Square Eyes

Television Reviews

Movie of the week, No Man's Land, SBS, Sun, 9pm:

This is a brilliant, dark satire about the futility of war, set during the Bosnian conflict. It plays it for laughs and gets away with it, despite the horror, because the message is clear. A luckless Bosnian soldier ends up in a trench in no man's land, along with an enemy soldier. A stalemate ensues and neither can escape because either side will shoot them. The UN only makes things worse, and when the media learn of the story, all hell really breaks loose.

Kate & Leopold, Prime, Fri, 8.30pm:

A bit of eye candy for Hugh Jackman fans who'd like to elbow Meg Ryan out of the way. This romantic twizz has Our Hugh as a 19th century bachelor, who magically lobs in 21st century New York and is mistaken for a period actor, to the delight of Their Meg. It's bland and a little tedious, but a box of chocolates should help.

Slut, SBS, Fri, 10pm:

This charming term makes for a thought-provoking doco, though it's not for the easily offended. Funny how blokes who exhibit similar behaviour are studs. But then, a 10-year-old wearing shorts about the knee can cop the epithet from her teacher. It's caused untold pain and damage to women, as revealed here.

Spiderman, NBN, Sat, 8.30pm:

This comic book adventure comes to life with pizazz and style, thanks largely to Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker. It takes some liberties with the original premise and it's a little long, but the special effects are fantastic and it's a thrilling adventure with a superhero who feels like he really could be one of us.

Academy Awards, NBN, Mon, 8pm:

Our Cate should finally get the Best Actress gong for her Kate Hepburn in The Aviator. Not that it's the best, but she was robbed in '99 by Gwyneth Paltrow and they owe her.

Enough Rope, ABC, Mon, 9.30pm:

Andrew Denton is seen as a "soft" interviewer, but a better description would be intelligent, witty and non-combative, which is why so many people who otherwise avoid the media speak to him, and in the process, often reveal more than any "tough" interviewer could elicit. His opening scoop is Our Mary and that handsome Danish Prince.

Howard Hughes, SBS, Tues, 10pm:

There's Scorsese's hagiographic romantic drama, then there's the truth of an eccentric billionaire with mafia links and a predilection for bribing politicians, as well as being a technological pioneer.

Until Death Do Them Part, SBS, Weds, 7.30pm:

Maurice and Mariella have been married for 57 years. This heartwrenching doco looks at how loving couples cope with growing old. Maurice, almost 80, has cancer and suffered from a stroke. His demands are too much for his wife, but she resists her children's urging that he go into a nursing home. It's a tender elegy on the issues confronting many older couples.