Birthday's to share this week : 11th - 17th June 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Kodi Smit-McPhee does on 13th June - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 21, 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 June

• Hugh Laurie - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer
• Peter Dinklage - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Producer
• Shia LaBeouf - Born 1986, turns 31 - Actor | Director | Producer | Writer   

Monday 12th June

• Richard Ayoade - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actor | Writer | Director | Producer
• Dave Franco - Born 1985, turns 32 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Frances O'Connor - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actress  

Tuesday 13th June

• Malcolm McDowell - Born 1943, turns 74 - Actor | Producer
• Stellan Skarsgard - Born1951, turns 66 - Actor | Producer
• Tim Allen - Born 1953, turns 64 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Chris Evans - Born 1981, turns 36 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson - Born 1990, turns 27 - Actor 
• Kodi Smit-McPhee - Born 1996, turns 21 - Actor
• Ally Sheedy - Born 1962, turns 55 - Actress 
• Kathy Burke - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actress | Writer | Director | Producer  
• Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen - Born 1986, turns 31 - Actresses | Producers | Twin Sisters 

Wednesday 14th June

• Diablo Cody - Born 1978, turns 39 - Writer | Producer | Director
• Donald Trump - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actor | Producer | Television Personality | President of the USA | Leader of the Free World   

Thursday 15th June

• Jim Belushi - Born 1954, turns 63 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | 
• Ice Cube (aka O'Shea Jackson) - Born 1969, turns 48 - Singer | Songwriter | Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Jake Busey - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Producer
• Neil Patrick Harris - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer
• Helen Hunt - Born 1963, turns 54 - Actress | Director | Producer | Writer 
• Courteney Cox - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actress | Producer | Director | Singer  

Friday 16th June

• James Bolam - Born 1935, turns 82 - Actor 
• Arnold Vosloo - Born 1962, turns 55 - Actor | Producer
• John Choo - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actor | Producer
• Daniel Bruhl - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actor | Producer   

Saturday 17th June

• Ken Loach - Born 1936, turns 81 - Director | Writer | Producer
• Thomas Haden Church - Born 1960, turns 57 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Greg Kinnear - Born 1963, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Jason Patric - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actor 
• Will Forte - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Singer
• Louis Leterrier - Born 1973, turns 44 - Director | Producer 
• Scott Adkins - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Producer

Kodi Smit-McPhee was born in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia to mother Sonja and father Andy McPhee - an Actor and professional wrestler. Kodi has an older sister, Sianoa, born in early 1992, and she is an Actress, Singer and Songwriter. When the young Kodi was about three years of age the family unit relocated to Melbourne.

Smit-McPhee's debut screen appearance came in the 2006 Stuart McDonald Directed 52 minute short film 'Stranded', and this was followed up by 'Fatal Contact : Bird Flu in America' with Joely Richardson and Stacy Keach. Another short film of fifteen minutes also appeared in 2006 - 'End of Town' and then four episodes on the first and only season of television series 'Monarch Cove', before biographical drama 'The King' about the story of Graham Kennedy, described as Australia's first and greatest home grown television superstar. These in turn led to Smit-McPhee's breakout role at the tender age of ten in the Richard Roxburgh biographical drama 'Romulus, My Father' playing the young son Raimond Gaita to father Romulus (Eric Bana) and mother Christina (Franka Potenta). Smit-McPhee won the Young Actors Award at the 2007 Australian Film Institute Awards, was also nominated for Best Lead Actor, and won a Special Achievement Award at the Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards.  

'The Tender Hook' followed in 2008 with Rose Byrne and Hugo Weaving, and then another awards worthy performance in John Hillcoat's 2009 post-apocalyptic world adventure drama 'The Road' based on the Cormac McCarthy novel and starring alongside Viggo Mortensen, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce and Charlize Theron. 

'Matching Jack' came next in 2010 with Richard Roxburgh, Colin Friels and James Nesbitt. More award wins and nominations followed for his performance in the 2010 Matt Reeves Written and Directed remake of the earlier 2008 Swedish film 'Let the Right One In', with horror mystery 'Let Me In' opposite Chloe Grace Moretz and Richard Jenkins. Aussie drama film 'Dead Europe' followed as did live action/animated Sci-Fi drama film 'The Congress' with Robin Wright, Paul Giamatti, John Hamm, Danny Huston and Harvey Keitel. 'Romeo & Juliet' with Hailee Steinfeld, Damian Lewis, Stellan Skarsgard and Paul Giamatti also arrived at our screens in 2013, as did 'A Birder's Guide to Everything' with Ben Kingsley. 

2014 saw Smit-McPhee work with Matt Reeves again in 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' with Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Toby Kebbell and Keri Russell. The same year also saw 'All the Wilderness' with Danny DeVito, Virginia Madsen and Isabelle Fuhrman, and then Sci-Fi post-drought apocalypse actioner 'Young Ones' with Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult and Elle Fanning. 

Western 'Slow West' as Directed and Written by John Maclean was released in 2015 and also starred Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendelssohn, and this lead into the seven part one hundredth anniversary television drama mini-series special 'Gallipoli' with Smit-McPhee taking a lead role as seventeen year old Thomas 'Tolly' Johnson who lies about his age so that he can enlist in the First World War effort with his brother, and ultimately fight at Gallipoli in the raging, bloody and long drawn out battle that helped create the legend of the ANZAC's.

In 2016 Smit-McPhee starred as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler in Bryan Singer's 'X-Men : Apocalypse' based on the popular and long running film franchise founded on the Marvel Comics characters. This ninth film in the 'X-Men' franchise stars an ensemble cast that you will be well aware of, and took US$544M at the global Box Office. 

Next up for Smit-McPhee is 'The Solutrean' Written and Directed by Albert Hughes and due for release towards the back end of this year. The film tells the survival story set 20,000 years ago during the last Ice Age as a young caveman struggles against the elements to find his way home after a hunting expedition goes awry. 

All up Smit-McPhee has 26 Acting credits to his name, having lent his voice talents also to the animated features 'ParaNorman' and 'Maya the Bee Movie'. He has already amassed three award wins for his performances in 'Romulus, My Father' and 'Let Me In' plus a further 23 nominations. Kodi is now a resident of Los Angeles, California where he lives with this Actress sister. 

Kodi Smit-McPhee - the young lad from Adelaide has done good; just 21 years of age and already has worked with some of the best Acting and Directorial talent in the business, and, has the accolades to prove it; is a star on the rise; in demand and sought after; and has got the talent to work across just about all genres. Happy 21st Birthday to you Kodi, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 13th-19th December 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jake Gyllenhaal does on 19th December - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy, turning 35, 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 December

• Jamie Foxx - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Steve Buscemi - Born 1957, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Christopher Plummer - Born 1929, turns 86 - Actor | Producer
• Dick Van Dyke - Born 1925, turns 90 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Robert Lindsay - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actor

Monday 14th December

• Vijay Amritraj - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Tennis Ace
• Rebecca Gibney - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress | Producer
• Sophie Monk - Born1979, turns 36 - Actress

Tuesday 15th December

• Don Johnson - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actor | Producer
• Alex Cox - Born 1954, turns 61 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Editor

Wednesday 16th December

• Theo James - Born 1984, turns 31 - Actor
• Benjamin Bratt - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actor | Producer
• Shane Black - Born 1961, turns 54 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Ben Cross - Born 1947, turns 68 - Actor
• James Mangold - Born 1963, turns 52 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Miranda Otto - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actress

Thursday 17th December

• Milla Jojovich - Born 1975, turns 40 - Actress | Singer
• Giovanni Ribisi - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actor
• Bill Pullman - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Rian Johnson - Born 1973, turns 42 - Director | Writer
• Eugene Levy - Born 1946, turns 69 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Bernard Hill - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actor

Friday 18th December

• Brad Pitt - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actor | Producer
• Steven Spielberg - Born 1946, turns 69 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor
• Ray Liotta - Born 1954, turns 61 - Actor | Producer
• Steve Austin - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | WWF Wrestler & Ringmaster
• Katie Holmes - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Rachel Griffiths - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actress | Writer

Saturday 19th December 

• Jennifer Beals - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actress | Producer
• Jake Gyllenhaal - Born 1980, turns 35 - Actor | Producer

Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal was born in Los Angeles, California to mother Naomi Achs - a film Producer and Screenwriter and father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, a film Director. He has an older sister - Maggie  - also an acclaimed Actress who is married to Actor Peter Saragaard. His parents divorced in 2009. He has Swedish noble blood running through his veins on his fathers side that dates back to 1652 when the name first appeared, descended from cavalryman Nils Gunnarsson Haal. His mother is of Jewish origin and Gyllenhaal considers himself Jewish. In his early teens he worked as a volunteer at a homeless shelter, as a Summer Holiday lifeguard and as a Busboy is a family friends restaurant - all to keep him grounded given the trappings of a Hollywood lifestyle enjoyed in his privileged upbringing. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in LA in 1998, and then attended Columbia University, but after two years dropped out to concentrate on an acting career.

His acting career started when he was just ten years old starring as Billy Crystal's son in 'City Slickers'. Two years later he starred in 'A Dangerous Woman' as Directed by his father and written for the screen by his mother, and starring alongside his sister with Gabriel Byrne, David Strathairn, Debra Winger and Barbara Hershey. His father would Direct him again in 1998 in 'Homegrown' with John Lithgow, Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria and Jamie Lee Curtis; with Joe Johnston's 'October Sky' in 1999 closing out the decade with Chris Cooper and Laura Dern.

Critical acclaim would come with the first film of the new decade in 2002 with 'Donnie Darko' - set in 1988 Gyllenhaal plays the title character alongside his sister once again, and Patrick Swayze, Drew Barrymore and an eight feet tall menacing white rabbit called Frank. Whilst barely a commercial success, it has subsequently over the years risen to 'cult status'.

A number of teenage romance films followed the forgettable 'Highway' in which he starred with future Oscar winner Jared Leto, and these included 'The Good Girl', 'Lovely and Amazing', and 'Bubble Boy'.

The Roland Emmerich disaster epic 'The Day After Tomorrow' saw Gyllenhaal in the lead role as the Northern Hemisphere freezes over, and in the process grossing a cool US$545M at the Global Box Office. After this there was really no going back, with Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' starring Heath Ledger and winning a swag of awards including Academy Awards, BAFTA's and Golden Globes totalling 122 wins and another 106 nominations from around the traps.





That same year Gyllenhaal also put out 'Proof' with Anthony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow, and the Desert Storm story of 'Jarhead' as Directed by Sam Mendes and starring brother-in-law and good friend Peter Sarsgaard, and Jamie Foxx. Afterwards came the murder mystery thriller for David Fincher, 'Zodiac', about the as yet unsolved serial killings by 'The Zodiac Killer' between December 1968 and October 1969. This was followed up later that year with 'Rendition' in which he co-starred with Peter Sarsgaard once again and Meryl Streep and Reese Witherspoon. The decade drew to a close with 'Brothers' - a wartorn film with Afghanistan as the backdrop with Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman. After this came the movie adaptation of the video game 'Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time' and then the RomCom 'Love and Other Drugs' with Anne Hathaway, for which Gyllenhaal received a Golden Globe nomination.

2012 saw 'End of Watch' - the highly acclaimed LA buddy cop movie starring Michael Pena. In between time there was 'Source Code' for Duncan Jones, and following 'Prisoners' with Hugh Jackman and Paul Dano, and then doppelganger 'Enemy' - the latter two films both Directed by Denis Villeneuve. 'Nightcrawler' was next in 2014 and one of this Reviewers favourite films of that year, with 'Accidental Love', 'Southpaw' and 'Everest' all released earlier this year. Next up is is 'Demolition' in early 2016 with Chris Cooper and Naomi Watts, with 'Nocturnal Animals' in post-production for a 2016 release, and then 'The Current War', 'Stronger', 'Okja' all currently in pre-production, and 'The Man Who Made It Snow' for Antoine Fuqua recently announced.

All up Gyllenhaal has 38 Acting credits and three Producer credits. He has garnered thirty Award wins including the 2006 BAFTA win for 'Brokeback Mountain' and a nomination for 'Nightcrawler' plus two Golden Globe nominations and an Academy Award nomination for 'Brokeback Mountain' too. He has a total 75 nominations all up to date.

Having been raised in the Hollywood Acting community, Paul Newman and Jamie Lee Curtis were/are his Godparents, and he is Godfather to Matilda Rose Ledger, daughter of the late Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams. He has been romantically linked to Kirsten Dunst, Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, and model Alyssa Miller. He is politically active, supporting the Democrats and John Kerry in the past. He is also environmentally active supporting recycling, tree planting, climate change as well as supporting various charities too.

Jake Gyllenhaal - born into the industry and active in it already for 25 of his 35 years; has nobility in his ancestry; the recipient of numerous on-screen and off-screen official and unofficial awards; continues to draw a crowd with a diverse portfolio of work; and just keeps getting better with every role - Happy Birthday to you Jake, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

The Odeon Online Top 20 movies of 2014.

By now you may have read the myriad of other Reviews all citing their top picks from last years film releases that graced our big screens and pulled us out to our local cinemas, and, there was plenty to choose from! The list below complied from my own Reviews from 2014 are a real mix of Hollywood mainstream, Aussie independents, and those that flew under the radar and may have only had a limited release. Some of these are still on general release and many now will be available for you to rent or buy and watch in the comfort of your own home. If you missed some of these first time around, then I recommend all of these to you, and reference this list when you are wondering what to watch one night with a pizza and a beer!

Enjoy the movies, and thanks for watching in 2014, for keeping cinema alive, and thanks especially for taking note of what I had to say at Odeon Online! There will be more great stuff coming your way in 2015.

'THE WOLF OF WALL STREET' - Scorsese, DiCaprio and Hill in top form in this telling of Jordan Belfort's life of excess and the trapping of his Wall Street wealth. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 19th January 2014.

'ALL IS LOST' - Robert Redford has rarely been better in this almost dialogue free film of his stricken yacht mid-ocean. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 12th March 2014.

'THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL' - Wes Anderson delivers a delightful quirky tale of a decaying hotel, its owner, its Concierge and their history when the Hotel was at it's height - all supported by an ensemble cast delivery the goods, and then some! Awarded five claps and reviewed on 13th April 2014.

'CALVARY' - Brendan Gleeson, catholic church, west coast of Ireland, threat of murder, sins of the past - gripping, harrowing and brilliant! Awarded five claps and reviewed on 4th July 2014.

'PREDESTINATION' - Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook Directed by the Spierig Brothers and shot in Melbourne - a gripping time travel masterpiece with a difference. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 4th September 2014.

'BOYHOOD' - Richard Linklater's opus shot over 12 years tracing the unfolding life of young Mason acted out by new emerging talent Ellar Coltrane, with Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette adding weight as his separated parents each carving out new lives but still glued together through young Mason. A surprising and delightful fly-on-the-wall fictionalised telling of growing up in the early 21st century. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 21st September 2014.

'INTERSTELLAR' - Chris Nolan delivering this years big space epic with stunning visuals, solid story, some mind bending ideas and Matthew McConaughey searching in a galaxy far far away for a planet that humankind can reside on. A must see on the big screen. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 13th November 2014.

'NIGHTCRAWLER' - Jake Gyllenhaal delivering possibly a career best capitalising upon others misfortune as he films murder, violence and crime for the sake of television news ratings, his back pocket and his own social standing. Gripping story telling, expertly delivered. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 4th December 2014.

'12 YEARS A SLAVE' - Steve McQueen Directed Chiwetel Ejiofor in this Oscar winning film of 1850's southern states slavery that is horrific, powerful and uplifting at the same time. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 6th February 2014.

'DALLAS BUYERS CLUB' - Matthew McConaughey nailed the Oscar for this in his real life depiction of HIV sufferer Ron Woodroof with expert support too from Jared Leto . . . and AZT! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 19th February 2014.

'EDGE OF TOMORROW' - live, die, repeat - Tom 

Cruise actioner with Emily Blunt reliving a single day over & over to advance just a little further to thwart an alien enemy foe on the Normandy Beaches in the not too distant future. Surprisingly good, very entertaining and the Cruisemeister on top form. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 11th June 2014.

'THE ROVER' - near future Aussie outback thriller with Guy Pearce chasing down some villains who nicked his car . . . but why? With Robert Pattinson this is as simple story very well told that will keep you guessing right up to to the closing frames. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 18th June 2014.

'X-MEN : DAYS OF FUTURE PAST' - I was very pleasantly surprised by this film in this successful Superhero franchise that brings together great action set pieces, a strong cast now well established in their roles and Bryan Singer back in the Director's chair. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 24th June 2014.

'DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES' - a rare thing that this sequel surpassed it's recent predecessor in the reboot of this 60's film & TV franchise. This is Andy Serkis' film and he delivers an outstanding mocap performance as Caesar, now grown and the head honcho of his ever growing colony of apes - but he has divided loyalties that are soon put to the test as he clashes with the remaining vestiges of humanity struggling to survive. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 17th July 2014.

'THESE FINAL HOURS' - it's the end of the world as we know it and the residents of Western Australia have 12 hours to go before they and the earth is burned to a crisp in a global firestorm. What would you do with your last 12 hours? Original, thought provoking and scary stuff - an impressive film delivered on a minuscule budget. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 3rd August 2014.

'A MOST WANTED MAN' - a tight, taught spy thriller that delivers on many levels - not the least that it is one of Philip Seymour Hoffman's final performances and a must see for this reason alone . . . and he is very good too! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 6th August 2014.

'SNOWPIERCER' - the first English language feature for this Korean Director Bong Joon-ho set aboard a future perpetual motion train on which exists all that survives of humanity in a snow covered world. A gripping story of the haves and the have-nots, the rich and the poor, the healthy and the suffering who reside on the one kilometre long train. Should have had a wider release that it did! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 13th August 2014.

'FELONY' - Joel Edgerton wrote, Produced and stars in this present day police drama that tells of the consequences we face and the impact on others of decisions made quickly and the web of lies and deception that invariably follows. A strong script, solid cast, great acting and a thrilling ride. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 11th September 2014.

'GONE GIRL' - David Fincher Directing with Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as the fractured couple whose seemingly idyllic lives are not quite what they seem, and when the wife goes missing the finger of suspicion points at the husband who stoically maintains his innocence 0 but is he telling the truth? Awarded four claps and reviewed on 10th October 2014.

'THE HOBBIT : THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES' - Peter Jackson's epic story telling that began with the 'LOTR' series 15 years ago comes to a fitting and spectacular end with this the final instalment in 'THE HOBBIT' series. You know the story - just get out there and see it on the big screen! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 31st December 2014.

20 great films that I recommend to you, and you can read the full Reviews of all of these by scrolling down through the archive column or key in the name of the film in to the search box. Let me know your thoughts and if you agree or disagree, or have some other views. Share your thoughts in the Comments box below.

Enjoy your movies, and see as many as you can in 2015!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

NIGHTCRAWLER - Wednesday 3rd December 2014.

As an Actor, I like Jake Gyllenhaal, and I think he is amassing a fine body of work that takes in 'Donny Darko', 'Source Code', 'Brokeback Mountain', 'Zodiac', last years 'Prisoners' and now 'NIGHTCRAWLER' which I saw last night. This is Directed by first timer Dan Gilroy, who is not new to the world of big screen entertainment having written 'The Bourne Legacy', 'Two for the Money' 'Real Steel' and the Screenplay for this film too amongst others. As a first outing in the Director's chair, Gilroy can be very proud of his achievement putting together a taught, tense thriller that delivers on many levels - not the least of which is in the story itself and more notably the outstanding performance of his star - Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role. Made for just US$8.5M it has already taken over US$35M at the global Box Office at the time of writing.

The story centres around Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) who when we are introduced to him is stealing scrap metal for on selling to a merchant. In the process we see him overcome a Security Guard and rob him of his expensive looking wrist watch. He asks the scrap metal merchant for a job but is told they don't hire 'thieves' even though the merchant buys his (stolen) wares. He later steals a very expensive road racing bicycle which he moves on at a pawn shop, and this is how Lou Bloom makes his money - living day to day hand to mouth in a very modest apartment on the outskirts of LA. We know nothing of his back story, and it's not important. We can assume however, that he is a loner cobbling together a very meagre existence.

One evening while driving home on the freeway he pulls over at the scene of a horrific car accident, where two Police Officers are frantically pulling a woman out of wrecked blazing car. This accident is being filmed by two hungry news hounds - one of which is Joe Loder (Bill Paxton) capturing footage of the car wreck and its aftermath from every angle. The next morning this scene of devastation is being blurted out in graphic detail on the early morning TV news, and so a plan is hatched by Lou Bloom that this is a world too in which he could excel and start-up with minimal investment. And so, using the funds from the pawn shop and store credits from the sale of the road bike - he secures a camcorder and a Police Scanner and is in business!

That night tuning into the Police frequencies he gets the early heads up on motor vehicle accidents, crime scenes, shootings, stabbings, fires, murders, attacks and drug busts and quickly races off to be amongst the first at the scene to capture as much of the death, destruction, blood and violence as he can for the local TV channels who are hungry for such 'exclusive' footage. After initially stumbling through his video capture efforts he becomes more savvy and astute and gets to the scene either before or at the same time as his competitor Joe Loder who has been 'night crawling' for 14 years and is a veteran - telling Lou in passing that 'if it bleeds, it leads'!

Having some early success he begins selling his nightly video footage to a local TV channel, and forging a working relationship with morning news Director Nina Romina (Rene Russo), who pay him on the spot for worthy footage. He wants to take the relationship much further he tells her over a Mexican dinner one evening that will leave you cold as his diatribe spews forth, but she is having none of it! As the story progresses Lou gets more adept at searching out the more newsworthy incidents, and so his success grows. He buys a new fast car, invests in new camera equipment, Police Scanners, GPS and has already taken on an Assistant, Rick (Riz Ahmed) a young almost homeless guy desperate for money who accepts a wage of $30 a night cash oblivious to the dangers involved - much to his chagrin later on.

Lou has big plans for his fledgling business given the success he is garnering and his sometimes unscrupulous tactics at securing his footage. He is not afraid to manipulate crime scenes or the scene of an accident to accentuate the drama and spectacle for the viewers - for he knows that this gains viewers, improves the ratings, makes him more bankable and more powerful with the TV channels. Lou is very well spoken, chooses his words wisely, is confident, brash and not backward and coming forward. He is also cold, calculating, creepy and slightly unhinged and he goes through his personal and new found business life with an icy determination, a steely resolve and an almost win at all costs commitment - which we see in all its glory as his big news story comes to a very graphic conclusion.

The story is fast paced and Gyllenhaal as our anti-hero delivers what could be described as a career defining performance. He shed 20lbs in weight for this role and despite his gaunt, drawn and wiry physical presence he more than balances this with his disturbing thought processes, wide piercing eyes, articulate dexterity and acutely serious but slightly comedic persona that in many lines of well written dialogue is edgy, sinister and disturbing.

With our ever increasing insatiable appetite for true crime, murder, mishaps, mayhem, incidents, accidents, violence and death delivered almost instantly to our TV screens and across the Internet, this film delivers an insight told chillingly and thrillingly about those who curb that appetite and quench our thirst for more telling headlines and graphic images above the feel good news stories that increasingly fade into the background, and occupy less column inches and screen time. One of the films of the year!

    

-Steve, at Odeon Online-