What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 14th December 2023

The 15th edition of the Les Arcs Film Festival this year runs from Saturday 16th through until Saturday 23rd December. Founded in 2009, the festival takes place every year in December, during the opening week of the ski season, in Les Arcs ski resort located in Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the French department of Savoie in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of southeastern France. The theme of this year's festival is 'Cinema as therapy: mental health, in front of and behind the screen'. It's an opportunity to find out more about and understand this subject, which is emerging in all areas of our society. The Arcs Film Festival is also a socially committed festival, with social issues at the heart of its programming. Debates on gender equality and the ecological transition in cinema will be at the heart of the festival. 

With over one hundred films being showcased, this years Opening Night film is 'Making Of', from France and Directed by Cedric Kahn and centres around Simon as he begins shooting a movie about a workers’ struggle to save their factory. He soon feels overwhelmed by the sneaky Producer, the capricious Actors, and the angry technical team. His only ally in this chaotic shooting is the young extra in charge of the making-of of the film. The Closing Night film is 'Vivants' from Belgium and France and Directed by Alix Delaporte and charts the story of Gabrielle who has joined a prestigious news programme. With no formal training, she must prove herself and find a place among an experienced team of special correspondents.

This year there are nine feature films in Official Competition, these being :-

* 'Animal' from Greece and Written and Directed by Sofia Exarchou. National Premiere.

* 'Explanation For Everything' from Hungary and Co-Written, Directed, Co-Edited and Co-Scored by Gabor Reisz.

* 'Holly' from Belgium and Written and Directed by Fien Troch.

* 'The Teachers' Lounge' from Germany and Co-Written and Directed by Ilker Catak.

* 'The Successor' from France and Co-Written and Directed by Xavier Legrand. National Premiere.

* 'Through the Night' from Belgium and Written and Directed by Delphine Girard. 

* 'Slow' from Lithuania and Written and Directed by Marija Kavtaradze.

* 'The Hypnosis' from Sweden and Co-Written and Directed by Ernst De Geer.

* 'Sweet Dreams' from the Netherlands and Written and Directed by Ena Sendijarevic.

For the synopsis of the nine aforementioned films in Official Competition, plus the other film strands being showcased; the two Guests of Honour attending this years festival, the French Argentine Actress Berenice Bejo and the Swedish film maker Ruben Ostlund; and Alice Rohrwacher announced as the winner of the 2023 Sisley-les Arcs 'Femme de Cinema' Award!, you can go to the official website at : https://lesarcs-filmfest.com/en

This week there are just three new movies gracing your local Odeon before the slew of new Christmas week releases, launching with a musical fantasy offering focusing on a young chocolate-maker extraordinaire, and how he came to meet the Oompa-Loompas on one of his earliest adventures. Then we have an action thriller film about a former FBI agent who left to become a bricklayer, and is asked to step in and help stop a criminal operation who are demanding a series of ransom payments; before closing out the week with a Chinese remake centring around a young businessman who wakes up in a locked hotel room next to the body of his dead lover, and then hires a prestigious lawyer to defend him, and over the course of one night, they work together to find out what happened.

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

'WONKA' (Rated PG) - this musical fantasy film is Co-Written, based on a story and Directed by Paul King in his fourth feature film outing following his 2009 debut with 'Bunny and the Bull' then 'Paddington' in 2014 and 'Paddington 2' in 2017. This film tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, a character in the 1964 novel 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl. It will have its World Premiere showcasing in London on 28th November, and is scheduled to be released in the UK on 8th December and in the US on 15th December, and cost US$125M to produce.

Based on the extraordinary character at the centre of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', Roald Dahl’s most iconic children's book and one of the best-selling children's books of all time, 'Wonka' tells the wondrous story of how the world's greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka (Timothee Chalamet) - chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time, proving that the best things in life begin with a dream. Also starring Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Matt Lucas, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Olivia Colman and Hugh Grant. 

'THE BRICKLAYER' (Rated MA15+) - is an action thriller film Directed by Renny Harlin whose previous screen credits take in the likes of 'Die Hard 2' in 1990, 'Cliffhanger' in 1993, 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' in 1996, 'Deep Blue Sea' in 1999, 'Driven' in 2001, 'Cleaner' in 2007, 'Skiptrace' in 2016 and 'The Misfits' in 2021. This film is based on the 2010 novel of the same name by Noah Boyd, and follows a rogue insurgent blackmailing the CIA by assassinating foreign journalists and making it appear the agency is responsible. As other nations begin turning against the US the CIA must lure Steve Vail (Aaron Eckhart) - their most brilliant and rebellious operative out of semi-retirement working as a bricklayer. With an elite and deadly skill set, Vail is tasked with helping clear the agency's name, forcing him to confront his checkered past while unraveling an international conspiracy. Also starring Nina Dobrev, Tim Blake Nelson and Clifton Collins Jnr. The film is slated for a US release sometime early next year.

'THE INVISIBLE GUEST' (Rated M) - this crime fiction drama film is a Chinese remake of the Spanish film of the same name from 2016 and is Directed by Raymond Yip Wai-man and Cheng Wei-hao. Here, young and beautiful entrepreneur Joanna (Janine Chang) is accused of being the culprit in a locked-room murder case, where the victim is her lover Minghao, during a time when her life and career are flourishing. In order to clear her name, she slowly gathers clues with the police officer Zheng Wei (Greg Hsu). As they investigate the case together, they discover another murder case that Joanna and Minghao had committed together. The truth gradually comes to light . . . 

With just three 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-

THE HUNGER GAMES : THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES - Tuesday 5th December 2023.

I finally got around to seeing the M Rated 'THE HUNGER GAMES : THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES' at my local multiplex this week following its release in the US and here in Australia on 16th November. This American dystopian science fiction action film is Directed by Francis Lawrence, is based on the 2020 novel 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' by Suzanne Collins, serves as a prequel to 2012 film 'The Hunger Games' and is the fifth instalment in 'The Hunger Games' film series. Francis Lawrence Directed the last three films in the franchise with 'Catching Fire' in 2013 and 'Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2' in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Those first four films in the series grossed close to US$3B at the global Box Office off the back of combined production budgets of US$493M making this eventual prequel a no brainer. This film has so far grossed US$247M off the back of a production budget of US$100M and has generated mixed reviews. 

The film opens up in 'The Dark Days' three years before the first Hunger Games where a young Coriolanus Snow and his older cousin Tigris scavenge the war torn streets of Panem under cover of darkness for scraps of food. Returning home later that evening the pair are greeted by their Grandma'am (Fionnula Flanagan) who tells them that their father Crassus Snow has died. Fast forward thirteen years and Coriolanus (Tom Blyth), now eighteen-years-old, is one of twenty-four Academy students selected to mentor a tribute in the 10th Annual Hunger Games. Coriolanus determines to restore his family's prosperity by earning the Plinth Prize scholarship to Panem University. Games creator and Academy dean, Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) advises mentors to focus on entertaining viewers rather than tributes winning the Games, as viewership has waned over recent years, and for the Games to survive it needs to re-establish a strong audience. 

During the reaping ceremony, in which Coriolanus is assigned to mentor the District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), she first slips a snake into Mayor Lipp's daughter Mayfair's dress and then charms Capitol viewers by breaking into song. Coriolanus earns Lucy Gray's trust, by riding with her to the Capitol Zoo in a train carriage with the other chosen tributes, and helps her win Capitol citizens' sympathy, much to Highbottom's chagrin, as he paired Coriolanus with a District 12 tribute so he would fail. 

Coriolanus proposes a sponsorship scheme to Head Gamemaker, Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis), where Capitol viewers donate supplies to tributes via their mentors during the Games to increase viewership. Coriolanus' classmate, Clemensia Dovecote (Ashley Liao), takes the credit for the scheme. Gaul meanwhile has placed the proposal document into a tank of genetically modified snakes that do not attack familiar scents. Gaul has Clemensia retrieve it. Not recognising Clemensia's scent, the snakes critically wound her, but Gaul's assistants are on hand to administer an anti-venom, thus confirming it was Coriolanus' proposal all along.

During a Games-arena tour the day before the games are due to commence, several rebel bombs explode causing much damage to the arena and killing several mentors including the President's son, Felix Ravinstill, and tributes. Lucy Gray saves Coriolanus when he is pinned under falling debris, and so as a gesture of thanks he gifts her deadly rat poison to use as a weapon, contained in his mothers silver make-up compact. 

The Games begin the next day as planned, with Host Lucretius 'Lucky' Flickerman (Jason Schwartzman) presiding over the event. Several tributes perish in the initial bloodbath. Lucy Gray is able to escape through an explosion-caused hole in the ground hiding in a service tunnel beneath with fellow District 12 tribute Jessup (Nick Benson). Coriolanus' wealthy friend and fellow mentor, Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andres Rivera), resenting the Games' cruelty and everything it stands for, sneaks into the arena and mourns next to his fallen tribute Marcus, a former District 2 classmate. Gaul persuades Coriolanus to retrieve Sejanus from the arena. When tributes turn on them, Coriolanus kills one by clubbing him to death.

To avenge Felix's death, Gaul releases her snakes into the arena, killing every tribute except Lucy Gray, as Coriolanus had secretly put a handkerchief containing her scent into the snake tank. Gaul refuses to declare her the victor until Capitol viewers pressure her into doing so. After the victory celebration, Highbottom confronts Coriolanus with the handkerchief and poison and sentences him to serve twenty years as a Peacekeeper for cheating. Sejanus is similarly punished for entering the arena. Coriolanus bribes an enrolment officer to transfer him to District 12, where he and Sejanus begin their Peacekeeper training.

Coriolanus and Sejanus visit the Hob bar where Lucy Gray performs with the Covey, a nomadic band, and they rekindle their friendship in secret. Coriolanus overhears Sejanus helping rebels planning to escape, and so he uses a jabberjay to record Sejanus' voice and sends it to Gaul. Coriolanus finds Sejanus talking to rebel Spruce (George Somner), Lucy Gray's old boyfriend Billy Taupe (Dakota Shapiro), and his girlfriend Mayfair Lipp (Isobel Jesper Jones), leading to an argument. Coriolanus fatally shoots Mayfair and Spruce kills Billy. Sejanus and Spruce are subsequently hanged for treason while Lucy Gray and Coriolanus escape. However, in the meantime Coriolanus has passed an intelligence and aptitude test with flying colours and is offered a transfer to District 2 for Officer training by Commander Hoff (Burn Gorman) and reluctantly accepts. 

Despite his offer for fast track promotion, Coriolanus and Lucy Gray flee north and decide to rest up overnight in a lakeside cabin. There, Coriolanus finds Spruce's weapons stash concealed under the floorboards. Lucy Gray runs away after realising Coriolanus betrayed Sejanus. As Coriolanus pursues her, a snake set in a trap bites him. Disoriented, he shoots his rifle blindly after hearing jabberjays mimicking Lucy Gray's voice. Coriolanus is unsure if she was shot after her footprints in the mud disappear on a path, leaving her fate a mystery.

Coriolanus returns to the Capitol, where Gaul reveals she had him honourably discharged and enrols him at the University. Sejanus' parents, who remain unaware he caused their son's death, make him an heir, so restoring the Snows' wealth. Coriolanus visits Highbottom, who confesses the Games were never intended to be reality. It was merely his idea one night heavily under the influence of alcohol that Crassus had stolen, and he set Coriolanus up as revenge for the bloodshed he indirectly caused. Coriolanus kills Highbottom by slipping rat poison into his vials of morphling, which he knocks back when Coriolanus has left, and is dead within minutes. Gaul later trains Coriolanus as a Gamemaker, so setting him up on his eventual rise to power.

For me 'The Hunger Games : The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' failed to ignite the interest, the level of excitement or the sense of urgency that the four original films in the franchise were able to capture, and at the longest run time of 156 minutes in the franchise outstays its welcome somewhat. That said Tom Blyth as the smiling assassin Snow, Rachel Zegler as mentee and love interest Lucy Gray, ably supported by a strong ensemble cast including Davis, Dinklage and Schwartzman do elevate this film above the also-ran, but, I can't help thinking that this young dystopian musical action drama film is enough to bridge the gap between the younger Snow and his older self as portrayed by Donald Sutherland in the original film series, so lets hope this puts an end to this franchise, particularly considering this is the most underperforming film at the Box Office in the series, and by a country mile!

'The Hunger Games : The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 7th December 2023.

The Red Sea International Film Festival marks its third edition this year, running from Thursday 30th November through until Saturday 9th December. Over the course of ten days, the festival celebrates the best of local and international filmmaking talents in an exciting platform for everything film-related. With eleven film categories to choose from, the Red Sea Film Festival programme has something for everyone, satisfying every cinematic palate under the sun. Each section is expertly curated by a team of internationally renowned programmers, delivering the best in Arab and world cinema, television, and VR. You will also get to rediscover old favourites and restored classics, and enjoy an exciting collection of experimental and short films. It is an expansive roundup of the year’s international hits and audience and critics’ favourites, hot from the international cinematic circuit, as well as the best Saudi films, all competing in the heart of Jeddah. 

This years International Spectacular strand, the following feature films are being showcased :-

* 'Copa 71' - from the UK and Co-Written and Co-Directed by Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine, this documentary is about why the first Women's World Cup has been written out of history.

* 'Chicken Run : Dawn of the Nugget' - from the UK and Directed by Sam Fell, this animated adventure comedy film tells the story of how, having escaped from the farm, Ginger and Rocky welcome a new little adventurer into their lives. Back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a terrible new threat. Starring the voice talents of Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall and Miranda Richardson.

* 'Dammi' - from France and the UK and Co-Written and Directed by Yann Mounir Demange and starring Riz Ahmed and Isabelle Adjani, this short drama film tells the story of a man who travels back to Paris while navigating his past experiences and weird glimpses of the present in an effort to reconnect with his estranged father. He is forced to face his fears and guilt while also reclaiming his lost Arab identity.

* 'The President's Wife' (aka 'Bernadette') - from France and Written and Directed by Lea Domenach, this biographical comedy drama film stars Catherine Deneuve following Bernadette Chirac during the two French presidential mandates of her husband, Jacques Chirac from 1995, until the election of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.

* 'The Boy and the Heron' - from Japan and Written and Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this animated adventure drama film sees Mahito, a young 12-year-old boy, who struggles to settle in a new town after his mother's death. However, when a talking heron informs Mahito that his mother is still alive, he enters an abandoned tower in search of her, which takes him to another world.

* 'Origin' - from the USA, India and Germany and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ava DuVernay, this drama film charts the unspoken system that has shaped America and chronicles how lives today are defined by a hierarchy of human divisions. Starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Vera Farmiga, Connie Neilsen, Jon Bernthal, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood and Finn Wittrock.

* 'Priscilla' - from the USA and Italy and Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Sofia Coppola this musical biographical drama film is based on the 1985 memoir 'Elvis and Me' by Priscilla Presley and follows the life of Presley (Cailee Spaeny) and her relationship with Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi).

* 'Silent Night' - from the USA and Co-Produced and Directed by John Woo, this action film stars Joel Kinnaman, Catalina Sandino Moreno and Kid Cudi about a grieving father who enacts his long-awaited revenge against a ruthless gang on Christmas Eve.

* 'Ferrari' - from the USA and Co-Produced and Directed by Michael Mann this biographical sports drama film stars Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Jack O'Connell and Patrick Dempsey. In the summer of 1957, Enzo Ferrari, reeling from the death of his son Dino, the deteriorating marriage with his wife Laura, and his company's impending bankruptcy, enters his racing team to the 1957 Mille Miglia. Chosen as the Closing Night Gala Film presentation. 

For the other film strands including the Arab Spectacular, the Red Sea : Competition, Red Sea : Treasures and Special Screenings plus a whole lot more, you can go to the official website at : https://redseafilmfest.com/en/

To tease you out to your local big screen Odeon in this first week of Summer, there are no less than eight movies coming your way, kicking off with a biographical offering from only a second time Director but a seasoned Actor nonetheless that charts the lifelong love between a famed music conductor and composer and his Costa Rican wife. Following on, we have a crime thriller about a meticulous horticulturist who is devoted to tending the grounds of a beautiful estate and pandering to his employer, the wealthy dowager. Next up is an actioner from an acclaimed Director of the genre about a grieving father who enacts his long-awaited revenge against a ruthless gang on Christmas Eve. Then we turn to an Aussie Sci-Fi thriller that sees two drug-dependent best friends in Melbourne heist a bag of time-travelling crystal in order to pay off their debt to a volatile dealer; which is followed by a romcom drama offering about a woman who is unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiance who has finally brought her back to life. This is followed by a Japanese animated film that follows a young boy who discovers an abandoned tower in his new town and enters a fantastical world with a talking grey heron; and then a documentary combining interviews with secretly shot footage, that focuses on the difficulties facing North Korean defectors, revealing a way of life unknown to most of the world. And closing out the week we have a musical comedy about two self-obsessed businessmen who discover they're long-lost identical twins and come together to plot the reunion of their eccentric, divorced parents.

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.

'MAESTRO' (Rated M) - this American biographical film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars Bradley Cooper in his second feature film making outing after the critically acclaimed and multi award winning 'A Star is Born' in 2018. Also taking Producing credits are Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. This film saw its World Premiere screening at the Venice International Film Festival in early September this year where is was in competition for the Golden Lion, saw a limited cinema release in the US from 22nd November and here in Australia from this week before streaming on Netflix from 20th December. 

This complex love story chronicles the lifelong relationship of famed conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) and Costa Rican Actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan) from the time they met at a party in 1946 and continuing through two engagements, a 25 year marriage, and three children - Jamie Bernstein (Maya Hawke), Alexander Bernstein (Sam Nivola) and Nina Bernstein Simmons (Alexa Swinton). Also starring Sarah Silverman as Bernstein's sister Shirley. 

'MASTER GARDENER' (Rated M) - is an American crime thriller film Written and Directed by Paul Schrader whose previous film making credits take in the likes of his debut offering with 'Blue Collar' in 1978 and then 'American Gigolo' in 1980, 'Cat People' in 1982, 'The Comfort of Strangers' in 1990, 'Dying of the Light' in 2014, 'First Reformed' in 2017 and 'The Card Counter' in 2021. Here, a meticulous horticulturist Narvel Roth (Joel Edgerton) is devoted to tending the grounds of a beautiful estate owned by a wealthy dowager Norma Heverhill (Sigourney Weaver). When he's told to take on her troubled great-niece Maya Core (Quintessa Swindell) as an apprentice, his life is thrown into chaos and dark secrets from his past emerge. The film saw its World Premiere out of competition at the Venice International Film Festival in early September 2022, and was released in the US in mid-May this year having so far grossed US$1.4M at the Box Office off the back of a US$4M production budget and garnering generally favourable reviews.

'SILENT NIGHT' (Rated MA15+) - this American action film is Co-Produced and Directed by John Woo whose prior feature film output includes 'A Better Tomorrow' and 'A Better Tomorrow II' in 1986 and '87, 'The Killer' in 1989, 'Bullet in the Head' in 1990, 'Hard Boiled' in 1992, and then his first Hollywood actioner 'Hard Target' in 1993 followed by 'Broken Arrow' in 1996, 'Face/Off' in 1997, 'Mission : Impossible 2' in 2000, 'Paycheck' in 2003 with 'Red Cliff : Part I' and 'Red Cliff : Part II' in 2008 and 2009 amongst a whole swathe of others. This film is John Woo's first American production since 'Paycheck' twenty years ago and sees a man, Brian Goodluck (Joel Kinnaman) witnesses the death of his young son when the boy gets caught in crossfire between warring gangs on Christmas Eve. Recovering from a wound that cost him his voice, he soon embarks on a bloody and gruelling quest to punish those responsible. The film was released last week in the US and has so far grossed US$3.5M.

'TIME ADDICTS' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian Sci-Fi thriller Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Sam Odlum in his feature film making debut. In debt to their volatile drug dealer, best friends, Denise (Freya Tingley) and Johnny (Charles Grounds), agree to a sketchy job to pay off their last hit. After breaking into a run down stash house in Melbourne, Victoria to steal a bag of mysterious drugs, escape proves more troublesome, as the pair find themselves trapped inside with a madman. With no way out and not one to miss an opportunity, Johnny smokes the new drug and promptly travels into the past, triggering alarming new events in the future. Separated through time, Denise is left alone to confront her past, their dealer's real identity, and her very own existence.

'ONE TRUE LOVES' (Rated PG) - this American romantic comedy drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Andy Fickman whose previous film making efforts include 'She The Man' in 2006, 'The Game Plan' in 2007, 'Race to Witch Mountain' in 2009, 'Parental Guidance' in 2012, and 'Playing with Fire' in 2019. This film is an adaptation of the 2016 novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid. After her husband Jesse (Luke Bracey) disappears in a helicopter crash, Emma (Phillipa Soo) moves back to Massachusetts in an effort to mend her life back together. Four years later, Emma runs into her old best friend, Sam (Simu Liu), and they become inseparable. Newly engaged, Emma receives an unexpected phone call revealing Jesse is alive. Completely torn, Emma must now choose between a husband and a fiance. The film was released in the US in early April this year and has generated largely unfavourable reviews.

'THE BOY AND THE HERON' (Rated PG) - is an Japanese animated fantasy film Written and Directed by Hayao Miyazaki and is Produced by Studio Ghibli. Hayao Miyazaki's previous film credits take in the likes of 'Castle in the Sky' in 1986, 'Princess Mononoke' in 1997, 'Spirited Away' in 2001, 'Howl's Moving Castle' in 2004, 'Ponyo' in 2008 and 'The Wind Rises' in 2013 amongst others. All up Miyazaki has won seventy-nine awards and been nominated a further forty-eight times for his work in Japanese animation. Here, Mahito (voiced by Luca Padovan in the English over-dubbed version), a young twelve-year-old boy, struggles to settle in a new town after his mother's death. However, when a talking heron informs Mahito that his mother is still alive, he enters an abandoned tower in search of her, which takes him to another world. The English version includes the voice talents of Robert Pattinson, Gemma Chan, Christian Bale, Mark Hamill, Florence Pugh, Willem Dafoe and Dave Bautista. The film has garnered universal critical acclaim and has so far grossed US$84M at the Box Office since its release in its native Japan in mid-July with a US and Australian release set for this week. 

'BEYOND UTOPIA' (Rated M) - this American documentary film is Directed and Edited by Madeleine Gavin in her third feature doco film since her debut in 2003 with 'What I Want My Words to Do to You : Voices from Inside a Women's Maximum Security Prison' and 2016's 'City of Joy'. The documentary centres around Sengeun Kim, a pastor who defected from North to South Korea and who facilitates North Korean defections of families as they attempt to escape oppression in North Korea, revealing a world most of us have never seen. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at this years Sundance Film Festival in late January, went on limited release in the US in late October, has so far grossed just US$28K yet had generated universal critical acclaim and has collected six award wins and another thirteen nominations from around the awards and festival circuit.

'DICKS : THE MUSICAL' (Rated MA15+) - is an American musical comedy film Co-Produced and Directed by Larry Charles whose prior film making credits take in 'Masked and Anonymous' in 2003, 'Borat' in 2006, 'Bruno' in 2009, 'The Dictator' in 2012 and 'Army of One' in 2016. This film is based on the off-Broadway musical 'Fucking Identical Twins' by Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson. Here then, two business adversaries Craig and Trevor (Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson respectively) realise they're identical twin brothers, and decide to switch places to reunite their divorced parents so they all can become an actual family again. Also starring Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Megan Thee Stallion, Sonya Eddy, Danielle Perez and Nick Offerman, the film saw its World Premiere screening at this years Toronto International Film Festival in early September before going on release in the US in early October, having so far grossed US$1.4M and generating mixed or average critical reviews.

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-

NAPOLEON : Tuesday 28th November 2023

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'NAPOLEON' this week at my local multiplex, and this US and UK Co-Production is an epic historical drama film Co-Produced and Directed by Ridley Scott, who I'm sure need no introduction, suffice to say he has helmed numerous critically acclaimed films over the years including his debut in 1977 with 'The Duellists' followed by the likes of 'Alien', 'Blade Runner', 'Thelma & Louise', 'Gladiator', 'Black Hawk Down', 'American Gangster', 'Prometheus', 'The Martian', 'The Last Duel' and 'The House of Gucci' most recently. This film had its World Premiere screening in Paris on 14th November, was released in the US, the UK and here in Australia last week before streaming on Apple TV+ at a later date, cost somewhere in the region of US$150M to produce and has so far recouped US$84M in Box Office receipts and has garnered mixed reviews.

On 16th October 1793, amid the French Revolution, young army officer Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) watches Queen Marie Antoinette (Catherine Walker) being beheaded by the guillotine for depletion of the national treasury, conspiracy against the internal and external security of the State, and high treason. Later that year, Revolutionary leader Paul Barras (Tahar Rahim) has Napoleon orchestrate the Siege of Toulon whereby he successfully storms the city undercover of darkness and destroys the British ships anchored in the harbour with artillery. After Maximilien Robespierre (Sam Troughton) is deposed and executed at the end of the Reign of Terror, French leaders, including Napoleon, strive to restore some semblance of stability. Again employing artillery, Napoleon quashes the royalist insurrection on 5th October in 1795 in Paris. 

Napoleon actively courts aristocratic widow Josephine de Beauharnais (Vanessa Kirby) and the two marry on 9th March 1796. Despite their very active sex life, they bear no children much to Napoleon's ongoing disappointment as he is intent on having a son and heir. In Egypt, he prevails again at the Battle of the Pyramids in 1798, but rushes home when he hears Josephine has had an affair with another man. The Directory criticises him for abandoning his troops, but he condemns them for their poor leadership of France and, as part of a trio, overthrows them in a coup on 9th November 1799, and becomes First Consul.

Napoleon is crowned Emperor of the French by the Pope on 2nd December 1804 at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, during which he audaciously places the crown on his own head. Foreign Minister Talleyrand (Paul Rhys) suggests to Austria an alliance, though the Austrians dismiss the idea. A year later, Napoleon out manoeuvres and defeats the Austrians and Russians at the Battle of Austerlitz on 2nd December 1805, forcing them to retreat over a huge frozen lake before bombarding the ice with cannons and drowning them in the icy waters below. Afterwards, he invites Austrian Emperor Francis II for wine, which Russian Tsar Alexander I (Edouard Philipponnat) declines to attend, and tells Francis that since he did not totally destroy their armies, he expects the latter to be grateful. 

Letizia Bonaparte (Sinead Cusack), Napoleon's mother, hatches a plan to determine whether her son, or Josephine, is incapable of producing a child. She has him impregnate an eighteen year old mistress, proving that Josephine is infertile. At an intimate dinner with a handful of friends on 30th November 1809, he let Josephine know that, in the interest of France, he must find a wife who could produce an heir. Josephine agreed to the divorce so the Emperor could remarry in the hope of having an heir. The divorce ceremony took place on 10th January 1810 and was a grand but solemn social occasion, and each read a statement of devotion to the other, but not before he publicly slapped her in the face when she initially refused to read her portion of the decree. However, the two remain on good terms and continue writing letters to each other. Napoleon marries Marie Louise of Austria (Anna Mawn) in a formal ceremony in April of 1810, who bears him a son one year later.

In 1812, Napoleon invades Russia after Alexander back tracks on a peace treaty with France. He prevails, despite fierce resistance by Cossack guerrillas, at the Battle of Borodino, but finds Moscow empty and later set aflame. Napoleon retreats during the harsh winter to France, having lost about half a million men. In 1814, the Coalition force Napoleon's abdication and exile him to the Mediterranean island of Elba, arriving on 4th May. He was allowed to keep a personal guard of four hundred men and was nominally appointed sovereign of the island. After staying for almost ten months, he escaped back to France having commandeered a ship on 26th February 1815 having heard that Josephine was unwell. 

Josephine, having been forced into a reclusive life at her former family home near Paris died of pneumonia before he arrives. King Louis XVIII (Ian McNeice) sends the Fifth Regiment to prevent Napoleon from advancing, but he charms them into joining him. Napoleon returns to power in March of 1815 and at the Battle of Waterloo on 18th June, Napoleon, having amassed 125,000 troops, confronts the British army under Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington (Rupert Everett). French cavalry charges are thwarted by British infantry squares, and a desperate Napoleon commands his remaining soldiers and officers forward, but this advance is decimated by re-formed lines of enemy infantry. The forces of Prussian Marshal Blucher arrive to bring support to Wellington, and the French are overwhelmingly defeated. As Napoleon retreats, he salutes Wellington. 

Napoleon is exiled for a second and final time to the island of Saint Helena, a remote volcanic tropical island about 1,200 miles west of the coast of south-western Africa in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where he arrives in October 1815. He is seen bantering with a pair of young girls, and writing his memoirs that would become a worldwide best-seller. He died there on 5th May 1821, with his final words being 'France - Army - Josephine'. An epilogue notes that roughly three million soldiers died fighting his wars.

Despite the historical inaccuracies reported on, or the fact the this film fails to elaborate on much of the good that Napoleon brought to the French nation during his reign as Emperor, or his political or strategic machinations, one cannot deny that Director Ridley Scott knows how to stage large scale battle scenes and his penchant for never letting the truth get in the way of a good story! Instead we have a storyline that concentrates almost exclusively on Napoleon's often tumultuous relationship with his first wife Josephine and five key battles out of the eighty os so fought during his lifetime. Scott also has a keen eye for the detail and this is reflected in the production values which are top rate, and in casting Vanessa Kirby as Josephine he hit pay dirt, but not so much with Joaquin Phoenix portrayal of Napoleon who scowls, throws temper tantrums and at age almost fifty is some 20+ years older than the character he is playing seems just a tad miscast here. This is certainly not Ridley Scott's finest production, but it is worth a viewing on a big screen if for nothing else the spectacle of the battle sequences. 

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 30th November 2023.

The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) returns for its 34th edition this year running from Thursday 30th November until Sunday 10th December, and promising an unparalleled cinematic experience filled with record-breaking firsts. This year, the festival proudly presents a diverse selection of 101 films from fifty countries, SGIFF is set to showcase the rich tapestry of international cinema, continuing its tradition of celebrating the art of storytelling through films, bringing together filmmakers, cinephiles, and audiences alike for an enriching and unforgettable cinematic journey. 

The festival opens with 'Tiger Stripes' from Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Indonesia and Qatar and is Directed by Amanda Nell Eu and tells the story of twelve year old girl Zaffan who is carefree until she starts to experience horrifying physical changes to her body.

A highlight of the Festival each year, the Asian Feature Film Competition is dedicated to uncovering exhilarating new cinematic visions by Asian Directors making their first to third feature films. This section takes in the following titles :-

* 'A Journey in Spring' - from Taiwan and Directed by Tzu-Hui Peng and Ping-Wen Wang.

* 'Critical Zone' - from Iran and Germany and Directed by Ali Ahmadzadeh.

* 'Dreaming & Dying' - from Singapore and Indonesia and Directed by Nelson Yeo.

* 'Hesitation Wound' - from Turkey, France, Romania and Spain and Directed by Selman Nacar.

* 'Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell' - from Vietnam, Singapore, France and Spain and Directed by Thien An Pham.

* 'Last Shadow at First Light' - from Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Slovenia and Indonesia and Directed by Nicole Midori Woodford.

* 'Monisme' - from Indonesia and Qatar and Directed by Riar Rizaldi.

* 'Morrison' - from Thailand and France and Directed by Phuttiphong Aroonpheng. 

* 'Snow in Midsummer' - from Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan and Directed by Keat Aun Chong.

* 'The Tenants' - from South Korea and Directed by Eun-Kyung Yoon. World Premiere screening.

* 'Tomorrow Is A Long Time' - from Singapore, Taiwan, France and Portugal and Directed by Zhi Wei Jow.

* 'Vali' - from India and Directed by Manoj Shinde. World Premiere screening.

What are the latest cinematic marvels that have resonated with festival audiences? Foreground presents six genre-driven works that have captivated the film festival circuit. This section highlights the following feature films :-

* '24 Hours with Gaspar' - from Indonesia and Directed by Yosep Anggi Noen.

* 'A Normal Family' - from South Korea and Directed by Jin-ho Hur.

* 'All of Us Strangers' - from the UK and Directed by Andrew Haigh.

* 'Art College 1994' - from China and Directed by Jian Liu.

* 'La Chimera' - from Italy, France and Switzerland and Directed by Alice Rohrwacher.

* 'Poor Things' - from the USA, UK and Ireland and Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

For the other film strands being presented, and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can head to the official website at : https://sgiff.com/

With seven new movie offerings hailing from all corners of the globe this week, there is sure to be something for everyone. Kicking off with a British drama that tells the story of the future for the last remaining pub in a village of Northeast England, where people are leaving the land as the mines are closed, where houses are cheap and available, thus making it an ideal location for Syrian refugees as the pub landlord befriends one of those refugees. Then we turn to a New Zealand comedy drama about a 17 year-old student who is forced to get off the fence he has actively sat on all his life to stand up for himself, his family and his future in this heartwarming story of identity. Next up is an Italian drama concerning two young boys who spend their childhoods together in a secluded alpine village roaming the surrounding peaks and valleys before their paths diverge. This is followed by an American comedy about two unpopular queer high school students who start a fight club to have sex before graduation. Up next is a Japanese creature feature set in Japan in the immediate aftermath of WWII when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster. Following on from this we have an American Christmas offering about the greatest story ever told - that of the birth of JC; before closing out the week with an American animated musical comedy that is the third instalment in the franchise that has Poppy learning that Branch was once part of the boy band 'BroZone', but when one of the brothers is kidnapped, Branch and Poppy embark on a journey to reunite his two other brothers and rescue the one kidnapped.

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

'THE OLD OAK' (Rated MA15+) - is a UK, French and Belgian Co-Produced drama film Directed by Ken Loach whose previous feature film credits take in his debut in 1967 with 'Poor Cow' and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Kes' in 1969, 'Riff-Raff' in 1991, 'Carla's Song' in 1996, 'My Name Is Joe' in 1998, 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley' in 2006, 'Looking for Eric' in 2009, 'I, Daniel Blake' in 2016 and 'Sorry We Missed You' in 2019. 'The Old Oak' is Ken Loach's last film having announced his retirement at the age of 87. This film Premiered in main competition at this years Cannes Film Festival in late May, was released in the UK at the end of September, has so far grossed US$1.2M off the back of a US$3.8M production budget and has generated largely positive reviews.

Pub landlord TJ Ballantyne (Dave Turner), living in a previously thriving mining community in County Durham in North East England, struggles to hold onto his pub and keep it as the one remaining public space where people can meet in the town. Much of the younger population have since left and what was once a thriving, proud community struggles to keep old values alive. But there is growing anger, resentment, and a lack of hope. Houses are cheap and available. This makes it an ideal location for the Syrian refugees that have been accepted by Britain in recent years. Meanwhile, tensions rise when Syrian refugees are placed there, but Ballantyne strikes up a friendship with one of the refugees, Yara (Ebla Mari). 

'UPROAR' (Rated M) - this New Zealand comedy drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennet. Set in New Zealand in 1981, when the arrival of the South African rugby team sets off nationwide protests against apartheid and racism. Josh Waaka (Julian Dennison), a quick witted 17-year-old of mixed race who has been a passive bystander all his life and who has struggled to to fit in to his all-boys private school, is inspired by the protests in his home town of Dunedin. Josh however, discovers a newfound passion for performing to find his own voice, and so with the aid of a kindly teacher Madigan (Rhys Darby), a close friend and his loving family (Minnie Driver and James Rolleston), a more confident Josh embraces his Maori heritage before taking a stand for himself, his family, and his future. 

'THE EIGHT MOUNTAINS' (Rated M) - is an Italian drama film Written for the screen and Directed by Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch and is based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Paolo Cognetti. The film charts the friendship between two men, Pietro (played by Luca Marinelli as an adult) and Bruno (by Alessandro Borghi as an adult) who spend their childhood together in a remote Italian Alpine village and reconnect later as adults. The films title is a reference to the concept in Buddhism and ancient Indian cosmology that the world is composed of nine mountains and eight seas, specifically eight concentric circular mountain ranges separated from one another by eight seas, with the ninth and tallest mountain, Mount Meru, at the centre. The film saw its World Premier screening at at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2022 where it won the Jury Prize, was released in its native Italy last December and only now does it get a release in Australia having so far grossed US$11M at the Box Office and generated positive reviews.

'BOTTOMS' (Rated MA15+) - this American satirical teen sex comedy film is Directed by Emma Seligman, from a screenplay she co-wrote with Rachel Sennott. Emma Seligman's made her feature film making debut with 'Shiva Baby' in 2020, and here she focuses on two girls, PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edbiri), who start a fight club as a way to lose their virginities to cheerleaders. Their bizarre plan works. The fight club gains traction and soon the most popular girls in school are beating each other up in the name of self-defence. But PJ and Josie find themselves in over their heads and in need of a way out before their plan is exposed. It Premiered at South by Southwest in mid-March this year and was released Stateside in late August, has so far grossed US$12.3M off the back of a production budget of US$11.3M and has garnered generally favourable critical reviews. 

'GODZILLA MINUS ONE' (Rated M) - is a Japanese kaiju film Written, Directed, and with visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki. It is the 37th film in the Godzilla franchise and the 33rd film produced by Japan's Toho Studios. Here, in post war 1946 Japan and the country is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, mutated by the horrific power of the Bikini Atoll nuclear tests. Starring Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, and Kuranosuke Sasaki, the film was produced for US$15M, was the closing night film at this years Tokyo International Film Festival on 1st November, was released in Japan on the 3rd of this month, is released in the US and Canada this week too, and in the UK and Ireland from mid-December. The film has been critically acclaimed in its home country of Japan.

'JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM' (Rated PG) - is an American Christmas family musical adventure film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Adam Anders in his feature film making debut. You know the story here - a young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility; a young man torn between love and honour; and a jealous king Herod (Antonio Banderas) who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas classic weaves melodies into new pop songs in a music-infused retelling of the timeless story of Mary (Fiona Palomo) and Joseph (Milo Manheim) and the birth of Jesus. 

'TROLLS BAND TOGETHER' (Rated G) - this American animated musical comedy film is Directed by Walt Dohrn who Co-Directed 'Trolls' in 2016 and Directed 'Trolls World Tour' in 2020. The first two films in the franchise cost a combined US$250M to produce and grossed worldwide a total US$396M and are based on the Good Luck Trolls created by the Danish woodworker Thomas Dam. A month after the events of the second film, Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick) and Branch (voiced by Justin Timberlake) have officially started a relationship. As the two grow closer, Poppy discovers that Branch was once a part of the boyband phenomenon, BroZone, with his four older brothers. When one of his brothers, Floyd (Troye Sivan), is kidnapped by wannabe pop-star siblings, Velvet (voiced by Amy Schumer) and Veneer (Andrew Rannells), Branch and the rest of the siblings must reunite to rescue him. Also starring the voice talents of Camila Cabello, Eric Andre, Kid Cudi, Daveed Diggs, RuPaul, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Anderson Paak. The film has so far grossed US$146M from a production budget of US$95M since its release in the US earlier this month. 

With seven 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-