XIII Oceans

It’s been a bit lean for a couple of weeks on the terrestrial film listings.  As per usual Film 4 is full of mediocre mainstream American junk or films that we’ve seen ten times before so it’s time to look at films that deserve a second look.  This isn’t to say that there aren’t good films on this week, of course there are, most of which, though,  we’ve seen before.

Steering away from a couple of obvious choices this week, I’ve picked three films that aren’t world beaters by any stretch of the imagination but they’re interesting enough to have a look at.  On Thursday night at 11.25pm on FiveUS is Oliver Stone’s Talk Radio, a film about a radio phone-in ‘shock jock’ that takes some of its inspiration from the case of real life host, Alan Berg.  Sandwiched between Wall Street and Born Of The Fourth Of July, Talk Radio is a compact piece of work based on a Pulitzer nominated play co-written by Eric Bogosian, who also plays the lead in the film.  Bogosian can be annoying, so he’s perfect for this role and it is pretty much his film.  This is more a study of the character than the issues that arise from abrasive broadcasters so it’s less brash than some other Stone efforts.

Friday night on BBC2, just after midnight at 12.35am sees the third instalment of George A Romero’s zombie films, Day Of The Dead and it is clearly weaker than its predecessors although there are still some redeeming factors here.  It’s in this film that the evolution of the zombies is discussed in a bit more depth, sort of explaining how they’ve changed from being grotty mannequins to the sentient life-forms that appear in the poor sequel, Land Of The Dead thanks to Bub the zombie.  Sounds comical and there’s certainly humour in this mixed with a subtext that isn’t as good as the previous two films but is still better than most horror films and Romero has previously rated the film as his best.  Can’t say I’d agree with that but it’s entertaining nevertheless.

Headlining Film4’s Saturday night schedule at 9pm is Bring It On, which is basically an exploitation film if Disney had done it.  Whilst there’s plenty of criticism you can throw in the film’s direction, it’s funny, well shot with some good dance sequences, contains locker scenes and a bikini car wash .  Bring It On is a pleasant comedy, references Bob Fosse, blaxploitation and manages to do a film about cheerleaders that doesn’t completely patronise these oft undervalued lynchpins of society.  A chick flick that had crossover appeal.

So it’s overpriced accommodation and rail tickets time for some, TV dreamland for others and dreamy thoughts of sunkissed beaches and INXS for former Man Of Steel contenders as the big games surface for a magical weekend in one of the least accessible cities in Britain, Cardiff.

(+8 ) Huddersfield v Warrington
Here’s a thriller for you to start your Millennium Magic weekend, arguably the two teams that are in the poorest form to open up a festival of rugby league.  Hopefully most of the first-time attendees will still be in the bar so they’re not put off our great sport by what is likely to be a procession of incomplete sets, lazy tackles and Lee Briers.  Of course only part of that is true because it is an intriguing head-to-head between two increasingly desperate teams.  I expect this to be a highly committed match, one that both will view as well within their grasp and it’ll be interesting to see if it becomes two teams throwing everything at each other or two trying not to lose the game.  In a shoot out you have to fancy Warrington and with the way that Huddersfield are playing I can’t see them being able to convert chances that come their way should this descend into a calamity-clash.  This brings everything back to those questions of ball control and field position so when you look at that you see that, of the two, Warrington have demonstrated they can do that, it’s an issue of form with them.  Huddersfield haven’t done that and haven’t had any consistency this year and they need it and need it quickly.  Warrington by 8.

(+8 ) Castleford v Wakefield
Castleford would prefer this to be at home obviously, but playing on a neutral ground is significantly better for them than going to Wakefield.  Sadly for Cas, Wakefield are on a mini-roll and although they were very lucky to come away with the win on Saturday they did more than plug away at Harlequins RL lead, forcing the visitors into submitting to their swell.  You expect that Castleford will come out and give the game some tempo, like Harlequins RL did,  whereas Wakefield will seek to overpower their opponents over the course of the eighty with their composure and willingness to let Castleford’s attacking game trip itself up.  How will the game shape up?  It’s difficult for me to see this Wakefield side allow themselves to let the Tigers get a hold on the game however I can see the derby rivalry keeping the game close until the Wildcats halves get a hold of the game.  Wakefield by 6.

(+6) Bradford v Leeds
The Bulls continue to get results that keep them up amongst the top two hunt whilst Leeds survive the worst casualty list since Rambo to stay at the top.  Reviewing form for this game doesn’t usually work, we’ve found that one team is usually in the ascendancy with Leeds being the boss now.  Can the Bulls overcome the vogue?  They will be happy with the physical confrontation in the forwards fearing more the strike capabilities and ball in hand play of the Rhinos.  I would love to see the kind of running, hitting and drama that these two can produce against each other but you look at the Bulls results and the thrills are limited so it’s probably wishful thinking to hope for a game as great as last year’s.  Like the men of Bastogne, Leeds heroics separates them from the pack and they remain titans amongst men, albeit heavily injured titans, leading this competition from the front.  In the face of such battle hardened walking wounded we can only expect the Bulls to wilt, dropping down on their knees to worship in front of these grandiose icons.  Leeds by 12.

Catalans v Harlequins RL (+2)
My game of the weekend and one that I’m disappointed that those not going to Cardiff won’t be able to watch live.  Catalans unbeaten run continues whereas Harlequins RL managed to put a great eighty minutes in recently, unfortunately spread out across two matches.  I’m finding it difficult though to see this Dragons run trundling along according to form and that middle eighty for Harlequins RL sets up what I think will be a bit of an ambush, inspiring the Spivs to an unlikely if not unsurprising win.  Some of the rugby that has been on show in those two halves was as good as you will have seen all season so it must be disappointing for them to have not capitalised on that last week.  Catalans are a side that haven’t been watched often by many so they remain a mystery to most even if the highlight reels show imagination in attack.  In thinking about a lot of these fixtures my thoughts turn more towards the mindset of teams going into the game and whilst Potter will have Catalans focussed, McDermott will have a lot more to call upon as motivation in this match from recent performances and the Easter game.  Harlequins RL by 8.

Hull v Hull KR (+4)
Biff!  Bash!  Bosh!  All on the menu on Sunday afternoon as Lee Radford leads his men against Paul Cooke, only this time it’s personal.  No doubt Gail Tylesley’s chin-a-like, Cooke, will be aiming to dictate things from behind his pack to avoid any confrontations with the Hull skipper, who is suitably enthusiastic about this match-up.  I don’t think there’s been an on screen match up that’s promised more fireworks since “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” and we could be in for a humdinger.  Rovers appear to have the upper hand in meetings between the two and with just two points between them they’re teams fighting for the same position and anticipated season.  On Good Friday Rovers started off the better side, Hull came back strong before the home side sealed the win by a point.  During the second half I felt that Hull were significantly better than Rovers were in the first half and really should have been able to use their momentum to claim the victory, that they didn’t owes more to homefield advantage than any shortcomings on the day.  Of course it’s easy to say the neutral venue shifts the balance in Hull’s favour though it’s more than that.  These appear to be teams that are crawling in opposite directions with no clear impetus for either side but Hull appear to breathing with a bit more gusto which I think is just enough to bring them home.  Hull by 2.

Saints v Wigoon (+8 )
Sunday night’s football headliner has some potential in it.  Potential, is what it will probably stay.  Neither side gives me hope that this will be a 100% full frontal assault at the moment despite being level on points.  However this should be a considerably closer game than Good Friday’s mauling.  Had Gareth Hock been eligible to play in this game that closeness would likely have tipped things in Wigoon’s favour with Saints returning to two front line props but his absence is a big loss for the Warriors.  In spite of having a couple of poor seasons, characterised by poor discipline and ball control, Hock remains the most damaging forward runner that Brian Noble can call upon and there doesn’t appear to be anybody who can step into that role for him.  At the moment you have to discriminate against Wigoon because of their recent form against Saints but it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion and both sides have shown that they can step up and compete even if it’s not been for a sustained run.  If Saints find that last week’s game has emptied their tank or the minor injuries picked up last week resurface there’s every reason to believe that the Warriors can give their success starved fans some internet bragging rights.  Still if they are to do that it is going to require them to play to their best ability defensively, stop the unforced errors, Saints to underperform and for Derren Brown to remove that mental block that remains more than a vestige in their mind.  I’ve got a feeling that this game is going to be closer than people think but it’s unlikely to be a classic with probably too many neutrals supporting the Warriors.  Saints by 4.

Last week’s predictions;

Leeds by 8 (won by 14)
Saints by 4 (won by 8 )
Catalans by 6 (won by 8 )
Wakefield by 4 (won by 4)
Wigoon by 4 (lost by 14)
Hull by 6 (won by 8 )

So a good week last week with five out of six with one full correct prediction and three very close ones, making the running total now 43-31 (58%).