DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE : Tuesday 30th July 2024.

I saw the MA15+ rated 'DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE' at my local multiplex theatre this week, and this much hyped, eagerly awaited and highly anticipated American Superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics characters Deadpool and Wolverine, and is the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and a sequel to 2016's 'Deadpool' and 2018's 'Deadpool 2'. Those first two films in the franchise grossed a total US$1.57B at the worldwide Box Office off the back of a combined production budget of US$168M. Tim Miller Directed that first instalment with David Leitch on duty for the second, and Shawn Levy taking the helm on this third offering, who also gets a Co-Writer and a Co-Producer credit too. With a budget of US$200M the film has so far grossed US$659M internationally in its first week since opening and has set the highest grossing opening for an R rated film and has garnered largely mixed or average reviews.

The film opens with an action set piece while the starting credits roll of Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) going head to head with a small army of TVA (Time Variance Authority) foot soldiers whom he successfully manages to violently kill every last standing one of them by utilising Logan's adamantium skeleton which he has just dug up, as his preferred weapon of choice. We then back track to 2018 and Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) uses Cable's time-traveling device to travel from his timeline, being Earth-10005, to Earth-616, the 'Sacred Timeline', where he meets with Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) and basically pleads to join the Avengers because he want's to 'matter', but is rejected.

We then fast forward six years later, and find Wade has officially retired from being Deadpool and is working as a used-car salesman with his friend Peter Wisdom (Rob Delaney) after splitting up with his girlfriend Vanessa Carlysle (Morena Baccarin). During his birthday party, the TVA captures Wade and brings him to Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) who offers him a place on Earth-616, while also revealing that Wade's timeline is deteriorating as a result of the death of its stabilising 'anchor being' - that is, Logan. Paradox details his plans to use the 'Time Ripper', a device he developed to mercy kill timelines, to prematurely destroy Wade's timeline in three days rather than the traditional couple of thousand years it would usually take. Wade steals Paradox's TemPad to escape and dig up Logan's grave, which brings us back to the opening sequence. When he fails to resurrect Logan, Wade uses the TemPad to travel across the multiverse in an attempt to find a Variant of Logan in order to save his timeline, but locating the right Logan proves problematical for Deadpool.

After crossing paths with numerous Logan variants across numerous timelines, Wade comes across one in a bar knocking back whisky like it's going out of fashion and he feels this one fits the bill. He takes this one back to the TVA, where he learns that this particular Logan (Hugh Jackman) is considered the worst Wolverine in the multiverse. After an argument, during which Wade learns that Paradox is acting without the knowledge of his superiors, Paradox prunes Wade and Logan into the Void. 

There, Wade and Logan fight before they and Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) of The Fantastic Four are captured and taken to Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), the twin sister of X-Men leader Charles Xavier. Cassandra, who was pruned as an infant but made a deal with the TVA to stay willingly in the Void, kills Johnny and leaves Wade and Logan to be consumed by Alioth (a cloud-like, matter-consuming entity which lives in the Void and guards the Citadel at the End of Time), although they successfully manage to escape. 

Logan and Wade meet a variant of Wade called 'Nicepool', who gives them a beat up old Honda Odyssey  and points them to the Void's borderlands, where the resistance against Cassandra is located. However, en route Logan chastises Wade for hiding the fact that he is unable to fix Logan's timeline, leading to a fight that leaves them both unconscious. Laura aka X-23 (Dafne Keen) drives them to the borderlands, where they meet resistance members Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner), Eric Brooks aka Blade (Wesley Snipes) and Remy LeBeau aka Gambit (Channing Tatum). Wade calls them the 'Others' and proposes an alliance to fight Cassandra. Logan refuses to cooperate, but eventually relents after a conversation with Laura about his inability to save the X-Men in his universe. 

Wade, Logan, and the Others go to confront Cassandra, and manage to block her powers by placing Juggernaut's telepathic blocking helmet on her head. However, Cassandra is betrayed and shot several times in the stomach by her henchman Pyro (Aaron Stanford) acting on behalf of Paradox. Logan convinces Wade to remove the helmet which he does reluctantly so allowing Cassandra to self heal and open a portal back to Wade's timeline, which he and Logan jump through. 

Arriving back on on Earth-10005, Wade and Logan come across an army of Deadpools all transported in from the Void and all intent on dispensing with Wade and Logan. Needless to say Wade and Logan successfully thwart the army of Deadpool variants only for each and every one of them to rise up regenerated from their injuries. However, when Peter Wisdom emerges as his own Deadpool variant, the other variants all crowd around him and cheer, leaving Wade and Logan to continue with their business at hand. They soon find that Paradox has begun to use the Time Ripper. Cassandra, having learned of Paradox's plan from Pyro before executing him, arrives through another portal and kidnaps Paradox. She plans to take control of the Time Ripper to destroy all timelines, leaving only the Void, as revenge for Paradox's betrayal. Paradox tells Wade and Logan that disrupting the matter and anti-matter power flow of the Time Ripper would kill a person. Wade and Logan use both of their bodies as a conductor by sharing the burden, and destroy the Time Ripper, killing Cassandra. Paradox is then promptly arrested by Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) from the TVA. 

B-15 reveals that Wade and Logan's actions prevented Wade's timeline from deteriorating. Wade asks B-15 to free the Others from the Void, before asking if it is possible to rewrite the history of Logan's timeline. B-15 says it was his history that made Logan the hero needed to stop Cassandra and there is nothing to fix. The pair then go off to find something to eat at which time Wade asks Logan, what's next for him. Logan, says that he wishes to retire and live a peaceful life, but is taken by Wade to meet his friends, along with Laura. Upon Logan's encouragement, Wade reconnects with Vanessa.

With 'Deadpool & Wolverine' Director Shawn Levy has crafted a film that has clearly won over critics and audiences alike (for the most part anyway!) and this is particularly evidenced by its record breaking Box Office haul just ten days after release. The chemistry and mateship that exists between Reynolds and Jackman is plainly evident here, even if the plot is wafer thin and makes little sense - but that's hardly the point, as it's the sheer entertainment value derived from seeing these two characters riff off one another ad infinitum, the F-bombs that come thick and fast and the irreverence shown at almost every turn. With cameo appearances aplenty this film is sure to please MCU and X-Men fans as well as those harking back to a bygone era of superheroes whose TV and film time is spent or was never realised (think Elektra, Blade and Gambit here most notably). The action sequences, of which there are enough to fill two feature length films, come thick and fast and are very well executed, although I couldn't help thinking that with their regenerative powers what's the point behind shooting, stabbing, punching, kicking in all manner of creative ways if your opponent is going to get up and brush it all off when you're done. All of that said 'Deadpool & Wolverine' is well worth the price of your cinema entry and should be seen on the big screen.

'Deadpool & Wolverine' 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 : Thursday 25th July 2024.

The 33rd Woods Hole Film Festival kicks off on Saturday 27th July and runs through until Saturday 3rd August and is both an in-person and a virtual event. The festival is an eight day showcase of independent film featuring daily screenings, workshops, panel discussions, special events, master classes, parties, awards ceremony and more. Held annually from the last Saturday of July through to the first Saturday of August, it is the oldest independent film festival on Cape Cod and the Islands of the US state of Massachusetts. The festival programmes and events are designed for filmmakers and non-filmmakers alike, in fact anyone who is interested in the moving image.

The feature films being showcased take in the following titles :-

* 'Abroad' - from the USA and South Korea and Directed by Giovanni Fumu.

* 'African Giants' - from the USA and Directed by Omar S. Kamara.

* 'Agua Sala (Salt Water)' - from Colombia and Directed by Steven Morales Pineda.

* 'All Happy Families' - from the USA and Directed by Haroula Rose.

* 'Champions of the Golden Valley' - from the USA and Directed by Ben Sturgulewski.

* 'Crookedfinger' - from the USA and Directed by Julia Halperin and Jason Cortlund.

* 'Egghead & Twinkie' - from the USA and Directed by Sarah Kambe Holland.

* 'Hangdog' - from the USA and Directed by Matt Cascella.

* 'Him w/ Fast Food' - from the USA and Directed by Rebecca Wahls.

* 'If That Mockingbird Don't Sing' - from the USA and Directed by Sadie Bones.

* 'Katie's Mom' - from the USA and Directed by Tyrrell Shaffner.

* 'Lie of the Land' - from the UK and Ireland and Directed by John Carlin.

* 'Lost Nation' - from the USA and Directed by Jay Craven.

* 'Okie' - from the USA and Directed by Kate Cobb.

* 'Porcelain War' - from Australia, the USA and Ukraine and Directed by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev.

* 'Riley' - from the USA and Directed by Benjamin Howard.

* 'The Body Politic' - from the USA and Directed by Gabriel Francis and Paz Goodenough.

* 'The Compatriots' - from the USA and Directed by Spencer Cohen.

* 'The Rhapsodist' - from Greece and Directed by Nikolai Hamel.

* 'The Strangers Case' - from Jordan and Directed by Brandt Andersen.

* 'Three Birthdays' - from the USA and Directed by Jane Weinstock.

* 'We Strangers' - from the USA and Directed by Anu Valia.

For the summaries of the above named feature films, plus all the details of the documentaries, shorts and a whole heap of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://woodsholefilmfestival.org

Turning attention then back on this weeks hottest new movies to grace a cinema near you this week, we have a truly international selection kicking off with the third instalment in this long awaited franchise that sees two Superheroes, one recovering from his injuries and the other described as the Merc with a Mouth, teaming up to defeat a common enemy. Next up we have a British horror offering centring around a family living deep in the wilds of English woodland, where a young girl witnesses her father undergo a terrible transformation. This is followed by a Spanish drama of the buried memories of the Spanish Civil War being unearthed as a woman searches for the remains of her great grandfather and discovers the story of an idealistic young teacher from Tarragona. Then we turn to a Mexican film about a seven-year-old girl who spends the day at her grandfather's home, for a surprise party for her father, but as nightfall approaches, she comes to understand that her world is about to change dramatically. Next is a French comedy about two down-on-their-luck friends who set up a company running horse trekking tours in the French Pyrenees mountains, in order to turn around their fortunes; and closing out the week we have an Australian family animated movie about a young sloth who moves to the big city with her family, where they all must adapt to life in the fast lane, whilst remembering and honouring their familial and cultural practises.

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.

'DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE' (Rated MA15+) - this much hyped, eagerly awaited and highly anticipated American Superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics characters Deadpool and Wolverine, and is the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and a sequel to 2016's 'Deadpool' and 2018's 'Deadpool 2'. Those first two films in the franchise grossed a total US$1.57B at the worldwide Box Office off the back of a combined production budget of US$168M. Tim Miller Directed that first instalment with David Leitch on duty for the second, and Shawn Levy taking the helm on this third offering, who also gets a Co-Writer and a Co-Producer credit too.

Six years following the events of 'Deadpool 2' Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) lives a quiet life, having left his time as the mercenary Deadpool behind him, until the Time Variance Authority (TVA), a bureaucratic organisation that exists outside of time and space and monitors the timeline, pulls him into a new mission. With his home universe facing an existential threat, Wilson reluctantly joins an even more reluctant Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) on a mission that will change the history of the MCU. Also starring Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Morena Baccarin, Brianna Hildebrand, Jennifer Garner and Dafne Keen.

'THE BEAST WITHIN' (Rated CTC) - this UK horror film is Co-Written and Directed by Alexander J. Farrell in his debut feature film after helming a number of documentaries that are 'Lighthouse Lesvos' in 2016, 'Refugee' in 2018 and 'Making a Killing' in 2023. After a series of strange events leads her to question her family's isolated life on a fortified compound deep in the English wilds, 10-year-old Willow (Caoilinn Springall) follows her parents on one of their secret late-night treks to the heart of the ancient forest. But upon witnessing her father (Kit Harrington) undergo a terrible transformation, she too becomes ensnared by the dark ancestral secret they've tried so desperately to conceal. Also starring James Cosmo, Ashleigh Cummings, and Caylee Cowan.  

'THE TEACHER WHO PROMISED THE SEA' (Rated M) - is a Spanish historical drama film, is Directed by Patricia Font and is based on the book by Francesc Escribano. The film traces the story of Catalan teacher Antoni Benaiges (Enric Auquer), destined in 1935 to a small village in the province of Burgos (introducing innovative and inspiring teaching methods from France among the children before being murdered by Falangists during the Civil War), as well as the present-day story of Ariadna (Laia Costa), searching for her great-grandfather, who disappeared during the Spanish Civil War. The film saw its World Premiere screening in late October last year at the Valladolid International Film Festival, has generated positive critical acclaim and has so far grossed €1.7M.

'TOTEM' (Rated M) - this Mexican, Danish and French Co-Production is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by the Mexican Lila Aviles and is her second feature film following her 2018 debut with 'The Chambermaid'. This film was entered into the main competition at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival, where it saw its World Premiere screening and went onto win the Ecumenical Award for Best Film, and it was also selected for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at this years awards ceremony. Here then, Sol (Naima Senties), a seven-year-old girl, goes to her grandfather's home, where her aunts Nuri (Montserrat Maranon) and Alejandra (Marisol Gase) are throwing a birthday party for her father. It is probably his last, so in a sense it is also a farewell ceremony. With the onset of dusk, an unfamiliar and unrestrained atmosphere takes over, breaking the family bonds. For Sol, the world is about to change as she learns the essence of letting go and feels the breath of life. 'Totem' has garnered universal critical acclaim and has so far grossed just US$165K, and has collected twenty wins and a further forty-four nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit.

'PETAOUCHNOK' (Rated M) - aka 'Wilderness Therapy' is a French comedy offering Co-Written and Directed by Edouard Deluc whose first feature film was 'Welcome to Argentina' in 2012, and which he followed up in 2017 with 'Gauguin : Voyage to Tahiti' with Vincent Cassel in the title role. Deep in the Pyrenees, two close friends, Ludo (Pio Marmai) and Richard (Philippe Rebbot), who have hit rock bottom have the idea of the century - to pull themselves out of their misery, they will launch a horse trekking tour, a voyage through the mountains for tourists in search of nature, silence and adventure. What could possibly go wrong??? 

'THE SLOTH LANE' (Rated PG) - this Australian animated family adventure film is Directed by Tania Vincent and Ricard Cusso and Co-Written by Tania Vincent too. The storyline here is that 12-year-old sloth Laura (voiced by Teo Vergara) is devastated when a big storm destroys her family’s restaurant and forces them to relocate from the peaceful countryside to the big city. The sloths take only their prized family recipe book with them – and an old van. They open a food truck, and soon business is booming. There's just one problem. Famous entrepreneur Dotti Pace (voiced by Leslie Jones) – a cheetah with big ambitions and a failing fast-food chain – is determined to buy their family business. When the sloths decline to sell, Dotti resorts to nefarious tactics to steal their family legacy. Can Laura stop her before it’s too late? 

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 12th August 2021.

This year the 74th Locarno Film Festival runs from 4th through until 14th August. Throughout its 73-year history, the festival has occupied a unique position in the landscape of the major film festivals. Every August, for eleven days the Swiss-Italian town of Locarno, right in the heart of Europe, becomes the world capital of auteur cinema. The official website reads : 'thousands of film fans and industry professionals meet here every summer to share their thirst for new discoveries and a passion for cinema in all its diversity. In Locarno they find a quality program, rich, eclectic, surprising, and where emerging talent rubs shoulders with prestigious guests'. Further, 'with eleven sections, three competitions and twenty awards, quality and variety are key. This is the framework of a Festival that explores cinema from every perspective, to discover in the present the filmmakers and films destined to have a future'. The main competition is the Concorso internazionale which features works shown primarily as World Premier screenings, coming from all around the world and competing for the prestigious Pardo d’oro (Golden Leopard). Showcasing established auteurs alongside the pleasure of discovery, storytelling and innovation, the Concorso internazionale is an open, inclusive place, which aims to mark the new territories of cinematic art. The Opening Night film was 'Beckett' Directed by Ferdinando Cito Filomarino and starring John David Washington, Boyd Holbrook, Vicky Krieps and Alicia Vikander due to be released on Netflix on 13th August. 

This year competing for the Concorso internazionale, the following prizes are awarded : the Golden Leopard being the grand prize of the festival of the City of Locarno for Best Film. The Special Jury Prize; the Pardo for Best Direction; and the Pardo for Best Actor and Best Actress are the other awards given in this section. There are seventeen films in competition within this section, with American Screenwriter, Director and Producer, Eliza Hittman serving as Jury President this year, those being :-

* 'After Blue' from France and Written and Directed by Bertrand Mandico in his second feature film set on a distant planet terrorised by a vicious killer. 

* 'Cop Secret' from Iceland and Directed and Co-Written by Hannes Thor Halldorsson in his debut feature film about a closeted undercover policeman who falls in love with his new partner.

* 'Gerda' from Russia and Directed by Natalya Kudryashova in her second feature film and is about a troubled young woman who is visited by a strange apparition. 

* 'The Giants' from Italy and Co-Written, Directed, Produced, Edited, lensed and stars Bonifacio Angius in his third feature film which follows a group of old friends who get together in a remote country house.

* 'Heavens Above' is a multi-national production Directed, Written and Co-Produced by the Serbian film maker Srdjan Dragojevic who here presents three stories about miracles that happen to individuals living in a post-communist society relearning Christianity after fifty years of atheism. 

* 'Ju-ju Stories' from Nigeria and France and Written and Directed by CJ ‘Fiery’ Obasi, Abba T. Makama, Michael Omonua who together form Nigerian new wave cinema collective 'Surreal16'. Their film is an anthology exploring Nigerian folklore and urban legend.

* 'Luzifer' from Austria and Written and Directed by Peter Brunner here tells the story inspired by real events, of a man whose remote Alpine home is threatened by a tourist development.

* 'Medea' from Russia and Directed and Co-Produced by Alexander Zeldovich here the filmmaker transposes the titular classic Greek tragedy to contemporary Moscow, as jaded members of the city’s elite find a way to restore their youthful vigour.

* 'A New Old Play' from Hong Kong and France this feature film is Written, Directed and Edited by Qiu Jiongjiong who here explores 20th-Century China’s tumultuous history through the memories of a dying theatre clown as he prepares to enter the afterlife.

* 'The Odd-Job Men' from Spain and Directed, Co-Written and Co-Edited by Neus Ballus in her third film making offering follows three men, all non-actors playing themselves, over six days at a small plumbing and electrical company in Barcelona, as a young Moroccan apprentice must win over his experienced colleagues.

* 'Petite Solange' from France and Directed and Written by Axelle Ropert comes a story of a sensitive twelve-year-old girl who is rocked by her parent’s failing marriage.

* 'The Sacred Spirit' from Spain, France and Turkey and Written and Directed by Chema Garcia Ibarra in his feature film making debut tells the story of a ufology association whose beloved leader dies unexpectedly.

* 'Secret Name' from France and is Directed and Co-Written by Aurelia Georges in her third feature film offering about a WWI nurse who assumes the identity of a deceased wealthy woman.

* 'Soul Of A Beast' from Switzerland and Directed, Written, Co-Produced, Co-Edited and jointly lensed by Lorenz Merz, this film follows a young father who falls in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.

* 'The River' from Lebanon, France, Germany and Qatar and Directed and Written by Ghassan Salhab sees a couple reuniting after a long separation who take refuge on a mountain when war breaks out in Lebanon.

* 'Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash' from Indonesia, Singapore and Germany and Directed by Edwin tells the tale of a tough Javanese fighter struggling to deal with his sexual impotence.

* 'Zeroes And Ones' from Italy, Germany and the USA and Directed by Abel Ferrara and sees Ethan Hawke playing a soldier navigating the world after a post-apocalyptic siege.

American Screenwriter, Director, Producer and Actor John Landis will be awarded the Leopard of Honour Award for lifetime achievement on 13th August. For the other competitions - 'Filmmakers of the Present', 'Leopards of Tomorrow', 'First Feature' and the 'National Competition', and the winners in each category, you can visit the official website at : https://www.locarnofestival.ch/

With Greater Sydney, where I live, still in COVID lockdown for another two weeks ending (at this stage) on Friday 27th August, this 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 so we kick off this weeks latest new releases with a film about an oil working father who travels from Oklahoma to France to help his estranged daughter, who has been in prison for four years for a murder she claims she didn't commit. We then have a Sci-Fi action comedy offering about a bank teller who realises he is a background character in an open world video game called Free City that will soon go offline. This is followed up by an action thriller set after a remote diamond mine collapses in far northern Canada, with ‘big-rig’ ice road driver having to lead an impossible rescue mission over a frozen sea to save the trapped miners. And closing out the week we turn to a French comedy about a young man who decides to make his dream of becoming Miss France come true.

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 week ahead. 

'STILLWATER' (Rated M) - is an American crime drama film Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Tom McCarthy whose feature film making debut came in 2003 with 'The Station Agent' which he followed up with 'The Visitor', 'Win Win', 'The Cobbler' and the multi-award winning 'Spotlight' in 2015. All up McCarthy has eight Directorial credits to his name, eleven as Writer, seven as Producer and forty-two as Actor, having collected seventy-seven award wins along the way and another ninety-nine nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. This film saw its World Premier screening at this years Cannes Film Festival in early July where it received an eight minute standing ovation having previously been scheduled for release in early November last year only to be scuppered by the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was released Stateside two weeks ago now, has so far taken US$10.5M at the Box Office from a production budget of US$20M, is released this week in Australia and has garnered generally positive Critical acclaim.

An oil worker from Stillwater, Oklahoma Bill Baker (Matt Damon) travels from his home State to Marseille, France to visit his estranged daughter Allison (Abigail Breslin) who was imprisoned four years ago for a murder she claims she did not commit. Allison seizes on a new tip that could acquit her and presses Bill to engage her legal team headed up by defence lawyer Leparq (Ann Le Ny). But Bill eager to prove his worth and regain his daughters trust, takes matters into his own hands. Confronted by language barriers, cultural differences, and a complicated legal system until he meets a local Virginie (Camille Cottin), and mother to eight-year-old Maya (Lilou Siauvaud) who offers to lend assistance in return for a favour he helped her out with. Together, this unlikely friendship begin a journey of discovery, truth, love and liberation. Also starring Deanna Dunagan and William Nadylam.

'FREE GUY' (Rated M) - this American Sci-Fi action comedy film is Directed by the Canadian film maker, Producer and Actor Shawn Levy whose previous Directorial outings take in the likes of 'Big Fat Liar' in 2002, 'Cheaper by the Dozen' in 2003, 'The Pink Panther' in 2006, the three 'Night at the Museum' films in 2006, 2009 and 2014, 'Real Steel' in 2011 and 'This Is Where I Leave You' in 2014. He has also Directed two episodes in each of the three seasons of Netflix's 'Stranger Things'. This film was initially scheduled to be released in early July 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then moved to mid-December 2020, and then a month out from that date it was removed from its upcoming release schedule until further notice, before being moved to 21st May this year with a final release date settled on for this week in the US and Australia. And so here, in the open world video game 'Free City', Guy (Ryan Reynolds) is a non-player character working as a bank teller. Thanks to a program developed by programmers Millie (Jodie Comer) and Keys (Joe Keery) inserted into Free City by the publisher Antoine (Taika Waititi), Guy becomes self-aware of his world being a video game, and takes steps to make himself the hero, creating a race against time to save the game before the developers can shut it down. Also starring Lil Rel Howery, with cameo appearances by Hugh Jackman, John Krasinski, Tina Fey and Dwayne Johnson. 

'THE ICE ROAD' (Rated M) - is an American action thriller Written and Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh whose previous film making credits take in his big screen debut with 'The Punisher' in 2004, then 'Welcome to the Jungle' in 2007 and 'Kill the Irishman' in 2011. This is his first film since his 2011 offering. The film was released by Netflix in the US and on Amazon Prime Video in the UK in late June, goes on a cinema release from this week in Australia and the film has received mixed critical Reviews having taken US$1.2M at the Box Office so far. After a remote diamond mine collapses in the far northern regions of Manitoba, Canada, an ice driver Mike McGann (Liam Neeson) leads an implausible rescue mission over a frozen sea to save the lives of twenty-six trapped miners despite thawing waters and a threat they never saw coming. Also starring Laurence Fishburne, Marcus Thomas, Holt McCallany, Martin Sensmeier, Benjamin Walker and Amber Midthunder.

'MISS' (Rated M) - is a French comedy film Co-Written and Directed by Ruben Alves, that was first released in its native France at the Alpe d'Huez International Comedy Film Festival in mid-January 2020 before its delayed national release there in late October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It now gets a limited run here in Australia. Here then, ever since childhood Alex (Alexandre Wetter) had wanted to enter the annual Miss France beauty pageant, despite being a boy. However, adolescence was not kind and Alex suffered huge blows to his self-esteem. When an unexpected encounter allows Alex to once more pursue his dreams, he does everything he can to transcend the traditional binary gender definitions that threaten to hold him back. Also starring Isabelle Nanty, Pascale Arbillot and Thibault di Montalembert. Ruben Alves had previously Written, Directed and starred in the 2013 feature 'The Gilded Cage'.

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 coming week, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-