TiVoPlex
TiVoPlex for Tuesday, September 30, 2008 through Monday, October 6, 2008
By John Seal
September 29, 2008
From the obscure to the obscurest to the merely overlooked or underappreciated; they all have a home in the TiVoPlex! All times Pacific.
Tuesday 09/30/08
6:30 PM Sundance
Nuclear Comeback (2007 NZ): Is the future so bright, we gotta wear lead-lined hazmat suits? That's the question posed by this Antipodean documentary about the return of nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. Mooted by its supporters as a "clean" option to oil and gas, nuclear is now back on the front burner, and this film attempts to generate light, if not heat, on the subject. Will splitting the atom provide us an endless supply of cheap energy — or are we destined for another Chernobyl? Though Nuclear Comeback ultimately comes down on the anti- side of the fence, it's a reasonably even-handed film that avoids hyperbole and allows both sides to have their say.
Wednesday 10/01/08
3:20 AM Encore Mystery
Nothing But the Night (1973 GB): I first became acquainted with this film when it was released by Monterey Home Video as The Devil's Undead, and frankly, it left me very disappointed. With THAT title, and with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee headlining, I anticipated a satanic shocker — perhaps one with zombies, too! Instead, it turned out to be a turgid "thriller" about the murders — or perhaps suicides? — of some elderly Scottish folk serving on the board of an orphanage. Produced under the auspices of Lee's own Charlemagne Productions, Nothing But the Night features the 6'5" actor as the police inspector sent to investigate and Cushing as the doctor assisting him. It's never had a release on DVD and has rarely appeared on American television, so if you're a fan of either horror icon (or, for that matter, co-star Diana Dors), you'll probably want to give it a look. At the very worst it should at least look better than that wretched old videotape did.
12:05 PM Flix
Alambrista! (1978 USA): Also released as The Illegal, Alambrista! (which actually translates as tightrope walker) relates the story of a Mexican man who emigrates to the U.S. in order to make a better life for his family south of the border. Domingo Ambriz delivers a flawless performance as Roberto, who hopes that Yankee dollars will enable him to provide for his wife and new child but quickly learns that he's just a tool in the hands of coyotes (one of whom is played by Ned Beatty) and employers alike. He meets a friendly American waitress (winsome Linda Gillen), gets taken to an evangelical church service, and eats LOTS of ham and eggs before he decides life was better back home. Directed by Robert M. Young (not the actor, but the helmer of the equally excellent Short Eyes) and featuring stunning cinematography by Tom Hurwitz, Alambrista! won the Golden Camera at Cannes in 1977, but quickly sank into oblivion thereafter. That's understandable considering it's a sympathetic take on one of America's favorite whipping boys, but the film comes highly recommended for those willing to overlook the protagonist's disdain for federal immigration laws. One to avoid for the Tom Tancredo crowd.
1:15 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Animal Kingdom (1932 USA): Considering the title, you might mistake this for one of those Frank Buck nature documentaries that were so popular during the '30s, but The Animal Kingdom is actually an above average drama about love, life, and the compromises we all make in order to "get by". Leslie Howard stars as publisher Tom Collier, who's opted to release best sellers instead of something more substantive and personally satisfying. He's also best pals with Daisy (Ann Harding), but has married the more socially acceptable Cecilia (Myrna Loy), who is urging him to sell his firm and live off the proceeds. Like most pre-Code films, The Animal Kingdom takes a relatively nuanced attitude towards male-female relationships, whilst avoiding much of the vulgarity that made early talkies so enjoyable — so it's a mixed bag, but generally a positive one.
4:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Cross Fire (1933 USA): Here's a very obscure RKO western masquerading as a drama. Tom Keene headlines as Tom Allen, a doughboy returning from the battlefields of Europe to his old job managing the Sierra Mine. Alas, those left in charge of the mine in his absence have been skimming off the top for themselves, and Tom — with the able if loud assistance of fellow vet Wimpy (Edgar Kennedy) — must set things to rights. It's nothing particularly special, though Nicholas Musuraca's cinematography is predictably excellent.
7:00 PM Sundance
Day Night Day Night (2006 USA): I know what you're wondering: is this film Good Bad Good Bad? I'm happy to report that it is. Erm, good, that is. The previously unheralded Luisa Williams (who could pass for the love child of Sarah Palin and Sandra Bernhard) stars as a nameless young woman travelling to the Big Apple's Times Square intending to blow it up (apparently she hadn't heard that Rudy Giuliani already did that). Though occasionally beset by doubts, our young anti-heroine is determined to carry out her mission, the purpose of which remains shrouded in mystery but presumably has nothing to do with urban renewal. The film's apolitical message can be construed as both weakness and strength, as it compels the viewer to pay attention to the effect and disregard the cause — which, frankly, is what the United States has done ever since 9/11. A big hit on the festival circuit, Day Night Day Night is double-plus good.
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