TiVoPlex
TiVoPlex for February 16 2010 through February 22 2010
By John Seal
February 15, 2010
Saturday 2/20/10
5:00 PM HBO
Frost/Nixon (2008 USA): It wasn't one of my favorite films of 2008, but I'll grudgingly acknowledge Michael Sheen's excellent performance as unctuous television host David Frost. As much as I like Frank Langella, however, I just didn't believe him as Nixon. Where was Dan Hedaya? Written for the screen by Oscar winner Peter Morgan (The Queen) and directed by Opie, Frost/Nixon is an entertaining (if far from revelatory) drama, and airs again at 8:00 PM.
8:05 PM Showtime
The Baader-Meinhof Complex (2008 GER): This German film was supposed to make its American television debut back in November, but didn't. I'll stand by (and repeat!) what I wrote then: In and out of American art-houses in the blink of an eye, this controversial German feature makes its small screen debut this morning. Directed by Uli Edel (whose journey from Christiane F. to The Little Vampire is one of the most unlikely in film history), it's the story of The Red Army Faction, Germany's radical urban guerrilla movement of the early 1970s. Led by Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck) and Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu), the RAF bombed, kidnapped, and assassinated their way through the decade, striking fear into the shrivelled hearts of heartless capitalists and greedy oligarchs throughout the Bundesrepublik. Bruno Ganz co-stars as the policeman in charge of bringing an end to their reign of terror and Johanna Wokalek scores points as Baader moll Gudrun Ensslin. The Baader Meinhof Complex was accused by some critics of glamorizing "terrorists"; I disagree, but understand that Edel's comfort level with elements of exploitation cinema could lead to such a (mis) interpretation. Perhaps it's time to watch Christiane F. again... Also airs at 11:05 PM.
Sunday 2/21/10
11:30 AM Fox Movie Channel
Dangerous Crossing (1953 USA): This enjoyable if routine Fox thriller stars Jeanne Crain as a new bride whose honeymoon doesn't go quite as planned. She and hubby John are about to set sail on a luxury cruise, but before the ship even leaves harbor, John goes missing—and to make matters even more complicated, his name disappears from the passenger list! Is she crazy...or is some nefarious plot afoot? You've seen the story before in 1950's So Long at the Fair, so no points for originality, but Dangerous Crossing is still perfectly watchable. Just think of it as an extra long episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
10:30 PM Cinemax
Rogue (2007 AUS): According to the brief synopsis on IMDb, Rogue tells the story of "an American journalist on assignment in the Australian outback (who) encounters a man-eating crocodile". So we've established that Rogue is probably not a Sarah Palin biopic...or is it? I haven't seen it yet, but you can't go wrong with a killer crocodile movie—especially one featuring Avatar's Sam Worthington as a lout in a speedboat. Also airs 2/22 at 1:30 AM.
11:50 PM Starz
O'Horten (2007 NOR): The occasion of a railway worker's retirement is the focus of this episodic Norwegian comedy-drama from delightfully named director Bent Hamer. Bard Owe stars as O(dd) Horten, now 67 and regretfully confronting retirement: he has no friends, never partakes in any extracurricular activities, and must end his conjugal relationship with the nice lady at the end of the Oslo-Bergen run. If you're favorably inclined towards Scandinavian quirkiness, give O'Horten a look: if you find it twee and annoying, change the channel. Also airs 2/22 at 2:50 AM.
Monday 2/22/10
5:45 AM IFC
La Pointe Courte (1956 FRA): Point(e)s of interest: this is Agnes Varda's first film, it was edited by fellow auteur Alain Resnais, and it features only two ‘real' actors, including much-beloved thesp Philippe Noiret. I've never seen it, but it's considered to be a precursor of the New Wave. Also airs at 11:00 AM.
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