Birthday's to share this week : 26th November-2nd December 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Zoe Kravitz does on 1st December - check out my tribute to this Actress Birthday Girl turning 29, 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 26th November

• Tina Turner (aka Anna Mae Bullock) - Born 1939, turns 78 - Singer | Songwriter | Actress
• Mark L. Lester - Born 1946, turns 71 - Producer | Director | Writer  

Monday 27th November

• John Alderton - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actor
• William Fichtner - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Sharlto Copley - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Kathryn Bigelow - Born 1951, turns 66 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Tuesday 28th November

• Mary Elizabeth Winstead - Born 1984, turns 33 - Actress | Producer
• Randy Newman - Born 1943, turns 74 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Actor | Writer
• Joe Dante - Born 1946, turns 71 - Director | Producer | Actor
• Ed Harris - Born 1950, turns 67 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer 
• Judd Nelson - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Writer
• Alfonso Cuaron - Born 1961, turns 56 - Producer | Director | Writer | Editor | Cinematographer
• Jonathan Mostow - Born 1961, turns 56 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Martin Clunes - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Director 
• Ryan Kwanten - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor  

Wednesday 29th November

• Joel Coen - Born 1954, turns 63 - Producer | Director | Writer | Editor
• Tom Sizemore - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Andrew McCarthy - Born 1962, turns 55 - Actor | Director | Producer
• Don Cheadle - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Chadwick Boseman - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Lucas Black - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actor 
• Diane Ladd - Born 1935, turns 82 - Actress | Director | Writer | Producer
• Anna Faris - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actress | Singer | Producer  

Thursday 30th November

• Ridley Scott - Born 1937, turns 80 - Director | Producer
• Terrence Malick - Born 1943, turns 74 - Writer | Producer | Director
• David Mamet - Born 1947, turns 70 - Writer | Director | Producer | Songwriter 
• Mandy Patinkin - Born 1952, turns 65 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Ben Stiller - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Marc Foster - Born 1969, turns 48 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Gael Garcia Bernal - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer  
• Robert Kirkman - Born 1978, turns 39 - Writer | Producer

Friday 1st December

• Woody Allen - Born 1935, turns 82 - Writer | Director | Actor 
• Treat Williams - Born 1951, turns 66 - Actor 
• Jeremy Northam - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor 
• Riz Ahmed - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Bette Midler - Born 1945, turns 72 - Actress | Singer | Songwriter | Producer | Writer
• Sarah Silverman - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Emily Mortimer - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Zoe Kravitz - Born 1988, turns 29 - Actress   

Saturday 2nd December

• Connie Booth - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actress | Writer
• Lucy Liu - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actress | Director | Producer 

Zoe Isabella Kravitz was born in Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA to mother Lisa Bonet, an Actress and father Lenny Kravitz a Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Actor and Record Producer. Her parents were married in 1987 and divorced six years later when Zoe was just five years of age. Initially, she lived with her mother in Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains in western Los Angeles County before moving at the age of eleven to live with her father in Miami. She attended the private co-educational non-denominational Miami Country Day School, and then the Rudolf Steiner School in Manhattan, New York from which she graduated in 2007. That same year she began studying at the Acting Conservatory at the State University of New York at Purchase, but gave this up after a year and relocated to Brooklyn, New York to begin her career in the movie business. During her High School years up until her mid-20's, Zoe struggled with bulimia and anorexia.

The young Kravitz, aged nineteen secured her first film role in the Scott Hicks Directed 'No Reservations' starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart and Abigail Breslin, and later that same year the Neil Jordan Directed crime drama offering 'The Brave One' alongside Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard and Naveen Andrews. The following year saw her appear in 'The Assassination of a High School President' with Bruce Willis and Michael Rapaport, and also that year the comedy drama 'Birds of America' with Matthew Perry, Ben Foster and Hilary Swank.  2009 saw 'The Greatest' with Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival that year.

The new decade saw 'Twelve' Directed by Joel Schumacher which also Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010, then 'Beware the Gonzo' alongside Ezra Miller which Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' with Zach Galifianakis and Viola Davis. 2011 brought 'Yelling to the Sky' which Premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and starring Jason Clarke, Tim Blake Nelson and Gabourey Sibide. This was followed by eight episodes on the television series 'Californication' with David Duchnovy and Natascha McElhone, and then her turn in Matthew Vaughn's 'X-Men : First Class' as Angel Salvadore, a superhuman teen mutant, alongside an all star cast taking in James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, Oliver Platt, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne and Jason Flemyng. The film secured twenty award wins and another 38 nominations, and grossed US$354M at the Box Office from its US$150M budget outlay.

'Treading Water' was released in 2013 with Douglas Smith and Carrie-Anne Moss, and then the Sci-Fi action adventure offering Co-Written and Directed by M.Night Shyamalan 'After Earth' with Will Smith and Jaden Smith. Next up came the first instalment in the hugely popular Veronica Roth adapted novels for the big screen with 'Divergent' with Shailene Woodley taking the lead role as Tris Prior with Theo James, Kate Winslet, Ashley Judd, Jai Courtney, Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller and Maggie Q. Kravitz would reprise her role as Christina in the two feature length sequels, 'Insurgent' in 2015, and 'Allegiant' in 2016, with the final instalment, 'Ascendant' due to be released as a made for TV movie.

In between time there was 'Pretend We're Kissing', 'The Road Within' with Dev Patel and Robert Patrick, 'Good Kill' with Ethan Hawke, Bruce Greenwood and January Jones, 'Dope' which Premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, and then George Millers reboot of his classic dystopian future franchise road movie with 'Mad Max : Fury Road' with Tom Hardy as the titular hero Max Rockatansky and Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult.

2016 launched with adventure comedy 'Adam Green's Aladdin'  and then the crime drama 'Vincent N Roxxy' with Emile Hirsch and Zoey Deutch. That same year saw the David Yates Directed J.K.Rowling adapted novel 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' in which Kravitz plays Lestrange in this New York set secret world of wizards and witches seventy years before Harry Potter stepped foot inside Hogwarts for the first time. The film won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design amongst its haul of fifteen award wins and fifty nominations. Kravitz reprises her role as Leta Lestrange in the second instalment of this franchise also Directed by David Yates and starring Eddie Redmayne reprising his role as our hero Newt Scamander, with Ezra Miller, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Carmen Ejogo. This film 'Fantastic Beasts : The Crimes of Grindelwald' is due for release in November 2018.

In the meantime, Kravitz lent her voice talents as Catwoman in 'The LEGO Batman Movie' and then the mystery thriller 'Gemini' and girls on tour comedy 'Rough Night' with Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Demi Moore, Ty Burrell, all released this year. There was also her role in the David E. Kelley Directed hugely popular and successful television mini-series 'Big Little Lies' with Nicole Kidman, Reece Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Alexander Skarsgard. The series won eight Primetime Emmy Awards was nominated for another eight from its total collection of 23 award wins and 28 further nominations.

Next up for Kravitz is the musical drama 'Viena and the Fantoms' with Jon Bernthal, Dakota Fanning and Evan Rachel Wood about a Roadie who travels across North America with a punk rock band during the '80's. Then there is Sci-Fi actioner 'Kin' in Post-Production for a 2018 release with James Franco, Dennis Quaid and Jack Reynor about an ex-con and his brother who are forced on the run in a game of cat and mouse by a vengeful career criminal, and currently filming is the aforementioned 'Fantastic Beasts' follow up.



Aside from carving out a successful acting career, Kravitz has also modelled in various fashion magazines, has endorsed a number of fragrances, and released her own line in jewellery in collaboration with the Swarovski crystal company amongst others. Added to this, Kravitz began dabbling in music from sixteen years of age and she formed her first band in 2009 'Elevator Fight'. The band performed at a number of music festivals. From there she went on to form 'Lolawolf' releasing a self titled EP in 2014, and then an album 'Calm Down' in 2014 and another EP in mid-2015 'Every F***n Day', and she has also toured with the band too supporting the likes of Miley Cyrus and Lily Allen.
All up Kravitz has 34 Acting credits to her name, and she has two award wins and another eight nominations.

Zoe Kravitz - born into show business, stepdaughter of Jason Momoa, Goddaughter of Marisa Tomei,  multi-talented, in demand, a rising star, has achieved much in her ten years or so in the entertainment game and has so much still to offer, and not even thirty yet! Happy Birthday to you Zoe, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 19th - 25th February 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Miles Teller does on 20th February - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 30, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 19th February

• Jeff Daniels - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Ray Winstone - Born 1957, turns 60 - Actor | Producer
• Benicio Del Toro - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Producer

Monday 20th February

• Sidney Poitier - Born 1927, turns 90 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Mike Leigh - Born 1943, turns 74 - Director | Writer
• Peter Strauss - Born 1947, turns 70 - Actor | Producer
• Miles Teller - Born 1987, turns 30 - Actor
• Brenda Blethyn - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actress  

Tuesday 21st February

• Tyne Daly - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actress
• Jennifer Love Hewitt - Born 1979, turns 38 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer
• Ellen Page - Born 1987, turns 30 - Actress | Producer
• Sophie Turner - Born 1996, turns 21 - Actress
• Anthony Daniels - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actor | Producer
• Kelsey Grammer - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer
• William Baldwin - Born 1963, turns 54 - Actor | Producer  

Wednesday 22nd February

• Jonathan Demme - Born 1944, turns 73 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Kyle MacLachlan - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor
• Julie Walters - Born 1950, turns 67 - Actress | Singer
• Drew Barrymore - Born 1975, turns 42 - Actress | Producer | Director | Singer

Thursday 23rd February

• Emily Blunt - Born 1983, turns 34 - Actress | Singer
• Dakota Fanning - Born 1994, turns 23 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Peter Fonda - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer  

Friday 24th February

• Edward James Olmos - Born 1947, turns 70 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Dennis Waterman - Born 1948, turns 69 - Actor | Singer  
• Billy Zane - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Director
• O'Shea Jackson Jnr. - Born 1991, turns 26 - Actor

Saturday 25th February

• Tom Courtenay - Born 1937, turns 80 - Actor
• Lee Evans - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor | Writer | Composer
• Sean Astin - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Director  
• James and Oliver Phelps - Born 1986, turn 31 - Actors
• Tea Leoni - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actress | Producer
• Rashida Jones - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actress | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer

Miles Alexander Teller was born in Downingtown, Pennsylvania to mother Merry, a Real Estate Agent and father Michael Teller, a nuclear power plant engineer. Growing up Miles lived in various places because of the relocation necessary in his fathers career, spending time in Florida, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. He attended the Lecanto High School in Florida where he played saxophone, piano, guitar and the drums, he was President of the Drama Club and played baseball too, hoping to turn the game into his vocation of choice. He then attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University where he studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.

He began his screen acting career by appearing in a number of short films - in 2004's eighteen minute 'Moonlighters', then 2007's ten minute 'Specific Recipe', 2008's eleven minute 'The Musicians' and 2010's eleven minute 'The Track Meet'. His feature film debut came in the 2010 drama 'Rabbit Hole' for which he was singled out by Co-Star Nicole Kidman for the role and also starring Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest and Sandra Oh. 2011 saw the remake of the classic 1984 musical dance movie 'Footloose' starring Andie McDowell and Dennis Quaid with Kenny Wormald in the lead role. The film received generally positive Reviews and returned US$64M from its US$24M budget. In 2013 he starred in '21 & Over' and then his more critically lauded screen performance to date in 'The Spectacular Now' with Co-Star Shailene Woodley and also Brie Larson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kyle Chandler. The film made just US$7M from its US$2.5M budget, but was well received by Critics.

'Whiplash' came next in 2014 for Director Damien Chazelle with Teller starring as promising young student drummer Andrew Neiman enrolled at the Shaffer Conservatory in New York, with Terence Fletcher (J.K.Simmons) as his over bearing domineering and abusive jazz instructor. The film gained universal acclaim, returned US$49M from its meagre US$3.3M budget and garnered three Academy Award wins, one Golden Globe win, three BAFTA wins and a SAG win with J.K.Simmons and Damien Chazelle receiving numerous accolades. All up the film took home 91 award wins and another 134 nominations.

That same year, 2014, saw RomCom 'That Awkward Moment' with Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan and Imogen Poots, and then the first in a recurring role as Peter Hayes in the first instalment of the Veronica Roth series of books to be adapted for the big screen, 'Divergent'. This was followed up by 'Insurgent' in 2015 and 'Allegiant' in 2016, with the final instalment 'Ascendant' in pre-production for a release later this year as a television movie, due to the lacklustre Box Office performance of the 'Allegiant' film bringing in US$179M from its US$110M budget outlay.

RomCom 'Two Night Stand' was also released in 2014, and then in 2015 the reboot of Marvel's 'Fantastic Four' franchise which had seen earlier live action adaptations in 2005 and 2007. Starring Teller as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic with Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, Kate Mara as Susan Storm/The Invisible Woman and Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm/The Thing with Toby Kebbell and Vicor von Doom, this picture tanked critically and commercially taking US$168M from its US$126M budget investment, and picking up several 'Worst' awards.

Comedy 'Get A Job' followed in 2016 with Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Alison Brie, Bryan Cranston and Marcia Gay Harden, and then true story comedy drama 'War Dogs' as Directed by Todd Phillips and Co-Starring Jonah Hill and Bradley Cooper about the real life arms dealers Efraim Diveroli (Hill) and David Packouz (Teller) who win a US Army contract to supply munitions for the Afghan National Army worth about US$300M without any prior experience, credentials, contacts or expertise in this field. The film received mixed Reviews and returned US$86M from its US$40M budget.

The biographical boxing drama film 'Bleed for This' was released in the US in mid-November last year, but has not seen a theatrical release in Australia. With Teller starring as Vinny Pazienza an American professional boxing champion and Aaron Eckhart as his trainer Kevin Rooney, the film charts the story of the boxer who after a near fatal car accident leaves him with severe neck and spinal injuries and not knowing if he'll ever walk again, let alone fight. And fight he does, in one of the most incredible comeback stories from inside the ring. Although the film received generally positive Reviews, it was a bomb at the Box Office taking just US$5.5M from its US$6M budget costs.

Next up Teller is lending his voice talent to the animated feature 'The Ark and the Aardvark' due later this year, then in PTSD effected returning servicemen and women drama 'Thank You for Your Service' based on the book by David Finkel also due later this year and in post-production. 'Ascendent' the last instalment in the 'Divergent' series is in pre-production and then 'Granite Mountain' is in post-production with Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin, Taylor Kitsch, Jennifer Connolly, and Andie MacDowell about an elite crew of men who fought a wildfire in Arizona in 2013 that claimed the lives of nineteen of their team..

Since 2013 Teller has been in a relationship with model Keleigh Sperry. All up Teller has 27 acting credits to his name and he has garnered four award wins and 21 other nominations including the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2015.

Miles Teller - increasingly in demand and taking on more adult mature film roles, is musical, a dancer, was very academic at school, and has ambition to succeed and go the distance. We wish you well Miles and Happy 30th Birthday to you, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 11th-17th December 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Theo James does on 16th December - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 32, 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 11th December

• Hailee Steinfeld - Born 1996, turns 20 - Actress
• Mo'Nique (Monique Imes) - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress | Producer
• Jean-Louis Trintignant - Born 1930, turns 86 - Actor | Writer | Director  

Monday 12th December

• Bill Nighy - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor | Producer
• Jennifer Connolly - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actress  

Tuesday 13th December

• Dick Van Dyke - Born 1925, turns 91 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Christopher Plummer - Born 1929, turns 87 - Actor | Producer
• Robert Lindsay - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor | Singer
• Steve Buscemi - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor | Director | Producer | Singer | Writer
• Jamie Foxx - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer

Wednesday 14th December

• Rebecca Gibney - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Sophie Monk - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actress

Thursday 15th December

• Don Johnson - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor | Producer 
• Stuart Townsend - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Director  

Friday 16th December

• Ben Cross - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor
• Shane Black - Born 1961, turns 55 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Benjamin Bratt - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer
• James Mangold - Born 1963, turns 53 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Theo James - Born 1984, turns 32 - Actor
• Miranda Otto - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress 

Saturday 17th December

• Tommy Steele - Born 1936, turns 80 - Singer | Actor 
• Bernard Hill - Born 1944, turns 72 - Actor 
• Eugene Levy - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer
• Bill Pullman - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Peter Farrelly - Born 1956, turns 60 - Producer | Writer | Director
• Rian Johnson - Born 1973, turns 43 - Director | Writer
• Giovanni Ribisi - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor | Producer
• Milla Jovovich - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actress | Singer | Songwriter  

Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis was born in Oxford, England, to mother Jane Martin who worked for the National Health Service, and father Philip Taptiklis, a business consultant. He is the youngest of five children - having two older brothers and two older sisters. From age eleven he attended Aylesbury Grammar School - a boys school located in the county of Buckinghamshire, and then went on to the University of Nottingham where he earned an undergraduate degree in Philosophy. He learned his acting craft at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, although throughout his school life and at University he appeared in numerous plays and short films.

He gained his first television appearance opposite Billie Piper in the mini-series 'A Passionate Woman' in 2010, followed up that same year in his feature film debut in a small role in Woody Allen's 'You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger' with Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts and Pauline Collins. This then led to an episode on 'Downton Abbey' before possibly his breakout role as Jed Harper on televisions 'Bedlam' in 2011 - about the drama and supernatural forces at work in an apartment building converted from a former insane asylum. The series ran for two seasons, with James appearing in all six of the first season.  

Next up came 'The Inbetweeners Movie' in which he starred as the night club rep., before being cast as David in the fourth film in the successful vampire/werewolf franchise 'Underworld : Awakening' in 2012. He would reprise his role in the recently released 'Underworld : Blood Wars' opposite Kate Beckinsale and Charles Dance once again. Also in 2012, James appeared in two episodes of British crime drama mini-series 'Case Sensitive' for the ITV Network opposite Darren Boyd and Olivia Williams, and then the BBC's two part mini-series of 'Room at the Top'.

2013 followed with James in the lead role of Walter William Clarke Jnr. in the CBS series of 'Golden Boy' about Clarke, an ambitious cop whose meteoric rise through the ranks sees him becoming the youngest Police Commissioner in New York's history. The series aired for thirteen episodes over just one season before being cancelled. This was followed up by the first instalment in the big screen adaptation of the hugely successful Veronica Roth novels 'Divergent' set in a future post-apocalyptic dystopian world where the surviving people are split into distinct factions based on their personality traits and human virtues. The story surrounds Beatrice 'Tris' Prior (Shailene Woodley) who learns that she is a rare 'Divergent' and will therefore never fit into one of the factions, and she quickly learns of a sinister plot afoot in their seemingly perfect world. Along the way she befriends Tobias 'Four' Eaton (James) and the two become close allies as the film series unfolds. This first film released in 2014 collected US$289M at the global Box Office.

A year later came the follow up, and the second in 'The Divergent Series' with 'Insurgent' with Woodley and James reprising their roles together with those of an all star cast including Jai Courtney, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet, Maggie Q, Octavia Spencer and Zoe Kravitz. This film returned US$297M. The third film in the franchise 'Allegiant' was released earlier this year, with the two principle characters reposing their roles once more, supported by much the same cast with the addition of Jeff Daniels and Bill Skarsgard, However, this film was less well received critically, and commercially was the least preforming of the three so far, generating a return of US$179M. This has prompted speculation of budget cuts to the fourth and final film in the series 'Ascendant' due supposedly in 2017, and the possibility that it may be released as a television movie instead of a feature film with a theatrical release. As a result both Woodley and James have aired their views on this stance that they will not be involved if this is the case. Watch this space!

These gave way to 'The Benefactor' (aka 'Franny') in 2015 with Richard Gere and Dakota Fanning, and then the also recently released 'War on Everyone' for Writer/Director John Michael McDonagh with Alexander Skarsgard and Michael Pena with James playing 'Lord' James Mangan who the two bad cops played by Skarsgard and Pena down Albuquerque way run in to with unexpected results. There was also 'The Secret Scripture' for Writer/Director Jim Sheridan with Rooney Mara, Eric Bana, Aidan Turner and Vanessa Redgrave which has not yet been released in Australia. This brings us up to date with current releases.

Next up is the thriller 'London Fields' with Billy Bob Thornton, Jim Sturgess, Jason Isaacs, Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and Cara Delevingne. The film was due for release a year or so ago but has been delayed due to legal action between the Director and the Producers. Due for release in 2017 is 'Backstabbing for Beginners' with Ben Kingsley and Jacqueline Bisset - with James playing UN Oil-for-Food Programme whistleblower who uncovers a major corruption scandal. And then there is the disputed 'Ascendant' final instalment in 'The Divergent Series' which may or may not get off the ground.

All up James has twenty-one Acting credits to his name so far, and he has garnered three award wins and another seven nominations. In his early acting days he also played in the London based band 'Shere Khan' as guitarist and singer, but in late 2012 the band split.

Theo James - private in his off-screen life, but well known for his role in two major film franchises; clearly in demand and on the rise; auditioned for James Bond but reportedly failed to get the gig; but has the smarts and the looks to go a long way yet. Happy Birthday to you Theo, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ALLEGIANT - THE DIVERGENT SERIES : Thursday 14th April 2016.

'ALLEGIANT' which I saw during the past week is the third instalment in the popular teenage dystopian Sci-Fi series of books by Veronica Roth that follows on from 'Divergent' and last years 'Insurgent' which made US$289M and US$298M respectively off the back of a combined US$195M budget, so hardly blockbuster status. Like 'Potter', 'Twilight' and 'The Hunger Games' before it, the final book in the Divergent series is split into two films with the final piece of this puzzle 'Ascendant' due for release in June 2017. In the meantime, 'Allegiant' is Directed by Robert Schwentke, who also Directed 'Insurgent', and was made for US$110M and since its release in the US on 18th March has so far made US$152M. The film has so far received largely luke warm reviews, but is likely to find an audience of those so far following the exploits of Tris Prior & Co., as the series enters its conclusion.

Here we see the same bunch of characters that you by now know, with Tris (Shailene Woodley) wishing to escape the confines of a walled in Chicago of the future with Four (Theo James) for the first time, so leaving behind everything and (almost) everyone she knows and loves.  With the events that unfolded at the end of 'Insurgent', we join as Evelyn (Naomi Watts) has taken power and is holding those citizens  of Dauntless and Erudite captive who conspired against the uprising. Those found 'guilty' are publicly executed - with Caleb (Ansel Elgort) next on the list who remains holed up in a jail cell gazing down at Tris for sympathy who is giving none - outwardly at least.  Evelyn attempts to pressure Tris and Four into taking a leadership role within the new order, but neither are interested and turn their backs as they have their own hidden agenda now.

Knowing that the hostilities will only escalate further Tris and Four manage to have Caleb released under false pretences and make their getaway with Christina (Zoe Kravitz), Peter (Miles Teller) and Tori (Maggi Q) to the wall that encircles Chicago which has now become reinforced with a high voltage current. Despite this they succeed in their attempt to free themselves of the city, but not without chase and a casualty along the way.

Needless to say they break through, scale down a cliff face and begin their journey into who knows what? It is not long before they emerge in a red & orange coloured landscape of scorched earth and toxic waterways, and the wreckage of a civilisation long since vanished. However, they are soon picked up by a group of friendly welcoming soldiers who have been watching their every move and reassure them they are now safe. They are escorted to the Bureau of Genetic Welfare - a highly advanced city amid the desolate landscape that has risen out of the former Chicago airport on the city's fringe. Here, Tris is introduced to David (Jeff Daniels) the leader of the Bureau who advises her of the truth behind Chicago, and that is was an experiment to raise genetically pure Divergents, but the experiments failed, and only Tris is truly pure, whilst all others are 'damaged' and to varying degrees. But David can help her restore peace to Chicago which is becoming increasingly fragile as the former Evelyn's factionless prepare to battle it out for supremacy over Johanna's (Octavia Spencer) new Allegiant faction, with the threat of all out war becoming more real by the day.

As Tris' trust in David grows, so Four becomes more suspicious. He is enlisted into the military force with Christina while Peter and Caleb are given surveillance duties within the Bureau, to maintain a very close watch on the developments and the comings & goings in Chicago. On a child rescue mission into the 'fringe' which Four joins, he learns that there is more to rescuing less fortunate kids that humanitarian reasons as he was led to believe. Having witnessed first hand what becomes of the captured children and uncovered the truth behind forceful child abductions Four confronts Tris with this news, but she dismisses the notion in support of David.

As Tris is flown with David to meet the Council he reports to in an attempt to stop the violence in Chicago, Four engineers his escape from the Bureau back to Chicago in attempt to halt an all out war.  He escapes but his ship is downed and he in injured but flees to safety and eventually makes it back to Chicago where he is picked up and promptly thrown in a cell where Evelyn confronts him with her desire to go to war and quell Johanna and her Allegiant faction. Meanwhile Tris' meeting with the Council did not go well and she learns that David had the authority all along to end the violence in Chicago but chose not to - as a consequence she breaks off her partnership with him as she can longer trust what he is saying. She returns to the Bureau and hatches a quick escape plan with Caleb and Christina.

They make it back to Chicago, locate Four but not before Evelyn aided by a turncoat Peter who has struck up a clandestine deal with David, have released a gas into the atmosphere of the city to erase the memories of all its inhabitants so ending the war and bring about peace in her favour and on her terms. With Peter and Evelyn sealed away in a tightly locked vault, it would be only them who have any memory of the before and after once the gas is fully released. In the meantime, Tris, Caleb, Chritsina and Four race against time to locate the underground gas dispersion hub to prevent the gas release from deploying fully.

Of course it all comes good in the end as the gas released is halted before it's all too late, but not before Evelyn is shot by an angered Peter who then makes his escape seeking to get back to the Bureau and claim his reward on the deal he struck up with David. The citizens
are free to live another day as Tris goes on air with the truth behind the existence of the Bureau and the experiment of which they have all been part . . . but no more, as Caleb sends the shuttle which brought them back is returned packed full of explosives which detonates upon reaching its target bringing down the Bureau, everyone in it and everything it stood for.

I have to say, I found this film underwhelming. Maybe the Director and the Producers are gearing up for the huge finale that will break Box Office records for the franchise and wow us beyond belief. There are no stand out moments in this film other than perhaps the spectacle of the visuals as we venture for the first time beyond the wall. Other than that this film is pretty pedestrian and everything you would expect. The cast seem to plod their way through their lines and the action - neither of which are especially memorable, and its all fairly predictable fare. Let's hope for a whole lot more on every level in the final chapter of this series - for which we'll have to wait another twelve months. In the meantime, wait for the Bluray and DVD release so that you can watch this in the comfort of your home.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 14th April 2016.

Over the last few weeks, I have brought you my view of the Top 12 movies to watch out for this remaining year, and last week took that one step further with a 'Best of the Rest' listing another six taking us up to the mid-year this year, with the balance of six for the latter half of the year presented below for your consideration and scrutiny of their cinematic worthiness. These are naturally just my humble opinion for what it's worth and you are of course free to conduct your own research as movies are released into a theatre near you. Check the release dates nearer the time as these may vary of course depending on what territory you are in, and what the studio thinks near the time. Here they are - the remaining six 'Best of the Rest' :-

• 16th June - 'WARCRAFT' - Duncan Jones Directs this big screen adaptation of the world popular action fantasy videogame starring Travis Fimmel, Ben Foster, Toby Kebbell and Clancy Brown.
• 30th June - 'THE LEGEND OF TARZAN' - Directed by David Yates with Alexander Skarsgard in the role of the ever popular Edgar Rice Burroughs tree swinging character with Samuel L. Jackson, John Hurt, Christoph Waltz and Margot Robbie in the line up.
• 18th August - 'BEN HUR' - this Biblical epic has of course been made once before to great record breaking and award winning effect with the classic 1959 Charlton Heston adaptation.  Here Timur Bekmambetov Directs with all the latest 21st Century gadgetry and technology at his fingertips with Jack Huston in the title role with Morgan Freeman, Toby Kebbell and Rodrigo Santoro. Curiosity will drag you to this one I think, unless you have no idea what the 1959 film is all about and you go into it completely fresh and unknowing . . . as many will!
• October 14th - 'INFERNO' - no, not of the Towering kind, but of the Dante kind and the Dan Brown kind which sees Ron Howard Directing this authors best selling work once again with Tom Hanks reprising his role as Robert Langdon the intrepid symbolist, which sees our reluctant hero racing against time to shake of amnesia, clear his name and solve another intricate riddle across the streets, historical locations and hidden chambers of Florence. Felicity Jones, Omar Sy and Ben Foster also star.
• October 20th - 'JACK REACHER 2' - Edward Zwick Directs Tom Cruise in his second instalment as Jack Reacher - a former US Army Military Police Corps Officer and now a loner drifter, based on the Lee Child novel 'Never Go Back'. 
• December 15th - 'ROGUE ONE : A STAR WARS STORY' - Directed by Gareth Edwards this is a stand alone feature not part of any episode seen so far on the big screen, but fitting into the mythology before the time of 'A New Hope' with Mads Mikkelsen, Forest Whittaker, Felicity Jones and Ben Mendelsohn starring.

This week there are three new cinematic offerings that kick off with the third instalment in a four-part franchise of teenage dystopia taking a new twist as our characters venture over the wall to save the world; then corporate greed coming undone in this comedy of the imprisoned wrongdoer trying to do right upon release; and then wrapping up an Aussie outback doco of music, kids and a teacher on a mission.

With these, and those out there still doing the rounds at your local multiplex, share your movie experience with your friends here at Odeon Online, by leaving your own critique in the Comments section below this or any other Post - we'd love to hear from you. Between now and then, enjoy your movie.

'ALLEGIANT' (Rated M) - the third instalment in the popular teenage dystopian Sci-Fi series of books by Veronica Roth follows on from 'Divergent' and last years 'Insurgent' which made US$289M and US$298M respectively off the back of a combined US$195M budget, so hardly blockbuster status. Like 'Potter', 'Twilight' and 'The Hunger Games' before it, the final book in the Divergent series is split into two films with the final piece of this puzzle 'Ascendant' due for release in June 2017. In the meantime, 'Allegiant' is Directed by Robert Schwentke, who also Directed 'Insurgent', and was made for US$110M and since its release in the US on 18th March has so far made US$137M. The film has so far received largely luke warm reviews, but is likely to find an audience for this so far following the exploits of Tris Prior & Co.

Here we see the same bunch of characters that you by now know, with Tris (Shailene Woodley) escaping the confines of a walled in Chicago of the future with Four (Theo James) for the first time, so leaving behind everything and (almost) everyone she knows and loves. Going in search of an end to the warring factions and the revelations that became known in 'Insurgent' to find a peaceful resolution, her discoveries on the 'outside' cast aside everything she thought she knew before as shocking truths are revealed and a new battle threatens their existence, and that of humanity. Having to work out quickly who they can & can't trust, Tris must also make difficult personal choices to ensure her own safety and future that surround courage, love, sacrifice and where her allegiances lie. Also starring once again, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Zoe Kravitz, Ashley Judd, Naomi Watts, Daniel Dae Kim and Maggie Q, with Jeff Daniels and Bill Skarsgard joining the crew too. 

'THE BOSS' (Rated MA15+) - Directed, Produced and Written by Ben Falcone (husband of Melissa McCarthy) and Produced, Written and starring Melissa McCarthy this film cost US$29M to make and also stars Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates. McCarthy is Michelle Darnell, a champion of industry with a reputation of always getting her way, until the day comes when she is convicted of insider trading and  sent down for a jail term. Having served her sentence, she is released broke, homeless and not liked at all by those she once knew. Tracking down Claire (Kristen Bell), a former employee who seems to be the only person pleased to see her, offers to help her old Boss get back on the gravy train. While staying with Claire and her daughter, Michelle hits upon a idea to launch a new business that will win over the hearts. minds and stomachs of the American people and bring them out on top again but with credibility, integrity and responsibility. But in so doing there are those who are former enemies and would like nothing more than to see Michelle fail.

'WIDE OPEN SKY' (Rated G) -  with the back drop of remote western New South Wales in Australia this is the outback with the highest proportion of 5-14 year olds in the State, has the highest proportion of indigenous children and 40% of the population are classified as low income earners. With little music education in the region, Michelle Leonard formed the Moorambilla Voices Choir some ten years ago - a choral based programme for children aged 8-18 from across the region and sourced from over 55 schools spread across 30 towns, teaching them contemporary, complex and original music rather than the more traditional music taught to most school choirs. The film charts Michelle's story together with that of four young children and an ensemble of 200 others who dare to dream big, who have faith in their teacher, and who want to be part of something bigger when they perform at a concert at Coonamble. Written, Produced and Directed by Lisa Nichol this will be an uplifting, heart warming, passionate story of how important music is, and how it can make such a difference to young lives.

With three new film this week, you can add these to your must-see list together with those still out there on general release and still doing the rounds. After you have sat through your movie(s) of choice, share your thoughts, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 13th - 19th March 2016

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jai Courtney does on 15th March - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 30, 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 13th March

• William H. Macy - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Emile Hirsch - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actor
• Common - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter

Monday 14th March

• Michael Caine - Born 1933, turns 83 - Actor | Producer
• Quincy Jones - Born 1933, turns 83 - Producer | Singer | Songwriter | Composer
• Jamie Bell - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor
• Ansel Elgort - Born 1994, turns 22 - Actor
• Corey Stoll - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actor
• Billy Crystal - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Wolfgang Petersen - Born 1941, turns 75 - Director | Producer | Writer

Tuesday 15th March

• Jai Courtney - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor
• Greg Nicotero - Born 1963, turns 53 - Make Up & Special Effects Specialist | Producer | Writer | Director | Actor
• David Cronenberg - Born 1943, turns 73 - Director | Writer | Actor
• Judd Hirsch - Born 1935, turns 81 - Actor
• Renny Harlin - Born 1959, turns 57 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Eva Longoria - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actress | Producer | Director

Wednesday 16th March

• Kate Nelligan - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actress
• Jimmy Nail - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Victor Garber - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor
• Gore Verbinski - Born 1964, turns 52 - Producer | Director | Writer

Thursday 17th March

• Kurt Russell - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Gary Sinise - Born 1955, turns 61 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Rob Lowe - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer
• John Boyega - Born 1992, turns 24 - Actor
• Lesley-Anne Down - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actress | Writer

Friday 18th March

• Vanessa Williams - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Queen Latifah - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actress | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Adam Levine - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter 
• Luc Besson - Born 1959, turns 57 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Brad Dourif - Born 1950, turns 64 - Actor

Saturday 19th March

• Bruce Willis - Born 1955, turns 61 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Harvey Weinstein - Born 1952, turns 64 - Producer
• Glenn Close - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Ursula Andress - Born 1936, turns 80 - Actress | Original Bond Girl

Jai Stephen Courtney was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to mother Karen, a teacher at Galston Public School where he and his sister attended, and father Chris who worked for the State owned and operated electricity company. He grew up in the north western Sydney suburb of Cherrybrook where he later attended the Cherrybrook Technology High School before going onto the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts at the Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia.

In 2005, Courtney scored his first film break in the controversial short film 'Boys Grammar' about bullying taken to the extreme in an exclusive private boys school that was inspired by true events at a private boys school in Sydney. From here he picked up two episodes on 'All Saint's' in 2008 - an Australian fictional medical drama series, and then two episodes on 'Packed to the Rafters' in 2008/09 - an Australian award winning family centred drama series.

His first feature film outing came in 2009's 'Stone Bros.' and Australian Aboriginal stoner comedy that cost US$3.4M to make and grossed less than US$100K. In 2010 Courtney secured the role of Varro in the first season of 'Spartacus : Blood and Sand' over ten episodes.

2010 was probably the turning point for Courtney starring with Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, and Rosamund Pike in the Christopher McQuarrie big screen adaptation of the Lee Child penned 'Jack Reacher' novels. The film retuned US$219M off US$60M ensuring a sequel would follow - and it does in October this year with 'Jack Reacher : Never Go Back'.

Next up was another big screen seasoned actioner with Bruce Willis in the fifth instalment of the 'Die Hard' franchise with 'A Good Day to Die Hard' in which Courtney plays Jack McLean - the estranged son to Willis' John. The film made US$305M off its US$90M budget.

'Felony' came next in 2013 with this modern day Australian crime thriller Written, Produced and Starring Joel Edgerton with Tom Wilkinson and Melissa George. The following year saw 'I, Frankenstein' with Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy and Miranda Otto, and although the film was critically panned, it did recover its US$65M budget with a Box Office take of US$71M.

2014 also saw the launch of the 'Divergent' series with the first instalment headed up by Shailene Woodley and also starring Ansel Elgort, Theo James, Miles Teller, Kate Winslet, Maggie Q and Ashley Judd. 'Insurgent' followed in 2015 as the second in four instalments. In the meantime that same year there were two wartime offerings with Angelina Jolie's biographical sports drama film 'Unbroken', and then Russell Crowe's Directorial debut 'The Water Diviner'. The former made US$164M and the latter US$31M.

2015 saw 'Terminator : Genisys' in which Courtney plays the pivotal role of Kyle Reece in this fifth film in the franchise which brought Arnold Schwarzenegger back into the role originally made famous by him in 1984. The film made US$441M from US$155M and was intended to be the first in a there film reboot, but in early this year Paramount announced that for now, a sequel was off the radar. 'Man Down' then followed in late 2015 but has yet to be released in Australia. This post-apocalyptic war thriller stars Shia LaBeouf, Gary Oldman and Kate Mara and premiered in September 2015 at the Venice International Film Festival.

Next up is the hotly awaited 'Suicide Squad' due for release in August this year. Based on the DC Comics Extended Universe antihero comics of the same name, Courtney stars as 'Boomerang' (how appropriate) - a deadly boomerang wielding assassin. Directed by David Ayer the film also stars Will Smith, Jared Leto, Joel Kinnaman, Margot Robbie, and Viola Davis, with a sequel already announced for 2017. Following this is another war time drama 'The Kaiser's Last Kiss' also with Christopher Plummer, Eddie Marsan and Lily James, and is currently filming.

Courtney has eighteen Acting credits to his name and has two award nominations both for Best Supporting Actor on 'Felony'. He lives in Los Angeles and from 2006 until 2014 was romantically linked to Actress Gemma Pranita.

Jai Courtney - unsuccessful in securing a place at NIDA but has scored success nonetheless; plays guitar and sings and in another life may have pursued a career as a musician; was a serious rugby player in his early years (hence his build); and he has a three skull tattoo drawn by his six year old God-daughter 'inked on my flesh forever'. With only 18 films your star is on the rise, being increasingly sought after and in demand, and maybe typecast in blockbuster action fare, your following is increasingly assured. Happy 30th Birthday Jai, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-