CHANGE IS GOOD SUNDAY
Different movies on different channels makes for a much more interesting Sunday night – even if some are box office rotten tomatoes
ONCE upon a time, Sunday nights went like this: Carte Blanche and the M-Net movie. “What’s the movie tonight?” was asked some time during the afternoon as we planned to wind down our weekend.
In those days, the Sunday night movies were the best of the week. I think most of them now are rubbish, which I have voiced to the channel and the world in general. The response was the movies are among the highest grossing in the US, so the problem is me, not them. Being popular with critics and raking in the dough are not the same thing unfortunately, which is why we end up with a lot of junk based on the greater viewing public of America, who have recently not filled us with confidence at their ability to make good life choices.
A while back, with the introduction of M-Net Movies Premiere, the same Sunday night movie was scheduled there half an hour later than on M-Net 101 itself. I could never see the point of that.
From last weekend it all changed; now there are different movies on the respective channels. On top of that, M-Net Edge will introduce world cinema with foreign language or nouveau films at 9pm on Sundays, which seem infinitely more appealing.
Palestinian film The Idol, which received rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival, will be on Edge on December 18; the following week will be French film Saint Laurent, about fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. But wait. There is more. From 6am next Friday till midnight on January 29, there will be a pop-up channel called M-Net Inspire (DStv Premium and Compact) which will carry movies that are motivational and celebrate the triumphs of the human spirit. All very festive seasony and destined to make Grinches everywhere gag on their mince pies. Every night at 7.45 there will be a “feel-good” film. Titles include Yes Man, Eight Below, The Preacher’s Wife and American Dreamz. There will also be a selection of classics like Coach Carter, Remember The Titans, Rocky (six of them) and Invictus.
In addition, M-Net Inspire will play host to influential and inspirational faith leader, Bishop TD Jakes whose talk show will air at noon and 7pm daily.
To keep children entertained during the holidays, M-Net Smile will load up with animated movies like Maya The Bee, Kung Fu Panda, Khumba, Shaun the Sheep, Tarzan, The Minions, Spongebob and many more.
Hugh Jackman stars in Pan on M-Net 101 this Sunday at 8pm, The Finest Hours with Chris Pine and Casey Affleck is on Premiere at 8.30pm. Neither film blew up any critics’ skirts.
All the Sunday night premiere movies (M-Net 101, M-Net Premiere and M-Net Edge) will be available on DStv Catch Up and Catch Up Plus as well as through DStv Now. Selected titles from the M-Net Inspire pop-up channel, as well as from the Animania festival, will be available on Catch Up Plus and DStv Now.
TONIGHT
Difficult People (M-Net Edge, 7.30pm): Airing in double episodes, Difficult People is executive produced by Golden Globe-winner Amy Poehler. It’s described as a “scathing comedy” set in New York which follows two struggling, jaded –and rather difficult – comedians. It was created by Julie Klausner who stars alongside Billy Eichner, a duo who seem to hate everyone but each other. The series premiered on Hulu in August last year, with the second season in the middle of this year. The third is on the way in 2017. Hulu is a subscription video on demand service, a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company, 21st Century Fox, Comcast, and as of August , Time Warner.
Manhattan (M-Net Edge, 8pm): It still feels strange when M-Net announces such an old series – from all the way back in 2014 – but at least you know there won’t be any production breaks. Manhattan is based on the project of the same name that produced the first nuclear weapons. While some historical figures are referenced in Manhattan, most characters are fictional, and the show is not intended to maintain historical accuracy. Set in 1943 and 1944, the series focuses on Los Alamos, New Mexico, a town about which the outside world knows nothing. The federal government tells the scientists only what they need to know, while the scientists keep secrets from their families. Manhattan ran for two seasons and was favourably received by critics. The first season consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “Though slow to start, Manhattan is a top-notch drama thanks to a talented cast, beautiful cinematography, and a keen eye for period detail.”
Weird Wonders of the World (BBC Earth, 4pm): How has the sun changed the landscape of classical music? What do goats and spiders have in common? Could spider’s silk help us develop bulletproof skin? This series takes us on a fascinating journey to discover the answers to some of the strangest questions on the planet. With the help of leading scientists, engaging contributors and stunning experiments, this series opens up the secrets behind bizarre science, animal oddities, crazy weather, medical marvels and remarkable natural phenomena.
This Time Next Year (ITV Choice, 7pm): Hosted by Davina McCall, this series features ordinary people on a mission to transform their lives in extraordinary ways over the course of 12 months. This could be anything from losing half their body weight, to finding the love of their life or even becoming a parent. This Time Next Year delivers these transformations in an “instantaneous” format: once each pledge is made, the contributor leaves the studio ready to begin their challenge, but just moments later reappears completely transformed one year later, revealing a brand new them. Only then will Davina and viewers learn how they’ve achieved it.
Billionaire Boy (BBC First, 8pm): David Walliams, Catherine Tate and John Thomson star in this adaptation of David Walliams’s book. It’s the story of Len Spud (Thomson), who makes a fortune by inventing a new toilet roll called “Bum Fresh” and his 12-year-old son Joe (Elliot Sprakes). Len quickly sets about spending his money, buying a huge mansion, sending Joe to a private school and hiring a celebrity butler in the form of little person Warwick Davis. But Joe hates his new school and it’s soon apparent all he really wants is a friend.
IN THE WEEK
The Path (M-Net Edge, Monday at 9pm): Since Breaking Bad (20082013) Aaron Paul – who played Jesse Pinkman to Bryan Cranston’s Walter White – has done very little television work, but has been attached to five feature films this year alone. He stars in this Hulu series and is also one of the producers. Described as a provocative drama, Paul plays Eddie Lane, who returns home after completing training for a controversial, mysterious faithbased organisation, the Meyerist Movement. Eddie lives with his wife Sarah (Michelle Monaghan, True Detective) and their two children. They are all members of the Movement. Unbeknown to his family, while he was there, Eddie experienced a revelation which causes him to question his faith in Meyerism. Hugh Dancy (Hannibal) plays Cal Roberts, the charismatic, unofficial leader of the Movement. His ambition puts him at odds with the organisation’s existing leadership and roils Sarah and Eddie’s already turbulent marriage. Originally titled The Way, this was changed due to its similarity to real-life ministry and alleged cult, The Way International. Whatever it’s called, the elaborate back story of the fictional movement called Meyerism (which you can find on Wikipedia) still conjures up comparisons to crazy cults. Season one aired last year, with season two set to premiere on Hulu in January.
Hooten And The Lady (ITV Choice, Tuesday at 8pm): Parts of this eight-part adventure series were filmed in KZN, Cape Town and Namibia. Michael Landes stars as treasure hunter Ulysses Hooten alongside Ophelia Lovibond as Lady Alex Lindo-Parker who works for the British Museum. Initially unwilling partners, they criss cross the globe in search of answers to some of the world’s greatest mysteries, from the 51st Fabergé egg to the only scroll written by Buddha. From jungles and deserts to underground shrines and ancient temples, this is adventure all the way.