Two Lovers Sat 7/4 TG4 @ 21.45
Leonard is a Jewish man living in Brooklyn. Suicidally depressed and suffering badly, his life takes a sudden turn when he meets two very different women. Director James Gray's third collaboration with Joaquin Phoenix is a dark watch in places but it's ultimately a rewarding one as well as being an interesting insight into Jewish American culture. Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw are both excellent.
Contraband Sat 7/4 E4 @ 22.00
A criminal who has gone straight finds himself dragged back into a life of crime to repay a debt owed by his brother to a mobster. The things we do for our family. A cliched story it may be but it's a very entertaining one thanks to strong acting from a fine cast and an entertainingly twisty and turny storyline. Mark Wahlberg has fun as the lead and Giovanni Ribisi plays the boo-hiss villain to a tee.
Kisses Sun 8/4 RTE2 @ 00.30
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 lovely Irish film that's well worth a look.
Honeymoon Sun 8/4 The Horror Channel @ 01.05
During their honeymoon in a secluded cabin by a lake, things start going odd for newlyweds Bea and Paul after a midnight walk. It's hard to talk about without giving too much away but this is a psychological/sci-fi/horror hybrid that's very good indeed. And one that some people may find very offputting but if you can stick with it you'll be rewarded with a tense little cracker. Rose Leslie & Harry Treadaway as the leads are both spot on.
The Searchers Sun 8/4 TCM @ 12.30
John Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a man searching for years for his niece who has been kidnapped by a Comanche war party. But what are his intentions? A gorgeous looking and highly influential western (one shot of Wayne framed by a doorway has been homaged in dozens of films and shows), well acted by all especially Wayne and Vera Miles. One of the finest, most thoughtful westerns ever made
Triple 9 Mon 9/4 Film4 @ 21.00
Convoluted guilty pleasure time. In order to pull off a difficult heist, a criminal gang decide to murder a cop in order to create a distraction that will pull police away from them. Oh, and the criminal gang are also cops. Dun-dun-DUN! A wildly silly and overly complex plot aside this is actually pretty good fun and boasts an amazing cast including Kate Winslet, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Gal Gadot.
The Hills Have Eyes Mon 9/4 The Horror Channel @ 21.00
A family take a shortcut across the desert and soon find themselves fighting for their lives in the middle of an old nuclear testing ground. A rare remake that outshines the original and a blisteringly violent watch that will test anyone with a nervous disposition. Alexandre Aja directs with panache and a solid cast including Ted Levine, Emilie De Ravin & Aaron Stanford inject a nice believability into proceedings.
The Skeleton Key Wed 11/4 Syfy @ 21.00
Caroline is a nurse working in a hospice in New Orleans. Of course it just happens to be an old spooky hospice that has a very dark past. An enjoyably atmospheric blend of Southern Gothic horror and supernatural silliness with a strong cast that carries it past the hokier moments of the story. Kate Hudson is good value as the lead and John Hurt and Gena Rowlands give proceedings a touch of class.
Bachelorette Thur 12/4 Comedy Central @ 22.00
Three women are asked to be bridesmaids for a woman they used to laugh at back in high school and once again risk ruining her life. Will they rally and do the right thing? A mean spirited, coarse and refreshingly gritty take on your usual romcom flick with a great cast including Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan, Rebel Wilson and a wild Isla Fisher as 4 women each struggling with their own issues.
My Entire High School Sinking Into The Sea Fri 13/4 Film4 @ 23.05
Now for something completely different. An animated comedy drama about a earthquake causing a school on the edge of a cliff to float off into the sea while the students inside try to save themselves. Sounds grim doesn't it. Well it's not, it's hilarious and far more entertaining than you'd think. It's also surreal, bizarre and very very unique. Super voice acting from Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham and Maya Rudolph is the icing on the cake.
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