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- 

THE NICE GUYS : Thursday 26th May 2016

'THE NICE GUYS' which I saw on the opening day of its Australian release is Directed and Co-Written by Shane Black and having received its Premier at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month, it's US release on Friday 20th May, and arriving on our Australian shores this week, this odd-couple buddy comedy mystery film set in late-70's Los Angeles has so far received much critical acclaim, and US$24M from its US$50M outlay.






Starring Russell Crowe as Jackson Healy a street smart, hard hitting shoot first ask questions later enforcer for hire who is fighting his own demons including keeping off the alcohol, struggling with the way the world is changing and fearful he's getting old before his time, and who seems to be relationship phobic except with his tank full of fish. He lives in a bedsit above a bar, and that basically is his world, wrapped up in a blue leather jacket that is so well worn it could probably stand up on its own.

Then there is Holland March (Ryan Gosling) - a down on his luck worse ex-cop ever private eye who comes with his own set of baggage including teenage daughter Holly (Angourie Rice) whose smarts more often than not keep her dad in check, an alcohol problem being rarely seen without a stiff drink in his hand, an aversion to the sight of blood - especially when it's his own seen pouring profusely from his cut wrist, and dodgy investigative practices that if it weren't for his daughter would see him on the wrong side of the law more often than not.

The two join forces unexpectedly to track down a missing young girl Amelia Kutner (Margaret Qualley) following the tragic & untimely death of a porn star Misty Mountains (Murielle Telio). Hired by the porn stars grieving aunt who claims to have seen Misty alive following her alleged death, March takes on the case realising that there might be a link to the missing girl. It turns out that the missing girl is not really missing at all, but is just AWOL not wanting to be discovered by her mother Judith Kutner (Kim Bassinger) a high ranking official in the Department of Justice who claims her daughter is delusional and suffering paranoia. It turns out that Amelia and Misty Mountains were making an 'experimental' porn film together - part porn and part investigative expose about the LA smog and the car manufacturing giants that have contributed to it through exhaust emissions - that they plan to air unannounced at the upcoming LA Auto Show. Amelia hires Healy to get March of her case, which is how the two odd-balls come together in the first place although it doesn't end so well for March, but they soon come to realise they need each other.

The pair quickly learn that there are equally dangerous unscrupulous individuals hot on Amelia's trail too including the Older Guy (Keith David) and Blue Face (Beau Knapp). and that there is much more to this case than simply a missing person, as various persons of interest wind up dead during the course of their investigation. These include young Dean - the film maker whose house mysteriously burnt down with him in it, and with it the roll of film containing the 'experimental film'. Additionally, the money behind the film, financed by Sid Shattack - a king pin in the LA porn scene at the time, winds up very dead too with his face smashed in and discovered by accident one night at the bottom of a hill, that March tumbles down while at a party.

While Amelia pops up at various points in the film being very elusive, we learn that there is a second roll of film stashed away somewhere, that possibly Misty's aunt may be able to lead them to given the earlier claims she made to having seen the porn star alive after being reported dead. They visit Misty's house and find secret projection equipment, and deduce that the Aunt must have seen an image of Misty projected onto the wall in the house, and therefore a second roll of film is confirmed. But there are various nefarious crims closing in on the trail, including a hired hit man John Boy (Matt Bomer) who will stop at nothing to take out Amelia and prevent her from going public about what she knows, and well as Older Guy and Blue Face. The web of intrigue deepens as Healy and March, following a shoot out with John Boy, seek to bring the matter to the courts based on what they know - that the government and the media joined forces to down play the automotive industry's part in exhaust emissions and suppressing catalytic converters, but they have no evidence and so their case is dismissed.

Everything hinges on real evidence, and so they question Chett (Jack Kilmer) a young projectionist who worked on the film with Misty, Amelia and Dean, who they find beaten up in a dumpster at the hotel where the LA Auto Show is having its opening night. The other thugs have already got to him and he tells Healy & March that he has spliced the film into the opening presentation film which will be projected from a hotel window down onto the screen below. The chase is on to get to the projector and the film first and prevent its broadcast, and as both sides clash there are inevitable deaths before the roll of film is saved and the evidence secured. Whilst the case comes before the courts it is dismissed  and the Detroit car companies are not held guilty, and Judith Kutner is found not guilty of any cover up claiming she was acting in the best interest as a mother for her daughter and stating too 'what is good for Detroit, is good for America' . . . if only she could have seen thirty years into the future!!!

Crowe and Gosling clearly share an onscreen chemistry that make this an enjoyable and engaging romp through a late 70's LA that delivers conspiracies, thugs and underworld crims, violence, moments of humour and a touch of noir that round out the package quite nicely. Both show off their comedic talents well, and in this respect Gosling is the surprise in all of this as he does so with pathos and in an understated and believable way. While Crowe is perfectly at home with his bully-boy no-nonsense style - the two riff off each other in a fear and loathing yin-yang kinda way until the end when their exploits on this case bring them together as they launch their new investigative agency - 'The Nice Guys'! Certainly worth the price of your ticket and I can see that if this does well enough, there could well be a sequel in the offing!

  

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 26th May 2016.

The 69th annual Cannes Film Festival wrapped up last Sunday 22nd May, having commenced on 11th May amidst all the pomp & ceremony, the film world glitterati and glamourati, the movers & shakers, and the stars from in front of, and behind the camera in what must rank as the film festival to be seen at for anyone who's anyone in the movie business. The festival opened with Woody Allen's 47th film 'Cafe Society' showing out of competition, and Ken Loach's 'I, Daniel Blake' closing the festival and in main competition.

With Australian Director, George Miller acting as President for the Jury for the main competition with 21 films all competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or, and another 18 in the Un Certain Regard category and several other groupings including short films, those made by students at film school, the International Critics Week and the Directors Fortnight, those serving on the various judging panels would have had their work cut out - life's tough, but someone's gotta do it I guess! Listed below are the main winners & grinners of this years awards at Cannes, and therefore those to watch out for when they make it to a screen near you :-

In main competition :

• Palme d'Or : 'I, Daniel Blake' - Directed by Ken Loach
• Grand Prix : 'It's Only the End of the World' - Directed, Produced and Written for the Screen by Xavier Dolan
• Jury Prize : 'American Honey' - Directed and Written by Andrea Arnold
• Best Directors : Olivier Assayas for 'Personal Shopper' tied with Cristian Mungiu for 'Graduation'.

Un Certain Regard :

• Un Certain Regard Award : 'The Happiest Day in the Life of Ollie Maki' - Directed by Juho Kuosmanen
• Jury Prize : 'Harmonium' - Directed and Written by Koji Fukada
• Special Prize : 'The Red Turtle' - Directed and Co-Written by Michael Dudok de Wit
• Best Director : Matt Ross for 'Captain Fantastic', which he also wrote.

Out of competition :

• 'The BFG' - Directed by Steven Spielberg with Mark Rylance, and Ruby Barnhill
• 'Money Monster' - Directed by Jodie Foster with George Clooney and Julia Roberts
• 'The Nice Guys' - Directed by Shane Black with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling (refer below)
• 'Cafe Society' - Directed by Woody Allen with Steve Carell and Kristen Stewart
• 'The Wailing' - Directed by Na Hong-jin with Kwak Do-won and Hwang Jung-min
• 'Blood Father' - Directed by Jean-Francois Richet with Mel Gibson and Erin Moriarty
• 'Gimme Danger' - Directed by Jim Jarmusch with Iggy Pop and 'The Stooges'
• 'Train to Busan' - Directed by Yeon Sang-ho with Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi.

And so coming closer to home what can you expect in the week ahead? Well, actually three films to give you another reason to get amongst it at your local movie theatre.  First up the follow-up to a classic fantasy novel made into several films over the years, but this follow up relates specifically to the most recent 2010 blockbusting version reuniting an all star cast, familiar characters, and all the visual spectacle that this world can muster at the hands of a different Director. Then there is a throw back to the 70's buddy comedy mystery conspiracy thriller movie that brings together two heavy hitters hamming it up to great effect with big hair, wide lapels and flared pants, before winding up with a record breaking New Zealand comedy chase drama that sees the young and the old pitting their wits together as they go on the run cross country to evade the authorities.

As ever, and with heaps of great filmic choice now out on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in this and previous Posts at this humble little Blog, feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and observations after you have sat through your film of choice this week. Leave a Comment in the section below this or any other Post - we'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

'ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS' (Rated PG) - Tim Burton's 2010 'Alice in Wonderland' from the classic Lewis Carroll works follows a long line of films, television movies, short films, and various derivatives based on the esteemed works that date back all the way to 1903. Burton's works would however, be arguably the most successful to date having won two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Art Direction as well as 32 others wins and 62 further nominations, not to mention is US$1.03B Box Office haul ranking it #23 on the highest all time grossing movies list. It was inevitable therefore that the follow up film also based on Carroll's works would eventually transpire. And so it has, but without Tim Burton in the Director's chair, instead electing to take on a Producer role and allow James Bobin to take the helm whilst reuniting the cast from the first film with a budget of US$170M.

And so Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) has spent the last few years sailing the seas and returns to London having to make a decision that may determine her life's destiny. Coming across Absolem, the caterpillar (voiced by Alan Rickman in his last film appearance), she eventually winds up once again in Wonderland where she discovers that all is not well and the Hatter (Johnny Depp) is behaving more madly than ever falling into a depression over the death of his family. Reuniting with her old friends the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Matt Lucas), she decides that she needs to go back in time to save those she knows and loves. She steals a device from Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen) so that she can go back, but while there encounters the younger Hatter and the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and learns what made her friends and enemies who they are today, whilst also potentially confirming her own destiny back home - but, it's a race against the ticking clock. Also starring Rhys Ifans, Timothy Spall, Toby Jones, John Sessions, Barbara Windsor and Paul Whitehouse.

'THE NICE GUYS' (Rated MA15+) - Directed and Co-Written by Shane Black and having received its Premier at the Cannes Film Festival just over a week ago, it's US release last Friday and arriving on our Australian shores this coming week, this buddy comedy mystery film set in late-70's Los Angeles has so far received much critical acclaim, and US$14M from its US$50M outlay. Starring Russell Crowe as Jackson Healy a street smart, hard hitting shoot first ask questions later enforcer for hire teams up unwittingly with Holland March (Ryan Gosling) - a down on his luck worse cop ever private eye. When the two join forces unexpectedly to track down a missing young girl Amelia Kutner (Margaret Qualley), they quickly learn that are equally dangerous unscrupulous individuals hot of her trail too, and that there is much more to this case than simply a missing person. Various persons wind up dead during the course of their investigation and they uncover a criminal conspiracy that goes all the way to the top! Also starring Kim Bassinger and Keith David.

'HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE' (Rated PG) - this New Zealand produced film that cost NZ$3M to make broke Box Office records when it opened in New Zealand on 31st March setting a new record for the highest grossing first week of any New Zealand film ever. The film Premiered in competition at this years Sundance Film Festival back in January and now reaches our shores with close to NZ$10M under its belt. Directed by Taika Waititi who also wrote the Screenplay based on the 'Wild Pork and Watercress' book by Barry Crump this film tells the story of rebellious young Ricky (13 year old Julian Dennison in his third acting role) who is sent away by Child Welfare Services to live in the country with a foster Aunt and Uncle. When the foster Aunt Bella passes away suddenly the child welfare people want to send Ricky into care, but he hot foots it in protest with grumpy opinionated foster Uncle Hec (Sam Neill) in pursuit. Fearing the worst, the child welfare people think that Hec has abducted Ricky in his grief, and so a national manhunt begins which brings the young lad and the old codger together as they pit their wits against authority as they attempt to thwart those that are likely to send them both away to someplace that neither wants to go.

Three new films that offer comedy, drama, fantasy, action and some big name players to tempt you out on a cool near Winter's evening, as well as a a raft of great cinematic content still out there on general release. Do yourself a favour and catch a movie in the week ahead, and, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-