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2:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Dangerous Mission (1954 USA): TCM’s website says this is a musical, but I beg to differ. It’s actually a police procedural starring Victor Mature as an undercover cop sent to Glacier National Park to prevent the murder of a witness critical to an East Coast criminal investigation. Said witness is, of course, a sweet young thing portrayed by Piper Laurie, whilst the hired gun sent to rub her out is none other than Vincent Price. Originally shot in 3-D, Dangerous Mission does its best to poke you in the eye with various appendages and sharp objects, but will leave most viewers underwhelmed. Also on hand: William Bendix and Dennis Weaver.

Sunday 3/10/13

11:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Made In U.S.A. (1966 FRA): Anna Karina’s last collaboration with director (and former paramour) Jean-Luc Godard, Made In U.S.A. features her as Paula Nelson, a private investigator on the trail of the person or persons responsible for the murder of her lover. That’s the quick and easy plot summary, but this being mid ‘60s Godard, the film defies easy expectations, avoids linear plotting, and is perhaps best described as a pop-art film noir based, very loosely, on The Big Sleep. It’s colorful and quite a bit of fun, but be prepared for your brain to hurt if you try to make sense of it all. Watch for Marianne Faithfull crooning her big hit As Tears Go By.

Monday 3/11/13

2:30 AM Starz In Black
Dare Not Walk Alone (2006 USA): I haven’t seen this documentary about the Civil Rights movement in St. Augustine, Florida, and reviews seem to be mixed at best, but I’m a sucker for non-fiction films. That means it earns a brief mention in the TiVoPlex. So here it is. Brief.

9:00 AM Flix
The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001 USA): It's minor league Coen Brothers, but that's better than 90% of Hollywood product, so The Man Who Wasn’t There is still worthy of a recommendation. Billy Bob Thornton manages to turn his over-acting meter down to zero for this one, as he portrays a dishwater-dull barber who gets involved with some dirty money and murder. Of course, there’s also superb cinematography from Coen regular Roger Deakins, who really should get an Oscar one of these days. I believed that when I first wrote those words ten years ago, and (five additional nominations without a win since) it’s as true than ever!

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