New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

Thursday 5/31/12

1:05 AM Sundance
Until the Light Takes Us (2008 USA): This rockumentary examines Norwegian black metal, a doomy sub-genre of hard rock renowned for adherents who devote themselves to the worship of tremolo picking, misanthropy, and Satan, but in reality enjoy knitting, puppy dogs, long walks on the beach, and burning down churches. Or so they say. Made by two San Franciscans who moved to Norway with the express purpose of traveling into black metal's heart of darkness, Until the Light Takes Us is an eye-opening and ear-deafening experience which will appeal to pyromaniacs and arsonists alike.

6:00 AM Fox Movie Channel
Panic in Needle Park (1971 USA): My favorite junkie movie makes a widescreen appearance today thanks to the good folks at Fox. Filmed during the heart of a New York City winter, this is a bleak but never boring look at two dropouts (played by Al Pacino and Kitty Winn) with huge heroin monkeys on their respective backs. Sympathetically directed by Jerry Schatzberg, the two leads deliver outstanding performances and are ably supported by the likes of Alan Vint, Paul Sorvino, and Raul Julia. If you’re not too busy trying to score some China White in Alphabet City, you’ll want to make some time for Panic in Needle Park.

Friday 6/1/12

3:00 AM Fox Movie Channel
Word of Honor (1981 USA): Karl Malden - three years removed from his long-term stint on Streets of San Francisco - stars as a reporter determined to protect his sources at any cost in this solid made-for-TV movie. Karl is Mike McNeill, a journalist with a big scoop: bank president Roger Clements (Dan Crane) has been kidnapping and abusing young women. Mike shares his information with the cops, but refuses to reveal that his source is reluctant witness Beth (Alexa Kenin), a Clements victim now happily married and unwilling to testify against her tormentor. Complications ensue for Mike, who finds himself shunned both personally and professionally - and whose personal effects become of great interest to the police. Also on hand: Rue McLanahan, Ron Silver, and (making his first screen appearance) John Malkovich.

3:10 AM HBO Signature
A Tiro de Piedra (2010 MEX): In the mood for a little magical realism? Then check out A Tiro de Piedra (A Stone’s Throw Away), an engaging tale of a Mexican shepherd and the mystical quest he undertakes. Gabino Rodriguez (Sin Nombre, The Good Herbs) stars as Jacinto, a poor goat herder who finds a key one day and decides to find out where it belongs. Traveling thousands of miles across Mexico and the United States, Jacinto encounters trials and tribulations along the way but ultimately reaches his goal - only to find out it’s not quite as satisfying as he anticipated. A Tiro de Piedra has been unfavorably compared to Paolo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist, but as I haven’t read the book I’m in no position to comment.

9:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Claudelle Inglish (1961 USA): I’d never even heard of this Gordon Douglas-helmed drama before encountering it on tonight’s TCM schedule, but it certainly has a good enough cast to attract my attention. Based on an Erskine Caldwell novel, the film stars Diane McBain as the titular teenage daughter of a dirt poor sharecropper (Arthur Kennedy), Claude Akins as the plantation boss she seeks to seduce, and Chad Everett as a young buck. I’ve no idea if Claudelle Inglish is any good, but I’m picking up Baby Doll vibes, which surely can’t be a bad thing.

Continued:       1       2       3       4