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Saturday 9/25/10

12:15 AM Turner Classic Movies
The Devil Within Her (1975 GB): A popular (or at least ubiquitous) title on home video, The Devil Within Her (also known as I Don’t Want to Be Born and, less commonly, Sharon’s Baby) makes its widescreen television debut in the TCM Underground this morning. Joan Collins stars as Lucy, a new mother who soon discovers that her sprog is…not normal. In fact, the little devil seems to have been possessed by the spirit of an evil dwarf who once tried to have his way with Mum, and swore vengeance after being spurned by her. Oh, those evil dwarfs. Considering the film was directed by Peter Sasdy (also responsible for superior Hammer chiller Hands of the Ripper, as well as sci-fi classic Doomwatch), this should be a better film than it actually is, but with Collins headlining and Ralph Bates, Caroline Munro, and Donald Pleasence co-starring, horror fans will still want to scope it out.

7:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
Hold That Line (1952 USA): In what was perhaps the inspiration for John Landis’ Trading Places, Hold That Line (series entry 25) sees the Bowery Boys sent to college as part of a bet between two toffs. Matriculating at fancy-pants Ivy U., the Boys will either acquire an education or drive the Dean crazy. Though this film is not, of course, to be confused with either Hold That Baby! or Hold That Hypnotist, I suspect there’s a doctoral thesis in here somewhere…why were the Bowery Boys always holding things?

5:00 PM HBO
Up In the Air (2009 USA): It wasn’t my favorite film of 2009 and I didn’t even find it particularly enjoyable, but there’s still a fair amount in Up in the Air to be admired and appreciated. George Clooney (who seems to be specializing in playing characters with unpleasant jobs, viz. this years The American) is predictably excellent as professional "executioner" Ryan Bingham, who travels the country laying people off. He’s matched scene for scene by Vera Farmiga as fellow sky citizen Alex Goran, whilst Anna Kendrick does quite well as the woman who threatens to destroy Ryan’s livelihood by reducing his role to that of video-conferencing coordinator. It’s a very good, solid film, though not perhaps worthy of all the Oscar nominations it snagged. Also airs at 8:00 PM, 8:15 PM, and 11:15 PM.

5:00 PM Showtime
The Hurt Locker (2009 USA): In a head-to-head showdown of epic television proportions - the biggest one, perhaps, since Gabe Kaplan and the rest of the ABC team fought their way to glory in the very first Battle of the Network Stars in 1976 - 2010’s winner of the Best Film Oscar makes its small screen premiere in the same time slot as rival Up in the Air. Of the films nominated, I thought The Hurt Locker was the best, but I was disappointed that Jeremy Renner didn’t win the Best Actor in a Leading Role gong for his performance as comfortably numb bomb disposal expert William James. It’s a remarkable performance in a great film - but I’m sure you already knew that. Also airs at 8:00 PM.

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