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-

DEMOLITION : Wednesday 15th June 2016.

I saw 'DEMOLITION' at my favourite Sydney movie theatre on Wednesday evening last week as part of the Sydney Film Festival screenings. Due in Australian cinemas on 14th July, released in the US on 8th April and screened at TIFF in early September 2015, it would be fair to say that this film has so far found only a limited audience and received luke warm reviews for the most part. It is a shame because the film promises so much with a strong Director at the helm in Jean-Marc Vallee who most recently brought us Reece Witherspoon's 'Wild' and Matthew McConaughey's 'Dallas Buyer's Club', and a strong cast in the three principle leads. The movie theatre was well attended which gives an indication of the pulling power of Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead and the calibre of the Director, but that said, the woman sat next to me got up and walked out within 20 minutes! Make of that what you will!

The story here centres on Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) a successful investment banker who has worked since aged 27 in his father-in-laws business. Driving in the car with his wife Julia (Heather Lind) at the wheel, Davis is talking on his mobile phone on loud speaker with her Dad and his boss Phil (Chris Cooper) when unexpectedly and from nowhere the car is smashed sideways on with Julia's side taking full impact. We cut to the hospital where Davis and Phil are given the news of Julia's death as a result of massive head trauma. Phil is devastated as any grieving father would be, Davis however, processes this in a different way, detached and without emotion, he escaped almost unscathed. He siddles up to a vending machine in the Hospital waiting area to buy a packet of peanut M&M's, but delivery is halted mid-way through and his money is gone. Using his phone, he takes a photograph of the vending company details.

After the funeral, at her parents home where there is a wake for Julia, Davis retires to the study and begins to draft up a handwritten complaint letter to the vending company explaining his experience at the Hospital. Before getting to the point however, he feels compelled to record his life story detailing the facts that brought him to that Hospital and that vending machine in the first place. Davis throws himself back into work, but is hardly able to concentrate, his mind wandering and emotionally disconnected. Phil offers encouragement and words of wisdom, security and support, which inwardly Davis shrugs off almost with disdain and contempt.

Moments before her death, in the car Julia asked Davis to fix a leak in the home fridge using a tool kit given to him a few Christmas's ago and that he had all but forgotten about, not being a very handy toolkit kinda guy by his own admission. One evening home alone, he notices the leak in the fridge, searches out the tool kit and begins to dismantle the fridge . . . completely, until it is a mass of component parts on the floor - a process he clearly finds therapeutic. Having been told once by his father-in-law 'if you want to fix something, you have to take it apart and put it back together again' - advice he clearly takes to the extreme, and so he begins to dismantle anything that captures his interest - his desk top computer at work, the cubicles in the gents toilets because of a squeaking door, a newly delivered espresso machine ordered by his wife and still in the box. He even pays some building contractors to allow him onto a condemned house in his business suit so that he can help physically pull down a house. All of these actions, and his day to day observations he sees as a metaphor of his life - that they have some hidden meaning that he didn't appreciate until now.

In the meantime, he pens several other letters to the vending machine company, never expecting to get a response but because he finds this some form of release to express himself in writing to a complete stranger whom he is never going to meet. Until of course upon receiving four letters the customer service representative from the vending company calls - at 2:00am in the morning. They strike up a conversation and Davis feels an instant attraction to the womans voice, and tracks her down to her place of work. That woman is Karen Moreno (Naomi Watts), who by now knows everything about Davis through his letters and feels equally attracted to him, although she is in a relationship with the vending company owner, and has a 15 year old rebellious son Chris (Judah Lewis).

After several aborted attempts to meet, they do so, and Karen is attracted by his free thinking and reckless spirit. Davis starts to chase Karen and as their relationship starts to strengthen, so does his relationship with Chris who is battling his own adolescent challenges, not the least of these being over his own sexuality. This gives rise to a some moments of dialogue that are real laugh out loud moments that pack a punch, and show what young Judah Lewis might be capable of as an Actor in the future.

Meanwhile, Phil has taken it upon himself to set up an honorary scholarship fund in Julia's name and as her legacy, using her life insurance monies, but he needs Davis' signature on a release document for it to proceed and to which Davis procrastinates much to Phil's chagrin. Then there is Karen's declining relationship with her vending machine owner boyfriend, the growing pains that Chris is experiencing and all the while Davis is yet to shed a tear for his dearly departed wife. He is in denial, and clearly enjoying his new found freedom, dismantling objects that take his fancy, and there is a new girl on the scene.

Davis decides that it would be a good idea to demolish his own modern house in the suburbs, and buys a bulldozer off e-Bay to assist him and Chris in the process. When the bulldozer stalls and they fail to get it restarted they set to the kitchen and lounge with sledgehammers, crow bars and pick axes . . . great fun, and incredibly therapeutic as they trash the place wholesale. Davis seems hell bent on demolishing the life he once knew and starting afresh, but during this process makes a startling discovery that brings him back down to Earth and results in a confrontation with Julia's parents. At the same time Chris attends a party and gets badly beaten up. That same night, Davis visits Karen's home and walks in unexpectedly to find her boyfriend having returned home from an interstate trade show, and promptly gets beaten up too.

The film draws to a close with Davis reconciling with Julia's parents, and he making a gesture to keep Julia's memory alive in a public place and for the public (and children especially) to enjoy. As for his ongoing relationship with Karen we are left guessing, but Chris invites him to witness a controlled building demolition event at 11:00am one morning, which he attends with Chris looking on through binoculars, smiling. Another metaphor!

I enjoyed this film but more for the chemistry between Davis and Chris especially, and can see that it won't be for everyone. It lumbers along at times, and it is hard to really connect with a man who refuses to mourn the death of his wife, recognise the grief of those others around him, or show any emotion, feeling, or heart for his new personal circumstances despite the tragedy of it all. Despite this Gyllenhaal gives a compelling strong performance as the detached soul seeking to rebuild a new life after demolishing the old; Chris Cooper makes up for the emotion as the father racked with guilt over the all too premature loss of his daughter; and Naomi Watts provides the anchor to keep Davis grounded with what and who he really is. All of that said there are moments here that will shock, surprise, make you laugh out loud and make you cringe with an ending that is just a little too sugar coated for me. Worth a look for sure, but you can save yourself the price of a movie ticket and wait for the BluRay and DVD release too.

 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 13th-19th December 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jake Gyllenhaal does on 19th December - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy, turning 35, 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 13th December

• Jamie Foxx - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
• Steve Buscemi - Born 1957, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Christopher Plummer - Born 1929, turns 86 - Actor | Producer
• Dick Van Dyke - Born 1925, turns 90 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Robert Lindsay - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actor

Monday 14th December

• Vijay Amritraj - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Tennis Ace
• Rebecca Gibney - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress | Producer
• Sophie Monk - Born1979, turns 36 - Actress

Tuesday 15th December

• Don Johnson - Born 1949, turns 66 - Actor | Producer
• Alex Cox - Born 1954, turns 61 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Editor

Wednesday 16th December

• Theo James - Born 1984, turns 31 - Actor
• Benjamin Bratt - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actor | Producer
• Shane Black - Born 1961, turns 54 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Ben Cross - Born 1947, turns 68 - Actor
• James Mangold - Born 1963, turns 52 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Miranda Otto - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actress

Thursday 17th December

• Milla Jojovich - Born 1975, turns 40 - Actress | Singer
• Giovanni Ribisi - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actor
• Bill Pullman - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Rian Johnson - Born 1973, turns 42 - Director | Writer
• Eugene Levy - Born 1946, turns 69 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Bernard Hill - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actor

Friday 18th December

• Brad Pitt - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actor | Producer
• Steven Spielberg - Born 1946, turns 69 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor
• Ray Liotta - Born 1954, turns 61 - Actor | Producer
• Steve Austin - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | WWF Wrestler & Ringmaster
• Katie Holmes - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Rachel Griffiths - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actress | Writer

Saturday 19th December 

• Jennifer Beals - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actress | Producer
• Jake Gyllenhaal - Born 1980, turns 35 - Actor | Producer

Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal was born in Los Angeles, California to mother Naomi Achs - a film Producer and Screenwriter and father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, a film Director. He has an older sister - Maggie  - also an acclaimed Actress who is married to Actor Peter Saragaard. His parents divorced in 2009. He has Swedish noble blood running through his veins on his fathers side that dates back to 1652 when the name first appeared, descended from cavalryman Nils Gunnarsson Haal. His mother is of Jewish origin and Gyllenhaal considers himself Jewish. In his early teens he worked as a volunteer at a homeless shelter, as a Summer Holiday lifeguard and as a Busboy is a family friends restaurant - all to keep him grounded given the trappings of a Hollywood lifestyle enjoyed in his privileged upbringing. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in LA in 1998, and then attended Columbia University, but after two years dropped out to concentrate on an acting career.

His acting career started when he was just ten years old starring as Billy Crystal's son in 'City Slickers'. Two years later he starred in 'A Dangerous Woman' as Directed by his father and written for the screen by his mother, and starring alongside his sister with Gabriel Byrne, David Strathairn, Debra Winger and Barbara Hershey. His father would Direct him again in 1998 in 'Homegrown' with John Lithgow, Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria and Jamie Lee Curtis; with Joe Johnston's 'October Sky' in 1999 closing out the decade with Chris Cooper and Laura Dern.

Critical acclaim would come with the first film of the new decade in 2002 with 'Donnie Darko' - set in 1988 Gyllenhaal plays the title character alongside his sister once again, and Patrick Swayze, Drew Barrymore and an eight feet tall menacing white rabbit called Frank. Whilst barely a commercial success, it has subsequently over the years risen to 'cult status'.

A number of teenage romance films followed the forgettable 'Highway' in which he starred with future Oscar winner Jared Leto, and these included 'The Good Girl', 'Lovely and Amazing', and 'Bubble Boy'.

The Roland Emmerich disaster epic 'The Day After Tomorrow' saw Gyllenhaal in the lead role as the Northern Hemisphere freezes over, and in the process grossing a cool US$545M at the Global Box Office. After this there was really no going back, with Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' starring Heath Ledger and winning a swag of awards including Academy Awards, BAFTA's and Golden Globes totalling 122 wins and another 106 nominations from around the traps.





That same year Gyllenhaal also put out 'Proof' with Anthony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow, and the Desert Storm story of 'Jarhead' as Directed by Sam Mendes and starring brother-in-law and good friend Peter Sarsgaard, and Jamie Foxx. Afterwards came the murder mystery thriller for David Fincher, 'Zodiac', about the as yet unsolved serial killings by 'The Zodiac Killer' between December 1968 and October 1969. This was followed up later that year with 'Rendition' in which he co-starred with Peter Sarsgaard once again and Meryl Streep and Reese Witherspoon. The decade drew to a close with 'Brothers' - a wartorn film with Afghanistan as the backdrop with Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman. After this came the movie adaptation of the video game 'Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time' and then the RomCom 'Love and Other Drugs' with Anne Hathaway, for which Gyllenhaal received a Golden Globe nomination.

2012 saw 'End of Watch' - the highly acclaimed LA buddy cop movie starring Michael Pena. In between time there was 'Source Code' for Duncan Jones, and following 'Prisoners' with Hugh Jackman and Paul Dano, and then doppelganger 'Enemy' - the latter two films both Directed by Denis Villeneuve. 'Nightcrawler' was next in 2014 and one of this Reviewers favourite films of that year, with 'Accidental Love', 'Southpaw' and 'Everest' all released earlier this year. Next up is is 'Demolition' in early 2016 with Chris Cooper and Naomi Watts, with 'Nocturnal Animals' in post-production for a 2016 release, and then 'The Current War', 'Stronger', 'Okja' all currently in pre-production, and 'The Man Who Made It Snow' for Antoine Fuqua recently announced.

All up Gyllenhaal has 38 Acting credits and three Producer credits. He has garnered thirty Award wins including the 2006 BAFTA win for 'Brokeback Mountain' and a nomination for 'Nightcrawler' plus two Golden Globe nominations and an Academy Award nomination for 'Brokeback Mountain' too. He has a total 75 nominations all up to date.

Having been raised in the Hollywood Acting community, Paul Newman and Jamie Lee Curtis were/are his Godparents, and he is Godfather to Matilda Rose Ledger, daughter of the late Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams. He has been romantically linked to Kirsten Dunst, Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, and model Alyssa Miller. He is politically active, supporting the Democrats and John Kerry in the past. He is also environmentally active supporting recycling, tree planting, climate change as well as supporting various charities too.

Jake Gyllenhaal - born into the industry and active in it already for 25 of his 35 years; has nobility in his ancestry; the recipient of numerous on-screen and off-screen official and unofficial awards; continues to draw a crowd with a diverse portfolio of work; and just keeps getting better with every role - Happy Birthday to you Jake, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-