June 04, 2022

15 films on TV this week you might like

Assault On Precinct 13   Sat   4/6   The Horror Channel @ 21.00

The LAPD has just come down heavily on the Street Thunder Gang. They want revenge. A father and his daughter are caught in the middle. Chaos ensues. John Carpenter's 1976 crime thriller might be a bit dated now but it's still a thrilling, nail biting movie that will definitely shock you if you haven't seen it before. Austin Stoker and Darwin Joston lead a mostly unknown cast in robust fashion.

Lullaby   Sat   4/6   BBC2 @ 21.00

Miriam has decided to return to work, a choice her husband isn't happy with. But she sticks to her guns and hires a nanny called Louise and well..... you'll just have to see. This 2019 French drama is a very watchable one but don't go into it expecting The Hand That Rocks The Cradle part deux. It's more intelligent and interesting than that and strong turns from Leïla Bekhti and Karin Viard keep things moving nicely.

Ford Vs Ferrari   Sat   4/6   RTE1 @ 21.25

Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, designer and driver respectively of the Ford GT40, the car that will finally end Ferrari's superiority on the race track. Here's their story and it's as entertaining as Hollywood movies get, a film most viewers will enjoy even if they don't give a fig about the sport of car racing. Matt Damon, our own Caitriona Balfe, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Tracey Letts, all are having fun here and that fun translates wonderfully to our screens.

The Cured   Sun   5/6   RTE2  @ 01.15

Dublin in the aftermath of a zombie plague is a strange place to live. It's even stranger for the zombies who have been cured because they can remember exactly who they killed and ate during their infection. It leads to some....issues. This 2017 Irish horror is a deadly twist on an old story. It's as bloody and gory as you'd expect but it's clever and subversive as well and a hefty cast including Tom Vaughn-Lawlor, Elliot Page and Sam Keeley do nice work.

Shenandoah   Sun   5/6   RTE1 @ 14.45

Charlie Anderson lives a quiet, peaceful and contented life on his Virginian farm with his six sons. The civil war soon encroaches, a conflict he wants no part of, but one he's forced into when his family get involved. A fine, handsomely mounted anti war western epic that takes it's time and nails it's ending. James Stewart leads a cast packed with dozens of faces you'll recognise from a hundred other westerns.

The Royal Tenenbaums   Sun   5/6   Great! Movies @ 23.05

Chas, Margot, and Richie Tenenbaum, three immensely gifted teenagers who succeeded wildly in whatever they tried. Nowadays they are three deeply broken adults, ruined by their father's actions. Wes Anderson's 2001 comedy drama is funnier than it sounds but there's also a vein of sadness and humanity running through it that will stay with you. It's also his last great film before he fell up his own backside. Owen Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gene Hackman and Angelica Huston all nail their parts.

The Ground Beneath My Feet   Mon   6/6   Film4 @ 01.40

Lola has a laser focus on her job. She's a perfectionist and it transfers over to her personal life as well. Everything is ordered, everything is in it's right place. Everything except the secret she keeps about her family, a secret that's about to ruin her. Made in Austria in 2019, it is an intense one, a twisting, noir-ish, gripping and intelligently told story that lets a stellar turn from Valerie Pachner digs its claws into you.

The Silence Of The Lambs   Mon   6/6   TG4 @ 22.15

Women are being killed and an imprisoned murderer may have the answers and it's up to a fresh faced FBI trainee to figure out the clues he's giving her. Aspects of Jonathan Demme's multi Oscar winning psychological thriller/horror have dated badly but it still packs one hell of a punch. A suspenseful, vicious and darkly funny story powered by exceedingly effective turns from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.

Only The Brave   Tues   7/6   Film4 @ 18.25

Eric Marsh is the superintendent of an Arizona fire fighting crew and he's taking a chance on Brendan McDonough, a young man who's let drugs ruin his life. It's wildfire season and now Brendan really has to step up. A tough tale, based on a real life story, about the underpaid, under-resourced heroes who put their neck on the line to save people every day. Josh Brolin, Jennifer Connelly and Miles Teller do well leading a packed cast. 

The Brood   Wed   8/6   The Horror Channel @ 02.40

A psychiatrist is using some rather unorthodox techniques to help his patients deal with their issues and the parents of one patient are realising it's doing more harm than good. David Cronenberg's 1979 horror is absolutely bonkers and it's premise will be too much for some to swallow but if you go with it you'll have some horrible, uncomfortable squirmy fun. Oliver Reed brings his usual intensity to bear as the doctor.

Goodbye Columbus   Wed   8/6   Talking Pictures TV @ Midnight

A man and woman meet and fall in love in late 60's New Jersey. He's an ex soldier and she's a student. Both are Jewish but they still come from different worlds and find that social classes are very much a thing. An adaption of Philip Roth's story that's a bitingly honest look at how love sometimes just isn't enough for a relationship to work. Ali McGraw does well in her debut movie but Richard Benjamin steals the show.

A Star Is Born   Thur   9/6   BBC4 @ 22.40

The 1954 version. Norman's career is on the ropes, drink has ruined him, but one night he meets a showgirl called Esther and spots a chance to help her and revitalise himself. But Hollywood is an unforgiving place and alcohol is an unforgiving drug. Judy Garland and James Mason are excellent in a heartbreaking cautionary tale. It's almost 154 minutes long but you'll be glued to every single one of them.

Overlord   Thur   9/6   Film4 @ 23.50

D-Day. 6th of June, 1944. Paratroopers are descending on Normandy to take on the might of the German army but little do they suspect what's lurking in the darkness under the small town they must infiltrate. Ok, this action/horror is probably the goriest WWII film you'll ever see so avoid if you are squeamish but if you enjoy seeing nazis dying horribly you'll have a whale of a time here. Jovan Adepo and Wyatt Russell do decent work as the guys in charge.

Creed   Fri   10/6   RTE1 @ 22.35

Adonis Creed wants to follow in his father's footsteps and to do so he looks up to the only man who could ever challenge him, Rocky Balboa. No one expected the 7th installment in the Rocky series to work but it's a fantastic achievement and one that sees Rocky stepping down to a supporting role as a new contender steps up. Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson and of course Sylvester Stallone all do amazing work.

The Flesh And Blood Show   Fri   10/6   Talking Pictures TV @ 22.55

The stage of an abandoned theater beside the sea becomes stained red with blood when a group of actors brought together by a mysterious benefactor start dying in strange and ghoulish ways. Infamous horror maestro Pete Walker's 1972 horror thriller is as sleazy and silly as you can imagine but it's also a fun and inventively grisly friday night watch. Ray Brooks and Jenny Hanley are the standouts here.

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