BIRDMAN : Wednesday 21st January 2015.

The much touted, highly anticipated, eagerly awaited and critically applauded 'BIRDMAN' or ('THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE') has arrived this past week at our cinema screens and I saw this on Wednesday night with a bunch of friends - and I must say that opinion was divided! I however, thoroughly enjoyed the 'Birdman' experience and could find little fault in this unique, quirky, emotional story that ticks all the boxes from its performances, storyline, production values, cinematography and Direction. It really is the complete package that Director Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu has delivered here, and is worthy of all the accolades and praise that is being bestowed upon it.

In choosing Michael Keaton to play the lead role of former Hollywood star Riggan Thomson, there are parallels drawn here with Keaton's own Hollywood history - is this coincidental or deliberate I am wondering on Inarritu's part? Nonetheless, Thomson twenty years ago was the 'Birdman' - a movie Superhero through  three films in the franchise, before he bowed out at the top of his career and the height of his popularity because he no longer wanted to be typecast and he wanted to preserve his artistic integrity, despite the billion dollar plus Box Office that the films generated back then in the early 90's. Keaton was the first 'Batman' back in 1989 & 1992 when Tim Burton reinvigorated the comic strip hero and saw out two films before passing on the cape to Val Kilmer, and then largely disappeared from the mainstream. Same with Riggan Thomson, but, his alter ego has been omni-present in his head ever since - chiding him, taunting him and creating all manner of emotional turmoil.

Now fast forward to the present day and Thomson in a last ditch attempt to save his flagging career, is staging an adaptation of a Raymond Carver story on Broadway, which he is Producing, Directing and starring in. The cast are hired and they are just a few days off their opening night performance. The film opens and we see Thomson with his back to us wearing only his jocks, legs crossed in the yoga position and he is levitating two feet off the ground in his office/dressing room. He gently steps down from his thoughtful state, gets dressed and the camera follows him out of his office, down the winding corridors of this Broadway theatre, up & down stairs, through doorways and out onto the stage where rehearsals are ongoing - he takes his place at the mocked-up kitchen table with three other characters and recites his lines, and at that a light falls from the rigging above down on to the head of one of the other lead actors. Thomson gets up and exits stage right back to his dressing room, claiming to his lawyer and close friend Jake (Zach Galifianakis) that he did that because his fellow actor was not up to scratch and someone better needs to be brought in, and quickly! All of this and more, is executed in one seamless tracking shot that takes you to the heart of the action and pulls you in to the experience as though you are there seeing it unfold.

Very quickly Broadway veteran and highly acclaimed Mike Shiner is recruited to the cast (Edward Norton) whose somewhat unorthodox acting talents rapidly make their mark on cast, crew and Thomson - and for the most part for all the wrong reasons. At the same time, Thomson is battling it out with his girlfriend Laura (Andrea Riseborough) who claims she is pregnant. On the scene to complicate matters further arrives Thomson's ex-wife Sylvia (Amy Ryan) to provide the voice of reason and create some calm - and it is clear that they both still hold a candle for each other. Thomson's PA is his daughter Sam (Emma Stone) fresh out of rehab and clearly the young rebellious fractured 20something who struggles to understand what Dad is all about - jeez - he doesn't even have a Facebook Account, let alone know what Twitter is, so how can he possibly understand her! There is also Lesley (Naomi Watts) an ex-girlfriend of Mike Shiner and first time Broadway actress hoping that this production is her shot at the big time. And then sitting in the background is revered theatre critic Tabitha Dickinson (Lindsay Duncan) who is hell bent on crucifying Thomson's production on opening night and ensuring that it disappears without a trace - because he is a fading movie star celebrity that has no place on Broadway!

All of the interplay between these characters is delivered flawlessly and it seems effortlessly with Edward Norton delivering a career best role as Mike Shiner as the over-the-top cock-sure thespian with a proven track record who is more at home treading the boards that when he is not! Zach Galifianakis plays is down in a slim & trim understated role that is far removed from his 'Hangover' persona. Naomi Watts plays it fairly straight laced because she has everything riding on her first Broadway role, but the interaction between her & Shiner is delightful. Similarly, Emma Stone has her moment in the sun too with a verbal assault on Dad who chides her for smoking a joint despite her being just out of rehab to kick the stuff, and other unsavoury things! There are also a couple of roof-top balcony scenes with Mike Shiner that again show the capabilities of these two strong Actors. And the scene between Thomson and Broadway critic Tabitha Dickinson in a close by bar on the eve of opening night is fraught with emotion and pitch perfect.

All the while 'Birdman' is whispering in Thomson's ear telling him to give up this piece of junk stage play in exchange for a return to the big screen to resurrect 'Birdman' for one last time, and reclaim those good old glory days of fame & fortune. In his everyday state as Thomson we see him exhibit certain Superhero powers of levitation, flight and telepathy - is this real or imagined - you'll have to decide for yourself! None of this does his mind any good as opening night approaches, his stage play is gradually going off the rails (or so he thinks) and he is being torn in all directions by his cast. What will the outcome of this be ultimately on Thomson's mental state, his physical being, that of his cast, opening night critical reception, his reputation and that of his colleagues, and his success or failure as an Actor/Producer/Director attempting against all the odds it seems to re-establish himself.

In delivering 'Birdman' Inarritu has almost rewritten the rule book here and given his characters the chance to shine in a way that we have not seen before. The film is fluid in so many ways, almost free-form and without boundary as performances are nuanced and flawlessly delivered, the camera work seamless, the storyline engaging on so many levels, and the Direction inventive, unique and quirky all at once. The complete package that ticks all the boxes and will easily warrant repeat viewing.

The film has been nominated for nine Academy Awards, nine BAFTA Awards, and has won two Golden Globes for Best Actor (Michael Keaton) and Best Screenplay together with five other nominations. All up it has garnered 123 award wins and 155 nominations so far - with the Hollywood night of nights just a few shorts weeks ago that will put the icing on the proverbial cake if it cleans up there! Get out there and see 'Birdman' soon - you won't be disappointed!

   

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

TIN TIN : archive from 27th December 2011

Saw 'TIN TIN' this afternoon in 3D at my local multiplex. You have got to give it to Spielberg - he is a master story teller & expert film maker and has created computer generated animation magic with this offering. This is a classic story, first introducing us to this titular character and his faithful canine companion, Snowy as created by Herge. The animation is beautifully rendered, rich and deep graphics show just how advanced MoCap has become since 'The Polar Express' first hit the screen. Funny in places, great action & set pieces, pitch perfect voice casting and a story that nods at Indiana Jones all the way.

With a talented voice cast that includes Jamie Bell as Tin Tin, Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock and his ancestor Sir Frances Haddock, Daniel Craig as Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine and Red Rackham, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg as one half each of the Thompson Twins and various others that complete the package. The film is Produced by Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy.

This story is a combination of 'The Crab with the Golden Claws', 'The Secret of the Unicorn' and 'Red Rackham's Treasure' and sees the intrepid Tin Tin hot on the trail of a lost family fortune - the whereabouts of which are written on three small scrolls which are hidden away in three models of the long since scuppered ship 'The Unicorn'. Tin Tin is in possession of one, Ivan Sakharine the other and the one remaining is believed to be in Morocco in the possession of a sheik. Sakharine has plans to retrieve the scroll from the third model at a concert by means most foul, and so completing the prized set as he has already stolen the scroll that Tin Tin was holding originally.

With the Thompson Twins also on the trail, and the bond between Tin Tin and Captain Haddock growing stronger given their now intertwined adversity and mission, the chase is on to prevent Sakharine completing the puzzle once he has all three scrolls, and so locating the hidden treasure in the real Unicorn that was sunken by Haddocks ancestor - Sir Frances Haddock some three hundred years earlier to prevent pirates at the time (led by Red Rackham) from getting their grubby little hands on it!

The film cost US$135M to make and grossed US$375M. It was nominated for Best Original Score by John Williams; was nominated for Best Animated Film and Best Special Visual Effects at the BAFTA's and won the Golden Globe for the Best Animated Feature Film. All up it garnered 27 award wins and a further fifty nominations. In December 2014 Peter Jackson indicated that the next film would certainly be happening, but timing remains unconfirmed due to Jackson's other film commitments which pre-date the next Tin Tin release. Spielberg also confirmed earlier that they knew which books were to be adapted for the next instalment, so I guess we can but wait!

Overall a great package and a delight to sit back and watch such a great animated film. 3D however, does little to enhance this movie would be my only reservation. Best of course to be seen on the big screen, but little chance of that happening now, so sit back in the comfort of your own home and watch it on DVD/Bluray if you haven't seen it already!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 22nd January 2015.

As Sydney sizzles in the sun drenched heat of Summer we have two more big ticket movies hitting our big screens in the coming week - both of them in Oscar contention, and both of them riding the crest of a publicity wave that is generating much excitement and anticipation. Already we have seen a very solid start to 2015 with some big name films coming our way that are also in the Academy Award running, and with those released on 22nd January have already done well at the recent Golden Globes.

The year ahead is sizing up pretty well so far with lots more on the way. For the immediate future though we have a formidable presence in front of the camera as well as behind it, and for his most recent outing he is sat in the Director's Chair delivering us a very recent true story of one of America's finest war heroes leading a very fractured life because of the actions he has had to undertake on behalf of  his country. On the other hand we have an ever increasing Hollywood star on the rise retelling this memoir for the big screen of a long walk to freedom, redemption and rebirth.

When you have seen your movie choice of the week and sat in the relative comfort of silver screen surround sound air conditioning, drop a line in the Comments Box following this or any Post, and share your cinematic experience with our ever growing readership across the world. Enjoy your movie.

AMERICAN SNIPER (Rated MA15+) - Based on the autobiographical book of Chris Kyle (here played by Bradley Cooper) this very recent true story of his life as crack US Army sniper is Directed by  Clint Eastwood. Having first been a US Navy SEAL, following the events of 9/11 he signs up for sniper duty, and in time becomes so expert at his job that he is dubbed 'The Legend' by his colleagues, 'The Devil of Ramadi' by his enemy and sees out four tours in Iraq taking out a confirmed 160 kills of gun toting, bomb carrying, suicide fuelled men, women and child insurgents. Eastwood has a deft touch for such home-spun character heroes whose everyday lives are fuelled by violence, anxiety, tragedy and loss in some way, that he delivers drama and thrills without being over dramatic and keeping to the heart of the story. American Sniper appears to be no exception, and with it both he and Cooper have delivered quite possibly one of Eastwood's best films in more recent years, and, possibly of the best of the War in Iraq movie offerings that we have yet seen.

But, for every such hero there is a flip side? What happens when our hero goes home at night to an empty house and lies awake all night pondering the outcomes of the day? What happens when close family members have to be confronted with the harsh realities of 'the day job', and what happens when your very existence begins to fall apart because of what you do for that 'day job' and those confirmed kills, living on the edge, and not knowing if today will be your last? Starring Sienna Miller as tough as nails wife Taya, we see the impact all of this has on Kyle's life and his emotional state, we see the gun battles in Iraq, those confirmed kills and his own obsession with taking out 'The Butcher' - a high-level insurgent official. Gripping stuff, expertly delivered on all fronts and all the more real for being seen on our TV screens and newspaper pages in recent years and still today. With a nomination for Best Picture and a nomination for Best Actor for Bradley Cooper at the upcoming Oscar's this is one to watch!

WILD (Rated MA15+) - when Reese Witherspoon kept being handed nondescript parts for female actors, and after lobbying several studios for lead roles in upcoming movies that required a female lead, and getting diddly squat, the Queen of Hollywood took her destiny into her own hands. Having created her own production house - Pacific Standard - she set about convincing Nick Hornby to write the screenplay based on the Cheryl Strayed memoir - whom Witherspoon portrays in this film. So as both Producer and Actor, she had Jean-Marc Vallee Direct - he of 'Dallas Buyers Club' fame, who put this Actress through the rigours and torment of playing a troubled character on a journey (both physical and emotional) of discovery and reawakening - much like McConaughey in the aforementioned Oscar winning 'DBC'. Here we see the 20something Strayed embarking on a self-imposed trek of 1,770kms along the 'Pacific Crest Trail' carrying a 27kgs back pack with everything necessary for her survival supposedly. Running along the Pacific coast from the US border with Mexico in the south to the US border with Canada in the north Strayed makes the decision to hike the route to escape her empty life of grief, addiction, desolation and loneliness in the hope of discovering herself, overcoming her own life's adversities, and battling her inner Demons along the way to redemption and inner peace. Of course along the way too she is largely unprepared for both the emotional and physical challenges that Mother Nature will throw at her, and she does, in spades, and often! 'Wild' and Witherspoon is creating Oscar buzz with a Best Actress nominations for Witherspoon and a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Laura Dern - go see for it for yourself to see what the fuss is all about!

Two hot new films to whet the appetite in the week ahead and creating a little buzz around Oscar time. When you have checked out either, or both, of these films, or any of those others doing the rounds and as Reviewed or Previewed in previous weeks, share your thoughts with your like minded friends here at Odeon Online - it's always good to get another opinion!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 18th - 24th January 2015.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week? John Hurt does, on 22nd January - check out the tribute to this Birthday Boy turning 75,  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 18th January

• Kevin Costner - Born 1955, turns 60 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Jason Segel - Born 1980, turns 35 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• John Boorman - Born 1933, turns 82 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Dave Bautista - Born 1969, turns 46 - Actor | WWE Wrestler

Monday 19th January

• Antoine Fuqua - Born 1966, turns 49 - Director | Producer
• Nash Edgerton - Born 1973, turns 42 - Stuntman | Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Editor
• Shawn Wyans - Born 1971, turns 44 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Composer
• Logan Lerman - Born 1992, turns 23 - Actor
• Tippi Hedren - Born 1930, turns 85 - Actress

Tuesday 20th January

• David Lynch - Born 1946, turns 69 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Skeet Ulrich - Born 1970, turns 45 - Actor
• Tom Baker - Born 1934, turns 81 - Actor

Wednesday 21st January 

• Martin Shaw - Born 1945, turns 70 - Actor | Producer
• Geena Davis - Born 1956, turns 59 - Actress | Producer

Thursday 22nd January

• Diane Lane - Born 1965, turns 50 - Actress
• Linda Blair - Born 1959, turns 56 - Actress
• Piper Laurie - Born 1932, turns 83 - Actress
• John Hurt - Born 1940, turns 75 - Actor
• Matthew Newton - Born 1977, turns 38 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Jim Jarmusch - Born 1953, turns 62 - Director | Producer | Actor | Writer | Editor | Composer

Friday 23rd January

• Rutger Hauer - Born 1944, turns 71 - Actor | Producer
• Richard Roxburgh - Born 1962, turns 53 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Ewen Bremmer - Born 1972, turns 43 - Actor

Saturday 24th January

• Ed Helms - Born 1974, turns 41 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Natasha Kinski - Born 1961, turns 54 - Actress

John Vincent Hurt was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England to Phyllis Massey - an amateur actress and engineer, and Arnauld Herbert Hurt - a mathematician and later Anglican clergyman. He has an older brother - Michael - who became a Roman Catholic monk and writer and adopted the name Brother Anselm. He also has an adopted sister - Monica. He had a fairly strict upbringing - interestingly being forbidden to watch films at the nearby local cinema, or to mix with other children because they were considered beneath him, and the family.

He attended St. Michael's Preparatory School in Otford, Kent and from age 12 he moved to Christ's Hospital School in Lincoln where he boarded. By this time he had already developed a keen interest in acting as a possible career but his parents discouraged the notion leading him instead toward art teaching. Even his Headmaster dismissed the idea telling the young Hurt he would never stand a chance in such a profession! At 17 he joined Grimsby Art School, and two years later gained a scholarship to St. Martin's School of Art in London, and a year after that he secured another scholarship to RADA where he trained for two years.

In 1961 & '62 he successfully secured small parts in the television series 'Z-Cars' and 'Probation Officer' with his film debut coming in 1962's 'Young and Willing'. Throughout the fist half of the 60's he appeared in many theatrical plays whilst securing the occasional film and television role - first came 'The Contact', then 'This is my Street', and in 1966 'A Man for all Seasons' with an all star cast. Theatre continued to play and active role in his acting career, whilst at the same time carving a name for himself in television productions too.

It was probably his portrayal of Quentin Crisp in 1975's 'The Naked Civil Servant' that brought him to real prominence for his outstanding and very real performance as the troubled gay writer and raconteur which gained him a Best Actor Award at the British Academy Television Awards. This was followed up by his turn as Emperor Caligula in the much acclaimed television series 'I Claudius' with Derek Jacobi. Then came 'Midnight Express' in 1978 for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe, following this up a year later with Ridley Scott's 'Alien' stealing the film with the alien chest bursting scene which has been acclaimed as one of the most memorable scenes in film history.

After this came his turn as John Merrick opposite Anthony Hopkins in 'The Elephant Man' for which he won another BAFTA Award, as well as Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. He also starred in Michael Camino's much maligned and commercially disastrous 'Heaven's Gate', followed up by Sam Peckinpah's 'The Osterman Weekend', and then in the big screen adaptation of George Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty Four'. In 1989, came 'Scandal' and then the likes of 'The Field' with Richard Harris, 'King Ralph' with John Goodman, 'Rob Roy' with Liam Neeson, 'Dead Man' with Johnny Depp, 'Wild Bill' with Jeff Bridges, 'Contact' with Jodie Foster, and 'All the Little Animals' with the young up & coming Christian Bale in the 1990's.

As the new century turned over the demand for his acting talents continued unabated with films including 'Lost Souls', 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', 'Hellboy' and its sequel 'Hellboy II', 'The Skeleton Key', 'The Proposition', 'V for Vendetta', 'The Oxford Murders', 'Outlander' and '44 inch Chest', not to mention his roles in two epic film franchises - 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull', and his turn as the wand maker in three 'Harry Potter' instalments.

Turning 70 he continued very much in demand with roles in the remake of the classic Graham Green novel 'Brighton Rock', and then 'Melancholia', 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy', 'Immortals', 'Only Lovers Left Alive', 'Snowpiercer' and most recently 'Hercules' opposite Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Throughout, his television series appearances have included 'Crime and Punishment' in 1979, 'The Storyteller' from 1987-88, 'Watership Down' from 1999-2000, 'The Alan Clark Diaries' from 2004-06, 'The Confession' in 2011, 'Merlin' from 2008-12, and 'Doctor Who' in 2013. He has lent his voice talents to numerous productions over the years including both 'Watership Down' and 'Lord of the Rings' in 1978, 'The Black Cauldron' in 1985, 'Thumbelina' in 1994, 'The Tigger Movie' in 2000, 'Dogville' in 2003, 'Valiant' in 2005, 'Charlie Countryman' in 2013 and more. He has 'AKA Nadia' and 'ChickLit' in post-production for a 2015 release, 'Tarzan' currently filming for 2016, and 'Damascus Cover' and 'The man who killed Don Quixote' currently in pre-production.

Hurt has 196 acting credits to his name spread over six decades so far. He has 23 award wins and another thirteen nominations including two Academy Award nominations for 'The Elephant Man' and 'Midnight Express'; a Golden Globe win for 'Midnight Express' and a nomination for 'The Elephant Man'; and BAFTA wins for for 'The Naked Civil Servant', 'Midnight Express', 'The Elephant Man' and in 2012 the Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema, plus four other nominations.

He was married to Annette Robertson from 1962-64; to Donna Peacock from 1984-90; to Joan Dalton from 1990-96 with whom he has two sons - Alexander John Vincent (born 1990) and Nicholas (born 1993), and to Anwan Rees-Myers from 2005 to the present day. It was upon his fourth marriage that he gave up alcohol. He is a patron of the Proteus Syndrome Foundation (thought to be the condition his character John Merrick suffered from) and Project Harar to provide aid relief to Ethiopia for children with facial disfigurements and Derby QUAD - an arts centre in Derby. He was honoured with the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2004, and Knighted by HRH Queen Elizabeth II in the 2015 New Years Honours List for services to drama.

John Hurt - totally diverse character actor keeping it real in Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Cops & Robbers, Westerns, Comedies, period pieces, drama, thrillers, horror, animation and children's fare; known for an instantly recognisable deep gravelly voice; and often playing authoritative characters or those racked by physical torment -  you have left an indelible mark on the history of modern cinema that remains ongoing and that continues to keep us entertained and enthralled. Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE WATER DIVINER : Tuesday 13th January 2015.

I went into Russell Crowe's Directorial debut offering, 'THE WATER DIVINER' with reasonably high expectations and came out feeling decidedly let down. Aussie Russ is an Oscar winner after all; has built up a relatively strong portfolio of films; worked with some of the best Directors, Screenwriters and Cinematographers that are working today; has come across a story that could have been far greater than the sum of its parts; and has a story too that should resonate with just about every living soul in Australia and New Zealand at least given that its subject matter is about to have its centenary.

This is a fairly simple tale of northern Victoria farm dwelling Joshua Connor (Crowe, with lead Actor credit too) in the immediate lead up to and the aftermath of WWI. It is 1919, and he owns and lives on a huge farm and, you guessed it, has water divining skills too. These skills we see fairly early on as he walks around some distant paddock with a couple of wire coat hangers searching for water, and behold, when said wires cross and remain crossed - there be water! And so he starts to dig in the belting heat of the day until he is fifteen feet down and strikes . . . water! Clearly the man has talent!

What we then learn is that Joshua and his wife have three sons - all in their late teens who have packed themselves off to war in 1914, and Joshua reminisces about their departure with the three young lads literally ride off into the sunset to go to war. We then fast forward to late 1915, and the ANZAC's have been battling it out in their fiercest fighting with the Turks at Gallipoli. Overcome by the weight of sheer numbers the ANZAC's eventually retreat having sustained some 10,000 casualties versus 70,000 on the side of the Turks. In flashback however, we see some close quarter fighting between these two opposing sides and in the exchange of machine gun fire sons Edward (James Fraser) and Henry (Ben O'Toole) are killed leaving Arthur (Ryan Coor) injured by their sides.

Back to 1919 rural country Victoria and Joshua and his wife Eliza (Jacqueline McKenzie) try to keep the dream alive that there sons have survived the war against all hope. Tragically Eliza takes her own life racked with the pain of their loss, and burying her in the local cemetery Joshua vows to bring his sons home to lie beside her. And so he jumps on a boat in no time to make the three months journey to Istanbul where his search begins.

What follows is Joshua being hijacked by a little trumped up kid who nicks his bag and all his belongings but leads him to a hotel where he meets Ayshe (Olga Kurylenko) the owner of the establishment looking for paying guests in the aftermath of a war stricken country. First Ayshe greets Joshua warmly, but when she learns that he is Australian she wants him evicted, excommunicated and extracted immediately given what went down at Gallipoli. Interestingly though it is no time at all before Ayshe becomes the love interest and romantic glances and playful conversation ensue! Meanwhile Joshua starts his search via the local war office to determine the whereabouts of his believed dead sons, with the aid of a diary whose last entry was August 7th 1915. He gets very short shrift from the stereotypical stuck-up stiff upper lipped pompous arse that is Captain Charles Brindley (Dan Wyllie) who wants to promptly return Joshua back from whence he came and let the Army deal with such matters. Having none of it and getting no where fast Ayshe gives Joshua a lead of a sailor friend who can get him to Gallipoli quickly and efficiently by water if he crosses his palm with silver, and so Joshua does just that.

Before you know it Joshua is there face to face with Lt. Col. Cyril Hughes (Jai Courtney) who presents a warm considerate caring hand to Joshua, but sees his quest as fruitless amongst the 10,000 or so ANZAC bodies that have to be found, identified and accounted for - what hope is there of finding three young lads across the whole peninsula? But, let's not forget that Joshua IS 'The Water Diviner' and surely he can divine human remains too . . . and yes he can! It seems that fairly easily he has a sense for where they are likely to be and behold a few inches under the surface beneath caked mud and clay Hughes' men dig up the remains of Edward and Henry as evidenced by their dog tags. But no Arthur!

All of this is overseen by Major Hasan (Yilmaz Erdogan) who gives the most solid and convincing performance of the entire cast. He was the man leading the campaign for the Turks at Gallipoli and therefore responsible for the death of so many ANZAC's - including probably Edward & Henry. Now post-war he is aiding the Australian contingent locate their dead soldiers given his intimate knowledge of the Gallipoli terrain. An unlikely friendship develops between Joshua and Hasan that eventually leads Joshua to learn that Arthur may still be alive having been taken prisoner after his brothers were killed.

And so the search shifts to Arthur amidst the backdrop of continuing Greek and Turk unrest across the streets of Istanbul and beyond, the love interest between Joshua and Ayshe, Ayshe's own family troubles, and the brick walls that Brindley continues to build around Joshua. Eventually riding through some remote Turkish village on horseback with Hasan and set upon by Greek rebels Joshua has a divining sense that Arthur is holed up somewhere in the locale . . . and by Jove, he is!

As for Crowe's Directing achievement, on the one hand we see some moments of real tension - a billowing dust storm in flashback sweeping toward the farm where Joshua comes to the rescue of his three young sons; some moments of beauty - inside Istanbul's Blue Mosque more for artistic effect than anything else - a gap filler almost because this film was the first ever to be allowed to film inside this famed temple; but everything else is stilted, disjointed, the acting wooden and the storyline plods along with stereotype characters, scene fillers and cheesy dialogue.

As an Actor I like Russell Crowe and he has more than proven his credentials over the years, but as a first time Director - he still has some way to go to fine tune his Directing skills if he is to add this skill to his Resume with any real merit. You don't need to see this on the big screen and can easily wait for the DVD/BluRay. Having been released in Australia and New Zealand on Boxing Day 2014, it get its US release on 24th April 2015 . . . not an insignificant date!

 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO : archive from 13th January 2012.

I saw 'THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO' last night on opening night. From the very impressive opening titles sequence you know this is Hollywood and David Fincher all over. You would have to wonder why though would Fincher retell this story just two years after the European original came out Directed by Niels Arden Oplev making Noomi Rapace almost a household name and propelling her career ever northward - together with that of Michael Nyqvist too it must be said. In their respective performances as Lisbeth Salander and Michael Blomkvist respectively, they made their roles their own well and truly, but the three originals combined made just US$215M whereas Fincher's alone made US$232M . . . I guess that's why in the final analysis, and proof positive for the studio that backed it!

It must be said that Fincher has done a good job at retelling this blockbuster story again with Daniel Craig passing in a solid performance as Blomkvist (and as far removed from Bond as you could possibly get) and Rooney Mara as Salander playing it more youthful especially early on when she is having all manner of shit thrown at her, but when retribution comes knockin' she is confident, astute, brutal and very much a woman in control of her emotions.

There is a strong support cast here too (which would account for the US$90M budget) including Christopher Plummer as Henrik Vanger - the man who hires Blomqvist to investigate the disappearance 40 years ago of his young niece whilst not discounting the "thieves, misers, bullies - the most detestable collection of people you will ever meet . . . my family"! There is Stellan Skarsgard as Martin Vanger, Joely Richardson as Anita Vanger, Robin Wright as Erika Berger, Steven Berkoff, Goran Visnjic and Geraldine James amongst others all adding weight to the supporting cast.

You know the story and quite possibly have seen it before in the earlier rendition of this Stieg Larson's highly acclaimed first book in this 'Millennium' series. As such there are no surprises here, but it is well shot, well executed and moves along just fine - and, we know that David Fincher has a strong pedigree for hard nosed thrillers of this type

A strong cast backs up the story well but I did feel that Noomi Rapace made Salander her own and was edgier, grittier, and more determined than Mara proved to be, although she settles in well as the tattooed new age punk cyber hacker as the film progresses. This film won the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Film Editing and was nominated in the Best Actress in a Leading Role, Cinematography, Sound Editing and Sound Mixing categories. It also picked up two Golden Globe nominations and two BAFTA nominations with a total haul of 29 award wins and 67 other nominations.

Certainly well worth your ticket price, but Fincher just fails to pull anything different out of the bag in a story that has already been very well executed and you know what's coming. I'm still left asking 'why'? You be the judge!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week - Thursday 15th January 2015.

It's mid-January already - awards season is upon us and earlier this week The Golden Globes paved the way for the upcoming Hollywood night of nights in a few weeks time. What this means for the movie going public like you and me is that a whole raft of great films will be released in the coming weeks to ensure that those nominated are fresh in our minds come awards night. For the most part these have already been released 'Stateside' hoping now to gain an extra shot in the Box Office arm carried along by all the publicity and furore that 'The Oscars' generates.

This week is no exception with one of the most talked about movies for a long time hitting our multiplexes that is creating lots of buzz already; then we have the second Directorial outing for one of Hollywood's most recognised actresses and one half of a very powerful Tinseltown couple; and then there is an Aussie family friendly flying flick that ticks all the right boxes!

With so much great stuff out there on general release and Previewed or Reviewed in previous weeks, plus more great new offerings this week and in the following weeks you had better start diarising what your going to see first, next and thereafter! Whatever you decide upon, share your thoughts and observations with the Odeon Online ever expanding readership and Post a Comment after this, or any other Post. Enjoy your movie!

BIRDMAN (aka THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) - (Rated MA15+) - finally after all the buzz, excitement and anticipation surrounding this Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu Directed film, 'Birdman' has arrived. With it comes talk of career best performances from its lead Actor, and not so bad either from its support cast; the strength and originality of the script; and the camera work to create an almost seamless journey through the life of Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) as he struggles to re-establish his career, stage a Broadway play, and fight his own Demons. With Michael Keaton cast at Thomson ('The Birdman') this is almost a case of art imitating life imitating art! In this film Riggan Thomson is an Actor who back in the day was very successful in the lead role of a Superhero movie franchise, known as 'The Birdman', who quit at the height of his popularity after three films and largely faded into obscurity. Similarly Keaton was very successful in the lead role in Tim Burton's early 'Batman' franchise playing the caped crusader twice and then quitting, and largely fading into obscurity, although he has always been somewhere in the background of film & TV releases subsequently!

Now fast forward and the film takes us inside a Broadway theatre when Riggan Thomson is attempting to reignite his flagging career with a Raymond Carver adapted stage play that he is financing, writing, Directing and starring in. . . what could possibly go wrong? With rehearsals ongoing; in fighting amongst the cast & crew; New York critics chomping at the bit; other egos all getting in the way; and plenty of opinions, advice and wisdom being proffered from all quarters -  is it any surprise that Thomson starts to implode? In doing so he starts to hallucinate, levitate and communicate with his alter ego 'Birdman'. Thomson is very much front and centre throughout this film with memorable characters all crossing his path as opening night approaches - Emma Stone at Riggan's daughter and appointed PA Sam, Edward Norton as renowned Broadway Actor Mike Shiner, Naomi Watts as Lesley - an actress and girlfriend of Shiner, Amy Ryan as Riggan's ex-wife Sylvia, Zach Galifanakis as Jake - friend and Lawyer to Riggan and Andrea Riseborough as Laura - also an actress, and Riggan's girlfriend. Touted already as the film of the year on many levels, this US$18M movie has so far garnered 98 awards wins and another 114 nominations and the Academy Award nominations have not even been announced yet (at the time of Publishing this Post). On this basis - it is the 'must-see without fail' so far in 2015.

UNBROKEN (Rated M) - Angelina Jolie's second turn in the Directors chair for this true life account of the extraordinary life of Olympic runner Louis Zamperini whose WWII exploits were adventurous, colourful, fantastical, miserable and testing all at once. The 1956 autobiography 'Devil at my Heels' this film has been doing the rounds well and truly for the last 50+ years - Tony Curtis was in fact set to play Zamperini back in the day, and then in more recent time Brad Pitt, then Nicolas Cage before Jolie got her hands on it and signed up Jack O'Connell to play our hero. Subsequently Laura Hillenbrand wrote the biography which was published in 2010 with whom Jolie collaborated and brought in Joel & Ethan Coen to help write the screenplay. Known for his fast pace and running prowess at school the young Zamperini ran at the 1936 Olympics although failed to win a medal but showed enough promise to be a shoe-in for the 1940 Tokyo Games. The advent of WWII scuppered that dream and joining the US Forces he was shot down over the Pacific and spent 47 days adrift with several other crewman. He was then captured by the Japanese and spent two years as a prisoner of war undergoing all manner of mental and physical hardships and torture. In many respects this story is such an unbelievable one that you might struggle to believe what the human body, mind and spirit can endure as depicted here. Filmed largely in Australia for US$65M this also stars Jai Courtney, Domhnall Gleeson and Garrett Hedlund, and it has picked up nine award wins and 14 nominations so far.

PAPER PLANES (Rated G) - this Australian family film is likely to surprise and delight young and older audiences for its simple grounded storyline, humour, heart and adversity overcome through opportunity. Young Dylan (Ed Oxenbould) is growing up in outback Australia and has developed a fascination for making  - yes you guessed it - paper planes, and has become very good at it! So much so that he qualifies to compete at an event in Sydney, which in turn gives his a chance to attend the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan. However, he needs to convince Dad Jack, (Sam Worthington) that this is a good idea and that such a change of focus will help him recover from the recent death of his wife and Dylan's mother - whom he has been grieving over for the past five months. With a strong story and effects showing all manner of paper planes ducking, diving, bobbing and weaving through the air in all manner of acrobatic and aeronautic movements this could be a real crowd pleaser for kids of all ages! David Wenham and Deborah Mailman also star, and Directed by Robert Connolly.

Once again three very different offerings with which you can't possibly go wrong. Check one out this week and share your movie thoughts with us all right here at Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-