February 03, 2018

11 films worth checking out on TV this week


Suffragette   Sat   3/2   CH4 @ 21.00

The story of the suffragette movement in early 20th century Britain and the hardships they faced in the pursuit of rights that women should have had all along. A rage inducing, angering, moving and stressful film but one that should be watched. A fantastic cast led by Anne-Marie Duff, Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter makes the whole thing barrel along too.

Noble   Sat   3/2   RTE2 @ 22.00

Deirdre O'Kane is great in this simplistic but very absorbing biopic of Christina Noble, an Irish woman who survived a harsh childhood and ended up in Saigon devoting her life to helping the less unfortunate. Good to see RTE showing Irish films in a primetime slot too. More of this. Nice Irish cast in this too including Ruth Negga, Liam Cunningham and Mark Huberman.

The Hallow   Sat   3/2   Film4 @ 22.55

A family moves into a remote Irish village thats surrounded by woods. And in those woods lurks......well you're just going to have to see that for yourselves. A disturbing but very entertaining Irish take on the horror genre that's sprinkled with a bit of Celtic mysticism. It starts off slow but you'll have no fingernails by the end. Joseph Mawle and Bojana Novakovic are effective in the lead roles.

How The West Was Won   Sun   4/2   TCM @ 15.00

One of the all time best westerns right here. An epic and sprawling tale following one family over several decades from the Gold Rush to the arrival of the railroads. This is 3hrs of every western you've ever seen all rolled into on and starring a cast for the ages. James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Debbie Reynolds, John Wayne and too many others to begin to name star in this brilliantly entertaining and beautiful looking story.

Rear Window   Mon   5/2   Film4 @ 16.40

After he breaks his leg a photographer finds himself with a lot of time to kill & he starts to notice suspicious goings on in the apartment complex that he lives in and overlooks. This  Hitchcock thriller is an absolute joy. Funny, totally absorbing and littered with tension, lovely characters and nail biting set-pieces. So influential too. James Stewart and Grace Kelly as the leads are an absolute pleasure to watch. This is a film everyone, young & old, will love.

Slumdog Millionaire   Tues   6/2   More4 @ 21.00

A teenage boy from Mumbai looks back on his life after he finds himself in a precarious position after he appears on a famous television show.  A stunning and uplifting film that gives us a fantastic insight into life in one of the most densely populated places on earth. It's a film that's hard to watch at times but it's so worth sticking with. It's also Dev Patel's 1st film role and he just nails it. 

War Of The Worlds   Tues   6/2   3E @ 21.00

A stevedore from New Jersey battles to save his family when the people of earth find themselves under attack by a vicious enemy. Tom Cruise is in fine form as Joe Everyman is this genuinely scary and effective bit of science fiction from Steven Spielberg. One of the best post 9/11 disaster films. Cruise is reliable as always, Dakota Fanning as his daughter too but Tim Robbins steals in the show in a terrifying little vignette.

Doomsday   Wed   7/2   Syfy @ 21.00

In the near future a deadly virus has destroyed Scotland and turned it into a savage wasteland. When the virus threatens England a woman must venture north to find the cure. Rhona Mitra has a ball as the lead of this insanely violent and extremely entertaining mix of Outbreak & Mad Max 2. Medieval fights, car chases and cannibalism are just some of the treats on display here!! Great craic if you have the stomach for it.

The Dressmaker   Wed   7/2   Film4 @ 21.00

A very different kind of revenge thriller here. The strange, upsetting, unique, surreal and funny tale of a woman returning to the small Australian town that spurned her and getting her own back. Kate Winslet is superb in the title role and pulls off an Oz accent that's pretty damn good. Judy Davis as her mam is excellent too and Liam Hemsworth and Hugo Weaving are good in support.

Looper   Fri   9/2   BBC2 @ 23.05

Set in the near future where unwanted people are disposed of by sending them back in time to be killed. This is all well and good until a man is faced with an older version of himself. A magnificently original piece of sci fi/action right here. Fun, chilling, brutal, intelligent and mind boggling. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis have a whale of a time playing the young/old versions and Emily Blunt is super as a protective mother caught up in it all.

Ricki And The Flash   Fri   9/2   RTE1 @ Midnight

One again Meryl Streep proves she can do no wrong in this tale of Ricki Rendazzo, an ageing and failing rock singer who returns home to the family she's ignored for far too long to help out. Ignore the reviews, OK it's a touch melodramatic in places but this is lovely, heartwarming stuff buoyed by two superb performances from Streep of course and Kevin Kline.


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