TiVoPlex
By John Seal
September 6, 2010
6:15 AM IFC
Where God Left His Shoes (2006 USA): Does John Leguizamo ever sleep? Here’s another entry in the man’s filmography (already up to an impressive 67 titles, and he works on stage and television, too!), a better than you’d expect indie about a washed up boxer trying to take care of his family. Set during a bitterly cold Big Apple yuletide season, Where God Left His Shoes tells the story of Frank Diaz (Leguizamo), whose career in the ring has slowly but inexorably ground to a halt. With his family now facing eviction and life on the streets, Frank hopes to get them into low-income housing - but in order to qualify must prove that he’s gainfully employed. The multi-talented Leguizamo is excellent as illiterate Frank, who has one day to find a full-time job that pays just enough but not too much, and he’s well-supported by young David Castro as stepson Justin, who accompanies Dad on his job search. Also airs at 12:00 PM.
Thursday 9/09/10
3:00 AM Sundance
This is Not a Robbery (2008 USA): You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! This is Not a Robbery relates the real-life misadventures of nonagenarian felon J.L. Rountree, who took to a life of crime at the ripe old age of 87 and kept robbing banks until he was finally arrested in Abilene, Texas in 2003. The film tries to explain why a once successful businesman and all around regular Joe would suddenly develop a taste for armed robbery in his late 80s, and includes an interview shot with the irascible Rountree shortly before his death in 2004 at the age of 92. Also airs at 2:00 PM.
10:50 PM Sundance
Last Stop 174 (2008 BRA): Not to be confused with the similarly titled documentary Bus 174, Last Stop 174 is the dramatized account of events that transpired aboard the aforementioned Rio de Janeiro vehicle on June 12 2000. Directed by Bruno Barreto (Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands), the film focuses on Alessandro (Michel Gomes), the hop-head who hijacks Bus 174 and ensures himself a place in the Brazilian Hall of Infamy. Much is made of Alessandro’s incredibly crappy childhood and the film veers dangerously close to poverty porn territory at times, but Barreto is skilled enough to avoid the worst excesses of that deservedly maligned "genre."
Friday 9/04/10
9:00 PM IFC
Coffin Joe: The Strange World of Jose Mojica Marins (2001 BRA): If you missed this amazing documentary when it debuted on IFC in June, don’t miss it now! For fans and neophytes alike, The Strange World of Jose Mojica Marins is a great compendium of clips (many from impossibly rare features Marins made early on) and interview footage that really captures the flavor and the feeling - not to mention the philosophy - of Coffin Joe, still a going concern after all these years. Incidentally, I’m fairly certain this is the first TiVoPlex to feature two Brazilian films in one week. Whoopee!
Saturday 9/05/10
7:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
Let’s Go Navy! (1951 USA): The Bowery Boys had been in the Army only months previously (in Bowery Battalion) and the Air Force was still relatively new in 1951, so I guess the Navy was, logically, the next branch to suffer the little man-children. Series entry 23 finds our heroes joining up to track down the crooks who stole some cash belonging to the wonderfully named Bowery Chowder Party charity. A better than usual supporting cast, including a slumming Allen Jenkins and Tom Neal, elevate this one a notch. Oddly enough, Let’s Go Navy! currently has no IMDb reviews, but that will change with this airing.
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