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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 28, 2006

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tom Hanks in "The Road to Perdition" is up against himself tonight with another channel's "Forrest Gump."

ADVERTISER LIBRARY PHOTO | 2002

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TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Forrest Gump" (1994) 6 p.m., TNT, and "The Road to Perdition" (2002) 7 p.m., ABC. Tom Hanks is a good actor who often does great movies, such as these two. "Gump" is the lighter, brighter, sweeter film. Hanks plays a good-hearted, slow-witted chap who keeps getting entwined in history in this Academy Award-winning film. It's strictly a fable and, on that level, is great fun. Robert Zemeckis ("Back to the Future") directed skillfully and cast great people in support. There are wonderful little roles here for Sally Field, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Robin Wright and more. "Perdition" is all the things "Gump" is not — hard, tough, dark and sometimes dreary. A graphic novel was adapted by David Self, then transformed by director Sam Mendes ("American Beauty") into a stunning film. Hanks plays a Depression-era hit man with Paul Newman as the crime boss who has been his father figure. After a falling out, Hanks must go on the run with his son. Jude Law has some strong moments as the antagonist but the real star here is Mendes, creating stunning visuals. One scene — a rainy-night ambush — is operatic in power, ballet-like in grace. It's an awesome moment in an excellent (albeit upsetting) movie.

OF NOTE

"Law & Order," 7 p.m., NBC. A night of reruns begins with a reporter killed after going undercover to do a story about prostitutes.

"Cold Case," 7 p.m., CBS. Back in 1993, this rerun says, a mentally challenged teen was killed by a train. Now a note at his grave suggests there was foul play.

"A Little Thing Called Murder," 7 p.m., Lifetime. If you missed this movie's debut Monday, try it now. It manages to find fun in a real-life story of murders, fraud and more. The sheer outrageousness of Sante Kimes, who kept up a society-woman persona through years of crime, makes her a fine subject. Judy Davis leaps into this bigger-than-life role.

"Numb3rs," 8 p.m., CBS. In a rerun, Charlie analyzes a code book that has information about an assassination attempt.

"Hustle," 8 p.m., AMC. This is a smart and stylish British series about scam artists. Tonight, an ex-cop blackmails Mickey into helping catch a bank robber.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Here's a ripped-from-the-headlines premise. A child molester has kidnapped kids orphaned by Hurricane Katrina.

"Saturday Night Live," 10:30 p.m., NBC. Dane Cook hosts, with James Blunt as musical guest in this rerun.

TONIGHT ON KHNL NEWS 8

Get the latest news and weather at 6 and 10 p.m. from News 8's Diane Ako and Paul Drewes, plus Sports with Reid Shimizu.