Square Eyes

Television Reviews

Movie of the week, Being John Malkovich, Prime, Sat, 11.10pm

A surreal comedy about an unemployed puppeteer (John Cusack), who gets a job in an office, only to discover a hole in the wall that leads into the head of actor John Malkovich for 15 minutes before they're booted out. His wife (Cameron Diaz) realises they're onto a money spinner and people are soon queuing to experience vicarious fame.

It's a clever, twisted film about fame, sex and identity, with some cracker performances, especially from Malkovich playing himself and worried about the voices in his head - with good reason.

Rage, ABC, Sat, 12.05am

If you missed the climax of Triple J's hottest 100 because storms blacked out the broadcast, here's the top 50, with visuals - although setting the tape player will mean you can sleep through the small hours when Jet hits No. 1.

Byron, ABC, Sun, 8.30pm

A two-part dramatisation of the hedonistic, bonking-mad poet's life (featuring a brilliant Jonny Lee Miller from Trainspotting). It's a beautifully crafted drama as the cavalier aristocrat leaves a swathe of damage among those who fete him. Vanessa Redgrave is brilliant as confidante and mentor Lady Caroline Lamb, who was right in saying Byron was "mad, bad and dangerous to know."

Finding Forrester, Ten, Sun, 8.30pm

Sean Connery tries thought-you-were-dead Scottish poet's society as a reclusive writer who comes out of his haven to mentor a basketballing black city kid who also has some talent with the pen. It's a strong yarn, helped by F Murray Abraham and Anna Paquin.

Save the last dance, Prime, Sun, 8.30pm

Tragedy strikes a posh kid (Julia Stiles) when her mum dies and she goes to live with her musician dad, ending up in a largely black Chicago school. There's a bit of racial tension, but ballet lessons stand her in good stead with the break dancing boys. Another teen romance with pretensions of saying something more.

3000 Miles from Graceland, NBN, Sun, 8.30pm

This violent rubbish has all of the appeal of the King in his final, bloated, pill-sodden days. Its one redeeming feature is Kevin Costner as a bad guy who cops it. Kev and Kurt Russell are ex-crim Elvis impersonators planning to hold up a Las Vegas casino. It's unadulterated crap.

Sex & the City, NBN, Mon, 9.30pm

The final episode screens in America on Sunday night just as the final season gets underway in Australia. If facile, whiny 30-something women in desperate need of a bloke and pondering whether the meaning of life will match their shoes and handbag is your idea of fun, go for it. It's funny, with all the nourishment of fairy floss.

The Deported, SBS, Tues, 8.30pm

Out of sight is out of mind, once authorities deport the reffos they reject. British filmmaker Nick Danzinger follows five asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Male once they're sent home to see how they fare. It's not a pretty picture but anyone likes showing those queue jumpers who's in charge will no doubt feel smugly self-satisfied.