Birthday's to share this week : 28th May - 3rd June 2017

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Tom Holland does on 1st June - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 21, 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 28th May

• Sondra Locke - Born 1944, turns 73 - Actress | Director | Producer
• Kylie Minogue - Born 1968, turns 49 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Writer | Producer | Actress | Director
• Carey Mulligan - Born 1985, turns 32 - Actress  

Monday 29th May

• Annette Benning - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actress 
• Lorelei Linklater - Born 1994, turns 23 - Actress 
• Danny Elfman - Born 1953, turns 64 - Composer | Songwriter | Musician | Actor 
• Rupert Everett - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer  

Tuesday 30th May

• Harry Enfield - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Duncan Jones - Born 1971, turns 46 - Director | Writer | Producer
• Joachim Ronning - Born 1972, turns 45 - Director | Writer | Producer  

Wednesday 31st May

• Clint Eastwood - Born 1930, turns 87 - Actor | Director | Producer | Composer | Songwriter | Singer
• Tom Berenger - Born 1949, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Colin Farrell - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Brooke Shields - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actress | Producer  

Thursday 1st June

• Heidi Klum - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Sarah Wayne Callies - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actress | 
• Amy Schumer - Born 1981, turns 36 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director  
• Morgan Freeman - Born 1937, turns 80 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Director
• Robert Powell - Born 1944, turns 73 - Actor
• Brian Cox - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actor | Producer
• Jonathan Pryce - Born 1947, turns 70 - Actor | Singer
• Tom Holland - Born 1996, turns 21 - Actor | Director
• Ed Oxenbould - Born 2001, turns 16 - Actor

Friday 2nd June

• Stacy Keach - Born 1941, turns 76 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Lasse Hallstrom - Born 1946, turns 71 - Director | Writer | Producer
• Dennis Haysbert - Born 1954, turns 63 - Actor | Producer  
• Liam Cunningham - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Director | Producer
• Wentworth Miller - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Kevin Feige - Born 1973, turns 44 - Producer 
• Zachary Quinto - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actor | Producer  
• Dominic Cooper - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actor
• Justin Long - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director 

Saturday 3rd June

• James Purefoy - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor
• Imogen Poots - Born 1989, turns 28 - Actress

Thomas Stanley Holland was born in Kingston upon Thames, London, England to mother Nicola Elizabeth Frost, a photographer, and father Dominic Holland, a comedian, radio host, television personality, writer and author. Tom has three younger brothers - Sam and Harry, twins three years younger, and Patrick eight years his junior. Tom was educated at Donhead Preparatory School located in Wimbledon, and then Wimbledon College - a Jesuit Roman Catholic Secondary School for boys at Edge Hill, also in Wimbledon. In 2012 he attended the BRIT (British Record Industry Trust) School for Performing Arts and Technology at Selhurst, Croydon, London.

His performance career began with dance at a dance school in Wimbledon. His early potential was spotted by a choreographer visiting his dance school in 2006 as part of that years Richmond Dance Festival. After a series of auditions and two years of training in mid-2008 the young Holland made his West End debut in 'Billy Elliot, the Musical' playing the role of Michael, Billy's best mate, at the Victoria Palace Theatre. By September of that same year Holland was playing the lead character of Billy, to positive Reviews. In March 2010, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the stage musical, the current actors playing Billy in rotation, including Holland, were invited to 10, Downing Street to meet with the then British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. He finished his run in the show in late May that year.

2012 saw the release of his first feature film, but in voice only, and in the English dubbed version of the Studio Ghibli animated fantasy film 'Arrietty' with fellow voice Actors Saoirse Ronan, Olivia Coleman, Mark Strong, Geraldine McEwan and Phyllida Law. That same year he appeared in his first feature film 'The Impossible', Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor telling the story of the devastating tsunami that struck Thailand on Boxing Day 2004. Holland portrayed one of the three sons of the on-screen husband and wife team of Watts & McGregor. The film was critically lauded and picked up 27 award wins and 65 nominations including multiple award wins and nominations for Best Young Actor and Breakthrough Actor for Holland.

The following year Holland lent his voice talents to the role of Eddie in Steven Knight's Written and Directed 'Locke', with Tom Hardy as the only physical presence in the whole film behind the wheel of his car driving down a motorway in England on his way home. That same year saw dramatic romantic thriller 'How I Live Now' with Saoirse Ronan. 2015 brought the highly acclaimed period television drama series 'Wolf Hall' over six hour long episodes with Holland playing Gregory Cromwell to Mark Rylance's Thomas Cromwell, Damien Lewis as Henry VIII and Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn. Later that year came the Ron Howard's action adventure period piece inspired by the classic novel Moby Dick, 'In the Heart of the Sea' with Chris Hemsworth, Cilian Murphy, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson and Benjamin Walker.

2016 saw what might be regarded as his breakout role, albeit for only a brief but not insignificant, appearance in 'Captain America : Civil War' as the latest incarnation of Spiderman (aka Peter Parker) alongside an all star cast that you'll know already. 2016 also saw drama thriller 'Edge of Winter' with Joel Kinnaman and then the yet to be released in Australia historical action adventure biopic 'The Lost City of Z' as Directed by James Gary and starring also Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson and Sienna Miller.

Due for release later this year is historically set 13th Century Irish drama adventure 'Pilgrimage' with Richard Armitage and Jon Bernthal and 'Spider-Man : Homecoming' due mid year this year also that sees Holland get his own stand alone movie as the web slinging young hero following on directly from the events that unfolded in 'Captain America : Civil War'. 

Currently in Post-Production is historical drama Bio-Pic about Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, 'The Current War' due early 2018 with Benedict Cumberbatch as Edison, Michael Shannon as Westinghouse, Nicholas Hoult as Nikola Tesla and Holland as business magnate Samuel Insull. Currently filming is 'Avengers : Infinity War' in which Holland reprises his role as Spider-Man, and in Pre-Production is the film adaptation of the 'Uncharted' video game series for Director Shawn Levy, and dystopian Sci-Fi adventure 'Chaos Walking' for Director Doug Liman and also starring Daisy Ridley. Recently announced for a 2019 release is a 'Spider-Man : Homecoming' sequel. 

All up Holland has nineteen acting credits to his name  and one as Director on his own three minute short film 'Tweet' featuring his family as the principal cast. So far Holland has garnered eleven award wins including the BAFTA Rising Star Award earlier this year, and another fourteen nominations all for his performances in 'The Impossible', 'Captain America : Civil War' and 'In the Heart of the Sea'.

Tom Holland - just turning 21, but already much achieved in your short film and television career, in demand, clearly on the rise and with the accolades to prove it, and seemingly with Hollywood at your feet. We'll keep watching as your further career and your big screen appearances unfold - we wish you well. Happy Birthday to you Tom, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

CAPTAIN AMERICA : CIVIL WAR - Monday 2nd May 2016.

'CAPTAIN AMERICA : CIVIL WAR' which I saw earlier this week, is the next instalment from the crew at Marvel, the thirteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third in the Captain America series following on from 'The First Avenger' in 2011 and 'Winter Soldier' in 2014. This is so far slated to be the final standalone Captain America film, although Chris Evans who plays Steve Rogers/Captain America reappears in the upcoming two-part 'Avengers: Infinity War' due in May 2018 and May 2019, and has stated his willingness to reprise his role further should Marvel be open to this, now that his initial contract has ended. Australia is among the first to get the theatrical release of this film, with the UK going live last week too, and North America on May 6th. So far ahead of its US release having opened already in 37 territories, the film has grossed US$225M. Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo, we have an all star cast of acting talent and superhero muscle who come together and battle it out head to head and toe to toe one year after the events of 'Age of Ultron'.

Following the last Avengers outing there has been another international event that brings The Avengers under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Opening up we see Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olson) on a tour of duty in Lagos, Nigeria chasing down Crossbones (Frank Grillo) who is in possession of a biological weapon. After the initial opening set piece Scarlet Witch mistakenly causes a bomb to be thrown into a near high rise building killing Crossbones and many innocents including relief aid workers.

As a result of this back at Avengers HQ, the Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) convenes a meeting with The Avengers. He advises those gathered that as a result of recent events in New York, Washington, Sokovia and now Nigeria where there has been too much excessive death, destruction and collateral damage that governments around the world are now calling for a level of control and accountability for when The Avengers should be called upon, and for them to be overseen by a greater authority so regulating superhuman activity, and the potential fallout from it. The United Nations have drawn up 'The Sokovia Accords' setting up an international governing body who will have complete jurisdiction over the group of ever expanding superhumans.

Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr.) agrees that regulation is needed and supports such an Act feeling the guilt from creating Ultron and the wonton damage and death of innocents this caused. Steve Rogers/Captain America is opposed to it believing that despite the fall out they have made the world a safer place, and need to be free to intervene when the time and circumstances dictate.

As the Accords are due to be ratified in Vienna with many of the world's leaders and Black Widow looking on and representing those of the Avengers in agreement, an explosion kills the King of Wakanda amongst others - and very quickly The Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) is identified as the bomber. The Kings son, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who is by his side at the time of the explosion swears revenge on Bucky Barnes, and so begins his one man crusade against his quarry, but first he'll need to get through the divided Avengers who have now split into two with their divided loyalties on either side falling into two differing factions headed up in the one corner by Tony Stark and in the other by Steve Rogers, each with Bucky in their sights too and for different reasons.

When the authorities close in, Bucky is captured and so too are the now rogue Avengers, but its not long before they all thwart their captors and Rogers makes off with Barnes to learn what he knows about the bombing. It is revealed that Colonel Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) was behind the bombing and is intending to release five other Winter Soldiers each deadlier than Barnes, from a HYDRA mountain hideaway in Siberia, each frozen ready to be reanimated when the time is right - and that time is now for Zemo.

While this is going on in the background Stark convinces the Secretary of State to allow him to bring Rogers and his rogue Avengers in, believing that he can convince them to see reason. He is given 36 hours to do so. Stark recruits T'Challa and a young web slinging kid who has grabbed his attention - Peter Parker (Tom Holland) to support him, Black Widow, War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Vision (Paul Bettany).

Rogers meanwhile has recruited Ant Man (Paul Rudd), has brought Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) out of early retirement to join him, Falcon, Barnes and Scarlet Witch, and this team also has Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) now working for the CIA on side too. Things come to a head when worlds collide and the differing factions battle it out head to head at Leipzig/Halle Airport in the greatest superhero stand-off ever seen that is a jaw dropping sequence with a few surprises in store, and just the right amount of tongue in cheek humour to add the necessary levity.

Needless to say whilst they are all Superheroes in their own right no one gets permanently damaged, but some do get locked up in maximum security as a result of their antics. This leaves Rogers and Barnes to chase down Zemo before he reactivates the other Winter Soldiers who could bring a whole new world of pain. This leaves Iron Man left to retrieve the situation and make amends with Captain America if he can. What is revealed in the secret mountain hideaway however, no one was prepared for and only causes a further rift between Stark and Rogers that results in a fight to the 'near' death for the two of them and Barnes. Subsequently the two divided Avengers factions split far and wide with Rogers aided and abetted by a new ally in the form of The Black Panther.

You can expect big things from this film, with the first two grossing US$1.09B and such a formidable collection of assembled Superheroes. This would rank right up there as one of the best if not THE best Marvel big screen adaptation to date. It is everything you want from a blockbusting Superhero movie and more - maturity; great action set pieces; a solid story line; characters you have come to know, love and respect; just the right amount of humour; a few surprises; and a line up of Superhero talent never before amassed on the big screen, and going head to head. Who knows what might have happened if Thor and Hulk were in the mix too - but they do at least get an honourable mention as being AWOL somewhere, but who knows where? It's a great package, and paves the wave as the introductory film to the MCU Phase 3. See it on the big screen - this has set the standard by which others will be judged.

Watch out for the obligatory Stan Lee cameo as he delivers a FedEx parcel for Tony Stank, and the early credits sequence and another right at the very end - both setting up future stand-alone and combined features. All in all - very entertaining, and well worth the price of your ticket and all the optional extras you buy with it too.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 28th April 2016.

Last week I opened up with the animated feature films you can expect to see during the balance of 2016, giving you an early Review of six of those Top 12, and here this week we conclude with the final six due for release toward the latter end of the year. As before, check the release dates nearer the time, as times may vary for a whole bunch of reasons.

• 8th September - 'THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS' - Directed by Chris Renaud for Illumination Entertainment for US$75M, this film stars in voice mode Kevin Hart, Steve Coogan and Albert Brooks amongst many others.
• 15th September - 'PETE'S DRAGON' - combining both live action and animation this is a Walt Disney Pictures remake of their 1977 film of the same name, and Directed by David Lowery and starring Robert Redford, Bryce Dallas Howard and Karl Urban. The Dragon in this piece will be CGI animated created by Peter Jackson's Weta Digital.
• 22nd September - 'STORKS' - from Warner Animation Group this is Directed by Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland, and was Produced and Written by Stoller too, with the voices of Kelsey Grammer, Andy Samberg and Keegan-Michael Key.
• 8th December - 'TROLLS' - with a budget of US$120M from DreamWorks Animation and based on the ever popular Troll Dolls, this animated musical comedy is Directed by Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn and stars an ensemble voice cast including Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Anna Kendrick, Russell Brand, John Cleese, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Zooey Deschanel.
• 26th December - 'MOANA' - this 56th animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios is a musical fantasy set in ancient Oceania, somewhere in the South Pacific and is Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker and stars Dwayne Johnson.
• 26th December - 'SING' - this animated animal based musical comedy is the second production this year from Illumination Entertainment and for US$75M is Directed by Garth Jennings and stars Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly and Taron Egerton.

This week then, there are five new filmic offerings to get you out amongst it at your local multiplex or independent theatre. Kicking off another big screen blockbusting comic book adaptation from those talented folk at Marvel that sees many of our much loved Superhero characters go head to head in all out war against each other . . . and how will it all end? Then, slowing down the pace an Adelaide based film of a Real Estate Agent battling his inner demons to come to terms with his life; and then a comedy about mother's leading up to the one day of the year we should all show our Mums some love. Following this there is the big screen adaptation of a much loved and classic 1970's BBC wartime comedy series; and rounding out the week a Japanese foreign language film of pancakes, bean paste, the young and the old, discrimination, acceptance and cherry blossom.

Having seen you movie(s) of choice in the coming week, why not share your cinematic musings, views, opinions and observations with your like minded film buffs here at Odeon Online. You can do so in the Comments Box below this, or any other Post - we'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

'CAPTAIN AMERICA : CIVIL WAR' (Rated M) - the next instalment from the crew at Marvel, sees this the thirteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third in the Captain America series following on from 'The First Avenger' in 2011 and 'Winter Soldier' in 2014. This is so far slated to be the final standalone Captain America film, although Chris Evans who plays Steve Rogers/Captain America reappears in the upcoming two-part 'Avengers: Infinity War' due in May 2018 and May 2019, and has stated his willingness to reprise his role further should Marvel be open to this, now that his initial contract has ended. Australia will be among the first to get the theatrical release of this film, with the UK going live in cinemas on 29th April, and North America on May 6th.  Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo, we have an all star cast of acting talent and superhero muscle who come together and battle it out head to head and toe to toe one year after the events of 'Age of Ultron'.

Following the last Avengers outing there has been another international event that brings The Avengers under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Involving more collateral damage, governments around the world call for a level of control and accountability for when The Avengers should be called upon, and for them to be overseen by a greater authority so regulating superhuman activity, and the potential fallout from it. Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr.) agrees that regulation is needed and supports such an Act, but Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) is opposed to it. This results in The Avengers splitting into two with their divided loyalties on either side falling into two differing factions heard up in the one corner by Tony Stark and in the other by Steve Rogers. Whilst this 'civil war' between the two factions rages on the world is threatened by a new enemy.  Starring Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Sebastian Stan, Elizabeth Olson, Paul Bettany and Emily Van Camp in the roles we have seen them in before, with new characters added from the Marvel Cinematic Universe being Black Panther, Spiderman and Helmut Zemo with a few notable others too. You can expect big things from this film, with the first two grossing US$1.09B and such a formidable collection of assembled Superheroes. Watch out for the obligatory Stan Lee cameo, and the possibility of a post-credits sequence!

'A MONTH OF SUNDAYS' (Rated PG) - Directed, written for the screen and Produced by Matthew Saville, this Australian film sees Anthony LaPaglia as Adelaide Real Estate Agent Frank Mollard - a middle aged recently divorced guy going through a mid-life crisis to end all mid-life crises. He can't move on from his former marriage, he can't connect with his teenage son, and as for his job in real estate - he can't seem to sell a house in a housing boom! All of this though he is in denial about, and then one evening he receives a phone call from his mother . . . who died a year ago! Of course it's a case of mistaken identity and a wrong number, but Frank is so taken in with the woman at the other end of the phone - Sarah (Julia Blake), and vice versa that an odd yet quietly comforting relationship begins to unfold between the two. Also starring Justine Clarke as Wendy - Franks ex-wife and John Clarke as Phillip, Frank's boss. Described as a film about parents, children, regrets, mourning, love, work, houses, homes and getting a second chance . . . even as a Real Estate Agent!

'MOTHERS DAY' (Rated M) - released just in time for Mother's Day in Australia this Garry Marshall Directed comedy has an ensemble cast, and has all the touchstones of his earlier romantic comedies around notable diary dates 'New Year's Eve' and 'Valentine's Day'. This film centres around an upcoming Mother's Day and how a bunch of seemingly unconnected individuals intertwine and reconcile the relationships they either have, our don't have, with their mothers.  In particular there is a television host Miranda (Julia Roberts) who gave up her only child at birth for adoption, a divorcee Sandy (Jennifer Aniston)and mother of two  whose ex-husband has just married a younger woman, and a woman Jesse (Kate Hudson) looking to cement a relationship with her mum after learning that her parents marriage is failing. Also starring Jason Sudeikis, Jon Lovitz, Timothy Olyphant, Britt Robertson and Shay Mitchell.

'DAD'S ARMY' (Rated PG) - I was never a fan of the long running and much-loved BBC television sit-com that ran from 1968-1977 and aired for 80 episodes, so it is unlikely I'll be dashing out to see this latest feature length offering. Set in 1944 with the end of WWII in sight, the Home Guard under Captain Mainwaring's (Toby Jones) watchful eye is suffering from low morale and lack of purpose. Within no time however, to lift their spirits a glamorous journalist arrives in the shape of Rose Winters (Catherine Zeta-Jones) to report on how the small platoon is bearing up and what keeps them busy. In the meantime, the authorities have detected a radio signal from Walmington-on-Sea to Berlin, and our band of aging soldiers at the ready just happen to reside and be stationed in Walmington-on-Sea. Suspecting foul play at the hands of a spy, this gives the Home Guard Dad's purpose and meaning, and the chance to contribute finally to the war effort. Directed by Oliver Parker and starring Bill Nighy, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Ian Lavender (from the original line-up) and a host of other fine English acting talent. See it for nostalgic reasons . . . 'you stupid boy'!

'AN' (Rated M) - aka 'Sweet Bean' is a lesson in restraint where less is definitely more! Based on the story 'An' by Durian Sukegawa this Japanese film is Directed and written for the screen by Naomi Kawase. This slow and simple story surrounds middle aged Sentaro (Masatoshi Nagase) who operates a small bakery making dorayaki (a red bean pancake confection) that is a popular spot with locals and school kids. When he places a notice seeking an assistant to help out in his little shop, he is approached by Tokue (Kirin Kiki) an older woman in her seventies, who's states that she had always wanted to work in such a bakery. Because of her age and her slightly deformed hands, Sentaro initially rejects her application, but upon tasting a sample of her own bean paste he has a change of mind - as hers is something far better tasting that the commercially produced bean paste he has been using. As the business takes off and becomes more in demand, so the customers come to realise that Tokue's hands were deformed by a disease, and as a result sales begin to drop off and Sentaro has to let his assistant go. What unfolds after this turn of events is a story of discrimination, forgiveness, acceptance and much more than a humble back street bakery selling street food. A slow burn meandering and at times emotional film that won't be for everyone, but is sure to find an audience.

Five new films, and five very different films at complete opposite ends of the spectrum, so there is no excuse not to find something that appeals. Get yourself out to a movie in the week ahead, and then share your thoughts with us here - in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-