The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television during the week of June 23, as well as notes on TV programming for the same week. Televised films may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations while the programs listed have not been reviewed and therefore are not necessarily recommended by OSV News.
Streaming Now
“The Devil’s Own” (1997; Netflix)
Solid thriller in which an upright New York policeman (Harrison Ford) welcomes an Irish immigrant (Brad Pitt) into his home, unaware the young man is an IRA agent whose attempt to buy stinger missiles inadvertently enmeshes the cop, his family and his police partner (Ruben Blades) in a web of violence. Director Alan J. Pakula focuses on the complex moral dilemmas facing the cop and the IRA man while skillfully building the suspense in the gripping narrative. Intermittent violence, recurring rough language and some profanity. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
“Skyfall” (2012; Amazon Prime)
A rousing return for British Agent 007 and a much-needed injection of vitality into the James Bond film franchise, this 23rd outing for the iconic spy is directed by Sam Mendes. Bond (Daniel Craig) and a field operative (Naomie Harris) are on the trail of a villain (Javier Bardem) who has stolen a computer disc containing the identities of every secret agent in the world. The sleazy megalomaniac uses the data to terrorize London and exact revenge on veteran counter-intelligence chief M (Judi Dench), who is also contending with the threat posed by a government rival (Ralph Fiennes) who seeks her job. Though the violence quotient is undeniably high, Mendes’ film is thoughtful and character-driven, raising issues of loss, responsibility, patriotism and loyalty amid the battle of good vs. evil. Scenes of intense action violence and torture, implied nonmarital sexual activity, mild sensuality and innuendo, some profane and rough language. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
“Step Up” (2006; Hulu)
Diverting if inconsequential dance drama about a street punk (Channing Tatum) who splits his time between break-dancing and stealing cars, and who finds himself doing community service at an elite performing arts academy, where his flashy dance moves catch the eye of a ballerina (Jenna Dewan) who is desperate to find someone to replace her injured partner in preparation for the big senior dance showcase, leading to predictable opposites-attract complications as he gives her routine a hip-hop makeover. Despite a hackneyed script, director Anne Fletcher’s formulaic, but relatively clean, teen romance is buoyed by some lively dance sequences (choreographed by Fletcher) and appealing performances. Some suggestive dance moves, a scene of vandalism, brief gun violence, including an off-screen shooting, a few crude expressions, fleeting racially charged rap lyrics and some innuendo limit the film’s appropriate audience to older adolescents and up. The OSV News classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13 (The sequels “Step Up 2: the Streets” (2008) and “Step Up 3” (2010) are also streaming).
Looking Ahead
Monday, June 24, 8-9 p.m. EDT (EWTN) “The Journey Home.” On this edition of the weekly conversion-themed show, series host JonMarc Grodi welcomes formerly-lapsed Catholic Monica Anyango (TV-G — general audience).
Monday, June 24, 8-10:15 p.m. EDT (TCM) “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939). Sprawling medieval melodrama from Victor Hugo’s story of Quasimodo (Charles Laughton), the misshapen cathedral bell-ringer who rescues a kind gypsy dancer (Maureen O’Hara) from the gallows, then saves her from the clutches of the evil judge (Cedric Hardwicke) who had been his benefactor. Directed by William Dieterle, the 15th-century Paris setting is vibrantly rendered, the crowded plot moves briskly and, at the center of the piece, Laughton’s feeling performance transcends the character’s grotesque features to win audience sympathy. Stylized violence and romantic complications. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II — adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.
Saturday, June 29, 3:30-5:15 a.m. EDT (EWTN) “Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.” Pope Francis celebrates the Solemn Mass of Sts. Peter and Paul and officiates at the imposition of the pallia for new metropolitan archbishops. The program will re-air 6-7:45 p.m. EDT (TV-G — general audience).
Saturday, June 29, 4:42-8 p.m. EDT (HBO) “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022). Director and co-writer James Cameron’s follow-up to his 2009 sci-fi blockbuster returns viewers to the fictional moon Pandora and continues the story of the kick-off’s two principal characters, the avatar of an Earth-born ex-Marine (Sam Worthington) and his Pandoran wife (Zoe Saldaña). When human intruders return to his adopted world in a renewed attempt to exploit it, the warrior becomes the leader of the indigenous resistance. But his high-profile role makes him a target, once again, for the ruthless colonel (Stephen Lang) with whom he clashed in the original. So, together with his family, he retreats to a distant set of islands occupied by a tribe whose lifestyle is centered on the sea. The technically innovative visual flair that helped make the first film the highest grossing feature of all time is present in abundance across a three-hour-plus running time. But themes connecting the proceedings to environmental issues, corporate greed, the fate of Native Americans and the Vietnam War are conveyed in an excessively earnest tone and via some clunky dialogue. More significantly, the local religion, a form of pantheistic goddess worship, is at odds with Christian faith and is not fit fare for the impressionable. Nonscriptural beliefs and practices, stylized but intense and momentarily disturbing combat, partial nudity, at least one use each of profanity and rough language, a few milder oaths, about a dozen crude terms, several crass expressions, an obscene gesture.The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Saturday, June 29, 6:14-8 p.m. EDT (Cinemax) “Out of Time” (2003). Well-carpentered thriller about a small-town Florida cop (Denzel Washington) who must investigate an arson which resulted in the death of the woman with whom he was having an adulterous affair, forcing him to cover up incriminating evidence that seems to point to him as the culprit. While Carl Franklin’s taut direction keeps the action moving through a series of plot twists, the film offers a mixed message, showing the self-entangling consequences of deception while overly sympathizing with its protagonist’s moral weakness in justifying dishonesty as a means of pursuing the truth that will prove him innocent. Sexual encounters, some violence, sporadic crude language. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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