Birthday's to share this week : 8th - 14th February 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week? 

Josh Brolin does, on 12th February - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 47, 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 February

• Mary Steenbergen - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actress | Producer
• Seth Green - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Nick Nolte - Born 1941, turns 74 - Actor | Producer
• John Williams - Born 1932, turns 83 - Composer | Songwriter

Monday 9th February

• Tom Hiddleston - Born 1981, turns 34 - Actor
• Joe Pesci - Born 1943, turns 72 - Actor
• Ciaran Hinds - Born 1953, turns 62 - Actor
• Mia Farrow - Born 1945, turns 70 - Actress

Tuesday 10th February

• Chloe Grace Moretz - Born 1997, turns 18 - Actress
• Elizabeth Banks - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Laura Dern - Born 1967, turns 48 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Robert Wagner  -Born 1930, turns 85 - Actor | Producer
• Michael Apted - Born 1941, turns 74 - Director | Producer

Wednesday 11th February

• Taylor Lautner - Born1992, turns 23 - Actor
• Damian Lewis  -Born 1971, turns 44 - Actor | Producer
• Burt Reynolds - Born 1936, turns 79 - Actor | Producer | Director | Singer
• Jennifer Aniston - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actress | Producer

Thursday 12th February

• Annette Crosbie - Born 1934, turns 81 - Actress
• Christina Ricci - Born 1980, turns 35 - Actress | Producer
• Sigfrid Thornton - Born 1959, turns 56 - Actress
• Josh Brolin - Born 1968, turns 47 - Actor | Producer
• Darren Aronofsky - Born 1969, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Michael Ironside - Born 1950, turn s65 - Actor | Producer
• Joe Don Baker - Born 1936, turns 79 - Actor

Friday 13th February

• Neal McDonough - Born 1966, turns 49 - Actor | Producer
• Henry Rollins - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Singer | Songwriter
• George Segal - Born 1934, turns 81 - Actor
• Stockard Channing - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actress
• Kim Novak - Born 1933, turns 82 - Actress
• Mena Suvari - Born 1979, turns 36 - Actress

Saturday 14th February

• Simon Pegg - Born 1970, turns 45 - Actor | Writer | Producer

Josh James Brolin was born in Santa Monica, California - the son of Jane Cameron Agee a wildlife activist and James Brolin, the Actor. He was raised on a ranch and had little exposure, growing up, to the world of his fathers acting career. At 16 his parents divorced, and his father then remarried in 1986 to Jane Smithers - a film and television actress, but that partnership came to an end in 1995. In 1998 he married again for the third time to singer/songwriter/actress Barbara Streisand and they remain married to this day.

The young Brolin was never that interested in acting as a career having seen the impact of it on his family life and his parents divorce. In fact he had early thoughts on becoming a Chef, but at high school he took an acting class, and liked it so much that the notion took hold. His first screen role came in the Richard Donner Directed and Steven Spielberg Produced 'The Goonies' in 1985, and then a year later in 'Thrashin'' - a story of rival skateboard gangs. From here various television series and made for TV movies followed including 'Private Eye', 'The Young Riders', 'Winnetka Road' and he was closely considered for the role of Officer Tom Hanson in the TV series hit '21 Jump Street' which eventually went to a young Johnny Depp.

By now it was the mid-90's and a series of average films followed - 'The Road Killers' in 1994, 'Bed of Roses', 'Flirting with Disaster' and 'Gang in Blue' all in 1996, and in 1997 'My Brothers War', 'Nightwatch' and 'Mimic'. The decade closed out with 'The Mod Squad', 'Best Laid Plans' and 'All the Rage'. None of his films up to this point had met with any significant critical acclaim and the first half of the new decade brought mediocre offerings too with the likes of 'Hollow Man' with Kevin Bacon, 'Slow Burn' with Minnie Driver to whom he would later become engaged to for a brief period of just six months, 'Melinda and Melinda', 'Into the Blue' and 'Dead Girl' with Toni Collette.

2007 however, brought a change of acting fortune with Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez casting Brolin in their twin tribute to Grindhouse Cinema with his role in 'Planet Terror'. That same year came his lead role in the Coen Brothers 'No Country for Old Men' which met with huge critical acclaim, won four Academy Awards and a swathe of others. Paul Haggis cast him next with Tommy Lee Jones in 'In the Valley of Elah' and then came the acclaimed Ridley Scott offering 'American Gangster' with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.

With his acting fortunes very much on the rise he was cast by Oliver Stone to star in 'W' as President George W. Bush in this bio-pic chronicle of his life and time in office. Gus Van Sant chose him next for the role of Dan White alongside Sean Penn in 'Milk' which garnered Brolin an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor. 

After this came his lead role as the scarred anti-hero comic book character 'Johan Hex' in the film of the same name. Costing US$47M to make it tanked at the Box Office making just US$11M. He was cast again by Oliver Stone in 2010 to star with Michael Douglas and Shia LaBoeuf in the 'Wall Street' follow-up 'Money Never Sleeps', and that same year by the Coen's again in the much lauded 'True Grit' remake with Jeff Bridges. 

This led to 'MIB3' again retiming with Tommy Lee Jones, 'The Gangster Squad' again with Sean Penn, 'Labour Day' with Kate Winslett, in Spike Lee's Hollywood remake of vengeance film 'Oldboy' and the 'Sin City' sequel last year for Robert Rodriguez taking on the role of Dwight from Clive Owen in 'A Dame to Kill For'. 

Out imminently is 'Inherent Vice' Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Joaquin Phoenix which has two Oscar nods and a raft of award wins already under its belt. Next up in adventure drama 'Everest' with an all star cast due later in 2015, then crime drama 'Sicario' with Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt, and 'Hail, Caesar' in 2016 with Channing Tatum, George Clonney and a host of other A-list talent.

Brolin has 57 acting credits to his name, four Producer credits and one Director credit for his 2008 short film 'X'. He was nominated in 2009 for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor in 'Milk' and has a total 15 award wins and 29 nominations. He was married to Actress Alice Adair from 1988 to 1994 with whom he has two children - Trevor born in 1988 and Eden born in 1994. He remarried, to Actress Diane Lane in 2004 and they divorced in late 2013. He is an active stock trader and in fact has made a lot of money day trading from home using his own purpose built trading floor. He is also an avid car racer and surfer.

Josh Brolin - often plays the upstanding law enforcing tough guy, or the violent anti-hero, but always playing it with conviction and realism. A diverse range of films from a Actor who has been in and around the movie business all his life, and whose talents have only really come to the fore in the last seven or eight years . . . and there is still so much more to come! Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

MR. TURNER : Thursday 5th February 2015.

I received a phone call early yesterday evening to replace a sick friend at an open air screening of 'MR. TURNER' on a clear Sydney evening overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge from Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens. Needless to say I was very happy to accept this late invitation, having not yet seen this English/French/German Co-Production Directed by Mike Leigh and starring Timothy Spall in the lead role as Joseph Mallord William Turner - the much acclaimed and highly celebrated English painter who lived from 1775 to 1851, and whose transformational artistic legacy remains as relevant today as it did then.

This film is nominated for four Academy Awards, being Costume Design, Production Design, Cinematography, and Original Score, and interestingly it seems it has been largely snubbed by BAFTA with nominations also for  Costume Design, Production Design, Cinematography and for Make-Up & Hair too. No mentions here of Best Film, Best Director or Best Acting gong's for what would easily be a career best for Timothy Spall, and that you think would be a shoe-in for an English historical telling of one of it's favourite artist sons! If it's any consolation Timothy Spall has won Best Actor Awards for his portrayal of Turner at The Cannes Film Festival, and by the London and New York Film Critics Circle and National Society of Film Critics.

The story here opens up sometime in the 1820's and we are quickly introduced to the principle characters being Turner himself, his father William Turner (Paul Jesson) a retired barber and wig maker  of some repute who now is Turner's assistant of sorts - buying exotic paint powders, mixing the paint and making canvas's of the right size for his son's artistic requirements. He is suffering with poor health increasingly, but stoically carries on for the love of his son and his craft - the two are obviously very close and when he dies in 1829 Turner Junior takes it very hard. Up to that point they had lived together in a sizeable house in London for some 30 years with their housekeeper Hanna Danby (played convincingly by Dorothy Atkinson). Danby had been Turner's housekeeper for forty years and the film depicts her (perhaps secret) love for him more that he for her, but nonetheless Turner exploited her for occasional sex throughout their many years together and despite his continued comings and goings she remained ever faithful. She survived him by only two years after his death in 1851 - having been a long term sufferer of psoriasis, which in time spread across her whole body.

Turner grew up in Margate - a small coastal fishing village which he started to return to later in life to paint and seek inspiration for his works. During an early visit he boarded with Sophia Booth (Marion Bailey) and her ageing husband in a small terrace cottage right on the harbour frontage, in a first floor room that looked out across the sea. He would return their year on year for many years during the summer months to paint and explore, and returning one year we learn of the death of Sophia's husband. Turner fairly quickly makes a move and before you know it they are an item and have consummated their feelings for one another. As the landlady with the mostest she becomes Turner's second lover and eventually she sells up in Margate so that they can both move together to a small little desirable residence in Chelsea on the banks of the River Thames. Throughout this period neither lover knows of the other - there is no marriage and there are no children, although Turner had two daughters by his first lover - Sarah Danby (played very po-faced by Ruth Sheen) who he distanced himself from and in time denied their existence - one died in childbirth in 1843 aged 32.

All of this is set against the backdrop of his painting; his studio time spent stabbing maniacally at his canvas to accentuate colour and depth in his artwork . . . often aided by a wad of spit; his toing and froing between London and Margate and then Chelsea; his membership at the Royal Academy of Arts and his interaction with his many contemporaries of the time; how well (or not) his works are received by the public, the critics and by Royalty; and as he grows older his own failing health, his increasing eccentricities and the legacy of his works which he remains steadfast will stay in England even when offered one hundred thousand pounds for them all back in 1850 by Joseph Gillott.

Timothy Spall excels in this role and is larger than life as J.M.W. Turner - his almost perpetual grunting; his mannerisms; his recreation of the colourful, almost prose like language of the time; his energy and enthusiasm; his triumph's and his tragedies; his then failing health; and his unwavering commitment to his craft that produced the legacy we have today.

Mike Leigh faithfully recreates the mood and the tone of the time in intimate detail and extracts from his cast nuanced performances that complete this whole package that will leave you wanting to Google 'J.M.W. Turner' after the credits roll to fill in the gaps that this film could not plug, but which nonetheless do not detract from what a great story this is, deftly handled and beautifully delivered.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

WARRIOR : archive from 7th November 2011.

I saw 'WARRIOR' this evening at my local big screen multiplex with this film being touted right up there with 'The Fighter' as the most worthy sports movie of the year. Directed, Produced and Written by Gavin O'Connor this film cost US$25M to make and just about broke even in the final analysis, which is a little surprising given how good this film is, and that Nick Nolte received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor, and along the way it picked up a total of three award wins and a further 15 nominations.

The story centres around two brothers - Brendan Conlon (a very beefed up Joel Edgerton) and Tommy Conlon (an equally beefed up star in the making Tom Hardy) in the lead roles, and the man whose face tells a thousand stories Nick Nolte playing the disjointed disenfranchised father, Paddy Conlon. Tommy has served in the US marines for the past 15 years or so and upon returning home to Pittsburgh enlists the help of father Paddy to train and coach him in readiness for a Mixed Martial Arts tournament that is offering the biggest prize purse in the history of the game.

Paddy though is a reformed alcoholic and has been distanced from his sons for a long time, and Tommy left all those years ago bidding farewell to a fractured family which has left many an emotional scar and unanswered questions. Brother Brendan is estranged from them both and struggles to earn a living as a teacher, but he was a reasonably successful former MMA fighter in his younger days, and must now return to the cage to make ends meet and provide for his family.

With them both battling it out in bouts in the cage unknowing that the other is doing the same, Brendan quickly rises through various stages of the championship rounds to ultimately face off against younger brother Tommy head to head, shoulder to shoulder, fist to fist! Attempting some sort of reconciliation Brendan tries to appeal to Tommy's better nature about their family past and some questionable actions while serving in Iraq which have brought Tommy to the attention of the authorities . . . for all the wrong reasons. Tommy of course is not interested in any reconciliation or a meeting of the minds - he has his eyes on the prize with which he intends to make good on what went down in Iraq, which by now both Brendan and Paddy are aware of.

In the final closing chapter as the two brothers collide in the cage the performances are gritty, emotional and raw. This mixed martial arts cage fighting actioner hits all the right notes with a convincing back story, adrenalin pumping fight sequences, solid performances and more than one nod to 'Rocky' and its sequels that changed pugilism in the movies forever. Very entertaining and recommended viewing.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

FOXCATCHER - Tuesday 3rd February 2015

Nominated for five Academy Awards this year including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay, I saw the next much talked about, highly publicised and critically acclaimed 'FOXCATCHER' earlier this week with a couple of movie buddies at the Cremorne Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace. And, I have to say, this too did not disappoint. Like many of this years Oscar contenders here we have another true story, and one from the relative recent past, that is at first a tale of hope and redemption that in time falls away to tragedy and loss. Crafted by Director Bennett Miller who last brought us the very solid 'Moneyball' with Brad Pitt and before that 'Capote' with Philip Seymour Hoffman - he is proving to be a Director with a keen eye for detail, a human interest story, keeping it real and an ability to do so with consistency.

Featuring some outstanding performances from its principle cast we are taken back to a time just after the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games when Mark Schultz (a beefed up lunk of a man played brilliantly by Channing Tatum) and his brother Dave (less physical of the too but lithe on his feet and more strategic in his approach to his sport and played equally well by a bearded Mark Ruffalo) won Olympic Gold each for Wrestling. Now, just a couple of years later they scrabble together a living in backwater USA largely forgotten by the sporting community, but still wrestle locally and spar with each other daily to maintain their fitness and in preparation for upcoming tournaments.

Out of the blue Mark receives a call from John E. du Pont (an almost unrecognisable Steve Carrel playing it straight and with prosthetic nose, and quite brilliantly also) who is the heir to the du Pont family fortune. Du Pont lives on a grand family estate on Foxcatcher Farm in rural Pennsylvania with his ageing mother in a separate wing and a horde of staff to look after their every whim. Du Pont has a very keen interest in Wrestling (much to his mothers chagrin - Jean du Pont played by Vanessa Redgrave) and has built a training facility for the best of the best wrestlers to live and train on his farm, under the guise of 'Team Foxcatcher'. He sends for Mark who makes the all expense paid journey out to the farm to meet du Pont for the first time and hear his proposition. Needless to say du Pont has a money can-buy-me-anything approach and makes Mark an offer he can't refuse with salary, full board & lodging and a state of the art training facility, plus a chance to recapture Gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games with, or without, his brother.

As Mark trains hard for the upcoming World Championships at which he won Gold in Budapest in 1985 and then Gold again in Clermont Ferrand in 1987 his relationship with du Pont becomes more solidified and close - to the extent that du Pont introduces Mark to cocaine aboard a helicopter flight one night en route to a presentation dinner in the city, and then the alcohol flows - not such a good idea I am thinking for a world beating wrestling champion in training for the Olympics! But this is du Pont all over we come to realise - slightly unhinged and gradually becoming more so, emotionally bereft and mentally unpredictable all underpinned by a fractured childhood and clearly a disconnected upbringing . . . for all the family's wealth, power and influence.

In time the relationship starts to collapse and Mark's focus drifts increasingly further away from the Olympics as he drinks, does drugs and eats his way to someplace else with a sense of growing detachment. This is all brought on by du Pont's ever growing obsessive compulsive manipulative and erratic behaviour but with a firm eye on Team Foxcatcher's success at the approaching Olympics. And so brother Dave and his young family are 'persuaded' to move to Foxcatcher Farm to 'coach' Mark back to health and fitness which Mark can only muster half heartedly. Dave knows that something is not right, but brother Mark too is not the best at deep & meaningful conversations and is almost as emotionally vacant as du Pont and at times as equally unpredictable. But, the bond between the two brothers is very strong and Dave makes progress but, has to distance Mark and du Pont from each other for fear of a clash that would not serve any of them well.

Mark and Dave know which side their bread is buttered on - they are at Foxcatcher Farm because of the money paid to them both; for the free board, lodgings and trappings of that money-no-object country estate lifestyle; for the training facility; and for their last ditch attempt at Olympic Gold. Du Pont holds the purse strings and yearns his moment in the limelight as Coach, mentor, father figure and leader when the boys win Olympic Gold for Team Foxcatcher and the USA. But, will it all go according to plan? If you don't know the story and how it all ends for Mark, Dave, their family and du Pont then I won't spoil it for you here. Suffice to say, that it doesn't go quite according to plan and the end, when it comes, is as shocking as it is tragic.

This is a finely crafted film which like the other true life films this year in Oscar contention deserves its moment of recognition somewhere along the line, but, this year especially competition is very strong and whether it will be first among equals for Directing, Lead Acting or Support Acting remains to be seen. Nonetheless a strong story, fine performances, well realised and compelling viewing from beginning to end. So far it has garnered 13 award wins and 41 award nominations and cost US$24M to make.

  

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE IDES OF MARCH - archive from 3rd December 2011.

Saw 'THE IDES OF MARCH' this week. George Clooney Produces, Directs, Co-Writes and leads this film with his usual enigmatic intense approach to movie making that sees him as polished, smart, likable and affable US Governor of Pennsylvania Mike Morris who is bidding for the big chair in the Whitehouse. This is a good solid political drama set with the backdrop of the Ohio Primary Elections . . . yes you guessed it, in March, and Clooney is backed up by a strong cast and a very solid storyline.

Ryan Gosling plays a strong supporting role as Stephen Meyers rather than his usual shoot 'em up action fuelled roles played hitherto, and here he is the staffer #1 and aide to Mike Morris on the campaign trail. He moves & shakes with the media, he is the speech writer, he schmoozes when he needs to and can back stab with the best of them . . . but for all this he is young and still wet behind the ears! When he succumbs to a moment of temptation with a female campaign volunteer he sets off a chain reaction from which there is no going back and which has repercussions on those around him - including his boss - Governor Mike Morris, who after all it would appear is hardly whiter than white himself, and no knight in shining armour either! Well, there's a surprise - do we know any Politicians that are?

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti add gravitas as always as the other big players caught up in this burgeoning web of political intrigue with Morris & Co. Hoffman here is Paul Zara - the campaign manager and superior to Gosling's Meyers who has to deal with the fall out from Meyer's moment of weakness and the impending scandal and that may emanate from it. Giamatti is Tom Duffy the campaign manager for Ted Pullman (Michael Mantell) - an Arkansas Senator competing directly against Morris who comes to learn of said shenanigans and strives to use this for Pullmans political gain, but there are other forces at work here too.

All of this comes to a rather abrupt ending that doesn't really end too well for anyone (just another day in Politics!) but nonetheless it is a reasonably good story well played out by cast and Director. The film was made for just US$12.5M and grossed in the final analysis US$76M, and it picked up an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, four Golden Globe nominations, and two BAFTA Nominations. All up worldwide it received ten award wins and a further thirty nominations. Worth seeking out at your local DVD Store if Political Drama's are your thing!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 5th February 2015.

Another week marches on, and so naturally there are more tempting cinematic offerings to entice us from inside our homes to inside a movie theatre. This week though, unlike those recently gone by, there as no Oscar contenders here - those however, have been Reviewed and Previewed in very recent previous weeks and throughout the year, and a raft of which are still out on general release, so, get in there quick for a viewing before the Academy Award curtain goes up on 22nd February!

Two new films only then to grace a big screen near you that combine some big time Hollywood heavyweights - first up we have a card shark remake of a 1974 classic, but will it live up to the standard set way back then, and next a good old English Secret Service espionage story that seems a little more tongue in cheek than Bond and a little more aloof that Austin Powers, but a lot of fun nonetheless with a big action cast, and franchise written all over it!

So whatever your choice of new release movie is this coming week, be sure to share your thoughts and opinions with your friends, film buffs and fellow readers at Odeon Online by Posting your experience below in the Comments box immediately following this, or any other Post. Enjoy your film!

KINGSMAN : THE SECRET SERVICE (Rated MA15+) - based on the comic book 'The Secret Service', this film is Directed by Matthew Vaughan, partly Produced by him and partly Screenwritten by him too. Vaughan has a solid enough pedigree also to be able to handle such comic book big action fare, including 'X-Men : First Class', 'Kick Ass' and 'Layer Cake'. For 'Kingsman' he has amassed a solid ensemble cast that takes in the likes of Colin Firth in the lead, Samuel L. Jackson as the obligatory badass mofo villain of the piece, Michael Caine, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill and relative newcomer Taron Egerton, together with a US$100M production budget.

The story is such that there exists a super secret spy organisation known as the 'Kingsmen' who operate totally undercover and covertly to protect England, Queen, Country and I guess anyone else that might need saving, rescuing and protecting from unscrupulous types that would do us harm. Enter Harry Hart (aka 'Galahad') played by Colin Firth as your very typical English upper crust Gentleman of circa mid-60's dapper appearance whose smooth charming stiff upper lip exterior hides a finely tuned espionage thwarting killing machine interior. He needs to recruit some young upstart no hope street smart kid into the world of 'The Secret Service' and so comes across Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin' (Taron Egerton) who is quickly inducted into the world of 'The Kingsmen', undergoes his highly competitive training regime and is thrust then out into the world to deal with megalomaniac Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) as our super spy baddie intent on world domination but suffers a lisp and can't stand the sight of blood . . . go figure! This film gives a nod to the spy thrillers we have all come to know and love heralded by the likes of Bond while taking in Bourne and others along the way . . . and promptly sticks up a middle finger to establish itself as the new kid on the block! Looks like a helluva lot of inventive colourful fun with Firth as you've never seen him before. Bring it on!

THE GAMBLER (Rated MA15+) - James Caan starred in the 1974 original film on which this 2015 version is a remake, this time Directed by Rupert Wyatt. Back then Caan was Alex Freed a literature professor harbouring as secret gambling habit, and now Mark Wahlberg is Jim Bennet - a literature professor harbouring a secret gambling habit. Spot the similarity there? Going heavily into debt (to the tune of $310K) to an underground gambling den owner and a loan shark, Jim Bennet borrows money from his mother Roberta (Jessica Lange) to pay off the debts, but blows it all on a night out on the town with Amy Phillips (Brie Larson) - one of his students whom he has the hots for. When he can't come up with the money to pay of his debts he is kidnapped by the loan shark to whom he owes $50K and given an ultimatum which just might see student hottie Amy, very dead. He then borrows more money form another loan shark, Frank (John Goodman) to take one final punt, win, and so pay of his debts and ride off into the sunset with Amy. Needless to say it is not all as simple as that and Jim has to go through some pain, some soul searching and some double dealing to pull of his grand finale gambling punt and so put that life behind him - will he succeed, and will he kick the habit - I guess you'll just have to go see it!

Two films to tempt, tease and tantalise you out to the movies for some more mature adult type fare that is sure to please on the action front, or if these don't grab you - there is still plenty of great films of all genres doing the rounds that you can still catch if so inclined. Keep watching the movies, and keep reading this Blog - your support of both is much appreciated.

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

The Odeon Online Book Review : The Elephant to Hollywood by Michael Caine.

Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, also known as Michael Caine, has written a few books and I have just finished reading his second autobiography titled 'The Elephant to Hollywood'. This was published in 2010 so it has been on the shelves for a few years now and sort of follows up his 1992 autobiography 'What's It All About?', fills in the blanks, and gives us a very personal account of the mans life. Back in the mid-90's Caine was at a point in his career where he thought he was largely done - his movie star status was beginning to shine less brightly and the big roles that had given him his movie stardom were no longer coming thick and fast. He had almost resigned himself to his fate of retiring to the English countryside, tending to his beloved gardens and spending out his days with his close knit family and friends.

Of course it didn't work out that way, and as we know Caine is still a jobbing Actor and still going strong appearing in many notable films in the last twenty or so years - small independents, mega budget action blockbusters and those in between, some of which have been highly acclaimed for his performances. Those include work with Christopher Nolan on the 'Batman' trilogy, 'The Prestige', 'Inception' and more recently 'Interstellar', and of course his Oscar winning turn in 'The Cider House Rules'. Still in demand, he will turn 82 years of age in March this year and when he finished this book he had just celebrated his 77th birthday.

This is a great read I must say and a very easy read. His writing style is from the heart and he describes passionately the moments in time, the places, the people and the opportunities he has had with a funny, charming and honest account of his life. Growing up in the grittier side of London (which he returned to to make 'Harry Brown') he had an upbringing nonetheless where he was surrounded by close family, caring and loving parents and a sense of community despite the hardships and the advent of the second world war.

Knowing from a fairly young age that he wanted to be in the movie business he struggled for many years to get a foothold, gain some recognition and secure parts that would move him forward. After his obligatory two years of National Service (which he also has some fond memories of) he did though have a great time in the late 50's going into the swinging 60's and as a result forged life long friendships with the likes of Sean Connery, Terrence Stamp, Stanley Baker, Roger Moore and the like. 1964 gave him his big break in 'Zulu' and he has never looked back. Those early years growing up and trying desperately to get a break are described in colourful detail, together with the girls, the clubs, the parties, the frustrating bit-parts and his own struggles to remember his lines, combat his nerves and overcome his fears when he did get in front of the camera.

Once he had arrived on the scene and was increasingly cast in bigger films and lead roles we are given an insiders view of Hollywood - the glitz, the glamour, the people, the movers & shakers, the movie business, the restaurants, bars & clubs and how it has changed and evolved over the many years he has been going too & fro. It's a fascinating insight that we rarely get to see or hear about - particularly from the perspective of someone living there in the latter end of the 20th Century.

After his early success with the likes of 'Alfie', 'The Ipcress File' and its two follow ups 'Funeral in Berlin' and 'Billion Dollar Brain' , 'The Italian Job', 'Get Carter' and 'The Man Who Would Be King' he made some duds it would be fair to say, taken on mostly for the chance to travel or to pay for a house extension - 'The Hand' and 'The Swarm' as notable standouts. His film choices and the Actors, Directors and Producers he has worked with are also laid out for us here in great detail too including what went on in front and behind the cameras, on-set and off it, and the necessities of an acting career that go on long after the film shoot has finished.

Throughout the book he seems to have always been very grounded, deeply appreciative of the circumstances that his acting career and its success has brought him, a firm believer in friendships and relationships, and never losing sight of his humble beginnings and his roots back in London's The Elephant & Castle. He is a family man first and foremost and bestows the most importance on his wife Shakira (married now for 40 years), his daughters Natasha and Dominique and his grandchildren, and his home in rural England and in it his love of gardening, cooking and sharing it with his nearest and dearest.

Reading the book you can't help think that he has had a privileged life, but, it is entirely of his own making, and it wasn't always that way. He was over 30 years of age when 'Zulu' came out, and his ongoing career success for the following 50 years has come about because of his own conviction, love for his craft and always keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground without succumbing to the excesses of Hollywood that we see all too often today.

As he gets older he mourns the passing of his dear friends that helped him along the way or have played a part in his life, the passing of the old Hollywood that he knew and loved so much and the impact that society is having on the less fortunate younger generation. That said he balances that with the new talent emerging in films which he continues to be fortunate enough to work with, his gratitude for the opportunities still afforded him, and the love and respect he still has for his chosen vocation in life.

The winner of two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, two BAFTA's and countless other wins and nominations as well as a Knighthood in 2000, Sir Michael Caine's 'The Elephant to Hollywood' is a heartfelt, funny and insightful read!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-