MEN IN BLACK : INTERNATIONAL - Tuesday 18th June 2019.

'MEN IN BLACK : INTERNATIONAL' which I saw earlier in the week is the fourth film in the ever popular science fiction action comedy franchise and is Directed by F. Gary Gray whose previous Directorial outings take in the likes of 'The Negotiator', 'The Italian Job', 'Be Cool', 'Law Abiding Citizen', 'Straight Outta Compton' and 'The Fate of the Furious'. The first three films in the series were Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, in 1997, 2002 and 2012, grossed collectively approaching US$1.7B on the back of combined production budgets of US$495M and starred Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as our alien crime fighting duo Agent J and Agent K respectively. This instalment is a sort of sequel, sort of spin-off that cost around about US$100M, was released Stateside last week too, has so far recovered US$113M in Box Office receipts and has garnered generally lacklustre critical Reviews so far.

Back in the mid-'90's and young Molly Wright sees her parents being neuralysed by a couple of Men in Black Agents who are on the hunt for a pesky up to no good alien, that Molly helps escape. Molly herself escapes being neuralysed by averting her eyes from her bedroom window up above the street where her parents are talking to the Agents. Fast forward some twenty years and Molly (Tessa Thompson) is unsuccessful in her attempts to join the FBI and the CIA on the basis of her wild conclusions that alien life forms live among us, and she really wants to help combat them having made it her life goal to do so.

Molly is able to track down a crashed alien space craft and follows the MiB vehicles with captured alien in custody, back to their secret headquarters. She successfully manages to infiltrate the HQ but is captured by the hi-tech security scanning devices and is subsequently questioned by Agent O (Emma Thompson) upon whom Molly makes a sufficient enough impression to be granted probationary agent status as Agent M, and is instantly assigned to the London branch of the MiB. Once there she is quickly introduced to High T (Liam Neeson) who heads up the UK Division.

There Agent M is assigned to Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) the most highly regarded Agent working out of the London Office who saved the world back in 2016 with High T atop the Eiffel Tower when they prevented 'The Hive' from gaining access through a wormhole there with potentially catastrophic consequences for our planet.

Later that evening both Agents meet up with Vungus the Ugly (Kayvan Novak) in night club. Vungus is a member of an alien Royal Family who is a long term good friend of H. Upon leaving, Vungus' car is attacked by alien twins ('Les Twins' aka Larry and Laurent Bourgeois) who are able to harness the power of pure energy making them almost indestructible. Vungus is seriously wounded, but on this occasion the twins are thwarted (but only temporarily) by the might of the high tech weaponry readily available to our pair of protagonists from their vehicle.

Moments before dying Vungus passes a multi-dimensional purple coloured crystal on to M, claiming that he cannot trust H with it as he has changed since they last met some years ago. In a debrief meeting in High T's office Agent C (Rafe Spall) openly shows his contempt for H's actions. M however, has concluded that only a handful of people knew Vungus' location when he was attacked, which leads her to believe that Vungus' location was betrayed by one of their own agents. Reeling at the impact of a traitor within the MiB ranks, High T assigns C and M to conduct an investigation while H is assigned to driving his desk. Further investigations seem to determine that the twins may have had DNA traces of the Hive, a parasitic race who invade other planets by merging with the DNA of the conquered species. M learns that H and High T were responsible for driving off a Hive invasion in Paris in 2016, but since then H's attitude has gone downhill, showing a slack approach to his work and seemingly only holding on to his job because of his relationship with High T and his past track record.

H convinces M to join him in chasing up a lead in Marrakesh, where they come across 'Pawny' (voiced by Kumail Nanjiani), the sole survivor of a small group of aliens who were attacked by the Twins. Pawny pledges his loyalty to M, as his new Queen, but they are then attacked by MiB agents coordinated by C, who has recovered CCTV footage of Vungus handing the crystal to M, and as a result now believes that she is the traitor in their midst.

Helped by one of his alien contacts, H is able to acquire a rocket-powered hover bike and escape with M and Pawny. Successfully evading their marauding colleagues, they crash land on the dunes out in the desert, where they learn that the crystal Vungus gave M actually conceals an all powerful weapon generated by a compressed blue giant. As they repair the damaged bike, H's alien contact who had stowed away in a drink bottle, manages to steal the crystal and take it to Riza Stravos (Rebecca Fergusson), an alien arms merchant with whom H had a relationship in the past.

Having repaired the jet propelled hover bike, the gang of three travel by speed boat to Riza's island fortress where they attempt to infiltrate the base and recover the weapon, but are caught by Riza and her bodyguard. M gets caught in a fight with Riza while H gets beaten up in no uncertain terms by the alien bodyguard, but always somehow miraculously manages to get back up (just like Thor!) However, this bodyguard turns out to be the very same alien that M rescued as a child, and recognising each other, he returns the favour by allowing them to leave while he keeps Riza apprehended. While attempting to get off the island the three are attacked by the Twins once again, but they are killed by High T and a group of Agents freshly arrived on the scene.

And so case closed, or is it? Back at London MiB HQ at a celebratory party, both H and M have a moment of clarity and realise that the Twins' passing comments could mean that they wanted the weapon to use against the Hive rather than to use it for them. This resonated especially when the only evidence of Hive DNA was provided by High T. Agent C concedes that the evidence points to the notion of a deception by High T, and so permits H and M to follow High T to the Eiffel Tower. En route to the wormhole, M questions H's memory of his defeat of the Hive revealing that he was probably neuralysed, which is confirmed when they confront High T atop the Eiffel Tower. The Hive transformed High T into one of their own and neuralysed H so that he could be seen as the 'hero' and to mask their true intentions. The High T/Hive 'hybrid' manifests itself and is able to launch a wormhole that will draw the Hive to Earth. As H and the hybrid fight it out, H is able to draw out High T's true personality just long enough for M to use the weapon to destroy High T and the encroaching Hive infestation.

With the case now well and truly closed, Agent O joins H and M in Paris, where she grants M full agent status and appoints H as probationary Head of MiB's London branch until such time as a new head is found.

Aside from the fairly obvious chemistry that Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson share together on screen, and Hemsworth flexing his emerging comedic chops once again, there is little else going for this effects laden albeit pedestrian, play it safe, by the numbers fourth instalment in this flagging franchise. I honestly had expected more from 'Men in Black : International' but emerged from the theatre feeling totally underwhelmed by a film that relies all to heavily on its CGI set pieces, which have by now all become far to commonplace to create any point of difference here, at the expense of any real storyline, and what thinly veiled storyline there is you can see coming from ten miles away. This is predictable fluff that does nothing for the franchise other than seal its fate like the final nail in the coffin, and its disappointing to see fine acting talent like Hemsworth, Thompson, Thompson, Neeson and Spall succumb to the dredging that this film has so far garnered, despite the best intentions no doubt of F. Gary Gray. All style over substance.

'Men in Black : International' merits two claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard, out of a potential five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 13th June 2019.

The 66th annual Sydney Film Festival launched last week on Wednesday 5th June and runs through until Sunday 16th June. Featuring over 300 films screened at eight cinema locations across greater Sydney, from 58 countries and including 33 World Premiers, the programme launched with Director Rachel Ward's drama comedy 'Palm Beach' starring Bryan Brown, Sam Neill, Richard E. Grant, Greta Scacchi, Jacqueline Mackenzie and Heather Mitchell.

There are twelve films in Official Competition this year, all vying for the AU$60K prize money for the film that presents as being heralded as 'the most audacious, cutting edge and courageous'. The official SFF website describes this competition as celebrating 'that rare but thrilling film that truly moves the art form forward. Innovative, provocative or controversial, they broaden our understanding of the world and say important things in original ways'.

Those films in the Official Competition line up this year are :
* 'BACARAU' - a Brazil and France Co-Production Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles who here deliver a searing political parable and a magic-realist, explosive genre film. Winner, Jury Prize, Cannes.
* 'BELLBIRD' - from New Zealand, and Directed by Hamish Bennet in his feature debut, this quietly powerful film is told with warm humour, that takes us into the heart of a small rural town in New Zealand, where a community comes together after a tragic death.
* 'DIRTY GOD' - a UK, Dutch, Belgian and Irish Co-Produced film is Directed by Sacha Polak who here paints an intimate portrait of a young mother from East London left scarred after an acid attack in this compelling tale of courage and self-acceptance.
* 'GOD EXISTS, HER NAME IS PETRUNYA' - here this North Macedonian, Belgian, Slovenia, French and Croatian Co-Production is Directed by Teona Struger Mitevska and in this award-winning feminist satire, based on true events, Petrunya causes fury in her small Macedonian town when she participates in a men only contest, and wins.
* 'HEARTS AND BONES' - this Australian Production is Directed by Ben Lawrence in his feature film debut and stars Hugo Weaving as a war photographer and Andrew Luri as a South Sudanese refugee living in Australia who discover a photograph that threatens to destroy them both.
* 'JUDY & PUNCH' - this Australian Production is Directed by first timer Mirrah Foulkes and reimagines the Punch & Judy puppet show as a blackly comic feminist revenge tale starring Mia Wasikowska and Damon Herriman.
* 'MONOS' - a Co-Production from Colombia, Argentina, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Uruguay, this Spanish foreign language film is Directed by Alejandro Landes and follows almost feral child soldiers holding a female doctor hostage in a remote Latin American jungle location. Special Jury Award, Sundance.
* 'NEVER LOOK AWAY' - this German offering is Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck and takes a vast view of German history, over three eras, in this remarkable love story inspired by the life of revered artist Gerhard Richter.
* 'PAIN AND GLORY' - this Spanish film is Directed by Pedro Almodovar who here reunites with Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz in his most personal film yet: a reflection on cinema, art, family, love and sexual awakening.
* 'PARASITE' - Winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, here renowned Korean Director Bong Joon-ho presents a thrilling, satirical take on income inequality as told through two families.
* 'THE SOUVENIR' - this UK film is Directed by Joanna Hogg who here weaves a dream-like, visually splendid tale of first love starring Honor Swinton Byrne alongside her mother, Tilda Swinton, and Tom Burke. Winner, Grand Jury Prize, Sundance.
* 'SYNONYMS' - this Co-Production from France, Israel and Germany is Directed by Nadav Lapid and is an intense, neurotic fever dream about a young Israeli man who goes to Paris to erase his identity. Winner, Berlinale Golden Bear.

For the full line up and all the latest news and views from the Sydney Film Festival, you can visit the official website at : https://www.sff.org.au/

Turning back to this weeks four latest release movies coming to an Odeon near you, we have the fourth film in a highly successful alien crime busting franchise that this time around leaves Uncle Sam behind and ventures further afield to more international pastures where them no good pesky alien types are also getting up to all kinds of mischief, and only two special black clad secret agents can take them on. We then turn to a biographical drama of the life and times of one of the 20th Century's great literary masters whose mid-century series of works are still devoured today by young and older and have been subsequently committed to both the big and small screens. Next up is an English tale of an average Scottish lass straight out of prison, who has a singing talent and has dreams of making if big in Nashville, Tennessee. We then wrap up the week with an extreme surfing documentary film about big waves and one man's dream of making a never before attempted surfing statement.

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 coming week.

'MEN IN BLACK : INTERNATIONAL' (Rated M) - this fourth film in the ever popular science fiction action comedy franchise is Directed by F. Gary Gray whose previous Directorial outings take in the likes of 'The Negotiator', 'The Italian Job', 'Be Cool', 'Law Abiding Citizen', 'Straight Outta Compton' and 'The Fate of the Furious'. The first three films in the series were Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, in 1997, 2002 and 2012, grossed collectively approaching US$1.7B off the back of combined production budgets of US$495M and starred Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as our alien crime fighting duo Agent J and Agent K respectively. This instalment is a sort of sequel, sort of spin-off that cost US$110M and is released Stateside this week too.

Following the events of 'Men in Black 3', it is revealed that London too has a branch of Men in Black (MIB). After finding the MIB London base, a woman (Tessa Thompson) joins them. The head of the branch, High T (Liam Neeson), pairs her up with Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) and she becomes known as Agent M. These two secret MIB agents become involved in a series of alien attacks that sees them travelling around the globe with their alien busting high tech weaponry, whilst also uncovering a potential more major threat within their own organisation. Also starring Rebecca Fergusson, Rafe Spall, Emma Thompson and Les Twins.

'TOLKIEN' (Rated M) - here in this American biographical drama offering we have the story from the other side of the tracks compared to the epic big screen spectacles of Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy and later 'The Hobbit' trilogy as written by one John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, who in this film is the subject matter. As a teenager, J. R. R. Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult) befriends a group of fellow artists and writers at his school, with whom he finds both inspiration and courage. Their bond of fellowship grows over the ensuing years, as they experience life together. Meanwhile, Tolkien meets Edith Bratt (Lily Collins), with whom he falls in love. But when World War I breaks out, Tolkien's relationships with his friends are tested, an act which threatens to tear their 'fellowship' apart, but which nonetheless serves as inspiration for his later highly acclaimed published works. Also starring Derek Jacobi, Colm Meaney and Pam Ferris, the film was made for US$20M, has so far recouped US$8M, was released in the UK in early May and has generated mixed Reviews and is Directed by the Finn, Thomas 'Dome' Karukoski.

'WILD ROSE' (Rated M) - this British musical drama offering is Directed by Tom Harper, whose previous credits include Directing duties on multiple episodes of television series including 'Demons', 'This is England '86', 'Misfits', 'Peaky Blinders', 'War & Peace' and 'Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams', as well as feature films 'The Borrowers', 'War Book' and 'The Woman in Black : Angel of Death'. Here, straight out of prison, a Scottish woman Rose-Lynn Harlan (Jessie Buckley) juggles her new job and two children while pursuing her dream of becoming a country music star. She soon gets her chance when she travels to Nashville, Tennessee, on a life-changing journey to discover her true voice. Also starring Julie Walters as Rose's mother Marion, and Sophie Okonedo the film saw its World Premier screening at TIFF last September, its UK release in mid-April and now this week its release in Australia and the US and has thus far garnered largely positive Reviews.

'HEAVY WATER' (Rated M) - here South African film maker Michael Oblowitz Directs, Produces and wrote the Screenplay upon which this extreme surfing documentary biopic is based. 'Heavy Water' follows big wave surfer Nathan Fletcher through the evolution of his surfing and his relationship with big waves. Tracing his lineage back to his grandfather, it all began in the '40's, with Fletcher’s grandfather and the first big-wave pioneers at Waimea Bay, Hawaii, then progresses through the ‘80s with Nathan’s father Herbie Fletcher pioneering the first tow-surfing with a JetSki. By that time, skateboard astronauts Jay Adams and Christian Hosoi were Nathan’s babysitters. And before long, his older brother Christian Fletcher was being kicked off the world skateboarding tour for flying too high. Amidst all of this, Nathan had his own unique course. Motorcycles, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards… it really didn’t matter what it was, Nathan just liked jumping off things. This led him to eventually jumping off a helicopter from 20 feet above the outer reef big waves on one of the most life threatening waves ridden - Code Red Teahupo’o in Tahiti - one of the gnarliest rides, and wipeouts, of all time. It's a voyage through the eyes of the surfing community that delves deep into the roots and mindset of board sports culture, culminating in a spectacular, never-before-performed stunt, as Fletcher once again attempts to raise the bar of what's possible.

With four 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-