What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th April 2025.

The 68th annual San Francisco International Film Festival this year takes place from Thursday 17th through until Sunday 27th April. Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. The annual event features a range of marquee premieres, international competitions, compelling documentaries, short and mid-length films, live music performances, and dazzling red carpet events. The SFFILM Festival is deeply rooted in the culture and process of film appreciation - film as an art form and as a meaningful agent for social change - and is an important showcase for the most searching and innovative films from around the globe, so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night Film is 'Rebuilding' from the USA and Written and Directed by Max Walker-Silverman, and tells the story of communal love and resilience, as uncertain and mild-mannered man Dusty (Josh O’Connor) determined to rebuild his family ranch and recapture his purpose as a cowboy. Also starring Meghann Fahy, Amy Madigan, Lilly LaTour and Kali Reis. The Closing Night Film is 'Outerlands' from the USA and is Written and Directed by Elena Oxman and is about a gig worker in San Francisco who balances multiple jobs, including dealing party drugs. When their crush asks them to watch her daughter, what starts as temporary childcare evolves into an unexpected journey of self-discovery and healing.

Presented at the Festival since its inaugural year in 1957, the Golden Gate Awards are among the most significant honours for emerging global film artists in the USA. Prizes are traditionally awarded in twelve narrative, documentary, and short film categories and include cash awards. Those films in the Narrative Feature Competition are as follows :-

* 'The Quiet Son' - from France and Written and Directed by the sister duo of Delphine and Muriel Coulin. 

* 'Xoftex' - from Germany and France and Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed, photographed and Co-Edited by Noaz Deshe.

* '3670' - from South Korea and is Written, Executive Produced, Directed and Edited by Joonho Park.

* 'Cactus Pears' - from India, the UK and Canada and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade.

* 'Sukkwan Island' - from France, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the UK and Written and Directed by Vladimir de Fontenay.

* 'All That's Left of You' - from Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars Cherein Dabis.

* 'Ricky' - from the USA and Co-Written and Directed by Rashad Frett.

* 'Surviving Earth' - from the UK and is Written and Directed by Thea Gajic.

* 'That Summer in Paris' - from France and Co-Written and Directed by Valentine Cadic.

For the synopsis of the above highlighted films, plus all the details of the other films in competition, the film sections being showcased, and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://sffilm.org/

Turning back to this weeks five hottest new release movies gracing a big screen Odeon close to your home, we launch with a supernatural horror film about twin brothers who return to their hometown but are faced with a greater evil. Next up is a modern telling of war as a surveillance mission goes south for a platoon of American Navy SEAL's in insurgent territory in Iraq. Then we turn to a mystery thriller in  which a widowed mother's first date takes a terrifying turn when she's bombarded with anonymous threatening messages on her phone, leaving her questioning if her charming date is behind the harassment. This is followed by a biographical drama offering telling the story of the arrest, trial and imprisonment of an Australian journalist, who while reporting on the Arab Spring uprising becomes entangled in a deadly game of rivalries. And closing out the week we have a comedy drama about an Englishman who experiences personal and political changes after adopting a penguin during a turbulent time in Argentina's history.

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.

'SINNERS' (Rated MA15+) - is an American period supernatural horror film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ryan Coogler, whose former feature film output includes his big screen debut with 'Fruitvale Station' in 2013, which he would follow up with 'Creed' in 2015, 'Black Panther' in 2018 and 'Black Panther : Wakanda Forever' in 2022. The film is released this week too in the US and had a production budget of US$90M. 

Here then, set in the 1930's in the Southern United States during the height of the Jim Crow era, the film follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who are attempting to leave their troubled lives behind, as they return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. Also starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, Jayme Lawson and Delroy Lindo. 

'WARFARE' (Rated MA15+) - this war action film is Written and Directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland and is based on Mendoza's experiences during the Iraq War as a former US Navy SEAL. Alex Garland's prior feature film making credits take in his debut with 'Ex Machina' in 2014, then 'Annihilation' in 2018, 'Men' in 2022 and 'Civil War' most recently last year. Here then, a platoon of Navy SEAL's embark on a dangerous surveillance mission in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event. Starring D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Ray Mendoza with Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, Michael Gandolfini, Charles Melton, Noah Centineo, Henry Zaga and Alex Brockdorff. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing in mid-March, was released in the USA last week, here and in the UK this week, has garnered generally favourable critical press and has so far grossed US$8.5M from a production budget of US$20M.

'DROP' (Rated MA15+) - is an American mystery thriller film Directed by Christopher Landon who made his feature film Directing debut with 'Burning Palms' in 2010 and would follow this up with 'Paranormal Activity : The Marked Ones' in 2014, then 'Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse' in 2015, 'Happy Death Day' in 2017, 'Happy Death Day 2U' in 2019, 'Freaky' in 2020 and 'We Have a Ghost' in 2023. Here then, Violet (Meghann Fahy), a widowed mother, is on a date with Henry (Brandon Sklenar) when she is terrorised by a series of anonymous messages to her mobile phone. The caller instructs her to tell nobody, and follow increasingly malicious instructions, or her younger sister, Jen (Violett Beane), and her son, Toby (Jacob Robinson) will be killed, culminating with her being told to kill Henry. The film had its premiere at the SXSW in early March, was released in the US last week, has received positive reviews from critics and has so far grossed US$11M from a production budget of US$11M.

'THE CORRESPONDENT' (Rated M) - this biographical legal thriller film is Directed by Kriv Stenders whose prior feature film output includes 'The Illustrated Family Doctor' in 2005, 'Boxing Day' in 2007, 'Lucky Country' in 2009, 'Red Dog' in 2011, 'Kill Me Three Times' in 2014, 'Red Dog : True Blue' in 2016, 'Australia Day' in 2017 and 'Danger Close : The Battle of Long Tan' in 2019. This film is based on the 2017 memoir 'The First Casualty' by Peter Greste. The film is based on the real-life story of Australian foreign correspondent and journalist Peter Greste (Richard Roxburgh), who was arrested in Cairo, Egypt after being accused of spreading false news and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood. Imprisoned for seven years despite his innocence, he survives on wits alone before being released in 2015. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Adelaide Film Festival back in September last year and is released this week here in Australia. 

'THE PENGUIN LESSONS' (Rated M) - is a comedy drama film Directed by Peter Cattaneo who made his feature film Directorial debut with 1997's 'The Full Monty' and which he would follow up with 'Lucky Break' in 2001, 'Opal Dream' in 2006, 'The Rocker' in 2008 and 'Military Wives' in 2019. This film is based on the 2015 memoir of the same name by Tom Michell. Inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman, Tom Michell (Steve Coogan) who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach at a Uraguayan resort, his life is turned upside-down, as the penguin then kept following him and so he took it back to the school, where it became a popular pet. Also starring Jonathan Pryce as the school Headmaster. It premiered as a gala presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival in September last year, was released in the US in late March and is released in the UK, Ireland and here in Australia this week. It has so far grossed almost US$3M and has generated mixed or average reviews.

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 10th September 2020.

The 77th annual Venice International Film Festival is currently being held, running from 2nd through to 12th September, albeit in an abridge format because of the ongoing impact of COVID-19. Australian Actress Cate Blanchett has been appointed as the Jury President for this years Main Competition, with other jury members including Matt Dillon (the American Actor), Joanna Hogg (the British Director and Screenwriter), Christian Petzold (the German Director and Screenwriter) and Veronica Franz (the Austrian Director and Screenwriter). Two Italian films were chosen to open and close this years festival - 'The Ties' Directed by Daniele Luchetti opens the festival, and 'You Came Back' Directed by Stefano Mordini, will close. 

The following films are amongst the eighteen features selected to be in the Main International Competition this year.

* 'And Tomorrow the Entire World' from Germany and France this political drama film is Directed by Julia von Heinz.

* 'The Disciple' from India is a drama film Directed, Written and Edited by Chaitanya Tamhane, with Alfonso Cuaron Executive Producing. 

* In Between Dying' is an Azerbaijan, Mexico, United States Co-Production that is Directed, Co-Written, Co-Produced and Edited by Hilal Baydarov.

* 'Lovers' from France, this thriller is Directed by Nicole Garcia and stars Benoit Magimel and Stacy Martin.

* The Macaluso Sisters' is an Italian drama film Directed and written for the screen by Emma Dante based on her own 2014 play of the same name.

* 'Miss Marx' from Italy and Belgium, this English language biographical period drama film is Written and Directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli and stars Romola Garai, Patrick Kennedy, John Gordon Sinclair, Felicity Montagu and Emma Cunnliffe.

* 'New Order' is a Mexican and French Co-Production that is Directed, Written, Co-Produced and Co-Edited by Michel Franco.

* 'Nomadland', from the USA is Written, Directed, Edited and Co-Produced by Chloe Zhao and stars Frances McDormand and David Strathairn.

* 'Notturno' from Italy, France and Germany is a documentary film Directed, Written, Co-Produced and lensed by Gianfranco Rosi. 

* 'Pieces of a Woman' is an Hungarian, American and Canadian Co-Produced drama film Directed by Kornel Mundruczo, Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese and starring Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn, Sarah Snook and Benny Safdie.

* 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' - is an internationally Co-Produced war drama film Written and Directed by Jasmila Zbanic. 

* 'Wife of a Spy' is a Japanese historical romantic drama film Directed and Co-Written by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. 

* 'The World to Come' is an American drama film Directed by Mona Fastvold and starring Vanessa Kirby, Katherine Waterston, Casey Affleck, Christopher Abbott and Jesse Plemmons. 

For all the latest news and views from this years Venice International Film Festival, you can check out the official website at : https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2020

This week then we have five latest release new movies gracing your local Odeon screen. We start with the third instalment in a franchise that saw its humble beginnings back in 1989, with its follow up offering coming two years later, and its been almost thirty years since this pair of would-be slacker rock legends graced our screens, but here they are again, setting off in their time travelling phone booth to save the known universe. We then move to a Moroccan film about the unlikely bond that develops between two very different women that could just bring about their salvation. Next up we have a home invasion tale surrounding a young teenage girl out to thwart a group of convicts on the run after they invade the weekend getaway home she and her family are staying in searching for a special key. This is followed by a sequel to a 2019 film about young love and the trials and tribulations surrounding this couple, and whether the guy is really meant to be with the girl. And we close out the week with an Australian documentary film about a much loved Australian country music icon, and his wife in particular who struggled for years to gain the recognition she deserved to be regarded as a singer/songwriter in her own right.   

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.

'BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC' (Rated PG) - here we have the long awaited third instalment in the 'Bill & Ted' franchise following 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' in 1989 and 'Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey' in1991. Both of those films combined generated US$79M at the worldwide Box Office off the back of production budgets amounting to US$27M. This film is Directed by Dean Parisot whose previous feature film credits take in 'Galaxy Quest', 'Fun with Dick and Jane' and 'RED 2', was released in the US on 28th August, cost US$25M to produce and has so far grossed US$2.5M. It has generated largely positive Reviews.

Here Alex Winter reprises his role of William S. 'Bill' Preston Esq. and Keanu Reeves his role as Ted 'Theodore' Logan, as The Great Leader (Holland Taylor) the ruler of the future tells them that they must compose a new song to save life as we know it. But instead of writing it, they decide to travel through time to steal it from their older selves. Meanwhile, their young daughters Theadora 'Thea' Preston (Samara Weaving) and Wilhelmina 'Billie' Logan (Brigette Lundy-Paine) devise their own musical scheme to help their fathers bring harmony to the universe.

'ADAM' (Rated PG) - in her Directorial debut, and Co-Written by Maryam Touzani she has here crafted a moving and heart-warming story of food, friendship and female empowerment, set against the backdrop of a modern-day Casablanca medina. This Moroccan drama film saw its selection in the Un Certain Regard category at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Exploring the unlikely friendship between two very different women, one a lonely widow and the other unmarried and pregnant – whose paths cross in a tiny bakery. Initially closed off from the world, the widowed Alba (Lubna Azabal) is reluctantly charmed by pregnant Samia’s (Nisrin Erradi) eagerness to lend a hand with baking. When conservative values threaten both women’s freedoms as Samia struggles to prepare for her growing baby, the bond they grow to share could be the saving of them both.

'BECKY' (Rated R18+) - this American action thriller film is Directed by Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion and was due to have its World Premier screening at the Tribeca Film Festival in April of this year. That showcase was cancelled due to COVID-19 and was subsequently released via VOD, on some digital platforms and in drive-in theatres in the US in early June. Now its gets a limited showing in Australia, having taken US$1M at the Box Office so far, and having garnered mixed or average Reviews thus far. Here courageous, determined and rebellious Becky Hooper (Lulu Wilson) tries to reconnect with her father Jeff (Joel McHale) during a weekend getaway at a lakefront house. But the trip soon takes a turn for the worse when convicts on the run, led by the merciless Dominick (Kevin James), suddenly invade the home in search of a special key stashed away somewhere on the property.

'AFTER WE COLLIDED' (Rated M) - is the sequel offering to 2019's 'After', and this American romantic drama film is Directed by Roger Kumble and is based on the 2014 new-adult fiction novel of the same name by Anna Todd. Is Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) really the deep, thoughtful guy that Tessa Young (Josephine Langford) fell madly in love with, or has he been a stranger all along? She wishes she could walk away. It's just not that simple. Not with the memory of the passionate nights they spent together. Still, Tessa's not sure she can endure another broken promise. She's focused on her studies and just starting an exciting new internship at Vance Publishing. She's also being pursued by Trevor Matthews (Dylan Sprouse), a handsome new co-worker who is exactly the kind of guy she should be with. Hardin knows he made a mistake, possibly the biggest one of his life. He wants to right his wrongs and overcome his demons. He's not going to lose Tessa without a fight. But can, and will, he change?

'SLIM & I' (Rated PG) - Directed and Written by Kriv Stenders, whose previous film making credits take in 'Red Dog', 'Kill Me Three Times', 'Red Dog : True Blue', 'Australia Day' and 'Danger Close : The Battle of Long Tan' most recently last year. Here this Aussie documentary film tells the story of Australia's Queen of Country Music, Joy McKean, who takes us on a journey through her life revealing the story of her career, her decades of touring around Australia, her marriage of more than fifty years to Slim Dusty (the icon of Australian country music who recorded 106 albums throughout his career spanning seven decades), and her determination to be recognised as a performer and songwriter in her own right.

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-

DANGER CLOSE : THE BATTLE OF LONG TAN - Tuesday 13th August 2019.

'DANGER CLOSE : THE BATTLE OF LONG TAN' is an MA15+ Rated Australian Vietnam War film, which I saw earlier this week, and is Directed by Kriv Stenders whose previous film making credits include 'Red Dog', 'Kill Me Three Times', 'Red Dog : True Blue', 'Australia Day' and the made for TV movie remake of 'Wake in Fright' most recently. Made for US$35M the film charts the story of of the Battle of Long Tan on 18th August 1966 which took place in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, in South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. The action was fought between the Viet Cong and People's Army of Viet Cong units and elements of the 1st Australian Task Force, with both sides claiming victory in the aftermath. The operation had ended by 21st August. The film has garnered mixed Reviews since its release last week. The term 'danger close' is a military term which refers to close air, artillery, mortar, and naval gunfire support and is included in the method of engagement of a call for supporting fire from a distance which indicates that friendly forces are within close proximity of the target.

As the film opens up it is mid-August 1966 with career officer Major Harry Smith (Travis Fimmel) of Delta Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, on operation in Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province in South Vietnam. He is distracted from writing a letter presumably to his wife and young family back home somewhere in Australia, by mortar and rocket attacks on his camp in the early hours of the morning. Smith we soon learn is an ex-Special Forces man, and is seemingly done with babysitting green, still wet behind the ears young conscripts from Australia and New Zealand most of whom are no older than twenty-one years of age.

Smith ventures into the tent of his commanding officer Brigadier David Jackson (Richard Roxburgh) seeking a transfer to the frontline and his former regiment but his request is given short shrift and instantly rejected, instead sending him out the next morning to locate enemy positions. Before he goes, Smith calls in to his tent a recently arrived and cocky private, Paul Large (Daniel Webber), and quite literally almost throttles him, for inadvertently firing off a single round from his rifle while on watch that night, and therefore running the risk of revealing their location.

Other soldiers including Sergeant Bob Buick (Luke Bracey) command more respect from Smith than the young Private, and as soon as Smith separates the company into patrolling scouting platoons, Buick finds himself under fierce enemy gunfire and in command, pinned down with a useless shot out radio. Meanwhile, the men on patrol are all mightily hacked off because they're missing out on a concert back at base camp featuring the specially flown in none other than Col Joye (Geoffrey Winter) and Little Pattie (Emmy Dougall) who all have to be flown out pretty damn quick smart when the ensuing exchange of mortar bombs and gunfire gets a little too close for comfort.

The story then goes back and forth tracing the skirmishes between four separated and isolated platoons all coming under intense gunfire from a relentless enemy while attempting to establish radio contact with each other; their HQ base where Brigadier Jackson and his subordinate officer Lieutenant Colonel Colin Townsend (Anthony Hayes) argue over whether to dispatch reinforcements which would potentially leave their HQ base exposed to attack; and a crew of artillery men overseen by Bombadier Ray Ngatai (Uli Latukefu) manning short range mortars and responding to shit scared radio operators in the field with coordinates with which to bomb the advancing enemy forces with pin point accuracy and so preventing our boys from being overwhelmed.

There's an air of disobeying orders that seems to be a recurring theme throughout the film. Tensions between Smith and Private Large come to an apex when Smith calls down an artillery bombardment on Buick's position as they face off against overwhelming Viet Cong odds, and, when the dust has settled and the platoon are all presumed dead Large shoves his commanding officer to the ground, enraged that he could give such an order. Smith, in turn, refuses an order to withdraw from Lt. Col. Townsend because it would mean leaving his men behind and as far as Smith is concerned it's one in, all in! Lt. Col. Townsend in turn refuses a direct order from Brigadier Jackson to remain at the camp and safeguard it against enemy attack, instead making a secret getaway to aid those succumbing to an ever advancing Viet Cong in the final contact. And six men make a swift getaway in two helicopters during a monsoonal downpour while risk getting shot down to deliver much needed back-up ammunition to Smith and his men, much to the chagrin of Townsend and Jackson. 

And so as the final battle of Long Tan rages over almost four hours of monsoon drenched blood and guts in a rubber plantation on 18th August as 108 largely inexperienced, Australian infantry men fight for their very existence against almost overwhelming odds, and a 1000+ strong battle hardened and relentless Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers that advance in wave after wave. With their ammunition running out, their casualties mounting and the enemy amassing for a final assault, the whole thing came to an abrupt climax just as night was falling, when a fleet of armoured personnel carriers came barrelling through the woods three hours after the bloody battle had begun and ninety minutes after Smith had requested reinforcements. With their machine guns blazing, the Vietnamese fled, those that didn't perish in the rapid gunfire that is.

The next day, the men are seen clearing the Long Tan battlefield of their dead and wounded and taking a roll call of the survivors. We learn that eighteen Australian soldiers were killed during those intense four hours but casualties on the Vietnamese side ran into the many hundreds, with three taken prisoner. However, both sides claimed victory that day. Smith is told by one of his subordinates that he should head back to HQ for a debrief, but he stoically replies with no, I'm staying . . . to aid in attending to his men - the living, the wounded and the dead.

As the end credits roll, we learn that in May 1968 the members of Delta Platoon were awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation for gallantry by Lyndon B Johnson for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy. South Vietnam awarded them the equivalent. The Australian military hierarchy however, took until 2016 to fully acknowledge the actions of the soldiers by honouring for the first time ten men and upgrading awards for the three previously honoured - an act of vindication lobbied for twenty years by Smith himself.

'Danger Close : The Battle of Long Tan' is probably the most significant Australian battle of the Vietnam War, known by the soldiers who were down in the mud that day clinging to their lives, by their families and loved ones, and by those others serving on the periphery, but to those back home in Australia and watching from much further afield, it has little or no significance in reality. However, don't let this fact detract you from seeing this film, which will no doubt please the veterans from that intense firefight that finally after some fifty years their story has finally been told, and with a high degree of accuracy with the real Major Harry Smith, now aged 86, consulting to the film throughout the production process. Kriv Stenders has here crafted an authentic looking film with Queensland's Gold Coast studios and hinterland towns doubling up as the Vietnamese jungle, the staged battle scenes are intense and effectively realised, and the performances are grounded and believable. This film reflects pure and simply the Australian perspective of Long Tan, and does nothing to portray the faceless yet relentless Vietnamese enemy, the reasons for being there, and the conflicts, disputes and interpretations aired subsequently by the Vietnamese as to their numbers of soldiers who fought and their subsequent body count remains a subject of some conjecture. Some of the dialogue and the emotional heft behind it is by the numbers, and exactly as to be expected from a film such as this, but nonetheless this is a movie that needed to be told and should resonate with audiences as an accurate account of a telling moment in Australian war time history. Also starring Stephen Peacocke, Matt Doran, Alexander England, Nicholas Hamilton, Aaron Glenane and Lasarus Ratuere.

'Danger Close : The Battle of Long Tan' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 8th August 2019.

A couple of weeks ago I posted an overview of the 2019 Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) now in full swing and running from Thursday 1st August through until Sunday 18th August. Melbourne is a significant city in the history of film with 1906's 'The Story of the Kelly Gang' being the world's first full-length feature film and filmed in the city. Established in 1952, the MIFF is one of the oldest film festivals in the world and has become the most notable screen event in Australia. An iconic Melbourne event, the festival takes place annually in various theatres within the Melbourne CBD, presenting an acclaimed screening program including films from local and international filmmakers, alongside industry events.

I featured an overview of Australian Films, International Films and Headliners in that earlier post, so this time I'll turn attention to two of the other strands featured during the festival.

Animation :
Offering filmmakers a freedom unavailable in live action, Animation brings us some of the most inventive and extraordinary films. As a way to explore troubling histories, equally troublesome contemporary realities, flights of fancy and heartfelt coming-of-age tales that could only be told through this medium, these films bring to life wildly imaginative stories.

* 'Bunuel in the Labyrinth of Turtles' : from Holland and Spain and Directed by Salvador Simo.

* 'Cats' : from China and Directed by Gary Wang.

* 'Children of the Sea' : from Japan and Directed by Ayumu Watanabe.

* 'Funan' : from Cambodia, Belgium, France and Luxembourg, and Directed by Denis Do.

* 'I Lost My Body' : from France and Directed by Jeremy Clapin and winner of the Cannes Critics Week Grand Prix.

* 'Okko's Inn' : from Japan, and Directed by Kitaro Kosaka.

* 'The Swallows of Kabul' : from France and Directed by Elea Gobbe-Mevellec and Zabou Breitman.

* 'Violence Voyager' : from Japan and Directed by Ujicha.

Night Shift :

This is the home of things that go bump in the dark, weird, eerie, outlandish and hilarious cinematic spaces. It offers die-hard genre lovers with a taste for the provocative and unusual all the aliens, sci-fi puppet violence, possessed clothing, surreal suburbs and Indigenous horror they can handle. From creepy psychological thrillers and stoner comedy to misunderstood masterpieces and uncanny horror fables. Included in this strand are : 

* 'Berberian Sound Studio' ; from the UK and Directed by Peter Strickland and starring Toby Jones.

* 'Come to Daddy' : from the USA, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand, and Directed by Ant Timpson and starring Elijah Wood.

* 'Dark Place' : from Australia and Directed by five up & coming Indigenous film makers Bjorn Stewart, Kodie Bedford, Liam Phillips, Perun Bonser and Rob Braslin with a horror anthology made up of 'Killer Native', 'Scout', 'Foe', 'The Shore' and 'Vale Light' respectively.

* 'In Fabric' : from the UK, and Directed by Peter Strickland and starring Gwendloine Christie.
* 'The Dead Don't Die' : from the USA and Directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Danny Glover, Steve Buscemi, Iggy Pop, Tilda Swinton, Tom Waits, Rosie Perez, Selena Gomez, Chloe Sevigny, Carol Kane and Caleb Landry Jones.

* 'Deerskin' : from France and Directed by Quentin Dupieux and starring Adele Haenel and Jean Dujardin.

* 'Extra Ordinary' : from Belgium and Ireland and Directed by Enda Loughman and Mike Ahern and starring Will Forte, Maeve Higgins and Claudia O'Doherty. 

* 'Koko-Di Koko-Da' : from Denmark and Sweden and Directed by Johannes Nyholm and starring Leif Edlund and Peter Belli.

* 'The Lodge' : from the USA and UK, and Directed by Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz and starring Alicia Silverstone, Richard Armitage and Riley Keough.

* 'Memory - The Origins of 'Alien'' : from the USA and Directed by Alexandre O Phillipe.

* 'Something Else' : from the USA and Directed by Christian Stella and Jeremy Gardner and starring Brea Grant and Jeremy Gardner.

You can get more details of these films and others featured in these strands, together with all the news and views of the Melbourne International Film Festival at the official website, at : https://www.miff.com.au/

This week we have five latest release cinematic offerings coming to an Odeon near you. Kicking off then, we have a horror film set amongst the backdrop of a folk festival in rural Sweden that occurs just once every ninety years, and for small group of American and English ring-ins this seemingly harmless summertime festival soon turns their world upside down and inside out. We then have an Aussie dramedy set on Sydney's Northern Beaches that could be described as 'Home and Away' for Seniors as a group of long term friends celebrate a birthday with an old secret and harboured resentments coming to the fore to mire the festivities. Next up is an American dramedy about an almost has-been late night TV host who is saved from the axe by a young Indian decent woman with a skill for writing and a sharp wit. We then turn to a Vietnam War film featuring an infamous battle that occurred in August 1966 between the Australian forces and the local Viet Cong for which both sides claimed victory; and we close out the week with a true story of a white lion in Africa rescued by  a young teenage English girl and guided through the African Savannah to find a safe haven for her special four legged friend.

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 and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'MIDSOMMAR' (Rated R18+) - this folk horror film is Directed and Written by Ari Aster of 'Hereditary' fame - his highly praised feature length supernatural psychological horror Directorial debut starring Toni Collette, Ann Dowd and Gabriele Byrne which grossed US$80M off the back of a US$10M production budget. This film was made for US$9M, was released in the US and the UK in early July, has so far grossed US$32M and has been widely praised by Critics.

With their relationship in trouble, a young American couple - Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh) and Christian Hughes (Jack Reynor) travel to a fabled Swedish midsummer festival that occurs but once every ninety years where a seemingly rural country paradise transforms into a sinister, dread-soaked nightmare as the locals reveal their terrifying agenda. Also starring Will Poulter, William Jackson Harper and Vilhelm Blomgren.

'PALM BEACH' (Rated M) - Directed and Co-Written by Australian Actress, film and television Director and Screenwriter Rachel Ward this Australian drama comedy offering stars an ensemble cast set amidst the back drop of Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches. To mark his 73rd birthday, Frank (Bryan Brown and real life husband of Rachel Ward) and Charlotte (Greta Scacchi) decide to throw a three-day party to celebrate at their luxurious house in Palm Beach, welcoming their nearest and dearest friends. Frank, Leo (Sam Neill) and Billy (Richard E. Grant) were once involved in a band together called 'The Pacific Sideburns' who had one hit record back in 1977 but little beyond that. Rounding out the guest list are Billy's partner, beautiful actress Eva (Heather Mitchell); Bridget (Jacqueline McKenzie), who feels that husband Leo is increasingly distant; and the hosts' children Dan and Ella - with new sheepfarmer beau Doug (Charlie Vickers and Matilda Brown and Aaron Jeffrey respectively). The party starts well as to be expected, with mouth-watering food and flowing champagne aplenty but it doesn't take long for new and old resentments to surface and, more seriously, the threat of an old secret potentially coming to light. The film had its Premier screening at the recent Sydney Film Festival.

'LATE NIGHT' (Rated M) - Canadian Director, Producer and Screenwriter Nisha Ganatra here Directs this American drama comedy offering that is Written, Co-Produced and stars Mindy Kaling in the joint lead role together with Emma Thompson. The film saw its Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in late January, went on release in the US in early June, has so far grossed US$17M off the back of a mere US$4M production budget and has garnered largely positive press so far. And so legendary late-night talk show host and comedienne Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson) is told by the network President Caroline Morton (Amy Ryan) to fix up her show and grow her steadily declining ratings otherwise face the chop. Katherine's world is however, turned upside down when she hires her only female staff writer Molly Patel (Mindy Kaling) on the basis that she is an Indian-American while the rest of her writing crew are made up mostly of older white men. Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, her decision has unexpected hilarious consequences as the two women separated by culture and generation are united by their love of a biting punchline. Also starring John Lithgow, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Denis O'Hare and Max Casella.

'DANGER CLOSE : THE BATTLE OF LONG TAN' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian Vietnam War film is Directed by Kriv Stenders whose previous film making credits include 'Red Dog', 'Kill Me Three Times', 'Red Dog : True Blue', 'Australia Day' and the made for TV movie remake of 'Wake in Fright' most recently. Made for US$35M the film charts the story of of the Battle of Long Tan on 18th August 1966 which took place in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, in South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. The action was fought between the Viet Cong and People's Army of Viet Cong units and elements of the 1st Australian Task Force, with both sides claiming victory in the aftermath. The operation ended on 21st August. The film stars Travis Fimmel as Major Harry Smith who was the Commanding Officer during the battle, Luke Bracey, Richard Roxburgh, Matt Doran and Stephen Peacocke.

'MIA AND THE WHITE LION' (Rated PG) - this French produced family adventure film is Directed and Co-Produced by Gilles de Maistre and was released in its native France in late December last year, in the US in mid-April and now its get a theatrical run in Australia this week. The film has so far made US$36M at the Box Office and has generated mixed or average Reviews. Mia Owen's (Daniah De Villiers) life gets turned upside down when her family decides to leave London to manage a lion farm in South Africa. When a beautiful white lion named Charlie is born, the 10-year-old finds happiness once again as she develops a special bond with the growing cub. When Mia uncovers a secret that puts Charlie, now aged three, in danger, she sets out on an incredible journey across the wild South African Savannah in search of a sanctuary for her beloved friend. Also starring Melanie Laurent, Langley Kirkwood and Ryan MacLennan as the rest of the Owen family.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 21st September 2017.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) which has just wrapped on eleven days of showcasing international feature films, short films and documentaries, ran this year from 7th to 17th September inclusive, and this year marked its 42nd year having been founded in 1976. Over that time TIFF has grown to become one of the worlds most publicly attended film festivals, with an audience of fast approaching half a million annually. TIFF is now regarded as one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the world, with the movie industry press over the years claiming that it 'is second only to Cannes in terms of high-profile pics, stars and market activity' and that it had 'grown from its place as the most influential fall film festival to the most influential film festival, period'. This year a total of 339 films were shown over the eleven days, with the opening film chosen as the historical sports biopic 'Borg McEnroe' as Directed by Janus Metz Pedersen and starring Sverrir Gudnason as Bjorn Borg and Shia LaBeouf as John McEnroe. And, of those in competition, the winners are grinners are highlighted below for your future movie going reference :-

* The People's Choice Award Winner : 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' - Directed by Martin McDonagh, starring Frances McDormand, Woody Harrleson, Peter Dinklage, Sam Rockwell and Abbie Cornish about a frustrated and grieving mother who antagonises the local Police force to call to attention the lack of progress in searching for her daughter's murderer.
 * The People's Choice Award First Runner Up : 'I, Tonya' - Directed by Craig Gillespie, starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan and Bobby Cannavale about controversial Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding in this tragic and comedic examination of one of the biggest scandals in US sporting history.
* The People's Choice Midnight Madness Award Winner : 'Bodied' - Directed by Joseph Kahn, starring Calum Worthy, about an exploration of the world's most artistically brutal sport — battle rapping, when a progressive graduate student finds success and sparks outrage when his interest in battle rap as a thesis subject becomes a competitive obsession.
* The People's Choice Midnight Madness First Runner Up : 'The Disaster Artist' - Directed by James Franco, starring James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Brie Larson and Jackie Weaver about eccentric filmmaker Tommy Wiseau and his friend, actor Greg Sestero, whose notoriously awful film 'The Room' has become one of the most beloved cult classics of all time . . . for all the wrong reasons!
* The International Jury Award Winner : 'Sweet Country' - Directed by Warwick Thornton, starring Sam Neill, Bryan Brown, Ewen Leslie and Hamilton Morris about an Aboriginal stockman and his wife, accused of murder, try to stay ahead of a fervent posse in the harsh outback of the Northern Territory, in this Australian outback Western inspired by true events.
* The International Federation of Film Critics Award Winner (FIPRESCI) : 'Ava' - Directed by Sadaf Foroughi, starring Mahour Jabbari, Bahar Nouhian and Leili Rashid, about a 16-year-old girl living and growing up in Tehran and her relationship with her family that is challenged after her mother takes her to a gynaecologist in order to ensure she’s still a virgin.
* The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award Winner (NETPAC) : 'The Great Buddha+' - Directed by Huang Hsin-Yao, starring Cres Chuang, Bamboo Chen and Leon Dai about a security guard and his best friend who become entangled in a web of dark secrets after stumbling upon videos that document the promiscuous meetings of a wealthy factory owner.

For the full listing of the films screened during the eleven days of TIFF 2017, simply Google 'TIFF 2017' and all will be revealed across a myriad of websites, including the official site.

With the focus returning to this coming week, there are six new release movies coming to an Odeon near you. We launch with a sequel to an action spy comedy that took the world by surprise first time around, and looks like doing it all over gain as the action is ramped up a notch or two and the star power in front of the camera is equally ratcheted up. We then go to an unexpected dinner invitation for a stranded massage therapist that has far reaching consequences for herself and one other ruthless businessman in particular. Next up is an Australian drama that sees three worlds collide on our national holiday; and then a horrific day at the office unwinds during the 9 to 5 that has eighty dutiful employees whittled down to one in a macabre experiment; followed by a story of man suddenly released from captivity whose only knowledge of the outside world is via a televised fictional toy bear; before wrapping up with those world popular coloured interlocking animated brick characters turning on the ninja action to thwart an evil enemy and save the day.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six new release films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are here cordially invited 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 meanwhile, enjoy your big screen cinema experience during the coming week.

'KINGSMAN : THE GOLDEN CIRCLE' (Rated MA15+) - 2015's first instalment in this growing action spy comedy franchise 'Kingsman : The Secret Service' was both a critical and commercial success taking in US$415M from its US$81M budget outlay. Now some two years later Matthew Vaughn returns to the Director's chair for this hotly anticipated, eagerly awaited, much hyped sequel, on which he also Co-Produces and Co-Writes the screenplay based on the comic book series of the same name by Mark Miller and Dave Gibbons. Released in the UK and the US this week also, the film once again has an all star cast, that this time sees hands stretched across the sea as the US unites with the UK to thwart an evil international foe. Taron Egerton returns as Eggsy, Mark Strong as Merlin, Colin Firth has risen from the dead as Harry Hart joined this time around by Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal, Vinnie Jones, Michael Gambon, Bruce Greenwood, Elton John, Sophie Cookson and introducing Julianne Moore as a notorious criminal mastermind.

The film here unwinds when the headquarters of The Kingsman is destroyed and the world is held to ransom by Poppy Adams, a notorious criminal mastermind and global entrepreneur associated with 'The Golden Circle', a secret New World Order organisation. Members of Kingsman find new allies when they discover a spy organisation in the United States known as The Statesman. In an adventure that tests their strength, cunning and wits, the elite secret agents from both sides of the Atlantic must pull together to battle a ruthless enemy and save the day, save the world and all humanity. Vaughn has confirmed that he has a treatment already in mind for a third film in the franchise and has indicted Dwayne Johnson might be the ideal candidate to play the arch villain next time around.

'BEATRIZ AT DINNER' (Rated M) - Directed by Puerto Rican Miguel Arteta who previous credits include 'The Good Girl', 'Youth in Revolt', and 'Cedar Rapids' here brings us a comedy drama film that was Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year, was released in the US back in early June, and now gets its Australian release having grossed US$7M so far. Starring Selma Hayek as Beatriz - a Mexican immigrant who has rebuilt her life as a holistic healer and masseuse who travels by car to the coastal home of her very well off and well to do client Kathy (Connie Britton). Upon leaving, her old Volkswagen breaks down, and so Kathy extends the hand of friendship and invites Beatriz to stay the night and attend a business dinner that she is hosting at her home that evening. When the guests arrive, belly's are being filled and the wine flows, so Beatriz finds herself in an ever increasing heated war of words with a ruthless real estate billionaire mogul, Doug Srutt (John Lithgow) who is more interested in money than he is in people. Their round table conversations results in life changing circumstances that neither could have ever imagined. Also starring Chloe Sevigny and Jay Duplass.

'AUSTRALIA DAY' (Rated MA15+) - this drama film is Directed by Kriv Stenders who previous film credits include 'Red Dog', 'Kill Me Three Times', 'Red Dog : True Blue' and the upcoming mini-series of the classic Australian novel and film of 1971 'Wake in Fright' which goes to air later this month. The film had its World Premier at the Sydney Film Festival earlier this year, and now gets its general release having done the festival circuit. Here the lives of three Australians on the run from varying cultural and social backgrounds collide in the steamy streets of Brisbane. Persian-Australian Sami (Elias Anton) is running from an angry gang of white lads for allegedly sleeping with one of their sisters. April (Miah Madden) is a desperate Indigenous girl running away after killing her abusive father. And Lan (Jenny Wu) is a Chinese sex slave running from captivity in an illegal brothel. Also caught up in this dramatic web of intrigue are a guilt-ridden Aboriginal Police Officer (Shari Sebbens), a detective on a manhunt (Matthew Le Nevez), and a bankrupt cattle farmer (Bryan Brown). These three stories will intertwine, intersect and culminate on the hot summer day that is January's Australia Day Public Holiday.

'THE BELKO EXPERIMENT' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Australian Greg McLean who is perhaps most noted for his 'Wolf Creek' and 'Wolf Creek 2' Australian outback horror movies, here brings us another horror offering this time set in Bogota, Colombia. The film Premiered at TIFF in September 2016, was released in the US in mid-March, has so far recovered US$11M from its US$5M budget outlay and now gets its limited release in Australia. This films tells the story of what starts out as an ordinary day at the office for eighty personnel employed at the Belko Corporation Offices in Bogota. When the shutters go down and those eighty are trapped inside a voice over tells them that within the next thirty minutes two colleagues must be dead, or else more will be killed randomly. Attempts to escape are futile, and the next announcement over the intercom is that thirty must die within two hours, otherwise sixty will die at random. And so the announcements and the killings continue as friends turn into enemies, new (short-lived) allegiances are formed, and only the strongest survive leaving just two men standing, and ultimately, one alone! Starring John Gallagher Jnr., John C. McGinley and Michael Rooker. The film was written by James Gunn - he of 'Guardians of the Galaxy' fame.

'BRIGSBY BEAR' (Rated M) - Directed by Dave McCary and Written and also starring Kyle Mooney, this film had its Premier at this January's Sundance Film Festival and was released in the US in late July, and so far has taken US$516K at the Box Office. Telling the story of James Pope (Kyle Mooney) who has led a life of forced captivity in an underground home with parents Ted and April Mitchum (Mark Hamill and Jane Adams respectively) where his only connection with the outside world was a television show called 'Brigsby Bear'. When the Police descend on the Mitchum household and arrest Ted and April who are proven not to be James' real parents and have held him in captivity since he was baby, they also advise James that Brigsby Bear is not real and was a television show created exclusively for his benefit by the Mitchum's. As a result of James' changed circumstances and the Brigsby Bear television show coming to an unexpected and abrupt halt, James takes it upon himself to finish the storyline, but to do that means coming to terms with a new life and a new world he knows nothing about. Also starring Greg Kinnear, Claire Danes and Andy Samberg.

'THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE' (Rated PG) - 'The Lego Movie' was released in 2014 and was the first in what is becoming a successful computer animated adventure comedy film franchise. That film cost US$60M to bring to the big screen and raked in US$493M. A spin-off film 'The Lego Batman Movie' was released earlier this year costing US$80M and recorded a US$312M Box Office take. Now in late 2017 we have the second spin-off, 'The Lego Ninjago Movie' a computer animated action comedy martial arts offering which is Directed by Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher and Bob Logan. Telling the story of the battle for the city of Ninjago as young Master Builder Lloyd Garmadon, aka the Green Ninja (voiced by Dave Franco) along with his friends and fellow ninja's Kai (Michael Pena), Jay (Kumail Nanjiani), Nya (Abbi Jacobson), Zane (Zach Woods) and Cole (Fred Armisen), are led by Master Wu (Jackie Chan). Together they must defeat the evil warlord Garmadon (Justin Theroux), who just happens to be Lloyd's estranged father. Pitching father against son, the epic battle tests these brave yet undisciplined modern-day ninjas as they learn to control their egos and unite to unleash the inner power of Spinjitzu. Olivia Munn also stars. The film is released in the US and other territories this week too. A third spin-off 'The Billion Brick Race' is in development, and 'The Lego Movie Sequel' is due for release in February 2019.

With six new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, taking in an action comedy spy sequel, an unexpected dinner date, an Australia Day drama, a survival of the fittest horror offering, a television show created for an audience of just one who knows nothing different and an animated action comedy martial arts offering, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephiles 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-