Movies - Friday, February 5

The Age

Thursday February 4, 2010

CRAIG MATHIESON

Bird on a Wire (1990)Channel Seven, 10.30pmMEL Gibson plays Rick Jarmin, a stumblebum whose greatest blunder seems to have been agreeing to be a state witness against some drug dealers. He is on the federal witness protection scheme and has had more new identities than David Bowie but, even after 15 years, the mobsters aren't going to let him go. His latest nom de guerre seems to be holding until he has a chance encounter with his college sweetheart Marianne (Goldie Hawn). He and Marianne hit the road in a volley of shots and burning rubber. If the concept of Hawn as a hotshot lawyer sits comfortably with you, this might be a possibility. DOUG ANDERSONBarbershop (2002)Channel Seven, 12.35pmA GENIAL comedy that serves as an indicator of black America's improvised social structure, Barbershop treats the titular south Chicago establishment run by Calvin Palmer (Ice Cube) as a combination of news-stand and community centre, with the wait for one of the varied staff as important as the cut they provide. Not a great deal happens but the dialogue leaps out from every corner of the room and surpasses any cliches that the characters might harbour. Cedric the Entertainer steals the movie as Eddie, an elderly blowhard.