Birthday's to share this week : 13th-19th December 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jake Gyllenhaal does on 19th December - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy, turning 35, 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 13th December

• Jamie Foxx - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Steve Buscemi - Born 1957, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Christopher Plummer - Born 1929, turns 86 - Actor | Producer
• Dick Van Dyke - Born 1925, turns 90 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Robert Lindsay - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actor

Monday 14th December

• Vijay Amritraj - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Tennis Ace
• Rebecca Gibney - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress | Producer
• Sophie Monk - Born1979, turns 36 - Actress

Tuesday 15th December

• Don Johnson - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actor | Producer
• Alex Cox - Born 1954, turns 61 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Editor

Wednesday 16th December

• Theo James - Born 1984, turns 31 - Actor
• Benjamin Bratt - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actor | Producer
• Shane Black - Born 1961, turns 54 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Ben Cross - Born 1947, turns 68 - Actor
• James Mangold - Born 1963, turns 52 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Miranda Otto - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actress

Thursday 17th December

• Milla Jojovich - Born 1975, turns 40 - Actress | Singer
• Giovanni Ribisi - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actor
• Bill Pullman - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Rian Johnson - Born 1973, turns 42 - Director | Writer
• Eugene Levy - Born 1946, turns 69 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Bernard Hill - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actor

Friday 18th December

• Brad Pitt - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actor | Producer
• Steven Spielberg - Born 1946, turns 69 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor
• Ray Liotta - Born 1954, turns 61 - Actor | Producer
• Steve Austin - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | WWF Wrestler & Ringmaster
• Katie Holmes - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Rachel Griffiths - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actress | Writer

Saturday 19th December 

• Jennifer Beals - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actress | Producer
• Jake Gyllenhaal - Born 1980, turns 35 - Actor | Producer

Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal was born in Los Angeles, California to mother Naomi Achs - a film Producer and Screenwriter and father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, a film Director. He has an older sister - Maggie  - also an acclaimed Actress who is married to Actor Peter Saragaard. His parents divorced in 2009. He has Swedish noble blood running through his veins on his fathers side that dates back to 1652 when the name first appeared, descended from cavalryman Nils Gunnarsson Haal. His mother is of Jewish origin and Gyllenhaal considers himself Jewish. In his early teens he worked as a volunteer at a homeless shelter, as a Summer Holiday lifeguard and as a Busboy is a family friends restaurant - all to keep him grounded given the trappings of a Hollywood lifestyle enjoyed in his privileged upbringing. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in LA in 1998, and then attended Columbia University, but after two years dropped out to concentrate on an acting career.

His acting career started when he was just ten years old starring as Billy Crystal's son in 'City Slickers'. Two years later he starred in 'A Dangerous Woman' as Directed by his father and written for the screen by his mother, and starring alongside his sister with Gabriel Byrne, David Strathairn, Debra Winger and Barbara Hershey. His father would Direct him again in 1998 in 'Homegrown' with John Lithgow, Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria and Jamie Lee Curtis; with Joe Johnston's 'October Sky' in 1999 closing out the decade with Chris Cooper and Laura Dern.

Critical acclaim would come with the first film of the new decade in 2002 with 'Donnie Darko' - set in 1988 Gyllenhaal plays the title character alongside his sister once again, and Patrick Swayze, Drew Barrymore and an eight feet tall menacing white rabbit called Frank. Whilst barely a commercial success, it has subsequently over the years risen to 'cult status'.

A number of teenage romance films followed the forgettable 'Highway' in which he starred with future Oscar winner Jared Leto, and these included 'The Good Girl', 'Lovely and Amazing', and 'Bubble Boy'.

The Roland Emmerich disaster epic 'The Day After Tomorrow' saw Gyllenhaal in the lead role as the Northern Hemisphere freezes over, and in the process grossing a cool US$545M at the Global Box Office. After this there was really no going back, with Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' starring Heath Ledger and winning a swag of awards including Academy Awards, BAFTA's and Golden Globes totalling 122 wins and another 106 nominations from around the traps.





That same year Gyllenhaal also put out 'Proof' with Anthony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow, and the Desert Storm story of 'Jarhead' as Directed by Sam Mendes and starring brother-in-law and good friend Peter Sarsgaard, and Jamie Foxx. Afterwards came the murder mystery thriller for David Fincher, 'Zodiac', about the as yet unsolved serial killings by 'The Zodiac Killer' between December 1968 and October 1969. This was followed up later that year with 'Rendition' in which he co-starred with Peter Sarsgaard once again and Meryl Streep and Reese Witherspoon. The decade drew to a close with 'Brothers' - a wartorn film with Afghanistan as the backdrop with Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman. After this came the movie adaptation of the video game 'Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time' and then the RomCom 'Love and Other Drugs' with Anne Hathaway, for which Gyllenhaal received a Golden Globe nomination.

2012 saw 'End of Watch' - the highly acclaimed LA buddy cop movie starring Michael Pena. In between time there was 'Source Code' for Duncan Jones, and following 'Prisoners' with Hugh Jackman and Paul Dano, and then doppelganger 'Enemy' - the latter two films both Directed by Denis Villeneuve. 'Nightcrawler' was next in 2014 and one of this Reviewers favourite films of that year, with 'Accidental Love', 'Southpaw' and 'Everest' all released earlier this year. Next up is is 'Demolition' in early 2016 with Chris Cooper and Naomi Watts, with 'Nocturnal Animals' in post-production for a 2016 release, and then 'The Current War', 'Stronger', 'Okja' all currently in pre-production, and 'The Man Who Made It Snow' for Antoine Fuqua recently announced.

All up Gyllenhaal has 38 Acting credits and three Producer credits. He has garnered thirty Award wins including the 2006 BAFTA win for 'Brokeback Mountain' and a nomination for 'Nightcrawler' plus two Golden Globe nominations and an Academy Award nomination for 'Brokeback Mountain' too. He has a total 75 nominations all up to date.

Having been raised in the Hollywood Acting community, Paul Newman and Jamie Lee Curtis were/are his Godparents, and he is Godfather to Matilda Rose Ledger, daughter of the late Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams. He has been romantically linked to Kirsten Dunst, Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, and model Alyssa Miller. He is politically active, supporting the Democrats and John Kerry in the past. He is also environmentally active supporting recycling, tree planting, climate change as well as supporting various charities too.

Jake Gyllenhaal - born into the industry and active in it already for 25 of his 35 years; has nobility in his ancestry; the recipient of numerous on-screen and off-screen official and unofficial awards; continues to draw a crowd with a diverse portfolio of work; and just keeps getting better with every role - Happy Birthday to you Jake, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA : Tuesday 8th December 2015.

Back in 1820 a whaling ship from Massachusetts captained by George Pollard Jnr, was sunk in the Southern Pacific Ocean by a sperm whale - that ship was 'The Essex'! As a result of its sinking the twenty man crew spent months at sea having to go to extreme physical and emotional lengths in order to survive before the final eight men were finally rescued. Cabin Boy Thomas Nickerson and First Mate Owen Chase wrote an account of their ordeal at sea at the mercy of a sperm whale and that inspired Herman Melville's 1851 book, 'Moby Dick' - the story upon which Director Ron Howard has based his latest film taken from the 2000 book of the same name by Nathaniel Philbrick - 'IN THE HEART OF THE SEA', which I saw earlier this week. Released in many of the major territories around the world, including Australia on 3rd December, it gets it's US release on 11th December, and having cost US$100M to make it has so far clawed back US$19M as of 6th December.

Out story opens up in Nantucket in 1819 which we are told is the centre of the world whale oil business, the fuel the lights and warms the homes and streets of the nation and beyond. It is a valuable commodity being traded for huge sums across all the major markets, and such whaling ship owners grow ever more hungry for the rich rewards to be reaped from the ocean depths and the various whale colonies that can be harvested for their oil, blubber and other by-products. One such shipman is Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth) - a sea hardened whaleman who is as comfortable mid-ocean as he is back on dry land, and hungry for his first captaincy. With the promise of one such captaincy by the whaling fleet owner Paul Mason (Donald Sumpter), he is summonsed as First Mate to the offices of Mason for his next voyage on the recently refitted 'The Essex'. But, Mason renegs on his previous commitment and announces that this time George Pollard (Benjamin Walker) is to captain the vessel, and should they return with 2,000 barrels of oil, then Chase's captaincy is assured, without question, for the next voyage. Under duress, but with an extra financial incentive, Chase agrees, and 'The Essex' sets sail. Leaving Peggy (Charlotte Riley), his expecting wife behind, Chase says see ya later - will be back in under three years!

With the crew assembled, we quickly learn who's who in the zoo including young greenhorn Thomas Nickerson (Tom Holland) on his maiden voyage, and Second Mate, Matthew Joy (Cillian Murphy) a long term friend of Chase. What is also apparent early on is the seafaring differences between tried tested proven and experienced First Mate Chase, and the Captain who was born with a silver spoon in his arse and handed this captaincy on a plate with high expectations from his sea faring father. Needless to say it doesn't go well when Pollard over rules a decision made by Chase, and as a consequence steers the ship into a squall, and a fierce one at that resulting in the death of two men and much damage to the ship. This in turn sets the tone for the relationship between Pollard and Chase, with the Captain commanding that the ship returns to Nantucket for repairs. Chase convinces him otherwise and to continue the journey with the ship repaired and to go in search of whales.

Soon after they reach a happy hunting ground and spear their first sperm whale which brings in 45 barrels of whale oil and various other by-products, and the men rejoice in their success, but after this it is slow going and very slim pickings. They continue south and round Cape Horn, and then continue north up the west coast of South America crossing the Equator and coming into dock in Ecuador. There they meet up with the Spanish crew of another vessel who talk to them of a place 1,000 miles west following the line of the Equator, where whales blow as far as the eye can see. But the Spaniards also talk of a monster whale, the like of which has never been seen before that stalks ships, destroys them and hardened men with it - and they have the battle scars to prove it!

This raises the spirits aboard 'The Essex' and off the men set, having dismissed the talk of a monster whale. They venture further and further away from land with still no sight of any whales, and becoming increasingly despondent, and then in the distance, there they are - in their hundreds, and easy pickings. Launching three whaleboats armed with whaling spears and fathoms of rope they have easy pickings, this time, or so they think . . . not counting on the monster whale of the deep that attacks Chase's whale boat leaving it to return to the mothership for hasty repairs. Leaving the other two whaleboats out amongst it chasing down their prey, they are oblivious to the fate that awaits 'The Essex' when the deep sea whale monster returns for the attack striking at the heart of the ship puncturing a gaping hole in its side and causing all manner of irreparable damage, destruction and death.

When Pollard's attention is grabbed of his ship listing a short distance away, taking on water and with a downed mast Chase must explain that the damage was done by the mythical whale, who returns once more to make his presence felt and reinforce the fact that his a mean MoFo whale of a thing not to be messed with, and to leave his kind alone! Pollard gives the order to abandon ship and all surviving men gather what they can into the three remaining whaleboats, while 'The Essex' slowly sinks to the depths beneath.

What follows is the plight of the men stranded mid Pacific Ocean; 1,000 miles from land; with limited supplies; baking in the sun or tossed about in raging storms; slowly dying one by one from exhaustion, lack of water, starvation or their injuries sustained earlier on. Bobbing up & down the three whaleboats eventually become separated, and as the days become weeks which become months lost at sea with little hope of rescue, the men have to resort to extreme lengths in order to survive. Eventually they spy land by which time the boats have reunited - a remote island in the distance and their spirits lift, but only for a moment before the gigantic whale appears again and takes out another boat, leaving the survivors washed up and barley clinging onto survival. But they do, they regroup, get stronger and ready themselves to leave - four choosing to stay behind and take their chances, including a badly injured Joy.

The remaining two whaleboats cast off, venturing once more into the unknown. More weeks pass and suffering despair, panic, hunger, and thirst one whaleboat is picked up by a passing ship, and the other drifts close to land and is picked up too - the men all near death. Only eight survive, including Chase, Pollard and the young Nickerson, and of those eight, three remained on that island which Chase subsequently went back for.

The young Nickerson grows up, marries and the story is told by him almost thirty years later throughout the film by his older self in the form of Brendan Gleeson, recounting his story reluctantly one night to Herman Melville (Ben Whishaw) a budding Author of fiction who had heard tale of the great whale and had hunted down Nickerson wanting a first hand account for his new novel. Nickerson had never before spoken of that fateful voyage but does so finally tempted by a financial incentive and the need after all these years to  bear his sole and cleanse his guilt and remorse. In 1851 Herman Melville published the fictional 'Moby Dick' based on the real life experiences of Nickerson and Chase abroad 'The Essex' thirty years earlier.

This is a film worth seeing on the big screen, and the story is well realised and delivered. At times though the CG is a little too obvious and as such a let down particularly when the action is up close and personal with jumping dolphins and whales en masse in an early whaleboat scene, or the close ups on or beneath the surface of the great whale. Benjamin Walker for me was a little stiff, and Chris Hemsworth with a Nantucket accent I am not so sure about. That said, it stands proud as a period piece with a number of redeeming features, will be fare better than the 2010 'Moby Dick' stinker but unlikely to top Gregory Peck and Orson Welles 1956 John Huston classic 'Moby Dick', but, it is entertaining enough to warrant the price of a ticket.

  

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 10th December 2015.

Last week I gave a quick snapshot of the first Awards Ceremony of AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) as presented on 30th November with its film accolades for those working behind the camera; with the second ceremony to be held on 9th December for those working in front of it. On that evening nine film awards were presented with another six this week, and both events are held at Sydney's Star Casino. In the meantime however, it has been announced that Australia's very own Cate Blanchett is to be the proud and very worthy recipient of the AACTA Longford Lyell Award, which is presented to those who have made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia’s screen environment and culture. This most prestigious award (named after Australian pioneering film-makers Raymond Longford and his partner Lottie Lyell) and the highest honour to be bestowed by AACTA will be presented on Wednesday evening by Hugo Weaving and Richard Roxburgh with personal tributes from Gillian Armstrong, Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford, Ridley Scott and Ron Howard amongst others. For more go to : www.aacta.org

There are slim pickings in movie theatres in the week ahead with only limited new content coming our way, although there are still plenty of offerings out there on general release that has been either Reviewed, Previewed or both in previous Blog Posts on these humble pages. I guess it is the calm before the storm of a certain much hyped eagerly awaited and highly anticipated inter galactic saga that continues the franchise that started almost forty years ago and which has its release in just one week from now, and of course there is a plethora of new films coming our way at Christmas and early in the new year. For those, you'll have to keep reading, but until then, we'll Review what there is this week. And so this week we have just one new film of the high stakes gambling persuasion set amidst the deep southern USofA that is your not your typical gaming & wagering offering.

As usual you are cordially invited to leave a parting comment once you have sat through your movie of choice and formed an opinion of what your have seen up on the big silver screen - good, bad or indifferent, we'd love to hear from you! You can do so below this or any other Post in the Comments section that follows every Post. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

MISSISSIPPI GRIND (Rated M) - Written and Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, this film had its initial release at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year, and its Stateside release in late September, so it has taken a while to reach our shores Down Under, although it was shown too at the Melbourne International Film Festival in early August this year. Originally Jake Gyllenhaal was linked to the project way back in 2012, but dropped out to be replaced by Ryan Reynolds. And so this story is one of gambling in America's deep south centering around New Orleans and the road trip to get there stopping off at various casino's, racetracks, bars & clubs en route.

Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) is a down at heel, down on his luck, down in the dumps gambler on a losing streak but still chasing his losses looking for the big win that will reverse his fortunes and set him up. Gerry meets up by chance with Curtis (Ryan Reynolds) a young buck, with luck on his side, a twinkle in his eye, and an easy come easy go outlook on life. Soon Gerry's luck begins to change for the better and so the two team up with Gerry believing he has found his good luck charm in Curtis. They leave Iowa and head to New Orleans where a high stakes poker game promises rich rewards, and whilst en route the two get to know each other, form a bond and uncover what motivates them and what traits underpin their individual characters. If you are expecting 'Casino' or 'The Gambler' you'll be disappointed, this it ain't - more a character study of what drives the gambling psyche. Sienna Miller also stars.

If this film is for you or not, or any of those currently in circulation, share your views with the movie going world here at Odeon Online, and in the meantime, do you bit to keep movies alive.

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

CREED : Saturday 5th December 2015.

Astonishingly way back 39 years ago in 1976, a young Sylvester Stallone, who wrote the screenplay for a film and a character that would forever becomes etched in cinematic folklore, burst onto our screens as Rocky Balboa - 'The Italian Stallion'. He was a down at heel no hope dead end lunk of wannabe Boxer from the poorer side of Philadelphia who against all the odds went onto to a world championship bout against Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). That film won three Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Directing for John Avildsen, and was nominated for a further seven awards including Best Actor and Best Writing for Stallone. It picked up another sixteen award wins and another fourteen nominations and propelled Stallone to super stardom in the years that followed. Subsequently there have been further Rocky films in 1979, 1982, 1985, 1990 and 'Rocky Balboa' in 2006. Those six films had a combined production budget of just US$119M and all up grossed US$1.27B. In the meantime and sticking with the pugilist theme, Stallone made 'Grudge Match' in 2013 with Robert De Niro and in 1978, 'Paradise Alley' - Stallone's Directorial debut, albeit about wrestling, but, still keeping it in the ring!

So this brings us to 'CREED' which I saw this weekend. Made for US$35M and Directed by Ryan Coogler, this film has so far grossed $59M since its US and Australian release just ten days ago. As the name suggests this film is less about Rocky and more about Creed, but is a spin-off from the successful 'Rocky' franchise and a sequel to the last film from 2006.

Our film opens in 1998 in a juvenile correctional facility where a young teenage black kid is beating up another. He is separated from the melee and confined. He is then visited by Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad) - Apollo Creed's widow, but the young lad has no idea who she is, because this young lad never knew his father and has been in and out of foster care all his young life. Until now, when Mary Anne agrees to take him in. We then fast forward to 2015, and this young lad Adonis 'Donnie' Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) has grown up into a fine figure of a man who works in a securities firm and is poised for promotion. But, he has fighting in his veins and a hunger in his heart for the ring and takes fights where he can get them, knowing that this is what he wants to do. So he quits his job with respectable prospects much to Mary Anne's chagrin and he leaves for Philadelphia to make a name for himself.

By now he has grown up with the knowledge of his father Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) who we see only in archive footage when Adonis checks out the former heavyweight champion of the world on YouTube footage. This though prompts him to track down Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone)  who he knows that whilst they were fierce adversaries in the ring they were good friends out of it. Rocky is still running his Italian restaurant named after his deceased wife, Adrian, where Adonis and Rocky meet for the first time. Here Adonis tells his story and how he comes to be on Rocky's doorstep seeking a trainer and a mentor, and who better than 'The Italian Stallion' himself - former world champion and long term friend of his father.

Rocky is unsure, and looking every one of his ageing years, and suffering the effects of brain trauma, he is no longer the man he was although he still has the fire in his belly, and feels a connection and a responsibility to this young Boxer, so after a few days he reluctantly agrees. What follows of course is a series of training montages in and out of the ring tracing many familiar steps seen in previous Rocky films, and especially the first instalments as a nod to Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), Rocky's former, and long term passed, trainer. Even Mickey's former gym still exists as a monument to Rocky Balboa albeit now expanded and modernised, and of course under new ownership.

Along the way Adonis, having moved out of his temporary digs into Rocky's modest home, hooks up with Bianca (Tessa Thompson) a singer/songwriter on the club circuit and soon the two become an item.  With plenty of training going on, a love interest on the side and Rocky being diagnosed with early cancer onset, Adonis is torn between getting in the ring for a title fight and getting Rocky back to health and fighting his cancer diagnosis with chemotherapy, which he is reluctant to do as it served no purpose for Adrian who died from ovarian cancer years before.

With this going on Rocky receives a phone call from the manager of 'Pretty' Ricky Conlon (Tony Bellew) - a Liverpool prizefighter and existing World Light Heavyweight Champion with the offer of a title bout in Liverpool, England at Everton Football Stadium. Time is running out for Conlon as he is looking down the barrel of a prison sentence and so this is likely to be the last bout of his career, so for him it's shit or bust! For Adonis, it is the chance to step out of his fathers shadow (which the world now knows about) and stand up and be counted on his own merits as a Boxer.

Going into the championship bout Adonis is clearly the underdog (as Rocky was originally in his first fight against Apollo) and expected to go down against Conlon in the first couple of rounds. Conlon is the cock sure champion and determined to mince his aspiring opponent into the mat. With Rocky in his corner giving him all the motivation he needs, Adonis sporting his fathers trademark shorts, Bianca ringside and Mary Anne at home watching on the big screen wine glass in hand and the rounds notching up toward 12, you just know that we have a repeat of that legendary Rocky/Apollo fight unfolding as it did then 40 years ago. Whilst the fight goes the distance, you'll have to watch for yourself to see who wins the night, and what becomes of the fighter and his trainer/mentor in the closing scene that once again nods back to those earlier films.

I enjoyed this film and it is a fitting continuation of the Rocky mythology that sees another chapter in the great Boxer's life whilst taking the franchise off in a new direction too. It is not up there with the 1976 film which for me will always be one of the all time classic boxing films up there with 'Raging Bull', but is a very respectable offering in the Rocky canon. It has all the usual touchstones of a Rocky film but these are not out of place and are well handled, and many of those characters and places from the previous four decades of Rocky history are referenced to maintain the story arc. There are also many similarities which are evident throughout, and as seen replicated too in 'Southpaw' earlier this year. Seeing Rocky ageing and battling the effects of chemotherapy treatment provide for some poignant moments, and although his resolve shines through despite his failing health, what this will mean for a further film, and how his story will be handled, remains to be seen.

Worth the price of your ringside seat for sure.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 6th - 12th December 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Bill Nighy does on 12th December - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy, turning 66, 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 6th December

• Judd Apatow - Born 1967, turns 48 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Nick Park - Born 1958, turns 57 - Director | Producer | Writer | Animator
• JoBeth Williams - Born 1948, turns 67 - Actress | Producer

Monday 7th December

• Ellen Burstyn - Born 1932, turns 83 - Actress
• Nicholas Hoult - Born 1989, turns 26 - Actor
• Jeffrey Wright - Born 1965, turns 50 - Actor

Tuesday 8th December

• Dominic Monaghan - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actor | Producer
• Rick Baker - Born 1950, turns 65 - Make-up Artist | Special Effects Designer | Actor
• Kim Basinger - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actress
• Teri Hatcher - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress

Wednesday 9th December

• Judi Dench - Born 1934, turns 81 - Actress
• Kirk Douglas - Born 1916, turns 99 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• John Malkovich - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Beau Bridges - Born 1941, turns 74 - Actor | Producer | Director

Thursday 10th December

• Kenneth Branagh - Born 1960, turns 55 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Xavier Samuel - Born 1983, turns 32 - Actor

Friday 11th December

• Hailee Steinfeld - Born 1996, turns 19 - Actress
• Mo'Nique - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actress | Producer | Writer

Saturday 12th December

• Jennifer Connolly - Born 1970, turns 45 - Actress
• Paula Wagner - Born 1946, turns 69 - Producer
• Bill Nighy - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actor

William Francis Nighy was born in Caterham, Surrey, England to mother Catherine Josephine Whittaker, a psychiatric nurse, and father Alfred Martin Nighy, the manager of a car garage and former family chimney sweeping business owner. He was raised a Roman Catholic, and served as an alter boy. He attended the John Fischer School in Purley where he first took part in the school theatre group, and from where he graduated with two O'Levels in English Language and English Literature. Working as a messenger boy for The Croydon Advertiser, he later trained at the Guildford School of Acting.

Nighy made his stage debut in London at the National Theatre in 'Illuminatus' which first opened in 1977. His first small screen appearance came with the weekly television police force drama series 'Softly, Softly : Taskforce' in 1976 with three episodes on 'Play for Today' from 1978 to 1982. From that point on there has been regular television work throughout the years up until the present day with the likes of appearances on 'Minder', the acclaimed 'The Men's Room' in 1991, 'Bergerac', 'Peak Practice', 'Wycliffe', 'Kavanagh QC', 'State of Play', 'The Girl in the Cafe', 'Gideon's Daughter' and more recently the Worricker trilogy with Nighy playing the lead role of Johnny Worricker in 'Page Eight', 'Turks & Caicos', and 'Salting the Battlefield'.

His radio career is also worthy of mention. In 1981 he played Samwise Gamgee in 'The Lord of the Rings' BBC Radio dramatisation, and then there was the BBC Radio versions of the successful 80's television political satire series 'Yes, Minister' and the acclaimed 'Kerton's Story' and for BBC 4 'Baldi'.

In between television, radio and an increasingly busy film schedule there has also been notable stage appearances with The National Theatre again, including Tom Stoppard's 'Arcadia' and then Joe Penhall's 'Blue/Orange' for which he picked up an Olivier Award nomination for his performance.

Nighy's big screen debut came with an uncredited bit part in Joan Collin's 'The Bitch' in 1979, and another uncredited role in 'Death Watch' a year later, and the television movie 'Little Lord Fauntleroy', also uncredited that same year. His first credited film role came alongside Donald Sutherland in 1981's war time spy drama 'Eye of the Needle'. 'The Curse of the Pink Panther' followed in 1983 as Directed by Blake Edwards and with an all star line up including Moore, Niven, Wagner, Lom, Loggia and Lumley. The 80's saw out with 'Mack The Knife' and 'Phantom of the Opera'.

A bunch of television series and made for TV movies occupied Nighy in the early part of the 90's with the Robin Williams vehicle 'Being Human' being his first big screen role that decade in 1994. After some lesser fare he gained recognition for 1998's 'Still Crazy' as ageing Rock Star Ray Simms. 'Guest House Paradiso' followed in 1999 with Adrian Edmonson and Rik Mayall to see out the decade.

'Blow Dry' saw in the 2000's in 2001 with Alan Rickman and that same year the award winning 'Lawless Heart' and then 'Lucky Break'. But, it was playing an ageing Rock Star again that really helped establish his film career in 2003 with 'Love Actually', as Directed by Richard Curtis, and again featuring an all star cast. 

This was followed by vampire offering 'Underworld' in which Nighy world play Viktor alongside Kate Beckinsale - a role he would reprise in 2006 in 'Underworld : Evolution' and again in 2009 in 'Underworld : Rise of the Lycans'. After this came 'Shaun of the Dead', 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy', 'The Constant Gardner' and then in 2006 his first appearance (albeit almost unrecognisably) as Davy Jones in 'Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Man's Chest' with a further reprisal of his character a year later in 'Pirates of the Caribbean : At World's End'.

'Notes on a Scandal' came next in 2006 with Blanchett and Dench, 'Hot Fuzz' with Pegg and Frost again, 'Valkyrie' with Cruise and Branagh, 'The Boat That Rocked' with Seymour Hoffman and Frost once more, and 'Glorious 39' with Redmayne and Lee seeing out another decade.

2010 delivered 'Wild Target' and a role in the first concluding film in the 'Harry Potter' series, and then in 2011 the popular 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' which he would reprise in 2015's 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'. This was followed up by 'Wrath of the Titans', the reboot of 'Total Recall', then 'Jack the Giant Slayer', another outing for Richard Curtis in 'About Time', then 'I, Frankenstein' and 'Pride'.

Next up there is 'Dad's Army' due in early 2016, 'Okja' in pre-production for 2017, 'Payne & Redemption' and 'Their Finest Hour and a Half' both currently filming for later on in 2016, and 'Norm of the North' in post-production. Nighty has lent his voice talents also to numerous other films including 'Flushed Away', 'Astro Boy', 'Rango', 'Arthur Christmas', and for numerous video games. All up Nighy has 129 Acting credits and he has won one Golden Globe for 'Gideon's Daughter' in 2007 and has been nominated twice more. He has two BAFTA wins for 'State of Play' and 'Love Actually' both in 2003 and another nomination. Plus, there are another twelve award wins and a further 18 nominations.

For 27 years Nighy shared a relationship with English Actress Diana Quick with whom they have a daughter Mary, born in 1984, and also an Actress. The couple split on good terms in 2008.

Bill Nighy - Actor of stage, television, cinema, radio, video and audio; has played the dead, the living dead, comedy, drama, romance and rockers and often does so with a palid gaze, deadpan one liners, a menacing stare and perfect timing. Clearly busy beyond belief Bill, but why let up now when you're so far ahead and still so sought after, and when your audience keep buying tickets. Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 3rd December 2015.

Monday 30th November saw the first Awards Ceremony of AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) with its film accolades for those working in essence behind the camera; and the second ceremony to be held on 9th December for those working in front of it. Both events are held at Sydney's Star Casino, and on Monday night this week nine feature film awards were given out, with a further six next week. Hosted by Actor, Writer and Producer Rob Carlton the AACTA Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Music, Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects or Animation, all went to 'Mad Max : Fury Road'; with Best Costume Design going to 'The Dressmaker' (that figures!); Best Original Screenplay to 'Paper Planes' and Best Adapted Screenplay to 'Last Cab to Darwin'. For more, go to : aacta.org

For the coming week ahead we have four new films doing the rounds at a theatre near you that kick start the new movie week with a sea faring survival epic that pitches mere mortal men against a great beast of the ocean depths hundreds of miles from land and the stuff of maritime lore; then a good ol' conspiracy theory about a bumbling President and the alleged story of draft dodging back in the day and the repercussions of this thirty years later; a Christmas season comedic offering of mateship, partying, festive cheer, growing up and moving on; and to finalise, an interview between two writers one on the cusp of critical acclaim and the other a Reporter for a well known magazine struggling to get a break.

Again, and as always, when you have seen your movie of choice of those Previewed below or any of those still out on general release and as either Reviewed or Previewed in earlier editions, drop your like minded cinephile friends your own thoughts, opinions and observations on your film experience. We'd all love to hear from you and you can do so in the Comments Box below this or any other Post. Enjoy your movie.

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA (Rated M) - Back in 1820 a whaling ship from Massachusetts captained by George Pollard Jnr, was sunk in the Southern Pacific Ocean by a sperm whale - that ship was 'The Essex'! As a result of its sinking the twenty man crew spent months at sea having to resort to cannibalism in order to survive before the final eight men were finally rescued. Cabin Boy Thomas Nickerson and First Mate Owen Chase wrote an account of their ordeal at sea at the mercy of a sperm whale and that inspired Herman Melville's 1851 book, 'Moby Dick' - the story upon which Director Ron Howard has based his latest film taken from the 2000 book of the same name by Nathaniel Philbrick.

Essentially that is the story, with Chris Hemsworth playing First Mate Owen Chase, Benjamin Walker as Captain George Pollard Jnr., Tom Holland and Brendan Gleeson playing Thomas Nickerson the younger and the elder respectively, Ben Whishaw as Herman Melville and Cillian Murphy as Matthew Joy the Second Mate. When their ship, The Essex, is torn in two by a gigantic whale with incredible size and strength, the crew are left to drift the ocean for months on end amidst raging storms, despair, panic, hunger, and thirst and so their plight becomes a true test of survival and the lengths man will go to in order to survive, and fish another day when they think that all is lost!

TRUTH (Rated M) - This film is Directed by first timer James Vanderbilt who wrote the Screenplay and also Co-Produced, and is based on the memoir of Mary Mapes 'Truth and Duty : The Press, The President and The Privilege of Power'. It surrounds CBS Producer of '60 Minutes Wednesday' Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett), her crew and National News Anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) who get caught up in the conspiracy surrounding President George W. Bush re-election campaign in 2004 when it was revealed by the show that in the early 70's he received preferential treatment from the Texas Air National Guard following his failure to achieve even basic training and performance requirements to avoid being drafted to Vietnam through the position in the political arena held by his father at the time. Ultimately the scandal cost Mapes and Rather their jobs, their careers and their reputations when falsehoods were revealed . . . or were they really false? Gotta love a good conspiracy theory! The film also stars Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, Stacy Keach, Dermot Mulroney, was filmed in Sydney, Australia and cost less than US$10M.

THE NIGHT BEFORE (Rated MA15+) - Festive film fare is likely to come thick & fast now in the lead up to Christmas and here is the second offering of the season so far with this Jonathan Levine Written and Directed comedy. Starring long term buddies Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) whose parents died years earlier on Christmas Eve, Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen) and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) the three have every Christmas Eve since spent the night together to support Ethan and comfort him with a big annual reunion night out of jolly japes, misadventure, fun, frivolity and hilarious shenanigans! With Isaac knocking on the door of first time fatherhood, and Chris is busy being famous, the trio of buddies realise their reckless days of Christmas celebrations are soon to be no more. So poised for one last hurrah they set off into NYC in search for the holy grail of Christmas parties - The Nutcracka Ball!

THE END OF THE TOUR (Rated M) - Directed by James Ponsoldt and based on David Lipsky's 2010 best seller 'Although Of Course You End up Becoming Yourself' this is his story about his five day long road trip interview with acclaimed author of 'Infinite Jest' David Foster Wallace in 1996. Lipsky is here played by Jesse Eisenberg, a Reporter with Rolling Stone magazine who learns in 2008 that Wallace (Jason Segel) committed suicide. From here the story goes back to that five day trip when Lipsky's Editor grants him an assignment to shadow Wallace during his book tour to launch 'Infinite Jest' which went on to become a touchstone for many a subsequent Writer. As Wallace opens up to Lipsky so more and more topics are discussed, more questions answered and more hidden truths revealed although often veiled in caution on Wallace's part. With several award wins and nominations already under its belt and high critical praise for the storytelling and nuanced performances this uplifting, inspiring and often funny account of two writers on opposite sides of the fence is likely to surprise and delight.

Four films of note then to get you out amongst the movie going public in the seven days ahead. When you have done so share your thoughts of your latest film experience as we'd love to hear from you, and so would our other ever growing readership. In the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-