What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 1st June 2017

The 70th annual Cannes Film Festival has just wrapped closing twelve days of film extravaganza down on the French Riviera running from 17th until 28th May inclusive. Spanish film Director and Screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar was the President of the Jury for the Festival and Italian Actress Monica Bellucci hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. 'Ismael's Ghosts' by French Director Arnaud Desplechin, was the opening film for the Festival, and 'The Square' by Swedish Director Ruben Ostlund, was the closing film.

This year there were nineteen films in Official Competition all competing for the much prized Palme d'Or. Among those were : 'In the Fade' by Director Faith Akin and starring Diane Kruger; 'The Meyerowitz Stories' Directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson; 'Okja' by Director Bong Joon-ho and starring Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Dano; 'The Beguiled' by Director Sofia Coppola and starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning; 'Wonderstruck' by Director Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams; 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' by Director Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman and Alicia Silverstone; 'You Were Never Really Here' by Director Lynne Ramsay and starring Joaquin Phoenix; 'Good Time' by Ben and Josh Safdie and starring Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Jason Leigh; 'Happy End' by Director Michael Haneke and starring Isabelle Huppert; and competition winner of the Palme d'Or 'The Square' Directed by Ruben Ostlund and starring Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West and Claes Bang.

In official competition the other winners and grinners were : Grand Prix awarded to French drama film '120 Beats Per Minute' by Director Robin Campillo; Best Director awarded to Sofia Coppola for 'The Beguiled'; Best Actress awarded to Diane Kruger for 'In the Fade'; Best Actor awarded to Joaquin Phoenix for 'You Were Never Really Here'; Best Screenplay awarded to Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou for 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' and Lynne Ramsay for 'You Were Never Really Here'. Nicole Kidman was awarded a special 70th Anniversary Prize, had three films in competition this year, and a special 70th anniversary screening of Jane Campion's mystery television drama series 'Top of the Lake : China Girl' being the second season of the acclaimed series which Kidman stars in and which goes to air in September this year. Kidman was also unofficially crowned this years 'Queen of Cannes'.

Coming back down to Earth, this week there are just three new release films coming to your local multiplex or independent theatre. We kick off with this eagerly awaited fourth film in this Extended Universe for one particular female Superhero that we have seen before on the big screen just last year, but here she gets her very own origin story and what a whip cracking yarn it promises to be. We then move to bronzed babes and buffed bodies patrolling the beach, saving lives and catching crims in this big screen feature film based on a popular long running television series of the nineties, before wrapping up this week with a late '70's story of one middle aged Mum bringing up her young teenage lad with the help of her two 'adopted' and much younger mother figure friends.

When you have sat through your film entertainment of choice sometime somewhere in the coming seven days, be reminded to share your thoughts with your like minded cinephiles here at Odeon Online. Simply leave your relevant, concise and pertinent views, opinions and observations of any of the three movies as Previewed below, or those as Reviewed and Previewed between these humble pages previously, in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you as always, and meanwhile, enjoy your filmic experience.

'WONDER WOMAN' (Rated M) - the beginnings of the DC Comics Superhero known as 'Wonder Woman' first appeared in the October 1941 edition of All Star Comics #8 and her origin story tells us that she was sculpted from clay by her mother Queen Hippolyta and given life by Aphrodite, along with superhuman powers as gifts by the Greek Gods. The character is a founding member of the Justice League, demigoddess, and warrior princess of the Amazonian people. In her homeland, she is Princess Diana of Themyscira, and outside of it, she is known by her civilian identity Diana Prince. And so now 'Wonder Woman' gets her very own feature length stand alone movie, having taken seventy years to first appear in 2016's 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' although by then Diana Prince was a fully formed bona fide Superhero. This stand alone feature Directed by Patty Jenkins takes us back one hundred years or so to the origins of the character at the time of the First World War, albeit she is an immortal warrior over five thousand years old. The film cost US$120M to make, is released in the US and China this week too, and is the first Superhero film to be Directed by a woman with a female protagonist. 'Wonder Woman' is the fourth film in the DC Extended Universe after 'Man of Steel', the aforementioned 'Batman v. Superman : Dawn of Justice' and 'Suicide Squad'.

Set at about the time of the First World War, the Amazon princess Diana (Gal Gadot), who is living on the remote island of Themyscira, meets American military pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) when he washes ashore having crashed his aircraft somewhere offshore. After learning from him about the ongoing events of World War I, and the huge conflict that is erupting around the world, she leaves her home for the first time, venturing to London and the battlefields of Europe to bring an early end to the war, and in so doing becomes 'Wonder Woman' realising her full powers and her full potential. Also starring Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta; Robin Wright as General Antiope, the sister of Hippolyta and Diana's aunt; David Thewlis as Ares, the treacherous son of Zeus and half-brother of Diana; and Danny Huston as General Erich Ludendorff, an ambitious and iron fisted general of the German Army. The film is Co-Prodiced by Zack and Deborah Snyder and the story was Co-Written by Zack Snyder. Wonder Woman will also be back in this November's release of 'Justice League'.

'BAYWATCH' (Rated MA15+) - this film is based on the hugely popular and internationally successful American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson that ran for eleven series over 242 episodes from 1991 through until 2001. The show led to a spin-off, 'Baywatch Nights' from 1995 to 1997 over two seasons, and three direct to video films: 'Baywatch the Movie : Forbidden Paradise' in 1995; its sequel 'Baywatch : White Thunder at Glacier Bay' in 1998; and 2003 reunion film 'Baywatch : Hawaiian Wedding'. Now in 2017 and at a budgeted US$69M 'Baywatch' the big screen feature film is upon us. Directed by Seth Gordon, and starring Dwayne Johnson as Mitch Buchannon (formerly played by Daivid Hasselhoff) the overzealous, keen, athletic leader of an elite group of lifeguards patrolling Emerald Bay in Florida, and Zac Efron as  Matt Brody, a disgraced former Olympic swimmer turned wannabe lifeguard who is seen as a PR lifeline to convince the city not to further cut its funding to the Baywatch squad. At the upcoming try-outs for new lifeguard positions, Matt Brody is one of three hopefuls but he soon clashes with headstrong Mitch Buchannon. However, the pair must soon put there differences aside when drugs, the murder of a city dignitary, and an unscrupulous business woman threaten the local Baywatch community. Also starring Kelly Rohrbach as C.J. Parker (formerly played by Pamela Anderson). The film has so far taken US$29M since its release in the US on 25th May and has received less than positive press so far.
 
'20th CENTURY WOMEN' (Rated M) - Mike Mills wrote and Directed this semi-autobiographical comedy drama film for just US$7M which was released Stateside on 28th December 2016 and has so far recovered US$6M. The film has won ten awards and been nominated for a further 68 including Best Original Screenplay at this years Academy Awards and two Golden Globe nods for Best Motion Picture and Best Actress for Annette Benning. Set in Santa Barbara in Southern California in 1979, this film tells the story of Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) a young teenager and his relationship with his determined single mid-fifty year old mother Dorothea Fields (Annette Benning). She enlists the help and support of household lodger Abbie (Greta Gerwig) a free spirited new wave artist and Julie (Elle Fanning) a street smart and overly confident neighbour to aid in Jamie's upbringing and introduction to the world at a time of cultural change and rebellion. Also starring Billy Crudup, the film has received positive Reviews from Critics.

Three films this week all with women at the core - 'Wonder Woman', '20th Century Women' and 'Baywatch' featuring scantily clad swimsuit wearing lifesaving babes that any self respecting guy would want their life saved by, no doubt! Whatever your chosen realm of movie escapism is this week, be sure to share your thoughts with us here afterwards, and in the meantime, I'll see you somewhere, sometime, in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 27th August 2015.

A few weeks ago I reported on a certain well subscribed movie magazine available here in Australia and other parts of the world, that had released its 'Top 300 Greatest Movies of all Time' and what a list it was too. More recently that same magazine (which will still remain nameless) has issued its 'Top 100 Greatest Characters of all Time' which I took great delight in musing over. Of those characters I have seen 95 of them upon the big screen and seen 186 of the films those characters have appeared in, bearing in mind that some of those characters appear in multiple films of the same franchise ('Star Wars', 'The Hobbit', 'LOTR', 'Batman', 'Mission:Impossible' etc) and there are several characters listed from those same films (Han Solo/Yoda, Bilbo Baggins/Gandalf, The Terminator/Sarah Connor etc.) All that said there are also some notable exclusions that are conspicuous by their absence - Max Rockatansky, Jason Bourne, John Rambo, Freddy Kruger, Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees to name but a few that have enjoyed huge Box Office success, a place in popular culture, and have been going strong for years! As voted by the readership I guess you have to draw the line somewhere and just how many can you squeeze into 'The Top 100' . . . well, one hundred I guess!

Turning attention then to this week we have seven new films gracing your big screen multiplexes in the week ahead that offer mostly adult fare from just about every genre. First up there is a horror chiller thriller from a multi-talented and multi-tasking Aussie guy who just keeps surprising us all; then a rock & roll redemption offering that gives another A-Lister the chance to belt out a tune on her favourite axe; a much acclaimed Aussie love story that ended in tragedy but lives on in page, stage and now screen; a reboot of the screwball comedies of the 60's & 70's by a guy who was in & around the screwball comedies of the 60's & 70's; a comedy horror thriller that made an Aussie icon out of an outback manic serial killer; a doco from New York about a disconnected New York family experiencing New York for the first time in their teenage lives; and finally an aspiring DJ spinning the decks looking for the big time.

When you have returned from you movie of choice and open up this, your favourite movie Blog, drop a Comment, an observation and your own critique in the Comments section below this or any other Post, or alternatively leave a message via e-mail - it will be good to hear your views and opinions. Enjoy your film.

THE GIFT (Rated M) - He's a talented New South Welshman, and Aussie Joel Edgerton has Written, Produced, Directed and Stars in his latest offering 'The Gift' coming to our screens in the week ahead. Released about a month ago Stateside and made for just US$5M it has so far grossed US$34M and is already garnering much critical praise for Edgerton's writing and his Directorial prowess - and this is his debut at the latter.

The story surrounds Simon (Jason Bateman) and his wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall) starting a new life with new jobs, hew home, new neighbourhood and all the newness that goes with it. While out shopping one day for home furnishings they bump into Gordo (Joel Edgerton) an old school mate from way back in the day who is just a little creepy and is clearly harbouring some angst. A series of unintentional encounters with Gordo and the arrival of several mystery gifts at Simon & Robyn's doorstep prove troubling and unsettling all leading to the reveal of a big secret between Gordo and Simon that has remained hidden for 20 or so years. This leads Robyn to question Simon about past events, his association with Gordo, and what does she really know about her husband, and what exactly is he keeping from her. With events spiralling out of control and their relationship becoming more & more strained as a result of Gordo's unwelcome intervention, where will this all end, and how?

RICKI AND THE FLASH (Rated PG) - this comedy drama has some impressive credits behind it - Jonathan Demme in the Directors chair, Diablo Cody on Writing duties, and Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Rick Springfield on Acting detail. Here Meryl Streep is Ricki Rendazzo an ageing wannabe rock star who abandoned her family with aspirations to make it big in Rock & Roll. Needless to say she never did and now plays a regular stint in her own small time band in a small town bar. She gets a chance to reconcile and redeem herself with her family and her ex-husband Pete (Kevin Kline) and their grown children, but after all this time can those wounds be healed, and can she turn her back on her band, what she loves, and her guitarist boyfriend Greg (Rick Springfield). Thinking Meryl Streep as an ageing Rock Star I can't help thinking Tom Cruise as Stacee Jacks in 'Rock of Ages'! One for Meryl Streep die hards methinks - although this is not the first time she has sung out on the big screen.

HOLDING THE MAN (Rated MA15+) - this film is based on the 1995 published memoir of the same name that was subsequently made into a very successful stage play in 2006 and now in 2015 has had the big screen treatment courtesy of Neil Armfield as Director. This film tells the true story of Australian Actor, Writer and Activist Timothy Conigrave (Ryan Corr) and his love over a fifteen year span for Australian Rules Football player John Caleo (Craig Scott). The two met at Melbourne's Xavier College in the mid-70's and the film follows the book exploring how their love for each other flourished despite their separation, disapproval, intimidation and in time their death from HIV - Caleo in early 1992 and Conigrave in late 1994. Also starring Guy Pearce, Anthony LaPaglia, Kerry Fox and Sarah Snook this is sure to pull at your heart strings and bring on the water works - pack your Kleenex!

SHE'S FUNNY THAT WAY (Rated M) - American Director, Writer, Producer, Actor, and Critic Peter Bogdanovich is still going strong at 76 and this week releases his attempt to resurrect the screwball comedies that many of us grew up with in the '60's & '70's. Here he has amassed Imogen Poots as Isabella Beatty an escort turned Broadway actress who gets it on with Theatre Director Owen Wilson as Arnold Albertson despite the fact that his wife Kathryn Hahn as Delta Simmons is starring in his new play. She meanwhile is getting it on with playwright Josh (Will Forte) who is also dating her therapist Jane Claremont (Jennifer Anniston) whose mother Vivian (Joanna Lumley) is in rehab in Tuscany and Actor Seth Gilbert (Rhys Iffans) is secretly in love with Delta - his co-star in the new play. Complicated, confused - you should be, and it's gonna get worse before it unravels at the end  - see what you make of it!

STALKHER (MA15+) - It's hardly surprising that John Jarrett would sign up to a move called 'StalkHer' given his pedigree with 'Wolf Creek', but here he is not slicing & dicing, slashing and crashing his way through unsuspecting victims as Mick Taylor, but instead here he is Jack working in the same hospital as Emily where she is a nurse and the subject of his obsession. He secretly stalks her but things come to a head when he decides to forcibly break into her home and take what he wants by force. But, little does he know that Emily is more. much more, than he bargained for and as the tables are turned and the hunter becomes the hunted. What then does the night hold in store, and who will survive? This comedic horror thriller is Directed by John Jarrett and Kaarin Fairfax who also star as Jack and Emily respectively.

THE WOLFPACK (Rated M) - This is a true-life Documentary with a quirky difference Directed and Produced by Crystal Moselle who happened by chance upon a group of six odd looking brothers and their one sister while walking down First Avenue, in Manhattan. What could possibly be strange about walking down the street in New York I hear you ask - well, this motley looking band of brothers and a sister certainly grabbed her attention dressed as the Reservoir Dogs, and so she befriended them and then made a movie about their closeted lives. Growing up and locked up inside their Lower East Side apartment in Manhattan and home schooled for fourteen years the siblings learned everything they knew about the outside world through watching films. The Angulo family were confined to their four bedroom dwelling on the 16th floor of their apartment block, and owning the only key the father, Oscar, prohibited the children and their mother from venturing outside except on very special occasions that were closely monitored. In January 2010, 15 year old Makunda, ventured outside and took a walk on the wild side against her fathers wishes, after which they all decided it was time to go exploring. Intriguing, thought provoking and award winning, this won the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury US Documentary Prize when it aired in January this year.

WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Max Joseph, this film stars Zac Efron as Cole Carter - a 23 year old aspiring Hollywood DJ in the electronic dance music scene looking to hit the big time and move into music production. while partying hard by night, mixing the tunes by day, and working on that one tune that is gonna be a global dance sensation! Luck comes aknocking in the form of James Reed (Wes Bentley) a DJ already reasonably well established and so Reed takes Cole under his wing and becomes his mentor. Needless to say the path to success does not always run smoothly and as Cole gets the hots for Reed's girlfriend Sophie (Emily Ratajkowski) putting at risk everything he has so far worked for, his new found friendship and the success he so desperately craves.

Big choice then this week with some comedy, drama, music, horror, thrills, chills and doco offerings to tease you at the end of Winter. Check out a film, enjoy the experience and share your thoughts (even if you didn't!).

See you at the Odeon!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 8th May 2014.

This week we have a veritable optical and aural feast for the senses as seven no less, new releases hit your local movie theatres to entice you out on a cool Winter evening and in front of a big screen. There is comedy, there is documentary, there is period piece, there is some drama and there is alternative - something it seems really for everyone . . . except the kids maybe, but fear not the Superheroes and teen flicks are still doing the rounds to keep them tempted!

So now that Winter is knocking on the door of a fading Autumn, get yourself out from in front of the small screen, and perch yourself instead in front of the big screen and enjoy the experience.

BAD NEIGHBOURS - so far in this franchise we have had 'Bad Lieutenant', 'Bad Boys', 'Bad Santa', 'Bad Teacher', 'Bad Grandpa' and now we have 'Bad Neighbours'! There's a lotta bad shit going down it must be said! That said, there is no franchise, and all of these movies have just one thing in common - 'Bad'! This stars Seth Rogen and Zac Efron as the duelling neighbours - the former married happily with very young child in tow, and the latter the frat boy with a six-pack who moves in next door intent on upsetting the suburban peace with wild parties, gorgeous girls, drugs, alcohol, loud music, pimped up cars and all manner of mayhem to be everything but neighbourly! The support comes in the shape of Rose Byrne, Dave Franco, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse and so it goes - this is the foundation of the film that moves along with various set pieces, jolly japes, gags & guffaw's and hilarity aplenty that is sure to go down a treat with your average 17 year old! On this basis it will probably go well - watch out for 'Bad Neighbours Too' in a couple of years!

CHEF - written by, directed and starring Jon Favreau who brought you so convincingly the 'Iron Man 1 & 2' instalments from the hugely successful franchise, and starring his stable mate Robert Downey Jr., with Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo with Scarlett Johansson and Sophia Vergara all adding seasoning and spice to this story. Favreau is fallen celebrity Chef (Carl Casper) who at the hands of restauranteur Dustin Hoffman finds himself jobless and worthless following a poor review from referred critic Oliver Platt. And so at the behest of ex-wife Sophia Vegara he is able to source a sad broken down past its use by date food truck via a good mate (RDJ) to save his career, give him some purpose, reestablish his reputation and rekindle the relationship with his 10 years old son who he takes on a culinary road trip in said food truck which is now fitted out, upgraded, refurbished to prepare, serve and sell Cuban street food. Sounds like a recipe for success - a voyage of discovery kneaded with emotion, drama, comedy and a generous sprinkling of fun. Yum!

SEDUCED AND ABANDONED - this has a limited release only and this doco-style offering will not be for everyone, unless like me you are a movie tragic! This is a movie about the movies and is an inside look at what it takes to get a film financed, produced, distributed and up on the big screen. No easy feat, despite the hundreds of movies released every year. This is an insightful film that has Director James Toback teaming up with Alec Baldwin as they talk to film financiers, Actors, Directors and attend festivals to bring you a no holds barred insiders view of an industry that ain't getting any easier and is getting more and more costly. All the while the two crusaders are pitching a faux movie to the studio execs, so that you can see on screen the pain that must be endured before the green light is switched on!

HEALING - written and directed by Craig Monahan this is the story of a prison inmate undergoing a rehab programme on a 'working farm' as he comes to the end of a long term sentence. In doing so he (Viktor played by Don Hany) comes across an injured eagle which he nurses back to health, and flight mode. Case worker Matt (Hugo Weaving) persuades the powers that be to allow the rehabilitating prisoners to rehabilitate injured game birds, and hence everyone is 'Healed'! This leaves me wondering just how many game birds can find themselves injured and in need of life support within the immediate vicinity of your average prison? Maybe more that we know! In between time there is prison tension, inmate drama, emotion and a good dose of healing hearts, minds and hands aplenty it seems. Or not!

THE DOUBLE - this looks a little art house, perhaps alternative, dark, moody and probably captivating. Directed by Richard Ayoade who hit the scene with sleeper hit 'Submarine' in 2010, this tells the story of introverted, shy & retiring white collar lad Simon James (played by Jesse Eisenberg) who harbours a secret crush on copy room girl Mia Wasikowska. Life goes on innocently until a new guy arrives in the office called James Simon (also played by Jesse Eisenberg) and who just happens to be the spitting image of Simon James - expect this guy is outgoing, confident, gregarious and successful and everything that his 'double' is not! Is this imagined, is it real, is Simon James going crazy, is James Simon out to steal his identity and his life? Confused, seeing double, finding it hard to distinguish one from t'other? You should be! You'll just have to check it out for yourself!

BELLE - set in 18th Century England this sees the true telling of an illegitimate mixed race daughter Dido Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) of a well-to-do Royal Navy Admiral being raised by her gentrified aristocratic great uncle played by Tom Wilkinson, and in growing up in such well connected surroundings actively joins the cause to abolish English slavery with the aid and support of a young romantic love interest Vicar's son. Starring the likes of Matthew Goode, Emily Watson and Miranda Richardson also.

A CASTLE IN ITALY - a French/Italian offering to round off the weeks new releases, with subtitles, this family drama unfolds as a wealthy aristocratic clan implode as a result of terminal illness, desperation for motherhood, and the impending loss of the wealth and riches the family has depended on for so long. Complex characters showing varying signs of neurosis, anxiety, love, loss, faith, hope and fear all mashed up with comedic moments that might leave you laughing, crying or bewildered . . . or all three! Directed, written, and starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.

Plenty to choose from this week with seven new filmic offerings to get you out to your local multiplex or local independent. When you've sat, watched and listened and chewed on your popcorn let me know your thoughts! Enjoy the movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-