MONDAY
DECEMBER 30
2013

BIANCULLI’S BEST BETS

 

Sundance, 6:15 p.m. ET

This 1973 martial arts action film, now 40 years old, belongs on a serious film network such as Sundance because it’s a) such an early example of international movie marketing, which is all but mandatory these days, and b) perhaps the most famous and impressive screen appearance by Bruce Lee. And yes, it’s worth watching for all that, but I’d also humbly suggest c) Ahna Capri, who plays the mysterious and beautiful Tania. Forty years later, I remember being stunned by Lee’s moves – but I also remember being stunned by Capri, too.

 
  
 
 

Starz!, 6:20 p.m. ET

A new reason to revisit this intense 2012 war film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, written by Mark Boal? Not that you should need one, but here’s one anyway: Watch for the small but crucial appearance by the late James Gandolfini, who plays a powerful politician critical to the continuation of the plan to find and target Osama bin Laden. He plays the part perfectly, with strength, compassion and not a little humor – which, come to think of it, were three of his strongest attributes as an actor. Jessica Chastain stars.

 
  
 
 

The Movie Channel, 8:00 p.m. ET

At the moment, Joaquin Phoenix is getting raves for his starring role as the man obsessed with his computer’s operating system in Her. Last year, he got raves for his role in this movie, playing an aimless war veteran who falls under the wing of a charismatic religious leader, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Or, what I said about Phoenix goes for Amy Adams as well: She got raves for her role in The Master (playing Hoffman’s wife) a year ago, and right now she’s getting rave reviews for her role in… Her. (As well as her role in American Hustle, but that has less symmetry for this particular entry.)

 
  
 
 

PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET

This Oscar-nominated documentary traces the origins of activist groups, such as TAG and ACT UP, in the early days of AIDS, when fear was much more plentiful than knowledge and reason. Check local listings.

 
  
 
 

Flix, 10:00 p.m. ET

Spike Lee wrote and directed this smart, intense 1989 movie about racial unrest and uneasy neighbors in Brooklyn. And there are plenty of strong performers and performances here, including Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Danny Aiello, John Turturro and Lee himself – but if you’re a Breaking Bad fan, you’ll want to pay particular attention to Giancarlo Esposito as Buggin’ Out, decades before he played the ultimate bad guy on Bad as Gus Fring.

 
  
 
 
 
 
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)
 
VGHQC
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 231  | Go to page: 
4606 Comments
 
 
Para penipu ini mengira orang-orang itu bodoh. Modus penipuan yang sama, omong kosong yang sama.
Sep 8, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini pantas untuk diungkap kebohongan dan kebusukan mereka.
Sep 8, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu ini mengira orang-orang itu bodoh. Modus penipuan yang sama, omong kosong yang sama.
Sep 8, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Penipu berkualitas rendah tanpa integritas dan penuh kebohongan.
Sep 8, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Sialan para penipu ini karena telah mencuri uang dan kepercayaan orang lain.
Sep 8, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
?? ??? ???! ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????!
Sep 8, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Nice to read your article! I am looking forward to sharing your adventures and experiences
Sep 8, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
I high appreciate this post. It’s hard to find the good from the bad sometimes, but I think you’ve nailed it! would you mind updating your blog with more information
Sep 8, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Very good post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
Sep 8, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu licik menjalankan operasi kotor yang dibangun di atas kebohongan dan penipuan.
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Penipu sejati, persetan denganmu, jalang!
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
"Hi there, just wanted to mention, I loved this blog post. It was inspiring. Keep on posting!

"
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Penipuan murahan yang berpura-pura sah. Jangan sampai tertipu.
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Halaman ini dikelola oleh para penipu brengsek, hanya berisi kebohongan, janji palsu, dan trik murahan. Hindari orang-orang bodoh ini.
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Singkirkan para penipu dengan cerita palsu dan hasil palsu. Jangan percaya bajingan pembohong ini.
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Manusia yang menyedihkan, mencari uang dengan menipu orang jujur. Persetan dengan sampah ini.
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Para penipu licik menjalankan operasi kotor yang dibangun di atas kebohongan dan penipuan.
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free.
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Situs web ini benar-benar penipuan, jangan percayai mereka.
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
Sep 7, 2026   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 231  | 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.