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Friday 12/23/11

2:45 AM HBO Signature
The Good Herbs (2010 MEX): Herb Jeffries? Definitely a good one. Herbert Ross? A decent director. Herbie the Love Bug? The less said the better. As for these good Herbs, they’re of the "how does your garden grow" variety - and their ability (or otherwise) to heal or halt the onward march of Alzheimer’s Disease. This Mexican drama is distinctly of the hippy-dippy variety, but there’s no denying that it’s a powerful and moving experience, especially if you’ve watched a loved one suffer through the slow motion horrors of this debilitating condition.

6:00 AM Sundance
What Would Jesus Buy? (2007 USA): Celebrity sighting! The Reverend Billy was at Occupy Oakland on December 12th, the day of the second Port shutdown. The man can preach, looks good in a white suit, and has an important message, too, much of which is conveyed in this still timely documentary. If you're not familiar with Reverend Billy, he's actually Bill Talen, an Andy Kaufman-esque performance artist who has assumed the persona of a Hellfire and brimstone preacher testifying about the evils of consumerism. If you've ever wanted to see someone exorcise the demons from Wal-Mart, this is your film. Also airs at 10:25 AM and 3:15 PM.

11:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
You Better Watch Out (1980 USA): Ready for some ho, ho, ho, horror? Written and directed by the mysterious Lewis Jackson (who has precious little else on his resume), You Better Watch Out stars Tony-nominated (really!) Brandon Maggart (father of Fiona Apple - really!) as Harry Stadling, a middle-aged sad sack whose big goal in life is to play Santa Claus. New York toy company employee Harry has about as much in common with Old Saint Nick as Ebenezer Scrooge, but when he dons the red suit one fateful Yuletide season he takes the job description a bit too seriously - especially the bit about who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. Let’s just say he begins delivering more than lumps of coal to the bad boys and girls! Maggart really sinks his teeth into his role, and though You Better Watch Out could probably be considered high camp (it’s a John Waters favorite, after all), you wouldn’t know it from the all-out effort he puts into it. Also known as Christmas Evil, this unforgettable cult classic makes its widescreen television debut this evening.

11:40 PM The Movie Channel

The Advocate (1993 GB-FRA): Colin Firth stars in this most unusual drama about animals on trial in 15th century France. Firth plays Richard Courtois, a Parisian lawyer who finds himself hired to act as counsel for a pig accused of murder. Did the pig do it? Courtois emphatically states not, but superstition, a grumpy magistrate (Michael Gough), and general anti-Gypsy feelings (the pig is the property of a local Gypsy woman) suggest otherwise. An excellent supporting cast, including Nicol Williamson, Donald Pleasance, and Ian Holm render The Advocate one of the week’s top picks - and believe it or not, there really were animal trials during the Middle Ages. No justice, no bleats! Also airs at 2:40 AM.

Saturday 12/24/11

12:45 AM Turner Classic Movies
New Year’s Evil (1980 USA): The bloody holiday season continues on TCM with this gruesome slasher flick about Diane (Roz Kelly), a disc jockey apprised of an unusual murder spree: a killer offing victims one-by-one as the New Year is rung in across each of America’s time zones. Even worse, Diane discovers she’s his intended final (west coast) victim. Will she keep working on her TV special and keep calculating votes for New Wave Song of the Year - or will she take a break to try and, y’know, save her life and stuff? It’s not very good (and nowhere near as much fun as You Better Watch Out), but New Year’s Evil also makes its letterboxed television debut tonight.

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