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11:25 PM HBO Signature
Carne Tremula (1997 ESP): I’m not a big Pedro Almodovar fan by any means, but this film—titled in English, Live Flesh—doesn’t get much exposure on American television, so I’ll give it a mention. Javier Bardem stars as a basketball-playing paraplegic whose wife (Francesca Neri) is now having a fling with the man (Liberto Rabal) whose gun crippled Javier in the first place. It’s kinda like a weird blend of Inside Moves, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and Murderball. If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, don’t miss it—especially as HBO Signature tends to show its Spanish-language features in their correct aspect ratios.

Thursday 7/15/10

7:35 AM The Movie Channel
Made in Jamaica (2006 FRA): With apologies to Arthur Conley and Otis Redding, do you like good music (yeah yeah)? Sweet reggae music (yeah yeah)? If your answer to either question is yes, this reggae-mentary should be number one on your hit parade this week. Made in Jamaica wisely doesn’t attempt to do too much—the history of Jamaican music deserves much more than a single two-hour film—but instead concentrates on live performances by artists old and not so old in and around the capital city of Kingston. Amongst the highlights (for me at least) are Gregory Isaacs and Bunny Wailer, whilst the younger generation are represented by Capleton and Elephant Man. Also on hand: the great Beres Hammond, Toots and the Maytals, and Sly and Robbie. Not a ras clot in the bunch! Also airs at 10:35 AM and on 7/16 at 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM.

5:00 PM Showtime
Bigger, Stronger, Faster* (2008 USA): This outstanding documentary takes a look at the overcompetitive nature of American society, as seen through the eyes of the ripped and buffed athletes who ‘enhance’ their performance with a helping hand from modern chemistry. The film focuses on the Bell Brothers, a trio of siblings who have all been on the juice at one time or another. There’s director Chris, who’s hung up his hypodermic in favor of a movie camera; former pro-wrestler Mike (aka Mad Dog), who’s still hoping to make a comeback with a little help from the clear and the cream; and Mike (aka Smelly), who’s promised the little woman he’ll go cold turkey as soon as he successfully lifts that 700 pound dumbbell over his head. Which is worse—using drugs to gain an edge, or being a 97-pound weakling? Tune in to learn the painful truth. Also airs at 8:00 PM.

5:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Better Off Dead (1985 USA): A night of eighties teen angst flicks kicks off with Better Off Dead, a decent if unspectacular John Cusack vehicle making its widescreen television debut this evening. Cusack (only 19 at the time) stars as Lane Meyer, a poor schlep who loses best girl Beth (Amanda Wyss) to king of the ski slopes Ron (Aaron Dozier). Distraught Lane decides to do himself in—but finds suicide is not only not painless, it’s also not as easy as it appears at first blush. Luckily, love reappears in the shape of French exchange student Monique Junot ( a not very convincing Diane Franklin). Co-starring David Ogden Stiers and Kim Darby as Mom and Dad Meyer and Vincent Schiavelli as a teacher, Better Off Dead will primarily appeal to Cusack junkies and Reagan Era nostalgists. It’s followed at 7:00 PM by the superior John Hughes flick Sixteen Candles (1984), in which peak period Molly Ringwald plays a high schooler suffering through a traumatic sweet sixteenth; and at 10:00 PM by the stone-cold classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), for which no comment is necessary.

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