Thursday May 5
Zilch
Friday May 6
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement [M-Net.09.00]
Legion [M-Net.21.30]
The Proposition [e.tv.21.50 and 02.50]
Saturday May 7
Ella Enchanted [M-Net.18.30]
Leap Year [M-Net.20.45]
Red Dragon [SABC1.22.15]
The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest [SABC3.19.30]
The Sting II [SABC3.02.00]
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT'S CLASSIC NOVEL COMES TO THE SCREEN
Little Women [e.tv.13.30 and 00.40]
Sunday May 8
Tooth Fairy [M-Net.20.05]
IN THIS KIND OF STAND OFF; YOU HAVE TO CARE!
The Break- Up [SABC3.19.30]
Shampoo [e.tv.21.50 and 01.10]
Monday May 9
Working Girl [M-Net.03.10]
Tuesday May 10
Leap Year [M-Net.23.00]
A STUNNING DEBUT FROM EDWARD NORTON
Primal Fear [M-Net.02.50]
Wednesday May 11
Tooth Fairy [M-Net.22.30]
Legion [M-Net.01.00]
THE FIRST FILM I EVER WROTE ABOUT FOR TVSA WAS BONNIE AND CLYDE
This is the one hundredth time that I’ve sat down and wrote about my favourite thing— film and filming. Thank you all for your support and comment over the months and (almost) years; a special thanks to Wonderlad for teaching me a lot about how young people think about film and for sharing his deep insight into and excellent knowledge of his subject.
TIMONE AND I SHARE A LOVE-MUSICALS
Also, of course to the brains behind TVSA— thanks for giving me the break. Hey, Timone, thanks for your effervescence and enthusiasm. And now folks, as always, it’s Showtime.
YOU CAN FEEL THE FISSION- GRANT HERE WITH DEBORAH KERR IN AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
Years ago, when I was at school, I did one of two things during chemistry class, either I fell asleep or blew something up. Celluloid chemistry, is a different beast altogether, as Oprah would say, let’s take a look…
GABLE AND COLBERT SIMMER GENTLY IN IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
Collette Colbert and Clark Gable share a special kind of on screen chemistry as early as 1934, many such couplings have combusted since, Fred and Ginger, Cary Grant and just about everybody who shared the screen with him; that’s how good the man was, Richard Gere and Julia Roberts…I could go on and on.
JACK AND MORGAN-COUPLE DE LUXE
Of course, and it doesn’t always have to be a man and a women; one of the most delicate reactions recently came from Annette Bening and Julianne Moore in The Kids Are Alright, or even sexual; Morgan Freeman often sparks off his costars, Nicholson, Redford and Eastwood spring to mind.
POOR JENNY...
The point of that little lecture is that this kind of chemistry cannot be contrived. Jennifer Aniston soldiers on, but most of the time she has the allure of a wet rain hat and sparks between her and her costars are few and far between; she and Vince Vaughn plod along in The Break Up [SABC3.Sunday.19.30]. The movie is short on laughs and at least twenty minutes too long.
HI, SIS!
Leap Year [M-Net. Saturday.20.45 and Tuesday.23.00] looks more promising, starring as it does, Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. Also, at least on paper, Leap Year does have a storyline that sounds original and interesting. The movie has its moments, but far too few, and the overall effect is a bit like kissing your sister.
THERE IS SOMETHING THERE DESPITE THE HAIR, SHIRT AND CHAINS
To find the first real jolt of juice, we have to go back to a film made in 1975. Shampoo [e.tv.Sunday.21.50 and 01.10] is quite dated; the 70s were definitely not a good hair decade. But it does star Warren Beatty while he and Julie Christie were at the height of their off screen meanderings and these do spill onto the screen.
EXAMINE HER LEG AND HIS JEANS- STILL, IT WON HER AN OSCAR
Add to this potent potion a young and frisky Goldie Hawn and mix in Lee Grant, a supporting Oscar winner that year. Grant, who is a fine actress, had her career stifled by a blacklisting for her political beliefs in the 50s. Look out for Carrie Fisher, who debuts here, two years before Star Wars changed her life.
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FORD, GRIFFITH AND WEAVER-WATCH THE SPARKS FLY
Working Girl [M-Net. Monday.03.10] which pops up unexpectedly this week is terrific; everybody sparks and sparkles. I don’t think Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith or Sigourney Weaver have ever been better than in this Mike Nichols classic; great to too see early appearances by both Joan Cusack and a baby faced Kevin Spacey.
A VERY HAPPY CARLY SIMON
But for me, the best thing about Working Girl is the Oscar winning song Let The River Run composed and sung by Carly Simon. Somehow it set sets and maintains the sense of pent up joy and victorious excitement that pervades and enhances the finished product.
GOLDIE AND KURT- A COUPLE EVER SINCE THEY GOT TOGETHER FOR SWING SHIFT
Simon also composed that wonderful song Someone Waits For You from Swing Shift, you can’t win them all, I guess; in 1984 the song didn't even rate a nomination!
QUITE SOMETHING,ISN'T IT?
The Second Pirates of The Caribbean movie, Dead Man’s Chest [SABC3.19.30] is not as lusty as the first; sequels seldom are. But Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly are still full of flash and fun. And, for the record, the movie won an Oscar for Visual Effects.
KEEF-FOREVER INNOCENT
Of course, the third romp, At Worlds End is closer to my heart, perhaps because of a lifelong devotion to Rolling Stone Keith Richard (who plays Johnny’s papa). I wonder what chemical chain the Cruz factor will unleash as the Pirates set sail for the fourth time?
WHERE THE HELL WERE THEY?
The less said about The Sting II [SABC3.Saturday.02.00] the better; made ten years after the Oscar winning original, Newman and Redford were onto bigger if not better endeavours, while Robert Shaw had been dead for five years. The replacements are sub par; although it is always fun to watch Olly Reed drinking the props.
ART IMITATING LIFE
The Princess Dairies 2: Royal Engagement [M-Net.09.00] is just like its predecessor, The Princess Dairies 1: The Tedium Begins, a bit like eating empty calories or drinking non alcoholic beer.
WHO' S YOUR DENTIST?
Anne Hathaway is much better in Ella Enchanted [M-Net.Saturday.18.30], a light frothy musical, based on the reworking of the Cinderella fairytale by Gail Carson Levine. Lovely to see stalwarts Minnie Driver, Eric Idle and Joanna Lumley and hear the old pop classic Don’t Go Breaking My Heart. Anne Hathaway does have a fine set of smiling teeth.
DEAR JULIE
Talking of teeth, Julie Andrews appears as the Head Fairy (the what!?) in Tooth Fairy, starring Dwayne Johnson and Ashley Judd— how’s that for inspired coupling? All I can do is echo American film writer Leonard Maltin when he said ‘… Though it is always nice to see Andrews.’ Hear, hear!
LITTLE WOMEN
I often feel the same way about remakes as I do about sequels; but once in a while there is the odd exception that proves the rule. A case in point is the Gillian Armstrong version of Louisa M. Alcott’s Little Women [e.tv.Saturday.1330 and 00.40].
THE LATE ELIZABETH TAYLOR PLAYED AMY IN 1949
The classic novel has been filmed twice before, once memorably by George Cukor in 1934, with a young Katherine Hepburn as Jo and less so, in chocolate boxy colour by Mervyn LeRoy in 1949, with Elizabeth Taylor stretching her acting wings as Amy.
SAMANTHA MATHIS AS THE ADULT AMY;SHE STARTS LIFE AS KIRSTEN DUNST
The Armstrong version has chemistry poring out of every pour. Wynona Ryder is wonderful as Jo, with Trini Alvarado as Meg, Claire Danes as the doomed ethereal Beth and Kirsten Dunst growing into Samantha Mathis as Amy.
SUSAN SARANDON AND HER BROOD
Susan Sarandon excels as Marmee; remember, she was just fifty when she brilliantly played this rather thankless part. Christian Bale as Laurie and veteran Mary Wickes as Aunt March complete the perfect picture. It doesn’t get much better than this. Enjoy.
THE ORIGINAL HANNIBAL THE CANNIBAL
Deep breath… back to the silly remakes—in 1984, Michael Mann made a very adequate version of Thomas Harris serial killer creepy Red Dragon; with Brian Cox as the flesh eating Hannibal Lecter(spelled Lecktor back then); the movie was called Manhunter and sported a thumping soundtrack by Iron Butterfly.
ANTHONY HOPKINS IN HIS HANNIBAL CLOTHES
With the success of Silence of the Lambs, a remake was inevitable;The Red Dragon finally happened in 2002 [SABC1. Saturday.22.15], with Anthony Hopkins determinedly wringing every last drop out of Hannibal Lecter— he had starred in Hannibal just a year earlier.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, Mary Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman complete a star-studded cast, unfortunately with less than stellar results.
EDWARD NORTON-AN INCREDIBLE DEBUT.
Talking of Edward Norton, he made a remarkable debut in Primal Fear [M-Net.Tuesday.02.50], based on a novel by William Diehl; surely one of the most disturbing crime thrillers ever conceived. It films well and stars Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Frances McDormand. If you thought Hannibal was terrifying, wait until you see Edward Norton as Aaron/Roy. Please do not watch this movie alone.
FAIR DINKUM AUSSIE WESTERN
The Proposition [e.tv.Friday.22.50 and 02.50] is a rare bird and a fairly delicate one, an Australian Western, written by musician / writer Nick Cave; with Guy Pearce as a man given a grim choice by protagonist Ray Winstone; Emily Watson also stars.
SOMETOLD ME THAT ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS!
Legion [M-Net.Friday.21.30 and Wednesday.01.00] deals with the age old battle between good and evil, featuring God, the Devil and sundry fallen angels. The film is very modern; in that it leaves very little to the imagination.
A MOMENT FROM LITTLE WOMEN
My pick is Little Women [e.tv.13.30 and 00.40], seeing that it is on twice, can I pick it twice?
JUST TO WET YOUR APPETITES
Final word, Oprah highlighted The Color Purple the other day; could someone find it from somewhere. Please?