Birthday's to share this week : 20th - 26th August 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Elizabeth Debicki  does on 24th August - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 27, 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 20th August

• Joan Allen - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actress 
• Amy Adams - Born 1974, turns 43 - Actress | Singer | Producer
• Sylvester McCoy - Born 1943, turns 74 - Actor 
• David O'Russell - Born 1958, turns 59 - Director | Producer | Writer
• David Walliams - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Andrew Garfield - Born 1983, turns 34 - Actor   

Monday 21st August

• Peter Weir - Born 1944, turns 73 - Director | Writer | Producer
• Kim Cattrall - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actress | Producer
• Carrie-Anne Moss - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actress 
• Hayden Panettiere - Born 1989, turns 28 - Actress | Singer  

Tuesday 22nd August

• Honor Blackman - Born 1925, turns 92 - Actress 
• Kristen Wiig - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Writer | Director | Producer
• Ty Burrell - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor
• Richard Armitage - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor
• Rodrigo Santoro - Born 1975, turns 42 - Actor | Producer  

Wednesday 23rd August

• Alexandre Desplat - Born 1961, turns 56 - Composer | Conductor | Songwriter
• Roger Avary - Born 1965, turns 52 - Writer | Producer | Director | Cinematographer
• Charley Boorman - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Scott Caan - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Writer | Director | Producer  

Thursday 24th August

• Stephen Fry - Born 1957, turns 60 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Steve Guttenberg - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Jared Harris - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor 
• James D'Arcy - Born 1975, turns 42 - Actor 
• Rupert Grint - Born 1988, turns 29 - Actor | Producer 
• Elizabeth Debicki - Born 1990, turns 27 - Actress  

Friday 25th August

• Joanne Whalley - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actress
• Blake Lively - Born 1987, turns 30 - Actress | Producer
• Sean Connery - Born 1930, turns 87 - Actor | Producer 
• Tom Skerritt - Born 1933, turns 84 - Actor | Director
• John Badham - Born 1939, turns 78 - Director | Producer | Actor 
• Tim Burton - Born 1958, turns 59 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Tom Hollander - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Nikolaj Arcel - Born 1972, turns 45 - Writer | Director
• Joe Wright - Born 1972, turns 45 - Director | Producer
• Alexander Skarsgard - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Producer   

Saturday 26th August

• Mike Colter - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor 
• Chris Pine - Born 1980, turns 37 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Macaulay Culkin - Born 1980, turns 37 - Actor  
• Melissa McCarthy - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer

Elizabeth Debicki was born in Paris, France to ballet dancer parents - her mother being Australian and her father Polish. When the young Elizabeth was five years of age the parents relocated to Melbourne, Australia. From an early age she became interested in ballet, and trained as a dancer until making the switch to theatre. She attended the independent co-ed boarding and day school - the Huntingtower School, located in the east Melbourne suburb of Mount Waverley. Upon graduating in 2007 she was the school's Dux (the highest-ranking student in academic or sporting achievement in each graduating year) and had gained perfect study scores in both Drama and English. In 2010 she gained a degree in drama from the University of Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts. During her time there she was awarded a bursary in 2009 for outstanding acting students in their second year of training.

In 2010 Debicki gained her stage acting debut in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of 'The Gift', and the following year she secured her feature film debut in the comedy film offering 'A Few Best Men' Directed by Stephan Elliott and starring Xavier Samuel, Rebel Wilson, Olivia Newton-John, and Steve Le Marquand. On the strength of this appearance Baz Luhrmann cast her in his 2013 retelling of 'The Great Gatsby' opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Steve Bisley, Jason Clarke, Vince Colosimo, Jack Thompson, Carey Mulligan and Isla Fisher. The film picked up 49 award wins including two Academy Awards, two BAFTA's, twelve AACTA's and 83 other nominations, and it made US$351M from its US$190M budget outlay. 

In mid-2013 Debicki starred in the Sydney Theatre Company's stage production of 'The Maids' opposite Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert - a role which gained her the Best Newcomer Award at the Sydney Theatre Awards. She also starred in the thirteen minute short film 'Godel Incomplete' Written and Directed by Martha Goddard about a time travel romance between one of the 20th Century's great minds, Kurt Godel, and a lonely particle physicist, Serita Cedric (Debicki) working as a research student at Switzerland's Large Hadron Collider. This then led to an appearance on a single episode of 'Rake' in season three opposite Richard Roxburgh. 

2015 saw Debicki score the role of Lady Macduff in Justin Kurzel's big screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' with Michael Fassbender in the title role and Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth with Paddy Considine, Jack Reynor, David Thewlis and Sean Harris. That same year she was cast in the big screen adaptation of the classic mid-'60's action spy series 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' as Directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Hugh Grant, Jared Harris and Alicia Vikander. Debicki plays Victoria Vinciguerra one half of a wealthy Nazi sympathising criminal underworld couple. Rounding out that year, Debicki was cast as Dr. Caroline Mackenzie - the base camp physician in Balthasar Kormakur's biographical adventure film 'Everest' alongside an all star cast comprising Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Sam Worthington, Clive Standen, Robin Wright, Keira Knightley and Emily Watson. 

In 2016 Debicki took a break from big screen offerings to concentrate on small screen fare with her starring role in Australian television drama 'The Kettering Incident' filmed in Tasmania over eight episodes in the first series. A second series is currently in the early stages of development. Then there was the highly acclaimed British thriller 'The Night Manager' based on the 1993 book of the same name by John le Carre but updated to the present day. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Coleman and Tom Hollander the six episode mini-series in which Debicki plays girlfriend Jed Marshall to Hugh Laurie's Richard Roper and the love interest to Tom Hiddleston's Jonathan Pine (the Night Manager in question). The series picked up seventeen award wins including three Golden Globe wins, two Primetime Emmy wins and three BAFTA wins, and another 44 nominations. A follow-up second season is in development too it seems. Closing out 2016 Debicki also starred in London's National Theatre production at the Lyttelton Theatre of 'The Red Barn' with Mark Strong and Hope Davis. 

This year has so far seen two epic Sci-Fi outings - the first for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the second instalment of 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2' as Directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradely Cooper, Michael Rooker, Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell. Debicki plays the golden High Priestess Ayesha and the leader of the genetically engineered Sovereign People. The film recovered US$862M from its US$200M production budget and generally positive Reviews. 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3' is in development. Just released is Luc Besson's space opera and epic effects laden Sci-Fi adventure film 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' in which Debicki lends her voice to the character of Emperor Haban Lima.

Next up for Debicki and to be released later this year is the Simon Baker Directed, Co-Written and starring 'Breath' based on the best selling award winning Tim Winton book set in the mid-'70's coastal Australia about two teenage boys who form an unlikely bond with an older adventurer who pushes them to take risks that leave a lasting impression on their lives. Richard Roxburgh also stars. Then due for release in 2018 are 'The Tale' also starring Laura Dern, Frances Conroy, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Ritter, John Heard and Common. Then there is the animated 'Peter Rabbit' based on the famed Beatrix Potter character with Debicki lending her voice talents together with Margot Robbie, Daisy Ridley, James Cordon (as Peter), with Rose Byrne and Domhnall Gleeson too. Following these is the Steve McQueen Directed 'Widows' based on the early '80's British television series with Michelle Rodriguez, Viola Davis, Jacki Weaver, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Lukas Haas and Daniel Kaluuya, and finally the space station Sci-Fi horror offering that will be the third instalment in the 'Cloverfield' franchise - 'God Particle' and starring Daniel Bruhl, Chris O'Dowd, John Ortiz, David Oyelowo, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Produced by J.J. Abrams. 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3' has also been recently announced in which Debicki is slated to reprise her role as Ayesha.

All up Debicki has eighteen Acting credits to her name, and has so far picked up two award wins - both AACTA Awards (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) for 'The Kettering Incident' and 'The Great Gatsby', plus four other nominations - three of which were for 'The Great Gatsby' and one for 'The Night Manager'. Debicki has been romantically linked with Australian Actor Alexander England.

Elizabeth Debicki - described in one publication as 'versatile, graceful, statuesque and swan-like' and she is certainly all of these things and more. Already on a upward trajectory that sees her going from strength to strength with every role both on the small screen and the silver screen, clearly in demand, comfortable across all genres it seems, and with your star shining brightly after just six short years in the business. We will watch your career with much interest as the roles unfold and the accolades undoubtedly will follow. Happy Birthday to you Elizabeth, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st March 2016.

Last week I introduced you to the first six of my Top 12 movies likely to bust a block at our cinema screens for the balance of 2016, and that didn't include 'Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice' released just one week ago and already notching up globally US$469M and rising. Here then are the final six in the movies to watch out for in the latter half of 2016 counting down all the way to Boxing Day, with SciFi, further comic book adaptations from both Marvel and DC, a further outing from a much loved CIA Agent, a video game adaptation that we hope will break the mould of previous dodgy video game adaptations, and a fantastic story from an acclaimed author who already has a pretty good track record on the silver screen with a certain young wizard. Check these out, and mark the date.

• July 21st - 'STAR TREK : BEYOND' - Directed by Justin Lin and co-written by Simon Pegg with J.J.Abrams taking a Producer credit this time around, we have here the third instalment in this rebooted franchise, that sees Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S.Enterprise stranded on a lonely planet and under attack from a powerful and relentless wave of alien foes.
• July 28th - 'JASON BOURNE' - he's back, and once more Directed by Paul Greengrass in the fifth film in this hugely successful franchise and the follow up to 2012's 'The Bourne Legacy' with Matt Damon back as our titular hero with Acting, Producing and Screenwriting credits.
• August 4th - 'SUICIDE SQUAD' - Directed by David Ayer and the second outing of the year in the DC Extended Universe sees a secret government agency hiring incarcerated supervillains  to undertake potentially deadly missions in exchange for a pardon of their past crimes. Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis and Joel Kinnaman star.
• October 27th - 'DOCTOR STRANGE' - the final Marvel Cinematic Universe offering of the year sees us introduced to a new character as portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of top neurosurgeon Stephen Strange who after a car accident that brings his brilliant career to an end encounters the magical and mystical Ancient One, who sets the Doctor on a whole new path. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton and Rachel McAdams also star in the Scott Derrickson Directed offering.
• November 17th - 'FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM' - Written by one J.K. Rowling, Directed by David Yates and starring Eddie Redmayne, this 1920's story tells us of a young magic zoologist in New York who needs to recover an array of escaped  fantastical creatures. Intended to be the first in three films this also stars Colin Farrell, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight and Ron Perlman.
• December 26th - 'ASSASSINS CREED' - this has all the makings of a successful video game crossover into a mainstream movie with Justin Kurzel Directing Michael Fassbender as Callum Lynch the direct descendant of a 15th Century secret society of Assassins who through revolutionary new technology is unable to unlock his ancestral past to thwart a powerful enemy in the present day. Also starring Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons and Brendan Gleeson.

To this weeks films then and there are just two to tempt you out in the week ahead, and both are very different. Both are however, based on real life events - one dramatised, and the other very dramatic. The first is a German foreign language offering set in the aftermath of WWII and the repercussions of bringing those to justice for their war crimes whilst serving in the concentration camps, and the efforts of one young man to do so. Then there is a dramatic turn of events on the world tallest peak as the intentions behind one film become the realities of another as tragedy strikes.

As always, we would love to hear your views and observations of any movie you have seen in the past week or any as Reviewed and Previewed here at Odeon Online. Feel free to leave a Comment in the box below this or any other Post, and share with your friends and like minded cinephiles. In the meantime, enjoy your movie.

LABYRINTH OF LIES (Rated M) - This German film is based on real events and was Written and Directed by Giulio Ricciarelli and screened at TIFF in early September last year ahead of its German premier in early November. It was shortlisted down to the final nine films for the Best Foreign Language Film at this years Academy Awards but failed to make the final cut. Set in 1958, thirteen years after the end of WWII and Germany is booming - rebuilding itself and looking ahead to a bright future where the past can be easily forgotten about. And the horrors for many are becoming a distant memory, not spoken of, kept quiet and almost brushed under the carpet for fear of reprisal. 

Until that is, Thomas Gnielka (Andre Szymanski) recognises a school teacher who was a former Commander at Auschwitz and Johann Radmann (Alexander Fehling) takes up the case as a young Prosecutor to bring the former Commander to justice for his war crimes. Along the way though, those efforts are often thwarted by Government officials who served in those same prison camps during the war and close ranks to protect their own now, even though to do so violates German law. Radmann's further investigations reveal many thousands of former Nazi's were allowed to return to their pre-war lives with no fear of penalty, but with youthful determination and ambition on his side, he perseveres and ultimately brings many to trial. A film that has received critical acclaim and that is as relevant today as it was sixty years ago.

SHERPA (Rated M) - unlike last years 'Everest' movie starring an impressive cast of A-listers facing closing storms and tragedy on the mountain top, this documentary film tells a very different story of that same mountain and the same era i.e. our very recent past, but from the other side of the mountaineering fence. Directed by Australian Jennifer Peedom who intended to make a film in the wake of the 2013 violent confrontations that took place between Sherpa's and adventure seeking tourists - the aptly named 'Everest Brawl' that was beemed around the world's TV channels and made international headlines. Looking to follow the 2014 season from the Sherpa's perspective and how their 'employment rights' are suffering at the hands of wealthy thrill seekers, Peedom and her crew were unexpectedly confronted with tragedy when a massive avalanche at Khumbu Icefall took the lives of sixteen Sherpa's, changing the multi-million Mount Everest Climbing industry forever. Despite this tragedy that unfolded all around them that changed the direction of the originally intended film completely, Peedom has crafted a grounded responsive documentary that has a respect for the often taken for granted Sherpa community, the beautiful yet hostile environment, and the dangers and the realities of the world highest peak all paired together with breathtaking cinematography courtesy of Renan Ozturk and Hugh Miller. A must see for a whole raft of reasons.

Just two films this week to join the great cinema content already out there and doing the rounds still, and as Reviewed and Previewed between these pages. Share your thoughts here at Odeon Online when you have sat through your movie of choice in the week ahead, and in the meantime, I'll see you at the Odeon.

-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-

EVEREST : Wednesday 23rd September 2015.

EVEREST, which I saw earlier this week is based on the real life events that unfolded on Mount Everest on May 10th 1996 as two commercial climbing expeditions reach for the summit of the highest place on Earth only to be confronted by a blizzard that came out of nowhere and engulfed the climbers in both parties with such a severe snow and ice storm rarely before seen by man. This story Directed by Icelandic Balthasar Kormakur was made for US$55M and filmed in the Italian Alps, in Iceland and in Nepal at Everest Base Camp amongst other mountainous locations. At the time of writing the film has made so far US$43M and has received generally positive reviews.

As this film opens we learn that climbing this famed mountain is no longer the domain of hardened determined adventurers who first set out to conquer its peak - Mallory in the 1920's tried three times and died 800 metres from the peak in the process, and Hillary got there with Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Since then though and in more recent decades Everest has become the domain of commercial organisations seeking to satisfy the ever increasing hunger of the mountain climbing tourist wanting to cross Everest off their bucket list. As a result a whole industry has sprung up around it, and Kathmandu has become the burgeoning epicentre for those setting out on the adventure of a lifetime.

We are quickly introduced therefore to Adventure Consultants leader Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) as he flies out to take a group of climbers to the summit - each of them having paid US$65K for the privilege. He bids farewell to his wife Jan (Keira Knightly) at the airport - heavily pregnant with their first child and off he goes. saying he'll be back in time for the birth. Arriving in Kathmandu he meets up with his clients - Beck Weathers (Josh Brolin), Doug Hansen (John Hawkes), journalist John Krakauer (Michael Kelly) and Yasuko Namba (Naoko Mori) and others.

The first night they attend a briefing with Hall and he informs them that 'Human beings are not designed to function at the cruising altitude of a 747. Your bodies will be literally dying'. He tells them that they are entering a formidable, dangerous place where conditions can change almost instantly and many others have perished before them, but, he will look after them, be their guide every step of the way, and if they do as he says they'll all return safe & sound.

The next day they ascend to Base Camp after making a beautiful trek through lower mountain forest, over sweeping ravines and fast flowing rivers, with the park of Everest looking down on them. At base camp their are welcomed to the Adventure Consultants 'Office' a large tent where they have equipment and supplies stored, their communications, maps, guides and the wherewithal to get up, and back. Helen Wilton (Emily Watson) meets & greets them all - she is the Office Manager, Administrator and all round Girl Friday and she is there with Doctor Caroline Mackenzie (Elizabeth Debicki). After settling in, more briefings follow. It is the end of March and Hall announces their plan is to 'summit' on 10th May - the forecast is good, but there will be a limited 'window' of opportunity on that day. In the meantime they will exercise and make various familiarisation treks to the other camps to get acclimatized, used to the frozen terrain, and what they will have to endure as they rise.

At Base Camp Hall catches up with 'The Mayor of Base Camp' Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal) from Mountain Madness - another similar outfit to Halls Adventure Consultants. They laugh & joke, share drinks together but they are rivals in business, and in this particular climbing season competing with a raft of other tourist climbers wanting to make the ascent at the same time. Base Camp is overrun, and so into their preparations Hall seeks to partner with Fischer to make the climb together, to look out for each other, to provide safety in numbers and to speed their climb during the limited time they have. Fischer agrees.

As the day approaches and their preparations and training is complete, they set out climbing through Camps II, III and IV. At Camp IV Hall rallies his team at about midnight, and stepping outside their tents on a beautiful clear night they gaze up at the last leg of their journey as the peak of Mount Everest stands proud in all its glory, with only a whisper of a breeze visible at the summit from where they stand. Hall gives the order that they leave in 30 minutes and that they will need to have reached the peak by no later than 2:00pm that afternoon to ensure their return to Camp IV before nightfall.

Along the way they are delayed when they discover that guide ropes have perished and need to be replaced, or have not yet been installed, and so need to be before they can proceed. Beck experiences problems with his vision, and so sits to rest and is ordered back to Camp if things don't improve within half an hour. At the Hilary Steps they encounter a bottleneck of other climbers causing further delays. Namba reaches the top with Hall, and plants her Japanese flag. Behind them Beck still sits below on The Balcony still having vision trouble, Hansen is short of breath but determined to touch the peak having tried and failed twice before and 2:00pm has now been and gone. Hansen pleads with Hall to allow him to continue and against his better judgement Hall agrees and they climb together. By now it is past 3:00pm, and the weather is closing in, snow is falling, the wind has picked up and dark menacing clouds loom ever closer.

Fischer meanwhile is still heading towards them suffering from high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) - by now it is 3:45pm and blizzard conditions surround them all. What follows is ever worsening weather that engulfs the mountain and rips through Base Camp leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake. With a lack of supplementary oxygen a number of the climbers from both expeditions perish from the harshest of conditions that disorientate them, effect their judgement, impair their vision, and hamper their descent. Rob is left on the mountain side cowering into a rock overhang seeking some shelter from the gathering storm - he falls in and out of consciousness as night falls and the blizzard takes further hold. By now Namba, Hansen, Fischer, Andy Harris (Martin Henderson) another Adventure Consultant guide and Beck have all perished. Wilton and Mackenzie meanwhile monitor the situation by satellite radio from Base Camp maintaining contact with Hall on the mountain whose health is deteriorating rapidly. Guy Cotter (Sam Worthington) is with them and tries to take a rescue party to recover Hall and the others but is beaten back by the weather and sits it out until conditions improve.

The next morning as the sun comes up and the blizzard subsides, Beck miraculously awakens from his tomb of snow & ice and is able to hobble into Camp IV where he is attended to - learning this news that he is still alive his wife Peach (Robin Wright) contacts the American Embassy in Kathmandu and orders a chopper flight to rescue him. Later we see him arrive home and we learn that severe frost bite cost him both his hands and his nose. Hall died on the mountain having said his farewell to Jan through radio and satellite phone via Base Camp.

This is a visually stunning film as you would expect given the mountain terrain that we see from the top as well as from the bottom. The characters you can relate to given that we are provided with a sufficient enough back story to understand what motivates them and what their strengths and weaknesses are, and as a result we care for them because we know this is a real story that occurred not so long ago (within the last 20 years). Then there is the harsh unforgiving environment with all its power, its energy, its beauty and its unpredictability that has cost so many climbers their lives but still keeps many coming back or wanting to cross it off their bucket list.

Certainly worth the price of a ticket and whilst I only saw this in 2D, I would think that the 3D experience will only add to the spectacle, the emotion and the power of this film.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th September 2015.

Last week I mentioned the fact that Adelaide had come through its coldest Winter in 17 years and the prospect of warmer days and a return to Summer was just around the corner. With that two days later came glorious sunshine, clear blue skies and a mass exodus to the beach for the weekend and temperatures in the late 20's . . . for two whole days, before it all came plummeting down back to the bad old days of Winter. This is perhaps a fitting segwey therefore to the often harsh  and changing climatic conditions atop a mountain peak where it all goes pear shaped for a bunch of explorers, adventurers and go-getters, and the subject of our main feature Preview this week. Read on for more.

This week there are just three new releases appearing at your local movie theatre that offer a true story of action, (mis)adventure, and high level disaster at the top of the world; then a story of mans best friend becoming the four legged unsuspecting saviour of a colony of two legged flightless birds; and finally for the kids an animated feature of an Aussie icon of the cuddly furry kind on a voyage of discovery across the daunting dangerous outback.

As we come into school holiday season we can expect a raft of kids and family big screen entertainment to come our way, and it kicks off in the week ahead. Those wanting more fulfilling adult fare though there is plenty to choose from still doing the rounds and out on general release. When you have seen your movie of choice, be sure to record your opinion and your own critique in the Comments section below this or any other Post and share with your like minded friends at Odeon Online. Meanwhile, enjoy your movie!

EVEREST (Rated M) - Based on the real life events that unfolded on Mount Everest on May 10th 1996 when two expeditions reach for the summit of the highest place on Earth only to be confronted by a blizzard that came out of nowhere and engulfed the climbers in both parties with such a severe snowstorm as rarely encountered by man. This story Directed by Icelandic Balthasar Kormakur was made for US$65M and filmed in the Italian Alps, in Iceland and in Nepal at Everest Base Camp amongst other mountainous locations.

With an all star cast that comprises Jake Gyllenhaal - straight off 'Southpaw' as an expedition group leader; Jason Clarke - straight off 'Terminator : Genisys' as the other expedition group leader; with Josh Brolin, Sam Worthington (another 'Terminator' alumni), Robin Wright, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, Elizabeth Debicki - straight off 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.', and various others, their fate rests in their will to survive the harshest of conditions of fierce freezing winds, driving snow, sub-zero temperatures and adversity writ large at 29,000 feet. One for the big screen and whilst you may know how this ends for those that perished and those that survived, this film pays tribute in stunning ways to the power of nature and mans determination.

ODDBALL (Rated G) - For Ocker Aussie family entertainment these school holidays you may want to consider this true story of 'Oddball', a Mareema farm sheep dog belonging to Allan 'Swampy' Marsh (Shane Jacobson). Living at Warrnambool on Victoria's south-west coastline, Middle Island is just a short distance away and is home to a colony of 200 or so endangered Penguins. Swampy hit upon the idea that these penguins needed protecting from wild foxes who would make the short trek to the island at low tide, and attack the little creatures. With a Maremma sheepdog in tow, trained and stationed on the island the penguin population started to increase as pesky fox activity went into decline back at the turn of this century. Proving that this breed of dog can be trusted to protect other animals, Oddball held a candle for Maremma dogs everywhere to go into active service to protect Australian animals in danger wherever they may be. Directed by Stuart McDonald and starring Sarah Snook, Deborah Mailman, and Alan Tudyk.

BLINKY BILL : THE MOVIE (Rated PG) - The Australian iconic 'Blinky Bill' character turns 82 this year having first appeared in 1933 as a children's book series created by Dorothy Wall. The lovable albeit cheeky and perhaps mischievous Koala Bear now gets the 2015 CG animation treatment with a full feature length offering, as the young Bear (looking nothing like his 82 years!!) sets off on the trail of his long lost Dad having found a clue or two that takes him across the deadly, dangerous and distressing Great Aussie outback. Along the way he picks up various friends, but must thwart too a feral cat who has its own agenda for wanting to dispense with Blinky Bill once and for all. Learning the power of friendship, the need to work together, a will to survive and a belief in their quest, the intrepid band of adventurers soon discover what it means to be a hero. Directed by Deane Taylor with three Co-Directors, this film features the voice talents of Ryan Kwanten (as BB), Toni Collette, Rufus Sewell, David Wenham, Richard Roxburgh, Barry Humphries, Barry Otto and Deborah Mailman, so there is no reason why this film should succeed . . . in the eyes of the littlees at least!

That's it for the week ahead, and although only three films this week when you add these to all the others still doing the rounds, there is no excuse not to see a film in the next seven days. Do yourself a favour, and catch a film, and then tell us all bout it.

See you at the Odeon!

-Steven, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 12th - 18th July 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jason Clarke does on 17th July - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 46, 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 12th July

• Michelle Rodriguez - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actress
• Cheryl Ladd - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actress
• Brian Grazer - Born 1951, turns 64 - Producer | Writer
• Topher Grace - Born 1978, turns 37 - Actor | Producer
• Bill Cosby - Born 1937, turns 78 - Television Personality | Actor | Writer | Producer | Composer

Monday 13th July

• Patrick Stewart - Born 1940, turns 75 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Robert Forster - Born 1941, turns 74 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Harrison Ford - Born 1942, turns 73 - Actor | Producer
• Cheech Marin - Born 1946, turns 69 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer
• Cameron Crowe - Born 1957, turns 58 - Director | Producer | Writer

Tuesday 14th July

• Harry Dean Stanton - Born 1926, turns 89 - Actor
• Joel Silver - Born 1952, turns 63 - Producer
• Scott Rudin - Born 1958, turns 57 - Producer
• Jackie Earle Haley - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Writer
• Matthew Fox - Born 1966, turns 49 - Actor

Wednesday 15th July

• Travis Fimmel - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actor
• Forest Whittaker - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Jan Michael Vincent - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actor | Producer
• Brigitte Nielsen - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actress | Producer
• Diane Kruger - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actress

Thursday 16th July

• Phoebe Cates - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actress
• Corey Feldman - Born 1971, turns 44 - Actor | Producer
• Will Ferrell - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer

Friday 17th July

• Jason Clarke - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actor
• Donald Sutherland - Born 1935, turns 80 - Actor | Producer
• David Hasselhoff - Born 1952, turns 63 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• F. Gary Gray - Born 1969, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Actor

Saturday 18th July

• Vin Diesel - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Paul Verhoeven - Born 1938, turns 77 - Producer | Director | Writer
• James Brolin - Born 1940, turns 75 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Elizabeth McGovern - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actress | Writer
• Kelly Reilly - Born 1977, turns 38 - Actress | Producer

Jason Clarke was born in Winton, Queensland, Australia - a remote rural part of this outback State. His father was a professional sheep shearer. In his teens the young Clarke decided on an acting career and he enrolled in a class with the waiting to be discovered Hugh Jackman. After High School he moved to Melbourne to attend drama school at the Victorian College of Arts from which he graduated in 1994.

In his mid-20's his acting career kicked off with appearances in Australian television shows and films. His small screen debut came with singular episodes of 'Halifax f.p.' in 1995, then 'Mercury', 'Diagnosis Murder', 'Water Rats', 'Heartbreak High', 'Wildisde', 'Murder Call' and in between several appearances between 1995 and 1999 on 'Blue Heelers'.

His first big screen outing came in 1997's 'Dilemma' with Danny Trejo, and then 'Twilight' in 1998 with Paul Newman, Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon, with 'Praise' that same year with Joel Edgerton. The next year bought 'Kick' with Paul Mercurio and Radha Mitchell, and then 'Our Lips Are Sealed' in 2000 with the Olsen Sisters. By this time however, after a string of popular television shows in the first half of the decade, the latter half of the decade turned very lacklustre with bit parts in B and C grade film fare. Becoming increasingly frustrated Clarke started questioning his acting career.

DEspite his self doubt, 2000 also saw 'Risk' and then 'Better Than Sex' with David Wenham and Susie Porter, but it was 2002's 'Rabbit Proof Fence' that was to prove a break through. Directed by Phillip Noyce and starring Kenneth Branagh, David Gilpilil and Deborah Mailman, this film was both a commercial and critical success in both Australia and Stateside. Suddenly he was getting noticed, and the offers started coming in.

Next up, there was a stint on Australia's long running 'Home and Away' in 2002, with three episodes on 'Farscape' in 2003, two on 'White Collar Blue' and seven on 'Stingers' up to 2003. 'Get Rich Quick' was next in 2004, with the successful 'Brotherhood' Showtime crime drama series for 29 episodes from 2006 through to 2008 during which time he also made 'Under Still Waters', 'Death Race' with Jason Statham, Ian McShane and Joan Allen, and then 'The Human Contract' with Idris Elba and Paz Vega as Directed by Jada Pinkett Smith.

Following these there were smaller parts in studio fare but featuring some big name talent including Michael Mann's 'Public Enemies' with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale; Oliver Stone's 'Wall Street : Money Never Sleeps' with Michael Douglas and Shia LaBeouf; David Schwimmer's 'Trust' with Clive Owen and Viola Davis; John Hillcoat's 'Lawless' with Tom Hardy and Guy Pearce; and Kathrine Bigelow's 'Zero Dark Thirty' with Jessica Chastain and Kyle Chandler.

In the meantime there had been a return to TV with thirteen episodes of 'The Chicago Code' and movies 'Yelling at the Sky', 'Swerve' and 'Texas Killing Fields'.

The last few years have seen bigger budget film fare as Clarke has risen to prominence in Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby'; actioners 'White House Down' for Roland Emmerich; 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' for Matt Reeves; and the just released 'Terminator : Genisys' for Alan Taylor playing the saviour of the free world in 2029 against the machines, John Connor.

Still awaiting release in Australia is 'Knight of Cups' with Christian Bale; 'Child 44' with Tom Hardy; and 'Everest' due later this year and with an all star cast; 'All I See Is You' due in 2016; 'HHHH' currently in pre-production; and 'Weightless' recently announced.

With 58 acting credits to his name, one Producer credit and four award nominations so far, Jason Clarke is stepping out of the shadows finally, is a star on the rise, and capable of emulating an almost flawless American accent he is sure to do well in Hollywood, at last. Go get 'em Jason - the lad from outback Queensland. Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-