INHERENT VICE : Tuesday 17th March 2015.

Paul Thomas Anderson is a Director, Writer and Producer who has given us over more recent years a varied back catalogue of films including 'Boogie Nights', 'Magnolia', 'Punch Drunk Love', 'There Will Be Blood' and now his latest offering 'INHERENT VICE', which I saw earlier this week. Based on the novel by Thomas Pynchon from which Anderson wrote the screenplay, he spent US$20M bringing it to the big screen with a solid cast involving some of Hollywood's finest acting talent. This film picked up two Academy Award nominations, a Golden Globe nomination and all up 20 award wins and another 51 nominations. Does this make it a great film . . . well no, and I came away a little bewildered by the 'Inherent Vice' experience, and, now sit on the fence over this one!

The film is set in 1970 around the beach town of Gordita Beach in LA County, and the opening shot is between two beach houses looking out at the breaking waves on the shoreline from the street. We are introduced to Larry 'Doc' Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) waking on the sofa from a stoner sleep who is a by-product of the peace lovin' 60's who seems to spend his life smoking on a joint and in a dope fuelled haze. Into his apartment saunters Shasta (Katherine Waterston) an ex-girlfriend who has now moved on and is seeking Doc's help out with her current boyfriend - sleazy but successful real estate developer Michael Z. Wolfmann (Eric Roberts), whose wife is trying to have 'The Wolfmann' committed to an asylum.

Doc is a private investigator and so he agrees to take the case to help out Shasta. At his 'office' the next day he meets with a member of the 'Black Guerrilla Family'  - Tariq Kahlil and is hired to find a member of the Ayran Brotherhood,  Glen Charlock, who Kahlil got know in jail, and who now owes him money and just happens to be a bodyguard of 'The Wolfmann'. When Doc investigates one of Wolfmann's property developments on the outskirts of town looking for Charlock he visits the only property on that development - a brothel, and after meeting 'employee' Jade is promptly knocked unconscious with a baseball bat from behind. He comes round in the yard out the front under the baking sun and next to the corpse of Charlock, surrounded by Police looking down at him. Brought in for questioning by Detective Christian F. 'Bigfoot' Bjornsen (Josh Brolin) Doc gets roughed up and threatened before released with no charge when his lawyer arrives on the scene, Sauncho Smilax (Benicio Del Toro).

Next up Doc is approached with a third case by Hope Harlingen (Jen Malone)  to locate her missing, believed dead husband Coy (Owen Wilson). The two come face to face and Coy is clearly not dead, but he is a police informant who fears for his safety and just wants to go home. Back at his office he meets up with Jade from the brothel who apologises for giving him up to the police and warns him about 'The Golden Fang'. Jade tells him that The Golden Fang is a drug smuggling ring, but lawyer Smilax tells him about a suspicious boat called 'The Golden Fang' that somehow Shasta is connected to. Finding a building that looks like a golden fang Doc visits an obscure dentist, Dr. Rudy Blatnoyd (Martin Short) who has a fetish for young girls, new drugs and a whacky lifestyle . . . but quickly winds up dead - with fang like bites to his neck!

Doc eventually comes across Mickey in the insane asylum that has a connection with The Golden Fang where Mickey confesses about being upset about all the negativity he was getting about his real estate business. To make amends Mickeys wants to give away all his money. Penny Kimball (Reece Witherspoon) is the Assistant District Attorney and gives Doc a confidential file on a police funded killer who knocked off Bigfoot's former partner. The killer had links to The Golden Fang and Charlock was involved somewhere along the way too.

As all this plays out it gets worse for Doc before it gets better needless to say. He continues to suck on marijuana joints at every opportunity and is rarely seen on screen without chewing on a spliff! He has a few run-ins with Bigfoot, straddles about in his usual drug induced stupor, at times he can seemingly hardly string a sentence together, and clings on to the last vestiges of the 60's looking up at the rock face of the looming 70's. There a couple of moments of comic laughter as the plot twists and turns and you wonder if Doc knows what the hell is going on, the performances are solid and Brolin is probably the stand-out playing a hard-nosed mean S-O-B Private Dick at work whilst being a down-trodden under the thumb husband at home, and I got the feeling that Phoenix was just playing Phoenix with a huge serve of mutton chops!

This film has a QT's 'Jackie Brown' vibe about it almost and it all comes together in the end but not before it twists and turns all over the place, and wraps you up in knots with interwoven stories, characters of varying questionable backgrounds and the spaced out psychedelic angst of a new dawning decade. This film was frustrating for me, probably 20 minutes to long and at times I felt it plodded along and lost its way. That said, this is very different film offering that we don't see much of anymore and if you can sit through the stoned out dazed antics, ramblings, stumblings and confusion of its unlikely hero then this might be for you!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 12th March 2015.

Having moved to South Australia recently and taking up residency in Adelaide, and full time work, I have suddenly become more appreciative of the time that I hitherto had available to dedicate to your favourite movie Blog . . . Odeon Online. Now I find myself gainfully employed in this great city and scratching around finding time to write my Blog Posts and provide you with the filmic feedback you have become accustomed to. Undeterred by this minor set back, I carry on regardless in the hope that I can do justice to your insatiable appetite for all things from moviedom!

And so to this weeks new release movies coming to a theatre near you from this Thursday. First up an already much touted, much lauded 70's American stoner pot-infused beach side whodunit with an all star cast and an acclaimed maverick Director at the helm; then another future offering from an increasingly rising star Director creating unique dystopian experiences that have surprised and delighted audiences for their creativity and unique story lines; onto a real life mid-80's kidnapping involving a Beer Baron and a bunch of hapless miscreants who win the biggest ransom monies ever paid; and then we close out with two comedies made on either side of the pond that are likely to find an audience and divide them at the same time!

With this synopsis done, and your film choice(s) made for the week ahead, when you have seen your chosen movie, drop us a line or two at Odeon Online in the Comments section following this or any Post and share your thoughts and opinions with our ever expanding readership. Enjoy your film!

INHERENT VICE (Rated MA15+) - based on the book of the same name by Thomas Pynchon, this is the latest offering from Director, Producer and Screenwriter Paul Thomas Anderson lining up a strong cast to deliver this 70's stoner story of pot-addled Private Detective Larry 'Doc' Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) who in his drug infused stupor takes on three cases at once that all intertwine but seemingly go nowhere. Destined to collide, confuse and cajole you into thinking that this should all makes sense when it probably doesn't, Larry is on the case of his ex-girlfriends real estate developer boyfriend Mickey Wolfmann (Eric Roberts) whose wife is manufacturing a plot to have him committed to a mental institution.

Subsequently, Doc meets up with a member of the 'Black Guerrilla Family' who hires him to find a guy he met in jail, and who owes him money and just happens to be the bodyguard of Mickey Wolfmann! Next up Doc is hired by the wife of Coy Harlingen (Owen Wilson) who is missing and whom she believes is dead, but this is really not the case as we later discover. A drug smuggling boat appears on the scene that has links back to the mental institution that Wolfmann gets admitted to by his estranged wife, and the last time that boat sailed Doc's ex-girlfriend was aboard! If all this sounds confusing there are further plot twists and turns to throw you off the scent involving Detective Christian F. 'Bigfoot' Bjornsen (Josh Brolin) who works for the LAPD and Doc's Attorney Sauncho Smilax (Benicio del Toro), a stash of heroin, police paid killings for cash, baseball bat collections and more smoke & mirrors than you could shine a torch at! Sounds like it could be mind-bending fun . . . if you can get your head around it!

CHAPPIE (Rated MA15+) - Neill Blomkamp is back Directing his own story that he made into a short film back in 2004 - 'Tetra Vaal' and hot on the heels of 'District 9' in 2009 and then 'Elysium' in 2013, both starring his acting stablemate Sharlto Copley who takes the lead role here as 'Chappie'. Set in the not too distant future and again in Johannesburg, crime is managed on the streets by a mechanical police force (you can be forgiven for thinking 'Robocop' here!). As the people begin to rebel against robotic law enforcement, one such droid (Chappie) is stolen and reprogrammed with the ability to think for itself, and have feelings and emotions. This is done by Deon Wilson (Dev Patel) who has to go against the company producing the robots in the first place and a rival inventor Vincent Moore (Hugh Jackman) who has developed an inferior product dependant on human operation, unlike Chappie. As Chappie learns and adopts more and more human traits so the opposition against it/him grows to the point where despite his law enforcement success there are those who see him/it as a threat to humanity and are determined to ensure that Chappie is both the first, and last, of its kind. Containing many of the Blomkamp trademarks we have come to expect, this latest offering looks like it could be a lot of fun, combining action, a future vision and heart.

KIDNAPPING MR. HEINEKEN (Rated M) - back in November 1983, Dutch Beer Baron, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the global beer brewing giant Heineken International, Alfred 'Freddy' Heineken (Anthony Hopkins) was kidnapped and held for ransom. In a plot that was in the making for over two years the perpetrators of this crime Cor Van Hout (Jim Sturgees), Willem Holleeder (Sam Worthington), Jan Bollard (Ryan Kwanten), Martin Erkamps (Thomas Cocquerel)  and Frans Meijer (Mark van Eeuwen) successfully pulled off the kidnapping crime of the century that resulted in the payment of the biggest ransom ever paid (16 million Euros). For a number of years the childhood mates got away with their crime spreading themselves far and wide, but were eventually captured and punished for their crimes with prison sentences. This films tells that story starring some big names and Directed by Daniel Alfredson, but if it is enough to maintain your attention and give you enough of a thrill given the subject matter only you can decide.

MANNY LEWIS (Rated M) - Aussie comic Carl Barron stars here as famous fictional stand-up comedian Manny Lewis who has confidence, respect and success at the hands of millions of loyal fans for whom he can perform every night as part of his comedic routine. But can he connect on a personal and emotional level with one single woman? Meeting Maria (Leeanna Walsman) with whom he is first introduced to over an adult chat line and then coincidentally face to face in a cafe over a latte, neither of them are aware of their previous telephone 'introduction', as in time their relationship begins to blossom. When Manny discovers Maria's 'other life', he is at the same time invited to break into the potentially lucrative American market, and so must decide which path to take that will allow him to move on and be truly happy!

TOP 5 (Rated MA15+) - Chris Rock here Writes, Directs and Stars at Andre Allen - a hugely successful stand up comedian with a successful trilogy of comedy films behind him in which he stars as an action talking bear hero. His reality TV Star fiancee tries to persuade him that they should broadcast their upcoming wedding on  her TV show, and at the same time he has to be spend a day with reporter Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson) who is interested in Allen's move into serious film making despite the opposition from his legions of fans that he should return to stand-up and his action bear comedy film franchise. From what I have seen this is a series of comedy sketches loosely knitted together to form some sort of story that passes off for a film of rediscovery, awakening and realisation   with as much cursing, abuse, disrespect and non-PC one liners that you are likely to expect from Chris Rock! I'm sure it will find an audience!

That's it for this week then - five films to tease you out on an early Autumn evening in Adelaide, Sydney or wherever you may happen to reside in close proximity to a movie theatre. Enjoy the experience, share your views and keep watching!

Movies - see one this week . . . at least!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 8th - 14th February 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week? 

Josh Brolin does, on 12th February - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 47, 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 8th February

• Mary Steenbergen - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actress | Producer
• Seth Green - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Nick Nolte - Born 1941, turns 74 - Actor | Producer
• John Williams - Born 1932, turns 83 - Composer | Songwriter

Monday 9th February

• Tom Hiddleston - Born 1981, turns 34 - Actor
• Joe Pesci - Born 1943, turns 72 - Actor
• Ciaran Hinds - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor
• Mia Farrow - Born 1945, turns 70 - Actress

Tuesday 10th February

• Chloe Grace Moretz - Born 1997, turns 18 - Actress
• Elizabeth Banks - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Laura Dern - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Robert Wagner  -Born 1930, turns 85 - Actor | Producer
• Michael Apted - Born 1941, turns 74 - Director | Producer

Wednesday 11th February

• Taylor Lautner - Born1992, turns 23 - Actor
• Damian Lewis  -Born 1971, turns 44 - Actor | Producer
• Burt Reynolds - Born 1936, turns 79 - Actor | Producer | Director | Singer
• Jennifer Aniston - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actress | Producer

Thursday 12th February

• Annette Crosbie - Born 1934, turns 81 - Actress
• Christina Ricci - Born 1980, turns 35 - Actress | Producer
• Sigfrid Thornton - Born 1959, turns 56 - Actress
• Josh Brolin - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actor | Producer
• Darren Aronofsky - Born 1969, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Michael Ironside - Born 1950, turn s65 - Actor | Producer
• Joe Don Baker - Born 1936, turns 79 - Actor

Friday 13th February

• Neal McDonough - Born 1966, turns 49 - Actor | Producer
• Henry Rollins - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• George Segal - Born 1934, turns 81 - Actor
• Stockard Channing - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actress
• Kim Novak - Born 1933, turns 82 - Actress
• Mena Suvari - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actress

Saturday 14th February

• Simon Pegg - Born 1970, turns 45 - Actor | Writer | Producer

Josh James Brolin was born in Santa Monica, California - the son of Jane Cameron Agee a wildlife activist and James Brolin, the Actor. He was raised on a ranch and had little exposure, growing up, to the world of his fathers acting career. At 16 his parents divorced, and his father then remarried in 1986 to Jane Smithers - a film and television actress, but that partnership came to an end in 1995. In 1998 he married again for the third time to singer/songwriter/actress Barbara Streisand and they remain married to this day.

The young Brolin was never that interested in acting as a career having seen the impact of it on his family life and his parents divorce. In fact he had early thoughts on becoming a Chef, but at high school he took an acting class, and liked it so much that the notion took hold. His first screen role came in the Richard Donner Directed and Steven Spielberg Produced 'The Goonies' in 1985, and then a year later in 'Thrashin'' - a story of rival skateboard gangs. From here various television series and made for TV movies followed including 'Private Eye', 'The Young Riders', 'Winnetka Road' and he was closely considered for the role of Officer Tom Hanson in the TV series hit '21 Jump Street' which eventually went to a young Johnny Depp.

By now it was the mid-90's and a series of average films followed - 'The Road Killers' in 1994, 'Bed of Roses', 'Flirting with Disaster' and 'Gang in Blue' all in 1996, and in 1997 'My Brothers War', 'Nightwatch' and 'Mimic'. The decade closed out with 'The Mod Squad', 'Best Laid Plans' and 'All the Rage'. None of his films up to this point had met with any significant critical acclaim and the first half of the new decade brought mediocre offerings too with the likes of 'Hollow Man' with Kevin Bacon, 'Slow Burn' with Minnie Driver to whom he would later become engaged to for a brief period of just six months, 'Melinda and Melinda', 'Into the Blue' and 'Dead Girl' with Toni Collette.

2007 however, brought a change of acting fortune with Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez casting Brolin in their twin tribute to Grindhouse Cinema with his role in 'Planet Terror'. That same year came his lead role in the Coen Brothers 'No Country for Old Men' which met with huge critical acclaim, won four Academy Awards and a swathe of others. Paul Haggis cast him next with Tommy Lee Jones in 'In the Valley of Elah' and then came the acclaimed Ridley Scott offering 'American Gangster' with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.

With his acting fortunes very much on the rise he was cast by Oliver Stone to star in 'W' as President George W. Bush in this bio-pic chronicle of his life and time in office. Gus Van Sant chose him next for the role of Dan White alongside Sean Penn in 'Milk' which garnered Brolin an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor. 

After this came his lead role as the scarred anti-hero comic book character 'Johan Hex' in the film of the same name. Costing US$47M to make it tanked at the Box Office making just US$11M. He was cast again by Oliver Stone in 2010 to star with Michael Douglas and Shia LaBoeuf in the 'Wall Street' follow-up 'Money Never Sleeps', and that same year by the Coen's again in the much lauded 'True Grit' remake with Jeff Bridges. 

This led to 'MIB3' again retiming with Tommy Lee Jones, 'The Gangster Squad' again with Sean Penn, 'Labour Day' with Kate Winslett, in Spike Lee's Hollywood remake of vengeance film 'Oldboy' and the 'Sin City' sequel last year for Robert Rodriguez taking on the role of Dwight from Clive Owen in 'A Dame to Kill For'. 

Out imminently is 'Inherent Vice' Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Joaquin Phoenix which has two Oscar nods and a raft of award wins already under its belt. Next up in adventure drama 'Everest' with an all star cast due later in 2015, then crime drama 'Sicario' with Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt, and 'Hail, Caesar' in 2016 with Channing Tatum, George Clonney and a host of other A-list talent.

Brolin has 57 acting credits to his name, four Producer credits and one Director credit for his 2008 short film 'X'. He was nominated in 2009 for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor in 'Milk' and has a total 15 award wins and 29 nominations. He was married to Actress Alice Adair from 1988 to 1994 with whom he has two children - Trevor born in 1988 and Eden born in 1994. He remarried, to Actress Diane Lane in 2004 and they divorced in late 2013. He is an active stock trader and in fact has made a lot of money day trading from home using his own purpose built trading floor. He is also an avid car racer and surfer.

Josh Brolin - often plays the upstanding law enforcing tough guy, or the violent anti-hero, but always playing it with conviction and realism. A diverse range of films from a Actor who has been in and around the movie business all his life, and whose talents have only really come to the fore in the last seven or eight years . . . and there is still so much more to come! Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-