What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 27th January 2022

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) announced its thirteenth awards winners on 17th January. Originally established in 2003, the AAFCA is the premiere body of Black film critics in the world, actively reviewing film and television, with a particular emphasis on entertainment that includes the Black experience and storytellers from the African Diaspora. The organisation’s primary focus is to cultivate understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contributions of African descended talent to cinematic and television culture – from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined breakthroughs of future generations. AAFCA members are a geographically diverse cross-section of journalists, covering all genres of the cinematic arts, while representing multiple mediums – including print, TV, radio broadcast and online. Collectively, they reach a worldwide audience in excess of 100 million.

Given below is the list of winners and grinners as announced last week :-

* Best Picture awarded to 'The Harder They Fall'

* Best Director awarded to Jeymes Samuel for 'The Harder They Fall'

* Best Screenplay awarded to Adam McKay for 'Don’t Look Up'

* Best Actor awarded to Will Smith for 'King Richard'

* Best Actress awarded to Jennifer Hudson for 'Respect'

* Best Supporting Actor awarded to Corey Hawkins for 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'

* Best Supporting Actress awarded to Aunjanue Ellis for 'King Richard'

* Breakout Actor awarded to Saniyya Sidney for 'King Richard'

* Best Ensemble awarded to 'The Harder They Fall'

* Emerging Director awarded to Reinaldo Marcus Green for 'King Richard'

* Best Music awarded to Jeymes Samuel, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z for 'The Harder They Fall' 

* Best Documentary awarded to 'Summer of Soul (. . . Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)'

* Best Independent Feature awarded to 'Who We Are'.

* Top 10 Films of the Year : 'The Harder They Fall', 'King Richard', 'Respect', 'The Tragedy of Macbeth', 'Passing', 'Belfast', 'Who We Are', 'House of Gucci', 'The Power of the Dog' and 'West Side Story'.

For the full details of this awards, the film and TV awards ceremonies and a whole lot more besides, you can go to the official website at : https://www.aafca.com/

Coming then to an Odeon near you, we begin with a biopic that takes an intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of a televangelist during the 1970's who built a massively successful religious network in 1974 and a theme park in 1978 before it all came crashing down in 1989. Next up we have an acclaimed Spanish offering about two mothers who give birth on the same day and the subsequent bond that is forged between them. This is followed up with a RomCom about a pair of co-workers at each other's necks for the same position, who find their professional rivalry further complicated by a different kind of passion in this workplace; and we close out the week with the story of a woman who after reluctantly agreeing to move in to a senior's home, encounters a clique of mean-spirited women and an amorous widower.

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

'THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE' (Rated M) - is an American biographical drama film Directed by Michael Showalter whose prior screen Directing credits include his debut 'The Baxter' in 2005 in which he also starred along with Elizabeth Banks, Peter Dinklage and Paul Rudd, then 'Hello, My Name Is Doris' in 2015 with Sally Field, 'The Big Sick' in 2017 with Kumail Nanjiani and Holly Hunter and 'The Lovebirds' in 2020 with Kumail Nanjiani again. All up Showalter has twenty Directing credits to his name, plus twenty-four as Producer, twenty-eight as Writer and fifty-three as Actor. This film is based on the 2000 documentary film of the same name Directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato and had its World Premier showing at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of last year. It was released in the US later that same month, having garnered mixed Reviews from Critics and taken so far just US$2.5M at the Box Office. 

Set in the 1970's, Tammy Faye Bakker (Jessica Chastain, who also Co-Produces here) and her husband Jim (Andrew Garfield), rise from humble beginnings to create the world's largest religious broadcasting network and theme park. Tammy Faye becomes legendary for her indelible eyelashes, her idiosyncratic singing, and her eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life. However, financial improprieties, scheming rivals and a scandal soon threaten to topple their carefully constructed empire. Also starring Cherry Jones and Vincent D'Onofrio.

'PARALLEL MOTHERS' (Rated M) - this Spanish drama film is Written and Directed by Pedro Almodovar whose filmography includes 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' in 1988, 'Talk To Her' in 2002, 'Volver' in 2006, 'Broken Embraces' in 2009, 'The Skin I Live In' in 2011, 'Julieta' in 2016 and 'Pain and Glory' in 2019. Here, once again he works with frequent collaborator Penelope Cruz, as one of two single women who meet in a hospital room where they are both going to give birth. Janis (Cruz) is middle aged and does not regret it, while Ana (Milena Smit) is adolescent and scared. The two women form a strong bond with one another as they both confront motherhood. The film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival in early September last year where Penelope Cruz was awarded the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, and where the film received a nine minute standing ovation, went on release in its native Spain in early October, and the US on Christmas Eve, has so far grossed US$12M and has garnered universal critical acclaim.

'THE HATING GAME' (Rated M) - is an American RomCom Directed by Peter Hutchings based on the novel of the same name by Sally Thorne. This is Hutchings fourth film making offering following his debut in 2012 with 'Rhymes with Banana', then 'The Outcasts' in 2017, followed by 'Then Came You' in 2018. Here then, resolving to achieve professional success without compromising her ethics, Lucy Hutton (Lucy Hale) embarks on a ruthless game of one-upmanship against cold and efficient nemesis Joshua Templeman (Austin Stowell), a rivalry that is complicated by her growing attraction to him. The film was released Stateside in early December last year, has so far grossed just US$295K, but has garnered generally positive critical Reviews. 

'QUEEN BEES' (Rated PG) - this American romantic comedy offering is Directed by Michael Lembeck who has sixty-eight TV and movie Directing credits to his name and sixty as an Actor. While her house undergoes repairs for a kitchen fire that will take a month to fix, fiercely independent senior Helen Wilson (Ellen Burstyn) temporarily moves into a nearby retirement community, where she encounters lusty widows, cutthroat bridge tournaments and a hotbed of bullying 'mean girls', but a budding relationship with a new resident Dan Simpson (James Caan) makes life more tolerable, until she learns of Dan's secret. Also starring Ann-Margaret, Christopher Lloyd and Elizabeth Mitchell. The film was released Stateside in mid-June last year, has so far grossed US$2M and has generated mostly mixed or average Reviews.

With four 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 5th August 2021.

This year running from Thursday 5th through until Wednesday 25th August, the Fantasia International Film Festival will celebrate its 25th edition. Located in the heart of Montreal, the second most populated city in Canada in the province of Quebec, Fantasia has become a cultural and professional destination point, and since its first edition in 1996, the festival’s ever-growing popularity has attracted the attention of the international film industry alongside a vast array of attendees from around the world. Every aspect of the filmmaking community is increasingly represented with in-person delegates at the festival, including Directors, Actors, Producers, Writers, studio representatives, distributors and more who experience the legendarily enthusiastic audience of Fantasia. James Gunn’s 'The Suicide Squad' will be presented as a special event screening on 4th August.

This year the Cheval Noir Competition features fourteen feature films from across the globe, taking in :-

* 'All the Moons' from France and Spain with English subtitles, this fantasy film is Directed and Co-Written by Igor Legarreta. International Premier screening.

* 'The Devil's Deal' from South Korea with English subtitles, this drama offering is Directed by Lee Won-tae. World Premier screening.

* 'Ghosting Gloria' from Uruguay with English subtitles is Directed, Co-Produced and Co-Edited by the pairing of Marcela Matta and Mauro Sarser with the latter also Writing and starring. World Premier screening.

* 'The Great Yokai War - Guardians' is from Japan with English subtitles and is Directed by Takashi Miike and also serves as the Closing Night Film. International Premier screening.

* 'Hellbender' from the USA this horror film is Directed by John Adams, Zelda Adams and Toby Poser. World Premier screening.

* 'Hotel Poseidon' from Belgium with English subtitles this drama horror comedy film is the first feature from Director and Writer Stef Lernous. International Premier screening.

* 'Indemnity' from South Africa with English subtitles this action offering is Directed and Written by Travis Taute. World Premier screening.

* 'Love, Life and Goldfish' from Japan with English subtitles this musical romance is Directed by Yukinori Makabe. International Premier screening.

* 'Martyrs Lane' from the UK this horror drama film is Directed and Written by Ruth Platt. World Premier screening.

* 'Remain in Twilight' from Japan with English subtitles this fantasy drama feature film is Directed and Written by Daigo Matsui. North American Premier screening.

* 'The Righteous' from Canada with English subtitles this drama horror thriller is Directed and Written by Mark O'Brien. World Premier screening.

* 'Tokyo Revengers' from Japan with English subtitles, this Sci-Fi actioner is Directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa. International Premier screening.

* 'Voice of Silence' from South Korea with English subtitles this thriller is Directed and Written by Hong Eui-jeong. North American Premier screening.

* 'Wonderful Paradise' from Japan with English subtitles this horror fantasy is Directed and Co-Written by Masashi Yamamoto. North American Premier screening. 

For all the other films competing in various categories, plus all the latest news, views and reviews from the 25th Fantasia International Film Festival, you can go the official website at : https://www.fantasiafestival.com/en

With Greater Sydney, where I live, still in COVID lockdown for a further four weeks now ending (at this stage) on Friday 27th August, which means all of our cinema's are closed until this date, which further means that the release of the movies as given below, slated for release this week, will be delayed somewhat across certain parts of Australia at least. That said, these movies will either have been released or are set for an imminent release somewhere in the world, and as Odeon Online has an international audience, I thought it best to carry on regardless.

And as such, turning the attention to this weeks latest release new movies coming to your local Odeon, of which there are five, we kick off with the tenth film in the DCEU that sees a rag tag bunch of Supervillains and a collection of unhinged cons at the Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. This is followed by a French comedy about a large and accomplished rose grower whose business is on the verge of bankruptcy, with moves to be bought out by a powerful competitor, when her faithful assistant, takes on three new employees without any gardening skills. Next up is a RomCom about a woman who reluctantly agrees to move in to a retirement village who encounters a clique of mean-spirited women and an amorous widower. Then we have the story of a Korean-American man raised in the Louisiana bayou who works hard to eek out a life for his family, who has to confront his past life when he learns that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home. And we close out the week with a music doco celebrating the fifth anniversary of a hugely popular and successful all girl band from Korea.

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. 

'THE SUICIDE SQUAD' (Rated R18+) - finally the much hyped, eagerly awaited and hotly anticipated American superhero film is here based on the DC Comics ensemble Suicide Squad. This is a standalone sequel to David Ayer's 2016 'Suicide Squad' and the tenth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). It was Written and Directed by James Gunn whose previous film making outings include her debut feature 'Slither' in 2006, then 'Super' in 2010, 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (the tenth film in the MCU) in 2014, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' in 2017 (the fifteenth film in the MCU) with 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' currently in pre-production for an expected 2023 release date. The film was released in the UK last week and is released in the US and here in Australia from this week, having generated largely positive Reviews with Critics praising Gunn's direction, the visuals and the irreverent humour.

Imprisoned convicts of Belle Reve penitentiary are sent as members of Task Force X by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) to the South American island of Corto Maltese to destroy Jotunheim, a Nazi-era prison and laboratory which held political prisoners and conducted experiments. During the mission, they come into conflict with Starro, a giant, telepathic alien starfish. The assembled members of The Suicide Squad are Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) - a crazed criminal and former psychiatrist; Bloodsport (Idris Elba) - a mercenary with a technologically-advanced suit and weapons that only he can use; Peacemaker (John Cena) - a ruthless killer who believes in achieving peace at any cost; Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) - the field leader of the Suicide Squad; King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone) - a man eating fish human hybrid; Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) - an unhinged Australian thief who wields boomerangs; The Thinker (Peter Capaldi) - a highly intelligent supervillain. Also starring David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Michael Rooker as Savant, Pete Davidson as Blackguard with Storm Reid appearing as Bloodsports daughter Tyla and Taika Waititi as Starro. 

'THE ROSE MAKER' (Rated M) - is a French comedy film Directed and Co-Written by Pierre Pinaud in only his second feature film making offering after 2012's 'On Air' and following a number of short films between 1999 and 2008. The film premiered in late August 2020 at the Angouleme Film Festival in southwest France. Since she was a child, Eve Vernet (Catherine Frot) has immersed herself in roses, learning from her father everything about growing, grafting, and creating new varieties. Now an award-winning producer in her own right, Eve is nevertheless in difficulty. Her business is on the verge of financial ruin, with the situation becoming more dire with each passing day as a powerful competitor seeks to buy her out. Vera (Olivia Cote), Eve’s steadfast and loyal assistant, seeks to save the business by bringing in three farmhands to share the enormous workload of this family business. Unfortunately, those three know nothing about roses or the business of horticulturalism. But one of them, Fred (Manel Foulgoc), has an interesting past, giving Eve an idea for saving her rose farm and her father’s legacy.

'QUEEN BEES' (Rated PG) - this American romantic comedy offering is Directed by Michael Lembeck who has sixty-eight TV and movie Directing credits to his name and sixty as an Actor. While her house undergoes repairs for a kitchen fire that will take a month to fix, fiercely independent senior Helen Wilson (Ellen Burstyn) temporarily moves into a nearby retirement community, where she encounters lusty widows, cutthroat bridge tournaments and a hotbed of bullying 'mean girls', but a budding relationship with a new resident Dan Simpson (James Caan) makes life more tolerable, until she learns of Dan's secret. Also starring Ann-Margaret, Christopher Lloyd and Elizabeth Mitchell. The film was released Stateside in mid-June, has so far grossed US$1.8M and has generated mostly mixed or average Reviews.  

'BLUE BAYOU' (Rated M) - is an American drama film Written, Directed, Co-Produced and starring Justin Chon who has fifty-five screen acting credits to his name, six as Director, and five as Writer and five as Producer. The film saw its World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in mid-July this year and is set for release in the US in mid-September. Antonio LeBlanc (Justin Chon) is a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou from the age of three. He's married to the love of his life, Kathy (Alicia Vikander), and raising his beloved stepdaughter, Jessie (Sydney Kowalske). Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must soon confront the ghosts of his past after learning that he could be deported from the only country he's ever called home. It has so far garnered generally mixed or average Reviews.

'BLACKPINK : THE MOVIE' (Rated PG) - this music documentary is Directed by Su Yee Jung and Oh Yoon-Dong and charts the fifth anniversary of the popular Korean all girl band 'Blackpink' featuring never before seen footage, interviews, clips of their sell out tours and more than a dozen of their hit songs. 'Blackpink' are Jennie, Lisa, Rose and Jisoo. 

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 coming week, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-