Birthday's to share this week : 2nd - 8th April 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Hugo Weaving does on 4th April - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 57, 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 2nd April

• Christopher Meloni - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Pedro Pascal - Born 1975, turns 42 - Actor
• Michael Fassbender - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actor | Producer
• Jesse Plemons - Born 1988, turns 29 - Actor
• Linda Hunt - Born 1945, turns 72 - Actress  

Monday 3rd April

• Cobie Smulders - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actress | Singer
• Alec Baldwin - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actor | Producer 
• Eddie Murphy - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Director
• Ben Mendelsohn - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor |   

Tuesday 4th April

• Craig T. Nelson - Born 1944, turns 73 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• David E. Kelley - Born 1956, turns 61 - Writer | Producer
• Hugo Weaving - Born 1960, turns 57 - Actor | Producer
• Robert Downey Jnr. - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Barry Pepper - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actor
• Estelle Harris - Born 1928, turns 89 - Actress   

Wednesday 5th April

• Hayley Attwell - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actress 
• Roger Corman - Born 1926, turns 91 - Producer | Director | Actor | Writer 
• Peter Greenaway - Born 1942, turns 75 - Director | Writer | Editor | Actor
• Mitch Pileggi - Born 1952, turns 65 - Actor

Thursday 6th April

• Billy Dee Williams - Born 1937, turns 80 - Actor 
• Barry Levinson - Born 1942, turns 75 - Producer | Director | Writer | Actor
• Michael Rooker - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Paul Rudd - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Singer  
• Zach Braff - Born 1975, turns 42 - Actor | Producer | Director | Singer
• Sofia Boutella - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actress

Friday 7th April

• Francis Ford Coppola - Born 1939, turns 78 - Producer | Director | Writer 
• Ted Kotcheff - Born 1931, turns 86 - Director | Producer | Actor
• Jackie Chan - Born 1954, turns 63 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Stuntman | Singer  

Saturday 8th April

• Taylor Kitsch - Born 1981, turns 36 - Actor | Director | Writer | Producer
• John Madden - Born 1949, turns 68 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Robin Wright - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Patricia Arquette - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actress | Producer 

Hugo Wallace Weaving was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, Africa to mother Anne Lennard, a tour guide and former teacher and Wallace Weaving a seismologist. At a year old the family returned to England where they lived in Bedford and then Brighton, and then onto Melbourne and Sydney in Australia and then a time in Johannesburg, South Africa before returning back to England. While there, he attended The Downs School, a preparatory school located in Wraxall, near Bristol, Somerset and then Queen Elizabeth's Hospital independent boys school in Clifton, Bristol. In 1976 his family relocated back to Sydney, where Weaving attending the independent boys school, Knox Grammar School. After leaving school he studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney from where he graduated in 1981.

Weaving secured his first film role in a bit part in 1981's ' . . . Maybe This Time', and this was followed up in 1983 with 'The City's Edge'. In the meantime Weaving starred as English Cricket Captain Douglas Jardine in the seven part miniseries 'Bodyline' recounting the events of the 1932-33 English Ashes Test tour of Australia. 'For Love Alone', 'The Right Hand Man', television mini-series 'The Dirtwater Dynasty', made for television movie 'A Long Way From Home : Dadah Is Death' with Julie Christie and John Polson, and then television three part mini-series 'Bangkok Hilton' with Nicole Kidman, Denholm Elliott and Noah Taylor saw out the decade. 

The '90's kicked off with his AACTA Award winning turn in the Jocelyn Moorhouse Written and Directed 'Proof' with Russell Crowe. This was followed up by the likes of Ned Kelly send-up comedy 'Reckless Kelly' for Director and Co-star Yahoo Serious, then comedy crime thriller 'Frauds' with Phil Collins, and 'The Custodian' with Anthony LaPaglia, Naomi Watts, Barry Otto and Bill Hunter. Perhaps his breakout role however, came with 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' in which Weaving starred as drag queen Anthony 'Tick' Melrose aka Mitzi Del Bra alongside Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce and Bill Hunter again. Based on its US$2M budget the film grossed US$30M, spawned a stage show, became a cultural touchstone for the LGBT community especially, and reaped in numerous award wins and nominations including an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. 

In 1995 Weaving voiced the character of Rex, the Sheepdog in the hugely popular 'Babe' which won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and picked up six other nominations, together with a Golden Globe win for Best Motion Picture and four BAFTA nods too amongst its total haul of nineteen wins and 24 other nominations. The film took US$254M from its US$30M budget outlay, and as a result of this success Weaving reprised his voice role in the 1998 George Miller Directed, Written and Produced sequel 'Babe : Pig in the City'. Ten part television mini-series 'Bordertown' with Cate Blanchett followed in 1995, and then 'True Love and Chaos' with Ben Mendelssohn, Noah Taylor, Miranda Otto and Naveen Andrews. 1998 saw RomCom 'Bedrooms and Hallways' and then his AFI Award winning turn in crime drama thriller 'The Interview' with Tony Martin and Michael Caton. In between there was further television work on short-lived mini-series and a couple of short films too.

All this led to his starring role as Agent Smith in the ground breaking Sci-Fi actioner 'The Matrix'. Weaving would reprise his role in the two sequels both released back to back in 2003 'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'The Matrix Revolutions'. The first instalment won four Academy Awards and two BAFTA's among its haul of 37 award wins and 45 nominations, with the two subsequent films bringing home another ten award wins and 59 nominations. All up the three films grossed US$1.63B from its combined US$363M budget outlay. Weaving also voiced his character in the video game release 'Enter the Matrix'.

'Strange Planet', 'The Old Man Who Read Love Stories', 'Russian Doll' came before Weaving's recurring role as Elrond in Peter Jackson's immensely popular and successful 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, kicking off with 'The Fellowship of the Ring' in 2001, then 'The Two Towers' in 2002 and culminating with 'The Return of the King' in 2003. The three films were made for a combined budget of US$281M and grossed worldwide US$2.9B. All up the three film series won seventeen Academy Awards, took a further eleven Oscar nominations, and all up won 438 award wins and took another 375 nominations. Subsequently Weaving his lent his Elrond voice talents to three video game releases - two in 2006 and one in 2009. 'Peaches', 'Little Fish' with Cate Blanchett and Sam Neill and then dystopian political thriller 'V for Vendetta' based on the limited edition DC Comics series of the same name was released in 2006 and took in an all star cast including Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Eddie Marsan and Tim Pigott-Smith.

The following year Weaving lent his voice talents to hugely successful franchise opener 'Transformers' as Megatron, the leader of the Deceptions who transforms into a silver Cybertronian jet. Weaving voiced Megatron for the first three films - taking in 2009's 'Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen' and 2011's 'Transformers : Dark of the Moon'. These first three films took US$2.67B at the global Box Office against a budget investment of US$545M with 'Transformers : Age of Extinction' released in 2014 and 'Transformers : The Last Knight' due for release imminently. 'The Tender Hook' and 'Last Ride' saw out the decade, with Weaving lending his voice talents once again to George Miller's Academy Award winning animated 'Happy Feet' as Noah the Elder, a role he would reprise in 2011's sequel, 'Happy Feet 2'.

2010 kicked off with Joe Johnston's horror fantasy 'The Wolfman' with Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Asa Butterfield, and Emily Blunt, with more voice work following on 'Legends of the Guardians : The Owls of Ga'Hoole'.  'Oranges and Sunshine', 'The Key Man', and the Marvel adaptation introducing us for the first time to 'Captain America : The First Avenger' as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull followed. The Sci-Fi multi-dimensional, time travelling 'Cloud Atlas' that divided Critics and just about clawed back its US$130M budget featured an ensemble cast headed up by Tom Hanks and Halle Berry and ended up picking up seventeen award wins from around the traps and another 72 nominations. 

Weaving then reprised his role of Elrond in Peter Jacksons adaptation of 'The Hobbit' launching with 'The Unexpected Journey' in 2012 and culminating with 'The Battle of the Five Armies' in 2014. Weaving's character did not appear in the middle instalment 'The Desolation of Smaug' in 2013. The three films were made for a combined US$675M and grossed worldwide US$2.9B and picked up seven Academy Award nominations and a total awards haul of 45 wins and 200 other nominations.

In between time there was 'Mystery Road' with Aaron Pederson, 'The Mule' with Leigh Whannell, 'Healing' with Don Hany, 'Strangerland' with Nicole Kidman and most recently Jocelyn Moorhouse's 'The Dressmaker' with Kate Winslet, Mel Gibson's 'Hacksaw Ridge' with Andrew Garfield, and just out 'Jasper Jones' with Toni Collette. This brings us up to date with drama television series 'Seven Types of Ambiguity' due for airing later this year in Australia, and historical drama film 'Black 47' with Jim Broadbent and Stephen Rea currently filming. 

All up Weaving has 84 Acting credits to his name and two as Producer. He has so far accumulated 23 award wins and another 25 nominations. Aside form an extensive film and television career he has also appeared in numerous stage plays for the Sydney Theatre Company more recently in 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' in 2012, 'Waiting for Godot' in 2013 and 'Macbeth' in 2014. Weaving has been with his long term partner Katrina Greenwood since 1984 with whom he has two children - Harry (born in 1989) and Holly (born in 1993). Harry has followed in his fathers footsteps and has become an Actor too under the name Harry Greenwood. Weaving is an ambassador for 'Voiceless' the animal protection institute campaigning for animal rights.

Hugo Weaving - a diverse and successful career on film, television and stage; has starred in four mega franchise films series - 'The Matrix', The Lord of the Rings', 'The Hobbit' and 'Transformers' as well as an eclectic collection of local independent fare. Continues to be in demand, like a fine wine is maturing with age, has an instantly recognisable voice, loves working in Australia, and is always surprising us with his roles. Happy Birthday to you Hugo, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 8th - 14th January 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Fran Walsh does on 10th January - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 58, 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 8th January

• John McTiernan - Born 1951, turns 66 - Director | Producer | Writer

Monday 9th January

• J.K.Simmons - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actor
• Imelda Staunton - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actress
• Joely Richardson - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actress  

Tuesday 10th January

• Fran Walsh - Born 1959, turns 58 - Producer | Writer | Songwriter
• Walter Hill - Born 1942, turns 75 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Wednesday 11th January

• Jason Connery - Born 1963, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Amanda Peet - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actress  

Thursday 12th January

• Kirstie Alley - Born 1951, turns 66 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Anthony Andrews - Born 1948, turns 69 - Actor | Producer
• John Lasseter - Born 1957, turns 60 - Producer | Director | Writer | Animator | Voice Actor
• Oliver Platt - Born 1960, turns 57 - Actor
• Rob Zombie (aka Robert Bartleh Cummings) - Born 1965, turns 52 - Producer | Director | Writer | Actor | Singer | Songwriter | Composer  

Friday 13th January

• William B. Davis - Born 1938, turns 79 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Editor
• Bill Bailey - Born 1965, turns 52 - Writer | Actor | Television Personality | Singer | Composer
• Patrick Dempsey - Born 1966, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Michael Pena - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actor | Producer
• Orlando Bloom - Born 1977, turns 40 - Actor | Producer
• Liam Hemsworth - Born 1990, turns 27 - Actor
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actress | Producer | Singer  

Saturday 14th January

• Faye Dunaway - Born 1941, turns 76 - Actress
• Emily Watson - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actress
• Carl Weathers - Born 1948, turns 69 - Actor | Director
• Steven Soderbergh - Born 1963, turns 54 - Producer | Director | Writer | Cinematographer | Editor
• L.L.Cool J (aka James Todd Smith) - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Jason Bateman - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Producer | Director

Frances Rosemary Walsh was born in Wellington, on New Zealand's North Island, and she attended Wellington Girl's College where she had intentions on becoming a fashion designer, eventually gaining a more active interest in music. She performed from time to time in a Punk Band, named 'The Wallsockets' and attending the Victoria University of Wellington majoring in English Literature and graduating in 1981. 

She gained her first screen writing debut on the 1983 made for television film 'A Woman of Good Character' which she followed up with scripts for the TV show 'Worzel Gummidge Down Under'. Walsh met up with a young Peter Jackson during the mid-'80's whilst he was putting the final touches to his debut feature - the 1987 splatter Sci-Fi horror comedy film 'Bad Taste'. Jackson's next film was the musical black comedy 'Meet the Feebles' released in 1989 which was the first film for Jackson that Walsh collaborated on taking a Co-Writer credit. In the meantime, Walsh had married Jackson in 1987 and the two have been partners ever since, at home and at work. Following this the two joined forces on the slapstick splatter zombie horror film 'Braindead' (released as 'Dead Alive' in the US) which Walsh also gained a screen writing credit for. Although the film was a critical and commercial dud upon release in 1992, it has since risen to the ranks of cult status.

In 1994 Walsh and Jackson explored new territory with the dramatic true story of the notorious 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case with 'Heavenly Creatures' which Walsh and Jackson Co-Wrote. The film features Kate Winslet's screen debut as Juliet Hulme in which her obsessive relationship with close teenage friend Pauline Parker result in them killing Parker's mother in 1954. The film was critically acclaimed picking up seventeen award wins and a further fourteen nominations including an Oscar nod for Best Original Screenplay.

Next up was more familiar territory with the horror comedy 'The Frighteners' in 1996 starring Michael J. Fox in his last lead role in a live action feature film after being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1991 aged just 29, and going public with it in 1998. Walsh and Jackson again Co-Wrote the Screenplay which Jackson Directed and Co-Produced, and it represented their first film with the backing of a major American studio. With so many ghosts appearing in the film, 'The Frighteners' was one of the most digital effects laden films up until that time, and proved to be a testing ground for Jackson's Weta Digital that had been in business just there years then. Walsh took an Associate Producer credit on the film too.

With Jackson looking at the fantasy genre for his next offering, in 1998 New Line Cinema agreed to back financially a trilogy adapted from Tolkien's classic books - 'The Lord of the Rings'. For the trilogy Walsh took Screenwriting credits, Producer credits and composer credits for certain songs appearing on the soundtrack for each film. The three films  - 'The Fellowship of the Ring', 'The Two Towers' and 'The Return of the King' were made for a combined US$281M and took an overall Box Office haul of US$2.91B. Additionally, the films received a collective 415 award wins and another 362 nominations including seventeen Academy Award wins in total. 

Following their success with 'The Rings Trilogy' Walsh and Jackson turned their attention back to a project they first muted in 1998 with Universal Studios - that of a remake of 'King Kong'. In 2005 Universal greenlit a remake of 'King Kong' with no hesitation, and so Walsh and Jackson took co-Writer and Co-Producer credits while Jackson Directed. The film cost US$207M to make and grossed US$551M at the global Box Office and starred Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow and Andy Serkis as Kong in motion capture. It picked up three Academy Award wins plus 39 other wins and 92 nominations.

'The Lovely Bones' followed in 2009 - a supernatural drama film based on the best selling novel of the same name from 2002 by Alice Sebold. Again Jackson Directed with Walsh and he carrying Co-Producer and Co-Screenwriting credits too. The film received mixed critical reviews but still picked up an Oscar nod, a Golden Globe nod and two BAFTA nods from its haul of ten award wins and forty other nominations, and it made back US$94M from its US$65M budget outlay.

Based on their prior success with 'The Rings Trilogy' it was almost inevitable that eventually Walsh and Jackson would turn attention to Tolkien's other notable works - 'The Hobbit'. Originally slated to be Directed by Guillermo del Toro over two instalments, Jackson stepped up to the Director's chair when del Toro exited stage left due to creative differences, and decided that three films was the go, however, del Toro still received a Screenwriters credit on all there films for his efforts. Once more Walsh and Jackson Co-Produced, Co-Scripted the works on 'The Hobbit' series, with Jackson Directing also. The three films were made for a combined US$690M and collectively took US$2.94B at the global Box Office, together with 31 award wins and  another 202 nominations.

Next up for Fran Walsh is the big screen adaptation of the Philip Reeve Sci-Fi steampunk novel of 2001 'Mortal Engines', the first in a series of four books. Co-Produced and Co-Written once again by Walsh and Jackson, this time Directed by Christian Rivers, the film is slated to hit our screens in December 2018 and is currently in pre-production.

All up Walsh has seventeen Screenwriting credits to her name, twelve as Producer, and seven Soundtrack credits as writer/lyricist on 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' films. She has so far amassed forty-four award wins, including three Academy Awards wins, one Golden Globe win, and two BAFTA wins, plus a further 57 nominations, including four Academy Award nods, and five BAFTA nods. It should be noted too that Walsh and Jackson have collaborated with Philippa Boyens on all their films since the 'The Rings Trilogy' and obviously shared in their collective success as Co-Writers and Co-Producers on all film projects including the upcoming 'Mortal Engines'. With Jackson she has two children, Katie (born in 1996) and Billie (born in 1995).

Fran Walsh - very private outside of the film making public eye, but one half of a truly great film production and scriptwriting family that has a proven track record dating back thirty years backed up by immense critical acclaim and huge commercial success with the accolades between them to prove it, and cement their places in cinema history. For your work behind the scenes that is so important to what we see on screen, Happy Birthday to you Fran, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

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

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Martin Freeman does on 8th September - 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 4th September

• Jocelyn Moorhouse - Born 1960, turns 56 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Damon Wayans - Born 1960, turns 56 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Noah Taylor - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actor

Monday 5th September

• George Lazenby - Born 1939, turns 77 - Actor
• Werner Herzog - Born 1942, turns 74 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Michael Keaton - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Paddy Considine - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Raquel Welch - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actress | Singer
• Rose McGowan - Born 1973, turns 43 - Actress | Singer
• Carice van Houten - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress  

Tuesday 6th September

• Rosie Perez - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actress | Producer | Choreographer
• Naomi Harris - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress
• Idris Elba - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director  

Wednesday 7th September

• Dario Argento - Born 1940, turns 76 - Writer | Director | Producer | Actor
• Toby Jones - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actor
• Leslie Jones - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actress | Writer
• Julie Kavner - Born 1950, turns 66 - Actress | Singer
• Evan Rachel Wood - Born 1987, turns 29 - Actress | Singer  

Thursday 8th September

• Martin Freeman - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor
• David Arquette - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director  

Friday 9th September

• Hugh Grant - Born 1960, turns 56 - Actor
• Adam Sandler - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Eric Stonestreet - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor
• Michelle Williams - Born 1980, turns 36 - Actress | Singer  

Saturday 10th September

• Chris Columbus - Born 1958, turns 58 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Colin Firth - Born 1960, turns 56 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Guy Ritchie - Born 1968, turns 48 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Ryan Phillippe - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director  
• Harry and Luke Treadaway - Born 1984, turn 32 - Actors

Martin John Christopher Freeman was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, England to mother Philomena Norris and father Geoffrey Freeman, an officer in the Royal Navy. His parents separated when he was young, and his father passed away when Martin was ten years of age. He attended the Salesian School, in Chertsy, Surrey - a Comprehensive Roman Catholic Secondary School, and then Brooklands College in Weybridge, Surrey to undertake media studies. At fifteen he joined a youth theatre group before deciding to make a career out of acting, when he joined the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

His screen acting career launched with television in 1997 with an episode on 'The Bill', and then 'This Life' and 'Casualty' and 'Picking Up The Pieces', with his appearance in the 1998 short film 'I Just Want to Kiss You'. His first feature length film role came with 'The Low Down' in 2000, with his next in 2002 with 'Ali G Indahouse' with Sasha Baron Cohen, Michael Gambon and Charles Dance.

Six episodes on 'Bruiser', two on 'Lock, Stock . . .', five on 'World of Pub', three on 'Helen West', four as Lord Shaftesbury on 'Charles II : The Power and the Passion' with singular turns on 'Black Books' and 'Linda Green' kick started the new decade. In the meantime there were made for television movies including 'Men Only', 'The Debt', 'Margery and Gladys' before 2003's 'Love Actually' with Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson and Keira Knightley.

All of these gave way to what is probably regarded as his breakout role as Tim Canterbury on the iconic television series 'The Office' which ran for just two seasons over fourteen episodes from 2001 to 2003 with Ricky Gervais. This was followed dup with two seasons running over twelve episodes on 'Hardware' from 2003 to 2004 and then a single series over six episodes on 'The Robinsons' in 2005. He had a cameo appearance in the Simon Pegg and Nick Frost 'Shaun of the Dead' film, followed up by his starring role in 2005 as Arthur Dent in 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' with Sam Rockwell, Bill Nighy and John Malkovich.

'Confetti' came next in 2006, with Anthony Minghella's 'Breaking and Entering' that year with Jude Law. 2007 saw Justin Theroux's 'Dedication' with Tom Wilkinson, Billy Crudup and Mandy Moore; 'The Good Night' with Gwyneth Paltrow, Penelope Cruz, Michael Gambon and Simon Pegg; then 'Hot Fuzz' with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost once again. 'The All Together'; Peter Greenaway's 'Nightwatching' and made for television films - 'The Old Curiosity Shop', 'Svengali', ''Micro Men' and the mini-series 'Boy Meets Girl' and 'Nativity' brought the decade to close.

2010 began with 'Wild Target' with Bill Nighy once more and Emily Blunt; 'Swinging with the Finkles' with Mandy Moore once more; 'What's Your Number' and 'Animals' before his turn as Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's ''The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey' in 2012, 'The Hobbit : The Desolation of Smaug' in 2013 and 'The Hobbit : The Battle of the Five Armies' in 2014. The full length feature film of 'Svengali', and 'The World's End' with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost completed their 'Three Flavours Cornetto' trilogy.

Made for television movie 'The Eichmann Show' in 2015, 'Whiskey Tango Foxtrot' and 'Captain America : Civil War' bring his big screen features up to date. Of course let's not forget the highly acclaimed 'Fargo' Season One with Colin Hanks and Billy Bob Thornton with Freeman's turn as Lester Nygaard in 2014/15, and the equally acclaimed 'Sherlock' which has run for fifteen feature length episodes since 2010 with Freeman as Dr. John Watson to Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes.

Over the years Freeman has lent his voice talents also to the short film 'Lonely Hearts' in 2007; 'The Pirates! Band of Misfits' in 2012; 'Saving Santa' in 2013; 'Robot Chicken' in 2015 and another short film 'Stick Men' in 2015 too. Next up and currently filming is 'Cargo', new Miami based crime thriller television series 'StartUp', and in pre-production 'Official Secrets' with Harrison Ford, Anthony Hopkins, Paul Bettany, and Gillian Anderson, and then 'Funny Cow' and 'Ghost Stories' all due in 2017.

All up Freeman has 74 acting credits to his name and has seven award wins including a Primetime Emmy and BAFTA for 'Sherlock' and another 26 nominations. Freeman lives with his partner of fifteen years, Actress Amanda Abbingdon with whom he has starred in the likes of 'Sherlock', 'The Debt', 'The Robinsons', and 'Swinging with the Finkles'. They have two children together, Joe (born in 2006) and Grace (born in 2008). 

Martin Freeman - known for playing passive, restrained, mild-mannered characters often put in extraordinary situations that often reach a breaking point; has played his fair share of literary heroes - Arthur Dent in 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy', Dr. Watson in 'Sherlock' and Bilbo Baggins in 'The Hobbit'; is a pescatarian (eats fish and seafood, but not the flesh of other animals); and keeps his roles grounded, real and always varied. A very Happy Birthday to you Martin, from Odeon Online, and a neighbour who grew up just down the road in Salisbury.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 17th-23rd April 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Andy Serkis does on 20th April - check out my tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 52, 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 17th April

• Rooney Mara - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actress | Producer  
• Olivia Hussey - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actress
• Jennifer Garner - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actress | Producer
• Nick Hornby - Born 1957, turns 59 - Writer | Producer
• Sean Bean - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Producer 

Monday 18th April

• Eli Roth - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director  
• Eric Roberts - Born 1956, turns 60 - Actor
• David Tennant - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor
• Edgar Wright - Born 1974, turns 42 - Producer | Director | Writer | Actor
• Rick Moranis - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• James Woods - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Producer  

Tuesday 19th April

• James Franco - Born 1978, turns 38 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Tim Curry - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actor | Singer
• Hayden Christensen - Born 1981, turns 35 - Actor | Producer
• Kate Hudson - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actress
• Ashley Judd - Born 1968, turns 48 - Actress | Producer   

Wednesday 20th April

• Jessica Lange - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actress  
• Andy Serkis - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Michael Brandon - Born 1945, turns 71 - Actor
• Ryan O'Neal - Born 1941, turns 75 - Actor | Producer
• George Takei - Born 1937, turns 79 - Actor
• Leslie Phillips - Born 1924, turns 92 - Actor | Producer  

Thursday 21st April

• James McAvoy - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actor | Producer  
• Tony Danza - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actor | Producer
• Charles Grodin - Born 1935, turns 81 - Actor | Writer
• Andie MacDowell - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actress | Producer
• Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actress  

Friday 22nd April

• Amber Heard - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actress  
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan - Born 1966, turns 50 - Actor
• John Waters - Born 1946, turns 70 - Writer | Producer | Director | Actor
• Lee Tamahori - Born 1950, turns 66 - Director
• Jack Nicholson - Born 1937, turns 79 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer

Saturday 23rd April

• Michael Moore - Born 1954, turns 62 - Writer | Producer | Director  
• Dev Patel - Born 1990, turns 26 - Actor
• John Cena - Born 1977, turns 39 - Actor | WWF Wrestler | Television Personality
• John Hannah - Born 1962, turns 54 - Actor | Producer
• Lee Majors - Born 1939, turns 77 - Actor | Producer
• Judy Davis - Born 1955, turns 61 - Actress

Andrew Clement Serkis was born and raised in Ruislip Manor, Middlesex, England to mother Lylie Weech - a teacher of disabled children and father Clement Serkis - an Iraqi gynaecologist of Armenian descent. His father often returned to the Middle East to work while he was growing up, and the young Serkis would often holiday in those Middle Eastern lands with his siblings during their younger years. He attended St. Benedict's School - a co-educational independent Catholic School in the London suburb of Ealing. Open leaving school, Serkis attended Lancaster University and studied visual arts with the aim of designing posters. As a member of the University's County College and student radio station, he joined a studio to get involved in play design and production. Toward the end of his first year, he agreed to act in several productions and was so taken by acting that he changed his major subject to acting. In his third year he joined the local playhouse to gain his Equity Card and upon graduation joined as an Actor, working in a diverse range of stage productions from the classics including Shakespeare right through to the modern day contemporary playwrights.

His small screen debut came in 1989 in a couple of episodes of 'The New Statesman' with Rik Mayall, with the next eight years or so taken up with appearances in a string of television series including 'Streetwise', 'The Darling Buds of May', 'The Bill', 'Grushko', 'Finney' and 'Kavagnah QC'.

In 1994 he took a small role in 'Royal Deceit' - a retelling of 'Hamlet' with Gabriel Byrne, Christian Bale, Brian Cox, Tom Wilkinson and Helen Mirren. The mid-90's continued with smaller fare including 'The Near Room', 'Stella Does Tricks', 'Career Girls' for Director Mike Leigh, 'Loop' and 'Among Giants' with Rachel Griffiths and Pete Postlethwaite. 'Sweety Barret' with Brandan Gleeson and Mike Leigh's 'Topsy Turvey' saw out the decade with Jim Broadbent, Timothy Spall and Dexter Fletcher. In the meantime , there were further television series appearances with the likes of 'Jump', 'Touching Evil' and 'Oliver Twist' in which Serkis plays Bill Sikes.

2000 kicked off with 'The Jolly Boys Last Stand', Julien Temple's 'Pandaemonium' with John Hannah, Linus Roache and Dexter Fletcher, 'Shiner' with Michael Caine and Martin Landau, and 'Five Seconds to Spare' with Ray Winstone.

The turning point came for Serkis in 2001 with the release of Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring' in which he appears as Smeagol/Gollum through cutting edge Motion Capture technology as it was back then, and as the voice of the character. Serkis received much critical acclaim for his role although his performance did begin a debate over the legitimacy of CGI supported acting and whether this was therefore award worthy. And in some quarters it was, and in others not so! He reprised the character in all its Mo-Cap CGI glory in both successive films 'Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers' and 'Lord of the Rings : The Return of the King'.

In the meantime there was '24 Hour Party People', 'The Escapist', 'Deathwatch', '13 Going On 30' and 'Blessed' before his Mo-Cap skills were summonsed once again by Peter Jackson on 2005's 'King Kong' remake with Serkis playing the giant ape of the film's title. As the latter half of the decade wore on Christopher Nolan's 'The Prestige', 'Longford', 'Extraordinary Rendition', 'Sugarhouse', 'The Cottage', 'Einstein and Eddington', 'Inkheart' before his turn as the polio affected rock musician Ian Dury in the 'Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll' biopic of 2010.

That same year a remake of the classic Graham Greene novel and film of 1947, 'Brighton Rock'  co-starring with Helen Mirren and John Hurt was released, with 'Burke & Hare' and Serkis and Simon Pegg playing the title historical characters.

Returning to Mo-Cap again Serkis portrayed super intelligent chimpanzee 'Caesar' in the reboot of the classic 60's and 70's film franchise - 'Planet of the Apes' with the first instalment 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes', a role he would again reprise in 2014 in 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' and again currently filming 'War for the Planet of the Apes' due in 2017.

Meanwhile 'Death of a Superhero', 'Wild Bill' for Dexter Fletcher, and more Mo-Cap with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson in the CGI animated 'The Adventures of Tintin' with Serkis lending his voice to Captain Haddock, which he is set to do another two times with 'The Adventures of Tintin : Prisoners of the Sun' announced, and a third instalment as yet untitled.







He returned to the Gollum character once more for Peter Jackson in 2012 with 'The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey' before 'The Avengers : Age of Ultron' as Ulysses Klaue - a role he'll reprise too in late 2017's 'The Black Panther'. Last up we saw Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke in 'Star Wars : Episode VII - The Force Awakens'  - a role he also reprise in 'Episode VIII' which is currently filming.

Also in the works is his Directorial debut with the Warner Bros. adaptation of 'Jungle Book' due for release originally in October 2016, then shifted back to October 2017, and now slated for release in October 2018. With an all star cast that includes Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch and Cate Blanchett, Serkis will also star as Baloo, as well as Produce through his own Production Company 'The Imaginarium Studios' based in Ealing, London which he established to further progress performance capture technology in film making.

All up, Serkis has 92 acting credits to his name, three Producer credits and one as Director. He has also lent his voice talents to to the likes of 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit', 'Tintin', 'The Simpsons', 'Flushed Away', 'Arthur Christmas' and several video game characters. He has thirty award wins and another 42 nominations. He married Actress Lorraine Ashbourne in July 2002 with whom he has three children - Ruby (born in 1998), Sonny (born in 2000) and Louis (born in 2004). He is an accomplished painter and a keen mountaineer, and a supporter of The Hope Foundation.



Andy Serkis - the Motion Capture go to guy . . . anywhere and for everything; better known for your CGI characters that the real life humans you portray - 'Tintin', 'Gollum', 'Caesar', 'Snoke' and 'Kong'; is certainly multi-talented and increasingly sought after and in demand; and you would probably not recognise him unless you are in the know - but Andy - keep blazing a trail, we love you for it and the characters you bring so convincingly to life - Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 2nd - 8th August 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Evangeline Lilly does on 3rd August - check out the tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 36, 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 2nd August

• Mary-Louise Parker - Born 1964, turns 51 - Actress
• Edward Furlong - Born 1977, turns 38 - Actor | Producer
• Sam Worthington - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actor | Producer
• Kevin Smith - Born 1970, turns 45 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor | Actor
• Wes Craven - Born 1939, turns 76 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor | Actor

Monday 3rd August

• Martin Sheen - Born 1940, turns 75 - Actor | Producer
• John Landis - Born 1950, turns 65 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• John C. McGinley - Born 1959, turns 56 - Actor | Producer
• Steven Berkoff - Born 1937, turns 78 - Actor | Director | Writer
• Evangeline Lilly - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actress

Tuesday 4th August

• Billy Bob Thornton - Born 1955, turns 60 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Daniel Dae Kim - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actor
• Martin Jarvis - Born 1941, turns 74 - Actor

Wednesday 5th August

• Mark Strong - Born 1963, turns 52 - Actor
• John Jarratt - Born 1951, turns 64 - Actor | Writer | Director | Producer

Thursday 6th August

• M. Night Shyamalan - Born 1970, turns 45 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Frank Finlay - Born 1926, turns 89 - Actor
• Barbara Windsor - Born 1937, turns 78 - Actress
• Melissa George - Born 1976, turns 39 - Actress
• Michelle Yeoh - Born 1962, turns 53 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Vera Farmiga - Born 1973, turns 42 - Actress | Producer | Director

Friday 7th August

• Charlize Theron - Born 1975, turns 40 - Actress | Producer
• Abbie Cornish - Born 1982, turns 33 - Actress
• Megan Gale - Born 1975, turns 40 - Actress
• Michael Shannon - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actor
• Tobin Bell - Born 1942, turns 73 - Actor | Producer
• David Duchovny - Born 1960, turns 55 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer

Saturday 8th August 

• Dustin Hoffman - Born 1937, turns 78 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Donald P. Bellisario - Born 1935, turns 80 - Producer | Director | Writer

Nicole Evangeline Lilly was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada and grew up in British Columbia. Her mother is a school secretary and former cosmetician, and her father a Home Economics Teacher. She graduated from W. J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, British Columbia where she was the President of the School's Student Council, and, where she played soccer. Whilst studying, she worked several jobs to fund her schooling, including waitressing, flight attendance, and as a mechanic working minor maintenance jobs on trucks and big rigs. At age 18, influenced by her Christianity she worked in the Philippines on a short term mission project, and such experiences led to her graduation in International Relations from the University of British Columbia.

Discovered on the streets of Kelowna, British Columbia by the Ford Modelling Agency, this led to bit parts in TV series 'Smallville' and 'Kingdom Hospital'. Soon afterwards she was encouraged to apply for a role on the upcoming 'Lost' expecting to get nowhere. With over seventy women auditioned for the role of Kate Austin, it was Co-Creators J.J.Abrams and Damon Lindelof who overwhelmingly agreed she was the girl for the role. Gaining a working Visa to work in the US was not without its challenges, but perseverance prevailed, and the rest, as they say, is history!

'Lost' was one of the most successful and highly acclaimed television shows of the last decade winning a Golden Globe and numerous Primetime Emmy Awards. As the female lead character, Lilly appeared in 116 out of the 121 episodes that aired. Whilst working on 'Lost' from 2004 until 2010 there were several film roles that included 'Stealing Sinatra' with David Arquette, 'The Long Weekend' with Chris Klein, 'Afterwards' with John Malkovich, and then the multiple Oscar winning 'The Hurt Locker' with Jeremy Renner in 2009.

In 2011 she was cast alongside Hugh Jackman in 'Real Steel', with Peter Jackson then creating a role for her as Tauriel, the Mirkwood Elf in 'The Hobbit' Series - 'The Desolation of Smaug' and 'The Battle of the Five Armies' in 2013 and 2014 respectively. 

After this was the recently released Marvel big screen adaptation of comic book hero 'Ant-Man' as the daughter to Michael Douglas' Dr. Hank Pym, Hope van Dyne. Right now Lilly doesn't appear to have any other film roles on the immediate horizon. For her film and television appearances, to date Lilly has five Award wins and a further 35 nominations. In the meantime however, Lilly has turned her attention to her other love of writing, and in 2013 at the San Diego Comic-Con released her first children's book - 'The Squickerwonkers' - a kids graphic book intended to run as a series.  

From 2003 to 2004 Lilly was married to Canadian Hockey squad player Murray Hone, and from 2004 to 2009 she was romantically linked to her 'Lost' Co-Star Dominic Monaghan. In 2011, she and boyfriend Norman Kali welcomed their first child Kahekill, into the world, with their second child due last month in June 2015.

Lilly supports a number of humanitarian causes and charities including : 'GO-Campaign', 'Task Brasil', and the support of orphans and widows in Rwanda. When she's not Acting, Writing or raising monies for worthwhile causes, she reads, paints, walks, drinks tea and enjoys the outdoor life.

Evangeline Lilly - forever known to 'Lost' followers as 'Freckles', a star on the rise, beautiful, multi-talented, a bit of a Tom-Boy and lover of the adventurous outdoor fun-loving life - Happy Birthday to you, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

The Odeon Online Top 20 movies of 2014.

By now you may have read the myriad of other Reviews all citing their top picks from last years film releases that graced our big screens and pulled us out to our local cinemas, and, there was plenty to choose from! The list below complied from my own Reviews from 2014 are a real mix of Hollywood mainstream, Aussie independents, and those that flew under the radar and may have only had a limited release. Some of these are still on general release and many now will be available for you to rent or buy and watch in the comfort of your own home. If you missed some of these first time around, then I recommend all of these to you, and reference this list when you are wondering what to watch one night with a pizza and a beer!

Enjoy the movies, and thanks for watching in 2014, for keeping cinema alive, and thanks especially for taking note of what I had to say at Odeon Online! There will be more great stuff coming your way in 2015.

'THE WOLF OF WALL STREET' - Scorsese, DiCaprio and Hill in top form in this telling of Jordan Belfort's life of excess and the trapping of his Wall Street wealth. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 19th January 2014.

'ALL IS LOST' - Robert Redford has rarely been better in this almost dialogue free film of his stricken yacht mid-ocean. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 12th March 2014.

'THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL' - Wes Anderson delivers a delightful quirky tale of a decaying hotel, its owner, its Concierge and their history when the Hotel was at it's height - all supported by an ensemble cast delivery the goods, and then some! Awarded five claps and reviewed on 13th April 2014.

'CALVARY' - Brendan Gleeson, catholic church, west coast of Ireland, threat of murder, sins of the past - gripping, harrowing and brilliant! Awarded five claps and reviewed on 4th July 2014.

'PREDESTINATION' - Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook Directed by the Spierig Brothers and shot in Melbourne - a gripping time travel masterpiece with a difference. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 4th September 2014.

'BOYHOOD' - Richard Linklater's opus shot over 12 years tracing the unfolding life of young Mason acted out by new emerging talent Ellar Coltrane, with Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette adding weight as his separated parents each carving out new lives but still glued together through young Mason. A surprising and delightful fly-on-the-wall fictionalised telling of growing up in the early 21st century. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 21st September 2014.

'INTERSTELLAR' - Chris Nolan delivering this years big space epic with stunning visuals, solid story, some mind bending ideas and Matthew McConaughey searching in a galaxy far far away for a planet that humankind can reside on. A must see on the big screen. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 13th November 2014.

'NIGHTCRAWLER' - Jake Gyllenhaal delivering possibly a career best capitalising upon others misfortune as he films murder, violence and crime for the sake of television news ratings, his back pocket and his own social standing. Gripping story telling, expertly delivered. Awarded five claps and reviewed on 4th December 2014.

'12 YEARS A SLAVE' - Steve McQueen Directed Chiwetel Ejiofor in this Oscar winning film of 1850's southern states slavery that is horrific, powerful and uplifting at the same time. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 6th February 2014.

'DALLAS BUYERS CLUB' - Matthew McConaughey nailed the Oscar for this in his real life depiction of HIV sufferer Ron Woodroof with expert support too from Jared Leto . . . and AZT! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 19th February 2014.

'EDGE OF TOMORROW' - live, die, repeat - Tom 

Cruise actioner with Emily Blunt reliving a single day over & over to advance just a little further to thwart an alien enemy foe on the Normandy Beaches in the not too distant future. Surprisingly good, very entertaining and the Cruisemeister on top form. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 11th June 2014.

'THE ROVER' - near future Aussie outback thriller with Guy Pearce chasing down some villains who nicked his car . . . but why? With Robert Pattinson this is as simple story very well told that will keep you guessing right up to to the closing frames. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 18th June 2014.

'X-MEN : DAYS OF FUTURE PAST' - I was very pleasantly surprised by this film in this successful Superhero franchise that brings together great action set pieces, a strong cast now well established in their roles and Bryan Singer back in the Director's chair. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 24th June 2014.

'DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES' - a rare thing that this sequel surpassed it's recent predecessor in the reboot of this 60's film & TV franchise. This is Andy Serkis' film and he delivers an outstanding mocap performance as Caesar, now grown and the head honcho of his ever growing colony of apes - but he has divided loyalties that are soon put to the test as he clashes with the remaining vestiges of humanity struggling to survive. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 17th July 2014.

'THESE FINAL HOURS' - it's the end of the world as we know it and the residents of Western Australia have 12 hours to go before they and the earth is burned to a crisp in a global firestorm. What would you do with your last 12 hours? Original, thought provoking and scary stuff - an impressive film delivered on a minuscule budget. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 3rd August 2014.

'A MOST WANTED MAN' - a tight, taught spy thriller that delivers on many levels - not the least that it is one of Philip Seymour Hoffman's final performances and a must see for this reason alone . . . and he is very good too! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 6th August 2014.

'SNOWPIERCER' - the first English language feature for this Korean Director Bong Joon-ho set aboard a future perpetual motion train on which exists all that survives of humanity in a snow covered world. A gripping story of the haves and the have-nots, the rich and the poor, the healthy and the suffering who reside on the one kilometre long train. Should have had a wider release that it did! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 13th August 2014.

'FELONY' - Joel Edgerton wrote, Produced and stars in this present day police drama that tells of the consequences we face and the impact on others of decisions made quickly and the web of lies and deception that invariably follows. A strong script, solid cast, great acting and a thrilling ride. Awarded four claps and reviewed on 11th September 2014.

'GONE GIRL' - David Fincher Directing with Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as the fractured couple whose seemingly idyllic lives are not quite what they seem, and when the wife goes missing the finger of suspicion points at the husband who stoically maintains his innocence 0 but is he telling the truth? Awarded four claps and reviewed on 10th October 2014.

'THE HOBBIT : THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES' - Peter Jackson's epic story telling that began with the 'LOTR' series 15 years ago comes to a fitting and spectacular end with this the final instalment in 'THE HOBBIT' series. You know the story - just get out there and see it on the big screen! Awarded four claps and reviewed on 31st December 2014.

20 great films that I recommend to you, and you can read the full Reviews of all of these by scrolling down through the archive column or key in the name of the film in to the search box. Let me know your thoughts and if you agree or disagree, or have some other views. Share your thoughts in the Comments box below.

Enjoy your movies, and see as many as you can in 2015!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-