ETERNALS : Wednesday 3rd November 2021.

I saw 'ETERNALS' earlier this week at an advanced screening at my local multiplex, and this M Rated much hyped, eagerly anticipated and long awaited epic superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics characters of the same name. This is the 26th film in the MCU and the third film in the MCU's Phase Four. Directed and Co-Written by Chloe Zhao whose prior film credits are 2015's 'Songs My Brother Taught Me' her debut, then 'The Rider' in 2017 and the critically acclaimed 'Nomadland' in 2020. Originally set for release on 6th November 2020, it was then moved back to 12th February 2021 and then to this week in the US, UK, Australia and other international territories due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following its World Premier in LA on 18th October. The film cost US$200M to produce and has so far generated mixed or average Reviews, and at the time of writing the film has grossed US$30M. 

The core Eternals team who landed on our little blue planet about seven thousand years ago, consists of ten characters, each with their own set of very particular skills and super powers. There is Sersi (Gemma Chan), who can transform objects into different elements, such as rock into sand, metal into water, wood into stone and so on; Ikaris (Richard Madden), has the ability to fly and fire cosmic laser beams from his eyes; Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), who can project energy blasts from his hands; Sprite (Lia McHugh), a twelve year old girl who can summon illusions at will ; Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), an inventor extraordinaire; Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), who is deaf but has superhuman speed; Druig (Barry Keoghan), with the ability to control many multiple minds at once; Gilgamesh (Don Lee) with super strength, and Thena (Angelina Jolie), the Goddess of war who can summon weapons of cosmic light; and leading the pack is Ajak (Salma Hayek), the 'Prime Eternal' who has the ability to heal herself and others and is able to communicate with the Celestial Arishem the Judge (voiced by David Kaye) as a surrogate mother and protector of the Eternals. 

And so the Eternals are an immortal alien race created millennia ago by the Celestials (their mythology is that they are members of the first lifeforms created in and by the original universe, and have contributed to the creation of the Multiverse, including the evolution of life therein) and who were sent to Earth to protect humanity from the Deviants (an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth instigated by the alien Celestials). In 5000 BC, the Eternals arrived on Earth from their home planet Olympia sent by the Celestial Arishem, where they have to fight the invasive Deviants and ultimately destroy them all. Over the ensuing millennia, they have protected humanity from the dangers posed by these mutant creatures, but were not permitted to stand in the way of the development of mankind. The last of the Deviants were seemingly killed off some five hundred years ago, at which point the group became divided, as views differed about their responsibility towards the world's growing population. They subsequently spent the next few centuries largely separated from each other, waiting for Arishem to send them back to Olympia.

Fast forward to present day London and Sersi and Sprite are living together. After Sersi was left by her partner Ikaris more than five hundred years previously, she now has a relationship with Dane Whitman (Kit Harington) who works at London's Natural History Museum. When the three are attacked one evening by the Deviant leader Kro, Ikaris appears and chases the creature away after observing that this Deviant was able to self heal. Sersi, Sprite and Ikaris decide to reunite all Eternals to prepare for the renewed danger. They round up the rest of the group, all except for Ajak who was seemingly killed by a Deviant. 

As the new leader of the group, Ajak gave Sersi the ability to communicate with Arishem. In a conversation with the Celestial, Arishem tells her that the overriding mission of the Eternals was not to fight the Deviants, but to prepare Earth for 'The Emergence'. Arishem further explains that for millions of years, the Celestials have been planting their seeds in populated planets so that a new Celestial can be born from them. Since the energy of innumerable individuals is required for this, the Celestials sent the Deviants, so that the respective apex predators of the planet could be eradicated therefore paving the way for the ongoing development of life. However, the Deviants evolved and became apex predators themselves, explaining why the Eternals were sent to thwart them. Arishem concludes that Earth has now reached the necessary population density so that The Emergence - the birth of the Celestial Tiamut and the consequent destruction of Earth - can occur. This fact was known by Ajak since the Eternals arrived, but she was sworn to secrecy, telling Ikaris a few centuries ago but only revealing in flashback seven days before The Emergence was due to begin. Arisham also reveals that there was no home planet, Olympia, from which the Eternals originally hailed, and that they are destined to die with The Emergence. 

The Eternals came to love and respect humanity, despite all their flaws, over the centuries gone by, and so they decide not to obey the will of Arishem and instead want to prevent The Emergence. Through the 'Uni-Mind' created by Phastos - a connection between all Eternals that brings their collective powers together in a single force, Druig is then meant to harness the necessary power to bring Tiamut to sleep by means of his mind control abilities. However, not all Eternals are satisfied with the plan and Kingo leaves the group because he does not want to face Arishem and Ikaris reveals himself as an opponent. It was he who had been informed of The Emergence by Ajak and who finally sacrificed the leader to the Deviants when she too spoke out in opposition to the destruction of the Earth.

Makkari sprints around the world at warp speed to locate the place of The Emergence at the foot of an active volcano. There, a fight between Ikaris and the Eternals breaks out. The Deviant Kro, who wants to take out his revenge on the Eternals and who had previously killed Gilgamesh, is also there. Together, the group are able to bring Ikaris under control, while Thena defeats Kro at the same time by slicing and dicing him up with the aid of a pair of swords of cosmic light. 

Phastos activates the Uni-Mind, which Ikaris also joins after he has rethought his life on Earth and his relationship with Sersi. Since Druig is too weak from the previous fight to face Tiamut, Sersi, who is able to manipulate and transform substances, takes on the job and kills Tiamut by transforming the molten lava flow into ice and then hardened rock, so solidifying the emerging Tiamut. Wracked by guilt, Ikaris flies off taking one last look at planet Earth before flying directly into the sun. Sersi grants Sprite human life so that she can grow into an adult and experience all the things that adults do, albeit knowing that she will some day die too; Phastos remains with his partner and husband Ben (Haaz Sleiman) and their adoptive son Jack (Esai Daniel Cross), Kingo returns to his life as a famous Bollywood Actor; and Sersi returns to London to be with Dane Whitman. Thena, Druig and Makkari fly into space aboard their spaceship to find other Eternals. 

One day when Sersi and Dane are out walking and talking about her recent exploits in saving the world on Hampstead Heath with the City of London in the background, Arisham arrives on the horizon and summons Sersi and the other still earthbound Eternals telling them that with their killing of Tiamut he is still yet to judge whether Earth's civilisation will live or die. Keep watching for a mid-credits and a post-credits sequence in which Thena, Druig and Makkari get an unexpected couple of visitors on board their spaceship, and Dane Whitman opens up an old chest inherited from his forebearers.  

In crafting 'Eternals' Director and Co-Screenwriter Chloe Zhao has thrown out the MCU how-to rule book and created a film that takes the near fifteen year old epic franchise in a new and fresh direction. This film has emotion, sex, homosexuality and a rag tag bunch of various nationalities, cultures and beliefs all wrapped up into one neat little package that is not short on the action set pieces, or the humour delivered for the most part by Kingo and Gilgamesh. That said, its hard to get truly invested in ten characters when there is so little time given to their respective back stories which span millennia; the film labours at the mid-section and at a running time of 157 minutes it is, for me at least, twenty minutes overcooked. There will be those that love this film, and those that hate it, and as for this Reviewer, well I sit somewhere in the middle. But credit has to go to Chloe Zhao for steeping foot outside of the tried and tested MCU formula and delivering us something different, which despite its flaws, paves the way for a perhaps invigorated Phase Four - only time will tell where these characters take us. 

'Eternals' warrants three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, from Odeon Online-

THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD : Tuesday 18th May 2021.

'THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD' is an MA15+ Rated American survival action thriller film which I saw this week at my local multiplex. It is Directed and Co-Written for the screen by Taylor Sheridan and based on the 2014 book of the same name by Michael Koryta. Sheridan's previous two film making credits are 'Vile' in 2011 and 'Wind River' in 2017, although he has also written the Screenplays for various others including 'Sicario' in 2015 and its 2018 sequel 'Sicario : Day of the Soldado', 'Hell or High Water' and 'Wind River', plus numerous episodes of TV series 'Yellowstone'. The film was released in South Korea earlier this month, went on general release in Australia and the US from last week, has so far grossed US$7.5M and has generated mixed critical Reviews.

Here then, Hannah Faber (Angelina Jolie) is a smokejumper (a specially trained wildland firefighter who provides an initial attack response on remote wildland fires - they are inserted at the location of the fire by parachute) who is struggling to come to terms with the deaths of three young boys and another smokejumper last year during a forest fire which she was supposedly in charge of, and mis-read the direction the wind was blowing in, so engulfing the four fatalities in flame. She has subsequently been posted to a fire observation tower above the tree line in Park County, Montana. 

In the meantime Owen Casserly (Jake Weber) a widowed forensic accountant is preparing breakfast for his son Connor (Finn Little) when he learns over breaking early morning news that his boss and his family were blown sky high in an apparent gas explosion at their home. The reality is, that they were killed by father and son assassins Jack and Patrick Blackwell (Aiden Gillen and Nicholas Hoult respectively). Owen is of the belief that the assassins will target him next, as the evidence revealed during the course of his forensic accounting investigations tell a story of wide spread corruption through government departments, politicians and other influential parties. And so Owen makes a snap decision to go on the run with Connor, ultimately wanting to seek refuge with his brother-in-law Ethan Sawyer (Jon Bernthal) a Deputy Sheriff in Park County, and Hannah's former boyfriend. 

En-route to Park County, and after the Blackwell's have ransacked the Casserly home to find no one there and evidence that they left in a hurry, the Blackwell's ambush Owen and Connor forcing them off the road and down a steep ravine. As Owen sits in the drivers seat dying, he gives Connor hand written evidence implicating the Blackwell's employer, mob boss Arthur Phillip (Tyler Perry). He tells Connor to get out of the car and go hide under a fallen tree and to remain silent no matter what he witnesses. At that, from the road, the Blackwell's fire a barrage of bullets into the back of the car, shredding Owen who puts his foot on the accelerator sending the vehicle crashing down the ravine even further before coming to rest in a crumpled heap on its side at the bottom.    

Ethan comes across the car wreck on his way home later that afternoon, and meanwhile Hannah encounters Connor wandering through the forest while she is out on patrol. Connor is initially untrusting of Hannah and tries to evade her, but when confronted with a twelve mile hike to the nearest town relents and reluctantly agrees to accompany her back to the tower to contact the Police and the news media for help. Jack Blackwell receives a call from Arthur Phillip who wants to meet. Phillip instructs Blackwell to hunt down Connor and kill him.

And so in order to cause a distraction for a few hours while the Blackwell's go about their business, they start a forest fire using flares that quickly ignites the dry undergrowth and before you know it is a full blown forest fire raging out of control. They then drive to Ethan's house disguised as Police Officers believing that Connor would have made it there, to be greeted by Ethan's six months pregnant wife Allison (Medina Senghore). They force their way in and beat Allison into submission until she agrees to call Ethan and ask him the whereabouts of Connor. Ultimately, another scuffle breaks out in which Allison gains the upper hand with the use of a gas cylinder which she ignites and points it flamethrower like at Jack burning him badly to the side of his face, and fires off a few shotgun rounds at Patrick in the process catching them both off guard. Allison escapes the house.

That night an electrical storm strikes and a direct lightning bolt hits the tower frying the radio, the satellite phone and all the electrics in the place. Hannah then leads Connor into town on foot but are forced to retreat back to the tower when the fire blocks their safe passage through the woodland. Hannah is struck by lightning when crossing an open field, but survives badly shaken but not stirred save for a not insignificant burn to her shoulder. Ethan hurries home with the Sheriff having been previously alerted in the phone call from Allison that something was not quite right at home. The Blackwell's emerge and shoot the Sheriff dead and then force Ethan to guide them through the forest as their tracker to hunt down Connor. 

The Blackwell's and Ethan eventually come across the tower which appears empty, except from smoke rising out of a wood burning chimney. Ethan is forced to search it while the Blackwell's watch from a tree, saying that if Connor is in there to bring him down to them, and if not, to set the lookout alight. Having returned to the tower earlier, Hannah and Connor both hide while Ethan attempts to make it appear empty in the dark. Patrick notices Ethan talking and they start shooting into the tower, injuring Ethan. Hannah and Connor manage to escape. The Blackwells try to follow them but are stopped when Allison, having tracked down Ethan by way of a GPS, starts shooting at them. Patrick and Jack split up, with Patrick going after Hannah and Connor, and Jack staying to try and kill Allison; however, she shoots him twice disabling him and then plugs him with a third round at close range killing him.

Connor is told to run ahead by Hannah who has suffered a bullet wound to the leg, while she attempts to distract Patrick but he gains the upper hand over Hannah and is savagely landing punches to her face and head. Connor returns pleading for him to stop beating Hannah. Patrick rises to his feet, and approaches Connor telling him to turn around while he draws a knife in readiness to slit the young lads throat. Hannah meanwhile rises to her feet behind Patrick and lunges at him twice and a third time with a pick axe severely injuring him to the point where he asks her to finish him off. But she declines saying that he can suffer and then leaves him to burn to death in the approaching fire which quickly and very painfully engulfs him. 

Allison reunites with Ethan in the tower but they are trapped by the fire; they put on oxygen masks and hold each other as it surrounds them. Hannah and Connor jump into a stream and watch from under the water as the fire engulfs the forest all around and above them. The next morning as day breaks Hannah and Connor are sat by the waters edge of the stream which saved them both. They walk back to the tower, just as three men from Hannah's smoke-jumping team are parachuted in to save them, and Allison in the tower. Ethan died overnight from injuries sustained from his bullet wounds. Later that morning after medical assistance had been rendered, Connor prepares to give his father's evidence to the awaiting media channels and Hannah promises to help him navigate through his uncertain future. 

The production values in 'Those Who Wish Me Dead' are pretty good it must be said, particularly the staged forest fire sequences which look authentic enough and add to the realism of the film. There is also a fine cast of A-list movie talent here that is underpinned by two up and coming stars in young Aussie Finn Little and Medina Senghore that help elevate the film somewhat, and add a few moments of tension and emotion in an otherwise fairly predictable storyline that never rises above the sum of its parts. Had this film been released sometime during the late '80's or the '90's it probably would have been a smash hit and as it is this film is a formulaic throwback to those natural disaster flicks that filled the shelves in our local video and dvd rental stores during that bygone era. The Director and Writer Taylor Sheridan has proven his abilities with action spectacle and how to get the most out of his cast in an entertaining enough feature that is often overly violent, and will leave many questions unanswered by the time the end credits roll. At a brisk running time of one hundred minutes it is fast paced and will not leave you wanting, even though within 24 hours you will have forgotten about this movie and wondering what to see next. 

'Those Who Wish Me Dead' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 26th November 2015.

Always searching to bring current, relevant, interesting updates to these humble pages I was keen to source some early predictions on next years Oscar's race three months out from the 28th February 2016 ceremony. The Hollywood Reporter is pitching its main contenders for Best Picture as 'The Martian', 'Bridge of Spies', 'Straight Outta Compton' which have been Reviewed previously within these pages, and the others which have yet to be seen Down Under, and they are 'The Revenant' starring Leonardo DiCaprio (7th January), 'Spotlight' starring Mark Ruffalo (28th January), 'Brooklyn' with Saoirse Ronan (11th February), 'Room' with Brie Larson (28th January), 'Joy' with Jennifer Lawrence (26th December), 'The Big Short' with Christian Bale (14th January), and 'The Danish Girl' with Eddie Redmayne (28th January). These remaining seven films are yet to make their presence felt in Australia and will be Previewed in future Posts, and will be released as indicated, but can be seen in other territories depending on where you reside on the cinematic globe. Watch out for further Oscar race updates in the coming weeks.

Sticking though with the week ahead, there are five new release movies coming your way that kick start with a long standing pugilist offering that brings this spin off tale full circle where the former champ becomes the teacher to an aspiring student that brings back many memories; then there is a another sporting story grounded in scandalous truth that shocked and rocked the world for the individual caught in the middle and the world of supporters betrayed; next up a power couple share screen time for only the second time in this 70's romantic drama set somewhere on a European coast. Following this is a family festive film featuring more comedic talent that you can shake a candy cane at; and to wrap up the week an animated feature of monsters, growing pains, and hotel guests.

With these as Previewed below, and those movies still out on general release and as either Reviewed or Previewed before, there are plenty of reasons to get to you local Odeon and take in some filmic entertainment. When you have had chance to do so, share your cinematic critique with us here at Odeon Online in the Comments section below this, or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your movie.

CREED (Rated M) - in 1976, a young Sylvester Stallone, who wrote the screenplay for a film and a character that would forever becomes etched in cinematic folklore, burst onto our screens as Rocky Balboa - 'The Italian Stallion'. He was a down at heel no hope dead end lunk of wannabe Boxer from the poorer side of Philadelphia who against all the odds went onto to a world championship bout against Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). That film won three Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Directing for John Avildsen, and was nominated for a further seven awards including Best Actor and Best Writing for Stallone. It picked up another sixteen award wins and another fourteen nominations and propelled Stallone to super stardom in the years that followed. Subsequently there have been further Rocky films in 1979, 1982, 1985, 1990 and 'Rocky Balboa' in 2006. Those six films had a combined production budget of just US$119M and all up grossed US$1.27B. In the meantime and sticking with the pugilist theme, Stallone made 'Grudge Match' in 2013 with Robert De Niro and in 1978, 'Paradise Alley' - Stallone's Directorial debut, albeit about wrestling, but, a variation on a theme!

So this brings us to 'Creed', made for US$35M and Directed by Ryan Coogler, which as the name suggests is less about Rocky and more about Creed, the younger, and son of now deceased Apollo Creed who Rocky fought in both 1976's 'Rocky' and 1982's 'Rocky II'. Adonis Johnson Creed (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous World Champion Boxing father Apollo, but nonetheless is following in his footsteps with aspirations of becoming a boxing champion. Knowing that he needs the proper coaching to stand any chance at a title, Adonis travels to Philadelphia to seek out Rocky, now retired and running his Italian Restaurant as he was in the 2006 film. Rocky sees a lot of Apollo in his son, and so agrees to coach and mentor him with a chance at a title bout, but will the young aspiring fighter have the strength, determination and attitude that made his father a Champion. I love a good boxing movie, so I'll be there for this next instalment in the Rocky saga that is already garnering much positive press.

THE PROGRAM (Rated M) - it was only a matter of time before this controversial and meaty recent real life story of sporting scandal made it to our big screens. Based on the David Walsh book 'Seven Deadly Sins' this film tells the story of Lance Armstrong, as Directed by Stephen Frears charting his cycling rise to fame, his seven Tour de France wins and with it his cancer beating, record winning, charity fund raising, inspirational writing, clean as a whistle persona. Until of course it all came tumbling down when the truth was outed that all along he was a drug taking cheat on the grandest scale. With Ben Foster starring as Armstrong and Chris O'Dowd as the British journalist David Walsh who all along suspected something was not quite right, but couldn't prove it, but pushed forward with his investigation nonetheless with dogged determination to reveal the truth. Also starring Jesse Plemmons as disgraced drug taking cyclist Floyd Landis, Lee Pace as Armstrong's long term Agent Bill Stapleton, Guillaume Canet as Armstrong's Italian medic Michele Ferrari, and Dustin Hoffman.

BY THE SEA (Rated MA15+) - Hollywood 'it' couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star in this mid-70's set film Directed, Produced, Written and Starring Angelina with her husband Brad. This is only their second cinematic outing together after the 2005 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' and this time they play a couple whose marriage is in crisis so they travel to France to rediscover each other, rekindle their relationship and repair the cracks that have appeared in the wedded lives. Jolie plays Vanessa, a former dancer, and Pitt is Roland, a writer who travel through France and while they linger longer at a beach side resort they begin to be drawn in by the locals and a honeymooning couple staying in the next room. Made for US$10M this has so far had a limited release only and is sure to be of interest for those who enjoy the European romantic drama films of the 60's and 70's, when this film is set.

LOVE THE COOPERS (Rated PG) - the first of the Christmas themed fare to grace our cinema screens over the coming festive season, this comedy offering boasts an all star line up comprising Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Anthony Mackie, Ed Helms, Diane Keaton, Marisa Tomei, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, June Squibb, the voice of Steve Martin and pulled together by Director Jessie Nelson. Made for US$17M this films tells the story of four generations of the one family, the Coopers, who come together for their once a year festive gathering on Christmas Eve, but this year a series of unexpected events and visitors turn their celebrations and their festive cheer upside down and inside out. What falls out of the bottom is a new found appreciation for the meaning of family, relationships and the Christmas spirit.  Sounds like a Santa sack full of laughs!

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 (Rated PG) - the predecessor of this film was released in September 2012 off a US$85M budget grossing US$359M, and so on that basis it was a foregone conclusion that a sequel would follow. And it is, just in time for the holiday season. Once again Directed by Genndy Tartakovski, this animated feature was made for slightly less at US$80M and since its release in September elsewhere has already grossed US$420M. Bringing together the voice talents of again Adam Sandler, Mel Brooks, Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, and Fran Drescher amongst others, the Hotel has now relaxed its rules about allowing only monster guests to stay, now admitting humans too, but in doing so Drac is concerned that his half-human half-vampire grandson Dennis is growing up without showing any of his vampiric tendencies. Drac enlists the help of his mates to coach, train and mentor Dennis in the way of the vampire, but Drac's Dad, Vlad pays a visit to the Hotel and has other plans in store for young half-blood Dennis and the human guests! Another sequel is already planned on the strength of this films success already - for September 2018.

With another strong choice of films offering sport, drama, comedy, romance, animation, something for everyone, and some familiar characters seen before, I will see you, at the Odeon!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 15th January 2015.

It's mid-January already - awards season is upon us and earlier this week The Golden Globes paved the way for the upcoming Hollywood night of nights in a few weeks time. What this means for the movie going public like you and me is that a whole raft of great films will be released in the coming weeks to ensure that those nominated are fresh in our minds come awards night. For the most part these have already been released 'Stateside' hoping now to gain an extra shot in the Box Office arm carried along by all the publicity and furore that 'The Oscars' generates.

This week is no exception with one of the most talked about movies for a long time hitting our multiplexes that is creating lots of buzz already; then we have the second Directorial outing for one of Hollywood's most recognised actresses and one half of a very powerful Tinseltown couple; and then there is an Aussie family friendly flying flick that ticks all the right boxes!

With so much great stuff out there on general release and Previewed or Reviewed in previous weeks, plus more great new offerings this week and in the following weeks you had better start diarising what your going to see first, next and thereafter! Whatever you decide upon, share your thoughts and observations with the Odeon Online ever expanding readership and Post a Comment after this, or any other Post. Enjoy your movie!

BIRDMAN (aka THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) - (Rated MA15+) - finally after all the buzz, excitement and anticipation surrounding this Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu Directed film, 'Birdman' has arrived. With it comes talk of career best performances from its lead Actor, and not so bad either from its support cast; the strength and originality of the script; and the camera work to create an almost seamless journey through the life of Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) as he struggles to re-establish his career, stage a Broadway play, and fight his own Demons. With Michael Keaton cast at Thomson ('The Birdman') this is almost a case of art imitating life imitating art! In this film Riggan Thomson is an Actor who back in the day was very successful in the lead role of a Superhero movie franchise, known as 'The Birdman', who quit at the height of his popularity after three films and largely faded into obscurity. Similarly Keaton was very successful in the lead role in Tim Burton's early 'Batman' franchise playing the caped crusader twice and then quitting, and largely fading into obscurity, although he has always been somewhere in the background of film & TV releases subsequently!

Now fast forward and the film takes us inside a Broadway theatre when Riggan Thomson is attempting to reignite his flagging career with a Raymond Carver adapted stage play that he is financing, writing, Directing and starring in. . . what could possibly go wrong? With rehearsals ongoing; in fighting amongst the cast & crew; New York critics chomping at the bit; other egos all getting in the way; and plenty of opinions, advice and wisdom being proffered from all quarters -  is it any surprise that Thomson starts to implode? In doing so he starts to hallucinate, levitate and communicate with his alter ego 'Birdman'. Thomson is very much front and centre throughout this film with memorable characters all crossing his path as opening night approaches - Emma Stone at Riggan's daughter and appointed PA Sam, Edward Norton as renowned Broadway Actor Mike Shiner, Naomi Watts as Lesley - an actress and girlfriend of Shiner, Amy Ryan as Riggan's ex-wife Sylvia, Zach Galifanakis as Jake - friend and Lawyer to Riggan and Andrea Riseborough as Laura - also an actress, and Riggan's girlfriend. Touted already as the film of the year on many levels, this US$18M movie has so far garnered 98 awards wins and another 114 nominations and the Academy Award nominations have not even been announced yet (at the time of Publishing this Post). On this basis - it is the 'must-see without fail' so far in 2015.

UNBROKEN (Rated M) - Angelina Jolie's second turn in the Directors chair for this true life account of the extraordinary life of Olympic runner Louis Zamperini whose WWII exploits were adventurous, colourful, fantastical, miserable and testing all at once. The 1956 autobiography 'Devil at my Heels' this film has been doing the rounds well and truly for the last 50+ years - Tony Curtis was in fact set to play Zamperini back in the day, and then in more recent time Brad Pitt, then Nicolas Cage before Jolie got her hands on it and signed up Jack O'Connell to play our hero. Subsequently Laura Hillenbrand wrote the biography which was published in 2010 with whom Jolie collaborated and brought in Joel & Ethan Coen to help write the screenplay. Known for his fast pace and running prowess at school the young Zamperini ran at the 1936 Olympics although failed to win a medal but showed enough promise to be a shoe-in for the 1940 Tokyo Games. The advent of WWII scuppered that dream and joining the US Forces he was shot down over the Pacific and spent 47 days adrift with several other crewman. He was then captured by the Japanese and spent two years as a prisoner of war undergoing all manner of mental and physical hardships and torture. In many respects this story is such an unbelievable one that you might struggle to believe what the human body, mind and spirit can endure as depicted here. Filmed largely in Australia for US$65M this also stars Jai Courtney, Domhnall Gleeson and Garrett Hedlund, and it has picked up nine award wins and 14 nominations so far.

PAPER PLANES (Rated G) - this Australian family film is likely to surprise and delight young and older audiences for its simple grounded storyline, humour, heart and adversity overcome through opportunity. Young Dylan (Ed Oxenbould) is growing up in outback Australia and has developed a fascination for making  - yes you guessed it - paper planes, and has become very good at it! So much so that he qualifies to compete at an event in Sydney, which in turn gives his a chance to attend the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan. However, he needs to convince Dad Jack, (Sam Worthington) that this is a good idea and that such a change of focus will help him recover from the recent death of his wife and Dylan's mother - whom he has been grieving over for the past five months. With a strong story and effects showing all manner of paper planes ducking, diving, bobbing and weaving through the air in all manner of acrobatic and aeronautic movements this could be a real crowd pleaser for kids of all ages! David Wenham and Deborah Mailman also star, and Directed by Robert Connolly.

Once again three very different offerings with which you can't possibly go wrong. Check one out this week and share your movie thoughts with us all right here at Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 14th - 20th December 2014.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week? 

Brad Pitt does, on 18th December - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer or Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 14th December

• Sophie Monk - Born 1979, turns 35 - Actress
• Rebecca Gibney - Born 1964, turns 50 - Actress

Monday 15th December

• Don Johnson - Born 1949, turns 65 - Actor | Producer
• Alex Cox - Born 1954, turns 60 - Actor | Director | Writer

Tuesday 16th December

• James Mangold - Born 1963, turns 51 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Ben Cross - Born 1947, turns 67 - Actor
• Shane Black - Born 1953, turns 53 - Producer | Writer | Director | Actor
• Benjamin Bratt - Born 1963, turns 51 - Actor | Producer
• Miranda Otta - Born 1967, turns 47 - Actress

Wednesday 17th December

• Milla Jojovich - Born 1975, turns 39 - Actress | Singer
• Giovanni Ribisi - Born 1974, turns 40 - Actor
• Bill Pullman - Born 1953, turns 61 - Actor
• Eugene Levy - Born 1946, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Bernard Hill - Born 1944, turns 780 - Actor
• Peter Farrelly - Born 1956, turns 58 - Writer | Producer | Director

Thursday 18th December

• Brad Pitt - Born 1963, turns 51 - Actor | Producer
• Steven Spielberg - Born 1946, turns 68 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Ray Liotta - Born 1954, turns 60 - Actor | Producer
• Casper Van Dien - Born 1968, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Steve Austin - Born 1964m turns 50 - actor | Producer | WWF Wrestler
• Keith Richards - Born 1943, turns 71 - Singer | Songwriter | Producer | Actor
• Robson Green - 1964, turns 50 - Actor | Television Personality | Extreme Fisherman
• Rachel Griffith - Born 1968, turns 46 - Actress
• Katie Holmes - Born 1978, turns 36 - Actress | Producer

Friday 19th December

• Jennifer Beals - Born 1963, turns 51 - Actress
• Jake Gyllenhaal - Born 1980, turns 34 - Actor | Producer

Saturday 20th December 

• Jonah Hill - Born 1983, turns 31 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Todd Phillips - Born 1970, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Jenny Agutter - Born 1952, turns 62 - Actress

William Bradley Pitt was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma and raised in Springfield, Missouri and is the eldest of brother Douglass and sister Julie. His mother, Jane Etta Hillhouse was a school counsellor, and father William Alvin Pitt was a trucking company manager. He attended Kickapoo High School where he was an active participant in golf, swimming, tennis and the school debating society. After graduating from school he attended the University of Missouri majoring in journalism and advertising. Two weeks before graduating he left to relocate to California, to Los Angeles where he took acting lessons and worked odd jobs to sustain himself. 

During his early career in Los Angeles toward the end of the 80's Pitt struggled to establish himself. In 1987 he had uncredited roles in 'No Way Out', 'No Mans Land' and 'Less Than Zero' as well as TV appearances in 'Another World', 'Growing Pains', 'Dallas' and '21 Jump Street'. His first leading film role came in 1988 in 'The Dark Side of the Sun' although the film was not released for another ten years - as being a Yugoslavian/US co-production it was mothballed due to the war in Croatia. In 1989 he had support roles in 'Happy Together' and 'Cutting Class', and a handful of other television appearances.

The early 90's brought TV Movie 'Too Young To Die' which gave him some acclaim followed by 'The Image' and 'Across The Tracks' in 1991 and six episodes of the short-lived 'Glory Days'. His breakout role though was in Ridley Scott's 'Thelma & Louise' opposite Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in 1991 and charted him on a course as a bonafide sex symbol. That year came too 'Johnny Suede' and 'Cool World' the year after. Robert Redford cast him in 'A River Runs Through It' that was described by one critic as 'career defining'.

'Kalifornia' followed in 1993 and a small part in 'True Romance'. As the mid-90's approached so Pitt's career notched up to top gear with 'Interview with the Vampire' in 1994 and then 'Legends of the Fall' for which he garnered his first Golden Globe nomination. 1995 saw him team up with Morgan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow in David Fincher's 'Seven' which brought much critical and Box Office acclaim. That same year Terry Gilliam cast him with Bruce Willis in the SciFi '12 Monkeys' where he was lauded for his performance which in turn won him his first Golden Globe Award and his first Academy Award nomination.

In the latter half of the 90's there was 'Sleepers' with Kevin Bacon, Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman; then 'The Devil's Own' with Harrison Ford; then 'Seven Years in Tibet' with David Thewlis, and 'Meet Joe Black' with Anthony Hopkins. Closing out the decade he worked with David Fincher again on the now cult-classic 'Fight Club' with Edward Norton.

2000 saw Guy Ritchie's 'Snatch' in which Pitt almost steals the show with his broad gypsy accent in this boxer diamond heist film. This was followed up by 'The Mexican' with Julia Roberts; 'The Spy Game' reuniting him with Robert Redford again, and then in 2001 Pitt was cast in the remake of the 60's Rat Pack film of the same name 'Ocean's Eleven' with an ensemble cast including Clooney, Damon, Garcia, Gould, Cheadle and Roberts. This was well received by critics and Box Office alike eventually spawning two sequels - 'Ocean's Twelve' and 'Ocean's Thirteen' which between all three took a global Box Office haul of over US$1.1B. In the meantime Pitt starred as Achilles in 'Troy'.

'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' with future wife Angelina Jolie came along in 2005, with 'Babel' in 2006 opposite Cate Blanchett gaining a Golden Globe nomination for Pitt and a swag of other Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. What followed were more noteworthy roles too in the likes of 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford'; 'Burn After Reading' Directed by the Coen Brothers; 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' Directed by David Fincher again and starring Cate Blanchett with whom he had worked before too. This film received thirteen Academy Award nominations with Pitt receiving Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations for his performance. Quentin Tarrantino cast him next up in 2009's 'Inglorious Basterds' which received eight Academy Award nominations.

'The Tree of Life' with Sean Penn won Director Terrence Malick the Palme D'or at Cannes, and 'Moneyball' received six Academy Award nominations including a Best Actor nod for Pitt. 'Killing Them Softly' followed, as did zombie apocalypse 'World War Z' grossing US$540M and giving Pitt his biggest commercial Box Office success to date off a US$190M budget. A sequel has been announced with Pitt's Production Company 'Plan B Productions' involved. '12 Years a Slave' and 'The Counsellor' saw him reunite with Ridley Scott in the latter film, and World War II actioneer 'Fury' is his most recent release so far earning US$181M off US$68M. He has lent his voice talents to 'Megamind', 'Happy Feet 2' and an episode of 'King of the Hill'.

Pitt has 71 acting credits to his name so far, thirty Producer credits, 54 Award wins and another 93 nominations. He shared the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture as Producer for '12 Years a Slave' and has four other nominations to his name; he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for '12 Monkeys' and has four other nominations; and won the BAFTA for Best Film again as Producer for '12 Years a Slave' and has four other nominations.

He had a relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow and was married to 'Friends' star Jennifer Aniston from 2000 - 2005, and has been in a long term relationship with Angelina Jolie eventually marrying earlier this year. They have six children - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne.

Pitt is active in humanitarian, charitable and political causes including the support for 'Proposition 71' into stem-cell research; the 'ONE Campaign' combating AIDS and poverty; he has personally with Jolie donated US$1M to those effected by the crisis in Darfur; he founded the 'Make It Right' Foundation to build sustainable housing in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina; he and Jolie founded the 'Jolie-Pitt Foundation' to aid humanitarian causes around the world donating to 'Global Action for Children', 'Doctors Without Borders', 'The Daniel Pearl Foundation', the Haiti Earthquake fund and a U.N. Refugee agency supporting Pakistanis displaced by the Taliban. He also supports same sex marriage.

Brad Pitt - bonafide movie mega star, Actor, Producer, supporter of worthy causes, married to one of the world's most beautiful women, family man, diverse, daring and outspoken - Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthdays to share this week : 1st - 7th June.

Do you share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer or Singer/Songwriter/Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming week? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with over the coming week. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Check out too the spotlight on this weeks Birthday Girl on 4th June, Angelina Jolie, at the end of this feature.

Sunday 1st June

• Morgan Freeman - Born 1937, turns 77 - Actor | Producer
• Brian Cox - Born 1946, turns 68 - Actor
• Jonathan Pryce - Born 1947, turns 67 - Actor
• Powers Boothe - Born 1948, turns 66 - Actor
• Robert Powell - Born 1944, turns 70 - Actor
• Alanis Morissette - Born 1974, turns 40 - Singer | Songwriter | Actress
• Jason Donovan - Born 1968, turns 46 - Singer | Songwriter | Actor

Monday 2nd June

• Zachary Quinto - Born 1977, turns 37 - Actor | Producer
• Liam Cunningham - Born 1961, turns 53 - Actor
• Dennis Haysbert - Born 1954, turns 60 - Actor | Producer
• Stacy Keach - Born 1941, turns 73 - Actor | Producer
• Wentworth Miller - Born 1972, turns 42 - Actor

Tuesday 3rd June

• Imogen Poots - Born 1989, turns 25 - Actress

Wednesday 4th June

• Angelina Jolie - Born 1975, turns 39 - Actress | Producer | Director | Humanitarian
• Russell Brand - Born 1975, turns 39 - Writer | Producer | Actor | Singer | Songwriter
• Sean Pertwee - Born 1964, turns 50 - Actor
• Bruce Dern - Born 1936, turns 78 - Actor
• Geoffrey Palmer - Born 1927, turns 87 - Actor

Thursday 5th June

• Mark Wahlberg - Born 1971, turns 43 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Kathleen Kennedy - Born 1953, turns 61 - Producer
• Kenny G - Born 1956, turns 58 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer

Friday 6th June

• Paul Giamatti - Born 1967, turns 47 - Actor
• Jason Isaacs - Born 1963, turns 51 - Actor | Producer
• Robert Englund - Born 1947, turns 67 - Actor
• Sandra Bernhard - Born 1955, turns 59 - Actress
• Billie Whitelaw - Born 1932, turns 82 - Actress

Saturday 7th June

• Liam Neeson - Born 1952, turns 62 - Actor
• Karl Urban - Born 1972, turns 42 - Actor
• Michael Cera - Born 1988, turns 26 - Actor
• Ronald Pickup - Born 1940, turns 74 - Actor
• William Forsythe - Born 1955, turns 59 - Actor | Producer
• Virginia McKenna - Born 1931, turns 83 - Actress
• James Ivory - Born 1928, turns 86 - Director | Writer
• Tom Jones - Born 1940, turns 74 - Singer | Songwriter
• Prince - Born 1958, turns 56 - Singer | Songwriter 

Angelina Jolie Voight was born to renowned acting father Jon Voight and mother Marcheline Bertrand in Los Angeles. She is an accomplished Actress, Producer, Director, Writer, and Humanitarian in her spare time whilst also playing the other part of Hollywood power couple Mr. and Mrs. Brad Pitt . . . and oh by the way, she has been cited numerous times and in assorted publications over the last ten years or so as the world's most beautiful woman, and, in 2009, 2011 and 2013 was the highest paid Actress in Hollywood. Not bad credentials really!

Her acting career kicked off at age seven starring alongside her father Jon Voight in 'Lookin' to Get Out', with a bigger break coming in 1995 in 'Cyborg 2', but it was 1995's 'Hackers' that propelled her more into the mainstream playing alongside future husband Jonny Lee Miller. From there she moved to 'Pushing Tin' with John Cusack and future husband Billy Bob Thornton. Now firmly on the Hollywood map she went on to 'The Bone Collector' and then her Academy Award winning 'Girl, Interrupted', followed by 'Gone in Sixty Seconds', 'Lara Croft, Tomb Raider' and its follow up 'Lara Croft, The Cradle of Life', 'Taking Lives', 'Alexander',  and 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' with future life partner, one Mr. Brad Pitt. Other notable outings have included 'The Good Shepherd', 'Changeling' 'Wanted', 'Salt', 'The Tourist' and 'Maleficent' out this week and previewed in Post #97. She has also lent her voice to the role of 'Tigress' in the 'Kung Fu Panda' series with the third instalment due for release in 2015. Earlier this year Jolie has been resident in Sydney Directing 'Unbroken' due for release later in 2014, and the reprisal of her role as Evelynn Salt has just been announced for 'Salt 2'.

Outside of starring in and making movies Jolie is the Special Envoy and former Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for which she has won much acclaim for her work undertaken to highlight such issues on the global stage and in ultimately trying to make a difference through her celebrity status and ability to influence change.

In early 2013 at age 37, she underwent a double preventative mastectomy having learnt that there was an 87% chance of her developing breast cancer. Again, using her celebrity status and the privileges this affords she went public to raise awareness on a global scale of the choices women have to beat breast cancer. 

Jolie and Pitt have six children - three biological and three adopted. In 2008 she and Pitt sold the first pictures of Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline to 'People' and 'Hello' magazines for a reported US$14M - the most expensive celebrity pictures ever taken, with the proceeds going to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

The recipient of 33 award wins and a further 62 nominations so far to date, Jolie has picked up two Academy Awards - a win for Best Supporting Actress in 'Girl, Interrupted' and the 'Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award'. She was nominated for Best Actress in 'Changeling'. Added to this she has a BAFTA Nominations also for 'Changeling' and has won three Golden Globes for 'George Wallace', 'Gia' and 'Girl, Interrupted' with four other nominations.

Not doing things by halves Jolie was married from 1996-99 to actor Jonny Lee Miller, and from 2000-03 to actor Billy Bob Thornton. Since 2005 she has been with Brad Pitt with whom she seems most settled - six children, numerous awards & accolades, in demand in front and behind the camera, the Hollywood power couple, supporters of Humanitarian causes . . . it's a wonder they ever see each other! Let's hope that Brad makes time for Angelina on her birthday this week!

Angelina Jolie - beautiful woman, Actress, Director, Mother, inspiration, crusader of worthy causes - Happy Birthday to you from all at Odeon Online!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-