What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st September 2016.

Two thirds of the way through the year and I got to thinking about the movie remakes and reboots we have seen this year so far together with those still slated for release in 2016. This year has been no exception to the number seen, but it does seem that once again we have our fair share of movies from way back, and more recently, that are getting rebooted, reimagined and remade for a whole new audience perhaps unfamiliar with the source material, or is it simply that the studios are devoid of sufficient new ideas with which to commit to celluloid? Here's a bunch from this year alone that have been dug up, dusted down and had the makeover treatment :

• 'Point Break' - originally released in 1991 with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze and Directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
• 'Steve Jobs' - originally released in 2013 as 'Jobs' with Ashton Kutcher and Directed by Joshua Michael Stern.
• 'Zoolander 2' - originally released in 2001 with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson and Directed by Ben Stiller.
• 'The Jungle Book' - originally released in 1967 as a Disney animated feature Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman.
• 'Mt Big Fat Greek Wedding 2' - originally released in 2002 and Directed by Joel Zwick.
• 'Ghostbusters' - originally released in  1984 with Bill Murray, Dan Aykrord and Harold Ramis and Directed by Ivan Reitman.
• 'Jason Bourne' - originally released as a trilogy in 2002, 2004 and 2007 as 'The Bourne Identity', 'The Bourne Supremacy' and 'The Bourne Ultimatum' with Matt Damon and Directed by Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass.
• 'The BFG' - originally released in 1989 as a Cosgrove Hall animated feature Directed by Brian Cosgrove.
• 'The Legend of Tarzan' - 52 live action and animated feature films since 1918, with the last live action film being 1998's 'Tarzan and the Lost City' with Casper Van Dien and Directed by Carl Schenkel.
• 'Independence Day : Resurgence' - originally released in 1996 as 'Independence Day' with Will Smith and Directed by Roland Emmerich.
• 'Ben Hur' - originally released in 1959 with Charlton Heston and Directed by William Wyler.
• 'Mechanic : Resurrection' - originally released in 1972 as 'The Mechanic' with Charles Bronson and Jean-Michael Vincent and Directed by Michael Winner.

With those still coming up for release before the end of the year :

• 'The Magnificent Seven' - originally released in 1960 with Yul Bryner, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Horst Buchholz and Brad Dexter and Directed by John Sturges.
• 'Pete's Dragon' - originally released in 1977 as a Disney animated feature Directed by Don Chaffey.
• 'All Quiet on the Western Front' - originally released in 1930 and Directed by Lewis Milestone.

Turning to this week, there are no fewer than seven new films to tease you in to the first week of an Australian Spring, kick starting with a return to form for this Actor in this rescue and revenge story that sees an ageing dad trying to do the right thing by his estranged daughter and dispensing his own style of justice on those who would do her harm. Then we go to a biographical drama of drug cartels, money laundering and how one man brought it all crashing down for an infamous kingpin and his empire in the mid '80's. Next we turn attention to this weeks horror offering in the form of a home invasion set up featuring three opportunistic thieves who under-estimate their target and what he is capable of, despite his disability. Then a sequel to a 2011 remake of a classic 1972 film that sees a man with a particular set of skills come out of retirement to save his girlfriend - but at what cost? Then these are followed up by a teen adventure tale of on-line truth or dare but with a twist for the tech-savvy on the go attention seeking adrenalin junkie youthful types. This then takes us to the Korean War with a top ranking US General calling the shots with the local South Koreans to infiltrate  the North Koreans to help reverse the fortunes of the UN allies; before wrapping up with another period piece set on the Scottish north east coast in the lead up to WWI and one young farm girls coming of age story based on a much loved Scottish literary piece dating back to 1932.

For the full Previews see below, and if these help with your movie going choice in the week ahead then be sure to leave your thoughts and opinions of your film experience by recording a Comment below this or any other Post. We would love to hear from you! In the meantime, enjoy your film.

'BLOOD FATHER' (Rated MA15+) - it's good to see Mel Gibson back in a leading role for the first time since 2012's 'Get The Gringo' which he also Co-Wrote and Co-Produced and which whilst hardly a Box Office sensation was a welcome return to the form for the former Hollywood A-List Actor, Writer, Producer and Director who had fallen from grace since 'Apocalypto' in 2006. Now in 2016, Gibson is back and playing a bad-ass grindhouse rescue and revenge type in this Jean-Francois Richet Directed film that sees his character John Link as a Vietnam War Veteran, an ex-convict out on parole and an former alcoholic still sharing the love at regular AA meetings. Based on the book of the same name by Peter Craig, Gibson has received much praise for his role in this B-Grade movie that for the Actor seeking to make his comeback might be seen as a case of art imitating life. Watch out too for Mel's return to Directing duty with WWII drama 'Hacksaw Ridge' due in November this year.

Essentially we join Link celebrating two years of being off the booze and ably supported by his friend and sponsor Kirby (William H. Macy). Link is fighting plenty of inner demons, one of which is having lost all contact with his sixteen year old daughter Lydia (Erin Moriarty) who has got tied up with all manner of low life nasty criminal types down Mexico way. So much so that she accidentally shoots her boyfriend and drug kingpin Jonah (Diego Luna) in the neck. As a result she goes on the run from both the local police and the drug cartel with only her estranged Dad to turn to. It's not long before the two hit the road to evade the police and those pesky drug cartel types aided by some they come up against and hindered by others. Featuring plenty of gun play, chases sequences, sharp dialogue and a grizzled world weary lead character dispensing his own brand of justice. Catch it soon and give Mel Gibson a second chance!

'THE INFILTRATOR' (Rated MA15+) - this autobiographical crime drama is Directed by Brad Furman and is based on the book of the same name by US Customs Special Agent Robert Mazur who  during the '80's went deep undercover as a corrupt businessman to bust Pablo Escobar's money laundering organisation. Here Bryan Cranston plays Robert Mazur (aka Bob Musella) who goes undercover to infiltrate the drug trafficking network of drug lord Escobar by working with Agents Kathy Ertz (Diane Kruger) and Emir Abreu (John Leguizamo) and gaining the confidence and trust of Escobar's right hand man Roberto Alcaino (Benjamin Bratt). Building a case against a vicious criminal underworld where any wrong move or word out of place could cost him his life, Mazur gathers sufficient hard evidence to bring about indictments against 85 drug lords and the bankers who cleaned and redistributed their money whilst bringing about the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International - one of the world's largest money laundering banks. Also starring Amy Ryan, Jason Isaacs and Olympia Dukakis.

'DON'T BREATHE' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Fede Alvarez who brought us 'The Evil Dead' reboot in 2013 this home invasion horror film has received positive reviews since its release and has made US$31M off its US$10M budget outlay. Here three Detroit living thieves Rocky (Jane Levy), Alex (Dylan Minnette) and Money (Daniel Zovatto) decide to burgle the home of a blind old veteran (Stephen Lang) who has recently come into a substantial sum of money as a result of a cash settlement following the death of his only child. Living in a quiet secluded house in a largely abandoned neighbourhood the gang of three pick this as an easy target and a quick in and out job . . . they couldn't be more wrong! Finding themselves trapped inside the house the three must keep their wits about them as they fight for their lives having encountered what the blind man is capable of and the secret he is harbouring.

'MECHANIC : RESURRECTION' (Rated MA15+) - the remake of Michael Winner's 1972 classic 'The Mechanic' with Charles Bronson and Jean-Michael Vincent in 2011 as Directed by Simon West with Jason Statham in the title role as Arthur Bishop made US$62M off its US$40M budget making a sequel hardly a sure thing! But here we are five years later with the franchise resurrected as Arthur Bishop has been forced out of retirement as a contract killer when the love of his life Gina (Jessica Alba) is kidnapped by some unscrupulous types demanding he complete three seemingly impossible hits, otherwise the girls gets it! Our man is forced to traverse the world to do what he does best using his particular set of skills - make his assassinations look like accidents! Made for US$40M again and this time Directed by Dennis Gansel, and also starring Michelle Yeoh and Tommy Lee Jones.

'NERVE' (Rated M) - described as a teen techno thriller adventure, this film is based on the 2012 book of the same name by Jeanne Ryan and is jointly Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, was made for US$20M and so far grossed USA$48M. Here we have young Vee Delmonico (Emma Roberts) a high achieving senior high school student who is quickly becoming bored with the hum drum ho-hum of life. Coming under some pressure from her friends to come out from under her shell, she joins 'Nerve' a popular on-line game that challenges its participants to a game of dare that starts out simply enough but soon escalates at every stage into something way more challenging, dangerous, and adrenaline fuelled. Are you a 'Player or a Watcher' as the game launches with the promise of big cash prizes and Internet fame, but as Vee moves through her addictive challenges so the game takes a more sinister turn where the stakes are increasingly high, and she joins forces with Ian (Dave Franco) who may or may not be a participant in the game and can he be trusted? Right up every teenagers street this film of Internet gaming on the move is both topical and relevant, if a little far fetched . . . or is it?

'OPERATION CHROMITE' (Rated MA15+) - this South Korean film has a limited Australian release and tells the true story of The Battle of Inchon as Directed by John H.Lee (Lee Jae-han), which lasted from 15th September though to 19th September 1950 involving an amphibious invasion during the Korean War that resulted in a decisive victory and strategic reversal in favour of the United Nations. The operation involved 75,000 or so troops and 260 naval vessels, and led to the recapture of the South Korean capital of Seoul shortly afterwards. Here General MacArthur (Liam Neeson) oversees a team led by South Korean Special Naval Forces Captain Jang Hak-soo (Lee Jung-jae) and seven of the Korean Liaison Office to infiltrate under the guise of a North Korean Inspection unit the North Korean Army Command Centre in Inchon and complete three key tasks which involve gathering significant military intelligence, the kidnapping of the a high ranking officer, and the signalling to the UN forces on D-Day to haul ass and move on in. Made for about US$12M the film has so far made US$19M since its release.

'SUNSET SONG' (Rated M) - based on the highly acclaimed Scottish 1932 Lewis Grassic Gibbon novel of the same name, this film is Directed by Terence Davies and was released in the UK in early December last year, and only now reaches Australian shores on a limited release. Set at the turn of the 20th Century on the fictional Estate of Kinraddie in north-east Scotland the film centres around Chris Guthrie (Agyness Deyn) a young girl growing up in rural and remote Aberdeenshire whose rites of passage see love and loss, toil and hardship, happiness and sorrow, peace and war, but, this is what defines her as a a growing woman and what prepares her for adulthood and the dawning of a new world. Generally this film has received very positive reviews for its beauty and brutality, its dialogue (written for the screen by Davies too) and its performances from Deyn and the supporting cast of Peter Mullan (as father John Guthrie) and Kevin Guthrie (as Ewan Tavendale) especially. One for you, if intense thought provoking period dramas are your thing.

With seven new films out in the week ahead, these are decidedly adult fare, but when combined with those films out on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed here at this Blog, then there is no reason not to get out to your local cinema and celebrate Springtime with a latest release movie. I'll see you at the Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 12th-18th June 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Dave Franco does on 12th June - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 31, 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 June

• Dave Franco - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Richard Ayoade - Born 1977, turns 39 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Frances O'Connor - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress

Monday 13th June

• Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen - Born 1986, turn 30 - Actresses | Producers  
• Ally Sheedy - Born 1962, turns 54 - Actress
• Tim Allen - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Stellen Skarsgard - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actor | Producer
• Simon Callow - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Malcolm McDowell - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor | Producer
• Chris Evans - Born 1981, turns 35 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson - Born 1990, turns 26 - Actor
• Kodi Smit-McPhee - Born 1996, turns 20 - Actor

Tuesday 14th June

• Will Patton - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actor
• Diablo Cody - Born 1978, turns 38 - Writer | Producer | Director  

Wednesday 15th June

• Pia Miranda - Born 1973, turns 43 - Actress
• Courtney Cox - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Helen Hunt - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director 
• James Belushi - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Ice Cube aka O'Shea Jackson - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Jake Busey - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor | Producer
• Neil Patrick Harris - Born 1973, turns 43 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer 

Thursday 16th June

• Daniel Bruhl - Born 1978, turns 38 - Actor
• John Cho - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor
• Arnold Vosloo - Born 1962, turns 54 - Actor | Producer  

Friday 17th June

• Ken Loach - Born 1936, turns 80 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Bobby Farrelly - Born 1958, turns 58 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Thomas Haden Church - Born 1960, turns 56 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Greg Kinnear - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Jason Patric - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actor | Producer
• Will Forte - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer  
• Louis Leterrier - Born 1973, turns 43 - Producer | Director

Saturday 18th June

• Paul McCartney - Born 1942, turns 74 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Writer | Actor | Producer | Director
• Richard Madden - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor
• Barbara Broccoli - Born 1960, turns 56 - Producer
• Isabella Rossellini - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director  

David John Franco was born in Palo Alto, California to mother Betsy Verne, a poet, author, editor and occasional Actress, and father Eugene Franco a business owner/operator in Silicone Valley who passed away in 2011. He is the younger brother of Actors James and the lesser known Tom. Franco grew up in California where he attended the University of Southern California with designs on becoming a high school creative writing teacher. However, his brother James' Manager led him to take up theatre classes in his second year at University where his interest in acting was first sparked.

His acting career kicked off with '7th Heaven' in 2006 for The CW Television Network in which he appeared in a single episode. That same year he appeared in the short film 'Frat Boys' before scoring a place on 'Superbad' in 2007 with the likes of Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Emma Stone. The film was generally well received and took US$170M from its US$20M outlay. Later that year was 'After Sex' in which he starred as one half of a couple having conversations after sex, whilst exploring the modern day complexities of relationships as seen through the eyes, hearts and minds of seven other couples.

2008 saw five episodes on 'Do Not Disturb' (seven episodes were filmed, four aired and then promptly the show was cancelled). 'Greek' was next which ran for 74 episodes over four seasons with Franco gaining a spot on six, and then came 'Privileged' which aired for eighteen episodes over just one season in which Franco appeared in five. 'Milk' also came out that year in which Franco played a small role alongside brother James, Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin and Victor Garber. The film was critically very well received and made back almost three times its production budget. Seeing out the decade was the low budget direct to DVD horror thriller 'The Shortcut', a short film never released called 'A Fuchsia Elephant', and thirteen episodes in the ninth and final series of 'Scrubs'.

The new decade launched with the Noah Baumbach Written and Directed 'Greenberg' with Ben Stiller, Rhys Ifans, Greta Gerwig, Brie Larson, Juno Temple and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The film was positively received but it made less than 25% of its production costs. 'Charlie St. Cloud' followed later that year with Zac Efron, Ray Liotta and Kim Bassinger, with 'The Broken Tower' following. This film was Directed, Written, Produced, Edited and starring his brother James Franco, his mother Betsy and Michael Shannon and made by James as part of his film-making thesis for New York University. 'Fright Night' - the remake of the 1985 film of the same name also starred Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Toni Collette and Imogen Poots and received critical acclaim and the recovery of its budget. Comedy horror 'Bad Meat' saw out 2011.

The Dave Franco penned short film 'Would You' also starred his mother Betsy and once again Christopher Mintz-Plasse. 2012 also saw '21 Jump Street' with Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, and Brie Larson - he would reprise his role in the 2014 sequel, '22 Jump Street' albeit uncredited, together with a bunch of other uncredited appearances by Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, Anna Faris and Queen Latifah. The 2013 ZomRomCom 'Warm Bodies' with Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer and John Malkovich did well critically and commercially in which he also starred.


This gave way to his first turn as Jack Wilder - one of the Four Horsemen, in 'Now You See Me' opposite Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Isla Fisher. Although the film received mixed Reviews, it made US$352M from its US$75M budget outlay and spawned a very recently released sequel 'Now You See Me : The Second Act' in which Franco reprises his role. 'NYSM 3' has already been announced, and was so as early as a year ago already. The 2014 'Lego Movie' starred an ensemble voice cast that included Franco in a voice cameo, with a sequel in the works too for a May 2018 release date given the critical acclaim and the US$470M haul it took. 'Bad Neighbours' followed with Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne and regular running mate Christopher Mintz-Plasse which again on the strength of its US$271M Box Office take spawned a sequel earlier this year for which Franco also reprised his role. So far the Box Office receipts for the second instalment 'Bad Neighbours 2 : Sorority Rising' stands so far at just US$91M.

Last year there was 'Unfinished Business' with Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson, Nick Frost and Sienna Miller which tanked commercially and critically. In the meantime there were television series appearances on 'Young Justice' and 'Other Space' and the upcoming Netflix comedy series 'Easy'. There have also been multiple videos on the comedy video website 'Funny or Die' in which Franco has starred, Written and/or Directed.





Next up is 'Zeroville' Directed by brother James and also starring brother James with Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell and Megan Fox it tells the story of a late 60's Hollywood and the change the film industry was going through at that time. Franco here plays screen legend Montgomery Clift. Also Directed by James Franco and to follow up is 'The Masterpiece' with Zac Efron (again), Seth Rogen (again), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (again), Bryan Cranston, Josh Hutchinson, Alison Brie and Sharon Stone that looks behind the scenes of the making of that cult film for all the wrong reasons - 'The Room' in 2003. Then there is 'Nerve' with Juliette Lewis and Emma Roberts and 'The Little Hours' for 2017 with Alison Brie and John C. Reilly.

All up Franco has 41 Acting credits, eight Writer credits, three as Producer and one as Director. He has three award wins and one other nomination. He has been engaged to Actress and occasional Co-Star Alison Brie since August 2015.

Dave Franco - younger brother to multi-talented James Franco but determined not to be overshadowed by him and to carve out his own career in the movie business; good buddies and frequent collaborator on screen and off it with Christopher Mintz-Plasse; describes himself as small & shifty, a cat person and the proud owner of two, tough critically on himself and not comedic. With that determination, those credentials and your track record to date things will undoubtedly continue on the up for you. Happy Birthday Dave, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-