Weekend Adviser

Weekend Adviser

Driving across Nebraska last weekend, I noticed that the migratory waterfowl that stop off along the Platte River on their northward journey were mostly gone. Just another sign that the gradual arrival of spring here in the upper Midwest and on the northern plains is now likely irreversible.

That means, of course, that my to-do list just got longer. Besides the weekly chores, there's the annual rite of spring cleaning. Not to mention the yard which needs lots of work. And, with the arrival of Daylight Savings Time, there are more hours to get it done. Of course, that means less time for relaxing which means less time for entertainment.

Less time doesn't mean no time though. Plus, who knows, it might rain.

With that in mind, I'm making a list of possible weekend diversions. Take a look in case you find yourself with some unexpected free time.

The best bet at the Cineplex this weekend looks like political thriller "State of Play." It stars Ben Affleck as a bright young political star tripped up by the murder of his research assistant cum mistress and Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams as reporters searching for the truth. In another thriller—of sorts—assassin Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) returns to wreak vengeance on his enemies in "Crank: High Voltage." Amy Smart reprises her role as Chev's girlfriend Eve. The original played like a videogame. With directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor returning for the sequel, I'd expect a similar result. For a change of pace, there's "17 Again," wherein a middle-aged Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry) becomes . . . yes, seventeen again (now played by Zac Efron) and tries to change his (past) future.

"State of Play" sounds interesting but not $9 interesting. More like $2.59 interesting. In other words, I'll wait for the DVD.

I'll also wait for the DVDs of two other films opening elsewhere this weekend: "Every Little Step," a documentary on the rehearsals for a revival of the smash Broadway hit "A Chorus Line," and "Tyson," a documentary on the boxer and bete noir. Documentaries almost never play here in my corner of Hog Heaven where Showcase Cinemas has a virtual monopoly.

Speaking of DVDs: I've stocked up on a few recent releases and a couple of old favorites for weekend viewing. The former includes "The Reader," a Holocaust-themed drama starring Kate Winslet (who won an Oscar for her performance); "Rachel Getting Married," another dysfunctional-family drama starring Anne Hathaway (who snagged a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role); and a 50th Anniversary Edition of the Rock Hudson/Doris Day classic romantic comedy, "Pillow Talk." I'm particularly looking forward to the new bonus material on the "Pillow Talk" disc, including a "Making of" feature and commentary with three prominent film historians.

Instead of "17 Again," I've got a couple of my personal favorite high-school redux/time travel movies on hand: "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Back to the Future." "Peggy Sue" is a rare comedy from director Francis Ford Coppola and stars Kathleen Turner as an unhappy wife who goes back—via a nasty bump on her head—to high school and meets her husband (Nic Cage) again. The "Back to the Future" trilogy is directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Michael J. Fox as teenager Marty McFly who travels back—via a nuclear-fueled DeLorean—to 1955 where he meets his high-school age parents. That's just the beginning. Before the trilogy is over, Marty has visited the future, an alternative 1985, and the Old West. I've seen it several times, and it never gets old.

(Sometime soon, I'm going to do a "Top 10 Time Travel Movies." The older I get, the more I enjoy the genre. Must be nostalgia. Stay tuned.)

As usual, there's a lot on TV. And, some of it is worthwhile! Saturday evening brings the premiere of the original HBO film "Grey Gardens," starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange as eccentric relatives of Jackie Kennedy. For more on the film see here: http://www.hbo.com/films/greygardens/

Botswana's first and only female detective continues her winning ways on Sunday evening on HBO. If you haven't made the acquaintance of Mwa Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," check out episode 4 this Sunday. You won't be sorry. For more on this captivating series, see here: http://www.hbo.com/no1ladiesdetectiveagency/

Also on Sunday evening and over on CBS, a new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler," tells the remarkable story of a Polish social worker who helped rescue some 2500 children in Warsaw's Jewish Ghetto from the clutches of the Nazis. Oscar- and Golden Globe-winner Anna Paquin (for "The Piano" and HBO's "True Blood," respectively) stars as the heroine. For more, see here: http://www.cbs.com/specials/courageous_heart/

Holocaust heroes like Irena Sendler are a particular inspiration. I don't believe that an individual can save the world, but he/she can save a life or 2500. That's no small thing. Moreover, when others rationalized that they were just following orders, some—too few surely—chose to follow something else: their conscience. Their stories should be heard.