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Friday 07/18/08

4:30 AM Encore Love Stories
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984 USA): How many other sequels can claim to overshadow their cinematic predecessors in the way that Electric Boogaloo does? 1984's Breakin' was a plain dreadful effort to cash in on the early days of hip hop culture, and that's just what it did, to the tune of almost $36 million upon initial release - a lot of dosh in those days. Electric Boogaloo was immediately rushed into production for a Christmas-time release and barely grossed $15 million — substantially less than half of Breakin's take. So why is it that Breakin' 2 is now a cultural landmark (or punch line), and no one remembers the first film? I'd guess that it's a combination of three factors: the film's high camp '80s aesthetic, the nostalgic tug of old school hip-hop, and — perhaps most importantly — the pitch perfect assonance of the title. If you have another theory, please let me know — in the meantime, enjoy Electric Boogaloo this morning.


Saturday 07/19/08

12:45 AM Turner Classic Movies
Absolute Beginners (1986 GB): It's imperfect at best, but this wayward adaptation of Colin MacInnes' influential youth culture novel has sufficient points of interest to warrant induction into the TiVoPlex. David Bowie, hugely popular in the wake of his money-spinning Blue Jean LP, appears as ace face Vendice Partners, but the story really revolves around young photographer Colin's (Eddie O'Connell) efforts to win the hand of cat-walker Suzette (Patsy Kensit), who's fallen under the spell of the world's only straight fashion designer (James Fox). Directed by Julien Temple (The Great Rock n Roll Swindle), the film is burdened by gauche art design, weak original songs, and a phoned in performance from The Thin White Duke, but on the plus side of the ledger, there's impressive Oliver Stapleton cinematography, an enjoyable turn by Ray Davies as Colin's dad Arthur, and a memorable appearance by jazz hipster Slim Gaillard.

4:30 AM HBO2
Resolved (2008 USA): I recommended this high school debate documentary sight unseen when it debuted on HBO a few weeks back. Now that I've seen it, I can confirm that it's the best film yet made about this frequently baffling, oft maddening, and occasionally intellectually stimulating extra-curricular activity. The film focuses on a pair of African-American public speakers from Long Beach who attempt to subvert the debate paradigm, and makes for compelling and thought-provoking viewing. If you missed Resolved the first time, resolve not to miss it this morning.

11:45 PM Turner Classic Movies
You Can't Win 'em All (1970 GB): An obscure action-comedy from director Peter Collinson, You Can't Win 'em All stars Tony Curtis and Charles Bronson as a pair of ex-G.I.'s who find themselves in Turkey, hired by Osman Bey (the great Gregoire Aslan) to protect his three daughters during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. They're set to escort the girls to Smyrna, but unbeknownst to them, there's a shipment of gold along for the ride — and some scheming baddies out to get their hands on it. Though shot on location in Turkey, the film plays like a western, and, bar the apparent enthusiasm of Curtis, not terribly good. Also featuring Patrick Magee as Kemal Ataturk, You Can't Win 'em All makes its widescreen American television debut this evening.

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