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10:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Silencers (1966 USA): The first of Dean Martin's Matt Helm quadrilogy makes its widescreen television debut this evening. It's by far the best of the four Helm films—Dino at least makes an effort to play things straight in this one—but the series was never in any danger of being mistaken for 007's best. In The Silencers, Helm is brought out of retirement to put paid to a diabolical plot hatched by the evil Big O, a criminal organization led by Tung-Tze (Victor Buono in yellow face). Their scheme: to set of a nuclear explosion above Alamogordo, spark a war between the US and the USSR, and seize control of the planet from the weakened super-powers. The women: Daliah Lavi and Stella Stevens as barely acceptable eye candy and red herrings. The gadgets: unimpressive, to say the least, as the film was apparently burdened with a TV-Movie-of-the-Week level budget. Fans of Martin's louche martini-sipping persona will no doubt enjoy The Silencers; all others are advised to have a few martinis of their own before tuning in.

Saturday 04/17/10

7:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
News Hounds (1947 USA): Slip and Sach apply their questionable skills to the newspaper trade in Chapter 7 of the Bowery Boys saga. The two are on undercover assignment to get the scoop on a gambling ring, but trouble arrives when their target files a multi-million dollar libel lawsuit. Can the Boys prove their allegations—or will the New York Daily Chronicle suffer bankruptcy at the hands of Dapper Dan (Anthony Caruso) and his gang of miscreants?

Sunday 04/18/10

7:00 PM Sundance
Pan's Labyrinth (2006 ESP): Little introduction is necessary for Guillermo del Toro's terrific Spanish Civil War fable Pan's Labyrinth, so I won't overburden you with unnecessary plot details. Needless to say, this is one of the most remarkable fantasy films of recent vintage, featuring superb performances by wistful Ivana Baquero as a lonely 12-year-old trying to find her place in an unfriendly world, the great Sergi Lopez as her rotten to the core fascist stepfather, and genre vet Doug Jones (Hellboy's Abe Sapien) as a variety of extremely odd imaginary (?) creatures. Offering far more food for thought than your average run of the mill chiller, Pan's Labyrinth will, nonetheless, be a heavy slog for some, as del Toro is not afraid to lay on plenty of blood when necessary. An almost perfect blend of horror and fine art, Pan's Labyrinth makes its widescreen American television premiere this evening. Also airs 4/19 at midnight.

9:00 PM Sundance
Subject Two (2006 USA): A brisk horror variation on the Groundhog Day meme, this low budget thriller features Christian Oliver as Adam Schmidt, a med student unashamed of failing his course in ethics. Adam is convinced that mankind's lot can be improved immeasurably if he's allowed to take the latex gloves off, and an opportunity arises when he's contacted by Dr. Franklin Vick (Dean Stapleton), who invites Adam to participate in some shady experimentation of his own at a remote, snowbound lab. The only catch: Adam's not a collaborator, but the subject of the experiments, which involve a drug that can resurrect the dead over...and over...and over again. At first, it seems like a great breakthrough has been made, but as Adam suffers repeated deaths in the name of science, he begins to wonder whether he shouldn't have paid more attention in class after all. This low budget indie will appeal to admirers of Larry Fessenden, and airs again 4/19 at 2:00 AM.

9:30 PM Fox Movie Channel
Best of the Best 2 (1993 USA): Eric Roberts returns as martial artist Alex Grady in this middling action flick, which I believe is making its widescreen television premiere this evening. This time out, Alex is determined to avenge the death of a pal at the hands of Neanderthal brute Brakus (Ralf Moeller). This is one of those films where well-oiled hunks engage in no holds barred brawls in secret arenas populated by Mad Max extras, supposedly in Las Vegas. Also along for the fun: Chris Penn as not-dead buddy Travis, Meg Foster as gal pal Sue, and Wayne Newton as the master of ceremonies.

Monday 04/19/10

8:50 PM Starz
Moon (2009 GB): Sam Rockwell delivers a bravura performance in this intelligent science-fiction thriller from writer-director Duncan ‘Zowie Bowie' Jones. Rockwell, whose performance won him near-universal plaudits, plays astronaut Sam Bell, about to return to Earth upon completion of his three-year term of duty harvesting energy on the Moon. Completely bereft of human contact, Sam has only the voice of computer assistant GERTY (Kevin Spacey) to keep him company, and has reached the end of his mental tether. With only days to go before returning to his family on Earth, however, Sam gets into an accident—and begins to doubt both his sanity and the trustworthiness of his employer, Lunar Industries. If you tune in expecting space opera, you're going to be sorely disappointed, but for those who prefer their science fiction cerebral, Moon is a real winner. Rockwell is superb, Jones' script thought provoking, and Clint Mansell's score evocative and creepy. Sadly overlooked at this year's Academy Awards, Moon definitely rates as one of the top films of 2009. Also airs at 11:50 PM.

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