Birthday's to share this week : 12th - 18th March 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Lily Collins does on 18th March - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 28, 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 12th March

• Liza Minnelli - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actress | Singer
• Rob Cohen - Born 1949, turns 68 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Songwriter
• Aaron Eckhart - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actor | Producer  

Monday 13th March

• William H. Macy - Born 1950, turns 67 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Common (aka Lonnie Rashid Lynn) - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Emile Hirsch - Born 1985, turns 32 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter 

Tuesday 14th March

• Michael Caine - Born 1933, turns 84 - Actor | Producer
• Wolfgang Petersen - Born 1941, turns 76 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Billy Crystal - Born 1948, turns 69 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer
• Corey Stoll - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor
• Jamie Bell - Born 1986, turns 31 - Actor | Producer
• Ansel Elgort - Born 1994, turns 23 - Actor  

Wednesday 15th March

• David Cronenberg - Born 1943, turns 74 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Editor
• Renny Harlin - Born 1959, turns 58 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Greg Nicotero - Born 1963, turns 54 - Make Up Artist | Special Effects Artist | Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Kellan Lutz - Born 1985, turns 32 - Actor
• Jai Courtney - Born 1986, turns 31 - Actor
• Eva Longoria - Born 1975, turns 42 - Actress | Producer | Director

Thursday 16th March

• Kate Nelligan - Born 1950, turns 67 - Actress
• Isabelle Huppert - Born 1953, turns 64 - Actress
• Victor Garber - Born 1949, turns 68 - Actor
• Jimmy Nail - Born 1954, turns 63 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter  
• Gore Verbinski - Born 1964, turns 53 - Director | Producer | Writer

Friday 17th March  

• Patrick Duffy - Born 1949, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Kurt Russell - Born 1951, turns 66 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Gary Sinise - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Rob Lowe - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor | Producer
• John Boyega - Born 1992, turns 25 - Actor | Producer
• Lesley-Anne Down - Born 1954, turns 63 - Actress | Writer  

Saturday 18th March

• Vanessa Williams - Born 1963, turns 54 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Queen Latifa - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Singer | Songwriter 
• Lily Collins - Born 1989, turns 28 - Actress
• Brad Dourif - Born 1950, turns 67 - Actor
• Luc Besson - Born 1959, turns 58 - Director | Producer | Writer

Lily Jane Collins was born in Guildford, Surrey, England to mother Jill Tavelman, an American and former President of the Beverly Hills Women's Club, and father Phil Collins the legendary singer, songwriter and drummer with rock band Genesis, and a successful musician in his own right too, post Genesis days. Her parents divorced in 1996 when Lily was just seven years of age, but by that time the young girl had already made her small screen debut on the short-lived television series 'Growing Pains' for the BBC at age two. The young Collins moved with her mother to Los Angeles where she graduated from the independent Harvard-Westlake School for Girls. She then moved on to the University of Southern California from where she majored in Broadcast Journalism.

As a teenager Collins wrote for 'Seventeen' magazine, 'Teen Vogue' and the 'Los Angeles Times'. She also had a successful modelling career having been named 'International Model of the Year' by Spain's 'Glamour' magazine, and in 2008 she was named 'Newest Red Carpet Correspondent' and 'One to Watch' at that years 'Young Hollywood Awards'. 

In 2009 she launched her screen acting career on two episodes of '90210' which was followed up quickly by her role as Collins Tuohy, the daughter to Sandra Bullock's Leigh Anne Tuohy in 'The Blind Side' about All American football player and first round draft pick, Michael Oher. The role garnered Bullock the Best Actress in a Leading Role Academy Award at the 2010 ceremony as well as the Golden Globe and SAG award wins in the same categories. 

This was followed up by action fantasy horror offering 'Priest' with Paul Bettany in the lead role alongside Karl Urban, Christopher Plummer,  Alan Dale and Maggie Q, with Collins playing Lucy Pace the kidnapped niece of our titular vampire slayer Priest. This was followed up in 2011 by 'Abduction' an action thriller starring Taylor Lautner in the lead role with Collins playing his senior high school team mate on a school research project. 

2012 saw her role as Snow White in 'Mirror Mirror' based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, starring alongside Julia Roberts, Sean Bean, Armie Hammer and Nathan Lane. The film grossed US$183M from its US$85M budget outlay and received average reviews. RomCom 'Stuck in Love' came next with Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Kristen Bell, and Logan Lerman. A year later came another RomCom 'The English Teacher' with Greg Kinnear  and Nathan Lane again, and Julianne Moore in the lead role as the high school English Teacher in question.

The Sci-Fi action fantasy adventure 'The Mortal Instruments : City of Bones' was next up in 2013 which received lacklustre Reviews at best and made US$91M at the Box Office from its budget of US60M. Sequels to the story based on 'The Mortal Instruments' series of books by Cassandra Clare were set to go into production with the main cast, including Collins reprising their roles. But, due to disappointing Box Office results, any further instalments were put on the back burner. Another RomCom came along in 2014 'Love, Rosie' with Collins headlining as Rosie alongside Sam Claflin's love interest Alex.

2016 saw Warren Beatty's Directed, Co-Produced, Written and Starring RomCom 'Rules Don't Apply' which received mixed Reviews and a US domestic Box Office take of less than US$4M from its US$25M production budget. The film is yet to see the light of day in Australia, and has already been released on DVD and Blu-ray Stateside. Collins did receive a Golden Globe nomination earlier this year for her role in the film, but that clearly wasn't enough to save this movie despite its ensemble cast too, including Warren Beatty himself, Annette Benning, Matthew Broderick, Alec Baldwin, Steve Coogan, Ed Harris, Martin Sheen, Oliver Platt, Candice Bergen, Paul Sorvino and Alden Ehrenreich.

Next up for Collins is 'To the Bone' which Premiered at January's Sundance Film Festival and stars Keanu Reeves in this tale of of Ellen, played by Collins as she battles anorexia. This will be followed up by 'Okja' from South Korean Director, Producer and Writer Bong Joon-ho and tells the story of a massive shy and introverted animal named Okja, that a young girl is helping to protect and rescue from capture by a powerful multi-national company. The film also stars Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano and Steven Yuen. 'Okja' is due for release mid-year this year. 'Halo of Stars' is in post-production for a release later this year, and is a drama film starring Holliday Grainger, Lukas Haas and Harry Treadaway. She is also starring alongside Kelsey Grammer, Jessica De Gouw and Rosemarie DeWitt in the F. Scott Fitzgerald adaptation of 'The Last Tycoon' which has been picked up after the initial pilot episode to go to series through Amazon. 

All up Collins has fifteen Acting credits to her name, and she has so far accumulated three award wins and six nominations including the aforementioned Golden Globe nod. She is guarded about her private life, given her experiences associated with her childhood and growing up in the spotlight of her parents public divorce, and the apparent rift it created between her and her father Phil Collins. She has recently released her first book, 'Unfiltered : No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me' - a personal collection of essays and photographs presented in poignant conversations about the things that young women struggle with. Collins also acts as a Celebrity Ambassador for the anti-bullying organisation 'Bystander Revolution'.

Lily Collins - grew up in the world of entertainment and under the media spotlight; has turned her hand successfully to journalism, modelling, film, television, writing and even singing on the soundtracks of 'Mirror Mirror' and 'Rules Don't Apply'; made the 'Hottest Daughters of Rock Stars' list in 2009 and was voted as one of 'World's Most Beautiful Women' in 2012; is renowned for her set of full eyebrows; is clearly on the up and more and more in demand. Happy Birthday to you Lily, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week - 26th June - 2nd July 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Sam Claflin does on 27th June - 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 26th June

• Paul Thomas Anderson - Born 1970, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Chris O'Donnell - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Sean Hayes - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Jason Schwartzmann - Born 1980, turns 36 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Composer | Singer | Songwriter
• Robert Davi - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director

Monday 27th June

• J.J.Abrams - Born 1966, turns 50 - Producer | Director | Writer | Actor | Composer | Songwriter
• Tobey Maguire - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actor | Producer
• Sam Claflin - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor

Tuesday 28th June

• John Cusack - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Bruce Davison - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor | Director
• Mel Brooks - Born 1926, turns 90 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Kathy Bates - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actress | Director | Singer 

Wednesday 29th June

• Gary Busey - Born 1944, turns 72 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter  

Thursday 30th June

• Vincent D'Onofrio - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Rupert Graves - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer  

Friday 1st July

• David Prowse - Born 1935, turns 81 - Actor
• Trevor Eve - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actor | Producer
• Dan Akyroyd - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer 
• Genevieve Bujold - Born 1942, turns 74 - Actress
• Debbie Harry - Born 1945, turns 71 - Actress | Producer | Composer | Singer | Songwriter
• Pamela Anderson - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress | Producer
• Lea Seydoux - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actress  

Saturday 2nd July

• Margot Robbie - Born 1990, turns 26 - Actress | Producer
• Lindsay Lohan - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Larry David - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer

Samuel George Claflin was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, England to mother Sue - a classroom assistant, and father Mark, a finance officer. He has two older brothers, Benjamin and David, and one younger, Joseph - also in the acting profession. He grew up in Norwich, Norfolk and had more than a keen interest in football as a young lad - so much so that he was considering playing professionally until a broken ankle shattered that dream. He attended Costessey High School, where he made a decision to pursue acting after making a successful appearance in the school play, and having been encouraged to do so by his parents and drama teacher. In 2003 he studied performing arts at Norwich City College before attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, graduating in 2009.

In 2010, Claflin gained his small screen debut in 'The Pillars of the Earth' based on the Ken Follet novel of the same name. This eight part mini-series starred the likes of Donald Sutherland, Eddie Redmayne, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Matthew Macfadyen and Hayley Attwell, cost US$40M to make, took a year to make and was Co-Produced by Tony & Ridley Scott amongst others. That same year he appeared in the made for television movie 'The Lost Future' with Sean Bean, and a four hour series 'Any Human Heart' with Jim Broadbent, Tom Hollander, Kim Catrall and Hayley Attwell.

The following year, he appeared in the television film 'United' playing Duncan Edwards - the English football player for Matt Busby's Manchester United team of the mid-'50's who died tragically aged 21 in the Munich Air Disaster of February 1958 with seven of his team mates.

After this Hollywood came knocking with his role in 2011 in the fourth instalment in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise 'On Stranger Tides' in the role of Philip Swift - a missionary captured by Blackbeard who falls in love with Syrena - a beautiful mermaid.

In 2012 he appeared in the six part BBC television series 'White Heat', and his first appearance as Prince William, the childhood friend of Snow White in 'Snow White and the Huntsman' with Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron - a role he would reprise in the sequel released earlier this year with 'The Huntsman : Winters War'. That same year Claflin starred in 'The Quiet Ones' - a supernatural horror film which was released in 2014. Although it received only average reviews, it did make US$18M off its meagre US$200K budget outlay - so commercially a solid enough return.

2013 saw the release of 'The Hunger Games : Catching Fire' with his strong supporting role as Finnick Odair - a role he would reprise in the two concluding films of the franchise - 2014's 'The Hunger Games : Mockingly Part 1', and 'Part 2' in 2015. 'The Riot Club' came next also in 2014 with the backdrop of a fictitious elite all male exclusive dining club at Oxford University that prides itself on hedonism, and a firmly held belief that money can buy anything. Claflin's performance in the film was critically praised. 

Later that year he appeared as the male lead of Alex Stewart, opposite Lily Collins as Rosie Dunn in 'Love, Rosie' based on the novel 'Where Rainbows End' by Cecelia Ahern. The film took less that US$5M and was not so well received. Most recently, Claflin has starred in 'Me Before You' - released earlier this month with Emilia Clarke in the lead role opposite. This romantic drama film sees Claflin's character William Traynor paralysed from the neck down and wheelchair bound. The film has so far grossed US$85M.

Next up is 'We Happy Few' - a RomCom based in a 1940's WWII torn Britain and starring Bill Nighy, Richard E.Grant, Eddie Marsan and Gemma Arterton, and Directed by Lone Scherfig, who also Directed Claflin in 'Riot Club'. The film is in post-production for release later in 2016.  'My Cousin Rachel' is currently filming for 2017 with Rachel Weisz and Iain Glen and based on a Daphne Du Maurier novel, with 'Friday' recently announced. 

All up Claflin has nineteen Acting credits to his name. He has eight award nominations and one award win. In July 2013 he married British Actress, Laura Haddock who is currently filming the next 'Transformers' offering 'The Last Knight' for Director Michael Bay with Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Hopkins. The couple live in London and have a young son together, born in December last year.

Sam Claflin - keeping it grounded, keeping it real, keeping it true; is out to prove himself; is determined not to be typecast; has a self confessed 'thing' about Chris Hemsworth; and clearly is on the rise, and more and more in demand. Happy 30th Birthday to you Sam from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 6th November 2014.

As November rolls over there is only one movie that it likely to dominate the picture houses of the world in the coming weeks, and as a result all others are likely to pail into insignificance, but, that said, those other new releases are sure to find an audience out there looking for more intimate, low key, independent art-house type fare. And that's cool too, as there are enough movies to cater to all tastes and ultimately beauty is in the eye of the beholder . . . as someone once said!

So this week we have a hotly anticipated long awaited Sci-Fi thriller with a stellar cast and a stellar Director who has a solid crowd-pleasing track record and the pedigree to propel his film into classic genre defining greatness; then coming down to Earth with a bump we have a French sub-titled workplace industrial relations drama that is likely to be more satisfying than you think; another RomCom which I am sure I Previewed last week, but it's back again this week with a different cast and title; an Aussie suburban bondage offering that is as tender as it is confronting; and an historical offering charting the life and times of an 1830's violinist, womaniser and groundbreaking early rock star!

Five new cinematic offerings therefore to get you out amongst the popcorn and slushies, and when you have seen your chosen movie or movies, drop me a line in the Comments section following this, or any Post, and share your filmic views and opinions with my other avid Reader - we are keen to know your thoughts! Enjoy your film!

INTERSTELLAR (Rated M) - and so Christopher Nolan is about to descend upon us with his ambitious Sci-Fi thriller opus that takes his film-making in another direction following his huge success with the most recent 'Batman' franchise and his earlier 'Inception'. This film is likely to be big, make no mistake, with brother Jonathan co-writing the Screenplay based on an earlier idea that he and Christopher had back in 2007 or so, and based around the works of theoretical physicist Kip Thorne who acted as Consultant on this film. 1997's 'Contact' with Jodie Foster was also collaborated on by Thorne, and at first Steven Spielberg was linked to this film before relocating his Production Company, Dreamworks, to a rival Studio. Enter Christopher, at the behest of brother Jonathan!

In short the story surrounds a widower, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), struggling to bring up his children on a future planet Earth that is increasingly depleted of its resources, and suffering extremes in climatic conditions, drought and famine. When a wormhole is discovered Cooper is called upon to lead a mission through the wormhole and seek out a new home for Earth's needy and ever desperate population. In doing so he must leave his two children behind for the sake of the greater good not knowing if he will ever return, and if he does, how much time will have past back on his home planet (on Earth seven years passes in the same time that one hour passes in a wormhole). Also starring Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, John Lithgow, Topher Grace and a fleeting uncredited cameo by Matt Damon, this could well be up there with the other Sci-Fi classics we have come to know and love and boasting a US$165M budget I guess we'll know soon enough!

TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT (Rated M) - French sub-titled this stars Oscar Winner, Marion Cotillard in this Belgian Writer/Director pairing of Brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. It is a workplace drama surrounding an industrial relations issue which sees Sandra (Cotillard) facing redundancy having just returned from a period of sick-leave suffering clinical depression. She and her workmates have been advised that bonuses will only be paid if Sandra is made redundant, and so it falls to Sandra to convince eight or more of her fellow 16 workmates to forego their bonus so that she can keep her job. Of course each of her colleagues have their own story to tell, and some need the money more than others. If Sandra is indeed made redundant she is likely to fall back into depression and possible suicide, and so over the course of one weekend her fate must be decided before work resumes on Monday morning. Cotillard gives a convincing performances here of a woman on the edge and fighting for a small place in society, acceptance, a lifeline and her sanity. Compelling viewing.

LOVE, ROSIE (Rated M) - I am sure I reviewed this RomCom last week - only it was called 'The Best of Me' then, and now here I am Previewing another one in the seemingly predictable canon 'Love, Rosie'! This one is based on the 2004 novel 'Where Rainbows End' by Irish author Cecilia Ahern. This offering is Directed by Christian Ditter and stars Lily Collins as Rosie Dunne and Sam Claflin as Alex Stewart as life long friends since aged five, but come aged 18 a missed chance to get emotionally involved sends them off on opposing tangents. He moves Stateside, she has a secret pregnancy and they are torn apart but fate deals us a hand and sometimes two people are meant to be together . . . or are they? Seems like we have seen this stuff a million times before going back to Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliette', but if you liked the book, you might just want to check out the movie!

MY MISTRESS (Rated MA15+) - an Australian film Directed by Stephen Lance exploring S&M in the suburbs that might almost be an updated version of 'The Graduate' for the social media savvy Internet age. Here we have 16 year old Charlie Boyd (Harrison Gilbertson) whose mother he discovers is having an affair with his fathers best mate. Down the road lives a mysterious intriguing woman who seems to have a regular line of visitors by day and by night, and she is looking for a gardener. When an tragic family event involving Charlie's dad sends him spiralling into a world of hurt the only person who can provide any solace is the mysterious intriguing French woman down the street - Maggie (Emmanuelle Beart). She it turns out is a dominatrix who will gladly take away your pain, or indeed give it, in exchange for your cash, but she too is fighting her own inner demons. As the two forge an unlikely relationship that turns from pain and sex to friendship and love both come to rely on each other to heal their emotional wounds and move on with their lives.

THE DEVIL'S VIOLINIST (Rated MA15+) - sex and scandal sells - even across 1830's Europe if you happen to be the renowned violin virtuoso Niccolo Pagannini as played by David Garrett. Even back then rock star violinists had Agent's to manage their interests and this one is no different. Having taken Europe by storm it is time to conquer England where our accomplished violin player remains relatively unknown. Manager Urbani (Jared Harris) makes all the arrangements and in London things go better for Pagannini than either of them had anticipated largely thanks to the gushing reviews of journalist Ethel Langham (Joely Richardson). Having to take refuge in the home of English promoter and stage manager John Watson (Christian McKay) things take a turn when Pagannini takes a fancy to the daughter of the household and further sex and scandal no doubt ensues!

Once again, five very different offerings with which to tempt you to your local cinema, and plenty of other great content out there still doing the rounds and as Reviewed/Previewed previously. Enjoy your film (or two or three) in the weekend ahead.

Movies . . . see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-