BARBIE : Tuesday 1st August 2023

I saw the much hyped PG Rated fantasy comedy 'BARBIE' this week that is Co-Written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach and Directed by Greta Gerwig, and is based on the Barbie fashion dolls by the world's second largest toy maker, Mattel. The film is the first live-action Barbie film after many computer-animated direct-to-video and streaming TV films. Greta Gerwig's previous feature film making credits are her debut with Joe Swanberg on 'Nights and Weekends' in 2008, before her breakout 'Lady Bird' in 2017, and then 'Little Women' in 2019. This film saw its World Premier screening in Los Angeles in early July before its wide release in most territories from 21st July, cost in the region of US$135M to produce, has so far raked in US$824M at the global Box Office and has garnered mostly positive critical reviews.

The film opens up with a riff on Stanley Kubricks's '2001 : A Space Odyssey' in which a bunch of young girls are seen playing with their baby dolls in the desert. The narrator (Helen Mirren) tells us that for a very long time girls have always played at being mother to their baby dolls . . . until one day when Barbie (Margot Robbie, who also Co-Produces here) stands tall amongst them and everything changed. At that the young girls start smashing their baby dolls into the ground, kicking them and destroying them wantonly, together with their tea sets, little prams and all the paraphernalia that goes with the innocent childrens playtime. 

We next encounter Barbie, named Stereotypical Barbie, and a whole host of other Barbie's all living in the perfect world of Barbieland - a matriarchal society where women are confident, successful and hold the power base. Their Ken counterparts spend their days at the beach while the Barbie's hold down all the important jobs - there is a President Barbie (Issa Rae), a Physicist Barbie (Emma Mackey), a Lawyer Barbie (Sharon Rooney), a Judge Barbie (Ana Cruze Kayne) and a Writer Barbie (Alexandra Shipp) amongst others. Beach Ken (Ryan Gosling) is happiest when he is close to Stereotypical Barbie and seeks more from their relationship, but doesn't altogether know why, and is rebuffed anyhow by Barbie who wishes to maintain her independence and her close friendships with all the other Barbie's. 

That night at a dance party at her house, when all the Barbie's are dancing and the Ken's are all stood on the sidelines watching on, Barbie suddenly blurts out if anyone has ever thought about dying. At that the music comes to a grinding halt, all the Barbie's stop dancing and are motionless, and no one utters a word, except they all have horrified expressions on their faces. Embarrassed, Barbie says that she's just dying to dance, in an effort to cover up her question, at which point normality is resumed. The next morning, she wakes up and senses that something is not quite right in her world. She can no longer complete her usual routines, discovers that she now has flat feet and she has cellulite on her thighs. 

Revealing all of this to the other Barbie's, she pays a visit to Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) - a wise but disfigured Barbie who has been outcast by the others, who advises her that she must travel to the Real World in order to cure her hardship and locate the child playing with her. Initially very hesitant to leave Barbieland behind she is told that she has no choice, and so sets off alone in her car, only to find Ken stowed away on the back seat. Reluctantly Barbie allows Ken to stay and join her . . . as long as he's brought his rollerblades along!

The pair eventually arrive at Venice Beach having travelled by bicycle, rocket ship and boat and stand out wearing their very '80's roller skating gear in neon pinks, blues and yellows attracting the undue attention of the locals who for the most part mock them. Deciding they need a change of attire, they head into a clothing store and emerge with Barbie wearing a bright pink all in one suit and Ken dressed as a cowboy, only to be chased down the street for not paying. They end up getting arrested, finger prints and mug shots taken and released. 

Their antics are eventually brought to the attention of the Mattel CEO (Will Ferrell) who immediately orders for them to be captured. Meanwhile, Barbie is able to track down her owner, a young somewhat rebellious teenager named Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) who upon their meeting at school criticises Barbie for promoting unrealistic beauty standards and calls her a fascist. Upset by this outburst, Barbie discovers that Gloria (America Ferrera), a Mattel employee and Sasha's mother, is the reason behind her inner conflicts and crisis of confidence over her personal identity. Gloria had started to play with Sasha's old Barbie toys which were to be discarded while experiencing her own identity crisis, unwittingly transferring her own issues on to Barbie. 

Barbie, winds up at the Mattel Corporate Offices in Los Angeles where the CEO and his all male corporate executives attempt to put Barbie back in the box for remanufacturing. Barbie initially keen to step back inside the box has a change of heart and makes a dash for it, resulting in the CEO and his executive team all giving chase. Barbie escapes with the help of Gloria and Sasha and together the three head to Barbieland. In the meantime Ken has been walking the streets of LA and has had his eyes opened wide to the male dominated society present at almost every turn. Realising that the patriarchal system is the way to go, he feels empowered, respected and accepted for the first time in his hitherto female lead life. 

Ken returns to Barbieland where he persuades the other Kens (Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, John Cena and Rob Brydon amongst others) to take control, as the Barbies are indoctrinated into subordinate roles, including maids, housewives, and attentive girlfriends. Barbie arrives and tries to convince Ken and the Barbies to return to the way things were, only for her arguments to fall on deaf ears. Barbie's house is quickly converted into Ken's 'mojo dojo casa' and she falls into a state of depression and anxiety, winding up laying prone on the floor face down in Weird Barbie's house. However, Barbie has her confidence restored when Gloria gives an inspiring speech about society's conflicting expectations towards women. 

With the help of Sasha, Weird Barbie, Allan (Michael Cera), and other discontinued dolls, Gloria uses her inspirational messages on all the Barbies to bring them out of their subservient roles. The restored Barbies then coerce the Kens into arguing and fighting amongst themselves and as such are distracted from altering the constitution to enshrine male superiority, while the Barbies retake their former positions of power. In the process, they also come to the realisation of the failings of their previous ways of life, and decide to make a number of changes in Barbieland, including the better treatment for the Kens and all outcast dolls. 

Barbie and Ken apologise to each other and acknowledge their shortcomings. Ken complains that he has no identity or purpose without Barbie, to which she encourages him to find his own identity. Barbie, who remains unsure of her own purpose and identity, meets with the spirit of Mattel Co-Founder Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman) who states that Barbie's story has no defined ending and her ever-evolving history transcends that of her more humble beginnings. Barbie decides to become human and return to the Real World, and after the Barbies, Kens, and Mattel executives all bid her goodbye and good luck, some time later, Gloria, her husband (Ryan Piers Williams), and Sasha take Barbie, now going by the name of Barbara Handler, to her first appointment to meet with her gynecologist.

'Barbie' is like a big serving of pink sugar coated fairy floss that after a while you've simply had enough of that stuff and are compelled to ditch half of it in the bin. Greta Gerwig has here crafted a film that has its tongue planted firmly in its cheek while at the same time relaying a strong message about Barbieland matriarchy, Real World patriarchy, gender equality, female empowerment and social commentary. And in Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling we have a pair of expertly cast Actors who go all in to embody the spirit of Barbie and Ken, and who look like they had a real blast bringing those characters to life on the big screen. The production values on show at Barbieland are top notch; the musical song and dance routines which are kept mercifully infrequent are well placed and well choreographed; and the performances by the principle cast are whacky and engaging. All of that said, for a film that is ostensibly a comedy much of the humour failed to land for me, with the opening sequence only raising the slightest chuckle, and this movie's Box Office success is clearly down to the power of marketing over the sum of the films parts.

'Barbie' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE GRAY MAN : Tuesday 19th July 2022

I saw 'THE GRAY MAN', Rated MA15+, at my local independent movie theatre this week, and this American action thriller film is Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo who have previously helmed four MCU films, being 'Captain America : The Winter Soldier' in 2014, 'Captain America : Civil War' in 2016, 'Avengers : Infinity War' in 2018 and 'Avengers : Endgame' in 2019, amongst other feature films and TV series. Based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Mark Greaney, the film went on limited release from last week before being released on Netflix from 22nd July. Costing US$200M to produce it is the most expensive film ever made by Netflix, and it hopes to start a series of films based on the eleven 'Gray Man' novels. It has garnered generally mixed or average Reviews so far. 

The film opens up in 2003 in a prison cell where Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling) is incarcerated until 2031 for the murder of his father. He is being interviewed, or rather recruited, by Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton) who works for the CIA and recognises in Gentry the attributes necessary to turn him into a black ops mercenary, with the associated skills to take out all the bad guys on their hit list. Fitzroy tells Gentry that he can walk out of the prison in thirty minutes a free man, or he can serve out his sentence, and for what it's worth Fitzroy would have done the same thing as Gentry did that got him into the slammer in the first place. 

We then fast forward eighteen years to the present day. We are in Bangkok in a lavish hotel counting down the minutes to midnight on NYE. Gentry (now known as Sierra Six or simply Six) is ordered to take out a hit on a mark set to arrive shortly in time for the fireworks extravaganza. With the marks entourage in tow, and Six now poised to take the shot, he hesitates, so allowing the mark to walk outta there. But Six pursues his mark and what follows is a close quarter hand to hand fight on the ground floor amongst exploding tubes of fireworks. Six overcomes his mark, and as the mark lays bleeding out, he hands Six a medallion containing a USB drive, and says that he is Sierra Four, before he dies. Six gets the hell outta there, goes to an internet gaming joint and plugs in the USB, but it is heavily encrypted and without the necessary passcodes can't access what is contained therein. So, he is next seen posting it in a letterbox to an unknown recipient. 

Back in Langley, at CIA HQ, Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas) another CIA Agent is being questioned by Denny Carmichael (Rege-Jean Page) her superior as to the role she played in the Bangkok hit, what if anything the mark gave to Six, and for her to very seriously consider her future career if he doesn't get the answers he wants. Miranda has an obvious dislike for Carmichael and gives nothing away. 

Meanwhile, Six hot wires a Tuk Tuk and calls Fitzroy asking for him to arrange for his extraction. Fitzroy has subsequently retired but still has connections and influence. His tells Six to get to Chiang Mai where an extraction team will be waiting with a cargo plane fuelled and ready for take off with a team of friendlies on board. 

In the meantime, Carmichael has recruited Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a psychotic and torture loving former colleague of Six who lasted just five months in the service of the CIA before venturing out on his own and operating a seemingly very successful mercenaries for hire business. Hansen has kidnapped the young daughter of Fitzroy, Claire (Julia Butters) and is threatening to do all manner of nasty things to her should he not get the answers from Fitzroy, whom he also now holds captive. Hansen coerces Fitzroy in telling the extraction team to dispense with Six. And so whilst cruising at 25,000 feet and while Six catches up on some much needed shut eye, the extraction team spring into action with the intention of killing Six. But, needless to say this doesn't go according to plan, and more close quarter hand to hand combat leads to a stray bullet blowing a gaping hole in the fuselage, various bad dudes getting thrown out of the plane, and the aircraft steadily disintegrating as Six jumps out of it without a parachute before it explodes in midair. He of course glides toward a bad dude with a parachute, they fight in free fall and Six lands shaken but not stirred somewhere in Turkey. 

Next up Six goes to Vienna to obtain a fake ID and passport, but alas the local who is organising the said documents in secretly in cahoots with Hansen. He successfully manages to capture Six in a deep pit through a bullet proof trap door in the floor just about where Six was standing to have his passport photo taken. Six, using his best MacGyver skills, manages to create a flood of water so elevating him up the pit and rigs an explosive charge to detonate just at the right time when Hansen and his goons arrive at the scene. In the ensuing mayhem, Six comes face to face and fist to fist with Hansen, but on the way out of the building Miranda shoots a tranquilizer dart in the arse of Hansen, and then into Six before loading him up in the boot of her car. 

When Six comes round a short time later, Miranda and Six talk over their predicament and what their next move should be. It turns out that Six posted the USB drive to Margaret Cahill (Alfre Woodard), the former head of CIA Special Op's, who has now also subsequently retired and living in Prague. So, the pair head off to Prague, as Cahill seems to be one of the only people they can trust, and who would have the encryption codes to allow them to access what is contained on that USB drive. Meanwhile, Hansen is back in Croatia in a very lavish and very old villa tracking Six's every move. Hansen also takes the opportunity to interrogate and torture Fitzroy to find out his whereabouts in Prague, and who it is there whom he would most trust.

Arriving in Prague Six and Miranda meet with Cahill who tells the pair that she has terminal cancer and has been given three months to live. But that doesn't stop her from opening up the USB drive and revealing that Carmichael and Hansen have been involved in some nefarious crimes around the world as their own very secretive and covert army of mercenaries taking out the Who's Who of people of influence. Needless to say, as Hansen watches on from Croatia he orders his assembled team of assassins to converge on Cahill's apartment and wreak havoc with all manner of firepower. As Cahill remains in the apartment holding onto a hand grenade, she allows Six and Miranda to escape via an underground tunnel leading out into the street, whilst providing the pair with her armour plated bullet proof glassed Audi car. What follows is a blood bath in down town Prague, as Miranda evades various other vehicles behind the wheel of Cahill's car, while Six is going head to head and toe to toe with numerous goons inside a tram. It doesn't end well for the numerous local Police killed in the conflagration, the assassins who also meet their swift demise courtesy of Six, and the tram which ultimately hurtles sideways and off track into the sandstone columns of a building causing much destruction, on top of the trail of mayhem left behind in the wake of Cahill's apartment being destroyed. 

Next up we find our intrepid rogue agents heading to Croatia to take out Hansen once and for all, rescue Fitzroy and his daughter, and regain the USB drive which has subsequently fallen into the hands of Avik San (Dhanush), and Indian assassin working for Team Hansen. Six and Miranda go in heavily armed to the villa under cover of darkness and while Miranda takes out all the external gun placements Six concentrates his efforts on the internal goons and getting to Fitzroy and Claire. Needless to say its all in a days work for the pair who successfully overcome their foes, leaving Miranda to battle it out with Avik San, and Six to guide the Fitzroy's to safety, although Fitzroy takes a bullet to the stomach and orders Six to take his Claire with him, leaving him with a single hand grenade which he pulls the pin on when Hansen and three of his goons are upon him. Of course the blast takes out the three goons, but Hansen scrambles to his feet and continues to give chase, culminating with Hansen holding Claire at gunpoint inside a maze within the grounds, while Six trails behind in search. The three come face to face around a fountain in the centre of the maze, and Six tells Hansen to let Claire go, which he does, leaving the pair to fight to the death. In the end it is Suzanne Brewer (Jessica Henwick), Carmichael's off sider, who plugs Hansen in the chest with a bullet and kills him dead. She also plugs Six with a non-life threatening bullet wound, just to add to his stabbings, slashings and beating he took from Hansen. 

We then fast forward two weeks to a heavily guarded private hospital in which Six has been non-responsive, and Claire is being held. Brewer and Carmichael plan on paying a visit to Six, with the latter questioning Brewer as to why she let Six live. Because he's a valuable asset and one of the most capable operatives they have she responds. As they exit the lift, the pair are confronted with the bodies of several guards and Six's now empty bed. He is next seen in silhouette passing along the windows of the room where Claire is being held taking out a number of goons. He then enters the room, rescues Claire and the two are seen speeding out of the hospital grounds in a SUV. 

'The Gray Man', which for the most part I enjoyed, is a mash up of Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt and John Wick with a little bit of James Bond thrown in there for good measure. It's an entertaining ride for sure with plenty of exotic locations, wide sweeping aerial drone shots, action set pieces, gunplay and close quarter combat, solid enough performances from the ensemble cast, and sarcastic quips aplenty to raise the occasional smile, but what it lacks is a fresh approach and sufficient intrigue to make this film stand above all the others in this increasingly overcrowded genre. Watch it from the comfort of your own sofa at home when it lands on Netflix this week, chow down on a big bowl of popcorn, leave your brain in the kitchen and strap in for a high octane super charged globe trotting journey that sees two Hollywood fav's go head to head. What's not to like?

'The Gray Man' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

FIRST MAN : Tuesday 16th October 2018.

'FIRST MAN' which I saw at my local multiplex this week, is an American biographical drama film based on the 2005 book by James R. Hansen titled 'First Man : The Life of Neil A. Armstrong' and is Directed and Co-Produced by Oscar winner Damien Chazelle of 'Whiplash' and 'La La Land' fame. Made for US$65M the film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival back in August, and was subsequently screened at the Telluride Film Festival and then the Toronto International Film Festival in early September. The film went on general release in the US last week too having received generally widespread critical praise for Chazelle's Direction, the performances of Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy especially, the score and the cinematography. Box Office receipts so far amount to US$30M.

The film charts the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon by the time the clock ticks over into 1970, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. Launching (literally) in 1961, we see Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) struggling at the controls as a NASA test pilot of an X-15 experimental hypersonic rocket powered aircraft that was able to reach the edge of outer space, when after a moment of weightlessness the plane inadvertently bounces off the atmosphere. Even though he successfully manages to navigate the plane to a safe landing somewhere in the Mojave Desert, his superiors air their concerns about his recent spate of mishaps, and therefore choose to ground him. Meanwhile, his young daughter Karen, has a brain tumour, and is receiving cutting edge treatment. But despite this, Armstrong is distracted and pours over books, keeps copious notes on her symptoms, treatment and searches out some possible cure. But, before long Karen passes, and as any father would be, Armstrong is gutted.

Shortly afterwards Armstrong applies for Project Gemini (NASA's second human spaceflight programme) and is accepted, requiring Armstrong, his wife Janet (Claire Foy) and son Rick (Luke Winters) to move to Houston, together with a bunch of other astronauts chosen to take part in the Gemini Programme. Here he befriends Elliot See (Patrick Fugit) and Ed White (Jason Clarke) whilst under the watchful eye of Deke Slayton (Kyle Chandler) - NASA's first Chief of the Astronaut Office. Up to this point, them pesky Russians have eclipsed Uncle Sam in every aspect of the '60's Space Race, as so Slayton states in no uncertain terms the importance of Project Gemini as a precursor to the Apollo missions and the ultimate aim of putting a man on the moon by the close of the decade. Armstrong and the chosen handful of hopefuls are put through a rigorous training regime that tests them to the very limits of their endurance . . . and beyond.

Meanwhile, Janet gives birth to another son, Mark (Connor Blodgett). After the Ruskies notch up another first by performing an EVA (ExtraVehicular Activity - a spacewalk performed outside a craft orbiting the Earth), Armstrong is advised by Slayton that he has been chosen to be the Commander of Gemini 8 which would see the first docking of two spacecraft in orbit, with David Scott (Christoper Abbott) as his pilot. Armstrong and Scott successfully launch on Gemini 8 and dock as planned with the Agena Target Vehicle in space. After celebrating their success, things go rapidly pair shaped as the docked pairing of space craft begins to spin uncontrollably. Armstrong is able to successfully undock the two craft, but Gemini continues to spin at an ever increasing rate. After almost blacking out, Armstrong is able to bring the rapidly rotating craft under control and safely aborts the mission, saving their lives in the process. Janet, however, has had the privilege of listening in to their radio transmission is none too impressed with her husbands near death experience and promptly berates Slayton saying that they are all 'just a bunch of boys playing with balsa wood models . . .  you don't have anything under control'.

In due course Ed White announces that he has been selected for the Apollo 1 Mission together with Gus Grissom (Shea Whigham) and Roger Chaffee (Cory Michael Smith). During a launch simulation test on Apollo 1 on 27th January 1967, a fire inside the cabin and the resultant explosion takes the lives of White, Grissom and Chaffee. Armstrong meanwhile is representing NASA at a White House function, when he is interrupted by an urgent phone call from Slayton, advising him of this tragedy. A year or so later Armstrong is testing a Lunar Landing Research Vehicle and is nearly killed in the process, ejecting over a field and being dragged along the ground by his parachute, while the test vehicle crashes to the ground in a ball of flame.

Shortly afterwards Armstrong is advised by Slayton that he has been chosen to command the Apollo 11 Mission with a view to this culminating in a Moon landing. His crew will be Buzz Aldrin (Corey Stoll) and Michael Collins (Lukas Haas). Collins will pilot the command module Columbia alone in orbit while Armstrong and Aldrin are on the lunar surface. Shortly after, the three astronauts hold a Press Conference where Armstrong is particularly blunt and succinct in his answers to the gathered world press, leaving Aldrin to interject with more broader and lighthearted answers.

The night before the launch while Armstrong is needlessly busying himself with packing, Janet confronts him about the strong possibility that he won't survive the Mission, and steadfastly demands that he explains the risks to both Rick and Mark - his young sons. Armstrong is evasive and is clearly uncomfortable with such a confronting and potentially emotional conversation with his two boys, let alone his wife. After a brief conversation around the dinner table before the boys bedtime, Armstrong bids his boys farewell and kisses his wife goodbye, and departs for the Moon.

The day arrives, and Apollo 11 successfully launches, and within four days of flight touches down on the surface of the Moon on 20th July 1969. Armstrong became the first person to step onto the lunar surface six hours after landing on 21st July, with those immortal words 'one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind', with Aldrin joining him some twenty minutes later. After exploring the surface for some time, Armstrong walks over to a small crater and gently drops into it a bracelet that was his daughter's - forever leaving a memento to her memory on the surface of that far away place. Having spent the best part of whole day collecting samples, taking photographs, observing the Moon's surface, and going walkabout, the pair take off to rejoin Collins aboard the Columbia and head back to Earth landing in the North Pacific Ocean on the afternoon of 24th July 1969. The crew are placed in quarantine for a month. Janet visits Armstrong and through the glass panels of his temporary isolation, the pair share a quiet moment of contemplation, touching hands through the plate glass.

The film also stars Ciaran Hinds as Robert R. Gilruth - the first Director of NASA's Manned Spacecraft Centre and Pablo Schreiber as Jim Lovell, the backup Commander on Armstrong's Apollo 11 Mission.

Here, continuing with his run of Academy Award success, Damien Chazelle has crafted a nuanced film that will be surely worthy of some Oscar consideration come nomination season. Rather than the all too common chest beating and hero worship associated with such space age films, here 'First Man' paints a picture of a an everyday ordinary man pushed to extraordinary lengths in his quiet determination to be the first man on the Moon. In equal measure we see the emotion, the joy and the tragedy of Armstrong's every day family life coupled with the errors, flaws, accidents and incidents and the all too many deaths experienced by NASA and Armstrong's fellow astronaut colleagues during the course of those Gemini and Apollo Missions. Gosling gives a stoic and reserved performance as both the troubled and completely focused on his day job at the expense of his family Armstrong; while Foy more than ably supports as the no bullshit tell it as it is supportive, caring and understanding (to a point) wife. Chazelle's attention to detail throughout the film cannot be faulted, and his recreation of the era, the inner workings of NASA, and the failures and successes of the technology of the time really make this film. Concentrating on the '60's era only and the events leading up to the first Moon landing was Chazelle's choice and who can argue with that, but perhaps an insight into the reserved man post that heroic journey to go boldly where no man has gone before would have rounded out the film more completely. Nonetheless, certainly worth the price of your ticket, and you should see this on the big screen for sure.

'First Man' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard, out of a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 11th October 2018.

In September the world bid a fond farewell to a number of stars of the silver screen and the small screen. In brief, shown below, is my passing tribute to those stars who leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and in particular the world of film and television. May you all Rest In Peace, and thanks for the memories . . . . Burt Reynolds, Gary Kurtz, Al Matthews, Fenella Fielding and Christoper Lawford.

* Gary Douglas Kurtz : born July 27th 1940, died September 23rd 2018, aged 78. Kurtz was an American film Producer and Assistant Director who had seventeen Producer credits to his name, five as Assistant Director, four as Production Manager and two as Editor. His most notable film Production credits include 'American Graffiti', 'Star Wars : Episode IV - A New Hope', 'Star Wars : Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back', 'The Dark Crystal', 'Return to Oz' and 'Slipstream'. Over the years he collected thirteen award wins and eight nominations including two Academy Award nods for 'American Graffiti' in 1974 and 'Star Wars' in 1978. He began his career in the movie industry in 1965 as Assistant Director on the Jack Nicholson and Harry Dean Stanton Western 'Ride in the Whirlwind' and continued up until 2016 with 'Gangster Kittens'.
* Al Matthews : born Alexander Basil Matthews on November 21st 1942, died September 22nd 2018, aged 75. Matthews was a folk singer and songwriter and Actor with 36 acting credits to his name including 'Yanks', 'The Final Conflict', 'Superman III', 'Aliens' (perhaps his most famed role as Sergeant Apone), 'The Fifth Element' and 'Tomorrow Never Dies'. Matthews served for six years in the US Marine Corps taking in active duty in the Vietnam War and to that end his website reads 'I hold thirteen combat awards and decorations, including two purple hearts. I was the first black Marine in the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam to be meritoriously promoted to the rank of sergeant; I served with Kilo Battery, Fourth Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, of that I am very proud'.
* Fenella Fielding : born Fenella Marion Feldman on November 17th 1927 and died September 11th 2018 aged 90. Fielding was an English theatre, film and television actress, popular in the '50's and '60's and having a reputation as 'England's first lady of the double entendre', she was known too for her seductive image and distinctively husky voice. With sixty Acting credits to her name, she got her break in 1957 on three episodes of British spy drama series 'Destination Downing Street' followed up two years later with her film debut in 'Follow a Star' with Norman Wisdom, John Le Mesurier, Ron Moody and Hattie Jacques. Over the ensuing years she appeared in the likes of 'Doctor in Love', 'The Old Dark House', 'Doctor in Distress', 'Doctor in Clover', 'Carry On Regardless', 'Carry On Screaming', 'Drop Dead Darling', 'Lock Up Your Daughters', 'Guest House Paradiso' and 'The All Together'. In between time she appeared in numerous television series across single and multiple episodes, as well as short films and voice work as recently as 2017 on the short film 'Frankula'. Fielding was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity.
* Burt Reynolds : born Burton Leon Reynolds Jnr., on February 11th 1936 and died September 6th 2018 aged 82. Reynolds was an American Actor, Director and Producer but his career didn't start out that way. He attended Florida State University on a football scholarship and played halfback and he had hoped to be named to All-American teams and have a career in professional football; however, he injured his knee in the first game of his second season, and later that year lost his spleen and injured his other knee in a bad car accident, so effectively ending his professional football aspirations. With 186 Acting credits to his name, fourteen Director credits and eleven as Producer he gained his first break in television in 1958 and from that point onward worked regularly throughout the next sixty years right up until the time of his death. His television works included multiple recurring appearances on 'Riverboat', 'Gunsmoke', 'Hawk', 'Dan August', 'B.L.Stryker', 'Out Of This World', 'Evening Shade' and more recently 'Hitting the Breaks'. His more notable big screen appearances over the years include his debut film role in 1961's 'Angel Baby', and then 'Navajo Joe', 'Sam Whiskey', 'Deliverance' (one of his most famed roles), 'The Longest Yard' (both the 1974 original and the 2005 remake), 'Gator', 'Nickelodeon', 'Smokey and the Bandit' (another famed role), 'Hooper', 'Smokey and the Bandit II', 'The Cannonball Run', 'Best Friends', 'Sharky's Machine', 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas', 'City Heat', 'Boogie Nights' (highly acclaimed and award winning role), 'The Dukes of Hazzard', the critically acclaimed 2017 drama 'The Last Movie Star' and 'Defining Moments' set for a Christmas release this year. Reynolds had 34 award wins (including two Golden Globes) to his name and a further 29 nominations (including one Oscar nod, five Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmy and one BAFTA nomination).
* Christopher Lawford : born March 29th 1955, died September 4th 2018 aged 63. Lawford was an American author, actor, and activist. He was a member of the prominent Kennedy family, and son of actor Peter Lawford who had numerous film and television Acting roles from 1930 through until his death in 1984. One of the famous 'Rat Pack' he starred alongside Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr., in the original 1960 'Ocean's Eleven'. After battling various drug and legal issues throughout his earlier life, Christopher turned to the movie business in 1988 and spent over fifteen years in the film and television business as an Actor, Lawyer, Executive, and Producer. He got his first film role in 1988 in 'The Suicide Club' which was to be the first of 45 Acting credits which over the years took in 'The Russia House', 'The Doors', 'The Confession', 'The 6th Day', 'Thirteen Days', 'Exit Wounds', 'Terminator 3 : Rise of the Machines', 'The World's Fastest Indian'  and 'Slipstream' with 'Eavesdrop' being his last Acting credit in 2008. Lawford worked extensively in politics, government and the non-profit sector holding executive staff positions, and was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve on the California Department of Public Health Advisory Board.

Turning to this week we have three new filmic offerings to tease you out to your local Odeon. We launch (literally) with a biographical drama from a multi-award winning Director about mans greatest and most dangerous journey in the history of great and dangerous journeys to go boldly where no man had gone before. We then have a fictional story about a bunch of seemingly normal folk all harbouring their own secrets and lies who come together one rainy night at a hotel that straddles two States, and their last chance to find peace with themselves . . . or not as the case may be! And we then wrap up the week with another historical telling, this time of a series of terrorist attacks in India just ten years ago, as the victims fight for their survival seemingly against the odds.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the three latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'FIRST MAN' (Rated M) - this American biographical drama film is based on the 2005 book by James R. Hansen titled 'First Man : The Life of Neil A. Armstrong' and is Directed and Co-Produced by Oscar winner Damien Chazelle of 'Whiplash' and 'La La Land' fame. Made for US$60M the film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival back in August, and was subsequently screened at the Telluride Film Festival and then the Toronto International Film Festival in early September. It goes on general release in the US this week too having received generally widespread critical praise for Chazelle's Direction, the performances of Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy especially, the score and the cinematography.

The film tells the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon by the time the clock ticks over into 1970, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account exploring the sacrifices and the cost on Armstrong and on the nation of one of the most dangerous and ultimately triumphant missions in history - the Apollo 11 mission to conquer the Moon before the decade was out in 1969. Starring Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong, Claire Foy as Janet Shearon (Armstrong's first wife), Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll as Buzz Aldrin, Ciaran Hinds, Patrick Fugit, Lukas Haas as Michael Collins, Shea Whigham, Brian d'Arcy James and Pablo Schreiber as Jim Lovell.

'BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE' (Rated MA15+) - here we have a 1960's set American thriller that is Directed, Written and Co-Produced Drew Goddard who wrote multiple episodes of popular television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', 'Angel', 'Alias', 'Lost', created and wrote two episodes of 'Daredevil' and wrote for the big screen too including 'Cloverfield', 'World War Z', 'The Martian', and 'Cabin in the Woods' which was also his Directing debut. After this outing Goddard is Writing and Directing Marvel's 'X-Force'. Back to this film though, and the storyline follows seven strangers who find themselves at the El Royale, a novelty hotel traversing the border of California and Nevada. But as the strangers — which include a priest Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), a vacuum cleaner salesman Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm), a gangster from down south Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson), a former singer Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), and a charismatic cult leader Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth) all settle into their rooms for the night, they all get one last shot at redemption before discovering that something strange is afoot inside and outside the hotel, and everything goes pear shaped. Also starring Nick Offerman, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman and Russell Crowe.

'ONE LESS GOD' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian and Nepalese joint produced film is based on the real life events that unfolded in November 2008 when a small group of Islamic militants from Pakistan lays to siege the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, and another eleven coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai resulting in 164 deaths and 308 wounded. Not to be confused with the other, as yet to be released film of the same subject matter 'Hotel Mumbai' due for release in early 2019, this film is Directed, Co-Produced, Written and Edited in his feature film debut by Aussie Liam Worthington. The film had its Premier screening in completion at the 'Dances with Films' Festival way back in June 2017 where it took out the Grand Jury Award for Best Film as well as the Industry Choice Award. When the group of terrorists bomb the hotel with six separate explosions and threaten the lives of its guests and employees the Indian forces are powerless to overcome the perpetrators, and for a whole four days are unable to regain control. During which time the guests battle for their survival as the terrorists seek to drive them out of hiding. Starring Jospeh Mahler Taylor, Sukhraj Deepak, Kabir Singh, Kieren Kumar, Nathan Kaye and Mihika Rao.

With three new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 12th - 18th November 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Ryan Gosling does on 12th November - check out my tribute to this Actor Producer Musician Birthday Boy turning 37, 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 November

• Ryan Gosling - Born 1980, turns 37 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Radha Mitchell - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Director
• Anne Hathaway - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actress | Producer | Singer   

Monday 13th November

• Frances Conroy - Born 1953, turns 64 - Actress | Singer
• Whoopi Goldberg - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer | Director | Television Personality
• Steve Zahn - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Singer
• Jimmy Kimmel - Born 1967, turns 50 - Television Personality | Actor | Producer | Writer
• Gerard Butler - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Singer  

Tuesday 14th November

• Paul McGann - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Director
• Josh Duhamel - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Brian Gleeson - Born 1987, turns 30 - Actor
• Olga Kurylenko - Born 1979, turns 38 - Actress | Singer | Producer

Wednesday 15th November

• Shailene Woodley - Born 1991, turns 26 - Actress | Producer  
• Edward Asner - Born 1929, turns 88 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Yaphet Koto - Born 1939, turns 78 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Sam Waterston - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actor | Producer
• Roger Donaldson - Born 1945, turns 72 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Jonny Lee Miller - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actor 

Thursday 16th November

• Maggie Gyllenhaal - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actress | Producer | Singer  

Friday 17th November

• Lauren Hutton - Born 1943, turns 74 - Actress | Producern
• Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actress 
• Sophie Marceau - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actress | Director | Writer
• Rachel McAdams - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actress 
• Zoe Bell - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actress | Stuntwoman | Producer
• Martin Scorsese - Born 1942, turns 75 - Director | Producer | Actor | Writer | Editor 
• Danny DeVito - Born 1944, turns 73 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Roland Joffe - Born 1945, turns 72 - Director | Producer | Writer 

Saturday 18th November 

• Delroy Lindo - Born 1952, turns 65 - Actor | Producer
• Owen Wilson - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Margaret Atwood - Born 1939, turns 78 - Writer | Producer | Actress
• Linda Evans - Born 1942, turns 75 - Actress 
• Chloe Sevigny - Born 1974, turns 43 - Actress | Director | Writer | Producer 

Ryan Thomas Gosling was born in London, Ontario, Canada to mother Donna, a Secretary and father Thomas Ray Gosling, who worked in sales for a paper mill. Because of his father's transient work in sales, the family relocated several times always staying in Ontario, and living in Cornwall and Burlington. He was educated at Gladstone Public School, then Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School and then the Lester B. Pearson High School in Burlington. He remembers hating his childhood. He was bullied at school and claims he had no friends until his early teenage years. He was suspended from school for throwing steak knives at other children, was unable to read, diagnosed with ADHD and a s a result was homeschooled by his mother for a year. Gosling performed in front of a live audience from an early age - singing with his older sister Mandi, at weddings and in his Uncle's Elvis Presley tribute act. He was also involved with a local ballet company. He says that performing boosted his confidence and was the only thing that he ever received any praise for. His parents divorced when the young Ryan was thirteen years of age, and he and Mandi lived with their mother. He dropped out of High School at age seventeen to concentrate his efforts on forging an Acting career. 

At the age of twelve Gosling auditioned for the Disney Channel's 'Mickey Mouse Club'. He was successful, out of 17,000 other young hopefuls, and was given a two year contract as a 'Mouseketeer', and as a result relocated to Orlando, Florida. His fellow cast crew included Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, and he became good friends with Timberlake in particular. He says that this two years were the greatest of his life. Following the cancellation of the show in 1995, Gosling returned to Canada and secured television appearances on 'Are You Afraid of the Dark', 'Kung Fu : The Legend Continues', 'Goosebumps', 'Flash Forward', and in forty four episodes of 'Breaker High', and at age eighteen he moved to New Zealand to film the action adventure series 'Young Hercules' as the lead character which ran for fifty episodes between 1998 and 1999. Thereafter, the young Actor wanted to turn his attention to more serious roles offering greater variety, so he decided to move away from television and concentrate on feature films.

At the age of nineteen, Gosling secured a supporting role in the American football drama 'Remember The Titans' and thereafter his first lead role in 'The Believer' in 2001 - a semi-autobiographical drama film about a young Jewish lad who becomes a Neo-Nazi. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and much praise was bestowed upon Gosling's performance although the film recouped barely one-third of its US$1.5M production budget. This led to 2002's psychological thriller with Sandra Bullock in 'Murder by Numbers' and later that year 'The Slaughter Rule' with David Morse. Whilst the latter film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance again, the film had a limited release and made less that US$15K from its US$500K or so Budget cost. The following year, Gosling played in 'The United States of Leland' with Don Cheadle, Kevin Spacey and Chris Klein about a teenage boy who murders an intellectually disabled boy and the aftermath on both families. The film only received a US release and as such made US$344K only.

Gosling really hit the mainstream with 2004's romantic drama film 'The Notebook' Directed by Nick Cassavetes and co-starring Rachel McAdams. Set during the 1940's the film tells the story of a couple who fall in love, told from the present day in flash back, by Gosling's older self portrayed by James Garner. The film garnered several award wins and nominations, made US$116M from its US$29M Budget, and has appeared on numerous Most Romantic Movies lists. 2005 saw Psychological thriller 'Stay' with Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Bob Hoskins which was a Box Office bomb and garnered mixed Reviews at best. 'Half Nelson' followed in 2006 with Anthony Mackie, as did 'Fracture' with Anthony Hopkins, and then 'Lars and the Real Girl' seeing out the decade.

After an absence from movie making of three years, Gosling reappeared re-energised and reinvigorated in 2010 to conquer the world. 2010 launched with Derek Cianfrance's Directorial debut with 'Blue Valentine' with Michelle Williams, then crime drama 'All Good Things' opposite Kirsten Dunst and then the highly acclaimed crime drama 'Drive' Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and also starring Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Oscar Isaacs, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman and Christina Hendricks. The film picked up 77 award wins and another 171 nominations including one Oscar, one Golden Globe and four BAFTA nods. Also in 2011 was 'Crazy Stupid Love' with Steve Carell, Kevin Bacon, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone and Marisa Tomei, followed by political drama thriller Directed, Co-Written and starring George Clooney 'The Ides of March' which also starred Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Wright, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood and Max Minghella. The film garnered nine award wins and another 35 nominations including one Academy Award, four Golden Globe and two BAFTA nominations.

2012 saw another outing for Writer/Director Derek Cianfrance with crime drama 'The Place Beyond the Pines' with Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes and Ben Mendelsohn about a motorcycle stunt driver who turns to bank robbery as a means to provide for his girlfriend and their new child. The next year brought 1949 LA set action crime drama 'Gangster Squad' with Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and Emma Stone playing the love interest to Gosling's LAPD officer who attempts to outwit mob boss Mickey Cohen. This in turn led to another role in a Nicolas Winding Refn Written and Directed crime drama 'Only God Forgives' with Kristen Scott Thomas.

'The Big Short' followed in 2015. This biographical drama comedy about the mid-2000's financial melt-down and the bursting of the housing bubble was Directed by Adam McKay and Co-starred Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Rafe Spall and Hamish Linklater and was highly regarded by Critics and audiences alike, raking in an Academy Award and BAFTA win for Best Adapted Screenplay as well as four other Academy Award nominations, four Golden Globe nods and four BAFTA nods too amongst its total haul of 37 wins and 79 nominations. The film made US$134M off its US$50M budget investment. Shane Black's Co-Written and Directed mid '70's neo-noir action comedy offering teamed up Gosling with Russell Crowe in 'The Nice Guys' receiving generally positive Reviews, and this led of course to Damien Chazelle's hugely successful and popular 'La La Land' opposite Emma Stone. This film returned US$446M at the Box Office from its US$30M Budget outlay and won six Academy Awards and was nominated for a further eight, won seven Golden Globes, and won five BAFTA's and was nominated a further six times amongst its total collection of 214 wins and 249 other nominations.

Terrence Malick's Austin set music scene drama romance offering 'Song to Song' had a long gestation period to make it to our screens and a limited release just recently and also starred Michael Fassbender, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Holly Hunter and Val Kilmer. Also just recently released is the sequel thirty five years in the making, 'Blade Runner 2049' Directed by Denis Villeneuve with Gosling playing 'K' alongside Harrison Ford's reprised character Rick Deckard from the cult classic 1982 Ridley Scott Directed film, 'Blade Runner'. The film remains on general release and has so far grossed US241M against its US$150M Budget, and also stars Jared Leto, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Lennie James, Barkhad Abdi and Edward James Olmos also from the original film.

Next up Gosling is starring in the Damien Chazelle Directed vehicle 'First Man' based on the biography 'First Man : The Life of Neil A. Armstrong' with the Actor portraying the first man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong. Also starring Claire Foy, Jon Bernthal, Jason Clarke, Corey Stoll and Kyle Chandler, the film is scheduled for release in October 2018.

Aside form his Acting interest, Gosling also Wrote, Produced and Directed 'Lost River' in 2014 - his debut, in this mystery fantasy drama offering starring Christina Hendricks, Saoirse Ronan, Matt Smith, Ben Mendelsohn and Eva Mendes. The film Premiered in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival, and received a limited release in early 2015 making just US$615K at the Box Office and receiving mixed Reviews. Gosling also formed the indie rock band 'Dead Man's Bones' in 2007 with his friend Zach Shields. They released a self titled album in late 2009 on which Gosling contributed vocals, and played piano, bass guitar, guitar and cello on the recording. They subsequently played in several music festivals and toured briefly to promote the album in late 2009.

All up, Gosling has 43 Acting credits to his name, six as Producer, one as Writer and one as Director, and he has eleven Soundtrack credits too. He has been nominated for two Academy Awards for 'La La Land' and 'Half Nelson', won the Golden Globe for 'La La Land' and had four other nominations, was nominated for the BAFTA for 'La La Land', has two AACTA Award nominations, and four SAG nominations, out of a total awards haul to date of 32 wins and a further 138 nominations. He has dated his 'Murder by Numbers' Co-Star Sandra Bullock from 2002 to 2003, his 'The Notebook' Co-Star Rachel McAdams from 2005 to 2007, and from 2011 he has been in a relationship with his 'The Place Beyond the Pines' Co-Star Eva Mendes, with whom he has two daughters - Esmeralda Amada (born 2014) and Amada Lee (born 2016).

When he's not Acting or pursuing other film interest Gosling is a supporter of various social causes, including 'PETA' (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), 'Invisible Children, Inc.' raising awareness of the Lord's Resistance Army in Central Africa and its head, Joseph Kony, and has worked with the 'Enough Project' to put an end to genocide and crimes against humanity in conflict zones in Africa especially. He has visited Chad, Uganda and Congo as part of his commitment.

Ryan Gosling, an active owner of a Moroccan Restaurant in Beverly Hills; was voted on several 'Top' lists including 50 Hottest Bachelor's, Male Star of Tomorrow, and 30 Under 30; often gets confused with that other well known Canadian Actor, Ryan Reynolds; has yet to star in a horror film or as a Superhero (although was considered for the role of 'Batman' before Ben Affleck was cast in 'Batman v. Superman') but has starred in just about every other genre; and adds a gritty, often emotionally detached realism to his roles for which he has won acclaim and which keeps us returning to the cinema. Happy Birthday to you Ryan, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-