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 Jan. 18, 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
“Les Miserables” (2012; Amazon Prime)
Lavish adaptation of the worldwide musical stage sensation, based on the Victor Hugo novel and directed by Tom Hooper. Inspired by the kindness of a Catholic bishop (Colm Wilkinson), an ex-convict (Hugh Jackman) assumes a new identity and amends his life, becoming a benevolent mayor and factory owner, all the while evading the obsessive pursuit of his former jailer (Russell Crowe). When one of his workers (Anne Hathaway) is unjustly fired and forced into a life of prostitution, he pledges to raise her daughter (Isabelle Allen) as his own. Years pass, and the now-grown lass (Amanda Seyfried) falls for a young revolutionary (Eddie Redmayne) amid violent protests on the barricaded streets of Paris. A positive portrayal of the Catholic faith, with characters calling on God for grace and mercy, and seeking personal redemption while trying to better the lives of others, makes this rousing film especially appealing to mature viewers of faith. Scenes of bloody violence, a prostitution theme, nongraphic nonmarital sexual activity. 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.
“Only the Brave” (2017; Netflix)
Heartbreaking true story of the “Granite Mountain Hotshots,” the elite Arizona firefighting team that raced into a raging inferno in 2013 to save a neighboring town from destruction. Their leader (Josh Brolin) has honed his 20-member crew into a well-oiled machine with the assistance of his right-hand man (James Badge Dale). During a recruitment drive, an unlikely candidate (Miles Teller) appears, intent on turning away from a dissolute life to join the group. In adapting a magazine article by Sean Flynn, director Joseph Kosinski deftly juggles the intimate stories of the men’s personal lives (Jennifer Connelly plays Brolin’s wife) with grand set pieces that evoke the sheer terror and destructive force of the flames they battle. Although the ending is well known, the impact is no less profound on screen, and the striking real-life examples of heroism, brotherhood and self-sacrifice are both timely and inspiring. Scenes of extreme peril, mature themes, drug use, brief rear male nudity, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, several uses of profanity, pervasive crude language, some sexual banter, obscene gestures. 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.
Looking Ahead
Sunday, Jan. 18, 10 p.m.-midnight EST (TCM) “Coma” (1978). Screen version of Robin Cook’s novel about a spunky Boston doctor (Genevieve Bujold) who uncovers a murderous scheme involving trafficking in human organs. Michael Crichton directs a suspenseful, well-acted drama with a relatively sophisticated plot and some rather graphic operating room scenes, incidental nudity and the casual treatment of an affair. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Thursday, Jan. 22, 6:15-9 p.m. EST (AMC) “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014). Crackerjack sci-fi adventure in which a human freebooter (Chris Pratt) vies with a trio of alien competitors (Zoe Saldana and characters voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel) for possession of a mysteriously powerful silver orb. Once they discover the object’s vast potential for destruction, however, the former adversaries — together with a hulking ex-con (Dave Bautista) they met up with during a stint in prison — unite around a higher purpose: keeping the artifact out of the hands of a maniacal villain (Lee Pace). While not suitable for young viewers, director and co-writer James Gunn’s rollicking adaptation of a series of Marvel comics, which showcases self-sacrificing, morally elevating love as well as dedicated camaraderie, offers their elders top-flight escapist entertainment. Much action and martial arts-style violence, brief shadowy rear nudity, occasional rough and crude language, 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.
Friday, Jan. 23, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. EST (EWTN) “March for Life.” Live and complete coverage from Washington of the most important pro-life event of the year: the annual March For Life (TV-G — general audience).
Friday, Jan. 23, 10 p.m.-midnight EST (TCM) “Casablanca” (1942). Classic romantic melodrama set in the refugee crossroads of French North Africa where an American expatriate (Humphrey Bogart) helps the woman who broke his heart (Ingrid Bergman) and her husband (Paul Henreid), an underground leader, escape the Nazi dragnet. Directed by Michael Curtiz, the story is replete with World War II intrigue, sardonic humor, punchy dialogue (“Here’s looking at you, kid!”) and a great cast, including Claude Rains as a suave Vichy police officer and Dooley Wilson’s rendition of “As Time Goes By.” Time stands still for this one, though the wartime atmosphere may be too menacing for the children. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II — adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.
Saturday, Jan. 24, 5:16-7:51 p.m. EST (Cinemax) “Superman Returns” (2006). The Man of Steel (Brandon Routh) arrives back on Earth after a five-year absence to find that while some things haven’t changed — arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) is still plotting mass destruction — Metropolis has moved on without him; this includes reporter Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), who is now engaged and raising a young son. More than a special-effects extravaganza, director Bryan Singer’s visually elegant film abounds in Christian symbolism, while balancing comic-book spectacle with emotional drama and tender romance. Some stylized action violence, including intense scenes of peril, a vicious beating, an implied past premarital encounter, a few mildly crude expressions. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Saturday, Jan. 24, 9-11:30 p.m. EST (PBS) “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (1968). Widowed inventor (Dick Van Dyke) takes his two children and girlfriend (Sally Ann Howes) on a magical mystery tour of the imagination involving an evil baron (Gert Frobe), a cavernous castle in the air, the rescue of imprisoned children and the strange flying car of the title. Though adults may be disappointed by the indifferent lyrics and lackluster special effects of this musical fantasy directed by Ken Hughes, there is still more than enough good fun for the young and uncritical. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-I — general patronage. The Motion Picture Association rating was G — general audiences. All ages admitted.
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