Home Viewing Roundup for Oct. 14, 2024
NEW YORK (OSV News) The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television during the week of Oct. 27, as well as notes on TV programming for the same week. Televised films may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations while the programs listed have not been reviewed and therefore are not necessarily recommended by OSV News.
Streaming Now:
"A Bridge Too Far" (1977; Amazon Prime)
Director Richard Attenborough's epic re-creation of the tragic Allied offensive code-named Market Garden details the fate of the massive paratroop force dropped behind German lines in Holland during World War II. The excellent all-star cast includes Dirk Bogarde, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Robert Redford, Ryan O'Neal, Gene Hackman and Elliot Gould. Although the violence is unusually graphic, the movie has value as an historical dramatization that has tried to be faithful to the facts. The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
"Cinderella Man" (2005; Netflix)
Moving true-life story of Depression-era boxer Jimmy Braddock (Russell Crowe in top form) who -- after several years out of the ring, working on the docks -- took up fighting again to support his loving wife (Renee Zellweger) and their three young children, and against all odds made a tremendous comeback, eventually going up against the notorious Max Baer (Craig Bierko). Director Ron Howard has made an absorbing film with first-rate performances (including that of Paul Giamatti as his manager) and authentic period flavor; though the boxing sequences are strong they're far less graphic than similarly themed films, and the human story of Jimmy's devotion to his family is paramount. Much period profanity, some crude language, ring violence with blood. The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" (2019; Hulu)
Everything is (still) awesome in this spirited and amusing animated sequel to 2014's "The Lego Movie," directed by Mike Mitchell. A mild-mannered construction worker (voice of Chris Pratt) is called again to save the day when the queen (voice of Tiffany Haddish) of a far-off galaxy kidnaps his lady love (voice of Elizabeth Banks), Batman (voice of Will Arnett) and other friends. An unexpected ally is found in a rugged space cowboy (also voiced by Pratt) as the rescue mission begins. This family-friendly film offers positive messages about (no puns intended) making connections, bridging the gaps among friends and family members and constructing a world where people respect each other, no matter their differences. Cartoon mayhem, some peril and mild rude humor. The OSV News classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Looking Ahead:
Sunday, Oct. 27, 4:30-6:30 a.m. EDT (EWTN) "Holy Mass for the Conclusion of the Synod on Synodality." Broadcast from Rome's St. Peter's Basilica. The liturgy will re-air noon-2 p.m. EDT (TV-G -- general audience).
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 8-10 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Psycho" (1960). Classic thriller from the Robert Bloch story in which a private detective (Martin Balsam) tracks a missing person (Janet Leigh) to a lonely, back-roads motel whose affable but high-strung manager (Anthony Perkins) seems strangely preoccupied with the demands of his invalid mother in the eerie Victorian house atop a nearby hill. Director Alfred Hitchcock starts the proceedings with an impulsive theft, then smoothly switching gears, turns the ordinary into a scary, sinister nightmare with a compulsive murderer on the loose at the motel. Strong adult fare with much suspense, brief but shocking violence, most notably in the motel shower scene, and some sexual references. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.
Friday, Nov. 1, 12:10-1:40 p.m. EDT (EWTN) "Solemn Mass of All Saints." Live coverage from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington of the annual Mass honoring all the saints, both known and unknown (TV-G -- general audience).
Friday, Nov. 1, 8-10 p.m. EDT (AMC) "Beetlejuice" (1988). Good special effects overshadow a silly plot in which a couple of dimwitted ghosts (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) reluctantly use the services of a ghoulish demon (Michael Keaton) to scare off the eccentric family that has moved into the sprites' picturesque New England home. Director Tim Burton's comic fantasy is loud and on the dippy side, with only Keaton's manic performance to maintain interest. Some vulgar language and bloody special effects. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.Friday, Nov. 1, 9-11 p.m. EDT (PBS) "Land of Gold." This episode of the series "Great Performances" explores the creation of composer John Adams and librettist Peter Sellars' 2017 opera "Girls of the Golden West."
Saturday, Nov. 2, 6:10-8 p.m. EDT (HBO) "Eddie the Eagle" (2016). Generally uplifting fact-based drama in which a working-class English lad (Taron Egerton) aspires to become an Olympic athlete. The barriers standing in his way include a childhood disability, a near-total lack of natural talent, the dyed-in-the-wool snobbery of the British sports establishment and the firm opposition of his practical-minded father (Keith Allen). Yet, with the encouragement of his nurturing mom (Jo Hartley), and the initially reluctant mentoring of a washed-up competitor (Hugh Jackman) who frittered away his own chance for glory, the awkward but determined protagonist trains as a ski jumper. Director Dexter Fletcher's inspiring tale of triumph over the odds, which also sees Jackman's character working to redeem himself, ought to be perfect for teens. But the inclusion of some sexual humor -- playing, ironically, on the main character's innocence of such matters -- will lower its score with parents. Partial male nudity in a sauna, comic references to sexuality, at least one use of profanity and a couple of crass terms. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 8-10:15 p.m. EDT (TCM) "A Face in the Crowd" (1957). Cautionary tale about an Arkansas drifter (Andy Griffith) whose homespun appeal is discovered by a local radio producer (Patricia Neal), he then goes on to become a national television star but his ambitious ego and nasty disposition ultimately make him a dangerous political force. Directed by Elia Kazan from Budd Schulberg's savvy script, the result takes a close look at the media's power to influence and manipulate, a theme given credibility by Griffith's chilling two-faced performance, though the story itself grows increasingly contrived and predictable. Sexual situations and innuendo. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 8-10:37 p.m. EDT (Cinemax) "The Revenant" (2015). A wilderness survival drama, directed and co-written by Alejandro G. Inarritu, based on the life of Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), an explorer and fur trader in the American West of the 1820s. On an expedition up the Missouri River led by a military captain (Domhnall Gleeson), Glass is attacked by a grizzly bear. Lying near death, Glass is powerless to prevent the murder of his son by a fellow hunter (Tom Hardy), who abandons him in the wilderness. Glass refuses to succumb, crawls out of the grave, and embarks on a 200-mile odyssey through vast uncharted lands to avenge his son's murder and bring the killer to justice. As such, he becomes a "revenant," or one returned from the dead. For adults with stomachs strong enough to endure many squeamish moments, rewards await: a powerful film with first-rate performances, stunning cinematography, and timely messages about good versus evil, and of redemption versus revenge. Bloody violence and gore, several disturbing images, a sexual assault, frequent rough, crude, and profane language. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.- - - John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @JohnMulderig1.