September 15, 2017

11 Films worth watching on TV this week


Super 8   Sat   16/9   CH4 @ 21.00

A group of teenage wannabe filmmakers witness a train crash and what happens afterwards will change their lives forever. JJ Abram's homage to the sci-fi films of the 1980's is a splendidly entertaining way to spend a couple of hours. The young cast is brilliant and their likability and believably help the film through the sillier scenes. Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney are the stand outs and Kyle Chandler in support is always dependable.

2 Guns   Sat   16/9   TV3 @ 21.15

Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg have a whale of a time in this very entertaining action comedy as two criminals who get into shady dealings with Mexican drug dealers.  But nothing is quite what it seems. The plot is convoluted as hell but is good fun throughout.. Washington as always steals the film & on the strength of his performance in this I'd love to see him in more comedies. Plus Bill Paxton turns up and he always rocks. Rocked. :(

Nina Forever   Sat   16/9   Film4 @ 23.10

A man is overcome with grief when his girlfriend dies. However she doesn't want to rest in peace and reappears to him at the most inopportune times. This sounds silly and bizarre and yes it is but its also a very affecting and blackly comedic look at how people deal with grief. And a couple of cracking performances from Abigail Hardingham & Cian Barry help carry it all. Warning - not for the easily offended amongst ye.

Invaders From Mars   Sun   17/9   The Horror Channel @ 16.50

A young boy suspects sometime is amiss in his small town and it isn't long before all hell breaks loose. The late and much missed Tobe Hooper directed this loving homage to 1950's B-movies and it's highly entertaining stuff and much more family friendly than his usual films. Super cast too. Karen Black, Louise Fletcher, James Karen and Bud Cort. It's silly and looks like it was made for a fiver but it's great fun.

The Day After Tomorrow   Sun   17/9   RTE2 @ 17.50

As sudden and catastrophic weather changes batter the northern hemisphere of the earth a man sets out to find his son in a ravaged New York City. Jake Gyllenhall and Dennis Quaid star in this highly entertaining disaster movie. There's something about seeing major cities getting walloped by the elements that just never gets old. A thrilling, tense, surprisingly funny and exciting tale about the horrors of climate change.

Older Than Ireland   Mon   18/9   RTE1 @ 00.10

30 Irish men and women, all over the age of 100 are interviewed and tell tales of their lives and what they remember about growing up over the course of the 20th century in Ireland. This documentary is absolutely wonderful. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll learn an awful lot from a group of people who are still vital, funny and full of life. A perfect way to spend 90 minutes.

Blue Is The Warmest Colour   Tues   19/9   Film4 @ 23.35

In Lille in northern France a girl called Adèle meets woman called Emma. They fall in love. We bare witness to the relationship from beginning to end. This film is famous for some pretty explicit love scenes but there is far far more to it than that. It's deep, compelling, multilayered stuff filled with superb acting and spun all around a heartbreaking tale. Léa Seydoux & Adèle Exarchopoulos both give brave, brilliant performances.

Bad Lieutenant : Port Of Call - New Orleans   Wed   20/9   3E @ 22.00

A troubled detective investigates a murder in New Orleans. But seeing as this is a thriller directed by Werner Herzog and starring Nicholas Cage it's never going to be straightforward. This film is absolutely bonkers. Like the Coen Bros at their most surreal. You'll see Nic Cage threaten elderly women, strange iguanas, bizarre breakdancing etc Super cast too including Fairuza Balk, Michael Shannon & Eva Mendes. Great craic.

Soylent Green   Wed   20/9   Syfy @ 23.00

In 2022 after member of the board of management of Soylent is murdered a detective looks into the case and finds a lot more than he bargained for. Charlton Heston plays Detective Thorn in this chilling and bleak version of the future of Earth. Made in 1973 this all looked insanely far fetched but in 2017 nothing would surprise me anymore. Dark, exciting and twisty sci-fi that's still well worth a watch.

Mommie Dearest   Thurs   21/9   TCM @ 18.30

The story of Joan Crawford, a Hollywood A-List actress of the Golden era and her "strained" relationship with her adopted daughter. Ignore the terrible reviews, this is a classic of campness and screeching melodrama all carried by an absolutely barnstorming performance by Faye Dunaway as Crawford. This is a film to watch with more than a few drinks on board. They don't make films like this anymore. Seriously.

Assault On Precinct 13   Fri   22/9   ITV4 @ 22.40

The inhabitants of a remote police station on New Years Eve find themselves under siege when they are surrounded by enemies wanting a prisoner being held inside. This extremely violent remake of the John Carpenter classic more than holds its own and is surprisingly entertaining stuff. Great cast too including Ethan Hawke, Maria Bello, Lawrence Fishburne and a nicely evil Gabriel Byrne. 





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