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Wednesday 11/07/07

2:30 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Devil's Mask (1946 USA): A creepy Columbia murder mystery that's been locked in the vaults far too long, The Devil's Mask stars Jim Bannon as Jack Packard, a detective trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of museum curator Quentin Mitchell. Mitchell dropped out of sight after leaving on an expedition to the remote reaches of South America, and Packard has been hired by Mrs. Mitchell (Mona Barrie) to find him. Does the solution lie with the shrunken head recovered from a crashed cargo plane - or does The Rime of the Ancient Mariner hold the key to the mystery? Spun off from the popular radio show I Love A Mystery, The Devil's Mask is average private eye fare enlivened by some suitably ghoulish accoutrements.

10:30 PM HBO Signature
Ladrones y Mentirosos (2006 PUR) : Released in Anglo territories as Thieves and Liars, this is a fascinating Puerto Rican film about the strange relationship between the Commonwealth and its American imperial master. The film stars Cuban-born Steven Bauer as Oscar, a drug runner embroiled in the crime and corruption scarring the island as it serves as a way station for Colombian cocaine on its way to the mainland. The film weaves the stories of three island families into the narrative, including that of an airport worker and a newspaper reporter. Shot on digital video and funded by grant money from the fledgling Puerto Rico Film Commission, Ladrones y Mentirosos is a gritty and realistic piece of indie filmmaking from first time feature director Ricardo Mendez Matta.

Thursday 11/08/07

6:05 AM Sundance
McVicar (1980 GB): Roger Daltrey is remarkable as arch-criminal John McVicar in this completely satisfying and riveting crime drama from TV director Tom Clegg (The Sweeney). Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Daltrey's performance is his ability from the get go to make you completely forget that you're watching a bonafide rock star in the lead role. The Who frontman portrays the character as a cross between a London wide boy and a sharp dressed mod - check out the hounds-tooth check jacket he wears after his escape - and though I don't know much about the real life McVicar, Roger's portrayal is thoroughly convincing. Even the presence of a handful of lung-shredding Who-style numbers layered somewhat awkwardly atop the action can't distract from Daltrey's remarkable on screen presence. The film also benefits from an utterly charming performance by Adam Faith, and though the story is fairly predictable, it's never less than interesting and enjoyable. One of the best British crime films - ever. Also plays at 2:15 PM.

7:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Hard Way (1942 USA): An excellent if little-known examination of the hardships of show biz life, The Hard Way features Ida Lupino as Helen, a bitter recipient of life's hard knocks determined to save little sister Katherine (Joan Leslie) from the same fate. Helen connives to marry Katherine off to gone-to-seed vaudeville hoofer Albert (Dennis Morgan) in hopes that her career will blossom - and rescue both women from their going nowhere fast lives in coal-mining country. Things go according to plan until Katherine becomes a hit on Broadway, driving her struggling hubby to drink and despair and herself to life in the too-fast lane, after which the sisters learn that fame ain't everything it's cracked up to be. Derided by studio boss Jack Warner and unpopular at the box office, The Hard Way nonetheless earned Lupino a Best Actress Award from the New York Film Critics' Association.

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