10 films worth watching on TV this week

They Live   Sat   23/6   The Horror Channel @ 21.00

Aliens have taken over society and only one man can see them. He's mad as hell and he ain't going to take it anymore. On the surface John Carpenter's action/sci-fi might seem loud and silly but it's actually an intelligent and frighteningly prescient story and the dangers of advertising and apathy. Roddy Piper and Keith David are great fun as the leads.

Whiplash   Sat   23/6   RTE2 @ 23.30

A driven jazz musician is pushed to his very limits by his obsessive teacher. An Oscar winning film that really lives up to the hype. This is an intense study of how hard people will work on what they love. Powerful performances from Miles Teller and especially JK Simmons really sell the film. This is a tough watch and one that will actually leave you tired but wowed as the credits roll.

Excision   Sun   24/6   Film4 @ 02.10

Grace is a strange young woman who just wants to please her mother and in her head a medical career will do just that. Oh this is a nasty film, one that will probably be a bit too much for most people but if you have a strong stomach there's a lot here to like. It's twisted, edgy and reminiscent of early Cronenberg with a superb lead performance from Annalynn McCord holding everything together.

Brothers    Mon   25/6   TG4 @ 21.30

Grace Cahill is in a bit of a pickle. Her husband Sam is missing in action in Afghanistan and presumed dead. Sam's wastrel brother Tommy becomes her rock until the day....... This 2009 film is dark stuff, a tale all about the pressures of loneliness and the effect that war can have on the psyche's of those fighting and those waiting. Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire & Jake Gyllenhaal are all excellent.

Inside Man   Mon   25/6   ITV4 @ 22.05

When a so called perfect bank robbery goes sideways, a cop, the robber and a power broker have to negotiate a way out of the problem to save lives. Spike Lee's twisty, turny thriller is an immensely entertaining way to spend a couple of hours. Nothing is what it seems and if you haven't seen it before you won't have a clue how it will all end. Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and Clive Owen all hit the spot.

Winchester 73   Tues   26/6   Film4 @ 17.10

The first and for me still the best of a series of westerns James Stewart made with director Anthony Mann. Stewart stars as a sharpshooter who's gun is robbed from him and passes through many people's hands during the course of the film. A lovely looking, exciting and well acted film with a final shootout that is still influencing films today. Watch out for a very young Rock Hudson as a native American.

Point Blank   Wed   27/6   TCM @ 23.10

Walker has been left for dead by a man he called a friend and now he's out for revenge and nobody or nothing is going to get in his way. John Boorman's 1967 crime thriller is an excellent watch and is one that has been highly influential to the crime genre in the five decades since it was made. Tense, darkly funny, brutal and fast moving. Lee Marvin is a cracking lead and gets fine back up from Angie Dickinson and John Vernon.

The Devil Rides Out   Fri   29/6   The Horror Channel @ 13.00

In 1929 a nobleman named Nicholas finds himself in the fight of his life as he strives to defend himself and his friends against a night of occult onslaught. Christopher Lee excels in the lead role in this genuinely unsettling and very atmospheric film adapted from the famous book by Dennis Wheatley. 1pm is a very odd time for this. Record it and keep it for a dark, windy night and scare yourself senseless.

Heaven's Gate   Fri   29/6   TG4 @ 21.05

The film that brought down an entire studio and epic western in every sense of the word. A slow burning but enthralling account of a real life war between cattle ranchers and poor farmers. Headlined by Kris Kristofferson & Christopher Walken and with some super support from Isabelle Hubert and John Hurt. It's a downbeat and brutal masterpiece who's pace will put a lot of people off but it's really worth sticking with.

Dredd   Fri   29/6   Film4 @ 23.10

A brilliant and bloody adaption of the cult British comic strip and one thats a million miles for the homogenous family goodness of the recent Marvel comic book films. Judge Dredd and his new rookie have to take down a gang who have taken over a huge block of flats. Chaos ensues. Karl Urban plays Dredd in a perfectly grumpy & deadpan fashion & Lena Headey is good value as his nemesis. Great gory fun. Don't watch if you are any way wimpy.