Plunge Into Intriguing Depths Of ‘Lake’
“In the Lake of the Woods,” FOX at 8, a dark thriller adapted from the novel by Tim O’Brien (“Going After Cacciato”), is unusual fare.
Enigmatic and indirect in its telling, it parts from the TV-movie formula of presenting a tale of an individual overcoming adversity. It challenges you to study the characters rather than guess the ending.
Believe me - you won’t guess the ending.
It’s the story of U.S. Senate candidate John Waylan (Peter Strauss), whose skyrocketing campaign is grounded by a newspaper story linking him to a civilian massacre during the Vietnam War. Defeated, he and his wife (Kathleen Quinlan) retreat to a mountain lake hideaway.
But nosy reporters aren’t his only demons. Tortured by memories of the war as well as his boyhood abuse by his alcoholic father, Waylan sinks into a deep depression. His marriage, recently shaken by infidelity, is crushed.
Waylan, moody and with an explosive temper, becomes a murder suspect when his wife suddenly disappears. He tells the local sheriff he last saw her alone in a powerboat, vanishing into the night.
This is the second outstanding FOX movie presented under the “Hallmark Entertainment” banner, not to be confused with the long-running “Hall of Fame” television movies.
Let’s hope there are many more to come. They’re proven to be a great escape from what the other networks generally crank out.
Highlights
“Wings,” NBC at 8: In a fun repeat, Brian and Joe (Steven Weber, Tim Daly) introduce Antonio (Anthony Shalhoub) to an attractive woman (Susan Diol) who turns out to be a prostitute.
“Presidential Primary,” CNN at 5: CNN is the best source for coverage of primaries in nine states. (NBC will have a report during “Dateline NBC” at 10. ABC plans a recap during “Nightline” at 11:35).
“Dead Man’s Island” (1996), CBS at 9: William Shatner plays a millionaire who fears he’s marked for death. He calls on an investigative reporter for help.
Barbara Eden co-stars with Morgan Fairchild, Roddy McDowall and - because the cast needed someone who doesn’t qualify for Social Security - Traci Lords. Unavailable for review.
“Buddies,” ABC at 9:30: A salt-and-pepper comedy from the producers of “Home Improvement” stars Dave Chappelle and Christopher Gartin as best friends and business partners. This is fairly routine stuff but for an obnoxious mother-in-law played by Judith Ivey.
What’s so funny about a loud, racist, oversexed, chain-smoking middle-aged boozer who makes breast jokes and flips racial asides at her son-in-law’s best friend?
“High Incident,” ABC at 10: ABC repeats last night’s premiere. If you missed it, don’t miss it again. It’s terrific.
“Dateline NBC,” NBC at 10: Stone on Stone: Correspondent Stone Phillips interviews actress Sharon Stone. They spoke on Feb. 13, the day she received an Oscar nomination for her role in “Casino.”
Cable Calls
“On the Waterfront” (1954), TMC at 7:10: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Lee J. Cobb and Rod Steiger star in Elia Kazan’s near-perfect film about a small-time boxer-turned-dockworker given “a one-way ticket to Palookaville” by New York racketeers. Winner of eight Academy Awards, it’s a quintessential movie of the 1950s.
“Country in the Rockies,” TNN at 5 and 9: From Colorado’s Crested Butte Resort, Kathy Mattea, Lari White and Ty Hendron perform in a concert benefiting cancer and AIDS research.
“With Hostile Intent” (1993), LIF at 9: I liked this fact-based TV-movie about a pair of Long Beach, Calif., policewomen (Melissa Gilbert, Mel Harris) who wage a sexual-harassment complaint against male officers. What makes the movie work is that the women are imperfect - not typical heroines.
What’s hardest to believe about this story is how all the male members of the force seem to stand behind a pair of disgusting fellow officers. It makes you pull even harder for the two women.