Swing low, sweet chariots: The chariot race in this 1959 biblical epic is indeed epic, and when TCM televises it, it does so in the proper dimensions (shown here), so you can see each frame as intended by director William Wyler. And watch this Charlton Heston vehicle (so to speak) carefully, because on Thursday, TCM presents the 1925 silent version, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

2013

Aug

MORE TVWW QUESTIONS, MORE TCA PRESS TOUR ANSWERS By Ed Bark

Once again, TVWW's Ed Bark compiles an entertaining sampler of answers from the current TCA Press Tour -- answers solicited, once again, entirely by his own questions...

2013

Aug

THE KILLING By David Bianculli

SEASON FINALE: Last week’s episode, with its extended conversations between Linden (Mireille Enos) and death row inmate Seward (Peter Sarsgaard) and its almost unbearably intense climax, got us fully involved in The Killing again. Now comes the two-hour season finale – with at least one more killing for Linden and Holder (Joel Kinnamon, pictured with Enos) to confront, and solve, before this season’s story line concludes. Presuming, that is, it does conclude…

2013

Aug

DEXTER By David Bianculli

Sing along with this new Dexter ditty: “Dex and Debra sittin’ in a tree, K-I-L-L-I-N-G.” It’s odd, but while we know these are the final episodes for this show, it doesn’t quite yet feel like them. Plot lines, like Dr. Vogel’s abduction, still seem more like detours than a forceful march to the ultimate conclusion. But perhaps that will change tonight. Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter star – for a little longer.

2013

Aug

THE NEWSROOM By David Bianculli

I still enjoy, and recommend, this show, despite its excesses of character silliness in the romance department. But I will say, without revealing too much, that in tonight’s episode, the deep secret altering both the outlook and appearance of one character on The Newsroom reminds me a bit too much of the climactic “strangled chicken” memory haunting Hawkeye on the famous finale of M*A*S*H. Just for the record.

2013

Aug

RAY DONOVAN By David Bianculli

I’d like to say with conviction, right now, that Jon Voight will be in the running next year for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor. It’s unimaginable, based on his performance so far, that he won’t. I’d like to say that – but I’m not completely certain it’ll happen, because, in my opinion, this year’s Emmy nominations, in the same category, could be filled completely with actors from Justified, and not one of them was recognized by the voter

2013

Aug

FALLING SKIES By David Bianculli

SEASON FINALE: In this Season 3 finale, the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. No, it really does. And the only way to save Earth is to use a weapon given by one alien species to battle another – without knowing the true motives of either. Noah Wyle stars.

2013

Aug

ZERO HOUR By David Bianculli

SERIES FINALE: It’s Zero Hour for Zero Hour. The final two episodes of this ABC series are televised tonight, theoretically explaining some of this show’s most baffling mysteries. Here’s one of mine: Why, apart from simple curiosity and a super-dull Saturday TV night, should anyone care?

2013

Aug

CHASING AMY By David Bianculli

Kevin Smith wrote and directed this 1997 movie, which managed to incorporate his love of comics and geekdom while still delivering a somewhat standard romantic comedy. Ben Affleck stars, before he was one, as a comic book writer who falls in love – with a lesbian, played by Joey Lauren Adams. Check out the casting here, because it’s impressive. Both Affleck and Matt Damon are here, before breaking out as the writers and stars of Good Will Hunting. Both Jason Lee and Ethan Suplee are

2013

Aug

THE DA VINCI CODE By David Bianculli

Ron Howard directed this 2006 movie with the deck stacked against him: So many people were so aware, and enamored of, Dan Brown’s bestseller that even the book’s biggest fans would come to the movie expecting either too much or too little. But the screenplay gets points for being faithful to the book, and Tom Hanks is a credible “symbologist” hero, and there are, indeed, some good set pieces and some fabulous scenery. On a slow TV night, which this is, I’ll take it.

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