TV film fare -- week of Sept.10, 2023

NEW YORK (OSV News) -- The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies on network and cable television the week of Sept.10. Please note that televised versions may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence, and sexual situations.

Sunday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. EDT (Showtime) "Minority Report" (2002). Engrossing murder mystery set in 2054, when future crimes can be detected before they are committed, in which a "precrime" police detective (Tom Cruise), one who investigates crimes before they happen, is accused of an imminent murder and, in attempting to prove his innocence, discovers a flaw in the system. Seeped in futuristic atmospherics, director Steven Spielberg's film combines thrilling action sequences with a thought-provoking narrative which confronts the issue of personal freedom versus national safety as well as the value of each human life. Recurring stylized sci-fi violence, brief substance abuse, fleeting sexual situations, occasional profanity, an instance of rough language. 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.

Sunday, Sept. 10, 6-9 p.m. EDT (AMC) "Furious 7" (2015). True to form, exotic settings, stale dictums and always-murky moral values characterize this extension of the "Fast and Furious" series. Led by putatively Catholic paterfamilias Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Jordana Brewster and Tyrese Gibson set out to avenge the murder of their colleague Sung Kang. Director James Wan and screenwriter Chris Morgan dispense with the subplots explaining how the crew of underground car racers this ensemble portrays was reassembled. Instead, they provide scenes of the happy family lives some -- Walker especially -- must leave behind to fight the forces of evil. A vengeance theme, nearly nonstop gun and physical violence, a few uses of profanity, fleeting crude and crass language. 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.

Monday, Sept. 11, 9:45-11:30 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Ruggles of Red Gap" (1935). Droll tale of a British butler (Charles Laughton) transplanted to the Wild West after an American cattle baron (Charlie Ruggles) wins his services in a poker game with an English lord (Roland Young). Director Leo McCarey pokes fun at the social pretensions of the newly rich cattleman's wife (Mary Boland) while centering the comedy on Laughton's gradual transformation from straight-laced servant to red-blooded frontier patriot. The comic situation and performances hold up better than the sentimental theme. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.

Saturday, Sept. 16, 3-4:45 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (1949). Genial musical comedy about a turn-of-the-century baseball club whose new owner is a woman (Esther Williams) and which is heading for the World Series until its star shortstop (Gene Kelly) gets sidetracked by a crafty gambler (Edward Arnold). Director Busby Berkeley combines the colorful period setting with some zestful song-and-dance numbers in dressing up a romantic plot pairing Kelly with Williams and infielder Frank Sinatra with assertive showgirl Betty Garnett. Smoothly contrived, easy-to-take family fare. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.

Saturday, Sept. 16, 8-9:30 p.m. EDT (HBO) "Date Night" (2010). This well-intentioned but ultimately wayward mix of the romantic comedy and action genres sees an ordinary suburban New Jersey couple (Steve Carell and Tina Fey) caught up in an underworld blackmail scheme after being mistaken for the cohabiting lowlifes (James Franco and Mila Kunis) who are out to sell the damning evidence. As written by Josh Klausner and directed by Shawn Levy, the pair's nocturnal Manhattan odyssey -- during which they flee a duo of thugs (Common and Jimmi Simpson) in the employ of a mob boss (Ray Liotta), and turn for help to a James Bond-like intelligence agent (Mark Wahlberg) -- though its travails aid them to rekindle their flickering love for each other, eventually leads to an underground sex club where they briefly find themselves forced to entertain a powerful patron with perverse tastes. Considerable, though bloodless, action violence, partial rear nudity, much sexual humor, including gags about casual sex, masturbation and aberrant practices, at least one use of profanity and of the F-word, some crude and crass language. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.- - - John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on Twitter @JohnMulderig1.