TV Films
A Guide to the Week’s Viewing
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10
April and the Extraordinary World (Choice, 7.00pm). In an alternate universe, before the Franco-Prussian war, Napoléon III and his chief scientist, Gustave Franklin, are killed in an explosion. Their experiment to create super-soldiers fails; instead (and this gives you a flavour of this French animation inspired by Tardi), it produces two talking komodo dragons. History is never the same. Great scientists like Einstein and Fermi vanish before they can give their work to the world. A century later, Paris resembles a steampunk dystopia as steam and charcoal remain the only sources of fuel. In search of her scientist parents, young April Franklin (Angela Galuppo) navigates the soot with her companion, a talking cat named Darwin (Tony Hale). They are soon joined by a petty crook (Tod Fennell), hired by inspector Gaspar Pirzoni (Paul Giamatti), who is looking for the same thing as April. Somehow, things get weirder – and more wonderful – from here. (2015)
The 15:17 to Paris (Movies Premiere, Sky 030, 8.30pm).
The period of time between historic moments and their fictional retellings seems to be shrinking – especially when there are terrorists involved. After the murder of Osama Bin Laden, Zero Dark Thirty set a high standard for its speedy turnaround and sloppy historical accuracy. The 15:17 to Paris re-enacts the day that three American lads disarmed a would-be massacrist on a train in Paris – and it has a trick up its sleeve. Director Clint Eastwood ( Gran Torino, The Mule) uses the actual heroes to play themselves. The result is equally moving and saccharine – and the references to His divine will are too much for this nonbeliever. (2018)
The Death of Stalin (Rialto, Sky 039, 8.30pm). How do you portray evil like that of USSR leader Joseph Stalin? The answer for Armando Iannucci ( Veep, The Thick of It) is humour – very dark humour. He assembles a master cast to try to pull it off: Steve Buscemi as Khrushchev, Michael Palin as Molotov, Simon Russell Beale as Beria, Jason Isaacs as Zhukov, Jeffrey Tambor as Malenkov and Adrian McLoughlin as Stalin. When Stalin dies, the Soviet leadership hits the fan. Terror and slapstick are uncomfortably juxtaposed. You’ll laugh, but nervously. (2018)
The English Patient (Movies Classics, Sky 034, 8.30pm). Earlier this year, writer Michael Ondaatje won the “Best of the Bookers” prize on the 50th anniversary of the ceremony for his classic story of a downed pilot and his doomed love affair. The film adaption by director Anthony Minghella ( The Talented Mr Ripley, Cold Mountain) was released to similar acclaim, receiving 12 Academy Award nominations and winning nine. (1996)
The Book Thief (Three, 9.35pm). Basing his work on an immensely popular youngadult fiction of the same name, director Brian Percival ( Downton Abbey, North & South) appears to have crafted a film for the purpose of winning an Oscar. It tells the story of a young orphan named Liesel (Sophie Nélisse), who is adopted by the childless Rosa (Emily Watson) and Hans (Geoffrey Rush) in Nazi Germany. She cannot read, but when taught by Hans, devours anything she can get her hands on. The family takes in a Jewish man (Ben Schnetzer), who encourages Liesel’s reading and writing. Then the Nazis begin burning books (almost the worst thing you see the Nazis commit). You might think the Holocaust isn’t the best setting for a fantasy fiction about love and literature, and you’d be right. (2013)
Wild (Three, 12.10am). It was a memoir destined to go to Hollywood: after the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) falls into depression, promiscuous sex, heroin and divorce. So the American sets off to hike the 1770km Pacific Crest Trail with too-small boots and no experience. It also seemed destined for mawkishness, but together with Laura Dern, Witherspoon delivers a determined performance that rescues the film. And, of course, the hike saves Strayed, too. (2014)
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11
Up (Movies Disney, Sky 037, 6.30pm). An old grumbler (voiced by Ed Asner) reluctantly finds adventure and friendship when a keen but clumsy Scout (Jordan Nagai) inadvertently becomes a stowaway on Carl’s house, which has been converted into an airship with the help of thousands of helium balloons. The two warm to each other and start to work together to fulfil their respective dreams. Pete Docter ( Toy Story, Monsters Inc.) is the master of natural characters. Pack tissues. (2009)
Point Break (TVNZ 2, 9.40pm). A mediocre remake of the 1991 cult classic in which extreme sports meet extreme action. (2015)
MONDAY NOVEMBER 12
That Sugar Film (Māori TV, 8.30pm). When Morgan Spurlock released the documentary Super Size Me, in which he eats only McDonald’s and does almost no exercise for 90 days, he was telling us only what everyone knew: fast food is bad for you. Damon Gameau comes at it from a slightly different angle. He eats the equivalent of 40 teaspoons of sugar a day, which he says is the average Australian intake, by consuming products that are perceived as healthy (like muesli bars, fruit juice, breakfast cereals, etc). In 60 days, he gains 8.5kg, his waist grows 10cm and he is told he will be pre-diabetic in six months if he keeps going. Gameau is at his best when on scientific terra firma, and he does stray a few times. (2014)
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 13
Southpaw (TVNZ Duke, 8.30pm). Just when you thought you didn’t need another film about boxing and redemption, Southpaw comes in from left field. I expected more from director Antoine Fuqua ( Training Day, The Equalizer 2) and screenwriter Kurt Sutter (who created Sons of Anarchy), but lead actor Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a performance almost as impressive as his physical transformation. (2015)
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16
Thor: The Dark World (TVNZ 2, 9.35pm). Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston reprise their roles as sparring siblings Thor and Loki in the eighth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (2013)