**Note: This film replaces tonight's originally scheduled first feature – Adam Jones (aka Burnt)**

On Middle Island in Victoria, Little Penguins have made their home for many years – at least until wild foxes find their way onto the island and begin drastically reducing the population of penguins.

An eccentric chicken farmer (Shane Jacobson) enlists the help of his granddaughter to train their mischievous dog, Oddball, to protect the penguins from these predators. In the process, he must also attempt to reunite his estranged family and save their seaside town.

Based on the heart-warming and incredible true story, Oddball has taken Australia by storm, earning nearly $10 million at the local box office to become the third most successful Australian film this year.

Let’s face it: Johnny Depp’s films haven’t been all that great lately. Since becoming a bona fide superstar with Pirates of the Caribbean in 2003, he’s spent his time either reprising Jack Sparrow or playing some variation on the boozy, flamboyant weirdo with an accent. Sometimes it works (Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland), but most of the time it doesn’t (Mortdecai, Dark Shadows).

In Black Mass, we once again find Depp in character mode, but rest easy: this is one for the ‘wins’ column.

The film tells the true story of infamous South Boston mobster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, who was persuaded in the late 1970s to become an informant for the FBI. In exchange for information on the Italian mafia, a common enemy of theirs, Bulger and his gang would have free rein while the FBI turned a blind eye to their less-than-legal operations. The resulting unholy alliance – which went on for over 20 years – allowed Bulger to rise above the law, consolidate his power, and eventually become one of the most notorious gangsters in US history.

Channelling a deadly blend of Christopher Walken and Robert De Niro circa Goodfellas, Depp is scary good as Bulger in a welcome change of pace from his usual roles of late.

And he’s not alone, with director Scott Cooper (best known for directing Jeff Bridges to his first Best Actor Oscar in Crazy Heart) corralling a killer cast including Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, and Fifty Shades of Grey’s Dakota Johnson. Not to be missed.