What's new in Odeon's this week : Sunday 1st January 2017.

With the release of 'Assassin's Creed' this week and all the buzz around this big screen video game adaptation as supposedly re-setting the benchmark for the genre, I got to thinking about the genre and just how successful it has really been over the years. My research tells me that in terms of international success, some video game adaptations have fared reasonably well at the Box Office (taking that as a measure of audience critical acclaim) whilst for the most part the others have been complete duds. Here's a list of the good, and the not so good :-

#1 - 'Warcraft' released in 2016 - Global Box Office US$434M
#2 - 'The Angry Birds Movie' released in 2016 - Global Box Office US$350M
#3 - 'Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time' - released in 2010 - Global Box Office US$337M
#4 - 'Resident Evil : Afterlife' released in 2010 - Global Box Office US$297M
#5 - 'Lara Croft : Tomb Raider' released in 2001 - Global Box Office US$275M
#6 - 'Resident Evil : Retribution' released in 2012 - Global Box Office US$241M
#7 - 'Need for Speed' released in 2014 - Global Box Office US$204M
#8 - 'Pokemon : The First Movie' released in 1999 - Global Box Office US$164M
#9 - 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider : Cradle of Life' released in 2003 - Global Box Office US$157M
#10 - 'Resident Evil : Extinction' released in 2007 - Global Box Office US$148M

Of course for those that fared well enough there is your 'Super Mario Bros' (1993), 'Doom' (2005), 'BloodRayne' (2006), 'DOA : Dead or Alive' (2006), 'Postal' (2007), 'In the Name of the King' (2008), 'Far Cry' (2008), 'Tekken' (2010) and the animated 'Ratchet & Clank' (2016) that fared a whole lot worse and bombed both critically and commercially. Due for release early in the new year is 'Resident Evil : The Final Chapter', with a 'Tomb Raider' reboot due in 2018, 'Rampage' also due in 2018 and a 'Minecraft' movie due in 2019 amongst various others on the slate.

Starting off the new year we have just two new releases out this week, kicking off with a time travelling action adventure yarn based on a hugely successful video game franchise that melds the present day with 15th Century Spain; and then a Sci-Fi adventure set in deep space where those in deep sleep and are in deep trouble as two awakened souls strive to save their ship and all aboard it.

If action and adventure is your thing then this week is for you, and if it's not, then there are plenty of other films Reviewed and Previewed on these Blog pages in recent weeks that are still out on general release. When you have sat through your film of choice in the week ahead, remember that you are warmly invited to share your cinema going thoughts, opinions and observations with your fellow readers here at Odeon Online. Simply leave a relevant and constructive Comment below this or any other Post - we'd love to hear from you. Meanwhile, enjoy your movie.

'ASSASSIN'S CREED' (Rated M) - the hugely popular action adventure video game upon which this film is based first appeared on our gaming consoles back in 2007 courtesy of Ubisoft. Wikipedia describes the premise as being set in a fictional history of real-world events and follows the centuries-old struggle between the Assassins, who fight for peace with free will, and the Templars, who desire peace through control, and their indirect relation to an ancient species pre-dating humanity, whose society, along with much of Earth's biosphere, was destroyed by a massive solar storm. The games feature predominantly a Desmond Miles, a bartender in the present day who is a descendant of several lines of prominent Assassins. All in all seems like a perfect script for a movie. Since its early days Assassins Creed has grown into a series of nine main games and a number of supporting games too. There have also been a number of short animated films, comics, novels, graphic novels and even an Encyclopaedia. The games have sold approaching 100 million copies. And so kick starting 2017, we have a film, based on that game, Directed by Justin Kurzel and Co-Produced and starring in the lead role, Michael Fassbender. The film was made for US$125M and has so far taken US$49M since its release in the US and France just before Christmas.

Here convicted criminal about to be executed Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) is rescued by Abstergo Industries - the modern day version of the Templar Order. Heading up Abstergo is CEO Allan Rikkin (Jeremy Irons) whose daughter Dr. Sophia Rikkin (Marion Cotillard) is the organisations Chief Scientist. She reveals to Lynch that he is descended from a long line of Assassins that for centuries fought against the Templar Order, and that he is directly related to Aguilar de Nerha  (also payed by Michael Fassbender) - a 15th Century Spanish Assassin. Dr. Rikkin proposes that Lynch be hooked up to revolutionary new technology that they have developed - The Animus - that allows him to travel back in time to 15th Century Spain by unlocking genetic memories contained in his DNA. As he travels back and forth in search of a powerful ancient artefact he acquires the skills and learnings to fight against the modern day Templar Order operating under the guises of Abstergo in the present day. Also starring Brendan Gleeson as Joseph Lynch, Michael K. Williams as  Moussa/Baptitse a Haitian Assassin and Charlotte Rampling. The film has received generally negative reviews for its story and plot lines more than the performances from its lead characters, well choreographed fight sequences and stunning visuals, but, will it break the mould of dud video game adaptations?

'PASSENGERS' (Rated M) - Norwegian film Director Morten Tyldum who previously brought us 2014's 'The Imitation Game' here Directs this Sci-Fi adventure offering set in deep space. Made for US$110M and released in the US just before Christmas, the film has so far recovered US$57M and has received mixed critical reviews. The story here takes place aboard the starship 'Avalon', that is a state of the art vessel transporting 5,000 Earth inhabitants to colonise a far away planet called Homestead II. That planet is so far away from Earth that the journey takes 120 years, and those 'passengers' are in hibernation pods for the entirety of the journey. Except one, mechanical engineer Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) who awakens ninety years too early due to a malfunction in his pods system. After a year of traipsing around the ship all on his lonesome with no one except mechanical robot bartender Arthur (Michael Sheen) to keep him company, he happens upon Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence) fast asleep in her forced hibernation. After some soul searching and deliberation he decides to wake up Aurora and in time the two fall for each other despite her initial feelings of being cheated out of her future life. In time however, they discover that the ship is in danger having been damaged in an asteroid collision two years earlier that has created multiple failures in the ships systems. Working against the odds and against time, Jim and Aurora must save the ship and its five thousand sleeping inhabitants on board. Also starring Laurence Fishburn and Andy Garcia.

Just two new releases kicking off the new year, but with a raft of other very recently released movies now out on general release, there are a whole bunch of reasons to get along to your local picture house. When you have done so drop us a line here at Odeon Online, and in the meantime, I'll see you sometime in the week ahead, at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 1st - 7th January 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jeremy Renner does on 7th January - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 46, at the end of this feature.

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

Sunday 1st January

• Frank Langella - Born 1938, turns 79 - Actor
• Verne Troyer - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor  

Monday 2nd January

• Todd Haynes - Born 1961, turns 56 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Cuba Gooding Jnr. - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actor | Producer
• Tia Carrere - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actress | Producer 
• Paz Vega - Born 1976, turns 41 - Actress  
• Kate Bosworth - Born 1983, turns 34 - Actress 

Tuesday 3rd January

• Victoria Principal - Born 1950, turns 67 - Actress | Producer
• Mel Gibson - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actor | Director | Producer | Writer  

Wednesday 4th January

• Julian Sands - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actor 
• Dyan Cannon - Born 1937, turns 80 - Actress | Writer | Director
• Julia Ormond - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actress    

Thursday 5th January

• Diane Keaton - Born 1946, turns 71 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Robert Duvall - Born 1931, turns 85 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer
• Hayao Miyazaki - Born 1941, turns 75 - Animator | Director | Producer | Writer | Editor
• Roger Spottiswoode - Born 1945, turns 72 - Director | Producer | Writer | Editor
• Clancy Brown - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Producer
• Vinnie Jones - Born 1965, turns 52 - Actor
• Bradley Cooper - Born  1975, turns 42 - Actor | Producer | Director

Friday 6th January

• Rowan Atkinson - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actor | Writer 
• Norman Reedus - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actor | Writer | Director
• Eddie Redmayne - Born 1982, turns 35 - Actor  
• Sylvia Syms - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actress
• Kate McKinnon - Born 1984, turns 33 - Actress | Writer

Saturday 7th January

• Linda Kozlowski - Born 1958, turns 59 - Actress  
• David Caruso - Born 1956, turns 61 - Actor | Producer
• Nicolas Cage - Born 1964, turns 53 - Actor | Producer
• Irrfan Khan - Born 1967, turns 50 - Actor | Producer | Director
• Jeremy Renner - Born 1971, turns 46 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter

Jeremy Lee Renner was born in Modesto, California, USA to mother Valerie Tague and father Lee Renner who managed the the local bowling alley in Modesto during the 1980's. His parents were married as teenagers and divorced when the young Jeremy was just ten years of age. He attended the Fred C. Beyer High School in Modesto and then Modesto Junior College where he studies criminology, computer science and psychology before being drawn to acting through an elective. Bitten by the acting bug, he decided to relocate himself to San Francisco to study at the American Conservatory Theatre, then moving to Hawaii and then onto Los Angeles in 1993. 

Upon his arrival in L.A. Renner dedicated much of his time to theatre productions with the highlight coming in 'Search and Destroy' which he starred in and Co-Directed to critical acclaim. In 1995 he secured his first big screen break in 'National Lampoon's Senior Trip'. From here he secured single episode appearances on televisions series 'Deadly Games', 'Strange Luck', 'To Have & to Hold', 'The Net', 'Time of Your Life' and 'Angel'. In the meantime there were a number of made for television films and features that included 'Paper Dragons' and 'A Friend's Betrayal' all seeing out the '90's.

In 2002 he secured his first starring role in 'Dahmer' playing serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer - a complex role for which he was highly acclaimed. This in turn led to 'S.W.A.T.' with Colin Farrell and Samuel L. Jackson - his first commercially successful action film. This led to 'The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things', then 'A Little Trip to Heaven' with Forest Whitaker, 'North Country' with Charlize Theron, '12 and Holding', 'Neo Ned', an uncredited turn in 'Lords of Dogtown' and 'Love Comes to the Executioner'.

2007 saw 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' with Brad Pitt, then the British zombie horror sequel offering'28 Weeks Later' with Robert Carlyle, then 'Take' with Minnie Driver before Kathryn Bigelow's highly acclaimed and six times Academy Award winning 'The Hurt Locker' in which Renner was nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role for his performance as maverick bomb disposal expert Staff Sergeant William James. The film picked up 120 award wins and another 121 nominations around the circuit including the Oscar for Best Film and Best Director. 

'Ingenious' came next with another critically acclaimed turn in the Ben Affleck Directed, Co-Written and starring crime drama 'The Town'. Renner was again nominated for an Academy Award for his role as James Coughlin in the Best Supporting Actor category. The film picked up nine award wins and a further 45 nominations in all.

The following years saw Renner embark on a series of hugely successful franchise offerings that started off with his uncredited role and first appearance as Clint Barton/Hawkeye in 2011's Avengers offering of 'Thor'. He would reprise his role in 2012's 'The Avengers', 2015's 'Avengers : Age of Ultron', 2016's 'Captain America : Civil War', the currently filming and due in 2018 'Avengers : Infinity War' and the recently announced 'Ant Man and the Wasp' also due in 2018.

The next franchise saw Renner star as intelligence analyst William Brandt opposite Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt in the fourth instalment in the ever popular and successful 'Mission : Impossible' series of films with 2011's 'Ghost Protocol'. Again, he reprised his role in 2015's 'Rogue Nation' and is set to do so in 'M:I 6 - Mission Impossible' currently in pre-production for a 2018 release. Finally, Renner starred in a spin off of the acclaimed fast paced action Jason Bourne franchise but without Matt Damon. Renner played Alex Cross in 'The Bourne Legacy' for Director and Writer Tony Gilroy - a role he is set to reprise again in a recently announced Bourne sequel that may or may not see him playing alongside Matt Damon.

In between 'The Avengers', 'Mission:Impossible' and 'Bourne' franchise films he starred in a modern take on the German folklore fairy tale of Hansel & Gretel, in the fantasy action comedy outing of 'Hansel & Gretel : Witch Hunters' in which Renner starred as Hansel alongside Gemma Arterton's Gretel - siblings who now grown up work as a pair of witch exterminators for hire. The film made US$226M off its US$50M budget outlay. This was followed up by the James Gray Directed period piece 'The Immigrant' with Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix which was nominated for the Palme D'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Next up was the David O. Russell Directed criminal comedy drama film 'American Hustle' in 2013 which was nominated for ten Academy Awards, won  a total of 66 awards and was nominated a further 202 times. With an ensemble cast including Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams and Michael Pena the film was a commercial success too bringing home US$252M at the Global Box Office from its US$40M budget.




2014 brought the true story of investigative journalist Gary Webb in 'Kill the Messenger' which saw Renner starring as Gary Webb and also taking his first Producer credit. With an all star cast that included Ray Liota, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen, Andy Garcia, Barry Pepper, Robert Patrick, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, the film was well received critically, albeit it failed to make back its budget outlay.

'Avengers : Age of Ultron', 'Mission:Impossible - Rogue Nation' and 'Captain America : Civil War' as mentioned previously bring us up to his most recent release at the end of 2016, 'Arrival' for Director Denis Villeneuve and starring Amy Adams, and Forest Whitaker. The film has so far made US$145M off its US$47M budget cost and has already picked up eighteen award wins and 111 nominations.





Next up for Renner is 'Avengers : Infinity War' due in 2018 and currently filming, the animated 'Arctic Justice : Thunder Squad' also due in 2018 to which Renner is lending his voice talents together with James Franco, Alec Baldwin, John Cleese, Michael Madsen, Omar Sy, Anjelica Huston and Heidi Klum. 'M:I 6 - Mission Impossible' is in pre-production for later in 2018, recently announced are a Bourne sequel and Marvel's 'Ant Man and the Wasp', with 'Wind River' in post-production for an early 2017 release and starring also Martin Sensmeier, Jon Bernthal, and Elizabeth Olson.

All up Renner has 54 Acting credits to his name so far, and four as Producer. He has two Academy Award nominations for his performances in 'The Town' and 'The Hurt Locker', one Golden Globe nomination for 'The Town' and one BAFTA nomination for 'The Hurt Locker'. So far he has garnered thirty award wins and a further 51 nominations along the way. As well as an active career as an Actor in demand, he is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, drummer and keyboard player, and has written and preformed songs for a number of films he has appeared in. Renner married Canadian model Sonni Pacheco in January 2014 and within a year she had filed for divorce. They have a daughter together, Ava Berlin, born in 2013.

Jeremy Renner - runs a house renovating business in his spare time restoring rundown iconic Hollywood homes; is a UN Goodwill Peace Ambassador helping raise awareness of mine-clearing efforts in Afghanistan; has studied both Filipino and Thai martial arts; often plays intense, emotional character driven roles, frequently tinged with violence or unstable traits; is a bona fide action star having played such recurring roles in three major film franchises to date; put also plays flawed, often complicated grounded roles that bring him acclaim critically to match his commercial success from the blockbusters he is perhaps better known for. Very watchable and keeping it real in front of the camera and away from it - Happy Birthday to you Jeremy, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

CARRIE FISHER - dies aged 60 - R.I.P.

Carrie Frances Fisher passed away on Tuesday 27th December following complications brought on by a massive heart attack while aboard a flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday 23rd December. She has been hospitalised since arriving in Los Angeles. She was sixty years of age having been born on October 21st 1956. Fisher was an Actress, Producer and Writer whose career spanned five decades across film, television, and writing, and can be described in every sense as a true product of Hollywood. Her father was legendary Singer and Actor Eddie Fisher who was the most successful pop singles artist of the first half of the 1950's. Her mother was the acclaimed Debbie Reynolds who started acting in 1950 on stage and screen and continued with her acting career right up until the time of her tragic passing on the day following the death of her daughter. Fisher and Reynolds were married from 1955 until 1959, and Carrie was a product of that marriage, before Fisher left and married Reynold's best friend Elizabeth Taylor.

Best known for her role as Princess Leia Organa in the original Star Wars films - 'A New Hope' (1977), 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980) and 'Return of the Jedi' (1983), she reprised her role for 2015's 'The Force Awakens' and her likeness was used digitally for the closing scene of the recent first stand alone Star Wars story 'Rogue One'. She will also appear posthumously in 'Star Wars : Episode VIII' due in late 2018 as General Leia Organa. 'Star Wars' was only hers second big screen role following a part in 1975's 'Shampoo' with Warren Beatty, Julie Christie and Goldie Hawn and this followed on from her small screen debut in 1969, in the made for TV movie 'Debbie Reynolds and the Sound of Children'.

Fisher attended the Beverly Hills High School until fifteen, and then due to conflicting acting demands she gave up her schooling and never graduated.  In 1973 she enrolled in London's Central School of Speech and Drama which she stuck at for eighteen months. In 1978 she enrolled in the Sarah Lawrence College in New York to study the arts but left before graduating because of the demands of 'Star Wars'.

In the decades that followed Fisher was seldom out of work appearing in numerous film and television roles. These included more memorable feature films such as 'The Blues Brothers' (1980) as Jake Blues vengeful ex-lover; Woody Allen's 'Hannah and Her Sisters' (1986); 'The Burb's' (1989) opposite Tom Hanks; 'When Harry Met Sally' (1989) with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan; 'Sibling Rivalry' (1990) with Kirsty Alley; 'Drop Dead Fred' (1991) with Rik Mayall; 'This Is My Life' (1992) with Julie Kavnar; and uncredited roles in 'Hook' and 'Austin Powers : International Man of Mystery'.

In the meantime Fisher had penned her first novel in 1987 - the semi-autobiographical 'Postcards from the Edge' in which she fictionalised and satirised real-life events such as her drug addiction of the late 1970s and her relationship with her mother. The book became a best seller and in 1990 a film version of the book was released that was adapted for the screen by Fisher. The film starred Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Annette Benning, Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman and Richard Dreyfus and it picked up numerous award nominations for Streep and MacLaine including Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nods. She went onto release two further novels by the turn of the century - 'Surrender the Pink' and 'Delusions of Grandma' in 1990 and 1993 respectively.

During this time too Fisher began working on script refinements for numerous films including 'Lethal Weapon 3', 'Outbreak', 'The Wedding Singer', 'The River Wild', 'Sister Act', 'Coyote Ugly', 'Last Action Hero' and 'Stop! Or my Mom will Shoot'. This in turn led to a particularly productive period over a fifteen year stretch from the early '90's onward as a go to script doctor refining the screenplays for other writers. These included the dialogue for the 'Star Wars' prequel films. In 2004 she published a follow-up novel to 'Postcards from the Edge', titled 'The Best Awful There Is' - another semi-autobiographical work this time said to fictionalise the story of her relationship with the gay agent Bryan Lourd, father of her daughter, Billie Lourd. In 2008 she published her own autobiographical humorous book 'Wishful Drinking' which was based on her one woman stage show which ran at LA's Geffen Playhouse from late 2006 into early 2007. The show continued a successful run touring around select theatres, culminating in a run on Broadway from late 2009 through until early 2010. She made the comment in her book "Now I think that this would make for a fantastic obit—so I tell my younger friends that no matter how I go, I want it reported that I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra." - a comment that has been much used in the media since the announcement of her death earlier this week. In 2010 HBO filmed a feature length documentary of the stage show.

In 2000 she payed a former Actress in slasher horror offering 'Scream 3' and then 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' before Co-Writing the 2001 made for television movie 'These Old Broads' which starred her mother Debbie Reynolds with Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley MacLaine and Joan Collins. This was followed up by a string of 'B-Movies' that included 'Heartbreakers', 'Wonderland', 'Stateside', 'Undiscovered', 'Cougar Club', 'The Women', 'Fanboys', 'White Lightnin'' and horror slasher flick 'Sorority Row'. During this decade there had been numerous television appearances too including the likes of 'Smallville', 'Weeds', '30 Rock', 'Entourage' and twenty-three episodes on 'Family Guy' as the voice of Angela.

Since 2010, aside from the 'Star Wars' instalments as previously mentioned, there have been David Cronenberg's 'Maps to the Stars' in which Fisher cameo's as herself, and single episodes on 'The Bing Bang Theory', 'Legit', two episodes on 'Girlfriends Guide to Divorce' and four episodes on Channel 4's 'Catastrophe'. Fisher died after filming Season 3 had wrapped on 'Catastrophe' which will go to air in 2017. Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds were also the subject of a 2016 documentary film which Premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival - 'Bright Lights : Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds' which goes to air on HBO sometime in 2017.

All up Fisher had 89 Acting credits to her name, eleven as Writer and one as Producer. She was the recipient of one award win and a further nine nominations. She was married to singer/songwriter Paul Simon from 1983 until 1984 although they had been dating since 1977, and continued to do so until 1990 after their divorce. For a brief time she was engaged to Dan Aykroyd in 1980. She had a subsequent relationship with talent agent Bryan Lourd with whom she had a daughter Billie Catherine Lourd born in 1992. She also revealed in her autobiography published this year - 'The Princess Diarist' that back in 1976 she and Harrison Ford enjoyed a short lived affair during the filming of 'Star Wars'.

She publicly discussed her diagnosis of bipolar disorder and her reliance on cocaine and prescription drugs. She is reported to have stated that her drug use was a form of self-medication using pain killers such as Percodan to "dial down" the manic aspect of her bipolar disorder. In 2008 she discussed her electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments stating that at one point, she was receiving ECT every six weeks to 'blow apart the cement' in her brain. In 2014, she went on record that she was no longer receiving the treatment. Earlier this year Harvard College granted Fisher its Annual Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism, noting that 'her forthright activism and outspokenness about addiction, mental illness, and agnosticism have advanced public discourse on these issues with creativity and empathy'.

Carrie Fisher - prolific Screenwriter, Author and Actress who forever is etched in our memories for playing one of films greatest heroines across one of films greatest epic blockbusting franchises. May you forever rest in peace, and may the force be with you as brightly in the next world as it was in your former one. Thanks for the memories.

Carrie Fisher - Rest In Peace.
1956-2016.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

The Age of Shadows

Kim JeeWoon directed that amazing I Saw the Devil, so i checked out the rest of his work, all of it solid. To that list, you can ass Age of Shadows, now I Saw the Devil i flat out loved when i saw it, it is brilliant. Age Of Shadows might be his second best film, but might be his most stylish. The dude has a great eye, and can direct various genre, he is a true student of the game.

Cell

What could have been, what could have been. I was not a big fan of the Stephen King novel, but loved the premise. When Eli Roth was going to direct it i was super stoked, beyond stoked, i had faith in Eli to direct a kick ass flick. Then it went in to production, with a good cast, but it felt rushed, as if they made it just to make it, and release it with no fan fair. Had Eli wound up directing it, it would have fit in with his recent efforts of films being low key, but he would have given it that extra touch. The film, has no touch, it is a forgettable, slowly paced film that lacks vision and heart. Instead of getting a tense film that Eli could have given us, or any other awesome genre director with a vision for that matter, we got a run of the mill film, that feels like a flick that should be straight to video

Map to the Stars

I love David Cronenberg, i thought about doing a best of list for him, but since i waited a year to see the film, i figured i will wait. I prefer old Cronenberg, but i still think all his films are great. His later films, while great, are not quite as enjoyable though, expect Cosmopolis, a underrated gem. Enter Map to the Stars, it is another solid film, however it is is quite tedious at times, and rather dull. I like the character study aspect, and i like how all the characters are shitty, but it doesn't feel like one of his films. Not that there is anything wrong with venturing out, but this one here, just seems to go on & on with  nothing really happening. I usually love films like that, but in this instance, i was bored at times, plus that fire scene, holy fuck, awful effects. I had bought this about a month ago, but wasn't planning on watching it until next year, but i knew that Carrie Fisher was in it, so decided to watch it in her honor. Perhaps i will rewatch this soon and love it, perhaps to celebrate her life, i should have popped in Star Wars.

Snowden

I can get hevily in to politics, i try to avoid them but i can, i hate most of our goverment and the way shit is ran, i saw CitizenFour and thought it was pretty good, i finally saw Snowden, but as much as i love JGL, i found the doc to be a lot more interesting. This was up Oliver Stone's alley, but it felt half assed from the start.

Why Him?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
The trailers for this looked pretty funny, but the second one looked like it revealed too much, luckily whomever edited said trailer, was a master of manipulation, as a certain twist is actually not even a twist but a peace offering. The film is being torn apart by most critics, and it seems to go with what i have said in the past, that comedy is the new punching bag for them, used to be horror but laughs, they have to go, The film has plenty of laughs, it is a hilarious flick, i am a James Franco fanboy and i love Bryan Cranston, they have pretty good chemistry together too, even minor characters get in good laughs. Out of the three christmas comedies that i have seen in the past month, this is the best of the bunch by far.

What's new in Odeon's this week : Monday 26th December 2016.

It's been another year of movie Reviews, Previews, Birthday Tributes and sadly a few obituaries along the way. In the last twelve months I have Posted 62 Reviews of the films I have seen at the Odeon, and I have Previewed 218 new release films to give you the inside word on what's hot (and perhaps what's not!) and coming to a movie theatre near you. I thank-you for you ongoing support of this humble little movie Blog that in recent weeks has seen my all time visits surpass 51,000 as our global reach expands. And so with a slew of new release films coming your way this week and in the weeks and months ahead, 2017 promises to be more of the same, but different! Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year, and I look forward to seeing you in 2017 at the movies and at this Blog. Happy New Year!

Turning to the week ahead, we have seven new release films to tease you out to you local multiplex. Kicking off with a WWII drama of a derring do intelligence officer teaming up with a French Resistance fighter in more ways than one; then a modern day take on the song and dance musicals of yesteryear that is already generating Oscar buzz; and then a bio-pic of influential musical talents of the '60's that helped define an era of what we listed to. We turn next to an Aussie outback story of a teenage lad and a stray dog who form a friendship in this prequel to a much loved film of a few years back. This is followed by a RomCom of an unlikely coupling of an extroverted Billionaire man and his introverted student girlfriend whose parents are hell bent on ensuring their relationship and pending marriage fails before it has begun. We then wrap up with two animated features that sees a strong return to form from the House of the Mouse with a Polynesian offering an adventure story of a highly spirited teenage girl paired up with a Demi-God to fulfil her quest; before we wrap up with this all star voice cast film of a struggling Koala looking to revive the fortunes of his once famed theatre by staging a singing contest to end all singing contests.

With seven features offering everything from war time drama, to nostalgic song & dance routines, to musical bio-pic, to romantic comedy, canine Aussie outback adventure and a couple of strong animated films you have every reason to see a movie during this festive holiday period. When you have done so, share your movie going experience with us here at Odeon Online by leaving your Comment below this or any other Post. As always your constructive, relevant and unbiased thoughts are warmly welcomed. In the meantime, enjoy your film.

'ALLIED' (Rated M) - Directed by Robert Zemickis and Written by Steven Knight based on a story he had been told some thirty years ago during his days around the US, which whilst not confirmed as being true, proved too good to be true not to make a film out of it. And so whilst the notion has been kicking around for thirty years or so, it is only now that his story has been committed to celluloid. Costing US$85M the film opened in the US in late November and has so far made back US$78M, and garnered generally positive reviews since, particularly for its two lead performers.

Here Royal Canadian Airforce Intelligence Officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) must travel to Casablanca to assassinate a German Ambassador. He is partnered up with French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard) who fled from France after her resistance group was compromised and killed. During their mission masquerading as man and wife they grow close, and following its success Max asks Marianne to join him back in England, where they settle down, marry and have a daughter together. Fast forward twelve months and Max learns from a Special Operations Executive, that Marianne is in fact suspected of being a German spy, having assumed the identity of the real Marianne, now long since dead. Max therefore needs to learn the truth about Marianne as their relationship is put to the test with the backdrop of war, suspicion, trust and love. Also starring Jared Harris, Matthew Goode and Lizzy Caplan.

'LA LA LAND' (Rated M) - this musical romantic dramedy Written and Directed by Damien Chazelle whose last Directorial outing was the highly acclaimed 'Whiplash' seems to have struck pay-dirt again with this follow up, the equally highly acclaimed 'La La Land'. Praised for its Direction, praised for its two principle leads and praised for its musical numbers, this film harking back to a bygone era of song & dance musicals, cost US$30M to make, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August this year, and saw its US release earlier this month so far taking US$21M. Telling the story of Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling) an aspiring jazz pianist who has dreams of opening his own Jazz Club and Mia Dolan (Emma Stone) an aspiring actress who makes espresso's at the film studios where she works to make ends meet. In their native Los Angeles, following a freak meeting and then being reunited some months later, the pair fall for each other bonding by their common desire to follow their dreams and pursue what they love in their lives. But as success starts to build for them both they are forced into making decisions that will pull at the framework of their affair, and the dreams they have worked together and supported each other in threatens to tear them apart. Also starring J.K.Simmons, Rosmarie DeWitt and John Legend. There is Oscar buzz around this film, so best add it to your list of must-sees!

'GIMME DANGER' (Rated M) - another musical, of sorts, but not as you know it. This bio-pic Written and Directed by Jim Jarmusch (having his second released movie in two weeks following the previously Previewed 'Paterson') is a tribute to quite possibly one of the most influential rock bands of the era - 'The Stooges'. Emerging onto the American music scene in the late '60's with a mix of rock, R&B, blues and jazz with Iggy Pop as the flamboyant, aggressive and powerful front man, The Stooges paved for the way for the punk scene and alternative rock that became the hall marks of the '70's and '80's music landscape. Jarmusch here presents an in depth documentary film charting the bands early rise to fame and notoriety with archival footage and interviews with Iggy Pop and the band members.

'RED DOG : TRUE BLUE' (Rated PG) - 2011's Aussie outback story of a loyal Kelpie/Cattle Dog cross that roamed Western Australia Pilbara mining region searching for his master was highly acclaimed, picked up numerous awards, toured the festival circuit and made back AU$21M from its AU$8M budget. Now in 2016 the follow up film has arrived. Based originally on the Louis de Bernieres book of the same name, this sort of prequel is written for the screen again by Daniel Taplitz and Directed again by Kriv Stenders. This time though the action is more kid-friendly as young teenager Mick (Levi Miller) is relocated from the big city to an outback town in remote Western Australia sometime during the late '60's. Mick is a kid all alone in the vast expanse of Australia's desert outback, and here he befriends 'Blue' the dog (played by Phoenix) whom he rescues one night during a storm. And here we have a friendship forged out of mud (literally) that see the two get up to all sorts of exploits, adventures and doubtless some danger along the way. Will this be as endearing as that first film - only you can decide! Also starring Bryan Brown, John Jarrett, Jason Issacs and Steve Le Marquand.

'WHY HIM' (Rated MA15+) - Co-Written for the screen and Directed by John Hamburg, and based on a story by Jonah Hill, Hamburg and Ian Helfer this RomCom cost US$38M to make and has among its producer credits Ben Stiller and Shawn Levy. Starring James Franco as Laird Mayhew a famous heavily tattooed extroverted billionaire who falls for Stephanie Fleming (Zoey Deutch) a student at Stamford University. When Stephanie's parents Ned (Bryan Cranston) and Barb (Megan Mullally) plan a visit to see her during the holiday break, what they don't plan on is meeting Stephanie's boyfriend Laird. Alarm bells begin ringing immediately for the over protective and disapproving Ned, who can't withstand Laird's freewheeling attitude and his colourful language. Things are further complicated when Laird announces to Ned that he intends to ask for his daughters hand in marriage in less than a week. And so the race is on for Laird to prove himself to Ned and Barb that he is a worthy, responsible, committed suitor for their daughter, and for Ned to ensure that Laird crashes and burns without a trace in the process.

'MOANA' (Rated PG) - from Disney Animation comes their first animated feature film centred around the people and culture of Polynesia, and with it comes critical acclaim and a Box Office haul that stands at US$295M since its Stateside opening towards the end of November. The story revolves around a young Polynesian girl named Moana (voiced by Auli'l Carvalho) who is being groomed to take over one day from her father - the Chief of the Island of Motunui. Moana is a head strong young thing and has different ideas. One day while collecting shells she is summonsed by the ocean itself to return an ancient relic to the island Goddess, Te Fiti. She sets out on her quest going beyond the forbidden waters of her island home, where she goes in search of legendary DemiGod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) to help her in her mission, and save her island home from a blight that has stricken it and threatens its very survival. Also starring the voice talents of Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Jemaine Clement and Alan Tudyk this film is likely to please all comers.

'SING' (Rated G) - made by Illumination Entertainment, this computer animated musical comedy is Written, Directed and stars the voice talents of Garth Jennings amongst an ensemble cast of notable others including Matthew McConaughey (as dapper koala bear Buster Moon), Seth McFarlane, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton, Reece Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Saunders. Buster Moon is the owner of a once grand and renowned music theatre that has fallen on hard times. Being the eternal optimist that he is, he hatches a plan to restore his beloved theatre to its former glory, and save his theatre from crumbling away around him. That plan involves staging the biggest singing contest the world has ever seen by offering a prize of $1,000, however, a printing issue sees the marketing fliers for the competition read $100,000! Featuring some 85 classic and well known songs by famous artists, and an original song by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande, this film is sure to get the feet tapping if nothing else. Costing US$75M to make, the film went on release in the US only last week and has so far made US$73M.

With something for everyone this cinema going week nestled nicely between Christmas and New Year there is once agin no excuse for you not to get out amongst it at your local movie theatre. When you have done so, remember to drop us a line or two, here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you in the coming week at the Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

LaLa Land

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 \ Two years ago, Damien Chazelle brought us Whiplash, a true charming and great film that got a lot of award buzz, basic story of a drummer, now he brings us another music based film, this time a musical, and this time, it looks like it might sweep awards season. Recently i viewed Sing Street, and that, paired with this, not only show that music based films are on fire right now, but in such a way that a smile is glued to your face. The film is set in modern times yet the clothing, music, the settings, their tastes & interests scream Old Hollywood. Much like the Artist is has the old timey feel, but even better, as that was supposed to be a silent film, that was a tribute to musicals of a bygone era, as soon at the film opened with an "old school" Summit Pictures logo, followed by Cinescope, i fell in love. The first musical number sets the tone, and the entire film is one giant whimsical piece of art, not seen since Birdman! The film is a journey of career paths & love, and how you must decide between happiness & happiness, you watch two struggling artists fall in love, then we see them both succeed. The film isn't safe either, it isn't all sunshine & coconut milk, it tells us like it is, we see art house theatres die, dreams crushed, opportunities slip, friendships not working and love not always conquering. Does the film exist in reality? Does any musical? Certainly not this one, hell we see two plains of existence,  and it is heart string pulling & tear inducing. I hope this film sweeps the Oscars, i know Manchester by the Sea has a chance, but to me, that seems like Oscar bait, i will still see it, but this is a film that will stand the test of time, it is truly in my opinion the best film of the year, i am a sucker for musicals, especially quirky & whimsy musicals with great choreographed dance numbers, vast sets & great aesthetic. I had a smile the entire time, and it is truly an inspiring piece of work, for both romantics & artists alike!

Doomed: The Untold Story of Roger Corman's Fantastic Four

Growing up i loved the Fantastic Four, my first Playstation game was a Fantastic 4 game, it kinda sucks now....hell a lot of the Fantastic Four sucks now. The comics are okay, but the cartoon is meh, the characters are kind of lame, and all the movies have sucked. Roger Corman is an inspiration, yet why give a schlocky low budget B movie producer the keys to a Marvel property? This doc explores it. The doc shows how Corman was brought the property, after Troma turned it down, Lloyd Kaufman respected Stan Lee too much to do a low budget version. Mark Ruffalo auditioned, but that is just trivia for you, as the film was a disaster, i have seen it, it is crap, but the real crap was why it was made, to retain rights, rights that went to Fox, a Fox that Avi Arad worked with, a Avi Arad that became top dog over Marvel properties, Marvel properties that went to various studios, various studios that made money, money that Marvel wanted, money that Marvel gained through in house producing, which lead to Disney buying the company. In a round about way, this film, layed out the foundation for Marvel we have today.

13 Hours(Basically my apology to Michael Bay)

Michael Bay is an odd one, i shouldn't respect him, but i do. He is a trash director with a budget, most that hate him, would love him if he was a low budget director. His first feature was Bad Boys, a fun Will Smith/Martin Lawrence vehicle, it had babes, explosions, all that good stuff that Bay would become known for, but everyone loved it. He then did a more subtle film, The Rock, it was a solid action flick and better crafted than Bad Boys, it wasn't until Armageddon where he developed the real Bay style. The first two, had the style, but after this, we knew the style, and in my opinion, Armageddon is his funnest flick. So now he is known as the big budget, flashy director with style, use it but make a respectable film like the Rock again, but a historical drama....make Pearl Harbor. Thus the hate began, and rightfully so, he made an abomination of a blockbuster, a travesty of a historical drama, and made a bunch of actors a laughing stock. Where does he go next? Return th your roots, do Bad Boys 2, and it was fun, but felt heartless, it was pure style over substance. He got a script which may have had substance in the Island, yet it too, just became a shell. If you are going to do a script a studio bought, might as well do a well known property, enter Transformers, which was a lot of fun, but doesn't hold up, it has every thing Bay, including tight shots on tight bodies, this is really where the net came unglued. How dare you make a film about our toys, boo this man, oh fuck off nerds, it is a silly concept, and a decent adaptation for a tentpole project, hell i love the Ninja Turtles, but it is still silly, and Bay produced a couple fun flicks(well one, the sequel). Transformers 2, rightfully, was crap, pure crap, and this is where ammo is picked up, i myself became jaded on Bay here, but thought maybe, just maybe this guy can make an awesome flick, well the third Tranformers would not be the answer but  the guy produced a ton of horror/exploitation remakes, so you knew he may have been a fan, and some like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre are underrated. Exploitation, is what these were close to, and his next film was indeed exploitation, Pain & Gain. Highly underrated film, great humor, great performances, and a sleazy vibe, will he keep this up? Post modern Bay? Nope, Transformers 4 was released and it  may have been the weakest entry, dude just needs better scripts, embrace what he is! 13 Hours to me, is not a great script, but it had all of Bay's signatures, and it hit the mark on all of them, it had style, explosions, fast cuts, it looks great, and it is actually pretty damn underrated this year, now i am not singing the praise of it, but this is the Bay i want, do flicks for around 50 million like this, but find better writers to work with, you are Michael Bay, you can pick em, fuck, Edgar Wright is a fan, have him hash you out a fanboy script and direct it. The dude has talent, he just needs the right path. As i type this i honestly gained more respect for him. I may even revisit the first Transformers just to see how i feel a third time(almost a decade after my last time). I doubt i will watch the sequels, but i will see the fourth as i truly do want this man to succeed.

The Fundamentals of Caring

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Netflix knocks it out with their series, but their films have been questionable, that is until now. The Fundamentals of Caring is a great coming of age/road trip film with wonder. Set out to see landmarks, meet a girl, befriend a pregnant lady, learn to pee standing up, eat a slim jim, enjoy the little things. Paul Rudd is great in this, the script is super witty and i am a sucker for films about life on the road, especially if it involves a ragtag group of characters. The feel has real heart, both in characters backstories & in discovery, this is a perfect film for everyone that says there is nothing good on netflix!

Sing Street

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Holy fuck, what an amazing film this is! For all the romantics out there that love New Wave & Post Punk, this is your shit! Jim Carney's Once is a folk masterpiece, the songs are great and the heart oozes in it, you can tell that it is close to his heart, his next music film, Begin Again, went from folk, to corporate rock and the film felt more corporate, his next music inspired film Sing Street, goes back to the roots. It feels smaller, it feels more indie, feels more raw(with a great soundtrack) and it feels more personal, even more so than Once, this here seems like Carney's high school years. The film has heart, is has the loss of family, the bond of brothers, the growth of friendship, the uncharted territory of girls, the discovery of great music, and the coming of age. The young cast, all of them, are fantastic, the original music is just as phenomenal as the soundtrack. The film also has whimsy in it, and it glues a smile to your face the film is well versed in the style of the 50s(character's love of Back to the Future) and the knowledge  of post punk, New Wave is spread throughout in a non pretentious way, this is the punk film i have been wanting! I rank it above Once, i loved every second of this film, this is must see, and i think it will be much talked about in top of the year lists online but sadly the brilliance will not get awards attention, but stick your middle finger in the air and fuck it, this is real great cinema!

Birthday's to share this week : 25th-31st December 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Kit Harrington does on 26th December - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 30, 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 25th December

• Sissy Spacek - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actress
• Nicholas Hope - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actor  

Monday 26th December

• Fred Schepisi - Born 1939, turns 77 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Steve Bisley - Born 1951, turns 65 - Actor
• Temuera Morrison - Born 1960, turns 56 - Actor 
• Steve Le Marquand - Born 1967, turns 49 - Actor | 
• Jared Leto - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actor | Producer | Director | Songwriter 
• Shane Meadows - Born 1972, turns 44 - Director | Writer | Producer | Actor
• Kit Harrington - Born 1986, turns 30 - Actor  

Tuesday 27th December

• Gerard Depardieu - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actor | Producer | Director | Singer  

Wednesday 28th December

• Stan Lee - Born 1922, turns 94 - Writer | Producer | Actor
• Denzel Washington - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actor | Producer | Director   
• Maggie Smith - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actress
• Noomi Rapace - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actress
• Sienna Miller - Born 1981, turns 35 - Actress

Thursday 29th December

• Patricia Clarkson - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actress | Producer
• Lilly Wachowski - Born 1967, turns 49 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Charlotte Riley - Born 1981, turns 35 - Actress
• Alison Brie - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actress | Producer
• John Voight - Born 1938, turns 78 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director
• Ted Danson - Born 1947, turns 69 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Oliver Hirschbiegel - Born 1957, turns 59 - Director | Writer
• Jude Law - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actor | Producer
• Danny McBride - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Diego Luna - Born 1979, turns 37 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer

Friday 30th December

• Bennett Miller - Born 1966, turns 50 - Director | Producer
• Tyrese Gibson - Born 1978, turns 38 - Actor | Producer | Singer | Songwriter
• Tracey Ullman - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Singer | Television Personality

Saturday 31st December

• Barbara Carrera - Born 1945, turns 71 - Actress
• Anthony Hopkins - Born 1937, turns 79 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer | Songwriter | Composer
• Ben Kingsley - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actor | Producer
• Taylor Hackford - Born 1944, turns 72 - Director | Producer | Writer
• James Remar - Born 1953, turns 63 - Actor 
• Val Kilmer - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer | Singer

Christopher Catesby Harrington was born in Acton, London, England, to mother Deborah Catesby, a former playwright, and father Sir David Richard Harrington, 15th Baronet and business man. The Harrington Baronetcy, of Ridlington in the landlocked East Midlands county of Rutland was first created in 1611 for James Harrington who lived from 1542 until 1614. Through his paternal grandmother, Harrington's eight-time great-grandfather was King Charles II of England. History lesson over, Harrington attended Southfield Primary School, and at age eleven the family moved to Worcestershire where he studied at the Chantry High School in Martley. His interest in acting was sparked at school where he preformed in several school productions. He went on to attend Worcester Sixth Form College where he studied Drama and Theatre, and following this at age eighteen he attended the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, from where he graduated in 2008.

Originally, the young Harrington had designs on becoming a journalist, war correspondent or cameraman. However, while at Drama School he landed a role in the National Theatre's adaptation of 'War Horse', and Harrington's performance was highly praised. This led quickly to another theatre production in 'Posh' in 2010 at the Royal Court Theatre. His first screen role came in 'Game of Thrones' as John Snow, with the show debuting in 2011 and quickly gaining a huge following, that sees Season 7 currently in production for a 2017 airing. The show has since become a worldwide phenomenon with Harrington's character so far surviving the first six complete seasons.

His first big screen role came in the supernatural psychological horror film sequel of the survival horror video game of the same name 'Silent Hill' from 2006. 'Silent Hill : Revelation' was released in 2012 and also started Sean Bean, Malcolm McDowell and Carrie-Anne Moss. Despite its moderate Box Office success bringing in US$53M off a US$20M budget, the film was panned critically. His first major role came in 2014 in the US$80M Paul W.S.Anderson production of 'Pompeii' which also starred Emily Browning, Carrie-Anne Moss again, Kiefer Sutherland and Jared Harris amongst others. 

In 2014 Harrington voiced the character of Eret in 'How to Train Your Dragon 2'. Featuring an ensemble cast of fellow actors providing their voice talents to this successful DreamWorks animated fantasy action offering the film returned US$622M from its US$145M outlay, spawning a recently announced third instalment in this franchise due for release in early 2019. That same year came another fantasy action epic offering 'Seventh Son' with Jeff Bridges, Alicia Vikander, Julianne Moore and Djimon Hounsou. The film made just US$115M from its budget of US$95M and was generally poorly received. Also that year was 'Testament of Youth' - the First World War drama based on the life of Vera Brittain who wrote the memoir of the same name. The film starred Alicia Vikander again, Emily Watson, Hayley Atwell, Taron Egerton and Dominic West. The film was well received but failed to recoup its US$10M budget.

'Spooks : The Greater Good' (aka 'MI-5') was a big screen adaptation in 2015 of the popular BBC Television series which aired from 2002 through until 2011. That year he also starred in a HBO Comedy film '7 Days In Hell' about a seven day tennis match opposite Andy Samberg and featuring a strong support cast of named actors and tennis players. He also appeared in the stage play 'The Vote' at London's Donmar Warehouse alongside Jude Law, Judi Dench and Timothy West in 2015, and this year appeared as Faustus in 'Doctor Faustus' at the West End's Duke of York Theatre.

Next up is Western thriller Directed by Martin Koolhoven 'Brimstone' with Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning and Carice van Houten. The film had its Premier at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival in early September this year, but is yet to get a wider release. Currently filming for a 2018 release is 'The Death and Life of John F. Donovan' for Writer/Director Xavier Dolan and also starring Natalie Portman, Thandie Newton, Jessica Chastain, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates and Michael Gambon with Harrington playing John F. Donovan.  

All up Harrington has twelve acting credits to his name including 50+ episodes on 'Game of Thrones' so far, with Season Seven currently in production. This year he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award as Outstanding Supporting Actor on 'Game of Thrones' and he has twelve other nominations and two award wins both for his work on 'Game of Thrones'. 

He has been romantically connected with fellow 'Game of Thrones' Actress Rose Leslie (Ygritte) since 2012. Earlier this year he took active part in a United Nations video for the Refugee Agency, UNHCR (United National High Commissioner for Refugees) to help raise awareness of the global refugee crisis. He took part with the likes of Cate Blanchett, Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jesse Eisenberg and Stanley Tucci. 

Kit Harrington - he has royal blood and the aristocracy coursing through his veins - in real life and on television; has become one of the most recognised faces on television; is a self confessed fan of the horror movie genre; is fearful of flying, needles and spiders; loves to party; and is clearly on the up, in demand and recognised for his talents on television, on film and in the theatre. Happy 30th Birthday to you Kit, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-