What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th January 2023.

The 34th Palm Springs International Film Festival kicks off on Thursday 5th January and runs through until Monday 16th January. The biggest driver of the Palm Springs International Film Festival's emergence was Sonny Bono, who, in the late 1980's felt that a film festival was exactly the kind of event that might extend the truncated tourist season in Palm Springs, and generate the kind of publicity that would help put Palm Springs, California on the map as a tourism destination all year-round. In 1989, he pulled a team together that could put into action the planning and logistical support that had been developed over the course of the previous year. Sonny then led the charge to bring sponsors on board, including major American corporations and a number of key members of the local community onto the Board in those early years for funding support and to help with the overall task. That first year's Festival, in January 1990, was an immediate success, drawing more than 17,000 filmgoers in the course of its five-day run, and generating positive press coverage from publications including the Los Angeles Times, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. Now in its third decade, the Festival has come full circle, commanding huge media coverage annually, drawing major stars, attracting an attendance base that places it among the top three festivals in America, and boasting a film lineup widely respected for its breadth and scope. 

The 34th edition will screen 134 films from sixty-four countries including twenty-seven premier screenings. This years Opening Night feature film is the World Premier showcasing of '80 for Brady', Directed by Kyle Marvin and starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field and Tom Brady. The Closing Night film is the Stephen Frears Directed 'The Lost King' with Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan.

The 2023 Palm Springs International Film Awards will be presented on the evening of 5th January by Hosts, Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner from Entertainment Tonight. Those 2023 Honorees are as follows :-

* Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor, for the 'Banshees of Inisherin', presented to Colin Farrell.

* Director of the Year Award, presented to Sarah Polley for 'Women Talking'. 

* Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, for 'Tar', presented to Cate Blanchett.

* International Star Award, Actress, presented to Michelle Yeoh for 'Everything, Everywhere All at Once'. 

* Vanguard Award, presented to Director, Steven Spielberg and cast members Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle and Judd Hirsch for 'The Fabelmans'. 

* Breakthrough Performance Award, presented to Austin Butler for 'Elvis'.

* Chairman's Award presented to Viola Davis for 'The Woman King'.

* International Star Award, Actor, presented to Bill Nighy for 'Living'.

* Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress, presented to Danielle Deadwyler for 'Till'. 

* Spotlight Award, Actor, presented to Brendan Fraser for 'Whale'.

For the full schedule of films being showcased at this years Palm Springs International Film Festival, plus a whole lot more good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https//www.psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2023

This week there are four new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, kicking off with a semi-autobiographical film about a young boy growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, who aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth. Next up is an Aussie crime thriller about a former Special Forces operative, who is battling to cope with life after the loss of his wife and is thrust into the criminal underworld to keep his only son. Next up is a Spanish animated film about three mummies as they end up in present-day London and embark on a journey in search of an old ring belonging to the Royal Family; before closing out the week with an American live-action stop-motion animated mockumentary about an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colourful existence with his grandmother and their pet lint.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'THE FABELMANS' (Rated M) - is an American coming-of-age drama film Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Steven Spielberg, who needs no introduction. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid- September last year, where it won the People's Choice Award, and its wide US release in late November. The film received widespread critical acclaim for the performances of the cast, Spielberg's Direction, the screenplay, cinematography, and John Williams' musical score. It was named one of the top ten films of 2022 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. However, it has grossed just US$14M from a production budget of US$40M. It has so far collected fourteen award wins and another 126 nominations (many of which are still pending a decision) from around the awards and festivals circuit. 

This is a semi-autobiographical story loosely based on Steven Spielberg's adolescence and first years as as aspiring filmmaker, told through an original story of the fictional Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle), a young aspiring filmmaker who explores how the power of films can help him see the truth about his dysfunctional family and those around him. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Michelle Williams as Mitzi Schildkraut-Fabelman (based on Spielberg's mother Leah Adler), Paul Dano as Burt Fabelman (based on Spielberg's father Arnold Spielberg), Seth Rogen and Judd Hirsch as Boris Schildkraut, Sammy's granduncle, in supporting roles. The film is dedicated to the memories of Spielberg's real-life parents Leah Adler and Arnold Spielberg, who died in 2017 and 2020, respectively. 

'TRANSFUSION' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian crime thriller is Written, Directed and stars Matt Nable in his Directorial debut. The film tells the story of a father (Sam Worthington) and his young son (Edward Carmody) attempting to reconnect after a devastating loss. The son, mired in guilt for a choice he never made, and a father suffering from PTSD and without identity after retiring from the Special Air Service regiment (SAS) of the Australian Army. On his last chance with the law, the father is thrust into the criminal underworld by a former SAS brother (Matt Nable) to keep his only son from being taken from him. Also starring Phoebe Tonkin and Susie Porter, the film was originally made for Stan, and has not yet found a distributor outside of Australia, but hits our big screens this week.

'MUMMIES' (Rated PG) - is a Spanish animated family comedy film Directed by Juan Jesus Garcia Galocha in his third outing as an animated feature film Director after 'Tad : The Lost Explorer' in 2012 and 'Tad, the Lost Explorer, and the Secret of King Midas' in 2017. The film follows the fun filled adventures of three Egyptian mummies who live in an underground secret city, hidden in ancient Egypt. The trio includes a Princess, a former charioteer, and his younger brother along with their pet baby crocodile. Through a series of unfortunate events, the mummies end up in present-day London and embark on a wacky and hilarious journey in search of an old ring belonging to the Royal Family, that was stolen by the ambitious archaeologist Lord Carnaby (voiced by Hugh Bonneville). Also starring the English voice over work of Sean Bean, Eleanor Tomlinson and Celia Imrie. 

'MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON' (Rated PG) - this 2021 American live-action stop-motion animated mockumentary comedy-drama film is Co-Written for the screen, based on a story Co-Written by, Co-Produced, stars and is Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp in his feature film making debut. It is based on a 2010 trilogy of shorts of the same name, also Co-Written by Fleischer Camp. Here then Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate, who also co-wrote the original story, this Screenplay and Co-Produces here), is a one-inch-tall shell, who lives with his grandmother, Connie (Isabella Rossellini), the only residents of their town after their neighbours' sudden, mysterious disappearance. When discovered by a guest amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans and a new hope of reuniting with his long-lost family. Also starring Rosa Salazar and Thomas Mann. The film has so far picked up fifteen award wins and another thirty-five nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. It saw its World Premier at the Telluride Film Festival in early September 2021, and went on wide release Stateside from mid-July 2022, and only now does it get a showing in Australia having so far taken US$6.5M at the Box Office, and generating universal critical acclaim along the way. 

With four new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE DRY : Thursday 4th February 2021.

'THE DRY' which I finally got to see at the Open Air Cinema on Sydney Harbour this week is an MA15+ Rated Australian mystery drama thriller film Directed by Robert Connelly whose previous film making credits take in 'The Bank', 'Three Dollars', 'Balibo', 'The Turning' and 'Paper Planes'. This film is based on the multi-award winning 2016 best selling debut novel by Australian author Jane Harper. Originally set for a late August release last year, the film was pushed back to a New Year's Day release 2021 due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since being released five weeks ago now in Australia and New Zealand the film has grossed AU$12M, and has garnered wide spread critical acclaim. 

Melbourne based Federal Agent Aaron Falk (Eric Bana, who also Co-Produces here) returns to his struggling farming community of Kiewarra in regional Victoria after an absence of over twenty years to attend the funeral of his childhood friend, Luke Hadler (Martin Dingle Wall), who allegedly killed his wife Karen and child Billy before taking his own life after sparring the life of baby Charlotte. It seems that he was the victim of the madness that has ravaged this community after more than a decade of drought. At the films opening it states that the community has not seen a single drop of rain in 324 days. Following the funeral and the wake, Aaron visits the grieving parents of Luke - father Gerry (Bruce Spence) and mother Barb (Julia Blake), who ask that he stays back and investigates the alleged murder suicide, because they don't believe that their son was capable of such a heinous act. Aaron agrees to stay back one day and look over the books of the farm that Luke owned. 

Aaron is harassed by a certain contingent of the townspeople, who remember the now twenty-year-old death of seventeen-year-old Ellie Deacon (BeBe Bettencourt), a close friend of his during his school days that he was romantically involved with. Aaron (Joe Klocek) was immediately suspected for the death, as he'd given her a note that day asking her to meet him at the river, only for her not to show and to be found later by her father and Police, drowned in the river. Aaron always maintained this innocence and made up a story with Luke (Sam Corlett) that the pair were out in a nearby field shooting rabbits as their alibi, which few of the townspeople believed. Aaron and his father Erik (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) had been subsequently forced to leave town to avoid harassment from Ellie's ruthless father Mal (William Zappa).

Aaron meets with the local sergeant Greg Raco (Keir O'Donnell), and the pair begin to look into the circumstances surrounding the deaths that may have bene overlooked by the Police in the days immediately following. They discover that the shotgun cartridges used in the crime were red cased Winchesters while Luke only owned blue cased Remmingtons, indicating that the killer used different ammunition to what the family owned. 

Aaron interviews Scott Whitlam (John Polson), the Principal of the local school and Karen's boss, who explains that although she was struggling to gather government funding for the school, she didn't seem to have any problems on the home front. After visiting Luke's mother again, who was clearing out all of his belongings, she comes across a whole bunch of library books which had long since expired. He also reveals that his investigation into the farms set of accounts flagged nothing of any consequence. Aaron offers to return the books to the library and in so doing discovers the word 'grant ?' written on the back of the library receipt, leading him to suspect that Ellie's cousin, Grant Dow (Matt Nable), wants to purchase the family's farm which is directly adjacent to his own, once it goes on the market due to Luke's parents being unable to keep it, and with another neighbouring farm likely to come up for sale in the future such a large landholding of three farms sold together makes for a very lucrative proposition for any developer. Dow denies this, although he and his father still hold a big grudge toward Aaron.

Aaron visits Gretchen (Genevieve O'Reilly), another childhood friend and a co-worker of Karens. On her dining table she has sprawled out a bunch of documents that are applications for school funding. While looking through an old photo album, Aaron discovers that Luke could be the father of Gretchen's only child Lachlan. When Aaron confronts Gretchen with this revelation, she is mortified and orders him to get out of her house. Aaron returns to the house early the next morning while Gretchen and Lachlan are sleeping, sneaks in and takes a number of the documents. He soon realises that Karen's writing of 'grant ?' referred to government funds being granted, not Grant Dow, now suspecting Whitlam of financial fraud to the tune of AU$70K.

Aaron and Raco go to question Whitlam at the school, only to find he has fled to the bush upon which the school backs. Catching up with him, Whitlam admits to his gambling addiction, stealing money from the school to pay back his debts, and that he murdered the family to cover up his fraud. Whitlam drenches himself in petrol and sets alight to himself. Aaron and Raco tackle the burning Whitlam to the ground and put out the fire themselves, both getting burned in the process but stopping it from spreading to the trees and sparking a bushfire which could have potentially engulfed the nearby school. Aaron wakes up sometime later in hospital with his arms and hand bandaged. He visits Raco in the next room who is more badly burnt but will make a full recovery. Asking about Whitlam, Raco's wife responds that he was taken to a Melbourne hospital and that he is unrecognisable. The investigation is closed, clearing Luke of any wrong doing. 

On his way out of town, Aaron stops to lay a dried floral arrangement at a rocky area that he and Ellie used to frequent twenty years ago. He uncovers her old backpack while laying the arrangement, which contains a journal noting that her father was abusing her, and her mother which is why her Mum left. Ellie recorded in her journal that there was no way her father would ever let her leave, so the only way out for her was to take her own life. Flashbacks indicate that her father got to her before she was able to end her own life and as a result drowned and killed her himself. Aaron walks back with the backpack along the riverbed, now completely dried out.

'The Dry' is an expertly crafted film that takes you into the very heart and soul of the Australian sun drenched land in a fictitious outback town ravaged by drought and captured in sweeping mid and long distance shots of this arid community. Of course that is backed up by tight, tense and tough performances by the principle cast who are all on top form here including the four younger teenage characters portrayed in flashbacks throughout the film to their present day adult selves. Bana shines in the role as the insecure and introspective Aaron Falk with a dark secret all of his own, that keeps his performance grounded and beleiveable, and will keep you hanging on every line of dialogue he mutters, and every action he takes. The film easily boasts enough red herrings, plot twists and turns, intrigue and emotion to maintain the interest of any die hard fan of murder mystery cinema, and my only hope is that this film finds an audience overseas beyond its native Australia.

'The Dry' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 18th October 2018.

As reported a couple of weeks ago now, the Adelaide Film Festival is now in full swing running from 10th through until 21st October 2018. The official website reads that the 'Adelaide Film Festival (ADL Film Fest) is an eleven-day celebration and exploration of Australian and international screen culture with a unique program of screenings, forums and special events. The event has rapidly established itself as one of the boldest and most innovative in the country and has made a name for itself internationally as a platform for exciting new talent in the Australian industry'. It goes on further to add 'the youngest but most dynamic national screen event, Adelaide Film Festival was established in 2003 and was placed in Variety’s list of “50 Unmissable Film Festivals”. It is Australia’s premier film event, launching new films, art and interactive projects to national and international audiences'. 

This year’s Adelaide Film Festival showcases seventeen World Premier screenings and thirty Australian Premieres, including four Venice Award Winners & Grinners and a solid representation of films from Australia's emerging talent pool of Directors. The full festival schedule consists of over 130 feature films, animated features, documentaries, short films, virtual-reality works and various installations, with well over forty percent of films being presented having been Directed by women.

The opening night film on 10th October was 'Hotel Mumbai' based on the 2008 terror attacks in that Indian city, with the closing night screening on 21st being 'Can You Ever Forgive Me' with Melissa McCarthy playing agents type as celebrity writer turned forger Lee Israel.

Other noteworthy screenings garnering much buzz around the festival circuit are : 

* 'Arctic' - Directed by Joe Penna and starring Mads Mikkelsen.
* 'At Eternity's Gate' - Directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Willem Dafoe, Mads Mikkelsen and Oscar Isaac.
* 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs' - Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring an ensemble cast.
* 'Beautiful Boy' - Directed by Felix Van Groeningen and starring Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell, and released in Australia next week.
* 'Celeste' - Directed by Ben Hackworth and starring Radha Mitchell.
* 'Emu Runner' - Directed by Imogen Thomas in her feature film debut and starring Rhae-Kye Waites.
* 'Ghost Stories' - Directed by Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson and starring Andy Nyman and Martin Freeman, and released in Australia next week.
* 'I Am Mother Work In Progress' - Directed by Grant Sputore and starring Hilary Swank.
* 'Knife + Heart' - Directed by Yann Gonzalez and starring Vanessa Paradis.
* 'Lean on Pete' - Directed by Andrew Haigh and starring Charlie Plummer and Steve Buscemi, and released in Australia next week.
* 'Leave No Trace' - Directed by Debra Granik and starring Thomasin McKenzie and Ben Foster.
* 'The Nightingale' - Directed by Jennifer Kent and starring Aisling Franciosi and Sam Claiflin.
* 'The Old Man & the Gun' - Directed by David Lowery and starring Robert Redford, Casey Affleck and Sissy Spacek.
* 'Puzzle' - Directed by Marc Turtletaub and starring Kelly Macdonald and Irrfan Khan.
* 'Roma' - Directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Yalitza Aparicio.
* 'Shoplifters' - Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda and starring Lily Franky and Sakura Ando.

You can of course gain a far greater insight into all the goings on at this years ADL Film Fest, and the full lo-down on the aforementioned films and all the others too, by checking out the official website at : https://adelaidefilmfestival.org/

Coming to your local Odeon in the week ahead then, we have three new release movies to tease you out to your nearby multiplex or independent theatre. We kick off the week with the fourth big screen adaptation of this film after the 1937 original and remakes in 1954, 1976 and now in 2018. Helmed by a first time Director and seasoned Actor and co-starring a hugely successful singer in her screen debut this film tells the story of a star that begins to shine brightly for one whilst it fades for the other and the life altering consequences for both. We then turn to a gritty Aussie drama about an outlaw motorcycle gang and the fallout after the leader is released from prison to discover a very different club to the one he left behind when he was sent down. And finally this week we wrap up with a documentary about a British fashion icon still going as strong today as she did when she helped ignite the Punk Rock scene in mid-'70's Britain.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the three latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'A STAR IS BORN' (Rated M) - this much hyped musical romantic drama film is Directed by first timer Bradley Cooper who also Co-Produced, Co-Wrote and stars alongside Lady Gaga in her big screen debut. This is the fourth version of the original 1937 film production of the same name and starred Janet Gaynor and Frederic March, with remakes coming in 1954 by Director George Cukor with Judy Garland and James Mason in the lead roles, and then again in 1976 Directed by Frank Pierson and starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. The 1976 version of the film made US$80M from its US$6M Production Budget and won one Oscar and was nominated for three others, collected five Golden Globe wins and two BAFTA nominations amongst others. This film Premiered at the Venice Film Festival in late August, went on general release in the US two weeks ago, cost US$36M, and has received widespread Critical acclaim with particular praise for Cooper's and Gaga's performances and the chemistry between the pairing, the cinematography, the musical score and Cooper's Direction.  Box Office receipts currently stand at US$136M.

Here seasoned and successful musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers and ultimately falls in love with struggling singer Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer until Jackson coaxes her out of a drag bar where she moonlights as a singer and into the spotlight at one of his own concerts. But, as Ally's career takes off and success comes knocking, the personal side of their relationship is taking its toll, as Jackson fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. Also starring Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay and Alec Baldwin.

'1%' (Rated MA15+) - Written and starring Matt Nable, this outlaw motorcycle gang drama is Directed in his debut feature by Stephen McCallum and was first screened at the Toronto International Film Festival back in August 2017, and only now does it get its homegrown release in Australia. Filmed in Perth, Western Australia, the film tells the story of of hard as nails gang leader Knuck (Matt Nable) who is released from prison after serving three years. He returns as President of the Copperheads Motorcycle Club expecting to just pick up where he left off three years ago. But, in the intervening years, things have changed. The new pretender Paddo (Ryan Corr) is a generation younger than the old school Knuck, and has turned around the club from a raw, rough and tumble outfit to a well oiled smooth running and viable criminal business. With Knuck back on the scene and trying to stamp his Presidential authority on the gang once more, friendships will be tested, loyalties divided and the scene set for bloodshed, betrayal and a battle for supremacy. Also starring Aaron Pedersen, Abbey Lee, Simone Kessell and Josh McConville.

'WESTWOOD : PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST' (Rated M) - here this Documentary feature film is Directed by Lorna Tucker and charts the life and times of British fashion icon Vivienne Westwood. Released in the UK back in March this year and having been screened both at the Sydney and Melbourne Film Festivals, the film now gets a limited release in Australia. Credited with lighting the touch paper in the mid-'70's on the British Punk Rock movement with ex-partner and Sex Pistols' Manager Malcolm McLaren, Dame Vivienne Westwood has been reworking and reinventing the British fashion scene ever since with many of the more distinctive looks of our time. Blending archival footage, thoughtful reconstruction, and revealing testimonials with Westwood's fascinating network of contributors we are taken on a journey from her years growing up in postwar Derbyshire to the runways of Paris and Milan that have coloured her success, whilst at the same time she fights to protect the integrity of the brand she has created, her unwavering principles and her legacy in a business driven by consumerism, profit and global expansion.

With three new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 5th - 11th March 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Matt Nable does on 8th March - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 45, at the end of this feature.

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

Sunday 5th March

• Eva Mendes - Born 1974, turns 43 - Actress
• Dean Stockwell - Born 1936, turns 81 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Matt Lucas - Born 1974, turns 43 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer    

Monday 6th March

• Rob Reiner - Born 1947, turns 70 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Songwriter | Composer
• Tom Arnold - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Writer | Producer
• Alan Davies - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actor | Writer | Television Personality  

Tuesday 7th March  

• Bryan Cranston - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director | Singer
• Matthew Vaughn - Born 1971, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Peter Sarsgaard - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Rachel Weisz - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress | Producer  

Wednesday 8th March 

• Aidan Quinn - Born 1959, turns 58 - Actor | Producer
• Matt Nable - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actor | Writer
• Freddie Prinz Jnr. - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• James Van Der Beek - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actor | Producer | Writer  

Thursday 9th March 

• Jean Marc-Vallee - Born 1963, turns 54 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Editor
• Oscar Isaac - Born 1979, turns 38 - Actor | Singer
• Juliette Binoche - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actress  

Friday 10th March  

• Sharon Stone - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Chuck Norris - Born 1940, turns 77 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Paul Haggis - Born 1953, turns 64 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Jon Hamm - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Rafe Spall - Born 1983, turns 34 - Actor   

Saturday 11th March

• Jerry Zucker - Born 1950, turns 67 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Peter Berg - Born 1964, turns 53 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Terrence Howard - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Johnny Knoxville - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Thora Birch - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actress | Producer

Matthew Nable was born on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, an area taking in Palm Beach in the north (where famed Aussie beachside soap opera 'Home and Away' is set, and partially filmed) down to Manly in the south (a distance of about 30kms) with its famed 2kms strip of golden ocean surf beach that rivals Bondi as a beachside destination for locals and tourists alike. The author of this Blog also lives on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, and it is not uncommon to see Matt Nable working out at the gym where I also train, or out and about in Manly or the surrounding suburbs. Hence this weeks Tribute, keeping it local! As a young lad, Nable would often find his existence uprooted as he moved from army base to army base across Australia with his serving soldier father, growing up under the watchful eye of the might of the Australian military. His father also worked as a trainer for the Australian National Rugby League Team - The Kangaroo's, and Matt's younger brother Adam went into the League professionally. Matt played for the Manly-Waringah Sea Eagles Club making five appearances in 1991 and 1992. He then played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 1995 making three appearances. He then moved to England for two years playing first for Carlisle and then the London Broncos. After this he turned his back on Rugby League and tried his hand at Amateur Boxing competing for the State Light-Heavyweight title. Following this he worked as a personal fitness trainer and in beer sales.

He gave all of this up to follow his dream to become a Writer. With the help and encouragement of his friend and mentor, Australian novelist Thomas Keneally, he wrote a Screenplay based on his unpublished novel 'The Final Winter' a story that focuses around Grub who is the captain of the Newtown Jets football team in the early 1980's and his determination to uphold what rugby league traditionally stood for while dealing with his own identity crisis. In 2007 the film of Nable's Screenplay was released with Nable playing the lead role of Grub. The film was critically praised, although did little at the Box Office.

Following this, 2008 saw a role in an American Police drama made for television movie - 'SIS' ('Special Investigation Squad'). This was followed up with seven episodes on Australian major crime drama series 'East West 101', and then Australian drama film '33 Postcards' with Guy Pearce in 2011, and high octane actioner 'Killer Elite' that same year featuring Robert De Niro, Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Ben Mendelsohn and Dominic Purcell.



In 2012 Nable took the lead role of Jock Ross in television six part mini-series 'Bikie Wars : Brothers In Arms' - the true story of the lead up, reasons and the repercussions of the 'Milperra Massacre' where two warring Motorcycle Clubs - The Bandidos and The Comancheros faced off in the car park of a western Sydney pub on Fathers Day, 1984. He followed this up that same year with five episodes on 'Underbelly : Badness' as Detective Sergeant Gary Jubelin in this multi-season award winning Television series that takes the viewer through a thirteen episode run in the rise and fall of real life Australian underworld figures as told from both sides of the law. Later that year he appeared as prison guard Villalobos with a convincing American accent in 'K-11'.

Next Nable appeared as Boss Johns in the third movie instalment in the Chronicles of Riddick franchise, in Sci-Fi actioner 'Riddick' alongside Vin Diesel in the title role with Karl Urban. The film returned US$99M from its US$38M budget. 2013 also saw the Aboriginal drama story 'Around the Block' with Christina Ricci, Ruby Rose and Jack Thompson. 'Fell' came next with Nable playing two roles in the outback Australian drama from debut Director Kasimir Burgess.




Western Australian prison break action crime drama 'Son of a Gun' came next in 2014 with Ewan McGregor, Brenton Thwaites and Alicia Vikander, before the seven part television wartime drama mini-series 'Gallipoli' marking the 100th anniversary in 2015 of that epic WWI battle. This in turn gave way to Police drama series 'Winter' with Rebecca Gibney starring as Sydney Homicide Detective Eve Winter, with Nable appearing in all six episodes. Following on from this in 2015 Nable secured himself ten episodes on DC Superhero television series 'Arrow' playing Ra's al Ghul (Arabic for 'Head of the Demon') one of the Batman's greatest enemies. He is the leader of a vast organisation dedicated to purifying the human race and returning the Earth to a more pristine state. He is a master of martial arts and an expert swordsman. Nable reprised his role as Ra's al Ghul on one episode of 2016's 'Legends of Tomorrow'.

Another television mini-series followed in 2016 running over four episodes was Australian swimming drama 'Barracuda' with Nable playing swim coach Frank Torma to high school swimming protege and Olympic hopeful Danny Kelly (Elias Anton). A turn in Mel Gibson's highly acclaimed 'Hacksaw Ridge' came next, and this was followed on two episodes of the first season of American crime drama 'Quarry'. Returning to Australian television he took the lead role in the first season of eight episodes as Detective Gary Hyde in 'Hyde & Seek'.

Paranormal horror thriller 'Incarnate' with Aaron Eckhart and Carice van Houten was released Stateside in early December and has just about recovered its US$5M budget, before a wider release. 'Jasper Jones' was released in Australia on 2nd March with Nable starring alongside Hugo Weaving, Angourie Rise and Toni Collette in this 1965 coming of age story involving the dead body of a young girl, local racism in a small mining community, a marriage break up, first love and the true meaning of courage.

Next up is 'In Cold Light' currently in post-production for a later 2017 release and tells the story of the interrogation of a respected Priest from a boys school by a ruthless Inspector, following the murder of one of the Priest's students. Nable plays the Inspector. This is followed up by bikie film '1%' which Nable also wrote, and is in post-production for release this year and for which Nable bulked up by an additional 15kgs.

All up Nable has 26 acting credits to his name, and two as Writer. He has two award nominations under this belt so far. In addition to writing screenplays and acting in a broad range of film and television roles both at home in Australia and Stateside, he has written two novels - 'We Don't Live Here Anymore' in 2009, and 'Faces in the Clouds' in 2011. He married Cassandra in 2000 and together they have three children.

Matt Nable - came to the acting world later in life but has gained considerable traction over the last ten years since turning attention to it, often plays the tough guy, and is very open about his bipolar disorder which takes its ups and downs on the busy Actor and Writer emotionally, which in turn has helped him with the character development in the roles he has played. Grounded on Sydney's Northern Beaches and equally in demand in Sydney as he is in Hollywood, clearly the future is very bright and the demand is high. Happy 45th Birthday to you Matt, from your local Odeon Online crew.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-