Birthday's to share this week : 23rd-29th October 2016

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Emilia Clarke does on 23rd October - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl 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 23rd October

• Emilia Clarke - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actress
• Alex Gibney - Born 1953, turns 63 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Ang Lee - Born 1954, turns 62 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Sam Raimi - Born 1959, turns 57 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Ryan Reynolds - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actor | Producer  

Monday 24th October

• F. Murray Abraham - Born 1939, turns 77 - Actor
• Martin Campbell - Born 1943, turns 73 - Director | Producer
• Kevin Kline - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Singer  

Tuesday 25th October

• Adam Goldberg - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Editor
• Gale Anne Hurd - Born 1955, turns 61 - Producer | Writer  

Wednesday 26th October

• Jaclyn Smith - Born 1945, turns 71 - Actress
• Rosemarie DeWitt - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actress
• Dylan McDermott - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor
• Cary Elwes - Born 1962, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Writer 
• Seth MacFarlane - Born 1973, turns 43 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer | Songwriter | Animator
• Jon Heder - Born 1977, turns 39 - Actor | Producer  

Thursday 27th October

• John Cleese - Born 1939, turns 77 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Director
• Ivan Reitman - Born 1946, turns 70 - Producer | Director | Writer
• Roberto Benigni - Born 1952, turns 64 - Director | Writer | Actor | Singer 

Friday 28th October

• Dennis Franz - Born 1944, turns 72 - Actor | Writer
• Kevin MacDonald - Born 1967, turns 49 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Joaquin Phoenix - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Julia Roberts - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress | Producer  

Saturday 29th October

• Kate Jackson - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actress | Producer
• Winona Ryder - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actress | Producer
• Robert Hardy - Born 1925, turns 91 - Actor
• Richard Dreyfuss - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Rufus Sewell - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actor
• Ben Foster - Born 1980, turns 36 - Actor | Producer   

Emilia Isabelle Euphemia Rose Clarke was born in London, England where she grew up in Berkshire with her business woman mother, theatre sound engineer father and her brother. The young Emilia's interest in Acting were first sparked at age just three when her mother took her along to a theatre production of the musical 'Show Boat' which her father has worked on. She was educated at the independent Roman Catholic Rye St. Antony Girls School in Headington, Oxford, and then the co-deucational independent boarding St. Edward's School in Oxford. From there she attended the Drama Centre London, affiliated to the University of the Arts, London who's other notable alumni include Michael Fassbender, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Tom Hardy, Paul Bettany, Russell Brand and her 'Game of Thrones' Co-Star Gwendoline Christie. She graduated in 2009.

Whilst at St. Edward's Clarke appeared in two school plays, ten whilst at the Drama Centre London, and the Los Angeles Company of Angels production of 'Sense'. She gained her first small screen role on an episode of the BBC's 'Doctors' in 2009, and followed this up with the made for television movie for the SyFy Channel 'Triassic Attack' in 2010.

Her big screen debut came in 2012 in 'Spike Island' about the English alternative rock band 'The Stone Roses' gig on Spike Island, Cheshire, England in May 1990 and a group of friends who attempt, in the lead up to that gig, to get to the concert venue without transport, and to gain entry without tickets. This was followed up that same year with the twelve minute short film 'Shackled'.

2013 saw the black comedy crime caper film 'Dom Hemingway' as Written and Directed by Richard Shepard and starring Jude Law in the title role with Richard E. Grant and Damian Bichir. 'Terminator : Genisys' came next in 2015 with Clarke playing Sarah Connor to Jason Clarke as John Connor, Jai Courtney as Kyle Reece and Arnold Schwarzenegger as a re-programmed T-800 Terminator. Despite the film grossing over US$440M off its US$155M budget, a further instalment has been put on hold indefinitely, and Clarke has stated earlier this year that she would not be returning to the franchise.

'Me Before You' came earlier this year alongside Sam Claflin, which whilst earning a worldwide gross of US$207M from its US#20M budget and therefore a commercial success, received average critical acclaim only, although the performances of its two leads were generally praised. Clarke played alongside her 'Game of Thrones' Co-Star Charles Dance.

In the meantime and perhaps most significantly, Clarke has appeared in all six seasons so far broadcast of the hugely popular and much lauded 'Game of Thrones' television series for HBO. Playing the character of Daenerys Targaryen (aka 'Stormborn', 'The Mother of Dragons' and 'Khaleesi') - she is one of the shows most popular characters, and is set to return for season seven. She has won several awards and been nominated multiple times for her role in the cult series. Added to the demands of filming ten episodes per season for now six full televised seasons  on 'Game of Thrones', Clarke has appeared in single episodes of 'Futurama' and 'Robot Chicken', and starred in a Broadway production of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' in the role of Holly Golightly made famous by Audrey Hepburn in the classic 1961 film.

Next up is 'Above Suspicion' for Director Phillip Noyce with Jack Huston, Johnny Knoxville, and Thora Birch currently in post-production and due in 2017; 'Voice from the Stone' with Marton Csokas also due in 2017; the comedy 'Set It Up' due next year too, and in development for Director Oliver Hirschbiegel is WWI drama 'The Guns of August' with Charles Dance and Helena Bonham Carter also attached. All up Clarke has fifteen Acting credits to her name, she has four award wins so far and a further 22 nominations including three Prime Time Emmy nods for 'Game of Thrones' in 2013, 2015 and 2016 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Emilia Clarke - skilled at singing (ballads, blues, jazz and cabaret); athletic (rowing, swimming, running, tennis, skiing and sailing); has been ranked highly on numerous 'Top Lists' in the last five years including the #1 'Sexiest Woman Alive', 'Most Desirable Woman' and 'Most Beautiful Face', and for all her short time in the big and small screen acting business has left her mark that continues to keep her in demand, in the spotlight and her star shining brightly. Happy 30th Birthday to you Emilia, 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 16th June 2016.

The Sydney Film Festival, now in its 62nd year draws to a close this coming Sunday evening 19th June, ending 12 days of movie going goodness with the Australian Premier of the Whit Stillman Directed 'Love and Friendship' with Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigny, Xavier Samuel and Stephen Fry based on the Jane Austen novella of letters 'Lady Susan'. Before the curtain rises on Sunday evening there would have been some 250 films shown across Sydney from all around the world, with many receiving their Australian Premier and some their World Premier screening.

Last week I mentioned those films in Official Competition, and those in Special Presentation. This week to give a closing indication of those other features to watch out for, here is a quick synopsis of a few highlights :

• 'SHEPHERDS AND BUTCHERS' - Directed by Oliver Schmitz, Australian Premier with Steve Coogan and Andrea Riseborough with Coogan taking a rare dramatic lead as a lawyer in this 1987 set South African courtroom drama.
• 'MUSTANG' - Directed by Deniz Gamze Erguven, this Turkish film has been highly acclaimed and surrounds five sisters, their unity in the face of adversity, the loss of innocence and the coming of age.
• 'SWISS ARMY MAN' - Directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Australian Premier with Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead this is the story of a man stranded on a desert island and a corpse washed ashore.
• 'BORN TO BE BLUE' - Directed by Robert Budreau, Australian Premier with Ethan Hawke as jazz trumpeter Chet Baker in this reimagined bio-pic of this imprisoned, heroine addicted comeback kid who lived from 1929 until 1988.
• 'I SAW THE LIGHT' - Directed by Marc Abraham, Australian Premier with Tom Hiddleston as country music legend singer/songwriter Hank Williams in this bio-pic of the hard drinking man who succumbed to pain killing drugs and alcohol at just 29 years of age in 1953, but left an indelible mark on popular music.
• 'HIGH RISE' - Directed by Ben Wheatley, Australian Premier with Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons and Sienna Miller in this dystopian telling set inside a London apartment tower whose residents descend into savagery when the power fails.
• 'PATCHWORK' - Directed by Tyler MacIntyre, Australian Premier with Tory Stolper, Tracey Fairaway and Maria Blasucci as three girls who share nothing in common until a scalpel wielding maniac slices and dices them and stitches them back together as one.
• 'SING STREET' - Directed by John Carney, Australian Premier with Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Jack Reynor and Lucy Bonton set in a mid-80's Dublin with a thumping classic 80's soundtrack, big hair, wide lapels, fashion victims, emotion and heart wrapped up in the power of music and determination.
• 'NATIONAL BIRD' - Directed by Sonia Kenneback, Australian Premier this documentary traces Daniel, Lisa and Heather who enlisted into the US Drone Programme to identify and track targets from the other side of the world, and the impact of their unsettling work including the death, destruction and maiming that they now have to live with. If you saw 'Eye in the Sky' - see this for the other real life perspective.
• 'BEAST' - Directed by Sam & Tom McKeith, with Garret Dillahunt and Chad McKinney this is a story of a mixed-race boxer in Manila managed by his father, who accidentally kills his opponent in the ring in a rigged fight, and the far reaching consequences for all thereafter.
• 'GOAT' - Directed by Andrew Neel, Australian Premier with Ben Schnetzer and Nick Jonas this tells the story of the increasingly dangerous, violent and humiliating initiation rituals experienced by freshmen into the US College system fuelled by alcohol, sex, drugs and peer group pressure.
• . . . and finally, a Scorsese Retrospective featuring ten films by Martin Scorsese as selected by noted film critic, author and lecturer David Stratton homing in on some of his most celebrated and influential works. Those chosen are 'Mean Streets', 'Taxi Driver', 'Raging Bull', The Aviator', 'Goodfellas', 'Casino', 'The King of Comedy', 'New York, New York', 'The Age of Innocence' and 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'. You can catch all of these at The Art Gallery of New South Wales. For more information on the Sydney Film Festival go to : www.sff.org.au

Turning to the upcoming week, we have five new movies arriving at a multiplex near you, that kick start with an epic fantasy adventure when two worlds collide in this battle for supremacy based on a hugely popular video game; then a sequel to a much loved and hugely successful animated aquatic feature from 13 years ago; with up next a bio-pic interpretation of a horn blowing legend from a first time Director who also stars as that legend in this passion project. We then wrap up with a romantic drama that is sure to turn on the water works with emotion, choices and life changing decisions, and fading out with some big name stars shooting, maiming, killing and dancing their way through an action comedy romance that seems yet to find an audience.

When you have watched in wonder at your movie of choice this week, remember that you can always share your thoughts, comments and observations with your fellow readers and cinephiles here at Odeon Online by leaving your own movie critique in the Comments section below this or any other Post - we'd love to hear from you! Enjoy your film in the meantime.

'WARCRAFT : THE BEGINNING' (Rated M) - this is the long awaited film based on the hugely popular and successful Blizzard Entertainment burgeoning franchise of video games, board games, card games, novels, comics and now a full length feature film that can be traced back some 22 years to 1994 when the game launched, and at its peak in 2010 had some 12 million players. Today that number is more in the region of six million subscribers who do battle in the fantasy world of Azeroth occupied by humans but attacked by Orcs as their world of Draenor is set to collapse. In the world of Azeroth also live elves, dwarves, trolls, gnomes . . . and orcs. A self confessed Warcraft Warrior, Director and Screenplay Co-Writer Duncan Jones is the man behind this US$160M epic that opened in the US on 10th June, and has so far grossed US$307M - undoubtedly with many legions of the Warcraft gameplay fans queueing up around the block to get the best seat in their local movie theatre house. With filming having wrapped in May 2014, the movie has been in post-production for almost two years only adding to the anticipation and expectation factor - with the reality proving to be very mixed so far from critics far and wide.

The story here surrounds the peaceful world of Azeroth, whose peace is interrupted by a marauding fearsome race of invaders in the form of orcs from the dying planet of Draenor. Fleeing their own planet through a portal that has opened up connecting the two worlds, the humans inhabiting Azeroth face destruction from the orcs who face extinction if they remain on Draenor. From each side and emerging hero rises who are set to collide in a epic battle that will seal the fate of their families, their people and their world. Starring Travis Fimmel as Sir Anduin Lothar, Toby Kebbel as Durotan, Dominic Cooper as King Llane Wrynn, Ben Foster as Mendivh, Daniel Wu as Gul'dan, Clancy Brown as Blackhand, Robert Kazinsky as Orgrim Doomhammer and Paula Patton as Garona Halforcen amongst an army of otherworldly characters set to battle it out for dominance . . . or will they find a better way?

'FINDING DORY' (Rated G) - the 2003 film 'Finding Nemo' to which this film is a sequel, was hugely successful for Pixar Animation Studios, making US$937M from its US$94M cost to make, standing today as the 35th highest grossing film of all time. It won the Best Animated Feature Oscar together with 46 other award wins and a further 59 nominations for Director & Screenwriter Andrew Stanton and its talented voice cast comprising Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush and Alexander Gould as Nemo, the clownfish amongst others. This sequel - 13 years it seems in the making is set six months after the events of that first film and sees Director and Screenwriter Andrew Stanton return once again with a bigger voice cast than before that sees Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) regaining her childhood memories and recounting images of Morro Bay in California. Aided by Nemo (this time voiced by Hayden Rolence) and Marlin (Albert Brooks) she has an epic adventure eventually arriving at Monterey Marine Life Institute, where their lives a diverse collection of sea life, but can Dory and her new friends save her Mum and Dad from captivity so that they can be reunited once more? Also starring the voice talents of Ed O'Neill, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, Idris Elba, Eugene Levy, Dominic West, Willem Dafoe, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Hader, Alexander Gould and more.  The film is released in the US the day after its Australian release.

'MILES AHEAD' (Rated M) - Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Starring Don Cheadle as the legendary jazz-trumpeter Miles Davis, this is a real labour of love for the multi-award winning and nominated Actor, who is Directing his first feature film in which he also stars . . . nothing like jumping in off the deep end! Whilst this is essentially a bio-pic Cheadle takes liberties with the timeline and distorts the truth a little here to weave in an engaging story of a past his prime Davis who goes into self imposed exile towards the late 70's whilst dealing with the pain of illness in his hip, a voice roughed up by years of drugs and painkiller abuse, and memories of the past haunting him. One day music journalist Dave Braden (Ewen McGregor) comes knocking on his door to research and write a comeback piece on the music legend, and unwittingly the two forge a relationship over the ensuing days that sees them seek to recover a stolen tape recording of Davis' most recent compositions. Prolific in the jazz scene from the late 40's when he started playing with saxophonist Charlie Parker through its numerous iterations, the great man died in 1991 aged 65. This is Cheadles tribute to the man, the legend, the musician, the artist, and mostly it has received positive reviews.

'ME BEFORE YOU' (Rated M) - based on the 2012 book of the same name by Jojo Moyes, this romantic drama is Directed by Thea Shamrock and centres around a paralysed Will Traynor (Sam Claflin) - a former wealthy banker whose life changed forever two years earlier resulting in him now being wheelchair bound for life. Before the accident he lived life to the full, was an adventurous type, and outgoing but now has become reclusive, cynical and short tempered especially with those hired to look after him. Then Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke) arrives on the scene - an English lass who drifts from one job to another without any real purpose in life other than to help support her struggling family. When she loses her job at a local cafe, the young, optimistic and quirky Louisa lands a job looking after Will who at first shuns her quirkiness and optimism, but soon the two develop a friendship that in time becomes more. With the clock counting down on a crucial moment in time for Will, Louisa makes it her mission to show Will that life is worth living and that adventures and discovery can still be had even in the face of adversity. Charles Dance and Joanna Lumley also star. The film has so far made US$55M off its US$20M budget - take your box of tissues to this weepie!

'MR. RIGHT' (Rated MA15+) - this action comedy romance is Directed by Paco Cabezas, Written by Max Landis (son of John) and has so far received average reviews at best and since its early April release Stateside has made just US$250K - that should give an indication of this films pulling power! This is however, somewhat surprising given Anna Kendrick as the female lead playing Martha - an eccentric but good natured warm hearted woman who stumbles across Francis (Sam Rockwell) in a convenience store. He feels an instant attraction and so asks Martha out on a date, during which he demonstrates some of his physical abilities and dexterity, and confides that he is in fact an assassin for hire, but now kills those you hire him rather than the intended target. Eventually, Martha comes around to his way of thinking and feels a connection particularly when she sees for herself some of the low-lifes and undesirables that he has to deal with in his line of work. When the past comes back to haunt Francis in the form of Hopper (Tim Roth) the man who trained him in the first place, the two join forces to thwart the evil enemy with over the top unbelievable results that might just account for its Box Office take so far.

Five new release offerings to encourage you out on a cool Winter evening in June, and when you have sat through your preferred movie choice in the coming week, remember to share your thoughts with your like minded movie goers here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-