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

From the obscure to the obscurest to the merely overlooked or underappreciated; they all have a home in the TiVoPlex! All times Pacific.

Tuesday 6/8/10

1:00 AM Showtime
Black Beauty (1971 GB): I’m not well-inclined towards equestrian films—has a more annoying movie than International Velvet ever been made?—but it’s hard to argue with the pedigree of this one. Based, of course, on Anna Sewell’s classic novel (already filmed on several previous occasions), this version of Black Beauty features everyone’s favorite late ‘60s tyke, Mark Lester, as lucky farmboy Joe. Joe’s been gifted with the titular gee-gee by his Dad, but when times turn hard Beauty ends up in the hands of notorious circus master Hackenschmidt (Walter Slezak). Will Joe find a way to liberate his animal companion, or will Hackenschmidt send Beauty to the glue factory? Directed by James Hill (Born Free) and co-starring Maria Rohm, Peter Lee Lawrence, and a bunch of other familiar faces from spaghetti westerns (the film was partly shot in Spain), Black Beauty airs again at 4:00 AM and on Showtime 2 at 3:20 AM.

5:05 AM The Movie Channel
The Adventures of Hercules (1985 ITA): Everyone loves a Hercules movie, right? Well, this is the one that will test your endurance and dedication. The Incredible Hulk himself, Lou Ferrigno, stars this time as our amiable hero, and whilst Lou was never an actor of much subtlety, the fact that a voice actor dubbed his lines is a bridge too far for this writer. The story, penned by director Luigi Cozzi (also responsible for Starcrash, perhaps the worst Star Wars rip-off of them all), sends Herc on a mission to reclaim the Seven Thunderbolts of Zeus, which have been nicked from the Main Man by some of the lesser gods. The film’s primary saving grace is William Berger (Superfly TNT) as King Minos, but even that’s a pretty thin straw to grasp. If the mighty mythical movie muscleman floats your boat regardless of quality, however, by all means check out The Adventures of Hercules, which also airs at 8:05 AM.

2:30 PM Showtime 3
In the Loop (2009 GB): One of the best films of 2009, In the Loop is also one of the most depressing comedies you’ll ever see: in fact, it makes your average black comedy appear light and airy in comparison. Chris Addison plays fresh-faced government intern Toby, a ministerial aide seconded to British cabinet minister Simon Foster (Tom Hollander). When Foster announces during a radio interview that a Middle Eastern war is unthinkable, spin doctor Malcolm Tucker’s (Peter Capaldi) head explodes and Foster’s hold on his position becomes increasingly tenuous. As war talks percolate throughout the British and American governments, Toby makes common cause with Yank counterpart Liza (Anna Chlumsky)—but has a nasty surprise in store during a trip to Washington. In the Loop’s screenplay (penned by a team of four, including director Armando Ianuuci) magnificently reflects the cynical state of modern statecraft, but whatever laughs you’ll get will be tempered by the knowledge that this is exactly how government works, and exactly how the invasion of Iraq became a fait accompli. This is a very, very good film, but as I said…extremely depressing. Also airs 6/9 at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM and throughout the month.

Continued:       1       2       3       4