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Thursday 11/22/12

1:00 AM Sundance
Inspector Bellamy (2009 FRA): Gerard Depardieu - or as I prefer to think of him, Ol’ Potato Nose - headlines this enjoyable French police procedural. The man with the massive proboscis plays the title character, a copper whose work intrudes on his holiday when he and wife Francoise (Marie Bunel) find themselves being followed by a mysterious stranger. The stalker is Gentil (Jacques Gamblin), who has murdered a man named Leullet and...well, the less you know about the plot the better, really. The last film directed by Claude Chabrol before his death in 2010, Inspector Bellamy is unlikely to tax your brain cells too much, but is an enjoyable enough shaggy dog tale anchored by Depardieu’s unfeasibly large schnozzola.

7:35 AM Encore Dramatic Stories
Bridge of Time (1997 USA-CAN): Normally I wouldn’t lower myself quite this far, but it’s a pretty thin week in the TiVoPlex, so Bridge of Time gets a mention. Inspired by Lost Horizon, this made for TV movie stars Susan Dey as Madeleine Armstrong, an NGO worker who finds herself lined up to inherit the throne of a local guru after her plane crashes in a remote region of Africa. Foolishly believing her aid work is more important than her predetermined destiny, Madeleine leaves the secret city - only to regret her decision and come to terms with her future as a spiritual leader. Bridge of Time is as goofy as it sounds, but there’s precious little to enjoy here beyond a small role for Cicely Tyson and some decent photography. Director Jorge Montesi went on to direct some episodes of The Chris Isaak Show, which I guess is something he can be proud of.

Friday 11/23/12

11:15 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Tempest (1979 GB): Fans of bad boy director Derek Jarman will be thrilled at the opportunity to see his version of Shakespeare’s greatest play (well, in my humble opinion, at least) on TCM tonight. Bard traditionalists may wish to approach with caution, however, as this is (not unsurprisingly) a somewhat less than, ahem, straightforward take on the story. Shot at scenic Stoneleigh Abbey in Warwickshire, the film reimagines The Tempest as a homoerotic romp with punk overtones (primarily courtesy Toyah Wilcox, here cast as Miranda). The superb cast also includes Peter Bull, Heathcote Williams, and unforgettable 75-year-old American singer Elisabeth Welch, whose version of Stormy Weather brings the film to its unanticipated campy conclusion. Not to be missed (unless you’re a hidebound stick-in-the-mud), The Tempest is followed at 1:00 AM by Derek (2008), an excellent Tilda Swinton-narrated documentary tribute to Jarman’s work.

Sunday 11/25/12

1:00 AM Sundance
Shadows in the Palace (2007 ROK): If you enjoyed Tsui Hark’s Detective Dee and the Blue Flame, you may get similar mileage from this Korean mystery set during the Chosun period (that’s 1392 – 1897 for us ignorant westerners). Written and directed by Mi-Jung Kim, the film stars Jin-Rhie Park as Chun-Ryun, a nurse who suspects that a death reported as suicide was more likely a case of murder. A blend of frock flick, palace intrigue and mystery tropes, Shadows in the Palace is a bit low on thrills, but excellent writing and a fine (and predominantly female) cast will keep you watching and guessing.

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