In an unusual run of programming bad luck, two runners-up for the choice next Friday-Juno 8 pm MaxW and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai 10 pm TCM-might have been picked themselves, had either of them screened on the weekend.
Today's best film:
Unforgiven (Clint Eastwood/ 1992/ USA/ Western/ 131 mins/ R for language, violence and a scene of sexuality), 8.50 am today and 4.10 pm Friday Max BEST FILM OF THE WEEK. Watch this if you liked 3.10 to Yuma, The Wild Bunch or The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. Clint Eastwood's best film and a contender for Best Western Ever Made, Unforgiven is as unglamorous as it is authentic. The story of a flawed man trying to make good in difficult times remains as valid today as it did at the time of Jesse James or Jesus Christ. Hard but deeply satisfying. People don't die spectacularly when shot in this film: they scream for hours before going silent, as the thoughtful viewer will. One of the great American films.
Rest of the week:
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Phil Lord-Chris Miller / 2009/ USA/ Animation-Family-Comedy/ 148 mins/ PG for brief mild language), 5.45 pm Thursday HBO Family. Watch this if you liked Wall-E, Shark Tale or Fantastic Mr Fox. By far the best animation of any animated kiddie movie BC on TV has seen and perhaps the best pacing, too, the story of a boy who invents a machine that can make food drop from the sky is far better than adults would think. One to watch, not suffer through, with your kids. In fact, this movie is so worth watching, if you don't have small kids borrow one from a neighbour.
Throw Momma from the Train (Danny De Vito/ 1987/ USA/ Crime-Black Comedy/ 88 mins/ PG-13), 5.15 pm Friday Turner Classic Movies. Watch this if you liked Grosse Pointe Blank, The Ice Harvest or My Cousin Vinny. If you're lucky enough, you may not have seen Billy Crystal in his best comic dramatic role outside of City Slickers and Danny De Vito's hilariously deadpan comic touch behind the camera. Filled with great little moments, like the "Cows!" outside the window, and great big ones, too, like the Kerrrang! of the frying pan. Cable/DirecTV don't often run movies as good as this because they're a bit quirky; don't miss this screening.
Best of the rest: Mon: Little Fockers 5.45 pm MCty Hllywd; Tues: Eastern Promises 7.30 pm MaxW; Wed: Cape Fear (de Niro) 10 pm TCM; Thur: Purple Rain 6 pm HBOC; Fri: Tower Heist 7.10 pm MCty Prem; Sat: Super 8 5.45 am MCty Prem. Scheduled Internet times often vary on the day.