Owen Wilson
TV Films
TV Films
by Matt Nippert
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 17
Die Another Day (TV3, 8.30pm). Add equal parts villain du jour and star-factory-line bombshell. Then toss in eccentric and explosive chase scenes and a finely boned, tuxedo-clad British actor. Shake, not too energetically and don’t dream of stirring. Voilà! You’ve made yourself a Bond flick. Kiwi director Lee Tamahori, whose career has consisted mainly of adding sheen to Hollywood pulp, takes the reigns of the ageing 007 franchise here and mixes North Korea, Halle Berry, giant hovercrafts and Pierce Brosnan. The result is inevitably formulaic, with the Village Voice writing: “Dissing a Bond movie is like calling a dog stupid, but when it has the temerity to run to over two hours, you feel like winding up with a kick.” (2002) 3
Drunken Master (MGM, 8.30pm). The film that brought Jackie Chan to the attention of the West. This low-budget gem sees the limber and often legless Chan realise that his fighting talents are improved by the drinking of alcohol. Drunken Master saw complaints by teetotallers and the popularity of the “drunken monkey” style of martial arts skyrocket, and it’s a pity that Chan has been left flailing with the Rush Hour series in recent years. Supreme slapstick, highly recommended. (1978) 8
The Recruit (TV2, 8.35pm). Colin Farrell plays a wannabe intelligence operative put through his paces by a crusty and morally ambiguous Al Pacino. Farrell’s class at the CIA is taught how to beat lie detector tests, break into houses, conduct extrajudicial executions and generally violate civil liberties. So far, so James Bond – except for the lack of a genuine villain. Pacino just goes through the motions, but director Roger Donaldson has somehow managed to produce a post-September 11 Top Gun. (2003) 5
Rocky III (TV2, 11.00pm). Critics began to knock down Rocky after the first sequel, but unfortunately Sylvester Stallone keeps getting up for more punishment. Here a punch-drunk Stallone directs, writes and fights the gold-plated and big-haired Mr T who went on to star in The A-Team. (1982) 3
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18
Ali G Indahouse (C4, 8.30pm). Before Borat, British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen was Ali G, a blinged-out faux homeboy from suburban England. But although the big-screen Borat succeeded wonderfully by exporting the concept of reality mockumentary – most of the cast were unaware the host was a hoax provocateur – Ali G is conventionally scripted. To save his treasured local leisure centre Ali runs for Parliament, wins, joins Cabinet and defeats the scheming Chancellor by “keeping it real”. Given the success of Borat, it’s a pity that Cohen didn’t do the same with this film because, despite moments of Farrellyesque humour involving dogs and masturbation, this is a middling effort. (2002) 5
Wedding Crashers (TV2, 8.30pm). Hollywood’s frat pack – Jack Black, Ben Stiller et al – hit a high note with this raunchy Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn vehicle. The two goofballs gatecrash receptions, toast the happy couple and make off and out with the bridesmaids. Wilson’s stoner drawl and Vaughn’s wisecracks sustain this comedy during the inevitable moments of faux seriousness about the meaning of love, and you should watch out for fellow frat packer Will Ferrell in a cameo as the guru of arrested male development: he’s moved past weddings and now only crashes funerals. Dead funny. (2005) 8
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (MGM, 8.30pm). Michael Caine and Steve Martin play delicious conmen in this superior remake of David Niven’s Bedtime Story, with Caine as the witty and sophisticated European while Martin the klutz plays physical comedy for keeps. The two scoundrels bounce off each other with effortless energy as they compete for territory, marks and pride. The highlight is a tag-team scam that sees Martin’s character impersonate an eye-patched maladroit called Rupert who has a fork that’s corked to ensure he doesn’t injure himself. Much hilarity ensues. (1988) 9
American History X (TV2, 12.35am [Mon]). In the first of this week’s three race-based features, Edward Norton plays a Nazi. In a triumph of film-making, Norton – beefed up and intense – is simultaneously charismatic and repulsive while leading his white power gang in a genuinely scary series of metal-and-beer fuelled bonding sessions. The man with a swastika tattooed on his chest comes to doubt his lifestyle, but not before his younger brother (played by Edward Furlong, the kid from Terminator 2) develops serious role-model issues. (1998) 7
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22
Get on the Bus (Rialto, 6.30pm). Made to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Nation of Islam’s One Million Man March on Washington, Spike Lee filmed this on a tight schedule and its spareness is surprisingly effective. A troupe of blacks – a father and son, a racist, the former gangster, a cop and others – journey to join their brothers in the capital. The film is essentially a one-act play with back-seat dialogue about race, class and masculinity, broken only by rest stops. Anti-Semitic controversy surrounding Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan isn’t dodged: a Jewish driver takes the wheel, then gets off in a huff saying, “I wouldn’t expect you to drive me to a Klan meeting.” A consummate work of social commentary. (1996) 8
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 23
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