February 02, 2019

10 films worth watching on TV this week


The Last Of The Mohicans   Sat   2/2   Dave @ 21.00

Chingachgook, Uncas and Hawkeye are 3 trappers who swear to protect the daughters of a British officer during the French & Indian war of 1757. This 1992 adaption of James Fenimore Cooper's novel is the definitive cinematic take. It's just brilliant. Action packed, full of emotion, crammed with glorious scenery and containing a 10 minute finale that's just amazing. Daniel Day Lewis, Wes Studi, Madelaine Stowe & Russel Means are all A+.

Revolutionary Road   Sat   2/2   TG4 @ 21.15

April and Frank are a very unhappily married couple in 1950's America. The social mores of the day force them to keep their frayed marriage a secret and we bear witness to the darker side of the American dream. A tough and quietly devastating adaption of a 1960's novel of the same name. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio reunite here and both give their all. This is as far from Titanic as you'll get though.

The Goob   Sun   3/2   BBC2 @ 00.40

Goob is a teenage boy struggling with life in the countryside of Norfolk. His mam's new fella wrecks his head and his hormones are starting to run riot when he catches sight of a new girl around town. A grim but compelling look at country life in a part of the world that we rarely see onscreen. A beautiful looking film too and one packed with atmosphere. Sienna Guillory, Liam Walpole & the always terrifying Sean Harris all do good work.

A Matter Of Life & Death   Sun   3/2   BBC2 @ 13.50

A WW2 fighter pilot jumps to his death from a burning plane but due to an administrative error in Heaven he gets a chance to argue for his life. This is, simply put, a outstanding film. Yeah, it sounds silly but in the hands of  Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger it becomes a genuinely affecting piece of work. It's wondrous stuff, packed with imagination and superb acting from David Niven and Kim Hunter amongst others.

Demolition   Mon   4/2   CH4 @ 00.15

When his family life and both both turn upside down a banker decides to demolish his old life and start afresh. This 2015 drama was very overlooked on it's initial release but it's a well done look at grief and the effect it can have both physically and mentally on a person. Jake Gyllenhaal is a reliable lead as always and gets solid support from Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper and in his debut role, Jodah Lewis.

The Kite Runner   Mon   4/2   TG4 @ 21.30

 A decision made by a young boy in Afghanistan in the 1970's has repercussions for the next three decades of his life. A bleak but very well told tale about guilt and redemption that's seen in flashbacks and flash forwards. It's one that might be too harsh for some people in places though but if you can stick with it I think you'll like it a lot. The cast is mostly unknown but there isn't a weak link amongst them.

Bonnie And Clyde   Mon   4/2   TCM @ 23.20

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 52 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.

Kill List   Tues   5/2   Film4 @ 23.25

Two hit men find themselves in way too deep when they take on a new assignment. Ben Wheatley's 2011 horror thriller is a masterpiece but it's a movie that will be way too much for a lot of people. It's a brutal watch, intense as hell, horrifically violent and disturbing in a way that will get under your skin for an age. Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley & MyAnna Buring are all fantastic. Watch at your own risk and don't say you weren't warned.

Dog Soldiers   Wed   6/2   The Horror Channel @ 21.00

A group of soldiers on routine training in the Scottish highlands find themselves under siege from a pack of beasts that should not exist. Neil Marshall's debut film is a joy. Hilarious, horrific, quotable, fun, disgusting and damn scary. A rare horror comedy that gets it's blend just right. All this and we get a wicked cast too. Sean Pertwee, Kevin McKidd, Liam Cunningham and Darren Morfitt who's just hilarious as Spoon.

Blue Velvet   Fri   8/2   Film4 @ 23.20

Jeffrey makes a strange discovery one day and his investigation makes him realise that there's something very odd going on behind the white picket fences of the small town he calls home. David Lynch's deep dive into the darker side of small town life is a stunner. Packed with terrifying performances and moments that will haunt you for an age. Kyle Maclachlan, Isabella Rossellini & an unhinged Dennis Hooper are all on fire.

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