Birthday's to share this week : 16th-22nd October 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jon Favreau does on 19th October - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad 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 16th October

• Angela Lansbury - Born 1925, turns 91 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Tim Robbins - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Gary Kemp - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter  

Monday 17th October

• Lawrence Bender - Born 1957, turns 59 - Producer | Actor
• Rob Marshall - Born 1960, turns 56 - Director | Producer | Choreographer
• Eminem (aka Marshall Bruce Mathers III) - Singer | Songwriter | Producer | Actor
• Matthew Macfadyen - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor
• Margot Kidder - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actress
• Felicity Jones - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actress  

Tuesday 18th October

• Jean-Claude Van Damme - Born 1960, turns 56 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Zac Efron - Born 1987, turns 29 - Actor | Producer | Singer  

Wednesday 19th October

• Michael Gambon - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor
• John Lithgow - Born 1945, turns 71 -  Actor | Producer | Singer
• Jon Favreau - Born 1966, turns 50 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Trey Parker - Born 1969, turns 47 - Writer | Producer | Director | Actor | Animator | Singer | Songwriter | Composer 

Thursday 20th October

• Timothy West - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actor
• Thomas Newman - Born 1955, turns 61 - Composer | Songwriter | Musician
• Danny Boyle - Born 1956, turns 60 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Viggo Mortensen - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actor | Producer
• Snoop Dogg (aka Calvin Cordozar Broadus) - Born 1971, turns 45 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Writer | Actor | Producer  

Friday 21st October

• Ken Watanabe - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Producer
• Catherine Hardwick - Born 1955, turns 61 - Director | Producer | Writer | Production Designer
• Carrie Fisher - Born 1956, turns 60 - Actress | Writer | Singer

Saturday 22nd October

• Catherine Deneuve - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actress | Singer
• Saffron Burrows - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actress
• Christopher Lloyd - Born 1938, turns 78 - Actor
• Derek Jacobi - Born 1938, turns 78 - Actor
• Jan de Bont - Born 1943, turns 73 - Director | Producer | Cinematographer
• Jeff Goldblum - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actor | Producer
• John Howard - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actor
• Bill Condon - Born 1955, turns 61 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Spike Jonze - Born 1969, turns 47 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Cameraman
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actor | Television Personality  

Jonathan Kolia Favreau was born in Flushing, Queens, New York to mother Madeleine - an elementary school teacher who died in 1979 from leukaemia, and father Charles Favreau - a special needs education teacher. Favreau graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1984, and attended Queens College at the City University of New York from 1984 through to 1987 before dropping out. For a short time he worked for the New York based global investment bank, securities trading and brokerage company Bear Sterns on Wall Street, before returning to Queens College in early 1988. By that Summer he dropped out for good before completing his degree, and headed to Chicago to chase down a career in comedy. There he honed his craft at the ImprovOlympic Theatre and Training Centre, and the Improv Institute which subsequently closed its doors in 1994.

His first big screen role came as a Chicago cab driver in 'Folks' in 1992 for Director Ted Kotcheff with Tom Seleck and Don Ameche. This was followed up with an uncredited extra role in the Danny DeVito Directed and starring 'Hoffa' with Jack Nicholson in the title role. In 1993 he gained his first significant role in 'Rudy' alongside Sean Astin in the lead role as Daniel E. Roettiger and Favreau playing D-Bob in this sports-bio set in the college football world of the University of Notre Dame in the mid-'70's. On set he met Vince Vaughn who had a small role to play in the film. In 1994 he starred in 'PCU' (Port Chester University) alongside Jeremy Piven and David Spade, and then Joel Schumacher's 'Batman Forever' with Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carey and Chris O'Donnell. 'Notes from Underground' followed that same year in 1995. In the meantime there had been appearances on the likes of 'Seinfeld', 'Chicago Hope', ' The Larry Sanders Show' and 'Fallen Angels'.

1996 saw his debut as a Screenwriter with his penned 'Swingers' with Favreau playing alongside Vince Vaughn, and Directed by Doug Liman. 'Swingers' was made for just US$200K and grossed close to US$5M. Before the end of the decade came 'Persons Unknown', 'Dogtown', end of the world Sci-Fi action drama 'Deep Impact', Peter Berg's 'Very Bad Things' and television series appearances on 'Tracey Takes On . . .', 'Friends' and made for television movies 'Desert Breeze' and 'Rocky Marciano' with Favreau playing the lead role as the undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion.

The new decade launched with 'Love & Sex', 'The Replacements' and this his Directorial debut with 'Made' in 2001 in which he also starred, wrote and Produced, and hired his mate Vince Vaughn to star alongside. The film received positive Reviews and just about recovered its US$5M budget outlay from the worldwide Box Office. Marvel's 'Daredevil' with Ben Affleck came next in 2003, then 'The Big Empty' and then his second outing as Director with the Christmas themed 'Elf'. 'Something's Gotta Give' with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, and then 'Wimbledon', 'The Break Up' with Vince Vaughn and former 'Friends' Co-Star Jennifer Aniston. In the meantime Favreau Directed 'Zathura' - the follow-up to 'Jumanji' which whilst faring reasonably well critically, did less so commercially.

2008 saw Favreau Direct, Co-Produce and star in the first outing for Marvel's 'Iron Man' with Robert Downey Jnr. in the lead role. This first film in the hugely successful and popular franchise returned US$586M from its US$140M budget. He followed this success up again in 2010 with 'Iron Man 2' making US$624M from its US$200M budget, and in 2013 acted as Executive Producer on Shane Black's 'Iron Man 3' and reprised his role as Happy Hogan, now Head of Security for Stark Industries. This third instalment made US$1.22B from its US$200M budget costs.

Three RomCom's followed in quick succession with 'Four Christmases', 'I Love You, Man' and 'Couples Retreat' - the first and last of these both with regular stablemate Vince Vaughn, before the Sci-Fi Western 'Cowboys and Aliens' Directed and Co-Produced by Favreau with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford starring.

There were then support acting gigs in 'John Carter', 'People Like Us', 'Identity Thief', 'The Wolf of Wall Street' and 'Entourage' with his turn as Writer, Producer. Director and Star in 'Chef' in 2014. In the meantime he took an Executive Producer credit on the hugely successful 'The Avengers' in 2012, on last years 'Avengers : The Age of Ultron' and the upcoming 'Avengers : Infinity War Parts 1 & 2' due on 4th May 2018 and 3rd May 2019 respectively.

Bringing us up to date this year there has been crime drama 'Term Life' with Vince Vaughn again, his highly acclaimed live action/CGI retelling of Disney's classic 'The Jungle Book' which Favreau Directed, Co-Produced and lent his voice talents to and which grossed US$967M from its US$175M budget. Next up is his reprisal of his 'Iron Man' role as Happy Hogan in 'Spider-Man : Homecoming', and the recently announced Disney live action/CGI remakes of 'The Lion King' and 'The Jungle Book 2' with Favreau set to Direct both. Television Sci-Fi drama comedy series 'Orville' is due in 2017 with Favreau as Executive Producer. Meanwhile, he has lent his voice talents to 'Rocket Power', 'Dilbert', 'Buzz Lightyear of Star Command', 'Family Guy', 'Rugrats', 'Open Season', 'Robot Chicken', 'G-Force', 'Zookeeper', 'Star Wars : The Clone Wars' and 'The Jungle Book', and he has appeared on episodes of 'My Name is Earl', 'Monk' and 'The King of Queens'.

All up Favreau has 65 Acting credits to his name, 22 Producer credits, twenty as Director and six as Writer. He has three awards wins and eight other nominations. He married physician Joya Tillem in late 2000 with whom he has three children - Max (born in July 2001), Madeleine (born in April 2003) and Brighton Rose (born in August 2006). Looking purely at his Marvel adaptations which he has either Directed or Co-Produced, the combined worldwide gross Box Office receipts amount to close to US$5.35B and add to that 'The Jungle Book' then this sum rises to close to US$6.32B . . . that's a pretty good track record methinks!

Jon Favreau - he Stars, he Produces, he Directs and he Writes; is as equally comfortable making big action epics or small independent features; and now seemingly at ease too with the latest cutting edge moviemaking technology to further enhance our cinematic experience. A proven track record of keeping us entertained on the big screen and the small screen, in front of the camera and behind it, and we just keep coming back for more - Happy 50th Birthday to you Jon, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

BURNT : Saturday 7th November 2015.

Having worked in Hospitality for most of my career in and around kitchens, chefs, restaurants and food service in various guises, you can imagine how interested I would be in seeing 'BURNT' which I saw over the weekend. It is intriguing to see how Chefs and Cooks are depicted on the big screen. It is after all only really in the last five or so years that we have seen these types featured in the movies since a few of those who have excelled have risen to celebrity status, and with the advent of the plethora of cooking shows on television and the inordinate amount of cook books there are for sale, it is hardly surprising that Hollywood would latch to the heat of the kitchen. All that said, if it helps raise the profile of food, the industry, different cuisines and produce, and the people working in it then this must be a good thing, but is it good for Hollywood? In the case of 'Burnt', not really - because this film is half baked only - golden brown and crisp on the outside but soggy and undercooked on the inside!

What 'Burnt' does for us is take us into the hallowed territory of maybe the top 1% of all restaurants globally. It is here where the two and three star Michelin establishments reside, where the Chef's and Cook's toil away relentlessly but enjoy Rock Star status for the blood, sweat and tears they have to give working 20 hours a day to reach the zenith of perfection in their culinary craft. And it is here too where these famed restaurants as beautiful as they often are, are big holes in the ground into which the owners shovel money every day (and lots of it) with only a very small margin of return, if any!

And so it with this US$20M John Wells Directed culinary caper that sees fallen from grace former two Michelin starred Chef Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) having lived the celebrity chef status in Paris for all its worth with sex, drugs, alcohol and rock 'n' roll crash to the bottom only to rise again  to regain his reputation, his credibility, his self-worth and a third star. We learn through back story dialogue between the characters that three years ago things got badly 'burnt' for him in Paris when he went off the rails, cost his restaurant its two star status, his team lost their jobs and then spread far & wide, and he went AWOL presumed by many contemporaries and critics to be dead. He surfaces in London having served a self imposed penance to shuck one million oysters in some seafood joint that he promptly walks out of when his milestone is reached.

He emerges after some chicanery in the kitchen of Tony (Daniel Bruhl) in London at The Langham Hotel where he delivers a commitment to take it to three star status. Tony's father (the one with all the money) agrees and so the kitchen is remodelled, Jones assembles his brigade of new and previously worked with talent, and the restaurant relaunched. The first night all goes pear shaped when guests no-show, the food is below expectations, and the write up in the press is less than favourable. Jones is the consummate artist, perfectionist and after service what follows is a Head Chef rant at his brigade the likes of which I'm not sure you would see in any kitchen anywhere . . . not even Gordon Ramsay's! These days with industrial relations compliance, human resource guidelines, and fair work requirements Jones would face an instant walk out and be hauled up in front of some IR Commission on the grounds of workplace harassment, bullying and intimidation . . . no matter how good he thinks is he! But I guess this is Hollywood after all, and you gotta give the audience what they want!

As time progresses the kitchen bridge settle into their routine, they begin to work cohesively, and a flame of romance starts to burn between Jones and his recruited Sous Chef and the only female in the kitchen Helene (Sienna Miller). There are other story sidelines here too that surround Jones fierce rivalry with Reece (Mathew Rhys) former colleague in Paris and now the equally fiery, temperamental talented London Chef at the three star 'Reece'. Additionally, there is Michael (Omar Sy) who is recruited as a Chef de Partie by Jones but back in Paris three years before Jones called the Heath Inspectors in and closed down his restaurant - beware the hidden agenda behind Michael's acceptance to join Jones in his kitchen that manifests itself when least expected!

Also there is the former working relationship with Tony, gay, but the best Maitre D' in the country and therefore somewhat forgiving of Jones' kitchen antics. Jones' drug addled past also catches up with him and as two heavies appear from time to time demanding payment on a drug debt which Jones cannot deliver on so he gets roughed up on the most demanding of days. There is also his former love interest and daughter of his recently deceased former employer in Paris, Anne Marie (Alicia Vikander), and then Helene's struggles as a single mother juggling her commitment to her young daughter Lily, and the relentless demands of the kitchen and Jones. Let's also not forget the therapy that Jones has to undergo with Dr. Rosshilde (Emma Thompson) every Friday morning and if he misses a single session all funding to his kitchen and his dream will cease immediately. And, sitting over all of this is the expectation of the eventual visit of the Michelin Men to rate the restaurant for the famed guidebook.

The gloss is here with a beautiful restaurant, an equally beautiful kitchen, the highest standards of culinary expertise and food porn aplenty delivered with an insight into the seemingly never ending hours of experimentation, creativity and long days and nights spent rattling the pans over a hot stove, traipsing through the markets in the early hours, and seeking inspiration from other eateries. But despite all of this it's still a half baked underdone soufflé of a film. I found the Jones character difficult to warm to and relate to, his violent bursts and abuse in the kitchen completely overcooked, the final Michelin visit and judgement just glanced over, and the Hollywood-ised account of the finest of fine dining restaurants and what goes on in and around them a little too hard to swallow, but, there are a few redeeming feature along the way!

You don't need to see this on the big screen and can easily wait for the release of the DVD and Blu-ray or download it when available. I would say that this is a case of medium-rare, rather than well done!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

CHEF - Wednesday 14th May 2014.

Given my background it was inevitable that I would see 'CHEF', and so ventured off to the Cremorne Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace last night to see this culinary offering. Serving up the menu in this instance we have Writer, Producer, Director and Star of the film Jon Favreau, who has concocted a simple story of former gastronomic wunderkind Chef Carl Casper who has lost his culinary mojo thanks to Restaurant owner Riva (Dustin Hoffman) who shackles him to a menu that is years old and long past its use by date, but still has the customers rolling in . . . but not the critics!

It is one critic in particular, Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt), who descends on the restaurant, with prior warning, and thanks to Riva's overarching decision is served up the same age old menu that now is tired, lacking imagination, creativity and love, despite what Chef Carl had in mind for that evenings service. And so a few days later the review is revealed to the world via an on-line Blog and a very disappointing two stars only are awarded and our Chef is duly crucified. In the background our Chef is trying to rekindle the relationship with his ten year old son Percy (Emjay Anthony) who introduces his Dad to the world of 'Twitter', and so a war of words breaks out in cyberspace between Chef and Critic which very quickly goes viral. As a result Chef Carl is fired, and can't land a job as a dish pig let alone a Chef!

To the rescue comes ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara) with who Chef Carl still has a strong, albeit separated relationship with, and invites him on a conference trip to Miami accompanied by their son. There is a hidden motive here, and that is a meeting with second ex-husband Marvin (Robert Downey Jr.) who just happens to own a beat up 1988 Chevvy Food Truck in need of a new owner and a lot of TLC. And so dad and son set to work to refurbish, upgrade and refit the food truck, quickly joined by good mate and Sous Chef Martin (John Leguizamo) to support the seemingly down trodden no hope cause and because he loves his former boss Chef Carl. Their style of cuisine is honest to goodness, freshly made, value for money quality hand held southern style food with those Spanish, Cajun, Mexican and Cuban influences. What follows is a road trip with the three lads all prepping and serving as they go from Miami, to Atlanta, to New Orleans and various stop offs en route with the money pouring in; customers aplenty thanks to viral marketing courtesy of a ten year old; music, local colour and lights; and lots of laughs and food homage along the way.

This is a feel good movie, with a happy ending where Chef Carl Casper comes good, reconciles with the Critic, the family reunite and everyone lives happily ever after. There is plenty of food porn particularly in the first half where Chef Carl is experimenting with new recipes and showing us his deft knife skills and culinary ability; there is drama from Riva flexing his restaurant owner/operator muscles; there is humour particularly when Chef Carl verbally unloads on to Critic Ramsey Michel publicly in the crowded restaurant, and his later meeting with a hamming it up for all it's worth second-ex Marvin; and there is emotion that comes from son Percy and dad Carl, from Sous Chef Martin, and from ex-wife Inez.

This has the recipe for an enjoyable viewing, and the ingredients that command a second helping! From blockbuster mega budget action fare to a simple story of food, family and freedom Jon Favreau has cooked up a storm with this one - an a la carte offering not to be missed!                                                                                                                                              

  

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 8th May 2014.

This week we have a veritable optical and aural feast for the senses as seven no less, new releases hit your local movie theatres to entice you out on a cool Winter evening and in front of a big screen. There is comedy, there is documentary, there is period piece, there is some drama and there is alternative - something it seems really for everyone . . . except the kids maybe, but fear not the Superheroes and teen flicks are still doing the rounds to keep them tempted!

So now that Winter is knocking on the door of a fading Autumn, get yourself out from in front of the small screen, and perch yourself instead in front of the big screen and enjoy the experience.

BAD NEIGHBOURS - so far in this franchise we have had 'Bad Lieutenant', 'Bad Boys', 'Bad Santa', 'Bad Teacher', 'Bad Grandpa' and now we have 'Bad Neighbours'! There's a lotta bad shit going down it must be said! That said, there is no franchise, and all of these movies have just one thing in common - 'Bad'! This stars Seth Rogen and Zac Efron as the duelling neighbours - the former married happily with very young child in tow, and the latter the frat boy with a six-pack who moves in next door intent on upsetting the suburban peace with wild parties, gorgeous girls, drugs, alcohol, loud music, pimped up cars and all manner of mayhem to be everything but neighbourly! The support comes in the shape of Rose Byrne, Dave Franco, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse and so it goes - this is the foundation of the film that moves along with various set pieces, jolly japes, gags & guffaw's and hilarity aplenty that is sure to go down a treat with your average 17 year old! On this basis it will probably go well - watch out for 'Bad Neighbours Too' in a couple of years!

CHEF - written by, directed and starring Jon Favreau who brought you so convincingly the 'Iron Man 1 & 2' instalments from the hugely successful franchise, and starring his stable mate Robert Downey Jr., with Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo with Scarlett Johansson and Sophia Vergara all adding seasoning and spice to this story. Favreau is fallen celebrity Chef (Carl Casper) who at the hands of restauranteur Dustin Hoffman finds himself jobless and worthless following a poor review from referred critic Oliver Platt. And so at the behest of ex-wife Sophia Vegara he is able to source a sad broken down past its use by date food truck via a good mate (RDJ) to save his career, give him some purpose, reestablish his reputation and rekindle the relationship with his 10 years old son who he takes on a culinary road trip in said food truck which is now fitted out, upgraded, refurbished to prepare, serve and sell Cuban street food. Sounds like a recipe for success - a voyage of discovery kneaded with emotion, drama, comedy and a generous sprinkling of fun. Yum!

SEDUCED AND ABANDONED - this has a limited release only and this doco-style offering will not be for everyone, unless like me you are a movie tragic! This is a movie about the movies and is an inside look at what it takes to get a film financed, produced, distributed and up on the big screen. No easy feat, despite the hundreds of movies released every year. This is an insightful film that has Director James Toback teaming up with Alec Baldwin as they talk to film financiers, Actors, Directors and attend festivals to bring you a no holds barred insiders view of an industry that ain't getting any easier and is getting more and more costly. All the while the two crusaders are pitching a faux movie to the studio execs, so that you can see on screen the pain that must be endured before the green light is switched on!

HEALING - written and directed by Craig Monahan this is the story of a prison inmate undergoing a rehab programme on a 'working farm' as he comes to the end of a long term sentence. In doing so he (Viktor played by Don Hany) comes across an injured eagle which he nurses back to health, and flight mode. Case worker Matt (Hugo Weaving) persuades the powers that be to allow the rehabilitating prisoners to rehabilitate injured game birds, and hence everyone is 'Healed'! This leaves me wondering just how many game birds can find themselves injured and in need of life support within the immediate vicinity of your average prison? Maybe more that we know! In between time there is prison tension, inmate drama, emotion and a good dose of healing hearts, minds and hands aplenty it seems. Or not!

THE DOUBLE - this looks a little art house, perhaps alternative, dark, moody and probably captivating. Directed by Richard Ayoade who hit the scene with sleeper hit 'Submarine' in 2010, this tells the story of introverted, shy & retiring white collar lad Simon James (played by Jesse Eisenberg) who harbours a secret crush on copy room girl Mia Wasikowska. Life goes on innocently until a new guy arrives in the office called James Simon (also played by Jesse Eisenberg) and who just happens to be the spitting image of Simon James - expect this guy is outgoing, confident, gregarious and successful and everything that his 'double' is not! Is this imagined, is it real, is Simon James going crazy, is James Simon out to steal his identity and his life? Confused, seeing double, finding it hard to distinguish one from t'other? You should be! You'll just have to check it out for yourself!

BELLE - set in 18th Century England this sees the true telling of an illegitimate mixed race daughter Dido Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) of a well-to-do Royal Navy Admiral being raised by her gentrified aristocratic great uncle played by Tom Wilkinson, and in growing up in such well connected surroundings actively joins the cause to abolish English slavery with the aid and support of a young romantic love interest Vicar's son. Starring the likes of Matthew Goode, Emily Watson and Miranda Richardson also.

A CASTLE IN ITALY - a French/Italian offering to round off the weeks new releases, with subtitles, this family drama unfolds as a wealthy aristocratic clan implode as a result of terminal illness, desperation for motherhood, and the impending loss of the wealth and riches the family has depended on for so long. Complex characters showing varying signs of neurosis, anxiety, love, loss, faith, hope and fear all mashed up with comedic moments that might leave you laughing, crying or bewildered . . . or all three! Directed, written, and starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.

Plenty to choose from this week with seven new filmic offerings to get you out to your local multiplex or local independent. When you've sat, watched and listened and chewed on your popcorn let me know your thoughts! Enjoy the movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-