Square Eyes

Television Reviews

Movie of the week, Oceans Eleven, NBN, Fri, 8.30pm:

Ah, suddenly, the ratings return and there are movies to choose from. This remake of the 60s Rat Pack romp follows a similar formula - using star power (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts) to lift this hi-tech crime comedy with a splash of romance. Clooney is a con man planning to rob a trio of Las Vegas casinos. It's a piece of fluff, but rollicking fun and reminiscent of Hollywood's golden age.

Pearl Harbour, Prime, Fri, 8.30pm:

It's a bit like Titanic goes to war... a major disaster makes way for a love triangle (can't wait til Jerry Bruckheimer turns S11 into a romantic tragedy). Rafe (Ben Affleck), Danny (Josh Hartnett), and nurse Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale) spend the first 90 minutes jockeying for affection, followed by 40 minutes of staggering special effects as the bombs rain down. Those who died deserve a better memorial than this mush, which they also turned into a shoot-em-up video game.

About a Boy, Ten, Fri, 8.30pm:

Hugh Grant plays a self-obsessed London toff, having flings with single moms because they're easy prey, tripped up by the 12-year-old son of Fiona (Toni Collette). Novelist Nick Hornby's fast-paced and witty comedy is beautifully rendered, with Grant shining for once.

Shrek, NBN, Sat, 7.30pm:

A green ugly duckling scores the beautiful gal - who also turns out to be an ugly duckling - though not in his eyes. This lovely, funny, wonderful animated romantic comedy fairytale is smart and sassy. It's as much fun for adults as kids.

Black Hawk Down, Ten, Sat, 8.30pm:

Almost 15 years ago, US foreign policy was in deep doodoo when two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down in Somalia. Director Ridley Scott brings the desperation, chaos and brutality of combat to life in this absorbing drama.

Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Prime, Sun, 8.30pm:

A New Year's Day TV tradition came down under earlier this month. It's still an enjoyable, spectacular and stirring adventure .

Compass: Vipassana, ABC, Sun, 10.05pm:

Imagine keeping mum for 10 days. This intensive meditation retreat is popular locally, and this doco follows three people - a businessmen, a neurotic corporate lawyer and a prison official - as they spend 10 days in silence, with 10 hours of meditation daily from 4.30am.

Shameless, SBS, Mon, 10pm:

English writer Paul Abbott (Cracker) relives his chaotic, dysfunctional childhood in an impoverished Manchester council estate. In episode 3 (of 7), the barman Kev lets slip that he's getting married. The news spreads quickly, but Kev has to get to his girlfriend first and ask her before she finds out on the grapevine. And there's a hitch - he's already married.