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9:50 PM The Movie Channel
Paraiso Travel (2008 COL-USA): A Colombian movie, and it’s not airing on HBO Signature? What’s the world—or The Movie Channel—coming to? Regardless of the explanation for this anomaly, Paraiso Travel is an excellent character study about two young people from Medellin travelling to New York to claim their share of the American Dream. Their only obstacle, of course, is that they’re ‘illegal immigrants’, and they end up slumming it in a grimy Queens hotel. Co-starring chameleon John Leguizamo, Paraiso Travel is an impressive second feature from director Simon Brand, whose first film, the appropriately titled Unknown, is also worth seeking out. Also airs 6/9 at 12:50 AM.

Wednesday 6/9/10

7:00 PM IFC
Thank You for Smoking (2006 USA): If your appetite for acerbic social commentary was whetted by In the Loop, save room for dessert. I think this is the widescreen television premiere of Jason Reitman’s biting satire of life in the boardrooms of Big Tobacco, featuring what should have been a star-making turn from Aaron Eckhart as corporate spokesperson Nick Naylor. Naylor’s struggling to balance his job as a flack for cigarette companies with his job raising twelve-year old son Joey (Cameron Bright) in a smoke-free environment, and he has a worthy opponent in the shape of Vermont Senator Ortolan Finistirre (William H. Macy), whose office is afloat in maple syrup. Though the tone of Reitman’s film is, at times, whimsical, Thank You for Smoking is a brilliantly written critique of American business practice, politics, and societal hypocrisy.

10:45 PM Sundance
Guest of Cindy Sherman (2008 USA): Paul H-O made a minor name for himself in the Manhattan art world during the 1990s by co-hosting a cable public access show called Gallery Beat. His show provided him the opportunity to meet photographer-artist Cindy Sherman, one of the most talented and important American artists of the post-pop art era. Guest of Cindy Sherman examines the ups--but mostly downs--of their five-year relationship, in which Paul found himself disappearing in the shadow of his famous girlfriend. Fans of Sherman will be thrilled at the opportunity to see much candid footage of the artist; others will be intrigued by H-O's tale of relegation to second-class citizenship.

Thursday 6/10/10

9:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Term of Trial (1962 GB): A bad girl tries to get a good man in trouble in this well-acted but rather sexist British drama. The good man is teacher Graham Weir (Laurence Olivier), a recovering alcoholic and wartime conshy trying to get a fresh start at a new school. One of his students is 16-year old Shirley (Sarah Miles), a needy youngster who bonds with Graham when he offers to provide her with out of class tutoring. After a few hours of studying together, Shirley decides she’s in love with her mentor—and will go to any lengths to win him away from wife Anna (Simone Signoret). Term of Trial is extremely well-acted all around, but its reliance on anti-feminist cliches makes it a somewhat uneasy viewing experience in the 21st century. An excellent supporting cast, including Allan Cuthbertson, Terence Stamp, Thora Hird, and Hugh Griffith lessens the sting.

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