HARRISON FORD IN 1981
If you have M-Net, you can catch one of three things on Saturday night: listen to Golden Oldies on the radio, read a good book, while eating a large tub of ice, or ditch the good book, retain the ice cream and watch three hundred and sixty minutes of Indiana Jones.
NEVER TRUST A FLUTTERING SWASTIKA
I’d opt for Indy, as he grapples with some very disobliging Nazis over a Lost Ark, in
Raiders of the Lost Ark [M-Net.Saturday.20.00] gets mixed up with Doomed Temples, and a pretty girl (played by Kate Capshaw, in private life, Mrs. Steven Spielberg) in
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom [M-Net.Saturday.22.00]
THE SPIELBERGS-STEVE AND KATE
And finally, together with his Dad, played by Sean Connery, launches a Last Crusade in
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, [M-Net. Saturday.00.00] to find the cup that Jesus touched to his lips.
GOOD MOVIE CHEMISTRY--HARRISON AND SEAN
Harrison Ford cracks his whip with just the right mix of humour, bravado and gallantry. He does a splendid job; all ‘Boys Own Paper’ stuff, with really funny scripts and a cracking pace.
Once you’ve been happily exhausted by all the nail biting action, return to your good book and go to bed. If you are in need of a title, read Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy. Otherwise, turn the telly back on and watch the film adaptation of this fine novel, called for some reason, just Jude [M-Net.02.10.]
THE BEST THING ABOUT JUDE IS KATE
Christopher Eccleston, in the lead, is way out of his depth and merely succeeds in looking bewildered. After the first forty minutes, the pace slows to snailcrawl. Even Kate Winslet, who is terrific, can’t really save this rather dismal production that doesn’t even begin to fathom Hardy or his novel.
Steven Spielberg was only 23 years old when he made Duel, released in the early 70s. Since then, Spielberg has been involved in some of the most influential, not to mention commercially successful cinema, of recent times. Translation: his films make lots of money at the box office.
Seriously, he has proved himself to be an enduring talent, writing himself and adapting other people’s work with originality and insight. Even his occasional flops are not terrible. Both Hook and War of the Worlds have their moments.
Spielberg brings a Quixotic quality to his scripts. And, has, over the years, has tackled some pretty serious topics, from prejudice (The Colour Purple) to Nazi Oppression (Schindler’s List) to the futile brutality of war (Saving Private Ryan.)
Spielberg has also set new standards in the Sci-fi/ Fantasy genre. ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and AI Artificial Intelligence, his wonderful adaptation of Brian Aldiss’ Sci-Fi classic, Super Toys Last All Summer Long, the achingly sad story about the little robot boy.
HARRISON FORD-STILL CRACKING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
And, as they say, he is not finished yet….Last year the Indy Jones team (Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Karen Allen and composer John Williams) got back together again after 19 years and made Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [M-Net.Wednesday.23.05]
It felt like they had never been away. With the added lustre of Cate Blanchett, surely the most alluring communist since Greta Garbo played Ninotchska.
CARE FOR A VODKA? MAKE MINE A SMALL TRIPLE
Some people care for dinosaurs, frankly, I was rather relieved when they became extinct. I am obviously in the minority. Steven Spielberg directs The Lost World: Jurrasic Park [SABC2.Saturday.16.00] It is, more-or-less, a rerun of the first one, except longer. To my mind, there’s only one thing worse than a tame dinosaur. An unfettered, cross one.
A FACE THAT ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE
Tom Hanks, who has appeared in two Spielberg movies, notably, Saving Private Ryan, is in one of his lesser efforts this week, the 1989 comedy, The ‘burbs [SABC3.Saturday.19.30]
Much more interesting, on almost every count, is co star, Carrie Fisher.
DEBBIE AND EDDIE WITH CARRIE AND BROTHER TODD
She has a famous mother (Debbie Reynolds) a famous father (Eddie Fisher)
CARRIE AND PAUL DURING THEIR BRIEF MARRAIGE
had a famous husband (Paul Simon) and appeared in one of the most famous films of all time (Star Wars.)
CARRIE WITH HER MOM
Even her nervous breakdown made headlines. When she wrote a best selling book about her experience, it was made into a movie. In it, she was played by somebody very famous, Meryl Streep. The film was Postcards from the Edge.
MERYL AND SHIRLEY MACLAINE AS CARRIE AND HER MOM
Carrie herself is still around, a character actress now, last year she was rather fabulous in the remake of The Women.
In 2004, Million Dollar Baby [e.tv.Thursday.20.00] walked off with lots of golden statuettes, come Oscar time. Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Director. Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and especially Morgan Freeman do a pretty good job from a fine script by Paul Haggis.
EASTWOOD WITH MORGAN FREEMAN--TO ME, MORGAN DESERVES AN AWARD EVERY TIME HE STEPS IN FRONT OF A CAMERA
But, somehow, the plot sounds all too familiar, a sort of Rocky for girls, with a bit of A League of Their Own thrown in. On reflection, the Oscar is, indeed, a strange phenomenon. In 2004, The Aviator, Finding Neverland, Being Julia and Sideways were among the nominated films. They are ALL better than Million Dollar Baby
A quick word about …And Justice For All [e.tv.Sunday.21.50 and 02.30.] Al Pacino is good and the film’s content was quite daring in 1979, but it’s top heavy, too long and its not just the hairstyles that are dated.
The box is littered with sequels this week; I countered no fewer than twelve; From Men In Black 2 [e.tv.Sunday.20.00 and 00.55] to Stuart Little 2 [e.tv.Saturday.20.00 and Sunday.14.05.]
UNSPOKEN TENSION IN EASTERN PROMISES
Daniel Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises [M-Net.Friday.21.00] explores dark, disturbing places. Viggo Mortensen is superb, while Naomi Watts has marvelous natural ability, she knows exactly where the camera is. It is a small gem of a film, depicting a Russian underworld, almost as sinister and faceless as the KGB.
On a lighter note, a romantic comedy with a difference, a gay movie that plays like those romantic comedies of old where the leading men where played by Clark Gable, Cary Grant or Rock Hudson and the leading lady by Doris Day and um Doris Day and um Doris Day. Touch of Pink [e.tv.Tuesday.22.30 and01.10] is great fun, all round.
WILL THE REAL CARY GRANT PLEASE STAND UP?
Less so is The Fountain, [M-Net.Tuesday.11.00] where Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz spend an awful lot of time scurrying through time. A plot premise that could work, but in this case, doesn’t. They are both very beautiful to watch, however.
All crossword fans and their long suffering family and friends, must watch Wordplay, [M-Net.Friday.05.15] a good documentary about just why we do it—set and solve crosswords, that is.
Deliver Us From Evil [M-Net.Tuesday.23.00] is a harrowing documentary, made by Amy Berg, telling the story of a peadophile, disguised in the robes of a priest. This situation should never have been allowed to happen. It did, ruining countless lives.
The film leaves a bitter, nasty taste in the mind. Like seeing a chained up dog in a filthy yard, I had to turn my head away.
I have always wanted to say this about The Matrix, [SABC1.Sunday.20.00] more fun can be had, watching old episodes of Star Trek. Of course, the big buzz at the moment is: will Larry Wachowski turn into Lana and live happily ever after?
My Pick of the Week is: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. [M-Net.Saturday.00.00] For some odd reason, this one is my favourite.
I won’t mention my REPEAT LIST again until I post it.
Not too much salt on the popcorn! Sorry, last stupid popcorn joke.