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-

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA : Tuesday 8th December 2015.

Back in 1820 a whaling ship from Massachusetts captained by George Pollard Jnr, was sunk in the Southern Pacific Ocean by a sperm whale - that ship was 'The Essex'! As a result of its sinking the twenty man crew spent months at sea having to go to extreme physical and emotional lengths in order to survive before the final eight men were finally rescued. Cabin Boy Thomas Nickerson and First Mate Owen Chase wrote an account of their ordeal at sea at the mercy of a sperm whale and that inspired Herman Melville's 1851 book, 'Moby Dick' - the story upon which Director Ron Howard has based his latest film taken from the 2000 book of the same name by Nathaniel Philbrick - 'IN THE HEART OF THE SEA', which I saw earlier this week. Released in many of the major territories around the world, including Australia on 3rd December, it gets it's US release on 11th December, and having cost US$100M to make it has so far clawed back US$19M as of 6th December.

Out story opens up in Nantucket in 1819 which we are told is the centre of the world whale oil business, the fuel the lights and warms the homes and streets of the nation and beyond. It is a valuable commodity being traded for huge sums across all the major markets, and such whaling ship owners grow ever more hungry for the rich rewards to be reaped from the ocean depths and the various whale colonies that can be harvested for their oil, blubber and other by-products. One such shipman is Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth) - a sea hardened whaleman who is as comfortable mid-ocean as he is back on dry land, and hungry for his first captaincy. With the promise of one such captaincy by the whaling fleet owner Paul Mason (Donald Sumpter), he is summonsed as First Mate to the offices of Mason for his next voyage on the recently refitted 'The Essex'. But, Mason renegs on his previous commitment and announces that this time George Pollard (Benjamin Walker) is to captain the vessel, and should they return with 2,000 barrels of oil, then Chase's captaincy is assured, without question, for the next voyage. Under duress, but with an extra financial incentive, Chase agrees, and 'The Essex' sets sail. Leaving Peggy (Charlotte Riley), his expecting wife behind, Chase says see ya later - will be back in under three years!

With the crew assembled, we quickly learn who's who in the zoo including young greenhorn Thomas Nickerson (Tom Holland) on his maiden voyage, and Second Mate, Matthew Joy (Cillian Murphy) a long term friend of Chase. What is also apparent early on is the seafaring differences between tried tested proven and experienced First Mate Chase, and the Captain who was born with a silver spoon in his arse and handed this captaincy on a plate with high expectations from his sea faring father. Needless to say it doesn't go well when Pollard over rules a decision made by Chase, and as a consequence steers the ship into a squall, and a fierce one at that resulting in the death of two men and much damage to the ship. This in turn sets the tone for the relationship between Pollard and Chase, with the Captain commanding that the ship returns to Nantucket for repairs. Chase convinces him otherwise and to continue the journey with the ship repaired and to go in search of whales.

Soon after they reach a happy hunting ground and spear their first sperm whale which brings in 45 barrels of whale oil and various other by-products, and the men rejoice in their success, but after this it is slow going and very slim pickings. They continue south and round Cape Horn, and then continue north up the west coast of South America crossing the Equator and coming into dock in Ecuador. There they meet up with the Spanish crew of another vessel who talk to them of a place 1,000 miles west following the line of the Equator, where whales blow as far as the eye can see. But the Spaniards also talk of a monster whale, the like of which has never been seen before that stalks ships, destroys them and hardened men with it - and they have the battle scars to prove it!

This raises the spirits aboard 'The Essex' and off the men set, having dismissed the talk of a monster whale. They venture further and further away from land with still no sight of any whales, and becoming increasingly despondent, and then in the distance, there they are - in their hundreds, and easy pickings. Launching three whaleboats armed with whaling spears and fathoms of rope they have easy pickings, this time, or so they think . . . not counting on the monster whale of the deep that attacks Chase's whale boat leaving it to return to the mothership for hasty repairs. Leaving the other two whaleboats out amongst it chasing down their prey, they are oblivious to the fate that awaits 'The Essex' when the deep sea whale monster returns for the attack striking at the heart of the ship puncturing a gaping hole in its side and causing all manner of irreparable damage, destruction and death.

When Pollard's attention is grabbed of his ship listing a short distance away, taking on water and with a downed mast Chase must explain that the damage was done by the mythical whale, who returns once more to make his presence felt and reinforce the fact that his a mean MoFo whale of a thing not to be messed with, and to leave his kind alone! Pollard gives the order to abandon ship and all surviving men gather what they can into the three remaining whaleboats, while 'The Essex' slowly sinks to the depths beneath.

What follows is the plight of the men stranded mid Pacific Ocean; 1,000 miles from land; with limited supplies; baking in the sun or tossed about in raging storms; slowly dying one by one from exhaustion, lack of water, starvation or their injuries sustained earlier on. Bobbing up & down the three whaleboats eventually become separated, and as the days become weeks which become months lost at sea with little hope of rescue, the men have to resort to extreme lengths in order to survive. Eventually they spy land by which time the boats have reunited - a remote island in the distance and their spirits lift, but only for a moment before the gigantic whale appears again and takes out another boat, leaving the survivors washed up and barley clinging onto survival. But they do, they regroup, get stronger and ready themselves to leave - four choosing to stay behind and take their chances, including a badly injured Joy.

The remaining two whaleboats cast off, venturing once more into the unknown. More weeks pass and suffering despair, panic, hunger, and thirst one whaleboat is picked up by a passing ship, and the other drifts close to land and is picked up too - the men all near death. Only eight survive, including Chase, Pollard and the young Nickerson, and of those eight, three remained on that island which Chase subsequently went back for.

The young Nickerson grows up, marries and the story is told by him almost thirty years later throughout the film by his older self in the form of Brendan Gleeson, recounting his story reluctantly one night to Herman Melville (Ben Whishaw) a budding Author of fiction who had heard tale of the great whale and had hunted down Nickerson wanting a first hand account for his new novel. Nickerson had never before spoken of that fateful voyage but does so finally tempted by a financial incentive and the need after all these years to  bear his sole and cleanse his guilt and remorse. In 1851 Herman Melville published the fictional 'Moby Dick' based on the real life experiences of Nickerson and Chase abroad 'The Essex' thirty years earlier.

This is a film worth seeing on the big screen, and the story is well realised and delivered. At times though the CG is a little too obvious and as such a let down particularly when the action is up close and personal with jumping dolphins and whales en masse in an early whaleboat scene, or the close ups on or beneath the surface of the great whale. Benjamin Walker for me was a little stiff, and Chris Hemsworth with a Nantucket accent I am not so sure about. That said, it stands proud as a period piece with a number of redeeming features, will be fare better than the 2010 'Moby Dick' stinker but unlikely to top Gregory Peck and Orson Welles 1956 John Huston classic 'Moby Dick', but, it is entertaining enough to warrant the price of a ticket.

  

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 3rd December 2015.

Monday 30th November saw the first Awards Ceremony of AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) with its film accolades for those working in essence behind the camera; and the second ceremony to be held on 9th December for those working in front of it. Both events are held at Sydney's Star Casino, and on Monday night this week nine feature film awards were given out, with a further six next week. Hosted by Actor, Writer and Producer Rob Carlton the AACTA Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Music, Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects or Animation, all went to 'Mad Max : Fury Road'; with Best Costume Design going to 'The Dressmaker' (that figures!); Best Original Screenplay to 'Paper Planes' and Best Adapted Screenplay to 'Last Cab to Darwin'. For more, go to : aacta.org

For the coming week ahead we have four new films doing the rounds at a theatre near you that kick start the new movie week with a sea faring survival epic that pitches mere mortal men against a great beast of the ocean depths hundreds of miles from land and the stuff of maritime lore; then a good ol' conspiracy theory about a bumbling President and the alleged story of draft dodging back in the day and the repercussions of this thirty years later; a Christmas season comedic offering of mateship, partying, festive cheer, growing up and moving on; and to finalise, an interview between two writers one on the cusp of critical acclaim and the other a Reporter for a well known magazine struggling to get a break.

Again, and as always, when you have seen your movie of choice of those Previewed below or any of those still out on general release and as either Reviewed or Previewed in earlier editions, drop your like minded cinephile friends your own thoughts, opinions and observations on your film experience. We'd all love to hear from you and you can do so in the Comments Box below this or any other Post. Enjoy your movie.

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA (Rated M) - Back in 1820 a whaling ship from Massachusetts captained by George Pollard Jnr, was sunk in the Southern Pacific Ocean by a sperm whale - that ship was 'The Essex'! As a result of its sinking the twenty man crew spent months at sea having to resort to cannibalism in order to survive before the final eight men were finally rescued. Cabin Boy Thomas Nickerson and First Mate Owen Chase wrote an account of their ordeal at sea at the mercy of a sperm whale and that inspired Herman Melville's 1851 book, 'Moby Dick' - the story upon which Director Ron Howard has based his latest film taken from the 2000 book of the same name by Nathaniel Philbrick.

Essentially that is the story, with Chris Hemsworth playing First Mate Owen Chase, Benjamin Walker as Captain George Pollard Jnr., Tom Holland and Brendan Gleeson playing Thomas Nickerson the younger and the elder respectively, Ben Whishaw as Herman Melville and Cillian Murphy as Matthew Joy the Second Mate. When their ship, The Essex, is torn in two by a gigantic whale with incredible size and strength, the crew are left to drift the ocean for months on end amidst raging storms, despair, panic, hunger, and thirst and so their plight becomes a true test of survival and the lengths man will go to in order to survive, and fish another day when they think that all is lost!

TRUTH (Rated M) - This film is Directed by first timer James Vanderbilt who wrote the Screenplay and also Co-Produced, and is based on the memoir of Mary Mapes 'Truth and Duty : The Press, The President and The Privilege of Power'. It surrounds CBS Producer of '60 Minutes Wednesday' Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett), her crew and National News Anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) who get caught up in the conspiracy surrounding President George W. Bush re-election campaign in 2004 when it was revealed by the show that in the early 70's he received preferential treatment from the Texas Air National Guard following his failure to achieve even basic training and performance requirements to avoid being drafted to Vietnam through the position in the political arena held by his father at the time. Ultimately the scandal cost Mapes and Rather their jobs, their careers and their reputations when falsehoods were revealed . . . or were they really false? Gotta love a good conspiracy theory! The film also stars Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, Stacy Keach, Dermot Mulroney, was filmed in Sydney, Australia and cost less than US$10M.

THE NIGHT BEFORE (Rated MA15+) - Festive film fare is likely to come thick & fast now in the lead up to Christmas and here is the second offering of the season so far with this Jonathan Levine Written and Directed comedy. Starring long term buddies Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) whose parents died years earlier on Christmas Eve, Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen) and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) the three have every Christmas Eve since spent the night together to support Ethan and comfort him with a big annual reunion night out of jolly japes, misadventure, fun, frivolity and hilarious shenanigans! With Isaac knocking on the door of first time fatherhood, and Chris is busy being famous, the trio of buddies realise their reckless days of Christmas celebrations are soon to be no more. So poised for one last hurrah they set off into NYC in search for the holy grail of Christmas parties - The Nutcracka Ball!

THE END OF THE TOUR (Rated M) - Directed by James Ponsoldt and based on David Lipsky's 2010 best seller 'Although Of Course You End up Becoming Yourself' this is his story about his five day long road trip interview with acclaimed author of 'Infinite Jest' David Foster Wallace in 1996. Lipsky is here played by Jesse Eisenberg, a Reporter with Rolling Stone magazine who learns in 2008 that Wallace (Jason Segel) committed suicide. From here the story goes back to that five day trip when Lipsky's Editor grants him an assignment to shadow Wallace during his book tour to launch 'Infinite Jest' which went on to become a touchstone for many a subsequent Writer. As Wallace opens up to Lipsky so more and more topics are discussed, more questions answered and more hidden truths revealed although often veiled in caution on Wallace's part. With several award wins and nominations already under its belt and high critical praise for the storytelling and nuanced performances this uplifting, inspiring and often funny account of two writers on opposite sides of the fence is likely to surprise and delight.

Four films of note then to get you out amongst the movie going public in the seven days ahead. When you have done so share your thoughts of your latest film experience as we'd love to hear from you, and so would our other ever growing readership. In the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-