movie watch
Absolute Power
Pearl, 9.30pm
It is hard to deny Clint Eastwood (above) his place in cinematic history. Yet Absolute Power, which he directed and starred in, is hardly worthy of his kind of talent. At the very best this political thriller, adapted from the best-selling novel by David Baldacci, is predictable and at worst cheesy. The film's beginning is straightforward enough, with career criminal and master thief Luther Whitney (Eastwood) preparing for one last high-profile job before retiring after years behind bars. Whitney is, of course, among the very best at what he does, which is deception and disguise. For his send-off, he has chosen Walter Sullivan (EG Marshall), one of the richest men in Washington DC, as his target. Sullivan was planning a week-long trip to the Bahamas with his wife, Christy (Melora Hardin), which offered the perfect opportunity for Whitney to break into their Virginia estate. Once inside, however, he witnesses a bizarre murder in the bedroom involving Christy and Alan Richmond (Gene Hackman), the president of the United States, courtesy of a one-way mirror. He also sees secret service agents Bill Burton (Scott Glenn) and Tim Collin (Dennis Haysbert), as well as the president's chief of staff, Gloria Russell (Judy Davis). Whitney is immediately made the number one suspect by homicide detective Seth Frank (Ed Harris). Unable to run but knowing his life is in danger, he decides to stay and fight the White House. This, however, puts his estranged daughter, Kate (Laura Linney), a county prosecutor, at risk. (1997)
The Simpsons
World, 8pm
The Simpsons tackle road rage when Marge discovers the pleasures of driving a sports utility vehicle (SUV). Stuck in a traffic jam, Marge sees Krusty rush by in his Canyonero SUV. Impressed by the vehicle's power, the family gets one and, before long, Marge is using the four-wheel drive for some off-road fun. Eventually, she is pulled over by Chief Wiggum and sent to traffic school. A depressed Marge stays behind when the rest of the family leaves for an outing to the Springfield zoo. However, when a herd of rhinos starts rampaging through the park, Marge saves the day as well as her family.