Birthday's to share this week : 8th-14th May 2016

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Domhnall Gleeson does on 12th May - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 33, 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 8th May

• David Attenborough - Born 1926, turns 90 - Television Personality | Writer | Producer | Conservationist
• Michel Gondry - Born 1963, turns 53 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Melissa Gilbert - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actress

Monday 9th May

• Glenda Jackson - Born 1936, turns 80 - Actress | Politician
• Candice Bergen - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress | Producer
• Rosario Dawson - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actress | Producer
• Albert Finney - Born 1936, turns 80 - Actor | Producer
• James L. Brooks - Born 1940, turns 76 - Writer | Producer | Director
• Allan Bennett - Born 1934, turns 82 - Writer | Producer | Actor  

Tuesday 10th May

• Bono - Born 1960, turns 56 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Producer | Actor
• Maureen Lipman - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress
• Meg Foster - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actress  

Wednesday 11th May

• Holly Valance - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actress
• Frances Fisher - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actress
• Tim Blake Nelson - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director  

Thursday 12th May

• Gavin Hood - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Jason Biggs - Born 1978, turns 38 - Actor | Producer
• Domhnall Gleeson - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actor | Writer
• Emilio Estevez - Born 1962, turns 54 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Gabriel Byrne - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Stephen Baldwin - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Ving Rhames - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Producer
• Emily VanCamp - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actress  

Friday 13th May

• Zoe Wanamaker - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actress
• Robert Pattinson - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor | Producer
• Harvey Keitel - Born 1939, turns 77 - Actor | Producer
• Joe Johnston - Born 1950, turns 66 - Director | Producer
• Tim Pigott-Smith - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor
• Stephen Colbert - Born 1964, turns 52 - Television Personality | Writer | Producer | Actor  

Saturday 14th May

• Tim Roth - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Producer | Director
• George Lucas - Born 1944, turns 72 - Writer | Producer | Director | Editor
• Robert Zemeckis - Born 1952, turns 64 - Writer | Producer | Director
• Danny Huston - born 1962, turns 54 - Actor | Director
• Cate Blanchett - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Sofia Coppola - Born 1971, turns 45 - Writer | Producer | Director | Actress

Domhnall Gleeson was born in Dublin, Ireland, to mother Mary Weldon and Actor father Brendan Gleeson. He is the eldest of four sons - the others being Fergus, Ruairi and Brian, also an Actor. He attended Malahide Community School - a co-educational school located in Malahide, County Dublin and subsequently graduated from the Dublin Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Arts.

After graduating Gleeson started to Write and Direct screenplays for films and plays for the stage. In 2001 he gained his small screen debut in the mini-series 'Rebel Heart' - the story of Ireland moving towards independence following the Easter Uprising of 1916 through to Civil War in 1922. Next up he gained a part in the short film 'Six Shooter' which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. His feature length debut came in 2005 with a small part in teen zombie comedy horror 'Boys Eats Girl'. That same year he appeared in three episodes of the Irish television series 'The Last Furlong', with 'Studs' a year later in which Gleeson Jnr. starred for the first time with Gleeson Snr.

He then spent a couple of years treading the boards in a Charles Dickens adaptation of 'Great Expectations' at Dublin's 'The Gate Theatre', and 'American Buffalo' at the same playhouse that year. Gleeson also starred in the Broadway play 'The Lieutenant of Inishmore' for which he received a Tony Award nomination. In 2008 he starred with Jeff Bridges in television movie 'A Dog Year' and also 'Perrier's Bounty' - a Dublin set crime thriller starring Brendan Gleeson, Cillian Murphy, Gabriel Byrne and Jim Broadbent.

After comedy sketch show in which Gleeson played various roles over six episodes on 'Your Bad Self', there came 'Never Let Me Go' written for the screen by Alex Garland, Directed by Mark Romanek, and starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Charlotte Rampling.  Whilst the film failed to recover its budget outlay, it was hailed a critical success. That same year came the chance to work with the Coen Brothers on 'True Grit' with Jeff Bridges once again and Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, J.K.Simmons, Barry Pepper and the young Haileee Steinfeld. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, eight BAFTA's and two SAG Awards. Also in 2010, was 'Sensation' and his first outing as Bill Weasley in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1' with 'Pt. 2' following up a year later.

Sci-Fi actioner 'Dredd' followed in 2012 with Karl Urban in the title role as the judge, jury and executioner based on the comic book 'Judge Dredd'. This was followed up by polar opposite 'Anna Karenina' as Directed by Joe Wright with Jude Law, Keira Knightly once again, Alicia Vikander and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The film won an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Costume Design and a further 27 wins and 52 other nominations. 'Shadow Dancer' was up next with James Marsh at the helm and starring Clive Owen, Gillian Anderson and Andrea Riseborough in this early 90's Belfast set drama.

The Romantic dramedy 'About Time' followed in 2013 as Directed by Richard Curtis with Bill Nighy, Rachael McAdams and Margot Robbie. It made US$87M off its US$12M budget.

In 2014 there was 'Frank' with Michael Fassbender, Scoot McNairy and Maggie Gyllenhaal, then 'Calvary' with Brendan Gleeson again, Chris O'Dowd, Dylan Moran, Aidan Gillan and Kelly Reilly. War time survival story 'Unbroken' for Director/Producer Angelina Jolie followed starring Jack O'Connell, Jai Courtney and Garret Hedlund. The film was a critical and commercial success bringing in US$163M and picking up thirteen award wins and 27 other nominations from around the circuit.

2015 saw 'Ex-Machina' for Director Alex Garland with Alicia Vikander again and Oscar Isaac, with 'Brooklyn' and Saoirse Ronan, Jim Broadbent once more and Julie Walters.  Next up came the much hyped and eagerly awaited 'Star Wars : The Force Awakens' in which Gleeson starred as General Hux - the ruthless First Order Starkiller Base Commander - hugely successful that really needs nothing else said about it! And then there was this years 'The Revenant' with Leonard DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Will Poulter for Director Alejandro G. Inarritu - also hugely successful more critically than commercially but still bringing in a very tidy US$527M in Box Office receipts so far before even hitting the home entertainment market which it does from later this month.


Next up for Gleeson is 'Crash Pad' due later this year with Christina Applegate and Thomas Haden Church, 'Mena' in post-production for 2017 with Tom Cruise and Jesse Plemmons as Directed by Doug Liman, 'A Futile and Stupid Gesture' with Seth Green and Will Forte currently filming and 'Star Wars : Episode VIII' also filming.







All up Gleeson has 35 acting credits, five award wins and another nine nominations. In 2015 every film he appeared in received multiple Academy Award nominations, and he has appeared in three films nominated for Best Picture - 'True Grit', 'Brooklyn' and 'The Revenant'.  With his father and brother Brian he co-founded the 'Immaturity for Charity' sketches which the three star in to raise funds for St. Francis Hospice in Dublin.

Domhnall Gleeson - like father like son; Director and Writer of several short films; you could say almost Irish royalty; and clearly increasingly sought after with an impressive recent track record and more great stuff in the pipeline - Happy 33rd Birthday Domhnall from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

The Odeon Online Top 20 movies of 2014.

By now you may have read the myriad of other Reviews all citing their top picks from last years film releases that graced our big screens and pulled us out to our local cinemas, and, there was plenty to choose from! The list below complied from my own Reviews from 2014 are a real mix of Hollywood mainstream, Aussie independents, and those that flew under the radar and may have only had a limited release. Some of these are still on general release and many now will be available for you to rent or buy and watch in the comfort of your own home. If you missed some of these first time around, then I recommend all of these to you, and reference this list when you are wondering what to watch one night with a pizza and a beer!

Enjoy the movies, and thanks for watching in 2014, for keeping cinema alive, and thanks especially for taking note of what I had to say at Odeon Online! There will be more great stuff coming your way in 2015.

'THE WOLF OF WALL STREET' - Scorsese, DiCaprio and Hill in top form in this telling of Jordan Belfort's life of excess and the trapping of his Wall Street wealth. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 19th January 2014.

'ALL IS LOST' - Robert Redford has rarely been better in this almost dialogue free film of his stricken yacht mid-ocean. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 12th March 2014.

'THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL' - Wes Anderson delivers a delightful quirky tale of a decaying hotel, its owner, its Concierge and their history when the Hotel was at it's height - all supported by an ensemble cast delivery the goods, and then some! Awarded five claps and reviewed on 13th April 2014.

'CALVARY' - Brendan Gleeson, catholic church, west coast of Ireland, threat of murder, sins of the past - gripping, harrowing and brilliant! Awarded five claps and reviewed on 4th July 2014.

'PREDESTINATION' - Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook Directed by the Spierig Brothers and shot in Melbourne - a gripping time travel masterpiece with a difference. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 4th September 2014.

'BOYHOOD' - Richard Linklater's opus shot over 12 years tracing the unfolding life of young Mason acted out by new emerging talent Ellar Coltrane, with Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette adding weight as his separated parents each carving out new lives but still glued together through young Mason. A surprising and delightful fly-on-the-wall fictionalised telling of growing up in the early 21st century. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 21st September 2014.

'INTERSTELLAR' - Chris Nolan delivering this years big space epic with stunning visuals, solid story, some mind bending ideas and Matthew McConaughey searching in a galaxy far far away for a planet that humankind can reside on. A must see on the big screen. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 13th November 2014.

'NIGHTCRAWLER' - Jake Gyllenhaal delivering possibly a career best capitalising upon others misfortune as he films murder, violence and crime for the sake of television news ratings, his back pocket and his own social standing. Gripping story telling, expertly delivered. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 4th December 2014.

'12 YEARS A SLAVE' - Steve McQueen Directed Chiwetel Ejiofor in this Oscar winning film of 1850's southern states slavery that is horrific, powerful and uplifting at the same time. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 6th February 2014.

'DALLAS BUYERS CLUB' - Matthew McConaughey nailed the Oscar for this in his real life depiction of HIV sufferer Ron Woodroof with expert support too from Jared Leto . . . and AZT! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 19th February 2014.

'EDGE OF TOMORROW' - live, die, repeat - Tom 

Cruise actioner with Emily Blunt reliving a single day over & over to advance just a little further to thwart an alien enemy foe on the Normandy Beaches in the not too distant future. Surprisingly good, very entertaining and the Cruisemeister on top form. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 11th June 2014.

'THE ROVER' - near future Aussie outback thriller with Guy Pearce chasing down some villains who nicked his car . . . but why? With Robert Pattinson this is as simple story very well told that will keep you guessing right up to to the closing frames. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 18th June 2014.

'X-MEN : DAYS OF FUTURE PAST' - I was very pleasantly surprised by this film in this successful Superhero franchise that brings together great action set pieces, a strong cast now well established in their roles and Bryan Singer back in the Director's chair. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 24th June 2014.

'DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES' - a rare thing that this sequel surpassed it's recent predecessor in the reboot of this 60's film & TV franchise. This is Andy Serkis' film and he delivers an outstanding mocap performance as Caesar, now grown and the head honcho of his ever growing colony of apes - but he has divided loyalties that are soon put to the test as he clashes with the remaining vestiges of humanity struggling to survive. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 17th July 2014.

'THESE FINAL HOURS' - it's the end of the world as we know it and the residents of Western Australia have 12 hours to go before they and the earth is burned to a crisp in a global firestorm. What would you do with your last 12 hours? Original, thought provoking and scary stuff - an impressive film delivered on a minuscule budget. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 3rd August 2014.

'A MOST WANTED MAN' - a tight, taught spy thriller that delivers on many levels - not the least that it is one of Philip Seymour Hoffman's final performances and a must see for this reason alone . . . and he is very good too! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 6th August 2014.

'SNOWPIERCER' - the first English language feature for this Korean Director Bong Joon-ho set aboard a future perpetual motion train on which exists all that survives of humanity in a snow covered world. A gripping story of the haves and the have-nots, the rich and the poor, the healthy and the suffering who reside on the one kilometre long train. Should have had a wider release that it did! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 13th August 2014.

'FELONY' - Joel Edgerton wrote, Produced and stars in this present day police drama that tells of the consequences we face and the impact on others of decisions made quickly and the web of lies and deception that invariably follows. A strong script, solid cast, great acting and a thrilling ride. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 11th September 2014.

'GONE GIRL' - David Fincher Directing with Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as the fractured couple whose seemingly idyllic lives are not quite what they seem, and when the wife goes missing the finger of suspicion points at the husband who stoically maintains his innocence 0 but is he telling the truth? Awarded four claps and reviewed on 10th October 2014.

'THE HOBBIT : THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES' - Peter Jackson's epic story telling that began with the 'LOTR' series 15 years ago comes to a fitting and spectacular end with this the final instalment in 'THE HOBBIT' series. You know the story - just get out there and see it on the big screen! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 31st December 2014.

20 great films that I recommend to you, and you can read the full Reviews of all of these by scrolling down through the archive column or key in the name of the film in to the search box. Let me know your thoughts and if you agree or disagree, or have some other views. Share your thoughts in the Comments box below.

Enjoy your movies, and see as many as you can in 2015!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

CALVARY - Thursday 3rd July 2014

After all the rave Reviews I just had to go see 'CALVARY' last night, and did so at The Cremorne Orpheum Picture Palace . . . and was not disappointed, at all! This is a stirring, bleak, haunting film that will leave you thinking well after the credits have rolled. Once again after the 2011 'The Guard' made such an impact, the pairing of Director/Writer John Michael McDonagh and his actor compadre Brendan Gleeson, have delivered a film that hits many high notes.

Set in County Sligo on the unforgiving north-west coast of Ireland we have Father James Lavelle (Brendan Gleeson, never better!) who has come to the Priesthood later on in life following the death of his beloved wife, and a period it seems where he crawled inside a bottle of Irish Whiskey. Turning his back on his daughter Fiona (an excellent Kelly Reilly playing 'fractured' beautifully) he chose to pursue his 'calling' and ultimately ended up in Sligo. With a small local flock to attend to, one day while taking Confessional a member of his congregation enters the box and we learn that from aged seven was abused every other day for five years by the local Priest, who has since died! But this member of the congregation (who is unknown to us at this stage) wants to exact revenge on the Catholic Church for letting this be, and for letting countless other Priests do likewise throughout their history. Now, someone must answer for those heinous sins, and so the gauntlet is thrown down that this confession giver will kill Father James Lavelle seven days from now down at the beach. Father James therefore has seven days to get his house in order before an innocent Priest will be murdered, on a Sunday, and held to account for all the prior sins of the Catholic Church.

The film therefore is set over the following seven days, and during that time we learn more of Father James and the relationship he has with his daughter Fiona, who visits on Monday and stays until Friday. We learn more of the relationships with the other members of the congregation all of whom have lost faith in the Catholic Church and what is stands/stood for, all of whom are damaged goods in some way and carry emotional baggage from previous lives/experiences/relationships, and all of whom could potentially be our would-be killer.

Included in this strong supporting cast are Dylan Moran (as Michael Fitzgerald - the local lord of the manor, self made multi-millionaire but desperately unhappy); Chris O'Dowd (Jack Brennan - the local butcher, nursing a totally broken marital relationship); M. Emmet Walsh (the local ageing Writer and best selling American Author now resident in remote Sligo);  and Aidan Gillen (Dr. Franke Harte who you probably wouldn't want by your bedside in the event of an emergency!). As the story unfolds day by day, local character by local character, and there are more 'mishaps' as Sunday approaches we learn of the underlying hatred for the Catholic Church and even Father James as its representative, because of it.

Brendan Gleeson shines as Father James Lavelle and is in practically every scene on screen. He delivers his character with conviction and with a steadfast resolve despite his community seemingly rising up against him and his Church. Director John Michael McDonagh gives us a rich dialogue; the humour is black; the story is as confronting as it is moving; the location is bleak, harsh and desperate; and when the final showdown comes you might find it as unexpected as it is a relief!

This is truly an engrossing film, and a must-watch for 2014.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-                                                                        

   

    

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 3rd July 2014.

The school holidays are upon us once again, the outdoor temperatures have become decidedly chillier, sport is off for the duration of the break and only the die-hards are out in the surf! That said, there is still plenty of opportunity to settle down in a warm movie theatre and catch those films still doing the rounds that have been Previewed previously, as well as checking out another raft of new offerings to entice you out on a cold Winter's afternoon or evening. This week there are six new movies that again offer something for everyone. Of course for holiday season we have a colourful animated sequel set somewhere in Brazil for the younger ones amongst us (no FIFA references here though!); there is a bio-pic of a 60's iconic band that everyone has heard about and may have seen already in the stage adaptation of their story; there is a documentary made by a couple of well known magicians trying to solve some historical magic of their own; a French cycling fanatic going large in the biggest two wheeled peddle power cross-country race in the known universe; an Aussie teenage coming of age tale as the lives of four kids on the edge of adulthood become intertwined; and a revenge film pointed squarely at the misgivings of the Catholic Church from within a small Irish community.

Truly a global feel to this weeks latest releases taking us from South America to North America to Ireland to France, to our own backyard here in Australia and a few other stop-offs along the way! Get out and see something on the big screen, and then drop me a line and let me know your thoughts!

CALVARY (Rated MA15+) - Brendan Gleeson stars here as Father James Lavelle, a Catholic Priest in the small Irish community in County Sligo. Taking confessional one fine day he learns that one of his flock has decided to kill him one week from now. And so is set in motion a cat and mouse game as Father James seeks to uncover the would-be killer, save himself, and the name of his Church which the majority of his congregation seem to have lost faith in and would all have some reason in turning against it, and the Priest. This is Gleeson's second pairing with Director and Screenwriter John Michael McDonagh after 2011's excellent 'The Guard'. Again as with that film the subject matter may be considered confronting, the writing solid, the dialogue sharp, the comedy black, and the performances in fine form from Gleeson especially and a very capable cast including Chris O'Dowd, Dylan Moran, Domhnall Gleeson and Kelly Reilly (playing Father James grown and troubled daughter). A must-see, and if you liked 'The Guard' then this is sure to please.

JERSEY BOYS (Rated M) - Clint Eastwood has once again got his Director's hat on and has taken the stage adaptation of this Frankie Valli and his 60's music sensation band 'The Four Seasons', and given it the big screen treatment. Using big screen unknown but stage renowned acting and singing talent for the lead role especially from the 'Jersey Boys' theatre production, Eastwood has crafted the story based around the kids early lives, their break through into music and eventual stardom and the gambling, the debts, the differences in musical and creative opinion, the Mafioso threats, divided families and such melodrama to add weight to the musical numbers that you will instantly recognise, and tap your feet to. Starring John Lloyd Young (Frankie Valli), Vincent Piazza (Tommy DeVito), Michael Lomenda (Nick Massi) and Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen) with always dependable Christopher Walken supporting, this is likely to please those fans of The Four Seasons and the musical bio-pic genre.

GALORE (Rated MA15+) - this is an Aussie coming of age drama film set amid the backdrop of the Canberra bush fires in 2003. Four young lives on the cusp of adulthood become interwoven as Billie (Ashleigh Cummings) and best mate Laura (Lily Sullivan) share their innermost secrets . . . except one, and that is Billie's secret longing for Laura's boyfriend Danny (Toby Wallace). When Billie's mother takes in troubled teen Isaac (Aliki Matangi) this stranger impacts upon the careful balance of the three teen lives causing more disruption and uncertainty. With bush fires ranging and inching ever closer the four immerse themselves in each other, their teen angst, parties, alcohol, love, lust and desire with consequences that could change their delicate lives forever.

TOUR DE FORCE (Rated M) - manic cycling family man Francois (Clovis Cornillac) decides to join up with the Tour de France while in a drunken stupor commiserating the loss of his family after they walk out on him because of his two wheel pedal powering obsession! In no time at all he has recruited a Manager, a crew to provide road support en-route, and a surrogate 'family' to cheer him on his way. Needless to say all goes well and he quickly acquires a cult following in the media, but along this journey of discovery through the mountains and meadows all cannot be so well, and various predictable plot contrivances will doubtless conspire to deliver humour, emotion, awakening and redemption from the Peloton, his disjointed family status and his all enveloping obsession.

TIM'S VERMEER (Rated M) - this is an historical journey attempting to uncover the reasons why Dutch Master painter of the 17th Century, Johannes Vermeer, was able to paint his famed artworks (Girl with the Pearl Earring amongst others) with almost a photo-realism . . . two hundred years or so before the invention of the camera! The guys behind this quest are the renowned magician double act Penn & Teller, with Teller taking the Directing credit behind the camera, and partner Penn Jillette taking a Producing, Writing and Narrative credit in front of the camera. But it is wealthy inventor Tim Jenison, who is seeking to uncover the truth behind this centuries old puzzle to prove that Vermeer did in fact use various optical devices to create his stunning imagery on canvas. Looking to clarify the lines between art, science and obsession this documentary film charts an eight year work that takes in the painters place of work in Holland, a meeting with famed British painter David Hockney and to the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace to view one of the Queen's Vermeer artworks in her own collection. This film is likely to fascinate or frustrate, and will not be for everyone, but, you'll need to see the film to learn what is ultimately uncovered and the conclusions drawn.

RIO 2 (Rated G) - following hot on the heels of the 2011 animated hit, comes the sequel of various tropical brightly feathered family and friends this time transporting them to the deepest darkest Amazon, where they have been transplanted from colourful, exciting, energetic Rio de Janiero. Featuring the voice talents of Anne Hathaway, Bruno Mars, Jamie Foxx, Jessie Eisenberg and Andy Garcia amongst others the same avian characters are back but in new surroundings discovering long lost in-laws and overcoming the challenges that ensue when you rock-up suddenly unannounced! Along the way there are dazzling musical routines, chases through the undergrowth and above the forest canopies, and various pratfalls to be expected when you drop a crew in unfamiliar territory and out of their comfort zone. Visually colourful and dazzling as the first film was, this is sure to please the younger audience with what it is!

Six offerings to entertain and possibly educate, and amuse in one way or another. Enjoy your cinematic experience(s) this coming week, and when you're done . . . tell a friend, and this Blog!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

The Sydney Film Festival 2014 : 4th -15th June.

Once again the Sydney Film Festival is about to launch later this week offering us Sydneysiders and movie going tourists, film enthusiasts and cinema geeks a feast for the senses, and celluloid overload as we seek to cram in as much moving picture entertainment as is humanly possible over a twelve day period.

The Sydney Film Festival again cements its place as the world's longest continuously running film festival now in its 61st year, and judging by this years diverse offering is sure to provide some enticing entertainment for everyone, and will be sure to please. With films from across the globe from Argentina, Australia and Austria to the UK, Ukraine and the USA and just about everywhere in between, there are over 180 screenings over the period from Opening Night on 4th June to Closing Night on 15th June.

There are feature length films, short films, documentaries, retrospectives, classics, animated films, horror films, and many from first time Directors and many being premiered in Australia. There are films in official competition, and of the 180 or so screenings, over 30 are Australian.

You can see this years entries at an number of venues across Sydney, taking in The State Theatre, the George Street Event Cinemas, the Dendy Cinema at Opera Quays, the Cremorne Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, The Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the Skyline Drive-in at Blacktown. There will also be talks and discussions at the George Street Apple Store, and a Big Screen showing all things SFF at the Martin Place Amphitheatre, and don't forget to drop into the Sydney Film Festival Hub for lively talks, presentations, food, drink, pop-ups and perspectives - upstairs and downstairs at Sydney Town Hall throughout the Festival.

Some of the highlights this year would have to be 'Locke', 'The Rover', 'Snowpiercer', 'Calvary', 'The Captive', 'Frank', 'The Two Faces of January', 'Joe', 'Palo Alto', 'Love is Strange', 'The Skeleton Twins', 'Cold in July', 'Night Moves', 'Starred Up', and 'Babylon' amongst a plethora of others. You could also catch a Robert Altman retrospective and seat yourself in front of 'Nashville' or 'M*A*S*H' or 'Short Cuts' or five of his others screening also, and if it's a Classic you're looking for then you could go for 'Rebel Without a Cause' or the original 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'.

With so much to choose from you had better get in quick. You can get more information on all films, session times, locations and ticketing etc. by checking out the official website at : SFF.ORG.AU or you can call 1300 733 733, or you can download the app : SFF 2014 APP and carry it all around with you in your pocket. Tickets are what you would expect to pay for any singular screening at $19.50 but there are bulk deals to be had, and you can package your screening up with dinner etc., and as an added bonus many events are free too!

Have a great film festival, and see as many movies as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-