It’s a new episode of The Middle, and Halloween definitely comes into play – as Brick is anxious to attend his school’s Halloween dance, and goes to his mom (Patricia Heaton) for advice. Not necessarily a good move.

2013

Oct

2013 WORLD SERIES By David Bianculli

After Monday’s victory, the Boston Red Sox have a 3-2 edge in this series, and thus two chances to win the World Series in front of a home crowd – a feat the team last accomplished in 1918, just before the end of what we now call World War I. So it’s been a while. As for the St. Louis Cardinals? The last time the Cards won a World Series in front of a home crowd was… two years ago. And the last time the Cards won it all in someone else’s ballpark? That would be 196

2013

Oct

ZOMBIELAND By David Bianculli

This 2009 movie is an especially tasty pre-Halloween treat. It’s got loads of zombies, the hottest ghouls in the current pop-culture zeitgeist – and it’s also loaded with actors who are all-stars, or have become stars since. Woody Harrelson stars as a zombie fighter with a taste for Twinkies, Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) plays his reluctant protégé, and Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin (from, respectively, The Help and Little Miss Sunshine) play two resource

2013

Oct

MODERN FAMILY By David Bianculli

From last year, this repeat is one of this show’s Halloween episodes, which always puts Julie Bowen, as Claire, front and center with her over-the-top Halloween antics. And, as usual, some over-the-top costumes as well.

2013

Oct

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN By David Bianculli

It’s the night before Halloween, and all through the house, is there any show spookier than Coven to watch? Don’t think so. Especially not when this week’s spellbinding episode contains a visual allusion to a fallen Wicked Witch – dazzling shoes and all.

2013

Oct

BADLANDS By David Bianculli

If you park your TV dial (or its modern equivalent) on TCM tonight, you’ll be treated to a quadruple feature of some of the best films of the Seventies. The action begins with 1973’s Badlands, the first movie effort by director Terrence Malick. It’s as visually evocative and moodily poetic as his later films, but it also boasts especially dynamic performances from its two young, then unknown leads: Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek, playing young hedonists on a murder spree.

2013

Oct

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: "WAR OF THE WORLDS" By David Bianculli

This is a warning, not a recommendation. Though the subject of this documentary – Orson Welles’ iconic 1938 radio adaptation of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds – is more than worthy of study and celebration, it’s already been treated very well by previous efforts, both nonfiction and dramatized. What does this new entry bring to the party? Nothing, except for lame fake black-and-white “interviews” with “witnesses,” in which actors (one is pictu

2013

Oct

CABARET By David Bianculli

Another great entry in TCM’s salute the Seventies. This 1972 movie version of the Broadway musical, directed by Bob Fosse, is completely opened up and re-imagined for the movies, while staying true to the original story and music. And Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli, as the prewar Berlin master of ceremonies and his star attraction, are astoundingly good, with both of them winning Oscars for their efforts. John Kander and Fred Ebb provide the songs, which include lyrics that, at times, are as

2013

Oct

M*A*S*H By David Bianculli

Another Seventies movie presented by TCM tonight, and yet another masterpiece by another innovative director. This time it’s Robert Altman, whose style of black-comedy filmmaking influenced not only some of the best films to come in the wake of this 1970 movie, but some of the best television, too. Not only the TV spinoff M*A*S*H comes from this, quite directly, but so does the camera and sound work on Hill Street Blues, from which most modern TV dramas germinated. Donald Sutherland, Ellio

2013

Oct

CHINATOWN By David Bianculli

Roman Polanski’s 1974 modern film noir masterpiece is the perfect capper to tonight’s TCM salute to Seventies cinema. Jack Nicholson’s performance may be his career best – and given his career, there is no higher praise. Faye Dunaway, as the femme fatale, is unforgettable, as is Polanski’s brief turn as a switchblade-wielding thug, John Huston’s longer turn as a powerful patriarch, and a twist ending that you’ll never forget. Great script by Robert Towne

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