SATURDAY

FEBRUARY 21

2015

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

THE 2015 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

IFC, 5:00 p.m. ET

The Independent Spirit Awards, conceived 30 years ago as a sort of impertinent anti-Oscars, has developed into an awards show with a clout, and a charm, all its own. Held the day before the Oscars, when all the film talent already is in town, it celebrates the movies not released by major studios – and these days, that means a lot of really good, interesting movies. This awards show is repeated in prime time at 10 p.m. ET, but if you want to watch it live, IFC is televising it as it unfurls, beginning at 5 p.m. ET. The co-hosts are Kristen Bell and Fred Armisen – and given their respective musical talents, expect them to sing some sort of irreverent medley, or song, at some point in the show.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

HBO, 8:00 p.m. ET

Since starring as George Clooney’s daughter in 2011’s The Descendants, Shailene Woodley has made some impressive career choices. She’s starred in a successful new movie franchise, starting with last year’s Divergent – and also last year, starred in this film, a bittersweet romantic drama in which she and co-star Ansel Elgort play teens who meet, and eventually fall in love, at a cancer support group.

PATTON

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

Tonight’s TCM lineup is full of movies that dominated conversation in the early 1970s. This lavish biographical drama stars George C. Scott as Gen. George S. Patton, a military figure who was brazenly and proudly pro-war at a time (Patton was released in 1970) when “hawks vs. doves” was a major dividing point widening the so-called generation gap. Interestingly, the story and screenplay were co-written by Francis Ford Coppola, who would turn around and make The Godfather two years later – and the largely anti-war Apocalypse Now film seven years after that.

MCCABE AND MRS. MILLER

TCM, 11:00 p.m. ET

This 1971 Robert Altman film is a gorgeous piece of cinema, and a perfect representation of Altman’s vivid, visionary style of filmmaking. Warren Beatty stars as an Old West gambler who teams with a professional madam (Julie Christie) to offer their respective areas of expertise to the rubes in a remote Old West mining town. Think of it as an early version of Deadwood, if you like – but whatever you have to think to tune in, do it. This film is a distinctive, often underrated classic, and the images of winter, especially, rival those from the movies of Ingmar Bergman.

KLUTE

TCM, 4:00 a.m. ET

This 1971 movie has a plot which has been examined, and re-examined, hundreds of times on film and TV. A detective, working on a murder case, falls in love with the beautiful young woman who’s in danger of being the killer’s next victim. The twist here, and even that isn’t so unusual, is that the woman is a prostitute – played by Jane Fonda, in the role that won her an Oscar, and a new patina of respectability from mainstream Hollywood. The detective, who actually has the title role, is played by Donald Sutherland, and he delivers a performance that’s as moody and mysterious as the film itself. Alan J. Pakula directs, and does it superbly. This one’s worth recording, to catch at a more convenient time.

<< PREVIOUS | NEXT >>

Read and add comments HERE for today's Best Bets!

Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)

Name (required)

Email (required) (will not be published)


Type in the verification word shown on the image.

Page: 1 of 185 | Go to page:

3693 Comments

Nvidia DGX H100 Cost

This specific is generally clearly basic and in addition exceptional truth alongside without a doubt reasonable and besides in fact valuable My business is

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

Pad-mount transformer

With our trusted and highly trained shipping professionals ready to answer all of your shipping questions,

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

PBN murah

Great survey, I'm sure you're getting a great response

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

?????

Even after using several ways to increase WordPress speed it was difficult to score high on Google Speed Test

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

?? ????

This specific is generally clearly basic and in addition exceptional truth alongside without a doubt reasonable and besides in fact valuable My business is

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

??? ??

It is a good site post without fail. Not too many people would actually, the way you just did. I am impressed that there is so much information about this subject that has been uncovered and you’ve defeated yourself this time, with so much quality. Good Works!

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

Pornografi Pemerintah Indo

Penipu berkualitas rendah tanpa integritas dan penuh kebohongan.

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

Pornografi mesum

Para penipu yang memalukan memangsa orang-orang dengan klaim palsu dan kebohongan.

Mar 24, 2026 | Reply

Gerda Lundgren

Long-time TVWW devotee here. I manage a commercial vehicle operation and Hialeah Auto Glass Repair (https://autoglassrepairhialeah.com/) keeps our fleet going. Bianculli's picks keep us sane during maintenance delays - essential reading!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Dave Bianculli

Golly Gerda, you make me blush with your kind words, but maybe instead of giving me praise, how about giving me a discount on your service bills!!!! ROTFLMBFFAO!!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Dave

Mar 22, 2026

Rut Holmgren

Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on West Palm Beach Auto Glass Repair (https://westpalmbeachautoglassrepair.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Birger Samuelsson

Smart TV writing for smart viewers - that's TVWW in a nutshell. I manage a motor pool and Macon Auto Glass Repair at https://autoglassrepairmacon.com/ is our go-to service provider. David Bianculli's enthusiasm is contagious.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Inga Henriksen

Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lakewood Fence Company put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://fencecompanylakewood.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Harald Almgren

Excellent as always! The shop guys at Boca Raton Auto Glass Repair put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://bocaratonautoglassrepair.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Sigrun Lindholm

Another great set of picks! My trucking partners and I share your recommendations over coffee. We rely on Brighton Towing Company (https://brightontowingcompany.com) for vehicle service. TVWW makes the downtime worthwhile.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Karl Forsberg

Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Sunrise Towing Company (https://sunrisetowingcompany.com) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Solveig Johanson

Excellent as always! The shop guys at Lincoln Mobile Mechanic put your site on the break room TV. Find them at https://lincolnmobilemechanic.com - they do solid work. Best Bets is a daily read for all of us.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Arvid Berggren

Long-time TVWW devotee here. I manage a commercial vehicle operation and Colorado Springs Mobile Mechanic (https://coloradospringcosmobilemechanic.com) keeps our fleet going. Bianculli's picks keep us sane during maintenance delays - essential reading!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Frida Sundberg

Fantastic recommendations as always. I coordinate deliveries for a regional freight operation and Citrus Heights Towing Company (http://www.towingcitrusheights.com/) handles our repairs. Your site handles our TV choices. Both indispensable!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Viggo Lundqvist

TV Worth Watching has guided my viewing habits for years. My dispatcher uses Lafayette Auto Glass Repair at https://lafayetteautoglassrepair.com for fleet repairs and turned me onto this site. Two great recommendations!

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Tyra Stromberg

Loyal reader checking in! I'm in freight logistics and Lauderhill Towing Company (https://lauderhilltowing.com) keeps our trucks roadworthy. Your Best Bets column keeps our break room lively. Much appreciated.

Mar 21, 2026 | Reply

Page: 1 of 185 | Go to page:

David Bianculli

Founder / Editor

David Bianculli has been a TV critic since 1975, including a 14-year stint at the New York Daily News, and sees no reason to stop now. Currently, he's TV critic for NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and is an occasional substitute host for that show. He's also an author and teaches TV and film history at New Jersey's Rowan University. His 2009 Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', has been purchased for film rights. His latest, The Platinum Age of Television: From I Love Lucy to the Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific, is an effusive guidebook that plots the path from the 1950s’ Golden Age to today’s era of quality TV.

New From TVWW

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

IFC, 5:00 p.m. ET

HBO, 8:00 p.m. ET

TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET

TCM, 11:00 p.m. ET

TCM, 4:00 a.m. ET

David Bianculli

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up

The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation

Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'

Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver

'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy