Birthday's to share this week : 5th - 11th February 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Damian Lewis does on 11th February - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 46, 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 5th February

• Michael Mann - Born 1943, turns 74 - Director | Producer | Writer | Cameraman
• Tom Wilkinson - Born 1948, turns 69 - Actor
• Michael Sheen - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Producer
• Tony Jaa - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Stuntman
• Charlotte Rampling - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actress
• Barbara Hershey - Born 1948, turns 69 - Actress
• Jennifer Jason Leigh - Born 1962, turns 55 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director
• Laura Linney - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actress | Producer

Monday 6th February

• Gail Hunnicutt - Born 1943, turns 74 - Actress
• Jim Sheridan - Born 1949, turns 68 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Dane DeHaan - Born 1986, turns 31 - Actor  

Tuesday 7th February

• James Spader - Born 1960, turns 57 - Actor | Producer
• Eddie Izzard - Born 1962, turns 55 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Chris Rock - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Ashton Kutcher - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer  

Wednesday 8th February

• John Williams - Born 1932, turns 85 - Composer | Musician | Songwriter
• Nick Nolte - Born 1941, turns 76 - Actor | Producer
• Seth Green - Born 1974, turns 43 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer
• Mary Steenbergen - Born 1953, turns 64 - Actress | Producer | Singer | Songwriter  

Thursday 9th February

• Mia Farrow - Born 1945, turns 72 - Actress
• Joe Pesci - Born 1943, turns 74 - Actor
• Ciaran Hinds - Born 1953, turns 64 - Actor
• Tom Hiddleston - Born 1981, turns 36 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Michael B. Jordan - Born 1987, turns 30 - Actor   

Friday 10th February

• Robert Wagner - Born 1930, turns 87 - Actor | Producer
• Michael Apted - Born 1941, turns 76 - Director | Producer
• Alexander Payne - Born 1961, turns 56 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Laura Dern - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actress | Producer | Writer 
• Elizabeth Banks - Born 1974, turns 43 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Emma Roberts - Born 1991, turns 26 - Actress
• Chloe Grace Moretz - Born 1997, turns 20 - Actress 

Saturday 11th February

• Jennifer Aniston - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Burt Reynolds - Born 1936, turns 81 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer
• Damian Lewis - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor
• Taylor Lautner - Born 1992, turns 25 - Actor

Damian Watcyn Lewis was born in St. John's Wood, London, England to mother Charlotte Bowater and father John Watcyn Lewis a City of London Lloyd's Insurance Broker. His Grandfather on his mothers side was a Lord Mayor of London from 1969 to 1970 - Sir Ian Bowater. He was educated at the independent co-educational prep school Ashdown House in East Sussex and then the prestigious Eton College. He made his mind up to pursue an acting career at age sixteen, and he attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London from which he graduated in 1993. From there he worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company as a stage actor appearing in various plays by Shakespeare and Ibsen. Growing up he would often visit relatives in the USA during the English Summer holiday period.

He gained his first small screen role in the made for television film 'Micky Love' with Rik Mayall in the title role and also with Alan Cumming and Peter Capaldi. This led to one-off appearances on television series 'Agatha's Christie's Poirot', 'A Touch of Frost' and 'Life Force' seeing out the '90's, but not before his big screen debut in 'Robinson Crusoe' with Pierce Brosnan in the lead role. The early new decade saw eight episodes on 'Hearts and Bones' and then all ten episodes on the highly acclaimed WWII action drama series 'Band of Brothers'. Following this came the Stephen King adaptation of 'Dreamcatcher' in 2003 Directed by Lawrence Kasdan and starring Morgan Freeman, Timothy Olyphant, Tom Sizemore and Donnie Wahlberg.

'The Forsyte Saga' saw Lewis play Soames Forsyte in this television mini-series that spanned ten episodes chronicling three generations of an upper-middle class English family from 1870 through to 1920. 'Keane', 'Brides' and 'Chromophobia' came next with the latter also starring Ralph Fiennes, Ian Holm, Rhys Ifans, Ben Chaplin, Kristen Scott Thomas and Penelope Cruz in 2005. The two part mini-series of four British POW escaping from a German Prison Camp during WWII 'Colditz' saw Lewis star alongside Tom Hardy, Timothy West, Jason Priestly and James Fox. 

'An Unfinished Life' for Director Lasse Hallstrom saw Lewis co-star with Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas and Jennifer Lopez, before 2006's 'Alex Rider : Operation Stormbreaker' with an all star line up that also included Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Fry, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy, Mickey Rourke, Andy Serkis and Alicia Silverstone. 'The Situation', 'The Baker', 'The Escapist' came before a return to television with his role as Charlie Crews across two seasons and 32 episodes of 'Life' which saw his wrongly imprisoned police officer character freed and returned to the force after serving time.

Historical fantasy adventure offering 'Your Highness' came next in 2011 with all star line up comprising the likes of Charles Dance, James Franco, Danny McBride, Justin Theroux, Toby Jones, Natalie Portman and Zooey Deschanel and made back just over half its production budget receiving largely negative Reviews along the way. That same year came along 'Homeland' which Lewis headlined along with Claire Danes in which a bipolar CIA Agent becomes convinced that an American POW has been turned by al-Queda and plans to carry out a terrorist attack on American turf. Lewis starred in the first 37 episodes with the series continuing after his departure. The show was a huge hit garnering 54 award wins and another 155 nominations including Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy wins and nominations for Lewis's portrayal of US Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody. 'Will' and TV Movie 'Stolen' also were released in 2011.

2012 saw the hard hitting London Metropolitan Police Flying Squad drama film based on the classic 1970's British television series 'The Sweeney' with Ray Winstone, Plan B, and Hayley Atwell. The film received very mixed Reviews and lacklustre Box Office receipts. The next year brought another adaptation of 'Romeo & Juliet', followed by 'The Silent Storm', then American Civil War mini-series 'To Appomattox' with Lewis playing William T. Sherman, the renowned General serving the Union Army. Werner Herzog's Bio-pic of Gertrude Bell's life 'Queen of the Desert' came next in 2015 with Nicole Kidman in the lead role as Bell, with James Franco, Robert Pattinson and Jenny Agutter also starring.

Acclaimed middle-ages historical drama 'Wolf Hall' followed with Mark Rylance in the lead role as Thomas Cromwell - chief adviser to the court of King Henry VIII as played by Lewis. The BBC 2 mini-series which ran for six episodes received eleven award wins and a further 41 nominations and also starred Claire Foy, Bernard Hill, Tom Holland and Jonathan Pryce.

'Bill' and 'Our Kind of Traitor' bring us up to date in terms of film roles with television drama series 'Billions' based on an ambitious and hugely successful hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Lewis) and Charles Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) as the ruthless US Attorney who has a disliking for wealthy criminals who attempt to buy their way out of justice, as Axelrod is seemingly doing. The show has so far ran for just one season of twelve episodes, with Season Two premiering in the US later this month.

Next up on the film front is 'Ocean's Eight' for Director Gary Ross. A spin off of the successful 'Oceans 11, 12 and 13' film franchise this has the Ocean's team being all female led by Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock - and Danny Ocean's estranged sister) with her crew comprising Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter and Rihanna with Lewis playing chief villain in the piece, Debbie's ex-lover and the subject of the gang's daring heist. The film will also star Matt Damon, James Cordon, Richard Armitage and a bunch of cameo appearances. It is due for release in June 2018.

All up Lewis has five award wins including a Golden Globe for 'Homeland' and a further 28 nominations. He has 42 Acting credits to his name  and two as Producer. He married Actress Helen McCrory in 2007 and together that have a daughter Manon (born in 2006) and a son Gulliver (Born in 2007). In 2010 he became a Trade Justice Ambassador for Christian Aid and in 2014 HRH Queen Elizabeth II awarded Lewis an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in her Birthday Honours List for services to the world of British drama film and television.

Damian Lewis - was invited to dine at the Whitehouse with President Barack Obama on the strength of 'Homeland'; was mentioned briefly as the next Bond, James Bond; has a flawless American accent and is often cast as an American despite being English; plays the guitar, keyboard, golf and soccer and has represented his country in celebrity tournaments of both sports. A growing body of work as much on the small screen as on the big screen, more and more in demand, and already critically applauded for numerous performances - Happy Birthday to you Damian, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

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

In the last few weeks I have brought you a number of Box Office statistics, and so wrapping up this mini-series I have concluded with a look at Australian home grown films and how these have fared, stood the test of time and what the Aussie's have flocked to see in the very recent past and further down the track. Having secured the below data from Screen Australia, the Top 10 Aussie films of all time as of today, and how these performed at the Australian Box Office are these :-

• 'Crocodile Dundee' - released in 1986 and launching Paul Hogan's film career as outback Mick Dundee - AU$47.7M 
• 'Australia' - released in 2008 by Director Baz Luhrmann giving us an epic WWII Australian history lesson - AU$37.6M
• 'Babe' - released in 1995 about a talking piglet named Babe down on the farm - AU$36.8M
• 'Happy Feet' - released in 2006 by Director George Miller about animated song & dance penguins - AU$31.8M
• 'Moulin Rouge' - released in 2001 by Director Baz Luhrmann about the infamous Parisian nightspot at the turn of the 20th Century - AU$27.7M
• 'The Great Gatsby' - released in 2013 by Director Baz Luhrmann based on the famed F. Scott Fitzgerald novel of 1920's New York and the life of one multi-millionaire Jay Gatsby and those around him - AU$27.4M
• 'Crocodile Dundee II' - released in 1988 and the second instalment for Paul Hogan as our unlikely outback hero - AU$24.9M
• 'Strictly Ballroom' - released in 1992 by Director Baz Luhrmann a story of more unconventional ballroom dancing - AU$21.8M
• 'Mad Max : Fury Road' - released in 2015 by Director George Miller this fourth instalment in the post-apocalyptic franchise that introduced the world to Max Rockatansky back in 1979 - AU$21.7M
• 'Red Dog' - released in 2011 this true story of a dogs love and devotion in the Australian outback mining region around Dampier - AU$21.5M. 

What this shows is that even after thirty years 'Crocodile Dundee' remains in the #1 spot and by a significant margin, with its sequel performing half as well but in the #7 place nonetheless.  This also shows that Baz Luhrmann is a force to be reckoned with four Top Box Office films in the Top 10 with George Miller's two. Those other notable films that sit below are 'The Dressmaker' at #11, 'The Dish' at #12, 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' at #14, Russell Crowe's 'The Water Diviner' at #15, Mel Gibson's 1981 war time classic 'Gallipoli' at #22, perennial Aussie favourite and often quoted 'The Castle' at #29, the pianist extraordinaire David Helfgott bio-pic 'Shine' at #30, the Heath Ledger bio-pic of 19th Century Aussie bush ranger outlaw 'Ned Kelly' at #35, outback Aussie  slasher horror 'Wolf Creek' at #48 and criminal underworld bio-pic of Mark Read 'Chopper' at #49 that launched the film career of Eric Bana. For the full listing of the Top 100, go to the Screen Australia website.

For the coming week then we have five new movies to tempt you out to your local Odeon, and for a mere $21 what better value way is there to spend your afternoon or evening? Kicking off we have a 21st Century all female reboot of a much loved critically acclaimed and commercially successful two movie franchise from the 80's centering around a bunch of hapless yet loveable ghost hunters and collectors. Then a story of love and loss and how a man has to tear apart the life he knew (literally) before he can rebuild and move on; with a modern day British spy drama following and penned by one of the best that sees an unsuspecting couple caught up in a web of intrigue as they chase across Europe with MI6 and the Russian mob hot on their tails. These are followed up with a unique and cleverly written story that sees a desperate mans salvation thanks to a dead man and how even a washed up corpse can have its uses; and then we wrap up with a nostalgic trip down an Irish memory lane to the 80's and a film of New Romantics, big hair, wide lapels, heavily synthed music and the dreams and aspirations of a young school lad desperately out to prove himself.

When you have been entertained by your film of choice in the week ahead, feel free to drop a line with your critique in the Comments section below this or any other Post - your fellow readers would love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

'GHOSTBUSTERS' (Rated PG) : the original 'Ghostbusters' film was released in 1984 and was Directed and Produced by Ivan Reitman, Written by Dan Aykroyd who also starred as Ray Stanz, and starred Harold Ramis as Egon Spengler and Bill Murray as Peter Venkmen - making up the threesome of parapsychologists, ghost hunters and spectre busters. That film was made for US$30M and returned US$295M and was also a critical success having been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Ray Parker Jnr's. signature tune as Best Original Song. Based on this success 'Ghostbusters II' was released in 1989 with the same cast reprising their roles for US$37M and returning US$215M. During its time there were also two animated television series, a number of video game releases, a comic book adaptation, merchandise, and the film has seen several cinematic re-releases in more recent years. And now, in 2016, we have a reboot for a whole new audience, but this time with a budget of US$144M, and Paul Feig in the Directors chair, with Ivan Reitman Co-Producing, with both Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd appearing in cameo roles.

Here we have an all female cast of ghost hunters and catchers continuing the work laid out by Stanz, Venkman and Spengler 30 years ago and still in Noo Yawk City. This time, paranormal researcher Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and physicist Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) are largely unsuccessful and uncared about authors who believe that ghosts are real and are among us in everyday society. Fast track a few years and Gilbert lands a job at Columbia University and when her book resurfaces unexpectedly, she is laughed out of class and out of a job. However, when ghosts of all descriptions manifest themselves in Manhattan - who ya gonna call? When the two authors reunite, they do so with nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) and subway worker Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) who knows the city inside out upside down and every which way. Armed with their trusty upgraded proton packs, our new team of Ghostbusters need to prepare themselves and their city for an epic ectoplasmic battle as Times Square becomes the meeting point for a thousand or more evil spectres, devilish ghouls and mischievous phantoms. Chris Hemsworth, Andy Garcia, Charles Dance, and Neil Casey also star. The film has so far divided audiences and critics.

'DEMOLITION' (Rated M) - I saw an early screening of this film as part of the Sydney Film Festival this year, on Wednesday 15th June, so for more, go to Blog Post #497 for the full coverage of this latest Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper offering as Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.

'OUR KIND OF TRAITOR' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Susanna White and based on the 2010 John le Carre novel of the same name, this is another spy game drama of intrigue, espionage, secrets and lies set in modern day recession gripped Britain. Involving a Russian oligarch and money launderer Dima (Stellan Skarsgard) who befriends and persuades British holidaying couple Perry Makepeice (Ewen McGregor) and Gail Perkins (Naomi Harris) in Marrakech, Morocco to deliver a package containing incriminating evidence to MI6 Agent Hector (Damien Lewis). This sets off a chain of events where not everything is quite what it seems that takes our out of their depth couple to Paris, Berlin, a safe house in the French Alps and then London's murky underworld as they seek to deliver very classified information to the British Secret Service and a very determined and ruthless Agent Hector. Also starring Jeremy Northam and Grigoriy Dobrygin who starred too in the 2014 le Carre adaptation 'A Most Wanted Man'.

'SWISS ARMY MAN' (Rated M) - Written and Directed by 'The Daniels' - Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for just US$3M this is their first full length feature film following a career established on short films, commercials and music videos, and with this offering they have caused quite a stir - for all the right reasons. Essentially, the film surrounds two men - one living one dead - the former Hank (Paul Dano) has been stranded on a desert island for sometime in the Pacific Northwest and with no sign of any rescue is about to hang himself. When, out of nowhere washes up a corpse of a blue suited man whom he eventually calls Manny (Daniel Radcliffe). Manny it appears has a number of unusual supernatural powers that Hank believes may just be his ticket outta Dodge - which include a seemingly endless dose of flatulence, which Hank harnesses to ride Manny across the ocean wave like a jet-ski back to land and civilisation. When he does reach the mainland however, he is still a long way from civilisation, and so begins a trek through the wilderness where Hank learns to use Manny's particular set of skills like a Swiss Army Knife. Taking us from the sublime to the ridiculous, the sentimental to the emotional, and the absurd to the profound this original film shows how one mans salvation can come from the most unlikely and twisted of places.

'SING STREET' (Rated M) - Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Irish indie film and television Writer/Director John Carney this is a tribute to growing up in the 80's with a back drop of inner-city Dublin a struggling family and the impact of financial decisions that means young Conor Lalor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) must move from his expensive fee paying school to a free state school to see out his education. Pretty soon after starting and having already caught the ire of school Principal Brother Baxter (Don Wycherley), Conor meets Raphina (Lucy Boynton) and off the cuff in order to impress here states that he is looking for a model to start in his next music video for his bands next release single. The problem is that Conor is not making a music video, does not have a pending single release, and nor does he have a band, or can sing or play a musical instrument. But these are just minor hurdles to be overcome in the course of true love, and so Conor sets about forming a band and before long are writing their own material. Meanwhile Conor's (stage name adapted to 'Cosmo') parents marriage is failing, and his relationship with Raphia is growing by the day as they share dreams of escaping to London to make their fame & fortune. With a thumping nostalgic 80's soundtrack including Duran Duran, The Cure, The Jam, Joe Jackson, Hall & Oates, M and Motorhead as well as a number of 'original' 80's songs performed by Cosmo's band 'Sing Street' this is an uplifting, feel good charming tale of hopes, dreams and optimism.

Five films for the coming week once again offering almost something for everyone giving you little excuse not to get out to your local movie theatre for a dose of cinematic entertainment. Share your thoughts here at this Blog when you have done so, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-