Birthday's to share this week : 11th-17th December 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Theo James does on 16th December - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 32, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 11th December

• Hailee Steinfeld - Born 1996, turns 20 - Actress
• Mo'Nique (Monique Imes) - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress | Producer
• Jean-Louis Trintignant - Born 1930, turns 86 - Actor | Writer | Director  

Monday 12th December

• Bill Nighy - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor | Producer
• Jennifer Connolly - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actress  

Tuesday 13th December

• Dick Van Dyke - Born 1925, turns 91 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Christopher Plummer - Born 1929, turns 87 - Actor | Producer
• Robert Lindsay - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor | Singer
• Steve Buscemi - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor | Director | Producer | Singer | Writer
• Jamie Foxx - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer

Wednesday 14th December

• Rebecca Gibney - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Sophie Monk - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actress

Thursday 15th December

• Don Johnson - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor | Producer 
• Stuart Townsend - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Director  

Friday 16th December

• Ben Cross - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor
• Shane Black - Born 1961, turns 55 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Benjamin Bratt - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer
• James Mangold - Born 1963, turns 53 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Theo James - Born 1984, turns 32 - Actor
• Miranda Otto - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress 

Saturday 17th December

• Tommy Steele - Born 1936, turns 80 - Singer | Actor 
• Bernard Hill - Born 1944, turns 72 - Actor 
• Eugene Levy - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer
• Bill Pullman - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Peter Farrelly - Born 1956, turns 60 - Producer | Writer | Director
• Rian Johnson - Born 1973, turns 43 - Director | Writer
• Giovanni Ribisi - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor | Producer
• Milla Jovovich - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actress | Singer | Songwriter  

Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis was born in Oxford, England, to mother Jane Martin who worked for the National Health Service, and father Philip Taptiklis, a business consultant. He is the youngest of five children - having two older brothers and two older sisters. From age eleven he attended Aylesbury Grammar School - a boys school located in the county of Buckinghamshire, and then went on to the University of Nottingham where he earned an undergraduate degree in Philosophy. He learned his acting craft at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, although throughout his school life and at University he appeared in numerous plays and short films.

He gained his first television appearance opposite Billie Piper in the mini-series 'A Passionate Woman' in 2010, followed up that same year in his feature film debut in a small role in Woody Allen's 'You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger' with Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts and Pauline Collins. This then led to an episode on 'Downton Abbey' before possibly his breakout role as Jed Harper on televisions 'Bedlam' in 2011 - about the drama and supernatural forces at work in an apartment building converted from a former insane asylum. The series ran for two seasons, with James appearing in all six of the first season.  

Next up came 'The Inbetweeners Movie' in which he starred as the night club rep., before being cast as David in the fourth film in the successful vampire/werewolf franchise 'Underworld : Awakening' in 2012. He would reprise his role in the recently released 'Underworld : Blood Wars' opposite Kate Beckinsale and Charles Dance once again. Also in 2012, James appeared in two episodes of British crime drama mini-series 'Case Sensitive' for the ITV Network opposite Darren Boyd and Olivia Williams, and then the BBC's two part mini-series of 'Room at the Top'.

2013 followed with James in the lead role of Walter William Clarke Jnr. in the CBS series of 'Golden Boy' about Clarke, an ambitious cop whose meteoric rise through the ranks sees him becoming the youngest Police Commissioner in New York's history. The series aired for thirteen episodes over just one season before being cancelled. This was followed up by the first instalment in the big screen adaptation of the hugely successful Veronica Roth novels 'Divergent' set in a future post-apocalyptic dystopian world where the surviving people are split into distinct factions based on their personality traits and human virtues. The story surrounds Beatrice 'Tris' Prior (Shailene Woodley) who learns that she is a rare 'Divergent' and will therefore never fit into one of the factions, and she quickly learns of a sinister plot afoot in their seemingly perfect world. Along the way she befriends Tobias 'Four' Eaton (James) and the two become close allies as the film series unfolds. This first film released in 2014 collected US$289M at the global Box Office.

A year later came the follow up, and the second in 'The Divergent Series' with 'Insurgent' with Woodley and James reprising their roles together with those of an all star cast including Jai Courtney, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet, Maggie Q, Octavia Spencer and Zoe Kravitz. This film returned US$297M. The third film in the franchise 'Allegiant' was released earlier this year, with the two principle characters reposing their roles once more, supported by much the same cast with the addition of Jeff Daniels and Bill Skarsgard, However, this film was less well received critically, and commercially was the least preforming of the three so far, generating a return of US$179M. This has prompted speculation of budget cuts to the fourth and final film in the series 'Ascendant' due supposedly in 2017, and the possibility that it may be released as a television movie instead of a feature film with a theatrical release. As a result both Woodley and James have aired their views on this stance that they will not be involved if this is the case. Watch this space!

These gave way to 'The Benefactor' (aka 'Franny') in 2015 with Richard Gere and Dakota Fanning, and then the also recently released 'War on Everyone' for Writer/Director John Michael McDonagh with Alexander Skarsgard and Michael Pena with James playing 'Lord' James Mangan who the two bad cops played by Skarsgard and Pena down Albuquerque way run in to with unexpected results. There was also 'The Secret Scripture' for Writer/Director Jim Sheridan with Rooney Mara, Eric Bana, Aidan Turner and Vanessa Redgrave which has not yet been released in Australia. This brings us up to date with current releases.

Next up is the thriller 'London Fields' with Billy Bob Thornton, Jim Sturgess, Jason Isaacs, Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and Cara Delevingne. The film was due for release a year or so ago but has been delayed due to legal action between the Director and the Producers. Due for release in 2017 is 'Backstabbing for Beginners' with Ben Kingsley and Jacqueline Bisset - with James playing UN Oil-for-Food Programme whistleblower who uncovers a major corruption scandal. And then there is the disputed 'Ascendant' final instalment in 'The Divergent Series' which may or may not get off the ground.

All up James has twenty-one Acting credits to his name so far, and he has garnered three award wins and another seven nominations. In his early acting days he also played in the London based band 'Shere Khan' as guitarist and singer, but in late 2012 the band split.

Theo James - private in his off-screen life, but well known for his role in two major film franchises; clearly in demand and on the rise; auditioned for James Bond but reportedly failed to get the gig; but has the smarts and the looks to go a long way yet. Happy Birthday to you Theo, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ALLEGIANT - THE DIVERGENT SERIES : Thursday 14th April 2016.

'ALLEGIANT' which I saw during the past week is the third instalment in the popular teenage dystopian Sci-Fi series of books by Veronica Roth that follows on from 'Divergent' and last years 'Insurgent' which made US$289M and US$298M respectively off the back of a combined US$195M budget, so hardly blockbuster status. Like 'Potter', 'Twilight' and 'The Hunger Games' before it, the final book in the Divergent series is split into two films with the final piece of this puzzle 'Ascendant' due for release in June 2017. In the meantime, 'Allegiant' is Directed by Robert Schwentke, who also Directed 'Insurgent', and was made for US$110M and since its release in the US on 18th March has so far made US$152M. The film has so far received largely luke warm reviews, but is likely to find an audience of those so far following the exploits of Tris Prior & Co., as the series enters its conclusion.

Here we see the same bunch of characters that you by now know, with Tris (Shailene Woodley) wishing to escape the confines of a walled in Chicago of the future with Four (Theo James) for the first time, so leaving behind everything and (almost) everyone she knows and loves.  With the events that unfolded at the end of 'Insurgent', we join as Evelyn (Naomi Watts) has taken power and is holding those citizens  of Dauntless and Erudite captive who conspired against the uprising. Those found 'guilty' are publicly executed - with Caleb (Ansel Elgort) next on the list who remains holed up in a jail cell gazing down at Tris for sympathy who is giving none - outwardly at least.  Evelyn attempts to pressure Tris and Four into taking a leadership role within the new order, but neither are interested and turn their backs as they have their own hidden agenda now.

Knowing that the hostilities will only escalate further Tris and Four manage to have Caleb released under false pretences and make their getaway with Christina (Zoe Kravitz), Peter (Miles Teller) and Tori (Maggi Q) to the wall that encircles Chicago which has now become reinforced with a high voltage current. Despite this they succeed in their attempt to free themselves of the city, but not without chase and a casualty along the way.

Needless to say they break through, scale down a cliff face and begin their journey into who knows what? It is not long before they emerge in a red & orange coloured landscape of scorched earth and toxic waterways, and the wreckage of a civilisation long since vanished. However, they are soon picked up by a group of friendly welcoming soldiers who have been watching their every move and reassure them they are now safe. They are escorted to the Bureau of Genetic Welfare - a highly advanced city amid the desolate landscape that has risen out of the former Chicago airport on the city's fringe. Here, Tris is introduced to David (Jeff Daniels) the leader of the Bureau who advises her of the truth behind Chicago, and that is was an experiment to raise genetically pure Divergents, but the experiments failed, and only Tris is truly pure, whilst all others are 'damaged' and to varying degrees. But David can help her restore peace to Chicago which is becoming increasingly fragile as the former Evelyn's factionless prepare to battle it out for supremacy over Johanna's (Octavia Spencer) new Allegiant faction, with the threat of all out war becoming more real by the day.

As Tris' trust in David grows, so Four becomes more suspicious. He is enlisted into the military force with Christina while Peter and Caleb are given surveillance duties within the Bureau, to maintain a very close watch on the developments and the comings & goings in Chicago. On a child rescue mission into the 'fringe' which Four joins, he learns that there is more to rescuing less fortunate kids that humanitarian reasons as he was led to believe. Having witnessed first hand what becomes of the captured children and uncovered the truth behind forceful child abductions Four confronts Tris with this news, but she dismisses the notion in support of David.

As Tris is flown with David to meet the Council he reports to in an attempt to stop the violence in Chicago, Four engineers his escape from the Bureau back to Chicago in attempt to halt an all out war.  He escapes but his ship is downed and he in injured but flees to safety and eventually makes it back to Chicago where he is picked up and promptly thrown in a cell where Evelyn confronts him with her desire to go to war and quell Johanna and her Allegiant faction. Meanwhile Tris' meeting with the Council did not go well and she learns that David had the authority all along to end the violence in Chicago but chose not to - as a consequence she breaks off her partnership with him as she can longer trust what he is saying. She returns to the Bureau and hatches a quick escape plan with Caleb and Christina.

They make it back to Chicago, locate Four but not before Evelyn aided by a turncoat Peter who has struck up a clandestine deal with David, have released a gas into the atmosphere of the city to erase the memories of all its inhabitants so ending the war and bring about peace in her favour and on her terms. With Peter and Evelyn sealed away in a tightly locked vault, it would be only them who have any memory of the before and after once the gas is fully released. In the meantime, Tris, Caleb, Chritsina and Four race against time to locate the underground gas dispersion hub to prevent the gas release from deploying fully.

Of course it all comes good in the end as the gas released is halted before it's all too late, but not before Evelyn is shot by an angered Peter who then makes his escape seeking to get back to the Bureau and claim his reward on the deal he struck up with David. The citizens
are free to live another day as Tris goes on air with the truth behind the existence of the Bureau and the experiment of which they have all been part . . . but no more, as Caleb sends the shuttle which brought them back is returned packed full of explosives which detonates upon reaching its target bringing down the Bureau, everyone in it and everything it stood for.

I have to say, I found this film underwhelming. Maybe the Director and the Producers are gearing up for the huge finale that will break Box Office records for the franchise and wow us beyond belief. There are no stand out moments in this film other than perhaps the spectacle of the visuals as we venture for the first time beyond the wall. Other than that this film is pretty pedestrian and everything you would expect. The cast seem to plod their way through their lines and the action - neither of which are especially memorable, and its all fairly predictable fare. Let's hope for a whole lot more on every level in the final chapter of this series - for which we'll have to wait another twelve months. In the meantime, wait for the Bluray and DVD release so that you can watch this in the comfort of your home.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

INSURGENT - Saturday 28th March 2015.

The first book in the Veronica Roth dystopian post-apocalyptic world trilogy - 'Divergent' reached our big screens last year at a cost of production at US$85M and took a worldwide gross of US$289M, and on the basis of that success, and its entertainment value, I saw its follow-up last night - 'INSURGENT'.

For me this series so far tops the other in a similar vein - 'The Hunger Games' which is nearing the end of its run with the final instalment due later this year. 'Insurgent' gives us more grounded characters with back stories we can relate to, a more believable story line, greater complexity and improved production values. The entertainment factor here gives us so much more, and I enjoyed this offering and look forward to the final chapter, 'Allegiant' (also to be split into two instalments surprise surprise!) in March 2016.

Taking over from Neil Burger in the Directors chair, this time around we have Robert Schwentke who was given a US$110M budget to play with, which after a week of release has so far taken US$118M at the global Box Office.

As the film opens we are just literally hours down the track from where the first film left off and Tris (Shailene Woodley), Four (Theo James), Caleb (Ansel Elgort) and Peter (Miles Teller) are on the run through the forest eventually finding refuge in an Amity camp. They wait up there to let the dust settle and reacquaint themselves with the land and the company of various other divided Factions. Meanwhile Jeanine (Kate Winslet) has her foot soldiers sifting through the debris of the destroyed Abnegation Faction for an artifact buried therein that is believed to have its origins with the founders of the city and which contains the secrets to overcoming the Divergent's once and for all. Problem is, only a Divergent can open the mythical box, and so Jeanine orders that all Divergents be rounded up and bought in to open the said Pandora's Box of tricks! Eric (Jai Courtney) and Max (Mekhi Phifer) are dispatched to lead the search and bring back any and all Divergents who will be tested to open the box . . . at no matter what cost!

As Eric and Max close in, so begins another cat & mouse game with Tris &Co on the run and the four split further as loyalties are tested and it's every man for himself. Tris and Four remain together with Caleb in tow, with  Peter having betrayed them to Eric & Max. As they evade their foe and seek to head back to the city aboard a train, they are set upon by the Factionless and a fight breaks out. After, when the dust has settled Four reveals his names as Tobias Eaton, and is advised that he has been sought after for a very long time now. With safe passage back to the Factionless enclave deep in the bowels of the city Four is confronted by his estranged Mother, believed to have died when he was six. She now heads up Factionless and wants revenge on Jeanine, but she may have a hidden agenda to take control of what remains afterwards, and is seeking to amass an army to overthrow Erudite.

As Four rebels against his Mother, the next morning he leaves with Tris and Caleb for Candor to reunite with their Dauntless colleagues, but Caleb announces he cannot continue and is not cut out for such heroic acts of bravery, adventure, risk & derring-do! Leaving Tris and Four to continue their journey they arrive at Candor, and momentarily all is good in the world until overcome by leader Jack Kang (Daniel Dae Kim) who intends to send them both to Erudite to stand trial for their crimes, believing that Jeanine is true & just. Needless to say it's not long before he is proven wrong!

With several Divergents captured and tested to open the box at Jeanine's hands, the body count is rising and her patience is wearing thin. Ordering again a greater sweep of all Divergent's Tris comes to terms with the fact that the only way to stop the murdering is for her to give herself up and put an end to Jeanine's power crazy ways. Doing so against the wishes of Four she slinks away to Erudite and is promptly strung up with various cables, electronic gadgetry and mind control mechanisms that will test her to her limits in an attempt to open the box.

Being 100% Divergent it seems it's down to Tris to do or die and she is the only one who can open the box having been through all Faction 'sims' and been successful . . .  maybe! As it plays out Tris has to come to terms with her own history, the guilt she carries around, the burden of what she has become and what she may truly represent, and the love she has for Four. In the final set piece there are a few surprises in store, a number of questions are answered and there is the big reveal that sets up the next instalment quite nicely with just the right amount of action and without too much melodrama.

Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Zoe Kravitz, Maggie Q, Ashley Judd are all there too and the visuals of a war torn battle scared trashed and wrecked city skyline that once was Chicago now surrounded by an enormous wall is very well rendered and impressive in its imagery. This is a worthy follow up to last years 'Divergent' and sets up 'Allegiant' nicely with just the right air of expectation and the promise of new things for our characters who will continue their journey.

  

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 19th March 2015.

The weeks fly by when you're having fun and watching movies, and it's even more true I think when you write about them too. Here in downtown Adelaide in South Australia, I have found two movie theatres within walking distance of my humble little dwelling that offer film festivals, current releases and live entertainment spread over ten screens in two theatres, 200 metres from each other and in the heart of a busy bustling bar, restaurant, and cafe strip . . . how good is that, and I'm wondering how to I fit in all of my favourite things? Enough though of my ramblings - what of this weeks latest film offerings?

First up there is the second instalment of another futuristic dystopian Sci-Fi world plucked from the pages of an international best seller aimed squarely at the teen market but attracting more discerning adult bums on seats too; then the action hero of the moment has churned out another formulaic hunt 'em down, beat 'em up offering that looks increasingly like this ageing protagonist is just cashing in another pay cheque; and finally a famed art house auteur making a historical piece on a shoestring budget that has quirky eccentric bold & beautiful painted all over it.

When you have caught your movie of choice in the week ahead of those films new to cinemas, or, those still doing the rounds on general release, write a comment for the legions of Odeon Online fans out there and share your thoughts in the Comments Box below this, or any other Post. Enjoy your film!

INSURGENT (Rated M) - the first book in this series by Veronica Roth - 'Divergent' hit our big screens in 2014 and was made for US$85M and brought home US$289M in the final analysis. Clearly enough of a hit to ensure this sequel, with one more to go in 2016 - although that might be split over two films too as is the way these days it would seem (think 'Potter', 'Twilight' and 'Hunger Games'). Directed now by Robert Schwentke for US$110M here we see the characters torn asunder and divided far & wide joining them now three days after we last saw them. Beatrice 'Tris' Prior (Shailene Woodley) is on the run with Four (Theo James), with Janine Matthews (Kate Winslett) as the leader of the Erudite faction hot on the heels and determined to hunt them down.

Tris and Four need to reassemble the crew and uncover what Abnegation sacrificed their lives to safeguard and why Erudite will stop at nothing to prevent them from moving forward and uncovering the truth. As the once strong and solid Faction system in a post-apocalyptic Chicago crumbles away and the powers remaining fight for power and supremacy, Tris must overcome numerous mental and physical challenges of her own that reveal secrets of her past, the key to the future, and what she must do to protect those she loves. You know it will end on a cliffhanger, so be prepared for more unanswered questions to ensure you come back for the next instalment 12 months from now. Also starring those returned from last time and a few new faces - Ansel Elgort, Naomi Watts, Jai Courtney, Ashley Judd and Maggie Q amongst others.

BIG EYES (Rated M) - quirky left field Director Tim Burton has made a little film for just US$10M based on the real life painting fraud of the 1950's and 60's of Margaret Keane - the painter of those famed pictures of waif like children with large over exaggerated bulging eyes. Struggling to make ends meet after a divorce Margaret (Amy Adams) meets up with kindly gregarious ladies man and fellow painter Walter Keane (Christophe Waltz) and before you can say 'fake or forgery' the two are an item. Recognising the talent in the paintings and using his canny marketing skills and a polished sales pitch Walter sets about selling these paintings anywhere and everywhere he can . . . signing his own name to the artwork while Margaret is at home locked up bashing out big eyed painting after big eyed painting. Oblivious to her husbands signatory ruse things come to a head that result in the couple divorcing in a bitter court battle that exposes Walter as an artistic fraud, while Margaret strives to clear her name, reclaim her artwork, safeguard her financial future and rebuild her life. Intense and colourful - like the paintings!

RUN ALL NIGHT (Rated MA15+) - you can easily be forgiven for thinking that 60 something action star Liam Neeson has phoned this one in too for the sake of a big pay day to be reminded of his previous tough guy kick-ass anti-hero offerings 'Taken' and all its sequels, 'Non-Stop' and more recently 'A Walk Among The Tombstones'. This one though seems to promise a little more as Jimmy Conlon (Neeson) is a down on his luck, no hope boozing ex-mob hit man has been that once was best mates with his mob-boss Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris). When the mob orders a hit on Jimmy's estranged son Michael (Joel Kinnaman), Jimmy must go head to head with the mob, with his old friend Maguire, corrupt cops, hired killers and other undesirables to protect himself and his son whom he hardly knows. Loyalties will be tested, Jimmy will utilise his own 'particular set of skills', heads will be cracked, bullets will be chewed, shit will get blown up, cars trashed and the body count is likely to rise in good old mob gangster style. What's not to like?

Three films this week to tease, cajole, and entice you out to your local movie theatre and in front of a big screen. Share your thoughts with your like minded friends at Odeon Online and keep going to the movies.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-