The three Honorary Oscars were presented to :
* Cicely Tyson, Actress. At 93 years of age, Cicely Tyson has 91 Acting credits to her name gained over a career spanning seven decades, and still going strong.
* Lalo Schifrin, Film Composer. This Argentinian born composer has written the soundtrack to over 130 film and television shows since starting out his career in the early '60's. * Martin Levy, Publicist. For getting films out there, known and recognised by the film going public, the Critics and the people that matter. Levy has worked with Director Steven Spielberg for forty years.
The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award was presented to :
* Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, Film Producers. In 1981, Kennedy co-founded the production company Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and future husband Frank Marshall whom she married in 1987. In 1992, she co-founded The Kennedy/Marshall Company with her husband Frank Marshall, and in 2012, she became the President of Lucasfilm after The Walt Disney Company acquired the company for over US$4B. Earlier this year, her contract was renewed for three more years.
Turning attention to this weeks four latest releases movies coming to an Odeon near you, we kick off with a pugilists eye view of one of the greatest boxing rematches in sports movie history set 33 years after that initial bout cost a champion his life. Now his son is back in the ring determined to make amends and settle the score with an age old foe, and his son in turn. Next up is a French film about how a small peaceful yet struggling farming community is given an opportunity to take part in a photo shoot . . . with a difference! We then turn to a no holds barred offering from an acclaimed documentarian exploring what it must be like to live in a relationship with more than one partner, as seen from the perspective of one American city where such behaviour is becoming increasingly commonplace. Wrapping up the week and just ahead of the Christmas rush, is a CGI animated feature about a children's favourite character and how he intends to steal Christmas and all the good cheer that goes with it.
Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four 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 week ahead.
'CREED II' (Rated M) - this sports drama film probably needs little introduction. After all it is the sequel to 2015 highly acclaimed 'Creed' film as Directed and Written by Ryan Coogler and Co-Produced and starring Sylvester Stallone in his seventh turn as our titular pugilist hero Rocky Balboa. That film cost US$40M to make, grossed US$174M and picked up a whole slew of awards and nominations along the way. Now the team reunite for 'Creed II' the eighth film in the 'Rocky' franchise, but this time Directing duties are given over to Steven Caple Jnr. in only his second feature film outing as Director. Ryan Coogler takes an Executive Producer credit and Sylvester Stallone takes on the role once more as Rocky Balboa, Co-Wrote the Screenplay and also Co-Produces.
Back in 1985, in 'Rocky IV', the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) killed former heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) during an exhibition match in Las Vegas. Later that year, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) defeated Ivan Drago at a match on Christmas Day in the Soviet Union. Now 33 years later, Apollo Creed's son Adonis (Michael B. Jordan), with Rocky's training, advice and guidance, seeks to avenge his father's death by fighting Drago's son Viktor (Florian Munteanu) while at the same time, Ivan hopes to avenge his honour through Viktor. Also starring Tessa Thompson, Brigitte Neilsen, Phylicia Rashad, Evander Holyfield, Sugar Ray Leonard and various other personalities from the boxing fraternity to add authenticity. The film was released in the US last week, cost US$50M to Produce, has so far recovered US$59M and has received generally positive Reviews from Critics.
'NORMANDY NUDE' (Rated M) - this French foreign language offering is Directed by Philippe Le Guay who also Co-Wrote the Screenplay based on his own original idea. Here the peaceful, quiet and very rural farming community town of Le Mele-sur-Sarthe, in Normandy, France is experiencing a crisis. Dairy and livestock prices have fallen through the floor because of cheap imports, and the local farmers are being threatened by the banks to deliver on their debts or face foreclosure. The Mayor Georges Balbuzard (Francois Cluzet) is doing his utmost to thwart the banks and raise awareness of their collective plight. But the media is hardly interested in such a small community. Until that is, a world famous photographer, Newman (Toby Jones) happens to stumble through the village and spies the perfect backdrop for his next shoot. Seeing a rare opportunity, Balbuzard needs to convince his fellow villagers, all two hundred or so of them, to unite for the purposes of a photograph. But, there is of course more to this simple photo than meets the eye, and the well intentioned Mayor will have some convincing to do to persuade the locals to participate en masse. 
'LOUIS THEROUX : LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS' (Rated M) - acclaimed documentary Writer and Producer Louis Theroux travels to Portland, Oregon, which sits pretty much at the heart of a campaign seeking to re-write the rule book in terms of how we conduct intimate relationships and manage family life. For Portland, whose city motto is Keep Portland Weird, is seen as the US capital of polyamory and ethical non-monogamy - the practice of clearly and openly having multiple relationships that stretch beyond just sex. Louis entrenches himself with families who have committed to open up their relationships in a number of different ways; whether inviting others into existing relationships or allowing partners to seek romance with others. He discovers that for many, more partners means more love and more happiness, while for some, multiple relationships have led to jealousy, upset and broken hearts. This is the first part of a trio of documentary films under the banner of 'Altered States' and gets a limited theatrical release in Australia this week.
'THE GRINCH' (Rated G) - here we have those people at Illumination Animation bringing us this Christmas computer animated feature film based on the Dr. Seuss 1957 book 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' that was also made into a live action film in 2000 with Jim Carrey in the lead role. Directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney here the story surrounds The Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) and his loyal dog, Max, who live a solitary life inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. The Grinch's main source of displeasure unfolds over the Christmas period when the good people of Whoville celebrate the holidays in style. When young Cindy Lou Who and her mother Donna Lou Who (Cameron Seely and Rashida Jones respectively) decide to make this Christmas bigger and brighter than any that have gone before, the disgruntled Grinch hatches a plan to rain on their parade and gain some peace and quiet. With help from his trusted canine friend Max, the grumpy green Grinch dreams up a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal the Christmas gifts and silence the Whos' holiday cheer once and for all. Also starring Angela Lansbury and Pharrell Williams as the Narrator, this film cost US$75M to make, has so far grossed US$218M since its release in the US on 9th of this month, and has generated largely average Reviews so far.With four 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-
