John Wick Sat 11/5 Virgin Media 2 @ 21.00
John Wick is a legend, an underworld assassin feared by every criminal around. His life has been threatened. He's suffered a heavy loss. He's miffed and there will be blood. This 2014 thriller is ridiculously entertaining. It's silly and it knows it and has a massive amount of fun showing how much it doesn't care. Keanu Reeves is a joy as the eponymous hero and after this you'll want to watch part 2 & 3 straight away.
Dead Man's Shoes Sat 11/5 Film4 @ 23.15
A man returns to his hometown to get revenge on the people who tormented his brother. Yes yes i know it sounds cliched as hell but this is a magnificent little film. It's like if Emmerdale was crossed with a slasher film and then stained with a dollop of very black humour and some horribly realistic carnage. Paddy Considine is just tremendous in this tense, nauseating, gripping and funny (in places) film.
Boyz In Da Hood Sat 11/5 BBC2 @ 23.45
Tre, Ricky and Doughboy. 3 Black teenagers trying to thrive and stay alive on the streets of early 90's Compton where even crossing the road can get you killed. The sadly departed John Singleton's 1991 drama is still an electrifying watch almost 30 years later. A blisteringly angry look at an America the government gave up on. Cuba Gooding Jr, Laurence Fishburne and Ice Cube are all immense.
The Girl On The Train Sun 12/5 CH4 @ 21.00
Rachel's commute takes her past a fancy house everyday and everyday she sees the same woman on her balcony. Until one day she doesn't. A very Hitchcockian premise with added sex and violence makes for a compelling watch, that gets a bit too twisty for it's own good but it's worth sticking with. Emily Blunt, Justin Theroux and Rebecca Ferguson do top notch work.
Joy Ride Mon 13/5 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 splatter. Leelee Sobieski, Steve Zahn and the late Paul Walker all do good.
Chef Mon 13/5 Film4 @ 23.10
Carl used to own a restaurant until a confrontation with a food blooger went viral. Now he's on the road with a food truck, his son and his best friend and he's trying to fall in love with cooking again. This Jon Favreau starring, written by and directed comedy drama is a lovely watch and one you'll want to enjoy with food beside you because you will be starving during it. Seriously, be prepared. Stockpile tayto's.
Embrace Of The Serpent Wed 15/5 Film4 @ 23.30
The story of Karamakate, a tribal medicine man who had 2 encounters, decades apart with explorers who ventured into his Amazonian world. A unique watch, quite unlike anything else you'll see this week but a beautiful feast for the senses. Surreal, mystical stuff that won't be to everyone's tastes but it's worth watching to travel away into the unknown for a while.
Belle Thur 16/5 CH4 @ 01.05
Dido Elizabeth Belle was a young woman growing up in 18th century England. She was the daughter of a navy captain. She was also mixed race. Her family standing helped but the colour of her skin caused trouble for her. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is excellent in a fine film about the loneliness and alienation caused by being one amongst many. Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson and Matthew Goode offer nice support.
Friends With Benefits Thur 16/5 Virgin Media One @ 21.00
Jamie and Dylan want to enjoy the physical side of a relationship without the rest of it. They think they can do it but things don't seem to work out the way they want. Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake make for a very likeable pair in this 2011 comedy. In between the bouts of profanity and pleasuring lurks a surprisingly sweet and old fashioned watch. Patricia Clarkson in a supporting role, is as always, fantastic.
To Each His Own Fri 17/5 TCM @ 16.15
During the Great war a woman called Jody gives birth to an illegitimate child and to save her family name she gives him up for adoption. Then she spends the rest of her life keeping an eye on him from a distance. An upsetting and heartfelt watch about a different time in society but a superbly acted one led by a stunning performance from Olivia De Havilland (who's still around at the age of 102).
Ricki And The Flash Fri 17/5 RTE1 @ 23.50
One again Meryl Streep proves she can do no wrong in this tale of Ricki Rendazzo, an ageing and failing rock singer who returns home to the family she's ignored for far too long to help out. Ignore the reviews, OK it's a touch melodramatic in places but this is lovely, heartwarming stuff buoyed by two superb performances from Streep of course and Kevin Kline.
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