What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 4th May 2023.

The 54th Visions du Reel International Film Festival took place between Friday 21st April and Sunday 30th April in the Swiss town on Nyon on the edge of Lake Geneva, about 25kms north east of Geneva's city centre. Held over the course of ten days, the Festival turns Nyon into a focal point at which several generations of filmmakers and artists from all over the world find a loyal audience on a voyage of discovery. Recognised globally as one of the major festivals dedicated to non-fiction filmmaking, it presents a majority of films as World or International Premieres, and constitutes an essential platform for creation for the thousands of film professionals who meet there every year, according to the synopsis on the official website.

The International Feature Film Competition celebrates contemporary non-fiction filmmaking. The films are presented in World, International or European Premieres. Those fourteen films are :-

* 'While the Green Grass Grows' - from Switzerland and Canada and Co-Produced, Co-Edited, photographed and Directed by Peter Mettler, this film won the Grand Prix Award and saw its World Premier showcasing.

* 'Defectors' - from South Korea and the USA and Co-Produced, Edited, photographed and Directed by Hyun kyung Kim. World Premier screening.

* 'The Bilbaos' - from Argentina and Co-Written, Co-Produced, photographed and Directed by Pedro Speroni. World Premier.

* 'Hours of Ours' - from Thailand and Co-Produced, photographed and Directed by Komtouch Napattaloong. World Premier.

* 'Al Djanat - The Original Paradise' - from France, Burkina Faso, Benin and Germany and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Chloe Aicha Boro. International Premier.

* 'In Ukraine' - from Poland and Germany and Written, photographed, Edited and Directed by Piotr Pawlus and Tomasz Wolski. International Premier screening.

* 'The Forgotten of the Beautiful Star' - from France and Co-Written and Directed by Clemence Davigo. World Premier.

* 'Grasshopper Republic' - from the USA and Co-Produced, Co-photographed and Directed by Daniel McCabe. World Premier.

* 'Fauna' - from Spain and Co-Written and Directed by Pau Faus. World Premier.

* 'Mashtat' - from Lebanon, Tunisia, France and Qatar and Directed by Sonia Ben Slama. World Premier showcasing.

* 'Antier noche' - from Switzerland and Spain and Written, Edited and Directed by Alberto Martin Menacho. World Premier.

* 'My Father's Prison' - from Venezuela and photographed and Directed by Ivan Andres Simonovis Pertinez. World Premier.

* 'O auto das animas' - from Spain and photographed and Directed by Pablo Lago Dantas. World Premier.

* 'Pure Unknown' - from Italy, Switzerland and Sweden and Directed by Mattia Colombo and Valentina Cicogna and Edited by Velentina Cicogna. World Premier screening.

The Burning Lights Competition is an international competition of medium length and feature films dedicated to new, free, adventurous and contemporary perspectives in cinema. 'Knit's Island' won the Grand Prix Award within this section, which also comprised the following titles : 'Filming', 'Natalia', 'Caiti Blues', 'Dreamers', 'Still Film', 'An Inhabited Volcano', 'This Woman', 'Mother Saigon', 'Astrakan 79', 'Apocryphal County', 'Taxibol', 'Landshaft', 'An Owl, a Garden & the Writer' and 'Gulan'. 

The National Competition is dedicated to feature and medium length films (Co)Produced in Switzerland. 'Sorrow Valley' won the Grand Prix Award within this section, which comprised of the following titles also : 'The Hunters Son', 'Full Tank', 'Hawar, Our Banished Children', 'Floating Islands', 'Hello France', 'The Wonder Way', 'On Remembering', 'The House', 'Female Dog of Red', 'Follow the Water' and 'Ruach - A Journey Into Yenish Europe'.  

For the full synopsis of these aforementioned films, plus the full line-up of films showcased at this years Visions du Reel, you can go to the official website at : https://www.visionsdureel.ch/en/

Turning back to this weeks slate of new released movies, of which there are six, we kick off with the third instalment and the 32nd offering in the MCU that sees the leader of this band of beloved intergalactic misfits rallying his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. Then we turn to an Arabic language film telling the story of a young man who is offered a place at a prestigious Cairo University which is also the centre of power of Sunni Islam, but he soon becomes a pawn in the battle between Egypt's religious and political forces. This is followed by an American drama telling the true story of a young, gay Black man with few options for his future decides to join the Marines, willing to do whatever it takes to prove himself to his estranged mother and triumph in a system that would otherwise cast him aside. Next up is an Aussie film that is an allegory for racism, as it follows BlackWoman, who is abandoned in a cage on a trailer in the middle of the desert - her escape leads to a city, recapture and tragedy. Following on, we have a Swiss sports drama film about a talented young Ukrainian gymnast living in exile in Switzerland who has to stand by and watch as the Euromaidan protests unfold in her native Kyiv in late 2013, all the while training for the European Gymnastics Championships. And closing out the week we have a French comedy crime drama film about a young gigolo and an attractive con artist plot a devilish scheme on the French Riviera. 

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six 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 coming week.

'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3' (Rated M) - this hotly anticipated American superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy, and is the sequel to 2014's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 2017's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' and serves as the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the second film in Marvel's Phase Five. Written and Directed once again by James Gunn who recently jumped ship and now heads up, with Peter Safran, DC Studios as Co-Chairpersons and joint CEO's. Gunn's next Directorial outing is slated to be 'Superman : Legacy' due in July 2025. 

The Guardians of the Galaxy (Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn and Maria Bakalova) are adjusting to life on Knowhere when parts of Rocket's (Bradley Copper) past resurface. In order to protect him, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) must lead the Guardians on a dangerous universe defending mission that could lead to the team dissolving if they fail. Also starring Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Stallone and Will Poulter. The film saw its World Premier screening at Disneyland, Paris on 22nd April and is released in the US, China, here in Australia and other territories this week.

'CAIRO CONSPIRACY' (Rated M) - aka 'Boy from Heaven' is an Arabic language French, Swedish and Finish Co-Produced political thriller film Written and Directed by the Swedish film maker Tarik Saleh, whose previous feature film credits are his debut in 2009 with 'Metropia', then 'Tommy' in 2014, 'The 'Nile Hilton Incident' in 2017 and 'The Contractor' in 2022 being his first English language film. Adam (Tawfeek Barhom), the son of a fisherman, accepts an offer to study at the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. Shortly after his arrival, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar suddenly dies and Adam becomes a pawn in the power struggle between the country's political and religious elites, to replace him. The film saw its World Premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or. At Cannes, Saleh was awarded Best Screenplay and the film received the Francois Chalais Prize. The film was also selected as the Swedish entry for the Best International Feature Film at this years Academy Awards, and made the December shortlist. It has received generally favourable Reviews and has so far grossed US$4M at the Box Office.

'THE INSPECTION' (Rated MA15+) - this American drama film is Written and Directed by Elegance Bratton in his feature film making debut. This film saw its World Premier screening at TIFF back in September last year and was released in the US in mid-November, having garnered generally favourable reviews and so far recouping just US$407K from its modest US$3M production budget. Here then, Ellis French (Jeremy Pope) a young gay black man with few options in life, enlists in the US Marine Corps and is sent to boot camp on Parris Island, South Carolina. Initially he meets the physical requirements, but is not as successful in disguising his sexual orientation, making him the target of a near-lethal hazing from training instructor Leland Laws (Bokeem Woodbine) and a fellow recruit, Laurence Harvey (McCaul Lombardi). Also starring Raul Castillo and Gabrielle Union. It has picked up twelve award wins and a further twenty-nine nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. 

'THE SURVIVAL OF KINDNESS' (Rated M) - is an Australian drama film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rolf de Heer, whose previous film making credits take in the likes of his feature film making debut back in 1984 with 'Tale of a Tiger', then 'Bad Boy Bubby' in 1993, 'The Tracker' in 2002, 'Ten Canoes' in 2006, 'Twelve Canoes' in 2009 and 'Charlie's Country' in 2013. Seen as a metaphor for racism, the film follows BlackWoman (Mwajemi Hussein), who is abandoned in a cage on a trailer in the middle of the desert. Once she escapes the cage, she walks from desert to mountain to city, to find more captivity and tragedy. It saw its World Premiere at the October 2022 Adelaide Film Festival and had its International Premiere in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival in mid-February where it competed for the Golden Bear and won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Film. 

'OLGA' (Rated M) - this Swiss sports drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Elie Grappe in his feature film making debut that saw its World Premier showcasing at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in July 2021 and was selected as the Swiss entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 2022 Academy Awards. The film tells the story of a fifteen year old Ukrainian gymnast, Olga (Anastasiia Budiashkina), living in exile in Switzerland and who is working toward securing a place at the country's National Sports Centre and who is also preparing for the European Gymnastics Championships. When Euromaidan protests begin in Kyiv in late November 2013, anxieties come to the fore as her family gets involved. The film has generated eleven wins and another nine nominations from around the awards and festival circuit and has taken just US$97K at the Box Office. 

'MASQUERADE' (Rated MA15+) - is a French comedy crime drama offering Written and Directed by Nicolas Bedos whose prior film making credits take in his feature debut in 2017 with 'Mr. & Mme Adelman', then 'La Belle Epoque' in 2019 and then 'OSS 117 : Alerte Rouge en Afrique Noire' in 2021. This film was screened out of competition at last years Cannes Film Festival in May. Here, Adrien Saillard (Pierre Niney), an attractive dancer whose career was shattered by a motorcycle accident, squanders his youth in idleness. His life changes when he meets Margot Hansen (Marine Vacth), who lives off scams and amorous manipulations, as they set about plotting a devilish scheme on the French Riviera. Also starring Francois Cluzet, Emmanuelle Devos and Isabelle Adjani. The film has so far recovered US$7M off the back of a production budget of US$15M. 

With six 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 week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 13th August 2020.

In the past few weeks I have reported on a number of major studio films that have had their planned release dates pushed back because of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent halting or delays experienced by movie production houses, and only the partial reopening of cinemas worldwide. Those films rescheduled have been 'Tenet', 'No Time To Die', 'Wonder Woman 1984', 'The Conjuring : The Devil Made Me Do It', 'The French Dispatch', 'A Quiet Place : Part II', 'Top Gun : Maverick', 'Halloween Kills', 'The Eternals', 'Antlers', 'Ghostbusters : Afterlife', and 'Fast & Furiuos 9'. This week to keep you ever in the loop, I update you on another four major films that have seen their already publicised release dates pushed back.

'MORBIUS' - this American superhero film is Directed by Daniel Espinosa, the Swedish film maker whose earlier credits take in 'Safe House', 'Child 44' and 'Life' in 2017. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name this will be the second instalment in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters after 2018's 'Venom'. Here Jared Leto stars as Michael Morbius with Matt Smith, Jared Harris, Tyrese Gibson and Adria Arjona with Michael Keaton too. Initially scheduled for a 31st July 2020 release, this has now been delayed until 19th March 2021.

'LAST NIGHT IN SOHO' - is a psychological thriller film Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Edgar Wright whose previous Directorial credits include 'Shaun of the Dead', 'Hot Fuzz', 'The World's End', 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' and 'Baby Driver' in 2017. Here Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomas Harcourt McKenzie, Matt Smith, Diana Rigg and Terence Stamp star in this film which was originally slated for a 25th September 2020 release, but has since been pushed back until 23rd April 2021.

'SPIRAL : FROM THE BOOK OF SAW' - here we have the ninth film in the 'Saw' horror franchise that is this time Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman whose previous film making outings mostly in the horror genre include 'Saw II', Saw III', 'Saw IV', 'Mother's Day', '11-11-11', 'The Barrens' and 'Abattoir'. Here Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella and Marisol Nichols star in this follow on to the earlier films but with a fresh perspective. Originally intended for a 23rd October 2020 release this was then moved forward to a 15th May 2020 release date, and this has now been rescheduled to 20th May 2021.

'VENOM : LET THERE BE CARNAGE' - is the sequel to 2018's 'Venom' which grossed US$856M off the back of a US$110M production budget making this follow up instalment inevitable. This time Andy Serkis Directs and this will be the third film in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters following on from 'Morbius'. Here Tom Hardy reprises his role as Eddie Brock/Venom with Woody Harrelson starring as the antagonist Cletus Kasady/Carnage with Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott and Stephen Graham. Originally intended for a 2nd October 2020 release date this was subsequently pushed back to 25th June 2021.

This week there are four new release movies showing at your local Odeon. We launch with a disaster film of post zombie apocalyptic proportions in this South Korean standalone sequel to a hugely popular and successful 2016 film, that sees a group of four soldiers return to a zombie infested wasteland to retrieve a stash of cash and get out alive . . . easy! Next we turn to another disaster, but this one brought about by a hurricane event, and a cop trying to organise the evacuation of an apartment tower in which lives a former cop now suffering ill health, as a gang of thieves close in intent on stealing a huge stash of cash hidden in said apartment block. We have next a comedy drama about an estranged father and son who embark on journey to Tuscany to visit, fix up and sell a run down old villa left to them by their late wife and mother; before closing out the week with a French offering about a man whose life long marriage is on the slide but he's given a chance to kind of 'time travel' by a stage company and so he revisits the place where he first met his future wife over forty years prior.

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

'PENINSULA' (Rated MA15+) - this South Korean post zombie apocalyptic action horror film is the standalone sequel to 2016's 'Train to Busan' as is Directed by Yeon Sang-ho who also Directed that first instalment. This film was selected to be shown at this years Cannes Film Festival which was subsequently cancelled for reasons of COVID-19. And so the film was released in its native South Korea in mid-July, goes on limited release in Australia this week and in the US next week. The film cost US$16M to make and has so far grossed US$29M with US$27M of that haul coming from its local audience. It is also the first time since mid-March that the total global Box Office for a new film release has achieved over US$1M.

Set four years following the total decimation of South Korea in 'Train to Busan' Jung-seok (Gang Dong-won), a soldier who previously escaped the diseased wasteland, relives the horror when assigned to a covert operation with two simple objectives : retrieve an abandoned food truck containing a stash of cash amounting to US$20M and survive in the process. When his team unexpectedly stumbles upon survivors, their lives will depend on whether the best or worst of human nature prevails in the most deadly and dangerous of circumstances. Also starring Lee Jung-hyun and Lee Re.

'FORCE OF NATURE' (Rated MA15+) - is an American action film Directed by Michael Polish whose previous Directing credits include 'The Astronaut Farmer' in 2006 with Billy Bob Thornton, 'The Smell of Success' in 2009 with Thornton again, 'Amnesiac' in 2014 with Kate Bosworth, '90 Minutes in Heaven' in 2015 with Bosworth again and 'Nona' in 2017 with Bosworth once more. And here he teams up with Bosworth again for the latest hurricane heist set drama. And so here policeman Cardillo (Emille Hirsch) and a former cop suffering declining health Ray Barrett (Mel Gibson) married to Troy Barrett (Kate Bosworth) battle a gang of thieves led by John the Baptist (David Zayas) as they search for US$55M inside an evacuated building during a hurricane. This film seems to have divided Critics who have largely bestowed negative Press on the film, and audiences who have seemingly praised it. The film was released at the end of June on digital, DVD and Blu-Ray, gets a theatrical release in Australia this week, cost US$23M to produce and so far grossed US$150K.

'MADE IN ITALY' (Rated M) - this comedy film is Directed and Written by the English Actor James D'Arcy in his feature film making debut. Darcy has notched up nearly eighty film and television acting credits to his name in a career spanning twenty-five years. Here Robert (Liam Neeson) is estranged from his adult son Jack (Micheal Richardson), but they reunite to travel to Tuscany, Italy in order to sell the house they inherited from Robert's late wife. When they arrive they discover a run down largely dilapidated villa, that they must first set about restoring before they can even think about selling. As the renovations don't go quite according to plan, the father and son soon find themselves at odds with one another. Robert's obvious lack of DIY experience leads him to seek advice and assistance from some of the more colourful locals including the no nonsense Kate (Lindsay Duncan), an ex-pat who earns a living selling villas who also quickly captures his eye. For Jack, the state of the house seems to echo his search for memories of happier times with his mother. He soon falls for Natalia (Valeria Bilello), a vivacious young Italian chef, who restores both body and soul with culinary delights from her local trattoria, but her jealous and angry ex-husband may come between them. As Robert and Jack gradually restore the villa to its former glory, so too do they begin to heal their relationship.

'LA BELLE EPOQUE' (Rated M) - is a 2019 French romantic comedy drama film Directed and Written by Nicolas Bedos in only his second feature film making outing, although he has acted and written in various films and TV series over the years. The film first Premiered out of competition at the May 2019 Cannes Film Festival and was then released in its native France in early November last year to generally favourable Reviews. Here, Victor Drumond (Daniel Auteuil) is a man in his sixties whose forty or so year marriage to Marianne (Fanny Ardant) is on the rocks. When Victor meets Antoine (Guillaume Canet), the owner of a company which allows people to perform a version of 'time travel' by visiting a stage where the company acts out a staged historical reenactment, he takes the opportunity to revisit the moment when he first met Marianne on 16th May 1974 at a cafe in Lyon called 'La Belle Epoque', in the hope of reigniting his love for her. Also starring Doria Tillier and Michael Cohen.

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-