Cadillac Records Sat 22/2 TG4 @ 21.15
Chicago. The 40's. A Polish immigrant called Leonard Chess enters the music business and soon opens a record label for Black artists. Things get turbulent. A stirring look at the lives and times of artists who were critically adored but who still had the wrong skin colour and the white moneymen who took advantage of time. Beyonce Knowles, Eamonn Walker, Adrien Brody and Jeffrey Wright do fine work and the music is, of course. superb.
The Midwife Sat 22/2 BBC4 @ 22.45
Claire is the perfect midwife, caring, thoughtful, empathic. Her personal life is a bit of a disaster though and a face from her past is bringing back a lot of bad feeling. There's a pair of Catherine's in this 2017 French production (Frot and Deneuve) and both are excellent in this story of redemption and letting go. The chemistry between them is the kind of movie magic we all love.
Kisses Sat 22/2 RTE1 @ 23.55
One day a young boy and a girl run away from their troubled family life and escape into the city centre of Dublin for an adventure that is both exciting and terrifying. A film that finds a strange type of beauty in inner city Dublin, going from black and white to colour as the kids experience their first bit of independence. Kelly O'Neill and Shane Curry as just perfect as the leads. A gritty, warm, scary and appealing Irish film.
Red Army Sun 23/2 Film4 @ 02.20
All the best sporting documentaries entertain even when you don't know about the sport. The same is true for this doc about the Russian ice hockey team that dominated globally during the cold war. The Red Army team had the weight of a nation on their shoulders and they delivered in spades. A very interesting and absorbing watch that turns into a nice history lesson too.
Noah Sun 23/2 BBC2 @ 23.15
Darren Aronofsky's telling of the famous biblical tale is unlike any other version you've seen. Or will probably ever see. It's the story of Noah and his ark by way of J.J.R. Tolkien and much better than the reviews made it out to be. Well I think so anyway. It's certainly very interesting. Russell Crowe does powerful work as Noah with solid support from Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone and Emma Watson.
American Gangster Mon 24/2 TG4 @ 21.30
Frank Lucas was the heroin king of New York City in the 1970's. A mean feat for an African American in a time when Italian crime families were in charge of narcotics. Ridley Scott's 2007 epic crime drama is muscular watch bolstered by a fantastic turn from Denzel Washington and a fun showing from Russell Crowe as the cop on his tail. An intriguing look at a very sordid business.
Copland Wed 26/2 ITV4 @ 22.30
Garrison, New Jersey is where New York City cops make their home. Freddy Heflin is the sheriff who looks after the town. Usually he looks the other way when they mess up but now he has to make a stand. One of the best films of the 90s. A complex tale of rights and wrongs with a cast for the ages. Sly Stallone is the best he's ever been and he gets mighty back up from Annabella Sciorra, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta.
120 BPM Wed 26/2 Film4 @ 23.05
AIDS is decimating the gay population of Paris and a group of activists called ACT UP decides to push the government into action. One of them knows he's dying and he wants his death to mean something. A unique and very moving look at an underserved community. It sounds grim but it really isn't. Nahuel Pérez Biscayart & Arnaud Valois lead a young cast that crackles with energy.
This Happy Breed Thur 27/2 Film4 @ 12.50
From the pen of Noel Coward comes a story of an ordinary English family and how the events of history between World War 1 & 2 had an effect on them. An agreeable little film which when you get used to it's episodic structure becomes an informative history lesson seen through the eyes of a family that feels real. Robert Newton, Celia Johnson and John Mills do lovely work.
Pilgrimage Thur 27/2 VM3 @ 21.00
In the 13th century a group of Irish monks have to transport a relic across a wild countryside filled with danger. This 2017 action drama is a gripping watch. It's also one of the more unusual Irish films you'll see with it's bloody action scenes woven around a script of Gaelic and Latin dialogue. It's gruesome violence (seriously) won't be for everyone but it's worth the watch. Tom Holland, Hugh O'Connor, John Lynch and Jon Bernthal put in fine work.
The Big Sick Fri 28/2 BBC2 @ 23.05
Kumail and Emily fall in love but his Indian family do not approve. When Emily falls seriously ill Kumail is forced to decide what is truly important to him. This is a really enjoyable watch, heartfelt and charming in a way that will leave you beaming after it. Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan make a fine pairing and Holly Hunter and Ray Romano in back up do all sorts of good work.
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