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 18th December 2014.

The last couple of weeks have seen a big haul of new release movies to satisfy almost every taste, but this week - just one week out from Christmas, there are slim pickings to be had indeed! It is hardly surprising though given that last week, and this to a great extent, is the cinematic meat in the proverbial sandwich nestled between capturing the early December school holiday market, and the big screen fare that will be released next week on Boxing Day of which there will be a another mega haul of movies all competing for the festive filmic family attention. More of that next week of course!

And so for this week it seems I can tempt you with just one family offering that is a remake of an earlier film from 1999 that is a remake of an earlier film still from 1982 that saw a spin off  in 1995 that is the big screen adaptation of the hit Broadway stage musical. Up for its umpteenth reincarnation therefore this 2014 offering has some big Hollywood names both behind and in front of the camera, and is sure to please . . . the little people amongst us!

Knowing then this remake hits the big screens near you this week and there is stall a raft of great cinema content out there from previous weeks, I invite you to share your thoughts, comments and critique with Odeon Online and the reading world by sharing your valued views and opinions in the 'Comments' box immediately below this, or any other Blog Post. Enjoy your film . . . whatever you choose!

ANNIE (Rated PG) - and so this film gets yet another makeover, and once again for a whole new audience who will be unfamiliar with those that have gone before. 'Annie' was released in 1982 and Directed by John Huston starring Aileen Quinn as our young heroine; then in 1995 came 'Annie : A Royal Adventure' Directed by Ian Toynton and starring Ashley Johnson in the title role; then in 1999, came 'Annie' once again and this time Directed by Rob Marshall and starring Alicia Morton in the lead role; and now in 2014 we have, yes you guessed it, 'Annie' Directed by Will Gluck and starring Quvenzhane Wallis as little Annie with heavyweights Cameron Diaz as the Harlem living Miss Colleen Hannigan the mean spirited foster Mum to Annie, and Jamie Foxx as Will Stacks - a hard nosed tough as nails cashed-up cell phone tycoon running for the Mayor's seat of NYC.  This film has all the clout of husband and wife Producers Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith and rapper Jay-Z behind it too, so no doubt it will get the wise-ass, street smart, jive talking treatment from those throwing down the cash!

The plot sees our Annie changing race, and changing allegiances, when she is saved from getting mown down by a truck on her journey home by Will Stacks. Stacks is running for Mayor of the Big Apple but his campaign is not faring too well, mostly on account of his dislike for people generally. Having saved her life and this being caught on camera the footage goes viral and so his popularity begins to soar. He sees this as an opening to milk Annie for all she is worth and wing his way into the big chair as the head of the city, and so he offers to formally adopt Annie after their bond for each other has strengthened. And so the plot winds on into familiar territory aided by Rose Byrne as Grace Farrell (Stacks loyal PA) and Bobby Cannavale as Guy (political advisor to Stacks) when Annie feels betrayed by Stacks and runs off, Stacks has to come clean about his ulterior motives; and the two kiss and make up and all live happily ever after following the big action chase set piece to round out the film. Being a musical there will be foot tapping numbers aplenty to keep you interested, but you would have to ask yourself the question - is this Annie outing really necessary - only you can decide!

I did tell you it was a slim week for movies! Still doing the rounds though, too which you can now add 'Annie', there is something for every taste almost and plenty to choose from. Get out there and keep cinema alive, and then share your thoughts with your favourite Blog - Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th July 2014.

Like last week there are only three new releases to entice your movie going dollar from out of your wallet. It's mid-Winter, the days are getting decidedly colder, the school holidays are done, and there are no mega budget big action blockbusters on the immediate horizon (although plenty still doing the rounds). So what's going to tempt you out to your local movie theatre on a cold mid-Winter afternoon or evening - three very different offerings once again, that's what! For starters we have a love story set way back when in the land of the recent Soccer World Cup, then we have a love story caught in many compromising positions about to go viral, and then we have a love story (of sorts) dedicated to the indigenous people of our land and their struggle with the white settler.

Whatever you decide to go and see this coming week - one of the new releases Previewed below, or one Previewed in prior weeks or indeed Reviewed by this humble Correspondent, then don't hide your opinion under a bushel, instead tell my other Reader what you think and post it to my Blog while it's still fresh in your movie memory banks! Enjoy the experience nonetheless.

CHARLIE'S COUNTRY (Rated M) - Directed by Rolf de Heer, this is his third collaboration with Australia's finest indigenous and much lauded actor, David Gulpilil starring as the Charlie in this piece, and based to some extent on Gulpilil's own life experiences. Following on from 'The Tracker' and then 'Ten Canoes' in 2002 and 2006 respectively, this story tells of Charlie's life on the land as a happy-go-lucky good natured fella doing what his ancestors did for centuries before him. However, this is the 21st Century and times ain't what they used to be - no alcohol, no unlicensed guns (or spears, or bows) for hunting, and a land run by the white fella, across a territory that he once used to call his own. Charlie is at a point in his life when it's time to reconnect with the old country, and what follows is life changing for Charlie as he tramples the withered barren fractured landscape of Arnhem Land looking for answers. His journey to becoming wiser as result leads to discovery, trouble and run-ins with the local Police, local communities and other black fellas who don't share his spirit. This film has thus far garnered much praise for the achievements of both Gulpilil and de Heer for its sense of purpose, its conviction, and in highlighting further the plight of Australia's indigenous population at the hands of it's white settlers.

SEX TAPE (Rated MA15+) - the complete polar opposite of the
film Previewed above - this comedy stars Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz in the lead roles, and for whom the said Sex Tape must be recovered. Directed by Jake Kasdan the story surrounds Jay (Segel) and Annie (Diaz) who have been married for ten years and two children later whose lust life is not quite what it once was. Deciding to spruce things up a bit and rekindle that old flame, they decide to try every position as shown in the 'Joy of Sex' book over a marathon three hour session one evening. . . and in the process record their bedroom Olympics (just for posterity I suppose, and perhaps for the Grand Kids to watch one day!!!). Of course their recording goes AWOL and quickly becomes a risk of going viral in cyberspace, unless they can thwart that notion, but in doing so uncover more than they bargain for. My guess is that this movie will exploit every sex cliche in the book, and will unfold in true 'by the numbers' fashion. Diaz proved she was capable of so much more in 'The Counsellor', and here she is straight back doing this titillating stuff that we have seen in some shape or form countless times before. You decide, and then let me know if I got it wrong!

REACHING FOR THE MOON (Rated M) - here we have another very different offering to the two films Previewed above, and this one will suit more mature audiences given the historical subject matter and the performances and spectacle on screen. This film traces the true story of American poet, Elizabeth Bishop (played by Miranda Otto) and Brazillian Architect Lota de Macedo Soares (played by Gloria Pires) set amidst the backdrop of the early 60's when Brazil was still an infant country and its development was only just beginning. For the time Lota was an extroverted idealistic visionary whose influence inspired many buildings and landscapes of that era, but her optimism for the times often masked darker periods in her life and those events unfolding around her. Elizabeth is more reserved, detached and cold perhaps, but she is creative, generous and there is clearly more than a spark of longing between the two woman, that is thrown into some disarray when Lota former lover, Mary, reappears on the scene. This film is Directed by Bruno Baretto who gives us a rich, colourful nuanced film that is likely to draw you in as much for its subject matter as for its fine performances, historical content, and the beauty of the imagery presented to us.

So there you have it! Get yourself off the sofa and get yourself out to a movie theatre this coming week to catch one of the above new release offerings, or something Previewed or Reviewed in a former Post. When you've done that let me know what you think by Posting a Comment or two for the sake of our global movie going readership.

Movies . . . see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-