Square Eyes

Television Reviews

Movie of the week, All About My Mother, SBS, Sun, 9.30pm

Spanish director Pedro Almoldovar shows unexpected restraint in this tender, bittersweet homage to motherhood. It's still littered with a cast of fringe dwellers - the nun (Penelope Cruz) pregnant to one of the AIDS sufferers she tends, a diva actor (Marisa Peredes) and her wayward daughter, a transsexual prostitute (a drolly funny Antonia San Juan) and a grieving mother (a brilliant Cecilia Roth) seeking some answers and solace. Together, they're an oddball family of sorts. It's moving, powerful, funny and tragic and an intriguing melodrama.

Hollywood's Dirty Little Secret, SBS, Fri, 7.30pm

Aussies see it as validation of our global relevance every time Our Nic™, Our Cate™ or Our.. er.. that bloke from Shine scores a gong at the Golden Globes. Truth is it's a closed shop junket for 90-odd supposed foreign hacks - although no-one from prestigious international papers is allowed to join. It's all a bit of a joke.

Any Given Sunday, NBN, Sun, 8.30pm

Oliver Stone directs this footy film about a washed up Miami coach (Al Pacino) at his wits end until a cocky, unwanted quarterback (Jamie Foxx) turns their fortunes around at the expense of his aging rival (Dennis Quaid). It's hard to believe Cameron Diaz as the ruthless team owner, and it's loud, vulgar, and far too long.

Antitrust, Prime, Sun, 8.35pm

A clichéd, glaringly obvious thriller that borrows heavily from The Firm, relocating the setting to an IT company. Milo (Ryan Phillipe) is the ambitious nerd seduced by his nefarious boss' (Tim Robbins) flash lifestyle, bringing his spunky-but-grounded gal (Claire Forlani) along for the ride. Milo soon suspects there's something rotten going on... You've seen this story dozens of times, better told and acted.

American Idol, Ten, Sun, 6.30pm

Who cares about the performers, watch it for the stinging rebuffs of hanging judge Simon Cowell, the chap who stuck it up everyone, bar Our Guy™ and Their Kelly, during World Idol.

On Our Selection, NBN, Mon, noon

Bonus points to NBN for screening a local movie on Australia Day (as a warm-up to the Aussies flogging Zimbabwe once again..). Steele Rudd's classic about the adventures of Dad and Dave - the former, a battler, decides to have a stab at politics - has a roguish charm. It's a good cast, led by Leo 'Rumpole' McKern, Dame Joan and that Shine bloke.

Operation Landslide, SBS, Tues, 8.30pm

This is an appalling story, because it involves the most heinous of crimes, child porn. A year ago, former Who muso Pete Townsend revealed he was one of 500 people, many in trusted community roles, from police to teachers, arrested and questioned in a global investigation into internet child pornography. It's a harrowing tale, but also reassuring for the efforts of investigators in bringing those responsible to justice.