ONE LIFE : Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

I saw the PG Rated 'ONE LIFE' earlier this week, and this British biographical drama film is Directed by James Hawes in his feature film debut, although he has been Directing both single and multiple episodes of TV series for a number of years taking in the likes of 'Doctor Who', 'Merlin', 'Penny Dreadful', 'Black Mirror', 'The Alienist', 'Snowpiercer' and 'Slow Horses' most recently. This film is based on the book 'If It’s Not Impossible…The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton' by Barbara Winton, and it had its World Premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9th September last year, was released in the UK on 1st January, and has garnered generally favourable critical reviews.

The film opens up in the suburbs of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England in 1987 with an ageing Nicholas Winton (Anthony Hopkins) pulling up to his house in h car and walking into his home with two handfuls of charity collection boxes, which he empties on the kitchen bench and begins sorting and counting the coin donations. He is interrupted by his wife Grete (Lena Olin) who chastises him for the amount of storage boxes, files and paraphernalia he has stacked up in the lounge room and his home office. She once again reminds him that after fifty years it is time he has a clean out and a de-clutter, especially considering that his pregnant daughter is expected home for Christmas and that they'll need the room. In his office, she pulls on a drawer of his desk to reveal a leather briefcase with the initials T.C. in faded gold lettering, saying that it is about time too that he did something about that, to which he promptly closes the drawer.

We then flashback to 1938 and a young Nicholas Winton (Johnny Flynn) is working as a stockbroker in London, but is wracked by a sense of duty to lend whatever support and aid he can to the groups of largely Jewish children in the recently Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia, just before the beginning of WWII. He visits Prague for a week, having been allowed time off work to do so, to see first hand the extent of the task he has vowed to undertake. There he meets Trevor Chadwick (Alex Sharp), Martin Blake (Ziggy Heath) and Doreen Warriner (Romola Garai) of the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia. Shocked by the what he witnessed in Prague in the makeshift camps housing countless displaced men, women and children, he telegrams his office to say he needs more time. 

Winton then calls his mother Babi Winton (Helena Bonham Carter) in London to enlist her assistance in lobbying the House of Commons to approve the entry of child refugees. Eventually, the House agrees upon the provision that younger than 17 years of age are permitted entry, provided they had a place to stay, a warranty of £50 was deposited per person for their eventual return to their own country, plus a handful of other conditions, and that all the necessary accompanying paperwork was in order. 

Back in 1987 and Grete is off on a short break to Europe, leaving Nicholas at home to begin the arduous task of clearing and de-cluttering their lounge room and study, which he does successfully, by burning many of the storage boxes in his back garden, much to Grete's very pleasant surprise when she arrives back home. On his desk rests the leather briefcase which it is revealed contains a scrapbook containing photographs and lists of the children, including their parents' names and the names and addresses of the families that took them in. Nicholas has lunch with Martin Blake (Jonathan Pryce) who says that the scrapbook is testimony to his determination in bringing back so many children and that he has a connection with Robert Maxwell who would be very interested in sighting it. And so Nicholas receives a call from Elisabeth Maxwell (Marthe Keller), a Holocaust researcher and wife of media magnate Robert Maxwell, and is stunned to learn that Winton was involved in the rescue and relocation of 669 children from Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia in 1938/39. 

Back in early 1939 Winton is in London with Babi waiting track side for the arrival of trainloads of children over the course of several months with eight trains successfully making the journey across to London, and being successfully relocated with foster parents. However, the ninth train bringing 250 children across was scheduled to leave Prague on 1st September 1939, but was unable to depart, with Hitler's invasion of Poland on the same day the Second World War had begun. What became of those 250 children remains unknown but in all likelihood they perished in the Nazi concentration camps. 

Thanks to Robert Maxwell, the wider world found out about his work in February 1988 during an episode of the BBC television programme 'That's Life!' when he was invited as a member of the audience. At one point, Winton's scrapbook was shown and his achievements were explained. The host of the programme, Esther Rantzen (Samantha Spiro), introduced Winton to children he had helped to rescue live on air. 

In a follow-up programme of 'That's Life!' a week later at which Winton was again in the audience with his wife by his side this time, Rantzen asked whether anybody in the audience was among the children who owed their lives to Winton, and if so, to stand. At which, the entire audience rose to its feet surrounding Winton and applauded, with those closest embracing him. 

In a closing scene Nicholas and Grete are seen entertaining a family of a now adult rescued child and her family including several grandchildren at their home as they all make their way down to his swimming pool. In the closing credits actual footage of those now adult refugees is seen, together with Winton who in the 1983 Birthday Honours, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and in the 2003 New Year Honours, he was knighted for services to humanity, in recognition of his work on the Czech Kindertransport. He died in 2015 at the age of 106.

With 'One Life' here first time feature film Director James Hawes has delivered us a film that will resonate with WWII historians and those being introduced to the story of Nicholas Winton for the first time. This story of how a small group of people made such an impactful difference to the lives of 669 children, and how Winton only gained recognition for his efforts some fifty years after the fact is a story that needed to be told, and in weaving the timelines between 1938/39 and 1987/88 Director Hawes has eeked out a thought provoking and emotional biographical drama, paired with strong performances from Hopkins, Bonham Carter and Flynn that is unlikely to leave barely a dry eye in the house by the time the end credits roll.

'One Life' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Tuesday 26th December 2023.

It's hard to believe that Christmas is upon us once again, and as such it would be remiss of me not to wish my global readership all the very best wishes for a Merry, Happy and safe Christmas, wherever you are in world, whatever it is you do to celebrate the occasion, and whoever you share it with. Thanks for your ongoing support over the past twelve months - it is your viewership that makes my reviews and previews of the latest release new movies worthwhile, and I look forward to doing more of the same throughout 2024. Until then, Merry Christmas, best wishes and complements of the season, from Sydney, Australia. 

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

Turning the attention then back to the final seven new release movies of 2023, we kick start with a dark comedy fantasy offering about the fantastical evolution of a young woman brought back to life by a brilliant and unorthodox scientist, and who then embarks on a whirlwind adventure across the continents with a lawyer. Then we have the fifteenth film in the DCEU and a sequel charting the continuing story of the King of Atlantis who must join forces with his brother to overcome an old foe who has become more powerful over time and who threatens the world order and their underwater kingdom. Next up we have a British film that tells the story of a humanitarian who helped save hundreds of Central European children from the Nazis on the eve of World War II. We then turn to an American RomCom of a seemingly perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery attraction ice cold. This is followed by a film that centres on two young people's bond that leads to marital infidelity and ultimately crime. And closing out the week we have a pair of animated features - the first from the House of the Mouse about a young girl who wishes on a star and gets a more direct answer than she bargained for when a trouble-making star comes down from the sky to join her; and then we have a family of ducks who try to convince their overprotective father to go on the vacation of a lifetime.

'POOR THINGS' (Rated MA15+) - is a black comedy fantasy film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos whose prior feature film offerings take in his debut in 2001 with 'My Best Friend' and which he would follow up with 'Dogtooth' in 2009, and then his first English language film 'The Lobster' in 2015, 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' in 2017 and 'The Favourite' in 2018. This film is based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Venice International Film Festival in early September this year where it won the Golden Lion. It was released Stateside earlier this month and is scheduled to be released in the UK on 12th January, having so far grossed US$4M against a production budget of US$35M and garnering universal critical acclaim.

Here then, the incredible story and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone, who also Co-Produces here), as a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter's protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for self-discovery, equality and sexual liberation. Also starring Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael and Margaret Qualley. 

'AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM' (Rated M) - this American Superhero film is based on the DC character of Aquaman, is the fifteenth and final instalment in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) with the new chapter in the DC Universe kicking off with 'Superman : Legacy' slated for a 2025 release under the new joint Chairmanship of James Gunn and Peter Safran, with James Gunn Directing. This film is the sequel to 2018's 'Aquaman' which grossed US$1.15B off the back of a production budget of US$160M making it the most successful film to date in the DCEU, and is once again Co-Produced, based on a story and Directed by Australian film maker James Wan. Several years after the events of the first film, Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa) is forced to protect Atlantis and his loved ones from devastation after an ancient power is unleashed by David Kane/Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) obtaining the cursed Black Trident. In order to achieve this, he will have to seek help from an unlikely ally, his half-brother Orm Marius aka Ocean Master (Patrick Wilson). Also starring Nicole Kidman, Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren, Randall Park and Temuera Morrison. The film went on general release in the US last week, has so far grossed US$14M off the back of a production cost of US$205M and has generated mixed reviews.

'ONE LIFE' (Rated PG) - is a British biographical drama film Directed by James Hawes in his feature film debut although he has been Directing both single and multiple episodes of TV series for a number of years taking in the likes of 'Doctor Who', 'Merlin', 'Penny Dreadful', 'Black Mirror', 'The Alienist', 'Snowpiercer' and 'Slow Horses' most recently. This film is based on the book 'If It’s Not Impossible…The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton' by Barbara Winton and tells the story of British stockbroker Nicholas Winton (Anthony Hopkins, and Johnny Flynn as the young Winton) as he looks back on his past efforts to help groups of Jewish children in German-occupied Czechoslovakia to hide and flee in 1938–39, just before the beginning of World War II, in an operation that came to be known as 'Kindertransport'. Also starring Helena Bonham Carter, Lena Olin, Jonathan Pryce, Romola Garai, Alex Sharp and Samantha Spiro. The film had its World Premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9th September, and is released in the UK on 5th January.

'ANYONE BUT YOU' (Rated MA15+) - this American RomCom is Co-Written and Directed by Will Gluck whose previous feature film offerings take in his debut with 'Fired Up' in 2009 followed by 'Easy A' in 2010, 'Friends with Benefits' in 2011, 'Annie' in 2014 and 'Peter Rabbit' and 'Peter Rabbit 2 : The Runaway' in 2018 and 2021 respectively. Despite an amazing first date, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben's (Glen Powell) initial attraction quickly turns sour. However, when they unexpectedly find themselves at a destination wedding in Sydney, Australia, they pretend to be the perfect couple to keep up appearances. Also starring Alexandra Shipp, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths and Bryan Brown. The film cost US$25M to produce and was released Stateside last week. 

'COUP DE CHANCE' (Rated PG) - is a French comedy drama film Written and Directed by Woody Allen who has made fifty feature films since his debut in 1966 with 'What's Up, Tiger Lily?' and whose other credits take in the likes of 'Annie Hall', 'The Purple Rose of Cairo', 'Hannah and her Sisters', 'Crimes and Misdemeanors', 'Bullets Over Broadway', 'The Curse of the Jade Scorpion', 'Match Point', 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', 'Blue Jasmine' and 'Cafe Society' amongst many others. All up Allen has been the recipient of 143 award wins including four Oscar wins and another 223 nominations during his long and distinguished career. Here then, Fanny (Lou de Laage) and Jean (Melvil Poupard) look like the ideal married couple. They’re both professionally accomplished, they live in a gorgeous apartment in an exclusive neighbourhood of Paris, and they seem to be in love just as much as they were when they first met. But when Fanny accidentally bumps into Alain (Niels Schneider), a former high school classmate, she’s swept off her feet. They soon see each other again and get closer and closer, ultimately leading to marital infidelity and . . . violence. The film saw its World Premiere at this years Venice International Film Festival in early September, was released in France later that same month, has so far grossed US$6M and has garnered generally favourable reviews.

'WISH' (Rated PG) - this American animated musical fantasy film is Produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and is Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn (in her feature Directorial debut). Chris Buck's prior feature film offerings are his Directing debut with 'Tarzan' in 1999, then 'Surf's Up' in 2007, 'Frozen' in 2013 and 'Frozen II' in 2019. Here, young Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose) makes a wish so powerful that it's answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. With Star's help, Asha must save her kingdom from King Magnifico (Chris Pine) and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Also starring the voice talents of Alan Tudyk, Victor Garber, Natasha Rothwell, Evan Peters and Ramy Youssef. The film cost about US$190M to Produce, has so far grossed US$129M since its US release at the end of November and has generated mixed or average reviews. 

'MIGRATION' (Rated G) - is an American animated adventure comedy film Produced by Illumination and Directed by Benjamin Renner whose previous feature film making credits take in 'Ernest & Celestine' in 2012 and 'The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales' in 2017. The story follows a family of mallards who try to convince their overprotective father Mack (voiced by Kumail Nanjiani) to go on a vacation of a lifetime and attempt to migrate from New England to Jamaica. However, with the best laid plans quickly going awry when they get lost and wind up in New York City. The experience soon inspires them to expand their horizons, open themselves up to new friends, and accomplish more than they ever thought possible. Also starring the voices of Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, David Mitchell, Carol Kane, Caspar Jennings, Tresi Gazal, and Danny DeVito. The film was released Stateside on 22nd December, has so far grossed US$21M off the back of a US$72M production budget and garnered generally positive reviews. 

With seven 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-