TiVoPlex
By John Seal
February 4, 2013
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Tuesday 2/5/13
2:45 AM Showtime 3
180 Degrees South(2010 USA): Ever fancy visiting Patagonia? I know I have, but I’m never going to make it there so this travelogue will have to do. Getting to Patagonia, of course, is the tricky part – especially if, like writer Jeff Johnson, you’re intentionally retracing the path of an adventurer who’d previously traveled there in 1968. Johnson’s journey is recorded in stunning detail by director and erstwhile surfer Chris Malloy, who blends traditional pretty pictures with a more contemporary eco-message.
2:50 PM HBO Signature
La Otra Familia(2011 MEX): Apparently they have crack babies in Mexico, too. In La Otra Familia (The Other Family), lil’ tyke Hendrix (Bruno Loza) has been dumped by druggie mama Nina (Nailea Norvind). Nina’s bestie Ivana (Ana Serradilla) steps up the plate, but when Texas beckons she passes the boy on to gay couple Jean Paul and Chema (Jorge Salinas and Luis R. "no, not that Luis" Guzman). Did you know gay marriage is legal in Mexico City? Neither did I, and apparently that doesn’t sit entirely well with the local Catholic church, who deny Hendrix a spot in their school when his new parents try to enroll him. Norvind’s performance in this touching, effective, and occasionally surprising film earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Mexican Oscars.
Wednesday 2/6/13
2:50 AM Starz
Where Do We Go Now? (2011 LEB-FRA-ITA-EGY): Yes, this is the first Lebanon-France-Italy-Egypt co-production I’ve ever written about. Directed by Nadine Labaki, Where Do We Go Now? relates the serio-comic struggles of a group of Christian and Muslim women working to negotiate the ethnic and religious shoals in a small Lebanese village. Labaki herself (who, it must be said, is a very handsome woman) stars as Amane, a villager trying to maintain peace after the local men decide their differences are too much to bear in silence any longer. The film would perhaps work better as straight drama (or even as straight absurdist comedy), but its heart is in the right place and the message is welcome.
10:00 AM Showtime 2
The Last Rites of Joe May (2011 USA): No, this isn’t a film about the declining days of German film director Joe May. This Joe May, played ferociously by Dennis Farina, is an aging grifter whose sell-by date has passed him by before he’s been able to make his underhanded fortune. Returning to town after an extended illness, Joe finds a lot of things have changed for the worse – including his living arrangements. Set in Chicago, this Cassavetes-style character study bears some similarities to the equally fine (if notably bloodier) Chicago Overcoat.
5:00 PM HBO2
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House (2012 USA): This brand new HBO documentary has two irresistible ingredients: the presence of Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side) behind the camera, and some very nervous clergy in front of it. Based on the case of a Milwaukee priest accused of a quarter century’s worth of child sexual abuse, Gibney’s film examines the root and branch corruption at the Vatican that has allowed the pedophilia issue to continue simmering for decades. I’m not sure why this film didn’t earn an Oscar nomination – perhaps it will qualify for next year’s prize? – but it's powerful, moving stuff. Also airs at 8:00 PM.
11:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Bright Victory (1951 USA): Every now and again, I have to dig a little deeper to find the films you need to know about. In an ordinary month, I wouldn’t give Bright Victory a second glance, but during 31 Days of Oscar it’s one of the few films airing on TCM that either isn’t already completely familiar to everyone or hasn’t previously been recommended by yours truly. Arthur Kennedy, always an underutilized talent in Tinsel Town, stars as a disabled World War II vet whose recovery offers serious challenges for himself, his family, and others. Directed by Mark Robson, the film provides an intelligent examination of many post-war social issues – and not only the ones wounded warriors had to contend with. Kennedy’s performance earned him a Best Actor nomination, and the film also features an outstanding supporting cast, including Julie Adams, Will Geer, Jim Backus, Peggy Dow, Richard Egan, Peggy Castle, Bernie Hamilton, and – in a bit part – young Rock Hudson.
Thursday 2/7/13
3:00 AM Flix
Out of the Cold (1999 EST-USA): Now this is exciting. Put your hands together, everybody, and welcome Estonia to the TiVoPlex League of Nations! And now our condolences to Estonia: sadly, your first TiVoPlex entry sucks, despite its good cast. Keith Carradine headlines as a Yank out of water who falls for an Estonian woman (Mia Kirshner) during the bad old days of the Nazi occupation. Did I mention she’s also Jewish? Yeah, that relationship could have some hurdles to overcome. Hackneyed and frequently fraught with historical error, Out of the Cold benefits solely from its remarkable collection of thespians, which also includes Mercedes Ruehl, Brian Dennehy, Judd Hirsch, and Kim Hunter. I guess it must have been a lucrative paycheck.
9:50 AM HBO Signature
Pescador (2011 ECU-COL): Written and directed by Sebastian Cordero – whose 2004 serial killer feature Cronicas impressed me mightily – Pescador is not quite as good, but still worth a look. Set in a small coastal town in Ecuador, the film stars Andres Crespo as Blanquito, a fisherman who gets caught up in the drug trade after a brick of cocaine washes ashore near his home. It looks like it could be Blanquito’s ticket to the big time, but if you suspect things don’t work out quite as hoped, you’re right. Despite its somewhat stale plot, Pescador benefits from Cordero’s crisp direction and a fine performance from Crespo.
10:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Deer Hunter (1978 USA): We’ve had plenty of false alarms in the past, but this time it’s really happening: an airing of The Deer Hunter in its original aspect ratio. This is a perfect opportunity to give the film – which I’ve never been impressed with on previous small screen viewings - the reassessment it deserves.
Friday 2/8/13
7:40 AM Encore Action
Nighthawks (1981 USA): I always get this film confused with 1978’s Nighthawks, a groundbreaking film about gay life in London. Sadly, 1981’s Nighthawks does not include scenes of stars Sly Stallone and Billy Dee Williams knocking boots (Stallone left sex films behind him - so to speak - after 1970’s Party at Kitty and Stud’s), but it is one of the taciturn one’s more enjoyable post-Rocky action flicks. Sly plays Deke DaSilva, a New York copper assigned with consensual partner Matthew Fox (Williams) to nail international terrorist Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer) before he can blow all of New York. I mean, blow up. There’s tons of hot, sweaty, muscle-y action and the cast also includes Joe Spinell, Nigel Davenport and...porn regular Jamie Gillis?!? Now my head is truly spinning. For the few heterosexual gents who’ve got this far, Persis Khambatta also shows up as Wulfgar’s colleague in terror.
Saturday 2/9/13
12:30 AM The Movie Channel
Slap Shot (1977 USA): Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of 1977’s Best Foreign Film award! No, really – Slap Shot took home the prize at the Hochi Film Festival, which until today I had never heard of. Was Slap Shot the only foreign film imported into Japan that year? I’m being a little harsh in my assessment, but gosh...there were definitely better films in 1977. Considered on its own merits, however, Slap Shot is a pleasant enough George Roy Hill-helmed diversion starring Paul Newman as the player/coach for a low-rent, semi-pro team of puck whackers. If you enjoyed North Dallas Forty or even Major League, you’ll probably get similar mileage from Slap Shot. Also airs at 3:30 AM.
Sunday 2/10/13
3:00 AM Encore Dramatic Stories
The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979 USA): Boy, we’ve got a lot of ‘70s movies this week. Here’s another pretty good one, starring Alan Alda as a United States Senator trying to derail a Supreme Court nomination. Alda co-wrote the film, so you can be sure his character is a bleeding heart liberal and his nemesis a right-wing nutjob. Also on hand: Meryl Streep as the woman who threatens to destroy Tynan’s marriage, Rip Torn and Melvyn Douglas as senatorial colleagues, and Merv Griffin as himself.