Quick Takes : The movies I saw in January 2026.

Although I was off-line throughout January enjoying the heat of an Aussie summer, still working my day job and doing some much needed jobs around the house, this didn't stop me from enjoying my weekly trip to my local movie theatre to catch a film of choice. Below are my quick takes of the latest films seen over this past month.

I saw the M Rated 'ANACONDA' on Tuesday 6th January, and this American action adventure comedy horror film is Co-Written and Directed by Tom Gormican and serves as a meta-reboot of the 1997 film of the same name. Tom Gormican's previous feature film making efforts are 'That Awkward Moment' in 2014 and 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent' in 2022. Here, wedding videographer Doug McCallister (Jack Black) and background actor Ronald 'Griff' Griffin Jnr. (Paul Rudd) who are both life long friends and who made their first short film together as young teenagers called the 'The Quatch', are now both experiencing a mid-life crisis. And so Griff hatches a plan to travel to the Amazon to film an amateur remake of their favourite horror film, 1997's 'Anaconda' which starred Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz and Owen Wilson. Their project unravels when a real giant anaconda snake emerges, turning the light-hearted shoot into a perilous fight to stay alive. Also starring Steve Zahn as cameraman Kenny Trent, Thandiwe Newton as Claire Simons a friend of Doug and Griff and the lead actress in the their film, Daniela Melchior as Ana Almeida a woman who gets caught up in the film shoot and who has ulterior motives, with Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez making cameo appearances as themselves. 

The film was released Christmas week here in Australia and the US too, has so far grossed US$129M off the back of a US$45M production budget and has garnered mixed or average reviews . . . . . and I can see why. The film is full of plot holes, and despite their being some laugh out loud moments, and a couple of jump scares, this film is a mash-up of 'Tropic Thunder' and 'Jumanji', both of which were far superior. Sure Black and Rudd deliver on the humour and the emotion, the cast all look as through their having a good ol' time shooting this movie within a movie and there's plenty of nods to the Hollywood film making machine - both good, and not so. That said, I came away from the movie theatre with a sense that this film was a little better than I was expecting, and so 'The Anaconda', as it comes to be known in the final scene, merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

I saw the M Rated 'SENTIMENTAL VALUE' on Tuesday 13th January, and this Norwegian drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Joachim Trier whose previous feature film output takes in his debut with 'Reprise' in 2006, which he would follow up with 'Oslo, 31 August' in 2011, 'Louder Than Bombs' in 2015, 'Thelma' in 2017 and 'The Worst Person in the World' in 2021. Sisters Nora Borg (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes Borg Pettersen (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav Borg (Stellen Skarsgard), a once-renowned Director who made his last feature film fifteen years prior, but has since made a couple of documentaries. For what he hopes will be his comeback film, he offers his daughter and acclaimed stage actress Nora a role in his future film which is picked up by Netflix. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning). Suddenly, the two sisters must navigate their complicated relationship with their somewhat estranged father, and deal with an American star dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics. The film had its World Premiere showcasing at the main competition of this years Cannes Film Festival in late May where it received widespread critical acclaim, won the Grand Prix, and received a nineteen minute standing ovation. 

The film was released Christmas week here in Australia, and has so far grossed US$22M since its release, from a production budget of US$7.5M, has generated universal critical acclaim and has so far collected thirty-seven award wins and a further 235 nominations from around the awards and festival circuit, some of which are still pending a final outcome. Here Joachim Trier has delivered us a powerful story of family dynamics of an absent father, the fractured upbringing of his two daughters and the fallout thereof; of memories - both good, and not so; and of art (in this case film making) as a medium of healing, redemption and honesty. The performances of the four lead Actors are all on point, with each delivering grounded, believable and relatable turns at raw emotion, brutal honesty, cutting humour and an intensity that is all too lacking in many other mainstream movies today where car chases, explosions, gun play, and fist fights are de rigueur. I came away from this film feeling a little drained by the experience and the emotional heft that lingered after, but don't let that detract you from catching this masterful film that is worthy of all the accolades bestowed upon it. 'Sentimental Value' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

'28 YEARS LATER : THE BONE TEMPLE' - Rated MA15+ is a post-apocalyptic horror film which I saw on Tuesday 20th January. This time around this instalment is Directed by Nia DaCosta whose previous feature film output take in her 2018 debut with 'Little Woods' and which she would follow up with 'Candyman' in 2021, 'The Marvels' in 2023 and 'Hedda' in 2025. This instalment was filmed back-to-back with its predecessor '28 Years Later' which was released mid-year last year, and serves as the fourth offering overall in the '28 Days Later' film franchise. Danny Boyle served as Director on the original movie '28 Days Later' in 2003, gave way to Juan Carlos Fresnadillo for '28 Weeks Later' in 2007 and was back again for '28 Years Later' in 2025, and is slated to return to the Director's chair for the fifth instalment with a title and release date yet to be announced. Alex Garland wrote the script for the first, third, fourth and the upcoming fifth film in the series. This film was released in the UK, here in Australia and the USA on the 13th, 15th and 16th January respectively, has so far grossed US$47M from a production budget of US$63M and has garnered generally positive critical reviews. 

Continuing on from where '28 Years Later' left off, Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a discovery that could change the world as they know it, as he befriends and begins treating the Alpha leader of the infected Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). Meanwhile, young Spike's (Alfie Williams) encounter with Sir 'Lord' Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell) becomes a living nightmare from which he can't escape, as Jimmy regularly speaks with 'Old Nick' (Satan) and claims to be his son. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the only threat to survival, the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying, as Jimmy's seven 'fingers' mete out their own particular bloody forms of violence all in the name of 'charity'. This film of course won't be for everyone, but for lovers of the genre and this franchise it is a real and rare standout at the midway point of a rebooted trilogy. Nia DaCosta has piled on the graphic violence and the blood letting right from the get go, and she doesn't let up until the end, adding in a few jump scares and a couple of genuinely frightening moments along the way. Cleverly though she has stayed away from endless scenes of marauding zombies, and has narrowed the story down to the relationships between Jimmy and Spike, and Kelson and Samson, with the four only coming together in the penultimate scene, from which only two survive. The final scene sets up the third offering in this franchise with a cameo appearance by Cillian Murphy. 'Howzat?' '28 Years Later : The Bone Temple' warrants four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

I saw the M Rated sports comedy drama film 'MARTY SUPREME' on Tuesday 27th January in a packed theatre at my local Multiplex, and this film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Josh Safdie and is his first solo Directing effort since 2008's 'The Pleasure of Being Robbed'. In the intervening years Josh, together with his younger brother Benny, under the banner of The Safdie Brothers have Co-Directed 'Daddy Longlegs' in 2009, 'Heaven Knows What' in 2014, 'Good Time' in 2017 and 'Uncut Gems' in 2019. This film is based loosely on Marty Reisman's 1974 memoir, 'The Money Player: The Confessions of America's Greatest Table Tennis Champion and Hustler'. The film Premiered at the New York Film Festival on 6th October last year followed by a US release on Christmas Day where it received widespread critical acclaim, and has so far grossed US$113M from a production budget of US$65M.

Set in 1952 New York City, twenty-three year old Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet) bestows every ounce of his being into almost everything he does, unfortunately for everyone else he takes full advantage of them wherever and whenever he can. One of these is his married childhood friend Rachel Mizler (Odessa A'zion) with whom he has an on again off again affair, the ramifications of which barely registers with him. He may well be the best table tennis player in the world in his own mind, but so far has failed to make a single dollar from his beloved sport, due to the lack of support and the perception of table tennis as a mere game of ping pong. To demonstrate on the world stage that he is the best, he has to attend the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, which he can't afford, but also he must win it. Among those who help him along the way are 1930's retired movie star Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow) and her influential businessman husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O'Leary), a taxi driver and Marty's friend Wally (Tyler Okonma) and Dion Galanis (Luke Manley) another friend of Marty's. However, for every step forward that Marty's takes in getting closer to his dream, he seems to take two steps backwards as we explore various hardships, incidents, accidents, and near misses along the way. Also starring Fran Drescher, Sandra Bernhard and Abel Ferrara. I have to say that Marty Mauser is a real dick, someone who will lie, cheat, cajole and do whatever is necessary to get ahead, but he is played with such conviction, authenticity and believability that Chalamet's portrayal of him is worthy of the award nods bestowed upon him. Josh Safdie has delivered us a film of high production values, and a gripping story told with such frenetic energy that it will maintain your interest for the full 150 minute runtime. Having said that I'm not really sure what the point of this movie is, other than to demonstrate mans flaws and the lengths some people will go to in the pursuit of fame and fortune, only to have their dream wither and die on the vine. 'Marty Supreme' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week - Thursday 25th & Friday 26th December 2025.

Christmas is upon us once again and every year it seems to come around quicker than the last. And so it is that time of year to wish my worldwide readership all the best for a very Merry, Happy and safe Christmas, wherever you are in world, whatever it is you do to celebrate the occasion, and whoever you share it with. Thanks for your ongoing support over the last twelve months - it is your viewership that makes my reviews and previews of the latest release new movies worthwhile, and I look forward to doing more of the same throughout 2026. Until then, Merry Christmas, happy holidays, complements of the season, may your God be with you, and enjoy your festivities - from Sydney, Australia. 

Turning the attention to this weeks slew of eight new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with a psychological thriller that sees a struggling woman who seems happy to start over as a live-in maid for an affluent, elite couple who harbour sinister secrets . . . what could possibly go wrong? Then we turn to a comedy drama film about an American actor in Tokyo struggling to find purpose lands an unusual gig - working for a Japanese agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. Next up we have a pair of hapless guys going through their mid-life crises who have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favourite action horror movie, but, it might just get them killed! This is followed by a Norwegian film about a fractured relationship between an acclaimed Director and his two estranged daughters, which becomes even more complicated when he decides to make a personal film about their family history. Up next is a drama offering from a first time Director about a young addict living on the streets of London who is given a shot at redemption, but his road to recovery soon curdles into a strange odyssey from which he may never escape. Following on we have a French drama offering which has an acclaimed musical conductor who has leukemia and needs a bone marrow donor, and learning he was adopted, he finds an older brother, a musician and factory worker. Then, we have a documentary that follows the career of George Orwell, and how his political observations are still relevant in present day authoritarianism; before closing out the week with an animated adventure comedy that sees SpongeBob journey to the ocean's depths to face the Flying Dutchman's ghost, encountering challenges and uncovering marine mysteries.

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.

'THE HOUSEMAID' (Rated MA15+) - is an American psychological thriller film that is Co-Produced and Directed by Paul Feig, and is based on the 2022 novel of the same name penned by Freida McFadden. Paul Feig's filmography take in his debut with 'I Am David' in 2003, and which we would follow up with the likes of 'Bridesmaids' in 2011, 'The Heat' in 2013, 'Spy' in 2015, 'Ghostbusters' in 2016, 'A Simple Favor' in 2018, and 'Another Simple Favor' released earlier this year. The film was released in the US last week, has generated largely positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$23M off the back of a US$35M production budget.

Here, we enter a twisted world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems. Trying to escape her past, Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the affluent and elite couple Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar). But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous - a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal, and power. Behind the Winchesters' closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end.

'RENTAL FAMILY' (Rated M) - this US and Japanese Co-Produced comedy drama film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Hikari (real name Mitsuyo Miyazaki) in only her second feature film offering following '37 Seconds' in 2019. Set in modern-day Tokyo, this film follows an American Actor Phillip Vanderploeg (Brendan Fraser) who has lived in Japan for seven years and who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig working for a Japanese 'rental family' agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection. The film has its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in late September and was released Stateside towards the end of November having generated largely positive press and grossing so far US$10M.

'ANACONDA' (Rated M) - is an American action comedy film that is Co-Written and Directed by Tom Gormican and serves as a meta-reboot of the 1997 film of the same name. Tom Gormican's previous feature film making efforts are 'That Awkward Moment' in 2014 and 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent' in 2022. Here, wedding videographer Doug McCallister (Jack Black) and background actor Ronald 'Griff' Griffin Jnr. (Paul Rudd) who are both experiencing a mid-life crisis, travel to the Amazon to film an amateur remake of their favourite horror film, 1997's 'Anaconda'. Their project unravels when a real giant anaconda emerges, turning the light-hearted shoot into a perilous fight to stay alive. Also starring Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior with Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez making cameo appearances as themselves. The film is released Stateside this week too.

'SENTIMENTAL VALUE' (Rated M) - this Norwegian drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Joachim Trier whose previous feature film output takes in his debut with 'Reprise' in 2006, which he would follow up with 'Oslo, 31 August' in 2011, 'Louder Than Bombs' in 2015, 'Thelma' in 2017 and 'The Worst Person in the World' in 2021. Sisters Nora Borg (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes Borg Pettersen (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav (Stellen Skarsgard), a once-renowned Director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning). Suddenly, the two sisters must navigate their complicated relationship with their father, and deal with an American star dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics. The film had its World Premiere showcasing at the main competition of this years Cannes Film Festival in late May where it received widespread critical acclaim, won the Grand Prix, and received a nineteen minute standing ovation. The film has so far grossed US$12M since its release, has generated universal critical acclaim and has so far collected fourteen award wins and a further ninety nominations from around the awards and festival circuit, many of which are still pending a final outcome.

'URCHIN' (Rated MA15+) - is a British drama film that is Written, Directed, stars and is Co-Produced by Harris Dickinson through the Production Company, Devisio Pictures, which he founded with Producer Archie Pearch. This is Dickinson's feature film making debut. On the streets of London, Mike (Frank Dillane) a young man experiencing homelessness, is hustling to get by. Roadside evangelists won't let him sleep in peace, his slippery friend won't pay up the money he stole, and before long, he finds himself in trouble with the law. As he struggles to reintegrate into society, shuffling between jobs as a line cook and a garbage collector, he must balance a newfound sense of community with his own itch for self-destruction. The film had its World Premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of this years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May this year where Dickinson won the FIPRESCI Prize and Dillane won the section's Best Actor award. It was released in the UK in early October, has garnered generally positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$672K.

'MY BROTHER'S BAND' aka 'THE MARCHING BAND' (Rated M) - this French drama film Co-Written and Directed by Emmanuel Courcol in his third feature film making outing following 'Ceasefire' in 2016 and 'The Big Hit' in 2020. When acclaimed orchestra conductor Thibaut Desormeaux (Benjamin Lavernhe) is diagnosed with leukemia, a DNA test to find a bone marrow donor reveals that he is adopted. Thibaut meets his biological brother Jimmy Lecocq (Pierre Lottin), a cook in a school canteen who plays trombone in a local marching band in Lille. When the band loses its conductor, Thibaut steps in as replacement, and the brothers learn more about the circumstances that shaped each other's lives. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May 2024, and only now is it released here in Australia having so far grossed US$26M from a production of US$7M.

'ORWELL : 2+2=5' (Rated M) - is a French and US Co-Produced documentary film that is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Raoul Peck, whose most recent documentaries are 'I Am Not Your Negro' in 2016, 'Silver Dollar Road' in 2023, and 'Ernest Cole : Lost and Found' in 2024. He has also helmed a number of feature films, most recently 2017's 'The Young Karl Marx'. Here then, through archive photos, newsreel footage, films, contemporary documentaries, and notorious speeches, the Director explores how early 20th Century authoritarianism still echoes in contemporary life, especially during ongoing conflicts threatening democracy and public liberties, such as the Myanmar civil war, the Russo-Ukrainian war, the United States' War on terror and the January 6th Capitol attack, the Gaza War, and many others. The film saw its World Premiere at the Cannes Premiere section of this years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May, where it was nominated for the L'Œil d'or. It was released in the US in early October, and will be released in France at the end of February next year. It has garnered generally positive critical acclaim and has so far grossed US$355K. The film is narrated by Damian Lewis, as George Orwell, paying particular attention to the lessons from his 1949 novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'.

'THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE : SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS' (Rated PG) - this American animated adventure comedy film is based on the 'SpongeBob SquarePants' TV series, and is Directed by series veteran Derek Drymon and stars the show's regular voice cast. This film is the fourth feature in the series after 'The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie' in 2004, 'The SpongeBob Movie : Sponge Out of Water' in 2015 and 'The SpongeBob Movie : Sponge on the Run' in 2021. There have also been two Netflix spin off instalments, with those first three films grossing at the Worldwide Box Office a total US$470M against combined production budgets of US$164M. Here then, desperate to become a 'big guy', SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny), sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), and so travels to the deepest depths of the ocean to face off against the Flying Dutchman (Mark Hamill). The film was released in the US last week, has garnered generally positive critical reviews and has so far recovered US$16M from a production budget of US$64M.

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-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Sunday 26th December 2021.

With the festive season now upon us, it would be remiss of me not to wish my global readership all the very best wishes for a Merry, Happy and safe Christmas, wherever you are in world, whoever you share it with and whatever it is you do to celebrate the occasion. Thanks for your continued support over the past twelve months - it is your readership that makes my synopsis and reviews of the latest release new movies all worthwhile, and I look forward to doing more of the same in 2022. Until then, Merry Christmas - I know what I'll be doing - celebrating down by the beach on a warm mid-Summer's day hopefully.  

This week with seven new release films to tease you out to your local Odeon over this Christmas festive period, we have something for everyone. And, we launch with the fourth film in this successful Sci-Fi action franchise and the first instalment in eighteen years that sees our two protagonists from the first films reprise their roles and enter a simulated reality which intelligent machines have created to distract humans while using their bodies as an energy source. Next up is a remake of a classic 1961 film about two street gangs in 1957 New York and a growing romance between a boy and girl caught on either side of these warring factions. Then we turn to a film set in 1973 where a young high school boy and girl meet and navigate first love in the San Fernando Valley. This is followed by an adaptation of a William Shakespeare play in which a Scottish Lord has designs on becoming the King of Scotland as foretold by three witches. Coming next is a story set in 1789 France about a cook who is fired from his aristocratic household for doing his own thing with his culinary delights, only to take refuge in a regional inn, and to ultimately establish what is in all likelihood France's very first restaurant. Then we have a Norwegian offering about a young woman who battles indecisiveness as she traverses the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, before closing out the week with the sequel to an animated feature film from 2016 that this time around sees an optimistic theatre owning koala bear and his friends needing to persuade the reclusive white-maned aged lion rock star to join them for the opening of a new show.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the seven latest release new movies 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 coming week.

'THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS' (Rated M) - is an American Sci-Fi actioner Directed, Co-Written, Co-Produced by Lana Wachowski and based on characters created by both Lana and Lilly Wachowski, who between them both Wrote and Directed the three previous instalments in this hugely popular film franchise back in 1999 with 'The Matrix', then its first two sequels 'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'The Matrix Revolutions' both released in 2003. Those first three films grossed at the global Box Office US$1.63B off the back of a combined production budget of US$363M, but at the time the Wachowski's were adamant that the franchise ended with 'Revolutions' with the Writers/Directors going on to helm other film and TV projects together. However, in late 2019 a fourth film in the franchise was announced with Lana Wachowski returning to Direct but this time without her sister. This film saw its World Premier showcasing in Toronto, Canada on 16th of this month and was released in Russia on the same day, before its worldwide release this week. Early indications are that the film has garnered generally positive Reviews and has so far grossed US$16M. 

Set twenty years following the events of 'The Matrix Revolutions', Neo (Keanu Reeves) lives a seemingly ordinary life under his original identity as Thomas A. Anderson in San Francisco, with a therapist (Neil Patrick Harris) who prescribes him blue pills to counteract the strange and unnatural things he occasionally glimpses. He also meets a woman who appears to be Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), but neither of them recognises the other. However, when a new version of Morpheus (Yahya-Abdul-Mateen II) offers him the red pill and reopens his mind to the world of the Matrix, which has become more secure and dangerous in the years since the Smith (Hugo Weaving in the first trilogy and now played by Jonathan Groff) infection, Neo joins a group of rebels to fight a new enemy. Also starring Jada Pinkett Smith, Jessica Henwick, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Lambert Wilson.

'WEST SIDE STORY' (Rated M) - this American musical romantic drama film is Directed and Co-Produced by Steven Spielberg and is the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name, with the first cinematic release being in 1961. The film features music composed by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It saw its US release on 10th December after being delayed a year by the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and has garnered widespread critical acclaim although that has not transferred into Box Office dollars taking US$30M so far from its production budget of US$100M. Here then, love at first sight strikes when young Tony (Ansel Elgort) sees Maria (Rachel Zegler, in her film debut)  at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks, two rival gangs of different ethnic backgrounds, vying for control of the streets. Also starring Ariana DeBose, Rita Moreno, Brian D'Arcy James and Corey Stoll, the film has so far picked up fifteen award wins and another eighty-eight nominations (some of which are pending a final determination) from around the awards and festival circuit.  

'LICORICE PIZZA' (Rated M) - is an American coming-of-age comedy drama film Written, Directed, Co-Produced and co-filmed by Paul Thomas Anderson whose previous film making credits take in the likes of 'Boogie Night' in 1997 with Burt Reynolds and Mark Wahlberg, 'Magnolia' in 1999 with Tom Cruise, 'There Will Be Blood' in 2007 with Daniel Day-Lewis, 'Inherent Vice' in 2014 with Joaquin Phoenix and and 'Phantom Thread' in 2017 with Daniel Day-Lewis again. The film tells the story of Alana Kane (Alana Haim) and Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley in 1973. Also starring Sean Penn, Bradley Cooper, Tom Waits and Benny Safdie. The film costs US$40M to produce, goes on wide cinema release from this week, has garnered universal critical acclaim and has so far collected seventeen award wins and a further sixty-two nominations (some of which remain pending at the time of writing) from around the awards and festivals circuit. 

'THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH' (Rated M) - this American drama film is Directed and written for the screen by Joel Coen and based on the play 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare. It is the first time that one of the Coen brothers has Directed a film without the others involvement. The film saw its World Premier screening at the New York Film Festival in late September before a limited cinema release this week and before streaming on Apple TV+ from mid-January. Having received widespread critical acclaim, the film has so far garnered six award wins and a further twenty-eight nominations (some of which are still pending an outcome at the time of writing) from around the awards and festival circuit. A Scottish Lord, Macbeth (Denzel Washington) becomes convinced by a trio of witches (all played by Kathryn Hunter) that he will become the next King of Scotland, and his ambitious wife, lady Macbeth (Frances McDormand) supports him in his plans of seizing power. Also starring Brendan Gleeson, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling, Bertie Carvel and Stephen Root. 

'DELICIOUS' (Rated M) - Directed and Co-Written by Eric Besnard whose previous film credits include 'Cash' in 2008 with Jean Reno and Ciaran Hinds, 'In Gold We Trust' in 2010, and 'The Sense of Wonder' in 2015. Set in 1789 in France, and just before the Revolution, gastronomy is strictly the domain of the wealthy aristocrats and the prestige of a noble house is entirely dependent on the quality and reputation of its dining table. When talented but prideful cook Pierre Manceron (Gregory Gadebois) serves an unapproved dish of his own creation at a dinner hosted by the self-entitled Duke of Chamfort (Benjamin Lavernhe), he is promptly dismissed. Manceron retreats with his son to a regional inn visited infrequently by travellers, to lick his wounds. When a mysterious woman, Louise (Isabelle Carre) arrives with an offer to become his apprentice, the stage is set for a wildly enjoyable tale of reignited passion, mentorship and revenge . . . . .  and of the creation of France’s very first restaurant.

'THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD' (Rated MA15+) - is a Norwegian dark romantic comedy drama film Directed and Co-Written by Joachim Trier and is the third film in the Director's Oslo Trilogy following 'Reprise' - his 2006 feature film debut and 'Oslo, 31 August' in 2011. He has since made 'Louder Than Bombs' in 2015 with Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne, Isabelle Huppert, David Strathairn and Amy Ryan; and then 'Thelma' in 2017. This film saw its World Premier in competition at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, with Renate Reinsve winning the award for Best Actress for her performance in the film. It was selected as the Norwegian entry for the Best International Feature Film at next years Academy Awards and has so far picked up thirteen award wins and another twenty-seven nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit, and has garnered universal critical acclaim. The film charts four years in the life of Julie (Renate Reinsve), a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is. Also starring Anders Danielsen Lie and Herbert Nordrum.

'SING 2' (Rated PG) - this American computer animated musical comedy film is Directed and Written by Garth Jennings whose previous feature film credits include his 2005 debut 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy', 'Son of Rambow' in 2007, and 'Sing' in 2016 as well as numerous music videos for noted singers and bands before and since. The first film grossed US$634M off the back of a US$75M production budget making this sequel inevitable. Here then the ever-optimistic koala, Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey), and his all-star cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet . . . all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world, Redshore City. There's just one small hitch however, in that they first have to persuade the world's most reclusive rock star Clay Calloway (voiced by Bono) to join them. Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Nick Kroll, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Nick Offerman and Garth Jennings himself, reprise their roles from the first film, with this sequel also adding the voice talents to new characters by Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Pharrell Williams, Letitia Wright, Eric Andre, Chelsea Peretti, Jennifer Saunders, Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, Edgar Wright and Fisher Stevens. The film premiered at the AFI Fest in mid-November, before its wide cinema release this week and has generated mixed or average Reviews so far. 

With seven 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 at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 11th August 2016.

With this weeks release of yet another 'Bad . . . ' movie, I got to thinking that surely those Screen Writers in Hollywood must be able to come up with some more original titles rather than those that seem to plague our cinemas with ever increasing regularity. So, I searched through the archives, to see how far back 'Bad . . . ' movies go, and it does seem to be a more recent phenomenon, although there are plenty of earlier films too with 'Bad' in the title, as the below list will demonstrate. Check them out if you will, and they're not all bad either! Let's us know too if there are some that you think have been missed off this list.

• 'Too Bad She's Bad' - 1955, starring Sophia Loren
• 'Tribute to a Bad Man' - 1956, starring James Cagney
• 'The Bad Seed' - 1956, starring Nancy Kelly
• 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' - 1966, starring Clint Eastwood
• 'Badlands' - 1973, starring Martin Sheen
• 'The Bad News Bears' - 1976, starring Walter Matthau
• 'Bad Blood' - 1982, starring Jack Thompson
• 'Bad Boys' - 1983, starring Sean Penn
• 'Bad Taste' - 1987, starring Peter Jackson
• 'Bad Influence' - 1990, starring James Spader
• 'Bad Lieutenant' - 1992, starring Harvey Keitel
• 'Bad Boy Bubby' - 1993, starring Nicholas Hope
• 'Bad Girls' - 1994, starring Madeline Stowe
• 'Bad Boys' - 1995, starring Will Smith
• 'Bad Day on the Block' - 1997, starring Charlie Sheen
• 'Bad Company' - 2002, starring Anthony Hopkins
• 'Bad Boys II' - 2003, starring Will Smith
• 'Bad Santa' - 2003, starring Billy Bob Thornton
• 'Bad Eggs' - 2003, starring Mick Molloy
• 'Bad Education' - 2004, starring Gael Garcia Bernal
• 'The Bad News Bears' - 2005, starring Billy Bob Thornton
• 'Superbad' - 2007, starring Jonah Hill
• 'Bad Lieutenant : Port of Call-New Orleans' - 2009, starring Nicolas Cage
• 'Bad Teacher' - 2011, starring Cameron Diaz
• 'Bad Words' - 2013, starring Jason Bateman
• 'Bad Grandpa' - 2013, starring Johnny Knoxville
• 'Bad Neighbours' - 2014, starring Seth Rogen
• 'Bad Neighbours 2 : Sorority Rising' - 2016, starring Seth Rogen
• 'Bad Moms' - 2016, starring Mila Kunis
• 'Bad Santa 2' - 2016, starring Billy Bob Thornton
• 'Bad Boys III' - 2017, starring Will Smith
• 'Bad Blood' - 2018, starring Jennifer Lawrence
• 'Bad Boys IV' - 2019, starring Will Smith

This week then to tease you out to your local Odeon, we have five new filmic offerings, starting with a trio of Mum's going off the rails to escape the routines of their seemingly otherwise perfect worlds with dramatic and comedic consequences for all, and those closest to them. Then an animated feature aimed squarely at the fifteen and above demographic that sees our humble grocery store supplies take on a life of their own as they wage war against mankind for fear of being eaten! Following on from this is a family reunion brought about by the death of the family wife and mother leaving the grieving father and sons to relive past memories and confront their feelings for each other. We then move to an Aussie dramedy set amidst the back drop of racial tensions in Sydney's south and the aftermath in the day that followed between two rival gangs on a collision course hellbent on retaliation . . . sounds hilarious! Then we wrap up the week with a foreign language film and one mans journey to get his affairs in order before he succumbs to cancer, aided by a mans best friend, and his best friend.

Remember too that when you have sat through your film of choice in the week ahead, that you are warmly invited to share your views and opinions of your movie going experience by leaving a Comment below this or any other Post. We look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

'BAD MOMS' (Rated MA15+) - over the years Hollywood has churned out plenty of 'Bad . . .' films of which only some have been 'good'! The likes of 'Bad Girls', 'Bad Boys', 'Bad Lieutenant', 'Bad Teacher', 'Bad Santa', 'Bad Neighbours', 'Bad Grandpa', and now we have the next offering in a long line of 'Bad . . . ' films with 'Bad Moms' made for US$20M, Directed and Written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore and so far returning US$57M since its Stateside release towards the end of July.

The story here is such that Amy (Mila Kunis) has a happy marriage, a loving husband, kids doing well at school, a great home, a successful career and the looks as well, but, behind all of that there is stress, exhaustion, anxiety and overbearing responsibilities. Something's gotta give! And it does when she discovers her husband cheating on her and promptly throws him out. Then she quits the school PTA in which she was an active member and heads off to a local bar for some well needed refreshment. There Amy meets up with two other mothers in a similar state - Kiki (Kristen Bell) and Carla (Kathryn Hahn) and the trio of new friends hang an all night bender which leads them to reassess their lives, commitments and priorities in favour of a more relaxed easy going approach. Along the way there are tussles with the PTA's domineering head and near perfect mother Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate) and her followers Stacy (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Vicky (Annie Mumolo). Clearly there'll be messages in here about the power of friendships, parenting, forgiveness, doing the right thing with a few comedic laughs in there too no doubt. Bad . . . you decide!

'SAUSAGE PARTY' (Rated MA15+) - this computer animated adult feature film is based on a story by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Jonah Hill, Written for the screen and Produced by the former two, is Directed by Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon and stars an ensemble voice cast. Here we have a supermarket called 'Shopwell' in which reside groceries of all kinds dreaming of the day they will be handpicked and taken home by humans. However, one fine day the terrible truth will come crashing down on those groceries that they are destined to be consumed by those humans, and it falls at the feet of humble hot dog sausage, Frank (Seth Rogen) to forewarn his many grocery friends at the store of their frightening future outlook, and declare war on humans. Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, James Franco, Danny McBride, Paul Rudd, Edward Norton and Salma Hayek amongst others lend their considerable voice talents.

'LOUDER THAN BOMBS' (Rated M) - this French/Danish/Norwegian co-production was entered into competition at Cannes in May 2015, shown at TIFF in September last year, and released in France, Norway and Denmark in December before the end of last year. Now eight months later it lands on Australian shores having cost US$11M to make, and so far having recovered just US$602K. Directed by Joachim Trier in his English language debut, it stars an impressive cast and has been positively received by critics despite its mediocre Box Office results so far. We join the Reed family as father Gene (Gabriele Byrne) prepares for a retrospective exhibition of his dead wife, Isabelle (Isabelle Huppert) acclaimed work as a war photographer, three years after her untimely death.  In so doing his two sons Jonah (Jesse Eisenberg) returns home and is forced to spend more time with dad and younger brother Conrad (Devin Druid) than he has in many years. In turn the three of them must reunite as new details surrounding Isabelle's death come to light, and they are forced to confront their differing feelings and memories that each of them hold for their departed wife and mother. Amy Ryan and David Strathairn also star.

'DOWN UNDER' (Rated MA15+) - back at Christmas 2005 the Cronulla Riots were beamed across the world as true blue Aussies clashed violently with largely Lebanese locals at the beachside suburb of Cronulla in southern Sydney. It was bloody and ugly with Riot Police in full force, drunken brawls, insults, jeering, flag waving, smashed up cars, homes attacked and roadside arrests. Hardly the best image of our beloved Sydney that we want beamed across the world's media, and at Christmas time too. Now, Abe Forsythe has turned that dark episode into a black comedy drama that he has both Written and Directed. Set the day after the riots two separate gangs in different parts of the city are preparing themselves for retaliation. In the Shire, the 'Skips' and in Lakemba, the 'Lebs' - two gangs of bumbling half arsed dim witted no hopers prepare to man up, boot up and tool up for a night of unadulterated violence amidst questions from gang members as to why, what and when with comedic overtones and the cost of racism and discrimination on human lives when the two groups do inevitably clash. Starring Lincoln Younes, Rahel Romahn, Michael Denkha, Alexander England, Damon Herriman, David Field, Fayssal Bazzi and Chris Bunton.

'TRUMAN' (Rated MA15+) - and so to our foreign language offering this week - that of Spanish/Argentian co-production 'Truman' as Directed and Co-Written by Cesc Gay which was shown at TIFF in September last year, the San Sebastian International Film Festival and the winner of five Goya Awards at Madrid earlier this year including Best Director, Best Film, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. The story here centres around Tomas (Javier Camara) who visits his long term friend Julian (Ricardo Darin) in Madrid. Julian is dying of cancer and has limited time left, and has resigned himself to his fate, refusing further treatment. Over the course of Tomas' visit the pair travel around Madrid as Julian seeks to put his affairs in order. One such detail is that of Julian's boxer dog, 'Truman' who is to be put up for adoption post his death, and for whom Julian seems to bestow much grater importance than on his own situation. Needless to say for the pair it's an emotional rollercoaster of a ride who along with loyal hound Truman will share moments of emotion, pathos, and reckoning brought on by Julian's complicated situation. The film has received positive reviews and has won 28 awards with a further 28 nominations from around the circuit, and also stars Dolores Fonzi and Eduard Fernandez.

With five more great reasons to get out to your local cinema in the week ahead, what's not to like here? Remember to share your cinematic thoughts when you have done so, and as always, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-