January 26, 2019

10 films on TV this week worth watching


Son Of Saul   Sat   26/1   BBC4 @ 21.00

Saul was a Hungarian Jew working in Auschwitz in the latter days of World War 2. A chance encounter gives him a chance to claw back a bit of his soul. Ok, as you can imagine this is a brutal film but it's shot in such a way that you barely see anything. This is a small mercy but your imagination will fill with horror as a result. A tough but very necessary watch. Géza Röhrig as Saul is immense.

You're Ugly Too   Sun   27/1   RTE2 @ 01.30

Little Stacey has suffered a catastrophic loss and has to go to live with her uncle Will in the arse end of nowhere. They both now have to rely on each other to rebuild and move on. This 2015 midlands set story is a lovely watch awash with that beautiful Irish way of making you laugh while kicking you in the nuts at the same time. Laura Kinsella and Aidan Gillen are perfect as niece and uncle. 

Arrietty   Sun   27/1   Film4 @ 11.00

Sho is an ill young boy who moves in with his relations one summer. While there he discovers he's sharing the house with something very unusual. This Studio Ghibli anime is based on the famous children's book The Borrowers and it's just a lovely gentle little film. Full of childhood wonder and imagination. It's a perfect Sunday morning watch and a great introduction to Japanese animation for kids.

The Punisher   Sun   27/1   Virgin Media One @ 21.00

Frank Castle's success at law enforcement comes back to haunt him when his family pays the price during an island holiday. Now he wants revenge. This take on the Punisher comic book is far closer to the comic's tone than the current Netflix show. Thomas Jane as Frank is an intense lead in a film that's both fun and brutally violent. Often at the same time. John Travolta has a good time as the villain of the piece too.

Death To Smoochy   Mon   28/1   Film4 @ 01.30

Rainbow Randolph, kids TV show host extraordinaire has just got the bullet and Smoochy takes over. Soon he's a huge success but Randolph just cannot let it lie. I loved this. It's so deliciously dark that at times you'll be staring at the screen appalled while not being able to stop laughing. Edward Norton and the late and much missed Robin Williams both have a whale of a time in this.

Cape Fear   Mon   28/1   ITV4 @ 22.05

Max Cady is back in town and he's looking to get revenge on Sam Bowden, the lawyer who sent him to jail. Sam's family are in the line of fire too. This 1991 thriller is overblown, silly and hideously violent in places. But a hilariously excessive Robert De Niro performance helps knock the nastier edges off it. Good work from Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis and Nick Nolte turns it all into a heady brew.

Black Sheep   Tues   29/1   The Horror Channel @ 23.05

Genetic experiments in a small New Zealand town have turned sheep into ferocious carnivores and it's up to the townsfolk to stop them. Yes I know this sounds terrible but it's actually hilarious. Hilarious in an absolutely disgusting way. If you've seen and loved the early work of Peter Jackson this will be right up your street. Do not watch if you are anyway squeamish however.

Magic Magic   Thur   31/1   CH4 @ 01.40

Alicia has left the safety of the United States for the first time to roadtrip across Chile. Her friend Sara leaves her in the lurch and before long everything goes sideways. Of course. A dark and unsettling thriller that takes place in a part of the world rarely seen onscreen. A fine showing from Juno Temple as Alicia and a very much against type turn by Michael Cera combined with a nice atmosphere make this worthwhile.

The Departed   Fri   1/2   ITV4 @ 23.00

Two men go undercover. A criminal as a cop in the Boston PD & a cop in the Boston underworld. It doesn't take long for things get very very complicated. Martin Scorsese's 2007 remake of Infernal Affairs is a joy. Hilarious, brutal, profane, labyrinthine, stylish and exceedingly silly. The cast is second to none too with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Vera Farmiga, Nartin Sheen & Jack Nicholson all in super form.

Will Penny   Fri   1/2   TG4 @ 21.05

Will's an aging cowpoke who takes a ranch job. On the ranch he's surprised to find love and the beginnings of the family he never had. Until evil comes to town. Because well, it is a western. A really likable, old fashioned and exciting look at the more mundane side of frontier life fronted by a strong performance from Charltion Heston. Keep an eye on the supporting cast too, it's chockfull of recognisable genre faces.


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