Hud Sat 9/2 TG4 @ 21.15
Homer and Hud. Father and son. Two Texan rancher's at each others necks constantly. Their work keeps them together while everything else tears them apart. This Sixties set western drama is a fine one. A blistering display of manhood, family values and character. Paul Newman is superb as a very unlikable character and gets able support from Patricia Neal and Brandon De Wilde.
Joy Ride Sat 9/2 The Horror Channel @ 21.00
Venna, Lewis and Fuller are on a roadtrip across America. A prank involving a CB radio puts them on the radar of a murderous trucker and their trip takes a dangerous turn. This 2001 horror is a criminally underrated one and one that gets its scares from slow burn tension and suspense instead of cheap shocks and gore. Leelee Sobieski, Steve Zahn and the late Paul Walker all do good work.
The November Man Sun 10/2 RTE2 @ 01.30
Peter Devereaux is forced back into action when an old pupil of his stirs up a hornets nest of intrigue and murder that involves the CIA and Russian politics. Ignore the reviews of this one. It's silly but it's very compelling. Imagine a Bond film not constrained by the 12A certificate. Bloody mayhem ensues but beware, it does get rough in places. Pierce Brosnan makes for a very solid lead.
The Man Who Would Be King Sun 10/2 BBC2 @ 13.55
Daniel and Peachy are two English soldiers in India. They've had enough of having nothing and decide to set off in search of fortune and glory. This adaption of a Rudyard Kipling novel is very entertaining indeed. It's pretty old fashioned stuff but it's pure and utter escapism. A perfect watch for a rainy sunday afternoon. Sean Connery and Michael Caine have great fun as the leads. Christopher Plummer pops up as Kipling himself too.
Notes On A Scandal Mon 11/2 BBC1 @ 00.05
Barbara Covett is a lonely old teacher nearing retirement. Sheba Hart is a newer teacher with a secret. Barbara discovers what it is and decides to use it to her advantage. It's rare to see Judi Dench playing a wagon and it's a joy to see her do it with aplomb. A dark, vicious, cutting and blackly comic look at what lurks in the corners of the seemingly normal life. Dench and Cate Blanchett, rather unsurprisingly, are both excellent
28 Days Later Mon 11/2 TG4 @ 21.30
A man wakes up from a coma only to discover his hospital is deserted and London outside is quiet. A bit too quiet. Danny Boyle's 2002 horror film is the real deal. A genuinely unnerving and terrifying experience and that will get under your skin and live in your head when your lights go out at night. Cillian Murphy is an ace lead and Naomie Harris and Brendan Gleeson are both powerful as back up. Not for the squeamish. Seriously
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Wed 13/2 Film4 @ 23.10
Kim Baker, a New York newswriter decides to take a job as a reporter in Afghanistan in 2003. It's going to be a tough job but she doesn't realise just how messed up warzones are. This was enjoyable stuff, not as flat out comic as you'd expect of a film starring Tina Fey but there are plenty of funny moments here and there. There's a surprising amount of depth too thankfully. Margot Robbie and Martin Freeman are good value as her co-workers.
The Tree Of Life Thur 14/2 CH4 @ 01.45
A man ponders his life and the meaning of existence in this haunting, beautiful and absolutely magnificent film directed by Terrence Malick. A very unique movie that sadly some people might find a bit up its own arse but if you can sit with it and give it your full attention i think you'll fall in love with it. Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain and Sean Penn are all great in it. Just let it flow over you, it's an experience.
Ex Machina Thur 14/2 Film4 @ 23.25
Caleb, a young computer programmer is selected to take part in a secret experiment and finds himself working with a piece of ground breaking science. Alex Garland's sci-fi drama is a stunner, one of the best films of 2014. A smart and uneasy tale that will worm it's way into your head and stay for longer after this film is over. Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac are spot on in the lead roles.
Murder By Numbers Fri 15/2 Virgin Media One @ 22.00
Two gifted students decide to commit an unsolvable murder. So far so Hitchcock. They didn't however plan for the woman who'd be tasked with catching them. This is pretty standard hokum but it's elevated by a fine cast and some nice twists and turns. Sandra Bullock plays very much against type as a pretty unlikable cop and Ryan Gosling & Michael Pitt as the students add a nice chilling dose of viciousness to proceedings.
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