Thursday February 9
Post Grad [M-Net.09.30]
The Ringer [e.tv.22.55]
Friday February 10
Tell Tale [M-Net.09.30]
Every Day [00.20]
Illegal Tender [SABC3.02.00]
Daredevil [e.tv.20.30]
Saturday February 11
Battle Los Angeles [M-Net.21.00]
Journey of the Heart [SABC2.16.00]
Definitely, Maybe [SABC3.19.30]
Meet the Spartans [e.tv.20.00]
Sunday February 12
Battle for Terra [M-Net.10.00]
True Grit [M-Net.20.05]
Mayflower Madam [e.tv.21.55]
Monday February 13
Tell Tale [M-Net01.05]
Tuesday February 14
Battle Los Angeles [M-Net.01.00]
Every Day [M-Net.03.00]
Wednesday February 15
Battle for Terra [M-Net.09.30]
***
A CLASSIC FROM 1939 : JOHN WAYNE IN JOHN FORD'S STAGECOACH
After many decades of galloping across our screens, Westerns are very much out of fashion at the moment. Some of these old movies have rightly achieved Classic Status, winning Oscars and other sundry awards.
B WITH CLASS-RANDOLPH SCOTT IN MEN IN THE SADDLE FROM 1952. IN THE 30S, SCOTT PLAYED BOTH JESSE JAMES AND WYATT EARP
On the other hand, many Westerns were B Pictures, aimed at the Drive-In Market, made to be forgotten.
THEIR FIRST FILM TOGETHER; SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS IN 1941. THE GIRL IS BETTY FIELD
Some actors and directors made Westerns their hitching post of choice; John Wayne and veteran director Henry Hathaway immediately spring to mind.
...AND THEIR LAST: TRUE GRIT IN 1969
By 1969, both Wayne and Hathaway were preparing themselves for that final ride into the sunset, when up popped a recently published novel by Charles Portis, featuring an elderly, one eyed bounty hunter named Rooster Cogburn. The role of the bounty hunter appealed to Wayne, then aged 62, balding and running to fat.
ALL AMERICAN 1949: THE SANDS OF IWO JIMA
Wayne had given some endearing performances over the years, even winning an Oscar nomination way back in 1949, for his fervent flag waving in Sands of Iwo Jima; but lets face it, Duke Wayne wasn’t much of an actor, what he was a Star.
ALL AMERICAN 1968: THE GREEN BERETS
His unashamedly right wing politics made him very unpopular in the liberal, free thinking 60s, but despite failing health he continued to average one movie a year.
WINNING HIS OSCAR. THE PRESENTER IS ANOTHER STAR- A YOUNG BABARA STREISAND
True Grit, a real shootin’ tootin’ horse opera soon became a classic of its type, and surprisingly, won Wayne an emotional Oscar in 1969. Ironically, Wayne beat one of the strongest fields ever, Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight for Midnight Cowboy, Richard Burton for Anne of the Thousand Days and Peter o’ Toole for Goodbye Mr Chips .
NOTE: EYE PATCH!
When I read that the Coen Brothers were remaking the movie, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The result is better than good; Jeff Bridges gives depth to the Cogburn character that John Wayne wasn’t capable of; the supporting cast is well chosen too.
STARTING TO LOOK A LITTLE LIKE LEE MARVIN
Josh Brolin is skin crawling as a particularly nasty piece of villainous scum while Matt Damon is neatly scrubbed up in the role once played by singer Glen Campbell.
I WONDER WHERE SHE WILL BE A DECADE FROM NOW?
In True Grit [M-Web.Sunday.20.05], all the ingredients of a classic Western are in place; revenge, rewards and retribution and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld is impressive in the pivotal role of sassy heroine, Maddy Ross.
The Coens do what they do so well; make fine cinema; once again with the help of top notch cinematographer Roger Deakins. The screenplay reflects the spirit of the original novel and helps to create a Western that John Ford or Anthony Mann would be proud of.
LIKE THE MARX BROS, THERE WERE FOUR OF THEM
In the past, Brothers, apart from good old Warner Bros, have seldom worked together; now sibling harmony is all rage. The Farelly Bros, Peter and Bobby( known for their particular brand of slapstick, often in dubious taste) fare quite well as Producers (the men with the money) for The Ringer [e.tv.22.55].
They hired someone called Barry W Blausten (now why does that sound like a name made up in a pub?) to direct the movie, based on a very non PC concept; using and abusing disabled people for gain. The leading scam artist Johnny Knoxville and his fellow dupesters have the tables turned on them, with surprisingly amusing results.
The Brothers Scott, Ridley and Tony have also taken to dabbling in production, Tell Tale [M-Net.Friday.09.30 and Monday.01.05] is very loosely based on a minor Edgar Allen Poe short story, Tell Tale Heart, first published in 1843.Now jet propelled into the 21st century; I think the idea should have stayed firmly on paper; the movie makes no sense at all.
Wizz Kid director, John Singleton is also on the production line these days; Illegal Tender [SABC3.Friday.02.00] is a Latino hotpot, complete with fiery tempers, a strong story and a sizzling performance from Wanda de Jesus.
Those geniuses of understatement, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, who brought us the brilliance of Epic Movie and Date Movie, are at it again in Meet the Spartans [e.tv.Saturday.20.00] where they send up things Ancient and Greek.
In Daredevil [e.tv.Friday.20.30], Ben Affleck plays a bind Superhero, who takes on all and sundry, most of them sighted, which just goes to show that the doggered Western Hero isn’t dead; he has merely evolved into a Hatless Cowboy, sometimes an Alien Hunter, who often wages war on featherless villains from other planets.
Battle Los Angeles [M-Net.Saturday.21.00 and Tuesday.01.00] boasts such a hero; Aaron Eckhart is chisel jawed and assertive, as he protects a group of Earthlings against creatures from a hostile planet; not a masterpiece by any means, but a pleasant combination of apocalypse, disaster and little green men.
Battle for Terra [M-Net.Sunday.10.00 and Wednesday.09.30]] is in much softer focus and is a muted cry for tolerance and understanding; this likeable piece of animation features the voices of Evan Rachel Wood, Brian Cox and James Garner.
The most interesting thing about Post Grad [M-Net.Thursday.09.30] is not leading lady, Alexis Bledel, or the grinding plot, but rather a rare cameo from that matchless comedienne Carol Burnett, who once said,
They (the audience) laughed and it felt great…
You spend the rest of your life hoping you’ll hear a laugh that great again
Burnett’s movie career has been patchy; she has always worked better on the small screen, a few years ago, she was delightful as an occasional guest on Mad About You, appearing as Jamie’s mom. Mad About You, which is enjoying a rerun on e at the moment, stars the very appealing Helen Hunt, whose film career has been short and sharp, peaking with an Oscar winning performance in As Good As It Gets, and that sadly was as good as it ever got.
Every Day [M-Net.Friday.00.20 and Tuesday.03.00] with Liv Schreiber is not as bad as most of the critics made out; Richard Levine’s family saga suffers from too much family and not enough drama. Or should that read not enough drama and too much family.
There exists a strange gap between success on TV and success on film; a gap that should easily be bridged but often isn’t. Cybill Shepherd had a very mediocre big screen career, even though she had Peter Bogdanovich as her mentor/husband.
Then, out of nowhere came her huge success in the TV show Moonlighting. Ever since, she has been a regular Made-for-TV star, this week, she appears in Journey of the Heart [SABC2.Saturday.16.00], which tells of a mother’s love for her autistic child. This is a moving story, made with honesty and affection.
Candice Bergen has lots of fun playing Sydney Biddle Barrows in Mayflower Madam [e.tv. Sunday.21.55] in the Made for-TV-story about a notorious high class ‘Lady of the Night’ whose forefathers apparently came to America on the Mayflower. Bergen, like Shepherd was a movie star who really clicked on TV, Murphy Brown gave her the fame that eluded her on the big screen.
Now in her 60s, Candy has had a steady little second career, specializing in spunky character roles. Funny how things have changed; in Hollywood, in the day, you played the lead until you retired or dropped down dead.
The rules were rigid, a star remained top billed, many top stars ended up looking ridiculous, playing young romantic leads, when well into their 50s. How much nicer now; for both sexes, look at Christopher Plummer, what a varied career he has enjoyed in his latter years. This my Plummer plug for this week.
To end with a really lovely movie; a touching story of three loves. Daughter, Abigail Breslin listens while father Ryan Reynolds tells a love story. Definitely, Maybe [SABC3.Saturday.19.30] is not that original or innovative, but the story unfolds in a sweetly humourous way, guaranteed to melt even the most cynical heart. The cast is first rate, the dialogue snappy, the cast seems to be having a good time; making sure that we do too.
I can cheat if I want to; two picks, True Grit [M-Net.Sunday.20.05] and for sentimental reasons, Definitely, Maybe [SABC3.Saturday.19.30]