What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th November 2022.

The second edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival runs this year from Thursday 1st December through until Saturday 10th December and is held in Jeddah in western Saudi Arabia. The RSIFF is for film lovers, filmmakers, and the global film industry. The Red Sea Film Foundation is an independent, non-profit organisation created to support the film industry in Saudi Arabia in the production and distribution of films, as well as education on cinema. The Foundation’s initiatives support the ambitious plans for the Kingdom in the entertainment industries, with its pillars of a vibrant society, an ambitious nation and a thriving economy. This festival is a unique and powerful platform for celebrating film, connecting cultures, and expanding our horizons. Much more than a film-watching event - it is a diverse and comprehensive platform that celebrates every facet of filmmaking. These ideas of celebration, connection, and cultural exchange made their way into this year’s theme : 'FILM IS EVERYTHING'. A bold, cinematic, progressive and cultural ten-day festival for film lovers, storytellers, and industry professionals from around the globe, so the official website reads.

The Opening Night Gala film presentation is 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' Directed by Shekhar Kapur and stars Lily James and Shazad Latif in the story of two people from different cultures who fall in love. The Closing Night film is Khaled Fahd’s Saudi feature 'Valley Road', about a man from a Saudi village who is believed to have a disability; and only his sister recognises his difference is what elevates him.

The Festival is divided into eleven sections, with each programme expertly curated by a team of internationally renowned programmers, delivering the best in Arab and world cinema, television, and VR to engaged Saudi and global audiences. The Red Sea Competition values all cinematic forms, from narrative to animation and documentary, featuring works from Asia and Africa, including the Arab world. It presents challenging cinematic works with innovative filmmaking and great storytelling by emerging and established voices, celebrated with generous prizes awarded by an international jury. There are fourteen feature films in competition, these being :-

* 'A Childless Village' - from Iran and Directed by Reza Jamali. Kazem, an elderly film-maker, tried to shoot a documentary twenty years before this film takes place in a remote Azeri village where the women, who were all childless, were presumed to be sterile. His film was never completed, and the village women, anxious to preserve their dignity, burnt the footage. Two decades later, when it is established that it is the men who were and are infertile, Kazem decides to go back with his camera.

* 'A Summer in Boujad' - from Morocco, France and Belgium and Directed by Omar Mouldouira. Seven years after the death of his mother, thirteen-year-old Karim has left Paris for Morocco with his father Messaoud, who has remarried and decided to return to his homeland. After a year at a French boarding school in Casablanca, Karim joins the newly blended family – including his new half-brother, stepmother and his father’s mother-in-law - for the summer in Boujad, a small town in central Morocco.

* 'Before Now and Then' - from Indonesia and Directed by Kamila Andini. Set in West Java, Nana finds refuge in a second marriage after losing her family to war in the 1940's. Then, she befriends her second husband's mistress, Ino, together seeking for the meaning of freedom.

* 'Dirty Difficult Dangerous' - from France, Italy, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Directed by Wissam Charaf. Set in Beirut, Lebanon, an impossible love story unfolds between an Ethiopian housemaid and a Syrian refugee whose body is undergoing mysterious changes.

* 'Hanging Gardens' - from Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, UK and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji. When a young Iraqi rubbish picker rescues an American sex doll from the Baghdad dumps, he crosses into a perilous red zone, where friends become enemies and nothing is certain in an explosive mix of love, war and madness.

* 'Harka' - from Tunisia, France and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Lotfy Nathan. Ali is barely making a living selling contraband gasoline. The young impoverished Tunisian all of a sudden finds himself in charge of his two sisters following the death of his father. 

* 'Mountain Onion' - from Kazakhstan and Directed by Eldar Shibanov. The story of the growing up of eleven-year-old Dzhabai, who sells mountain onions on the highway, and who finds his mother with his idol, a truck driver. He then goes off to a remote corner of China with his little sister for the so called Golden Viagra for his father, so that he can regain his position as the man of the family.

* 'Next Sohee' - from South Korea and Directed by July Jung. High school student Sohee starts a job training at a call centre, but she faces the pressure of greedy company only interested in their balance sheet, which ultimately leads to her death. Detective Oh Yu-jin, who has something in common with Sohee starts to follow the clues to reveal the truth.

* 'Nezouh' - from the UK, Syria and France and Directed by Soudade Kaadan. Even as bombs fall on Damascus, Mutaz refuses to flee to the uncertain life of a refugee. His wife, Hala, and daughter, Zeina, must make the choice whether to stay or leave.

* 'Our Lady of the Chinese Shop' - from Angola and Directed by Ery Claver. When a Chinese merchant brings to a neighbourhood of Luanda a peculiar holy plastic figure of Our Lady, a mourning mother will seek peace, a committed barber starts a new cult and a stray kid will look for revenge for his lost friend.

* 'Raven Song' - from Saudi Arabia and Directed by Mohamed Al-Salman. At the age of thirty, Nasser is drifting, convinced his father doesn't understand him. His life comes into sharp focus, however, when he is diagnosed with a brain tumour. At the same time, he meets and becomes infatuated with a striking but enigmatic young woman and must make some rapid decisions before he undergoes risky neurosurgery.

* 'Shimoni' - from Kenya and Directed by Angela Wanjiku Wamai. A teacher newly released from prison after seven years renegotiates the confines of the physical world while forced to face his nightmare in the flesh.

* 'The Last Queen' - from Algeria, France and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Damien Ounouri and Adila Bendimerad. In 1516, Algerian King Salim Toumi accepted the help of feared pirate Aroudj Barbarossa to liberate Algiers from Spanish occupation, only to die in mysterious circumstances once the city was secure. The next day, Barbarossa proposed marriage to Salim's Queen Zaphira, having already vowed to his crew that he intended to take Salim's palace, horse and wife. Zaphira, who may or may not have existed but, whose passion and determination became the stuff of legend - proved more than a match for him.

* 'Within Sand' - from Saudi Arabia and Directed by Mohammed Alatawi. When 'Snam' gets ambushed by a group of thieves and leave him for dead, he finds himself lost in the Saudi desert. While his pregnant wife, Halla is about to give birth to their first child, he finds himself being followed by a lone wolf.

For the Short Film Competition details and the other programme strands, plus a whole lot more besides, you can go to the official website at : https://redseafilmfest.com/en/

Turning attention back to this weeks eight new release movies gracing a big screen Odeon near you, we kick start with a murder mystery that is a stand alone sequel to a successful 2019 film that sees our famed Southern US detective traveling to a Greek island for his latest case. Then we have a young couple who travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. Next up is a story of first love between a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and an intense and disenfranchised drifter. This is followed by a historical telling of a Queen who in 1402 is ruling over Sweden, Norway and Denmark through her adopted son, but a conspiracy is in the making and the Queen finds herself in an impossible dilemma that could shatter her life's work. Following on we have a darker version of the classic children's fairy tale of a wooden puppet that transforms into a real living boy; before a story of a real estate agent, who after reaching a crossroads in her life, decides to trade in her career for one in the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. Then we turn to a cinephiles roller-coaster ride through the rise, fall and re-birth of projected film; before closing out the week with an animated action adventure offering that sees the legendary Clades family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the eight latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'GLASS ONION : A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY' (Rated M) - this American murder mystery film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rian Johnson whose previous film making credits take in his big screen debut with 'Brick' in 2005, then 'The Brothers Bloom' in 2008, 'Looper' in 2012, 'Star Wars : Episode VIII - The Last Jedi' in 2017 and 'Knives Out' in 2019, to which this film is a standalone sequel. This film had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September this year and is scheduled to have a one-week limited theatrical release from this week before its streaming release on 23rd December by Netflix. It has received positive reviews from critics and cost US$40M to produce.

Tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites his friends, including Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) for a 'murder mystery party' getaway on Glass Onion, his private Greek island. However, when someone turns up dead for real, Blanc must crack the case and discover who the killer is. Also starring Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jnr., Jessica Henwick, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Ethan Hawke, Natasha Lyonne, Hugh Grant, Yo-Yo Ma and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. 

'THE MENU' (Rated MA15+) - is an American black comedy horror film Directed by Mark Mylod whose prior feature film making efforts are his debut in 2002 with 'Ali G Indahouse', then 'The Big White' in 2005, with 'What's Your Number?' in 2011 being his last big screen offering before this one. In the meantime he has also Directed multiple episodes of 'The Royle Family', 'Entourage', 'Game of Thrones', 'Shameless' and 'Succession'. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September this year, before its release in the US last week and here in Australia this week. Here then, young couple Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) travel to a remote island to eat at Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant run by celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), who has prepared a lavish molecular gastronomy menu where food is treated as conceptual art, but his approach to cuisine has some shocking surprises for the wealthy guests. Also starring Hong Chau, Janet McTeer and John Leguizamo, it has received generally favourable reviews. 

'BONES AND ALL' (Rated MA15+) - this coming-of-age romantic cannibal road horror film is Directed by Luca Guadagnino whose previous film making credits take in the likes of his 1999 debut with 'The Protagonists', then 'I Am Love' in 2009, 'A Bigger Splash' in 2015, the much awarded and lauded 'Call Me By Your Name' in 2017 and 'Suspiria' in 2018. This film is based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis and saw its World Premier showcasing at at this years Venice International Film Festival in early September where it won the Silver Lion for Best Direction. This is a story of first love between Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee (Timothee Chalamet), an intense and disenfranchised drifter; a liberating road odyssey of two young people coming into their own, searching for identity and chasing beauty in a perilous world that cannot abide who they are. The film also stars Mark Rylance, Michael Stuhlbarg, Andre Holland, Chloe Sevigny and David Gordon Green, and has generated largely positive reviews. 

'MARGRETE : QUEEN OF THE NORTH' (Rated MA15+) - this Danish historical drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Charlotte Sieling whose previous feature film making efforts are 'Above the Street, Below the Water' in 2009 and 'The Man' in 2017. This film was one of the largest productions in the history of Danish cinema, enjoying the largest budget ever for a Danish-language feature film coming in at about US$10M. It premiered in its native Denmark in mid-September 2021 and has generated largely positive Reviews, but this has failed to make a dent in its Box Office takings, so far recovering just US$46K of its production budget. The year then is 1402. Queen Margrete (Trine Dyrholm) has achieved what no man has managed before. She has gathered Denmark, Norway and Sweden into a peace-oriented union, which she single-handedly rules through her young, adopted son, Erik (Morten Hee Andersen). The union is beset by enemies, however, and Margrete is therefore planning a marriage between Erik and an English princess. An alliance with England should secure the union's status as an emerging European power but a breathtaking conspiracy is under way that can tear Margrete and all she believes in apart. 

'GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO' (Rated M) - is a stop-motion animated musical fantasy film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Guillermo Del Toro with Mark Gustafson sharing the Director credit, and is based on the 1883 Italian novel 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' by Carlo Collodi. The film saw its World Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in mid-October this year, was released in select cinemas in the US on 9th November, before its streaming release on 9th December by Netflix, cost US$35M to produce and has received universal critical acclaim. A wooden puppet, Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann) comes to life and dreams of becoming a real boy in 1930's Fascist Italy. When Pinocchio comes to life, however, he turns out not to be a nice boy but instead the opposite, causing mischief and playing mean tricks. But at its core, Pinocchio is a story of love and disobedience as Pinocchio struggles to live up to his father's expectations, learning the true meaning of life' Also starring the voice talents of Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Burn Gorman, Tim Blake Nelson and John Turturro.  

'SERIOUSLY RED' (Rated M) - this Australian drama film is Directed by Gracie Otto in her feature film making debut. Here, Red (Krew Boylan) is at a crossroads in her life. A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9-to-5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party's dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator. Red has to lose herself in order to find herself. Also starring Bobby Cannavale, Daniel Webber, Rose Byrne, Celeste Barber and Jean Kittson. 

'SPLICE HERE : A PROJECTED ODYSSEY' (Rated CTC) - is an Australian documentary film Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Robert Murphy. The film explores the single greatest change in the history of cinema - the digital shift from recording and projecting movies on film. Now ten years on from this momentous transition, film maker and projectionist Rob Murphy shares his personal journey to find out what has really happened to film. The journey starts in Australia and then expands geographically and thematically as Rob ventures into the projectionist underground, meeting the champions of projected film and lesser known heroes behind the scenes. We discover that the digital revolution has not just changed the way we see movies but is becoming a threat to how we will remember them.

'STRANGE WORLD' (Rated M) - this American computer-animated science-fiction action-adventure film is Produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, is the 61st animated film produced by the studio, and is Directed by Don Hall whose other feature film Director credits are 'Winnie the Pooh' in 2011, 'Big Hero 6' in 2014 and 'Raya and the Last Dragon' in 2021. The film chronicles the legendary Clades family, mainly Searcher Clade (voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal) who has always been a farmer and has never had the bravery of his family of explorers, but they are forced to tackle their latest and most crucial mission as they must rely on each other and forced to put away their differences while in an uncharted and treacherous land of Avalonia to find a special creature that awaits. Also with the voices of Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union and Lucy Liu. It is released Stateside this week too. 

With eight new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

BLACK PANTHER : WAKANDA FOREVER - Monday 14th November 2022.

I saw the M Rated 'BLACK PANTHER : WAKANDA FOREVER' this week, and this American Superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics character of Black Panther, as portrayed by Chadwick Boseman in the 2018 film 'Black Panther', and who tragically died from colon cancer in 2020. This is the sequel to that 2018 film and is the thirtieth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and is once again Directed and Co-Written by Ryan Coogler. The film saw its World Premier screening in Hollywood on 26th October, was released worldwide last week having cost US$250M to produce and having so far grossed worldwide US$401M, has generated largely positive critical acclaim and is the final film in Phase Four of the MCU.

The film opens up with Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) frantically trying to synthetically recreate in her lab the heart-shaped herb that could potentially save the life of her dying brother King T'Challa of Wakanda. The Queen Mother of Wakanda Ramonda (Angela Bassett) enters the lab with tears in her eyes proclaiming that her son, Shuri's brother and the King of Wakanda, T'Challa, has passed away and now joins their ancestors. 

We then fast forward a year and a joint expedition force by the CIA and US Navy Seals is somewhere in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. Deep down on the seabed is a vibranium detecting machine that has located a source of the world's strongest metal thought previously to exist only in Wakanda. The expedition is attacked and wiped-out by a group of blue-skinned water breathing ocean dwelling superhumans led by Namor (Tenoch Huerta) the King of the underwater city of Talokan. The CIA later lay claim that Wakanda was responsible for the attack on the mid-Atlantic expedition. Later, Queen Ramonda is invited to attend something resembling the United Nations where she is pressed by other countries to share their vibranium, but she flatly refuses believing that they would use it against Wakanda and to bring about widespread destruction. 

On the first anniversary of T'Challa's death, Ramonda takes Shuri out into the bush so they they can grieve together and burn their funeral ceremonial robes on the camp fire as is the custom. Namor appears out of the river confronting them both, having easily evaded Wakanda's advanced security systems. Blaming Wakanda for the vibranium race, he gives them an ultimatum - deliver to him the scientist responsible for the vibranium-detecting machine, or he will attack Wakanda without mercy.

Okoye (Danai Gurira) convinces Ramonda to allow her to take Shuri with her to locate the scientist - after all what could possibly go wrong? They learn from CIA agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) that the scientist in question is Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), a nineteen year old student at MIT, and arrive at the university to confront her, and convince her to come to Wakanda with them. The group is tracked down and pursued first by the FBI and then Namor's warriors, who defeat Okoye before taking Shuri and Williams to the underwater city of Talokan to meet with Namor. Back in Wakanda and Queen Ramonda is angered to say the least that Okoye failed to safeguard Shuri, and so strips her of her title as General of the Dora Milaje. Ramonda then travels of Haiti to locate Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) who has been living there since the blip and who did not return to Wakanda even for T'Challa's funeral. Ramonda enlists Nakia's help to locate and return Shuri and Riri to Wakanda. 

Namor meets with Shuri and shows her his underwater kingdom of Talokan, which he has protected since the 16th century and is rich with vibranium. Bitter at the surface world that once rejected him, Namor meets with Ramonda and offers an alliance with Wakanda against the other nations of the world but promises to destroy Wakanda first if they don't cooperate. Nakia helps Shuri and Riri escape, and Namor retaliates with an attack against Wakanda's capital city, during which Ramonda drowns while saving Riri. Namor vows to return in a week with his full force, as the citizens of Wakanda are relocated to the mountains for their own safety.

Meanwhile, Ross is arrested by his ex-wife and new CIA Director, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), for covertly exchanging classified intelligence with the Wakandans. Using a remnant of the herb that gave the Talokan's their superhuman abilities from a bracelet given to Shuri by Namor, she reconstructs the heart-shaped herb and ingests it in liquified form, giving her superhuman abilities. She then meets with Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) in the Ancestral Plane, who urges her to seek revenge. 

With her new super powers Shuri puts on a new upgraded Black Panther suit and is quickly accepted by the other Wakandan tribes as the Black Panther. Despite M'Baku's (Winston Duke) strong desire for peace, Shuri is determined to exact vengeance on Namor for Ramonda's death and orders an immediate attack on Talokan. Preparing for battle, with Ayo (Florence Kasumba) assuming the mantle of General of the Dora Milaje, Shuri bestows the new Midnight Angel body armour upon Okoye, who in turn recruits Dora member Aneka (Michaela Coel) to join her. Riri creates an Iron Man type powered exoskeleton suit to help the Wakandans in battle. 

The Wakandans lure Namor and his warriors to the surface as a battle ensues, with the relentless Talokan's seemingly gaining the upper hand. Shuri traps Namor in a fighter aircraft, intending to dehydrate and therefore weaken him. The aircraft crashes on a desert beach and a fight ensues. Shuri gains the upper hand and releases an explosion which burns into Namor's back causing him to fall onto the sand just out of reach of his life giving ocean. Shuri holds a spear to Namor's throat, but realises the similarities between their life journey's and implores him to yield, offering a peaceful alliance between their nations. Namor accepts, and their fight ends.

Namor's cousin, Namora (Mabel Cadena), is angered at Namor's surrender, but he reassures her that their new alliance will allow them to conquer the surface world at some point in the future. Riri returns to MIT with the blessing of Shuri who extends the warm hand of friendship leaving behind her exoskeleton suit, while Okoye rescues Ross as he is being transported to captivity. In Shuri's absence, M'Baku steps forward to challenge her for the throne. Shuri visits Nakia who has returned to Haiti where she burns her funeral ceremonial robe allowing herself to finally grieve over T'Challa. In a mid-credits sequence, Shuri learns that Nakia and T'Challa had a son who is now eight years old, and that his name is Toussaint (Divine Love Konadu-Sun), who Nakia has been raising in secret away from the trials and tribulations of Wakanda and the throne. Toussaint reveals his Wakandan name is T'Challa, Prince T'Challa the son of King T'Challa.

'Black Panther : Wakanda Forever' pays a fitting tribute to the passing of King T'Challa, aka Black Panther, and indeed Chadwick Boseman that is heartfelt and emotional without being forced or contrived. The roles of Bassett, Huerta, Wright and Nyong'o especially are right on the money with each of them delivering compelling and relatable performances that keep the story grounded with a sense of realism. The CGI effects and the continued world building of Wakanda is impressive enough too, as are the action sequences which are delivered at an effectively staged pace so as to allow for characterisation development to come through in between and which is likely to bode well for the story arc when 'Black Panther III' eventually hits our screens at some future date. That said, the second act stagnates a little and I found my mind wandering and asking myself when was the pace going to pick up, and at 161 minutes runtime, this is over extended by twenty minutes I suggest. 'Wakanda Forever' was unlikely to hit the dizzying heights of the first 'Black Panther' instalment but when it boils down to the continuation of the story and establishing a foundation upon which to further build the next film in the 'Black Panther' franchise, then this film delivers on that premise. As of earlier this month, Director and Co-Writer Ryan Coogler and Kevin Feige, the Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment were revealed to have discussed a potential third Black Panther film.

'Black Panther : Wakanda Forever' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th November 2022.

The 33rd Singapore International Film Festival launches on Thursday 24th November and runs through until Sunday 4th December. The 33rd Edition presents a diverse, inclusive range of over one hundred films by filmmakers from all over the world. These carefully selected films speak of memories, emotions, inspired conversations and discussions — that together celebrate the continuity of film and storytelling in the cinematic community, the official website reads. 

This years Opening Night film is 'Assault' from Kazakhstan and is Written and Directed by Adilkhan Yerzhanov. Masked figures with machine guns march into the secondary school in Karatas and take the pupils hostage. They make no demands. Silent terror is their modus operandi. Seeing as the army will take two days to arrive due to a snowstorm, maths teacher Tazshi decides to assemble his own assault team. Southeast Asian Premier. 

The Asian Feature Film Competition presents nine new films by Directors making their first to third features. This year, six of these are directorial debuts, marking an exciting new generation of filmmakers in Asia. Those nine films in brief are :-

* 'Convenience Store' - from Russia, Slovenia and Turkey and Directed by Michael Borodin. An undocumented migrant mother suffers violence and abuse working in a Russian convenience store in this harrowing expose of modern-day slavery. Southeast Asian Premier.

* 'Autobiography' - from Indonesia, France, Germany, Poland, Singapore, Philippines, Qatar and Directed by Makbul Mubarak. The relationship between an authoritarian father figure and a diffident young man forms a gripping study of power relations. Singapore Premier.

* 'Leonor Will Never Die' - from the Philippines and Directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar. A retired screenwriter becomes the heroine of her own unfinished script as reality and fiction collide. Singapore Premier.

* 'The Cloud Messenger' - from India and Directed by Rahat Mahajan. A pair of teenagers at a regimented boarding school are predestined lovers in this coming-of-age story with a mythical twist. Asian Premier.

* 'Arnold Is a Model Student' - from Thailand, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Philippines and Directed by Sorayos Prapapan. Arnold becomes the school darling after emerging champion at a maths Olympiad. His success attracts a shady tuition centre owner who invites him to join an exam cheating racket. Meanwhile, trouble brews on campus when a disciplinary incident propels a group of students into action.

Singapore Premier. 

* 'Joyland' - from Pakistan and Directed by Saim Sadiq. In a conservative multigenerational Pakistani household, soft-spoken Haider is pressured to find a job and to produce a male heir. After he lands a role as a backup dancer at an erotic dance theatre, his wife Mumtaz reluctantly leaves a job she enjoys at the behest of the family’s patriarch to become a housewife. Southeast Asian Premier.

* 'Summer with Hope' - from Canada and Iran and Directed by Sadaf Foroughi. Unruly teenager Omid has to win a swimming competition - not just for himself but also for his mother Leili, whose freedom from his estranged father is contingent on Omid’s performance. When plans go awry, what is thought to be a beacon of hope soon turns into a snare that Omid must find ways to elude. Asian Premier.

* 'Archaeology of Love' - from South Korea and Directed by Lee Wanmin. Archaeologist Youngsil and Inseek go from strangers to lovers eight hours after they meet. Won over by hyperbolic declarations of love, Youngsil finds herself bound to Inseek even after their eventual breakup. International Premier.

* 'Gaga' - from Taiwan and Directed by Laha Mebow. The Hayung family inhabit the highlands of Taiwan along with other indigenous Atayal people. Held in high esteem by the community, they make a steady living from agriculture and tourism, while the men sometimes have too much to drink. Southeast Asian Premier.

For the other strands playing in and out of competition, namely The Southeast Asian Short Film Competition which presents seventeen new films across four programmes and attests to the abundance of strong creative talents from the region; Singapore Panorama presents the latest works by new and established talents in local filmmaking, with its finger on the pulse of the most exciting developments in Singapore cinema; Foreground spotlights six genre favourites and cinematic highlights of the year, reinvigorating popular genre conventions with refreshing elements and captivating crowds with celebrated visions; Altitude platforms important new works by some of the most established filmmakers today. The section profiles six films as representative of the highest standards in contemporary filmmaking; Horizon scopes out strong festival discoveries and films of eclectic perspectives from all over the world, this selection of ten international films will evoke curiosities as one traverses an array of emotions; Standpoint showcases eight new international works that present strong attitudes of personal, social and political consequences; Undercurrent charts exciting directions and bold expressions in cinema today, affirming imaginative treatments of the moving image; and finally strongly rooted in local specificities, Domain : To Those Who Remain draws from a deep connection to land and provides a rare insight into the colourful lives of rural communities within the South West Asia and North Africa region. You can see the full list of films featured in these aforementioned sections at the official website at : https://sgiff.com/

This week we have five new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, kicking off with a biographical drama film about a pair of New York Times reporters who break one of the most important news stories in a generation - a story that helped launch the #MeToo movement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual abuse in Hollywood. This is followed by a thriller that sees a radio host taking a call, where an unknown person threatens to kill the showman's entire family live on air. Next up is a Mexican comedy drama offering about a renowned Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker who returns home and works through an existential crisis as he grapples with his identity, familial relationships and the folly of his memories. Then we turn to an Australian documentary that follows an environmental campaigner as he builds a self-sustaining home, an ecosystem that provides its occupants with water, energy, shelter and nourishment; before closing out the week with an American documentary about a five-time Olympic medalist in 1912, 1920 and 1924, and Native Hawaiian who shattered records and brought surfing to the world while overcoming a lifetime of personal challenges.

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

'SHE SAID' (Rated M) - is an American biographical drama film Directed by Maria Schrader whose prior film making credits are 'Love Life' in 2007, 'Stefan Zweig : Farewell to Europe' in 2016 and 'I'm Your Man' in 2021, as well as helming the Netflix mini-series 'Unorthodox' which won the Director the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special in 2020. This film is based on the 2019 book of the same name by The New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey titled 'She Said : Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement'. The film saw its World Premier screening at the New York Film Festival on 13th October and is released in the US and here in Australia this week having garnered generally positive reviews.

The New York Times journalists Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) publish a report in October 2017 that exposes sexual abuse allegations against powerful Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein (Mike Houston) accusing him of three decades of sexually harassing actresses, female production assistants, temps and other employees at Miramax and The Weinstein Company. The shocking story also serves as a launching pad for the #MeToo movement, shattering decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault and harassment, and eventually led to Weinstein being sentenced to 23 years imprisonment. Also starring Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd and Tom Pelphrey.

'ON THE LINE' (Rated M) - this American thriller film is Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Frenchman Romuald Boulanger who has eleven Directing credits, eleven as an Actor, thirty-six as a Writer and thirty-eight as Producer under his belt since emerging on the scene in 2005. Here, Mel Gibson portrays Elvis Cooney, a provocative and edgy overnight radio host on a show titled 'On the Line' who must play a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a mysterious caller who has kidnapped his family and is threatening to kill them and blow up the whole station . . . all while live on air. Also starring William Moseley, Paul Spera, Kevin Dillon and Alia Seror-O'Neill. The film has garnered mostly negative press since its release in the US on 4th of this month. 

'BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS' (Rated MA15+) - is a black comedy drama film Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Alejandro G. Inarritu whose prior film making credits are 'Amores perros' in 2000, '21 Grams' in 2003, 'Babel' in 2006, 'Biutiful' in 2010, 'Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)' in 2014 and 'The Revenant' in 2015. Here then, Silverio Gama (Daniel Gimenez Cacho), a renowned Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker living in Los Angeles, who, after being named the recipient of a prestigious international award, is compelled to return to his native country, unaware that this simple trip will push him to an existential crisis in the form of dreamlike visions. The film had its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival in early September this year, was released in its native Mexico at the back end of October, in the USA in early November, and is released here in Australia from this week before streaming on Netflix from 16th December. It has so far garnered mixed or average reviews. 

'GREENHOUSE BY JOOST' (Rated PG) - this Australian documentary film is Written by Rhian Skirving and Directed by Bruce Permezel and Rhian Skirving whose previous Directorial credits take in a number of TV series, made for TV movie doco's and mini-series doco's. Imagine a house that grows its own food. Extending a lifetime's worth of zero-waste activism, visionary designer Joost Bakker devises the Future Food System, a self-sufficient residence that provides shelter, food and energy while reusing any by-products as fuel or fertiliser. Joined by renowned chefs Matt Stone and Jo Barrett, he works with a team of builders, engineers, and experts in agriculture, aquaponics and biochemistry to bring to life the project at Melbourne's Federation Square - culminating in the launch of a unique farm-to-table restaurant. This film won the Audience Award at this years Melbourne International Film Festival. 

'WATERMAN' (Rated PG) - is an American biographical documentary Directed by Isaac Halasima in only his second Documentary feature following 2016's 'The Last Decent' although he has been kept busy since then helming 123 episodes of 'Dry Bar Comedy' and a prolific number of television specials throughout 2020 and 2021. Here, he charts the story of five-time Olympic medalist and Native Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahanamoku who shattered records and brought surfing to the world while overcoming a lifetime of personal challenges. The film explores his journey and legacy as a legendary swimmer, trailblazer, and the undisputed father of modern-day surfing. From modest roots in Waikiki, Duke swam his way to fame, becoming the face of a changing Hawaii as it evolved from an independent Kingdom to the 50th American state. Yet relatively few outside Hawaii know the full extent of Duke's impact on sports, lifesaving, and combating prejudice. The film is narrated by Jason Momoa and involves commentary from surfing legends including Laird Hamilton, Kelly Slater and Kai Lenny. 

With five 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-

HALLOWEEN ENDS : Tuesday 8th November 2022.

I finally got around to seeing 'HALLOWEEN ENDS' - the MA15+ Rated American slasher horror film which is Directed and Co-Written once again by David Gordon Green and is a sequel to the 2021 film 'Halloween Kills'. It is the thirteenth instalment in the 'Halloween' film franchise, and the final film in the 'H40' trilogy that commenced with the 2018 film 'Halloween' and which serves as a continuation of the original 1978 film's storyline disregarding all the other screen offerings that came in between up to 2018. The 2018 and 2021 films generated a combined worldwide Box Office haul of US$387M off the back of a total US$30M production budget, making this final instalment a no brainer. This film saw its World Premier screening in Los Angeles on 11th October before its worldwide release on 13th October, cost US$33M to produce and has so far grossed US$103M and has garnered mixed critical reviews. 

The film opens up on Halloween night in 2019 with Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) arriving at the home of Theresa and Roger Allen (Candice Rose and Jack William Marshall respectively) to babysit their young son Jeremy (Jaxon Goldberg), whilst the parents go out to a Halloween party. While watching John Carpenter's 'The Thing' on TV, Corey goes through to the kitchen to get himself something to drink, and then Jeremy disappears. Corey searches the house and the gardens but there is no sign of the young boy, although strange sounds and shadows are evident in the background. Corey ventures upstairs and into the roof space, when suddenly the door is locked behind him. Panic stricken Corey thumps on the door repeatedly and eventually kicks the door down with Jeremy stood directly behind it. Jeremy is sent backwards by the force of the door and falls over the stairs to his death two storeys below just as his parents come home to see their young son come crashing down. Corey is accused of intentionally killing Jeremy but is cleared of manslaughter. 

Fast forward three years and in Haddonfield, Illinois Michael Myers has not been seen since his last killing rampage in 2018. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is in the midst of writing her memoir and has purchased a house and is now living with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) who now works as a nurse at a local medical centre. Corey in the meantime, has started working at his stepfathers car salvage business. On his way home one day after work he stops off a petrol station to buy a drink. Outside he is confronted by four high school bullies who pester Corey to buy them alcohol because they are all underage. Corey refuses and gets into a scuffle resulting in him sustaining a deep glass cut to his hand. Laurie observes this having pulled up to fill up with petrol, and takes Corey to the doctors surgery where Allyson works. Allyson is immediately attracted to Corey when she tends to his wound, and the pair form a fast relationship. 

A few nights later they attend a Halloween party together and dance the night away until Corey is confronted by Jeremy's mother, at which he flees the party venue leaving Allyson, who later catches up with him. The pair have an argument outside, and Corey storms off. Walking home, the same four high school bullies pull up in their convertible car and begin to taunt Corey, resulting in him being thrown off a bridge and landing unconscious on the ground below. He is then dragged into a sewer where he comes round sometime later. He fumbles around in the dank and dark space and is then grabbed by the throat in a strangle hold by Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney), who after a short time releases him. As he crawls out of the sewer pipe into daylight he is threatened by an old homeless man living under the bridge, and in the ensuing struggle Corey stabs him to death, and the flees the scene, leaving the man where he fell. 

Corey finds Allyson later the next day to apologise for his actions the previous night, and the pair go on a dinner date to a local diner. During their dinner, they are interrupted by Allyson's ex-boyfriend, Police officer Doug Mulaney (Jesse C. Boyd) who obviously still has feelings for her, and who harasses them both. Corey stands his ground with Mulaney who afterwards follows Corey to the scene of the earlier stabbing of the old homeless man. Corey lures the cop into the sewer, where Michael emerges and stabs Mulaney multiple times in the chest while Corey holds him down. 

Meanwhile, Allyson is passed over for a promotion at work in favour of a fellow nurse Deb (Michele Dawson) who is having an affair with Dr. Mathis (Michael O'Leary). Later that evening at Dr. Mathis house Corey kills Dr. Mathis while Michael pins Deb to the wall with a kitchen knife. Unknowingly, Allyson prepares to leave Haddonfield with a persuasive Corey because of their past traumas, and to make a fresh start. Laurie though has become increasingly suspicious of Corey. After finding him sleeping in the spot where Jeremy died in the now abandoned Allen house, Laurie offers to help him if he agrees to separate himself from Allyson. Corey responds by blaming her for the events that have unfolded in Haddonfield over the years and concludes by saying that if he cannot have Allyson, then no one can.

On 31st October, Halloween night, Corey returns to the sewers and fights with Michael, successfully knocking him out and stealing his mask. Meanwhile, Laurie and Allyson argue as she plans to leave that night with Corey. She also blames Laurie for Michael's actions. That night, Corey embarks on a murderous rampage, killing the four bullies after luring them to his stepfathers salvage yard, one of whom accidentally shoots his stepfather right between the eyes. Corey then goes on to kill his overbearing mother, as well as DJ Willy the Kid (Keraun Harris) at the local radio station WURG FM, who had taunted him previously.

At the Strode house, Laurie calls the Police to report her suicide in an attempt to lure Corey to her. Wearing Michael's mask Corey confronts her whom she fires two shots into his chest sending him falling backwards down the staircase. Corey, still conscious, then stabs himself in the neck to frame Laurie for his death in front of Allyson just as she walks through the front door. Allyson storms out of the house distraught while Laurie sobs. Michael then appears and kills Corey by snapping his neck, before putting back on his mask and hunting down Laurie who has now regained her composure. 

A fight ensues in Laurie's kitchen, and Laurie manages to pin Michael to the wooden cooking island, by stabbing each hand with a long cooks knife and bringing down the fridge/freezer to trap his legs. Laurie takes out a kitchen knife from the drawer and stabs Michael through the side before drawing the blade across his throat. He begins to bleed out. In a last ditch attempt to dispose of Laurie, Michael rips his hand through the blade and grabs her by the throat. Allyson arrives back home and grabs his arm and snaps it on the bench top. Holding his arm out, Laurie slices open his wrist. Laurie and Allyson strap his lifeless body to the roof of their car and take his body to the salvage yard by Police escort, attracting the residents of Haddonfield, who follow behind in a long procession. The body of Michael is tipped into a commercial shredding machine where Laurie gives it a final kick to send it on its way when Allyson turns on the switch. In the ensuing days, Allyson and Laurie reconcile, and Allyson leaves Haddonfield while Laurie finalises her memoir and seeks to reignite her relationship with Deputy Frank Hawkins (Will Patton).

In 'Halloween Ends' Michael Myers is finally put through the mincer (literally), make no mistake, and so after thirteen instalments and forty four years this surely has to be the 'end' of this overcooked franchise! Or is it? I guess if they can bring back James Bond after he carked it at the end of 'No Time To Die', then they can still resurrect Michael Myers . . . only time will tell! All that said, this final offering in this latest threequel sits below 2018's 'Halloween' and only just a nudge above 2021's 'Halloween Kills' and is less of a slasher horror movie and more of a psychological thriller film. Jamie Lee Curtis who, after seven appearances in these 'Halloween' films over the last four+ decades gives a stoic performance who finally overcomes the maniacal marauding masked mass murderer Michael Myers, but she is no beefed-up Sarah Connor, or Wonder Woman or Black Widow and so how she managed to muster up the strength, courage and fortitude when push comes to shove to dispense with The Shape is anyone's guess! Pure adrenalin one would assume, and who's to say there's anything wrong in that. All of that said 'Halloween Ends' is sure to divide audiences, but I'm guessing that in ten years from now this closing trilogy will enjoy a cult following of die hard fans and a new audience of emerging horror hounds keen to dine out on the Myers/Strode story.

'Halloween Ends' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-