The year '13 continues to be lucky for film choice: Today's also-rans include one of last year's best DVDs (Life Above All, 5.20 pm Max, not picked only because of the probable lack of English subtitles–it was made in a South African language called Northern Sotho), the new documentary by the Super Size Me guy (Greatest Movie Ever Sold, 11.35 am Max) and a Jude Law/Juliette Binoche literary drama (Breaking and Entering, 3.10 pm Max).
Leave work early Monday (Shall We Dance, 3.35 pm MCH) and Wednesday (Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid 4 pm TCM). There're two or three chances more to see two excellent films (*The King's Speech, 5.15 pm Tuesday HBO, again 9 pm Thursday HBOC, and *Winter's Bone, 5.25 pm Tuesday Max).
Today's best film:
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams, (Akira Kurosawa/1990/Japan/Drama/119 mins/PG), 7.30 am Max. Watch this if you liked Abre Los Ojos, Vanilla Sky or 3-Iron. Not a film for everyone and even many genuine, card-toting cinefiles dismissed it as the great Japanese filmmaker's worst, or at least most self-indulgent, film–the eight tales in it are actually based on dreams he had–but it is still visually stunning and better by far than most films made before or since. Even without English subtitles, which you can never be sure of in DirecTVLand, the stories are easy to follow and deeply satisfying–except to those Kurosawa nitpickers.
Rest of the week:
Splice (Vincenzo Natali/2009/USA/ Horror-Sci-fi-Thriller/104 mins/R for disturbing elements including strong sexuality, nudity, sci-fi violence and language), 7.05 pm Wednesday Max. Watch this if you liked Cloverfield, Case 39 or Drag Me to Hell. The sci-fi element adds great atmosphere to an otherwise middling monster flick, subject to the usual proviso that the monster is not scary once you see it, and can often be jokey.
The best parts, however, provoke thought about responsibility for life and others. Not of literary worth but far better than its vaguely scientific possibility premise of test tube creation might suggest.
The Shining (Stanley Kubrick/1980/ UK-USA/Horror/146 mins/R) 10 pm Friday Turner Classic Movies. Watch this if you liked A Nightmare on Elm Street, Jaws or Don't Look Now. Stanley Kubrick's interpretation of Stephen King's best book about the man descending into madness at the haunted hotel is far better than the travesty King himself perpetrated 17 years later. Filled with scares of all kinds–creepy-under-the-skin/set-your-heart-racing/ jump-out-of-your-seat–and certainly Jack Nicholson's greatest performance. BEST FILM OF THE WEEK
Best of the rest: Mon: Chato's Land 6.15 pm TCM; Tues: The Colour Purple 10 pm TCM (again 5.20 pm Wed); Wed: *2001: A Space Odyssey 10.05 pm TCM OTHER BEST FILM OF THE WEEK; Thurs: My Zinc Bed 9.30 pm MaxW; Fri: Final Destination 5 8 pm HBO; Sat: Spartacus 11.15 am MCC.
*Starred films have been chosen before. Scheduled Internet times often vary on the day.
