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Friday 9/7/12

5:00 PM Sundance
Secretary (2002 USA): Probably not for all tastes, Secretary stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lee, a slightly disturbed young woman hired to be the personal assistant of lawyer Grey (James Spader). The two of them engage in a sado-masochistic sexual relationship, perhaps not a million miles away from the one detailed in Michael Hanecke's The Piano Teacher (2001). A solid if unspectacular indie cast, including Stephen McHattie, Jeremy Davies, and Lesley Ann Warren, support them. And I'm going to resist the temptation to make bad puns about taking dictation. Also airs at 10:45 PM.

Saturday 9/8/12

2:00 AM Encore Families
Wonder of It All (1973 USA): There were a lot of nature documentaries around in the 1970s, but they weren’t always cut from the same cloth. Many were family friendly (like this one), but sometimes you’d encounter one edging into gruesome mondo territory (I remember being traumatized at a big-screen showing of one such film, the title of which I’ve long since expunged from my memory). Wonder of It All, however, remains firmly in G territory. Supposedly shot on all seven continents over the course of seven years, it’s balm for the soul of those who love the cute and cuddly. Awww.

2:30 PM HBO
Klitschko (2011 GER): Pugilism enthusiasts should be all over this riveting documentary, but others will find value, too. The film follows the exploits of the boxing Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, as they take the pro circuit by storm. But they’re not your stereotypical knuckleheaded brawlers: they both have PhDs, love playing chess, and speak multiple languages. Don’t worry, though: the focus stays on the ring, where we see the Ukrainian lads batter a series of hapless opponents to bloody pulp. Also airs at 5:30 PM and throughout the month.

Sunday 9/9/12

9:20 PM Sundance
Zift (2008 BUL): Neither Zardoz nor Zotz, but Zift. Shot in the city of Sofia and set during the 1960s, Zift tells the tale of Moth (Zahary Baharov), a convict paroled after serving time for a crime he didn't commit. Imprisoned prior to Bulgaria's Communist takeover, Moth finds himself at sea in a country he doesn't understand and people who seem to have changed beyond recognition. It's a little bit noir, a little bit Lars von Trier, and impressively shot in widescreen black and white by DoP Emil Hristow.

Monday 9/10/12

9:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
Man in the Dark (1953 USA): This wacky pseudo-noir stars Edmond O’Brien as Steve Rawley, a villain who undergoes experimental surgery to remove the part of his brain that makes him commit crimes. I really like the idea of a section of one’s brain being like a New York City block populated by little men in stripy shirts and masks running around with swag bags and knuckledusters. All it takes is a little urban brain renewal to put an end to all that! As for Steve, the surgery is a success, but his old cronies don’t believe he’s on the straight and narrow and kidnap him in order to get him to spill the beans about where the last of his ill-gotten gains are stashed. Unfortunately, Steve’s operation has also stolen his memories of the moolah, as well as of loyal gal pal Peg (Audrey Totter). Originally shot partly in 3-D, Man in the Dark is followed at 10:45 AM by an even more obscure O’Brien vehicle, 1958’s The World Was His Jury, in which the rotund one plays a lawyer defending a ship’s captain on charges of murder.

2:00 PM Encore Action
Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14 (1995 USA-CAN): Sorry, there are three things I can’t resist: 1) Canadian action movies. 2 )Canadian action movies starring Stephen McHattie. 3) Any movie starring a former Top of the Pops presenter (in this case, Nia Peeples). Bingo!

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