Square Eyes

Television Reviews

Movie of the week, Moulin Rouge, Prime, Sun, 8.30pm

Our Nic™ and Ewan McGregor sing and dance their way through Baz Luhrman's frabjous confection of a musical about a garret-starving writer (McGregor) who falls in love with a Parisian nightclub courtesan (Our Nic™). If nothing else, tune in for the breathtaking, exhausting opening sequence. It's a razzle dazzling romp with plenty of spot-the-Aussie-actor moments for buffs.

Mr Reliable, Prime, Sat, 10.40pm

Petty crim Wally Mellish (Colin Friels) won national fame in 1968 when, due to overwrought Keystone cop antics of police, he was the centre of a three day siege with his girlfriend (Jacqueline McKenzie) that only ended when the Police Commissioner married them during the stand off. It's a comic, enjoyable Aussie drama, based on a true story.

State of Play, ABC, Sun, 8.30pm

An awesome three-part English conspiracy thriller set in a newspaper office. They're investigating the untimely death of a politician's young researcher, trying to beat the cops to the truth. It's addictively good, from the pen of Cracker's Paul Abbott.

15 minutes, NBN, Sun, 8.30pm

A hypocritical film that attempts to satirise celebrity, violence and the media's fascination with them, but does little more than revel in its own squalor for two hours. A knockabout fireman (Ed Burns) and celebrity cop (Robert de Niro) are investigating a suspicious fire. The two thugs behind it also killed bystanders but are using a tabloid TV reporter (Kelsey Grammar) as their pawn. It's nasty and pointless.

Mullet, SBS, Sun, 9.30pm

Eddie (Ben Mendelsohn) returns to the sleepy fishing village where he grew up after three years. Things seem the same and he slips back into his routine, but much has changed. His girlfriend (Susie Porter) has married his brother, the affable local copper (Andrew S Gilbert), and everyone is suspicious about why the bloke who always had tickets on himself is back. It's a gritty story of trying to get by in a country backwater by Idiot Box director David Caesar.

Compass: Testing God, ABC, Sun, 10.15pm

It seems the more scientists discover, the more the patterns of the universe suggest Divine Intervention. An Aussie physicist is among many boffins in this 3-part series who believe faith and scientific fact are not mutually exclusive.

Harvey Krumpet, SBS, Mon, 9pm

Adam Elliot's wonderful Oscar-winning 'claymation' drama is a tragic yet uplifting story about the redemption in love. Harvey's a bloke cursed with perpetual bad luck in this brilliant blend of humour and pathos that reveals the human condition. Not to be missed!

Akira Kurosawa's Dreams, SBS, Weds, 10pm

The acclaimed Japanese director offers eight short stories, based on his dreams. It's a visually stunning, poignant work with flashes of brilliance. Keep an eye out for Martin Scorcese as the painter Van Gogh.