Square Eyes

Television Reviews

Movie of the week, Little Oberon, NBN, Sun, 8.30pm:

This telemovie isn't brilliant, but at least it's Australian, stars Our Siggy (as the bitter dying artist Lola) and scores points for trying in a dull week. Lola's daughter Georgie (Tasma Walton) returns to the sleepy country town she fled when a pregnant teenager, stirring up dark memories and awakening the mystical ability of her now teenage daughter. It's an interesting mix of gothic horror, murder whodunit, spirituality and family drama.

Unit One, SBS, Fri, 8.30pm:

This Danish police drama is slow to start, but has garnered plenty of critical acclaim as a sort of Scandanavian Cold Case. A female officer leaps up the ranks, rankling her colleague when she's put in charge of a close-knit elite squad cracking the toughest crimes. It's based on real cases.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Prime, Sat, 7.40pm:

Roald Dahl's screenplay, based on Ian Fleming's story (which explains why a woman is named Truly Scrumptious), follows the adventures of a whacky inventor (Dick Van Dyke) who transforms an old jalopy into a magic carpet. It's a fun, cheesy musical flight of fancy that still holds its charm 37 years later.

10 Things I Hate About You, Prime, Fri, 8.30pm:

The Bard's Taming of the Shrew gets a modern teen makeover with Aussie spuuuunk Heath Ledger trying his luck with Julia Stiles. It's a teen romantic comedy with plenty to also entertain adults.

SOS, SBS, Sat, 11.55pm:

Eat Carpet is replaced by an hour-long selection of short films, kicking off with the 2005 Oscar winner Ryan, and two good Aussie shorts, Going to the Dogs, about being kinder to Afghan dogs than Afghani refugees, and one about the date from hell, thanks to a parrot.

The Hot Chick, Prime, Sun, 8.30pm:

Just when you thought the rubbish couldn't be more egregious, along comes Rob Schneider (who makes Adam Sandler, who cameos, look like Einstein) as the snobby prom queen stuck in a slob man's body, while he's swapped into her form. Oh what a jolly idea! It's a pervy bloke movie of the very worst kind.

Enough Rope, ABC, Mon, 9.30pm:

Andrew Denton ends the season with a bang - or is that a biff? - chatting to former Labor leader Mark Latham, who's carrying a big bucket to tip on his former colleagues.

Food Lovers Guide to Australia, SBS, Weds, 7.30pm:

Mouth-watering adventures with Joanna Savill and Maeve O'Meara, who this week explore Tassie, including the Chinese delicacy sea cucumbers, oysters and Bruny Island cheeses.

Divorce Stories, SBS, Thurs, 8.30pm:

This grim slice of reality is nonetheless a moving, compelling and harrowing doco series on the end Australian relationships - a fate that befalls four in every 10 marriages. The second episode is a painful trawl through the courts, but the following week offers the hope of a new start.