September 22, 2017
10 films to watch on TV this week
Big Night Sat 23/9 TG4 @ 21.30
An ailing Italian restaurant run by two brothers gambles its entire future on one big blow out of a night to try and save the business. A lovely little film about passions, sticking to your guns and making your dreams come true that will entertain you and ensure you raid the fridge as soon as it's over. Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub are amazing as the brothers and the chemistry between them is amazing.
Brighton Rock Sat 23/9 BBC2 @ 23.00
A young gang leader murders a man and then marries the only witness to keep her quiet. But people aren't happy about the arrangement. This 2010 adaption of the famous novel is solid stuff and adds it own touch of style to the original story. Sam Riley and Andrea Riseborough are good as the leads but as in everything she appears in, Helen Mirren steals the film from underneath them.
Unforgiven Sun 24/9 RTE2 @ 00.30
A prostitute is attacked in a small frontier town and 3 men are hired to kill the attacker. One of the men is a retired gunslinger who is reluctant to return to his former life. This film, simply put is a masterpiece. It's a story that takes apart the myths of the old west and shows them for what they really were and it's a fitting end to Clint Eastwood's western career. Clint, Morgan Freeman, Frances Fisher, Gene Hackman and Richard Harris are all immense
Ravenous Sun 24/9 The Horror Channel @ 21.00
In the 19th century a frostbitten stranger turns up at an army fort claiming to be the only survivor of a wagon train that got lost in the mountains. Antonia Bird's darkly comic horror thriller is a ferociously entertaining watch but it might be too much for the more squeamish out there. Cracking cast in this. Robert Carlyle as the stranger is brilliant and Guy Pearce, Jeremy Davies and John Spencer are all on good form.
Falling Down Sun 24/9 ITV4 @ 22.00
A man frustrated with modern life loses his mind and starts lashing out at everything he sees as wrong with the world. A dark, funny and ultimately terrifying look at modern day masculinity. Michael Douglas is amazing in the lead role with Robert Duvall in great likable form as the detective in pursuit of him. Solid support from Tuesday Weld, Barbara Hershey and Frederic Forrest is the icing on the cake.
Footsteps In The Fog Mon 25/9 Film4 @ 13.20
Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger star in this noirish thriller set in early 20th century London about a maid who discovers dodgy things about her employer and decides to blackmail him. Well worth a watch if you are a fan of Hitchcock's films, especially his earlier ones. This is cracking stuff, clever, full of lovely twists and turns and very well acted by both of it's stars.
Goodbye Bafana Mon 25/9 TG4 @ 21.30
A racist prison guard is tasked with censoring the letters of a political prisoner in 1960's South Africa. The prisoner? Nelson Mandela. This film has been criticised for the liberties it takes with truth but it gives a solid insight into the mindset of both black and white South Africa during Apartheid. It's a tough, anger inducing watch with 2 cracking lead performances from Dennis Haybert and Joseph Fiennes.
Serenity Wed 27/9 Syfy @ 21.00
The space ship Serenity and its crew find themselves in danger when they realise one of their passengers is quite special. This film is a continuation of the TV show Firefly but it's also a standalone film that can be enjoyed even with no knowledge of the show. Exciting, upsetting, hilarious and brilliantly acted stuff with a super cast. Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk and Jewel Staite all hit the spot.
In A Lonely Place Thurs 28/9 Film4 @ 13.05
A screenwriter is accused of murder until his neighbour gives him an alibi. But then she begins to have her own doubts. A cracking slice of film noir right here. It's smart and suspenseful with a nicely cynical stuff and full of depth and undertones that were rare for the time. The storyline is compelling and the characters are well formed and realistic. Gloria Grahame and Humphrey Bogart are both excellent. Well worth recording.
Starry Eyes Fri 29/9 The Horror Channel @ 21.00
A young aspiring actress in Hollywood is willing to go to any lengths to ensure she becomes a star of the silver screen. This is a dark and twisted cautionary tale about the dangers of ambition and greed. It's also a pretty damn great little horror film that will probably leave you horrified when the credits role so be warned. It's nasty. Alex Esso in the lead is very good and someone to look out for in the future.
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