April 2022 Movies in English at the Odeon

A scene from ‘Coda,’ photo courtesy of the Odeon

April’s films at the Odeon Cinema (piazza Strozzi) include two feel good coming-of-age films.  Licorice Pizza which received three Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture and Coda which received three Oscars.  The month closes out with the much anticipated third installment of Fantastic Beasts, continuing the tales of magicians and wizards.  Films will be screened in English with Italian subtitles.  In Coda much of the movie uses sign language with English subtitles.

Friday, April 1 & Wednesday, April 6 (6 pm), Saturday, April 2 (9 pm) & Sunday, April 3 (4 and 9 pm):  LICORICE PIZZA

Set in 1973 San Fernando Valley, this love-at-first-sight tale, filled with quirks and surprises, comes across as pure nostalgia.  When having his high school photo taken 15-year-old Gary Valentine borrows a mirror and comb from photographer’s assistant Alana Kane, is smitten with her and states, “this is the girl I’m going to marry someday.”  The attraction, oddly mutual due to a 10-year age difference, persists through the years with a waterbed business begun together, navigating the 1970s gas crisis and many intriguing situations.  With an ensemble cast of Sean Penn, Tom Waits and Bradley Cooper, the film received three Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.  Newbie actors Cooper Hoffman as Gary and Alana Haim as the object of his affection, have received praise for their performances skillfully directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Friday, April 1 & Wednesday, April 6 (9 pm); Saturday, April 2 (6 pm) & Sunday, April 3 (6:45 pm): CODA

This coming-of-age comedy-drama, premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay.  Emilia Jones plays 17-year-old Ruby, the only hearing member in a deaf family who owns a fishing business in Gloucester, Massachusetts.  Acting as the family’s interpreter, Ruby is vital for facilitating the business.  She also loves to sing and when her choir director discovers her vocal talent, he offers to train her for auditions for the prestigious Berklee College of Music.  A dilemma ensues with the family having to make the decision for her to go to college or remain working on the fishing boat.  Further complicating the situation, she develops a relationship with a boy in her choir.  Written and directed by Sian Heder, the parents Frank (Troy Kotsur) and Jackie (Marlee Matlin) and brother Leo (Daniel Durant) are played by real-life deaf persons.

Wednesday, April 13 (6 & 9 pm); Thursday, April 14, (6 & 9 pm); Friday, April 15 (6 & 9 pm); Saturday, 16 (6 & 9 pm); Sunday, 17 (6 & 9 pm) & Monday April 18 (6 & 9 pm):

FANTASTIC BEASTS 3—THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE

Set in the 1930s in the magic communities of Bhutan, China, Germany, US and UK, the third in a series of J.K Rowling’s saga is directed by David Yates.  Professor Dumbledore (Jude Law), headmaster of Hogwart’s School of Wizardry, realizes the ‘Dark Wizard’ Gellert Grindelward (Mads Mikkelsen), is seeking to wrest control of the world of magic and has attracted an increasing legion of disciples.  Dumbledore enlists the help of zoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and a team of wizards to embark on a mission fraught with danger to fight Grindelwald.  Full of action, intrigue and magical creatures, the film proves to provide a fantastical escape for viewers.  (rita kungel)