What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 3rd December 2015.

Monday 30th November saw the first Awards Ceremony of AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) with its film accolades for those working in essence behind the camera; and the second ceremony to be held on 9th December for those working in front of it. Both events are held at Sydney's Star Casino, and on Monday night this week nine feature film awards were given out, with a further six next week. Hosted by Actor, Writer and Producer Rob Carlton the AACTA Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Music, Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects or Animation, all went to 'Mad Max : Fury Road'; with Best Costume Design going to 'The Dressmaker' (that figures!); Best Original Screenplay to 'Paper Planes' and Best Adapted Screenplay to 'Last Cab to Darwin'. For more, go to : aacta.org

For the coming week ahead we have four new films doing the rounds at a theatre near you that kick start the new movie week with a sea faring survival epic that pitches mere mortal men against a great beast of the ocean depths hundreds of miles from land and the stuff of maritime lore; then a good ol' conspiracy theory about a bumbling President and the alleged story of draft dodging back in the day and the repercussions of this thirty years later; a Christmas season comedic offering of mateship, partying, festive cheer, growing up and moving on; and to finalise, an interview between two writers one on the cusp of critical acclaim and the other a Reporter for a well known magazine struggling to get a break.

Again, and as always, when you have seen your movie of choice of those Previewed below or any of those still out on general release and as either Reviewed or Previewed in earlier editions, drop your like minded cinephile friends your own thoughts, opinions and observations on your film experience. We'd all love to hear from you and you can do so in the Comments Box below this or any other Post. Enjoy your movie.

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA (Rated M) - Back in 1820 a whaling ship from Massachusetts captained by George Pollard Jnr, was sunk in the Southern Pacific Ocean by a sperm whale - that ship was 'The Essex'! As a result of its sinking the twenty man crew spent months at sea having to resort to cannibalism in order to survive before the final eight men were finally rescued. Cabin Boy Thomas Nickerson and First Mate Owen Chase wrote an account of their ordeal at sea at the mercy of a sperm whale and that inspired Herman Melville's 1851 book, 'Moby Dick' - the story upon which Director Ron Howard has based his latest film taken from the 2000 book of the same name by Nathaniel Philbrick.

Essentially that is the story, with Chris Hemsworth playing First Mate Owen Chase, Benjamin Walker as Captain George Pollard Jnr., Tom Holland and Brendan Gleeson playing Thomas Nickerson the younger and the elder respectively, Ben Whishaw as Herman Melville and Cillian Murphy as Matthew Joy the Second Mate. When their ship, The Essex, is torn in two by a gigantic whale with incredible size and strength, the crew are left to drift the ocean for months on end amidst raging storms, despair, panic, hunger, and thirst and so their plight becomes a true test of survival and the lengths man will go to in order to survive, and fish another day when they think that all is lost!

TRUTH (Rated M) - This film is Directed by first timer James Vanderbilt who wrote the Screenplay and also Co-Produced, and is based on the memoir of Mary Mapes 'Truth and Duty : The Press, The President and The Privilege of Power'. It surrounds CBS Producer of '60 Minutes Wednesday' Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett), her crew and National News Anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) who get caught up in the conspiracy surrounding President George W. Bush re-election campaign in 2004 when it was revealed by the show that in the early 70's he received preferential treatment from the Texas Air National Guard following his failure to achieve even basic training and performance requirements to avoid being drafted to Vietnam through the position in the political arena held by his father at the time. Ultimately the scandal cost Mapes and Rather their jobs, their careers and their reputations when falsehoods were revealed . . . or were they really false? Gotta love a good conspiracy theory! The film also stars Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, Stacy Keach, Dermot Mulroney, was filmed in Sydney, Australia and cost less than US$10M.

THE NIGHT BEFORE (Rated MA15+) - Festive film fare is likely to come thick & fast now in the lead up to Christmas and here is the second offering of the season so far with this Jonathan Levine Written and Directed comedy. Starring long term buddies Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) whose parents died years earlier on Christmas Eve, Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen) and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) the three have every Christmas Eve since spent the night together to support Ethan and comfort him with a big annual reunion night out of jolly japes, misadventure, fun, frivolity and hilarious shenanigans! With Isaac knocking on the door of first time fatherhood, and Chris is busy being famous, the trio of buddies realise their reckless days of Christmas celebrations are soon to be no more. So poised for one last hurrah they set off into NYC in search for the holy grail of Christmas parties - The Nutcracka Ball!

THE END OF THE TOUR (Rated M) - Directed by James Ponsoldt and based on David Lipsky's 2010 best seller 'Although Of Course You End up Becoming Yourself' this is his story about his five day long road trip interview with acclaimed author of 'Infinite Jest' David Foster Wallace in 1996. Lipsky is here played by Jesse Eisenberg, a Reporter with Rolling Stone magazine who learns in 2008 that Wallace (Jason Segel) committed suicide. From here the story goes back to that five day trip when Lipsky's Editor grants him an assignment to shadow Wallace during his book tour to launch 'Infinite Jest' which went on to become a touchstone for many a subsequent Writer. As Wallace opens up to Lipsky so more and more topics are discussed, more questions answered and more hidden truths revealed although often veiled in caution on Wallace's part. With several award wins and nominations already under its belt and high critical praise for the storytelling and nuanced performances this uplifting, inspiring and often funny account of two writers on opposite sides of the fence is likely to surprise and delight.

Four films of note then to get you out amongst the movie going public in the seven days ahead. When you have done so share your thoughts of your latest film experience as we'd love to hear from you, and so would our other ever growing readership. In the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th July 2014.

Like last week there are only three new releases to entice your movie going dollar from out of your wallet. It's mid-Winter, the days are getting decidedly colder, the school holidays are done, and there are no mega budget big action blockbusters on the immediate horizon (although plenty still doing the rounds). So what's going to tempt you out to your local movie theatre on a cold mid-Winter afternoon or evening - three very different offerings once again, that's what! For starters we have a love story set way back when in the land of the recent Soccer World Cup, then we have a love story caught in many compromising positions about to go viral, and then we have a love story (of sorts) dedicated to the indigenous people of our land and their struggle with the white settler.

Whatever you decide to go and see this coming week - one of the new releases Previewed below, or one Previewed in prior weeks or indeed Reviewed by this humble Correspondent, then don't hide your opinion under a bushel, instead tell my other Reader what you think and post it to my Blog while it's still fresh in your movie memory banks! Enjoy the experience nonetheless.

CHARLIE'S COUNTRY (Rated M) - Directed by Rolf de Heer, this is his third collaboration with Australia's finest indigenous and much lauded actor, David Gulpilil starring as the Charlie in this piece, and based to some extent on Gulpilil's own life experiences. Following on from 'The Tracker' and then 'Ten Canoes' in 2002 and 2006 respectively, this story tells of Charlie's life on the land as a happy-go-lucky good natured fella doing what his ancestors did for centuries before him. However, this is the 21st Century and times ain't what they used to be - no alcohol, no unlicensed guns (or spears, or bows) for hunting, and a land run by the white fella, across a territory that he once used to call his own. Charlie is at a point in his life when it's time to reconnect with the old country, and what follows is life changing for Charlie as he tramples the withered barren fractured landscape of Arnhem Land looking for answers. His journey to becoming wiser as result leads to discovery, trouble and run-ins with the local Police, local communities and other black fellas who don't share his spirit. This film has thus far garnered much praise for the achievements of both Gulpilil and de Heer for its sense of purpose, its conviction, and in highlighting further the plight of Australia's indigenous population at the hands of it's white settlers.

SEX TAPE (Rated MA15+) - the complete polar opposite of the
film Previewed above - this comedy stars Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz in the lead roles, and for whom the said Sex Tape must be recovered. Directed by Jake Kasdan the story surrounds Jay (Segel) and Annie (Diaz) who have been married for ten years and two children later whose lust life is not quite what it once was. Deciding to spruce things up a bit and rekindle that old flame, they decide to try every position as shown in the 'Joy of Sex' book over a marathon three hour session one evening. . . and in the process record their bedroom Olympics (just for posterity I suppose, and perhaps for the Grand Kids to watch one day!!!). Of course their recording goes AWOL and quickly becomes a risk of going viral in cyberspace, unless they can thwart that notion, but in doing so uncover more than they bargain for. My guess is that this movie will exploit every sex cliche in the book, and will unfold in true 'by the numbers' fashion. Diaz proved she was capable of so much more in 'The Counsellor', and here she is straight back doing this titillating stuff that we have seen in some shape or form countless times before. You decide, and then let me know if I got it wrong!

REACHING FOR THE MOON (Rated M) - here we have another very different offering to the two films Previewed above, and this one will suit more mature audiences given the historical subject matter and the performances and spectacle on screen. This film traces the true story of American poet, Elizabeth Bishop (played by Miranda Otto) and Brazillian Architect Lota de Macedo Soares (played by Gloria Pires) set amidst the backdrop of the early 60's when Brazil was still an infant country and its development was only just beginning. For the time Lota was an extroverted idealistic visionary whose influence inspired many buildings and landscapes of that era, but her optimism for the times often masked darker periods in her life and those events unfolding around her. Elizabeth is more reserved, detached and cold perhaps, but she is creative, generous and there is clearly more than a spark of longing between the two woman, that is thrown into some disarray when Lota former lover, Mary, reappears on the scene. This film is Directed by Bruno Baretto who gives us a rich, colourful nuanced film that is likely to draw you in as much for its subject matter as for its fine performances, historical content, and the beauty of the imagery presented to us.

So there you have it! Get yourself off the sofa and get yourself out to a movie theatre this coming week to catch one of the above new release offerings, or something Previewed or Reviewed in a former Post. When you've done that let me know what you think by Posting a Comment or two for the sake of our global movie going readership.

Movies . . . see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-