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From the obscure to the obscurest to the merely overlooked or underappreciated; they all have a home in the TiVoPlex! All times Pacific.

Tuesday 12/04/07

1:40 AM Starz In Black
Something to Cheer About (2002 USA): If you enjoy basketball documentaries like Hoop Dreams and The Heart of the Game, or sports docs in general, you'll definitely want to take a look at this film about the first African-American high school hoops team to win a state championship. The team in question were the Crispus Attucks Tigers, who represented a segregated Indianapolis school and took home the big prize in 1955. The film features plenty of interviews, of course, as well as a lump-in-throat inducing coda as the now well into retirement former players are introduced courtside during half-time at an NBA game. It's hard to imagine a time when African-Americans were considered incapable of playing competitive sports at the highest levels, but Something to Cheer About provides a clear-eyed if sentimental reminder that such was once the case.

9:30 AM IFC
...so goes the Nation (2006 USA): Ohio was ground zero during the 2004 presidential election, providing Dear Leader with the margin he needed to reclaim the White House for another agonizing four year term. This cool-headed documentary takes a look at the machinations and gamesmanship of both campaigns, and though it doesn't descend into all out Bush or Blackwell bashing, still manages to reveal a plethora of sleaze. The film does ignore the elephant in the room - the disenfranchisement of African-American voters and the shortage of polling booths in heavily Democratic precincts - but ...so goes the Nation's primary focus is the campaigning BEFORE the election, and not the ugly aftermath. Good stuff for political junkies who are already bored with the endless 2008 electoral cycle.

4:00 PM Sundance
Mutual Appreciation (2005 USA): A lovely little indie character study, Mutual Appreciation stars Justin Rice as Alan, an aspiring musician whose band has just broken up in acrimonious fashion. Alan travels to Manhattan to coast on whatever good vibes his previous group have left behind, tries to awkwardly balance his relationships with radio DJ Sara (Seung-Ming Lee) and best-pal's girlfriend Ellie (Rachel Clift), and attempts to make a name for himself on the hyper-competitive alterna-rock scene. Written and directed by Andrew Bujalski (who also stars as aforementioned best-pal Lawrence), Mutual Appreciation wears its independent filmmaking ethos on its sleeve with some appropriately edgy 16mm black and white cinematography. Also airs 12/58 at 9:00 AM.

7:00 PM Showtime
Fall from Grace (2007 USA): Originally slated to air two weeks ago, this Fred Phelps doc actually makes its debut this evening. As I wrote earlier, I've yet to see it, but the subject matter renders it irresistible. Focussing on the bizarre antics of Pastor Fred Phelps and his Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church (where they hate the sin, hate the sinner, and pretty much hate every one else, too), Fall From Grace certainly won't be boring. Also airs at 10:00 PM and throughout the month.

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