TiVoPlex
TiVoPlex for Tuesday, August 5, 2008 through Monday, August 11, 2008
By John Seal
August 4, 2008
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Tuesday 08/05/08
5:00 AM HBO Signature
Elsa y Fred (2005 ESP-ARG): Not to be confused with The Hollies' Charlie and Fred, Elsa y Fred are a pair of senior singles who meet cute in a Madrid apartment building. Fred (octagenarian Manuel Alexandre) is a seventy-something non-risk taker, whilst Elsa (China Zorrilla) is a feisty septuagenarian with a live for today attitude. They make beautiful muesli together in this thoroughly predictable but quite adorable romantic comedy from director Marcos Carnevale, and also scooped up numerous acting awards at Spanish-language film fests around the globe.
5:00 PM Encore Westerns
El Condor (1970 USA): A first-rate cast highlights this otherwise unexceptional western helmed by John Guillermin and penned by TiVoPlex fave Larry Cohen. The film stars ex-footballer Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef as a pair of ne'er-do-wells greedy for gold. In order to satiate their hunger, they ally themselves with a group of renegade Apaches and plan to filch millions in bullion from the titular Mexican military outpost. Of course, fort commander General Chavez (a miscast Patrick O'Neal) has something to say about their schemes, but is badly distracted by well-endowed mistress Claudine (Marianna Hill). Also along for the fun are Elisha Cook Jr., Iron Eyes Cody, and Eurotrash veteran Gustavo Rojo.
6:30 PM IFC
Novo (2002 SUI): Novo's primary point of interest is the presence of Eduardo Noriega (Burnt Money, El Metodo) in the lead role of Graham, a Parisian copy shop employee whose memory loss causes him to forget everything that happens to him within ten minutes of its occurrence. How he manages to hold down a job I'm not sure, but in addition to having a boss (Nathalie Richard) who constantly takes advantage of his disability, he also finds his love life hijacked by Irene (Anna Mouglalis), who enjoys playing with her lover's mental state in order to satisfy her own vapid desires. Novo plays like a cross between Memento and 9 1/2 Weeks - if that sounds like an enticing blend, you'll probably enjoy it.
9:00 PM Sundance
Pusher (1996 DEN): A Danish action movie? We're clearly not in Dogme-land anymore. Not only did Pusher stretch the po-faced parameters of Danish cinema, it also spawned two sequels, both of which will be airing on Sundance in the weeks ahead. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, Pusher stars Kim Bodnia as Frank, a skag salesman currently enjoying the benefits of his hard work: wine, women, song, and fast cars. Things take a turn for the worse, however, when the police catch him with a big bag of someone else's heroin, which they summarily confiscate. Thanks no doubt to soft on crime judges and liberal drug laws, Frank is soon back on the mean streets of Copenhagen trying to evade an unpleasant encounter with the smack's ostensible owner, a nasty Serb named Milo (Zlatko Buric). Will our anti-hero come a cropper in the land of The Little Mermaid? Will Lars von Trier intrude and make him sing a song to a kitchen worker stricken with Down's Syndrome? Tune in to find out!
Wednesday 08/06/08
7:00 PM Showtime
Naked on the Inside (2007 AUS): Turns out it's not just beauty that's skin deep, at least according to this rather unusual documentary. Examining the lives of six folks with body image issues (or five if Showtime is airing the edited for television version), Naked on the Inside dives beneath the surface and explores each subject's innermost secrets in occasionally discomfiting detail. There's the dancer with no legs, the fat activist, and the cross-dressing Sunday School teacher, and each reveals — well, just about everything, as does director Kim Farrant.
9:50 PM Sundance
Kiss or Kill (1997 AUS): An Aussie neo-noir with shades of Tony Scott's True Romance, Kiss or Kill stars Frances O'Connor and Matt Day as Nikki and Al, 30-something villains whose scam — blackmailing randy businessmen — goes off the rails when one of their victims ends up dead and some unwholesome truths are consequently revealed about a sporting legend. Fleeing from Adelaide to Perth, Nikki and Al soon find themselves pursued by detectives Hummer and Crean (Chris Haywood and Andrew S. Gilbert), as well as Zipper Doyle (Barry Langrishe), a 50-something footballer with a nasty skeleton in his closet. Though a bit over-reliant on jump cuts and shaky cam, this is an intelligent and well-acted thriller that takes the road movie in some new and unpredictable directions.
Thursday 08/07/08
6:00 PM IFC
Larry Flynt: The Right to Be Left Alone (2007 USA): One of the more repellent characters of his time, porn king Larry Flynt also happens to be a First Amendment champion with deep pockets and — after a failed assassination attempt that left him wheelchair-bound — a fearless attitude towards hypocritical politicians who legislate morality whilst engaging in all manner of sexual hi-jinks on the side. This documentary doesn't purport to tell his life story in full, but instead focuses on Flynt's day-to-day activities, which include working on a new issue of Hustler Magazine, delivering a speech at Harvard Law School (!), and explaining how women make better managers than men. Though the film neither condemns nor beatifies, it's definitely more positive than negative. One to avoid for the Andrea Dworkin crowd.
10:30 PM Flix
Alambrista! (1977 USA): Also released as The Illegal, Alambrista! (which actually translates as tightrope walker) relates the story of a Mexican man who illegally crosses the Rio Grande in order to make a better life for his family south of the border. Domingo Ambriz stars as Roberto, who hopes that Yankee dollars will enable him to provide for his wife and new child but quickly learns that he's just a tool in the hands of coyotes (one of whom is played by Ned Beatty) and employers alike. Directed by Robert M. Young (not the actor, but the helmer of the equally excellent Short Eyes), Alambrista! won the Golden Camera at Cannes in 1977, but quickly sank into oblivion thereafter. That's understandable considering it's a sympathetic take on one of America's favorite whipping boys, but the film comes highly recommended for those willing to overlook the protagonist's disdain for federal immigration laws. One to avoid for the Tom Tancredo crowd.
Friday 08/08/08
7:00 PM Sundance
Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico (2007 CAN): A mockumentary about the travails of a hard drinkin' country-western star, The Life and Times of Guy Terrifico is a distinctly hit or miss affair with just enough high points to earn it a brief mention in the TiVoPlex. Real-life singer-songwriter Matt Murphy plays the title character, an alt-country star whose penchant for over indulgence has led to an early death and, hence, a series of filmed encomiums and eulogies from the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Ronnie Hawkins, and Merle Haggard. Even at 90 minutes this feels a bit overlong, but there are enough good moments to make it worth a look, including a hilarious bit featuring a communion wafer.
8:30 PM Turner Classic Movies
They Only Kill Their Masters (1972 USA): Or, Family Pets Gone Wild! James Garner takes the lead in this ridiculous but strangely enjoyable thriller about a watchdog implicated in a series of murders. Garner plays Abel Marsh, a backwoods lawman who finds himself knee deep in doggy-do whilst wooing sexy animal trainer Kate Bingham (Katharine Ross) over a plateful of meatloaf. Also along for the canine capers: Hal Holbrook as a local veterinarian, Tom Ewell as one of Marsh's minions, and June Allyson as — a lesbian?!? Not quite as wacky as it sounds, They Only Kill Their Masters was a surprising hit on its initial release but now resides in home video hell, rendering it essential viewing this week, though perhaps not for the PETA crowd.
Saturday 08/09/08
10:45 PM Encore Dramatic Stories
The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006 GB): Ken Loach's superb tale of Irish brothers torn apart by war makes its American television debut this evening. Penned by perennial Loach collaborator Paul Laverty, the film is much more than a simple-minded paean to Irish republicanism, with emphasis placed squarely on the fratricidal struggles between aspiring doctor Damian (Cillian Murray) and dedicated IRA soldier Teddy (Padraic Delaney), who find themselves on opposite sides after the Irish Free State comes into being. Sticking closely to his humanist guns, Loach is unafraid to criticize the abject cruelties of either side, with depictions of Black and Tan sadism ably balanced by scenes of Republican torture, whilst reserving his harshest assessment for the Free State's new masters, who disdained the radical socialism of the IRA rank and file in favor of reactionary religious fundamentalism. Though not Loach's best film, The Wind That Shakes the Barley is an insightful and beautifully made picture that has important and timeless things to say about the lessons learned by the occupied from those who occupy them.
Sunday 08/10/08
1:00 PM Sundance
Gone (2007 AUS-GB): This week's third film from the Land Down Under is Gone, a thriller about a pair of British backpackers who make an unfortunate acquaintance in the outback of Australia. The couple are Alex and Sophie (Shaun Evans and Amelia Warner), who meet American weirdo Taylor (Scott Mechlowicz) when he offers them a ride. Willing to overlook his odd behavior if it saves them a little shoe leather, the twosome soon find themselves the target of Taylor's fiendishly malevolent mind games. Not unlike the similarly themed Aussie shocker Wolf Creek, Gone will have you reconsidering your next backpacking trip in favor of something a little less challenging — like perhaps a trip to the Sydney Opera House.
4:15 PM IFC
The Bridge (2006 USA): This documentary about suicide attempts from atop the Golden Gate Bridge was a real audience and critic-divider when it debuted at the 2006 San Francisco Film Festival, but count me firmly in the pro camp. Utilizing footage shot over the course of an entire year by two cameras shooting from dusk to dawn, director Eric Steel's film crew recorded almost two dozen successful suicides — and prevented a further six, as they immediately reported any suspicious behavior to the California Highway Patrol. There are elements of horror, despair, and even grim beauty in this powerful and gut-wrenching film, which in my opinion was easily the best documentary of 2006.
Monday 08/11/08
9:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
A Prize of Gold (1955 GB): A rarely seen Richard Widmark vehicle, A Prize of Gold stars the recently deceased actor as Joe Lawrence, an Army M.P. stationed in post-war Berlin. Lawrence falls for German refugee Maria (Mai Zetterling), who's barely surviving thanks to the thieving efforts of her street urchin son (Andrew Ray). When a shipment of purloined Nazi gold hoves into sight — destination, London — Joe decides to lend Maria a helping hand by skimming a few bars off the top, but begins to have second thoughts about his plan when co-conspirator Brian Hammill (Nigel Patrick) decides he wants a hefty slice of the pie. Unwisely shot in Technicolor, A Prize of Gold is a minor entry in Widmark's filmography, but he's always a pleasure to watch, and Patrick delivers a devilishly fine performance, too.
6:30 PM Sundance
Who Needs Sleep? (2006 USA): Made by erstwhile director Haskell Wexler — not really a household name since 1969's Medium Cool — Who Needs Sleep? is a pointed polemic about the dangers of overwork and lack of rest in the go-go world of modern-day moviemaking. Inspired by the death of colleague Brent Hershman, victimized in a fatal car crash fueled by 19-hour work days on the set of the film Pleasantville, Wexler made Who Needs Sleep? to persuade union bosses and studio bigwigs to adopt maximum 12-hour work shifts. (Though the legal work week consists of 40 hours by federal law, overtime rules allow on-set film crew members to consistently broach those limits—in contrast to rules in Italy, where no more than four hours of overtime a week are permitted.) While we learn that some filmmakers — such as the Coen Brothers and Clint Eastwood — don't abuse their crews in this manner, they're the exceptions to the rule. We tend to think of Hollywood as a place where spoiled, pampered brats gets the kid glove treatment, and while that may be true for a select few, the truth is that most men and women consigned to the credit crawl are often treated worse than animal actors when it comes to time off. Not one for the Right-to-Work crowd.