LOCKED DOWN : Tuesday 11th May 2021.

'LOCKED DOWN' is an M Rated romantic comedy heist film which I saw earlier this week. Directed by Doug Liman whose prior film making credits include 'Swingers', 'The Bourne Identity', 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith', 'Edge of Tomorrow', 'American Made' and 'Chaos Walking' most recently. The screenplay was written by Steven Knight in July 2020, financed, and filmed entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic over just an eighteen day period in October 2020 for a budget of about US$3M. The film was released in the US on HBO Max in January 2021, and has garnered mixed or average Reviews so far.

And so here, Linda (Anne Hathaway) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor) are locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic in their very cosy modern terrace house somewhere in London, sometime in the first half of 2020. They are a disgruntled couple who have agreed to go their separate ways once the lock down is over, for reasons of having grown apart after ten years together, although the stimulus for the break-up seems to rest more with Linda who has grown weary of Paxton's lack of enthusiasm, lack of focus and constant down at heal, woe is me attitude. For while Linda has climbed the corporate ladder to become the UK CEO of a very successful fashion company, Paxton has struggled to find meaningful work for the last ten years since he was arrested and charged with assault. As a result, his only work is that of a delivery driver, at which he has been furloughed because of the lock down. Paxton is forced to sell his beloved motorbike which he sees as an extension to himself, to make ends meet. 

On a Zoom call with Paxton's half-brother David (Dule Hill) and his wife Maria (Jazmyn Simon) in the US, Linda breaks the news of their pending separation, and we also learn that at some point in the recent past both Linda and Maria got it on together in a wine induced one night stand, which remains a secret between them, and which Linda would rather forget, but not so it seems on Maria's part. Linda meanwhile sets up a Zoom call with four of her UK based senior management team to advise them all that they are being terminated with immediate effect because of the economic downturn and the business being unable to sustain their positions moving forward, although in reality that decision was made pre-pandemic back in December at a company junket in Paris. 

One day while Paxton is feeling especially sorry for himself, his boss Malcolm (Ben Kingsley) calls him with the offer of three days work for £200 per day cash as a driver for high value deliveries, due to the limited number of drivers currently being available. The only catch is that Paxton will have to go under an assumed name because of his prior criminal record. He needs to make a snap decision there and then on the spot, which he does so reluctantly on the condition that Malcolm promotes him afterwards to an office based administrative role, after numerous years of dead end driving. Malcolm says that he'll have his fake security ID and name tag sent over to his home tomorrow (Wednesday) for his first collection from Selfridges on Thursday, Harvey Nichols on Friday and Harrods on Saturday. 

On Wednesday Malcolm contacts Paxton saying the he texted him his assumed name and that the security ID and name badge are on their way over. Paxton retrieves his new identity to discover that he has been given the name of Edgar Allen Poe, as was suggested by Martin (Sam Spruell) a Co-Worker of his who has spent the last seven years working in dispatch and there is absolutely no love lost between the two. Paxton is none too pleased with having to front up with the name of a famous 19th Century American poet and writer, but agrees to proceed nonetheless, surmising that todays 'kids' working security won't have heard of Edgar Allen Poe anyway. Meanwhile, Linda is on a Zoom call with her boss Guy (Ben Stiller) who is locked down in the Vermont countryside in the US together with the other CEO's from around the world. Guy offers her a new position back home in the United States to which she is taken aback and stalls her decision making process until after lock down has lifted to buy herself some time. 

Linda is tasked with clearing out her firms inventory from Harrods on Saturday evening, as there is now no-one else able to complete the task. After arriving home after his first pick up and drop off on Thursday, Paxton reveals that he has a job at Harvey Nichols on Friday and Harrods on Saturday. Linda quickly comes to the conclusion that their delivery schedules at the store overlap, and Paxton would not get past the security protocols that Linda set up three years prior when she worked there. Linda on Friday organises a call with the new Head of Security at Harrods, Michael Morgan (Stephen Merchant) who brings in her former co-worker Kate (Mindy Kaling) who paves the ways for Linda's almost uninterrupted access to the department store after hours the next day. 

Linda discloses to Paxton that there is a £3M diamond in the vault at Harrods that has been sold to an anonymous buyer, and the store keeps a duplicate on-display. That anonymous buyer Linda learns from Essien (Claes Bang) the owner of the company she works for, is a drug dealing, money laundering, probably murdering international criminal king-pin, and once the diamond is returned to a vault on New York's Wall Street will probably remain untouched and unseen by anyone for years. And so Linda and Paxton agree to take the real diamond for themselves and send the fake one to the buyer in New York City, splitting the sale between themselves and the National Health Service, three ways equally at £1M each. 

Upon making it to the famed Knightsbridge department store on Saturday evening, both under separate cover, Linda meets with former co-worker Charlotte (Lucy Boynton) at the security check in, with Paxton waiting outside to be ushered in. After some very loose checking in procedures, Linda and Paxton (Edgar Allen Poe) make their way to Harrods famed food hall which is being cleared out and closed down. There they help themselves to all the lavish ingredients for a £5K picnic up on the rooftop of the store before 7:30pm and their designated time for collection of the inventory and the diamond. 

Linda and Paxton retrieve the diamond from the vault and swap it out with the fake. However, they are confronted by Donald (Mark Gatiss), a former co-worker of Linda's she fired earlier in the week. Donald had alerted the Police after learning of Paxton's fake identity. Linda reveals their plan, and Donald agrees to lie for them, out of respect and love for Linda and being anti-establishment (especially at this time!). 

In exiting the store, a repeated message comes across the internal Public Address system for Edgar Allen Poe to return to the security gate immediately. Fearing the worst that the Police are lying in wait, the pair make a hurried dash for a security guarded rear entrance when Security Guard Mark (Marek Larwood) approaches brandishing Paxton's security ID that he left earlier at the main entrance, and promptly hands it over saying that he'll need it to gain access to Heathrow to put the diamond on the plane to New York. Linda and Paxton breathe a sigh of relief, and ride off into the night on Paxton's motorbike home via Heathrow Airport. 

The pair, who originally had planned to go their separate ways post lockdown, decide to reevaluate their relationship, now that they are each £1M better off and the burden of money woes, and both being stuck in jobs from which they gained no satisfaction, is effectively over. Then, on Paxton's birthday, the COVID lockdown is extended by another two weeks.

On the plus side 'Locked Down' works because of the chemistry and obvious good time that our two principle Actors, Hathaway and Ejiofor, clearly had during the making of this film, and watching a bunch of other A-listers phone in it via Zoom calls - Stiller, Bang, Kingsley and Merchant all adds a weight to the proceedings which should not be under estimated. The zeitgeist too is captured pretty well too with businesses shuttered, company layoffs, working from home, forced isolation, Zoom technical challenges, pot-clanging tributes, and the frustrations, anxieties and boredom of being holed up for two weeks and more in a confined space with the same person. On the down side the film really labours the ever declining relationship between Linda and Paxton during the first two-thirds, and then seems to remember that somewhere in the plot there is a diamond heist that needs to be crammed into the remaining third, and when it comes it is so underwhelmingly delivered and hurriedly conceived that it feels like an afterthought. But then I guess to write a script, get it financed and green lit, amass a cast and crew, go into production, shoot, edit and release a major motion picture in just about six months flat speaks volumes about what Director Doug Liman has been able to pull off, but also is telling as to what this film might have been given more time. It's not a great film, but it's also not that bad either.

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ZOOLANDER No. 2 : Wednesday 10th February 2016

I caught 'ZOOLANDER No. 2' at an advance screening on Wednesday evening this week, expecting big things from this long awaited and eagerly anticipated sequel to Ben Stiller's 2001 cult comedy parody on the fashion industry and all it stood for. In so doing he introduced the world to his creation of Derek Zoolander in a satire of the fashion industry that he wrote, Directed, Produced and starred in for US$28M that he turned into US$61M. Having created a comedy cult character it was almost inevitable that a follow up would eventuate, and so here 15 years later is the follow up that he also wrote, Directed, Produced and stars in, and which he made for US$50M with his stablemates from that earlier film - Hansel (Owen Wilson), Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell), Matilda Jeffries (Christina Taylor) and a few others. What needs to be borne in mind is that when Stiller first made 'Zoolander' back then he was in his early thirties, and now he is 50, and I have to say that I found this offering the poor cousin to that first instalment, and some of the gags are as dated as his character.

This latest offering centres around the 'worlds most beautiful people' being systematically assassinated all wearing Derek's famed 'Blue Steel' look as their death mask. As the film opens we see two motorbike riders giving chase to a hoodie wearing assailant for reasons that are unclear except that the guys on bikes are brandishing automatic hand guns, and the guy on foot can almost out run them, until that is, he is chased into a corner and riddled with bullets at point blank range. The assailant drops to the floor, and in his last gasps of breath takes a photo with his smartphone and posts his final 'look' to his Instagram page for all the world to see. It is Justin Bieber . . . dead, before our very eyes!

We then get a history lesson of the events since the close of the first film from 2001 onwards - the capture & two life sentences served on Mugatu, how Derek's wife was killed and Hansel's face was disfigured for life in a horrific building collapse, how Derek lost custody of his son, the bitter feud between Derek and Hansel that led to them both leaving the world they loved behind and seeking refuge in their solitude, and the legacy they left behind but eroded over the years as the fashion industry, and life, changed forever. Fast track to the present day and Billy Zane (playing himself) knocks on the door of Derek (now known as Eric Toolander) and delivers a package from Fashion Icon Alexanya Atoz (an unrecognisable Kristen Wiig) urging him to come to Rome to relaunch his career, which in turn may help Derek's cause of winning back his estranged son. Days later Billy Zane rocks up at Hansel's place with the same message, and the two meet again for the first time in fifteen years at the baggage claim carousel at Rome airport.

Atoz wants Derek & Hansel to take part in a fashion launch to relaunch their careers, which they agree to with their new found friendship and zeal to redeem their fallen fashion crowns of yesteryear. They quickly discover that the world of fashion they once knew has changed beyond all recognition - the locations, the gear, the culture, the language and the people in it and around it as they are introduced to deliciously camp All (Benedict Cumberbatch) the latest male model icon of the moment. Getting their moment on stage they are humiliated big time at the hands of All and in front of a global audience, but take it as a lesson in life and look for the positives to enable them to move on.

Needing to bring the arch criminals behind the killings to justice, Derek and Hansel are put on the case by Interpol, because Derek is the only link they have to go on given the 'look' the beautiful ones died with on their faces. The high fashion investigative division of Interpol is headed up by Melanie Valentina (Penelope Cruz) who offers to help Derek track down his son, in exchange for his cooperation with that of Hansel too. Reluctantly he agrees and quickly learns that Derek Jnr. (Cyrus Arnold) is in an orphanage in Rome. He quickly reunites with his son who is less than he expected - a fat dumpy kid known to his school mates as 'Fatlander' who his Dad is quickly embarrassed by, and promptly turns his back on. Some quick persuasive talk from Hansel and the two Derek's connect, but it's not all sunshine & rainbows, resulting in a car stack that the two walk away from unscathed, but covered in gelato.

In the meantime, Hansel receives various prank calls with cryptic 'Police' messages which ultimately call for a late night meeting in a Basilica, which Hansel, Derek and Melanie agree to attend. There they meet with Sting (playing himself) who tells them that 'The Chosen One' which those that have died have sworn to protect, is in fact Derek Jnr. whose blood line goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden and Adam, Eve and Steve as the one born so beautiful that he is in fact The Fountain of Youth. In the meantime Mugatu (Will Ferrell) has been locked up in an off shore high security fashion prison for ten years and is visited by Derek seeking further information about the killings and where his now kidnapped son may be holed up. It doesn't take much for Mugatu to turn the tables on Derek leaving the latter tied up & securely bound, and the former walking free, looking to sacrifice Derek Jnr. to the leaders of the fashion world, and bring about his revenge of Derek Snr.

In a bath house where the beating heart is to be extracted from Derek Jnr. unless Hansel, Derek Snr. and Melanie can intervene on time, it all comes to an end. There is a lava flow, a glitter bomb, a dagger implanted in Derek's cheek and then Hansel's arse, a revelation of who Hansel's father is, the truth behind the tragic death of Derek's wife, why Derek Jnr. is so fat, and Derek finding his new true love and reconciling with his son who really is 'The Chosen One' it turns out, and, can 'Blue Steel' it as good as his old man!

Also starring more cameo's that you can shake your cinema ticket at, those that I recall are Keifer Sutherland, John Malkovich, Justin Bieber, Billy Zane, Benedict Cumberbatch, Katy Perry, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Milla Jovovich and a host of others.

I have to say and it makes me sorry to report that I was underwhelmed by this film. Ben Stiller does well carrying the film with his 'Blue Steel', 'Magnum' and 'Aqua Vitae' looks from back in the day, but, there were no laugh out loud moments for me as there were in the first film. The dialogue is repetitive and derivative, there was too much going on in this far fetched by the numbers plot, and whilst the production values are good they are wasted by a film intent on cramming in as many plots, sub-plots, cameo's and worthless predictable gags as it can. Disappointing because I expected so much more, and the image here from the film just about sums it up for me. Wait for the DVD or BluRay when you may get a bigger bundle of goodies to accompany the film to make it a worthwhile experience.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 11th February 2016.

This year the 69th annual British Academy Film Awards presented by BAFTA will be held on Sunday evening 14th February at the Royal Opera House in London and hosted once again by Stephen Fry. Recognising the best in film performance and production the main contenders in the top categories are : Best Film - 'The Big Short', 'Carol', 'Spotlight', 'The Revenant' and 'Bridge of Spies'. Best Direction  - Adam McKay, Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, Todd Haynes and Alejandro Inarritu.  Best Actor - Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Eddie Redmayne, Bryan Cranston and Michael Fassbender.  Best Actress - Maggie Smith, Cate Blanchett, Brie Larson, Alicia Vikander and Saoirse Ronan. Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bale, Idris Elba, Mark Ruffalo, Mark Rylance and Benicio del Toro. Best Supporting Actress - Kate Winslet, Alicia Vikander, Rooney Mara, Julie Walters and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Of course there are a whole bunch of other Awards that take in all the usual categories - Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, Visual Effects, Costume Design, Hair & Make-up, Editing, Animated Film, British Film etc. 'Bridge of Spies' and 'Carol' each have nine nominations - the most this year, 'The Revenant' has eight, 'Mad Max : Fury Road' has seven, 'Brooklyn' and 'The Martian' have six, 'The Danish Girl', 'Ex Machina' and 'The Big Short' each carry five, and 'Star Wars : The Force Awakens' has four. You can see more at www.bafta.org and, you can read the Reviews of most of these within this Blog. Good luck, best wishes and well done to all nominees.

And so what of this weeks latest release movies, of which one is released in Australia this week just in time for the aforementioned BAFTA and Academy Awards and tells the story of a young Irish migrant woman venturing forth to New York in search of a new life; then there is a haute couture spoof sequel that has been sixteen years in the making and reuniting that comedy classic cohort staring down right at you; followed up with the first Marvel offering of 2016 with the first feature dedicated to this character even though we have seen him before; and finally to tantalise your tastebuds there is a story of food, food and more food and a certain world renowned Chef's obsession with it!

A diverse mix of films to choose from in the coming week with plenty of great offerings still on general release and as either Reviewed or Previewed between these humble Blog Posts.  Remember to share your views and don't be backward in coming forward with your opinions of your film experience by sharing a Comment below this or any Post. Enjoy your movie this week.

DEADPOOL (Rated MA15+) - this is the next instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that will also see 'X-Men : Apocalypse' later this year and another 'Captain America' instalment. This is not the first time we have seen 'Deadpool' on the big screen, with the character making his first appearance in 'X-Men Origins : Wolverine' in 2009 when Ryan Reynolds portrayed this character back then too. Development of this first film kicked off way back in 2004 passing through several Studios and Writers along the way, although Tim Miller was hired to Direct in 2011 with filming starting in Canada in early 2015. Reynolds had always wanted to play the character of Wade Wilson/Deadpool since 2003, and stated that this adaptation of the Superhero character would be more authentic than the role he portrayed in the earlier 2009 'Wolverine' outing.

And so Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is a special forces operative who  undergoes an experimental regenerative operation to cure his cancer. Things don't go quite according to plan and as result he is left badly scarred with disfigured skin and with borderline insanity, a dark twisted sense of humour,  but with the ability to heal himself . . . and quickly. Armed with new abilities and a new identity, Wilson goes on the hunt for the man who almost destroyed his life. Ed Skrein stars as Francis/Ajax, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, Stefan Kapicic as Peter Rasputin/Colossus, T.J.Miller as Weasel, Morena Baccarin as Wilson's girlfriend Vanessa Carlysle, and watch out for the trademark Stan Lee cameo.

BROOKLYN (Rated M) - another Academy Award nominated film in the race for three golden statues - Best Actress, Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay based on the novel of the same name by Colm Toibin. Premiered at Sundance in early 2015, the film was released in the UK and US in early November , with its Australian release this week just days before the BAFTA's for which it is nominated for six Awards and the Oscar's two weeks later. Directed by John Crowley and starring Saoirse Ronan as Eilis Lacey - a young Irish woman who relocates herself to 1950's Brooklyn in the hope of finding a better life. She quickly falls for local lad Tony Fiorello (Emory Cohen) and begins to feel more settled in her new home town until the day comes when she must choose between the two countries and the two lives that have become intertwined. Also starring Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters and nominated for six BAFTA's, three Academy Awards, and has won 23 accolades already with another 109 nominations.

2OOLANDER (Rated M) - in 2001 Ben Stiller introduced the world to his creation of Derek Zoolander in a satire of the fashion industry that he wrote, Directed, Produced and starred in for US$28M that he turned into US$61M. Having created a comedy cult character it was almost inevitable that a follow up would eventuate, and so here 15 years later is the follow up that he also wrote, Directed, Produced and stars in, with his stablemates from that earlier film - Hansel (Owen Wilson), Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell), Matilda Jeffries (Christina Taylor) and a few others. This instalment centres around the 'worlds most beautiful people' being systematically assassinated  all wearing Derek's famed 'Blue Steel' look as their death mask. Needing to bring the arch criminals behind the killings to justice, Derek and Hansel are  put on the case by Interpol, but in the meantime  Mugatu is released from jail and is after Derek now and seeking revenge. Also starring Penelope Cruz, Kristen Wiig, Kanye West, Benedict Cumberbatch and a host of cameo's including Sting, Billy Zane, Justin Bieber and others. If this is anywhere near as good as the first, then it will be hit for sure.

NOMA : MY PERFECT STORM (Rated M) - if you consider yourself a foodie, a gourmand, a lover of food porn and a follower of gastronomy then this is the film of the week for you! Voted Best Restaurant in the world in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, Rene Redzepi's famed Copenhagen eatery 'Noma' barely knows no equal. This documentary film charts Redzepi's journey from humble beginnings to rise to the very top of the food chain as Chef and joint owner of this restaurant -  voted the world's best four times and to which people will travel from the world over to dine at. Charting the story of what drives the man to extraordinary lengths of culinary excellence, his determination, his vision, his sacrifices and what it takes to reach the very pinnacle of fine dining . . . and stay there! Directed by Pierre Deschamps, starring the great Chef, his kitchen brigade and some great food!

Four very different films to tempt you out to a movie theatre in the week ahead. When you have dined out on your movie of choice remember to drop us a line and share your experience - we'd love to hear from you! In the meantime, see you at the Odeon!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 29th November - 5th December 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Ben Stiller does on 30th November - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy, turning 50, 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, 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 29th November

• Anna Faris - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actress | Producer
• Don Cheadle - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Andrew McCarthy - Born 1962, turns 53 - Actor | Director
• Tom Sizemore - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Joel Coen - Born 1954, turns 61 - Director | Producer | Writer

Monday 30th November

• Ridley Scott - Born 1937, turns 78 - Director | Producer 
• Terrence Malick - Born 1943, turns 72 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Mandy Patinkin - Born 1952, turns 63 - Actor
• David Yates - Born 1963, turns 52 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Ben Stiller - Born 1965, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Marc Foster - Born 1969, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Gael Garcia Bernal - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actor | Director | Producer | Writer

Tuesday 1st December 

• Woody Allen - Born 1935, turns 80 - Director | Writer | Actor
• Bette Midler - Born 1945, turns 70 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Zoe Kravitz - Born 1988, turns 37 - Actress

Wednesday 2nd December

• Lucy Liu - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Britney Spears - Born 1981, turns 34 - Singer | Producer | Actress

Thursday 3rd December

• Amanda Seyfried - Born 1985, turns 30 - Actress | Singer
• Julianne Moore - Born 1960, turns 55 - Actress | Producer
• Daryl Hannah - Born 1960, turns 55 - Actress | Producer
• Brendan Fraser - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actor | Producer

Friday 4th December

• Jeff Bridges - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Ronnie Corbett - Born 1930, turns 85 - Actor | Television Personality
• Tyra Banks - Born 1973, turns 42 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Marisa Tomei - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress | Producer

Saturday 5th December

• Nick Stahl - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actor | Producer
• Frankie Muniz - Born 1985, turns 30 - Actor | Producer

Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller was born in New York City to mother and Actress Anne Meara who passed away earlier this year aged 85 having worked on stage, screen and television since the mid-'50's. His father, Jerry Stiller is a comedian and Actor, who like his late wife has been a stage, television and film presence since the mid-'50's. Growing up in show business the young Ben was taken frequently on set, stating that in his early years there was " . . . a lot of travelling, a lot of late nights, not what you would call traditional". He has an older sister, Amy with whom he would make Super 8 movies when they were growing up, with various other friends. He made his acting debut at nine years of age on his mothers television show - a short-lived legal drama series 'Kate McShane' in 1975. 

Taking part in the NYC First All Children's Theatre in the late '70's and gaining inspiration from 'Second City Television' - a Canadian TV Sketch Comedy Show, the young Stiller decided that sketch comedy was where he wanted to be. He attended The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine and graduated from the co-ed The Calhoun School in 1983 after which he started as an opening act on the cabaret circuit. He enrolled as a film student at UCLA, and after nine months returned to NYC and began auditioning for roles, and searching for an Agent.

At 15 Stiller gained a bit part in television soap 'Guiding Night' having to deliver just one single line of dialogue . . . but I guess you gotta start somewhere! In 1986 he was cast in the Broadway production of 'The House of Blue Leaves' which subsequently picked up four Tony Awards. His big screen debut came in 1987's 'Hot Pursuit' with John Cusack and Jerry Stiller playing the on-screen Dad to Stiller the younger. That same year there was a small role too in Spielberg's 'Empire of the Sun'. In 1989 Stiller began writing and starring in 'Saturday Night Live', but with a strong desire to make short films he left after just four shows.

And so he made 'Elvis Stories' - a short with John Cusack, Mike Meyers, Jeremy Piven and then 'Going Back to Brooklyn' for MTV which so impressed the Producers there that he was offered his own experimental thirteen episode show called aptly 'The Ben Stiller Show'. The series was scrapped after its first season but relaunched in 1992 this time by Fox, and went on to win an Emmy Award after it too was cancelled.

In 1992 Stiller was asked to Direct 'Reality Bites' in his debut as Director in the film in which he also starred. This was followed in 1995 with 'Heavyweights', 'Happy Gilmore', 'If Lucy Fell' and 'Flirting with Disaster' before taking on his next Directing gig with the Jim Carey vehicle 'The Cable Guy'.

It was 1998's Farrelly Brothers classic comedy 'There's Something About Mary' with Cameron Diaz as the hapless Mary, that propelled Stiller's career ever skyward. That same year there was more dramatic fare too with 'Zero Effect', 'Permanent Midnight' and 'Your Friends and Neighbours', with 'Mystery Men' and 'Black & White' seeing out the decade.

The start of the new decade saw more comedic offerings with 'Meet the Parents' for which he would reprise his role as Greg Focker in 'Meet the Fockers' in 2004 and 'Little Fockers' in 2010. 2001 saw 'Zoolander' - his own creation which he also Directed, and 'The Royal Tenenbaums' with 'Duplex' in 2003, 'Along Came Polly' in 2004, the big screen rendition of 'Starskey & Hutch' that same year, with 'Envy', 'Dodgeball : A True Underdog Story' and 'Anchorman : The Legend of Ron Burgundy' that year too.

'School for Scoundrels', 'Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny' and 'Night at the Museum' followed in 2006 - the latter role he would also reprise again in 2009's 'Night at the Museum : Battle of the Smithsonian' and again in 2014 in 'Night at the Museum : Secret of the Tomb'. 'Tropic Thunder' which he Directed and starred in was followed by 'Greenberg' and 'I'm Still Here' in 2010, 'Tower Heist' in 2011, 'The Watch' in 2012, and his next Directing and starring feature in 2013 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'. 2014 saw 'While We're Young' with 'Zoolander 2' currently in post-production for a 2016 release, and which he has also Directed. In the meantime he has lent his voice talents to 'Madagascar' in 2005, 'Madagascar : Escape 2 Africa' in 2008, and 'Madagascar 3 : Europe's Most Wanted' in 2012, with voice work also on 'Megamind' in 2010.

There have been numerous television show appearances too throughout the years including 'The Simpsons', 'The King of Queens', 'King of the Hill', 'Extras', 'Family Guy', 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', 'The Trip', 'Saturday Night Live' and 'Arrested Development'. All up Stiller has 122 Acting credits, 37 Producer credits, fifteen for Directing and another twelve for Writing. He has thirteen award wins and another 51 nominations.

In 2000, Stiller married Christine Taylor, an Actress with whom he has starred in several films including 'Zoolander', 'Tropic Thunder' and 'Dodgeball'. The couple have a daughter Ella Olivia (born in 2002) and a son Quinlan Dempsey (born in 2005). Stiller is a Democrat and has actively supported John Kerry, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hilary Clinton. He also supports several charities including those associated with animal rights, AIDS campaigning, and child welfare and wellbeing.

Often appearing with his other Hollywood 'Frat Pack' alumni since the early '90's, his frequent collaborators and close friends are Owen and Luke Wilson, Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Steve Carell and Vince Vaughn. He is also an accomplished impersonator and has in his frequent repertoire Bono, Tom Cruise, David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen.

Ben Stiller - a self confessed 'Trekkie', mimic, and must be one of the busiest guys in Hollywood - on screen, behind the camera, armed with a pen and holding the cash too. Influential, sought after, in demand and can freeze you to the spot with his 'Blue Steel' gaze! Turning the BIG 5-Oh! this week, a very Happy Birthday to you Ben, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 9th April 2015.

If like me, your Easter came and went with chocolate overload, Easter eggs aplenty, work, and all the pleasure of a long weekend, now it is time to turn attention to this weeks latest movie releases and all the silver screen things we love when its not Easter and we're working the j-o-b!

This week then we have four new offerings for this second week of the Easter school holiday period that offer decidedly more adult fare than we have seen of late, but the themes of those on offer we have seen before in various guises. Kicking off is another afflicted individual who against the odds rises to the challenge of an intellectual opportunity to discover himself, prove himself and set himself free; a love story of two opposing worlds that collide and do so amidst a friendship that inspires and motivates their own feelings for each other; then a dramedy of a middle aged couple each struggling with their own mid-life challenges who hook up with a much younger couple who help them rediscover themselves and overcome their life's roadblocks; and finally a story of single Mum and teenage ADHD and often violent son and what happens when she pulls him out of an institution and the unlikely friendship that develops between the son and the neighbour.

So when you've made your choice and sat in a dark room with a bunch of complete strangers gawping up at a big screen for two hours at any one of these new movies on offer, or those still out on general release, drop a Comment below this, or any other Post, and share your thoughts with the Odeon Online world. Enjoy your film!

X + Y (Rated M) - Directed by Morgan Matthews and based loosely on a documentary he filmed back in 2007 - 'Beautiful Young Minds' that is of a similar subject matter, here we have socially inept teenager Nathan (Asa Butterfield) who is an autistic genius who has a strong bond with his father and who understands and has patience with his sons condition. When Dad passes away Nathan struggles to connect with his Mother Julie (Sally Hawkins), but enter tutor Martin Humphries (Rafe Spall) who throws Nathan a lifeline and suggests he enter an international maths competition, because he has a gift with numbers.

Accepting the challenge that takes Nathan from his English suburban comfort zone to competition around the world to Taipei and back again, this charts his story of relationships forged, friendships founded, confidence established and love experienced. Touted as heart warming, funny in parts, engaging and emotional this film is likely to pull audiences in as 'Still Alice' and 'The Theory of Everything' also did with its subject matter and nuanced performances.

THE LONGEST RIDE (Rated M) - based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks and Directed by George Tillman Jnr., this is the story of two young lovers from very different backgrounds - Luke Collins (Scott Eastwood) - a former bull riding champion looking at another shot at the limelight, and Sophia Danko (Britt Robertson) - a graduating college student about to move to New York for her dream job in the art world. As their worlds collide and their ideals differ they forge an unlikely relationship with Ira (Alan Alda) whose decades long love of his wife draws parallels with their own fledgling relationship and from which they learn to adapt, accept and agree their differences so that they can move on . . . together.

MOMMY (Rated MA15+) - Written, Produced and Directed by 25 year old Xavier Dolan this Canadian French foreign language film was in competition at last years Cannes Film Festival and came away with the Jury Prize and so far has walked away with 41 award wins and another forty nominations. Made for a meagre US$5M this film tells the story of widow of three years Diane 'Die' Despres (Anne Dorval) who struggles to make ends meet and will do (almost) whatever it takes to get ahead in life. Her 15 years old son Steve (Antoine-Olivier Pilon) was institutionalised in a care facility just after his father died because of his ADHD affliction and his violent outbursts, and now Die has decided to get him outta there. With a history of issues in his wake Die now needs to bring Steve home realising that he is never likely to be rehabilitated in an institution. Facing many of her own challenges Mommy Die has to adapt and accept her actions to care for her unpredictable son. Neighbour Kyla (Suzanne Clement) takes a shine to Steve and helps Die with his home schooling and his eventual assimilation into society . . . but not without challenges, emotion and passion all the way.  Last week I commented that 'Leviathan' was the must see foreign language film of the year . . . but this might just be it instead - you decide!

WHILE WE'RE YOUNG (Rated M) - Written, Produced and Directed by Noah Baumbach this comedy drama stars Ben Stiller as Josh, husband to Naomi Watts wife Cornelia. They are 40-somethings at a watershed in their lives. Josh is a struggling film-maker and with their lives going no where quickly and rapidly overtaking them while caught napping! With their friends getting married, having children and pursuing sensible careers Josh and Cornelia gravitate toward young 20-somethings Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried) whose younger, energetic and enthusiastic lives begin to rub off on the older couple. But as time wears on Josh begins to think that perhaps there is more to this growing friendship than meets the eye and can the young ones be trusted.

Four new films released for the week ahead for you viewing pleasure, that may not offer something for everyone, but provide plenty of more mature movie motivation to get you out there amongst it. Don't be shy and share your thoughts with your like minded cinephiles reading this Blog and pass on your filmic recommendations . . . or not as you see fit!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-