Showing posts with label Sand Castle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sand Castle. Show all posts

Friday, 2 December 2016

Birthday's to share this week : 4th-10th December 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Nicholas Hoult does on 7th December - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 27, at the end of this feature, and, deserving of an Honorary Mention is screen legend Kirk Douglas turning 100 years young on 9th December.

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 4th December
  • Marisa Tomei - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actress | Producer
  • Jeff Bridges - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor | Producer | Singer  
Monday 5th December
  • Nick Stahl - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actor | Producer
  • Frankie Muniz - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actor | Producer  
Tuesday 6th December
  • Tom Hulce - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actor | Producer
  • Nick Park - Born 1958, turns 58 - Writer | Producer | Director | Animator 
  • Judd Apatow - Born 1967, turns 49 - Writer | Producer | Director | Actor
  • JoBeth Williams - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actress | Producer | Director 
Wednesday 7th December
  • Ellen Burstyn - Born 1932, turns 84 - Actress | Producer
  • Emily Browning - Born 1988, turns 26 - Actress | Singer
  • Jeffrey Wright - Born 1965, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Singer
  • Jeff Nichols - Born 1978, turns 38 - Director | Producer | Writer
  • Jack Huston - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actor | Singer
  • Nicholas Hoult - Born 1989, turns 27 - Actor  
Thursday 8th December
  • Rick Baker - Born 1950, turns 66 - Make-Up Artist | SFX Artist | Actor
  • Dominic Monaghan - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actor | Producer | Singer
  • Matthias Schoenaerts - Born 1977, turns 39 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
  • Kim Basinger - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actress
  • Teri Hatcher - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress  
Friday 9th December
  • Kirk Douglas - Born 1916, turns 100 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
  • Beau Bridges - Born 1941, turns 75 - Actor | Producer | Director
  • John Malkovich - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
  • Judi Dench - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actress | Singer  
Saturday 10th December
  • Kenneth Branagh - Born 1960, turns 56 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer
  • Xavier Samuel - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actor  
Nicholas Caradoc Hoult was born in Wokingham, Berkshire, England to mother Glenis Brown, a piano teacher, and father Roger Hoult, a former pilot for British Airways. He is the third of four children - younger to brother James born in 1977 and sister Rosanna born in 1984, but older than Clarista born in 1992. Both James and Rosanna took an active interest in acting and dancing early on, and young Nicholas' interest was sparked by their interest. He also practiced ballet with his two sisters to the point where he was involved with 'Swan Lake' and 'The Nutcracker' productions with The National Ballet. He attended the Combes Nursery School in Arborfield close to the family home and then Arborfield Church of England Junior School. From there, and with a number of acting credits to his name already he went to the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London - a specialist performing arts school. At fourteen he joined the Ranelagh School in Bracknell, Berkshire to concentrate on his education free of the pressures of film and television and because he wasn't yet ready to make a life out of acting, despite the success he had enjoyed up to that point. He went onto the Sixth Form College, in Farnborough, Hampshire in 2006, and quit in 2008 to pursue a career in acting to which he had now made up his mind.

Hoult's acting life began at age five in the English London drama film set in the 1950's - 'Intimate Relations' in 1996 with Julie Walters and Rupert Graves, and from there he landed roles in television series including 'Casualty', 'Silent Witness', 'The Ruth Rendell Mysteries' and the made for television film 'Mr. White Goes to Westminster'. These appearances saw out the '90's by which time he was still only ten ten years of age. The new decade launched with episodes on 'The Bill', 'Holby City, 'Doctors', 'Waking the Dead' and 'Murder in Mind' before his breakout role at age just eleven in 2002 in 'About A Boy' with Hugh Grant and Toni Collette. The film was a critical and commercial success gaining numerous accolades, and importantly, Hollywood exposure for the young Actor.

His next big screen role came in the Richard E. Grant Written and Directed 'Wah-Wah' with Gabriel Byrne and Emily Watson. This was followed up quickly also in 2005 with the American drama film 'The Weather Man' Directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Nicolas Cage and Michael Caine. 'Kidulthood' came next in 2006, and BBC television film 'Coming Down the Mountain' a year later, before being cast by Tom Ford in his highly acclaimed multi-award winning Directorial debut 'A Single Man' with Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. For his role, Hoult earned a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination, and Tom Ford made him the face of his eyewear collection in 2010. 

In between time, Hoult scored one of the defining roles of his early career in the much acclaimed 'Skins' television series in the role of Tony Stonem across the first nineteen episodes of the first two seasons. The show ran for seven seasons from 2007 through to 2013. He followed this up with an episode on 'Wallander'.

'Clash of the Titans' opened in 2010 with Hoult playing Eusebios alongside an all star cast as Directed by Louis Leterrier. Although the film was poorly received critically, it performed well at the Box Office picking up close to US$500M. 'X-Men : First Class' as Directed by Matthew Vaughn saw Hoult's first outing in the re-booted 'X-Men' franchise as Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast - a genius scientist with mutant abilities similar to that of the great apes. Hoult reprised his role in 2014's 'X-Men : Days of Future Past' and in this years 'X-Men : Apocalypse'. The three films took a combined worldwide Box Office haul of US$1.65B.

The ZomRomCom 'Warm Bodies' and 'Jack the Giant Slayer' came next in 2013, 'Young Ones' in 2014, 'Dark Places' in 2015 and then the critically lauded George Miller re-boot of his Max Rockatansky creation made famous by Mel Gibson back in the day with 'Mad Max : Fury Road'. 'Kill Your Friends' closed out 2015. This year has seen 'Equals' with Kristen Stewart, and the as yet to be released 'Collide' with Ben Kinglsey, Anthony Hopkins and Felicity Jones.

Next up is Iraq War drama 'Sand Castle' with Henry Cavill currently in post-production; historical biopic 'The Current War' with Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon and Tom Holland; and 'Rebel in the Rye' with Kevin Spacey and Hoult playing J.D. Salinger the author of acclaimed 1951 novel 'The Catcher in the Rye' - both are in pre-production for a 2017 release. Currently filming is the animated television mini-series 'Watership Down' for BBC Television and Netflix to which Hoult is lending his voice talents in the voice of 'Fiver' alongside Ben Kingsley, James McAvoy, John Boyega and Gemma Arterton. 

So far Hoult has 43 acting credits to his name, and he has picked up three award wins and another eleven nominations. He has worked with several charities over the years including the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), The Teenage Cancer Trust, The Save the Children Fund, The Small Steps Project and the Jeans for Refugees Project.

Nicholas Hoult - former choirboy, former basketball player, avid motorsports fan particularly the F1, and partakes in go-karting and both on and off track motorcycling. His middle name means 'The Beloved One' in Welsh, and his great aunt was acclaimed English Actress of the '30's, '40's and '50's Dame Anna Neagle. A star very much on the rise and one to watch out for having achieved so much already in his 27 years - Happy Birthday to you Nicholas, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Saturday, 30 April 2016

Birthday's to share this week : 1st-7th May 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Henry Cavill does on 5th May - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 33, 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 1st May
  •  Wes Anderson - Born 1969, turns 47 - Director | Producer | Writer 
  •  Jamie Dornan - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actor
  •  Joanna Lumley - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress 
Monday 2nd May
  • Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Producer | WWF Wrestler
  • Stephen Daldry  - Born 1961, turns 55 - Director | Producer
  • David Suchet - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor | Producer 
Tuesday 3rd May
  • Ben Elton - Born 1959, turns 57 - Writer | Producer | Actor
  • Rob Brydon - Born 1965, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Television Personality
  • Bobby Cannavale - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor
  • Christina Hendricks - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actress 
Wednesday 4th May
  • Will Arnett - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Writer
  • Richard Jenkins - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor 
Thursday 5th May
  • Henry Cavill - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actor  
  • Richard E. Grant - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor | Writer | Director 
  • John Rhys-Davies - Born 1944, turns 72 - Actor | Producer | Writer 
  • Michael Palin - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor | Writer | Songwriter | Television Personality
  • Lance Henriksen - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor
Friday 6th May
  • George Clooney - Born 1961, turns 55 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
  • Alan Dale - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor  
Saturday 7th May
  • Alexander Ludwig - Born 1992, turns 24 - Actor 
Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill was born on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands to mother Marianne Dalgliesh - a bank secretary, and father Colin Cavill - a stockbroker. Henry is the fourth of five brothers - the others being Niki, Charlie, Piers and Simon. He was educated at St. Michael's Preparatory School in St. Saviour, on Jersey and then in England at the noted independent Stowe School in Buckinghamshire. His interest in acting was sparked at school appearing in various productions - both classic and modern.

At age 17, Henry was discovered by a Casting Director who visited the school looking for a young lad suitable enough to cast as Albert Mondego in the Kevin Reynolds big screen adaptation of 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. He got the role and starred alongside Guy Pearce, Richard Harris and Jim Caviezel. That was in 2002, and that same year there were television appearances on 'Midsomer Murders' and 'The Inspector Lynley Mysteries'.

'I Capture the Castle' came next in 2003 with Bill Nighy, Rose Byrne and Tara Fitzgerald, with the made for television movie 'Goodbye Mr. Chips', before the eighth instalment in the horror franchise with 'Hellraiser : Hellworld' in 2005. The following year came 'Red Riding Hood' and then 'Tristan and Isolde' Directed by Kevin Reynolds once again with James Franco, Rufus Sewell, Mark Strong and Sophia Myles.



In 2007 there was a small role in Matthew Vaughn's romantic fantasy adventure 'Stardust' with an all star cast featuring Peter O'Toole, Mark Strong, Robert De Niro, Rupert Everett, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes and Sienna Miller.

That same year, Cavill scored the role of Charles Brandon in 38 episodes of 'The Tudors' to which he attributes much of his subsequent success - having given him the much needed exposure to an American audience. Whilst making 'The Tudors' he also starred in Joel Schumacher's Nazi horror film 'Blood Creek' in 2008 with Michael Fassbender and Dominic Purcell, and followed this up with a minor part in Woody Allen's 'Whatever Works'.

'Immortals' followed in 2011 with this swords and sandals epic in the lead role of Theseus, with 'Cold Light of Day' next in 2012 with Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver.

In 2013 he appeared in Zack Snyder's 'Man of Steel' as Superman/Clark Kent with an all star cast in the first film in the DC Extended Universe series which was followed up earlier this year with Cavill reprising his role as Superman alongside Ben Affleck in 'Batman v. Superman : The Dawn of Justice'. His first outing as Superman grossed US$668M at the Box Office with his most recent instalment this year so far grossing US$855M. In between time there has been the big screen retelling of the much loved classic spy series of the 60's 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' released mid-2015 with Cavill taking on the role of Napoleon Solo, and Armie Hammer the role of Russian Ilya Kuryakin, and as Directed by Guy Ritchie.

Next up is Iraq War drama 'Sand Castle' currently in post-production for a release later this year, and then as Superman once again for Zack Snyder in 'Justice League : Part One' due in November 2017 and then 'Justice League : Part Two' due in June 2019.






Along the way he was touted to play Superman back in 2004 for a film Directed by McG, but when that project was taken over by Bryan Singer Cavill was dropped in favour of Brandon Routh in what became 'Superman Returns'. He was also in contention for the Edward Cullen role in the 'Twilight' series of films that went to Robert Pattinson instead, and, he has expressed interest in the role of James Bond when Daniel Craig sips on his last martini.

Cavill has 21 acting credits to his name, an MTV Movie Award win and five other nominations so far.  He has been voted 'The World's Sexiest Man' and 'One of the World's Sexiest Men' by various publications. He is a spokesman for the 'Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust', is an ambassador for the 'Royal Marines Charitable Trust' and has taken part in numerous charitable events and worthy causes that he believes in, that more often than not have highlighted his physicality. In 2014 with brother Charlie, he co-founded his own production company - 'Promethean Productions'.

Henry Cavill - chiselled features, athletic, heroic, handsome and fits the mould of a Superhero well - we look forward to seeing what else you bring to the big screen as well as further instalments of perhaps the most loved most recognised superhero of them all. Happy Birthday to you Henry, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-