Birthday's to share this week : 19th March - 25th March 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Edgar Ramirez does on 25th March - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 40, 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 19th March

• Ursula Andress - Born 1936, turns 81 - Actress
• Glenn Close - Born 1947, turns 70 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Harvey Weinstein - Born 1952, turns 65 - Producer | Director | Writer
• Bruce Willis - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Singer  

Monday 20th March

• Carl Reiner - Born 1922, turns 95 - Director | Producer | Actor | Writer
• William Hurt - Born 1950, turns 67 - Actor
• Spike Lee - Born 1957, turns 60 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• David Thewlis - Born 1963, turns 54 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Michael Rappaport - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Holly Hunter - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actress | Producer
• Ruby Rose - Born 1986, turns 31 - Actress

Tuesday 21st March

• Rosie O'Donnell - Born 1962, turns 55 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Timothy Dalton - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actor
• Gary Oldman - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Matthew Broderick - Born 1962, turns 55 - Actor | Producer | Director | Singer
• Scott Eastwood - Born 1986, turns 31 - Actor | Producer  

Wednesday 22nd March

• William Shatner - Born 1931, turns 86 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• M. Emmet Walsh - Born 1935, turns 82 - Actor
• Bruno Ganz - Born 1941, turns 76 - Actor
• Matthew Modine - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Director | Cinematographer
• Reese Witherspoon - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actress | Producer | Singer   

Thursday 23rd March

• Amanda Plummer - Born 1957, turns 60 - Actress
• Catherine Keener - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actress | Producer
• Michelle Monaghan - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actress | Producer
• Jaume Collet-Serra - Born 1974, turns 43 - Director | Producer
• Daniel Espinosa - Born 1977, turns 40 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Friday 24th March

• Patrick Malahide - Born 1945, turns 72 - Actor | Writer
• Jim Parsons - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actor | Producer
• Kelly LeBrock - Born 1960, turns 57 - Actress
• Lara Flynn Boyle - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress | Producer
• Jessica Chastain - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actress | Producer
• Keisha Castle-Hughes - Born 1990, turns 27 - Actress 

Saturday 25th March

• Sarah Jessica Parker - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actress | Producer | Singer 
• Paul Michael Glaser - Born 1943, turns 74 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Edgar Ramirez - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actor | Producer
• Lee Pace - Born 1979, turns 38 - Actor

Edgar Filiberto Ramirez Arellano was born in San Cristobal, Tachira, Venezuela, South America to mother Soday Arellano, a lawyer, and father Filbert Ramirez, an officer in the military service. He graduated from the Andres Bello Catholic University - a private and one of the largest universities in Venezuela, with its main campus in Caracas, in 1999 with a degree in mass communication. He had intended to pursue a career in international relations, and whilst at university he worked as a would-be journalist, reporting mainly on politics. He then became an Executive Director of 'Dale al Voto' - a foundation in Venezuela set up to engage and build the political understanding and reach of young people. For this, Ramirez and his team created campaigns that would appear on radio, television and in cinema. He also took charge of international promotions for the Viart Film Festival - a short film festival held in Caracas open to all students from Spanish speaking countries. Around about that time, Screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga was invited to attend the Viart Film Festival, and he saw Ramirez work in a short film being presented. He was so impressed that he offered Ramirez the chance to audition for 'Amores Perros' which he declined. The film Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu went on to international acclaim. Hindsight is a wonderful thing! At this point Ramirez decided to reignite his interest in an acting career.

During the '90's Ramirez appeared sporadically in a number of television and film roles locally in Venezuela - kicking off with short lived television series 'Cuando Ilega el amor' in 1990, then 'Aqui esp-p-pantan', a horror fantasy comedy from 1993 involving ghosts terrorising a young couple who have recently moved into their house, and this was followed up in 1999 by '. . . sol y lluvia' about a young Venezuelan woman's dreams and aspirations of becoming Miss Venezuela. 2002 saw 'Plan B' a Venezuelan action crime drama in which Ramirez gained his first lead role. In 2003 he followed this up with a string of appearances on the romantic drama telenovela 'Cosita Rica' which ran from 2003 through 2004 for a total 270 episodes. In 2003 there was also Christmas drama 'Yotama se va volando', and then 'A Dot and a Line' the following year,

2005 saw Ramirez break into the Hollywood scene with his appearance in Tony Scott's 'Domino' inspired by the bounty hunting exploits of Domino Harvey, with Keira Knightley in the lead role, with Mickey Rourke, Delroy Lindo, Lucy Liu, Christopher Walken, Jacqueline Bisset, Mo'Nique and Ramirez as Choco - Domino's love interest. In 2006 he appeared in action crime offering 'El Don' and then Mexican film 'Elipsis' with Ramirez in the lead role once more.




The following year saw Ramirez appear alongside Matt Damon in the hugely successful Jason Bourne series in 'The Bourne Ultimatum', Directed by Paul Greengrass, in the role of Paz, a Blackbriar assassin, and later that same year in 'Cyrano Fernandez' in the lead role in this romantic action drama offering loosely based on the French play 'Cyrano de Bergerac'. The year after, 2008, he appeared in Steven Soderbergh's 'Che' - the biopic of the Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto 'Che' Guevara with Benicio del Toro in the title role, and Ramirez appearing with an all star cast as Ciro Redondo (a Cuban revolutionary who fought amongst Ché Guevara). 'Vantage Point' followed that same year with again an all star cast including William Hurt, Matthew Fox, Forest Whittaker, Dennis Quaid and Sigourney Weaver, with Ramirez cast as Javier, an ex-special forces soldier forced to kidnap the American President in order to get his brother back.

Ramirez saw the decade out with his turn as 'Carlos' about the life of the 1970's Venezuelan revolutionary Carlos the Jackal (Ilich Ramírez Sánchez), covering his first series of attacks in 1973 until his arrest in 1994. This highly acclaimed three part mini-series which ran out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010 for its full five and half hour run time, garnered many award wins and nominations along the way, including Best Actor Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, and SAG nods for Ramirez and multiple wins too, including France's Cesar Award for Most Promising Actor.

Up next in 2011 was Colombian vengeance action drama 'Greetings to the Devil', followed by the sequel to 2010's 'Clash of the Titans' with 'Wrath of the Titans' in which Ramirez plays Ares, the God of War, alongside Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Toby Kebbel, Bill Nighy and Rosamund Pike. French film 'An Open Heart' was next in 2012 with Juliette Binoche, before his turn in Kathryn Bigelow's multiple award winning 'Zero Dark Thirty' with Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong and James Gandolfini.

2013 saw Ramirez star in Venezuelan historical biopic 'The Liberator' - the story of Simon Bolivar as portrayed by Ramirez, who fought in over one hundred battles against the Spanish Empire in South America, rode over seventy thousand miles on horseback in the process and his military campaigns covered twice the territory of Alexander the Great. He never once conquered in battle, instead, he liberated, believing in freedom for all! Working with Director Ridley Scott came next in 'The Counsellor' with Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Brad Pitt, Bruno Ganz, Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz, and then 'Deliver Us from Evil' for Director Scott Derrickson with Eric Bana playing real life New York Police Officer Ralph Sarchie investigating a number of paranormal crimes who joins forces with Ramirez Mendoza character - a somewhat unconventional Priest versed in the way of exorcism and demonic possession.

Extreme sport crime drama actioner remake of the classic Kathryn Bigelow 'Point Break' opened 2016, with Ramirez playing the Bodhi character previously portrayed by Patrick Swayze, with Luke Bracey playing Johnny Utah as played by a young Keanu Reeves back in 1991. The film received less that favourable Reviews generally and made US$134M from its US$105M budget outlay. David O'Russell's biographical dramedy 'Joy' followed with Jennifer Lawrence as Joy Mangano the inventor of the miracle mop, Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper with Ramirez playing Tony Miranne, Joy's ex-husband.

'Hands of Stone' was released last year with Ramirez playing Panamanian former professional boxer Roberto Duran. The film received a fifteen minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival last year, but this and Robert De Niro, John Turturro, Usher and Ellen Barkin also starring wasn't enough to save it from mixed critical Reviews and poor Box Office taking back just a quarter of its US$20M budget. Also last year came 'The Girl on the Train' with Emily Blunt and most recently 'Gold' with Matthew McConaughey bringing us up to date.



Next up for Ramirez is Sci-Fi crime fantasy 'Bright' for Director David Ayer and with Will Smith, Joel Edgerton and Noomi Rapace due later this year, then 'Love Child' for Director Todd Solondz with Penelope Cruz, and then television true crime series 'American Crime Story' with Ramirez set to play Gianni Versace in Season Three. Recently announced for 2018 is the pilot season for 'Black or White, Never Grey' running over thirteen episodes of the crime drama offering set in 1989.

Ramirez supports the 'Don't Shoot' campaign for Amnesty International which strives to eliminate the number of injuries and deaths caused by the irresponsible use of guns. He also took part in '5 Senses of Action' - an organisation which benefits children with special needs, and he has acted as the United Nations Children's Fund Goodwill Ambassador in the past too. All up Ramirez has 34 acting credits to his name and five as Producer. He has eleven award wins and a further ten nominations including Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy and SAG nods for 'Carlos'.

Edgar Ramirez - fluent in five languages - Spanish, English, French, Italian and German; had his US$150K watch collection stolen from his home in Caracas; has a deep fascination with human nature and all its virtues and flaws; is disciplined, structured, organised; believes in God, kindness and love; and is able to channel his personal feelings and beliefs into the roles he portrays with a convincing realism. Happy 40th Birthday to you Edgar, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 21st - 27th February 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Teresa Palmer does on 26th February - 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 21st February

• William Baldwin - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer
• William Petersen - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actor | Producer
• Anthony Daniels - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor | Producer
• Kelsey Grammer - Born 1955, turns 61 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Jennifer Love Hewitt - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actress | Producer | Director

Monday 22nd February

• Drew Barrymore - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Julie Walters - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actress
• Nigel Planer - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actor | Writer
• Jonathan Demme - Born 1944, turns72 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Kyle MacLachlan - Born1959, turns 57 - Actor

Tuesday 23rd February

• Peter Fonda - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Dakota Fanning - Born 1994, turns 22 - Actress
• Emily Blunt - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actress

Wednesday 24th February

• O'Shea Jackson Jnr. - Born 1991, turns 25 - Actor
• Edward James Olmos - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Dennis Waterman - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actor | Singer
• Billy Zane - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Director

Thursday 25th February

• Neil Jordan - Born 1950, turns 66 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Lee Evans - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Writer
• Sean Astin - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Tom Courtenay - Born 1937, turns 79 - Actor
• Rashida Jones - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress | Producer
• Tea Leoni - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actress | Producer

Friday 26th February

• Teresa Palmer - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actress | Writer | Producer
• James Wan - Born 1977, turns 39 - Director | Producer | Writer

Saturday 27th February

• Timothy Spall - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor | Writer
• Joanne Woodward - Born 1930, turns 86 - Actress | Producer
• Kate Mara - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actress

Teresa Palmer was born in Adelaide, South Australia (where this Blogger currently resides and publishes from) to mother Paula Sanders, a nurse and missionary, and father Kevin Palmer, a investor. At just three years of age her parents divorced. Her stepmother Karen Palmer has two daughters and two sons with whom she grew up with on her fathers farm in the Adelaide Hills, whilst living with her magic depressive mother in public housing. A mixed upbringing you might say. She attended Mercedes College, an independent girls catholic day school, and during her time there won a casting audition in 2003 on 'Search for a Movie Star'. She took acting classes and scored some gigs on various television commercials in between working at Burger King in Adelaide's main shopping precinct during 2005 as well as stints in clothing retail.

After graduating from school Palmer landed a role in '2:37' after being scouted by an acting talent agent, even though she had no previous acting experience. She had wanted to work as an animal welfare agent and was accepted into university to study teaching and journalism, but gave it all away to pursue her acting dream to star in '2:37'. She was 18 years of age and that was 2005 - and this was quickly followed up by a bit part in 'Wolf Creek' that same year.

For '2:37' she was nominated as Best Lead Actress in the AFI Awards and from there went on to 'The Grudge 2' with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Amber Tamblyn in 2006, then 'December Boys' with Daniel Radcliffe and Jack Thompson, and then 'Restraint' with Travis Fimmel in 2008. '2:37' was her early turning point after it appeared in the 'Un Certain Regard' selection at the Cannes Film Festival.

After a move to Los Angeles from her Adelaide home at Semaphore Beach she suffered various casting setbacks but was eventually chosen by Adam Sandler to star alongside him in 2008's 'Bedtime Stories' with Guy Pearce, Russell Brand and Courteney Cox. In 2010, Disney's 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' with Nicolas Cage and Alfred Molina received only luke warm reviews and relatively poor Box Office receipts, leading into her role as Number Six in 'I Am Number Four' in 2011 - a role she was set to reprise in two sequels if successful, but the would-be franchise returned only US$149M and as such the sequel is yet to materialise. 'Take Me Home Tonight' followed with Topher Grace and Chris Pratt and then 'Wish You Were Here' a year later with Joel Edgerton.

2013 saw 'Warm Bodies' - the ZomRomCom with Nicholas Hoult, Dave Franco and John Malkovich, which was followed up with 'Love and Honour' with Liam Hemsworth which tanked at the Box Office making less that US$17K.

Following this was 'Parts Per Billion' with Josh Hartnett and Rosario Dawson, and the two films which showed at the Toronto International Film Festival - 'Cut Bank' with Liam Hemsworth, John Malkovich, Billy Bob Thornton and Bruce Dern and 'Kill Me Three Times' with Simon Pegg and Luke Hemsworth. Last year saw Terence Mallick's 'Knight of Cups' with Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Antonio Banderas and then the recently released 'Point Break' with Edgar Ramirez, Luke Bracey and Ray Winstone, before 'The Choice' released just earlier this month with Benjamin Walker and Tom Wilkinson.

Next up is 'Triple 9' due for imminent release with an all star cast including Kate Winslet, Norman Reedus, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Directed by John Hillcoat. This will be followed up, and currently in post-production, by 'Berlin Syndrome', 'Hacksaw Ridge' as Directed by Mel Gibson and starring Luke Bracey, Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, Hugo Weaving, Richard Roxburgh, Sam Worthington, Ryan Corr and Rachel Griffith (yeah! Go Mel!) and '2:22', with 'Message From The King' with Luke Evans and Tom Felton and 'Lights Out' both recently wrapped. She has 28 acting credits to her name, two Producer credits and one Writer credit so far.

In 2009 Palmer former her own Production Company 'Avakea Productions'. That same year she filmed an advertising campaign for clothing retailer 'Just Jeans', and became the spokesperson and face of 'Jurlique Cosmetics'. She also co-wrote and starred in 'The Ever After' which also starred and was Directed by American Actor and Screenwriter Mark Webber who was to become Palmer's future husband. 

She dated Actor Topher Grace, comedian Russell Brand, Actor Scott Speedman and Australian Rules Football player Stuart Dew before marrying Mark Webber in December 2013 with whom she has a son, Bodhi Rain, born in February 2014. 

Teresa Palmer - 30 years of age and 12 years in the movie business and already amassing an increasingly impressive filmography; an avid Aussie rules Port Adelaide fan so much so that she holds the joint #1 ticket holder spot with David Koch from Channel 7's 'Sunrise' morning show; and yet you may not even recognise her name, but, the girl from Adelaide, is certainly one to watch. Happy 30th to you Teresa, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

POINT BREAK : Friday 1st January 2016.

I went for nostalgic reasons to see 'POINT BREAK' on its 2016 release date with fond memories of  Kathryn Bigelow's action crime thriller of the same name and upon which this retelling is based. Released in 1991 that earlier film starred a young Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey, Lori Petty and John C McGinley and would rate as one of this Reviewer's favourite films of all time. I have seen the film more times than I can recall, and still love it after repeated viewings and not because of the stellar performances but because of the dialogue, the action, the energy and the spectacle of the film - it was made for just US$24M and went onto make US$84M in the final analysis. And now in 2015 and released on New Years Day in Australia 'Point Break' has been remade for a whole new audience who probably don't even know of its 'classic' predecessor. This new version was made for US$105M and has so far grossed US$62M following its initial release in China on December 4th.

This retelling Directed by Ericson Core, speaks of a similar story involving Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey in the Keanu Reeves role) as the FBI Agent with a penchant for extreme sports who seven years previously in the opening sequence sees a close friend plunge to his death off a mountain top pinnacle having ridden their dirt bikes along a previously unridden ridge. Fast forward to the present day and Utah is a graduating rookie FBI Agent having put those extreme sports days behind him, until a band of extreme sports crims are on the loose seemingly robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. So its not long before Utah persuades Instructor Hall (Delroy Lindo) to let him go undercover to thwart a bunch of professional criminals who masquerade as extreme sports enthusiasts . . . or is it the other way around?

These crims are headed by Bodhi (Edgar Ramirez in the Patrick Swayze role) whose sports agenda is to chase the path to enlightenment via 'The Oaski 8' - named after Ono Osaki, an eco-warrior who challenged the extreme sports world to a series of eight ordeals that honour the forces of nature. After a series of 'Robin Hood' type robberies the FBI close in whilst Bodhi and his group strive to complete the eight challenges dragging Utah along to prove himself, with Angelo Pappas (Ray Winston in the Gary Busey role) as the FBI grunt on the ground and Utah's international connection.

What follows is a series of action set pieces that all showcase some beautiful locations, stunning practical stunt work (especially the wing suit dive through the Swiss Alps) and extreme sports that is sure to be any teenage boys wet dream, as Bodhi and his crew chase their 'path' and the '8'. Does this really advance the plot? Well not really, because the plot is verbalised every step of the way in by the numbers dialogue as Utah pieces together the puzzle and Hall and Pappas look on very puzzled thinking WTF is this young upstart rookie talking about with all this Ozaki enlightenment nirvana BS. This naturally is underscored with big wave surfing, extreme snowboarding, wing suit diving, free climbing up a vertical mountain side, and parachuting through the world's deepest sink hole from 40,000 feet up as the '8' are progressively notched up and Utah goes along for the ride as part of his undercover investigations and to win Bodhi's confidence - really all quite predictable.

The action is impressive enough no doubt, but is it enough to carry the film that takes the story off in a different direction whilst retaining one or two touchstones from the original film? These include the end of the epic foot chase sequence where an injured Utah has Bodhi in his gun sights but rolls over and shoots off his final rounds into the air, and the final closing sequence where Bodhi jumps into a once in a decade swell during a big storm for his final surf never to be seen again, by which time all his close buddies also on their 'path' have perished because of it.

This film has a lot more polish than its original predecessor - the locations, the set pieces, and the fact that this bunch are 'sponsored' by a young multi-billionaire with more cash than sense. This is how Bodhi and his cronies have all the equipment they need to jet off to exotic locations around the world at a moments notice to complete their quest and live out their lives fully funded thank-you very much!

Compared to the original however, Bodhi and his rag tag gang of adrenalin junkies needed to fund their own exploits hence they robbed banks, but, there was more grit, rawness, energy and connection between the characters as a result, and the chemistry then between Reeves and Swayze on screen was spot-on whereas here, there is very little. Give me 'The Ex-Presidents' any day of the week!

Worth seeing on the big screen for the action sequences and the stunt work which were all mostly carried out practically in the locations as seen rather than using CGI green screen and Hollywood chicanery, but, that's the only reason.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Friday 1st January 2016.

Well another year has come to an end at the movies that has seen blockbusters aplenty with the likes of 'The Avengers : Age of Ultron', 'Jurassic World' and ending with 'Star Wars : The Force Awakens' that continues to notch-up the mega bucks even as you read this and is sure to become the biggest Box Office hit of this year . . . at least! In between we saw biographical offerings 'Foxcatcher', American Sniper', 'The Imitation Game', 'The Theory of Everything', 'Selma', 'Legend', 'Straight Outta Compton' and 'Bridge of Spies'; further Sci-Fi instalments including 'Mad Max : Fury Road', 'Terminator : Genysis' and the conclusion of the 'Hunger Games' saga; spy drama including the return of Bond in 'Spectre', the return of Hunt in 'Mission Impossible : Rogue Nation', and the enormously entertaining 'Kingsman : The Secret Service'; whilst not forgetting police dramas 'Sicario' and 'Black Mass' with 'The Martian', 'A Most Violent Year', 'Inherent Vice, 'Creed', 'The Gift', 'Ex Machina' and 'Crimson Peak' giving us plenty to like, and two of the more notable foreign language offerings 'Leviathan' and 'Wild Tales' rounding out this Reviewers more memorable movies of the past 12 months. If you missed any of these in the last year, get yourself off to your local DVD store or download when you can - you won't be disappointed . . . promise!

And so to 2016, and raising the curtain on a new cinematic year we have a big action remake of a classic cops & robbers film from the early 90's; a hugely successful and popular super sleuth character reimagined for the 21st Century but still grounded in his 19th Century origins; and a mid 20th Century loveable cartoon strip getting the full 3D CGI animation treatment and his first big screen outing in 35 years. Of course there's also a whole swathe of recently released films still doing the rounds that you can catch at your local multiplex too, and, as Reviewed and Previewed on these pages in previous weeks. Check them out too if you need some inspiration.

Whatever you decide to watch at your local Odeon to kick start your new year, you are once again cordially invited to leave your own feedback in the Comments section below this or any other Post - we'd love to hear from you! Meanwhile, enjoy your film!

POINT BREAK (Rated M) - Kathryn Bigelow's action crime thriller released in 1991starring a young Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey, Lori Petty and John C McGinley would rate as one of this Reviewer's favourite films of all time. I have seen the film more times than I can recall, and still love it after repeated viewings and not because of the stellar performances but because of the dialogue, the action, the energy and the spectacle of the film - it was made for just US$24M and went onto make US$84M in the final analysis. And now in 2015, 'Point Break' has been remade for a whole new audience who probably don't even know of its 'classic' predecessor. This new version was made for US$105M and has so far grossed US$55M following its initial release in China on December 4th.

This retelling Directed by Ericson Core, speaks of a similar story involving Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey in the Keanu Reeves role) as the FBI Agent with a penchant for extreme sports who goes undercover to thwart a bunch of professional criminals who masquerade as extreme sports enthusiasts . . . or is it the other way around? These crims are headed by Bodhi (Edgar Ramirez in the Patrick Swayze role) whose sports agenda is to chase the path to enlightenment via 'The Oaski 8' - named after Ono Osaki, an eco-warrior who challenged the extreme sports world to a series of eight ordeals that honours the forces of nature. After a series of 'Robin Hood' type robberies the FBI close in whilst Bodhi and his group strive to complete the eight challenges dragging Utah along to prove himself, with Angelo Pappas (Ray Winston in the Gary Busey role) looking on closely. Watch out too for Bojesse Christopher who played young 'Grommet' in the 1991 film popping up again here as FBI Director Chapman. Delroy Lindo also stars. Featuring some breathtaking scenery and some jaw dropping stunts, will this be enough to live up to the high expectations set for this remake? I'll let you know!

SHERLOCK : THE ABOMINABLE BRIDE (Rated M) - No, this is not the next Guy Ritchie instalment in the Downey Jnr./Law franchise, but a Christmas Special of the hugely successful British television series starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes himself and Martin Freeman as long suffering and fiercely loyal sidekick Watson. This film has a limited release only on the big screen and sees the duo in a 1905 London in what is a stand alone episode and not a continuation from where the last episode left off. All the characters are here from the TV Series that you'll recognise - just the era is different, a little more sinister and a little more conspiratorial with the web of intrigue coming a little closer to home for this dynamic duo.

 SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN : THE PEANUTS MOVIE (Rated G) - The Charles M. Schulz much loved comic strip first appeared in October 1950 and ran for the next fifty years until early 2000 running through 17,897 strips during that time. This animated feature if the first film in 35 years and the fifth full length film in the series history. Directed by Steve Martino and made for US$99M the film has so far grossed US$173M, and stars the voice talents of Noah Schnapp as Charlie Brown and Bill Melendez as both Peanuts and Woodstock through archival recordings given that he died in 2008. Here, lovable beagle Snoopy embarks upon a heroic epic quest to thwart his arch nemesis, The Red Baron while Charlie Brown strives to win the heart and mind of The Little Red Haired Girl voiced by Francesca Capaldi, who has just moved into the neighbourhood and whom he has developed an instant attraction to. The film has already picked up several awards and a string on nominations - what's not to like about these long running lovable characters brought to the big screen in glorious 3D animation! One for all the family!

Three films to tempt you in the new year week ahead, and when you have done so share your thoughts and come back to our readership with your welcome commentary for all to share. In the meantime, best wishes to one and all for 2016, thanks for your ongoing interest in 2015, and keep watching the movies, at the movies.

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthdays to share this week : 31st August - 6th September.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Do you share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer or 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!

Check out too the spotlight on this weeks Birthday Boy on 2nd September, Keanu Reeves, at the end of this feature.

Sunday 31st August

• Richard Gere - Born 1949, turns 65 - Actor | Producer
• Chris Tucker - Born 1972, turns 42 - Actor
• Marc Webb - Born 1974, turns 40 - Director | Producer
• Jonathan LaPaglia - Born 1969, turns 45 - Actor
• Jack Thompson - Born 1940, turns 74 - Actor | Producer
• Van Morrison - Born 1945, turns 69 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer

Monday 1st September

• Lily Tomlin - Born 1939, turns 75 - Actress | Producer
• Gloria Estefan - Born 1957, turns 57 - Singer | Songwriter | Actress
• Barry Gibb - Born 1946m turns 68 - Singer | Songwriter
• Craig McLachlan - Born 1965, turns 49 - Actor | Singer

Tuesday 2nd September

• Keanu Reeves - Born 1964, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Salma Hayek - Born 1966, turns 48 - Actress | Producer
• Mark Harmon - Born 1951, turns 63 - Actor | Producer

Wednesday 3rd September

• Charlie Sheen - Born 1965, turns 49 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Jean-Pierre Jeunet - Born 1953, turns 61 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Pauline Collins - Born 1940, turns 74 - Actress

Thursday 4th September

• Noah Taylor - Born 1969, turns 45 - Actor
• Damon Wyans - Born 1960, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Beyonce Knowles - Born 1981, turns 33 - Singer | Songwriter | Actress | Producer

Friday 5th September

• Michael Keaton - Born 1951, turns 63 - Actor | Producer
• Raquel Welch - Born 1940, turns 74 - Actress
• Werner Herzog - Born 1942, turns 72 - Director | Producer | Actor | Writer
• Paddy Consadine - Born 1974, turns 40 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Rose McGowan - Born 1973, turns 41 - Actress

Saturday 6th September

• Idris Elba - Born 1972, turns 42 - Actor | Producer
• Roger Waters - Born 1943, turns 71 - Songwriter | Singer | Composer | Writer
• John Polson - Born 1965, turns 49 - Actor | Director | Producer
• Naomi Harris - Born 1976, turns 38 - Actress

Keanu Charles Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon to an English born Showgirl and an American born geologist. He lived there for the first six months of his life, before relocating to Sydney where he lived with his mother until age three, by which time his father had already left the relationship. Reeves grew up with various stepfathers thereafter having moved to New York City and then Toronto. His biological father was born in Hawaii, and it is from here that Keanu was given his name - meaning 'cool breeze over the mountains' in Hawaiian.

He attended De La Salle College in Toronto and then Avondale Secondary Alternative School, also in Toronto, thereafter - at this latter institution he could gain an 'education' whilst working as an actor, but he was not academic and so dropped out at age seventeen before gaining a high school diploma. In his early teens he showed promise as an ice hockey player and was offered to try-out for the Canadian League for the Windsor Spitfires. He played in goal and earned the nickname 'The Wall', but gave this up too in favour of pursuing a career in acting.

At age nine he appeared in a theatre production of 'Damn Yankees' and at 15 in 'Romeo & Juliet' also on stage. His screen acting debut came in the comedy television series 'Hangin' In' and during the early 80's he gained some television commercial work, short film roles and other stage plays. His first studio movie role was with Rob Lowe in 'Youngblood' in 1986, followed up later that year with a more sizeable turn in 'River's Edge'. In fact, in 1986 Reeves had seven films released all with his name attached, and all aimed largely at the teen market. It was however, the somewhat unexpected success of 1989's 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' and its 1991 sequel 'Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey', playing Theodore 'Ted' Logan, that catapulted Reeves into the mainstream.

In the early 90's Reeves started to straddle more mainstream offerings such as 'Point Break' and 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' with independent fare such as 'My Own Private Idaho' with close friend River Phoenix. Again though, it was to be 1994's high speed actioner 'Speed' with Sandra Bullock and Dennis Hopper that placed Reeves on the action star pedestal. He did though, and perhaps wisely, turn down the reprisal of his role as  Officer Jack Traven in 'Speed 2' despite the offer of an US$11M pay day - his biggest up to that point! Along the way he also turned down roles in 'Platoon', 'Heat' and 'Speed Racer' - those roles eventually going to Charlie Sheen, Val Kilmer and Matthew Fox respectively.

In the latter half of the 90's he continued to choose between the big action fare - 'Chain Reaction' and 'Johnny Mnemonic' which did less well at the box office than expected, and the indie features such as 'Feeling Minnestoa'. These though were backed up by 'The Devil's Advocate' and 'The Replacements' which restored some credibility, and for which Reeves would take a huge pay cut to ensure that Al Pacino and Gene Hackman could star respectively.




In 1999, he hit pay-dirt once again with his acting in 'The Matrix' and followed this up in 2003 with the release of both sequels - 'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'The Matrix Revolutions' - for which he earned US$40M in fees and 15% of the gross - to give him combined earnings from the trilogy of around US$70M. Interestingly, of that he gave away US$50M to the make-up and effects artists on those films, saying that he had enough money anyway to support himself with for the next couple of centuries.

Following this he has had a series of also-rans and film that have flown under the radar during the first decade of the new century - in terms of box office and critical acclaim. In 2013 he turned his attention to Directing for the first time, and did so with 'Man of Tai Chi', and currently has several projects under development. '47 Ronin' was his last big screen appearance earlier this year, and he has 'John Wick' and 'Knock Knock' currently in post-production for a 2015 release, 'The Whole Truth' still filming also for a 2015 release and 'Rain' - a TV mini-series announced for 2016.

He has 74 acting credits to his name including those others, such as 'Dangerous Liaisons', 'Parenthood', 'Little Buddha', 'Even Cowgirls get the Blues', 'A Walk in the Clouds', 'The Watcher', 'The Gift', 'Hardball', 'Something's Gotta Give', 'Constantine', 'The Lake House', 'A Scanner Darkly', 'Street Kings', 'The Day the Earth Stood Still', and 'Generation Um'. He has ten award wins to his name and twenty other nominations including 12 MTV Movie Awards - but, he also has several Razzie Awards and Golden Raspberry Awards too!

When he is not acting, Producing or Directing he has set up a cancer charity but has chosen not to assign his name to it, and he supports PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals), the SickKids Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer. He is a keen surfer and horse rider - both of which he does in his spare time, and both of which he learned for acting roles, and is an ardent follower of F1 and IndyCar motor sport.

He is known for his intense eyes; has kept us entertained with some truly memorable roles and some forgettable ones too; and although he turns 50 this week the dude still looks and acts the part in a very relaxed, chilled out, laid back way. Good on ya Keanu - Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online, and congratulations on your first half-century! 'Point Break' also remains one of my favourite films of all time too!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-