What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st August 2017.

These last couple of months have seen more than their fare share of celebrity passings from the world of film and television. Many of these pass under the radar, confined to a few lines of remembrance and respect on the social media pages from which many these days rely on as their sole source of news. As August draw to a close I thought I would look back on the last two months or so and remember here, those that have touched out lives on both the big screen and the small screen, over the years, and who have left a legacy by which they will be forever remembered.

* Adam West, American film and television Actor, born 1928, died 9th June 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Young Philadelphians', 'Geronimo', 'Batman', 'The Detectives' television series, 'Batman' television series and 'Family Guy' television series.
* Michael Nyqvist, Swedish Actor, born 1960, died 27th June 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo', 'The Girl Who Played with Fire', 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest', 'Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol'and 'John Wick'. Still to be released : 'Hunter Killer', 'Radegund' and 'Kursk'.
* Barry Norman, British Film Critic, born 1933, died 30th June 2017. Television presenter of BBC 1's annual 'Film . . . ' programme from 1972 until 1998.
* Martin Landau, American stage, television and film Actor, born 1928, died 15th July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Mission Impossible' television series, 'Space 1999' television series, 'North by Northwest', 'They Call Me Mr. Tibbs', 'Crimes and Misdemeanours', 'Ed Wood' and 'Remember'.
* George R. Romero, American Director, Writer, Editor and Actor born 1940, died 16th July 2017. Most notable films : 'Night of the Living Dead', 'Dawn of the Dead', 'Day of the Dead', 'Land of the Dead', 'Diary of the Dead', 'Survival of the Dead', 'The Crazies', 'Creepshow', and 'Monkey Shines'.
* John Heard, American film and television Actor, born 1945, died 21st July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Cat People', 'C.H.U.D.', 'The Seventh Sign', 'BIG', 'Beaches', 'Home Alone', 'Home Alone 2 : Lost in New York', 'Awakenings', 'In the Line of Fire', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Sharknado', 'The Client' television series, 'The Sopranos' television series, and 'Prison Break' television series.
* Sam Shepard, American stage, television and film Actor, playwright, author and Director, born 1943, died 27th July 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Right Stuff', 'Steel Magnolias', 'The Pelican Brief', 'Black Hawk Down', 'The Notebook', 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward  Robert Ford', 'Safehouse' 'Killing Them Softly', 'Mud', 'August : Osage County' and 'Midnight Special'.
* Robert Hardy, English stage, television and film Actor, born 1925, died 3rd August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold', '10, Rillington Place', 'Young Winston', 'The Shooting Party', 'Sense and Sensibility', 'An Ideal Husband', 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', 'War and Remembrance' television mini-series, and 'All Creatures Great and Small' television series.
* Sonny Landham, American film Actor and Stuntman, born 1941, died 17th August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'The Warriors', 'Poltergeist', '48 Hours', 'Predator', 'Action Jackson' and 'Lock Up'.
* Bruce Forsyth, English television Presenter, Actor, Comedian, Writer, Singer and Dancer, born 1928, died 18th August 2017. Most notable appearances : 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium', 'The Bruce Forsyth Show', 'The Generation Game', 'Play Your Cards Right', 'You Bet', 'Takeover Bid' game shows, and films 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks', 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' and 'Anna Pavolva'.
* Jerry Lewis, American stage, television, film and radio Actor, Producer, Director, Writer, Singer and Comedian, born 1926, died 20th August 2017. Most notable appearances : seventeen films with Dean Martin, 'The Nutty Professor', 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World', 'The Family Jewels', 'The King of Comedy', and 'Max Rose'.
* Tobe Hooper, American film Director, Producer and Writer, born 1943, died 26th August 2017. Most notable films : 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre', 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2', 'Eaten Alive', 'Poltergeist', 'Lifeforce', 'Night Terrors', 'The Mangler', 'Toolbox Murders', 'Mortuary', 'Djinn' and television mini-series 'Salem's Lot'.

This week we have five new films coming to a multiplex or independent theatre near you. We kick off with action adventure comedy featuring an unlikely buddy pairing of two adversaries that need to depend on each other with their lives to be able to make it to their intended destination the next day; followed by a tug of love and a custody battle between a Uncle and a Grandmother over a very gifted young child caught up in the middle; then four girlfriends on a weekend away living it up large and boisterous; before closing out with two Australian offerings - the first a comedy of life's wrong decisions based on the very real experiences of the lead Actor and Writer, and then an action thriller with the backdrop of a deadly contagion released over Sydney.

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

'THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Australian Patrick Hughes whose previous credits include 'Red Hill' and 'Expendables 3' here is in the chair for this off-kilter action comedy buddy movie about a Hitman, and his Bodyguard! Released in the US in mid-August and costing US$30M the film has so far grossed US$63M, and has received average Reviews praising the on-screen chemistry that seems to exist between the two lead characters, but downplaying the cliched plot and delivery, despite the collective talents of the assembled cast.

Here former top bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) who is now disgraced and makes a meagre living protecting corporate executive types, is enlisted to bring notorious Hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) to testify at the International Courts of Justice in The Hague, against the ruthless and merciless Dictator of Belarus Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) for crimes against humanity. Bryce has had run ins with Kincaid in the past when they were on opposite sides of a loaded gun, and so the Bodyguard is very reluctant to escort the Hitman anywhere, but agrees for the reinstatement of his good name and reputation. The two must put their differences aside and work together to make it to The Hague on time, untarnished and very much alive in order for Kincaid to testify so sending the evil Dictator down. Along the way all manner of challenges, obstacles and no good henchmen hell bent on preventing them from making it to their intended destination stand in their way. There will be bullets flying, gun play, explosions, fist fights, car chases, cursing and swearing and laughs aplenty before the final credits role. Also starring Selma Hayek, Richard E. Grant, Sam Hazeldine, and Elodie Yung.

'GIFTED' (Rated M) - this drama film is Directed by Marc Webb whose previous Directing credits include '(500) Days of Summer' and the 2012 reboot of the 'Spider-Man' franchise with 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and its 2014 sequel 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'. This story surrounds seven year old intellectually gifted Mary Adler (Mckenna Grace) growing up near Tampa, Florida in the care of her Uncle Frank Adler (Chris Evans) since she was six months old when her mother Diane, a promising mathematician, took her own life. Showing a remarkable mathematical talent on her first day of first grade school, she is offered a subsequent scholarship at a school for gifted children. Frank however, turns down the offer based on historical experiences with such schools and not wanting to deprive Mary of a normal childhood. Franks estranged mother and Mary's grandmother, Evelyn Adler (Lindsay Duncan) has a different view, and wants to relocate the young gifted child to Massachusetts under special tutelage and seek custody of Mary. What ensues is a custody battle between Frank and Evelyn with Mary caught in the middle and compromises ultimately having to be made on all sides. The film also stars Octavia Spencer and Jenny Slate, was released in the US in early April, has so far grossed US$38M from its US$7M budget outlay and has received generally positive press.

'GIRLS TRIP' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Malcolm D. Lee this comedy offering features four life long best girl friends - Ryan, Sasha, Lisa and Dina (Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish respectively) who take a long overdue weekend away down to New Orleans for the annual Essence Music Festival. Over the course of the weekend they gradually reignite their sisterhood; and rediscover their wild sides while partying hard; living it up; getting hooked-up; being loud, proud and in yer face; while at the same time experiencing moments of raw, venerable emotion that only serve to make their bond stronger still. Also starring Mike Colter and cameo appearances as themselves by Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, Estelle, Common, New Edition and various others, this film was released in the US at the end of July, has so far taken US$120M off the back off a US$20M budget and has received generally positive Reviews.

'ALI'S WEDDING' (Rated M) - this Australian RomCom based on real events has garnered much critical acclaim since its world Premier at the 2016 Adelaide Film Festival in October last year. Directed by Jeffrey Walker, this film tells the story of Ali (Osamah Sami), the son of an Iraqi refugee living in a north Melbourne suburb where his father Mahdi (Don Hany) is the leader of the local Mosque. The family has big expectations of Ali, who is struggling with his entrance exam to study medicine at University. He is also under pressure to agree to an an arranged marriage although he secretly admires Dianne (Helena Sawires). Ali just wants to make his father proud, but finds it more than challenging to make this dream a reality. What is a young man to do, other than fake it 'til you make it! And so Ali does, lying about his entrance exam grades to gain acceptance from his father and the local Muslim community, that just lead this one bad decision onto another, then another. Eventually as these decisions spiral out of control, the consequences of which verge on cataclysmic, Ali must decide to be ruled by his head, his heart or his sense of duty. The film is Co-Written by Osamah Sami based on his very own real life experiences which make this film all the more endearing and relevant in today's society from a multi-cultural and acceptance standpoint.

'EVENT ZERO' (Rated MA15+) - here this Australian action thriller is Directed, Produced and Written by Enzo Tedeschi and tells the story of a terrorist attack on Sydney releasing a deadly contagion into the city's populace. When her father Yusuf Nassar (Harry Pavlidis) is in the frame for the biological attack, suspended federal police detective Leyla Nassar (Ash Ricardo) embarks on a mission to clear her fathers name, uncover the truth and bring down the culprits while the leading local Politicians power-hungry to satisfy their own nefarious aims do everything they can to cash in on the catastrophe. Also starring Nicholas Hope and Zoe Carides.

With five new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, of which two are local Aussie fare, one low budget custody drama from the US, then another a comedy about four girls making the most of a weekend getaway, and the other a big screen action comedy also from Stateside, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephiles afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

LOGAN LUCKY : Tuesday 22nd August 2017.

'Behind the Candelabra' (the dramatisation of the last ten years in the life of Liberace starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas as released in 2013) was intended to be Steven Soderbergh's last film as a Director, but here with 'LOGAN LUCKY' which I saw last week, he has been coaxed out of self imposed 'retirement' by a script that he noted was an 'anti-glam version of an Ocean's movie where nobody dresses nice. Nobody has nice stuff. They have no money. They have no technology. It's all rubber band technology!' And so having amassed an ensemble cast, here Soderbergh has crafted a heist film (on which he is Director, Cinematographer and Editor) that has met with widespread critical acclaim. The film cost US$29M to make, was released in the US last week too as it was in Australia and has so far grossed US$16M.

Here, Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum) is a labourer working on an underground construction job at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. He was once tipped to be a major league football star but a leg injury put that dream well beyond reach. Noticing that he walks with a limp, a pre-existing injury he did not divulge on his work application, he is called into the office by the site foreman, and laid-off. Later that afternoon he visits the home of his ex-wife Bobbi Jo (Katie Holmes) to pick up his young daughter Sadie (Farrah Mackenzie) and Bobbi Jo tells him that the family are moving across the State border to Lynchburg, Virginia. This angers Jimmy, as it will curtail his access to his daughter.

That evening Jimmy visits the bar run by his brother Clyde (Adam Driver) who is an Iraq War Veteran having lost his lower left arm and hand, and now wears a prosthetic hand. Clyde, while pouring drinks, gets melancholy with Jimmy about the curse of the Logan family and how they seem to have an endless run of bad luck and ill fortune plaguing their lives. In walks Max Chilblain (Seth MacFarlane) with two of his minders. Max is a wealthy British businessman who made his fortune out of an energy drink and sponsors a clean living former racing champ looking to make a comeback, Dayton White (Sebastian Stan), in the upcoming NASCAR race at the Speedway. Max insults Clyde, a fight breaks out which results in Jimmy torching Max's $80K sports car.

The next morning Jimmy divulges a plan to Clyde to rob the haul of cash from the Speedway circuit, using a recently installed state of the art pneumatic tube system that they accidentally uncovered when working on the underground construction project. The two of them will access the system during a forthcoming car show when security will be thin on the ground and attention will be diverted elsewhere. Clyde reluctantly agrees to the plan having thought his criminal past was behind him, and so the two brothers enlist the help of their sister Mellie (Riley Keough), Joe Bang (Daniel Craig) - serving a prison sentence for robbery, and his two half-witted brothers Sam (Brian Gleeson) and Fish (Jack Quaid).

Jimmy and Clyde visit Joe Bang in prison to pitch their plan, but Joe reminds them that he has just six months of his sentence left to serve, and how do they think that he can do the job given that he is 'IN-CAR-CER-A-TED!'. Joe likes the idea of the plan and insists that if he is to come on board, then he will need to be broken out of prison and returned immediately after the job is done, and no-one needs be any wiser that he was 'out' in the intervening period! Clyde deliberately drives his car though a petrol station window and gets locked up for three months, so that Joe has a contact on the inside and together they can work from prison on finalising their plan for their temporary escape.

Meanwhile Jimmy, readying plans on the outside with Mellie, Sam & Fish, learns that the construction project at the Speedway will be completed ahead of time, forcing the gang to move their plan for the robbery ahead of schedule by one week. Everything remains the same expect for the date, which now coincides with the biggest NASCAR race event of the year - The Coca-Cola 600 over the Memorial Day weekend.

From the inside, Joe and Clyde arrange for the other inmates to stage a riot, so causing a diversion that will allow them to escape unnoticed via the infirmary, and then underneath a delivery truck for which they have fabricated wooden boxes with which to conceal themselves to make their getaway. They are picked up outside town by Mellie, in a stolen sports car, and delivered to the Speedway on race day, while Sam & Fish using an improvised explosive devise blow the electrical grid so knocking out all the electrics to the stadium. This means that all the food and beverage vendors have to revert to cash only sales on the busiest day of the year. In the meantime, Jimmy, Clyde and Joe are down in the bowels of the building ready to blow the main pneumatic pipe that takes the tubes of cash from all around the stadium to one central drop off point, which is where the gang of three are located. Also using an IED made form gummy bears and bleach Joe blows the system sending plumes of smoke billowing out through the tubes in the food service outlets. A staff members calls it in, and guards are sent to investigate, but a diversion set up by Jimmy, prevents the guards from uncovering the ongoing heist.

And so the three start vacuuming up the paper dollar bills and loading them into tie up black garbage bags. Needing to speed up the process, the vacuum is ratcheted up to full pelt only for Clyde's prosthetic hand getting in the way and being sucked up the inlet tube. With the job almost done, Sam and Fish masquerading as garbage pick up men drive off with their truck load of garbage bags up to the upper levels to unload to Jimmy's waiting pick-up truck. Clyde and Joe need to get back to prison, leaving Jimmy to retrieve Clyde's missing hand from inside the vacuum machine. On the way back through the back of house areas of the Speedway Stadium, Clyde and Joe and intercepted by Max and his driver Dayton White who crashed out mid-race. Max is furious at his expensively sponsored race driver, and during their argument Max recognises Clyde form the earlier brawl at his bar. Joe quickly deals with the situation by blowing out Max's lights, so they can resume their prison bound journey.

The heist is a success, Clyde and Joe break back into prison on the back of a fire truck when the staged rioting inmates mock up a fire in the canteen so alerting the Fire Brigade, and Mellie, Sam and Fish getaway unhindered. Jimmy, however, feels guilty about the robbery and calls the Police to his abandoned pick-up truck containing the garbage bags of stolen loot. FBI Special Agent Sarah Grayson (Hilary Swank) is assigned to the case, but all of her leads take her nowhere - due in part to the incompetence of Warden Burns (Dwight Yoakam) and his guards at the prison where Clyde and Joe are serving time, Max Chilblain whose egotistical opinionated and arrogant views can't be trusted, and the administration management back at the Speedway who are covered by insurance anyway. The case is promptly closed down and Grayson is reassigned, much to her chagrin, because she smells a rat, she just can't see it!  Joe is eventually released having served his time, and he returns to his old home. One morning there is a knock at the door, and a shovel left for his attention. Knowing the meaning of this, he unearths a tied up garbage bag of cash buried under a tree in his back yard.

It seems that before informing the Police of the stash of cash in his pick-up truck, that Jimmy secreted away several bags of loot, and divided the spoils between his associates and friends who had some part to play in the heist, no matter how small. This in turn created a distraction for the investigations which subsequently were called off because the Speedway were paid out by their insurance coverage, and there was no other evidence to point the finger at anyone. All's well that ends well, leaving the gang to enjoy a much needed drink in Clyde's bar, with Clyde sporting a brand new hi-tech prosthetic hand, looked upon at a distance by a plain clothes dressed and undercover Agent Sarah Grayson.

I enjoyed 'Logan Lucky' as the antithesis of an 'Ocean's' film about a bunch of underdog down on their heels, fresh out of luck, south eastern US rednecks seizing an opportunity to change their lives that you can't help but sympathise for, as the supposed good guys (those in authority) have rings run around them. Soderbergh here has assembled a strong cast that are well matched and look as though they are having a good time making this movie too - especially Daniel Craig who is just about as far removed from Bond as he could get. He also has woven a great story that is both suspenseful, thrilling, humorous, uncomplicated, and delivers a twist at the end - in a way that few Director's seem able to. This is a welcome return for Soderbergh who here once again proves that he is one of the most original, adept and efficient filmmakers working today with another top notch added to his heist caper movie holster. Very entertaining and well worth the price of your ticket.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 27th August - 2nd September 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Cameron Diaz does on 30th August - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 45, 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 27th August

• Tuesday Weld - Born 1943, turns 74 - Actress
• Barbara Bach - Born 1947, turns 70 - Actress
• Peter Stormare - Born 1953, turns 64 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Tom Ford - Born 1961, turns 56 - Director | Writer | Producer
• Dean Devlin - Born 1962, turns 55 - Producer | Writer | Director | Actor
• Aaron Paul - Born 1979, turns 38 - Actor | Producer
• Ellar Coltrane - Born 1994, turns 23 - Actor | Producer  

Monday 28th August

• David Soul - Born 1943, turns 74 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Luis Guzman - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actor | Producer
• Daniel Stern - Born 1957, turns 60 - Actor | Director | Producer
• David Fincher - Born 1962, turns 55 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Billy Boyd - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter
• Jack Black - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter | Composer
• Jason Priestley - Bron 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Director | Producer 
• Armie Hammer - Born 1986, turns 31 - Actor   

Tuesday 29th August

• William Friedkin - Born 1935, turns 82 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Elliott Gould - Born 1938, turns 79 - Actor | Producer
• Joel Schumacher - Born 1939, turns 78 - Director | Writer | Producer 
• Lenny Henry - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actor | Writer | Television Personality
• Rebecca De Mornay - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actress | Producer | Singer

Wednesday 30th August

• Cameron Diaz - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Timothy Bottoms - Born 1951, turns 66 - Actor 
• Michael Chiklis - Born 1963, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Director   

Thursday 31st August

• Jack Thompson - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actor | Producer
• Richard Gere - Born 1949, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Jonathan LaPaglia - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Television Personality
• Chris Tucker - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor 
• Marc Webb - Born 1974, turns 43 - Director | Producer | Writer   

Friday 1st September

• Craig McLachlan - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Boyd Holbrook - Born 1981, turns 36 - Actor 
• Lily Tomlin - Born 1939, turns 78 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer  

Saturday 2nd September

• Salma Hayek - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Mark Harmon - Born 1951, turns 66 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Keith Allen - Born 1953, turns 64 - Actor | Director | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• Keanu Reeves - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Director  

Cameron Michelle Diaz was born in San Diego, California, USA to mother Billie Early, an import/export Agent and father Emilio Diaz who worked for a Californian based oil and exploration company as a Foreman. Cameron grew up with her older sister Chimene, in Long Beach, California and attended Los Cerritos Elementary School and then Long Beach Polytechnic High School. At the age of sixteen, Diaz began her career as a fashion model, and was contracted to Elite Model Management and in the ensuing months travelled the world on promotional work for the likes of Levi Jeans, Calvin Klein and Coca-Cola, shooting a commercial for the latter in Sydney in 1991. She featured on the front cover of 'Seventeen' magazine in the meantime.

On the recommendation of an Agent working for Elite Model Management, Diaz was cast in the feature film 'The Mask' even though she had hitherto no acting experience whatsoever. The would-be Actress, aged 21 at the time, auditioned twelve times for the role and was cast one week before shooting began. Upon being cast, she immediately took up acting lessons. The superhero fantasy comedy film starring Jim Carrey in the lead role, made US$352M off the back of a US$23M production budget and was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, three BAFTA's amongst its six award wins and twenty nods. The film launched Diaz as a bona fide Actress and sex symbol almost overnight in 1994.

The following year saw 'The Last Supper' with Bill Paxton, Ron Perlman and Courtney B. Vance; then the Edward Burns Written, Directed and starring 'She's The One' also with Jennifer Aniston; then 'Feeling Minnesota' with Keanu Reeves, Vincent D'Onofrio and Dan Aykroyd. 'Head Above Water' followed with Harvey Keitel and Billy Zane; then 'Keys to Tulsa' with James Spader, James Coburn and Eric Stoltz; before Danny Boyle's 'A Life Less Ordinary' with Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci and Holly Hunter. This was followed up by 'My Best Friend's Wedding' as Directed by P.J. Hogan and also starring Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney and Rupert Everett. This film cost US$38M to make and brought in US$300M, was nominated for an Academy Award, three Golden Globes and a BAFTA from its total haul of twelve award wins and 23 total nominations, and is considered in various quarters as one of the best RomCom's of all time. 

1998 saw Terry Gilliam's big screen adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's book 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' opposite Johnny Depp, Tobey Maguire and Benicio Del Toro; then Peter Berg's 'Very Bad Things' with Christian Slater, Daniel Stern and Jon Favreau; 'Welcome to Hollywood'; and then RomCom 'There's Something About Mary' Directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly with Diaz in the title role as Mary Jensen with Ben Stiller Matt Dillon and Lee Evans. The film cost US$23M and raked in US$370M, it picked up seventeen award wins and seventeen nominations in total including several for Diaz for Best Performance by an Actress, and it appeared on numerous Top Films of 1998 lists. Spike Jonze 'Being John Malkovich' followed in 1999 with John Cusack, Catherine Keener and . . .  John Malkovich to much critical praise picking up three Academy Award nominations, four Golden Globe nods, two BAFTA nominations and a win, and three SAG nominations from its total tally of 48 wins and 78 nods. The decade closed out with Oliver Stone's gridiron offering 'Any Given Sunday' with Al Pacino, James Woods, Dennis Quaid and Jamie Foxx.

The new decade launched with the big screen adaptation of the popular television series 'Charlie's Angels' which ran for five seasons of 110 episodes between 1976 and 1981. Diaz teamed up with Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu as the three women working in a private detective agency in Los Angeles. Directed by McG the film cost US$90M to bring to the big screen and it grossed US$264M and co-starred Bill Murray, Sam Rockwell, Tim Curry and Matt LeBlanc. These factors were enough to spawn a sequel which saw McG return to the Director's chair, the three girls reprising their roles, and an all star cast joining the fray in 'Charlie's Angels : Full Throttle' in 2003 including Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Shia Labeouf, John Cleese, Robert Patrick, Robert Forster, Rodrigo Santoro and Justin Theroux. This second instalment cost US$120M and returned US$259M. It seems that a reboot film is in production, due for release in 2019.

After 'The Invisible Circus' in 2001, Diaz lent her voice talents to the Dreamworks animated feature film 'Shrek' as Princess Fiona alongside Mike Myers (voicing Shrek), Eddie Murphy, John Lithgow and Vincent Cassel. The film cost US$60M and brought home US$485M, for which Diaz was paid a cool US$10M. The film picked up the Best Animated Feature Film Award at the Academy Awards amongst its haul of 37 total wins and a further sixty nominations. Needless to say, this success saw several sequels - the thirteen minute short film in 2003 'Shrek 4-D', ten minute short film 'Far Far Away Idol' in 2004 before 'Shrek 2' that same year, then 'Shrek the Third' in 2007, then the 21 minute short film 'Shrek the Halls' also in 2007, followed by 'Shrek Forever After' in 2010, then the 26 minute short film 'Scared Shrekless' in 2010 and the eight minute short 'Donkey's Christmas Shrektacular' too in 2010, and closing out in 2012 with the 31 minute 'Shrek's Thrilling Tales'. Diaz reprised her voice work on all of these films, as did the principal cast. The four feature length films in the series cost a combined US$535M and raked in between them a cool US$2.96B making them the second highest grossing animated franchise in the history of cinema so far. A fifth feature length film in the series is slated for release in 2019 or 2020.

In between all these 'Shrek' outings were Cameron Crowe's 'Vanilla Sky' with Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz, 'Slackers', 'The Sweetest Thing', and then the highly acclaimed Martin Scorsese historical crime drama 'Gangs of New York' with Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day Lewis, Liam Neeson, Jim Broadbent, Brendan Gleeson, and John C. Reilly. The film was critically acclaimed being nominated for ten Academy Awards, five Golden Globes of which it won two, twelve BAFTA Awards of which it won one, and a SAG win, amongst its total award claim of fifty wins and 134 other nominations. Curtis Hanson's 'In Her Shoes' with Toni Collette; 'The Holiday' with Kate Winslet and Jude Law; 'What Happens in Vegas' with Ashton Kutcher; drama 'My Sister's Keeper' with Abigail Breslin and Alec Baldwin; and 'The Box' with James Marsden and Frank Langella closed out 2009.

2010 launched with the action comedy romance offering from Director James Mangold, 'Knight and Day' with Tom Cruise; followed up by action comedy crime offering 'The Green Hornet' Directed by Michel Gondry with Seth Rogen in the title role and Christoph Waltz. Comedy feature 'Bad Teacher' with Jason Segel and Justin Timberlake, then 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' and then comedy crime caper 'Gambit' with Colin Firth and Alan Rickman.



2013 saw Diaz star in the Cormac McCarthy adaptation of 'The Counsellor' as Directed by Ridley Scott and also starring Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz. Here Diaz plays against type in a role the like of which you have never seen her before play and will make you think very differently about her on-screen persona.

2014 saw a return to familiar territory with RomCom 'The Other Woman' with Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Don Johnson; and then RomCom 'Sex Tape' with Jason Segel; and then family comedy drama in this remake of 'Annie' with Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale. This brings us up to date so far in terms of television and film output, with nothing published as being in the works.

All up Diaz has 57 Acting credits to her name and two as Producer, on the short lived documentary series from 2005 'Trippin' and the 2014 television series spin-off from the feature film 'Bad Teacher' across one season so far of thirteen episodes. She has so far amassed 29 award wins and a further 82 nominations including four Golden Globe nods, one BAFTA nomination, and three SAG nominations. In 2013 Diaz published a health book which made it to #2 on the New York Times Best Seller List - 'The Body Book : Feed, Move, Understand and Love Your Amazing Body' and in 2016 she released 'The Longevity Book : The Science of Ageing, the Biology of Strength and the Privilege of Time'.

Diaz has in the past been romantically linked to Matt Dillon, Justin Timberlake, Jared Leto, baseball star Alex Rodriguez, and British model, television and film Actor Paul Sculfor, but, in early January 2015, she tied the knot with Benji Madden, of 'Good Charlotte' and 'The Madden Brothers' fame, after a seventeen day engagement. Diaz is well known for her environmental activism and worked with Al Gore in promoting his 'Live Earth' campaign helping to raise awareness on climate change. She has also involved herself with the 'Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America', and has been a spokesperson for military families. She also practises Transcendental Meditation which she says allows her to recharge her battery within herself.

Cameron Diaz - has been voted on numerous 'Top Lists' over the years including Sexiest Female Movie Star, Most Beautiful People in the World, Sexiest Stars in Film History and the Hot 100 and multiple times over successive years; became only the second Actress to join the $20M Club after signing on for that pay cheque to do 'Charlie's Angels : Full Throttle' in 2003 - the first was Julia Roberts; her films have grossed over US$3.5B making her the highest grossing Actress of all time; has a reputation for starring in RomCom's but occasionally breaks out of the frame with a stunning dramatic performance; is renowned for being late, allegedly only washes her face using Evian Mineral Water, and doesn't wear deodorant; and possesses an infectious smile, is naturally blonde with blue eyes. Cameron Diaz - ageing gracefully, keeping us entertained with a strong back catalogue, and currently 'on leave' from Hollywood films and television - we await your return with eager anticipation. In the meantime, Happy Birthday to you Cameron, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th August 2017.

With this weeks latest Tom Cruise starring and Doug Liman Directed 'American Made' as Previewed below, I was thinking how many movies have been released over the years with the word 'America' or 'American' in the title? It seems one helluva lot as my research would indicate. Could it be that the good ol' USofA is so patriotic, so intent on self promotion, and so wrapped up in its own national pride that it needs to remind the rest of the world how out there front and centre Uncle Sam is, lest we should forget when we visit a movie theatre. Here is a cross section of some of those more memorable 'America(n)' feature films that have graced our big screens over the years that have borne the moniker of the country, just to remind us how truly great it really is.

* 'American Graffiti' - released 1973 - Directed by George Lucas, starring Harrison Ford, Ron Howard and Richard Dreyfus.
* 'American Gigolo' - released 1980 - Directed by Paul Schrader, starring Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton.
* 'American Buffalo' - released 1996 - Directed by Michael Corrente, starring Dustin Hoffman and Dennis Franz.
* 'American Pie' - released 1999 - Directed by Paul and Chris Weitz, starring Jason Biggs, Eugene Levy and Chris Klein.
* 'American Psycho' - released 2000 - Directed by Mary Harron, starring Christian Bale, Reece Witherspoon and Chloe Sevigne.
* 'American Splendor' - released 2003 - Directed by Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman, starring Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis.
* 'American Gangster' - released 2007 - Directed by Ridley Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
* 'American Hustle' - released 2013 - Directed by David O. Russell, starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.
* 'American Sniper' - released 2014 - Directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller.
* 'American Ultra' - released 2015 - Directed by Nima Nourizadeh, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Bill Pullman.
* 'American Made' - released 2017 - Directed by Doug Liman - starring Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson and Jesse Plemmons.
* 'American Assassin' - to be released 2017 - Directed by Michael Cuesta, starring Michael Keaton, Dylan O'Brien and Taylor Kitsch.
* 'An American Werewolf in London' - released in 1981 - Directed by John Landis, starring David Naughton, Griffin Dunne and Jenny Agutter.
* 'The American President' - released in 1995 - Directed by Rob Reiner, starring Michael Douglas, Annette Benning and Martin Sheen.
* 'How to Make an American Quilt' - released 1995 - Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, starring Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft and Ellen Burstyn.
* 'An American Werewolf in Paris' - released 1997 - Directed by Anthony Waller, starring Tom Everett Scott and Julie Delpy.
* 'The American' - released in 2010 - Directed by Anton Corbijn, starring George Clooney.
* 'Once Upon A Time In America' - released 1984 - Directed by Sergio Leone, starring Robert De Niro, James Woods and Elizabeth McGovern.
* 'Coming to America' - released 1988 - Directed by John Landis, starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and James Earl Jones.
* 'Air America' - released 1990 - Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, staring Mel Gibson, Robert Downey Jnr. and Nancy Travis.
* 'Made in America' - released 1993 - Directed by Richard Benjamin, starring Whoppi Goldberg, Ted Danson and Will Smith.
* 'Team America : World Police' - released 2004 - Directed by Trey Parker, starring an ensemble cast of voice talent.
* 'Captain America : The First Avenger' - released 2011 - Directed by Joe Johnston, staring Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan and Hugo Weaving.
* 'Captain America : The Winter Soldier' - released 2014 - Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, starring Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan and Robert Redford.
* 'Capatin America : Civil War' - released 2016 - Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jnr. and an ensemble cast of Marvel characters.

This week then there are six new movies coming your way of which five are based on real life true story retellings of a biographical nature some of which are big budget big name offerings and others are more low budget independent type fare. That said, these bios feature the stories of a drug and arms smuggler pilot; an intrepid explorer in search of a lost civilisation; a prolific Canadian folk painter; the King of Norway during WWII facing an impossible ultimatum; an Australian cycling team's journey on the pro-tour circuit; and wrapping up with a Aussie suspense thriller that might make you think twice about pitching your tent in secluded bushland.

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

'AMERICAN MADE' (Rated MA15+) - here we have a biographical drama film Directed by Doug Liman whose previous credits include 'Swingers', 'The Bourne Identity', 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith', 'Fair Game', 'Edge of Tomorrow' and the very recently released 'The Wall'. Here this story surrounds the life and times of Adler Berriman 'Barry' Seal - an American smuggler of drugs and arms, aircraft pilot, dealer, and money launderer who flew flights for the Medellín Cartel - an organised network of drug suppliers and smugglers originating in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The drug cartel operated throughout the '70's and '80's in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Central America, and the USA, Canada and Europe. At the height of its operations, the Medellín Cartel smuggled tons of cocaine each week into countries all over the world and brought in up to US$60M daily in drug profits. For a time, the Medellín Cartel supplied at least 84% of the United States and 80% of the global cocaine market. Barry Seal was employed by the Cartel as a pilot and drug smuggler transporting numerous shipments of cocaine from Colombia and Panama to the USA and earned as much as US$500K per flight. This is that outrageous albeit true story. Released in the UK and Australia this week, and not in the US until the end of September, the film has so far met with generally positive Reviews, and cost a budgeted US$80M to bring to the big screen.

So history lesson over, here Barry Seal is portrayed by Tom Cruise a former TWA commercial pilot who flew for the company from 1966 through until 1974. Seal is in turn recruited by the CIA to help in the war on drugs off the back of the emerging communist threat in Central America and soon finds himself in charge of one of the biggest covert CIA operations in the history of the United States. The operation spawns the birth of the Medellín Cartel and almost brings down the Reagan White House administration. Barry Seal was ultimately gunned down and killed in February 1986 by Colombian assassins sent by the Medellín Cartel with a price on his head of US$500K for the murder or US$1M to kidnap him and return him to Colombia. The film also stars Domhnall Gleeson, Jesse Plemmons and Sarah Wright.

'THE LOST CITY OF Z' (Rated M) - here we have another biographical drama adventure film Written and Directed by James Gray and based on the 2009 book of the same name by David Grann. Here this story surrounds the life and times of Percival Harrison Fawcett - a British geographer, artillery officer, cartographer, archaeologist and explorer of South America. Along with his eldest son Jack, Fawcett disappeared in 1925 during an expedition to find 'Z' – the name he gave to a lost ancient city, which he and others believed to exist and to be the remains of El Dorado, in the jungles of Brazil. And so turning to the story at hand in the early 20th Century, British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) journeys into the Amazon jungle, where he discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific brains of the time back in London, which views indigenous populations as savages, the determined Fawcett, supported by his loving wife Nina (Sienna Miller), son Jack (Tom Holland), and fellow explorer Henry Costing (Robert Pattinson), return to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case. Fawcett and his group disappeared sometime in mid-1925 somewhere in the jungles of Brazil and were never seen again. The film also stars Angus Macfadyen, Ian McDiarmid and Franco Nero, cost US$30M to make and has so far recovered US$17M since its US release in mid-April. The film has received generally positive press.

'MAUDIE' (Rated PG) - here is another biographical romantic drama film Directed by Aisling Walsh about the life and times of popular and prolific Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis who lived in Nova Scotia from 1903 until 1970. This is a simple tale recounting the meeting of local fish monger Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke) and Maud Dowley (Sally Hawkins) who suffers from severe arthritis, when she answers an advertisement for a house keep, taking the job in exchange for room and board because her brother had sold the family home that he had inherited upon the death of their parents. Fairly soon love blossoms and the two marry. In an attempt to maintain a clean house, Maud begins to paint a shelf, and then a wall with flowers and so on, until one day one of Everett's customers is so taken by her artwork that she commissions a piece of Maud's work. From humble beginnings, Maud becomes a beloved figure in the local community and renowned as an artist. The film cost under US$6M to make, and has so far taken US$8M since its Canadian release in mid-April and its US release in mid-June. The film has preformed well on the film festival circuit picking up eight wins so far and another two nominations and has received largely positive Reviews.

'THE KINGS CHOICE' (Rated M) - and here we have yet another biographical drama film, this time of a historical WWII nature and a Norwegian offering that was nominated as a Best Foreign Language Film entry into this years Academy Awards. Directed by Erik Poppe, this film tells the story of a chain of events in early April 1940 when German Nazi troops arrive in Norway's capital city, Oslo, and demand of the King - surrender or die! With the might of the Nazi army hunting them down, the Royal Family flee the capital with King Haakon VII (Jesper Christensen) and his son Crown Prince Olav (Anders Baasmo Christiansen) heading off in one direction, and his wife Crown Princess Martha (Tuva Novotny) and other children seeking refuge in Sweden. After three days of trying to evade the German's, King Haakon refuses to bow down, even if his decision costs him his life, and that of his family and potentially countless Norwegians too. This little known story of these dramatic events in the history of Norway has received much critical acclaim as much for the Directing as the performances by the principal cast, the storytelling and the cinematography. The film cost US$8M to make and has so far grossed US$9M.

'KILLING GROUND' (Rated MA15+) - Written and Directed in his feature debut by Tasmanian Damien Power this Australian suspense thriller wowed audiences when it Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Following a gestation period of about ten years from when Power first had a notion for the film to when it became a reality on the big screen, 'The Killing Ground' was filmed in bushland about an hour out of Sydney. The story centres around a young couple Ian (Ian Meadows) and Sam (Harriet Dyer) out on a camping trip during the height of an Aussie Summer but told from three different perspectives and in a non-linear style - the young and in love couple on a weekend getaway in the bush, a family in peril comprising Dad Rob (Julian Garner), Mum Margaret (Maya Strange) sixteen year old daughter Em (Tiarnie Coupland) and toddler son Ollie, and and a pair of rednecks psychos German (Aaron Pedersen) and Chook (Aaron Glenane) with an appetite for blood. Ian and Sam's weekend break however, takes a more sinister turn and a battle for survival when they discover young Ollie wandering aimlessly all alone about the bush caked in blood and dirt, and discover that a particularly disturbing crime has been committed on the occupants of a neighbouring, yet deserted tent.

'ALL FOR ONE' (Rated M) - we round out the week with yes, you guessed it, another biographical drama this time in the world of long distance sport cycling as told by Directors Marcus Cobbledick (who also writes here) and Dan Jones. Telling the story of GreenEdge, Australia's first unisex ProTour cycling Team who come together through their renegade spirit and a determination to win against all odds on the international circuit. The film offers candid insights into the first five years of their collective journey, bearing witness to the ethos of the team as embodied by all of them - from the strongest to the most embattled rider members of the Team. Out of a culture that seeks to harness a deeply human approach to sport, unlikely champions rise, and seemingly impossible team and personal goals are realised.

With six new releases this week to tempt you out on a cool Winter evening, of which five are of the biographical persuasion and one a work of fiction, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephiles afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE DARK TOWER : Friday 18th August 2017.

'THE DARK TOWER' which I saw late last week started life way back in 1982 when prolific American author Stephen King first penned the initial book in a series of eight books titled 'The Dark Tower : The Gunslinger'. The series incorporates themes from a multitude of genres, including dark fantasy, science fantasy, horror, and Western. It describes a titular 'gunslinger' and his journey to protect the Dark Tower, the nature of which is both physical and metaphorical and which supports all realities. King's series was written over the ensuing years with the last instalment appearing in 2012. The series, and its use of the Dark Tower, expands upon Stephen King's multiverse and in so doing, brings together many of his other works. In addition to the eight novels of the series, many of King's other books relate to the story, introducing concepts and characters that come into being as the series continues. There have been various formats developed over the years to the series including comic books, audio books, an online game, talk of a television series and now a major film adaptation that has been on again off again since 2007 when J.J. Abrams was connected to the film for a number of years before handing over the baton to Ron Howard. In 2015 Danish Director Nikolaj Arcel was hired to helm the film that we have today. Costing US$60M to make, the film was released Stateside in early August to generally poor press having so far recouped US$72M.

Here then we have eleven year old lad Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) living in New York City and experiencing repetitive nightmares of an old West style gunslinger, a man dressed in black and a tall tower. He commits his visions to pencil drawings depicting in some detail what he sees when he sleeps. At the same time as his visions occur NYC, and indeed others parts of the world, experience earthquakes and severe tremors that are occurring more frequently and with greater impact. Jake's mother Laurie (Katheryn Winnick), her live in boyfriend and Jake's psychiatrist dismiss his visions as simple dreams resulting from the death of his father a year or so ago now. This irks Jake that no one will take him seriously, and his ramblings about strange figures and another world equally irks his mother who is becoming less and less tolerant of his behaviour.

One day, at his apartment home a pair of workers from a specialist psychiatric centre appear offering to take Jake for treatment over the course of one weekend. His mother is all in favour of this as a last resort, after all, what harm can it do, and he'll be in the care of professional experts. Jake quickly realises however, that something is not quite right with the pair, recognising their kind from his visions as monsters wearing human skin to disguise themselves, and by their hand gestures. He flees the apartment with the two giving chase but manages to evade them on the busy city streets. Meanwhile he traces a ramshackle old house he saw in his visions, as having some important meaning and heads there believing it to be connected in some way, but he knows not how or why. He gains access to the boarded up old house, and discovers a digital key pad mounted on the wall. He punches in a number, 19-19, which he also saw in his visions, and a portal opens up with destination Mid-World - a post-apocalyptic place.

He reluctantly steps into the portal and emerges out the other side in a desert wasteland. The portal closes behind him. He walks and walks eventually coming across a Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) who is initially wary of young Jake believing him to have been sent by the 'Man in Black'. Jake shows him a picture of a pencil drawing he made of the Gunslinger from his visions, as well as others. This appeases Roland, who agrees to let Jake travel with him to a village where his visions and his drawings can be interpreted by a seer. As the two get to know each other it emerges that the Gunslinger has made it his life's mission to chase down and kill Walter Padick, the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), also appearing in Jake's visions, for killing his father Steven (Dennis Haysbert). Roland explains to Jake that Walter has been abducting young psychic children to harness their powers to destroy the Dark Tower - a tall monolithic structure that is at the very centre of the universe that connects all worlds and realities. By destroying it, this will allow the monsters from the dark outside to gain access and ultimately destroy reality. Walter has had some success with direct hits on the Dark Tower explaining the earthquakes and tremors felt on Earth. What occurs in one world is echoed in the adjoining worlds!

Roland and Jake arrive at the village and meet with the most powerful seer there who warns Jake that his 'shine' (his psychic ability) is so powerful that he needs to control it, otherwise it acts like a beacon which will enable Walter to track him. Meanwhile Walter has visited Earth to learn from the two undercover specialist psychiatric centre abductors how they were thwarted by an eleven year old, and to learn of his whereabouts. He ends up at Jake's apartment, and quickly dispenses with Laurie's boyfriend and then interrogates her to determine Jake's last known whereabouts by reading her mind. Then he dispenses with her too. Walter visits the house where the portal is located that allowed Jake to access Mid-World, and deduces that the boy is there, and is with the Gunslinger. He has also come to realise that Jake's psychic abilities are so powerful that he can single handedly destroy the Dark Tower.

Back in the village the seer explains that Walters base of Earth operations is in New York City, and to gain access to Walter in Mid-World it is easiest and quickest to do so via a portal there, or travel on foot across Mid-World - a journey taking six months. There is a portal in the village which has not been fired up for some time, and in doing so is likely to alert Walter, but they have no choice. Walter sends in his minions to capture Jake, but Roland almost single handedly dispenses with them all, so allowing the pair to successfully step through the portal to Earth and New York City. Jake returns to his apartment home to check up on his mother and her boyfriend, only to find them both dead. Roland comforts a distraught Jake vowing vengeance. He teaches Jake the Gunslingers creed and how to handle a gun - 'I do not aim with my hand … I aim with my eye. I do not shoot with my hand … I shoot with my mind. I do not kill with my gun … I kill with my heart'.

Ready to do battle with the Man in Black and confront him once and for all, Roland stockpiles up on a necessary haul of bullets, which are in short supply on Mid-World but ever plentiful on Earth. In the gun store Walter appears and captures Jake, taking him through a portal straight to his base on Mid-World. There he straps Jake to a chair to harness his psychic powers to bring down the Dark Tower.

Meanwhile back on Earth, Roland goes head to head with Walter's henchmen led by Sayre (Jackie Earle Haley) who prove to be no match for the well seasoned Gunslinger. Jake, in the meantime is able to use his psychic powers, despite his predicament, to convey a message back to Roland alerting him of his whereabouts.

Walter uses the portal to transport himself back to his base in New York City where Roland has just finished 'tidying up', with the intention of dispensing with the Gunslinger in a final face off. The two are evenly matched but in the end Walter wounds Roland, and as he lay on the ground, his guns just beyond reach and now defenceless, Jake sends a psychic message to Roland reminding him of the Gunslingers Creed. This is enough for Roland to muster his strength, and using a trick shot, takes out Walter with a couple of bullets, the final blow striking him dead centre in the forehead. Dead! With the portal remaining open Roland destroys the machine to which Jake was harnessed, allowing Jake to make a narrow escape through the portal before it is closed.

And so the Dark Tower remains intact, and life on Earth can carry on as it has. With Roland and Jake chowing down on a hot dog - the concept of which Roland doesn't quite understand, the Gunslinger announces that he must return to Mid-World. Jake is disheartened by this news, but Roland then speaks up inviting Jake to join him as his companion, after all, he has no reason now to stay on Earth. Jake smiles, and accepts the offer. They disappear into a nondescript building, in which is a portal through which they transport themselves back to Mid-World.

'The Dark Tower' has come in for some fairly scathing Reviews from both fans and critics alike, largely expecting a more faithful adaptation of the source material, rather than the film being Hollywoodised. That said, unlike the legions of all knowing fans, I have not read any of Stephen King's Dark Tower series of novels, and so the film represents a whole new experience for me and an introduction to the series that may well become a franchise. At about ninety minutes running time, this film does not outstay its welcome. It moves along at a brisk pace and maintains the interest throughout. Both Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey are top notch in their respective roles, and I found the storyline to be cohesive, easy to follow, but little that we haven't seen before. What was lacking for me was some back story about Jake, Roland, Walter and the Dark Tower itself especially - how they came to be, their motivations, what drives them and what is it about the Dark Tower that makes one want to protect it with all his being, and the other destroy it with all his being? King's novels have been adapted to the big screen with mixed results for over thirty years now, and this just adds another notch to the Gunslingers holster. It is neither a great film nor a bad one, it has some redeeming features, and if a sequel does follow together with the planned television series then perhaps there is life in the franchise yet. You don't need to see this on the big screen, and can easily wait for the BluRay or download.

 -Steve, at Odeon Online-