January 06, 2018

11 films worth watching on TV this week

The Hunger Games : Mockingjay Part 2   Sat   6/1   CH4 @ 21.00

The Hunger Games saga comes to an end as Katniss Everdeen leads her army of rebels against the capitol and the evil President Snow. But as they proceed they find themselves in a whole new type of game. A thrilling and satisfying conclusion to an enjoyable series that's riddled with some superb action scenes and played out with characters you'l genuinely care about. Jennifer Lawrence is brilliant as Katniss and leads a superb cast.

Parkland   Sat   6/1   RTE1 @ 23.55

On the 22nd of November 1963 John F. Kennedy was assassinated and here we see the events of the day from the perspective of a number of individuals including, doctors, nurses, FBI agents and eye witnesses. A compelling and fresh look at events familiar to all of us, thats less about the event itself but the effects it had on people. There's an excellent cast too including Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton and David harbour.

The Resident   Sun   7/1   BBC1 @ 00.35

A young doctor moves into a building in Brooklyn and soon discovers all is not what it seems with her apartment or her handsome landlord. Hammer productions tentatively dipped their toe back into the horror world with this dark, effective and creepy thriller that even contains a cameo from their greatest star Christopher Lee. Hilary Swank as the doctor gives a performance that elevates the film from it's z movie origins.

Strictly Ballroom   Sun   7/1   BBC2 @ 23.25

A competitive dancer with an unorthodox style and his new partner set out to shake things up in the world of Australian ballroom dancing. Baz Luhrmann's comedy drama sounds like silly fluff but it's actually a cracking watch and it's as tense and exciting in places as any thriller and has a climax that would make a stone smile. Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice are treat as the lead duo.

Dial M For Murder   Mon   8/1   RTE1 @ 09.05

When he discovers his wife is being unfaithful a man decides to murder her to inherit her riches. These things never go to plan though. One of Alfred Hitchcock's most ingenious, darkly funny and entertaining films is one that also manages to overcome it's staginess due to clever writing, great dialogue and fantastic performances. Ray Milland and Grace Kelly are perfectly cast.

Cape Fear   Mon   8/1   TCM @ 21.00

Max Cady, a rapist and psychopath is released from jail and sets out to get revenge on the lawyer who sent him there. And he has the lawyers family in his sights too. The original film is a far superior beast to the remake, it's more down to earth and the stricter standards in the 1960's force the film to be more creepy and scary than outright violent which works better. Robert Mitchum as Cady and Gregory Peck as Sam Bowden are both excellent.

Inside Man   Tues   9/1   ITV4 @ 22.00

When a so called perfect bank robbery goes sideways, a cop, the robber and a power broker have to negotiate a way out of the problem to save lives. Spike Lee's twisty, turny thriller is an immensely entertaining way to spend a couple of hours. Nothing is what it seems and if you haven't seen it before you won't have a clue how it will all end. Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and Clive Owen all hit the spot.

Antiviral   Thur   11/1   The Horror Channel @ 00.40

In the near future a new obsession is deliberately infecting yourself with germs taken from celebrities in order to feel closer to them. An industry has built up around this and one employee wants to make more money for himself. An icky and disturbing film from Brandon Cronenberg, son of David about the dangers of celebrity obsession and how far it can go. Underneath all the blood and goo this is smart stuff.

Gangs Of New York   Thur   11/1   ITV4 @ 23.40

Never considered amongst Scorsese's best as it's a bit choppy but this Leonardo DiCaprio lead tale of gang warfare in 19th century New York is still a blistering watch due to some ferocious scenes of battle and Daniel Day Lewis acting out of his skin as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting, the man who ran the 5 points district of lower Manhattan. It's tough stuff but well worth a watch. Looks fantastic too. The budget is all on the screen.

Red Eye   Fri   12/1   More4 @ 21.00

Lisa is on her way to a funeral by plane when she finds herself sitting beside the charming and talkative Jackson. There's a lot more to Jackson than flirtiness though. Wes Craven's thriller is a tight and taut little film that moves like a race horse and always stays entertaining even when it strays into very silly territory near the end. Rachel McAdams is an effective heroine and Cillian Murphy as Jackson is a cracking baddie.

The King's Speech   Fri   12/1   RTE1 @ Midnight


The story of King George VI, a man who did not want to be king and the doctor who helped him overcome his physical afflication so he could lead his country in war time. A very entertaining film, one that will make you laugh and choke up, sometimes at the same time. Colin Firth & Geoffrey Rush are great as the King and his therapist and Helena Bonham Carter gives a lovely warm performance as Queen Elizabeth. 


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