Arts Culture
‘Outbreak,’ ‘Never Cry Wolf,’ And ‘Frost/Nixon’
This Week On Television
Sunday, Nov. 1, 7-10 p.m. EST (AMC) "Outbreak" (1995).
As a deadly, highly contagious African virus tears through a California town, a team of government virologists (Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kevin Spacey) race against time to produce an antidote before their military superiors (Donald Sutherland and Morgan Freeman) solve the containment problem by vaporizing the entire town. Despite some irrational behavior by several characters, director Wolfgang Petersen's action-packed medical thriller builds considerable suspense as the ominously realistic scenario unfolds. Some military violence, shots of diseased victims and intermittent rough language. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 8-11 p.m. EST (AMC) "Batman" (1989).
Dark, haunting vision of the caped crusader (Michael Keaton) who must battle not only the evil Joker (Jack Nicholson) but the demons left over from his own tragic childhood. Director Tim Burton does not make the eternal fight between good and evil an easy one but virtuoso performances by the leads and Anton Furst's production design of a Gotham City full of shadowy gothic and modernistic spires make the movie noteworthy. Some grisly comic-book violence and a suggested sexual encounter are too intense for young viewers. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Friday, Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m. EST (TCM) "Never Cry Wolf" (1983).
Government naturalist (Charles Martin Smith), sent to the Canadian Arctic to determine if wolves are responsible for decimating the once abundant caribou herds, learns instead a lesson in survival and self-knowledge. Director Carroll Ballard's fact-based Disney drama allows the viewer to feel the wonder and excitement of the wilderness with insightful humor and stunning visuals. Some scenes of Smith eating mice and going naked in barren Arctic landscape. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 6-8 p.m. EST (TCM) "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" (1974).
John Phillip Law as Sinbad sails off to find the Fountain of Destiny, harassed by a variety of demons and other nasty types conjured up by Ray Harryhausen's imaginative special effects which upstage the human cast. Director Gordon Hessler's lighthearted and entertaining adventure movie brings a treat for youngsters and those adults who wish to recapture some of the magic of childhood. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 7:15-9 p.m. EST (HBO) "Hotel for Dogs" (2009).
Wholesomely enjoyable canine caper in which an orphaned brother and sister (Jake T. Austin and Emma Roberts) shelter their dog, along with a motley group of strays, in an abandoned hotel, outwitting their neglectful foster parents (Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon) and causing complications for their genuinely caring social worker (Don Cheadle). Director Thor Freudenthal's cuddly adaptation of Lois Duncan's 1971 children's book, his feature debut, sees the affectionate siblings working together and with friends to care for their expanding pack and improvising a part-human, part-animal surrogate family. A couple of crass words. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 p.m.-12:15 a.m. EST (Cinemax) "Frost/Nixon" (2008).
Successful expansion of Broadway and London stage hit about the genesis of talk-show host David Frost's (Michael Sheen) historic TV talks with disgraced former U.S. President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) in 1977. Director Ron Howard and writer Peter Morgan build a good deal of suspense into Frost landing the interview and then getting Nixon publicly to admit for the first time his wrongdoing in the Watergate break-in scandal, with the stars giving pitch-perfect performances. Some conversational rough language, brief profanity and crude expressions, implied nonmarital relationship and fleeting rear nudity; acceptable for older teens. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
USCCB
As a deadly, highly contagious African virus tears through a California town, a team of government virologists (Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kevin Spacey) race against time to produce an antidote before their military superiors (Donald Sutherland and Morgan Freeman) solve the containment problem by vaporizing the entire town. Despite some irrational behavior by several characters, director Wolfgang Petersen's action-packed medical thriller builds considerable suspense as the ominously realistic scenario unfolds. Some military violence, shots of diseased victims and intermittent rough language. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 8-11 p.m. EST (AMC) "Batman" (1989).
Dark, haunting vision of the caped crusader (Michael Keaton) who must battle not only the evil Joker (Jack Nicholson) but the demons left over from his own tragic childhood. Director Tim Burton does not make the eternal fight between good and evil an easy one but virtuoso performances by the leads and Anton Furst's production design of a Gotham City full of shadowy gothic and modernistic spires make the movie noteworthy. Some grisly comic-book violence and a suggested sexual encounter are too intense for young viewers. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Friday, Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m. EST (TCM) "Never Cry Wolf" (1983).
Government naturalist (Charles Martin Smith), sent to the Canadian Arctic to determine if wolves are responsible for decimating the once abundant caribou herds, learns instead a lesson in survival and self-knowledge. Director Carroll Ballard's fact-based Disney drama allows the viewer to feel the wonder and excitement of the wilderness with insightful humor and stunning visuals. Some scenes of Smith eating mice and going naked in barren Arctic landscape. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 6-8 p.m. EST (TCM) "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" (1974).
John Phillip Law as Sinbad sails off to find the Fountain of Destiny, harassed by a variety of demons and other nasty types conjured up by Ray Harryhausen's imaginative special effects which upstage the human cast. Director Gordon Hessler's lighthearted and entertaining adventure movie brings a treat for youngsters and those adults who wish to recapture some of the magic of childhood. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 7:15-9 p.m. EST (HBO) "Hotel for Dogs" (2009).
Wholesomely enjoyable canine caper in which an orphaned brother and sister (Jake T. Austin and Emma Roberts) shelter their dog, along with a motley group of strays, in an abandoned hotel, outwitting their neglectful foster parents (Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon) and causing complications for their genuinely caring social worker (Don Cheadle). Director Thor Freudenthal's cuddly adaptation of Lois Duncan's 1971 children's book, his feature debut, sees the affectionate siblings working together and with friends to care for their expanding pack and improvising a part-human, part-animal surrogate family. A couple of crass words. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 p.m.-12:15 a.m. EST (Cinemax) "Frost/Nixon" (2008).
Successful expansion of Broadway and London stage hit about the genesis of talk-show host David Frost's (Michael Sheen) historic TV talks with disgraced former U.S. President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) in 1977. Director Ron Howard and writer Peter Morgan build a good deal of suspense into Frost landing the interview and then getting Nixon publicly to admit for the first time his wrongdoing in the Watergate break-in scandal, with the stars giving pitch-perfect performances. Some conversational rough language, brief profanity and crude expressions, implied nonmarital relationship and fleeting rear nudity; acceptable for older teens. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
USCCB
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