TiVoPlex
TiVoPlex for Tuesday September 13 2011 through Monday September 19 2011
By John Seal
September 12, 2011
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Wednesday 9/14/11
5:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Story of Temple Drake (1933 USA): It’s going to be a short column this week: in fact, I don’t think I’ve seen such an unpropitious programming selection since last Christmas (the week between Christmas and New Year’s generally being the most fallow week of the year, TiVoPlex-wise). That said, there are a few truffles in the muck this mid-September, not least this surprisingly bold pre-Code drama from Paramount. Directed by the talented but now forgotten Stephen Roberts (he succumbed to a heart attack at 40), the film stars Miriam Hopkins in the title role, a well-to-do southern belle who finds herself in the slimy grip of bootlegger Trigger (Jack La Rue). Trigger has a hankering for young Temple, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants - but after having his way promptly loses interest and turns her into a woman of the night. Based on William Faulkner’s novel Sanctuary, this is as bold as a film could possibly be in 1933, and surely accelerated the drive towards stricter enforcement of the Code. Look for a brief glimpse of a very young John Carradine during a courtroom scene.
10:15 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Hoodlum (1951 USA): Real life bad boy Lawrence Tierney plays a movie bad boy in this rip-roaring, no holds barred bill-filler. Tierney is Vincent Lubeck, a certified hard-case and bonafide psychopath who ruins just about everything he touches - including sweet gullible young thing Eileen (Marjorie Reardon), a loose-lipped bank clerk. Vince wheedles the weekly armored car schedule out of her, and trouble naturally follows. That’s what happens to a fella when he grows up near the city dump! Co-starring Lawrence’s real life brother Edward as movie brother Johnny, The Hoodlum may lack polish but has grit to spare.
Thursday 9/15/11
1:30 AM HBO Signature
Shattered (1991 USA): This is the sort of film I would overlook in a "normal" week, but when the pickings are as thin as they are at present, Shattered looks like an adequate option. Tom Berenger stars as Dan Merrick, a horribly scarred car crash victim who’s also suffering from selective amnesia. Dan has forgotten all about wife Judith (Greta Scacchi), but falls in love with her again during the recovery process. When he starts flashing back to the accident and a nosy private eye (Bob Hoskins) starts poking around, however, things get interesting. Based on an excellent pulp novel by Richard Neely, Shattered is a more than reasonable timewaster.
4:05 AM Sundance
Worlds Apart (2008 DEN): Written and directed by Niels Arden Oplev - whose follow-up film was the completely and utterly different Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Worlds Apart is a coming of age drama about a religious teenager. Rosalinde Mynster plays Sara, a 17-year old Jehovah’s Witness who finds her faith tested when she develops a relationship with less than devout dancehall denizen Teis (Pilou Asbaek). To make matters more complicated, Sara’s father (Jens Splottag) has recently strayed from the path of righteousness into the alleyway of carnality - and mom (Sarah Boberg) is not about to forgive him his trespasses. Oplev’s film neither condemns nor proselytizes; it’s an outstanding and nuanced character study that was Denmark’s official Oscar entry in 2009, and though ultimately not nominated is well worth a look. Also airs at 1:05 PM.
Friday 9/16/11
7:30 PM Showtime 2
Triangle (2009 GB-AUS): It’s been a long time since we’ve had a Bermuda Triangle movie - I think the last one was 1998’s made-for-TV Lost in the Bermuda Triangle - so I’m relieved to report the genre hasn’t entirely given up the ghost. Triangle doesn’t come right out and say the word "Bermuda," but its Atlantic Ocean setting is certainly indicative of the cut of this geometric shape’s jib - and the film is, on balance, surprisingly good. You know the routine: boat sails into mysterious region, weird stuff happens, etc., but it’s all played straight by star Melissa George, who emotes convincingly as harried passenger Jess. Filmed in 2.35:1 Panavision, I’m hoping Triangle will be screening in its original aspect ratio tonight.
Saturday 9/17/11
8:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
Zorro Rides Again (1937 USA): Zorro’s grandson locks, loads, and mounts up once again in chapters 8 and 9 of this superior Republic chapter play.
9:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
Tarzan and the Trappers (1958 USA): The Tarzan series took a backwards step quality wise with this entry - actually three episodes of a television series that ultimately didn’t happen. Gordon Scott returns as the Jungle Lord, this time engaged in a game of wits with a big game hunter out to bag the biggest prize of them all: Tarzan himself. Yes, it’s yet another variation on The Most Dangerous Game theme, and far from the best one at that. To make matters worse, there’s even more recycled stock footage than ever. If you were to miss just one Tarzan flick, this would be one of the likeliest candidates.
1:30 PM Showtime 3
Dorian Gray (2009 GB): Thankfully not updated to the 21st century, this most recent adaptation of Oliver Wilde’s famous novel is pretty good (this week, "pretty good" is high praise indeed). Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian in, er, Prince Caspian) headlines as Victorian-era bad boy Gray, who finds that his profligate lifestyle does him no harm at all...though that self-portrait locked in the cupboard consistently tells a different tale. Somewhat surprisingly, this is not an exploitation film - though it has its gruesome moments, director Oliver Parker has made a career out of helming Wilde adaptations, and he generally sticks to frock flick formula here. That works to Dorian Gray’s advantage, as does a fine cast, which also includes Colin Firth, Ben Chaplin, and Fiona Shaw.
Sunday 9/18/11
3:00 AM Fox Movie Channel
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995 USA): Which power ranger is YOUR favorite? I know, it's hard to choose just one - but here's a great opportunity to narrow the field, as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers returns to Fox in widescreen this afternoon. As for the villains, the movie features highly regarded British stage thespian Paul Freeman (Hot Fuzz) as Ivan Ooze, an over the top baddy who looks a bit like an enraged California Raisin. When your significant other asks you why the heck you're watching Power Rangers, tell 'em it's all about the acting. It’s followed at 5:00 AM by 1997’s Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, which - believe it or not - is even worse.
4:30 AM The Movie Channel
Labyrinth (1986 GB): Dance, magic dance! Ah, nothing personifies bad '80s hairstyles better than Labyrinth, in which David Bowie proudly wears an outrageously spiky Limahl-style wig atop his dome. Surprisingly, his character is not the lead singer of a hair metal band, but Jareth the Goblin King, a wicked fellow who kidnaps toddler Toby (Toby Stroud) at the behest of annoyed baby-sitting sister Sarah (Jennifer Connelly, in only her fourth feature). Sarah regrets her decision almost immediately and sets out to rescue little brother, but must negotiate the treacherous titular maze before midnight, when young Toby will be permanently transformed into a goblin himself. This is actually an above average fantasy feature and is airing this morning in widescreen, but oh...that fright-wig is an awful distraction. Also airs at 7:30 AM.
Monday 9/19/11
6:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
Redemption (1930 USA): Poor John Gilbert made his talkie debut in this MGM feature and never recovered. Gilbert plays Fedya, a Russian seducer whose life takes a turn for the tragic after he dumps wife Lisa (Eleanor Boardman) for fiery gypsy Masha (Renee Adoree). It’s a typically well-mounted Metro production ably directed by Fred Niblo, but hampered by many of the typical problems of early talkies: the camera rarely moves and the sound is bad. None of that was Gilbert’s fault, of course, but he immediately earned a reputation as a bad talkie actor, and within a few years his career - and his life - had ended. Conrad Nagel, Tully Marshall, and Mack Swain provide solid if unspectacular support.
5:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Dr. Coppelius (1966 ESP): This film debuted on TCM several months ago, but much to my chagrin I missed it. Consequently, I can’t tell you much about it, though it does star Walter Slezak as the title character, a puppet-master who spends his days constructing life-size dolls. Sadly, the film doesn’t seem to be airing in widescreen, but it’s such a rare title that I’m simply grateful to have another opportunity to see it.