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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 8/28/12

9:20 AM HBO Signature
Primos (2011 ESP): A pleasant if inconsequential rom com about three Spanish cousins rekindling childhood memories, Primos makes its stateside television debut this morning. Written and directed by Daniel Sanchez Arevalo – who penned the very fine Eduardo Noriega vehicle For the Good of Others (El Mal Ajeno) - Primos stars Quim Gutierrez as Diego, a poor schlep who gets dumped by his fiancee at the last minute. Sympathetic cousins Julian (Raul Arevalo) and Jose Miguel (Adrian Lastra) are determined to help him bounce back, and the trio travel back to the site of Diego’s first love affair, where his old flame awaits his return. The plot situations will remind viewers of similar material from dozens of similar comedies, and the testosterone is palpable, but Primos is enough above average to warrant a look.

6:00 PM Showtime
Blitz (2011 GB): If you like Jason Statham - and c’mon, who doesn’t? – you’ll love this gritty and ultraviolent British crime flick. A direct-to-DVD release in the US, the film sees Statham cast as Detective Sergeant Tom Cast, the copper in charge of tracking down the titular serial killer. With fellow detective Porter Nash (the always excellent Paddy Considine) to assist him, Tom dives deep into the seamy underbelly of South London in order to get his man – but naturally, the job is not an easy one, and the killer becomes bolder as the story progresses. Featuring a solid supporting cast (including Mark Rylance, Aidan Gillen, and David Morrissey), Blitz will satisfy genre fans and Statham admirers alike. Also screens at 9:00 PM.

Wednesday 8/29/12

5:00 AM Encore Suspense
Curse of Alcatraz (2007 USA): Okay, this film is pretty crummy, but there aren’t too many movies shot in my backyard, so it gets a mention. A horror film about a group of scientists summoned to the former penal colony to solve the mystery surrounding a newly unearthed skeleton, Curse of Alcatraz was partly filmed in neighboring Oakland, California. It’s all very slow and not terribly scary, but the fact that director Daniel Zirilli actually got access to Alcatraz is a huge plus in the film’s favor.

9:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
Under Capricorn (1949 GB): Embarrassing confession time: I’ve never seen this Alfred Hitchcock film before – in fact, it’s the only one of his post-‘30s output that has, till now, eluded me. In all likelihood, that reflects both the film’s lack of box-office and critical success back in the day, and also its somewhat out of character setting: 19th century Australia. Excuses aside, Under Capricorn is of course a must-see, with Joseph Cotton taking the lead as a convict who’s turned his life around since being sent down under. The superb cast also includes Michael Wilding, Margaret Leighton, and Ingrid Bergman. I’m expecting greatness!

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