Birthday's to share this week : 2nd - 8th August 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Evangeline Lilly does on 3rd August - check out the tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 36, 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 2nd August

• Mary-Louise Parker - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress
• Edward Furlong - Born 1977, turns 38 - Actor | Producer
• Sam Worthington - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actor | Producer
• Kevin Smith - Born 1970, turns 45 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor | Actor
• Wes Craven - Born 1939, turns 76 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor | Actor

Monday 3rd August

• Martin Sheen - Born 1940, turns 75 - Actor | Producer
• John Landis - Born 1950, turns 65 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• John C. McGinley - Born 1959, turns 56 - Actor | Producer
• Steven Berkoff - Born 1937, turns 78 - Actor | Director | Writer
• Evangeline Lilly - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actress

Tuesday 4th August

• Billy Bob Thornton - Born 1955, turns 60 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Daniel Dae Kim - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actor
• Martin Jarvis - Born 1941, turns 74 - Actor

Wednesday 5th August

• Mark Strong - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actor
• John Jarratt - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actor | Writer | Director | Producer

Thursday 6th August

• M. Night Shyamalan - Born 1970, turns 45 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Frank Finlay - Born 1926, turns 89 - Actor
• Barbara Windsor - Born 1937, turns 78 - Actress
• Melissa George - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actress
• Michelle Yeoh - Born 1962, turns 53 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Vera Farmiga - Born 1973, turns 42 - Actress | Producer | Director

Friday 7th August

• Charlize Theron - Born 1975, turns 40 - Actress | Producer
• Abbie Cornish - Born 1982, turns 33 - Actress
• Megan Gale - Born 1975, turns 40 - Actress
• Michael Shannon - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actor
• Tobin Bell - Born 1942, turns 73 - Actor | Producer
• David Duchovny - Born 1960, turns 55 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer

Saturday 8th August 

• Dustin Hoffman - Born 1937, turns 78 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Donald P. Bellisario - Born 1935, turns 80 - Producer | Director | Writer

Nicole Evangeline Lilly was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada and grew up in British Columbia. Her mother is a school secretary and former cosmetician, and her father a Home Economics Teacher. She graduated from W. J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, British Columbia where she was the President of the School's Student Council, and, where she played soccer. Whilst studying, she worked several jobs to fund her schooling, including waitressing, flight attendance, and as a mechanic working minor maintenance jobs on trucks and big rigs. At age 18, influenced by her Christianity she worked in the Philippines on a short term mission project, and such experiences led to her graduation in International Relations from the University of British Columbia.

Discovered on the streets of Kelowna, British Columbia by the Ford Modelling Agency, this led to bit parts in TV series 'Smallville' and 'Kingdom Hospital'. Soon afterwards she was encouraged to apply for a role on the upcoming 'Lost' expecting to get nowhere. With over seventy women auditioned for the role of Kate Austin, it was Co-Creators J.J.Abrams and Damon Lindelof who overwhelmingly agreed she was the girl for the role. Gaining a working Visa to work in the US was not without its challenges, but perseverance prevailed, and the rest, as they say, is history!

'Lost' was one of the most successful and highly acclaimed television shows of the last decade winning a Golden Globe and numerous Primetime Emmy Awards. As the female lead character, Lilly appeared in 116 out of the 121 episodes that aired. Whilst working on 'Lost' from 2004 until 2010 there were several film roles that included 'Stealing Sinatra' with David Arquette, 'The Long Weekend' with Chris Klein, 'Afterwards' with John Malkovich, and then the multiple Oscar winning 'The Hurt Locker' with Jeremy Renner in 2009.

In 2011 she was cast alongside Hugh Jackman in 'Real Steel', with Peter Jackson then creating a role for her as Tauriel, the Mirkwood Elf in 'The Hobbit' Series - 'The Desolation of Smaug' and 'The Battle of the Five Armies' in 2013 and 2014 respectively. 

After this was the recently released Marvel big screen adaptation of comic book hero 'Ant-Man' as the daughter to Michael Douglas' Dr. Hank Pym, Hope van Dyne. Right now Lilly doesn't appear to have any other film roles on the immediate horizon. For her film and television appearances, to date Lilly has five Award wins and a further 35 nominations. In the meantime however, Lilly has turned her attention to her other love of writing, and in 2013 at the San Diego Comic-Con released her first children's book - 'The Squickerwonkers' - a kids graphic book intended to run as a series.  

From 2003 to 2004 Lilly was married to Canadian Hockey squad player Murray Hone, and from 2004 to 2009 she was romantically linked to her 'Lost' Co-Star Dominic Monaghan. In 2011, she and boyfriend Norman Kali welcomed their first child Kahekill, into the world, with their second child due last month in June 2015.

Lilly supports a number of humanitarian causes and charities including : 'GO-Campaign', 'Task Brasil', and the support of orphans and widows in Rwanda. When she's not Acting, Writing or raising monies for worthwhile causes, she reads, paints, walks, drinks tea and enjoys the outdoor life.

Evangeline Lilly - forever known to 'Lost' followers as 'Freckles', a star on the rise, beautiful, multi-talented, a bit of a Tom-Boy and lover of the adventurous outdoor fun-loving life - Happy Birthday to you, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 30th July 2015.

Rolling into the first week of August already and it continues to be cold & wet in South Australia's Adelaide, but hey, Spring is just a month away with the promise of warmer days and shorter nights and plenty of great movie stock coming our way. And so speaking of which, this week ahead there are just three new movies with which to tempt, tease and tantalise the movie going dollar from out of your wallet, so get to your local theatre, park yourself in a seat and gear up for some movie goodness!

This week we have the fifth instalment in a huge action franchise that has its roots in a 60's  & 70's TV Series; then there is a North African story set in the mid-50's that just could be a career defining performance from a fine Actor well versed in big screen epic adventure; and wrapping up, a true story of children rights campaigner looking to make a difference in a war ravaged country.

Of course, you can share your movie thoughts of the week with your like minded film buffs here at Odeon Online by recording a Comment below this Post or any other that relate to your film of the week, or any of those others still on general release. Enjoy your movie.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE : ROGUE NATION (Rated M) - 'The Mission Impossible' film franchise based on the successful television series that ran from 1966 to 1973 and was then reprised from 1988 to 1990 has so far, over four films, grossed US$2.1B from a combined budget of US$500M. Given the success of the first four films this one too is almost assured even before its release, and, is likely to get a further boost as a result of Paramount Pictures bringing the release date forward from Christmas 2015 to July 30th so it wouldn't go head to head with 'Star Wars : The Force Awakens' and 'Spectre'. Probably a wise move!

Once again Tom Cruise is back at Ethan Hunt and this time the IMF Agency is under attack from the mythical 'Syndicate' who harbour a bunch of international highly trained and skilled rogue operatives and assassins who kill to order. When the IMF faces being wound-up for good at the hands of the Syndicate, Hunt assembles his Team for possibly their most dangerous mission to date - to prove that the Syndicate really exists, and then to bring them down once and for all by whatever it takes. Once more starring Ving Rhames as Luther Stickel, Simon Pegg at Benji Dunn, Jeremy Renner as William Brandt with this time Alec Baldwin as Alan Hunley too, and Directed by Christoper McQuarrie, you can see the Cruisemeister doing all his own stunts - including this shot of him hanging precariously from the doors of a plane in take off! The man can sure boast a pair!

FAR FROM MEN (Rated M) - Directed by David Oelhoffen this French produced film stars Viggo Mortensen as schoolteacher and ex-French Army soldier Daru. Set in 1954 Algeria, Daru has to accompany accused murderer Mohamed (Reda Kateb) across the Atlas Mountains to a regional Police station for trial. Along their journey a series of incidents and truths come to pass that lead Daru  to question his own loyalties, his morals and his friendships. Set amidst the backdrop of stunning scenery, a gripping story, strong performances, a Nick Cave soundtrack, this already acclaimed film is old west inspired adult fare that is sure to please lovers of mature well crafted independent film making.

NOBLE (Rated M) - This film was released in Ireland way back in mid-2014 having premiered back in January 2014 at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, and has made it to Australian shores this week. Telling the true story of Irish born Christina Noble who was raised in poverty on the streets of Dublin in the 50's and 60's and then the UK, but grew up using those life forming experiences to change the fate of similar children growing up in a war ravaged Vietnam in the late 80's. Directed by Stephen Bradley and starring Deirdre O'Kane as Noble with support from Sarah Greene, Brendan Coyle and Liam Cunningham this film is likely to be fairly confronting yet inspirational and emotional showing the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity for good, and show that one individual can make a difference. Her efforts led to the creation of the Christina Noble Children's Foundation - an international non-governmental organisation whose focus is on helping the worlds oppressed children - in Vietnam and Mongolia especially.

Three movies this week to stir the emotions and all for varying reasons, but sure to please on different levels. With mid-Winter keeping us inside in the Southern Hemisphere, and Summer time and School Holidays providing amusement in the Northern Hemisphere, you can escape to a movie theatre wherever you are for air-conditioned warmth or to cool down in a darkened room, with a white light and a bunch of strangers.

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 26th July - 1st August 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jason Statham does on 26th July - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 48, 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 26th July

• Jason Statham - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer
• Kevin Spacey - Born 1959, turns56 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Jeremy Piven - Born 1965, turns 50 - Actor | Producer
• Mick Jagger - Born 1943, turns 72 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Writer | Producer | Actor
• Olivia Williams - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actress
• Kate Beckinsale - Born 1973, turns 42 - Actress
• Sandra Bullock - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress | Producer
• Helen Mirren - Born 1945, turns 70 - Actress | Producer | Director

Monday 27th July

•  Julian McMahon - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actor | Producer
•  Jonathan Rhys Meyers - Born 1977, turns 38 - Actor | Producer

Tuesday 28th July

•  Randall Wallace - Born 1949, turns 66 - Director | Producer | Writer
•  Alexis Arquette - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actress

Wednesday 29th July

•  Stephen Dorff - Born 1973, turns 42 - Actress | Producer
•  David Warner - Born 1941, turns 74 - Actor

Thursday 30th July

• Arnold Schwarzenegger - Born 1947, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Bodybuilder | Politician
• Christopher Nolan - Born 1970, turns 45 - Director | Producer | Writer 
• Simon Baker - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Laurence Fishburne - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Producer
• Jean Reno - Born 1948, turns 67 - Actor
• Richard Linklater - Born 1960, turns 55 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Frances de la Tour - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actress
• Hilary Swank - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actress | Producer
• Vivica A. Fox - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress | Producer

Friday 31st July

•  J.K.Rowling - Born 1965, turns 50 - Writer | Producer
• Michael Biehn - Born 1956, turns 59 - Actor | Director | Producer | Writer
• Wesley Snipes - Born 1962, turns 53 - Actor | Producer
• Dean Cain - Born 1966, turns 49 - Actor | Producer | Writer

Saturday 1st August 

•  Sam Mendes - Born 1965, turns 50 - Actor | Producer
•  Jason Momoa - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actor | Director | Producer | Writer

Jason Statham was born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, England to mother Eileen Yates, a dancer, and father Barry Statham, a street vendor and lounge singer. The family moved to Great Yarmouth in Norfolk where growing up and influenced by the singing and dancing background in the family the young Jason and older brother Lee would play the drums and guitar respectively, with the former bashing away at his drum kit as he does now at crims, low-lifes and undesireables in his movies. Electing not to follow in his fathers footsteps Jason chose to learn martial arts, and then became interested in soccer - influenced here by Vinnie Jones whom he grew up with too - and he payed for his grammar school in the late 70's/early 80's. At the same time he also developed an interest in diving and perfected his skill off the ten metre platform. For 12 years he was a member of Britain's National Diving Squad having represented England at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand in 1990 and ultimately gaining a world ranking of #12.

Whilst training at the National Sports Centre in London he was seen by the Sports Promoter Agency who signed him up as a sports model. He then went on to model for fashion label 'French Connection', but had to eventually finally follow in his fathers footsteps by selling fake perfumes and jewellery on street corners just to make ends meet. During this time he appeared in several music videos too including the likes of Brit Bands - 'The Shamen', 'The Beautiful South' and 'Erasure'.




While at 'French Connection' he was introduced to an aspiring Director, Guy Ritchie, who was searching for a fast talking, wise cracking, street smart vendor of dodgy goods for his planned robbery movie 'Lock, Stock and two Smoking Barrels' in 1998. Critically and commercially acclaimed the film put both Ritchie and Statham on the map, followed up in 2000 with 'Snatch' with Ritchie Directing again and starring his old mate Vinnie Jones with Brad Pitt and Benecio del Toro too. This film was also a critical and commercial success, unlike Statham's next offering 'Turn It Up' which was released that same year and cost US$13M to make but barely recouped 10% of that sum.

In 2001 he starred in John Carpenter's last Directorial outing to date 'The Ghosts of Mars' with Ice Cube, Pam Grier and Natasha Henstridge. That same year came 'The One' with Jet Li and then a remake of 1974's 'The Longest Yard' with 'Mean Machine' with Vinnie Jones once more. As Statham rose to action movie star status he was cast in the first of what would become a successful franchise with 'Transporter' spawning two sequels in 2005 and then 2008. Taking full ownership of his own stunts (as he has done in all films subsequently) he studied kung-fu, karate, jujitsu and kickboxing for this 2002 film, which has served him in good stead ever since.

Another remake came along in the meantime in 2003 with 'The Italian Job' with Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton and Charlize Theron. After a cameo appearance in Michael Mann's 'Collateral' with Tom Cruise there was 'Cellular' with Kim Bassinger and Chris Evans before 'Transporter 2', and 'Revolver' for Guy Ritchie again, 'London' and 'Chaos' in 2005. The next years saw another two movie outing with 'Crank' followed up with it's sequel in 2009 'Crank : High Voltage'. Meanwhile there was 'War' (aka 'Rogue Assassin') with Jet Li and the Uwe Boll Directed 'In the Name of the King', 'The Bank Job', the remake of Charles Bronson's 'The Mechanic' and then 'Transporter 3'.

Liking a franchise, 2010 saw Statham sign up for the first time with Sylvester Stallone and the action movie heroes of the 80's with the first instalment of 'The Expendables'. 2011 saw his lead role in 'The Mechanic', then 'Blitz' and 'Killer Elite' with Clive Owen and Robert De Niro. The follow up with Stallone came in 2012 with 'The Expendables 2' and then once more in 2014 with 'The Expendables 3', with 'Parker', 'Safe', 'Hummingbird', 'Homefront', 'Wild Card' and most recently 'Spy'. In 2013 Statham took a cameo appearance in 'Fast & Furious 6' setting the scene for a far more meatier role in 'Furious 7' released earlier this year and grossing a staggering US$1.51B.

Next up for Statham is a reprisal of his role with the sequel 'Mechanic : Resurrection' now in post-production for 2016, and 'Furious 8' due in 2017. The Actor has 43 credits to his name and just one award win for the 'Most Offensive Male Character' in his film 'Crank'. He was romantically linked to Model and Actress Kelly Brook from 1997 to 2004, and since 2010 has been dating Model and Actress Rosie Huntington-Whitley who most recently starred in George Miller's 'Mad Max : Fury Road'.

'The Stath' - Jason Statham - seemingly the King of the remake and franchise aficionado; kick ass action hero of a new generation; keeping it real old school style; keeping us entertained with relentless action, violence and bloodshed delivered with dead pan sardonic gravel voiced lines; and the owner of trademark two day stubble - Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

'ANT-MAN' : Monday 20th July 2015.

I like a Marvel film, and so I saw the latest offering in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the just released 'ANT-MAN' earlier this week. Introducing us to a not seen before comic book hero but referencing many a character from the MCU that we have come to know and love, this film stands alone from the eleven films that have gone before but ties in to those that we have so far followed, and it does so well. Made for US$130M and at the time of writing has brought in US$120M this film has been a long time in gestation having been in development since early 2006 when Edgar Wright was hired to write a script with Joe Cornish. Fast forward to late 2013 and the film went finally into pre-production with Edgar Wright Directing and Paul Rudd set to play Scott Lang (aka Ant-Man). By May 2014 Edgar Wright had left the Director's chair citing creative differences with the Studio. The next month Peyton Reed was introduced as the new Director, with Wright & Cornish still gaining a storyline and screenplay credit.

The film opens in 1989 when a young Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) quits S.H.I.E.L.D. as Howard Stark (John Slattery) makes attempts to replicate his Ant-Man shrinking technology for other means. Vowing to keep his technology a secret until his dying day we fast forward to the present day and Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), a former protege of Pym has forced him out of his own company with designs on finalising his own shrinking technology - and it seems that Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Pym's estranged daughter, is part of Cross' grand plan to militarise the technology.

Meanwhile Scott Lang is about to be released from a stint in San Quentin prison where he served time for robbery. His ex-wife Maggie (Judy Greer) and young daughter now live with Paxton (Bobby Cannavale), a police officer, who are both reluctant to let Lang access to his daughter until he gets a home, gets a job, gets a life and gets the means to support his young daughter. Trying to get on the straight and narrow and leave his cat burgling life behind, after a string of failed jobs in his wake he agrees to a home robbery that should be an easy bust. But of course it's not, and this 'robbery' is in fact a set-up by Hank Pym to snare Lang for his own means, and whom he has been watching for sometime now. During the household heist however, Lang recovers what looks like an old motorcycle suit & helmet.

Back home, Lang out of curiosity tries on the suit, presses a few buttons and in an instant is shrunken to the size of an insect. What follows is a montage of a tiny Scott Lang battling all the elements of a suddenly very big world - getting trampled underfoot, washed down a drain, and other terrifying larger than life experiences that he would rather forget. These effects by the way are handled very well with just the right amount of humour to add levity to the action, and create a degree of realism to the new world that Lang is confronted with.

This in turn leads to Lang's introduction to Pym, at which he is given the low-down on the shrinking suit, the ins & outs of the technology, the do's and dont's of the outfit, and what it is that Pym wants of Lang. The bottom line is that Darren Cross is developing his own shrinking technology and is inching ever closer to perfecting the procedure. Cross has developed a 'yellowjacket' suit which he has weaponised and militarised and is seeking to sell to the highest bidder once his own technology is perfected . . . but for now Pym has the upper hand for a short while longer.

With a sequence of 'training' that is conducted by Pym's not so estranged daughter Hope, who is using her estrangement as a front to win the confidence of Darren Cross, we see the new Ant-Man put through his strength paces, his at will shrinking ability, and his control of the ant kingdom to use as necessary to thwart the enemy foe. When Lang is able to control his new found abilities and his ant colleagues at will, he is given his mission to infiltrate Cross HQ, overpower him, and prevent him from using the 'yellowjacket' suit, but Ant-Man is just too late, leading to the final showdown.

As Ant-Man and Yellowjacket collide in both large and small form with an impressive enough fight sequence coupled with some laugh out loud moments that largely take place around a Thomas the Tank Engine train track, it all comes down to survival of the fittest, fastest and smallest. As good conquers evil, the little guy kicks the big guys ass, and old tech beats new tech so all's well that ends well. As the credit's roll stay seated for the mid-credits scene that help sets up the next instalment and then stay seated until the end credits for The Avengers 'The Falcon' and 'Captain America' leading us into the upcoming 'The Avengers : Civil War' . . . maybe!

Ant-Man is a welcome addition to the Marvel big screen canon and is certainly worth the price of your ticket and worth catching on the big screen.

  

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

'THE TOWN' : archive from 29th October 2010.

I saw 'THE TOWN' earlier this week and really enjoyed this latest Ben Affleck Directed heist film, that after his success with 'Gone Baby Gone' is proving that Mr. Affleck is a talent to be reckoned with as much behind the camera as in front of it. As well as being Directed by Affleck, he co-wrote and stars in this adaptation of the novel 'Prince of Thieves' by Chuck Hogan and does so with an intense gritty realism that sets it apart from other such films of the crime drama genre. The film was made for US$37M and grossed US$154M, and it garnered co-star Jeremy Renner an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

The opening voiceover tells us 'The Town', which is set in the one square mile of Charlestown in Boston, has the highest robbery rate in the USA with over 300 every year. If you do your research you'll find there is some poetic license in this statement, but nonetheless it serves to set the tone for the film you are about to see as four lifelong friends from the Charlestown neighbourhood rob a bank. These friends are Douglas 'Doug' MacRay (Ben Affleck), James 'Jem' Coughlin (Jeremy Renner), Albert 'Gloansy' Magloan (George Carroll aka Slaine), and Desmond 'Dez' Elden (Owen Burke), and in robbing this bank they take the Manager Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall) hostage but release her soon afterwards, unharmed.

A short while later they learn that Keesey lives in their own neighbourhood, and so Doug follows her in an attempt to learn how much she has told the local Boston Police Department, and to protect her from Jem who would likely silence her as a material witness. Doug approaches her, they connect and in time a romance starts to blossom, but he keeps this from the other gang members.

As they get closer to each other Doug confides to Keesey that he continues to search for his long lost mother whom he believes is in Florida, that he gave up a lucrative career as a hockey player to pursue a life of crime and in doing so has followed in his fathers footsteps - father Stephen MacRay (Chris Copper) who is banged up in jail. Keesey advises Doug that she glimpsed a tattoo on one of the robbers during the raid on her bank, and would recognise it again should she see it. Knowing that the tattoo belongs to Jem and he would kill her to prevent her from revealing his identity, Doug persuades Keesey that the Police would not be able to protect her, so she should not step forward and reveal what she knows for her own safety. She heeds his advice.

Meanwhile Special Agent Adam Frawley (John Hamm) has the gang under surveillance because of their ties to a local crime boss Fergus 'Fergie' Colm (Pete Postlethwaite) who has another job for them in the Boston neighbourhood of North End. This robbery does not go according to plan, and the gang barely escape. Despite being interrogated by Frawley, the gang are released due to the lack of any evidence or a confession, and so Doug asks Keesey if she will leave with him to seek a better life, and track down his mother - she agrees, and quits her job. This raises the suspicions of Frawley who smelling a rat, wiretaps her phone and then reveals the truth about Doug and his associates to her. Reeling from the truth she is forced to co-operate and breaks it off with Doug.

With the next job pending Fergie threatens to kill Keesey if Doug does not proceed with a robbery on Fenway Park - the home of the Boston Red Sox - where there is a $3.5M haul to be had. With Frawley tipped off by Doug's ex-girlfriend Krista (Blake Lively) that there is a robbery going down at Fenway Park, the FBI surround the ground before the gang can get away. There is an intense firefight in which Gloansy, Dez and Jem are killed. Knowing that Keesey is still in danger and that his chances of escaping the life of crime are limited as long as Fergie is still calling the shots, Doug takes out Fergie and his bodyguard. Having escaped the firefight at the park Doug flees undercover leaving the money behind for Keesey to find and make better use of than he could.

I liked this film . . . a lot, for its gritty subject matter, its fast paced and well choreographed robbery sequences and subsequent fall-out, the performances which are strong and real, and for the deft touch in Direction which Affleck is displaying here once again. 'The Town' is up there with Michael Mann's 'Heat' and the other Boston set films of the same genre 'The Boondocks Saints', Scorsese's 'The Departed' and Eastwood's 'Mystic River'. The film picked up two award wins and another thirteen nominations around the traps and was hailed a critical and commercial success.

If you missed this at the movies catch it now on DVD, Bluray or download - you won't be disappointed - 'The Town' delivers on all levels.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 23rd July 2015.

In deepest darkest Adelaide it's mid-Winter, the temperatures are in the lower half of single digits, we relish clear blue skies during the warm day time but it's freakin' cold at night. With the shortest days of the year behind us now it's all down hill to Summer, but in the meantime we can retreat to a warm movie theatre and catch a new film released this week, or any of the other great cinematic content still out there on general release.

This week then there are five new movies to whet your film going appetite with an ageing super sleuth looking back on his life and an unsolved mystery; then an account of a brief time and a singular man who almost changed the course of history back in 1939; next a high school supernatural horror thriller; a Sci-Fi self-help experiment that may not be all its cracked up to be; and in closing a mistaken identity blind date BritRomCom.

As always, you are cordially invited after your filmic experience this coming week to share your personal movie critique with your fellow film fans here at Odeon Online, by recording your comments below this, or any other Post. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

MR. HOLMES (Rated M) - This crime drama stars the titular Mr. Sherlock Holmes but not of the Robert Downey Jnr. type or out of the Guy Ritchie mould. Instead, this version is based on the 2005 novel 'A Slight Trick of the Mind' written by Mitch Cullin and based on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle hero and is Directed by Bill Condon. What we have here though is an ageing Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) now in his early nineties, and set in 1947 when the great detective is no longer living in London's Baker Street, but settled down in his retirement in a Sussex farm house shacked up with his housekeeper (Laura Linney) and her young son.

All is not well though as Holmes is unhappy about a recently published article by his former partner Dr. Watson regarding his last case which remains unsolved after many years. Holmes though in his later years has failing memory and is seeking to record his own account of that same case which he knows is different to Watson's version. Along the way as he uncovers the truth through flashback, natural remedies to restore his memory, and his powers of deduction he comes to realise that there is more to life than pure logic and science and sometimes you need to make a human and emotional connection to get to the bottom of things.

SELF/LESS (Rated M) - Here we have a Sci-Fi thriller Directed by Tarsem Singh and made for US$26M and stars Ben Kingsley as big time real estate tycoon billionaire Damian Hayes, who has everything anyone could possibly ask for . . . except his health, because he is dying of cancer. Help is at hand though in the form of a radical medical operation known as 'shedding' in which his consciousness is transplanted into a new healthy body. That body belongs to Mark (Ryan Reynolds) and Damian's newly located consciousness now adopts the alias Edward Hale for his new younger self. As Edward starts his new life in New Orleans he is plagued by flashes of someone else's life. As he digs deeper & deeper into the origins of his new body, he learns that there are those that we going to almost any length to keep it all a secret.

13 MINUTES (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel who brought us the excellent 'Downfall' in 2004 has returned to the world of Nazi Germany once again in this true story of a man who nearly changed the course of world history back in 1939. Johann Georg Elser (Christian Friedel) was a carpenter who set a bomb in a Munich beer hall to take out Adolf Hitler during an assembly he was to hold there. Acting alone Elser set his bomb to explode at a given time, but on the day in question Hitler departed the assembly hall thirteen minutes ahead of schedule, and so lived to live another day . . . and the rest is history that did change the world forever. Eight people were killed however, and another sixty injured, and for the following five years Elser was held in captivity, tortured and then executed at Dachau Concentration Camp for his failed assassination attempt. Ever since then those that know of this man ask 'what if?', and to have this story finally told on the big screen as one of the greatest resistance fighters will help keep his memory and his belief alive.

THE GALLOWS (Rated M) - Here we have another found footage supernatural horror thriller Directed by Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing starring a bunch of largely unknown  wannabes and made for just US$100K and so far grossing in excess of US$22M. The story surrounds a twenty year anniversary of a school play tragedy in which a student actor was killed accidentally on stage while play acting his death by hanging. Looking to mark the anniversary of the tragedy a group of young students re-enact the school play in a misjudged and misguided attempt to mark the occasion. Soon though thing begin to go bump in the night and all is not as it seems in this sleepy small town school and the fight meter ratchets up a few notches and the scares come thick & fast, as the friends come to the realisation that some things should just be left alone.

MAN UP (Rated M) - This BritRomCom is Directed by Ben Palmer and stars affable Simon Pegg as 40 year old recently divorced Jack who in a case of mistaken identity winds up with wrong blind date - Nancy (Lake Bell) - a 34 year old partying happy-go-lucky single girl he meets on a train and mistakes for his 24 year blind date Jessica (Ophelia Lovibond). Deciding to go with the rouse Nancy and Jack hit it off and embark on a whirlwind chaotic, funny, drunken, playful romance before Jack discovers the truth that Nancy was not his intended blind date. What follows is a journey of discovery, choices, decisions, and accepting the consequences of your actions. Rory Kinnear and Olivia Williams also star.

That's it then for the week ahead with horror, comedy, Sci-Fi, wartime drama, and crime drama coming to a movie theatre near you. Get out amongst it over the coming seven days, do yourself a favour and splash out $20 for a movie ticket . . . only at the cinema.

See you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 19th - 25th July 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Daniel Radcliffe does on 23rd July - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 26, at the end of this feature.

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

Sunday 19th July

• Benedict Cumberbatch - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actor | Producer
• Abel Ferrara - Born 1951, turns 64 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Atom Egoyan - Born 1960, turns 55 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor | Actor

Monday 20th July

• Diana Rigg - Born 1938, turns 77 - Actress  
• Sandra Oh - Born 1971, turns 44 - Actress | Producer  

Tuesday 21st July

• Juno Temple - Born 1989, turns 26 - Actress  
• Josh Hartnett - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actor | Producer
• Jon Lovitz -  Born 1957, turns 58 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Norman Jewison - Born 1926, turns 89 - Director | Producer | Actor
• Ross Kemp - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actor | Producer
• Michael Caton - Born 1943, turns 72 - Actor

Wednesday 22nd July

• Willem Dafoe - Born 1955, turns 60 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• David Spade - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• John Leguizamo - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Albert Brooks - Born 1947, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Danny Glover - Born 1946, turns 69 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Paul Schrader - Born 1946, turns 69 - Director | Writer
• Rhys Ifans - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer
• Terence Stamp - Born 1938, turns 77 - Actor

Thursday 23rd July

• Daniel Radcliffe - Born 1989, turns 26 - Actor
• Ronny Cox - Born 1938, turns 77 - Actor 
• Woody Harrelson - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Producer
• Marlon Wyans - Born 1972, turns 43 - Actor | Producer | Writer

Friday 24th July

• Gus Van Sant - Born 1952, turns 63 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor | Actor  
• Doug Liman - Born 1965, turns 50 - Director | Producer  
• Dan Hedaya - Born 1940, turns 75 - Actor
• Lynda Carter - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actress | Producer
• Rose Byrne - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actress
• Anna Paquin - Born 1982, turns 33 - Actress | Producer
• Jennifer Lopez - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actress | Producer | Singer | Songwriter

Saturday 25th July

•  Matt LeBlanc - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer 
•  D. B. Woodside - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actor | Director | Writer 

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born in Fulham, West London, England. An only child of mother Marcia Gresham Jacobsen, a casting agent, and father Alan Radcliffe who hailed from an Irish Protestant background and worked as a literary agent. With Jewish, Polish, Russian, German and Irish blood coursing through his veins, both his parents acted as children, therefore influencing his career choice from an early age.

At age ten, the young Radcliffe made his acting debut in the BBC1 Charles Dickens small screen adaptation of 'David Copperfield' in which he played the part of the young DC. attending Sussex House School, and then the City of London School. his school years following the release of the first 'Harry Potter' instalment in 2001 saw his fellow students chiding him for his title role in the burgeoning franchise.

As his acting schedule on Potter became all consuming, his education occurred through on-set tutoring, and whilst he achieved strong grades in the Advances Subsidiary Level examinations in 2006 he decided to not proceed any further with his education thereafter because he knew he wanted to pursue acting and writing. The first film in the Harry Potter series 'The Philosopher's Stone' saw the young Actor receive a seven figure salary with that first film bringing in US$975M off a US$125M production budget.

'The Chamber of Secrets' came next in 2002 making US$878M at the global Box Office, followed in 2004 with 'The Prisoner of Azkaban' bringing in US$769M and being the lowest performing film in the franchise. The next year brought 'The Goblet of Fire' grossing US$896M, with 'The Order of the Phoenix' in 2007 recovering US$940M off its US$150M budget. This was followed by 'The Half Blood Prince' in 2009 which broke several Box Office records upon release bringing in US$933M and was hailed a commercial and critical success.



The final instalment in the seven book series was released over two films with 'The Deathly Hallows : Part 1' raking in US$950M in 2010, with the concluding segment in 2011 'The Deathly Hallows : Part 2' bringing home US$1.3B and now standing as the seventh highest grossing film of all time, and the most successful of the entire Potter series. Radcliffe is reported to have made a handsome minimum of US$80M from starting as harry Potter over eight films . . . not bad by the time he'd reached 22 years of age, whilst the film series in its entirety cost US$1.2B to bring to the big screen it delivered a return overall of US$7.7B.

In the meantime, Radcliffe's first big screen debut was in 2001's 'The Tailor of Panama' with Pierce Brosnan and Geoffrey Rush , with 2997's 'The December Boys' his next film outside of the world of Harry Potter. Shot in South Australia with Jack Thompson, this was followed up that same year with 'My Boy Jack' with Carey Mulligan.

After the series wrapped up, he appeared in 'The Woman in Black' in 2012, then 'Kill Your Darlings' in 2013, 'Horns' in 2014 followed by 'The F Word' later that year. In between all of this there was a successful run on stage with his acclaimed turn in 'Equus' in the West End Gielgud Theatre then moving the production to Broadway eighteen months later. From there he appeared in the 2011 Broadway production of 'How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying' for which he and the Production received various Awards and nominations. Most recently he starred in the Noel Coward Theatre West End Production of 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' for which he won a Best Actor in a Play Award.

Movies in the works are 'Trainwreck' due out imminently, 'Now You See Me : The Second Act', 'Victor Frankenstein' and 'Game Changer' in post-production for 2016, 'Swiss Army Man' currently filming, and 'Brooklyn Bridge' and 'Young Americans' in pre-production. To date the 26 years old Actor has thirty acting credits on screen to his name, six on stage, and has garnered thirteen awards wins and 35 other nominations.

In 2008 Radcliffe admitted to suffering from a mild motor skills disorder and in 2010 he quit alcohol having become too reliant upon it. He is a self confessed atheist and describes himself as militant when religion impacts legislation. He is a published poet, is outspoken about homophobia, and supports various charities including Demelza House Children's Hospice, Candle for Care, Get Connected UK, and Broadway Care/Equity Fights AIDS.

Daniel Radcliffe - he has grown up on screen, has piercing blue eyes and boyish looks, is one of the worlds most recognised men and despite this remains grounded, approachable and relaxed about his fame, fortune and familiarity - Happy Birthday to you Daniel, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-