Square Eyes

Television Reviews

Movie of the Week: The Birdcage, Prime, Sun, 8.30pm

Okay, so it's no Casablanca, but it's still a well-crafted piece of camp fluff. Val, the son of a gay nightclub owner named Armand (Robin Williams), announces he wants to marry the daughter of an ultra-straight Republican senator (Gene Hackman) and brings home his future parents-in-law to meet the folks. Not wanting to jeopardise his son's happiness, Armand and his long-term partner Albert (a superb Nathan Lane) attempt to play the perfect American couple, with hilarious results.

What Not to Wear: Prime, Fri, 8pm

Two female wannabe-journalists pick on every poor English girl who dresses badly, publicly humiliating them to get ratings. It's a surprise the victims agree to be part of it, and even more surprising it gets the ratings it does. One for the 'What not to Watch' category.

This is Rock Bitch, SBS, Fri, 10pm

It's Spinal Tap with chicks with a British all-gal rock group, living in a former monastery on a commune in France. They try to explain why, since they're mainly lesbians, their artistic sensibilities include throwing a condom into the crowd during the show, so whoever catches it gets to have sex with the band. The reasons are as self-indulgent as anything Ozzie Osbourne ever tried.

Perfect Strangers, ABC, Sun, 8.30pm

This brilliant (albeit repeated) three-part drama centres around a family reunion in which Daniel (Matthew MacFadyen) finds himself out of his depth meeting unfamiliar relatives for the first time. They're linked by blood, but little else. His dad (Michael Gambon) is the cantankerous black sheep of the mob. A clever comedy of manners soon evolves into a mystery about concealed pasts and changed identities.

Vengo, SBS, Sun, 9.30pm

Director Tony (Latcho Drom) Gatlif lets the flamenco music do the talking in this Spanish gypsy tale of honour and revenge. It begins with a breathtaking flamenco sequence and the highlights remain the music and dancing amidst a flimsy drama about two clans feuding.

Dynasties: Durack Dreaming, ABC, Mon, 8pm

After fleeing the Irish famine, the Durack family became 'kings in grass castles' as the first of Australia's great cattle kings. Over three generations, they conquered and lost their harsh outback empire. Left with the memories of Mary's writings and Elizabeth's paintings, life has come full circle, with former station hands now the Aboriginal owners of the land.

Animals: the inside story, ABC, Weds, 8.30pm

A three part doco that looks inside animals, using thermal imaging and computer graphics, to see what makes them tick. First up it's inside a blue whale's mouth to figure out how they survive on a diet of tiny krill, how a falcon launches a deadly accurate 320km/h attack on a pigeon, and how a tiger's brain works when it spots dinner.

The Indian Cowboy, ABC, Thurs, 10pm

This remarkable doco tells the story of an Indian country music star, with a voice like Glen Campbell, whose dream is to play the Tamworth festival. Bobby Cash quickly becomes the talk of Tamworth, winning fans with his musical ability and honesty. It's a ripper yarn about love and acceptance and how faith and fate can make dreams come true.