THE LOST CITY : Tuesday 7th June 2022

I saw the M Rated 'THE LOST CITY' at my local multiplex this week some seven weeks after its release date in Australia of 14th April. This American action adventure comedy film is Co-Written and Directed by Adam and Aaron Nee whose previous feature film credits take in their debut offering in 2006 with 'The Last Romantic' and 'Band of Robbers' in 2015. This film saw its World Premier at South by Southwest in mid-March before its cinema release Stateside at the end of March, having so far grossed US$186M off the back of a US$68M production budget and garnering mixed or average Reviews along the way.

Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock, who also Co-Produces here) is an acclaimed author who writes fictional romantic-adventure novels based around a heroine, Dr. Angela Lovemore (also played by Sandra Bullock), and her romantic interest, Dash McMahon (Channing Tatum). To promote the latest and twentieth book in the series, her publisher, Beth Hatten (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), insists that Loretta embark on a book tour with Alan Caprison (also played by Channing Tatum), the book's cover model for Dash, despite her reclusiveness since the death of her husband. Sage has grown tired of turning out 'schlock' novels featuring Lovemore and McMahon despite the obvious benefits that the trappings of her success has brought her, and so she decides it's time to kill off Dash. On the book tour, Dash is asked to remove his shirt by several women in the audience, much to Sage's chagrin, and needless to say their exploits onstage does not end well for either of them.

And so, following a less than successful start to their book tour Loretta is kidnapped by Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), a billionaire who has deduced that Loretta based her books on actual historic research conducted with her late archaeologist husband. He discovered a lost city on a remote island in the Atlantic and is convinced the 'Crown of Fire', a priceless crown of sixty encrusted red diamonds, is located there. When she declines to help decipher part of an ancient map believed to pinpoint the treasure, Fairfax, fearing an active volcano will destroy the site within days potentially, chloroforms and takes Loretta to the island aboard his private jet. 

Alan, who is secretly infatuated with Loretta, witnesses her kidnapping. He recruits Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt), a former Navy SEAL turned CIA operative and now a seemingly one man army for hire, whom he met at a mind and body retreat to connect with one's inner being, to meet him on the island and coordinate a rescue. Jack, with absolutely no help from Alan, breaches Fairfax's compound and overcome's many of Fairfax's henchmen singlehandedly in close quarter hand to hand combat, and frees Loretta, but is shot in the head before they can make it to the airport, forcing Loretta and Alan to flee into the jungle.

After leaving Alan where he fell, and fleeing in his Baja Qute car which ends up falling over a cliff, and then camping out in a hammock overnight, Loretta and Alan spend the next day fending off Fairfax's henchmen before reaching a nearby village, where Loretta calls Beth and leaves a message for her to tell her she's alive, and Alan dances with the locals. Upon hearing an old folk song from a local, Loretta deduces that the crown is hidden in a sinkhole somewhere in the jungle. Before they can leave however, Fairfax captures her again. Alan gives chase to save Loretta on a old motorcycle that he traded his wrist watch for, and catches them up. The pair then fight and struggle to gain the upper hand, before  being forced to share the treasure's location with Fairfax.

Upon reaching the location within the sinkhole, they discover the tomb is not a monument to Taha and Calaman's power, but a hiding place for the queen to grieve over her husband. Her Crown of Fire was made of red seashells gathered by him as a sign of his love for her. The actual treasure of the legend was not a priceless diamond encrusted jewel but the inseparable love between the king and his queen. Angered beyond belief, Fairfax forces Loretta and Alan into the tomb and closes it firmly shut as the volcano erupts, but Rafi (Hector Anibal), one of the henchmen and an island local, has a change of heart and leaves a crowbar to help them escape. Running ahead of Fairfax to escape the molten lava floe, Rafi abandons Fairfax on the island by heading off on his motor boat. Beth arrives with the local coast guard and rescues Loretta and Alan who swam underwater through a series of tunnels to safety, and Fairfax is duly arrested having been picked up looking lost and innocent. Loretta's next book, based on her adventure with Alan, is a hit, as they kiss at the end of their next book tour. 

Remain in your seat for a mid-credits sequence in which Jack, having survived the bullet to his head and having been presumed very dead, attends a yoga class with Loretta and Alan, surprising them both. 

'The Lost City' is almost an updated version of 1984's 'Romancing the Stone' with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito and so in that respect this film offers up nothing particularly new that we haven't seen before. However, that said, this film will be aimed at a whole new audience unfamiliar with that earlier film, and in that respect the chemistry that obviously exists between Bullock, Tatum, Radcliffe and Pitt (for the brief scenes that the latter plays out) helps elevate this feature above the also-rans. The script is a little thin on the ground, but the sense of humour and the quips often delivered in dead-pan fashion make up for this, while some of sweeping vistas of the Dominican Republic (where this movie was filmed) all add up to a film that is greater than the sum of its parts. Sure, its not going to reinvent the action adventure Rom-Com genre but it does at least provide a satisfying screwball comedy that reminds us why we go to the movies.

'The Lost City' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 14th July 2016.

In the last few weeks I have brought you a number of Box Office statistics, and so wrapping up this mini-series I have concluded with a look at Australian home grown films and how these have fared, stood the test of time and what the Aussie's have flocked to see in the very recent past and further down the track. Having secured the below data from Screen Australia, the Top 10 Aussie films of all time as of today, and how these performed at the Australian Box Office are these :-

• 'Crocodile Dundee' - released in 1986 and launching Paul Hogan's film career as outback Mick Dundee - AU$47.7M 
• 'Australia' - released in 2008 by Director Baz Luhrmann giving us an epic WWII Australian history lesson - AU$37.6M
• 'Babe' - released in 1995 about a talking piglet named Babe down on the farm - AU$36.8M
• 'Happy Feet' - released in 2006 by Director George Miller about animated song & dance penguins - AU$31.8M
• 'Moulin Rouge' - released in 2001 by Director Baz Luhrmann about the infamous Parisian nightspot at the turn of the 20th Century - AU$27.7M
• 'The Great Gatsby' - released in 2013 by Director Baz Luhrmann based on the famed F. Scott Fitzgerald novel of 1920's New York and the life of one multi-millionaire Jay Gatsby and those around him - AU$27.4M
• 'Crocodile Dundee II' - released in 1988 and the second instalment for Paul Hogan as our unlikely outback hero - AU$24.9M
• 'Strictly Ballroom' - released in 1992 by Director Baz Luhrmann a story of more unconventional ballroom dancing - AU$21.8M
• 'Mad Max : Fury Road' - released in 2015 by Director George Miller this fourth instalment in the post-apocalyptic franchise that introduced the world to Max Rockatansky back in 1979 - AU$21.7M
• 'Red Dog' - released in 2011 this true story of a dogs love and devotion in the Australian outback mining region around Dampier - AU$21.5M. 

What this shows is that even after thirty years 'Crocodile Dundee' remains in the #1 spot and by a significant margin, with its sequel performing half as well but in the #7 place nonetheless.  This also shows that Baz Luhrmann is a force to be reckoned with four Top Box Office films in the Top 10 with George Miller's two. Those other notable films that sit below are 'The Dressmaker' at #11, 'The Dish' at #12, 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' at #14, Russell Crowe's 'The Water Diviner' at #15, Mel Gibson's 1981 war time classic 'Gallipoli' at #22, perennial Aussie favourite and often quoted 'The Castle' at #29, the pianist extraordinaire David Helfgott bio-pic 'Shine' at #30, the Heath Ledger bio-pic of 19th Century Aussie bush ranger outlaw 'Ned Kelly' at #35, outback Aussie  slasher horror 'Wolf Creek' at #48 and criminal underworld bio-pic of Mark Read 'Chopper' at #49 that launched the film career of Eric Bana. For the full listing of the Top 100, go to the Screen Australia website.

For the coming week then we have five new movies to tempt you out to your local Odeon, and for a mere $21 what better value way is there to spend your afternoon or evening? Kicking off we have a 21st Century all female reboot of a much loved critically acclaimed and commercially successful two movie franchise from the 80's centering around a bunch of hapless yet loveable ghost hunters and collectors. Then a story of love and loss and how a man has to tear apart the life he knew (literally) before he can rebuild and move on; with a modern day British spy drama following and penned by one of the best that sees an unsuspecting couple caught up in a web of intrigue as they chase across Europe with MI6 and the Russian mob hot on their tails. These are followed up with a unique and cleverly written story that sees a desperate mans salvation thanks to a dead man and how even a washed up corpse can have its uses; and then we wrap up with a nostalgic trip down an Irish memory lane to the 80's and a film of New Romantics, big hair, wide lapels, heavily synthed music and the dreams and aspirations of a young school lad desperately out to prove himself.

When you have been entertained by your film of choice in the week ahead, feel free to drop a line with your critique in the Comments section below this or any other Post - your fellow readers would love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

'GHOSTBUSTERS' (Rated PG) : the original 'Ghostbusters' film was released in 1984 and was Directed and Produced by Ivan Reitman, Written by Dan Aykroyd who also starred as Ray Stanz, and starred Harold Ramis as Egon Spengler and Bill Murray as Peter Venkmen - making up the threesome of parapsychologists, ghost hunters and spectre busters. That film was made for US$30M and returned US$295M and was also a critical success having been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Ray Parker Jnr's. signature tune as Best Original Song. Based on this success 'Ghostbusters II' was released in 1989 with the same cast reprising their roles for US$37M and returning US$215M. During its time there were also two animated television series, a number of video game releases, a comic book adaptation, merchandise, and the film has seen several cinematic re-releases in more recent years. And now, in 2016, we have a reboot for a whole new audience, but this time with a budget of US$144M, and Paul Feig in the Directors chair, with Ivan Reitman Co-Producing, with both Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd appearing in cameo roles.

Here we have an all female cast of ghost hunters and catchers continuing the work laid out by Stanz, Venkman and Spengler 30 years ago and still in Noo Yawk City. This time, paranormal researcher Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and physicist Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) are largely unsuccessful and uncared about authors who believe that ghosts are real and are among us in everyday society. Fast track a few years and Gilbert lands a job at Columbia University and when her book resurfaces unexpectedly, she is laughed out of class and out of a job. However, when ghosts of all descriptions manifest themselves in Manhattan - who ya gonna call? When the two authors reunite, they do so with nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) and subway worker Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) who knows the city inside out upside down and every which way. Armed with their trusty upgraded proton packs, our new team of Ghostbusters need to prepare themselves and their city for an epic ectoplasmic battle as Times Square becomes the meeting point for a thousand or more evil spectres, devilish ghouls and mischievous phantoms. Chris Hemsworth, Andy Garcia, Charles Dance, and Neil Casey also star. The film has so far divided audiences and critics.

'DEMOLITION' (Rated M) - I saw an early screening of this film as part of the Sydney Film Festival this year, on Wednesday 15th June, so for more, go to Blog Post #497 for the full coverage of this latest Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts and Chris Cooper offering as Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.

'OUR KIND OF TRAITOR' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by Susanna White and based on the 2010 John le Carre novel of the same name, this is another spy game drama of intrigue, espionage, secrets and lies set in modern day recession gripped Britain. Involving a Russian oligarch and money launderer Dima (Stellan Skarsgard) who befriends and persuades British holidaying couple Perry Makepeice (Ewen McGregor) and Gail Perkins (Naomi Harris) in Marrakech, Morocco to deliver a package containing incriminating evidence to MI6 Agent Hector (Damien Lewis). This sets off a chain of events where not everything is quite what it seems that takes our out of their depth couple to Paris, Berlin, a safe house in the French Alps and then London's murky underworld as they seek to deliver very classified information to the British Secret Service and a very determined and ruthless Agent Hector. Also starring Jeremy Northam and Grigoriy Dobrygin who starred too in the 2014 le Carre adaptation 'A Most Wanted Man'.

'SWISS ARMY MAN' (Rated M) - Written and Directed by 'The Daniels' - Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for just US$3M this is their first full length feature film following a career established on short films, commercials and music videos, and with this offering they have caused quite a stir - for all the right reasons. Essentially, the film surrounds two men - one living one dead - the former Hank (Paul Dano) has been stranded on a desert island for sometime in the Pacific Northwest and with no sign of any rescue is about to hang himself. When, out of nowhere washes up a corpse of a blue suited man whom he eventually calls Manny (Daniel Radcliffe). Manny it appears has a number of unusual supernatural powers that Hank believes may just be his ticket outta Dodge - which include a seemingly endless dose of flatulence, which Hank harnesses to ride Manny across the ocean wave like a jet-ski back to land and civilisation. When he does reach the mainland however, he is still a long way from civilisation, and so begins a trek through the wilderness where Hank learns to use Manny's particular set of skills like a Swiss Army Knife. Taking us from the sublime to the ridiculous, the sentimental to the emotional, and the absurd to the profound this original film shows how one mans salvation can come from the most unlikely and twisted of places.

'SING STREET' (Rated M) - Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Irish indie film and television Writer/Director John Carney this is a tribute to growing up in the 80's with a back drop of inner-city Dublin a struggling family and the impact of financial decisions that means young Conor Lalor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) must move from his expensive fee paying school to a free state school to see out his education. Pretty soon after starting and having already caught the ire of school Principal Brother Baxter (Don Wycherley), Conor meets Raphina (Lucy Boynton) and off the cuff in order to impress here states that he is looking for a model to start in his next music video for his bands next release single. The problem is that Conor is not making a music video, does not have a pending single release, and nor does he have a band, or can sing or play a musical instrument. But these are just minor hurdles to be overcome in the course of true love, and so Conor sets about forming a band and before long are writing their own material. Meanwhile Conor's (stage name adapted to 'Cosmo') parents marriage is failing, and his relationship with Raphia is growing by the day as they share dreams of escaping to London to make their fame & fortune. With a thumping nostalgic 80's soundtrack including Duran Duran, The Cure, The Jam, Joe Jackson, Hall & Oates, M and Motorhead as well as a number of 'original' 80's songs performed by Cosmo's band 'Sing Street' this is an uplifting, feel good charming tale of hopes, dreams and optimism.

Five films for the coming week once again offering almost something for everyone giving you little excuse not to get out to your local movie theatre for a dose of cinematic entertainment. Share your thoughts here at this Blog when you have done so, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

NOW YOU SEE ME - THE SECOND ACT : Wednesday 8th June 2016.

'NOW YOU SEE ME : THE SECOND ACT' is the follow up to 2013's first instalment in this magic heist adventure offering that was Directed by Louis Leterrier, comprised an all star cast, and despite its largely mixed critical reviews it made US$352M from its US$75M production budget and was therefore hailed a commercial success at least. Three short years later, and as if by magic we have a sequel up our sleeve, this time Directed by Jon M. Chu with much of that original line up reprising their roles. This film had a bigger budget than the first at US$90M and was released in Australia largely ahead of the rest of the world with its Stateside release on 10th June and the rest of the world thereafter. As long ago as a year, Lionsgate Films announced that 'Now You See Me 3' was already in the planning stages, so its very much looks like our intrepid, daring 'Four Horsemen' will survive to ride another day, and perform more sleight of hand for your disbelieving pleasure with plenty more tricks up their sleeves.

Essentially one year on from cleverly outwitting the FBI with a grand illusion to end all grand illusions whilst winning over the confidence, respect, support and adulation of the general public, 'The Four Horsemen' (no, not those from 'X-Men : Apocalypse') - Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and new girl on the block replacing Isla Fisher, Lula (Lizzy Caplan) reappear for an encore performance in the hopes of exposing the unethical dealings of a tech magnate who is about to launch a new smart phone on the world that will gobble up all your personal and private data and use it for seemingly unscrupulous means to become all controlling. Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) meanwhile leads The Four Horsemen covertly whilst 'working' for the FBI in supposedly tracking down The Four Horsemen, but along the way sending those authority figures on a merry hunt half way around the world to maintain their cover, their disappearing act for over a year now, and allowing them to go about their business largely unhindered.

Assembled, and with another grand illusion at the ready, The Four Horsemen prepare to make their mark on a Conference/Exhibition Hall where this latest smart phone is to be revealed on an unsuspecting world. When things go awry and Rhodes plan is scuppered by the FBI, the illusionists need to make a quick exit stage left. In doing so, they escape via a roof top and slide down a construction shute that is meant to exit them in an awaiting truck several stories below . . . but instead they emerge in a Chinese looking kitchen with surprised Chefs rattling the pans all around them. They walk out of the kitchen dazed and confused into a bustling restaurant and quickly learn that they are in downtown Macau - WTF just happened they exclaim looking totally bewildered.

As they quickly gather their thoughts, they are welcomed by Chase McKinney (Woody Harrelson) - the estranged twin brother of Merritt, and who has a serious axe to grind against his brother, and vice versa. Suffice to say there is no love lost between them. The four get loaded up into an obligatory black 4WD and taken off across town to meet devious tech wizard Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe). Meanwhile Rhodes is back on the other side of the world wondering where the hell his Four Horsemen are, and their phones are unresponsive.

Mabry announces that he engineered their 'abduction' to Macau and explains how he preformed that trick, and reveals that in exchange for their freedom from his clutches and those of the FBI, he requires them to steal a micro-chip embedded in a playing card sized sliver of plastic. The chip has the ability to hack into any computer in the world, decrypt any code, break any password and reveal the most secret, sensitive information to the holder of said chip. Of the four, only Atlas agrees and so the others are forced to go along with the plan, and have 24 hours to do so. They swing into action visiting the worlds oldest magic store which just happens to be there is Macau, for some essential supplies with which to pull off this daring heist from a heavily guarded technical fortress.

Meanwhile back on American soil, Rhodes receives a phone call from Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman) who is locked up in a prison cell, having been put there by Rhodes himself as a result of his antics in the first film. With Rhodes now being chased down by the FBI who have worked out his cunning agenda, he reluctantly reaches out to Bradley who claims he knows the whereabouts of The Four Horsemen, and will reveal their location in exchange for a 24 hour leave pass. Bradley and Rhodes arrive in Macau after the Four Horsemen have deftly and with remarkable sleight of hand acquired the microchip, with Atlas waiting in a downtown market to hand over the merchandise to Mabry and his henchmen. At that point Atlas is intercepted by Rhodes, and a fight breaks out as Atlas gets away with the chip leaving Rhodes to fend off the others after Mabry reveals his intentions towards them were hardly genuine.

When the dust settles Rhodes and The Four Horsemen reunite to ponder their next move. Aided by the magic shop owner and her son, they devise a cunning plan to beat Mabry at his own game - in London on New Years Eve where they will stage their greatest illusion yet, and they let the world know of their imminent arrival. In the meantime, we have learnt that Mabry is the illegitimate son of Arthur Tressler (who The Four Horsemen tricked out of millions of dollars in the first film), and so he has his own agenda to rid the world of Rhodes and his four magicians, and has Bradley on side too.

As the action moves to London on NYE The Four Horsemen assemble at various points across the city and each gather a crowd of expectant on lookers ready to see their magical mastery up close & personal. Behind the scenes the FBI has gathered ready to nab Rhodes and The Four Horsemen when they appear. Mabry & Tressler have also touched down still hunting the chip, and so they too are in hot pursuit. What follows is a cat and mouse game across a busy London on NYE as the FBI close in but as usual are one step behind the bad guys who have captured Rhodes, Atlas, McKinney, Lula and Wilder and intend to make off with them by private jet and dispose of them once the chip is in their safe hands. But of course, the gang of grand illusionists have a few tricks up their sleeve which ensures the downfall of Mabry, Tressler and Chase in front of a worldwide audience.

In the final analysis, Rhodes, Atlas, McKinney, Wilder and Lula convene in Greenwich when the dust has settled and the FBI are off their scent. There Rhodes meets with Bradley who reveals his true identity as a close friend and business partner to Rhodes' father, Lionel Shrike (Richard Laing) who died when the young Dylan was just eight years of age performing an illusion that went horribly wrong. Also revealed are three other members of 'The Eye' who we were introduced to earlier in the film, as Bradley bids his farewells from his office headquarters.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this film. It moves along at a cracking pace and the cast are strong enough both individually and as an ensemble to complete this magic circle and make it greater than the sum of its parts. The illusions and the magic are well orchestrated if somewhat stretched in their plausibility, but then hey, this is a film about master illusionists writ large and their ability to perform feats of magic on a grand scale, so you'll need to suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride. The one flaw in this tale for me is the ability for the gang to perform their illusions on such a grand scale so quickly using very limited time and resources and pull everything off so successfully. There's no months, not even weeks, of pre-planning, preparations, rehearsals, assembling a crew, fine tuning, checking and double checking that everything works and is at it should be . . . but then I guess this is the magic of Hollywood, and why let practical details get in the way of a good story. It is worth the price of your ticket, it delivers exactly what you would expect from the first film, and as sequels go, it ain't bad!

 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

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

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

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

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

Sunday 19th July

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

Monday 20th July

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

Tuesday 21st July

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

Wednesday 22nd July

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

Thursday 23rd July

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

Friday 24th July

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

Saturday 25th July

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Pt. 2 : archive from 2nd August 2011.

All good things must come to an end and so it is with 'Potterdom' with the arrival of the final film instalment of the final book in this movie franchise that is derived from seven hugely successful J.K.Rowling books of one certain young up & coming wizard lad whose life we have charted through young adolescence to young adulthood. The first film hit our silver screens in 2001 with the arrival of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' as the young wet behind the ears wizard in training attends his first year at Hogwarts. Now ten years later Harry has grown up, has become more worldly wise in the ways of wizardry, has experienced more adventures and near death escapes than you could poke a wand at, and now the series culminates with 'HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Part 2' which I saw last night.

Eight films, four different Directors, a combined production Budget of US$1.155B, a total combined global Box Office haul of US$7.723B, too many awards and accolades to mention and this final film ranks as the fourth most commercially successful film of all time with US$1.342 in worldwide take, and  a cast who largely remained unchanged for ten years. An amazing feat in film making history it would have to be said!

And so, with all that said 'HP7.2' is very much a fitting end to the long running saga. With a veritible who's who of the English stage & screen world every character comes out of the woodwork for a last hurrah and the film is richer for it. Continuing on from where Part 1 left off of course, Harry, Ron & Hermione have seen numerous adventures with the Death Eaters, the Snatchers and the Deathly Hallows as they follow their quest to destroy the Horcruxes which hold the secret to Voldemort's immortality.

As Harry's emotional connection to Voldemort steadily increases the necessity to destroy the Horcruxes becomes more real and more urgent. As the Dark Lord secures the Elder Wand and advances on Hogwarts for the final show down, the awesome threesome converge on their old school for one last time where they must stand against the foreboding dark forces who would rid the world of its rich wizarding heritage in favour of pure-blood domination of evil. Who will win the day . . . I think by now you know how this all plays out - together with the one-tenth of the global population who went to see this!

This final no holds barred offering is effects laden, has emotion, drama, action, spectacle and finally Ron & Hermione get it on amongst the Hogwarts rubble. Fast forwarding 19 years brings it full circle. All good stuff, and now it's time to watch them all back to back on your DVD or BluRay in the comfort of your own home.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-