TRIANGLE OF SADNESS : Tuesday 31st January 2023.

I finally got around to seeing the M Rated 'TRIANGLE OF SADNESS' this week after its Australian release on 26th December. This satirical black comedy film is Written and Directed by Ruben Ostlund in his English language feature debut, and follows his success with his highly acclaimed multi-award winning and nominated 'The Square' in 2017 with Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West. This film saw its World Premier screening at last years Cannes Film Festival where it received an eight minute standing ovation and won the Palme d'Or and has so far picked up another eighteen award wins and fifty-nine nominations from around the awards and festival circuit (with many of those still awaiting a final outcome, including three Academy Award nods). Released in France at the end of September, in the US in early October, in the UK in late October and over Christmas in Australia, the film has so far recouped US$23M from its US$16M production budget and has garnered generally positive reviews.

Here then, fashion model couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean, in her last film role before her untimely death in August last year), are in a relationship and dating. Having eaten at a lavish up market restaurant the waiter presents a bill and places it on the table between them. Carl looks nervously at the bill while Yaya claims not to have noticed it. Carl becomes agitated at Yaya for expecting him to pay for meals even though she earns more than he does, and eventually she presents her credit card for payment, only for the waiter to return saying that payment was declined, twice. So she offers to pay cash, but doesn't have enough, so Carl pays after all. They bicker to and fro about money and gender roles. She admits that her relationship with Carl is for the engagement it earns them on social media, and that she wants to become a trophy wife, but Carl says that she will come to love him. 

They are invited on a luxury cruise free of charge aboard a US$25M superyacht in exchange for promoting it on social media. Among the wealthy guests are the Russian oligarch Dimitry (Zlatko Buric) and his wife Vera (Sunnyi Melles) who made their money in fertiliser, an elderly British couple Clementine (Amanda Walker) and Winston (Oliver Ford Davies), who have made their fortune manufacturing weapons, most notably hand grenades and land mines, Therese (Iris Berben), a wheelchair-user who is only capable of speaking a single sentence in German ('In Den Wolken' translated 'In the Clouds') which she does repeatedly following a stroke, and Jarmo (Henrik Dorsin), a lonely tech multi-millionaire.

The guests kick back and relax on the yacht, oblivious to the crew working to meet their every want, need and desire. The head of staff, Paula (Vicki Berlin), demands they obey the guests' absurd requests, including having every crew member jump off the boat via a water slide and swim in the sea. When the kitchen crew are also ordered to swim, the chef says that this means the food will go off, but the kitchen crew are ordered anyway. Meanwhile, the yacht's captain, Thomas Smith (Woody Harrelson), spends his time drunk in his cabin and conversing through his locked door with Paula who urges him to come out. 

Paula eventually coerces Thomas to sober up and attend the Captain's Dinner scheduled for Thursday evening at 8:30pm, as the yacht passes through rough seas and a heavy storm. A number of the guests become violently seasick, vomit heavily, and/or have diarrhoea, and frenzied panic breaks out as the yacht lurches from side to side uncontrollably. The drunken Thomas and Dimitry are left alone in the dining room playing drinking games and argue about socialism and capitalism over the intercom. Meanwhile, several guests are injured as the storm tosses the ship, the toilets back up and sewage floods the boat, and the power goes out. When morning arrives, pirates attack, killing Clementine and Winston with one of their own hand grenades causing an explosion which ultimately capsizes the yacht. 

Carl, Yaya, Dimitry, Therese, Paula, Jarmo, Nelson (Jean-Christophe Folly) who claims to be a ship mechanic, and cleaner Abigail (Dolly de Leon) are the only survivors who are washed up on a remote island. Abigail turns up in a lifeboat washed onto shore the next morning with a supply of bottled water and potato chips. She, it turns out, is only one with any survival skills, such as catching octopus and fish and building fires, and quickly sheds her below deck crew member status and assumes command, as the other survivors recognise their reliance on her for food and warmth. 

As the survivors bond and come to terms with their new circumstances, Abigail assumes more power, getting her own private bed inside the lifeboat, and coercing Carl into a sexual relationship in exchange for him gaining special privileges and food. Yaya grows jealous, and Carl considers leaving her for Abigail. Jarmo kills a wild donkey by smashing it over the head repeatedly with a rock, which Dimitry and Nelson celebrate. 

Yaya one day decides to hike to the other side of the island to see what she can see, and Abigail volunteers to go with her despite Carl's concerns. Traipsing over heavy undergrowth and through mountainous terrain Yaya calls out to Abigail bringing up the rear, that she has found an elevator with beach umbrellas and deck chairs stacked up nearby, and realise they have been stranded close by to a luxury resort. Back at their camp, Therese encounters a beach vendor but is unable to communicate her situation. Yaya celebrates finding the elevator, but Abigail hesitates to enter, wanting to rest up for a few moments to savour their solitude together. Abigail excuses herself to take a pee and then stealthily walks back prepared to attack Yaya with a rock. She hesitates, however, when the oblivious Yaya suggests that Abigail could perhaps work for Yaya as her Assistant. Carl is then seen frantically running through the undergrowth that Yaya and Abigail had previously trodden. 

'Triangle of Sadness' is a film of this moment in time when the world is gripped by social media, of influencers, of gender dynamics, of the have's versus the have not's, of the political divide and of excess writ large all culminating in a survivalist story and a reversal of fortunes as the meek inherit the Earth (or the island at least!). Ostlund here unravels this story of the privileged, uber rich and powerful people as they come to ultimately lose their self-respect and freedoms firstly in gushing rivers of spew and shit, and then on the island as their fortunes are so readily and easily cast aside. The film is engaging enough despite its near 150 minute run time, and there are some genuinely funny laugh out loud moments here too, in which the Writer/Director displays in full view his deeply satirical view of the world and all the trappings of the rich and (in)famous. The international cast here all seemed keen to portray whatever depths of depravity that Ostlund was going to demand of them, but this film belongs to Dolly de Leon as Abigail, and Woody Harrelson who is always compelling and shines in his role as the drunken Captain in the all to brief screen time he is given. Charlbi Dean and Harris Dickinson also put in noteworthy performances. The ending however, left more questions unanswered and made me scratch my head wondering if Ostlund's dash to wrap things up quickly was a deliberate ploy to keep the run time at just under two and a half hours!

'Triangle of Sadness' 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 : Monday 26th December 2022.

As 2022 draws to a close it's a time to reflect on the cinematic year that was, and the hope for generally better times ahead in the new year, as cinema audiences have continued to stay away from movie theatres (particularly for smaller independent offerings) coming off the back of COVID-19 lockdowns, escalating cost of living impacts and the ever increasing competition from streaming services. This year I have Reviewed forty-four movies, Previewed 237 feature films and documentaries and paid my respects to 258 legends of both the small screen and the big screen who have passed away in 2022. All that remains for me to say is the very best to you for a very Happy New Year that is safe, healthy and prosperous, and wherever you are in the world, get out and watch a movie at your local multiplex or local independent movie theatre and support all those working tirelessly in front and behind the camera who like so many other trades and industries around the world, continue to do it tough but do it for the love of moviemaking. Thanks for your support this past twelve months and I look forward to bringing you more of the same content in the coming year.  

This week there are six new movie offerings coming to an Odeon near you, starting with a tale of two lifelong friends living on a remote Irish isle in the early 1920's who find themselves at a stalemate when one abruptly ends their friendship without any warning and with alarming consequences for both of them. Then we turn to a story of a cruise for the super-rich which sinks, leaving survivors, including a fashion model celebrity couple, trapped on an island. Next up, guided by instinct and spectral visions, an ambitious writer and amateur historian defies the academic establishment to unearth Richard III's 500 year long-missing remains buried under a car park. This is followed by a biopic of a singing sensation who rises from obscurity to international fame in the 1980's to become one of the greatest singers of her generation. We then have a live action animated film based on the 1965 children's book about a singing crocodile that lives in New York City; before closing out the week with an animated film that is a sequel to a 2011 film featuring Puss in Boots who discovers that he has burned through eight of his nine lives, so he embarks on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

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.

'THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN' (Rated M) - is a black tragicomedy film Written and Directed by Martin McDonagh, whose prior film making credits take in his debut in 2008 with 'In Bruges' and then 'Seven Psychopaths' in 2012, and the critically acclaimed 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' in 2017. This film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Venice International Film Festival on 5th September, where it received a fifteen minute standing ovation from the audience. Colin Farrell won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and Martin McDonagh won the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay. It was theatrically released in Ireland, the UK, the US at the end of October and is released in Australia this week, having generated widespread critical acclaim and bringing in so far US$20M in Box Office receipts.

At the tail end of the Irish Civil War in 1923, on the remote fictional Irish island of Inisherin, Padraic Suilleabhain (Colin Farrell) is devastated when his long term friend and drinking buddy Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly puts an end to their lifelong friendship. With help from his sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and a troubled young islander, Dominic Kearney (Barry Keoghan), Padraic sets out to repair the damaged relationship by any means necessary. However, as Colm's resolve only strengthens, he soon delivers an ultimatum that leads to shocking consequences. The film was named one of the best films of 2022 by the National Board of Review, and it has received a leading eight nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Director.

'TRIANGLE OF SADNESS' (Rated M) - this satirical black comedy film is Written and Directed by Ruben Ostlund in his English language feature debut, and follows his success with his highly acclaimed multi-award winning and nominated 'The Square' in 2017 with Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss and Dominic West. Here then, fashion model couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean, in her last film role before her untimely death earlier this year), together with a group of billionaires, are invited on a luxury cruise in exchange for promoting it on social media. When the yacht sinks they become stranded on a desert island with the group and a cleaning lady. In the fight for survival, old hierarchies are turned upside down since the cleaning lady is the only one who knows how to fish and who possesses the necessary survival skills. The film also stars Woody Harrelson, and saw its World Premier screening at this years Cannes Film Festival where it received an eight minute standing ovation and won the Palme d'Or and has so far picked up another seven award wins and nineteen nominations from around the awards and festival circuit. Release in France at the end of September, in the US in early October, in the UK in late October and only now in Australia, the film has so far recouped US$16.5M from its US$15.6M production budget and has garnered generally positive reviews. 

'THE LOST KING' (Rated M) - is a British comedy drama film Directed by Stephen Frears and Co-Written by Steve Coogan (who also stars here), based on the 2013 book 'The King's Grave : The Search for Richard III' by Philippa Langley and Michael Jones. Stephen Frears previous film making credits include 'My Beautiful Laundrette' in 1985, 'Dangerous Liaisons' in 1988, 'The Grifters' in 1990, 'High Fidelity' in 2000, 'The Queen' in 2006, 'Philomena' in 2013, 'Florence Foster Jenkins' in 2016, and 'Victoria and Abdul' in 2017. In this inspiring true story, amateur historian Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins) believes she has made the archeological find of the century, the lost burial site of King Richard III, who has remained lost for over five hundred years, underneath a car park in Leicester. She takes on Britain's most eminent historians, forcing them to rethink the legacy of one of the most controversial rulers in English history. Also starring Steve Coogan. The film saw its World Premier at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September this year, and was released in its native UK in early November and has garnered mixed or average reviews. 

'WHITNEY HOUSTON : I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY' (Rated M) - is an American biographical musical film based on the life of American singer Whitney Houston, who died at the age of 48 in February 2012 and is regarded as one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. It is Directed by Kasi Lemmons whose previous film making credits include 1997's 'Eve's Bayou' with Samuel L. Jackson and Jurnee Smollett, 'Talk to Me' in 2007 with Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor, 2013's 'Black Nativity' with Forest Whittaker and Angela Bassett and 'Harriet' in 2019 with Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monae. This film celebrates the life and music of Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie), one of the greatest female R&B pop vocalists of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom. Also starring Stanley Tucci as Clive Davis (Houston's record producer), Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown (Houston's husband) and Tamara Tunie as Cissy Houston (Houston's mother). 

'LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE' (Rated PG) - this American musical comedy film is Directed and Co-Produced by Will Speck and Josh Gordon whose pairing brought us their debut feature film with 2007's 'Blades of Glory', then 2010's 'The Switch', 'The Power Inside' in 2013 and 'Office Christmas Party' in 2016. This film is an adaptation of the 1965 children's story of the same name by Bernard Waber. When the Primm family (Constance Wu as Mrs. Primm, Scoot McNairy as Mr. Primm and Winslow Fegley as young Josh Primm) move to New York City, Josh, struggles to adapt to his new school and friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle, an anthropomorphic saltwater singing crocodile (Shawn Mendes) that loves baths, caviar and great music. The two become fast friends, but when evil neighbour Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman) threatens Lyle's existence, the Primms must band together to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places. Also starring Javier Bardem as Hector P. Valenti, Lyle's owner. The film was released Stateside in early October, has so far grossed US$88M from a production budget of US$50M and has garnered mostly positive press. 

'PUSS IN BOOTS : THE LAST WISH' (Rated PG) - is an American computer-animated adventure film that is a direct/stand-alone sequel to the 2011's 'Puss in Boots', which was a spin-off of the 'Shrek' franchise and is the sixth instalment thereof. This film is Directed by Joel Crawford whose two previous Directing efforts are the TV special 'Trolls Holiday' and the 2020 feature film 'The Croods : A New Age'. Here daring outlaw Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas reprising his role from the first film) discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots on his grandest quest yet as he embarks on an epic journey into the Dark Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star and restore his lost lives. But with only one life left, Puss will have to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis, the captivating Kitty Soft Paws (Salma Hayek). In their quest, Puss and Kitty will be aided, against their better judgment, by a ratty, chatty, relentlessly cheerful mutt, Perro (Harvey Guillen). Together, our trio of heroes will have to stay one step ahead of Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears Crime Family (Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone and Samson Kayo), 'Big' Jack Horner (John Mulaney) and terrifying bounty hunter, The Big Bad Wolf (Wagner Moura). The film was released in the US last week and has received generally positive critical acclaim. 

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-

THE SQUARE : Tuesday 27th March 2018

'THE SQUARE' which I finally caught this week one month after its Australian release at the end of February, is a Swedish, French, German and Danish Co-Produced satirical drama film Directed by Ruben Ostlund and was shown in competition for the Palme d'Or at The Cannes Film Festival in May last year, where it took out that prestigious award. It subsequently screened at The Sydney Film Festival last June, TIFF in September, and went out on a limited release in the UK last August, and the US in September. Only five months after that did it get its Australian release having done the festival circuit and picking up 27 award wins and a further 37 nominations in the meantime. It was also in the running for the Best Foreign Language Film at the recent 90th Academy Awards. The film was made for a mere US$5.5M and so far recovered US$9M, and has received generally positive Reviews.

Here Christian (Claes Bang) is the respected Curator of the prestigious contemporary X-Royal Art Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. The film opens up with him being interviewed for the camera by journalist Anne (Elisabeth Moss) who asks him to interpret some artistic jargon contained within their website, to which Christian struggles to find a simple answer.

Later the next morning, when Christian is walking across a busy plaza on his way into work he is confronted by a screaming woman claiming that she is being chased by a man who wants to kill her. After calming the woman down, and seeing off her would be assailant aided by another man, he walks away and notices that his wallet and smartphone are both missing. He's been pick-pocketed during that apparent fracas.

Back at his office he is able to track the location of his smartphone using his computer aided by a colleague Michael (Christopher Laesso) and discovers that it is just a few blocks away in a large apartment building. The pair hatch a plan to type up a letter demanding return of his phone and wallet intact, otherwise the authorities will be alerted to its whereabouts. The letter is then to be hand delivered to every apartment letterbox in the block later that night by one of the pair. The perpetrators are to deposit the phone and wallet at a nearby 7/11 Store marked for the attention of Christian if they want to escape prosecution.

Meanwhile, Christian is overseeing the installation of a new exhibit at the museum - 'The Square' by renowned artist Lola Arias which is described by the artist as 'a sanctuary of trust and caring. Within it we all share equal rights and obligations.' The Advertising Agency commissioned by the museum are tasked with coming up with a message to stir the emotions on the international stage, and bring onlookers flocking to the museum to see it. They have a week to turn around their concept and come back with something extraordinary, harnessing the power of social media.

Within a couple of days Christian receives a phone call from the manager at the 7/11 informing him that a package has been delivered marked for his attention. He collects it, and lo and behold inside is his smartphone and wallet returned, both fully intact. He is very pleasantly surprised to say the least. That night at a party at the museum Christian meets Anne again and they begin to flirt, and he winds up at her apartment, in the company of her pet fully grown chimpanzee! They have sex, and then argue immediately afterwards when Anne offers to discard the used condom. Christian steadfastly declines to hand it over but relents when Anne forcibly removes it from his clenched hand.

A few days later Anne meets Christian at the museum unexpectedly, and comes on strong about their encounter the other night. She is looking for something more than casual sex, and starts probing him hoping to find a connection. Christian is evasive and later ignores her phone calls when she tries to reach him. In the meantime, a second package has arrived for Christian at the 7/11 store. Being wary of its contents he sends Michael to investigate and take collection. In the store Michael is greeted by a young twelve year old lad who is ranting and raving and making a scene, believing Michael to be Christian. He claims that his parents are furious at him, believing him to be the thief because of the way the letter was written. The boy demands an apology to him and his parents and an explanation of the facts, otherwise the boy will bring 'chaos' down upon him.

The boy eventually tracks down Christian to his apartment block. He repeatedly pesters Christian in front of his two young daughters. Christian at first is reasonable with the young lad, but his patience is wearing thin after the boy persists and then begins knocking on neighbours doors late in the evening and screaming for help. In the end the boy falls down a flight of steps and Christian and his girls go inside the sanctuary of his apartment. But later Christian hears the whimpering sounds of the boys cries for help which eventually after some time, subside. Wracked with guilt Christian goes in search of the note with the boys phone number which he had previously thrown out with the garbage. In the pouring rain, he finally retrieves the note and tries to call, but the phone rings out. Instead he leaves an apologetic video message which becomes a diatribe for all that is wrong in the world.

The Advertising Agency has meanwhile come back with a social media campaign designed to spark controversy and ultimately go viral. They develop a promotional clip showing an impoverished young blond street beggar girl carrying a black kitten who wanders into The Square and is killed by an explosion. The video is released on the museums website and their own YouTube Channel, and in no time gains 300,000 hits and attracts the ire of the museum Board, the Church, the media and the general public. Christian is asked to stand down as Curator of the museum for violating protocol, and in the ensuing press conference is attacked by all sides, however, some more than others.

Later that night at a museum gala dinner attended by Stockholm's wealthiest elite, artists and members of the Board, the live entertainment for the evening takes the form of a human exhibit in the shape of Oleg Rogozjin (Terry Notary channelling his experiences & skills as 'Rocket' on the three recent 'Planet of the Apes' films) who mimics an ape convincingly. Initially what is seen as a highly extroverted if realistic and unique performance by the 400 or so gathered guests quickly turns very messy as Oleg gets too in the zone and becomes quite violent toward a number of guests including famed artist Julian (Dominic West) exhibiting the ugly and physically confronting side of ape behaviour. Ultimately a number of male guests drag Oleg off a female guest and rain down their clenched fists upon him, chanting 'kill him, kill him'.

In the aftermath of all of this Christian enjoys some R&R with his daughters attending the exhibit at the museum, and a cheer leading competition for his oldest daughter. On the way back in the car, Christian asks the girls if they mind him making a detour to see someone. Christian is still feeling guilty about the boy whom he has heard nothing from. So he parks up at the apartment block and with the girls goes in search of the young lad and his family. Talking to a neighbour, Christian is told that he knew the boy, but that he had moved away with his family.

'The Square' is a dark, sometimes disturbing satirical social commentary that exposes plenty that is wrong in the world through the trials and tribulations of one man going about his personal and business life that gets inextricably interwoven, often with funny, gripping and thought provoking consequences. The performances from the principle cast are top notch, although Dominic West's role is no more than a cameo appearance, while Terry Notary as the ape in man's clothing steals the show with a ten minute sequence that is convincing, disturbing and brutal . . . and he doesn't utter a single word! Claes Bang is also on fine form as the Curator having to deal with a maelstrom of misadventures thrust upon him as he lurches from one absurd, comedic and brutally honest situation to another. My criticisms would be that the character played by Elisabeth Moss is not fleshed out anymore, she disappears completely after that awkward exchange at the museum, and BTW, what's with the chimp, and secondly, the films running time. At 142 minutes, the Editor must have taken an extended period of leave, resulting in a film that is easily twenty minutes too long, with scenes dragged out well beyond their use by date, or bearing little consequence to the story therefore being surplus to requirement. Coming away from the theatre, the film also leaves many questions open ended and unanswered, but perhaps this was the Director's intention too. All that said, worth a look for sure.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st March 2018.

Before the film industry awards season comes to its momentous climax with the 90th Academy Awards on 4th March, a series of three lesser known but nonetheless long standing awards ceremonies have recently taken place by various 'Guilds of America' honouring the best in film and television. These are of course The Producers Guild of America, The Directors Guild of America and The Writers Guild of America, who over three separately held events in late January and early February hand out limited awards to the best that the film industry had to offer in the previous year. Here is a quick summary of those winners and grinners in case you missed these headlines :-

The 29th Producers Guild of America Awards, hosted on 20th January 2018 honouring the best film and television Producers of 2017, were held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California.
* The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of a Theatrical Motion Picture, awarded to Guillermo del Toro for 'The Shape of Water'.
* Outstanding Producer of an Animated Theatrical Motion Picture, awarded to Daria K. Anderson for 'Coco'.
* Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Picture, awarded to Brett Morgen, Bryan Burk, Tony Gerber, and James Smith for 'Jane'.

The 70th Directors Guild of America Awards, hosted on 3rd February 2018 honouring the outstanding Directorial achievement in feature films, documentary, television and commercials of 2017, were held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California and hosted by Judd Apatow.
* Feature Film Award to Guillermo del Toro for 'The Shape of Water'.
* Documentary Film Award to Matthew Heineman for 'City of Ghosts'.
* First Time Feature Film Award to Jordan Peele for 'Get Out'.



The 70th Writers Guild of America Awards, hosted on 11th February 2018 honouring the best in film, television, radio and video-game writing of 2017, were held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California and the Edison Ballroom, New York City, New York and hosted by Patton Oswalt and Amber Ruffin respectively.
* Best Original Screenplay Award to Jordan Peele for 'Get Out'.
* Best Adapted Screenplay Award to James Ivory for 'Call Me By Your Name'.
* Best Documentary Screenplay Award to Brett Morgan for 'Jane'.

This week then with four new release films coming to your local Odeon, we kick off with a spy thriller about a specially trained operative with a particular set of deadly skills caught between the east and the west and one man who tries to win her trust, but at what cost? We then move to a satirical foreign language offering about a respected curator of an art museum who as a result of some questionable decisions sees his personal and professional life imploding; before moving onto a biographical film about a fading Hollywood Actress and her relationship with a young English Actor in the 1970's. We then close out with a biblical story of a man with superhuman strength betrayed by his love that ultimately has tragic consequences for more than just the two of them.

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 and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are here cordially invited to share your cinematic 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 experience during the week ahead.

'RED SPARROW' (Rated MA15+) - here Francis Lawrence Directs this American spy thriller based on the 2013 book of the same name by former CIA operative Jason Matthews. Francis Lawrence is no stranger to big screen spectacle having Directed, amongst others, 'Constantine' with Keanu Reeves, 'I Am Legend' with Will Smith, 'The Hunger Games : Catching Fire' with Jennifer Lawrence and 'The Hunger Games : Mokingjay Parts 1 and 2' also with Jennifer Lawrence. Here he teams up with his namesake Jennifer Lawrence once again with the film going on general release around the world this week, and having garnered mixed and average Reviews at best so far.

The film centres around Russian and American espionage, the central figure of which is Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) a former prima ballerina forced into an uncertain future as a result of an injury that brings her chosen career to an abrupt halt. Coerced by her uncle, Ivan Egorova (Matthias Schoenaerts) to undergo training at the Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service where she and other gifted men and women were trained in how to seduce the enemy using their minds and bodies as weapons. Egorova emerges as the most dangerous Sparrow after successfully completing a rigorous and demanding training programme which earns her the codename 'Red Sparrow'. Coming to terms with her newly learned skills and abilities, Red Sparrow must navigate the world of high stakes international espionage while negotiating with various others including 'Marble' (Jeremy Irons) a Russian double agent who provides intelligence to the CIA, and Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) a CIA internal-operations officer who recruits and handles intelligence assets for the agency, and who tries to win her confidence as the only person she can truly trust. Also starring Charlotte Rampling, Mary-Louise Parker, Joely Richardson, Ciaran Hinds and Bill Camp.

'THE SQUARE' (Rated MA15+) - this Swedish, French, German and Danish Co-Produced satirical drama film is Directed by Ruben Ostlund and was shown in competition for the Palme d'Or at The Cannes Film Festival in May last year where it took out that prestigious award. It subsequently screened at The Sydney Film Festival last June, TIFF in September, and went out on a limited release in the UK last August, and the US in September. Only now does it get its release in Australia having done the festival circuit and picking up 21 award wins and a further 35 nominations in the meantime. It is also in the running for the Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards, just a few weeks away now. Here Christian (Claes Bang) is the respected curator of a prestigious contemporary art museum in Stockholm, Sweden. He is also a divorced but devoted father of two who drives an electric car and supports good causes. His next exhibit is 'The Square', an installation which supposedly reminds the viewer of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But sometimes, art does not imitate life as Christian's foolish response to the theft of his smartphone and his wallet drags him into a shameful and regrettable situation. Meanwhile, the museum's PR agency tasked with stirring up enthusiasm for the exhibit has created an unexpected campaign for 'The Square' which it releases on YouTube and social media attracting much publicity of the wrong kind by the media, church groups and the general public sending Christian, as well as the museum, into a crisis of confidence and controversy. Also starring Elisabeth Moss, Terry Notary and Dominic West.

'FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL' (Rated M) - is based on the memoir of the same name by Liverpool born Actor, Writer and Director Peter Turner. Directed by Paul McGuigan this biographical film tells the story of Turner's relationship with fading Hollywood Actress Gloria Grahame in the 1970's, upto the time of her death from breast cancer and peritonitis in 1981 aged 57. Premiering at the Telluride Film Festival last September, and opening in the UK last November and then the US at the end of December, the film only now goes on release in Australia. Costing US$10M to make it has so far grossed US$2M, has received generally positive press and has so far garnered two award wins and fifteen other nominations including three BAFTA nods. Here Peter Turner (Jamie Bell) who was born in Liverpool in 1952, during the 1970's falls for American film stage and television Actress and Singer Gloria Grahame (Annette Benning). Grahame's first big screen debut came in 1944 and she subsequently amassed 64 acting credits including 'It's a Wonderful Life', 'Crossfire' for which she was nominated for an Academy Award, 'The Greatest Show on Earth', 'The Bad and the Beautiful' for which she won an Academy Award, 'The Big Heat', 'Oklahoma' and 'Melvin and Howard'. When her career took a downturn she returned to the stage, in England and the US, picking up support roles in films and television series in the ensuing years. It was in England that she met the young Peter Turner and found romance and happiness before being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1974, which went into remission less than a year later and Grahame returned to work. In 1980, the cancer returned but Grahame refused to accept the diagnosis or seek treatment. Choosing instead to continue working, she travelled to Britain to appear in a play. Her health, however, declined rapidly and she developed peritonitis after undergoing a procedure to remove fluid from her abdomen in September 1981. She returned to New York City where she died in October 1981. This is their story. Also starring Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters, Frances Barber, Stephen Graham and, Peter Turner.

'SAMSON' (Rated M) - in 1949 Cecil B. DeMille Directed and Produced the romantic biblical drama film 'Samson and Delilah' starring Victor Mature as Samson and Hedy Lamarr as his love, Delilah. Now, almost seventy years later Bruce Macdonald, here Directs this retelling of Samson the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible and one of the last of the leaders who 'judged' Israel before the institution of the monarchy. The biblical rendition states that Samson was a Nazirite, and that he was awarded great strength to help him against his enemies and permit him to perform superhuman feats, including slaying a lion with his bare hands and massacring an entire army of Philistines using only the jawbone of an ass. However, if Samson's long hair was cut, then his Nazirite vow would be violated, and he would lose his strength. This is the story of Samson's (Taylor James) youthful ambition which leads to a tragic marriage that ends in the death of his love at the hands of a cruel Philistine prince. The all-powerful Samson mounts a quest for vengeance that sees him in direct conflict with the might of the Philistine army. As his brother mounts a tribal rebellion, Samson's relationship with a Philistine temptress Delilah (Caitlin Leahy) who betrays him sapping him of his strength, and his final surrender to God will help turn enslavement into a final victory . . . but at what cost? Also starring Billy Zane, Rutger Hauer, Jackson Rathbone and Lindsay Wagner the film has taken less that US$3M at the Box Office and received generally negative press.

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 cinephiles afterwards here at Odeon Online, and meanwhile, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-