11 films worth watching on TV this week

Lucy   Sat   29/9   CH4 @ 21.00

While muling a new and mysterious drug shipment inside her stomach, a woman undergoes a drastic transformation when it leaks into her blood stream. Luc Besson directs Scarlet Johansson in this bonkers film that has a final 10 minutes which has to be seen to be believed. You'll either love it or hate it but you definitely haven't seen anything like it before. Johansson is solid as always and Morgan Freeman & Min-Sik Choi are always a pleasure.

Pat Garret & Billy The Kid   Sat   29/9   TCM @ 23.45

The story of the last days and the final interaction between Sheriff Pat Garret and the outlaw William H.Bonney aka Billy the Kid. Sam Peckinpah's take on the famous tale is a masterful watch and when combined with Bob Dylan's soulful music it becomes a poetic and beautiful depiction of the last dying days of the wild west. James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson are sublime and the supporting cast of well known genre faces is amazing.

Silverado   Sun   30/9   RTE1 @ 01.25

A foursome of mismatched cowboys turns up in a small town run by an evil rancher and set out to set wrong to right. It's your quintessential western set up but it's so much fun and so well done that you can forgive any unoriginality. Superb cast in this. Kevin Costner who always rocks it in this genre, Kevin Kline, Danny Glover and Scott Glenn. A perfect rainy afternoon film that's on at silly o'clock for some reason. 

Bend It Like Beckham   Sun   30/9   CH4 @ 13.25

Football loving Jess is a young Sikh woman who's parents want her to lead a tradition life but she has very different ideas for her future. Gurinder Chadha's comedy drama is a joy even if you have no interest in the sport. It's funny, exciting and gives us a look into a culture that's very rarely depicted on film. Parminder Nagra is a great lead and gets quality back up from Keira Knightley and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

A Reckless Moment   Mon   1/10   Film4 @ 11.00

A mother resorts to desperate measures to protect her daughters future and a scoundrel sees her strife as a chance to make himself some money. A nice slice of film noir here, lean, economic, tense, twisty turny and unpredictable. A perfect film to wake your brain up in the morning. Lovely acting too from Joan Bennett and Geraldine Brooks but James Mason steals the show.

Requiem For A Dream   Mon   1/10   TG4 @ 21.30

Sara, Harry, Marion and Tyrone are 4 people from Coney Island who are all addicted to drugs and we get to see in lovingly realised detail exactly how their addictions tear them apart. A traumatic but a must see watch. The most frightening anti drug film you'll ever see on TV. Amazing acting from Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans, Jared Leto and a phenomenal Ellen Burstyn will pin you to your seat. Be warned, it's very very graphic.

Being Evel Knievel   Mon   1/10   BBC4 @ 23.30

Evel Knievel will be a familiar name to anyone who grew up in the 70's and the 80's. A stuntman who amazed the world with his death defying feats. This documentary shows us the man behind the stunts. This is an interesting watch but may ruin your childhood memories as it doesn't shy from showing a very unpleasant side of its subject. The archival stunt footage though, oh man, evocative as hell.

In A Lonely Place   Tues   2/10   Film4 @ 11.00

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. It's smart and suspenseful with a nicely cynical side and full of 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 fantastic. Well worth recording.

Bonnie and Clyde   Thur   4/10   TCM @ 23.45

Bonnie's a waitress who gets whisked off her feet by a criminal called Clyde. Before long their exploits have them at the attention of police everywhere. Arthur Penn's crime classic may be 51 years old this year but it still has the power to shock in places. It's still an excellent watch to with super performances from Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty. Watch it to see the point old Hollywood gave way to the new.

Rogue   Fri   5/10   The Horror Channel @ 21.00

A group of tourists on a boat trip in Northern Australia find themselves trapped on a small island when they are attacked by a massive crocodile. And the tide is rising. Of course. A well made and jumpy little thriller made believable by deadly creature effects and a nice cast including Radha Mitchell, Sam Worthington and Michael Vartan. Greg McLean's follow up to Wolf Creek isn't as scary as his debut but its a lot more entertaining.

Presumed Innocent   Fri   5/10   RTE1 @ 23.55

Rusty Sabich is a lawyer who finds himself accused of the very murder he's investigating. The fact he had an affair with the victim stacks the odds of being prosecuted against him. Alan J.Pakula's courtroom thriller is a real old school watch. Intelligent, grown up, compelling and hard to predict. Harrison Ford is fine in a part very different to him usual roles and Raul Julia, Bonnie Bedelia and Greta Scacchi are good in support.