TiVoPlex
TiVoPlex for Tuesday, September 23, 2008 through Monday, September 29, 2008
By John Seal
September 22, 2008
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Tuesday 09/23/08
6:35 PM Sundance
The Planet (2006 SWE-NOR-DEN): Fans of Godfrey Reggio's Koyaanisqatsi series will go ga-ga over this Scandinavian feature. Shot in more than 20 countries over the course of two years, The Planet is a visually stunning indictment of the mistreatment suffered by our home planet at the thoughtless hands of humankind. Filled with footage both shocking and beautiful, the film bolsters its case with substantial segments from authoritative interviewees, including Guardian journalist George Monbiot and evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond. The Planet may not have a Philip Glass score, but it's a remarkable viewing experience nonetheless.
Wednesday 09/24/08
1:15 PM Turner Classic Movies
Lady For A Day (1933 USA): TiVoPlex fave Warren William stars in this above average Columbia comedy as Dave the Dude, a well-heeled Manhattan gangster who takes Times Square street vendor Apple Annie (May Robson) under his wing in order to give her the My Fair Lady treatment. Dave (who's no relation to Alaskan First Dude Todd Palin) considers the working-class lass a good luck charm, whilst Annie has been sending letters home boasting of her position in high society and now faces an imminent and inconvenient visit from her daughter. A Runyonesque tale (based, appropriately enough, on a story by Damon Runyon) directed with style and flair by the as yet uncalcified Frank Capra, Lady For A Day is a delightful Depression-era fantasy with a marvelous supporting cast, including Glenda Farrell, Ned Sparks, Nat Pendleton, and Guy Kibbee.
10:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Boss (1956 USA): John Payne takes the lead in this obscure period drama about political corruption in middle America. He plays Great War vet Matt Brady, who's returned to his hometown, now the bailiwick of elder brother Tim (Roy Roberts). Though his sibling is more interested in partying than patronage, Tim intends to groom Matt to inherit his position as ward boss — and when he unexpectedly drops dead of a heart attack, Brady the younger gets the job a little earlier than anticipated. Soon enough he's fixing elections, knocking heads together, and cutting unsavory deals that attract the attention of crusading newspaperman Stanley Millard (Rhys Williams). Written by the blacklisted Dalton Trumbo (fronted for this project by Ben Perry), The Boss is a middling feature highlighted by a surprisingly strong effort from the generally bland Payne.
11:35 PM Encore Dramatic Stories
Faithless (2000 SWE-FIN-NOR): A dour drama written by Ingmar Bergman and directed by protege Liv Ullmann, Faithless features Erland Josephson as Bergman (hmm), an elderly Swedish writer trying to complete his latest work with the assistance of imaginary character Marianne (Lena Endre). The film contrasts the creative process of Bergman's 'real' life with the 'fictional' life of Marianne, an actress engaged in a torrid affair with David (Krister Henriksson), the brother of her husband Markus (Thomas Hanzon). An autobiographical confession by the genuine Bergman (you know, the REALLY real one), who had engaged in a lengthy, soul-sapping affair during the 1940s, Faithless delivers the goods for those anxious to get a late in life peek into this renowned filmmaker's psyche.
Thursday 09/25/08
2:15 AM Starz
Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains (2007 USA): Until quite recently, Jimmy Carter generally got a raw deal from his fellow Americans. Perceived for decades as a wimp who lacked the steely-eyed certitude to be an effective President, Carter's reputation finally started to improve during the 1990s, when his charity work began to supplant the failed Iranian hostage rescue in the nation's collective memory. This hagiography marks a new high water mark for The Man From Plains, whose concern for human rights and peace issues still rankles the National Review crowd — who somehow continue to overlook Carter's role in escalating the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan. Director Jonathan Demme's film follows the former President during a coast-to-coast publicity tour supporting his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, and generally avoids both the sin of idolatry AND the curse of Billy Beer, which receives nary a mention. Also airs at 5:15 AM.
4:15 AM Turner Classic Movies
Saturday's Hero (1951 USA): College athletes who neglect their studies in favor of gridiron shenanigans are the subject of this sobering and surprisingly serious Columbia drama. Hunky John Derek stars as Steve Novak, a highly touted high school leatherhead who earns a generous college scholarship — only to learn that it comes with some strings attached. Steve keeps playing through the requisite cuts and bruises — but when coach insists he play through a concussion and the death of his father, things take on a new complexion. Penned by Sidney Buchman (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), Saturday's Hero casts a baleful eye on the college sports money machine, and co-stars Donna Reed, Sidney Blackmer, and Aldo Ray.
Friday 09/26/08
3:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
Guilty Hands (1931 USA): Lionel Barrymore stars as a lawyer whose moral certitude gets put to the test in this ridiculous but enjoyable drama from director W. S. Van Dyke. Barrymore plays Richard Grant, a former D.A. who believes in justifiable homicide — and dabbles in it himself when cad Gordon (Alan Mowbray) pursues daughter Barbara (Madge Evans). Grant rubs out the loathsome lothario and tries to make the death look like a suicide — but Gordon's former lover Marjorie (Kay Francis) finds evidence proving otherwise, putting Richard in a very awkward position indeed. An ultimately absurd melodrama, Guilty Hands is followed at 4:15 AM by Allotment Wives (1945), a very rare Monogram noir featuring a past-her-prime Francis as a black widow knocking off unwitting soldiers in order to gain access to their veteran's benefits. It co-stars the great Otto Kruger and is much better than you might think.
9:00 PM IFC
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991 USA): The sixth and worst entry in the Nightmare on Elm Street series makes its widescreen American television premiere tonight. This time out Freddy's ready to move on to a new neighborhood, as he's pretty much finished off the Elm Street kids, but must first contend with the threat posed by his mysterious (and previously unknown) child. Originally screened in 3-D, The (Not Quite) Final Nightmare also airs 9/27 at midnight.
Saturday 09/27/08
12:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
The Giant Claw (1957 USA): Perhaps the most memorable creature feature of the 1950s takes to the air this morning on TCM Underground. Jeff Morrow stars as Mitch MacAfee, a pilot who spies a huge UFO during a routine flight and dutifully alerts the authorities. His warnings are initially laughed off as the ramblings of a fool, but soon enough the truth is revealed: the object has actually brought a massive creature composed of dangerous anti-matter to Planet Earth. And this is no ordinary massive creature: it's a flying chicken that appears to be a puppet with strings attached! This once seen, never forgotten classic hasn't had a nationwide airing since the halcyon days of TNT's 100% Weird, so be sure not to miss it. Satisfaction guaranteed!
Sunday 09/28/08
5:00 AM IFC
Black Cat (1968 JAP): This superior Japanese horror flick still hasn't made its way to domestic DVD, so unless you're PAL enabled you'll want to record it tonight. Originally entitled Kuroneko, the film was the second genre effort of director Kaneto Shindo, whose 1964 effort Onibaba had already set the bar pretty high. Set during medieval times, the story begins with the rape of a mother and daughter by roving samurai, who set their house afire in order to destroy the evidence of their crimes. The women are subsequently saved by the titular black cat, which (don't ask how) resurrects them as bloodsucking demons who seduce unsuspecting soldiers, drain them of life, and dump their bodies in the local woods. The Mikado despatches one of his finest men to investigate the disappearances — but his samurai also happens to be a blood relative of the women, setting up a final act tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. Beautifully lensed in black and white, Black Cat is an unheralded classic of supernatural cinema, and should be considered essential viewing for anyone who appreciates Japanese film or simply enjoys a good scare.
9:00 PM Sundance
Re-Cycle (2006 THA): Season 3 of Sundance's Asia Extreme series continues with this noteworthy effort from Thailand's Pang brothers, Oxide and Danny. The film stars Angelica Lee as Tsui Ting-Yin, a successful writer looking to broaden her horizons by switching from romance novels to thrillers. Her latest effort has her stymied, however, and her writer's block won't give ground until she crosses over from reality to the dark world of imagination, which unsurprisingly looks nothing like Ingmar Bergman's. She befriends a young girl and an elderly man and the trio try to avoid the ghastly ghoulies inhabiting her brain — and though Re-Cycle's plot is thin and frequently derivative, it features eye-popping visuals that will appeal to admirers of such films as MirrorMask, Pan's Labyrinth, and The Cell.
9:30 PM IFC
Nightmare on Elm Street (1984 USA): Better late than never, I guess. The first and best of the Freddy Kruger films finally shows up in widescreen this evening. It remains one of the more disturbing films of its time and puts even the good sequels to shame. Also airs 9/29 at 1:30 AM.
Monday 09/29/08
3:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
Pirates of Blood River (1962 GB): Hoist the skull and crossbones, me hearties — it's pirate day on TCM, commencing with this enjoyable Hammer production featuring Christopher Lee as LaRoche, an eye-patched villain intent on unearthing the treasures he believes are hidden near a Huguenot village somewhere in the New World. LaRoche enlists randy young Jonathan Standish (Kerwin Mathews) to his cause, figuring the boy wants to get his own back on puritanical father Jason (Andrew Keir), who has banished the lad for cavorting with a local maiden. When the treasure proves elusive, however, LaRoche opts for the No More Mr. Nice Guy routine — and Jonathan must decide where his true loyalties lie. Long available only in pan and scan format, Pirates of Blood River finally got a DVD release in its original aspect ratio this summer, and now makes its widescreen television debut, revealing every penny-pinching inch of Hammer's admittedly mediocre production values. It's followed at 4:45 AM by Morgan the Pirate (1961), an Italian made swashbuckler starring Steve Reeves as the titular scourge of the seas; at 6:30 AM by The Boy and the Pirates (1960), a wholly inadequate adventure from director Bert I. Gordon; and at 9:30 AM by Pirates of Tripoli (1955), a Sam Katzman-produced effort with an intriguing cast, including Paul Henreid, Mel Welles, and John Miljan.
6:00 PM HBO
Taxi to the Dark Side (2007 USA): For once, the Academy didn't chicken out. This was 2008's Academy Award winner for Best Documentary, giving well deserved recognition to director Alex Gibney, whose 2005 effort Enron: The Smartest Guys In the Room was robbed of a gong by the wonderful, charming, and somewhat slight March of the Penguins. Taxi to the Dark Side chillingly and calmly details the horrors of the torture regime we now live in and silently condone, and should have you writing your congressman or marching on Washington as soon as the credit crawl is over. If not sooner. Also airs at 9:00 PM.