limelight and all the trappings of his success only for it to all come crumbling down around him that ultimately brings him full circle. And the other A-listers in supporting roles including Blanchett's femme fatale, Collette, Dafoe, Mara, Strathairn and Jenkins all give top notch performances that lend an authenticity to the early 1940's setting, some more menacingly than others. This is a film of life on the road as a travelling carny, of dark and stormy nights, of misdirection and deception, of regret and redemption and of murder most foul all wrapped up in a morality tale that transcends the ages. My only gripe is that of the 150 minute running time, del Toro could easily have shaved twenty-minutes off without sacrificing the story or his undeniable artistic integrity. 

'Nightmare Alley' warrants four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 20th January 2022.

The honourees of this years National Board of Review Awards were due to be held at a special gala event on Tuesday evening 11th January, but that event was postponed due to the ongoing ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever tightening grip that the Omicron variant seems to have on our world. That said, the winners of the 93rd National Board of Review Awards honouring the best in film from 2021, were announced on 2nd December 2021, and in case you missed it, those proud recipients of an award are as given below :-

* Best Film - awarded to 'Licorice Pizza'.

* Best Director  - awarded to Paul Thomas Anderson for 'Licorice Pizza'.

* Best Actor - awarded to Will Smith for 'King Richard'.

* Best Actress - awarded to Rachel Zeglar for 'West Side Story'.

* Best Supporting Actor - awarded to Ciaran Hinds for 'Belfast'.

* Best Supporting Actress - awarded to Aunjanue Ellis for 'King Richard'.

* Best Original Screenplay - awarded to Asghar Farhadi for 'A Hero'.

* Best Adapted Screenplay - awarded to Joel Coen for 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'.

* Best Animated Feature - awarded to 'Encanto'.

* Breakthrough Performance - awarded to Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman for 'Licorice Pizza'. 

* Best Directorial Debut - awarded to Michael Sarnoski for 'Pig'. 

* Best Foreign Language Film - awarded to 'A Hero'. 

* Best Documentary - awarded to 'Summer of Soul ( . . . Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised).

* Best Ensemble - awarded to 'The Harder They Fall'.

* Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - awarded to Bruno Delbonnel for 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'.

* NBR Freedom of Expression - awarded to 'Flee'.

* The Top Ten Films of the Year were given as 'Belfast', 'Don't Look Up', 'Dune', 'King Richard', 'The Last Duel', 'Licorice Pizza', 'Nightmare Alley', 'Red Rocket', The Tragedy of Macbeth' and 'West Side Story'.

* The Top Ten Independent Films of the Year were given as 'The Card Counter', 'C'mon C'mon', 'CODA', 'The Green Knight', 'Holler', 'Jockey', 'Old Henry', 'Pig', 'Shiva Baby' and 'The Souvenir Part II'. 

* The Top Five Foreign Langauge Films of the Year were given as 'Benedetta', 'Lamb', 'Lingui : The Sacred Bonds', 'Titane' and 'The Worst Person in the World'.

* The Top Five Documentaries of the Year were given as 'Ascension', 'Attica', 'Flee', 'The Rescue' and 'Roadrunner : A Film About Anthony Bourdain'. 

For the full details of the 93rd NBR Awards plus a whole lot more, you can go to the official website at : https;//www.nationalboardofreview.org/

Turning attention to this weeks five new releases, we kick off with a film inspired Princess Diana's decision to end her marriage to Prince Charles and leave the British royal family. This is followed up with a story of an ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words who hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is. Next up is a Chinese offering about a film fan who escapes from a labour camp and befriends a homeless female vagabond and possibly the best movie projectionist for miles around. We then close out the week with two animated feature films which couldn't be more different - the first is a new take on a classic story that sees a studious marmoset embarking on a wild adventure to travel around the planet in 80 days after accepting a challenge from a greedy frog, before closing out the week with a Japanese animated offering about a high school student who becomes a globally beloved singer after entering a fantastic virtual world, and soon embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity of a mysterious beast.

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

'SPENCER' (Rated M) - this work of historical fiction is a psychological drama film Directed and Co-Produced by Pablo Larrain, whose prior film making credits include his 2006 debut 'Fuga' and then 'No' in 2012, 'Neruda' in 2016 and the critically acclaimed 'Jackie' in 2016 also with 'Ema' in 2019. The film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival in early September last year before its release in the US and UK in early November. Having generated largely positive Critical Reviews, 'Spencer' has so far recovered US$15M from its US$18M budget outlay, and has picked up twenty-eight awards and a further ninety-six nominations (many of which are still pending an outcome) from around the awards and festival circuit. 

Set during the Christmas holiday 1991 with the royal family at the Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, where there's eating and drinking, shooting and hunting aplenty - Diana Spencer (Kristen Stewart) knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. Diana, struggling with mental health issues and anxiety decides to end her decade-long marriage to Prince Charles (Jack Farthing). 'Spencer' is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days. Also starring Timothy Spall, Sean Harris and Sally Hawkins. 

'NIGHTMARE ALLEY' (Rated MA15+) - is an American neo-noir psychological thriller film that is Directed, Co-Written for the screen and Co-Produced by Guillermo del Toro whose previous film making credits take in 'Hell Boy', 'Pacific Rim', 'Crimson Peak' and the Academy Award winning 'Pan's Labyrinth' and 'The Shape of Water'. This film is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham, and is the second feature film adaptation following the 1947 film starring Tyrone Power. Set in 1940's era New York, down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Copper) endears himself to a clairvoyant Zeena Krumbein (Toni Collette) and her mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival owned by Clem Hoately (Willem Dafoe). Using newly acquired knowledge, Carlisle crafts a golden ticket to success by swindling the elite and wealthy. Hoping for a big score, he soon hatches a scheme to con a dangerous tycoon with help from a mysterious psychiatrist Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) who might be his most formidable opponent yet. Also starring Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, Mary Steenburgen, Holt McCallany and Tim Blake Nelson. The film has garnered generally positive Reviews and has recovered US$9M in Box Office receipts from its US$60M production budget so far, having been released Stateside in mid-December last year. 

'ONE SECOND' (Rated M) - is a Chinese drama film that is Directed and and written for the screen by Zhang Yimou whose previous film making credits include his debut 'Red Sorghum' in 1987, 'Raise the Red Lantern' in 1991, 'Hero' in 2002, 'House of Flying Daggers' in 2004, 'The Flowers of War' in 2011, 'The Great Wall' in 2016 and 'Shadow' in 2018. Towards the end of the Cultural Revolution (circa 1976), when movies were one of the few cultural experiences available to China’s masses, the film’s nameless hero (Zhang Yi) is sent to a remote labour camp for taking part in a fight. He escapes, but instead of returning to crime, his one aim is to see a screening of a newsreel where his daughter has been captured briefly on screen, immortalised as a model student and worker. In this journey towards a fleeting, cinematic reunion with his beloved daughter, his unexpected companions include a scruffy orphan girl named Liu (Liu Haocun) — pursuing her own secret search for celluloid, and Fan (Fan Wei), who goes by Mr. Movie and is widely known as the best projectionist around. The film was released in its native China in November 2020, has generated mostly positive Critical acclaim and has grossed US$20M so far at the Box Office. 

'AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS' (Rated PG) - this French and Belgian Co-Produced animated feature film is Directed by Samuel Tourneux in his feature film making debut, and is based on the much adapted Jules Verne novel of the same name from 1872. Passepartout (voiced by Julien Crampon) is a young and scholarly marmoset who always dreams of becoming an explorer. One day, he crosses paths with Phileas (Damien Frette), a reckless and greedy frog, eager to take on a bet to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days and earn 10 million clams in the process. Seizing the opportunity of a lifetime to explore the world, Passepartout embarks with his new friend on a crazy and exhilarating adventure full of twists and surprises.

'BELLE' (Rated PG) - is a Japanese animated science fantasy film that is Directed and written for the screen by Mamoru Hosoda and is based on and inspired by the 1756 French fairy tale 'Beauty and the Beast' by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. The film saw its World Premiere showcase in mid-July last year at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where it was well-received by critics with a standing ovation that lasted fourteen minutes, the longest of any film shown at the festival. It was released in its native Japan a day after Cannes, and has so far grossed US$59M before its release in the US this week too and the UK in early February. Suzu Naito (Kaho Nakamura) is a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father (Koji Yakusho). For years she has only been a shadow of herself. One day, she enters 'U', a virtual world of five billion subscribers on the Internet. There, she is not Suzu anymore but Belle, a world-famous singer. She soon meets with a mysterious dragon creature (Takeru Satoh) that is being pursued by vigilantes. Together, they embark on a journey of adventures, challenges, and love, in their quest of becoming who they truly are.

With five 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-