Due to computer & cricket problems pictures will only appear later in the week
Sorry about that
K
Thursday March 24 Other People’s Money [SABC1.22.30]
Friday March 25
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan [M-Net.21.30]
Rapid Fire [e.tv.20.30]
Saturday March 26 Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience [M-Net. 11.00]
Bandslam [M-Net. 19.00]
The Messenger [M-Net.20.55]
Road to Perdition [M-Net.03.00]
Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll [SABC3.02.30]
Backbeat [SABC3.0030]
Sunday March 27
A DIFFERENT TAKE ON 221 B BAKER STREET
Sherlock Holmes [M-Net.20.05]
Maverick [SABC1.22.00]
The Company [SABC3.23.00]
Lucas [e.tv.22.05]
Monday March 28
Zero
Tuesday March 29
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan [M-Net.11.00]
Wednesday March 30
Bandslam [M-Net.11.00]
Crank : High Voltage [M-Net.22.30]
The Messenger [M-Net.03.00]
BERRY WITH KEITH RICHARD
Last week I was begging for more documentaries, not for a moment believing that anything would actually happen. Well, surprise, surprise, up pops Taylor Hackford’s Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll [SABC3.Saturday.02.30], a film made to commemorate the Great Man’s 60th birthday. Berry is still going; a little frail now, aged 84.
A GREAT FAVOURITE OF MINE- LINDA RONDSTADT
Rock royalty do him proud; they are all there, Keith Richard who produced the concert, Etta James (a stable mate from Berry’s years at Chess) Eric Clapton, Linda Rondstadt.
THE INTERCHANGEABLE EVERLY BROTHERS
As well as interview footage with Bo Diddley, Bruce Springsteen, Little Richard, Phil and Don Everly and Roy Orbison. The movie is long, but worth every minute, a marvelous chance to see and hear just how rock learned to roll.
IN THE BEGINING...
If you missed Backbeat [SABC3.Saturday.00.30] a few weeks back, see it fresh, if only to tie in the influence that Berry, Little Richard etc. had on the embryonic band that was to become the Beatles. Every decade or so some band is hyped as the New Beatles or … they’re going to be bigger than the Beatles, that publicity ploy has never worked, and it never will.
JOE AND HIS BROTHERS
The naughties turfed up Jonas Brothers, three good looking donkeys, who wore purity rings and smiled in triplicate. All the rage for a while, the obligatory movie was called Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience [M-Net.Saturday.11.00], no 3D and every little charisma, no wonder they were showered with Raspberry and other awards, including my favourite, Best Duo of the Year: any two Jonas Brothers!
THIS PHOTO COULD ONLY DATE FROM THIS CENTURY!
To prove that I’m not that geriatric, there is a rather good pop movie floating around, with well timed songs and a great performance from Gaelan Connell, the movie is called Bandslam [M-Net. Saturday. 19.00 and Wednesday. 11.00].
A BEMUSED JOHN LENNON WITH JULIAN AS A BABY
In the defense of young stars; most of the musical heights have already been scaled. Anyone starting out today must have something really original to make a lasting impression .Even more difficult and sometimes dangerous is being a second generation star. Many have tried to follow in well worn footsteps, few have succeeded.
JULIAN TRYING TO LOOK LIKE DAD
Where, for example is Julian Lennon, very much around at the time of the Chuck Berry tribute, he certainly sounded like Dad, albeit singing through a shower cap, but his solo career was over before it really began.
MARTIN AND CHARLIE SHEEN
Martin Sheen is a fine actor; his sons Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen have both had acting careers, to a greater or lesser degree. Emilio directs these days, while Charlie’s major implosion is tasty tabloid fodder right now.
THE SAD CASE OF COREY HAIM
Before he became a parody of himself, Charlie and Corey Haim appeared in a high quality coming of age flick called Lucas [e.tv.Sunday.22.05]. This sort of movie is usually trash of the top water; Lucas is rather good; sad to watch though; Haim died young, while Sheen is still out there, making a right twit of himself.
BRUCE AND BABY BRANDON; A MUCH HAPPIER PAIR THAN THE LENNONS
Brandon Lee didn’t implode, he just got unlucky. He was being groomed to reincarnate father Bruce Lee. The young man certainly was better looking than his father, and almost as lithe. While making a film called The Crow, fate had other plans; a gun that wasn’t loaded, actually was and Lee was fatallyhit, in the abdomen. Rapid Fire [e.tv.Friday.20.30.] was made some two years before Lee Jnr’s untimely death.
DAVID CARRADINE WAS SUPERB AS WOODY GUTHRIE
Long serving Western star, John Carradine, had a crop of acting children, David, the eldest, was a star, off and on for years; in the 70's,he played folk legend Woody Guthrie and later worked with Tarantino.
JASON STRATHAM
Just before he died under odd circumstances, he was in Crank: High Voltage [M-Net.Wednesday.22.30], a silly sequel to a silly movie, starring Jason Stratham, who has often worked with Guy Ritchie [one of the most difficult things next to being a child of a superstar is being married to one, I guess.)
JUDE AND BOB
Ritchie really took a big bite when he decided to reboot Sherlock Holmes [M-Net.Sunday.20.05], starring another second generation man with second generation problems, Robert Downing Jnr. Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes reinvents both Holmes and the good doctor, here played by Jude Law.
SIDNEY PAGET CREATED THE HOLMES AND WATSON IMAGE WAY BACK WHEN
Holmes aficionados are divided; put it this way, I don’t think Bob and Jude will still be playing Sherlock and the good doctor ten years from now. The best way to enjoy the movie is to forget it has a rich history, on paper and celluloid and just watch the slightly camp action.
PAUL NEWMAN SELDOM PUT A FOOT WRONG
Both Paul Newman and Gregory Peck endured the horror of losing a child, each had sons who ended their own lives; dwarfed, perhaps, by the shadows of their famous fathers. This week these award winning actors appear in swansongs.
HANKS HIS GOOD REPPORT WITH HIS SCREEN SON TYLER HOECHLIN
Paul Newman is wonderful, supporting Tom Hanks in Road to Perdition [M-Net. Saturday.03.00], a superb movie, set in the depression, directed by Sam Mendes and sporting a supporting cast that includes Jude Law, Stanley Tucci, Jennifer Jason Leigh and a pre Bond Daniel Craig.
GREG PECK
Gregory Peck out acts all comers, including a flamboyant Danny de Vito in Other People’s Money [SABC1.Thursday.22.30]. Peck’s study in controlled dignity is the performance that lingers long after all the others have faded.
THE LITTLE BOY WHO GREW INTO DEAN STOCKWELL
Being a child star is also a dicey business; not many make the transition into adult stardom; the late Elizabeth Taylor was one; Dean Stockwell is another. He began his career in the title role of The Boy With Green Hair in 1948; and has worked regularly in film and television ever since, most memorably, dressed up as a James Dean clone, as one of the young killers in Compulsion.
DEAN AGAINST A BACKGROUND TO DIE FOR...
When major stardom eluded him, he settled happily into supporting roles, on television, he was delightful as Al the hologram who coxes and cajoles Dr. Sam Becket through time spinning travels in Quantum Leap. This week he appears with Edward James Olmos as they steer the highly addictive Battlestar Galactica into unknown realms, this week we have a film/ episode entitled The Plan [M-Net.Friday.21.30 and Tuesday.11.00].
AMERICAN TV IN THE 50S WAS EXCELLENT-HERE A YOUNG JIM GARNER
Maverick was a long running TV series in the late 1950s, James Garner starred as the wise cracking card sharp. In the movie version of Maverick [SABC1.Sunday.22.00], Garner now the elder statesman, supports Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster.
DID JODIE FOSTER NEED THE MONEY?
The movie reunites Gibson with his Lethal Weapon director, Clive Donner, the film isn’t bad, but like most revivals, the best has already been, and Gibson just doesn't have the charm of Garner.
THE BADGE
Staying with Television, a story about the CIA, is engrossing but bum numbing at 286 minutes, all the episodes, back to back. The series, starring Chris O' Donnell and Alfred Molina is called The Company [SABC3.Sunday.23.00] has a tough conservative bias; one day, maybe, someone will be allowed to tell the real no holes barred story.
WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES IN A GRIM STORY
Saving the best for last, Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson play army officers, members of the Casualty Notification Office; their job, to inform families that their sons are never coming home. The Messenger [M-Net.Saturday.20.55] is strong stuff; and tells a sombre tale of grief and bewilderment. The film is not easy to watch, but the performances are outstanding and the content sadly chilling.
HAIL, HAIL CHUCK BERRY
My pick, I’ll stay up late and don my dancing shoes. Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll [SABC3.Saturday.02.30]