TV film fare -- week of June 11, 2023
(OSV News) -- The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies on network and cable television the week of June 11. Please note that televised versions may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence, and sexual situations.
Sunday, June 11, 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Wait Until Dark" (1967). Taut thriller from Frederick Knott's play about a recently blinded housewife (Audrey Hepburn) alone in her apartment when it's invaded by crazed thugs (Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna and Jack Weston) in search of a doll containing a cache of heroin. Directed by Terence Young, the harrowing plight of the sightless woman is depicted so convincingly that it turns a contrived situation into a gripping melodrama of suspense. Not for the nervous or the younger members of the family. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.
Sunday, June 11, 5:00 p.m.-7:52 p.m. EDT (AMC) "Saving Private Ryan" (1998). Riveting war drama set during and immediately after D-Day, 1944 when seven soldiers, led by their captain (Tom Hanks), are ordered to go behind German enemy lines to rescue a GI (Matt Damon) whose three brothers had been killed in action the previous week. Director Steven Spielberg brilliantly re-creates the horror and chaos of warfare, never losing sight of the soldiers' humanity, savagery and patriotism even as they question the justification of their mission. Graphic battlefield violence with gore, some profanity and recurring rough language. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Monday, June 12, 10 p.m.-midnight EDT (TCM) "The Solid Gold Cadillac" (1956). Delightful comedy about a small shareholder (Judy Holliday) in a large corporation who ejects its corrupt board of directors through the proxies of other small shareholders and the savvy of an honest business executive (Paul Douglas). Directed by Richard Quine, Holliday's eccentric brand of comedy is perfectly suited to this populist tale of ordinary people triumphing over corporate sharks. Mild romantic complications. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.
Tuesday, June 13, 6-8 p.m. EDT (Showtime) "Full Metal Jacket" (1987). Director Stanley Kubrick's moody essay on the dehumanizing effects of basic training and combat during the Vietnam era traces the transformation of a typical Marine Corps recruit from observer to participant. Sexual come-ons by hookers, graphic bloodshed and excessive profanity provide the realistic texture for the expression of diminishing spiritual sensitivity and moral ambiguity. 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.
Friday, June 16, 9 p.m.-12 a.m. EDT (AMC) "U.S. Marshals" (1998). Pale spinoff from the 1993 thriller, "The Fugitive," with its iron-willed lawman (Tommy Lee Jones) doggedly pursuing an escaped murder suspect (Wesley Snipes) who is out to find whoever framed him. Directed by Stuart Baird, the action is nonstop, but the thin characterizations and hokey plot are unmemorable. Gory violence, occasional profanity and an instance of rough language. 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.- - - John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on Twitter @JohnMulderig1.