What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 12th May 2022.

The 23rd annual Jeonju International Film Festival took place recently between 28th April and 7th May in South Korea showcasing a total 217 films from fifty-seven countries. Of these 123 were international films and ninety-four were Korean films, with 143 being feature films and seventy-four being short films. Sixty-one of these saw their World Premier screening, while four had their International Premier, sixty-three their Asian Premier and forty-seven their Korean Premier. Launched in 2000 as a non-competitive film festival with partial competition, it introduces independent and experimental films to focus on the alternative course of contemporary film art.

This years Opening Night Film was 'After Yang' from the USA and Directed and Edited by Kogonada and starring Colin Farrell and Jodie Turner-Smith in the Asian Premier of this fiction drama. The Closing Night Film was 'Full Time' from France and Written and Directed by Eric Gravel and starring Laure Calamy in the Asian Premier of this fiction drama. 

Ten films compete in the International Competition section at JIFF, and these were as follows :-

* 'Actual People' - from the USA and Directed, Written, Co-Produced and starring Kit Zauhar in her Directorial debut this fiction drama saw its Asian Premier screening.

* 'Album for the Youth' - from Argentina is Written, Directed and Edited by Malena Solarz in her second feature film outing, this fiction drama saw its Asian Premier showcasing.

* 'Aleph' - from the USA, Croatia and Qatar is Written, Directed, Co-Produced and Edited by Iva Radivojevic in her second feature film offering, this documentary had its Asian Premier. 

* 'Geographies of Solitude' - from the USA and is Directed, Co-Produced, filmed, Co-Edited and Co-Sound Designed by Jacquelyn Mills in her second documentary film that saw its Asian Premier screening. This film won the International Grand Jury Prize with a cash prize of KRW20M.

* 'A Human Position' - from Norway and Written, Directed, Co-Produced and Edited by Anders Emblem in his second feature film outing, this fiction drama saw its International Premier. 

* 'Medusa' - from Brazil and is Written, Directed and Co-Scored by Anita Rocha Da Silveira in her second feature film offering, this fiction drama had its Asian Premier.

* 'Raydio' - from Taiwan and Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Zhan Kaidi in his feature film making debut, this fiction drama saw its International Premier.

* 'The Silence of the Mole' - from Guatemala and Written and Directed by Anais Taracena in her film making debut this documentary film had its Asian Premier screening. This film won the Special Jury Prize with a cash prize of KRW10M.

* 'Tokyo Kurds' - from Japan and is Directed by Hyuga Fumiari in his film making debut, this documentary film saw its International Premier.

* 'Unrest' - from Switzerland and Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Cyril Schaublin in his second feature film, this fiction drama had its Asian Premier showcasing. This film won the Best Picture Prize with a cash prize of KRW10M.

For the full low down on all films showcased at the 23rd JIFF, the awards, and a whole bunch more, you can visit the official website at : https://eng.jeonjufest.kr/

This week to tease you out to your local Odeon on a chilly Autumnal evening, we have five new movies that kick off with an American biographical drama that follows a boxer-turned-priest who inspired countless people during his journey from self-destruction to redemption. Next up is a Sci-Fi horror drama about a young girl who tries to understand how she mysteriously gained the power to set things on fire with her mind. This is followed by an Italian drama film of fifteen-year-old girl whose close-knit family falls apart after her father abandons them in Calabria. Then we turn to two doco's to close out the week - first from France about an eighteen-year-old woman who travels the world to meet young activists who have already helped the world with their perseverance and selflessness; and finally a music doco that explores the creative relationship and songs from two of Australia's foremost singers, songwriters and composers as they embark on a UK tour and nurture the songs that went into their last two studio albums.

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.

'FATHER STU' (Rated M) - this American biographical drama film is Written and Directed by Rosalind Ross in her Directorial debut. Mark Wahlberg Co-Produces here and stars as Father Stu, having gained 14kgs in six weeks to portray the lead character by consuming about 7,000 calories a day, and further he ploughed 'millions and millions of dollars' of his own money into the production mainly because of the shoot going over schedule and the rights to the accompanying music. The film was released in the US in mid-April, has garnered mixed reviews from critics and has so far grossed US$19M. 

When an injury ends his amateur boxing career, Stuart Long (Mark Wahlberg) moves to Los Angeles to find money and fame. While scraping by as a supermarket clerk, he meets Carmen (Teresa Ruiz), a Sunday school teacher who seems immune to his bad-boy charm. Determined to win her over, the longtime agnostic starts going to church to impress her. However, a motorcycle accident leaves him wondering if he can use his second chance to help others, leading to the surprising realisation that he's meant to be a Catholic priest. Also starring Jacki Weaver, Mel Gibson and Malcolm McDowell. 

'FIRESTARTER' (Rated MA15+) - is an American Sci-Fi horror film Directed by Keith Thomas in only his second feature film making outing following 2019's 'The Vigil', is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King and is a reboot of the 1984 feature film of the same name which starred a young Drew Barrymore, Martin Sheen, George C. Scott and David Keith. Here then a couple - Andy McGee (Zac Efron) and Vicky McGee (Sydney Lemmon) desperately try to hide their daughter, Charlie (Ryan Kiera), from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for turning fire into a weapon of mass destruction. Her father taught her how to defuse her power, but as Charlie turns eleven years of age, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. When a mysterious operative finally tracks down the family, he attempts to capture Charlie once and for all, but she has other plans. Also starring Kurtwood Smith and Michael Greyeyes, the film is released Stateside and in Australia this week. 

'TO CHIARA' (Rated M) - is an Italian language drama film Written and Directed by Jonas Carpignano in his third feature film after 'Mediterranea' in 2015 and 'A Ciambra' in 2017. The film saw its World Premier showcasing at the July 2021 Cannes Film Festival in the Director's Fortnight section where it received positive critical acclaim. The Guerrasio family and their friends gather to celebrate Claudio (Claudio Rotolo) and Carmela's (Carmela Fumo) oldest daughter's 18th birthday. There is a healthy rivalry between the birthday girl and her 16-year-old sister Chiara (Swamy Rotolo), as they compete on the dancefloor. It is a happy occasion, and the close-knit family is in top form, until later that evening a car nearby explodes, her father flees and the next day the family patriarch is missing. Chiara decides to investigate and as she gets closer to the truth, she is forced to decide what kind of future she wants for herself.

'BIGGER THAN US' (Rated M) - this French documentary film is Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Flore Vasseur in only her second film making outing following 2017's 'Meeting Snowdon'. The film follows the journey of Melati Wijsen, who decides to go journey across the globe to meet her peers, young activists just like her, who already have managed to have a huge impact in their fields thanks to their convictions, determination and selflessness. Melati can feel that the clock is ticking and that change is too slow. She wants, she needs to understand what is preventing change. To join forces. And to come up with her new plan. The film Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in mid-July last year, and saw a stepped release in other territories thereafter, with the US release on 1st April and now getting a limited showing in Australia from this week. 

'THIS MUCH I KNOW TO BE TRUE' (Rated M) - this music documentary film is Directed by Andrew Dominik whose previous Directorial credits include 'Chopper' in 2000, 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' in 2007, 'Killing Them Softly' in 2012 and the Nick Cave documentary 'One More Time with Feeling' in 2016. Here he teams up with Nick Cave again to explore the creative relationship and songs from Cave and Warren Ellis' last two studio albums, 'Ghosteen' and 'Carnage'. Shot on location in London & Brighton, this document of their first ever performances of these albums, filmed in spring 2021 ahead of their UK tour, we see the two, accompanied by singers and string quartet, as they nurture each song into existence. The film features a special appearance by close friend and long-term collaborator, Marianne Faithfull, capturing the mood and spirit of the pair as they move through a new, optimistic phase.

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-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 16th July 2020.

The Coronavirus is far from over, but is seems that governments and authorities from near, far and wide have eased up on restrictions and have allowed the movie going public to return, albeit with some caveats, to their local Odeon, movie theatre, or cinema multiplex to enjoy the full film experience as most film production companies would prefer. And so having been in cinematic lockdown and languished in movie wasteland, apart of course from those newly released to Netflix in the past four months, this week sees a welcome return and a gentle easing back into the world of big screen film entertainment . . . and long may it continue!

And so for the coming week, there are five new films to entice you out to your local Odeon on a cold Winters night in the middle of July. Launching with an American semi-autobiographical comedy drama about a mid-20 year old with a bad case of arrested development who through a series of events is compelled to take his first steps into full blown adulthood. This is followed up by a story of a washed up art critic who is invited to steal a noted painting from a renowned artist, only to have his greed and ambition spin a web around him from which there seems to be little hope of escape. Next up is a mystery comedy drama about the seemingly perfect wife with a perfect husband, a perfect daughter and a perfect home who suddenly one day ups sticks and disappears and how her family then embark on an adventure to find her again. We then wrap up the week with two horror offerings - one set in a Jewish Orthodox community where a young man is asked to keep watch one night over the deceased body of a Holocaust survivor - but this is far from the simple task it at first seems; followed up by the story of a social media Vlogger and his thirst for adventure and pushing the envelope for the sake of notoriety and more followers, he and his group of friends bite off more than they can chew when they go in search of more thrills in Moscow.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the five latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release 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 KING OF STATEN ISLAND' (Rated MA15+) - this American comedy drama film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Judd Apatow, whose previous film making credits include 'The 40 Year Old Virgin', 'Knocked Up', 'Funny People', 'This is 40' and 'Trainwreck'. Apatow is also a Comedian and Actor who has received numerous award wins and nominations throughout his career. Originally intended to be released in cinemas, it was released instead digitally on various streaming services on 12th June, although it does now also receive a theatrical release this week across Australia. The film is a semi autobiographical look at the life of American Actor and Comedian who has been a regular on Saturday Night Live, Pete Davidson, who with Apatow also co-wrote the screenplay.

Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson) has been a case of arrested development since his firefighter Dad died as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Centre on 9/11. Living on New York's Staten Island, and now approaching his mid-20's, he spends his days smoking weed and dreaming of becoming a serious tattoo artist. As his ambitious younger sister Claire (Maude Apatow) heads off to college, Scott is still living with his exhausted ER nurse mother Margie (Marisa Tomei) and hanging with his besties - Oscar (Ricky Velez), Igor (Moises Arias) and Richie (Lou Wilson) and secretly hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey (Bel Powley). But when his mother starts dating a loudmouth firefighter named Ray (Bill Burr), it sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps toward moving forward in life. Also starring Steve Buscemi. 

'THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY' (Rated MA15+) - is a drama thriller Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi who has helmed numerous music videos over the years, television commercials and a small number of TV series and feature films. This film adaptation is based on the 1971 book of the same name by Charles Willeford and was chosen as the closing film for last years Venice International Film Festival and went on release in the US on 6th March and was then pulled when the world went into COVID-19 lockdown. It is re-released this week. Ambitious and charming art critic, James Figueras (Claes Bang), has fallen from grace. Spending his days in Milan lecturing witless tourists about art history, his only ray of sunshine in his otherwise drab world is a new-found love interest, the enigmatic American, Berenice Hollis (Elizabeth Debicki). An opportunity strikes when he is contacted by wealthy art dealer Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger) who invites James to his Lake Como villa and asks him to steal a painting from the renowned reclusive artist, Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland). Soon, James’ greed and ambition prove too much as he finds himself caught in a web of his own making. The film has generated mixed or average Reviews so far.

'THE VIGIL' (Rated CTC) - this American supernatural horror film is Written and Directed by first-timer Keith Thomas and saw its World Premier screening at TIFF in September last year and is Executive Produced by Blumhouse Productions. Here Yakov Ronan (Dave Davis) plays a young Jewish man who is hired by local Rabbi Reb Schulem (Menashe Lustig) to sit in vigil over a recently deceased Holocaust survivor. Ronan has lost his faith, has fled from the insular community he once called home and is also broke so he accepts the opportunity to watch over the body for one evening (as is the case in the Jewish community) - after all what could go wrong? Well it seems quite a lot actually, as he is targeted by a malevolent spirit known as a dybbuk (a malicious possessing spirit believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person. It supposedly leaves the host body once it has accomplished its goal, sometimes after being helped). Also starring Lynn Cohen (who died in February this year aged 86) as Mrs. Litvak, this film has garnered generally positive Reviews so far.

'WHERE'D YOU GO BERNADETTE' (Rated M) - Directed and Co-Written for the screen by Richard Linklater this American mystery comedy drama is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Maria Semple. Released in the US in August 2019 off the back of an US$18M production budget, the film has so far grossed US$11M, has received mixed or average Reviews, and only now does it get an Australian release. Former architect Bernadette Fox (Cate Blanchette) seems to have it all - a beautiful home in Seattle, a successful and loving husband Elgin (Billy Crudup), and a brilliant teenage daughter Balakrishna 'Bee' (Emma Nelson) who's about to attend boarding school. When Bernadette suddenly disappears without a trace, her concerned family sets off on an exciting adventure to solve the mystery of where she might have gone. Also starring Kristen Wiig, Laurence Fishburne, Judy Greer, Steve Zahn and Megan Mullally. 

'FOLLOW ME' (Rated MA15+) - Directed, Written and Produced by Will Wernick whose last film making outing was 2017's 'Escape Room', here he assembles a cast for his next horror thriller about an increasingly popular and successful VLOGGER whose social media posts capture his exploits at their most dangerous, adventurous and at times bizarre. Always seeing to push the limits and grow his audience hungry for more exploits, Cole (Keegan Allen) travels with a small group of friends to Moscow for their next adventure. Once there, they enter a cold world of mystery, excess and danger that rapidly blurs the lines between real life and the life of social media. They in turn must fight to survive, and escape. Also starring Holland Roden, Ronan Rubinstein, Kimberly Quinn, Denzel Whitaker and Pasha D. Lychnikoff. 

With five new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-