Birthday's to share this week : 16th - 22nd July 2017

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Juno Temple does on 21st July - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 28, 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 16th July

• Phoebe Cates - Born 1963, turns 54 - Actress 
• Will Ferrell - Born1967, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Scott Derrickson - Born 1966, turns 51 - Writer | Director | Producer 
• Corey Feldman - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter | Writer | Director

Monday 17th July

• Donald Sutherland - Born 1935, turns 82 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• David Hasselhoff - Born 1952, turns 65 - Actor | Writer | Singer 
• Jason Clarke - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Producer 
• F. Gary Gray - Born 1969, turns 48 - Director | Producer | Actor

Tuesday 18th July 

• Paul Verhoeven - Born 1938, turns 79 - Director | Producer | Writer
• James Brolin - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Vin Diesel - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Elizabeth McGovern - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actress | Producer
• Kelly Reilly - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actress | Producer
• Kristen Bell - Born 1980, turns 37 - Actress | Singer | Producer  

Wednesday 19th July

• George Dzundza - Born 1945, turns 72 - Actor 
• Abel Ferrara - Born 1951, turns 66 - Director | Writer | Producer | Actor | Songwriter
• Atom Egoyan - Born 1960, turns 57 - Director | Writer | Producer | Editor | Actor | Cinematographer 
• Benedict Cumberbatch - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Producer  

Thursday 20th July

• Cormac McCarthy - Born 1933, turns 84 - Writer | Producer
• Josh Holloway - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Producer
• Diana Rigg - Born 1938, turns 79 - Actress
• Sandra Oh - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actress | Producer  

Friday 21st July

• Charlotte Gainsbourg - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actress | Singer
• Juno Temple - Born 1989, turns 28 - Actress
• Norman Jewison - Born 1926, turns 91 - Director | Producer
• Ross Kemp - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor | Television Personality | Producer
• John Lovitz - Born 1957, turns 60 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Singer
• Josh Hartnett - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actor     

Saturday 22nd July

• Terence Stamp - Born 1938, turns 79 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Danny Glover - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Paul Schrader - Born 1946, turns 71 - Writer | Director | Producer
• Albert Brooks - Born 1947, turns 70 - Actor | Writer | Director 
• Willem Dafoe - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• John Leguizamo - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• David Spade - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Singer
• Rhys Ifans - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor 
• Franka Potente - Born 1974, turns 43 - Actress | 
• Selena Gomez - Born 1992, turns 25 - Actress | Producer | Singer | Composer

Juno Violet Temple was born in Hammersmith, London, England to mother Amanda Pirie, a film and television Producer, and father Julien Temple, a film, documentary and music video Director. Juno spent the first four years of her life living in the US, an then her parents moved the family back to England where she grew up in Taunton, Somerset and attended Enmore Primary School, then the co-educational independent boarding and day Beadles School in Petersfield, in Hampshire, and then the independent co-educational boarding and secondary day school - King's College, Taunton. From the age of four she had already decided that she wanted to become an Actress, and by fifteen she told her parents that she had serous acting aspirations. She has two younger brothers - Leo and Felix. 

The young Juno began her acting career as a child Actress in the 1997 bio-pic 'Vigo : Passion for Life', as Directed by her father about French film Director Jean Vigo who lived from 1905 to 1934 and was an influence on the French New Wave cinema of the late '50's and early '60's. However, her part ended up on the cutting room floor, but all was not lost. From here she was cast by her father again at the tender age of eleven in the 2000 film 'Pandaemonium' which also starred Andy Serkis, John Hannah and Linus Roache about the early lives of English Poets - William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Her next big screen role came in 2006 in 'Notes on a Scandal' with Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett and Bill Nighy and this was followed up a year later with Joe Wrights acclaimed 'Atonement' with James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan and Benedict Cumberbatch. 'St. Trinian's' comes next in 2007 - for which she would reprise her role in 2009 in 'St. Trinian's 2 : The Legend of Fritton's Gold'. 

In the meantime there was historical drama film offering 'The Other Boleyn Girl' featuring an all star cast comprising the likes of Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Kristen Scott Thomas, Mark Rylance and Benedict Cumberbatch; then 'Wild Child'; the Harold Ramis Written and Directed comedy 'Year One' with Jack Black; 'Mr. Nobody' with Jared Leto, Rhys Ifans and Diane Kruger; boarding school dramatic thriller 'Cracks' with Eva Green and Imogen Poots; and then early WWII dramatic thriller 'Glorious 39' with Bill Nighy, Eddie Redmayne, Christopher Lee and Hugh Bonneville seeing out the decade.

2010 saw things really take off for Temple with Noah Baumbach's Written and Directed 'Greenberg' with Ben Stiller, then 'Kaboom', followed by 'Dirty Girl' and a couple of short films - the fifteen minute 'Swerve' and the seven minute 'Bastard' for Writer and Director Kirsten Dunst. 'Little Birds' came next in 2011, then historical actioner 'The Three Musketeers' for Paul W. S. Anderson with Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom, Mads Mikkelsen, Logan Lerman and Mathew Macfadyen, and 'Killer Joe' followed up these for William Friedkin with Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch.

2012 opened with 'Small Apartments' with an ensemble cast consisting the likes of Billy Crystal, James Caan, Matt Lucas, Dolph Lundgren, Johnny Knoxville, Peter Stormare, Rebel Wilson and Saffron Burrows. Romantic horror drama came next with 'Jack & Diane', then a turn in Chris Nolan's epic 'The Dark Knight Rises' followed up by fantasy comedy thriller film 'The Brass Teapot'. 

'Afternoon Delight', 'Magic Magic', the Bio-Pic of Linda Lovelace's life 'Lovelace' with Amanda Seyfried, Sharon Stone, Peter Sarsgaard, James Franco, Robert Patrick and Chloe Sevigny, and then fantasy horror drama 'Horns' alongside Daniel Radcliffe saw out 2013.

Disney's 'Maleficent' with Angelina Jolie and then the Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez Directed 'Sin City' follow-up 'Sin City : A Dame to Kill For' with an all star cast including Mickey Rourke, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Josh Brolin, Ray Liotta, Eva Green, Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson amongst others wrapped up 2014. The next year saw the period piece based on the Thomas Hardy novel 'Far from the Madding Crowd' with Carey Mulligan and Matthias Schoenaerts before 'Safelight', an uncredited appearance in 'Meadowland', then 'Len and Company' with Rhys Ifans, and Boston gangland Bio-Pic 'Black Mass' about the criminal life and times of James 'Whitey' Bulger with Johnny Depp in the lead role and an ensemble cast taking in Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon and Peter Sarsgaard.

2016 saw Temple star in all ten episodes of Season One of the Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese Co-Written '70's New York music industry drama 'Vinyl' and she followed this up with northern English set drama film 'Away' with Timothy Spall. Then came two episodes on 'Drunk History' whereby historical re-enactments by A-list acting talent are presented by inebriated storytellers. Bringing us up to date is the historical Bio-pic of Madelyn Murray O'Hair - an outspoken and opinionated activist and founder of the American Atheists whose activities led to her kidnapping in 1995. The film, 'The Most Hated Woman in America' was released on Netflix earlier this year.

Recently released Stateside is 'One Percent More Humid', and due for release in December this year is the latest Written and Directed offering from Woody Allen, 'Wonder Wheel' starring Kate Winslet,  Justin Timberlake and James Belushi, with 'The Pretenders' that has wrapped filming and is due for release in 2018 and is Directed and stars James Franco.

All up to date, Temple has 43 Acting credits to her name. She has two award wins and two nominations, and included in these is the BAFTA Rising Star Award given in 2013. She was romantically involved with her 'The Brass Teapot' male lead Michael Angarano, and the pair lived together in Los Angeles for a time, but this relationship ended subsequently.

Juno Temple - a child Actress whose done good, a star on the rise, clearly in demand, and already with a varied body of work. So much achieved in your seventeen active years in front of the camera that the future shines brightly, and the movie going public will continue to watch your ascent with much interest. Happy Birthday to you Juno, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 19th-25th June 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Joel Edgerton does on 23rd June - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 42, 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 19th June

• Paul Dano - Born 1984, turns 32 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Zoe Saldana - Born 1978, turns 38 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Sadie Frost - Born 1965, turns 51 - Actress | Producer
• Kathleen Turner - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actress | Producer
• Gena Rowlands - Born 1930, turns 86 - Actress  

Monday 20th June

• Nicole Kidman - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Martin Landau - Born 1928, turns 88 - Actor | Producer
• Stephen Frears - Born 1941, turns 75 - Director | Producer
• John Goodman - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Josh Lucas - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor | Producer
• Christopher Mintz-Plasse - Born 1989, turns 27 - Actor
• Robert Rodriguez - Born 1968, turns 48 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Composer | Songwriter | Editor | Cinematographer | Cameraman | FX Executive  

Tuesday 21st June

• Chris Pratt - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actor
• Benjamin Walker - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actor
• David Morrissey - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Juliette Lewis - Born 1973, turns 43 - Actress | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Lana Wachowski - Born 1965, turns 51 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Wednesday 22nd June

• Meryl Streep - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Lindsay Wagner - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actress | Producer
• Kris Kristofferson - Born 1936, turns 80 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter | Composer
• Bruce Campbell - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Uwe Boll - Born 1965, turns 51 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Randy Couture - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | UFC Wrestler  

Thursday 23rd June

• Joel Edgerton - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Bryan Brown - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Producer
• Joss Whedon - Born 1964, turns 52 - Producer | Writer | Director | Actor | Editor | Composer | Songwriter
• Frances McDormand - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actress | Producer  

Friday 24th June

• Nancy Allen - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actress
• Peter Weller - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Director
• Dan Gilroy - Born 1959, turns 57 - Writer | Producer | Director
• Iain Glen - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Producer  

Saturday 25th June

• Anthony Bourdain - Born 1956, turns 60 - Television Personality | Producer | Writer
• Timur Bekmambetov - Born 1961, turns 55 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Ricky Gervais - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Television Personality | Singer | Songwriter

Joel Edgerton was born in Blacktown, west of Sydney, Australia to mother Marianne, a housewife and mother, and father Michael, a solicitor and property developer. He has an older brother, Nash, who works as a stuntman, actor and Director, and whom Joel describes as his best friend. He graduated from The Hills Grammar School in Kenthurst, north-west of Sydney in 1991 and went onto Nepean Drama School at the University of Western Sydney from where he graduated in 1994 before appearing in various stage productions with the likes of The Sydney Theatre Company amongst others.

His first small screen appearance came on a single episode of 'Police Rescue' in 1995 with his first big screen appearance a year later in 1996 in 'Race the Sun' with Halle Berry, James Belushi, Casey Affleck, Steve Zahn and Bill Hunter. This was followed up by a nine minute short film that same year, 'Loaded' Co-Directed by brother Nash and Kieran Darcy-Smith. The following few years saw more television series roles including 'Big Sky', 'Fallen Angels', 'Spellbinder', 'Wildside' and 'Water Rats'. 'Praise' followed in 1998 for Director John Curran and the 26 minute short film 'Bloodlock' for brother Nash and Kieran Darcy-Smith once more. 'Erskineville Kings' with Hugh Jackman and 'Dogwatch' saw out the decade.

The following few years saw a number of made for television movies including 'Secret Men's Business', 'The Three Stooges' and the 'The Secret Life of Us' with Claudia Karvan and Deborah Mailman, and which spawned a spin-off television series of the same name with largely the same cast, and Edgerton reprising his role in 32 episodes as Will McGill from 2001-2002. There were also several short films including 'Gate', 'The Pitch' Written by the Edgerton brothers and Directed by Nash, 'Animalis' and 'Saturn's Return'. Perhaps the role that really established him was as Owen Lars in 'Star Wars : Episode II - Attack of the Clones' in 2002 - a role he would reprise in 2005 in 'Star Wars : Episode III - Revenge of the Sith'.

In between time, there was 'The Hard Word' with Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths, Gregor Jordan's 'Ned Kelly' biopic with Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush, the Sinatra biopic of the crooners tour of Australia 'The Night We Called it a Day' with Dennis Hopper and Melanie Griffiths all followed. Antoine Fuqua's epic retelling of 'King Arthur' with Clive Owen, Ray Winstone, Stellan Skarsgard and Keira Knightley, and then 'Kinky Boots' with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Nick Frost took us up to 2006.

'Open Window', 'Smokin' Aces', 'Whisper', 'The Square' Directed by Nash and written by Joel, 'Acolytes', 'Separation City' and 'The Waiting City' saw the decade out with eight episodes of Australian action drama series 'Dangerous' in 2007, and further short films 'Crossbow', 'Father' and 'Spider' again Directed by, and Co-Wriiten by brother Nash, with ABC mining drama 'Dirt Game' in 2009.

2010 saw the highly acclaimed and Oscar nominated 'Animal House' for David Michod with Jackie Weaver, then 'Warrior' with Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte, and the remake/prequel to John Carpenter's classic 'The Thing' in 2011. 'Wish You Were Here', 'The Odd Life of Timothy Green' and then highly praised Osama bin Laden hunt him down film by Katherine Bigelow 'Zero Dark Thirty' with Jessica Chastain. This was followed by his turn at Tom Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's lavish period piece 'The Great Gatsby' with Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire in this equally acclaimed production. The Police thriller 'Felony' Produced, Written and Starring Edgerton came next in 2013, with Ridley Scott's biblical epic adventure tale of brothers Moses and Ramses in 'Exodus : Gods & Kings' with Christian Bale, Ben Kingsley and John Tuturro.

'Life' followed in 2015, as did Egerton's Directorial debut with 'The Gift' which he also wrote, Produced and starred in to positive critical and commercial success making eleven times its budget outlay. 'Black Mass' with Johnny Depp in the lead role of James 'Whitey' Bulger in this true crime biographical drama set in the mid-70's South Boston area. 'Jane Got a Gun' was Co-Written for the screen by Edgerton and stars him too in this action Western that has yet to receive a cinema release in Australia, despite its release in the US at the end of January where it tanked - possibly due to its troubled production and repeatedly delayed release.

'Midnight Special' was released on a limited basis only just very recently to generally positive reviews, although it has so far only recovered one-third of its Budget costs. That film is Directed by Jeff Nichols and stars Michael Shannon, with whom Edgerton reprises that relationship next with 'Loving' due in November this year and very warmly received at this years Cannes Film Festival where the film received a standing ovation, and subsequent Oscar speculation of Edgerton's first nomination. He has lent his voice talents also over the years to '$9.99', 'Legend of the Guardians : The Owls of Ga'Hoole', and short films 'The Cartographer' and 'The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello'.

Next up is 'American Express' due next year and Directed by Nash Edgerton with Charlize Theron, Thandie Newton, David Oyelowo and Sharlto Copley, and then 'Bright' in pre-production for David Ayer with Will Smith and Noomi Rapace. All up Edgerton has 68 acting credits, nine Writer cerdits, six as Producer and three as Director. He has thirteen award wins and another 24 nominations so far.

Edgerton is an ambassador for the 'Fred Hollows Foundation' which restores eye sight to the less fortunate in poorer countries through a simple low cost procedure. In 1996 he and brother Nash Co-Founded Blue Tongue Films with Kieran Darcy-Smith and David Michod that has since produced feature films, short films and music videos for many named artists.

Joel Edgerton - multi-talented; multi-faceted across the film making game; has worked across just about all genres; is widely respected; grounded, real and has film making values that he holds dear; is clearly much sought after, and another great Australian success story - Happy Birthday to you Joel, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

BLACK MASS : Saturday 10th October 2015.

BLACK MASS which I saw over the weekend is a true crime true life American drama thriller as Directed by Scott Cooper and based on the life and times of the Boston based Irish American mobster James Joseph 'Whitey' Bulger as portrayed here by Johnny Depp. Born in 1929, this films kicks off in 1975 by which time we learn that Bulger had already served time in his youth in juvenile detention and then nine years on Alcatraz and Leavenworth Prisons having been released in 1965. It would be another 46 years before Bulger would see the inside of a prison cell again. This film was made for US$53M and at the time of writing has made US$56M. The story is based on the 2001 book 'Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob' as written by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill.

We open up with Jimmy Bulger a small time but nonetheless reasonably powerful mobster who has control over the underworld activities of South Boston in the mid-70's and has grown up amidst a life of crime. He has moved up to control the Winter Hill Gang with his henchmen Stephen Flemmi (Rory Cochrane), new kid on the block Kevin Weeks (Jesse Plemmons) and his associate hit-man Johnny Martorano (W. Earl Brown). His hold over 'Southie' is under challenge from the Italian American Angiulo Brothers from Boston's North End. Whilst Bulger is keen at almost any cost to oust the Angiulo's, the FBI have an active interest too, and it is here that an unlikely alliance is forged.

Bulger grew up in Southie on the same street as John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) who now has recently returned to Boston as a high ranking Agent in the F.B.I. Connolly is keen to make a name for himself and sees that taking down the Angiulo Crime Clan is his ticket. Bulger, his Brother William 'Billy' Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch) who is now in high office as the President of the Massachusetts State Senate, and Connolly grew up on the streets together and there is a strong bond that binds the three despite the different directions their lives have taken.

To aid him in his pursuit of the Angiulo's he strikes a deal with Bulger to turn over evidence that will help bring down that crime family in exchange for him being allowed to go about his business on the condition that there are no murders caused either directly or indirectly by his own hand, and no criminal activity linked to him. Needless to say with Bulger's pedigree it is highly unlikely that he'll be able to comply.

As Connolly clashes with his Boss at the Bureau, Charles McGuire (Kevin Bacon) because leads to the Angiulo's are thin on the ground and Bulger is increasingly getting away with murder. Connolly's loyalties over time become divided and he finds himself becoming deeper and deeper entrenched in Bulger's underworld activities which continue to grow from strength to strength as time progresses, and his reach extends further afield. It's a fine line that starts to impact on Connolly's family life and his wife, Marianne (Julianne Nicholson) who is disapproving of the time that her husband spends with those criminal types and enjoying some of the trappings of Bulger's criminal success.

As Bulger gets deeper and deeper into more far reaching activities down in Florida with an embezzlement scheme around the World Jai Alai series, and with an arms smuggling effort back to Ireland to support the Provisional IRA, so the spotlight tunes on Bulger when a new District Attorney Fred Wyshak (Corey Stoll) is appointed to the local branch of the FBI where Connolly is stationed. Questions begin to be asked about Bulger and why it is that for so long he has evaded arrest, and why Connolly has allowed this to happen.

As time progresses Wyshak and McGuire dig deeper into Connolly's former records and discover a trail of misinformation, cover ups and falsified statements to take the scent off Bulger and protect his own interests. Former colleague of Connolly, John Morris (David Harbour) knows that by association  he too will be under very close scrutiny and could potentially go down for the part he has played in covering for Bulger (and Connolly) over the years, so he confides in a tell-all interview with The Boston Globe newspaper. This hits the headlines in the days that follow with Bulger making front page news as an F.B.I. informant since 1975. Bulger knows that the writing is on the wall for him and that this will mark the beginning of the end.

As the final chapter draws to a close Connolly, Weeks, Martorano and Flemmi are arrested and serve various sentences we are advised in the closing credits. Budget however, evades arrest and goes on the run in the mid-90's and again the closing credits tell us there were several sightings of him around the world in the ensuing years, but in 2011 he was tracked down and arrested outside his Santa Monica apartment. For sixteen years Bulger went on the run, and during this time his former henchmen turned evidence against him in order to seek reduced sentences, immunity, and protection. Billy Bulger meanwhile plays the close caring and stoic brother maintaining his family ties with visits to the ageing mother, dinner parties and family get togethers, but is largely in denial over his brothers criminal dealings lest it gets in the way of his political career.

This film gives Depp a chance to step out of the mould that we have become more accustomed to since he stepped into his 'Pirates' mantle and has worked with Tim Burton. He cold steely blue eyes are piercing and menacing, his slicked back hair, and pale complexion tells us that this is a man not to be crossed or messed with. Many that did paid the ultimate price, even those closest to him and the fact that this is real, within our own life times and that the man himself is still alive and locked up for his remaining life at United States Penitentiary Coleman II in Sumterville, Florida, adds to the weight of the story and its resonance.

All that said, despite the strong performances from Depp, Cumberbatch and Edgerton especially who are the standouts here, the story is repetitive and lumbering. We see Bulger kicking, beating, strangling, shooting his way through the film time after time and after several of these I am wondering what is this all about as it becomes jumbled and labouring. I am wondering how the F.B.I. can be so incompetent, and how did no other authorities at the time even catch a sniff of what Bulger was up to so as to raise some suspicion. After all there were 19 or so murders with which he has been linked both directly or indirectly, and these all went undetected??

For the Depp, Cumberbatch and Edgerton performances this film is worth seeking out, but we join the film when Bulger is already 46 when the film opens and we then track his life for 20 years at his height before it all goes pear shaped and he goes on the run for 16 years, with the last four years in custody. I felt a little short-changed by lack of the before and after story which is given a very cursory glance over only. You can catch this on the big screen, or wait for the DVD or BluRay.



Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 8th October 2015.

What's not to like about a Film Festival, and as mentioned previously in these Blog Pages, Adelaide screens its very own, beginning next Thursday 15th October. Over the past two weeks I've mentioned some of the content that will be screening over ten days, but this week I thought I'd highlight some of the smaller offerings and genres that will nonetheless find an audience and add to the diverse and exciting programme on offer. There is a 'Focus on Latin America' with 'Aurora' and 'Hopefuls' both having their Australian Premiers, and  'Cartel Land' that will be of particular interest if you have seen the recently released 'Sicario'. There are Documentaries too with 'Desert Migration', 'A Syrian Love Story' and 'We Are Many' all having their Australian Premier and 'Best of Enemies' and 'Requiem for an American Dream' both promising to be thought provoking and stirring. Of the musical genre 'Landfill Harmonic' and 'Songman' both Premier in Australia and '808'  invites us into the drum machine that was and is the cornerstone of modern music. On the sporting front 'Steve McQueen : The Man & Le Mans', 'Hitting the Apex', 'Our Last Tango' and 'Meru' all get their Australian Premier too, with Horror fans being kept satisfied with 'Tag' from Japan, 'Deathgasm' from New Zealand and 'Turbo Kid' from Canada. And of course there's a raft of short films too. For all the details go to : https://adelaidefilmfestival.org

This week there are three films to get you out and about to your your local independent theatre or mega screen multiplex, and kicking off those offerings there is an ensemble cast recounting the true life story and true life crimes of one of the FBI's Most Wanted Men back in Boston back in the day when the mob ruled, it was survival of the fittest, and justice was a matter of shoot first and ask questions later. Next up is a feel good comedy when two unsuspecting people are thrown together behind the wheel of a car that made me think 'Driving Miss Daisy' revisited in a different time, a different place and different circumstances; and finally a comedy drama about the life long friendship between two women whose life is turned up side down by life shattering news.

Tempted therefore with drama, comedy and comedy drama? If so, get out amongst it, catch one of this weeks new release offerings, or any one of a whole host of movies still doing the rounds or on the festival circuit, and then share your views, opinions, and observations with your like minded cinephile friends here at Odeon Online. We'd love to hear from you, so leave a Comment in the box directly below this or any other Post, and in the meantime, enjoy your film.

BLACK MASS (Rated MA15+) - this true crime true life American thriller is Directed by Scott Cooper and based on the life and times of the Boston based Irish American mobster James Joseph 'Whitey' Bulger as portrayed here by Johnny Depp. Born in 1929, this films kicks off in 1975 when Bulger allegedly began serving as an FBI informant against the other Boston mobster clan - the Italian American Patriarca family. In exchange for Bulger's inside information and his tip-offs the FBI largely turned a blind-eye to his activities which allowed the mobster to carry on his racketeering, trafficking, laundering, murdering and therefore profiteering ways unhindered. This carried on for almost 20 years until 1994 when his FBI handler, John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) tips him off about a pending indictment under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, and so for the next 16 years Bulger went on the run evading the authorities at every turn it seems, until his eventual arrest in 2011.

Starring with Depp and Edgerton there is Benedict Cumberbatch as William Michael 'Billy' Bulger, five years younger than his brother Whitey and an American Democratic Politician who was the President of the Massachusetts Senate from 1978 to 1996. There is also Kevin Bacon as FBI boss to Connolly Charles McGuire, and the likes of Juno Temple, Corey Stoll, Dakota Johnson and Peter Sarsgaard amongst others. Bulger was convicted for his part in 19 murders and a whole swathe of other significant criminal activities in 2013 and is currently serving two life sentences. The film was made for US$53M and has so far recouped all of that at the time of writing. A must see for lovers of distinctly adult true crime serious film making with three sizzling performances that you just know Depp, Cumberbatch and Edgerton will deliver.

LEARNING TO DRIVE (Rated M) - This American comedy brings together again Director Iasbel Coixet with Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley as Wendy Shields and Darwan Singh Tur respectively. Here Shields is a successful book editor and critic recently split form her husband and in her new found capacity needs to fend for herself, become more independent and get a life. So, she decides she needs to learn to drive. She hires a gentle Indian Sikh cab driver to teach her the skills of driving and in doing she she learns that he is being forced into an oncoming arranged marriage while hers has just gone down the tubes. What follows behind the wheel of Darwans car is a voyage of discovery for them both as they learn valuable lessons in friendships, relationships, life and starting over. This film Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2014 and was released Stateside in August this year.

MISS YOU ALREADY (Rated M) - this US British comedy drama is Directed by Catherine Hardwicke  and is based on the BBC Radio 4 Play 'Goodbye' by Morweena Banks. It stars Drew Barrymore as Jess and her life long best mate Milly (Toni Collette) as they have grown up side by side and shared loves, life, experiences and just about everything in between. Jess lives on a houseboat in London with her boyfriend Jago (Paddy Considine) and she is desperate for a child, often secretly envious of Milly whose fast paced career life and perfect family seems more and more out of reach with each month that passes. As Jess' challenge presents a threat to the long term friendship that has endured over many years, two life changing events occur almost simultaneously - Jess falls pregnant, finally, and Milly learns she has breast cancer. How will this news effect them as individuals, as close friends and those around them as sadness turns to joy, and joy to sadness as their resolve is tested and everything they hold dear is bought into play. Be prepared to have your heart strings pulled by two equally strong performances! Dominic Cooper stars as Milly's husband Kit and Jacqueline Bisset stars at Milly's mother Miranda. Frances de la Tour also stars.

Three films all offering something different, and all decidedly of adult fare for the week ahead. After your film of choice revisit us all here and share your thoughts - good, bad and ugly!

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 5th - 11th July 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Kevin Bacon does on 8th July - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 57, 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 5th July

• Huey Lewis - Born 1950, turns 65 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter
• Edie Falco - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actress

Monday 6th July

• Eva Green - Born 1980, turns 35 - Actress
• Geraldine James - Born 1950, turns 65 - Actress
• Sylvester Stallone - Born 1946, turns 69 - Actor | Director | Producer | Writer
• Kevin Hart - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Geoffrey Rush - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actor
• Ned Beatty - Born 1937, turns 78 - Actor

Tuesday 7th July

• Akiva Goldsman - Born 1962, turns 53 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Shelley Duvall - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actress | Producer

Wednesday 8th July

• Anjelica Huston - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Wally Pfister - Born 1961, turns 54 - Director | Cinematographer | Cameraman
• Billy Crudrup - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actor
• Jaden Smith - Born 1998, turns 17 - Actor
• Kevin Bacon - Born 1958, turns 57 - Actor | Producer | Director

Thursday 9th July

• Tom Hanks - Born 1956, turns 59 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Brian Dennehy - Born 1938, turns 77 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Chris Cooper - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actor
• Jimmy Smits - Born 1955, turns 60 - Actor | Producer
• Kevin Nash - Born 1959, turns 56 - Actor
• Richard Rowntree - Born 1942, turns 73 - Actor
• Kelly McGillis - Born 1957, turns 58 - Actress
• Courtney Love - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress | Singer | Songwriter

Friday 10th July

• Sofia Vergara - Born 1972, turns 43 - Actress | Producer
• Jessica Simpson - Born 1980, turns 35 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Chiwetel Ejiofor - Born 1977, turns 38 - Actor | Producer | Director

Saturday 11th July

• Mark Lester - Born 1958, turns 57 - Actor
• Rachael Taylor - Born 1984, turns 31 - Actress
• Caroline Quentin - Born 1960, turns 55 - Actress

Kevin Norwood Bacon was born and raised in Philadelphia to mother Ruth Hilda - an elementary school teacher and liberal activist who died in 1991. His father Edmund Norwood Bacon died in 2005 and was a noted architect and Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. At age 16 the young teenage Bacon secured a full scholarship to the Pennsylvania Governors School for the Arts at Bucknell University. His teachings here cemented his desire and determination towards a career in the arts.

At 17, Bacon moved to New York City and after appearing in a production of the Circle in the Square Theatre School, gained his first role on the big screen in 'National Lampoons Animal House' in 1978, from which he anticipated recognition, fame and fortune. When this didn't eventuate he knuckled down and continued auditioning for theatre roles, and waiting tables, gaining occasional roles in television series including 'Search for Tomorrow' in 1979. and 'Guiding Light' in 1980/81.

After a number of roles in lesser films at the end of the 70's he gained a more significant role in the cult classic 'Friday the 13th' in 1980, with a number of theatre performances to follow over the next few years. In 1982 he won an Award for his performance in 'Forty Deuce', and after this made his Broadway debut in 'Slab Boys' with the still waiting to be discovered jobbing young Actors - Sean Penn and Val Kilmer. That same year came 'Diner' with Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Daniel Stern and Ellen Barkin which really started to get the young Kevin Bacon noticed. Off the back of this success came his breakout role in 1984's 'Footloose' although after this he spent a number of years in the typecast wilderness.

1990 brought two further successful performances in 'Tremors' - the comedy horror film, and then 'Flatliners'. 'He Said, She Said' came next with only lukewarm Reviews. Deciding that he needed bigger fare and 'A-List' Projects if he was to truly advance his career and his star status he next secured Oliver Stone's 'JFK' in 1991 which he describes as a turning point in his career, and the year after 'A Few Good Men' with Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore. In 1994 'A River Wild' came out with Meryl Streep, and in 1995 he won an Award for his performance in 'Murder in the First' starring alongside Gary Oldman and Christian Slater. The space age telling of 'Apollo 13' as Directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris and Bill Paxton came next, followed up a year later by the dark thriller 'Sleepers' with Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman and Jason Patric.

Bacon made his Directorial debut in 1996 in the TV Film 'Losing Chase' which garnered him three Golden Globe nominations and the win for Best Actress Helen Mirren. His first turn as Producer came with 1995's 'Wild Things' with 'Stir of Echoes' next closing out the decade.










As the new Century clicked over he starred in an updated take on 'The Invisible Man' with Paul Verhoeven's 'The Hollow Man', with Clint Eastwood's acclaimed six time Oscar nominated 'Mystic River' with Sean Penn and Tom Robbins who both walked away with a golden statue. 'The Woodsman' followed in 2004, with less popular fare peppering the mid-decade up until Ron Howard's 'Frost/Nixon' in 2008, and then his Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild wins for his role in the HBO 'Taking Chance' in 2009.

In 2010 Bacon appeared in Matthew Vaughn's origin story of the popular & successful X-Men Series with 'X-Men : First Class', with 'Crazy, Stupid Love' in 2011, 'Jayne Mansfield's Car' in 2012, the forgettable 'R.I.P.D.' in 2013 and then the FOX TV Series lead role in 'The Following' from 2013 until it was cancelled earlier this year. Next up is '6 Miranda Drive' and 'Black Mass' with Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton and Benedict Cumberbatch both due later this year.

Bacon has eighty Acting credits to his name, five Producer credits and three Director credits. He has fifteen Award wins and a further nineteen nominations, and has been described as the most successful Actor never to have won an Oscar.

He has five siblings - Michael, Karin, Hilda, Elinor, and Kira. He is married to Actress Kyra Sedgwick and has been since 1988, and together they have a son Travis (born in 1989) and a daughter Sosie (born in 1992). He has starred in five films with his wife - 'Pyrates', 'Murder in the First', 'The Woodsman'. 'Loverboy' and the film they met on, 'Lemon Sky' back in 1988. In 2011 he learned that he and Sedgwick are 9th cousins as a result of their appearance on TV's 'Finding Your Roots'.




Bacon is also the subject of a trivia game 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon' based on the fact that his varied and diverse career connects him within just a few steps to just about everyone in the known universe! He also formed a musical band with his brother Michael, 'The Bacon Brothers', in 1995 and have released six albums of country and folk rock style music.

Kevin Bacon - he of the instantly recognisable voice, boyish charm and good looks, can play the anti-hero, the twisted villain, strong supporting characters, controversial individuals and often with an ensemble cast, but always keeping it real, and remaining grounded - Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-